Chapter 8: Oceana's Idenity Revealed

As Talon is healed by the mysterious Sorceress he learns her identity and she makes some Ominous remarks of his. Their conversation is abruptly interrupted by danger.

Talon’s vision slowly started to work properly again.  He strained to look around as formless blurs became objects.  He was on a high hill, just outside of Valor Forest, and the sun was rising.  Talon found himself sitting on the ground with his back leaning against a large tree.  He was surrounded by a light blur aura, and inside the aura, Oceana stood uncomfortably close by watching him.

“What is this?” Talon asked slowly, as he tried to move his body. When he tried to get up, the archer felt agonizing pain, and it was still very difficult to move properly.

“If you move too much,” Oceana’s spoke sternly as she pushed Talon back down to the ground, “You’ll negate my healing magic and you may very well die.  Stay still and this will go by quicker.”

“Why are you doing this…” Talon muttered as the healing magic began to feel refreshing, “You should have ran away when you had the chance…who’s to say I won’t try to kill you again, and what about the mercenaries.  I thought you were a powerful sorceress from the way Kilvren ran away when you created that fog…but seeing you heal me like this, you’re just a Cleric aren’t you?”

“My powers are not limited to black or white magic.” Oceana replied. “I’ve been gifted with my abilities since before black magic was discovered and long before being a cleric was an accepted profession.  As to why I am healing you…I thought it’d be a proper thank you, due to the fact that you indirectly saved my life...also, I’m curious as to why Morphus chose you to come after me alone.  There's nobody else that would try to kill me other then Morphus, that is very clear.  What is still unknown to me is why he chose to send you to try to assassinate me.  He has much more "intimidating" resources."

"Consider yourself lucky I didn't take my shot when I had it." Talon spoke confidently, his pride never lacking.  "I'm the only resource anyone would need to get a job like this done.  Don't let my temporary kindness fool you, I'm more then qualified."

Talon continued to relax his muscles as he felt his body regain power slowly.  "So Morphus is that old guy from the tavern's name, huh?  I ought to return to Silverthorne and shoot an arrow into his chest for giving me enchanted dust that resembled money."

"If you intend on doing that..." Oceana responded thoughtfully, entertained by how Talon personified human ego and arrogance so perfectly.  "I would bring more to the table then just an arrow.  While that Black Sorcerer clearly underestimates my power if he just sent you to get rid of me, I won't't be as idealistic.  Morphus would be much more of a challenge then you think."

"Just who are you anyway?" Talon stared deep into the eyes of this beautiful woman wondering what he had gotten himself involved in.

"Morphus and I are part of an ancient race that are simply now considered the Ancients.  While we are not invincible, we cannot die from old age.  While the Ancients are few in number, our powers are...different, and much more vast, then many things that exist  today.”

"Ugh, I hate all this magic mumbo jumbo." Talon rolled his eyes as he grumbled in frustration. "You clearly are using your magic to redefine your age, especially if you're the same age as that old fool.  So if you're in the same clan, tribe, or whatever, as ole Black Cloak, then why is he trying to kill you?  He mentioned something about you having some sort of information?"

"You could say that when it comes to my clan, I am somewhat of a loner." Oceana spoke softly, her voice now sharing evidence of despair.  "Morphus, and the remaining Ancients are involved in...things...terrible things that we set into motion ages ago.  I choose not to participate and have taken some steps towards redemption, and that bothers Morphus...thus he has been trying to kill me for the past 200 years.  That's precisely why I allowed myself to be captured by the Sword Master that almost killed you.  I recognized his power as something that would be formidable to Morphus and I grew weary in my own fight.  I suppose you could say my imprisonment was my own form of vacation."

"You're being awfully vague, and your story is completely unbelievable." Talon felt himself growing tired of this woman's banter.

"That's because I honestly don't find you to be an important person who needs to know what I know." Oceana never held truth back from people, even if it was honesty she knew they wouldn't value.  "But that still doesn't answer the question why Morphus considered you to be important enough to send alone to kill me.  Sit still, as I examine you."

"Morphus didn't CHOOSE me to come kill you...it just happened by chance, well that and I'm the best at what I do....We just met at a bar in Silverthorne.  I guess a spooky mystic like you could call it fate."

“When you’ve lived as long as I have, you learn there very rarely is that thing called fate.  And when it comes to my people, fate is never involved.” Oceana started to touch Talon's arms and stomach as the healing aura continued to regain the archer's strength.  The Sorceress seemed uninterested in his condition until she gazed into Talon's eyes.  It was Talon returned the gaze that he saw a brief moment of terror in Oceana's eyes.  It was a quick moment, and then her cool composure returned.

“I can see what Morphus sees in you now.” Oceana spoke after moments of silence, “You’re very special Talon…Unfortunately, sometimes special is not a good thing…in this particular case, I pity the "fate", as you call it, that life has in store for you.  I honestly wish you had never been born, it would be better then how your life will eventually turn out for not just you, but likely many others far more innocent as well.  Given time, and I fear not much of it, you will soon more then likely agree with me on that statement.”

“Mages like you are all the same.”  Talon spoke as he stood up, now feeling like he was perfectly healed.  “All this ancient talk about ancient lore, special people, and immortality.  I don’t care.  I left that crap behind when the Valor Mercenaries and their stupid conquest to save the world."

Suddenly loud and heavy footsteps were heard nearby.  Talon and Oceana’s heads jolted quickly to the left to see a large man with brown hair, a brown eye, and another eye covered by an eye-patch, holding a massive battle axe, with no shirt and plenty of muscles walking slowly to them.  Talon instantly recognized the warrior as the large man he encountered at the Wandering Journer the night before, Bruno.

“Sorry I’m interrupting such a beautiful moment.” Bruno said sarcastically, “But I have a score to settle with the archer…and from what I’ve heard, you have a much long awaited death sentence, Sorceress!  I’m here to collect, for myself and Morphus!”

Talon glared at Bruno.  How did he know Morphus, he wondered?  They must have been working together!  Was the encounter with Bruno and Morphus in the tavern set up from the start?  Had Talon just been a pawn in some sick and twisted game administered by Morphus?  One thing was clear to the sniper, Bruno looked much more formidable then the drunk persona the expert sniper had met in the bar.

“Bruno I don’t know why you came here looking to get even with me.” Talon cracked his neck as he prepared for battle, “but just because you got a big axe today doesn’t mean things are going to be any different…The only difference will be that this time, I’ll kill you without any interruptions.”

As Talon tried to move out of the healing aura, Oceana murmured special words from a no longer spoken language.  The mercenary fell to the ground instantly, asleep.  Oceana leaned over his unconscious body and spoke.

“You fool!” She scowled the unconscious blue haired warrior, “Your wounds are not even close to being healed yet…if you go to battle now you’ll surely die!  It's your own arrogance that makes you feel like you're in perfect condition  Count yourself lucky I’m here to keep your own pride in check!”

“Don’t tell me you intend to fight me?” Bruno said as he walked towards Oceana.  “I know all about your magic…the spell you’re using to heal him has drained your own energy!  Don’t even try to attack me, Oceana…you know that right now you are as harmless as Talon in his current sleeping state is!”

“Don’t you dare try to comprehend my powers.” Oceana said authoritatively as she stepped out of the healing aura that began to fade away from Talon.  “I do not intend on fighting you, lap dog of Morphus.  Another warrior is approaching, I sense his presence now…from the feeling I am picking up, I sense he is a friend of Talon's.  He will be your opponent.”

Bruno turned around to see a large man clad in blue armor wielding a massive lance walk out of the forest from Silverthrone.

Reviews

[Shep]

Well its about time i see for another battle the bell must of dinged twice telling us all it s round 3. So i will save my comments to bref note for there is really nothing to say but places foks let the fight begin.