This post is gonna be a little iffy. I've got appointments to keep.
Watching Cydonia finally go down was a relief for Godhand. Even on his best day, perfectly healthy and knowing what he knew know he wouldn't have lasted long against her. No chance with a couple of busted ribs. She was quick and vicious and she didn't get tired. She was too much. Too much woman. It somehow seemed right that it was the librarian that had finished her off.
But she wasn't done. Afterwards, helpful angel that she was, she had walked over to Godhand and helped him steady himself. This little mouse that had once seemingly wished him ill now looked at him with such unsure delight that it mitigated the pain in his chest. The swordsman started to feel pretty good about himself and life in general. He thought about how God was in his heaven and all was right with the world. That was probably a bit much but they did what they could. In the end that was all anyone could ever do.
Leaning on his new charge for support, he made his way over to the Obsidian Spire. With Cydonia gone nothing prevented them from seeking shelter in it and Kahlina had already ushered most of the students inside. They'd need to rest for a while; they couldn't travel like this. Godhand was battered and Lillian would be coming down from her battle high soon. Curiously, the only one who seemed none the worse for wear was Kross. It was a bit unsettling but after that little display he had earned his stripes, at least in Godhand's eyes.
Godhand was wondering why he hadn't approached the Spire. He turned around, however, and there it was. The face of their true enemy. Kross stood there, attempting to emulate some measure of regality as the uniform of the Cursed fell upon his shoulders. The mercenary now understood that everything up until this point had just been the thresher: something meant to wear them down and identify the pivotal members in the group. It was a good con and Godhand was impressed the thrall was able to run it from as far back as Eluriand. That took determination and, if that little trick that had deposited them in the Red Forest was any indication, quite a bit of power. The swordsman wondered what other tricks he had up his now-embroidered sleeve.
He didn't get much time to wonder, though. As soon as he revealed his true colors he was nothing but motion and cursing. He took the time to insult every member of the group except for Godhand. This seemed a little interesting to the mercenary. Was it some indication of respect? Or did he know he was going to have to go through him to get to Skie and was saving it for afterwards? Whatever it meant, Godhand was on. He was ready. Even in his crippled state he was still formidable, and wether he showed it or not that fight had to have taken something out of the traitor.
But just as the mercenary was about to lunge forward and lock up with Kross, his former ally leaped over both him and the students. Almost as a second thought Godhand bent his knees to match his bound but the sharp pain that cut into him let him know how unwise that was. He stumbled forward, pushing his way through the students that were too scared to make way. Kross had already manipulated the Spire into binding Skie. Godhand instantly unholstered his gun as Kross leapt into the air, calmly aiming for the bridge in the skull located behind the ear. One bullet directly into the brain and it wouldn't matter what he was or who he served: he'd go down. The gunman lined up the barrel, whispered an admonishment to the creature and pulled the trigger.
Click
All his confidence drained away, leaving him with a horrible sense of dread. Guns didn't work in the land of the elves. As the air became thick with the sounds of the approaching undead, Godhand regretted chastising their leader and silently admitted she was right.
He should have let him die.
((Spoils: None. Please take any gold I would have gotten from this quest and dump it into my exp.))