The day following the scouting of the outlying compounds and the death of the men saw a storm come into the valley. Rain fell in sheets across the land obscuring the view of the forest and the creatures within. In response Garrett pulled out all the soldiers on the outer defenses into the fortress. He set the men to other duties within the fortress and began to lay out a plan for the next steps. I made began my own preparations during this time. I went to through my pack and pullout a pouch with some special items and went to the armory and brought back some arrows and began to inscribe them with runes. I was in the room working when Jay came in. “What are you doing?” Jay asked. “I am inscribing these arrows with runes to make them more effective against those creatures” I said. “How is does it work” Jay asked. “When the arrow hits the rune activates and causes a small explosion that will hurt or better yet kill the creature and set fire to others” I told him. “I did not know you could do magic” Jay said. I smiled at him and said, “I learned runic magic from my mentor years ago.” “Is runic magic the only magic you know?” Jay asked. “No but it is the magic I am most powerful with since I have learned many runes from different groups” I told him “I know you do magic do you use incantation or just use an object to channel your power?” I asked. Jay smiled at me this time and reached under his shirt and brought out the amulet. Made of a dark medal and set in the shape of a tri force I noted four small gems a ruby, sapphire, emerald and diamond each set in the center of each triangle formed. “This is the object I channel my power though” Jay said “I got it from my parents before they died, they said the amulet was an heirloom and was made of star metal. The gem are fey stones for each element to help channel my powers”. I was impressed by the amulet it was powerful, and I had a though since he channeled his power. I went over and grabbed my staff and handed it to him. It reacted as if made for him shaping itself to his will forming sharp thorns like blades and then shifting back to a simple staff. There was also a glow as if the staff hummed with power. “It seems like it was made for you” I said. He looked at me a little shocked and said, “I guess so”. He moved to hand it back to me. “You should keep that you will have need of it before this is over, I think” I told him. I smiled “You can give it back when we are safe and away from this place”. Jay smiled back and me and thanked me and fingered the staff. I went back to making the arrows and Jay watched me as I worked for a minute then he saw the pouch. “What is in the pouch” He asked. I stopped working and touch the pouch. “Just some useful pieces I keep around” I told him. I took out some gems and a ring. “The gems are rune stones that I inherited from my family. They are inscribed with angelic runes and can be used for channeling power.” I told him. “What about the ring?” He asked. “That is a bond ring used for a claiming” I told him “I inherited this as well. I have the other here.” I moved my slayer medallion so he could see the other ring on the chain. “What do they do?” Jay asked. “They strengthen the bond of two people who have a claim on each other” I told him. “Do you not have a claim?” Jay asked. “No, I thought I did once, but he did not really want me, only the power and glory I could give him” I said with some anger. “Was it Asher?” Jay asked. I smiled at him without answering and he surprised me by leaning in and kissing me. I was surprised at first but then leaned into it and felt a heat build in my chest near my heart. We broke apart and he smiled at me. He told me he was tired and went to his bed to rest. I smiled and went to a mirror pulling my tunic up I saw a mark on my chest. It was a claiming mark.

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