An interesting gambit. Valkery's former student,
Eleanor by name, was attacked and, apparently, needed retrieval. Hmm. From whom? Valkery spoke as such to imply that it wasn't the Armon
Undead. Lackeys of them, perhaps? Valkery knew all of the pertinent details, and if she believed that she could, as the phrase went, knock out two birds with one stone then by all means. Even if retrieving Eleanor served only to gain them another ally in their struggle against the Undead, a student of inimitable
Madame Valkery would be formidable indeed. Very much welcome.
Then it seemed she was struck by a sudden remembrance. A sudden and dire one, as the subtle lapse in composure suggested. Trajan cocked his head a bit, puzzled. He could scarcely imagine what thought had seized her so.
A stay of their conversation. And a request that it continue in privacy.
And Trajan understood.
A vulnerability of his. One he was all too aware of, yet one which constantly hounded after him, nipping at his heels like some half-starved animal. He had a ready and opening willingness to trust his kin. Not so much that he believed the word of every stranger he met, despite his love for his fellow man and woman. But those with heart? Those of righteous action? Those who impressed him, whether or not it was their direct intention to do so? Yes, Trajan had a propensity to trust them unconditionally afterward. Khadija and the other founders of the
Luminari often acted as counterbalances, and their caution had saved the Luminari from disaster with regard to misplaced trust on more than one occasion.
Yes. All the mercenaries present had earned Trajan's trust and respect. For daring to come with him into the unknown when no other mercenary band or company in
Elbion at the time would do so. And what manner of misfortune would have befallen Mitsy's "Band of Idiots" had Trajan and his men not been there? They may very well have still found victory against the fiend, but it was dreadful to think that it might not have been so decisive, and that not all who entered the mist would have left alive in that circumstance. But the mercenaries did so dare, and because of their
valor, Trajan did not need to wait for Luminari loyalists to be assembled, and so made haste to the mists, and all turned out as it did. All on account of the courage of each of the twelve men.
So Trajan trusted them. But he did not know very much of them. The same could very well be said of Valkery herself, frankly. But Trajan trusted
her, too. For she, like them, had proven herself outstanding in his eyes. Never given, always earned, as the Luminari saying went, and Valkery had earned Trajan's trust and respect as well.
Still, Trajan understood Valkery's caution. A delicate matter, this Undead infiltration of the College. Trajan had a mind to simply hire all twelve of the men again once back in Elbion and he had paid out the rest of the contract to them. Perhaps there, with Khadija, would be the proper time to extend the offer of initiation into the Luminari to them. The band did seem predisposed to it, having a tight-knit relationship with one another, all having worked together formerly in a mercenary company before all quitting as one, fed up with the leadership. Perhaps they sought coin and riches mostly and at present, but underneath some embers seemed to be glowing.
Kha did make for a good partner during a speech. With luck, all of the men would join right then and there. With even more luck, they'd all then volunteer to be a part of this Undead operari. For that was how the Luminari functioned. All volunteer-based, funds and supplies earned through performance and readily observed dedication to the cause. A
culture of merit.
It would be seen.
For now, Trajan nodded. Said, "We will be among friends soon enough."
A look of stalwart resolution. A promise in his eyes. That he would do everything he could to ensure the success of the task Valkery had put forth. The fall of the Armon Undead.
And the boat sailed down the Cairou River.