Fatima's Diary

reflections for the lost

51. Aftermath

I reclaimed my wings from Bramblebeard, who I think was a little shell-shocked by all that was around us. I did not weep for Sanantha or Whit; I had already mourned for them, and spoke their death prayers over them as they still breathed. I felt shamed that I desired to bring them back to our Mortal World and away from Paradise. We carried Sanantha and Whit out into the black cloak of night, and around us was fighting, burning, and screaming. Garish lights from burning buildings and torches illuminated the mad scene before us. The townsfolk had forks, hoes, spears, and a few swords in their hands as they broke down doors and tore down crumbling walls to get at the Abrantier nobility. I already could see a few blackened and hacked bodies raised on crude hanging posts. Some of those gristly displays were not fully whole of limb.

Through the throng pushed the face of an old acquaintance, Triana. In her hands she held a stout bone rod capped with gold, and a night-soaking amulet that she later handed to Whit.

Rihana was able to discern the function of the rod. Fortune had certainly smiled upon us because it held the power to bring our slain friends back to life. I felt ashamed at first that I would sit by and watch as my companions were ripped from Paradise and back into the pain and suffering of our world. Their memories fragmented, we had to remind them of where they were and our common purpose. Whit was surprised we all escaped death's embrace, but was unable to relate to me in any way what Paradise was like. I didn't want to ask him directly, because such a thing would be shaming to him, but I have concluded that the terrible shock of being pulled from Paradise not only damages their memory of the Mortal Life, but also destroys their Perfect Memory of the Paradise. I had to remind myself several times a return to the Mortal World was their wish before they entered Paradise. I am not so sure that I would be brave enough to leave Paradise once I entered, assuming that I would be allowed entry. My father's blood might keep me wandering this world a lost, tormented ghost.

Late that night and into dawn the town completed it's crumbling around us, and once the general townsfolk knew we were the cause of their liberation, great cheers followed us through the wreckage. We walked through the wreckage of a town that had fallen in and devoured itself, like evil is always known to do.

We appointed Smaki and Triana to rebuild the town in our stead and to follow the simple laws of the realm and logic while clearing the rubble and keeping the townsfolk together and united under our patronage. Our mission to the Emperor weighed heavy in our minds, and I insisted that we move on and meet Tolmadrin as quickly as possible.

After healing and readying ourselves to journey back to Lyrenn, we set out on horseback, making a quick pace of it. To our astonishment, only a few hours outside of town, we spied Tolmadrin sitting on the side of the road, like as if he had all the time in existence to wait for our chance passing. He immediately informed us that we were to be teleported to Lyrenn where Toran had left us a difficult task.