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Curse Divide; DarkAngel013 & Seiss
Topic Started: Mar 12 2009, 02:21 AM (8,403 Views)
DarkAngel013
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“Did you keep the saddle?” he asked, handing her the rein of one horse while he mounted the other. “It’ll be a three weeks’ ride to reach the Strata Mountains.”

"Let's just say I put it away for now," she said as she pulled out of her bag a cloak as she wrapped it around herself. It was the same one that Shura had first seen her wear. She covered up her maroon hair with the hood before taking the reins from the other horse. She patted the neck of the horse he had given her, warming it up from the wetness of the rain and the tiredness it might have had. She did the same with the other horse before sitting delicately on the horse, swinging her one leg over. Thankfully, her riding pants were on so she was able to do so.

"It's fine, I suppose," she said as she heeled the horse to start walking forward. "It's better than attracting attention with your griffin self. I just hope that Jegan and Resee will be able to find us before we get there." The sudden mention of their names made her remember some things she didn't want to remember at the current moment. She turned to look at Shura with her soft ruby hues, "I think as long as you're protecting me, we'll get to the mountains without a problem." A short pause before she spoke up again, but softly, "Um.. Shura, it's not Tryst's fault for him doing what he did."

Eve fluttered on her shoulder as she sat perched there. She knew that this topic was going to end badly.
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Seiss
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Tcaitacl and vlaliniy Pcrik.
He shrugged, nudging his horse to move after hers. With their current situation, he doubted that Resee and Jegan would be able to catch up. Not unless they were riding for their lives. Which he doubted. They went reporting something urgent to the King, something about him not being responsible for the recent demon outrage. He fought a sigh, closing his eyes warily. Ever since the mage’s entrance to their country, nothing’s been peaceful. He had to fight for both their lives, run like… cowardly fugitives. And he was tired of seeing her constantly injured, weak and sick. Shura only wished for whatever misfortune that followed her everywhere to give them a break.

She had referred to his original form- griffin self. Amusing. A weary smile touched his lips. Well, wherever that saddle bag went, he doubted she would lose it. It held their supplies and his clothes…. Would she refer to him now as his ‘human self’?

A swell of pride and satisfaction bubbled inside him when she sounded so confident of his abilities to protect her. But he chided himself for it. He hadn’t been useful as her shield. In fact, she had done most of the shielding instead of him. What the hell was he worth? And why the hell was he lapping up her words like a pup?

”Um… Shura, it’s not Tryst’s fault for him doing what he did.”

Not this again…. He sighed heavily, mild irritancy creasing a frown on his brow. He gave her an intense glare. “Are you going to tell me that it was your fault now? It doesn’t matter anymore. What’s done is done. I don’t like him for hurting you, especially not after I had given him my trust.” He’d slaughter the man if he ever comes near Sayuri again. “But if I were honest with myself, I would have been willing to kill my own friend to save my own wife.” He shuddered inwardly, hearing his conscience protest against his statement. It would tear him to do it, but he’d throw away everything if the life of his love was at stake. He couldn’t really blame Tryst, but he would sure appreciate it if the man had enough mind to consider the situation before he stared chopping down the assassins. “Let’s drop the subject before I say something nasty,” he muttered.
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许?
天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。
欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。
君应有语,渺万里层云,
千山暮雪,只影向谁去?
横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。
招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。
天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。
千秋万古,为留待骚人,
狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。
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DarkAngel013
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Sayuri flinched visibly under his glare, although her face wasn't visible through the hood, but her eyes flashed momentarily.

“Are you going to tell me that it was your fault now? It doesn’t matter anymore. What’s done is done. I don’t like him for hurting you, especially not after I had given him my trust.” “But if I were honest with myself, I would have been willing to kill my own friend to save my own wife.”

"Yes, it was!" she exclaimed. Although, she was surprised that the injury he had given her had been that... deep. It was a clean injury though, nothing effecting her bones or organs and by that much, she had to give Tryst some credit. If it weren't for that, who knows what would have happened. She listened to him speak about hurting his own friend to save his wife... and those words caused her to wince. She didn't like that term very much, especially when he himself said it. Why? "But I asked him to do that..."

But before she could continue, Shura spoke up again.

“Let’s drop the subject before I say something nasty,” he muttered.

She only nodded forlornly, realizing that trying to defend Tryst would only cause Shura to become angry. A worried expression bloomed on her face and she wondered would it be possible for Shura to ever trust Tryst again. Tryst didn't know anything and had only been protecting what he thought had been right... at the time. He didn't realize that by killing those men would cause him unable to possibly see his wife again. The expression that must of been on his face for a brief moment must of been heartbreaking. And she had seen the expression that Tryst had when he gazed at Seryel. It was something that she herself envied. She wished quietly to herself that she would have someone look at her like that... instead of the lust that she often saw in some men's gaze.

Sayuri heeled the horse forward a bit more, to ride out in front of him. She brought out Lancelot and held him in her hand. Eve's wings moved slightly as she watched. Lancelot looked up with his nose quickly moving, sniffing the moist air.

"I wonder do you miss your owner, Resee," she mumbled softly. She vaguely remembered her expressions when Shura's name was brought up. It was always quick and it never lingered than a moment. She wondered what Jegan and Resee were doing now.

She didn't realize that the silence that had come in between them. She was buried deep into her thoughts about her feelings, the past events, and the things she never had gotten time to think about had come forth in this awkward silence. After awhile of the silence, she wondered what Shura was thinking about and glanced back. She flushed visibly when she realized their eyes connected and quickly turned about.

Of course he'd be watching, why wouldn't he? she thought. She was being stupid... acting like a stupid girl who...

Again, she denied it. There was just no way that she was in love with him... Just no way...
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Seiss
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Tcaitacl and vlaliniy Pcrik.
He was relieved when she didn’t pursue the subject any further, but he was furious as well when she confirmed his suspicion. She had been behind it- harming herself. The nerve of her to scare him when her wellbeing was obviously his responsibility. What in hell was she thinking? He sighed quietly, gazing helplessly at her back. She looked so small on the horse. Oh what the hell. The Ranian King just had to send this mage, didn’t he? Why not send an old hag damn it.

Shura felt stupid for misplacing his trust. Grudgingly, he had to admit that it was a huge fault on his part.

He had been starting so intently on her back, that he was surprised she turned to look at him. He fought a chuckle when she hastily returned her gaze to the front. Shy thing. Well, he knew now that he was attracted to her like a moth to a flame. Whether or not it would cost him- oh hell, it would cost him something, but he wasn’t about to keep away. Not really.

Heaving another sigh, he looked at her back morosely and kicked his horse to increase its pace, so he could be next to her. “Well, you are wearing something decent, at least,” he grinned.

------------

How many days had it been?

She didn’t care. Too frightened to bother, too lonely and heartbroken for time to be worth anything to her. Her face was always wet with her own tears. She had never stopped crying. Every time she was too exhausted, she would drift into nightmarish sleep. They were so real… so ghoulish, so foul. She couldn’t tell a dream apart from reality. But she fought them. She fought them with everything she had.

The black things… those devil eyes on faceless masks. They ripped at her flesh, said the most terrifying things, luring her with sick promises she never wanted. She wanted the pain to stop, the heavy fog to lift from her mind, the nightmares to end, to return-

There was no one she could trust. Tryst…. She shuddered and whimpered, curling into a tighter ball, wherever she lay. She didn’t understand… no, Seryel knew it was the drug, but her mind was losing the ability to remind itself, to hold on to logic. She was starting to believe, the face she knew so well turned into something she feared. His smile was contorted, cold and there was a line of malice in the curve. Those warm eyes- they used to be warm, but he was looking at her as if he had never wanted her, like she was filth, like a thing he could play with as he pleased. She could remember, distinctly in her feverish vision, that he- he hurt her. She had nowhere to run or hide. The more she longed for him, the more powerful was this fright.

She had hurt him too. Her body shook, from the cold and the abuse. Tryst, he had tried to force himself upon her. She had screamed, and fought him with everything- as she always had from the beginning of the nightmare. She saw the blood trail down a cut from his cheek and the hurtful look in his eyes. She felt sorry… and she almost gave in. But his touch was wrong. It didn’t feel the same. She trusted her own instincts and fought everything and everyone. She flailed, hit and kicked whenever she could. It didn’t matter what it was- chains, monsters, hooded men… Tryst.

Food and water. Seryel couldn’t remember when she had them. But she had dreamed of black poison forced down her throat, rotting flesh shoved into her mouth. Were they what kept her alive? Her body was so fatigued, sore and hurting. She couldn’t be sure if her injuries were real. She was in pain- everywhere.

Suddenly, something wrenched her up on her weak legs. She nearly toppled, but she remembered to resist. Whimpering against the pain, she forced her feet to work and tugged away from the hands that trapped her wrists. Her eyes were averted to the floor. She was afraid to see the ghastly faces… she was afraid she’d see Tryst. Her captor hissed and pulled her relentlessly along, like a ragdoll. He was too strong. Her weakened body could take no more. She fell and winced when her knees hit the floor and her skin was scrapped. Whoever it was- he was angry, she could sense it. She tried to shrink away, but instead, she felt the trapping arms lift her up.

Panic gripped her. Seryel sobbed and thrashed desperately against his hold. She felt dirty, dirty that someone was touching her, after Tryst had abandoned her. Her struggles must have been feeble. Her captor didn’t budge. She couldn’t stop her tears from streaming through her tightly shut eyes as he carried her off.

The blue eyes of a masked man met the frail figure of the girl. She appeared filthy, emotionally broken and fragile. He didn’t doubt that a good wash and careful tending to her injuries would unravel her original state. The bone structure on her bruised face hinted that she was quite attractive. And her body… needless to say, behind the cuts and bruises, she was a treasure. He looked up, at his fellow assassin who held her in his arms. “This is what you have confiscated?” he asked.

His accomplice blinked his hard gray eyes as him, surprised at the incredulous tone in his companion’s voice. “Yes. She is under the influence of the drug. Most of her injuries are self inflicted. She claws at anything that comes close enough.” Was his companion blaming him for her poor condition?

Laughter, light and clear came from the blue eyed man. “Return what you took. They are not who we are after. If she were to be part of my collection, I’d rather see her alive.”

“But he had killed many of our subordinates!”

The man’s blue eyes narrowed with amusement and something more lethal. “Of course. I didn’t plan to let him off so easily. Feed her the Dead Man’s Nail.”

------------

An entire week of riding. They were exhausted, but relieved that they had finally reached a village. Resee had been hesitant to continue without stopping at the previous town, but it appears Jegan was right- they could reach the village by nightfall.

They sat on their rides, feeling the sides of their horses heave from the long ride as they looked up at the sign of an inn. It looked a little worn. The roof was partially fixed with new serrated tiles and the walls were patched and supported with new pieces of wood. It looked like a temporary fix, as if the owner wanted it properly done at a later time. Resee frowned slightly at the odd looking inn. It reminded her of a house ripped in half and later patched back together.

A wagon rattled behind them and they moved aside to allow two burly men to unload a crate at the doorstep. They didn’t knock, but left instantly. Strange.

Jegan shrugged and dismounted, pulling his horse along as he knocked upon the door.
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许?
天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。
欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。
君应有语,渺万里层云,
千山暮雪,只影向谁去?
横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。
招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。
天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。
千秋万古,为留待骚人,
狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。
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DarkAngel013
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Sayuri wasn't sure if she should feel insulted or not.

She only shrugged, hiding her face once again under her hood as she turned to look forward. "I suppose I am," she murmured. It's not the same as the dream I had where I wore all white... she thought mildly. She still held Lancelot in her hand, as his nose rapidly sniffed the moist air before Sayuri's hand withdrew a small carrot piece to give him to nibble on.

------------

The knock was unexpected and he hadn't been expecting anyone to come to the inn. For awhile now, he had hoped that he would not get any customers and had been thinking about changing homes... this place only brought too much...

He opened the door to find a man with armor that he knew was of the Rune Knights of the King's court. Before he could say anything, he noticed a crate that was not there before on the doorstep. His eyes sharpened for a moment, his smile faltering as he knelt down. With force that didn't seem to be fit for an innkeeper, he yanked the top of the crate open and a sharp gasp caused him to start coughing.

"Seryel!" he gasped, lifting her out and embracing her.

Tryst's body had been covered in scratches and bruises, as if something had happened that caused them to be there. From what, it was unknown. The rest of the town seemed to be fixing up their homes as well... it was as if a disaster had struck through this town.

Even if she was still under the drugs, he picked her up as he cradled her inside as he gave both the knights a glance to come in and close the door as he went into the backroom to put her into the bed. He popped open a herb vial and drank it down before forcibly kissing Seryel as he forced her to drink it down. He didn't care if she was scratching him or that she was fighting him. As long as she drank down the herb drink he gave her, than the chemicals and ill things inside her body would be washed out. Soon, he had her out cold from the medicine and wrapped her warmly in their blankets before slowly closing the door and walking out to where the two knights waited.

His smile was grim and his gaze blank. "Are you Shura's companions?" His voice sounded... anxious and wary. He leaned against the counter of where the keys and money was kept, but was now stored away. Heck, everything in this inn seemed to have been stored away and locked up. It looked as if he was in the middle of moving. He crossed his arms across his chest and leaned against the counter. His form seemed tired and battered, as if he had done some laborious work lately that's caused him to be that tired.

Tryst, for a moment, could imagine the flutter of Sayuri's maroon hair as she moved through the lobby, bright with a smile with Seryel watching her, relief that she had healed properly. But the lobby was dark now with the windows boarded up, thanks to the damage from the wind. Even now, it looked like a storm was still rolling in as dark clouds still hung over the village. A fire in the lobby warmed up weary traveling bones and gave dancing shadows to the figures of the chairs and couches. It gave a strange image that Tryst was an innocent innkeeper with a warm smile as he smiled softly. Bandages littered his hands, however, from repairs on the roof and other parts of the inn.

For a moment, Tryst had lost his composure at the relief that flooded him from being able to see his wife again. Never again, was he going to let her go...
Edited by DarkAngel013, Sep 16 2009, 04:26 AM.
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Seiss
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Tcaitacl and vlaliniy Pcrik.
Peace… wherever she was, in the small dark space, she dreaded to leave this small haven. No demons chased her in her dreams, nothing tried to hurt her. Finally, she could rest… she didn’t care if they would come after her later. She was too worn to have the will to defend herself anymore. If this was just a trick, so be it. Death didn’t seem so scary anymore. Her world had dissolved days ago.

Curled in a corner, she pressed herself closer to the low wall when she felt something jostle the small container. There was a muffled coughing from above. When the top of the crate was ripped off, she shuddered in fright and swallowed back a whimper. Her eyes were squeezed shut. She didn’t want to open them. She was afraid to see.

”Seryel!”

No! That voice… no, no no no no! Her sudden outbreak of sobs were interrupted with her strangled cry when someone lifted her out. Her limbs were so weak; she had barely any strength to break free. But Seryel shoved hard against his chest. It barely made any difference. He felt like steel wall. Her body hurt with every touch and tears were already pouring down her face. Ragged sobs and whimpers left her pale, cracked lips. The shine was gone from her tangled silver hair. Bruises covered her arms and legs. There were abrasions, cuts and dried blood all over. Her dress was torn, smudged with dirt and blood.

When he laid her on the bed, she struggled to scramble away, pushing with her legs and arms. Seryel was alarmed- the bed was soft. Nothing was ever soft in her nightmare. For a brief moment, she froze, her chest heaving from wheezing breaths. Pulling up whatever shattered courage she had left, she cracked her eyes open. Her vision was blurred and colours ran to the outlines of objects she recognized.

Her scream was shoved back down her throat when someone- Tryst kissed her, forcefully. A shudder ran down her spine. Familiar though it was, she writhed and shoved against him, trying to turn her head away to escape. But he wouldn’t let her. She had tried to keep her lips sealed, but she was running out of breath so quickly that she had to open her mouth to breathe. He had taken the chance to make her swallow something. The drug? Again? She wanted to die. No more… no more. Please…. She wanted to plead, but her tears jumbled her words and she could only sob.

His warm arms wrapped around her, cradled her with gentleness she was afraid to trust. Was this a trick? She hoped, she prayed that it wasn’t. Even if this was a dream, please let it not be a trick. He rocked her, soothingly back and forth, whispering comforting words and nonsensical endearments. Seryel was tensed, disbelieving, afraid. Her exhaustion, however, loosened her muscles from such a comforting administration. She thought she heard him hum her a song, but she couldn’t remember… couldn’t be sure. Her thoughts were hazy, drowsy. She finally gave in when the herbs began to work through her system, lulling her to sleep.

-----------------

Jegan and Resee stared in confusion and surprise when the innkeeper hauled a girl from the crate and hurried desperately inside. She was badly injured, pale and ill looking and he appeared shaken from her appearance. The innkeeper himself was not unscathed. The two Rune Knights wondered what had happened. Were the wagon drivers criminals?

A slip of something white was left at the bottom of the crate. Jegan entered first, frowning. Resee remained behind, staring at the piece of parchment with curiosity, apprehension and suspicion.

It read:
Four days. If you can find the gall of twin horned serpent.

What was it referring to? She didn’t understand. Resee passed it to Jegan. “What do you make of this?” she asked, settling herself at the table opposite him.

He quirked a brow at the note and shook his head, placing it on the table. “It belongs to the innkeeper. We’ll wait for him.” There was not one soul in the inn, he had noticed. The place looks… dilapidated, but not quite. It looked as if it had been salvaged from a wreckage. Had something happened here?

”Are you Shura’s companions?”

He turned to face him, rising slowly to his feet, a frown on his face. He knew Shura? “We are Rune Knights, from the King’s court. Shura is our captain,” he replied cautiously. Then he picked up the note and handed it to him. “This is yours, I believe? It was in the crate.”
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许?
天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。
欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。
君应有语,渺万里层云,
千山暮雪,只影向谁去?
横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。
招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。
天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。
千秋万古,为留待骚人,
狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。
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DarkAngel013
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“We are Rune Knights, from the King’s court. Shura is our captain,” he replied cautiously. Then he picked up the note and handed it to him. “This is yours, I believe? It was in the crate.”

Tryst then began to swear a long string of swear words as he punched a nearby wall, creating a hole. Then he sighed. "Sorry about that," he said as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Yes, that's mine..." He paused as he turned to look up at the pair.

"Then if you are here, why aren't you at your captain's side? They had been heavily attacked by those assassins and..." he stopped. Finding that was already almost impossible to find that to what, cure the poison that was in her system? He was already mentally exhausted as well as physically from repairing the inn as well as... He sighed again as he pinched the bridge of his nose again. "I should probably tell you that the dark clouds that are in the sky now is Lady Sayuri's doing... They had been attacked and my wife had gotten taken in the process... for what, I don't know. Were they really real assassins, then they would have come in here without really showing themselves, but there was at least fifteen assassins here. Shura had even..." He suddenly realized something. Wait a minute, did Shura really change into that large creature that...??? He hadn't been thinking too much of it at the time, only fearing for his wife's safety and his own at the time, but now, he had time to recollect his thoughts.

Sayuri was a mage from Rania and Shura was a... griffin...

Mildly, he was wondering what the King was doing, letting those men go around and continuously wreak havoc. If memory served him right, they only wanted to kill Sayuri, but in doing so, they also wanted to hurt innocent bystanders? He remembered vaguely that some of them had been rough to the villagers, whom he noticed none of them were missing, even being blown away by the wind. Did Sayuri's magic only affect those that were a threat to her, even while she was dying?

Tryst's emerald eyes turned towards the pair and asked with a sad smile, "Are you going to be staying the night? You look weary from traveling." A short pause. "I suppose it'd be best to fill you in on the events that has occurred here that became of Lady Sayuri and your captain, Shura."

He moved from where he stood as he went towards where it appeared to be the kitchen, "Your horses can rest in the stables next to here." He went into the kitchen and came out with hot soup that smelled delicious to travelers. "Here, it's on the house." Especially after that favor that Sayuri asked of him, he couldn't feel any more regretful than he did. Although Sayuri had saved herself and Shura, he knew that they were going to only encounter more problems, what with Sayuri's seemingly denying self of her actually loving her own bodyguard and those assassins. He wondered for a moment if he should tell the pair of Shura's rash movements, of him kissing her during the Festival of Inmoret.

... Now, he waited for them to finish the soup before he will decide to fill them in anymore.
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Seiss
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Tcaitacl and vlaliniy Pcrik.
Jegan pressed his lips into a thin line as he diverted his gaze to the table. This man knew something he shouldn’t, about Shura, captain of the Rune Knights. He could exploit the information if he chose to and even overturn the most prized army Tenarin possessed. “We had some complications in the city,” he said, cutting off his train of thoughts. “We didn’t know where he had gone until two days ago.” They should have enlisted the help of a Tracker. Whatever Shura had done, it sounded serious. Please tell me he didn’t shift in front of people….

When the innkeeper relayed the story, Jegan listened closely, along with Resee. They were both aware of the innkeeper’s distress. Something about the little slip of note was bothering him deeply. When he paused at the end, not quite finishing his sentence, Jegan realized that Shura did shift. He must have lost his mind, or was driven over the brink of desperation. They’ve got a mess to clear in this village and the town before.

He sighed when Tryst left them for the kitchens and buried his face in his hands. The hell. The Rune Knights in the city had yet to capture the identical griffin and now they had missed Shura and the Mage. He was tired from the constant rush in their travels. He needed a break.

“Jegan?” Resee’s voice sounded so soothing in his ears. It was cool, sincere, with a unique lilt that differentiated her from her sister. Keira had a slightly deeper timbre that could sound husky and sensuous if she tried. Resee… he would certainly like to hear what she sounds like- Lord, he wasn’t thinking straight. Shame on you! Where has your respect for Keira gone?

“Jegan,” she called more firmly this time.

He lifted his head and dropped his hands to rest on the table. A weary smile curved his lips. “Sorry, I nearly dozed off.” He had lied. It was uncomfortable, but the words slipped out easily. The instant they did, he regretted them.

Resee wasn’t fooled. The indecisive and confused expression on her face brought some sense of relief, but dread as well. He was relieved she could tell that he was lying, but he was also afraid of her reaction. They had been close friends for years… and Jegan rarely lied. Exhaustion must make him elusive. “No you didn’t,” she said quietly. “Jegan wh-“ she stopped herself and bit her lip, a guarded mask slipping into place. He hated it.

“No, you are right. I’m just worn from all this,” he said quickly, trying to suppress the pleading tone in his voice. “I’m sorry. Forgive me, my mouth went ahead of myself.”

Resee nodded hesitantly with a cautious smile. Ever since her sister’s departure, everything was different. She felt different and Resee couldn’t seem to recognize the people she used to know and should still know. It made her feel isolated. “Shura has always been able to take care of himself… I suggest we rest here for two days at least.”

He nodded and smiled gratefully at her. The fragrance of something delicious made him turn his head expectantly. Jegan thanked the innkeeper when he set the bowls of soup on the table before them. “My name is Jegan,” he said. “Pardon my manners. This is Resee.” And he motioned to his comrade.

While Jegan drank the soup, Resee didn’t touch hers. She looked at the innkeeper and asked, “How is she? We are sorry that we’ve dragged your family into this. Perhaps you should see to her? We will be fine here. Or is there something we can do to help?”
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许?
天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。
欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。
君应有语,渺万里层云,
千山暮雪,只影向谁去?
横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。
招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。
天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。
千秋万古,为留待骚人,
狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。
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DarkAngel013
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Sleepy Inspiration
“My name is Jegan,” he said. “Pardon my manners. This is Resee.” And he motioned to his comrade.

She looked at the innkeeper and asked, “How is she? We are sorry that we’ve dragged your family into this. Perhaps you should see to her? We will be fine here. Or is there something we can do to help?”


Tryst looked up from his hands as they were drinking the soup he made. "Pleasure, I'm Tryst," he said with a nod and a weary smile. His smile faltered. "I need to find the gall of a twin horned serpent... to cure the poison that's in her body. But please, have some soup, the soup is good for rejuvenating tired and weary bodies." He got up and stood to stretch, rippling the muscles that were under his thin linen shirt.

"I leave with her when she wakes... I need to find the snake before she dies... but I don't even know if I can save her," he said softly as he turned towards the fire, his voice cracking slightly. "I'm going to head to the Strata Mountains to find the snake when she does." He was going to have to restock on all of Seryel's herbs. The vial he had given her was to drive out the toxins that was in her body that she had gotten. The drug that they probably gave her was the one he was inflicted with... at one point or another. He had recognized the symptoms. But the other poison, he wouldn't be able to save her with the herbs she has...

"But please, rest now... and I plan to leave this place in the morn so you can get a good nights rest here now, but I'm afraid I won't be here tomorrow... unless you plan to come with, seeing as Lady Sayuri and your captain is heading there, right?" Tryst paused in his movements for a moment to turn back to Resee and Jegan.

"I overheard them talking awhile back about it... and besides, I owe Lady Sayuri a large debt..." The debt was that for her request, that he had to stab her. He couldn't do it, but under those circumstances, that even though she had been the one that asked, he felt extremely guilty. He knew that he betrayed Shura's trust of which he had worked so hard to get. He knew that after that, Shura would no longer trust him. That was fine, but he owed Sayuri for doing that to her. He had sworn that he was never going to hurt another like her, someone innocent who did not deserve that kind of violence in her life.

"Excuse me for the night, but I must attend to my wife," he murmured as his eyes turned towards the floor. He locked the door from the inside and with all the windows boarded up, no one would be able to come in. "You can sleep here or sleep in the rooms upstairs; they're all unlocked." Just as he was about to leave them, he turned to face them with a sad smile, "I betrayed your captain's trust when he handed Lady Sayuri to me... but it was on request on Lady Sayuri. I only find it that he can find it in himself to forgive me. I wish she only had requested something else of me." His eyes softened sadly as he nodded good night and then turned to leave them behind as the door clicked shut behind him.

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When Tryst entered the room where Seryel was sleeping, his smile immediately disappeared and was replaced with... such a multitude of expressions that words could not express it. He lifted her gently from the bed and placed her gently into the hot bath he had prepared beforehand. It had been for him that night, but she was in more need of it than himself. Her dirty clothes was tossed aside as he began to gently wash her. He made sure until she was completely clean before lifting her out and drying her off. He redressed her and then replaced her back into their bed. He quickly packed all of their important belongings into bags fit for traveling. Now, all the remained was the barren room, devoid of anything significant. Tryst had felt that if they had too much, it'd be difficult for them should there be a fire or something. Her clothes packed as well as his own, he pulled up a chair next to the bed as he sat down and leaned onto the bed, holding her hand.

Quickly, without his realization, he fell asleep holding her hand...

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Sayuri woke up with a start. She was covered in cold sweat and she could feel herself shake as she sat up on the sleeping mat she had been resting on. Pulling her knees close to her as she hugged herself, she whimpered from the vivid images. She hadn't been expecting that she would have that dream again. Why was it that he was able to escape the law in Rania?

Her soft whimpers caused Eve to wake up and peek one eye open in Sayuri's direction. She perked her head up from where she was perched up on a tree. The horses had fallen asleep as well and swiftly, Eve flew down towards one of the horses' saddle. The horse did not move from their sleeping positions. But she was unable to do anything and only hoped that Shura would do something.

Their fire had died out and the place was in silence, aside from the crickets that was in the surrounding forest. Her small form was curled up into a small ball as she hugged herself for comfort, her quiet whimpers the only other thing that could be heard in the dark silence...
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^Clicketh on thy picture. =] Call me Niko-chan~
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Poison…. Her hand that lifted the spoonful of soup halted in mid movement. She stared at the rising steam and swallowed. Whatever hunger she was experiencing before vanished. She had barely drank more than five spoonfuls, but her stomach was churning uncomfortably. There was tell-tale coldness in her sternum and the creeping chill under her skin, a sort of cold seemed to seep into her bones. It was nothing dire. After the healer had presumably given her the antidote, the soreness, the headaches and the bleeding had stopped. But the cold still remained and sometimes, there would be sharp stabs of pain in her abdominals. It was easy to hide. The dark coloration underneath her eyes could easily pass as lack of sleep as well. Jegan hadn’t noticed. And she hoped it would remain that way. She didn’t want anyone to know.

“I suppose we won’t be taking a break,” Jegan’s voice pulled her back to reality. She blinked and stared at him. He had that tired smile on his lips.

The innkeeper’s wife… her life was on the line because of them. She was sorry that they had somehow indirectly involved them. To find a twin-horned snake in the Strata Mountains was near impossible. The barren landscape was extensive. How was he going to find one? They should aid him. She bit her lip and looked up at Jegan. He needed rest. She knew that his temper would be foul in a couple more days of constant stress. The last thing she needed was him distancing himself further away from her. They were family, weren’t they? It didn’t feel like it anymore. Not that she cared… she didn’t need pity or anyone else replacing her sister’s role. She sighed and leaned back heavily in her seat. “If you are well enough to travel,” she allowed. He was always the one to dealing with things in the frontlines. Shura and the duplicate griffin, along with the Inscriptors and the Rune Knights had expectations of him, especially since some of them had voted for Shura to be removed. They wanted him to take him place.

Resee was different. Gone was her radiant smile. Jegan had easily noted that she was much more silent, felt so much more older, unlike the carefree girl she used to be. He surprised himself with how much he wanted her old self back. At least, the past Resee would have been able to lighten his mood. He shook his head and said, “We will leave with them tomorrow. A night’s rest is enough for me.”

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He stirred restlessly, mildly irritated that some animal had woken him with its noise. Raising a hand to rub his eyes, he stifled a yawn and blinked in the darkness. His vision wasn’t as sharp in the dark as it was in the day. Griffin sight was similar to an eagle’s. He stiffened and bolted upright, golden eyes scanning the surroundings. He had fallen too deeply into his sleep. The hell! Shura cursed mentally. He could have gotten them both killed!

When he was certain nothing was hunting them, he breathed a sigh and turned his attention to Sayuri’s curled form. He frowned, a thin line forming on his lips as he pressed them together. His gut was twisting and there was a bitter taste in his mouth. For some reason he couldn’t explain, he didn’t like to see her like that. He kicked off his blanket and rose to his feet. In three fluid strides, he was standing by her mat.

“Are you unwell?” he asked, dropping to his knees are he looked her over. Pulling up her blanket, he draped it over her shoulders and pulled it around her. “Did something hurt you? Are you cold?” He brushed her hair away from her face and tucked it behind her ear, lowering his head to try and get a glimpse of her face. Her whimpers, however grated at his nerves. He couldn’t stand it- whatever it was that caused her distress. Shura glared at a tree in frustration and settled next to her, pulling her gently into his arms.

“Are you crying? Don’t tell me it’s from a nightmare, you too old to get frightened by any ridiculous scares your mind conjurs,” he muttered gruffly. He paused for a moment, considering his words. Great… was he actually remorseful? Oh lord. Heaving a sigh of resignation, he lifted a hand to stroke her back soothingly. “It’s alright, I’m here. Get some sleep.”

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She was so impossibly comfortable, that she wondered if she had died. Seryel realized with immense relief and joy, that she could think clearly again. In the blissful darkness, nothing appeared in her mind’s eye. Nothing tormented or haunted her. There was just a lingering… soreness and a strange stiffness in her bones. She tried to move her hand, but there was something warm that settled on it. Dread crept up her spine, was this all a trick?

Slowly, she forced her heavy eyelids to open. Her brows creased and she blinked rapidly against the dim colours of a familiar room. It was dark due to the drawn curtains of the window. She recognized, with surprise that she was in Tryst- Tryst and her room. Their room. Then she remembered her hand- something was restraining it. Perhaps not, but Seryel was afraid to test. She pulled away and scrambled back to the other side of the bed and stared at the face of the man she loved and the cruel haunt in her dreams. Was this reality? Was she really, finally free? Her mind reeled and she was instantly assailed with dizziness that nearly made her faint.

Her vision blurred when she saw the injuries on his hand. It was bandaged, but his fingers were free of it. There were scratches and cuts on them, still red and fresh. Had she done that? Was it her fault? The drug… she didn’t know what she was doing, but how?

Something warm and wet slid down her cheek. Her hand came up automatically to brush it away. When she realized it was her tear, her vision glazed over from the sudden brimming of it in her eyes. She crawled slowly, painfully towards him and sat back down, an arm’s length distance from his head. Ashamed of her own fear, she didn’t dare to come too close. Not until she was sure this was real. Seryel reached out and touched him, caressing his hair hesitantly. She couldn’t help herself. Her breaths grew heavy as her tears streamed down her cheeks. Her trembling hand traced past his ear and cupped his face lovingly. She was home, wasn’t she?
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问世间情为何物,直教生死相许?
天南地北双飞客,老翅几回寒暑。
欢乐趣,别离苦,就中更有痴儿女。
君应有语,渺万里层云,
千山暮雪,只影向谁去?
横汾路,寂寞当年箫鼓,荒烟依旧平楚。
招魂楚些何嗟及,山鬼暗啼风雨。
天也妒,未信与,莺儿燕子俱黄土。
千秋万古,为留待骚人,
狂歌痛饮,来访雁邱处。
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