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* Kevil and Diya, their entertainment having been cut short by Woundwort's speech, run home as fast as they can. Diya, being somewhat faster than Kevil, is the one to burst through the door. Kevil flies past him. "LORIA!" * Orlann is laying on the floor in the music room, surrounded by a thick pool of dark, tacky blood which has soaked into the cotton blanket where the twins normally play. <Diya> ::stares around at the wreckage of the house. Several windows are shattered and several decorative pieces have been destroyed. He hurries from room to room, calling for his wife:: * Kevil pulls to a halt at the door to the music room, taking in the scene through disbelieving eyes. "Diya!" He strides into the room and rolls Orlann onto his back with shaking hands. * Diya races back down the stairs. "Did heartwing find... oh, sheh!" <Kevil> {He is still alive. Barely. Sunshine, do you know where Loria keeps her potions?} <Diya> ::nods quickly:: {Diya will get them...} ::he spins on his heel and races into the atrium:: * Kevil checks Orlann's pulse, and then looks at the blanket. He touches the bloodsoaked cloth, his jaw twitching with anger. * Diya returns with several sealed bottles. {Heartwing... they aren't here... Oriole is gone...} <Kevil> ::tightly:: {I figured.} ::he takes a bottle from Diya and breaks the seal:: {I hope this man will be able to tell us more.} ::carefully, he tips the potion into Orlann's mouth:: * Orlann coughs and groans, blinking several times owlishly. * Kevil helps Orlann to sit up. "Go slow for a few minutes..." * Orlann sits slowly, then gasps. "Tarri!" He looks around wildly. <Kevil> ::shakes his head:: There are none here. Not even our housekeeper. What happened? * Orlann runs one hand through his sticky, blood stained braids. "She's gone? Where?" <Kevil> We were hoping you could tell us. ::his mouth tightens:: What do you remember? <Orlann> ::coughs again, spitting up a mouthful of blood:: So many... they crashed in the windows... I's sitting here, with the little ones. ::he looks around again:: All of them? They're *all* gone? <Kevil> ::closes his eyes and nods:: The house is empty. Loria, the children... ::his hands tighten into fists, then he looks back at Orlann:: Orcs, yes? <Orlann> ::nods:: And Miss Meghan? And Miss Gail, too? ::he lowers his head into his hands:: They took Tarri? <Kevil> Meghan and Abby were here, too? ::he swears sulphurously in another language:: <Diya> ::looks at Kevil:: {Heartwing? What... Diya does not know what to do...} <Orlann> ::miserably:: Tarri wanted to see the little girls... we was over at Miss Meghan's orphanage, and just asked her to come 'long. I... didn't know... * Kevil puts a hand over his eyes. "It is not your fault, Corporal. The orcs have taken the city." <Orlann> ::his face greys:: The... the whole *city*? <Diya> ::slams one fist into the wall, then stalks off into another part of the house:: <Kevil> Yes. With... astonishingly little bloodshed. So far. ::his face hardens as he looks up at Orlann:: They secured the wharves, and used some... magic to make an announcement. To ensure our behavior, they have... taken hostages. ::he gestures around the room to indicate those who should be there, but are not:: * Diya returns to the room with his scimitars and bow. {Heartwing, Diya thinks that no one should remain here... it is not safe to stay where an enemy has been.} <Kevil> ::stands and gives Diya a grave look:: {I know, n'shava. There are magic weapons, in my wardrobe, at the bottom. They must not be found, d'va? Bring them. And whatever remains of Loria's potions. They must not be used to aid our enemy.} <Kevil> ::looks back at Orlann:: Do you have somewhere to go? Small, and safe? The orcs will be confiscating larger homes- ::he looks around wryly:: - for their own use. <Diya> ::nodding:: {Diya will get them. And whatever money heartwing has. Diya does not think this place will be here, when this is over.} * Orlann looks up. "I been living with Tarri." His face darkens and he clenches one fist. "She has a small place, just enough for s'both. Y'all are welcome... I'm so damn sorry about your wife." <Kevil> ::takes a breath:: I am sorry, also. Well. That answers my next question, too. As much as I would hate to impose, Corporal, I think we must accept your invitation. ::he runs a hand through his hair:: <Kevil> But before their hold on the city is too tight, I must find Her. My wife and children are Her blood. She will help us. * Orlann looks up. "Who?" <Kevil> Lady Nacheyla. * Diya returns with three bags packed. {Diya has packed those things that are necessary. He is ready.} He hands one of the packs to Kevil. <Kevil> ::takes the pack and shoulders it:: {N'shava, this man has offered us the hospitality of his home. I have told him we will accept, d'va? But first, I must find the Mother and seek her aid.} <Diya> {Diya understands. Who is he?} <Kevil> ::tsks at himself and turns to perform introductions:: {This is Corporal Orlann Drilgar. I have only met him briefly, but he knows several whom I count as friends, d'va?} Corporal, this is Master Ranger Diya Nabihazan, my husband and Loria's. * Orlann nods. "Master Nabihazan." He gets to his feet very slowly, still clutching at his head. <Diya> ::nods to the man:: Cor'ral. Diya is honored. ::his common is painfully accented and faltering:: <Kevil> ::frowns, scratching at his beard:: Now, where will She be...? Corporal, where is this apartment? <Orlann> Not far from here, sir. Go along towards the western gate and it's a block in from Bell Road. Second floor over the seamstress's shop. <Kevil> ::ponders:: All right. The Hall is only a little bit on our way. We'll stop there. <Orlann> ::hesitantly:: D'you... d'you think they'll hurt the women? <Kevil> ::darkly:: They had better not. <Diya> ::cocking his head to listen:: {Heartwing, Diya thinks it is time to go. There are troops marching this way.} * Kevil runs his hand over the curve of Loria's harp, tears forming in his eyes. He nods sharply to Diya's comment, then hoists his pack and beckons to Orlann. "Come on. We'll go out the back way." He climbs carefully through the broken glass and shattered frame, and leads the way through the garden. * Orlann follows, a bit more slowly. Gradually his grace and balance return after a few moments of dizziness. Diya, with one last look around the house, follows after, his hand resting on his sword hilt. * Kevil sticks to shadowed yards and back alleys as much as he can, slinking through the shadows with uncanny silence to scout ahead before coming back to direct Diya and Orlann around groups of the invading orcs. * Orlann grows grey around the mouth as they hide from one group of orcs accompanied by a brown-robed magi carrying a silver wand. * Kevil leads them down a side-ally and cuts through a narrow yard to emerge in the alley that keeps the Hall's front door. He leans against the building as if it represents safety, his eyes closed in silent prayer. After a moment, he snaps upright and puts his hand gently on the locked door. "Lady Nacheyla? Are you within?" <Orlann> ::the Hall seems somehow dark, almost unnoticeable in the dim shadows:: <Kevil> ::glances around warily, then speaks a little louder:: Lady? <Orlann> ::the door shudders under Kevil's hand and slowly opens. Inside the Hall, there is darkness, but as they step inside, the candles whiff into brightness:: * Kevil steps inside. "Lady? Are you here?" * Nacheyla, wearing her "work" clothes, is behind the bar, apparently involved in borrowing some mulekick. "I'm here." * Kevil sags with relief and goes to the bar. "Lady... You must help us, please." <Nacheyla> ::looks up at him. Her face is pale and her black hair is once again greying around the temples:: <Kevil> ::whispering:: Loria and the girls... They are taken among the hostages. <Nacheyla> ::nods once:: I'm not surprised. ::she sags into the stool behind the bar:: It is only the least of what has happened. <Kevil> The *leas-* ::he straightens indignantly:: They are more important to me than anything else in this world, Lady. <Nacheyla> ::softly:: Khymrych is under seige. <Kevil> Free Loria and the children, and we will all go with you to fight the seige. <Nacheyla> I can *not*. She has already taken everything from me... I am no more than an ordinary woman, Kevil. I must go to Her, and I must go soon, or this part of me will die. <Kevil> She has- ::his mouth tightens:: Loria is Her priestess, chief among those few who are not in Khymrych. Yet She will abandon her to this? <Nacheyla> ::tears glimmer in her copper-colored eyes:: Do you not understand, Kevil? If the village falls, I can help no one. Loria loves Her, I know it. But it is not enough to sustain. We have to save the village. * Kevil looks toweringly furious, then suddenly droops against the bar, covering his face with his hands. "She abandons even you, d'va? You tell me there is no hope of Her aid, or even yours... Bright Lady, what do I do?" <Nacheyla> ::buries her face in her hands:: Greyson is already dead, I felt him pass... there are fire giants burning everything. ::she shudders:: Someone knew... they *knew* that I would be here... this... Kevil, this was *planned*. <Kevil> ::looks up, angry again:: Who? Tell me who planned this, to crush your strength and Hers, to steal my very heart from my chest in the space of an instant... <Nacheyla> ::shakes her head slowly:: I don't... I don't know... there's a mist around everything... a fog. I cannot See. ::she reaches into her pocket and pulls out a handful of small, cut gemstones:: Take these. She left them with me. ::holding up a ruby:: This one will allow you to hear the truth in all words. ::holds up another:: And this one will protect you. ::a third, a clear prism:: <Nacheyla> This one holds several spells, stored, including one which will return the slain to life. Use it, if you must. * Kevil closes his hand around the stones, tightening his fist until the edges cut into his palm. "Lady, I..." He bows his head for a moment, then looks up at her. "Is there no way we may help you?" <Nacheyla> Pray for us. I will return, as soon as the village is safe, I promise you. And I will attempt to reason with Her, that She must protect all Her pieces. <Kevil> As you say, Lady. ::he hesitates, then leans across the bar to kiss her cheek, his empty hand brushing her greying hair:: Be well, Lady Imp. If Loria and the girls are more precious to me than anything else, they are still not *all* I hold dear, d'va? <Nacheyla> ::softly:: I know. Try to find them... protect them, when I cannot... ::her tears spill over:: I really must go. Every minute I delay weakens me. <Kevil> ::tightly:: Va. ::he hesitates one moment more, watching her, then turns on his heel and stalks out of the building.:: * Nacheyla watches them go and curses a few times in the ancient, hideous language of demon kind, then also leaves the Hall. She puts one hand to the door before she goes. "Open for them." * Orlann is obviously confused, but leads Kevil and Diya to Tarri's tiny flat. The seamstress's shop is crowded with refugees who peer nervously from between the curtains. * Kevil gives the refugees a tight smile as he follows Orlann to the outer stair that leads up to the flat. <Orlann> ::the small apartment seems to have been unmolested:: There's some bedding I c'n lay down for you. I... ::he colors faintly:: * Kevil looks around briefly, pretending to misunderstand the reason for Orlann's embarrassment. "Of course we would not attempt to put you out of your bed, Corporal. I assure you, we have slept far less comfortably than in a blanket on a floor, d'va?" * Orlann gets out the folded over mattress and blankets from his brief habitation on the floor and spreads them in the living room. <Diya> ::inspecting the apartment:: {Diya thinks this place can be easily defended, heartwing. What did Oriole's goddess have to say?} * Kevil puts his pack in a corner and sits carefully on the couch. {She can not help us, n'shava. The village is under attack as well, and all her strength - perhaps more than that - goes to defend it.} He opens his hand to look at the three gems, sparkling even in the dim light. {She gave us... what little she could. I must hope it was not more than she could spare.} * Orlann finishes setting up the bedding, then collapses onto the small sofa, burying his face in his hands. <Kevil> ::puts a hand on Orlann's arm:: Corporal? <Orlann> ::scrubs at his face:: I... <Kevil> It was not your fault, Corporal. <Orlann> ::hoarsely:: They haunt me... there is no escape from them... <Kevil> Ah, va... ::his tone is sympathetic, but he seems at a loss for an answer. He glances briefly at Diya, then looks back at Orlann:: This... this too, will end. <Orlann> ::shakes his head, despairing of hope:: She is lost to me. It will never end. <Diya> ::softly:: {Diya feels a great pity for this man, heartwing. He has forgotten hope.} <Kevil> ::firmly:: She is *not* lost. She can not be, d'va? If your lady is lost, then so is my wife, and so are my daughters, and I will *not* allow that. <Orlann> ::nods slowly:: I... gods will it you be right... ::he stands up:: Forgive me, I... am going to rest. My head aches and I cain't... think. ::his accent thickens as his eyes glaze slightly:: * Kevil nods. "Rest. Tomorrow will be soon enough to... make plans." * Orlann turns from the room and closes the bedroom door behind him firmly. After a moment, the not quite masked sounds of muffled sobbing creep into the room. * Kevil slides from the couch to sit on the makeshift bed. He reaches for Diya's hand and pulls the Ranger down beside him. Silently, he curls into Diya's arms, shivering. {Bright Lady, this is too much...} <Diya> ::nods:: {Diya will help heartwing to get Oriole and the children back... he promises...} <Kevil> ::shivering again:: {And then, what reprisals on the other innocents? On other children? On this man's lover? Diya... I do not know what to do.} <Diya> ::lightly stroking the bard's hair:: {Diya will think of something... heartwing must have faith that this is not what is meant to be. The earth itself will work to rid the evil from her face.} * Kevil nods, more in acknowledgment of Diya's support than actual belief. He is silent for a long moment, listening to Orlann's muffled sorrow. Finally, he sighs and leans into Diya's arms. {I think we must be the lucky ones, sunshine. We have each other. And we are so uprooted... He must lie in their bed and smell her with each breath...} His voice roughens and he chokes on a sob. {I am frightened, Diya...} <Diya> ::nodding:: {Diya is also afraid. But he cannot think of those things right now. Heartwing needs him, and Oriole needs him and the children need him. He will give into fear later, when it is over. Sleep, heartwing. There will be allies and plans to make come dawn.} <Kevil> ::laughs softly:: {When it is over, you will say there is no reason for fear, n'shava.} ::He rests his head on Diya's shoulder and closes his eyes.:: {What would I do without you? I love you.} <Diya> ::gently:: {Heartwing will never need to know. Diya will always be here.} |
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