The wound is intended to bleed profusely and it does, soaking him slowly in warm salty stink. He laces the fingers of his right hand tightly over it and presses hard until the pain brings flashes of light in his vision. It is a debilitating blow set high on his shoulder in the heavy bunching of muscle between his right shoulder and his neck. His right arm is useless, that hand going cold and numb.

 It is a precise strike, one he has delivered to enemies before to cripple and stagger. A longer blade driven in such a way could pierce the heart and kill swiftly. In some dark part of himself, Tamlin wishes morbidly that it had.

 

He often regrets he has not words for what he sees and feels. It is not that Darnassian is an incapable language. It is a shortcoming in himself, the inability to communicate verbally. He owns this fault with all his others as he watches Aktarin, lounging in a chair before the hearth in the common room of the fort the Order has called home since relocating to Dragonblight.

Aktarin is no delicate beauty like Aurorana. Her mouth is thin, her cheeks high and a touch too prominent, Her jaw is strong and straight, determined and a bit mannish. To him though, she is grace and glory all in one. He has seen every emotion cross her stern features, from tears to laughter, from ecstasy to soft smiles. His heart leaps for her, just seeing her there in her dark leathers, her glorious fall of silver hair, braided in tight military fashion. He must be careful, he reminds himself. She is angry yet, fiercely so.

Tamlin steps as close as he is allowed which is only to the head of the corridor to the barracks, several paces yet is forbidden ground to where she rests in the warmth of a crackling fire. He curses silently his ineptitude for speech when his blood is running fast.

“Well met Warrden. Did you rrecieve my rreporrrt?” He begins with tight safe formality.

“I did. I am considering what I have read.” She replys softly and flicks her eyes to him.

“I would hearrr yourrr thoughts.” Tamlin replies bravely.

"I am glad you would. You have no call to them, however, and no special privileges to assume that you deserve them more swiftly than any other soldier." Her voice is level and shows no particular inflection.

“Is it too much to ask?” Tamlin concentrates on maintaining a formal stance, spine straight, hands loose at his sides, gaze level..looking just past her. He is bone tired and weary as a wisp in hell.

"Ashra'thoraman. Fix your restless mind to what I have just said, Watcher. You're of no special importance to me after all you have done. A soldier, and I will get to your report as I would any other soldier." She replies crisply and sips her tea. The fort in midmorning is a busy place, Kal'dorei return to finish reports and take food before seeking daylight rest. Meanwhile humans and gnomes stir and ready themselves for a day of toil and battle and gods know what else under the cold sun.

Tamlin pays others in the Common room little heed. He notes Captain Pheras, and Alora, the new recruited Kal'dorei girl that seems to be taking a shan's path. There is a gnome or two bleating and capering and a huntress he cares for not at all. They are of little importance other than he knows with them present, that she will remain Warden to him; another reason to have care.

Aktarin meanwhile lets her gaze travel impassively over him. "If you cannot rest, I will ask one of the Order's alchemists to mix up a draught for you. You do no good to our battles with your stubbornness." She halts herself as if she might say more.

Tamlin takes a step forward, her concern for him unexpected and encouraging. “I have not falterred in battle, Warrrden.”

“You are taking potions to ensure that. I am aware.” She tells him evenly.

He resists an urge to break stance and knuckle his cheek. The flasks have been getting more difficult to acquire since his confinement. Titan's Rage, as fighters call it is a powerful mix of herbs and rare potent ice blooming flowers. The concoction causes a physical reaction much like an extended heavy adrenaline rush. Skin flushes, the heart flies, pain and fear are nonexistent. A warrior with the Titan's Rage in them is poised delicately on the edge of a fight or flight response and strong as two or three soldiers together.

“Otherrrs take them.” He points out.

“Others also sleep.” She counters flatly.

 

“You know I do not sleep indoorrrs with otherrrs yet I endurrre yourrr...sentence as I sworrre and I will continue to as long as you would have it so, Warrden.” Tamlin rumbles to her, momentarily ashamed at the rough sound of his own voice.

She does not break her even, level stare. "And so your stubbornness, like a child's, continues to erode your reserves as you obey the letter and not the spirit of my commands. I wonder if you would hold your breath until you fell over also." She adds absently. "No matter. Eventually you will sleep from exhaustion if nothing else. I shall have orders given to the Cenarion Commanders that if you show the signs of your prolonged potion use and refusal to sleep, you are pulled from combat and will not be going anywhere for some time."

“I do obey, Warrden.” He states proudly.

Aktarin merely sighs. "You obey as a child does. It is your.. age. I suppose. You are unable to look beyond your so-important pride to see what benefits all. Not only yourself." She waves one fine white hand and turns back to the fire.

“I ...am ashamed..you think me ...” Tamlin stammers and scowls at himself.

The Warden regards the fire with all the warmth of an icicle in her expressionless face. "A child? Anu'dura. I prefer to think of you as that then an unutterably selfish fool who thinks his pride better than his oaths. I think you are a child, with a child's comprehension of matters. The alternative is rather ugly given your report."

“I am not a child.” He grits, his voice tight with weary control. “What is wrrong with my rreporrt?”

"Tamlin, according to your report, you followed this demon because you'd sworn an oath to see it 'named, bound and destroyed.'. Anu'dura?" Her eyes do not drift from the fire.

“Aye, when it held me last I sworrre I would kill it...forr what it did to me.” His voice gets smaller..his words more slowly made as he trails off.

"You did not report your discovery to the Sentinels in Azshara? In Darnassus? You assumed that one report among the dozens which clutter my desk would reach the appropriate channels while you alone pursued this grand oath?" Her soft voice is dangerously calm.

“I waited two full turrns of the moon forr yourr answerrr. I acted in haste, aye...but only because I hearrrd its human name mentioned.” Tamlin defends himself.

"No, Tamlin. Listen to my question, think about it, then answer me. You did not report a potential danger within Kal'dorei territory to the Sentinels whose duty it is to safeguard those lands. You did not think to warn them. Why?"

“I was hunting drragons in the Searrring Gorrrge. The parrty was trraveling to the sea by way of the swamp nearrr to Netherrrgarrrde. I did not know wherrre I was held until I came to myself herrre, Warrden.” Tamlin shifts his weight only slighty.

"According to your report, this warlock, Drakys, told you it walked among the humans. Why did you not report to the human guards that they had a dangerous creature amidst them?" She demands.

“I needed to see forr myself.” Tamlin admits with a hard swallow, seeing the trap but having no where else to go. Truth is all he can offer.

“Ah. So your need was more important than the Kal'dorei and allies it might devour?" Aktarin seizes on him like a hunting cat.

The hunter stares at the floor before him. He sets his teeth together tightly. “It was not like that at all. You misjudge me.”

"Then how was it that your oath and singular need to indulge yourself was more important that our lands, our sisters and brothers, or our allies? How was it that you would prefer to wait two months for my time than report to the correct authorities?" Aktarin asks pointedly.

“The matterrr is..delicate..as you know. May we not speak of this...aparrrt?” Tamlin tries again to settle her, he feels her wrath building like a storm.

"No. I wish to hear your answer, soldier. You say you were not acting out of selfishness or pride. Answer my question."

“I did not intend to be seen orr detected.”

"And the assassins, warlocks or wardens who might otherwise have been dispatched... you alone were more important than they?" She sips her tea casually.

“I am not. I am only a hunterr. A humble soldierr in yourr house.” Tamlin protests.

"Humble? From your answers you are no such thing. You, 'only a hunter' thought in your incalculable wisdom that you alone could handle a demon, waited two months during which time Elune knows what it did or devoured, and warned not a single Sentinel or allied task force. Is this not so?"

“I asked forrr yourr help.” He reminds her gently.

"You asked for my help. Did you wish me to drop every matter I had to rush to your aid then? A sworn warden attendant upon the whims of 'only a hunter'?"

“I do not ..,” He flounders. Tamlin flexes his jaw and tries again. “I made an assumption...a mistake.”

"You did. You compounded it by not warning the correct authorities for two months. You worsened THAT with any the demon took during that time when you knew he existed and did NOTHING to stop him." Aktarin judges him mercilessly and aloud. The general commotion of returning and exiting soldiers in the fort has stilled considerably. The fire cracks loudly between them.

“That is not the mistake I speak of. I speak of the firrst one.” He says carefully, raising his eyes at last to look at her.

"Ah, you made no others?" She says without inflection.

“I have made a mountain of them.” He tells her sadly. “In this matterr though...I thought you would hearr me. It was foolish of me to think so.”

"Tell me what they are, Tamlin. Lighten my heart that you have the slightest comprehension of all the places you as a soldier failed miserably." Aktarin challenges him.

“May we not …? Therre arre so many herrre listening.” The hunter folds his ears back at hearing the pleading in his own voice.

She turns her face to him, her expression incredulous. "Again you show your pride when you have reduced yourself by it to dung on any fine recruit's boot?" She exclaims.

“It is not forr mine that I ask.” He has to drop his gaze.

"Tamlin, I hide nothing from my soldiers. Let us hear your mistakes. The single thing I would have hidden you revealed for all, and is no longer an issue."

Tamlin feels something tighten painfully inside him as his exhausted mind understands her words. “No longerr an issue? What in the hells does that mean?” He snaps.

"Tamlin, perhaps you are under a misapprehension. Because for a time you were my mate, you evidently feel I should give you preferential treatment when you flout every shred of intelligent conduct, risk others' lives, and ignore wise choices regarding a loose demon, such as telling other officers, forces, or troops.” She continues to regard him impassively.

“Forr a time?” His mind whirls in a drowning shout of warning. Suddenly his exhaustion is gone. In its place is a sickening welling tide of fear.

"You are not my mate, Tamlin. That has been the case for some time. You lost any rights you believed you had. I believe I attempted to make that clear to you some time ago." Aktarin tells him with pragmatic blunt efficiency.

“You cannot say that to me ...without cause. You cannot hold me herre..and say that to me.” Tamlin feels his throat tightening, he flushes hot.

"I believe I just did, Tamlin. You ceased to be my mate some time ago as I told you by Sartharion's cooling hulk that you are my lesser and my soldier, nothing more. I told you then that you might regain some consideration with diligence. I believe your recent actions, your arrogance and absolute lack of any shred of tactical sense have made my decision for me."

Tamlin stares at her open mouthed. Soldiers and shan, gnomes and hunters drift quietly away. The space between them, a handful of paces only, seems as a vast rent in the earth. Aktarin lifts one pale hand to rub between her brows. It is a gesture with which he is familiar when she looses patience and is frustrated.

"Tamlin, are your ears full of wax? A year it has been since I said those words to you. I have backed my words with actions to try and show you that by acting like a soldier instead of an arrogant male presuming on my every good mood and presuming that I should favour his every idiocy over the work of solid and good soldiers, you only harm yourself in my eyes."

“I have held you since..washed you, loved you.” Tamlin breathes. He has to hook his hands in his belt to stall their urge to ball into fists.

"Now you have stood, told me you swore not to sleep indoors, tell me you let a demon walk free for two months to prey as it liked, tell me that - Elune help me, I do not truly know what you seem to think, truth be told." She makes another gesture of dismissal as if he is nothing but a fly at her ear.

“Would you listen trruly forr once if I told you?” Tamlin asks, realizing that she has misunderstood him, for he swore no such thing. His discomfort with sleeping under roof and behind walls is no new thing. And she must know that...she is angry...he reminds himself and finds some blessed momentary calm, but her attack is relentless.

"Love is meaningless, Tamlin. You really are a child, and I was wrong to have made you my mate in the first place. You simply cannot comprehend what it is I expect of you as a soldier. Goddess help you, for even short lived races seem better able to see discipline and accept it. You have only seen your supposed rights over me and your assumptions."

“You arre angrry. With cause I underrstand.” He decides aloud, he steels himself.

"No, Tamlin. I am disappointed. There is no point in being angry at a child. I treated you like an adult for years, and tried to explain, and you were incapable of hearing a word I said, seeing only... what? What the goblins peddle? Rosy clouds and winged green archers?" Aktarin fixes him still with a look that leaves little doubt of how low she thinks him.

“I am NOT a child!” Tamlin growls. The flood of rage surprises him, he ahs to force himself to breathe through it. “ I am the man who loves you.” He says quietly, solemnly.

"Then you are a danger to every soldier under my command, Tamlin. If you are not a child, you are a reckless, arrogant fool whose stiff-necked idiocy nearly tainted a priestess with a demon, and who has risked all of us to his whim." Aktarin decides brutally.

He knuckles his cheek roughly, pacing the small space he is given leave to occupy in her house. He feels as small as a worm. The world is tipping and the feeling that he is yet trapped still in a demon's stone cage returns with teeth for his heart and mind.

“I have given you everrything I know how to. I continue to. I do not give up. I am asking you to hold yourrr angerr frrom this...frrom what we have togetherrr. Until we can speak alone.” He tries to console her.

"Tamlin, you have given me nigh on nothing I have asked of you." She turns to fully face him in her chair, white brows lifted. "Not even things which make sense, never mind foibles or fancies I might desire as a woman."

He can hardly speak..her words like a blow hard enough to take his breath from him. “..fancies...” He wonders and runs a hand through his hair. Again there is that strange sense of vertigo..of a shifting in the ground. He has to put a hand behind him on the wall to steady himself for he fears of losing his balance. Tamlin strides forward at once and bends near her, his hands on either side of her, gripping the arms of her chair.

“My mistakes...arrre all honestly made. They include a misunderrstanding of my rrank and position.” Tamlin tells her slowly with his face close to hers and his bright eyes hlding the silvered mirrors of her gaze. “I have rrreacted harrshly to the morre foul elements enforrced on us, the summonerrrs and shadowcallerrrs, the srrith and so on...which was an underrrmining of yourr authorrity..."

Aktarin sighs, closing her eyes, speaking over him. "Tamlin, even in attempting to earn some favour from me, you offend me in assuming you possess the least right to judge what enters my ranks. I would sooner favour a death knight over a soldier like you who cannot obey any orders, who cannot master himself, and who behaves like a spoiled and petulant child, ignoring affection and command both to do as he likes, thinking that because he has lain with his commander, he has some right to do so.”

"I have ...held my own naturrre off so that when a darrkness grrew therre I did not see it," He continues stubbornly. "I AM NOT FINISHED!" He roars. and then gathers himself. “You said to tell you what they arre. Please listen. I have done all these things and amended them. Forrr you, forr the honorr of yourr house..forr myself...I have trried.” Tamlin lets her stand off from him.

"Tamlin. Upon your entering this Order while you were my mate, I asked you first as a woman, then commanded you as your sworn leader not to let our relationship become common knowledge. My first request of you." Her voice is deceptively mild. "Do you recall that, Tamlin? How I asked you that sensible thing?"

“Aye. And I do. I rrespect you. I hold myself frrom you herre and at the Golden Hall. I corrected that. I am sorrry.” His voice and eyes are earnest.

"No, Tamlin, as I said, truly, you have not done as I asked in any wise. You no longer walk naked through the hall to my quarters and expect entrance. You challenge me, those I place in command over you, and those I invite into our ranks." She accuses.

“I apologized to everryone that holds ourr bannerrr that I have slighted. The srrith was a shock and I rreacted...harrshly. But even she I have ...helped. I no longerr prresume such.” Tamlin points out patiently. Perhaps she is suffering again the effects of time and long age, he hopes that is all this is, that she does not recall that these are old missteps and slights.

"Do you not? How short a memory you have. I well recall you loudly demanding to know before our assembled forces why our field commander had brought us to icecrown, as if you had every right to dictate that choice." Aktarin is immovable.

"I was currious. We stood at the Old God's maw only to flee to the ice and snow..,I asked an honest question!” Tamlin snarls in spite of himself and continues more calmly, again fighting the tide of anger and exhaustion. “I ask no morrre. I saw yourr face. I saw my errorrr. I was out of place. Now I stand and fight as I am told and ask nothing. You may ask Commanderrr Soto and Navirres if this is not so if my worrd means nothing.”

"Tamlin, you claimed to me you hadn't done a thing, and now correct your story when I confront you with realities not a single moon distant. How am I to trust you when you cannot remember your breaking of my requests and orders?" She asks with detached disinterest.

“I rrememberrr! How is it you cannot rrecall that I have mended these things!?” Now he shouts, astounded at the injustice of her assessment of him. “You arre holding me to task forrr errrorrrs that have been made and mended. It is not rright!”

"Not a single moon past and you are pure, pristine, and never again shall do these things? After YEARS of flouting them? Do forgive me if I do not quickly trust and believe in promises so often broken."

Her voice now raises a bit and he is fiercely glad. If she can but hear him, all will be well he is sure of it.

“It has been longerr than that..a prrogrression a path I have walked since we sealed the hall and at each stumbling, I HAVE made amends..to you...to my brrrotherrrs and sisterrrs. I do not rreapeat my mistakes. I am not willfully flouting anything! You cannot...forrget me because I make mistakes. Tell me none of yourrrr people have done so.” Tamlin challenges with care, pitching his voice to be as even as possible.

"Tamlin, you can only break your word to me for so long, can only disobey my orders so often before I am done with you. Anu'dura, you have improved, but at a rate which would put a lesser creature to shame." Aktarin sighs.

“I will strive to imprrove morre quickly.” He promises softly.

"For the sake of every life you risk in this hall and in my command, my own included, I pray to Elune you do." Aktarin says without inflection.

Feeling her anger ebb a little, he steps forward and lowers his voice. “Please come away with me. It has been too long since we spoke without warr and rrank between us.” Tamlin tries to catch her eyes as he speaks, but she blinks at him in a rush of furious surprise.

"Tamlin, are you serious in what you just said? For if you are, you have broken your word yet again. You are not my mate. You will not be my mate in the future unless you change a very great deal. If I were to speak to you as a woman instead of the military officer I have spent my LIFE being, be certain, your face would be black and blue with the blows I would send your way, and I suspect I might strangle you with my bare hands."

“I carre not forr that as much as forr the frriend I have in you. Please. I will bearr what blows you have forr me.” Tamlin assures her gently.

Her eyes are narrow. "Tamlin, it is far better that I remain your commander and not even a friend until you begin to display more than a show of remorse and a repeat of an error though never quite EXACTLY that you have been chided for."

“This is no show.” He tells her firmly. “I have nothing left to give you..no prride to hold beforre you. Yourr wisdom I will trrust.”

"Goddess, I wish it were true. Your actions have made me wary, Tamlin. As before, only time will teach me whether you can be salvaged as a soldier, never mind a trusted friend or anything else." She sighs again a weary sound that warns him her patience is quickly eroding.

“I think judging one on the otherrr a choice ill made, forrr all the mistakes I have made in learrrning a trrade I am not borrn to, I will not count loving you among them.” Tamlin tells Aktarin earnestly even as he braces himself as her gaze grows steely.

"You wanted to be my lifemate. Show me your patience as years unroll without a kindly word or look from me, knowing I gauge your every move and thought and deed. So far you've shown me the impetuous foolishness of a child. Behave like a disciplined soldier, a man, or even a sensible Kal'dorei, and I may IN TIME reconsider. In a very long time." She decides aloud.

Something in him tightens painfully as the meaning of her words settles in him. He thinks of countless years without even a glance from her and his mighty heart quails. He looks back to the darkened corridor that leads to the barracks, his new cage. “It is a harrd thing you ask, Lovely.” He uses his pet name for her, hoping to reach her.

She gives him a look which on any other woman would be a snarl of fury. "You are not worth my time wasted then. You pout and croon of hard tasks or difficult things, pace like a fool in your barracks instead of resting or reading or learning...you wish only easy things and mating. You are an infant."

“No. You misjudge again and forr yourr angerr I forrgive it.” Tamlin manages. “I said only that it is harrd forrr me. You do not let me finish. A verry long time..how long beforrre you will let me speak to you again as yourr companion? That is what I think of.”

"I have lived for well past ten thousand years. You protest at a mere moon's passing. My sister Sentinels spent centuries carving wood, whiling away time studying or playing music or perfecting the making of tea. And like a human, you complain bitterly at the prospect of any time you must wait."

Her anger flares at him wildly and he holds himself still, letting it wash over him.

“I know how gods damned old you arre.” Tamlin rumbles with no malice at all. “Aktarrrin..this is not waiting forrr porrridge orrr a bandage.” He cannot believe she does not understand that is she alone that he speaks to from his heart and trusts.

"It is waiting. You have the impatience of a small boy. Or a human. Not a Kal'dorei or any worthy adult." Aktarin lifts her chin as this pronouncement is made.

“I wish you would not insult me so.” Tamlin says wearily.

"You deserve no better." Aktarin states. Her face as implacable as a marble carving.

“Aye so you have told me. Less..” He nods, pacing off from her, his shoulders rounded under some unseen weight. “I have asked forr yourr help to teach me these things.”

"And so you have trusted me, obeyed me, moderated your tone around me, addressed those I give rank to with respect, and always, always brought backup while diligently assuring our people's Sentinels of issues." She says bluntly, sarcasm in every word.

“I have always trrusted you. I have learrrned to obey. I have yielded in every way I know how. I admitted to my mistakes alrready. I bearrr yourrr cage grraciously, as I prromised I would. And you know how much it costs me. I ask no comforrt orr solace from you as yet as I know it would stirrr yourrr angerrr against me to do so.” Tamlin struggles against an urge to take hold of Aktarin and shake her.

"'As yet'?" She eyes him. Takes a single breath. "'Graciously'? I wonder that we both speak the same tongue. I suspect we do not."

“No because you WILL NOT HEARR ME! No matterr what I say to you!” Tamlin shouts. “You have set yourr mind against me.”

"Ah. This is respect. This is obedience. You shout at me and say I must only hear that you love me and so I should obey you in all things, should dance to your whims." She looks coldly at him.

“I have neverrr asked anything of the sorrt of you, Aktarrin. I am not yourrr masterrr.” He rumbles and paces.

"No? You never sent me letters to accompany you on fool's errands and never bothered to ask any other, for you would only have your woman? You are no better than Ythfas. You are like some boy, Tamlin, who shouts and knows no better. Like a human."

Her words strike him deeply, it takes all his will not to show teeth at her. He reminds himself that she is angry and seeks to rile him. “I am not like him at all. He thought he owned you. You arre afrraid. And I do not blame you.” Tamlin tells her. “You fearr I seek to overrrwhelm you..to usurrp you. You fearr that you love me and that I might be taken frrom you like the otherrs yourr hearrt has stirred forr orr worrse yourrr prride will be bludgeoned if the Warrden shows weakness.”

She laughs at this. “You think a good many astonishing things. You may go. I suggest you find some human woman to dance to your will and spread her legs for your 'comfort and solace', since you cannot wait a mere moon without pacing yourself into a wreck."

“Do not speak so ill of me. It does no crredit to you.” Tamlin admonishes her gently.

"Ashra'thoraman. I cannot imagine what I was thinking to allow a mere child into my bed and threaten the stability of our Order. The other Commanders were very right to chide me." She turns about, meaning to leave him standing there.

“Aktarrin...” Tamlin steps after her using her name on purpose, desperate to have her hear him.

"Good day, watcher. I have duties to attend to. Enjoy whatever bedmate you solicit, and may Elune grant you comfort from your humanlike needs. I pray your easing thus will preclude further strife in our ranks." She continues away from him.

“You know damn well I wish no one but you. Do not be so damned crrass to me.” Tamlin snarls.

"I believe you were told to go." She turns to look back at him with as much emotion visible as a glacier displays. "Rudeness? Go. Satisfy your bestial urges and cease to maunder about comfort and solace I should offer you. Perhaps you will think with your mind later." She begins to walk past, toward the hallway leading to her own quarters and office.

Tamlin though leans into her. He blocks her path and steps her back against the wall. He sets his hands high on either side of her, preventing her retreat. He shows no anger, no agression at all even when she casually removes her belt dagger and holds it to his throat.

"Again, watcher? You have slapped me, assaulted me. Go to your quarters. I have no more time for you now or any time thereafter." Aktarin warns coldly.

Tamlin puts his face close to her ear, risking a cut and not caring. “I only wanted a worrrd frrom you...just a worrrd. What happened to me in that place...was terrible.”

“You have lost any right to it. Move away. Now” She orders him, but he only watches her, looking from one to the other of her eyes as if searching for something.

“I am sorrry you arre angrry.” He tells her slowly,breathing her scent in. “I will do as you ask.”

Without changing expression, Aktarin quite casually turns the dagger and drives it into the muscle where his neck meets his shoulder. Tamlin makes no sound though his eyes close and water at the pain of it..and his mouth twitches. He has to turn his head slightly from her to master it, but he does not withdraw nor does the fire of anger spark in him.

"Back. Away. Now." Aktarin says softly. "Or I will kill you. That is a promise."

“I will show you patience. I will earrn yourr frriendship again though it takes my whole life.” Tamlin promises with quiet control. He lowers his arms and stands back. “I will always love you. And I will take no otherr beforre you.”

She gives him a sour look. "Goddess, I wish you would. You would be easier to deal with." She steps past, wiping the dagger on her sleeve. She spares a single cool look to Tamlin. "Go and have that seen to. If it is clotted and infected when we go to battle, I'll have you killed for being a damned fool."

 

It grows dark now. The long day coming to a close. Where days are bad, nights are much worse, confined to the barracks. His dreams he holds off. Tamlin welcomes the pain in his shoulder, it drowns somewhat the stabbing seizing agony in his heart. He pays no mind at all to those that enter here..talk or sleep and snore, dress and undress and leave. They are as ghosts to him, only shades travelling briefly through a hell that is his alone.