Rites

JP with Omni and Lorem

Gonyaul looked up at them and wiped the sweat from his brow. He bowed and signed greeting to the man after piercing the tool into the earth so it stood on its own. ‘They didn’t bury the dead and they were wasting their time?’ He wasn’t going to continue doing something that wasn’t helpful.

He stepped up out of the body sized pit so he was on their same level. The man leaned slightly away from Gonyaul, eyeing the Vaux like an anomaly.

Voah’s suggestion was acceptable if this was true.

“We go then. Let him go too right?”

Voah’s eyes shifted away from Gonyaul’s confrontation, still battling her own inner turmoil. But it was easier to combat the thoughts when they were voiced by someone else.

“He comes with us.” she said with determination. She didn’t mention her intentions.

“Watch him while I begin the ceremonial rites.”

Gonyaul did not look pleased with her statement because she did not provide the intentions behind them. It did not seem like this was a battle he would win. He won the ‘don’t kill him battle’ already, he shouldn’t push his luck.

“Can least take off chains? He going to feel prisoner if leave on.”

Gonyaul went over to watch him.

How could something feel both right and wrong at the same time. Voah’s mental gymnastics between logic, belief, and emotions was frustrating and the more she thought about the Purger, the more she was swayed toward belief. In a way, she had to be swayed in that direction. She couldn’t let him see her weakness. Must be prepared.

And to top it off, she was frustrated with Gonyaul and the fact that she couldn’t please him and herself at the same time.

~Why are you so desperate to cling to an infidel? You should use him against the maleficium?~

‘I should utilize him, yes… but not abuse him.’

~Impossible.~

“…he is my prisoner. Until I decide he isn’t.” Voah finally said aloud.

Gonyaul sighed. He could tell by her tone that he wasn’t going to get anywhere with this issue, save wrestling the keys away from her. That would end poorly on multiple levels and was not a wise conflict. Instead, he retrieved his water skin and took a quick drink before offering it to the Odsier.

The earth mover did not accept the water. Gonyaul could tell he was choosing to be hard even though his lips looked in need of a drink. Gonyaul invited the man to sit, he refused that as well.

Gonyaul took a baby’s squat position, a posture he could hold relaxed and comfortable for long periods of time. He look up at the man rather awestruck by what he had seen him do. The Odsier looked at Gonyaul in confusion and annoyed interest; like an unwanted but worth investigating novelty.

Gonyaul began talking kindly in Vauxian to the man. The Odsier responded back in his own language. Neither one of them had a clue what the other was saying.

Gonyaul tried just a name, “I am Gonyaul’vaux”. It was the first time he had used his full name in what felt like forever. No need to use the truncated version now that Voah knew the truth. The Odsier withheld his name, or didn’t understand.

As she prepared some incense from her pack, she listened to Gonyaul try to kindly make conversation with the Odsier.

She felt as if she was being torn apart as she sang the rites of Zinheim and tears streamed from her eyes. She was faced away, the spring breeze blowing her hair and garments as smoke columns arched into the sky. Gonyaul wouldn’t see the pain as she recalled every moment of her first encounter with a magik weaver and tried to imagine herself forgiving them.

After she finished, Voah took a moment longer and tucked it all the trauma back in. Then she went to her packs again and grabbed a length of rope.

She headed over to the bonecaster , dropped the rope in front of him and started to unshackle him to switch from back to front. As soon as one manacle was undone, the man tried to swing away but she anticipated that move and grabbed his arm so hard she dig her nails into his skin and wrestled to get around him.

“I’m going to tie his manacles to my horse and we continue on foot.” she said, struggling through gritted teeth. She didn’t expect Gonyaul to continue helping her any longer.

Gonyaul’s stood and noticeably softened when he saw that Voah may have been crying, observing the signs left behind. Gonyaul did go over and helped her when he saw her struggle.

He offered, “if want he can ride with me. Or ride and I walk. “His kindhearted nature had not thought that one all the way through.

Oh, thank the Pillars! He was not going to completely abandon her after she tried to compromise with him.

“…fine. Either one will do.”

If the bonecaster fell off and died, they would be rid of him. If he tried to get away with Amu, then he would be shackled and a little helpless and he would probably live. She was tired of battling herself…

Then Gonyaul would be horseless… but at least he would be with her.

No, it made little sense. Either she set the man free or she kept him as a prisoner. At least until she was done with that she needed to find out from him. Plus she still needed to digest the revelation that Gonyaul was a Vaux.

Voah and Gonyaul mounted their horses and rode away with their prisoner walking behind them, in shackles and tied to Litany's saddle.