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The Hunter and the Templar	By : BurneHazard Category: +A through F > Diablo III Views: 6471 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: Diablo III (3) and all content therein is the property of Blizzard Entertainment. This story is for entertainment purposes only and I make no money from writing it.

Chapter List
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            After traveling the oasis and finding the ruins, it was a little slower proceeding to search for the head. Given the ruins were falling apart and they had to test their footing most of the way in addition to fighting off the attacks of the magical guardians and demonic infiltrators, it took them a while to find what they were after. The gruesome, but oddly intact, head was put in Lyndon's back for their return.
            The travel drew them both closer, although they did not repeat their waterfall tryst. As far as the hunter was concerned, the only reason for that was due to the lack of another peaceful spot to indulge in lowering their guard. And the scoundrel hardly seemed opposed to her subtle and not-so-subtle hints that Killashandra would not mind a repeat. There simply was no opportunity for it. Then, they were returning to the camp to find Leah attempting to control her power under Adria's incessant pushing.
            It halted when they handed the head over. Lyndon excused himself to go see Haedrig first since his armor would likely take far less time to mend given it was mostly cloth and leather. The latter had been fixed as they traveled. If the women or Tyrael noticed the crude patch-job on the hunter's armor, no one said anything. But likely they were all more concerned about Zoltun Kulle's returned spectre.
            Lyndon approached them near the end of the little confrontation between the sorcerer and Tyrael. When he heard the plan, he actually paled a little and shifted before clearing his throat after the fallen angel reluctantly agreed with Leah and her mother that it was the only chance he could see.
            "You know something's wrong when even I'm getting a bad feeling about it!"(1) the scoundrel declared.
            Killa merely nodded as Leah stuffed the severed head into the hunter's bag. Sighing, she handed the pack to Lyndon.
            "Here. I need to see Haedrig about repairs."
            She felt Tyrael's eyes on her as she headed for the blacksmith but paid it little mind. Haedrig was busy working on something or other and there were a few loose plates lying about. After studying them, she realized he must have taken them from the scoundrel and given him different armor since they were his old ones.
            "Don't tell me, ya busted up your armor as well. Doesn't look like a fall though. Bah! Still reeks of sewers. Gimme that!"
            Since she could not get a word in edgewise, she set to removing the armor and handing it to the smith. Each piece was examined and then stacked on a heavy table. When she was down to just her cloth underclothes, he turned to shamble towards the open end of the wagon.
            "Tis a good thing I'd already started on the new armor. If you give me a few more minutes, it'll be ready for you," he groused.
            In truth, she was rather surprised he did not chew her out further. But she was not going to look that gift-bearer in the eye. He refused to let her take her bow and quivers as well, saying something about needing them to compare. Accepting that, she ventured back into the camp area where Leah was readying her pack with supplies to accompany Killa and Lyndon on their quest to find the sorcerer's blood.
            As she went to where her extra gear and belongings were kept, she glanced over to where Kormac usually slept. He was present this time. In fact, the templar was sitting with an open book propped on one knee, watching her. Their eyes met for a moment. His were just as hard and closed as hers, but he frowned at her. She just turned back to her things and checked for the journal before sorting through her old pack for a change of clothing.
            Taking a fresh shirt and pants in hand--hiding the underthings within--she moved toward the rocks where most took to changing or bathing with a cloth and water skin. It was the only place considered private and thus only used by one at a time. The water skin hung over the outcrop of rock where it had been placed and she took up a cloth to wet it before stripping down. Although the sewers had been rather quiet on the way back, the smell did cling.
            She was just finishing up with her towel-bath when she caught a faint sound. It was a step on bare stone. Pausing, she wrung the rag out and put it aside before reaching for the fresh clothes. Drawing the bottoms on first, she picked up the bra next while focusing on her surroundings. There, a regular, soft breath and a presence. Whoever had approached was on the other side of the rocks and not moving.
            Fastening the bra on, she considered a few options. Leaving her clothing be, she slid into a crouch and moved around to where she could peek around the corner. Even if she had left her weapons with Haedrig, she never went anywhere without something on her person. Even mostly nude, her hands were curled to conceal the daggers gripped in her palms and resting their blades along her inner arms.
            "Please don't kill me," came a soft request.
            Straightening, moving around the rock, she glared at Lyndon. The scoundrel was leaning back against the stone, arms folded across his chest with a cocky attitude presented. His eyes however spoke differently as they slid over her body from head to toe and back. Even she could read the clear appreciation in his gaze as she rolled her eyes and moved back to where she had been cleaning up.
            "What do you want, Lyndon?"
            He came around the edge of the rock wall to peek as she began to pull her leather leggings on. The curves of her rear were something he had only been able to appreciate briefly when they both washed under the falls. Now he enjoyed the view even more.
            "I wanted to know why that dull templar was glaring at you like you stole his favorite holy relic."
            Straightening, she turned as she fastened her pants in place. "How should I know? Unless he is like you and simply doesn't like being left in camp."
            Lyndon's gaze was sharp as he studied her. She just reached for her shirt and pulled it on, shrugging to settle the cloth.
            "Are you going to take him with you this time? It doesn't sound as if we're going to be in the sewers again so, you have no more need of me."
            "Why would I need him? Your skills in battle are more than enough to meet whatever we will be facing in this task. Besides...he'd probably try to destroy Kulle's head along the way."
            The scoundrel was silent for a few moments as she finished dressing. Spilling the small amount of water she had used onto the sands, she put the shallow tub back in place and turned. Lyndon's eyes locked with hers as he worked on something.
            "About what happened..."
            She pressed one finger against his lips. "Let me put it this way. I needed something that you wanted to offer. In the end, it was a deal that worked out for both of us. And it's a deal that can be repeated if you are still offering."
            Blinking, the scoundrel nodded, uncertain. Apparently he was too used to women clinging and mewling over him. He was still having difficulty figuring out this new situation where there was nothing like he had come to expect from the fairer sex. Killa only smiled at his confusion, pleased that she had given him a puzzle to work on that would open the door for her demands in the future.
            He only realized she had moved back to camp when she was nearly there. Pushing away from the rock abruptly, he hurried to catch up. Even before they were back in the sight of the others he had returned to his typical, jovial, infuriating self with the arrogant and cocky swagger as he walked beside her.
            Kormac watched them like a hawk, making no pretense that he was able to read the book he had been working through before they returned. Lyndon was playfully boasting about something or other that Killa tuned out for her part save for when something he said actually struck her as funny. She smiled as she put her things away and turned to head for the smithy. This time she missed the darker look Kormac fixed on her back.
            "Haedrig, we're ready to go," she called into the wagon.
            "Over here, just finishin'!" he called from the smithy.
            Moving around the wagon, she saw him hard at work on some buckles and straps. Giving him a few more minutes, she found her attention falling back to Lyndon.
            "Does adventuring bring you the riches you imagined?"(2)
            "Oh, even more so!"(3) he said with a grin that left little to be mistaken about precisely what he meant.
            Killa rolled her eyes just as Haedrig approached.
            "There! This should do. Let's see how it fits on you now."
            Moving into the forge area, she began to pick up the different pieces, studying them and getting an idea how they fastened and interlocked. It took her a while to get the armor on as she familiarized herself with each piece before securing it. When she stepped back into view however, the two men turned and Lyndon whistled.
            "Haedrig, remind me to never piss this lady off."
            Killa only scrunched up her nose. She could not complain at the workmanship, the armor was not that heavy and she could still move perfectly. But he had made it white. Hardened leather made up the bodice with bits of metal here and there for protection and support so her figure was a little more noticeable. He had made the bracers and shoulders solid metal and enhanced the shield for her bow-arm so it was fully protected when extended. The boots had a little bit of heel but not enough she would be breaking her ankles.
            "It's not my best work, that's still ta come. But it was ready for replacin' your old armor since it was getting a little battered and worn. Oh, and I restrung the bow and refilled the arrows. I'll have the weapon you want done soon, a few more weeks likely on it."
            "Thank you, this should serve me quite well."
            The blacksmith waved off her thanks in a gruff manner she knew was his way of dealing with appreciation. Taking her old bow up, she tested the tautness of the new string before shouldering it and looking at Lyndon. He had a few new pieces of armor as well but nothing that different than what he usually wore. He backed out of her way and presented her with a flourished bow.
            "Shall we go and hunt further fortunes, milady?" he grinned.
            Despite her discomfort at wearing such a bright color, she smiled at his manner and moved past him. He was rewarded for his teasing with a light smack to the top of his head before he could straighten.
            Leah was ready and waiting as they approached. In fact, she looked more than eager to be off from the way she was fidgeting. Before they could say anything though, another person approached. Kormac looked at the new armor but said nothing. First he looked to Leah as if he might say something, changed his mind, and looked back to Killa.
            "Allow me to accompany you. I will refrain from making statements about my faith this time."(4) At her sharp look, he cleared his throat and amended, "All right, well...fewer statements.(5)
            "I've already made arrangements with Lyndon. He is prepared to go," she replied.
            Before Kormac could say anything, Leah spoke up. "Actually, I might be able to use his help. And if things go as badly as Lyndon suspects, it wouldn't hurt to have someone able to heal us along."
            "I, too, wish to travel with you. I was meant to aid you and I cannot do it from this camp," came the voice that the hunter barely restrained the urge to twitch upon hearing. Sure enough, the enchantress came to stand beside Kormac.
            Jaw clenching, Killa took a deep breath to focus on calming that rising, gnawing jealousy. The only one that saw the sudden flare of fire in her eyes was Lyndon--because he was looking for it. The hood obscured her gaze from the rest before they saw it.
            "Well, why not?" he announced loudly. "It's better to be safe than dead. And if our dull templar friend can keep his ramblings of faith to a minimum, we should all be awake to face whatever attacks us!"
            It earned him a glower from Killa and an incredulous look from Kormac. Seeing nothing wrong, Eirena smiled excitedly as Leah nodded. "It's settled then, come on!"
            Grinding her teeth together, the hunter remained silent as she shouldered her own pack and followed the lot of them from the camp as Adria opened another portal to speed them on their way to the oasis. The witch was still sending the hunter an unpleasant vibe, but Tyrael was ever present, watching them intently with the look only a battle-tried soldier could possess. She missed the calculating look Lyndon gave her as they passed through the portal.

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            The oasis was quiet since it was still night. No further demonic intrusions had come to the land she and Lyndon had cleared a few hours before so their path was unobstructed. As Kormac, Eirena and Leah moved ahead with Lyndon pointing the way they could go from the marked map, Killa hung back a bit to work on clearing her mind and maintaining her balance. Up until a few moments ago, it had not been a problem.
            "You're an interesting one, aren't you?" came a deep, scratchy voice. She recognized the sound as Kulle's voice. "I wonder if your friends know what you truly are..."(6)
            Glancing to her side where the sandy ghost had materialized, she frowned at him. "What are you babbling about?"(7)
            "Oh, all will be revealed...in time,"(8) he said before vanishing in a swirl of sand with a dark laugh.
            Shaking her head, she brushed the incident off as just another distraction. Kormac had snatched the map from Lyndon and Leah had taken it from the templar to look at so they were certain they were going the right way. Noticing how the girl was holding the map, Killa sighed and moved forward to reach out and give it a tug. Indeed, there was a long tear straight through the path she had marked.
            Lyndon reached out to see if he could possibly help fix it while the other three waited. Killa tugged the wizard-light free and held it up so they could see what they were doing.
            "Eirena, are there any men who follow the Prophet?"(9) Kormac asked.
            The enchantress looked surprised. "There are not. Do you wish to join us?"(10)
            "I am sworn to my order,"(11) he said simply.
            "I am certain that my fair sisters would enjoy your company."(12)
            Killa looked up to see Kormac's mouth fall open. He snapped it shut as red suddenly infused his face and he began to murmur, "My faith is my shield. My faith is my shield. My faith is my shield."(13)
            Eyes narrowing, she looked back to the map as she choked back a growl. That twisted jealousy was tangling with her hatred and becoming a very dangerous black cocktail. It was strong enough to warrant intense focus. She did not see Lyndon watching her as she applied a few careful stitches to the paper to bind it together.
            "What ails you, templar?"(14) Eirena asked in concern, reaching out to rest her hand on his arm. Killa did not look up again as muscle twitched along her jaw and her breathing grew a little terse.
            "Are there any women in your order, Kormac?"(15) Leah suddenly asked the furiously blushing, muttering man.
            "Well, no."(16)
            "Shouldn't the templar welcome anyone who wishes to fight evil?" the girl persisted, fighting to hide her smile at Kormac's predicament.
            "That is a fascinating idea. I will mention it to the leaders,"(16) he muttered and quickly moved on, pulling away from a confused Eirena.
            Finished with the map, having fixed it as best as they could with what little was on hand, Killa offered it to Leah. The redhead took it as the wizard-light rose to hover overhead so she could read it.
            "This way."
            They started off again, after Kormac turned back around to go the same direction they headed. Eirena was smiling, clearly amused. Leah was watching the map and the two. Killa and Lyndon followed silently. Mainly because the hunter was still working on clearing her mind for better balance. She kept her eyes moving to scan for trouble.
            After a short distance they came to a small waterfall with a shallow pool. When he saw that the hunter was so preoccupied, the scoundrel suddenly spoke up with practiced fondness.
            "Ah, I knew a woman from this oasis once."(17)
            Blinking, Killa lifted her head to look at him then at the waterfall. Recognition flickered through her eyes as the glowing embers faded down.
            "What was she like?"(18) she asked.
            Lyndon smiled at her with genuine warmth and something deeper as he waved one hand in a manner that suggested his words meant little. "Very good at quenching my thirst."(19)
            Killa found herself smiling despite her jealousy and temper. Suddenly, it did not seem that important. Although she did roll her eyes at Lyndon. Once more, she missed the look that Kormac sent her way. But Leah had also looked up and heard what the scoundrel was saying. She also saw a few things passing between the two that she wondered about. That wonder grew when the templar almost ran into her as he stormed past.
            Something was going on with her friends, and she had no clue what. Frowning, she decided to focus on the map and get this task over with. Eirena did not seem phased to have the templar walk with her as they continued. Lyndon fell in beside Killa once more and began spinning a tale of one of his adventures just to pass the time and distract her. Now he had a grasp on just what was going on between Killa and Kormac. Discretion was his choice until they could speak privately.
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The Hunter and the Templar