The Severed Hand
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She glances down at the children. "I just... For a moment I just wanted..." Her face flushes for a moment, but then she shakes it off and sits taller in her seat. "I have not seen Orric. Wherever he is, the wizard will not likely be of any help to anyone. He never has been."
"As for Targos, I don't know. Like I said, I was in a hurry." The dragon-gnome puts her face in her hands. "How fast can an army move? Winter's fading, so the tundra is brown and slushy. Not good for walking in. I don't even know for sure if they are headed for Targos. If they don't follow along the shore of Maer Dualdon, they might strike south for Bryn Shamder instead. Though they probably wouldn't want to leave Targos at their backs; Bryn Shander has got the biggest walls, but Targos has the larger militia."
She sits up, hair disheveled. "So no. I don't know. And it's not really my business either. I still haven't... found... that... xsioul... DROW!" The table splinters under the grip of her tiny gnome hands.
The druid woman hesitantly makes eye contact with Zenithral. "The children..." Harmony pokes at plate of sweetrolls, but Valiance stiffens and looks over with round eyes. "I would greatly enjoy looking after them more, but my duty is in Kuldahar." She bites her lip. "Drawing on the Great Oak for strength, I am sure I could keep them safe. Your grandmother, too, if she would come to Kuldahar." She clears her throat. "Where is she?"
Who shall we save, Ug? Your mother the slave, or my father the cripple? Neither probably, if we want any chance at taking down the devil."
Her voice and face are hard, but Halla's news of the orcs catches her off guard. "They're mine," she explains hesitantly. "I sacrificed to make my status as chieftess clear," she fusses with her eyepatch self-consciously, "but I didnt expect them to obey so well in my absence. I never meant to be gone this long."
"I've abandoned everyone," she reels.
"Bryn Shander?" Zenithral tenses, then relaxes as Alalla explains her tactical view of the situation. "Well it's not like you knew you'd be gone for a month, Alalla. To abandon means to willfully neglect, and you've done nothing of the sort."
Alalla thumps her glaive. Enough. You can only do what you can do. Losing your mind won't help. Mourn. Later.
"Aeri... Orric is missing, which means his tower is empty. I'd bet Nym knows, and is plotting a shopping trip if he hasn't cleaned the place out already."
She knocks a fist lightly on the table. "This boat looks like it will probably still fly, so I don't feel bad leaving you here. I don't know where you lot are headed, but if anyone wants a dragon ride to Kuldahar, this is your chance. Your choice."
Al turns to Halla and Zenithral. "Easy, Halla. Zenithral has spent the last couple of days-" she grunts with irritation and corrects herself. "He's spent the last month learning about all the different ways the history of this area and the Hand has destroyed his family."
A deep breath.
"Zenithral, do you still have that sending stone?"
She stands, then sniffs again. Her head turns to look at Vincent. "You. Who are you?"