Grobnak had returned to the compound and Emalia sat a bit longer in the bakery. Tom stared at her in open disgust, and others that had seen her sitting with the leader of both the Jihad and Talosians whispered and pointed - sharing looks of irritation and indignation. Emalia looked down, and unable to finish what was left of the pie, hastily rose and scuttled from the building.
There was no way she would go back to the Clan Hall at this moment. She felt frozen in a place where she didn't want to be, but couldn't help to be. Embarrassment trailed behind her, mocking her, but why should she be so ridiculed for her beliefs?
No one noticed her passing through the west gates of Westbridge on her way to the Jihad compound. When she arrived, she stared up at the entry, not taking notice of anyone leaving. A gaunt figure knocked into her shoulder and Emalia apologized profusely. He looked her over with a grin... he knew her name... and within a few moments of welcoming her home, he knew the rest of her tale.
"I....would say....talk to him perhaps? It....sounds....best..." Emalia agreed. She pulled from her bag a tome given to her by Grobnak. In it was history written before her time, or his. She would give this to Hellstrom and hope he would read it. Perhaps if she couldn't get him to see, this would.
She set off, leaving the pale figure behind, and made her way through the streets of Westbridge. As she headed north, the sight of the mountains caused her to slow. He was up there and she was terrified. 'Perhaps,' she thought, 'I will sit here and look over the book once more...'
It was not long before Colin's voice rang out. She told him everything and before she knew it, she found herself sobbing uncontrollably on his chest. She was afraid to go into the mountains... afraid that after this trip... she might never see Hellstrom again.
