“Well, well. If it isn’t the infamous Jameson Taeros.â€
Shaelen Stormchild poked a finger at the tubings that protruded out of the man’s ribcage. She tilted her head this way and that, then crossed her arms. “I would’a never guessed this was the same man that made the headlines in Ul’dah a few years ago.†The Highlander woman cocked a brow. “Someone’s sure done a number on him.â€
Roen stood on the other side of the unconscious man, giving a nod of reassurance to the physician on who hovered at the doorway. He was lingering, giving a suspicious eye to the Highlander woman who wore a large gun upon her back. While Roen had assured the physician that Shaelen intended the patient no harm, it was obvious his attention was drawn to the metal packs that hung from the Highlander, that flashed and glowed with magitek gadgetry. The man bowed reluctantly, and with a disapproving frown, before he exited the room.
“So, can you help him?†Roen glanced back to Shael.
The Highlander snorted loudly. “Hells no! I can tell you how to rewire an aether drive or hotwire a magitek engine, but this…†She made a face as her eyes skipped from one duct to another that coiled in and out of the man’s body. “I can say that these look like conduits of some sort. Not sure what is flowing within, but I suspect his body is dependent upon it somehow, since it hasn’t killed him yet. Maybe… it’s like a new fuel pipe of some sort? I haven’t the slightest clue without actually opening him up, but that might kill him.†When the paladin gave him a look of dismay, Shael held up both her hands. “But…! I’ve thrown out a few hooks out to some experts I know, to see who bites. Shooey should be getting back to me soon.â€
“Oh!†Roen arched both her eyebrows. She bent down into her pack, and withdrew a thin polished metal tablet. She extended it to the smuggler. “Would this help?â€
“Oh ho ho!†Shael’s eyes lit up as she eagerly snatched the magitek pad. Her fingers deftly began to work on its surface, and the tablet responded with illumination. The smuggler smiled gleefully. “This will work. Oh definitely.â€
Roen sighed with relief, lowering herself into a seat next to the unconscious patient. “The physicians have done what they could here to keep him alive, but they know not what to do with the magitek.â€
“I am not surprised,†Shaelen did not look up, her face buried in the tablet. “This is some intricate stuff.â€
Roen regarded the woman for a moment, but as she seemed to be completely engrossed in whatever information she was gleaning off the screen, Roen turned her attention back to Taeros. The man in front of her looked nothing like the proud noble she once knew; his cheeks were sunken in and his dark hair was a matted mess. Someone had shaved his grizzled beard, but that had only highlighted the pallor and gaunt features underneath. How long has he been this way? And why? She had always thought that he was an ally of Banurein.
“I still don’ get why you even want to help him, Red.†The smuggler looked up, giving her an odd look. “Wasn’t he the one that got you dismissed from the Sultansworns, then threw you in a dungeon when you were with Lazarov? It’s people like him that you were trying to bring down. Now you want to save his life?â€
Silence was the only answer that Roen could give. She was not sure why she wanted to do this. Was it because he had confessed his love for her mother once? Or that he had told her that he had actually intended then failed to protect her? Even when she had that one opportunity with a blade drawn against the the man’s neck, Roen had spared his life. She was not quite sure why she couldn’t kill him then either. But she knew one thing for certain. Trading him like a simple bag of grain, back to the woman who was responsible for his dire state in the first place, just felt wrong.
“There is still so much we do not know,†Roen murmured. “Perhaps he could answer so many more questions.â€
“Huh,†Shael huffed, setting the tablet down on the bed next to Taeros’ head. She folded her arms and propped her elbows onto the mattress, bringing her gaze to Roen’s level. She stared straight at her. “This is just like the last time. With the Kinslayer’s brother. You couldn’t honestly go through with the exchange then either. Even after everything, you still haven’t changed.†She snorted. “Still soft.â€
Roen frowned and stood, pushing off the bed. “That plan worked, did it not? Delial agreed to the exchange: Gharen for Harvard.†She spun and paced to the window. She absently rubbed at her neck at the memory that rose, of the fury she remembered in Qaeli’s eyes, when she found out that Roen had released Harvard, even before the exchange had taken place. Back then, she was not willing to risk Qaeli delivering on her promise of taking Harvard’s life if the trade had not gone as planned. No matter what the circumstances, Harvard had been innocent.
“Yeah, we got lucky I guess.†Shael shrugged and returned her attention to the magitek pad. “Be glad your brother didn’t come back in a box.â€
There was a tinge of bitterness in the smuggler’s words that Roen could not ignore. Shael had never forgiven Delial’s murder of Aylard Greyarm. And why should she? Roen had come to realize that Shaelen had deep loyalties to Greyarm. Had Delial returned Gharen in the same gruesome manner… how would have things turned out?
The thought sent a wave of nausea through Roen and she quickly shook her head to disperse the mental images that rose. That was not who Delial was now; the woman had been slowly trying to atone for all that she had done. But Roen knew that Shaelen would be the last person on Eorzea that would be convinced of it. Besides, this was not the time nor the place.
Roen looked to the courtyard to make certain that there were no signs of either Delial nor Gharen. She knew that it was very possible that things could turn violent should the two Highlander women cross paths. Shaelen had also voiced on more than one occasion of her disappointment with Gharen, in siding with the Kinslayer. So Roen conveniently decided to omit the detail of their involvement in rescuing Taeros. It was a risky venture in not telling either side of the other, but if Shael could wake Taeros, Roen believed it would be worth it.
“Shael, you’re brilliant,†Shaelen told herself with a beaming smile as she tapped decisively onto the glimmering screen. Her artificially lit face then looked to Roen, expectantly. “Red, say I’m brilliant.â€
“You are... brilliant?†Roen stepped away from the window, approaching the bed. She wanted to sound hopeful but her tone came off more skeptical. It was met with a disappointed half-lidded glare.
“Someday, someone’s gotta teach you how to be a more convincing liar.†The smuggler shook her head, but quickly her elation returned. “I think I have an idea on how to fix him.â€
Roen immediately brightened. “Can you do it?â€
“Well, it’s a longshot.†Shaelen gave her a toothy smile. “But I’m willing to bet his life on it.â€
Shaelen Stormchild poked a finger at the tubings that protruded out of the man’s ribcage. She tilted her head this way and that, then crossed her arms. “I would’a never guessed this was the same man that made the headlines in Ul’dah a few years ago.†The Highlander woman cocked a brow. “Someone’s sure done a number on him.â€
Roen stood on the other side of the unconscious man, giving a nod of reassurance to the physician on who hovered at the doorway. He was lingering, giving a suspicious eye to the Highlander woman who wore a large gun upon her back. While Roen had assured the physician that Shaelen intended the patient no harm, it was obvious his attention was drawn to the metal packs that hung from the Highlander, that flashed and glowed with magitek gadgetry. The man bowed reluctantly, and with a disapproving frown, before he exited the room.
“So, can you help him?†Roen glanced back to Shael.
The Highlander snorted loudly. “Hells no! I can tell you how to rewire an aether drive or hotwire a magitek engine, but this…†She made a face as her eyes skipped from one duct to another that coiled in and out of the man’s body. “I can say that these look like conduits of some sort. Not sure what is flowing within, but I suspect his body is dependent upon it somehow, since it hasn’t killed him yet. Maybe… it’s like a new fuel pipe of some sort? I haven’t the slightest clue without actually opening him up, but that might kill him.†When the paladin gave him a look of dismay, Shael held up both her hands. “But…! I’ve thrown out a few hooks out to some experts I know, to see who bites. Shooey should be getting back to me soon.â€
“Oh!†Roen arched both her eyebrows. She bent down into her pack, and withdrew a thin polished metal tablet. She extended it to the smuggler. “Would this help?â€
“Oh ho ho!†Shael’s eyes lit up as she eagerly snatched the magitek pad. Her fingers deftly began to work on its surface, and the tablet responded with illumination. The smuggler smiled gleefully. “This will work. Oh definitely.â€
Roen sighed with relief, lowering herself into a seat next to the unconscious patient. “The physicians have done what they could here to keep him alive, but they know not what to do with the magitek.â€
“I am not surprised,†Shaelen did not look up, her face buried in the tablet. “This is some intricate stuff.â€
Roen regarded the woman for a moment, but as she seemed to be completely engrossed in whatever information she was gleaning off the screen, Roen turned her attention back to Taeros. The man in front of her looked nothing like the proud noble she once knew; his cheeks were sunken in and his dark hair was a matted mess. Someone had shaved his grizzled beard, but that had only highlighted the pallor and gaunt features underneath. How long has he been this way? And why? She had always thought that he was an ally of Banurein.
“I still don’ get why you even want to help him, Red.†The smuggler looked up, giving her an odd look. “Wasn’t he the one that got you dismissed from the Sultansworns, then threw you in a dungeon when you were with Lazarov? It’s people like him that you were trying to bring down. Now you want to save his life?â€
Silence was the only answer that Roen could give. She was not sure why she wanted to do this. Was it because he had confessed his love for her mother once? Or that he had told her that he had actually intended then failed to protect her? Even when she had that one opportunity with a blade drawn against the the man’s neck, Roen had spared his life. She was not quite sure why she couldn’t kill him then either. But she knew one thing for certain. Trading him like a simple bag of grain, back to the woman who was responsible for his dire state in the first place, just felt wrong.
“There is still so much we do not know,†Roen murmured. “Perhaps he could answer so many more questions.â€
“Huh,†Shael huffed, setting the tablet down on the bed next to Taeros’ head. She folded her arms and propped her elbows onto the mattress, bringing her gaze to Roen’s level. She stared straight at her. “This is just like the last time. With the Kinslayer’s brother. You couldn’t honestly go through with the exchange then either. Even after everything, you still haven’t changed.†She snorted. “Still soft.â€
Roen frowned and stood, pushing off the bed. “That plan worked, did it not? Delial agreed to the exchange: Gharen for Harvard.†She spun and paced to the window. She absently rubbed at her neck at the memory that rose, of the fury she remembered in Qaeli’s eyes, when she found out that Roen had released Harvard, even before the exchange had taken place. Back then, she was not willing to risk Qaeli delivering on her promise of taking Harvard’s life if the trade had not gone as planned. No matter what the circumstances, Harvard had been innocent.
“Yeah, we got lucky I guess.†Shael shrugged and returned her attention to the magitek pad. “Be glad your brother didn’t come back in a box.â€
There was a tinge of bitterness in the smuggler’s words that Roen could not ignore. Shael had never forgiven Delial’s murder of Aylard Greyarm. And why should she? Roen had come to realize that Shaelen had deep loyalties to Greyarm. Had Delial returned Gharen in the same gruesome manner… how would have things turned out?
The thought sent a wave of nausea through Roen and she quickly shook her head to disperse the mental images that rose. That was not who Delial was now; the woman had been slowly trying to atone for all that she had done. But Roen knew that Shaelen would be the last person on Eorzea that would be convinced of it. Besides, this was not the time nor the place.
Roen looked to the courtyard to make certain that there were no signs of either Delial nor Gharen. She knew that it was very possible that things could turn violent should the two Highlander women cross paths. Shaelen had also voiced on more than one occasion of her disappointment with Gharen, in siding with the Kinslayer. So Roen conveniently decided to omit the detail of their involvement in rescuing Taeros. It was a risky venture in not telling either side of the other, but if Shael could wake Taeros, Roen believed it would be worth it.
“Shael, you’re brilliant,†Shaelen told herself with a beaming smile as she tapped decisively onto the glimmering screen. Her artificially lit face then looked to Roen, expectantly. “Red, say I’m brilliant.â€
“You are... brilliant?†Roen stepped away from the window, approaching the bed. She wanted to sound hopeful but her tone came off more skeptical. It was met with a disappointed half-lidded glare.
“Someday, someone’s gotta teach you how to be a more convincing liar.†The smuggler shook her head, but quickly her elation returned. “I think I have an idea on how to fix him.â€
Roen immediately brightened. “Can you do it?â€
“Well, it’s a longshot.†Shaelen gave her a toothy smile. “But I’m willing to bet his life on it.â€
