Crimson Visions

With the very grog he purchased, Rook stood before him, drunk, proclaiming. betrayal?
She had led the catastrophe that chased her to his parents’ home.
She knew he was not in the right time.
She knew he had lost everything and still had let him fight and make plans… for what? Her own salvation?!

“maybe its time you pluck the lost little birds feathers and put her out of her misery?” Nyx softly suggested in his ear, his hand even closing on the hilt of his sword. His breathing coming in slow, long breaths as he tries to reason.
“Yet another “friend” just using you” the velvet voice pushed “End her for your family. Avenge them!”
He couldn’t even hear what Rook pressed in her explanation. Everything turned grey and he could just imagine her head coming from her shoulders, a crimson trail flying free.
Looking past her, he noted Bruzog and Sam, speaking to each other while making gestures towards the docks. Images of blasting them from afar till their peppered bodies hit the boards flickered by as Grimm’s vision shifts. He notes Kalen and Simon as well; a well-placed explosive would collapse the dock under Simon would hold that beast till he put Kalen low. Falling away in two pieces and sending Simon into is famous rage, Grimm would then need to fight hard to put him down…. He would have to put them all down…
Rook waved at what Grimm assumed to be a fly pestering her in her tipped state. He could not hide the rage in his eye, and he could see she seemed concerned.
“Well you are her biggest tool, she is obviously trying hard to keep you under her thumb.”

Grimm Squeezed his eye shut and turned his head away from Rook, and she stopped talking. He wasn’t even able to retain what she was pressing, he kept seeing her fall away in an arc of blood.

“Stop”. Grimm spoke in a soft, sharp tone. Both Nyx and Rook broke off mid-sentence.
After a hard pause, he could feel Nyx’s displeasure as he formed his plan.
“I have goods going back to the docks. See them across and think nothing of it. 10 casks of Vertigrog. Our biggest move and once you get back, pay the captain for me.” He held up a hand with 2 gold in it to a very confused Rook. She looked him over.
“Please. We have people dropping out of portals. 5-foot tall talking birds and foxes. You think dead parents and lying to me would change our arrangement?” He smiled and placed a calm and reassuring hand on her shoulder.
Rook look absolutely bewildered. She reached her hand out hesitantly… as he placed the coins in her palm (Suggestion, Trust). She visibly relaxed and walked away.

“Playing the long game?” Nyx stated flatly, Bored.
“You waited 50 years to put air in my chest. What is a little longer?”
“Don’t forget, I can just as quickly pull your lungs out.” She Hissed. “I don’t like that crow.”
“She will still have use. I need to finish here and cannot fight all of them and achieve what needs to happen next.”
“You have another name on your list….”
“Yes, but she dies last.”
Rook, while still someone perplexed, smiled back and stumbled away to the dock before throwing up from the excessive drinking. Grimm took the moment to walk away. Nyx was right. There was work to be done.

Along the shore Grimm headed to a cove along a poorly kept coast. In the time he has been away, what use to be a fishing dock and shack, has since fallen to the elements. Stepping inside the building, and looking over the single room he remembered his father’s voice. It was warm on his mind, but nothing more than a murmur could be held. His eyes wandered the remaining furniture, untouched by care in years. He removed his armor, his pouches, and his weapons. He pulled the remaining pieces of Torell’s Flintlock from his pack, wrapped them in some of the rags from the bedding, and left into the night.