07. Surprise Guests
General Summary
After smoothly slipping some candy into Uloth's bag, Mirage parted ways with the dragonborn, setting out with Asmira, Toby, and of course Nimbus toward her family cabin.
Nimbus scouted sporadically, and as they neared the cabin, came back to Mirage with a troubling report.
There were two Teeth of the Wind patrolling, with an animental hound. And from their talk, he thinks one of the dads is in the cabin with more of the Teeth.
Marwa immediately moved the party into hiding by a nearby earthmote garden, and looked over her options.
She didn't want to leave Asmira, she promised Jadeira she wouldn't. She didn't want to send Nimbus scouting, and she didn't want to get arrested.
Frustrated, she proposed her plan. One of her partymates, the star druid Cri, had a dwelling just a day's travel from there. If they set out immediately, they could arrive by midnight - faster if they rushed.
Assuring them that her dads can handle themselves, the party agreed and Marwa led them southeast, toward the Ironspine mountains of Primus, the material realm.
She found Cri's tower without difficulty or interruption. The lights were off, but that didn't mean much for an astronomer.
Leaving Asmira and Toby behind cover, she sent Nimbus to scout the place; see who, if anyone, is inside.
Nimbus came back almost immediately, with troubling news. Cri isn't home, but Cypher is. He's lying in her hammock staring at the ceiling.
Marwa. Was. Pissed. It took a concentrated effort not to break the damn door down. She barely even noticed anything in the house on her way up to the bedroom, her air magic distorting her form and softening her footfalls until she stood in the doorway.
This isn’t the first time she’s pulled a knife on Cypher and it probably won’t be the last, but usually alcohol is involved, or a more lighthearted, playful atmosphere.
*Nobody’s joking this time around,* Mirage thinks to herself as she stares him (decidedly NOT Cri, much to her surprise) down from the doorway across the room.
His features are gaunt, even more so than they were a few weeks ago, and the bruised skin under his eyes contrasts with the unnatural paleness of his face. She tightens her grip on her blade and suppresses the urge to cry.
“Fancy meeting you here.”
Seeing the expression he gives her in response is like looking in a mirror - shock, relief, confusion, and anger chase each other across his face.
“What are you doing here, Cypher.”
“Is Cri with you?”
“What are you *doing here,* Cypher.”
"Listen I get that you're mad, and you can flay me later if you still want to, but if Cri isn't with you, then that means she and the others are still captured and we have to go after them"
What? No, I was the only one in trouble. Captured?
"How about this. You tell me everything you know and have been so obviously holding onto for who knows how long, and I'll take care of it. Then you can go fuck off to wherever it is you disappear to."
Her whole body felt tense, as much with concealing her exhaustion as the exhaustion itself.
"Fuck. You know what? Hold that thought."
Marwa put down her pack, keeping the knife on him as she fished out her trusty coil of rope. Tying him up was simple work, and though confused, he didn't resist. She tied his feet, his toes, his limbs, his fingers, secured thick knots in his palms to limit his dexterity. Then she gagged him. She'd watched him wreak destruction with only a word before.
Moving him away from his pack, Marwa went outside and apprised Asmira of the situation. She brought her into the house, advising her to make her camp on the first floor and keep hidden and quiet, it might not be good if Cypher learned she was there. She agreed, but refused to bed down until Marwa could assure her own safety.
Touched, exhausted, but determined for answers, Marwa went back upstairs.
She regarded the bound warlock from the doorway. His skinny frame, shabby, slept-in clothes. Messy, greasy hair, unshaven, patchy beard, the dark bags under his eyes.
She removed the gag. He stayed silent, working his jaw a little.
She leaned back against the doorframe, glaring icy daggers.
Cypher took a breath that sounded loud in the silence.
"Where should I begin?"
Report Date
29 Jan 2025
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