Euaristus Prepares to Scout the Nexus

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 85843

The history as told by Euaristus was interrupted by a loud, bass voice screaming from a distance down a mountain trail. Euaristus turned, and shouted, "Heraclius, what has happened?"

"A Nexus has been created, and it is now active! I escaped with my life!"

"But are you hurt? Do you need help?"

"I am beaten. I could not stop it."

"Come here!"

Astra saw Heraclius clamber up the mountain, despite the presence of ice and snow. He was alone, but was moving as if his life depended on getting to the peak quickly. The three women started down to meet him and give him any assistance that he needed.

Finally Heraclius grabbed Euaristus's outstretched hand and the group returned to the peak. It was frightening for Astra to see such a powerfully built man quivering in fear from this unknown threat.

Now the four were on top of the mountain, and breathing heavily. Euaristus recovered first, and introduced Elaine and Astra to Heraclius. He learned that they were in the company that had killed Minestus, and they learned that he was a dragon, but that they need not fear revenge - at least on the account of Minestus.

Heraclius then faced Elaine and Astra and said, "Were either of you responsible for the creation of that machine?"

"No, sir. The creator of the machine is now dead. Astra here killed him," said Elaine as she pointed to the princess.

Heraclius then said, "There is a young lass, dark hair, about your age. She said something having the blood of two of her company on her hands, when I found her near a lava flow. She thought that these two were lost in that sea of molten rock. Would you happen to be the two that she was referring to? What do you know anything about her?"

Elaine grunted and replied, "Those two would indeed be us. I know how we got stuck in that place now. Adele. I suspected that."

"What does that treacherous bitch know about the Nexus?"

Elaine replied, "Ah, sir, I can see you have had dealings with her. Her father was the one that built the Nexus. So has she betrayed us so that she can unleash the power of the machine?"

Heraclius said, "Yes. She has started it. Her power was too great for me to stop it. Euaristus, we have to leave. It is too dangerous, even here. And you two lasses- you don't know how much trouble that this Adele has unleashed. Is she that stupid?"

Euaristus interrupted. "Heraclius, you must rest. Adele has taken something out of you. We cannot leave just yet. Callistus would not be able to find us."

"The let us go to the lands of Callistus. We can take refuge there, and that will be the first place he will go if he cannot find us."

Euaristus replied, "Take a breath. We have time." She pointed to Astra. "You do not know much about Adele or the machine, do you?"

Astra replied, "I saw the machine, but that is it. I have not seen Adele before today."

"I will need you to stay here then." She then pointed to Elaine. "What do you know personally, and not from history, about the machine?"

"I have seen it. The was a crystal box, and a lot of gears. I did not have enough time to find out how it was used."

"Tell me about Adele."

"She talks sweetly enough, but she will stab you in the back in a minute. She pretended to be my friend, but stole my fiancee." Elaine hesitated. Astra thought, "As well she might. Elaine had come very close to using the machine herself, and her own actions were spiteful and a betrayal of trust of those in the company."[85151]

Euaristus probed Elaine, "I understand that you did not like her. But what makes her tick? What sort of power does she have?"

Elaine took a breath and tried to speak more dispassionately. "She has some talent - less than she thinks, but has some. She is naive about a lot of things. She will speak out of turn or do something silly because she does not know better. She did not get out much. I think that Matthias might have been her first crush, actually. Obsessive, I would say. Once she gets a notion, she will spend a lot of time on it and it is hard to get her to stop. I will have to give her credit there - she can be very thorough when she puts her mind to something. She looked up to her father, although she did not always agree with him."

Euaristus then said, "Heraclitus and Astra, you stay here. Elaine, I would like you to go with me. I have to see this machine."

Heraclitus turned red and said, "Absolutely not! It will do no good! You cannot stop her alone. We must marshall greater forces."

Euaristus replied, "Heraclitus, this machine was built before my time. I have never seen it. I would like to see it for myself. I am aware of my limits. I plan only on observing."

Heraclitus said, "Do not do it, Euaristus. The risk is not worth any possible gain."

"Do you wish to assume leadership of this enterprise?"

Heraclitus's jaw slackened. He answered, quietly, "No."

"Very good. You watch after Astra, and keep her comfortable on this cold peak, while waiting for Callistus to return. I will also need to know where this engine is, so if you can give me some idea, it would help." Euarustus turned to Elaine.

"Can you assume other forms?"

Elaine replied, "I do not think I can, now. My abilities have been much weakened, if they are not gone completely."

Euaristus said, "Are you sick?"

"No, but I did lose a finger in battle." Astra noted that Elaine was not being completely truthful here. She had lost her finger to the tiger, Sigin, who had presumably disappeared along with the rest of the party. Perhaps this Callistus that Euaristus referred to was looking for the rest of the party.

Euaristus replied, "I can use you even if you do not have special magical ability. I just need someone to watch out for me, as a second set of eyes. We are going to the Nexus. Please stay out of trouble, and away from that engine unless I tell you otherwise."

  1. Elaine felt a ringing in her ears, and after a few seconds, she was back the cavern with the machine.
  2. Fred was now at the gates of Pellgar. [85457]

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