Reenactment

When Nia came to, she could hardly move. Her thoughts were sluggish and she had a strange sweet taste in her mouth.

That’s probably the strange drug that inhibits my magic …

She tried to get her magic to work, but it was a sluggish as it was with the randoms.

“Seems like she’s stirring.” She’d never heard that voice. “Why didn’t you kill her already?”

“Because I can’t, Gregor. If she doesn’t want to die, she won’t.”

So, that’s why you need to break me first. It was a sobering thought.

Nia slowly opened her eyes. It took her eyes a moment to focus, but what she saw, doused her with ice cold water already. Besides an orange-red glowing sphere was the reenactment of the moment that led to Qiin stabbing her.

Lynn stood behind Tom, grinning broadly, a knife held to their archer’s throat. Gregor was behind Ralf, his massive physique holding a war ax right to the pseudo-dwarf’s head. He had a grim expression on his face. Robb was next to Tina, his face stoic. And Saesquar was behind Sonja, the goddess playing with her sword, though she was clearly avoiding the red blade itself.

Her companions were all on their knees, bound and gagged, and from the color on Sonja’s gag, she’d also been force-fed that foul anti-magic poison.

We’re fucked.

“Last time, we got very rudely interrupted.” Saesquar put the sword into the ground, the blade cutting into Sonja’s clothes and the stone. “You have a choice: I can kill your companions and then you very slowly, or you can choose the fast way out.”

Nia spit the foul taste out of her mouth. “Congratulations. Seems like you won.”

Saesquar started to grin. “It’s good that you understand.”

Tina, Ralf and Tom stared at her with wide eyes. It felt as if they wanted her to fight, to do something. Maybe even teleport all of them out of there. And it would be nice, if she knew how she did it. But she didn’t. There had to be a way out, but which one? Without magic, moving was out of the question, her muscles didn’t obey her, despite all the training she had done with Tina.

“I am not stupid. It’s one of my few redeeming qualities.”

“I appreciate people that are able to think.”

“What I don’t get though, is why you destroyed Drakar.” Nia tried to take a deep breath. She failed and coughed. “Weren’t you supposed to protect your people?” Maybe she could buy time until she found a solution or this poison wore off enough so she could use magic.

She noticed how Robb looked at Saesquar. Was it possible, that he was interested in the answer as well?

“Some sacrifices were necessary.” Saesquar snorted. “I needed to prove a point. I can’t have my people ignore an ultimatum of mine.”

“So you had to punish everyone. Even though they couldn’t stop me from fleeing? Was it really their fault?”

“Why are you questioning the motives of a goddess?”

“Because a good leader would’ve found another way. A good leader wouldn’t have burned the city. A good leader wouldn’t have burned the surrounding villages. And good people wouldn’t look forward to an execution!” She shot that comment to Saesquar’s goons.

“Spare me your sermon. I have all the right to do what I want. I am the highest authority in this world now. You can try to run to my mother on the floor above. But you can’t move, can you? And she can’t either. She can’t and won’t help you.”

Robb looked away. Maybe he felt hopeless, that he couldn’t do anything? Maybe, if she gave him something …

“You’re not invincible though. I was able to hurt you. That sword you’re holding can hurt you.” Robb looked back at her, an eyebrow raised.

“That won’t be a concern anymore, once I’m done with you. And your comrades won’t be able to do anything with that information.”

Nia sighed. “You’re right. So, what now?”

“Now, choose.”

I hope, I’m not misjudging you, Robb. “Suppose I want to save my companions. How does your … fast way out work?”

“That’s easy. Pray in my glory, tell your magic that you’d gladly give up your life for me.” Saesquar leaned on the pommel of the sword. “After that I’ll give you a quick death.” The dark goddess patted the hilt in front of her.

“I see.” Nia managed to move her right arm slightly. “I just got used to this body … And now I have to give it up.”

“It’s a shame. Really. Between all the saints I’ve seen, you’ve turned out the best.” Saesquar grinned. “If you hadn’t thrown me out of your mind, I would have shown you a really nice night. Binding you to me in that way would have been much for fun for the both of us.”

Nia barked a laugh. Saesquar had had several plans to reach her goal. “I had no real chance from the very beginning, hadn’t I?”

“You had a bit of wiggle room, but your end was predetermined by me.”

“Can you promise me that you’ll at least sent them home? Back to their world?”

Saesquar was silent for a long moment. “I’ll try.”

“You’ll just try?”

“Do you know, how many worlds exist out there? Finding the right one is like looking for a needle in a haystack.”

“So there are no guarantees for them.” Tears pricked in her eyes.

“I can’t promise that I succeed. But I am a goddess of my word. I’ll try to send them home.” The dark goddess smirked. “If you pray to me, that is. And very soon, or I’m going to decide for you. I’ll have your friends killed first and then I’ll take my time breaking you.”

She waved at her goons and Gregor lifted his war ax. Lynn pressed her dagger into Tom’s throat, drawing blood. Even Robb drew a red glinting dagger. The dagger Qiin had used to try and kill her. Twice. It probably could hurt Saesquar as well, but she couldn’t tell him.

Please. For once, let me be right. Let me judge a person correctly for once.

“Fine, you won. I’ll pray to you.” Nia closed her eyes. She took a few deep breaths. Her heart fluttered.

Her companions screamed.

“Oh, Saesquar, my goddess of the dark.” Nia could almost feel the grin on the dark lady’s face. “Hear about the end of my arc.”

Her magic reacted to the melody she was improvising. It felt like a dark, foreboding tune. She licked her lips, unsure, how to continue.

“Come on, my little saint. Be a little creative about your end.” Saesquar’s voice sounded really jovial.

“A dark red blade is hovering above my head. And part of me thinks that’s really bad.”

Saesquar laughed.

“In order to save a friend, I’m looking at an end.” Nia took a deep breath. Her body had gotten really cold and she was shivering. Please, let me be right. Gambling with my life is really not something I wanted to do. This is a very high stakes lottery, isn’t it?

“I’m ready to give up this life. But only to the right knife.”

“Very creative. Very creative.” Saesquar gave a slow clap. “Now then, let me claim my reward.” The dark goddess pulled the sword out of the ground and walked toward Nia. “I didn’t think you’d work this sword into your prayer, but I guess you like the symbolism of it, too.”

Gregor lowered his ax and Lynn looked rather disappointed. Robb’s hand shook around the hilt of the dagger. He might need another push.

Nia looked back at Saesquar. “I’d appreciate it, if you’d try to send them home first.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t think, I’m strong enough to do that. Yet. I’ll have to claim your power first.”

“Of course you’d wiggle out of that.”

“What can I say? I am the dark goddess, after all.” Saesquar smiled.

“If I may, mistress.” Robb raised his voice.

“What is it?” Saesuar turned to her minion.

“Didn’t she speak of a knife in her prayer? Are you sure the sword is the right tool for the deed?”

The dark goddess looked down at the sword. “I assumed this to be the right knife.”

“It’s not a knife, isn’t it?” Robb held his dagger out to her. The blade glinted reddish in the sphere of light hovering above their heads. “One of them had this.”

“That’s the knife Qiin used to stab her.” Saesquar giggled and handed the sword to Robb in exchange for the dagger. “You’re right. This would be a much more fitting tool.”

Saesquar turned back to her and leaned over her. “You really know how important symbolism can be.”

“Hey? Robb? What are you doing?” Gregor asked.

Before any of them could react, Robb was in the air, plunging blade first toward Saesquar. The sword pierced the dark goddess’ body and then Nia.

Everything was silent for a moment. Then the goddess screamed, turned into black smoke and was pulled into the blade of the sword.

Warm blood pooled around Nia as the edges of her vision turned black.

“Traitor!” she heard Lynn scream.

“Thank you. And … good luck,” she whispered at the edge of her consciousness and sunk once again deep into the darkness.