"How old are you?" Hope asked Astarion.
They walked behind the others, following Gale, who led them on the path toward the Myconid colony.
He glanced at her as they walked, "Two hundred thirty-nine. Not that all of my kind count their previous days to being a spawn as part of their life. I was reborn, technically speaking. It's difficult to explain."
"I understand," Hope answered, and she did. It was an unfortunate truth—a complicated one. Regret wasn't the right word for what she felt toward her own transformation, but it was a cousin of sorts.
She continued, "I imagine it's…" she met his eyes as they walked, "bitter-sweet. Losing parts of your past self for something new. It's not necessarily always bad, it's just…different."
"Oh, my centuries of torment weren't 'necessarily bad'?" Astarion scoffed and rolled his eyes.
Sighing, she shook her head, "That's not what I mean. Just that not all changes are bad if the payout is worth it. This entire ordeal of being infected with a parasite gave you more abilities—abilities you can use against the people that hurt you. Against Cazador himself. The process might be bitter, but at least the revenge will be sweet."
Their gazes met, and there was a flash of something in Astarion's eyes. It was almost like…appreciation. It was different than when she undressed for him, or he watched her face mid-orgasm. Something dark glittered there, and she could only wonder if it reflected in her own eyes.
"Are you not enjoying our travels together, Hope?" He asked with a sly smirk. "I'm wounded."
Grinning, she shoved against his side, but her attention focused ahead as the others stopped.
"Torchstalk," Gale answered her unspoken question, "we must be careful. Get too close, and they'll explode."
Hope grimaced as she moved a little closer to get a good look at the glowing orange of the mushrooms. "Is there a way around them?" They grew so close together that it seemed nearly impossible to travel through without triggering them.
Pursing his lips into a thin line, he glanced around the field, "Just stay close, the path to the colony is just this way."
They followed him, edging as far away from the mushrooms as they could until they reached a platform of mushrooms. They led upward like a stairway, and suddenly Hope felt like she was in Wonderland.
Well, Wonderland with less tea.
As they walked their way up, she stopped dead in her tracks and stared ahead at the humanoid mushrooms before them. Cloaked in ribbon-like flesh, they glowed with bright neon colors along their grooves. They were almost…beautiful. In a 'What the hell is that?' sort of way.
These were the creatures that had spoken to them? And were they… singing?
Hope watched the Myconid, but despite the soft melody that continued to grow in her ears, it didn't seem to speak. Not with a mouth, at least.
Sovereign, she has come, she is here.
All her companions' curious, confused eyes suddenly landed on her, but she continued to stare at the Myconid as that voice returned.
I am Sovereign.
It was then that an image morphed its way into her mind, all of their minds, she was sure. It was herself…her lifeless body wrapped in fungal tendrils. Dead.
Were they threatening her?
State your purpose.
Hope tried to swallow, throat tight as she stared at the Myconid that stared directly at her. Not them, her. Did it somehow know she was more than she appeared?
"We're just passing through, on our way to find a healer."
Something probed through her mind like scraping fingers, and Hope's thoughts instinctively focused on her time on the Nautiloid and nothing else. Her mind felt constantly on display these days, and she detested it.
The Sovereign hummed a new melody, cautious but welcoming.
Descend to me. Let us speak in flesh.
"This sounds like a bad idea," Hope murmured skeptically as they inched past the guard and continued the mushroom path.
"Perhaps," Gale frowned, "but it's all we have at the moment. Maybe they can help us find our way to the Shadowfell."
As they continued up the path, Hope couldn't help but admire the little civilization formed here. There wasn't anything like this in her home. Was her world really so boring? Just then, she haggard a cough as a plume of spores released from a pod they passed. Her eyes watered as she quickly continued past, trying to get away from the sudden onslaught.
"I think Sovereign chooses to speak with you," Halsin said, and Hope glanced up at him with raised brows.
"Why me?"
"A wonderful question."
His eyes searched hers for a moment too long before he turned his attention to the tall Myconid ahead, who must be the voice speaking to them. She'd quickly gotten used to their appearance, but it was what it was doing that made her pause. Was it…petting a corpse?
Slowly, the creature turned its gaze to her and stood to its full height.
Flesh-talker. I show you a memory, watch and listen.
The image of a person, white-haired and stocky, clad in dark armor, wielded a weapon. Whoever it was, they bludgeoned Myconid creatures to death. A barbaric scene that faded away as Sovereign explained.
They broke our peace. They killed our young.
A deep sorrow gripped Hope's heart, squeezing it. To her surprise, it sounded like they were mourning the loss.
We laid waste to many, but intruders remain, lakeward. I sense your resolve. You will find duegar invaders near lakes edge. Cleanse the rot, destroy them. Travel beyond the lake, and there, you will find the source. Return to me with the head of Nere.
Hope stared at the creature for a long moment and asked, "You want me to bring back a head?"
She was met with silence as Sovereign continued staring at her.
"That's a big ask."
Riches of magic and mind, cleanse the Rot, and they are yours. You do the circle a service, and we will await your word.
Opening her mouth to respond, Hope closed it and slowly nodded, "Alright then." She turned to the others, but it was Astarion who looked the most perturbed with his grimace and crossed arms.
"You're going to make us go do something unrelated and heroic, aren't you?" He asked.
Hope nodded as she passed by and patted his bicep, "Yup, let's go."
"Please…" A weakened voice called out to them from her right, and Hope looked down with a frown. She didn't know who she was, but looked very out of place among the Myconids. Oh, yes, she was a gnome. "I'm Thulla. My people. They're trapped there, across the lake. I'd go myself to free them, but…" she panted softly. It was evident that whatever affliction she had was severe. She likely wouldn't make it much longer if she did nothing.
Hope was so tired of doing nothing.
Pulling out her pack, she reached in and pulled out one of the Healing Potions Gale had given her.
"That won't work, I'm afraid," she lay back against her makeshift bedding as Hope glanced up from the bottle at her, "tried it." She said through a shuddering breath.
Hope glanced at the others, wondering if anyone else knew what to do. Could they help her at all?
"I don't have any antidotes on hand," Gale frowned, "we'll need to find one…"
"Don't bother," Thulla croaked, "I only want my people to be saved from those scum."
There wouldn't be time to do both…to save both, and Hope's chest squeezed. She tried to keep the emotion off her face, but the panic slipped into her eyes, causing Gale to take a step toward her. Before he could get too close, Hope stood to her feet.
"We'll free them," Hope assured, jaw tight as she forced a small smile. One that didn't reach the steel in her eyes.
She didn't allow anyone to start a conversation with her as she retreated down the steps of mushrooms. Again…again, she had the opportunity to help, and she didn't. One drop of her blood may have helped her. Even if it did nothing, it at least would have been an attempt. Every chance she was given to rectify what she'd done, she squandered.
How many more chances of redemption would she get before it ran out?
It wasn't a long walk from the colony to the dock, but it was an interesting one. They passed bodies littered here and there of the Myconids, and Hope could only assume it was the Duegar she saw from the vision.
Hope could smell the body of water before she could see it, but where were the—
"This way," Astarion murmured, leading the way toward the edge.
She didn't hesitate to follow and, together, crouched over the ledge. They watched the Duegar mill around beneath them.
"Have you ever used a bow?"
Hope glanced sideways at Astarion and raised a brow. Technically, the answer was yes, but it had been so long since she'd wielded any kind of physical weapon that she wasn't sure if she still had that skill.
"Once or twice."
Then, Astarion offered her his bow and smirked, "Go on, then."
Now she raised both brows as she glanced down at the bow and back up again, "Really?"
"Are you not up for it?"
Without another word, she snatched the bow from him and smiled, "I meant what I said. It's been a while."
"Stand," he said, and she did. With ease, he moved behind her as the others began taking position further down the cliff to take the Duegar by surprise.
Hope sucked in a soft breath as Astarion pulled her against his front. There was no hiding the stiff erection hidden behind his pants. A smirk graced her lips as his hands ran down her arms, pulling them into the position he wanted. With his lips against the shell of her ear, she let him guide her.
Now, arrow nocked, but pointed at the ground, he said, "You'll need to be swift and accurate. Don't let the arrow settle too long; it loses distance. Once the first hit is made, there's no going back. You'll need to keep vigilant and choose the most opportune targets. Are you ready?"
His breath tickled her ear, and she leaned a little closer into him as she nodded. Her heart raced, not with fear, but with excitement. Finally. She could do something. Simply having action was enough to lift her spirits.
"Ready…"
It was Astarion controlling her movements that lifted the bow, drew back, and seemingly without aiming, released the arrow into the eye-socket of one of the Deugar below…and the fight began. Halsin exploded forward, shedding his human form in favor of his bear, and Hope would be lying if she said it didn't distract her for a moment.
Chuckling softly, Astarion said, "Focus, Hope."
Immediately, she looked away and zeroed in as Astarion's grip loosened on her. Nocking another arrow, she picked her target closest to the dock, pulled back, and released. She missed the Duegar by an inch. The tip of the arrow sank into the wooden plank beyond, and as it did, the Duegar looked up and met her eye line…and disappeared.
Hope frowned and her eyes darted back and forth, trying to track where they'd disappeared to. She lowered the bow, watching her companions take out the "rot". Halisn slashed with his claws, Shadowheart threw fire from her palms, Gale exploded with waves of electricity, and Lae'zel's sword sang through the air, slicing down enemies into pieces.
Something slammed into her and Astarion, sending them crashing backward and sliding harshly against the dirt. Scrambling to the side, she tried to get to her feet, but something cracked against the back of her head.
It sent her down again, eating the dirt.
Stars dazzled her vision as she kicked out, hard. It was instinctive, but it wasn't enough. Another crushing blow down on her thigh, and she cried out as she felt the distinctive crack of her femur. She wasn't sure if it had snapped entirely, but the aching throb wasn't a great sign. If she didn't fight back, this invisible force could do more damage than she wanted to endure.
Hope turned to launch her attack, but before she could, there was a grunt, followed by the sliding sound of something wet. She sat up and watched, listening to Astarion tear into the throat of the Duegar that had charged them—the same Duegar she missed with her arrow. Blood fed the earth, seeping in as Astarion dug his face into her throat with a squelch of his teeth, gnashing her arteries. He continued to feed even after she was long dead, and Hope watched.
Finally, after what felt like ages, Astarion lifted his head and turned to face her. His mouth, chin, and nose dripped with gore. Flashing his fangs, he grinned at her. Though something else resided behind his red eyes: Uncertainty.
"You're not afraid, are you?"
Tilting her head to the side, she smiled and shook her head, "No…" She glanced down at the blood that dripped from his chin and swallowed. She imagined herself leaning forward and licking up to his lips.
The hunger was returning.
"Alright up there?" Halsin called from the bottom, where the others were joining around the dock where the boat awaited.
Hope bit her lower lip and smiled as she took Astarion's outstretched arm and pulled herself to her feet. "Coming!" She called out and then grinned and giggled before gesturing to her own mouth. "You've got a little…spot there."
She let out a sudden laugh as he lurched forward and snatched her by the waist, pulling her to him so fast it was almost exhilarating. After a quick pinch under her ass, he released her and used a bit of torn fabric from the Duegar to wipe his dirtied mouth.
Together, they ventured down to the dock and boarded the boat.