It was the sound of movement that hit him first. There was something going on around him. Around the darkness. People were talking, they were moving. None of it made any sense but still Irtius had to push back to the light. Opening his eyes the blurred shapes danced around the glowing orbs of candles. The world played out around him refusing to focus.
His mouth was dry. Wetting his lips he struggled on and pushed harder. Shoulders flexing Itrius pushed himself up. Deep in his chest there was a shift and he let out a scream of agony. White hot pain surging through him brought everything into focus.
He was sitting on a bed, in some room, somewhere. Mind away with questions a familiar casquade of blonde locks rushed over to meet him. Grabbing onto his shoulders she tried to push him back into the bed.
“Captain, you need to stay still or you’ll open your wounds!” She was frantic. Brightblade looked like she hadn’t slept in some time. Her hair was a mess, pulled back into a fraying bun. Reddened eyes met his. “You fell a really long way, it's a relief you are still with us too.”
Too…..
Stretching back as far as he could Itrius recalled his last memories. There was a monster, it had spit something on him. That must have been why he needed bed rest… No, no there was more, the spray never hit him. A light over took him before a sense of falling. Trying to piece it together all he could remember is trying to reach for something, someone, and being pulled away.
Brightblade must have noticed the puzzled look on his face. Clearing her throat she tried to get his attention. “Sir, you really need your rest, you took a lot of damage from the fall.”
Fall…. He fell… no, no “I, I was pushed.”
Gritting his teeth Itrius hissed at his words. Speaking hurt. More than he could have imagined. Still there were far too many questions. Spitting through his teeth he forced it out. “Where~ where is everyone?”
The mender’s lips twisted with concern. There was something she didn’t want to say. Didn’t want to admit.
Clearing her throat another of his Paladins announced they were there. Stepping forward the shaved headed knight joined Brightblade. Of course Daygrove was never far away. “The others are giving their briefing captain. We made it back to Kris and the Crimsons wanted to know what happened. You were out cold so we set you up here. Brightblade and I have been keeping watch.”
Daygrove was a seasoned soldier, she learned long ago how to guess what people were thinking. It had kept her alive. “The other three are downstairs don’t worry about them.”
…. “Three?”
Her stoic face of stone revealed a crack. With a slight twist she almost opened her mouth. She was cut short by a wail of another.
“I’M SORRY!” Brightblade let go of Itrius and collapsed to the floor next to him. Curling her arms around her legs the woman began to sob uncontrollably. “I~ I couldn’t~ I couldn’t do it.” tears racing over her face she buried herself further. “He, he was always faster. I couldn’t keep up.”
Itrius met Daygrove’s eyes as the other woman kneeled down. A creeping sense of worry and cold mixing in his gut and racing up his spine.
Daygrove put her hand on the Blonde’s shoulder. Her actions did little to console the hysteric mender. “I failed! I failed! I FAILED! I failed my duty, I failed you Sir, I failed Spero!”
Wrapping her arms around Brightblade, Daygrove brought her close. Lowering her voice to just a whisper. “He was gone before you could even reach him. Brights. You tried. You didn’t fail anyone.”
Itrius’ mind was sent spinning. Like a frozen hand rattling to shake the word out…. Gone
