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Post by lianora on Dec 14, 2008 22:06:46 GMT -5
"As I said, anyone but myself. I happen to agree with you." She looked over her shoulder at him. "I've dealt with many kinds of people since I married Aradan Ritcher." Lianora turned her head back to look at the van door that she still had a hand wrapped around the handle of. "Not quite the life I had intended on taking,... but more enjoyable than what it may have been any other way." She pulled the handle, finally.
I owe this to him. Lianora thought as she pushed the door open slowly, her frail form straining against it, weeks of neglect showing the toll they took on the woman. Slowly but surely, she pulled the van door open.
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Post by nathanielhawkins on Dec 14, 2008 22:15:55 GMT -5
"If you happen to agree with me, I might have a proposition for you at a later time." Nathaniel looked over at her. "Do you need some time alone with him?"
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Post by lianora on Dec 14, 2008 22:23:07 GMT -5
Lianora's breath caught in her chest as she looked at the crate that contained her husband's body. "I don't think that would be wise. I may not leave this van otherwise. Or if I do, it may be as a screaming madwoman. I'm not sure." Lianora replied softly, fighting to get the words out as she kneeled inside the van.
Lianora managed to take a deep breath and looked in the crate at Aradan's slashed and mangled body, her stomach turning at the sight but somehow she kept her stomach still as the grave, and her heart clenched. She reached for Aradan's hand and removed hers quickly when she felt the icy chill from his flesh.
Quickly, the woman backed out of the van, breathing heavily, the cost to keep from falling to pieces heavy on her. "That's not my husband. It's only a shell." She muttered.
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Post by nathanielhawkins on Dec 14, 2008 22:33:36 GMT -5
"His wand was still intact. It is in the small box beside your husband's remains. His body has remained as it was since it was found, with a preservation charm on it. If there are any items that are of significance to you on his person, they are there to retrieve." Nathaniel watched Lianora carefully, wondering if she was physically well.
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Post by lianora on Dec 14, 2008 22:45:57 GMT -5
"I think.... my son will have to retrieve it. We've been without word for so long.... " Lianora closed her eyes and shook her head side to side very slowly and gently. "But my son is not here, now is he?" Her hands shook as she grasped the sides of the door van again, clambering in and kneeling beside the crate again, her body quivering, with sorrow and rage intertwined.
She carefully plucked the small box up from her husband's body, and ran her hand down the side of her husand's cheek. "Aradan, your son is about to become a fully fledged wizard. And you should see the girl he's found. She's a gem. Full of trouble, but a gem. Like you. Don't you want to see them? Don't you?" Her voice became soft, hushed, fervant whispers of nonsense, strung together with each breath Lianora took. She didn't shed a tear, nor did her voice shake as she talked to her husband's shell as if he was really there and listening to her.
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Post by nathanielhawkins on Dec 14, 2008 22:54:53 GMT -5
Nathaniel offered Lianora a vial filled with a cloudy liquid. "Here, take this. It'll will help steady you on your feet. I can't really help with the emotional pain, but I can help out with the physical symptoms." Nathaniel looked to the sky for a moment. "Owl incoming. Heads up."
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Post by lianora on Dec 14, 2008 23:00:59 GMT -5
Lianora's voice lasped into silence as she held her husband's cold hand against her cheek. She took the proffered drink and made a face. "Ugh," She grunted as she handed the vial back. Lianora gave no acknowledgement to the owl until it flew in the van and landed on her shoulder, stomping it's little talons on her shoulder, demandingly and clicking it's beak at her.
She tugged the parchement from it's leg, her hands steady now and her body's shaking calming themselves with the help of the liquid Nathaniel had given her. Lia unrolled the scroll and read it quietly.
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Post by nathanielhawkins on Dec 15, 2008 22:55:23 GMT -5
"The letter looks to be from my friend. What is inside is for your eyes only, and I won't presume to ask what it says." Nathaniel waited for Lianora to open the letter, and kept his eyes averted from the paper, just in case curiosity got the better of him.
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Post by lianora on Dec 15, 2008 23:13:04 GMT -5
Lianora scanned the parchement thoroughly and then muttered "Incendio," at the paper when she was finished. The paper curled up to flames in her hand, quickly blackening and then extinguishing when the fuel was gone. "Your friend makes this into a game, I think, Nathaniel." She said carefully as she ran her hand along the edges of the crate with her husband's body in it. "But I can see how it would make sense.... in exchange.."
Lianora looked directly down at the body now, her eyes still as dry as when she walked out her front door. "I thank you for your help Nathaniel... however my son came across you... "
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Post by nathanielhawkins on Dec 15, 2008 23:19:59 GMT -5
"He's just a bit funny like that, and a bit off in the head too, I suspect. In any case, don't thank me. I was but a middle man, and not nearly so shady as some might be. I just have one objective, and I pursue it relentlessly." Nathaniel took a swig from his water bottle he had stowed in his robe. "I'd be careful about Derek though. He seems like the type that trouble ambushes."
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Post by lianora on Dec 16, 2008 19:47:40 GMT -5
At the mention of her son, Lianora's mouth twitched. "He's like his mother." She replied softly. "Aradan breezed in along with the trouble... and it was temptation like hellfire..." Her voice was low; one would think she wasn't even talking to them... if she didn't have her eyes fixed on Nathaniel. "My husband knew the kind of trouble he himself invited.... and made his name one to be respected.. to protect myself and our child."
Lianora's hand gripped the corner of the crate so hard her knuckles turned white and the wood creaked. "My health has been poor since word came back that he was missing and that there had been a rebellion in Russia. But... I had such confidence that he would come home... my son literally reprimanded me for not believing he was alive at first. And kept reassuring me, building me back up.... He was just home to visit with his lady Saturday. The last thing he said was 'He'll be home soon, Mother.' " Lianora shook her head side to side. disappointed.
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