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Those were the only words uttered, as Kaidric drifted back into his unconscious state. She leaned over her love’s still form, and she could hear the faint beating of his heart and felt his warmth breath exhale against her cheek. Hot tears stained her cheeks anew as she listened to his breathing. Clear and deep breaths that filled his lungs easily, no more wheezing or rattling, no more gasping for air. She turned to look at Dartel, but he was examining Kaidric. Rharan began to stir as well, rubbing the back of his head as he slowly stood up.
“We ha’e ta get him home,†she whispered softly, afraid to raise her voice yet.
“Don’t you mean them, Threnn?†Rharan replied just as quietly.
A blush touched her cheek and she forced a nod. “Aye.. them..†yet a glance at Kaidric made her stomach twist in knots.
With the wit he’d shown before, Rharan was able to contrive a stretcher, and they placed both men’s inert bodies together. Groaning, with Rharan at one end and Dartel and Thrennoadae at the other, they managed to get them down the stairs and to the waiting horses outside. The ride from Snowdonia to Rylestone was easily the longest she’d ever taken. She rode close to Predian’s horse where he was strapped to the saddle, while Rharan stood watch over Kaidric’s form. Dartel, normally full of himself and talkative had said nothing, and that frightened Thrennoadae more, almost as much as Kaidric’s words earlier.
Kaidric’s words… Predian’s voice.
She didn’t tell Dartel, she didn’t know what to say. Maybe it was a trick of her mind, yet she knew it wasn’t. The images of the ritual were burned into her memories, the gleaming scythe, the magics of the cabalist. A shudder whispered through her, and she glanced between the brothers.
Finally, they arrived in front of Thrennoadae’s home.
“You must keep them together, until they both wake,†Dartel said immediately.
“No… I dun want Kaidric here..†she retorted.
“I care not what you want wench, they stay together or you risk further injury.â€
Rharan, ever the diplomat, simply carried Predian up to the bedroom, laying him into his bed. Then he found a traveler’s pallet, and made up a small part of the floor against the wall in their bedroom, and brought Kaidric up as well. He glanced at Threnn, and offered her a brief hug before taking his silent leave. She could see the unrest in the paladin’s eyes before he turned and headed home to his wife and children. Dartel examined both men briefly, and told her curtly to keep them warm and dry, and above everything else, together.
And then, she was alone. A glance at the sky to the east showed the sun would soon rise. Suddenly, she was exhausted. Her body felt as if there were lead weights attached to her flesh as she pushed herself back up the stairs and closed the front door behind her. She stirred up the fire, and with an apprehensive glance, forced her way up the stairs to the bedroom. In the dim morning light, she could see their bodies, still yet breathing deeply, laying exactly where Rharan had placed them. Her eyes gave a brief glance at Kaidric before she turned and crawled into the bed next to Predian.
Sleep overwhelmed her in moments, and she drifted off holding tightly to her love.
**
Hours past, and the three lay sleeping in the small house. Near twilight, she felt Predian stir against her side and her eyes snapped open.
“Predian?†she whispered faintly, voice thick still from sleep.
Slowly, his eyes opened, his beautiful brown eyes. He gazed up at his love as she huddled next to him on the bed. His hand rose and he touched her cheek gently, yet she felt it not as she stared into his eyes.
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