{"id":1742,"date":"2014-07-20T23:31:26","date_gmt":"2014-07-20T13:31:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/?p=1742"},"modified":"2014-07-21T02:12:59","modified_gmt":"2014-07-20T16:12:59","slug":"remembrance-part-iii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/?p=1742","title":{"rendered":"Remembrance – Part III"},"content":{"rendered":"

The enraged sea buffeted the Gleaming Endeavor<\/em> as the storm surged on overhead.\u00a0 Merasi\u00ebl wrapped her legs around the cracking mast, blinking away the rain as Angrist cut through the jammed ropes holding the sails in place.\u00a0 Somewhere below, Gabriel floundered in the sea after being thrown overboard.\u00a0 She could only trust that Rainald would pull the swordsman back to safety.\u00a0 Triumph turned to fear as the newly freed sails fell towards one of the stouthearted seamen that served aboard the vessel.\u00a0 The sails caught Tully square in the chest before severing the seamen\u2019s safety line.\u00a0 A large spray of water blew over the side of the ship where he had fallen and then he was gone.<\/p>\n

Merasi\u00ebl barely registered that her own safety line had been compromised, and dove for Tully\u2019s rapidly disappearing line.<\/p>\n

\n

Merasi\u00ebl dove for the shadows behind one of the plush chairs near the window. As light from the hallway filled the room, she shrank further away from it, forcing herself into stillness. The door closed, and the bright light from the sconces in the hall was replaced by the dim flicker of candlelight.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy Lord Tereus, we will find her.\u201d Edward?<\/em> She thought. \u201cBut my father threatened her yesterday. She has likely fled.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cFor both our sakes, I hope you do find her. She is the only loose end that remains to be tied. What were you thinking, goading your father like that? Announcing your intentions to marry that elf.\u201d<\/p>\n

A pause. \u201cI don\u2019t particularly care for the tone you are using, Tereus.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you having second thoughts, then? Perhaps you should have entertained those before your father\u2019s untimely demise.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is going on here?\u00a0 His father is dead?\u00a0<\/em> The floorboards just on the other side of Merasi\u00ebl\u2019s hiding place creaked and she held her breath. The cushioned fabric beside her head hissed gently as someone slumped down in the chair. When Edward broke the long silence, his voice was close to her ear. \u201cNo. No second thoughts, Tereus. My father deserved his fate. I will find the Lady Misthal and see that she remains\u2026silent.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. You have been given the gift of your father\u2019s wealth and power, young Edward, and are the last that holds the Bonet name. It would be a shame if your family\u2019s line were to be cut prematurely.\u201d<\/p>\n

The conversation ended with the sound of footfall followed by the door slamming closed. Merasi\u00ebl waited still, her breath caught in her throat. The fabric beside her head whispered softly once more as Edward rose and walked to the window. Merasi\u00ebl then had her first clear view of him, and she believed that if someone were to look like hell, as the humans were want to say, then Edward would fit that description. His normally clean and pressed clothing was stained in several places. His collar was undone and the hairs on the top of his head were sticking out at an odd angle. He gazed out the front window for a long while, scowling downward towards the front drive, until the unmistakable sound of a litter leaving drifted up to the window. \u201cAh, what a bloody mess,\u201d he grumbled, and then turned away from the window. His eyes met Merasi\u00ebl\u2019s and both of them froze.<\/p>\n

It was Edward who broke the silence. \u201cI should have expected you\u2019d find your way here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merasi\u00ebl rose from her hiding place behind the chair, one hand resting on the hilt of her dagger and the other resting on the back of the chair beside her. \u201cYour father is dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edward sat on the edge of the desk and ran both of his hands over his face. His voice dripped with exhaustion. \u201cYes. Not by my own hand, of course, but I was there.\u201d He glanced over one shoulder, eyes scanning the disturbed pages on the desk. \u201cI see you have been busy. You will know by now what my father was involved in.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSlave trade.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, a disgusting business, and one I wished my family out of. But it goes further than that.\u201d He looked up at her, and he tilted his head, his expression becoming one of genuine confusion. \u201cAre those my<\/em> trousers you are wearing?\u201d<\/p>\n

Merasi\u00ebl ignored him. \u201cYour father\u2019s business?\u201d she prompted.<\/p>\n

\u201cChildren as slaves. Noble born, peasantry, it didn\u2019t matter. The younger the better, sold to the highest bidder by a rival\u2019s family or simply taken from the streets and never heard from again. Those few who discovered were silenced before they could bring it to the notice of the church. I had to stop it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTereus was working with you.\u201d Edward\u2019s simply nodded, and Merasi\u00ebl continued to press him, \u201cTereus hired me to steal your father\u2019s secrets. All the while he had your ear? Why?\u201d<\/p>\n

Edward folded his hands together and rested his chin on his knuckles and his shoulders slumped forward. \u201cI am sorry, my lady, I truly am. You know that Elves aren\u2019t very welcome here. You were here to be a convenient scapegoat. Now that my father is dead, you will be accused for his murder.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merasi\u00ebl took a step towards the window, and Edward rose hurriedly.<\/p>\n

\u201cWait. Please. Lord Tereus arranged all of this. He would ensure my father\u2019s downfall, and I would ensure your permanent silence. But I find..I cannot. I will not.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merasi\u00ebl\u2019s knuckles were white from gripping the handle of her dagger, and slowly began to draw the weapon. She spoke through gritted teeth. \u201cOh? And why not?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause I have fallen in love with you.\u201d When Merasi\u00ebl\u2019s only response was to stare at him, he continued, his voice bordering on desperation, \u201cPlease. Tell me truthfully. Was none of this real? All of this time we have been together? Was every moment false?\u201d<\/p>\n

Merasi\u00ebl snapped her dagger back into its sheath, a small smirk finally playing its way across her lips. \u201cWhat do you<\/em> think?\u201d<\/p>\n

Edward studied her expression, looking for some sort of hope, but he apparently found none and he took a steadying breath. \u201cI see. Then the Lady Misthal is dead. Or perhaps never existed.\u201d He leaned forward against the desk, resting his knuckles on the wooden surface. \u201cI\u2019m afraid you will not be able to stay in Hyrnan. I will instruct the guards that you are to not be hindered and you may leave the grounds with all you came with. But,\u201d he added, \u201dI ask of you a boon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merasi\u00ebl rested a hand on one of the windowpanes. \u201cAnd what is that?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI give you your life and freedom in opposition to Tereus\u2019 demands. As you heard before, he is not above ending my family\u2019s line if he doesn\u2019t get what he wants, and I have a distinct interest in staying alive. In exchange for allowing you to live, you will ensure that the Bonet line is not threatened by him further. Agreed?\u201d<\/p>\n

Merasi\u00ebl nodded. \u201cThis will conclude our business, then.\u201d She then turned back towards the window.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd for God\u2019s sake, don\u2019t climb out the window. Use the door?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

Three days later, the sun dawned bright with the promise of a warm, late summer day. The manor bustled with preparations for the late Lord Bonet\u2019s funeral. The transition to the new master of the house was going well, however this morning, the new Lord Bonet was notably absent, remaining locked in his study.<\/p>\n

\u201cM\u2019lord Edward?\u201d The voice of Bruce, his father\u2019s Steward, called from the other side of the locked door. Gentle raps became more insistent, and then turned into a cacophony of fists hammering against the wooden surface.<\/p>\n

Edward snored from where he had fallen asleep in his desk chair the night before. Eventually the noise woke him, and he lifted his head. He blinked in the dim light that filtered from behind the partially closed drapes, then flew out of the chair, sending several pieces of paper flying in the air. Edward looked out the window, noting with some chagrin the position of the sun and then ran for the door. When he opened it, Bruce stood there, fist raised to continue pounding against the door.<\/p>\n

Edward straightened his jacket and stood a bit straighter, fully aware of how distressed he must look. \u201cBruce? What is it, man?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBeg pardon, Lord Edward, but it\u2019s half past ten and there\u2019s a bit of news from town.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNews? What sort of news?\u201d<\/p>\n

Bruce stepped off to the side, allowing one of the servants to pass through with a tray of food. Edward\u2019s stomach rumbled, and he followed breakfast to the desk, motioning for the other man to enter. Once Edward had seated himself and begun to eat, the old Steward cleared his throat and continued. \u201cSeems there was an accident over at M\u2019lord Tereus\u2019 manor during the night, sir. A fire, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edward froze, fork lifted halfway from the plate to his mouth. \u201cA fire, you say?\u201d\"Manor_on_fire\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYes M\u2019lord! Terrible one. Sad to say that Lord Tereus was caught sleepin\u2019 in it and has passed on, God rest his soul.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edward lowered the fork, his appetite suddenly gone. It\u2019s done then. Am I so different from my father now? Lives can continue or come to an abrupt end at my word.\u00a0 And yet, the end result is worth it, is it not?<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cSomething wrong with the eggs, sir? Cook\u2019ll be fit to be tied if the girls brought \u2018em to you cold.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEggs? What? Oh, no no. They\u2019re delicious. I\u2019m just\u2026at a loss for words over the news.\u201d Edward forced himself to pick the fork up and eat.<\/p>\n

\u201cQuite right, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n

Edward paused again, and looked at Bruce. \u201cHe had a daughter, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOh yes sir, lovely young lady she is. Lady Katherine. About fifteen as I recall. Oddly enough, she must have been stricken by a fit of sleepwalking for they found her outside the house wrapped in a blanket and lying in a pile of hay. She claims someone carried her out in the night, but the guards believe she\u2019s just upset because of her father. Shook her up quite good, but if you ask me\u2026\u201d he continued to prattle, but Edward\u2019s thoughts turned elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Oh, my Lady of the Great Forest, you do have a heart buried in there. Thank you.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026oor thing has no family here and she\u2019s not betroth\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n

Edward interrupted the continued drone of the steward’s voice. \u201cBruce.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAh\u2026yes, M\u2019lord?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease see to it that proper condolences are sent to the Lady Katherine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, M\u2019lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo family and no betrothed you say? Well then, I suppose the Church will see that she\u2019s taken care of. But\u2026we could offer her a place here, in the meantime of course. We have plenty of room. See that it\u2019s done.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cVery good, M\u2019lord.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014<\/p>\n

Merasi\u00ebl glanced upwards as the popping and crackling of her campfire echoed loud in her ears. It had been more than a week since the downfall of Lord Tereus, and no pursuit had come from Hyrnan. Still, she glanced around, wary of trouble. When none came, she looked back down at the paper she had secreted away.<\/p>\n

Lord Tirius Evern<\/em><\/p>\n

She did not know where they all were, but she would find them, one way or the other.<\/p>\n

Lord Marcus and his Lady Kiriste<\/em><\/p>\n

Each name\u2019s accusation, branded on paper, involved in slave trade. She had seen enough damning evidence. She proclaimed them guilty.<\/p>\n

Lord Malus Drogan, Lord and Lady Fenwick<\/em><\/p>\n

Some were involved more than others, but in this, Merasi\u00ebl could not be choosy. They would all eventually fall, just as Lord Claudius Bonet had. Merasi\u00ebl committed each name to memory, then tossed the paper in the fire and watched the last turn to ash.<\/p>\n

Lord Proximo.<\/em><\/p>\n

Fin.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The enraged sea buffeted the Gleaming Endeavor as the storm surged on overhead.\u00a0 Merasi\u00ebl wrapped her legs around the cracking mast, blinking away the rain as Angrist cut through the jammed ropes holding the sails in place.\u00a0 Somewhere below, Gabriel floundered in the sea after being thrown overboard.\u00a0 She could only trust that Rainald would […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-banestorm","category-bs_pcs"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1742","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1742"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1742\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1751,"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1742\/revisions\/1751"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1742"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1742"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.olympusrpg.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1742"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}