Seekers of the Stone Maker
Dealing Answers

Something is wrong with him.

Lyla reached over to Leaf, grabbed him by the shoulders, and started shaking him. His eyes had rolled back into his head, and though he was still standing, his body was limp.

“Something’s wrong!” She yelled out. “Leaf? Leaf!”

She turned her hand out and smacked him across the face. It would hurt, but maybe he needed the jolt. She shook him again, but nothing changed.

“I don’t know what’s happening, but he’s not responding. Kiki?”

“It’s not a curse.”

“Maybe he’s enchanted?” Ana thought aloud.

“Whatever it is, he needs-”

Before she could finish, she felt the pull in her rib cage. A hook grabbed her and pulled harshly. She was standing, then sitting. Next to her, she saw Leaf. On the other side of him, Ana crashed into her chair.

Her care for the situation stopped quickly as she saw the large, looming, worn-down face above them staring down. She watched as a beetle of some sort crawled from one ear, through its teeth, then out of its mouth, before losing it in the hair and robe of the creature. Knowing who it was before her didn’t take long, but she didn’t dare think or say it.

Behind the hag, she saw Rhokhishi appear from the shadows. Lyla’s eyes widened as she realized Kiki’s plan. Pushing herself to stand, she watched as necrotic energy pulsed from Rhokhishi’s hand as she attempted to touch the hag. The Hag Countess was faster. Turning so quickly as if blinking into place, her arm reached out and smacked against Rhokhishi’s chest plate.

Rhokhishi’s body flew through the air and crashed into the wall. Blood trickled down from her head, and Lyla cried out. To her right, Ana stood and screamed out.

“I command you, stop!”

Whatever magic she tried, it had no effect on the Countess. She turned again, grabbing onto Ana’s forearm, her smile growing long and her eyes wider as she spoke.

“Eladrin… Fey blood… courses… through your veins. I’ll… help you.”

Her knuckles cracked, and her long nails pierced into Ana’s arm. Light erupted out as markings shattered like lightning up her arm. Ana collapsed to the ground, writhing in pain.

“Wait!” Leaf shouted to everyone. “Do not attack!”

The room froze, everyone looking at him. Lyla was unsure what she should do at the moment, but her fears were resolved as Rhokhishi gasped, taking a deep breath.

“I know this isn’t ideal, but she did not offer harm to any of us. We must respect that.”

“Yes… No harm… will come to you. Sit.”

The Countess gestured with only half of her arm, which cracked like branches under the weight of a large animal. Lyla waited for Rhokhishi to make her way to the seat next to her slowly, then sat down. The hag waited, her smile still large, looming, and terrifying. Once they all were around the table, it moved one of its fingers. Vines, old and decayed, withered up onto Rhokhishi. Slowly, the vines dimly glowed, and Lyla watched as blood disappeared from Rhokhishi’s clothes and wounds healed from the attack. It was silent, but Leaf broke it first.

“It is clear that you have power over us in many ways, Countess. You do not actively harm us, though. What is your goal here?”

“I… would like to talk… about the book… she has…”

The mother of hags gestured carefully towards Lyla. She could feel its heat and vibrate in its pouch, but Lyla didn’t reach for it.

“You know… so much… already. I offer… a deal.”

“What is your offer?” Lyla asked.

“I… would like… your help.”

“Why would we help you?” Rhokhishi questioned.

“Let us… be honest… with… each other. I… care little… for the… Hounds of War. They… do not… serve me… or… my vision… of the world….”

“But you are one of them,” Lyla stated.

“In a time… where Gods… and Devils… and dragons… fought. We… no longer… have need for… such things.”

“We ask again, what is your offer?” Leaf pushed.

“You found… and killed… my three… blood… daughters… I have… another… Adopted… from the world. I… believe… she was… taken… captured.”

“Where?”

“North… of Aramore. Is that… not… where you… are going? She… is with… Zidingris. I… would like… you to go… and find her. If you do… I will give you… help.”

“What help?”

“Answers now… Passage later.”

“Answer us freely now,” Rhokhishi sat up, looking into the hag’s eyes. “I have pondered this for weeks, and the name is too on the nose. Zarin the Just is The Justifiable, correct?”

“Yes…”

“You mentioned passage?” Ana winced as she spoke. She held her arm close, and Lyla could see that while it wasn’t bleeding, various colors moved around her arm, making it hard to determine what it was. Lyla also noticed Ana’s skin had changed. The tanned skin that she had had turned white, like a blank canvas that Myla had.

“There… is a weapon. It belonged… to Zarin’s… sister… Zariel. He… imprisoned… her… centuries ago. I… can give you… passage.”

The hag held her hand up, and Lyla could see two golden coins in them.

“The… River Styx… must have… payment.”

“Wait.” Rhokhishi sat forward, her eyes full of determination. “Are you saying that he took her to Hel?”

“Yes…”

“And what will this weapon do? Why is it important?” Leaf asked.

“It can… pierce… Asmodeus’ skin… It can… kill Zarin.”

“Is that why he took her there? So no one could find it?”

“That… and because… he… wanted… her power. Releasing Zariel… will weaken… Zarin.”

“You’ll help us get there, but what do you want, exactly?” Ana asked.

“When… you make it… to Aramore… I… am sure… that you… will find… The Icewing. While there… find my daughter… Release her… from their grasp… and… tell her… to come home.”

“Where is home?” Lyla asked, even though she already knew.

“The Pluxver Wastes. She… will know… how to… find me.”

“Find your daughter, release her from captivity, and you’ll give us passage through the River Styx.”

“Yes…”

“And you’ll take us back, correct?”

“Yes…”

Lyla looked at her friends. She wasn’t sure what the right move was, but she didn’t see another way out. Slowly, she reached out her hand, watching the rest of them hold their hands out as well.

Underneath the Countess’ robes, two more arms unfolded. They reached out, bones cracking as they changed position, and grasped hands with the four across the table.

“A deal… is made.”

Darkness encapsulated them again, and she felt her feet hit something cold. Looking down, she could see the snow under her feet. Around her, a blizzard roared, gusting winds, and pushed the icy chill against her body.

“What the hell?” Mr. Muffins roared out above the wind.

In a circle, the party found themselves staring up at each other. Behind each person, their horses, weapons, and luggage had been neatly placed. Even Ana’s cart was there.

“What did you do now?”

“We’ll explain along the way. We need to head East,” Rhokhishi called out.

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