Loved and Lost

The last step

Today couldn't have come any faster. After last night's attack, everyones on edge. What's next? "And you're sure that this is the only attack that's happened?" Bjorn asks Leif, demanding the truth. Everyone except Magnus is in Leifs home.

"I promise you, that was the only attack we've ever had, and it was because of those damned cultists."

"Why was nothing done about the Cultists if you knew they were this close to the village?" Senne asks him, arms crossed.

"Why on earth would I kill them if they hadn't even done anything wrong? They didn't kill anyone before last night." He almost shrugs off out concerns and our need to get to the bottom of this.

"Anyone that you know of. What about wandering travelers or adventurists?" Senne tells him, his eyes squinting. He snarls his knows but just enough to be noticeable.

"Leif," I try to speak up but as soon as I try, he and everyone else snap their attention to me.

"That's Earl Leif to you," he actually snaps, which catches me off guard, "And you will address me as such."

"I will address you as such when you show competency for being an Earl." I snap back at him. He slaps his hand on his stone table and I do the same, matching his energy at this point. Has no one stood up to this man before?

"Ajita," Kida tries to get me to quit, but for once I don't listen to her.

"Last night was horrible," I begin.

"Yes, we know, and we're going over last night right now," Leif interrupts me, shrugging me off but I don't let him.

"God damn it. People died last night, Leif!" I yell. I lean over the table now and even though this man is at least a foot taller than me, I don't let that scare me one bit. "You're talking like it was no big deal."

"Four hundred and three people died or became infected and they had to be put down." A familiar voice comes from behind. It's Magnus, and he looks like Hel with the bags under his eyes. He's been out in the square with the Cultist, keeping an eye on him for hours. His jet black hair's messed up and he's walking from a limp.

Magnus has a bruise on his lip and I'm trying to remember if he got that while defending me or if something happened after.

"You wanted to watch the attacker." Bjorn says to his brother.

"I did." He says in the doorway. He nods his head slightly, pausing to gain effect for the moment. He pushes his chin out and sucks his lips together. "I watched him. And I watched him, and then I watched him some more. Not a single word was said between us and yet, when I looked into his eyes, I saw nothing but evil. Fear took over my body and I just couldn't take it anymore."

"Leif, listen to me," Kida tells him gently. "We have a mission. You know all of our plans. We already have Rodac as an objective, we don't need this right now. Now," She places her hand out infront of her, showing Leif that she doesn't mean to be aggressive, "I understand wanting to leave things be, especially when there can and will be conflict involved, but these people have hurt us now. They've infiltrated Pinkurth and now I'd like to get rid of them like the infection they are."

He sighs and takes a minute but ultimately nods. "You're right, I'll have one of the guards bring him in for questioning. It'll be done by tonight." I'm starting to think Leif is less and less capable of being Earl based on every action he's done as of late. I'm surprised no one's usurped him by now.

"I want to see him." I demand. Leif turns around like he's going to say something but doesn't. Instead he just nods.

All seven of us make the trip to see this cultist. Astrid preferred to stay home and make sure her shop was okay. The sun is beating down on us, but it's chilly. And from what I see, the cultist's hands and wrists are freezing from the iron cuffs. "What, this puny thing doesn't know Fireca?" Bjorn mocks it.