EPISODE 69: NO ONE GETS LEFT BEHIND

"What do you mean 'they took him'?" Vash asked, his voice harder than he'd intended. "Who's 'they'?"

Morwen gave him a level look. Her violet eyes remained calm and analytical. "Nightscales. While we fought off the Scalebacks, three of them subdued Corwin and dragged him into one of their moving corridors. The wall closed up behind him. There was nothing we could do."

Vash felt a hot flash of guilt. The corpses all around her spoke to the ferocity of the fighting. He knew how quickly the Dungeon could re-arrange itself when it wanted to.

"Does that answer your question? Or do you wish to impugn my character some more?" Morwen said, her tone placid, but her words icy with wounded honor.

"I didn't mean to imply—"

"Ma a'shana." Morwen said, intentionally not meeting his eyes.

Vash grimaced. He knew from a few dealings with Vanan and Kaeleshi that breaking eye-contact like that was a rude dismissal.

Elves are always touchy. Cass said. Especially when they're being insulted or think they're being insulted.

I don't have time to mend fences right now. Vash thought. He sank deeper into his Dungeon Sense Talent. The mental map had changed. Surprised, Vash let it expand in his mind until he could see a majority of the map. The fog still obscured much of the growing Dungeon in his mind, but now he could see a clear pathway out. Only a few turns from where they stood would put them out near the river, close to the falls.

Another path was also crystal clear. A series of twists and turns, mysteriously devoid of the red markers of enemies, traced all the way back to the Dungeon Heart.

Where they took Corwin. Vash thought.

You can't be seriously thinking about going after him? Cass asked.

Remember what Matris said? I need to get out of the Dungeon with all my companions. Vash thought in reply. I'm not inclined to brush off the advice of a being that yanked us both from a crazed sorcerer's spell.

Cass had no answer for that.

"What is it, lad?" Jabez asked, searching Vash's face. "You look like you're having a fight in your own head and you're losing."

"It's my Dungeon Sense." Vash said. "It's clearing up in two directions."

He pointed up the hallway, past Morwen.

"If we go that way, then take the next two rights, then we're out of the Dungeon and on the riverbank." Vash said, then he turned and looked back down at one of the newly formed corridors. "And if we go that way, then we have a clear shot back to the Dungeon Heart."

Jabez gave him a wary look. "We should get these folks to safety. Give me a weapon and tell me where to go. I'll get Corwin. He's my responsibility, anyway."

"You can't be serious?" Vash asked, rhetorically. "Never mind that you just woke up from a coma after having your soul shredded. No armor, no weapons, and…" Vash concentrated for a moment and used Detect Magic on Jabez. The echo from the dwarf's Core was about what he expected. "Your Core is at maybe a tenth of your normal strength. Sending you after Corwin would be suicide."

"And you're a novice adventurer who has never fought a Dungeon Heart." Jabez shot back. "Scratch that. You've been in one Dungeon before, and we remember how that went."

Vash felt anger rise within him and he almost spat angry words back at Jabez, but he hesitated.

He's afraid. Vash thought, surprised. He's actually afraid that Corwin might die…and me, too.

Not knowing how to deal with that information, Vash shook his head. "I think it wants me. The Heart is giving you a clear path out so that I'll go face it alone. And…and it's important that the rest of you get out of here alive."

"While letting you walk into a trap?" Galia asked, joining the group at the end of the hall. "How does that make sense?"

"It makes sense when you know I was trained as an assassin." Vash said. "I'm not one of these Guild rogues. I know how to get in, get my target, and get out again. If I'm having to protect other people while I'm doing that, I don't know if I can succeed."

Jabez gave him a long, searching look.

"I can do this," Vash said, surprised at the confidence in his own voice. "I'll get him back."

"Aye," Jabez mused. "But who's going to bring you back?"

Vash felt himself grinning. "I've done all right so far."

"Luck is a finite commodity, lad," Jabez cautioned. "Eventually, it runs out."

Not knowing what to say, Vash simply nodded. He turned back towards the group of exhausted, wounded Wayfarers in the corridor behind him. "Keep following this corridor. Make the next two right-hand turns, before long you will exit the Dungeon. Once outside, follow the river upstream. It isn't far from here to the base of the falls. With all the activity in the Dungeon, I doubt if there are any monsters still left in the area."

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"You're going back for your friend," Charity said. It wasn't a question.

Vash shrugged. "He would do the same for me. I owe it to him to try."

"Someone should go with you." Charity said, and there was a chorus of agreement from the other Wayfarers.

Vash started to protest, but Jabez cut him off. "Vash has his reasons. Crazy as it may sound, I believe him."

All eyes turned to Vash. In them he saw a mix of pity, concern, and—strangely—pride.

Charity was the first to step forward. She reached into her belt and withdrew a long dagger. It was a simple blade, but the pommel had the device of of a sunset over a single mountain. The sigil for Rasander, the wandering god, patron of travelers.

"This dagger has served me well." Charity said, handing it to Vash, pommel first. "It is…difficult to lose. Just say the word 'astochi' and it will find you."

Astochi? Cass said, with a slight chuckle. Old Malconian for 'misplaced'.

Clever, Vash thought. He nodded his thanks to Charity and slipped the dagger into his empty sheath.

Sera approached him next. She held her hand close to his chest, then hesitated. "May I give you a blessing?"

"I'll take whatever help the gods will give." Vash said, intending to sound light and confident, but the words came out more shaky than he meant.

Sera gave him a tentative smile. Her eyes closed, and Vash felt the tingle of the gods' attention. "Nine above, this man goes to save a life from the Great Enemy. May his blade be true, his feet be nimble, and may fate smile upon his labors."

A tingling rush passed through Vash's body. In an instant, his fatigue vanished. He felt alert, focused, like he had slept the entire night through.

Sera sagged a bit, but she smiled at the results of her labors. She stood on the balls of her feet and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. "May the Nine watch over you."

Vash felt his cheeks redden. He didn't trust himself to answer, so he just nodded and returned Sera's smile.

As Charity and Sera stepped away, Vash saw Galia giving him an exasperated look. "You're a damn fool, you know that?"

"I've been called worse." Vash shrugged.

Galia snorted and shook her head in annoyance. She dug in her satchel, grumbling the whole time. "Damn fool, idiot adventurers, start out clever, then they get it in their heads to be heroes. Here."

The stone that Galia slapped into Vash's palm was small, about the size of a silver coin. It was smooth, dark gray with white speckles, and veins of vibrant blue ran through it in intricate patterns. Vash could feel the stone throb with power in the palm of his hand.

"What is it?" Vash asked, examining the stone curiously.

"A Mana Stone." Galia said. "After everything we've done this evening, I'm sure you're running low. All you have to do is seek it out when you pull mana from your Core. You'll feel it harmonize with you, then you can use the mana stored inside."

"That's really useful." Vash said, slipping the stone into a pouch.

"If you survive, keep it." Galia said. "I've got a dozen of them, besides once you tap it with your Core, it'll be soulbound to you, just like your Guild Marker."

"Thanks." Vash said. "Really."

Galia shrugged, but Vash could tell she felt pleased with herself.

Vash turned, ready to go, and almost ran into Morwen. The Naeleshi stood half a pace behind him.

Gods, she could be Eth Mitaan moving that quietly.

Morwen frowned at him, violet eyes giving him the once-over critically. "You are greatly unprepared for what lies ahead."

"Any advice?" Vash asked, trying to keep his spirits up.

"I know what you are, Taleuc ko'Sul eth Mitaan." Morwen said. Her frown was not one of condemnation, but of consideration. "Your kind serve Lord Kyrinos in a very peculiar manner. It's like a bear giving hunting advice to a wolf. On one level, they are the same, on every other one, they are different."

"I suppose that's true." Vash said, not sure where she was going with this.

She handed him a vial of a red-orange liquid. In the dim light, it sparkled faintly. "Healing potion. Master Heggin's own recipe. Far better than what the so-called 'alchemists' whip up in town."

Vash took it. The bottle felt lighter than it should. It also was slightly warm to the touch. "Thank you. I hope I won't need this."

Morwen looked him over, taking in his shoulder and the wound on his leg. "Maybe a swig or two before heading into battle wouldn't hurt?"

When Vash let his mind drift to his injuries, he could feel the pain of them hidden just behind the magic of his Guild amulet. "Not a terrible suggestion."

Vash pulled the cork on the red-orange bottle and lifted it for a swallow or two. The concoction tasted of summer flowers and honey, light and refreshing on the tongue. A pleasant warmth spread through Vash's torso, wiping away aches and pains he forgot were there. The myriad of scratches and bruises on his hands and knuckles closed up before his eyes. The deeper wounds on his shoulder and calf faded until the pulses of Vash's medallion were no longer necessary.

"That's…impressive." Vash said, carefully stoppering the bottle.

Morwen nodded, solemnly. "It is quite effective. Only problem is if you drink too much you end up seeing pink Orcs doing a mummer's dance."

Vash gave her a puzzled look. "How much is too much?"

"Depends," she shrugged. "Do you normally chew Bonillo mushroom caps?"

"No, those are poison."

Morwen thought for a moment, then shook her head, dismissive. "I'm sure it's quite a bit more than what you could consume in that little bottle."

"Maybe take it slow on that one, Vash." Jabez advised.

Vash nodded and stored the vial in his pouch.

It's now or never. Cass said. The Dungeon Heart won't wait much longer.

"I'd better get going." Vash said, securing the new gifts and turning back down the corridor.

"We'll bring others back as soon as we get to Amical Falls." Sister Clea promised.

Right, I'm sure they'll get right on that. Vash thought, but didn't let it show on his face when he gave Clea a grateful smile. I'm on my own here, and we all know it.

"Vash!" Jabez called, jogging with some difficulty down the corridor. "One moment before you go."

The dwarf led Vash down the hall, a short distance from the rest of the Wayfarers. "If you can get Corwin and get out of there, you do that. No extra heroics, and for the gods' sake, do not confront the Dungeon Heart itself. You've got skills, probably better than I originally guessed, but you won't walk away from that encounter alive. Trust me, this is something I know all too well. Get our boy and get out. If it's not possible to get Corwin out…"

Jabez paused, for a moment he looked faraway, then shook his head as if clearing it of bad thoughts and memories. "If you can't get Corwin, then get yourself back here and we'll figure something out."

Vash wasn't sure what to say.

He didn't say that he'd still be your master. Cass cautioned.

He also didn't say that he wouldn't be. Vash responded.

"Good luck, Vash." Jabez said, stepping back.

"I noticed you've been using my name." Vash said as he turned away.

"Well, you've become someone that I might want to get to know," Jabez said gruffly. "If you survive, that is. Now get going before I change my mind."

Vash faced the dim hallway that stretched back into the depths of the Dungeon. He called up his mental map and placed a marker on the room that held Corwin and the Dungeon Heart.

I'm coming, Corwin.

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