Roen said nothing at first. The Flame sergeant came to stand on one side of her, Kiht on the other. He leaned against the railing with one arm, the other hanging a bit limp at his side. He sighed as he looked up at the sky that had darkened quickly with his arrival, raindrops beginning to spatter against his vest and tunic.
“I heard what happened, sergeant.†The paladin kept her gaze on the distant waterfall, not minding the rain. “In the tunnels.â€
“...And?†Osric glanced her way, his voice lowered.
“Was that what you promised Nero?â€
The sergeant did not answer right away. He turned back to the waterfall. “In exchange for everythin’ he could give me on Scythe? Yes, that was the bargain.â€
This made her pause and look to him, surprised. “Did he give you what you needed?â€
“He gave me everything. No one else needs t’die for their sqaubblin'.â€
Roen sighed, her shoulders sagging with some relief. “At least he honored that promise.â€
Osric snorted. “Think he took it as some sort o’ professional courtesy.â€
“So what now, Sergeant? What will you do?â€
The Flame turned his gaze back to the paladin once more, meeting her eyes. "That's not what y'truly want t'ask me, now is it?"
"I do not even know where to begin. I have been trying to sort this out in my head. The point of..." She paused. "What you did. What I have done. What Nero has done. I suppose you got what you needed from him. So your actions were justified? I am not here to judge you for what you did in the tunnels. I just...I just need to know what you intend to do now. Are you going to stop Scythe?"
"Should I? Suppose I should. Or perhaps I ought t'stick to m'word and just pull the innocent out o' the man's path o' destruction." He shook his head. "One thing y'learn when it comes to these things, Roen? When titans clash, the little folk suffer. And that ain't right. That ain't ever been right.â€
"And what. Let the bloodshed happen?" The paladin scowled. "Bandits shooting at whoever in the streets just to make a point, it is not what I ever had in mind. Do you understand? For all the suffering Nero said he wanted to end, he promised me he would try to be a better man in doing it."
“Aye, and that's why I'm puttin' an end to it. We'll have Ernis and his bastards within a few suns." Osric narrowed his eyes for a moment longer upon her, before turning back to lean against the railing.
Roen still continued to stare at him, shame and guilt heating her cheeks despite the rain soaking her. "But he lied. He never intended to spare anyone. He thought it acceptable."
The Flame lowered his head, his next words nearly a whisper. “If he thought it acceptable, he wouldn't have given me Scythe. He would've sailed on to Othard, as he's plannin' on doin' if he weren't lyin' in his letter, and he would've let them all burn." He gave her a sidelong look. "I told you once he 'n' I were more alike than y'knew. You never asked me how.â€
“Tell me.â€
"We grew up without hope," he said simply. "I sent him a letter, askin' him t'help me save the little ones. The ones just the way he used t'be." He pushed off the railing and and reached beneath his vest with his left hand. "I have both letters here. Would you like t'read them?"
Roen could not say no. She had to read for herself Nero’s words, those that would save Pearl Lane, and stop the bloodshed that he himself had planned. When she nodded, Osric handed over sheets of parchment rolled up in leather, bound by a thin knot. The paladin undid them carefully, but when opened, she read them eagerly. The more she read, the tighter her grip had become on those letters.
"I don't think y'can deny it, Roen," the Flame said softly. "Was always odd, his hatred o' Blades. I think you 'n' I know perfectly well where 'n' how he grew up."
The paladin did not look up from those letters. "Does...does that justify the women and children he had killed?"
“No.â€
"It still does not change the fact that he sold those guns. His plan was to bath the streets in blood.†Her voice was beginning to shake as she stared back at the sergeant. “Would he have given these to you if you had not done what you did in the tunnels? If not for the professional courtesy?!"
Osric met her gaze for a few moments, then curled a small smile. There was no mirth in it, only a profound sadness that reached his emerald eyes. "We struck a bargain. For some folks o' his ilk 'n' mine, such things are all we understand. All we can ever understand. Sometimes, here 'n' there, someone shines a Light, and we wake up." He slowly bowed his head. "I'm sorry that he never woke up, Roen."
She shoved the letters back into Osric’s hand and spun away from him, her hands shaking by her side. She quickly swiped at her cheeks that were moist with rain and emotion. It was after a long pause of silence that she spoke again. “I stood by him,†she rasped. “Even after what he did.â€
“Acceptance ain’t a sin,†Osric’s words held an audible scowl.
“I swore an oath once.†Roen wrinkled her nose to forces the sadness away. “To protect the helpless, to raise my sword and shield to defend them against those who would harm them." She inhaled sharply. “And then I stood by, while he planned that very thing. Because why? Was it my hubris? Did I really think I could change him? Did I just imagine the goodness there?"
She shot the sergeant an indignant glare. “He warned me from the very start. What he was. What he wanted. It was me. I did not want to believe it.†She placed a hand against her chest. “I thought...if he wanted to damn himself to end the suffering...if I could see that he hated himself for what he wanted to do..." She shook her head, shameful. "I thought I could turn him from that."
"Tis not a sin to love or hope either,†Kiht finally broke her silence from behind the paladin. She sounded morose.
Roen turned from them both, staring back out to the waterfall. She blinked away the raindrops from her lashes. "That is my folly. That is my mistake. One I must atone for."
"You offered forgiveness 'n' mercy 'n' acceptance to a man who'd never known any." Osric turned towards her. "You have t'hit rock bottom 'fore y'can recognize those gifts for what they are, Roen. Take it from someone who knows."
“And what GOOD DID IT DO?!†The paladin whirled back toward the Flame. Her voice had risen and she was yelling; her anger, disappointment, regret and sorrow now spilling forth along with her tears.
Osric growled as he pushed himself off the railing, stepping towards her. His left hand seized her jerkin by the collar and shook her slightly. “You care that much?!â€
Roen glared back at the sergeant, her lower lip quivering. “I swore an oath,†she said hoarsely.
“Then COME BACK TO IT!†He shouted back at her. “"Some of us are no good," he panted, sweat shimmering over his skin as if he'd run five malms. "Some of us ain't blessed with freedom, 'n' choice. The Order let you down, 'n' so you fled 'n' took up someone else's cause. Pick your own ground and stand on it, gods damn you." He finally released her and stepped back, one hand going to the wooden railing for support.
The paladin stood stalk still, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths taken. Her eyes glazed over the man in front of her to the distant cherry blossom tree that was being pelted by the rain. Could I…?
A long pause of silence passed before she spoke again. “I...know what I must do.†She nodded faintly, as if to herself.
"And what's that?" The sergeant sounded tired, but curious still.
Roen’s eyes followed the course of a single petal spinning violently in the wind, tossed haphazardly by the rain. "I swore an oath,†she repeated her mantra once more as if in recitation. “I need to protect the little people from those who would bring them harm." She did not look back at the Flame.
"Gratitude, Sergeant,†the paladin murmured, although there was no warmth in her words. Only resignation. "I will let you know when I am successful." She bowed her gaze as it followed the tumbling petal as it descended into the depths below.
"Suppose you will. Suppose I'll have t'wait 'n see." Osric grunted with little satisfaction.
An extended palm with a blue pearl resting on it entered her view, drawing the paladin’s attention back to the Flame. "Yours, if y'want it." He smirked oddly. "Suppose you'd rather not. Folks find me despicable these suns."
Roen took a few deep breaths before she took up the pearl. She pocketed it without a word.
Osric blinked, genuine surprise in his eyes. There seemed to be a gleam of something -- a grim smile perhaps, tugging at the corner of his lips. "Welcome back, Ser."
Roen frowned at the title. But she said nothing as he turned to Kiht, motioning over the miqo’te who had remained silent all this time.
"Kiht, a word in private? Mayhap two."
The paladin watched the two walk off on their own. She turned back to the waterfall, letting the thunderous rapids drown out her doubts.
Kiht returned after sharing private words with Osric before his departure from the Lavender Beds. There was a determined stride to her steps as she came to stand next to Roen, her arms crossed.
"When a rampaging beast does not become tame, he must be put down,†she said matter-of-factly. When Roen did not meet her gaze, she continued, the Seeker too looking to the violent fall of the water in the distance. "What do you need to do Roen. I am at your side."
“Are you still willing to help me?†the paladin asked, her voice muted but calm.
“Indeed.â€
“Then let us prepare a trip to Noscea.†Roen let out a silent exhale. “We both know where he lives. If he truly plans to leave for Othard, we may still catch him preparing.â€
“We give the beast one more chance to be tame. If he does not then you can never know when he might return.†She paused, her expression growing dark.
“Jackals always return.â€
“I heard what happened, sergeant.†The paladin kept her gaze on the distant waterfall, not minding the rain. “In the tunnels.â€
“...And?†Osric glanced her way, his voice lowered.
“Was that what you promised Nero?â€
The sergeant did not answer right away. He turned back to the waterfall. “In exchange for everythin’ he could give me on Scythe? Yes, that was the bargain.â€
This made her pause and look to him, surprised. “Did he give you what you needed?â€
“He gave me everything. No one else needs t’die for their sqaubblin'.â€
Roen sighed, her shoulders sagging with some relief. “At least he honored that promise.â€
Osric snorted. “Think he took it as some sort o’ professional courtesy.â€
“So what now, Sergeant? What will you do?â€
The Flame turned his gaze back to the paladin once more, meeting her eyes. "That's not what y'truly want t'ask me, now is it?"
"I do not even know where to begin. I have been trying to sort this out in my head. The point of..." She paused. "What you did. What I have done. What Nero has done. I suppose you got what you needed from him. So your actions were justified? I am not here to judge you for what you did in the tunnels. I just...I just need to know what you intend to do now. Are you going to stop Scythe?"
"Should I? Suppose I should. Or perhaps I ought t'stick to m'word and just pull the innocent out o' the man's path o' destruction." He shook his head. "One thing y'learn when it comes to these things, Roen? When titans clash, the little folk suffer. And that ain't right. That ain't ever been right.â€
"And what. Let the bloodshed happen?" The paladin scowled. "Bandits shooting at whoever in the streets just to make a point, it is not what I ever had in mind. Do you understand? For all the suffering Nero said he wanted to end, he promised me he would try to be a better man in doing it."
“Aye, and that's why I'm puttin' an end to it. We'll have Ernis and his bastards within a few suns." Osric narrowed his eyes for a moment longer upon her, before turning back to lean against the railing.
Roen still continued to stare at him, shame and guilt heating her cheeks despite the rain soaking her. "But he lied. He never intended to spare anyone. He thought it acceptable."
The Flame lowered his head, his next words nearly a whisper. “If he thought it acceptable, he wouldn't have given me Scythe. He would've sailed on to Othard, as he's plannin' on doin' if he weren't lyin' in his letter, and he would've let them all burn." He gave her a sidelong look. "I told you once he 'n' I were more alike than y'knew. You never asked me how.â€
“Tell me.â€
"We grew up without hope," he said simply. "I sent him a letter, askin' him t'help me save the little ones. The ones just the way he used t'be." He pushed off the railing and and reached beneath his vest with his left hand. "I have both letters here. Would you like t'read them?"
Roen could not say no. She had to read for herself Nero’s words, those that would save Pearl Lane, and stop the bloodshed that he himself had planned. When she nodded, Osric handed over sheets of parchment rolled up in leather, bound by a thin knot. The paladin undid them carefully, but when opened, she read them eagerly. The more she read, the tighter her grip had become on those letters.
"I don't think y'can deny it, Roen," the Flame said softly. "Was always odd, his hatred o' Blades. I think you 'n' I know perfectly well where 'n' how he grew up."
The paladin did not look up from those letters. "Does...does that justify the women and children he had killed?"
“No.â€
"It still does not change the fact that he sold those guns. His plan was to bath the streets in blood.†Her voice was beginning to shake as she stared back at the sergeant. “Would he have given these to you if you had not done what you did in the tunnels? If not for the professional courtesy?!"
Osric met her gaze for a few moments, then curled a small smile. There was no mirth in it, only a profound sadness that reached his emerald eyes. "We struck a bargain. For some folks o' his ilk 'n' mine, such things are all we understand. All we can ever understand. Sometimes, here 'n' there, someone shines a Light, and we wake up." He slowly bowed his head. "I'm sorry that he never woke up, Roen."
She shoved the letters back into Osric’s hand and spun away from him, her hands shaking by her side. She quickly swiped at her cheeks that were moist with rain and emotion. It was after a long pause of silence that she spoke again. “I stood by him,†she rasped. “Even after what he did.â€
“Acceptance ain’t a sin,†Osric’s words held an audible scowl.
“I swore an oath once.†Roen wrinkled her nose to forces the sadness away. “To protect the helpless, to raise my sword and shield to defend them against those who would harm them." She inhaled sharply. “And then I stood by, while he planned that very thing. Because why? Was it my hubris? Did I really think I could change him? Did I just imagine the goodness there?"
She shot the sergeant an indignant glare. “He warned me from the very start. What he was. What he wanted. It was me. I did not want to believe it.†She placed a hand against her chest. “I thought...if he wanted to damn himself to end the suffering...if I could see that he hated himself for what he wanted to do..." She shook her head, shameful. "I thought I could turn him from that."
"Tis not a sin to love or hope either,†Kiht finally broke her silence from behind the paladin. She sounded morose.
Roen turned from them both, staring back out to the waterfall. She blinked away the raindrops from her lashes. "That is my folly. That is my mistake. One I must atone for."
"You offered forgiveness 'n' mercy 'n' acceptance to a man who'd never known any." Osric turned towards her. "You have t'hit rock bottom 'fore y'can recognize those gifts for what they are, Roen. Take it from someone who knows."
“And what GOOD DID IT DO?!†The paladin whirled back toward the Flame. Her voice had risen and she was yelling; her anger, disappointment, regret and sorrow now spilling forth along with her tears.
Osric growled as he pushed himself off the railing, stepping towards her. His left hand seized her jerkin by the collar and shook her slightly. “You care that much?!â€
Roen glared back at the sergeant, her lower lip quivering. “I swore an oath,†she said hoarsely.
“Then COME BACK TO IT!†He shouted back at her. “"Some of us are no good," he panted, sweat shimmering over his skin as if he'd run five malms. "Some of us ain't blessed with freedom, 'n' choice. The Order let you down, 'n' so you fled 'n' took up someone else's cause. Pick your own ground and stand on it, gods damn you." He finally released her and stepped back, one hand going to the wooden railing for support.
The paladin stood stalk still, her chest rising and falling with heavy breaths taken. Her eyes glazed over the man in front of her to the distant cherry blossom tree that was being pelted by the rain. Could I…?
A long pause of silence passed before she spoke again. “I...know what I must do.†She nodded faintly, as if to herself.
"And what's that?" The sergeant sounded tired, but curious still.
Roen’s eyes followed the course of a single petal spinning violently in the wind, tossed haphazardly by the rain. "I swore an oath,†she repeated her mantra once more as if in recitation. “I need to protect the little people from those who would bring them harm." She did not look back at the Flame.
"Gratitude, Sergeant,†the paladin murmured, although there was no warmth in her words. Only resignation. "I will let you know when I am successful." She bowed her gaze as it followed the tumbling petal as it descended into the depths below.
"Suppose you will. Suppose I'll have t'wait 'n see." Osric grunted with little satisfaction.
An extended palm with a blue pearl resting on it entered her view, drawing the paladin’s attention back to the Flame. "Yours, if y'want it." He smirked oddly. "Suppose you'd rather not. Folks find me despicable these suns."
Roen took a few deep breaths before she took up the pearl. She pocketed it without a word.
Osric blinked, genuine surprise in his eyes. There seemed to be a gleam of something -- a grim smile perhaps, tugging at the corner of his lips. "Welcome back, Ser."
Roen frowned at the title. But she said nothing as he turned to Kiht, motioning over the miqo’te who had remained silent all this time.
"Kiht, a word in private? Mayhap two."
The paladin watched the two walk off on their own. She turned back to the waterfall, letting the thunderous rapids drown out her doubts.
~
Kiht returned after sharing private words with Osric before his departure from the Lavender Beds. There was a determined stride to her steps as she came to stand next to Roen, her arms crossed.
"When a rampaging beast does not become tame, he must be put down,†she said matter-of-factly. When Roen did not meet her gaze, she continued, the Seeker too looking to the violent fall of the water in the distance. "What do you need to do Roen. I am at your side."
“Are you still willing to help me?†the paladin asked, her voice muted but calm.
“Indeed.â€
“Then let us prepare a trip to Noscea.†Roen let out a silent exhale. “We both know where he lives. If he truly plans to leave for Othard, we may still catch him preparing.â€
“We give the beast one more chance to be tame. If he does not then you can never know when he might return.†She paused, her expression growing dark.
“Jackals always return.â€
