Mourning

Changed the dynamic between Baet and Claiten in 8.4. Claiten attacks Baet several times—but Baet is very kind to the child (needs to be moved to a later chapter…). — 2020/07/29

Polished the chapter. Still working on the dynamic between Baet and Claiten, which I think will vacillate between friendship and animosity — 2h04m38s — 2020/08/08

A skeleton of flame-scarred timbers tenuously hung in the bright morning air. Flames stretched from the top of the House of Leaves, but no longer spread, as the most zealous of citizens flung their buckets of water at the last few hot spots that still remained. Celesi did her best not to think of Traust, buried somewhere in the ash. She glanced about her companions, happy that so many of them had made it out alive, but anguished by the amount of blood on their clothes.

Saleos and Duboha parlayed with officers among the Pan Iskaer as the others rested under the watchful eye of their captors. A large and gruff man that answered to the moniker of “Squirrel” caught sight of Wenifas among the surrendered party, nudged a friend as he pointed at the priestess, and said, “Ministrian.”

At his word, the other Pan Iskaer turned. They stared at Wenifas as they approached to get a better look, and the other Pan Iskaer took note. Squirrel stood in front of Celesi as he pointed at the beleaguered priestess, and ordered her to stand up. Wenifas, stared back at him, dumbfounded, as the man spoke to her in Trohl.

Distraught, as her anger boiled over, Celesi lunged at the accusing Pan Iskaer and struck him square on the chest with her balled fist before he could do anything about it. "You will not touch her!” she snapped at the man, near hysteric, as she struck him again and again. “She is exiled! You hear me! She is no more a Ministrian, and you will not touch her!" She continued to rain blows upon the big man.

Squirrel was most surprised by the audacity of her attack. He flinched and shrugged aside her assault; then, as it still continued, he caught her hands and wrapped her in a restraining hug. “Easy now,” he said to her. Compared to the fine-boned Jay, Squirrel was a massive wall. To break this slight woman—indeed the smallest of all their captives—would take nothing more than a hard squeeze. He did not.

Despite her fury, Celesi could do no harm as she cursed and squealed at the Pan Iskaer. “Let go, you brute!” She yelled as she tried to get away. She kicked at his shins though it seemed to hurt her toes more than it hurt his legs.

“Stop striking, and perhaps I will…” Squirrel replied. One of the other captives laid a hand on his shoulder and he turned, wondering if he should be assaulted again—if it wouldn’t come to violence with this lot after all...

“Apologies,” Toar said to the Pan Iskaer as he gently imposed himself between the two. Squirrel obligingly let go of Celesi as Toar pulled her away. “It’s been a long night for the lady,” he continued, his manner cool and diplomatic.

Celesi wondered if her sudden outburst would cause trouble for her friends. She wrapped herself around Toar and allowed herself to sob thinking it might inspire sympathy in the Pan Iskaer to see such a pretty girl cry. Even better if it inspired Toar, she thought.

"Is it true? Is she exiled?" Squirrel asked.

Duboha gave a nod. "I heard it myself."

"Is it for her that the Ministrians attack you?"

Duboha shook his head. "No. We were present at the death of Kezodel. The Ministrians and their Degorouth allies seem to believe we had something to do with it—though I can assure you it was nothing more than a cosmic accident."

"You were at the death of Kezodel?” another officer asked, most interested to hear it. “We’ve heard such strange things. Tell us what happened."

Duboha shrugged. "A meteor fell out of the sky, knocked a hole in the Grand Court, and crushed the Muaha in a tumble of stone. Everyone scattered, and we walked out, nothing more than observers of the incident."

"Chance killed the beast,” Saleos interjected. “Who is to say we can cause meteors to fall? Still, we knew the Degorouth would blame us, and so we thought it best to leave the city. We've been delayed, though we were safe until last night, when they discovered us. They thought we slept, as they crept upon our house. They lit the house on fire, and we rushed away that we might escape.”

“You got a good distance,” another Pan Iskaer shrugged. “But you had a number behind you. Indeed, we caught at least a dozen, and chased off a couple dozen more. I’d guess there was a half a company after you this night.”

“What are these Ministrians saying about all this?” Squirrel asked.

The Pan Iskaer officer shrugged. “Little indeed. Mostly, they claim to be after fugitives and demand their release. Most of ‘em know they’ll eventually get it.”

“If it’s all the same, we'd also like to be on our way," Saleos finished.

"And where would you go?"

Home," Saleos concluded. "Hearthstone."

Several captains of the Pan Iskaer conferred privately, as a couple dozen of their militiamen looked on with weapons at the ready. A large crowd of onlookers gathered about, and more were coming to investigate. The officials of the Pan Iskaer looked about the growing jumble of busybodies, and finally came to an agreement. Squirrel left their midst and turned to Duboha and Saleos once more, as the others gave order among their own.

"It is evident to us that you were simply defending yourself and should be set free,” Squirrel began. “However, so many take an interest in this morning’s mess, so we think it is best if we escort you into the countryside; and since we travel with you, perhaps you can fill in some of the details of your story?” he smiled.

Duboha nodded. "Before we go, we would like to collect the bodies of our fallen," he said.

Squirrel shook his head. "Its best if you are out of the city as soon as possible—but we will search the wreckage and see that the remains of your friends are brought to you.” With that, the Jindleyak and their associates gathered their weapons and were pointed toward the nearest city gate.

As they walked, Scurra leaned into Komotz. "What happened to Traust?" she asked under her breath.

Komotz shook his head. “He is lost. We are lucky he is the only one."

"No," Scurra replied. "Apulton caught an arrow in a bad way and tumbled from the top of the house."

Komotz frowned. “Oh…” he began.

"What of your brother?" Scurra asked. "He appears injured."

Komotz shook his head. "I've looked at it. It is superficial, very much like my brother. You know Homoth. He must be the best at everything, even bleeding.”

"How many of the enemy did we claim?" Andrus interjected.

"Eight or nine on the ground?”Komotz shrugged. “We injured at least that many more. Several will likely die. What of you?"

"We got at least a dozen from our perches,” Andrus grinned. “We might have killed twice as many."

Scurra snorted at the estimate. "Not to entertain your ghoulishness, but I doubt we killed more than six," she corrected.

"How many were there?" Komotz asked.

"A lot?" Andrus shrugged. "We were lucky. Those stuck at the front were cut off and slow to follow, thanks to their own fire."

"I think once they started the fire, they expected we'd come running out naked, unorganized, and easy to cut down," Komotz sneered. "It must have shocked them to see a dozen men crash out of the house in full battle gear at the very beginning of the flames."

"Still, Apulton and Traust..." Scurra shook his head. “And what of Aim and Elpis? Did anyone see what became of them?”

The others turned about and realized that the big and the injured man were nowhere to be seen.

~!@#$%^&*()_+ 8.2 +_)(*&^%$#@!~

“Three times, this duke has eluded us!“ Meriona complained. “Is he destined to return home and ruin me?!”

“It is your fault we were late to the party,” Toddles complained. “If you had not insisted we chase rumors and ghosts in Edgewater…” he continued.

“I did not suggest that!” Meriona recoiled from the throat-cutter. “I said it was not the duke in Edgewater—but only a few of their new Trohl friends! You took us to Edgewater!”

“That’s what I said,” Toddles agreed. “You took us to Edgewater,” he repeated her words although not their intent. The other throat-cutters chuckled.

Exacerbated, Meriona glared at her new companions. “Gliedian said I am in charge,” she reminded them.

Toddles gave an exaggerated nod. “That is why we blame you for taking us to Edgewater.” He repeated yet again, then raised a hand to cut off any further protest. “Please. Your complaints are not making this trip any quicker. Just accept your failings, and let us follow after our quarry,” he concluded.

The others laughed and agreed as Meriona glared at them in turn. She thought she might have a friend or two among them—but they had banded against her almost immediately, and treated her as a burden—then, they’d mocked her for her civility among the commoners.

But she was not all grace and niceties. She had her own ways of getting even, and a long memory. Already, their debt to her was growing.

~!@#$%^&*()_+ 8.3 +_)(*&^%$#@!~

Aim had lost his pole arm when he'd buried it in a Ministrian's ribs. The weapon got caught, and since he couldn’t also take the Ministrian with him—though he tried for about half a block—he let the dead man keep it. After that, he pulled his long sword to fight his way clear—but also lost that weapon when he threw it at a fleeing Degorouth. The blade almost cleaved the man’s head in two, then carried another twenty feet down the alleyway. Having felled the man, and deciding to go the other direction, Aim decided to let the sword go, as he had other weapons, and more Degorouth to chase. He was running a little hot under his collar after seeing his friend and mentor, Traust, die in such a violent and sudden manner.

A single Degorouth remained of the knot of men that once stood against the large man. This frightened the much smaller Degorouth—especially since he just saw the Jindleyak juggernaut take apart several of his friends. The Degorouth soldier took the prudent course, turned heel, and ran. Aim chased a half dozen steps, but was quickly outpaced as he was weighed down by Elpis.

As his last opponent disappeared, Aim gently checked to see that his cousin still breathed, then turned back to see where the others had gone. With a frown, he realized they were nowhere to be seen. He stood and listened to the distant mayhem as it traveled away, and hoped they were doing fine without him. He knew he should not have allowed his anger to get a hold of him so.

He hurried to the end of the alley and realized the streets were suddenly full of bodies running in every direction. Calls and screams filled the air. Aim turned to the south and west, fairly certain his friends were somewhere in that direction, and barreled his way through the early morning crowd.

Most of those on the street took immediate note of the burning House of Leaves and turned to battle the blaze, so it might not spread into the city proper. Though many of them noticed the giant man—how could they not—they passed him by with little idea what to make of him.

Aim had pulled the horse blanket over his own head. Hunched, he acted malformed, yet nonchalant as he affected a hobble. Many stared as they passed him by. Those that stared too long were met with Aim’s own stare, which could be quite unnerving, as he continued toward the nearest gate, while others among the growing crowd called the Pan Iskaer to arms.

Aim turned a corner and stepped into a larger street. He found several Pan Iskaer in front of him. He had no weapon in his hand—though he had several more upon his body. The armed warriors turned toward Aim and made to block his path.

"You ain’t no Pan Iskaer,” one of them noted. “You Degorouth?” the man sneered.

Aim shook his head. “I am Oak and Beast,” he answered. He wore a bit of a doltish mask, as if he was as dumb as he was big, while he prepared to kill the lot of ‘em should they answer unkindly. His hands slipped to a pair of short swords.

“Oak and Beast?” one said as he turned to the others. They shrugged as they were all questions. The front man turned back on Aim and pointed his sword. “These streets belong to the Pan Iskaer, so clear out or be arrested!" He ordered. The Pan Iskaer took several steps away from Aim, then thought better of it and turned to the giant once more. “Would you care to join our hunt?” he asked.

Aim grinned at the man, “Tempting,” he admitted, then shook his head. “No friend. Instead I shall make myself scarce, as you have asked.“

With a disappointed nod, the Pan Iskaer turned and followed after his friends.

Aim smiled as he watched them go. He resettled Elpis on his shoulder, and made for the gate once more. A gathered crowd gained Aim’s attention. He peered in from the edges and slowly made his way forward. Sure enough, his friends at the center of it. Most of the gathered rabble were simply curious bystanders—but there was a thick ring of armed men that held Aim’s friends captive.

He kept his distance and watched as Duboha and Saleos pleaded their case to the Pan Iskaer officers. There were far too many Pan Iskaer to fight in a direct action—but if they tried to hurt his friends, Aim figured he could cut down several before they realized their mistake—and then he should have his friends fighting with him. At that point, at least a few of the others might get away and return home to tell of what happened. For his own sake, Aim didn’t want to be the one to go home. He wanted to do damage, as there was still a blood lust upon him.

Still, it was the Pan Iskaer militia, and Aim knew them to be a rather level headed bunch. They had little love for Kezodel and his Ministrian allies, so it was just as likely his friends would be let free, once it was realized they were out and out attacked in cold blood. Though the Degorouth held the city center and had a general run of the city, the various militias did much of the peacekeeping in their own enclaves and townships—which was the reason the Oak and Beast kept their safe house in Pan Iskaer territory in the first place. Thus, Aim was not surprised when his friends slowly gathered their weapons and began toward the nearest city gate under the watchful eye of the Pan Iskaer.

Slowly, the growing crowd made its way to the gate as Aim continue to spy on his friends and their escort. He was happy to note their injuries seemed light as they all maintained their own feet. There was a worrying degree of blood, especially on Homoth—but the bulk of it could easily belong to their enemies.

Aim counted his friends. He frowned as he came up one short. He must have counted them four or five times before he realized it was Apulton that was missing. This made his heart heavy, though he had to admit they were incredibly fortunate if only the two were lost. He wondered if perhaps his good friend was simply missing, and like himself, simply somewhere in the crowd. He searched for his friend among the growing sea of people as more and more gathered to witness those at the center of the disturbance.

As the crowd grew, so did the number of Pan Iskaer. They appeared everywhere with their red and gold emblems, at least a hundred obvious men, with more subtle agents in the crowd. They also studied those that gathered, and so Aim continued to act a malformed dolt.

As he suspected, Aim was not the only one that took an interest in his friends. As he searched for Apulton, he caught sight of a strange woman with striking red hair and a suspiciously familiar look. He wondered if he recognized her because she was one of many spies sniffed out by Apulton or Duboha. Whoever she was, Aim had certainly seen her before.

Indeed, with the woman was a young Ministrian boy, a boy that also looked quite familiar, and he was certain they were Ministrian as they only spoke Ministrian—which is to say the boy spoke Ministrian—while the strange lady with the pointy face didn’t speak at all. Aim glared at her and imagined the worst as he followed at a distance. He considered grabbing her from behind and squeezing the truth from her. But there were still far too many people around for such a direct approach. For now, it was best to simply follow.

The strange lady and the young boy continued past the city gates. Aim kept his distance. He knew he was not inconspicuous—especially as he carried Elpis—but he knew a few tricks when it came to blending in with a crowd and stalking a target. Then, maybe half a mile outside the city walls, his friends arrived at a stable, and the Pan Iskaer proceeded to outfit them with mounts. The crowd had thinned and Aim decided it was time to be seen. He confronted the redhead and the boy as they seemed to be sneaking up on his friends. He grabbed them by the shoulders.

As he touched her, the woman turned on Aim and tried to bite him. Aim let go of the boy and brushed the redhead away before she could sink her teeth. He stared her down, but the woman stood her ground. She hissed as she stood in front of the boy, though she had no obvious weapons. For his part, the child pulled a dagger, though the sight of it did not bother Aim at all. “You’re a bit of spitfire,” Aim glared and reached for his blade.

The boy’s gaze turned quizzical, and he stared at the injured man on Aim’s shoulder. “Elpis?” he began, though he took a swipe at Aim’s outstretched hand.

Confused to have his ward identified, Aim took a step back. “What’d you say?” he asked. He didn’t catch the boy’s question, as his Ministrian wasn’t the best. Still, the boy had said his cousin’s name.

“Aim!” Duboha beamed as the others turned and stared after the commotion. Duboha sprinted the short distance, glad to see his cousin—but it was nothing compared to the squeals of excitement that erupted from the priestess as she saw the approaching boy and the redhead. Wenifas pushed Evereste into the shaman’s hands, then jumped so quickly from the wagon where the Pan Iskaer had settled her, and with such abandon, that she nearly ended up face down in the dirt; only to right herself and rush at the boy. She gathered him in a smothering hug—and also the strange lady—as she berated them both in her foreign tongue; then proceeded to kiss them, and stroke their hair, as they giggled and cried.

Embarrassed, Aim turned to the others who smiled and laughed at his bewilderment, then wrapped him in hugs of his own and asked his story as several checked to see that Elpis was also okay.

Eventually, the party rode from the stables. As they left, Aim continued to stare at the strange, silent old woman with flame red hair. He couldn’t help his sneaking suspicion. There was something strange about her, almost alien, and he thought it was obvious that she harbored secrets. But he had no idea what they might be…

Several miles down the road, as Aim continued to stare at Meu, Andrus noticed his preoccupation with the lady and leaned close to his cousin. “What is it?” Andrus asked under his breath.

Aim shook his head. “Something ain’t right with that one,” he began. “Weird, in the weirding ways, like the shaman, I think,” he trailed off, then finally shrugged.

Andrus looked after the woman. With a nod and a calculating stare, he glanced back at Aim, held two fingers to his eyes, then pointed at the strange woman, and finally back at his eyes, in a gesture that said: Yeah… I’m watching her too.

~!@#$%^&*()_+ 8.4 +_)(*&^%$#@!~

Baet found himself free of concern. Their escort was a good fifty men, thanks to an honor guard of Pan Iskaer that stayed with them for the time being. On top of that, other friendly militias appeared about The Copper Kettle and Rooms to speak with the Pan Iskaer, and a bit with the Jindleyaks too—but few, if any, bothered the foreigners at all—which made Baet’s job easy and helped sooth his nerves. Most of those that came to visit did not even look at the duke. They were far too interested in the shaman and how he predicted, or possibly caused, the death of Kezodel. They stood, enraptured by the strange story, and heaped praise upon the unsettled shaman.

Krumpus blushed prudently and accepted the compliments in a graceful manner. Mostly, he tried to avoid the Jindleyak telling his story, and also those listening, though they occasionally cornered him, that they might stare at his scarred countenance, shake his withered hands, and wish him well. Mostly, he rested, taking time away as much as he could—and Baet was happy to keep his distance from the strange man.

Baet wondered what interest he himself might incur if these strangers discovered he possessed the meteor, but the Jindelyak either forgot he had it, or purposely did not reveal it.

The inn boasted several small pools in the back, all fed by a hot spring. Baet sat in the heat of the water, and occasionally shifted to one of the warmer or cooler pools, depending on how he felt. The sun dipped in the west as he rested his eyes. Soon it would be dark and Baet would take the first watch with Homoth and Komotz once more; and take more of their money in cards—but he had a good hour before he must worry of such things.

A shadow crossed over the undressed man-at-arms and brought with it uneasiness. It caused him to jump. Baet reached for the sword he kept with his towel, only to relax as he realized who it was that stood over him. "Silent as the night," he noted as a forced smile crossed his face.

"Apologies," Carringten replied. "The Pan Iskaer have retrieved the bodies of Apulton and Traust. The others mean to light a pyre and mourn their friends."

"Ahh," Baet bowed his head. "The others have gathered?"

"Mostly," Carringten answered. "They'll light the fire as the sun sets. For now, they gather wood."

Baet gave a nod and decided to relax a little longer. "I shall miss this pool when we leave," he noted.

"Then you will be happy to know that our friends mean to stay another day,” Carringten said. “Elpis is still quite weak, and I think everyone is a bit weary."

“I don’t know about you, but the tiredness goes to the bone,” Baet nodded emphatically. "It's been a long couple months since we left home," he stared up at his captain. "Do you think we'll go home any time soon? Or does our master still mean to search for the thief?"

"Do you prefer one over the other?" Carringten asked.

Baet frowned at the question. "I should very much like to go home," he nodded. "I should have liked not to leave.”

"You did not have to come," Carringten replied with a quizzical eye.

Baet snorted and wondered if that were true. He suspected if he had refused, they would have thrown him in a dungeon. Was it possible they asked him to join the hunt simply because he was a talented and dangerous man—and nothing more? Or did they know? He felt a tinge of guilt as he remembered why he came, and how the whole fiasco started—but he’d say nothing about it. “I am honored to guard the duke," he said instead.

"And when we get to Hearthstone, who is to say we will find Humbert at all?" Carringten shrugged as he stared off into the distance. “Who is to say he has not lost himself on the road; to brigands, or sickness, or some other calamity?”

"And who is to say we won't find him running further afield? Perhaps for Grimgoar territory, or even New Tallia?” Baet interjected. “Indeed, who is to say he hasn't come west and lost himself somewhere in Ebertin?"

"It is impossible to know,” Carringten replied. “For now, leave these uncertain things where they belong: in the unknowable future.”

"It does not matter,” Baet revealed. “The duke will say what he wants, and I will do as he says. I will serve as I always have."

Carringten turned and looked off in the distance. "Tomorrow, you go with Saleos and some of the others to get supplies. When you return, you are free to do as you please until the evening watch."

Baet gave a nod. “And tonight, I mourn our lost friends,” he noted—then leaned back into the water— ”but for now, I finish my bath.”

With a nod, Carringten stepped away. Baet closed his eyes that he might forget his troubles—that they might soak away into the water. As he was relaxing, he heard the patter of feet approach. He frowned at the disturbance, opened his eyes, and noted the priestess’s small boy as the child slipped into one of the cooler pools.

Claiten glared back at the foreign guard as he dropped into the water up to his eyes.

“I bet you’re just as tired of all this craziness,” Baet snorted. With a wave of the hand, he addressed the boy in his best Ministrian. “Come here, boy. I’ll let you hold the treasure I found,” he said, and lifted the meteor out of the water.

Claiten’s eyes fixed on the strange stone. He immediately knew what it was and wonder colored his eyes. He scurried from his pool, then slowed. Several feet from the edge, he addressed the Soat guard. “Can I hold it?”

Baet nodded. “Just remember that I’ll have it back,” he noted said to the child.

Claiten stepped into the pool. He hissed as he noted the heat—but did not let it stop him. He swiped the stone from Baet, then backed to the edge, and marveled at its alien beauty.

Baet smiled. “Pretty neat, huh?”

Claiten nodded as his fingers ran over the smooth, shallow pits of the stone. Rainbow hues shifted and danced over its dark surface, a strange and elegant jewel indeed.

“You ever seen something so cool?”

Claiten nodded. “I got a knife,” he grinned.

Baet scoffed. “I like a good blade as much as the next man,” he began. “But no blade is that cool,” he pointed at the meteor.

Claiten shook his head. “I got it from a serpent,” he claimed.

Baet’s eye’s went wide. “You mean, from one of the naga?”

The boy nodded.

Baet whistled, “Well, that’d be a thing to see.”

With a smile, Claiten slipped from the water and retrieved his knife. He brought it back to the pool and handed it to Baet. “I’ll have it back,” he said in the same tone of warning Baet had used regarding the meteor.

Baet gave a solemn nod. Then, given the blade, he studied it admiringly. “You know how to use such a thing?”

Claiten nodded.

“Let’s say I came at you, and you had to keep me at bay. Where would you stick me?” Baet asked.

Claiten pointed to his heart.

“That’d work,” Baet noted. “But you gotta strike hard, or you’ll never get through the ribs, and if you’re in that close, you can just as well stick him under the arm and get his lung.”

Claiten pointed under his own arm. “here?”

Baet nodded. “That’s likely to kill him—and if you just want to keep me away, strike at the groin, or rip at the inside of his legs,” he continued. “That’ll slow a man down, and if you’e lucky, you’ll catch the vein that runs along the inside of his legs. Get that, and the chances are good he’ll bleed to death.”

“Like Elpis?” Claiten asked.

“Yeah,” Baet frowned, as he’d forgotten about that. “Like that poor sap, Elpis.”

For several seconds, silence reigned between the two, then the patter of yet more feet interrupted the peace once more. Claiten slipped deeper into the water in hopes of hiding. Baet wondered what was the danger, as he turned to see Wenifas scowling at the two of them. His heart dropped into his stomach.

With a huff, Wenifas pointed at her side and ordered her son out of the water. Claiten and Baet traded treasures, then the child slipped from the pool and stepped close to his mother. He dodge as she tried to grab him, then ran passed as she chased after her son with a lecture on her lips.

Baet thought to call after them, to tell her to take it easy on the boy, but knew he’d just as like make it worse for the child. With a snort, he turned away, and slipped under the water once more as he fingered the smooth yet bumpy surface of the meteor.

~!@#$%^&*()_+ 8.5 +_)(*&^%$#@!~

Everyone gathered about the giant bonfire except Elpis, who was still weak—though his recovery looked increasingly likely. Most were reverent and sedate as the the flames climbed through the giant stack of wood—except for a bubbly and wide-eyed Evereste; as she cooed, babbled, and blew raspberries at the dancing fire.

The flames licked higher and higher into the fading darkness. Sparks rose to mingle with the first of the night's stars. The various members of the Oak and Beast stared into the fire, a morose and somber lot. "I grew up with Apulton,” Komotoz began with gathering tears. “We used to swim the waters of the Heartflow together. He was with me on my first hunt."

"Nine years I served with Traust," Duboha stated in a flat tone. "I've never known a better man."

"There is nothing but darkness," Andrus mused.

“It is a shame," Aim noted. "It is a shame indeed."

The mood became increasingly despondent and sullen as the Jindleyak drank and spoke of their friends in respectful snippets. As they continued, Creigal's mood became increasingly dark. After a short time, there was something of a scowl upon the duke’s lips. For nearly an hour he remained quiet, as the Trohls mourned their losses—so it surprised the natives when the duke stepped on the trunk of a fallen tree and looked about the group with a commanding eye—but Carringten and Baet realized immediately that he meant to deliver a speech the only way he knew how: in a grand fashion.

Creigal waited for the others to be quiet. "I barely knew them—your brothers,” he began slow, with a low voice. “We met only a few days ago. I was to be hanged for sins I did not commit. I thought myself a dead man," the duke said as he looked about the gathered crowd. "Despite the charges against me, Traust extended a hand and offered to escort me to safety. He lent me money. Like the rest of you, Apulton was agreeable, and when push came to shove, he put his life on the line," Creigal hanged his head. "Now the deal is done. We have paid our enemies tit for tat, and my loyalty is bought with the most precious coin: life's blood.

“But these are not all the men that have died of late,” Creigal continued as he stared about the gathered Jindleyak militiamen. “My men in Wibbeley died that I might live: Vearing, Marik, Edderfeld, Barkaloe, Haddelton, Ainju… These are not names you know, but they were loyal to me. I have not had the time to mourn them proper. I have not had the opportunity to inform and comfort their families. I hope they forgive me for such short shrift.”

Creigal bowed his head and gave his dead men a moment of silence. Tears welled in his eyes.

"One day, nature will take us all, righteous and wicked alike!” He began again. “She gave us life, and one day she will claim us, each and every one! You and I are but food for worms! Our friends simply go before us, into the great beyond, settled in the deep dark earth!

“But I celebrate what they have bought with their blood—for they have bought our lives, our hopes, our ambitions—and I will not go lightly to my death!” Creigal scowled as he stared about those gathered. “We do not honor the dead by following a deadening path! We honor them by living full and courageous lives! We honor them by clinging to our values, tooth and nail! On their graves, I swear I will be a boon to my friends and allies—and I will be a terror in the face of my enemies! I cling to my precious life with a tenacity, and do all that I can for all that I love!" He lifted his arms and turned his face to the sky. "Sweet Abra, receive the spirits of our fallen friends! Remind them of our love! Do not let them be forgotten, for one day, the earth will claim us all; and that day we shall know our friends once more!

“But that day is not yet here, and until that day comes, we must live,” Creigal rallied. “We must live lives worthy of the price they paid! Our brothers did not die so we might roll over and give up! They died that we might live! Let them smile upon us and be proud of what their sacrifice bought!"

A beat passed as Creigal finished his speech. He turned and sat once more as a call went up among the Jindleyak.

"They are not forgotten!" Andrus said.

"Let us be worthy of the sacrifice!" Toar said in reply.

"Praise Jeiju!" Homoth shouted.

"Praise Jeiju!" others repeated.

"Praise indeed!"

The men stood and crowded about Creigal. They patted him on the back, hugged him, and thanked him for his kind words. Several of their eyes were wet with remembering.

Then an ethereal sound began, a high-wailing moan, otherworldly, and strange to all gathered but one. The group turned and finally realized the song came from the silent, slender redhead as she sang a sort of dirge. It was a haunting ethereal song and caused a good deal of tears.

But the song was short. Krumpus felt the others could use more time to grieve, and so he began to hum his favorite song, written to memorialize the Broken Legions as they protected the exiled refugees of Old Tallia as they ran from their enemies. It started slow and sad, as the people suffered greatly on their march, hounded and hunted for hundreds of miles across the Great Plains of Tallia, with only the 'traitors' Tronde and Rigel and their 'criminal' men to protect them. Some scholars reckoned as many as half the refugees that fled ancient Tallia died on their harried march; some in battle, some of fatigue, some of sickness, some of hopelessness. Yet, so many lived, and in the mountains of the Bunderhilt, the survivors of Old Tallia found a people, warm and welcoming. The song swelled and became hopeful as the Tallian refugees met the various Yak tribes. It took on a joyous tone as it turned to the mingling of their peoples. The native tribes of the mountains took in the beleaguered survivors of Old Tallia and helped them establish themselves. They gave freely of their surplus, and shared vital stores and stocks. They saved so very many those first few months—and the Tallian refugees were thankful for such kind treatment. Indeed, the Yak and Tallians found each others customs to be rich and endearing. There was much knowledge and wisdom shared between them. Slowly, they mingled and melded into a single people, and the nine nations of the Trohl were born.

Smiles overcame the company as the glad sound of the shaman continued. Others among the Jindleyak took up the song and filled the air with words.

Wenifas thought of Derris. She did not sing. She did not know the lyrics—but she could follow the rhythm. Music was sacred to Ministrians, and dance was one of the primary ways that her people worshiped. Despite her tears, Wenifas stood and began to stir. Tonight, dance would also be the way she mourned her lost love.

The movements came naturally as Wenifas weaved and snaked around the bonfire. As the song shifted and became joyous, Wenifas allowed her expression to shift with it—though it belied her devastation and grief, though it countered the tears that streamed from her eyes. The men stared and clapped and cheer her on.

Celesi joined in, trained in the ways of Minist, and knowing the dance that Wenifas performed. Although she mourned those that were lost, the apprentice Jay felt boisterous. She was free, thank the gods, she was free! And she had a man to impress! Her dance took on a seductive edge as she lingered near Toar.

Meu followed their lead as she very much loved to dance. Her serpentine nature was wise to the fluid shift of song, and she performed well. Scurra joined too, though she was a novice compared to the others. Still, she managed to keep time just fine, and was a beauty in her own right. Indeed, Scurra received the loudest applause as she stood to join the other women. In comparison, her steps were simple—but the Jindleyak men cheered and whistled to see her move in such a womanly manner. They knew her to be a tomboy and were most surprised by her feminine steps. Indeed, several would have guessed she never bothered to learn any dance at all.

The song shifted in pitch and tempo as Krumpus astood and danced with the women. Several of the other men joined the dance too. For some time, much of the party weaved and carried on in a circle about the bonfire as the ancient song continued. Evereste screeched and laughed to see them dance. She bobbed and clapped as Claiten held her.

Baet found himself dancing with Wenifas. It happened by accident, though he was glad when he noticed. He stared at the priestess as she stepped, bounced, and waved all about. She was beautiful in an exotic way, her dress and features so very foreign, as were her manners and attitudes. She was a vision despite the tears that streaked her face. He realized that she was not mourning the men lost in Ebertin, but likely was mourning her lover at the forts. He stopped in his step as he remembered how he had wronged her. He stared at the woman before him and wondered if there was any way he might possibly win her heart.

For her part, Wenifas did not notice Baet. He was just another man, and he could never be the one she cared for. Then, as he stood stock still, and she took the time to wonder why. She realized who it was that leered at her. It did not matter that his face was stained with grief of his own, only that he stared at her with an obvious longing. She saw only the face that killed Derris. Her anger flared and she was unable to continue in her fluid step. She swayed to a stop and stared at the man with murderous intent in her eyes.

Now that he had her full attention, Baet collapsed to his knees. He took the priestess by her hand and pressed it to his forehead. After the heartfelt speech of his duke and the emotional song and dance, he felt the keen sting of his own betrayals and shortcomings. Baet offered no defense. He simply shrugged as he kept his eyes locked on Wenifas.

The free hand of the priestess shot out and caught Baet's cheek with a resounding slap.

Stunned by the force of the blow, everyone turned to the odd couple. The dancing and the singing stopped. There was no sound except the crackle of the fire, and the babble of Evereste. Baet made no move, only touched his stinging cheek as he stared wide eyed at the priestess.

Rage surged through Wenifas as she continued to glare at the Saot guard. Having broke the peace, she screamed and lunged at him. “Die!” she roared, as she struck him again and again. She pushed him to the ground and continued to yell her fury as she lashed out at him.

Baet curled into a ball and took the punishment. Wenifas was not terribly strong, and despite her eagerness to do damage, her bare hands and minimal training were not up to the task. Then, Wenifas spotted the knife on Baet's belt. She yanked it from the sheath and swept her hand back. She aimed the blade and would have killed the man, if not for the fast actions of Scurra.

Scurra caught the priestess by the arm and held it. She stared at Wenifas, shocked that the Ministrian might try to kill.

Wenifas turned on Scurra with a scowl and shrieked, “Let me do it!”

"No," Scurra said to the priestess, her voice calm but authoritative.

Wenifas roared. She turned and tried to strike the Trohl woman, but Scurra deflected the blow and twisted the knife out the priestess's hand. Having disarmed the woman, Scurra picked the dagger from off the ground as she continued to block Baet from Wenifas.

Wenifas screamed and bawled as Meu and Celesi pressed in on her. Wenifas crumbled into her friends’ waiting arms. Slowly, the three stepped from the crowd.

Claiten pulled his knife on Baet. He crowed and even took a swipe at the man—but the guard was back on his feet, and easily managed to dodge the boy, especially since the child carried Evereste in his other hand.

Scurra moved to intercede once more and the child turned on her too. He clutched the knife and swiped at her leg. With a hiss, Scurra dodged aside, then before, she could react, Meu was in the way, and escorting the boy after his mother. Slowly, Claiten sheathed the knife and allowed Meu to lead him away as the skin-walker apologized with her eyes. The others stared in shock as the lot of ‘em disappeared toward their cabin.

~!@#$%^&*()_+ 8.6 +_)(*&^%$#@!~

After the fracas between Wenifas and Baet, the mood of solemn reverence was broken, so Creigal took the opportunity to slip away. He disappeared from the light of the fire and proceeded to the bank of the river.

Carringten appeared at his elbow. "Quite the speech," he assured as they moved away from the large fire.

Creigal nodded and smiled at his captain. "I spoke from my heart."

“Yes, and in a grand manner too,” Carringten smiled. "I appreciate your words for my fallen brothers. I believe Baet feels the same—though he has a peculiar way of showing it,” he shrugged. “Anyway, I think our new friends are quite taken.”

Normally, Creigal was quite happy to hear Carringten’s pragmatic, though often dry commentaries—but tonight he was uninterested. He turned to the guard and stopped him with a hand on Carringten’s shoulder. "I thank you for your candid evaluation, my friend, but might I be alone with my thoughts for a while? I do not feel any danger around us, and it has been such a long time since I have been alone in the world."

Carringten stopped in his tracks and gave a bow. "Yes, my liege," he said. "If there is need, I shall be among our friends."

"I thank you," Creigal smiled and watched as Carringten turned and disappeared back toward the fire. Creigal turned and walked to the very edge of the river, then continued along its bank. He checked to see if Carringten followed, and although he saw no trace of the bodyguard, he knew the man might easily stalk nearby. Creigal decided it was enough. Whether he was alone, or simply thought he was alone, there was little difference. There could be no harm in it—though Creigal hoped his captain was good to his word.

Either way, Creigal was quite alone in his thoughts. Thoughts of his daughter. Thoughts of a thief. Thoughts of his sons. Thoughts of his duchy. Thoughts of his people. There was certainly enough to think about.

Being so far from home, Creigal knew it could do no good to worry over the duchy—and yet he could not put it aside. His ministers were good and capable men, and the duchy was largely in their hands even when he was around. He simply hoped the people did not feel abandoned.

He also hoped his sons would be denied power. He cared nothing for his boys, whom were disinherited after it was proved they killed their sister. Oh, Daphne! Did they really think they could get away with such a thing?

No, his sons already had their inheritance: his holy wrath. Instead, the duchy would fall to his nephew, Varius; a solid and weighty diplomat with a serious demeanor and outlook; and very much one of Creigal’s inner council. The arrangement was suitable and the duchy would prosper, the gods willing. There was no passion in his position anymore. Just an endless war; and cold, bitter calculation. Perhaps that is how passion and sentimentality could send him after his daughter's necklace, in a fit of rage, with the thief’s accomplice in tow…

…and as they traipsed across an unknown land, not a poisoning, an attempted assassination, or the threat of hanging could give him pause. There was nothing he wanted aside from his daughter's necklace.

He sat at the edge of the lapping water and pondered which way it ran. Why should he think he might possibly lose her? Was she not already gone? It was an irredeemable debt. Nothing could bring her back.

Yet, endless dreams of her spurred him on. Indeed, he was more adamant than ever about finding Humbert and retrieving the trinket—if such a thing was still possible. What were the chances he might find the thief's trail when he should finally arrive in Land's End? More than likely, he should return home and resume his duties, his heart cold and calculating once more. He loved his people, but it was a passionless love struck from a sense of duty and honor. In all honesty, he wanted to be free of it. He preferred the open road. He preferred the company of these kind strangers and their ambivalence to his status.

And what if he should die in the wilds, so far from home? He was not eager for death, but unlike many of his Baradha cousins, he did not cling to the vain struggle for immortality.

As if such a thing were even desirable. Creigal had met some of the long lived; those that managed two, three, even four hundred years. He did not envy their tortured and frail forms—and especially not the unending cruelty necessary to maintain their shallow lives. They robbed the most innocent of their youth and vitality. Selfish and resentful, their lives were no boon to their peoples. Indeed, they were the cancer that sucked at the very marrow of society; a creeping sickness that threatened to destroy the Empire from within—and with such a perfection that nothing would remain. Creigal was convinced of this, though he imagined it'd be years, decades—likely centuries or millennia before the empire might finally implode under the bloated weight of their exalted masters.

Of course there were also such men among the Saot—but they were not so accomplished. Too much of their evil science was stolen or corrupted so very long ago by the sabotage and betrayal of the dark prince, Lasitus, a fact that saw the political class subsume itself to the Ministrian elite, and thereby made the Saot Kingdom little more than a vassal state. With the best of the Kingdom’s grammars and magic artifacts in tow, Lasitus evaded and destroyed all pursuit as he fled north into the Bunderhilt, several hundred years ago. What were the chances that warlock still survived somewhere among these mountains, toiling away at his dark arts, his frail and empty form somehow clinging to a mock version of life?

Creigal stared up at the sky. He tracked the children of the broken moon and tried not to think of such vicious things. It was important to remember the low character of his enemies—but it was also important that he did not dwell on it. Indeed, he thought his study of the subject so many years ago only helped turn his sons to the dark path. While he was horrified and dismayed by the study of these ‘exalted masters’, his sons were fascinated and engrossed. It was their choice to continue down the easy path, the selfish path, the destructive path; and they did so despite their father’s best efforts to turn them back.

With a heavy sigh, Creigal turned from the sky and stared out over the river. He skipped stones across the silent water as far as they might go, and told himself he'd think no more about the duchy.

Plock, plock, plock.

Who was to say everything wouldn't turn out for the best? Who was to say he wouldn’t return home to find Gaurring as strong and stable as ever before? Let the people continue on without him for a time! For such effort, they'd be less dependent and more free!

Creigal smiled to have such bright thoughts crowd his mind as he continued to picked stones and skip them across the water.

Plock, plock, plock.

For a time, he thought about nothing, nothing at all, as he stared across the rippling surface and threw another rock.

Plock, plock, plock, plock, plock.

Then—after a pause—another.

Plock, plock.

Another.

Plock, plock, plock, plock.

And another.

Plock, plock, plock.