Asherons Call: Rollout Article is Up

ROLLOUT ARTICLE

Adso crested the hill and took a deep breath. The swirling winds at that elevation brought the scent of evergreen forests and crisp mountain air to his nostrils, carrying a hint of winter thaw and spring growth. It was a welcome change from the stench of gore and corruption that clung to his equipment, to his clothing, and to his skin. Down in the plains and canyons, where the wind was less active, he'd been smelling that same stink for almost a full day, since their long run out of the Direlands. Scrubbing with sand and water had removed the worst of the smell, but an unnatural stench remained. He grimaced as the young acolyte Sabithra came up to stand next to him, and subjected him to her own ripe miasma of graveyard odors.

"You're not still mad about that rat attack, are you?" Sabithra asked, as they looked out over the Gharu'n town of Qalaba'r. The sun was setting to their left and it cast the picturesque town in a dramatic golden light.

Adso paused for a moment, and tried to imagine himself speaking with the same cool detachment as their Master. "Suffice it to say that, until further notice, you won't be left alone any more. And once we get back to Master's compound, you'll be restricted from these long rangings."

Sabithra protested. "Master's instructions were to thoroughly scout the graveyard, Elder Brother, and that's what I tried to do."

"We could have scouted it thoroughly after I got back. Without you getting in over your head fighting those things. Without you abandoning our camp to those disgusting rats. They chewed up my extra boots and fouled my rations, damn it."

"I didn't think the rats would roam that far. And when I left camp it was still daylight, I thought it would be safe to go for a short while..."

"Perhaps if you'd spent any time at all observing their movements before abandoning your watch to gallivant through that graveyard yourself, you might have been able to anticipate the danger from the roving pack of giant, diseased rats." His voice rose in anger.

"How many times must I apologize for that? I truly am sorry, Elder Brother." Adso glanced at her, examining her with keen eyes, honed by Master's training. She was not yet disciplined enough to conceal her smirk or hide the amusement in her tone.

"It's not about being sorry, Acolyte. It's about your brothers, sisters, and Master himself not being able to trust you to keep a simple watch." Adso's tone dripped with contempt, particularly as he called her "Acolyte" instead of referring to her by her name.

"There were strange things going on in that graveyard. I wanted to investigate what those undead were up to, and I thought that things would be over before you got back from your own scouting trip. I displayed initiative, Elder Brother! Like Master always encourages you to do!"

"Master encourages me to take initiative because I've proven myself to him. It's a privilege you must earn, Acolyte. For now it's apparent to me that you have not yet earned that trust. And Master will trust me enough to believe me when I tell him that you're not ready to go on a solo ranging."

Sabithra frowned, started to retort, thought better of it, and very obviously bit back whatever she was about to say. She continued to seethe, however. Adso caught note of her expression. "Feel fortunate that I didn't kill you there and send you back to the lifestone directly to answer Master's questions," he said. "Or leave you to the rats and the undead."

Sabithra bowed, finally seeming to accept his rebuke. They stood watching Qalaba'r for a few more minutes. Finally, Adso started down the slope towards the town.

As she walked two paces behind him, Sabithra piped up again. "It was a fascinating place though, wasn't it? It's not on any of those maps you drew..."

Adso nodded stiffly. "It wasn't there before. I've covered every inch of the Direlands, by myself or with Master. I remember scouting that location less than a year ago. I swear that there was no evidence of this graveyard then. It's almost as if some force dragged it out of the ground..." He paused, then shook his head. "You'll get used to it, Acolyte. This island holds more secrets than you can imagine. Enough secrets to drive you mad."

"How old was that graveyard?"

"Ancient. Older than almost anything else I've come across. Master will certainly want a detailed report when we get back." He paused. "You fought well there, Sabithra. And courageously. I must give you that."

Sabithra smiled at that, immeasurably cheered by Elder Brother's unexpected praise and his use of her name.

As they came upon the outskirts of Qalaba'r, Sabithra spotted a group of desert rabbits in a clump of underbrush by the road. Thinking that some rabbit stew would make a tasty meal for tonight's camp, she whipped a pair of throwing knives into the bushes. Two simultaneous squeaks sounded out as the knives found their marks, and the remaining rabbits scattered, fleeing deeper into the forest.

Adso sighed. "Was that truly necessary? Again you strike without permission."

Sabithra grinned mischievously. "I thought I'd make some fine rabbit slippers to compensate you for the damage the rats did to your boots, Elder Brother." She strode quickly towards the bushes and knelt, reaching in to part the undergrowth and seek out the rabbits she'd killed.

"Oh! They're just babies!" Her disappointment was evident in her tone. She leaned further into the bushes. "What's this then? There's another..."

Adso heard a familiar high-pitched snarling noise from the bushes, and the sound made him pale with remembered terror. Even as he reached for his sword and charged forward, Sabithra screamed.