"Open the door Dartel, please," Thrennoadae screamed, a sense of urgency and desperation in her voice.Dartel rose quickly and rushed over, pulling the heavy wooden door open as Thrennoadae came rushing quickly inside. Dartel eyed Thrennoadae curiously as she came upon him quickly, grabbing his shoulders roughly as she pushed him back a few steps. His gaze went past the half-crazed stare Thrennoadae was giving him to the door as Rharan burst in holding a completely limp Predian in his arms, a concerned look upon his normally stoic face.
Thrennoadae shook Dartel’s shoulders, "
e gotta help him, yer the last hope he’s got." Dartel furrowed up his brow and arched his head to the side as he studied Thrennoadae’s face and the situation."What in the hell are you babbling about woman?" Thrennoadae pointed over at Predian as Rharan laid him down on Dartel’s small bed in the corner of the room, "He’s... he’s got what," Thrennoadae said in a soft voice as she began to sob lightly, "what killed our little girl."
Dartel reached out to embrace Thrennoadae, pulling her close to him as he whispered softly to her, "I’m truly sorry, but I am no healer Threnn." Thrennoadae pushed back from his embrace, her blue eyes flaring violently at Dartel as she whispered through clenched teeth, "I’ve nae forgotten what ye did ta me, keep yer damn hands off me." She reached her hand up to her face, brushing away a few rebellious strands of hair as she sucked in a deep breath, regaining a measure of her composure.
"Nae a thing the Church or the Academy can do will aid him Dartel," she said as she snorted with the last of her sentence, "but there are some that claim ye can. There was this note.. in Predian’s pocket with yer name on it.. tis why we are here." Rharan finished muttering a prayer over his dear friend’s unconscious form and made the sign of the cross over him before rising to join the discussion at Thrennoadae’s side.
"Threnn, there has to be a way that will not taint -" he started, before she cut him off, and pleaded with the cabalist. "Please Dartel, ye’ve gotta try fer his sake, fer mine..."
Dartel nodded solemnly and brought his hand up to his face, lightly stroking his chin as he thought a moment, his gaze far off as he thought back through many of his darkest teachings and findings throughout the years. His eyes lit up a moment and a slight smile took to curling up the corners of his mouth.
Thrennoadae watched Dartel with an eager expression, hoping beyond anything Dartel would have a revelation. Rharan turned, and went back to kneel beside the fallen friar.
"Aye?" Thrennoadae blurted out, "
e’ve thought o’ something?"Dartel nodded, but a foreboding expression came over him, "I have, but I warn you that the methods are untried, the results varied and the price of failure, deadly. I can promise nothing, but I thirst for the chance to toy with such powerful magics."
Thrennoadae nodded excitedly, "Anything, any cost to cure him Dartel, ye hear me, any cost." Dartel nodded and smiled wickedly, relishing the thought of toying with such dark and powerful spells, knowing all before him were rendered helpless as he held such power. He bade her to sit and be quiet as he perused through many of his oldest and darkest tomes. Rharan walked over to her, and Dartel overheard their voices as they rose above their hushed whispers.
"I do not trust him, Threnn."
"I dun ken what ta think Rharan, but Dartel is the last hope en I will nae lose Pred again, any cost...any cost."
"And if the cost is Predian's soul?"
She looked away from the paladin, did not answer. Rharan reached down, took her hand, and sat quietly beside her.
Dartel read for the better part of an hour, jotting down notes and marking passages in various tomes as he mumbled to himself. Thrennoadae, her patience far surpassed, strode over and planted the heels of her hands forcefully upon the table where Dartel had several tomes strewn about as she eyed him expectantly, "Well?"
Dartel gazed up at her slowly, his eyes narrowed evilly as he glared at her. "Well? Well you ask? I will tell you then. He is likely dead, there is but one thing I can begin to think of. We must acquire a few things along with a Cleric that is willing to possibly give their life for his." Thrennoadae blanched as Dartel’s words hit her harder than any foes weapon could, nearly knocking her backwards with their weight.
Rharan rose up and rushed over. "Damn you Dartel! Have a bit of sympathy."
Dartel arched his brow and sneered, "Sympathy? You would have me tell her falsehoods and let her believe I will deliver him back easily?" Rharan swallowed hard and glared at Dartel, but remained silent as he patted Thrennoadae on the back.
Thrennoadae gazed at Dartel for a time before speaking, "I will give my life for Predian, I am the Cleric ye seek. I will sa’e him."
Dartel scoffed, "
ou? Heathen.†He cursed, “You are neither a true Cleric nor a Druid. You lacked the power to save a child, much-less a grown man."Thrennoadae’s face showed shock for a moment, then nothing, absolutely nothing as despair took her.
"Evil bastard." Rharan muttered as he started to guide Thrennoadae away from Dartel. Thrennoadae pulled away from Rharan and mumbled, "Kaidric, his brother might help." Rharan eyed Thrennoadae for a moment and nodded, "Surely, if anyone would aid him, he would."
Dartel rose up and stared at them both. "I will require a few other things as well." Rharan eased Thrennoadae into a chair and nearly shed a tear as he looked at the shell of what was once a feisty, proud woman. He gazed back at Dartel, "I will pay you back for your wickedness one day. Now, what is it you need for this deed." Dartel listed off a few things: the blood of the dragon, a piece of the flesh from the dreaded Legion, the lips of a succubus and explained how they must be ground in the Cauldron of Dagda with Thor’s Hammer.
Rharan’s eyes went wide as he shook his head, "I suppose the hand of God himself must do the grinding then?"
Dartel smirked wickedly, "
ou can call me God if you wish, but Dartel will do fine."Rharan glared viciously. "Such blasphemous talk will end your days Dartel, take care they not fall on the wrong ears."
Dartel nodded slightly and went back to his books. "He can stay here if you like, and likely should so I can study him further." Dartel glanced at Thrennoadae, "She can stay as well, but bring another to care for her, as I will not be troubled with her."
Rharan let that shot at Thrennoadae pass as he walked over to speak with her. "I shall get our friends together Threnn. We shall accomplish this. For Predian. For you." Thrennoadae managed a slight smile as the two exchanged a quick hug. Rharan headed for the door, gripping the handle tightly as he looked back over her shoulder and shouted as he left, "
our life depends on her safety, Dartel." 
)) 