The Worlds Within

Chapter Twelve 

Though they were weary and she refused to don the Mystrian armor until she’d had the chance for a proper bath to wash the remaining gore off of herself, Hypatia did not wish to spend another moment in the uncleansed temple.  So they made their way back out of the temple and into Drearing’s Deep. 

The villagers were quite surprised that they had survived and as news of the destruction of the terrible Vix’thra spread, along with the realization that there would never again be a ceremony called, so did the celebration. 

Hypatia left gold and explicit instructions for cleansing and purifying the temple with Corrigan, the strange rock gnome.  Corrigan introduced them to a dwarven priest who had found his way via the illithids to the Underdark.  To him Hypatia gave several of the priestly scrolls, some potions and a not insignificant amount of gold.  She was satisfied that the dwarf would purify the temple properly, and with a lighter heart made ready to depart. 

Hypatia did put on a fairly decently fitting suit of armor that had been found in the treasure pile and she and Valen started the journey back to the Seer’s camp.  They left Drearing’s Deep in the late afternoon and traveled through the night arriving in Lith My’athar midmorning the following day.  Hypatia fought to move her leaden limbs, and ignored protesting muscles, thinking only of a nice hot bath and a clean bed.  Valen’s eyes were a dull red, not from any anger, but from the weight of exhaustion having trekked through the treacherous Underdark immediately upon the heals of the brutal battle with the dracolich. 

For all they had pushed themselves to the limits of their endurance, they still only arrived at the gates of Lith My’athar barely in time.  Imloth’s scouts returned just moments after they did with news that the Valsharess’ troops were on the move. 

Exchanging a worried look with Valen, Hypatia hurried to the temple to find the Seer.  Once there they found preparations already under way.  The Seer was noticeably relieved that they had returned before the battle started. 

Their exhaustion was so obvious that they were both told to rest for the remainder of the day so that they would be fresh for the battle that was sure to begin on the morrow. 

Hypatia availed herself of a nice long soak, glad to finally wash the blood and gore of her run in with the dracolich from her skin.  She took special pains washing her hair with some exotically scented shampoo that Nathyrra had scrounged up for her. 

Brushing the tangles out with the beautiful ebony brush took quite some time and in the end she feared she’d pulled out more hair than she’d left in.  Finally satisfied that she’d gotten it untangled she brushed the silky mass back from her face to fall in a glorious cascade down her back.  She scowled at the uneven ends, the result of losing part of a braid during the battle and returned to her room, only to find Valen setting his pack near the unused cot.  Frowning she waited until he turned to her.  “What do you think you are doing?” 

“The Seer,” Valen stated, “has a feeling that the Valsharess will try something tonight that involves you.  I thought it would be best if I stayed here with you.  To oversee your safety.” 

Hypatia nodded, to be perfectly honest, she felt better when he was near.  She went to the large polished mirror on one wall.  Her hair on one side hung almost to her knees.  On the other side though, it only hung to her waist.  Shaking her head she scrounged around until she found a dagger and taking the longer hair in her fist was about to try to even it up.  To her surprise Valen interrupted her by taking the dagger out of her hand. 

Confused she turned to him.  “Why did you do that?  I need to even it up.  Look at it.” 

“Don’t cut it.”  Valen somehow made the statement a plea. 

Hypatia studied him for a moment then slowly let go of her hair and nodded.  “I do know of a way to braid it that will make the unevenness less noticeable.” 

Valen smiled briefly.  “Thank you.” 

Hypatia shyly smiled back at him.  She watched blushing, but unable to look away as he took his breastplate off and set near the cot to polish later.  Her smile faded as he turned to get something from his pack and she caught him favoring his shoulder slightly.  

“You are hurt!”  She was appalled remembering that she had not offered to heal him after the battle with Vix’thra. 

“I have but a few minor injuries, they are nothing to concern yourself about.” Valen insisted. 

Hypatia thought about it for a long moment before appearing to reach a decision.  “Lie down.” 

Valen turned to her surprised.  “What?” 

She smiled at him gently, “lie down on the cot.  My sister taught me a way to ease sore muscles that doesn’t require casting a spell.” 

With a bit of reluctance, Valen did as she asked.  He had not had a chance to retrieve his tunic from his pack and as soon as he was lying down, Hypatia asked him to roll onto his stomach.  She ignored his questioning look and once he was comfortable, sat beside him and began to massage his muscular back. 

It didn’t take much empathy on her part to home in on the muscles that were most sore and she kneaded them until they relaxed.   He groaned as she worked on his broad shoulders rubbing and calming his powerful muscles.  Then she moved to the long muscles of his back.  She seemed to instinctively know just how much pressure to use and where her ministrations could be most effective. 

Hypatia allowed her hands to glide over his warm skin, soothing away the fatigue and aches he’d accumulated during their quest.  Occasionally she would pause to tenderly trace the silvery line of a scar, frowning to herself at the visible reminders of the warrior’s life.  

Touching him was rapidly becoming dangerous for her though, the feel of him under her hands, warm, vibrant, and radiating strength was making it difficult to control her empathic tendencies.  It would be so easy for me to fall in love with you, Valen Shadowbreath.  Already the bond is starting to form. 

Hypatia shook her head to clear it.  She had never had any trouble with empathic bonds forming without her express wish before.  She feared that it was her heart that was behind this fledgling bond and only her will held it in check.  For if she chose him, and her heart chose wrong, then it would destroy her. 

For her own peace of mind, and so as not to force an empathic bond on him that he was not aware of and might not choose, she moved her ministrations to the side of his neck and the base of his skull, rewarded again by soft groans as she worked the tension out of his body.  It was only when she stopped briefly to shake her aching hands that he stopped her. 

Rolling over and taking her hands in his, Valen fixed his intense blue eyes on her.  “Why are you doing this?” 

Taken by surprise, Hypatia blushed before she answered.  “I wanted to give you something, something just for you.  All of your life, others have taken from you, used you.  I wanted to do something for you.” 

Startled by her answer Valen sat back abruptly, releasing her hand and watching her with a curious expression.  

Suddenly feeling quite shy, Hypatia got up and went to sit on her own cot, taking the Mystrian armor she had been directed to and starting to polish it.  She took a moment to get a special vial of oil out of her pack and add a few drops to the leather oil she was already using.  It was a very expensive vial of essential oils of roses that her sister had given her when she last visited.  She hoped that would freshen the armor a bit and rather thought the scent of roses was a bit more appropriate than the more common lavender for this purpose. 

Valen watched her for a long moment before speaking.  “If you want to give me something, perhaps you would consider telling me a little bit about yourself?” 

Hypatia looked up from her polishing a bit astonished by such a request.  “My life has not been so noteworthy, Valen.” 

“I would still hear the tale, my lady.”  Valen never took his eyes off of her. 

“No one has ever asked me to tell the story.  Even after Undrentide, they only wanted to say that they’d spoken to me, only wanted to hear the story as it was written in this.” Hypatia pulled a worn tome out of her pack and handed it to him before resuming the polishing of her armor. 

“I don’t want to read a book, Hypatia.”  Valen said quietly. 

She flashed him a startled look.  “I… I’m sorry.”  Thinking about it for a long moment, Hypatia finally started speaking in a quiet voice.  Her story was not polished as she’d never shared it before. 

“I… I guess the place to start would be about how I came to be a student of Drogan’s.  My sister and I, found a city, Daerlun in Sembia that though it is far from where we grew up, boasts a large temple to the lady Firehair and not too far away a shrine to Mystra.  It seemed ideal.  We could both follow our faith and still be close enough to visit frequently.”  Hypatia paused a warm smile on her face for the fond memories. 

“We met often after our lessons to discuss what we had learned over our evening meal.  Often some suitor or another of Cimmera’s would come and take her away for a dance or something.  But I didn’t mind.  I was glad to see her so happy, and I was happy with my own studies.”  Hypatia paused, frowning for a moment. 

“After a while I met a boy myself.  He seemed different than the others, I thought maybe he would be interested in me even after… after he met my sister.”  She couldn’t keep the sorrow out of her voice and was not aware of her shoulders slumping as she spoke. 

“When I introduced him to her though, she took one look at him and she… she…” Hypatia had to stop for a moment.  Even now the memory still had the power to hurt her.  She knew why Cimmera had done it and had forgiven her, but it still hurt. 

After a while Hypatia resumed polishing her armor and her story.  “Cimmera lured him away from me.  Not that he even tried to resist her.  I watched as he followed her without a backward look.  While it is true that I didn’t love him, still I felt betrayed.  Betrayed by him a little, but mostly by my sister.  I couldn’t… I couldn’t believe that she had done that to me.  She who could have any man she wanted.  Why him? 

So, like a fool, instead of asking her I allowed my hurt to drive me.  I applied and was accepted to Drogan’s school for hopeful adventurers.  Hilltop was half a world away from my sister.  A fitting place for me, frozen and cold.    Like the ice that was growing around my heart.” 

“I find that I can not imagine you with a cold heart, my lady.”  Valen spoke, his voice carrying his need to ease her obvious pain. 

Hypatia’s lips twisted in a bitter smile.  “Thank you, but it is true never the less.”  She resumed her tale.  “I learned quickly under Drogan’s tutelage.  He taught me how to most effectively use my healing abilities, when to go from a defensive posture to an attack and what to look for in the tactics of my foes. 

He tried to be a friend, but I wouldn’t let him get close.  Many times he tried to find out what was troubling me so.  He told me that even an old dwarven adventurer could see that I was not made to be so cold, so ever aloof.  He devised clever tests to try to draw out my, as he put it, compassionate nature.” Hypatia closed her eyes briefly as she spoke, her voice filled with pain.  “He was so disappointed when, after using my inherent compassion to pass the tests, I would once again retreat within myself.” 

Shaking her head sadly she continued, “After a time there was a raid on the village by kobolds.  They were sent by, of all things, a white dragon for some artifacts that Drogan had in his care.  Turns out he was also a Harper Scout. 

He was poisoned in the battle and the kobolds made off with the artifacts.  This was the start of my first adventure.  To retrieve the artifacts, and later one in particular called a Mythallar.  It was a kind of magical dynamo used by the ancient Netherese for all manner of wondrous purposes.  

I chose for my first traveling companion a half-orc sorcerer named Xanos.  He was as annoying a person as I have ever met, but still funny in a way.  He was arrogant and yet whiny.  Don’t ask me how he managed it, but he did.  He was a perfect companion for a cleric whose heart was locked in ice. 

In the course of our search we discovered a single kobold cowering in a razed village.”  A small smile found it’s way to Hypatia’s face.  “Deekin, a kobold bard, if you can believe it.  He had hidden the artifact that later turned out to be the Mythallar and demanded that we free him from his master in exchange for telling us where it was.  His master the white dragon.” 

Hypatia put her armor down and leaned back against the smooth wall behind her.  “We did managed to free him from his draconic master.  I even convinced the dragon to forever more watch over the village of Hilltop and protect it.” 

She looked slyly out of the corner of her eyes and was pleased to catch a look of astonishment cross Valen’s face. 

Her lips turned up in a brief smile before the sadness again settled over her.  “We took the artifact back to Drogan, who was still not fully recovered from the poison and he then said that I was no longer his student.  That there was nothing more he could teach me.  He asked me if I would take the gem, for we did not know at the time what it’s true nature was, to a friend of his to have it identified.  His friend was a scholar who was excavating an ancient Netherese ruin in the Anauroch desert.  

So Xanos and I once again set out, this time in the company of a merchant caravan.  We had been traveling for some time when I became aware that the kobold Deekin had contrived to join the caravan. He admitted that he was following me, he told me that he wanted to see the world, have great adventures, but he didn’t know where to start. So he thought that if he followed me, he would get to do those things. 

Since Xanos was constantly complaining about the whole thing, I released him from accompanying me.  I was surprised when he was sorry to be sent back to Drogan.  I hadn’t realized that he had wanted to continue with me.”  Hypatia shook her head slowly. 

“It was for the best though,” she stated.  “Little Deekin, irrepressible and insecure, a talented bard and a shrewd judge of character with an outrageous sense of humor all wrapped up in one small kobold.  We journeyed across the Anauroch facing dangers of many kinds.  It was he who managed to thaw the ice that had formed around my heart.  For no matter how aloof I was, he just continued on with his stories and observations. 

No matter how many times I told him to call me Hypatia, he insisted on calling me ‘Boss’.    I afforded him the most common of courtesies and he would respond by saying, ‘yous is so good to little Deekin, Boss.’  He wrote that book,” she gestured toward the book she’d given Valen earlier.  All the while he talked or sang to me incessantly.  

Hypatia sighed.  “We found the man who identified the jewel as the Mythallar and he said that the ruin had been invaded by someone looking for it.  So, naturally Deekin and I went to the ruin in search of a creature named Heroudis.  There was an ancient Netherese portal in the ruin, supposedly to transport people to other lost Netherese cities.  Heroudis escaped through the portal and it closed behind her.  

Drogan appeared then, having been summoned by his friend while we were exploring the ruin.  With his help we figured out how to reactivate the portal, but… Heroudis had lain a diabolical trap within the glowing portal itself.  One that was bringing the whole ruin down upon us.”  Hypatia’s eyes grew very sad and a tear rolled slowly down her cheek.  

It was with a shaky voice that she continued.  “Drogan held the portal open while Deekin and I escaped.  He commanded that we stop Heroudis while he sacrificed himself to save our lives.  I never got a chance to thank him for all he had taught me, for the kindness he showed me even when I shut him out.” 

Hypatia stood and began to pace within the confines of the room, absently picking up her ebony brush and pulling it through her hair.  “We followed Heroudis through a strange cavern filled with stone statues of remarkable craftsmanship.”  

She twisted her lips in disgust, “The lifelike statues should have been a tip off, but I had never encountered a Medusa before, so I was utterly unprepared when we did finally manage to catch up to her.  She turned us to stone and took the Mythallar.  She intended to use it to return the Netherese city Undrentide to the air where it once flew high above Faerun. 

We were fortunate that there were some Ashanti slavers exploring the city too.  For they found Deekin and I, and after slipping slave collars on us, restored us to our natural state.” 

“You wore a slave collar!?”  Valen interrupted, his eyes glowing a dangerous red. 

Hypatia looked at him, a bit surprised by the vehemence of his reaction, the brush stilling in her hand.  “It wasn’t for long, and to be honest, I think it was less unpleasant than being petrified.  The Ashanti slaver,” she refused to call him ‘master,’ “had a task for us to do.” 

“I can imagine,” Valen growled ominously. 

Again surprised but remembering her sister’s reaction Hypatia hastened to clarify, “He never laid a hand on me, if that is what you are thinking.  He wanted me to eliminate some Netherese guardians.” 

Valen scowled, but seemed mollified by her explanation.  She noticed that he had put his tunic on sometime during the telling of her tale. Pity, she couldn’t help but think. 

“Anyway,” she went on, putting the brush away, “It most likely cost him his life.  Had he allowed me to pursue Heroudis right away, I might have been able to stop her before she activated the Mythallar and got Undrentide to take flight again. 

In the end, I had to destroy the Mythallar to stop her.  As Undrentide crashed to the ground once again Deekin and I escaped, as I told you earlier, to the Plane of Shadow. 

After we escaped from that terrible and terrifying place I went to see my sister.  I had begun to understand what might have prompted her to do as she did.  And I missed her.  She knew through the bond that we share that I had been through quite an ordeal and was delighted to see me when I showed up on the steps of the Temple of Sune. 

We cried and hugged and both apologized at once.  It was a very heartfelt reunion.  Before she let me say anything she took me inside the temple.  It seems that the boy I had been interested in, had, through her guidance become a priest of Sune.  Cimmera told me that she had led him in that direction to keep him from taking advantage of innocents.  At least as a priest of Sune, those seeking him would know what to expect.” 

Hypatia blushed deeply and looked at Valen with wounded eyes.  “You see, he did not want me, he just wanted to be the first to have me.  Cimmera knew, and she did what she felt she had to.  She was trying to protect me.  She commanded me to look at him and see the truth for myself, even though I told her that I believed her.” 

Hypatia looked down at the floor.  “I should have spoken to her before I left like that.  I was such a fool, and I hurt us both.”   With a shrug she turned and sat back down on her cot.  “Not long after that the call went out from Waterdeep and I answered it.” 

Hypatia smiled suddenly.  “Deekin was there, to my surprise.  We traveled together again, fighting our way through Halaster’s menagerie in the Undermountain.  Of all the cruel things Halaster has done, refusing to send Deekin with me into the Underdark is the one that I won’t forgive him for.  Deekin was so excited to be on another ‘Exciting Adventure with Boss.’  And he so looked forward to visiting the Underdark.”  

“He sounds like a noble and true friend,” Valen commented. 

She looked over and smiled warmly at him.  “That he is.  I have not had many friends, so the few that I count are precious to me.” 

Valen stood, tugging on his tunic.  “I’m going to check on Imloth.  You should get some rest, my lady.” 

Hypatia shook her head.  “If I sleep now I’ll wake too early and be exhausted for the battle.” 

Valen chuckled.  “As would I.”  With a nod he left. 

Standing herself, Hypatia intended to get some parchment and copy some more scrolls of her new spells for the Seer’s forces to use during the coming battle.  Suddenly a bright light filled the room accompanied by a ringing sound that echoed all around her. 

When the light faded Hypatia found herself facing a cruel looking drow woman.  Reaching for her katana, she readied herself for what might come.  To her surprise, the woman made no move save to rake her hard eyes over her. 

“Forsake these pitiful rebels and join me.  We will rule the Underdark together.”  The drow spoke in an uncompromising voice. 

You must be the Valsharess.  Hypatia glared at the woman.  “Give up your empty quest for power and fill your life with meaning.”  She countered. 

“Fool!” The Valsharess roared at her.  “Power is the only thing that matters.  Only the weak do not strive for it.” 

“Power is fleeting.”  Hypatia countered firmly.  “When you have been deposed, as you surely will be, who will even remember your name?” 

“Give up your sentimental folly.  Fight by my side and you will see what power can do.  We will make all Faerun bow before us.” 

“Your heart is as empty as your soul.  When you stand atop the world, whom will you truly share it with?  Who will be there with you?  And when you finally die, who will mourn your passing?”  Hypatia held the Valsharess’ gaze. 

With a snarl the Valsharess broke the eye contact.  “I will make your death slow, foolish surfacer. You will beg me for mercy and I shall laugh as you feel the pain of a thousand deaths.”  Then she vanished in another flash of light and sound. 

The Valsharess had barely gone when the door slammed open causing Hypatia to raise her weapons again.  Valen rushed into the room a look of obvious concern on his face. 

Hypatia sheathed her weapons.  “You startled me.” 

“She was here.”  Valen stated as he wrapped his arms around Hypatia.  “I heard everything.  I hadn’t gone yet when I heard the sound of the spell, but something kept me from getting the door open.” 

Still a bit shaken by the visit, Hypatia allowed herself to snuggle in the warm circle of his arms.  “Probably part of her spell.  She didn’t want to be interrupted.” 

His warm finger under her chin caused her to look up into his intense blue eyes.  He smiled softly at her and slowly lowered his head to kiss her.  Hypatia’s eyes fluttered closed and she twined her arms around his neck.  The kiss was soft and a bit hesitant, but oh, how she wanted it.  Wanted to spend a lifetime in his strong embrace.  Don’t make me want what I cannot have. 

When he lifted his lips from hers she opened her eyes and looked at him curiously, somewhat surprised, a gentle smile curving her lips.  Valen smiled back, a bit bashfully.  Before either of them could say anything though, the Seer, followed closely by Imloth came running into the room. 

Startled they both jumped apart, each looking slightly guilty and swung around to face the newcomers.  Imloth gave Valen a knowing look, but held his peace.  The Seer spoke.  “The Valsharess was here.  I had a vision of her tempting you to forsake us and join her Hypatia.” 

Hypatia nodded.  “She was here.” 

Before she could explain the whole episode though Valen broke in and told them what he had overheard. 

The Seer turned again to Hypatia.  “She will never forgive you for speaking the truth about the emptiness of her life.” 

Hypatia shrugged.  “She already wants to kill me.” 

The Seer nodded and smiled.  “I knew you would not betray us, Hypatia.”  She motioned to Imloth that they should leave, but turned back to Hypatia just before exiting.  The Seer walked over to her slowly, a penetrating expression on her face.  Finally she leaned to whisper, “You do not want what you cannot have.  You will see.” 

Hypatia’s jaw dropped and she blushed to the roots of her hair. 

The following morning came and Hypatia found herself standing in the courtyard before the massive stone gates that separated Lith My’athar from the wilds of the Underdark.  Having been made the commander of the forces of Lith My’athar Hypatia positioned them to hold the gates.  She did not want enemy forces to get through.  

She positioned archers on the two towers, one detachment of swordmasters near the outer gate and the other near the inner gate.  The sentient golems, true to their word, sent two giant golems to aid them.  One Hypatia sent back to protect the Seer.  The other she commanded to guard the courtyard.  Even the diva Lavoria looked to her for orders.  Hypatia considered for a long moment before also sending Lavoria back to protect the Seer.

Then Hypatia waited.  The battle herald that hovered near her gave her updates on the position of the enemy forces as they swarmed toward the great wall that separated Lith My’athar from the Underdark. 

When the enemy drow were seen approaching, Hypatia began casting.  Valen had chosen to stand beside her and help keep the enemy out of Lith My’athar.  So she cast on him first, the strength of a bull, the grace of a cat, the cunning of a fox and the wisdom of an owl.  She cast spells that protected him against energy drains, increased his endurance and accuracy with his weapon.  She then turned to her spells that would benefit all the allied forces near her, calling upon the blessing of her goddess, saying a prayer for them, to strengthen and protect them during the battle. 

Then with little time to spare she dashed for the battlement on the left side of the gate.  Climbing the stairs she ran out between the archers and looked over the forces of the Valsharess as they gathered before the gates.  She again began to cast, even as a dark vortex opened up to her right and claimed the lives of two hapless archers.  She stood firm and called upon the light of the sun to blind and disorient her foe.  As she spoke the final words amidst a hail of arrows, it was as if the Underdark was rent asunder as a blinding beam of sunlight fell upon the assembled hosts. 

Hypatia staggered back under the volley of arrows, but managed to begin casting again.  This time she managed to cast two spells she had prepared especially for quickness of casting, one right after the other.  Columns of divine light slammed into her chosen clusters of enemies, killing a few and stunning many. 

Shouts from the courtyard behind her caused her to pause in her casting and run to the back of the tower.  She gasped in horror as a portal opened up within the courtyard, just below where she stood and a dread balor appeared.  Frantically she darted for the stairs and flew down them, drawing her katana.  She bolted through the door of the tower only to find that Valen, the golem and several of the swordsmasters had already engaged the monster. 

She began healing them, along with another cleric as they battled the balor and finally brought it down.  A terrible crashing behind her caused her to whirl around.  The gates had been breached.  Valen ran past her, snapping her out of her momentary stasis.  Following him quickly she managed to squeeze her way to just behind the front of the battle line.  

Before she began her offensive, she cast her most powerful healing spell, but had no time to watch as the wounds of all the allies near her healed fully.  Before that spell had finished with its effects, she was casting another spell.  Again and again her spells raked the enemy while Valen and the drow held the gate.  Once more she had to cast her mass heal spell, and she lost track of how many times she had to heal Valen or herself.  

The battle raged for how long Hypatia couldn’t tell.  She began to understand how Valen could have lost track of decades fighting in the blood wars.  Actions happened at such a frenzied pace that minutes turned into hours with little notice. 

Then, finally the press of the enemy at the gate seemed to become less dense.  She was still casting when the shouts were heard.  They had held the gate.  The enemy was retreating.  

Hypatia watched numbly as the duergar and drow whom had been fighting so fanatically only moments before turned and ran.  Some of their own warriors followed, killing any they could catch up with. 

Then just as she took a deep and somewhat shaky breath the battle herald told of dire news.  The Seer was under attack.  The Valsharess had found a way to send her forces across the Dark River.  With Valen on her heels, Hypatia ran as fast as she could, back through the inner gates and into Lith My’athar, right to the temple where the Seer was. 

She watched as a seemingly endless horde of drow fighters, led by a wizard came around the building between them and the Dark River.  She didn’t know if they would last through another major battle.  She had already cast so many of her spells.  They were already battle weary and these were fresh troops the Valsharess had sent. 

“Imloth!” Hypatia commanded as she caught sight of him.  “Stay near the Seer.  Protect her especially.”  She saw him nod determinedly and allowed herself a brief smile. 

It was then that something amazing happened.  For Hypatia was suddenly filled with a sense of great beauty, great elation and she thought that she could even smell a fresh breeze, like the kind one encounters after a rain when the air is clean and soft.  From Hypatia a shock wave of these emotions, and even the freshening breeze, radiated out, filling Lith My’athar revitalizing her allies and striking fear and uncertainty in the hearts of her foes.  Hypatia threw back her head and a joyful laugh issued from her lips.  So, my dearest Cimmera, this is what you were up to when the Seer saw you dancing. 

Turning to the Seer’s forces she called to them.  “It is my sister.  She has gathered the clergy of Sune to help us.  Let us not waste their gift.” 

She ran past the Seer, following Valen as he charged the foe.  “Into the flame we leap!” His war cry echoed around them.  Hypatia attacked the wizard with her katana, rather than her divine magic, for something told her to conserve her remaining spells.  It was so hard for many of the drow of Lith My’athar were cut down by the new threat.  But she trusted her instincts and so only healed Valen, Nathyrra and herself. 

This battle, though more fierce in its intensity was mercifully much briefer than the one at the gates of Lith My’athar.  Triumphant they returned to the Seer, believing that they had held out.  But the Valsharess had one more nasty surprise for them. 

Just as they thought they could breathe easily, the ground began to shake and before their horrified eyes two umber hulks clawed their way through the rock and emerged to attack the rebel drow.  Behind the umber hulks came a contingent of illithids who wasted no time using their mental abilities to dominate and kill.  

Valen stormed them swinging his flail to great affect.  The illithid were physically weak and fell easily if one could get close enough to strike.  They were diabolically intelligent though and used the natural armor of the umber hulks to provide them with a living shield. 

This, Hypatia understood, was why she had conserved her spells.  She cast as quickly as possible setting her target for behind the umber hulks, the column of divine light that slammed into the illithids was devastating.  She hadn’t bothered with the umber hulks, Valen and the other warriors could handle them, if the illithids could be stopped.  Her spell stunned them.  Again she cast, and yet one more time.  Stripped of their defenses first the umber hulks, then the illithids were cut down by the rebel forces. 

They had prevailed.  More, they had utterly defeated and demoralized the Valsharess’ mighty army.  The Seer did not wish to waste such an opportunity and commanded that they pursue the retreating forces. 

Finally, after days of following the Valsharess’ retreating forces, battling them whenever they caught up to them, Hypatia found herself standing among the fallen bodies of drow before a tall, elaborately carved tower.  This was where the Valsharess was.  This was where it had all started, and would be finished. 

Hypatia turned to the Seer, but before she could speak she was seized by some magical force and transported to a circular room.  A terrible place, as Hypatia looked around curiously.  The Valsharess herself stood before a raised dais.  In a ring around the room stood at even intervals, drow warriors she would bet, given Nathyrra’s description, were the remaining Red Sisters.  That highly skilled and ruthless group of assassins the Valsharess kept at her side.  

Behind the dais, chained to the wall, was the arch devil.  Hypatia found herself taking an involuntary step away from him.  Then the Valsharess began to taunt her.  She offered the Valsharess the opportunity to surrender, which the drow woman found quite amusing.  Hypatia was calm though, her instincts were telling her to bide her time, so she did.  She was too surprised to be frightened.  If she had thought about what was happening, where she suddenly found herself, she was fairly certain she would faint dead away. 

Then the most surprising thing of all happened, the Valsharess commanded the archdevil to kill her, slowly.  But the archdevil refused, instead he killed the Red Sisters.  When the Valsharess, in her rage, ran up the steps of the dais, the archdevil released Hypatia from the spell that bound her. 

Without hesitation the Valsharess turned to Hypatia and began casting.  Though she wanted to begin her own casting, something caused Hypatia to wait.  Again and again the Valsharess cast and Hypatia began to understand.  She waited for a moment longer, than cast her most powerful dispelling. 

The Valsharess screamed in rage and frustration as her careful defensive spells fell away before the cool flow of Hypatia’s dispelling.  

Not waiting for her to regain her composure, Hypatia attacked the Valsharess with her twin katana.  She silently thanked Valen for all of his patience with her training, for she hailed a volley of blows down on the Valsharess that the drow was unable to answer.  

The drow matriarch was not to be vanquished so easily though, and returned Hypatia’s attack with one of her own, using a vicious whip.  Though she missed on her first strike, she managed to force Hypatia to dance out of the way of the flicking weapon. 

Then with a wicked grin the Valsharess managed to entangle Hypatia’s legs with the whip and yanked them out from under her.  Hypatia landed hard, one of her katana sliding out of her grasp.  Again and again the cruel whip flicked out, causing Hypatia to scream from the agony of its enchantment. 

She still had her beloved Kaga-To katana though and managed to roll to her feet with it, striking the Valsharess’ weapon arm hard.  The blade cut deep and the arm fell limp to the drow’s side.  Leaping forward Hypatia swung the Kaga-To again and the Valsharess fell. 

Staggering back, Hypatia grabbed her other katana, just as the spell holding the archdevil dissolved.  She had expected him to vanish back to where he had come from.  Her horror was complete when, rather than disappearing, he leapt down from the wall to tower before her. 

It was then that she learned the true nature of the relic of the reaper.  The curious artifact she had picked up in the Plane of Shadow that had attached itself to her.  It was actually a bit of this very archdevils flesh and bound her to him.  He thanked her quite politely for freeing him from the bondage of the Valsharess. Then thanked her again for setting him free from the hells.  He explained that he was now free to send her there to take his place, thus leaving him free to do as he wished here on her world. 

Relieving her of the cursed relic he cast a mighty spell that sent her hurtling to the floor.