Completed The Noblest of Deeds

[Kristen Pirian]

VEL AERELOS, COUNCILORS' HALLS​

Vel Aerelos was, as always, a grand splendor to behold. A feast for the eyes with its warm cedars and smooth inlaid stone walls, gentle lighting from its magical wall and ceiling lamps, the glossy shine of its marble floors.

Yet Kristen couldn't properly appreciate its beauty on this occasion.

She walked down one of Vel Aerelos's many halls, escorted on either side by two Pirian servitors. Every other time she ever visited Vel Aerelos she had always worn one of her fanciest, most splendid dresses. Today, on the guidance of the official Republic courier who delivered the missive to the Academy, she wore her armor. Her sabatons with each step made unnervingly deep thumps that seemed out of place here in these magnificent halls.

At last they approached the office of Councilor Otto Berenger. Alistair Krixus was already there, sat outside, waiting.

Kristen didn't know what to make of it. All of this was peculiar: the missive, delivered straight from Councilor Berenger's office, had requested herself and Alistair specifically. What on Arethil could a Councilor want with two Dreadlord Initiates?

"Here, my Lady Kristen," said one of the servitors accompanying her. "The Councilor will summon you shortly." And, each with a bow, the servitors departed.

She sat down next to Alistair on the bench, ankles and knees together and her hands neatly folded in her lap. She was a touch anxious, to be sure, but she kept to her proper demeanor. Over to Alistair she looked, giving him a genuine smile despite her anticipation.

"My, isn't this..." Kristen searched for the set of words, "...a most extraordinary circumstance?"

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

A small thread was placed at the ground of Alistair's feet offering him the thinnest chance for escape from the endless maze that was forgetful mediocrity.

The past few months had not been easy for Alistair. His family was in shambles due to...unfortunate circumstances. Every day he received letters from aunts and uncles who 'worried' about his health and whether he was in the right place to handle the responsibilities of leading the family.

Alistair had politely told them to fuck off.

Oh, don't forget that at the end of the day, he was an initiate with his own missions and assignments. Not that he was doing anything important. Ever since the Canal, Alistair had been limited to rather mundane assignments.

Well, if general warfare could be considered mundane, but it was rather menial as far as Dreadlords went. In none of those assignments had Alistair been given a leadership position. With good reason, the Academy probably did not want any more dead or crippled initiates.

That was why the message of Councilor Otto Berenger had lit a fire underneath Alistair. He had dropped everything he was doing to travel to Vel Aerelos as soon as possible.

Alistair was dressed in his combat leathers, and outfitted for battle. He had chosen his most well-kept set of armor, but no reason to overdo it. If they had called initiates in then they were here to do a job.

Sitting out in front of Otto Berenger's office, Al was as calm and collected as ever, except for the small bouncing of his right foot that gave away his apprehensiveness.

The sound of a familiar voice brought a light smile to his face as he looked up.

"Indeed, it will be good to work together again."

The unsaid part of that sentence was that would be good to work together and prove that the last time had been an outlier.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"I concur," Kristen said. After some of the missions they had been through, she would have thought it nice that the Academy finally recognized that they worked well together and intentionally paired them here. But with the summons having come from the Councilor himself, the Academy hadn't much say.

She watched for a moment as Republic officials, servants, noble men and women, went about their business up and down the hall. It was said that Vel Aerelos never slept, and there seemed to be much truth to this.

To Alistair she looked again. "Do you know anything of Councilor Berenger? I only by the grace of chance have heard my uncle Tobias speak of him on one occasion, this before the Revolution. A man of common blood, yet very well-regarded in the rural community from which he hails. My father said he wasn't surprised when Berenger was elected to the Parliament. Seems he at least holds a fair bit of influence in some corner of the Republic."

Her own foot wanted to set to tapping like Alistair's own, such was her building anticipation, and Kristen was fighting a tiny unconscious battle to keep it still and keep herself fair and proper.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

The tapping was constant and even worse, Alistair had noticed he was doing it and his nerves still would not allow him to stop. His eyes darted about with intensity looking directly at each passerby like they might hold the clues to why they had been called here.

Alistair was pulled away from his people-watching by Kristen's question but shook his head.

"Unfortunately, I do not know much more than you...Although, those from the rural areas tend to have a more negative opinion of us Dreadlords since it is less common to see us out in the countryside unless we are on missions. If he shares those tendencies then it must be something serious for us to be called."

That conclusion, brought with it its own questions. If it was so serious, then why not call a full Dreadlord? Why specifically call for Alistair and Kristen? They were by no means incompetent, even though parts of the record might say otherwise, but neither of them was so incredible as to make a name for themselves that would have reached Otto Berenger...

"I had originally believed that you or your family played a part in this, but that is now unlikely."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"If only it were so, I might be able to dispel the mystery," Kristen said, a tight smile with mild humor accompanying her words.

Then her eyes wandered as she pondered it further. If not prompted by her House nor, as Alistair implied, his own, then how did their names cross Berenger's desk to begin with? Minor dealings with House Pirian, mayhap a couple with House Krixus as well, didn't seem to account for it.

Well. They would find out soon enough.

She looked back to Alistair. When first she had arrived at the Academy time felt as though it were trudging through a morass, but now that feeling was much less so: their mission to the Eretejva Tundra and the Blightlands seemed as though it were only yesterday.

"How are you faring as of late, Alistair?" she asked. "Graduation is approaching for you. It must be a time full of daunting potential."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair would have been content to pay attention to his own thoughts. Other people's thoughts were complicated, as proven by Kristen's last question...Oh wait, that was just his own life.

"It's...complicated. The whole city knows of recent events in my family, and it is because of that, that my decision for the future has never been more discussed..."

Alistair stopped his sentence as he took a moment to calm himself. Just recalling recent conversations with his aunts and uncles was enough to make him angry. They were all just vultures preying on a stretched-thin Alistair and his mother who had her own battles.

"There are those in my family who are questioning my competence. The only question I seem to have is which one of their heads should I cut off first."

He did not chuckle at the last comment, so it was difficult to tell if Alistair was actually joking.

"Besides that, the missions have gone well. They are...simple."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

The only question I seem to have is which one of their heads should I cut off first.

There was a mildly awkward moment following in which Kristen felt the dueling urges to giggle and to crease her brow. In the end she did neither, though there was likely a perturbed and puzzled twitch here and there across her expression, however small. Alistair was...he was making light of his predicament. Simply exaggerating. Right?

She went the charitable route and assumed that he was. His humor had always been rather dry.

Instead, she spoke on what he said previous to it. "Well, to those who might question your competence, they do so baselessly, and in time they will see their doubts sharply corrected. Truly it is a shame that your very own family does not rally behind you when—"

And it was then that Kristen realized that she didn't actually know of the recent events of which Alistair had spoken. This realization she wore plainly, her brow a hard line and her lips slightly parted.

"My god. Alistair...did...did something happen?"

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Ok, then maybe most of the city did not know, or maybe Kristen was just oblivious or sheltered. Either way, her facial expression almost made Alistair want to laugh going against the melancholy he felt.

"My father died...He seems to have been killed. That makes me the named head of House Krixus."

The words did not bring Alistair into a blob of sadness but of melancholy. He seemed t have accepted everything and was more showing indifference if not annoyance at everything.

Normally, such a title would bring with it a joy to the receiver, but that really wasn't the case. Alistair still had to focus on his Dreadlord graduation. The family that he would soon be leading was falling apart at the seams with very few economic assets. The ones they did have seemed to be in the criminal underworld, which Alistair had no plans of using.

"I prefer to focus on my work for the moment."

Of course, it was hard to argue with his family when one of his most recent missions was such a black mark as the Canal.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Three little words, yet they struck Kristen as though they together were a battering ram. Her eyes widened and her brow jumped upward. Alistair's father had died—murdered, even!—and this was the first that she was hearing about it; nothing said of it that she heard from amongst their fellow Initiates, no mention of it in her more recent correspondences with her own family.

All she wanted to do was reach over and give him a comforting hug. Every impulse beneath her skin, even seemingly in her false right hand, trembled with the urge. Had they not been in so public a place and awaiting a summons which could come at any moment she would have done so. By the grace of the Holy Sentinel, Alistair must be devastated—Kristen could scarcely imagine the grief she herself would feel if her own father met such a fate. Yet as always Alistair maintained a stolid composure, even if, in Kristen's view, he was suffering on the inside.

"I'm so very sorry, Alistair," Kristen said, this with genuine heartfelt sympathy. She didn't know that it had happened, let alone the true circumstances of the matter.

On the other side of the door to Councilor Berenger's Chambers, some small shuffling could be heard. The door was about to be opened.

Knowing time on this subject to be limited now, Kristen hastened to add, "If ever you wish to simply speak and be heard, I will be there for you."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Oh, why did it have to be Kristen? If it was any other initiate, they would just learn the news and then give a simple and generic sorry. That Alistair could then ignore as soon as the topics changed. However, this was Kristen.

He sat there, keeping his mask of emotions up as she voiced her sadness. If only she knew the truth. The truth is that Alistair was as much of a monster as anyone else here in the Academy.

"Thank you for your words. I will be fine...The Dreadlords are my family."

He offered the tightly pressed smile that you offered friends when you wanted to show that you appreciated their words, but you still weren't prepared to truly be happy.

The door saved Alistair as it was opened and the two were called into the room. Al wordlessly got up and stepped in at the request of the servants before Kristen could say anything else.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

And that was that. Such a poor environment this was to receive such grave news. The impetus of the moment would be lost after their meeting, and for it to recur again would likely take an extraordinary circumstance. So alas, their duty called, and what words she did say on the matter would have to suffice.

Into the chambers of Councilor Berenger they went. The servants inside held the door open for the two Initiates and then departed, closing the door after them and giving the room to the three of them.

The Councilor was a man of large physical stature, his stocky mass commanding a presence all its own before he'd even the occasion to cast a firm gaze or say a resolute word. His forearms, in particular, were massive, tanned whilst the skin above his elbow and beneath his rolled up sleeves was starkly more fair, altogether suggestive of a working life in rural fields. Berenger was standing, assessing a map of the Republic on his wall, before he turned to look at the two.

"Initiates," he said, moving to his desk and taking his seat. "Sit."

Kristen did so.

Berenger sat back in his chair, one hand on his desk, tapping an unrolled parchment before him. He continued, with a gravelly tone getting straight to the point. "I understand both of you are at least familiar with Lord Walter Banick. That some time ago the Academy sent you a mission to aid a project of his. Is that correct?"

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

As Alistair walked in, he took note of several things almost instantly. The first was not the people, but the map. He tried to get a read on what areas of the map had this man been fiddling around with the most recently, but it was difficult to tell in the areas near Vel Anir...It was a busy place.

The man himself was what he expected from the description, but also not what he expected from a counselor. The tan skin denoted hours spent working in the sun. The muscle on the man's body was fatty and provided bulk, much a sign of fieldwork rather than combat. Yes, this was a farmer. Much like those he had seen working in the fields of the countryside. He wondered how he liked his new life as a counselor.

Alistair took his seat and did not have long to continue scanning the room when they were asked a question that brought a small frown to his face.

So that's what this was about. The Canal. Why was it this single mission that always kept popping back into his life?

"Yes sir, we have worked with him before."

That was all that needed to be said, the man likely knew how that mission had turned out. He would not speak on it unless the counselor chose to go down that line of questioning.

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"Yes, Councilor, that is so," Kristen said by way of concurring with Alistair. The name of the campaign needn't even be said: her right hand was perhaps the least of the consequences which followed from it.

The anticipation, so gripping with its acidic grasp on her heart whilst waiting outside of the Councilor's chambers, faded away near completely now that she was in here, sat in this chair, and had an idea of what this was all about. In a way it was a relief, even if she had yet to know Berenger's true intent on summoning them.

Berenger stopped tapping his hand. Let it rest on the parchment upon his desk. "I've read the summary of this 'Canal' campaign. I know what happened. I say this not to alarm you, but to impress on the both of you the desperation of the Republic's current situation."

Kristen's brow furrowed quizzically. A small glance to Alistair before she asked Berenger, "What situation, Councilor?"

Berenger let out a nasally sigh. A sign of exasperation from hours and days of work which, apparently, amounted to nothing in said situation. "I'll be as concise as possible; there's plenty of politicking involved in this affair which will have little or no impact on what I'm going to ask of you. Walter plans to annex the entire peninsula to the north and west of his 'Canal' in the name of House Banick and proclaim himself a Duke; this would make him the largest landholder in all Vel Anir. Perhaps as a mere matter of course, he submitted the motion for such before the Parliament. We rejected his claim. He has accused the Republic of an abuse of power, and has proceeded to declare in contempt of the Parliament's ruling that the peninsula now belongs to House Banick. We cannot let this stand, lest the authority of the Parliament be undermined by the nobility."

"All of our attempts at further negotiation thus far have failed. With the Siege of Wissburg still on-going, there is lively debate amongst the Parliament as to whether it would be wise to commit troops to another large scale siege. For my part, I think negotiation may still be possible, only with a...different approach. Where our official diplomats and ambassadors have failed, that is where you two will come in."

Kristen, when the weight of the task before them settled truly upon her in full, sat in a momentary dumbstruck silence.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair let the information sink in as the real reason for their summons became clear. He had to calm down and think. That was what Mihali had taught him.

He could understand the reasoning of the counselor...partially. They were still initiates. The loss of two of them would not be great, but Vel Anir lost initiates all the time. Both of them had developed a rapport with Banick, Alistair to the point that he would even say he had enjoyed his conversations with Walter...Kristen was a little different, if he remembered correctly, she did not have the best opinions of the lord...

Still, none of that really mattered. All that mattered was that the Republic was desperate and this was the chance that Alistair was looking for to get back into the game.

This mission was possible, although maybe a bit sensitive. If they failed, this could lead to the biggest internal war since the revolution. Other houses had rebelled, but not the Banicks, not a major house.

"Most would consider Dreadlords to not be ideal diplomats..."

By now, Alistair had turned to look over the map, once again, that sat on the wall. The area of land was prime for development and trade. It would certainly be a loss for the republic, and a boon to whoever could hold it.

This was something that Alistair should have discussed with Kristen before answering, but he needed this. He had a feeling this was a both of them have to go situation. He would have to hope Kristen was thinking the same thing. Otherwise, he would accept getting yelled at later.

A determination set onto his face, and he glanced at Kristen before responding.

"We will do it, sir."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Berenger nodded. "Good. Because our ideal diplomats could not get the job done."

Kristen, meanwhile, was slowly coming out of her shocked stupor. "Councilor, if I may?"

"Go ahead, Kristen."

Funny, there was a small moment where Kristen was mildly disoriented because she on an unconscious level was expecting Berenger to address her as Lady Kristen. It was like the final and belated dying gasp of that self-same feeling when first she enrolled into the Academy and everybody called her Kristen (or Initiate Pirian), not by her aristocratic title. Still, she proceeded, "Is there a reason that someone from House Banick itself has not been called upon for this task?"

"Ah yes. House Banick," Berenger said, his annoyance coming through any attempt to mask it. "Theodore Banick has been cooperative. Unfortunately, too cooperative, you could say. Even now he maintains a camp outside of Ostia Anir with nearly all of his House gathered—to keep an eye on them, you see. He's forbidden anyone of House Banick, on pain of complete disinheritance and disownment, from entering Ostia Anir, even at the request of myself and other Councilors that some select few be allowed. Theodore is far too afraid that they might 'defect' and bring 'further shame' upon the House, and yet at the same time he is hopeful there in his camp that Walter will just come out the gates of Ostia Anir and give up his grand ambitions."

Berenger cleared his throat. "And so, hence, my attempts to find anyone with even the slightest bit of possible personal rapport with Walter."

Kristen held her tongue for a moment, but then had to speak up, "Councilor...you are aware of the past relationship between—"

"—House Pirian and House Banick, yes, I know. Not the best of friends, to put it mildly. To be frank with you, Kristen, I didn't want to send you. But I assented to the advice given to me. Namely, that you, Alistair, should not go into Ostia Anir alone."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Well, it was nice to know that at least he had been the first option. He glanced at Kristen and then back to the Counselor. Alistair did not have many people in the Academy that he had almost complete trust in. Ralene was one, but it sounded like she wasn't allowed anywhere near this place. That left Kristen as the second. Even if she did not want to be there, he would appreciate her help in any way...because he was going no matter what.

The situation explained to them was certainly one of the most delicate political situations he had ever been involved in. Yet, this mission was described as a diplomatic mission and not an assassination mission.

"Hypothetically, if we could convince Lord Banick to stand out, would he be forgiven to a certain degree? If he is just to be immediately thrown in prison, then I highly doubt we can convince him to stand down without bloodshed."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Berenger lifted that hand from his desk and pointed at Alistair, finger bouncing up and down to emphasize the point. "And there, yes, some compromise will need to be made. The Republic does not want to look weak, yet, without proper incentive, you are absolutely correct, Walter won't have a reason to stand down."

Berenger sighed again, a heavy sound through his nose. "Another reason why you two are here and why I'm trying to 'think outside the box,' as the saying goes. Our official diplomats, now that Walter has openly defied the Republic's decree, would have their hands tied; public punishment would have to be on the table. Believe me, I respect the rule of law and order, yet this situation is delicate. If it came to a siege, and either this hypothetical siege at Ostia Anir or the one at Wissburg failed, that would be far more embarrassing for the Republic; it would look like we're fracturing. So, my practicality speaks to me, and here are the both of you, this whole approach of mine now something more...clandestine."

Kristen didn't particularly like the sound of that. The implication brought back unpleasant memories of Salesia and Herim Urahil. "Clandestine, Councilor?"

"You will be both there and not there. You will be both acting in an official capacity, and not in an official capacity. You will, likely, have to make arrangements that are both public and private. And, if things turn for the worst, no help will be coming for you, yet the Republic will nonetheless be counting on you to get the job done." Berenger shook his head ruefully, his lips pressed tight and brow furrowed for a second. "Kress...that it's come to this. You're both so young, and yet on your shoulders I'm foisting the greatest of responsibilities, the noblest of deeds: taking on the care of your entire country."

Kristen swallowed, but otherwise kept her expression even. She had to hold to her resolution made on the day of Festum Libertatis, to keep the days of weakness and fragility behind her, even now.

Berenger, his gravelly voice quieter, said, "This is your last chance to back out."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

So, that was the crux of the matter. For the Republic, they were expendable enough to die and not be a major loss, but if they succeeded then the Republic could also take credit for sending them. It was smart, even if Alistair did not exactly like being used like a sacrificial lamb.

Still, there was no way he was going to throw away this chance. He shot another glance looking at Kristen before focusing back on the Counselor.

"So, this isn't...an official mission. This will all be done off the record?"

Things like this, where the line was so blurry, were often complicated. However, it also left the most wiggle room for them to gain from this predicament.

Alistair's fingers were fidgeting like he was working on a project that wasn't there. it was something he had noticed had been happening ever since the canal incident. While his hand was essentially back to being 100%, it also did not like staying still. A problem that was only exaggerated when Alistair got anxious or started thinking about something.

"I'm in, but there is one thing I would like your help with counselor if we complete this task...if it is not too much to ask for."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"On the record if things go well. Off the record if things go poorly," Berenger said, point blank with it. At the very least, in Kristen's opinion, the man didn't honey-coat his words. But, Blessed Aionus, the sense of pragmatic transformation of the rules, so to speak, into malleable playthings made Kristen highly uncomfortable. Were all politics like this?

Kristen cast a curious gaze over to Alistair as he made his preamble for a request to the Councilor. The enormity of what was being asked of them precluded such a thought, to ask something of the Councilor in return, from entering into Kristen's mind. What might he be thinking?

Berenger then, leaning back into his chair, receptive. A subtle thing, but he almost seemed relieved that, with Alistair's forthcoming request, his proposal of this heavy task upon two young Initiates might be made a bit more equitable.

"Go on."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair was silent for a moment as he looked at his fingers. He wanted to make sure he asked for exactly what he wanted, leaving no room for wiggle room. It was not that he doubted the councilor's honesty, but politics had a tendency to get lost in warped as things were moving.

Finally, he looked up with resolution in his eyes to hold the gaze of Berenger.

"I want the incident at The Canal to be erased from the records...For the whole team, including myself, Kristen..., and Kalix. I want the whole thing buried. We will prove that we are good at what we do. So, let that small incident be forgotten. After all, once this is over, I can't imagine Lord Banick will be controlling those lands anyways."

He had been considering this idea for some time but did not know when he would gain the political capital to actually make it happen. This single mission would pay for all of it."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Kristen found herself queerly conflicted on Alistair's proposal. The truth of the matter was important to her, and, she believed, important in the proper respecting of Raf's memory. Yet it was also a black mark, a complicated matter which could be twisted and fit for malicious purpose (especially thanks to the manner in which Walter had apparently written the report) to attack House Pirian through her, stifling some future ambition of her House's or of her own. She kept her reservations to herself at present.

Berenger gave it a moment's consideration. His eyes betrayed his assent before he spoke, though. "Yes. That can be arranged quite handily. Walter's almost done the work on his lonesome, what with discrediting himself through his own current actions against the Republic." Berenger nodded further, as if finalizing a plan in his head on how to make it happen. He echoed himself, "Yes. Quite handily."

He looked to Kristen then. "And you, Kristen? Do you accept this task?"

Kristen perfected her posture, looking back to the Councilor as he addressed her. She took a moment to ensure that she did not utter a nervous stutter upon answering. "Yes, I do. I understand the enormity of what is being asked and I will pledge my service to this cause. For Vel Anir."

"And there is nothing you would ask of me as well?"

"No, Councilor, not at this time. If a need arises for my House, then in the future I may."

Berenger chuckled. "Don't let it take too long then. A favor from me as an expiry date that coincides with me coming up a few votes short in re-election." A bit wistful then. "Ah. Losing would be quite alright...I would get to farm my cabbages again. But, civic duty called, and I answered."

"But of course, Councilor. I understand. And...good luck, I suppose, when next said elections come."

"Yes, yes." Berenger stood, and so did Kristen soon after. His parting tone for them was again a serious one. "In this task your faculties of judgment are going to be tested like never before. My orderlies outside will provide you a list of 'redlines,' things that Walter is likely to demand that the Republic cannot give him, but other than those...you must try to negotiate as equitable a deal as possible. Else, it will come to war."

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair nodded in satisfaction. There had probably been other things that he could have asked for, but he needed this assignment just like Vel Anir needed him. He would not take the chance that stretching his greed too far would ruin his chances.

He knew that something like this might not sit well with Kristen, but this was for the best. An incident like the Canal would be one of those events that people constantly tried to bring up against them or their house when they wanted to discredit them. It would be an annoyance to him, but it could be far more problematic to some like him and Kalix.

Alistair was silent as he left the room, standing when Kristen stood. When they were free of the Councilor's presence, he let out a long drawn-out sigh.

"It looks like we have been given a second chance, Kristen."

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

Their closing business didn't take very long. The orderlies provided a generalized list full of common sense things which ought not to be offered; but, truly, for two Initiates, they were being given a lot of leeway with this assignment. Kristen couldn't help but think that her noble blood, and Alistair's own, were deciding factors in Berenger deciding to imbue them with such a grand capacity to act on the Republic's behalf. After all, their reputations did matter, and would help ensure that they did the job well.

Out into the lavish hallway again, where her sabatons thumped and thumped in that deeper tone. Hardly the sound an approaching noblewoman, proper and demure, ought to make, but certainly one that leant itself to an up-and-coming Dreadlord.

Alistair spoke as they walked.

"Yes, it would seem so," she said. A small look over. "About...your request of the Councilor..."

It wasn't that she wanted to chastise him for it, no. She was bothered yet also grateful—a nauseating combination that left her in that moment lacking a lucid way to express herself.

Alistair Krixus

 

[Alistair Krixus]

Alistair needed to stop hanging out with other Dreadlords. With anyone else, he would look like the suave and debonair duelist that he liked to think he was. However, when he walked beside people like Kristen and Ralene, it always looked more like a noble and their bodyguard.

The next thing they would need to focus on was how to get into the city. Getting their hands on some horses to get down there would be the easy part. Getting inside without notice would be the hard part. Of course, they could just try to walk in, but that brought with it its own problems.

"About...your request of the Councilor..."

"Let's just complete the assignment first...After this, I'm going to set up a stipend or something to be given to Raf's family...The only ones that will remember him anyway are us and his family, no need to let everyone else keep bringing up our failure."

That might have been an unforgiving summarization of Vel Anir, but it was accurate. Honesty and honor were all good, but there was no honor in want had occurred at the Canal...Learn from it and then let it be buried in the past.

Kristen Pirian

 

[Kristen Pirian]

"That...well, you plucked the very thought from my mind and gave it voice before I could," Kristen said. She'd been worried when he first started in response that he'd misunderstand where she might be going, and perhaps it was fair enough that he might. But he did not. Very good.

"I shall make it no secret that your request made me helplessly of two minds. After our session with Proctor D'Amour, it became thoroughly clear to me that Walter exaggerated an already heinous and tragic enough event for, perhaps, his own gain, whatever that might have been, and so it is good that this besmirchment of your character and mine is to be erased—upon a successful completion of our present task, of course."

They turned a corner in the hall.

"But my fear was that in so ensuring this erasure we would, in a sense, be committing Raf's memory to a kind of callous obscurity. But you are right, Alistair, for the gossip of the day has already swept long past the scandalous incident at the Canal—inside and outside the Academy, so far as I can tell."

She looked over—for this it was important to meet his eyes.

"I wished only to say that we have a duty to carry on the memory of Rafael Maier, and that we should never be lapse in it."

There was, of course, a natural question which followed. One that called back to Alistair's time in the old way of the Academy. Kristen held it in for the moment as they walked through those gilded halls of Vel Aerelos.

Alistair Krixus