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[hr][@Tackytaff][@Force and Fury]
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Few remained so close to the outskirts of the city as the Timewalker's residence.  There were contingencies for when forest fires broke out, it was always better to fall back and ensure the preservation of the inner city buildings.  As it was, only a few were left scrambling for belongings when Dyric arrived at the timewalker's house.  He'd gotten there before Talit at least, and hurried himself to finish his task before her arrival.  She would come after all; it was a near certainty.  He knew the timewalker to be an old wound for Talit, and not one she would let lay with her friend on the line.  Dyric waited until certain there was no one else watching before using the little binding magic he had to seal the door shut.  Smoke was already filling the air, and it would be only a matter of time before the trees in the area would catch.  A tragedy to be sure, but if he couldn't frame Talit for the timewalker's death, an accident was the next best thing.

[color=c4df9b]“What are you plotting now?”[/color]

As though privy to his thoughts, his sister’s voice descended from the branches above, her dervish chain evaporating as she lowered herself to the ground. Talit’s face was set with determination and anger.  [color=c4df9b]“Why are you here Dyric?”[/color] She asked in the same tone, beginning to circle her twin. They both knew he had no chance of escaping her.

Eliis had been tailing Talit for a little while. It was hard to keep up with the Dervish whilst also maintaining a degree of stealth, but the fires of the city certainly helped, as did the commotion of the Eskandr raid. There was a part of her that wanted to intervene with that, but her mind had been made up since yesterday, and she knew she had to have this conversation, for the sake of her people. But, partway through her journey, she had noticed that she was headed to the timewalker’s and, before long, she had also spotted Dyric there. She quickly began to put two and two together as she sat in the branches, observing the scenario. The barred doors from the binding magic and the confusion of Talit at her brother being there. What was going on here? She would wait for just a moment longer before she’d get involved, hiding in the branches, waiting, listening. 

[color=teal]"What are [i]you[/i] doing here?"[/color] Dyric countered, stepping backwards and away from the building he’d bound shut. [color=teal] "Shouldn't you be helping people with all that magic of yours?"[/color]

[color=c4df9b]"I am helping them. Not my fault they don’t see it that way yet." [/color] She said, taking her eyes off Dyric only long enough to examine his work on the door. [color=c4df9b] "Did you really think that would stop me?"[/color] She asked, blowing the entire frame inwards in a gust of force magic and splinters. [color=c4df9b] "I'll warn you once Dyric: stay out of my way."[/color]
 
He scowled, but made no move to follow her inside.

Eliiis would wait no longer. She leapt from the branches the moment Talit went inside and moved to follow, attempting to ignore Dyric. She didn’t want to look at him, but at least she could assume that he was making a feeble attempt to save the timewalker. She brisky went to follow after Talit, hoping that she could stop whatever was going to take place, and get a chance to talk to the girl before it was too late. 

There was a curse and a strong pull on Eliis' back, stopping her from entering the building.  [color=teal]"What are you doing?"[/color] Dyric demanded, apparently in less of a hurry to leave than he'd let on to his twin.  [color=teal]"Talit's lost all reason - she'll kill you as soon as she sees you."[/color]

[color=D70040]”And you’re just going to let her in to kill the timewalker? After you made that effort to save her? What was the point of you even being here then?”[/color]

Dyric let out a short, cold laugh, but made no effort to loosen his grip. [color=teal]"Save her? What do you think will happen if she's allowed to speak truth to the Elders? This-" [/color]He waved his free arm at the encroaching smoke [color=teal]"Will be over soon enough. The trial will not. You think they'll show mercy to a Tar'ithan agent?"[/color]

Things started to click in her brain. She’d never prized herself on her wits, or her ability to see through people that were quite obviously using her, but she realized that she’d been betrayed. He was happy to watch his people burn if it saved his own skin. She turned to face him, unbridled fury in her eyes, as his words rang in her ear. He didn’t care if his sister damned herself, he didn’t care about her, he didn’t care about his great-grandmother's dying wishes. She’d been used, manipulated and tricked by this man and he was about to do the same to his own blood. No. No more. She’d not let it happen. Loriindton was a pit of vipers and this snake was particularly venomous. She would not let this one bite another of their own.

[color=D70040]” Your city burns, your people die, your sister slays a kinsman, and you [i]laugh?[/i] I will not stand here and let you manipulate your family once more,”[/color] she spoke, venom in her words as she grabbed the arm on her back and threw him into the floor. Close range was her specialty, and he was so very light before her rage. 

[color=teal]"It was you-"[/color] Dyric didn't have the chance to finish his thought before the taller woman flipped him to the ground with shocking ease; knocking the air from his lungs.

[color=D4E637]"Talit?!"[/color] A voice called out from some distance away, but close enough to capture the pair's attention as it came closer. [color=D4E637] "Talit! Where are you?!"[/color]

Dyric took the distraction to right himself and catch his breath. [color=teal] "It was your hand that ended Merit's life."[/color] He gasped, [color=teal]"That's all they'll ever see you for. I'm the only one who can help you."[/color]

[color=D70040]”And it was you that tricked her!”[/color] she spat back, as she went towards the door of the timewalker’s shack, hoping it wasn’t too late to save the two women inside.

[color=teal]"Eliis,"[/color] Dyric called to her, his voice low. As she approached the entrance it burst into flames from a wave of his hand. [color=teal]"I can help you, but not if you go inside."[/color] Already he was making distance between them, falling back into a defensive stance.

[color=D70040]”I don’t want your help, Dyric. Merit had your help, and she was your family. I don’t wish for anyone to die here except for the huusoi ransacking our city,”[/color] she exclaimed, her patience wearing thin as she took one step back from the door and turned to look at the snake. If he would not stop the flames, she would make him.

[color=teal]"[i]Our[/i] city?!"[/color] He spat at her, drawing energy from the heat of the forest fire around them. [color=teal]"What do you know of Loriindton? Meddling southern bitch."[/color] He made no effort to hide his disdain and lobbed an arc of heat and fire at Eliis.

She’d expected as much from him. He had propped himself up ready for a fight the moment she’d gone towards that door, and it seemed that violence was the only path forward here. As much as she detested fighting her own kin, she could justify it now. He didn’t see them as the same, and by this point, neither did she. She drew quickly from the heat of the smoldering door in a rush, and erected a small barrier of stone shielding herself from the incoming wave of fire and dismembering it once more into energy she could use, before making a run at Dyric. If she got into close range, this would be over as quickly as it started. And so she used that energy kinetically, to increase the pace of her stride.

Dyric didn't wait to see if his first attack landed before drawing again.  This time, his casting more subtle as the Maledict began to charge at him. A combination of essence in her mind and trick of the light on the forest floor gave the vision of two dozen Dyrics by the time she reached the first.  As one they began to rush around her, each indistinguishable from the next unless physically touched.

Illusions. That’s all they were. There were those in her order who could use such abilities, and she’d trained against it. An important lesson rang in her mind: ‘If your eyes are against you, do not use them’ and so, she closed them and listened. The world became silent aside from the crackling flames of the city. And that’s when she heard it. A footstep on her right and a very slight indication of breath; it was all she needed. She snapped her arm out and felt flesh as she grabbed hold of his neck. His little gambit hadn’t worked. Perhaps it was because of the state of combat she now found herself in, that her other arm plunged into his chest without hesitation, like a sharpened blade. She opened her eyes to the sight of the man, who she dropped near instantly upon seeing his blood on her hand. She didn’t feel guilty. It was kill or be killed, she’d seen what he’d done to Merit and she was just another loose end to him. Else, why would he have attacked her? Justifications and excuses ran through her head as she took a moment to stare at him now lying on the floor.

[color=D4E637]"What did you do?"[/color] A voice came from behind her.  Lyen's search for Talit had finally brought her to the Timewalker's house and she’d witnessed the fight between Dyric and the tall stranger that seemed too familiar to call such. There wasn't time to wait for an explanation in the end though; a glance to the inflamed doorway was enough to distract her.  [color=D4E637]"Talit!"[/color] She called again, and rushed to the entrance, binding herself a new one free of fire.

Eliis snapped out of it the moment she heard the voice, and turned to face Lyen. Wasn’t that… The woman who was supposed to be on trial? She had sympathy for the girl, but why exactly was she here? And why was she looking for Tali? None of this made sense. She followed after the other maledict, eager to get into the flaming building as well. She hoped she would not be too late.