Loose Ends to Tie
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Miriah
Date Posted: 7th May 2014
Characters: Crolarin, Karhal
Description: Crolarin makes his move
Location: Amber Hills Hold
Date: month 6, day 24 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Zathris, Daimhin, Benani
The sighting of the flit, no matters whose it was, and the news that the Guard Captain had been moved out of the infirmary gave Crolarin the push to tie off all of his lose ends. He could not risk the Captain and his damned canine to be out and about; he had seen them in action and it was, in his opinion, far too much of a risk. Rumors around the hold spoke of the Captain still being weak and he had to act quickly and quietly before that changed. After all was said and done, he could leave this piss poor excuse for a Hold, take his beloved and begin their new life together.
He had left while Benani was still sleeping early this morning and had entered the Hold proper without comment. His excuses of searching had always been accepted. He had after all, searched with several teams. He had to give Zathris credit; the man didn't seem willing to give up, but Benani was now _his_ wife, not the Lord Holder's and there was nothing the man could do about that.
He passed through the main square of the Hold, slipping by others without comment. As usual, most didn't give him a second thought and the guard with a little too many brains for his own good, Daimhin, wasn't present. All for the better, the man had been sniffing around a little too intently.
Crolarin knew most of the schedules of the Hold. He knew that Karhal's pretty new wife would be out on errands around this time of the day. He walked to their home, making sure not to be too obvious about his destination and as he approached, peeked into the window. She wasn't there, but _he_ was. Karhal sat in a chair, dozing in front of the fire. Perfect.
Carefully and quietly, he opened the door. The canine wasn't there, which was a surprise. Crolarin frowned. An unexpected, but welcome surprise. Karhal was apparently deep in sleep and Crolarin couldn't help but grin at his good fortune as he slowly pulled the slender length of rope from his pocket. A few minutes and his part of his problems would be solved…permanently.
Walking carefully and silently over the floor, the Harper crept behind the chair and broke out in a nervous sweat. So close. He wrapped the ends of the rope around each fist, stretched it out and reached around. Moving quickly, he wrapped the rope around Karhal's neck and immediately tightened his grip, his knuckles white.
Karhal woke immediately, his hands flying to his throat. The shock of the strangulation, so unexpected and so painful, left him momentarily confused until long learned lessons and instinct kicked in. He struggled, feet drumming against the floor as he grabbed at the hands that held the rope. His strength already taxed, he didn't have enough to make the grip looser, so instead dug in his nails upon the inner wrists, tightening his own hold in a desperate attempt to force his assailant to loosen whatever it was around his neck.
It was the hard drumming that roused the canine from her own deep sleep upstairs. Clawed paws tapped rapidly down the stairs and in bare moments, there was a throaty snarl and a slavering snap of teeth as Livie charged. Crolarin yelped, and immediately pulled harder on the rope, desperate to kill Karhal before it was too late. He could already feel the grip on his wrists weakening. Only a moment…
Livie leapt, her teeth snapping and closing around Crolarin's lower arm. Crolarin cried out in pain, reflexes causing him to stumble back to try to beat the canine's mouth off of his arm where she hung. Livie only snarled in response, her teeth locking around the man's flesh as she pulled, twisted and viciously shook her head. Blood spattered over the floor in grotesque sprays, flecking over man and beast.
Karhal slumped forward, gasping out raw breaths as he flung the released rope from his neck and fell to the floor. His throat felt like it was on fire with every labored breath and as he rolled to his side, he was able to see the man who attacked him. His eyes widened. Daimhin's instincts had been right…He struggled to rise, but the struggle had sapped his strength and he collapsed.
Crolarin did the only thing he could. He pulled his eating knife from his belt and frantically began stabbing at the canine's neck, shoulder and chest with vicious purpose. Livie yelped as the knife sank in repeatedly, a blow to her side causing her to release the Harper with sharp animal yelps of pain. Panicked, Crolarin held his arm to his chest, darted towards the door with Livie snapping at his heels. He escaped out of the door, and tucked his arm under his jacket to hide it.
He only hoped that Karhal had died at that collapse. His mind worked rapidly as wasted no time going for his cart and runner. He had to leave. He had to leave now. Just in case!
Livie snarled at the door and limping, bleeding and whining in pain, then turned to where Karhal lay limply on the floor, passed out. She nudged him with a nose, whined and lay beside him, her blood steadily dripping to pool on the floor.
Last updated on the May 25th 2014