Sired Of Fire

CHAPTER 27: A DETOUR BEFORE THE MAIN MISSION

So much drama, eh. The text is practically dripping with it. Well let's depart this soap opera and propel ourselves forward in time. How far forward do you say? Oh, all of the two years that we cut back, while propelling ourselves across the land, to a fork in the road, where we find a familiar, military parade.

"Stop the wagon!" Maggie shouts from the window of the battle wagon.

The command passes throughout the body of the force until it reaches Erica who is in charge and rides at the front. She issues the declaration which is followed without a moment's hesitation before turning her mount and cantering to the back of the column where she finds Amelia already stopped in front of the fortified, mobile structure.

Maggie opens the door and hops down as she approaches Amelia. "It's time, my dear," she addresses the red knight while drawing to a halt. "My home is nearby."

The red knight nods and starts her horse toward the other path which branches off of the main road. She rides with Erica who holds her place, as leader of this expedition she must stay with the main body. The green knight watches the formation of a new column headed by her sister with the witch shambling behind, she said she needs the exercise, followed by Mary Anne and a pair of soldiers carrying the litter with the Silent Man's body.

The road is not a long one and they soon come upon the witch's cottage, standing by as though it waits for them. The red knight dismounts her horse while Maggie leads the way into the hovel followed closely by Mary Anne with the two, litter-bearing soldiers setting their charge inside before taking up guard outside.

"Now then, on to work" Maggie says as she rubs her hands vigorously. "Amelia my dear, stand there and get ready to catch whatever I throw at you."

The witch enters a closet that's a complete shambles. She rummages around seemingly willy-nilly and tosses random articles towards the warrior. First, is a crumpled, dusty pile of something. The next, a strange glowing orb. After which, is a small vial fixed to a chain. Next a strange, stubby, wooden stick with holes. Followed closely by a solid gold ingot. Last, is a large vial, with a strange liquid inside.

Amelia is barely able to catch all of the strange objects as they are thrown her way, but she's just able to juggle the contents while keeping them from crashing to the floor. Luckily, she doesn't drop a single item and she's able to lay them out on the table one by one, creating a proper display for the witch to peruse.

"Now then, let's get to work," Maggie begins as she emerges from the closet and surveys the objects on the table. "First off, here." She hands the red knight a knife and the small vial attached to the chain. "Cut the man's arm and collect a few drops of his blood."

Amelia does as instructed before returning.

"Alright, listen very carefully," Maggie speaks so as to claim the young woman's attention. "To get to Tartarus you have to go due south from here. There, you will find a giant mountain. At which point, you will have to go alone as I have only enough to protect you, no one else. Also, you'll have to shed your armor and weapons. They will avail you naught in the trials you'll have to face. You'll have to climb the mountain, which will be difficult, but not impossible. When you make it to the top, there will be a door. You have to use all of your strength to push it open. Next, you'll find a long, spiraling stair. This will take you to a gateway, guarded by two beasts, who only let the dead through. Wear the cloak." She hands the young woman the folded, dusty garment." She pours the strange liquid over it. "This formula will allow you to smell like the dead. Pass through the gateway and you will then be in The Land Of Death. Specifically, you'll be on The Shore Of Lost Souls. Find the boatman on The River Of The Forgotten. Give him this gold ingot." She hands the aforementioned object to Amelia. "Now, your next obstacle will be Cerberus, the giant guard dog that blocks the way to the castle, where the lord of death resides. Cerberus eats souls so throw the orb into his mouth and he'll consume it. She hands over the object in question. "It contains a soul substitute, same great taste half the calories. I've added a little something, which will cause the overgrown puppy to sleep. Then you have to approach the lord of death and strike a bargain. This part is entirely on you as I don't know what he will demand. So, be ready for anything. If you get permission, he will give you a key to set the soul free and send you to Tartarus."

"What if he doesn't accept?" Amelia probes as she stuffs the gifts into a sack.

"Then I'm afraid your problems will only have just begun, but it's more likely than not that he'll just ask for a favor in return for your passage," Maggie waves off the notion as she returns to the table. "Keep the cloak about you and make sure not a single inch of you is exposed, else the whipping wind will tear you to shreds. You won't be able to see where you are going. So, keep the vial about your neck. The blood will pull the chain toward its master's soul. Follow the direction it points. He'll either be one of the unfortunates who linger about the desert, or on one of the many mountains that dot the landscape. Once you have his soul..." The witch holds for a moment. "Do you have a personal object that belonged to him, the more personal the better?"

Amelia thinks for a moment, she looks to Mary Anne who's still holding the wooden trinket, which she stares at, from her place in the corner.

Maggie waddles over and gives the object a look. "Timothy," she reads as she shifts her eyes from the object to the dead woman's face. "Who is Timothy?"

"My son," Mary Anne speaks as dead pan as her flesh.

"And you believe that your son, is the frozen man?" Maggie asks as she turns her attentions fully toward the corpse in the corner.

"I honestly don't know," Mary Anne admits as she stands from her seat. "But he could be."

"Well," Maggie starts as she holds out her hand. "I guess it will have to do."

Mary Anne stares at the hand thrust in her direction. She runs her fingers over the inscription one last time, before surrendering her keepsake.

"Now my dear," Maggie carries on as she makes her way back to Amelia's side. "You will use this object, which may, or may not be of personal value, to the soul. It should absorb it, making it easier to transport. Then blow this flute." She hands her the small, wooden rod with holes in it.

"But I don't know how to play," Amelia admits as she gazes at the strange instrument in her hand.

"It doesn't matter," Maggie informs the non-virtuoso and waves it off with her hand. "It's the sound the flute makes, not the notes that are necessary. When you play it, it will summon The Abominus One, a flying creature that carries a cage. Hitch a ride and it will take you back to The Shore Of Lost Souls. Here you just simply backtrack and you'll be out of there and back home in no time. Now, did you get all that?"

Amelia thinks for several moments. "I think so," she returns while looking into her sack.

"Well you'd better," Maggie warns and points directly at her with perhaps the boniest finger to ever exist. "You won't get a second chance at this."

Amelia nods in understanding. The severity of the situation is not lost to her. "I suppose it's time we depart," she imparts as she slings her sack onto her back.

Mary Anne rises from her place.

"Now, now deary," Maggie breaks in and waves the corpse to sit back down. "I'm afraid you won't be any help with your sun condition. Best you stay here and help watch over the man in stasis."

"But how did you know?" Mary Anne queries as she reluctantly sits back down.

"I'm a witch, I know these things," Maggie remarks and as she waves the query away.

Amelia nods her head and gives one last, lingering look to the body in stasis before heading out the door. She meets up with the soldiers on guard who also have hold of her horse. She mounts up and rides back to the main force, where she takes to the front and the battle train continues on with the journey.