Completed The Battle of the Banicks

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair was quick to offer her a confident smile that peaked out just beneath his hood. Images of various relatives flashed through his mind, the only one really sticking was his uncle, but he might be dead by now so it did not really matter.

"Don't worry. House Krixus is mine and there will be no breaking while I am here."

While the smile sat on his face, his voice was calm and sure. He had worked to hard for his House to survive. It would be a cold day in hell when he would let it all fall apart.

A genuine smile popped onto his face as he nodded. Of course, it certainly helped to have the Pirians as allies, or just Kristen.

It was clear what tent was Walter's just from the swarm of people moving in and out of the larger tent. Alistair wasted no time in outpacing their escort as he stepped into the room to look for Walter.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Sir Helgan and a few of his men held position by the tent's entrance flaps, barring further entry after Alistair and Kristen had gone inside.

A few lanterns hung from the posts inside, giving the interior a stern dimness as well as adding to the stuffy heat of the day. A table sat at the tent's center, hosting a large parchment that had a well-drawn map of the immediate topography and clusters of pieces representing each of the opposing camps. Walter stood leaning over the map, hands pressed to the table, considering. Logan was at his side, hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the firelights reflected in the shine of his knightly armor. Dreadlord Saydor Vinn, as well, stood at Walter's other side. Other land-owning bannermen like Sir Helgan, some sergeants, stood before the table.

Logan looked up when Alistair and Kristen entered. Got his brother's attention. Walter saw them.

"Gentlemen," Walter said to the bannermen and sergeants, "give us the tent."

With assorted responses of "Yes, my Lord," and "Lord Walter," and all the like, the men filed out of the tent, leaving Walter, Logan, Saydor, Alistair, and Kristen.

Logan was the first around the table, approaching Alistair and Kristen, smiling broadly. He had his hand held out for both of them.

"Lord Alistair," he said. "Lady Kristen. It is good to see you again."

Kristen shook his hand when offered, and added a small curtsy once done. "I knew this day would come."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair was happy to see several that he recognized from the last siege they had all been a part of. While it had been brief, there was a certain bond that only came from life-or-death situations.

He took a step forward to try and get a better look at the map, but the dim nature of the tent made it difficult. Instead, he waited for the tent to empty before stepping forward to shake hands with Logan.

"Glad we could make it in time. We've gone through too much not to offer a hand."

Alistair offered Logan a smile before turning his gaze to firmly look at Walter and then Saydor, trying to read their expressions. Both of them were practical men, and their facial expressions would certainly tell some sort of story for this upcoming battle.

"How are we looking?"

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Glad we could make it in time...

"Glad to have you," Logan said in response, and then the three of them approached the table. Walter wore a calm and considering expression, and by this alone it was difficult to tell if the circumstances surrounding the upcoming battle were in his favor or not; he only had time for his strategic decisions, no intrusion of emotion. Saydor was doing his best to keep a stony face, and for the most part it was so...but there was a hint, a little flicker every now and then, of something bothering him, something worrying him perhaps, that filtered through that stolid visage.

"Alistair," said Walter, a small and affable smile from him greeting the young Lord as well. A small glance over, "Kristen," and his expression, though less affable, was nevertheless cordial with her. Kristen didn't mind it. They would never truly be on completely genial terms, no, but formal cordiality...yes, they could do cordiality.

At least her forgiveness of him had begun to heal that old wound of her kidnapping. And for that she owed Alistair much thanks, for she in that moment of passion wouldn't have been able to do it without him.

"A small summary of our situation," began Walter. "Our numbers are about equal, so my scouts and reports from deserters indicate. We have the advantage in infantry, but Garron has the advantage in cavalry. Of Dreadlords?"

Walter paused. This, clearly, was the one thing which troubled him.

"We don't know. Not for certain. But we do know he has at least one."

Grimly, Saydor said, "My brother, Halcor Vinn."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair looked at the map with discerning eyes, impressed with the detail on such short notice. The situation was sounded far more even than Alistair had suspected and that worried him, even more, when it was revealed one of the Dreadlords had connections to Saydor.

"Well, at least when it comes to cavalry, if we pick the terrain carefully then we can slow those down to an extant."

As for the Dreadlords, his brow furrowed as he looked to Kristen, a moment in thought as he tried to compile his work.

That meeting all those weeks ago had not been a simple warning, Alistair was not one to sit around and wait for trouble to strike. He had taken precautions, very very careful precautions. He could not risk Garron being on to him.

"What can your brother do?... And, he has at least three Dreadlords. Two more, one woman that simply goes by Bellona, and then another who I refer to as Cadoc."

While Alistair knew a little bit about Bellona, Cadoc had largely managed to remain a mystery, which was impressive considering he was the one Garron sent when he wanted to make it bloody.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Walter had a dual reaction to Alistair's news. Concern, of course, that Garron's cause had swayed no less than three Dreadlords to it, but pleased to now be privy to such information; and such was his trust in Alistair that he believed him without question, sparing him the trouble of explaining how it was he knew.

"Bellona," Walter said, low and thoughtful. "She worked for House Banick until the Revolution, then, ostensibly at least, joined the military. Seems she has kept ties with some among the House—though certainly not with me."

This other Dreadlord, so named "Cadoc", would remain an unknown. Not Walter nor Saydor nor Logan ventured a guess as to who it might be; there was indeed a wide array of possibilities from those Dreadlords who had previous relations with House Banick, and too much speculation wasn't a good thing. Some things stayed hidden behind the fog of war, and only valor and improvisation could prove their counter.

Saydor spoke up then, answering Alistair's question, "As for my brother, Halcor has the same gift of magic I do: manipulation of reflective surfaces, transference of magics through them. For the duration of our encampment here and all the preparations for the coming battle, Halcor and I have been locked in a kind of invisible war, both of us countering the other's attempts at espionage."

"But there is something you found out..." Walter prompted.

Saydor nodded. "Yes, I did." With a hard look of vengeful familiarity he looked to Alistair and Kristen. "Garron Banick has no experience leading men into combat. He is no mind for military matters. So Walter tasked me with finding out who Garron may have swayed to his side to handle this for him."

"And...you have found out this commander in Garron's employ?"

Saydor nodded again.

"Yes. Commander Vogel."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair seemed to take all of this in without trouble until he broke into a fit of laughing. He looked over to Kristen with a smirk.

"It looks as if the gods really want to see if we can do it all again, Kris."

While annoying, and more than a little infuriating to hear that Vogel was back. All of this meant that things were laid out to be pretty simple in Alistair's eyes.

The first Dreadlord they needed to remove from the board had to be Halcor. Garron was intrigued and focused, which meant he would be best on the battlefield if he could make this a war of information, but if they removed his eyes and ears then Garron would be useless.

As for Vogel...

"We can draw out Vogel just about anywhere we want him to be. We just need to use the right...encouragement."

Their's no way that pompous asshole was not mad about getting shown up by a bunch of initiates. All they had to do was have him and Kristen mock the man and that would certainly get under the disgraced general's skin.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen felt...an unpleasant tide of emotion at the mention of Vogel, that was the best way she could have described it if asked. Anger, frustration, even eagerness at the prospect. The slap on the wrist that Commander Vogel received so that certain Councilors could spare themselves a tarnishing of their image was an insult to the integrity of the Republic. A disgrace. This further fueled her emotional flame.

Alistair's laughter, then, certainly brought had a calming effect on her. Perhaps more than anything, even more than she remembered previously, it was nice to hear, just the sound of it.

"And so will we be tested," she said, offering him a warm and modest smile. They had done it before, they could do it again, and all would be a pleasing sight to Aionus.

We just need to use the right...encouragement.

Walter drew in a breath through his nose. "Here, Dreadlord, I would advise caution. Thus far Garron and I have only seen our men engaged in small cavalry skirmishes; the primary battle will come, and I have a plan for it, but we'll get to that." He crossed his arms and looked over Kristen, Alistair, even Saydor. "You Dreadlords play a deadly game with each other on the battlefield, that much I have come to know over my years of command. In most cases, whoever reveals himself first in battle is at the immediate disadvantage, for through his magic he announces his presence and his location. Naturally, this gives an opposing Dreadlord, undiscovered and part of the mass of fighting men, a considerable edge. You can only count on the element of surprise once, if that."

Saydor added, "Lord Alistair, Lady Kristen, none of us can yet say what opportunities may arise once we enter the battle. It is all we can do to use our judgment keenly, and that we make our initial strikes count."

Kristen nodded, agreeing, "Well said, Saydor." She had been in a few pitched battles before, even fought a few Dreadlords before, but the two at the same time was novelty to her. In this she deferred to Saydor's experience.

"I will have Banick armor and equipment for each of you to don," said Walter encouragingly. And he offered a wan smile, "Better to fit in with the men until it is time to use your magics."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair nodded understandably at the analysis from Walter and Saydor, but it still made him uneasy. At the moment, they new that both sides were equal in terms of Dreadlords. Three against three, but for all they knew, Garrom may have. It also was worth nothing that Alistair was only a recent graduate and Kristen was still technically an initiate, even though he considered her more competent than most pre-Revolution Dreadlords.

"Of course, I just mean that we have some cards to play too maybe make Vogel overextend if we need him too."

He continued to look at the map while the other continued to talk. Garron would know that Saydor was with Walter just like they knew Garron had Saydor's brother. That left him and Kristen as unknowns. Kristen's abilities could probably have the biggest impact on the battlefield as a whole, so when they played her card would be crucial.

"I need to get my hands on as many pieces of equipment as possible before the battle begins. My abilities would have a bigger impact before the battle. I have a few tricks that might help us find their Dreadlords earlier."

He could place a few enhancing runes and even his eyes runes on some of the soldiers. This would give him a much larger view of the battlefield.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Of course, I just mean that we have some cards to play too maybe make Vogel overextend if we need him too.

Walter lifted a finger and pointed it eagerly to Alistair. "And that, my friend, is the aim of my battle strategy."

Kristen and Alistair got a good look at the map then. It appeared that between the two locations of the camps there was a basin of mostly flat ground. A wide stream, so labelled on the map, ran through it, this stream originating all the way in some mountains much farther to the east and terminating in a lake much farther to the west. In all likelihood the coming battle would be fought in the basin, and the stream would play a pivotal role in it.

Alistair made his request. Walter glanced to Saydor for his input on it, and Saydor didn't have to think too long on it. He nodded, and said to Alistair, "That can be arranged, and it can be done discreetly; the men only need to know that they must turn in some pieces of their equipment briefly for, say, 'pre-battle preparations.' They needn't know at all of your presence; all the better to keep knowledge of your presence, and the presence of Lady Kristen, from possibly being leaked."

"Good, good," said Walter.

And then Logan spoke up, saying to Alistair, "Whatever other preparations you require, we will do our best to accommodate."

"Lord Walter, may you speak on your battle plan?" Kristen prompted. Having an idea of what he had in mind would help her, and especially Alistair, better consider how best they could employ their magic.

Walter nodded, and then he began, "The main objective, as it is for any competent commander, is to force an engagement on our terms, while deceiving the enemy into thinking that it is on his terms. Let us consider our opponents: Vogel is..." his head swayed for a moment as he thought on how charitable he wanted to be, "...a decent enough officer, but his reputation as a 'fair-weather' commander is apt, his chief weakness being that he does not adapt well to bad turns of fortune. And Garron—"

Here Walter was given some pause. His gaze went down thoughtfully for a second as he recalled his past dealings with his elder cousin, his erstwhile "friendship", if it indeed could be so called, with him. Then he looked up and, specifically, at Kristen.

She felt the need to say something, even though Walter's stolid expression betrayed nothing. "It is alright, Walter. I know that..." she faltered for a moment, the trauma of her kidnapping a scar whose blemish she always felt, and then tried again, "I know that you are trying to be a different man now."

Walter silently nodded, and left it at that. He concluded, "Garron, I know, thinks very highly of himself. His...cruelty is matched by his calculating nature, but sometimes his impetuousness gets the better of him. Vogel may well be keeping him in check now, but if Garron's hubris could be leveraged, if we can make him think that he knows better than Vogel, then we can bait his army into a bad engagement, which will in turn cause Vogel to crumble under the pressure."

To this end, Logan explained, is what the cavalry skirmishes were trying to do. Every day saw Walter's cavalry retreating first, giving Garron's cavalry the air of victory. And one of these times Garron, in a rush of headstrong energy, might overrule Vogel to force a battle, finally having the infantry clash and the true confrontation to begin.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair watched Kristen's small interaction with Walter and just kept his mouth shut. He had managed to talk Kristen down from killing the man, but that was easy when you were not one to suffer at his hands. The truth was, Kristen was far stronger of a person than he, so he would simply leave that to her.

He had to agree with Walter on one thing, his battle plan looked pretty good. If they could get Garron's cavalry down into that basin, then their infantry could pop up and take down their riders before they even knew what was happening. There was a reason that Walter had earned the reputation he had.

Best to leave the strategy to him then. Alistair would take the role of a newly arrived smith who would be performing some last-minute repairs on soldiers' weapons and armor. He did not know how much time he had to add these runes, so best he get started as soon as possible.

"Plan looks good. I'll get started right away. If someone could just guide me to the smithy or armory. I'll be there."

He looked over to Kristen questioningly. She could come with him, but he did not know what role she could play there besides moral support. It was ultimately up to her.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"We have a tent for surplus arms and armor," said Logan. "It isn't far."

Before they left, Walter gave each of them a firm look. Said, "Lord Alistair, Lady Kristen...I thank you for doing this."

Kristen nodded, looked down in brief thoughtfulness, and then back up to him, "Garron must face retribution for his deeds. Those known, and all those unknown."

And with this they left Walter's command tent. Who knew how long it would be from this moment on until the primary battle was fought? Could be tomorrow, a few days from then, more. But Kristen was concerned not with getting it over with quickly, but with ensuring, through sound strategy and competent execution, that Garron was defeated. There wouldn't be another chance quite like this one, she imagined.

As Logan guided them through the camp, Kristen spoke to Alistair, entertaining a lighter subject to lessen the stress of all the talk of their tense business, "Mayhap I shall see if I can cobble together a sort of 'field cake' from the rations at hand." She gave an amused snort and then added, "Though Garron's sound defeat would make for a most splendid birthday gift in any case."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair chuckled along with her suggestion as they were led to the surplus arms. The more he got a chance to look at the camp, it was clear that they had firmly settled themselves in. Walter was prepared to take his time if he needed to.

"I'm sure you can find some ingredients for a cake. I've never decorated a cake, but it can't be too different from making runes...right?"

Alistair, in fact, was a horrible cook. He had learned this a long time ago. He valued nutritional value rather than taste, which often made his food nothing more than protein and carbs with basic veggies, or just a smoothie.

"I'm not sure if I should help with the cake, but I'll be sure to help with the other one." He offered as they arrived at the surplus tent.

He asked the guards to keep soldiers from entering the tent while he was working. As he stepped in with Kristen, he decided to focus on the armor first. It would be the easiest to put the runes on.

Alistair wasted no time in setting out several tools from his bag as his mind was already racing with what he had to do. He seemed to think of something but hesitated on speaking of it while he was preparing his tools. Finally, he spoke up.

"After this, name a place, or a thing...anything you want. I'll make it happen. I promise."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen rubbed at the back of her neck bashfully. "I, um...I must admit that the servants did all of the cooking, haha." And, trying to recover from said bashfulness, she added optimistically, "Right. How difficult could it be?"

Then, inside the surplus tent, which they had all to themselves courtesy of Logan and the on-duty guards keeping the rest of the soldiery out, Alistair had for her a most surprising offer.

Kristen stood by the table Alistair had chosen to be his workbench, stood there in a kind of pleasant shock. Her hand went up to her breast.

"Oh...oh my, that is quite generous...I-I wouldn't want to intrude upon your graciousness too deeply, why, it would be unseemly, what for all the good that you have done for me in all the days I have known you, s-surely then must the scales be imbalanced and, and, I, of course, being a Lady raised with all proper decorum, need bear in the mind the virtues of temperance and grace and, and..."

How could she help it? So excited so quickly had the offer made her that nervousness, along with its attendant inclination to being overly talkative, had come upon her as well. Alistair's offer was one so unprecedented, one of such uniqueness, one of such heartwarming character, that she was overcome and it was all she could do to keep her noble posture and composure.

She was, however, blushing brilliantly, and smiling without reservation.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair could not stop his smile as the torrent of flowery words came that signified Kristen getting nervous. He hid his grin by keeping his back turned to her while he began the first stages of his work, picking out several pieces of armor.

"Don't overthink it, or let anything like decorum stop you. Ask for anything that your heart tells you that you want. Those are my stipulations."

The simple truth was, Alistair liked Kristen. He had made those emotions clear to her, but he had done it in the most convoluted way possible. Every few weeks, he would show up and show his emotions and then disappear for weeks at a time on missions or things for his family. That was not fair to her, so getting her whatever she wanted on her birthday would be the least he could do.

"So think on it while we win this battle and then let me know, ok?"

Not wanting to give himself a chance to blush, Alistair went back to the beginnings of his rune magic engravings.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Alistair's interjection helped slow and straighten out the runaway wagon of her thoughts. A small touch of logic, that which Alistair had in spades, to calm the roiling sea of emotion—however pleasant such a sea might have been.

Kristen did exactly what Alistair said: she let her heart tell her what it wanted. In so listening did an answer arise quickly enough.

"A picnic!" she said. "Simple, humble, and sweet, for I have seen many a grand hall and much regal splendor, and in modesty there is a beauty seldomly glimpsed by my eyes. And, with the blessings bestowed onto us by Aionus, we can go anywhere in the world we so choose! The Portal Stones open a vast array of possibility, making such distant vistas as the towering peaks of the Spine or the vast plains of the Steppe reachable within a day!"

Kristen rubbed at her chin for a moment, and then admitted, "Though perhaps it would be best if we allow others to cook and prepare the food for us."

Crafting a cake from field rations seemed a formidable enough task for the cumulative culinary skill between two of them, let alone putting together a whole picnic basket.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair actually laughed at her last comment, which in truth, had been the first thing he thought about when she mentioned picnic.

"Done. I'll have Mrs. Hursch make the meal that way we don't accidentally poison each other. We'll go wherever you want. Although let's not do the north this time."

The last minute was meant as a light joke about one of their earlier missions together.

By this point, Alistair was satisfied that there were no more tools to prepare and any more would just be him procrastinating so he could speak more with Kristen. Finally sitting down at his handmade workstation, he began the work that he had become known for.

"Is there anywhere you have never gotten to go to, but wanted to?"

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen took to assisting Alistair as he talked and she thought, handing him what pieces of armor or weapons were needed for his work.

There was a whole world replete with choices. Oh, well, maybe that was a touch too expansive, given the impracticality of traveling too far from the Portal Stones for a simple picnic. So where would she like to go? Hmm. Crobhear Lake might be a gorgeous sight, but the Spine might be a little too frigid despite the season. Certainly not to the Eretejva Stone, Alistair was right about that and Kristen still very much felt the same. She thought as well of the Jades, the small mountain range in whose shadow Vel Numera sat; but even though it wasn't so far south of where they were now, and quite convenient to stop by on the way back after the battle was done, she had more a mind for a place farther remote.

Then came the perfect idea which struck her with such delightful impetus that she actually gasped.

"The Savannah Stone!" she clapped her hands together. "Why, it's perfect! The Savannah Stone is situated so very close to the coast of the Allirian Strait, and we might be offered such a beautiful view of the sea! I know not whether it is rocky cliffs or a smooth and sandy beach which comprises this coastline, but in either case I think it would be splendid. What do you say, Alistair?"

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

"That sounds perfect, dinner and a view."

Alistair sure hoped it wasn't a beach. He hated sand. It was rough, coarse, and it gets everywhere. He time spent near the Allirian straits had always been for missions, so he had never spent any time admiring the place, so it would be nice to go somewhere that still felt new.

Kristen fell in perfectly to his work rate, not getting in his way, and always being right where he needed her. It was rare that he worked with others, besides Ralene, but this was far less confrontational than that...This was even, somehow, relaxing.

"Maybe we can even go for a swim."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"A swim!" Kristen echoed, warming ever more to the prospect of this picnic as they continued to speak of it and add new ideas. "Goodness, I shall have to bring an appropriate change of clothes for it. I would not want to leave bereft of the experience of such a treat! The waters of the Strait are known to be delightfully warm."

Kristen handed Alistair another helm.

"I suppose, to make this happen, I will have to...take some liberties, shall we say, with a leisurely return to the Academy from a mission."

She bobbed her head side-to-side in consideration of something, then voiced it aloud.

"I should be mindful not to be overly long, though. Proctor Magomo, through some means, managed to come into the knowledge of my birthday, and last year as a 'present' he made me sprint laps around the Academy until I vomited. Surely he'll have some similarly grueling feat in mind for this year." She paused and thought for a moment. "Huh, I have not actually vomited from an intense run in a long time."

Then she smiled, pleased by this realization of her physical progress.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

"I'm sure there could be a vital mission that you were needed for that Walter would be more than happy to request you for after all of this is over."

Alistair shot back while focusing on the helm before him. Kristen brought up this Proctor Magomo a lot, and while he understood the need to be in good shape. He wasn't sure he liked the idea that it seemed Kristen was being trained as some sort of marathon athlete rather than a Dreadlord.

"Likely, the mission could be quite the ordeal. We will need to take our time in order to ensure our success."

He explained as a smile began to pull at the corners of his mouth.

Actually, how did she get free for this assignment? Was it considered a mission for Walter Banick? If so, then they could just say that the mission ran longer than expected.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"Yes. Quite the ordeal. We would not want to put such a 'mission' at hazard through careless haste," Kristen said slyly, feeling a bit naughty at the suggestion of tricking the Academy authority for her own leisurely getaway. Sure, under similar pretenses was she here in the north now (thanks again Logan), but at least there was something of a justifiable reason for it.

Well, so long as they weren't gone for too long, then what harm could come of it?

Ohhh, she couldn't wait. Just having this excursion waiting in the back of her mind was enough to alleviate many of the fears over the coming battle between the Banicks. On the morrow would be her actual birthday, but to her it would truly happen on the shores of the Allirian Strait, close to the Savannah Stone.

She handed Alistair the next helm to work on.

"When Walter wins," Kristen said, optimistic about it, "that will prove a boon for House Krixus, no? He...well, do correct me if I am wrong, but it seems as though Walter has a liking for you, Alistair. He respects you."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair gratefully excepted the next helm, happy to occupy himself with his work. He managed to get through a portion of the helm Kristen as her question and it made him pause. His tools were placed to the side as his mind was occupied with the question for a moment.

"Hmm, I'm not sure. We caused him so many problems at the Canal...I caused so many problems, but then we fixed some of those problems, but he still lost a lot...Still, when we first met him, I had a great deal of respect for him. I would dare say it was close to admiration. However, that changed the more I learned of him. I still respect the way he conducts business, and he seems to be trying to make up for some mistakes he has made."

Not wanting to spend to much time on this confusing line of thought, he picked up his tools and went back to work. Only to mumble one last comment as he focused on the rune.

"If it will help my family, then I will happily work with him."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Ohhh, Astra's grace, the Canal. Alistair's points neatly summarized the whole affair; for Kristen the memories were like a prism of emotion, at each stage another addition to the growing spectrum, the intensity throughout like a simmer coming to a boil...until at last came that boat ride home, and all was frigid and sorrowful.

As for Walter and the Canal, well, suffice it to say Councilor Berenger had made quite the gamble in calling upon Kristen and Alistair for his covert mission. At least their action in Ostia Anir ameliorated the stain left by the incident during the Canal campaign.

If it will help my family, then I will happily work with him.

Kristen nodded. "That is an admirable motivation, Alistair." She leaned casually on one end of the table. "I would not be here if I did not think Walter was worthy of aid. Content would I be to let Garron and Walter fight it out if the two of them were of equally deplorable standing. Though I wish to see due retribution visited upon Garron, I would not suffer working with a man who was his equal in evil. Walter has shown he has the capacity to make amends, and that is all for which I would ask."

Kristen waved her hand as if dismissing a contemptuous thing.

"But enough of that."

There was still a bit of impetus for something she wanted to ask, now that indeed such a slow moment had come about, and even before she asked it her smile, eager to know, shined brightly.

"So...your family. House Krixus. How are things?" Giddy with excitement, her smile flashed into a grin. "You know, I have chanced to meet your sister. At the siege of Trien. It was quite the surprise!"

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Worthy of aid? What did that truly mean? A simple truth that he had never shared with anyone was that during their covert mission, Alistair had a strong suspicion he was going to have to kill Walter. At the time, he had no problems doing so either. If anything, the only thing that held him back from killing him was actually getting caught and then realizing he was Ralene's father, who he considered one of his few friends.

How different would this all be if he would have just let Kristen kill him then and there? She said that Walter was trying to make up for his past wrongs, but was that so easy? Was it so easy to make up for kidnapping a young girl solely for political reasons that were not even directed at her? Sins were not just something you could watch away with a good scrub.

Alistair was able to avoid his depressing thoughts with the mention of his own family, who he was much more open to talking about.

"The family is good. Made some good business deals of late and-"

If he would have had a drink in his hands, then he would surely have done a spit take, but he could only cough as he nearly choked on his own tongue for a second.

"Wait, you met Mariana...at a siege?"

What the hell was she doing at a siege? He had said she could shadow some people from the Academy, but he did not expect to send the untrained girl to watch a siege. She could have been hurt...or killed.

"Well, yes, um...she is a recently discovered sister...What did she tell you?"

He needed to know if Alistair needed to kill his sister since the siege did not.

Kristen Pirian