In the aftermath of the lightning strike, the storm itself slowed down, a quietness fell over the hill, broken only by the crackling of burning trees. Rhun sensed Tempest intended to speak.

The storm boomed forth words. Not from a human tongue, but composed of the sounds of wind, rain, and thunder. “Green sorceress. I sense impatience. A great need. But you are not the only one with demands! Half a year has passed since you found anything to do with the alfar. You are greedy for my power, but have given me nothing for it.”

“The human wizard is waiting for me out there!” Rhunal shot back. “If he defeats me, and takes me back, there won’t be any alfar discoveries. So deep in human lands, I won’t hear your voice. Your only followers are going to be those few chimeras who hear you. But they aren’t good at reading alfar books, are they?”

“They’re better at listening than you green ones are. Especially the one below me.”

“I’m listening now.”

“You might hear, green witch, but it doesn’t mean you listen.” Her wind-borne voice betrayed a kind of dry annoyance.

Rhunal was used to Tempest’s dissatisfaction, but her patience was short. “Then you listen, Tempest of the storm. I have made a deal with the leader of the human town, Refuge. In exchange for working for him, wasting time in your eyes, he’s going to share with me all the knowledge of the alfar the human adventurers discover. I intend to learn the history of these ancient alfar just as much as you.”

“I find that difficult to believe. Why does it take so long to find new ruins, books, and relics?”

“Because they’re extinct! I can’t go around and talk to them. Their ruins are deep into the frontier. Chimera guard these places jealously. But it’s coming. It won’t only be me anymore. But this won’t happen if Carinus takes me back! I need to face him. I must win!”

“Don’t fail.” Came the answer. 

Rhunal’s hair stood up on her head. The she-orc planted her feet, clenching her hands into fists, awaiting Tempest’s response. 

Thunder boomed overhead, lightning crisscrossed the swirling clouds. In a burst of inspiration, Rhunal blasted a lightning bolt skyward, meeting up with the gathering power above. A tremendous amount connected to her relatively meek bolt of lightning. Riding back towards her, the bolt of lightning blasted down, illuminating the tiny figure of the she-orc. 

***

The explosion of electricity reached even Bron. He’d watched the exchange of electricity on the summit. Though he couldn’t see Rhunal from below, he could hear their conversation. It seemed Tempest had given Rhun what she wanted. He worried for her, after the tremendous amount of power shot down from the storm. The storm winds lessened, and clouds were dissipating. And then he spotted her. Tendrils of lightning erratically leaped away from her, igniting grass, bushes, and tree branches. 

He met her at the base of the hill, keeping a safe distance from the random bursts of power emanating from her skin. And even underneath her skin, she glowed with power. “Half the frontier is going to see us coming. I can’t help but notice that Tempest agreed to help. What did she say?”

The she-orc grinned. Her smile lit up with the same blue light that her skin was. “She questioned my ability to find knowledge of the alfar. I promised her results, now that Kyvril is sharing knowledge of them with me. We bickered a little, and then I latched onto her storm with a lightning bolt. She meant to give me power. I think I snatched more than intended from her. Absorbed her power through a bolt of lightning.”

“How are you unharmed? Are you alright?”

“Goddess or not, she must follow the rule of magic. I channeled that bolt of lighting skyward. When her power rode it back, it couldn’t harm me directly. I’ve never channeled a full, storm-powered lightning bolt through my body like that before! Never felt such limitless energy.” As if to emphasize her words, a large pulse of lightning lit the tree between them ablaze.

“Seems you took in more than you can hold.”

“Oh well. It makes quite a show.” 

Bron caught sight of something in the distance, a flicker of light. “I think you’re right.” He pointed to a nearby hill. A figure stood there, wreathed in lightning of his own. “We’re going to get your fight.”