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Temenos stumbled through the inn doors, and quickly shut the door to block the cold winds that Stormhail was known for. He could barely see through the haze in his eyes, but managed to climb up the stairs and go to one of the rooms the party had rented.
He couldn’t speak.
He couldn’t think.
At least… he couldn’t think about anything but them.
Roi.
Temenos’s breaths were getting faster and faster. Was he even breathing anymore? He couldn’t quite tell. Everything was spinning, spinning… he couldn’t keep track of it anymore.
From somewhere out in the hall, he heard Thronè telling the fellow party members something about the room being cleaned and that they should come back later. Thankfully, she didn’t try to come in.
Temenos wouldn’t have been able to find the voice to tell her to go anyway.
Pontiff.
He collapsed on the floor; it was too hard to stand. He put his head between his knees, wrapped his arms around himself, did anything to try and make it stop.
Nothing was working.
Every memory he’d ever had of his friend was flashing through his head like bolts of lightning, searing through his consciousness. Tears were pooling up in his eyes now. Temenos didn’t care anymore. He just wanted this agony to stop.
Crick.
The final name sent him sobbing and sniffling and gasping for air. His friend. One of the closest friends he’d ever had.
His little lamb…
His mangled body and blood staining the snow.
Why didn’t Temenos stay with him? How could he have allowed this? Why hadn’t he been able to save him?!
“Pathetic.” Temenos whispered.
But another voice was whispering too.
“Temenos.”
The voice was joined by two others. Temenos looked up, but he couldn’t see anything other than the walls of the inn room.
He could feel it, though.
Now there was a soft warmth in the empty pit of his stomach. A quiet pulse, thrumming through his soul.
“Temenos,” The voices said again, stronger this time. Temenos closed his eyes and listened. With each heartbeat, he grew calmer.
He took in a big breath and let it out, surprised by how refreshing it was. He opened his eyes and was surprised to find them almost tear-free. He took another breath, and another. Bit by bit. Minute by minute.
Eventually he was even able to smile. “They are all still with me… aren’t they?” He thought.
He stood up. After all, there was a lot of work to do, and only one inquisitor could do it.