Retribution Returns|Darkthrone, New Morilanta

[Kender Bard]

"Yes?" Shyamal asked in a quiet whisper. He stopped pleading and swallowed his cries. They would not save his friend now. Instead he bent his concentration on listening to Altra's final words.

---

Efil's eyes flashed with anger. "Oh... fuck you, Nissar," she growled and kicked him through the portal, closing it with a snap and disappearing to fetch Etaf.

[tuo]

Altra focused and with effort, began to share the best memories he has of Rajani with Shyamal, blurring out everything that didn't directly involve the two of them. "I am..sorry I did not share it earlier.." His grip began to slacken and his breathing grew fainter.

[Kender Bard]

Shyamal closed his eyes and let the memories wash over him.

She really did love me.

The poignant reflection just made the current tragedy hurt all the more. He held Altra's hand tighter, tears falling silently now as he whispered, "Goodbye Altra. Goodbye my best friend. I love you."

"Brother," Fausta murmured as she knelt next to Shyamal and put her arms around him. Shyamal let go of Altra slowly before turning and grabbing Fausta up into his arms, crying softly into his hair. "Don't cry, brother."

"Oh, Fausta," Shyamal gasped quietly as he held her tighter. "At least I have you. Thank the Forces you're all right..."

Fausta squirmed a little in his arms and Shyamal loosened his grip. "You still have people that love you," she murmured.

Shyamal lifted a hand to brush away the tears in his eyes. Fausta leaned forward.... a small knife, small enough to hid in her pocket since she went to fetch it after the fight in the temple, in her hand which she rammed into Shyamal's gut.

"I don't," she hissed, turning the knife viciously. Shyamal cried out in pain and tried to jerk away. "You took him away from me! You took Bastion from me! He was the only one that cared!! DIE!!"

[Devon]

Desmond's eyes grew wide as Fausta stabbed her brother in the stomach. Acting quick, the knight harshly kicked the child away from Prince Shyamal and drew a dagger he kept at his side. Glaring at the child he kept the dagger in his hand ready to use it if he were forced to. Going to Shyamal's side he tried to support the Prince. "We have to get you some aid quickly, where can I go around here!?"

[Kender Bard]

Fausta winced and stayed where she was, still sobbing, still crying for her lost father figure. She didn't care what happened at that point anymore, so she dropped her bloodied knife and just curled up.

Shyamal held his gut, blood pumping out at an alarming rate. He stared at Desmond with eyes that were quickly glazing over with pain, fatigue, and blood loss. He'd been through so much. So much.

"I don't know," he managed to say, numbly. "Can't... think... can't... remember..." He shuddered in pain and slumped onto his side.

[Devon]

"Damnit," Desmond muttered as he cautiously picked the Prince up. Looking to Fausta he snapped an order quickly. "Tell me where the nearest healer is now child! I'll be damned if your brother dies after all this mess."

[Kender Bard]

Fausta snorted at him. "Go to hell, and take him with you," she snapped tiredly.

"Tell Zira," Shyamal whispered to Desmond. Sleep sounds good right now. He struggled to keep his eyes open. "Tell Zira.... I love him..."

[Devon]

"Stay awake damn it," Desmond shouted as he touched his Mind Sign. He'd just have to go to the inn he'd been in before and find help from there. "You can tell Lord Wintersong yourself after you get patched up," he said as he teleported off to the inn in Morilanta, vowing to come back for Fausta later and wring her neck if he had to. Desmond wasted no time and immediately made his demands clear. "I need a healer now!"

[Kender Bard]

Fausta lay where she was, shuddering, her eyes shut tight against the world and everyone in it.

---

Etaf and Thuoth stood side by side in the room. Etaf bent down and gently stroked back Altra's hair. "Poor man, he tried so hard," she murmured.

"This isn't fair, sister," Thuoth murmured. "Surely, you can let me intercede? It is my right."

"Thuoth..." Etaf drew the soul of Altra out of the body and sent it gently onwards past the Veil. "The touch of the Forces lay too heavily on this place, this moment, already. I cannot permit further meddling."

"It is unfair to the child," Thuoth pressed. "What life did he have but that which was predestined from the moment Taed accepted Rajani's deal? He has been robbed of his whole life and for the culmination of nothing more than a failure. How can you condone this?"

Etaf frowned and swept her eyes over the room pensively. "Ripples will spread outward if you do. Things you cannot see. Events you cannot guess at. But I see them. You do him no favors in this."

"Why don't we give him the chance to be the judge of that, for once?" Thuoth replied.

Etaf shut her eyes at that remark. "Very well," she finally answered. She raised a hand towards Fausta and made a small gesture. "But to all things there must be a consequence. I hope you don't rue this, Thuoth."

"I hope not either," the deity agreed, and both Forces disappeared as a frightened servant, peeking into the room, hurried over and snatched up Fausta, leading her out of the carnage that was what remained of the throne room.

---

One of the Waters in the room, no healer by any stretch, but wary of an armed man, came over and inspected the boy.

He shook his head.

"I'm afraid he's dead, sir," he murmured, scuttling backwards quickly.

"I'll see to him," another man remarked, rolling up his sleeves and frowning. "Here, sir, let me have him. I'm no miracle worker but - oh wait I am." He smirked haughtily and held out his arms for Shyamal's body.

[Devon]

Desmond stared at the man and warily handed Shyamal over to him. He kept his dagger on display, hoping he wouldn't have to use it. "Just do what you can, please.." Desmond didn't want to see all the blood that had been shed go to waste because of one man's crazy sibling.

[Kender Bard]

"Of course," the healer replied and briskly began to walk into another room. "You stay here. And count your money. My work is very expensive and I can take away life as good as give it back."

He slammed the door shut with a foot.

After a long wait, there came a whispered response in Desmond's mind. ~Enter.~

[Devon]

Desmond entered the room, still very much on edge. The mystery healer was an oddity to him, apparently he was both a Water and a Mind if Desmond had to guess. "Were you able to save him?"

[Kender Bard]

Desmond walked in on an empty room.

Instead, there was a solitary note on a table, waiting for him. It was on crisp, clean parchment and written with gorgeous flowing script in an ink that shone like darkened gold.

Desmond,

This dance of fate has not yet concluded, but your part in the events is over, for now. Go home.

Have faith.

The fallen prince is in the hands of the Forces, now.

[Devon]

Desmond picked up the letter and wondered just what in the hell he'd tell his superiors. Desmond folded the letter and tucked it away in his pocket. For now he'd just have to go back to Khelek, but first he'd check on the wounded that were left in the temple.