Adventures in Ri'atal Part 2

Constance stayed poised by the door as the earthy woman, Trish, entered her small cabin. Her left hand stayed coiled around the door’s handle keeping her anchored, giving her a place to focus her anger and fear. The woman with the bow didn’t have many places to look, as Constance’s home was quite small and quaint. Though as she moved to the bedroom Constance could feel her heart sinking into her stomach with a queasy feeling of despair and panic. That same heart stopped it’s beating entirely as the woman peeled back the covers and lifted the pillow. Constance prayed to every single God that would listen that she hadn’t missed a spec of glittery silver blood.

The sudden cry from Rhylan startled Constance, causing her to flinch and tear her stare away from Trish and start out the door at the hunter. The way he had shouted made her fearful that Ro had suddenly shown himself or that the hunter had spotted the Vulkurian somehow. A small, barely visible breath of relief escaped her lungs when he continued, merely trying to taunt Ro out of hiding. Inwardly she pleading with Rohaan, begging him to stay hidden just a little longer and she would lead them away, back to the station. Perhaps long enough to give him a chance to truly run or hide more. Swirling thoughts of how she would get him, them, out of this situation fogged her thoughts as she narrowed her eyes on Rhylan.

“The truth is, Sanguine, I know a lot about you. More than you think."

Rhylan’s words sent sharp needles of icy coldness shivering down her spine but it wasn’t the hunter’s words that had the color draining from her tanned flesh. Her head, as well as all the others’, jerked in the direction of the sellsword and now Rohaan. Constance couldn’t help a gasp as she had but a second to take in what the Volkurian had done. Killed the man rather violently as well revealed himself. She wanted to curse and scream at him for showing himself but there was little time as suddenly Ro was hurling a knife her way. Trish’s way? Constance ducked down even though the knife would have missed her even if she hadn’t.

A scream, quickly muffled by her hands tore from Constance’s mouth at the sudden loud boom from Rhylan’s weapon. It was unlike anything the woman had ever heard before in all her life. It was terrifying, jolting to her system yet left her paralyzed in fear as her eyes frantically searched in the direction the weapon had been pointed. Shaking, she didn’t even have time to be relieved that Rohaan had seemed to escape and fly off into the woods as a small bird. Hands nervously dropped from her mouth to her heaving chest, a weak attempt to keep her rapidly beating heart from exploding from her chest.

The following events happened in a blurr and she could only nod from her crouched position by the door as Rhylan and the other’s darted off into the woods after Rohaan. She tried to tell herself that Ro would be okay but after seeing and hearing that weapon, she was more fearful now more than ever for the Volkurian’s life. Why didn’t he stay hidden? What caused him to be so willful? To take such a risk?

Constance was not sure how much time had passed before her brother, Alexander and a handful of other Protectors swarmed the area. Likely the gunshot had drawn them here, that or Rhylan had been telling the truth and simply had not waited for escorts. The latter confirmed after Alexander barged into her home. He found Constance pacing the floor, now fully dressed and suited up, inernally debating on whether or not to follow the hunters or to stay put. For now her gut was telling her to wait here for him.

“Constance! You are… Alright?” Shouted words of concern poured from her brother as his charge came to a slow halt at the sight of his sister. At the opening of her door she had turned to face him, face full of hope and worry. A look that was quick to fall when she saw it was Alexander and not Rohaan.

“Did you know that man was coming to my house?! Why didn’t you come with him? Do you know how.. How… Infuriating it was to have him and his lackeys demand to come into my home and-”

Alexander cut off her rant with a raised dominated tone that grew softer as he spoke. “Yes I knew and I’m sorry he wouldn’t wait. I didn’t know he was coming straight here, to your home or I would have came immediately. I’m sorry... Constance… I should have warned you. Is it true. Was that… Volkurian here? Is he still here? Are you… Are you...” He cleared his throat as if searching for the right words while his eyes trailed around the room curiously.

Constance stopped her pacing again to slowly turn and face her brother. The way he asked, what he asked shocked her. She had always felt there were many things left unsaid, danced around even after her return from the kidnapping two years prior… But now, looking at the way her brother was looking at her, it was hard not to guess his meaning. It was as if he already knew that Ro was here, or had been. Almost as if he expected it… The woman canted her head to one side before slowly giving it a shake.

“Am I what, Alexander?”

“Well,” He reached up to scratch at the back of his neck giving his sister almost a sheepish look. “You seem to be… unharmed.”

“I am unharmed!”

“You were unharmed two years ago as well…”

“I… I was harmed. My… I had bruises on my wrists and a scratch on my neck!”

“Bruises that I never seen and a mere scratch, right. How could I forget your turmoil from being kidnapped by the country’s most wanted villainous criminal…” There was almost a jovial tone to his voice as he rolled his eyes.

Constance blanched at her brother through narrowed, suspicious eyes. Her voice lowering, she took a few steps closer to the taller male. “What exactly are you trying to say Alexander? You saw me be taken. Saw what, who, my kidnapper was.”

“I also saw how you’ve been moping about ever since you returned Constance. And not like someone who just went through something traumatic…”

Her narrowed lids lifted as brows shot up at the hinted at accusation. Hinted that he, her brother, knew something that she hadn’t said out loud till last night and maybe still not even then… Not fully.

“Rather like someone who had their heart br-”

Constance held up a hand to cut him off, shaking her head. It didn’t stop him from continuing.

“I know what I saw Constance. And I think I know how you felt, maybe still feel, about him. I’m not saying I… Understand it… But you were acting the same way our father did after our mother died. You were lost… Pouring yourself into work, into becoming a Protector. Hell, I think even dad saw it, Constance. Admit it. You cared for him. Still do? And he for you? And now he’s back? For you? Tell me what’s going on Connie.”

“I…” Constance began, drawing out the single word as she fought to process that heavy information as well as everything else that had happened in the last few hours. “I… Yes. He didn’t hurt me, at least not on purpose… And he’s not what you think. Not exactly like the way he’s described on the wanted papers.”

“That much I gathered when you came back alive and well.”

The sister let out a heavy sigh and raked her fingers through wild curls for the zillionth time since last night. “That man and his crew are hunting him. They tried to kill him and… I get why they think that he’s evil but… I don’t believe it, Alex. I’m going to, I have to help him. I want to help him.”

Alexander looked at his baby sister for a long moment, chin pinched between thumb and pointer finger before he finally nodded. “Okay. I’ll help you.I trust you, Constance. I’m not sure my level of trust for that th- I mean, him. But if this is what you want.”

Constance nodded. “It is Alex. Can you just… Keep them away for a little longer, till I can figure out what we can do next. Maybe we can run. Take my horse. Just… buy us, me, some time?”

Alexander nodded though stayed with his boots rooted to the floor a moment longer to peer at his sister, really looking her over. He had suspected she fell for the Volkurian and could only guess what had happened between the two. It must have been something for him to come back. To risk his life for her. That he could respect. That is something he could get behind. As long as this silver blood kept his sister safe, and happy, he could possibly go against everything he was taught. He loved his sister and it was painful to see her so lost and sad the past two years. Perhaps this was another chance for her to find some kind of happiness. Something he knew she was not finding in Narconia.

“Just stay inside for now. I’ll tell them you are in shock and are resting. I’m going to send Merle for your horse just in case… I’ll be back in a while to check on you.”

With that her brother was out the door and she was quick to latch it behind him this time. She had already lifted the window in the bedroom, just enough that a small creature could scamper through the slit. Remembering it now, she crossed the living space to open the bedroom door, nearly gasping as she saw a passed out Rohaan lying across her bed. Rushing to his side, she scanned him over for any new injuries, relieved to having found none.

Odd as it still was she felt safer now knowing that her brother was standing guard somewhere close outside. Knowing that the hunters would have to go through him and the other Protectors to get inside, to get to her or Rohaan. Shutting the window and locking it as well, she crossed the room again to sit next to him. He needed rest. She needed rest. It might be their last chance if he agreed they should make a run for it.

They… As if he already agreed to taking her with him. She swallowed down the large lump forming in her throat as she tried to prepare herself for the possibility that he might not want her to come with him. Constance convinced herself that it might even be for the best. He could ride faster without her. He knew the land better. And when he felt up to it, he could simply fly away… Fighting back tears at having to say goodbye to him again, she curled up on the best next to him. Not touching, just enough that she could see his face, feel his soft breaths. She would stay like that for as long as he slept or until her brother came again. Still and silent as she worried and tried not to let her heart break all over again.

Rohaan slept soundly. While he was out, the hunters did not return to the cabin--Rohaan had expertly thrown them off his trail--but there was no guaranteeing they wouldn't come back eventually, and it was possible they could have come back but gone somewhere else in the outpost. They had blessedly not figured out who Constance was or that she had any connection to Rohaan, or else they might have come to interrogate her.

The shifter didn't move for hours until at last he woke, blinking bleary blue eyes into focus as he realized just how much pain he was in. His whole leg throbbed horribly and while his wrist was sore but fine, his ribs ached horribly. Not just ached, burned. Slamming into the bed had done absolutely no good for the injured ones, but he was lucky to have made it that far.

And there she was. Lying there beside him in a kind of strained peace--the kind that is found only in the moment but with larger worries like rainclouds hovering just out of sight. Berlin looked like that sometimes and he knew the expression well. Her dark curls were a little out of place from all the day's excitement, though she was dressed in her Protector uniform now. He hadn't thought about it at the time, but he was sure of it now--his actions had alerted the whole of Narconia that he had come back for her. Damn. He had hoped to draw them away before they figured out they were connected, but that gunshot and the body of the sellsword would have been pretty damning. Berlin would have been disappointed in his lack of forethought.

"Hey..." he said softly with a sheepish and apologetic smirk. "That didn't go as well as I would have hoped...but they haven't come back here, I assume?" He tested his injured wrist and found it tender but alright and easily movable, but he gently prodded his ribs and grimaced. "You know, I feel like I've been mauled by a bear but honestly I feel a lot better than I did this morning. I think that poison is finally worn off." He crossed his fingers just in case.

A silence fell; there was something on his mind but he was having trouble coming around to saying it. He fidgeted for a while, looking like he might speak but then not several times over until finally he admitted, "I don't think it's wise for me to stay. I killed a man today...that's gonna cause trouble." For a moment he considered apologizing that she had to see that, but then he realized that she was now seeing him for who he was. Who he really was. And he could make no apologies for that. He wanted to ask if she would come with him. It was a stupid thing for her to do, and he knew it. Yet somehow he wanted her to, deep down. But he couldn't ask that of her. That would never ever be on his shoulders and he wouldn't dare suggest it, though he realized now he wouldn't try to stop her if she wanted to come. But he couldn't just ask her to abandon her life for one of death, danger, and terrible hygiene.

"I'm not going now," he assured her with a tired shake of his head. "And I swear to you I wouldn't leave you like last time without any warning or explanation. When I go you can see me off proper, or..." He stopped himself. No, he just resolved he wasn't going to ask her that. She had family here, didn't she? He cleared his throat. "Anyway I'll probably drop in on Berlin while I'm in the area, lie low with him. Heal up. But me staying here is a bad move for both of us I think. And if anyone saw me here...well...I can't let them raise the alarm..." He said this measuredly, evenly. It was simply a fact.

Constance did not sleep as soundly as the man next to her. With every little noise Ro made or any odd sounds from outside her cabin, her eyes would fling open, muscles tense and ready. After several rounds of this her body gave up on even trying to accomplish rest and settled on letting her thoughts run rampant with worrisome planning. This is what Rohaan would wake up to though when she noticed those luminescent blues flicker open and seek her out, she did attempt to hide away some of the stress that was surely making itself known across her features.

His gentile greeting earned him a small smile from the woman, though it was short lived as he asked about the hunters. A shake of her head would tell him no they had not, but that troubled frown on hers would tell him that she was fearful that they would return. When he started to wiggle, poke and prod and his injuries, she followed his motions with her eyes, frown deepening. He did seem to have made a world of improvement compared to his physical state last night yet she knew he was still in no shape for traveling. Not yet.

“You should still take some more of the medicine. It might help to heal you faster. Or make you feel better… Help to get some more rest.” A soft suggestion as she slowly brought her gaze back up to meet his. For several long moments she simply watched him as he seemed to struggle with getting something off his chest. Or perhaps just to address the weight of everything that just happened. Constance simply let him work through it, almost too tired to even try and help him with it.

Eventually he spoke. She nodded slowly, agreeing that it probably wasn’t a smart move for him to stay here, but what other options did they have at the moment? Listening, she finally spoke, “Why did you kill him Ro? Why did you come out of hiding?” There was still a softness to her tone, fatigue weighing heavily on her voice yet still an earnest curiosity why he hadn’t stuck to their impromptu plan.

Again she fell quiet as he spoke again, revealing his plans and his intentions. With heavy, slow blinks she didn’t have the energy to fight the revealing relief in her eyes when he said he was not leaving now. That was good. While it wasn’t exactly safe for him here, it had to be safer than running off weak and wounded while being tracked down so vigorously. Constance was also too tired to try and hide both that quick glimmer of hope that lit her eyes as he said that potentially promising ‘or’. That and the welling of emotion that stung at her eyes when he didn’t finish and left her to assume he meant to go on without her.

Blinking back those damning tears, she rolled over to lie on her back and focused on the ceiling where she didn’t have to see his face, his eyes. Hands came up to rake through her curls as she sucked in a deep breath and held it for several seconds before a long, slow release, an attempt to calm herself and think rationally. “I believe that you need to stay here just a little longer Rohaan. Get stronger and heal enough that you can make it to Berlin’s and not have that hunter and his dogs be able to track you there. You can take my horse maybe just until you feel up to flying. Use one of the streams to throw off your scent?”

“I thought about that too… If he comes back into town and starts to ask around about your kidnapping victim… If he doesn’t already know, he will soon enough. We, you, will not have much time. But I swear I’ll keep you safe and hidden as long as I can.” Constance thought about telling him about her conversation with Alexander but there was something else she wanted to ask him first.

She turned her head just enough to peek over at him, partially hidden behind her raised arms and tousled hair. Trying to keep her voice steady, the words came out barely above a whisper, “You said ‘or’... Or what Ro?”

Ugh, medicine. She was right, it would probably be good for him. But stars above, that stuff was nasty. Nasty and useful, he reminded himself. Sleep had done him a lot of good too and it felt wonderful to have surrendered to gravity completely for a while. How long had it been anyway? He glanced out the window and saw strong rays of light peeking through the curtain. Afternoon, probably. He turned, searching for the bottle of medicine Constance had given him earlier--he mixed it into a cup of water and downed it quickly with a scowl.

Constance asked him why he killed the merc and Rohaan gave a too-casual shrug to be talking about murder. He screwed up his face with an expression like he was deciding what he wanted to eat for dinner and eventually shrugged. "Dunno...honest answer? I guess I panicked. See, I know his type. Persistent. Determined. Thorough. And he knew I was there. If he didn't get what he wanted he would have pushed harder, investigated more. He would have figured you out. Us. Our past. And where he comes from, assisting a Sanguine Argent, as they call us, is an impressionable offense. It would have gotten more complicated if I didn't show myself. And..." another shrug. "I wasn't about to hand myself over. Figured I'd take one down while I had the chance, and increase my chances of surviving the whole encounter by using surprise. That only works once and he was easiest to get to. So..." Again, a shrug. Rohaan had zero guilt about it, about killing people. The way he saw it, life had given him no other choice than to be cutthroat. "Was it the smartest of ideas? No. But gimme some credit, I was holding a bird-form on the roof while under the influence of probably the strongest mind-altering substance I've ever encountered. And um, I've seen a lot of those. Wise decisions have never been my thing anyway."

Rohaan smiled at her devilishly. He was so cavalier about it all, but really if he was going to take that kind of thing seriously every time it happened then he'd be gray as Berlin by now. "You played your part well though, but those dogs...it was a close thing." He very carefully stretched on his back, glad he wasn't currently wearing any boots. He hated shoes, always had, always would. "I'm not going anywhere for a while, trust me. No need to worry about that." He hurt too much to want to move much, though he could tell he was going to get restless sooner rather than later. Right now though, he was happy not to be putting in physical effort and--his stomach growled very loudly and he realized he hadn't eaten since before he'd been shot--a full day, he guessed.

He was about to mention it when he saw the glimmering tracks on her face. Tears? He couldn't quite figure out if they were the sort that came after high adrenaline and stress or...if it was something more? He studied her, propping his head up on his elbow. Rohaan knew he wasn't supposed to, knew it wasn't the right reaction to have, but he couldn't help it. He grinned slowly, chuckling lightly to himself at the sense of irony he now felt. Here I've been skirting around it and it's the exact thing she wants from me. Still.

A whole swirling mix of emotion churned inside of him, though not all of it was bad. Yes, there were some old anxieties and fears that he'd held for so long. But marbled in there was a...thrill? Like when he was on a heist and was within a hand's reach of his target item. All he had to do was reach out and take it, and things would swing into motion around him. It was a rush he lived for, and somehow he felt it now, looking at the woman across from him. When he stole this particular gem, what kind of chaos would ensue? Was he ready for the storm that followed?

Yes.

Rohaan knew a truth, then. He was not the same man he had been two years ago. Not by a mile.

The vokurian's grin was poorly shrouded as he looked at her. "Oh...I don't know...you could see me off or..." he stopped, his expression turning genuinely thoughtful. "Er...how does the story go...?" he muttered to himself. "Ah, right. Or I could stick you in a sack and disappear with you into the night to sacrifice you to my uh...ancient gods? I think that's how the story goes anyway. We'll go with that. Got a sack I can stuff you into? I mean, only if you want to be stuffed in a sack. But if you don't have one of the right size I guess you could Just ride your horse. And...come with me. You know. If you wanted. But you don't have to and I'm not asking you to--let me make that clear. But..." He sobered a little. "To tell you the truth I regretted the way things ended--no, the way things left off two years ago. I did want you to come with me. I never lied to you about that. But I was scared." He looked into her eyes, his own showing icy resolve. "I don't want to be scared anymore, Constance. I won't ask you to abandon your life here. But I won't stop you either. The choice is yours. Think on it for a bit, think on it hard. But um...in the meantime...what do you have to eat...?"

Constance listened with a tight set frown as Rohaan explained his reasoning for killing the hunter's mercenary. It was not that she was exactly disapproving as much as she was baffled. She totally understood the severity of the situation when it came right down to the basics. That man would have killed Rohaan if given the opportunity, him or his boss. As well as herself when and if Rhyland discovered that Constance was an accomplice in hiding Ro away. It was, or rather very well would have been, a life or death situation. It was just curious to hear Rohaan explain it. It was the second time she'd seem him take a life so... effortlessly and still she was not as shaken by it as she probably should have been. Seeing him kill would have been enough to send any other woman in this outpost running and screaming in the opposite direction but yet here she was, lying next to him. Placing her complete trust in his hands. Perhaps she was the one under the mind altering influence...

When he mentions the poison she can't help but look him over again, as if she would never be satisfied that he was seeming to recover. He had taken the medicine again and that pleased her, but there was still that deep set worry in her gut that he was not on his way out of the woods yet. Not with the poison and not concerning his injuries. His stomach reminded her too that they should probably eat something, though while his was voicing it's eagerness, the idea of food had her's protesting the idea. After she recovered from this most recent bout of nerves and emotions she would make the effort but first she had to know what his 'or' had been all about.

Her attempts at hiding and fighting away her tears were lost on the perceptive Volkurian. His chuckle said as much. Constance turned a little more to try and wipe at her eyes as stealthily as possible under his curious inspection, very likely failing as his grin only seemed to grow. His first suggestion of her merely seeing him off had her cutting her gaze sidelong at him. Squinting as if to determine if he was being serious while trying not to fall to pieces at that thought. Could she simply see him off? Let him slip away into the night to likely never see or hear from again. Despite his assurance earlier, some part of her felt that if he did leave she would never get the chance to see him again. No alive. It was a thought that sent a chill down her spine and dropped a rock of dread in her stomach. The woman was about to argue with him that very fact when he quickly continued.

"Put me in a sack?" She looked at him full on now, confusion and bewilderment touching her features for the briefest moment till she realizes that he was teasing her. Her lips parted with a breath of frustration at how easily he was toying with her but his next suggestion has any bubbling words of her own dying on her tongue. Her eyes widening with hope and disbelief before a strong wash of relief. Constance almost gave into the powerful emotion, nearly falling forward and seizing him in an embrace. The urge came only as merely a flinch before she was catching herself, controlling the action, calming and steadying herself. At least as best she could, before she could reign it in too much, she found herself nodding with excitement, quickly saying, "Yes!"

So much for his advice to think long and hard on it. She'd spent the last two years thinking long and hard on running off with him again. Her answer was always the same, as it was that day so long ago that he referenced and now, possibly more than ever. She wanted to go with him. Even as she so quickly agreed, she realized that perhaps that was too soon a confirming answer. A moment after that hasty yes, she tried to recover, shying away from that icy stare and sitting up. "I mean, yes. I do have have something to eat. Just... relax. I'll get you something." With that she was near hopping off the bed and exiting the room. Quietly she shut the door behind her only to lean against the other side, letting her head fall back on the wood as she blew out a slow breath.

He really wanted her to go! A smile spread across her lips as she brought up one hand to hide it. Unable to, she let it fall to her throat and forced herself to push off the door in the direction of the kitchen area. Rohaan's words kept playing over and over in head, overthinking each statement as she quickly threw some bread, an apple and some dried meat on a plate. Constance was not the best cook and mostly lived on things that would keep unless she went into town for meals or was gifted things from thankful citizens. Honestly she wasn't even considering what Rohaan would think of this meager meal at the moment, her thoughts too wrapped up in the excitement, the fear, of what was going to come next.

It didn't take her long to return to her bedroom, delivering the plate of randomness to Rohaan with a timid smile as she set it down on the bed. This time she didn't join him, instead opting for the chair in the corner of the room. As much as she knew she needed to get some rest, there would be no getting any now. Not now that her mind was racing with thoughts, plans and scenarios of how the two of them would escape this hunter, this outpost. Together. She sat slowly in the chair and found she couldn't quite meet his gaze directly, stealing glances at him from time to time. "I'm sorry it's not much. I did not know I would be having a guest..." An attempt at a joke though it came out more shy than humorous.

Rohaan watched her expression morph and change as his words sunk in, one by one, and she understood what he was getting at. And a tension swept over him, gripping his stomach just subtly enough that he didn't notice it at first. But when he did become aware of the fact that he was holding his breath a bit, it took him back. Why was he so tense? That was a silly question and he knew it as soon as he thought it. Of course he was tense. In a moment she would reveal whether or not he had been reading her correctly, and to some degree whether or not she felt the same way about him as she once did.

Her reaction made him grin and release the breath he was holding in a small laugh--a very gentle one to spare his ribs. Oh she wanted to come. He could practically feel her enthusiasm boiling over no matter how hard she tried to keep it in check. And yet he was glad to see it. That thrill rose in his chest again, the kind of rush he lived for. This would change how he did things in a way, having to account for another person. But he wouldn't be alone.

"Excited, are we?" He teased gently. She tried to pass it off as an answer about food but he wasn't fooled. "But look though, you have to understand what you're getting into. Really understand. Never forget that I'm a criminal and for the most part I have earned the reputation I have. I compulsively steal and as you've seen I won't think twice about killing a man if he gets in my way. I travel a lot. And I don't often get to sleep indoors though with you, we might actually be able to get a room someplace since they'll let a room to a human. As you know, I am hunted. I occasionally have spans in prison for one reason or another and if you stick around with me long enough you might too. You'd be casting aside your home, your family, your friends, your work, and every good bit about your reputation you ever had. People may try to kill you. And," he added as an afterthought with a grin, "You will never again have nice things." It was more of a joke than anything else, though it was true. "Take time and consider those things deeply, fully, and honestly."

She left and he let out a satisfied sigh. It felt good to have that out in the open now, and even better to know she was all for it. Still, he felt restless. He had needed the sleep but now that he'd had it he felt like moving. Except, as he gently prodded at his leg wound again, he knew that to be a generally unwise idea unless he had some reason to be moving. Constance returned with a plate of food and apologized for it not being much, but Rohaan shook his head as he tore into a chunk of meat. "You realize this is the kind of thing I eat every day, right? I don't carry cooking gear and to be honest I sometimes run out of 'civilized food' and resort to just hunting, which by the way means occasionally eating raw meat. I do that sometimes, as a wolf or something. Anyway this is just fine." He said all this through mouthfuls; Berlin had tried to teach him table manners and had only partially succeeded, though years of seafaring among pirates and then roaming the wilds and being separate from society did little to reinforce that.

---

Rhylan ran a hand through his hair and smoothed out his vest, taking a deep breath to cool himself. He'd been so close yet again and had failed a second time. Perhaps he needed to do more research on his target before making his first strike, but it was too late for that now. And, as he was beginning to realize, Ja'aisen was not a subject that could be wholly studied from afar. One needed field experience with him. The sanguine argent had led him on a chase through the denser parts of the forest (on purpose, no doubt), whooping and shouting obscenities at he and Trish the whole way. Rhylan was still floored by how coherent he seemed considering the longevity of the poison and was still trying to figure out how he'd managed to evade them while still under its influence.

In what felt like the middle of the chase, though, Ja'aisen had gone silent (likely shifting into a bird, he guessed) and despite the dogs they completely lost his trail. They had blood, but they could not track through air like that. He just disappeared. Rhylan wondered if he had simply tired of the game and decided to really flee. That was his leading theory as he made his way back to Narconia to stay for the night and also to follow up with the authorities and see to Caidan's burial. But on the way he thought the whole thing rather odd. Ja'aisen could have slipped away while Trish searched the woman's home, but instead he decided to engage. Though Rhylan had been calling out for him, he didn't actually expect him to show himself. He did not forget the fact that the dogs had been adamant that Ja'aisen had been in that house, and if he wasn't mistaken, he'd made contact with that woman. Poor thing, she probably didn't even know. Rhylan began to wonder if he had come back to Narconia in particular for a reason. He had been there before and kidnapped a woman, though the circumstances of that event were unclear to him. Perhaps it was time he found out.

Rhylan and Trish, harried but resolute, went back to the Protector's central command post and found a young man on duty whom he'd spoken to earlier, though he couldn't recall his name. He was wondering how he would address him when the man spoke first.
"I heard the commotion. He is back...you weren't kidding."
Rhylan gave a wry smile. "I would never joke about something so grave as that. But yes. We flushed him out of hiding and gave chase but the trail's gone cold."
The young man shivered visibly. "Well, he's gone then?"
"I wish I could tell you he was. And he might be, I'll admit. But...I've got a sneaking suspicion he'll come back."
The man paled. "Back? Why?"
Rhylan shrugged. "The minds of the insane are difficult to understand. But..." he licked his lips and took a seat in the nearest chair with slow poise. "I was wondering. Two years ago, I understand he came here and shook things up quite a bit. Took a woman hostage, I believe? What can you tell me about that night?"

Rohaan’s warnings did not fall onto deaf ears despite how excited the young woman appeared to be. She was listening and making mental notes, most of which she already knew,had already experienced from the last time she traveled with the Volkurian. In the fact the only new development was that he was currently being quite obsessively hunted. Before there was always the threat of him being discovered and having to take extra precautions to hide and sneak around but now there was someone actively on his trail. A problem she was hoping they, yes the two of them, could eliminate before they set off for their journey.

Perhaps there was some hope tied in along with the other warnings. Constance did not expect Ro to change and nor did she want him to. He was who he was. Yet, there was some part of her that was curious if having her around would perhaps keep him, them, out of so much trouble. Namely the stints in jails and prisons. That and there was the prospect that along the way she might find some greater purpose in all of this. Something more. Of course she had no idea what that might be but she felt some small something pulling at her insides that her destiny was not merely to live out her days stuck in Narconia routine. She suspected her brother felt that for her as well.

Constance mistook his lack of eating manners for the fact that he must have been starving. It cause a small feeling of guilt and maybe even pity to wash of her briefly. She could have offered him something sooner. Something more than the measly broth from this morning. Though the day hadn’t exactly provided her with many opportunities to be a proper hostess. Not with all the struggling to keep him alive, cleaning up his silver blood and having hunters spring unwelcomed visits. She watched him eat for a few more moments, pleased to see him eat nearly every meager morsel, before she cleared her throat to speak, decided to simply blurt out what was needed to be said.

“My brother knows you are here.” She began quickly, waiting till he had swallowed, not wanting him to choke on the news. “Don’t worry! You, we, can trust him. He even… Supports me helping you to escape and... “ Her voice and her eyes lowered, perhaps still in slight disbelief herself, “Is in favor of me leaving with you. I spoke to him while you were leading the hunter away. He will return soon with my horse, supplies and some clothes for you.”

Lifting her eyes to seek his she continued, “I know you will not be fit for travel any time soon, but I thought it best to be ready just in case…” Again her voice trailed off and she found herself glancing toward the door. Just in case that hunter returned and things went sour. They had to have some sort of escape plan ready. Ideally Rohaan could stay here in her cabin for a few more days, resting and healing, regaining his health but as the silver blood hinted at earlier, things don't always go as planned for someone who lived their life on the run.

Constance had noticed earlier that he kept minding both the injury on his leg and easing his hands over the bandages at his ribs. It had been a while since she had addressed them . That and he had underwent some stress and exercise since then. All the supplies she would need to change his bandaged were still by the bedside. Moving from the chair she fetched some fresh water for the basin and returned to sit close to his side. If he didn’t protest and of course would cooperate, she would set to work first on his ribs. Slowly unwinding the bandages before applying a fresh slather of soothing salve to the darkening bruises. Again she would wrap him up tight and secure. Once that was done, she take a dampened cloth and work it over some of the nicks and cuts along his arms, hands and face, cleaning the area before applying the same salve. With the leg injury she was the most diligent and took the most care, checking for signs of infection before tending to it and wrapping it snugly.

It might have been a silly question, but one she asked as she finished her work and finally lifted her eyes in attempt to meet his own, “How are you feeling?”

------

The young Protector eyed Rhylan warily from his position behind a small entryway desk. He features wore a grim expression as he thought of the many horrid possibilities that might befall their small town in that silver blood was back in the outpost. The Protector was in his early to mid twenties in appearance and a tad on the chubby side, as if he never quite lost all his baby fat after reaching the age of manhood. His puffy cheeks wobbled as a shiver shot down his spine recalling the memory of that night as well as any future horrors that he might have been picturing.

“I was not on shift that night, but I remember it well enough. Monster came in lookin’ to lift some supplies I suppose. Caught red handed by one of our crew who like any perceptive Protector tried to stop ‘em. Demanded he remove that colored glass from his eyes. That got him riled I heard. Went into a frenzy and took our poor man out before he even had a chance. They got ‘em surrounded and he took poor Connie who just happened to be stoppin’ by. Used her as a human shield, he did!”

The young man was shaking his head now pale in the face, yet with a touch of excitement at the chance to tell the tale to an outsider who’d never heard it before. He had been tempted to add himself to the story in a more fantastic way. His best ideas always seemed to come a bit late and so he stuck to the truth as he could recall it told to him.

“Connie was wiley of course and tried to struggle. Got her throat nicked up pretty good. Alexander was the one to let ‘em go with her. Not wantin’ to see her throat sliced open, I reckon. The bastard took her into the night. I was called in a bit later to help get the place cleaned up and help move the man he killed. Most of us figured Connie was good as dead by the time Alexander and some men went out to hunt her and that monster down. The whole outpost was surprised when about a month later ol’ Alex actually returned with her. Found her in some town west of here if I remember correctly.”

He tilted his head to the side as if trying to recall and then finally nodded. “Yep. Was a tragic time for sure. She aint been right since comin’ back home. Quiet and reserved like.” He leaned forward in his chair, peering in close to Rhylan before glancing from side to side as if to make sure no other Protectors were around to listen in to the next bit. His voice lowered in a conspiratorial manner as he continued. “Rumor has it that silver blood did all kinds of nasty things to her before he finally dumped her. She won't even let a man even talk to her now aside from taking orders or exchanging a few words at shift changes. She was supposed to be married to one of our men but outright refused after that whole ordeal. We all reckoned it was because she wasn’t… You know… Pure anymore.”

At the last bit the young man’s cheek reddened in the slightest. “To think that monster is back and make tight another one of our women…” He shuddered again. “We do hope you catch the bastard Mister. And kill ‘em too.”

"My brother knows you are here," Constance said after a moment of lull. He'd been just about to take another bite but he totally froze.
"Damn..." His last encounter with--what was his name? Alec? Allen? Alex? Something like that--hadn't gone very well. He did sort of take his sister hostage, kill one of his mates, and try to steal from his stores. But her quick assurances that it wasn't like how he thought gave him pause. "Really...?" Something in him, a hard-won instinct from years on the run and on the streets, wondered what his motive really was. Was it a ploy? A scheme to get his guard down so he or Rhylan could spring? He shook those thoughts away; he trusted Constance and she knew her brother better than he did. "You mean he's...not completely horrified by the idea...? I can't say that's normal in my experience but then neither are you." He gave that signature grin of his. "Well I'm glad you told me. It would be a shame if I bit him and didn't know he was actually coming to help. Wouldn't be the first time I've done that."

Rohaan thought for a moment, giving a slow nod. "It's good to be prepared. And if we had to, I could go now." His shoulders drooped in an expression of great weariness and he said, "But I reeeaally don't want to right now." He smiled. "It's going to be a tough call balancing rest and healing with caution. The longer we stay here, the more likely it is we'll have another run in with Rhylan. But obviously I need a few days."

Constance came to check on his various injuries and he let himself be doctored, faring a lot better than he had the first time. No wolf shapes, no snapping teeth, and no dizzy spells. A lot of grunting and groaning and some good natured complaining, but that was to be expected. The ribs were swollen and purple but would heal well in time. They were merely cracked and not outright broken, and it was only two of them. He'd had worse. The arrow wound was more troubling, not because it was faring poorly but merely the severity of it. No signs of infection though, which was good. He settled back into the mattress with his back against the wall and a pillow to support it. "Ermm..." he said, thinking in answer to her question. "Stable, which is great. I think that poison is finally out of me. Damn, it's wicked. And I feel a bit like I got in a fight with a tree and lost, but all things considered, I'm not too bad. I tell you honestly I've had worse. Doesn't make this fun, but it does put it into perspective. And, if I'm honest, a little restless too. I was never made to sit." He grinned. "Did I ever tell you what my name means?"

---

Rhylan leaned in, every bit the enraptured audience for this young lad. He didn't have to feign the interest either--this was how he got most of his information. He put his ear to the ground and listened to the buzz and rumor of towns where his quarry had been. Rhylan thought it odd he dumped this girl in a nearby town and just...disappeared. What drove him to take her in the first place? Kidanapping hostages was not really part of his normal M.O. as far as Rhylan knew. He preferred to make a spectacle of stealing grand items, or thieving right under the owner's nose. Symbols of authorities, royal family heirlooms, expensive wines, and exotic items like chocolate were his usual targets, and usually from people that could afford to lose a few things. He generally left the poor and desperate alone. But he did not take hostages. Not like this girl. Sure, he'd heard accounts of him whisking away souls in the dead of night to kill them or otherwise have his way with them, but always quietly. Why did he just leave this one?

"I hate to spread rumor, lad, but it wouldn't surprise me if what you say is true. That kind of behavior is common among his kind. Sanguine Argents are not that far from animals, as are their desires. My condolences for this girl. Do you think this Connie might be willing to speak with me? Or perhaps one of her family members? I am deeply interested in her experience while she was in his capture. And with Alexander, too. Where might I find them?"