[IRP] The Dead One Calls

[Swift_Assassin]

When the question for an order came, Shad just shook his head. He didn't know how Maria was being treated right now. In his mind, it wasn't fair if he was enjoying food and drink while Maria is captive. His stomach probably couldn't keep it down anyway. He still tasted the content of his stomach from earlier. It wasn't strong, but it was there. A constant reminder. He didn't even know how he looked after that.

Satsume warned about picking a bad time to be a hero. Shad laughed at that. "I've picked worse." Shad muttered under his breath. A few instances flashed in the forefront of his mind. Most notable was the first time, the one he forgot. When he was nearly cut in half saving a five-year old Alice from a mad ax-man in the Ostia market at the age of ten. That one he only survived because Lennox carried him to a Maisie's daughter immediately. But he didn't want to mention that one. He did start speaking though, "There was that time, at that village in Pharae. After you and Orica went to fight Glass. I helped evacuate the school house after that meteor fell on it. Last one out too. Helped Paige save Neil's books. The fool didn't even take all of them. I still have his fire tome with me. But that's not what I'm talking about. It was suggesting to Kalin that she take me alongside the next Meteor Glass cast and derail it with a barrage of magic. I told her it was a terrible idea. And she acted like it was the best idea in the world. I ended up bedridden from magic exhaustion. I only just got back to my feet when I ran back into Paige."

Shad realized he was rambling on a bit. "Sorry, rambling. Anyway. I'd figure that provided they don't attack us first, I'd ask Maisie to try to lure their attention to the main road. Then we can sneak in from this alternate route and catch them out of position. Maisie was a good runner when I lived with her, I hope the last couple of years hasn't slowed her too much. We may be able to even sneak Maria and the others out without them being too aware of what's going on. There should only be like six people left in the castle since all the soldiers were..."

Shad groaned, flashes of Marcus came to mind. "Distraction...distraction...Oh. Eli, Maisie wanted me to tell you she took care of that thing you wanted her to do. What was that, by the way?" Shad asked, trying to block out the painful thoughts with a new topic.