"I want to return something . " Nix exited Haven and entered the Guild Office .

An hour later, a stealthed Nix was trotting back toward the Fir'Dha.s.si camp . Nightfall had come, but it didn't affect Nix who had slipped his Snake eyes mask on . The bright colors of the Fir'Dha.s.si forest seemed to jump out at him as he increased his pace .

During his conversation with Del, she had told him the location of both the Su'Dha.s.si and Fir'Dha.s.si camps . There were two guards at the entrance to the Fir'Dha.s.si camp, neither moved nor noticed anything when Nix walked directly between them .

The Fir'Dha.s.si camp was smaller than he would have thought . Maybe they didn't bother with a large presence since Parliament was in their territory . It took Nix nearly another hour to check all the tents .

Finally, he spotted her . The tall Fir'Dha.s.si was heading toward the largest tent in the compound . Nix frowned, he hadn't bothered to check that one, it was obviously the Dha.s.si version of the mess tent . A moment after Raine entered, a handful of Fir'Dha.s.si exited . Was Raine the cause? The Fir'Dha.s.si leader did seem a bit too serious for her own good .

A wave of heat struck Nix in the face the moment he entered the large tent . He moved quickly to one side to avoid two dha.s.si males that were exiting . It was then that he stopped dead in his tracks . 'A f*cking bath tent? What kind of Elf bathes in a barrel when there's a river outside? What about nature and spring water?'

A form moved gracefully through the steam-filled air . Her dark blonde hair hung down just pa.s.sed her waist . Nix didn't bother to turn away when she stepped into the water . He circled the inside of the tent to keep an eye on the only entrance . Raine was just easing into the hot water . The water stopped just below the curve of her breast, she cupped water in her hands splashed her face .

A pile of clothes on a nearby benchmarked Nix's target . He'd place her sword on her things, and no one would be the wiser . They entered a moment later when she submerged her head and slicked her hair back . Two figures in dark clothes approached Raine slowly .

Nix cursed his s.h.i.+tty luck . The two intruders had a slight glow around them . Did that mean they were stealthed? He had never used the true sight option of the Snake Eye mask .

/Inferno: Mina: Nix? Where are you?

/Inferno: Nix: Can't talk now .

They moved suddenly and faster than Nix expected . One-shot an object from some sort of wrist weapon while the other started to open a gate . Raine's unconscious body was dragged out of the hot water and through the gate . Nix dived at them before they could escape, slamming into the person holding Raine an instant before all four of them disappeared .

A moment later Nix crashed into the ground . He rolled to one side and immediately stealthed . The two a.s.sailants were both on the ground, Raine was nearby where they dropped her .

[Whisper: Nix to Delyn] Your apprentice has been taken .

The two figures drew their weapons, the eyes of one glowing softly .

Neyma Xai has cast True Sight .

Advertis.e.m.e.ntNix froze in place as the two dha.s.si studied their surroundings .

"It's fine, whoever it was is still at the camp . " Neyma sighed and then glanced at the unconscious body of Raine . "Let's just kill her now and be done with it . "

"We've gone through the trouble of setting up a the site, it's no good unless the Ain'Dha.s.si are blamed . " The second voice was a woman, but a mask hid her features .

[Whisper: Delyn to Nix] Taken? Where?

[Whisper: Nix to Delyn] Not exactly sure yet . Do you have a way to track her?

Nix considered his options . He could feel that the two dha.s.si were much stronger than him . Attacking them would be useless, he might hold one for a few moments .

Neyma wrapped Raine in a cloth and tossed her over one shoulder . The two dha.s.si started moving east at a trot . The weight of the dha.s.si didn't seem to bother him at all .

[Whisper: Delyn to Nix] If she had her old sword equipped, I could find her .

" . . . . . " Nix .

[Whisper: Nix to Delyn] They dropped a rather nice looking long-blade when they gated in .

Nix sat the sword in the long gra.s.s and continued after the dha.s.si .

[Whisper: Delyn to Nix] What?

[Whisper: Nix to Delyn] They dropped something when I escaped them, it was a long-bladed sword .

[Whisper: Delyn to Nix] I'm on my way . Don't engage them Nix, they are both my level .

[Whisper: Nix to Delyn] I'll just follow them unless they try to hurt her .

After 15 minutes of running, the duo stopped . Nix sighed heavily when he saw the horses that were tied behind some trees .

[Whisper: Nix to Delyn] They have horses . . . We're boned .

[Whisper: Delyn to Nix] I'm at the sword! East?

[Whisper: Nix to Delyn] Yes . . . Just follow the sound of a Fire Mage getting his a.s.s kicked .

[Fire Root]

Emerald flames have rooted Neyma in place .

[Fire Root]

Emerald flames have rooted Tyai in place .

Nix managed to root both fighters before they discovered him . Both dha.s.si pulled out bows causing him to dive for cover .

[Summons: Mortimer]

[Summons: Ducky]

[Summons: Tor, Cal, Shadai]

"Sick em Morti we only need a few moments!"

[Absolute Challenge]

All Enemies are forced to attack Mortimer .

"Shadai, focus your heals on Morti only! Our first kill is Neyma!"

Ducky has charmed Tyai .

Tyai turned away from the t.i.tan and slashed at the back of Neyma causing him to spin to one side . A huge paw bypa.s.sed his defense and sent the wounded Dha.s.si to the ground .

Tyai has resisted charm . An angry dha.s.si looked around in confusion for a moment before noticing the Siren . Instantly she flashed toward her .

[Aura Ignition]

12 strands of Emerald flames wrapped around the arms of Neyma . She screamed in agony as she pulled backward in an attempt to free herself .

Nix was jerked forward, He held on desperately while getting slammed repeated from side to side .

[Ground Pounder]

Neyma has been stunned .

Tyai has been stunned .

Nix dropped the flame strands and targetted Neyma .

[Fire Burst]

Five b.a.l.l.s of superheated flame struck Neyma .

Neyma is critically wounded and has entered a state of high vulnerability .

Ducky has charmed Neyma .

The wounded Neyma charged at Tyai slas.h.i.+ng with his blade .

Tyai cursed loudly and defended herself .

Tyai has slain Neyma .

"b.a.s.t.a.r.ds!" Tyai screamed in anger, her blade moving before Nix could react .

Ducky has been slain .

[Absolute Defense]

Half of all incoming damage is blocked by Mortimer's thick hide .

The surprisingly fast t.i.tan intercepted the dha.s.si fighter that was suddenly charging Nix .

Meri Xai has cast entangled .

Roots have sprung from the earth and wrapped around Tyai's legs .

"STOP!" A voice shouted from behind them . Delyn and three Fir'Dha.s.si had arrived . The Master swordsman placed himself between Tyai and Nix . "It's over Tyai"

Tyai's eyes showed her anguish, she glanced back at the comrade she was forced to slay . "In the next life then . " Without another word, she collapsed face-first on the ground .

The Fir'Dha.s.si cleric moved to Tyai's side and knelt down for a moment before looking up, her eyes were grim . "She took Cheizel Root, she's dead . "

Nix turned toward his Arch Wings that were still flying above him . "Great job, you guys can head back . "

Cal nodded and a moment later all three vanished .

The dha.s.si cleric started working on the unconscious Raine . Delyn approached Nix who was covered in dirt and gra.s.s, but otherwise unharmed .

"It seems I owe you a great debt of grat.i.tude Nix . " The dha.s.si placed a hand on Nix's shoulder, his eyes showing sincerity . "How did you get caught up in this?"

"I was exploring near the platform the two a.s.sa.s.sins arrived at . What's a platform doing out here in the middle of nowhere?" Nix unsummoned Mort while he talked .

"There's an abandoned Temple nearby, the platform was made for their acolytes . " Delyn bowed his head deeply . "Thank you for your efforts . What happened after that?"

"I stealthed and followed them . When they arrived at their horses I was forced to intervene . " Nix breathed a sigh of relief when Raine finally stood up . She seemed a bit disoriented, but at least she was alive .

"How did you track her through a sword?" Nix could see that the dressed Raine had already equipped the sword in question .

"I forged the sword myself, as long as it isn't stowed away or in a hidden world, I can find it . " Delyn turned back toward his people . "Gather everything together, we have to leave . "

"Hey . . . " Nix stared at the horses that the a.s.sa.s.sin's were planning to ride . "I don't have a horse myself, could I have those two?"

Delyn nodded, "their gear and horses all belong to you . "

Nix noted that they were both mares . "Thank you . "