Death (Fragment)
DM's Note: Eyvan's player, Jo, wrote this as part of her "prequel" fiction to the campaign.
"What?"
Eyvan stared blankly at Goffrey as the off-duty guard fidgeted nervously.
"Yossef's dead, Matteo. I'm sorry," he said, softly as Eyvan gripped the doorframe and stared at him, silenced by panic and disbelief. He finally swallowed tightly and forced words out of his throat.
"When? Where ÷ I'll have to get the body..."
Goffrey shook his head. "His family's already claimed it. I don't know exactly when the...duel happened ÷ of course there were no Guards there to see it, and none of the other duelists are talking."
Eyvan shook his head. "I don't want any more details," he said bleakly, then hesitated a moment, grabbing at one thought to keep himself together. "Which family?"
Goffrey looked surprised. "The Kormallises," he answered automatically, "you didn't know?"
Eyvan shook his head. "No. He never told me, and it never seemed important enough to push him on." He leaned forward until his head touched the doorframe and looked up at the older man. "When did it happen?"
"I don't know for sure...probably about one o'clock."
"What time is it now?"
"A little after three."
Eyvan shook his head again and closed his eyes. "Thank you," he finally managed.
He felt a cautious hand settle on his shoulder.
"Look, Matteo, I'm off-duty as of half-past two...I can stay here, if you'd like," Goffrey said, and Eyvan could detect nothing but concern in his voice. He had to swallow several times before he could speak.
"No, it's all right. I'll be fine," he said hoarsely. "I'll just be leaving soon, anyway. I'd rather be alone."
Goffrey withdrew his hand. "If you're sure."
Eyvan nodded, eyes burning, and the other man withdrew. Eyvan closed the door behind him and leaned against it, breathing deeply in a vain attempt to steady himself.
The stinging ache had not left him once he was fully dressed, in clothing he had never thought to wear again. Yossef hated ÷ had hated ÷ to see him in black. He always told Eyvan it was bad luck. He did not know how long he had been preparing to leave, but he knew his appearance must speak of noble or else the Kormallises would likely have nothing to do with him.
That was still a shock, that Yossef had also been a member of one of the most reviled families in Cislunar. No wonder his father had been so dead set against the match ÷ bad enough that Eyvan had gone to live in the Sepulchers with a duelist, but to threaten the illustrious Majarra family with a binding tie to the Kormallises! Eyvan did not doubt for a moment that his father had known who Yossef was. A bark of laughter strangled painfully in his throat. He hadn't known ÷ and he did not think he would ever have guessed.
He reached into the jewelry box and felt around blindly for a moment, finally yelping a bit as one of his fingers was stabbed by the object he was looking for. He wrapped his hand around the brooch carefully and pulled it out of the box. It was the pin Yossef had given him for his birthday the year they had first met: a garnet heart skewered by a gold sword, it was Yossef's personal seal. Eyvan was hoping it would support his story enough that the Kormallises were convinced.
He attached it to his cravat and paused, one hand still resting against his pulse, as it occurred to him that this was the first time he had put it on himself. His eyes closed as he swallowed tightly, suddenly understanding the Somadian's uncontrollable wailing for the deathwatch. But his throat was too tense for a single noise to squeak out so he remained silent as he drew on his cloak and left their apartment, absently picking up his harp before going out the door.
