Restless times, Sleepless nights

[kodoz]

Kodoz had spoken with Borg for some time a few days ago, and he listened intently to every word the Pater Imperium said. Kodoz thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the past of this land, Brittania, as he was not around at the times that Borg often spoke of. So much had happened since then, including the return of three Guardians, and the induction of a newcomer into the ranks. However, most of the things that had happened had hit a bit closer to home for the Magistrate. Long had he walked the lands of Brittania, and now was a time of strife in his life worse than hed ever had before...

Kodoz' child, Galen, had become a target for Kodoz' acquaintance, Ben. The Halfling wanted Galen for himself, but Kodoz and Charlie werent sure why their child was being targeted. Kodoz clenched his right hand into a fist just thinking about it. But even more infuriating, was what Ben had done to Charlie's other child, Kit'nboo. Kodoz was walking through the halls of Olympus as he thought about it, and suddenly lashed out and punched one of the walls. In his fury at what had happened he felt no pain at first, but then the ache set in. It helped to take his mind off things, but not by much. Just remembering her imitating that monster he had harbored in his home made his blood boil. But he had heard Steel’s words…or had he?

He thought back to it, and realized there was no way all those people he had seen were there. Triston had left on a boat long ago, and Steel hadnt been seen in some time. Some of the others had even vanished mysteriously, possibly long dead. Kodoz knew this in retrospect, but he knew one thing…If it was something he’d hallucinated, that meant his conscience was what had spoken those words. Meaning it was what he truly felt should be done. When he first told Charlie, Silken, and Skandren, they’d had their doubts. However, as Kodoz explained more fully, they understood.

Kodoz sat down in one of the great stone chairs in the main meeting chamber at Olympus Castle. He was pleased that he still knew to do the right thing, even in the face of the worst enemy. Even if it took a fever induced hallucination for his conscience to break through his fury at Ben’s actions, he still knew to do the right and honorable thing in his heart and spirit. Ben wasn’t fighting them on a physical front, but on a philosophical and moral front. The scary thing was, he was winning Kit’nboo with it. Ben was a master of manipulating people, and this is how he had tricked Kit’nboo into allying at his side. Though Kodoz didn’t know it, Ben had told Kit’nboo it was a game to stay hidden from her mother and to speak in drow when her mother found her. Ben knew this would anger Charlie, and Charlie would attack him. Ben made sure that Kit’nboo noticed where Charlie had hurt his nightmare, and when Kit’nboo asked Ben showed Kit’nboo where Charlie had sliced his chest. Ben then decided to act the part of the innocent, and said they did it merely because he was different.

Ben had also threatened Charlie with something horrible, so horrible that she didn’t even tell Kodoz at first. Kodoz suspected, but in the depths of his heart and mind, he was afraid to know the entire truth of what happened that night. Kodoz felt the urge to kill Ben, to wring the life from him with his own two hands, a curse of his Azturanian bloodline. Quick to anger and rage, it was his nature he had fought against for years.

There was only one way to win against Ben at this stage, and that was to manipulate Ben into showing his true colors in front of Kit’nboo. It would be perhaps their last chance to win her back. One thought haunted Kodoz that night, as he stared at his bandaged hand from hitting the wall…If…no, when they got Kit’nboo back…would she ever be the same? His bandaged hand made him think that yes, physical wounds heal easily...but could they undo whatever damage Ben had done to Kit'nboo's very psyche and personage? Kodoz was scared to death that there was a slim chance they could not…He got no rest at all that night, even as he lay next to the woman he loved.

Edited March 6, 2005 by kodoz