243: Family
Kiyui reached out to me and touched my face. He looked up at me with those beautiful soulful eyes of his and he brushed a tear from my cheek with his thumb.
Kiyui: “You’ve been crying.”
Dwynfel: “No, its fine, honestly.”
Kiyui: “You’re a terrible liar, Dwynfel.”
Dwynfel: “I’m just so glad you’re alive.”
I pulled him in close and hugged him as tightly as I could. I inhaled deeply and took in his smell, I felt his hair against my skin, and his hands on my back. I felt… home.
Kiyui: “I told you I’d be fine.”
Dwynfel: “I love you so much.”
Kiyui: “I love you too.”
In that moment, I remembered the ring. I reached into my pocked and pulled it out. I moved back slightly and opened the little box. Kiyui picked up the ring and smiled at me.
Dwynfel: “Kiyui… please marry me.”
He stroked my face again, he laughed slightly before gently smiling once more.
Kiyui: “Oh, Dwynfel. Of course I will.”
He placed the ring on his finger and examined it.
Kiyui: “I love the stones. You know me so well.”
He pulled me in close and kissed me firmly. I felt his tongue’s gentle caress for but a moment before we had to return to reality.
Kiyui: “We need to go check on the boys.”
He sprung up out of the bed. I forget how quickly he recovers from things. His arm had stopped bleeding, but it still hadn’t fully healed. It didn’t seem to be bothering him though. He has always had a very high pain threshold.
Dwynfel: “We should find something for you to wear. There has to be some clothes left in this house somewhere.”
Kiyui: “Screw that, I have clothes at Madame Laurent’s. I’m not wasting time looking for ill-fitting clothes that won’t fit me. Let’s go.”
He led the way through Vox manor. It was a very bizarre and rather disturbing contrast. Seeing him… my fiancé… walking ahead of me… completely naked… his hair cascading down his shoulders… the ring, glistening on his finger… his tail swaying gently… his pert little cheeks bouncing as he bobs along… Feiffer bouncing along by his side… both of them covered in and surrounded by blood and viscera. The walls and furniture were battered, in parts, or outright destroyed… all of which they had caused. I love him more that life itself… but fucking hell… what he is capable of when he unleashes that side of himself… it is absolutely terrifying.
Outside of the manor was an even more odd situation. We returned to the main street to make our way to Madame Laurent’s. It is a much more direct route than the one we had taken previously… but now that most of the monsters have retreated and the streets are being cleared, it is much safer.
The reason I say that it is odd is because of the patrolling squads of undead. Each knight had a group of about five undead by their side. Wiping out the monsters that yet lingered. I… I just cannot get used to seeing the undead walking the streets. Yesterday, if undead had been found in the city, the whole place would have been evacuated and burned. This… this is just beyond weird.
As we approached the square where the brothel resides, we caught a glimpse of Damecus. He noticed us and started towards us. We saw a group of kobolds rush up behind him. I pulled one of my daggers and got ready for another fight.
Dwynfel: “Behind you!”
He turned, ready for a fight. But just as swiftly as the readiness arrived… it departed. He turned back to us and shook his head.
Damecus: “Fear not, they are no threat.”
Kiyui rushed up to Damecus and wrapped his arms around him.
Kiyui: “I’m so glad you’re safe.”
Dwynfel: “What the hell are you talking about? They have just been on a murderous rampage through the city!”
One of the kobolds pulled a knife and stabbed Damecus in the back. Damecus rolled his eyes, turned, grabbed the kobold by the neck, and snapped it in two. He looked at the five remaining Kobolds with a look of distain as he pulled the knife from his back. He winced slightly as he did so. He threw the knife down on the ground at their feet.
Damecus: “Anybody else wish to confront me?”
They all shook their heads before bowing down to him.
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Dwynfel: “Damecus… what the hell?”
I gestured to his bleeding knife wound. He reached into his pouch, removed a container of something, and rubbed it on the wound.
Damecus: “As soon as I found out that kobolds were among the attacking forces, I set out to find their leader. Kobolds are simple creatures. They follow the orders of the strongest amongst them. I killed their leader… therefore I am now the strongest. Shame I had to kill nearly every single one of them before I got to him. These are the few that remain.”
Dwynfel: “You massacred all but six of the attacking kobolds?”
Damecus: “Five now.”
Dwynfel: “Seriously?”
Damecus: “They are aware of how easily I could crush them. They shall do my bidding or face the consequences.”
He turned and scowled at them and they all dropped to the floor and bowed once more.
Damecus: “We should get back to hunting down the remaining goblins. You two look like you need to rest.”
Kiyui: “The boys are at Madame Laurent’s. We’re off to check on them.”
Damecus: “Wish them well for me.”
He started to walk off to the east, followed by the kobolds.
Dwynfel: “Good luck.”
He waved over his shoulder and we rushed over to the brothel. I say rushed. Moved as quickly as I was able. This foot is really slowing me down.
The brothel was busy… people rushing and moving all over the place. Jonty was rushed off his feet from trying to clear all the drinks from all the tables. The poor lad is clearly stressed. Even as he walks from table to table I can see him rocking his head forwards and backwards. He’s holding it together pretty well considering how much change stresses him out.
A couple of healers had made it to the place and they were working their way around, healing the injured. They still had no access to anti-petrification magic though, so Wu remained stone. That girl that Grant had been looking after was cuddling a pair of elderly people in the corner… I assume them to be her grandparents.
Olly was back on his feet. He had a few scars from his injury, but otherwise seemed fine. Him and Dolly were watching the kids. I couldn’t see Johnny or Grant present. Big Bertha informed me that Grant was helping in the kitchen and Johnny was still with Farrow’s party.
As soon as Tadwick saw us, he rushed over and gave me a huge hug. He nearly crushed me. He doesn’t realise his own strength sometimes. Kiyui went to check on Alexi.
Tadwick: “Dad! You’re okay!”
Dwynfel: “Never mind me… are you guys alright?”
Tadwick: “I’m fine. Xion’s not talking, he’s gone all weird. The blond kid over there is freaking out and the girl with the burns is with some clerics in that room over there. Everyone else it totally fine.”
I’m not surprised that girl is being seen by the clerics. Those burns looked painful. And Xion “going all weird” is hardly surprising… he watched his best friend get eaten by a dragon. That’s bound to have an awful effect on the kid. Dolly was trying to comfort him. Olly seemed nervous around Xion… he was rushing around trying to ensure that the kids had something to eat and drink… I assume as some attempt at distraction. Quite frankly, we are lucky that Freddy couldn’t see what happened to Zayan from behind the fountain, otherwise he’d probably be in a similar state.
I looked over at the little blond kid that Tadwick spoke of. He must have been the one tied up at Bernard’s feet earlier. I didn’t get a proper look at him before because he was covered by his robe. But that’s the boy from the ritual… Henry… the one who smashed Flynn’s ribs in. Oh gods. He didn’t appear to be being confrontational with anybody. But his eyes appeared disturbingly wide… his nostrils were flared and he was rocking forwards and backwards. Not to the level of Verity, but to a noticeable degree. He no longer had his hands tied, but made no attempt to escape. Olmo and Oscar were sat with him. Olmo was attempting to comfort him with a side cuddle and by gently rubbing his arm.
I assume that at least one of the adults with his group was a parent of his. He must have freaked out when he saw them get torn apart by the horde earlier. Realising that everything you believed was a lie is a difficult thing to deal with… never mind when you are his age.
Tadwick: “Think a biscuit will help?”
Dwynfel: “What?”
Tadwick: “A biscuit. Biscuits always make me feel better.”
Dwynfel: “Sure… why not… go wild.”
Tadwick toddled off to go find a biscuit for Henry. He means well… but it is going to take a hell of a lot more than a biscuit to help that kid deal with his issues.
Kiyui brought Alexi over to me before heading off to get some clothes. I knelt down and gave him a cuddle. As ever, Alexi seemed unfazed by everything that was going on.
Alexi: “Father, is it time to return home?”
Shit… shit, shit, shit. I can’t bring the boys back to the farm yet… we need to check it out first. What if the house has been destroyed… we can’t bring them back to see their home destroyed. Never mind the house… what about my Mum… Svampe… Nomius… oh gods… they better be okay.
Dwynfel: “Not quite yet, Alexi. Kiyui and I need to make sure that everything is safe first. You help look after your friends until then… okay?”
Alexi: “Understood.”
Alexi glided over to the kitchen, in the incredibly light-footed way that he does, to collect some food from Grant. As he did, Kiyui returned in his farming dungarees.
Dwynfel: “We need to get to the farm, now!”