The Girl in the Cage
By Andy Morris
Whenever Dr Neil Feng left the university grounds, trouble seemed to accompany him like a faithful, yet unnecessary travelling companion. He travelled a lot with his research and became restless if he was in one place for too long. Feng had few friends and fitting in with those around him just didn’t come naturally as it did with other people. Being born half-human and half-orc, he never felt he belonged with either humans or orcs. Feng had grown up in the slums of Waterdeep but had been ostracised by the local orc community for his human characteristics. While humans, on the other hand, treated him with suspicion and distrust, because of his orcish traits. Everyone had wanted to fight him and he had learned to hit back, hard, from an early age. Violence, however, wasn’t what drove him. In contrast to his brutish appearance, Feng had a love of books and knowledge. During his teenage years, he had a chance encounter with a wizard from the University of Waterdeep. The wizard saw something in Feng and invited him to study there. His sharp mind and tough physique attracted the attention of the Arcane Archaeology Department, where he was later offered a position as a researcher. His job was to search for, retrieve and study lost artefacts from some of the most dangerous places in the world. His current assignment had taken him to the Jungles of Panoa where he hoped to locate a silver chalice that was said to have been forged by the dragon Tiamat herself.
Somewhere along the way, Feng had gotten himself caught up in a conspiracy of mysterious forces and dark prophecies. He now found himself in the company of four adventurers who had been tasked with finding a young princess named Maya. She was said to be the reincarnation of an ancient deity and was capable of channelling extraordinary magical power. Legend said that Maya would be either the Bringer of Life and Hope or the Bringer of Chaos and Destruction. Her gift was unpredictable and there was no way to know when, or how strongly, her powers would manifest. Nevertheless, tales of her potential had spread throughout the land of Panoa, and many factions now vied to control her. People worried if the princess died or was taken by a hostile group; destruction and terror would spread across the lands. Fearing for her life, and the lives of her friends, the princess had run away and was hiding somewhere in the vast steaming jungle.
Feng and his colleagues had been tracking Maya for several days through the dense vegetation. Life in the jungle was in abundance and the noise was deafening. The exotic calls and cries of hundreds of species filled the air. All unseen, hidden away in the leafy canopy above, or else watching curiously from camouflaged burrows as the party passed by. Progress was slow. The plant life crowded in around them with gigantic leaves and suspiciously alluring flowers. A steamy mist saturated everything in the cloying heat. The humidity also provided the perfect habitat for insects. Things scuttled, skittered, crawled wherever they looked. Buzzing things bit and stung them constantly. So numerous were the bugs that at times it felt like they were walking on a living carpet. Every few feet they passed giant arachnids hanging motionlessly in the centre of their sticky webs. The spiders watched the party through unblinking alien eyes as they waited for small mammals and other prey.
Tawndra Preston, a human druid appeared quite at home here. She’d been taking samples and making sketches of the flora and fauna as they’d tracked Maya. Sometimes Tawndra became so absorbed in her work she began humming a tune but, when she realised the others could hear her, she abruptly stopped and looked away self-consciously. Feng was no expert but he thought it sounded nice. She was probably gifted with a nice singing voice too. Despite only knowing Tawndra for a short time, Feng had formed a deep respect for the druid. She didn’t give her trust easily and, like Feng, she kept herself apart from the other humans in the group. She felt uneasy around them but she was surprisingly comfortable with the half-orc. Tawndra had opened up to him and he’d learned how, during her twenty-something years in this world, she had experienced the very worst of humanity. Feng doubted if any of her companions were aware of the cruelty and brutality she’d experienced growing up. As Feng had listened to her story, he felt his rage growing. Tawndra spoke quietly about the punishments inflicted upon her by her parents. Her torture was extreme and inexcusable. By the end of her tale, Feng’s palms dripped with blood where his fingernails had dug into the flesh. He promised himself if he ever crossed paths with her parents; a lot more blood would be spilt!
When she was about seven years old, Tawndra’s parents grew tired of her and left her alone in the wilderness to die. She was found, whether by fate or chance, by a traveller from the magical realm of the Feywild. She was adopted and cared for by a Fey couple who loved her dearly. She was happy, but like Feng, she never felt she truly fit in there, and one day she returned to the mortal realm.
For most people, Feng had reflected, being subjected to the horrors and torments that Tawndra had endured would have broken them, but for the druid, her early life had made her strong. She was small – barely five feet tall and very thin. She looked so delicate and fragile, yet she carried an inner strength that could overcome any adversity. Earlier Feng had noticed a small flower growing up through the centre of a large rock in the ground. Somehow, without sunlight, food or water, that tiny fragile seedling had fought its way up through the stone to emerge into the sunlight. That was the same kind of strength he saw in Tawndra, and he admired her for it. Tawndra’s experiences had also given her a unique insight into the human condition. She understood people for whom they really were underneath. She could quickly see through personas and facades to a person’s core. This skill, combined with her gentle nature gave her a deep empathy for others, and these were just some of the things Feng liked about her. She was a very capable adventurer, and he was glad to have her at his side.
The party had arrived at an ancient stone pyramid, built centuries ago by a people who had passed from memory. The advance of nature had obscured the temple until they were almost on top of it. It was slowly being consumed by the jungle and before too long, all trace of its existence would be gone. The crumbling entrance was hidden behind a clutch of thick leafy vines that oozed an amber liquid when the party cut their way through. Inside, the cool damp air provided a welcome relief to the oppressive heat outside. A familiar earthy smell filled the corridors. Crude drawings had been carved into the stone and as an archaeologist, Feng would have loved to have spent some time exploring this forgotten place and learning more about the people who built it, but time was not on their side. Crumbling passageways and collapsed doorways made the descent into the temple fraught with danger. The party moved as quickly and carefully as they dared. Working their way deeper inside, the group eventually came upon a chamber in the heart of the structure. A shaft of light lanced down from a narrow gap high in the ceiling. Two things immediately caught Feng’s attention. The first was a wide stone staircase that appeared to lead back to the upper levels. There had been a cave-in at some point and several large boulders now blocked the way. The second thing Feng saw was a cage containing a human female. This had to be the mysterious Princess Maya. She was just a teenage girl and didn’t look special to Feng, but experience had taught him that looks could be deceiving.
The girl shrank back from the strangers and Feng realised she had locked herself in the cage. It was a kind of panic room, designed to keep out would-be kidnappers.
The group cautiously approached the cage so as not to alarm the girl. As they did so the door behind them slammed shut with a loud echo and water began pouring into the chamber with a deafening roar. The sound reminded Feng of the huge waterfall that fed the River Schmore, that they had crossed the previous day. The half-orc withdrew a crowbar to try and open the door. He was well suited to tasks that required brute strength, but on this occasion it was futile.
In just a few seconds, the water had covered the floor and was rising at an alarming rate. No one panicked. Avarus, the party’s sorcerer who was more at home on the high sea than on land, stepped forward to use her psychic abilities on the lock. Her long purple hair whipped up around her head in an eldritch wind that no one else felt. Green flames leapt from her hands and engulfed the handle, but it remained intact. The door remained locked. The sorcerer took a long drag on her foul-smelling pipe and muttered, “Shit!” before exhaling a dense cloud of smoke.
Feng quickly and calmly assessed the situation. They couldn’t go back the way they’d come, so they’d need to move the fallen bricks at the top of the stairs. He had the feeling, however, that the girl in the cage would be key to escaping this place. They needed to earn her trust. Feng’s hulking appearance would probably not bring her any comfort, so he went to examine the rockfall. As he ascended the stairs, he stole another glance at Tawndra. Her facial expressions were always so expressive. She was looking at the girl with unguarded suspicion, but quickly composed herself and stepped forward.
“Princess Maya? My name is Tawndra Preston. Your mother asked us to find you and keep you safe.” The druid’s voice was soft, reassuring, but the girl remained cowering on a makeshift bed at the back of her cell.
“I know you must feel frightened and alone, but we can help. We can take you back to the village.”
No response.
“Tell me, are you hurt? Do you need anything?”
Feng wouldn’t have thought to ask about her wellbeing. This was another example of Tawndra’s hidden resourcefulness. Her nurturing, maternal nature was showing again and he pictured her as a mother. The thought conjured a rare smile, which lasted less than a second. His optimism wasn’t shared by Maya. She remained bent over hugging her knees and gently rocking back and forth.
“I know you’re scared,” Tawndra continued, crouching down into the water so she was at the same level as Maya. “I can’t imagine what it would be like in your position.”
The girl refused to acknowledge her presence. It was as if pretending the party wasn’t there would somehow make them go away and leave her alone.
Tawndra turned to the others and pulled a face to ask, What now?
No one had any words of inspiration. Feng sighed impatiently – it was taking too long and the water was already at Tawndra’s waist.
She turned back to Maya. “We need to get out or we’ll all drown. Can you help us, Maya? Can you stop the water? Or help us get out?”
Maya was stubborn! Feng suspected she was too scared to open her cage. If she opened the door, she’d be at the mercy of these strangers. Inside her prison, she was in danger from the water, but safe from other threats. Somehow the idea of drowning was preferable to her than the unthinkable horrors that her enemies could inflict upon her. To Maya, this was the best choice. To Feng, it was no choice at all. It was tactically sound to be suspicious, but surely her own survival overrode her fears. Feng was confident he could keep her safe from her enemies, but first, they had to get out of here.
The stones at the top of the stairs were stuck fast and he couldn’t move any of them. The stench of Avarus’ tobacco smoke stung his eyes and nose as the sorcerer waved her pipe in the air. She was channelling her psychic abilities to try and loosen the rocks. It was no good, they remained intact. She swore again and took another swig from one of the many flasks of rum she carried about her person. She drained the bottle, muttered an impressive string of curse words, and tossed the empty canister into the water below. It bobbed up and down a couple of times before sinking out of sight. As it did so Feng wondered again, how he’d gotten himself into another life-or-death situation.
Working in dangerous locations came naturally to him and he’d been in worse situations than this. Still, he should have left days ago. He didn’t know the people of Panoa and he didn’t owe them anything. He cared little for people he’d never met, but Tawndra, he reflected, was different. Over the last few weeks she had proven to be quite a favourable companion and, as he saw her biting her nails and looking up at him, he felt a growing need to protect her. He hadn’t been aware of it earlier, but the rising waters made it harder to ignore. He wasn’t doing this job for Princes Maya – He was doing it for Tawndra!
Time was running out. The water was up to his friend’s chest and it was clear the child was not going to take them at their word. Tawndra would be okay with the water. As a druid, he hypothesised, she was able to transform into different creatures, which meant in theory; she could change into a fish and wouldn’t have to worry about drowning. However, she would still be trapped and starvation would become a problem.
Avarus had had enough. She stomped down the stairs with a cloud of noxious smog curling from the end of her pipe. Tawndra’s gentle approach hadn’t worked, so the sorcerer was ready to try her brand of diplomacy to get the girl out. Feng liked her pragmatism but suspected Tawndra would disapprove. Regardless, the sorcerer carried on. Her purple hair billowed wildly as she carved shapes in the air with her hands. The space between her and the metal bars shimmered as if in a heat haze. The party held its breath as the power took effect. After a few moments, it was clear it wouldn’t work. Magic, more powerful than anyone in the party could counter, was imprisoning them here, and would likely kill them Feng hypothesised. Avarus seemed to come to the same conclusion and she cursed again in frustration, this time choosing language that would make even the hardiest residents of the Waterdeep’s Slum District blush.
Feng shook his head and took out his monocle to clean on his shirt. This was what he did when he needed to think through a problem. The act of rubbing away the grime helped him find focus and clarity. Through his studies, he had learned a little magic from spell books contained in the Forbidden Library at his university, but none of those spells would be useful here. He considered his powers of persuasion and reason, but those tactics seemed unlikely to sway Maya. He considered the teachings of tricksters and rogues, but the girl would not be fooled by any grifts either. It wasn’t until his mind turned to literature that a plan came to him. He’d studied the classics in his youth and he now recalled the mythical odysseys from the ancient lands of Theros. Such legends were littered with feats of heroism, bravery, and sacrifice. And at that moment, Feng then knew with grim certainty what had to be done.
This Princess Maya was one of the most powerful people on the continent. She was heir to these lands, and someone of such status needed an equally grand statement if she was ever going to take them seriously.
Feng briefly reflected on the events that had brought him here. He’d come to find the lost Chalice of Tiamat. Sadly, the treasure would most likely remain lost until the Arcane Archaeology Department sent someone else out here to retrieve it. His thoughts then went to his cottage and the dozens of cats he lived with. His friend and assistant researcher at the university would continue to feed them while he was away, so they’d be fine. Then, as his gaze fell upon Tawndra and all other thoughts evaporated. Thankfully she didn’t see him looking. If she had, she would have read his expression realised what he had in mind. She would probably try to stop him because she was a nice person. This idea warmed him, but she would understand what he was about to do. She’d realise it was necessary.
Putting his monocle safely into his pocket, Feng descended the stairs and waded over to the cage in silence. He found he couldn’t look at Tawndra, and so he kept his eyes on the princess. Despite her appearance, she was more than just a scared little girl, or so he hoped. If his plan worked, she may see his actions as a sign of trust and would allow the party to escape the temple with her. If the plan failed… Well, they were all as good as dead anyway. At least this way his companions had a chance to get out. They had all proved themselves over the last few weeks and Feng was happy to give his life for them. However, with any luck, Maya would put an end to it and command him to stop once she saw the depth of his resolve.
Feng had read up on local customs before leaving Waterdeep and he quickly reminded himself of the formal protocol for addressing tribal leaders in Panoa. Feng then went on to offer a traditional oath of loyalty to the girl.
“Princess Maya. To show you that we mean no harm; I offer you my sword and my life.” Feng sensed the girl turn to him as he dropped to his knees and submerged himself beneath the cold black water. It was quieter down here, almost serene. The sound of the pouring water was muffled and the anxious faces of his companions now seemed to as if they were a long way away. His armour was heavy and it weighed him down. He’d been counting on that. The instinct to survive would kick in at some point and his body would fight to stand up, but with any luck, the weight from the metal plates would help prevent it. That, and his sheer force of will. He had to get this over with quickly. He hesitated just a moment, then forced himself to open his mouth, and take a deep breath. Water gushed into his starving lungs. The vacuum in his chest needed filling but his body demanded air, not water. He wanted to raise his head but stopped himself. His chest tightened, he coughed, throwing up water, which was instantly replaced by more of the same. He kicked out but refused to find the air that his body was crying out for. The water thrashed violently around him as his colleagues rushed to his assistance. Muffled shouts cut through the panic. It was Tawndra. Her small hands gripped his shoulders, but she couldn’t lift him. Feng wanted to surrender to her but forced himself to gulp more water. Every spasm in his chest became more painful than the last.
This was the only way!
His lungs were exploding, ripping his chest apart. Agony and blind panic filled his mind and he felt his eyes bulging outwards. He was slowly dying. The whole process probably lasted just a moment, but it felt like an eternity before everything finally went quiet. The pain was gone, The panic was gone, and so too was Dr Neil Feng.
Tawndra was the first to realise something was wrong. Neil wasn’t coming back up! Reality melted away and she felt something stab at her heart.
“No!” she heard herself cry and waded over to him. She dived down and tried to haul him up but he was too heavy.
No, no, no!
She had to submerge herself to unclip his armour and eventually managed to drag her friend up. The water was up to her neck, but she lifted Feng to the surface. Her panic lent her strength and she heaved him onto the steps clear of the water. She collapsed with Neil’s head cradled in her arms. He wasn’t breathing, and he had no pulse.
What did he think he was doing! It was stupid! Why did he have to do something so reckless?
She needed to remain calm, and so let out a slow shaky breath. She was a healer and would have to draw on all her talents to help him. Yesterday she’d told Neil about her herbalism and how she dreamed of opening an apothecary one day. He said he’d probably be one of her best customers and she’d laughed. He looked confused as if he hadn’t intended it as a joke, and this made her laugh even harder. That memory of carefree joy quickly vanished like an ember rising from a fire, a fire that swept through her soul.
There were several healing potions in her pack and she was also well versed in nature magic thanks to her druidic training. She knew spells that could heal wounds but she had nothing to bring someone back from the dead. Still, she tried anyway. Tawndra burned through spell after spell in a desperate effort to revive him, but the spells from her unique discipline of magic had no effect upon her friend’s condition.
This felt like a bad dream, one from which she was desperate to wake up.
“No, Neil, no. Come on!” She didn’t know if she was saying these words out loud or in her head. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except saving him.
He wouldn’t wake up, but she refused to accept it. Her hands shook where she held him close to her, the waters lapping around his neck and splashing his face. In her chest she felt a spear of ice stinging her heart, twisting and turning, and piercing her soul. Grief lurked at the edge of her mind like a monstrous demon. The moment she gave up on Neil, her despair would claim her and there would be no coming back. She would be lost in a world of pain from which she would never escape. The trembling in her hands spread throughout her body and she shivered. She felt cold and numb.
This wasn’t happening! She wouldn’t let it! It wasn’t right. She bent down, touching her forehead to his. He still felt warm. He was a good man. This wasn’t fair!
With a detached curiosity, Feng found himself looking down upon the room from a place of total darkness. He was in a nether world, a place of transition – the space between life and death. He’d read accounts of people experiencing something similar when they had almost died, but he had always been objectively sceptical of such things. Now he was experiencing it first-hand, he should take some notes. He reached for his notebook but wondered what the point would be? No one would read it, and it didn’t matter if anyone did or not. In the end, nothing mattered, did it? The concerns of his earlier life were like a dream drifting away upon waking. He watched his companions gather around his corpse assessing him. It was obvious to them all that he was gone. Obvious to everyone except Tawndra.
Avarus led the group back up to the rockfall in a final attempt to clear it before the flood claimed them all. Tawndra didn’t go with them. She should help them, not waste her energy trying to revive him.
Feng felt himself drifting further away, guided by unseen hands towards whatever lay next. He was curious about what lay beyond this realm but continued to watch his friend. When Tawndra’s magic failed to revive him, she began blowing into his mouth and beating on his chest.
It wouldn’t work, he was gone.
She was pleading with him now, shouting. Surely, she must know it was hopeless.
Her face was twisted by emotions he could not identify. She hit him more forcefully, punching his chest, raging at unseen deities who refused to help her. As she raised her head to the heavens Feng thought he saw… Tears?
He was no one. Why did this matter to her so much? He’d taken a gamble and it hadn’t worked. It had been his choice. It was a good death – futile – but at least he’d tried. There was nothing to avenge here.
Tawndra slapped him, hard, and even from his detached perspective, Feng winced. The druid continued hitting him, punching him, taking out her anger on his corpse. She eventually ceased when the water started to cover his face and she had to use all her strength to keep his mouth above the rising flood.
This was stupid! She should take his supplies and go help the others. That was the logical move, but she was acting too irrationally. She was becoming hysterical. It reminded Feng of a time from his childhood when his favourite cat; Claws had died. He’d felt so sad. For a time, he’d lost all sense of reason and control because he’d… He’d loved that cat…
Like a student suddenly understanding an equation, something clicked for Feng. Understanding dawned upon him, and it hit him with tectonic force. The realisation burst through his mind like a tsunami but, instead of leaving a trail of destruction, this tidal wave left only clarity in its wake.
Why hadn’t he seen this earlier! The evidence had been right under his nose. Feng and Tawndra had lived their lives alone. They both believed they were destined for solitude, and they both liked each other! They both loved each other, but they had been too fearful to voice their thoughts, too distrusting of their senses to recognise that the other felt the same way.
Somehow, Feng had lost the most wonderful thing in the world without even knowing he possessed it.
What have I done!
He didn’t want to be here anymore. He wanted to go back. His future lay behind him, in that flooded room of the abandoned temple.
“Tawndra,” he whispered. The sound of her name lit a candle in his soul. “Tawndra!” he shouted. “I love you!” The words were both a verbal utterance and a mental cry. They echoed through the darkness, through time and space to a forgotten pyramid deep in the Jungles of Panoa.
As a fighter, Feng could always find a dozen of things to die for, but as he gazed upon the druid cradling his broken body, he realised he finally had something to live for!
Panic and desperation were swarming Tawndra’s mind. Biting hard on her nails she looked down upon her friend. She wasn’t going to leave Neil here. Whatever happened, she would stay with him. His thick head was getting heavy and she was struggling to keep it above the water. She was barely aware of the others trying to clear the rockfall behind her, but even if she did join them, she’d make little difference.
It was then that she heard him. Or at least, she thought she did. His voice, deep and baritone rumbled through her head like a peal of thunder in the far distance. He called her name. His lips hadn’t moved. His lifeless face was still and wet, but he had just spoken to her!
“Neil?” she looked around, wiping her eyes. Had she really just heard him?
He spoke to her again. He told her he loved her. He offered words of comfort, but he was becoming quieter as if shouting over an impossible distance while being swept away on cosmic tides.
“Neil don’t go…” Tawndra called after him. “I…” At that moment something stirred at her side. Behind her, someone gasped loudly, and Avarus swore. A figure now stood next to Tawndra, bathed in soft golden light. There had been no one there a second ago. For a moment Tawndra thought her mother had come from the Fairy Court, but this wasn’t her mother. Shimmering stars danced around the other person and her skin glowed with the warmth of the sun. Maya, no longer the frightened child, but something else, something otherworldly had materialised next to Tawndra. Maya’s expression was one of both pity and understanding as she looked at the druid holding Neil.
“I heard him too,” Maya’s voice, the voice of the reincarnated jungle deity, gently lit up her mind. It took Tawndra a moment to realise Maya hadn’t spoken out loud. She was speaking in Tawndra’s mind, just like Neil had done. The only difference was that where Neil’s words were soft and faint, Maya’s voice was strong and powerful as if it carried the wisdom of ages.
“He has drifted far,” Maya continued telepathically. Her bright green eyes sparkled with an inner light which, Tawndra felt, were seeing more than any human eye was ever meant to. For a moment Tawndra had an image of Maya looking down at her in the temple, whilst simultaneously gazing at a million moments spread throughout the universe.
“I will try to catch him for you if that is what you wish?”
“Yes. Please,” Tawndra said in a small miserable voice. “Just bring him back to me.”
With these words, Maya bent down with liquid grace and placed a hand on Feng’s forehead. Her skin sparkled and shimmered and Tawndra was again reminded of the Feywild and the Court of a Million Stars. The air around Neil became charged with ancient magic. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, Tawndra felt a flash of anger. What if it was already too late? Maya had let this happen. It was Maya’s fault he was dead. This was all Maya’s fault! She had these powers and yet she’d let Neil die! She could have saved them earlier but she didn’t. Deep, long-buried anger erupted in Tawndra. Maya shouldn’t get to touch Neil! Not after what she did. In a display of uncharacteristic aggression, Tawndra went to knock her hand away, but stopped herself and instead her hand flew to her mouth. Something had happened – Dr Neil Feng had opened his eyes.
The escape from the temple was a blur for Feng. Tawndra explained to him that Maya had somehow transported them out of the temple and to the safety of an island in the middle of the River Schmore. In the morning they would reunite Maya with her family. Whatever power she had called upon had left her now. She was just a girl again, exhausted and sleeping beneath the blankets next to the fire. She had saved Neil, but whether she was destined to become Maya, the Bringer of Life and Hope, or Maya the Bringer of Chaos and Destruction, only time would tell. Tawndra hoped that today’s events meant she was on her way to being a force for good in the jungle.
While the party finished setting up the camp for the night Feng slowly approached Tawndra. She had never seen him looking so nervous before. He tried to talk but his words were suddenly elusive, and he struggled to articulate even a single sentence.
“Erm,” the hulking scholar began again. “Do you, I mean. Would you, like to erm… look at the stars with me before we go to sleep?
Tawndra nodded and Feng went to lead her away, first to the left, then right as he was overcome by a sense of timid indecision. Seeing his uncertainty and nervousness was as endearing to Tawndra as it was heart-wrenching. She took his hand, appreciating its warmth – It meant he was alive. She led him to a quiet spot on the far side of the small island. Smiling, she said, “Night upon night I used to gaze at a night sky that was alit with thousands of stars. It was beautiful, so much so that I’d lose entire evenings unable to tear myself away.” She sighed, hesitating only a moment. What could she say that had more impact than those words spoken when we thought he was dead? There was no reason to hesitate now. “And now, I’d gladly trade each of those nights for this. As beautiful as the night sky was in the Court of One Million Stars, it pales in comparison to any night sky I can view while your hand holds mine.” In this moment she was more content than she thought was possible, and there was such comfort in the knowledge that whatever they face going forward, they would face it together.
Somewhere along the way, Feng had gotten himself caught up in a conspiracy of mysterious forces and dark prophecies. He now found himself in the company of four adventurers who had been tasked with finding a young princess named Maya. She was said to be the reincarnation of an ancient deity and was capable of channelling extraordinary magical power. Legend said that Maya would be either the Bringer of Life and Hope or the Bringer of Chaos and Destruction. Her gift was unpredictable and there was no way to know when, or how strongly, her powers would manifest. Nevertheless, tales of her potential had spread throughout the land of Panoa, and many factions now vied to control her. People worried if the princess died or was taken by a hostile group; destruction and terror would spread across the lands. Fearing for her life, and the lives of her friends, the princess had run away and was hiding somewhere in the vast steaming jungle.
Feng and his colleagues had been tracking Maya for several days through the dense vegetation. Life in the jungle was in abundance and the noise was deafening. The exotic calls and cries of hundreds of species filled the air. All unseen, hidden away in the leafy canopy above, or else watching curiously from camouflaged burrows as the party passed by. Progress was slow. The plant life crowded in around them with gigantic leaves and suspiciously alluring flowers. A steamy mist saturated everything in the cloying heat. The humidity also provided the perfect habitat for insects. Things scuttled, skittered, crawled wherever they looked. Buzzing things bit and stung them constantly. So numerous were the bugs that at times it felt like they were walking on a living carpet. Every few feet they passed giant arachnids hanging motionlessly in the centre of their sticky webs. The spiders watched the party through unblinking alien eyes as they waited for small mammals and other prey.
Tawndra Preston, a human druid appeared quite at home here. She’d been taking samples and making sketches of the flora and fauna as they’d tracked Maya. Sometimes Tawndra became so absorbed in her work she began humming a tune but, when she realised the others could hear her, she abruptly stopped and looked away self-consciously. Feng was no expert but he thought it sounded nice. She was probably gifted with a nice singing voice too. Despite only knowing Tawndra for a short time, Feng had formed a deep respect for the druid. She didn’t give her trust easily and, like Feng, she kept herself apart from the other humans in the group. She felt uneasy around them but she was surprisingly comfortable with the half-orc. Tawndra had opened up to him and he’d learned how, during her twenty-something years in this world, she had experienced the very worst of humanity. Feng doubted if any of her companions were aware of the cruelty and brutality she’d experienced growing up. As Feng had listened to her story, he felt his rage growing. Tawndra spoke quietly about the punishments inflicted upon her by her parents. Her torture was extreme and inexcusable. By the end of her tale, Feng’s palms dripped with blood where his fingernails had dug into the flesh. He promised himself if he ever crossed paths with her parents; a lot more blood would be spilt!
When she was about seven years old, Tawndra’s parents grew tired of her and left her alone in the wilderness to die. She was found, whether by fate or chance, by a traveller from the magical realm of the Feywild. She was adopted and cared for by a Fey couple who loved her dearly. She was happy, but like Feng, she never felt she truly fit in there, and one day she returned to the mortal realm.
For most people, Feng had reflected, being subjected to the horrors and torments that Tawndra had endured would have broken them, but for the druid, her early life had made her strong. She was small – barely five feet tall and very thin. She looked so delicate and fragile, yet she carried an inner strength that could overcome any adversity. Earlier Feng had noticed a small flower growing up through the centre of a large rock in the ground. Somehow, without sunlight, food or water, that tiny fragile seedling had fought its way up through the stone to emerge into the sunlight. That was the same kind of strength he saw in Tawndra, and he admired her for it. Tawndra’s experiences had also given her a unique insight into the human condition. She understood people for whom they really were underneath. She could quickly see through personas and facades to a person’s core. This skill, combined with her gentle nature gave her a deep empathy for others, and these were just some of the things Feng liked about her. She was a very capable adventurer, and he was glad to have her at his side.
The party had arrived at an ancient stone pyramid, built centuries ago by a people who had passed from memory. The advance of nature had obscured the temple until they were almost on top of it. It was slowly being consumed by the jungle and before too long, all trace of its existence would be gone. The crumbling entrance was hidden behind a clutch of thick leafy vines that oozed an amber liquid when the party cut their way through. Inside, the cool damp air provided a welcome relief to the oppressive heat outside. A familiar earthy smell filled the corridors. Crude drawings had been carved into the stone and as an archaeologist, Feng would have loved to have spent some time exploring this forgotten place and learning more about the people who built it, but time was not on their side. Crumbling passageways and collapsed doorways made the descent into the temple fraught with danger. The party moved as quickly and carefully as they dared. Working their way deeper inside, the group eventually came upon a chamber in the heart of the structure. A shaft of light lanced down from a narrow gap high in the ceiling. Two things immediately caught Feng’s attention. The first was a wide stone staircase that appeared to lead back to the upper levels. There had been a cave-in at some point and several large boulders now blocked the way. The second thing Feng saw was a cage containing a human female. This had to be the mysterious Princess Maya. She was just a teenage girl and didn’t look special to Feng, but experience had taught him that looks could be deceiving.
The girl shrank back from the strangers and Feng realised she had locked herself in the cage. It was a kind of panic room, designed to keep out would-be kidnappers.
The group cautiously approached the cage so as not to alarm the girl. As they did so the door behind them slammed shut with a loud echo and water began pouring into the chamber with a deafening roar. The sound reminded Feng of the huge waterfall that fed the River Schmore, that they had crossed the previous day. The half-orc withdrew a crowbar to try and open the door. He was well suited to tasks that required brute strength, but on this occasion it was futile.
In just a few seconds, the water had covered the floor and was rising at an alarming rate. No one panicked. Avarus, the party’s sorcerer who was more at home on the high sea than on land, stepped forward to use her psychic abilities on the lock. Her long purple hair whipped up around her head in an eldritch wind that no one else felt. Green flames leapt from her hands and engulfed the handle, but it remained intact. The door remained locked. The sorcerer took a long drag on her foul-smelling pipe and muttered, “Shit!” before exhaling a dense cloud of smoke.
Feng quickly and calmly assessed the situation. They couldn’t go back the way they’d come, so they’d need to move the fallen bricks at the top of the stairs. He had the feeling, however, that the girl in the cage would be key to escaping this place. They needed to earn her trust. Feng’s hulking appearance would probably not bring her any comfort, so he went to examine the rockfall. As he ascended the stairs, he stole another glance at Tawndra. Her facial expressions were always so expressive. She was looking at the girl with unguarded suspicion, but quickly composed herself and stepped forward.
“Princess Maya? My name is Tawndra Preston. Your mother asked us to find you and keep you safe.” The druid’s voice was soft, reassuring, but the girl remained cowering on a makeshift bed at the back of her cell.
“I know you must feel frightened and alone, but we can help. We can take you back to the village.”
No response.
“Tell me, are you hurt? Do you need anything?”
Feng wouldn’t have thought to ask about her wellbeing. This was another example of Tawndra’s hidden resourcefulness. Her nurturing, maternal nature was showing again and he pictured her as a mother. The thought conjured a rare smile, which lasted less than a second. His optimism wasn’t shared by Maya. She remained bent over hugging her knees and gently rocking back and forth.
“I know you’re scared,” Tawndra continued, crouching down into the water so she was at the same level as Maya. “I can’t imagine what it would be like in your position.”
The girl refused to acknowledge her presence. It was as if pretending the party wasn’t there would somehow make them go away and leave her alone.
Tawndra turned to the others and pulled a face to ask, What now?
No one had any words of inspiration. Feng sighed impatiently – it was taking too long and the water was already at Tawndra’s waist.
She turned back to Maya. “We need to get out or we’ll all drown. Can you help us, Maya? Can you stop the water? Or help us get out?”
Maya was stubborn! Feng suspected she was too scared to open her cage. If she opened the door, she’d be at the mercy of these strangers. Inside her prison, she was in danger from the water, but safe from other threats. Somehow the idea of drowning was preferable to her than the unthinkable horrors that her enemies could inflict upon her. To Maya, this was the best choice. To Feng, it was no choice at all. It was tactically sound to be suspicious, but surely her own survival overrode her fears. Feng was confident he could keep her safe from her enemies, but first, they had to get out of here.
The stones at the top of the stairs were stuck fast and he couldn’t move any of them. The stench of Avarus’ tobacco smoke stung his eyes and nose as the sorcerer waved her pipe in the air. She was channelling her psychic abilities to try and loosen the rocks. It was no good, they remained intact. She swore again and took another swig from one of the many flasks of rum she carried about her person. She drained the bottle, muttered an impressive string of curse words, and tossed the empty canister into the water below. It bobbed up and down a couple of times before sinking out of sight. As it did so Feng wondered again, how he’d gotten himself into another life-or-death situation.
Working in dangerous locations came naturally to him and he’d been in worse situations than this. Still, he should have left days ago. He didn’t know the people of Panoa and he didn’t owe them anything. He cared little for people he’d never met, but Tawndra, he reflected, was different. Over the last few weeks she had proven to be quite a favourable companion and, as he saw her biting her nails and looking up at him, he felt a growing need to protect her. He hadn’t been aware of it earlier, but the rising waters made it harder to ignore. He wasn’t doing this job for Princes Maya – He was doing it for Tawndra!
Time was running out. The water was up to his friend’s chest and it was clear the child was not going to take them at their word. Tawndra would be okay with the water. As a druid, he hypothesised, she was able to transform into different creatures, which meant in theory; she could change into a fish and wouldn’t have to worry about drowning. However, she would still be trapped and starvation would become a problem.
Avarus had had enough. She stomped down the stairs with a cloud of noxious smog curling from the end of her pipe. Tawndra’s gentle approach hadn’t worked, so the sorcerer was ready to try her brand of diplomacy to get the girl out. Feng liked her pragmatism but suspected Tawndra would disapprove. Regardless, the sorcerer carried on. Her purple hair billowed wildly as she carved shapes in the air with her hands. The space between her and the metal bars shimmered as if in a heat haze. The party held its breath as the power took effect. After a few moments, it was clear it wouldn’t work. Magic, more powerful than anyone in the party could counter, was imprisoning them here, and would likely kill them Feng hypothesised. Avarus seemed to come to the same conclusion and she cursed again in frustration, this time choosing language that would make even the hardiest residents of the Waterdeep’s Slum District blush.
Feng shook his head and took out his monocle to clean on his shirt. This was what he did when he needed to think through a problem. The act of rubbing away the grime helped him find focus and clarity. Through his studies, he had learned a little magic from spell books contained in the Forbidden Library at his university, but none of those spells would be useful here. He considered his powers of persuasion and reason, but those tactics seemed unlikely to sway Maya. He considered the teachings of tricksters and rogues, but the girl would not be fooled by any grifts either. It wasn’t until his mind turned to literature that a plan came to him. He’d studied the classics in his youth and he now recalled the mythical odysseys from the ancient lands of Theros. Such legends were littered with feats of heroism, bravery, and sacrifice. And at that moment, Feng then knew with grim certainty what had to be done.
This Princess Maya was one of the most powerful people on the continent. She was heir to these lands, and someone of such status needed an equally grand statement if she was ever going to take them seriously.
Feng briefly reflected on the events that had brought him here. He’d come to find the lost Chalice of Tiamat. Sadly, the treasure would most likely remain lost until the Arcane Archaeology Department sent someone else out here to retrieve it. His thoughts then went to his cottage and the dozens of cats he lived with. His friend and assistant researcher at the university would continue to feed them while he was away, so they’d be fine. Then, as his gaze fell upon Tawndra and all other thoughts evaporated. Thankfully she didn’t see him looking. If she had, she would have read his expression realised what he had in mind. She would probably try to stop him because she was a nice person. This idea warmed him, but she would understand what he was about to do. She’d realise it was necessary.
Putting his monocle safely into his pocket, Feng descended the stairs and waded over to the cage in silence. He found he couldn’t look at Tawndra, and so he kept his eyes on the princess. Despite her appearance, she was more than just a scared little girl, or so he hoped. If his plan worked, she may see his actions as a sign of trust and would allow the party to escape the temple with her. If the plan failed… Well, they were all as good as dead anyway. At least this way his companions had a chance to get out. They had all proved themselves over the last few weeks and Feng was happy to give his life for them. However, with any luck, Maya would put an end to it and command him to stop once she saw the depth of his resolve.
Feng had read up on local customs before leaving Waterdeep and he quickly reminded himself of the formal protocol for addressing tribal leaders in Panoa. Feng then went on to offer a traditional oath of loyalty to the girl.
“Princess Maya. To show you that we mean no harm; I offer you my sword and my life.” Feng sensed the girl turn to him as he dropped to his knees and submerged himself beneath the cold black water. It was quieter down here, almost serene. The sound of the pouring water was muffled and the anxious faces of his companions now seemed to as if they were a long way away. His armour was heavy and it weighed him down. He’d been counting on that. The instinct to survive would kick in at some point and his body would fight to stand up, but with any luck, the weight from the metal plates would help prevent it. That, and his sheer force of will. He had to get this over with quickly. He hesitated just a moment, then forced himself to open his mouth, and take a deep breath. Water gushed into his starving lungs. The vacuum in his chest needed filling but his body demanded air, not water. He wanted to raise his head but stopped himself. His chest tightened, he coughed, throwing up water, which was instantly replaced by more of the same. He kicked out but refused to find the air that his body was crying out for. The water thrashed violently around him as his colleagues rushed to his assistance. Muffled shouts cut through the panic. It was Tawndra. Her small hands gripped his shoulders, but she couldn’t lift him. Feng wanted to surrender to her but forced himself to gulp more water. Every spasm in his chest became more painful than the last.
This was the only way!
His lungs were exploding, ripping his chest apart. Agony and blind panic filled his mind and he felt his eyes bulging outwards. He was slowly dying. The whole process probably lasted just a moment, but it felt like an eternity before everything finally went quiet. The pain was gone, The panic was gone, and so too was Dr Neil Feng.
Tawndra was the first to realise something was wrong. Neil wasn’t coming back up! Reality melted away and she felt something stab at her heart.
“No!” she heard herself cry and waded over to him. She dived down and tried to haul him up but he was too heavy.
No, no, no!
She had to submerge herself to unclip his armour and eventually managed to drag her friend up. The water was up to her neck, but she lifted Feng to the surface. Her panic lent her strength and she heaved him onto the steps clear of the water. She collapsed with Neil’s head cradled in her arms. He wasn’t breathing, and he had no pulse.
What did he think he was doing! It was stupid! Why did he have to do something so reckless?
She needed to remain calm, and so let out a slow shaky breath. She was a healer and would have to draw on all her talents to help him. Yesterday she’d told Neil about her herbalism and how she dreamed of opening an apothecary one day. He said he’d probably be one of her best customers and she’d laughed. He looked confused as if he hadn’t intended it as a joke, and this made her laugh even harder. That memory of carefree joy quickly vanished like an ember rising from a fire, a fire that swept through her soul.
There were several healing potions in her pack and she was also well versed in nature magic thanks to her druidic training. She knew spells that could heal wounds but she had nothing to bring someone back from the dead. Still, she tried anyway. Tawndra burned through spell after spell in a desperate effort to revive him, but the spells from her unique discipline of magic had no effect upon her friend’s condition.
This felt like a bad dream, one from which she was desperate to wake up.
“No, Neil, no. Come on!” She didn’t know if she was saying these words out loud or in her head. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered except saving him.
He wouldn’t wake up, but she refused to accept it. Her hands shook where she held him close to her, the waters lapping around his neck and splashing his face. In her chest she felt a spear of ice stinging her heart, twisting and turning, and piercing her soul. Grief lurked at the edge of her mind like a monstrous demon. The moment she gave up on Neil, her despair would claim her and there would be no coming back. She would be lost in a world of pain from which she would never escape. The trembling in her hands spread throughout her body and she shivered. She felt cold and numb.
This wasn’t happening! She wouldn’t let it! It wasn’t right. She bent down, touching her forehead to his. He still felt warm. He was a good man. This wasn’t fair!
With a detached curiosity, Feng found himself looking down upon the room from a place of total darkness. He was in a nether world, a place of transition – the space between life and death. He’d read accounts of people experiencing something similar when they had almost died, but he had always been objectively sceptical of such things. Now he was experiencing it first-hand, he should take some notes. He reached for his notebook but wondered what the point would be? No one would read it, and it didn’t matter if anyone did or not. In the end, nothing mattered, did it? The concerns of his earlier life were like a dream drifting away upon waking. He watched his companions gather around his corpse assessing him. It was obvious to them all that he was gone. Obvious to everyone except Tawndra.
Avarus led the group back up to the rockfall in a final attempt to clear it before the flood claimed them all. Tawndra didn’t go with them. She should help them, not waste her energy trying to revive him.
Feng felt himself drifting further away, guided by unseen hands towards whatever lay next. He was curious about what lay beyond this realm but continued to watch his friend. When Tawndra’s magic failed to revive him, she began blowing into his mouth and beating on his chest.
It wouldn’t work, he was gone.
She was pleading with him now, shouting. Surely, she must know it was hopeless.
Her face was twisted by emotions he could not identify. She hit him more forcefully, punching his chest, raging at unseen deities who refused to help her. As she raised her head to the heavens Feng thought he saw… Tears?
He was no one. Why did this matter to her so much? He’d taken a gamble and it hadn’t worked. It had been his choice. It was a good death – futile – but at least he’d tried. There was nothing to avenge here.
Tawndra slapped him, hard, and even from his detached perspective, Feng winced. The druid continued hitting him, punching him, taking out her anger on his corpse. She eventually ceased when the water started to cover his face and she had to use all her strength to keep his mouth above the rising flood.
This was stupid! She should take his supplies and go help the others. That was the logical move, but she was acting too irrationally. She was becoming hysterical. It reminded Feng of a time from his childhood when his favourite cat; Claws had died. He’d felt so sad. For a time, he’d lost all sense of reason and control because he’d… He’d loved that cat…
Like a student suddenly understanding an equation, something clicked for Feng. Understanding dawned upon him, and it hit him with tectonic force. The realisation burst through his mind like a tsunami but, instead of leaving a trail of destruction, this tidal wave left only clarity in its wake.
Why hadn’t he seen this earlier! The evidence had been right under his nose. Feng and Tawndra had lived their lives alone. They both believed they were destined for solitude, and they both liked each other! They both loved each other, but they had been too fearful to voice their thoughts, too distrusting of their senses to recognise that the other felt the same way.
Somehow, Feng had lost the most wonderful thing in the world without even knowing he possessed it.
What have I done!
He didn’t want to be here anymore. He wanted to go back. His future lay behind him, in that flooded room of the abandoned temple.
“Tawndra,” he whispered. The sound of her name lit a candle in his soul. “Tawndra!” he shouted. “I love you!” The words were both a verbal utterance and a mental cry. They echoed through the darkness, through time and space to a forgotten pyramid deep in the Jungles of Panoa.
As a fighter, Feng could always find a dozen of things to die for, but as he gazed upon the druid cradling his broken body, he realised he finally had something to live for!
Panic and desperation were swarming Tawndra’s mind. Biting hard on her nails she looked down upon her friend. She wasn’t going to leave Neil here. Whatever happened, she would stay with him. His thick head was getting heavy and she was struggling to keep it above the water. She was barely aware of the others trying to clear the rockfall behind her, but even if she did join them, she’d make little difference.
It was then that she heard him. Or at least, she thought she did. His voice, deep and baritone rumbled through her head like a peal of thunder in the far distance. He called her name. His lips hadn’t moved. His lifeless face was still and wet, but he had just spoken to her!
“Neil?” she looked around, wiping her eyes. Had she really just heard him?
He spoke to her again. He told her he loved her. He offered words of comfort, but he was becoming quieter as if shouting over an impossible distance while being swept away on cosmic tides.
“Neil don’t go…” Tawndra called after him. “I…” At that moment something stirred at her side. Behind her, someone gasped loudly, and Avarus swore. A figure now stood next to Tawndra, bathed in soft golden light. There had been no one there a second ago. For a moment Tawndra thought her mother had come from the Fairy Court, but this wasn’t her mother. Shimmering stars danced around the other person and her skin glowed with the warmth of the sun. Maya, no longer the frightened child, but something else, something otherworldly had materialised next to Tawndra. Maya’s expression was one of both pity and understanding as she looked at the druid holding Neil.
“I heard him too,” Maya’s voice, the voice of the reincarnated jungle deity, gently lit up her mind. It took Tawndra a moment to realise Maya hadn’t spoken out loud. She was speaking in Tawndra’s mind, just like Neil had done. The only difference was that where Neil’s words were soft and faint, Maya’s voice was strong and powerful as if it carried the wisdom of ages.
“He has drifted far,” Maya continued telepathically. Her bright green eyes sparkled with an inner light which, Tawndra felt, were seeing more than any human eye was ever meant to. For a moment Tawndra had an image of Maya looking down at her in the temple, whilst simultaneously gazing at a million moments spread throughout the universe.
“I will try to catch him for you if that is what you wish?”
“Yes. Please,” Tawndra said in a small miserable voice. “Just bring him back to me.”
With these words, Maya bent down with liquid grace and placed a hand on Feng’s forehead. Her skin sparkled and shimmered and Tawndra was again reminded of the Feywild and the Court of a Million Stars. The air around Neil became charged with ancient magic. Despite this, or perhaps because of this, Tawndra felt a flash of anger. What if it was already too late? Maya had let this happen. It was Maya’s fault he was dead. This was all Maya’s fault! She had these powers and yet she’d let Neil die! She could have saved them earlier but she didn’t. Deep, long-buried anger erupted in Tawndra. Maya shouldn’t get to touch Neil! Not after what she did. In a display of uncharacteristic aggression, Tawndra went to knock her hand away, but stopped herself and instead her hand flew to her mouth. Something had happened – Dr Neil Feng had opened his eyes.
The escape from the temple was a blur for Feng. Tawndra explained to him that Maya had somehow transported them out of the temple and to the safety of an island in the middle of the River Schmore. In the morning they would reunite Maya with her family. Whatever power she had called upon had left her now. She was just a girl again, exhausted and sleeping beneath the blankets next to the fire. She had saved Neil, but whether she was destined to become Maya, the Bringer of Life and Hope, or Maya the Bringer of Chaos and Destruction, only time would tell. Tawndra hoped that today’s events meant she was on her way to being a force for good in the jungle.
While the party finished setting up the camp for the night Feng slowly approached Tawndra. She had never seen him looking so nervous before. He tried to talk but his words were suddenly elusive, and he struggled to articulate even a single sentence.
“Erm,” the hulking scholar began again. “Do you, I mean. Would you, like to erm… look at the stars with me before we go to sleep?
Tawndra nodded and Feng went to lead her away, first to the left, then right as he was overcome by a sense of timid indecision. Seeing his uncertainty and nervousness was as endearing to Tawndra as it was heart-wrenching. She took his hand, appreciating its warmth – It meant he was alive. She led him to a quiet spot on the far side of the small island. Smiling, she said, “Night upon night I used to gaze at a night sky that was alit with thousands of stars. It was beautiful, so much so that I’d lose entire evenings unable to tear myself away.” She sighed, hesitating only a moment. What could she say that had more impact than those words spoken when we thought he was dead? There was no reason to hesitate now. “And now, I’d gladly trade each of those nights for this. As beautiful as the night sky was in the Court of One Million Stars, it pales in comparison to any night sky I can view while your hand holds mine.” In this moment she was more content than she thought was possible, and there was such comfort in the knowledge that whatever they face going forward, they would face it together.