11-02-2017, 01:22 PM
As Jai passed through the gateway, the grief darkening his father’s expression followed him. Was he haunting the very people he wanted most to embrace him? Or was he a living ghost shrouding the memory of a son already mourned. They might as well inscribe his name in the crypts with the rest of the generations. He could see it in his father's eyes. He could see it in Nythadri's eyes. His family no more wanted to relive the loss of their son than she would want to relive the loss of her brother.
His heart quickened with realization. Her brother's emblem. She had moved on; mourned, accepted, and moved on. He raced through the memories of every nuance to her voice, every shiver of her body when she spoke about Tashir. She had moved on from mourning a murder that plagued her mind with guilt, and like he was a living ghost weaving about Jai's family, plucking at the deep strings of saddness in his mother's eyes and the plunging cords of guilt in his father's spirit, sending Nythadri proof that her brother's prized possession was no longer spoiled by the hands of his killers would force her through pain, heartache, guilt and shame all over again. Jai hadn’t saved her. He hadn’t brought her closure. All he did was reopen a long-healed wound.
*******Meanwhile, in Caemlyn******
A voice rang inside Nessie's head. ’Stop taking short cuts through the Crossing Runs before sunup!’ Well, Nessie's sister had a point. The crossing runs were dark corridors traversing the Low City's back alleys. Staring down one such corridor of darkness, she almost decided to go the long way around. The narrow path was mostly dirty and gross, and if that had been the only detractant, Nessie might have listened to her sister. But they were also dangerous. The buildings towering on either side had no doors that led out here. Only windows where people dumped their trash or waste from overhead. And who knew how many other people, savory and unsavory alike, had the same idea as she to save a bit of travel time.
So she pulled up the hood of her cloak, pausing only to snap a little thread that was dangling down in front her eyes, gathered her wits and hustled forward. The Run was dark and her shoes splashed through questionable puddles on the ground. It had been raining all night, so she hoped the water washed away anything that might stick to her shoes. She wasn't too picky about her old worn out pair, but the Taravins were. It did no good to traipse mud and grime through a manor she was suppose to be cleaning her first day on the job. Lady Taravin, not i]The Lady Taravin[/i], but one of the ladies that ran the house had taken a risk hiring someone without experience, but Nessie would prove herself.
So she hurried on, determined to do just that. The sun wasn't quite up yet, but in the far distance of the sky she thought she could imagine the blackness turning a dark shade of morning purple. Then she heard something scamper through the puddles and snapped her face around to see what it was. A rat probably... she shivered. Nessie hated rats. That was why she and her sister had five cats. All of them good mousers, and ratters, alike.
She shook off her fear and picked up the pace. Only a few steps later her foot got caught on something and Nessie went flinging forward! She thrust out her arms but her stuff went flying out of her satchel and the subsequent splash drenched her face with sudden water. No no no! Not today!!
Bits of stone and stuff dug into her palms, but she wiped the water from her face and twisted around to sit. The front of her dress was muddied all the way down to her knees, her hair ruined, and her face most likely smeared with mud. "What in the Light?!"
She was always sure footed... She pulled her legs up to stand, but whatever she tripped on was in the way. She felt around for it, but her curiosity soon turned to horror. She padded down a lump of a dead man!
Then she scooted backwards and started screaming.
Nobody came. She was breathing hard when she finally quieted down and prayed to the Creator that death not turn toward her next. Eventually, she crawled back forward and gave the man a tentative prod on the shoulder. He was laying face up, but nothing happened. Light help me. She crinkled up her face and placed a shaking hand on his skin. He was cold and clammy as a drowned rat - the only good kind of rat in Nessie's opinion - and she thought she felt the flakes of dried blood, just rain water, just rain water, just rain water, she told herself, feeling around for a life pulse. Then she inhaled sharply! He was alive!
"Oh my goodness!"
She exclaimed, courage renewed, and went running for help. She was going to be so late! Hopefully the Queen's Guards could give her some proof to take to the Manor's head maid. She'd rather leave the man to die than lose this work! It was the best chance her and her sister had all year.
His heart quickened with realization. Her brother's emblem. She had moved on; mourned, accepted, and moved on. He raced through the memories of every nuance to her voice, every shiver of her body when she spoke about Tashir. She had moved on from mourning a murder that plagued her mind with guilt, and like he was a living ghost weaving about Jai's family, plucking at the deep strings of saddness in his mother's eyes and the plunging cords of guilt in his father's spirit, sending Nythadri proof that her brother's prized possession was no longer spoiled by the hands of his killers would force her through pain, heartache, guilt and shame all over again. Jai hadn’t saved her. He hadn’t brought her closure. All he did was reopen a long-healed wound.
*******Meanwhile, in Caemlyn******
A voice rang inside Nessie's head. ’Stop taking short cuts through the Crossing Runs before sunup!’ Well, Nessie's sister had a point. The crossing runs were dark corridors traversing the Low City's back alleys. Staring down one such corridor of darkness, she almost decided to go the long way around. The narrow path was mostly dirty and gross, and if that had been the only detractant, Nessie might have listened to her sister. But they were also dangerous. The buildings towering on either side had no doors that led out here. Only windows where people dumped their trash or waste from overhead. And who knew how many other people, savory and unsavory alike, had the same idea as she to save a bit of travel time.
So she pulled up the hood of her cloak, pausing only to snap a little thread that was dangling down in front her eyes, gathered her wits and hustled forward. The Run was dark and her shoes splashed through questionable puddles on the ground. It had been raining all night, so she hoped the water washed away anything that might stick to her shoes. She wasn't too picky about her old worn out pair, but the Taravins were. It did no good to traipse mud and grime through a manor she was suppose to be cleaning her first day on the job. Lady Taravin, not i]The Lady Taravin[/i], but one of the ladies that ran the house had taken a risk hiring someone without experience, but Nessie would prove herself.
So she hurried on, determined to do just that. The sun wasn't quite up yet, but in the far distance of the sky she thought she could imagine the blackness turning a dark shade of morning purple. Then she heard something scamper through the puddles and snapped her face around to see what it was. A rat probably... she shivered. Nessie hated rats. That was why she and her sister had five cats. All of them good mousers, and ratters, alike.
She shook off her fear and picked up the pace. Only a few steps later her foot got caught on something and Nessie went flinging forward! She thrust out her arms but her stuff went flying out of her satchel and the subsequent splash drenched her face with sudden water. No no no! Not today!!
Bits of stone and stuff dug into her palms, but she wiped the water from her face and twisted around to sit. The front of her dress was muddied all the way down to her knees, her hair ruined, and her face most likely smeared with mud. "What in the Light?!"
She was always sure footed... She pulled her legs up to stand, but whatever she tripped on was in the way. She felt around for it, but her curiosity soon turned to horror. She padded down a lump of a dead man!
Then she scooted backwards and started screaming.
Nobody came. She was breathing hard when she finally quieted down and prayed to the Creator that death not turn toward her next. Eventually, she crawled back forward and gave the man a tentative prod on the shoulder. He was laying face up, but nothing happened. Light help me. She crinkled up her face and placed a shaking hand on his skin. He was cold and clammy as a drowned rat - the only good kind of rat in Nessie's opinion - and she thought she felt the flakes of dried blood, just rain water, just rain water, just rain water, she told herself, feeling around for a life pulse. Then she inhaled sharply! He was alive!
"Oh my goodness!"
She exclaimed, courage renewed, and went running for help. She was going to be so late! Hopefully the Queen's Guards could give her some proof to take to the Manor's head maid. She'd rather leave the man to die than lose this work! It was the best chance her and her sister had all year.
Only darkness shows you the light.