Blood from Stone [AU]

[Shannon zi'Marass]

What use is a hero when you can't find her? Shannon scowls as yet another minion scurries away with yet another negative report. Drumming her fingers on her desk, she leans back in her chair. I mean sure, I'm not in danger so much as worried about her being in too much danger but still. I knew I should have insisted on getting introduced properly so that I could use Sending to reach her. But I figured, plenty of time for that! Damnit! Reaching up to rub her temple, she frets at her lower lip as she tries to come up with a new plan. Lower Coalside is practically a damn warzone. She should be there. But she's not. Accept that and move on. Think harder. If she's not there...

I've invested too much into you to let you die on me, Cin. I don't know what you're up to- something stupidly noble, probably- but I need to be part of it. To help, somehow. To... to make it up to you. No. That's not... Gods this is stupid. I need to be someone you, all of you, can be proud of being with. I'm so fucked up. But... but okay. What would Lady Charmfist do? As silly and childish as those games were... I was happy, better, back then. So... If she couldn't save Princess Silkbottom then...

"Sten, call for my carriage. The black one. I need to... call on someone in Meadows." The massive merikos giant grunts sofly, then steps just out of the room to curtly give instructions to a footman. "And inform my guards to form up for heavy and sustained combat, two of them- no, go with four squads. Just in case!"

If she couldn't help her Princess directly, then she'd save her most precious treasures. I have address for those Smiths of hers. I'll go secure them, then... Well. The safer I make Coalside, the better the odds that Cin will avoid danger in the future. Time to give back, I suppose. Good thing I haven't actually gotten around to disanding all my gangs and such. Might as well get some last use out of them. 

Rising to her feet, Shannon can't help but notice she feels lighter, more alive, than she has in ages. Well. Except for the night after the ball.

[Carver Amell]

They get halfway to Living Waters before Don pulls away, shakes his head. "I-- Beth. You have to protect Beth," he whimpers. "He was after Beth."

Carver and he argue for a while; Miki solves it, by suggesting they head to Merrill for healing and send for Beth to join them. Which is all well and good until Miki's messenger, sent ahead to ensure she's prepared for them, reports Merrill gone to Crystalwing.

And so they head that way, sending the messenger to tell Beth to retreat to there for food and rest. Proper food, and proper rest. There's no chance of Carver pushing on now, nor Miki neither. And there's the news of Gamlen to report...

And so they get to Crystalwing, Miki opening the door and stepping aside to let Carver enter. He's cradling Don in his arms, wrapped in a bloody blanket, already calling out "Merrill? You here?"

[NPCs]

A stranger hurries to greet them- light blue skin like Helene, but male, full grown and with tiny spots of color in what are normally pale white eyes- pausing a few yards away. He shifts around awkwardly, then says, "ah, you are Mistresses's Carver, yes? Umm. She and Terrifying Lady Glimmerwing are downstairs, just outside the crying room? Lady Helene is doing Magicks inside. Umm. I could... take your cloaks or... shoes?"

[Carver Amell]

He shakes his head. "No time. Get her up here. Tell her we have wounded." 

Carver heads for the front dining room, intending to lay Don out on the table. I hope she can patch him up -- Miki and I are spent.

[Tethras Clan]

"Yes Lord Carver sir," the stranger says rapidly, rushing away. My new owners are much nicer than those before. 

It only takes three or so minutes before Merrill enters the living room, being pushed by Kevin. "Carver, what- gods! Faster, faster!" Moments later, everyone is... stabilized (and Don is sedated), the elf being reluctant to use all of her spells until the last of her loved ones are present and not in dire need of them.  "What happened? Why was he..."

[Carver Amell]

"He was taken and tortured," he says, grimly. "We've sent for Beth to meet us here. Everyone's in bad shape. There's rioting in Cattown." He hesitates, then adds, reluctantly, "My uncle's dead, and so is Miki's mum." 

[GamesMaster]

Miki glances away, curled up in the windowseat, just resting for now. Reluctant to speak.

[Tethras Clan]

Merrill stares a moment. "Oh. I... Oh." Biting her lip, Merrill looks over at Miki tentatively. "Do you.. want a tonic too? Or... food? Drink? A bed?"

[GamesMaster]

Miki shakes his head. "I can help," he says, curtly, in Common. 

[Carver Amell]

"Right now, there's nothing to help with," says Carver, sternly. "I need to send word to Aveline what's happening down there, and then we need food and rest before we can help more."

[Tethras Clan]

"Glim?" The elf's voice is soft as she cradles Silence's head in her lap, slowly petting the exhausted mabari.

~...very well. Carver. You are to look after Helene and my person. Both of them are not well, emotionally, as your dad is either acting like a squirrel's ass or is infested by evil mind bugs. I will find Aveline and inform her of what you wish. Or you may write a letter that I will deliver. Be quick.~

[Carver Amell]

"Evil-- No, I trust whatever you're going to say more than whatever I dash out quickly." Carver shakes his head. "I'll stand watch, yeah. I hope you all like eggs and toast?" he adds, knowing his limits as far as cooking goes. "It'll be fast and filling and sleep is a must-have."

[Tethras Clan]

~What I am to tell her in regards to the events I did not witness?~ Glimmerwing asks patiently, easily seeing how fatigued Carver is.

"I can cook Carver, you know I can. And I've sleep since yesterday, which you have clearly not." Of course, that's with Glim's help, which I won't have. Blast. 

Clearing his throat, Kevin offers in a bid to continue being helpful- and thus perhaps not be sent back. "I can assist. I can cook things when my head is even."

[Carver Amell]

"Great. Uh, new guy make toast. Merrill, can you grab bedding and let's camp out in here instead of all splitting off to bedrooms? Glim, tell Aveline Don's hurt bad but we've got him here safe, and if she's got any firepower left I'd appreciate her stopping by to help out."

[Tethras Clan]

"Kevin," Merrill supplies. "I think I sorta kidnapped him and he's my minion now? Today was weird." That said, she wheels of to get the bedding as requested, Silence tiredly taking a spot next to Don to play guard dog in a non-career sense.

The merikos samsaran bows low, then heads off to the kitchen. Minion? That sounds nicer than slave, I think. Minions get paid a little, right? So that means I have value?

~Understood. I shall return directly.~ Giving Carver one last firm look, pointedly angled in the direction Merrill went, the faerie dragon darts away.