Chapter 19

They settled and unpacked their things as Selmar entered the room. “Alright everyone listen.” Everyone except Josh stopped what they were doing and got closer. “As all of you have already noticed there is a new member to our group.” Many of the people in the room looked at Eleonora who stood a bit to the side, leaning on a wall. “Her name is Eleonora, she’s from Duneswatch and has been here for a while. You may find out more on your own if you wish to talk to her.”

“She gave us some incredibly helpful information which we will share with you in time. What you have to know right now is that this valley is part of Isindur, the capital of this empire. The main part of the city lies within the mountain and is much safer than out here. The corrupted we’ve encountered are drawn to a central point making the city likely one of the safest places we’ve seen so far in the north.” He looked towards Eleonora “She will guide us to the city and a cave system beyond. Treat her with respect and be aware that we will be entering what she considers her home.”

“We will leave tomorrow at dawn.” Everyone nodded or signaled their approval. Some of the people came up to Eleonora to introduce themselves. One of the guards shook her hand a little too long before he seemed to come to a realization. “I think I’ve seen you before…could it be?” Eleonora smiled at him “You’re Mike’s girl aren’t you!” she nodded “Man I remember seeing you bloody all over after one of his trainings. You know he’s one of the most feared instructors?” he released her hand “I have heard about that reputation.” She confirmed ‘Jonathan is much worse though.’ She thought. “Well I’m glad you’re here, must’ve been tough to survive out here and hiding from those beasts…” another guard next to him chuckled “Hiding? Are you fucking blind George? I feel like she’s gonna rip my throat out any moment now, no offense miss.” He bowed slightly “None taken.” She grinned.

They let her be as others waited to introduce themselves. The two guards left while whispering to each other. Eleonora of course heard everything. “There’s no magic though.” George said “What the fuck is it then? It’s like having an ice sabre staring you down.” Said the other “Oh you’re into her aren’t you?” George joked as he grinned at his friend “How could you not?” the other guard stated. ‘Hmm, Liam. I like that one.’ She thought as her attention shifted to the people approaching her. ‘The Rising Mood I assume. The red tags easily visible.’ She had already met Peter and Alice. “Matt, nice to meet you.” The man bowed slightly “Glad to have a guide who knows this place a little better.” He shook her hand “Likewise.” The others talked to her quickly too. Matt turned around and looked a little confused around the room. “Have you met Linda yet? The slender woman with a bow?”

Elly shook her head as she looked around the room, her eyes locking with two brown eyes staring at her from a corner, instantly braking the contact ‘Wow she’s stealthy.’ Matt followed her gaze and waved to the woman in the shadows “Linda come on, I know you’re shy but this is a bit extreme.” He went and dragged her to Eleonora. Linda looked at the ground before her as she stammered a greeting out “N…Nice to meet you.” Eleonora bowed “Likewise nice to meet you Linda.” The woman already wanted to leave before Elly talked again “How did you hide just now?” Linda turned around “Can you teach me?” Elly continued “I’m not sure if that’s possible.” Linda said “We’ll see once we get to the city.” Elly finished, interpreting the woman’s hesitation as shyness ‘She might have to get permission first too…I’ll just ask Selmar.’

The group settled into the building, strengthening it against the cold as they went their business. Sharpening weapons, meditating, cooking and talking. Everything in whispers of course. Some trained, as far as was possible in silence and without much magic. Most slept for a while. Elly sat on top of the building in the wind and looked at the stars for a while before the snow and clouds obstructed her view. She got back inside but slept on the first floor, feeling a little uncomfortable around all those strangers.

She awoke as the sun started to shine through the hole in the wall. She got up, walked outside and jumped up the two story structure, landing silently on the roof. The guard on duty whirled around unsheathing his sword before he relaxed. “Fuck don’t scare me like that love.” He returned to his previous position, overlooking the space below. “Sorry about that.” She said as she sat down, dangling her feet over the edge.

Twenty minutes later the group was ready to leave. “Where’s the girl?” Alice asked. Eleonora jumped down from the roof, landing effortlessly in front of the group. “Follow in a straight line. Quietly. And don’t interfere if I don’t say so.” Some of them wanted to object “Listen to her. She knows this place and the corrupted better than any of us here.” Selmar spoke. Some still looked discontent but followed their king’s orders.

They walked through the snow-covered streets southwards. The quiet walk continued for fifteen minutes before the first corrupted appeared. Eleonora jumped up as a claw passed below her. Her halberd whirled and the blade landed in the monster’s back. With a flick of her weapon she threw the corpse to her left and waited for a minute in complete silence. The people immediately behind her were the only one’s who saw and wouldn’t question the woman anymore.

The walk continued and they only encountered two more corrupted. They attacked simultaneously. “Wait.” She said to the nearest people behind her and charged. Limbs flew as she danced around the beasts. Three seconds later two more corpses painted the snow red and they could continue. The expedition group reached the gate to Isindur half an hour later and took in the sight. “Incredible…” Selmar whispered. “How do we open it?” Peter asked “We don’t…well maybe you’ll figure it out but I couldn’t.” Eleonora answered “Anyone have rope? I need a hundred meters.” They gathered all the rope they had and bound it together, Eleonora fastening it to her halberd in the front.

“Peter how much do you weigh?” the man looked at her a little surprised but understood quickly “340 kilograms with gear. I’ll give it to someone else, 230 then.” She nodded and tested the rope on her halberd. Looking up she found the hole she dug to get out here and aimed. Her training hadn’t been for nothing as the halberd landed and dug deep into the stone right in the opening. Some of the guards looked at each other seeing the feat.

Eleonora jumped up, covering the first thirty meters and caught the rope. Then she climbed up. The rope held so she jumped down again. The ground cracked a little as she landed ‘Still not good enough…’ she though as she looked at the crack. Peter looked at her “You sure it will hold?” she walked up to him and stopped in his personal space. “Lift me.” He did and nodded. “Alright people let’s go.” He said as he started to climb. “Once you’re up follow the way and jump down the other side. There’s a door to exit. The tunnel is safe, at least seemed safe the last time I was there.”

It took a while for each of the group to climb up the rope. Selmar carried the now awake Selena. Eleonora waited until all but one of them vanished in the tunnel before she followed, looking over the valley a last time. At least for now. Nodding towards Alice she started to climb “Need the rope?” shaking her head Alice walked up to the rock as ice formed on it. She climbed up parallel to Eleonora and entered the opening behind her as she removed her halberd. Climbing and walking through the gate they emerged on the other side, the group waiting.

Eleonora took the lead again. “The corrupted only roam the center of the city, around the pyramid. The rest is save and empty, at least been that way for two years. We will avoid the center as we go to the cave system. Don’t attack the wolves.” The group followed, now in formation again. Reaching the hall that connected the city to the tunnel the group was in awe. “It’s all marble…” one of them whispered. Leaving the building Eleonora jumped up the building in front of her and motioned for the others to follow her.

They climbed the building and soon stood around her. Nobody dared speak as they took in the marble wonder before them. “Incredible…” one said “This place is a big as the capital.” Another voice said. Eleonora continued after waiting for two minutes. “There will be plenty of time to admire this place” she said “And I’m hungry.” They followed her at a high speed, most having to activate their power to be able to keep up. She ran in a half circle around the center to avoid any corrupted.

Reaching the makeshift gate to her cave system they entered. Stepping into Tommy’s room, Elly was drowned in a ball of fluff as five wolves viciously mauled her, only her laughter stopping the guards behind her from attacking. “How…” Alice asked but soon stopped questioning the woman. They waited in the hallway to her cave for around five minutes until Elly managed to escape her tormentors. Getting up her hair was in a chaos. “That closet and those two chests there are mine, feel free to do with the rest whatever you wish. I just collected whatever seemed interesting or worth something. There’s plenty more out there anyway.”

The group filled into the cave and admired her collection. She had a couple good armor pieces, clothes and boots in the closet. One chest was filled with paintings and art pieces she liked while the other simply contained gold. She didn’t care much about the books yet as she didn’t even understand the language. ‘Only put books into your collection that you have actually read’ she thought “Oh and just leave enough of each metal for a halberd like mine.” She turned around, the group looked at her and at all the things that filled the cave and beyond in awe. “That closet there has maps, of this cave as well, everything else is marked on there. If you have questions, I’m here. Welcome to Elly’s wonderland” she smiled as she jumped on an incredibly old couch, the wolves following her.

The group stayed silent for a while before Selmar talked “You heard her, she’s found this place so we’ll forget about the existence of the things she mentioned.” He delegated tasks to his guards and went to Elly. “We’ll have a meeting in a couple hours, I’d like for you to participate.” She looked up from the fluff around her “Sure, won’t go out then.” She told him “Go out?” he asked and shook his head after hearing her answer “Killing corrupted of course.” He left her to her wolves to join the others looking over the map of the cave system.