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Post by Joliette Thorne on Jun 28, 2006 22:42:37 GMT -5
Kaida hums quietly to herself as she enjoys her stroll around Rynvale. She blinks as she sees a familiar face, and the soft-spoken words escape her. "Weren't you supposed to be dead?" Schalk 's body lies motionless on the beach, just past the waveline in the dry sand. The elvergast does not appear to be wet, so he cannot have come from the water, but nevertheless he is there, lying face down in the sand, like a man who has washed up on the shore.
Kaida looks at the man in sand with a worried look, slowly she moves towards him and kneels down, rolling him over onto his back “Lord Schalk?”
Schalk opens his eyes warily, a blank look on his face, his eyes peering into nothingness. Then, suddenly he jerks his arms upwards as he cries out. His hands push away the familiar woman and the elvergast rolls away, speaking incomprehensible words in his native tongue rapidly, though his tone implies he is rambling. His eyes roll as he stands up and turns to the water, runs and drops himself in the muddy sand.
Kaida walks towards the elvergast, kneeling down in the sand, unaware of the fact that the muddy soil stains her leggings. She takes off her gauntlets and places a hand on Schalk's shoulder “Are you alright?”
Schalk twitches as her hand touches his shoulder, then a loud cry, his face wild as he turns his empty gaze on the draconian. A mad laugh erupts from him, a ragged cackle that echoes along the shore, it's sound reaches over the sound of the waves. Laughing, the elvergast throws himself on his back into the wet sand, jerking his limbs uncontrollably.
Kaida flinches as the elvergast throws himself on the sand, making small drops of muddy sand to fly to her face. Wiping them away she silently stares at Schalk for a moment. Then she softly says, in a gentle and soothing tone, "It's alright... I think..." She bites her bottom lip, hesitating before softly continuing. "Are you hungry? Or thirsty?" She reaches into one of her pockets and pulls out a bottle of water, and holds it out to the elvergast. She hopes to gain his trust, and perhaps calm him enough with food and water to get some reasonable words out of him.
Schalk looks at the bottle, not understanding anything. Suddenly a look of comprehension dawns on his features and for a moment he is calm. Then very suddenly, his hand flies forward and his open palm hits the bottle, smashing it to pieces. The elvergast reaches for the staff that lies beside him and points its tip at Kaida, his chin moving slightly, his lower lip twitching, as though he is about to cry, yet no tears flow from his eyes, instead an angry look appears in them. He tilts his head to one side slowly, showing a roughly tattooed image of a noose on his cheek, a tattoo that was not there before he left.
Kaida flinches as the bottle is smashed to pieces and some glass pieces pierce her skin. As the tip of the staff is pointed at her, she slowly raises her hands. Her eyes lock with Schalk's, a kind and gentle look in them as she calmly stares at him for a while. She notes the tattoo but makes no comment, now realising that he truly doesn't understand her. She bites her bottom lip for a moment, wondering what to do. Hoping that he'll get what she's saying by her tone. She softly, soothingly speaks to him "It's alright, Schalk. I'm not going to hurt…or poison you, or something. It's alright" Slowly she reaches in one of her pockets and takes out another bottle. Keeping her eye on his staff she slowly raises it to take a sip. "See?", she softly mutters, and holds out the bottle, and the rest of the water, out for him to take. Softly she mutters, "I truly mean no harm. I'm only trying to help, honest..."
Schalk moves the tip of his staff to the bottle, but does not smash it. Without another word he drops himself onto his back, lying perfectly still, staring up at the sky. A small ragged crying escapes him, while his chest inflates and deflates rapidly, the marks of a man in great distress and very much emotional. His hands cover his face as tears escape him. For long moments he lies there, crying, shaking, not aware of anything...
Kaida frowns in a worried way as he drops on his back. As the gentle side of her nature takes over, she responds without thinking. Once again she shifts in order to sit by his side as her hand reach out to gently, lightly touch his arm. She waits for him to get used to her before she slowly moves upwards, over his shoulder, cheek and finally tangle in his hair. Gently she massages his scalp as she softly begins to hum a soothing melody. She remembers this action calming herself, and others, and she hopes that it will work yet again.
Schalk flinches at the touch, his crying eyes locking upon Kaida's kind face for a moment. For a long moment he gazes at her. Eventually he looks around, uncomprehending what goes on. The elvergast sits up, looking into the distance, crying still, but indeed calmed slightly, yet, it is still clear there is no sense in him.
Kaida slowly retreats her hand and stops her singing to silently sit with him for a while. She studies him from the corner of her eye before she sighs. She turns to face him, and softly speaks to him though she knows he doesn't understand "It will be alright, Schalk. I'll take care of you until you're back to normal, I promise" She offers him a gentle smile, though there is worry in her eyes. Reassuringly she mutters, "It will be alright, you'll be okay in a while..." Then she averts her eyes again as she wonders what to do, and how to calm and soothe her friend.
Schalk looks at Kaida for another moment, then drops himself back onto his back, brushing the long, dirt hair from his face. The elvergast peers at the sky, muttering to himself. His mutterings are still incomprehensible and crazed, but among the words one can make out at least the following terms and names "Arnald" "Emmerik" "Miklagard" and "kerker".
Kaida frowns in a confused way, as the words don't make sense to her. Silently she watches him for a moment before suddenly stating: "You'll get soaked if you stay in that muddy sand, you know. You should probably go back to the dry sand." She frowns as she softly mutters to herself, "But how can I get you there without you attacking me?" She sighs and shakes her head, looking at her bloody hand where some pieces of the glass still pierce her skin. Again she ignores then in order to silently study Schalk again, frowning mildly in thought.
Schalk remains lying in the wet sand, his ramblings continuing, the terms of moments earlier coming back time over and over again.
Kaida sighs and shakes her head. Softly she mutters, " I can't do this..." Decision made she slowly stands and turns to face Schalk. "Right...I'm going to get help...", she softly tells him, yet knows it's useless, "So stay here, okay?" She spreads her fingers and makes a downward movement with her hands as she slowly walks backwards. "Stay...you understand?"
Schalk lies still, completely ignoring all that goes on, even the waves that crash around him.
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Post by Joliette Thorne on Jun 28, 2006 22:43:43 GMT -5
Leoxander had lowered his eyes when hers no longer devoted to the stare. When he hesitated to answer the first question, the second came, and he couldn't entirely hide the surprise, considering both brows lifted and his eyes returned questionably back toward her. In that glance, he took in the view of her armor, and the state of it. "...I'll help." He wasn't sure what with, but he already agreed. "Then I'll accept yours in gettin' this rubbish aboard." Perhaps unrealized, his attentive gaze lingered on Tenebrae. Kaida softly mutters "Arnald, Emmerik, Miklagard and kerker...Who are they, and how do I find them?" She sighs deeply, nursing her bloody hand which has tiny pieces of glass in it. Spotting both Tenebrae as Leoxander she bites her bottom lip and wonders to herself if they, perhaps, can help. Though she hesitates to ask just yet.
Tenebrae 's glance wavered toward the draconian who'd come into view, but only very briefly. "Of course I'll help you take that..." Speech halted, the jovial tone fading. "Erm.. Miss? Can I help you?" The girl was staring so. Kaida averts her eyes for a moment before nodding. She raises her head to gaze at Tenebrae as she softly explains "I...I found a man named Schalk, I'm not sure if you know him? But there...there is something wrong with him. He's speaking in a strange language and...well...acting weird" She shifts before softly continuing "Do you know anyone who might be able to help?"
Leoxander followed Tenebrae's gaze to Kaida. Ah, the infamous studderer; he remembered her on the fields of undead near Milous. Though her murmur seemed to be in tact, Leo remained silent, waiting the Necromancer's question to be answered. Leoxander 's expression changed entirely at the name spoken. His gaze darted briefly to Tenebrae, brow knit in a puzzled expression, then he glanced the direction Kaida had come from, while pushing a coin into a random fisherman's hand with a request to watch over the ship supplies bargained over. He looked ready to jog off, as soon as he knew... "Where...? Where's he at?"
Tenebrae said to Kaida, "Schalk? By the gods... he's been gone so long. And strange, you say?" Her features clouded with growing concern, a glance thrown toward Leoxander. "Think we'd best take a look, post haste, yeah?" She was by the girl's side in moments, gaze intent on the draconian's. "Take us to him, please? We're friends."
Kaida looks relieved, as she apparently has found the help she needs. Without hesitation she turns, calling over her shoulder. "It's this way, there is a sandy beach near here. We'd better hurry, I don't know what he might've done while I was gone."
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Post by Joliette Thorne on Jun 28, 2006 22:44:47 GMT -5
Schalk lies on his back in the wet sand, muttering in his native tongue. Mutters, ramblings to himself, mutterings that keep up even as the waves crash around his head. Even as the sound of footsteps can be very lightly heard and unfamiliar shadows stretch across the beach, his form remains still and he appears not to notice anything.
Kaida sighs relieved as Schalk is still where she left him and moves over to him. Silently she stares at him for a moment before turning back to the two. Softly she mutters "See? I...I wish to help him, but I don't know how."
Leoxander was Kaida's shadow during the run, just a step behind her and eerily silent, to the point she might have checked behind her several times to make certain they were still following. When white sand gave way beneath his weight and half buried dark footwear, Leo's eyes were roaming the distance, and he spotted his friend at once. Not thinking about the poor draconian woman's feelings, he all but shoved her aside to sprint passed, toward the water, where the tide would have washed over Schalk's head entirely in just hours. Even before reaching the elvergast, he was calling out for a response, jogging to a stop beside him, where he'd kneel. "Schalk? Hey buddy, s'me, Leo..."
Kaida makes a soft surprised sound as she's shoved to the side, but manages to keep her balance. For a moment she hesitates, before deciding to stay out of the way of the two, knowing they can probably be of better help then she. Folding her hands, her worried gaze never leaves Schalk as she stands a bit to the side.
Tenebrae wasn't -all- that far behind, though those damnable heels of hers sank hard to the sand and slowed her pace somewhat. It was a few breathspans later she arrived beside Leo, another to be knelt by Schalk’s side. "Elvergast... what's happened to you?" Her face tilted up toward Leo's, eyes widened with concern, before she looked down again to the elf's rugged face, the flower she'd carried with her from the ship, now a little limp and blood-stained, tucked behind one ear, those soft fingers lowered to test Schalk's brow. "He doesn't seem feverish..." A sharp glance was cast Kaida's way. How long has he been here, like this?"
Schalk turns his face to Leoxander, his expression as blank as ever, his eyes narrowing slightly, but no sign of comprehension given in any way.The ragged tattoo of a noose on his cheek shows as his hair is washed away by another wave of salt water, the sign that something happened to him, something serious. Yet the elvergast seems not to recognize the man, nor does he seem able to recount his tale
Kaida shakes her head, frowning mildly as her gaze drifts to Tenebrae and she softly confesses "I do not know. I only just found him, and once I knew I wasn't able to help him I ran to get help. I probably know less of his condition then you do," Again she shifts, her gaze returning to Schalk as she softly asks, "Is there any way I can help?"
Leoxander fell quiet, able to comprehend that he was not recognized in Schalk's mind, or whatever remained of it. His jaw compressed in thought, listening to Kaida, trying to recall what little he could recall of Schalk's situation, since he'd escaped the obsidian pool. Visibly, Leo flinched and shuddered, as if memory of that horrific place effected him like a sickness. He regained his composure in a heartbeat, and refocused his concern on the Elvergast. Shrugging off his pack, his eyes roamed Schalk's form for visible wounds, and signs of internal injuries.
Schalk flinches at the touch of Tene's fingers to his forehead. His reaction is exactly as it was earlier when Kaida touched him: the elvergast rolls away and clutching his staff he lashes out violently, half standing, uncontrolled.
Leoxander reacted to Schalk's violence by leaning back with an inked arm reaching across Tenebrae's upper chest, as if protecting her by encouraging her to lean back. "Nah, don't touch him just yet..."
Kaida takes a small step forward as Schalk lashes out, though she doesn't move over to him. Tilting her head to the side in a almost curious way, she studies both Leoxander's and Schalk's reaction. It obvious to her that she's missing a lot of information, but keeps a respectful silence. Waiting patiently until she can help.
Tenebrae had no sooner felt a tattooed arm cross in front of her than the weapon came swinging... She recoiled, rocking back on her heels to land on her behind in the sand. Schalk's staff was both heard and felt as it narrowly passed by her face, the hiss and swish of it going by a shock to her. Scrambling back, she threw herself forward, then in a single motion to her feet, arms wide and hands raised in supplication. "Schalk... it's Tene. Please, calm down..." He clearly wasn't himself. Tenebrae looked to Leo. "Maybe you..."
Leoxander jerked his head back just in time to barely miss a sore jaw in the morning, and a brief glance was spared to Kaida to make certain that one was keeping her distance. Meanwhile, his free hand, quick as it was, went to catch hold of the end of the staff swung, hoping to halt the danger before it could become any wilder. Gloved grip would tighten around a successful capture.
Schalk drops back into a sitting position in the sand. Slowly his ramblings begin to come back, incomprehensible for anyone, yet indeed the terms "Arnald", "Emmerik", "Miklagard"and "kerker"come back each time. The elvergast no longer takes notion of those looking at him, wondering what is going on with him, but seems to have turned back into his own mind, unaware of everything around him.
Leoxander did the usual, listening, rather than speaking. It was the mad man's voice he heard next, and mismatched eyes squinted slightly at the foreign words, names, or whatever. Judging by the syllables he'd heard Kaida mutter beneath her breath upon her arrival, they were the same. Now he spoke beneath his own breath: "Miklagard..." Leoxander lifted his head; the word he'd spoken, he knew, somewhere. Recognition showed in different coloured eyes after the pass of seconds.
Tenebrae stared at her long-time friend, pained to see no recognition in those blue eyes of his, always so bright... They weren't so now, looking dull and empty. Her voice was tight, quiet, addressing Leoxander. "If we can't touch him, how are we going to get him somewhere more comfortable?" She made as if to move forward again, but hesitated. "What the hells has done this..." But she knew, and the knowledge seared her no less than it had with each of her friends and loved ones' emergence from the Pool, all marred in some way. Leo's soft repetition of Schalk's word had her startle. "Emmerik... Oh, gods... Jackie!" Schalk suddenly looks up, his eyes still blank and unrecognising , yet a look appears on his face that shows some comprehension ''Jackie'' he mutters softly, breaking his ramblings. For long he is silent, unmoving, nothing happening, though a tear seems to trickle from his eye, along his cheek, across the tattoo, falling into the wet sand. Kaida bows her head as she steps back, knowing it's not her place to do anything anymore. Allowing the other two to take care of their friend, she tries to stay as silent as possible, looking as if she's trying to blend in the background.
Leoxander rested his arms down on top of an elevated knee, his gaze narrowed not cruelly, but intently upon his nautical accomplice. Schalk's behaviour was a mystery, but as for the name repeated, he had his knowledge. When the necromancer and the elvergast seemed to connect on a name, Leo was still watching and listening, and expectant look given to the vampiress in hopes she would explain. "Jackie..?" Soon digging his lowered pack, he searched for something to offer carefully and harmlessly Schalk's way. Leoxander had a very plain silver flask, relatively cool to the touch, inside was the potent scent and taste of Leoxander's preferred drink, though he hadn't had any of it that day. The whisky was offered out at arms' length, hoping the guy wouldn't take another swing with his staff. "Here, Mate. Might calm you down some."
Tenebrae brought herself to kneel by Leo's side, knees sinking in the soft grit of the sand. Her eyes watched Schalk still, the vampires' lower lip trembling a little as she spoke softly, in aside to the Captain. "Schalk has this enemy, a powerful man named Arnald, and his goon Emmerik. Emmerik - I met the vile thing, believe me, he is capable of this - took Schalk's fiancée Jackie, lovely girl, and ..." Her head canted, lips brought close to the rogue's ear. "The bastard cut her head off, sent it to Schalk in a basket... Leo, these people are -evil- and I fear they've done something..." Her lips compressed, eyes cast back to the elvergast.
Schalk refrains from swinging his staff at the rogue, instead he looks at the flask without knowing what to do. After long consideration he takes the flask and empties its contents onto the sand. A grin appears on his face and a mad cackle escapes him. Throwing back his head the elvergast laughs in an insane manner, dropping to lie on his back, and staring at the sky. It is clear that in a way, this made sense to him, but indeed, it also becomes clear that in no way does the elvergast realise anything that goes on.
Leoxander remained silent throughout the story, only once taking his gaze off Schalk, and then, briefly. He was alert, prepared in case his fragile mind should crack, and present a problem or threat. Though, when the worst he did was waste his sleep aid that night, he spoke calmly. "Miklagard..." Leo kept his voice low, sitting back in a crouched position, his gaze lingering on the prone elvergast, covered in wet sand. "I've heard and know it to be a trading route, not used much any more... not many men can take the cold..." A pause, and his voice became more business like, presenting the facts he knew from a lifetime of sometimes hard experience. "It's a ship pass named for a place rumoured to be beyond. 'The Great City'... Miklagard."
Tenebrae said to Leoxander, "That mark. On his cheek. It's new." She lifted her chin toward their friend. "The hanged man?" She thought of his experience in the tree. "I have no idea what it means. But he didn't have it before he went."
Kaida sighs as her eyes never stray from Schalk's form. Realising he's probably going to get cold soon, worry takes over and she moves without thinking. Kneeling besides Schalk she slowly reaches out, giving him time to shy away, to place a gentle hand on his shoulder. Softly she says "I'm going to move you now, is that okay Schalk?" even though she knows he can't understand her. Silently she waits for his response, focussing all her attention on Schalk for now, and forgetting about the other two.
Leoxander gave a rather casual shrug, considering the morbid topic. "He was hanging from a tree the first time I saw him... after..." The obsidian pool would not be mentioned, the sentence went unfinished. Tenebrae watched the girl's approach to the elvergast, alarm in her eyes, though Tene didn’t move to stop her. Leo's reply had her frowning. "He's the only one who knows for certain..." She shook her head, slowly. "I don't think he's going to be explaining right away." She used Leo's shoulder as a brace, as she rose. "Where'll we take him?"
Leoxander followed the Necromancer's stare once more, to Kaida, and for a moment, he wanted to think that if she was going to be dumb enough to close in on a crazy guy with a bat, she deserved a smack upside the head. However, he called out to her, just a mild warning. "I'd keep your distance, lady."
Schalk does not move away from the touch, but indeed, he makes no move or gives any indication of knowing what the draconian wants. The elvergast merely remains lying in the sand, laughing still. The sound of his mad cackles much lower now. Moments pass, as waves roll onto the beach, gulls cry and nothing but his soft chuckles and these sounds are heard. Schalk sits up, suddenly moving his body in a sow motion to sit up. Tears begin to fill his blue eyes ''Rosbranda'' he mutters, as his tears fall ''Rothilda'' his breath becomes unstable and ragged as his crying intensifies ''Moei........Jackie......doot.... Emmerik''
Leoxander would stand a moment later, dusting his gloved hands though grains of sand dug irritably into the fingerless cut of black leather. "I'm not sure we could convince him all the way to the Salty Dog... There's a summer house, near, but I'm not sure if the owners have been in recently." And whenever they did stop in, they probably upgraded security considering they'd been well cleaned out by some heartless rogue...
Kaida smiles gently at Schalk before looking up at Leoxander. Softly she explains "I touched him before, he didn't attack me then..." Before her gaze, and attention returns to Schalk. She titls her head to the side at his words, and offers him a small sad smile. Softly she mutters "It's okay, Schalk, it's alright" As the hand on his shoulder slowly, gently moves to brush his tears away. She frowns mildly as she studies him, not really knowing what to do next.
Tenebrae nodded to Leo, watching Schalk carefully, Kaida too. "It'll have to do. I just hope some rest and perhaps a healer will do some good."
Tenebrae said to Leoxander, "Listen, I've had an idea... How we might get him to come with us. Need your help though."
Leoxander turned from Tenebrae at her nod, to Kaida. "Can you convince him to come with us, you think?" His belongings were collected, satchel shrugged over a shoulder. Duo colored eyes searched the pale beach for anything they wouldn't want to leave behind.
Leoxander stopped, the question answered by Tenebrae's suggestion. He turned a questionable look her way.
Schalk merely sits crying, ignoring the touch. Indeed once again he seems to be caught in his own mind and thoughts.
Kaida sighs softly as she pulls back her hand again. She glances briefly at Leoxander as she softly mutters "I can try..." before her gaze travels to Tenebrae. Softly she adresses her "Unless you have a better idea" Tenebrae leant close to the rogue, another whispered aside. "I'm running ahead. Please, stay here and keep him calm."
Tenebrae exits north.
Tenebrae shouted, "Arnald! Arnald is here!! Help, murder! Schalk, please.... Help me!"
Leoxander was... probably going to murder that woman, when he caught up to her. But he watched her run off confused, and stood silently in the time between her departure and the shout. Without warning, the call of alarm hit him, and his eyes widened with a glance toward the Elvergast. Keep him... calm?!
Schalk suddenly jerks his head up, a sudden look of recognition on his face at the sound of that hated name "Arnald". A growl escapes him, his expression changing to one of fury "Arnald" he exclaims in a loud voice. In a sudden athletic move he stands up "Arnald" he roars as he grabs a two-handed hold of his staff "Marhald!"he roars the battle-cry of his house as he charges in long, light steps along the sand.
Leoxander watched a dreaded reaction with a harshly whispered curse, particularly when Schalk suddenly found his feet and his strength. "Whoa, hold up... Schalk..." But the weapon was grabbed, and the Norse warrior was ready for battle. "Schalk..! Relax..!" And then, the man was charging into a sudden rush Leo's way, and that had the thief backing up a few paces with arms extended, prepared to slow him down. "Schalk!! WAIT!"
Schalk rushes up the path. ''Arnald'', he roars, crying out the hated name, shouting the most horrible curses in his native tongue before repeating the battle cry of his family.
Tenebrae shouted, "Oh, the blood! Arnald! Schalk, he's dead! What have you done?"
Leoxander shouted, "Stop..! Damn it, Schalk!"
Kaida keeps oddly silent as she just chases after Schalk, her eyes narrowed in thought.
Leoxander would catch up to him about the time he'd reach the door to the south.
Schalk slows his pace as he walks towards the summer residence of one of his friends. Some form of reason seems to return to him as he slows down, gazing at the place ''Jacklin'' he says softly, slightly worried. A moment he hesitates, then pushes through the door, in search of the hated killer of his father and the man responsible for the deaths of so many loved ones.
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Post by Joliette Thorne on Jun 28, 2006 22:46:06 GMT -5
Tenebrae was on the other side of the bed, crouched low, and the others'd have noted the splintered door, perhaps, the jagged gouges made by a metallic heel as they entered. The necromancer's voice was soft, drifting through the room. "Schalk... Arnald is dead. It's over, I promise. We're all safe. You killed him, Schalk, the monster is dead." She held her breath, waiting for the elvergast's response.
Kaida goes completely still as her eyes turn to rest on Schalk's form. Silently she awaits his response to Tenebrae's words.
Leoxander had hesitated outside to make certain no one would follow the screams and yells carried afar. Studying the house that wasn't theirs, or any friends, he searched for obvious dangers before shouldering open the door, hoping no one had been murdered in his brief absence.
Schalk looks at the vampiress, a look of comprehension dawning on his face, finally. ''Arnald? Dead?'' The elvergast looks around finding Kaida behind him, slowly beginning to recognize her face as one he knows, yet not placing it. His eyes fall back onto Tenebrae. ''Tene? How... are you alright?'' His question is asked somewhat unsure; indeed, it gives the impression that Schalk is not aware of anything that just happened, apart from that he came here to take his revenge ''Murder....Arnald murdered... How's Jacklin? This is her place... He...'' His words are slightly stuttered, but no longer are they the ramblings of a madman; rather they are the confused utterings of a man who does not realise what happened and what is going on. Kaida releases her breath in a relieved sigh, her whole body relaxing now that Schalk doesn't seem to be in any hurry to hurt any of them. She keeps silent though, not knowing much of Schalk's history and thus not knowing how to comfort him.
Tenebrae stood, slowly, moving out from behind the bed. "Yeah, I'm okay, pet. Jackie's... away. That bloke.. Arnald. He's dead, hun. Gone. You have to rest now..."
Leoxander remained still and silent at the door, and despite his preparations to tear Tenebrae a new one for trying something so risky, his frustrated expression failed for surprised when it seemed, her plan worked. Relaxing some, Leo began to prowl, casually, looking over the pictures of the couple who owned the place. Oh, he knew them, alright. From the mines, long ago, when the Captain was still a lone teenager first arriving by boat in a land called Hollow...
Schalk sits down on the bed, hiding his face in the palms of his hand, sending his staff clattering to the floor ''Tene... I...'' No more words flow from his lips as he begins to cry, tears leaking through his fingers. ''Jackie, mother, Rosbranda, Rothilda, father... He…'' No more words come as the elvergast throws himself on his back onto the bed, his hands still on his face as he now lets his tears flow freely.
Kaida frowns in a concerned way as she steps towards Schalk, but stops in mid-way. Really, how well did she know this man? Shaking her head at her thoughts, she keeps a respectful distance, allowing Tenebrae to soothe him now that he's more sane.
Tenebrae sat on the edge of the bed, slender hand stroking the elf's shoulder. "It's all going to be alright. You're with friends now. Tene. Leo. Kaida. We'll take care of you." The necromancer glanced 'round to the other two. "He needs rest, food. Dunno what happened to him, but it was enough to tear his mind up, badly. Kaida, will you stay with him? Just for a while?"
Leoxander deemed the man under decent care in the two female's company; a locked door to the east had caught his attention. Casually glancing toward the other three, with a hint of sympathy pulling a heartstring or two for the elvergast's grief, he carefully removed a slender pin from the inside of his belt. Thieves tools, I.E. a lock pick. The door would click suspiciously from across the room in moments.
Kaida immediately nods and offers a small smile. Softly she mutters, "Of course.", and moves over to sit besides Tenebrae.
Tenebrae caught the rogue's movement from the corner of her vision Rolling her eyes a little, a hiss of breath drawn, she stood to address the draconian. “Back shortly, sweet. He'll be okay. Make him some coffee... " Kaida nods and offers Tenebrae a shy but kind smile. "I will. Good luck with whatever you need to do."
Schalk seems to compose himself a little, his breath still ragged, his tears still flowing, but less rapid, and at least the elvergast seems to have composed himself a bit. His saddened gaze lingers on the two women for a moment as the rogue breaks into the other room. His lips are pressed together, the elvergast refraining from speech.
Kaida watches the woman leave before looking back at Schalk. She forces a cheerful grin and gently pats his arm as she softly says "I guess you're stuck with me again," Then she stands to do what Tenebrae suggested, though it takes her a moment to gather all that she needs to make coffee.
Schalk 's features are still contorted in an expression of grief, but a smile flickers over it now. ''Rather be stuck with you, Kaida, than to be locked in that dungeon.'', he finally utters raggedly, the first sentence he has spoken fully. His tears remain flowing as his mind goes over the events that happened as far as he can remember them. Before his eyes all the events play: the death of his father, the raping and killing of his mother and sister, the dead body of his first fiancée in his arms, Jackie's dead eyes staring at him from a basket, and....the death of Emmerik and the long dark of the dungeons of Miklagard.
Kaida blinks surprised at Schalk's sentence, and soon she frowns mildly in concern again. She refrains from answering, instead filling a cup with the black liquor. Silently she moves back to his side and sits on the edge of the bed. "Drink, my friend. Perhaps you'll feel better afterwards" she softly says, her eyes kind and concerned as she offers him the cup.
Schalk mutters a word of thanks as he takes a draught from the cup. Taking long moments between sipping his coffee and looking into the distance, the elvergast takes quite some time in emptying the vessel. His breath becomes stable and his tears seize, though in the look in his eyes, it is clear that he is still thinking about those dread events in his life.
Kaida sighs softly before averting her eyes to her hands, which lay in her lap. After a moment of hesitation she softly says, "You know you'll have to talk about it..." She glances at Schalk before returning her gaze to her lap, "I'm not saying right here. Nor am I saying that you should tell me, but you –should- talk about it. Trust me, I know." She tears her gaze from her lap in order to watch Schalk's response.
Schalk looks at Kaida for a moment, his head moving slightly, though not clearly in a nod. His watery eyes then close and eventually the elvergast lowers his body onto the bed, lying back quietly.
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