Chapter 9 Tattani

"I had the weirdest dream last night." Nim told them the next morning while they packed up their things.

"About what?" Riswynn asked doing one last sweep of the cavern to see if there was anything she'd missed.

"That's the thing. I can't remember what it was about. But I woke up with the strangest feeling."

"Can't of been too important then," Disia told her. She worried last night's fight put too much stress on Nim and might of given her bad dreams.

"You're probably right," Nim said watching Riswynn sniff two bottles of liquid. However, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was an important dream.

"Well, I'm glad I did one last search. I found two healing potions, though they were poorly made," Riswynn said holding up the two small vials of ruby colored liquid.

"Are you sure we shouldn't have Commander Biri check them too?" Nim said remembering last night, and realizing she was still a bit mad.

"I already checked both. They smelled fine."

Nim looked at Disia to see if she was going to be ganged up on again, but she was laughing instead.

"She's got a point, Ris."

"Fine. I'll taste them."

"Just as I thought," she said taking a tiny sip out of both bottles.

"It's horribly brew…" Riswynn choked on her words, and she fell to her knees.

"Riswynn!" Nim dug out her amulet, rushing over to her.

Oh, Pelor. I will need your help on this one.

Once Nim reached her, Riswynn began laughing; the look on Nim's face when she realized her friend was fine, and it was just a silly joke.

"You're an awful person," Nim said playfully slapping Riswynn on the arm.

"You're an evil woman, Riswynn," Disia said from the other side of the cave, laughing with them.

Lila watched the three of them. Fear had gripped her for a moment, she hated the thought of losing people. More so, she hated the thought of seeing someone she knew dying with nothing she could do about it.

"Tinir," she whispered quietly, grasping tightly one of her swords.

"Come on, we got a lot more ground to cover," Riswynn said as Nim helped her to her feet.

"You alright Little One?" Disia said, noticing Lila was more quieter than usual. Lila nodded, and averted her gaze when Disia continued to stare at her.

The snow had stopped overnight, but the increased winds made the snow gust around them making it harder to keep track of the path. It took them a couple hours to find it, when a beautiful melody resonated around them.

"Where's that amazing voice coming from?" Disia said, following the sound of the woman's sweet voice.

"Riswynn! Stop her." Nim watched as Disia began to wander away from the group.

"Hmm?" Was all Riswynn could say. Unfortunately, she was mesmerized by the woman's voice as well.

"What's going on?" Lila asked, panic had set in her voice as well. Nim grabbed her amulet and began chanting.

"Wake up, Ris. Resist it." She grasped her amulet so tightly it left indents in her palm.

Riswynn suddenly stopped, realizing what she was doing.

"Oh, Shit," she said grabbing her warhammer and shield.

"Nuh-uh-uh." A second female's voice called out. A half woman, half vulture swooped down on the mountain ledge next to them.

"Riswynn. Stop her!" Disia was still enchanted by the melody, still in search of it's source. Riswynn took off after her, the half-breed taking off after Riswynn. Both Lila and Nim took a shot at the mutant; only Lila's arrow punctured it's leg, giving Riswynn time to tackle Disia before she walked off the mountain side to her death.

"Are you mad, Riswynn?" She said, finding the dwarf on top of her. Riswynn moved aside.

"Is that someone's idea of a sick joke?" she said, realizing now what was going on.

"You're useless, Lyvoinne," the one near them said.

The one that had been singing, came at Riswynn, her claws scratched through her shield. She attacked Riswynn with her club; large bones tied securely together, beating her on her thigh. Riswynn fought back with her own weapon, hitting her in her thigh.

"Oh, I think that hurt," Lyvoinne said sarcastically.

"I'm going to try something new here," Lila said. She had done it before, but her master had been around. It would be the first time without him here to guide her. Lyvoinne was unaware of the mark placed on her as an arrow landed in her lower abdomen. She ripped it out, and threw it back at Lila, a stinging sensation now coursing through her body.

Her sister and her danced around Riswynn and Disia, flying to dodge their attacks, favoring their clubs to bash them in the thighs. They giggled and laughed as they tormented the girls, taking pleasure when the taller one would fall. Lyvoinne eventually became frustrated with the dwarf and her shield for protection, and decided to focus on Disia. While her sister continued to play with the dwarf, she rammed her club as hard as she could into Disia's thigh and leg, knocking her onto the snow. Disia inhaled a face full of the cold white powder as Lyvoinne sat on her back, shoving her face down into it.

"What have we here?" Lyvoinne singsonged, opening up her bandages. Seeing a fresh wound, she grazed her fingernails (which might as well been her talons, for she did not take care of them) over the wound, opening it up again.

"You, Bitch!" Disia riled, elbowing Lyvoinne and throwing her off. She got to her feet, and went to grab her axe. She had to fight the other one for it, who clearly had been struggling with Riswynn and Lila. Nim came rushing to her side, amulet in her hands.

"I may not be good with my attack spells right now, but hopefully my healing one's won't fail me," she said placing the amulet against Disia's wounds. She closed her eyes tight, forcing herself to tolerate the burning sensation. When Nim had finished, there was no marks or scratches left. It was like Disia had never been injured.

Maybe there's hope for me after all. Nim thought to herself.

"Lyvophine, get that Elf," Lyvoinne shouted to her sister, who was still playing around with Riswynn - and failing miserably.

Following her older sister's orders; Lyvophine took to Nim, and with her favorite thing to do, bashed her on her thigh with her bone club. Lyvoinne returned to fighting Disia, ready to use her real talons this time.

"Little one, help me out here," Disia called out. Lyvoinne drifted in front of her, trying to scratch her face.

"Worried I might scar such a pretty face?" A rhythmic tune of claws striking blade vibrated in their ears.

Lila entered another of her arrows with a mark to the left of the previous one. Lyvoinne's belly filled with heat again, sharper this time. She backed off from Disia, and grasped onto her stomach almost keeling over in pain.

"What is that?" She snarled at Lila, the pain spreading through her body. Another arrow penetrated her stomach, the pain now pulsating through her. She felt the woman's axe sever her skin just below her breasts. Another arrow struck her as she failed to pry Disia's weapon away from her. A feeling of burning flames coursed through her, like lava flowing after a volcanic eruption. The pain was enough, it paralyzed her leaving her defenseless. Disia was the one to finish her, she stood over Lyvoinne watching the life slowly leave her soulless eyes.

"Lyvoinne!" Lyvophine yelled. She had been busy with Nim and Riswynn, and failed to protect her sister.

"Screw this," she said realizing the only hope now was to escape. She was barely off the ground in flight, when one of her wings was caught in the woman's axe, forcing her to be dragged back down onto the cool, wet ground with them.

"Rude," Lyvophine spat onto the boots of the woman who killed her sister. Disia decapitated her right then and there.

"What. Were. Those. Things?" Disia said with disgust and exhaustion as she wiped the blade of her weapon clean.

"Harpies." Both Riswynn and Nim said in unison.

"Certainly ugly things," Disia said placing her axe back behind her and picking up her sack. Riswynn laughed with her, but Nim kept her opinions to herself. She didn't want to get into another argument again, especially not now.

They had ventured into icy terrain, a new experience for two of them.

"This mountain is dangerous," Disia said trying not to slip on an unseen ice patch.

"I'm used to ice," Riswynn said slowing her pace so the others could catch up.

"It's the other things that we've been encountering that make this mountain dangerous." The only reason she wanted to make this trip was to find out where Nosin Elairodr and his two sons were. That and the four men Commander Biri worried about.

"And I'm sure we will come across much more."

Twing.

A tiny rock made of ice subtly pelted off of Riswynn's armor.

"Did you guys hear that?" She asked. She hadn't felt the rock, but she wasn't quite sure what the sound was - or if there even was one.

"Hear what?" Disia said.

"I didn't hear anything," Nim replied.

Lila's usual quiet self just shook her head, and she began placing the arrows she made back in the druids cave into her quiver when a rock covered in ice hit her on the left side of her cheek.

"Ouch," she whined, dropping her arrows to the ground. She rubbed the side of her face, looking for where it came from.

"Can ice fall from the sky?"

"Like hail?" Riswynn looked at Lila, but she just shrugged, she had never traveled far north enough back home to experience snow or ice so she didn't have a clue.

Before they continued on, a third much larger piece of rock launched towards Nim. Riswynn spotted it, and was able to block it before it could hit her.

"Looks like someone might be shooting rocks at us," Riswynn said standing still, watching her surroundings. She knew someone was there, but exactly where she didn't know.

Lila was hit again, this time in her hand. She comforted it, looking at Riswynn with tiny tears in her eyes.

Poor girl. Seems to get picked on a lot. Riswynn thought to herself, feeling bad for Lila.

"Aeem foor lilun, it week." A voice yelled behind the peaks along the trail.

"Coming from over there," Disia yelled, aimlessly throwing her javelin over the peaks. Snickers were heard from the other side and four kobolds with wings flew out.

"Halp! Anbush!" They screamed, scattering in opposite directions. Three more of the winged kobolds showed up, one ran up to Riswynn, and stabbed her with it's dagger. She returned the favor by kicking it's tiny body down into the snow.

Lila grabbed two of her arrows from the ground, and placed them both in her bow. She focused for the two kobolds that had scattered in Nim's and hers direction. Both arrows landed perfectly in each kobold, killing them. Her companions looked at her in amazement. They had never seen an archer with such skill to split two arrows the distance she had to kill both targets. It wasn't anything to Lila though, her master would've already killed half of the kobolds by now.

Riswynn ducked under her shield, protecting herself from the icy rocks as they hailed down on her. Nim closed in on her, intending on one of her protection spells. She was hit with the rocks instead by the other two who had scattered, now behind another mountain peak. Riswynn continued to kick the kobold who kept trying to stab her, while blocking the falling rocks from overhead. Once Disia found her footing (it was just her luck that she seemed to be the only one finding all the ice patches,) she jumped in to kill the kobold on Riswynn. She drove her axe into its leathery wing before it could take to the air.

Two of them floated in front of them, tossing rocks in their direction. They laughed even though most of their pieces missed.

"Lila, do that double arrow thing again," Disia yelled, not the least bit phased by the tiny rocks bombarding her.

Lila missed. Her targets dodged her arrows as they flew around Disia and Riswynn at great speed. One of the two yelled a battle cry before landing on its feet, and rushed towards Disia, wielding a dagger in its hand. It struggled to stab her, and was met with a harsh kick to the head instead.

The other three kobolds had run out of rocks, and were now using shards of ice they found off of the ground. They continued to target Riswynn and Nim.

"They're too fast," Lila complained, her arrows missing the only visible kobold.

"So are you," Riswynn told her, blocking a chunk of ice from hitting Nim.

Lila thought back to the first few months when Tinir was training her. She had missed most, if not all of her shots then. He had not only taught her the skills of an archer, but the confidence one had in themselves while using those skills. She nodded at Riswynn ready to try again, an image of her masters face instilled confidence in her.

Both winged kobolds came out from hiding behind the mountain peak.

"Aeem four lilun," they shouted over and over, throwing ice at Lila. She evaded the ice, twisting her body as it passed on by. Riswynn and Disia's attacks missed the one on the ground, it was faster on its feet than it was in air. Lila tried to help, shooting her arrows from behind them.

"Aim for the one in the air," Disia yelled, another swing of her axe missed as the kobold ran between her legs.

"Ris and I got this one."

Lila did as she was told, and another of the winged kobolds fell to its death. The kobold stabbed Riswynn, it's dagger not quite breaking through the heavy interlocking chains of her armor.

An unmistakable white aura began to emit around Disia, Riswynn, and Lila. Nim had been concentrating, chanting to her God while the fight continued on around her. A feeling of butterflies in her stomach as she watched the blessing spell surround her companions. It was the first time she was able to meet the enchantments full expectations. Seeing Riswynn and Disia missing their attacks on the kobold, she worried her spell had affected it as well. It seemed to of picked up speed or was it because she was exhausted from the amount of energy she was using. She breathed a sigh of relief, when Disia finally killed it.

Only two of them remained, the two of the original four that had thrown rocks at them as they walked on by. They were persistent in their shooting, shards of ice and tiny rocks lay all around the feet of the four girls. Lila easily killed one, leaving the seventh and last one scared, now that its friends were dead. Dropping its slingshot onto the ground, it took off into the air. Successful in a small loop to avoid a handaxe, but caught off guard by the javelin thrown into its back, it collapsed to the ground dead, next to it's friend.

"That was annoying," Disia said pulling her javelin from the kobolds back.

"I need to rest for a bit. Please," Nim said, settling herself on a bedroll.

"Even though it's early, we might as well take a small break for lunch," Riswynn said picking up her handaxe. Nim perked up at the thought of food. She had forgotten she didn't eat much the night before, and since they skipped breakfast, she was suddenly starving.

Disia searched for the other javelin she had thrown behind the mountain peak while Riswynn took out the food from both breakfast and lunch. Lila gathered her arrows from the kobolds bodies and ground, returning the good ones to her quiver. She ate slower than the others, re-shaping the broken arrows back into usable ones.

"That's quite resourceful," Riswynn said watching Lila quickly run her carving knife up against the stick.

"Where'd you learn to do that?"

"My master, Tinir taught me," Lila said not looking up from what she was doing.

The ice had become much thicker now, more of it covering the path. Disia as well as Lila had fallen a few times, swearing they'd both have bruising on their asses later. Riswynn tried to show them how to walk with the ice, to slide their feet along, but they couldn't seem to catch on. Nim didn't have any trouble either, she had practiced back home in her temple, with the help of advanced wizards to create their own ice.

Understanding of Disia's annoyance with the ice, Riswynn agreed to a break. Even though they hadn't gotten very far, Disia never asked to stop, and she was normally the first one ready to go. Eventually they came across a cavern entrance; negligent of the armored man completely frozen in ice and snow, they ventured inside.

It wasn't like the other caves they'd been in, it was deeper and wider with large thick pieces of ice dangling from above. In here, more ice and mounds of snow covered the floor. A chilling fog obscured their vision, and they could only make out a declining hill ahead of them, beyond that they were not sure. They had entered a cave on the highest mountain peak in Dragonrend Mountain.

"Beware the white in the snow and ice." Nim suddenly remembered the warning in her dream.

"What?" Riswynn asked her, thinking she'd gone mad.

"That's what I dreamed about."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Disia asked, trying not to slip.

"Who be so bold to enter my home." A cold voice bellowed from the far end of the cave.

"Nim?" Riswynn looked at her with fear in her eyes, she knew Draconic was being spoken, but could not understand what was being said.

"We've entered her home. And she doesn't sound very thrilled about it."

Riswynn moved closer and motioned for Nim to follow.

"Tell her who we are, and we mean no harm."

"We're from The Wand and Bell, and we," Nim spoke in Draconic, one of several languages she had learned from her temple in Ravenswood.

"The Wand and Bell?" Her cold voice made the air even chillier. It was all she needed to hear to reveal herself.

Lila walked slowly towards Riswynn, excited to see another dragon. She had enjoyed meeting Mik; and though this one was smaller, closer to Disia in height, she thought the one staring icily down at them was much more stunning. The wyrmling, from tail to wings was completely covered in white. Her scales sheened like the shards above her, her eyes a cloudy chilling fog.

"You are not welcome here, and you shall die." The dragon roared.

Nim had no time to tell them to run as the white reptilian creature slammed her tail against the wall, sending the jagged ice falling from the ceiling. Riswynn slid down the glacial hill, closer to the dragon, her shield above her for protection. Out of the corner of her eyes, dagger like crystals zoomed down on by her, missing her. That was when she noticed the three people imprisoned in chunks of ice at the bottom of the hill, spread out in fighting positions.

Oh, No. She said to herself.

That can't be them, can it?

Disia slid down with Riswynn, the icicles missing her as well, but she lost her footing towards the bottom and unable to regain control, she spun around and fell to her knees. Nim reflected the ones around her, a yellowish aura melting or bouncing the fragments away from her. Lila rolled on the cold, hard ground to escape the sharp pieces coming down on her. Her body was tiny enough to dodge most, except for the one that skimmed her right shoulder. It scarcely left a mark, a mere sliver of ice leaving a tiny trail of blood. The pain mostly came from the sudden cold injecting into her skin, the stinging only lasting a few seconds.

After Nim made sure she was fine, and in no need of assistance, she cast a guiding bolt at the dragon. The mystical light stayed this time; radiance sparkled along with the shards that protruded from her body. Both, Riswynn and Disia ran in with their weapons raised, ready to attack. Again, Disia fell on the ice.

"Damn it," she sighed, tiny cracks formed as she punched the ice in frustration.

The dragon reached to snap it's teeth around Riswynn's outstretched arm, but she dropped to her knees just in time. The sound of ice scraping against metal as she slid on her knees to dodge its teeth.

"Watch out for its breath," she yelled standing up behind the dragon. She had felt its cold breath just before she moved out of the way. Lila glided her feet with the ice, moving slowly she steadied herself for a shot. Her arrow only slightly entered the dragon's scales, but enough to annoy her. She roared, swinging her tail around, knocking Riswynn back onto the ground.

"Sorry," Lila shouted, her usual skipping of words.

Riswynn laughed, quickly getting back on her feet.

"It's about to do it's ice breath," she warned, watching the dragon move backwards, almost hitting her. The dragon looked as if it was about to sneeze as she gathered big breaths. Disia had seen this many times before in the red dragons she encountered. The outcome was always a terrible disaster, and once or twice it became deadly. She grabbed one of her javelins, hoping the same trick would help her and her comrades asses. In the best spot she could predict, she thrust the javelin up into the dragon's throat, not a moment too soon. The dragon thrashed about, and Disia backed away so she wouldn't get hit, yet slipped on the ice anyways. The dragon placed her face in front of hers, anger in her cloudy eyes.

Disia waited for her breath, heart beat racing. She did not want to be frozen alive, but she would not close her eyes either. She would never give anyone that satisfaction. She returned the dragon's icy stare; Nim casting magic spells and Lila shooting arrows at it.

The dragon exhaled, a tiny blast of ice hitting Disia's face. Relieved, Disia shoved the javelin in further. The dragon tried to take flight, angry she couldn't freeze the woman who had hurt her. She couldn't fly either, the glittering light from the elf's magic immobilized her wings. She flailed herself about instead, anger filling her more.

Lila quickened her speed with the arrows, seeing the dragon tossing herself around. Seeing it was the only thing she could, and blinded with rage, the dragon stomped against the ground, and banged her tail repeatedly against the wall. Ice shards came down again. Lila and Nim could see they were the only ones who could do anything. Disia wanted to help, but she had to watch for the falling ice, and she continued to fall on it as well. In the end she could only focus on not getting hit by the sharp pieces.

Eventually, the young dragon died. She had exerted all her energy from thrashing about, and Lila and Nim's attacks had not let up. They suddenly realized Riswynn had not helped. She had moved to the back of the cave, standing next to the dragon's hoard. Still as a statue, she stared at a bronze crown in her hands. A large striated dark green gem in the middle of the crown reflected her eyes back at her; her fingers touching the smooth smaller opaque orange ones around it. No emotion showed on her face.

"Ris?" Nim asked, concern.

Out of nowhere she violently threw the crown from her hands. Realizing what she had done, she gently picked it back up. They heard her begin to cry.

"Sorry." The apology was not meant for them.

"I've been tricked," she said wiping her tears.

"We've been fooled." She caressed the crowns gemstones.

"Commander Biri?" Disia asked.

"I don't think so. I hope not. No, it's that man we met. Wulfa."

Riswynn hesitated over her next choice of words. She neglected to tell them what she knew about the man, but she was beginning to feel they deserved to know something.

"I've been neglecting to tell you some things." Disia caught Nim's eye and they nodded at one another.

"I won't tell you everything I know just yet, I'd like to talk with Commander Biri first. From what I know though, Wulfa can be a dangerous man."

"Do you think he mentioned this mountain in hopes that we wouldn't survive?" Nim asked.

"I don't know. Possibly? But, this is Nosin's crown, the ruler of Belronde."

"Was he?" Nim asked, looking at the frozen men.

"No, they're too tall to be him. They are most likely Commander Biri's men. I'm hoping the fourth got away."

"You sure they're the men Commander's having us look for?" Disia asked, knowing she had come pretty close to the same end. Riswynn nodded.

"I've already looked through everything she was protecting. A couple gemstones and diamonds along with a bunch of gold. The gold locket with The Wand and Bell's symbol was under the crown. I never would've found it, if I didn't recognize the crown.

"What are we going to do then?" Nim asked.

"We're gonna head back to Cronemoor and give her the news. I'm going to assume that's her men, but I believe she has someone who can tell who the owner of this locket is."

Nim knew of what she mentioned, she had elders who did that back in her realm, but she only knew of High Elves possessing the ability.

"Commander Biri has other High Elves on the council?"

Riswynn nodded. Nim hoped she would be able to meet her someday. Riswynn split the gems between them to carry.

"As long as you agree to let Commander Biri check them when we return," she said putting the two pieces of jewelry, an obsidian gemstone, and the gold into her bag.

"Can I keep that one?" Lila asked, admiring the lapis lazuli Nim was placing in her bag.

"Yes, as long as the Commander says it's okay."

"Do you want to hold onto it for now?" Nim offered, holding out the light blue crystal speckled with darker blues and yellows.

Lila nodded, and exchanged the tiger eye Riswynn had let her carry. She eyed Lila for a few moments, watching her place the gem in her pocket instead of her bag.

"Would someone please get me my weapon?" Disia asked, holding onto the wall for support.

"What, you can't get it yourself?" Riswynn laughed.

"You know I can't," Disia raised an eye at her.

Riswynn laughed as she grabbed the javelin from the dragon's neck.

"I'm just kidding," she said, walking carefully up the slope and handing the weapon, a large diamond, and a malachite gemstone over to Disia.

"There's the fourth guy," Disia said, now seeing the man encased in ice on their way out.

"That's not Nosin though is it?" Nim asked Riswynn.

She stepped closer to get a better look.

"No, this man's an elf," she said staring at the six foot man.

"I'm even more convinced now these were the Commander's men."

They searched for another cave in silence for the next three hours. Riswynn did not feel the heat of the black gemstone in her bag, it's magic had triggered the moment they left the cave. They struggled to find even a small cave, heavy snow and wind appeared out of nowhere. It was hours after sundown before they deemed a cave safe enough for a few hours rest.

"Are we going to be able to keep that gold?" Lila asked when they were eating a small meal for dinner. She had never seen so much gold as she had these past few days. She never even owned that much either, and began thinking of all the things she wanted to buy, things she had always wanted of her own but could never afford.

"Some of it," Riswynn assured her.

"I think most of it belonged to her men, and I think she will want some to cover costs for the family's losses."

It didn't take them long to fall asleep, the snowstorm growing heavy and the temperature dropping outside.