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<blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7513625" data-attributes="member: 143"><p>Chapter 222</p><p></p><p>The wind blew hard over the exposed jut of stone. It swept over the edge where a drop of several hundred feet plummeted down to the treetops in the valley below. The sky was a vast blue expanse empty of everything save for the occasional solitary bird circling high above.</p><p></p><p>The figure seated on the edge of the jut did not notice the birds or the breeze or the sharp drop. He sat alone, deep within his own thoughts.</p><p></p><p>Embrae emerged from a small door in the high wall that circled the monastery and walked out to where the solitary figure meditated. The breeze tugged at her loose robe, but she showed no fear of the crumbling edge just a pace from where she walked. She passed along the narrow trail to the outcrop, then hopped up onto it and slowly advanced to the waiting figure.</p><p></p><p>“I missed you in town yesterday,” she said.</p><p></p><p>The other said nothing.</p><p></p><p>“I spoke with Glori,” she said. “I’m sorry, Kosk. If you wish to remain alone I will respect your wishes, but there are times when it helps to talk.”</p><p></p><p>“There is nothing to be done for it,” he said. “I made my own fate.”</p><p></p><p>“We all change,” Embrae said. “Even elves, though there are many among my kind who would deny the charge.”</p><p></p><p>“One cannot change the past.”</p><p></p><p>“No. But one can change the future. It seems to me like you’ve done a pretty good job of that. That person those dwarves are looking for… that isn’t you, Kosk.”</p><p></p><p>“It was,” Kosk said. “I was a vicious bastard, Embrae.”</p><p></p><p>“You tried to atone,” Embrae said. “Nobody is ever so far gone that they cannot change who they are.”</p><p></p><p>Kosk shook his head. “The things I’ve done… I don’t deserve forgiveness. I killed people, people who had done nothing to deserve the fate I visited upon them.”</p><p></p><p>“Expunging your life won’t do anything to help them,” Embrae said.</p><p></p><p>“You don’t have to make those arguments to me,” Kosk said. “I’ve made them all to myself, every possible variation, a hundred times.”</p><p></p><p>“You’re going to turn yourself over to them.”</p><p></p><p>Kosk didn’t say anything, and after a few moments Embrae continued, “What good will that do?”</p><p></p><p>“It may help some of those I have wronged to move on.”</p><p></p><p>“I don’t know. It sort of sounds like the coward’s path.”</p><p></p><p>At that some of his calm cracked, and an angry look briefly crossed his features. “I don’t expect you to understand.”</p><p></p><p>“It’s true, I have not known you for very long,” she said. “But what of those who have? They care about you, Kosk.”</p><p></p><p>“They’ll get by all right.”</p><p></p><p>“Maybe they will. But it will hurt them. They won’t understand either, why you’ll just give up without a fight. From what I hear, people who know you are lining up to offer testimony in your defense.”</p><p></p><p>“I didn’t ask them to.”</p><p></p><p>“You didn’t have to, Kosk. That’s what friendship is. I suggest you think about that, because I have a feeling that we’re coming up on dangerous times ahead. What we encountered in the forest, that wasn’t the end of it, you know that as well as I do. And we’re going to need each other’s help to face it, whatever it is.”</p><p></p><p>She paused, letting the calm beauty of the day just exist between them. Finally she said, “I am going back to my people, back to Tal Nadesh.”</p><p></p><p>At that he finally did look over at her. “What made you change your mind?”</p><p></p><p>“It was something a friend told me recently,” she said. “That I might do a good job helping to rebuild the Tenders. And he taught me a lesson about confronting one’s own past, rather than letting it define you.”</p><p></p><p>He didn’t respond. The elf woman turned and went back the way she had come, her angry strides crunching on the loose stones of the path far more than her quiet approach had, punctuated by the slamming of the door set into the wall.</p><p></p><p>Kosk remained alone with his thoughts as the day began to fade.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lazybones, post: 7513625, member: 143"] Chapter 222 The wind blew hard over the exposed jut of stone. It swept over the edge where a drop of several hundred feet plummeted down to the treetops in the valley below. The sky was a vast blue expanse empty of everything save for the occasional solitary bird circling high above. The figure seated on the edge of the jut did not notice the birds or the breeze or the sharp drop. He sat alone, deep within his own thoughts. Embrae emerged from a small door in the high wall that circled the monastery and walked out to where the solitary figure meditated. The breeze tugged at her loose robe, but she showed no fear of the crumbling edge just a pace from where she walked. She passed along the narrow trail to the outcrop, then hopped up onto it and slowly advanced to the waiting figure. “I missed you in town yesterday,” she said. The other said nothing. “I spoke with Glori,” she said. “I’m sorry, Kosk. If you wish to remain alone I will respect your wishes, but there are times when it helps to talk.” “There is nothing to be done for it,” he said. “I made my own fate.” “We all change,” Embrae said. “Even elves, though there are many among my kind who would deny the charge.” “One cannot change the past.” “No. But one can change the future. It seems to me like you’ve done a pretty good job of that. That person those dwarves are looking for… that isn’t you, Kosk.” “It was,” Kosk said. “I was a vicious bastard, Embrae.” “You tried to atone,” Embrae said. “Nobody is ever so far gone that they cannot change who they are.” Kosk shook his head. “The things I’ve done… I don’t deserve forgiveness. I killed people, people who had done nothing to deserve the fate I visited upon them.” “Expunging your life won’t do anything to help them,” Embrae said. “You don’t have to make those arguments to me,” Kosk said. “I’ve made them all to myself, every possible variation, a hundred times.” “You’re going to turn yourself over to them.” Kosk didn’t say anything, and after a few moments Embrae continued, “What good will that do?” “It may help some of those I have wronged to move on.” “I don’t know. It sort of sounds like the coward’s path.” At that some of his calm cracked, and an angry look briefly crossed his features. “I don’t expect you to understand.” “It’s true, I have not known you for very long,” she said. “But what of those who have? They care about you, Kosk.” “They’ll get by all right.” “Maybe they will. But it will hurt them. They won’t understand either, why you’ll just give up without a fight. From what I hear, people who know you are lining up to offer testimony in your defense.” “I didn’t ask them to.” “You didn’t have to, Kosk. That’s what friendship is. I suggest you think about that, because I have a feeling that we’re coming up on dangerous times ahead. What we encountered in the forest, that wasn’t the end of it, you know that as well as I do. And we’re going to need each other’s help to face it, whatever it is.” She paused, letting the calm beauty of the day just exist between them. Finally she said, “I am going back to my people, back to Tal Nadesh.” At that he finally did look over at her. “What made you change your mind?” “It was something a friend told me recently,” she said. “That I might do a good job helping to rebuild the Tenders. And he taught me a lesson about confronting one’s own past, rather than letting it define you.” He didn’t respond. The elf woman turned and went back the way she had come, her angry strides crunching on the loose stones of the path far more than her quiet approach had, punctuated by the slamming of the door set into the wall. Kosk remained alone with his thoughts as the day began to fade. [/QUOTE]
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