Cor Jaffel: Origins
THE BROTHERS BANIR
Jin pulled back the leather flap that served as some semblance of a door, peeking her head in before she took a step. "And how are my lovely brothers doing today?" She asked joyfully.
A solemn look and dismissive glance from Nolond told her all she needed to know.
"Oh. Another one of those nights, huh?"
He sat for a moment, trying to find the right words, before simply saying "It's getting worse." Another pause. "and I don't just mean more frequent. I barely pulled him through last night. Hell. *I* barely made it through last night."
She took a step towards him, but his hand went up to stop her.
"You don't want me to ease your pain?" she asked.
"Not today. Today I need to remember the pain if I am to have the guts to do what I need to."
She stood there, still barely within the doorway, waiting for him to explain what he meant.
"He's getting worse. A lot worse. We still have another year of summer, and even then it'll be a while before he calms down. And that's supposing it doesn't kill him first. Or me for that matter."
She stood still, wanting to comfort him, but knowing there was nothing to say.
"So. I've made up my mind. I've gathered up some coin, and we're buying passage on a ship to Uqnitum." Noland said.
"But what if they can't help him? Uqnitum is heading into summer, and he'd have years of this again?"
"I honestly — honestly — don't think he'll last if we don't get him help. The metas are our progenitors; if anyone can help him, they can. If they can't, we'll just hop another ship and move south."
"How did you even get the coin for a ship?" she asked, pointedly.
"Yeah. Don't ask. Let's just say that getting on that ship is in my best interest either way." Nolond deflected.
"Have you talked to Yogun about this? What's he say."
"I haven't. Honestly, I made the decision after I finally calmed him down last night. I knew there was a ship heading there today — the thought had already been there, but after last night... I just needed to make it happen."
"That bad, huh?" she asked.
"These visions are going to kill him. Or I'll try to take too much on and they'll kill me. Or they'll make me go insane and I'll kill him." he joked.
"Don't say that. You'd never hurt him" she responded.
"What are you talking about it? I'd let him put me out of my misery if he were ever up for it" Yogun joked as he came out the back room to join them.
"Yogun!" She ran over to him, giving him a hug, before holding his cheek in her hand. Warmth flowed from her hand, and his disheveled look grew peaceful within a moment.
He walked over to where his brother sat. "Thanks. Yeah, it was definitely a rough night." A simple glance and a small pat on the shoulder told Nolond that Yogun was more appreciative of his brother than he could say.
"So to Uqnitum, eh?" Yogun asks.
"I know you'll want to fight me on this, —" Nolond started.
"No no" Yogun interrupted. "After last night, what little fight I might have had in me is gone. If you think the metas on Uqnitum can help, I'll go."
A small look of suprise hit Nolonds face, and all were quiet for a moment.
"It's settled then!" Jin said suddenly. "We're going to Uqnitum."
"Woah, wait a moment" Nolond interjected. "I'm not dragging you across the plane through gods know what with us." A stern look from Jin countered his argument. "Besides, I don't have enough coin for all three of us to take passage."
"Yes you do" Yogun interrupted.
"Oh what, through all your mad hallucinations last night, with ramblings of aether krakens and strange havens in the abyss, you managed to see just how many coins I'd be able to steal this morning?!" Nolond retorted.
"34 damarters, and it's only ten per person for the trip." Yogun said calmly.
A look of utter annoyance and frustration on Nolonds face confirmed the truth.
"It's settled then. We're all three going. Your brother needs me as much as he needs you. If you're going to get him help, I'm coming with you." she said.
"Gods, you're as annoying as my brother" Nolond quipped.
"And that's why you adopted me as your sister. We're three sides of the same blade."
