The Valley of the Beast Part V

"You came to right place lassie," Brother Gorin said taking Kiera's hand and pulled her into a seat near his desk.  The desk was littered with scrolls and papers concerning the various deities of the region and known world. "Let's have a look ya."

Brother Gorin opened her robes and began to inspect her.  Occasionally there was a 'hmm' or an 'ah hah'.  Kiera looked over to Sir Pierre who simply shrugged.

"Does reading the tattoo help?  I would have thought one of your order would be familiar with Tesha."

"What tattoo?"  Brother Gorin looked up and grinned. Kiera let out a laugh and ruffled the rotund dwarf's head.

"Well played Brother Gorin," she said to his broad grin.  "Now if we can continue with the curse."

"My pleasure m'lady,"  He sat on a stool and smiled as if he knew more than he was letting on.  "You're Askari the Winds Wings."

"Yes, as I announced myself when I first came.  That is the name of my phoenix." 

Kiera spoke of the tradition of the priests and priestess of Tesha who upon acceptance into the order were sent into the woods naked.  After seven days if Tesha showed them favor they were branded with a spirit animal.  As they grew in power and knowledge of the ways of Tesha and the Seven they would be able to call upon their animal during times of need.  As they progressed in the order they would tattoo the beast onto their body.  Most agreed you did not truly begin your training as one of the order until you finished the tattoo, which took years.

"There have been rumblings of a curse against Askari in both the Heavens and the Hells."  Brother Gorin said as he took out a scroll and unrolled it.  The light seemed to dim as the image on the paper became clear.  On the scroll was a demon that looked almost like a man, but far too large for any mortal.  A mixture of jet black and blood red skin painted his body and mimicked the gladiator style armor that he wore.  He was said to be handsome for a demon lord, but the malice in his eyes destroyed any illusions of love or kindness.  In one arm was a sword that was razor sharp on one edge and jagged as if broken on the other.  It was almost as large as Asarix himself, wildly disproportionate but his skill with the blade was legendary even in the outer planes.  His other had held a staff made from the skulls of his kills.  Heroes of Light, Avatars of Gods, dragon kings, angels, devils, and his most prized skull was a long forgotten demon lord who once held the throne of his current kingdom.  "For whatever reason your spirit animal seems to have caught the ire of Asarix, the Defiled One."

"Asarix..." Kiera cursed under her breath and clenched her fists.  She felt her tattoo twitch, eager to unleash a holy fury upon the demon lord.

"The one and same."  Brother Gronin said rolling the scroll up of Asarix's image.

"Wasn't there a temple of Asarix deep in the Hero's Forest centuries ago?"

"Yes," Brother Gronin said smiling and tapping the scroll to his head.  He was at that same conclusion before these two had even arrived.  "I've already asked Lord Sven the Just to give us permission to head into the woods."

"If I know him he'll never let us go without him."  Sir Pierre smiled at Brother Gronin.

"You'd be right in that,"  a voice said from the doorway.  All turned to see Lord Sven the Just stride in with Paxil the elven mage in tow behind him.  Lord Sven wore scorched black plate, burned in the fires of a powerful dragon and bound with magic to make it impervious to fire.  He had sandy brown hair that matched his eyes yet there was wisdom beyond his years in his gaze.  Only a few of the senior knights and occasionally Sir Pierre could defeat him in a match of arms.  None were so blessed the blade he was given.  The Leviathan was his family's sacred sword, passed down for generations that began with a distant grandfather who had killed two devil kings who had broken into the mortal planes.  The Lords of Light blessed the blade greatly and ever since it's list of great deeds has grown.  Lord Sven is eager to add deeds of his own to Leviathan's legendary lineage.

"Priestess Kiera, it is an honor to meet you."  Lord Sven bowed and kissed her hand formally.  "It seems we have to continue further west with you on your journey."

"I guess it would be prudent to have a healer on hand for the journey," Kiera smiled.

"Two actually," Brother Gronin said and hopped off his stool. Kiera smiled at the group of strong knights around her as Brother Gronin and Lord Sven nodded at each other.  Sir Pierre caught the look but said nothing and told himself to ask about it later.

"Then let us go give our enemies a reason to have healers of their own," Paxil said as he let lightning surge around one of his hands and cast an eerie light across the room.

The Valley of the Beast Part IV

Despite his bravado and silly antics Kiera was surprised how quickly her champion changed his demeanor.  One minute he was naked for all the world to see, the next he was listening intently as she told her story that began over five years ago.  Kiera was summoned by a dark wizard named Wyrth to save his dying son.  The Seven believed all can be saved and so Kiera made her way to his modest tower on the outskirts of a city far away to the East.  His son had been cursed by a demon who had been summoned by Wyrth who was seeking forbidden knowledge.  The demon denied his request and broke free from his bonds long enough to curse the son who had snuck in unknowingly.  The battle had been terrible but the wizard sent the demon back to the abyss.

Kiera did her best to bring the pain in the old wizard's voice, he was a changed man in her eyes.  Even if for a moment.  Despite everything that happened she still believed she could have saved him and his son.  For a day and a night she used her most powerful spells to try and revive the child.  There was nothing she could do, the child turned quite suddenly before she could get more help from those higher in her order.

Wyrth flew into a rage and lashed out at Kiera.  She had spent all her magic trying to save the child, her defense were formidable but in her weakened state she could not defeat such a powerful mage. Wyrth had her beaten but he did not kill her, instead he knelt over his fallen son.  He chanted and pulled a dagger from his belt and began to cut himself.  Wyrth's eyes turned to orbs of blood and Kiera heard the second voice speaking alongside the old mage.  The demon hadn't left, he had hidden in Wyrth's body.  In the end Wyrth was given forbidden knowledge, a curse from one of the lowest planes of Hell.  He sacrificed himself and struck through Kiera's wards granted by her goddess and curse her to be an agent of destruction.

"Those in my temple bade me to go west after praying to the Tesha.  Our goddess said my salvation lies in the West.  This curse is hidden from all gods and goddesses I've met so far.  Hell itself seems to be protecting the curse to keep it alive on this plane of existence."

Sir Pierre had been so completely lost in thought about the nature of the curse he didn't realize Kiera had stopped speaking.  As soon as he shook himself from the intrigue of the curse that was immune to the gods themselves.  He found his footing and lost it again when he caught Kiera's eyes looking at him.  The soft glow of the fire had shadows dance across her face and robes, a soft play of light on he perfect skin.  He pushed those thoughts out of his mind and made himself speak.

"The Knights of the Battered Rose know curses better than most.  A powerful curse took our leader many centuries ago and we'll travel to the deepest depths of Hell itself to find the source of the curse!"  The men around him cheered at the bravado but Kiera just let out a small laugh.  Sir Pierre leaned in, knowing he had to show her more.  He needed her to see that he knew her pain and was honest when he said he would save her.  "In all honestly I don't think the answer to your curse is in Hell.  And that means its somewhere near here.  That is why you made it here and why your goddess sent you west."

He took her hand in his and held her gaze for many moments.  "I will save you."

"Thank you," Kiera replied as tears welled up in her eyes.  She was strong, as much warrior as she was healer.  Yet this journey has been draining her for a long time and through it she's seen may travesties befall those around her.  She leaned in and rested her forehead against his.  "But you're going to need help."

"Then its a good thing I'm not alone."

Sir Pierre smiled and winked, showing that confidence of someone who had never tasted defeat.  And for the first time in years Kiera felt hope.

The Valley of the Beast Part III

She sat in her robes near the hearth where the knights and lords would gave to trade stories.  She blew on the hot tea and watched the steam continue to rise before taking another sip.  The normally boisterous men were having quiet discussions, trying to appear civil and cordial.  Kiera smiled at the notion, many times she found eyes on her that quickly looked away when she looked up.  She could feel their desire, their curiosity that pushed boundaries that were supposed to be stone walls. 

"You're making them nervous," a feminine voice said from behind.  Kiera turned to see a young woman clad in form fitting plate and chainmail.  She moved with grace like a cat circling its prey.  Immediately Kiera recognized a Valkyrie when she saw one.  The flowing blonde hair and deep blue eyes of her people were easy to recognize if her warrior armor did not already give away that secret. 

"You're making them nervous.  They have never known a priestess of Tesha, One of the Seven."  The Valkyrie finished he circle to stand in front of the fire casting herself in a silhouette of light. "They are only used to seeing beauty in battle."

"I don't see you battling now," Kiera smiled coyly.

"Who says we aren't?"  The Valkyrie was smiling, enjoying this entirely too much.  She walked towards Kiera who uncrossed her legs and let the robe fall just a little from one shoulder.

"My fellow knights are enchanted by your beauty, your...sensuality.  I have even been healed by a priestess of Tesha a few years ago when I was traveling east." She held Kiera's gaze with her eyes and there was a fierce current just beneath her calm demeanor.  "I know you are here for a reason, I believe I know that reason.  If it is true it is our sworn duty to help.  But do not think for a minute that I will allow you to manipulate my brethren."

"I come seeking aid from those who have the power to help.  That is all."

The warrior woman looked her over for a moment longer then smiled and bowed.  "I am Rota, when the time comes I will be there with sword and spear."

Kiera stood and kissed Rota on both cheeks, whispering a blessing that hung in the air.  "I am Kiera, priestess of Tesha, One of the Seven."

"I had heard you were beautiful," a voice from behind brought the already quiet room to a hushed silence.  "I just hadn't expected your beauty to stand so tall when next to our Rota."

"Be careful he's charming." Rota said quietly as she left Kiera.

Kiera turned to face the man she assumed to be the Red Line.  For the first time in many years she speechless.  He was said to be handsome, as most famous knights are.  Yet here was a young man with too much confidence.  Handsome in the face, a chiseled frame bearing a few scars and tattoos of protections on either arm.  All eyes were on him as he walked in and Kiera found herself staring for far to long at his body as he stood before her.  His body almost glowed in the soft light of the fireplace.

"I think you forgot your clothes, Sir."  Kiera said, almost laughing at herself by being caught so off-guard by a naked man.  "Although I appreciate the sentiment."

"I simply wanted to make my lady feel at home."  Kiera offered her hand which Pierre kissed with a bow.  "I am Sir Pierre.  Please, sit."

They sat by the hearth, Sir Pierre trying to stay charming.  Kiera holding his gaze and taking slow sips of her tea.  Sir Pierre slowly began to wilt under the scrutiny of her gaze.  After a few long moments it was Kiera who broke the silence.

"I hear you are good with your sword."

"So I am told."

"If your enemies are still speaking after you use your sword then maybe I need another knight."  Sir Pierre was about to interject when he was cut short.  "And if your women still have the strength to speak after laying with you then I certainly need another man."

Laughter boomed from all the knights in the room.  Kiera expected him to be cowed but was pleasantly surprised to find Sir Pierre laughing along with the rest of the room.  He was confident, very confident but humble enough to laugh at himself.  Kiera knew that her prayers had been answered.

"All right, all right!  Go back to your own conversations!"  Sir Pierre called for his squire who came running with a robe.  He helped Pierre into the robe, took one look at Kiera, smiled meekly and almost fell over himself trying to run out before Pierre caught him and held him up.  "Kip, this is a priestess  of Tesha, greet her as a knight would."

"M'lady," Kip kissed her hand.  Kiera thanked him and then moved forward and kissed the young squire on both cheeks and intoned a blessing.  Kip looked lightheaded as he walked out.

Sir Pierre turned to Kiera, "now, tell me about this curse."