The Ashes of Allmau: The Orfolk of Allmau

Chapter 24

Having pocketed both Dyll and Rune, at least until she found a more appropriate time to reveal them, Ahna returned to Evelyne's quarters with Syble. The journey back was quiet, as Ahna pondered on what she'd just experienced. True, she didn't know Rosalyne well at all, but the way she referred to herself – what was that?

Sabian opened the decorated door into Evelyne's quarters, allowing Ahna to join the party mid conversation, "I genuinely cannot remember the last time she came home." Mused Evelyne, laying on an ornate chaise longue, backlit by the ocean night, "Even Marich comes home more often, and he's been practically written out of our lives!"

The composition of the party had changed a little since she saw them in the mess hall. Evelyne was present, filling the room with a one-woman conversation. Sabian did little to stop her, he was just happy she was entertained. Euol, his arm bandaged, passed across the books, struggling to find something of interest to read amongst Evelyne's odd collection. Syble sat on the edge of a chair, reflecting of everything that had happened.

"How is she?" Rory pounced as Ahna entered.

"Give her a moment." Cried Evelyne.

"Sorry," he said, taking a step back, "Just, it's unusual for anyone to get close to her. And I thought, with all things considered."

"What do you mean?" Ahna asked.

"It was Raudrich's idea to bring you here," said Evelyne.

"Actually, it was Syble's." he said.

"No, it was your idea you just owed me a favour." She said.

"Why?" Ahna asked.

"After what happened," he said, "You know, at the riverbed. You went into that weird trance. It was just like Rosalyne when..."

"When what?" Ahna asked.

"Meryt died." Said Euol, "Meryt was an orfolk like, your friend."

"Like Kydd?" she asked.

Rory nodded, "Our father, killed him, right in front of Rosalyne. She went into the exact same trance as you."

Ahna paused to think, "That's why she's there."

"What?" Rory asked, his attention piqued by her personal revelation, "Where?"

"The abyss." She said, "I saw her in there?"

"The Abyss?" asked Evelyne, glancing to Euol, who just shrugged.

"The dark place, where I went after Kydd died." Her trail of thought drifted back to him, "She's still stuck in there."

"Wait, what is this place? Where is it?" he asked, "How do we get there?"

"What do you mean she's still stuck in there?" Eveylne asked.

Ahna stopped talking, Raudrich knelt in front of her, "Ahna please, if you know anything."

"Rory," Syble spoke up, "She's been through a lot as it is."

"I know," he said, "I'm sorry, but I need to."

She nodded, "Just give her some space."

"The way she talked," said Ahna, "When I was in the room with her. It was weird."

"Weird how?" Evelyne asked, taking interest.

"It was almost like she was there, but not there. Like she asked how she helped me out of the place. But, she was there. Right?"

"Unless she wasn't" proposed Evelyne.

"What do you mean?" Euol frowned.

"Well, you said she was in this dark place. But, she's really here. Maybe it was just a piece of her that was in the dark place."