Roen turned her gaze back to Kage as he started to walk away from her. She stopped him with her order, “Kage.†She pointed to the chair. “Sit.â€
Kage could feel her frowning at him even though he wasn’t actually facing Roen. He could feel the gaze all the same even if he was turned away from her. He stopped and turned back, sitting down in the chair. “I will get you a drink,†said Roen.
Kage bowed his head, mumbling, “You don’t have to do it…â€
Roen came back to the table, having grabbed anything that she could get for a drink and some glasses. She set one of the glasses down along with the bottle next to Kage. He thanked her as she sat down, rubbing her forehead. Kage grabbed the bottle, uncorking it and pouring its contents into a glass for Roen and one for himself. He handed Roen one glass, leaving his own near his right hand.
"Do you know her well, Kage? Cho? I have only briefly met her once at the Ball. With Naz."
Kage took a sip of from the glass and answered, "Chokho was the one to help with Marrow... the one..." He glanced around. "The tempering."
Kage didn’t know what to do. To say he was worried was an understatement. He was worried about what this might mean, for everyone. For Roen, for Natalie, for himself and for Chokho.
"Ah." Roen ponders what he had said for a moment, then shook her head. "I suppose I will hear from her soon enough..." she trailed off. She narrowed her eyes back on Kage, that stern look returning. "Now. Kage. You were attacked??"
"I don't know how she got any information but when she said she knew "exactly" what you were involved in... I had to get her to talk,†Kage commented. He looked into Roen's eyes, "Yes."
"Natalie wrote to me. Why does -she- have to write to me for me to find this out?" Â She stared at Kage. "You knew something was coming, did you not?" She pressed her lips into a disapproving line. "That day at Ruby Road when I was meeting with Kiht. When you warned me of some Roe Bandit."
The rapid questions from Roen felt like she was interrogating him. Kage felt like he had burdened her. This is why he hadn’t wanted her to know. She already had a lot on her plate, with the Garleans, with her family. Why did Natalie have to send that letter? Why did he allow himself to get hurt. He blinked and groaned before nodding to Roen in affirmation.
Roen made a gesture, "You were acting very wary. This. Did you expect this?"
"....of sorts. Yes." Kage answered.
Roen’s questions continued. Kage wished she hadn’t worried about him. "Did someone attack you? Or did someone actually tried to kill you?"
Kage bowed his head. "I'm sure they were trying to kill me."
Roen exhaled with an incredulous look, Kage could feel her staring at him from across the table. Â "And, you did not think to tell me. Any of this."
Kage replied, "You have more to worry about. Like your family."
"Kage." She sighed, eyeing the lalafell, her frown fading for a moment. "You and Natalie, are also my family now." She paused before asking, "Do you not see that?"
Why didn’t Roen understand? Kage wasn’t doing this out of trying to keep her out of danger or worry that she would turn on him. He didn’t want to overburden herself. He knew she would be concerned and she had so much to think about. "Of course I do.. But you... you.. you're busy."
Roen shook her head. "Do you think I cannot help?" She leaned in on the table. "What did you say, that day when I was chained. You said you would not let me go thorugh it alone. How then can you not expect the same in return?"
Kage winced, closing his eyes a bit. He stared at the table. He felt guilty. But, how could he? How could he let her be overwhelmed? If something happened to her because she was burdened over him… if something happened to her family because she was occupied with him.. Kage wouldn’t be able to live with himself. He already couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Ruru, who he had actually failed.
"We are Sultansworn." Roen laid her hand on top of the table as if to press her point. "We stand together. Shield to shield. Shoulder to shoulder. Those were your words. Natalie's words."
"But then I find out she left, and you were attacked? ..and Kayah." Â She shook her head again. "Did this all begin with him?"
Kage looked up, his eyes peering into Roen's under the fringe. His eyes were rimmed red.
Roen sighed, her expression softened as he did so. "Kage. I am not here to make you feel worse. I just..."
"... I just want to help you," commented Roen.
"... I know.," he answered. He suddenly hit the table with his injured hand. "But already someone is hurt that I didn't want to get involved!"
Roen blinked, surprised by his outburst. "Someone else was hurt? Other than Kayah? And you?"
Kage elaborated, "Natalie told me to take an apprentice, a Sultansworn recruit. He's my friend I made in the Quicksand. He's another Lalafell named Rurutani. I call him Ruru.." His injured arm shakes. "His eye is lost because of me. He took an attack to his eye that was meant to kill me."
Roen blinked, her brows furrowing. "I did not realize how brutal this attack was." She bent her gaze, exhaling, “I have been ... neglectful in my duties as Sultansworn. I should have seen.. I should have been there."
Kage felt like his stomach had been just taken in by a Goobue. These were the types of things he had wanted to avoid for Roen. He shook his head furiously, "No! Not you."
"Kage, I have been remiss. I ..." She looked elsewhere for a moment. and Kage felt like he could not see what she was thinking. "There are things, that have drawn me away. But I see that it has also put you in danger." She shook her head. "Without back up. Or support."
Kage frowned. Roen leveled her gaze at him and asked, "What can I do?"
This was too much. What could he say? What could he do? He hadn’t wanted to burden Roen and instead he had placed more on her. He answered, "I don't know what... I don't even know who"
Roen narrowed her eyes and asked, "But then why attack you? This started with Kayah. Aye? What... happened??"
What happened? Wasn’t that a question Kage asked himself every day and night since the ball? What happened? "Kayah got attacked... the night of the ball. I walked in on them and could not stop their Roegadyn leader from stabbing him."
The memories always shook him. His whole body shook, both of his hands clenched and trembling.
"Them," she nods. "How many were there? You said one was Roegadyn. And there were more?"
Kage answered "At least one other Roegadyn... one who used claws or fists. And another I could tell was a Miqo'te who used their fists as well. There was at least another form, hooded and cowled. The others wore helms or masks."
He muttered, "I think the clawed Miqo'te was the one that tried to kill me. I can't say because of the mask but...during the attack I saw that the miqo'te was female and had some sort of blonde, gold colored hair.
Roen pinched the bridge of her nose, appearing as she was trying to take it all in. "If this started with Kayah, then we have to assume it was directed at him with a purpose. And then perhaps you, Â because... you were there?"
Roen paused before continuing to seemingly think out loud, "Maybe that is why Natalie took him away. He is in danger, -here- in Ul'dah."
Kage shook his head and said, "I can't say... I don't even know if Kayah's alive." He frowned and nodded at Roen’s speculations about his attempted murder. "And I know... I was told some things."
She arched a brow and asked, "Told things? By whom?"
How to explain this, all of it without telling Roen about Suri’s relationship with Natalie and Kayah? The very complication situation that it was. He glanced at his glass, drinking all of its contents.
"My.. informant... I'll be arresting her when it's all over... or telling Natalie and Kayah about it first. She doesn't know the name but all she could add for me was that the tall female Roegadyn leader has purple hair."
"So a Roegadyn leads them." Roen nodded. "Purple hair." She made a face that Kage couldn’t place. "That is rather popular."
He tilted his head and asked, "Why the face?"
She shrugged. "There are many Roes that prefer that hair. Especially women. Just ask Denn."
Denn? Kage frowned at her mention. "I'd considered asking her but..." He  shook his head, "I'd rather talk to her about when she walked out on me at the ball. Denn's not involved. I don't think she is, not after yesterday."
Roen arched her brow at his statement. She asked, “Did... you two... have an argument?" Kage knew she didn’t understand what it was about. But he wasn’t about to elaborate on it, it had helped cause everything the night of the ball when he spoke about it. He just shook his  head not answering, "If Denn wanted to hurt me, she could have done it yesterday."
Roen blinked before she raised her brows,"When was your attack? What happened yesterday?"
"Denn is..." He shook his head. "It's a personal matter, it's not related to the attack. The attack, it was yesterday."
Roen nodded, and Kage hoped she would leave it be. "Denn tried to help me too. I would not suspect her. But perhaps she knows of those who might get us on a trail?"
Kage shrugged, "I don't know...Maybe? I've not talked much about everything, only saying it's been an attack. I don't know if Kayah's dead or alive..."
"Stanzie said he was. At least, when she saw him last." Â She nodded with a reassuring look.
Kage shook his head. The less people knew the better. "I'm not telling anyone anything. The less known... the better it will be. Kayah was still deathly hurt when Stanzie went to rest after fully exhausting herself."
"Then that will be my story as well." Roen nodded before pausing, “Maybe I just should not mention it at all."  She frowned.
Kage sighed "It might be for the best until we know whether or not Kayah is dead or alive." He blinked back tears. "If he's head... if he's dead.. it's my fault." His voice broke.
"So." She tapped a finger against the wooden table. "We have three assailants, leader being a Roe. And another miqo'te that attacked you."
She pressed her palms on the table and leans towards Kage, speaking in a whisper. "Natalie would have said so."
Kage nodded and she continued, “I received her letter about you, today."  She shook her head. "Do not despair for the unknown, Kage."
"Perhaps," Kage slumped into his chair.
"Natalie is strong. She will not let Kayah die, unless she does it herself." She nodded before shrugging, trying to sound lighthearted. “I believe she  would keep him alive, by sheer force of will."
Kage returned the nod, "I can see that." He gave a small smile at the image.
"Now, Natalie will also be -furious- with me if I let something horrible happen to you." She canted her head with a warm look at Kage. "So, let us stick together?"
Even as Roen regarded Kage with look, she blinked and her gaze grew distant for a moment. She sighed quietly. "And when I have to be away, please, do not walk alone."
He nodded, "I..." He paused. "You need to not worry about me..."
Bending her brows, Roen gave him a look of an apology. "There are things... I still need to take care of, Kage." Her voice was low, but Kage could still hear it, just barely. He knew it was serious.
She shook her head. "But if I knew you were not taking -all- the precautions, I would be distracted with worry. Now I cannot afford that, so. For me? Be careful? And let me know how I can help?"
He nodded, "I understand Roen." His voice just as low and just as serious, even as he felt like he was being swallowed whole. "I was trying to take routes that are not my usual. I wasn't in the Quicksand for long periods of time..."
Roen pursed her lips, "You should not be in the Quicksand at all. That is where I would go to find you. Or Natalie."
Kage frowned. What was he to do? Hide somewhere forever until someone came by to attack
him or finish him off? Wait for them to find him? Wait for Natalie, wherever she was? To hope Roen was ok?
"I... I try," he responded.
"Now. Does your informant know any more?"
He shook his head, "No... I haven't seen her in awhile."
Roen arched her brows, "I hope she is safe."
Kage widened his eyes. He hadn’t thought about it. If they had sent someone after him, surely they continued to pursue Suri? They must have believed that she wasn’t doing anything about him.
"I hope she is... not in Ul'dah anymore," he replied. Roen nodded, “And how is your apprentice. Ruru... did you say?"
Hearing about Ruru again.. it hurt. It reminded him that he had failed. His eyes dropped, "He's lost use of one of his eyes. Other than that... he'll need to re-adjust to living and fighting with just one eye."
Furrowing her brows, Roen said, "Well at least you had each other, perhaps that is why you both are here still."
Kage bit his lip and nodded. Leaning forward again, Roen commented, "And now you have me as well. As you always have. I will be here when I can."
He closed his eyes for a long second before peering up to Roen. "Always."
Roen answered him with a reassuring smile and a nod. Kage sighed, he so wished that Roen was not burdened by his own plight. He murmured, "I'm sorry Roen, for making you worry."
Pushing up against the table, Roen stood up. She walked over to Kage and kneeled. "I am just glad you are alright," she said.
"Thank you Roen. For everything. " He sighed. "I hope you stay safe Roen. Ul'dah's not the safest place and... and you're still in danger."
"Do not hesitate to ask me of anything, Kage."  She regarded him intently and then nodded. "Aye. Stay well, Kage. Be careful. I do not want to lose anymore,†she said quietly with a hint of sadness to her voice that Kage could hear. She gave him a nod and then turned towards the lift.
Kage nodded to Roen and answered, “Yes.†He bid farewell to her as she walked away. Kage followed, walking slowly towards the lift. He wondered where he would stay if not at the Quicksand.
Kage could feel her frowning at him even though he wasn’t actually facing Roen. He could feel the gaze all the same even if he was turned away from her. He stopped and turned back, sitting down in the chair. “I will get you a drink,†said Roen.
Kage bowed his head, mumbling, “You don’t have to do it…â€
Roen came back to the table, having grabbed anything that she could get for a drink and some glasses. She set one of the glasses down along with the bottle next to Kage. He thanked her as she sat down, rubbing her forehead. Kage grabbed the bottle, uncorking it and pouring its contents into a glass for Roen and one for himself. He handed Roen one glass, leaving his own near his right hand.
"Do you know her well, Kage? Cho? I have only briefly met her once at the Ball. With Naz."
Kage took a sip of from the glass and answered, "Chokho was the one to help with Marrow... the one..." He glanced around. "The tempering."
Kage didn’t know what to do. To say he was worried was an understatement. He was worried about what this might mean, for everyone. For Roen, for Natalie, for himself and for Chokho.
"Ah." Roen ponders what he had said for a moment, then shook her head. "I suppose I will hear from her soon enough..." she trailed off. She narrowed her eyes back on Kage, that stern look returning. "Now. Kage. You were attacked??"
"I don't know how she got any information but when she said she knew "exactly" what you were involved in... I had to get her to talk,†Kage commented. He looked into Roen's eyes, "Yes."
"Natalie wrote to me. Why does -she- have to write to me for me to find this out?" Â She stared at Kage. "You knew something was coming, did you not?" She pressed her lips into a disapproving line. "That day at Ruby Road when I was meeting with Kiht. When you warned me of some Roe Bandit."
The rapid questions from Roen felt like she was interrogating him. Kage felt like he had burdened her. This is why he hadn’t wanted her to know. She already had a lot on her plate, with the Garleans, with her family. Why did Natalie have to send that letter? Why did he allow himself to get hurt. He blinked and groaned before nodding to Roen in affirmation.
Roen made a gesture, "You were acting very wary. This. Did you expect this?"
"....of sorts. Yes." Kage answered.
Roen’s questions continued. Kage wished she hadn’t worried about him. "Did someone attack you? Or did someone actually tried to kill you?"
Kage bowed his head. "I'm sure they were trying to kill me."
Roen exhaled with an incredulous look, Kage could feel her staring at him from across the table. Â "And, you did not think to tell me. Any of this."
Kage replied, "You have more to worry about. Like your family."
"Kage." She sighed, eyeing the lalafell, her frown fading for a moment. "You and Natalie, are also my family now." She paused before asking, "Do you not see that?"
Why didn’t Roen understand? Kage wasn’t doing this out of trying to keep her out of danger or worry that she would turn on him. He didn’t want to overburden herself. He knew she would be concerned and she had so much to think about. "Of course I do.. But you... you.. you're busy."
Roen shook her head. "Do you think I cannot help?" She leaned in on the table. "What did you say, that day when I was chained. You said you would not let me go thorugh it alone. How then can you not expect the same in return?"
Kage winced, closing his eyes a bit. He stared at the table. He felt guilty. But, how could he? How could he let her be overwhelmed? If something happened to her because she was burdened over him… if something happened to her family because she was occupied with him.. Kage wouldn’t be able to live with himself. He already couldn’t bear the thought of seeing Ruru, who he had actually failed.
"We are Sultansworn." Roen laid her hand on top of the table as if to press her point. "We stand together. Shield to shield. Shoulder to shoulder. Those were your words. Natalie's words."
"But then I find out she left, and you were attacked? ..and Kayah." Â She shook her head again. "Did this all begin with him?"
Kage looked up, his eyes peering into Roen's under the fringe. His eyes were rimmed red.
Roen sighed, her expression softened as he did so. "Kage. I am not here to make you feel worse. I just..."
"... I just want to help you," commented Roen.
"... I know.," he answered. He suddenly hit the table with his injured hand. "But already someone is hurt that I didn't want to get involved!"
Roen blinked, surprised by his outburst. "Someone else was hurt? Other than Kayah? And you?"
Kage elaborated, "Natalie told me to take an apprentice, a Sultansworn recruit. He's my friend I made in the Quicksand. He's another Lalafell named Rurutani. I call him Ruru.." His injured arm shakes. "His eye is lost because of me. He took an attack to his eye that was meant to kill me."
Roen blinked, her brows furrowing. "I did not realize how brutal this attack was." She bent her gaze, exhaling, “I have been ... neglectful in my duties as Sultansworn. I should have seen.. I should have been there."
Kage felt like his stomach had been just taken in by a Goobue. These were the types of things he had wanted to avoid for Roen. He shook his head furiously, "No! Not you."
"Kage, I have been remiss. I ..." She looked elsewhere for a moment. and Kage felt like he could not see what she was thinking. "There are things, that have drawn me away. But I see that it has also put you in danger." She shook her head. "Without back up. Or support."
Kage frowned. Roen leveled her gaze at him and asked, "What can I do?"
This was too much. What could he say? What could he do? He hadn’t wanted to burden Roen and instead he had placed more on her. He answered, "I don't know what... I don't even know who"
Roen narrowed her eyes and asked, "But then why attack you? This started with Kayah. Aye? What... happened??"
What happened? Wasn’t that a question Kage asked himself every day and night since the ball? What happened? "Kayah got attacked... the night of the ball. I walked in on them and could not stop their Roegadyn leader from stabbing him."
The memories always shook him. His whole body shook, both of his hands clenched and trembling.
"Them," she nods. "How many were there? You said one was Roegadyn. And there were more?"
Kage answered "At least one other Roegadyn... one who used claws or fists. And another I could tell was a Miqo'te who used their fists as well. There was at least another form, hooded and cowled. The others wore helms or masks."
He muttered, "I think the clawed Miqo'te was the one that tried to kill me. I can't say because of the mask but...during the attack I saw that the miqo'te was female and had some sort of blonde, gold colored hair.
Roen pinched the bridge of her nose, appearing as she was trying to take it all in. "If this started with Kayah, then we have to assume it was directed at him with a purpose. And then perhaps you, Â because... you were there?"
Roen paused before continuing to seemingly think out loud, "Maybe that is why Natalie took him away. He is in danger, -here- in Ul'dah."
Kage shook his head and said, "I can't say... I don't even know if Kayah's alive." He frowned and nodded at Roen’s speculations about his attempted murder. "And I know... I was told some things."
She arched a brow and asked, "Told things? By whom?"
How to explain this, all of it without telling Roen about Suri’s relationship with Natalie and Kayah? The very complication situation that it was. He glanced at his glass, drinking all of its contents.
"My.. informant... I'll be arresting her when it's all over... or telling Natalie and Kayah about it first. She doesn't know the name but all she could add for me was that the tall female Roegadyn leader has purple hair."
"So a Roegadyn leads them." Roen nodded. "Purple hair." She made a face that Kage couldn’t place. "That is rather popular."
He tilted his head and asked, "Why the face?"
She shrugged. "There are many Roes that prefer that hair. Especially women. Just ask Denn."
Denn? Kage frowned at her mention. "I'd considered asking her but..." He  shook his head, "I'd rather talk to her about when she walked out on me at the ball. Denn's not involved. I don't think she is, not after yesterday."
Roen arched her brow at his statement. She asked, “Did... you two... have an argument?" Kage knew she didn’t understand what it was about. But he wasn’t about to elaborate on it, it had helped cause everything the night of the ball when he spoke about it. He just shook his  head not answering, "If Denn wanted to hurt me, she could have done it yesterday."
Roen blinked before she raised her brows,"When was your attack? What happened yesterday?"
"Denn is..." He shook his head. "It's a personal matter, it's not related to the attack. The attack, it was yesterday."
Roen nodded, and Kage hoped she would leave it be. "Denn tried to help me too. I would not suspect her. But perhaps she knows of those who might get us on a trail?"
Kage shrugged, "I don't know...Maybe? I've not talked much about everything, only saying it's been an attack. I don't know if Kayah's dead or alive..."
"Stanzie said he was. At least, when she saw him last." Â She nodded with a reassuring look.
Kage shook his head. The less people knew the better. "I'm not telling anyone anything. The less known... the better it will be. Kayah was still deathly hurt when Stanzie went to rest after fully exhausting herself."
"Then that will be my story as well." Roen nodded before pausing, “Maybe I just should not mention it at all."  She frowned.
Kage sighed "It might be for the best until we know whether or not Kayah is dead or alive." He blinked back tears. "If he's head... if he's dead.. it's my fault." His voice broke.
"So." She tapped a finger against the wooden table. "We have three assailants, leader being a Roe. And another miqo'te that attacked you."
She pressed her palms on the table and leans towards Kage, speaking in a whisper. "Natalie would have said so."
Kage nodded and she continued, “I received her letter about you, today."  She shook her head. "Do not despair for the unknown, Kage."
"Perhaps," Kage slumped into his chair.
"Natalie is strong. She will not let Kayah die, unless she does it herself." She nodded before shrugging, trying to sound lighthearted. “I believe she  would keep him alive, by sheer force of will."
Kage returned the nod, "I can see that." He gave a small smile at the image.
"Now, Natalie will also be -furious- with me if I let something horrible happen to you." She canted her head with a warm look at Kage. "So, let us stick together?"
Even as Roen regarded Kage with look, she blinked and her gaze grew distant for a moment. She sighed quietly. "And when I have to be away, please, do not walk alone."
He nodded, "I..." He paused. "You need to not worry about me..."
Bending her brows, Roen gave him a look of an apology. "There are things... I still need to take care of, Kage." Her voice was low, but Kage could still hear it, just barely. He knew it was serious.
She shook her head. "But if I knew you were not taking -all- the precautions, I would be distracted with worry. Now I cannot afford that, so. For me? Be careful? And let me know how I can help?"
He nodded, "I understand Roen." His voice just as low and just as serious, even as he felt like he was being swallowed whole. "I was trying to take routes that are not my usual. I wasn't in the Quicksand for long periods of time..."
Roen pursed her lips, "You should not be in the Quicksand at all. That is where I would go to find you. Or Natalie."
Kage frowned. What was he to do? Hide somewhere forever until someone came by to attack
him or finish him off? Wait for them to find him? Wait for Natalie, wherever she was? To hope Roen was ok?
"I... I try," he responded.
"Now. Does your informant know any more?"
He shook his head, "No... I haven't seen her in awhile."
Roen arched her brows, "I hope she is safe."
Kage widened his eyes. He hadn’t thought about it. If they had sent someone after him, surely they continued to pursue Suri? They must have believed that she wasn’t doing anything about him.
"I hope she is... not in Ul'dah anymore," he replied. Roen nodded, “And how is your apprentice. Ruru... did you say?"
Hearing about Ruru again.. it hurt. It reminded him that he had failed. His eyes dropped, "He's lost use of one of his eyes. Other than that... he'll need to re-adjust to living and fighting with just one eye."
Furrowing her brows, Roen said, "Well at least you had each other, perhaps that is why you both are here still."
Kage bit his lip and nodded. Leaning forward again, Roen commented, "And now you have me as well. As you always have. I will be here when I can."
He closed his eyes for a long second before peering up to Roen. "Always."
Roen answered him with a reassuring smile and a nod. Kage sighed, he so wished that Roen was not burdened by his own plight. He murmured, "I'm sorry Roen, for making you worry."
Pushing up against the table, Roen stood up. She walked over to Kage and kneeled. "I am just glad you are alright," she said.
"Thank you Roen. For everything. " He sighed. "I hope you stay safe Roen. Ul'dah's not the safest place and... and you're still in danger."
"Do not hesitate to ask me of anything, Kage."  She regarded him intently and then nodded. "Aye. Stay well, Kage. Be careful. I do not want to lose anymore,†she said quietly with a hint of sadness to her voice that Kage could hear. She gave him a nod and then turned towards the lift.
Kage nodded to Roen and answered, “Yes.†He bid farewell to her as she walked away. Kage followed, walking slowly towards the lift. He wondered where he would stay if not at the Quicksand.
