King Griswald nodded, then continued his earlier thought. "To be honest, I was hoping to see how you were doing. When I came by earlier, you were gone, just that green guy snoring away. It's not too important, but when I have trouble thinking of the next move, I sometimes come out to meditate for a while."
Ty, sensing an opportunity to retreat, replied, "I see, that makes sense. I'm going to head off and try to get some sleep as well if that's okay with you. It's important to have my stamina at full strength for a long day."
King Griswald, offering a warm smile, responded, "Sure, get some sleep if possible. It will indeed be a long day tomorrow, or should I say, in about four hours. I'll remain here and ponder some thoughts awhile longer."
"Yes, Your Kingness," Ty responded, offering a slight bow in a show of respect. He carefully opened the door to leave, but just as he was about to step inside, King Griswald spoke up again, his voice carrying a serious undertone.
"Don't forget what I told you either. If THAT action has to be taken, I want you not to hesitate to carry it out."
Ty paused, leaving the door ajar for a moment. The weight of the king's words hung heavily in the air. He pondered the gravity of the task that King Griswald had alluded to, understanding the seriousness of what might be asked of him. Without a word, he acknowledged the king's command with a solemn nod.
Finally, he closed the door with a resounding thud, sealing himself and Nana away from the quiet intensity of the night and the deep thoughts of King Griswald. The sound echoed in the stillness, marking the end of their conversation and the beginning of a night filled with contemplation and uneasy rest.
As Ty made his way over to his cot, he began to remove his clothing, his movements methodical and slow. His eyes caught a few splashes of red ink towards the bottom of his garment. "Must have been from the wine guy," he mused to himself, recalling a recent encounter.
As he drifted off, a voice echoed in his head, ethereal and haunting. "You know destruction is the easiest path forward... why reject me? You can only reject me for so long." The words lingered in the air, a taunting reminder of a presence or force seeking to influence him, tugging at the edges of his consciousness even as he succumbed to the grip of sleep.
Top of Form
The abrupt awakening, prompted by the unsettling voice in his dream, left Ty momentarily disoriented. The first rays of sunlight were filtering through the cracks in the roof, casting fragmented beams of light across the room. Todd was already up, stretching his limbs and acknowledging the arrival of dawn. "Looks like dawn is already here," he observed, his voice tinged with a hint of weariness.
"I feel like I could use another five hours of sleep, though. How about you, Ty?"
Ty, still absorbed in his thoughts, stared down at his skeletal hands. The green flames in his eyes reignited as he pondered the voice that had infiltrated his rest. It was a disturbing development; the voice had always been a manifestation during times of stress, not in moments of peace.
"Shit, I thought that whatever that thing is, it can only surface when I'm under stress. I might need to rethink things moving forward," Ty muttered to himself. He placed a finger under his skeletal chin, lost in deep contemplation.
Todd, noticing Ty's distant demeanor, walked over and tapped his shoulder, breaking Ty's train of thought. "Hey, you okay there, Ty?" Todd's voice was laced with concern, sensing that his companion was grappling with something significant. Ty turned to face him, his eyes still glowing faintly, as he prepared to respond, weighing his words carefully.
Ty, momentarily jarred from his thoughts, looked up at Todd. "Huh, what was that? Sorry," he said, trying to mask the depth of his preoccupation. "I guess I'm just a bit tired still. And what did you call me?"