Dartel started at a loud noise, and sat up quickly. It took him a moment to realize he'd fallen asleep in the midst of some research. The noise again - this time he recognized it as someone pounding on the door.


He glanced around... the first rays of light were coming in through the east windows. Predian was still on his bed, unmoving. And... yes, Threnn was still in the same chair where she'd sat all night. She glanced over at him, and nearly emotionlessly said "Answer it."


"What?" Dartel yelled towards the door. The door swung open, and Rharan stepped back in. His armor, usually kept meticulously clean and in shape, was nearly coated in dirt, blood, and some sort of vile bluish ichor. He stepped in a bit shakily, crossed

the room to Dartel's desk, and dropped a coarse canvas bag on the floor beside him. The bag hit the floor with a squishing sound, and the bluish fluid that stained the bottom of the canvas began to puddle on

the floor. "Succubus heads," he said to the cabalist shortly.


He dug through a bag on his hip for a minute, and pulled out a potion vial, filled with a thick reddish-brown liquid. "Golenstadt's blood. Thanks to

Nymh's new tactics. Don't waste it, I don't want to have to get more."


Turning away from Dartel, he knelt beside the chair where Threnn still sat. "Come on, Threnn. You need rest, you can't help him by letting yourself go."


The paladin guided her across the village commons to her home. He opened the door for her. "I need to go home for a while," he said wearily. "Sabreen's been up all night, Merthan's got a bit of colic. I'll find

folks to help with Legion soon. You.... get some food, some rest. I'll check on you in a few hours."

Alright, it's been a few hours, we want more!

More please...immediately!


No writer block 4 joo!

Excellent story!


More please!

Back to page 1 with ye!!!


See what happens when Friars forget to self buff - they go all weak and squishy

 

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Danged whines dropped this to page 2!

She’d sat numbly in the chair the whole night through. Outside of her thoughts, she could hear Dartel and Rharan speaking, and heard Rharan leave. Dartel had glanced over at her, then gone back to his books. There at her side, still unconscious, still barely alive, was her Predian.


Yes, her Predian. Anyone could say what they liked about her, but when it came down to it, she would do anything in the world to save that man. She loved him unconditionally. He was her moon, her stars, her universe. And he was dying.


The soft sound of papers shuffling drew her attention to Dartel a moment, then it came back to her love. Gently, she shifted over, coming to sit on the bed next to him. A tear fell down her cheek, tracing its way across her flesh as she gazed at him. The pallor of his skin frightened her. The wheezing breaths that he took, each one sounding as if it were his last. She brushed her fingertips through his thick, silvering hair and bit back the sob that threatened to burst forth. Clasping his hand in hers, she brought it to her lips, kissing the heated skin gently before she began to speak to him.


“Predian, we’ll make it through this. We ha’e ta. We’ve nae gotten married again yet. I’ve heard o’ groom’s getting cold feet, but yer really taking it too far this time.” The soft laugh she tried to force out, hardly sounded a laugh, and swallowing hard, she continued. “We’ll beat this, ye and I. We’ll do anything and e’erything it takes ta cure ye. Dartel says he found something, it’ll work, it has ta.”


She was rambling now, but she didn’t care. She spoke to him of memories, of anything that leapt into her mind. Recounting countless battles, or the banter they shared nightly with their friends as she listened to each deep, shuddering breath he drew. Inwardly, she feared each time that a pause whispered between breaths, and her voice would still until she heard the next rush of air into his blocked lungs.


“Ye ken, we wanted ta ha’e children Predian. Cannae ye see yer sons romping along in the grass with filthy little hands, bright blue eyes and nae a care in the world. Can ye feel the little fierce hugs as we tuck them inta bed at night. Or another daughter. This one with yer eyes. Calm, beautiful, kind with a smile that steal’s men’s hearts.”


Hours passed, and her voice grew raspy, and Predian moved not but for the rise and fall of his chest. She bathed his face and neck with cool water, and her sense of helplessness grew. She couldn’t recall when she no longer had voice to speak, the tears closing her throat as she sat staring at him, willing him to live. As if her mere presence kept him alive. Her hand against his was the tether.


Sometime during the night, she must have passed out sitting there beside him. Dartel glanced over, and saw her folded against herself, nearly falling from the edge of the bed. With a roll of his eyes, the cabalist moved her to the chair, mumbling something about tending to women.


It was there that she awoke and sat, moments before Rharan’s return. She watched the exchange of items, still trying to comprehend everything in the cold morning light. It hit her, just as Rharan brought her to the door of her and Predian’s home.


"I need to go home for a while," he said wearily. "Sabreen's been up all night, Merthan's got a bit of colic. I'll find folks to help with Legion soon. You.... get some food, some rest. I'll check on you in a few hours."


And he was gone. Standing there on the stoop, her hand resting on the door handle she paused, her weary brain fumbling for answers. There was still something else to be done, and inherently, she knew she was the only one that could do it. Her gaze was drawn to the house sitting back against the hill. The tiny, yet elegant cottage that radiated wealth and fortune.


Rynnthorn’s cottage, but it was not that brother she sought. No, it was Kaidric.


Unconsciously, her hand went to her throat, and the memories of the dream flooded through her again. Brought back to her mind by his taunting words. She could hear him whispering, standing so closely behind her in Castle Sauvage.


“You wanted it, you must have, for you dreamt it. You enjoyed it.”


The warmth of his breath against her ear brought back the nightmare in all its clarity and she shuddered again. She wanted to never see him again, but it was Predian’s life.


“Anything fer ye Predian.. I’d do anything,” she murmured softly as she pulled her fingers through her hair. Her hands smoothed at the wrinkles of her clothing as she walked slowly across the commons, and up the small incline to the cottage Kaidric and Rhalm shared. She glanced at the sun, just peeking over the hills, and hoped Kaidric was still home, though part of her wished there would be no answer.


She knocked loudly on the door, and waited.


Minutes later, she heard the latch pulled back, and the door opened to reveal the cleric. He was clad in only a pair of loose cotton breeches that draped across his hips. The soft red-gold of his hair was in a bit of disarray as he scrubbed his fingers through it, gazing at her with the eyes that could have been Predian’s. He was muscular, fit and would be attractive to nearly any female that would have seen him at that moment, but Thrennoadae fought the urge to retch.


“Yes sister?” he said, one eyebrow arching curiously. Fingernails rubbed at his chest as his bent arm rested against the open door.


“Its Predian… hes … hes dying..” she started, not even sure how to speak to him.


“Dying? And you can’t save him? I find that hard to believe.” He gazed at her, noting the lack of sleep, the fear in her eyes, as well as the loathing. It was the latter he thrived on.


“He has.. what killed Caerenn. There’s nae way ta sa’e him but one.. Dartel is working on a cure and .. and he needs…” her voice cracked, and she bit her bottom lip hard, nearly drawing blood.


“He needs a cleric willing ta gi’e his life fer Predian.”


He chuckled, the bastard actually chuckled at her. “Sounds like that’s something you should be doing.” His eyes wandered her figure boldly, belittling the moment even farther.


She ignored it, and continued, trying to convince him the desperation of the moment, “I cannae.. being celt.. but ye.. ye are his brother…”


“Half brother,” he interrupted her.


“Half brother.. but yer his family.. and yer a cleric.. Please.. Kaidric..”


“You are asking me to give up my life for him? I have barely put aside my hatred of my family, and here you ask me to give up my life?”


“Yer his only chance.. and its nae.. ye might nae die..” she was nearly in tears again, feeling the moment slipping. There was no one else, she knew that. It had to be Kaidric. She almost didn’t hear his next words.


“And what will you do, sister, to make it worth my life? What will you do to save his life?” His eyes undressed her, making her feel naked there on the stoop.


Deep breaths filled her lungs and tears stung her eyes as she murmured, “Anything. I would do anything fer Predian.”


He stepped forward, and his large warm hand slide under her rumpled kilt till he cupped her firm backside. With a soft tug, he pulled her hard up against him. His neck bent, and his hot breath touched her ear as he whispered, “You know what it is that I want.”


A moan escaped her lips as he released her, turned and walked back into the house. She hesitated moments, and forced down the bile that rose in her throat. Dimly, she saw him moving in the darkness of the house, waiting her answer. With tears in her eyes, and a silent prayer for Predian’s life, she stepped through the door.


Fingers lifted, and slowly began to unbutton her blouse as the door shut behind her, blocking her sins from the world’s eyes.

Excellent stuff here. Keep it up!

<gasp>

(tries to find something to say, but finds himself speechless at the plot twist)