All Heck Breaks Loose

Writers: Suzee, Miriah, Clancey, AL
Date Posted: 29th May 2014

Characters: Crolarin, Benani, Zathris, Felyna, Kardein
Description: They find Benani
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 24 of Turn 7
Notes: "Loose Ends to Tie"

Benani

Zathris

Felyna

Benani jumped off the bed where she'd been left when he went on the
'mission' he'd been ranting about since Felyna's flit had found her.
She heard him coming down the entrance he normally used so she quickly
dropped to her knees with her head bent just like he'd trained her.

"My Lord Husband," she said when she heard him arrive.

"Get up!" He snapped, holding his arm to him. "We've no time." Blood
dripped from his fingers and he wheezed in pain. "Start packing our
things." He looked down at her and barked out. "Now!"

She scrambled to her feet and though she was still naked and tethered
to the bed began to try to pack some things within her reach. "Are you
alright?" She didn't miss the blood on his robes.

He hurriedly went to the bed and keeping his arm clutched tightly to
his side, snarled a negative. "No! Stupid canine, I hope I killed
her." He bent to loosen the tether, allowing her more freedom as he
went to the chests and began dumping items haphazardly into them with
one hand. "Hurry! Put your gown on. The one I gave you. We have to
leave. Now!"

But her eyes were focused on the mess of his arm."Is she the one who
did this to you?" She continued trying to toss things toward the chest
nearest her. "I can't reach the dress," she said softly. He routinely
put things out of her reach when he left. She jingled the cuff on her
foot, "If you give me the key..."

Her eyes grew round as she saw Felyna's little blue flit again on top
of the curtain on the other side of the room but he popped between
before she could even react.

"Just pack!" Crolarin's face was set in a scowl as he whirled around,
wincing in pain and all the while muttering angrily to himself. He
cursed Karhal, he cursed the canine and he cursed his own rashness as
he piled more things in a trunk. He awkwardly lifted one side of the
trunk and began dragging it outside to his wagon. They had to hurry...

Xebex appeared one more time, his eyes whirling in distress as he
spied the scary-bad-loud-man. He knew it! It was her! But he
remembered his instructions and disappeared almost immediately, going
outside to get pictures and so the man would not see him. His
person wanted pictures. He would fly around and then go back to her.

Xebex' appearance said one thing -_someone_ knew where she was, and
when the blue flit returned to his owner, she hoped that message would
break through the despair he had shown her last time. Someone knew.

Benani's heart thumped in her chest as she tried to do what he
demanded. Right now she knew how dangerous he was and knew he was
fully capable of beating her senseless if she didn't do exactly as he
said. After all he had wanted to make her kill Xebex. But the flash
reappearance of Felyna's flit made a glimmer of hope appear at the end
of her dark tunnel. Maybe, just maybe her friend would make someone
come and find her.

Pausing long enough to firmly wrap a piece of cloth around his still
seeping arm, a pale Crolarin hefted the chest up to the wagon with a
measure of difficulty. He considered all that was still in the cavern
and grimaced. They could not take all of it, not if he wanted to
hurry. Shaffit! That stupid canine! He really hoped that his stabs had
managed to spill every single drop of blood out of that damnable
creatures neck! He hurried back in and glanced around at the rest of
their belongings. "Two more boxes! That's it. Then we're leaving." He
spoke in a snarl and picked up the Healer supplies next. He would need
those.

****

The firelizard darted forward, then eased back. He could move a lot
faster than the entourage could and it cause an insurmountable level
of irritation in Zathris. He barked orders to those who had joined
them, but the fever in his eyes would not be quenched. He hoped by
Faranth that blue could lead them to Benani. It was the best chance
they had and honestly, there were already whispers as to whether or
not the Lord Holder had held on his sanity. If Benani wasn't found,
there were doubts as to whether or not he would retain any at all.

Karhal had remained behind with his wife and even in the midst of his
frenzy, Zathris couldn't fault that. Kardein, his father, had come in
his stead and the Lord holder was grateful for the presence of the big
man. It meant another pair of hands to hold on to the person who had
taken his wife while he beat the life out of him.

Camnae was on a very long leash held loosely by one of the guards.
She'd trotted along by the horse as she had often done with her
mistress her attitude was one of attention until she caught a scent.
She whined and tried to run to the side from where the horses were on
the road but she couldn't go far and started barking and struggling
with her leash until she finally yanked out of his hand and began to
follow a path the others couldn't see.

Camnae's excitement was caught by his own canine companion who pressed
forward. A whine escaped followed by a bark then the two fell into a
chorus of them. "Let them go." Zathris commanded. It was followed
and as soon as Camnae was released, Zathris allowed Alik to go free.
With her enthusiasm, the younger canine propelled herself with the
elder just behind her. Surely the creature wouldn't act in such a
manner unless his wife were near. Without another word, Zathris
spurred his runner into a run to stay close behind the canines.

"She's got the scent!" Kardein spun his runner to chase after Zathris,
bending low over the runner to duck under a branch. Though his face
was calm, Kardein carried his own anger, that of a father who had
watched his son in pain. Only his eyes, so like his son's, showed the
flinty resolve within.

The faint, but noticeable pounding of hooves was heard near the small
cave. Crolarin paled, his hand stilling on his runner. Cursing, he
grabbed the bag of healer supplies, tore the traces off of his runner
and turned back to the cave, where his wife and his unborn child were
still within. The pounding of hoof beats grew closer and swearing
volubly, Crolarin did the only thing he could. He would have to come
back for them. And he would be back for them! Crolarin struggled to
pull himself up with one arm, settled on the runner and with a kick of
his boots, urged the little mare into a desperate run.

Somehow in the cave Benani heard the sound of a canine barking and
then a second deeper one. "Camne?' She wasn't sure but it got louder
and then she heard the runners.

Suddenly her young canine burst into the room and launched herself at
her favorite person. Benani knelt on the small square of carpet to
keep herself from being knocked over and wrap her arms around the
wriggling bundle of joy. "I have to get you out of here," she
murmured. "If he finds you he'll kill you, or worse make me do it."
But then there was another Canine watching her with still eyes.
"Alik?" She was rewarded with a single whip of the canine's tail. Then
she heard the boots crunching the ground. She stood trying to get
Camne under the bed with her foot.

The sight that greeted him was one that would haunt him for the rest
of his life, he was sure of it. His wife, naked, chained to a bed
like some animal. What had happened in that cave was not difficult to
imagine and it only fueled the fire that was so close to burning out
of control.

Yet, the sight of her cooled him in a different way. Relief flooded
through him. She was alive and whole. His Benani, his beloved wife.
For a moment, all he could do was stare. Then, he unclipped the cloak
from his shoulders and closed the distance between them to whirl it
about her. Unable to contain himself by her closeness. He gathered
her into his arms, face pressed against her neck so he could inhale
the scent of her.

"Zathris," she whispered watching as others encircled them. Her eyes
searched for Crolarin but she didn't see him. "He said you would never
come, that you didn't want me anymore," she said wonderingly.

"What?" He pulled back so he could gaze into those eyes, Zathris'
piercing into hers even in the dimness of the low light. "He lied,
Benani. I will always, always want you. That will never, could never
change."

Last updated on the June 17th 2014

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All Heck Breaks Loose