Awaiting the Armies

[Sir Karsimir]

Another lie amongst the many, contrasting with the clear new vigour in her posture and the brightness of her smile. If she was tired then she would be tired now, so where was getting this newfound energy from?

Ever generous, Aorle was merely pleased that she was feeling better, and had no desire to question the matter further. Only... her smile did not touch the eyes. For now, he disregarded the concern, offering Asiona the freedom to share the matter should she so wish. Caring was his nature, prying was not.

"Thank you." he answered, noting her approval with the interest of the insightful, knowing that she had revealed more than was intended. "There are others, although we are rare. We swear Oaths of Allegiance to the Heavens, before angels themselves. That was next for me had my father not intervened."

"As for how we sense evil, we listen for it." Such a simple description had to bode ill, for clearly evil would distinguish itself somehow. "Ever wondered what true evil really is? Imagine the suffering of innocents, and that is what we hear. True evil has victims, when we face a source of evil we hear the cries and screams of every innocent victim to suffer at their hands." By now his voice was grim and harsh, much like the truth of the matter. "So I know that Phelan has killed women and children because I heard them begging for mercy."

Rather understandably, this was not a subject on which he lingered. "My intent is still to take the Oath of Allegiance. Do you have any suggestions for how to make contact with an angel during my stay in Marn?" When asking that, he shrugged and checked if anyone was near before offering an explanation. There wasn't, "Magic intrigues rather than frightens you, a rare interest in Marn. Clearly you know something on the subject."

He had been testing her from the start.

[Asiona & Lateus]

Asiona studied Railtus’ earnest face as he spoke of the other Angelsworn very briefly. Now that she was awake—more than awake—she noticed how strong yet soft and young his face was. For someone that was about her age to be talking of such otherworldly, extraordinary things reminded her, quite frankly, of herself, at a different angle. His enthusiasm was infectious.

And so was his grim expression. The thought of “hearing” evil frightened her. Such a thing sounded very hard to live with. And then Railtus said, “So I know that Phelan has killed women and children because I heard them begging for mercy.” Her hands covered the lower part of her face in horror as she stifled a gasp. Sure Phelan was rough, but was he really capable of being so savage? Killing women and children? His heroic stories came to mind, and she wondered how warped they were from what really happened. How could someone so skilled stoop so low?

Her mind was whirring and she hardly heard what he said next. At first she thought she heard wrong. Then her face turned pink and she lowered her hands. “C-clearly? I don’t know what you’re talking about! I don’t know anything! I’m just a merchant’s daughter; I’m not involved with those things!” She looked around surreptitiously and saw, thankfully, no one. She had forgotten he was a foreigner, and her old fear of being found out was quite obvious. They did horrible things to those that did magic and years of operating quietly and stealthily was ingrained in her. You couldn’t trust anyone. Mr. David, her mentor, had proven that.

[Sir Karsimir]

Compassion was ruler of his heart in that moment, as with many other moments, and so he sought to assuage the lady's fears. "Calm yourself, Asiona." he instructed her gently yet firmly, "You have nought to fear from me. Know this, I have stood against real evil, leaving me no need to fall prey to local superstitions. I inquire of your knowledge in the hope of achieving my dream when denied access to the regular channels. Any sharing of your insight is welcomed." Honest truth and honest intentions, asking for mere advice, not actions.

A mere shrug announced his indifference to the subject of magic, despite the natural intensity of his stare, from eyes now a swiftly paling shade of amber, "My father has forbidden me to take the necessary pilgrimage, and refused to explain his decision." No particular emotion featured in that statement, despite the subject being a father's wilful denial of a son's dreams without reason, or at least without any reason he chose to give. "Marn is neither a suitable place to become a knight or an Angelsworn, however, those are my goals and I have no plans to disregard them due to the current difficulties. So if you can think of a way that I may achieve the chance to swear my Oath, I would be grateful."

If anything, her outburst had convinced him even more of her knowledge. Claiming to 'not know anything' was a panicked reflex which went against the nature of most people, somehow he doubted a girl such as Asiona would willingly admit ignorance of anything. Besides, 'just' a merchant's daughter implies 'only' or 'merely' a merchant's daughter, and she clearly thought too much of herself to truly cast the judgement that she was otherwise meaningless.

Of course, directness regarding those revelations seemed to alarm her. Subtlety and complexities seemed insincere and dishonest for his tastes, but he approached from a position of openness, and this appeared to be her preference.

[Asiona & Lateus]

The Angelsworn's words calmed her. She found herself inextricably trusting him. He just seemed so honest and good and no matter how Asiona twisted his words she could find no evil hidden in them. And she believed, and even feared, that she had the key to his plight. If you couldn't go to it, you'd have to bring it to you.

With another surreptitious look around, she scooted forward and leaned in. "Then why don't you Summon one?" she whispered.

WHAT! she heard echoed in her head, but she ignored it.

"I... have a book..." she mumbled, staring at his face. Her expression was very serious, as if she was telling him her biggest secret. And in a way, she was. "We could do it..."

Asiona, you already have me! You can't handle such a force-- Lateus' voiced urgently in her head.

She ignored him.

[Sir Karsimir]

"Thank you, Asiona. For your trust as much as anything else." In salute, he crossed his fist over his heart, to clash against the steel plates of his hauberk. The risk she had just taken was not overlooked, within minutes of meeting him, she had judged him worthy of knowing such a secret. That was an honour he would remember.

Details. Military thinking was always extremely detail-oriented, due to handling such matters as the survival of armed conflict. On the subject of survival and details, there were the anti-magic laws to consider. "'Twould have to be outside the city, so as not to break any laws." Respect for law was important, lest the stability of society be forsaken in the name of personal convenience. Previous duty as a Constable would not allow such a thing. "I would not bid you do crime at my behest."

Another matter came up, "What preparations need be made? I have holy icons, and my presence may ease the process." Holiness was an important component in making an area suitable for angels, and Aorle had no illusions of the fact that he was a mortal anchor for holiness upon the mortal realm. Humility was not always blind. "Would early tomorrow morning suit you well enough?" A hand was offered, much like in greeting, in this case to signal entrance into a contract.

Finally a reminder of a duty, as was right for service she had offered, "How may I reward you for this kindness?"

[Asiona & Lateus]

“Thank you, Asiona. For your trust as much as anything else,” he said and saluted her.

She blushed at this and merely nodded, quite bashful, then sat back, relieved he had accepted what she said without being afraid or skeptical.

“'Twould have to be outside the city, so as not to break any laws. I would not bid you do crime at my behest.”

She didn’t want to tell him, but as long as they were within the borders of Thar Shaddin it was illegal. The city was just the place that enforced it. It suited her fine to leave the city first--and there was no way she could wholly leave Thar Shaddin--so she didn’t correct him.

“What preparations need be made? I have holy icons, and my presence may ease the process. Would early tomorrow morning suit you well enough?”

Asiona pondered with a finger on her lower lip. She had studied The Astral Plane and Its Workings quite extensively, but for summoning an earthly being, not an astral one. She would have to re-study it and did not know what was needed, yet. This was so sudden and soon. Yet, instead of becoming anxious and uncertain she was taken up in a pleasant storm of anticipation and excitement. Tonight she would have to pore over the book, and in the morning get up early before her teacher and guards and sneak out of the house. Plans were already forming in her mind.

A finger still on her lip she nodded and said, “Yes, bring all of your holy icons. I’ll bring anything else we need. It’ll have to be early enough so I don’t miss school. Perhaps around sunrise? And where should we meet before heading out?” She was still whispering, and it made her feel like they were developing a diabolical plot. However, it was anything but. For once she was actually doing magic for a very good reason.

Suddenly he said, “How may I reward you for this kindness?”

That was out of the blue. She hadn’t even thought about compensation. Glory was enough of a reason. However, was there something that she could use from him? Money? Her father had plenty of that. Status? She had no desire for that, or to 'ingratiate' herself any further than Mavelle into the nobility.

Magic? Yes, she would love to learn more about his magic. The idea he had presented, that he worked miracles by working through an angel was not a totally novel concept—much healing worked by using the power of a god—but what he seemed to be describing was different than other religious orders. We work miracles…by manifesting the virtues we uphold.

Never had she heard of hearing evil. Never had she heard of “blurring the line between mortal and angel.” Many clerics, paladins, and monks she had read of in books would declare that blasphemy; you couldn’t become a god, that was evil. So the concept that one could become what one worshipped was quite a wonder.

“Perhaps we will discuss a ‘reward’ later? I'm really not expecting anything for this,” she said, shrugging. Demanding answers from him in return for what she thought of as a favor seemed more than rude. Doing this for her would probably make him more than willing to divulge a little, as she had been willing to collaborate with him.

[Sir Karsimir]

For once all was well. Suggestion approved, preparations determined, and task set. By end the morrow, he would swear his Oath of Allegiance and enter unto the celestial pact, making contact with the Heaven's themselves to formally enter into their service with his pledge of arms. Once that was done, once among the warriors of right and good, the direction of his life would be set in accordance to his devotion.

Mentally calculating, dawn would allow plenty of time for their planned endeavour. Among affluent families those hours which lay in the space following the break of night belonged to the servants, who made ready in the house before their masters would rise. Delaying their rise until all was ready for their convenience, the household masters would then enjoy such conveniences upon rising, leaving the space of a few hours of waxing light before their day would truly begin.

Much time indeed. A full day of foot travel was thirty miles, while in the space of a single glass-turn Arjen could cover more than forty at full gallop. And would too, that much was never in doubt from the hearty charger. City-states seldom covered large stretches of land, particularly an insular city-state in the middle of a barren wasteland said to be infested with brigands. Laying claim to the wastelands only meant that there were brigands inside the borders rather than out, therefore extending the borders would show weakness more than anything else.

"Then we have an accord. My thanks. On the morrow then. We will meet near to your household, so you do not wander the streets alone in hours of darkness." Even unaware of her recent encounters, such risk to her was not a thought he would cherish. "You must have much to prepare."

In essence, that was a polite dismissal, assuming that business was concluded here. However, it was gentle enough to be declined without issue.

[Asiona & Lateus]

Then we have an accord. My thanks. On the morrow then. We will meet near to your household, so you do not wander the streets alone in hours of darkness. You must have much to prepare.

"Yes," she mused. He probably had no idea how much was involved. Thankfully she hadn't disassembled the spell construct in the tower of the Historical District. And her book was neatly hidden in her house where she could reach it. When she went home she would have to endure her guards hovering around her and her tutor capturing her attention. Studying and preparing would have to be reserved for night, when they were asleep.

"My house is located not too far from here. Going east from here take the second right, then the first left. It's the third house on the left with the blue and green door." She cringed slightly when she described the door; it was very tacky, dark blue on the whole and pea-green on the inner beveled squares in the center and around the quaint window. It was her mother's decision a long time ago and hadn't changed. However, the colors made it stand out from the other houses, which were blandly colored so as to be congrous.

At this she stood, understanding the dismissal. "I'll see you there," she said brightly, without worries or fear. It was a new situation, and it could be that she didn't comprehend the dangers, but mostly it was an openness for new experiences that was improving her mood.

She turned and headed for the door, an out-of-focus expression on her face and in her posture that denoted how hard at work her mind was. Lateus kept up his incessant nagging but she left that for the back of her mind, paying no attention to his demanding tone. Asiona was in control, not him.