GAZES
Written on October 26, 2024 (♏︎)
Author's Notes: Written for Whumptober 2024 for prompt No. 26: Nightmares (Parting Words Regret).
The poison had not left him, but the effects had ebbed enough that he was on his feet again. The Hokuten had regathered. The assassin had been found. Bestrald Larg had been conveyed back home to be buried with all the honors due his bloodline. If Dycedarg had not nearly died himself in the undertaking, the stalemate at Bethla would have seemed wholly a victory.
On the long ride back east, Zalbag had been pensive. He spoke little, and he seldom left his brother’s side.
Dycedarg tried, in light of Bestrald's final outburst, to mirror his brother's silence. It did not do well to recall words better forgotten. If he expressed anything to Zalbag, it was generally gratitude–with an occasional reminder that they–and they alone–were all that the white lion had now.
The ever present implication was that they were all one another had as well.
He had not known, when they last met at the gates, that it should be any sort of terminus. Zalbag had said he was going to the churchyard–something about a mourner's duties. Dycedarg had not meant much of anything in repeating words oft-spoken that week.
"Thank you again. I knew I could trust you."
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