Naveen

Rina:

I was utterly lost in the hallways. I didn’t come across anyone except for servants. When the guards found me, I didn’t recognize them at first and tried to duck into a deserted room to avoid them.

Talon:

I turned my gaze up towards the sky, but otherwise didn't move. I sat there with one hand cupping the other in my lap. I was completely still other than the steady in and out motion of my chest as I breathed.

Rina:

Once I was with the guards I was told we were going back to collect Talon. He looked a little shell-shocked when I saw him in the garden. What a disaster this assignment had been. “Lets get out of here, before anyone thinks to stop us.” I said to him and the guards around us.

Talon:

I simply got to my feet and followed them, nothing else happened with me, no reaction to her words, no resigned look to being around her hatred of me. It was as if I was empty.

Rina:

I kept glancing at Talon. How was I going to shake him out of this? I had a feeling I would be blamed if Brian’s favorite mercenary was useless to him when we got back. Once we had the horses and were back on the road I moved up to ride next to Talon. “How long are you going to be like this?” I demanded.

Talon:

Her words just didn't make it into my mind. I was lost in the past, of what I went through at the hands of that man.

Rina:

I sighed and didn’t speak to him for the rest of the trip. “We should stop at the cabin. Stay for the night, we can report to Brian in the morning.” I said more to the guards than to Talon. I sent several of the guards back to give a brief report of what happened.

Wren:

I was asleep with my head in Maleen's lap. My arms were wrapped around one of her legs, hugging it.

Talon:

I didn't respond, though my horse seemed to want to follow the horses of the men heading into the camp. I made no move to stop it.

Maleen:

I was leaning against the head board on our bed, reading my spell book while Wren slept.

Rina:

I moved my horse in front of Talons to stop him. “Talon you have to pull yourself together and snap out of it.” I told him sternly.

Talon:

The halting of progress roused me enough that I turned my gaze to her. I looked at her for several moments before calling to one of my men to go and get a set of blades from my tent. He took off at a run, and while the other soldiers who had stayed did their best to remain impassive, they seemed to glance between one another.

Rina:

I watched him for a second. “Don’t go running off. I’m going to check on the girls.” I said glancing at his men hoping they would keep him from doing anything foolish.

Talon:

I waited mutely, my eyes on the camp, though I knew from the sounds of their movements and from motions at the corner of my eyes that my men were shifting restlessly and a bit uneasily.

Maleen:

When I heard Talon was here I carefully shifted Wren off of me and went outside to greet him. I waved slightly when I saw him.

Talon:

I didn't even focus on her, my eyes wholeheartedly focused on the camp. I only seemed to regain life when the solider I had sent to the camp was coming slowly back, a bundle in his arms.

Maleen:

I hung back a little wary. He was intimidating, and he had never seemed to be all that friendly. Yet he compelled me. I walked up slowly. “How did the parade go?” I asked.

Talon:

I didn't respond beyond to tap my foot somewhat impatiently at the progress of the soldier.

???:

I moved up and lightly grabbed Maleen's arm. I pulled her back away from him as I whispered softly, "He won't respond. He is in a dark place in his mind. He caught sight of someone who imprisoned him and tortured him for six years. Nothing matters to him beyond calming down."

Maleen:

“Oh.” I said softly, looking to Talon worriedly. I could relate. I imagined how I would feel if I saw my former captors. I was nauseated by the idea.

???:

"If you would be so kind to help us later once he collapses, I would be in your debt." I said gesturing slightly towards the soldier coming towards Talon.

Maleen:

I looked back at him. “What do you mean? Why would he collapse?” I asked worriedly.

???:

"Simply put, he is going to try to do something that our race hasn't been able to do for centuries. He will fail, and he will bleed." I said offhandedly, not wanting to get into too much detail.

Maleen:

My eyes widened. “Can’t you stop him? Why would he do such a thing?” I asked, appalled.

???:

"Because he feels he must. He is the Lord of our people, and he does his best to be the strongest. For him, trying helps strengthen him." I said quietly.

Maleen:

“But if it’s something that hurts him… Something he can’t possibly do… Shouldn’t he be stopped?” I watched Talon.

???:

"It helps him forget, and either we do it where we can keep him protected or he will vanish in the night and we might find a body in the woods someday of him unconscious." I stated mater-of-factly.

Maleen:

I hugged myself, uncomfortable with the idea. I would stay of course, to help. But I didn’t like it.