Iris sent Tonber down to the city to scout around. The team waited silently and nervously on the top of the hill. The dwarf returned after ten minutes. “Looks deserted. No demon attacks.” Tonber wasn’t very talkative, even for a dwarf.
Iris and her team approached the ruined city. When they got to what appeared to be the city square, she stopped and turned around to face her group. “Alright, here’s what we’re doing. We’ll split up into teams of two to search for the cult’s hideout. Alger, you’re with Marco; Tonber and Sara; Verol and Alyssa. I’ll remain here and act as your base. If you find anything suspicious, return to me immediately and do not engage. If you get in trouble, shout and the other groups will come help you. Now, move out, and good luck.” As Alger went towards Marco, Iris grabbed his arm and whispered in his ear, “be careful”. He smiled that charming, confident smile of his and kissed her on the forehead before getting on his way.
Iris found an intact bench and sat down as the groups moved out, but couldn’t relax in this environment. She kept her mace and shield in hand as she watchfully scanned the area. The silence of the ruins was deafening, and Iris couldn’t keep track of time. So when Verol and Alyssa returned, saying they’d found traces of recent activity in what appeared to be the remains of a school, she had no idea how much time had passed. She shouted for the rest of the groups to return. Alger and Marco got back first, followed quickly by Tonber and Sara.
“Glad to see that your scouting missions were uneventful,” said Iris, shooting a glance at Alger, “except for Verol and Alyssa. Lead the way, and everyone be ready for trouble.” It seemed to be about a ten-minute walk through the silent streets to the school. As they approached, Verol pointed out some disturbed dust on the ground and that the front door was in good condition.
“Tonber, you first,” Iris said. The dwarf expert at trapfinding went slowly down the hallway on his hands and knees, inspecting every inch for anything suspicious.
“Definitely people here,” Tonber proclaimed. “Went this way.” He crawled along the ground up to a door at the end of the hallway. “Trap here. Just a moment.” The dwarf went to work, only taking a couple minutes to disarm it. He stood up and cracked open the door to peek in, then suddenly fell backwards on the ground, a crossbow bolt sticking out from one of his eyes.
Iris’s eyes went wide at the dwarf’s sudden death. They must have known we were coming… Marco! She turned around so she could kill the wizard for his betrayal, saying “Arm yourselves! We have to--” but her voice was cut off by a blade through her lung. She stared into Alger’s eyes as the man she loved smiled and pushed her off the end of his sword, letting her drop to the ground. Then all was black.
_________________________________________________________________________
When she awoke, Iris realized a few things immediately. First, she had been stripped of her gear and was in her plain underclothes. Second, she was chained to a wall by her hands and waist. Third, she was in a small dark cell, lit only by firelight from beyond the bars. Fourth, her wound had been magically healed. “Sara? Verol? Alyssa? Anyone?” she called out. A noise came from outside the cell, and Alger entered her field of vision, smirking. Iris strained against the bars. “You son of a bitch, when I get out of here I’m going to rip your fucking throat out.”
“Good to see you too, my dear,” Alger responded calmly.
“Don’t you dare call me that. Where is the rest of my team?”
“Oh, but does all our time together count for nothing? What a pity. I’m afraid Marco and Verol didn’t make it; they weren’t useful to my master - not like you, Sara, and Alyssa are.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
“Haven’t you guessed? You knew this was a Lamashtu cult. The Mother of Monsters has use for healthy females, you know.”
A cold chill ran down Iris’s spine. She said nothing, thinking about her options and planning how to escape and rescue the other women.
“Nothing to say? That’s a good girl. Listen, I have to go check on our other guests. But I’ll be back, don’t you worry.” He smiled at her, then walked off to another part of the dungeon, leaving Iris alone in her cell once again.
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