“If you cannot get rid of the family skeleton, you may as well make it dance.”

― George Bernard Shaw, Immaturity

“Damn it!” Mireille cursed grabbed her Degen, and tested drawing it before she looked around. “What? Anyone else have something to say to this?”

Another deep thump reverberated through the stairwell coming from the entrance hall, this time accompanied by a crashing noise.

“We don’t have much time.” Iseret looked speculatively at the door and then slid the locking bars back into place. “This will hold them for a short while. The room is relatively secure, and the magical emanations should not be easily sensed. Margramus did not want anyone to detect what he was up to.”

Alyssa swallowed dryly. “How long until…?” She gestured at Alea and Vanessa.

“I don’t know.” Iseret shrugged. “Hopefully before the warriors of Ielenia bash the door in.”

“Can we do anything else?” Alyssa gasped as a spike of pain forced itself into her mind. She saw the slaughterhouse and the skeletal cavalry probably through the eyes of Calmund, the wight. “Shit.” She grabbed at her forehead. “I completely forgot to order Calmund to flee.”

“That is...unfortunate,” Iseret said quietly.

“Do you think Calvin will be in trouble? We simply left the inn and went here. You wrote a note, I think?” Mireille scratched the back of her head a bit sheepishly.

“Yes I did. But I kept it vague. There was so much to do, and he was pretty uncomfortable with most of it. I am very thankful for what he did, but he would not follow us farther west, of that I’m sure.” Alyssa gasped as another spike of anger washed through her link. Concentrating, she bade the wight leave the city by whatever means necessary without killing anyone that did not try to kill him. And even there, she implored him for mercy. Grudging acceptance radiated back through the link.

Crashes sounded from down below as doors unlocked mostly were simply kicked open. Then footsteps descended into the basement.

“It seems certain cliches regarding evil villains come to our aid.” Iseret looked at the door. “That will perhaps grant us another few minutes.”

Shouts from below and another bout of rushing footsteps came after a short period of waiting.

“Mh. It seems they found the bodies in the cellar.” Iseret kept up her commentary.

“Bodies?!” Mireille looked at her questioningly.

“The maid and cook…and Margramus perhaps.”

“What? Didn’t he leave?”

“Yes. Permanently.” Iseret looked unconcerned.

“But you said…”

“I did not want a discussion about it, but he was in league with the Heartstealer and tried to sell us all out. I think he was even responsible for killing Alyssa with some judicious application of blood crystal.”

“Why didn’t you tell us?” Alyssa spoke up after staying quiet for a while.

“I’m sorry. I found it expedient at the time, but I did not want you to be blindsided by whatever accusations they will level at us when they get to this door. I have a bad habit, ingrained by my training, to never tell more than necessary. You never know when information you did not share becomes crucial.” Before the others, especially Mireille, could interject, she continued with a raised hand. “I know. And I said, I’m sorry, I mean it. I will try to be more open. This here is not part of my usual duties.”

“Forgiven. You are not paid, you are not indebted. I’m really grateful for all you have done for us so far.” Alyssa nodded at her.

“I’m still pissed you did not think to mention it, but whatever, not as if I miss him.” Mireille shrugged but grumbled a bit.

Iseret looked at Vanessa, still focused on her spellcasting and her eyes became more gentle. “Believe me. I have ample reasons to help.”

It did not take long after that for some of them to search the upper stories. The door vibrated as someone kicked it in tried and true fashion.

“Ouch! Damn it!” A young female voice.

“Language.” A prim-sounding male voice.

“This door is locked!” Excitement could be heard in the young woman's voice.

“So? Open it. We don’t have all day.”

Another hit. This time probably with a weapon. Runes sparked to life and began to consume mana dust. All around the doorway in the frame made of polished granite glyphs shone.

The voices outside became less audible as the spellwork began to shield them from even sound.

With a flash, the adamantine band began to shine and absorb energy from the surrounding air.

Muffled by the barrier, the prim voice shouted in agitation. “They are finishing a spell!”

Vanessa took a step back while Alea adjusted some of the floating runes.

Iseret quickly walked up to her. “We have to escape into the astral plane, everything else is too uncertain.”

“Really.” Vanessa sighed and then looked at the metal band still floating above the runic inscriptions. “Alyssa, put on the circlet. Mireille Iseret, please help me clean up the floor. I have to inscribe another spell...and soon.” The last was spoken as something slammed into the door making the walls vibrate and dust rain down from the ceiling.

Alyssa swallowed dryly and then grabbed the metal band. “I don’t think this deserves such a delicate description.” The metallic circle was two fingers in height, inscribed with carvings flickering with energy. The front was a bit pointed, making it a bit similar to an ancient crown. But all in all, it seemed more sturdy than elegant. Tarrying no longer, she firmly pressed it upon her head. With a flicker, tendrils of energy flowed into her head, and the crown seemed to settle, even going so far as to change shape minutely for a better fit.

“Alea, that was a bit unnecessary.” Vanessa dryly remarked.

“But grandfather hates crude workmanship!” Alea rubbed her covered eyes, clearing the residues of the dream from her smarting head.

Mireille scrubbed the chalk marks as Iseret slowly dribbled water on the stone slab.

Alyssa gritted her teeth and then looked around, blinking owlishly.

Another strike hit the door carving a deep gash into the wooden surface. Behind the newly made hole, a large metal-clad figure swung a heavy Warhammer at the door, flames shrouded the hammer's head with streams of whitish heat.

“Open in the name of the temple!”

“Who would do such a thing?” Mireille groused from her position on the floor, scrubbing vigorously.

Vanessa pushed Mireille to the side and began frantically inscribing a complicated circle.

“Can someone ‘discourage’ them?” Iseret turned to look at them one by one.

Alea looked to the side, “I don’t think Jaros would condone using my blessing against another temple without a direct threat to my life.”

“How much more threat do you need?” Mireille patted the dust from her pants and then walked up to the door, positioning herself before the gash. With a practiced gesture, she raised her hand.

“Wait!” Alyssa shook her head groggily. “You might destroy the door!” With a frown, she sat down heavily, tentatively feeling for the dark metal crown. Cyrus butted her on the stomach with his head and then looked at her questioningly.

Several chants from outside reached a crescendo, and soon after, white flames crashed into the door. The runes sparked and sizzled as some began to crack.

“Vanessa?” Mireille turned to look a the vampire. “How long do you need?”

“Don’t disturb her.” Iseret pulled her back and turned her toward the door. “Focus on the door. If they break through, hold them off with your lightning.”

“I cannot really control it when I let loose. Is that alright with all of you?”

“Please don’t kill anyone.” Alea bit her lower lip, fidgeting with Cecily nervously.

“Might not have a choice.” Iseret gauged the progress Vanessa made against the steadily worsening situation at the door.

With a crackling sound like small fireworks going off, the runes exploded in multicolored sparks. The door followed soon after as another heavy blow hit it in the middle. Broken wood and fragments of stone blew into the room, cutting across the floor where Iseret interposed herself between the freshly drawn circle and the splinters. Grimacing as several cuts appeared on her face and hands, even as she shielded herself with her bracers, she brandished her khopesh. Runes along the edge flickered to life.

Mireille staggered back and wiped her face with her backhand snarling as she realized she was bleeding too. Again, she raised her hands and spat, “Sialysalethussar!” Lightning gathered around her hands, thick bands of energy flowing along her arms, shooting from eye and mouth. With a thunderous crack, especially deafening in the cramped surroundings, a lance of Skyfire blasted through the open doorway, hitting the armored temple warrior. Sparks danced along his eyes, and hands scorched the metal of his armor. With muscles convulsing, he staggered back, hitting the wall opposite as still more energy discharged into the wood and stone of the building. Flames flickered to life, and smoke began to rise. Groaning, the warrior righted itself, and the glow of healing spells began to shine on his form from the sides.

Stomping forward, he swung his hammer in an underhanded grip to avoid hitting the doorframe as Alyssa gritted her teeth and shouted a spell ripping her arms to the side. A black oval pressed against the thin skin of the world, covering the entrance nearly completely. A dull shimmer was the only thing they could see as the hammer presumably hit the second seal from the other side.

Spellcasting from the other side made Alyssa frown more deeply. “The void is strong here, but there are several priests outside. I don’t think I can hold the spell for long. Never had the problem before!”

At this moment, the window shattered as someone from outside swung into it, hanging onto a rope. Glass and wood rained into the room, and a lithe white-clad woman sprung up from a roll brandishing a short sword and a holy symbol flickering with white energy. Dark brown hair framed a petite face of a younger woman with several scars marring her youthful features. The robes billowed around her but revealed a close-fitting chain-mail underneath.

“Damn it.” Iseret vaulted over the still scribbling Vanessa cutting at the new assailant. With a clang, she hit hastily raised short sword, driving the priestess back toward the window.

Quick as a cat, the white-robed woman stabbed at Iseret, turning to the side to present a smaller target. Mumbling a prayer under her breath, she turned, avoiding another slash from Iseret before her symbol began to glow with a bright, white glare.

Blinking tears from her eyes, the snake-woman staggered back, swinging the khopesh in a wide arc to disrupt the still-attacking assailant.

A spear made of lightning stabbed at the priestess, causing her to retreat again.

Vanessa raised herself to a standing position giving her surroundings a quick look before then focusing on a lengthy spell.

The dark oval flickered and vanished under the onslaught of bright lances of energy. Alyssa turned her hands, regarding them silently, before clenching them into fists. “I don’t want to hurt you. But I will. Stay back!”

The white-armored warrior with the Warhammer strode forward. Blood still dripped from his lips which he had bitten while convulsing due to the lighting. “Surrender. The goddess will be your judge.”

Suddenly a wall of light shimmered into being, covering the doorway. Alea firmed her shoulders and stood one arm raised toward the door, the other pressed to her chest.

More spells impacted the light curtain from outside, but the effect seemed much diminished compared to before.

“Alea! Everything alright?” Alyssa did not take her eyes from the doorway.

“Mh. I am still not very proficient with this spell. It’s the second time I got it to work.”

“Great job!” Mireille gave her a thumbs up before stabbing at the priestess, who was retreating toward the window again.

With a tearing sound, the space above the circle twisted and ripped open, showing an expanse of dark dust dunes with strange and twisted trees growing toward a sky carved with psychedelic glowing rifts and holes spewing strange and nameless colors. “Everyone! Take a marble and put it under your tongue. Then enter the portal. Hurry!” Vanessa waved at them before grabbing a handful of glass marbles from a pocket.

Mireille grabbed a marble before popping it into her mouth.

“Don’t swallow!” Vanessa looked worried for a moment.

“Mmmmmh.” Mireille gave a lop-sided grin, grabbed Alyssa, and pressed another marble into her friend's mouth before shoving her through the portal.

“She...ah, whatever.” Vanessa opened her mouth to object, but Alyssa was already stumbling across the dunes, dust blooming with every step.

Mireille cautiously put another marble into Alea’s mouth before then shrugging and doing the same to Cyrus, getting to him just before he, too, entered the rift.

Fighting a rearguard action, Iseret retreated from the priestess, who intensified her attacks as she saw the portal.

With a shriek, Alea was also punted through into the astral plane, and this time Mireille, too, jumped into the portal.

Iseret gasped as the white-robed woman got a hit on her leg and arm. The priestess was bleeding from many cuts, some of which glowed with healing magic warring with black poison.

A hammer fell toward the stone slab, and Vanessa managed to conjure an ice shield just in time for it to shatter into sharp-edged splinters. Grabbing Iseret, she jumped backards into the rift. The priestess gritted her teeth before rushing after them just as the warrior tried – and failed- to grab her.

With a final discharge of energy, the portal slammed shut.

With rage in his eyes, the white-armored temple warrior slammed his hammer into the inscriptions shattering the slab of stone.

“Wait, we could…” The prim-sounding male voice belonged to an elderly robed cleric wearing the colors of Ielenia. A pair of crystal lenses in a wire frame sat on his nose, enlarging his eyes and giving him a seemingly startled look. A smaller female priestess entered behind him. “I don’t think I can decipher the casting now.”

“The work of an undead and a heretic.” The warrior looked a the priest with condemnation.

“But we could have tried to follow them!”

“When they return, we will find them. That will be soon enough.” Shouldering the Warhammer, the warrior turned to inspect the scene.

“What of Jill?” The priestess asked.

“She made the necessary sacrifice. Perhaps she can send one of them to Charys before following herself.” The warrior made the sign of the candle.

Gritting her teeth, the priestess lowered her eyes to hide the anger and unwillingness within.

Dust. Darkness. Cold. And no breathable air. The realm of ashen dreams unfolded before them.

Mireille gasped and coughed as some of the dust Alyssa had stirred up entered her airways, but after a few moments, the marble still underneath her tongue began to grow warm, and a billow of fresh air flowed into her lungs. Spitting from the dust caking her mouth and nose, she frantically pulled up her shirt to have a bit of a filter.

Alea gasped and struggled for breath before she, too, began to inhale and exhale greedily.

Alyssa simply held her breath before she pulled out the marble, inspecting it curiously.

Vanessa plugged another dark glass orb into Iseret’s mouth, pulling her hand back as if stung as the snake-woman gave her a kiss on the fingertips.

Behind them on the dusty plain, a white-robed priestess struggled to stand. Her face turned an alarming shade of blue as she tried- and failed- to draw breath.

Cyrus had the marble in his fangs and looked highly uncomfortable as he could not let it go without losing his ability to breathe.

Alyssa sighed and then walked up to the struggling woman. A slash with the short sword missed her by an inch, but the movements grew increasingly erratic. With an angry slap, the girl disarmed the priestess before grabbing her firmly and pushing the marble into her mouth.

In a few moments, the white-robed woman was gasping and coughing on the ground before vomiting a copious amount of dust from her strained lungs.

“What are you going to do with her?” Vanessa quietly walked closer as Iseret took the short sword turning it this way and that while inspecting it.

A fierce glare from the woman in question made Alyssa question her decision.

Streams of strange light played across them as in the distance, distorted hound-like creatures raised their heads, scenting the air.