Dachs Ram, the source of the carnage, stood for a moment and admired his handiwork. Silence lingered in the air for no more than a moment, as all of a sudden cheers rose from the assembled patrons. “That’s our Dachs!” “Fuck Jac!” and similar calls came from the onlookers. Dachs strode over and knelt at the ruined door, placing a hand on the frame. With snaps and creaks the wood of the timbers came back together and the door reformed, almost as good as new despite missing the glass.

Makatai however was still recovering from what he had just witnessed. And even besides that, the fact that he had met two people both with extremely rare manipulations in the space of a day made him smile subtly in excitement. Truth be told, he had always been more interested than most in manipulations, their types and their specifications. Even still, having seen all this, he felt a wave of exhaustion sweep over him and he felt his body crave a warm and soft bed, even if just for a single night. He turned to Ahanu and they shared a look, then motioned to the gleeful Rycher who was overjoyed at the events that had transpired. “Yes, my dear friends?” Came the drunk reply. “Does this place have rooms we can stay at for the night?”

Rycher narrowed his eyes, almost squinting. “By my calculations, Inns do tend to usually have rooms… Dachs!” The big barman looked over at him from the door and waved one hand. “Put my esteemed guests up for the night, will you? And put it on my tab. Lets show these weary travellers some Avalonian hospitality!”

“No, it’s alright. we have plenty of-”

“I Insist!”He laughed heartily, to which Dachs shrugged and motioned for the Navahoans to follow him as he made for the steps behind the bar. “Alright boys! Seeya soon!” Came the call from Rycher. “In fact, tomorrow I’ll show you around the capital. Bright and early lads, bright and early! Night!” The Navahoans smiled and returned the words as they followed Dachs upstairs and away from the chatter of the floor below.

It was only as Dachs opened the door to Makatai’s room that he truly realised the toll the past few weeks had taken on him. As soon as Dachs left him to show Ahanu his own room Makatai crashed to the bed, absolutely exhausted and wanting nothing more than sleep to envelop him as quick as an arrow finding its mark. Yet, feeling a gaze cast over him and hearing a throat being cleared, he knew he couldn't rest just yet.

“Makatai.” The spirit of Noaidi stood at the bed next to him, the wood-plank floor visible through his translucent feet. A disapproving look was etched upon his marble face, and Makatai knew that as usual he had nothing good to say. “What are you doing?” The question caught Makatai off guard. “...What? Resting?” “No. We have no time for this. This whole marriage farce will take too long. We need intelligence immediately, and we need to resume our journey as quickly as possible.”

Makatai sat for a moment on the bed, a mixture of emotions swirling inside of him. They began to collect and form, and then began to settle into a seething rage. “Don’t say another word, you vermin.” Noaidi’s eyes narrowed, and he cocked his head. “Excuse me?” “You heard me. You say you know what I’m thinking and yet if that were true you’d know what that betrothal means to me. You clearly have NO IDEA what I’m thinking. NO IDEA how I feel. Either that or, even worse, you’re ignoring it. Do you remember how this started? Do you recall what I’ve lost? DO YOU?” Makatai was raising his voice with every word, having stood up from the bed and now stood looking up in defiance at the stony-faced spirit.

“You don’t remember that night? I lost EVERYTHING! EVERYONE I CARED FOR IS GONE! AND DON’T YOU REMEMBER WHAT I’VE DONE? I KILLED SOMEONE!” Makatai hadn’t even realised how deep it had cut him until the words were out of his mouth. He still saw that old merchant's face, his blood staining the wall of the cave and his lifeless eyes staring blankly into nothingness, every time he closed his eyes.

He continued, louder and louder “I’ve lost everything! All except for Ahanu and Aitya, and now you’re telling me I don’t even have time to see them happy?” He was truly shouting now, and holding back tears desperately. “This journey has NOTHING to do with him, and yet he’s taken every step so far beside me. And now you’re telling me I can’t even repay the favour? Why would I ever in a million years listen to that?” Noaidi’s blank eyes didn’t change in the slightest. Makatai grimaced in disgust, and turned away from him. “You may be a spirit, but you have no soul. The world has lasted just fine this long.” He stepped away and sat back down on the bed. “You ask too much of me, chieftain.” The word tasted filthy in his mouth. “I’ll help you find my father, and after that we’re done. And we move at my pace from now on, not yours. After all, he’s the one with all the answers. You don’t need me once you find him.”

With a cold, grey cloud over him Makatai turned to the candle that dimly lit the room and blew it out in one breath. Sleep followed soon after, taking him as easily as a wolf takes a lamb.