Sanria sank into the bathtub at her home. Though Sandorin and Colin were nearby, she felt nothing would change if she took a few minutes to collect her fleeing thoughts. Her talk with Lithanus, Throm's son, had left her feeling confused, worried, angry, and more than anything, afraid. They had no idea where Throm was, and with his having given black makou to Emalia, Colin turning out to be -at least part- of some evil entity, and Emalia seeming to have vanished off the face of Toril all together - Sanria needed this moment more than ever.
The bubbles popped in a steady hiss around her as she finally touched the bottom of the tub. Sanria leaned back and closed her eyes, letting out a deep sigh. Her thoughts brushed over the fact that both she and Lithanus had discussed - no body. Emalia couldn't be dead, otherwise her essence would have been detected or a body located... and neither had come to pass. No one could locate Emalia, and that could be viewed both as a good thing... and a bad.
Sanria's mind then shifted to Throm. Applying the selfsame logic, she knew he could not be dead. There was no body, there was no sense of his essence. But why? Why had he gone off without a word to her, again? Indeed, had he gone of his own will, and was he now in the same place that Emalia was?
While the hot water did rest her tight muscles, Sanria still had a few tears slide down her cheeks. She pulled a wet hand from the water to rest it upon her forehead, sending rivulets of water along her skin and in the same channels as her tears. Why was this happening to her again? Was it something she had done to offend the Gods? She began to fully contemplate breaking off her engagement to Throm (if she ever found him to do such a thing), and suffering only the loss of love rather than the loss of a lover, even though it was already taking place.
Sitting up, Sanria hunched to where her tired face had almost hit the water and began to sob. Memories, hopes, dreams - each and all danced through her head in a parade of visions until one voice broke through the muffled voices of thought. It came to her like a giant bell ringing clearly through the air. 'Sanria...'
Whatever self-loathing and piteous feelings Sanria held for her situation fled like night at the touch of dawn. She lept from the tub, water flying in spatters upon the floor. She nearly fell to the ground, and snatching her towel, she wrapped it around her body and sped to the door. 'THROM!'
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query label:Colin. Sort by date Show all posts
Showing posts sorted by relevance for query label:Colin. Sort by date Show all posts
There is an End
"Velentham?" Gilean asked, his face alarmed. "No. Sanria. We haven't heard anything from my cousin for so long now... let's not disrupt that."
"Then I'll seek him out," Sanria answered.
"Oh, Sanria, no. Look, ok, I can see. I just don't know how to get him to go along with it."
"Let him know I'll see him if he will agree to listen."
Sanria knew what it could mean, she knew that if Velentham were given the opportunity, he could wipe out her memories of this world and keep her with him. Still, she knew that with Thasmudyan powerless, no matter how frustrated it made her, he couldn't stand up to Maya. At least if she could convince Velentham to help Maya get home, she could bring Lyvinnia to a safe place to be raised with her sister and father - whether she was there or not.
With Gilean's promise secured and the future secured from unexpected births, Sanria set off to Ror's home. When she found him absent, she went up into the room that had been Nioma's and to keep busy, she dismantled the crib. It did not take long for Ror to appear.
She did not share with him any of the reasons for her leaving him - the reasons that were Orn, Colin, Thasmudyan, Velentham, and the danger that would be soon facing her. She merely admitted she was weak in matters of love and watched as he retracted his affections. She knew she had hurt him, but their parting had to be done, more than anything, for his own benefit. Better that he hurt over a short relationship than get entrenched in something deeper and be ruined for women that might come along later.
Sanria left the tree and appeared in the Keeper's castle. She quickly went to her office after leaving Nioma once again within Enmach's capable arms. She would tell Orn she had left Ror. She would tell him she was now alone. She would tell him about Velentham. And she would try to simply bury herself in the things she had been neglecting until the time came for her to uphold her end of the bargain to free Lyvinnia. It may cost her everything, but she would ensure that, no matter what, she would do something right.
"Then I'll seek him out," Sanria answered.
"Oh, Sanria, no. Look, ok, I can see. I just don't know how to get him to go along with it."
"Let him know I'll see him if he will agree to listen."
Sanria knew what it could mean, she knew that if Velentham were given the opportunity, he could wipe out her memories of this world and keep her with him. Still, she knew that with Thasmudyan powerless, no matter how frustrated it made her, he couldn't stand up to Maya. At least if she could convince Velentham to help Maya get home, she could bring Lyvinnia to a safe place to be raised with her sister and father - whether she was there or not.
With Gilean's promise secured and the future secured from unexpected births, Sanria set off to Ror's home. When she found him absent, she went up into the room that had been Nioma's and to keep busy, she dismantled the crib. It did not take long for Ror to appear.
She did not share with him any of the reasons for her leaving him - the reasons that were Orn, Colin, Thasmudyan, Velentham, and the danger that would be soon facing her. She merely admitted she was weak in matters of love and watched as he retracted his affections. She knew she had hurt him, but their parting had to be done, more than anything, for his own benefit. Better that he hurt over a short relationship than get entrenched in something deeper and be ruined for women that might come along later.
Sanria left the tree and appeared in the Keeper's castle. She quickly went to her office after leaving Nioma once again within Enmach's capable arms. She would tell Orn she had left Ror. She would tell him she was now alone. She would tell him about Velentham. And she would try to simply bury herself in the things she had been neglecting until the time came for her to uphold her end of the bargain to free Lyvinnia. It may cost her everything, but she would ensure that, no matter what, she would do something right.
To the North!
In the following two weeks, she'd heard nothing from Throm. Her heart had churned with anger - but he was no longer her fiance. He needed not to tell her anything. She kept herself busy calling Colin over to do the odd jobs that she needed done... thereby keeping Colin from losing his mind as she had long before.
When Throm had entered the cavern, telling them he was leaving for a while - Sanria finally reached her limits. "Weren't you doing that already?" she snapped. "Or is a while now... perhaps... months? years? decades? Perhaps now you're helping yourself."
"I'm afraid I've never been to where I'm going...though I don't know how much help to myself such a venture will be."
"Hmmm. I'm sure you'll figure something out, Throm. You always do. In the meantime, we'll find my daughter."
Colin looked at Sanria calmingly. "Sanria, please, let's give him a chance to explain." She listened only for as long as it took for Throm to get Colin's hopes up.
"Don't either of you understand?" she pled. "She isn't coming back... not until she's ready... and... that could be years. So we just have to... have to get used to it."
"You resign yourself too easily..." Throm said.
"Yes, and you disappear as frequently." Again Colin broke in, almost frantic. "You may have lost someone but he was dead, Emalia is not! And I cannot give up until she is back."
Sanria stood dumbfounded. She felt as if she had been slapped in the face. Colin seemed to know that his words cut deeply, but even his attempt to comfort wasn't enough. Sanria had broken at last. With a few hostile parting words with Throm, she mounted the steps, entered her house, and burst into tears.
Grabbing a pack, she began throwing meaningless items into it. Quill, parchment, and a spare robe. She didn't know until she had packed where she would head, but she knew why she was leaving. Long ago... well before she had children... she had gone north to freeze to death. It felt a perfect place now to return, and without Thasmudyan around, she could succeed and simply go to sleep.
With a man who vanished, a daughter who not only hated her - but was also gone, a brother missing, a son who loved her only with scattered attendence, a son-in-law that scowled at her every move - Sanria felt the course was the best. She walked out, apologizing to both Throm and Colin, and headed into the woods.
When Throm had entered the cavern, telling them he was leaving for a while - Sanria finally reached her limits. "Weren't you doing that already?" she snapped. "Or is a while now... perhaps... months? years? decades? Perhaps now you're helping yourself."
"I'm afraid I've never been to where I'm going...though I don't know how much help to myself such a venture will be."
"Hmmm. I'm sure you'll figure something out, Throm. You always do. In the meantime, we'll find my daughter."
Colin looked at Sanria calmingly. "Sanria, please, let's give him a chance to explain." She listened only for as long as it took for Throm to get Colin's hopes up.
"Don't either of you understand?" she pled. "She isn't coming back... not until she's ready... and... that could be years. So we just have to... have to get used to it."
"You resign yourself too easily..." Throm said.
"Yes, and you disappear as frequently." Again Colin broke in, almost frantic. "You may have lost someone but he was dead, Emalia is not! And I cannot give up until she is back."
Sanria stood dumbfounded. She felt as if she had been slapped in the face. Colin seemed to know that his words cut deeply, but even his attempt to comfort wasn't enough. Sanria had broken at last. With a few hostile parting words with Throm, she mounted the steps, entered her house, and burst into tears.
Grabbing a pack, she began throwing meaningless items into it. Quill, parchment, and a spare robe. She didn't know until she had packed where she would head, but she knew why she was leaving. Long ago... well before she had children... she had gone north to freeze to death. It felt a perfect place now to return, and without Thasmudyan around, she could succeed and simply go to sleep.
With a man who vanished, a daughter who not only hated her - but was also gone, a brother missing, a son who loved her only with scattered attendence, a son-in-law that scowled at her every move - Sanria felt the course was the best. She walked out, apologizing to both Throm and Colin, and headed into the woods.
Fury unleashed
Colin glared at Velentham as icy darkness gripped his heart, surrounded his body, and created a tunnel in his vision focused on the celestial. If it hadn't been for the presence of Sanria between them and the happiness that they had shared over the past 5 months Colin would have lost complete control of his sanity in a berserk rage. Even as it stood, the fury within him was barely held in check as he moved side to side, trying to gain an angle past Sanria to reach his target.
The bit of rational thought still within Colin sunk as Velentham suddenly scooped up Sanria and streaked skyward. Colin felt certain he was going to take her away, just like that. Yet he didn't leave with her, instead choosing to deposit her on the mountainside and then slowly drift his way back down toward Colin.
With Sanria now out of his sight, the darkness within Colin surged as he watched the slowly descending celestial. Sanria's shouts for him to es- cape didn't even register. Colin sunk to the ground in a ferral crouch and saliva trickled down his chin. He didn't need any weapons. He was going to rend this bastard limb from limb with his bare hands and then grind the pieces into a bloody pulp in the dirt for what he did.
Velentham's strike came with blinding speed as suddenly he was behind Colin, plowing into him in an attempt to drive him into the ground. Colin's rage-enhanced reflexes were the only thing that partially saved him. Spinning at the last moment, he grabbed a fistfull of Velentham's shirt, driving him down to the ground with him.
They tumbled together, coming to a rest with Colin on top of Velentham. He had only the briefest of moments to look down upon Velentham with murderous rage before he was hit with an intense blast of pure white radiance from the celestial. The black makou within Colin burned like fire throughout his whole body and he howled in pain. His head was thrown backward as the blast continued to pummel him but there was no way Colin would relinquish his grip upon the man below him. As pain, rage, and icy darkness completely consumed him, Colin clenched his jaw and used all his strength to drive his head straight down toward Velentham's face.
The bit of rational thought still within Colin sunk as Velentham suddenly scooped up Sanria and streaked skyward. Colin felt certain he was going to take her away, just like that. Yet he didn't leave with her, instead choosing to deposit her on the mountainside and then slowly drift his way back down toward Colin.
With Sanria now out of his sight, the darkness within Colin surged as he watched the slowly descending celestial. Sanria's shouts for him to es- cape didn't even register. Colin sunk to the ground in a ferral crouch and saliva trickled down his chin. He didn't need any weapons. He was going to rend this bastard limb from limb with his bare hands and then grind the pieces into a bloody pulp in the dirt for what he did.
Velentham's strike came with blinding speed as suddenly he was behind Colin, plowing into him in an attempt to drive him into the ground. Colin's rage-enhanced reflexes were the only thing that partially saved him. Spinning at the last moment, he grabbed a fistfull of Velentham's shirt, driving him down to the ground with him.
They tumbled together, coming to a rest with Colin on top of Velentham. He had only the briefest of moments to look down upon Velentham with murderous rage before he was hit with an intense blast of pure white radiance from the celestial. The black makou within Colin burned like fire throughout his whole body and he howled in pain. His head was thrown backward as the blast continued to pummel him but there was no way Colin would relinquish his grip upon the man below him. As pain, rage, and icy darkness completely consumed him, Colin clenched his jaw and used all his strength to drive his head straight down toward Velentham's face.
The Spires of Morning
Emalia was happy to finally be back in the small cabin of the ship. Even though it had seemed like a long trip, it was soon enough to come to an end.
The next day and a half passed quickly and Emalia soon found herself staring at the gigantic walls that made the city of Waterdeep. She couldn't believe the myriad of people that bustled within and without the walls, carts, horses, guards, beggars, vendors, food, goods... colors and sounds were everywhere. She suddenly realized she was more than grateful to have people with her on this trip: she barely had the courage to step off of the docks.
Tamilyn finally finished her goodbyes, and lead both Emalia and Colin into the city. Emalia looked all around her, astounded at the magnitude of everything around her.
She wasn't disappointed when they stopped at last, in front of the temple devoted to Lathander.
The place was all that Tamilyn had said and more. Huge spires rose up from the ground and the multitude of buildings and priests left Emalia with her mouth, once again, agape. Never had she expected to find something so big. As she stood before it, she realized that she had no clue where to begin.
The next day and a half passed quickly and Emalia soon found herself staring at the gigantic walls that made the city of Waterdeep. She couldn't believe the myriad of people that bustled within and without the walls, carts, horses, guards, beggars, vendors, food, goods... colors and sounds were everywhere. She suddenly realized she was more than grateful to have people with her on this trip: she barely had the courage to step off of the docks.
Tamilyn finally finished her goodbyes, and lead both Emalia and Colin into the city. Emalia looked all around her, astounded at the magnitude of everything around her.
She wasn't disappointed when they stopped at last, in front of the temple devoted to Lathander.
The place was all that Tamilyn had said and more. Huge spires rose up from the ground and the multitude of buildings and priests left Emalia with her mouth, once again, agape. Never had she expected to find something so big. As she stood before it, she realized that she had no clue where to begin.
Traggik Happenings (1-2)
"Sanria? Sanria, wake up."
Sanria sat up, realizing the daylight was streaming through the windows of her office. She had fallen asleep hunched over her desk, her face smashed on the pages of her herbal guide. She sat up and looked into the eyes of Enmach, who stared back with a raised eyebrow, waiting for some good reason. "I... just got busy..."
"I know better. Listen, I know you've had a lot going on and with your picnic being a failure-"
"Enmach, it was business, not a... picnic. So it wasn't a failure. Not only that, I'm still married to Colin, so it is officially classified as business. Nothing more."
"As you wish," Enmach answered cooly.
"Please, don't do that."
"Why were you reading the herbal?" Enmach asked, moving on.
"I was thinking of making myself some teas but I don't have everything."
"Perfect. I'll keep Nioma, you go out and do gathering."
Sanria found herself in the Elven Valley, lost in thought, until a man ran into her, nearly knocking her over and knocking himself down in the process. After profuse apologies, she discovered the man was himself searching for herbs. Desperately so. She looked at the drawings and smiled. At last, something she knew completely. "Ah, those are simple to find. The dandelion root can be fresh, as the chamomile. Rose hips are a little more difficult to come by, but I carry some on me at all times."
"You're perfect!"
"I'm sorry?"
"Why didn't I think of it! You can help me!"
"I... wh... well what did you need help with?" Sanria asked.
"A friend of mine is injured and needs some help. That is what the items are for."
After agreeing to help, Sanria found herself barely able to keep pace with the shadowy figure. Though being in Westbridge made her uncomfortable, she kept up until they reached a large home. "I found them!" the man crowed. "Ok, maybe I didn't find the herbs... but I found her..."
The man moved out of the way. There, in the same room, was a woman who appeared to be a priest, and on the floor being ministered, was Ror.
Sanria found herself staring at the elf, her mind uncomprehending. She did not know how, but after she had decided to avoid all further contact, here they were... albeit only one of the conscious. "Apparently earth magic rebounded on him. I've asked Alsin to get some herbs, but perhaps you have a better idea?" The voice of the woman brought her from her stupor.
"He offered to help cleanse a room of mine of a deathly aura," Alsin said.
"He was mid incantation when he collapsed."
"I was on the right track then perhaps," the woman said.
The only thing Sanria then found going through her mind was the audacity of a sage to attempt to remove an evil entity. Wizards work. Sorcerer's work, in fact. "You called on a sage to incant for you? How foolish could you be?!"
"I didn't ask him to do it, he just up and offered and off he went..."
"So foolish, Ror," Sanria sighed quietly.
Knowing that no others had been able to revive Ror, Sanria set to work making a tea from the herbs in her pack. She made introductions while she worked, learning Alsin's name as well as Casandra's. Once the tea had been made (amongst discussions on the nature of the problem when one tries to hire the wrong person for the job), Sanria held Ror's head in her lap. Carefully, she poured the tea down his throat while Casandra incanted a healing spell. It wasn't long before the entity Ror had swallowed forced its way out, leaving the elf vomiting and the room darkening. Quickly, Casandra cast a protection spell on the entire group. "Alsin, how long has this been in your home?" Casandra asked. "Ummm... maybe a century or two... I don't remember a time in this house when I didn't feel that aura in that room."
"Oooo.... did anyone get the number of that donkey cart?" Ror moaned.
"So you set him to work on a centuries old entity?" Sanria asked Alsin. It was infuriating to consider. "I didn't exactly set him to it," Alsin answered. "I told him not to try, I had wizards and other try their hand at it before. He insisted and as I said.....just started off on his own."
"Hey... is it Thursday already?"
Sanria looked at Ror with a smirk. "If you wanted to see me before Thursday, you should have just sent me a card, Ror."
"So you know him?" Alsin asked, and Sanria merely nodded. Why it seemed there was a collusion to have her and Ror meet, Sanria couldn't figure out. But after another several moments spent admonishing the elf, she left the house, whisking herself back to the castle. She would have to be more careful.
She had no sooner plopped down at her desk, when the hulking form of Fenlauch peered into her office. "Sanria, may I speak with you?"
Sanria sat up, realizing the daylight was streaming through the windows of her office. She had fallen asleep hunched over her desk, her face smashed on the pages of her herbal guide. She sat up and looked into the eyes of Enmach, who stared back with a raised eyebrow, waiting for some good reason. "I... just got busy..."
"I know better. Listen, I know you've had a lot going on and with your picnic being a failure-"
"Enmach, it was business, not a... picnic. So it wasn't a failure. Not only that, I'm still married to Colin, so it is officially classified as business. Nothing more."
"As you wish," Enmach answered cooly.
"Please, don't do that."
"Why were you reading the herbal?" Enmach asked, moving on.
"I was thinking of making myself some teas but I don't have everything."
"Perfect. I'll keep Nioma, you go out and do gathering."
Sanria found herself in the Elven Valley, lost in thought, until a man ran into her, nearly knocking her over and knocking himself down in the process. After profuse apologies, she discovered the man was himself searching for herbs. Desperately so. She looked at the drawings and smiled. At last, something she knew completely. "Ah, those are simple to find. The dandelion root can be fresh, as the chamomile. Rose hips are a little more difficult to come by, but I carry some on me at all times."
"You're perfect!"
"I'm sorry?"
"Why didn't I think of it! You can help me!"
"I... wh... well what did you need help with?" Sanria asked.
"A friend of mine is injured and needs some help. That is what the items are for."
After agreeing to help, Sanria found herself barely able to keep pace with the shadowy figure. Though being in Westbridge made her uncomfortable, she kept up until they reached a large home. "I found them!" the man crowed. "Ok, maybe I didn't find the herbs... but I found her..."
The man moved out of the way. There, in the same room, was a woman who appeared to be a priest, and on the floor being ministered, was Ror.
Sanria found herself staring at the elf, her mind uncomprehending. She did not know how, but after she had decided to avoid all further contact, here they were... albeit only one of the conscious. "Apparently earth magic rebounded on him. I've asked Alsin to get some herbs, but perhaps you have a better idea?" The voice of the woman brought her from her stupor.
"He offered to help cleanse a room of mine of a deathly aura," Alsin said.
"He was mid incantation when he collapsed."
"I was on the right track then perhaps," the woman said.
The only thing Sanria then found going through her mind was the audacity of a sage to attempt to remove an evil entity. Wizards work. Sorcerer's work, in fact. "You called on a sage to incant for you? How foolish could you be?!"
"I didn't ask him to do it, he just up and offered and off he went..."
"So foolish, Ror," Sanria sighed quietly.
Knowing that no others had been able to revive Ror, Sanria set to work making a tea from the herbs in her pack. She made introductions while she worked, learning Alsin's name as well as Casandra's. Once the tea had been made (amongst discussions on the nature of the problem when one tries to hire the wrong person for the job), Sanria held Ror's head in her lap. Carefully, she poured the tea down his throat while Casandra incanted a healing spell. It wasn't long before the entity Ror had swallowed forced its way out, leaving the elf vomiting and the room darkening. Quickly, Casandra cast a protection spell on the entire group. "Alsin, how long has this been in your home?" Casandra asked. "Ummm... maybe a century or two... I don't remember a time in this house when I didn't feel that aura in that room."
"Oooo.... did anyone get the number of that donkey cart?" Ror moaned.
"So you set him to work on a centuries old entity?" Sanria asked Alsin. It was infuriating to consider. "I didn't exactly set him to it," Alsin answered. "I told him not to try, I had wizards and other try their hand at it before. He insisted and as I said.....just started off on his own."
"Hey... is it Thursday already?"
Sanria looked at Ror with a smirk. "If you wanted to see me before Thursday, you should have just sent me a card, Ror."
"So you know him?" Alsin asked, and Sanria merely nodded. Why it seemed there was a collusion to have her and Ror meet, Sanria couldn't figure out. But after another several moments spent admonishing the elf, she left the house, whisking herself back to the castle. She would have to be more careful.
She had no sooner plopped down at her desk, when the hulking form of Fenlauch peered into her office. "Sanria, may I speak with you?"
Bathing on the Bastion
She couldn’t escape. All of Sanria’s limbs had withered while in
stasis – her legs and arms were so thin they could scarce support her
weight, and even that was dangerously low. “Please… make it stop… Make
it stop!” In her mind, flashes of Visha’s ship combined with flashes of
her own ship and flicked back in time to flashes of her own ship. None
of it made any sense – only that this certainly had to mean danger.
Throm carried her into his ship amidst her protests. She tried to chant herself into believing it would all be alright – but it was barely working. Panic sat at the edges of her mind, toying with the threads of her sanity. Amidst Throm’s questioning – his face became mixed with so many from her past. She couldn’t keep any of it straight… he was Throm, then Tarran, then Colin, then Visha, then Thasmudyan, then Havok, then Sandorin…
“What is this dimension of which you speak?” Throm and his voice cut into her mind’s dissimulation.
“No. No. I won't tell you. I won't have anyone go there. I won't. You'll die. If you don't have Colin... or Visha...” And it was true, without a guide, Throm would be as good as lost.
They both argued until Sanria could take no more. There was no further discussion as Throm led Sanria to the bathing hall and the healer on the ship. Throm excused himself as Sanria dropped her robes to the floor. She had no shame, no cares of how she might appear. In the water she watched the turbulent bubbles as the healer looked her over in absolute silence. In her mind, Sanria was here, then in the Illuminati clan Jacuzzi, then home in her tub, then here again…
Throm carried her into his ship amidst her protests. She tried to chant herself into believing it would all be alright – but it was barely working. Panic sat at the edges of her mind, toying with the threads of her sanity. Amidst Throm’s questioning – his face became mixed with so many from her past. She couldn’t keep any of it straight… he was Throm, then Tarran, then Colin, then Visha, then Thasmudyan, then Havok, then Sandorin…
“What is this dimension of which you speak?” Throm and his voice cut into her mind’s dissimulation.
“No. No. I won't tell you. I won't have anyone go there. I won't. You'll die. If you don't have Colin... or Visha...” And it was true, without a guide, Throm would be as good as lost.
They both argued until Sanria could take no more. There was no further discussion as Throm led Sanria to the bathing hall and the healer on the ship. Throm excused himself as Sanria dropped her robes to the floor. She had no shame, no cares of how she might appear. In the water she watched the turbulent bubbles as the healer looked her over in absolute silence. In her mind, Sanria was here, then in the Illuminati clan Jacuzzi, then home in her tub, then here again…
Walking upon the Road
"How can she be so blind as to not see it. There is no way he deserves her." Colin thought to himself as he continued his trek northward along the road leading from Westbridge.
He had just left Emalia sitting where he had come upon her along the side of the road. They had shared a long conversation. She told him all about her beliefs she shared with her Jihad brethren. Sure, Colin though it sounded like a big risk. On one hand, if they are right, then the vicious cycle could be broken and suffering ended... permanently. On the other, if they are wrong, unnecessary destruction would be wrought upon so many. And to top it all off. Colin didn't really believe in all that supernatural stuff anyway. If he couldn't touch, taste, hear, or smell it he just had a hard time believing it.
But maybe that was just his disconnection with magic that made it that way. Either way, he could still respect Emalia for her beliefs. After all, she is an intelligent woman, and her caring is so deep and genuine. But Hellstrom, apparently, could not and the pain that it caused Emalia was almost unbearable.
So there Emalia had sat, in the grassy dirt alongside the dusty road, sobbing into Colin's chest because of Hellstrom. Sure, Colin had welcomed the closeness it brought but the circumstances were all wrong. "She does not deserve the pain this is causing her and he has no right to do this to her. As a matter of fact, that man doesn't even deserve be around her. I could just..." Again, Colin's thoughts stopped there, immediately redirected back from crossing that line. "What she needs now is comfort and understanding and I can give that to her. She will see that she has made the wrong choice, and once the blindness that this crush has brought upon her has been lifted she will be able to see me. After all... "If things don't happen with Hellstrom... who knows what the future could hold."
He had just left Emalia sitting where he had come upon her along the side of the road. They had shared a long conversation. She told him all about her beliefs she shared with her Jihad brethren. Sure, Colin though it sounded like a big risk. On one hand, if they are right, then the vicious cycle could be broken and suffering ended... permanently. On the other, if they are wrong, unnecessary destruction would be wrought upon so many. And to top it all off. Colin didn't really believe in all that supernatural stuff anyway. If he couldn't touch, taste, hear, or smell it he just had a hard time believing it.
But maybe that was just his disconnection with magic that made it that way. Either way, he could still respect Emalia for her beliefs. After all, she is an intelligent woman, and her caring is so deep and genuine. But Hellstrom, apparently, could not and the pain that it caused Emalia was almost unbearable.
So there Emalia had sat, in the grassy dirt alongside the dusty road, sobbing into Colin's chest because of Hellstrom. Sure, Colin had welcomed the closeness it brought but the circumstances were all wrong. "She does not deserve the pain this is causing her and he has no right to do this to her. As a matter of fact, that man doesn't even deserve be around her. I could just..." Again, Colin's thoughts stopped there, immediately redirected back from crossing that line. "What she needs now is comfort and understanding and I can give that to her. She will see that she has made the wrong choice, and once the blindness that this crush has brought upon her has been lifted she will be able to see me. After all... "If things don't happen with Hellstrom... who knows what the future could hold."
Enforcing Memories
The sudden sensation of Sanria's blood caused a tingle at the back of Velentham's neck, and he stood straighter, dread rippling through him at the idea that she had escaped. The dread was soon replaced by the deep grin on his face. "I sense a tiny bit of Sanria here, cousin."
"Sanria is wherever you have taken her. Somewhere she doesn't want to be. Now return her!"
"I sense her blood, and since she is not with us, do you know what that means? You must have called out for help, my dear cousin... Come out, boy. I can almost smell you. Come out and let's talk, shall we?"
Velentham drew the elf to his leg, gripping her neck, holding onto her like a limp doll. She was his key to fleshing out the hidden bodies in the wood, and he could sense them all, lying in wait, hoping to best him. Unlikely.
Three trees ripped their roots from the ground and charged him, and Velentham dropped his toy and shot out a ray of energy, exploding one of the trees into nothing more than splinters and leaves that showered the glade. As that happened, he barely evaded yet another ray of light by his cousin, the energy searing the back of his shirt. This was not the way this was supposed to be.
He shielded himself, avoiding a crushing blow from one of the remaining trees, and vanished amidst Gilean's cry, "Velentham, give up. you can't win. Where is she?" Colin came charging, and Velentham took the opportunity to throw the girl at him. He had dealt with this lumbering animal before, and he reached into Colin's mind, paralyzing him. He had planned on destroying the man, but what he found, Velentham couldn't have plotted it better.
"Oh... this... he doesn't remember?"
The rains began to pour from the spell cast by Sanria's son, Orn, drenching Velentham and revealing his invisible form through the dripping of water. Nothing could stop the forward momentum. "Cousin! You say I'm a monster? What do you say - a man who uses the disadvantage of another to marry his wife?"
"Leave him, Velentham!" And Gilean sent forth another blast of light. Velentham sidestepped the ray and grinned. "What do you say? Let's let him remember, shall we?!"
"No!" Gilean yelled.
Velentham went into the brute's mind, finding that in certain places, the meddling Rilmani had kept him from remembering his past. Blocks were everywhere in Colin's mental pathways, blocks that for an experienced mindwalker were mere motes of dust. Velentham ripped away the veil that had blocked Colin's thoughts for so long and let forth a booming laugh of triumph.
"Sanria is wherever you have taken her. Somewhere she doesn't want to be. Now return her!"
"I sense her blood, and since she is not with us, do you know what that means? You must have called out for help, my dear cousin... Come out, boy. I can almost smell you. Come out and let's talk, shall we?"
Velentham drew the elf to his leg, gripping her neck, holding onto her like a limp doll. She was his key to fleshing out the hidden bodies in the wood, and he could sense them all, lying in wait, hoping to best him. Unlikely.
Three trees ripped their roots from the ground and charged him, and Velentham dropped his toy and shot out a ray of energy, exploding one of the trees into nothing more than splinters and leaves that showered the glade. As that happened, he barely evaded yet another ray of light by his cousin, the energy searing the back of his shirt. This was not the way this was supposed to be.
He shielded himself, avoiding a crushing blow from one of the remaining trees, and vanished amidst Gilean's cry, "Velentham, give up. you can't win. Where is she?" Colin came charging, and Velentham took the opportunity to throw the girl at him. He had dealt with this lumbering animal before, and he reached into Colin's mind, paralyzing him. He had planned on destroying the man, but what he found, Velentham couldn't have plotted it better.
"Oh... this... he doesn't remember?"
The rains began to pour from the spell cast by Sanria's son, Orn, drenching Velentham and revealing his invisible form through the dripping of water. Nothing could stop the forward momentum. "Cousin! You say I'm a monster? What do you say - a man who uses the disadvantage of another to marry his wife?"
"Leave him, Velentham!" And Gilean sent forth another blast of light. Velentham sidestepped the ray and grinned. "What do you say? Let's let him remember, shall we?!"
"No!" Gilean yelled.
Velentham went into the brute's mind, finding that in certain places, the meddling Rilmani had kept him from remembering his past. Blocks were everywhere in Colin's mental pathways, blocks that for an experienced mindwalker were mere motes of dust. Velentham ripped away the veil that had blocked Colin's thoughts for so long and let forth a booming laugh of triumph.
Of Fighting Flames and Fire
Sanria smiled as Matinus read aloud. Since she'd been back, she'd spent little time with the boy. In fact, she'd spent little time with either of the children. Somehow, though, even with everything now back to normal, she felt a gulf of a distance, and it was growing. She had Nioma, from whom she felt a tad disjointed; Matinus, who adored her but still left Sanria feeling separate; and a baby on the way for yet a third time. The baby. How many times had she lost a child now? She did the quick math in her mind... five. Death seemed to be a companion of Sanria's.
She held Nioma in her lap now - the girl having squirmed up to listen to Matinus read - and thought over her relationship with Gilean. Enmach warned her against getting married so fast, yet she'd done it anyway, and had found a measure of happiness. She loved Gilean, she tried to remind herself, but the truth was... he'd been perfectly what she'd needed. Had Colin gone on as he was, no memories, she'd have continued to grow in her love with Gilean. Now, however, she felt Colin's gravity pulling and she didn't want to fight it. She wanted to go home where everything was right... but was it?
A sigh escaped her and Matinus paused. The boy seemed alert to any passing emotion, as though he knew how to tread softly the minefield of the heart to best protect himself and others. She smiled, and he smiled in return, then resumed reading. Sanria shook her head. She loved Matinus.She loved Nioma. She loved Gilean. This was her home, now. This was her life. No matter what she thought or felt about Colin, she couldn't go back to him. She would have to find a way to stop her heart from wishing itself everywhere but here.
Sanria made up her mind in that moment, for better or worse. She would push the emotions she felt for Colin onto Gilean. The bittersweet love would have to shift. As if on cue, Gilean entered the room and she caught his expression of bliss. He, right now, had everything he wanted. She was part of his greatest joy. He looked over at her, his face a warm smile. This was something she had to do. She looked at him and smiled in return.
She held Nioma in her lap now - the girl having squirmed up to listen to Matinus read - and thought over her relationship with Gilean. Enmach warned her against getting married so fast, yet she'd done it anyway, and had found a measure of happiness. She loved Gilean, she tried to remind herself, but the truth was... he'd been perfectly what she'd needed. Had Colin gone on as he was, no memories, she'd have continued to grow in her love with Gilean. Now, however, she felt Colin's gravity pulling and she didn't want to fight it. She wanted to go home where everything was right... but was it?
A sigh escaped her and Matinus paused. The boy seemed alert to any passing emotion, as though he knew how to tread softly the minefield of the heart to best protect himself and others. She smiled, and he smiled in return, then resumed reading. Sanria shook her head. She loved Matinus.She loved Nioma. She loved Gilean. This was her home, now. This was her life. No matter what she thought or felt about Colin, she couldn't go back to him. She would have to find a way to stop her heart from wishing itself everywhere but here.
Sanria made up her mind in that moment, for better or worse. She would push the emotions she felt for Colin onto Gilean. The bittersweet love would have to shift. As if on cue, Gilean entered the room and she caught his expression of bliss. He, right now, had everything he wanted. She was part of his greatest joy. He looked over at her, his face a warm smile. This was something she had to do. She looked at him and smiled in return.
Plans and Revelations
Sanria sat at her desk surrounded by a mound of parchment and books. In the passing of days, she had found herself looking deeper into the one thing the Rilmani wouldn't share with her, the thing that took Colin so far away that he couldn't be found. Planar travel. She shared this with no one, and as Vorcet knocked and entered her office, she took care to hide the parchments and close the books. The obsession was slowly growing, and she had considered, briefly, finding the necklaces that were hidden away - even if they were dangerous.
They were quick to reach the matter at hand: the occupation of Westbridge and the idea that perhaps the time was now to end it. The keepers would not bring about that battle. "The Rilmani have made it clear they will not aid us in this endeavor," said Sanria.
"I can certainly understand their point of view in this. The way things are headed this ends with the city in the control of the TriPower or one of the other forces involved. Which is just as imbalanced as it is now."
"That would be something we would have to discuss with the other sides, a neutral ground. No one wants to see Westbridge back in the hands of an occupying force."
"A Council of the various groups that use Westbridge as a hub would not be a bad idea."
"Indeed. If it were a place for all governments, then it would be unlikely that it would fall again. The people could live in some sort of peace for a change."
But how likely the other forces at work would be willing to see it was beyond Sanria. She had never done anything remotely like involving herself in politics. Not in a fashion where she would reach out to make an offer without having anything to bring in return. The Keepers did not have an army, they did not even have the backing of the Rilmani. They were more of a citizen group, and to top it off, she was moving ahead without waiting for a reply from Kineada.
When Vorcet pulled the Vectorian armors from his pack, they knew then the angle they would have. "Perhaps it is time I put this garment to use," Vorcet said. "I leave my phylactery secured in a place nobody but me can access."
"We might be able to use it if you are willing to gather intelligence. If we can promise Hoard and Radiant that we will aid them without their incurring damage, they may be willing to play by our rules."
"If I am able to successfully infiltrate those guarding the town I may be able to find a weakness in the defenses."
"I don't want you to put yourself in a situation if you aren't absolutely certain," Sanria said, realizing how motherly it sounded. "Danger is the least of the worries. Vector... well... they're..."
"I know well the evils that lie within Vector's borders and what they are capable of."
"Alright. I'll work up a proposal. With luck, they'll accept. If we could get Westbridge balanced... just think of it."
After Vorcet left the office, Sanria glanced over at the stack of planar parchments. With a steeling inhale, she left them at the side and pulled a blank piece from her desk. She then drew up an entreaty to the heads of Hoard and Radiant Heart. She felt a warmth thinking that perhaps Throm would have been proud.
They were quick to reach the matter at hand: the occupation of Westbridge and the idea that perhaps the time was now to end it. The keepers would not bring about that battle. "The Rilmani have made it clear they will not aid us in this endeavor," said Sanria.
"I can certainly understand their point of view in this. The way things are headed this ends with the city in the control of the TriPower or one of the other forces involved. Which is just as imbalanced as it is now."
"That would be something we would have to discuss with the other sides, a neutral ground. No one wants to see Westbridge back in the hands of an occupying force."
"A Council of the various groups that use Westbridge as a hub would not be a bad idea."
"Indeed. If it were a place for all governments, then it would be unlikely that it would fall again. The people could live in some sort of peace for a change."
But how likely the other forces at work would be willing to see it was beyond Sanria. She had never done anything remotely like involving herself in politics. Not in a fashion where she would reach out to make an offer without having anything to bring in return. The Keepers did not have an army, they did not even have the backing of the Rilmani. They were more of a citizen group, and to top it off, she was moving ahead without waiting for a reply from Kineada.
When Vorcet pulled the Vectorian armors from his pack, they knew then the angle they would have. "Perhaps it is time I put this garment to use," Vorcet said. "I leave my phylactery secured in a place nobody but me can access."
"We might be able to use it if you are willing to gather intelligence. If we can promise Hoard and Radiant that we will aid them without their incurring damage, they may be willing to play by our rules."
"If I am able to successfully infiltrate those guarding the town I may be able to find a weakness in the defenses."
"I don't want you to put yourself in a situation if you aren't absolutely certain," Sanria said, realizing how motherly it sounded. "Danger is the least of the worries. Vector... well... they're..."
"I know well the evils that lie within Vector's borders and what they are capable of."
"Alright. I'll work up a proposal. With luck, they'll accept. If we could get Westbridge balanced... just think of it."
After Vorcet left the office, Sanria glanced over at the stack of planar parchments. With a steeling inhale, she left them at the side and pulled a blank piece from her desk. She then drew up an entreaty to the heads of Hoard and Radiant Heart. She felt a warmth thinking that perhaps Throm would have been proud.
The Unthinkable
Sanria sat at her desk in the castle. Her familiar knot of wood in the top staring back at her. It had been several days since she'd been to "visit" Claire, her mind had been reeling. She knew Claire's story, she knew Claire had been dominated completely by the man she was with, and could only arrive at one conclusion to help her solve the problem. They'd have to get rid of Ruthivan... permanently.
Killing a being to free another, was that right? The voices crept into Sanria's mind. 'Is there not a severe imbalance in that relationship? Is it not your duty to help balance?' No. Sanria shook her head in consternation. She was no killer. She sighed deeply and dug into her mind for answers. If they couldn't kill him, and he could manage to travel the planes (meaning he would most certainly return to collect Claire), what other possibility was there?
A soft knock on the door revealed Enmach, who swooped into the room under her usual graces. "Greetings Sanria. I apologize that I have not been around as of late." Sanria waved her hand dismissively, and then the idea struck her like a thunderbolt from the skies. "Enmach... have I ever told you of my friend, Claire?" "Only that she was once the lover of your husband."
Sanria shifted uncomfortably in her chair, deciding now was not the time to let Enmach in on all the facts of her relationship. She told her of Claire's life, current and past. Finally, Sanria looked at Enmach and let out a sigh. "Is it possible," here she paused, knowing that once this thought was in the world, there was no taking it back, "that we can alter his memories just as your people altered Colin's?"
Enmach knitted her brows and looked to the desk. "You realize what you are proposing is kidnapping and forcing someone to our will?" "I know..." Sanria's voice dropped to a whisper. "But if she doesn't get help..." "Does she want help? Did you ask?" "I didn't have a chance. Though it is not difficult to see that she is in dire straits." Enmach sighed heavily. "I'll talk to Fenlauch." She looked at Sanria and Sanria could see the confusion in the silver eyes. "You realize what you are suggesting is the same thing that happened to you..." Sanria looked down and gave a singular nod. "I know," she breathed as a whisper of shame.
Killing a being to free another, was that right? The voices crept into Sanria's mind. 'Is there not a severe imbalance in that relationship? Is it not your duty to help balance?' No. Sanria shook her head in consternation. She was no killer. She sighed deeply and dug into her mind for answers. If they couldn't kill him, and he could manage to travel the planes (meaning he would most certainly return to collect Claire), what other possibility was there?
A soft knock on the door revealed Enmach, who swooped into the room under her usual graces. "Greetings Sanria. I apologize that I have not been around as of late." Sanria waved her hand dismissively, and then the idea struck her like a thunderbolt from the skies. "Enmach... have I ever told you of my friend, Claire?" "Only that she was once the lover of your husband."
Sanria shifted uncomfortably in her chair, deciding now was not the time to let Enmach in on all the facts of her relationship. She told her of Claire's life, current and past. Finally, Sanria looked at Enmach and let out a sigh. "Is it possible," here she paused, knowing that once this thought was in the world, there was no taking it back, "that we can alter his memories just as your people altered Colin's?"
Enmach knitted her brows and looked to the desk. "You realize what you are proposing is kidnapping and forcing someone to our will?" "I know..." Sanria's voice dropped to a whisper. "But if she doesn't get help..." "Does she want help? Did you ask?" "I didn't have a chance. Though it is not difficult to see that she is in dire straits." Enmach sighed heavily. "I'll talk to Fenlauch." She looked at Sanria and Sanria could see the confusion in the silver eyes. "You realize what you are suggesting is the same thing that happened to you..." Sanria looked down and gave a singular nod. "I know," she breathed as a whisper of shame.
Announcements
Magic lifted Sanria and Leandra to Claire and Gilean's cottage, where Gilean greeted them and ushered them inside. Sanria felt hollow, and oddly numb as Gilean asked about Colin and Orn - he knew something wasn't quite right. The five of them, including Askari once he found out Leandra was there, gathered in the dining room. Claire looked small, almost mousy, as though she were cowed in some deep way. Gilean appeared to be his normal self and Askari... Sanria gave a long inward sigh. The boy was moody, hormonal, and the father of her daughter's child. How in the nine hells had this happened?
"I... wasn't feeling good so... my mom tried to heal me..." Leandra began,
"I... kept feeling like I was gonna throw up, you know..."
"I'm sure my Mom can make you better, right mom?" Askari asked.
"I could try," Claire said slowly.
"There is more," Sanria interrupted. And she saw the shock register as she looked over at Gilean's face.
"My mom took me to the druid grove to... see if the Elders could figure out what was wrong... And... they... they... I..."
"You're with child," Gilean finished.
"Well... that's... I mean... why are you here, though?" Claire asked.
"W... wait... a baby?" Askari said with trepidation.
"Wait... no... no no... not... Askari?" Claire said, her voice in a tremor.
"Oh... oh yes, it is..." Gilean said quietly.
"But that means that... they'd... Askari?!"
"What Mom? I... I love Leandra!" Askari defiantly proclaimed.
Oh not this. Not love. Sanria felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach. All of this was just too fast, they didn't even know what love was... come to think of it, did she? "It appears we are to be grandparents. Well... I will be again, but..." Sanria trailed off.
Gilean, for all the world, seemed nearly happy for the children, which irked Sanria a tad. This was serious, not a time to be delighting in the world of kids bringing about more kids. She watched him heal Leandra of her morning sickness, and even tell them that their child was to be a boy. Both Askari and Leandra seemed wrapped in their own world, and Claire seemed void of even the air in her lungs. "It's alright," Gilean said. "We'll help them through. Believe me... I have seem many younger parents than them."
"Younger?" Sanria asked in disbelief.
"More often that you might think. At least these two have all of us to help support them... but Colin's not here."
"He isn't quite happy about this and... given his disposition recently... we thought it better he stay."
"Oh... I... I see..."
"I'll make sure no harm comes to Askari," Sanria offered.
After subduing Leandra and Askari's talk of getting married and moving out so as not to be like the adults that were in their lives, and reminding her daughter that she should not ask at the current moment to stay with Askari, Sanria took Leandra home where the grounding remained in effect. For herself, Sanria crept into her private study and closed the door behind her.
"I... wasn't feeling good so... my mom tried to heal me..." Leandra began,
"I... kept feeling like I was gonna throw up, you know..."
"I'm sure my Mom can make you better, right mom?" Askari asked.
"I could try," Claire said slowly.
"There is more," Sanria interrupted. And she saw the shock register as she looked over at Gilean's face.
"My mom took me to the druid grove to... see if the Elders could figure out what was wrong... And... they... they... I..."
"You're with child," Gilean finished.
"Well... that's... I mean... why are you here, though?" Claire asked.
"W... wait... a baby?" Askari said with trepidation.
"Wait... no... no no... not... Askari?" Claire said, her voice in a tremor.
"Oh... oh yes, it is..." Gilean said quietly.
"But that means that... they'd... Askari?!"
"What Mom? I... I love Leandra!" Askari defiantly proclaimed.
Oh not this. Not love. Sanria felt a twinge in the pit of her stomach. All of this was just too fast, they didn't even know what love was... come to think of it, did she? "It appears we are to be grandparents. Well... I will be again, but..." Sanria trailed off.
Gilean, for all the world, seemed nearly happy for the children, which irked Sanria a tad. This was serious, not a time to be delighting in the world of kids bringing about more kids. She watched him heal Leandra of her morning sickness, and even tell them that their child was to be a boy. Both Askari and Leandra seemed wrapped in their own world, and Claire seemed void of even the air in her lungs. "It's alright," Gilean said. "We'll help them through. Believe me... I have seem many younger parents than them."
"Younger?" Sanria asked in disbelief.
"More often that you might think. At least these two have all of us to help support them... but Colin's not here."
"He isn't quite happy about this and... given his disposition recently... we thought it better he stay."
"Oh... I... I see..."
"I'll make sure no harm comes to Askari," Sanria offered.
After subduing Leandra and Askari's talk of getting married and moving out so as not to be like the adults that were in their lives, and reminding her daughter that she should not ask at the current moment to stay with Askari, Sanria took Leandra home where the grounding remained in effect. For herself, Sanria crept into her private study and closed the door behind her.
Thoughts on Living
The forest sounded with typical life. The trees rustled in the breeze and squirrels chattered and hopped from branch to branch. Sanria stopped and put her hand on the trunk of an old oak. "Dear friend, can you give me a moment of your time?" she asked it.
"A moment? How long is a moment? Seconds? An eternity?" the oak said into her mind, it's voice a deep, ancient baritone.
"A mortal moment."
"You are far from mortal with this elven blood shared, but I will listen."
"Please, if my son asks for me, wondering where I am, will you reply that I am safe?"
"Are you safe?" the tree asked.
"Yes."
"And now, are you safe?" the tree asked.
"I am."
"And now?"
"Why do you persist with this?" Sanria asked.
"Because you cannot see the future. Can you?"
Sanria sighed deeply, her patience being tried. "No."
"Then what shall I tell him?" the tree asked.
"That I took a walk in order to think and clear my mind."
"And to that, I may abide."
"I thank you," Sanria said, removing her hand.
Sanria walked south through the trees, deep within the Haon'Dor. She could feel the farther she walked, the more calm she became. The forest grew cool and quiet, the trees older and larger. Everything here seemed to be a system, and one of which Sanria was a part. The soul of every living thing breathed in concert and her mind could let down its walls.
She sat down beside a very tall poplar and pulled out her book. She ran a hand over the cover with a sigh. It was one of the last things she took from the Illuminati before - she shook her head and opened it. Her handwriting filled the margins of "Ideals behind Balance: A Comprehensive to Discovering a True Path." It was one place she felt she could write and none but herself would find. In these pages were her deepest thoughts and desires, hopes and dreams. Of course, she had read the book a number of times, but its use now was a catalogue of her life. In the middle of the book, she put her pen to page, writing in the spine:
"I lack clarity. How can someone expect to live a balanced life when things continue to spiral out of control? I've hidden in my cavern so long I didn't even notice when the world came crashing down. Let alone my own life."
She turned the page and continued writing:
"Colin killed a woman. He is filled with a substance that I cannot control, and can no longer live with. Yet if I don't reconcile, I feel I'll be smothered. I don't believe he will let me walk away from this."
Sanria sighed deeply and sat for several moments. She could choose to run away, but that simply wasn't her any more. She could think of nothing to do - was there anything to do? Her life seemed a microcosm and within that tiny orb had crept chaos and the pressure to conform, to squash the upset, was intense.
"A moment? How long is a moment? Seconds? An eternity?" the oak said into her mind, it's voice a deep, ancient baritone.
"A mortal moment."
"You are far from mortal with this elven blood shared, but I will listen."
"Please, if my son asks for me, wondering where I am, will you reply that I am safe?"
"Are you safe?" the tree asked.
"Yes."
"And now, are you safe?" the tree asked.
"I am."
"And now?"
"Why do you persist with this?" Sanria asked.
"Because you cannot see the future. Can you?"
Sanria sighed deeply, her patience being tried. "No."
"Then what shall I tell him?" the tree asked.
"That I took a walk in order to think and clear my mind."
"And to that, I may abide."
"I thank you," Sanria said, removing her hand.
Sanria walked south through the trees, deep within the Haon'Dor. She could feel the farther she walked, the more calm she became. The forest grew cool and quiet, the trees older and larger. Everything here seemed to be a system, and one of which Sanria was a part. The soul of every living thing breathed in concert and her mind could let down its walls.
She sat down beside a very tall poplar and pulled out her book. She ran a hand over the cover with a sigh. It was one of the last things she took from the Illuminati before - she shook her head and opened it. Her handwriting filled the margins of "Ideals behind Balance: A Comprehensive to Discovering a True Path." It was one place she felt she could write and none but herself would find. In these pages were her deepest thoughts and desires, hopes and dreams. Of course, she had read the book a number of times, but its use now was a catalogue of her life. In the middle of the book, she put her pen to page, writing in the spine:
"I lack clarity. How can someone expect to live a balanced life when things continue to spiral out of control? I've hidden in my cavern so long I didn't even notice when the world came crashing down. Let alone my own life."
She turned the page and continued writing:
"Colin killed a woman. He is filled with a substance that I cannot control, and can no longer live with. Yet if I don't reconcile, I feel I'll be smothered. I don't believe he will let me walk away from this."
Sanria sighed deeply and sat for several moments. She could choose to run away, but that simply wasn't her any more. She could think of nothing to do - was there anything to do? Her life seemed a microcosm and within that tiny orb had crept chaos and the pressure to conform, to squash the upset, was intense.
Blessed Sleep
"Don't worry, I will get rid of them," Colin said with a growl. Emalia was left there upon the bed, staring up at the ceiling. She could hear the sound of a very angry small voice coming from outside of the cottage, but could not clearly make out anything. The worry tugged at her stomach but she was resigned to lay back and wait for Colin to return. It was the sound of small, but determined, footsteps that had her roll her eyes to the door, waiting to see who would enter.
Nephesh came toward the bed, his little face red obviously angry. He held out a note which Emalia had no opportunity to read before Colin spun the little halfling around by the shoulder. "Now listen here. Emalia has been through enough and you will NOT upset her again."
"What did the note say?" Emalia asked, attempting to reach the fallen note before realizing she couldn't. The small boy pushed the note toward her, and as Nephesh and Colin discussed what had happened (which was very one-sided from Emalia's ears, since Nephesh had appeared to have lost his ability for speech), she looked at the handwriting: 'What have you done to father?'
Emalia let her hand with the note drop onto the bed. She felt completely drained, and the daunting task of having to explain anything more plunged her into a deeper area of her soul. As she lay there, Colin had literally lifted Nephesh out of the room, but upon his return, Emalia once again reached into her own soul for the sake of another. She sent Colin off to speak to Nephesh and to offer him the pony. All of this was beginning to hurt each time, and she was having difficulty recovering from every encounter. Soon, the voice of Colin grew faint, the surroundings of the room began to vanish into a haze, and Emalia finally drifted off to sleep - hearing, seeing, and saying nothing more.
Nephesh came toward the bed, his little face red obviously angry. He held out a note which Emalia had no opportunity to read before Colin spun the little halfling around by the shoulder. "Now listen here. Emalia has been through enough and you will NOT upset her again."
"What did the note say?" Emalia asked, attempting to reach the fallen note before realizing she couldn't. The small boy pushed the note toward her, and as Nephesh and Colin discussed what had happened (which was very one-sided from Emalia's ears, since Nephesh had appeared to have lost his ability for speech), she looked at the handwriting: 'What have you done to father?'
Emalia let her hand with the note drop onto the bed. She felt completely drained, and the daunting task of having to explain anything more plunged her into a deeper area of her soul. As she lay there, Colin had literally lifted Nephesh out of the room, but upon his return, Emalia once again reached into her own soul for the sake of another. She sent Colin off to speak to Nephesh and to offer him the pony. All of this was beginning to hurt each time, and she was having difficulty recovering from every encounter. Soon, the voice of Colin grew faint, the surroundings of the room began to vanish into a haze, and Emalia finally drifted off to sleep - hearing, seeing, and saying nothing more.
Burning the Throttle
The idea struck Velentham as he watched Sanria sleep under his spell. It was a simple ploy to get his cousin to leave the cottage and the safety of the ward, to get to Gilean and pry open his mind. He would be able to locate the necklace. He'd show up with Sanria. He'd have the bait so close to Gilean, he'd taunt him with the news that Sanria was now pregnant with *his* child.
There was no waiting. Velentham uttered a spell and both he and Sanria appeared at the edge of the forest by the cottage. He kept her sleeping, wrapped in a bubble of energy to protect her from anything Gilean would try to do. "GILEAN! COME OUT HERE! I HAVE SOMEONE YOU SHOULD SEE!"
Velentham grinned as Gilean came to the door, gloated over the prize he held in the bubble, and taunted with everything he could imagine. Still, his idiot cousin wouldn't leave the ward. Velentham removed the bubble and forced Sanria to remain where she was. Then, his cousin started running his mouth. "You don't remember a lot of things, do you Sanria?"
"She remembers enough," Velentham said, turning Sanria's face to his. "He's making you forget. It's him Sanria. He is the reason you can't remember. That's why he's keeping you confined too. It's not others he's trying to protect you from, he doesn't want you to be free."
"That's enough, Gilean," Velentham warned, his arm around Sanria.
"Remember Sanria. Remember what he's done. He's killed your baby. He's tried to ruin your life."
"Killed..." Sanria said, and Velentham could feel the memory forcing itself to the surface.
"He's keeping you a prisoner. Yes. You had a baby inside you. Not his. He killed it."
"Enough, do you hear me?" Velentham growled, walking toward Gilean. Then all hell broke loose.
Velentham saw the shimmer that enclosed him and fired off a ray of energy meant to fry his cousin. The energy flew around him, encased in a field of antimagic. Unbelieveable. How his cousin had managed it, Velentham did not know, but as soon as he absorbed the magic, the bubble tightened, and he knew the next result.
Velentham turned quickly to see Orn and the Beast, Colin, rushing him. He grabbed Sanria, breathing quickly. His sword... he couldn't even conjure it. He was bested. "STAY BACK OR I'LL SNAP HER NECK!"
"You wouldn't," Gilean said.
"I won't let you have her, cousin. I'd rather her die than be with you."
"If she dies, you die. There is no way you're getting out of this."
"Then I'll go home and you'll be left with no one. Sounds fair enough to me."
With that, his insanity at full tilt, Velentham did to his woman and his unborn child exactly what he said. He heard the muted snap of Sanria's neck and as she fell to the ground, he felt part of his heart wither with her. There was nothing left but to be sent back to Elysium. He taunted the animal until Colin was upon him. He lay on the ground, begging to be returned to his homeland until the swords were thrust through him.
Velentham reached up to touch the blades that protruded from his chest. He laughed pitifully as the life left his body. Then his soul grouped itself into an orb. In a flash, the Celestial's soul crossed every boundary that Velentham could not physically cross, to find itself standing before the Tribunal on Elysium.
There was no waiting. Velentham uttered a spell and both he and Sanria appeared at the edge of the forest by the cottage. He kept her sleeping, wrapped in a bubble of energy to protect her from anything Gilean would try to do. "GILEAN! COME OUT HERE! I HAVE SOMEONE YOU SHOULD SEE!"
Velentham grinned as Gilean came to the door, gloated over the prize he held in the bubble, and taunted with everything he could imagine. Still, his idiot cousin wouldn't leave the ward. Velentham removed the bubble and forced Sanria to remain where she was. Then, his cousin started running his mouth. "You don't remember a lot of things, do you Sanria?"
"She remembers enough," Velentham said, turning Sanria's face to his. "He's making you forget. It's him Sanria. He is the reason you can't remember. That's why he's keeping you confined too. It's not others he's trying to protect you from, he doesn't want you to be free."
"That's enough, Gilean," Velentham warned, his arm around Sanria.
"Remember Sanria. Remember what he's done. He's killed your baby. He's tried to ruin your life."
"Killed..." Sanria said, and Velentham could feel the memory forcing itself to the surface.
"He's keeping you a prisoner. Yes. You had a baby inside you. Not his. He killed it."
"Enough, do you hear me?" Velentham growled, walking toward Gilean. Then all hell broke loose.
Velentham saw the shimmer that enclosed him and fired off a ray of energy meant to fry his cousin. The energy flew around him, encased in a field of antimagic. Unbelieveable. How his cousin had managed it, Velentham did not know, but as soon as he absorbed the magic, the bubble tightened, and he knew the next result.
Velentham turned quickly to see Orn and the Beast, Colin, rushing him. He grabbed Sanria, breathing quickly. His sword... he couldn't even conjure it. He was bested. "STAY BACK OR I'LL SNAP HER NECK!"
"You wouldn't," Gilean said.
"I won't let you have her, cousin. I'd rather her die than be with you."
"If she dies, you die. There is no way you're getting out of this."
"Then I'll go home and you'll be left with no one. Sounds fair enough to me."
With that, his insanity at full tilt, Velentham did to his woman and his unborn child exactly what he said. He heard the muted snap of Sanria's neck and as she fell to the ground, he felt part of his heart wither with her. There was nothing left but to be sent back to Elysium. He taunted the animal until Colin was upon him. He lay on the ground, begging to be returned to his homeland until the swords were thrust through him.
Velentham reached up to touch the blades that protruded from his chest. He laughed pitifully as the life left his body. Then his soul grouped itself into an orb. In a flash, the Celestial's soul crossed every boundary that Velentham could not physically cross, to find itself standing before the Tribunal on Elysium.
Shoes
She ate the food and listened to the conversation. She watched the little boy and smiled as politely as she could. She was being compared to some woman that was her but wasn't. Someone else had inhabited this shell before her. She could speak the language, she could understand concepts, she could use a fork and a spoon but in the context of the greater picture, she didn't know this man, this baby, this kitchen, this house, this person. Sanria.
The man - Colin - looked like he was on the verge of tears every time she proclaimed she didn't know or didn't understand or didn't remember. He showed her the other rooms of the house, telling her how much Sanria liked this one or that one, or how much time she spent there. No matter what, though, when she felt like backing away or just going somewhere for a moment to breathe - she was assured that if she only gave it a chance, she'd remember.
Colin showed her to the bedroom, her bedroom supposedly and she stared at the room with a sigh. She didn't know this place, no matter how pretty it was, and didn't feel as though she was supposed to be here. She took the wedding band from her necklace and frowned. When Colin came in to check on her, he slid it back onto her finger. "That's where it belongs," he said with a very slight chuckle. But why? She didn't know this man. She didn't know anyone.
When she sent him off to sleep in the guest room, the man - Colin - looked as if he could cry. He'd been so sick with worry over her (Sanria, she reminded herself) and all he wanted was to be beside her. She hadn't expected him to take her - but he did. She stared at him in shock as he looked down at her, tears in his eyes, begging her - "Please, tell me you remember this. Please."
"I'm... sorry..."
"These were the times were were the closest. I don't want to lose you."
She laid there beside him in the dark, long after he had fallen asleep. She listened to him breathing, listened to the constant yet muffled din of the waterfall outside the balcony, listened to every sound the house made as it cooled off and settled into the darkness of the night. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't be placed in the mold of this woman who, with so many "long sto- ries" couldn't have been happy. To have killed herself... it didn't make sense. What could have possibly happened to make her loathe living so much. Though Colin had said she had been happy most of the time, the shoe just didn't fit. Neither did she.
The man - Colin - looked like he was on the verge of tears every time she proclaimed she didn't know or didn't understand or didn't remember. He showed her the other rooms of the house, telling her how much Sanria liked this one or that one, or how much time she spent there. No matter what, though, when she felt like backing away or just going somewhere for a moment to breathe - she was assured that if she only gave it a chance, she'd remember.
Colin showed her to the bedroom, her bedroom supposedly and she stared at the room with a sigh. She didn't know this place, no matter how pretty it was, and didn't feel as though she was supposed to be here. She took the wedding band from her necklace and frowned. When Colin came in to check on her, he slid it back onto her finger. "That's where it belongs," he said with a very slight chuckle. But why? She didn't know this man. She didn't know anyone.
When she sent him off to sleep in the guest room, the man - Colin - looked as if he could cry. He'd been so sick with worry over her (Sanria, she reminded herself) and all he wanted was to be beside her. She hadn't expected him to take her - but he did. She stared at him in shock as he looked down at her, tears in his eyes, begging her - "Please, tell me you remember this. Please."
"I'm... sorry..."
"These were the times were were the closest. I don't want to lose you."
She laid there beside him in the dark, long after he had fallen asleep. She listened to him breathing, listened to the constant yet muffled din of the waterfall outside the balcony, listened to every sound the house made as it cooled off and settled into the darkness of the night. She couldn't stay here. She couldn't be placed in the mold of this woman who, with so many "long sto- ries" couldn't have been happy. To have killed herself... it didn't make sense. What could have possibly happened to make her loathe living so much. Though Colin had said she had been happy most of the time, the shoe just didn't fit. Neither did she.
Time
Pride. It was the single word that kept coming back to Sanria, thudding through her mind in time with her beating heart. Her son, her boy, her Orn was becoming a man. Certainly, he still had missteps - his excitement bubbling over like a child, words hastily said without thought when he was nervous, but in the setting sun of the day, she had watched her little boy negotiate with an orc in a free, clear, unabashed way. He had negotiated with the skill of a man...
Sanria had finally taken him to the castle. Taken him to meet the Rilmani and any member of the clan that would meet with him. Her heart warmed at the awe on his face - at once so young and so grown. She had been alive for so many years, years beyond her natural time, but never felt so aged as when Orn, big and gangly, jogged to the edge of the floating island with the exuberance of a lab- orador puppy. "Mirin and Reggie should see this!" Her heart tightened. Al- ready the sphere of his life was moving away from her shadow, gaining a light of its own. Though Emalia and Tarran had grown up, this was the first time she got to see it without guilt, but bent with the weight of loss.
They had entered the castle and met with Jayden and Sanria felt sorrow flitter like a bird behind the cage of her bones. Orn seemed to absorb the tenderness Jayden showed like a sponge. A fatherliness that Colin had obliterated when he had killed Arlenia. Jayden had sensed the sorrow from both of them, and Sanria knew, deep down, she had to get Colin better. She had to try to help Orn look at his own father the way he had looked at Jayden.
Sanria had taken Orn to her office when the yell interrupted their discussion, "Who in there!!!!! Let Kronk in!!!!!!!" Then, leading her son, Sanria stepped out of the castle and face to face with a hulking orc. Fear ripped through her at the sight of the sword and the armor, and her son, her boy, her Orn had stepped in front of -her-. Somehow, time had passed. Her mind swung like a pendulum - boy, man, boy, man. Then she watched with awe as Orn laid down his staff and somehow befriended the orc named Kronk. He had negotiated with the skill of a man.
Sanria had finally taken him to the castle. Taken him to meet the Rilmani and any member of the clan that would meet with him. Her heart warmed at the awe on his face - at once so young and so grown. She had been alive for so many years, years beyond her natural time, but never felt so aged as when Orn, big and gangly, jogged to the edge of the floating island with the exuberance of a lab- orador puppy. "Mirin and Reggie should see this!" Her heart tightened. Al- ready the sphere of his life was moving away from her shadow, gaining a light of its own. Though Emalia and Tarran had grown up, this was the first time she got to see it without guilt, but bent with the weight of loss.
They had entered the castle and met with Jayden and Sanria felt sorrow flitter like a bird behind the cage of her bones. Orn seemed to absorb the tenderness Jayden showed like a sponge. A fatherliness that Colin had obliterated when he had killed Arlenia. Jayden had sensed the sorrow from both of them, and Sanria knew, deep down, she had to get Colin better. She had to try to help Orn look at his own father the way he had looked at Jayden.
Sanria had taken Orn to her office when the yell interrupted their discussion, "Who in there!!!!! Let Kronk in!!!!!!!" Then, leading her son, Sanria stepped out of the castle and face to face with a hulking orc. Fear ripped through her at the sight of the sword and the armor, and her son, her boy, her Orn had stepped in front of -her-. Somehow, time had passed. Her mind swung like a pendulum - boy, man, boy, man. Then she watched with awe as Orn laid down his staff and somehow befriended the orc named Kronk. He had negotiated with the skill of a man.
Collision
Sanria came back from the castle exhausted and grateful to see her own house. She had spend the day in meditations coupled with advising sessions with Enmach. She threw off her robe and stepped into her waterfall shower. Through magic the water diverted here was the perfect temperature. It ran down her face, neck, and body - easing hear pain and clearing her mind. Once finished, she wrapped herself in a fresh robe and headed to her bedroom.
Colin was there, waiting for her. Somehow, though they were "apart" they weren't "apart." Colin had slowly worked his way from the guest room back into Sanria's room - and she was so accustomed to seeing him there that the thought of forcing him out no longer crossed her mind. She told him she'd be staying until he was healed anyway, and Enmach had suggested not rushing that, so, to see him there wasn't troubling, but the look on his face was.
"Leandra is really, really upset," he began haltingly.
"About?"
"Us... everything... she wanted to move out. Me and her."
"I see."
"Do you think she got that from me?" he asked, avoiding her gaze.
"Got what from you?"
"Being so angry..."
"No. She's never truly seen you angry. Only one of our children has."
"And he hasn't been the same with me since," Colin replied quietly.
"Nothing has been the same since."
"Yeah... I think maybe you should talk to her."
"Yes. I don't know what good it will do, but alright."
The soothing affects of her shower gone, Sanria sighed and got up, padding down the stairs to Leandra's room. She expected a fire storm. With Leandra, lately, Sanria could never know. The girl was so full of angst and irritation with her... she knocked. No answer. She knocked again. Nothing. With dread creeping in, she opened the door to find an empty room and what appeared to be an open diary on the bed.
Sanria crossed the room and picked it up and as she read, her blood went cold.
Colin was there, waiting for her. Somehow, though they were "apart" they weren't "apart." Colin had slowly worked his way from the guest room back into Sanria's room - and she was so accustomed to seeing him there that the thought of forcing him out no longer crossed her mind. She told him she'd be staying until he was healed anyway, and Enmach had suggested not rushing that, so, to see him there wasn't troubling, but the look on his face was.
"Leandra is really, really upset," he began haltingly.
"About?"
"Us... everything... she wanted to move out. Me and her."
"I see."
"Do you think she got that from me?" he asked, avoiding her gaze.
"Got what from you?"
"Being so angry..."
"No. She's never truly seen you angry. Only one of our children has."
"And he hasn't been the same with me since," Colin replied quietly.
"Nothing has been the same since."
"Yeah... I think maybe you should talk to her."
"Yes. I don't know what good it will do, but alright."
The soothing affects of her shower gone, Sanria sighed and got up, padding down the stairs to Leandra's room. She expected a fire storm. With Leandra, lately, Sanria could never know. The girl was so full of angst and irritation with her... she knocked. No answer. She knocked again. Nothing. With dread creeping in, she opened the door to find an empty room and what appeared to be an open diary on the bed.
Sanria crossed the room and picked it up and as she read, her blood went cold.
Contingencies for Contingencies
The heavy footfalls of Colin's boots along the wooden floor of the library echoed throughout the room. Throm studied the warrior carefully. Predictably, Colin's rate of alarm had been steadily increasing since he had learned of Sanria's departure. His decision to follow and approach Sanria was already apparent in his body language.
'Where did she say she was going, exactly?'
Throm continued to study the man as he divulged the information that would soon put him on a course to Sanria.
'She'll probably be on her way to Torregiano. After that I believe Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep.'
Colin's frustration was evident in his voice as well as the increased speed of pacing as he glared at Throm, shaking his head.
'Just when things seemed to be coming together. I'm sorry, but there's no way I can just sit up in this house and not care that she's out there by herself with all that we've seen. You convinced me that this threat was big enough to go into the rift, yet you are fine with just letting this happen.'
Throm leaned forward upon the table as he nodded earnestly.
'Shall we pack up the ship, and bring her back by force then?'
Colin waved him off, his frustration clearly mounting as he detected Throm's sarcasm.
'No, don't you worry, you carry on however you want. I can take care of this. Thank you for the information.'
'What would you do?'
Colin turned to Throm, signs of a cool anger simmering just beneath the surface evident even to the sorcerer.
'I told you, I'm going to make sure she's safe. After that... we'll see. It wouldn't be the first time I've been a guardian. But maybe you've forgotten how.'
His comment hit closer to home more so than Colin could have known. He was right in ways he could not have known. Throm was accustomed to moving people about, as pawns on a chessboard, but even in the worst of times he had not made habit of doing so with friends. He had always drawn an invisible line in the fabric of his moral state, separating friendship from the cool calculating voice within him that always seemed to get things accomplished efficiently.
'If you must keep tabs, then do so. I know deep down I would feel better about it. But by blundering in, announcing that you don't respect her freedom to get away. Does that truly serve her...or does it serve you?'
This earned him another angry glance from the larger man.
'I'm not you Throm. I can't just sit back and watch things happen. I also won't slip about following Sanria like some king of thief, and I won't operate based upon assumptions.'
Throm nodded, reverting mentally back to his original plan. Colin was a man of action, Throm could respected that. His concern would lead him not to dance around the issues, but rather to charge directly into the heart of them. Throm knew his own concern was no less, but there was always a plan to be executed. A contingency for contingencies. While both may in truth have the same goals in mind, they were opposite sides of the coin in nature. But it would be both sides that would be needed to see this through.
'I hope you will keep me informed as well. I'll be leaving here as soon as I catch up with Thasmudyan. I will be staying at the Blockade east of the city.'
Colin issued a somber nod which did not necessarily commit to or against doing so.
'Well, time's wasting. I need to make preparations. I have a lot of ground to make up.'
The warrior departed, leaving Throm to scratch out the location of potential hidden caches upon a piece seconds before the man in black slipped back into the room, chuckling in sarcasm though speaking quietly so as not to be overheard.
'Long time no see.'
Throm folded the parchment and handed it to the man returning his comment equaling his tone of sarcasm, in the process.
'It has been indeed.'
The Cetra cast a glance at the doorway after Colin.
'It's good to know I still have friends out there. Ensure he doesn't know you're following.'
'No doubt.'
The man nodded and once more took his leave. Throm sighed, alone to his thoughts once more. He had but one more task to complete before leaving the manor. His gaze drifted to the small necklace that still lay upon the table. He would need to see to it's safety, and for that he would need Thasmudyan.
'Where did she say she was going, exactly?'
Throm continued to study the man as he divulged the information that would soon put him on a course to Sanria.
'She'll probably be on her way to Torregiano. After that I believe Baldur's Gate and Waterdeep.'
Colin's frustration was evident in his voice as well as the increased speed of pacing as he glared at Throm, shaking his head.
'Just when things seemed to be coming together. I'm sorry, but there's no way I can just sit up in this house and not care that she's out there by herself with all that we've seen. You convinced me that this threat was big enough to go into the rift, yet you are fine with just letting this happen.'
Throm leaned forward upon the table as he nodded earnestly.
'Shall we pack up the ship, and bring her back by force then?'
Colin waved him off, his frustration clearly mounting as he detected Throm's sarcasm.
'No, don't you worry, you carry on however you want. I can take care of this. Thank you for the information.'
'What would you do?'
Colin turned to Throm, signs of a cool anger simmering just beneath the surface evident even to the sorcerer.
'I told you, I'm going to make sure she's safe. After that... we'll see. It wouldn't be the first time I've been a guardian. But maybe you've forgotten how.'
His comment hit closer to home more so than Colin could have known. He was right in ways he could not have known. Throm was accustomed to moving people about, as pawns on a chessboard, but even in the worst of times he had not made habit of doing so with friends. He had always drawn an invisible line in the fabric of his moral state, separating friendship from the cool calculating voice within him that always seemed to get things accomplished efficiently.
'If you must keep tabs, then do so. I know deep down I would feel better about it. But by blundering in, announcing that you don't respect her freedom to get away. Does that truly serve her...or does it serve you?'
This earned him another angry glance from the larger man.
'I'm not you Throm. I can't just sit back and watch things happen. I also won't slip about following Sanria like some king of thief, and I won't operate based upon assumptions.'
Throm nodded, reverting mentally back to his original plan. Colin was a man of action, Throm could respected that. His concern would lead him not to dance around the issues, but rather to charge directly into the heart of them. Throm knew his own concern was no less, but there was always a plan to be executed. A contingency for contingencies. While both may in truth have the same goals in mind, they were opposite sides of the coin in nature. But it would be both sides that would be needed to see this through.
'I hope you will keep me informed as well. I'll be leaving here as soon as I catch up with Thasmudyan. I will be staying at the Blockade east of the city.'
Colin issued a somber nod which did not necessarily commit to or against doing so.
'Well, time's wasting. I need to make preparations. I have a lot of ground to make up.'
The warrior departed, leaving Throm to scratch out the location of potential hidden caches upon a piece seconds before the man in black slipped back into the room, chuckling in sarcasm though speaking quietly so as not to be overheard.
'Long time no see.'
Throm folded the parchment and handed it to the man returning his comment equaling his tone of sarcasm, in the process.
'It has been indeed.'
The Cetra cast a glance at the doorway after Colin.
'It's good to know I still have friends out there. Ensure he doesn't know you're following.'
'No doubt.'
The man nodded and once more took his leave. Throm sighed, alone to his thoughts once more. He had but one more task to complete before leaving the manor. His gaze drifted to the small necklace that still lay upon the table. He would need to see to it's safety, and for that he would need Thasmudyan.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)