After the escape from the mines (and checking the sky every so often, just in case the Themis-Skoll should return) the group of Lapis, Vykarins and now Karnors make haste back to Herriot Hall. Along with them comes Aldara Tasha, Herald of Abaddon, Goddess of the Forge (and other things). Once at the Hall, everyone is taken before the Queen's throne.
The old Warrior declares that the curse on the mines is lifted, and that the demon that held their people and the three new Heralds captive is dead. A celebration and feast is called for, even though the Karnors don't have a chance to enjoy it: bundled up in blankets near the throne, they've passed out after drinking some of the local mead. But then, they probably needed the rest anyway. There are gifts presented to the heroes as well: skymetal blades and shields for the Warriors and Guardians, and spiraling bracelets for Tasha and Layth and the sleeping Karnors.
Absent from the festivities is Aaron, who left to visit the Forge. The shiny bracelets are fitted and placed on Tasha and Layth's upper biceps, and they're also given some shiny dirks by the metalworkers and miners. Euphrosyne is talking to Doreen and one of the rescued Guardians off near one of the walls, while Gyes dances with some of the local does. Endre and Eidothea have vanished as well, possibly off to the hot springs.
"And the journey continues on. The demon was merely the first chapter in a longer story yet unwoven," Layth comments idly from where he leans against a wall. Not and then he casts a glance to the sleeping Karnors. Most of the time, though, he's just watching the celebration and the other Amazonians. Biologically one of them; mentally … quite alien to them.
Tasha looks distant as she sits and thumbs at the bracelet on her arm. She stares straight ahead at the pile of unconcious Karnors, a slight frown marring he beautiful face. It makes her look older than she is, the whole adventure has seems to have put years on her shoulders. It says something that she isn't more preoccupied with their shiny gifts, and while she looks at them now and then, her minds seems elsewhere. Beside her, the two containers lay. She never lets the container from the computer core stray far from her side, while the Sifran artifact container gets an occasional distrustful glance.
"You are not celebrating," Lucia points out as she finds Layth and Tasha.
"Neither are you," Layth points out to Lucia with a small shrug. "Me … I feel out of place."
"I've things to think on," Tasha replies, sounding distant and a little lost. After a pause as she seems to mull things over, the Vartan adds, "The graves, when will the be ready?"
"Morning," Lucia replies. "The Vykarin will dig them when the time is right… and the ground is not too frozen. There are not bodies this time though."
"It is a matter of memory, more than laying a body to rest," Layth notes.
"Only one," the Herald corrects. She glances at the case beside her, then closes her eyes and leans back. "Ever think you've lived before, Lucia? Layth?"
"No," Layth says to Tasha. "My current life is complicated enough. I do not need to try and seek out complications from another one." He even manages a small grin.
"I have a past life, and it is in these mountains," Lucia notes.
"Tha's wha' I love abou' you. You're a rock in a storm, 'ere an' now," Tasha tells Layth, reaching over to pat his hand. Tasha then looks up, tilting her head and nodding to Lucia. "I think I 'ad one 'ere, too. Will you tell me abou' yours? There isn' much time, bu' we 'ave enough. Soon, we mus' leave, an' then … Sheol."
"But hopefully a brighter future one with Roland," Layth says as he rolls his head a bit, then grins at Lucia.
"I grew up in Valkyria," Lucia notes. "It was a hard life, as is any Warrior's. But my children always died," she explains. "So I left that life behind to start a new one on the plains, in Dianus."
"I see. Thank you for tellin' me," Tasha offers, smiling a little. "Do you know, we'll be leavin' you all soon? You shoul' take this time to spend with Layth or Aaron. Layth, why don' you celebrate a bit?"
Lucia lounges near Tasha, and waves for Layth to come over.
"You should also celebrate. Do not brood so on what is yet to come; enjoy those you are with now as they will give you strength for the trials ahead," Layth comments. He actually flicks Tasha's nose tip, then heads over to lounge with the snow-doe.
The bigger Snowshoe begins to clean Layth's ears with her tongue, like a mother would to a coney. It's just about then that Aaron returns, looking a bit tired. "Did I miss anything?" he asks.
Tasha blinks when her nose is flicked, then rubs it. "Oi. Maybe you're righ'. I jus' … I've seen things, an' there's so much lef' to do." She begins to stand, then pauses and returns to her seat as Aaron returns. "We're jus' talkin'. Did you make yourself a big shield, tha' you migh' 'ide behind it, or ride it down the mountain?"
Layth looks … relaxed as he nuzzles up to Lucia while she cleans his ears. "You're missing out on attention from beautiful does," he can't help but point out to Aaron, "But we will forgive that if you show us what you got?" To Tasha, he says, "In life, there is always more to do. There is nothing more to do now than there was a week ago. You have just opened a book that showed you a path that was already waiting for a traveler."
Aaron sits down between the Snowshoes and Tasha, and holds a cloth-wrapped bundle in his hands. "It's just a ring," he says. "Getting the engraving done was tiresome though, since nobody here knows how to read or write."
"It was a book tha' contained the worl' an' then some," Tasha tells Layth. But, as if to dismiss the matter, she waves it off and turns her full attention to Aaron, ears perked. "Is tha' for your girl bun?"
Layth actually smiles. "So … you are to ask your special doe?" he asks. "If so, I wish you the best with that. She would be a fool to refuse."
"Yes," Aaron notes, letting his ears droop. "She likes souvenirs… it's not an engagement ring," he explains. He unwraps it so they can see: a silver ring with Olympian characters spelling 'Anysia' on the outside, and the word 'complete' on the inside of the band in Standard. "I think she'll like it. It's a good thing I memorized her ring-size."
Aaron notes the arm-bracelets on the others and says, "It's funny. These bits of jewelry would be priceless if anyone know their origins."
Layth reaches over and pushes Aaron lightly with his foot. "Why not an engagement ring? You obviously care for her, so ask her," he says.
"Because I don't know if she cares for me yet," Aaron points out. "I have to work on that still. We haven't even dated."
"Wha' a thoughtful man you are, Aaron," says the Vartan, smiling a little. She then nods to his words. "Aye. I use' to dream o' somethin' like this. A treasure, priceless, the way to a fortune an' me own airship. Now tha' I 'ave it … " she reaches over and runs a finger down the armband tenderly, " … it's li' the memory is more importan'. 'Sides, the real treasure is asleep over there." She waves a hand towards the sleeping Karnors. "Three older men, an' one o' them's more special still. I've never taken care o' older men before. I don' think I took care o' anyone until we came 'ere."
"First time being a nursemaid?" Aaron asks Tasha, then gestures to Lucia. "She knows what to do. You need to lick their ears clean!"
"You don't know? How can you not know?" Layth has to ask Aaron. Absently, his left hand rubs lightly along Lucia's calf in apparent reaction to the relaxing grooming. To Tasha, Layth says, "The greatest treasure can never be bought or sold; it is how you affect the lives of others. Physical things are fleeting."
Lucia actually finishes grooming Layth's ears and just lets him rest against her for now.
"I don't know because I'm not good at asking, and she's not good at answering," Aaron says. Then adds, "And… because if I asked now, I might not like the answer."
Layth leans back and looks up to Lucia, asking, "Would you wish your ears groomed later?" Without looking to Aaron, he asks, "You expert her to say no, or yes? Which do you fear more? I would think uncertainty is just as bad."
"I don' know 'ow you put up wit' me. You're so calm an' wise," Tasha tells Layth, reaching over with a hoof to nudge his leg affectionately. To Aaron, she says, "I think tha' migh' confuse them more than they are. I'm goin' to have to teach them all abou' our world, an' look after them, until they're safe. Bu' tha's then, an' this is now." She glances at Aaron, and says, "The truth's right scary, Aaron, bu' withou' it we are los'."
"Patience is a virtue too," Aaron insists, crossing his arms. "You don't just… jump into things without looking."
Tasha laughs lightly at that. "I though' tha's wha' I always do," she insists. "Or at leas' tha's wha' Layth is always tellin' me."
"That is also the polite way to say I am boring," Layth notes to Tasha with a bit of a grin. Out of the corner of his eye, he looks to Aaron, then asks, "How long have you been her friend and pursuing her?"
Aaron blushes now. "Err, a few years. But I haven't actually been pursuing her yet," he admits.
"Then I think it is time that you use the gift of the Lapi … your feet … and jump in," Layth prods the other buck. "Would it help if I spoke to her about you? Perhaps wrote her some poems of devotion that show your heart?"
"She mus' be very special, if you're tryin' this 'ard to keep 'er in mind. 'Specially here." Tasha sits up again, then, after giving the artifact case a frowning glance, stands. She makes her way over to the sleeping Karnors nearby, and kneels down to check on them.
Aaron looks like he's about to pop at those suggestions. "Uh… that's okay, Layth," he says. "If she met you, I doubt she'd be able to remember my name afterwards."
That actually gets a laugh from Layth. "I doubt I have the ability to erase your name from her mind, Master Lightfoot," he says.
"I think we have other things to focus on besides my romantic life, or lack thereof," Aaron notes.
"We do," Tasha agrees from where she's kneeling. With the back of her hand against Gabriel's head, she says, "We'll be leavin' tomorrow, bu' before we go we'll 'ave a service for the crew of The Fenris. Then, we're goin' back to see to these men an' prepare for our trip."
"You apparently need help. I will endeavor to make sure that you do not have a lack of a romantic life," Layth comments calmly, "Fear not, Master Lightfoot, I will make sure you have an appropriate harem." To Tasha, Layth says, "Remember, we must help them recover first. That will likely take some time. I do assume that you wish them to continue to travel with us, no?"
"Tha's part o' it, aye. We won' leave until they're ready to go," Tasha answers. She adjusts the blankets on the two doctors, then stands up and returns to her seat. "They'll be more at 'ome with their own people, I 'ope. I've never been to Abaddon though, an' I've never met anyone sayin' they're from the Expedition. I'm no' sure wha' we're lookin' for, bu' I bet they can explain later."
"They may not be. Remember, they have been asleep for three eons. Their 'people' may be just as alien to them now as we are," Layth points out.
"Then they need to be wit' me more than ever," Tasha insists. "If I mus', I'll use wha' we foun' an' see them to a comfortable 'ouse on Rephidim."
"I think we should seriously consider turning them over to the Temple," Aaron notes. "If they're as bad off as the Doctor said, then the magic available in Dianus may not be sufficient. The Temple has the resources to make sure they get the best treatment."
"I would consider that 'last resort'," Layth comments.
"There's always Caroban too," Aaron suggests.
Tasha's brow shoots up at that, and she frowns to boot. "I'm from Rephidim too, bu' I don' trus' the Temple any more than mos' people. I know the Temple's a Mothership, bigger than The Fenris, bu' if we turn them over … wha' 'appens if we can' get them back? It'd take the Themis-Skoll to rescue 'em then," the woman says.
"And what if the Temple considers them a threat? In three eons, it is likely what the Temple believes now is not the truth. It could go … badly. We may be best off in not revealing exactly who they are," Layth comments.
Tasha nods to Layth. "Tha's my thought too. If we're wrong, even a little bi', there's nothin' much we can do against the Temple. They may jus' kill us for knowin' wha' we do. An', there's that Expedition to try. Maybe they 'ave somethin'. We jus' 'ave to 'ope for the bes' an' follow it until the end," she adds.
"And in that, we agree," Layth says with a nod. Idly, he continues to rub Lucia's calves. Remembering something, he glances to her healing wound to see how it is faring.
"Okay, so if we need more magic, I can probably get them to Caroban," Aaron notes.
"Thank you, Master Lightfoot," Layth says.
"The Rake will 'elp us go where we need," Tasha promises. "Cap'n Eyeshine is many things, bu' he won' stop us if the need is there. An', I can bribe 'em with some shinies if I 'ave to." Tilting her head, Tasha asks, "Do you think Caroban will realize 'o they are? Wha' if their own people are like the Temple now?"
"Caroban will heal whomever can pay," Aaron claims. "We can pay now, too."
"We can, can' we?" The Vartan shakes her head, as if still dazed by the idea of having so much money. "Then Caroban will be our secon' plan, after 'ere. We can make arrangements on Rephidim, an' tha'll give me a chance to talk to me mum before I leave again. I wan' to see 'er, might no' be comin' back."
"And even if we could not … we could sell Master Lightfoot's services for enough money," Layth says with a firm nod.
"Yeah, and… wait, what services?" Aaron asks.
"Shiny pants," is all Layth says.
Aaron just mutters to that, but Lucia asks Layth, "What sort of shiny pants?"
Tasha chuckles, but she waves a hand. "I'm goin' to bed early. I 'ave prayers to offer an' a grave to visit before I 'it the 'ammock. I'll see you both on the 'morrow. If you need me, I'll be sleepin' in 'ere to watch the Karnors an' keep an eye on the cases. I tell you, I don' trus' those artifacts."
"Silvery pants that move and flow like water," Layth explains to Lucia. "Aaron wore them for Tasha while he fanned her. There was even a grand picture painted… "
In the morning, Euphrosyne announces that her daughter Doreen will be staying behind to marry one of the Guardians and help replenish the Warrior stock of the Sky Clan. There's another brief breakfast celebration at this news, but then the travelers prepare to leave. The last stop before returning to the lowlands is at the valley's cemetery. A grave was dug by the Vykarins, and a box of personal effects from the Fenris was lowered into it. Standing up from his wheelchair, Captain Akkers spoke about each member of his crew that didn't make it, all the while running their ID tags between his fingers. He seemed very old and tired by the time he came to Nora, though.
Akkers paused, and looked up at the sky. "I'm so sorry, Nora," he eventually said. "I wasn't there for you, and… I really find it hard to go on without you. But I know you, and I can still hear you in my heart pushing me to go on – or else. You were always like that, pushing us all. You fought harder than anyone for this mission, for the refitting of the Fenris. You were our heart. I promise to see as much as I can of this world now, so that I can tell you all about it when I see you again."
"And such is the greatest way to honor the memory of someone who was dear," Layth comments quietly to himself. Throughout the ceremony, he's remained silent and in the far back of the group.
Tasha swallows hard at Akkers's words, closing her eyes as MOTHER's hand signs flash in her head, followed by Nora's words in the Persocom. She can't help but feel like she had been called here for a reason beyond simply ending this threat to the Sky Clan. There's more left to be done, and the journey is only half over. With Nora gone, only she remains dedicated to Akkers, to him and his two surviving crew members. It doesn't escape her that she greatly resembles the deceased woman, another hint that she may be here for more than just defeating a robotic menace. Isn' it abou' avenging family? This is the family I'm 'ere to protect, she decides.
Stirring from her thoughts, Tasha looks up at Gabriel and gives him a soft smile. She steps forward, as she said she would, and walks over to stand beside the man – close enough where he can lean on her without much effort. "They were some o' the first, travelers from beyon' the Sea of Stars, from a time before cities an' Clans. They came 'ere to learn, an' to know. They were Warriors of the Mind, an' they died in the battle to know. They were all great people, an' I 'ope some day I can be even a bit like them." Tasha offers a Abbadonian prayer in Olympian, then adds, "Nora, we met jus' briefly, but I'll carry on your work. I 'ave wha' you requested – an' I'l take it as far as it need go."
Akkers leans on Tasha for support, and whispers, "There's nothing left here for us. Let's go."
Tasha wraps an arm around Akkers and nods. "Le's go," she agrees. In a louder voice, she orders, "Alrigh' all, we're leavin'!"
The journey down the mountains was swifter this time, and not just because it was all downhill. Winter was approaching, and the Sinh nomads and Lapi tribes were leaving the mountains to avoid the eventual storms. The Karnors stayed bundled up on the Vykarins and slept most of the time, only becoming active when camp was set and the fire was going. The exception was Dr. Zerachiel, the scholar. He rode with Aaron and kept the Lapi alert with questions about magic, technology, medicine, Rephidim and the world in general until the apothecary began to grow hoarse.
Dr. Caravelli was adopted by Euphrosyne it seemed. Of the three, he seemed the most helpless and morose, and the senior Warrior kept him close to her on Konstancja while traveling and stayed by his side when he needed to walk or be pushed in his wheelchair.
Gabriel was the most active of all, physically. He'd ride with Layth on Albinka and practice whatever therapeutic exercises the gold-maned Lapi felt he was capable of. The rest of the time he'd ride with Tasha on Eadwig, showing a surprising talent for guiding the sometimes-erratic Vykarin. Occasionally, he'd open up out of the blue and tell Tasha some story from his youth about mountain climbing or hunting back on Terra - but he almost never talked about his time in the Expedition, or about his family. And he would listen to whatever Tasha felt like telling him as well, aside from trying to learn Olympian.
For his part, Layth has remained mostly quiet … being more the bodyguard than usual. The only exceptions were when he would take time to help the captain with trying to recover physically while also inundating him with some basic language lessons. When that wasn't required, he would scout ahead a bit as well as help set up the evening camps and prepare food.
Tasha found herself opening up, as well. It's as if the combination of the man's openness, and her own desire to tend to him, dislodged a sympathetic vibe that caused her to reveal aspects of her life she wouldn't have mentioned otherwise. The woman recounter her own activities as a child, about her mother and how she grew up about ship. She told Gabriel about the sky islands, and the beautiful places of the world that she had seen aboard The Rake. She even confided in him some of her less benevolent tendancies, as if admitting them helped her expunge some guilt that had been weighing heavy on her soul. "You'll like the city. It takes some gettin' used to, it does, bu' the buildings are gorgeous an' there's so much to learn."
"You hardly seem like the wild-child you talk about, Tasha," Akkers says from behind her.
The woman laughs, shaking her head. "It's true, jus' ask Layth or Aaron – or me mum. You'll meet 'er when we reach Rephidim." She grins over her shoulder, admitting, "When I was really little, me mum used to call me 'er imp, an' say me father was a demon sen' to test 'er patience. I love 'er, me mum. She's got such attitude, an' she won' take nothin' from no one. I once saw 'er throw a man out the tavern door, wit' jus' one 'and!"
"I think Master Lightfoot has been slipping something into her food to calm her," Layth comments from where he walks beside Albinka. "He is a sneaky one."
Tasha tries to kick Layth, but he's too agile to catch. So, she eyes him instead. "I've jus' 'ad a lot on me mind. Cap'n Eyeshine always tol' me leadin' was 'arder than it looked, an' now I think I know wha' 'e ment. 'Sides, I don' 'ave time to play abou' – I 'ave work to do," she insists.
"We are not your responsibility, Tasha," Akkers claims. "If you feel that you are drowning, just cut us free. The cases are what matter."
"You speak as if work and play must be separate things. Find union between the two and you will find contentment," Layth quips. To the captain, he says, "Of course you're not just Tasha's responsibility; you're all of ours. And not because we seek things from you; but because as people we have a duty to look out for each other."
This time, Tasha turns around to meet Akkers eye to eye. "I'm NO' abandonin' you," she declares, lifting her brows in a 'do you understand me' expression. "You're me responsibility because I wan' you to be. You're me responsibility because I promised. Wha'ever 'appens to you, I'll be there to lean on." She loosens a hand to reach over to hug the older man with the free arm, but pauses. "You can' count on me," she says, if that were that.
"I understand, No-… Tasha," Akkers says.
Layth's brow raises a bit, but he doesn't say anything on the matter.
Tasha opens her mouth to say something else, but seems to lose the words with the Captain's slip. She bites her lip, turning forward again to stare out at the frozen landscape. "'Old on to me," she whispers, after a moment, " … we've a long way to go together."
Once they reached the foothills, Euphrosyne declared that they would be back to Kerebos Keep before Harvest Tide, which was just before the transition Ariel to Logos. That particular day would be best for divinations into the Karnors' physical conditions. "When we are close, I can send Eidothea to run ahead and inform the Keep that we need priestesses of Arcadia and Ashtoreth to hand," Syne tells Tasha, and then waits for the half-Vartan's approval of the suggestion.
"Tha's an excellent idea, do i'," Tasha tells Syne. "Will we need to take them to the Temples in the city proper, or will the Keep be enough?"
"The keep may be safer. The less crowds and ears, the better," Layth offers as advice.
"It will be better if they see them under conditions we control first," Euphrosyne notes. "They are unknown Heralds, and if we bring them to the Temples first they may fight over them."
Tasha nods to Layth, saying, "Their 'ealth is wha' matters mos' 'ere, bu' if lettin' the others know endangers tha', then you're righ'." To Syne, Tasha remarks, "Tha's fine. I wan' to always 'ave a way out for them, we won' risk them to anythin' we can' be sure of. I'm no' sure if me status as a 'Erald would be enough to turn aside the Temple's want."
"They would also make incredibly valuable sacrifices, being from Heaven," Syne notes. "After all, being sacrificed would get them home again, and the rewards would be high."
"That will not happen," Layth comments coolly.
"They'll 'ave to sen' me too, if they're goin' tha' route," Tasha declares with a hint of a growl in her voice. "Because they won' get to them 'cept over me corpse."
"They will be safe in the Keep," Euphrosyne says.
"Tha'll 'ave to do," Tasha says, relenting. She turns her eyes forward, scanning the horizon for the approaching city. "The artifacts we'll 'ave to be stored an' watched. I don' trus' those things, an' they're jus' as much a danger to others as to us. Don' let anyone know we 'ave 'em, an' keep 'em close. We don' need them ruinin' anyone else's mind." Then pats Eadwig, rubbing his head. "Jus' a bit more to go, Eadwig. Then you're 'ome, an' we can res' a bit. It's been a long journey, 'asn't it? An' jus' think, you'll be a 'ero."
