Seekers of the Stone Maker
Morning Interrupted

Lyla sat on the bed, covers pulled to her shoulders as she waited. Rhokhishi sat at the desk chair with the plates of food and picked up a few grapes. She aimed and tossed one into the air, landing in Lyla’s mouth. Rhokhishi tossed her hands up in triumph!

“Okay, enough food acrobatics for now,” Lyla laughed as she spoke.

“What now?”

“I guess we should see what everyone else is doing?”

Rhokhishi gestured to her body, smiling.

“Then I’ll have to get dressed…” She dramatically groaned.

Lyla rolled her eyes and got out of bed. She was already dressed, having returned with breakfast an hour ago, but Rhokhishi hoped that could change before they had to leave.

“I’ll be back soon with the day’s plan.”

Rhokhishi watched as Lyla walked out into the hallway and closed the door behind her. She threw a grape into her mouth and lazily stood to grab her clothes.

It had been an intense night, with the crowd of people outside the castle gates, but she was content in the warmth of the room. It reminded her of the cold winter days at Stillmight Campground, where everyone huddled up in the dining hall and relaxed as the smells of Blight’s cooking wafted through the air. They all drank and played games. After half a year of running around in tight, cramped carriages and carts, it was relaxing.

Rhokhishi wanted to promote positivity whenever possible, but lately, she could feel the shadows creeping into her mind. Zarin was still out there with his followers. Zarin was The Justifiable, one of Asmodeus’ Hounds of War. They had stopped Ramona from being Dubh Catha back, but now she and her friends were having encounters with the Hag Countess and Zidingris. Worse, they were in a village that followed the Great Icewing.

There was a parallel here between the followers of Zidingris and Zarin. They all believed they were doing right but were involved with nefarious creatures. She had been one of those people. Would she have sent those mages out into the cold if she had been a follower of Zidingris instead of Zarin?

No. I wouldn’t have. Zarin is evil, but he hid behind false pretenses. Zidingris is out in the open, clear about her intentions.

She buckled her belt and tied the laces up on her boots. As she finished, she could hear yelling. Rhokhishi quickly grabbed her coat and axe, heading into the dining area. Rhokhishi was confused by the sight. Near a window, Leaf crouched, his eyes just peeking over the sill. Outside, she could hear the sounds of combat and a creature’s growl.

“What’s happening!?”

“Basilisks have fallen from a crate!”

“Come on then!”

“I…”

Rhokhishi stood at the front door, looking over at Leaf. He was staring at his hands, shaking slightly. She knew this vulnerable state he felt. Leaf was a mage. He didn’t use weapons. If he risked using magic here, it could be his death.

“You stay here. It’s safer this way.”

She turned from him and headed into the snow-covered world. In front of the inn, crates had come off a cart and had crashed open. In the distance, Mr. Muffins was firing shots from his crossbow near Ana, and the twins were flanking one of the two basilisks, taking turns hitting it. Across the path, people had come out to help, managing to capture two people that she assumed caused the situation and were doing their best to get involved in the fight with the basilisk that Mr. Muffins had been shooting at.

Rhokhishi knew that they were at a disadvantage. None of them could look at these creatures, and the lack of magic use in the village would put them at even greater risk. Beside the door, one of the citizens had already turned to stone, petrified in place by the creature’s gaze. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a handkerchief. Quickly, she wrapped it over her eyes and whispered to her axe.

“Guide me.”

As if pulled by a mystical force, she could feel her surroundings. She rushed forward and swung her axe onto the basilisk, hearing it cry out as it slashed through its skin. With the three of them attacking, they managed to kill the creature within seconds.

She pulled her cover down from her eyes and looked at Lyla. She pointed to a large building, and Rhokhishi could see that the second creature had made its way up some boxes and crates and smashed through a second-story window.

“Quickly! We can’t let it escape and hurt more people!” Myla yelled out.

They ran, their boots catching and sinking into the multiple inches of snow that had already fallen. When they reached the building, Rhokhishi could see a large sign out front attached to the top of the double doors, reading “The Waterwheel.”