Mists over the Musarde, Chapter Five

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio shakes his head, then steps towards Wat. "My friend, I would like to speak. Will you be translating for me?"

With that, the priest turns to address the growing crowd.

"Some of you are wishing to leave. I am understanding. My country, she is dominated by a brutal creature, much like Wolutha. Because of that, I left my home, and have not returned. But leaving, it is not such a simple thing. I my country with many of my closest friends, but I was the only one who survived. It is not a thing to be doing lightly. But we want to go home too, and if we should be finding a way out of here, you of course are having the freedom to leave.

"But some of you are wishing to stay. This too I am understanding. If I could be returning home, I would. But the Devil, he still reigns over my land. But you, my friends, are now free. Free to go, or free to stay. Yes, things are not perfect. Dark things creep in the night, and men will do evil to other men. But this is how it is in all places, my friends. He gestures to the burn scars on his face and hands. "Life, it is hard everywhere. There will always be evil to resist. We can give you knowledge, understanding of how to protect yourselves if you are wanting to stay here. But the choice, it is yours. Be grateful for that."

[JMaytr]

"Don't listen to him Wat! He is half gypsy and wishes for his blood curse to see us all perish! Let us leave into the mists and find our way home! Ottokar, Wat, Alain, lets get as many of the villagers together as we can and lets go beyond the woods. Whomever wishes to stay with the gypsy and his curse may of course stay. He speaks of devils and vampires. I speak of salvation! We can find healers beyond the woods that can help Alain! We could find another village where life is not so dark! Think about the children!"

[ewancummins]

"Don't listen to him Wat! He is half gypsy and wishes for his blood curse to see us all perish! Let us leave into the mists and find our way home! Ottokar, Wat, Alain, lets get as many of the villagers together as we can and lets go beyond the woods. Whomever wishes to stay with the gypsy and his curse may of course stay. He speaks of devils and vampires. I speak of salvation! We can find healers beyond the woods that can help Alain! We could find another village where life is not so dark! Think about the children!"

The crowd, now grown pretty large [ a few dozen people, at least] reacts to Jon's provocative language. Men yell, women scream, children hide behind their mothers' skirts- and many folks are staring at the Half-Blood.

Wat looks at Dorgio, then at Jon, then back at Dorgio-

''Uhh...what? I...uhhh"'

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

Dorgio feels pressure build just above his ears. He turns to look Jon in the eyes, saying nothing, just looking. He keeps his hand studiously away from his knife. Then, he turns his attention to Wat.

"Wat. You are knowing my works. Many times have I healed those around me while my own flesh hung ragged. Yes, my mother was a Vatraska healer. My father, a priest of the dawn," he says, displaying his tattooed left hand to the crowd. "And I heal, as they did. Nothing more. And besides, what harm were the Tinkers ever bringing this place? Two of their own fell to the killer, but did they take revenge against the moot?

"If you are wanting to leave, we will help, but to dash wholesale into the mists with no knowledge of what lies beyond, that is madness even for me! Yes, the mists may lead home, but the smart thing to do would be for only a few to try first. He turns to look at Jon once again. "I am sure there would be volunteers, yes?"

[JMaytr]

"You are blinded by your gypsy blood Dorgio! The tinkers lost two of their people to Van Dieks, but the gypsies have brought a curse upon us! You ask for volunteers Dorgio? You are a gypsy and may know the mist roads! I say YOU go into the mists and see if its safe!"

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

He turns and again stares at the boy. The mottled burns on his face stand out white in rage. He gets another cigarillo, lights it with the uncanny ease of his mongrel blood, and blows the smoke towards Jon's face.

"Someone be getting me a horse."

[ewancummins]

Someone in the crowd yells out-

''Yes! The boy speaks wisdom!''

[JMaytr]

Jonathan waves the smoke away from his face with his hand while stifling a cough. the boy never takes his eyes off Dorgio or his other hand away from his blade. The youth watches the older man for any sign of increased insult.

"You will come back and tell us won't you? maybe you should leave something here that you would return for? Perhaps your precious tabak? You could stow your belongings here with Cirdan, Benn and Norzak here. I know you have some sort of ill will towards me, but they were your companions from before. They will keep your things safe."

[ewancummins]

Wat slumps down to the ground, visibly disturbed by the scene unfolding before him.

Ottokar turns to face Dorgio-

''Do you have the talent for travelling the Mists?''

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

"Yes, that is what I am wanting to do, to be stranded in the mists -and- be out of smoke." He snorts. "If I go, and I am not killed or swept to a place of no return, I will be coming back. That is my word. And if my word is not good enough for you, you can be sticking that dagger up your <i>segg</I>." He thrusts two fingers in the air to drive the point home.

He then turns to Ottokar. "I do not know. I did it once. Perhaps I can be doing it again."

[ewancummins]

"Yes, that is what I am wanting to do, to be stranded in the mists -and- be out of smoke." He snorts. "If I go, and I am not killed or swept to a place of no return, I will be coming back. That is my word. And if my word is not good enough for you, you can be sticking that dagger up your <i>segg</I>." He thrusts two fingers in the air to drive the point home.

He then turns to Ottokar. "I do not know. I did it once. Perhaps I can be doing it again."

''Hmmmm....well, I wish you good luck, Dorgio.''

[JMaytr]

"Even though you have the blood of gypsies in you I believe you Dorgio. Your anger is greatly displaced here. I mean no ill towards you, I only wish to keep these people from any increased harm."

There are tears welling in the boy's eyes and before long they spill down his cheeks like broken levies. He moves to stand by Norzak in an almost submissive way.

"In all my years on the street or with the vampire hunter in Mordentshire, I have never been around so much darkness and fear. You Dorgio tortured a man in front of my eyes for what I can tell was just to get information. Cirdan likes to gesture with his sword and talks as if his mouth is always full of blood. Norzak, whom I can truly call my dearest friend, gave me nightmares for weeks when he mentioned how he liked to bite off the fingers of child beaters."

Jonathan's voice is growing higher and faster now. He seems to be shaking. It appears he is quickly growing hysterical.

"And Van Dieks!"

Jonathan is breathing harder now, trying to catch enough breath to continue speaking.

"I am only a boy Dorgio! I should never have been made to see such things! I should be with my MOTHER!"

The boy is sobbing now. The look on his face is one of confusion mixed with anger.

[ewancummins]

Wat interjects-

''Dorgio, do not be angry with Jon. He just wants to help us all. He is thinking of our safety.''

[Brock Marsh Runoff]

His stance shifts, but only a little. His mustache twitches, but only a little. But then something gives, and he lowers his hand. "Of course you shouldn't be here, Jon. But life strikes at the good and the wicked and muddles them until nothing is ever as simple or as safe as it once was. That is the world, until He comes," he says, touching his holy symbol, "but he is taking his time. Until then, you must be a man before your time. I lost my parents when I was younger than you are now. I am not even knowing how they died. You have lost much, and so has Alain and Norzak and Benn and Cirdan. And Buckman. And now Lothar's sister has lost a brother.

"You are right, Jon, the people are having a right to travel beyond this place. But this murder cannot be going unanswered. Stay on the killer's trail when I am gone, friends. Let us make this place better, not just barren."

[Le Noir Faineant]

[Batman voice:] "No."

Cirdan has pulled off his helmet, and his red eyes - not the eyes of a half-elven, but red slits glowing in a light that definitely has no natural source
- seem to pierce through the people who stand by.

"NO."

"Our path is cursed, and those people are dead because of us.
- Look at me - LOOK AT ME!!! Look into my eyes. THIS is the price you pay for defying the lords of the mists, and no less. You, people, go, go, and leave us."

[Still with the Batman voice, to his group:]

"We have a traitor among us, someone who has been tainted by the mists even more than I have.
- I won't make any step further into chaos unless we clear things up.
If Dorgio stays behind, I will, too."