Gi’ Kar is going to kill me. I’m thoroughly convinced that sooner or later he’s going to lose his patience with me, and introduce me to his new blade. Unfortunately, I feel it might be sooner rather than later. I just thank Kiefieh that I can fly and he can’t.

Outside the temple, Bingo had a most amazing experience. He suddenly began seeing things. I think Gi’ Kar thinks he’s crazy, but I believe him. If my goddess has bestowed such amazing things on me, what do the Gods have in store for the rest of our party? Bingo seems to have developed the ability to read auras. I’ve never met an Aura Reader before, but my mom used to tell me stories about them. I’m not sure exactly what it means to read auras, or even what they can tell him, but I value the chance to be friends with one. From what she told me, they are almost as rare as Markers. I don’t know if Bingo realizes how special this is…

It was decided that I would stay outside with Savantha and Ajax (along with two of our other warriors), while the rest went inside to be sure of the temple’s safety. I’m glad I kept her back. It wasn’t safe.

After a few minutes of waiting, I heard sounds of battle coming from inside the building. I took the five of us to the door, and ordered the others to wait while I checked on my bond-brothers. They were battling some ugly half-man, half-bull creatures. But more important than that, some of my men were down. I rushed to their aid, healing two of them quickly. They were so badly wounded that even after healing them, they laid unconscious. But at least they were alive. Bingo also looked hurt, so I ran to him. I got a little too close though, and the creature was able to land a blow. Miraculously though, the hammer slid right off my armor, as though it were… Well I don’t know what. But it was amazing. I pulled my pistol and shot in retaliation, but I missed. Circling around to Bingo’s back, I was able to heal him also, and helped distract the creature while he put it down.

After the fight, Gi’ Kar accosted me. He is a study in contradictions. He seems to want nothing more than to kill the demon-child and eat her, or burn her, or kill her in any of a dozen horrible ways. And yet, when she comes into the slightest possibility of harm, he threatens me with death. He seems to be either ashamed to actually care about something, or insane. I can’t decide which yet.

Brushing off his comments, I took the chance to ask Ajax where we go to now. He mentioned that the most holy part of the temple was three levels underground. Apparently, this temple has been standing since before the wizard wars. Ajax told me that at the bottom of the temple, we’d be able to activate the “guardians”, as he called them, which would protect the village. I wonder… The giant statue back at the village could be a guardian. I really hope it is; it intrigues me to no end. Talking with him helped lighten my mood. Just spending time in this ancient, once sacred place raises my spirits, even if it has been desecrated for some time.

Gi’ Kar began to explore the rooms adjacent to the big one. I fear he must have awakened something nasty. Coming from the direction opposite to where he was, several skeletons approached us. We barely could arm ourselves before they attacked us. During the fight, one of the skeletons broke through our line and moved directly towards the girl. I saw it happen, but was engaged and just couldn’t get to her in time. Gi’ Kar appeared out of nowhere and cut the creature down before it could harm her. When I turned back to the fight, my opponent had been killed by Bingo. I ran to Savantha to check her for wounds. She was fine, but my brothers were not. I watched helplessly from my location as my men were torn apart. Literally. The skeletons were ruthless as they dismantled my companions. Two of our brave soldiers lost their lives there, and there was nothing I could do. I swore there that I’d never let a man die again if there was any possible way to prevent it.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 14th, 2008 at 2:02 pm and is filed under Aquila's Journal. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.