"The Burning" | Baldwin

Written by Yankee Samarai

-Two Days Prior to Kashi's Rescue-
Baldwin gazes out his window, ignoring for a moment the many urgent matters scattered about his desk. The Window Frame creates a portrait. In the center, a Kokkan female bound up in fear and despair. She rises from the ranks of loyal men. When the wind blows her hair and long gown make her appear as a banner.
"A symbol to our cause," he says under his breath.
He twiddles the object in his hand. He ponders how deeply it has cut. He feels betrayal and dishonor.
"I knew you were straying Guiscard, but this was our family."
He looks out the window again. What exactly did she do to him? Guiscard could have been saved.
"You were so lost ever since we parted...did you forget I would reunite with you again?"
His eyes remain on the girl. Inside there is rage. He looks back upon his desk, the knife in his hands, engraved with his family crest, was paired with this little paper bird in Guiscard's satchel.
An alliance with them? Alliance with the people whose daughter made Guiscard forget his oaths, and damn himself?
He unsheathes the dagger, and it lands firmly in the origami bird. He rises and walks to the lit fireplace, where a pot of stew is boiling. The dagger blade suspends the paper over the flame, and then it is drawn out, and he watches piously as the witch is consumed.
"You fear nothing dear brother...to lose what is precious in this life, is to gain what is valuable in the next."
Ashes fall. The dagger is placed reverently in his belt.

---

-In the Present-
Dazed...confused, enraged. The witch is gone, and her spell continuous to bind his brother. His generals surround him, never have they seen their leader so stressed.
"Your Highness?"
"Silence Dunois."
What can they say? Only Scarface is brave enough "You sent your two best after her, they will succeed. There will be blood for blood."
Baldwin throws back his desk.
"Sire? Calm yourself!?"
"I had one request! ONE! That Elyon denies me this is harder to bear than I imagined."
"But you understood that He would didn't you?"
His countenance regains its strength.
"Didn't you?"
Another voice enters the conversation, it creeps through his mind, like a serpent slithering unseen in grass.
If you truly desire to see the world that is beyond this flesh, I must require everything of you.
Baldwin nods "For my sake must be your sake."
Give everything, gain everything, an even exchange.
He addresses the men present. "Once again we are faced with a difficult choice. We fight against our brothers, but must now prepare ourselves for further purification. Continue hunting for Donindor, whoever finds him and says nothing, bring them to me. But if that is not our path, than we must focus upon Pura, I will be departing soon. We will take the Mag-ship for only part of the journey, we do not want to attract attention, we will travel there as we did here, in disguise."