• Closed • [Krome] What doesn't kill you, makes you stronger

[Faith Augustin]

24th Saun, 716

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From "In Saun, Everyone Suffers" Faith's postBack in the camp when the two of them were alone in the tent, Faith had looked at Elyna with a calm expression as the woman asked about friends, and just what she did to deserve friends. She looked around the tent and spied what she needed. "My Master was Lord Tristan Venora" she said, first rummaging briefly in her bag and pulling out some herbs, which she dropped into the bowl of water, then pulling out some clean rags which she ripped into small pieces and dipped them in the bowl. "There was an article in the Gazette, Mistress, about your forthcoming wedding to Lord Krome and he spoke to Lord Alistair and they deemed me an appropriate gift" once she had the rags in there, she knelt in front of Lady Burhan and held out her hand. "May I see your wrists, Mistress?" she asked, motioning to Elyna as she did so that she would whisper as she did.

The herbs in the water were soothing and, if allowed, she applied them to Lady Burhan's wrist, talking in a normal voice now and then, to ask things like "Is that soothing, Mistress?" she knew that if she was totally silent, then it would be suspicious, so she spoke now and then. Cool, soothing rags held in place by bandages. "They might itch, Mistress, try not to scratch" But at other times, in a voice so low that Elyna would only just be able to hear it, Faith spoke to her. This close, Elyna could see that the young slave had a fading black eye and a mostly healed split lip. "I heard servants talking, saying that a noble lady had been captured against her will and held. Then I heard your name and Master, who has not given me to you, but we must continue to pretend, had mentioned you before. So I told Master and we spoke to Lord Venora to stage a rescue" she smiled slightly, looking at Lady Burhan apologetically. "Would you like me to brush your hair, Mistress?" she asked, in her normal tone. Then, she continued whispering "Not the most successful rescue in the history of them. But I have a dagger hidden in the bones of the corset of my dress. It is probably safest there for the moment, but please instruct me when you wish it, or I can sew it into your dress, if you wish. But it is hidden in the bones of the corset, otherwise a tap-down or such would reveal it. What would you like me to do?" she queried with an earnest expression "I will do my best, Mistress. I'm sure we can sort it out. Do you have anything that needs mending?" she spoke the last in her normal voice, hoping that Lady Burhan understood just what she meant.

She tried to make sure that Lady Burhan ate that evening, suggesting that it was good for the baby if she had to, but not pushing it. Alongside that, she did absolutely everything in her power to make the Lady comfortable. Because there were still miles to go before they could rest, the young woman suspected. And the Lady Burhan was going to need every ounce of strength that she had.

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From "In Saun, Everyone Suffers" Elyna's Reply
Elyna sank onto the camp bed and watched as Faith bustled and fussed. Obedient she presented her wrists and watched bemused as they were tended to and cared for, “please, Faith – please just call me Elyna. I’m not…I’m no one’s mistress. Despite the nagging exhaustion she listened to what the woman had to say and nodded as the information was absorbed. She trailed fingertips down the freckled skin of her nose as she considered before finally shaking her head, “I’ve got a knife, in my bag,” she admitted and found that she couldn’t meet the young woman’s gaze. If she was armed, she could hear Faith asking, why hadn’t she fought her way free? Because where would she go? A Skyrider, unable to escape and bound more tightly by fear then the metal shackles. A knife made by a Smith of a rare and expensive metal; a symbol of friendship.
They’d eaten together but before falling asleep Elyna had made a quiet promise that she wouldn’t let anyone hurt the girl. Perhaps it was ridiculous to promise something she couldn’t provide for herself, but only Marcus held power over the Skyrider and as much as he was a bastard the young woman didn’t think he would attack the slave unprovoked.
She’d slept easier and dreamless, comforted by the thought of distant friends. Alistair was risking a lot to come himself and she hadn’t seen him in arcs. Had they ever been friends? What of Tristan? She’d liked the young man but hadn’t dreamt he’d make any efforts on her behalf. He was a good man though.

In her quiet tone, speaking so that only Lady Burhan could hear her, Faith responded to what she said, her face determined "I know you aren't. But he needs to believe it, without doubt. I believe that might keep us both safer" she motioned to where Lord Krome had exited. "So, I can not call you that, Lady Burhan. But I can call you Lady Burhan, will that do?" she asked, her silver grey eyes unwavering. "Master gave me clear directives, and I must follow them to the best of my ability". There was no negotiating on that with her, she had been given a task to do and she would do it.

At the news that Lady Burhan had a knife, Faith nodded her head and spoke with an entirely pragmatic tone, indicative of her feelings on that fact "Good. Then I will keep mine hidden in case we need it" she was pleased with that and, as she worked on Lady Burhan's wrists she smiled slightly. That was good news. "You are bruised, Lady Burhan. Are you in any pain? I have some salves and such" and she had just some simple lavender salve, an aloe and calendula one too for the still quite fresh brand on her left shoulder of the Venora rose. And she looked up at Lady Burhan with a slight twist of her lips. "I know how silly it sounds" she admitted "But I dreamt of you and your leg was bleeding. In a classroom, which is silly because I am not allowed in the university as a slave. But I believe that the dream was sent to me, to help me to help you. Master says that dreams have power, and I think he is right." she smiled at Lady Burhan and shrugged "It is foolishness, in probability, but it worked. It .. all I know is that it was you" the details were all mixed up, but she remembered quite clearly the words that Malcolm had spoken when he declared his love. That was burnt into her brain and heart, that knowledge that he loved this woman in front of her. She hadn't wanted to believe it, but Master had told her that he was at their wedding and that they were in love, so the dream that Famula sent her was there to tell her that, she believed, and to help Faith help Lady Burhan.

Because the young woman wanted, more than she had words to describe, Malcolm to be happy. And if this woman made him happy, then Faith would do whatever she had to in order to help her.

[Elyna]

Unwilling to argue with the silver-eyed girl Elyna accepted the name with a nod. Funny though, because she had never expected to be called Burhan after her marriage to Malcolm. The Skyrider had sacrificed her lineage and family for a new life with the Mortalborn. She had been told that she would be disowned if she didn’t marry Marcus and she had taken that decision without ever looking back in regret, even now. Still the world insisted on seeing her as a Burhan and a Noble. The cream had a soothing effect on her wrists and the woman watched the attention with quiet fascination.
As Faith mentioned the bruises, it was embarrassment that caused heat to rise in the back of her neck and she shook her head in answer. Lifting a careful hand she brushed the skin of her neck, it was tender and sore in places but it was healing, “it’ll fade with time,” she explained. Conscious of just how they might look she turned up the collar of her shirt in an attempt to hide them. They marked her failures. Her inability to protect herself, despite all her years of training she couldn’t fend off one man. Fear had rendered her helpless and it was a new sensation for the young woman. One that had the hair rising on the back of her neck of arms whenever she heard his voice above the crowd outside. It was then that Elyna raised a hand to her forehead and the pale mark that appeared tattooed into the skin hidden for the most part behind her fringe. She brushed the symbol, but couldn’t feel it. Even with the favour of an Immortal, she had failed. More than anything the woman was disappointed in herself. Looking out at the world from a distance.
Faith caught her attention though and she blinked, tilting her head to the side. A dream? She rubbed the back of her hand across her forehead. Elyna remembered very little of her dreams. Only that they left her feeling anxious and more exhausted than if she hadn’t slept. Faith had dreamt of her though and with a bleeding leg? Surely that was remarkable. Whether or not Elyna deserved the help of the slave, she had it and it caused a lump to form in her throat.
“My leg…” the words were difficult to find, “it is bleeding,” she admitted, “or at least it was.” Elyna swallowed some of her pride, “would you help me clean it? It’s hard to bend that way and—” and she was a great big cowered who felt faint at the sight of blood. She’d done her best to clean the open wound and keep it dry.
“If dreams have power and have sent you to me, I am grateful,” grateful to Jesine. Malcolm’s sister? Had he done this? Had he asked for help? A faint spark of hope seemed to lift the woman and she sat a little straighter "but I am sorry you were hurt." Her eyes lingered on the fading bruise and healing lip.

[Faith Augustin]

24th Saun, 716

"They almost always fade in time" she agreed. It was a simple truth, there was no doubting it. "I think that's why they brand us" she considered, almost as much to herself as to Lady Burhan. The brand on her shoulder was still very obviously relatively new, not yet twenty trials. But it was not alone, there was another on her right shoulder, old and faded and one on her neck, just over an arc old now. "To prove that they can mark us permanently. But that isn't something I should consider." she looked up and smiled and noticed, then, that mark on her forehead. Mistaking it for a faded brand, Faith looked immediately contrite. "I am sorry, I mean no... I shouldn't speak so" what was she thinking, she wondered. Just lately, Faith considered, she had become positively reckless with her words.

But when Lady Burhan admitted that her leg was injured, Faith looked up in surprise at her. "Oh" she said and she took the information in. So, Famula had sent her these dreams, Faith felt her heart leap in relief at that. "I will help you any and every way I can, Lady Burhan. I promise you. Let's have a look, make sure that there's no infection, shall we?" she said and she moved to get a sheet, so that Lady Burhan could keep herself covered and protect her dignity. She did not think that Lady Burhan would like her to help with undressing, so whilst the Lady did that, Faith got together some bandages and salves and so on.

Then, once Lady Burhan was ready, Faith brought over some salves, a bowl of fresh water with herbs in it and she knelt next to her. "This?" she said, and smiled, shaking her head "I needed to tell Master what I had heard about you" she explained, in quiet tones "And I was in his family home. They do not approve of slaves being considered as people, really, so I needed to sneak to Master's room. There was a supervisor who gave out night duty as punishment, so I spilled water in his presence." she shrugged slightly and smiled, as she worked. In truth, she rather hoped that the chatter, banal and aimless as it was would allow her to clean this wound properly and apply antiseptic to it. "I knew that it was likely that he would beat me, too. But as it turned out, it was useful" she continued in her low tone "When my lip wouldn't stop bleeding, I had to speak to cook. She had another piece of the puzzle. So it all worked out. And, like we both know. They fade in time" she smiled slightly.

"I'm sorry, that probably wasn't comfortable" she said, honesty lighting her eyes as she spoke. It hadn't been, of course, cleaning out a wound that was a few trials old. But more than that, it was something that Lady Burhan would rather keep quiet. Faith did not respond in any way whilst she worked, showed no emotion and made sure that she worked as quickly as she could within the confined of keeping Lady Burhan's dignity."I have only been owned by my Master for a ... well, maybe thirty trials, now. Before that I was owned by another and he did not allow me outside or to meet anyone else until very recently" why that was relevant became clear only when she continued "One of the first people I met was your husband. He told me about the university and he was kind to me." she looked at Elyna and the young woman's face probably gave away far more than she would have liked, but she thought that maybe it would do Lady Burhan good to hear of her husband. If Faith were married to such a man, she would want to hear of all his tales, she did not doubt.

[Elyna]

“I think they just like to show their power,” Elyna replied. “If the power is not given, then they try and take it,” the woman realised that she wasn’t necessarily talking about brands and slavery any longer. She was confused by the sudden apology though and scratched her forehead with careful nails, conscious of the mark left behind. Of course she could explain that it wasn’t a brand or a tattoo and it hadn’t been left by any mortal being, but she held her tongue. Somehow it didn’t seem the right place or time to discuss such things with someone she had only recently met. It would be too much trust and Elyna was wary, despite her natural inclination to like the girl.
Faith busied herself and left Elyna to ease out of her trousers. The wound wasn’t so high that she couldn’t wear her undergarments. A hand span down from her hip and more towards the centre of her thigh was the mark. The Qe’Dreki symbol etched in with a wicked blade. More towards the outer part of her leg, the skin was raised and angry red. Flesh had been cut open earlier in the season, but it had been opened again, and again until finally, in the past two or three trials it had been allowed to close. The scar was vivid though and the tissue weak. Elyna flinched as it was examined, twisting to try and see it for herself. The chatter served as a welcome distraction and she managed to hold back any cry of pain. She’d been practising that for years after all. “I’m always spilling water, or food or…anything I’m asked to carry,” Elyna admitted, “if I were a slave, I think I would have been long dead… I’m still sorry you were injured. You were brave to walk into a beating. It’s always…harder to know that you’re setting yourself up to be hurt. It hurts more I think, then pain that comes as a surprise.” The woman swallowed, “thank you, Faith.”
The woman’s life sounded miserable. Elyna was opposed to slavery and she always had been. An opposition born of fear, that if she was ever to find herself a slave that she would be hopeless. As a soldier she accepted orders, but as a Noble she was able to challenge certain things. Headstrong and independent they’d told her. Unwilling to watch injustice. A fight against her Masters would have resulted in death, but to passively accept? Yet…is that not what she’d resorted to? Tears stung the backs of her eyes once more and she was relieved to sit up and re-dress completely. It was the next words that saw her sinking back onto the bed, brow furrowed at first in confusion. Her husband? How could…well Tristan had been at the wedding. Elyna closed her eyes. It made sense that Faith would know about her wedding to Malcolm. Her husband. Maybe it would be easier to simply deny the relationship, because after all it wasn’t true. The letter from Malcolm to Vaughn was clear. The marriage was void.
There was no escaping the reverence that Faith held Malcolm in and Elyna was forced to look up and study the woman more closely. The moment resembled a dream and the Skyrider had the sensation that she’d had this conversation before. She was tempted to believe that Faith and Malcolm had been engaged in an affair of their own, but she knew the thought was unfair on both of them. What could she say? I don’t have a Husband. Yet Tristan had witnessed the wedding. More explanation would be drawn out and she’d have to explain that Malcolm had betrayed her. That she was a fool. Malcolm’s fool.
Embarrassment flushed her cheeks and the woman studied her hands. Unable to look up and unable to speak. To tarnish the girl’s ideal of Malcolm would render her, Elyna no better than Marcus, or Yoreth of Vanessa. After all they had stripped away her sense of the Mortalborn and left her heart empty and aching. It was a feeling that Elyna was unwilling to share and so she nodded and forced herself to look up, “he’s a unique man, Malcolm Krome. He teaches history at the University…I think…I believe he would have wanted an eager student.”

[Faith Augustin]

The wound on Lady Burhan's leg was nasty and had opened and re-opened more than once, if Faith was any judge of it. She did not have anything like the medical skills of Lord Venora, of course, but she had opened more than her fair shair of her own wounds. Healing time wasn't afforded to slaves, after all, and that was what this looked like to her. But she got the sense that her chattering was helpful to Lady Burhan so, when she said that she would be a poor slave, Faith smiled up at her. "It is as well to be a poor slave if you are a free person, my Lady. It leaves us something to have that is just ours" and there was a definite tinge of humour in Faith's eyes as she spoke.

She carefully applied salve to the wound which did appear to be closing. "The woman who sold me this told me that it speeds healing, my Lady. I have found it so" she motioned to the venora brand on her shoulder and nodded, satisfied "I think as long as we keep your bandages tight and change the dressing regularly, it will heal. Although you will have a scar, the fact that it has opened more than once means that it will not be a clean scar, so the symbol will not be easily discerned, I believe." Lord Venora would know better, but Faith was aware that it had taken a lot for Lady Burhan to trust her enough to show her this. She wasn't about to suggest that she started displaying it willy-nilly to anyone. That was hers to do or not as she chose. But on Elyna's suggestion that she had been brave, Faith would have argued ~ and nearly did, but Elyna's thanks caused a soft smile to appear on the young woman's face and she nodded, pleased. "You are very welcome, Lady Burhan. It is my pleasure to serve" and she seemed entirely honest when she said it.

But then, Faith knew, she made a mistake. Lady Burhan did not want to speak of her husband. It was obvious in the changes in her body posture, in the ways that she first frowned, then closed her eyes and examined her hands. Now, Faith was developing her skills in psychology, learning how to observe people and whilst Lady Burhan's actions gave her an obvious message, the young woman totally misread the reason why. Obviously, Lady Burhan did not wish to speak of her husband because of her experiences here and her pain at how much she missed him. So, Faith simply nodded her head and took the conversation in a different direction. "I very much wanted to see the university, but slaves are not allowed in there" she explained. Then, she shot Lady Burhan a brief but wicked smile "Lord Venora allowed me to come into a lesson with him. We were performing amputations and he allowed me to be with him" she lowered her voice slightly, to a conspiratory tone "He told me that the University wrote to him and told him off. His words were, 'sod the bloody university'. He is a man of very clear standpoints, don't you think?" she hoped that this deflected her mis-step of previously and, as she finished up and made sure to tie the bandages tightly, but not so tightly that she was running the risk of cutting off circulation, she carried on chatting "Master is getting me a private tutor, as I am not allowed to attend the university, so that I might learn" she realised then that she had not lowered her voice for that one and that she was supposed to belong to Lady Burhan now. "My apologies. I mean, he was." she nodded with her head to the outside, indicating why she had corrected herself.

[Elyna]

"What would you like to learn, at the University? If you could learn anything in the world?” Elyna sat back on the bed and turned to face the girl. The hours of night was drawing on and she felt tired, despite the fact that Saun assured them on daylight at all hours. It meant they could travel further, but also that she wanted to rest more and sleep was harder to find under canvas. It felt like a quiet moment and reminded the young woman of whispered conversations with her fellow Skyriders. Friends who she’d shared tents with during training and different exercises. How many arcs had passed since they were all new recruits? This felt familiar though although perhaps it was simply because of the smell of musty canvas and the pulling of ropes against pegs.
The Skyrider herself had little intention of enrolling at the University if she could help it. She knew that her Father would have preferred her to learn something more academic than combat and flying…but the young woman had favoured physical activity over book leaning. Still, she was glad for the subject to change away from Malcolm.
She couldn’t help but smile at Faith’s rendition of Alistairs reaction, “he seems resolute in his beliefs,” Elyna agreed and tried to remember the boy she’d once known. It was hard to place the two together. For all that their families had hoped for a marriage between them, they’d not managed to find much common ground. Although admittedly her memory was hazy at best.
“Tristan Venora is a good man,” Elyna drew her legs up wrapping arms around them, “I was supposed to contact him in Ymiden, we were going to go drinking and explore the streets of Anadris,” her smile eased into a careful grin, “for good or ill, I don’t know how that would have been…but it was a shame to miss the chance. The season seemed to pass too fast and I planned to contact Tristan after – after Malcolm departed. But then…” she shrugged. Then she’d been in Burhan and then her life had ceased to be her own.
“Faith…I think we should rest, it’ll be a break or two and then they’ll want us on the road again,” she hid a yawn behind long fingers.

[Faith Augustin]

What would she learn, if given the total free rein of the place? Faith's face lit with delight at the simple truth of her next words "All of it. Everything. Every class ever in order to learn as much as I can" just the thought of it was tantalising to her, a sought after wonder that would forever be out of her reach. But, she was fundamentally an optimist by nature and so her expression remained bright and she considered "But I have been to the library now and they let me take books home. I have learnt so many things, Lady Burhan about history, and noble families, art and sculpture. It is all so wonderful" her smile turned just slightly cynical and she realised that she was gushing "My apologies. I was not allowed to learn previously, it has been an amazing experience for me and one which Master encouraged" Oh, she thought, and I also hang around the University in the hope of catching sight of your husband. Or more precisely of him catching sight of me in my nice new dress. No, maybe not the topic of conversation, all things considered. She glossed over that little detail

But of both Lord Venora and Master, Faith nodded "Master was very kind to me, yes. He has shown me more than I thought possible. I am indebted to them both. And I am sure that you and Master will get to explore the streets one trial soon. But" she said, her voice soft and apologetic "I am chattering away when you should be resting. Sleep, my Lady. I'll just tidy around and then get to sleep myself" She rather thought that Lady Burhan would not like it if she fussed too much over her blankets and so on, so Faith offered to help once, but then left her to it and quietly just pottered around until Lady Burhand was in bed, then she too curled up on the bedroll there and fell into a dreamless sleep.

[Nymph]

Rewards

FAITH

Knowledges

• Deception: Calling Someone by a Different Title
  Elyna: Dream of Fate
  Elyna: Married to Malcolm Krome
  Malcolm Krome: Kind and Gentle
  Elyna: Branded with the Qe’Dreki Symbol
  Malcolm Krome: University History Teacher

Skill Points/Fame

• Story: 4/5
  Structure: 5/5
  Collaboration: 5/5
  Fame: +2 (Serving a Friend/Master/Mistress)

ELYNA

Knowledge

• Bruises: The Mark of Failure
  Dreams: Brought Faith to Her
  Faith: Branded by House Venora
  Elyna: Salves Ease Pain
  Faith: Owned by Tristan Venora
  Alistair: Hates the University

Skill Points/Fame

• Story: 4/5
  Structure: 5/5
  Collaboration: 5/5
  Fame: +2 (Avoiding Speaking Ill of Another)

Comments: I docked a point for story as this was a basic conversational piece. It definitely allowed me some insight into their personalities. I would have docked for structure, Faith, but our conversations suggest that this 'British English' style is alright. I may not like it as I am a fan of the comma, but I will not punish you for something that is considered correct in another country. I advise proofreading to both of you as I saw spelling errors as well. Otherwise, it was interesting to see their inner workings.