Her quiver was somewhat lighter when she clashed the door shut behind her in a rage. She had quarreled fiercely with Eroforth, the number of arrows she’d left sticking out of his door were some indication of just how angry she was.
Taala was a hypocrite of the worst kind at times, she knew it, and she had made her way over to his house to set things right, but he was not there. She doubted very much that he would still be visiting Brammy and Kestrall at that late hour…not when such an early start was required for The Bloody Dawn’s next contract, that would see them in Ost Forod for a time. No, she knew where he was, he was cavorting with another woman, she was sure of it. They had reluctantly admitted their love for one another, but had not promised fidelity, and she bet that suited him.
“Bastard” she cursed, “I have shown you more of myself, than any other, but that is done now”.
Taala, had dipped her toe into a whirlpool, and as suspected, this business of love had brought naught but anguish.
Chaney’s bed was made, perfectly as always. She had lived on the streets so long, that the comfort of a bed was something she treasured and appreciated. She had treated Taala’s home with such respect whilst she was recuperating there, tidying her slovenly mess up. The two women had much in common, if Taala could have chosen a sister, it would have been Chaney…and right now she needed her counsel.
Amidst the emptiness around and under the bed, where Chaney stored her belongings, the note left on the pillow practically waved at her. Furrowing her brow she reached for it, the edge of her temper subsiding.
Wrapped within the parchment, was a Sigil of the Bloody Dawn…dread loomed as she paced about reading the note, the words before her cut like an axe through her heart. She could not make out the last few words, they were smudged as if teardrops had kissed the paper… but there was no mistaken that this was a farewell note, and that Chaney was embarking on a mission of revenge and may never return.
“Damn you Chaney” she snarled, her fist clenching around the note “I thought you were different! Did we not speak of this?”
She threw the ball of paper into the back of the fire so hard it bounced back out and landed upon the hearth, glowing as red as her fury, a small flame licked about it as it transformed from a glow into charcoal.
Within a heartbeat she regretted her actions, and began to stamp out the flame, ash floating amidst what was left of the note. She scooped it up in despair, burning her hands as she tossed it about until it was cool enough to unwrap…and there within the blackened parchment it lay there unmarked … Chaney’s Sigil, perfectly intact…surely a sign?
Taala padded over to her dresser and slid open the drawer that held her keepsakes, there were not many, as she had not been given much by anyone. She lifted out her small lockbox, which she never locked, Taala could not bear for anything to be locked, and carefully she lay Chaney’s Sigil next to the locket that once held a lock of her son’s hair.
“I found you once Chaney Oakleaf…and I shall find you again…”
