Osros faintly remembered Talone yelling. His hands were moving frantically, pointing, clenching into fists, chopping the air. Osros, however, couldn’t remember a single shouted word.
All he could remember is the heartbreak of Talone packing his things into a backpack, readying his horse, and leaving. Osros had lifted his hand, as if that could stop the angry elven man, but it was too late. It was done. Talone had left them. Talone had left him.
Osros sat down hard into some chair in some room in the keep, tears falling freely. “But Talone... You’re all I’ve got.”
Cloak clutched Rae’wyn’s bloody hand, tears pricking at the corner of her eyes. The tears made the normally icy blue soft and watery and vulnerable and so un-Cloak. The elf princess was gasping for breath as blood gurgled in her throat, cutting off the airflow. Rae’wyn tried for a smile, her red-stained teeth barely peeking through dry lips.
A drop of water splashed onto Rae’wyn’s cheek, causing dried blood to swirl and cascade down her face. Cloak realized with a start that it was a teardrop. Her teardrop. She was crying. Her tough, emotionless façade was splintering to pieces. The gnome furiously rubbed her cheeks, trying to get rid of the tears.
“Come on Rae’wyn. You can’t die.” Cloak whispered into their clasped hands. “You’re all I’ve got.”
Adrik figured it was time. Cloak had seen it, hell even Rae’wyn had seen it and she was oblivious to most things. So he waited until everyone retired to their rooms for the night, save for Sylreth and him. Clearing his throat nervously, the dwarf turned to the elf. Sylreth marked the page in the book he was reading, and looked up at Adrik.
He offered a warm smile. “Can I help you, Adrik?”
“I, uh, was wondering if you’d like to go to dinner sometime? Just the two of us?” Adrik anxiously smiled back.
A range of emotions flickered over Sylreth’s face. “Adrik, I’m sorry if I’ve led you on, but I simply don’t feel the same way.” the brunet coughed awkwardly, then stood up quickly, grabbing his book. “Uh, good night Adrik.”
The dwarf watched Sylreth’s retreating form and stood. He got a mug of ale and drank it quickly.
Adrik slammed down another ale. “Well, sister. It seems now you’re all I’ve got.”
