Standing on the Outside With a Gun
We walked back to the flight master in silence. Rather, I walked, Rek'tak rode on Ishnu's spiky back and the stalker, perhaps sensing my mood, accepted her small rider without complaint or mischief. Once on the wyvern's back, Rek'tak turned in my lap and buried his furry little head in my chest and I held him with one arm, stroking his fur and humming to him until we reached Dalaran. Sometimes, with all his bluster and 'fierce hunter' bravado I think I forget that Rek'tak is still a child. And no child should have to see the things that happened in Unu'pe today.
Likely he understood even less of it than I did. They spoke mostly in Scourge but the tension in the air was clear to anyone. And the sight of Haken's face as he slowly unscrewed that collar
I shouldn't have left him there. I trusted too much. I thought that Jiel I shouldn't have left him.
As the wyvern set down Rek'tak looked up at me with a small sniff. "Jell'neth not hurt frowny elf?"
I shook my head, frowning more than a bit myself.
"But.. think should?"
I paused, sighed. "I don't know."
And it's the truth. There was a moment, more than one, during that painful episode where I thought that I might. Listening to Haken casually speak of killing.. everything. Of taking Jiel back to serve.. Him. Watching that tight little 'all my fault' expression settling on Chryseth's face, the pain on Jiel's. The crawling up my spine with every utterance of that foul tongue. I found myself readying my weapon, not even sure which one of them I was going to shoot. Knowing that if I shot one I would probably have to kill all three. And I hated myself for thinking it through. My mind whirring with tactics. Chryseth first. His magic would be a problem. Jiel next, while I still have surprise..
It all settled itself. They forgave one another. There is love there, twisted but there. And I was an intruder. I left. Took Rek'tak home. I'll write to Jiel, schedule another visit. Bring turtle cupcakes for Haken and try to pretend that it's all ok. But this day made one thing very clear to me. If anything ever happens to remove him from Jiel's influence, I am going to have to kill him.