Victory. That was what they had. The enemy retreated and for once, it felt like there was room to breathe. The world no longer seemed like it was pressed on their chests. Ausan could take a deep breath once again and with it came a shout of pure joy. The bloody and battered blade she had acquired in the heat of battle was tossed into the air. More like hurled actually. Flung at the backsides of those that ran from them.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Ran from THEM</span><br/><br/>This was not something that happened every day and she wanted to celebrate. Wanted the Gods above to hear her joy and know that on this day, they were not beaten. On this day, men of both lands stood together and sent back a horde that should have consumed them all. Of course, they had some friendly Godly help, but still the mortals had done their part and had been doing their part throughout his darkness that had blanketed the lands. Today was just a single victory. By the fire of the Goddess, Ausan would chase those bastards back into the darkness.<br/><br/>Then she would snuff them out so that they would never bother them again.<br/><br/>“Boys!” she shouted to the twins who had joined her in a bit of joyous celebration. “Let’s head back to camp!” Before she could so much as bat an eye, the winds picked up and into the air they shot, the journey took only a few moments. Soon her boots touched soil once more though she was swept up in a surge of Sisters and soldiers from her army. The embrace friendly and comforting at the moment, a reassurance that they had lived through this most heinous of moments. Tears. Honest to Goddess tears filled her eyes and she cared not for how it might make her look before the others. All she wanted to do was hug each and every one of them. To touch them, feel the warmth of their spirits, know that they lived and had survived the day.<br/><br/>In her mind, she went through a list of names that she matched to the faces she could see. Those that were missed she asked about and was given a report on. Sen lived. That little crazy bitch had not only lived but made herself quite the name among the Sisters. Just wait until she told Verana of the recruit she rescued and trained. At the thought of her closest sister, as if Fate itself had been listening, the bald fucker who had been in charge of her protection rode into camp. Armor as pristine as ever, she assumed the battle had gone surprisingly well for them all. He made as if he were just ride past her, but she reached up and snatched hold of his horse’s reins.<br/><br/>“Where is Verana?”<br/><br/>A look came over his face that she could not read.<span style="font-style: italic">Annoyance? Sorrow?</span>She could not tell, but when the words were finally spoken she did not believe him. It started with a shake of his head. Thin lips, hidden behind his beard moved and though she<span style="font-style: italic">heard</span>the words she did not want to believe them.<br/><br/>“I’m sorry. But Verana is dead. She broke formation and left our protection. We tried to get to her but were overwhelmed before we could reach her…” his face held something. There in his eyes, but she could not tell what it was. Could not understand the emotion that was there and at that moment she did not really care. It felt like the world was back crushing her once again. As word spread through the camp, a silence took hold so deafening that she nearly shouted. Cried out to the heavens and beg for an answer. Plead for them to bring her back. How was she supposed to live without her? What was she to do?<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: green;background:green;"/></div><br/><br/>The body of the archer laid there before him. Lifeless and still. So very still. Weylyn was not sure what to do with himself. Around him the Tutar retreated, his forest and the lands of Man, appeared to be safe for the moment. Yet, it all mattered nothing to him as he knelt there before her body.<br/><br/>“I missed…” he whispered to himself and her body. “I’m so sorry…” a single tear rolled down his cheek, to his chin and dripped down to fall on her face. From his side, he drew his horn. The worn material was cold against his lips as he blew. The sound was low at first, then reverberated out into the forest, off the trunks, and into the sky.  The song in honor of the fallen hero appeared to be nothing but that a song. Just a single solitary note to express the sorrow that should grip the heart of all those in the world at the loss of such a person.<br/><br/>Then as the wind died down, a haunting howl answered the call from the horn and from the heavens came a wolf made out of stars and twilight. With grace and presence that would have made a mortal second guess their sanity, it approached the Elder God as he knelt at the body of the fallen woman.<br/><br/>“Inina,” he spoke without looking at the creature. “Watch for her,” he scooped her into his arms and rose to his feet. “Watch for her soul and guide her to the heavens when she emerges from the void.” He sighed and looked up at the wolf, “She does not deserve to journey alone.”<br/><br/>A bow that would have made any royal human grin with pride, the Wolf acknowledged the request and then seemed to shimmer for a moment before she faded from sight. Now, with his precious cargo in hand he started the walk to the human camp. The truth would be known…<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: green;background:green;"/></div><br/><br/>Reigns still in hand, Ausan felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to see another sister. The world was numb to her, but she knew that she had to move on, had to let go. Just as her fingers began to unclasp on the leather of the halter, a commotion drew her attention.<br/><br/>Wolves.<br/><br/>A small pack of them gathered about the form of another God. His armor and horned helm more than enough evidence to who he was. Even without the wolves acting as a buffer, the crowd parted for him out of respect for who he was and respect for the woman he carried.<br/><br/>“If you let him go, you let a coward escape,” the Elder God spoke to the maiden who quickly snatched hold of the reigns once more.<br/><br/>“Speak and tell me what you know,” her voice demanded that of the being before her without care for just who he was.<br/><br/>“He abandoned her. When she needed him when they needed him he left them to die…” he looked down at the body in his arms. “She called to him and he turned his back on her!” The anger in his voice riled up the wolves who snarled and growled at the company of men. Many of whom found themselves now surrounded and unable to ride off.<br/><br/>“That stupid bitch did no su-“ his angry retort was cut short by violent means he was pulled from his saddle. Others of his group were similarly unhorsed though they were quickly restrained while he was allowed to get to his feet as a circle formed around him and Ausan.<br/><br/>“I did nothing! I was there and she caused her own death!” he shouted from the ground where he knelt.<br/><br/>"If you wish to back up your words with your blade, draw it now!” Someone shouted from the crowd though Ausan had done little else but stare at him. In her mind, all she saw was the times that she and Verana had shared together.<br/><br/>The laughter.<br/><br/>The smiles.<br/><br/>The pain.<br/><br/>The blood.<br/><br/>A bond that could never be shaken no matter what came between them they were always able to reconcile and be friends once more. Now, this….this piece of shit had taken her from her. Taken away one of the few people she actually cared about. One of the few people she loved. As if under a spell she removed one gauntlet and then the other. Knuckles swollen, battered and bruised clenched without hesitation into a fist as she continued to just stare.<br/><br/>Garth glowered and scowled, but didn't reach for his weapon. "I don't need to fight to prove the truth of my words. I am a Lebi Lord Knight, and you vermin from your broken land know<span style="font-style: italic">nothing</span>of honor or duty. You are unfit to wash the mud from my boots, bitch, now I demand that you end this farce at once!"<br/><br/>Resuran, his once most loyal and trusted companion, was allowed to walk forth. Borim smiled, filled with the confidence of one who was no longer alone. If he were to have to fight at least, he would not be alone. However, fate was not about to have him escape so easily.<br/><br/>Resuran stood there, eyes filled with guilt and pain, and removed the gauntlet he wore, adorned with the Garth crest, before throwing it into the dirt. "I wash my hands of you and your House, Borim. The Gods themselves speak of your cowardice and betrayal. Perhaps you will find mercy with them, but you will find none here."  Words spat upon the disgrace of a man who watched in complete disbelief as all of his guards, each and every single man among them, removed their armor and cast it down to the ground. A banner was torn to shreds and stomped into the dirt. His house was no more. His line was tarnished forever. For the rest of days, the lips of both mortal and God will speak of his cowardice. Will speak of his failure and will talk about the day that justice was visited upon him.<br/><br/>The sound of her weighted steps broke the silence that had fallen on the camp. Metal against metal as she moved with a purpose filled with a righteous hate that burned clearly in her eyes. The first crack against his jaw was with such force that it slammed shut and nearly severed his tongue clean off, which happened to be in the way. Now on his back she straddled him and continued to hit him. Over and over. Her fists pounded into his face. Flesh against flesh and bone against bone. Even when he became nothing but a bloody mess she continued and not a sound was made. Not from her and not from those who stood by and watched. A glancing blow across his temple and Ausan swore she broke her hand, but that did not stop her. Nothing else mattered at that moment.<br/><br/>Nothing.<br/><br/>Not the pain in her hand, not the pain her side that had yet to go away. None of it. None of it mattered. Every time her fist connected with his face she saw Verana. Saw her smile. Heard her laugh. Remembered the countless times in battle where she had saved her life. Gone. She was gone now and there was no bringing her back.<br/><br/>And it was his fault.<br/><br/>Suddenly she stopped herself and stood. Garth managed to somehow still be alive and rolled over to cough up blood and whatever ever else he could to try and breathe easier. Hands covered in his blood and paced away for a moment until she saw Verana’s bow resting on her body. The poor excuse of a man had made it back to his hands and knees. Slowly he crawled away or at least tried to, but he had barely gotten anywhere when Ausan caught him once again. This time, she had Verana’s bow, the string at his throat she pulled back and slowly started to strangle him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF4000">Barth watched the Knight fall like a rag doll, only to be pounced on by the livid Maiden; each blow was harder than the last. Every hit carrying on it anger beyond description, and they seemed to fall in a ceaseless torrent that had no end. The fire burning in Ausan's eyes said it all - she would express her grief through violence. She would push tears aside for vengeance upon the man who caused her Sister to be taken from her, and the others would watch as justice, brutal and unflinching, was served to the one who deserved it. <br/><br/>There would be no trial for Borim Garth - an Elder God brought forth the charge, and Weylyn's word was all they needed. It all made sense. The red-bearded man (though his entire face was red at the moment) had chosen to save himself, and in doing so, he allowed Verana Snowblade to be overrun. <br/><br/>Barth stood, still as a statue, face immobile, as the beating continued. He watched every single hit, wondering when they would start making him feel better. They weren't enough - nothing was enough. Nothing could help what had happened, nothing could ease the pain of loss as it ate away at him from the outskirts of his mind, the flood of grief visible but not quite there yet as if it needed more time to be fully comprehended. <br/><br/>When Ausan seized Verana's bow, he finally moved, walking forward and reaching her just as she began choking the Knight with the weapon's string. He put a hand out and touched her arm, his eyes finally tearing themselves away from the bleeding man in front of her as they regarded the last of Linden's Maidens. <br/><br/>"No, Ausan."</span><br/><br/>Though she stopped, she did not slack up entirely on the tension right off, so the sound of Garth choking filled the silence that followed. “Why? Why should I stop?” voice cold and nearly completely devoid of emotion.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF4000">The response came as no surprise; he hadn't expected her to give in easily, but he had a reason for stepping in when he did. "Judgement awaits him in the Void, and I will not ask you to spare his life. Death isn't enough for him, and if I could I would erase every trace of him so that this world forgets he ever existed to befoul its air. But that is Verana's longbow, Ausan. She wielded it for years with grace and honor. Do not stain it with the blood of a coward."</span><br/><br/>It took a moment, but she finally relented and once more Garth had the breath of life in his lungs. The bow in her hands was given to Barth for safe keeping though she was far from done with this piece of shit before her. “Oil and a torch!” she called out. If his face held any form of fear, it was unreadable given the state of his face. She would have cared little for it, however, so it was with the same emotionless way that she beat him she doused him with oil and then held a torch to him.<br/><br/>“Naiya's wrath take you," she whispered the curse and watched the flames lick across his body. The screams he loosed fell on deaf pitiless ears. No tear would be shed this day or any other for the man on the ground. He sealed his fate the moment he turned his back on Verana. Today felt like a bittersweet victory now. What joy she had felt burnt away with the man before her. The war was far from over and this moment was a harsh reminder of this fact.