Snippet #2690622

Talmar looked back to the woman who had questioned his capacity to defy orders.

"I wouldn't call it orders. Chrolus just wants entertainment, and there is a propensity to do it at my expense. Most likely you will be released from me by death, but perhaps you are stronger than the peasants," Talmar mused. He watched in wonder, and with a slight bit of confusion, at the sight of Ridahne tying up her Sota and hanging her where the matriarch did only moments before. Was it fear or hope the drove the woman? She didn't seem to tremble, she had defied Chrolus outrightly. He rolled his shoulders as Ridahne spat yet another question at him.

Talmar didn't rush to respond. Instead, he reached for Ridahne's shoulder in an effort to pull himself up, still groggy from the alcohol. He walked with her to the edge of the top step, overlooking the destruction that had come nights before and the enslavement taking place. "This is why I'm here," he said, the arm not using Ridahne to balance panning across the open view.

"Every moment of our lives has led us to this place, to this moment," the captain went on, staring into the distance. But he stopped speaking, and stopped moving, moments of his journey through life flashing before his eyes. What great horrors he has either witnessed or caused had froze him. Whatever Talmar was going to continue saying was lost now. He slowly turned away from the steps and began heading inside, stumbling in his drunkenness.

"Bring my sword. If I bend down once more, I will surely not get back up," he commanded. All he needed to do was sleep. The captain headed for his cot in the library once more, rolling onto once he had gotten there. Almost immediately, he passed out from his alcoholic daze.