Commander Braghaman Larethian

Rituals in a Cave

“Where are all the kobolds?”

Brother Sammuel looked around the clearing. Normally, the small creatures would be moving around, foraging, and generally causing mischief. But none could be seen. The area was calm except for the occasional cry from the birds in the trees, upset that there were intruders near their nests.

“Must be hiding,” one of the younger paladin trainees answered quietly.

“Yeah, but why? What has them spooked?”

“Doesn’t matter,” the paladin trainer spoke, silencing the chatter among the half dozen recruits that were following him. “Keep an eye out in case they start to get overly curious. Let’s check that cave,” he added, pointing to an outcropping ahead of them.

The paladins drew closer to the opening with their weapons drawn and scanning constantly in case of a surprise attack. As they got within ten feet of the opening, they could hear a voice chanting from inside.

“Be ready,” Brother Sammuel whispered to the others. He then turned and started creeping up to the opening.

Just inside was a small campfire and two figures kneeling next to it. One had risen up on their knees and was swaying back and forth while the other was still sitting on the ground with her head lowered. Suddenly there was a glint, a reflection of firelight off of a blade that was lifted into the air by the form that was sitting up.

“Stop them!” Brother Sammuel roared before rushing into the cave. The trainer tackled the person with the knife and knocked them to the ground while two of the recruits ran forward and restrained the other.

Brother Sammuel looked down and saw a young lady pinned to the ground. Her face twisted from a blank calm to rage instantly. She began sputtering curses at the trainer and fighting to get away from him. Sammuel yanked the small dagger from her hand and threw it behind him. The female began squirming, trying to get away, but the paladin held her pinned to the ground.

“Krista? What are you doing?”

But she didn’t answer his question. Instead she continued to fight in an attempt to get away. Brother Sammuel stood up and then dragged Krista to her feet. Looking around the cave, the paladin saw markings dug into the dirt next to the make-shift campfire and next to the markings was a dead kobold that had been cut up, its blood pooling in the dirt.

“Is that Sabina?” Sammuel asked, looking over his shoulder.

“Yes, sir. But it’s like she’s knocked out.”

“Did you hit her?”

“No, sir. As soon as you knocked the other one down, this one just sorta keeled over.”

“Is she alive?”

“She’s breathing, sir.”

“Okay, let’s get out of here quickly. You two take Sabina and be careful with her. The rest of you keep your guard up until we’re in the abbey. And you,” Brother Sammuel added as he looked back to Krista, who was desperately trying to pull away. “You’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”