Thread: Tempting Bonds (Neuro+LI)

The road to Hawkteyn was silent and desolate, save for the Arenthy troupe rolling along in their caravan, the sound of wheels turning and of horses trotting on the trail. Everyone in the troupe was unnerved by the early signs of winter, a warning of the harsh winter to come. With the weather, it would take more than a week before they could be safe within city walls, and the cold would arrive between a week to a fortnight. Things could not be compromised, and they could rest no more than a few hours a night before having to travel once more at the crack of dawn. If one thought the life of a trouper was easy and carefree, they were indeed citizens spoiled by fine living. Sitting quietly next to Kvothe, Rinwen tossed an apple back and forth between her hands. Their usual chatter had faded away to quiet more than half an hour ago, and their friendship had grown to a point where silences were not awkward, and in fact quite soothing. Lost in thought, the girl absentmindedly took a bite of the apple, and reviewed in her mind Kvothe's words from a few days ago. He had a point, but how would she reveal her true sex to the rest of the troupe? The Arenthy had adopted her as Sebastian Eindrel the Bard, as a son not as a daughter, not as Rinwen Sitelo from Cavreth. Kvothe watched his young apprentice calmly out of the corner of his eye. Rinwen made a beautiful lass, even when dressed as a lad, and he knew that she also possessed great magic potential. While he was not quite a high swordmage or priest, he knew enough to see a potential high priestess and swordmage when he saw one. Alas, he would never know her parents, for she did not speak of them in all the time she traveled with the troupe. He wanted her to stop wearing the guise of a young man, but knew that she would do so in time. Soon the day passed on, and dusk settled on the horizon. As camp was set up for the night, the troupers sat around the campfire, the sound of Rinwen's lute playing quietly in the background. As conversations between the Arenthy distracted the others, Kvothe sat beside the absentminded lass and clapped the musician on the back. Surprised, she coughed and set aside her lute, glancing at him with a questioning expression. Hate to ask you this, lass, when it's getting late, but these wineskins need a-fillin' and they ain't gonna fill themselves. The man chuckled, giving her a wry smile. He was also aware that she needed some time to herself, to be herself. Without an exchange of words, only playfully warning looks, the girl nodded and took the pack of wineskins, leaving the campsite into the quiet, dark sanctuary of the forest. Rinwen drifted off the path, absentmindedly attracted to the sound of flowing water. It beckoned to her, the bubbling noise like sweet singing to her ears. Coming across a serenely moving stream, the young woman knelt by the water, cupping her hand and splashing icy cold liquid onto her face. As she came back to her senses, she began to fill the flasks, her thoughts at the back of her mind. Her painful awareness of the surrounding darkness was at the forefront. One must never disturb the peace of the forest with conflicted thoughts, she reminded herself, words her mother, a priestess Eladrin, had said. As she let her mind wander into the past, she remembered a few words of prayer to thank the spirits for providing drink, and to let the water last at least two days longer. A cool breeze blew with the scent of magic, Rinwen realized her knowledge of elemental magic was dimming, and she pursed her lips in slight worry. I may be a swordmage apprentice, but I must still remember my mother's teachings... And it dawned on her that perhaps she could become a swordmage if she ever chose to stay at Myth Drannor. Becoming a novice swordmage would also give her reason to stay away from her brother, who wouldn't want to see her anyway, despite the fact she loved him so... No! Do not think such thoughts. With a hard swallow, Rinwen banished the memories from her mind once more, lowering herself into the Heart of Stone. The moon was dark and hidden in the sky-- a foreboding omen. During this time powerful magic was hidden and the gentle ebb and flow of the enaid , the energy of the land, seemed to develop into strong currents. Rinwen was only able to find her way through the forest by sensing the magic tides, along with the directions written in the stars. When the girl stepped back on the path, the sounds of soothing silence of the forest and sloshing of water in the skins were shattered by a shrill, bloodcurdling scream. Immediately the constant current of the enaid morphed into a frenzied storm, and Rinwen lurched forward, sprinting back towards the camp. It took longer to weave her way through the tides, as the chaotic sea of enaid left her disoriented in the darkness. A few yards ahead was when she slammed straight into what felt like a stone wall, prickling and alive with enaid . Cautiously reaching up to touch the obstacle, it was indeed a wall of energy, blocking her path. My God, what is this...? she said under her breath, heartbeat pounding in her head as she began to lose hold on the Heart of Stone. And why? Pulling her fist back, Rinwen punched hard into the barrier, recoiling in pain. Sharp, stinging energy traveled up her arm, stiffening and nearly paralyzing the muscles. Inhaling, the young woman immersed herself within the Heart of Stone once more, and tentatively probed the wall. It took a few moments, but she was able to find an aperture within the barricade, and pushed with all her mental strength to widen the hole. With gritted teeth, Rinwen leapt through the rift just before it sealed once more, and without so much a backward glance raced towards the camp. The horrors she witnessed as she stepped foot in the encampment would haunt her for the rest of her life. NO! Rinwen staggered towards the crumpled body of her friend and mentor lying on the ground among the strewn pieces of torn limbs and mangled corpses. Blood soaked the dirt, and she fell to her knees by Kvothe's side. His breathing was ragged, and his shirt was torn where warm liquid spilled forth from a deep gash. The girl placed a hand to his wrist, feeling his pulse-- it was very, very faint. Kvothe, it's me, Seb... no, Rinwen, she said, holding his hand and ripping off a large strip of her shirt, attempting to soak up as much of the blood as she could, pressing hard to stop the bleeding. Take deep breaths now, you're going to have to live for me! She hissed at him, watching his eyes open in narrow slits. Her hand was pressed tightly to the wound, palms slick with his blood. Rin... lass... His hoarse voice whispered, looking up at her. How...? Kvothe's face contorted into a mix of confusion and awe. The barrier-- I set-- He winced and coughed, the agony written all over his face. Rinwen ignored him, focusing on treating his wound. In time she would listen to his words. Hush now, speaking will make it worse, she said, ripping off a piece of cloth from his own shirt with her teeth. Deep lines of concentration and determination crossed her face. Suddenly, her mental barrier was broken, and she attempted to push the intruder away, until she realized the one invading her mind was Kvothe himself. What-- how dare you! She thought angrily, feeling stripped and raw. The woman turned to look at him, her facial expression confused and bewildered. As the Heart of Stone began to lose its hold on her, Rinwen felt as though she were thinking through a thick fog, thick as syrup. Some rational part of her brain repeated to her that the traumatic shock was beginning to set in. The pressure she applied weakened, and the look on her face held so many questions for her teacher. Kvothe, what happened here? What happened is of the past, look forward to the future now. My time is almost up, please listen to what I have to say. What of Tryk? He was like a brother to me, Kvothe! And yet he is another one of the mangled bodies in the camp... What of the others? Tears burned her eyes again, and hastily she blinked them away. No, she must remain strong. Nodding silently, she bit her tongue and withheld her abrupt thoughts from him, listening to his words. She noted that while the connection normally allowed for her to enter his own thoughts, he had kept them sealed away, and so she locked her own secrets away in her partitioned mind. Rin, do not think of searching for the ones who committed this... it was bound to happen, one way or another, ever since you-- He broke off the thought, and stared at her with horrified eyes. It was clear to Rinwen that Kvothe had not meant to say such a thing. Ever since I what? Became one of the Arenthy? Do my sins follow me this far? Bitter resentment surged through her, and a white hot anger burned at the tip of its sword. Kvothe shook his head ever so slightly, his body quivering as the heat escaped from his body. When they come, lass, I want you to run! Run as far as you can and never look back-- But why! And who are they? I will fight them to the death. I am strong enough. You have taught me the skills of a swordmage! She protested fiercely. Her eyes burned with a fire of hatred and vengeance. You are but a novice. And you have yet to defeat anyone. You know that better than I. His eyes were a mixture of sadness and regret. Painful, agonizing regret. Rinwen swallowed her pride, and felt as though someone had reached in and wrenched her heart into a grievous state. Falling silent, a listless expression masked the tormenting storm of her feelings. Find your way to the Isle of Avalon-- and I pray to the Goddess that she will watch over your arduous journey ahead, should you choose to go --perhaps there, you can find your answers. Kvothe writhed and shivered, his breathing raspy and he glanced anxiously at the edge of the dark forest nearby, as though he could see the wraiths of the night waiting to claim his soul. The Lady may be your best hope to finding the answers you seek. I cannot provide them all, the Goddess is calling to me, and I must heed her... but remember this, lass, I have loved you like the child life failed to give to me. Silence befell the man as his last spark of life left him, eyes glazing over as they stared up at the dark sky. Rinwen felt the power of grief descend upon her, and she simply knelt there by Kvothe's side, reeling. Staring at her bloodied palms, she trembled in shock and sheer rage. Adrenaline began to course in her veins, and the anger built up to an intense pressure within her. She sensed shadows gathering at the edge of the camp, eager to enter the empty shells of the trouper corpses, as they had not been burned nor protected with the prayers of a priestess. Leave this place! Begone! She finally screamed, standing up and releasing her rage, growing taller as she relished in this sense of strength. Rinwen's eyes were wild, and a new sense of power surged through her, fueled by her animosity. Only a small part of her remained human, and she let this animalistic side of her take control. You demons have no claim to these bodies! Go back from whence you came! The woman roared, trembling from the sheer force of her voice. The wraiths hesitated, hovering at the edges of her vision, barely seen, but felt. Then, as fleetingly as they had came, they left the ruins of the camp. Rinwen felt the power drain from her body, and she collapsed to her knees once more, nothing more than the woman she was. All was lost, and she was left to pick up the pieces that remained, to start a new life. Towards this Avalon that Kvothe had mentioned in his dying words. There was no other place to go. She had bitterly pushed aside her goal of reaching Nerin, and immediately vanquished any hope of asking him for help. He had forsaken her, just as she had forsaken God. Quietly she searched the ruins of the caravan for her belongings, and for once was rancorously grateful that they fit into a small canvas backpack, save for the lute which she tied to the pack for convenient carry. Swallowing her feelings, the girl stifled a choked sob and felt a part of her resent that show of weakness. Rinwen sprinted down the road and into the darkness, leaving behind the part of her that died with Kvothe. Now, where would she go?