--Written by: Naki
"Is it safe, brother?"
Kurintsu looked from the darkening sky to the young woman huddled in his arms. She still quivered occasionally and kept an iron grip around his torso. They had been there for a few hours and the sun was beginning to set. He could tell the battle was over, and had been over for quite some time now, by the still silence.
"I think so, Deirdre. I think it's been safe for a while now." He began to stand, but Deirdre kept her hold on him.
"I'm frightened..."
Kurintsu sighed and pulled her almost forcefully to her feet. "Come on, Deirdre. It's over. I know you're frightened, but there's no need to be paranoid. He's dead." He managed to pull a hand free and he motioned to the dead Wingly soldier.
Deirdre made a face and buried her face into his shoulder. "True," her voice was muffled, "but you weren't almost raped, were you?"
Kurintsu had to concede the point, but he turned to leave, allowing her to keep his arm. "Let's go. You want to see Lavitz, right?"
She gave a small nod.
The pair entered the castle from the back entrance. Meru and Claira shared a cushioned bench not far down the rear foyer and Matthias stood leaning against the wall with a contemplative expression on his face. He turned to them.
"Hello you two," he said. "I see you killed yourself a Wingly, Kurintsu. Well done."
Kurintsu was slightly confused for a moment, and then it dawned on him. Of course. Matthias was the Divine Son and he could sense all souls who entered Mayfil. But what he wasn't sure of, he asked. "Can you sense who killed who?"
"Basically," Matthias answered. "Especially if it's a person close to me. But mostly...it's all that blood covering you."
Kurintsu looked down at himself. His pants and lower half of his shirt was stained bright red. Deirdre squeaked and jumped to the side. The blood had rubbed off onto her torn dress as well.
To his disgust, Matthias chuckled. "A pity you didn't know that if you resort to blunt force injury, Winglies tend to bleed like stuck pigs."
Deirdre forgot her fear for a moment. Tears were streaming down her face and she stamped her foot and yelled at him. "Oh, what do you know? I know all this death and suffering rubbish comes easy to you, but it doesn't mean you can just laugh and throw it off."
Matthias turned and gave her a piercing glare. "It comes easy to me because I can no longer feel it, I am numb to the emotional pain associated with death. But that doesn't necessarily mean I don't know how to react to it. What I can't understand is how you can grieve over the death of your enemy. If you keep doing that, then you will most surely die."
Deirdre looked absolutely horrified. Kurintsu stepped in between them, his eyes blazing with anger. "That is enough, Matthias! You are doing no good by scaring her."
Matthias merely shrugged. "It is not my problem if she led such a sheltered life."
Kurintsu was appalled at the way Matthias was behaving. This wasn't like him at all. But then again Kurintsu wasn't really sure he truly knew Matthias at all. But still...they were all a team, even those who didn't fight. He met Matthias' glare and held it without backing down.
It was the older Wingly who spoke first. "Listen, boy," Matthias poked his index finger hard into Kurintsu's chest. "I speak from experience, and that is something you have not. So once you've walked a few miles in my boots, only then may you speak to me in that fashion. Do we have an understanding?"
Kurintsu had to admit that Matthias was right. The younger Wingly lowered his eyes and bowed his head to concede.
"Damn straight," Matthias muttered as he went back to leaning against the wall.
Both Claira and Meru watched on with wide eyes.
"Oh yeah, something's eating him," Meru said.
Claira nodded in agreement. "Yeah." She turned her head towards the sound of footsteps coming down the hall. Lavitz came towards them, walking slowly. Claira inclined her head at him. "How's Dart?" She kept her voice low.
"He's hanging on," Lavitz answered. "He's not awake yet, though."
Meru pouted. "This sucks. Dart can't die! He just can't!" Meru continued to wail, her voice echoing around the castle.
Lavitz didn't know what to think. Heck, he didn't even know what to do. He spread his hands imploringly at Claira. "Calm her down, please!"
Claira slipped an arm around Meru's shoulders and spoke soothingly to the crying dancer. Her words failed to pacify Meru and the wails continued.
Matthias still stood against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked highly perturbed. "Please," he said tersely, his voice crescendoing to a yell. "Just shut her up!"
Everyone fell silent. Meru had been scared silent. Matthias scowled at each person and looked as if he hated them all. "That's better." He stalked off down the hallway, brushing past Lavitz.
Lavitz cocked an eyebrow at Kurintsu. "Who pissed in his breakfast this morning?"
Kurintsu shrugged and smiled at Lavitz's question. It was so out of character for him. "No clue. We just got here."
The older man surveyed his clothes. "What in Endiness happened to you?"
"Well, here goes. I caught this Wingly bastard trying to assault Deirdre, so I picked up this stout broken branch, and I, well, brained him."
Deirdre was busy giving Kurintsu a dirty look for his language and she didn't see Lavitz's reaction. He went to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. He kept her at arm's distance as to not ruin his own clothes. Lavitz steered her down the hall saying, "Come, let's get you changed. You come too, Lavitz."
All was silent. The Wingly twins had changed into fresh clothing. Deirdre was fast asleep in Lavitz's private bedchamber. Kurintsu gently pulled the quilt over his sleeping sister. He then joined Lavitz in the corridor outside the bedchamber.
"What's wrong with Dart?" Kurintsu's voice was like a shout in the empty corridor.
"He was gravely injured in the battle. And to top it all off, Shana and the baby were taken while we were not in the castle."
Kurintsu's blue eyes narrowed. "Does Dart know?"
Lavitz shook his head. "There's no possible way he can. He's been unconscious since the injury was inflicted on him."
Kurintsu shook his head slowly as he stared at the floor. He looked up. "Dart is not a careless man."
"I know. The coward Wingly attacked him from behind."
The Wingly's eyes narrowed dangerously and became a shade of purple. This signified his extreme anger. Not a good sign. "Cowardice should be punishable by death."
"Too late."
Kurintsu smiled indifferently. "That's good to hear." He heard faint footsteps ascending the stairs down the hall from them. He shook his head and attempted to lighten the mood a bit. "Look out. Here comes Mr. I-Hate-the-World."
Lavitz smirked, finding humor in the remark. "Really."
As Matthias mounted the final step, he turned his head and glowered at the pair. He then marched off and entered the last room at the opposite end of the corridor. Kurintsu raised an eyebrow at Lavitz.
"That's the Infirmary. Dart's there. It must be Matthias' turn to watch him."
"Who's going to tell him about Shana and the baby?"
"I will. It's going to be tough, I know, but...Dart's my best friend and I think it'll be better if he hears it from me."
"Are you sure? What about his mother?"
"Sure, I know Dart loves Claire because she's his mother, but she doesn't know him like I do. She agrees with me."
Kurintsu gazed down the hall. "Can we go see him?"
"And face the monster? No thanks, I rather enjoy my life."
The two shared a wry grin.
Two sets of footsteps were heard – one loud and sharp like the sound of heeled boots and the other soft and hardly noticeable. Lily and Charle rounded the corner after walking down an adjacent corridor.
"Evening, ladies," Lavitz greeted.
Charle went over to Kurintsu, concern etched on her face. "Kurintsu, my boy, I was so worried about you and Deirdre when you failed to return from the battle this afternoon."
Kurintsu held up his hand, a kind smile on his features. "I'm all right. As is my sister. I thank you for your concern, Sister Charle."
"Oh, no need for formalities, my boy. You may call me Charle. I hate formalities."
"Why?" Lily asked.
"They remind me of darker days. I would rather not dwell on the past," Charle answered.
"But what about the Winglies that follow you? They call you 'Lady Charle.'" Lily added.
"That isn't considered a formality in Wingly culture, Lily. Adult Wingly women are given the title of 'Lady' and is considered part of their names. It is considered proper etiquette." Charle explained.
"Then I should too, right?" Kurintsu asked.
Charle shook her head. "You weren't brought up in the Wingly culture, Kurintsu. I don't expect, nor do I want, you to change your habits just to flatter an old woman."
Lavitz broke in, abruptly changing the subject. "Charle, do you know what's wrong with Matthias? He's been acting out of character since the battle."
Charle nodded. "I know. It's Erisi."
This caught Kurintsu's attention. "What about Erisi?"
"Queen Emille said that it was Erisi that kidnapped Shana and the baby."
"That is a lie!" Kurintsu exclaimed.
Charle shook her head slowly. "We have no way of disproving what Queen Emille said about Erisi. Not while she's in the grips of the one called Bane."
Kurintsu sighed. "You're right. I hadn't thought of that."
"That is why Matthias is acting the way he is." Charle turned to go down the hall toward the Infirmary. "Come, let's go see Dart."