Annotated 8-17
Some guessed Byron would come back berserking, but no one guessed when.
I was a bit surprised by that, but more surprised that no nitpickers pointed out that removing an arrowhead can do more damage to the body than leaving it in until it can be treated properly, and the same applies to a spear. But Syr’Nj does have healing serums more puissant than anything we’ve got in our world, so trying to remove the spear is a little more sensible in her case, albeit futile.
Syr feels too strongly for Byron not to try, but her military training kicks in once it’s inarguable that he’s gone. Mourning will be for later, if there is a later. Right now, packing those emotions away is her best shot at survival.
At least the last words she said directly to him hinted at her blossoming feelings of affection and weren’t some kind of insult she’d forever regret and might even consider the indirect cause of his demise. Then she’d REALLY be a basket case!
Not sure what the bit about her “last words” is referring to. The last thing she says directly to Byron in the strip is “I can heal him!” (referring to Gravedust). Before that, there’s “Here’s hopin’ we’ll have time to figure that out” when she takes him out for drinks. But that happened before they left on their diplomatic trip, and was probably not even the last thing she said to him that evening.
I, er, may be comparing how she processes grief here to how she’ll react to some future event in the story. :-)
I think the “here’s hopin’” strip was a pretty good hint that that ship was about to sail.
Looking back, I like that Harky here looks like the final boss, defeating the group the first time, then ultimately getting defeated by the group on their final encounter. But he doesn’t even get to fight the group again, he gets defeated by a completely different person.
“Right now, packing those emotions away is her best shot at survival.”
Those eyes in panel 4… survival doesn’t seem to be her main goal.
“TAG! You’re it!”
“No! TAG! YOU’RE it!”