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[Arahim]

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"I lost her..."

The words came out hollow, hung in the air briefly, and died away. She did not look at him as she spoke.

"I...don't know what to say," he stammered.

"What good could any words do?" she said, more than asked.

Arahim took her hand into his, and received what he saw as a rebuke in silence. He hoped with everything he was, that just his company would offer some small comfort to Joanna, but allowing that pervasive doubt, that visited him so often, to tell him it would not.

His arm itched.

* * *

An hour earlier, Arahim stood under the perpetual twilight of the Umbran skies, staring into the bloodied face of Jase Wendryn.

Despite the hurts he had done to the Umbran mage, Wendryn smiled.

"I regard this matter as settled," Arahim snarled, "You will not speak to the lady again, nor will you give her insult!"

He stepped uncomfortably close to the battered man to emphasize the point, "Despite unto her, is despite unto me."

The Umbran smiled a bit wider, and shrugged.

* * *

"I'm cursed..." Joanna said coldy, and looked at Arahim for the first time. She studied him as though trying to read every little reaction to her proximity.

Arahim smiled sadly, and held her gaze. He did not see a different woman, though the laughter, which was so recently there, was gone. He moved closer to her and squeezing her hand reassuringly, prayed he would see her smile again.

* * *

It was late when he rode into Sanctus. His mind was a strange sworl of dizzying colors that got worse when he closed his eyes.

There was a heat coming off of him, and his right arm burned painfully.

Pulling off his sleeves, Arahim saw his forearm was like a nest of black worms, writhing and snaking painfully. The dull thud of his quickening heart made them pulse and climb further, just under his skin.

The world careening at high speeds around him, Arahim slipped off of his horse and sat in the road, gasping loudly for air.

There was Hanse's...maybe Thurisaz was there...

Closing his eyes, he heard applause.

He saw Joanna crying.

He saw the bloody face of Jase Wendryn, smiling his smile.

He would not make Hanse's. Arahim scratched at his arm, and finally got the Umbran's joke.