Ranger-Captain Moriurya Brightsinger

When Your Time Is Up

(( This post is from 2012. Moriurya had become the Lead Historian for Atlas Treasure Salvage, but was also on a self-imposed mission to keep detailed tabs of the goings ons of ATS and it's members. After a tense moment between her and a few of its members, Rya vindictively sought out someone to give this information to. ))

“Rya, can you hear me?”

The sound of the box echoed in the stone walls of The Aegis. My conversation had just started when Gilthånås’ voice came through the mechanical box on my hip. Why my ear piece was not in to start with was surprising to me. I looked to Tiradell, then picked up the box and spoke into it.

“Yes, I can.”
“Look … I need to talk to you. Where are you?”

I looked to Tiradell again, biting my bottom lip. I didn’t want to take sides, that was never the plan, but I couldn’t just lead them right to where I was just as the man I was beside started to trust me. That just wouldn’t do. I was just lucky that the tracking device on my box had malfunctioned only a few days before. I remember specifically hating the idea of someone putting things that would track my whereabouts on my person; that just doesn’t work when one is trying to not be tracked, when one could be in danger by being tracked. I should have mentioned that to Iloam.

“You already said your words. I am not available right now … I need to pack up things.”
“I didn’t get to finish, Rya.”

Tiradell was telling me to tell Gilthånås to shut up, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do that. I had only really met the man a day ago. The fact that he had pulled a gun on me less than an hour back was still fresh on my mind. Not to mention Ryo getting ready to pounce Tiradell and my bow notched and ready to fly at Ryo. It was all just a mess.

“I don’t need a scolding.”
“I am not here to scold you.”

I muffled the communicator, holding my hand over the thing called a speaker. No other voices were coming through and Gil was silent, but I didn’t need it as a distraction. Tiradell was asking me about my information and I suddenly remembered that all my paperwork, all my information and proof, were given over to Iloam a week earlier when I told him the truth of my personal mission. My mind swirled, now realizing why he would not stop assuming I was working for someone.

“No, sir. I do not have proof beyond my words. A week past I had turned myself in to Iloam and handed over all my documents. If they are not destroyed I might be able to get them back when I go to the barge tonight to gather my things.”

That was a lie; I knew full well I would not be able to get on the barge now … they thought me a spy, and I certainly seem the part now. I could feel myself getting more dizzy, my heart pounding. It was luck that I could keep myself collected. It would not be a surprise if Iloam destroyed those papers, and I was glad that I might not have anything of worth for Tiradell.

“Just … don’t go to Tiradell out of spite.”

I was just leaving The Aegis location when Gilthånås’ voice said that over the speaker. Tiradell gave a short laugh but responded with nothing. My lungs would not take in the air I required, so tight they were. My hand went to my hip and quickly I realized the ear piece was there. I allowed myself to put it in as I walked away, unharmed, from the one everyone was calling the most dangerous of threats. I listened to Gil speak.

“No matter how honorable and patriotic he may seem, Tiradell cares about Tana and Kagg and noone well. Whatever he might offer you … he’s just using you. He doesn’t care for the Sin'Dorei, he just cares about power, glory, and his own personal gain.”
“That last part sounds oddly familiar, like a lot of people I come in contact with. I’m not turning to him.”
“How can I be sure you are not with him right now?”
“You can’t because he is here with me.”

Another lie; here I am lying to the people who want to help me. Gil was silent for a time, but then he came up with the more lame reasoning he could come up with. For being a Lawyer he certainly didn’t know my case.

“He’s with the convocation, Rya! You don’t know the forces you are messing with. They exiled Iloam -without trial- and they had no proof!”

I rolled my eyes. Of course I damn knew what I was dealing with here; I almost was a Convocate myself. I wanted to just shouting at him about how he may think I am all innocent, all clueless to what is going on, and how wrong he really was, but I wasn’t going to … I didn’t need to make another enemy. Course, he was still talking.

“If you give him your word about something, he will not stop until he’s gotten what he thinks is his revenge. And he won’t just go after Iloam, he’ll go after ATS as well, anyone he can manage to say had anything to do with it. Do you really want blood on your hands?”
“I don’t really care about the people in ATS, Gil, and never have. My being a noble by title alone made sure I was not welcome, no matter how much unlike a lady I am around them.”

Frustration was making its way through, just as I was walking through the door to my apartments in Silvermoon. Dimetri gave me a curious look, but I simply told him to get the boxes ready. It was almost humorous that I had already had most of the books stored away and ready to move. Ever since Iloam said that all the work should be done on the barge I had been ready to move everything and sell the apartment I had stored it in. Why did Gil have to mention them? They have always been nothing but side characters … nothing more than bodies in the way.

“Rya …”
“No, don’t Rya me! The only people I really care about in that damned group are Ari and Iloam, and Iloam has done his own damned things that shouldn’t go unpunished but have!”
“I don’t care for my own safety, Rya. But if my daughter or anyone close to me is threatened because of something you did …”
“I have no proof of anything against Iloam. Tiradell has been gone from my side for a time now, he will get nothing out of me, Gil.”

It was partially true, but still it left a sour taste in my mouth. All this lying was going to have to be washed out from my tongue sometime soon. But then again I was going to have to continue to lie to Tiradell or I could find myself in danger more than I wished.

“Rya … just … think about what you do next. Having blood on your hands haunts you for the rest of your life, believe me.”
“I plan on packing up the library, signing the resignation papers, making sure I have nothing at the barge, and moving to my Dalaran address. And I do know perfectly well what it is like to have blood on my hands. I used to be a soldier too, I know the full effect!”
“Then you should damn well know the consequences of what you are playing with!”

It hurt then, tears were streaming down my face, warm and salty like the waters the barge sat in. I knew I wasn’t going to be the same from here … I knew I was going to have to go into hiding like I did when there were wanted posters up for me. I was almost getting comfortable, I even liked my job at times. Suddenly his voice was no longer harsh.

“Rya .. just … Light….”
“I am not playing with anything. I told him that the information, the proof I had, was destroyed and he let me off without a problem. I will stay alert just in case, but it is settled. I’m done with this crap.”