Succession: Rebellion

Kegan

"...If she was truly mad at me... She either wouldn't speak to me, or she would kill me. Just to be safe, I really don't want to experience either things." Kegan replied. He was glad to hear that Rein had gotten along with his Aunt. Though a part of him couldn't help but remember that Brighe was stepping in to fill the gap that he should have filled...
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Brighe

"Tell you what Atiya, if you are a very good girl, when you turn thirteen I will teach you how to fly. Or at least something similar enough to flying." Brighe replied.

Atiya

"Ok!" the little child said cheerily, smiling brightly. She frowned a moment later, though.

"How long will I have to wait for that?"

Rein

"Good. I certainly don't want to become a widow." Rein joked, smiling a little. It quickly vanished, though.

"Your aunt was around during a rough patch of my life, Kegan. I'm really thankful for that. She's also great around Atiya, too, which is really good."

Brighe

Brighe leaned down and looked into Atiya's eyes before dramatically whispering, "Over eleven years!"
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Kegan

Kegan sighed in satisfaction. "Well that's good to hear. But now...well hopefully I can be as good with her."

Rein

"I'm sure you will! Atiya loves you, Kegan. She's quite easily pleased, actually. It doesn't take much for her to love someone." Rein assured. She looked back over at the beach.

"So, do you feel up to rejoining the others?"

Atiya

"But that's too looooong!" Atiya pouted. She put on the saddest face she could muster and gazed up at Brighe.

"Can't you teach me now, Aunte Brighe? Pretty please?"

Brighe

"No. If I did Atiya, Rein wouldn't like me very much anymore."
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Kegan

"Sure, I guess." Kegan replied as he sat up again, kissing Rein on the cheek as she looked towards the Beach.

Atiya

"I don't care! Teach me!" Atiya protested. Syrien shook his head and smiled at his granddaughter.

"Come now Atiya, be reasonable. You don't want to get Mommy mad at Aunt Brighe, right?" the Elf asked. Atiya slowly shook her head.

"....No."

Rein

Rein smiled and kissed Kegan back. The young girl stood up and stretched a little. "We could check the house too, if you want. Make sure it's sturdy and everything. I'm sure Brighe didn't miss anything, but it wouldn't hurt to check. Do you need any help getting up?"

Kegan

Kegan shook his head before he slowly got himself up, cringing in pain as he finally stood up straight. "You're right, we should probably check the shelter first."
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Brighe

"That's what I thought." Brighe said before she sat down next to Syrien.

Mab pressed her lips together in thought. She stopped outside a door and turned to Carlislie.

"Do not abuse Lady Chris's hospitality. She does not do something without a reason. Helping you means she feels that reason is important enough to risk her life."

Rein

"You sure you don't want to rest some more?" Rein asked.

Syrien

"Would you mind watching over Atiya for me, Brighe? I need to go have a word with Heir Kegan." Syrein said suddenly, getting up.

Kegan

"...No. I'll rest one we have a decent bed ready." Kegan replied as he put his arm around Rein's shoulder for stability.
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Carlisle

Carlisle nodded in response. He could tell this girl was very protective of the Priestess, for whatever reason, Carlisle didn't know. Sisters, Lovers, Friends? Who knows. The Doctor supposed it didn't matter in the end as he walked into the room.
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Brighe

"Go ahead." Brighe replied as Syrien stood up.

Rein, Syrien

"Heir Kegan? May we talk in private for a moment?" Syrien asked as he walked over to the too. Rein looked at Syrien a little waryily, not wanting to leave Kegan alone. Considering what Brighe had done to Kegan, she wasn't sure she'd trust her grandfather alone with her fiance.

(A.I.99 you ok with a minor localized time skip to catch up with the rest of the group. Also sorry for not posting, homework, ff14, and tapioca pudding got in the way.)
Nix
"Hmm...Cant be bothered to remember." Nix said honestly. "My partner is the one who wanted to save the man. Speaking of the devil, I'd best collect her before this riot gets us all killed." He abruptly turned around and began to walk back down the hall in the direction Gaita had run off. "Coming boy?" Nix asked over his shoulder.

Gaita
In the search for Carlisle, Gaita had fared no better than Nix. She had looked through several cells and was now beginning to think that Carlisle had escaped. 'Shame' She thought turning around. She slammed into a barrel chested man. "Sword...hand it over." He grunted. ".......Move." She said tapping an impatient foot. The man straightened himself to his height. "I said the sword you-" He was quickly interrupted by a scabbard smashing into the side of his head. He wasn't dead, Gaita understood that he just wanted out. She bent low so the man could hear her. "There is a door that leads into the sewers down this hallway." She whispered "Guards dont patrol there regularly. Inform any other prisoners cant escape."
She stood up and left the man to his fate, walking back down the hall to catch up with Nix.

Kegan

Kegan slid his arm off of Rein, trying to not show any fear. "Of course, Syrien."

Rein, Syrien

Rein looked at Kegan uncertainly, but reluctantly left his side, heading back to Brighe and Atiya. Syrien walked closer to Kegan, and only spoke when Rein was out of ear-shot.

"If it weren't for the fact that my daughter loves you, Heir Kegan, I'd strike you down where you stand now."

(I'm fine with that.)

"Show some manners. You're not that much older than I am," Nebi told Nix as he followed behind him with a frown, "What should I call you? And where are we going when we get out of here?"

Kegan

Kegan stood still as Syrien lectured him. "Syrien...I understand that you and Brighe are angry at me for... And you are right, I love your Daughter. But I think it's time you and my Aunt stopped lecturing us for doing something as simple as having sex. We're adults now, we can decide what we do together, and when we do it together." Kegan replied, secretly hoping that Syrien wouldn't kill him now.
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Cyril

Cyril continued to sit at the bar alone, sipping out of his mug every now and then. Though he was taken out of his bored sense of monotony as he saw a Girl walk into the Tavern. She was close to his age, the boy reckoned... An she was attractive as well, even if she seemed extremely serious.

"Hey, I'll buy you a drink?" Cyril shouted to the girl.

Syrien

"Oh, it's not that. I am mad about that, yes, but it's not that." Syrien said. "You made the right choice two years ago, yes. But still, for a reason I cannot fully fathom, I hate you for it. You left my daughter alone, heartbroken, and with a child she was too young to have. Did you know, Kegan, that for the first two weeks after you left, Rein refused to leave her room? No, I imagine she wouldn't tell you that. Or anything else she suffered while you were gone."

Kegan

"Oh...." Kegan responded, slightly embarrassed. But as Syrien went on, Kegan's embarrassment faded, being replaced by frustration. "So what do you suggest I do Syrien? Go back in time and get myself arrested? Take Rein with me so when I was eventually captured the Empire could then kill her or do god's know what?!" Kegan asked as he took a step towards the Elf.

"The thing is Syrien, I made the best possible decision I could have back there and you know it. Do I still regret it? Yeah, and I probably always will. And if I was back there, I would make the same decision. As would you."

Syrien

"I know. Logically, I have no reason to be angry with you. But as a parent, logic is often pushed aside. I cannot help but be irrationally angry. I just want to paint a clear picture of what Rein went through while you were gone. Could your time on the run have been as equally bad? I wouldn't be surprised. I would tell you more, but....I think only Rein should be the one to tell you. I just want to be clear on one thing, though."

Syrien stepped closer to Kegan until their faces were inches apart. The Elf gazed deep into the boy's eyes.

"If you ever harm my daughter like you did before, and there is no good reason for it, I will kill you."

(I need to post, but I don't know where I am needed at this point. Any ideas?)

Ana frowned at the shout, a quick scan of the place causing there to be no doubt in who the shout had been at. She still wore her cloak, but the hood was pushed down, as it usually was when she came to places like this. Still, it bugged her that somebody had noticed her, and was drawing attention to her.

She slid onto a stool next to the stranger, looking him over with her orange eyes. He didn't seem like somebody who would try to kill her. Of course, if he tried something, she was more than sure that she could beat him.

"A drink would be nice," she said at last, accepting the offer only because she was so low on funds.

After a long exciting chase, Annak and Amarok escaped the capitol city, and arrived on a cliff overlooking the city itself, at the edge of ta small forest just outside the gates. Annak plunked down at the foot of a large oak tree. "Whew. That was close. The super secret special guards almost got us there." he said, his voice weak, for he was tired. Amarok nodded, in reply as he lay down by Annak's feet, once again in the form of a dog.

"Yes, and if hadn't been for that beaver and his mastery of the magical arts we would have never escaped." Amarok replied. "Poor Thomas Jefferson." he said in a mournful voice.

Annak smiled and patted Amarok's head. "Don't worry Amarok, he's not dead. Him and the super secret special guard are just gone to a different dimension. In fact, any memory of him and the super secret special guard we or any other person has will soon disappear entirely, quite conveniently. They'll never return to the plot again." Annak explained in an attempt to comfort Amarok.

"Who were we talking about?" Amarok asked.

"I have no clue." Annak replied. The pair sat there for a moment before continuing. It was getting late in the day, and it had been a long one.

"We should leave in the morning. Get some rest. We can finally say goodbye to this awful empire." Amarok said. Annak looked down at Amarok puzzled.

"We're leaving?" Annak asked. Amarok stood up.

"Of course we are Annak. We can't stay here. The empress will kill us if we stay." Amarok said. "And what reason do we have to stay. It's not as if you want to emperor." he continued.

Annak looked over at the white dog. "I dunno. Maybe I should. These people need my help." Annak replied.

Amarok bared his teeth. "Annak we cannot just waltz into the palace and simply tell that arnaluk (insult) that you are the new emperor... we tried that already." he said.

Annak glared at his partner. "But you saw what she did to that man, and you've seen how bad off the people are! We both know that she's a heartless wench that doesn't care about the people, just about herself! That's not a leader!" He spat. Annak looked at the ground, ashamed that he had snapped at Amarok. "I know I wouldn't make a great emperor, but I could learn to be one. I just don't want these people to get hurt anymore. Like mom used to tell us. All life is sacred." He said, almost mumbling, then he looked back up at the white dog. "Anyone who doesn't understand that doesn't deserve to be on that throne." he said.

Amarok stared at the young boy, and saw the makings of a fine man, only for a moment. But Amarok knew his words were those of an idealist. It would never work, pursuing this would only get Annak killed, and Amarok was his guardian. He sighed. "We'll find the rebels in the morning." he said.

"What?" Asked Annak, confused.

"The rebels. There was a lot of talk about a rebellion going on. If you really believe in what you just said, then we'll find them and enlist. I'm sure they would love to have the true heir to the empire on their team." Amarok said, and lay down at the foot of the tree beside Annak, who sat smiling.

"Alright. We'll find the rebels in the morning." he agreed, and looked out over at the Capitol. Perhaps he could help to save this empire. But there was something at the pit of his stomach when he thought about being emperor. Annak threw up.

Kegan

Kegan bit the inside of his cheek as he listened to Syrien's last words, sighing after the Elf was done. "I wouldn't have it any other way." Kegan replied before walking off as he headed back towards the beach.
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Cyril

Cyril laughed in reply to the Girl's acceptance. "Wonderful. Pursi! Two more pints over here." Cyril shouted to the Barkeep as he looked back at the girl. "Cyril." He informed the girl while holding his hand out.

Rein, Syrien, Atiya

"Daddy!" Atiya cried happily, rushing over to Kegan as he came into view. The little girl clamped onto Kegan's right leg and looked up, smiling at him. Rein giggled at the toddler's antics and walked over to Kegan too.

"Well, you're walking. Looks like Syrien didn't copy Brighe's earlier actions." she joked.

Syrien came back over to Brighe silently. After hearing Rein's statement, he turned to her. "Is that why I saw Kegan limping earlier?"

?

The first warning that the cavarn had was the shrill laughter the being emitted. The merchants and the soldiers guarding them stopped short at the sound. Then, the predator stalking them popped out of the trees, and tackled the nearest guard. Raising its dagger high, the animal stabbed the soldier in his forehead, instantly ending the poor man's life. Those around the beast recoiled in horror, before the other soldiers drew their weapons and rushed toward the creature, intent on avenging their fallen comrade.

They didn't stand a chance.

The demon was too fast for them, too strong. Even only armed with a dagger, it slew them all one by one. Though the devil sure took his time, though. Unlike the first man, their attacker did not take them out immediately. No, it took pleasure in their pain. It stabbed through limbs, put gashes on their faces (mostly centering around their eyes), it pierced them with many shallow, but painful jabs with its dagger before ending the life of each one of them. Finally after nearly two hours of its tortures, only one man remained alive. By this time the monster was drenched in blood, making its appearance even more frightening and unholy. The thing took its sweet time approaching his last victim, letting the man bleed out onto the forest floor. A nasty cut into the man's gut and a gash along his left arm were his main sources of injury, and where he bleed from most. The man, already fading into the dark, glanced up at his killer as it finally came to him, and knelt beside him.

"You...." the merchant croaked, "Please...let me live, I'll....take all my money, just let me live...."

"Money?" the animal asked. "I don't want your money. I have no need of it."

"Then why...?"

"Because....I enjoy two simple things in life. Spreading chaos, and killing people for no other reason than just for the fun of it. I don't need a reason for what I do. Oh, I am seeking revenge against someone, but that isn't important right now, is it?" it asked, not expecting an answer. It placed a palm over the dying merchant's chest, and surprisingly, began to heal his wounds.

"You're healing me," the merchant muttered, looking up with a mixture of terror and disbelief at the beast. "Why...?"

It smiled back at him. "I didn't want you to die before I gave you my name. You deserve to know the name and face of your killer, do you not? I am....Caesar."

The merchant's screams of pain and agony echoed through the area around him, until....silence.

Brighe

Brighe laughed as she heard Syrien's question. "Yeah, I roughed him up a bit. Probably got a bit carried away though.... Still, I know he didn't get the point." Brighe commented as she looked at Kegan, who was now leaning down and hugging Atiya.