Diplomatic Immunity--Preface: Vasha's Discovery, Part II

[Rystil Arden]

"I suppose that anything is possible, my darling Vasha, but I wouldn't count on it...nevertheless, she probably could have killed you as a baby too when she had you, but she didn't...Maybe she has some reason of her own to keep you alive?"

"But...I wouldn't be so quick to consider her innocent of Marrik's death. She is the one who captured him, my daughter...if she really wanted us to live peacefully, she could have left him alone in the first place..."

 

[Bront]

"She... has a plan, or thinks she does... to save Arris by using the jewels as a nexus to let Arris heal. Daddy didn't agree I'm guessing, and while I think she has some good ideas, I'm not sure myself about everything."

"She has issues though. Her voice would... change occasionaly, or her tone. Part of her was cold, but part was warm and caring. It was like she was battling with herself. And then, when she sent me to Eldiz... she was different then too. She'd swollowed a tear of Arris when I helped repair her soul..."

"Mother, she told me not to come back for a few years, till things died down, but she has daddy. And poor Louteah and Zythryd and Niilaa and Brinn. Mother..." Vasha finaly breaks down and cries in her mothers arms, letting her pain be cast off as tears, knowing she's safe in her mother's arms.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*Ashana doesn't say anything right away as her daughter cries, realising that the best thing she can do right now is to hold Vasha and hug her with all her love, stroking her daughter's hair down to her neck gently in a comforting, motherly way, and cradling Vasha's tear-filled head against her chest.*

"It's okay now, Vasha...it's all okay now. You're safe here with Mommy, now," she finally whispers in a gentle, soothing voice.

 

[Bront]

Vasha sighs as she finaly stops crying. "Mother, I think it's best you know everything."

Vasha goes over her entire ordeal in detail, including Bertram, Gralas, the slavers, Zythryd, Vriimen, Alyz, Louteah, Brin, Niilaa, and even her time on Eldiz with Karya.

 

[Rystil Arden]

"Wow, you've had quite an adventure, haven't you my brave and beautiful little explorer? I think that's more excitement than my first three years off Amaranthia combined! It is still very confusing though. My best guess would have to be that Lhyzra was indeed attempting to hide her evil nature behind a mask of kindness, but after all you describe, even I am truly unsure..."

 

[Bront]

"I don't know if she's trying to attone for past mistakes, or has changed, or is simply being decietful. I don't know anymore, but I swore I would come back for Daddy, and I will return eventualy to find out."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"That is good, Vasha. Your love is strong, and your heart is firm...I know you will not fail."

"I am curious...deep in your heart, what do you think about Lhyzra? If you had to choose the truth for yourself now. That answer may be important when deciding how to proceed when you eventually return to Arris."

 

[Bront]

"I... I think she's confused, and scared, and was never taught to love or care like she should have been. She desires to be different, to be good, but she doesn't know how, and is too stuborn to ask for help. I just worry that she'll go too far, and do something bad in the name of good."

 

[Rystil Arden]

"I see...well, if your instincts are right, then at least it is not as bad as it could be, right? If she wishes to do good, then unless she strays quite far, she should at least refrain from doing something truly evil...And who knows, perhaps you were able to help her heal her poor, twisted soul..."

 

[Bront]

"Something happened to her when she swollowed Arris's tear, and I'm not sure what. She looked almost lizard like for a moment, and as I said, she was acting odd afterwards. Maybe Arris can help heal her where others can't. I tried to heal her through love, and if I had had more time..."