.^^ 'Sandy' ^^
— Cassidy —
Walking back toward the Mage's Circle as if we hadn't just met our grandmother years after her funeral, was a weird experience.
More than waking up in a new body, new world, new everything; meeting people you thought were dead, and facing the reality that this might very well be the afterlife, which begs the thought that they were all dead.
I paused. "Oh, shit..."
"What's wrong?" Father asked.
"If we're dead, does that mean that our aunt is going to be haunted by the message we sent her?" I asked.
He snorted, and shook his head. "We're not dead, my dear, and even if we were, the message was a piece of parchment, how can you be haunted by-" he stopped, and hummed.
"See? Told you. Think about it..." I chuckled.
He shook his head, and turned me around, so I was against his back. Two people blocked that end of the alley, and from his body posture, two more were likely on the other side.
I drew the dagger I'd been handed by Renata, and it liquified, almost, turning to a shape more familiar to me; a heavily field-tested, military issue Ka-Bar. It then ignited, and the two individuals drew wicked-sharp blades.
A lithe figure slipped between them, though they didn't react, like they couldn't see her, and then her tall white staff whipped in a glowing arch, slamming both of them against the wall.
She waved, and gestured the way she'd come. 'This Way.' Her voice whispered through my head like sand in an hourglass.
I frowned, and kept an eye on her, nudging father. "This end is... somewhat clear."
"Your mother has this end. I'm keeping my eyes up. If your end is clear, you do that too. These buildings are short enough to climb." He growled.
I grinned and grabbed him, leaping against the walls and making my way up to the roof, surprising two more hooded individuals. I dropped father, and then simply punched both of them as hard as I could, knocking them out.
'A little inelegant, but it'll do, I suppose...' the woman appeared next to me.
I flinched, and whipped a foot towards her, only for it to crash into a wall of sand, and the impact was absorbed by the nature of the element it was made of. "What are you?" I growled.
'At the moment, an earth Elemental. You might know me as a 'Sand Demon'. I am a friend to the Taggen's. I was sent to fetch you, by Renata and Gladrinon and Thomas Skøll.' She answered casually, apparently having taken no insult from my attacking her.
I tried to yank my foot away, and found myself stuck. "Alright... can I have my foot back?"
'If you do not attack me again, I don't see why not.' She shrugged gently, and my foot dislodged.
Mother steadied me, and then looked to the side as the two remaining people mounted the roof next to us. "Well, they're stubborn, I'll give them that..." she murmured.
'They are being controlled. They have no capacity for free will or fear. So yes... one could say they are stubborn.' The sand demon whispered sarcastically.
I sighed, and sheathed the knife at my waist. "Well, I suppose we shouldn't hurt them too badly." When the one who had climbed up next to me leapt forward, I slammed my foot into his gut, sending him back over the edge, to crash into the ground about twenty-five feet down.
I winced when I put my foot down, at the slight burning feeling on my left ankle, and looked down to see a small cut along the back of my calf. The tall woman hummed. 'That was Not wise... their daggers are likely poisoned.'
Father immediately opened his book, and searched silently for a moment, then grabbed my ankle, and drew a symbol in the air, as the book floated in front of him.
I grunted as the burning intensified, and then halted, the wound closing like it was being made in reverse. "Oh... thanks, dad."
He grinned, then sat down suddenly, a confused look on his face. "That... took a bit outa me... interesting... make a note, love? Three spells is apparently my limit." He grumbled slowly, and fell asleep, snoring lightly.
I threw him over my shoulder, placing his book back in his pocket, and looked at mother. "Now how are we supposed to get back?"
'I foresaw something like this happening. Follow me.' The tall woman said simply, gesturing over the side and back the way we came.
Mother had disarmed the one on her side, and was dragging him behind her, unconscious. "Alright, easily done. A warning, though, sand crystallizes under heat, and I've got a fire-creature on my side." She nodded at me, and followed the woman, jumping down casually.
'I'm sure that's a source of confidence for you.' The woman responded, chuckling mentally.
—
She did, in fact, lead us to Renata's place of business, leading us around the back way, into a nice kitchen, and then through the illusion door, into the familiar parlor.
Tommy was dressed in a robe, thank god, and lounging in the lap of the blushing man, who didn't quite know what to do with her, it seemed. She saw father across my shoulders, and sat up swiftly. "What happened?" She asked.
"These guys happened. And he's just asleep." Mother threw the assassin onto the ground, and then settled father in an armchair, letting him rest.
Renata, reading a book in front of the fireplace, glanced at us. "That... is a shag rug from the Reticlian Dynasty of the Dragon Isles."
"This is an assassin who tried to kill me and my children." Mother retorted.
She paused, and then nodded. "Indeed, priorities. Well, Sandy? Was there anything to identify them?"
The tall woman leaned her staff against the wall, and suddenly shrank, sand flowing off her like water, until she stood about six feet tall, and looked much more realistic. Before, her beauty had been ethereal, a voluptuous maiden of jealous proportions; now, I saw what she viewed as imperfections.
A flat chest, coupled with or perhaps a symptom of her thin, muscular body. A scar on her lip, the tip of one of her ears slightly jagged, scarred knuckles and fingers. A rebellious fire in her beautiful sea green eyes, blazing beneath short black locks.
Her voice was different as well; rougher, with a hint of brass to it. "The poison they used was... interesting. Sedative, not necrotic or anything else that would damage a body. They were kidnappers, I think, taking them for Materials. Not assassins. Controlled from afar. I couldn't find the controller."
I blinked, staring at her, and smiled when she looked at me. "My name is Cassidy. Pleased to meet you." I held out a hand, and when she gripped it, I kissed her knuckles, and smiled at her shocked face.
She smiled back, and nodded. "Yes... I am known as Sand Dancer, or Sandy, a Druid of the Far-West Desert People's of Jerel."
"Greetings." I nodded, reflexively speaking Egyptian Arabic, thinking about my time in the desert, living with the desert peoples around the Sahara.
She paused, and tilted her head slowly. "How did you come by knowledge of the Hidden Language?"
"I lived amongst the Desert People for most of my adult years, until a year or so ago. But there is an issue that requires our immediate attention, Hmm? Who knows of us, and is this usual, for us to be attacked so quickly? We arrived two days ago, is that time enough for this type of thing to be arranged?" I asked, getting back on track.
Renata snorted inelegantly, too lost in thought to mind her usually impeccable manners. "They could have managed that within two hours, my friend... and they likely did. You were likely seen entering the bank, and you were a ripe opportunity."
"Or the word got out that Gramma founded the Golden Circle." I chuckled.
Tommy raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Gramma Hildegard is here, has been for 60 years or so, she said. Don't question it." I cut my eyes sideways slightly, and she nodded.
"Ahh... I see... I hadn't thought we'd see her here, and that she would have opened another Bank, after the last one being so hard on her health... but what happened to Dad?" She gestured at the sleeping man.
"He healed my foot after I was cut by one of the daggers, then said 'three spells is my limit', and passed out. His heartbeat is normal, he's just tired, it looks like." I shrugged.
"Yes, exhaustion. He's a new Wizard, and he's casting high-level Spells, left and right. He'll get better, with practice. And it'll be easier with a Staff." Renata chuckled.
I looked at the white oak bo-staff that Sandy had brought with her. "Like that? Like a straight-up Gandalf Staff?"
Renata clenched her eyebrows. "I... don't know who that is?"
"A very powerful Wizard, Gandalf the White, one of the greatest Wizards to ever live. He wielded a Staff and a Sword, called 'Glamdring', which means 'Foe Hammer', as well as its smaller paired blade, famously called 'Orcrist', which is 'Orc Biter/Bane'." Tommy nodded seriously.
"*Cough* Nerd! *Cough*" I smirked at her glare.
Renata smiled. "That does sound rather fortuitous a name for a sword, if he lived during the Orc Wars... but yes, a Staff and a Sword is a good combination, or a Spear works wonders. That's what I use." She gestured at a Silver wooden spear that was above the mantle, next to a nearly identical one, only gold.
"And so... should we just let him sleep? Get him comfy and leave him to rest, or wake him up?" Mother asked, impatient.
Renata shook her head. "Let him sleep. Waking him now would just render him useless for the rest of the day. In about four hours, he'll wake up, fully rested. It's an Elven Ability."
Mother nodded, and moved so he was laying across her lap, petting his hair. "Alright..."
"In the meantime, this is a good chance to get to know each other, yes? I planned on sending Sandy and Gladrin with you, to give you some guidance and help you with a few things I imagine you'll need. Also, their skill sets will prove very useful, Gladrin being a Bard, and Sandy, a Druid, which is always incredibly useful." Renata smiled at the new woman.
She nodded, and claimed a seat, as I noticed the sand dissipating into mist. "Yes, it is, isn't it? Most magical defenses were created to stop Arcane Magic, not Nature Magic. Makes my work much easier."
"The difference being?" I asked slowly.
She considered the question for a moment, and then nodded. "Well... the source of the power, where we draw our energy, I suppose. I draw energy from the elements, from nature, whereas others who use Arcane Magic draw from the Ether, and Clerics and the like draw from the Divine Realms."
"Divine... like god's?" I asked, raised an eyebrow.
She nodded. "Yes. I've seen a few, in my travels. Sometimes benevolent, sometimes... not. 'Celestial Beings', to those who aren't necessarily Faithful."
Tommy hummed. "And they interfere... often, in this realm?"
"Oh yes, quite often. Small things, mostly, and usually related to their Faithful or perhaps their purview, such as a nature god's interference with a magical blight, or something like that. Either way, we need to figure out your skill sets..." she hummed, looking between us.
"Which skill Sets are you referring to?" I asked, smiling.
"That is to say, how you'll be useful in the party. Sir Teagan is a Wizard, that's clear, and the two of you are skilled combatants, both preferring knives, and both with the acrobatic skill necessary to leap up on top of a building... tell me, what're you good at?" She asked, the double entendre whipping straight by her.
"Plenty of things... but if you meant combat, I suppose I've always been a long-rang combatant, though I'm not scared of a good scrap... I'm also pretty good at getting around enemy patrols, though how that'll work with golden skin, I don't know." I hummed.
Renata looked up. "Oh? You don't know how to- right, right. Well, just imagine your skin less radiant, if you want! I thought you both enjoyed shining like fresh gold!"
Tommy and I immediately closed our eyes, and when we opened them, I grinned at my pale skin, with a slight golden bronze tone to it. "Interesting... well, better now. And I trained under Dad as a Chemist, while training to take over mum's forge, and getting ready for my Biochem Degree. I dunno if the chemicals here are the same, nor the biology, but I'll find out in no time." Tommy grinned.
I snorted. "And she'll get herself blown up, too, without me to make sure she doesn't do anything stupid."
"I will not!" She growled, and threw a pillow at me.
I caught it, and placed it on the couch next to me. "This isn't our house, baby sister, do show some restraint." I smirked.
She grumbled, and shook her head. "I'm very careful when I wanna be..."
The hooded man began to stir, and I placed my knee on his back, pulling his arms back. "Check his mouth for False teeth." I commanded Tommy.
She immediately obeyed, opening his jaw and searching each tooth. She pulled out a small crystal, and tossed it to Renata. "What is that?"
"A fireball spell, in a crystal. Hmph. Inelegance at its finest." She growled, and crushed it in her hand, containing the blast with just her skin, and a small puff of smoke.
"Okay... that was awesome." Tommy murmured.
I nodded. "Agreed... check his clothes for weapons or anything paper or coin, seeing as dad's familiar can track coins... mother, can you check for brands or identifying marks?"
They nodded, and got to work efficiently as he began struggling. "No tattoos... one brand?" She showed Renata and Sandy a small brand on his hand.
"A Death brand... It's given to people who have no more leniency from the law, and are slated for execution, the next time they get caught doing something wrong." Renata frowned.
"A Last Chance XXX Mark?" Tommy grinned.
"Nerd!" I sighed.
"Something like that, yes. You have something similar in your homeland?" She asked, confused again by my response to my twin.
"Only in Stories. We stopped branding people like cattle about a century ago." I snorted.
"Mm. It is a barbaric practice, yes... either way, the person controlling them chose people that wouldn't be questioned... Curious." Sandy hummed.
"Smart. If I wanted to hide my activities, and there's a fresh group of easily identifiable criminals the cops will kill on sight, I'd use them as well. It's good planning... if he didn't allow one of them to get taken prisoner." Mother shrugged.
By now, he'd woken up enough to start speaking in a lilting, pleasant tongue, which Renata raised an eyebrow at, before responding sharply.
I uncovered his ears, and hummed at their half-points. "Ahh... half-Elves exist, eh?"
"Yes, but that is not what he is. He's a Wood Elf... don't look in his eyes, and don't let him speak to you. They have naturally strong Bardic Skills and Talents, just like our friend Gladrinon." Sandy surprised me by growling, and gripping the man's mouth tightly, halting his words.
Gladrin nodded, and knelt next to us, pulling the man up to look at him. "Tell me Your Name." He said with no uncertainty.
The man shut up instantly.
Renata tapped his skull, and I saw a small chain of blue light shatter, as he began babbling in that same language, almost lulling me to sleep, before I shook myself, and gripped his throat.
"You will speak in a language that doesn't make me sleepy, or I will rip out your larynx and let the Druid dig around in your mind. Savvy? Nod if you understand!" I snapped.
He slowly nodded. "Alright... Alright... just don't hurt me, please, I don't know what I've done to make you angry, but I swear, if it was while I was drunk, I didn't mean it, and if I owe you money, you've got the wrong guy!"
I sighed. "This is Your hardened criminal?" I asked Renata dryly.
She shrugged. "The best ones never get caught. This one has probably robbed a few too many people to pay gambling debts. You can release him, he's in a Wizard's Lair; he couldn't escape if he wanted to."
"A Wizard?!? Whoa, you definitely have the wrong guy, I'd never be stupid enough to steal from a Wizard! Come on, look at me! I'm a thief and a gambling addict, and I may have a slight drinking problem; but I'm not fucking stupid!" He turned to Gladrin. "Oi, come on, tell her! You know I'm not lying!"
"I do. I also know that you were being mind-controlled, and you have no memories of where you were tonight... do you?" He asked slowly.
"Uhm... mind-controlled? No, mate, you're dead wrong, see, this is how it shakes out: I Do a Job, don't get caught, and when I get back, the boss wipes our memories, so if we get questioned, we can say, with total honesty, that we've no idea what we're being asked about! See, it's perfect, because no one can brag about a score they don't remember! See? Perfectly Brilliant." He nodded seriously.
"It is... and the fact that you believe that is the best part of the plan. What's really happening is that you're being controlled, and therefore don't have any memories in the first place, or they're being repressed during the mission. Then, when you get back, you're given autonomy again, and then paid probably about 1/10th what you're really owed, because if you think you're stealing small change, but you're actually capturing people for ransoms, you're not getting near your cut." I appealed to his pride and greed, deciding to expedite the process.
He stilled, and a deep frown began to settle into his face. "I can't hear a lie in your voice... bugger all, that ugly, Greedy little Dwarf has been cheating me!!! Oh, when I get my hands on him-!!!"