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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: 5125819" data-attributes="member: 82687"><p><strong>11x01</strong></p><p></p><p>"That's it," concluded Twiggy softly. "It has to be."</p><p> </p><p>All of them, even Nyoko and Arden, pressed closer to the flimsy strips of paper laid out in orderly progression on the damp earth near the pond. By this point, after many minutes of discussion and debate about the proper arrangement of the strips, they were all familiar with the words of the prophecy. This, however, was the first chance they'd had to read the whole thing:</p><p> </p><p><em>Find the last breath of the dying king,</em></p><p><em>The single gasp amidst the gale,</em></p><p><em>The gasp that can’t, but must, prevail</em></p><p><em>To turn the storm the twilight brings.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>Break the last stone of the ruined wall,</em></p><p><em>Once a stalwart, guarding tower.</em></p><p><em>Crush it ere it crush the flower</em></p><p><em>And autumn’s dark intents befall.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>Catch the last drop from the broken vessel.</em></p><p><em>Follow it where e’er it go.</em></p><p><em>Though fired strong, the agent’s blow</em></p><p><em>Will crush it ’gainst ill fortune’s pestle.</em></p><p> </p><p><em>Fan the last coals of the smothered flame,</em></p><p><em>One for each once all are taken,</em></p><p><em>One of which may be forsaken</em></p><p><em>To make the Lurking Lady tame.</em></p><p> </p><p>"Ah," said Kormick, straightening up and cracking his back. "At last everything is perfectly clear."</p><p> </p><p>Kormick’s sarcasm aside, Twiggy suspected that this was probably about as clear as prophecies ever got. She was puzzled by the gods’ apparent propensity for communicating in opaque metaphor . . . but she relished the challenge of deciphering this one. "We can figure this out," she said. </p><p> </p><p>"How?" asked Rose. "It makes no sense. Except that it scares me. It says we can't prevail."</p><p> </p><p>"It doesn't say that, not exactly," Twiggy insisted. "It says that a gasp <em>must</em> prevail. We don't know what that means yet. It could mean anything."</p><p> </p><p>Rose was silent, unconvinced. </p><p> </p><p>"Look," said Twiggy. "A breath amidst a gale. Like wind. That's Sedellan, right? Then a stone – that's Kettenek. Then a drop – Alirria. Then a flame – Ehkt. Four stanzas, four gods."</p><p> </p><p>"But what does it <em>mean</em>? Who's the dying king?"</p><p> </p><p>Tavi turned to Nyoko. "The Sovereignty doesn't have a king, does it?"</p><p> </p><p>Nyoko didn't look up from studying the prophecy – she was committing it to memory, Twiggy guessed. "No. The Lord Regent is Kettenek's mortal representative on this earth. He is old, of course, and – "</p><p> </p><p>"And what?"</p><p> </p><p>"There has been speculation that his time is coming to an end."</p><p> </p><p>"There," said Tavi. "There's our dying king." </p><p> </p><p>"He is not a <em>king</em>," corrected Nyoko firmly. "He is the Lord Regent." </p><p> </p><p>"Our King in Dar Und is always in danger of horrible, horrible death," Kormick pointed out.</p><p> </p><p>Mena interrupted. "Four Fathoms isn’t so much a king, as a . . ."</p><p> </p><p>Kormick cocked an eyebrow. "As a what?"</p><p> </p><p>"As a crime boss who has murdered his way to the top."</p><p> </p><p>Kormick shrugged. "Your point?"</p><p> </p><p>The discussion continued for a while, as people proposed theories and others expressed skepticism. Twiggy was right in the midst of the debate – this kind of puzzle was so fascinating – but she couldn't help noticing that Rose was growing more and more lost in thought. Finally, as Tavi speculated whether the "broken vessel" might refer to the spring, Rose turned away from the group and walked to the edge of the water. </p><p> </p><p>Twiggy tore herself away from the conversation and followed. She heard the conversation die behind her as everyone noticed their departure. A breeze blew. There were ripples on the water, and the trees rustled. Across the water, the dwarves had built a campfire and were tending to their injured, and not far away lay the bound derro prisoners. It was late afternoon on Alirria Ascendant, and they had received a divine prophecy in the goddess's own sacred valley… but the magic of the place was gone, its grass now torn and blood-stained, the muddy earth plowed up by blades and boots and dragged prisoners' bodies.</p><p> </p><p>"I should have known," Rose said, as Twiggy reached her side. "She follows me everywhere."</p><p> </p><p>Twiggy felt the depth of her own obligation to Rose in this moment. It wasn't just that she was Rose's servant, and her job was to keep Rose feeling comfortable. It was that she was Rose's <em>friend</em>. She put her arm around Rose and took a second to gather her thoughts.</p><p> </p><p>"Rose – " she began, and then suddenly there was Kormick.</p><p> </p><p>"I don't understand your gloom, Signora," he announced. "There's no evidence to back it up. Allow me to illustrate." He whipped out his ever-present notebook and pen.</p><p> </p><p>"Kormick, not now," said Twiggy, but the Justicar was undeterred. </p><p> </p><p>"Just a moment. Just a moment." He was scribbling now.</p><p> </p><p>"Rose," Twiggy tried again. "All we can do is move forward…"</p><p> </p><p>Rose gave a shuddering sigh.</p><p> </p><p>"There," announced Kormick, and held up what he'd been writing. It was a chart with two columns. One said "GOOD." One said "BAD." </p><p> </p><p>"Consider our accomplishments objectively," Kormick continued, pointing at the chart with his pen. "Under the 'good' column, we have, among other items, 'all in party alive and healthy. ' We have 'saved dwarves.' We have 'saved Nyoko. ' We have 'stopped marauding derro.' We have 'something as close to religious experience as it gets.' Yes? Now, let us consider the 'bad.' 'Spring destroyed.' The end. Indeed, very sad. But you must note – you cannot ignore – that this 'bad' column is <em>considerably</em> shorter than the 'good' column. I rest my case."</p><p> </p><p>Twiggy looked around at the group. Mena was bemused. Nyoko looked like Kormick was making perfectly reasonable good sense. Arden was concealing a smile. </p><p> </p><p>Rose, however, was stiff beneath Twiggy's sheltering arm.</p><p> </p><p>"Kormick, please. Let me talk to Rose," said Twiggy.</p><p> </p><p>"The evidence is right here," insisted Kormick, tapping the notebook. "It's inarguable. There is no reason to feel bad."</p><p> </p><p>"Kormick," Twiggy said firmly, "You’re not helping." Everyone grew still. Twiggy knew how inappropriate it was to talk back to a Justicar—how inappropriate it was for a lady-in-waiting to talk back to <em>anyone</em>—but she also knew Rose. Kormick was right, of course. His chart was accurate. Twiggy knew that. But his chart was too glib, and . . . <em>and comforting Rose is <strong>my</strong> job,</em> thought Twiggy.</p><p> </p><p>Kormick raised an eyebrow, turned to the others, and muttered, "I mean, am I crazy? Does the math lie?" Twiggy faced Rose, trying to shut everybody else out. She held Rose's eyes with her own and spoke. "All we can do – all we can do, all right? – is move forward. Alirria must have known that we need this information. She kept telling it to us even after blood fell into the spring. Now we have that information, and a decision to make. We have to decide what to do next."</p><p> </p><p>"Remember my last decision?" asked Rose. Her flat despair made Twiggy wince. <em>Her last decision. The decision to come to the spring in the first place. When you put it that way … </em>Twiggy struggled for what to say. </p><p> </p><p>And Kormick was back. "I understand now," he said, and this time his tone was softer. "When you make your first kill… you think it's going to be a high, yes? And maybe it is, for a little while. But then there's a time when the world seems very empty. Very cold and very lonely. Because now you know that you – with only your two hands – have the power to ruin things. And that means things can ruin you. And justice … justice has to compete with three other gods, and sometimes it doesn't win."</p><p> </p><p>Rose was looking at him solemnly. Everyone was.</p><p> </p><p>Mena stepped up beside Kormick. "But although we've learned that we're definitely fighting a goddess," she said, "we seem to have another goddess on our side. That matters."</p><p> </p><p>After a moment, Rose nodded. Twiggy didn't think Rose was entirely convinced. But she was calmer. Twiggy hugged her close for a moment, and, to her relief, Rose hugged her back.</p><p> </p><p>Around them, the group dispersed. Savina and Arden checked on the dwarves – Arden tightening her lips uncomfortably as she learned that the slaves she'd rescued were now addressing her as "Honored Benefactor." Tavi, Mena, and Kormick returned to the derro prisoners, checking once more to make sure their bonds were secure and searching their equipment. They returned to the spring's edge with two healing potions, a potion of vigor, a pair of enchanted boots, and two magical weapons – a short sword and a warhammer.</p><p> </p><p>The shadows were growing long. The holy day of Alirria Ascendant was drawing to its close.</p><p> </p><p>Kormick hefted the warhammer and stuck it through his belt. Then he said, "Arden." He tossed the boots to Arden without another word; she caught them, startled, and her eyes widened further as he held the short sword's hilt toward her. She closed her hand around it and they looked at each other. </p><p> </p><p>"Thank you, Justicar," she said.</p><p> </p><p>He shrugged it off. "Anyone object to me helping the murder-slave become more murderous?" he asked. No one did: in fact, Twiggy could tell that Mena, in particular, was pleased with the Justicar's gesture. Kormick turned away and then wheeled back. "On second thought…" he began. </p><p> </p><p>"Kormick – " Mena objected, exasperated.</p><p> </p><p>"No, no, hear me out," he said. "Our Sovereign friend, Nyoko, fought bravely beside us today. She didn't have to. It's fair to give her something in return."</p><p> </p><p>"That seems appropriate," agreed Tavi, with a courtly nod to Nyoko.</p><p> </p><p>"I appreciate your thought," said Nyoko, "but I desire nothing that derro have touched." </p><p> </p><p>"I'm already ahead of you," said Kormick. "Slave, you always knew that magical cloak was far too nice for you."</p><p> </p><p>Arden opened her mouth as if she was going to argue, closed it again, quirked a philosophical smile, and reached up to unclasp the cloak – with its teleportation ability. It fell from her shoulders. She walked over to Nyoko and handed the Sovereign woman the fine fabric.</p><p> </p><p>"On behalf of these gentlefolk, Honored Adept," she murmured.</p><p> </p><p>Nyoko looked puzzled, but accepted the garment.</p><p> </p><p>"You earned it – it's yours," affirmed Kormick.</p><p> </p><p>"Until we find its proper owners," added Savina.</p><p> </p><p>Nyoko looked even more puzzled. Kormick patted her on the shoulder.</p><p> </p><p>"I'll explain later," he said. "Right now, we should make camp. I'll take care of shelter." He unslung his ax and headed toward the nearest tree – until Savina threw herself in his path.</p><p> </p><p>"You can't cut down trees!" she said. "Not today!"</p><p> </p><p>Kormick threw back his head in frustration. "Of course not. Fallen branches, then. If that's acceptable."</p><p> </p><p>Savina nodded. "But wait a moment," she said. "I feel… I need to try something. A ritual called <em>Bloom.</em>"</p><p> </p><p>While they all watched, Savina drew an Alirrian holy symbol on the ground near the pond and sat cross-legged in its center. She closed her eyes in meditation and began to chant. The ritual drew itself out as the sun sank down toward on the rim of the valley. Suddenly, something rustled near Twiggy – she jumped. Tendrils were springing out of the ground close by, uncurling and budding with green leaves. Flowers were blinking open everywhere she looked. The sprouting tendrils turned into green shrubs and vines. The very forest's edge seemed to creep closer, tree limbs drooping heavy with leaves and blossoms. The air smelled of warm rain, petals, and springtime. Soon, the entire area around the spring was overgrown with a lush tangle of flowers, vines, bushes, and eager young trees. </p><p> </p><p>As the rapid growth subsided and the sun, which had almost seemed to balance on the horizon, now slipped over its edge, Savina opened her eyes and surveyed her work with a joyful smile. "The pool will be protected now," she announced, looking around at the results of her ritual. </p><p> </p><p>Mena put a hand on Rose's shoulder. "See, child?" she murmured. "Alirria hasn't completely abandoned this place." </p><p> </p><p>Rose managed a faint smile. Twiggy could tell that her friend had bitten back a grimmer response. But as they made camp, sheltered safely under the tangle of new life, that little smile in the twilight would have to do.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Ilex, post: 5125819, member: 82687"] [b]11x01[/b] "That's it," concluded Twiggy softly. "It has to be." All of them, even Nyoko and Arden, pressed closer to the flimsy strips of paper laid out in orderly progression on the damp earth near the pond. By this point, after many minutes of discussion and debate about the proper arrangement of the strips, they were all familiar with the words of the prophecy. This, however, was the first chance they'd had to read the whole thing: [I]Find the last breath of the dying king,[/I] [I]The single gasp amidst the gale,[/I] [I]The gasp that can’t, but must, prevail[/I] [I]To turn the storm the twilight brings.[/I] [I]Break the last stone of the ruined wall,[/I] [I]Once a stalwart, guarding tower.[/I] [I]Crush it ere it crush the flower[/I] [I]And autumn’s dark intents befall.[/I] [I]Catch the last drop from the broken vessel.[/I] [I]Follow it where e’er it go.[/I] [I]Though fired strong, the agent’s blow[/I] [I]Will crush it ’gainst ill fortune’s pestle.[/I] [I]Fan the last coals of the smothered flame,[/I] [I]One for each once all are taken,[/I] [I]One of which may be forsaken[/I] [I]To make the Lurking Lady tame.[/I] "Ah," said Kormick, straightening up and cracking his back. "At last everything is perfectly clear." Kormick’s sarcasm aside, Twiggy suspected that this was probably about as clear as prophecies ever got. She was puzzled by the gods’ apparent propensity for communicating in opaque metaphor . . . but she relished the challenge of deciphering this one. "We can figure this out," she said. "How?" asked Rose. "It makes no sense. Except that it scares me. It says we can't prevail." "It doesn't say that, not exactly," Twiggy insisted. "It says that a gasp [I]must[/I] prevail. We don't know what that means yet. It could mean anything." Rose was silent, unconvinced. "Look," said Twiggy. "A breath amidst a gale. Like wind. That's Sedellan, right? Then a stone – that's Kettenek. Then a drop – Alirria. Then a flame – Ehkt. Four stanzas, four gods." "But what does it [I]mean[/I]? Who's the dying king?" Tavi turned to Nyoko. "The Sovereignty doesn't have a king, does it?" Nyoko didn't look up from studying the prophecy – she was committing it to memory, Twiggy guessed. "No. The Lord Regent is Kettenek's mortal representative on this earth. He is old, of course, and – " "And what?" "There has been speculation that his time is coming to an end." "There," said Tavi. "There's our dying king." "He is not a [I]king[/I]," corrected Nyoko firmly. "He is the Lord Regent." "Our King in Dar Und is always in danger of horrible, horrible death," Kormick pointed out. Mena interrupted. "Four Fathoms isn’t so much a king, as a . . ." Kormick cocked an eyebrow. "As a what?" "As a crime boss who has murdered his way to the top." Kormick shrugged. "Your point?" The discussion continued for a while, as people proposed theories and others expressed skepticism. Twiggy was right in the midst of the debate – this kind of puzzle was so fascinating – but she couldn't help noticing that Rose was growing more and more lost in thought. Finally, as Tavi speculated whether the "broken vessel" might refer to the spring, Rose turned away from the group and walked to the edge of the water. Twiggy tore herself away from the conversation and followed. She heard the conversation die behind her as everyone noticed their departure. A breeze blew. There were ripples on the water, and the trees rustled. Across the water, the dwarves had built a campfire and were tending to their injured, and not far away lay the bound derro prisoners. It was late afternoon on Alirria Ascendant, and they had received a divine prophecy in the goddess's own sacred valley… but the magic of the place was gone, its grass now torn and blood-stained, the muddy earth plowed up by blades and boots and dragged prisoners' bodies. "I should have known," Rose said, as Twiggy reached her side. "She follows me everywhere." Twiggy felt the depth of her own obligation to Rose in this moment. It wasn't just that she was Rose's servant, and her job was to keep Rose feeling comfortable. It was that she was Rose's [I]friend[/I]. She put her arm around Rose and took a second to gather her thoughts. "Rose – " she began, and then suddenly there was Kormick. "I don't understand your gloom, Signora," he announced. "There's no evidence to back it up. Allow me to illustrate." He whipped out his ever-present notebook and pen. "Kormick, not now," said Twiggy, but the Justicar was undeterred. "Just a moment. Just a moment." He was scribbling now. "Rose," Twiggy tried again. "All we can do is move forward…" Rose gave a shuddering sigh. "There," announced Kormick, and held up what he'd been writing. It was a chart with two columns. One said "GOOD." One said "BAD." "Consider our accomplishments objectively," Kormick continued, pointing at the chart with his pen. "Under the 'good' column, we have, among other items, 'all in party alive and healthy. ' We have 'saved dwarves.' We have 'saved Nyoko. ' We have 'stopped marauding derro.' We have 'something as close to religious experience as it gets.' Yes? Now, let us consider the 'bad.' 'Spring destroyed.' The end. Indeed, very sad. But you must note – you cannot ignore – that this 'bad' column is [I]considerably[/I] shorter than the 'good' column. I rest my case." Twiggy looked around at the group. Mena was bemused. Nyoko looked like Kormick was making perfectly reasonable good sense. Arden was concealing a smile. Rose, however, was stiff beneath Twiggy's sheltering arm. "Kormick, please. Let me talk to Rose," said Twiggy. "The evidence is right here," insisted Kormick, tapping the notebook. "It's inarguable. There is no reason to feel bad." "Kormick," Twiggy said firmly, "You’re not helping." Everyone grew still. Twiggy knew how inappropriate it was to talk back to a Justicar—how inappropriate it was for a lady-in-waiting to talk back to [I]anyone[/I]—but she also knew Rose. Kormick was right, of course. His chart was accurate. Twiggy knew that. But his chart was too glib, and . . . [I]and comforting Rose is [B]my[/B] job,[/I] thought Twiggy. Kormick raised an eyebrow, turned to the others, and muttered, "I mean, am I crazy? Does the math lie?" Twiggy faced Rose, trying to shut everybody else out. She held Rose's eyes with her own and spoke. "All we can do – all we can do, all right? – is move forward. Alirria must have known that we need this information. She kept telling it to us even after blood fell into the spring. Now we have that information, and a decision to make. We have to decide what to do next." "Remember my last decision?" asked Rose. Her flat despair made Twiggy wince. [I]Her last decision. The decision to come to the spring in the first place. When you put it that way … [/I]Twiggy struggled for what to say. And Kormick was back. "I understand now," he said, and this time his tone was softer. "When you make your first kill… you think it's going to be a high, yes? And maybe it is, for a little while. But then there's a time when the world seems very empty. Very cold and very lonely. Because now you know that you – with only your two hands – have the power to ruin things. And that means things can ruin you. And justice … justice has to compete with three other gods, and sometimes it doesn't win." Rose was looking at him solemnly. Everyone was. Mena stepped up beside Kormick. "But although we've learned that we're definitely fighting a goddess," she said, "we seem to have another goddess on our side. That matters." After a moment, Rose nodded. Twiggy didn't think Rose was entirely convinced. But she was calmer. Twiggy hugged her close for a moment, and, to her relief, Rose hugged her back. Around them, the group dispersed. Savina and Arden checked on the dwarves – Arden tightening her lips uncomfortably as she learned that the slaves she'd rescued were now addressing her as "Honored Benefactor." Tavi, Mena, and Kormick returned to the derro prisoners, checking once more to make sure their bonds were secure and searching their equipment. They returned to the spring's edge with two healing potions, a potion of vigor, a pair of enchanted boots, and two magical weapons – a short sword and a warhammer. The shadows were growing long. The holy day of Alirria Ascendant was drawing to its close. Kormick hefted the warhammer and stuck it through his belt. Then he said, "Arden." He tossed the boots to Arden without another word; she caught them, startled, and her eyes widened further as he held the short sword's hilt toward her. She closed her hand around it and they looked at each other. "Thank you, Justicar," she said. He shrugged it off. "Anyone object to me helping the murder-slave become more murderous?" he asked. No one did: in fact, Twiggy could tell that Mena, in particular, was pleased with the Justicar's gesture. Kormick turned away and then wheeled back. "On second thought…" he began. "Kormick – " Mena objected, exasperated. "No, no, hear me out," he said. "Our Sovereign friend, Nyoko, fought bravely beside us today. She didn't have to. It's fair to give her something in return." "That seems appropriate," agreed Tavi, with a courtly nod to Nyoko. "I appreciate your thought," said Nyoko, "but I desire nothing that derro have touched." "I'm already ahead of you," said Kormick. "Slave, you always knew that magical cloak was far too nice for you." Arden opened her mouth as if she was going to argue, closed it again, quirked a philosophical smile, and reached up to unclasp the cloak – with its teleportation ability. It fell from her shoulders. She walked over to Nyoko and handed the Sovereign woman the fine fabric. "On behalf of these gentlefolk, Honored Adept," she murmured. Nyoko looked puzzled, but accepted the garment. "You earned it – it's yours," affirmed Kormick. "Until we find its proper owners," added Savina. Nyoko looked even more puzzled. Kormick patted her on the shoulder. "I'll explain later," he said. "Right now, we should make camp. I'll take care of shelter." He unslung his ax and headed toward the nearest tree – until Savina threw herself in his path. "You can't cut down trees!" she said. "Not today!" Kormick threw back his head in frustration. "Of course not. Fallen branches, then. If that's acceptable." Savina nodded. "But wait a moment," she said. "I feel… I need to try something. A ritual called [I]Bloom.[/I]" While they all watched, Savina drew an Alirrian holy symbol on the ground near the pond and sat cross-legged in its center. She closed her eyes in meditation and began to chant. The ritual drew itself out as the sun sank down toward on the rim of the valley. Suddenly, something rustled near Twiggy – she jumped. Tendrils were springing out of the ground close by, uncurling and budding with green leaves. Flowers were blinking open everywhere she looked. The sprouting tendrils turned into green shrubs and vines. The very forest's edge seemed to creep closer, tree limbs drooping heavy with leaves and blossoms. The air smelled of warm rain, petals, and springtime. Soon, the entire area around the spring was overgrown with a lush tangle of flowers, vines, bushes, and eager young trees. As the rapid growth subsided and the sun, which had almost seemed to balance on the horizon, now slipped over its edge, Savina opened her eyes and surveyed her work with a joyful smile. "The pool will be protected now," she announced, looking around at the results of her ritual. Mena put a hand on Rose's shoulder. "See, child?" she murmured. "Alirria hasn't completely abandoned this place." Rose managed a faint smile. Twiggy could tell that her friend had bitten back a grimmer response. But as they made camp, sheltered safely under the tangle of new life, that little smile in the twilight would have to do. [/QUOTE]
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A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
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