NOVEL NEXT Book 10 Chapter 20
"And you think this is a good idea," Bauteut said. It was interesting, Joan had never seen the girl's eye twitch quite like that.
"I never said that," Joan said. "I said I thought it was the best idea at the time. It's just temporary, too. Until we save Penthe."
"Assuming they keep their word," Bauteut said.
"Well, err, archfey do kind of have a reputation for not breaking their word," Joan said sheepishly.
"They also have a reputation of ruining the lives of anyone because of how they worded things," Bauteut said. "What about the Nameless One makes you think they can be trusted?"
"I mean, they haven't done anything to ruin my life yet," Joan said sheepishly. "They helped me in the past, too."
"They dropped you into the middle of a demon camp," Bauteut said. "And left us scrambling to find you. If not for Andreas—"
"But they did send me to Andreas," Joan said quickly. "And I'm not saying they're nice. I'm just saying they're… well… I've made deals with worse. And if Penthe is in danger, their help might be necessary."
"We don't even know if Penthe is in danger," Bauteut said, shaking her head. "They might be lying."
"They might be," Joan said. "But they might be telling the truth. If they're telling the truth, then both her and Qakog are in danger and I can help them. I don't have a lot of reason to doubt them."
"I'd say there's plenty of reasons to doubt them," Bauteut said, shaking her head.
"There are," Joan said. "But I have more reasons to trust them."
Bauteut gave an exhausted sigh before shaking her head and looking to Chase. "What do you say?"
Chase didn't answer, the Chosen's gaze seemingly locked on… Joan couldn't be sure what.
"Chase?" Joan asked.
"Is he okay?" Bauteut asked.
"I don't know," Joan said softly.
"Right," Bauteut said. "So Penthe and Qakog are apparently in something called the 'Gauntlet'? You ever hear of it?"
"Not that I can remember," Joan said. "But that doesn't mean it didn't exist. It could have been known under a different name then. Or I might have never known the name."
"You went to a lot of weird places filled with monsters and mazes without knowing their names?" Bauteut asked. "Don't answer that. I already know the answer. You did. Because of course you did. Why would the Hero not go into some place that had no name and promised certain death?"
"Because people would die if I went there?" Joan offered.
"And now they might die if you don't," Bauteut said. "So you really believe them? Then fine. So long as you're not planning to go alone."
"Of course not. Chase?" Joan asked, glancing towards the Chosen. She'd never seen him like this. Arms crossed, back against one of the trees. Unmoving. So still she would have thought he was dead if she didn't know better. He didn't even blink. "I don't plan to go alone, but…"
"He didn't eat anything here," Bauteut said. "Wait, where's Breeze?"
"She's… uhhhh…" Joan trailed off when she realized the masked girl was gone. That was worrying, she'd been here when she'd returned. "Nameless One?"
"You called?" the Nameless One asked, seeming to appear from behind her and making both her and Bauteut jump.
"Yes," Joan said before quickly moving to stand besides and a tiny bit behind Bauteut, for all the good it would do her. "Where's Breeze? She was here when we got here."
"She went home," the Nameless One said.
"Home," Joan said. "Wait, the city? Without us? How?"
"She asked to return to where she came," the Nameless One said, giving a polite bow, their arm doing a small flourish. "I saw no reason to deny her request, none of you are prisoners here. You may all leave when you so wish."
"Or you'll send us into this gauntlet?" Bauteut asked. "That supposedly has Penthe and Qakog?"
"I will send you straight to their side," the Nameless One said.
"Why can't you just bring them here?" Bauteut asked.
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"Leaving my realm, with my guidance, is simple," the Nameless One said. "But I cannot just drag anyone I desire into my realm. That requires far more power than even I have."
"Of course it does," Bauteut said.
"Even your precious Chosen of Dreams would struggle with such a feat," the Nameless One said. "If it was even possible."
"Chase?" Bauteut said.
The changeling still wasn't moving and Joan began to have a fresh worry wash over her. What if he wasn't here at all? She quickly walked over, pushing a hand to his side.
A moment later there was a hand on her throat and she was being held back, Chase's eyes locked on her with a look she had never seen before. A mix of fear and anger. An instant later his hand let her go and he pulled it back, but she stumbled backwards, only remaining standing when Bauteut caught her from behind, arms around her.
"CHASE! What was that? Joan, are you okay?" Bauteut asked.
"Y-yes," Joan said softly, nervously swallowing. She could have died there. She almost died there. It would have taken him almost no effort to snap her neck. Heck, it would have been about as difficult for him to swat away a fly as it would have been for him to end her once and for all.
She'd been so close to death and she didn't know why.
"We can't go to the Gauntlet," Chase finally said. "I'm sorry. But no."
"What?" Joan asked. "You know what that is? Have you been there?"
"Of course I've been there!" Chase snapped, his voice angry in a way she'd never seen him. Worse, he was shaking, the rage burning in his eyes. "The Gauntlet was destroyed years ago! It's not something… it's not real. It doesn't exist anymore. It's GONE!"
"Interesting," the Nameless One said. "The gods really do hide your threads well…"
"It's gone. We're not going anywhere near there. Send us back, now," Chase said. "I've had enough of this."
"What?" Joan asked. "Chase, if Penthe is trapped there, we need to help her! She's—"
"Nameless One," Chase said. "Send us back, now."
"I do not take orders from you, Chosen," the Nameless One said. "You may leave if you so please, I have no desire to mix my threads with a Chosen again. But Joan's choice is hers."
"Joan," Chase said, reaching out towards her. He stopped, though, when she cringed back. "Joan… I didn't mean to… I'm sorry. But that place isn't… it's not…"
"If Penthe is there, I need to go," Joan said. "You don't have to come with me, but I have to go."
"Joan," Bauteut said in a soft, soothing tone. "If Chase doesn't… if Chase is scared to go there, then you shouldn't go either."
"And yet I intend to," Joan said, defiantly. "Chase, I understand. If you can't go, then you can't. But I have to. I can't leave her to die."
Chase stared at her, his mouth falling open slightly. Finally, he shook his head and just stormed off.
"Chase?" Bauteut called after him, but he didn't stop. She didn't let Joan go, either. "Joan, we can't leave him here."
"He will be free to leave whenever he desires," the Nameless One said. "I don't dare hold one of the god's precious Chosen here. However, Joan…"
"I have to go after Penthe," Joan said. "I have to try."
"Joan," Bauteut said. "You could die."
"I am always maybe going to die," Joan said. "I have to try, though. Anywhere that affects Chase like that is going to be so much worse than even Penthe expected. She'll need my help."
"Well, fine," Bauteut said. "But I'm going with you."
"Of course you are," Joan said. "Thanks, though. Ummm, Nameless One?"
"Of course," the Nameless One said, before pausing. "However, your comrade does make a fair point. You could die."
"What, are you worried about me now?" Joan asked. "I don't know how I feel about that. Who's next, the Demon Lord? Oh gods he's going to end up worrying about me eventually, isn't he? He doesn't have the Hungry One in him anymore."
The Nameless One just looked amused as they watched her. "Worried? No. But I have a gift for you. To… reduce the chances of your untimely death." They held out their hand and a stone staff appeared in it. "For you."
Joan blinked a few times and, slowly, she took it. She had to give it credit, despite the fact it was clearly made of stone, it felt as light as a feather. Felt flimsy as could be, too. She wondered if it was hollow. "Uhhhhh… thanks?"
"From another realm," the Nameless One said. "The one I received it from said that a god of their world drew it from a mountain that was hurled at them, drawing it whole and then using it to shatter a sword made of lava."
"And you believed them?" Joan asked. "Err, no offense."
The Nameless One nearly chuckled before holding out their hand again. Inside a small necklace with a little black puck on the end appeared. "Let it not be said I am not generous. The Medallion of Shadows. I am sure you will put this one to great use."
Joan reached out her other hand to take it. "Uhhhhh… I actually… have a magical amulet already."
"Yes, the one that, I believe, got you killed?" the Nameless One asked. "Have you worn it since it cost you your life?"
Joan stroked a finger over her neck, where the amulet had once been. She, admittedly, hadn't thought of it since she'd awoken from her near death experience, but it didn't mean she wouldn't want to wear it again one day. Once they made it a bit more accurate. "I mean, okay, it needs a bit of work, but…"
"Trust me," the Nameless One said. "You are already trusting me with so much, aren't you?"
Joan sighed before glancing up to Bauteut.
"We're already going into certain death, why not?" Bauteut asked, her voice filled with frustration.
Joan nodded before putting the amulet on. It felt… odd. It didn't hang loose, in fact it felt like it was pressing against her, even through the tunic. As if it was directly connected to her body in some way. "Thank you, then. I'll ummmmm… try to not die."
"Please don't," the Nameless One said. "I'd hate to have you serving me just to become predictable."
The Nameless One snapped their fingers and the world vanished.