Chapter 193: The Enemy of My Enemy

Chapter 193: The Enemy of My Enemy

Elzri Noir stood in the corner of the basement, his eyes never left sight of the lamia behind the iron bars. She sat on the cold stone floor, her tail uncoiled and spread around the small cell. Her blue scales were scratched, a few dented, but most were stained with dried blood. The lamias upper body was covered in scratches, cuts, and bruises, and even more blood. Iron shackles wrapped around her wrists and throat.

Most prisoners would usually act scared or angry in such predicaments, yet she was expressionless. The lamias indigo eyes were dull and she seemed to stare into nothingness.

The local white mage healer had stated that most of the blood wasnt her own, which did nothing to reassure Elzri. She may seem like a damsel in distress, but she was a monster, and all monsters were dangerous.

Has she said anything yet? Elzri asked.

Not a word since she arrived, the human on-duty guard admitted.

Elzri glanced at the only other drow in the room. Vayu Glaz sat on a chair, his bandaged leg was in a splint.

Vayu shook his head, Docility collars didnt work on the lamia, brown magic is useless here. The same goes for my purple magic, neither my mind spells nor my true binding magic work on her. I dont know how, but assuming this lamia is not an anomaly, all lamias seem to be immune to any kind of mental control. I suppose its one of the reasons why lamias are so difficult to capture.

Along with the fact that they are deadly predators, Elzri said calmly. I heard this one was found unconscious next to a pile of corpses.

Indeed. The lamia woke up a few hours ago, but she has barely moved an inch, Vayu said.

Does she have any major wounds? Perhaps trauma to the head?

No head injuries and the healer attended to her serious wounds while she slept. I dont know why she seems so distant.

Keep her alive. The lamia could prove to be a valuable font of information. There are other means of getting someone to talk.

The basement door slammed open. A small blue figure barged in and glanced around the room.

Hey, you cant be down here! the guard yelled.

Its fine, Elzri said curtly.

Stryg, youre awake, Vayu smiled.

Stryg glanced between the lamia in the cell and back at the two drow magi, Whats going on? Why is she in a cage?

Why wouldnt she be? Elzri asked coldly. Lamias are dangerous, most are wild. This one is even worse, she worked for the Cairn, our enemy.

But she betrayed them, she protected my class, Stryg frowned.

Elzri nodded, So I heard and now I want to know why. As you can see, she has not been very cooperative.

Stryg glanced at Vayu, Cant you read her mind or something?

Already tried, it doesnt work, he sighed.

Stryg! Dammit, stop running! a femenine voice called out from atop the stairs.

Elzri recognized the voice instantly.

Loh hobbled down the stairs with her crutch, surprise crossed her face as she spotted Elzri. Grandfather?

And I was wondering why Stryg was down here, Elzri said with a slight frown. He should be recovering in bed, not visiting the garrison.

Loh scowled, I didnt bring him down here, he smelled you or someone, I dont know. The kid has heightened senses.

Strygs attention was focused on the lamia. She didnt move, her head hung low and she stared into space.

...What are you going to do with her? Stryg muttered.

Elzri looked at the boy thoughtfully, The lamia is being uncooperative. Since magic seems to have failed, we will resort to more traditional methods.

Stryg kept his eyes on the lamia, Which are?

She will be taken to Hollow Shade with the other prisoners we managed to capture tonight. Once there, I will have experts torture the lamia until she breaks. Then we will extract whatever little bit of information is left in her muddled mind.

Then what? Stryg asked.

Isnt it obvious? Elzri said without a hint of emotion.

Vayu cleared his throat, The lamia is a threat, she is a member of the Cairn Tribe. The only logical choice is execution; sacrifice her to the shade wall, as is custom when executing enemies of Hollow Shade.

...I see, Stryg mumbled.

Loh grabbed his shoulder, You dont seem happy, I thought you hated lamias?

Stryg tore his eyes away from the lamia and glanced at the keys dangling from Vayus waist, Professor, may I see the keys to the cell, please.

The name sounded familiar, where had he heard it?

Why dont you ask the old drow over there? He seems to be far more interested in this than either of us, Lysaila smiled mockingly, black venom dripping from her fangs.

Elzri stayed silent, but he kept watching them from a distance, his expression indiscernible.

Stryg sighed, this was getting nowhere.

With painful motions, he pushed himself to his feet, A favor for a favor. You saved my friends and me last night. I wont let them kill you. Consider my debt repaid.

I am not afraid of death.

He paused and looked at her, Then what are you afraid of?

She bit her lip, Losing myself again.

He narrowed his eyes, What does that mean?

Loh cleared her throat, Stryg, we dont have to kill her, but we cant let her go free either. She is a threat to all of us. Hell, just being in the cell with her is dangerous.

Stryg shook his head, Lysaila wont hurt me.

The lamia shivered with fear.

Stryg blinked, ...Lysaila? Thats your name, isnt it? Why do I know that?

Her face paled.

His eyes widened, ...You cant hurt me, can you?

He stepped closer to her. Lysaila tried backing away, there was nowhere to go.

Stryg didnt understand why, but something was different. He slowly reached out and placed his hand between her breasts, his fingers resting above her beating heart. Her skin felt cold to the touch. He could feel her heart thrum with a rapid, terrified pounding. Suddenly it quieted, the heartbeat slowing to a calm rhythm. Lysailas eyes widened, her breath grew quiet.

Silver sigils stemmed out from her chest and across her skin. More silver sigils gradually began appearing all over her body as if they had always been there.

Stryg swallowed and looked into her vacant eyes, ...What are you?

...A weapon, sovereign, she mumbled blankly.

Stryg stumbled backwards, confused. Lysaila fell over, the silver sigils faded as quickly as they had appeared.

Elzri flicked his fingers, yellow mana coursing through him. A powerful gust of wind smashed the prison guard into the wall. His head smashed into the stone bricks with a splatter of blood. The guard collapsed to the ground, dead.

What the fuck!? You didnt need to kill him! Loh yelled.

Do you know what just happened with Stryg? Elzri asked quietly.

Loh glanced at Stryg, he sat at the opposite corner of the cell, holding his trembling hand. His eyes stared at Lysaila cautiously. As for the lamia, her body was on the floor, unable to move, yet her eyes glared at him with pure rage.

...I dont think anyone understands what just happened, Loh gulped.

Exactly, we cannot risk this getting out, Elzri said grimly. Vayu, arrange for this to be cleaned up. If anyone asks, tell them that the guard disrespected me, a city lord of Hollow Shade. They wont ask anything else after that.

Yes, Lord Noir, Vayu bowed.

Elzri pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. Congratulations, Stryg. Youve gotten your wish. The lamia will be released once we arrive in Hollow Shade, on several conditions that we will discuss later.

This is crazy, you cant just let her free, Loh said exasperatedly.

This isnt up for debate, Elzri said.

Why? I dont understand why you are doing this, she frowned.

If my theory is right, Elzri said cautiously, Id rather not keep a budding Mortem mage away from his beast-kin. Everyone, pack your things, we leave for Hollow Shade at first light.

~~~

A Few Days Later

Stryg glanced out the carriage window, the ebon black walls of Hollow Shade loomed above him. The citys banners hung from above the wall, depicting a black sun and a skull at the center.

As they neared the gate, Stryg spotted the familiar arcane words, Protection of Death etched into the black magestone above the gate.

He felt a painful pit grow in his stomach as he noted a large procession at the gate. The crowd was formed of several armored warriors along with various men and women dressed in black cloaks. At the front of the procession stood two men, Lord Gale and Lord Veres IX.