The events of the 25th of Galena, 1073
"Ma'am, oh, no, Ma'am, you can't do that here!" Kuli cried. He couldn't stop himself from wringing his hands, the nervous energy bubbling over. Jools, and Vash, his retainers, flanked him, staring at the scene in bewildered horror. Like their Maester, they were reluctant to act, for even if the power was all on paper, only a select few in the fortress dared actually stop a noble.
But they really felt as if they should, most of all Kuli. He watched with growing dread as the Duke's mistress raised her scepter high, and brought it down in a swinging arc. The steel staff, weighted with jewels, whistled as it passed through the air until it collided with the leg set of legs of Aryn's pet Tosiduvel. The beast roared and toppled over as it's legs were swept from under it. She had managed to hit it between the great steel plates, a lucky blow indeed, for anywhere else would have glanced away harmlessly.
She left him there on the bridge leading to the Temple of Zefon, grunting and roaring in his pain. Eventually, after spending a long time just staring at the body, she ran off towards the fortress proper, rage and hate in her eyes.
"Go find Sulari," Kuli whispered. "I'll tend to this beast until the Dungeon Master can arrive with herbs and splints."
"The curse strikes again," said Vash. "I sincerely doubt any noble will stay here without going mad. Other than the ones that came here, already that way."
"Hush, now! Go and find Sulari, and let her know that the... Consort needs detainment until she calms. Quickly, before she brings harm to herself."
***
Drenched with a sticky, cold sweat, the Duke sat upright in bed. He stared at the wall, his eyes blinking quickly, as if trying to clear from them dust. Thoughts were running through his head, had been running through his head, were running through it, ever since he arrived. Sickening thoughts. Bad thoughts. You're going to fail them all, you'll never reunite the kingdom they chided. Stop now, you're a worthless sack of meat in purple robes, just give up, give up, give up, you'll amount to nothing in life. Your father hates you, always hated you, your wife... oh, your wife hates you too, for leaving her at a fortress gone to turmoil. Your beloved wife, she hates you, hates you, hates...
He slowly swung his legs down from the bed, and still naked, padded out of his room and into the hallway. Up the winding stairs and into the surprisingly cool night air. He stared at the moon for a long time, the thoughts running endlessly through his mind, and he tugged at his Elder's beard in thought and worry. Eventually, he knew what he must do.
Minutes later, he slowly walked to the center of the bridge, standing atop the bloodstain the bear had left behind. He held a great chunk of stone, and a rope was fastened to it, the other end to his neck. Even though he could hear Kuli shouting, and could see the Maester running towards him, he didn't think to stop. He just let go. His neck snapped as he was flung down, but he didn't die; it only severed his spinal cord. Just as he hit the water, a single thought floated to him from the back of his mind. You can't even kill yourself properly, you worthless, stinking Dwarf. No wonder she no longer loves you.
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Topic: Migrursut: What Comes After The World Ends? [Epilogue] (A Community Fort) (Read 384914 times)