The group began to make their way back to Lost Hope, Daena and Hroch looking hopeful with a Garlean prisoner in tow. Xydane remained aloof as usual, but Wolfsong was strangely silent, looking over the prisoner in his arms. Shaelen tried to convince herself that this was at least a mild victory; they had captured a Garlean and would put the woman to question. Certainly she would know something about Aylard’s whereabouts.
“She don’t look so tough.†Daena glanced back to Gharen and the woman. “I bet she’ll sing like a bird.†She gave a grin to Hroch who was next to her. “We’ll get some answers for yer pa, maybe.â€
The group came to an abrupt halt when they came to the mouth of the cave at Lost Hope. A tall cloaked figure had been exiting--a duskwight with a heavy hood drawn low over his face. Shaelen narrowed her eyes, as silence fell over the rest of the group. Suspicion was immediate. Who in seven hells...
“Oi! Who goes there!†Daena called out.
Shaelen walked out in front, her hands resting on her cesti. “Hey!â€
The tall duskwight nearly loomed over her. He held out his hands to the side. “Am I being robbed?†His voice was calm, but cold.
“Whatcha doin’ ere,†Daena said. “Yer trespassin’.â€
Shaelen glared at the elezen under the hood, then her eyes glanced beyond his face to the sharp lance that hung on his back. The bladed tip… was bloodied.Â
“Shite…†she muttered as she reached for her cesti. But it was too late; the tall elezen had seen her eyes go to his weapon behind him, and he bolted away from them, with surprising speed.
“Where’s…†Hroch began in surprise, dread clear in his tone.
“...Pa?!†Daena immediately called out, darting into the cave. “Pa! Answer me!â€
Shaelen did not wait to find out. The duskwight was getting further away with every tic. She left Wolfsong with the prisoner, and Xydane with the rest as she took after the fleeing lancer. But as she exited the row of tents, she saw the duskwight on a chocobo, riding off in the distance. She was not going to catch him.
Dread constricting her throat, and she ran back to Lost Hope. Inside, she found what she was fearing: Ruva Ghurn lay dead, his throat pierced by a lance. The look on his face was pure fury, even in death. Daena was bent over on her knees, holding her father’s bloodied corpse. But it was not just an assassination; crates were opened, boxes overturned, and tents and canvas ripped.
Shael passed the two younger Highlanders to a deeper cavern in the back where she found Gharen and Xydane. They were both looking over the prisoner who had been laid on the floor, still unconscious.
“The elezen was an assassin," Xydane was saying to Gharen. "If they are not hesitant to kill the old man, they will not be hesitant to kill their prisoner. We must find out what we can from this woman, and we must do it fast. I will not fail the boy.â€
“Aye, I’m aware. I’ll speak te her when she awakes,†Wolfsong answered, just as the woman started to stir. Â
Shaelen came up to stand behind the two men, her eyes going to the Garlean. The woman was just regaining consciousness. As soon as her lashes started to flutter open, Gharen knelt down in front of her.Â
His tone was stern, but not hostile. “What were ye doin’ there? An who was that’ ye were talkin’ to?â€Â
Shael gave him an odd look; he just expected her to answer him, just like that?
The woman blinked, her brows furrowing as she looked to Wolfsong. There was recognition in her face. But when her eyes cleared, they widened with a look of horror.Â
“Oh… this.. he… no!†She sat up quickly, then grabbed her head where she was struck. Xydane moved as if to restrain the woman, but Gharen held up a hand.
“Best answer his question and best answer it fast,†Xydane hissed.
Garlean woman shot a look to Wolfsong, one hand grabbing his arm. “They are going to kill him,†she gasped.
“Kill who?†Gharen asked.
“The boy’s father?†Xydane stepped closer to the woman.
“The boy’s… who...?†The woman glanced from Gharent to Xydane, confusion in her bent brows. She shook her head and looked to the Highlander again, her eyes wide. “They are going to kill my father.â€
Shaelen has had enough. The woman was not giving information fast enough. She pushed past the two men, kneeling in front of the prisoner. “Were you just bait? Was I fed bad intel?†She didn’t care how distraught the woman looked.
“I know this lass,†Gharen interjected as if to calm her down. “She’s my student... an’ a prospective Sultansworn.â€
“I knew there was something between you.†Shaelen spat, arching an accusatory brow at Wolfsong. She had seen her at the Grindstone tournaments when the Highlander was overseeing it. But that only raised more questions. She spun back to the woman on the ground. “You were meeting with a Garlean. Are you a Garlean?â€
The woman froze at the question, her eyes wide. Shaelen recognized that stunned look all too well. “Garlean,†Shael repeated, this time it was not a question. Both men fell to silence behind her.
“Give me a few minutes with her,†Gharen sighed, finally breaking the silence. Xydane seemed to oblige easy enough, slipping out of the cave and saying he would try and ask the locals about the elezen.
But Shaelen stood her ground, her stormy eyes narrowing on the taller Highlander. “She’s our only lead to Aylard. And now Ruva is dead. She’s gonna pay for that.†She could feel that hunger grow inside her again.
“No, she’s nae.†Gharen met her gaze with a steel of his own.
Shaelen’s brow twitched. “What do you mean, she’s not.†Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “She’s a Garlean.â€
Gharen did not flinch, a low feral growl escaping his throat. “Let me clarify. I was nae askin’ fer a few minutes te talk te her.â€
“She’s awake. Good.†Daena stormed in behind her with Hroch not too far behind. They both looked angry and eager.
“Out!†Gharen barked at them all.
“Don’t think so.†Daena cracked her knuckles. "I got as much right ta question ‘er as you do.â€
“That woman’s got a lot to be answerin’ for.†Hroch added.
Gharen stood in front of the Garlean prisoner in a defensive stance, his fists clenched. “I’ll be th’ judge o’ tha’ now unless ye feel like hobblin’ out, I suggest ye walk out now!â€
Daena was seething. “No,†she rasped. “She ain’t yers. She’s ours. Me pa is dead. I want answers.â€
Hroch crossed his arms, sounding very much like his father with his jaw squared and his eyes taking on the calm that Aylard used to have. “We ain’t here to make small talk with this filth. We’ pilin’ corpses all over and she’s got to know something about it.â€
Daena stepped forward, her hands in fists. Her glare at Gharen was pure fury. “I dun care who you are. Ain’t no one standin’ in me way on this.â€
Gharen growled. “Ye want te take a crack at ‘er, ye’ll need to go through me then.â€
Shite. Here we go. Shaelen saw the invitation snatched up without hesitation by Hroch as the younger Highlander rushed Wolfsong, with his fists sailing to strike the bigger man. She could sense that the young ones were getting restless before, and now with the old man's murder....
Hroch still unable to find his father, and Daena had just lost hers. Wolfsong’s strange and inexplicable need to protect the Garlean was all the spark they needed to explode into action.
Hroch’s fist went sailing wide as Wolfsong smoothly sidestepped him and leaned away from the swing, grabbing his arm and turning his momentum to the side, sending him towards Daena. The man’s had extensive training, moving like that. There was no mistake; this was going to be tougher than she thought.
“Who’s side are ya on?!†Daena shouted, frustrated, as she staggered back, Hroch crashing into her. She stumbled back up, grabbing the nearest ceramic pots that lay around her. She began to hurl them towards Wolfsong and the Garlean woman behind him, who was now trying to stand.
“I’m on th’ side tha’s think’n clearly,†Gharen said as he took one pot on the shoulder as it shattered. Another he ducked, and it crashed just finger width from the cloaked woman. The Garlean raised her hand as well, to shield herself from more flying pots, some breaking against her arm.
“He’s a fuckin’ traitor!†Daena screamed in anger. “How’d the elezen know where me pa was, huh?!†The girl had a good arm, she was shattering those pots against whatever they hit. Shaelen took a wider course not to be in her missile path. But she was eying the Garlean woman. She would settle this whole thing.
“Wait!†The cloaked woman pleaded with her hands held in front of her. “He is not a traitor! He had nothing to do with why I was there!†More pottery crashed and broke around her as she ducked out of their path.
“Ngh. Shut yer trap, Garlean!†Daena snarled ferally, her eyes wildly seeking out more things to throw. “I’ll deal wi’ you in a bit!â€
“He’s innocent!†The cloaked woman edge out from behind Gharen, who was still blocking what flying pots he could while keeping Hroch and Daena in front of him. “I will go freely!â€
Shaelen curled her hands around her cesti by her side. She was not going to let the youths battle a trained fighter alone. From what she could glean of his skills so far, they would be no match for Wolfsong. Shaelen would even the odds a little. But as she approached, the Garlean woman turned to her and stepped in between her and Wolfsong, holding up her hands. Too easy.
Shaelen snatched the woman by her wrist, swinging her around with the other arm going to wrap around her neck. Her eyes went to Wolfsong who was still engaged with Hroch, spinning and sending the youth back into a pile of crates and dodging a spinning brazier that now Daena had taken up. The girl was enraged. But Gharen caught the view of Shael and the prisoner she now had well in hand.
“So tha’s it then, any Garlean will do? Eh?†Wolfsong scowled. “Dinnae matter if she had anythin’ te do with it or nae?â€
“I don’t know why you feel the need to protect a bloody Garlean, Wolfsong, your student or no, but she’s ours," Shaelen snarled. "Let’s get on with it and find out what she knows!†Shaelen aimed her words at the two still engaged, even while she tightened her hold around the woman’s slender throat, pulling her back forcibly away from Wolfsong. Hroch was still stumbling in his pile of crates.Â
Shaelen put her other hand on top of the woman’s head, preparing to break the woman’s neck if she needed to. She could tell that Gharen realized this as well. The woman’s hold on her arm tightened, but she was helpless now in her grip. “Now I don’t wanna kill her. But you know I can. So both of you stop, eh?â€
Wolfsong’s expression turned dark in a flash and he growled. With surprising speed, he launched to his left, dodging the brazier and sending a punch to the back of Daena’s knee. She fell forward as he stepped behind her and wrapped his arm around her in a rear neck choke. “Yer a little too eager te visit yer father, lass.†He put her to the ground, even as she struggled. But his gaze was quick to return to Shael and her prisoner.
Shaelen narrowed her eyes, but could see that he was only holding Daena until she was unconscious. She watched the girl struggle, but eventually her kicking stopped and the she fell unconscious. Satisfied, Shaelen shoved the Garlean woman toward Hroch who had come up behind her, walking over to kneel by the unconscious youth. Â
“The girl’s just lost her pa.†Shael knelt and put a finger to Daena's neck, feeling for a pulse there. “She’s gotta hit something.†She hovered her hand in front of the girl’s nose to assure herself she was breathing evenly, and once she was satisfied the girl was just unconscious, stood again, glaring at Wolfsong.. “She’s going to want a piece of something. And we have a Garlean. Why shouldn’t she?â€
"All th' more reason she's nae goin' te have anythin' te do with her." Gharen met her gaze steadily. “An' if we had Cid Garlond here himself, ye think we should hand him over te her jus' cause he's Garlean?"
Shaelen arched a brow at him. “You saying that’s what she is? A traitor to his own kind? What has she done for Eorzea?â€
“She's soon te be Sultansworn, an th' father she was talkin' about is an adoptive one from Eorzea. Course yer all so bloody hotheaded ye'd rather beat her bloody." Gharen's words were cold.
“With Garleans, best hit first and ask questions later.†Shael wrinkled her freckled nose. “Even though they don’t give us the same courtesy.†She glanced over her shoulder to Hroch, where the younger Highlander still had a firm hold on the cloaked woman. But as the situation was calming, she could also feel that anger giving way.
“So. Let’s hear out the story then,†she said with a sigh, glancing back to Wolfsong. “And if we don’t like it…†Shaelen gestured between her and the taller Highlander.Â
“Then we have a problem.â€
“She don’t look so tough.†Daena glanced back to Gharen and the woman. “I bet she’ll sing like a bird.†She gave a grin to Hroch who was next to her. “We’ll get some answers for yer pa, maybe.â€
The group came to an abrupt halt when they came to the mouth of the cave at Lost Hope. A tall cloaked figure had been exiting--a duskwight with a heavy hood drawn low over his face. Shaelen narrowed her eyes, as silence fell over the rest of the group. Suspicion was immediate. Who in seven hells...
“Oi! Who goes there!†Daena called out.
Shaelen walked out in front, her hands resting on her cesti. “Hey!â€
The tall duskwight nearly loomed over her. He held out his hands to the side. “Am I being robbed?†His voice was calm, but cold.
“Whatcha doin’ ere,†Daena said. “Yer trespassin’.â€
Shaelen glared at the elezen under the hood, then her eyes glanced beyond his face to the sharp lance that hung on his back. The bladed tip… was bloodied.Â
“Shite…†she muttered as she reached for her cesti. But it was too late; the tall elezen had seen her eyes go to his weapon behind him, and he bolted away from them, with surprising speed.
“Where’s…†Hroch began in surprise, dread clear in his tone.
“...Pa?!†Daena immediately called out, darting into the cave. “Pa! Answer me!â€
Shaelen did not wait to find out. The duskwight was getting further away with every tic. She left Wolfsong with the prisoner, and Xydane with the rest as she took after the fleeing lancer. But as she exited the row of tents, she saw the duskwight on a chocobo, riding off in the distance. She was not going to catch him.
Dread constricting her throat, and she ran back to Lost Hope. Inside, she found what she was fearing: Ruva Ghurn lay dead, his throat pierced by a lance. The look on his face was pure fury, even in death. Daena was bent over on her knees, holding her father’s bloodied corpse. But it was not just an assassination; crates were opened, boxes overturned, and tents and canvas ripped.
Shael passed the two younger Highlanders to a deeper cavern in the back where she found Gharen and Xydane. They were both looking over the prisoner who had been laid on the floor, still unconscious.
“The elezen was an assassin," Xydane was saying to Gharen. "If they are not hesitant to kill the old man, they will not be hesitant to kill their prisoner. We must find out what we can from this woman, and we must do it fast. I will not fail the boy.â€
“Aye, I’m aware. I’ll speak te her when she awakes,†Wolfsong answered, just as the woman started to stir. Â
Shaelen came up to stand behind the two men, her eyes going to the Garlean. The woman was just regaining consciousness. As soon as her lashes started to flutter open, Gharen knelt down in front of her.Â
His tone was stern, but not hostile. “What were ye doin’ there? An who was that’ ye were talkin’ to?â€Â
Shael gave him an odd look; he just expected her to answer him, just like that?
The woman blinked, her brows furrowing as she looked to Wolfsong. There was recognition in her face. But when her eyes cleared, they widened with a look of horror.Â
“Oh… this.. he… no!†She sat up quickly, then grabbed her head where she was struck. Xydane moved as if to restrain the woman, but Gharen held up a hand.
“Best answer his question and best answer it fast,†Xydane hissed.
Garlean woman shot a look to Wolfsong, one hand grabbing his arm. “They are going to kill him,†she gasped.
“Kill who?†Gharen asked.
“The boy’s father?†Xydane stepped closer to the woman.
“The boy’s… who...?†The woman glanced from Gharent to Xydane, confusion in her bent brows. She shook her head and looked to the Highlander again, her eyes wide. “They are going to kill my father.â€
Shaelen has had enough. The woman was not giving information fast enough. She pushed past the two men, kneeling in front of the prisoner. “Were you just bait? Was I fed bad intel?†She didn’t care how distraught the woman looked.
“I know this lass,†Gharen interjected as if to calm her down. “She’s my student... an’ a prospective Sultansworn.â€
“I knew there was something between you.†Shaelen spat, arching an accusatory brow at Wolfsong. She had seen her at the Grindstone tournaments when the Highlander was overseeing it. But that only raised more questions. She spun back to the woman on the ground. “You were meeting with a Garlean. Are you a Garlean?â€
The woman froze at the question, her eyes wide. Shaelen recognized that stunned look all too well. “Garlean,†Shael repeated, this time it was not a question. Both men fell to silence behind her.
“Give me a few minutes with her,†Gharen sighed, finally breaking the silence. Xydane seemed to oblige easy enough, slipping out of the cave and saying he would try and ask the locals about the elezen.
But Shaelen stood her ground, her stormy eyes narrowing on the taller Highlander. “She’s our only lead to Aylard. And now Ruva is dead. She’s gonna pay for that.†She could feel that hunger grow inside her again.
“No, she’s nae.†Gharen met her gaze with a steel of his own.
Shaelen’s brow twitched. “What do you mean, she’s not.†Her eyes narrowed into dangerous slits. “She’s a Garlean.â€
Gharen did not flinch, a low feral growl escaping his throat. “Let me clarify. I was nae askin’ fer a few minutes te talk te her.â€
“She’s awake. Good.†Daena stormed in behind her with Hroch not too far behind. They both looked angry and eager.
“Out!†Gharen barked at them all.
“Don’t think so.†Daena cracked her knuckles. "I got as much right ta question ‘er as you do.â€
“That woman’s got a lot to be answerin’ for.†Hroch added.
Gharen stood in front of the Garlean prisoner in a defensive stance, his fists clenched. “I’ll be th’ judge o’ tha’ now unless ye feel like hobblin’ out, I suggest ye walk out now!â€
Daena was seething. “No,†she rasped. “She ain’t yers. She’s ours. Me pa is dead. I want answers.â€
Hroch crossed his arms, sounding very much like his father with his jaw squared and his eyes taking on the calm that Aylard used to have. “We ain’t here to make small talk with this filth. We’ pilin’ corpses all over and she’s got to know something about it.â€
Daena stepped forward, her hands in fists. Her glare at Gharen was pure fury. “I dun care who you are. Ain’t no one standin’ in me way on this.â€
Gharen growled. “Ye want te take a crack at ‘er, ye’ll need to go through me then.â€
Shite. Here we go. Shaelen saw the invitation snatched up without hesitation by Hroch as the younger Highlander rushed Wolfsong, with his fists sailing to strike the bigger man. She could sense that the young ones were getting restless before, and now with the old man's murder....
Hroch still unable to find his father, and Daena had just lost hers. Wolfsong’s strange and inexplicable need to protect the Garlean was all the spark they needed to explode into action.
Hroch’s fist went sailing wide as Wolfsong smoothly sidestepped him and leaned away from the swing, grabbing his arm and turning his momentum to the side, sending him towards Daena. The man’s had extensive training, moving like that. There was no mistake; this was going to be tougher than she thought.
“Who’s side are ya on?!†Daena shouted, frustrated, as she staggered back, Hroch crashing into her. She stumbled back up, grabbing the nearest ceramic pots that lay around her. She began to hurl them towards Wolfsong and the Garlean woman behind him, who was now trying to stand.
“I’m on th’ side tha’s think’n clearly,†Gharen said as he took one pot on the shoulder as it shattered. Another he ducked, and it crashed just finger width from the cloaked woman. The Garlean raised her hand as well, to shield herself from more flying pots, some breaking against her arm.
“He’s a fuckin’ traitor!†Daena screamed in anger. “How’d the elezen know where me pa was, huh?!†The girl had a good arm, she was shattering those pots against whatever they hit. Shaelen took a wider course not to be in her missile path. But she was eying the Garlean woman. She would settle this whole thing.
“Wait!†The cloaked woman pleaded with her hands held in front of her. “He is not a traitor! He had nothing to do with why I was there!†More pottery crashed and broke around her as she ducked out of their path.
“Ngh. Shut yer trap, Garlean!†Daena snarled ferally, her eyes wildly seeking out more things to throw. “I’ll deal wi’ you in a bit!â€
“He’s innocent!†The cloaked woman edge out from behind Gharen, who was still blocking what flying pots he could while keeping Hroch and Daena in front of him. “I will go freely!â€
Shaelen curled her hands around her cesti by her side. She was not going to let the youths battle a trained fighter alone. From what she could glean of his skills so far, they would be no match for Wolfsong. Shaelen would even the odds a little. But as she approached, the Garlean woman turned to her and stepped in between her and Wolfsong, holding up her hands. Too easy.
Shaelen snatched the woman by her wrist, swinging her around with the other arm going to wrap around her neck. Her eyes went to Wolfsong who was still engaged with Hroch, spinning and sending the youth back into a pile of crates and dodging a spinning brazier that now Daena had taken up. The girl was enraged. But Gharen caught the view of Shael and the prisoner she now had well in hand.
“So tha’s it then, any Garlean will do? Eh?†Wolfsong scowled. “Dinnae matter if she had anythin’ te do with it or nae?â€
“I don’t know why you feel the need to protect a bloody Garlean, Wolfsong, your student or no, but she’s ours," Shaelen snarled. "Let’s get on with it and find out what she knows!†Shaelen aimed her words at the two still engaged, even while she tightened her hold around the woman’s slender throat, pulling her back forcibly away from Wolfsong. Hroch was still stumbling in his pile of crates.Â
Shaelen put her other hand on top of the woman’s head, preparing to break the woman’s neck if she needed to. She could tell that Gharen realized this as well. The woman’s hold on her arm tightened, but she was helpless now in her grip. “Now I don’t wanna kill her. But you know I can. So both of you stop, eh?â€
Wolfsong’s expression turned dark in a flash and he growled. With surprising speed, he launched to his left, dodging the brazier and sending a punch to the back of Daena’s knee. She fell forward as he stepped behind her and wrapped his arm around her in a rear neck choke. “Yer a little too eager te visit yer father, lass.†He put her to the ground, even as she struggled. But his gaze was quick to return to Shael and her prisoner.
Shaelen narrowed her eyes, but could see that he was only holding Daena until she was unconscious. She watched the girl struggle, but eventually her kicking stopped and the she fell unconscious. Satisfied, Shaelen shoved the Garlean woman toward Hroch who had come up behind her, walking over to kneel by the unconscious youth. Â
“The girl’s just lost her pa.†Shael knelt and put a finger to Daena's neck, feeling for a pulse there. “She’s gotta hit something.†She hovered her hand in front of the girl’s nose to assure herself she was breathing evenly, and once she was satisfied the girl was just unconscious, stood again, glaring at Wolfsong.. “She’s going to want a piece of something. And we have a Garlean. Why shouldn’t she?â€
"All th' more reason she's nae goin' te have anythin' te do with her." Gharen met her gaze steadily. “An' if we had Cid Garlond here himself, ye think we should hand him over te her jus' cause he's Garlean?"
Shaelen arched a brow at him. “You saying that’s what she is? A traitor to his own kind? What has she done for Eorzea?â€
“She's soon te be Sultansworn, an th' father she was talkin' about is an adoptive one from Eorzea. Course yer all so bloody hotheaded ye'd rather beat her bloody." Gharen's words were cold.
“With Garleans, best hit first and ask questions later.†Shael wrinkled her freckled nose. “Even though they don’t give us the same courtesy.†She glanced over her shoulder to Hroch, where the younger Highlander still had a firm hold on the cloaked woman. But as the situation was calming, she could also feel that anger giving way.
“So. Let’s hear out the story then,†she said with a sigh, glancing back to Wolfsong. “And if we don’t like it…†Shaelen gestured between her and the taller Highlander.Â
“Then we have a problem.â€
