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Duck. Swivel. Parry. Smash.
Muira fought fiercely at Minthara’s side, her new war hammer gripped tightly in her hand as she almost danced around the battlefield. The Banites at this fireworks shop were battle-hardened and ruthless. Sending fireballs into crates of smokepowder with abandon as if they were not also in the room. Karlach took a barrel and launched it across the workroom knocking over two, then followed up with a bottle of magical fire scorching them into charred husks instead of flesh.
“Good Karlach. You have them on the defensive.” Minthara smiled at her affectionately her words dripping with admiration. The tone set Muira’s skin on edge - she had taken down the first three single handedly without so much as a glance from her. Karlach beamed, “Thanks Minthy! Let’s finish this up together.”
Muira glanced around dramatically, was she even here at all? She glared at Karlach and noted that she would not spare a potion for her if it came to that. Obviously she had plenty of help coming her way - from Muira’s lover at that.
The enemies at least noticed her - concentrating their three heaviest hitters to surround her. She slammed down to blast some back and then pushed one into the burning inferno of it’s own creation.
Another snuck behind Minthara readying it’s spear for a powerful thrust - it was in her blind spot since she was locked in combat, shield pressed against the sword of the other.
Muira thought to yell at her to dodge but there just wasn’t enough time. Minthara was going to hate this plan but she couldn’t worry about that now. So she jumped, leaping to land in front of the spear as it plunged forward into her abdomen sparing Minthara from the sharpened point. The pain radiated out as the spear pushed through to the other side - she staggered, then broke the handle with a rough downward strike, splitting the attackers skull with a well timed uppercut of steel under their chin.
Behind her Minthara parried with her shield then plunged her sword into the heart of the stunned enemy. They both turned to deal with the last one, who stood with arms wide her hands crackling with fire and flame. Muira grimaced - the wound was more than she had expected especially with the burns they had all just sustained. She lifted the hammer and launched it with all her force and heard the satisfying crunch of bone turned to dust. The magic wielder hit the ground as Muira came to rest on her knees.
Karlach ran up to Minthara with a face of concern “Are you ok?” She caressed her arm and looked down at her, scanning her for injuries. Minthara blushed and showed off a couple minor burns and scratches.
This has to be some kind of sick joke - Muira thought. To die from injuries sustained from saving her love, while her love is chatted up by some flaming hot war devil. She chuckled at the thought and instantly regreted the kneeling position and the audacity to find humor in the situation. A thick metallic taste had filled her mouth, so she checked the wound from the front and found blood pooling from it quickly. She was hemorrhaging, which was probably not good she decided in a hazy state.
Her vision began to darken around the edges as she tried to get help “Minthara, my love?” Minthara’s head swiveled viscously sensing the pain in Muira’s voice, their eyes locked and Muira could see the fear spread across her face. The last thing she saw was her, hands outreached to catch her, yelling some command at Karlach.
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Muira could smell muskwood and moss, could hear the bells of docking ships and calls from sailors in the port. She had spent much of her life at sea - so she did not think twice about what would normally be odd sounds, if anything they put her at ease. She felt a light touch on her shoulder,
“Don’t move too suddenly, you will injure yourself further.” Minthara’s voice washed over her like the waves of a warm sea. She obeyed, slowly opening her eyelids to find herself in their tent. Minthara sat near her a book propped open on her lap, she stared down at Muira and seemed to be scanning her face for answers. Which ones Muira was not sure. She looked down at the bandages wrapped around her abdomen and the wet wraps over some of her burns.
“How long have I been out?” Muira asked noticing the small pile of discarded bloody rags at the foot of the bedroll.
“3 days.” Minthara said curtly, she leaned over to check the bandages and also leave a tender kiss on her cheek
“ 3 days?! I should be healing far faster than that.” Muira went to sit up suddenly and cried out, the pain had not gone away yet, it was as if the spear still pierced her body.
“I told you not to move quickly! Do not test my patience today!” Her eyes flashed red with anger and then almost as quickly settled down
“Yes, I thought you were a doppelganger at first and then I worried you’d lost your healing abilities. Though - the average person would be dead from these injuries so you are still not within a normal range.” She peered into Muira’s eyes again no doubt checking for any signs that she was a false face.
“It must have been a God gifted weapon - this has happened once before. Though at the time I did not have such a lovely one to take care of me.” Muira smiled and reached her hand up to rest on Minthara’s face. The drow scowled a bit then seemed to melt into it.
“Do not take such reckless action again.” She demanded as she came to rest her head on Muira’s chest.
“I did not have much choice and you were too busy flirting with Karlach to notice.” Muira suddenly remembered the events of the other day.
Minthara chuckled a bit.
“Truly you are a jealous one. Karlach is strong and no doubt beautiful. We both know she would give anyone a night of pleasure worth remembering.” Muira rolled her eyes at the lavish praise being heaped on Karlach at a time like this.
“But my heart is not a lustful thing - It is devoted to you not just for the supple curves of your body but for the quick wit of your mind and the yearning you have for safety, for power. Do not discount what we have, my love, it is unbecoming of one such as yourself.”
She twisted her fingers into Muira’s curly brown hair and sighed,
“There is another matter however - that we must discuss. Your armor is ruined, the scales have started to crumble and break and the fabric holding it together has deteriorated. I know this is something you hold most dear.” She nestled her head slightly in a comforting motion against Muira’s chest.
“It is near 1000 years old but not ruined yet - For all things from the sea can be returned to it. I am sure Umberlee would be happy to see it has been used in battle with believers of other Gods.”
Muira murmured these words in a soft tone, enjoying the feel of Minthara’s skin upon her. She felt an emptiness as she rose a bit and demanded that they change the bandages again. With some assistance from Muira the bandages were swapped out and the bloody ones discarded and they settled back into their positions. It was then that Muira realized that she had not heard her companions in quite some time.
“Where are we? Where are the others?”
Minthara looked up at Muira with raised eyebrows “I trusted no one with your care save myself - so we are on the outskirts of the camp. I was worried too that you would not wake up and if I had to kill you, I would need the privacy this location affords us.”