IMPORTANT NOTE: This was done in collaboration with Keza and is a continuation of their writing submission. I forgot to put that in the Narrative Summary. Sorry.
Aengellania knelt beside the unconscious Jean. The warrior was still breathing normally and her pulse was steady, but the Cathallar knew that some wounds went beyond what was visible, especially in the aftermath of a ritual using this much fel power.
Aengellania busied herself undoing the straps of Jean’s armour. Her breath caught in her throat as she slipped a greave off.
“Evangeline, could you come here a moment and tell me if that was there before today?”
Evangeline shook her head and wandered over to Aengellania.
“Dunno what you think I can do. Girl’s always kept ‘er armour on around… Me…”
Her voice trailed away when her eyes fell on Jean’s leg.
“I think,” Aengellania said carefully, remembering Jean’s aetherquartz filled with fire, “That we should see how far the damage goes.”
More pieces of armour came off, revealing more scars. And the smell of ash. Jean frowned and shifted a leg ever so slightly, making Aengellania wince as her skin crackled.
“The burns aren’t from the ritual, they’re not warm enough.” But neither were they old, Aengellania thought. Her heart curled up on itself when she heard Daisy beginning to whimper.
“Forge…” Evangeline cursed softly. “Who… How… How is she puttin’ up with this? I thought I saw ‘er wince a couple times, but…”
Evangeline’s hands balled up into fists. Aengellania didn’t need her empathetic magic to sense the Chainbreaker’s rising desire to hit something, starting with whoever had inflicted those burns and ending with reality itself for letting them do it.
Aengellania didn’t need that magic, because she felt that same anger boiling within her.
She forced herself to exhale and keep that anger in check.
Aengellania’s hands acted automatically, digging into her pack to take out aqua ghyranis, ointments for burns and bandages. She applied the aqua and ointments delicately, then wrapped the damaged skin in soft, cushioning bandages. She didn’t really believe that this would heal Jean’s wounds at all, but she had to try anyway. At least it would relieve her pain for a while.
“Get her armour back on. She didn’t want others to see her burns, and we should honour that wish.”
Evangeline remained standing for a moment, before she knelt by Jean and began strapping on the metal plates.
“It goes up to ‘er waist. Even ‘er arms…”
“Focus, Evangeline. Anger won’t help us here. We need to get her to safety so we can deal with this properly.”
As Aengellania fastened on a cuisse Jean mumbled something, then opened her eyes. She immediately paled when she saw Aengellania and Evangeline putting her armour back on. She stared at them silently, crestfallen. To Aengellania, she looked as if a shameful secret had been exposed.
“You’re an awful tough kid, haulin’ those around all this time.”
This break in the silence seemed to catch Evangeline by surprise just as much as it did Jean, but she pressed on;
“A girl like you, eighteen-“
“Nineteen.”
“Nineteen years old, carryin’ wounds like that?”
Evangeline fastened the last strap and shuffled over to crouch beside Jean, reaching a hand out to support her shoulder.
“That’s tough. Not many’d do the same.”
Jean squirmed under Evangeline’s sincerity, but she seemed to be calming down a little. Aengellania couldn’t help but smile, seeing Evangeline keep her rage in check for a friend. She in turn walks over to Jean’s opposite side and threads an arm under Jean’s shoulders.
“I have to agree with her. How long have you had those?”
“A year.” Jean mumbles.
“A year too long, especially for someone as young as you. You need to have a doctor or life mage look over those.” She then adds conscientiously to herself; “In my amateur medical opinion. But you have every right to feel proud that you kept going like this.”
Jean blushed, then blushed some more when Daisy leant over to muzzle her cheek. Together, Evangeline and Aengellania gently hauled her up.
“And you did well today too.”
Daisy flattened herself onto the ground as Aengellania steered Evangeline and Jean towards her.
“Takin’ that much power and usin’ it to force the Rift into stayin’? That takes guts ‘n luck.”
Evangeline mounted Daisy’s back and pulled Jean up after her, placing her in front of her; The young girl had started smiling nervously. Evangeline frowned when some of the unnaturally fast-growing black rose vines caught her eye.
“Those vines don’t look right. Morathell’s been goin’ on about a vampire around here…”
She stuck out a hand to Aengellania to help her up, and the Cathallar was about to take it…
When she realised that she had unfinished business here.
Aengellania slowly withdraws her hand, much to Evangeline’s confusion.
“Aenge?”
Aengellania ignores her and leans towards Daisy’s ear to whisper into it. Daisy blinked, confused, but understood Aengellania well enough to start preparing herself to leap.
Evangeline’s eyes widened when she felt the buildup of tension under her.
“Morathell’s gonna kill me if you get turned too.”
Aengellania just smiles back.
“Give him my best wishes, and the comfort I gave you.”
Evangeline made a grab for her, but Daisy is already bounding away. Aengellania could hear Evangeline call her name, before her voice was swallowed up by distance and the sand-scurries pounding stride.
Just before Daisy disappeared out of sight, Aengellania felt a presence behind her.
“You’ll keep them safe?” She asks the new arrival.
“As they head to the Stormdancer, and as Daisy returns.” Came the voice she had been expecting. “What will you do?”
“Enter Maudra Rua’s mind.”
Aengellania knelt down, and started to prepare her magic.
“Are you sure that’s wise?”
The Cathallar smiled, and closed her eyes.
“No, but it has to be me who does this. Someone else might get it wrong.”
“Well… Good luck.” Then the voice departed, leaving Aengellania alone.
Her smile broadened a little.
Not entirely alone.
“If this goes wrong, tell Améline I’m sorry, Fa’raamon.”
Aengellania plunged into Maudra Rua’s dreams, and realised her mistake.
