Session 41 – Roughly two weeks and three to thirty years ago
Hannah
The flap of my tent slapped open as I charged out and frantically looked around. Cassandra's eyes lazily slid up to me from the book she was reading. "Hey Banana, what's got your panties in a twist?"
I glared at my infernal bitch of a best friend. "I've told you not to call me that."
My red-haired tormentor cackled and made a note in her book. "Yes, you have indeed, Banana. And every time you do so, I make a note to use it ten more times."
A low growl rumbled up through my chest and I shrugged off her immature name-calling. "Have you seen Alexis? She was gone when I woke up and I have just communed with my goddess. She said we need to protect the girl."
Cassandra's eyebrows rose up in disbelief. "Oh really now? Huh. I didn't see that coming, but no, I haven't seen her." Two fingers touched her ear as she cast Message. "Babe! We need you at camp! Hurry up!"
We waited a few moments in silence before I got curious. "What are you reading?"
The infernal sorcerer looked at me with a mischievous twinkle in her eye. "Oh, you wouldn't like it. It's called 'They're Just Roommates' and it's about women kissing."
Why wouldn't I like that? I shook my head at her confusing words, and moved onto important things as Gabriella came running out of the trees, sword in hand.
"What is it now?" The elf looked to me and then to her girlfriend. "I was busy. This had better be important."
"Alexis is missing. Have you seen her? My goddess said she is important and we need to protect her." I caressed my holy symbol thoughtfully.
Gabriella's mouth fell open and she looked at me in disbelief. "Are you sure that you didn't mishear? There's no way that little idiot is important."
My weight shifted and I crossed my arms. "Of course I'm sure. My goddess summoned me to the Celestial Staircase and made it very clear. She's in danger and we need to help her. She is mine to protect."
Cassandra tilted her head as she considered me. She put her book away, jumped to her feet, and stepped closer as she peered up into my face. "There's something you're not telling us."
My cheeks colored and I looked away from her eyes. "That is what she said. The girl is important and must be protected." I stood a little taller. "My instinct to trust her was correct. She is vital in some way, to protecting Illith Aranor from the Elder God."
"Gods Below." Gabriella groaned and sighed. "That's just what I need." The tall elf wiped both hands over her face, but then straightened up and snapped into Leader Mode. "Alright. As much as it pains me to say this, our new priority is to find that annoying idiot and keep her safe. Everyone spread out and look for tracks. Cassandra, update Bethul'Dyr and Gregorius. Alright people, let's go!"
We all took off in different directions. Where could that cute girl have gone to? I looked around and thought. She was new to our world and didn't have any friends except for that suspicious girl in the other dimension. My goddess had felt very strongly about her. Could she be a demon in disguise, getting close to Alexis to trick or corrupt her? That was probably it. I would have to cast a protection spell once we found the cute blonde to protect her from that Evil woman.
Tracks! She went towards the waterfall. "I found tracks!" I turned and shouted over my shoulder. "She went to the waterfall!" I broke into a jog, which is no small feat in heavy armor, and strode through the forest at my best pace. The tracks led me to the edge of the water where I found her discarded clothes. "Alexis! Where are you?" I looked around for the naked girl and my eyes were drawn to a doe who stood in the tree line, staring at me. It turned and pranced away.
"Hannah!" Cassandra and Gabriella came crashing through the forest and stopped beside me. Cassandra looked at the clothes in my hand and then around us at the water. "She came for a swim. How far could she have gotten naked?"
Gabriella unsheathed her sword, her steps growing cautious as she moved ahead of us. "Spread out. Eyes open. Shout if you find something."
Warhammer in hand, something told me to follow where the doe had gone. I pushed back into the trees, dead leaves and branches crunching under my boots. Traces of blood led me to a very gory scene. The remains of a man lay under the brush and leaves. "Here! There's a body."
Gabriella walked up with Cassandra on her heel and knelt down beside the body as she examined it. "Unskilled and desperate stomach wound." She shifted her hands through the leaves and hummed to herself. "His sword is missing. It could have been the weapon used against him." She stood up and looked around. "He looks like a slaver to me. I would say they ambushed the girl, she managed to kill this one, and the others took her."
"Let us be sure." My holy symbol flared with Divine light as I grasped it between my fingers. My other hand reached out over the dead body and snagged silver chains which became visible as they wrapped around my wrist. I gently yanked and the chain retracted, rising up to meet me and coiling into a circular pile at my feet. As it grew taunt, the body on the ground gasped, ghostly light filling its eyes and rasping breath passing through its lips.
"Summoner, what do you require of me?" Its voice crinkled and wavered as if being whispered over a great distance, forced out of the body by magic, not lungs.
"The beautiful blonde infernal woman. Did you see her?"
The corpse growled, it's voice thick and course. "Yes. Bathing in the water. Beautiful and exotic. Worth many platinum to the right buyer."
I took a moment to consider my second question. "How big is your camp?"
Its raspy voice carried up from the afterlife once more. "Forty men and fourteen slaves, counting the blonde."
Forty men. Okay, that was very doable. I looked up, Cassandra and Gabriella both nodded wordlessly for me to ask the final question. They trusted me to know that to ask. I had done this dozens of times over the years.
"How far in which direction is your camp?"
"A day's walk east." The decrepit voice trailed off into a final sigh as life left the body for the last time. Eyes dimmed as glowing light left them and the silver chain disappeared from my hand.
Time to go save that cute blonde and make her my wife.