Open Chronicles Mud and Snow

[Kaelen Silverblood]

The blue skinned mystery had as foul an attitude as expected. Kaelen didn't mind though. It wasn't the first or the last time he was going to be treated with such raw loathing. He did know who to thank for this fire, his clothes getting strung up, and the shelter that had been built. It was all them, even if they didn't seem keen on admitting it. They wanted to be left alone though so he was going to do it.

Kaelen had decided to just wordlessly toss the dagger over by Sannoru when a three eyed raven suddenly took it out of his hand. The action caused the edge to cut his palm a bit and silvery red began to drip into the flames. A hiss followed from both him and the fire. It wasn't the first time he had been cut that way but the earlier numbness fading left his hand feeling extremely sensitive. He scowled a bit and clenched a fist to stop the bleeding. Little bits of the silver crimson dropped to the slush beneath his bare feet.

It was right after that event that a woman arrived in the camp. Kaelen wasn't sure who she was, but she had hares around her waist and more wood for the fire. This got his attention and he began to watch her as she moved around the camp. Had he missed someone earlier? Good chance of that being true given how out of it he was and had been. Perhaps she was that large talking wolf from before. He was draped with a wolf skin fur after all. It was possible he saw her in it and his mind just saw what it wanted to see rather than just a woman in a wolf fur cloak. It was too hard to say after all of the strangeness that had been happening to him.

The new arrival sat by the blue person and they spoke casually. Seemed they knew each other and got along well enough. The angry one had mentioned something about thanking a Sigrith. That must have been this person. Given the circumstances he planned to do just that. He looked at the woman and said in that drained, hoarse whisper that would be familiar to Sannoru by now, "Thank you." He reached down and picked up his side sword off the ground. He turned it so the hilt was facing Sigrith and just held it so she could take it if she wanted.

 

[Sannoru]

Much better indeed, but not perfect, never will. This one from the snow was moist and poorly accepted the ink, Sanno could only counter by dabbinnit lightly before writing further. At least it it did not crumble like the last.
»It's still not perfect,« san murmured quietly.
»Have you seen any river?« Along the way Sanno found a plant which grows from Eretejva down to Sheketh, but it's properties were the strongest further down south.

 

[Sigrith]

Thank you.

Blue and violet eyes looked across the dancing flames and the cooking hares on the spit to the man bundled under her pelt.

It's still not perfect.

Sigrith's gaze did not waver from the stranger though she spoke to her companion, "Never seen anything perfect in my life except the full moon," she replied over a low tone, "there's a river passes by the Nord settlement we're going to. We'll reach it by midday tomorrow..." the latter was said without any hint of question. They would reach it by then, with or without the stranger. He would keep up or he would perish.

Her gaze shifted then to the blade the man offered with apparent disinterest.

"Keep your blade," she said, leaning to stoke the fire and feed it more wood, "better off trading it for food and shelter at the settlement."

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

The blue skinned one seemed to have forgotten Kaelen existed instead of just ignoring him now that this woman arrived. Probably for the best given the earlier threats. The woman who just arrived in camp however wasn't ignoring him. Her eyes were very much locked onto him. He might have felt like death herself right now, but his alertness had come back enough he didn't miss that fact. She declined the sword though and said he should use it for barter.

Kaelen was tempted to toss the sword over anyways like he was going to do with the dagger before the raven took it, but he didn't have much in the way of valuables on him. His armor, weapons, and whatever had survived in his pouches were all he had. She was right that it would be wiser to hold onto it for later.

But he couldn't. Kaelen knew how much they had done for him already and kindness, ill intended or genuine, deserved kindness in return. All he had on him was his armor, weapons, and surviving pouch contents. He could not and would not be letting go of Storm's Edge and his armor was ill designed to fit either of the two. That left his side sword, utility dagger, and gods know what was in his pouches. The most valuable thing was his sword, and if the one she had on her was an indication it would be something she had the skill to use.

So Kaelen went ahead and tossed the sword over by Sigrith without a word. He would need to find something as valuable as his combat dagger now though for Sannoru since he didn't get the chance to do the same earlier.

The woman's words were not lost on Kaelen. It seemed they intended to make it to a settlement after they woke up by a specific time regardless of what went on with him. With the way his body felt though it was unlikely he would be feeling up for quick travel in the morning. He needed to speed up his recovery more than his blood already did. There was one method he could think of but it was dangerous under normal circumstances let alone right now. If he wanted to pull it off he would need to regain more energy soon. The warmth of the fire and bits of rest had helped, but it just wasn't enough....

Kaelen's eyes settled onto the hare roasting over the fire. He looked up to the woman and asked in that hushed voice, "When will the food be ready?" For some reason the thought of hunger hadn't even crossed his mind. It had been an unknowing amount of time since his last meal and it wasn't until the word food left his mouth that his body seemed to remember it needed it. His stomach growled a bit as he just waited to hear the answer.

 

[Sannoru]

Their sight slowly shifted to Sigrith, taking in her gaze at the petty man too eager to part with his gear.
»Ai, for now it will do, « tilting their head only slightly before finishing the inscription.
Sanno had no use for such weaponry or tools, for them, no matter the history or origin, they'd be sold to a blacksmith for reforging into whatever they needed later.

Sanno preffered the quiet ones.
»He's a loudmouth, winded and rash.«
They spoke to Sigrith in a whispery yet firm tone before inspecting the leaf for one last time and placing it on their head.
Their pose shifted to a lotus before their skin turned to smoke and the form of a southern fawny wolf was in their place.

Slightly smaller in size than a normal wolf, much smaler than the black dire she-wolf from before. But this morph was more akin in shape and size than the whole being, san would retain the same sight and endurance.

 

[Sigrith]

A glance followed the blade as it tumbled through the air and clattered nearby. Sigrith's eyes deadpanned the man with distaste.

He's a loudmouth, winded, and rash.

The Witch grew a smirk, dark-rimmed gaze shifting to her elf companion and watching with interest as the transformation took hold. Well, well, well. Had a few tricks up her sleeves didn't she? Her smirk broadened, hand lifting to itch the wolf under the jaw, "He certainly is."

"When will the food be ready?"

"When you learn to listen," Sigrith's answer was immediate and strong. The woman leaned to take up his blade in one hand and stood from her seat by the fire. Slow steps circle the flames and a simple twitch of her wrist set the tip of his own sword at the man's neck, just under his chin, "you thank me with your words and your favor, stranger. If you throw this blade at me again I will use it to slit you navel to nose."

SHHNK. She stabbed it into the ground by his side and left it shivering from the force in the cold night air.

"Do you understand?"

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

Why did everything have to be so tense? Kaelen just wished to sleep till oblivion took them all right now, but circumstances wouldn't allow it. The blue skinned one had a foul mood and likely would have preferred it if he died on the beach. The thought of that fate was tempting for him too given how much pain his body was experiencing now that feeling had returned to it. The woman was as stubborn as him and a little forceful. Normally he would find such raw independence irresistible but not when he was feeling both extremely sensitive and yet so utterly numb at the same time.

Kaelen held his eyes on Sigrith as she pressed the tip of his sword into his neck and gave her threat. Why she was so adamant about refusing the weapon was unknown to him, but she made her point. He would just find another way to repay the two of them for their kindness, even if the both of them seemed intent on killing him themselves or leaving him for dead. A nod was all he gave to her in response.

The noises from before had been gone for some time now, but slowly they began to creep back into Kaelen's life. The rushing of water and rumbling thunder once more began to bicker. He frowned as he placed a hand over his head and attempted to force it away. He had to be going crazy. It was making his desire for food grow. If he had something in his stomach and some more stamina returned to him then perhaps his method of recovery could also make all of it stop.... or make it worse.

Sannoru

 

[Sannoru]

The cerulean elf, now wolf lay across, yawning as they got scratched. The time did no good to them, at these hours growing only more tired. Their eyes still the same reflective cyan pits, piercing the man with their gaze, and hteir fur now only seeming more like gold against the warm fire light.


Eyes cautiously followed Sigrith as she rose and moved across to him.


Then San huffed out after the scolding, noting the man lack of words and nod. Some genuine cheer rarely seen came from her tone.
»Of course, ... he understands now.«

Their eyes moved from Sigrith, past and beyond the flames, focusing on the Kaelen.
And the floor and his hands hand slowly tickling blood, the glistening- glistening blood?
»And they say we all bleed just the same,« san spoke to themselves, quietly, turning their head and lowering it over their paws.


San would have rather tossed the blade into the sea than hand it back to him. Perhaps there was still something to do about it, they pondered.

-yaaawn-
They bared their rows of dagger-like teeth.

 

[Sigrith]

His silence was well enough to answer. Sigrith returned to her spot by the tawny wolf, taking her seat and turning the hares on the spit. The night settled over the lands in a quiet broken only by the winds whispering through the trees and the sound of night owls on the hunt. Their fire burned brightly, flames fed in intervals by the silent woman. This was often how their evenings went between herself and Sannoru. Make camp, start a fire, hunt, eat, sleep. Sometimes they shared stories, sometimes they were without words. Sigrith had no preference - a witch was never without conversation with the realms of spirits and magic around them.

She had noticed that the gale beyond the forest brought in the sound of the ocean, but the witch knew better than to think it was simply an echo of the sea. There was something ethereal about the song, carried on a different sort of wind. One that traveled between the worlds and often went unheard.

"Eat," her voice broke the silence as she held out to Kaelen the largest hare on a skewered stick before taking one for herself and giving the last to San.

"Tomorrow we head north to Birka, a Nord settlement half a day's walk. Your sword will buy you food and shelter," two eyes watched him through the flames, one green and the other violet, "the pelts of these hares will buy you passage across the tundra to the Nord port town Naskov. If you ask for Captain Armistead, he will take you to a port in the summer lands in exchange for work."

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

The blue skinned one was now a dog or wolf of some kind. Either that meant magic or his case for insanity was strengthened. The noises in his head just continued on and seemed to drown out any other sound. It was so bad that Kaelen barely heard what Sigrith had to say to him. He did manage to hear enough to understand she was offering food and they would be heading to some town in the morning. Outside of that, he didn't know what was happening. The screaming of water and thunder in his ears made it impossible to focus on anything for long.

Kaelen took the skewer from the woman with a nod to acknowledge he had heard what she said. He just didn't have the energy to get more words out right now. It felt like he was backsliding into his earlier condition of near death. This time though he didn't have the numbness to block out the incredible pain all of his muscles were feeling and the intense, sharp throbbing in his head. He took a bite out of the hare, a smaller one, and savored the delicious fat that oozed out of it. He chewed, swallowed, and then repeated with a larger bite.

It took him a bit longer to get his food down than he normally would have taken. Kaelen had spent so much time in the military by this point that getting his meals down as fast as possible was second nature. It was rare he got the time or even took the time to enjoy it. Strange how getting ship wrecked was what it took for him to do it. With the entire thing gone, he could feel energy returning. It was not much and was slow building but it was still more than he had earlier. He needed to give it some time then he could risk trying to fix his condition so he wouldn't be left behind tomorrow, assuming he survived the upcoming experience.

Kaelen looked over at Sigrith and Sannoru across the fire from him. Silently he just watched them. It was an odd sight, but not entirely unpleasant. They could be a couple of ugly, scarred bandits looking to ransom him off or sell him as a slave to Morthal. What he had experienced out on the sea had confirmed the rumors for him of what the place was like. Instead of that though he had a blue skinned mystery turned into a wolf or dog and an attractive woman with a kind of energy about her. He would have smiled if it didn't pain him right now at the thought of his normal self coming back a bit. If he was noticing how attractive a woman was then he must be starting to feel better. With that thought now out of his mind though he just continued to watch the pair with no real end goal in mind.

 

[Sannoru]

The tawny wolf dozed off occasionally, only waking up on terms of its own weariness. Sannoru lived not in the frontiers between the darkness and light.
This one instance rising in time to not miss on the meal. »Thank you,« Sannoru said calmly, tiredly even, but genuinely. Their sharp eyes glanced around the area.

»What land do you hail from.« Sannoru muttered among the tearing of meat, but not much caring for an answer, yet their eyes flashed at the man briefly, holding gaze at his hands for a whole minute before redirecting.
After wolfing down the meal, they stood up and turned, glancing one last time at the two before retreating at the entrance of the shelter and resting before it like some kind of easy to step over barrier.
Soon they would be gone.

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

As they were eating, the blue skinned mystery turned small wolf had asked Kaelen where he was from. If he had been someone from Mystmarch just leaving the isles then it would seem odd. His people often forgot the whole world wasn't their homeland. Isolation did that to you. He had spent plenty of time out in the wider world by this point so he had been asked more times than he could remember by this point.

"Mystmarch. It is part of the Storm Isles to the West." Kaelen responded between bites. He figured they hadn't heard of them. They hadn't done much out east yet after all. Most of their efforts had been focused further west towards the kingdoms of humans and elves. He went back to eating his meal. He noticed the wolf's eyes on his hands. Must be about the bones he had left over from his meal.

Holding the bones up Kaelen said directed toward Sannoru , "Want the bones? Still marrow left in them."

Sigrith

 

[Sigrith]

Sigrith didn't know of Mystmarch. Thought perhaps she may have heard it mentioned by one of the sailors at port in the Folly, but truthfully the name was of little consequence to a Witch. At least ... until it wasn't. She put it to memory for future dealings and finished her meal in peace.

"She don' want your bones," the Witch remarked, "leave 'em for the crows. You take the shelter, get some rest. We leave at dawn."


~~~

First light.

Hot breath spilled across the face of the sleeping man, regardless of where he chose to take his rest. A growl sounded and he found himself face-to-face with another massive wolf. This one was different - a snowy white pelt that gave way to charcoal limbs - but the same strangely-colored eyes stared at him.

"Get dressed," it growled in the same voice as the Witch from the night prior, "we must leave."

Kaelen was still wrapped in the black-furred pelt from before, his clothing still hanging from the lines set by Sannoru, his armor and weapons still exactly where he'd left them. As soon as he was ready, the two wolves set off through the woods to lead the way.

"These lands are not safe for outsiders," Sigrith said after the sun had peaked in the sky above, "a new Nordenfiir King sits the throne and he does not have love for people that are not his own."

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

The small wolf missed Kaelen's offer and then the woman said they didn't want it. Seemed like a bit of a waste given the marrow was still inside the bones, but it did make sense given they didn't have time to boil it out of them. He just tossed them off into a spot where crows could get to it easily. The woman also told him to take the shelter because they were leaving at dawn. He nodded to her in response then excused himself. His excuse was to relieve himself.

Instead of that however, Kaelen got a little ways away for their safety. It was time to get his plan going. He began to pray to the Storm God silently. Normally he would wait do it after using his divine magic, but today called for some preemptive prepping. After a few moments of quick prayer, he then took in a deep breath. As he blew out his breath the displaced air began to turn into an odd mist that almost seemed to glow. A small cloud of it formed by the time his long exhale was done. He then began to breath the glowing mist back inside of himself in one long breath.

Once all of the mist was gone, Kaelen's body erupted into pain like he had rarely felt before in his life. The mist set about to restore his physical form in the way that the Storm God willed: destruction of the old to bring the renewal of the new. All of the damage his body had suffered up to this point had only been partial. It was now becoming utterly ruined then reformed back to its healthy state. He dropped to his knees and doubled over in pain as his body was literally torn apart and stitched back together from the inside. Tears formed at his eyes and he about cried out, but bite his lip to prevent it.

Kaelen's teeth sunk into his lip and caused some silvery crimson to drip to the snow. But this too was already being restored by the magic he had allowed inside of himself. The earlier pain was nothing compared to this, but by the end he would be restored. It was not a magic used often or encouraged. Many could not handle the intensity of it and would die from shock. But this was not the first time he had experienced it nor was he so unused to physical pain. It lasted for several minutes, but faded away as suddenly as it began. His body was devoid of energy and phantom sensations continued for a time as his body tried to come to terms with what had happened. His body was restored and he could only hope he was able to recover enough to keep up the next morning.

===

Kaelen did not know when nor how he got into the shelter after he had cast his magic. All he knew was a wolf woke him up. For a bit he just looked up at the beast in a dreamy daze. Sleep was not easy to escape and his mind and body felt heavy from fatigue still. But he did eventually rise and dress himself as the situation was explained to him.

As he got his last sword tightened up so it wouldn't hinder him too much, Kaelen said, "Lead on then. Let's hope the gods bless us with a swift and safe journey." With that he was ready to be under way.

Sannoru Sigrith

 

[Sannoru]

Throughout the later night, Sannoru was wide awake and spent time sitting solemnly beside the entrance. Tail tapping against the floor...or on either of the bodies in the tight shelter behind.
Occasionally their glance fell on either Kaelen or Sigrith, sometimes for much longer than quick glances before their gaze returned to the wider land.

There was no moon, only extensive clouds that blotted the sky in darkness. The waning fire an only source of light. San would have preffered it gone, yet left occasionally to stoke the flames to not die.
After one trip back, a quick flash of golden orbs made san's gaze snap on a creature that found it's way into the camp.
A skittish white fox froze still, mouth filled with remains. San's shiny cyan gaze focused on it for a whole minute before the sly beast returned courage to their legs and scurried away with the scraps in a moment's notice.

Better the fox take them than a bear or a ravenous pack of wolves.

Returning to sleep only a few hours before sunup.

----------

The fawny wolf then stood just outside the camp, it's body ready to move on.

 

[Sigrith]

Sigrith was on the move moments before Kaelen's words formed clouds in the frigid morning air. Black paws carried a body of white nimbly through the trees to join up with Sannoru and make for a northern heading with the sun on their right. Her pace was clipped and with purpose, but not one given to losing their new charge. The wolves traveled ahead, finding the best path, pausing as needed to let the Knight catch up before moving ahead once more. This persisted long into the day - well past clearing the trees for open tundra, their journey taking them towards a small range of hilly, frosted mountains in the distance.

Given their current pace, they would likely reach it by early evening. ...if the Knight didn't pass out before then.

An hour past midday they came upon a small creek running through a valley carved into the tundra made up nearly entirely of boulders.

"Ringing Rocks," Sigrith announced as they crested a hill to an expansive strip of rocky landscape, "the boulders here sing like a hammer on an anvil if you strike them with metal." The white wolf passed a look back to her traveling companion and the Knight, "Rest for a bit, I will go ahead to check the trail at the other side."

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

His saviors didn't wait long before they set off. Outside of letting him get his clothing and equipment back on, there was no room for food or drink or anything else. It was always a frustrating start to a day, especially when your body felt as if it was too tired to move, but it was familiar to Kaelen. The long march to battle was no different than this. Speed was key and everything else just had to suffer. So when they went he did as well.

To say Kaelen was keeping up with them would be beyond generous. It was more likely that the two were not going faster so that he could keep up. Human's were not built so much for sprinting after all as they were for distances. So that was what he aimed for. As long as he could keep them and their tracks in sight he could keep up with them. The fatigue from waking did not get any better either when his second wind kicked in. All it did was just keep his legs moving as they traveled.

Eventually they came to a hill and Sigrith announced they were at some location known as the Singing Stones. No wait. It was Ringing Rocks. Either way, he was glad for the chance to rest. His breathing heavy he found a good place to rest that he could quickly continue on from when the time came. He glanced over at Sannoru wondering if they would retain their wolf form or go back to being their blue skinned self or not. Strange company he had found himself in, but that was to be expected while in a strange land as well.

 

[Sannoru]

Thankfully the snow was not thick, but even then it was always better to recycle footprints of others, walking in line in pace with each other. And if even some went far ahead, the tracks were enough to find the way.

When Sigrith has treaded ahead, the tawny wolf's gaze shifted at Kalene.

»Do you not mourn for the others.«
His words seemingly random, and of course from his behaviour so far he did not, but knowing or not what they meant would confirm enough to the eastern dark elf.

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

The words that came from the tawny wolf were a little unexpected yet also not. Kaelen had been asked that very question several times before in the past. It was the nature of the life he had chosen. War had a way of warping the familiar from its normalcy into something uniquely twisted. When someone died it was expected to mourn for them and have it weigh on your mind. Fighting numbed one to that as so many perished from a multitude of causes. Most not even from the battles themselves. Starvation, disease, exhaustion. People just collapsed while waiting or on the march. It didn't matter if you were on land or out at sea. Soldiers had to accept death was unexpected and inevitable for yourself and everyone else around you.

Thoughts of the nature of war slowly drifted through Kaelen's head as he pondered on the comment or question. Hard to decide which it truly was, but not in knowing how he felt about their passing. It took a few moments as he figured out the right words to express his thoughts and feelings.

"I do in my own way." Kaelen responded slowly at first. "We are soldiers and sailors. If we do not expect to die or for those around us to then we can't do what must be done. I've seen many of my brothers and sisters in arms pass. Most of them didn't go quickly or from fighting. It is saddening that they are gone, but for our people death is not the end...."

Kaelen's thoughts drifted on to what priests and parents taught about death. The people of the Storm Isles lived in a strange land filled with spirits. A deep darkness could be felt lurking as it waited for the perfect moment to emerge once more. It could be said that the thought of an afterlife was just hopeful thinking to ease their minds and make them think living a good life had meaning. He personally didn't believe that was so. The gods had plans for the various, diverse people of the Storm Isles. Both in life and in death.

"The mist rises. The march never ends." Kaelen said in a voice speaking more to himself and some far off being than to Sannoru or Sigrith .

 

[Sannoru]

The long ponder did not stick with Sannoru, such time that is spent thinking on words correct and propper, not speaking out of the heart is wasted.

The tawny walked past the stones, inspecting the odd landmark before gazing at the man through their peripheral vision to catch his spoken words.
Direct gaze was averted as San stared at the distance. Slowly furthering the space between them.

»I guesed as much.«
Born as tools and wasted, shrugged off and discarded. His elaborate sentances only confirming their assumption.

Their words cut like a knife with how sharp they sounded.
»Kse- Kse, why are you here.«

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

The slow distancing didn't go unnoticed. Seemed this blue skinned elf turned tawny wolf didn't like his words too much. Kaelen was many things and most of them were not good. He had his problems and knew it. But despite that he knew there was some plan in mind for him by the gods. He was far too aware of that fact. His divine storm magic was proof of it. The only thing was he had no idea what that plan was. So that was his only response to their sharp words.

"Not sure. Could be to meet the two of you. Could be to see the dangers of these lands to my people. Could be just bad luck on my part. All I know is I'm here and alive."

Kaelen looked to Sannoru as he continued to rest. "Why are you here? Why not abandon me like we both know you would rather do right now?"

Kaelen was not sure where Sigrith had gone off to, but was a little relieved they were giving him time to rest. It was all too important even if he would push through without it. For now he was curious what this mysterious person's game was. There was a clear point to the questions and comments. He just hadn't found out what it was yet.

 

[Sannoru]

»Twisted - what a waste of fine men.« The wolf murmured, aproaching him diagonally in a very slow zigzag pattern. Their voice was rather matter-of-fact, devoid of any emotion.

»My decsisions are not my own. - What is it that you will do, once you return.«

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

The tawny wolf's question caught Kaelen by surprise. It was simple yet very complicated. He knew his answer immediately however, not that it was a good thing he did given what it was.

"Don't know. Still trying to figure that out myself."

What did Kaelen want to do? The whole point of this trip out east was to help him clear his head. He hoped the slow discover might clear his mind and his heart after the storm of emotions that was his recent trip home. Would going back be the same? Unlikely. His father was ill, said things he had held back when Kaelen thought he wasn't before, and then died. Right after was the ceremony for his brother to take the seat of the house and Kaelen had to be there to either challenge or grant his blessing given his family's tradition. Wasn't long after that he volunteered for this duty.

What did Kaelen want to do? Who even was he?

The silvery gray haired man grew introspective. It was clear to anyone who looked at him. Life and death were all too close to him of late. It made him wonder how he wasn't in his own grave already.

Sannoru Sigrith

 

[Sannoru]

The tawny one turned their head.

»As so... It always was so...« They murmured. The foreign man think of himself only.

Their brows furrowed as they leered.
»You are not the only person in this world. Think again of your duties.«

 

[Kaelen Silverblood]

Kaelen looked to Sannoru as they responded. He was thinking of himself there was no denying that. But the irony of them pointing out his duties sparked a flood of emotions. Emotions he had been trying to keep back were once again on his mind. Anger at all his father had done to him. The man who should have given him love had instead been more apathetic to him than anything. There was perhaps loathing but not towards Kaelen. No his father hated the silver blood trait of their family. That was what his father hated and why he had treated him so poorly. Knowing that did not make anything better. It made it worse. Kaelen meant nothing to his father and that thought caused more pain than anything else.

Sorrow. Kaelen had lost his father, but that was not what made him sad. It was how the man's death effected his brothers and his mother. As apathetic as their father was to Kaelen was as loving and supportive as he was for his older brothers. And the love his father had for his mother was a rare example of what true love was. Knowing it tore their hearts apart like a pack of wolves tore apart an elk made Kaelen feel as if he was going to die.

Then there was that sense of weakness. Kaelen was not his brothers. Both of them were better than him. Perhaps not at fighting, but that was simply because they didn't spend nearly the amount of time at it as Kaelen had. Cedric was a born leader and deserved as well as earned his right to take their family seat. Naturally patient and empathetic to those serving him. He was the truest example of what the Silverbloods sought to be as nobles. And Soren was the most brilliant person Kaelen had ever known. Kaelen had studied at the center of knowledge and learning in the entirety of Mystmarch yet could never hope to come close to his middle brother in terms of either. All Soren had was private tutors and the family library as well. It was impressive, but to what heights could his brother have reached at the college? They both were strong and wise. They upheld their duties to their family and people. But what did Kaelen do? He ran off to war. While his brothers improved the lives of their people and did what they could to save them Kaelen was out risking them in battle. Not just risking but making them lose their lives. All of it because he wasn't as strong as his brothers.

So what did Kaelen do? He laughed. He laughed at himself. At his anger. At his sorrow. At himself. Focus more on his duties? He didn't even know what they were anymore. It was all about him he supposed. And with that being the case perhaps it would be best if he spilled his own blood as he had asked his own people to do. His family would have it easier without him as well. Less of a drain on precious resources and less of a chance for him to cause a political disaster. Perhaps his father was right in how he treated Kaelen after all. His father was a good ruler after all. It could just be Kaelen had been too selfish to realize what his father had....

Before Kaelen really knew what he was doing he found his side sword had been drawn and was in his hand. The tip was pointed towards his throat. Could he do it? A part of him said yes. A part of him said no. All he knew was a warm sensation was trickling down his neck as a silvery red drop slowly trailed down into his armor.

Sigrith