"Silver, can you set her down, please?" Already Jordan was pulling out healing tools and potions- Asriel getting himself ready to heal.
"Gladly. I'm afraid I'll break her." Placing her gingerly on the ground, he was relieved. She felt like a fragile doll in his hands...
"Is anyone else hurt? And if so, how badly?"
"I've seen better days... Could use some fixing up." Struggling to his feet, Thorin winced. Silver and Sera shook their heads- they were fine for the most part.
"Here, Thorin. Let me... Jordan, can you... get her stable, while I help Thorin?" At Jordan's nod, Asriel turned to Thorin- taking a quick look. While Thorin was pretty hurt, it was within Asriel's capabilities. Magic was helpful that way. Asriel closed his eyes, concentrating. Gentle music filled the air, trails of golden light weaving through, swaying to his song. Thorin's injuries healed themselves- after a few minutes' rest, he would be fine. "Do you… need more healing?"
"No, no- thank ye. Few minutes rest, I'll be fine. 'Sides... I'm not the one you should worry about." His glance looked to Jordan doing his best to get Violet stable. If things were not set properly, it would cause complications. Looking to the two standing aside, Thorin weilded his weapon again. "Silver, Sera- we should keep our eyes out, in case more trouble comes along."
Nodding in agreement, all three took up positions- Thorin and Silver flanking the Iron Ring carriage, while Sera fell behind Asriel and Jordan. They never knew what would come around the bend… Meanwhile, Jordan straightened up into a kneeling pose. "I think that's everything- do you see anything I missed, Asriel?"
"No. Looks good. Do you have... any potions, by chance?"
"Yeah, I've got one here..." Pulling out a glass bottle, blood-red liquid sloshed inside. Uncorking it, Jordan had Asriel rest Violet's body in his lap- propped up so she didn't choke. While Jordan administered the potion, Asriel's music with the light radiated from his healing magic filled the air once more- the combined effort erasing virtually all wounds. It took a moment, as the golden light and music faded away- the pair waiting in anticipation.
Pale blue sky filled her vision suddenly, as did... Asriel? Jordan? What... Struggling to catch up, she felt her body aching everywhere- but few actual wounds. Groaning in agony, Violet felt Asriel prop her up into a sitting position, while Jordan looked at her, eyebrow raised. Metallic blood filled her mouth, alongside some kind of liquid- a potion of some sort, she figured. "What'd I miss..."
"Not much- just the part where Asriel and I had to fix you up because you were dying on us. Including making sure your rib cage was relatively intact." Jordan watched Violet rubbing her eyes and clearing her throat.
"I'm really sorry about that… That could have gone better…"
"What were you thinking, taking him on alone- being reckless like that?!" Sera's frantic scribbling made Violet's head hurt- but question everyone thought of was asked.
"Right irresponsible of yeh... This had better be good." Thorin's voice held a hard edge, making Violet’s blood run cold.
Silver- seeing the involuntary shiver that came from the woman- tipped his head to the side. "Thorin. That might not... We all want answers, to be sure. But there might be a better way to get them besides intimidation..."
"No... No… Thorin's right. I- you deserve to know. It's been put off... long enough." Refusing to look at anyone, Violet shifted- unconsciously shrinking away into Asriel’s soft embrace. "All of you came... a long way, and got thrown... Into this, purely on my word… I-"
"You know them." Such a simple statement, but a potent one Despite the haze and the chaos of everything that happened, Asriel had been thinking. Putting pieces together- he had the answer for some time, but was just waiting for a moment like this. "In Mistamere... That voice. It belonged to...The Blood Angel." At Violet's nod, he noticed the gentle tremble of her body. His hand rested on her shoulder, gentle. "Were you... theirs once, Violet?"
Heavy, pointed silence descended. When Violet finally broke it, her voice a shaky whisper. "...Yes." Immediately the emotional sentiment shifted. From rising frustration... To a much softer tone, sympathetic and understanding. All of them had figured something like this- but to hear it confirmed, brought things to a new light. "I had once been… Enslaved, for years. There was a time, I- Leviticus, he… The things I’ve endured, you have no idea, the horrors they inflict… None of you are supposed to be here. I didn’t want to bring anyone innocent into this… I don't want any of you hurt, killed or worse… because you followed me here…" Cracking under emotional pressure, Violet felt tears sting her eyes- and a couple of them spilled over, dropping onto the ground. Seconds passed in silence, nobody wanting to speak.
"We would be here anyways. The chance to purge Karameikos of evil is one I would not pass up. And that would be especially true, were I still a paladin." The fact Silver was a paladin shocked everyone- but the sentiment had a pin in it.
"Silver's right, Violet. Fighting for the greater good is what we do. Back in Threshold, I figured something was wrong- but didn’t want to push it."
"Even though we haven't known each other long, there's no way I'd let you face this by yourself. From what I know, you seem like a good person- someone I care for."
"We're a team now- you're stuck with us. No matter how icy or insufferable you are." That got some laughs out of everyone- Violet included, even if it hurt.
Shaking her head, she got up- one arm crossed under her chest, rubbing the other- feeling awkward. Relieved. She sniffled a little, wiping some of the blood, dust and tears from her face. Looking at the ground, Violet couldn’t face everyone just yet. But before she could speak, Asriel tipped her head up to look her in the eyes. Even sitting, he was a little taller than her.
"We won't let that happen to you again." Asriel and Jordan stood up, the former's hand still on her shoulder. "They'll have to kill us first. And we are... resilient."
"Yeah we are. Hey, let's get these bodies dealt with, see what's in this tithe?"
"Sounds like a plan."
To that end, five of the six started searching, moving bodies from sight, and rummaging through the caravan cart. Violet searched the leader's body. Not a lot on him of use, but a dagger caught her eye… Blade shape reminiscent of a thorn, its handle a beautiful briar green. It had an equally beautiful scabbard- Violet slid the blade in, before noticing the inscription. "Briarthorne? Strange name..." She muttered to herself. Bringing it over, she caught a conversation taking place.
"What was all this paladin business, Silver? And what happened to yeh?"
"I was a paladin for awhile. Doesn't matter to who... Long story short, I abandoned my faith, and was forsaken. Kept the training, put it to use as a fighter."
"Still not one of many words, are yeh lad?"
"No. Not really."
"What's that you got there, Violet?" Jordan's inquisitive nature- and a new promising shiny- led him to her, magpie-like.
"Some kind of beautiful dagger... Briarthorne, it says. Intricate design- just wish I knew what it was capable of. What makes it so special."
"I'll take a look- maybe you can... help the others?"
Violet handed the dagger to Asriel, while she and Sera looked through the cart in the wake of the others’ search. Coins, fine clothes, foodstuffs- most of it would be returned. Hidden deep within, a small box. Sera pulled it out- finely constructed of apple wood, char marks swirled- giving illusion of construction from embers and smoke. This was for Leviticus. Idly, the Hin set herself to work playing with the lock- one of the difficult ones, it took some time. Inside were gold pieces, and a couple gemstones. The gemstones Violet kept- the gold was handed to Sera.
"I'd like to keep the box- this... this is his." Sera nodded again- and Violet put it away. While the group got on the road back with the cart to Albridge, Asriel handed the dagger back.
"This will... do well in your hands, Violet."
"Is... Is it safe I mean, I'd guess so but still... What is it?"
"Briarthorne... Is a special dagger. Hollow hilt- good for hiding small things... like your trap-smith tools." Violet felt a pang of guilt as he said that, smiling at her in doing such. "Magical. And has... a special property. If you use the pass-code, it will... Vanish. To a dimension- safe. To bring it back... It's the same. Briarthorne."
Briarthorne felt wonderful in her hands, but she felt like she couldn't accept it. Turning to the others [besides Silver- he drove the cart], Thorin cut her off. "You're keeping it. Asriel's right- it'd serve the greatest use, in your hands." Sensing the protest, Thorin pushed it closer to her.
"...Thank you..." Smiling weakly, she held it close. Violet and Briarthorne- what a strange and beautiful pair.
Chapter 12- Preparations