* * *
Ebrelle
* * *

I blink my eyes open and behold the green hues of the canopy of Faun’s forest with my own eyes. It’s a beautiful, fresh green, yellowed with the rays of the sun. I’d love to marvel at the leaves and branches spiraling upwards, perhaps spy a crevice of blue sky, but my vision is blurred beyond that sort of comprehension, and I don’t know if it’ll ever improve beyond that.

I don’t know if I have that long.

I miss the part of me that had the missing parts of my name, but I am too tired to miss it much. I am too tired to account for all of what is there. My thoughts feel as if they’re about to shatter even before I make them, and everything in my head is tender... everything that can even be felt at all. I shouldn’t be awake - there’s a crisp burning sensation around the edges of my thoughts, senses, and sight, and it only grows worse with each moment. I’ve only one reason to be conscious.

* * *
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.

* * *
'Sy
* * *

I walk with my head down and let Katherine lead. It's an easy trip to the infirmary - we take a shortcut or two along the way, though teleportation is a bad idea with someone so psychically afflicted. Aaren's mind... it's a bloodbath. I'm thankful he's unconscious, but I fear even that isn't enough to blot out the pain.

"How much do you think can be done for him?" My voice sounds unusually rough. Strange.

Katherine takes a moment to respond. "A fair bit. You shouldn't worry so much over it, hon. The boy'll be fine." She sounds oddly detached. No, she's distracted.

"What's wrong?" I run that back through my mind. More like what else is wrong.

This was originally posted on April 1st 2010 as Chapter 39 of Peacock King Book 3. As such it contains spoilers for chapters 1-38 of Book 3! You should probably read those first!

* * *
Katherine
* * *

I know when it happens. I'm already on my knees, hands covering my face. I don't want anybody to see, which is silly. I'm still alone, still sneaking around. Still trying not to let 'Sy find me. And for a moment, I just stay there, rock back and forth, and let the sorrow press in. It's going to come whether I try to stop it or not, and it'll pass easier if I just accept it.

I tried so hard to extend Elete's life. 'Sy and I both did. Considering that, it's especially cruel how he went. I can feel it all out, sense 'Sy's reasons as if I was there at the time. And, in a sense, I was. He couldn't Judge someone without me.

I just... I wish I would have been there. Why didn't Elete let me be there? He was a Time Lord, he could have--

* * *
Ebrellin-i
* * *

I haven't been able to speak for quite some time.

Speech just isn't allowed where I am - or where my mind is. I'm sure my body is somewhere quite safe. I'm sure the Radians, even dear Luciprochoros, think they've got everything regarding me well in hand. And while I am in someone's hands, it is not theirs. I can feel my Master quite close.

I'm not sure how he managed to bring me here. I don't remember coming here. Surely there's no way to get to Nul from the Judge's cells? But here I am, sure as anything - or at least here my mind is.

And there is Nul. Above me, as always. As it should be, for I'd certainly not aspire to be above him, would I? No one could. Mother taught me that much at least - that when you find something that would rule you, you either find a way to surpass it or find a way to keep it happy.

And I, well, I keep Nul happy for her.

* * *
'Sy
* * *

I arrive in the dungeons to what could almost be utter madness, if all the instigators weren't already locked in their cells. Mostly it's the noise that's making it seem unmanageable--

"YEH STAGGER THREE PACES RIGHT, AND POUR US MORE ALE!!"

--because they're all singing bar songs in chorus.

"AND MAKE YOUR BED UP REAL NICE, IT'S SHAG TIME FOR ALES!"

"Oh goodness. They're not-- Men! Good sirs! Please, this jail is full of polite company!" Elesse sounds truly wretched as he pleads for his fellow brigands to stop singing. I can't blame him. This pirate crew is made up of terrible singers.

* * *
'Sy
* * *

We appear on deck near the prow of the boat. Gerald is to my side, Camden to the other, and Jenny behind me. That will make for a good formation, should fighting come into play. Lute and Julia are already secreting themselves around the ship, though I gave them instructions not to spy too much into who and what is on the vessel. We're not here for that type of operation and it is impolite. Besides that, Mitheoni-archo will be expecting us.

Strange, then, that no one is here to greet us. While the ship hasn't hailed those landside yet, surely he would anticipate--

* * *
'Sy
* * *

Not a word about my wretch of a brother.

I make my way down the halls, controlling my steps as I do so and channeling within me a bit of calm. I have a long rest of the day ahead of me, after all. I've got several new trainees drafted in, I have an overfull nursery, and I've far too many problems that still need solving and far too many people that still need rescuing. That is why, I think, that when I turn the corner I find not an empty hallway but Elete, leaning against the wall and patiently waiting.

"I know I should be in bed, 'Sy," he says as he puts up a hand as if to fend me off.

* * *
Julia
* * *

I've been having quite a fun time here in Jhe o'Sul's labs. There's plenty to fight with - and some of it is the enemy!

So I take it that we're holing up here until we all die? Or does this count as a stronghold? Iaen's voice is as sulky as usual. Aww, poor boo. It's a shame he's so damn good at that shapeshifting stuff, otherwise we'd put him in danger more often.

This is our last stand, I say with a mental grin. I think Gwen undercuts the expression with a gesture of her own, because Iaen immediately shrinks back and goes quiet.

* * *
Camden
* * *

I lay Katherine into the crib, tuck in the blankets around her, and then smooth over her hair just a little bit. I feel very clumsy. Elric always was the one who was good with the children.

"She's so... tiny." Jenny's voice is barely a whisper. She leans in, looking over the tiny figure of her mother. I wrap an arm over her shoulders. She's been more perplexed about all of this than very emotional. It's got to be hard to deal with.

It's certainly hard on me.

"She'll be bigger tomorrow, and the next day. In a few weeks she'll be older than you again - and then what will we do?"

Jenny's jaw clenches, revealing more of her Father in her face than her Mother. "I have no idea what the world will have done by then. I can't say." She looks over to me, eyes pleading. I nod. We can step out of the Nursery for a moment - Jhe Katherine certainly isn't going anywhere. As I recall, she's a heavy napper in this stage.