Coda

The low murmurs of thirty or so Purebloods and staff of The Keep travel through otherwise barren halls, as they gather at the front of the building. None, knowing of what to expect, but all feeling as though it is something that will surely be remembered. The chilly corridors keep them huddled close as they await the arrival of Achlys, whose whereabouts remain unknown for the time being. Yet, as soon as their sense of confusion has nearly reached its peak, Achlys and Cronn arrive at the front of the crowd. Standing on a stage that has been made from what tables remain intact. Achlys proceeds to silence them and clears her throat.

"On this night, we have suffered our greatest losses. We have been taken for granted, and shown that there are still beasts in this world that outmatch us on almost every level. I cannot stress to you all just how truly sorry I am that these things have befallen you all." Achlys holds a clenched fist over her heart as she speaks these words, pinching her eyes shut as she does so in an effort to stop tears from falling. Sniffles in the crowd tell all that the feeling is mutual. "But, there is a light which shines onto us, even on these... bitter, bitter nights." Achlys motions to Cronn, who stands mere feet behind her, and beckons him forward. He does so, standing alongside her as they look out over the many woeful faces below. "Along with our light, we have also found our greatest darkness." Achlys now motions to the opposite end of the stage, where two Nostrum drag an almost lifeless body onto the stage, with a bag over the head. Once the body has been forced onto its knees, Achlys steps away from Cronn and rips the bag away. "Yuler, a daughter of Purebloods, has betrayed us. She deserves not even the slightest of pity."

The crowd, shocked by this discovery, proceeds to erupt into another phase of hushed but rapid murmurs. Achlys proceeds to shush them one more time, seemingly eager to move onto the next phase of her speech. Once the room falls silent yet again, she looks down at Yuler with disgust and anger in her eyes. Yet, Yuler does not look back. Instead, she focuses on Cronn, who returns a pitying gaze.

"My Devough... plucked out from under my nose. Your brothers, sisters, friends, and companions have fallen here tonight, due to her malicious intent. I... could never right the wrongs she had done us all." Achlys walks back over to Cronn's side of the stage as she goes on with her speech. "No, she did not bring the beast here to my knowledge, but her lies about us, the Purebloods, have surely afflicted his thinking. This wretch plagued his mind with ideas of madness and inner workings that simply do not, and have not ever, existed. She is a traitor." Now, back at Cronn's side, Achlys pulls her cane out in front of her and flicks a small lever near the horseshoe-shaped handle. As she does so, the mahogany handle comes off, exposing a pistol that is seemingly made of gold. She then hands the cane off to one of the men that brought Yuler out and offers the pistol to Cronn. "As we all know, a traitor of this degree must not be allowed to live, under our code. Cut from the same cloth, and yet, frayed in an irreparable way. That is why I ask it of Nostrum Cronn, to be the one who ensures... Yuler can harm us no more."

Cronn, shocked, looks deep into Achlys' eyes. Eyes full of gratitude and faith, and collects the pistol.

"Nostrum Cronn, I give you one final duty before this night's end. Be the one to show this mad woman what betrayal feels like. Let it be the last thing she will ever come to know."

Cronn moves across the stage, looking down at the pistol, then back at Yuler. Her cheeks are soaked with tears and dried blood. Which he assumes to be the doing of the Nostrum that had been guarding her cell in the dungeon. Suddenly feeling Achlys come up behind him, he lowers the pistol to his side.

"One to the heart, where a Nostrum's true nature grows, and one to the head, where her ravaged mind continues to writhe."

With a shaking hand and a silent crowd, he raises the pistol to Yuler's chest, hearing only her low whimpers as he does so, and the beating of his own heart. All that he has ever worked for up to this point, has come true. All that he could have ever wanted is now his, and yet, pulling the trigger seems an even more impossible task than it was on Belial. Seeing only one way to make it easier, he closes his eyes. The last words he hears Yuler speak fill his ears.

"Please... no."

Just beyond what walls of The Keep still stand, both shots ring out.

Along the peak's outskirts, a band of Ryoushi listen in on what activity remains. At the side of a large man with a familiar beard, posted at the front, stands Hael.

"It would seem Devough was telling the truth then." He says, disgustedly critiquing the building's condition.

"Yuler. Her name... was Yuler." Hael informs, turning her head slightly to the right where Lee Fardel has found himself; Sniffling at the sight lain out before them and watching pillars of smoke emerge from where the great hall once resided.

"Nevertheless, it's time for us to take what is ours." The man waves an arm, sending four horsemen ahead of the rest whilst following them with his eyes as they scout the area.

"Do with it what you please. Though, if you can find it in yourself to do so, leave Nostrum Cronn alive."

The man chuckles loudly, with several others doing the same.

"My apologies, Hael. That's not a request we can follow. Your friend spoke clearly of what we must do." Leaning in, he lets steamy breath hit her in the face. "Come to think of it, you lot are rather close...."

Hael dips her head and backs away, waving an arm out as fully as she can. Once she and Lee are off to one side, the man gives a commanding shout and mounts a stallion of his own. Snow kicks up in almost every direction as forty-odd horses stampede across the mountaintop. Living shadows against the frost. With the Ryoushi no longer at their side, Hael and Lee turn away from the remnants of their home, only to meet the gaze of a third onlooker. Garbs, punctured at the stomach in many places and stained with aged blood and char, encase the still body beneath them. Hael sighs heavily as she picks up the man's scent. Then, waves him on.

"Come, Marne. There is nothing left for us here."