Ganoes looked down at the body at his feet, he kicked it, then bent down to retrieve his knife. As he withdrew the blade a fresh spurt of blood splattered across his face, Ganoes shook his head cursing. In a fury he stabbed Pig a few more times, then straighten and kicked him again.
He wiped his knife down and sheathed it, and was about to leave when he felt a sudden flicker of recognition for the drunk woman on the floor.
She was following me the other night
He knelt to study the young woman, sprawled in a pool of what must surely be her own vomit, growing more certain with every passing second he knew her. Making a decision he hoisted her over his shoulder and headed for the door, intent on questioning the woman in the morning when she sobered. cursing under the strain he took a long time to get to the barracks
paperwork can wait till the fucking morning
Starling was in a twisted nightmare, she knew it wasn't real but she had no escape
who says it isn't real?? whispered a voice in her ear. Star span around but there was no-one near her, just the large room she had been in for what seemed like an eternity. Well used to strange dreams brought on by drink at first Star hadn't worried over being locked in an opulent bedroom, there were worse places to imagine yourself. But as time stretched she had started trying the doors, all locked, the shutters too, seemingly immovable. More unnerving was the constant unflickering light in the room, even the fire in the grate could disturb it. As she sat again studying the room she considered the fire, the logs weren't burning, she knew it was a dream so this shouldn't bother her but....
who is to say what is reality Star jumped again, still, no-one in the room with her.
"hel...Hello?" she spoke quietly, nervously, "who is here?"
An answer to your dreams, your desires. I can grant you all that you wish
Starling looked under the bed, "I know this is a dream, so what can I grant myself that I haven't already got.
The disembodied voice laughed harshly
I will let you think on this "dream" for a while longer
Starling sat back on the bed, disturbed, what if it wasn't a dream, had she been stolen by one of the gods, some bitter twisted ascendant seeking entertainment in torturing yet another helpless mortal?
Hours passed, days, weeks, Starling had no idea how long, she never grew thirsty or hungry, never felt the need to sleep or even move. Just lying on the bed, talking to herself, slowly driving herself insane.
Still dreaming Starling Huvonital?
Hovonital! No-one still alive knew her real family name, this had to be a twisted dream, why then could she not wake?
Oh I know all about you Starling, know all about you, I want what you want, yes, I think we can help each other
"My place is where I wish to be, where I am"
More laughter
you can not deceive me, I know how you got so close to the throne, spare me your claims of innocence and justifications for what you have done. I am no judge, I do not care of the how or the why, only the what.
Starling considered the words. "what then, do you want?"
Ahh, ready to bargain, so quickly, blood tells after all
"Speak your piece, or leave me to my madness"
You are in the barracks, sleeping off another night of wine. There is an officer there, an officer you know
"Paran" Starling practically spat the name
Yes, Paran. You were set on killing him, that would have been your ruin. He needs to die, but only when the time is right
"My reasons for killing him were nothing to do with the throne, that dream has been long dead to me"
Laughter boomed loudly in her head
Ah I have so enjoyed watching you, your vain attempts to convince yourself that all you did was for yourself, for survival, for "family". Do not fool yourself, what family you had you killed, the one man you set a vendetta against commands your oppressors. No, you have not changed, nor let it go. Now listen to me, the Malazan will try and question you, you must get him close to you, you must snap his necklace before you strike him, or he will not fall to any blow you land
"a necklace? who then protects him?"
no-one the voice snapped
it is a family relic, mere luck that he has it in his possession. I will release you to your body, get your rest, in the morning you will need your strength
Ganoes rubbed his eyes as he sanded the sheet in front of him, gods but he hated paperwork. A grunting snore from the cell behind him jerked his head around, he smiled to himself, time for a wake up call. Possibly a bath. Maybe both in the one. He grabbed a bucket and walked out the door towards the well.
The shock of cold water on her face jerked Starling awake instantly, spluttering and cursing she sat bolt up right. And as quick as she had sat up she fell back down, groaning, searching for a bucket that she could force whatever what left of her insides out into.
"You're a lucky woman"
Starling moaned in response
"Had you not collapsed that pig would have stuck you last night."
Ganoes seemed unconcerned by her lack of coherent response
"Although, had you not been so drunk, he likely wouldn't have tried." He frowned down at the writhing woman, "come now, a little wine shouldn't undo you so badly, I only want to talk"
Starling flapped her hand weakly, her voice an inaudible croak. She had one eye cracked slightly open, trying to gauge from his feet where he was standing.
Ganoes walked over to the bed and leaned down, "what was that?"
Starlings hand flashed out and snatched the necklace from his throat, snapping down to break the thong she followed the movement and rolled out of the bed, crashing them both to the floor. Paran recovered quickly and after a brief tussle was sitting on top of star, wrestling frantically, trying to pin her arms down. Starling still had the necklace gripped in her hand, she couldn't let go of it, but she snapped her other arm free and managed to grab the bucket.
Paran slumped against the wall blood pouring from his head, as starling stood and lined up another swing.
He forced a bloody smile to his face "Fool"
He didn't feel the blow when it landed, but Starling did, she was hurled backwards across the room, her face a bloody mess, skull fractured and life bleeding from her like wine from a cut skin.
Starling couldn't understand it, the necklace had attacked her when she hit the malazan the second time, pain flooded her senses and she slipped into oblivion, the last thing she heard was a harsh laugh
sorry, I lied
They both shot each other.
They both died. Season two, Episode one ends in a
DRAW between star and ganoes
Episode 2, signups open, I'm getting my life back into a routine so delays, whilst are expected, should be less....painful
This post has been edited by Macros: 07 September 2013 - 08:05 AM
Tattersail_ 
Dolmen+, on 22 August 2013 - 08:48 AM, said:
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