Taris stumbled forward, only a vague blur to guide him. Halfway across the room he stumbled to his knees. He tried to push himself back up, half crawling to her. His hands found the sheet she was wrapped in. A sob tore from him, and he was surprised. He hadn’t cried in over a century, since he’d found Layne dead. “Arauka, I’m so sorry. I failed you.”

He pulled her head to his chest and held her there for a long while. He let himself go, letting the tears fall freely. A pair of small arms hugged him, and a pair of larger ones, but when he raised a hand to where they were he felt nothing. Layne and Arauka. “I’m so sorry, both of you.” He sat there for several minutes, until the tears stopped.

“Envy,” he called softly.
A rustle to the side, “Yes Taris?”
The assassin nodded, figuring the Kartaian would still be there. “I’m going to give her a burial,” he said, his tone implying he would not be dissuaded.
Envy said nothing for a moment, looking around at the walls. “Taris, we’re surrounded by stone, and you are in no condition to dig a grave, or even travel.”

Taris shook his head, “Watch, Envy. I know more about the Shadow than almost anyone alive.” He reached out with his Other senses, feeling for the cold void of shadow. The closest was behind the stone bed Arauka’s body lay on. He focused his effort, pulling the darkness to him. The shadow stretched and contorted, then became like water, sliding over Arauka’s body like cloth. Slowly it covered her legs, body, and last, her head and face. The shadow lifted into the air pulling the body up inside of it. She floated for a second, and the shadow dissolved, leaving nothing behind.

Taris struggled up, physically and emotionally exhausted. “Run a bath, Envy, and bring my powder when Hadhen gets back. I need to heal before my entire body scars over.” He walked back towards Envy, holding his arm for guidance only. The assassin was determined to walk on his own.

Envy led him to another chamber, calling for Paget to run the bath. He handed Taris off to Cainne as Hadhen returned, giving her the jar of powder as well, “Go with her, Taris, and bathe. She’ll handle your needs. When you’re done I have a bed prepared, you need to rest.”

Taris nodded, too tired to speak more. The woman led him to the bath, asking, “How much do I put in?”
“All of it,” Taris answered. He tugged the tie holding his pants up, and climbed in. The powder immediately tingled against his skin and light sparks played in the water. The assassin slid his head underneath the water, keeping his eyes open. If he had any hope of seeing again, he needed the water to reach his eyes.

Several minutes later he stood, Cainne and Paget helping him out and giving him a towel. After drying himself gently, they led him to his bed. Taris fell into it gratefully, asleep within moments.