Risha Chapter 41

A/N: 1/2 chapters today

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Risha caught Elder Kulos’s eyes. He looked at her with an expression that was hard to describe, kind of like a grandpa annoyed with their grandchild. Risha got the feeling that he wasn’t happy with her newest choice of human allies. 

Risha turned away from the goblin’s gaze and walked back into the healing cabins. 

Tya waited past the curtain, her hands on her hips. 

She opened her mouth, but Risha held up her hand, and the healer’s mouth closed slowly. Risha stepped past her to the beds, still filled with injured orcs. Goblins could just be healed through evolution, but that was not an option for the tortured creatures that rested here.

The monsters inside looked up as she walked through them again. Most looked at her with respect and awe, some looked with curiosity, and a few stared at her with wariness. Risha ignored the gazes as she made her way deeper into the building.

Risha stopped at the foot of Lala’s bed. 

The orc slept fitfully, tossing and turning. Risha raised her hand and focused [Mother’s Care]. Lala calmed, her breath evening out.

“That was cruel.” The words hit something in Risha’s own heart, and she carefully controlled her expression before turning to the one who spoke.

Risha looked up to meet the eyes of another orc, the young chieftain’s son she’d met on this side of the mountains, Rilok.

Risha looked away from him, her eyes hard. “I didn’t realize you were here.” 

“Aviro is my love’s younger brother. I watch him when she needs rest,” Rilok answered.

“That is kind of you.” The words came out wistfully.

“It is my duty as her chosen partner.” 

“But you are kind, Rilok.” 

Rilok did not respond, instead following Risha’s gaze to the resting orc. “I didn’t know you knew all of their names.” 

“Risha tries to remember those who suffer from her weakness.”

“You saved them,” The words came out a growl. 

“No,” Risha answered,“They were saved because of you Rilok. If you had not begged me, I would’ve let them die. I would’ve left the humans to their crusade, and simply slaughtered the Art clan before leaving.” Risha turned to Rilok and bared her teeth, challenging him for his growl. He didn’t look away from her challenge. “You said it yourself, Rilok. What I did to Lala was cruel. I used her pain, her torture, to make a point.” 

“That is not true.” Rilok stepped forward, making Risha reach for the sword at her waist. He stopped, his hand raised, “You should know that. Do you not remember your words, Grand Mother? I offered my people to you as slaves. But you refused me. It was you. You have saved everyone here, including Lala. She deserves more than-”

“Grand Mother-” The voice stopped, and coughed. Both of the monsters turned to Lala, who slowly pushed herself up in her bed. Risha was by her side in a moment, helping the orc sit up.

Rilok handed Risha a cup of water, and RIsha gently helped the woman drink. 

The woman sipped, then pushed the water away, “Grand Mother, I am strong.” 

Risha froze, then lowered the cup and handed it to Rilok. 

“I am strong enough to show my pain, even to a human rat.” Lala held Risha’s eyes. “Do not think me so weak, Grand Mother.” There was a plea in her voice, something in her that Risha recognized as a need to be strong.

Risha took a deep breath, then nodded, “I’m sorry. That is why I brought her to you, Lala. Because you are right, you are stronger than I could ever hope to be.”

Lala’s hand moved fast, grabbing Risha’s arm and holding it. She held Risha’s eyes for a long moment, “I follow you, Grand Mother. We all do. Use our strength, and make it your own.” 

Lala let go of Risha’s arm, but Risha reached out and gently held onto the woman’s hand. It was disfigured, covered with bandages and missing two fingers, but it gripped Risha’s hand with an unending strength. 

Risha stared down for a long moment before turning to Rilok, “thank you. It has been a long night. I think that it is time for Risha to res-”

[Council Of Grandmas] Grabbed her with an urgent call, one that needed to be answered immediately. Risha’s heart hammered with the knowledge that she had to answer.

Risha closed her eyes, falling into Rilok as she accepted the call. 

***

Risha opened her eyes, and stared out over frozen mountains, snow crunching under her feet. Grand Mother Iris stood in front of her, her gaze focused on something in the distance.

“She’s found you,” Iris said.

Risha followed her gaze until she saw it. Wings of fire, flaring out behind a man. 

He moved with such speed, passing mountains in seconds, but never entering the mountain range, until he was beyond her sight.

Iris turned to Risha, “You must leave. Gather your people, retreat through the mountains, where he cannot follow. Shyanne will attempt to delay him, but she has little power over the humans in your lands. Without a saint, or an archmage nearby-”

“There’s a saint here,” Risha said.

Iris paused at the words, then looked into the distance.

Moments later, Empress Shyanne stepped into the world beside them, her feet not leaving any impression on the snow.

Empress Shyanne turned to them. Her expression was as unreadable as ever, but Risha recognized the terrifying aura that leaked from the woman.

“Iris tells my there’s a saint near you. What is their name?”

Risha shook her head, “I don’t know. They were called the Saint Of Death,”

Shyanne hummed, “What are you doing so far from home, Edward?” She spoke quietly to herself before focusing on Risha. “I will send him a message, but he will only be able to delay Raphael. Stay safe, young one.” 

Then the Empress was gone. 

Iris met Risha’s eyes, “Hurry.” 

Risha’s skill was forcefully ended and she was sent tumbling back to reality.

***

Risha opened her eyes with a gasp. 

Rilok and Tya looked at her worriedly. Rilok must’ve grabbed the healer when she passed out to her skill. 

Risha pushed herself out of the bed she was resting in and made her way past the two monsters. “Get the council! We are leaving for the mountains.”

Rilok bowed his head, then recognizing her urgency, hurried past her for the door of the building. 

Tya looked at Risha quizzically, “Grand Mother?” 

“No time,” Risha said, “Prepare the injured to move. Something hunts us.” 

Tya bowed her head, then started yelling orders to the nearby healers. 

Risha left the building, and the camp was already in motion, Rilok having given her message. 

Risha looked around until she found Glo. He stood near the command building, giving orders to his lieutenants. Monsters of all kinds ran through the camp, preparing to follow her words. 

Risha looked to the night sky, trying to judge how much longer they had before the sun arrived. They’d told the humans that they would leave tomorrow, but waiting long enough for that Angel to find them was a dangerous game. 

Risha walked over to Glo, getting his attention, “Get the wounded, the craftsmen, and the young towards the mountains first, with enough forces to protect them. We’ll follow once the Drake Rider and her humans arrive.”

Glo bowed his head, then shouted towards one of his lieutenants.

A fuzzy leg brushed Risha’s cheek, making her look over to the tiny spider on her shoulder. It pushed its whole body into Risha’s neck, and all over her, her other spiderlings did the same, calming the adrenaline that ran through her. 

Right, she needed to think. What did she need to do to prepare?

Her armor, she needed her armor.

Risha turned and walked towards her cabin. 

A female High Goblin Warrior met her there, then accompanied her inside to put on her purple chitinous armor.

Risha fashioned her cloak, and her spiderlings crawled back up to hang from the silk that covered her. 

“Grand Mother,” 

Risha looked up to see a warrior’s head peeking through the tent.

“Leaf-Watcher and her charges want to speak with you.”

Risha motioned for them to come in, and the head disappeared. Moments later, the kobold ducked into her home, followed by Talo and Aliya. 

Aliya ran up to Risha. Risha picked up the little vine-child, holding her close as she hugged Risha through her armor. 

“You should be preparing to leave,” Risha said, looking up to Talo. 

Talo shook his head, “She does not wish to go.”

Risha looked down at the little one, who looked back up at her. 

Aliya looked away from her gaze and buried her head in Risha’s armored chest, “You are safe.” 

Risha frowned, then let out a sigh. She looked at their kobold protector. “Are the kobolds ready to move?”
“Yes, Grand Mother. Most of the packs are moving with the injured and weak. Four packs stay here with me.”

“Good,” Risha took a deep breath, then looked down at the child in her arms, “Why are you here?” 

The girl squirmed, then said quietly, “The world is moving.”

Risha focused on the girl. Aliya ha’d noticed the assassins before anyone else, and Risha trusted her instincts, “What do you mean?”

“I don’t know.” The girl frowned, “it’s like Talo!”

Risha looked up at the Shade, who shrugged in response. “Like Talo?” 

“Yes. Talo is strong, but he’s still waking up! Just like the world.” 

Talo looked away from Risha’s eyes, and was quiet for a long moment before speaking.  “I’m sealed. Cala’s seal. It weakens slowly.” 

Risha lifted Aliya up higher to better see her, “Are you saying the world is sealed?”

The girl nodded, “It’s waking up! But it stopped after you picked me up.” 

Risha wasn’t sure exactly what that meant. Risha hadn’t done anything when she picked up the girl. Unfortunately, Risha didn’t have time to think about it, not with the threat of the Angel approaching.  

“Leaf-Watcher,” The kobold walked over to Risha, and the Grand Mother handed the girl over to her. The gave Risha large eyes, sad to be given away. Risha laughed and pet the vine-child’s hair. “Let me know if anything changes. I’ll pick you up again when it does.”

The girl smiled wide, “Yes Risha!” 

The same goblin who helped Risha with her armor, poked her head in the tent, “Grand Mother, the elders want to speak with you.”

Risha motioned for the the vine-child and her protectors to leave. Leaf-Watcher and Talo bowed, then left through the door. A moment later, ten or so Elders walked inside, most of them armed and armored. 

Klu and Glo were the last to filter in behind them. 

Elder Oltak was the first one to speak, the others looking to him, “Grand Mother, what has happened? Why are we moving up the plans to retreat?” 

Risha ignored the elder for a long moment, her gaze on the door of the tent that the vine-child had left through. What does the world waking up mean? 

Risha shook her head, and placed her hand on her sword as she looked at the gathered Elders. “A monster beyond our power is approaching.”