* * *
Julia
* * *
I'm enjoying the rare but predictable peace and quiet I get when almost my entire division manages to kill itself off. It'll take long enough for them to grow out of childhood that I'll have a nice break. Maybe a few days... maybe a little less.
So of course, I don't expect Jhe h'Akribastes to contact me, but sure enough--
Jhe Wysthaven? Report.
I crack a smile. All quiet and clear, in my corner.
He snorts. Of course. Lucky. He sighs. He seems to be busy arranging a trip, apparently with multiple parties. I sense Jhe Katherine on the edge of his thoughts - looks like they couldn't keep her in the nursery for long. As expected. I need you to arrange for security. I'm leading an excursion into Audiva Rocale and taking the Peacekeeper and the Gahalespbar-archo with me.
I raise an eyebrow. Certainly that is worth noting. What are my resources? Troops are a bit thin right now... the Peacekeeper usually would command the main army.
He pauses. Go through the necessary procedures to direct them if you must, but... There's a certain weariness to his thoughts as they march forward. Almost a kind of dread. For this type of incursion, I doubt they will be the necessary counter.
Then who shall I rally, sire?
Another pause, as if he's trying to decide something. If it comes to it, arm the Poets.
Then there's silence, and I'm left to contemplate just what sort of threat would necessitate an army of crazed loons.
* * *
'Sy
* * *
After all the effort to get here...
I can't get into this forest.
Katherine looks at me, raises an eyebrow, then observes the treeline before us. "Odd," is all she credits to the situation.
I want to get into that forest. I can feel the conflict within, can feel it tingling on my skin. Two of my sons are in there, as well as a criminal it is my Duty to Judge. One of my newfound Armed is in there, and I especially hate my trainees going astray - especially after finding out what the Kommissar has done to some of my lost Armed. And damnit, it took far too much trouble to get here--
It was just some light Poetry, 'Sy, almost like teleporting. You just don't like Jhe Blackirons. She has to hide the chuckle in her mental voice.
I like him just fine, I say, for a Poet that I've no excuse to pummel. He is an utter scamp.
She grins. Don't fret over him hanging about Gerude, he keeps swearing he only likes girls--
Thankfully, before that conversation can continue any further, Mitheoni taps my shoulder.
I turn to face him. He clears his throat, then squares his shoulders. I swear to Theos, that mere boy of an Archo seems to be convinced that every breath he exhales has to be delivered as an official announcement. "I can't seem to breach the perimeter." He's not showing his consternation, but I can tell it's there, because I'm sharing it.
I nod. "It seems that which rules within does not desire the presence of the Law." I sigh, letting my shoulders drop. "And of course, it is the Law that the sovereign within is the highest word on that subject. Animisms - they do have their whims."
Mitheoni scrutinizes me. I do wish he hadn't had so many opportunities to do so today - he might actually learn something from it. "You have a plan?"
I nod. "We'll send a Poet in. They're not subject to the same Laws, if you could ever call a Poet lawful--"
"Hey!" Katherine's interjection has a note of surprise buried in the consternation.
"--But I suppose that's to our advantage today. Hopefully the Jhe h'Logos will feel the same." Such a strange thing to say, with Elete's absence so profound. Still, I have the slightest premonition that the new one is at least sufficing. None of the Poets have given any indication that they heard of Elete's death, and any nerves seem to be due to the many surprises we've gotten over the past few days.
He is doing his job well in that regard. He's assuring everyone that everything is okay, and his voice is-- Katherine has to catch herself for a moment. --it's perfect, identical. With the chaos, and all the work being done, no one will notice until it's... time to. She pauses again. Hmm, he doesn't quite understand what he's doing. But he seems to be performing perfectly well in the innate way, like any trainee Poet. She breaks out of her semi-trance. "We should be fine to send in a few Poets. Even Mixed Poets with Armed capabilities would be able to slip in." With that, her eyes take a particular glint to them.
Then they widen in surprise. "You mean I'm not--" She looks up at me, as if something is somehow my fault. "No, it's not your fau--" Her head snaps towards Jhe Elric.
He seems rather sheepish, and tilts his head with an apology that I can't quite hear. Kathe sighs, the exhalation ending in a growl. Perhaps the boy is coming on to Jennelcia now as well?
Nothing like that, you single-minded-- argh! He's Seen that I'm not going. She looks... crestfallen. He won't even tell me why. Can't. Says he can't.
Elric tilts his head again.
He says I'll find out soon enough, though. Which I suppose means that they'll be moving along now.
I raise an eyebrow. They?
* * *
Camden
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I head off into the woods alongside my brother without a word to anyone. I can sense my Duty, know it for what it is. On a deeper level, I'm just afraid that if I say something aloud, my brother will question the decision.
He's so strange since he's returned. So damned standoffish, and convinced that he'll do some harm to me. As if I'm afraid of harm, as if I'm vulnerable! As if he could ever hurt me so badly in the first place...
The trees aren't spread out widely at all in this forest. It's not far in until I can't catch sight of the Judge and his companions - a little farther, and it feels as if there's nothing else in the world but trees in every direction.
My brother catches my hand. No further, not together. They'll find us too easily. He points ahead. Avians - this place is thick with them. I forge ahead quietly, and then you track where I've gone. Just like the old days in Rhivend.
It seems like a solid plan, and it does call up some fond memories. Elric always was so clever at not being found. It took almost a lifetime to learn to track him at all - surely he can elude those that are in here. If, that is, he's up to it. But he looks fine - he's been seen to by a healer already, and he did rest in Radia. You feel comfortable with being hunted so soon after your incarceration?
He smiles - a sad expression that I'd rather not see on him, but suppose I shall have to grow used to. I suppose the familiarity will make it an easier task.
I don't have a reply for that. He takes my silence as consent to go ahead. I don't even hear a single twig snap as he passes out of my sight.
I take a defensive posture in the shadows as I wait out the minutes. I have to give him time to explore, but too long and the path will go cold, even for me.
Will he make it through? Strange, I didn't even think to question that. I didn't even stop to wonder about the danger my brother could be passing into at any moment - could be passing back into. I've only just come back. He's only just come home.
Wait... what if he's trying to leave me now?
I pursue the trail, feeling like a complete idiot. Of course that's what he's doing. He's so damn concerned for my safety - for the safety of the Peacekeeper, bleeding hills! I'll not let him slip away from me that easily. I'm on his trail now. An easy trail, all told - I do believe captivity has cost Elric just a little of his touch when it comes to hiding the signs of his passing. Well, he'll have plenty of chances to work on that, just as soon as I bring him back.
...Where has he gone?
Ah, there. Almost lost him, but I see him now. Must have run across some Avians - I do see a few of their telltales. Feathers, strange-toed tracks. They're not trying hard to stay hidden, but then, these woods are their home. We're the transgressors. He's lying low, curled up in a ball. Something twists in my chest - this isn't the first battle Elricht's had to hide himself from. All those territorial fights back before we came to Radia... when he couldn't defend himself, and the only choice left to him was the coward's choice...
My eyebrows draw together as I squint at the curled-up ball of a person I've found hiding in the brush and shadows. Elricht... Elricht's so tall that what I'm seeing doesn't seem quite right.
It comes upon me, and I feel like an idiot. That's not Elricht at all.
It's Patrick.
"Ye damn fool," I say under my breath, and then regret it as I'm lined up in a gun's sights. Gentry under the hills, did that boy get his Arms already? Of course, all we need in this situation is a wild Armed--
Fool ye are, through to the bone. He's no Armed yet. Geillg'a snorts in my ear. That's Bruce.
I blink. Gerald's gun?
That's why yer slow-movin' arse hasn't been shot yet. Bruce knows us both. She tsks. The poor trainee's too blind with fear to recognize you, and would probably fire out of fright even if he did.
He's not even looking at me.
He's not really all there. Geillg'a says it softly, as if Patrick could overhear her. Who knows - he might.
Well, I can't waste my time snapping him back to reality - I've got to follow Elricht--
Oh, you're where you need to be. Elricht's voice is completely unexpected, and it has an odd note of finality to it. He doesn't respond to a prod in answer - I feel stranded, in fact, when I realize that I can't reach his mind. I thought that'd all ended when he came back. Does that mean he's shutting me off on purpose now? Why lead me through the woods, then? Why say he'd Seen me coming in? What's his game?
Patrick shakes, looking around frantically with eyes that probably don't see a damned thing.
Elricht led me to Patrick on purpose? Is it a way of keeping me off his trail, or is there some reason for this after all?
No sense in plowing ahead after him anyway. Too many fighters between you and he. Lucky they've started to follow some trail he's left behind, and drawn away from Patrick.
I do agree with that. I decide to approach Patrick very, very carefully.
Bruce chuckles. I won't fire at ye. Well, I won't make it lethal. I'll try not to, at any rate--
Ye'll do no shooting at all at my Armed, Geillg'a cuts in.
Disarming Patrick isn't all that difficult. He's jerky, and he'll startle a little bit at odd noises, but he mostly just stares ahead, dead quiet. He doesn't follow my hand when I sweep it in front of his eyes.
What'd ye do teh him, ye brute? Geillg'a's glare is palpable.
Nothin'. Poor fellow lost it when he had to hide. Like 'is lights went plumb out. He was holding on pretty well right up until Gerald--
I jerk my head up, my hand clenching around Patrick's gauntleted one where it rests on Bruce's grip. "Gerald?" The vocal slip is trainee-worthy, but lucky for me there's no one around to hear it. Not even Gerald, if my suspicion is correct--
He went out with a show, as usual. Bruce is so nonchalant, as if Gerald had gone out to get some eggs. Passed me off to Patrick before I could get a word in edgewise. I can point ye toward the idiot's sorry corpse.
I curse as I disarm Patrick. He's not too out of it that he won't follow me, and hopefully he'll rouse soon. I'll need the help lugging Gerald's body out of this forest.
I note the fallen Windbird on my way to the body. And Jhe o'Audiva Rocale, and Lyric? I don't have high hopes for either, but see no sign of the two.
They lived, last we saw them. The Peacock King woke and Lyric fled from him, deeper into the forest. There's no telling if ye'll see either of them again.
News keeps getting better and better today. I sigh when I find Gerald's body. Out like a hero, as usual - he's still wearing that grin.
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