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[center][b]Shades in the Walls - Continued[/b][/center]

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“[i][b]T'as pas de couilles,[/b][/i] (You don't have balls)” a burly, bald headed leader shouted as he emerged through the collapsed ceiling wreckage, “[i]Apprendre à se battre et se développe quelques balles vous Sarifen porcs![/i] (Learn how to fight and grow some balls you Sarifen pigs!)" The man quickly unholstered two pistols, stepped into an fissured opening within the Chateau walls, and aimlessly emptied his firearms into the distant Sarifen lines before bellowing a string of venemous curses and barbed insults. The man's spirited taunts did little more than earn several precise arrow vollies into his gut and in a little under a minute, the last leader of [i]Le roturiers de la rue mob[/i] resistance circle resembled nothing more than a bloody, writhing pile of dying meat. Several other Valanians emerged from the wreckage and slowly began to seize the situation before stumbling their way through the ruined chambers. 

Moments later, the shaded wisp filled staircase chamber pulsated ever more intensely, following a disheveled figure that aimlessly crawled through the wreckage. The ceilings had collapsed only moments after the other Ivalians had invoked Topheth Councillor Gisgo had awakened and  managed to creep through motionless corpses that once resembled accompanying elements of Ivalian society. Her gutteral cries and wails for forgiveness fell on deaf ears given how thoroughly Barekbaal and the surrounding Ivalians had fulfilled [i]Topheth[/i]. Outside of the shade strewn chambers, the inferno raged ever so viciously and after several meters of pitiful wriggling, her sights laid upon a girl she'd trained and once considered her own.

“Daedhel!” she tearfully winced as she grovelled across the ash strew floor. A glance towards the others and their descent into the cellars spurred the Councillor to her knees. “It's come to this, hasn't it? Our children are dead and have forced my return to Media to persuade our colonies to seek other markets. I cannot stay here and would ask your allegiance in this matter. The Council must know of the volatile nature of our business with Sarife ...”

The disappearance of Lucius, into the cellars from what Dae could see, forced her decision. Her gaze offered no sympathy as she glanced over at Councillor Gisgo. The corpses of the Ivalians only added to the increasing numbers of the dead. It was not something that bothered her, nor had it been something that had bothered her for a long time. Death happened. If she took too long to think on it she was sure that she would soon find herself among their number. That was something that she would rather avoid. 

However considering the pitiful state that Councillor Gisgo was in Dae was unsure how far she would get helping her. "I will help you, however I have no interest in going to Media myself," as Dae spoke, relatively quietly, she bent down to offer the Councillor help to stand. She had no plans to return to working for the Ivalians. She had more personal things to pursue. "I am assuming you cannot walk by yourself? How much protection with these [i]creatures[/i]," she glanced at the wisp, unsure what to call it or what to think of it, "...Offer? For we do not have much time to get out of here."

“I realize you haven't lived long enough to understand the customs amongst our peoples, Daedhel, but ... our children are not [i]creatures[/i]. They are the spirits that inhabited my people before they ...” the Councillor paused and covered her mouth, swallowing heavily as tears once again streamed down her face, “...gave their lives for me.” 

In respectable gesture, the prominent Ivalian glanced back towards the circles of motionless corpses and offered a prayer. When she'd finished, the lady laboriously crawled forwards and teetered heavily, but somehow managed to stand. It was known amongst the Council of Four Hundred and Four that they should show compassion for the fallen, but to remain strong for Ivalis. As such, Councillor Sofonobisbal never looked back and just as quickly, wiped away her tears to the cold and calculating expression most other Councillors were expected to wear.

“Their spirits will soon dissipate,” she voiced upon glancing towards the pulsating shades. The clouded had begun to fade and provoke a brief shudder from the Councillor's lips. Her forehead lathered with sweat and she soon found herself leaning heavily upon the Valanian killer's support, “Lead on and if Mother Athirat permits ... we will discuss mutual interests later ...”

Dae merely nodded at the explanation. She did not give much thought to it, nor did she try to understand exactly what was going on with these spirits. There were more important things to think about such as how they were going to get out. The route that Lucius had taken seemed like it was probably their best bet. A fire raged around them and she didn't fancy trying to go through it.

"Then we must hurry, otherwise their sacrifices will have been in vain," Dae spoke with a frown. Though it was going to be difficult to move quickly with the state that the Councillor was in. And it wouldn't be easy for her to defend them if needed. 

Without saying much more she proceeded to move forward, quickly finding the passage of sorts that Lucius and the others had taken. It didn't seem like it had collapsed yet and it was the least risky way out. Silently she entered it and began to move as fast as the Councillor seemed able. She could only hope that she could find some kind of safe place afterwards. She needed rest herself, considering the injuries she had sustained not too long ago, and the Councillor was not in a state to go far.