Myths of Power

Coltan keeps a wary eye on Gailin as he leaves and once assured that he was on his rounds, takes his drink to the table.

"Your 'daughter' here isn't all that smart..Is she new?" Coltan smirks under his drink meaning the second part to be a joke.

Catherine's smile quickly fades to embarrassment. She lowers he head. "Yes, actually, I am."

Coltan stops in mid drink and lowers it to the table. "Oh...uh, sorry, I didn't know."

Catherine looks up in sudden anger and frustration, tears welling and falling from her eyes, and yells at Coltan. "I'm trying my best! It's not my fault that I just don't know what to do!"

Richard, quite taken aback by Catherine's outburst looks down and quickly places a hand over hers.

"Get a hold of yourself child. Coltan, come with us to the room, quickly."

The three move towards the upstairs where Catherine points at what room is theirs. They enter the room and slam the door.

"Coltan, keep guard on the door." Catherine falls on the bed, still crying.

Coltan braces himself against the door. "What's the matter, what's wrong?"

"Catherine. Come here." Richard starts pulling off his cloak and bandages again. "I didn't expect to do this for at least another week, but you're progressing too fast. Womanly emotion I'd guess."

At this comment Catherine storms over to Richard and raises her hand. As she brings down her fury, Richard catches it, twists her wrist around painfully, then brings it up to her face. "Look...LOOK. THIS is what happens when you lose control."

Catherine's face turns to horror as she is faced with her partial skeletal hand, flesh rotted away, muscle and tendons shining in the candlelight. "Oh gods.. what do I do? What do I do?"

Richard turns to Coltan. His face has turned ashen "Are you going to do...hrmph...what I THINK you're going to do?"

Richard smiles vindictively. "You seem to know a lot about revenants Coltan. Yes, I am. You need to come here and hold Catherine still." he releases her hand but Catherine continues to stare in fascinated horror at what is happening to her, the removal of flesh and sinew progresses further down her arm.

Richard tears off his shirt. His body is ravaged. Scarred, burned, blistered and broken. Coltan holds onto Catherine and sees Richard. "How old are you Richard? Can you still do this?"

Richard takes a deep breath. "Too old..too old to be playing father, teacher, AND healer. Have you seen the Trial of Exchange before?" Richard breathes even deeper and the flesh on his torso peels back.

Coltan takes a gulp of air. "Once..when I was in training. I have to tell you...I didn't last through the whole process...made quite a..hmmpp..MESS afterward."

Coltan starts to see the bodies of dozens of insects and larvae squirm to the surface of Richards chest. "Don't worry Coltan. Once it starts, I want you to leave and lock the door. Take a small bag of coins and pay the inn keeper to leave us alone. It should be enough." Richard grabs Catherine's hand softly, her fingertips start to fall as the last of the cartilage and tendons shrink away. "Come back in the morning. We should be good then."

Sweat drips off of Coltan's face. "Are you ready for this?"

Richard places the tip of Catherine's hand at his chest like a spear. Insects reach out and grab the remaining bones, keeping them in place "Now or never!!" In a flash, Richard impales himself on her hand and arm, causing her to scream for an instant.

Coltan releases Catherine as the two fall to the floor. Bone, blood, and flesh become one around Richards chest and Catherine's arm. Small, black insects shift under Richard's skin, moving toward Catherine. Both lay silent.

Coltan reaches into Richard's cloak and pulls out a small purse of coins, tosses them in his hand, takes one final look back and leaves.

He locks the door and wipes the sweat from his brow. "I need a drink....and a bucket....."