Epilogue: The Return

[Caira Ayryn]

Later.

“She won’t want to see my face,” Merik told Tom, whom convinced him to talk a little.

Tom chuckled, “Sure she will, she’ll want to gage the damage done.”

Merik, with his shiny purple nose glared, “Not funny.” The shadow of night that hung over his face made the swelling of his eye sockets more distinct.

“How can I not be? It seems to me like you screwed her over, I’m surprise’ she didn’t kill you. She must be a forgiving gal.” Tom was smirking.

“Hmph, she’s small.” Merik commented after a couple shots. He didn’t mean in size, and it wasn’t clear exactly to what he was referring.

Chintzy music played on a piano in the back round of their conversation. “Ya know, I didn’t believe it myselff until I escaped,” Merik said, his words began to grow staggered with time and the boundless effect of liquid courage.

The curious lad’s voice escaped with a higher tone, “Eh? Escaped where?”

“Dosesn’t matter...” he slurred, “But, I will say, I didn’t believe curses existed, at least, not attached to a person. I guess I’m my own proof eh?”

“I donno what you’re talkin’ about mister but if you tell ‘er that, she might feel better about what she said about you leaving her to die in the desert!” His reasoning was sound.

“Hah, I’d never say it to anyone’s face especially not hers, she’ll want to cure it, plus, she’ll toughen up. Thiss is the cruelest world there is, the Omniverse. Can’t die, without something interferin’ an’ ya can’t live without someone interferin’ and you certainly can’t survive without someone screwing you over.”

“But, if you had to, how do ya’ absolve a curse?”

“Ain’t no way out of one once its cast, Tom.”

“You’re wrong about that stranger.” A voice bellowed from the shadows that had pooled in the corner of the tavern.