[Labyrinth] A Walk to Remember [Lysander, Seodai]

[Seodai]

Not bringing Lysander simply wasn't an option, as bloody hands had been joined again amidst the push and pull of the pulsing crowd, lest they lose one another. And so, fingers tucked tightly into the slender and pale digits of the ethaefal, Seodai followed after the acolyte who at last had a name. The farmboy was relieved not to be in the position of leader anymore, as it wasn't one that settled comfortably across his shoulders. Seodai was accustomed to the near solitude that came with his toiling work, and being thrust into any sort of limelight was certainly not something he would ever seek out. "This is our Captain," he said in soft tones to Lysander, whom he had come shoulder to shoulder with so that Zahir was leading the even pair of them. He wasn't certain how much Lysander knew, or even how long he had been in Denval. And so he just assumed that the beautiful thing knew little to nothing, and imagined that such a predicament could only make the disorienting confusion of the night worse. "Captain Astrid," he tacked on in his hushed whisper, even as they were finally shuffled to the fore. Even as Zahir, in his heartbroken and trembling voice, began to explain.

[Lysander]

Lysander’s head dipped in a shallow nod; he knew of Captain Astrid, even if he had never personally met her. She was important: his brother had spoken of her. Lysander’s brother rarely spoke of anyone. His neck glistened with the half-dry river of blood from his cracked skull, the only physical manifestation of the sudden loss of sight that made him stumble as a free hand grappled for Seodai’s shoulder. Thankfully, they had finally stopped their shuffling march and the Ethaefal teetered forward to press a sweaty forehead against the aforementioned shoulder. A moment passed. A labored breath was taken. Lysander forced himself upright. As the acolyte spoke, he remained silent; his knees wobbled, his fingertips ran cold, and he squeezed the hand of the farm boy that supported him. His tongue felt thick in his mouth. There had been a flicker of what Lysander thought was moonlight, but it was a simple flare of orange flame from a sconce far above their heads. The flame caught dappled gold as he turned his head to examine Seodai’s face, offering a weak smile if his gaze was noticed. Their fingers unlaced and he withdrew, crossing his arms across his chest as he turned his attention back to the faces of Zahari’s acolyte and the Captain.

[Tabarnac]

The mob mood of the crowd seemed to hold its breath as the bolts of celestial light began to slow and finally stop. All the while Zahir, now the ranking agent of the sleeping god, reported what had happened from his perspective and answered as best he could the probing questions the Captain asked of him. Then she questioned Lysander and Seodai, whose answers were much in the same vein, but taken all the same. When this was done. While everyone around her was exhausted by fear, Astrid seemed all the stronger for the shadowy adversity. She smiled a smile, brief but warm. "Seo, please take Zahir to the Chapel and stay with Lysander for the night. If this recurs, we will need to know when someone disappears." With a nod, they were dismissed with military alacrity, and as they left the Hall, they heard her speaking to the people, urging them home to sleep if they could, reminding them that fear was a weapon and they must defend themselves against it as a people. "Be strong, Denval," she told them, "while I confer with the goddess." As the crowd dispersed, there were whispers and hopeful glances sent toward Astrid's retreating back, and whatever she said to Priskil, or whatever she heard, many saw the pure white light burning in the starglass obelisk topping the Order of Radiance's chapterhouse, and those took comfort and slept. END

[Tabarnac]

XP Award! Lysander XP Award: Observation +5; Seduction +5; Interrogation +2; Leadership +1; Running +2 Seodai XP Award: Observation +5; Seduction +5; Interrogation +2; Running +2 Additional Notes: Both of these boys have awkward turtles in their pants. I knew they would hit it off! Feel free to PM me if you have any questions or concerns. Keep writing!