Session 6 Part 2 - Hunting

Sethie skipped up the stairs, hugging Orianna, Zhera, and then Gnash. She turned back toward Coada, extending her hand.

“Gnash, this is Coada. Coada, meet Gnash—he’s a family friend,” she said cheerfully.

Coada nodded and took a seat beside Zhera. Gnash leaned back in his chair, eyeing Coada with suspicion.

“Didn’t expect you to make such fast friends with guards,” Gnash said with a smirk, puffing his cigar toward her.

Sethie rolled her eyes and sat down beside him. “She’s with the church. Hardly a guard, if you ask me.”

“She’s from House Arcea,” Gnash said, gesturing to Coada’s armor. “Clearly a war cleric. There’s not much difference between the two.”

“Is there a problem?” Coada growled.

“We’ll see,” Gnash smirked.

Sethie sensed the immediate tension between the two and quickly changed the subject. “Anyways… Mom, remember when I asked if you could leave town?”

Orianna nodded, offering tea to Sethie and Coada as she took a seat.

“Well, I think the time is now.”

“Now?” Orianna raised an eyebrow, glancing between Sethie and Coada.

“I can’t say much,” Coada began, “but something is coming. It’s best if you’re somewhere safe.”

“Hm.” Gnash grunted, leaning forward. “Interestingly enough, I agree.”

“You what?” Orianna looked at him, surprised.

“I came because of those disappearances we discussed. Whatever’s behind them has gotten more aggressive. I’d feel better if you were out of harm’s way.”

“Disappearances?” Coada inquired.

“Yeah, and since your people aren’t doing anything about it, we have to.” Gnash scoffed.

“What are you blaming me for?” Coada hissed.

“If there are disappearances,” Sethie interjected, cutting through the tension, “then maybe we can do something about it.”

Orianna shook her head. “No, no. I’m not letting my daughter run toward danger like that!”

“I’m more than capable, and I have allies I can trust to watch my back,” Sethie barked.

Orianna opened her mouth to protest, but Gnash interrupted. “Ori— I’ll see to it that you and Zhera get out of town tonight. If Sethie insists on being the hero, I’ll stay by her side and make sure she’s safe.”

Orianna huffed but sank back into her seat.

“Plus,” Gnash said, reaching into his pack and pulling out a shortbow, “I have a gift for you.”

Sethie’s eyes lit up. “Oh, Gnash!”

“We can’t have you trying to fight on the front lines, and your magic isn’t infinite. This should help,” he said, placing the bow into her hands.

Sethie grinned and hugged him tightly, then turned to show Zhera. “Let’s go practice some shots!” she signed.

“Uh-uh,” Orianna commanded, signing as she spoke. “Zhera and I need to pack.”

“Well, we can go,” Gnash suggested.

Sethie nodded, giving Zhera another hug before leading Gnash and Coada into the small courtyard behind her home.

Coada took position across from Sethie and held out her shield. “Here’s your target,” she called.

Sethie furrowed her brow. “Are you sure about that?”

Gnash laughed. “Go on, this’ll be great. How often does a guard let you shoot them?”

Coada shook her head mockingly at him. Sethie chuckled and drew back her bow. Clank! The first shot slammed into the shield and ricocheted.

“Good shot!” Gnash cheered.

Sethie notched another arrow. Clank! Another hit.

Coada smiled. “You’re a natural!”

Draw. Release. Clank. Draw. Release. Clank. Draw. Release. Woosh. The arrow skimmed the edge of the shield, grazing a deep gash into Coada’s arm. She grunted but held firm.

“Looks like we’re shooting our allies now, huh?” a voice called from the alley behind Sethie and Gnash.

Sethie jumped, turning to see Sumayya smiling playfully.

Coada laughed, casting a quick healing spell on her arm. “It’s nothing. Sethie’s a damn good shot.”

“I can see that,” Sumayya said, licking her lip as she glanced down at the closed wound.

“Sarah, this is Gnash, a family friend. Gnash, this is Sarah.”

“Pleasure,” Sumayya said, bowing her head and extending her hand to him.

“The pleasure’s all mine,” Gnash replied with playful flirtation, taking her hand and bowing.

“Now,” Gnash said, turning back to Sethie, “We’ve got some daylight left, and I’ve got intel on a group that’s wanted by the guards. They’re hiding out in our neck of the woods. Want to get some real practice?”

Sethie hesitated.

“I could use a good hunt,” Sumayya said, her voice calm but laced with a touch of viciousness.

Gnash smiled and nodded. “And you, Arcean?”

Coada rolled her eyes. “Sure.”

Sethie nodded, handing the bow to Gnash. “Let me say goodbye really quick,” she whispered before jogging back into her house.

Orianna and Zhera were still packing when Sethie entered. She ran into their room, giving Zhera a tight hug.

“I’m going to miss you,” she signed. “Stay safe, and don’t be a stranger. Also, keep Mom on her toes. If we don’t give her a few gray hairs, we didn’t do our jobs right.”

Zhera laughed. “I will. Please visit.”

Sethie nodded, turning to see Orianna standing in the doorway with two small boxes. She handed one to each of them, signing, “This was a gift for later, but you’ll need them now. Go ahead.”

Sethie and Zhera opened the boxes to reveal small, faintly glowing palm stones. They exchanged a glance before looking up at their mother.

“Sending stones,” Orianna continued. “So you two can stay in touch no matter how far apart you are.”

Sethie’s eyes welled up as she jumped up and hugged her mother.

“Please be safe,” Orianna whispered. “I’m so proud of you.”

Sethie trembled, burying her face in her mother’s shoulder, tears running down both their faces. Zhera joined the embrace. After a moment, Sethie stepped back, wiping away her tears. “I promise to visit,” she whispered, signing.

Orianna nodded and hugged her one last time before sending her off.

Sethie stepped back into the cold air, patting her cheeks to restore some color and wiping away the last of her tears. She gazed up at the cloudy sky and sighed deeply before returning to her group.

“Ready?” Gnash called as she rounded the corner.

Sethie nodded, her confidence returning. She took the bow and slung it over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”

The group followed Gnash north, through winding streets to the outskirts of the North Corner. The houses gave way to craggy rock and steep slopes, many buildings run down or abandoned. Gnash led them cautiously, stopping before an old, forgotten house, its windows and door boarded up.

“What’s the plan?” Sethie asked.

Gnash eyed the party. “Sarah and I will circle around the back and look for an entrance. You look for a way in on the side, and you…” He gestured toward Coada, “You guard the front. Can’t have you clanking around and giving us away.”

Coada huffed but nodded as Gnash, Sumayya, and Sethie crept around the building. They found a small crack in a window on the right wall. Sethie peered through and saw four figures inside. “I can see them from here,” she whispered.

Gnash nodded, continuing around to the back, with Sumayya close behind. At the back, Gnash began quietly working on the lock. Sethie kept an eye on the figures through the window. They seemed to be positioned facing the front door, one of them holding a long, thin barrel.

“I think they know you’re there,” Sethie messaged to Coada telepathically.

“So what’s the plan?” Coada responded urgently.

“Any luck?” Sethie messaged to Sumayya.

“Working on it,” she replied.

Coada tensed in frustration, waiting for a response or a sign.

“I think they know we’re here,” Sethie messaged. “The faster, the better.”

“We can only go so fast,” Sumayya responded. “Give us another minute.”

Coada clenched her jaw. “Hello?” she thought to herself, but after another minute, there was still no sign of movement.

“Almost there,” Gnash whispered as he continued working on the lock.

The figures held their position. Coada groaned. “Fine, I’ll do it myself,” she whispered as she drew her weapon. She charged the door, bursting through the rotted wood with ease. Bam! The flash from a thin barrel exploded toward her. She staggered back, her left arm going limp as the pain surged through her.

She looked down at the wound. She had never seen a gun in person, let alone been shot by one. Anger surged as she charged forward, swinging her blade down hard.

Her strike met another as a heavily armored man leaped in front of her. Sethie hurried to rip the boards off the windows.

Sumayya quickly scaled the wall, searching for a way in on the roof. Gnash watched her, confused. “Forget this,” he muttered, smashing the lock with his dagger.

As Sumayya reached the top, a cloud of mist evaporated as the woman with the rifle appeared on the roof, aiming through a hole at Coada.

The other two figures charged around the armored man, flanking Coada. One swung daggers, grazing her armor, while the other swung a warhammer at her already wounded arm, staggering her.

Coada grunted in pain, pulling her blade back and striking the armored man. He dodged back, and Gnash charged, lodging a dagger into his thigh. The man screamed, swinging down at Coada, but she narrowly avoided the strike. Bam! Another shot rang out, and Coada’s ears began to ring again, but the bullet just missed.

The woman to her right swung again, slashing deep into Coada’s tail. Sethie called out as she climbed through the window, casting a barrage of psychic energy over the woman. The other man swung again, crashing into Coada’s armor. 

Sumayya charged silently towards the unsuspecting shooter as she drew her main blade, she swung upwards, clanking against the metal of the rifle and flinging it from the woman’s grip. 

The armored man swung again, as Coada deflected the blade with her own as she swung right into the woman and sliced deep into her side. The shooter pulled out a small revolver as her rifle clattered to the ground, ignoring Sumayya and taking another shot towards Coada, striking her left shoulder again. Coada’s vision began to blur. Sumayya growled as she swung on the shooter again, slashing across her arm and stomach. “Not deep enough.” she thought to herself.

The woman beside Coada swung on her again, but the barrage of psychic energy continued to flood her mind. She swung wide, missing Coada entirely. Sethie loosed an arrow, hitting the woman in the neck. She collapsed.

The man on Coada’s left cried out in anger and swung again at Coada’s chest, sending her crashing into a wall. Gnash threw another dagger, hitting the armored man in a gap between his armor, and the man fell to the ground, gurgling.

The shooter turned toward Sumayya, but Sumayya plunged her blade into her. The woman spat defiantly before falling limp.

The last man charged at Gnash, but Gnash dodged and threw a dagger into his shoulder. Sethie ran to Coada, singing out healing words as the light flickered back into her eyes.

Gnash faced the man, who swung once more. Gnash ducked between his legs, then threw his final dagger, landing it in the back of the man’s head. He crumpled to the floor.

The group paused in silence, waiting for another attack, but none came. Sethie continued healing Coada while Sumayya retrieved weapons from the fallen.

“We should go quickly,” Gnash urged. “This wasn’t quiet, and I’m sure the guards will be here soon.”

“I’ll handle them,” Coada groaned, standing shakily. “You guys take what you can.”

Sumayya nodded and began searching the bodies. “Here,” Gnash called, tossing a small box into Coada’s arms. “They stole this from the royal docs and brought their troubles here.”

Coada nodded. “I’ll return it and make sure they back off.”

“Sure you will,” Gnash joked.

Coada grumbled and exited to wait for the guards. Sumayya tossed the rifle to Sethie, pocketing two revolvers and their ammunition. Gnash gathered his daggers, and the trio slipped through the back door, heading back to Orianna’s.

“Congratulations on your first job,” Gnash said, patting Sethie on the shoulder. “I’ll have your payment tomorrow.”

“Payment?” Sethie asked.

Gnash lit a fresh cigar, waving as he walked away. “I don’t let anyone work for me for free. I’ll stop by tomorrow.”

Sethie looked at Sumayya, who shrugged, before they entered Orianna’s empty home. Sumayya hesitated in the storefront, but Sethie reassured her, leading the way up the stairs where they waited in tense silence for Coada’s return.

As the sun began to set, they heard the door jingle.

“Coada?” Sethie called.

“Yeah, yeah,” Coada groaned as she climbed the stairs and sank tiredly into a chair.

They sat in silence for a moment.

“So…” Coada hesitated. “I spoke with the guards, and everything is good there. I also spoke with the guard captain.”

Sumayya raised an eyebrow. Sethie leaned in. “About?”

“Well, I had a vision after trying to peer into the Wasting.” Coada paused, reflecting on the experience. “It felt the same as when I tried to push deeper into the sickness.”

“And what does that have to do with the guards?” Sumayya asked.

“There’s a prisoner there—the one Wora was talking about. She was a brilliant mage who snapped. If this is connected, I want to speak with her. And I’d like both of you by my side.”

“Danyell Loris, right? The one who killed the High Treasurer?” Sethie asked.

“Yes,” Coada nodded. “I’ve arranged an audience for tomorrow morning.”

“That was suspiciously fast,” Sumayya scoffed.

“Well, I just returned an item meant for Ruen Fioras, the king’s chief advisor. He’s also overseeing her imprisonment since she was once his pupil. A favor for a favor.”

“Hm.” Sumayya shrugged. “I suppose we should get some rest, then.”

Sethie nodded, and the three of them retired to her room for the evening.