Ruein: Fires of Haraden: Action/Adventure Necromancy Series (Books of Ruein Book 2), G.O. Turner [little bear else holmelund minarik txt] 📗

The previously stunned Elite scrambled for his falchion on the floor. Rising back up, his face rebounded off the Lightbringer’s shield.

Liv’s silent scoldings were not helping, but she still attempted to dissuade their course. She was right, of course. This wasn’t going to end well…not if it didn’t end quickly. I need to get her out. I need Liv to commit!

Crossing her glaive against a halberd, Ruein shed her illusion. Creviced cheeks tearing from her milk-dead eyes glared with necrotic might. They bore into the Elite before her.

Horror registered.

Fears heightened to terror as the guard’s legs gave way and fumbled over themselves. The dark-orc scrambled across the floor for a darkened study corner.

Liv’s jaw dropped. Before Neelyam could turn to see, Liv yanked her down by the collar. Her drowish head rapped against the floor with the Lightbringer’s finishing punch.

Good.

Unmoving before them all, Ruein stood and waved a finger between Ceer and the Elite. Ceer descended upon them in a flurry of fists. Their brief tussle ended as Twigs slowly shut the chamber door.

Ruein took in her armored sister.

Liv’s nostrils flared.

Twigs glanced between the two women and slowly waved dismissive hands. The ambiance of the citadel slid back into their ears. “So, ah…our fun stay in Haraden is over then?”

“Yes.” Ruein winced. “Can’t very well have our Lightbringer sentenced for murder.”

Liv waved arm and shield. “That’s what I was trying to say, dammit. I didn’t murder anyone. I was fucking defending myself!”

“From what, the drow?” Ruein asked.

Liv’s mouth pursed. “I don’t know what the fuck Evets was! But I’ve never known a drow to do what he did. That motherless twistard screwed me bad. About pulled my blessed head off!”

Twigs pressed his ear to the door, then regarded her. “You look fine to me.”

“Only after I blessed myself up with the lord’s inner light.” To Ruein, she said, “This isn’t all about my lack of choices here. Where the fuck do you get off revealing your undead ass?”

“We’re all going to be dead if we stay here and prattle over turning left or right.” Then Ruein spoke to everyone, “We need to move, distance ourselves as far as we can, before all of this is noticed.”

Liv cocked her an evil eye. “You want us to run? I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Sure. Just killed Haraden’s lead council,” quipped Twigs.

Liv stamped her boot. “I’m telling you, that wasn’t no damned drow. And that…that death angel assassin was no…”

Ruein stepped to her sister.

The reflection of her haunting gaze peered back from the Lightbringer’s headdress. “Any other time, you could’ve pleaded your case.” Ruein gestured to the prone drowess. “However, his mate saw you with her own eyes. Don’t fool yourself into believing your truth will win out over that. The marauders didn’t kill anyone when they took the caravan. You just killed one of their leaders. Do you honestly believe you’ll fare better?”

Ceer snorted, shrugging. “Ceer have solution. Kill witnesses.”

Liv’s arms flared, her head rolling to the ceiling as both she and Ruein rounded upon the half-orc. “No!”

Ceer shrugged again. “Ceer just optioning.”

Liv raised a finger to Ruein. “A Lightbringer stands for something. If Manu were here, he’d understand.”

“You don’t think I do?” Ruein held her ground. “I’m afraid the truth…is not readily presenting itself this evening. Unless we’ve something to clear your name, we need to act in the understanding that Haraden wants you dead.”

Crossing his arms, Twigs leaned upon the door and called back, “What you gonna do, drag his corpse from the volcano?”

Ruein shot him a look. He has a point. If anything remained it would be all but cinders now. Dread welled up at the thought. The Khorana family had lost so much already because of her. Kaea couldn’t survive another. Ruein hovered her black gauntlet over Liv’s oaken sun.

This was her vow.

Ruein nodded. “I don’t know… But we can’t stay here and have all of our options taken from us.” She snapped to Ceer and Twigs. “Other than our weapons, our gear is already upon us. We flee the Apex and find someplace distant to hole up.” She turned to Liv. “Then we can all argue over how to fix this.”

Liv wavered before her. She bit her lip.

“Our guest bracelets won’t take us far, not without an escort. Wait…” Liv eyed the desk. She crouched and rifled through the strewn papers. Bolting upright, she grimaced at a purple-stained parchment. “Fuck all. He never got a chance to sign it.”

Ruein frowned. “What was—”

“Never mind.” Liv tossed the paper. “Before getting the hells out of here, we damn well better figure something fast. We’re not going to be able to simply wander the halls.”

Ruein nodded. “I’ve still Aequen’s hat. Perhaps the illusion could be enough to pull off being a guard?”

“You know damn well, the farther you shift from your own form the easier it is to see through your lie. That wouldn’t hold up from across a room. And we certainly don’t have the time to play at armor swaps.”

Twigs motioned for the half-orc. “Well, if we’re going to be tussling our way out, ole Ceer here is going to need an extra layer of toughness. Let’s get you barked up, sir.”

Strolling to the gnome upon the door, Ceer remarked, “Barkskin hardy magic. Good start, Twigs. What about scroll?” He cocked a look and prodded the gnome’s head with his fat orcish finger. “Ceer say, magic only good if used.”

Twigs’ brow furrowed.

Liv locked eyes with the gnome. “What’s he mean?”

“It’s nothing.” Twigs head shook, mulling his lower lip. “I keep a few things on hand for…you know, contingencies?”

“Twigs… Ceer say, now good continge.”

The gnome splayed his fingers before the half-orc. “Look, Ceer, can’t exactly be sneaky if you’re scraping bark-skinned legs all unseen. We’ve choices to make here.”

Ceer crossed arms, bearing himself over the gnome.

Twigs swung his arms out. “It was five hundred gold!”

The two women exchanged looks before staring down the gnome. “Out with it, Twigs.”

“Was saving it for something else.” Dragging his foot across the