(22) - And Now the Cracks Begin To Show

Griffonclaw slept badly, as he had since the death of Catrionae.

Sometimes, his dreams replayed her death as he had seen it, not as he had wished that he had seen it. Catrionae dead, her living heart ripped from her body before he could get there, and not her still breathing as he stood over her. Crack the first.

Selvaggia standing, impassive, not under threat or compulsion. Not revolted until Griffonclaw arrived and drew blade. And even then... leaving him to die. Crack the second.

Blaming the Light for not saving her. Crack the third.

Griffonclaw discovering the forbidden hellblade Doombringer in the armories of the Argent Exodus, and taking it for his own, knowing that using such a blade would eat at his soul. Crack the fourth

Killing Gaaron with the hellblade, sending his soul to the Twisting Nether to be damned for eternity. Crack the fifth.

Fighting Scions where he found them, and then sparing them, using the justification that he wanted Keruptis to feel helpless as Griffonclaw had when Keruptis had sacrificed her. Crack the sixth.

Tonight he recalled holding the blade of Doombringer against Ravenlore's neck... she had hardly fought back, and had shamed him. His rage had risen again, and he had run away - at a walk.

Later, he had been confronted by Ahab and Lealah of the Scions, along with Ravenlore. They had interrogated him about the sacrifice, his intentions, and he could feel the waves of fear even as they stood against him. These three he could admire, could love as Brother and Sister... except that the would stand between him and Keruptis, if they could. They had been joined by Delos, his once-Brother, and Griffonclaw felt his concern for Griffonclaw's... state. The compassion in his eyes... Crack the seventh.

And he knew in his heart, that so would Selvaggia. His plans against the Scions were tucked in a small part of his mind when they were around; she filled his heart with love, even though he knew - in his heart of hearts - that if she stood between him and Keruptis, he would not strike at her - and Keruptis would slay him. He felt Catrionae standing at his ear, cursing him for a forsworn coward... Crack the eighth.

Griffonclaw asked the Scions - Ahab, Ravenlore, Lealah - what they would have him do instead of pursue Keruptis' utter destruction? Again, no answer - not even whe Griffonclaw put the edge of his own hellblade against his jugular and asked for a volunteer to end this, here and now, sending his own soul to the Twisting Nether. Delos grabbed the hellblade's blade in his bare hands and removed it, hurting himself in the process. Crack the ninth.

All of these swirled in and around him, trying to find resolution... but there was no solution yet.

How many cracks does it take before a mind shatters?