Happily Ever After

[Derin Edala]

And with that, Derin's guard went up. He was... intending to clean her territory? Was he invading, or offering his services as an assistant? Both were terrifying concepts. Derin had never had her own territory before. (The fact that it technically belonged to the man passed out on the floor she considered to be of no consequence.)

It occurred to Derin that she knew nothing about her new house.

"I'm not sure where any of that stuff is -- I spend as little time here as possible." A statement true of both the old Rosemary and the new. "If you want to wake him, just remember that that makes him a witness to your presence here. I think I'll head off now, in fact." Ugh. The situation reminded her of that time she was working for Klyroh and they somehow forced their way into a territory previously owned by kids, only to find it a barren desert full of half-shredded metaphysical corpses and various waste. New territories that came pre-ruined sucked. This house was worse, in fact; everything in that territory had been edible and easy to cleap up, and she'd had help.

Rosemary was right on time for work. After informing the waitress (who had finally showed up) that she was expecting a visit from a guard and/or an old lady, she headed back down to the scullery -- it felt like such a long time, the two weeks since she'd been a scullery maid -- and got to work.

It would work. It had to work. They would be victorious, and Derin would be safe, her group having outsmarted the town. She had a new life, her own territory for the first time ever (it'd be a good one, once it was cleaned up), and allies. Derin was in the best position she could possibly be in in this cursed world.

Now, things were going great.

[KoriStronghammer]

"Bah." As Rosemary walked out, Kori looked around the room. The place was filthy and stank. Looking around, he went into a back room that had most likely been used for storage of household things at one time, but now seemed to be the storage of empty bottles. But, the stink in here was less. Looking around, he spotted a dirty mirror in the corner, dirty and streaked but usable. Wiping it down, he looked at himself. He would need to change to stay, change his looks. Or not, he was unsure yet, even unsure that he wanted to stay. He couldn't leave Saruna alone. She had lost Derin, mainly because his skills as a protector were lacking. He could find work in this town, especially if they didn't have a blacksmith. Nothing fancy, tools to work with and use in fields, horseshoes and small bits. Enough to get by, enough to keep him honest. Taking his gear outside, he rolled his bear cloak up, took his shield and hammer and placed them inside it as he rolled it to keep them clean. Picking them up and grabbing a rusted and unused shovel from beside the home, he walked into the woods, looking for a good spot. Finding what he searched for, he started digging. He got down to around 5 feet and placed his bundle in it. Filling it back in, he pretty much knew he was leaving much of his old life behind. Once the hole was filled, he walked over to a giant boulder, and grabbed it. Muscles heaving and tendons straining, he moved it over the spot, straining and heaving. When the rock was in place, he stepped back. Pulling his dagger, Kori carved the rune for war into the rock, so he would be able to find it if he ever needed it. Standing, he stood in a chainmail shirt, breeches, leather boots with his pack. Grabbing a large deadwood branch as a walking stick, he headed back into the town of Shim, fingering a strand of hair, wondering what he would look like with a haircut and shave....

[Fayane]

Fay nodded and gently took Saruna's arm so as to make sure she did not become lost. Quietly she led the older woman out of the barracks and into Marn, from Marn she lead Saruna through the woods - keeping to the beaten path, all the while thinking. This entire thing had all been a mess of stress and agony. Saruna had lost someone dear and Fay had had her eyes opened fully. Pushing a branch our of the way so Saruna wouldn't get hit in the face by it, Fay considered the older woman. She had persevered over her worst of nightmares, and while it had shown that it shook her to the bone, Saruna had been brave enough to overcome it. Such strength was something to be admired.

But where does this leave me? Fay wondered.

She would go back to the guard... she had to. Blue eyes saddened at the thought. She'd half hoped that they would have run from Marn and to Saruna's family, where Fay could have started a new life. Now this was not possible. She was being chased by the ghost of her father for revenge - and this time not just for her mother. But for all those wronged. Fay gently lifted Saruna and hopped over a particularly large ditch before gently setting her down, ignoring the sputtering. She eyed Saruna again as she led her towards the city limits and made up her mind. Quietly she walked with Saruna to her house before turning to the older woman.

"Here you are, Ms. Rischett... I believe this is not an absolute farewell - but rather a short parting of company. Should you need me, all you must do is send me a message and I will be here within a heartbeat." Fay paused and swallowed back a lump in her throat - why was she so emotional all of a sudden?

"I thank you for everything, Saruna. You have opened my eyes. I believe I will continue to work for the guard... however... I believe I will also help those who need my assistance as well, perhaps as an assassin or as a bodyguard. Whatever the choice may be." Fay cleared her throat.

"I will check up on you every so often... so, good luck and goodbye, for now." Fay murmured before bowing deeply to the woman and turning on her heel, black cloak billowing out around her with her movements. As Fay strode quickly away, she knew she was striding to a new life and idea. Yes, Fay mused,the life I always meant to have. It was, Fay decided, like her own miniature happily ever after.