In Lost Dreams the Four Were Bound

65 - Davnian - Solace

[I'm sorry for using you.] Davnian's thoughts wandered as he held Elis's sleeping body in his arms.

"You really are a heartless bastard," Neris whispered from his lips as their shared dark hands caressed the bronze-skinned woman. "I guess there's nowhere for this to go now, is there?"

[What do you mean?] Davnian asked as he urged their shared body onward.

One of the horses had run off, the remaining one looking at them with terrified eyes as it bucked in place. Raising their claw, Neris's voice shushed the beast. Davnian felt a sensation between himself and the braying beast, using his consciousness to help exert calm over the creature. As its breathing and restlessness abated, they turned their head and surveyed the cart.

"What happens to me after this, Davnian?" Neris asked as they lumbered to the back of the cart.

[I'm not sure,] he replied as they lifted Elis into it. [I guess we stay together. Over time, we just end up being.]

[It's a wonder you isolated her.] Another voice ripped through their black-headed skull like a blistering wind. [Somehow you were able to keep her and the little one intact.]

[I'll assume that's a compliment.] Davnian's reply was sardonic and comical as they got into the cart and used their shared resources to make room for Elis.

"So, this is what you put up with," Neris's said coolly as she laid out a canvas and blanket and then heaved Elis into place. With a sigh, she jumped off the wagon. Looking at her dead, discarded body, Neris bent down and picked up a pair of her throwing knives. Either way, they'd be keeping these at least. With a huff, they wiped the sweat from their brow. "Where's all of that strength from earlier? Gods, this is harder than moving her myself."

"I guess I spent it all back in the village and catching up with you two," Davnian said, his voice emerging from their throat as they stood. Shaking their head, Davnian felt their body reverting. Watching as her thin, dexterous hands gave way to his rougher, spindly members, Davnian turned the blades over in his grip. "Well, at least we have something."

[I guess,] Neris said from deep within the recesses of his brain. She had become distant in the short transition, causing him to frown. [You wouldn't be frowning if you were a bit faster, dear.]

"I know." Davnian's voice caught in his throat as the last of Neris's vestments disappeared from his mindscape. Water gathered at the corner of his eyes as he tied the knives to his sides.

[Why are you crying?] the other within his head asked.

[You know why.]

[She's not gone, Davnian.] Davnian almost felt like laughing at the audacity of the moment. [She must rest. This whole thing is fraught with trauma. Imagine being ripped from your body.]

[It's OK,] a little girl's voice whispered. A shiver shot down his spine. Despite being consoled, he felt a tinge of terror for the future. There was no place for three minds in one body.

"It'll never be the same, old one," Davnian said as he rallied the horse. "Is nothing whole and hale in this world?"

[You tell me,] the other replied.

Readying to untie the beast, Davnian stopped in his tracks. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied the faintest movement in the tall grass near the mound of rotting flesh and melting bone. Every nerve in his body steeled itself. Holding his breath, he watched the blades bend and move against the gentle breeze that flowed between the trees around them. Overcome with spite, he fetched a dagger and let it fly.

With a crying hiss, something squirmed and writhed.

[Careful now,] the other said.

Standing over the shining metal blade, Davnian watched as the worm-like creature with the thin stretched face of Thaimi Hyunisti struggled. He bent over, fetching the monstrosity with his clawed arm. Bringing it to his face, he looked it over, his blue eyes examining the pathetic thing as it wriggled in his grasp.

"Brother," a thin snake-like voice hissed from the coiled spine and skull. Then, without warning, its tail sharpened and plunged into Davnian's upper arm. As Davnian grimaced, the tiny thing laughed with reptilian glee. Feeling it ensnare his bone and muscle, Davnian turned and watched his coursing black veins spread up his arm. At the point of infection, his demonic flesh bound itself to the creature. "Virage!" it shrieked. "Virage, yes. Yes, now you see."

[What do I see?] Davnian's thoughts reached through his nerves to the twisting snake.

[Just like us,] the monster whispered as Davnian saw through thousands of eyes. All throughout the forest and burning mounds, weak, little things sought out new vessels. With frantic abandon, they fought against what sparse time they had left, suffering whatever corporeal form they could take. With manic abandon, the eyes all looked inward through the clutched thing, their tainted words teasing his brain. [We're the same, brother.]

[Maybe so and maybe not,] Davnian replied, his thoughts reaching out through the expanse.

The many on the other ends leered and mocked his statement, but as he stood there locked in mental contact, the tiny green embers of insight were snuffed out one by one. From across the expanse, tens of thousands of shadows looked out at the squirming things. With eyes as black as pitch, they stared into their hollow, putrid souls. The tiny worms pleaded for mercy, but their whispers were found wanting. As his vision returned to the world around him, the coil within his grasp blackened. The little Thaimi face clenched its twisted teeth as it transformed into a carbon husk. Then, with a flick of his wrist, Davnian scattered the monster's remains.

"You're just a worm. And I—" Davnian caught himself midsentence, realizing he no longer had an audience. Neither did he have a real answer. Shaking his head, he returned to the sniffing, curious equine and readied the cart. From deep within his brain, a nagging heading called to him. Taking his place beside the animal, he surveyed the twisted wagon trail.

Then the Virage led the horse and its burden westward into the unknown.