Dragon's Egg - Act II

[Sparkie]

Throwing tantrums won't help Mauve. What she needs is time. But does she have the patience?

Once my things are ready I head up from the cellar to the courtyard. I shiver in the morning air and look around for Baldhart. When I find her, she looks upset. I wish I could console her, but there are other matters at hand. "I was there for the questioning of the reptile shaman," I say. "There's news."

Baldhart and I stand apart from Burnbright, and I keep my voice low.

"First off, she her name's Sheltesh. That's what she said anyway. And she's not their Queen. Sheltesh is a servant of their High Priestess Scora. Apparently there's a bunch of these creatures living down there, in the lower depths. Scora sent Sheltesh to the upper part of the tunnels for Burnbright. Sheltesh said that Scora received some kind of communication, a 'sending,' from their Goddess.

"She says their Goddess wants Burnbright. She claimed not to know why."

I let that last part sink in.

"Now, I know we're the invaders here. Those tunnels are these creatures home now, and our initial transgression may have out of line. But as I live and breathe, I will not let a threat to that little girl's life and livelihood continue to exist. We must defend her. So here's our choice: We leave, sealing the rune-lock behind us, or we go further in and eliminate the High Priestess.

"Darin may be able to make the case for continuing down into the tunnels better than me. I, for one, feel some remorse for disrupting these creature's lives. But the way of Betula is clear to me here. We should finish what we started."

 

[Phietadix]

Matthew and Baldhart (Proabably before Rydh comes)

Instead, you must follow the path of Brynhild, which is to do always do good. Never allow a law to stop you from doing what is good. Justice and goodness may not be glorious, and you may not be remembered in song, but I think you have the makings of a valkyrie. That said, don't set out to die young. Just seek to do only what is right

((While Matthew still doesn't, I'm starting to believe that Baldhart is lying. Look here, directly after this, Burnbright says she will follow Brynhild. And Baldhart says that Burnbright approached her? Yeah right.))

She isn't listening. She speaks as if I wish for Burnbright to follow none. Or that I call her an unintelligent fool. She has great potential. But can still be influenced by the words of those she loves.

"It brings me great joy to serve my god. And I wish for Burnbright to share the same joy. You have spoken little of what I have purposed. If Burnbright studies and chooses Brynhild still, what difference is it to you? She will simply have more knowledge of her faith and what others believe. And if she finds that Brynhild is not best for her and choose another deity then she will avoid a lot of unneeded hardship."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

BURNBRIGHT AND BALDHART

Burnbright looks thoughtful at one point, her attention drifting away. When Baldhart pulls her back to the present, she blushes. "I'm sorry...I was just thinking...if Aslaug is really my mother, then even if she is tainted or whatever - and by the way we still don't know that, we're just guessing - even if she is, we can still help her, right?"

"I always wished I had a mother. Father Harald and the others in town were good to me, but it wasn't the same. I'd see other girls with their mothers, going to the market, talking about who knows what. Going back home at night and probably getting tucked into bed or told a story. I never had any of that. I had to find Grim's wife when I needed to find out about...um...you know, girl things. There was never a mother to turn to, like other girls had."

"I bet if Aslaug really is alive and we can find her, we can make her better. What if she just went kind of crazy at losing me and just wants me back, just like I want a mother? What if when we find each other, we'll both just love each other and she'll go back to being the way she was before everybody thought she died?"

I say, "I believe it is the Corruption that turned her. Mauve is a wizard—she must know about this sort of thing. But my thought: Corruption takes the body, then the mind follows. My belief is that a Corrupted is like a prisoner in her own body. She can only watch and obey.

"Now do you understand why I asked you to forgive the lizard queen? You may one day have to forgive your mother in the same way—not under the same circumstances, I hope.

"I wish I could tell you that there's a way to save her, but I don't want to make a promise of something beyond my control. The best I can do is call you Sister and treat you as I would treat you if we really had the same parents. If somehow we survive this, there is so much I want to do for you. But I don't have much control over that either… survival, I mean. And I can't let my desire to live take away what makes me strongest in battle: the knowledge that death has its perks, too. If I die, don't forget about me.

"There is a good friend of mine you can turn to if… if I die, and you go on living. Kojima Hanako. She's a monk from Roku-Roku, an island to the East. She can teach plenty about Brynhild…"

I tell Burnbright everything I told Sir Matthew. I tell her of Sir Matthew's doubts about the seriousness of her devotion to Brynhild. "But don't blame the man for admitting to his doubts aloud," I add. "Live your faith, and no one will doubt you."

 

[Ravana]

((Since this will eventually get discussed with everybody—except possibly Burnbright, and probably even her—I'm going to go ahead and comment on it as if it's being discussed openly now, even though Rydh specified he was speaking only to Baldhart. In any case, Hiljikki won't withhold any of the following from anyone else who asks about the interrogation—which I'm sure everyone would—so it will come out in separate conversations even if not a general one.))

Scora sent Sheltesh to the upper part of the tunnels for Burnbright.

"One minor correction: the shaman was told to await 'the human child.' She never gave a name for that person. She did confirm that the intended target was the child which accompanied you, so she must at least have been provided with a description. Also, as I recall from your tales of the battle, the shaman appeared surprised when she finally did see the child—at the very end, charging at her with a sword.

"The shaman also mentioned that if they caught the child, they were to bring her to Scora on a lower level of the temple. She described the path thence. Which disturbs me immensely."

They knew Burnbright was there because Scora received a 'sending' from the Goddess herself, telling them Burnbright was there.

"This, I can only hope, was not my fault. It may well have been. If so, I acknowledge it. Had I known then what was revealed afterward, I would have ordered the child out during my journeying, as I did with the rest of you.

"Finally, once we had exhausted our questions, the shaman expressed shame at her failure and desired a quick death. I obliged her."

"Now, I know we're the invaders here. Those tunnels are these creatures home now, and our initial transgression may have out of line. But as I live and breathe, I will not let a threat to that little girl's life and livelihood continue to exist. We must defend her. So here's our choice: We leave, sealing the rune-lock behind us, or we go further in and eliminate the High Priestess.

"Darin may be able to make the case for continuing down into the tunnels better than me. I, for one, feel some remorse for disrupting these creature's lives. But the way of Betula is clear to me here. We should finish what we started."

"Have you ever battled a 'High Priestess' before? Her minion nearly destroyed you all. Do you expect the Priestess to be less well guarded, less magically potent? If so, you are deceiving yourself.

"I said I was disturbed that the shaman described the path to be taken to reach the Priestess and her temple. Have you asked yourself why she did? She withheld nothing in answering our questions… in spite of the fact that she had no reason to reveal anything. She wished to die; she might as easily have refused to answer us at all. She was not tortured; indeed, in her condition, any torture inflicted upon to her would have killed her long before it broke her will.

"Giving us this information was not a betrayal: it was a final attempt to accomplish her task. Should we go, we will be doing what she was ordered to do—bring the child to the High Priestess' temple.

"I doubt we have adequate force to overcome the Priestess, let alone the combination of her and such minions as remain to her. In any case, I foresee nothing but peril in taking the child thence with us. Whatever the Priestess' purpose, it may be accomplished if we do so, even if we manage to overcome the Priestess in the end.

"I will have no part in bringing this about.

"Should we seek out this temple, we ought first to take the child to a place where she can be left in safety. You might say there is no such place… and you might be correct. I am certain, however, there is no place less safe for her than where the forces arrayed against us want her to be. We know now that those forces do not seek to kill her—so the worst that is likely to happen, should we leave her somewhere, is that they will attempt to seize her and take her where we would be going anyway.

"I hold this all the more true if my journeying was the means by which the Priestess discovered the child's proximity—as that would indicate that she is not sufficiently aware of the child's movements that she could lay hands on her whenever she chose. Which means that distancing her from this temple, and the one hidden beneath the earth, could only be for the good.

"I am willing—if reluctant—to accompany you on your quest, though tunnels and dwellings carved from the bones of the earth discomfort me, and though there is little enough I can contribute to the sort of battles which will be fought there. Others would be far more useful than I: perhaps we ought to seek out additional help. Nonetheless, I am willing… if the child is left behind. And only then. I am also willing to remain with her while the rest of you pursue your quest. Not here: it is too close to where the enemy wishes her to be, too vulnerable to whatever other forces they might muster. I would take her somewhere away from this temple. Perhaps back to Srilkind; perhaps simply to vanish in the wilderness for a time.

"Should you choose to take the child with you… I will vanish into the wilderness on my own."

•••

((Note: some of the above might end up getting modified retroactively, after Hiljikki has a chance to obtain certain additional information she was promised in PM. Specifically, Ankari was going to allow her to read Aslaug's journal. That he does this should not automatically be taken as common knowledge—though I'm sure Hiljikki will let everyone in on whatever she might discover eventually.…))

 

[Phietadix]

I tell Burnbright everything I told Sir Matthew. I tell her of Sir Matthew's doubts about the seriousness of her devotion to Brynhild. "But don't blame the man for admitting to his doubts aloud," I add. "Live your faith, and no one will doubt you."

((It looks like Steerpike had her listening to that converstation, so this isn't needed and would make little sense to be here.))

 

[Sparkie]

I turn to Hijikki.

"You are wise, of course. I do not advocate taking the child with us. As you say, that would be doing just what this High Priestess wants. Burnbright should be left behind.

"If you wish to keep Burnbright safe, I trust you. This battle would be fierce, and we may not survive. That does not change my inclination, however. Betula prefers battles to be fought to the finish. Tactical retreat is acceptable, but running away is not. And, before you ask, there is a difference between the two."

 

[Ravana]

"Tactical retreat is acceptable, but running away is not. And, before you ask, there is is difference between the two."

"Thank you. And I agree: there is a difference. This foulness must be confronted eventually. I would hold you back only to the extent that I believe greater force might be needed to succeed… and that if you try and are lost, you in turn will not be available to add strength to others at a later time. A tactical retreat, as you say.

"But battle is your specialty, not mine, so perhaps I misjudge the group's capabilities. Magic I am a bit more familiar with—no more than you, perhaps, but there at least I feel qualified to make judgments. So I will merely ask you this: how would you go about defeating the priest who mentored you in your own abilities?

"Were you to ask that of me, my response would be 'I would be a fool to try.'

"Then ask yourself how many spells the shaman cast against you, and which ones, and how often her magic failed her… and then ask yourself who her teacher most likely was."

Significant pause. Though not the sort that seems to be waiting an answer… the question is clearly rhetorical.

"In any event, if the child can be convinced to remain with me, I will undertake to protect her from the taint and its forces and manipulations. I doubt I will be able to restrain her if she tries to evade my stewardship, though, so convinced she must be. I am far from the best choice to try doing so… assuming anyone could succeed.

"If not… I will wish you well. And keep a distant watch on this place. If you fail to return, I will at least be able to perform for you the service I did for Drimmen-delve: warn others of what might be coming."

 

[Nihal]

On the second floor, after the fight with Rydh

The field beyond the temple looks peaceful. The snow is undisturbed now, ethereal when compared the dark lands we've seen yesterday.

So out of control... how did it happen? If my mind is in this state now I don't want to imagine what will happen when the corruption starts to devour it.

Those people make me feel lost, I just don't know how to react to them, what I should expect. I'm glad I won't have to deal with them again, although I feel bad for leaving the girl in their hands.

I start to pace forth and back. No, I don't need more problems. See, Mauve? You're perfectly rational away from them. I should focus on what I'm good at... and overcome my weaknesses. I don't have even a torch, once alone again I'll need my magic. No way out.

I allow my mind to wander, reviewing everything I know.

Then, what should I do? The strange staff comes to my mind.

"That's right."

I leave the book by my things, downstairs, in the main room.

((If I see Darin.))

"Your help has been invaluable. I do not talk only of the book, but of your warn about the Taint and your tale. I am extremely grateful you shared your knowledge with me, Darin. I do not know if they are going to run to the darkness below the earth again, so, just in case... Thank you, I shall not forget your kindness." I bow.

With both staff and spear in hands I stride to the courtyard, pausing before leaving and glancing over my shoulder at Baldhart.

"In case you leave before I return... I should thank you, Baldhart, for the help and the worry. I... thanks." I nod at her and force my legs to move without waiting for an answer. I've tanked those who helped me, less one worry weighting on my shoulders.

The caster didn't fail. I cling to the hope, marching to the same field I was watching from the window.

 

[Ravana]

"Since I am rather less skilled in fighting with my right hand than my left, I was wondering whether I might be of more use aiding our healer rather than our warriors for the time being. People are going to be hurt whether or not Rydh has the energy to heal us with magic. I would gladly stitch and bandage any wounds that need it. For that I was wondering, could you perhaps teach me how to sew?"

"Of course. We can begin when we return."

During the course of her quest for berries, she stops at one point, pulls out a trowel, and carefully digs into the ground beneath some withered leaves. She pulls something up, then with equal care restores the hole and the remaining growth. She brushes off her acquisition, then hands it to you. It's a bulb of some sort.

"Your first tool."

Yeah, your perplexed look is that obvious.

"You cannot hold a needle in one hand while threading it with the other. Until you can acquire a pincushion, this should do nicely."

You get the feeling you've come to the right teacher.

 

[Phietadix]

Matthew and Baldhart

I hear no objection so far. Perhaps she is still thinking it over.

"If you do not object. I could teach her of the divine. In the two years the priests of Tyr taught me, I learned of all the gods and goddesses. If you wish, you could teach her of Brynhild yourself, but I know much of her also. She seems a good match for Burnbright. But can you deny her the chance to see if another fits her better?"

 

[SeverinR]

Check per PM

 

[Ireth]

"Of course. We can begin when we return."

During the course of her quest for berries, she stops at one point, pulls out a trowel, and carefully digs into the ground beneath some withered leaves. She pulls something up, then with equal care restores the hole and the remaining growth. She brushes off her acquisition, then hands it to you. It's a bulb of some sort.

"Your first tool."

Yeah, your perplexed look is that obvious.

"You cannot hold a needle in one hand while threading it with the other. Until you can acquire a pincushion, this should do nicely."

You get the feeling you've come to the right teacher.

I look on curiously as Hiljikki suddenly stops to dig, and blink in confusion at the bulb she places in my hand. Hearing her explanation, I smile and nod. She certainly seems to know what she's talking about. "Thank you."

I look around myself, seeing the frozen, raven-pecked carcasses of the goblins and wargs we slew. "...I don't suppose you came across my bow out here when you and your raven friend retrieved my lost hand? I would like to use it again once I have a hand to use, whether it be my own or a dwarf-made one."

I smile somewhat awkwardly. "Darin promised to have a replacement made for me if and when I come to the Drimmen-delve. Not to say I do not appreciate your gesture -- I truly do; few would have thought to go to such trouble -- but I would think a hand of metal that I could put on and remove at will, or so I imagine, would be rather less painful than somehow putting my old one back on. For the latter, I would need to reopen the wound, for one thing."

 

[Ravana]

I look around myself, seeing the frozen, raven-pecked carcasses of the goblins and wargs we slew. "...I don't suppose you came across my bow out here when you and your raven friend retrieved my lost hand? I would like to use it again once I have a hand to use, whether it be my own or a dwarf-made one."

((Actually, yeah, that already came up: she brought it in when she brought the hand in. Interesting synchronicity, however: I was just looking at the same question on the "equipment" thread, and had a thought.…))

I smile somewhat awkwardly. "Darin promised to have a replacement made for me if and when I come to the Drimmen-delve. Not to say I do not appreciate your gesture -- I truly do; few would have thought to go to such trouble -- but I would think a hand of metal that I could put on and remove at will, or so I imagine, would be rather less painful than somehow sewing my old one back on. For the latter, I would need to reopen the wound, for one thing."

"I do not blame you. Only the most powerful of priests or druids could restore the hand; I fetched it in case you happened to know someone who could… and before Darin made his offer. My own feeling, as you might guess, would be that having it restored would be the better choice: having it as a part of your body will always be better than using a replacement. But we must sometimes surrender to the possible.

"Now that you mention your bow, however… you shoot with it in that hand? I shoot with the bow in my off-hand; most do, I think. Though most bows are designed to be held in the left, so I could understand you learning it that way; I can think of no reason it would make a difference which held the stave and which pulled the string.

"But since holding the stave is all the hand need do… it might be possible to build something to fit around the bow's grip, something you could put on over your stump, akin to what I said about the shield." You notice Hiljikki speaks of this matter-of-factly, unlike everyone else, who seem to prefer avoiding direct mention. "It would be more in the nature of a mount, not something with moving parts. Which might make it awkward to carry when you aren't wearing it, but I'm sure that can be dealt with."

She's turning the stump about, comparing it to the good hand, and making measurements with her fingers as she talks. Mostly looking at the good hand: she's already handled the stump often enough to be familiar with it.

"Probably it would be best to build the main part out of wood: about… four inches from the stump to the grip, then a U-shaped cup carved to fit the grip. Add a wide leather strap to go the rest of the way around; with buckles, this would allow it to be detached from the bow when not in use, which would make storage simpler, though it would take longer to ready in an emergency. So plan your shooting ahead of time." The things she can say with a straight face never cease to astound. "Another strap to run up to and around your elbow, to keep it in place. With the buckles, it would even be slightly adjustable, so you could hold something other than just the bow in it. I would advise against trying a weapon: you won't have the wrist or fingers to control it properly. But a walking stick, a torch, possibly the grip of a shield… which would mean we wouldn't have to modify a shield directly.

"Let's see what winter has left us in the way of fallen branches. If nothing recommends itself, there's always the firewood stacked at the temple. I can whittle while you practice stitches.

"It's not much of a solution, I admit.…" She's already inspecting deadwood for something the diameter of your forearm, and sound enough to be worth working with.

Hiljikki, druid geek.

 

[Philip Overby]

I sit on the floor cross-legged, not sure what others are talking about. That's fine. I'll just wait for Baldhart to tell me to get up. It's best that way. Don't stand out.

"I'm writing a new song--" I say, but quickly shut my mouth again. Nod, you disappoint me.

Cats and dogs are very cute...
No...
Cats, cats, cats are dancing on the...
No...
Worms and flies and...
No...
Jackal's breath and apple cores...


I play my flute a little. "That's nice."

 

[Ireth]

I listen patiently as Hiljikki speaks and let her examine my hand and stump, only to sigh and shake my head when she quietens. "I use -- well, used to use -- my left hand to draw back the string, not to hold the bow. It may make a difference in how I shoot, though I suppose I cannot be sure until I practice."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

I hear no objection so far. Perhaps she is still thinking it over.

"If you do not object. I could teach her of the divine. In the two years the priests of Tyr taught me, I learned of all the gods and goddesses. If you wish, you could teach her of Brynhild yourself, but I know much of her also. She seems a good match for Burnbright. But can you deny her the chance to see if another fits her better?"

"Let me get this straight. You just found out that I am teaching Burnbright about Brynhild. You are surely aware that Burnbright is a young lady who has expressed her desire to become a valkyrie since the day we met, and judging by her knowledge, long before then. And now you wish to teach her of every alternative that you had studied… for two years."

Not angry?

No. I'm too confused to know what I'm supposed to feel.

"I don't know how you came to see Tyr as the right path, but when I chose the path of Brynhild, I knew what I wanted. My ultimate goal is to become a valkyrie, and I will not fail my Goddess knowing that may mean dying in battle. Burnbright and I had discussed Brynhild's path before, but I didn't know how serious she was until she came out from behind that table with sword in hand. Reckless perhaps, but that was the evidence that she was serious about Brynhild. Not just her words to me before then, but the combination of words and actions.

"Do I deny her information of other deities? No. But ask yourself this question: what is your motive for having a sudden interest in presenting so much information to a girl who was raised by a priest of Tyr? Are you really showing Burnbright other paths for her sake, or for yours, or to undermine me?

"So as not to break my vow, I'm going to continue to speak gently and lady-like: Burnbright is interested in learning of Brynhild from me because I live my faith. Do some soul-searching yourself before you teach others. I'd be hard-pressed to hear you speak for the God of Victory and Courage after seeing you behind a table while a twelve year old girl was fighting alongside the rest of us.

"Now if you'll excuse me, Rydh wishes to meet me."

 

[Ravana]

I listen patiently as Hiljikki speaks and let her examine my hand and stump, only to sigh and shake my head when she quietens. "I use -- well, used to use -- my left hand to draw back the string, not to hold the bow. It may make a difference in how I shoot, though I suppose I cannot be sure until I practice."

"Ah. Yes, that will make a difference. Though it will probably still be easier to learn to shoot that way than it will to learn to wield a weapon in your right.

"I cannot think of a good way to grip and release the string properly with any simple replacement. Though if I do, I will pursue it. Would you still like to try the other? That, at least, can be readied quickly and with the materials at hand."

Yes, she said that with a straight face, too.

 

[Ireth]

"Well, we will have to see what the dwarfs devise for me."

I nod and smile. "It cannot hurt to try, surely. But I must wonder when we will have time... I promised Darin I would explore the tunnels with him, I owe Baldhart a lesson in horseback riding at some point, and now I will be learning to sew on top of that. And that is assuming none of those are interrupted by anything... undesirable showing up."

 

[Phietadix]

What was that! She makes a serious accusation then tries to walk away? Does she think her point is any stronger if I get no response?

"No, you must accept that I will like a response when someone makes a speech such as that. You doubt that I can teach of other gods simply because I only studied two years? Do you doubt my faith also? I only studied Tyr two years before I choose to serve him. Before that I thought just as Ankari does now. I studied long and hard. I learned every text, every song of every god. I may know more of Brynhild than you do yourself. You doubt my motives? I swear by Tyr himself that I only want what best for Burnbright. I would be truly surprised if Burnbright chooses any deity other than Brynhild. But she needs the choice, and she needs to choose well."

 

[Ankari]

The death of the shaman passed with a weak convulsion as the awl slipped through the earhole and pierced the brain. Impassive as stone, Hiljikki cleaned the awl against the troglodyte's tunic and deftly stashed it away.

On the cusp of death, the shaman - Seltesh - denied the mercy of her foe. To die free would be better than to live under the burden of forced gratitude towards her captures, and shame towards her people. The profound wisdom of nature escapes the hapless observer, too busy beating their chests to show zealous adoration for children's stories. You live and struggle. Death cares not for what god you claim.

I straighten and follow the others back to the temple. The medallion bites into my warm flesh, reminding me of other sources of wisdom.

I drop back a few paces to wrap myself in the solitude the dark tunnels. The barbarian has the wrong understanding of it. Sacrifices are not a choice. They are the choice of jumping into a depthless chasm, or face a pack of wargs with your bare hands.

And I stand before the chasm. The group needs the scent of blood on the wind.

**************

In the morning, the group crawls into the comfort of the gloom within their heads. Why they insist on living in the past, instead of the expansive possibilities of the present confounds me. I watch them, and wait. When the knight and the barbarian fall into the pointless argument of Burnbright's faith, I pounce.

"Both of you speak as if your will forges faith, as if brining Burnbright into the fold of your religion will cast light against the shadows of ignorance. In the tunnels below, I have learned a lesson; ask her what she wills. If she chooses the path of Brynhild or Tyr, what does it matter? If she chooses one path, then changes her mind, will your deity mourn the loss of one mortal?"

If they are angered by those words, the next will cause them to howl. "Baldhart, I have considered you a brave warrior and a staunch ally for the brief time we've known each other. Down below, you acted out of cowardice by slaying an innocent. No matter the texture or color of his skin, he was a prisoner, both bleeding and defenseless. Consider if I the prisoner were a child, would you slay my captive under the guise of some flawed code? Next time you act out of brashness, explicitly against my will, I will consider you worse than a savage, worse than a wild predator. Even wolves have shown mercy to animals they often hunt."

I consider if I should loose more words at her, but refrain. My quiver can only hold so much, and the wargs are closing in. "Sir Matthew, noble knight who fails to act. You have become a burden on the group, often quarrelsome over trivial matters. End this incessant need to make the child a follower of Tyr. End the hesitancy in your actions. Summon the courage to unsheath your sword and fight as a knight when your allies are in danger."

I nock the third arrow. "Cadell, another fine example of a knight. A knight leads forward. How can he do so when his eyes look back? A child is at risk, her past threatens her. She stands to lose more than a hand, or a broken heart. She has already lost more than any of us can fathom. You know where you come from, does she? You know who loves you, does she? You know the feeling of security and acceptance, does she? Focus on others, or revoke your claim of knighthood."

Mauve slips past our notice to flee into the fields. I glance at Rydh, trying to think of something. "Storming off alone to have others follow you reeks of a petulant child unaware of what haunts his world. They say priests are wise, with vast precedents to fall on if a thing is unclear. Open that book of yours and what your god would name a person that exposes his companions to harm so willingly. Whatever it is, I can guess it's not a hero."

She will get away if I carry on too long. I run to the temple entrance and turn to the stricken party. "Get the thumbs out of your ears and think like adults. When I return, have suggestions on our next course of action."

I run after Mauve. She carries to much information and little trust. I have more arrows to nock.

I run from the party and their eyes.