Fate - First Reply Another Test

[Noel]

Home.

It was one way to word it. Likely, now that they reported to the Guard, the academy would be the closest thing to a home any of them ever saw. It would be where they made their childhood memories, where many of them shaped who they would be for the rest of their lives, and one of the most stable parts of their lives.

Edric was right. There was nothing else to do but go home. Any other option fell short of providing Noel, or any of them, with any sort of closure. Any sort of meaning, purpose, or sense of belonging.

The academy was their home. The other initiates were their family.

Noel pulled herself away from Edric and wiped at her stained cheeks and soggy eyes. "OK," she said in a monotone voice. "This never happened."

The last part was a simple string of thoughts put into words as she mounted her horse and began to trot off again in the direction of the docks.

They'd make it home. There wasn't any doubt in her mind.

 

[Edric]

Edric dipped his head in a nod as Noel pulled away. Nobody would ever know about this moment. That much he was sure of. No one but the two of them.

As Noel turned on her heel and began to mount her horse Edric stood in place.

He frowned, turning his head and observing the trees in the clearing around them. All of them still showed the effects of what he'd done in his rage. Their bark more pale, their leaves tinged with orange. Lips thinned for a moment, and then he let out a long breath.

Life flowed from him.

It ebbed slowly at first, and then ran in a tidal wave.

As Noel began to trot back through the broken patch of branches the trees around them began to seemed to pull themselves back into bloom. A surge of flowers blossomed, casting over the forest floor until color returned to the ground around them.

Edric stood for a moment, reveling in his work, and the pulled himself up onto his horse and followed after his companion.

 

[Noel]

They were quiet for awhile. There wasn't really anything to say.

Edric had cracked some and Noel had pretended not to notice the wilting vegetation, the small sapping of life from everywhere around him, the frustration in his voice. Just as she knew that he'd go on pretending she hadn't had an emotional meltdown. Crying in the presence of someone else, especially another initiate, was something she'd refrained from for years.

It was a show of weakness. Punishable by Proctors of old and likely still punishable by the new guard.

For now though they just rode along in awkward silence. Neither of them wanting to be the one to point out what had just happened. Neither of them thinking of something new to speak of and kill time.

After a time they came to point where the trees vanished and the road began to mix in with a muddy field. Far off in the distance they could spot a small farmstead. Likely a perfect location to acquire new clothes but also very likely inhabited. "There," she finally killed the silence with a glance.

"We don't have any cover though," the sloppy field was open. No cover for half a mile.

 

[Edric]

The silence was, in a way, liberating.

It was a strange sort of sensation that Edric was feeling. Relief, that was the best way to describe it. He had never in his life expressed what he'd told Noel. Never in his life had thought he would ever be able to express what he'd said.

Those very thoughts had swirled around in his head for months, even years. Saying them even once had felt better than he could ever have imagined.

Not that he would ever bring it up again.

By the time they reached that clearing Edric had let himself calm down by miles. His mind clear, and that odd power that had been rolling beneath his skin finally quieted. As they peered out from the forest he frowned slightly. "We leave the horses tied here."

Edric said.

"Sneak up, take what we need." For a moment he trailed off. "Leave a coin or two to pay for what we took. Less likely to be reported that way."

It was a good excuse. Good enough.

 

[Noel]

A solid plan, though Noel wasn't sure if they really needed to leave behind any gold. Even if these yokels reported a few garments of clothing to be stolen it would take days for any of that news to trickle through the region. They'd be on board a vessel as stowaways before the church even put two-and-two together.

Still, compensating some poor peasants for relieving them of their property wasn't something she was morally opposed to. She was more shocked that Edric had considered it, was all.

"Let's go," she whispered after both of their steeds had been secured.

The two Dreadlords moved as quietly as they could manage considering the rough terrain, sticking low to hopefully conceal them as they traversed the wide open space.

Once they were at the farmstead they discovered empty clotheslines. Not much of a shock considering the wet and muddy ground, rains had likely been through the past few days. Noel spotted a backdoor which appeared propped up. "There," her words barely perceptible as she pointed a finger and counted down from three.

She slunk inside, hoping that Edric would be just behind her. They'd find an armoire, grab some clothing, and then--

"Oh, representatives from the church?" A woman's voice called out as a teenage girl with freckles and satin brown hair wrapped in a bun stared at them. "We're always happy to accommodate servants of the Radiant Church."

"Yes..."

 

[Edric]

Edric froze in an instant.

The voice sent his stomach into a pit, lips thinning and his head immediately turning to face the girl that had spoken. She was a slight thing, probably not much younger than him and Noel. Her expression was one of genuine joy at seeing the two 'Representatives' of the Church.

"We are..." Edric said, finishing Noel's sentence for her as he slowly drew himself up to his full height.

He towered over the girl of course, but she didn't seem to mind one bit. Her eyes flickered between the two Initiates, and then quickly prompted.

"Are you looking for something? Mother and Father went to town, but I'm sure I can help you."​

Edric couldn't help but inwardly grimace.

He knew exactly what the Proctors would have had them do. It would have been easy, quick. Cut the girls throat, set fire to the barn, and make the whole thing look like an attack by bandits. Only problem was...he didn't want to do that. Not after everything.

Edric glanced over to Noel, then looked back at the girl. "We need clothes..."

He said, stumbling for a reason why.

"A few of our party were injured and clo-" Before he could finish the girl interrupted.

"Oh no! You should bring them here, I can make up the spare room for them to rest in."​

Fuck.

 

[Noel]

"No."

Noel stepped in and wore a serious look. "We have to keep a quick pace. Our injured will be fine but we need some clothing to keep them warm."

A small frown touched at the girl's face. Justicars from the church and the excitement of having something to do in this boring place likely would be the highlight of her week, maybe her month. "Oh, ok. I can offer you some turnips or something as well if you're hungry. The crop this year has been meager but for the church we'd be happy t-"

"That won't be necessary, just the clothes." Noel pulled the coinpurse from her belt and plopped it onto the table.

The farm girl's eyes went large at the sound of the coins. Likely equivalent to what this farmstead made in a year. "The church will compensate you for the clothing. We just need to be quick."

She nodded and moved away from the table into a back part of the home. Rummaging through chests to find them something appropriate.

Noel looked over at Edric with a sharp focus. It was possible she was hurting them by giving up all of the gold they'd stolen but why did it matter? They'd stowaway on the first ship they could find bound for Vel Luin and survive off scraps. This family could actually put that gold to use.

 

[Edric]

Edric glanced over towards Noel as she plopped the bag of gold onto the table. For a brief moment he thought if it might have been better to keep some of it...but what did it matter? They were going to get out of here as fast as possible, and it wasn't like the Proctors would let them keep it.

Eventually the girl popped out of the trunk she had been digging through, coming back with what appeared to be a pair of modest dresses, three pairs of trousers, and two shirts.

"These are mother and fathers best...I don't think they mind though, since it was for the Church."​

"It'll do." Edric said as he reached out and plucked the clothing from the girls arms, offering Noel one quick glance over his shoulder.

"Wonderful! Mother and father will be so delighted! Prissy and Tess won't believe thi-"​

Edric turned around almost immediately. "You can't tell anyone about this."

His voice became stern, the mimicry of a Proctor once more.

"Not your friends, not your parents." He stated plainly. "It could put us, the Church in danger. If anyone asks your clothes were stolen and you found the gold."

The girl opened her mouth, and his voice became even more firm. "If you tell someone, it could get you and your people killed."

Skin paled, mouth fell open in terror, and quickly she nodded.

"Y-Y-yes sir."​

"Good." Edric said with a nod, then headed towards the door.

 

[Noel]

A quick glare was leveled at Edric after he made his threat but Noel kept her mouth shut and simply took the clothes offered her. A nod followed and she walked behind her fellow initiate, pausing in the doorframe. "Thank you. And may the lord bless you and keep you safe."

The two made their way to the edge of the treeline, back to their horses, all while she debated if she went for the dress or the trousers. The trousters and shirt would be more practical but the dress might make her appear more "in line" for a peasant farmer.

She began to shed her clothes once they were in the trees. The initiates had all seen each other a thousand times while they grew up. There was no concept of modesty among Dreadlords, something the Guard seemed intent to change.

"You didn't need to threaten her," Noel stated as a matter of fact. "She was a devoted follower of the Radiant Church. She would've listened without threats of violence."

Noel had settled on the dress which she slid over her body as quickly as she could. She kept the red cloak however. It was too warm and too comfortable for her to abandon. If Edric objected she'd just fold it up and pack it into her sack.

 

[Edric]

Edric began to strip as soon as they were within the treeline, tugging off the red robes and tossing them to the ground. "You think?"

The Initiate said with a slight grimace.

Perhaps he had misread the girl. He'd seen her excitement, and a word slipping out before they managed to stowaway could be all but a death sentence for them. The Radiant Church might not have controlled the ports, but they had enough power to stop most ships.

At least from what he understood. Edric shook his head.

"I guess you're right." He admitted quietly, a flicker of memory floating through his mind. The devotion he remembered his mother showing to the little statuettes on the Altar.

After tugging on the shirt, Edric glanced over towards Noel. He cocked an eyebrow for a moment, but decided not to mention the cloak. If she thought it was a good idea to wear it then he wouldn't say anything. "My mother was a believer."

Edric said quietly.

"In the old religion." The worship of Anirius had been stamped out in most places centuries ago, but some cities and villages still clung to it. Vel Stratholm had suffered his consequences of that.

 

[Noel]

Noel debated reassuring him, she assumed that he'd only been so aggressive with the teenage farmer to protect the two of them. But ultimately she let it drop, especially as Edric went on to explain his parent's beliefs.

"Neither of mine were very religious, I think." She'd been too young to know for sure but she knew they never attended any church and there wasn't any religious iconography in their home. So far as she could recall, at least.

She re-mounted her steed but glanced over towards Edric. "A prayer couldn't hurt right about now I suppose."

Though Noel didn't really think it would help either.

"Whenever you're ready. I'd like to make use of the daylight we still have." If they could reach the docks by nightfall that would be ideal. They could find refuge in some boat's cabin and catch some well-earned rest that didn't occur under the stars.

 

[Edric]

Edric pulled himself into the saddle of his horse. "Don't remember any, I'm afraid."

That wasn't exactly true. He could still recall a few bits and pieces, the phrases that his mother would repeat over and over again when his family were feeling 'ill'. A disease brought on by Edric of course, his magic slowly taking their life.

Not that he was ready to share that sliver of his past.

"We'll just have to do with our skill, and luck." He drew the reins to the left and pulled them back towards the road. "Let's get to that town."

The Dreadlord said, kicking them off into a gallop.

He had no idea for how long they rode, how many hours passed, but the forest began to clear out around them and became a long and seemingly everlasting plain of grass and wheat. It was only when the sun began to set that the town came into view, the sea a backdrop behind it.

As he took sight of the Port Edric pulled on the reins of his horse, slowing them. The beast let out a huff, it's body practically shaking from exhaustion.

 

[Noel]

The raven-haired initiate cracked a smile at Edric's claim that he didn't remember any of the old prayers.

Skill and luck were far more reliable, at least in her mind. They rode onwards, exchanging only the occasional pleasantry or short conversation. After awhile the sprawl of an urban city sprang up from the horizon. It filled Noel with a sense of satisfaction.

They'd survived the Doge. Survived the siege of Sene. Survived being captured by the Justicars.

Even for Dreadlord initiates it was impressive though she knew the Proctors back home would give her and Edric exactly zero credit. Even post-revolution the most likely thing they'd get is criticism for not sticing with the Ambassador. Which was fair, in a sense.

"The port authority," she said as their horses came to a halt. "And if we need coin we sell the two horses."

They wouldn't need either of them now. They just had to figure out which boats were headed for Vel Luin or any other port city within the jurisdiction of Vel Anir. "Once we know which ship to approach we're set."

 

[Edric]

"Should sell them anyway." Edric said, patting his own horse on the neck and glancing over towards Noel.

It wasn't like they were going to need the beasts. They had served well, and now it was time to part ways. Least they could do was find them a good stable, though it wasn't like they could spend any great amount of time looking for a buyer.

He nodded his head, glancing towards the city in front of them. "Guess we look for Anirian ships first."

There was a chance there would still be some here. Even if the Ambassador had left, the city was friendly enough with Vel Anir. Merchants and even Corsair vessels sometimes docked here. "Then...go down the line after that."

Edric said calmly, and then finally motioned towards the road.

"Lets go in on foot." He suggested. "Catch less eyes that way, can claim they're working horses we're looking to sell."

A shrug rolled over his shoulders. "Farm had a down year."

That was what the girl had said.

 

[Noel]

Fingers rubbed at the underside of her horse's snout as she walked forwards. "Hard year, hate to see Bessie go." Her voice filled with just enough sorrow to be believable but not so much as to overplay her hand.

The port settlement was modest, nothing much to write the academy about, and it took only a few moments to find someone willing to purchase both horses though Noel was certain they'd gotten ripped off. Not that it mattered, they wouldn't have much use for the extra coin.

"You want to grab a bite to eat?" One last hot meal might serve them well before they spent a few days scrounging in a cabin.

There were several taverns to choose from or street vendors if they wished to be quick. Once they got over to the docks they wouldn't want to dally around for longer than needed.

Find a ship to take them home, sneak aboard, hide, and then hopefully catch some shut eye.

A final meal would probably do them both well.

 

[Edric]

Edric nodded his head. "Could do with a meal."

He tried to walk as casually as possible, but such things didn't really come easily to him. Even draped in farmers clothes Edric still very much moved like a soldier. In a strange way it had been easier for him to disguise himself as a member of the Radiant Church.

"I heard they have something called..." A frown touched his lips. "Palla..."

He was pretty sure that was what Talea had called it. "Some sort of rice dish, with seafood in it."

They hadn't been able to try it on their way in of course, but if they were going to go looking for something now? Might as well.

As they walked Edric scanned the various signs. Eventually picking out a tavern that had a shrimp hanging above a large wave. He pointed to it, and then ushered Noel towards it. As they opened the door, they would find the tavern relatively devoid of life, only two of the ten tables filled.

"Hello there dearies."​

A kindly voice asked.

"What can I do for you?"​

 

[Noel]

"Seafood and rice sounds divine." The first time she'd eaten fish or clams or shrimp was always on missions. Up until last year the academy never served food that nice and even now it was reserved for random banquets that some House sponsored or the Guard dictated.

They waltzed inside the place and Noel was concerned for a moment at the lack of customers.

Until she realized the sun had just been setting and this was a port town. Their population was probably fifty percent docked sailors who wouldn't come until the moon was high in the sky.

Noel liked her farm clothes, if only because she could fit in for a brief moment. Be an unassuming commoner for a single meal. She was proud of what she'd accomplished and excited about what she thought she'd become but these brief moments of being a nobody were almost as exciting as doing a good job within the academy.

Almost.

"Table for two," she stated simply as the hostess led them to their table in the center of the pub.

"What'll you have to drink?" She asked only after they both had sat down.

The onyx-haired woman mused for a second, her cheeks scrunching, until eventually she looked at the woman serving them and stated, "beer."

"Schooner or pint?"

"Which one is biggger?"

"The pint," the waitress answered helpfully.

Noel nodded and simply stated, "that one then." It had been a long day and while Noel still didn't think she'd like the taste of the stuff she definitely liked the way it made her feel back in Sene.

 

[Edric]

"I'll have the same." Edric said with a smile and a nod.

"Right then, Dearies. I'll be back quick as a lick."​

The Initiate turned to his companion with a raised eyebrow at the expression, but decided not to say anything about it. Mostly because for all he knew the saying could have been as common as yelling was at the Academy. "We'll also have two Pallas, please."

The woman frowned at him for a moment, her brow furrowing as though she were trying to understand.

"Oh! You mean Paella!"​

His cheeks colored for a brief moment with embarrassment, but the woman simply waved her hand with a delightful chuckle.

"Farmers tongue, always gets in a jumble. Coming right up, lovelies."​

The woman said with that same chipper tone, then turned on her heel and swept towards where Edric assumed the kitchen was. For a moment he watched her, then turned back towards Noel.

"She seems nice." He commented quietly.

 

[Noel]

”She thinks we’re a couple of dumb farmers.” Which was perfectly fine. Edric had, inadvertently, played the part so well that the server needed no extra convincing.

A moment later the woman returned with two large glasses of golden ale.

Noel merely waited for the woman to leave before taking a large gulp from her glass. ”Still tastes awful.” Another gulp followed. Before long half the glass had been drank.

She shook her head and ran a finger along the rim of the mug. ”There’s one thing that’s been bothering me,” her words were quiet despite how empty the establishment was.

”Did the academy know what the ambassador was planning? Did the guard? Or was it just some Republic officials making the call?” Ultimately the distinction probably didn’t matter.

But to Noel? It mattered a lot. Were her Proctors aware and didn’t warn her? Did the Guard, the men and women she’d ultimately serve in a year, know but didn’t care enough to keep her protected? She wasn’t sure what answer she preferred.

The metalmancer stared at Edric with a blank look before she took another long drink of her beer.

 

[Edric]

"Maybe you should try wine." Edric suggested as he took a long drought of the beer. It was a surprisingly light, and smooth flavor. He tipped the mug back, inspecting the golden liquid with a delighted smile.

It was much better than whatever swill they had been served in Sene.

Perhaps there was something to Cortos after all. Though he'd have to reserve his judgment until he tasted this 'Paella'. An utter ludicrous name for a dish, who put l's into a name and then didn't even pronounce them? It made no sense.

A frown touched his lips, but not because of the etymology of the word Paella. Instead it was what Noel said. He'd considered the same thing. It had been part of the reason why he'd done what he'd done. "They all knew."

He said calmly, so sure of it.

"Look at which four Initiates were sent, Noel." Edric pointed out. "You, Talea, Fermin, me."

A shrug rolled over his shoulders. "The best of the best, and also the ones most Proctors will have pegged as staying in the Guard."

Everyone knew what Noel wanted; Archon. Fermin had often jested that he would beat Noel to the top. Talea herself had openly, and somewhat controversially, stated she wanted to work with the General of the North. Edric? Everyone had always assumed his goal was the same. To be the best.

"Once we decide to be in the Guard, we are in the Guard." He pointed out. "Dogs of the military."

It was what some of the Guardsmen had already taken to calling them.

"So they know we'll join the Guard. Know we'll follow Orders, and more importantly, know we'll do our job well." At least they would have assumed so.

Edric might not have been the brightest of them, but he understood things better than most would gauge. "We're pieces on a board to them. All of them. Nothing more."

 

[Noel]

"Wine sounds pretty good," she said as she cleared the remnants of her ale with a long chug. "Have any wine recommendations?"

Noel was confident that Edric wasn't a wine connoisseur but she was fairly certain he knew more than she. He'd likely at least tried the stuff before so that was a start.

She sat in silence as he went on, explaining his logic, her stomach grumbling as she awaited the palla or paella or pollo or whatever it was they were meant to be eating. The more he spoke the angrier she got though.

He was being logical, there was no denying that, but she hated the conclusion he was drawing. He didn't know that everyone in the communication chain was definitely involved. Or even fully aware.

"No."

A single word. Said as firmly as anything she'd said in the past few days to him. Icy cold and with a determination that could have intimidated the Anireth family themselves. "We're not just pieces on a board. We're valued more than that."

Even if the Proctors didn't have the respect for them to let them know of what was to come the Guard would have. Hell, maybe even the new Republic would have. They'd given their entire lives to this and she couldn't fathom the idea they'd just be used as political pawns. That was absurd.

Noel might very well become an Archon one day. And if not there was Fermin, Talea, and Edric. Surely one of the four would reach those lofty heights. There was no chance that everyone involved knew, that everyone involved would simply shrug and leave it to chance. No way.

"I won't believe it," she stared at him with a serious look in her chestnut eyes.

 

[Edric]

Edric stared at Noel for a long time, catching her eyes with his own. The expression she wore was stone, marble. He could see there was no changing her mind, no arguing. Nothing he could have said would move her one iota from her position.

Eventually he just shrugged. "Believe what you want, Noel."

There wasn't any point in arguing not now. Perhaps the greater part of Noel still believed in the system they had been raised in. Still thought that there was some...cord that she could cling to. Edric couldn't blame her for it.

Not one bit.

"But, no matter who knew what." He frowned, remembering a conversation he once had with Everleigh. Before the Revolution, before things had changed. "We're...we're the ones who control our fate."

Edric said as the waitress wandered towards them. "So in the end, maybe it doesn't even matter."

That was why he had done what he'd done. Guard, Proctors, Ambassador or the whole damned Republic. Edric didn't care who had set the path before them. He had taken control of his life, and he would do it again.

 

[Noel]

Believe? Edric didn't have all of the answers. He wasn't more in-tune with the going ons of the new Republic or the Guard or the Academy than she was. They were both just speculating and it was... no, she wasn't going to let herself get bent out of shape over this.

"We are the ones who control our fate, you're right," the waitress returned to collect Noel's empty glass. "Wine."

A quick blink followed by confirming nods. "What kind?"

She looked over towards Edric for a fraction of a second before looking back at the waitress. "Whatever you recommend for us farm folk. Bottle please, two glasses."

"Lovely, and the paella will be out shortly." With that the server left their table and moved back towards the kitchen, presumably to grab whatever swill she thought appropriate for farmers.

"I've just decided both our fates. It involves wine." Noel's eyes looked past Edric, over his shoulder and into the graining of the craggy wooden walls behind him. "What matters to you Edric?"

Noel knew the answer for herself. It was achievement. A life devoted to goals was what she clung to, what she used to give herself purpose. But Ed? She assumed he was the same as her but after the past few days it was impossible to tell what the hell the boy wanted. Now that she had a bit of liquid courage in her she was ready to know. Ready to ask.

Her gaze left the far off wall and focused on his face. "Be honest. I want to know."

 

[Edric]

Edric scoffed as she ordered wine for the two of them, looking at what remained in his cup of ale and tipping it into his gullet. The taste was still a pleasant one, and he let it linger on his tongue for a moment as he thought.

HIs gaze flickered up towards Noel.

Her question was not an easy one for him to answer, not anymore. A year ago he would have told her a simple answer, and it would have been true. Now? Now half the things he wanted to say felt like lies. Edric didn’t know why, what had changed, but he knew something had.

Was it the Revolution? The ebb of competition from the Academy? The choice that they had ripped away from his hands? He honestly did not know. It all felt…it all felt like he had been pulled off balance.

After what felt like an age, Edric finally answered. ”I don’t know.”

He told her quietly.

”A year ago…” She already knew what he was about to say. ”It was freedom. Escaping. Being able to choose. Taking back everything that they ripped from my hands.”

That had seemed like the most important thing in the world. That was why he had trained so hard, fought so hard.So that when the time came he would be able to break free and kill anyone that came after him. ”Now…now in a few months they’re going to hand me that choice.”

Every Initiate would get to decide, join the Guard, join the reserve and stay in Vel Anir, or receive payment and leave.

It cheapened all he had worked for, and Edric didn’t know why.

”So, truth is. I don’t know anymore, Noel.” A shrug rolled over his shoulders. ”You work for something so long, and then when you have it…it’s just…”

Edric trailed off.

 

[Noel]

Noel simply stared at him as he spoke. It felt like watching a child explain how the world worked. He’d planned on running from one of the most powerful states in all of Arethil? Was he planning to live the rest of his life in obscurity? Getting by on scraps in the Ixchel Wilds or parading himself as a beggar in Alliria or Dornoch?

”It’s hollow,” she answered as he failed to find the words for it.

She had a hard time holding her tongue. It would likely become even harder as the waitress returned with two glasses and a large bottle of wine.

“A Cortosi blend,” she said with optimism. “It’s a red.”

The fact she didn’t bother to name the type of grape wasn’t lost on Noel but the initiate barely cared. The wine was meant to serve a singular purpose and if it went down better than the beer, wonderful! ”Thanks!” she said with faux enthusiasm.

In a rehearsed motion the server poured both of them a glass of the ruby colored liquid before smiling and walking off, the uncorked bottle sat between the two of them.

”As I was saying,” Noel continued now that they could be themselves once more, ”you were striving for a life of mediocrity. You could be so much more Ed.” She took a long sip of her wine, never closing her eyes or breaking contact with the other student.

Noel’s lips pursed in satisfaction. ”You could make Archon quicker than me. And that fact drives me crazy.” The slate-haired apprentice didn’t bother to drink more or avert her gaze. Instead she just kept pressing on, ”I know you don’t want it. But reaching such a lofty height means you can do whatever you want. Retire somewhere. Get married and have a bunch of kids. Pursue a political aspiration.”

The abundance of choice was why the Archon path had always appealed to her at least. That and the unexplainable sense of accomplishment. ”Just think on it,” she said as she resumed her wine drinking. Noel didn’t want this affair to become too serious after all.