Knowledge is Power

[Faith Augustin]

12th Zi'da, 716

The library in Andaris was, Faith considered, a place which she had loved since first allowed out to meet free people. How strange, she thought, it had been the beginning of Ymiden when she had taken her first steps into the world where free people lived and now, nearly two hundred and fifty trials later, she herself was one of those free people. It was amazing to the young woman and still, very much overwhelming. However, she was taking small steps and moving forward with the support of her friends, generally, and a particular alchemist specifically.

Speaking of her friends, Faith was here to meet Aeon. The young woman walked in and looked around. He was already here, even though she was early and she smiled at the sight of him. Faith was wearing a long black thick skirt and a warm wool jumper; on her feet were warm boots and her hair was pulled back in a simple ponytail. She had never dressed in such plain clothes when Tristan had owned her, but equally she had never looked quite so comfortable. Her silver eyes alighted on Aeon and she moved over to him. "I love it here", sitting down on the chair opposite him, she had a book in her hands. This one was a history of the Immortals. "I remember the first time I stepped in here. I was amazed that they would let me do so, the university wouldn't. But here they had all these books and they would let me read them." She smiled, her hand moving over the text with an almost loving touch. "I wasn't allowed to bring them back to the shop, but it was just so much possibility. Then, when Tristan bought me, I could borrow books like anyone else. So much knowledge."

Folding her hands together, on top of the table she seemed to be almost talking to herself. She wasn't, of course, but her gaze was on her hands and her voice far away. "The first ever debate I had with Padraig was about how I felt slaves should be allowed in the university. He questioned it, questioned me, sought my justification. He's a scientist, a chemist and physicist, so that's his nature it's how he teaches. But I suppose, I'm living proof of why slaves aren't allowed in the university, aren't I? Because knowledge is power." She lifted her head and smiled at him, her expression showing just how conflicted she was about the things that she was about to say, the question she was about to ask. Aeon had things to say to her, things to tell her, about Malcolm and Faith really wasn't sure that she wanted to know. But she had to find out what it was that he had to say.

"So, what do you know?"

[Aeon]

Lately, the boy was found in the large building filled with bookshelves quite often, and even the staff of the library had grown accustomed to seeing him there. This time, however, it was with more purpose that he went with his finger across the rough paper of a rather new book. Ten arcs, he judged it had, at most. It was one of seven books that the library had recently gotten, one of seven books depicting the seven great houses. The Great House of Krome. The title of it said, right above a beautifully drawn picture of a wolf.

Aeon wasn't letting it go. He found it disturbing that Malcolm's name or face hadn't appeared among any older records, or any of the records of other great houses. But he found it, he finally found his name written somewhere. It was the current, or what was current, 10 arcs ago, family tree of the Krome house. At the top of the page, two names rested, along with small drawings of their appearance. Andre and Emma Krome. The duke and duchess of Krome. As far as the young man knew, that hadn't changed.

Below them stood four times the amount of names, meaning they had four children, all of whom were married at the time when this book was written. At the very first line, and the one that would inherit the duchy, was where Aeon finally found relative satisfaction. The proof of what the King had so clearly yelled during his, and Elyna's audience. Vanessa Krome was the child of the Duke and Duchess, and she, as the heir to the duchy, had two sons in a line below her. Two sons, Marcus and Vaughn Krome, as the book said, both of them with a single man, her husband; Malcolm Krome

He remembered one of the names, Marcus, as the man Elyna was supposed to marry. When under stress, a man can memorize many details, Aeon found, since he could quite clearly think of everything that happened during the hearing with the King. Lady Burhan then must have known something the world hadn't, as who would choose a sixty seven year old father over a young son. Especially the father who had no noble blood, only a noble marriage. There had to be more, Aeon knew it, since a man that old surely wouldn't be able to fight as well as Malcolm could.

Then, as he got back into his seat after taking out another book from the shelves, he noticed the door at the other side of the large room open, and a woman not so unfamiliar to him walk in. She wasn't what he was used to, she was happier, more comfortable, and she certainly didn't look like Tristan's imagination. An unexpected smile was found sneaking onto Aeon's scarred face, as he blinked a couple of times with his one eye, before Velma reached his table. The boy was visible only in a cloak, a cloak he used perhaps too much, to cover his scars. Beneath it however, as always, a layer of leather armor stood awaiting any danger that he might encounter at that trial.

Faith was stalling out the question they both knew needed to be asked. Both her words, no matter how innocent, and her appearance, gave her away. Aeon was pleased to have noticed it though, as without that book he took out the library a week ago, he doubted he would've figured out the small drops of fear, or was it stress, that sneaked up on her, and made their way into her eyes. It was clear she didn't want to read that letter he sent her, and that she didn't want to hear what he had to say, but it was for her safety that he would tell her.

"Sometimes, not knowing is easier. Sometimes, we don't want to know things, and so even when we hear them, we refuse to accept them. And sometimes, others don't want us to know things, because it will harm them. None of that changes the fact that knowing is always right, and not knowing is always wrong." He said, before looking down towards the book he still had in his hand, not on the table. Aeon didn't want this conversation to come between their mutual trust, but the conversation needed to happen, so it would. Leaving the much older book on the table, still closed, and with its front turned towards the wood, so the title was not visible, the boy pushed the book he was reading just a few bits ago towards the woman. Still on the same page, he pointed towards the name; Vanessa Krome. Velma was intelligent, and no words were needed for her to understand what he meant. Or so Aeon hoped.

"I am aware that Lady Elyna Burhan is familiar with the truth about her husband, so I'm going to ask you once and take your word for whatever you tell me. Do you know the truth?" The previous time he spoke, his voice was certainly serious, but it was still thin, and barely audible even in the silence of the library. This time, however, he was colder. Colder than before, colder than usual, colder than what he was willing to accept. But the truth is cold, and so whoever wanted to get to it needed to be that way too. Sentiment would not help Aeon now, unfortunately.

[Faith Augustin]

When he spoke about knowing always being right, knowledge always being the right thing to have, Faith nodded her head. "I believe so, too." She did and had discussed it with Padraig when they were lost in the woods together. He had asked her then if she regretted learning and her answer had been unequivocal; no, she did not. It made no difference to the situation she had been in, but what it did was make a difference to her as a human being, as an individual who was able to grow. When it came down to it, Faith knew, she would rather understand, rather know. Always.

She looked down at the book and saw the name and she looked up at Aeon with some confusion in her eyes. Why was this important and what did it have to do with what he had written to her about? Faith frowned and nodded her head, chewing her lip slightly. "I know... that is strange, Fred, I had a dream where Malcolm used that name, talked about a child with golden hair who died. But.." She breathed in and then out, remembering, her eyes lowered to the book. "Lady Elyna and I were being taken to Venora where she was supposed to marry Marcus Krome. It would somehow strengthen the claim of Velijorn, I don't understand it, but I did not need to. She was held captive, chained at night and she and I were in a cart whilst we travelled. We were attacked by zombies." Memories flooded in on her and she moved her gaze, looking at Aeon. "It was my first battle. I had smuggled a knife in the corset of my dress to help Lady Elyna, so I passed it to her and I hit them with a frypan. She was pregnant, Fred, and I was there to protect her. Of course, I didn't know how skilled she was. She grabbed a sword and turned into a whirling zombie killing person. After it was over, I threw up. I'd never seen anything like it." Faith's smile was mirthless and she had never spoken more honestly than when she spoke her next words. "I don't understand why people who have so much need to fight for more. It's vile."

She tapped the name, then "Lady Elyna took me to one side, gave me water to drink, stroked my back and held my hair while I was sick. I told her I was sorry, that I wasn't brave. I asked her how she had come to be a Skyrider and she told me the story, of how her parents had let her do so as a trade to her agreeing to marry who they chose. She broke that promise, she said, when she married Malcolm. But then..." She frowned, forcing her mind back there, it was a long time ago and she wanted to be sure that she was accurate. "She said that her marriage to Malcolm wasn't valid, she wasn't legally married and that, if it had been then they couldn't have kidnapped her and tried to force her to marry Marcus Krome." She looked at Aeon and the honesty of what she spoke was clear in her eyes and her whole demeanour.

"I know that Marcus Krome is Malcolms son. He asked me about him when Tristan loaned me to them after the baby was born. I've had... strange, I've dreamt of that name, Vanessa, and in relation to Malcolm, but they're confused and jumbled. Maybe one of them said it. But that's what I remember."

She looked at Aeon then with confusion and curiosity in her silver eyes. "Why is this important to you? I don't understand." Her hands were pressed together, fingertips touching and she wondered just why this meant that she shouldn't trust Malcolm. Surely, what went on between a husband and a wife was their choice and, very much, their business. It felt like Fred had a piece of a puzzle which she did not.

[Aeon]

Velma spoke, and spoke, without looking at the boy too much, but who knew what was going through her mind. The best guess Aeon could make was that she was friends with both Lady Burhan and Malcolm Krome, and so thinking that Malcolm isn't actually the good guy must have been hard for her. But the scarred man knew Velma too well, and he knew that she must have thought of it. She couldn't have ignored the fact that he would never lie to her.

"That man" The boy paused as he gazed into the light grey eyes of the woman. She wasn't on the same page as him, that much was visible. ", that man leads a hundred men. Men that would trust him with their lives. Men that he expects always to tell the truth. Even though he doesn't. Malcolm Krome is the husband of Vanessa Krome, and the father of Marcus and Vaughn Krome, both of which are Lady Burhan's age. He is, according to the King's records, sixty seven arcs old. An age at which soldiers are retired without question, for their ability to fight isn't what it used to be. But you've seen Malcolm Krome. Tell me, do you think a sixty seven arc old man is what he looks like?" Now, as his words got harder, and heavier, his mouth and his eyes couldn't keep up the weight-pulling. He was forced to look down onto his severed hand.

"Tell me, why would a Lady with so many opportunities, so much youth and beauty in her, like Elyna Burhan, marry a man who is already wed, and already has sons of her own age. When I first learned of this fact, I trusted both of them were good people, people that cared for this kingdom and its people, that is why I never spoke up about it. Never even considered the other possibilities." And there were possibilities, right from the very start, he was only too trusting to even look at them. He wouldn't accept them even if he did see them clearly back then. "But I told Malcolm Krome the truth. All of the truth, and the whole truth. The truth he so loudly asked for. And he refused it. I told him that the beast couldn't be killed, and that if he saw it, he should order a retreat, but he refused me. His pride and his lies cloud his judgement Velma, and if I didn't know that you were going to go hunting for rebels too, I would not be telling you this."

It hurt him, almost physically, to speak about the truth with her in this way, as he'd much rather use a friendly, warm tone instead of this serious one that sent chills down the spines of bandits. "He is not the man he appears to be, there is more than I know behind the facade that is Malcolm Krome, and I beg of you, don't trust him. Even if he seems the most trustworthy person on the planet, be wary. At least until I can find out the truth." Those were serious accusations, ones that Aeon wouldn't be throwing around, unless it was to perhaps save a friend's life. And watching over your shoulder while Malcolm Krome stands behind you would definitely be more likely to save than to take a life.

"I understand this is a lot I am asking of you, without good reason, but no matter if he's cheating death by magic or divine means, or cheating the kingdom by the means of forgery, he is a dangerous man, and the Seven only know how much I'd regret doing what I'd do if he hurt you. " It was clear that the woman would be joining the campaign that searched for death, especially after what she told him a dozen trials ago. She wanted to make a difference, no matter how small or large, and hunting the men who harmed her country was most definitely making a difference. Just what kind of difference. If they faced the beast, over a hundred men and women would be pointlessly slaughtered, only because their warden hadn't listened to the one man in a million who survived a fight with the monster.

[Faith Augustin]

"I... no, he doesn't look that old. Not at all, he looks a lot younger. But, Fred, I tell you honestly and completely that Lady Elyna is in love with him. That's why she's with him. She's hurt by him and she feels angry at him, I think, but she loves him." She was in absolutely no doubt about that, not at all. But when Aeon said that the beast couldn't be killed, Faith shook her head. "That isn't true. Everything dies. Everything can die. Famula takes them all, we just can't kill it right now, we don't know how. Padraig and I have been..." She sighed slightly, then spoke her truth.

"I feel like I could have done more in Saun. Should have. Maybe, somehow, I just don't know what. I feel responsible, Fred. I didn't protect the people and I should have. I told Padraig everything you told Tristan about the beast, every detail. He and I have been working on a combination of medicine and alchemy to make something which, if it can pierce the skin even for a few trill, should attack the beast's blood. That might, we hope, do something. I have to believe it can die, even if we can't kill it." Hope and certainty shone in her eyes, determination to put right what she saw as her previous failure. "We have to try."

But what he said about Malcolm, it all made sense, but Faith frowned nonetheless. She chewed her lower lip for a moment as she thought about it and then she made her decision and looked at him, with a soft smile. "Padraig is coming on the campaign because he loves me and he wants to protect me, because I asked him to. We. I talk about 'we' now, and I don't know when it happened, or how, but I do. He's seen my scars," she smiled at Aeon somewhat ironically, considering the extent of his. "My back, the backs of my legs. Whips, mostly. Training tools, they called them and the brands too, of course. He's seen them. He sees me, I suppose. I'm afraid about taking him there, but he will be there and he will protect me with his last breath, I know." She put her hand on the table between them and lifted the sleeve of her top, revealing a delicate, beautiful black tattoo adorning her right wrist.

"We went for a walk last night, Padraig and I. We went to the park and I told him that I worship Famula, that I choose to be in her service. She appeared, asked for my service which I gave willingly and she gave me her blessing. I swear to you, on that mark, I will not let anything happen to Padraig. If it's in my power, I will stop anything from ever harming him. Me getting hurt would harm him at his core, so I will be careful." She was telling the absolute truth when she spoke, and she had to add the situation as she saw it. "I understand what you've told me, and it is suspicious, there is no doubt. But my instinct is that Malcolm is a good man. However, I have far too much to lose and I will be wary, I promise you."

[Aeon]

Elyna Burhan loved him, according to Faith, and according to everything Aeon saw back at the beginning of Vhalar. Love is blind, that much is clear, but that's the sole reason it is dangerous, or so the boy thought. Lady Burhan knows the truth, and she ignores it for her love for the Warden is greater than anything the full truth might show. It was a thought, an honest one, one that he very much wanted to say out loud, but he knew it wouldn't be well met. Velma appeared to care greatly for Elyna Burhan and her marriage to the Warden, so saying something like what he thought about would surely make sparks fly, instead, Aeon turned his attention to the talk about the beast, which was just as important.

"As far as I understand it, you love this Padraig person greatly, and he loves you too, which is good. And I understand that, because of your personal beliefs, you want to think that I'm wrong, but I'm not. If that beast can die, it's not by any sort of mortal means. It was made for one sole purpose, to cause chaos, and as long as its Immortal stands, it will not die. I understand you want to keep trying to make a weapon lethal to it, and I understand Padraig will help you, but if you ever see the beast, don't try to fight it. Don't even try to slow it down. Just get as far away as possible as quickly as possible, with anyone and everyone you care for, because that thing, it does not leave survivors and the only reason why I'm still standing is luck. I didn't beat it, we both know it, and I certainly didn't escape because of my skill, strength or speed. I got lucky, and I'm afraid you, or someone close to you, might not be."

It was all he could say, repeatedly, until someone would finally listen. The Seven knew Malcolm wouldn't run, and he wouldn't order his forces to run, if they sighted the beast. But Aeon would keep telling his story, he would keep banging at the door of people's fear only to save their lives. If that monster took more lives, it would be him that would be guilty, not Aelig. He did get a chance to kill the Immortal, to finish the beast's life, back in the Tomb of Treid, if only he knew then that it was the monster's creator standing in front of him, with his shadowy appearance. It was yet another mistake that would inevitably come to haunt him in the future in the form of the blood of the Iron Hand soldiers who now decided to go rebel-hunting.

"Thank you." Aeon finally said as he listened to the free woman end her speech about the alchemist, and finally agree to his requests. It must have been hard, promising to watch out for a man she deemed good and trustworthy, but those kind of men would always be the most dangerous ones. People like Veljorn Burhan, or the bandit leaders, they were easily beaten, because their opponents knew who they were. When you are fighting in a war in which you have never seen your opponent's face, that is when it gets the most difficult. At least there was this one person in the whole world that Aeon could trust fully, without having to look over his shoulder each time they parted, and if what she was saying about this Padraig person, who, the boy could swear, sounded familiar, perhaps in some time there might be two. "I don't know where I'll be going, and I don't know when I'll come back, but if you ever need, or want me to, I will do whatever it takes. I care for you Velma, some would say too much, but I care for you nonetheless."

[Faith Augustin]

Aeon spoke about the beast and Faith nodded her head as she listened, her face and her expression grim. "I don't want you to be right," she admitted, honesty shining out of her as she spoke those words. "I don't believe you are right, either, for what it's worth. But," she bit her lower lip, chewing at it and she sighed. Why was she worrying this over, she already knew the answer, knew what she was going to say. "I do, you know. Love him, I mean. If I see the beast, I'll get away, I won't engage, and I'll do my best to get everyone else to do the same. I'll ask Padraig to make me the same promise as I'm making you. I don't want you to be right, I don't think you are right. I think that once does not make a pattern. You couldn't kill it does not mean it can't die. But none of that matters because you are my friend and I love you, so if you need and want that promise from me then it is yours." She looked at him sternly, though, and added the rest of what needed, to her mind, to be said. "But we are going to keep trying to find a way. If it dies, then one trial you and I can discuss that over a cup of tea. But I will do my best not to die, always, and I will keep away from it, you have my word."

She looked at Aeon and a soft smile came to her face. "You've met him you know. Padraig, I mean. On the boat to Ne'haer, you taught us both to fight better. My tutor. Serious, he's very serious, except with me. He's kind, too and he is giving me all the space I need. He's not teaching me any more, Fred, he's standing with me and giving me the support and space I need to learn on my own, unless I ask for help in which case he's right there." Faith found it hard to put into words what she felt and she knew, fundamentally, that she didn't have to. Not for Fred's sake, he took her word for it.

When, however, he told her that he would come back if she needed him, Faith felt tears prickle at her eyes. Briefly, she placed her hand over his and squeezed, then folded her hands back together again, laying on the table. "I do not know what it is like to grow up with a family. My first memory is of a bamboo stick on my back because I spilled wine. I am shoddy, really genuinely shoddy at discussing emotions. I don't know what it is to have a brother, but when I imagine it, it is how I feel about you." Faith looked up at him with a very serious gaze, "And that is a reciprocal relationship. Your well being and mine are interlinked, in me. So if you need me, use the scrolls, and if it is within my power, I will be there. Promise me, please? I have promised you what you wished me to." She knew that he was turning inward, into a self destructive place, she could see it. Faith vowed, in that moment, that by Famula and by Vri she would be a light in the darkness to this boy.

[Aeon]

As worried as he was for his friend, Aeon finally felt relieved as she made him a second promise now, to stay away from the Immortal-spawned monster. Even though she would probably be slaughtered before getting a chance to get away, the promise still made the young man feel better, and feel like she would be safer. It was as if he didn't want to remember the speed and agility with which the beast moved, as if he had turned that memory off just for this brief encounter.

"Oh yes, I think I remember him. I'm glad he's good for you." Aeon briefly smiled as he tried remembering that Padraig person from the boat. He was the "I'm better with my hands and feet" guy, wasn't he? Well, at least he didn't lie to Velma, even though that line about unarmed combat was really the only thing the scarred man could remember about her boyfriend. Was he her boyfriend? Aeon thought, as he started considering the woman's words. It kind of seemed like he was, but she never said he was. Complicated, the boy assumed.

Only listening to Velma talk about her past made the swordsman almost forget about his scars, as she was truly someone who had been through a lot. Sure, he had several, maybe many, awful situations and moments recently, but he always considered his childhood a perfect one. He felt guilty for it, for having a parent, for having a childhood, for having fun as a little boy, while there were hundreds of boys and girls suffering the same as Velma, without anyone to help them, ever.

"I promise I'll write if I ever need anything. Ever." He smiled, briefly. It seemed as if he was the genuinely shoddy one at discussing emotions at this point. Aeon felt like the more he talked, the harder it was to continue, knowing he'd have to leave at one point. The more he looked at Velma, the more he listened to her, the more this place acted as an anchor. However, the scarred man also knew that this sea, it wasn't a good one for him. It wanted him drowned and eaten by all the fish who would then grow simply because of him disappearing. He needed to get stronger. To get better. To be ready for whatever, and whomever this world tossed at him, because there were too many surprises that shook him beyond mortal capabilities already in his life. Next time, he would be ready.

[Squirrel]

Faith

Story: 5
Structure: 5
Collaboration: 5

Fame: 0

Knowledges:
Knowledge is power, and with power comes responsibility.
Knowing now is better than wondering later.
Aeon: Believes he knows the truth about Elyna Burham.
Aeon: Believes that only killing the Immortal that made the Beast will kill it.
Aeon: Has made you promise to get away from the Beast.
Malcolm: Refuses to believe that the Beast cannot be killed.
Malcolm: Might be hiding something.

Aeon

Story: 5
Structure: 5
Collaboration: 5

Fame: 0

Knowledges:
Elyna: Was supposed to marry Marcus Krome.
Faith: No longer the woman you remember.
Faith: Was attacked by zombies.
Faith: Marked by Famula.
Faith: Truly believes that Elyna is in love with Malcolm.
Faith: In love with Padraig.
Malcolm Krome: Husband of Vanessa Krome.
Malcolm Krome: Is sixty-seven, at least, according to the records.
Malcolm Krome: Father of Marcus and Vaughn Krome.
Padraig: Faith's mentor.

Additional Notes: A lovely short thread, sorry that it took so long to review!