thinkinc

The Bane of Fate

                                               by H. Chase

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"The seed that was planted long ago now bursts forth, but the weeds and growths that are the tangled vines of evil do not seek the light, but the dark potential of all souls."  

-  Dyskmyrc the Corruptor, Architect of the Planes vs. 21:4


Part I


Kelsey felt the warmth of the sun as it crept through the window like a cat, slowly edging its way across the floor until it settled over the bed.  The heady smell of wild jasmine from the bushes outside tickled his nose, threatening to make him sneeze.  He fought it until the urge passed.

Damn it all.  He refused to open his eyes to acknowledge the morning.  I?m not awake. It isn?t time to get up.  Not yet.  That would mean that soon Cas?ira would rouse with a groan and begin talking about the day?s demands, and this peace would be gone.  

But eventually, his childish defiance gave way to the desire to see her.  It was so rare that he could watch her sleep anymore.  When he did open his eyes, gently blinking against the gilded morning light, he smiled.  She was curled up happily cradling a pillow.  Her soft snores somehow made her more feminine and vulnerable.  The light fell tenderly over her exposed curves, and the bruises that mottled her body were more apparent now than they had been last night.

This had been the first night in many they spent in a decent inn.  Cas always insisted on the best rooms available, and as he watched her sleep, peacefully tangled in the clean, soft sheets, he was grateful for her standards.  She deserved some kind of luxury after so many days and miles of battle and carnage.  It was more than a woman ought to bear.

He tried to roll over gently, wincing when the bed creaked beneath his weight.  He held his breath, waiting to see if she would stir, but her breathing remained steady.  Carefully, he slipped from beneath the sheet and crept out of bed.  The thick carpet was soft beneath his feet, and he wiggled his toes indulgently through the fibers.  

His robe was still slung haphazardly over the chair where he?d tossed it last night.  She?d been especially randy, and he was grateful for it, but the effort had exhausted him so that he?d neglected his nighttime ritual of tidying up.  Cas?ira frequently chided him for his fastidiousness, but it gave him comfort to go through the motions of setting things right.

?I can tell you?re nervous,? she had said to him out-of-the-blue on the road to Trademeet.  When he?d tried to deny it, she merely laughed and pointed out that he?d alphabetized his spell reagents, twice.  

He smiled at the memory as he lifted his robe and gave it a gentle shake.  It wasn?t too badly wrinkled, though it still smelled of dirt and sweat and blood.  He thought it unlikely that the inn would have the facilities for cleaning magical clothing.  He would probably have to take it to a specialist.

Slipping his arms into the sleeves, he shrugged on the finely crafted garment and felt the weight of it across his shoulders.  The magical infusions seeped into him, bringing him to a somewhat more coherent state. It would have to serve as it was for the time being.

Soulafein would already be awake, probably downstairs picking half-heartedly at what he called ?surfacer fare?, and scribbling notes in his poetry journal.  For some reason, it annoyed Kelsey that he took such an interest in ?kivvil? verse, though he?d never considered himself a racist.  In truth, it was because Cas?ira enjoyed it so much when Sola recited it for her, but he?d never admit that, even to himself.

Nonetheless, as he looked back at Cas?ira slumbering so serenely, he thought it would perhaps be best if he joined the drow for breakfast and left her to sleep.  After quietly drawing the curtains to keep the encroaching sunlight from her eyes, he silently slipped out of the room and started down the hallway.

?Morning Kelsey!? called Haer?dalis in his irrepressibly cheerful bardic lilt.  Kelsey flinched.

?Shhh!? he gestured desperately.  ?Cas?ira is still asleep.?

?Ohh,? Haer?dalis cringed dramatically and made a show of tiptoeing across the floor to join Kelsey.  He smelled too heavily of some kind of exotic spice oil.  ?The raven still nests, yes?  Well, that?s good for us.  Soon enough she?ll be ready to thrust us back into the fray, and it is far too glorious a day for that.  I feel a muse of fire for a song??

?I?m glad to hear it,? Kelsey whispered demonstratively, hoping Haer?dalis would take the cue and lower his voice.  ?Let?s head downstairs to talk, then.?

?Right, right,? he nodded vigorously and nearly skipped down the stairs, taking them two at a time, laughing at nothing and everything.  ?I wonder if there?s any pastry left!?

Kelsey sighed and shook his head, following down the steps to the inn?s spacious, amply appointed common room.  A few patrons sat talking and enjoying their breakfast, but it was largely empty at this hour.  The smell of baked goods reassuringly filled his senses, inspiring him with hunger and memories.  He thought briefly of his mother, who was never fond of cooking herself, but employed a chef with a gift for baking.  What was her name?  Hilriga?  Halegis?

He was still struggling to remember as he approached the table where Solaufein was, as he?d expected, hunched over his journal deep in thought.  His poached egg lay untouched and hardening on a wooden plate.  

?Good morning, Sola,? Kelsey ventured, half expecting the drow to continue to ignore him.  But, to his surprise and slight disappointment, Solaufein slowly drew his head up to look at Kelsey squarely.  His face, as usual, was a blank mask.

?Kelsey,? he nodded.  Then, as if he were practicing for some kind of performance, he slid his plate forward and gestured at the stale egg.  ?You are welcome to my meal.?

?Uh,? Kelsey groped for some manner of appropriate response, for he sensed that this was Solaufein?s attempt at civility.  ?No, thank you.  I, uh?don?t like poached eggs.?

?Very well,? Sola slid his plate back, but made no move to eat.  Without further attempt at conversation, he returned to his studying.  He was a strange, disquieting creature, Kelsey thought as he took a seat across the table from him.

Haer?dalis was chatting up the inn?s chef ? a young, appealingly plump woman who expressed her pleasure at his company by continuing to pile a medley of pastries onto his already full plate.  There was no way the willowy tiefling could eat all of it, but that didn?t seem to matter to either of them.  Kelsey guessed that a few days from now, Haer would produce one while they trudged through some forsaken wilderness and make a great production out of his resourcefulness.

But what he longed for was not pastry or bard tunes or tense, forced banter with his group.  More than anything he wished for all this adventuring to stop.  The days were protracted, and seemed to run into each other such that he had to consciously pause do the figures in his head when someone asked him how long he?d been on the road.  Cas?ira did not seem to care so much for keeping track, but then, she had nothing left behind her.  Kelsey, on the other hand, had abandoned much in the searching of his soul.

Now he felt that the search was drawing to a close, and yet closure was not forthcoming so long as he remained away from his home and his estranged family.  He felt guilty for wanting to leave the group, for Cas?ira had always supported him, both in battle and during the many times he?d rambled to her about his thoughts.  But the longer they traveled together, the more certain he felt that she was going to abandon him for her destiny, nonetheless.

It wasn?t anything that she said, merely the way her face set when she came upon some new revelation about her origins and providence.  The way she seemed to seclude within some inner private space as she mulled things over.  The way she measured her words so carefully when he asked her of her future with him.  Always diplomatic and sensitive, but rarely did they seem heartfelt.  The fire in her eyes seemed reserved for her internal battles, leaving Kelsey with only secondhand warmth.

?What?ll ya have, sir?? the serving wench?s voice was high and sweet, like the dulcet tinkling of a wind chime.  He hadn?t noticed her before, but now that he did, he smiled.  She was pretty in the way that Cas?ira wasn?t.  Innocent and rounded, like a blonde-haired cherub.  Her greatest aspiration was probably to marry a decent fellow and have a passel of children.  Not a bad ambition, in Kelsey?s judgment.

?Hmm?? he hadn?t given a thought to what he wanted to eat.  ?Whatever you think is good. You look like a woman of excellent taste,? Kelsey shot her a flirtatious, cheeky grin, and she regarded it skeptically.

?Uh huh,? she shrugged impassively and turned to fetch whatever she thought up for him, and he felt an immediate pang of humiliation and guilt for his idle trifling.  She doubtless thought he was just another boorish tourist, hoping for a chance to paw at her.

?Do you find her attractive?? Solaufein asked.  Kelsey was visibly startled and flushed with embarrassment that anyone had noticed.  It was hard to tell when Solaufein was paying attention.

?Not especially,? he muttered.  ?I?m just being friendly.?

?I see,? Solaufein nodded thoughtfully, his eyes moving deliberately from the girl to Kelsey, betraying no judgment.  But Kelsey was sure something was brewing in his pensive observation.

?Among humans,? Kelsey explained patronizingly, ?It is considered polite to give compliments when someone serves you.?

?Is it?? Sola arched an eyebrow.  ?She did not seem to respond favorably.?

?Not everyone does,? Kelsey added thinly.

?But, when one is in the service trade,? he pressed, ?Wouldn?t it be considered rude not to return a compliment favorably??

?I suppose,? Kelsey shifted and fingered the cuff of his robe.

?Then by that reasoning,? Sola continued with maddening logic, ?We should not pay for our meal, since courtesy is the duty of her service.?

?I don?t think that?s necessary in this case,? Kelsey cleared his throat and looked around the room for some kind of distraction.  Haer?dalis was still yammering with the chef, who showed no signs of making Kelsey?s breakfast anytime soon.  

?Rivvil orn quanth ukt karliik xuil natha resk'afar,? Solaufein was staring at Kelsey intently.

?Well, I know you said something about humans,? Kelsey smiled uneasily, but he was becoming rapidly irritated with Solaufein?s inscrutable air.  He had the faint notion that he?d just been insulted.

?I do not understand you,? Sola offered by way of explanation.  ?You are a tradesman, are you not?  You say that she has shown you disrespect and deficient service.  Yet you would pay her, and encourage it.  This does not make sense to me.?

?It?s just not that big of a deal,? Kelsey sighed impatiently.  ?She?s probably just not used to people being polite to her.?

?But you said??

?I know what I said,? Kelsey interrupted.  ?But it is more of a guideline than a rule.?

?I see,? replied Solaufein, though Kelsey doubted that he did.  But Sola seemed satisfied with his answer, and returned to his scribbling.  Kelsey sat for a moment watching him, and then felt bad for his brusqueness.  His questions hadn?t been unreasonable.

?I?m sorry, Sola,? he offered.

?Why, abbil?? Solaufein looked surprised and confused.

?I didn?t mean to snap at you,? he sighed and fidgeted with his protection ring.  ?I?m just tired.?

?Did you not sleep??  Solaufein asked with no apparent insinuation about his relationship with Cas?ira.  In fact, ever since he?d joined their group, Sola had given no indication that he acknowledged their romance at all.  

?I did,? he replied with chagrin.  ?Thank you for asking.  I slept fine.  I?m just still tired.  We?ve been traveling a lot lately, and I guess I just haven?t gotten caught up on my rest yet.?

?You require more rest than others??

?Well,? he smiled wanly.  ?I am only human, after all.?

?Yes,? Solaufein nodded as if this made it all make sense.  That offended Kelsey, but he decided that it was best to let this go, else he find himself in another awkward discussion about human penchants.  He was about to return to his guilty ruminations when he heard familiar voices coming down the stairs.

??twice a day and you will find those bruises will disappear very quickly,? Anomen was talking in his usual self-possessed manner.  The very sound of his voice set Kelsey on edge.

?Thank you,? Cas?ira was still hoarse from sleep, but she sounded genuinely cheerful.  ?So I just apply it directly??

?Yes, precisely,? he replied.  ?I would demonstrate, but propriety would not allow such presumption.  However, if you would like, I could summon a healer.?

?No, that?s alright,? she chuckled.  ?I think I can figure out how to smear by myself.?

?Of course,? he said, clearing his throat.

?This is very considerate of you, Anomen.  As ever, you are useful as well as ornamental.?

Anomen beamed radiantly.  ?Well, a fair lady should not have to suffer the marks of battle, however valiantly earned.?

Kelsey repressed an encroaching surge of magical energy he was sure would manifest as something horribly acidic.  Anomen took the notion of protectiveness too far, and frequently masked it in the moral shroud of chivalry.  It vexed Kelsey, but there wasn?t much he could do about it without looking like a jealous fool.  Making an issue of his overtures would only provide more fodder for his self-righteous pride.

?It is my honor to serve, my lady,? he flourished a bow.  It was not yet noon, and Anomen was already wearing his breastplate.  Secretly, Kelsey suspected that it was because it made him look bigger, though Anomen claimed that he always liked to be prepared for any eventualities.  

Yes, just in case orcs should happen to storm the inn and demand the surrendering of all baked goods. Kelsey thought with contempt.

?Well, since you?re so eager,? Cas?ira crooned, patting Anomen on the cheek, ?Why don?t you serve me breakfast.  I?m starving.?

?I?ll get it for you,? Kelsey interrupted.  ?I was just ordering some myself.?

?Would a traditional breakfast satisfy, my lady?  Eggs and bacon, perhaps??  Anomen ignored Kelsey entirely.  Cas?ira turned and flashed Kelsey a disarming, sympathetic smile, and then rested her hand on Anomen?s muscular arm.  Kelsey twitched.

?That sounds wonderful,? she replied with much more grace than he thought was reasonable.  As Anomen trotted off to fulfill her request, he shot Kelsey a smug, reproachful glare.  Cas?ira shook her head as she watched him, then started toward the table.

?I don?t know what kind of black magic he uses to get his energy, Helm forgive him.  Good morning, Kelsey dear,? she bent and kissed him lightly on the forehead.  He wanted to grab her and savage her at that moment, but instead he forced a smile.

He stood and offered his chair so she could sit, before Anomen came rushing up to do it for him.  She smiled and thanked him absently as she settled in, brushing her hair back from her face, which looked tired and lovely.  He took the chair beside her, hoping Anomen might pick somewhere else to alight his arrogance, but doubted very much that he would.  

?Did you sleep well?? he asked, trying not to sound annoyed.

?I did?? she spoke around a yawn, then rubbed her eyes.  ?Too well.  When I woke up, it took me a few minutes to remember where I was.?

?I never have that problem,? Solaufein commented, seeming to suddenly come alive at her presence.  

?Well, you wouldn?t,? she grinned.  ?What with all this sun everywhere.?

?Yes, quite,? his stoic face change into a faint, wistful smile.  ?But I am becoming fond of mornings.  It is a good time for quiet reflection.?

?And what are you reflecting upon this morning?? she leaned forward engagingly.

?The nature of evil,? he replied flatly, with no more passion than if he had just mentioned the weather.  Cas?ira blinked, clearly taken aback by his directness.  An awkward moment passed before she answered.

?Yes?  What of it??

?Malla jalil, tell me...Do you think that I am evil?? he folded his arms and leaned on the table, his brow furrowing handsomely with worry.

?Explicitly?  No,? she seemed relieved, for some reason.  Kelsey wondered at her caginess.  He would have to ask her about it later.  ?I don?t think you?d be considered good by most standards of judgment, however.?

?Because I am drow?? his gold eyes were deeply focused.

?No, not exactly,? she hedged, considering her answer.  ?Though I think drow are largely looked upon as an evil society, I don?t think that necessitates that a given individual drow is invariably evil.?

?But you think that I am, if not explicitly so,? he concluded.

?Well,? she began carefully.  ?You do things for your own reasons, rather than for a higher moral purpose.  Of course, so do I.  But don?t tell Anomen that.  I don?t think he?d understand.?

?Understand what?? Anomen set a plate of steaming fried eggs and bacon in front of her, and then took the seat on her opposite side, just as Kelsey had hoped he wouldn?t.  Anomen?s own plate was heaped with an assortment of meats, cheese and bread.  Kelsey stared at it enviously.  Evidently, the wench had forgotten all about his meal.

?Nothing,? Cas?ira graciously sidestepped.  ?Solaufein and I were just discussing philosophy.  This looks delicious, thank you.?

?My privilege, as always.  But, my lady, you know that I have been thoroughly schooled in the philosophic arts and sciences by the Order,? he sniffed indignantly.  ?I am quite confident that I could understand whatever it is you are discussing.?

?Of course,? Cas?ira patted his hand reassuringly.  ?We have not reached an academic point, yet.  If it does, we would certainly consult you.?

Cas?ira?s deference to Anomen?s boundless ego was maddening to Kelsey.  He wanted to strangle him and then shake Cas?ira by the shoulders until she came round from whatever fanciful idea she had of him.  Her patience for his blustering was inexplicable.

?Actually,? Solaufein interjected, ?Perhaps you could help me with this matter, Anomen.?

?Certainly,? he held up his hand.  ?One moment, yet.  I must offer my morning prayer to Helm.?

?Aren?t you supposed to do that in private?? Kelsey couldn?t keep the derision from his voice.  The man was intolerably portentous: praying in front of everyone just to demonstrate his piety before deigning to offer his moral guidance.  

?Helm hears all prayers given with a true heart,? Anomen retorted.  Kelsey rolled his eyes, and then felt a sharp jab to his ribs from Cas?ira?s elbow.  He suppressed a snarl.

They all waited as Anomen muttered a lengthy unintelligible appeal to his patron god.  After he was satisfied that proper homage had been paid, he took a large bite of a sausage and returned his attention to Solaufein, who had been watching him with curious, quiet regard.

?Now, then,? Anomen continued after laboriously swallowing his meat, ?You had questions for me??

?Yes,? Solaufein began slowly, ?Do you believe that the drow are an evil race, or an evil society??

Anomen looked perplexed, and used the excuse of taking another bite of his breakfast to bide his time for an answer.

?An evil race,? he answered with resolute finality.

?I see,? Solaufein replied.  If he was insulted by Anomen?s judgment, it was not evident.  Cas?ira?s eyes moved from Anomen to Solaufein with open interest as she nibbled a piece of bacon.

?While I consider you a worthy warrior, and a comrade of sorts,? Anomen continued, ?I do not feel that you aspire to a higher moral purpose.  You serve your own interests, and this opens you to the fallibility of your instincts, which we must all strive to temper and avert.?

?Then by that reasoning,? Solaufein countered, ?If I were to adopt a higher moral purpose, I would cease to be evil.?

?In theory,? Anomen thought for a moment.  ?But I have never met any drow with regard for superior morality.?

?Still,? he argued, ?should I adopt such a foundation, then the drow would cease to be an evil race, in your eyes.?  

Anomen leaned back in his seat, and stroked his beard as he contemplated the matter.

?In such an unlikely event,? Anomen enounced each word precisely, realizing as he did that his principles were at stake,  ?That you should whole-heartedly devote yourself to a truly higher purpose of righteousness, this still does not refute my position.  One extraordinary exception would not disprove the general rule.?

?Would it not?? Sola challenged him.  ?A rule is an absolute, and should I prove an exception, then the rule would be rendered untrue.  Unless I have misunderstood your meaning.  Perhaps this is just a? how did m?elzar Kelsey put it?  A guideline??

Anomen scoffed as he cast a sidelong glance toward Kelsey, who felt the pit of his stomach fall.  He hoped against hope that Solaufein would not bring up his flirtations with the wench (who was still nowhere to be found) in order to illustrate his point.

?One oughtn?t look to the peddler-mageling for defining principles in any case,? Anomen snorted derisively.  ?Rest assured, these are absolutes that we are discussing.  Do not allow yourself to be morally sidetracked by? vague convictions.?

Kelsey was nearly biting his tongue through to keep from retorting, but Cas?ira?s tightening hand on his arm stayed him quiet.

?Yet, it follows that if your rule is absolute,? Solaufein smoothly redirected Anomen?s focus, ?An exception would disprove it.?

?What is your point?? So far, Anomen was more confused than annoyed, but his patience, like his morality, had an absolute threshold.

?I have been considering many things since I have joined Cas?ira,? his voice took on an introspective inflection.  ?You have a secure position in rivvil society, Anomen, for which you have striven all your life to reach.  I admire your tenacity, because I too strove for a similar rank of respect among my people.?

?An evil rank,? Anomen added.  ?One that preys upon the weak and rewards the ruthless and the selfish.?

?To your way of thinking, yes,? he paused, considering.  ?But among my people, it is viewed much differently.  To aid the weak, as a paladin of your station frequently does, is considered a grievous crime.  It is believed that encouraging weakness will create a weak civilization, thereby reducing the quality of life for everyone.?

?Quality of life is not a higher purpose,? Anomen retorted tersely.

?Perhaps,? he mused.  ?But then, I am no longer part of drow society.  I left for my own reasons.?

?Which are still unclear to me,? Anomen pointedly replied.

?As I have explained before, I do not agree with the current politics of the drow,? he explained.  ?As you saw in Ust Natha, the matriarchs no longer serve the betterment of the drow society.  I believe in time, this will resolve itself, and perhaps I can one day return.?

?You had a point, didn?t you??  Anomen took another bite of his sausage, as if to punctuate his question.

?Yes,? he continued, unruffled by Anomen?s snide manner,  ?I must, through necessity, conform to kivvil social mores, though at times I find it confusing and counter-intuitive.  I?m sure you would feel similarly about the drow.  But there are many aspects that I find worthy and comforting.  For instance, this desire to serve a higher moral purpose.  I have been considering this point most seriously.?

?Really.  Well,? Anomen huffed, ?I should tell you now that the Order won?t have you.?

?You don?t know that, Anomen,? Cas?ira finally interrupted.  Kelsey was wondering how long she was going to let the pompous lout browbeat Sola.  ?The Order has been known to take in those of many races and backgrounds should they prove themselves worthy.?

?Bah,? he waved his hand dismissively.  ?Stuff and nonsense.  The Order has never in its history admitted a drow among the ranks of the honored.  Not even so much as a stableboy.?

?And so, rivven,? Solaufein?s countenance chilled several degrees, ?Despite my good deeds, a drow would not be fit to shovel your horse?s manure.  Is that your view??

?Has anyone seen Edwin??  Cas?ira quickly interceded, hoping they would both take the hint and drop the matter.  She nodded shrewdly toward Solaufein, who leaned back in his seat and held his tongue, but the storm in his eyes betrayed his umbrage at Anomen?s bigotry.  Anomen merely chewed his breakfast haughtily, as if nothing untoward had transpired.

?He said he was going to look for a library,? Haer?dalis chimed in.  They all turned around simultaneously in surprise.  Evidently, he had been lurking behind them for some time, quietly listening to the conversation.  Kelsey suspected that he?d used his planar abilities to make himself less noticeable, since he seemed to just pop out of the ether.  He was amazed that the tiefling hadn?t commented before now, considering that he knew the pressures of racial prejudice very well.

?Well, he was up uncharacteristically early,? Cas?ira mused sardonically.  ?I don?t think he?s seen the morning sun in weeks.  I was beginning to wonder if he was becoming a vampire.?

?One could only hope,? Anomen sneered.  ?What I wouldn?t give for such an invitation.?

?L'zhaunil d'natha noamuth auflaque,? Solaufein muttered.

?Speak plainly if you have something to say, drow,? Anomen snapped.

?And so I shall,? he replied, with cold razor exactitude.  ?You have the wisdom of a stray dog, rivven.  You wander aimlessly through the world, confident of your filthy prejudices, oblivious to the fact that you are regarded with only disgust and pity.  Why Cas?ira tolerates your stupidity, I have yet to fully comprehend.?

Anomen blinked in astonishment, then stood abruptly, reaching for his flail.  

?By Helm, you shall regret that you ever crawled from your black hole, fiend!? he bellowed furiously.

Before he could free his weapon, Cas?ira grabbed Anomen by the forearm, giving him a sharp yank.  He swung around, nearly knocking her backward.  Kelsey shot up from his own chair, all too ready to reduce Anomen to a neat pile of paladin ash.  His hands were already warming.  Haer?dalis merely backed away, glancing around the room at the surprised, fearful patrons who waited anxiously to see the fireworks.

?Calm yourselves!? Cas?ira?s voice took on an authority that gave everyone pause.  Anomen hulked over the table flush with murderous ire while Solaufein remained seated, glaring at him with icy hostility.  But neither of them moved to inflict more on the other beyond antagonistic looks.  Kelsey flexed his hands nervously trying to rid himself of the magical fire that begged to be freed from his fingertips.  His heart raced with adrenaline.

?Well,? Haer?dalis chuckled.  ?Wasn?t that exciting!  Cas?ira, I was thinking that you might join me for a stroll to the market.  I was hoping to have my harp restrung.?

And then something within Kelsey snapped.

?And you want her to pay for it, no doubt!? Kelsey found himself blurting out before he realized what he?d said.  Everyone momentarily forgot the hostilities between Anomen and Solaufein, and merely stared at him.  Haer?dalis smiled and shrugged.

?If she should offer,? he replied glibly,  ?Shall I refuse??

?If you had any decency, you would. You would earn your gold like the rest of us,? Kelsey wasn?t even sure where he was going with this or why.  Perhaps it was transference, since he could not direct his ire where he felt it belonged: squarely through the heart of that insufferable Anomen.

?Decency?? Haer looked sincerely confused.  ?What are you talking about, my friend??

?You know? decency?  The act of being decent??  Kelsey felt his outrage growing out of control.  ?It?s that thing you do for ?your friends?!  It?s the way you act toward those who you care about!  It?s when you set aside your own petty desires long enough to see what she does for you!  It?s when you??

?Kelsey?? Cas?ira?s voice was steely and cold.  ?Will you join me upstairs for a moment??

?What!? Kelsey was too angry to stop now.  ?Now that Kelsey speaks, no one wants to listen?  Well, I?m tired of always being the nice guy.  I?m sick of Anomen raving like a fanatical lunatic anytime anyone so much as hints at disagreement with him.  I?m tired of Haer?dalis forever begging from the party?s treasury for inane things that, if he had a modicum of accountability, he ought to be able to afford on his own.  I?m sick of Sola?s pouting!  I?m sick to death of Edwin?s constant invective!?

Everyone stared wordlessly at Kelsey, who was now shaking with emotion.  He was shocked at himself, especially since he hadn?t lit something on fire, yet.  He wanted to.

?But most of all,? he ground out through clenched teeth.  ?I am weary of your tolerance for all of it, Cas?ira.  I have followed and I have loved you.  I have given you everything you?ve asked of me, body and soul.  And yet every day I wake up with a feeling of dread knowing that I?ll have to endure another day with these abusive, irrational ingrates you keep in your orbit.?

A long moment dragged by.  Somewhere in the kitchen, a pan clattered.  Someone coughed.

?Bah,? Anomen snorted, casting his hands up as he strode toward the door.  ?Enough.  I will suffer no more of this fool and his rantings.?

?Don?t you dare walk away from me,? Kelsey snarled.  ?You, least of all.?

?I suggest you recall, worthless dilettante, that if it were not for Cas?ira's fondness for you ? though by Helm?s bones, I know not why ? I would have long since seen you on your way,? Anomen pointed at him with a menacing glare. ?Do not tempt me now.?

?Kelsey,? Cas?ira spoke quietly, taking his arm and pulling him toward the stairs.  ?I am not asking.  Join me.  Now.?

Reluctantly, he followed her upstairs.  She was stony and silent, and the staircase might as well have been a mountain so slow did time creep as he trudged behind her resolute frame.  As his temper cooled, his anger was replaced by a distinctly cold feeling. Fear.  Fear for his very life.  Did he truly love her so much that her wrath would terrify him so?  Had he really fallen so deep?  Or was it something more?

He did not have time to think it through before she was behind him, closing the bedroom door with a slam.

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[To be continued...]

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