div class="chapter preface group" style="border-width: 1px 0px 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.5em 3em; padding: 0.643em 0.643em 0px; float: none; color: #2a2a2a; border-style: solid initial initial initial;" role="complementary"
div id="notes" class="notes module" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.643em; position: relative; width: auto; float: none; clear: right; min-height: 5em;"
blockquote class="userstuff" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 1em; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0.643em; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"And thus we reach the bitter conclusion of Broken Chains, though Lyris's story is far from over. Thank you to everyone who read/p
/blockquote
/div
/div
div class="userstuff module" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 1088.63px; float: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: #2a2a2a;" role="article"
h3 id="work" class="landmark heading" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0.25em; border-image: initial; outline: 0px; font-weight: 500; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0.125em; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; height: 0px; clear: both; color: transparent; border-color: initial initial #333333 initial; border-style: initial initial double initial;"Chapter Text/h3
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Across the carriage Lyris noticed Nerissa's eyes slid from their task up to hers, the furrow in her brow posing the question she dared not ask. Lyris shook her head. Now was not the time. It had to be right. Anything less than perfection would lead them to their doom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Andro ambled outside into the courtyard, dressed in dark regalia. He stepped towards Lyris and Nerissa, his face split into a saccharine smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'All done then? Marvelous. We should set out now to make good time.' He snapped his fingers. The guard standing watch hurried forward. He seized the chains attached their collars and fixed them to the to back of the carriage. Andro's eyes swept over them one last time before he vanished into the back of it. The pace they set off at was steady enough for Lyris and Nerissa to follow behind at a brisk walk./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris glanced at Nerissa. She met her gaze, and offered naught more than a stoic expression. She was nervous, but putting on a brave face. Not that she needed. Lyris would save her, even if it cost her her own life. She just needed a plan.../p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"*/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"They stopped to make camp before nightfall. Lyris's feet were sore and blistered, her entire body aching with exhaustion, but she nor Nerissa were not granted a reprieve before being tasked with lighting the fire and pouring the drinks. It was an all-too familiar scene, right-down to the unwanted groping they endured after one too many ales had been downed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"They were left chained to the carriage for the night before the rest succumbed to their drunken slumber. Soon, the camp fell silent except for the sound of nightlife and gentle snores. It soon felt as though she and Nerissa were finally alone./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'So about that escape plan?' Nerissa drawled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'I'm sorry,' Lyris said softly. Nerissa had sounded playful, but Lyris really wasn't in the mood for japes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'There is nothing for you to be sorry for. You're a slave. You're nothing, you own nothing. How could you help? My only regret is I can't spare you my eventual fate.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris said nothing, but took her delicate hand in her own. Her hand fit so perfectly in hers. Lyris thought Bahamut was full of shit for speaking about Fate, and how it guides everyone to where they should be. But in this brief, beautiful moment, she believed it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Maybe…' Nerissa breathed so quietly Lyris hardly heard her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'What was that?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Maybe we can get out. Right here and now'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris shook her wrists to rattle the chains. 'We aren't going anywhere without tools.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Do you intend to break your promise?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'No, I just–'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Then help me.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa walked over to one of the carriage doors. With a sigh, Lyris stood and walked to the other side of it. There was enough slack for them to reach the doors. Lyris looked through the window. Under the gloom of night, it was difficult to make much out. But she could see the luggage stacked on one of the double-seats./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris slowly opened the door. It was a stretch to reach the trunks, but she managed to pull the top-most one towards her. She and Nerissa set it down between them./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa looked up at Lyris, caught in a moment of uncertainty. 'If we're caught…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'I know.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris examined the front of it. It was unlocked. She popped it open, and was greeted by piles of meticulously folded clothes. Carefully she took the items out one by one. Nerissa held them on her lap as Lyris unearthed the bottom of the trunk. And saw nothing but the polished wood the interior was made out of./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Bust. I assumed as much.' Lyris sighed and carefully replaced the clothes. She took out the next trunk. Pouches of platinum and gold pieces. More money than she could count. More money than one person would ever rightly need for a three-day trip. Part of her wanted to take as many coins as she could fit in her hands, but she had nowhere to hide them, and she couldn't even imagine the punishment dished out for stealing money. She reluctantly closed the trunk, and gathered the final one./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'What do you think?' Lyris asked wryly. 'Gold?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Clothes?" Nerissa suggested with a shrug./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Gold and clothes?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Let's find out.' Nerissa reached across and released the hatched. They pushed the heavy top upwards together./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Inside was an assortment of torture devices. Knives with various blade sizes, thumb crushers, pliers, several different whips, a bamboo-wood cane, collars with spikes on the inside, double ended forks and an assortment of liquid-filled vials coloured observed the contents with silence, remembering the pain these were capable of inflicting. When she saw the whips, Lyris felt the scars across her torso and back grow unbearably hot. Suddenly she was not out in the woods no longer, but the dark, damp dungeon, ropes spreading her arms out to the side like a pair of wings. Heat bloomed from her back with each single hit, the end of the whip cutting open her skin. Each hit shook her entire frame. Soon pain overwhelmed all other senses, her vision lost to white./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"A voice reached out through the cacophony in her ears. Cool hands pressed themselves on either side of her face forcing her gaze up and straight. The white faded. Nerissa's face and the clearing behind her melted into view./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She took in a deep breath. 'I'm sorry.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Don't be.' The hands vanished from her face. She immediately missed her touch. 'If you can't do this…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'No, no I can. I can do it.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris closed her eyes as she turned herself to face the chest. She opened her eyes, forced herself to view the contents. Hesitantly, she removed some tools, examining them for any sort of utility for their situation. Most she tossed to one side, until she found a small hammer at the bottom. She tested the weight against her palm. Too small and fragile to be used for carpentry or stone-masonry./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa shook her head, easily able to read Lyris's intentions. 'Too loud.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'They're all drunk.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Doesn't mean their deaf.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris set it gently to the side, and next pulled out the small vials. There were three in total, all containing clear liquid, some cloudier than others but all were unlabeled, making it impossible to divine their contents./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'What do you suppose is in them?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Nothing good, I'm sure. But…' She uncorked one, and brought it up to her face to smell it. It had a pungent, sour odour. She dumped it onto the chain-holder. Nothing happened at first. Then there was a subtle hissing sound, chased by the smell of heated metal. Smoke began to rise. Nerissa's head perked up as the contents of the vial began to eat away at the metal./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'It's–!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Acid,' Lyris finished./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris wrapped the chains once around her wrists, then clutched the metal links tightly in her fist. She leaned back, using all of her weight to rend the warped metal. With a creak, then a metallic clang, the ring broke free from the wood, releasing their chains./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"They were free./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris grabbed Nerissa's hands, and started running, without direction or care towards the edge of the clearing. She heard Nerissa behind her let out a breathy laugh, dissolving into joyful giggles. The sound of freedom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"The joyous laughter cut off with a pained gasp. Lyris stumbled as Nerissa's dead weight tugged down on her arm. She turned as Nerissa fell from her grasp, two arrows protruding from her back./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Looking over her friend's fallen form, she saw Brigfen draw another arrow. Behind him, more soldiers grabbed weapons and yelled orders./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa lunged upwards. Lyirs caught her, and threw her arm over her shoulder. They started forward, the treeline drawing close. If they could just get there, they'd have cover./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"They reached the edge as a third arrow burst forth from her chest. Ropes of blood slashed across Lyris's face. A sharp gasp left Nerissa's lips as the momentum of the arrow drove her down, face-first./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris collapsed to her knees and turned her over, freeing a deluge of blood onto her lap. Her breath hitched as Nerissa raised one shaking hand to Lyris's face./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Mín're ui- lain hi, ma vhenan.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Mín're ui- lain hi, ma vhenan.' Lyris choked on the words as she spoke them./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa graced her with one final smile before she succumbed, her eyes sliding shut./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Arrows whizzed past her head or impacted into the trees surrounding them. Voices called out, their words overlapping into a sea of meaningless. A gentle light northward drew her gaze. A golden deer, encompassed in a soft glow observed her. A single word reverberated in her mind: "Come…"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Her body pulled itself up and she ran, slowly at first, becoming faster as the angered voices drew closer. Something hot and sharp struck her shoulder. Her hand grasped the fresh wound, fingers squeezing the flesh around the arrow's entry point./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She didn't see the gorge until too late. She collapsed down it, body slamming against the sloped ground, the world around her becoming one chaotic pallet of colour. She landed heavily, face-down on the sodden soil. She lay there for a while, pain coursing across her but at least there was quiet all around./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Something warm and wet pressed against her arm as it sniffed her. It began to poke at her, driving itself under her arm, then leveraged her onto her side./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris saw a grey wolf towering over her, amber eyes surveying her curiously. Her hand reached forward. He gently lapped his tongue over the old, healed wound on her forearm./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'…Fenrir…?'/p
/div
div id="notes" class="notes module" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.643em; position: relative; width: auto; float: none; clear: right; min-height: 5em;"
blockquote class="userstuff" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-stretch: normal; font-size: 1em; line-height: normal; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0.643em; padding: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word;"
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"And thus we reach the bitter conclusion of Broken Chains, though Lyris's story is far from over. Thank you to everyone who read/p
/blockquote
/div
/div
div class="userstuff module" style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; width: 1088.63px; float: none; overflow-wrap: break-word; color: #2a2a2a;" role="article"
h3 id="work" class="landmark heading" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0.25em; border-image: initial; outline: 0px; font-weight: 500; font-style: inherit; font-size: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0.125em; line-height: 0; opacity: 0; height: 0px; clear: both; color: transparent; border-color: initial initial #333333 initial; border-style: initial initial double initial;"Chapter Text/h3
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Across the carriage Lyris noticed Nerissa's eyes slid from their task up to hers, the furrow in her brow posing the question she dared not ask. Lyris shook her head. Now was not the time. It had to be right. Anything less than perfection would lead them to their doom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Andro ambled outside into the courtyard, dressed in dark regalia. He stepped towards Lyris and Nerissa, his face split into a saccharine smile./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'All done then? Marvelous. We should set out now to make good time.' He snapped his fingers. The guard standing watch hurried forward. He seized the chains attached their collars and fixed them to the to back of the carriage. Andro's eyes swept over them one last time before he vanished into the back of it. The pace they set off at was steady enough for Lyris and Nerissa to follow behind at a brisk walk./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris glanced at Nerissa. She met her gaze, and offered naught more than a stoic expression. She was nervous, but putting on a brave face. Not that she needed. Lyris would save her, even if it cost her her own life. She just needed a plan.../p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"*/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"They stopped to make camp before nightfall. Lyris's feet were sore and blistered, her entire body aching with exhaustion, but she nor Nerissa were not granted a reprieve before being tasked with lighting the fire and pouring the drinks. It was an all-too familiar scene, right-down to the unwanted groping they endured after one too many ales had been downed./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"They were left chained to the carriage for the night before the rest succumbed to their drunken slumber. Soon, the camp fell silent except for the sound of nightlife and gentle snores. It soon felt as though she and Nerissa were finally alone./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'So about that escape plan?' Nerissa drawled./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'I'm sorry,' Lyris said softly. Nerissa had sounded playful, but Lyris really wasn't in the mood for japes./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'There is nothing for you to be sorry for. You're a slave. You're nothing, you own nothing. How could you help? My only regret is I can't spare you my eventual fate.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris said nothing, but took her delicate hand in her own. Her hand fit so perfectly in hers. Lyris thought Bahamut was full of shit for speaking about Fate, and how it guides everyone to where they should be. But in this brief, beautiful moment, she believed it./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Maybe…' Nerissa breathed so quietly Lyris hardly heard her./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'What was that?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Maybe we can get out. Right here and now'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris shook her wrists to rattle the chains. 'We aren't going anywhere without tools.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Do you intend to break your promise?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'No, I just–'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Then help me.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa walked over to one of the carriage doors. With a sigh, Lyris stood and walked to the other side of it. There was enough slack for them to reach the doors. Lyris looked through the window. Under the gloom of night, it was difficult to make much out. But she could see the luggage stacked on one of the double-seats./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris slowly opened the door. It was a stretch to reach the trunks, but she managed to pull the top-most one towards her. She and Nerissa set it down between them./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa looked up at Lyris, caught in a moment of uncertainty. 'If we're caught…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'I know.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris examined the front of it. It was unlocked. She popped it open, and was greeted by piles of meticulously folded clothes. Carefully she took the items out one by one. Nerissa held them on her lap as Lyris unearthed the bottom of the trunk. And saw nothing but the polished wood the interior was made out of./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Bust. I assumed as much.' Lyris sighed and carefully replaced the clothes. She took out the next trunk. Pouches of platinum and gold pieces. More money than she could count. More money than one person would ever rightly need for a three-day trip. Part of her wanted to take as many coins as she could fit in her hands, but she had nowhere to hide them, and she couldn't even imagine the punishment dished out for stealing money. She reluctantly closed the trunk, and gathered the final one./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'What do you think?' Lyris asked wryly. 'Gold?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Clothes?" Nerissa suggested with a shrug./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Gold and clothes?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Let's find out.' Nerissa reached across and released the hatched. They pushed the heavy top upwards together./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Inside was an assortment of torture devices. Knives with various blade sizes, thumb crushers, pliers, several different whips, a bamboo-wood cane, collars with spikes on the inside, double ended forks and an assortment of liquid-filled vials coloured observed the contents with silence, remembering the pain these were capable of inflicting. When she saw the whips, Lyris felt the scars across her torso and back grow unbearably hot. Suddenly she was not out in the woods no longer, but the dark, damp dungeon, ropes spreading her arms out to the side like a pair of wings. Heat bloomed from her back with each single hit, the end of the whip cutting open her skin. Each hit shook her entire frame. Soon pain overwhelmed all other senses, her vision lost to white./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"A voice reached out through the cacophony in her ears. Cool hands pressed themselves on either side of her face forcing her gaze up and straight. The white faded. Nerissa's face and the clearing behind her melted into view./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She took in a deep breath. 'I'm sorry.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Don't be.' The hands vanished from her face. She immediately missed her touch. 'If you can't do this…'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'No, no I can. I can do it.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris closed her eyes as she turned herself to face the chest. She opened her eyes, forced herself to view the contents. Hesitantly, she removed some tools, examining them for any sort of utility for their situation. Most she tossed to one side, until she found a small hammer at the bottom. She tested the weight against her palm. Too small and fragile to be used for carpentry or stone-masonry./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa shook her head, easily able to read Lyris's intentions. 'Too loud.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'They're all drunk.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Doesn't mean their deaf.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris set it gently to the side, and next pulled out the small vials. There were three in total, all containing clear liquid, some cloudier than others but all were unlabeled, making it impossible to divine their contents./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'What do you suppose is in them?'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Nothing good, I'm sure. But…' She uncorked one, and brought it up to her face to smell it. It had a pungent, sour odour. She dumped it onto the chain-holder. Nothing happened at first. Then there was a subtle hissing sound, chased by the smell of heated metal. Smoke began to rise. Nerissa's head perked up as the contents of the vial began to eat away at the metal./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'It's–!'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Acid,' Lyris finished./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris wrapped the chains once around her wrists, then clutched the metal links tightly in her fist. She leaned back, using all of her weight to rend the warped metal. With a creak, then a metallic clang, the ring broke free from the wood, releasing their chains./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"They were free./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris grabbed Nerissa's hands, and started running, without direction or care towards the edge of the clearing. She heard Nerissa behind her let out a breathy laugh, dissolving into joyful giggles. The sound of freedom./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"The joyous laughter cut off with a pained gasp. Lyris stumbled as Nerissa's dead weight tugged down on her arm. She turned as Nerissa fell from her grasp, two arrows protruding from her back./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Looking over her friend's fallen form, she saw Brigfen draw another arrow. Behind him, more soldiers grabbed weapons and yelled orders./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa lunged upwards. Lyirs caught her, and threw her arm over her shoulder. They started forward, the treeline drawing close. If they could just get there, they'd have cover./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"They reached the edge as a third arrow burst forth from her chest. Ropes of blood slashed across Lyris's face. A sharp gasp left Nerissa's lips as the momentum of the arrow drove her down, face-first./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris collapsed to her knees and turned her over, freeing a deluge of blood onto her lap. Her breath hitched as Nerissa raised one shaking hand to Lyris's face./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Mín're ui- lain hi, ma vhenan.'/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'Mín're ui- lain hi, ma vhenan.' Lyris choked on the words as she spoke them./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Nerissa graced her with one final smile before she succumbed, her eyes sliding shut./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Arrows whizzed past her head or impacted into the trees surrounding them. Voices called out, their words overlapping into a sea of meaningless. A gentle light northward drew her gaze. A golden deer, encompassed in a soft glow observed her. A single word reverberated in her mind: "Come…"/p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Her body pulled itself up and she ran, slowly at first, becoming faster as the angered voices drew closer. Something hot and sharp struck her shoulder. Her hand grasped the fresh wound, fingers squeezing the flesh around the arrow's entry point./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"She didn't see the gorge until too late. She collapsed down it, body slamming against the sloped ground, the world around her becoming one chaotic pallet of colour. She landed heavily, face-down on the sodden soil. She lay there for a while, pain coursing across her but at least there was quiet all around./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Something warm and wet pressed against her arm as it sniffed her. It began to poke at her, driving itself under her arm, then leveraged her onto her side./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"Lyris saw a grey wolf towering over her, amber eyes surveying her curiously. Her hand reached forward. He gently lapped his tongue over the old, healed wound on her forearm./p
p style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-size: 15.12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; list-style: none; margin: 1.286em auto; padding: 0px; line-height: 1.5;"'…Fenrir…?'/p
/div