A Pledge of Vengeance

Life, Trauma/ Loss

Catherine asks Fenneck to show her where her brother died.

Fenneck heard a knock on his door. He slowly raised his weak body from Erikur's bed and walked over to the door. He opened it and saw Catherine in front of him. She looked over Fenneck sadly. They both looked like grief was getting the better of them. "Hi," Fenneck croaked. Seeing her made his heart ache even more. He felt like he had failed her in not protecting her brother. She also bore a very close resemblance to Erikur which caused memories and feelings to well up in Fenneck. "Hi," she said back woefully. She looked away for a bit before turning back to Fenneck. "I want to see it. I want to see where it happened," she told him. Fenneck nodded sadly and turned back into his room. He got dressed and grabbed his weapons. They walked straight into the Vallee without saying anything. Fenneck's heart seemed to pound the closer they got to the forest as the memories came flooding back to him of all his special moments with Erikur here. There was a light snow falling which gave the forest an enchanted yet haunting atmosphere. They passed the tree that he and Erikur's last kiss had been and Fenneck felt a jab of pain rip through his body. He pushed through it and headed toward the tree under which Erikur had died. They got there and Catherine nodded understandingly. After a moment her eyes became solid green and Fenneck could feel magic radiating from her. After a moment a spirit stepped out from the tree. It was a beautiful fey creature who looked to be made of rustling, green leaves. It floated in front of them and looked at Catherine expectantly. "What happened here?" she asked the tree spirit. The spirit motioned to the base of the tree. "A high elf male was slain here by a wood elf female with hair that matched the blood that spilled from him." The tree told them. "She tricked him by feigning pain in her leg and she brought her dagger up into his side, killing him instantly. She apologized for taking his life and ran there." The spirit pointed into the forest, toward where Fenneck had downed the other soldier. "Take us there," Catherine told the spirit. The fey moved through the forest and Fenneck and Catherine followed closely behind. Eventually they made it to the spot where the other soldier had been and the spirit continued. "There was another. A half-elf with dark hair and blue eyes who was injured. She healed him with magic and they ran into the mountains," the spirit informed them. Fenneck's heart dropped. They both got away. "I should have gone after them," he muttered as the spirit dissolved into the snow. Catherine shook her head. "Do not blame yourself for this Fenneck. Please," she begged him. She knew how much grief and guilt he was already burdened with and knew it would be unfair for him to carry the weight of her brother's death as well. It was too late for that, though. Fenneck shook his head at her and looked down, away from her bright green eyes that looked exactly like Erikur's. "I will find her one day and I will kill her for what she's done. If she so much as steps into Glitterfjell again, I will fire every single arrow in my quiver into her body," he muttered threateningly. "Vengeance won't bring Erikur back, Fenneck," Catherine told him woefully. "No, but I'll rest better at night because of it," he said angrily. "Trust me. Living your life like that, chasing after those who have wronged you... it doesn't bring you peace." Fenneck looked up into her eyes and knew she was talking about Vyndius. After the revolution the two of them had been stirring up the politic pot of Lenisily, trying to encourage others to rebel against Staladin. Vyndius had also been searching tirelessly for the KAV soldier known as Pufuktin. The one who had stolen baby Kapelya Petrov all those years ago. So far he had been unsuccessful, but his passion and drive for vengeance against the disgusting high elf had all but consumed him. "Try telling me that again once you and Vyndius actually stop that monster," Fenneck said rather harshly before turning to head back to Flottenheim. He called back to Catherine as he walked. "And if you happen to find our red headed wood elf, kill her for me yourself." He turned to look her in the eyes. "And make it painful," he said, his voice full of anger and hate. He turned back to Flottenheim, not waiting for Catherine's response.