Brian left the Inn once more in a foul mood, the arguement with his sister was not something he by any means was looking foward to, but it happened and despite Panther's wise words, Brian still was not ready to calm down. Spurring his horse faster Brian left the city gates, with not so much as a glance behind. His destination was the enchanted glade, protected by the far, and keeper of Darkin's Gauntlet.
Brian lost track of the time, and truly didn't recall when he arrived. All he knew is that he had arrived and all was deadly quiet. It seemed that no one had bothered to come, which was a good thing. Maybe the tugs and pulls Brian felt were just in his head, maybe everything was. Nudging his horse foward, Brian slowly advanced into the glade and waited for whatever was to come next, which was a whole lot of nothing. Other than the normal creatures of the forest and a few sprites, he found little else.
Soon he arrived at the large tree once more, the power that came from the giant was mind blowing, and even though he was sealed, Brian could feel it just radiate. Brian slid off his horse and approached the tree, well that was until the barrier kicked in and stopped him a good ten feet or so away. Making no attempts to go any further Brian waited calmly and backed away. Kairee's words fresh in his mind as he did so.
"Your family will be collateral damage, if you follow this course. Do you really think it will keep it's word? There are other ways to deal with this."
Then came the words from what passed as his daughter, Lucy.
"I did it to make an example of you, and I needed to flex my powers. I didn't mean to hurt mother, and I won't do so again. You don't have to worry, she is coming, that is why. I helped Alex in letting out the real Alex.."
Brian knew not all of this was true, but he felt the part about "Her" coming back was dead on. Something was coming, and it was Renna.. The same woman Ayreg had killed, who rose again, only to be killed yet again by Brian at her own request, who seemingly was on the way once more. Lucy also stated she had given Brian the charm made from Renna's own skull, so that he could sense when they were near and be safe. As it stood safe was a moot point, as Charlotte already fell victim to their machinations, as well as Viki, Wyheree, Jewell and Skyler. The list would no doubt grow as well, if this went on too long.
Moments had passed and nothing, Brian remained where he was a bit longer, and turned for his horse. Just as he reached the animal and readied to mount he heard it.
"So you have given up? I expected more from you, yes. You know we can break this plant, we can be free again and take what is ours. I felt the wife, I felt her fear and anger.. I felt the rage for a moment from you as well. It was sweet, or as you like to say... cake, yes? You do not need to listen to that Sorceress in that tavern, or to those Maidens, you need to do what will give you the power. The power to protect your family, and the power to see your enemies fall before you. I can do that for you!"
Brian stood there and listened. Even though it lasted for a few moments, it felt like an eternity. So badly he wanted to give in, so badly he wanted to taste that power once more. To protect his wife and unborn child, to punish those who hurt his family and friends. Even at the cost of his soul, he didn't care at the time. Leaving the horse once more, and walking towards the tree, Brian eyed the large guardian and stopped in his tracks.
"No."
An about face, and Brian was hourse bound once more. A moment later he was mounted, and headed back out of the Glade. He shook his head at his lack of sense, and wasted time. Kairee was dead on in her assessment, this was a wasted course of action and took Brian away from what was important. His wife and child. Brian made his way home as quickly as the horse would take him, he never heard the voice again.
It was rather late when Brian arrived home, and slipped inside the Villa. Cassandra was alseep on the couch, he reached down and slipped her blanket back over her sleeping form and then moved into the hall. He found Charlotte lying awake, and sore. They talked for what seemed like an eternity. They talked of Lucy, of Renna.. The chaos that was their lives, and the wish they could leave and not come back. Brian suggested moving into town, and the fact that Des and Gav found a nice place in town, and maybe a change of scenery would help, they also talked about the child she was carrying, they cried and held eachother, and laughed a bit. It was a mix of everything, and then came sleep.
In the morning, Brian awoke early and dressed. A kiss on the cheek for the sleeping Charlotte and her little Moor Kitten Eliza, and he was out the door and down the hall. Cassie slept peacefully, with Jean Luc at her feet as Brian crept out the door, and to the stables. The previous conversation he and Charlotte had was fresh in his mind.
"Baby, I am done. With all of this, I do not want any part of this anymore. I can't see you or the baby hurt again, and the others can take care of themselves. It isn't our concern anymore, we are walking away from this, one way or the other. Jewell has Skyler and Tara, they can deal with this."
"Babe, maybe it's time we focused on our family, on what is important. This little boy or girl, but I worry for Jewell, still."
"Skyler can watch over her, tommorow I will seek out Lucy, and we will talk. It will be the last time, and I will make it clear that I am staying out of her way, and I will do nothing to bother with them, so long as we are left alone. She got her wish, and let them all do what they will. Our part is finished. If she comes back, someone else can figure something out. So i will speak with her, and we will find a new place in the city. I can put more time into the Oracle and actually turn in some articles, and we can work on our family."
Brian mounted his horse once more, and made for town. His resolve to simply remove himself was steel-like. he was sure the others would figure something out, and had the numbers to make it happen. Brian and Charlotte would have that life they wanted, and the family they wanted, one way or the other.
Brian lost track of the time, and truly didn't recall when he arrived. All he knew is that he had arrived and all was deadly quiet. It seemed that no one had bothered to come, which was a good thing. Maybe the tugs and pulls Brian felt were just in his head, maybe everything was. Nudging his horse foward, Brian slowly advanced into the glade and waited for whatever was to come next, which was a whole lot of nothing. Other than the normal creatures of the forest and a few sprites, he found little else.
Soon he arrived at the large tree once more, the power that came from the giant was mind blowing, and even though he was sealed, Brian could feel it just radiate. Brian slid off his horse and approached the tree, well that was until the barrier kicked in and stopped him a good ten feet or so away. Making no attempts to go any further Brian waited calmly and backed away. Kairee's words fresh in his mind as he did so.
"Your family will be collateral damage, if you follow this course. Do you really think it will keep it's word? There are other ways to deal with this."
Then came the words from what passed as his daughter, Lucy.
"I did it to make an example of you, and I needed to flex my powers. I didn't mean to hurt mother, and I won't do so again. You don't have to worry, she is coming, that is why. I helped Alex in letting out the real Alex.."
Brian knew not all of this was true, but he felt the part about "Her" coming back was dead on. Something was coming, and it was Renna.. The same woman Ayreg had killed, who rose again, only to be killed yet again by Brian at her own request, who seemingly was on the way once more. Lucy also stated she had given Brian the charm made from Renna's own skull, so that he could sense when they were near and be safe. As it stood safe was a moot point, as Charlotte already fell victim to their machinations, as well as Viki, Wyheree, Jewell and Skyler. The list would no doubt grow as well, if this went on too long.
Moments had passed and nothing, Brian remained where he was a bit longer, and turned for his horse. Just as he reached the animal and readied to mount he heard it.
"So you have given up? I expected more from you, yes. You know we can break this plant, we can be free again and take what is ours. I felt the wife, I felt her fear and anger.. I felt the rage for a moment from you as well. It was sweet, or as you like to say... cake, yes? You do not need to listen to that Sorceress in that tavern, or to those Maidens, you need to do what will give you the power. The power to protect your family, and the power to see your enemies fall before you. I can do that for you!"
Brian stood there and listened. Even though it lasted for a few moments, it felt like an eternity. So badly he wanted to give in, so badly he wanted to taste that power once more. To protect his wife and unborn child, to punish those who hurt his family and friends. Even at the cost of his soul, he didn't care at the time. Leaving the horse once more, and walking towards the tree, Brian eyed the large guardian and stopped in his tracks.
"No."
An about face, and Brian was hourse bound once more. A moment later he was mounted, and headed back out of the Glade. He shook his head at his lack of sense, and wasted time. Kairee was dead on in her assessment, this was a wasted course of action and took Brian away from what was important. His wife and child. Brian made his way home as quickly as the horse would take him, he never heard the voice again.
It was rather late when Brian arrived home, and slipped inside the Villa. Cassandra was alseep on the couch, he reached down and slipped her blanket back over her sleeping form and then moved into the hall. He found Charlotte lying awake, and sore. They talked for what seemed like an eternity. They talked of Lucy, of Renna.. The chaos that was their lives, and the wish they could leave and not come back. Brian suggested moving into town, and the fact that Des and Gav found a nice place in town, and maybe a change of scenery would help, they also talked about the child she was carrying, they cried and held eachother, and laughed a bit. It was a mix of everything, and then came sleep.
In the morning, Brian awoke early and dressed. A kiss on the cheek for the sleeping Charlotte and her little Moor Kitten Eliza, and he was out the door and down the hall. Cassie slept peacefully, with Jean Luc at her feet as Brian crept out the door, and to the stables. The previous conversation he and Charlotte had was fresh in his mind.
"Baby, I am done. With all of this, I do not want any part of this anymore. I can't see you or the baby hurt again, and the others can take care of themselves. It isn't our concern anymore, we are walking away from this, one way or the other. Jewell has Skyler and Tara, they can deal with this."
"Babe, maybe it's time we focused on our family, on what is important. This little boy or girl, but I worry for Jewell, still."
"Skyler can watch over her, tommorow I will seek out Lucy, and we will talk. It will be the last time, and I will make it clear that I am staying out of her way, and I will do nothing to bother with them, so long as we are left alone. She got her wish, and let them all do what they will. Our part is finished. If she comes back, someone else can figure something out. So i will speak with her, and we will find a new place in the city. I can put more time into the Oracle and actually turn in some articles, and we can work on our family."
Brian mounted his horse once more, and made for town. His resolve to simply remove himself was steel-like. he was sure the others would figure something out, and had the numbers to make it happen. Brian and Charlotte would have that life they wanted, and the family they wanted, one way or the other.