Every chime felt as long as a whole night as he knelt there, holding the loose hand in his own. Despite resting in a tub with waters tainted red, leaving pink trails of water across her skin, Kelski looked at peace. Kynier just watched in silence. So enthralled was he that Ebon reached under his shirt and used his divine gifted powers to cleanse the mage’s wound. Had the human been aware of it happening he would’ve fought the night lion off him. Demanding that he spend that power on Kelski until she was back in perfect health. As it was, Kynier couldn’t take his eyes off her and was ignorant of his surroundings.
When Ebon was done the mage felt better. There was a brief surge of energy to his muscles and limbs. But it was like pouring a glass of water back into a dry well. It quickly dissipated and left the mage feeling the need to sleep even more. But when Kelski’s eyes open, Kynier called on that glass of water in the well. “Kelski,” he whispered with significant relief. But there was something going on in the silver eyes. Kelski did not smile at him but looked at him with something that looked like bewilderment. Perhaps even annoyance. Her statement struck him senseless. “What’re you…?”
In his exhaustion he failed to see the intensity of her movements. Kelski was thrashing in the water and took control of his hand as it came closer to her form. A sharp pinch enveloped his knuckles as her teeth dug through the skin and even through muscle. “Ow!” Instinctively he took his hand away. Blood already welling up through the jagged tears in his flesh. Kynier cradled it against his body and managed to get up to his feet. The sea eagle was still thrashing around the tub as he inspected his hand. “Kelski! What the pe…” The rest of the words failed to come out as somehow she propelled herself out of the tub and wrapped herself around him.
The application of her body weight was too much to bear in his condition. After the initial impact Kynier fell backwards. Body crashing hard on the chamber floor. Kelski followed him down and buried her face deep into the highest point of his neck. For an instant Kynier panicked and thought she was going for his throat next. But the soaked kelvic just rested herself on top of him. Kynier felt the pull of her hands on his clothes pulling him closer, as well as the squeeze of her legs around his own. When his confusion subsided Kynier wrapped his arms around her wet shivering body.
By the gods, what happened?
Aches and exhaustion filled him in equal measure. With the liberation of knowing she was here, that she was still alive and no longer gone, the darkness of sleep dared to draw his eyes closed. The mage forced himself to not fully close his lids. No longer did he need to see but wanted to consciously feel her presence. So muted were all other senses that Kynier was unaware of little Rhaus wandering around making inquiries. Sleep was taking him into Nysel’s embrace.
“Imbecile!” cried the voice so loud that Kynier felt instantly awake. “Be mindful of your surroundings!”
Through the haze of his thoughts Kynier turned his head this way and that. Everyone was looking at Aer’wyn strangely. Kynier turned to see the Akalak pick up his weapon and hold it in his hand. After that he swept the animated idol off the ground and spoke to it. The voice was the same, yet not at all the same. Tone was painted darker with what sounded like malicious intent. Eyes of innocence were reshaped to something harder.
Vel.
The dark soul had reclaimed dominion of the body. From the sound of his words Aer’wyn may not be able to reclaim control for a long while. Kynier held Kelski close and tried to roll onto his good side. With her resting on top of him he failed to acquire the necessary strength to do so. But he couldn’t just lay on the ground helpless! Kynier adjusted his arm to get it underneath Kelski’s hip. Straining and groaning, he managed to shift her off him, though her body dragged across his wound and away from the Akalak. Kynier winced loudly at that as he adjusted himself to be between the two of them. When Kynier noticed Ebon he looked up at the night lion with a firm expression.
“Ebon, get my cloak. First wardrobe on the left outside the chamber. Wrap it around Kelski.” Kynier rose to knee and rested his nearer hand on Kelski’s shoulder. Kynier felt her need to keep in contact and accommodated it as much as the situation allowed. The mage looked up at the blue giant with half dead eyes and a smile. The words that came from his mouth were of the Tukant tongue. Long drawn syllables of a complex language he knew very little of passed through his lips. “I see you Vel.”
Kynier sought to keep all of the Akalak’s attention. For a long time he suspected there were two personalities inside that body. The mage had seen two souls competing for control a few times through Auristics. Vel was the first one he met. But only once. Kynier knew nothing of this being from beyond their encounter at the mysterious slab. The next words the mage spoke were in the common tongue again. “You still hold your weapon.” Kynier rested a hand on the hilt of his short sword and gripped the hilt. “Is it your intention to use it?”
He prayed not. But the Akalak’s size and weapon would not be advantageous in the bath chamber. With one swing the fighter could make a solid connection with two of the walls. The ceiling was nearly high enough above his head to allow for swinging either. Kynier’s short sword would have the advantage, but that was more than neutralized by his current condition.
Boxcode credit goes to Gossamer!
