Brought to Light - Sophia, Toustain, Volundr, Harina

[relentless]

|| Harina ||

Apparently the burning hovel was not enough to drive away the dark, for it too had succumbed into the bitter depths of shadow. She heard the sister beseaching her, and slowed down to halt, stopping at the same time a hand lay on her robed shoulder. She would not turn around as darkness engulfed them, the shadows of deceit, whispering to them of lies, telling them of sophisticated wrongdoings against their heretical faith. All she could hear was the sniveling of children in her ear. Children, that should not have been born to muddy the appearance of the light.

"Tch."

She clicked her tongue brisquely in response to Sophia, not moving, but not turning to face the sister as well. Instead, she looked forward, into the blackest of depths. Idle eyes watched Volundyr march forth into the damning place, a fool in his own right, one of pagan following, questionable from the start. Knowing her past, she wouldn't be surprised if the barbarian was off to betray the sisters. Eventually, she would turn quickly about face to meet eyes with the crusader, the stoicism was apparent, her nature unwavering in the face of such evil. For in the darkness she could make out the shape of her face, no matter how much the shadows wished to tear them apart. Close together, two sisters embraced by shadow, for they must struggle, for they must fight to resist the clutches of evil.

A hand came about to hold Sophias shoulder as well, fingers gripping the metal of her armour tight, staring rods of iron into her sockets.

"Our plan is simple, Sister of battle. We are surrounded, that much is true, but through the will of the Apelion, he has gifted me foresight." She spoke in truths, sheathing her mace through a small binding sash upon her waist, raising an open palm inbetween them both, fingertips poised, and her motions steady.

"The enemy is blind. But only when light invites them."

Harina would click her fingers, and in that instant, a small ember, the size of a luminscient pea tip toed on the top of her index finger, dancing there. The smallest glow radiated around her hand with a beautiful nature to it.

"They want it. So, we must make it."

Another click, and the ember is snuffed out, darkness enveloping them again in the cover of the night, with her hand faltering to her mace once again. During this moment, she recollects her thoughts, and watches Toast from around Sophias shoulder,  watching her shape. Defeated, she could see it even from the shapes. The order has never known defeat, nor would they. It was... laughable, really. But understandable, those that are not steeled by battle, by the glory of the sun, could not hope to brave the horrors around them.

"Sister Toustain, look yonder."

Harina turns to the side, her mace arcing up toward the church as she points it out from the sky, and its silhouette, "The enemy lies in the sanctuary of Apelion. Your punishment, is simple. Take the frontline, guide us into the shadow, for your acts as a deserter have at least given us an effective scout. With or without fire, we will triumph. Take us-"

Harina looked back, and from the darkness, the glow from her eyes returned. Amber rings, replacing her normal hue of blue, radiating as they stared into Toasts soul. With a stomp into the ground, a small spark snapped from her maces hand,

"To victory. To glory. To Apelion."

[Kidney]

Whether by strength of will, or desperation of feet, the group soon found themselves in the depths of the town, slinking past the decrepit buildings and slobbering moth-creatures. Within the church lurked a cultish official, who bestowed wisdom upon them, as long as he was alive. Though, the man would not be captured, falling to some eerie sickness or cruel magic after bestowing his words upon the group. 

Hidden under hides and broken pews sat a small set of idols, blessed by something darker than anything the priestly women had seen before. Whatever sat within this accursed town, it malformed it beyond anything seen before, and in the dark, evil worked mercilessly. With the pour of holy waters though, the idols crumbled to dust and rocky chips, and seemingly, the air lightened enough to rest. 

After said rest, some form of day seemed to have lit upon the town, and with due pertinence, they slipped through the town once more. Quickly into the tunnel again, and finally and truly, back onto The Old Road. 

And from the Old Road, Home.