Fantasy Memento Mori [Closed]

[cleopat]

Sebastian looked down at Keres and gave her a warm smile. One he hoped would bring her some comfort in all this chaos. “Yes, I know you as both Baroness and Governor Keres LaVoix of Mortades, and we are currently engaged to be married sometime within a year. We hadn’t picked a date yet.”

And now, the wedding may be delayed if her amnesia lasts a long time. Or if her touch problem lingered.

“But we will talk more later, if you so wish. I’m sure you’re eager for that wash,” he chuckled and motioned her towards Lisette.

Lisette smiled at Keres and led her to the river, motioning for Delano to follow along. Sure, she could now grab one of her guards to do the same, but he had already said he would do it

“I’m afraid there may not be many spare clothes with us you could wear that would fit, but once we reach the next town, we can get you a few things,” Lisette offered. She led them to the river, the water sitting a little higher thanks to the plentiful rain they’ve had recently.

~~~

“I forgot you and your delicate sensibilities are more sensitive to harsher smells,” Nikolai said with a wave of his hand. Ciaran had a more privileged upbringing than Nikolai, who became quite familiar with the everyday stench of sewage and bodily fluids growing up.

They weren't smells he missed by any means, but he was used to smelling far worse scents than blood. Still, he would prefer to not smell it if he could.

Nikolai scoffed as he followed beside Ciaran out of the temple. “I do not mope.” He did not! He broods. But never mopes. “And I doubt they would kill me. Not when Keres has said many times that she hoped to do that herself one day.”

He believed her threat. And he believed that was why her guards wouldn’t actually kill him. Maim him a little? Sure. Torture him and throw him into a cell? That was practically foreplay. And with his skill of manipulating the shadows, he never worried about the guards.

“And I’m sure you’re going to go back to…poisoning some people and selling them the cure, or whatever it is you like to do in your free time,” he said with a wave of his hand.

 

[Lucyfer]

Keres followed readily, glad to hear Sebastian hadn’t been lying. A Baroness and a Governor – she had some life! Some life, someone didn’t want her to have, apparently. No matter, it was a problem for later as she followed Lisette, “Anything that covers will be sufficient, I don’t mind if it’s an overlarge tunic,” she sighed as they reached the river.

The tressym, Phoxy, followed the whole way, though he wouldn’t go into the water.

Of course, no spare had been brought along with them, so Delano set down his axe against a tree and stripped leather jerkin and then his green tunic, which he held out, but didn’t offer, to the bloody woman, “You can wear this once you’ve cleaned up,” she didn’t need to bloody it right then.

Keres nodded her appreciation, realizing then, how far she’d have to strip. Well, she didn’t plan to keep this nightgown after all of this, so rather than strip it off before she hit the water, she opted to step into the cold water with it still on.

“I will keep my eyes off, Your Grace,” he added to Lisette, as he set the tunic down, and turned away, not putting his jerkin back on. It wouldn’t be comfy over his chest, so he’d wait to grab a new tunic at camp – which certainly allowed a nice view of his chest and bare back, both quite obviously well-muscled, his chest with hair upon it sweated down from the clothing he’d been wearing.

He wasn’t at all concerned of his own immodesty.

Unlike Keres, who only removed the gown once she was submerged from the chest, down. She could at least use it as a rag, after she submerged herself and got her hair soaked through, blood rising up from where she went under, mostly from the dried blood in her hair, but some of it from wounds closed – but not fully healed, agitated by the water.

~***~

Keres and Nikolai’s co-dependent murder/suicide idealizations were demented, even by Ciaran’s fairly low standards of what demented meant. He knew, without question, if they had the opportunity they would indeed end each other on their own terms. It was another reason to separate them. He couldn’t have Keres or Nikolai taking that whim to its extreme.

Ciaran again rolled his eyes, “I intend to investigate where our funds have been going to make sure there’s nothing unusual going on there that I’ve missed, before setting the pace of things in Keres’s departure with the captain of the guards,” a governor’s role to lead them, not any noble. Without the governor, he more or less served in that stead.

He still poisoned people…but he usually reserved that for mass outbreaks and pandemics he wanted to cause.

But for now, he and Nikolai would separate.

Nikolai would instead receive another visitor, when Keres had fallen asleep back with her new company. Asphox took advantage of his ability to move between the realms, and he stepped into the bathroom where Nikolai was to be found, bathing.

Not that Asphox cared for such a thing. He hadn’t when Keres bathed, he didn’t care when Nikolai bathed. If anything, it made him easier to hurt, as the tressym jumped right up to the edge of the tub, and hissed, “You manipulative son of a bitch, how dare you inflict such misery upon Keres after she gave you her bond.”

 

[cleopat]

Lisette was mildly surprised that Delano stripped off his tunic there instead of going back to camp to grab another one. In her surprise, she realized her gaze lingered a bit too long on Delano to be considered proper, and even though he had turned away by that point, she snapped her head towards the river, a light blush painting her cheeks.

She could appreciate beauty when she saw it.

Lisette kept her gaze near Keres, but not completely on the woman as she bathed, for her own modesty. “I’m so sorry for all of this. We do have to be cautious and diligent though.” She spoke when Keres’ head was above the water again from washing her hair.

“But we’ll try and make this journey a bit more smooth for you, when possible.” They still had the sites to investigate, and they may encounter trouble along the way, but there should be no more questioning of Keres while she was with them.

Now when they arrived at Mortades? That may be another story. Until Keres regained her memories, they may have to consider everyone close to her as an enemy wishing her harm.

~~~

After the day, and having the stench of the blood still lingering in his senses, Nikolai decided to end the day with a hot bath, a luxury he used to not ever get to experience.

Now, living a lavish life he once could only dream of, he relished those baths whenever he could.

But he wouldn’t know peace that evening.

An annoying little tressym all too familiar to him interrupted his peaceful evening. Nikolai had his eyes closed as he leaned against the back of the tub, but they shot up and he sat up straight with the voice speaking in the Dead Tongue. “Wait, wait, what?”

His brows furrowed as what Asphox told him became clear in his mind. “What the fuck are you talking about? I did nothing to her! The last I saw her, she turned me away from her bedroom, and then the next day she went to go see that damn fiance of hers.”

And then something happened to her that he felt through the soul bond. “Wait, you’ve seen her? Where is she? What happened to her?” His heart began to pound in his chest as he began to imagine what could’ve happened that made Asphox react in this way. “And why the fuck do you think I did it?”

 

[Lucyfer]

"I understand," Keres said, rubbing off blood as she addressed Lisette. 'So much and so little is mine.' Just her chest, which was quite tender as she rubbed at the blood there. Thankfully, Sebastian's healing took care of it so it didn't reopen on her. "I am…fortunate to have been found at all let alone taken into your care. I will do what I can not to be a bother," she said.

She really didn't want to cause them any harm, though that was apparently going to be more difficult than it ought to be.

"When we return to my home, if I am able, I'll repay the expenses I've incurred," she was likely wealthy. Likely able to repay them. At least, she hoped.

"If you don't mind me asking, Your Grace," she said, "What are you doing in this area?" They seemed to be doing something out here, but Keres hadn't quite grasped just what it was they were doing out here.

"There's been a spree of chaos, temples being ruined, people being killed, and some are being blamed on Zerah," Delano offered, back still turned. This was news all over so he figured it was safe to say, "We're investigating."

~***~

"Ha!" Asphox coughed the laugh, clearly in disbelief as Nikolai denied responsibility for the situation. Sure, he seemed sincere, but the Chosen were all fantastic liars. "As if you don't know!" He hissed.

"Her memory is gone! Who else but you would inflict such a thing on her?" He demanded, "she knew not I, knew naught about her touch – but she remembered your stink," Asphox snapped as if that were reason enough to condemn Nikolai.

It was in his book.

"To strip her memory and sell her into slavery," Asphox sneered, "I know Ciaran will find your guilt written in coin," he stated, "and then something will be done with you. Someone far worse than death." Since, well, killing him was out.

It would kill Keres.

 

[cleopat]

“Please do not worry over such things. There is enough to worry about as is,” Lisette assured Keres. “I am sure that you will not be a bother. We have more than enough supplies for another person.” And whatever they didn’t have, they could buy when they reached the next town.

She didn’t know how Keres could fight though, but the woman could stay out of the way if needed.

With her next question, Delano answered before Lisette could, and she hummed in agreement at his answer. Her eyes glanced back to him as he spoke, momentarily forgetting his shirtless state as she was met with his bare back once more.

Nice view.

Lisette turned back to the river with a small smile. “And I believe we were actually heading in the direction of Mortades soon to investigate one of these sites, and to attend a party of Lord Nikolai. We can find you some help for your amnesia when we arrive, and hopefully find some answers.”

~~~

Nikolai narrowed his eyes at Asphox as the Dead God continued to not believe him. The audacity! “I would never dare to hurt her in that way,” he hissed, rising from the bath and wrapping a robe around his body.

Well, his evening was ruined!

“We prefer to hurt one another in more physical, intimate means, like with knives.” But this? Nikolai would never sell her into slavery! He enjoyed her presence far too much to let her go away like that.

And he would torture and kill whoever it was that did this to Keres.

But was it someone while she was still in Mortades? Did it happen on her way to her fiance?

“I don’t know why the one thing she would remember would be my scent. Maybe I’m just that important to her.” He certainly remembered her scent right then - black currant and peony. Dark and floral. Befitting for her in some twisted way.

“Maybe you should ask Ciaran what happened. He was the last person to see her.” He jabbed a finger in Asphox’s direction. “But don’t ever accuse me of doing such a thing to her.” Their own twisted love affair was too special for him. “Where did you find her? Who was with her?”

 

[Lucyfer]

There was certainly enough to worry about, and so much that Keres didn’t know she ought to worry about. The forgetting only made the worries worse. She didn’t know everything she needed to be considering, and that meant everything was worth worrying about.

It seemed that there was something amiss in the kingdom. The gods were being profaned, and she frowned to hear it, wondering who would be impersonating Zerah. She realized then, she did know the names of the gods. ‘Minosyne.’ That repeated, now with clarity. A goddess. A secret. Why did she know it? Was it her own deity?

“I wish I could recall Lord Nikolai,” Keres sighed, watching the blood flow away in the water, almost feeling a twinge of nostalgia. ‘Stop it, stop it.’ Why did such terrible things come to mind? “Perhaps when I meet him again I will recall,” he was her peer, right? Certainly she knew him. He probably knew her.

Was he her enemy?

“I’m glad I am at least not disrupting your journey since you are already heading that way.” With the blood off, she did move out of the water, a bit embarrassed by the lack of coverage. Her body had more scars on it than she understood. Small, but numerous. ‘How did I get so many?’ Questions without answers, as she took up the green tunic and slipped it on. It dwarfed her, but it covered, at any rate.

“Thank you, ah….” Did she get his name?

“Delano,” he said, turning back around then, “Are we all good?” No attack, thankfully. Despite the glares of the tressym.

~***~

‘You, maybe.’ Asphox bristled only because he believed Nikolai was that stupid to think the agony-causing ended at physical. Did he not realize Keres also delighted in hurting him in other ways? Perhaps not. And perhaps he really wouldn’t do anything beyond the physical harm, which…well, yes, he was that disappointing.

He and Minosyne hardly remembered the power they once held.

Asphox scoffed a laugh at the idea that Nikolai was that important to her, though. Definitely not true.

He did snap his teeth at the finger pointed at him, and he would bite it if Nikolai wasn’t fast enough at pulling it away. The one good thing about the tressym form was that no one really questioned why he was an asshole. Plenty of tressym were just that. He’d answer regardless, “She was alone. I only found her because she tranced into my realm and devastated the caravan that took her,” slaves and all. Innocents meant nothing, though. The living needed to die. It was simple, really. “She was found by the royal host after that. Princess Lisette and Sebastian Ramont,” the pathetic little fiancé, but a useful pawn, all the same. If only she could remember that before she actually caught feelings.

Which…might in and of itself be a reason to mention location. “Near Siventen on the border.”

 

[cleopat]

Lisette hummed in agreement. “Maybe meeting some more familiar faces you see daily would better jog your memory, either for your complete memories, or at least help you remember who did this.” Was Lord Nikolai a suspect?

When Keres emerged from the river, Lisette averted her gaze to help preserve the woman’s modesty. She was already embarrassed enough, there was no need to make the situation worse. After a minute, she looked back, biting back a smile at the sheer size of the green tunic drawing Keres’ frame.

“If you wish, I may have some pants and an extra pair of shoes you can borrow until we get to town.” It would certainly be better than just wearing a giant tunic while they traveled. “I think we are ready-”

An arrow that embedded itself into the ground by Lisette’s feet interrupted her. Without hesitation, she drew out her sword and turned to where the arrow came from. A couple of brutes, whose scares told their story well enough of the fights and battles they’ve seen, emerged from the trees. A crossbow aimed at them, while the others had their weapons out.

“Well lookey here boys, quite an interesting mix we have here.” One snickered at the shirtless state of Delano, while another leered at Keres and her lack of suitable clothing.

~~~

Nikolai did manage to pull his fingers away from Asphox before he could get a bite in. “Naughty little tressym.” Tressym or not, Asphox was an asshole.

He frowned at the information, not at all pleased with the company she found herself in, but thankful that she destroyed the damn caravan before it took her out of the kingdom. “What are the odds that that fucking fiance of hers finds her,” he muttered. One hand rose and a finger rubbed against his lower lip as he thought about the situation.

“And near Siventen…” That didn’t make sense at all. It was nowhere near the path of where she was supposedly going. Was she kidnapped along the way? But she was going to see Sebastian, and he wouldn’t even be home to greet her, and it sounded like he would be away for some time.

“I think Ciran lied about where Keres was off to, and he was the last one to see her.” His hand curled into a fist as he thought of Ciaran laying a hand on Keres, either through a soft touch or roughly to subdue her in some manner. “Do you know where they’re headed?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Keres nodded to the offer. The tunic fit like a short dress, covering enough, but she'd be more comfortable in pants with it, and walking bare foot for long would be quite uncomfortable. "Thank–," she was interrupted by an arrow.

Bandits emerged, and she felt a knot in her throat of rage as some leered at her. Phoxy lifted up and hissed loudly, spreading his wings to likely try to look larger and more intimidating. All it seemed to earn him was a hiss.

Delano hefted up his axe, though a bow was quickly pointed in his direction for it, "Now, now, there's no need for a fight," one of the bandits said, "we're aware of the friends you're trying to get back to, though I don't think they'll hear if you decide to resist. Still, I'd rather not keep them waiting, so we'll just take that axe, that diadem, and any jewels you have between the three of you. I'm sure there's enough to make up for her lack, but if not…."

Keres wrinkled her nose, and resisted the threat for him to try and touch her. It'd be the last thing he did.

"You're making a mistake," Delano said calmly. "Just walk away and nothing more needs to happen."

The bandit snorted, "I don't think you understand your position." He motioned casually to the archers. "One wrong move, and those arrows will be loosed."

Delano looked to Lisette for direction, as Keres swallowed back a feeling she couldn't quite place. She had to ball her hands tight into a fist to keep herself together. They felt…tense. And as if she needed to crack her fingers.

~***~

Ciaran made up some lies about Keres? Asphox wondered, but he supposed he couldn't entirely rule out Ciaran. He was still one of the three, and still an asshole. Ciaran always struck him as the more pragmatic, though.

"Here, eventually. Your birthday," Asphox settled a bit, ruffling his feathers as he took a seat. "Ciaran…what has he said of this?" Keres mentioned red eyes. A red drink. Ciaran was the only one with red eyes who would stand out to her.

It could be neither Ciaran or Nikolai.

"Ciaran is too smart to be seen," Asphox grumbled, "but maybe there's something in what he knows to figure who did this to her. Or what was done." And then revenge could be had, as Asphox rose again to pace. "She needs her memory restored before her latent powers reveal her to the uninitiated." That was the true concern.

She could endanger herself too easily. She was already too close to that by the accidental life drain.

 

[cleopat]

Lisette frowned. She was the only one suitably dressed for protection in a fight with her leather armor. The other two were completely exposed, and so she had to consider her next actions very carefully.

“Do you really think we have any jewels on us for a visit to the river, when our camp isn’t very far?” she said dryly. Yes, there was the diadem that draped across her forehead with a fire opal in the center, but that was all that was on her, minus the sword clenched tightly in her grip.

“Do you think us daft?” asked a bandit.

Do you really want me to answer that?

“We know who you are. We know there’s gotta be something in them fancy clothes of yours of value.”

Another one piped up, “Or if not, I’m sure your clothes would fetch a nice amount.”

Lisette bristled. “If you know who I am, then you should know that harming me or any of my friends here will result in quite a few people hunting you down, but if you turn around and leave now, we can forget this little transgression.”

~~~

Ah yes, his upcoming birthday celebration. Naturally such an occasion deserved an exquisite party with all of the nobles invited. He was almost surprised that the Royal Party would be coming, but then he could assure that despite his upbringing, he was deserving of his title.

Nikolai could just wait for Keres to return to Mortades, instead of him running all over the kingdom searching for her.

“He said that she had gone to visit that fiance of hers,” which wouldn’t make much sense if he was on some kind of investigation quest, “and that he visited her in her room last night.” That memory sent a surge of anger through him.

He huffed at the words Ciaran used, but oh how that subsequent punch had been satisfying. “Apparently they had a little…fling.” Keres had turned Nikolai away only to accept Ciaran! It was insulting.

“Maybe he knows a way to restore memories,” he suggested with a casual wave of his hand. Yes, the powers hiding just underneath her surface were a problem, given the company she was in. One wrong move and her head may just be on the chopping block.

 

[Lucyfer]

“Heh. That’s if you can offer a good enough description of us not to get other innocents harmed in the hunt. I’ll take those odds,” the one who seemed the leader smirked. He held up his hand, and the archers all repositioned to have someone in their sights, as he approached Lisette. Two others moved towards Delano, leaving three archers prepared.

Six total.

Delano watched Lisette for a sign, as one of the bandits said, “That axe will fetch a good price. Hand it over here,” he gestured with his fingers and held out a hand, expecting it to be simply given over.

There was enough of a cue for Delano.

He did indeed lift the axe – but he didn’t hand it over. He was able to swing down and cut one bandit in twain, which caused the other to jump back and pull a crossbow, as one of the archers immediately let loose an arrow at Delano. It went through his shoulder as he straightened up, but he disregarded the pain of it as a crossbow was pointed at his neck.

The Bandit Leader was smart enough to approach Lisette with a sword, and when the fight began, he altered his steps from a swaggering walk to a lunging sprint to grab her and restrain her so they didn’t have to actually kill anyone.

Keres bolted immediately for the cover of the trees, and the archer with his bow pointed at her fired. It missed, thanks to Phoxy, who batted it away before flying right at the archer’s, landing and digging his claws right into the top of the archer’s head, before swiping at the eyes to blind.

Well, that, and the mere touch was also draining the archer, but the screaming no doubt was from the scratches to the eyes. Obviously.

~***~

Asphox scoffed at the way Nikolai said ‘fling’. He hardly cared what dalliances Keres got up to, though he knew her…appetite was a bit extreme. Likely because her options were fairly limited. Not that he cared if he killed her partners in play, but it did cause a bit of a fuss if too many people died, and she wouldn’t be restrained by just anyone, either.

“If he knew that, he would have already fixed your goddess,” well, that was a rather special case, admittedly, of his own design. Her memories were locked with her name. Keres, well, he didn’t know how this was.

Obviously, it wasn’t name-locked.

But Asphox wasn’t above insulting Nikolai where he could. “Perhaps he was just mindblowing in bed.” The tressym fluttered up, “You should start trying to find a cure for when she arrives. I will stay with her.” He wouldn’t linger longer with Nikolai as a black smoke rose up around him, and he vanished, to return to Keres.

He could withhold some of his influence and favor to help keep her out of trouble, but not all. She had been Chosen as an infant, he was immensely tied up in her, the link too strong. If he severed it, she’d die – and she was still far too useful for him. Enough, that he would play the role of ‘Phoxy’ and curl up alongside her like a mere pet.

 

[cleopat]

Lisette narrowed her eyes at the leader, and when he began to approach, she shifted her left foot slightly, to prepare for the incoming scuffle. She hadn’t quite faced down bandits before, but she had prepared for such a situation!

Reality was always different from training.

Delano struck first with his ax. She didn’t see him getting injured, focused on the Bandit Leader instead, who sprinted towards her with his own sword. Lisette barely managed to dodge him and brought her own sword up to block and protect, and she fought against looking for her acquaintances, lest she wanted to be distracted long enough for him to gain the upper hand.

But she wanted to know who was screaming, and why. She can find out later.

Lisette swung her sword at the Bandit Leader in swipes one after the other in order to try and put him on the defensive. A knick of an arrow on her upper arm was enough of a distraction for her to falter and for the Bandit Leader to gain the upper hand, but Lisette quickly regathered herself before he could subdue her.

 

[Lucyfer]

The crossbow cut across his neck as Delano moved in, but it was a scratch. He’d been careful enough to dodge it, and he swung wide to strike the archer, cutting him in two as well, before he looked for the others.

One archer fell from the tressym, eyes removed, which was a rather…well, gruesome sight that only reinforced his belief that the tressym wasn’t normal. A problem, hopefully, for later, considering it appeared to be on their side.

Another archer was reloading and aiming at the princess, who was fighting the bandit leader. There should have been a third archer, but he didn’t see them, so he opted to turn his attention on the one about to cause a problem for the princess.

The archer saw him coming before they’d managed to notch another arrow, and decided to drop their bow and grab a sword instead, although he didn’t immediately engage, very aware of how difficult it would be to deal with an axe. Delano was careful not to swipe immediately while the other seemed to be backing up, looking for an opening – an opening Delano would give if he wasn’t careful in picking his moment.

“HEY!”

The missing archer called, “NO ONE TRY ANYTH—AUGH!” Delano looked back to see the foolish archer had grabbed Keres, a hand over her mouth, another around her waist. All Keres did, was move her hands to one of his bare hands, and the archer wilted. Unlike with Lisette, Keres didn’t let go, but tightened her grip as he tried to release her, as he started to fall, skin tightening, as if he was literally being drained and hollowed out.

Delano didn’t look long, and took advantage of the other archer’s surprise and horror to knock his head in with the blunt end of his axe.

 

[cleopat]

Lisette and the Bandit Leader went back and forth, neither one quite staying in the defensive or aggressive position for too long. She began to worry about how she would be able to gain the upper hand enough to end the fight before her strength was completely sapped, but then her fortune changed.

Another one of the bandits made himself known with a shout, and while that alone didn’t distract either one of them, his pained shout just a few seconds later caused the Leader to falter in his instinct reaction to glance over and see what was going on. It was enough of a distraction for Lisette to plunge her sword into his gut. Upon pulling it out, the bandit’s body crumpled to the ground, and his blood slowly stained the ground around him.

With the threat over, Lisette looked around to assess the situation. Her face scrunched at the bandit with the scratched out eyes - no doubt the doing of the tressym. The bandit that had grabbed Keres looked like nothing more than a husk.

Her power was terrifying, but at the moment, she was thankful for it.

Keres seemed unharmed. Despite that, Lisette still felt the need to ask, “Are you unharmed?” Her eyes then went to Delano, when they widened in shock at the arrow lodged in his shoulder, blood staining his bare torso. “Shit,” she hissed, hurrying over to him. “Are you alright? Wait, that was a stupid question.” She shook her head. “Are you well enough to make it back to camp? We should hurry back before you lose any more blood. Sebastian should be able to get that arrow out without any more damage done to your body.”

 

[Lucyfer]

“Mmm.” Keres answered the query about being okay. She felt…better. Immensely so after draining the life from that bandit; it was hard not to smile, but she fought that urge, aware from Lisette’s brief glance at the husk this was still Not Good.

Nevermind how the tressym approached with its, “Mow!” that almost seemed approving, and brushed against her leg. ‘That’s right.’ Keres thought, relaxing from her tension. ‘The bandit held me and nothing happened until I laid my hands on him.’

Delano was not so lucky, but he huffed a bit of an amused sound at Lisette’s obvious concern. “It’s not so bad,” he said as he straightened up, managing not to wince as the arrow pulled uncomfortably when he moved. “But I’ll take that healing. I can make it that way,” he moved to pick up his jerkin, so he could carry it back with his axe, without needing to make a second trip.

Her fussing was a bit adorable, but Delano couldn’t help but wonder again what Idrano wanted with kidnapping her. Was his goal to get her to budge, or her parents? ‘That’s his problem.’ And also his, but not so much on the motive level. It would be his problem if things turned south.

“Everyone else is okay. You, Your Grace?” Delano asked as he noted the tressym perch on Keres shoulder. She seemed a bit off balance, but otherwise adjusted to the presence of the beast.

 

[cleopat]

Lisette frowned, not entirely satisfied with Delano’s answer. There was no way that wound was simply ‘not so bad.’ An arrow was embedded in his shoulder!

But he was still moving around, and from what she could tell, his face hadn’t gone pale, and although his movement was slower, more mindful, he didn’t look like he was about to collapse from blood loss.

To be cautious, she watched him collect his jerkin, and not because the view was nice, and once everyone gathered themselves, she began to lead them back to camp. “I’m fine,” she answered with a glance down at the minor laceration on her arm. “I got nicked by an arrow, but it’s nothing.” She suffered worse when she first learned how to pick up a sword.

Lisette looked over at the tressym perched onto Keres’ shoulder. “And a special thanks is in order for Phoxxy. You have quite the bite to back up that bark.” And it was a reminder for Lisette to not mess with the tressym, or get on its bad side. Those claws could do a lot of damage.

 

[Lucyfer]

Delano and Keres followed Lisette back towards the camp. Delano hummed at her comment that she was all right. He’d trust it, as she didn’t seem to be having any issues walking back. She’d be able to get healed up.

The scent of burnt wood and incense was pungent on the way back to camp, to cover up the scent of the bodies that had been burnt to little more than bones. The incense was a bit cloying to Delano’s senses, but he’d ignore that. “I didn’t expect any of that from Phoxy…I thought they were little more than flying housecats,” Keres sighed, not that she knew what to expect from Phoxy anymore.

Or anyone else.

Idrano noticed them upon return to camp, and looked quite startled, “Your grace – Delano,” his surprise was evident, “are you both all right?” there was a moment of fleeting suspicion that passed his gaze as it went to Keres, but it left quickly. “What happened?” already, he started to move to where he last saw Sebastian, glancing over his shoulder to make sure they would follow.

 

[cleopat]

The scents of burnt wood and incense was almost welcomed to Lisette, as it meant their time to move on their journey was getting closer. They could finally leave the area behind, along with memories of the carnage that welcomed them. And the bandits that ambushed them.

She didn’t figure it would take long at all for someone to notice the state of Delano, which was the only reason why she didn’t shout for someone to come over and help. Idrano did that on his own, and his reaction and questions caused a few heads to turn their way, all equally startled.

The guards were definitely listening in to find out what happened, and if there was anyone that needed to be captured and swiftly executed.

“We were ambushed by a small group of bandits.” Lisette allowed her displeasure to seep into her words as she followed Idrano. “We managed to deal with them. Keres and I are okay, but Delano needs our healer soon.”

The commotion in the camp caused by the arrival of Lisette, Delano, and Keres caught the attention of Sebastian. He turned to them as he heard them approach, and the arrow lodged in Delano’s shoulder shocked him, along with seeing all the blood that stained his torso. They were near his set up, and so Sebastian motioned for Delano to come over and sit.

“Experienced soldiers have fallen in pain to lesser injuries than yours.” He was honestly surprised by how calm the man seemed. As he began to gather what he needed to remove the arrow and clean the wound, he asked, “What happened?”

 

[Lucyfer]

Delano chuckled at the fuss, but took his seat to be helped, "I'm a bit stronger than the average soldier," he said, calm as he prepared to let Sebastian do his work. "Some bandits attempted to ambush and rob us. We were able to handle them. Lisette is good with that sword of hers," he wouldn't mention Keres.

No one really needed reminded of that.

"All the same, it's good you were there," Idrano noted, wondering if he could use that to keep Delano close to Lisette. He did add, "Though I suppose that's why I keep paying you for my health."

Delano chuckled at that, as well, "Aye. I should increase my rate."

Idrano mimed a wince at the idea of paying more to him. "Mercenaries," he grumbled.

 

[cleopat]

With the comment of being stronger than the average soldier, Lisette couldn’t help the glance over of his bare chest, noting the muscles that indicated his active life. Of course, the blood still stained him, but…it wasn’t a terrible sight to look at.

Lisette, stop that.

The comment of her being good with the sword was also nice to hear.

“Well, you may be stronger, but you’re no less susceptible to infections or blood loss than others,” Sebastian said as he carefully examined the wound and the arrow sticking out. Unfortunately, getting an arrow out of the body could not be done with magic, which would save Delano some pain.

Sebastian put one hand on Delano’s shoulder, and another wrapped around the shift near the point where it entered his body. “Alright, this may sting a little. I’m going to pull it out on the count of three: one-” he didn’t finish his countdown, pulling out the arrow after one.

Maybe there was a little sadistic side of him, but he would swear that the method works to get the pain over with.

Immediately Sebastian began cleaning the wound and uttering a spell to mend the area, muscles, tissue, and skin weaving together and closing the wound.

 

[Lucyfer]

Delano expected the full countdown, so he only started to brace as Sebastian began. He was caught off guard by the sudden pull and his breath hissed between his teeth before he shot Sebastian a dirty look for it.

Keres only chuckled, but kept further commentary hidden behind a subdued grin. Delano wasn't happy, after all.

Not that he complained beyond that glare. The pain was subsiding under the healing spells already. He let out a frustrated sigh. "Are we prepared to move on?"

"Mmm," Idrano answered. "As soon as her grace is ready we can resume formation and carry on to the town. I suppose we do need to determine if there is a spare horse for Keres, or if she can ride…."

Keres wasn't sure. Would muscle memory play a role? "I don't recall."

Idrano sighed. Of course not. "I guess walking is out of the question?"

"We'll do what we must," idrano indicated, which really meant it wasn't his place to say.

"I think only my hands are dangerous. One of the bandits grabbed me but he wasn't harmed by it. And Phoxy…." Well, that was obvious, as the tressym brushed it's face by her cheek.

"It's a significant risk if you're wrong." Idrano pointed out, before asking Lisette, "Do you have gloves she could borrow?" It might be a risk they had to take. Getting onto a horse with or without another person would require hands.

 

[cleopat]

Lisette bit back her chuckle with Sebastian’s tactic of pulling out an arrow, and Delano’s dissatisfied reaction after the fact. Oh, she knew that well.

Sometimes it was best to not give the patient enough time to tense their body up. There is still some pain, but it never lingered as long.

Upon mentioning that they needed to move on, Lisette felt a touch of weariness in her bones. Their travels for the day, the emotions from finding the torn bodies, the unexpected drain when Keres touched her, the excitement of the bandits. She just wanted to rest. But there was never any rest for her.

They needed to move on.

After finishing healing Delano’s shoulder, Sebastian looked to Lisette, eyes drawn to the cut and dried blood on her arm. “Do you need me to look at that?”

Lisette glanced down at the cut and shook her head. “No, not right now. It doesn’t hurt, and the bleeding has stopped. You can look at it later when we’ve stopped for the night, if you wish.” Sebastian gave a satisfied nod.

And of course there had to be another conundrum to be figured out before they could leave. “There is a spare horse she can ride,” Lisette confirmed. If Keres can ride. But the tressym can touch her. The bandit touched her. Was it something with bare skin? Just her hands?

There would need to be some light experimentation before they left, to see the extent of what Keres can do.

“I do have a pair of gloves she can borrow.” She turned to Keres, motioning for her to follow. “And I’m sure you’ll want those pants and shoes too.”

 

[Lucyfer]

Keres did indeed want the pants, the shoes – and if the gloves let her touch, that would be fantastic.

‘Except it isn’t, is it?’ A trailing memory, one she could barely cling to. Silk upon flesh. A lingering coldness from the fabric despite the warm flesh beneath. A lingering hatred that never abated and swelled even in that moment as she followed Lisette.

An urge to lash out at something – anything – for this terrible affliction.

She didn’t – but neither could she cover it completely, as frustrated tears formed in her eyes as she found herself stopped at Lisette’s area. Not unpacked, of course, no one suspected they’d be camping by the massacre, but obviously hers all the same by the crest of her family and the way it was so well polished and taken care of.

She pressed the palms of both hands against her eyes to stop it.

She bit the inside of her cheek and tasted blood.

Almost satisfying enough, but still she wanted to maim.

Phoxy bit her hand, and that pulled her from that, to just feeling the frustration with out that intense urge to murder everyone on sight for this atrocious curse. She inhaled deeply, and brushed the back of her hands by her eyes, hoping Lisette had been turned away long enough at the trunk not to notice the moment.

What could she even say? ‘I’m cursed and I want everyone to suffer for it.’ Not the best look.

 

[cleopat]

Lisette led her over to her things, not unpacked, but resting there until they picked up to move again. She opened her trunk, shifting through as she pulled out the gloves, pants, and shoes. “I don’t know how well these will fit, but they should be sufficient until we can buy you some clothes in the next day or so.”

She hoped they would reach the town the next day, but knew to always expect delays.

Lisette turned around to hand the clothes over to Keres, but noticed that Keres didn’t…quite look alright. She didn’t see how the woman brushed the tears away, but it was still obvious she wasn’t doing too well with everything. “I would ask if you’re alright, but it’s quite obvious you have enough reasons to not be okay right now.”

Amnesia. An unknown enemy. Her mysterious, frightening powers.

“But I promise you we’ll do our absolute best to help you regain your memories and figure out who did this to you.” She offered the woman a warm smile. “You have the power of the Crown behind you.”

 

[Lucyfer]

No, Keres was not doing well at all. She still accepted the clothing, careful not to touch the princess, with a nod, “I genuinely appreciate the help, Your Grace,” it was desperately needed, after all. She set things down to slip the pants on, given she could slip those on with the tunic covering her, then the shoes, and then, at last, the gloves

The nagging frustration still bit at the back of her mind, as if she’d done this before. Did that mean these powers weren’t so unusual. “I don’t suppose I should test these on you, should I?” a touch of humor, though it was overshadowed by the seriousness of the situation she didn’t take for granted.

No, she’d want to test on something else. Perhaps the horse would be sufficient, but she would allow Lisette to dictate what was safe. Even so, she did reach up to touch the tressym she’d avoided touching. Phoxy leaned right into the touch, pushing his head against her covered fingers without any concern.

He didn’t seem to react negatively, but then again, he’d been brushing up against her for a bit now. She didn’t feel like he was a good judge, somehow. He was far too comfortable with her to be a good judge of what she could do.

‘I must have always been so careful, if….’ She wanted to shake the thought this was normal.

Keres desperately wished this was abnormal. Wouldn’t Sebastian know?

 

[cleopat]

Lisette chuckled at the question, but didn’t immediately answer. With the theories surrounding Keres’ powers and capabilities, she actually toyed with the idea of testing to see if the gloves worked or not. It would be over and done with before anyone else at camp could see what Lisette did.

The tressym seemed fine enough, and that bandit wasn’t affected when he was only touching her clothes. Oh, Lisette, if anyone finds out you’re about to experiment this theory on yourself…

“I think we shall test these on me,” she answered as casually as if she were talking about the weather. “After all, I know what it feels like.” As if that was a good reason.

Still, Lisette reached out and wrapped her hand around one of Keres’ before she could pull away. She braced herself for that pin to come back, but nothing happened. She felt nothing.

Smiling, she pulled her hand away. “There. Nothing happened. Now it can be suspected that skin-to-skin contact causes that drain, but if there’s some sort of clothing barrier, it should be okay.” Riding a horse shouldn’t be an issue for her.