Back at the guild Marlin was sitting at the bar absent mindedly nurturing a drink in silence together with Kotak. Bron and Milly had been stuck in an argument of back and forth growing hotter by the second. Bronn wanted to go and fight in the goblin expedition. Milly wanted to go on the expedition to the honorless settlements.
The pre-existing tension from the war was already high, which did no favors to the mood of the Canta siblings. Marlin had retreated quickly, not wanting to meddle. He was neutral on the matter.
Joffrey refiled his and Kotak’s mug’s which was greatly appreciated. The old Guild Master looked worried.
”What’s the news with Lost Haven?” Marlin inquired. Trying to get his mind of the Canta pair. He observed the Guild master but saw no outward indication that the man had lost someone dear to him.
Joffrey went over the losses the Valkorian Army had suffered. Many adventurers were listening in on the report, faces grave, despondent or sullen, many had friends that had joined the skirmish. Garreck the old knight was putting the casualty list of the adventurers on the notice board. His broken arm set with wooden splints his head bandaged his mustache gone, burned off when a fireball hit him squarely in the face.
Both Joffrey and Garreck were sombre. Tina their life long partner had been part of the light infantry during the skirmish and was a casualty of war. Aeryl was gone taking out her rage and frustration on something. And Raddick was in a corner of the guild hall chugging as much alcohol as possible, trying to pass out.
only 1400 men and women of the original 5000 strong, valkorian division survived
Garreck, had been part of the ranks of the Heavy Cavalry and it was a small Miracle that he survived at all. As a knight, pledged to one of the knights houses, he was honor bound. However his wounds were so severe, even with healing magic available he would be useless in a fight for at least a month.
Tina ever ready to fight for her country had voluntarily enlisted. Her family a long history with the valkorian Army. Her passing left a void in the guild that everyone felt.
Gareck was flanked by two young squires. The knights houses, had enforced ‘the knights creed’ which meant every sworn-in knight, had to teach what they knew to at least 2 squires to safeguard the next generation. It carried with it an assumption that a great part of the older generation would not last through this war.
Joffrey, only recently returned from Lost Haven finished recounting the Valkorian Army's losses, his voice heavy. "The situation in Lost Haven is bad. We lost so many good men and women. The entire town practically emptied itself with the declaration of a calamity war, no one trusts the rules of engagement anymore.”
he sighed, obviously fighting off a migraine the way he was massaging his temples.
”It’s not just Lost Haven other settlements are fleeing towards North Haven, Avalonian forces crossing the border wherever they please, the civilians seeking the protection of North Haven walls. The merchants leaving is a hidden blessing in disguise, we would have been overrun with refugees.”
“We still might be.” Kotak murmured.
Bron slamming his fist on the table, drew everyone’s attention the wood creaked under the impact. "I can't sit here and do nothing!” He fumed,” Goblins will overrun our tribes and towns! We need to take the fight to them Milly!”
Milly’s eyes flashed with defiance. "I know that Bron! What about the honorless? What are you going to do if we have a curse plagued on our hands? As a sorceress I’m honor bound!."
“SO AM I!” Bron roared.
Kotak sighed, murmering, "This isn't going to end well." He was in no mood to mediate between the two.
Marlin nodded, he saw the anger of the Canta’s reached a boiling point. taking another sip from his mug. He decided he needed to step in.
Bron glared at his sister, his voice low and dangerous. "I'm going to fight the goblins, with or without you."
Milly’s face hardened. "Fine! I'll go to the honorless settlements alone if I have to."
”One of you will die if we split up.” Marlin spoke with a chill in his voice, his face was dark but otherwise unreadable. Everyone stopped in their tracks and listened.
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“And how do you know that!?” Both the Canta’s tense and hot headed, snapped, focusing their rage on Marlin.”
“Because I keep having nightmares every night, for the past week, searching for the two of you desperately. And I can never find you, in the back of my mind, it keeps repeating: they are dead, all dead.”
Marlin spoke matter of factly, he was trying his hardest to bring it as gentle as possible.
However to both Bron and Milly it felt like he was choking them with his words. The people around Marlin flinched not ready to deal with such a heavy subject. Not when said with such finality.
the Canta’s typical defiance flared. Bron was the first to snap. “Dreams! Whispers! Piss off with that shit Marlin! FUCK! It’s one thing to be realistic it’s another to be a god damn Doomsayer!” He turned back to Milly. “And YOU! You know damn well that even though you are honor BOUND!…”
He let his words hang for a moment. “YOU will only be providing lip service! It’s the priests and shaman’s that are doing all the work!” Bron really slammed his words into Milly.
Milly sputtered, in a rare moment where Bron overpowered her with words.
“Alright that’s it!” Marlin chimed in.
“You two need a break from eachother!” Marlin hoisted A protesting Milly who was on the edge of rage, dangerously close to unleashing the crackling energy on her hands.” Put me down Marlin NOW!!! She howled and growled with a primal ferocity that momentarily took the wind out of Bron’s sails but none of his resolve or defiance.
Marlin ignored her for a moment, which infuriated her all the more, “Kotak get Bron a drink to cool off. Im gonna take Milly for a stroll. And Milly?”
“What!?” She growled, almost raked him with her nails.
“Use violence on me outside the sparring ring and I will respond with equal measure.”
Milly almost crunched her teeth down, seething but Marlin’s eyes were adamant. “Will you walk with me if I put you down?” Again Marlin’s expression brooked no argument.
The tinge of sadness in Marlin’s eyes diffused Milly. Marlin put her down and quietly walked out of the building. He supressed the shaking of his hands, not wanting Milly to see how repulsed he was at the notion of fighting or hurting her.
“would you really fight me?” Milly’s voice shook.
”were you?” Marlin retorted. To which she didn’t say anything.
They sat down on the side of a bridge a few blocks away. Marlin made sure Milly had enough time to cool down before he spoke again.
“You know, in times when someone like Bron is making sense, it’s best to drop your Pride and go with it.” Marlin spoke somewhat harshly.
Milly flared up again but deflated and hung her shoulders. “I’m sorry Marlin, for lashing out.”
”No harm done, and I apologize for being so heavy handed.”
Milly bumped him playfully with her shoulder, and smiled. “It’s a good thing you did, I was about to lose it.”
Marlin pulled her in for a hug. For some reason he couldn’t remember the last time he’d done that. Milly didn’t resist, seemed eager even. “Are we good?” Marlin asked.
Milly nodded and they stood there for a bit.
Marling broke the silence. ”Breaking up the group is a bad idea Milly and even though I wanted to go to the honorless, I do feel Bron is right. The goblins are an immediate threat . As freebooters it falls to us to respond. However if that doesn’t convince you. What would your father tell you?”
He turned her face, so she could look him in the eye.
she grumbled for a bit but spoke honestly, “He would say if one is honor bound twice over, you pick the more immediate concern.”
“So it’s decided then? Unless Bron Miraculously changes his mind.” Marlin smirked.
Milly scoffed, “not even the gods can change that fools mind!”
Marlin laughed heartily, letting go of the tension. “Neither can they change yours,” Marlin thought, but kept that to himself.
“Let’s go back.” Marlin was about to walk back but Milly held his hand and pulled him into an abandoned alley.
”what’s going on?” Marlin was confused until she gripped his privates. “It’s been too long love, she purred it’s driving me nuts.”
“I noticed.” Marlin’s voice was husky. Needless to say, Marlin and Milly took a good hour before they walked back into the guild hall.
Bron and Kotak were both doing a beer dance on a table, to the loud cheers of everyone around, Marlin saw how forced it all was but he put on his best smile when him and Kotak eyes met, Bron already staggering all over.
”Does Bron have his eye on a woman?” Marlin let his idle thoughts out. “He’s into women right?” Marlin asked.
”Milly sighed. “He has…. Had a crush on Tina.”
Marlin didn’t know what to make of it, his expression hardened. “So you decided it was a good idea to fight over what needed to be done?”
Milly looked away. “We will all be hurting soon, His grief I get it,” her thoughts drifted to her late mother, “but what must be done must be done.” Her tone grew defiant again.
”try and be his sister? Yknow a hug might be what he really needs even if he would never admit it. I mean, if you can wrap your arms around all of his muscle.” Marlin thought he hid the envy well but Milly picked up on it, but didn’t tease him on it. She knew better then to tease him on his attributes.
“Fine, il give him a hug when we are alone, happy?” She scoffed.
Marlin nodded and left it at that.
”Do you really have nightmares every night like that?” Milly looked concerned.
“Not every day but last week, 3 times. And it isn’t the same dream either, more like a continuing story. A what if.”
Marlin swallowed, “Ive had other such dreams.” He admitted, he had kept it secret till now. “About my mother, My father, people I haven’t met yet but now know we will meet.”
“when did it start?” Milly asked.
“Right after I took the profound manifestation discipline and absorbed the experience of Thror. Not sure which one was the cause, I expect both.”
Milly was silent, for a while. “Sorry for suggesting you should dive deeper into that aspect, I forget sometimes that it’s a daily struggle for you.” she paused a moment. “Your defiance of it all seems so natural at times.”
Marlin shrugged, “perhaps, it comes and goes to be honest.”
Marlin looked around. And realized he hadn’t felt his minions, for a while. “Have you seen Billy and the Muts?”