Private Tales An Evening with Friends

[Rumer]

She had hardly noticed the pain that seemed to vibrate through her very bones, not until now that it robbed her of breath and sent her buckling into Nathaira's arms, squinting at the loud ringing in her ears. Her body was rigid for that brief few seconds of time that it took for her to brace for a half-expected bite and the torturous pain that followed, but it didn't come. Instead, she was pulled against Nathaira's chest and her trembling body went limp with relief before clinging onto the woman for dear life, tears rolling down her flushed cheeks.

"I did it.." she whispered, over and over, turning her head to stare at the corpse to affirm herself. He was gone. Dead. Never again to puff that horrendous smoke at her, never to fill her mind with his lies or beat her. If it made her a monster, it was worth it. If she died, it'd still be worth it. She had did it for all of them, and to spare every other child dragged down here from having to suffer the same terrors at his hand.

"I did it.." she breathed, and managed a ghost of a smile.

Rumer's mossy eyes blinked heavily as unconsciousness tried it's damned best to drag her under, her head lolling back until Kasimir's encouragement made her groan. "Don't..hurt Gen..ivieve.. Please" she murmured, trying her best to force her eyes open and willing her body to work.

 

[Nathaira]

“I know,” she murmured back, supporting Rumer’s trembling body against her. “I know, I know.” The girl was so warm and so... tiny. How could such a small thing bear such burdens? No, she needed to be protected, said a loud and illogical part of Nathaira’s mind. Nevermind that Rumer had just killed their greatest foe with a thought, nevermind the tremendous power she wielded within her shaking bones.

Her pupils dilated and her hold tightened a hair when Genevieve approached Kasimir, and had she not known the healing fog for what it was she would have hissed a warning. Instead she grit her teeth and did her best to steady her breathing through flared nostrils.

She was glad that Kasimir had been helped, though, and her expression softened as he drew near. She finally, finally allowed herself to look at him in earnest. So beautiful, so kind, so... pained. Nathaira could imagine quite well the turmoil that must be going on behind those burning eyes, the chaos the rune might be wreaking in his skull. She reached out to gently grab ahold of his wrist and feel his burning heat again.

"Don't..hurt Gen..ivieve.. Please"

She furrowed her brow, squeezing the girl tighter for just a beat. ”Alright.”

She released her and rose to her feet. Kasimir was right, they had to get out of here, and quickly. ”Go on, I’ll guard our backs.”

 

[Genevieve]

There wasn't anything to disagree with in Kasimir's statement. The longer they dwelled in this place the more likely it was that someone would stumble upon the quartet gathered around the dead handler. Genevieve grabbed a cloak off the coatrack and wrapped it around the dress she had been wearing, she could at least ensure they weren't attracting too much attention whenever it was they were heading.

Half-fastened up her hands stopped mid-button when she heard the girl speak her name along with a plea not to harm her.

It was true that after the events at the cabin she'd tried to help the half-elf. Cleaning some of the blood and human waste from her cheeks, prodding her to eat, promising to take her away as swiftly as Norris would allow. But those were simple kindnesses that anyone with a soul would've extended. Unfortunately for the three Forsaken she now traveled with, Norris lacked any sort of soul.

Genevieve made a mental note that Rumer would need looking after. Someone that pure, capable of that kind of forgiveness, would find themselves taken advantage of again if they weren't cared for.

"Thank you," she whispered meekly towards the girl, fully aware that Nathaira's attitude was still cold towards her, at best. She took up her spot inbetween the tiefling and naga as they exited the foyer of that underground hell.

 

[Kasimir]

Kasimir went first even though every step felt like a hot knife across his internal organs. He wondered just how long he had before the rune killed him. It would certainly be quicker to travel by the Shadows that the teifling called home but Nat hadn't survived a walk through a prison let alone a jump across lands. They were going to have to travel the hard way which meant taking his chances with the brand at the back of his neck. The important thing was to keep Nat and Rumer alive long enough to get their sorted. If he could do that then...

"This way," he murmured softly after checking the coast was clear. He didn't think there had been anyone else in the cabin beside Genevieve but it paid to be cautious when you were Forsaken. His eyes flickered behind him to the three women; Rumer with her wide eyes seemingly still in shock, the fragile human with a big heart, and the fierce love of his life.

Get them to Kala, he told himself quietly.

The shadow that pooled at his feet bulged, stretched and grew. Eight legs appeared first before a bulbous body and then eight haunting eyes which blinked down at the gathered group. For a moment the monstrous spider clicked its fangs together then lowered its body to the ground.

Kasimir wiped the blood subtly from his nose before turning to the group.

"Climb up, it will be quicker if we travel by spider."

 

[Rumer]

Rumer had leeched that comfort, savouring every moment that she could cling to something, for such gifts were rare. Her brows rose up at Genevieve's thanks, that a human woman would thank one as low as she, particularly one who had just slaughtered her boss, was unexpected. Perhaps it was simply that she had never really heard those words often, especially not directed toward her. She coaxed a tired smile, her clammy face a sickly colour of grey as she only just managed to get herself upright and moving.

Her legs didn't feel like her own and felt as though they were laden with heavy rocks, but she moved and tried her very best not to stumble as she followed after Kasimir. Before leaving the room she looked back, staring for a moment at Norris' still corpse and the dark puddle of blood that seemed to grow ever larger. He really was dead.. Tears instantly flooded her cheeks, tears of exhaustion, tears of the memory of everything the bastard had put her through, tears of absolute joy that he would never hurt her or anyone else ever again. She had no idea what would happen to her now, she was too tired to think that far ahead, or to care at all really. Norris was dead, she'd do it again, and if she died for it then it'd have been worth it.

The child forced a smile at the dead handler before Kasimir's words urged her on, and she followed in a daze, her feet scuffing on the stone as she trudged along behind him. Her eyes widened on the shadow magic and she found herself taking a step back against Nathaira as it grew. She had seen much of Kasimir's beautiful magic, the butterflies being her favourite amongst them, but she had never witnessed anything like this..

The tiefling's instruction to climb up had her looking up at Nathaira for some sort of reassurance before she edged closer to the creature, studying it warily.. "Hello..." she croaked in whisper to the spider, reaching a tremulous hand out to pat pat at it's leg before allowing Kasimir to help her onto it's back.

 

[Nathaira]

She released Rumer to follow Kasimir, rising to her feet and tasting the air that had become thick with Norris' blood. She could see the heat rising from it, the still-warm body motionless before it. She eyed Genevieve as the woman passed, still unsure what to make of her. Somehow she doubted that a full-blooded Anirian would flip to their cause so suddenly. Especially one who had been their master for so long.

She brought up the rear, glancing behind every now and then before Kasimir summoned the dark spider. She had seen this shadow once before, during the assault on a mage's keep. It was the first mission she'd run with Kasimir, and his eight-legged friend had spirited them up the side of a tower in seconds.

She nodded to Rumer's silent question, forcing a half smile and nudging her forwards. When she stepped forwards herself she paused at Kasimir. She caught sight of the blood at his nose, though he tried to conceal it, and her face bent in mute agony for him. She put a cool hand to his cheek and rubbed her thumb over the stubbled jawline, swallowing her desire to wrap him in her arms and tell him everything was alright now, that she could fix this. It wasn't, and she had no idea if she could, so she just stared into his burning eyes and hoped it would be enough.

Like tearing a part of herself, she left his side and waited for Genevieve to board. She would sit behind the Anirian, she didn't want the woman at her back.

 

[Genevieve]

Everything had gone pear shaped so quickly but Genevieve never would've predicted that her night was going to end traversing the Anirian underground while staring at an eight-eyed shadow spider.

She hesitated a bit longer than she would've liked but once Rumer and Nathaira had climbed aboard she was right behind them although that position didn't last long. The half-naga quickly adjusted her seating arrangement to ensure that Genevieve was in front of her. It made sense, she'd seen some of the Forsaken training and gone through Dreadlord training herself. If you didn't trust someone then you wouldn't expose your back to them.

Truthfully she was just thankful that at least two-thirds of the group seemed to already trust her. Nathaira would come around with some time. Or, she never would, and that would be ok too.

Genevieve understood that distrust. When she was a child it was burned into her too. Even if her conditions were far greater than the Forsaken they were still miserable. If the snake-like woman never came around to her though she could make that work. So long as she wasn't trying to kill her and so far Nathaira's motives seemed entirely driven to protect herself and the little family they had formed.

The former Dreadlord took her seat beside Rumer and between the half-tiefling and half-naga. She waited with baited breath for the creature they were all sat atop to move, unsure exactly how fast it would go, casting a smile at the smallest of the Forsaken.

 

[Kasimir]

If spiders could look surprised the shadowy creature certainly did when it's leg was patted like it was a puppy. It's fangs quietly clacked and clicked in a series of what might have been words that Kasimir could have conveyed if he wasn't so focused on the hand upon his cheek. The world simply fell away with her touch, the caress of her gaze and the concern there. His hand came up to engulf hers and he hoped, prayed, she could see in his returning look the reassurance and determination in his own eyes.

They were Forsaken. They had overcome far worse things.

Kasimir pressed a kiss to her wrist before helping her on. Once he was certain they were positioned correctly he climbed up too. The spider slowly rose to its full height and then with a lurch they were off. A monster that size should have made a noise when it ran but shadows were mere whispers. Off it scuttled through the forests like a living nightmare.

As the hours dragged on it was all the trifling could do to stay on. Using this much magic with the rune searing into the back of his skull was... difficult. By the time the spider began to slow Kasimir was dangerously teetering in his seat and it vanished entirely beneath them as he finally went crashing to the ground below right outside the cabin he had brought Kala too.

 

[Kala]

Raška, the Great Ogre Shaman of the Reckoners stepped out from her cabin with a thunk of a step. "WHAT FOOLS HAVE INVADED MY-oh it's you."

Though her voice began in a boom it faded out into a quiet din when the Ogress spotted Kasimir sprawled across the ground. Recognition flickered over her black eyes, though as they moved up over the others she raised a slow brow.

They were all but sprawled on the ground before her cabin.

Even when standing Raška would tower over them, but from their position on the ground she might as well have been the size of a building. The Ogress stood near ten feet tall, her garb a tatter of leathers and what appeared to be peeled skulls.

Hollow bones clanged together slightly as she shifted, looking down at Kasimir for a brief moment before glancing at the others.

"I don't see Kala among you either..." The Ogress said quietly. "Ah well, can't really do much explaining when you're in the muck I suppose."

For a few more seconds Raška seemed to linger on the porch. "Bring him inside then."

She said as she turned and motioned towards them, moving through the doorway.

 

[Rumer]

Rumer looked up at Genevieve with a small, sleepy smile of her own in return. She was certain that the woman was kind, if she hadn't been she wouldn't have cared as much when Rumer had been beaten, or when Norris had played his little games and had them hurt one another for his own amusement. She wondered if it had come as a shock to the woman that Norris had been prepared to end her life simply for attempting to heal Kasimir without permission. That had shocked even Rumer...

It wasn't long before the child's eyes were drooping and her body sagged against Kasimir as she gave in to sleep, the jostling of their journey not enough to keep her awake any longer. Her magic was powerful, but it was never meant to be destructive, and the emotion that it took to kill someone so quickly was exhausting. As always, in sleep she revisited all of those that she had killed, but this time it was Norris' face that she saw first, the shock of his final moments one of deep comfort to her.

The fall kicked her from sleep and she woke with a sharp scream as she tumbled to the ground and landed in a heap before sitting upright, hair whipping about her face as she turned in a panic to take in her surroundings. Rumer flinched at the booming voice and her eyes widened as she peeked out from behind Kasimir to look up at the Ogress, having never seen anything so tall in her life. Nor something adorned with skin and bones..

She didn't speak as she pulled herself to her feet, watching the mammoth creature saunter back into the cabin, her look at Nathaira one of apprehension. "We're, going in there?..."

 

[Nathaira]

Nathaira's wrist burned for the duration of the journey. It was a different sort of pain to be so close to him but unable to truly be near after so long. Yet she needed her mind to be sharp. Genevieve, to her credit, did not show any sign that she wished to flee or turn on the group. Rumer trusted her, Kasimir seemed to as well, but Nathaira kept a firm hand on the woman's hip while they rode, and her cold breath would be on that lovely Anirian neck until they dismounted.

As it turned out, 'dismount' would be a generous description. The spider disappeared and the four of them were unceremoniously dumped onto the ground. The ogre was so loud that Nathaira looked around half expecting guards to burst from the underbrush, but none did. How did Kasimir keep meeting these... 'people.'

Kala. Kala, she knew that name. The dark tiefling who had... who Kasimir had...

A very strange mix of emotions swirled about as she stood, but she tried her best to give Rumer a warm expression and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "It'ss alright," she hissed before moving them through the doorway.

 

[Genevieve]

It was difficult enough to enjoy the ride considering they were atop a giant spider and she'd just watched her employer be killed. In fact, the thought of being strewn up by Anirian authorities was a hard thing to forget. But what made the ride so much more unpleasant was the hot breath of one half-naga on Genevieve's flesh. If there was any doubt before she was now certain that Nathaira did not care for her.

Once they arrived the voice caused her muscles to jolt up just like the others. Unsurprisingly, Genevieve had never seen an ogre before in her life and the towering creature was far more intimidating than she would've imagined.

Genevieve decided it would be best if she refrained from offering an opinion and she simply moved to follow the others into the hut. The former Dreadlord still couldn't help but feel a bit like a fish out of water.

In all of the commotion she failed to notice the fallen Kasimir. The dirty blonde woman moved towards him and healing mist poured out of her palms up through his body. She motioned to Nathaira and took the tiefling's arm around her shoulder, hoisting him up with the aid of the naga Forsaken.

 

[Kasimir]

If the Ogress had decided then and there to turn him into pulp Kasimir doubted he would have been able to even raise his head in protest. Conjuring the shadow spider had taken the last of his energy reserves and a headache pounded at his skull so fiercely he wondered how it hadn't cracked under the pressure. Dazed, the tiefling stared up at the sky which blurred as his vision swam in and out of focus. Blood wet not only his upper lip but had begun to pool in both his pointed ears too. Vessels had burst along the whites of his eyes and veins bulged against his skin in his neck, betraying the erratic jump of his heart.

The human's healing hands upon him felt as though they were happening to someone else.

"'m'ine..." he slurred before promptly choking on the blood beginning to fill his lungs. Feebly he tried to put his feet under him and walk himself inside but it only resulted in stumbling and having to rely entirely on the two women supporting him.

 

[Kala]

"Put him there, on the table." Kala said as she pointed to the same heavy wooden slab that Kala had once laid on after Kasimir had taken her arm.

The inside of the cabin was a mixture of an ancient swampy Voodoo hut...and a grandmothers house. Knick knacks lined the walls and shelves, beautiful landscape paintings that had clearly been wrought by the Ogresses own hand sitting right besides them.

Intermixed with it all was a collection of vials, cook pots, and ingredients that ranged from eyeballs to dried up toads.

Without waiting to see if the rogue Anirians would comply with her command the Ogress began to gather up dozens of different herbs and other things. All of it was thrown into a massive boiling pot, tossed in without much of a care as she went about her work. "Now dearies."

She spoke with the rumbling of a falling mountain.

"While I fix up your friend." The Ogress turned. "Why don't you tell me what brought you here?"

From the wall she pulled what appeared to be a truly ancient iron ladle, dipping it into the pot and pulling some of the green brackish liquid free as she wandered over towards Kasimir. She grabbed the Tieflings head, then practically forced the brew down his throat.

 

[Rumer]

Rumer gave a light nod at Nathaira's guidance, though she too had only just laid eyes on Kasimir and she paled at the sight of him, her fists clenching at her sides as she looked to the two women for a sign of reassurance. Genevieve was here... She would help him. And this Ogress seemed to be some sort of healer too. Rumer tried to calm her worries as she wandered inside, her eyes fixed on the tiefling. She had never seen him look so weak before, and it frightened her more than she'd thought possible.

The child said nothing as the Ogress went about her business, though she ceased the chewing of her lip as she spoke to them in such a coddling way that it caused Rumer to blink in confusion.

"A..A shadow spider.." she answered with a small frown. "Dearie."

"Will he be alright?.."

 

[Nathaira]

Nathaira didn't try to stop Genevieve when she knelt by Kasimir, didn't sneer when she beckoned and didn't push her hands off of him when she reached to lift him. She had never seen him so weak, and she set aside her distrust just long enough to lift and carry him into the hut and lay him onto the table. She did her best to be gentle, but Kasimir was much larger than either of them.

She slid quickly around the table's corner and set her elbows down by Kasimir's horns, looking at his upside-down face tight-jawed and desperate determination. If the ogress wanted her to leave his side she would have to throw the naga from the window.

Will he be alright?

"Yes," she interjected before the ogress could answer. "He has to be." He couldn't die now, not when they'd come so far.

It was... jarring to see him so roughly handled, and a low hiss escaped her lips quite on its own as she reached forwards to support his head as he swallowed, convinced that this woman would drown him as quickly as she would mend him. She stroked his dark hair with her thin fingers, saying nothing.

 

[Genevieve]

A loud huff rushed out of Genevieve's mouth while she struggled to help Nathaira carry the injured man inside. His limp body was more difficult to carry due not just to his weight but also the concern she still had that the half-naga would inject a venomous bite into her flesh at the first possible chance.

Once they arrived inside and deposited Kasimir upon the rough wooden table she dared a glance around the small hut they found themselves in. It was like being in a hoarder's home, there was no rhyme or reason for any of the odd trinkets that adorned the shelves and cabinets everywhere.

"He'll be fine," the turncoat repeated after Nathaira's words.

The last thing they needed was the other two Forsaken to grow so concerned for Kasimir that they forgot why they were here. What they'd just done. Killing Norris was only a first step and now they had a great climb ahead of them to achieve the leap that was needed to free them once and for all.

"Runes." Genevieve looked the Ogress up and down. "We need someone who's an expert on runes."

 

[Kasimir]

The world swam in and out of focus creating an odd kaleidoscope of images that his mind could barely register. Nat's face blurred into Rumer's and the humans. The ogress seemed to stretch and move at the pace of a snail only to snap back into place and have jumped across the room in a single leap. It made his head hurt and he found himself giving in to the weight upon his eyelids, letting them close and embracing the always comforting darkness behind them...

No. Focus.

"Kala..." he murmured under his breath and might have said more if the vile liquid hadn't been poured down his throat. Spluttering, Kasimir tried to sit himself up so he didn't choke but his limbs wouldn't obey.

 

[Kala]

There was not even a moments hesitation before the she replied to Rumer. "He will be fine, child."

"Runes?" The Ogress echoed. "You came to the wrong hu-"

Her lips snapped shut as Kasimir murmured a name she was all too familiar with.

The Ogress was no fool of course. She knew who Kasimir was. Remembered what she had done. Were it not for Kala's own words the little Tiefling would have been little more than pulp by now. The Reckoners only cared if one of their own died, at least that was when their own rune took effect, but Raška had a personal relationship with Kala.

When she had learned that it was Kasimir who had taken her friends arm, he had nearly ended up as pulp. Kala had stopped that of course. It was only the right thing to do.

She frowned for a moment. "She..."

As The Ogress spoke Kasimir would begin to feel the effects of the potion. It was like a shot of energy, a painful writhing of insects crawling beneath his skin that injected energy and momentum into his body.

"She is not here." The Shaman frowned, thinking for a moment about what her friend would want. What Kala had told her about Kasimir, about his ilk. Her eyes looked over the others, scanning them almost. "But I can bring you to her."

Or rather, she could ensure they ended up there.

Slowly the Ogress placed down the ladle, walking over towards a nearby table and pulling a card from the top of a stack of papers. She peered at it for a moment, and then let out a loud sigh as she moved towards Kasimir and the others. "You know these?"

Raška asked, showing the odd playing card.

 

[Rumer]

The littlest forsaken stared up at the three females, looking between each as they spoke. Her gaze lingered on Nathaira, on the hands that stroked at Kasimir's hair, and it was jarring to see her so worried. Something cracked in her chest a little, and she shuffled closer to her mentor to cuddle into her side, hoping her warmth would lend at least a little comfort.. "He will be.." she said quietly after Genevieve and the Ogress' reassurances, her gaze dropping back to Kasimir and swallowed. "He's the strongest person I ever met." she forced a smile, but it fell as she realised that this was her fault..

"I'm sorry Nathaira..." she whispered, her voice cracking. Her body was still shaking, her eyes still heavy and stinging with the urge to close. She'd put everything she had into killing their handler, there had been no room for half effort in fear of botching the kill for a second time. The amount of hatred she had for the man was draining enough let alone the use of her gifts on top of that... But she hadn't thought about what came next, and little by little, reality was starting to fall into place around her.

Runes?..

She looked up between Genevieve and the Ogress in confusion and she fell silent once again, chewing on her lip until the skin was ragged and torn.

 

[Nathaira]

The conversation around her buzzed in her ears. She understood the words but it suddenly took so much effort to put them all together. She could only focus on Kasimir's face, the blood staining his face. Why wouldn't it stop bleeding? Her jaw was clenched so tight she thought she might break a tooth, but her eyes were dry. Not a whisper of tears. She was too terrified to weep for him, or perhaps too defiant that his death was looming very near.

"Kala..."

She did not let go of his head as he sputtered and tried in vain to sit up, but her jaw did loosen in surprise when he rasped Kala's name. A hot spike of jealousy hit her quite by accident. That, on his deathbed, Kasimir had called out for a different woman, the only other tiefling he knew for that matter, had left Nathaira's tongue dry and sour.

She fought to wrestle free of the emotion, it was stupid and there was no time for it. This ogre clearly knew Kala, too, it must have been why Kasimir had brought them here. She remembered Kala's story about trying to free her tiefling brother... and about how horribly wrong it had gone. Of course Kasimir had brought them here. Besides, she liked Kala, and owed her a great deal.

Rumer's embrace evaporated the last traces of bitterness from Nathaira's thoughts, and she finally looked away from Kasimir's bloodshot eyes to meet the girl's exhausted gaze. Her lips managed a small turn at her reassurance, but they fell once more when Rumer apologized.

She put a hand on Rumer's shoulder and leaned just a bit closer where she could still see Kasimir in her periphery. "You need never apologizze to me, child. Not anymore." After the hell Nathaira had put the girl through, after the literal torture and threats of death, she still sought the naga's approval. It hurt almost as much as seeing that knife in her hands sliding over scarlet skin.

"Doess it hurt?" she asked, letting her fingers slide just a hair closer to Rumer's neck and the rune thereupon. Each one of them seemed to be affected differently, but if Kasimir were this afflicted by merely assisting in Norris' murder, how must Rumer be feeling after committing it?

She swallowed when she saw what the ogress had pulled out. She had seen those cards before, and had a very good idea of how they would be getting to Kala. That midnight sea of endless pathways and doors, the one that could have taken her out of her own time at any moment... it still chilled her. But this time would be different. This time Kasimir and Rumer would be with her. Perhaps if they were lucky, they would leave behind this era of Vel Anir for good.

 

[Genevieve]

Kala? A playing card? What was even happening now?

In the morning Genevieve had woken up to another day of service to Vel Anir. Woken up to a boss she hated, making preparations for the poor children she'd seen absued time and time again, and expected to see further mistreatment to the poor wretches in Norris' charge. All of that had come to pass but what she had never anticipated was that by the end of the day Norris would be dead and she'd be in a hut with an Ogress holding up a card. That she'd be a fugitive and that her only goal would be to ensure the three Forsaken didn't wind up dead.

Despite her confusion and concerns she forced a smile at Rumer and Nathaira. Kasimir was not in good shape, it was obvious to everyone. Perhaps the potion that was brewed up for him would begin to work its magic.

"What is it?" She asked as her attention drew back towards the playing card. Genevieve barely cared if she was the only ignorant one here. Her curiosity demanded an answer as fingers anxiously pulled at sandy blonde hair.

 

[Kasimir]

Kasimir's back arched in agony and he gave a sudden yell as the painful sensation of a thousand little pricks stabbed into his flesh. He tried to claw at it, tearing his own skin in the process, before it receded and he was able to see clearly. The groan he gave was as much to do with the card as it was the absence of pain.

"Can you show us the way?" The odd way of travelling was like his shadows but also not. He wasn't sure how he would navigate the ways when he wasn't able to read the signs as Kala could. Kas slowly managed to sit though his skin still looked slick with sweat and he was clammy to the touch with bloodshot eyes.

The rune gave a sluggish angry pulse.

 

[Kala]

"A key, dearie." That was the best way to think about it, how Kala had described it to her. The Ogress was loathe to give it to these folk, but she knew Kala could always give her another and...well, she couldn't stand the way the little human looked at her with the eyes of a doe.

She had a weakness for such thing. "A key to a portal."

Sharp teeth pulled out in what was meant to be a comforting smile.

"I can't." The Ogress finally answered Kasimir, looking at the card for a moment and frowning slightly before she turned it over in her hand. For a moment more she considered, and then she offered it to the odd band of allies.

"But, she told me this one would show me through The Ways." Raška said as she held out the card. "If I ever needed to find her."

Her shoulders raised in a shrug. "It is the most I can offer. Us Reckoners are a secretive bunch, and Kala most of all. I've known her since she was a babe, and she has never once allowed me into her sanctuary."

The Ogress did not seem to be upset at this fact, her voice tinged with understanding.

 

[Rumer]

'You need never apologizze to me, child. Not anymore.'

Rumer's eyes pooled with tears. She hadn't really considered life after what she'd did, she expected punishment and considering what she'd gotten after crippling the handler, she'd expected much worse. But Nathaira wouldn't be forced to hurt her anymore... Would she take care of her? They'd been together because they'd been forced to be, but she wondered if she would stay with them now, or if they'd leave her behind. She simply didn't know..

A tear raced down her cheek as Nathaira's fingertips traced the burning rune on the back of her neck and she nodded. It hurt, but not as much as Nathaira's venomous bites. After the last full night of being subjected to that sort of agony, Rumer's pain tolerance was exceptional. Still, she nodded and swallowed..

"What will happen to me?.." she asked quietly. "If I don't die, I mean..." she added as though she fully expected this outcome. "Where will we...I, go?.." she frowned.