Spring, 122PW
Continued from here.
The large man before Iarei stopped in his tracks as that question came to light. He answered immediately and sharply before he had a chance to put his thoughts in order. “We’re close to the boy. A smell a..” His voice trailed off as the words fell free from between his lips. His mind raced as he quickly tried to correct his folly. “I..I..Nevermind that, just know we are close.” The large man stammered nervously though followed his words with a forceful nod as if his words could not be questioned. He continued along the path and his pace picked up. He no longer wanted to speak to the others. He had said too much.
He had been so distracted by his stumble over words that he had failed to catch onto another scent. It was the scent of beings like Tais. It was the scent of creatures sent to kill the group. Tais had let his guard down and now it would likely be too late to save them. Iraei’s mention of them being followed was the only thing that brought him back into alertness. He picked up their scent on the wind and he turned his torso to warn the trio behind him. He was too late.
Thanks to the twist of his body, the knife that had been for Tais’ chest now instead sliced into his left shoulder. It left a long and deep gash and one could near see the bone past all the blood and meat pouring from the wound. A loud, carnal growl grew from Tais’ throat and came out as a half roar. He barked at the others, but he didn’t know if it would be to any avail. “Run!” It was a simple enough word. He threw his body back forward and in the process scent a muscled arm flailing through the air. His forearm bashed against the chest of the first assailant with enough force and speed that it sent him stumbling backwards several feet and onto his rump.
The impact of his arm against the attacking man was intense as it sent a rattling all the way up to his shoulder. It momentarily left him paralyzed with the intense sensations rocking through his body and his eyes glazed over as he felt rage building from the center of his being. It was rage coming from his very soul. His breathing began to pick up, his heart began to race and he could only allow one last word come from his lips in the carnage that went on around him. “Run..” It was low, near inaudible. He could only hope it was enough.
A loud cracking came from his body as his bones began to snap and restructure themselves under his bronzed skin. One could see the movements of his muscles and the such as the positioned themselves under his skin and it was a gruesome and almost horrifying sight. It was raw, ungraceful, and mutilating. A shout of pain came from the man’s lips and he fell to one knee. Thick white fur began to sprout from his skin and the flesh beneath began to turn a pale grey. The man then collapsed completely and lay there in the street face first as the changes took hold of his body and in the matter of seconds the creature he had become lifted itself from the ground.
A massive white furred beast now stood there on all fours. Long black claws stretched themselves from his paws, his lips were curled back and his sharp, pearly white canines were on display for all to see. The slash on his shoulder was still there and the red liquid stained that beautiful mass of fur as it dribbled down his fore leg, but the flesh would seemed to affect this creature much less than it had Tais.
The man Tais had previously thrown for a loop was now staring in awe shocked fear at the mammoth of teeth and claws that stood before him. The large beast threw his head back and an ear splitting roar of pain and anger burst free from its snout before it barreled forward towards the second man that had been barreling towards him. The first man, who was still on his rump and in Tais’ path found himself crushed under the weight of 1350 pounds as the bear brought both front paws down atop him at the same time as it ran. He had tried to defend himself by slashing upwards at the creature, but all that knife had succeeded in doing was leaving yet another wound. This one was in the center of Tais’ massive left paw, but it didn’t seem to slow him as he never stopped his run towards the second assailant.
The man that the massive beast had been approaching had stopped dead in his tracks and was now trying his best to escape the wrath of such a monster. Still, Tais was at full sprint and it was hard to escape such a mass at such speeds. Tais knocked the man to the ground with a single swipe of his paw, leaving several deep gashes in the flesh of his back. As the man fell forward and collapsed onto the ground, the bear’s snout lashed forward and sharp canine’s cut into the muscle in the man’s arm. With a single jerk, Tais tore the man’s arm free and a sickening snap echoed out into the street as blood splattered across the dirt, stone, and rock that made up the path they had been walking on.
The creature that had once been Tais let out yet another roar, though this one was more in agony than anything else. The blood lust that the beast had felt when first shifted was quickly slacking its hold and the pain from its wounds were becoming more and more intense. His loss of blood had him wavering and weakening, but it knew it could not stop yet. As long as there was something breathing nearby, there was threat to his life.
The beast threw it’s massive head around and his snout held up in the air as he tried to find the final living beings nearby. It seemed near everyone had scattered and fled the scene, but as he turned he managed to spot the shade of two people struggling against a wall. He could not make out who or what they are as his sight was beginning to fail. They were a blur, but they were alive. He would fix that.
A low, beastly growl grew in Tais’s chest and he began to stumble towards the two. One massive paw followed the other and despite being weak, despite being on the edge of collapsing he pushed his weight forward and began to summon one last sprint. At least he thought he was going to. He stumbled and barreled himself mere feet from Iarei and her attacker. His injured shoulder gave out at the last moment though and he collapsed chest first into the ground. Luckily though, he had enough speed built up that the collapse sent him rolling and flipping towards the pairing. With an ‘oomph’, the attacker was thrown from Iarei and into the dirt as the ball of snow white fur rolled past her.
Tais tried to stand, tried to rise to his feet. He still had two more to kill. The intensity of the pain and the weakness in his shoulder kept him planted in the ground though. He had managed to knock the final attacker to the ground, managed to knock him away a few feet from Iarei. What she did next though would be completely up to her. Regardless of if she ran or if she finished the man, that beast continued to tried to stand. Did she trust it? Did she know for sure what it would do if it managed to get to his feet? Decisions, decisions.
In for a Pounding
Re: In for a Pounding
The air was heavy with a stench unlike anything Iarei had ever smelled before. Even when her own attacker had been torn from her, his knife leaving a stain over her neck, she could not identify the smell based on what she saw. It had happend so fast. She sank down against the wall, unable to make herself stand any longer. The warmth that trickled down to catch at her collar bones made her flinch, and when she went to wipe at it she found blood.
So much blood. Iarei's eyes wandered out over the ground, and some dim part of her mind was screaming at her to move, to run, but she couldn't seem to make herself get up. She couldn't seem to focus on anything except the bodies, and the great white monster that had stained itself red. Fear made her eyes water. With no allies in sight she was left to fend for herself, lost and alone in some strange city with plans that were rapidly receding in her mind. Marn was cursed. First had been the Inn reduced to scrap around her, and now. . .
Vomit suddenly filled her mouth, and she turned her body to let it splatter onto the ground. Cramps tightened her stomach, and she choked and heaved as the reality of the strange, unknown smell and the mess of living people made into corpses resolved themselves to her eyes. Gagging, coughing, she pushed herself away from the bodies and the alley, the fear in her twisting itself into an urge to get out.
Something scraped behind her, and she stopped moving. When nothing immediately made contact with her body, she turned slowly to see the man who'd held a knife to her throat had gotten up, and was moving towards the monster with his knife held in a way that meant business. Iarei touched the skin below where she had been cut, the pain only starting to keen through her.
"W-what -- " she began to say, not sure if she wanted one or the other to live. Should she help the man, or the monster? Run! her instincts screamed at her, but she was frozen as she watched the knife stab downwards towards the monster's right eye.
So much blood. Iarei's eyes wandered out over the ground, and some dim part of her mind was screaming at her to move, to run, but she couldn't seem to make herself get up. She couldn't seem to focus on anything except the bodies, and the great white monster that had stained itself red. Fear made her eyes water. With no allies in sight she was left to fend for herself, lost and alone in some strange city with plans that were rapidly receding in her mind. Marn was cursed. First had been the Inn reduced to scrap around her, and now. . .
Vomit suddenly filled her mouth, and she turned her body to let it splatter onto the ground. Cramps tightened her stomach, and she choked and heaved as the reality of the strange, unknown smell and the mess of living people made into corpses resolved themselves to her eyes. Gagging, coughing, she pushed herself away from the bodies and the alley, the fear in her twisting itself into an urge to get out.
Something scraped behind her, and she stopped moving. When nothing immediately made contact with her body, she turned slowly to see the man who'd held a knife to her throat had gotten up, and was moving towards the monster with his knife held in a way that meant business. Iarei touched the skin below where she had been cut, the pain only starting to keen through her.
"W-what -- " she began to say, not sure if she wanted one or the other to live. Should she help the man, or the monster? Run! her instincts screamed at her, but she was frozen as she watched the knife stab downwards towards the monster's right eye.
Re: In for a Pounding
Cold black eyes stared up at the approaching figure. The monster’s eyes were glazed over and it let loose a yowl that seemed a mix between pain and anger. He was still trying to stand, but wasn’t having much success. The shadowed physique in his vision got nearer and nearer and what was left of Tais Chayrak, hidden deep in the psyche of the creature, had a feeling he was in trouble. The creature was having none of that.
The knife was raised into the air, hovering above the bear as the attacker made his decision on where to plant the blow. It was just enough of a hesitation to give the large beast before him time to react. He planted his good front paw flay on the ground. He used all the strength and will left in his frame to push off that paw and rise upwards onto his back legs to rise to his full, imposing nine foot height.
An ear shattering roar flew from the creature’s snout and it threw itself down upon the feeble mortal that dared to threaten him. The crushing weight of his frame came in at falling speed towards the man and all he could do is stare in fear. Lucky for him, he had managed to move just enough that only his legs were crushed under the weight of the white mass. Unlucky for him, his knife was now stuck in the thick leathered skin of the bear’s fore paw and the creature was still alive. Tais’ head snapped around and sharp canines were presented and spread open as they tore and pulled at the flesh of the man’s stomach. He was torn open and Tais found himself bathed in blood yet again.
The beast sniffed, but his nose was failing him. He tried to look, but his sight was black. He tried to listen, but a numbing sound echoed in his ears. He knew he was beaten, but it did not stop him from trying to protect himself as a series of warning growls grew in his chest. Despite being injured and weak, he was no less of an imposing sight. He was completely soaked in blood and highly angry. Even in his current state, it would take someone either very brave or very stupid to approach him.
Still, with the blood running from his veins and trickling through his fur the beast was losing its hold over Tais. Internally, Tais knew he would have to get somewhere safe. He knew he would have to sew himself up, he would have to recover. It was his need to survive that took over as he began to change again. He didn’t know Iarei was nearby watching him. His senses had all gone deaf and he was completely unaware of her presence.
Thick white fur began to retract and sickening cracks and pops uttered from beneath the skin as muscles and bones once more reshaped themselves to fit Tais’ new form. His skin bronzed over again and the messy white mass that was usually found on his head returned to normal style. No style. He was soaked in blood and had numerous injuries. He had a knife wound clear through one of his hands, another in his shoulder from the initial contact, and then a final fresh one deep into his biceps, almost to the muscle where the last assailant’s knife had been pushed out during the shift.
So, Tais lay there curled into a ball in the middle of that alley. The loss of blood had him weak and he could barely feel his legs or any other part of himself for that matter. He was left in a heap, trying to figure out how he would get his legs under him. He needed to find shelter and safety. He had been right. This had all been trouble.
The knife was raised into the air, hovering above the bear as the attacker made his decision on where to plant the blow. It was just enough of a hesitation to give the large beast before him time to react. He planted his good front paw flay on the ground. He used all the strength and will left in his frame to push off that paw and rise upwards onto his back legs to rise to his full, imposing nine foot height.
An ear shattering roar flew from the creature’s snout and it threw itself down upon the feeble mortal that dared to threaten him. The crushing weight of his frame came in at falling speed towards the man and all he could do is stare in fear. Lucky for him, he had managed to move just enough that only his legs were crushed under the weight of the white mass. Unlucky for him, his knife was now stuck in the thick leathered skin of the bear’s fore paw and the creature was still alive. Tais’ head snapped around and sharp canines were presented and spread open as they tore and pulled at the flesh of the man’s stomach. He was torn open and Tais found himself bathed in blood yet again.
The beast sniffed, but his nose was failing him. He tried to look, but his sight was black. He tried to listen, but a numbing sound echoed in his ears. He knew he was beaten, but it did not stop him from trying to protect himself as a series of warning growls grew in his chest. Despite being injured and weak, he was no less of an imposing sight. He was completely soaked in blood and highly angry. Even in his current state, it would take someone either very brave or very stupid to approach him.
Still, with the blood running from his veins and trickling through his fur the beast was losing its hold over Tais. Internally, Tais knew he would have to get somewhere safe. He knew he would have to sew himself up, he would have to recover. It was his need to survive that took over as he began to change again. He didn’t know Iarei was nearby watching him. His senses had all gone deaf and he was completely unaware of her presence.
Thick white fur began to retract and sickening cracks and pops uttered from beneath the skin as muscles and bones once more reshaped themselves to fit Tais’ new form. His skin bronzed over again and the messy white mass that was usually found on his head returned to normal style. No style. He was soaked in blood and had numerous injuries. He had a knife wound clear through one of his hands, another in his shoulder from the initial contact, and then a final fresh one deep into his biceps, almost to the muscle where the last assailant’s knife had been pushed out during the shift.
So, Tais lay there curled into a ball in the middle of that alley. The loss of blood had him weak and he could barely feel his legs or any other part of himself for that matter. He was left in a heap, trying to figure out how he would get his legs under him. He needed to find shelter and safety. He had been right. This had all been trouble.
Re: In for a Pounding
The monster was Tais. Iarei had thought they'd all fled, and left her behind to die, but she could see that wasn't the case. A sharp giggle carved its way from her lungs to her throat, but all that came out of her mouth was another string of bitter bile, and a choked gurgle. Her palms scraped against the fetid ground, its new reek beyond any sewage she'd ever had the displeasure to smell before. She ate meat, like any normal person, and she'd been to a butcher's. Combined with her own bile, and body waste, and something other. . .
Iarei had sung of death and battle before. She'd composed her own epics from the oft dissected pieces of ancient derring do, but for all her dewy eyed imaginings, she'd never once come close to the reality of death. Tais was the cause of that death.
Flies and other carniverous insects had begun to gather, and their buzz acted as a counterpoint for the pounding in her head. Tais was defenseless, helpless. Tais the monster. She could finish him off. Such a thing he'd become -- she'd never seen the like before -- was not natural. It did not belong in the city, maybe not even in all the world. That he'd saved her pulsed at her conscience, but so too did the fact that he'd stepped over the line of human ability. He was a beast.
There was a knife lying near him, coated in gore. Iarei crawled to it, dripping her own blood into the sticky ooze that puddled and trickled over the ground. That she'd escaped the melee with such a minor wound was utterly ridiculous, and she wheezed a noise that was too hysterical for laughter at the wrongness of the situation. The knife was in her grip, and she leaned over Tais with her knees in the guts of the body nearest him. Her stomach heaved again, and she spat filth from her mouth.
"You shouldn't be alive," she said, when she couldn't gather enough courage to end him where he lay.
Iarei had sung of death and battle before. She'd composed her own epics from the oft dissected pieces of ancient derring do, but for all her dewy eyed imaginings, she'd never once come close to the reality of death. Tais was the cause of that death.
Flies and other carniverous insects had begun to gather, and their buzz acted as a counterpoint for the pounding in her head. Tais was defenseless, helpless. Tais the monster. She could finish him off. Such a thing he'd become -- she'd never seen the like before -- was not natural. It did not belong in the city, maybe not even in all the world. That he'd saved her pulsed at her conscience, but so too did the fact that he'd stepped over the line of human ability. He was a beast.
There was a knife lying near him, coated in gore. Iarei crawled to it, dripping her own blood into the sticky ooze that puddled and trickled over the ground. That she'd escaped the melee with such a minor wound was utterly ridiculous, and she wheezed a noise that was too hysterical for laughter at the wrongness of the situation. The knife was in her grip, and she leaned over Tais with her knees in the guts of the body nearest him. Her stomach heaved again, and she spat filth from her mouth.
"You shouldn't be alive," she said, when she couldn't gather enough courage to end him where he lay.
Re: In for a Pounding
The fear laden in Iarei’s eyes as she approached him made Tais’ stomach turn. Nausea ran through his figure and he felt his insides clenching as he noticed that knife. If she chose to take his life, there was nothing he could do about it. She wouldn’t kill him though, right? He had just saved her life. Sure, she didn’t know that had he not been so near death he would have likely killed her as well, but that was besides the point.
Her words were cold and harsh on his senses as they straggled to return to him. His lips parted so he could speak, but the sound that came out was dry and hoarse. His words weren’t coming to him. He coughed hard several times and curled into a tighter ball. The coughing shook his body and sent new surges of pain sparking up and down his spine. He felt his ribs collapse in from the coughing and he groaned aloud. He must have broken one or two when he had crashed into the ground in his polar form earlier. It could only be an after thought now though as the coughing allowed for enough saliva to be formed that he could actually speak again.
“I..I’m more resilient than I look..” Tais’ rich, friendly voice stammered out weakly and those haunting, almost black eyes pivoted to her face as she fell to her knees next to him. You..You wouldn’t be the first..The first to say that..And won’t be the last..” He gasped for air as the injuries to his ribs made it harder to breath than first anticipated.
A low, almost depressed sigh slipped from Tais’ lips and his eyes lulled closed slowly. “The truth is..It is that I am what I am..And..And..I can’t change that. I..Offered to help and knew this may happen..I came here to hide..Risked exposing myself..To help..So decide..Either end me..Or try to help me up..I..There are more..We aren’t safe..and..I can’t shift again.”
Her words were cold and harsh on his senses as they straggled to return to him. His lips parted so he could speak, but the sound that came out was dry and hoarse. His words weren’t coming to him. He coughed hard several times and curled into a tighter ball. The coughing shook his body and sent new surges of pain sparking up and down his spine. He felt his ribs collapse in from the coughing and he groaned aloud. He must have broken one or two when he had crashed into the ground in his polar form earlier. It could only be an after thought now though as the coughing allowed for enough saliva to be formed that he could actually speak again.
“I..I’m more resilient than I look..” Tais’ rich, friendly voice stammered out weakly and those haunting, almost black eyes pivoted to her face as she fell to her knees next to him. You..You wouldn’t be the first..The first to say that..And won’t be the last..” He gasped for air as the injuries to his ribs made it harder to breath than first anticipated.
A low, almost depressed sigh slipped from Tais’ lips and his eyes lulled closed slowly. “The truth is..It is that I am what I am..And..And..I can’t change that. I..Offered to help and knew this may happen..I came here to hide..Risked exposing myself..To help..So decide..Either end me..Or try to help me up..I..There are more..We aren’t safe..and..I can’t shift again.”
Re: In for a Pounding
It was almost sad, the way he struggled to speak. Almost pitiful, how hard he tried to explain himself, justify the monster hidden deep in his soul. It was that pathetic righteous way he spoke that sparked the anger back to life, sheathed within her own bloody panic and self-preservation. She lowered the knife to his throat, knew that the fastest way to drain a body of life was to take the blood it so dearly depended on.
A scream broke from the split in the alley further up, away from the main street. Disorienting, that scream, that reminder that life existed outside of the bloodied depths they'd writ scarlet into the dusky warmth of the street. The knife trembled and stopped in her grip, and she looked up and saw that the person -- a woman -- was not so very far away. The expression was priceless, an echo of the horror that still seeped like poison into her soul.
Iarei opened her mouth, and her eyes met with that of the woman's, and in them she saw that the terror, the disbelief, was aimed at her. She reared back, the knife glinting bloody in her hands -- she, the bard, the last one standing -- forming denial with her lips and new fear leaking from her eyes. But the scene had been set, and at the sign that Iarei was rising the other woman backed stumbling away, turned and ran.
"No!" Iarei bellowed, too late, her voice catching hoarse and brittle. "It wasn't me!" She screamed after the woman, the knife falling from her fingers to land hilt first against Tais' chin before clattering to the ground. One more indignity among the lot of them, one last twist of unfairness to the noose slowly tightening around her neck. Around all their necks.
"It wasn't me!"
Too late.
Iarei was in a half crouch, too stunned to chase after the woman. There was no need, no how, because suddenly the way was crowded with men. It was the wrong way from the main street of the city, and there was not the telltale red of guardsmen amongst them. But in their expressions was a judgement of disgust; they did not belong to the thugs Tais had killed, nor the lawmen.
Tais, her rock, and the men the hard place. Iarei stood up, and took a step back. "I didn't do it," she whispered, poised to flee.
A scream broke from the split in the alley further up, away from the main street. Disorienting, that scream, that reminder that life existed outside of the bloodied depths they'd writ scarlet into the dusky warmth of the street. The knife trembled and stopped in her grip, and she looked up and saw that the person -- a woman -- was not so very far away. The expression was priceless, an echo of the horror that still seeped like poison into her soul.
Iarei opened her mouth, and her eyes met with that of the woman's, and in them she saw that the terror, the disbelief, was aimed at her. She reared back, the knife glinting bloody in her hands -- she, the bard, the last one standing -- forming denial with her lips and new fear leaking from her eyes. But the scene had been set, and at the sign that Iarei was rising the other woman backed stumbling away, turned and ran.
"No!" Iarei bellowed, too late, her voice catching hoarse and brittle. "It wasn't me!" She screamed after the woman, the knife falling from her fingers to land hilt first against Tais' chin before clattering to the ground. One more indignity among the lot of them, one last twist of unfairness to the noose slowly tightening around her neck. Around all their necks.
"It wasn't me!"
Too late.
Iarei was in a half crouch, too stunned to chase after the woman. There was no need, no how, because suddenly the way was crowded with men. It was the wrong way from the main street of the city, and there was not the telltale red of guardsmen amongst them. But in their expressions was a judgement of disgust; they did not belong to the thugs Tais had killed, nor the lawmen.
Tais, her rock, and the men the hard place. Iarei stood up, and took a step back. "I didn't do it," she whispered, poised to flee.
Re: In for a Pounding
As the knife was collected in Iarei’s hand once more and brought to Tais’ throat, he was fully expecting to be ended right there. He even summoned enough strength to bring his head up and force it more firmly against the blade. He awaited the slashing motion, he awaited her to end it. The ending did not come though. Instead, what followed was an ear piercing scream.
Tais’ muscles tensed and he tried to raise up. He desperately tried to see what was happening as his weakened body squirmed there on the ground. He was stuck there in a pool of blood and all that was registering in his mind was Iarei’s words. “It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!” She said the same thing over again and Tais’ instincts told him they were in trouble for something. No, Iarei was in trouble.
Tais coughed again and hoarsely spoke in a low whisper. “Go..” It was all he could summon. If there was trouble brewing, Tais was in no condition to defend himself. He certainly could not defend her. He still wasn’t sure what was going on. His mind was having difficulties registering all that was happening due to him fading from consciousness. Were these men here to kill him? Or help him? He didn’t know and his fears were not alleviated as he heard one of the approaching men speak. “Hurry, this one is still alive!” It was the last thing he heard before he faded into the blackness and was drug into the world of nightmares.
He had no idea that the chase had begun for Iarei and that she was being hunted. He had no idea that she was being accused of attacking him and killing the others. He was clueless of the fact that several men had half carried him, half dragged him from the dirt and grime of the alleyway. He didn’t know that his wounds had been cleaned or that they had been bandaged. No, he was stuck in a world where he was the hunted.
Horrifying images of men with pikes and bows chased him through the countryside flashed in his mind. He saw himself alone, he saw himself deserted and left to those who wished to slay him. He felt the piercing pain from the strikes of arrows and the thrust of pikes as they attacked him again and again. They were not risking him getting back up, they were finishing the job. It was a fitful and painful slumber. How long would he be lost to it? No one dared even make a guess.
Tais’ muscles tensed and he tried to raise up. He desperately tried to see what was happening as his weakened body squirmed there on the ground. He was stuck there in a pool of blood and all that was registering in his mind was Iarei’s words. “It wasn’t me! It wasn’t me!” She said the same thing over again and Tais’ instincts told him they were in trouble for something. No, Iarei was in trouble.
Tais coughed again and hoarsely spoke in a low whisper. “Go..” It was all he could summon. If there was trouble brewing, Tais was in no condition to defend himself. He certainly could not defend her. He still wasn’t sure what was going on. His mind was having difficulties registering all that was happening due to him fading from consciousness. Were these men here to kill him? Or help him? He didn’t know and his fears were not alleviated as he heard one of the approaching men speak. “Hurry, this one is still alive!” It was the last thing he heard before he faded into the blackness and was drug into the world of nightmares.
He had no idea that the chase had begun for Iarei and that she was being hunted. He had no idea that she was being accused of attacking him and killing the others. He was clueless of the fact that several men had half carried him, half dragged him from the dirt and grime of the alleyway. He didn’t know that his wounds had been cleaned or that they had been bandaged. No, he was stuck in a world where he was the hunted.
Horrifying images of men with pikes and bows chased him through the countryside flashed in his mind. He saw himself alone, he saw himself deserted and left to those who wished to slay him. He felt the piercing pain from the strikes of arrows and the thrust of pikes as they attacked him again and again. They were not risking him getting back up, they were finishing the job. It was a fitful and painful slumber. How long would he be lost to it? No one dared even make a guess.
Re: In for a Pounding
Iarei hesitated, hands empty and spread at her side. Red shadows menaced her from all sides, and the accusing stares of the men served only to drive her back. The urge to prove herself innocent gave a mighty effort, but the fear in her won out. She ran.
The men who had come at the woman's urging were local boys. It was their lunchtime, and they'd come to the rowdy, but still honest part of town as they always did for a beer and something hearty. Metalworkers to a man, they were sick and tired as any rundown citizen by the recent spurts of bloodshed that had hit the city one after the other, and as secretly outraged by the lack of results the guards had found. There were always arrests, but the inns and taverns that had been affected had never reopened. They'd all gone under, and their owners had vanished.
Perhaps it was the shock of seeing one of the atrocities for themselves, but no guardsman was called upon. The alley was a dirty, unused pathway between a tailor and a brewery, butting up against the backside of a tavern -- the metalworkers' lunch hangout -- and the backside of a shop that sold odds and ends. The shop was on its last leg, for all that it faced a street that connected to the main street. The alley itself was rarely used; had not the woman needed to fetch a needle to mend her husband's torn trousers the bloody mess might have gone unnoticed until the rotting bodies really started to reek.
As it was, the flies gathered, and the men took Tais back with them to their tavern, The Ale Star. The proprieter, Andreas Ricoletti, assured the men that he would have his girls care for Tais until the large man was able to walk about on his own two feet. That those girls were whores and Tais would be cared for in the brothel section of the tavern was only a minor coincidence.
The bodies remained undisturbed for the full day and through the night, until a keenly nosed and early rising customer of the tailor complained incessantly of a foul stench until an exasperated tailor ordered his apprentice to seek out the offensive source. By that time Iarei was far away from the scene, shivering in the morning and staring numbly off to the distance as a minor tremor shook the ground and a strange, hazy and unnatural coloring turned the sky for a brief moment. But, afraid and out of her senses as she was she hardly paid it much heed.
When the bloodied alley was discovered, the guards were hailed immediately.
The men who had come at the woman's urging were local boys. It was their lunchtime, and they'd come to the rowdy, but still honest part of town as they always did for a beer and something hearty. Metalworkers to a man, they were sick and tired as any rundown citizen by the recent spurts of bloodshed that had hit the city one after the other, and as secretly outraged by the lack of results the guards had found. There were always arrests, but the inns and taverns that had been affected had never reopened. They'd all gone under, and their owners had vanished.
Perhaps it was the shock of seeing one of the atrocities for themselves, but no guardsman was called upon. The alley was a dirty, unused pathway between a tailor and a brewery, butting up against the backside of a tavern -- the metalworkers' lunch hangout -- and the backside of a shop that sold odds and ends. The shop was on its last leg, for all that it faced a street that connected to the main street. The alley itself was rarely used; had not the woman needed to fetch a needle to mend her husband's torn trousers the bloody mess might have gone unnoticed until the rotting bodies really started to reek.
As it was, the flies gathered, and the men took Tais back with them to their tavern, The Ale Star. The proprieter, Andreas Ricoletti, assured the men that he would have his girls care for Tais until the large man was able to walk about on his own two feet. That those girls were whores and Tais would be cared for in the brothel section of the tavern was only a minor coincidence.
The bodies remained undisturbed for the full day and through the night, until a keenly nosed and early rising customer of the tailor complained incessantly of a foul stench until an exasperated tailor ordered his apprentice to seek out the offensive source. By that time Iarei was far away from the scene, shivering in the morning and staring numbly off to the distance as a minor tremor shook the ground and a strange, hazy and unnatural coloring turned the sky for a brief moment. But, afraid and out of her senses as she was she hardly paid it much heed.
When the bloodied alley was discovered, the guards were hailed immediately.
Re: In for a Pounding
The day was warm compared to yesterday, the high sun beating down rays of heat on the already unfortunate guardsman. His armor felt sticky with sweat, his sword and crossbow weighing down his already sluggish body.
"Out of the way." Drayel snarled, shouldering his way past a couple of gawkers. He looked into the alley and grimanced. Dead bodies littered the ground covered in flies and gore, their faces turned into screaming masks of terror. Blood was splattered all over the walls and the ground, covering both men and weapons in its spray. The corpses had already began to rot much to his displeasure. Turning on the small crowd he glared at them.
"Why were the gaurd not called earlier?" he demanded facing the closest male. He frowned at the glare he recieved but decided to ignore it. None of these people looked happy to see him anyways.
"The bodies were just discovered, Guardsman." The title was spat out as the man glared at him. "We cannot report a murder that we know nothing about."
"These bodies have been lying here for ages." Drayel snapped raising himself into a towering stance. "Are you stupid enough to tell me that none of you could smell them rotting? That nobody ever looks down this damn alley?"
He saw a couple people glance away while others held their defiant glares. Drayel scowled. It was clear that he wasn't going to get any answers from these fools. Turning back to the scene of gore behind him, Drayel snorted as he got to work.
Ready or not you bastard, I'm coming.
"Out of the way." Drayel snarled, shouldering his way past a couple of gawkers. He looked into the alley and grimanced. Dead bodies littered the ground covered in flies and gore, their faces turned into screaming masks of terror. Blood was splattered all over the walls and the ground, covering both men and weapons in its spray. The corpses had already began to rot much to his displeasure. Turning on the small crowd he glared at them.
"Why were the gaurd not called earlier?" he demanded facing the closest male. He frowned at the glare he recieved but decided to ignore it. None of these people looked happy to see him anyways.
"The bodies were just discovered, Guardsman." The title was spat out as the man glared at him. "We cannot report a murder that we know nothing about."
"These bodies have been lying here for ages." Drayel snapped raising himself into a towering stance. "Are you stupid enough to tell me that none of you could smell them rotting? That nobody ever looks down this damn alley?"
He saw a couple people glance away while others held their defiant glares. Drayel scowled. It was clear that he wasn't going to get any answers from these fools. Turning back to the scene of gore behind him, Drayel snorted as he got to work.
Ready or not you bastard, I'm coming.
-
Maeve
- Citizen
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Wed Aug 20, 2008 1:30 pm
- Name: Maevelivia Moontreli
- Race: Cambion-Dryad [Vampiric]
Re: In for a Pounding
Maevelivia laid naked on the man she had spent the night with, eyes closed. He had been asleep for awhile now, judging by his deep, steady breathing. She gently lifted her head and looked at his face. He wasn’t exactly a looker, and hadn’t been very good in bed, but his smooth-talking had apparently worked on her. Well, it didn’t matter who he was, he had talked to her at the pub, and she had wanted somebody.
She sighed as she watched his sleeping face. Yet again, she found herself in this situation, one she didn’t particularly enjoy. Suddenly disgusted, she sat up while being careful not to wake him. Looking around the man’s house, it was obvious he was a bachelor; his small house was in disarray, with dirty clothes scattered over the floor and a pile of used dishes in the sink. At the time Maeve had come in she hadn’t noticed these details since she’d been intent on him, but now she could smell the tang of man everywhere. It made her want to run.
She got up and walked over to her clothing on the floor and began to dress. She had worn the same gown for two days, a pale green dress in the local peasant style but with some added pleating on the front of the skirt and a low neckline which revealed her cleavage. Her worn-out leather boots peeking out underneath the hem seemed out of place, but they were comfortable and she did a lot of walking.
After she was dressed and had tied her purse around her waist, she wrapped herself in her black cloak. Her nameless “date” was still sleeping soundly, and she sighed as she watched him for a moment. Then, with a disgusted frown, she grabbed his coin purse and took out enough bishani to dispel the bitterness in her mouth.
Maevelivia had not been lucky in this city, and his tribute would pay for her room at the inn for another night. Passing through Thar Shaddin had turned into an extended stay, and she was running low on money. Worse yet, she had been unable to find work, something that didn’t happen to her often. In this place no one wanted an outsider to be their bodyguard, there was no treasure in the ruins from what little she had dared explore alone, and there weren’t even any bounties in the area. The guards did not want help hunting thugs down, it seemed.
Worse yet, she had been forced to stay low and out of trouble. She was not only a magic user, but a being of magic. It has not taken long to discover that the people of Marn and the government did not take kindly to magic, in any form. In almost every newspaper there were reports of magic users and their punishments, or opinion pieces detailing how magic is evil and those who use it should be persecuted. The widespread animosity made her extremely nervous.
Though she had stayed out of trouble so far, if she wanted to get out of this rotten place she had to earn money. Or even if she wanted to stay out of the shady areas of the city, she reminded herself. She gave one last look at the man asleep in his bed, naked and now alone, and was satisfied he hadn’t seen her steal.
When she left out the front door the early morning light did little to illuminate the mostly empty streets. She stepped down onto the road and began to walk toward her hotel room. Another day for her to try to find work, it seemed.
As she walked along she noticed a subtle change in the air. Instead of the warm hues of morning, the world became cold and foreboding. She stopped immediately and looked around. The buildings around her were cast a sinister green, almost blue. It seemed the whole sky was the same color, and she stared at it in wonder. In her head she heard a little voice murmuring, something about taking her eyesight, but she ignored it.
No one else in the street seemed to know what was happening, either, and they were looking around like she was. There was an old man, who shook slightly as he arched his stiff neck up and around, and two men carrying bags of something, who gaped but otherwise kept moving. There was another woman near Maeve, who was watching her reaction, and their eyes met. Maeve shrugged, and the woman looked uncertainly away, up at the sky.
The colors faded away into the usual colors of morning, and Maeve thought that was the end of it. She began to move past the woman, resuming her walk to the inn.
Then Maeve heard it, and she clutched her cloak to herself and quickly hurried into the middle of the street. The woman watched her, puzzled, until she too, heard the rumbling in the ground. The fear was evident on the others’ faces, though the two working men had moved on. It sounded like a mild earthquake, but it quickly faded without the ground moving an inch. Well, she felt stupid for having moved into the street when it did not turn out to be an earthquake. But what had that sound been?
Then Maeve heard a gasp and looked where the woman was pointing. A pillar of black and red light was rising in the north. The woman muttered, “Teodinus protect us. Keep us strong against...” Maeve tuned her out and watched the strange phenomenon, at least what she could see of it over the buildings.
Suddenly it was gone, as if it never existed. “Praise Teodinus,” the woman muttered. Maeve, annoyed by the woman, turned heel and walked toward the inn, yet again. Troubled, she hurried her steps and avoided eye contact.
Something completely new had just happened, and there was no way for her to know what it was. Today will be a strange day, Maeve thought uneasily.
She sighed as she watched his sleeping face. Yet again, she found herself in this situation, one she didn’t particularly enjoy. Suddenly disgusted, she sat up while being careful not to wake him. Looking around the man’s house, it was obvious he was a bachelor; his small house was in disarray, with dirty clothes scattered over the floor and a pile of used dishes in the sink. At the time Maeve had come in she hadn’t noticed these details since she’d been intent on him, but now she could smell the tang of man everywhere. It made her want to run.
She got up and walked over to her clothing on the floor and began to dress. She had worn the same gown for two days, a pale green dress in the local peasant style but with some added pleating on the front of the skirt and a low neckline which revealed her cleavage. Her worn-out leather boots peeking out underneath the hem seemed out of place, but they were comfortable and she did a lot of walking.
After she was dressed and had tied her purse around her waist, she wrapped herself in her black cloak. Her nameless “date” was still sleeping soundly, and she sighed as she watched him for a moment. Then, with a disgusted frown, she grabbed his coin purse and took out enough bishani to dispel the bitterness in her mouth.
Maevelivia had not been lucky in this city, and his tribute would pay for her room at the inn for another night. Passing through Thar Shaddin had turned into an extended stay, and she was running low on money. Worse yet, she had been unable to find work, something that didn’t happen to her often. In this place no one wanted an outsider to be their bodyguard, there was no treasure in the ruins from what little she had dared explore alone, and there weren’t even any bounties in the area. The guards did not want help hunting thugs down, it seemed.
Worse yet, she had been forced to stay low and out of trouble. She was not only a magic user, but a being of magic. It has not taken long to discover that the people of Marn and the government did not take kindly to magic, in any form. In almost every newspaper there were reports of magic users and their punishments, or opinion pieces detailing how magic is evil and those who use it should be persecuted. The widespread animosity made her extremely nervous.
Though she had stayed out of trouble so far, if she wanted to get out of this rotten place she had to earn money. Or even if she wanted to stay out of the shady areas of the city, she reminded herself. She gave one last look at the man asleep in his bed, naked and now alone, and was satisfied he hadn’t seen her steal.
When she left out the front door the early morning light did little to illuminate the mostly empty streets. She stepped down onto the road and began to walk toward her hotel room. Another day for her to try to find work, it seemed.
As she walked along she noticed a subtle change in the air. Instead of the warm hues of morning, the world became cold and foreboding. She stopped immediately and looked around. The buildings around her were cast a sinister green, almost blue. It seemed the whole sky was the same color, and she stared at it in wonder. In her head she heard a little voice murmuring, something about taking her eyesight, but she ignored it.
No one else in the street seemed to know what was happening, either, and they were looking around like she was. There was an old man, who shook slightly as he arched his stiff neck up and around, and two men carrying bags of something, who gaped but otherwise kept moving. There was another woman near Maeve, who was watching her reaction, and their eyes met. Maeve shrugged, and the woman looked uncertainly away, up at the sky.
The colors faded away into the usual colors of morning, and Maeve thought that was the end of it. She began to move past the woman, resuming her walk to the inn.
Then Maeve heard it, and she clutched her cloak to herself and quickly hurried into the middle of the street. The woman watched her, puzzled, until she too, heard the rumbling in the ground. The fear was evident on the others’ faces, though the two working men had moved on. It sounded like a mild earthquake, but it quickly faded without the ground moving an inch. Well, she felt stupid for having moved into the street when it did not turn out to be an earthquake. But what had that sound been?
Then Maeve heard a gasp and looked where the woman was pointing. A pillar of black and red light was rising in the north. The woman muttered, “Teodinus protect us. Keep us strong against...” Maeve tuned her out and watched the strange phenomenon, at least what she could see of it over the buildings.
Suddenly it was gone, as if it never existed. “Praise Teodinus,” the woman muttered. Maeve, annoyed by the woman, turned heel and walked toward the inn, yet again. Troubled, she hurried her steps and avoided eye contact.
Something completely new had just happened, and there was no way for her to know what it was. Today will be a strange day, Maeve thought uneasily.
Re: In for a Pounding
One moment they were standing together in a quiet alley, tense and awaiting direction, and the next, Erryl was running.
Dirken had been quick, perhaps even the first to notice there was trouble approaching, and he'd fled as soon as it began - as soon as that blade sliced through Tais' shoulder. And it was fortunate for Erryl that Dirken had the forethought and consideration to drag the younger boy along with him. After all, if it weren't for having his arm tugged so hard it felt he might lose it, Erryl knew he'd probably have stood there staring in shock until someone shoved a knife through his chest - or worse.
As it was, Erryl had no idea how bad the fight had been, or who else might have escaped with their lives. He'd lost sight of Dirken after a few moments of running, his sore ankle doing quite well at holding him back. As he weaved his way through the smaller streets, it wasn't long before his leg decided to give up on him completely, forcing him to duck into the closest hiding place he could find - a dark space between a brick wall and a broken, old cart - where he curled up and sobbed quietly, praying for a way to turn back time and start the whole day over again.
He'd sat there for hours, scared and uncertain, as he tried as hard as he could to consider his options. He didn't really feel like it - he just wanted to go home and sleep - but this was obviously worse than he'd thought. Throughout the day, despite all his fear and worry, a part of his mind had been telling him that he was just over-reacting, and that the situation couldn't really be as bad as it seemed.
But it was. Iarei was probably dead, along with Tais and Jester, maybe even the boy. Alive or not, Dirken was gone, and now Erryl was completely alone. It was too late to go home. His brother would certainly interrogate him for being out past dark (and kill him for getting into such a mess), and the murderers might find and follow him. He had no friends or relatives to ask for help, and the only place he really spent any time was the university...
Maybe the inn? he pondered, rubbing his tired eyes and stretching out his legs. They still had rooms booked there, and if anyone had survived... well, that was probably too much to hope for, but it was better than nothing. And after seeing more than a few large, rat-shaped shadows flit past him through the darkness, Erryl wasn't all that keen on spending any more time hiding behind the cart.
Making sure to be quiet and keep an eye out for anyone who looked suspicious, Erryl slowly made his way back in the general direction of the inn, avoiding the main street and hoping he wouldn't get lost. It took quite a while, but eventually he found himself at the back of the inn which adjoined a rather narrow alleyway.
Hesitating only briefly, to consider the possibility of the thugs knowing where to look for him, Erryl decided to make his way inside and upstairs. The two rooms Iarei had paid for were empty now, he found; it was no surprise, even if it did make him wonder where Dirken might be. He glanced longingly at the empty beds, feeling the aches in his body – his head and ankle especially – and the exhaustion that seemed to weigh him down and numb his mind. But he knew he couldn't rest here, just in case.
Could I...?
He sat himself carefully on the same bed Iarei had napped upon, and sighed heavily with frustration at the way his muscles groaned with the need to rest. His injuries begged him to give them time to heal themselves, and he had nowhere else to go from here. After a long, quiet moment of internal warfare, Erryl finally gave in to his body's demands, and the instant his head hit the pillow it was as though a huge weight was lifted from him. He was almost surprised it didn't send him floating through the ceiling.
...just rest a little while I think of a new plan... he assured himself, determined not to fall asleep any time soon.
A deep rumbling woke him several hours later, and he shot upright when he realized what was going on. Not that he really knew what was going on. Only moments ago he'd been discussing the nature of stars with the pretty girl who lived down the street...
Oh, Changers' wrath, I fell asleep!
But there was no time to worry about that, Erryl realized, as the room was bathed in a strange light from outside. Jumping gracelessly to his feet, the half-elf hurried back downstairs, where he was surprised to find quite a few people standing around and discussing the odd phenomenon. Until he remembered that it was an inn, that is, and reminded himself that it would be weird not to see any people at this time of the morning.
As Erryl brushed past the group towards the front door, he heard a merchant with a strange accent claiming this sort of thing was common in the east and south, which sparked an argument with another merchant, who'd just walked into the room, about a tower of light. However interesting the topic of conversation, Erryl decided it would be best to see for himself what was going on, even if he did have time to stand around and eavesdrop, which he certainly did not.
Once he was outside, he glanced up and down the main street, and then towards the sky. Nothing was out of the ordinary, save for the few people doing the same thing as he was. He let out a sigh of disappointment. Still tired, still aching, and having missed whatever strange natural event had just occurred, Erryl decided to wander down the main street rather than staying at the inn. As he walked, he wondered hopelessly what he was meant to do without anyone to guide him.
Uncomfortable now with being out in public, and so easy to spot even in a crowd, he took a turn down the first street he came across, keeping one eye out for anything suspicious and another for a place to eat. That he had no money on him at all was a thought that had yet to cross his mind.
Dirken had been quick, perhaps even the first to notice there was trouble approaching, and he'd fled as soon as it began - as soon as that blade sliced through Tais' shoulder. And it was fortunate for Erryl that Dirken had the forethought and consideration to drag the younger boy along with him. After all, if it weren't for having his arm tugged so hard it felt he might lose it, Erryl knew he'd probably have stood there staring in shock until someone shoved a knife through his chest - or worse.
As it was, Erryl had no idea how bad the fight had been, or who else might have escaped with their lives. He'd lost sight of Dirken after a few moments of running, his sore ankle doing quite well at holding him back. As he weaved his way through the smaller streets, it wasn't long before his leg decided to give up on him completely, forcing him to duck into the closest hiding place he could find - a dark space between a brick wall and a broken, old cart - where he curled up and sobbed quietly, praying for a way to turn back time and start the whole day over again.
He'd sat there for hours, scared and uncertain, as he tried as hard as he could to consider his options. He didn't really feel like it - he just wanted to go home and sleep - but this was obviously worse than he'd thought. Throughout the day, despite all his fear and worry, a part of his mind had been telling him that he was just over-reacting, and that the situation couldn't really be as bad as it seemed.
But it was. Iarei was probably dead, along with Tais and Jester, maybe even the boy. Alive or not, Dirken was gone, and now Erryl was completely alone. It was too late to go home. His brother would certainly interrogate him for being out past dark (and kill him for getting into such a mess), and the murderers might find and follow him. He had no friends or relatives to ask for help, and the only place he really spent any time was the university...
Maybe the inn? he pondered, rubbing his tired eyes and stretching out his legs. They still had rooms booked there, and if anyone had survived... well, that was probably too much to hope for, but it was better than nothing. And after seeing more than a few large, rat-shaped shadows flit past him through the darkness, Erryl wasn't all that keen on spending any more time hiding behind the cart.
Making sure to be quiet and keep an eye out for anyone who looked suspicious, Erryl slowly made his way back in the general direction of the inn, avoiding the main street and hoping he wouldn't get lost. It took quite a while, but eventually he found himself at the back of the inn which adjoined a rather narrow alleyway.
Hesitating only briefly, to consider the possibility of the thugs knowing where to look for him, Erryl decided to make his way inside and upstairs. The two rooms Iarei had paid for were empty now, he found; it was no surprise, even if it did make him wonder where Dirken might be. He glanced longingly at the empty beds, feeling the aches in his body – his head and ankle especially – and the exhaustion that seemed to weigh him down and numb his mind. But he knew he couldn't rest here, just in case.
Could I...?
He sat himself carefully on the same bed Iarei had napped upon, and sighed heavily with frustration at the way his muscles groaned with the need to rest. His injuries begged him to give them time to heal themselves, and he had nowhere else to go from here. After a long, quiet moment of internal warfare, Erryl finally gave in to his body's demands, and the instant his head hit the pillow it was as though a huge weight was lifted from him. He was almost surprised it didn't send him floating through the ceiling.
...just rest a little while I think of a new plan... he assured himself, determined not to fall asleep any time soon.
A deep rumbling woke him several hours later, and he shot upright when he realized what was going on. Not that he really knew what was going on. Only moments ago he'd been discussing the nature of stars with the pretty girl who lived down the street...
Oh, Changers' wrath, I fell asleep!
But there was no time to worry about that, Erryl realized, as the room was bathed in a strange light from outside. Jumping gracelessly to his feet, the half-elf hurried back downstairs, where he was surprised to find quite a few people standing around and discussing the odd phenomenon. Until he remembered that it was an inn, that is, and reminded himself that it would be weird not to see any people at this time of the morning.
As Erryl brushed past the group towards the front door, he heard a merchant with a strange accent claiming this sort of thing was common in the east and south, which sparked an argument with another merchant, who'd just walked into the room, about a tower of light. However interesting the topic of conversation, Erryl decided it would be best to see for himself what was going on, even if he did have time to stand around and eavesdrop, which he certainly did not.
Once he was outside, he glanced up and down the main street, and then towards the sky. Nothing was out of the ordinary, save for the few people doing the same thing as he was. He let out a sigh of disappointment. Still tired, still aching, and having missed whatever strange natural event had just occurred, Erryl decided to wander down the main street rather than staying at the inn. As he walked, he wondered hopelessly what he was meant to do without anyone to guide him.
Uncomfortable now with being out in public, and so easy to spot even in a crowd, he took a turn down the first street he came across, keeping one eye out for anything suspicious and another for a place to eat. That he had no money on him at all was a thought that had yet to cross his mind.
Re: In for a Pounding
At some point during the commotion, Tais had blacked out. He had become completely oblivious to all that was going on. The dead bodies were left in the street, Tais had been carried off by unknown men, and women of questionable character had tended to his wounds and Tais knew nothing of any of it.
That phenomenon took place and the ground shook. It was enough of a tremble to make Tais stir. The first sensation he felt was coarse cotton brushing against his skin and soft cushion contouring to his back. This was followed by an enveloping warmth and comfort that he hadn’t felt in ages. It didn’t take him long to figure out he was in a bed. That fact alone was enough to bring a smile to his lips. It had been ages since he had actually lain in a bed as travelling the way he had deprived him of such luxuries. He was so entrapped by the sensation that he had forgotten the most important question; why was he in a bed?
As it occurred to him, Tais became almost instantaneously erect in the bed. His eyes shot open and he had intents of discovering where he was. That intent didn’t last long though as pain rocked through his body. He shuddered violently and a groan of pain shook free from between his lips. He fell backwards into the bed almost as quickly as he had sat up and writhed in pain. The memories began to flood in. They were shattered and scattered. It was mostly images and sounds. He saw the mangled bodies, he remembered the crowd, he even remembered a knife being held to his throat by a strangely familiar woman. Her face came next and the pain suddenly fled Tais’ body. He tensed up and felt himself darken as he realized the woman who he had tried to help almost took his life. Not only did she almost take his life, she also killed several others. That’s what his fractured memories told him anyways. He tried to make sense of it all, but the more he tried, the less memory he seemed to have. Everything seemed ever so hazy as he lay there writhing in pain.
Tais heard a gasp and for the first time, he took note of a frail figure that stood near the corner of the room. The woman had been gazing out the window, watching the commotion going on due to the phenomenon of lights. She had been so in awe of it that she hadn’t noticed Tais had arisen until the sound of his massive figure falling back against the bed had shook her out of her daze. The blanket had fallen away from Tais’ torso and the young woman found a blush heating her cheeks. “I..I..I..” She began to stammer and a hot flush tinted her cheeks a cherry red. “Sire, you shouldn’t be moving. We just managed to get your wounds bandaged through the night.” Dainty steps took her closer to that bed. She carefully observed Tais’ wounds from a few feet away. She was unsure about approaching the large man while he was in pain, but she also had to be sure the bandages were holding. Once she was satisfied, she nodded confidently and headed towards the door.
“Mae, find Mr. Ricoletti please. Our guest has awoken.” The young woman called this out through the door then turned and curtseyed in Tais’ direction. “Please be patient and do not move sir, I’m going to go get you some tea. It’s herbal and should help with the pain.” With that, the girl fled from the room and left Tais there on that bed in the daze.
His head was spinning and he couldn ‘t get his mind wrapped around this. Where was he? Who had that girl been? He understood enough to know that she and the owner of this place had apparently saved his life, but he did not understand why or anything of the sort. His entire world was in a state of confusion and he could only utter a groan of pain in response to the young maiden as she slipped from the room.
That phenomenon took place and the ground shook. It was enough of a tremble to make Tais stir. The first sensation he felt was coarse cotton brushing against his skin and soft cushion contouring to his back. This was followed by an enveloping warmth and comfort that he hadn’t felt in ages. It didn’t take him long to figure out he was in a bed. That fact alone was enough to bring a smile to his lips. It had been ages since he had actually lain in a bed as travelling the way he had deprived him of such luxuries. He was so entrapped by the sensation that he had forgotten the most important question; why was he in a bed?
As it occurred to him, Tais became almost instantaneously erect in the bed. His eyes shot open and he had intents of discovering where he was. That intent didn’t last long though as pain rocked through his body. He shuddered violently and a groan of pain shook free from between his lips. He fell backwards into the bed almost as quickly as he had sat up and writhed in pain. The memories began to flood in. They were shattered and scattered. It was mostly images and sounds. He saw the mangled bodies, he remembered the crowd, he even remembered a knife being held to his throat by a strangely familiar woman. Her face came next and the pain suddenly fled Tais’ body. He tensed up and felt himself darken as he realized the woman who he had tried to help almost took his life. Not only did she almost take his life, she also killed several others. That’s what his fractured memories told him anyways. He tried to make sense of it all, but the more he tried, the less memory he seemed to have. Everything seemed ever so hazy as he lay there writhing in pain.
Tais heard a gasp and for the first time, he took note of a frail figure that stood near the corner of the room. The woman had been gazing out the window, watching the commotion going on due to the phenomenon of lights. She had been so in awe of it that she hadn’t noticed Tais had arisen until the sound of his massive figure falling back against the bed had shook her out of her daze. The blanket had fallen away from Tais’ torso and the young woman found a blush heating her cheeks. “I..I..I..” She began to stammer and a hot flush tinted her cheeks a cherry red. “Sire, you shouldn’t be moving. We just managed to get your wounds bandaged through the night.” Dainty steps took her closer to that bed. She carefully observed Tais’ wounds from a few feet away. She was unsure about approaching the large man while he was in pain, but she also had to be sure the bandages were holding. Once she was satisfied, she nodded confidently and headed towards the door.
“Mae, find Mr. Ricoletti please. Our guest has awoken.” The young woman called this out through the door then turned and curtseyed in Tais’ direction. “Please be patient and do not move sir, I’m going to go get you some tea. It’s herbal and should help with the pain.” With that, the girl fled from the room and left Tais there on that bed in the daze.
His head was spinning and he couldn ‘t get his mind wrapped around this. Where was he? Who had that girl been? He understood enough to know that she and the owner of this place had apparently saved his life, but he did not understand why or anything of the sort. His entire world was in a state of confusion and he could only utter a groan of pain in response to the young maiden as she slipped from the room.
Re: In for a Pounding
Fugitives were not welcome in public places. Iarei remembered; it had not been so long since she'd been chased from her comfortable existence trouping throughout northern Apthoni and the easternmost tips of Hasele. The memories were strong as she huddled in the lee of two buildings in a narrow alley that had formed between two streets. It was near the Main Street, near to her Inn. The Proper Lady. Right. She wasn't so proper right now, clothes stained dark with rapidly browning blood and cut here and there. Her whole body throbbed, and she couldn't get a grasp on her mind. It kept slipping away to possibilities and ends.
To boy it went, and the thought of him stung. Maybe Tian Xia would be better -- but even in her coldest moments she couldn't stomach the thought of leaving him. Bereft of her raw anger, she could only remember berating him before he disappeared, injuring him with her words. In the wake of the monster's might, she realized just how dangerous it was for him out there, just how high the stakes were. Changers curse it, she was fond of the boy. He was hers. Too much had been taken from her for her to let a moment of temper obliterate the years she'd spent with him.
Accused of a crime she hadn't committed. Again. Lost a companion, again. Chased and hated, again. But what really tore it, what pushed her face into the muck was the throbbing cuts on her dominant hand, the one she used to finger complex chords. The fingers that danced and bought her way through the world. She clutched her hand to her chest, drew up her knees and spilled tears down onto herself. For a moment she was no different than any hopeless beggar on the street; luck used up and cast into a wretched, unending despair. Out it all came in shuddering sobs, the full reality of her situation pressing her down past rationality. She allowed herself the respite, the acknowledgement of her failures and what they'd cost her. There were no more reserves left in her to avoid the slow cracking break that had shadowed her since the first day she'd walked into the cursed city.
Her tears were not unending. Wallowing did not help her situation, and she had only so much misery to spend before she was emptied and hollow. Given time her eyes were hot but dry, and her head dizzy and numb. She stared out blankly onto the passing street, ignored by the foot traffic as much as any human refuse was ignored, until she saw something that brought her to her feet.
"Erryl!" She cried out, a bleat of a distressed sheep, as she sought to catch up to him. Her relief was so great that she stumbled into him, arms going wide around him and squeezing him to her with a warmth born of desperation. "Erryl," she said, softer, for a moment standing and hugging him as though he were a long lost dear one. Common sense and instinct brought her back down to earth, and she pulled him to the edge of the road, back to the shadowed alley.
"Oh, Erryl," Iarei's face crumpled for a moment before she regained enough control to not sob all over him, "Tais turned into a monster. He. . .did things. . .he didn't stop until he was too badly injured. And they saw me, I was so scared that when I saw the knife I did what I thought I had to do, but then she was screaming," she gulped air, "I wanted to kill him, but I couldn't do it, and they saw me and think I killed those people. But I didn't! Tais did, and I need. . .I need my things Erryl. From the inn. Please, would you get them? Please. I need to find my boy, and then leave this city. None of this was supposed to happen. I didn't know. . .I thought he killed you too."
She ran her uninjured hand over her disheveled braid. "I'll get us protection. Real protection, not a madman. We'll go somewhere safe, I promise. I'll keep you safe. I just. . .I just need my things."
To boy it went, and the thought of him stung. Maybe Tian Xia would be better -- but even in her coldest moments she couldn't stomach the thought of leaving him. Bereft of her raw anger, she could only remember berating him before he disappeared, injuring him with her words. In the wake of the monster's might, she realized just how dangerous it was for him out there, just how high the stakes were. Changers curse it, she was fond of the boy. He was hers. Too much had been taken from her for her to let a moment of temper obliterate the years she'd spent with him.
Accused of a crime she hadn't committed. Again. Lost a companion, again. Chased and hated, again. But what really tore it, what pushed her face into the muck was the throbbing cuts on her dominant hand, the one she used to finger complex chords. The fingers that danced and bought her way through the world. She clutched her hand to her chest, drew up her knees and spilled tears down onto herself. For a moment she was no different than any hopeless beggar on the street; luck used up and cast into a wretched, unending despair. Out it all came in shuddering sobs, the full reality of her situation pressing her down past rationality. She allowed herself the respite, the acknowledgement of her failures and what they'd cost her. There were no more reserves left in her to avoid the slow cracking break that had shadowed her since the first day she'd walked into the cursed city.
Her tears were not unending. Wallowing did not help her situation, and she had only so much misery to spend before she was emptied and hollow. Given time her eyes were hot but dry, and her head dizzy and numb. She stared out blankly onto the passing street, ignored by the foot traffic as much as any human refuse was ignored, until she saw something that brought her to her feet.
"Erryl!" She cried out, a bleat of a distressed sheep, as she sought to catch up to him. Her relief was so great that she stumbled into him, arms going wide around him and squeezing him to her with a warmth born of desperation. "Erryl," she said, softer, for a moment standing and hugging him as though he were a long lost dear one. Common sense and instinct brought her back down to earth, and she pulled him to the edge of the road, back to the shadowed alley.
"Oh, Erryl," Iarei's face crumpled for a moment before she regained enough control to not sob all over him, "Tais turned into a monster. He. . .did things. . .he didn't stop until he was too badly injured. And they saw me, I was so scared that when I saw the knife I did what I thought I had to do, but then she was screaming," she gulped air, "I wanted to kill him, but I couldn't do it, and they saw me and think I killed those people. But I didn't! Tais did, and I need. . .I need my things Erryl. From the inn. Please, would you get them? Please. I need to find my boy, and then leave this city. None of this was supposed to happen. I didn't know. . .I thought he killed you too."
She ran her uninjured hand over her disheveled braid. "I'll get us protection. Real protection, not a madman. We'll go somewhere safe, I promise. I'll keep you safe. I just. . .I just need my things."
Re: In for a Pounding
Every stupid door, another pinched face glaring at him in either terror, shock or disgust. To be honest he didn't care, but door after door he met the same stubborn glares that got him nowhere.
"Good afternoon. I was wondering if you could answer a question I have." Drayel growled at the first sign of movement from yet another door. This time by a little girl half hidden in the door. Startled she glanced way up at the shocked guardsman. Seeing the child his tone gentled as he crouched to her eye level. "Good afternoon, young lady. Is your father or mother home?"
The little girl hesitated before glancing back nervously into the inside of the home. He could see some kind of conflict in her eyes. Her green eyes locked with his before traveling to the crossbow on his back. Seeing the alarm on her face he quickly shook his head.
"It isn't meant for your family. You have my word." Drayel assured her. He saw the doubt flash in her eyes before vanishing again. His heart dropped a little but he didn't let it show.
The world is so corrupt that now even a child cannot trust. He thought gloomily. What a cruel, stupid world.
"Mama and Pa are in the kitchen." she said finally, the troubled frown never leaving her face. "I want to get them but it's rude to leave a person standing in the door."
"I would take no offense." Drayel said. "I just ask you to hurry. I"m quite busy."
Seeing the way out the girl nodded vigorously before bounding away back into the house. Straightening, Drayel watched her go with his glare back in place. He would never harm the child, but one bad move from an adult and he'd be ready. Seeing an older man emerge from the inside of the house Drayel straightened his back.
"Good afternoon sir. Would you mind answering my questions?"
"Good afternoon. I was wondering if you could answer a question I have." Drayel growled at the first sign of movement from yet another door. This time by a little girl half hidden in the door. Startled she glanced way up at the shocked guardsman. Seeing the child his tone gentled as he crouched to her eye level. "Good afternoon, young lady. Is your father or mother home?"
The little girl hesitated before glancing back nervously into the inside of the home. He could see some kind of conflict in her eyes. Her green eyes locked with his before traveling to the crossbow on his back. Seeing the alarm on her face he quickly shook his head.
"It isn't meant for your family. You have my word." Drayel assured her. He saw the doubt flash in her eyes before vanishing again. His heart dropped a little but he didn't let it show.
The world is so corrupt that now even a child cannot trust. He thought gloomily. What a cruel, stupid world.
"Mama and Pa are in the kitchen." she said finally, the troubled frown never leaving her face. "I want to get them but it's rude to leave a person standing in the door."
"I would take no offense." Drayel said. "I just ask you to hurry. I"m quite busy."
Seeing the way out the girl nodded vigorously before bounding away back into the house. Straightening, Drayel watched her go with his glare back in place. He would never harm the child, but one bad move from an adult and he'd be ready. Seeing an older man emerge from the inside of the house Drayel straightened his back.
"Good afternoon sir. Would you mind answering my questions?"
Re: In for a Pounding
The sound of his own name drew Erryl's attention away from the morbid thoughts that flooded his mind. He'd fallen into somewhat of a daze, and it was instinct rather than conscious recognition that caused him to turn. His heart almost stopped when a body collided with his, grabbing him in a painful hold that threatened to cease his breathing. This shock did not ease once he realized who the voice - and the body - belonged to.
He was being hugged by a dead woman.
As it slowly began to sink in, Iarei was pulling him off the street. He stared at her, still almost in disbelief. Iarei's alive? ...I'm not alone?
Caught up in his own mixed feelings of shock and relief, it took time for the words tumbling out of Iarei's mouth to form anything cohesive in Erryl's mind. It all seemed to come at once, appearing in a flash of blood and horror.
"...I thought he killed you too."
He took a step back, so unsure of what to think that it felt like his world was crumbling around him... and it was probably only going to get worse from here, if these people were not only murderers, but monsters.
"We'll go somewhere safe, I promise. I'll keep you safe. I just... I just need my things."
With a sigh, Erryl nodded his agreement and - taking one last look at Iarei to reassure himself she was really there - headed off back towards The Proper Lady inn, terrifying fears whirling their way around his head once again.
At least now he had something to do.
He was being hugged by a dead woman.
As it slowly began to sink in, Iarei was pulling him off the street. He stared at her, still almost in disbelief. Iarei's alive? ...I'm not alone?
Caught up in his own mixed feelings of shock and relief, it took time for the words tumbling out of Iarei's mouth to form anything cohesive in Erryl's mind. It all seemed to come at once, appearing in a flash of blood and horror.
"...I thought he killed you too."
He took a step back, so unsure of what to think that it felt like his world was crumbling around him... and it was probably only going to get worse from here, if these people were not only murderers, but monsters.
"We'll go somewhere safe, I promise. I'll keep you safe. I just... I just need my things."
With a sigh, Erryl nodded his agreement and - taking one last look at Iarei to reassure himself she was really there - headed off back towards The Proper Lady inn, terrifying fears whirling their way around his head once again.
At least now he had something to do.