His talk with Amalia followed by Roana's death had left him uncharacteristically silent. A white raven had haunted the rafters of the Guild Hall, tucked into the shadows with Isuma nestled close against him as he dozed beside his lantern, gathering his strength for what was to come.
When Kiada had begun to prepare, so had he. Bracers and gorget, light but strong, had been wrapped around his arms and throat. From his belt hung a quiver of bolts on one hip, balanced by his rapier on the other, while the crossbow was slung across his back in easy reach. The shield was strapped to his forearm, light and strong, its hidden patterns proclaiming it his by Deimos's hand.
And then, of course, there was the Soulcatcher lantern. A loop of cable connected it to his wrist so even if he dropped it it would remain with him, and he carried it on his shield-side, leaving one hand free to wield his sword if it came to it, which he devoutly prayed it wouldn't.
Alas, the gods were not at the best on LongNight, as well he knew from last year.
It was a slightly awkward setup, but he was along as bait and defender, not attacker. He didn't need to kill, only protect. The killing was up to Kiada, and his heart ached for what it would cost her, even if the reward - freeing her lover's soul from the nightmare of LongNight - was more than worth it.
For this he left Isuma behind, unhappy and shaking with anxious worry beside Sugar, but she didn't have Auni's defenses and he would not risk her a second time in the dark. Instead he had Kiada and the brave little luxere - and a rope woven of thick fibers with a core of flexible steel that he made sure to connect them with, latched with the clever double-carabiner Remi had made to go with it. He showed Kiada how it worked, requiring both of them to press it at the same time to unlatch it, before they opened the door and slipped silently into the night. He returned her smile with a grave nod, something in him too fragile to smile as he followed.
Lit by the antlers of a luxere and Ludo's Lantern they paced a ways from the Guildhall before he began to sing, softly at first, calling to lost souls and abandoned dreams, coaxing them to follow the sound of his voice to a chance at salvation and the arms of Ludo and Mort when LongNight was past.
When Kiada had begun to prepare, so had he. Bracers and gorget, light but strong, had been wrapped around his arms and throat. From his belt hung a quiver of bolts on one hip, balanced by his rapier on the other, while the crossbow was slung across his back in easy reach. The shield was strapped to his forearm, light and strong, its hidden patterns proclaiming it his by Deimos's hand.
And then, of course, there was the Soulcatcher lantern. A loop of cable connected it to his wrist so even if he dropped it it would remain with him, and he carried it on his shield-side, leaving one hand free to wield his sword if it came to it, which he devoutly prayed it wouldn't.
Alas, the gods were not at the best on LongNight, as well he knew from last year.
It was a slightly awkward setup, but he was along as bait and defender, not attacker. He didn't need to kill, only protect. The killing was up to Kiada, and his heart ached for what it would cost her, even if the reward - freeing her lover's soul from the nightmare of LongNight - was more than worth it.
For this he left Isuma behind, unhappy and shaking with anxious worry beside Sugar, but she didn't have Auni's defenses and he would not risk her a second time in the dark. Instead he had Kiada and the brave little luxere - and a rope woven of thick fibers with a core of flexible steel that he made sure to connect them with, latched with the clever double-carabiner Remi had made to go with it. He showed Kiada how it worked, requiring both of them to press it at the same time to unlatch it, before they opened the door and slipped silently into the night. He returned her smile with a grave nod, something in him too fragile to smile as he followed.
Lit by the antlers of a luxere and Ludo's Lantern they paced a ways from the Guildhall before he began to sing, softly at first, calling to lost souls and abandoned dreams, coaxing them to follow the sound of his voice to a chance at salvation and the arms of Ludo and Mort when LongNight was past.
