Crimthann awoke from a restless sleep. Kazimir was seated near the entrance, and stood when he saw Crimthann awake
"Short human ok? Much troubled, Kazimir worry"
Crimthann managed a chuckle "yes, or at least better. What you showed me shocked me a bit"
"The dark shock?"
"Well, more who I saw, they are brothers, sons of a man I swore my service to...."
"Kazimir see but one man, broken man, other not brother, other dark, other die or kill, dark not brother"
Crimthann hesitated, choosing his words carefully
"My friend, I understand your sentiments...but I have known him from birth, he is not evil, he is family...he is deceived...as broken as his brother he holds"
"NO!"
Crimthann stepped back, surprised at the outburst from the gnome
"He lost! He make dark choice, he betray brother, he betray father, he betray Crimthann. No save, must die. No save both brothers. Kill dark"
"And who will tell his mother he is gone?! His father?! His sister? Will you tell a youngling her beloved brother is gone? Will you look them in the eyes and tell them you saved one brother and let the other perish?"
The answer was cold, blunt
"Yes. I tell. He choose dark. To save is to help dark. Kazimir hate dark. Crimthann hate dark. Brother hate dark or brother not be tied, not be captive. Brother not keep brother captive, dark keep. Do you wish dark take both brothers? You tell mother, father, sister you no save good brother because dark brother?"
Crimthann knew his friend was right, they must do what they could to save Aedan, even if it was Artegal who stood in thier way.
"Very well, we must at least save Aedan, the captive one"
"Both captive, one by choice"
"True words my friend. Do you have a plan? Should we get more help?"
"Time important. Aedan little time, girl little time. If act, we act, now"
Kazimir dismantled the lantern and began to leave.
"We must plan my friend"
"No plan, do. Kazimir make trouble for dark, Crimthann help, Kazimir and Crimthann save Aedan and girl"
"Great Source, spirit of my brother Conall, be with us" Crimthann whispered as he followed the gnome into the tunnels
***************************************************************
Crimthann saw the flickering of faery fire ahead, they were approaching the main cavern he had seen before, but not from above as before, they were heading directly for it!
Kazimir turned, motioned for silence, and Crimthann saw a small pouch in each hand, different from the glowing ones.
A grin was on the gnomes face, this worried Crimthann
Before he could even think, Kazimir ran into the cavern, screaming wildly
"Trooouuuubbbbbllllleeee for you dark!"
Explosions rocked the cavern as the gnome threw pouch after pouch wildly, exploding as they hit ground.
Crimthann ran out behind him, seeing no choice but to support the reckless charge.
Two dark robes guards reacted in shock, not expecting such an attack. Kazimir lunged at one, and the figure fell, a dagger in his skull.
Crimthann dropped the other with a crossbow bolt between the eyes. The battle was over before it even started, and Crimthann ran to a crouched, bound and blindfolded Aedan, asking Kazimir as he passed him
"What of sneak and stealth?"
"Trouble no sneak. Trouble rage, trouble hunt, trouble kill, Kazimir trouble."
Crimthann shook his head, they would need to move quickly, that attack had not been quiet, reinforcements would be coming, and Kazimir had gone from a stealthy, sneaky gnome to one consumed by bloodlust.
"Crimthann my dear friend! This was not wise!"
Aedan embraced his old friend
"My brother has turned, you should not have come....and I'd have expected more stealth from you....who's the crazy gnome?"
"I'll explain later we must go"
Crimthann turned to leave the way they had come, as shouting and running footsteps could be heard coming down another tunnel.
Two things stopped him.
Aedan did not follow, but was facing the other tunnel
"They still have her, we must rescue Gabreilla"
Kazimir was running, screaming as one possesed, towards the tunnel the noise was coming from
"Kazimir kill dark! Ttttrrrrroooouuuubbbblllleeee! Save Gabreillllaaaa!"
Aedan pulled a sword off one of the fallen guards and, tired and battered as he was, followed, joining the battle cry of a gnome he'd not even formally met "Gabreillaaaa!"
Crimthann shook his head in dismay, if they survived, Detric was going to kill him for allowing this reckless insanity.
He ran after his friends, crossbow at the ready "Conall guide my hand" he muttered as the three joined battle in the tunnel with a group of dark robes guards.
Kazimir was in a frenzy, Crimthann had never seen such ferocity from a gnome, a whirlwind of flashing daggers, rage, and blood.
Aedan stayed well clear of the gnome, not wishing to be mistaken in the rage as an enemy, fighting those who tried to also avoid the screaming death that came at them.
Crimthann picked off what he could with his crossbow, but Kazimir did most of the fighting
The tunnel was a bloody mess, 10 robed figures strewn along the floor, most slashed to bits by dagger wounds, not standing a chance against the rage that had consumed the once quiet sneaky gnome.
They continued along the tunnel, Aedan running towards another cavern, Kazimir and Crimthann close behind.
This cavern was lit by faerie fire as well, and, tied to a post in the middle, Gabriella, beaten and battered, and looking very frightened.
Aedan ran to her, cutting her loose, and she collapsed in his arms
"I dreamed of you, I knew you would come" she cried
"We must go, we can only be so fortunate for so long"
Crimthann declared.
Aedan nodded, and, half carrying Gabriella, headed back as they had come.
"Kazimir!"
The gnome turned, his eyes calmer, the rage subsiding
"Kazimir, you must guide us from here, you know the best way out, I will watch the rear!"
"Yes, yes, come, quick, must go!"
