“You’re going away, Tichi?”
Aengellania Heartmender asks this of the skink, not bothering to hide her dismay. The others are silent, though Aengellania can feel their sorrow through the Soulfire they share.
“Yes. To Ahramentia. The massstersss have decreed it.”
Tichi-Huichi delivers this information with the same impassive manner that Aengellania is used to, but something in her posture indicates a pensive mood to the Cathallar.
Aengellania fidgets with her newly made locket.
“But… Are you sure you have to go? Can’t the Slann send another Skink? Or we could go with you ev-”
Blodaen Snow-Woven, raises a hand, stilling Aengellania’s plea. His voice comes strong and clear despite his age, clearly used to delivering commands and having them obeyed.
“Aengellania, if Tichi-Huichi has to go to Ahramentia, then she has to go to Ahramentia. It’s not our place to argue with that.”
He looks back at Tichi.
“And besides, it’s not like you’re going to be gone forever, now is it?”
Tichi hesitates before answering.
“…Do not know. Will do my best.”
Aengellania’s heart drops when she hears Tichi speak, but she can see Blodaen nod as if .
“Well, there are worse reassurances.”
“Where next for you?”
Blodaen shrugs.
“Probably stay here. Word is Sigmar and Alarielle plan on making another city here, to join up Aqshy and Ghyran, and they’ll probably want us to help build up the foundations. You know, Ylthe to set up the farmland, Cargan to scout the surrounding area, things like that.”
Despite his stoicism, Aengellania can’t help but feel despondency in Blodaen as he talks.
Tichi nods, slowly.
“You will do well. Be safe, Blodaen. Dangerous times.”
Tichi turns to each of the members of the Binding.
“Cargan, Ylthe, Aenge, Myloc. Be safe.”
One by one they bow their heads in turn; Cargan Cook, the hunter from Ghur, Ylthe, the Branchwych that made Aengellania’s heart jump whenever she smiled at the aelf, and Myloc of Shimmerdeep, amethyst mage and scholar of mortology.
Aengellania bows her head, still grieving.
“We will.”
The others bow and give their reassurances to Tichi.
“I’ll keep my eye out, dontcha worry.”
“Alarielle will watch over us in Her Realm.”
“Hm, I’ll try to keep Carg out of trouble.”
Blodaen runs a hand through his beard, frowning.
“We’re deep in the Pantheon’s lands Tichi, we’ll be fine. It’s you who’s got to look out for themselves, messing with the Agloraxians.”
The skink looks towards Blodaen, and there’s a reticence about her that strikes Aengellania as odd, even for the Seraphon.
“Heard whispers. Bandits, beastmen, worse. A warning.”
Blodaen’s expression darkens.
“I’ve heard worse than that nowadays.”
Aengellania blurts out, not able to contain her worry any longer.
“You stay safe too, won’t you Tichi?”
Tichi spreads her arms in a gesture that the binding had learned to be equivalent to a smile.
“Yes.”
Aengellania smiles back, clinging onto the reassurance against the sorrow.
“Then it’s not goodbye, not really.”
Blodaen gives Aengellania a sidelong look.
“Well, there’s no use in delaying any longer. I’m sure Tichi herself would like to get underway as soon as possible.”
“Must be quick.”
Aengellania nods, and kneels down next to Tichi, first placing two fingers over her heart then simply hugging her.
“Travel like Tyrion is riding with you and Teclis is guiding you.”
Tichi inhales deeply before unexpectedly, inexplicably, hugging Aenge back.
“I will.”
Tichi breaks the hug and looks the aelf in the eye. She says something that she must have picked up from one of the binding.
“You too, ok?”
Aengellania’s smile widens, and she feels her eyes get wet with tears.
“I will.”
She stands up and brushes something out of her eye, allowing the others to say farewell. One by one the Binding step forward, each giving their own goodbyes in their own ways. Finally just Blodaen is left.
“I’d rather say goodbye privately, if that’s alright with you all.”
“Yes.”
Tichi repeats her arms-spread gesture.
Cargan laughs, not cruelly but not without a little mockery in his voice either.
“Old Snow-Beard doesn’t want us to see him cry, then?”
Blodaen’s face turns a ruddy red, but before he can throw abuse or an axe at the Ghurish wildman Aengellania steps forward with hand raised.
“Please, Cargan, is now the right time?”
Cargan bows his head bashfully.
“Sorry, Blo.”
Blodaen calms down, though remains visibly irritated as he dismisses the Binding with a flick of his hand.
“Hrm. Well, off with all of you.”
As Aengellania walks away alongside Ylthe, she still can’t help but throw backwards glances at the skink. Though she wished fervently that she would be reunited with her friend soon, somewhere in her heart she feels that there is a gulf opening up between the two of them, one that won’t be sealed again for a long time…
