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| - From a distance, Lucia heard the voice of her husband, calling out to her. Softly she moaned his name in answer. She did not want to awaken, however. It was peaceful where she was. The peace was so powerful that she wondered if she had ever truly felt peace before. Even her bones seemed to hum with the slow energy of it. It held her and she embraced it. The voice was insistent that she wake. As the poison cleared her mind, she became aware of the cold slimy stone at her back, the overwhelming stench of sewers, but mostly she realized the voice was not her husbands. Kopfjagger stood over her, an empty vial on the floor beside him. Her head held in his leather bound hands. She was speaking to him as his gloved hands stroked her hair. It was slow and slurred at first, but she was speaking.
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| - From a distance, Lucia heard the voice of her husband, calling out to her. Softly she moaned his name in answer. She did not want to awaken, however. It was peaceful where she was. The peace was so powerful that she wondered if she had ever truly felt peace before. Even her bones seemed to hum with the slow energy of it. It held her and she embraced it. The voice was insistent that she wake. As the poison cleared her mind, she became aware of the cold slimy stone at her back, the overwhelming stench of sewers, but mostly she realized the voice was not her husbands. Kopfjagger stood over her, an empty vial on the floor beside him. Her head held in his leather bound hands. She was speaking to him as his gloved hands stroked her hair. It was slow and slurred at first, but she was speaking. On the surface, Kopfjagger knew that she would come out of her poison and fatigue. But when she began to speak, he could feel the tension and worry melt away from him like ice left in the noonday sun. It did not matter to him that she did not call out his name at first. Not much, anyway. It was to be expected. But it was most pleasant to hear his name when she had her mind back. This was impossible, yet he witnessed it. He resisted the urge to kiss her forehead. He struggled with how to begin a conversation with someone that made him feel a light headed fool from a distance. If he could barely think while just looking at her, what would he sound like when he actually tried to speak? But there she was; so close and so wonderful. Gulping down his panic he thrust his shaking hands into the oversized pockets of his jacket. Trying to keep his courage up, he started awkwardly walking over to her. He was hoping he could get hello out before losing his mind entirely. Gulping didnt seem to be helping much anymore. Her arm was still numb and her body weak after what she had done in the chamber. She placed her good arm around Kopfjagger's neck and pulled herself up. She wobbled a bit but was able to walk on her own after a second or two. She just wanted out now. She couldn't imagine what the undead would do to her if she were captured. And what would they do to Kopfjagger. Surely he would be seen as a traitor. A shiver passed through her. No, she would stay strong until they were away from here and the dark, empty cages that awaited new occupants. He gave her plenty of time to get her wits and strength back. They would need both if they were to survive this. His shoulders visibly relaxed when she stood and he tried to not wrap his arms around her, but he was just helping her up afer all. The warning gong had not sounded and the same guards that they had passed earlier would be the only ones still there. He was not entirely sure how to proceed but soon Lucia found her legs and it was time to be gone from this dark place. He let his arms reluctantly find his sides again. The Forsaken rogue had never really considered the Undercity dark before now. Whatever had happened, and he did not suspect that it was ruining the dead-flesh of his once friend the Apothecary, his capital city had lost its awe and splendor. It was now a place where death plotted its vengeance upon the living. He had no reason to be in such a place any longer. *GONG* Curses. He grabbed Lucia firmly by the wrist and began to run, not sprint lest he hurt her, but run nonetheless, through the cave and towards hope. *GONG* She was having a hard time keeping up but he could not slow nor could he let go. If she fell behind she would be dead. If he let her lead, she would be dead. Everything would lead to her death except where he was leading her. *GONG* The guards were up ahead now, just around the corner. The torchlight illuminated the path before them. "Run!" He yelled at her, "RUN!" *GONG* Leaping around the corner he sprang upon the startled guards. They were expecting an attack to come from the other direction. No one would expect someone to try and fight their way out of the Forsakens capital city. Lucia's heart raced. Her breath came out ragged and strained. He ran so fast! A pounding began at her temples and she began to see spots yet still he ran, pulling her along. She was terrified of tripping or slipping on the stones. Her feet began to drag as they twisted and turned around corners, the awful sound of a warning gong in the background, seemingly in time with her pulse. They turned a corner and suddenly they were there, the guards from before, now more alert but peering outside instead of in. Kopfjagger didn't have her hand any more, instead he had his blades drawn and was battling with the two. Blades swirled and danced into the rotted meat of the guards. He was dealing death with his twin blades of horror but he was not the only one fighting. Lucia was pouring fire and ice onto the Forsaken as his blades dropped any that were in front of them. Behind her, Lucia could hear the clink and clatter of more alerted and coming for them, for her. A cluster of undead turned the corner. Panicked Lucia summoned the frigid elements and snared them in ice. It wouldn't hold long, already they stirred and grinned at her maliciously, thinking of the things they could do to her when they had her trapped with them. Perhaps that would give enough time for her to escape. Kopfjagger was not only her guide anymore. He was her protector, her companion and her only hope of not falling into their twisted hands. She heard him yell at her to run. She hesitated, she couldn't leave him! The thought of abandoning him here.... she couldn't! She shook her head at him, clearing telling him no, she would not run without him. She backed away and prayed for strength. Then calling to the sky, she raised her hands to the air and made any moisture in it freeze. Shards of ice began raining down on the undead enemy, slowing them, tearing at their dead husks. She pictured her husband and she looked at her greatest friend fighting before her and a tear fell on to her face and froze in mid trickle. Her lips turned blue, and her breath became visible as she channeled the water elementals and made them freeze. More comets of ice rained around them. Kopfjagger knew that once they were out of the city, they were safe. The guards were not permitted to leave the confines of the city. This sacred capital was not to be left undefended for any reason. That was their chance. Their hope. What wasnt she running? Magic is fine, but if she dies it will all be for naught. Run woman! Finally he just grabbed her and turned towards the end of the darkness. Running as fast as he dared, the Forsaken rogue saw a sliver of silver light up ahead of them. Cold sunlight sliced its way through the dark and dank tunnel. That was their salvation. "Halt!" "Die traitor scum!" "Leeehhht mmmmeee hhhhavvve thhhhhhe hhhuumaaan" He could hear the guards calling out to them. Their cries were getting closer and closer. Lucia was slowing and he could not drag her. There was only one thing that he could do now and he was thankful for the opportunity. Kopfjagger stopped abruptly. Lucia nearly ran into him but he caught her fully in his arms and kissed her on the forehead with his ruined mouth. He held her tight for the briefest of moments and then flung her towards the daylight and safety. Then, he firmly planted his feet in the hard rocky cave floor. He calmly reached into his backpack for his strongest poisons. Slowly, as the guards clamored against Lucias chilling spells, he placed the poisons upon his blades. As the guards approached, they witnessed the rogue putting the poison on the blades. They say the furnace burning in his eyes. Yet they still approached. They were going to rip the traitor into pieces. Kopfjagger needed them to focus on him. Not on Lucia. ((This part of the story was written in partnership by Kopfjagger and Lucia. I have the honor of retelling it but at least half, if not more, of the creative power comes directly from Lucia even though her name does not appear to the left of the post. *bows deeply to Lucia* Thank you, Lucia, for letting me retell our story, I hope to do it justice.))
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