May We Meet Again|Neo'anar, New Anarlina

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal finished up talking with Fausta and Altra on the plans set forth. Content that they had been sufficiently brought up to speed, Shyamal sent his mind questing towards Zira's. ~I'd like to speak with you, if the time isn't inconvenient. It's important. May I come to your home?~

[Darastrix]

~Of course you may,~ Zira replied. He hoped everything was all right. Shyamal didn't seem particularly upset, at least. ~Come to the sitting room. It's just me and Autumn at the moment.~

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal teleported abruptly. Though he had managed to keep his calm in mind, voice, and bearing, there was something almost haunted in Shyamal's eyes; and not just because of what lay ahead. His discussion with Altra had been singularly uninspiring.

"Hello Zira," he remarked to the man with a weak smile for Autumn. "Hello Autumn."

[Darastrix]

Autumn smiled back from where she lay sprawled across her father's lap. "Hello, Shy'ma," she said in a sing-song.

Zira smiled back as well, though he sobered as he got a good look at the young man. "Why don't you go see what Dillon's been up to in the kitchen today? I think he was planning to bake some sweet rolls."

Autumn started to squirm around until Zira set her on the floor, then started to scurry off to the kitchen. "Bye, Shy'ma!"

"Don't run in the house, Autumn."

"I won', Dazi," she promised, and toddled quickly out of the room without running, then as soon as she was out of sight of the door, little pounding footsteps could be heard running down the hallway.

Zira shook his head and sighed, a rueful smile playing at his lips. "Have a seat," he told Shyamal. More quietly he asked, "What's the matter?"

[Kender Bard]

"Am I that transparent?" Shyamal asked, but smiled as he did so, though it wilted fairly quickly. "We'll be leaving soon. I spoke with my sister and Altra and it's been agreed we will leave with King Kazimir and stay in Khelek while waiting for reinforcements from here and Reave. Once they've gathered..."

He spread his hands. "It's in Etaf's hands then."

[Darastrix]

"So soon...," Zira murmured, his brow kitting with concern. It wasn't really soon at all, though. Shyamal had been in Anarlina for several months by then. But still, Zira didn't like the though of his marching off to Morilanta. Not after he'd gotten to know him. "What seems to be the feeling on the chance of success?"

[Kender Bard]

"Lord Twilight seems... I suppose optimistic, other than that, I can only say enough that he and Lord Trevor feel it's worth sending good men with me," Shyamal replied. "Personal-LY..."

He cleared his throat, blushing faintly at the sudden crack.

He looked down. "Personally... I feel... I feel like there's a great sense of urgency in everything I do. Like I am rushing towards an ending. In a vision from one of King Kazimir's seers, it was seen that there was a sword hanging above me. When Bastion and my father fell, the sword dropped. I suppose that could mean anything but I... feel only dread."

[Darastrix]

Zira wanted to say something, anything, to give Shyamal comfort or reassurance, but he could hardly think of anything to reassure even himself. He could guess who the seer was - talking about people seemed to be one of Schuldig's favourite pastimes - and knew he had a good record of accuracy.

"I'm afraid for you," he said, one hand moving to smooth his feathers. "I can't pretend otherwise. But whatever happens, I remain your friend. I can't go against a nation, but if you find yourself needing help, someone to talk to, or someplace to just get away from everything, my home is open to you."

[Kender Bard]

"I know," Shyamal said, voice shaking slightly. "That is... invaluable to me. As is your support."

He reached up and rubbed at his eyes, trying to disguise it was pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't think Altra feels I should be on the throne now. But I can see no better alternative. Even if I was to take the suggestion that I merely sweep up the good people in Morilanta and flee with them... where does that leave the rest? Where does that leave the world?" He sounded a little desperate, to even his own ears, but felt keenly the truth of his statements as well. "What of all the people who have good in them but unrealized? And should I simply stand aside and let another wicked man wage eternal war on the rest of humanity?"

"I wish he could see that," Shyamal whimpered. Altra, his first friend... That admission had been like a knife to the boy's heart. "I wish everyone else who doesn't think I can do this would too."

[Darastrix]

Zira rose from his seat and moved to Shyamal's, leaning over to embrace him. "I wish there was more I could offer," he murmured. "More I could do. If things had been different...." Zira trailed off and squeezed him tightly.

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal clung to Zira tightly, almost shivering in the man's embrace. He could think of no one else, other than perhaps Altra, he ever felt he trusted enough to fully relax his defenses like that.

"I will miss you," Shyamal whispered through a tear-choked voice. "I shall miss you dearly, my friend! I have a request though. If I should fall... would you please leave a gravestone for me in a graveyard here, in Anarlina? I've felt more at home here than in Morilanta."

[Darastrix]

For a moment, Zira couldn't breathe. Just the thought of that outcome tore at his heart, and to hear Shyamal make such a request let him completely undone. His wings trembled and he found himself unable to speak past the lump in his throat.

~I will,~ Zira whispered into Shyamal's mind. ~I promise.~

He cleared his throat, feeling the need to say the next aloud. He wasn't sure Shyamal had ever heard it before, and he didn't want there to be anything left unsaid, just in case. "I--" He paused to close his eyes for a moment, and felt hot tears slide down his face. "I love you," Zira murmured hoarsely. "If I had a son--" His voice cracked and he shuddered.

"I would have wanted a son like you," Zira finally whispered.

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal stared wide eyed in surprise at Zira, tears spilling unchecked, silent.

"When I first saw you, and I thought you were my father, I was terrified," Shyamal answered quietly. He swallowed hard a couple times, trying to find his voice again. "Now I- I only wish that were true." He hugged Zira tighter, weeping quietly on the man's shoulder. ~Oh, Zira, if I live through this I promise I will come back to see you as soon as I am able!~

[Darastrix]

Zira, beyond words at the moment, just held Shyamal close and tried to focus on all of the positive emotions he could and gently pushed them towards the young man. He couldn't block out all of the sadness he felt - how could he? If he didn't love Shyamal, he wouldn't even feel that way at all - but it was tempered by the stronger sense of love, hope, and support he offered.

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal opened his mind to Zira's, unresisting, and let the flow wash over him, soothing him, calming him. His shuddering sobs slowed and soon he felt merely spent, but reassured. Reluctantly, he pulled away from Zira and swiped at his eyes. "If things had been different..." he murmured.

But that was all he really could say on the matter. "I need to go inform King Kazimir that I will be traveling with him," he admitted. He really should have done that before coming, but he hadn't known things would have wound up the way they had.