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[Trillin]

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Kai

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Chapter 4

Trillin watched the girl disappear over the roof. He had half a mind to go tearing after her, but he knew that the Bloodroot must be consulted on this one. What could she possibly be after? What motive, aside from suicide of course, could she have to attack him unprovoked? He touched a hand to his cheek and started as his fingers found...Moisture? Trillin peered through the dark at the small black smear across his fingers. The knife had touched his cheek before it flew past. His eyes blazed with hate. She’d drawn blood. Impossible.

The sleek features of the Atalan contorted into a grimace of disgust at the sticky droplets on his fingertips. He began to stalk toward the Stronghold in Maedas, imagining all of the horrible ways he was going to murder the little wench. His thoughts turned to blood. Her blood, this time. He’d slowly torque her arms around and around, twisting them until the bones broke and splintered. Trillin planned to watch the pain twist her face until the light slowly died from her eyes. However, he must warn the Bloodroot of her existence. It simply wouldn’t do to have her attack the Firstlord while Trillin was away searching for her in the first place. Trillin would be loath to miss out on the opportunity to kill her himself, and she surely would not survive an encounter with the Bloodroot.

The stronghold was quiet as Trillin entered. He quietly slid through the shadows and past the small gathering area to the stairs. The replica of Noxbane sat silently on the dais as he passed. As quiet as the ornamental blade was in reality, in Trillin’s mind the display screamed at him. The blind lust for the blade curdled in his gut as Trillin forced himself to look away and mount the stairs. He knew that the Bloodroot would already be aware of the anger roiling inside him. Trillin could hardly believe that a being so small could be the catalyst for such a violent hatred. It disgusted him that a human creature could draw his blood. He meant to destroy her.

“What matter distresses you so, My Spearhead? The anger rolling off you is nigh palpable.” Asimov sounded almost impatient as he addressed Trillin. The Firstlord sat at the great stone table, peering over the lists of costs incurred from the recent battle with the orcs. Though there were no Atalan lives lost in the battle, there was still the matter of repair to the buildings in Kaane to consider.

“I was attacked. An assassination attempt.” Trillin spoke through clenched teeth.



“An attempt implies failure, Trillin. I do not understand the rage you carry after spilling the blood of the fool who made the attempt...Unless, you join the fool in failure...?” Asimov let the inquiry trail off and cocked a brow at Trillin, waiting for the answer.

A curt nod was the only answer Trillin could give. His fingers curled into tight fists, imagining the slender throat of the girl in his grasp. “I will hunt her down, Bloodroot, I will destroy her-“

“No.” Asimov cut Trillin off. The Spearhead glared at the red fibres of the carpet, withholding his anger for the moment, hoping for a change of heart. “We must know who sent her after you. She may have valuable infor-“

“I WILL NOT STAND FOR THE DISGRACE SHE HAS BROUGHT UPON ME!” Trillin could feel the muscles in his jaw twitch with the pressure he was exerting to hold them shut. He knew what would come now.

Asimov was over the table in a flash. He drove his fist into the tender flesh of Trillins stomach. The blow was quickly followed by a sharp elbow to the shoulder, bringing the proud Atalan Spearhead to his knees before the Bloodroot. Asimov’s voice ran cold. He spoke the words slowly so Trillin would have no cause to misunderstand.

“I will not tolerate the disgrace YOU have brought upon the Atalan with this disgusting failure. You will not fail me again. Your first mistake was coming back to the Stronghold without the bloodied, but breathing, wench in tow!” Asimov pushed away from Trillin with a rough shove to the floor. “You will seek her out. You will subdue her and return here with her ALIVE. Defy me and find yourself learning another hard lesson much the same as the first.”

Asimov resumed his seat across the stone table. “Senjin awaits you at the outpost. Meet her and find the assassin. Get out of my sight.”

Trillin turned and left. His hatred for the wench had been somewhat reined in by the discipline of his Bloodroot. He slammed through the iron doors and made for the outpost.
The night was balmy. The quiet of the city served to quell some of the rage inside him, but Trillin stomped toward the outpost, much the reprimanded child he seemed to be. Graeve stood outside the outpost. The red eyed beast huffed in Trillin’s direction. He ignored the beast and shoved his way into the building.
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Kai balanced on the balls of her feet high in the rafters of the tower. It was her favourite place. They were a place to be secret and sneaky while hunting the pale man. He had no idea to look for her there, right above him. She had tracked the Atalan after setting fire to her old master’s cabin. It was easy enough, she mused. The anger of his failed attempt to catch her made his movements careless and easy to follow. He led her all the way back to their castle. The Stronghold was intimidating pile of cold grey stone with black stone deamons on the roof. Kai had spent her time waiting for Trillin amongst the statues, climbing over the stone facade of the castle with ease.

The white man had been arguing with the hooded figure in the tower for quite some time now. The volume of their voices made it easy to enjoy one of the pair of apples she had stolen from the street vendor on her way here. Kai smiled as she heard herself mentioned some more. ‘Wench’ he called her. Kai did not know the meaning of the word, but a smile broke out on her face at the tone he spoke it in. She had obviously caused the man some...Injury. Physical injury was not the only kind. Though Kai specialized in the physical, she delighted in the idea that she could have caused some discomfort to him.

Kai moved to a crouch, staying on the balls of her feet in order to make a quick escape should she be noticed. With the meat of the piece of fruit gone, Kai tossed the core from the open window. Kai had been careful to avoid the frightening red-eyed horse outside. The glowing gaze of the animal made her wary. It was unlike the normal slow witted and gentle beasts that frequented the town. Kai’s pink tongue darted out from between her lips, mopping up the leftover juice from the fruit before she dropped down a beam or two to get a closer look.

“The Bloodroot told you that we are to capture her alive and so we shall. I refuse to be reprimanded for your foolhardy actions, Spearhead.” The voice wafting from the red cloaked figure seemed gentler, somehow. It seemed as though she was in much more control of herself than the other one. She spoke calmly, keeping her tone even as she fended off the pale man’s argument.

“That human,” Trillin almost spit the word. “will watch as I squeeze the life from anything she has ever cared about.” At that, Kai scoffed. Aside from fun and her own hide, she cared about very little. “But I will do it alone. I have no need of a babysitter!”

“The Firstlord would not force me to accompany you without cause. This girl has become a problem for you, and I am here to ensure that you do not lose your senses when you get her in your grasp.” Senjin took a seat at the wooden table between them. “Come, let us talk strategy. Where did you last see the girl.”
The dark haired girl cocked her head to one side. So this one was here to ensure her survival? Interesting. Kai had already decided she liked the pale man, but was unsure of his ability to quell his anger enough for her to plead her case. She palmed the second apple. A peace offering. The second cloaked figure would stop the pale man from hurting her long enough for Kai to convince him that she would be of use. And then she would be next to him and partake in the slaughter that seemed to follow him everywhere. Kai could kill with brutality, but efficiency was not her strong suit. This man could change that.

Kai watched as the pair gestured toward the map, planning out a route to search. For her. She stifled a giggle. A quick cartwheel brought her to the center of the beam, between the two robed figures and into prime surprise position. She grasped the apple and dropped, landing heavily on the table. Kai landed facing the pale man.

The look of shock on his face brought a smile to hers. Kai wiped her mouth with the back of the hand grasping the apple. The smile returned to her face as she shoved the apple in Trillin’s direction.

“F-friends!” Kai held the apple aloft, her smile ever brilliant. When Trillin didn’t take the gift, she gestured with it in his direction again.

“Trillin...DON’T” The pale woman cautioned, but with no avail.
It was only a second afterward that Kai realized her mistake. It was still, however, a second too late. Trillin’s fist collided with her temple. The wall ended her short flight and Kai crumpled into a heap on the floor. The apple rolled away.

[Senjin]

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The apple rolled to a stop at her feet. Her long white hand snaked out and grabbed it and she pocketed the peace offering giving Trillin a rather stern look.

Her gaze became almost..familial, as she looked upon the Spearhead, his fury palpable the girl's life hanging in the balance. For a moment his influence was strong upon her and she wished to murder the whole town. Her hand itched with a spell and her mind traded logic for rage. Yet her loyalty to the Bloodroot was unshakeable.

Senjin had to deliver the girl back to the Bloodroot alive, a few cuts and nicks were not her concern. Yet the blow to the girls head worried her and a raining fire of healing spells came down upon the girl.

Trillin, my brother..

The words were not spoken to be heard, this was a connection forged among the Atalan. It blazed between Senjin and Trillin ringing in his head, and radiating out to the others. These words were no plea, but a simple request, made by one that Trillin knew well. She was balance to the sharp edges of the Spear, a cool wind upon a hot day, a fire in a frozen night and so why she had been chosen to come.

Now she watched as Trillin tense and uncertain, angry with rage, made his decision..

She tossed the apple straight at him... let this belay your hand for now. She gave a little smile.
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What Doesn't Kill you Makes you Stronger...