It was an idea- and it happened upon whispers in the shadows. The men were unseen, their goal kept secret- but their target was the presumed dead lady- a certain Attalia Arrant. She had been the subject of experiments within the chuch; those of which hadn't quite gone as planned, and a certain incident- a dangerous flooding in the south was hard to keep hushed over when her reaction to this had gone awry.
But they were seeking a cure and a reason behind the trigger- Why had the woman suddenly been a power house of power- and a magnet to water? And when it began apparent... it was too late. She was gone now- either dead or stolen, and a certain man believed it was the latter. And he had good reasons to believe her brother might have been to blame.
So he would fall- along with the most unfortunate possibility that so would the Duke of Allar; a very close friend to the Grand Duke. And that's precisely what this man had wanted. Flood the capital in Allar, flood it's castle- kill thousands- and blame it on a mage (or several...). The idea was to sacrifice those lives for a greater cause- for the Grand Duke to push the laws to the next level; genocide.
Mage camps were one thing- but the outward proclamation to eradicate the mage population seemed to be what these shadows hungered for. And once they sniffed out where their little 'flood princess' was- Attalia Arrant's fate was sealed.
She wasn't sure how it happened, but she was taken from her safe home and rendered unconscious. And now, as she groggily awoke- she did not recognize the windy tower inside the Allarrian Castle nor the cloaked figures standing over her. It was a blur really- her mind in a whirl, but the voices sounded familiar- and then the second the man pulled back his cloak, her stomach turned to ice.
ANd as the plan was revealed- what they were condemning her to do- to kill the entire population of the Allarian capital- those in the castle included, and her brother- who would be well on his way to join the soon to be deceased when he tried to rescue her.... it was precisely her emotional response they were counting on- and as the tears and anger came out-
So did the flood.
Moments earlier... on the outskirts of the Allarian Capital...
The hooves of his horse thundered into the ground as Leif Arrant speared his way North. He hadn't much time. Attie was in trouble- that much was evident in the letter. There was no time to warn Audric- the masked mordecai would come- and it would be in broad daylight.
But Attie needed to be saved- and he knew they would expect the Duke- but not his masked persona. He had to be discrete, he had to be quick, before not only his sister would die, but everyone in Allar's capital.
What sort of horrors were in store, he hadn't a clue, but as his horse thundered through the capital; he cared not what crowd he drew- he had to get to the castle, he had to warn Audric, to find Attie- before it was too late.
Although not of noble blood, Audric's sisters were, nevertheless, the blood relatives of the Duke of Allar, and, as such, afforded some measure of protection. Besides, they were wealthy women in their own respects, with each bearing a claim to a successful shipping company that had only become more-so with Audric's elevation to Duke. Palace guards and city guards kept an eye on the ladies and their families, and they had their own security besides...and a few off-the-record eyes and ears employed by the Shrouded Swordsman.
And so it was not long before Audric was notified in some fashion that there was suspicious activity near his sister's home. He was concerned for his sister and her family, of course, but likewise concerned for Attie, who had taken up residence there as a beloved nanny to the children.
It was rare for the Shrouded Swordsman to be present in daylight. Audric had better things to do during the day than prowl the shadows of Allar -- and, besides, most criminals came out at night, more comfortable in the darkness than in the light. Today, however, was an exception, as the man lurking around his sister's home was often seen during the day performing a particular routine. The Swordsman hoped to catch him in that routine...and find out what, exactly, he wanted.
As Audric neared the house, however, a shadow caught his eye. In this district, the rooftops were sharp and distanced too far for even the Masked Mordecai to jump successfully from one onto the next. It was a richer district, with plenty of lawn and space for the well-to-do Allarians to enjoy and to flaunt. It was little wonder the Swordsman's sometimes-partner was sneaking about on the ground.
In spite of the gravity of his mission, a grin stretched across his lips, and the Swordsman dashed after the other masked man, catching up to him as his friend reached a tall, brick wall that would have to be either scaled or avoided altogether...
"Probably not a good idea to go over," he observed pointedly. "They keep three dogs. Rottweilers. Best to go around the corner, through the hedge, and up the wall across the old Colonel's lawn. His backyard's so over-grown and his eyesight so bad, you could hide a whole army in there."
"Audric," Leif scoffed, his voice a hushed and harsh whisper.
"Did you get a letter to?" There was no need for hellos here, he was frantic, panicked and beyond concerned.
Audric blinked, then gave his head a slight shake. "No. What letter?"
He gestured for Leif to follow him, taking the route he had prescribed only a moment ago.
"But I'm glad you're here. I was thinking of writing you myself... Was the letter from Attie?"
Who else would have sent Leif a letter?
Leif followed closely, but his eyes grew wild at the mention of his sister.
"Attie? No," his breath came out in a harsh sigh. Shaking his head, he growled. "No." His eyes narrowed. "The letter I received had no name or signature- but it was obvious their intent. Someone knows about Attie- and they said they were going to come for her."
Leif's explanation made Audric frown deeply. Why would someone warn Leif about Attie? Unless it was a trap... "Was it addressed to you or to the Masked Mordecai?" he asked. Perhaps someone had sniffed out Leif's identity and wanted to trap him...and Attie both.
"Through here," he added, holding open an old gate that should have squeaked in protest. It whispered open, however, in spite of its condition. "Straight through that alley, and we'll be there. Attie usually has the kids outside in the yard at this time of day."
Leif shot a glare Audric's way.
"No one knows of this persona." But then he paused to add through a growl, "Except for you."
Though it was possible- after several years of dawning a masked persona- someone could have figured out who he was, Leif quelled that doubt the moment he informed him- "No. It was addressed to Lord Arrant."
ANd he pulled out the letter and stuffed it into Audric's hand.
"And that calligraphy is too fancy. So it's either another lord I've angered and trying to pull my chain- or.." well, the last part was obvious. It really only left someone from the church. But if that was the case- then the masked mordecai's cover was already blown.
Audric paused to look down at the paper, eyes swiftly moving over the words it contained. As Leif said, it was fancy handwriting -- far fancier than his own, for, in spite of his upbringing, he had a soldier's hand. There was also, however, a distinctly masculine shape to the letters...
"You're right. Someone practiced in the art of letter-writing. Left-handed, obviously." He fingered a smudge of ink thoughtfully. Probably from a sleeve grazing the paper as the writer reached over the paper... A left-handed writer wearing longish sleeves and trained in the art of letters.
Any other mysteries the letter held would have to wait as his sister's house came into view. Audric held the letter out to Leif and crept forward towards the alley. "I've had complaints of a man sighted near the house. Usually in the mouth of this very alley at this time every day." No doubt watching Attie and the children at play. "I was planning to interrogate him today, but... He doesn't seem to be around. Figures."
Rather than move out into the open, he knocked twice on a doorway practically hidden by ivy. There was no answer, which resulted in a frown. Rather than knock again, however, he pulled the iron door open with a soft sound of exertion, then disappeared inside.
The interior of the room was spartan with a very high ceiling -- and was starkly decorated with a corpse and a single ladder leading upwards. There was a bang, and the former soldier's voice drifted out a moment later...because there was a problem.
"My informant is dead." Killed from behind. That meant there was at least two of them, then -- and they weren't amateurs if they could get the drop on the security Audric had placed there... He was beginning to like this less and less.
Leif had rarely visited Attie here. He knew it would be too dangerous- and would start rumors Audric's sisters hardly needed, nor did his wife. But when the knock came unanswered, he was breathing hot curse words between his teeth.
"Something doesn't seem right." He said, growing antsy from where he stood- but Audric only confirmed that when Leif saw the corpse. He hissed. "Someone's been here. Let's check every room. Maybe Attie and the children are-" But as he moved to storm away, he paused to observe- a single note hanging on a door frame. Leif yanked it off the nail and his expression turned grave.
"They've got her." And that was all the letter said.
"What do you mea--"
That was all the further Audric got before there was a second bang, followed by the cranking of gears and the screech of metal-on-metal...
...And, just like that, the door to the small room slammed shut in Leif's face!
On the other side of the door, Audric swore as he tried to pry the door open again -- but it was no good. The door was stuck -- really, really stuck. Well, nevermind, there was still the ladder... Audric was only two rungs up, however, before there was a crack, and the entire thing gave way beneath his weight!
"Son of a pox-ridden whore!" he announced with a scowl, picking himself up and banging on the door with a fist. "Cai! Are you still there?"
Leif whirled around, his expression furrowing as he heard the mechanism go off. Hesitantly, he approached the door, but jumped at the sound of Audric's shouting from within.
"Yeah, I'm still here!" he called through the door and studied it. "Seems like you set off a trap." He swore. Great, this was NOT what he had expected.
"Is there anything in there that you can see to get it open? Any sort of gears or an ax? We could cut it open if we had to!"
"I can't see a thing," Audric muttered sullenly as he looked around the room. A bit of light came in from above, but all it did was create a gloom near the door; the rest of the room was plunged into darkness. "I'll see what I can find!" he called back through the door.
He had only been inside a moment before the door had slammed behind him, but he had a vague idea of where everything lay. He had seen a lantern, he thought, set in the corner... But would the dead man have any matches he could use?
At an achingly slow pace, Audric felt his way across the room until his foot brushed against the body. Fumbling, he slowly began to pat the body down, searching for a set of matches he might be able to use...
And, in the meantime, Leif would wait in silence on the other side of the door.
Leif was a ball of nerves. He was pacing, moving around- unable to keep still as the weight of the world felt as if it were suffocating him. Finally, he moved closer to the door, but was hesitant to get too near towards it- just incase there was a second trap.
"Audric," he hissed, dark cape whirling as he came to a halt near the door's wooden frame. "Find anything yet?
It would be up to Abigail that the other masked man would take his sweet old time! All the while the kidnappers were getting away with Attie! Gods.. to think of all the horrors the church wanted to do with her-
They had both seen the remains; and it wasn't pretty.
But how could either have known? That this was the perfect death trap for them both?
A match struck against the stone wall produced a sputtering flame, which Audric soon applied to the lantern. The lantern, however, had been over-turned, and it was low on oil -- but it was just enough to see by.
Holding up the lantern, the room was awash in its dim light. There was the useless ladder, the corpse, a puddle... Audric leaned forward curiously as something else caught his eye he had missed at first glance -- a piece of paper crumpled in the dead man's hand.
"Patience, Cai! There's something here..." He pried the paper out of the man's hand and squinted at it in the light. The dead man must have pulled it away from his killer, and, with a sinking sensation, Audric realized he recognized the tiny hand-drawn symbols: it was a map of his home.
With some irritation, he stepped a little further back from the dead man as he realized he was standing in the puddle. "I think I know where they took her..."
There was something of a groan, then, followed by a rushing sound, and Audric glanced downwards to find the puddle had grown yet again – and now, he could see the broiling, bubbling surface, half-hidden beneath the corpse, where the water was rushing in. He scooted backwards towards the door as water began to fill the room.
"Cai, I've changed my mind about that patience thing... There's water coming in from somewhere -- and it's coming in fast!"
Leif had grown quiet- perhaps too quiet as a noise from outside caught his attention. He furrowed his brow- hearing something ominous and unfamiliar.
"Audric.. wait right here."
NOt that the man was going anywhere!
Stepping outside, he furrowed his brow, realizing the ground was soggy and foamy- and things distinctively smelled like the sea. But it was odd- there was no rain- was something flooding? And the way the water gushed..
His eyes followed it's direction towards the castle- but he hadn't quite yet put two and two together. Moving back inside, his boots were now sloshing through an inch deep of water.
"Just how far in do these tides come from the ocean?" Leif asked through the door. What a bloody good time to get caught- rght in the middle of ahigh tide!
"Are you really asking if our town floods on a daily basis??" Audric's voice came back after a brief pause, as though he couldn't quite believe he had heard Leif correctly.
Because only an idiot would live in a town that flooded every single day...and, of course, Audric had no way of knowing how bad things were outside of his little shack...
(OOC: Short post, lawls.)
Leif went silent to realize his foolishness and then he cursed.
"Attie.."
He looked down at the waters. Somehow, he had a sinking sensation this was because of her.
Audric strained his ears, but he couldn't quite make out what it was Leif had said. The water inside the shack, however, had already covered the floor and was beginning to creep up Audric's calves.
"What was that?" he called back, scarcely waiting for clarification as he added, "Leif, there's nothing in here I can use to break myself out. You're going to have to knock down the door from your side!"
Hopefully, before Audric drowned...
This was no time to panic- but it was the perfect time to panic. Leif's mind was in a whirl, but he had to remain calm- for both himself, and Audric.
Turning around and around in circles, Leif grew frantic before yelling, "My blades will do nothing on this door! Do you know if there would be an ax somewhere?" God help them if they didn't.
"There's a gardening shed behind my sister's house," Audric called back, making a disgusted face as the body, now floating, brushed past his leg. Just wonderful. "There's got to be something in there!"
Probably not a woodcutter's axe or anything so useful... But a hatchet, maybe. With enough blows in the right places, it would do the trick.
"I'll just, you know, wait for you here!"
Like he had a choice.
Leif wrinkled his nose, but only after a moment's pause- he rushed off to oblige.
Water was gushing everywhere, down the steps in the road and the evident panic through the town could be heard. But he had to ignore that for now- his focus was on Audric. If the waters kept up like this- they'd be drowned within the hour. And as much as Leif had many skills, he could swim- but he was no champion swimmer.
Finding the shed around back, his eyes groped into the darkness until he found what he was looking for. He made a face, but hefted up the hatchet before rushing through the water and back to the door. Eyeing it up, he didn't even give Audric warning before his hatchet began to bite into the wood with a few heavy swings.
Audric waited a moment, then slowly began to move around the room again, just in case he had missed something the first time. Of course, no axe magically appeared within the room. His own weapons would be useless against the heavy door -- the only good his little arsenal would do in this room would be to anchor him to the floor to help him drown. If it came down to it, he would have to abandon his cloak as well.
He had just circled the room and come back to the door when a THUNK sounded against the wood. Leif, no doubt, he thought with a grin. And just in time -- the water was fast approaching his waist.
"I take it you found it!" he announced cheerfully. "Do you know what you're doing, Cai? Have you ever had to chop wood before?"
"Shut up, Audric!" he growled, and just angrily wailed the hatchet into the door again and again- splinters wildly flying off with each strike- and eventually the door cracked open enough that Leif lifted his boot and smahed a kick into it, until it was open large enough for him to peer inside.
"Audric?"
Peering into the room, Leif would find himself staring at a body floating face-down in the dark water, lit only by the glow of the failing oil lantern held just out of view. At the sound of his name, however, and appearance of Leif's head in the hole he had created, Audric shuffled past the corpse to offer Leif a grin.
The water was already climbing up his torso...
"You know, I'm probably not going to fit through there..."
Leif snarled.
"Shut up and back away, Abigail." And he continued to wail into the wood until finally, the hole was large enough for him to tear the door open the rest of the way- and water gushed over him once it was free- and the corpse followed, so did a few other misc. items from within. Blinking, he peered over at Audric with a cemented frown.
"The whole city is flooding.... smells like ocean water," Leif said. Now with the building opened, it was obvious to see the rest of the town was about knee deep in water. "Come on. We have to figure out what is going on, but I have a sinking sensation this has to do with Attie- and those experiments they did to her."
It was only because he dropped the lantern and grabbed onto the doorframe that ensured Audric, too, did not flow out into the street. Once the bulk of the water had gushed out, Audric stepped outside and looked around with a deepening frown.
The City -- his City -- would quickly slip underwater at this rate... "Why didn't you tell me the whole city was flooding?" he asked softly, all mirth gone from his voice and replaced with a dread. In only a moment, he was pulling a soggy piece of paper out from his pocket and offering it to Leif.
"He was holding this. It's from a map of the palace, and this..." He tapped the edge of it. "This is the old tower in the north wing. What does this have to do with Attie?"
He glanced towards his sister's house -- close enough that he could stop in to check on her -- then deliberately turned away and made his way back towards the palace. Now, more than ever, was a time to choose priorities and to stick by them.
Leif observed the soggy piece of paper with a frown. What did this have to do with Attie?
"Everything."
He turned away and began to trudge through the water.
"Attie's powers are water based... and her nightmares.. she... did she tell you anything about them?" He spared only one glance back to Audric as he pushed onward through the waters.
"She used to tell me how she feared drowning everyone, something about killing a lot of people- but even she couldn't tell if her nightmares were real, or just a dream."
After a moment, he paused, keeping his back to Audric.
"Do you remember Waterdam?"
The city of Waterdam suffered a great flood that no one can recollect the proper reason for- it was a catastrophe- though none speculated mages, just a natural disaster. But the records for such a city had been lost several years ago-
and the mystery around it happened during the very same time Attie had disappeared...
"Are you saying Attie had something to do with Waterdam?" Audric asked, chewing over the information as he splashed through the water after Leif. He remembered hearing about it, of course...
Audric gave his head a slight shake. "I don't understand. How could she do...this?"
Leif growled.
"I don't know- but I'm starting to put together the pieces that I know from when we found Attie, to what she's told me and now this..." He shook his head. "I don't know what to believe but if I'm right... we have to find her and figure a way to turn off her powers. If it's her powers causing the flooding, and if her dreams are actually true- then this is only the beginning. And the entire city will be under water within the hour."
"If we find her, won't you turn off her powers?" Audric wondered. Leif was a Mordecai, after all... And isn't that what he did?
Even if nobody knew it.
But, from past experience, Audric knew Leif had to be pretty close for his power to work...
Leif frowned.
"It's not as.. easy as that, Audric. I think the church did something to her powers- I.. she was able to use them infront of me."
"Oh."
That was the only response Audric had to that!
So, the Church was kidnapping mages and doing terrible things to them...to make them stronger? Wasn't that the very opposite of what the Church stood for? What it was supposed to stand for?
"This way," he said, breaking off of their path suddenly. Their new course took them through a narrow alley, barely big enough for them to pass through together, then up towards the palace wall. Audric fished a key out of his pocket, then and waded into a pool to open a gate leading into the palace grounds.
"The entrance to the tower is right over there."
Leif hesitated as he followed after Audric. His ears perked up to the sounds of the people- all panicking in their houses, which caused him to hesitate evne more. It was evident in his stance he was torn- make their way to the tower to quickly stop this- or see who they couldn't help rescue in this mess.
Realizing he was losing his shadow, Audric paused as well and half-turned with one hand on the gate. He studied his friend, reading his hesitation and concern in his face and in the way he held himself. After a moment, he placed a hand on Leif's shoulder to draw his attention back to him and to give him some comfort.
"Leif, we can either help the individual or we can help the whole town." It was basic triage -- and Audric had long ago made up his mind that the town -- that his goals as the Shrouded Swordsman -- would always come before anything else.
Turning back to Audric he nodded and steeled himself.
"Right." What good was saving a few when many could perish if they didn't get to Attie.
"Lead the way."
Audric's smile was grim, and he nodded and did as he was bid.
Through the gate was the garden -- the remains of the garden, anyway -- and really just one corner of it. Fortunately, their destination was not far...
"How well do you swim?" he asked, frowning a little over the water. Even from where he stood, he could feel the swift tug of a current, likely flowing downstream and into the town... It would probably be nothing hazardous -- but you simply never knew.
"I can swim well enough. But let's get to higher grounds- and fast." Leif was scowling by now, the waters in the city were rising fast and though he was panicked, he was still pissed someone could have done this with Attie. And though his hunch had not yet been confirmed, he had a sinking sensation it would be soon enough.
Another nod, and Audric was wading forward into the water. There was a sudden drop that plunged the Swordsman into the water up to his chest and made him grimace.
This was really annoying. That's what this was.
"Cai, there's a drop right here," he cautioned. Leif was a good four inches shorter than he was -- the drop would put him in water nearly up to his chin. The current was probably washing away the soft dirt of the flower beds... His wife would be devastated...
A flicker of movement caught his attention, then, and he frowned. Guards. Wasn't that just what they needed just now? It seemed they were going to have to fight their way to the tower...
(OOC: I figured we needed some action! I'm not sure they're Audric's guards, though -- because it would make no sense for them to be patrolling the garden during a flood! But they can be if you think the Church wouldn't be guarding Attie for maximum devastation!)
Ironically, the guards spotted were running for their lives, and cursing up a storm about their armor. Leif breathed a sigh of relief when they left-a nd took a step forward, forgetting about the dip tha twas there and he nearly went under.
Scowling, Leif was bobbig his head in and out of the water as he half swam his way closer to Audric.
"We need to get out of this water and fast," he hissed. But as the two were pushing their way through the raging sea waters and rounded a bend- there were another pair of guards but these ones much more focused on...
"IT'S THE SHROUDED SWORDS MAN AND HIS SIDE KICK, THE MASKED MORDECAI! PROTECT THE CASTLE!!"
Leif, pissed off, swore between his teeth before trying to splash his way out of the line of fire as the men were taking up their crossbows- and just before they got a chance to be fired at, Leif grabbed a hold of his companion and yanked him behind a stone wall.
Panting as the waters were making it nearly impossible for him to stand anymore, he peered over at his 'friend'.
"You know, I'm not your side kick," he scowled. The masked mordecai existed before Audric even dawned a mask! "And this might have been easier had we not decided to dawn our masks..."
It wasn't the most brilliant plan, but it seemed a bit too late for that."
Audric laughed out loud in response to his friend's outrage, in spite of the seriousness of their situation. "I didn't realize you were so petty," he teased. They were on Audric's turf, after all, and most of the people in Allar only heard about the Masked Mordecai in conjunction with the Shrouded Swordsman.
Now, down to business... Audric glanced around, then and smirked as a few of the plants Nera had kept in the fountain bobbed by.
"You know," he said as he snatched the plants. "When I was little, I wanted to be a frog." He fished out his dagger from his belt and began to slice into the green plants. "My mother pointed out that frogs could stay underwater much longer than a boy...and since my parents could never agree on anything, my father brought home one of these."
By the end of his little speech, he had a pair of breathing straws. They were tricky to use -- and he hadn't used one in years -- but as long as they could stay underwater, the guards should walk right by them... After all, Audric couldn't see his own hands, the misplaced dirt was so thick!
"Here," he said, offering one to his colleague. "I'd rather not murder my guards, if you don't mind."
Without a word of explanation further, he stuck the hollow tube in his mouth and disappeared under water, leaving only the bobbing plant where he had been. And then, as Leif watched, the plant made its way at an almost natural pace away from the wall towards their goal.
Leif made a face at Audric's remark, but he understood the man completely- but did they honestly have time to be playing with the fishes? Sighing long after Audric left, he drew in a long, heated breath before dropping into the water- and his own flowered breathing straw followed angrily after his friend's.
It was a bit difficult to swim with the weight of the cape, which Audric wrapped around an arm, and the weight of a dozen different weapons as well. It was also difficult to swim at a slow, easy pace that, he hoped, seemed natural to the guards searching for them and to breathe through the little straw. Yet, Audric managed the feat well-enough; in spite of his advancing age and time at a desk, his frequent outings riding, hunting, and, of course, as the Swordsman kept him in good shape, and he had always been a gifted swimmer.
The pair had to go quite a ways before they reached the tower. Audric managed to keep a fairly accurate estimation of their location in his head, although he was, temporarily, thrown off by the discovery of a statue still standing and blocking the path ahead.
The water was quite a bit deeper here, thanks to the erosion of the soil and lay-out of the gardens, and it was only once the ground began to slant upwards beneath them that Audric paused to cautiously lift his head above water in search for the guards.
The flower remained on his head, like a lady's headpiece, as his eyes sharply scoured the grounds.
A moment later, Leif's head poked up beneath his flower-pad, too. Although his fashionable flower hat looked more like a soggy bonnet, with a droopy flower to match.
"Remind me next time not to wear my cap in water," he growled. "And I'm sure my boots will continue to chafe me until they are dry." And his green eyes darted around now like a cat befre he sunk a little lower in the water and looked over at Audric. "Which way? Seems the guards are more focused on helping those inside."
WHihc was good- it meant at least Audric's family should be ok.
Audric blinked at Leif, then grinned broadly...though who could say if it was the droopy flower bonnet or his complaints that drew such a cheerful expression from the older man.
"That's not the only problem you're going to have. Salt water dries stiff -- because of the salt. And you'll have to make sure you clean your weapons as soon as you can."
He scuttled forward, suddenly, abandoning his hat as he stepped into the shadow of the tower. He pressed along the side of it, then took out his keys to open the small door set in the side of the tower.
"This is the back entrance," he explained. "Hopefully, we'll take anyone guarding the door by surprise. After that, it's straight up." As the lock clicked open, he paused to regard Leif with a very serious expression indeed. "Leif, you know better than I do what to expect. Is there anything I should know?"
Leif had nearly forgotten about the droppy flower bonnet until they were already making their way around back. But when he did, he snatched it from his head and threw it back into the sea waters. He then scowled at Audric's words.
"No more stiff than my temper, come on." And he followed the man to the back, keeping his eyes peeled for any guards or other danger. But seeing how just about everyone was in a panic, no one seemed to see the two masked vigilantes swimming around in broad daylight.
Pausing at the stairs, he blinked at Audric's question and growled, "Like what?"
Audric's words seemed light, but there was no lightness in either his tone or his expression.
"Like if she can turn her powers on us. Or like what we do if she won't stop, even if we say pretty please."
Leif gritted his teeth.
"We can cross that bridge when we get there." For he dare not speak of what he might have to do if it came down to it-
For he knew at least one sure what to turn a mage off. And he'd rather not lose his sister again.
Audric frowned at Leif, giving him, at last, a slow nod. Hopefully, they wouldn't have to hurt her -- or worse -- and he hoped Leif would understand if it came down to that...well, Audric would have no choice.
"When we get there," he agreed gravely.
"This tower isn't very large. I don't think we should split up." Just in case... God knew what else was in this tower...
Leif nodded as he followed closely behind Audric, but the sudden surge of more water gushed around them- and was most unexpected, as Leif found himself suddenly under water and being pulled away from his partner in crime. They had even the time to open the door yet to the tower, but it seemed the water had other plans- and fate was not making it easy for them.
A moment later he resurface with a gasp, and clung to a nearby stone statue that was no longer sticking out of the water, but was high enough so that he could keep his face out from it. But he was a soggy mess, and his cage was weighing him down,a nd remained entangled on something deep beneath the water. The man sputtered and tried to look around him, but the current caught him again and dragge dhis head back under, and he was seeing painful, murky waters before he close dhis eyes tightly and tried to hold onto his breath.
The wave was as unexpected as it was sudden. Audric was swept in the same general direction as Leif, but their paths split as the water rushed to find the paths of least resistance. He bobbed to the surface near a tree, clinging to one of its lower branches for a moment before scaling the tree to try to get his bearings.
The branch he perched on creaked threateningly beneath his weight, but it held as he inched along its length. In the distance, he could see what had caused the sudden wave: the levee had broken beneath the weight of the water, and fresh water was flooding the palace grounds and city in greater volume, now. It was no longer a nuisance; if the levee continued to break down, the whole city would be swept away before long!
Damn.
With the current heavily against them and waters rising, he was going to have to make some compromises with his outfit. He undid his cloak pin and draped the thick, dark cloth over the limb of the tree. His sword belt was next; it would weigh him down too much. He caressed the hilt apologetically, then began to remove most of the rest of his weapons. He worked quickly. As he set the last of the weapons down, his eyes swept over the grounds, a bobbing black shape catching his eye for a moment before it was swept under the waves.
Double damn.
The smart thing to do would have been to clamber back down to splash into the water below, but Audric was in a hurry. Instead of wasting that precious time, he risked breaking his neck as he dove back beneath the waves and began to make his way towards where he had last seen Leif with long, powerful strokes. Reaching the location, he dove downwards, bobbing, momentarily, like a duck before vanishing beneath the waves as well.
Leif would feel a tug on his cape, then the sensation of a knife to his throat. Rather than cutting his flesh, however, the blade slid through the fabric of his cape. As the material fell away, supporting arms would go around Leif as his rescuer brought him back to the surface.
Audric barely gave Leif time to catch his breath before paddling towards the tower again. One arm was still around Leif below the armpits, pulling him along as he fought the current with the other arm and his legs. With his back towards his rescuer, Leif would not be able to see who had saved him until he had caught his breath and turned around...but he would certainly recognize the voice.
"You can play in the water later, Leif," Audric scolded playfully. "Right now, we have to get to that tower. We're out of time!"
Breaking the water's surface once he was freed of his constricting cloak- Leif gasped and sputtered for air, expelling what water he could until he retched. Shivering bitterly, he eventually turned tired, red strained eyes to Audric as he snorted, and afforded him a half-assed grin.
"Just shut the fuck up, Audric and let's get inside the tower." And as he moved to look around, he tried swiping the water from his face.
"We obviously can't get in through the door." Now he slicked back his hair, as it suctioned into an unruly heap upon his head. He sipped, water dripping off his nose.
"There.." he noticed a window, one that the water was just about touching. "We'll have to get in through there." But it seemed as if a strong current was pulling between them- and the window.
The current was indeed swift here, and Audric stared at the swiftly moving water with a slight frown before turning to Leif.
"Looks like you're up. I can't swim that. I'll end up downtown somewhere -- alive, if I'm lucky. I don't suppose you have anything helpful on you, do you? Like a grappling hook and some line?"
Failing that, they were going to have to get creative...
Leif scowled and reached into his outfit and awkwardly pulled out a grappling hook. He then awkardly worked at latching it to his belt as quickly as he could while the sea waters were still rising dangerously all around them. Once he had that secure, his eyes narrowed upon the stone lip of the window- and rose the metal hook high above his head before giving it a toss.
But it weakly fell just a few feet before them in the water with a sploosh. Cursing, he tugged it back in and tried again, but the grappling hook continued to fall short. His patience was wearing thin, and he knew time was running out. And just as he was about to give upa nd just test his luck with the currents, his last angered shot worked- and the grappling hook latched onto the stone wtih a metal cling.
Giving a triumphant pull on the hook, Leif actually laughed and turned to Audric. "Looks like we got ourselves a way across." And he gestured regally to his masked friend.
"After you, Lady Abigail."
"I must admit, you had me worried for a moment," Audric answers, ignoring the good-natured teasing. Carefully, knowing one end was anchored only to his friend, he began to move across the current and towards the window.
This was going to end up being the least of their concerns once they stopped the flooding, but it still felt a bit like he was desecrating his own home as he fished out one of the light axes he had kept. He used the back end of it to smash the glass and clear it away from the frame, then carefully hauled himself up to crouch on the sill to wait for his friend.
The window was narrow, but, if they moved slowly and held their breaths, they should be able to squeeze through. Inside, there would be a drop of only three feet or so onto the steps; clearly, the structure had been made with archers in mind.
"How you doing, Cai? Need me to haul you in?"
Leif cut a look Audric's way and called over the waters.
"Just be sure the hook doesn't come loose!" And once Audric gave him an all clear, he pushed himself off and began his fight against the current. The waters were rushing, racing- fast- but he could feel the line held true, and with one gloved hand in front of the other, he pulled himself to the window and took Audric's hand.
"Help me up, I feel like lead."
Audric leaned forward to do just that and grunted in surprise as he helped the younger man pull himself up. "No wonder. You weigh as much as lead. What the hell have you been eating?"
The water, of course, was asserting its hold over the Masked Mordecai, weighing him down and trying to pull him away. At last, however, the pair of men were standing on the sill.
Audric took a deep breath, then glanced to Cai. "Are you ready?"
Leif turned to Audric with a firm nod.
"I'm ready. Let's just hope we're not too late." ANd his eyes cut into the room, the water rising fast up the steps, but it was at least a little more shallow inside the side of the tower than it was outside. He wasted no time dropping onto the stone steps and making haste up the spiraling stairs where, at first he didn't notice it, but he slowed down as he walked and noticed thin tendrils of water snaking their way up the sides of the walls.
Pausing now in midstride, he held up a hand for Audric to do the same as his eyes followed up the walls to the ceiling where the same thin moving strings of water were flowing upwards, and following the curvature of the steps. He gave a curious tilt of his head, then breathed out the realization, "Attie.."
And he began to race up the stairs again.
"What is it?" Audric questioned as he paused behind Leif -- only for the Masked Mordecai to take off again like a shot!
But, by then, he had already spotted what Leif was looking at...and, frankly, it gave him a bit of a chill. He liked Attie, he truly did, and he knew she hadn't deserved what had happened to her... But water flowing up stone was still an unnatural site that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
"We must be nearly there," he added, a little needlessly.
By the time the last curl in the steps was conquered, the landing at the top greeted him with a thick door of wood- one that, as he tried to knob, was evidently locked. But it was obvious who dwelled within as the waters snaking along the walls was converging in through the cracks of the door and all but disappearing to the room on the other side.
Angrily he banged on the door.
"Attie! Attie! Are you in there?" And desperately, he tried at the door again.
When it became apparent that Attie wasn't going to open the door, Audric reached into his pocket to pull out a keyring. "Step back, Cai. And have you weapons ready. God knows who else is in there."
The keys on the ring were all skeleton keys, so it didn't take long to find the appropriate one. With a flick of his wrist, the door came unlocked, and he burst into the room with one axe in his hand and his other hand reaching for the second.
And when they opened the door, there in the corner she lay, away from the light of the window and sobbing. Leif stared into the room a moment, digesting what he saw- which was a battered form of his sister, in torn skirts and blood staining her.
"By God.."
He wasted no time crossing the distance to her, but as he reached to scoop her up, Attie let out a cry.
"NO! LEIF! DON'T TOUCH ME!" she wailed, and reared back away from him, back against the stone wall as she sobbed.
And it was here he watched her, tears streaming down her face while a pool of water gently filled the room before seeping back into the rest of the world below them that was quickly becoming flooded with ocean water.
"Attie.. what's wrong? What's happening?"
And her eyes sparkled with fear as she shamefully whispered,
"It's me." More sobs became her "Leif...My powers... something's turned them on and I can't turn them off. I can't stop this. I can't!"
Now that they were in the relative safety of the tower, with little likelihood of being followed, Audric pulled his mask from his head. He watched the pair helplessly a moment in silence, and then there was a soft pair of clangs as his weapons were set gently on the ground.
Carefully, as carefully as he had approached her when they had first met, he moved towards her. "Hey, Attie. It's Audric." Of course it was! "I need you to take a deep breath for me and tell me what happened."
Her eyes turned frantically towards him as she trembled, tears still streaming down her face. SHe cupped a hand over her lips, her face wincing as she choked on a sob before she shook her head.
"From the beginning, I can start from the beginning," she told him through a cracked voice. "The church- this... this happened before. THey tried to cure me of my powers but made them worse, awakened them more- made them more powerful. Now.."s he trembled, her entire body shaking wtih fear. "I am afraid of what they've done. They.. this happened before, and now they want to do it again. They've turned my powers on and now I'm drawing int he power of the ocean. And if.. if you don't stop me.. this.. this whole place will flood- and worse..."
She grit her teeth, fighting back more sobs.
"But I couldn't do it. They taunted me, told me I'd be to blame- and i wanted to end this, so it'd never happen before but I couldn't do it. I couldn't jump from the window or slit my wrist. All I could do was cry."
And she lowered her head to the floor and sobbed
"I just want this to be over."
And Leif looked from his sister to Audric then back to her again as he held his sister tightly in an embrace.
Was he saying the only way to stop this was to kill her? By Ansgar's name...
what a cruel twist of fate.
Audric nodded slightly, more to himself than in response to her. Sinking down into a crouch a few feet away, he stroked his chin a moment in thought before suggesting, out of the blue, it seemed, "Attie, I've told you before that I think you're very brave, and I admire you a great deal. But you have to listen to me. You aren't to blame. It's the Church that did this, not you."
But at his words, she shook her head.
"No... it does not matter. I know I'm being played like a pawn in a game- but it still falls on me. And I'm too weak to try to stop myself."
And hesitantly, she drew in a breath and peered at both Audric and her brother.
"But you.... surely one of you can help me where I have failed. Please.. before it is too late!"
Leif cringed at such a statement, feeling himself too numb to answer that except a weakened whispered of her name.
"Attie..."
"Please..... you must stop this. Both of you. Before more people are killed."
Audric looked from the girl to her brother -- but there was only hopelessness there, no reassurance.
"Of course, Attie. We'll take care of it."
But he remained unmoving, crouched in the center of the tower floor as he gazed questioningly at her brother. He knew Leif. He knew how much Attie meant to him. He was a good man, but Leif had his priorities -- he always had. And Audric couldn't hold it against him -- because, he knew, Leif would choose his sister...and, he thought, rightfully so.
Leif cringed. He felt himself stuck between a rock and a hard place. He turned away, towards the window where he heard the sounds of raw water and the cries of people- trapped and desperate for help and his hands shook into fists.
"We have to... we have to do something. Figure this out..." he murmured, his voice raspy. And as he moved away, he was surprised when he looked down to where Attie pressed a knife into his hand.
"Leif.. I'm begging you.."s he said, her hysteria cause her endless tears. "One of you has to kill me."
And it was here, his fingers trembled against the cold blade in his hand.
"Lest they find me again, use me for this, for worse. And to stop it. To stop it all. If I live, they win, Leif. They'll blame this on me. Or you. They want the war to get worse.. please!"
But Leif coudln't do it as he let the blade drop away as he moved away from his sister and paced against the wall like a tempered animal in a cage.
Audric rose slowly, crossing the room to catch Leif by the upper arm. With a hand, he gestured for Attie to stay put, and he turned his back towards her to keep their conversation somewhat private. He spoke quickly, in a hushed tone, but, for all that, with the natural air of a commander.
"Leif, you need to get to the stables. They're on higher ground to the west of the castle, so they should be safe for now. There's a white mare called Sugar -- she looks dainty, but she could outrun the wind." Or a flood. Or the guards. "Get her saddled and ready to go. I'll be down in a minute."
He'd have to buy his wife a new horse...in addition to the rest of the palace.
"What?" Leif's face twisted in confusion. "What is a horse going to do for us?" he snapped.
Audric leveled him a stare that could have frozen the sun, had it been unlucky enough to get in Audric's way. When he spoke, his voice was a low growl, promising little mercy. "For once in your life, boy, put down your silver spoon and do as you're told." Audric's grasp in his arm was tight enough to be painful -- but only for a moment. He gave the younger man a rough shove in the direction of the door to see him on his way with a stony expression.
Leif's expression turned soured. It was evident how much this moment pained him, to see his sister so.
"Go.." Attie told him softly, a gently hand to her brother's hair. Leif turned around, accepting her hand before kissing her finger tips and hugging her close. "I'll see you when I get back with the horse," he whispered, and pulled away from Attalia's side and hardened a gaze on Audric. "I trust you with my life, I'll trust you with hers. I shan't be long." And he whirled around on his heel and began to head back down the spiraling stone steps.
With the grappling hook returned to him, he was going to need it, and he found another tree beside a hill side not entirely gorged by the rising water, and began to swiftly make his way onto shore. Once he was on the hillside, he rushed to the stables, procured the frantic white horse Sugar, and began to lead her back out onto the soggy lands, eyes anxiously searching the water- hoping Audric knew what he was doing.....
Once they were alone, Attie raised her green eyes to Audric.
"Audric.." her voice came out soft, timid. "You know, I always liked you. You're a good man."
Audric watched Leif go, his face remaining impassive until the younger man had gone. When Attie spoke, his expression softened, and he turned to regard her with a sad smile.
"And you're a better woman than you want to believe."
Audric held out a hand towards her; when she took it, he kissed the top of her hand gently, as a proper gentleman should a lady.
"Attie, there are people who would move heaven and earth for you. Only great people inspire such love."
Attie's eyes wavered with more tears at his words.
"Yes," she spoke softy. "But I fear I must do the same for them. Audric... they warned me, threatened what they would do if I don't..." And she lowered her gaze to the ground. "You... you very well know how to stop me. You either have to kill me, or try knocking me out cold. I... they've done that to me before. It was the only way to stop me just short of killing me. And in that regard, they believed they had some sort of weapon to use. For what-t hey didn't say." She lifted her green eyes to regard his again. "Can we make this quick? I don't want to be awake when my brother comes. He'll... he'll hurt you if he sees you hurt me." ANd she squeezed his hand, imploringly.
Audric pressed a brotherly kiss to her forehead. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Attie. I'll never forgive myself for that." Releasing her, he took a step back from her and leaned down to pick up one of his fallen axes.
"And Leif may never forgive me -- nor should he, and nor should you -- but he'll understand." He dragged the thumb lightly over the flat of the blade, then lifted his eyes to meet hers. It was the least he could do, to look her in the eye... "Besides, he knows... Even over my family... I chose justice."
For his advancing age, Audric still had the reflexes of a younger man. His arm shot out, lightning-quick, bringing the flat of his blade down into her head. His eyes never left hers as hers rolled back and she fell into his arms.
Audric emerged from the pool of water thoroughly soaked. Water dripped off him, cascading back into the swirling floodwaters. As he stepped onto dry(ish) land, it formed puddles in his wake. He was unarmed, and he had, along the way, lost his shirt. It was draped over the human-shaped bundle he held in his arms, miraculously, somehow, more dry than he was himself.
"I told you to wait at the stable," he growled as he stepped past Leif. Looking down at the bundle in his arms, he adjusted the shirt somewhat, then looked at his younger cohort. "Well? Get on the horse, man! What are you waiting for?"
Seeing the bundle, Leif angrily rushed to his side.
"What did you do?" he asked growling. "Let me see, Attie. Let me see her!" And he was hysterical and frantic, the tone in his voice enough to make the horse he was holding upset as it tried to fight against Leif's steel grip.
"Leif, she's fine -- just unconscious. But you need to take her and leave -- get as far away from the ocean as you can."
Because they had no way of knowing if her power had stopped, even in her present condition, or if when she awakened, if her powers would resume flooding the city...
"Get on the horse, Leif. The longer you delay, the more danger she's in." In spite of the harsh glare he gave Leif and the firmness in his tone, he held Attie quite tenderly. "I'll hand her up to you."
Leif stood there in shock. He wasn't sure what to say, what to do.
"But... but what if the flood waters keep drawing to her- and your city isn't the only coast line city swallowed whole?"
"Then take her to the desert, Leif! Whatever you do, you have to go. Now!" Because the alternative was to kill her...
Leif remained stunned, his sister draped in his arms as sadness and grief and guilt tore at him- making him appear far older than his years, even through the mask. But as he held her, he noticed something and furrowed his brow.
"Audric.." he delicately opened the blanket, and peered down at his sister's unconscious form. He saw the blood, but hse was breathing, but what he didn't see was...
"There's no water drawing to her." And he peered over towards the ocean, then back down to her. Folding the clothe back over her, he nodded to Audric.
"I shall go. But keep her eyes wary. If there were men who planned this on purpose... they might be looking into the aftermath, and.... I wouldn't be surprised if they had planned for us not to ever escape alive."
"You needn't worry about me," Audric answered with a grin that, even to him, felt a little forced. "Take care of yourselves. I'll do what I can to clean up the mess here."
Which wasn't going to amount to much...
"Now, go!"
Stepping onto the horse in one swift motion, he drew Attie close and gripped onto the reigns. With one final nod to Audric, he gave a "HEEYA!" and kicked the horse's side sharply and tore off into the hillsides, away from the chaos of the sea and onward towards a destination unknown.
Should he go back to Castavar?
Or seek shelter elsewhere? The only thing he could think of was a decision he might regret later, but Attie had told him Merric knew she was alive. Maybe if he explained this to him...
But he swallowed that notion down. He wasn't fond of Merric, had never been-
But Attie had loved him- and admitted...
She still did.
Wasn't the world all messed up? That's the only thing he could think of as he considered what the church had done to Attie, yet she had fell in love with a Priest.
OOC: Leif's adventures continue here (http://www.spiritsoftheearth.net/smf/index.php?topic=16582.msg184894#msg184894).