Investigating… – 3B-QO (Lyria’s POV)

Chapter 3 – Getting Underway (continued)

“Get ready, but don’t dismount yet.” Kaylen instructed just loud enough for each of them to hear. “When I give the signal, Ursa move to the front and advance with Lyria on foot. Janel advance with them, but a little behind, ready to jump in when needed. Lynn, stick with me, Alanthea, and Danny while we provide cover and support.”

“You don’t want me to scout ahead?” The red-head kitsune asked.

“Not this time, whatever it is probably already knows we’re here, so if we do get engaged, try to flank if possible.”

“Alright.” She agreed.

Lyria’s brother met each of their gaze briefly before nodding, “Alright, let’s go.” He said, and everyone moved simultaneously.

Ursa moved forward, pulling her barbut helm into place at the same time as the rest of them dismounted. Lyria quickly lifted her close-helm from its place on her saddle and lowered it on her head, leaving the visor up for the moment as she started forward alongside the half-giant, noting Janel padding silently through the brush a few yards on her other side.

It was at that moment as they moved through the trees that a sound reached her ears, like a woman singing. It was faint at first, but as they closed in on the area they’d heard the disturbance from earlier it became clearer. Something about it seemed off, and set the small hairs at the base of her neck on end.

Without words, she and Ursa moved towards the same tree that the singing seemed to be coming from, both of them scanning the canopy as well as they were able, Lyria with her visor down now.

A quick glance behind them showed no sign of her brother or their other allies. “Ursa, something’s wrong.” She spoke in a low tone.

The half-giant turned towards her to follow her gaze, and it was that moment that something came out of the trees above them in a rush of feathers and flapping wings. Ursa made a startled sound as the thing raked her helmet before impacting Lyria and knocking her to the ground, the creature’s talons scraping at her breastplate. She kept her arms up, her sword blade between her and her enemy while also allowing one bracer to protect her face while her other hand reached for her dagger. Somehow, the bird-like creature atop her was still singing in the midst of their struggle.

But before she could get her knife free, Ursa forcefully knocked the creature off of her with the shaft of her spear. Lyria rolled to her feet and leveled her greatsword at the creature as Ursa and Janel closed in on it from either side. As soon as it had its feet under it its odd singing resumed, though it faced down the three women in front of it only for a moment before leaping back up into the trees with a powerful flap of its wings just as Janel was taking aim with her bow.

“Alanthea!” Lyria called to the priestess, glancing once again towards where their other companions should have been. She could only vaguely see where the horses were, and some amount of movement in the narrow gaps between trunks.

“He’s enchanted!” The pale-haired healer called back.

But Lyria didn’t have time to worry about whatever had befallen her brother, as movement overhead preceded another attack from the creature, this time aimed at Janel. But Ursa moved swiftly in the way, catching the thing on her massive shield and shoving it to one side. It backed away from them rapidly, then gathered itself to leap into the air once more as Janel took aim and the other two closed in on them.

But as the bird-like creature took to the air, a harshly spoken syllable of magic sounded out as an arrow flew through the air, impacting the thing’s side, where a burst of energy erupted outward and surrounded it. It fell swiftly back to the ground with a heavy thud.

“Don’t touch it!” Lyria’s brother called to them as she and Ursa were closing in on the thing on the ground, still enveloped in dark energy. A brief glance showed that Kaylen was approaching quickly with Talindra trotting beside him, and whatever magic had been affecting him seemed to have been dispelled.

The creature seemed rather unable to stand, as if it was already bound on the ground, but when it realized there was a great sword, a shortbow, and a large spear all aimed at it, it ceased its struggles, stopped singing, and went completely limp.

Now that it was finally still, Lyria could see that it was a harpy, her face distorted by rage as she glared up at them. “Fuck!” She said in a strained voice.

Lyria took a moment to glance over her brother and other companions to make certain they were unharmed. Lynn had donned her close-fitting half helm while the other two had pulled their chainmail coifs around their heads, leaving only their faces bare.

“A harpy?” Kaylen said as he drew close.

Lyria could see that the harpy’s face was mostly humanoid, with tiny scales along the sides of her cheek and jaw. Her mouth was filled with razor sharp teeth, and her large yellow eyes had very little visible sclera. Her hair was black with hints of blue and green shine in the dim light filtering through the canopy, nearly identical in texture and color to the feathers that adorned her winged arms and body. She wore a light harness that covered her breasts and a simple pair of shorts, leaving a lot of her body exposed, likely to make full use of her feathers when flying.

“Are you alright?” Lyria asked her brother.

He blinked at her, then pulled a wad of gauze out of each ear. “Say again?”

“I asked if you are alright.”

“I’m fine.” He replied, offering a reassuring smile before turning back to regard the harpy. He waved his hand in the air between them, and the wisps of energy surrounding the creature dissipated. “Where is the rest of your wake?” He asked.

The harpy scowled at him, “We got separated.” She said simply.

Kaylen frowned, and he moved a little closer, peering down at the foe they’d subdued while Lyria shifted in front of her brother in a protective stance. “You didn’t try to fly away.” He stated.

“Her wing is hurt.” The red-head kitsune observed, pointing with her chin to the wing closest to Lyria, some of the feathers were caked with dried blood. “There’s blood on some of her feathers.”

“Oh.” The pale-haired priestess who had been quiet up until now moved forward next to Kaylen, stopping only as Lyria held out her off-hand barring her from approaching closer. She had her chainmail coif covering much of her head over her wimple. “Let me see?” She asked.

“You wish to tend to the harpy even after she attacked us?” Kaylen asked, sounding a little perplexed.

“If I may, Master?” She replied.

Kaylen sighed, “Very well, but hold a moment first.” He waited for Alanthea’s nod, then turned and went back towards where they’d left the horses on the road. When he returned, he’d brought with him a set of iron manacles and chains, ignoring the odd looks from a few of his companions.

“The priestess here is a healer.” Kaylen explained to the injured harpy. “If you allow me to shackle your legs and do not try to hurt us, I will let her take a look at your injured wing.”

Lyria frowned, but didn’t voice an objection, and thanks to her helmet, her brother couldn’t see her disapproving expression.

The harpy growled lowly, almost too soft for Lyria to hear, but after only a few moments, she quieted and nodded. They made room for her to stretch her taloned legs out so Kaylen could secure the shackles around her ankles. Then he added a leather strap around the harpy’s face, covering her mouth so she couldn’t use her fangs either.

When he was satisfied with his work, he gestured for Alanthea to approach.

The priestess knelt next to the harpy’s injured wing and ran her fingers lightly along her feathers. “Does it hurt?” She asked.

“I can handle it.” The harpy responded, her words muffled by the mask.

The feathered creature winced as Alanthea took hold of her wing and moved it, testing its range of motion. Then the blonde-haired girl looked back at Kaylen, “Something punctured the wing, but it is no longer bleeding.” She explained. “The muscle was torn, but no bones were broken.”

“My arrow didn’t hit its wing.” Talindra observed.

“Your arrow didn’t pierce it.” Kaylen explained. “My magic converted its energy into a gravity field.”

“It doesn’t seem she was particularly injured from your spell.” Alanthea confirmed.

“It’s meant to hinder her, not injure her.” Kaylen said, “I guess we need to decide what to do with her. Will she recover if we were to leave her?”

Alanthea worried her lower lip between her teeth. “I imagine so, if it does not become infected. Do you wish to leave her? Mightn’t that be dangerous?”

“I’m not sure what other option we have. I don’t feel comfortable executing a helpless prisoner. Would you rather we take her with us to the village ahead?”

“They would execute me without a thought.” The harpy spat.

“Did you not attack us without provocation?” He retorted.

“I thought you were going to kill me, like those other adventurers.” She growled back.

“And if we let you leave, you could just bring your wake with you to attack us or the nearby village.” He countered.

“If you healed me, I would be in your debt, and I would tell the others to leave you alone as well.”

Lyria kept her eyes on the harpy, but she doubted Kaylen was convinced. But then tapped his staff three times on the ground and spoke a quiet incantation under his breath. The harpy looked alarmed as an invisible wave of energy seemed to ripple through the air between them, but when nothing else happened, the creature’s scowl returned.

“What is your name?” Kaylen asked after a moment.

“Gryla.” The harpy said, seeming to be startled by her admission.

“If I allow the priestess here to heal your wing before we release you, do you promise not to bring harm to us or the villagers living in the forest?”

Gryla hesitated, glancing up at him fearfully, but finally nodded.

“Say the words.” Kaylen insisted.

“I vow that if you heal me and set me free, I will not bring harm to any of you, or the other villagers living in the forest.”

Lyria kept her sword poised as Kaylen considered a moment, then nodded to Alanthea, “Go ahead, Sister.” He told her.

The blue-robed priestess nodded, and spread the fingers of both hands out, hovering over the wound. She said a soft prayer to her deity, beseeching him for his aid in healing their new ally. A glow formed around her hands and the blood around the wound faded, with the feathers regaining their luster and the wing shifting subtly into a more natural shape.

A tension left the harpy’s body, and she relaxed completely against the ground, no longer scowling at them. She even closed her eyes briefly, before looking back up at Kaylen. He searched his belt pouches, but then frowned.

“I’ll be right back.” He said, then returned to the horses on the road coming back with a small iron key. He knelt down and met Gryla’s gaze for a moment, “Remember your vow.” He said, then used the key to unfasten the harpy’s legs from the manacles, then did the same with the mask over its mouth.

“I will.” She said simply.

“Alright, stand down.” He instructed as he took Alanthea’s hand, pulling her to her feet and leading her several paces back.

Lyria and Ursa both backed away, though both of them kept their weapons at the ready. Janel and Talindra likewise lowered their bows, but both kept arrows nocked.

Gryla rose slowly to her feet, her full height putting her half a head taller than Lyria’s brown-haired brother, though a lot of that was her long legs. She looked around at all of them before letting out a light chuckle, “Fuck me, you’re all women - except for you, handsome.” She nodded at Kaylen. “No wonder my song didn’t work.”

“A siren song?” Kaylen asked, raising one eyebrow.

The harpy nodded, then took a few steps away, testing her wing gingerly. Then, when she was under an opening in the tree canopy, she leapt a good fifteen feet into the air, and with a great flap of her wings, disappeared into the night.

Once the harpy was gone, Alanthea sighed. Lyria raised her visor as she turned to give a curious glance to the priestess. “Something amiss, Sister?” Her brother asked.

The tall blonde shook her head, “I thought she might be dying is all. I’ve never seen a sentient creature die before.”

“You’re a strange one.” Ursa observed before shouldering her shield and starting back towards the horses.

Lyria did a quick check of her allies before turning to follow the half-giant.

“Do I want to ask why you have those shackles?” Janel asked as she fell into step beside her and Kaylen.

“I thought they might come in handy, and I was right.” Was his response.

Talindra caught up with them, having retrieved her arrow, at which point Ursa glanced over her shoulder at them, focusing on the red-head kitsune, “You hesitated when you had a shot.” She observed.

Janel sighed, “I did, though my opening was fairly small. I’m a decent shot, but the bow is not my primary weapon.”

Talindra then turned to address Kaylen, “It’s already getting dark. Perhaps we should locate a space to make camp?”

“We might be able to reach the village before full dark if we press on.” Lyria suggested.