After leaving the Shady Corners with the foul taste of ale still in his mouth, Cail appeared on the shore of the lake in a flash of white light. “Ughh,” he said with a large exhale. “That was terrible. I won’t ever drink that again.” He began walking along the water’s edge, his gaze out towards dark surface. He walked a long way until he had finally reached a part of the lake that was unfamiliar and he spied a little outcropping of bushes that draped over the water.
He raised an eyebrow when he saw a piece of rope tied to a tree amidst the greenery and walked over to it. Picking it up and finding that it was wet, he followed it out in to the shallow, shaded cove. At the rope’s end he also found that it was attached to a small wooden boat, no longer than he was tall and only three feet wide.
He touched the craft and bursts of images flashed in his mind in black and white hues.
The coiled rope he just touched wrapped around his shoulder.
The boat drifting in the small waves as he tied it to the tree.
And there was a weight across his chest. Not heavy, but it took both arms to carry. He became aware of his facial expression as he laid the burden into the boat. He clenched his jaw and felt sad, yet hopeful. He didn’t know why, that’s just how he felt.
Then suddenly they were gone. Cail stood knee deep in the water, both hands gripping the boat tightly turning his knuckles white. He stepped back from the boat and stood there trying to conjure up the images again for what seemed like an hour.
Cail flinched slightly at her voice and turned slowly to see her, his jaw still clenched tightly. Fully realizing that it wasn't another memory flash, he opened his mouth slightly before speaking and also said with a whisper, “Is… this what you meant? Is this where? I feel as though… I think I remember. No. I know I remember. I remember carrying something. It was you, wasn’t it? Your body was that weight in my arms. I had to… take care of it, you, while you were… away.”
He waded through the water and stepped onto the dry shore in front of her. He looked down as if just noticing his clothes were soaked and said with a quiet laugh, “Well, I look a mess don’t I?”
Akon reached a gentle hand to his cheek to encourage his gaze upwards. "Not at all. You're the most less of a mess I've seen in a long, long time." She offered a soft smile as her red eyes met his. "I appreciate, very much, you taking care of me in my passing. Death is a horrid experience, especially when you don't know if you're coming back....and though I don't remember exactly what it was you did, I know the results, and I can still feel, right now, that feeling which was shared as you protected me. Thank you." She offered in a sincere hushed tone.
He reached up slowly and touched her hand on his cheek as she spoke, then let go when she finished. “There is still so much I don’t remember though, but this is a good sign. Memories are coming back in flashes, kind of gray and fuzzy, black and white, but I feel them. I feel them right here,” he said holding a hand to his chest. “I feel them and I know they’re real. This place is… it’s very powerful to me for some reason. I felt like I relived that moment in time, placing you here and it…”
Cail fell silent as he lost the words he was about to say among the emotions he felt. “You’re welcome,” he finally said after a few moments, his head lowered again. Raising it he looked her in the eyes once more and spoke with conviction, “You can always count on me, I want you to know that. I’ll always be here.” Cail placed a hand on her shoulder and gripped it lightly. “This I promise.”
Letting go, he smiled a little and muttered a few words under his breath. Then, with a small flutter of bluish white light, a rose appeared in his hands. “This rose, it’s petals as dark as night itself, is for you,” Cail said as he offered it to Akon. “Let this serve as a reminder to both of us of the promise that I’ve made here tonight. May I never again forget what I’ve done, nor what you’ve done for me.”
Akon tookthe rose delicately, smiling gently down at it, and bringing it to her lips to sense the sweet subtle scent the petals encompassed. Keeping it between her finger tips, she kept her soft smile toward Cail, eyes lightly curious as to what he had left unsaid. She pulled her shoulders back and nodded, allowing his hand to fall upon her shoulder without retort. "This indeed is most encouraging. Your memories coming back, the strong ones of your good favor, is a sign that you are winning, Cail. You're becoming stronger." She said, with almost sense of relief. She smiled down at the rose again. "You're becoming stronger..." She repeated more to herself in thought, seeming pleased at the idea.
Cail’s smile faded slowly at her words. “He came back,” he said with a low voice. He held his wrist as if it pained him and looked at it in the darkness of the copse. “He came back and gave himself a name. I don’t know if I’m getting stronger, but I know for a fact that he is.”
"I think I might have given him the idea, but he wants to be called Xianamere. Nightmare in a language that I know for some reason. I told him I'd defeat my own nightmares and he laughed in my face. He said that was a good idea and I should call him that. Then I woke up."
Cail sighed deeply and said, "You're right, you're right. I'll try to keep that in mind. It's funny, I can tell Lia the same thing, but I don't use that same pep talk for myself. Kind of ironic in a way." He turned a little and picked up his dripping robes, wringing the water from them. "I think I may need to go find some dry clothes before I fall ill."
"Or you could just say to hell with it and jump all the way in." Akon smirked then continued softly. "Faith, Cail. All will be well. Center yourself. Use the stars as your guide. You will prevail. I'm sure of it." She smiled, but had firm resolution in her tone. "I may need your help in a few days. I'll let you know once me and Jael return."
Cail laughed outright for a moment and as it subsided, he put a smile on his face. "I heard you were getting away for a while. Jastrey will be here when you get back, so don't worry about us. We'll be fine, just go have fun. As for needing my help, well you'll have that too. But for now, I think i'll head back to town. Care to walk with me or do you want to be alone?"
Akon glanced to the lake, then the stars, taking in a deep breath then sighing softly, thoughts drifting elsewhere for the moment. "Nay, I'll head back with you. Need to be heading that way myself anyway." She smirked over at him, and joined him in his stride. "Immortals forbid two mages actually -walk- somewhere together, mm?" She said in jest.
"Hmm," Cail mused. "Indeed." Then he vanished from view with a flash of white light midstride and appeared on her other side.
"Just kidding, " he said with a laugh. Then he walked with her towards Jastrey with nothing but the light of the moon and stars to guide them.
It wouldn't take too long, but Cail may soon become aware of another presence there by the lake. She watched him there, quietly, not interrupting the moment. She, too, felt the weight he did, that strange hopeful sadness. "Must have been where you left me that night..." Akon spoke softly, barely above a whisper.