The Secrets That You Keep

Artorias watched Corbin take flight from his balcony into the cloudy sky, the black bird fading into a speck amongst the gray canvas the further he got with each flap of his powerful wings. He had done as Sirius had asked and sent the summons for Briar and the missive for Naiche on behalf of the injured Warlord. A silent prayer escaped his heart for his companion's safe travels; the weather was still notoriously unpredictable, even though some days seemed to be getting better than others. Perhaps it was finally heralding the end to the awful extended winter they had been forced to endure? The boy could only hope.

Once Corbin was out of sight, Artorias dropped his paws from the balcony's balustrade and turned back into the warmth of the castle, shutting the doors to keep the cold out. He was still pretty shaken by his loss of total control against Sirius the day before, and although he and the Fatalis patriarch had a heart-to-heart and made amends, he still felt a nervousness when he considered how easy it had been to lose himself like that and get that violent... Seer had promised meditation lessons for the lad once he healed, so for now all he could do was wait and let their wounded guest recover.

Wandering aimlessly around the castle's second floor, Art eventually meandered into the grand foyer, trotting gracefully across one of the upper walkways that connected the west and east wings of the castle when he heard the sound of someone breathing fast and shallow, as if they were running for their lives or about to burst into sobs. Artorias stopped, peering over the railing in time to spot the smaller black-furred form of his mother rushing up the stairs, appearing distraught and on the edge of a breakdown. His brow furrowed, concern painting his visage while amber eyes followed Tamsyn's path up to the tower stairs until she had disappeared from sight. Had something happened that he wasn't aware of? What had his mother in such a state?

He had to know. Changing directions on a dime, Artorias moved with a brisk canter back across the walkways to the tower stairs, peering up them for a moment before giving pursuit to his mother. Up and up and up the fast becoming familiar steps he went, higher and higher until he reached the trapdoor at the top. Except this time, it was still open. Tamsyn had forgotten to shut it in her rush to reach the zenith of the Carpathius fortress. It allowed Art to pull himself up to the tower roof almost silently, spotting his mother a short distance away.

"Mom...?" he called out to her while he pushed the trapdoor shut, giving them some much needed privacy. "Is something wrong? Are you okay?"


"Artorias" | Thoughts | "Corbin"