Heading west from the gnolls and away from the smell of blood, Rakha is struck by a sudden new smell - much more pungent, and just as laced with death.
Smoke.
The village up ahead is burning, echoing with shouts of pain and terror. A small herd of soldiers in silver and red armor are swarming the courtyard fumbling with buckets of water or standing shell-shocked among the dead.
Rakha questions one of the officers. There was an attack by goblins and drow here. Probably the same that Rakha killed in the temple. She remembers that those out front were celebrating a successful raid.
The devastation they left behind is considerable. The smell of smoke is mixed with blood from the corpses scattered across the square. Luckily, the hunger they might rouse in Rakha's head is muted after the recent experience with the gnolls.
At the far end of the square is by far the largest building in the village, an enormous inn suffused with smoke and flame. Rakha can hear a woman shouting from inside, and several of the armored guards are wrestling with the front door in a panic.
"Keep pushing!" one of them shouts as Rakha and the others approach. "Duke Ravengard could be inside! On count of three - one, two--"
To Rakha's surprise, Wyll goes completely still, his eyes widening. "Ravengard? He's here?!"
"Yes!" bellows the soldier over her shoulder. "Now make yourself useful. Push, damn it! PUSH!"
Something in Wyll's expression has struck Rakha with an urgency to the situation that has nothing to do with the guard's shouting. Without taking time to think, she strides forward, slams her boot into a weak spot in the jammed door, knocking it backwards with a burst of thunder magic from the sole.
The door collapses with a shuddering BANG and all the officers burst into sudden frantic movement, darting into the inn. Wyll, too, breaks into a run, knocking past Rakha's shoulder as he hurls himself into the smoke.
Instinctively, she follows.
The shouting is coming from upstairs. The air is thick with smoke, choking, blinding; she can barely breathe, can't see. She follows Wyll unsteadily to the upper floor, where the officers have come to a halt in front of one of the doors.
What are they waiting for? Another burst of thunderous magic rolls around Rakha's fingers and she blasts it past the guards, shattering the door apart and releasing the trapped woman behind.
It's only when they're back downstairs again, out of the smoke and into the light, that Rakha can take a proper look at her. She's an elf, with dark green skin, wearing robes that would likely be fine if they were not soaked in the same sweat and ash that covers her body. And, apparently, Wyll knows her, for he bursts in before Rakha can speak.
"Councilor Florrick! Are you all right?" He sounds more worried than Rakha has ever heard him, even when talking about the tadpoles.
The woman starts to nod - then does a double-take. "Wyll?" Her eyes widen and her lips part in sudden shock as she takes in his devilish appearance; her gaze lingers on the rough place where his horns meet his skull. "By the Maimed God..." she whispers, horrified. "What's become of you?"
It's subtle, but Rakha knows Wyll well enough by now that she can see the way he flinches under her gaze. But his voice is steady. "A story best left for calmer days," he says firmly. "Now breathe deeply - are you in pain?"
Florrick draws a slow breath, lets it out, then shakes her head. "A scorched throat. A few hairs singed off," she says, with a crispness that almost reminds Rakha of herself. For how close this woman came to death, she seems remarkably self-possessed. "Nothing a bit of time and fresh air can't cure."
She doesn't wait for Wyll's response, but turns sharply to the officers all hovering nearby with anxious expressions. "Gauntlet," she says to the one who seems to be their leader. "A new duty calls. Drow have taken Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard - westward, if my eyes and ears can be believed. Report to the manip and send for reinforcements. We must find the Duke."
Rakha vaguely hears the collected officers making noises of concern and obedience - but her eyes have flicked back to Wyll and stayed there, because his expression has gone slack with shock. They have already faced down many monsters, but she has never seen him look so dismayed.
Instinctively she tenses, putting one hand behind her to rest on her quarterstaff. What danger does he see?
"No..." he whispers. "It can't be. You mean, they've taken--"
"Yes, Wyll," Florrick says, and though her tone is still grave and curt, there is a note of compassion in it. "The drow have taken your father."
The sentence falls like a lead weight into the conversation. Rakha blinks, Wyll's shoulders hunch. Shadowheart lets out a soft whistle under her breath. Lae'zel curses.
Rakha's brain works furiously through these new details. Grand Duke Ulder Ravengard. A leader with a title - and loyal followers, judging by the eagerness with which these soldiers plan to find him. She has heard Wyll speak before of the city of Baldur's Gate, the largest city in the area, and of its leaders in vague terms. Grand Duke is the highest among them. This Ravengard, then - Wyll's father - is one of the most powerful people in the region.
And Wyll has said nothing of it.
"Wyll," she says slowly, questioningly, "you are the son of nobility?"
Wyll frowns - yet another new expression, this one of deep bitterness. "The circumstance of my birth is no matter of pride - for neither me, nor my father." He draws a heavy breath. "But pride is no reason to refuse help to my own flesh and blood." His eyes fix back on Florrick. "How can we help?"
Florrick looks him over appraisingly, then nods. "Rescue Ravengard from his drow captors. Baldur's Gate needs him now more than ever."
Wyll nods gravely. "Trust us to see it through, Councilor," he says.
Rakha feels tremendously thrown by this new development. They already have other plans that need attending to - Lae'zel's creche, for one. On the other hand... if Ravengard was taken by the cultists, and Halsin and the Dream Guardian were right, then he has likely gone to Moonrise Towers, which is the same place they need to go to follow the cult to its source and exact a final revenge.
And... more than that... Wyll has helped her, and now he needs help. So she nods - almost without hesitation, in spite of the turmoil in her mind. "I'll rescue Duke Ravengard," she says sharply. "You have my word."
She feels, rather than sees, Wyll relax at her side.
Florrick nods. "Thank you." She smiles very slightly in Wyll's direction. "When the Grand Duke returns to the city, he'll hail his only son a hero." The smile fades, and she is suddenly all business again, looking at Rakha. "Approach the Towers with care. The land itself has been swallowed in shadow. I will seek reinforcements and join you when I can."
A pause, and then she looks back at Wyll again, and for a moment, the businesslike air melts off her completely, and she looks at him with the sober gaze of a concerned friend. "Remember, Wyll," she says, "'Courage is found in the battle against fear, not in the defeat of it.'"
"So Father said," Wyll says gravely. "I won't soon forget."
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The Sunnydale Herald Newsletter, Sunday, November 12
Holden: Oh, uh. Webs? Holden Webster. We went to school together. European History. I let you crib off my Vaclav Havel essay that time. You really don't remember me?
~~Conversations with Dead People~~
[Drabbles & Short Fiction]
The Wonderful Everyday by EllieRose101 (Buffy/Spike, G)
I'll reach you in time by CallMeVampy (Giles/Jenny, M)
Willow Flirt? by SnarkyGranger1 (Harry Potter crossover, Willow/Pansy Parkinson, Faith/Hermione, T)
Shh, Love by MillennialCryBaby (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
New Skills by VeroNyxK84 (Spike & Dawn, worksafe, anthology rated R)
Wrong Place, Wrong Time, Wrong Body by honeygirl51885 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
[Chaptered Fiction]
You're the One, Ch. 23 by BloodyThorn (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
Rise, Ch. 19 by CheekyKitten (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
The Witch’s Gift, Ch. 27 by RavenLove12 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
New Normal, Ch. 25-26 by holetoledo (crossover with Clive Barker's "Jericho", Buffy/Spike, Angel/Cordelia, Adult Only)
Destiny or Choices Made? Ch. 28 by charmed4lifekaren (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)
Dead End Plots, Ch. 16 by Melme1325 (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
Surviving Together, Ch. 8 by ionlylikebadboys (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)
56 Hours, Ch. 7 by Soulburnt (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
Hell Hath No Fury, Ch. 2 by the_big_bad (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)
The Freak Show, Ch. 4 by hulettwyo (Buffy/Spike, Adult Only)
Fates Intertwined: A Second Chance, Ch. 4 by Spikelover4ever (Buffy/Spike, NC-17)
Watchers’ Wrestling Entertainment, Ch. 1 by Amina (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)
Daryl Decides, Ch. 2 by Buffyworldbuilder (The Walking Dead crossover, Xander/Daryl, FR18)
The Word of Clem, Ch. 1-2 (COMPLETE!) by Fancyflautist (Buffy/Spike, Clem, 13+)
[Images, Audio & Video]
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A story around a letter: B by alessandra-estrella (Buffy/Spike, worksafe)
A story around a letter: W by alessandra-estrella (Willow, worksafe)
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Manip: Candy Corn Mischief by disco-tea (Buffy/Spike, PG-13)
Lorne drawing by simonglundmark (worksafe)
[Reviews & Recaps]
Buffy’s worst multi-episode subplots ranked by coraniaid
Some more small details from "Restless" I really like by holden-norgorov
My thoughts on the last scene in Empty Places and why I think it's quite good by Big-Vehicle2407
Conversations With Dead People premiered 21 years ago today. This is a well regarded episode, but how high would you rank it personally? hosted by InfiniteMehdiLove
Dead Man's Party Silver Linings by AnyNeck1885
Doing the Audible thing... (I'm only 20 minutes into Slayers, so there should be no spoilers) by PanTheLos
Villains S6 E20 (Buffy and the Art of Story Podcast) - Lisa Lilly
[Recs & In Search Of]
Fic search: thyme_ee is looking for a SG Atlantis crossover that has Xander being turned into a child
Fic search: gufis253 is looking for long lost fanfiction stories (an amulet that would allow a vampire to have a child, Spuffy fic with an actor RPF plotline and other details)
Fic search: Educational-End-9622 is looking for a Halloween fanfic where Xander's costume is a way of coming out as gay
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[Fandom Discussions]
Also, the Slayer was basically the same as the vampire... by austinoson
Timing of Go Fish by Tuxedo_Mark and others
College storylines after season 4 by Coven_Supreme and others
Buffy's Stove by LiviaDruzilla
One of a Kind (Who is your favorite 1-episode character?) by Virtual_Row_8445
Why do people like Sunday so much? by duvet-cover
[Articles, Interviews, and Other News]
Want to know where James Marsters will be in 2023/24? Then check out this handy pic! (updated) by jamie_marsters
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