The Search for Redemption

“Sit,” Aeron Bastual ordered, in Common.

“No.”

His hand lashed out and slapped her violently across the face. Bjorke wiped the blood from her mouth and grinned at him.

“Sit!”

“No!”

His green eyes flared, and his hands began to glow. “Feel my power! You will obey!”

Pain seared behind her eyes. Bjorke bit her lip trying to resist, but the urge to do his bidding was too strong. She sank to her knees in front of him.

“To think my sister was killed by someone so weak, so pitiful.” He sneered at her.

Bjorke chanted the Laws to herself. Death. Strength. Wisdom. Honor. Love.

“Pray. Pray to your gods. It will not help you.”

Looking up at him, Bjorke said, “I have no fear of Death. I have no fear of you. If I die here, I die with honor.”

“And what of my sister? Did she die with honor? Did you think of that as you killed her?” His voice was shrill with anger.

“Your sister had no honor. She consorted with demons.” Bjorke looked at the imp next to the elf. “As do you.”

His hand struck her face again. “You will feel my vengeance!” His eyes glowed green with arcane power, and electric sparks flew from his fingers. He raised his hand and uttered, “Selama ashal’anore!” Bolts of energy flew at Bjorke. She fell to her side, writhing as the searing pain shot through her body. She clenched her teeth, refusing to cry out.

When the energy ceased, she pulled herself back to sitting, and grinned up at the elf. “Is… is… that… the… best… you…. g-got?” she stammered, gasping for breath.

“Well, that’s better. I was hoping you wouldn’t be so easy to kill. More fun this way.” He raised his hands again and sent another blast at her.

Again, she fell to the ground, feeling as if flames had engulfed her. She forced herself to concentrate on the Laws, on Edrick. Just as she felt the world start to go black, the bolt ended. Laying on the ground, gasping for breath, Bjorke willed herself to ignore the pain. She pushed herself back up to sitting. Feeling something trickle from her nose, she wiped it with the back of her hand. Blood. She looked at him, and spat, blood and spittle landing in the dirt at his feet. Aeron pulled his dagger and held it to her face, next to her eye. She sat, unflinching, as he drew the flat of the blade along her skin, trailing it down her face, her neck, her chest. “I saw what you did to her. I saw her body.” His voice was thick with emotion and revulsion. He flicked the dagger, cutting off the button holding the ragged shirt closed. His face twisted in disgust as he drew open her top. Drawing the blade across her skin, watching the red line of blood appear, he spat out, “You cut her.”

“Yes, I think she actually liked that part.” Bjorke chuckled slightly, not moving.

Aeron flew into a rage and hurtled another blast of shadow energy at her. The blast knocked her through the air, and she landed, hard, about 15 feet away. Then, a wave of terror swept over her; the urge to flee was almost overpowering. Images of her sister trapped behind the fire, the face of Stormwalker as he told her of Mabon’s kidnapping, past missions, all ran in a jumble through her mind. Fear. “I do not fear Death; I have no fear.” Bjorke whispered the words, over and over, refusing to give in to the terror. Then Edrick’s words came to her. “Use his own weapon against him.” Bjorke rolled over to her knees, and pushed herself up. She stood, squaring her shoulders, ignoring the blood trickling down her face. She walked towards Aeron, slowly, deliberately.

Bjorke looked him in the eye. “I am Ulfhedinn. I have no fear.”

He screamed in anger, and cast an agonizing curse on her. She stood as long as she could, then crumpled under the pain. She chanted the Laws again, barely able to think. Pleased with his work, he knelt over her to gloat. A glint of light in metal caught her eye. His dagger. “You will not beat me,” she said quietly, summoning the last of her strength. Her training took over, and with quick reflexes, she grabbed his blade, and thrust it in his gut, twisting it sharply. On her feet in the blink of an eye, she raced away, out of the cave, through the hills, until she found a patch of shrubs to hide in. Bjorke collapsed, melting into shadow.

“Edrick…” Was there connection strong enough?

“Bjorke! Where are you?”

“… rachet… “

“I’m coming!”

He was coming for her. Bjorke let herself slip into unconsciousness.