The Strange Journey of Atrus Rand

[Atrus Rand]

Atrus walked. He had been walking for quite some time, too, but he put that detail out of his mind, since he had much better things to think about. He could have been thinking about the snow, or perhaps even the fierce cold, but he didn't. He took out the letter once again.

Dear Atrus,
It's been a long time. Please come to me, Brother. I've grown quite a bit, but I think you'll still recognize me. I've made a map to where I am, and you should receive this if you're in Evermoore like you wanted to be.

~Catherine

He put the letter back in his pouch. It was probably the third or forth time he had read the letter, but he couldn't help but think that his long journey would finally be over. He saw the town in the distance through the snow, and that was where the X was on the map. He started to pick up his pace slightly, shifting his bags to be more comfortable.

"Atrus?" She said, looking at him.
"Catherine! Is it really you? You look.. so different!" He smiled.
"Yes, it's me. It's been so terribly long." She said, looking away.
"Come with me, please. Out of the cold." He followed her into one of the buildings.

He couldn't help but watch her. The Rand family was dead, he thought, but this letter, and she proved things to be different. "Tell me. How... when did you.. Why..?"
She put a finger to her lips. "I know you have so many questions, Atrus. Probably more than one night's worth. Let me tell you about it, hm?"
He simply nodded quietly.
"Long ago, you chose to join Guildhall, Atrus. Mother and Father didn't agree, but you knew I backed you up. I wanted to come with you and see the world." She paused, moving to look out the window. It was getting dark. "You left in the night. I had went to your room and you were gone. I didn't know exactly where you went, but I figured it was something of a guildhall matter." She walked back and sat down at the table. "During the night, I heard a noise. I awoke to a loud noise. The sound of an arrow. It flew right through the window and hit the floor next to me. It was on fire, and it started to burn. I tried to run out the door, but when I opened it, I saw that the door was lined with razorwire." She looked away.
"Those bastards.." Atrus thought aloud. "If I hadn't..."
She gave him a look, "I know, Atrus. Remember, we both lost mother and father."
He looked away. "I should have been there."
"You had business."
"I was tricked by the same people who attacked you."
She looked surprised. "You got away?"
"No. They let me live because they thought it would be sufficient enough to throw me over the edge. To join the Comedy of the Damned." He looked down, "Can.. Can I have something to drink?"
She walked over to the cupboards and pulled out a glass. She looked at him as he looked down at the floor. Her hand moved to her pocket, but paused. She took a breath and moved back to him, handing him the glass. "You've travelled far."
"Aye. Evermoore is quite far from here. You.." He looked up, "Could you come back with me? To evermoore?"
She smiled, "I think I could. We'll see, okay?" She looked at him. "You should rest. We really should talk in the morning."
He looked at her, giving a grin. "I've travelled all this way, Cat..."
"Atrus. We'll be able to go over everything in the morning, I promise you." She said, putting her hand on his shoulder.
Inwardly, Atrus was almost too excited to go rest now, but he knew that if his sister wanted him to do something, he would. She was a very persistant woman. "Okay, Cat. Tommorrow. Where will I be sleeping?"
"In this room." She said, motioning to a room on the other side of the building. "You'll find a nice warm bed there for you."
"I thank ye, Cat." He laughed, "I can't believe how you've grown."
She smiled brightly, "Go ahead now. I'll talk to you in the morning."

The man walked quietly through the dark, through the shadows of the town. It was snowing, but there was no wind. It was quiet as death. He saw the girl and moved forward swiftly, walking in her path. "Would you like to buy a knife, little lady?"
"Only if it's resting place is not my back." She said, quietly.
"What do you have to report?" He said, leaning against the side of the building.
"He's here." She said, "Just arrived. We're ready to make a move. I'm awaiting your orders, sir."
"I'm surprised you haven't made any moves already, Girl." He said, grinning.
"I know, it seemed too soon. I'd like him to get comfortable with his sister before I do anything at all."
"You're lying through your teeth. What's wrong? Did you find him attractive?"
"Please. Why don't you go in there and kill him yourself? That would save me a lot of trouble."
"No, I'd rather have you do it. Once we get him out of the way, we can go to The Dale and tell them the Rand family is dead. We can buy the land and build quite a base right inside The Dale itself. If you do him in, they'll think his sister murdered him in cold blood and dissapeared."
"Devious."
"Yes."
"Now go. Tommorrow you shall kill him and that will kill his sister." He smiled, "Then we can continue."
She smiled, "Okay. This I can handle."

Cathrine awoke before Atrus, making her way to Atrus' room. She opened the door slowly and looked in at him. He was dead asleep. "He came all this way by himself.." She thought to herself, "All this way for me." She closed the door softly. "He's quite the man now, I guess." She started to make something of a breakfast. "I wonder what kind of adventures he's had at Evermoore." She thought aloud.
"Oh, I've had quite a few." Atrus said, walking in.
"Oh! You're awake?" She said, chuckling.
"Yeah, I heard you close the door." He pointed to his ear. "Darn things barely let me sleep at night, they're so sensitive." He started washing his face in the washbasin, muttering to himself about how annoying being a ranger is.
They sat to eat. Atrus eagerly awaiting the rest of Catherine's tale.
Catherine watched him eat, "Well, I guess I should go on." She said, "Well, I couldn't get through the door, you know?"
"Yeah." He said, "There was razorwire."
"I jumped out the window.." She said, looking away.
"Catherine.." He said, putting his fork down. "You're ok, though. Right?"
She nodded, "Someone found me outside the burning house, some Gypsy. Brought me back to good health, Taught me a few things, brought me.." She pointed out the window, "..Out here."
"About that.." Atrus said, "I'd like for you to come to Evermoore with me. I could bring you there, Cat. It's warmer, there's friends, food.." He looked at her pleadingly.
She smiled, "I think I'd like that." She looked at him thoughtfully, "What has happened to our home, Atrus?"
"Well, it completely burned down. It became a sort of memorial for those people who've been terrorized or killed by the Comedy." He said, smiling. "People hang momentos all over the remains of the front door. It's a beautiful, but sad, thing."
She nodded.
"I spend a lot of time in Evermoore. I try and fight for each one of those people. Each one of those ornaments on my own door." He said, "Especially the one I put there." He stopped, Catherine was looking at him strangely. "Cat?"
Catherine shook her head, "Oh. I'm terribly sorry. I was just thinking about that. That is very admirable." She said quickly. "Would you.. excuse me?" She said, standing up and walking into another room, leaving Atrus to wonder.

Catherine shut the door of her room and sat down, "This can't be happening." She said, "It's not right." She stood up and looked at herself in the mirror, adjusting her skirt slightly. "He's supposed to be my brother. How could I.." She stopped. "Fall for him?"

* Wait for Part 2: "Answers Questioned"

[Atrus Rand]

"I need you to tell me what the hold-up is." The Dark Man said. Gritting his teeth at his accomplice's incompetence. "Your lack of results is desturbing me. I pay you."
"My master, the only thing stopping me from staying a sword in his heart is distance. I have not gotten a chance where the man wasn't looking his sister directly in the eye." The thief said, holding a dagger, twisting it's point into the table inbetween them.
"That shouldn't stop you." The Dark Man muttered, "Are you afraid of that Ranger? Are you afraid of him putting an arrow through your head? Or is it through the heart that you're more worried about?!"
"My liege, I implore you to at least allow me some more time. I've taken some time and learned of his friends." The dagger was making a nice hole now, shavings of wood littering the edges of the whole. The dagger was removed, and a hand brushed them to the floor.
"Friends?" The Dark Man said, "What friends?"
"He's part of a group, Master." The thief said, "In fact, he's almost built himself a guild in The Dale."
"What does this mean, why is this an excuse?" The Dark Man snarled.
"Think about it, Master. If we were to kill him, he'd return to them as a spirit and warn them of us." The thief said, placing the dagger back in a sheath. "If we take our time, we can rest assures that he, his spirit, and his final obliteration will not be a troubling list."
"You are my brightest pupil." The Dark Man said. "We shall bide our time. Let him get to know his sister more. Perhaps in the end, we can use her as a bargaining chip to stop him from attempting anything hasty."
"Exactly, my Lord." The Thief stood.
"Keep your watch." The Dark Man said, throwing the thief a bag of silver. "And know that death will be the least of your worries if you fail me."

The storm was starting to finally cease, though the sun shined, it was almost unbearable as it was reflected off the fresh snow that blanketed the countryside. Atrus sat on the roof of the place he was in, comfortably dressed, and taking notes. Catherine had been watching him up there for quite some time, dressed in a thicker green cloak. She climbed up the ladder.
"What are you doing?" She said, looking at him.
"I'd ask the same, Cat. It's freezing up here." Atrus said, looking, waiting, then finally noting her usual response of not listening to reason, "I'm taking samples of the snow here. As far as I know, the chemical composition may contain trace elements from the mountains to the north. If it's possible, I may find a way to... isolate..."
Catherine was looking around in an odd fashion.
"Are you-?"
"Shh. I need to speak to you." She said, suddenly becoming very serious, "Someone's trying to kill you here."
Atrus almost chuckled, "Sis, I'm a tradesman, if this is some idea of a joke-"
Catherine stared him in the eye, "Does obliteration mean anything to you?"
Atrus paused, dropping his vial as it rolled down and hit into a snow bank below. "You're serious. How.. why didn't you tell me before?"
"We're being watched by a man. He has accomplices all over this town, and he plans on destroying you."
"But why?"
Catherine paused, looking unsure as to how to answer, "I'm assuming it's something you did before. Something involving the comedy."
Atrus sat up slowly, taking this all in, he started to put his kit away. "We should leave tonight then. I'll make the needed preparations."
Catherine started down the ladder, "We can escape. With your abilities, I know we can."
Atrus shrugged, "Well, any razorwire, and we might have trouble."

That night, Atrus went into town. Doing some shopping in general for things he may need for the trip. The town at that time was not entirely busy, but there were people walking and minding their business in the cold. Atrus had just gotten some breaded items for the trip, and started heading back. As he did so, he almost walked full force into another person. He didn't actually hit the other person, but he almost dropped his items. The man helped catch them from falling.
"Oi thea, son!" The man said, in an awkward accent, "Whu-cha got thea, huh? Levin' on some kahnda trip?"
"Just some breaded items." Atrus said, "Preperation is always key to me. I'm a Tradesman."
"Ah Tray-sman? Thaht's ahn excellent trade, my friend. Could you spah a silvah for one naht so lucky?"
Atrus handed the man a silver, and the man smiled. Something about it almost sickened Atrus slightly, but he kept walking and returned to Catherine's place.

"And... how did he find this out?" The Dark Man said, almost growling.
"I wouldn't know, Master." The thief said.
"I think you would." He said, "And you're extremely lucky I'm not going to kill you now for it."
"Not a word, Master!" The thief said, almost falling out of her seat.
The Dark Man looked down at the thief, "You'd best run. For either I'll kill you now, or when you're there."
"Master!" The thief shouted as The Dark Man reached and grabbed cloak, tearing it. From there, the thief bolted out of the place.
The Dark Man removed his hood slowly, revealing a wicked grin. "I'm from the Comedy, wench, but they do not call me Quinn in Jest."

[Atrus Rand]

Atrus prepared quickly, stuffing things wherever he could fit them in the small amount of luggage he had with him. His kits, goggles, glasses, and his sword. He picked up the sword gingerly, "Elaine, my girl. If things don't go well, I pray you'll protect me." He looked about. "I'm ready, though. And I think I have some time to do a little extra preparation." He said, bringing out the pouch of ritual power and the small flame leaf, which burned in his hand, yet didn't. He concentrated, bringing forth his mana, "I begin this ritual of Enchantment." The flameleaf floated off of his hand in the wind of mana, the powder encircled him in an almost arcane spiral, his sword lifted up and placed itself hilt upwards in front of him. He concentrated, for any slip of motion, any misstep would cost him the ritual. He went through the words as he usually did, and finally, the leaf and the sword were one. The powder dissipating in the air, leaving only a small hint of it's presence. "It's done." Atrus said, holding the sword in his hands. Elaine burned a low flame, yet was cool to the touch.
"Atrus!!" A voice shot out, the door opening quickly. "We need to leave!"
"Catherine, what happened?" Atrus said, rushing towards her, sword in hand, noting she was carrying a knife and her cloak was slightly torn. Then he noted the familiar figure following behind her.
"Quinn..." Atrus snarled.
"Mr. Rand, I thought I had quite enough of you. It seems my acquaintance was not enough to stop you. Your... sister." Quinn said, drawing a blade leisurely. "I leave it in your hands, though. She's not your sister. She's a thief. Not even a Tradesman. Kill her, and I'll let you free for now."
"Atrus... I..." She muttered, she got closer to him, whispering something in his ear. "I know I'm nothing, and I hope you understand." Then he felt her tense, as her knife moved swiftly.
Atrus's sword hit the ground. He turned slightly away from both Catherine and Quinn, staring at the knife placed neatly in his side. He looked at Catherine as tears rolled down her face, then at Quinn, who laughed intensely.
"The girl did it. I'm impressed!"
Atrus dropped to his knees, his sword lying at his side. Yet, his vision was never more clear. He understood things now, about how this was all a ruse.
Catherine rushed to his side. "Atrus.. I.. I'm not your sister, and I hope you'll understand... It hurts me to do this. Hurts more than anything in the world. Hurts even more to know what may happen to you. I'm sorry."
Quinn then walked up silently behind her, and grabbed her by the neck. "Now, as for you. As impressed as I am, your services are no longer needed... or welcome." Quin said, smiling. "I'm afraid it's time to see the face of karthis himself." He said, turning away from Atrus.
There was a clink of steel on the floor, then the sound of a dagger hitting the floor. Then the sound of the crushing blow to the back of Quinn's head, then the sound of Quinn hitting the ground.
"Bastard had it coming..." Atrus said, looking at Quinn's body.
Catherine looked up at him, "How did you...?"
"Silly girl, I'm friends with a Rogue. I could parry a knife like that twice as fast. The hard part was directing it between my arm and my body. It was like a play. I suppose Quinn could appreciate the irony." He grabbed her arm, "Now get up, we're escaping. We don't have much time."
She didn't move, "I aimed to kill you. Why would you save me?"
Atrus sighed, "I've never had the chance to get to see my sister in so long. You at least gave me a glimpse of what it could be like. I appreciate that. Also, I can be revived. You can't. Now move!" He said, grabbing her and running out the door.
By the time they reached the outskirts of town, it was snowing almost as hard has when Atrus arrived. They ran as fast as they could for as long as possible. Atrus wasn't sure if Quinn was persuing them or not, but he was soon well aware, as he heard an arrow pierce the silence of the night, and pierce more than that. Catherine's body slumped to the ground.
"Catherine!" Atrus screamed, cradling her body. "No. No no no. I won't let this happen. No."
"Atrus... He hit me..." Catherine said, coughing.
"No. Don't talk." Atrus said, the tears running down his face. "Don't talk. I'll help you. By natalis I'll help you."
"...It's cold here... Will I make it?" Catherine said, looking up at the sky, some flakes of snow resting on her face.
"We'll make it, Cat. Both of us. I won't let you go." Atrus said. "Dear gods I won't let you go. Not now."
"I'm glad." She said, "...I got to know you... I wanted to say.."
"Please... Natalis.. Just help me here.."
"I wanted to say... I.. lo..." Her eyes closed a final time. She died the same way Atrus had met her. Cloaked against the cold, a touch of snow in the deep red hair that framed her face.
Atrus didn't care about Quinn. Not about the snow. Not even about himself at that point. He cared only about the flame that was just extinguished in front of him, and how this was the end. He knew that Quinn wouldn't kill him. No, the tragedy was done. Quinn would find some other way to either cause more trouble, or do him in. At this point, Atrus almost hoped for the latter of the two.

Atrus didn't leave immediately. He had her buried near the town. Quinn had disappeared, obviously moved on to some other locale to wait for another time to strike. Atrus realized that Catherine probably wasn't her true name, but he had her buried under that name, for that was how he knew her best, and he had a suspicion that it was how she wanted to be known. Not as a thief, but as a person.

Here lies
-
Catherine Rand
-
Even though asleep you lie, I know that you will always fly.
Still my sister, still my friend, always till the very end.

The end.