It was night. He'd forgotten what he was doing, it seemed. He was pretty sure there was somewhere he was supposed to be at night. Where was Briella?
His skin was so damn hot again, steaming visibly in the chill. And he shivered. He must have closed his eyes at some point, because he blinked them open and there stood the last person he ever wanted to see. Was he imaginng this? The guy wasn't even trying to kill him. Trying again, rather.
"Leliana wants to know you're safe. She said you protected her."
His jaw clamped tight and his eyes hardened. He hated her name on this bastard's lips. He hated that the man stood here before him. And of fucking course he protected her. He always would.
He tried to hold back the coughs that started shaking him since her husband was still talking and all. Some choked out anyway, but he listened hard. Just in case there was any reason she might need him. But, no. She didn't need him. She had everything she wanted. Even sending her husband to come throw it in his face, cut him deeper.
The punishment would never end.
"I don't know if you have anywhere to go, but our borders are open to everyone."
Yeah, exactly. The punishment would never end. Just where he wanted to be, watching her with her happy family. Watching the life he'd never have with her. The magician had trained him for physical beatings, not emotional. With the damages he'd caused over the years, he'd managed to train himself unintentionally.
But that was one he could not survive.
He turned away and began walking. Silent for a long moment, considering just ignoring him.
"Ischia," he finally said. An answer he hadn't given in so many years.
The first answer she'd ever gotten from him.
He swallowed, still fighting the pain that swelled up so tight inside him. A tear fell.
"Tell her I died."
we're slaves to any semblance of touch
Lord, we should quit but we love it too much
