No Goodbyes

JP: Winteroak, Voah, Hunter and Gonyaul

Gonyaul could not believe what just happened, even though he saw it with his own two eyes. A life was a precious thing, yet this assassin just willfully discarded his own life. There was no value to be gained by such a fanatical act. It was deranged and unnatural behavior in the young man’s opinion. It surprised him further, because the man could have done this earlier but chose until now to commit suicide.

Perhaps it was the torch bearer up ahead in the road that forced the sanguine act? Did the assassin realize his life was forfeit upon seeing him appear? If that were so, it did not bode well. The assassin didn’t fear Gonyaul at all, and he didn’t fear Hunter or the Arbiter either. Yet, if he feared the man with the torch enough to kill himself, this could spell serious trouble.

Gonyaul noticed the blood soaking the fabric of Hunters lower leg. The injury that made him limp must have been reopened. His sense of smell likewise picked up on it.

He took note of how the man with the torch approached. His gate, posture, and muscle tone. Gonyaul wondered about the mask as the shadowy figure neared. Did it hinder visibility? Would it be easy to misalign if he suddenly increased his mobility? Or was that his real head?

No, the last thought was silly.

Gonyaul looked from Hunter and then to Voah. He whispered into the cool night air,

“Ihsihsoni on amata on okoto ag odoherod ukotukod ak.”

Well she was right about one thing, the captive’s life meant nothing to these people. His life was forfeit the moment Gonyaul spotted him at the docks, he just didn’t know it yet. Now he was useless to anyone.

Well this was just great. Not at all how this was supposed to go down. She was disappointed in Hunter to say the least but maybe he has enough in him to get them out of this mess. It was awful of course, death was never pretty, but the Arbiter was in a strange, bitter and sarcastic mood, partly from the physical headache of her ailment’s reprisal, partly from the metaphorical headache that this day had become.

She sighed in exasperation, “Well done, Hunter. I might have to throw myself on your blade before the night is over to save myself the embarrassment.”

She huffed and turned to the animal-headed man. The nice thing about this headache right now was that it muddied her vision from the blinding torchlight that approached, she would have to rely more on her hearing and spatial awareness if this kept up.

“Come on, let’s get this over with! Be gone or come put me out of my misery! Gonyaul, if you want to live it’s probably a good idea to make like a rabbit.”

She had no idea how many others were hiding in the dark but it didn’t look like this was going to go down well for anyone.

Hunter grunted as he pushed off the dead man who got lucky before offing himself. His leg was hurting again he saw the savage man with a torch slowly approaching them. He also saw some shadows moving about behind the savage man. Then he sighed as he reached into a hidden pocket and pulled out a small wooden container and opened it. He pulled out a red ball and held it as he sealed the wood container and put it back into his hidden pocket.

Then he looked at the red ball as he spoke to Voah, "Once I bite into this I will be top shape for an hour, however I will be useless afterwards for a week. I might even die. However, I will complete this mission before that happens. If you don't I will take on the thugs and you can have the savage boss man. He reminds me of the magical savages we fought on the island, so its best for you to defeat him in case he has magic." Hunter looked at Voah and gave her a sad smile before he spoke again, "I know its ironic, but you are the closest thing I have to a friend." Then Hunter went to put the pill in his mouth to hold it between his teeth so he could be ready to bite it.

Gonyaul did not look to Voah and Hunter as they talked. He continued to monitor the approaching figure with his eyes. He did not look directly at him and the torch anymore now that he was closer, that would impede his night vision. Instead he just looked off to the side, so his peripheral vision could better distinguish any changes in contrast moving in the night. This was a neat trick he learned at home when gazing up at a special pair of stars. Look directly at the one star and it appeared as one. Look slightly away and it would separate into two; since it was actually two stars just very close to each other from an under the heavens perspective.

The Arbiter seemed emotional and mentally frustrated. It did not give him confidence that she was in the right frame of mind to fight. He didn’t understand everything Hunter was talking about with the red ball; however, he was concerned by the words he did translate. Hunter was already talking somewhat dramatically his “last words”, as if he already was expecting this to be the end. Was Gonyaul the only one remembering to take deep breaths despite his adrenaline also raising?

His cloak’s drab and dark coloration provided him an advantage. It made him harder to see in the dark and obscured the silhouette of his form. And since he was being mindful to always be a sword strike away from the others, he potentially may have not been as noticed. Voah’s cue to run was tempting and he made a calculated assessment of the current moment one more time.

Should he run? In what direction?

Running for help was not going to be an option. It would take about 30 minutes just to get to the edge of town. Even more to get to the keep, explain things and then longer to get back. Gonyaul was sure with his speed and stamina he could shave it down to almost twenty minutes there, but even that just wouldn’t work.

He could save himself. But the thought of leaving these two potential mortal enemies alone was not very virtuous.

As pain pulsed behind the Arbiter's eyes, wrapping around to the back of her skull, she was able to register Hunter's words. Friend... she had felt similarly, most of the friendships that she had made in Arcadia were superficial but there was a closeness she felt to the groups that she journeyed with to the Odsier and to Sentinel. True, Hunter was useful and sometimes pleasant to be around, but this evening she sensed that Hunter was determined to prove himself right in being... what was it he called himself? A thorn in her side? He certainly needed lessons in being one's friend but if he truly felt this way, Voah could understand and accept that. She would try to make the best of their tenuous partnership. Now was not the time for such thoughts however, and they came and went in microseconds as thoughts often do. Her mind and vision had become clear for a second.

"Thank you, but don't be too hasty, Friend."

Before the pill was full in his mouth, Voah grabbed the teeth of his lower jaw in a quick sweep, and pulled out the red ball with the other. Then she gave him stern look that said, let's do this, as she tucked the pill away in her robes for safe keeping.

She turned again to the approaching man with the torch. 'Focus.' she thought to herself.

With two hands, Voah took up her chain and let the weighty, spherical censer hang down. She took a couple of deep breaths then she distanced herself from the others so she could put herself in a wide defensive stance. She began to slowly spin the chain weapon. It would take little energy to maintain the momentum. Now if anyone got too close, they would receive a dangerous, bludgeoning blow.