A moan from Karayan brought her attention back to the bed. He was tossing again and muttering. Miryanna started to get up, but Iphnis was nearer and saw to him. Miryanna sat back down.

Andarin glanced warily almost at Karayan. Miryanna could tell it was strange for him to see someone he'd perceived as so invincible and hard and cruel so helpless and weak. Miryanna could relate; it was strange for her too.

"Well," Andarin said, "I'd better leave, let you guys.. Tend to your stuff..." He trailed off awkwardly. He got up and started for the door, and Miryanna followed him.

They stood by each other right next to the door and didn't say anything for a few seconds, then Miryanna reached up and wrapped her arms around Andarin, and he did the same.

"Thank you," She whispered in his ear.

He held her tighter, "You're welcome," He whispered back.

They broke their embrace and Andarin left.

if only i could a gratifying hug every time i needed validation

Miryanna went back to her chair and sat down. She sighed. She turned to Iphnis, "Iphnis, do ever get that feeling after you've just done something and just think 'what have I done?'?"

A faint smile played at the corner of his mouth, "Sometimes," He replied.

due to dumb reasons i did not immediately feel the need to write a blurb about iphnis breaking his grandmother's fine china. *covers mic* do the gnomes have stuff like china? ceremonial dishes, heirlooms, commonly gifts from weddings and anniversaries especially treasured by older generations, displayed in a fancy wooden case with glass doors and not to be touched except for very special occasions and heaven help you should you so much as chip one of them? yeah that totally sounds like something gnomes would do *thumbs up* yes due to shallowmindedness i did not write a snippet about grown adult iphnis breaking one of his grandma's 50th anniversary crystal goblet set and all hell breaking loose and get this. the way he broke it? bottle flip.

oh right karayan is suffering. back to that.

Miryanna sighed. "I know I couldn't've left Karayan to die, but why do there have to be so many consequences?"

due to the inclusion of a triple contraction, i retract my previous statements about 2016 me being a coward

Iphnis shrugged, "Such is life. There's always a consequence. The bigger the action, the bigger the outcome. It just so happens that rescuing the former leader of the illegal group knows as the Vanags and servant to a Great Sorceress at the scorn and disapproval of your peers is one of those really big actions that a huge consequence." He stated.

yeah

Miryanna snorted, "You can say that again. I'm just so worried about Nynesi. I really don't think he planned to be gone this long. It's been, what, two days? And just after they announced their engagement!" Miryanna slumped in her chair.

yeah that would suck, your hot new fiance ghosting right after proposing

Iphnis nodded slowly, "That is quite the occasion for humans." He said thoughtfully.

"Is it different for Gnomes?" Miryanna asked right away, eager at the possibility of learning more about the mysterious Gnomes, and glad for a distraction of the current events.

Iphnis smiled and shrugged. "Not so different really, we're just more, discreet, I guess you could say, about it."

"Like what? Examples?" She prompted.

Iphnis shrugged again, "Well, when my older brother got married, the whole thing was a very happy and pleasant event, but there was no huge celebration or ado." he replied.

"You have a brother?" Miryanna asked.

Iphnis hesitated before answering, and when he did his words were slow and calculated, "Yes, I have two older brothers and one younger."

Miryanna nodded, pleased that she could get that much out of Iphnis about his personal life. Maybe she could get more. "Do you have parents?" She figured it would be easier if the questions were more specific.

Iphnis nodded.

"Are you an important family at all?"

Iphnis just shrugged again, "We're middle class, I suppose,"

are the gnomes a monarchy? a democracy? probably a democracy. no, republic. no, libertarians? hmmmmm. i wonder if socialism would work with gnomes. tbh. idk what kind of classism goes on.

Miryanna thought for a moment before asking another question, "Do your parents worry at all when you go hang out with humans like this?"

At once Miryanna could sense him pulling back into himself. He pursed his lips and look that might have been worry crossed his pale eyes.

Miryanna immediately got the impression that she'd overstepped her bounds. She wanted to make it right. "Iphnis, I'm sorry. I--"

"It's fine," He cut her off. The closed up, worried feeling seemed to fall from him. He smiled after a moment, like sun breaking through clouds. "Everything's fine." He said, and that was the end of it.

is it though?

Silence reigned for a few minutes and Iphnis ate some of the food Andarin had brought earlier.

Miryanna slept while Iphnis kept watch, and he would wake her halfway through the night so she could watch Karayan. As Miryanna lay on the couch, the last thought in her mind as she drifted off to sleep was that everything would turn out alright.

She was roused by Iphnis, but a glance out the window told her that it wasn't past midnight yet.

moon position??

"What are you waking me for?" She yawned, "It's not my turn yet,"

"No, but... come," He took her hand and brought her to the bedside where Karayan lay. The only light in the room came from a dim candle and Iphnis lit another one. Miryanna could see in the still low light that Karayan's eyes had opened, albeit not entirely, and he was looking up at the ceiling. His eyes were still glazed, but they weren't wild with fever anymore.

Miryanna thought it was only a trick of the light, but his eyes no longer shone bright red. They were more of a chestnut color. Still unnaturally red, but no longer reminiscent of gemstones or blood.

His lids fluttered slightly, and his gaze fell on Miryanna and Iphnis. He registered the figures before him and Miryanna thought he looked maybe a little frightened.

Miryanna exchanged a glance with Iphnis before she said hesitantly, "Hello, Karayan... how are you feeling?"

He looked confused. "W--Who are y--you?" He asked weakly.

BOOM Amnesia. Betcha didn't see that comin

At first Miryanna thought he didn't recognize her in the dim candlelight, so she took on of the candles and held it so it would light her face better. "It's me, Miryanna."

He still didn't seem to recognize her. "Do... Do I know you?" He asked again, sounding a little frightened this time.

Miryanna was confused. If he didn't recognize the face, didn't he recognize the name? She shared another, confused, glance with Iphnis before asking shyly, "You don't... remember me?"

Now he looked close to alarm. "Sh--Should I?"

Now Miryanna was alarmed too. What was wrong? Why didn't he remember her?

She looked at Iphnis in a silent plea for help.

He leaned close and whispered in her ear, "His lack of recognition might be due to the fact that he's lost a lot of blood, and his mind probably had some trauma when the Sorceress removed her power from him. He probably doesn't remember all that happened when the Sorceress had at least partial control." He explained.

thank u iphnis u are what we all need

Miryanna felt relieved that at least they had a reason why he didn't recognize her, but was still unsure what they were going to do about it.