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A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
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<blockquote data-quote="Ilex" data-source="post: 4814510" data-attributes="member: 82687"><p><strong>2x07</strong></p><p></p><p>As the sun slanted toward afternoon, everyone returned to the Alirrian Temple. With the Honored Mother's permission, Savina told the group his story. Then, pooling their information, and with the Honored Mother's help, Kormick plotted out a route that would take them to the general vicinity of the spring. To Savina, the Justicar seemed hurried and tense. He even accepted Arden's purchases matter-of-factly, apparently forgetting his suspicions of her. </p><p></p><p>Finally, Kormick concluded one last consultation about the map with the Honored Mother. "Time to leave!" he announced.</p><p></p><p>"Now?" asked Tavi. "It's mid-afternoon. Shouldn't we start in the morning?" Savina nodded. Tavi had asked exactly the question that was on her mind.</p><p></p><p>"If we leave now, we can be several miles outside the city by nightfall."</p><p></p><p>"But why couldn't we spend the night here?" asked Twiggy. "We could get a better map – we could even get a guide – "</p><p></p><p>"If we spend the night here, we risk drawing unwanted attention to this Temple. And that is the last thing that the Honored Mother would want. Isn't that right?" He turned to the Honored Mother, who looked pained. </p><p></p><p>"Honored Mother . . . ?" prompted Savina. "What – what do you think we should do?"</p><p></p><p>"Much as I would selfishly like you to stay, Blessed Daughter . . . you should go."</p><p></p><p>"I concur," said Mena. "If there is to be trouble here, I don't want Rose involved."</p><p></p><p>Tavi unconsciously took a step closer to Rose and put his hand on the pommel of his sword. "Then we leave now," he said, and Savina accepted that the debate was over.</p><p></p><p>###</p><p></p><p>They passed the great gates of Lord's Edge amid a progression of villagers who were leaving at the end of the workday. Kormick stalked at the front of the group, setting a vigorous pace and glancing back over his shoulder from time to time. Tavi, Mena, and Twiggy walked with Rose. Savina walked along behind them, ahead of the <em>clop clop</em> of the mule, barely noticing as their path began to wind along a river and the road acquired rough stones that tore at her delicate slippers. She was worrying about the Honored Mother. He had seemed so sad, and Mena had said there might be trouble. <em>What trouble? Won't Alirria protect her children?</em></p><p></p><p>She thought of the man that Twiggy had called an Inquisitor. <em>He said that something isn't over. What did that mean?</em> She gasped.</p><p></p><p>"They aren't going to attack the Temple tonight, are they?" she blurted out.</p><p></p><p>From the front of the group, Kormick gave a hearty laugh. "No," he called back. "No, dear girl, no. The religious fanatics of Lord's Edge certainly <em>may</em> not attack and destroy the Temple <em>tonight</em>. Take comfort. They might wait a day! Maybe a week!"</p><p></p><p>Savina felt sick. "What if they need our help? What if they – "</p><p></p><p>"There is nothing we could do," Mena interjected. "By staying, we only made the problem worse."</p><p></p><p>"But if they're going to be attacked – "</p><p></p><p>"That is only a fearful thought," said Mena firmly. "It may never come to pass. The Honored Mother seemed like a very diplomatic man, and now that we are gone, the Inquisitors will have to look elsewhere for excuses to make trouble."</p><p></p><p>Suddenly Tavi turned around and, walking backwards, looked straight at Savina. "It's all right," he said. "Those Givers serve Alirria, and you've strengthened the Honored Mother's faith, so Alirria will help them. That's how it works."</p><p></p><p>Savina felt comforted. She met Tavi's eyes shyly. "Thank you, Tavi," she said, venturing to call him by his nickname. He gave a curt – but not unfriendly – nod of acknowledgement and turned back around. </p><p></p><p>Kormick said in a stage-whisper: "Excellent. When we see the inevitable smoke and flames from Lord's Edge tonight, perhaps you all might suggest to her that it is a festival honoring Kettenek's wondrous city sanitation regulations."</p><p></p><p>Just as Savina's heart began to plummet again, a low voice spoke up behind her. "Ignore him, Blessed Daughter. He makes jokes like that." Savina glanced back to see Arden leading the mule and looking at her slippers. "I think I should have bought boots for you at the market."</p><p></p><p>"I have never worn boots," said Savina, puzzled.</p><p></p><p>"Forgive my presumption, Blessed Daughter."</p><p></p><p>They walked on. Savina's feet began to hurt.</p><p></p><p>They camped that night a few hundred yards off the road, over a ridge that would hide them from the sight of other travelers, in a small valley. Savina was glad to sit down as the others made themselves comfortable and Arden bustled around quietly, lighting a fire, cooking dinner, and setting up Savina's small tent.</p><p></p><p>Savina was surprised that the plain food seemed to taste as good as it did; she was very hungry. As she ate, she puzzled over the fact that no one else had a tent – not even Rose – even though most of them had burdened themselves with armor and weaponry that they would probably never need. They all seemed to be planning to sleep in the open air, by the fire. Savina had never slept under the stars in her life and shivered at the idea of doing so now.</p><p></p><p>"That just leaves Tavi without a partner," concluded Kormick, who was organizing shifts for an all-night watch.</p><p></p><p>"Arden can accompany him," said Mena.</p><p></p><p>Kormick laughed. "Perhaps <em>you</em> will sleep soundly while the slave and her dagger stand watch over our unconscious, helpless bodies, but I will not. The slave is not allowed to keep watch. Young lady, you must join Tavi."</p><p></p><p>He was looking at Savina. She felt a warm glow suffuse her, and the night, with its strange sounds and cool air, seemed suddenly exciting rather than scary. "Um. If you think so,” she agreed. She saw Arden beginning to unroll a blanket just outside the tent, in the shadow. "You can sleep in the tent, Arden," she added. "I – I have to keep watch." </p><p></p><p>Kormick made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand. </p><p></p><p>Arden's eyes widened in surprise. "<em>In</em> the tent, Blessed Daughter?"</p><p></p><p>"Of course." </p><p></p><p>Arden didn’t ask twice. She bowed her head low. "Thank you, Blessed Daughter," she said, and then ducked inside the tent. As the others lay down around the fire, wrapping themselves up against the chill air and preparing to sleep, Savina shyly walked over to Tavi's stalwart silhouette at the edge of the firelight.</p><p></p><p>###</p><p></p><p>Arden curled up in the tent, astonished at her good fortune. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept both comfortably and in private, and tonight she was forbidden to do anything but that. She felt exhausted, but luxurious, sliding toward a deep, oblivious sleep. Just before the darkness claimed her, she thought, <em>Maybe this really is a vacation, after all.</em></p><p></p><p>Later, when the scuttling and the screams began, her mind accepted them unquestioningly, allowing them to transform her dreams to nightmares. Such nightmares were old companions, though, and the bedroll in the tent was so warm and soft. </p><p></p><p>She slept on.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ilex, post: 4814510, member: 82687"] [b]2x07[/b] As the sun slanted toward afternoon, everyone returned to the Alirrian Temple. With the Honored Mother's permission, Savina told the group his story. Then, pooling their information, and with the Honored Mother's help, Kormick plotted out a route that would take them to the general vicinity of the spring. To Savina, the Justicar seemed hurried and tense. He even accepted Arden's purchases matter-of-factly, apparently forgetting his suspicions of her. Finally, Kormick concluded one last consultation about the map with the Honored Mother. "Time to leave!" he announced. "Now?" asked Tavi. "It's mid-afternoon. Shouldn't we start in the morning?" Savina nodded. Tavi had asked exactly the question that was on her mind. "If we leave now, we can be several miles outside the city by nightfall." "But why couldn't we spend the night here?" asked Twiggy. "We could get a better map – we could even get a guide – " "If we spend the night here, we risk drawing unwanted attention to this Temple. And that is the last thing that the Honored Mother would want. Isn't that right?" He turned to the Honored Mother, who looked pained. "Honored Mother . . . ?" prompted Savina. "What – what do you think we should do?" "Much as I would selfishly like you to stay, Blessed Daughter . . . you should go." "I concur," said Mena. "If there is to be trouble here, I don't want Rose involved." Tavi unconsciously took a step closer to Rose and put his hand on the pommel of his sword. "Then we leave now," he said, and Savina accepted that the debate was over. ### They passed the great gates of Lord's Edge amid a progression of villagers who were leaving at the end of the workday. Kormick stalked at the front of the group, setting a vigorous pace and glancing back over his shoulder from time to time. Tavi, Mena, and Twiggy walked with Rose. Savina walked along behind them, ahead of the [i]clop clop[/i] of the mule, barely noticing as their path began to wind along a river and the road acquired rough stones that tore at her delicate slippers. She was worrying about the Honored Mother. He had seemed so sad, and Mena had said there might be trouble. [i]What trouble? Won't Alirria protect her children?[/i] She thought of the man that Twiggy had called an Inquisitor. [i]He said that something isn't over. What did that mean?[/i] She gasped. "They aren't going to attack the Temple tonight, are they?" she blurted out. From the front of the group, Kormick gave a hearty laugh. "No," he called back. "No, dear girl, no. The religious fanatics of Lord's Edge certainly [i]may[/i] not attack and destroy the Temple [i]tonight[/i]. Take comfort. They might wait a day! Maybe a week!" Savina felt sick. "What if they need our help? What if they – " "There is nothing we could do," Mena interjected. "By staying, we only made the problem worse." "But if they're going to be attacked – " "That is only a fearful thought," said Mena firmly. "It may never come to pass. The Honored Mother seemed like a very diplomatic man, and now that we are gone, the Inquisitors will have to look elsewhere for excuses to make trouble." Suddenly Tavi turned around and, walking backwards, looked straight at Savina. "It's all right," he said. "Those Givers serve Alirria, and you've strengthened the Honored Mother's faith, so Alirria will help them. That's how it works." Savina felt comforted. She met Tavi's eyes shyly. "Thank you, Tavi," she said, venturing to call him by his nickname. He gave a curt – but not unfriendly – nod of acknowledgement and turned back around. Kormick said in a stage-whisper: "Excellent. When we see the inevitable smoke and flames from Lord's Edge tonight, perhaps you all might suggest to her that it is a festival honoring Kettenek's wondrous city sanitation regulations." Just as Savina's heart began to plummet again, a low voice spoke up behind her. "Ignore him, Blessed Daughter. He makes jokes like that." Savina glanced back to see Arden leading the mule and looking at her slippers. "I think I should have bought boots for you at the market." "I have never worn boots," said Savina, puzzled. "Forgive my presumption, Blessed Daughter." They walked on. Savina's feet began to hurt. They camped that night a few hundred yards off the road, over a ridge that would hide them from the sight of other travelers, in a small valley. Savina was glad to sit down as the others made themselves comfortable and Arden bustled around quietly, lighting a fire, cooking dinner, and setting up Savina's small tent. Savina was surprised that the plain food seemed to taste as good as it did; she was very hungry. As she ate, she puzzled over the fact that no one else had a tent – not even Rose – even though most of them had burdened themselves with armor and weaponry that they would probably never need. They all seemed to be planning to sleep in the open air, by the fire. Savina had never slept under the stars in her life and shivered at the idea of doing so now. "That just leaves Tavi without a partner," concluded Kormick, who was organizing shifts for an all-night watch. "Arden can accompany him," said Mena. Kormick laughed. "Perhaps [i]you[/i] will sleep soundly while the slave and her dagger stand watch over our unconscious, helpless bodies, but I will not. The slave is not allowed to keep watch. Young lady, you must join Tavi." He was looking at Savina. She felt a warm glow suffuse her, and the night, with its strange sounds and cool air, seemed suddenly exciting rather than scary. "Um. If you think so,” she agreed. She saw Arden beginning to unroll a blanket just outside the tent, in the shadow. "You can sleep in the tent, Arden," she added. "I – I have to keep watch." Kormick made a throat-slitting gesture with his hand. Arden's eyes widened in surprise. "[i]In[/i] the tent, Blessed Daughter?" "Of course." Arden didn’t ask twice. She bowed her head low. "Thank you, Blessed Daughter," she said, and then ducked inside the tent. As the others lay down around the fire, wrapping themselves up against the chill air and preparing to sleep, Savina shyly walked over to Tavi's stalwart silhouette at the edge of the firelight. ### Arden curled up in the tent, astonished at her good fortune. She couldn't remember the last time she'd slept both comfortably and in private, and tonight she was forbidden to do anything but that. She felt exhausted, but luxurious, sliding toward a deep, oblivious sleep. Just before the darkness claimed her, she thought, [i]Maybe this really is a vacation, after all.[/i] Later, when the scuttling and the screams began, her mind accepted them unquestioningly, allowing them to transform her dreams to nightmares. Such nightmares were old companions, though, and the bedroll in the tent was so warm and soft. She slept on. [/QUOTE]
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A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
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