Kiernan's ears tingled with the sound of that howl- she knew only bad could come of whatever Kalig was up to. Her thoughts ran to Jherik, whom she had met only once during his interrogation, but had moved her senses to scream he was innocent. No one listened to her- all the evidence was there, him standing over the body stealing his chi, the weapon in his hand. When she had questioned him, he was cool, calculating- his answers concise and never wavering, even when Grimaldi Called the truth out of him. Yet Aroc could twist the truth even when subjected to a Calling, and his answers were a little vague as if he were trying to hide something.
Still, Kiernan felt he was no murderer- his chi was dark, for sure, full of mischief and mystery, but not leaning toward outright brutality without valid reason. Even so, there was something she just could not peg about the man.
"Hey, Kier!"
A man with dark hair and beard trotted toward her, dressed in the uniform of one of the Coven's lieutennants. What was Test doing away from his post? Kiernan frowned as he got nearer, noticing the heavy presence of Guard the closer she got to the Keep.
"The Aroc." Test stopped in front of her, burly chest heaving in the humid air. "He's escaped- and Grimaldi has lost his mind."
The werdna! The vision of Jherik's body being torn to pieces flashed into Kiernan's head with a stabbing pain to her temple. After that, a vision of fire- more like a living, breathing inferno- engulfing the Coven Keep.
"We gotta find him," she gasped. Test had taken her arm in support, knowing all too well the intensity of some of her visions. "This does not bode good for either of them."
"WE?" Test stepped back, but made sure she could stand before he released her arm. "Uh-uh, Kier- I am not involving myself in one of your personal crusades again. I'm still reeling from what happened last time!"
She chuckled: her last scheme was to convince her blood-brother that he was good enough for any woman in the keep, up to and including one of the priestesses of Bastet. In two months they were married. Another vision came just then- more intense this time- of fire, burning. No! PEOPLE burning at the stake, being torn apart by werdna in what looked to be the arena, with Grimaldi standing in the center of it all, laughing sadistically.
"What, Kier?" Test was at her side again, smoothing her hair back from her sweating brow. "Tell me."
"We must find him, Brother." Kiernan's eyes rolled in the back of her head as she slumped against him. "We must find him before Grimaldi or all is lost."
Test supported her back to her cottage, laying her down on her bed just before she finally passed out, sitting with her and weighing the consequences of the descision to be made.
*************************************************
Jherik fell to his knees after the whirlwind deposited him in the Darken Forest, the only place he knew he'd be safe for at least a little while as he plotted his next move. Powerful as he was, transportation still took a lot out of him- most Coven and Aroc alike used it sparingly and only in extreme circumstances- so he leaned against the trunk of a tree, soaking up the Dark chi around him. He needed to regain some strength, as he had still to warn his family of Grimaldi's treachery.
Most Coven could not bear the touch of so much Dark chi, having given themselves over to the service of Light. Whereas Coven shunned the forest for the sickly feeling of the Dark crawling like insects over their skin, Jherik reveled in the way it completely enveloped him, shrouding him, comforting him. Yet he knew his limits- too much absorption could temporarily turn him into a jibbering idiot or a ravenous beast, so he closed of his chakra points and sat peacefully listening to the owls as the chi tugged and pulled at his psyche, wanting more of him.
And he dreamed......
