A Game of Cat and Mouse

[Karma]

Sitting in the cabin writing in a small journal, Thayne Achius Rhaz, Overseer of the House Rhaz Slaving company gazed out the window at the convoy of ships surrounding the Tyrant. He didn't like traveling with these other merchants, but the waters are dangerous these days. Its becoming more and more necessary.

Three days. Three long days and the Tyrant will arrive in Cear. Three days and I can see my family again. I have been wondering if Vanis has made any advances in his research since I left. I can see the peninsula on the horizon, but this convoy of ships moves so damned slow. I doubt anyone will believe the tales even if we had evidence. Pirates. Canites. A whole lot of damned problems. But we are nearly there. I hope this lot isn't any more trifling to sell then they have been to get together.

Thayne looked up from his writing at the approach of the Captain. "There has been another fight. Your stock are restless on this journey, Rhaz." Thayne ran his fingers through his beard and sighed. "No end of trouble. Your men are all good?" The Captain nodded. "Yes but another of your slaves, one of the human girls. Dead." The Captain took a step back as Thayne started to turn to anger.

"Who did it? How many cursed times do I need to tell those sods how valuable these slaves are? They are not toys to be played with. At least not until they are paid for. Bring him to me." The Captain frowned at him and stood his ground. "You don't need to kill another of my men just to prove a point. I am the Captain here, damnit!" Thayne scoffed. "And if you wish to remain so..." The Captain turned and stalked off grumbling. Thayne got up and headed for the top deck.

The crewman approached the angry overseer cautiously, coming up the stairs behind him on the Bow of the ship.. "Master Rhaz? The Captan said you wanted to see me, this wasn't m...." His head his the deck before he could finish his sentence. The mans body slumped to his knees. Thayne turned and placed his foot upon the headless bodies shoulder, wiping the blood from his sword on the dead mans clothes. He looked around at the present crew on the deck and spoke quietly. "This is the second time you have fumbled in your duties. I do not pay you to damage my property. Throw this wretch overboard. Put his head on a spike like the others. You sods need examples of why you don't touch my slaves." He held his gaze on them for a moment longer and nudged the body, watching silently as it tumbled down the stairs spurting blood and gore from the massive wound. "And clean up this mess. "

He turned back to the bow of the ship and gazed out at the sea, the crewmen frantically sorting out the mess behind him. If I lose any more stock, Lord Abelion will have MY head. Best not let that happen.

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The damp, cold and dingy cells on the bottom deck of the Tyrant were none too comfortable as Marr gingerly adjusted his body in a fruitless attempt to gain some comfort. Everything around him was so discomforting. The smell, the constant wetness and rocking of the ship. He had thrown up on himself from the nauseating movements and could do nothing to clean it, as his hands were bound to the wall in irons above his head. The human man across from him met his sad gaze and spoke, his voice groggy and pained. "This ain't right, kid. We shouldn't be locked up like anim..." He coughed. "... like animals." Marr tilted his head slightly as the man went on, speaking of the injustice of their situation. All he could think of was how the man had referred to him as a child. But am I not older then this man? The ship groaned and Marr glanced above him at the noise. Just in time to see a barrel rolling from a shelf above him with the rocking of the ship. It had come loose somehow and it was coming right at him. he turned his head away, as though to get away from it, and it all went black.

[Karma]

The Tyrant came into the Port of Cear in the early morning. Thayne slept soundly as the crew went about the business of preparing to dock. A knock came at the door. "We will me making port within the hour, Master Rhaz." Thayne groggily blinked and rubbed his eyes, looking at the window to gauge the time of day. "Oood. Take the heads down before we get close. Don't need anyone thinking we may be pirates." "Yes, Sir." Thayne put his head back to the pillow. Fifteen minutes. Then I'll get up and see what the day has in store for us.

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Nobody had been down to the lower deck since the previous day. The crew was worried about the repercussions of going near the slaves. And the Slaves were worried about the repercussions of upsetting the Slavemaster. They did not know much of him, other then that he had come a long way to get what he claimed were the best slaves money could buy. Luckily for Marr, the barrel had only knocked him out and given him a bad goose-egg on his forehead. He was still alive and the water in the barrel had seeped out all over him, somewhat cleaning him off of his previous filth. However, while unconscious and due to the rocking of the ship, Mars hand had become free of his bonds.

Not one to waste any time, Marr got started on freeing himself from the other bond. He could hear the gulls and knew they could soon be docking. He remembered the sounds from when they had just left. The man across from him was to weak and drowsy to really pay any attention to what he was doing. He could head people running back and forth on the deck above them making all the preparations. A hatch opened just as he got his other hand out and Marr laid himself back, closing his eyes to appear as though he was still unconscious.

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Thayne straightened his tunic and secured the clasp of his sigil to his chest as they came into the port. There was no welcoming party waiting at the dock, just the usual workers and sailors. Unlikely there would have been one anyhow. Shipping schedules seldom ran exactly on time, even more so with all the trouble in the waters they had to avoid just to make it here. Thayne turned to the helmsman and Captain beside him at the stern of the ship. "Its good weather this morning. I've a good feeling about this. You may come up to the house this evening once everything here is squared away and My stock is transferred. Then we can settle up. " he looked down along the deck at all the busy crewmembers and saw the one he was looking for. "Oy, Gibbs! Head on down and do a headcount. I want to know exactly what I am bringing off the ship." Sternly glowering down at the man. "No mistakes." "Aye aye, Master Rhaz." The blubberous scamp of a man jumbled off to his duty, collecting a parchment from the cabin as he went and headed below decks.

Gibbs made his way down the decks of the Tyrant and into the bottom deck, where the slaves were being held. He pulled open the hatch with a grunt of effort and ambled his way inside. He started to go through the list as he walked along the center of the ship, the slaves lined and chained to the wall under crowded storage shelves. "Human, Male, Alive, Check." Gibbs moved to the next. "Dwarf, Female, Beard, check." And the next. "Elf, Male, Alive, Check." And so on and so forth until he had counted and noted twenty three souls. As he got to the last one, a frail elf with debris from a broken shelf above him covering his small frame laid there. Gibbs wasn't to sure how he should proceed. Call the boss and tell him an eighth slave had perished? No, he would have his guts for garters... or worse. Master Rhaz was not known as a patient man to the members of this Crew. Gibbs had heard rumors that when Thayne had arrived in Cuhannen he barely had enough crew to man the ship. He also heard rumors that the man was even thinking of getting slaves to man the ship. But rumors were rumors, and Gibbs had been treated well, as far as a man could be treated on a ship anyhow. No, he woudl check on this little poor soul, and hope to the gods that he was not dead.

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Marr waited for the moment to strike. If you can call it that. Frail and somewhat still covered in debris he didn't have much strength. But what he did have was cunning. As Gibbs hefted the broken barrel off of him breathing came easier. Marr took a deep breath and swung a broken piece of wood he had found laying beside him. as hard as he could manage. he hit Gibbs in the temple and the man went down without so much as a whimper. Finally! This may be my chance!

In a brief moment of clarity, Marr reached over to his former bonds and closed the clasp on Gibbs wrist. It would buy him a few precious moments and he knew that right now, that was important.. Marr crept up to the hatch and slipped through. Luck was with him, as most of the crew were either elsewhere or on the top deck. He found a small window and looked around. the only thing close was a bottle. Marr grabbed it and smashed the window pane out. The bottle broke in his hand and cut him badly, but at this point, pain was a way of life. It had been for years now. Marr shimmied out the window, broken glass scraping his ragged clothing and flesh as he popped out and fell into the sea. I may die but at least its not at the hands of those bastards

And again luck was with him as they were already in the port, less then a hundred yards from the dock and with all eyes forward. The Tyrants wake pushed him away from the vessel a bit, and he worried he would be spotted, but he had the resolve to survive. He would not die this day, for he knew there was something more, more to life then serving others and being fodder for the whims of the will of man. He made it to shore and stayed under the pier. He had no energy left and he thought he would slip under the surface, so close to the exit of his suffering. Marr pushed with the last desperate shred of willpower he possessed and pushed himself to the shoreline. He was panting, dry heaving and nearly choking from the effort and as he crawled up the shore he could see a bunch of large crates, marked "Mistvale Inn". One of the crates had a lid askew and Marr slithered inside, pulling the lid shut after him. Finally. A place to rest.

[Chia]

Orange eyes watched one of the distant ships, their owner perched on the beams under the thatch of one of the hovels servicing the populace of the docks district.

"The Tyrant". Sounded exactly what some pompous git would call a wallowing collection of highly flamable timber...

The journal she... um... liberated from that stupid slave owner's mansion was real, then. That is, it was certainly real, but the information therein also appeared genuine. More or less, anyway. She didn't want to mess with those monks. Her one attempt at bluffing through resulted in being politely but oh-so-very-painfully knocked around then gently laid out in front of their place. Probably a really not a good idea to actually... peeve them off or anything.

She wondered how much they were going to pay for the journal. There was a load of information about movement of living bodies within, as well as the various contacts making the arrangements and whatnot. Probably prime targets for some enlightened kicking and punching. Or something.

Then her keen eyes spotted the brief flurry of movement near the waterline. She watched the splash, curiously, then waited till the ships passed to verify the presumed landing site of the swimmer. More or less... not like you could see real well at that distance. A human would probably not even see the bobbing head getting constantly washed over.

Hopefully it was not a halfer. Or a woodie. Or a darkie, or horc, or anybody... well. Stupid.

And, hopefully, somebody making it to the shore alive. She would probably not get paid for a deader...

*

Chia watched as the man crawled onto the shore. Snorted as he climbed into the crate. If one of the wharf masters did not see the loose lid, the teamsters would certainly do so, and complain about it loudly just in case the blame for whatever was missing from it would get laid on them.

Anyway... she should probably take care of the business before the opportunity passed.

She snuck among the crates until she as facing the occupied makeshift shelter. Tapped the side quietly.

Couldn't much help the choice of the whispered words much, though. They just seemed so fitting:

"Heeelloooo, sailooor"

Then, after a briefest pause of thought, added in fluent Cuhannan,

"You speak common, right? Just asking."

[Karma]

Marr looked up at the woman. Quivering in the darkness of the crate. He shook his head, unwilling or unable to speak and held up his hands defensively. As the Teifling peered at his so curiously he would not speak, and was still heaving quietly trying to recover from the mishap in the sea.

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Cear. A nice port city. Much the same as when he left it, Thayne strolled down the street towards the rather expensive part of town. Upon finding his family manor, he left a bag there and headed for the outskirts of town. The Mistyvale was a better Tavern then the one in the docks, and was more frequented by those with news of the goings on around the area. Not long after his small talk with some of the Tavern patrons, he headed back outside to peruse the Smith Eaden. A journal excerpt from the day recounts the events:

Well, things are stellar. Only in town an hour and I've sold the majority of the Slaves I brought back on this trip from Cuhannen. Of the thirty I started with, sic have perished to the elements and struggles of living on a ship for a month. I was boasting of the trade to this seductive She-Elf who goes by the name of Talh'nae, and a man overheard. A Sir Phelan... something elaborate. I should have written it down. A knight, And clearly bothered by the trade, he offered me Thirty Emperors just to set them free with basic supplies! Hell, even after the cost of them, House Rhaz made far more profit then I expected to make on that lot. Though there is still the paperwork and processing, semantics. I will have to send the Tyrant back out early next week for the next lot. It is good though. The extra money and the time to gather new contacts, will give me ample time ti see what Cear has to offer this time around.

The following day and evening pass rather uneventfully, with Thayne traveling about Cear getting reacquainted with the merchants and other sailor folk. Though later he once more found himself near the Tavern talking business. This time with a finely dressed Elf of some kind. Cael'Karrak. Thayne was intrigued by this man. For he, like so many others spoke negatively of his trade, but then this one turned around and asked about some business himself. Good. Father will be most pleased with the amount of stock flowing through out doors now. A smaller arrangement then the one the Knight had initiated, but a deal nonetheless, and closer to the size of deals Thayne was expecting. I should be able to close out this deal within the month. Things are good.

Then comes the Elven woman. And another entry in his journal:

She perplexes me so. her allure reminds me of that long forgotten face, but not in a painful way. She is clever, dangerous, and got very friendly after she saw me make that deal with the Knight. I am not yet certain of her intentions, let alone y own. But the game has begun. The Cat and the mouse. The Lion and his prey. I can already tell these elves will bring me no end of complications and drama, but I look forward, to the challenge. Maybe I will find the challenge that I can not overcome and I will know the full measure of myself.

A few days later Thayne runs into his younger brother Maelyn Rhaz, So much more full of wanderlust and empathy then Thayne can understand. Thayne is hard on him, as s his duty as the face of House Rhaz. If Maelyn is no good for the business, he has no purpose. Yet he feels his brother does not quite plan to live up to his fathers standards in the same manner. The kid has been searching ruins and questing after lost tomes with a remarkable tenacity. Yet for all his worth he frustrates Thayne. All of his progress with the elven lass seemed on edge after she met Maelyn and he could not keep his mouth shut. I should have known better. He hates elves! Why would I think he would make me look better? At the very least it make the game more challenging. And Thayne would not back down in the face of danger. Even if it cost his life. He would soon find out just how much danger his stubbornness could put him in...

[Chia]

The orange eyes peer inside, the pupils turning into vertical slits as she examines the stranger in the dim light seeping through cracks.

Chia snorts quietly.

A woodie. Figures.

“So... I'm just gonna go ahead and assume you understand the words that are coming outta my mouth. Backflip if you do not.

Great.

See, the way things are about to go down is... you can either cut your breather short and, you know... try to stumble out before somebody notices another was having a go at whatever was in there, or you can sit in.

In which case that guy being all bossy with your other traveling companions is probably going to want to see what the fuss is all about and all you're likely to accomplish is a bit of a swim and shivering in a crate for all that effort. Assuming they don't start searching the place anytime soon, anyway.”

She takes a moment, tapping the side of the crate lightly,

“Course, I'm not gonna get paid if you don't come with me, either. Kinda forcing my hand here, hoss.”

She peers back inside the crate, snorting,

“Anyway, doing you a favor, really. Think you gonna find you some slave-freeing monks stumbling around this city blindly, hoss?”

She shifts, restlessly. Stupid woodie better stop being so sodding dumb and get a move on before somebody comes over to check on the cargo.

[Karma]

Marr bursts out of the crate, making a beeline for the City proper. His frail and wispy form vanishing into the night.

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Weeks have passed and Thayne has made no progress in finding the runaway elf. Blasted fool, probably got himself killed by now. The weeks since his arrival had held their share of good fortune but also perhaps some Ill. A new enemy has shown its face and with it, so many allies. And in the same breath, and old foe has taken the last of theirs.

Shortly after his arrival Thayne spent a few days traveling, in search of the blasted Elf. Two Bridges Inn. Next place down the road after the Thralls Gate. He met a half-elven woman at the bar. They spoke briefly and Thayne mentioned his trade, and the runaway which he sought. The woman responded quickly, with violence and a threat against Thayne if he did not give up on his pursuit. Much to his chagrin she had the drop on him, not to mention her halfling friend that seemed to emerge from the very woodwork of the Tavern. Though after a clever ruse, the Pirate found himself in a very delicate standoff. He, with a dagger to the womans throat. She with her dagger to his side. He spokes his words of reason. Neither of them would survive if they did not both retreat. She would not budge, and the halfling spoke sense to her. Thaynes Journal reads:

Shayde Mel'for... You have the full measure of my attention now. You dare to command me as to the direction of my house, and you speak beyond your station. You have left your mark on my flesh, and in kind I shall make a mark on you and every soul you hold dear. Not even death shall abate my destruction of you. I have met so many in my short time since returning, that stand opposed to me, and threaten my banner. Yet so many claim loyalty to you, make threats on your behest. This is a war that will be waged in shadow and by the time it is brought to light, the land will know its true masters. I will play my part in this game of shadows and see the Empire prevail. Along the way House Rhaz shall rise, like a phoenix from the ashes.

Time progresses. Moves are made. Thayne meets with a man known as Orion in the Mistyvale Inn. "Yes, I have seen him." He speaks of number thirteen, the runaway elven slave of so much value. "I think i will help him, because I can." his words a mask of his true intent, Thayne recognizes the danger here. this man and all those who follow him stand opposed to him, to his Imperial way of life. An unspoken personal challenge is uttered between the men. By the end one will have a blade to the other...

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He hunts, in shadow of grass and tree, at one with his surroundings. Confused, by how easily all of this comes to him, the symbiosis with nature and the flow of the land. Combat. Killing. Death. He now sees the other side of the coin of life and time. He has potential, there is power in him, dormant and awaiting its unabated furious release. He had found a name, claimed it. It was him and he was it. Marr. This is my name. A blackened smear on the humanity of this land, will i be known for it? Marr wondered, pondered as he hunted. His thoughts were so complex, yet he could not speak them. He could not comprehend how, so he hunted, he needed to find focus.

A man approached him, scared him. His presence frightened Marr, yet he seemed... placid. Nonthreatening. He merely wished to Observe, this large armored man of Cerulean mystery. When finally they spoke, Orion introduced himself to Marr. He took him back to the Bladeshall, with the intent of teaching him language skills. Marr was even granted a bed in the house.He was so excited to be able to sleep on something other then dirt or stone that he wept in his first night there. He feels safe. He starts to learn. He stays in most days, but needs to go out to hunt, to spend time with his new friend. Goar the Boar. Marr saved him from certain death and now the beast stands by him, loyal as a beast can be to a small skittish creature of the wood.

[rohenna]

She’d known a man like that, once...her hand drifted absently to the scars on her throat. She’d ended his life.

I will not underestimate him, nor will I be frightened by him.

Her head ached, still. Whatever that was that had been dropped into her tea had been strong; more potent than anything she knew of. To drug her was one thing, but to target those she cared about was unacceptable. Zo'art's bruises...She set her jaw determinedly.

No more. Her mantra began again, like a heartbeat. No more. No more

“Gather your allies. Dont drink anything you don’t prepare yourself. Keep a closer eye on your surroundings.”

He was not going to win.

[Karma]

Even more time passes, and priorities change. Thayne laxes in his quest to find Marr, yet he feels no different. He must be caught, has to be. Hes too dangerous to be left alive. In the cover of shadow he starts picking up some of the pieces, paying off people to keep an eye out. And now with his curiosity prodded, he turns his eyes towards the new information he has received...

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Marr basks in the early morning sun, while at The Sacred Grove. He has not yet had the chance to meet with many who frequent the place. He gets spooked easily and hies when most come near. But not her, not Liliana. He greets her with a smile and a flower he picked out from a nearby field. She seeks my redemption. I owe her greatly... Picking up his bow he starts to head South, along the road but far enough from it to avoid running into anyone. He returns to the hills around Cear to hunt rabid wolves and train his eyes to spot men patrolling. She asked me to stay away from them, so I will, but I must keep hunting. I may get a chance HE sees a goblin riding a wolf and tilts his head, watching it a moment before raising his bow and loosing an arrow into its face. Got to keep safe. Got to find out. Try to remember. Don't let it hurt...

[Maire]

Liliana retrieves her horse from the Cear stables and heads towards the Grove. Normally, she would enjoy the quiet of the late afternoon and concentrate on the sounds of nature and the beauty of the landscape around her. Not today though. Liliana slowed her horse, Star, to a walk as thoughts of the last few weeks littered her mind.

She was determined to help Marr with his amnesia and with whatever, or whoever, had a claim on him and his mind. Marr had shown her the scars on his chest and back. She had cried for him and the pain he must have gone through at some madman's hands. Liliana asked him many questions, trying her best to figure out anything she could to help him. He answered all he could or at least, all he could remember. Most of his past was locked away or trapped by something or someone. When she asked him if he remembered being hit on the head, he had shown her the small, round lump on his scalp. To Liliana it looked as if someone had purposely cut his scalp. As she felt of the lump it seemed like something small and hard was just under the skin. Summoning up all the courage they both had, Liliana used her sharp dagger to open the the skin around the object. Out oozed a foul smelling, black oily substance from the small cut. As she wiped at it she could see the object just beneath, using all the will power she could muster she was able to grab a hold of the strange object and pull it out with a clean cloth. Always careful not to touch it with her bare hands, for she could feel the intense heat radiating from it. After cleaning up Marr's scalp and the object, they sit looking at it, confused as to what it was or did. It was small, round and flat with a purple rune like shape in the center. They decided to hide it someplace safe so that no one else could find it or be hurt by it until they could find someone that may know what it was. Someone they trusted.

When Marr had shown Liliana the scars on his chest she noticed what looked to be a tattoo on his lower arm. She could make out a dark, round shape that someone had tried to cover with burns. Marr couldn't remember anything about it. Knowing that Thayne Rhaz was looking for Marr and had told Liliana that he was dangerous and needed to be killed, she knew Thayne knew more about Marr then Marr did of himself. With Thayne away for awhile and Liliana in possession of the written marque he had given her to enter his estate if she needed refuge, Liliana figured if anyone had any information on Marr or of the tattoo, it was probably there, in his estate. A shiver ran though her as she remembered the careful planning herself and Marr had done before she took the marque to the guards outside Thayne's estate. She was admitted entrance and shown to a lavishly decorated room to stay for the night. Liliana wasn't there to enjoy the lavish surroundings. In fact, they made her cringe knowing how Thayne made his fortune. After the guard left her, she crept quietly down the hallway until she came to a library. Avoiding the guard that was making his rounds, she snuck inside and started to look through the many books on the shelves. Finally, finding one that looked like it had been read a lot. Taking it from the shelf she went to the desk and scanned through it until she found a picture that closely matched the tattoo Marr had. Grabbing a quill and parchment from the desk she quickly copied the picture and paragraph under it onto the parchment. Outside the door she heard one of the guards approaching and quickly put the book back in the place she found it and hid under the desk. The guard looked into the room and then moved on. She was safe for now at least. She silently left the library and the estate to find Marr and tell him what she found. Marr was worried about her and didn't want her to return to Thayne's estate but she knew it would seem suspicious if she didn't spend at least part of the night there in case Thayne was to question her later about it. Knowing that Marr was on the rooftops outside the estate, watching the entrance, gave her the courage she needed to return. Liliana sit on the chair by the window and looked out into the night, feeling safe that Marr was out there keeping watch. As soon as the first light of dawn touched the sky, Liliana picked up her things and left, thanking the guards on her way out with a smile as her heart beat rapidly in her chest.

Now, maybe they would find some answers and help Marr to remember his past. As her horse neared the Grove she spoke aloud to Mother Ki "Please help us. If Marr remembers his past I hope it doesn't get us both killed."

[Karma]

She is afraid of me. I want to tell her so much but I can not break free of this. Marr sat in the tree, looking down on the sacred grove. I wonder where she goes... He finds some long grass and plucks the leaves, weaving it into a band to wear on the head. "I know you sees all, why you not just talk me?" He speaks to wind and tree. He waits, for hours and nothing. He bangs his fist on the ground in frustration. "Why I no can make you out? I want know fix so make better for her!" He climbs down from the tree and goes to find his stash of parchments. Maybe if I can not remember... I can draw until something comes out....

[Karma]

More months pass and so much transpires, for both sides of the coin, both the hunter and the hunted. And yet, for all their differences they are not so different. A man with a malevolent heart can fall in love just as easily as a gentle soul, and so they have.

Marr sits atop a hill looking over the rolling mounds of the North Cear area. I've grown so much and I have her to thank. She gave me something to live for, my sweet Liliana, made me want more then just the death of he who would subdue me... And yet for all I try I cannot remember much of my old life. Perhaps it is for the best, that such darkness is left out of the light of this new day. Feeling hungry he looks skyward and spots a fat bird, Notching an arrow he fires and strikes it swiftly. The plump creature bounces into the grass nearby and he goes to collect his meal.

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Sitting in his study, the Steward of Rhaz looks over a very old and worn locket, one with the image of a woman in it. He puts it away with a sigh. Why would she come tell me this? The bounty is so large... yet emotions blind even the brightest of us. Very brave of her to ask me to back off.. but why should I? He took so much from me and now he doesn't even know... Granted I took from him his memory... Thayne stands and heads to his balcony, his eyes a mask of old wounds. Leaning on the railing he glances back at his sleeping bride to be and out at the night of Cear. "I vowed I would avenge you... and I destroyed his life... Should I leave the past as it is and move forward? There is still much anger..." He sighs and heads back to the warmth of his bed.