Ice Castle Seige

[zandyne]

"Well I can't so sure, I just noticed that the people who come here and have new things to remember remember themselves more and that those who just hang away from others fade faster. I still remember things from the old days but things like how I used to look I can't seem to remember anymore and things like the 'sun', I know but can't picture it. Like the thought slips away before I can get a good grip on it like one of the frost-scales in the river."

He laughed nervously for some reason, "As time passes the memories just start to blend together, maybe you'll hold onto yourselves or maybe you'll just start lookin' like me. I know I can still bleed but it ain't blood anymore. Come to think of it you're some of the firsts to really talk and listen, most other new ones just pair off and I rarely hear from 'em again."

Mechio pointed at where the puddle of wine had been, "I do know after some point that the completely lost ones just shatter into dust or somethin'. Thank a Norn my mum hasn't come to that fate yet, but I think I may be startin' to fade like the rest of 'em."

He suddenly quieted, it was the most grave tone he'd used, "Just the other time, I almost forgot my mum's name so I wrote it down, but I can't remember where I put the note anymore. I sometimes wonder what kinda son I am, but at the same time I feel like somethin' else is takin' all the memories away.

"But there is one thing that I'm certain of, it ain't the food or drink that's doin' it, some never eat anythin' and they're still are affected by it. There's somethin' that came to the kingdom but I don't know where to start lookin' or what to do about it, or even if I can do anything about it."

[Ninmast]

The ninja remained in solemn silence for some time before speaking, and when he did so, he took his french-braided ponytail in hand and draped it around. Even from the position they were in, it nearly reached Mechio, and when standing, it fell all the way to the back of his knees. "See this braid?" he asked him. "So long as I have it, I can't forget where I've come from. It is my note of the past, and so long as I remember, I'll never stop looking for a way home."

So saying, he stood and moved over to the window to look out. "You said this all started because you were afraid your king would die. What did you mean by that? What happened to your king?"

[zandyne]

He looked at the braid and nodded slowly, "For your sake I hope it's true. I only seem to forget whenever I sleep or am on a searchin' expedition..."

At the mention of the king though, he straightened up, like the reference of his majesty warranted utmost respect, "I don't remember the news as well anymore so its a bit foggy. But from what I heard at the mill, it was that someone in the castle mentioned the king dyin'. Not sure of what besides old age though. I hear the king's still alive , but he's cooped up in the castle, he's probably tryin' to fix this memory problem plaguin' the kingdom. It isn't the first time he's locked himself up, he does it to think, it helps him think, I...think." He blinked at his own repetitive usage of the word but mentally waved it off.

"Least I remember not worryin' when he locked himself up, so I guess it must be true."

[Ninmast]

Again, some more thinking on the part of the adventurer. "Mechio, is your king's castle located at or near the absolute center of the kingdom?" The question probably didn't seem to make much sense, and Rensik seemed adept at keeping his face blank, as void of expression as any of the Faded might have done.

[zandyne]

Mechio scrubbed his head again, "I don't remember the last time I looked at a map, but I remember it being either really South or really North."

[Ninmast]

Another period of contemplative silence. Perhaps it wasn't the answer he was hoping to hear. "We should all rest tonight, but tomorrow, can you show me how to get there? Perhaps serve as a guide. It's probably unorthodox by the standards of your people, but if this all started with an issue with the king, then the king is the first person I would like to inquire of on the matter."

[zandyne]

"Of course you two are probably dead tired as it is... I don't mind serving as a guide, it'd probably be better this way, staying here and the Shard Chasm hasn't gotten me anywhere, maybe talkin' to the king will ease my mind. Still I'd like to think he isn't the cause of all this..."

[Ninmast]

But Rensik shook his head. "I didn't say he is," he corrected. "Only that, if he is related to the issue that triggered the cause, he's more apt than anyone else to know it."

[zandyne]

He looked a bit confused but realized what he possibly implied, "Oh, didn't mean it like that, I just don't think the king would have caused any trouble for the kingdom and I don't know who would want to do this to the kingdom just because of the king. Thas'all."

[Ninmast]

"Neither do I," he agreed as he turned away from the window, his silver-white ponytail swinging about in a delayed fashion behind him. "That's why I intend to find out. Can I count on your assistance or not?" He glanced toward the other human, who had been largely silent. "And what about you?"

[TrueBlue©]

Judas shook at being addressed. "Me?" He opened his other eye, the orb now glowing ember-orange. "I'll help."

[zandyne]

"Ah then its settled then, I'll leave you to your rest and..." he placed his fingers over his mouth with sudden thought, "-and....I need to go retrieve my things from outside and make other preparations for the journey."

[Ninmast]

The young man with the silver hair turned back to the window, staring back out it again. "We'll leave at dawn tomorrow. Whatever that's like in a timeless world."

[zandyne]

Mechio simply nodded again and made his way back out of the glassy room. As he passed through he waved his hand over the flickering blue in the lanterns and they dimmed as if they were being smothered. He closed the door with a soft but reassuring click and his footsteps made little noise as he headed back to the stairs.

---------------------

The night was deathly peaceful and despite how chilly the room appeared, the bedding paradoxically enough provided enough comfort and warmth for those who used it. From the window that lacked curtains, the lighting outside varied little, morphing into various shades of darkening blue to violet to what seemed the inky dark that rivaled a moonlit night. The moon itself seemed normal enough in all its pale splendor but it was set against a disturbingly unnatural sky devoid of clouds and stars.

Every so often a sound would rise up from the surrounding area that resembled the cry of a sorrowful banshee. It howled for what may have been a minute before returning back to silence. What made it couldn't be seen but nothing replied to its call. After this interruption however, the more nocturnal beings could be heard shuffling about outside.

[Ninmast]

Rensik had not been in bed. Certainly, he had caught a few hours of sleep, but such was all he required and he had silently slipped out the window, shutting it behind him. It was his practice to examine the city he found himself in for the first night, and patrol it each night after that. It and the exercises he would perform at dawn kept his training up to form. The lack of nightly shadows made him feel uncomfortably exposed, but he knew it would matter little. He could blend into the cover and move silently no matter how dark it was.

As a result, he had been running along the rooftops - his soft footfalls would not have disturbed even the lightest of the occupants' sleepers - when the cry again echoed forth through the surrounding area. The sound of a banshee was not new to him. In the world where he had learned the skills, they were disturbingly common in areas that had suffered terribly, where many had died violently or wherever misery had left its mark. If there was, indeed, one nearby, it could be a threat to the town, he reasoned, and adjusted course for the sound. A full minute of the cries would be more than enough for him to track the source down. A single banshee, while always a being to be feared, was something he could handle on his own, and if it wasn't a banshee, then perhaps it was something that could help him figure out what was going on in this world he had found himself in.