Private Unexpected Delivery

[Karim]

"Islimore."

Even just saying the name had his fist tighten. Karim stared at the planet from behind the duraglass of his room. He'd dropped out of Hyperspace near an hour prior, but he couldn't bring himself to actually look at the world. No, it still brought anger. He leaned back against his chair, arms crossed over his chest. Regardless of how he felt, he was here. .. No, it's because of what he felt. Patience. That's what he needed. Taking a breath he stood, wandered from his room to the cockpit. Put in the co-ordinates so his ship would head down towards the dock of a building he hadn't seen for years.

Chance had brought him here. A job listing with a name he thought he'd never see again. Clan Völsung. At the time, he near devolved into rage just from seeing it. He shouldn't of accepted the job, not if he wanted to move on. But he had. And now, now there was no going back. The ship landed, droids arrived to unload, and he wandered out. The old building, same as it had been before. He kept away from most, only talking to the dock master to make sure the offloading would be done correctly. He didn't exactly have free reign of the building to wander where he wanted. Cameras were there by the main doors, anywhere he could potentially get into the main household from.

But he knew other ways in. Hidden paths he'd taken as a boy to sneak out and explore. That same path brought him inside. Familiar halls, aged as he had, laid out before him as he wandered through. What was he even looking for? He wasn't sure. At this point he was aimless. Ducking around corners to avoid people who might see him. Why was he even bothering to hide? People wouldn't recognize him, not anymore. He pressed to one of the corners, peering around.

Things really hadn't changed.

Karim let out a breath, rubbing the back of his neck as he wandered into the main room. Statues lined the walls. A great table in the center. He'd always wanted to eat a meal there, with the others. Never was allowed. Anger flashed again as he tightened a fist. No, not yet. Stay calm. Scout, first. He set his hand, no longer in a fist, atop the table. Cold, hard. A scoff echoed from him. So there wasn't much of a difference, then. He'd missed nothing. A single rap of his knuckles echoed in the room before he turned, walking away. There were other rooms to look through before his ship was unloaded.

Miera Erevos

 

[Miera Erevos]

Hide, deceive, escape!​

Location: Islimore, Clan Völsung Estates, near the Wolf Wood
When: In the Past!
Tag: [ Karim ]


Miera Erevos, Priestess-in-Training, seethed. She’d learned - painfully learned - to seethe quietly. Learned not to rend draperies or shatter glass, not to shout or cry or plead. But then, they’d learned things, too. Learned how hard they could push her before the forces gathered within struck out wildly. They were able to judge with terrifying precision just how much she could take, before shifting uncontrollably and fighting so hard they risked truly injuring or killing her.

And they kept pushing that boundary out, farther and farther. Then would come the drugs; the ones that smelled of rose hips opium, to keep her docile, fuzz her mind. The ones that tasted like liquid fire, dulling her senses and cutting her off from the Force. So she’d learned to be subtle. Timid, even shy. To earn precious moments of privacy, such as this. Privacy, in which to search for an escape.

The smooth rungs of the high ladder fit her small hands easily, but she was too short to reach the oddly shaped crenelations in the corners of each three-story tall bookcase. But a castle like this, as old as it was, simply had to have hidden rooms … cubbies in which to hide from the Fayth. And secret passages, to the same end! Stretching over as far she could, she balanced a book on the Lore of the Fields in one hand, and poked hard with the long, elegant poker from the fireplace.

Secrets were what was going to get her out of here, and back home again. Secrets would bring down her foes and burn all they’d wrought to ashes. She shook; her bare legs yet burned from the careful tresses they affixed each night. Tears assaulted her, forcing a soft, half-furious sob to escape but she made herself reach that extra inch, rewarded as the decoration receded into the book case!

The sound of a lock releasing echoed through the library, resounding oddly to her blunted senses. A cry of desperate triumph escaped her; so swiftly did Miera slide down the ladder that it rocked and rattled alarmingly. Clinging to it for balance. She closed her eyes, striving to catch her breath as dizziness and fatigue assailed her. But she was down the ladder safely, more or less, though somehow the poker had dropped from numb fingers.

When her eyes flickered open, she recoiled against the bookshelf. A male, an adult male she didn't know, stood in the doorway. Who was he? Why was he here? Dual-colored eyes fastened upon him, fear and rage flickering behind a patina of deep grief. Lines of exhaustion aged her terribly young face, but could not entirely eradicate the honed will hidden beneath her too small, too fragile frame.

 

[Karim]

He didn't open that door.

Karim's whole body tensed as the hidden path he'd slipped back into was opened from the outside. A hand slipped down, palming the blaster on his hip. If he was found here, well. There was no explaining it or talking his way back to his ship. Only.. It wasn't the house guard that stood there. Nor any of the people he was afraid to run into. A girl stood there. Staring at him.

He just stared back. His hand stayed on his blaster, neither pulling it out or moving it away. Exhaustion. Fear. Grief. He tensed. She was just a kid. Eventually he moved his hand away, letting out a breath.

".. What are you doin' here, kid." Try as he might to not sound aggressive, he was angry. Fighting with the wolf inside to keep himself calm. Miera Erevos wasn't someone he was trying to kill, right? .. No, she looked more like he d- That line of thought was cut off immediately, less he did actually end up in a rage. With a grumble he crouched down, glancing around the library before back to her.

"Are you okay?"

 

[Miera Erevos]

Hide​

Location: Islimore, Clan Völsung Estates, near the Wolf Wood
When: In the Past!
Tag: [ Karim ]


Miera remained frozen, aware of the height and strength of the stranger compared to her own meager size. Her gaze did not even flicker to the weapon he reached for, instead warily watching the furious gaze. She took a deep breath; two. Though he towered above her, tense and on edge, he did not explode into violent motion. What was it she’d learned, about not acting like a prey animal? Carefully, the young priestess stood, forced her shoulders to relax, spread her hands to the side.

Softened her voice.

Tried to, anyway; it still came out mostly a squeak.

“Miera. Miera Everos.” A flush threatened, lips tense with embarrassment, shame and unease. A nervous glance towards the central library got away from her before realized the error of looking away from a person struggling to control their Wolf. Her odd gaze flashed back to his, half-expecting him to have covered the distance between them whilst she was distracted. Double vision assailed her; had he been at her throat a moment ago, or was that lunging image of him taking out a shared enemy? Wait; wasn’t there something about staring at a dominant wolf being idiotically stupid? Eye-contact, that was it; what was good when the Wolf was Ascendent was different from when the human was. Mind spinning, she could not sort out safe behavior from stupid, hints of the future from the present. Vision blurred, for one moment it felt as if he’d settled beside her, comforting; the next he was but a mirage. Which was true? Was he even really here?

“I hope you are really here, wolf-lord.”Whoever, whatever he was, when he settled into a comfortable crouch, it soothed her own instincts. She decided then and there that she’d rather be locked up with him, wolf-and-all, than with any of her horrid captors. With a sigh of relief she allowed herself to slip to the floor, resting there.

“The drugs keep me tired and dizzy. But they are careful not to injure me.” The words were a breathless, furious whisper, rather than spoken in the calm tones she’d imagined. The last thing a fellow captive needed was her spilling out hurt and pain upon him. Shared grief and guilt softened her voice as a mere effort of will had not.

“It’s ok. I’ll find a way to get us out of here, now that you found the secret of the doorways. We have to. We have to make them pay.” And soon, well before the stupid spring ritual came around again. He was handsome and strong; tall enough that she had no doubt they’d force a spouse on him, too. They were good at making people do what they wanted.

 

[Karim]

How high was she? The anger bristled all over again as Miera Erevos either refused or just couldn't answer the only question he'd asked. Or maybe that was the answer then? She wasn't okay. Was she the next? .. No, no. He was the last, he made sure of that at least. So what else was Völsung doing? Drugging a child? Not from their clan, though. A kidnapped bride? At this age?

They'd already broken her. Filled her with malaise and anger. "I'm not a captive, Miera. Just a guest." She seemed to think he was like her. Once, perhaps. Certainly no longer. But what did this mean for him? Should he take her from here? Movement caught his attention. The door close by? He reached out, clicking the button on his side to shut the path. Not yet. "Keep it secret."

 

[Miera Erevos]

Hide​

Location: Islimore, Clan Völsung Estates, near the Wolf Wood
When: In the Past!
Tag: [ Karim ]


He closed the door.

He CLOSED the door!

Stumbling to her feet, Miera lunged for the doorway, her startled, gaunt face the last thing he’d see as the hidden doorway swung closed. She leaned on the now-sealed entrance to the bones of the castle, and went still.

She did not rage, yell or plead. Did not pound upon the doorway. Reaching desperately for the muffled power inside, she sought out some hint he’d really been here. Was she going mad? Haunted? Or was he a gift of the gods, here to help her? A tiny flicker of power surged against the shackles of the drugs, then gave way to the divine.

Patience. He is real.

There was no time to discern more before she heard what he’d already heard - Voices in the corridor. Hyperventilation threatened; it was Grom … Grom, his best friend and his favorite enemy. Her hands clenched, fingers already aching in anticipation. Such a petty thing, so stupid to fear it. It was only pain, right?

The door swung open, all three Clan Völsung scions swaggering in. Carelessly, Gorm smashed the door into the wall and kicked over the nearest chair. Tallest of those who’d entered, he sported face tattoos that tallied up every kill he’d made. Most were Fayth … he said all were. Miera doubted that, if not the total; he liked to kill things. Slowly.

“Miera!” he hollered. “You did not eat the rabbit I hunted you.” Laughter followed; the rabbit had been raw and too badly battered to be safe to eat. He held a fawn in his fist. With the eyes poked out. “Shall I bring you a new gift?” He brandished it, to raucous laughter from his youngest brother.

Halfdan was silent.

“You can all die horribly,” she whispered. Shaking, she moved away from the wall where her strange new ally hid. What if they smelled him? Or heard him?

Three sets of eyes settled upon her; they did not bother to hide their contempt.

Two nervous steps forward and suddenly Goram lunged at her! Instinct warred with the harsh lessons she’d learned here, screaming at her to fight back, to yell, to resist. Just the thought sent a wave of nausea and remembered agony through her. A pained gasp escaped as his meaty hand closed upon her bare leg and he yanked her closer, shoving the rotting carcass in her face.

Into her mouth. She gagged.

“Eat this; it’ll put some meat on your bones, you skinn little Shutta.”

Spoiler: collected folks of Clan Völsung

Name	Rank/skill	Dead yet?
Gorm	Son of alpha, 3rd born. Gorm already killed his next older brother and plans to be Alpha next.
Halfdan	Nephew of Alpha, but oldest son of alpha’s older brother. Older than all the Alpha’s children! Halfdan is biding his time, much more controlled than the other contenders for heir.
Knud	Son of alpha, youngest. In some ways the most cruel, he is also terribly honest in his desire for power and strength. A traditionalist, more so than the others.

 

[Karim]

He shut the door.

For a moment he just stared at the back of the bookshelf. Why did he shut the door? .. No, he knew why. He was here to kill them. The clan. He wasn't here to save someone. Miera Erevos didn't need saving. Whatever she was dealing with, she- Karim didn't move. His mind wanted to justify all of it. Let himself fester on his anger, his rage. He should've left. Should've gotten back on his ship, gotten off world, planned his next assault. But he stayed.

The smell of death was too strong. He couldn't leave her.

Karim reached up, pressing the button that had closed the bookshelf. The whirl of gears opened the way as he stood there. He glared. The laughing, the cruelty. Knud was the first to address him. Raised a hand to point at him. "And who the kark are y-" He didn't get another word out. Karim closed the distance, his hand taking hold of the youngest's throat. Knud was dead before he even hit the ground. Strength beyond what they should've been capable of as Lupo just snapped the man's neck as he was thrown away.

Halfdan turned, pulling a blaster. Fired. Karim was already moving, rushing through, ducking under the shot before leaping towards him. And shifted. Only partly, his face twisting to that of a wolf. His jaw snapped shut, sheering Halfdan's forearm clear off. The man just stared blankly, stunned. Falling back before gripping what was left of his arm to scream. Karim's features shifted back just as quick as they'd changed to begin with, red blood leaking from his lips as he turned to look at Gorm. Towards Miera.

 

[Miera Erevos]

Hide​

Location: Islimore, Clan Völsung Estates, near the Wolf Wood
When: In the Past!
Tag: [ Karim ]


Miera gagged upon the flesh shoved in her face, struggling to breath, to push the thing away from her nose and mouth. Each gasp of air was tainted and fowl - her whole focus was on tearing it away from the cruel hand that had slain it, and throwing it as far from her as she could.

She froze, rage rippling over Gorm’s face at her defiance. And then he dropped her to the floor; it hurt. Her too-gaunt frame bruised, even from such a short fall but she managed to curl away from the sounds of violence. Something warm and salty coated her.

Fresh, warm blood! Kund’s blood; his throat had been torn open.

She cried a too late, pointless warning as Halfdan fired at the thing killing her enemies. Gorm stomped on her hard, cracking a rib. The fire in her chest, the stupidity of the move, filled her with such rage and contempt that suddenly she didn’t care
who or what her defender was. Yes, it terrified her when he looked her way, blood dripping from his mouth and arms. She had never seen the twisted half-change, never witnessed such Rage. He might well kill her, when he closed with Gorm.

She didn’t care; she cared only that his goal was eradicating the filth that held her captive.

Gorm planted himself firmly between his rightful prey and the filthy scumbag that challenged him. Pulling his heavy sword free of the scabbard, he sneered his contempt. “Half-breed. Mongrel. You aren’t worthy to breathe the same air I do.” Seeing the direction of the gaze - at Miera - inflamed him further. He slammed another kick into the wounded girl, “You’re as helpless against me as she is.”

With that he lunged, aiming to hamstring his foe.

 

[Karim]

Anger. Unamusement. They went hand in hand as he watched Gorm spit out his insults. Half breed. If Gorm was supposed to be some kind of prodigy, he should be able to smell it. Karim was no half breed. He was tempted, for a moment, to set the record straight. Pride welled in his chest. Pride that was quickly stuffed down with an even greater hate than he had for this estate and the people in it.

Not again. Never again.

Gorm lunged, but Karim had no patience left. His blaster went off, the pistol drawn and fired in a single, simple motion. Gorm didn't even have time to react. Or, just couldn't as a smoking hole between his eyes claimed his life. He dropped among the others, dead and gone. Karim holstered his blaster, his anger still threatening to spill out. Kill. There were more people here to kill. They did this to him. They could all die. They should all die.

That rageful gaze shifted to Miera Erevos . She should d- No. He took a breath before crouching down. From a pouch on his hip he pulled out a bacta patch. Handed it to her. It'd do little to fix her broken ribs that he'd heard, but it'd sooth the pain.

"Hide in the bookshelf. Don't come out until I tell you to." Well, if she could move. He frowned, then just lifted her up himself to place her in the hidden path. Reached up to click the button. "Don't come out." The last warning he'd give before the secret door closed. He lingered for a moment before turning. And let the rage fully consume him. Plans were unneeded.

Everyone will die.

 

[Miera Erevos]

Location: Islimore - Clan Völsung Estates, near the Wolf Wood
Appearance: Battered.
Tag: [ Karim ]


So fast; he was so fast. Gorm was a dangerous foe, a skilled hunter and he never even touched the stranger whose rage-filled gaze settled upon Miera.

Don't act like prey, she reminded herself, even as she forgot to breathe. He was stunning; terrifying and magnificent all at once. She didn't look away. Couldn't somehow. If he was going to kill her, it would be clean and swift. Freedom, one way or another. “Thank you,” the words were fierce, heart-felt. Insufficient. Pain-filled - but the searing pain in her ribs helped fight off the malaise of the drugs.

Her heart nearly stopped as he approached her, and it wasn't all from fear. Wasn't even mostly. "Better you. I'd rather it be you." but he didn't lunge for her throat, didn't shoot her. She clenched the bacta patch in her hands, for a heart-beat, before recalling that she shouldn't, really shouldn't, look him in the eyes that way. Carefully, she smoothed the patch over her broken rib; wavered as the relief-from-pain lessened the adrenaline shooting through her.

His instructions drew her gaze back to his; before she could question or ask to help he lifted her up.

Gently.

When was the last time someone had been gentle, with her? [ Aelin Erevos ], little Aelin. dead and gone now, helping only from the afterworld. She tucked her head into his shoulder, for the few short steps between the killing field and the secret nook. Let him settle her gently without a word of protest.

Don't come out, he repeated the command, triggering the door.

"I'll wait for you," she promised him, though it shamed her that she could not help, in whatever he had planned. Still, she watched him until the door closed.

Waited in silence, the fear returning full force once the scent of him faded.

 

[Karim]

It was some time before he finally came back. Screams, blaster fire, both echoed throughout the estate. Until silence, at least. Once the sounds of chaos and battle ended, it was still minutes before anything else sounded off. Minutes, hours. Finally the bookshelf opened again as Karim stood there. Blood, not his own, coated most of his outfit, his face. He said nothing for a moment, his gaze staring at her in a half way point between unbound rage and concern.

Finally, he spoke.

".. Let's go, kid."

Miera Erevos