Velentham heard the light steps before seeing anything. The boy had run off completely through the Druid's Grove, his dog none the wiser that eyes were upon him, but something was still amiss. He moved between the trees, uttering a word that lifted him from the ground and kept his invisibility absolute. He hovered there beside a low bush and looked down on a woman half naked and pierced full of silver and laden with so much ink it may have well been three pots worth.
Velentham smirked. The people of this place drove him mad - all of them. They smelled of bitterness, sadness, frustration, madness, and confusion. They made him smell of it deep in his pores. He knew from looking in a mirror he was gaunt - he looked nothing like he had before. But once he had Sanria, once he figured out how to get out of this place, he would return to his former glory.
He followed the half-naked woman's gaze in silence and grinned. She stared at the cottage as well. What she wanted from it, he did not know. He did not care. But perhaps he might make himself known and they might work for a similar goal. Perhaps she might work for him and do his bidding - perhaps she might take his cousin out of the way, and he take Sanria. He might have to work his magic a bit, force the savage before him as he'd forced so many before.
First, he would watch her. He would see her demeanor and keep even his breath silent until he was ready. He drifted upward into the branches of the trees and seated himself on the bough in perfect silence. He stared down at the woman as she stared at the cottage and left his smirk on his face. He'd never felt closer to his goal than right now.
Deluded Fantasies
Maya entered into the base of the woods nearby the waterfall and cocked her head a moment, sniffing the tendrils of smoke on the air before looking around her, crouched down and waiting for trouble. The birds sang their song and the bubbling water cascading over the rocks at the base of the fall were the only sounds she could hear, however someone had been here, that was cigarette smoke.
Not wanting to draw attention to herself now that she feared she wasn't alone, nestled back into the shrubbery, her glaring eyes rested on the small home before her, Sanria's home. She had come to see if Thasmudyan had kept his word, to ensure his brat hadn't stepped an inch near this glade. The quaint little picture of the happy little family before her set her teeth on edge.
There was so much blood, the children looking on in horror, as Sanria began to bleed upon her clothes, but Maya Wanted her to suffer more yet, She allowed Sanria's garments to slide, slippery and wet from her clenched fingers and hit the floor with a thud, in moments however Maya was atop her. "How long I've wanted this".
Sanria's laughter echoed across the glade from the home before Maya and ended her short lived fantasies. Snarling under her breath, she drowned out all her deep sort mental facade, and went back to watching the harlotte's home.
Not wanting to draw attention to herself now that she feared she wasn't alone, nestled back into the shrubbery, her glaring eyes rested on the small home before her, Sanria's home. She had come to see if Thasmudyan had kept his word, to ensure his brat hadn't stepped an inch near this glade. The quaint little picture of the happy little family before her set her teeth on edge.
There was so much blood, the children looking on in horror, as Sanria began to bleed upon her clothes, but Maya Wanted her to suffer more yet, She allowed Sanria's garments to slide, slippery and wet from her clenched fingers and hit the floor with a thud, in moments however Maya was atop her. "How long I've wanted this".
Sanria's laughter echoed across the glade from the home before Maya and ended her short lived fantasies. Snarling under her breath, she drowned out all her deep sort mental facade, and went back to watching the harlotte's home.
Betrayal
Velentham leaned against a tree and pulled a cigarette from the pack in his pocket. He lifted a match, and using only his thumbnail, set it ablaze. It was a trick he had learned from his time in Heifong, the stinking cesspool of filth and degenerates. It was useful when dealing with the drunken fools that waddled up to him wanting to fight since he was gold and seven feet tall. He lifted the flame to his cigarette and brought into his lungs the soothing heat of gray smoke and let it out again. He didn't notice it billowing up into the canopy of the trees around him. His eyes were trained on the cottage.
He saw the boy and his dog leap from the porch and head into the woods. He saw Sanria lean down and stop the little girl from leaving the porch as he held the second drag inside, the pressure soothing in his chest with his arms crossed over it. Thasmudyan, the man who looked like some beggar, was right. She was here, with his cousin, Gilean.
Velentham let the breath out, the smoke thin and dissipated from being held so long and forced out so fast. Gilean, after all his bullshit, had married his girl. There wasn't any descriptor for the feeling that curled within Velentham's heart. Gilean was the reason his father died. Gilean was the reason he couldn't get home. Now, Gilean was the reason he couldn't get Sanria. Anger held his beating muscle in its taloned grip, and squeezed. Perhaps cold rage could be said of him now. After all, Gilean had obviously used the Celestial charm to get Sanria. She was enchanted, it was the only way. And given everything Gilean had told Velentham about not using it on her...
He took in another long drag, the smoke caressing his nerves and helping him to see clearly. Velentham uttered a spell and vanished into nothingness, the only indication he was there, the smoke that appeared like magic from a non-existent cigarette. There would be more than hell to pay, but first, as Velentham finished his smoke, he would think of how best to drag Gilean away and crush the life out of him. One had to plan carefully when dealing with a Celestial, even if that Celestial was a bastardization of what his people truly were.
He saw the boy and his dog leap from the porch and head into the woods. He saw Sanria lean down and stop the little girl from leaving the porch as he held the second drag inside, the pressure soothing in his chest with his arms crossed over it. Thasmudyan, the man who looked like some beggar, was right. She was here, with his cousin, Gilean.
Velentham let the breath out, the smoke thin and dissipated from being held so long and forced out so fast. Gilean, after all his bullshit, had married his girl. There wasn't any descriptor for the feeling that curled within Velentham's heart. Gilean was the reason his father died. Gilean was the reason he couldn't get home. Now, Gilean was the reason he couldn't get Sanria. Anger held his beating muscle in its taloned grip, and squeezed. Perhaps cold rage could be said of him now. After all, Gilean had obviously used the Celestial charm to get Sanria. She was enchanted, it was the only way. And given everything Gilean had told Velentham about not using it on her...
He took in another long drag, the smoke caressing his nerves and helping him to see clearly. Velentham uttered a spell and vanished into nothingness, the only indication he was there, the smoke that appeared like magic from a non-existent cigarette. There would be more than hell to pay, but first, as Velentham finished his smoke, he would think of how best to drag Gilean away and crush the life out of him. One had to plan carefully when dealing with a Celestial, even if that Celestial was a bastardization of what his people truly were.
In Time
Sanria sat in the chair before the fire, Nioma sleeping in the crook of her arm as Matinus read aloud. They had invited Mr. and Mrs. Bunny, Nioma's new pets, into the house, as well as Scout, Matinus' new dog. Embued with a sense of peace, the animals were all getting along, content to sit by the fire grooming themselves. They had had a full day, Gilean taking Nioma to the temple, Sanria taking Matinus to the castle. Though he was incredibly shy, Matinus' face lit up at every new introduction and every passing dragon, and Sanria felt her heart warmed. Matinus reminded her so much of Orn in so many ways - it made it easy for her to love him almost immediately.
Sanria was content to know that Mrs. Bunny had been given a birth control spell not unlike her own - there wouldn't be a multiplication of rabbits in the cottage - though it wouldn't necessarily stop Mr. Bunny from possibly forcing Sanria to explain the birds and bees much sooner than she'd like. She leaned back into the couch as Matinus read and thought back over the day.
Enmach had discovered her marriage given Sanria's young guest, and when she took Sanria into the library, her fingers steepled beneath her narrow nose, the only way Sanria had escaped the withering lecture was when she had been alerted to a visitor outside the castle. Matinus stayed behind with Mirin, who had been a fixture in the castle with Orn, and Sanria found herself in discussions with a drow whose name Sanria never did receive. Concerned with the balance of Westbridge and the treatment he found at the hands of Radiant Heart, the drow insisted his viewpoint may well aid in the balance of the clan. With the promise of an application, the meeting had ended, and Sanria went back inside to collect Matinus.
The walk back to the cottage had the boy chatting amiably and excitedly. "I will be a Keeper of Balance when I get big, then I'll work with a dragon and go on adventures with a dragon and a silver lady and scout." Sanria could only chuckle. Now sitting there, a sleeping child on her lap, another child who needed a mother at her side reading "The Adventures of Roland," Sanria felt a warmth spread through her and she reached over, ruffling Matinus' hair.
The day had been filled with speculative glances from the Rilmani, a fresh dose of irritation from Enmach, an uncanny meeting with an unknown drow, and a glut of brand new pets, owing partially to Gilean not wanting to let Nioma down in her request to not have the live Mr. Bunny be lonely. She looked up as Gilean came in the room and sat in the chair. He smiled warmly at the assembled group... family... and Sanria felt within herself the beginnings of belonging.
Sanria was content to know that Mrs. Bunny had been given a birth control spell not unlike her own - there wouldn't be a multiplication of rabbits in the cottage - though it wouldn't necessarily stop Mr. Bunny from possibly forcing Sanria to explain the birds and bees much sooner than she'd like. She leaned back into the couch as Matinus read and thought back over the day.
Enmach had discovered her marriage given Sanria's young guest, and when she took Sanria into the library, her fingers steepled beneath her narrow nose, the only way Sanria had escaped the withering lecture was when she had been alerted to a visitor outside the castle. Matinus stayed behind with Mirin, who had been a fixture in the castle with Orn, and Sanria found herself in discussions with a drow whose name Sanria never did receive. Concerned with the balance of Westbridge and the treatment he found at the hands of Radiant Heart, the drow insisted his viewpoint may well aid in the balance of the clan. With the promise of an application, the meeting had ended, and Sanria went back inside to collect Matinus.
The walk back to the cottage had the boy chatting amiably and excitedly. "I will be a Keeper of Balance when I get big, then I'll work with a dragon and go on adventures with a dragon and a silver lady and scout." Sanria could only chuckle. Now sitting there, a sleeping child on her lap, another child who needed a mother at her side reading "The Adventures of Roland," Sanria felt a warmth spread through her and she reached over, ruffling Matinus' hair.
The day had been filled with speculative glances from the Rilmani, a fresh dose of irritation from Enmach, an uncanny meeting with an unknown drow, and a glut of brand new pets, owing partially to Gilean not wanting to let Nioma down in her request to not have the live Mr. Bunny be lonely. She looked up as Gilean came in the room and sat in the chair. He smiled warmly at the assembled group... family... and Sanria felt within herself the beginnings of belonging.
Personal Hell, Public Chaos
She had been married for less than twenty-four hours and already it seemed everyone that she didn't want to know, knew. She sat with Matinus on the edge of his bed, tucking him in. She had ensured the boy had a bath and his hair was combed, and he looked at her with his lilac-colored eyes and gave a drawn out yawn. "I'm glad you're here," he said simply. It was a small act of gratitude in her day that made her feel emotional. Chaos was too easy a word to describe what Sanria had walked into.
She'd gotten into a shouting match with Thasmudyan, though she'd anticipated his anger in a way. Left without his powers, fresh from saving Lyvinnia from Maya, he had admitted he felt betrayed and angry. She could only say she felt fear. Thasmudyan had left her before, disappeared on her before, even slept with Maya while he was supposed to be with her. Yes, she loved Gilean, but the speed with which she'd acted on their marriage was predicated by the fear of being with Thasmudyan. After all those years of wanting nothing more, she couldn't handle the idea of being back together with the one who had held her heart for so long.
She gave him some of Nioma's clothes to take back for Lyvinnia and confronted the second irate person - Leandra. Her daughter was utterly furious, and accused Sanria of not only ruining her life, but Colin's as well. The rancor that poured from Leandra's mouth shocked Sanria and made her feel small. The ultimate insult was when Leandra insisted that, no matter what Sanria felt, she had an obligation to be with Colin. It was so final, so snappish, Sanria was stunned into silence. "You don't need to worry, I'm leaving this place. The farther away I can get so I'm not reminded that I'm *your* daughter, the better."
Matinus had salvaged the night. She had made at least one person outside of Gilean happy. She stood up and blew him a kiss goodnight. When he sleepily returned it, Sanria could barely keep herself from crying.
She'd gotten into a shouting match with Thasmudyan, though she'd anticipated his anger in a way. Left without his powers, fresh from saving Lyvinnia from Maya, he had admitted he felt betrayed and angry. She could only say she felt fear. Thasmudyan had left her before, disappeared on her before, even slept with Maya while he was supposed to be with her. Yes, she loved Gilean, but the speed with which she'd acted on their marriage was predicated by the fear of being with Thasmudyan. After all those years of wanting nothing more, she couldn't handle the idea of being back together with the one who had held her heart for so long.
She gave him some of Nioma's clothes to take back for Lyvinnia and confronted the second irate person - Leandra. Her daughter was utterly furious, and accused Sanria of not only ruining her life, but Colin's as well. The rancor that poured from Leandra's mouth shocked Sanria and made her feel small. The ultimate insult was when Leandra insisted that, no matter what Sanria felt, she had an obligation to be with Colin. It was so final, so snappish, Sanria was stunned into silence. "You don't need to worry, I'm leaving this place. The farther away I can get so I'm not reminded that I'm *your* daughter, the better."
Matinus had salvaged the night. She had made at least one person outside of Gilean happy. She stood up and blew him a kiss goodnight. When he sleepily returned it, Sanria could barely keep herself from crying.
Mrs. Gilean Eosos!
Sanria slid from the bed, leaving Gilean's side, her husband's side. She had gone against all advice from her advisor, and though the idea made her nervous, married Gilean. She was now living in the cottage she had bought for Emalia long ago, had given to Claire, who had given it to Gilean. She walked down the hallway to Matinus' room and looked in on the boy. His arms and legs were sprawled akimbo, and she took a moment to move him into a better sleeping position, tucking him in before going downstairs.
A mere few hours previous, she was Sanria Stone. Now, she was Sanria Eosos. The name felt strange on her tongue. She felt even more strange given the day before Mirin had become a Mrs. Stone. "Sanria Eosos," she whispered, and the condensation from her breath fogged the window. Her fear had driven her here. Not that she wasn't happy. She was just finding it a little hard to breathe.
They were married beneath the sliver of a waxing moon, beneath the glow of a million stars, right there in the Druid's Grove. Her third marriage, Gilean's second. The Elder Druid seemed pleased with her choice, and had some foreknowledge that caused him to smile when he pronounced to the assembled trees and owls that they were wed. Mr. and Mrs. Gilean Eosos. When had such a thing happened and could it possibly have been any faster?
"Sanria Eosos," she exhaled again. She had anticipated any name save that one. The force of the reality broadsided her completely. A new beginning with an old friend. The marriage was quiet, private, and she had no plans on telling anyone anytime soon. She climbed the stairs and Sanria Eosos slid into bed with her husband.
A mere few hours previous, she was Sanria Stone. Now, she was Sanria Eosos. The name felt strange on her tongue. She felt even more strange given the day before Mirin had become a Mrs. Stone. "Sanria Eosos," she whispered, and the condensation from her breath fogged the window. Her fear had driven her here. Not that she wasn't happy. She was just finding it a little hard to breathe.
They were married beneath the sliver of a waxing moon, beneath the glow of a million stars, right there in the Druid's Grove. Her third marriage, Gilean's second. The Elder Druid seemed pleased with her choice, and had some foreknowledge that caused him to smile when he pronounced to the assembled trees and owls that they were wed. Mr. and Mrs. Gilean Eosos. When had such a thing happened and could it possibly have been any faster?
"Sanria Eosos," she exhaled again. She had anticipated any name save that one. The force of the reality broadsided her completely. A new beginning with an old friend. The marriage was quiet, private, and she had no plans on telling anyone anytime soon. She climbed the stairs and Sanria Eosos slid into bed with her husband.
Meditation
Sunshine streamed in through skylights. Ror was sitting at the edge of a brook amidst leafy green plants. Cross-legged and with his eyes closed, the elf was meditating.
A bar. Phil's. Conversational tatters.
"...I am not the only one apparently..."
- "...No... no, you are not...."
- "...a file on me, probably from the TriPower..."
"... back from life?"
- "...It cuts me off...I have no memories....Something keeps sending me back...."
The bracelet. So peculiar.
- "...awareness... must persist after death."
The image of Thasmudyan flickered in and out of existence, his mouth moving, but what was he saying?
- "Ever since I can remember.... hazy..."
The image flickered again.
- "...a daughter of mine is in danger..."
Sanria's voice, "Thasmudyan doesn't want you raising his daughter."
"Rrrrrorrrrr-rrr."
The voice changed, and had an edge to it, an edge that wanted to kill.
"Thasmudyan's other lover...Concieved Nioma the day Lyvinnia was concieved."
A tavern. Ror saw himself sipping from tea.
"Lloth still awaits you after death?"
Two voices.
- "... A lot to do with it. Almost everything...I betrayed her... Before this guise..."
Market Square. Ror was talking to Rahvin and Maezura.
"And there you have it, Master Surion. In a nutshell, we seek to prolong death as long as possible..."
The world twisted away again.
- "...To learn the lifestram I presume. My daughter.... Able to tap right in."
Thasmudyan.
- "It's ...complicated, yes."
"I'll ask no more."
- "Thanks for that."
The angry yelling.
"...better stay the HELL AWAY from LYVINNIA!'
It was sinister.
"...Closer than anyone...To perminant death...Real death, everlasting death..."
Ror's eyes opened. Meditation was over. Placing his hand in support on the grass in front of him, he swore under his own breath,
"Shit."
A bar. Phil's. Conversational tatters.
"...I am not the only one apparently..."
- "...No... no, you are not...."
- "...a file on me, probably from the TriPower..."
"... back from life?"
- "...It cuts me off...I have no memories....Something keeps sending me back...."
The bracelet. So peculiar.
- "...awareness... must persist after death."
The image of Thasmudyan flickered in and out of existence, his mouth moving, but what was he saying?
- "Ever since I can remember.... hazy..."
The image flickered again.
- "...a daughter of mine is in danger..."
Sanria's voice, "Thasmudyan doesn't want you raising his daughter."
"Rrrrrorrrrr-rrr."
The voice changed, and had an edge to it, an edge that wanted to kill.
"Thasmudyan's other lover...Concieved Nioma the day Lyvinnia was concieved."
A tavern. Ror saw himself sipping from tea.
"Lloth still awaits you after death?"
Two voices.
- "... A lot to do with it. Almost everything...I betrayed her... Before this guise..."
Market Square. Ror was talking to Rahvin and Maezura.
"And there you have it, Master Surion. In a nutshell, we seek to prolong death as long as possible..."
The world twisted away again.
- "...To learn the lifestram I presume. My daughter.... Able to tap right in."
Thasmudyan.
- "It's ...complicated, yes."
"I'll ask no more."
- "Thanks for that."
The angry yelling.
"...better stay the HELL AWAY from LYVINNIA!'
It was sinister.
"...Closer than anyone...To perminant death...Real death, everlasting death..."
Ror's eyes opened. Meditation was over. Placing his hand in support on the grass in front of him, he swore under his own breath,
"Shit."
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