Chapter Text
Ambushed.
If he was able to get out of this predicament with his guts intact, he planned on doing recon into the Crystal Braves to find out what in the hell possessed them to attack him and block off all access into the Rising Stones. Hell, if they went after him, what was the status of the Warrior of Light and the Scions? Hells bells, he couldn’t believe they took him so unawares.
Riol was able to find himself a good hidey hole in the abandoned Castrum right next door to Revenant’s Toll. He tried staunching the bleeding on the gut wound given to him by one of the newer Blades whose name he hadn’t yet learned. Damn sod had perfect aim with his sword and it got him good. He could feel his vision going gray and he knew if he didn’t get help soon, he wouldn’t make it to see the sunset, let alone the next day. Activating his linkpearl and hoping that the other person wasn’t busy, he held his breath until he heard their voice in his ear.
“Aye, this be Jacke. What’s the score?” the voice came through loud and clear.
“Jacke… it’s… it’s Riol. Got meself in a bit of a pickle ‘n… ‘n I need yer help,” he rumbled out, voice hoarse as he was getting parched. Fumbling for his waterskin, he uncorked it and took a hefty swallow. ‘Am hidin’ in th’ old Garlean base by Revenant’s Toll. Don’t use th’ aetherite there. ‘S not safe. Use th’ one at th’ Cerulean Processing Plant…” he barely got out before passing out against the cold metal of the wall propping him up.
“Th’ ‘ell?” Jacke stared sightlessly at the map in the common room after the linkpearl channel cut out.
“What’s got yer fambles in a twist?” Lightfoot asked as he marched over to stand beside the guildmaster.
Before Jacke could answer, V’kebbe ran into the building out of breath. Standing there, bent over, her chest heaved as she tried to get her breathing under control. "Ye won’t believe this but th’ Crystal Braves ‘ave cut ties wi’ th’ Warrior o’ Light ‘n the Scions. In fact th’ Warrior o’ Light ‘as been accused o’ killin’ th’ Sultana!”
“Can’t be true,” Lightfoot stomped his foot. “They’s not th’ sort t’ do such a dastardly deed.”
“I agree! Th’ news ‘asn’t become public yet. Only seein’ more Braves ‘n usual, prolly tryin’ t’ find th’ Warrior or th’ Scions as they’ve rabbited. Th’ Admiral stopped me as I was doin’ our shoppin’ an’ pulled me aside t’ ask that we keep an eye out ‘n do what we can t’ help th’ Warrior, ‘n t’ keep mum on th’ situation.
“Don’t use th’ Toll aetherite,” Jacke murmured to himself. “It’s no’ safe.” He went quiet for a moment before the situation became clear in his mind and he paled, realizing what kind of trouble Riol may have gotten into. “Shite. Shite, shite, shite! I need th’ two of ye t’ come with me. ‘N get our healer, Lettie. I ‘ave a bad feelin’ ‘er help is gonna be sorely needed. Take th’ aetherite t’ the Ceruleum Processing Plant when yer done.”
Turning on his heel he strode out of the room and through the hallways towards his own bunk to grab up a few things before teleporting to Thanalan.
“Oi, tha’s no’ good,” Lightfoot murmured, the small party hiding in the shadows of a large missle crate inside the former Garlean stronghold, watching a team of Braves searching the building.
“No it’s not,” Jacke agreed. “Riol’s in here somewhere, ‘n badly injured, if th’ way he was soundin’ was any indication.”
“An’ th’ Crystal Bastards ‘re lookin’ fer him, because o’ his ties t’ the Warrior,” V’kebbe concluded. “There’s 5 o’ them ‘n 3 o’ us. We’re swift, deadly, ‘n got surprise on our side. We can take ‘em.”
The three looked between each other and nodded. Jacke looked over at their healer and she motioned she’d stay put while they took care of the problem. He smiled and without hesitation, the three stepped out from behind the crate and snuck up on their marks. The fight didn’t last long, as the first three went down without a sound, leaving the last two as easy targets as well. Just in case there were more, the group crept through the Castrum, with the healer joining them after the initial fight was over. Coming to the second to last area, Jacke looked over and spied Riol’s light blonde hair shining in the moonlight. Rushing over, he stopped at the pool of blood that had congealed under the man.
“No. No, no, no please,” he murmured, kneeling down close enough that he could reach out to check the other man’s pulse. It was there. Slight and thready, but there. “Oi, thank th’ Navigator, ‘e’s still alive,” he breathed out a sigh of relief.”
“Let me see him,” Lettie kneeled down beside Jacke, her hands and conjurer’s staff already starting to glow a soothing green. “He took a sword to the gut, which is the worst of his injuries. He’s lucky to still be alive.” She worked for a few minutes more, before leaning back and wiping her brow with her forearm. “He’s stabilized for now and ready for transport back to the Edelweiss. Once we get him there I can get him cleaned and bandaged, and get a better look at him to see if there are any other pressing injuries. I’d just rather get him out of here now in case more of those Crystal Braves show up.”
“Aye, good idea,” Jacke agreed. Shifting so he was in a crouch instead of a kneel, he reached out and helped the still unconscious man up. Drawing the aether around the both of them, he transported them to the small aetherite in the Fisherman’s Docks and proceeded to walk him home.