The Keepers of Chaos: A Vault of Hell

Riu Astrial: LIII

"I'm... not sure." Andraste replied in a high pitch.

"Alekzandr, what do you think?" Asher tried to ask, though Alekzandr didn't give a response. Riu could see pain in his eyes and he blinked slowly. She opened her mouth to ask what was wrong but Alekzandr simply shrugged, not interested in talking. "Riu, what about you? What do you think?"

"Mm.. What do you mean?" Riu puzzled, the amount of stuff being thrown around by Asher was too much to keep track of.

"Of everything that's happened today.. What do you think?"

"I'm.." Riu stopped, was she? "I'm glad for his death.. Being rid of that scum.. It's the beginning of what I need. Yet.. it brings back memories I'd.. rather forget." Riu responded. Asher nodded.

"Adleth?" Adleth held up a middle finger and went back to her book, what she was reading Riu had no idea. She looked down at her cup, pursing her lip.

"What the hell is it with Cultists and attacking villages?" Herod exclaimed finally. "I mean your parents were in the whole cult of the dragon war, my town was attacked by the cultists of Shubniggerauth, and Markos's village also had a cultist attack! Though in that case he joined the cult so I'm not sure if it counts." Herod sat back steaming a little.

"Cultists like villages!" Adleth announced. "Easy targets, yall are just sitting there, get better next time." Riu did not feel amused.

"Well.. Andraste what's your plan, where do you intend to go after you leave here?" Asher's question was such a fair one yet also so unfair. Riu wanted to leap up and declare Andraste could join them, live in their house but she didn't have that permission. Before the elf could reply however she heard the door of the tavern open behind her. Markos stood in the open doorway a ring of keys in hand though it didn't look like he had unlocked the door. His purple eyes shone in a strange light something Riu couldn't quite place. Behind Markos she saw a familiar face, one she had been hoping for, and for the most part it looked like the cultist was in one piece.

"Hi!" Markos chirped, his signature happy tone following him. Riu cracked a small smile, ever since their conversation she had begun seeing him in.. a different light.

"That.. was some impressively quick work." Renaer pushed past Markos sitting down at a nearby table. "I wasn't expecting to hear from you until.. Maybe tomorrow.." Renaer remarked, his voice was joyful and impressed to say the least, Riu blushed a little.

"It.. wasn't easy." Asher replied, she agreed.. The damned gnome did not want to go out without a fight. Renaer smiled.

"As far as I heard.. You had an easier time than most... though with your less then.. Secretive approach: I'll have to do some cleaning up in the guard."

"Yeah, some of us didn't.. Fare too well." Riu looked around the room with Asher's comment most of everyone required healing after the fight, for most of it Asher and herself had to fight him alone. Riu shook her head, they had all jumped him and wore him down, if it weren't for the others Skeemo would still be alive. It was just.. Asher.. His fighting style, those Krono clones the way he became a vortex of blades taking hits, dishing out harder hits. She suspected he wasn't any ordinary fighter. And those swords.. When Skeemo had disarmed him Asher finally pulled out those long swords.. So intricate, so masterfully crafted. She wondered what they were.

"We really tried to make sure he didn't run away." Markos remarked. "We really thought he was gonna run away, I mean his name was literally Skeemo." Riu chuckled at that, so did Renaer, seriously who named a person Skeemo? "God he could take a hit, serious cold spells too, hurt like a tundra."

"Must've felt like my home!" Alekzandr cheered from the bar, easy for him to say, he didn't have to face the freezing spell Riu thought. Asher gave Alekz a quick deadpan face stare.