Well, here it is; the last, and final, chapter of Roses. And it's a long one. I debated on whether or not to split it into two parts, but I decided not to in the end (Mostly because I was lazy).
Lioness's Heart, you have been an amazing beta. I do certainly hope that we can work together again in the future.
Enjoy!
Black: Death; Hatred; Goodbyes
Rosto was standing in the doorway of his and Beka's rooms, his mouth hanging open in astonishment. The place was an absolute wreck- all the sheets, blankets, and quilts that had previously been on the beds were draped across every available surface, creating a crude but colorful tent. Cushions and chairs were strewn underneath the fortress, on top of moved rugs. He even thought he saw some of Beka's dresses used as part of the roof.
There was a giggle- realization seeped in, and trying to hide his grin, he stepped inside and closed the door. Getting down on his hands and knees, he crawled inside the entrance, rather impressed at the structure- though he would have preferred it to not be up in the first place.
"I leave for an hour," he said, "And my living room becomes a mess."
Two heads popped up from a mound of pillows and blankets. The eldest, a boy of eight, whined, "We just wanted to have fun, da!"
His sister nodded enthusiastically. "We wanted to live in a castle!" She smiled.
Rosto looked at his two children. "And so you built one?"
"Yes!" They chorused together.
He couldn't help it- he laughed. They joined in with him, giggling- they didn't know why their da was laughing, of course, but his happiness was infectious. Flinging themselves at him, they begged, "Play with us, da! Play with us!"
He let himself be bowled over, but instantly whisked his daughter out of the tent, tickling her. "I'm afraid playtime's over," He apologized. "Your ma's coming home soon, and I don't think she'll appreciate the remodeling."
His son grumbled, but climbed out. His hair, pale blond like his father's, flopped over his mother's ice-blue eyes. Though he was young, he already had his father's lithe frame and his mother's hard-headed determination and focus. His sister, at five years old, was the perfect copy of her mother- but she had her father's personality. Both children were already professional lock-picks, but had no desire to turn to a life of crime, much to Beka's relief.
"Verene, Nathanial, help me clean this up." He said. "If we finish before your ma arrives, I promise to play an extra song before bed."
This cheered them up- wriggling out of Rosto's arms, Verene raced to help her brother, pulling down the quilts and blankets until they were a heap on the floor. Rosto followed behind her, catching items she had knocked over and righting those he didn't get to in time. Letting Verene put the cushions and chairs back in place, he and Nathanial began to make up the beds, and in a relatively short time everything was back in order.
He was teaching his children how to cheat at cards when a knock alerted him to a guest. Leaving them to practice sliding a card up their sleeves, he opened the door, expecting to see Kora or Aniki with news about the court. He was surprised to see a messenger carrying a basket of night-black roses.
"These were ordered, sir," The messenger said briskly. "A gift, from a friend."
Wondering who this friend was Rosto accepted them and a small card, placing the basket on the table and opening the card. What he saw caused him to go dead white.
Though Rosto was naturally pale, he had gained a slight tan from being outdoors in Corus. Now all color had simply vanished- his eyes were glued to the small note in his hands.
If you wish to see the Mastiff alive, give up your throne. If you do not comply with this wish in three days time, she will die.
- D.D.
He was standing still for so long that his children grew concerned. "Da?" Nathanial asked, peering at him curiously. "Are you alright?"
Hearing his son's voice seemed to snap Rosto out of his trance. "Kora," He said hoarsely. Then, louder- "KORA! ANIKI!"
He ran out of the room, leaving his children staring after him in bewilderment. Rosto began pounding on Aniki's door, nearly falling inside the room when she opened it, startled. "Get Phelan!" he called, already racing away. "Be in my rooms!"
He raced down a flight of stairs, throwing himself at Kora's and Ersken's rooms. Seconds later it opened, and he grabbed the person's arm- Ersken's- and began dragging them up the stairs. "We've got to hurry," he croaked. "Beka…Beka's…"
Kora immediately gripped his forearms. "Calm down," She said quietly. "Panicking isn't going to help."
Trembling, Rosto allowed himself to be led up the stairs, collapsing onto the couch when he entered his room. Aniki had already shooed the children into another room; she took the seat across from Rosto. "What is this all about?" She demanded.
Wordlessly, Rosto handed her the card. As she read it, her face turned hard- handing it to Kora, she said, "I've heard about them. The Death Dealers, they call themselves- remember, Beka told us about them last week. They are supposedly the Black God's chosen ones, to purge the kingdom of all those who are tainted in life." She gave a dark laugh. "I can't help but notice their targets have been the people who have helped make the Lower City prosper more than it ever has."
Ersken, infuriated, added, "The Death Dealers give black roses to the loved ones of their targets- much like the Shadow Snake, they make demands, and if it isn't met, they kill the captive. The last victim ended up in Unicorn District, floating in one of the local fountains, with a knife in the back. I'm going to bring this to Goodwin- no one's going to let them hurt Beka."
"Assemble the Court," Rosto said once Ersken had left. "We have some work to do."
Rosto was kept up late into the night organizing his people to search for Beka. The roses he threw out- he didn't want them as a reminder. He didn't dare think of what would happen if she couldn't be found. The thought was impossible- Beka couldn't die. She could get beaten, cut, punched, kicked, thrown, and stabbed- but she couldn't die. If anything, he would be the one to be killed first, sometime down the road when a younger, stronger man challenged him for his throne. But not Beka. No, Beka was not allowed to die.
As Rosto finally came back into his room, stone-faced and stiff, Verene shuffled sleepily out of her room. "Da?" She asked quietly. "When's ma coming home? You promised to play us a song." Her ice blue eyes stared up at him, pleading- his heart breaking, he bent down to her level. "Ma's going to be gone for a few days," He said softly. "She… she has work to do."
"She promised to tuck us in bed," Verene murmured. "She never breaks her promises."
He picked her up, holding her close. "She didn't want to, love, but sometimes things happen that we can't control. Your ma is regretting not being here with you, but there's nothing she can do about it. Now, go to sleep- I'll play a song, if you want."
Verene nodded, already dozing off. Putting her on her bed, he kissed her forehead, then Nathanial's in the bed next to her. Going over to the chair next to the hearth, he pulled out his pipes and began to play a slow lullaby that was Verene's favorite. Only when she was sound asleep did he stop, slowly lowering the pipes to watch his children sleep.
I'll find you, Beka, he promised. They won't get away with stealing my Dog.
The room was small, damp, and dark. At first, all Beka saw was black. She couldn't move, couldn't speak, and couldn't hear. Time was a foreign concept- seconds were hours, or were hours seconds? She was floating, in a world without sensation, wondering if she was still alive.
The second time she attempted to look around was better. She had regained control of her limbs, but they felt heavy and uncoordinated. She tried lifting her arm, only to see her left leg rise. When she tried to wriggle her toes, her shoulders rolled. Her brain was foggy and muddled, and she couldn't complete any thought that crossed her mind. She knew that something wasn't right but she couldn't remember how she knew that, or what right was to begin with.
The third time she was able to actually think. Though her limbs were sore and sluggish, she was at least able to sit part of the way up, blinking at the dim interior. The only things she saw was the hard pallet she was lying on and a hole that she assumed was the privy. A sturdy wooden door was across from the pallet, but she could tell that it would not yield under her advances. Not that she could make any, seeing as she was dressed in nothing but a loincloth and breastband.
Sorting out her thoughts, she tried to remember what had happened. She was returning from the market, bringing dinner home before she got ready for Watch. She was planning on surprising her children with candy, and had bought a small bag for a treat. There was chocolate for Verene, peppermint for Nathanial, and spun-sugar treats for Rosto, who had a surprisingly notorious sweet tooth. She had turned down Mutt Piddle Lane when someone had approached her, asking for directions. As she was pointing them in the right direction, something had struck her from behind, and her vision had gone black. She remembered faint snatches of light, voices, and rough handling, but she couldn't recall what was said or what happened.
Curling up on the pallet, the thin, ragged brown blanket covering her, she closed her eyes, hoping that her family was alright.
"I challenge you to a duel, Rosto the Piper. It is time the throne was passed to someone else."
Rosto looked at the young man who was standing boldly in the center of the floor. He was about eighteen, with close-cropped black hair, dark eyes, and light brown skin- apparently, one of his parents or grandparents had been Bahzir or K'miri. He was strong, with a graceful figure and cunning eyes. His nose had been broken once without being healed properly, resulting in a slight crook. Even when relaxed, he was tensed for action. A worthy opponent- to the untrained eye. But Rosto could see the lack of scars, the way he held the handle of the daggers entirely too loose. This young man had a lot of training to do before he could ever beat Rosto. It was a pity that one so young would throw away his life.
"As the challenged, I get to choose the weapons." He stood, and everyone could tell that he was in no mood for distractions. Silently, bets were made to how long the match would last. "You had better be good with daggers, boy, because I am in no mood for trivial matters such as this. I have work to do, and I'm running out of time to do it." It had been two and a half days since the letter, and not one clue had surfaced to where Beka was. Whoever had abducted her had been thorough in covering their tracks. "Daggers only, no hand-to-hand combat. Let's go."
Quick as a flash, Rosto attacked, sliding out his wrist knives and darting in to slice at the boy's arm. He blocked clumsily, his other arm snaking out in an attempt to cut Rosto's throat. Rosto easily evaded it, his dagger cutting almost contemptuously into the boy's side. Sliding it out again so as to not block the blood flow, he smoothly blocked the thrust aimed at him and neatly disarmed his opponent's right hand. A flick of his wrist, and the boy's tendons were severed in his left arm- it dangled, useless, as the boy sprang back, fumbling for another dagger. He barely managed to block Rosto's attack, only to fall seconds later when the second blade entered his heart.
It was all over in a matter of seconds. Retrieving his dagger, he spat, "Clean it up," and stalked back to his seat. The maid scurried to do so, mopping away the blood as Rosto brooded.
The doors banged open, revealing Ersken. The Dog was breathing hard, his eyes holding a wild light. "Rosto!" He cried, staggering toward the Rogue. "We…we've got one! One of the Death Dealer's has been captured!"
Immediately an uproar started among the people present- Rosto, sitting rigid, asked, "Are you sure?"
Ersken nodded. "I saw it with my own eyes. They were trying to take a merchant's wife, up in Prettybone- Tunstall nabbed one as they tried to escape. My Puppy is following the others, to see if they'll lead us to their base. He's meeting us at the Kennel." Exhausted, he collapsed at a table, Kora anxiously standing over him and giving him a glass of water. Grateful, he drank.
Rosto jerked his head at his Prettybone Chief. "Get your members to start looking around. I want more than just one Puppy on their tale- and make sure they're professionals. I don't want to lose this chance. It may be the last one we have. Aniki, make sure your girls have their eyes and ears open to point our people in the right direction. Ersken," He strode over to his friend, "Where can I find Tunstall?"
"He's probably at the Kennel, with Goodwin," Ersken replied. "They've been worried sick over Beka, same as all of us. They'll want- no, need- your help on this one." He took another gulp of water, trying to stop shaking.
Rosto was out of the door in seconds, running to the Jane Street Kennel. At this time of day, there wouldn't be many Dogs in the small building. Most would be on patrol. Hopefully he would catch Tunstall and Goodwin before they left.
He was in luck, as they were just leaving when Rosto ran up. "Ersken told me," He growled. "This puppy of Ersken's better be good."
"He's not the strongest, but he can run forever," Tunstall replied. "It was lucky he was nearby at the time." His eyes were hard, angry- he wanted to hurt those men just as much as Rosto. "They'll pay for what they've done," he said.
Eyes glittering with the light of revenge, Rosto replied, "They'll never make the mistake of crossing the Rogue ever again."
Beka was stretching out her cramped muscles when she heard noises. Crawling to the door and ignoring her protesting legs, she placed her ear against the hairline crack between wall and door, hoping to make out words. She was in luck- whoever was conversing was standing near her. Straining, she began to understand the conversation.
"…nabbed Nine. We heard he was good, but we didn't notice him until it was too late… the target escaped. We lost the boy around Flash, and came straight here." This one was obviously male, and young, from the sound of his voice, probably around mid-twenties. He was breathing hard, as if he had run a great deal. Beka secretly hoped he would hyperventilate.
"Are you certain you weren't followed?" This voice was harder to decipher. She thought it was female, but it was so carefully controlled she couldn't tell. She pressed her head closer to the crack.
"Yes. There was no one in sight when we entered the cellar. The only soul was a flower girl at the end of the street, and she was too busy shooing away bees than paying attention to us." Beka very nearly sang with relief. If that girl was affiliated with Rosto, she would send word, and Beka could very well be freed by the end of the day. She had a suspicion that she was yet another victim of the recent Death Dealers. If she thought right, she was the third victim. Hopefully she would be the last.
The first person was still speaking. "Eight was keeping watch as I entered. We ditched the uniforms soon after we lost the boy, leaving them in the entrance to a burnt-out house, hidden enough to not be noticeable by anyone who isn't looking."
A newcomer- Eight, she guessed- added, "After that we came straight here. Are you certain your agent is enough to wound the Rogue before he joins in the chase?"
Her breath caught. They had targeted Rosto? But how had they figured out about their relationship? No one else had caught on, at least as far as she knew… but apparently someone had, for Rosto had been the one to receive news of her capture.
Panic gripped her. What about her children? They would be asking for her, wondering where she was… Verene would be wondering why she had broken her promise. Sweet little Verene, who would never harm a fly… and Nathanial, who was so determined at such a young age. She knew that they would grow up to do great things… and now, now she might not live to see it.
She focused on the conversation once more. "Fools. I didn't want to wound him. I only wanted his temper to cloud his judgment. He'll be hotheaded, and make mistakes. If I lure him out into the open, I can utilize his anger and destroy him. His Court will be scattered, and all alliances between the Court of the Rogue and the Dogs will be destroyed. There will be mayhem in the streets, and we'll take advantage of the chaos. The King would send down his knights and soldiers to bring order, leaving him vulnerable. That, my simple-minded followers, is our real goal."
"Bleed his resources dry, and strike." This was the original speaker. "We will not disappoint."
"You had better not," Was the icy reply. "Six, fetch Two for me. We need to have a discussion. Eight, check on the prisoner. I don't want her dead…yet."
Footsteps approached, and Beka leapt to her pallet, rolling over to face the wall. A shadow fell across her, and she tried to control her breathing, making it seem like she was asleep. A shoe prodded her. She closed her eyes, peering up through her lashes when he rolled her over. She saw a well-muscled structure, a shaved head, and ordinary brown eyes. Memorizing his facial structure, she waited until he left to sit up again.
If Rosto was on his way, she needed to get busy. He would need all the help she could give him.
Ersken's Puppy didn't keep them waiting. He trotted up to them, breathing heavily, but still standing. "They thought they lost me in Flash District, but I hid until they revealed themselves again," He reported. "I dogged them all the way to Patten, where they entered a cellar underneath an abandoned inn. I made sure to check for sentries- the place was crawling with 'em. I couldn't tell if there were mage-traps or not, though I wouldn't doubt it. Some rushers were there as well, and they told me that their mates were exploring the back. Also told me to tell the Rogue that the cat is on the prowl, though I dunno how it helps."
Rosto smiled grimly. "Thanks, kid. Goodwin, we're going to need stealth over force. That place is heavily protected. Get your mages. We're going to need to disable some charms while we're at it."
The Puppy looked at him curiously. "How do you know?"
"Code-talk, kid. The cat indicates stealth, and on the prowl indicates heavy defenses." Rosto replied. "I need to get Kora and Aniki, and tell the kids that I'm going to be gone a while." His eyes turned to Tunstall's. "If anything happens to us, swear that you'll protect them. I don't want them to be drawn into this conflict."
Tunstall, unnerved by the look he saw in those eyes, nodded. "May the gods be my witness," He vowed.
Abruptly, Rosto turned. "Get me when you're ready to leave," He said. Shoving his shaking hands into his pockets, he walked back to the Dove to prepare for war.
Goodwin had assembled a force of fifteen Dogs and four mages when Rosto returned. He himself brought thirteen thieves, and three mages. All were men and women skilled in sneaking in and out of houses, inns, and other buildings where they could get a profit. Rosto's forces split up, each taking a different route so as to not raise alarm. Goodwin's Dogs all walked together, talking little and grimly running checks to see if everything was set and ready. Ersken was up in the front with his Puppy and Tunstall. Everyone knew to let those two go in first. They were the ones who were closest to Beka; they wanted revenge. Most of them wondered why Rosto was involved, but knew that he and Beka were friends- perhaps he, too, was trying to rescue her? But the Rogue needed more motivation than just friendship, surely. How would bringing down the Death Dealers help him?
Most of all, they felt sorry about Beka's children. They frequently visited the Kennel, accompanying their mother on errands and following behind her like little ducklings. Nathanial was already eager to join the Dogs; several of the older Guardsmen and women had taught him some basic baton moves. Both children were incredibly sweet and good-natured, and everyone couldn't help but like them. Now, they were in danger of losing their mother as their father was gone most of the time. In fact, none of them were sure who their father was. Beka claimed he was a courier, but none of them had seen him.
These thoughts only took up the first few moments of their time. As they drew closer to Patten, they became solely focused on the task at hand, preparing to burn the place down if necessary to free Beka.
Rosto's people were waiting, scattered around in a loose circle. The Dogs drifted apart, forming a perimeter of their own. In hushed voices, the thieves explained the layout, and soon Goodwin and Rosto came around to explain the plan. The mages were already at work. Those who had the Gift could see faint flashes where the traps were being dismantled, and some of the guards collapsed without explanation. This was Kora's doing. After three such demonstrations, she nearly fainted, and had to be carried off to a safer area to recover.
When the mages were through, Rosto gave the signal to advance. He and his rogues would be in charge of getting rid of the extra guards, so that the more visible Dogs could get in without mishap. Swiftly, several rushers swarmed up the sides of the building, dropping in windows to slay or knock out the guards, dragging them to nearby closets and locking the doors. The ones that were unconscious were bound and gagged, and those who resisted were killed. One even fell out of a window rather than face Rosto, whose dark eyes shone with a dangerous light and his grim expression spelled death. It was over in far less time than any had hoped.
Goodwin led her team to the cellar, and Rosto led his to the inside entrance. They planned on catching the enemy in a pincer move, trapping them between two forces so that none could escape, or get a chance to harm Beka. Their timing was perfect, and they caught the members unaware, but no one noticed a slight figure that was in Beka's cell to begin with, struggling with the woman who had made a weapon out of her blanket. The fabric was knotted at one end and soaked in water that had been given to her earlier. It was a crude, but effective, weapon, and she wielded it with little mercy. Unfortunately, she was still weak and sore. It took little time until Beka was overpowered, dragged struggling and screaming out of the room.
Rosto and Ersken heard her first. Dashing out of the room where their comrades were fighting against the kidnappers, they saw Beka being dragged toward a staircase, one that they had previously overlooked. Though she was trying to fight her way free, her captor's grip was iron. Rosto and Ersken had just reached the bottom of the staircase when Beka was dragged through the door at the top. It slammed shut, and there was a grating sound as a lock was turned.
Kora, who had recovered enough to join in the fight, had noticed their exit and without a word sent a fire spell to consume the very wooden, very rotten door. It disintegrated instantly and Rosto strode through without a word.
Beka was being held in the center of a large room of what used to be the entrance room of the inn. She was slumped forward, a trickle of red dripping from her temple. Bruises dotted her body from her rough treatment, and her scars were standing out, reminding him of all the times he nearly lost her.
What sent him over the edge was the dagger that was pressed to her throat.
"If you have business with me, leave Cooper out of this," He growled.
The hooded figure snorted. "She has everything to do with this. She's heading the investigation that is looking for me. She is a roadblock to our plans. She is the one way to get to you." The voice clearly held a sneer. "I've known about your secret love-life for a while. All one has to do is piece together the clues. She lives with you at the Dove, and your eldest son- what's his name? Nathanial? Yes, that's right. Named after a dead Puppy. He looks remarkably similar to his father. And you two are constantly seen together. I've been planning this for months, and I knew that if I didn't get rid of you, then my plan would fail."
"Oh? And how will I cut into your grand plans of glory?" His voice was smooth and devoid of emotion. If Beka had been aware, she would have noticed that his anger had turned his eyes darker than night.
"You have allied with the Dogs through Beka. If I kill you and Beka alike, the Lower City will be in chaos, the peace between the Court and the Dogs destroyed. Even better, if I have you and Beka kill each other, a bigger uproar will occur. The king will be forced to send down his guard at the castle, and I'll be free to pick down his forces so that, when I enter the castle, I will meet less resistance."
Contemptuously, Rosto said, "You're insane."
"Ah- that's where you're wrong. I am a revolutionary. The Conté line has ruled for too long. By assassinating the King, his heir, and all of those in the castle, I will proclaim myself supreme ruler and usher in a new age of conquest!"
Sometime during this tirade, their hood had fallen back, revealing a man who was no older than Rosto. Somewhere behind him, Ersken sucked in his breath. "That's Lord Tirragen! He was banished a few months ago for rebellion!"
"Looks like banishment hasn't stopped him," Kora muttered.
Beka moaned, beginning to regain consciousness. Tirragen flung her aside, and she skidded across the wood floor, crying out in pain. Rosto snapped- his daggers flashing, he lunged at Tirragen, but the man had drawn a sword, and Rosto had to duck lest his head be cut off. He did manage to cut a shallow wound on Tirragen's stomach, but the cut scabbed quickly, and did nothing to hinder him.
"My my, what brutal savages. Must everyone be so violent?"
The new voice cut across the air, originating from a figure descending from a rickety staircase. It was female, with more than a little Yamani influence. Only her hair, which was a deep copper, showed she had mixed parentage. Graceful, alert, and satisfied, she reminded Rosto of a cat. A dangerous, predatory cat.
She nudged Beka's prone form on the ground. Her lips curled in disgust, she said, "This is the one we've feared for so long? The so-called Mastiff? She looks like an over-grown infant."
Tirragen growled. "Ashana, I thought I told you to stay out of this! I don't need your help."
Ashana sniffed, lifting her head in dismissal. "And let you have all the fun? I think not." A honey-colored globe materialized in her hand, and she peered at Rosto's friends. "None of them look fun to play with. Pity."
Kora stepped forward. "She's a mage," She said. "This is my battle." Her blue-green Gift was already sparkling in her hands- the two women regarded each other, sizing up their opponent. "Well. Shall we?" Ashana asked, and they moved to an available area of the room.
Rosto and Tirragen had resumed their battle, the sounds of their battle ringing in the open space. Beka, from her place on the floor, slowly opened her eyes. Though the images were blurry at first, her vision soon cleared as she stood, forcing herself to walk painfully forward.
Rosto was whirling around like a miniature tornado, seeking an opening in his opponent. Unfortunately, Tirragen, being a noble, had been trained on the sword since he was old enough to wield one. He was a master, handling the sword with elegance and grace. Rosto's daggers were nothing but tiny, annoying flies to a large, thick-skinned elephant; he was outmatched, tired from worry and anger, and slowly losing ground. Already he bled from multiple wounds; Tirragen was largely unscathed.
"Rosto," She said, her voice barely louder than a whisper. "Rosto," She repeated, taking one painful step toward him. Locked in his battle, he didn't hear nor see her. Somewhere nearby, a loud boom indicated that Kora had unleashed a fire spell. Ashana danced gracefully out of the way, smirking. "Try again, gixie," She said sweetly. "And do try to improve your aim. I'm getting rather bored."
Kora, voice harsh, said, "And I'm tired of your running and dodging. How about you stay still, and that way we can both be happy?"
Ashana gave a tinkling laugh. "I will regret killing you. I haven't had a worthy opponent in ages," she sighed.
Beka was still moving closer to Rosto. Ersken, who had finally gathered his wits, grabbed her arm. "Are you ok?" he demanded. "Aniki, go get a healer!"
As the rusher complied, Beka tried to escape Erksen's grip. "I have to go to him," She insisted. "Don't you see? They are trying to get him to be emotional, so that his actions will be wild and unguarded; already he's losing the fight!" She was trembling, her pulls weak; they both knew she would collapse soon.
Aniki came back with a healer. "The battle downstairs is over," She told the two as the healer began to work on Beka. Shrugging off her cloak, Aniki added, "They surrendered a few moments after we left. They're heading to the Cages as we speak, to have a decent sleep before they are questioned and hung." Her eyes were black coals. "Take this, Beka. I would have found some clothes, but there was no time."
Grateful, Beka wrapped the cloak around her, feeling light-headed from the healer's spells. Watching as sores, abrasions, and other wounds knitted themselves closed before her eyes, she leaned against Aniki, whispering.
Her voice was faint, and Aniki had to lean closer to Beka's mouth before she could catch the end of her sentence- "… will be missing their father."
Verene and Nathanial, Aniki thought. They are still at the Dove…
"Ersken," She said. "Get back to the Dove. Make sure the kids are alright."
Ersken nodded. "Everything will be fine, Beka," He said, kissing the Guardswoman on the forehead before dashing down the stairs.
The healer, wincing at each clang as Rosto and Tirragen connected, said, "I've done as much as I can. There are still wounded downstairs that I must attend to."
Aniki nodded. The healer followed Ersken, relieved.
Rosto let out a wounded cry, and both women looked up to see Tirragen's blade sinking into Rosto's side. Screaming in rage, Beka scrambled up, knocking into Tirragen and causing him to stagger. Pounding at him with her hands, she felt a cold excitement at being able to exact revenge on her captor. Completely taken by surprise at her attack, he was unable to defend himself for the first few seconds.
Rosto, his hand pressed against his side, raised Tirragen's sword and plunged it through the man's stomach. From where she had been straddling his chest, Beka watched as his eyes flooded with pain and surprise- then faded as the Black God claimed him. Panting, she still had her bloodied hands raised in the air, preparing to strike, shaking once more from adrenaline and rage. Slowly, she turned. Meeting Rosto's eyes, she looked at him for several moments, drinking in the sight of him.
An explosion of Kora's barely reached their ears. Slowly, Beka stood, holding out a hand to lightly brush his cheek. "You came," she whispered.
"I was too late, Beka," He replied just as softly. "I wasn't able to protect you… even now you were the one to protect me…" His legs weakened. Sagging against her, he finally seemed to realize that his hand was doing next to nothing to staunch the flow of blood from his side. He stared in surprise at it, lifting it up to see it dyed crimson. "That's funny," He murmured. "Is that supposed to hurt?"
"ROSTO!" She screamed as he collapsed.
Aniki raced to find a free healer as Beka tried to staunch the blood flow in vain. Tearing Rosto's tunic off, she pressed it to his side, watching in horror as the tunic, once a light brown, now turned a dark mahogany. She pressed harder.
Upon seeing Rosto collapse, Kora was out for revenge. Her fire spells came out rapidly, giving Ashana barely enough room to dodge. The part-Yamani began to have the faintest traces of worry appear in her amber eyes; when she was slammed against a pillar, she rose slowly. "Playtime's over," She growled. Shedding her elaborate kimono, a form-fitting red tunic-dress with gold embroidery and black leggings was revealed. Pulling out a dagger from red armbands fastened to her upper arm, Ashana crouched, pale honey-colored light playing upon the steel.
"Don't worry," Ashana crooned. "I'll be sure you die before those two. I'll spare you the sight of a truly horrific and magnificent killing."
"I hope you don't mind if I decline the invitation," Kora growled, and on a mutual agreement they rushed each other.
It was the last charge they made.
Ashana was deadly with the daggers, but Kora had been living with Rosto for years. She knew every trick, every motion, and every way to dodge and deflect. Her blue-green gift bit and stung, fashioned into a long whip that searched out every bit of exposed flesh. One flick of her fingers, and it wrapped around Ashana's wrists; another flick, and the whip elongated to wrap around her throat.
"No one," Kora hissed, tightening her other hand, and the whip copied the movement. "No one tries to kidnap Beka and get away with it. No one tries to kill Rosto and gets away alive. You, Miss Princess, are going to the deepest, darkest part of the Black God's Realm to rot. I'll make sure of it."
Ashana scrabbled at the cord around her throat, her eyes rolling to the back of her head. When she went limp, Kora, not releasing the pressure around Ashana's neck, checked for a pulse- there was none. Letting the dead mot drop, she turned and joined Beka and Rosto.
The two were engrossed in each other. "Stay with me," Beka whispered, holding Rosto close. "You're going to be fine. Hold on until Aniki finds a healer. It will only be a few seconds..."
Rosto, eyes fluttering, smiled painfully up at her. "Sorry, Beka, but it looks like I won't be able to make it to next week's Happy Bag," he croaked. "And I was looking forward to teasing you…"
"You do that already, you big dolt," She replied, and then buried her head on his chest. Kora silently padded away to check on Aniki and the healer.
He lifted weak hands to thread his fingers through her hair. "Verene and Nathanial are going to make me proud one day," he murmured. "Even if they don't fall into your footsteps, they will be so honorable… I love you so much…"
"I love you, too," she whispered. "Please, Rosto, don't leave me. It's not time yet. The Court needs you. Verene and Nathanial need you. I need you. Don't let Tirragen win."
"I love you…so much…" His eyes fluttered closed.
The last thing he saw before his world went black was Beka screaming at him to stay awake.
Verene stared at Nathanial with wide ice-blue eyes. "It's not true!" she insisted.
Nathanial looked back solemnly. "Would I lie about that, Verene?" he asked. His sister scrunched up her face, but didn't answer. For a time, the two siblings had a battle of wills, before Beka marched in and said, "Bedtime. And don't argue; I already let you stay up later than I like." She kissed the top of Verene's head. "Hurry along, now. Mommy's got to leave for work soon."
Nathanial complied, but Verene stubbornly walked in the opposite direction. "Not until I say goodnight to Daddy," she declared, and Beka shook her head at her daughter's antics. Following after her determined young offspring, she looked on as Verene clambered up to sit beside the healing Rosto. "Goodnight, Daddy," their daughter said.
"Goodnight," He replied, smiling. "Is it bedtime already?"
"Mommy has to go to work," Verene informed him. Rosto flashed Beka a grin. "Really? Well, why don't you sleep in here tonight? I do get rather lonely."
The girl brightened instantly. "I'll be right back!" She promised, and scooted off the bed to run to her and Nathanial's shared bedroom. Beka shook her head. "You spoil her rotten," She chastised, though not unkindly. Kissing his forehead, she said, "I'll be back before you know it. Goodwin refused to let me go on patrol for more than three hours tonight."
"At least you get to get out of the Dove," He grumbled in reply. "I'm still confined to bed rest." Rosto had not been a good patient in his months of recovery. The stab wound had come dangerously close to his vitals, and his body had gained resistance to healing. Now, whether he wanted one or not, and large ugly scar would be present on his side, a reminder of the time when Beka had nearly watched him die. Though both had no desire to be reminded of the experience, it had taught them one thing: Sometimes, things happened unexpectedly, and you either sank or swam. Luckily, Rosto was a strong swimmer, and he had pulled through miraculously.
"It's only a month before you can leave the room," She said. "But enjoy it while you can. Soon you'll be wishing you never took a step out of bed."
He grumbled something in reply, but pulled her closer before saying, "Don't ever frighten me like that again, understand? I don't care what it takes, but never put me through that again. I thought I had lost you, Beka. It felt like a part of me had died."
"I'm still here," She whispered. "And so are you."
Beka wasn't sure when she had changed. One moment, she had been the fierce, independent terrier; and now, she was a strong, unmovable rock that was the Rouge's Lady as much as she was the Mastiff. Ever since she had met Rosto, her life had changed. Only when she was scared Rosto was going to die did she realize that she had said goodbye to her old life long ago. This was who she was now.
"You know," She said as Verene returned, "I think tomorrow I'll take a day off. It's been a while since we've had family time."
As Verene made happy, excited noises while bouncing slightly on the bed, causing Rosto to wince, Beka continued. "It can be our own personal celebration. Rosto can play his pipes, I'll tell stories about Watch, Nathanial can show us his baton patterns, and Verene, you can draw us pictures."
"I can draw anything I want?" Verene asked, her eyes wide. At least she had stopped jumping on the bed, Rosto noticed wryly.
"Anything you want." Beka said, smiling. "What do you think, Rosto?"
As he looked between his lover and youngest child, Rosto knew he had never felt happier than he did in that instant. In that moment, the part of him that was the Piper died. With a warm smile, Rosto said, "That sounds perfect."
And it was.
And to tie up loose ends . . .
Nathanial becomes a Dog, and though he isn't as famous as his mother, he becomes a well-respected Guard in his own right. Verene inherits the Gift, and becomes a healer. Both marry and have children, and George is a direct descendant from Nathanial (Looks like Rosto's genes didn't entirely die out, eh?). Ersken finally stops dragging his feet and marries Kora, and they have a son, who is a mage as well, and equally as talented with fire spells. Aniki and Phelan never get married, but they do live together. Goodwin retires at an old age, and Beka takes over when she does. Rosto also retires around this time, naming a bright young rusher in his court as Rouge, who carries Rosto's legacy well. Beka's siblings all hold prominent positions in their occupations. And though chaos strikes Corus every now and then, it's nothing that Beka and Rosto can't handle. They live happily ever after, and die in their sleep together when their grandchildren are grown.
Well, that's it in a nutshell.
If I ever get around to it, I think my next story will be from the plotline I mentioned in Orange. Hopefully I can get it over with before Mastiff comes out. If not, well, dang. That's why one should never procrastinate.
I've had tons of fun writing this story, and I hope you had fun reading it! Until next time~
- Larxene
P.S. You should still review. I'd like to know how my ending went over :)