Linry led Riniock through a winding maze of homes. Much like the area near the waterfall, their path was strewn with skeletal remains.
Had she not been guiding him, he'd never have imagined taking such twisting roads in search of her – or anyone, for that matter.
As they moved briskly, Riniock stayed vigilant, ready to react with magick at the slightest sign of danger.
'What was it that attacked me?' he asked, not recognising the creatures from any of his studies.
'They're called bodds.'
'Bodd? Never heard of it.'
'Not surprising. They spawn in the darkest corners, far from the living.'
His brows lifted. 'Is that so?'
'And, mind you, they were created by none other than the Spurned,' she added.
'Aceria? Her again?' he muttered with disgust, recalling their encounter with the gorens back in the Berzinian Bazaar. 'Are all her followers so hideous?'
Linry nodded, her expression mirroring his.
'Fierce, though. Clever, even.'
She nodded again, then pulled up her sleeve to reveal a wound – so vile and blackened it alarmed him at once.
He caught her arm and pulled her back.
'What's that?' His voice betrayed his concern. 'That came from one of those bodds?'
She wrenched her arm free and adjusted her clothes.
'Does it hurt? Tell me how it happened…'
'Caught me unawares while I was searching through some rubble.'
'Gods, Linry. Do you know any way to treat it?' he asked, though he clearly doubted she had a remedy on hand.
'I don't.'
'Then we need to get you out of here. Find a medicar or someone –'
She clasped his hands. 'I know that. I've already thought it through, Riniock.'
'Then why are you so calm?'
'What's the point in panicking? We've yet to find a way out. Should I stay hysterical the whole time?'
His features softened. Her words calmed him.
'You're right,' he said.
'Oh, I know I am. Now come,' Linry beckoned. 'Time we rejoined the others.'
'Still haven't said who you're travelling with.'
'Three of your friends. Hadfarr, Ul –'
He interrupted, 'Ulred and Lodras.'
'Yes, them.'
'Couldn't ask for better company.'
She chuckled, leading the way deeper into the ruins. 'None better than yours.'
Riniock smiled, matching her stride.
A few minutes later, they arrived.
Linry stopped before a large building that, unlike many others, had remained largely intact. Of all the structures nearby, this one offered the best protection – from elements, creatures, or anything else that might threaten them.
The door looked unremarkable. But as Riniock reached out for the knob, his hand halted mid-air.
'You noticed it?' Linry leaned in, clearly pleased.
'There's some sort of enchantment, isn't there?' he replied, crouching for a closer look.
'I knew you'd detect it on your own.'
'What does it do?' he asked, standing up again.
'According to Lodras, if you open it without the release spell, it'll blow up in your face.'
Riniock recoiled his hand with haste.
'Good thing I trusted my instincts.'
'Your instincts nearly got me killed…'
'Oh, relax. I was going to stop you,' she said, waving dismissively. Her hand settled on the handle, which pulsed faintly as odh surged through it. Whispering a few words, she twisted the handle, unlocking the door with a click. 'After you!'
The pair stepped inside; Linry sealed the door again, uttering a new string of arcane phrases.
Riniock watched her with growing admiration. Not long had passed since they were last together, yet she'd already earned the trust of his peers – and even picked up a few of their tricks.
When all this was behind them, he would take her far from Ikshar and its rot. She and her father deserved better – somewhere far from the deserts and even farther from that accursed academy.
Only Linry's own will kept him from acting on the thought. He hadn't yet brought it up with her. Her disdain for the academy was plain, no doubt there – but would she leave the rock barren behind?
They climbed a flight of stairs leading to the second floor, where the three Gorleans sat clustered around a floating orb of flame – or perhaps energy. It gave off no smoke, only warmth. The air above it shimmered unnaturally, as no normal fire ever would.
Hadfarr, Ulred, and Lodras huddled around it on stools and mismatched chairs, each gazing off in a different direction.
Though enclosed by stone, Riniock could see through the walls as if they were glass from within. From outside, however, no such effect revealed itself.
His jaw dropped. 'That's really cool.'
From this perch, the entire street below lay in full view. No one could sneak up on them with that enchantment in place. Experience had its perks.
'Riniock!' Ulred grinned without rising, turning only his head.
'You guys,' Riniock said, impressed. 'You've got to teach me those spells sometime. That sort of trick's invaluable in tight spots.'
'Nice to see you too, you poxy prick.'
'Arse…'
A pause followed – then a sharp crackle from the fire orb split the silence.
Riniock cleared his throat.
'Well,' he scratched his head, flinching slightly as Lodras and Hadfarr jabbed at him, 'at least Ulred's happy to see me.'
'No. You're a spell-obsessed bastard, through and through.'
Lodras piped up again. 'Honestly, Linry. What do you even see in this one?'
'See?' she asked, puzzled.
'Yeah. What is it that draws you to him?' he clarified, eyebrows wagging, clearly poking fun at him.
Linry stilled, as if genuinely considering it. Riniock, meanwhile, flushed – her silence made him feel more vulnerable than he expected. He could've rattled off a dozen reasons why he was drawn to her without missing a beat.
'There isn't a part of him that doesn't,' she finally said. 'If I start listing them, you three might just get all weepy and jealous.'
That shut them all up – even Riniock was caught off guard. He snorted, raising his hand to hide the wide grin spreading across his face.
When the moment passed, Hadfarr cleared his throat, steering things back on track. 'So. What brings you to these nameless ruins?'
'Ranzomeron, actually,' Riniock interjected.
'What?'
'The ruins,' he repeated. 'They're not nameless. The gate had it carved in plain view – Ranzomeron.'
The others looked at him askance.
'You can read that gibberish?' Lodras asked.
'With some difficulty, sure.'
They glared at him with disbelief.
'Anyway,' Hadfarr said, reclaiming the question, 'what are you doing here?'
Riniock cast a brief glance at Linry. 'I was following Irgod's trail through these ruins.'
'Irgod's here?'
He nodded grimly.
'Where is that fucking bastard…' Linry hissed.
'Not sure. I tracked him after killing Piddruin –'
'Wait, what?!' she cut in. 'You killed that idiot?'
'Of course I did. Though, truth be told, he wasn't as dim as everyone thought. That guy put on a convincing show.'
'I'm not following…'
'I'll explain later. The point is, after I dealt with Piddruin, I picked up Irgod's trail. Fire spell remnants led me here. I thought I was close. Turns out I found you instead.'
The mention of Irgod shifted Linry's entire demeanour. If Riniock merely bore grudges, then Linry harboured absolute loathing.
He caught her absentmindedly tracing the burn he had left on her during their last encounter.
Even now, Riniock couldn't quite tap into the depth of her feelings – nor would he stand in her way when the moment came to settle them.
'So, you lost his trail?' Lodras eventually asked.
Riniock shrugged.
Truth was, there had barely been a trail to begin with. He had simply followed where the road ended and somehow ended up in Ranzomeron.
Suddenly, Linry lit up – her lips curled into a sly grin as she darted towards the stairs, descending in a blur.
The four Gorleans exchanged puzzled glances.
Riniock rushed after her. 'Linry?'
'I think I might be able to locate him,' she called back, already rummaging through her things. 'It's risky, though. Are you in?'
He smiled, eyes gleaming. 'Tell me everything.'