“Why do you want to kill monsters, Deneith?â€
Idristan Tournes had slowed his mount to fall in stride with hers, as the group of mercenaries and knights rode back towards Dragonhead. The skies had shown them mercy for the last few bells, withholding snowfall as the regiment made its way south from Providence Point.
Roen gave the knight-captain a sidelong glance and found his pale green eyes scrutinizing her keenly. She did not meet his gaze for long. “Things are simpler.â€
When she gave no further explanation, the knight snorted, amused. “You care not for the Ixal to the east nor any other beasts that need thinning. But any mention of dragonkin and you are ready with your sword.†When the paladin continued to look straight ahead, the Wildwood Elezen continued. “You keep to yourself and do not ask for anything other than the essentials. All you seem to want to do is fight and kill scalekin. I suspect you only sleep so you can do it again the next sun.â€
Roen only shifted slightly in her seat as the Elezen gave her another long look. She did not answer.
“Many come to Coerthas for their own reasons, Deneith,†Ser Idristan sighed. “Yours is but one of them.â€
The paladin furrowed her brow, parting her lips to respond to him... when Goldwind paused, having come beak to tail with the rider in front of them. The entire group had come to a stop on the road, overlooking Witchdrop. The whole of their attention was turned toward a gathering there, so Roen nudged her bird to the edge of the road for a closer look.
A group of armored knights made a half moon around a singular robed figure in the center--an Elezen with a long flaxen braid and a book in hand. She stood tall, and her rigid posture held an air of authority. She stood in front of a group of four Hyurs, a couple and their two children. The youngsters huddled around the legs of the woman, while the male wore a pleading expression, gesturing to the three behind him.
“Move on, there is nothing to see here.†Idristan’s cutting tone brought everyone else’s attention back to the knight-captain, and the group around the paladin began to lead their mounts back towards Dragonhead. But Roen did not move. Her eyes remained trained on the scene ahead; she found herself leaning forward slightly to catch the words that were being exchanged.
“I beseech you, Inquisitor Dumergue.†The midlander male laced his fingers together, his hands shaking with emotion. “These charges are not true. My family is innocent. We have always been loyal to the Holy See!â€
He was only met with a cold stare from the blonde Elezen, her gaze traveling down the length of her long hawkish nose. “Then place your faith in Halone’s judgement. Prove your innocence and leap forth and entrust your fate to the Fury.†She gestured with the sweep of her hand to the perilous edge of Witchdrop.
Roen blinked, her eyes going wide. Without a word she unhooked her feet from the stirrups and slid off her bird. But before she could take another step, Idristan came to stand before her, blocking her view.
“Leave this be, Deneith.†His words carried a sharp warning as did his narrowed eyes.
“But…†The paladin glanced from the knight to the scene beyond him. She tried to step around him. “Does she mean to… how is throwing himself off the cliff--â€
“You are an outsider.†Idristan took a step to his side to match hers, still blocking her way. “And I have seen each and every one of your kind react to these proceedings in their own way.†His voice was not raised and likely not audible to those by the cliffside. They were only meant to gain and hold her attention. “This is our way. You have no right to interfere or question.â€
“My children! Please, Inquisitor. At least spare the children!†The Midlander’s raised voice echoed into the chasms below.
“Are they all to jump? To prove their innocence?†Roen found her own voice trembling and not from the cold. “The woman? And the children?â€
Idristan’s steely voice did not waver, nor did his stern expression. “That is up to the judgement of the Inquisitor. But if you obstruct her work in any way, you would be committing heresy.†When the paladin took another step to the side, the knight-captain grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her roughly against Goldwind. The chocobo bristled and jumped once.
“Do you really want to do this Deneith? Leap headlong into matters you do not understand? Impede an inquisition sanctioned by the Holy See, where the only outcome for you is to be branded an outlaw--or even a heretic? You will be exiled at best. At worst, you will find yourself standing by that cliff.â€
“But the children…†Roen rasped. “Certainly they are innocent…â€
“There is no such thing as innocence," the paladin heard another remembered voice whisper in her ear. "Only varying degrees of guilt.†She immediately shook her head, as if to push his words out of her mind.
“Perhaps if you can speak to the Inquisitor... appeal for mercy…†Roen looked up at the knight, and for a moment she thought she saw sympathy in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by chilled indifference--practiced and enforced in this ice-cold land--and hammered in place by a heavy scowl.
Idristan lowered his head to level his disapproving gaze upon hers. “This is our way of rooting out the drachen fiends, Deneith. If you are to stay on our soil, you must abide by our laws.†His hands released her shoulders and he took a step back. “Ask yourself again why you came here.â€
Her chest rose and fell with heavy, quickened breaths, white puffs of steam quick to fade into the cold. No longer pinned to the side of her bird, Roen glanced to the cliffside again. The man’s head hung low and he nodded and murmured something to the Hyur woman. The woman was sobbing, shaking her head. Her grip was tight around the shoulders of her children, as she buried their faces against her skirt. The half circle of armored knights had drawn their bows and their lances, holding them at ready, warily watching the accused. With a nod, the man approached the edge of the precipice.
Roen stared for another breath, her hands shaking in tight fists by her side. When the man paused at the very edge of the drop and folded his hands over his chest, the paladin forced herself to spin away, grabbing and yanking on the reigns of Goldwind. She strode away from Witchdrop as briskly as possible, straight into the biting teeth of an angry northern wind.
Coerthas' howl could not drown the wail of a woman’s heartbroken cry. Roen could only bow her head and quicken her steps to remove herself from its proximity. It would stay with her long after the wind had fled.
Idristan Tournes had slowed his mount to fall in stride with hers, as the group of mercenaries and knights rode back towards Dragonhead. The skies had shown them mercy for the last few bells, withholding snowfall as the regiment made its way south from Providence Point.
Roen gave the knight-captain a sidelong glance and found his pale green eyes scrutinizing her keenly. She did not meet his gaze for long. “Things are simpler.â€
When she gave no further explanation, the knight snorted, amused. “You care not for the Ixal to the east nor any other beasts that need thinning. But any mention of dragonkin and you are ready with your sword.†When the paladin continued to look straight ahead, the Wildwood Elezen continued. “You keep to yourself and do not ask for anything other than the essentials. All you seem to want to do is fight and kill scalekin. I suspect you only sleep so you can do it again the next sun.â€
Roen only shifted slightly in her seat as the Elezen gave her another long look. She did not answer.
“Many come to Coerthas for their own reasons, Deneith,†Ser Idristan sighed. “Yours is but one of them.â€
The paladin furrowed her brow, parting her lips to respond to him... when Goldwind paused, having come beak to tail with the rider in front of them. The entire group had come to a stop on the road, overlooking Witchdrop. The whole of their attention was turned toward a gathering there, so Roen nudged her bird to the edge of the road for a closer look.
A group of armored knights made a half moon around a singular robed figure in the center--an Elezen with a long flaxen braid and a book in hand. She stood tall, and her rigid posture held an air of authority. She stood in front of a group of four Hyurs, a couple and their two children. The youngsters huddled around the legs of the woman, while the male wore a pleading expression, gesturing to the three behind him.
“Move on, there is nothing to see here.†Idristan’s cutting tone brought everyone else’s attention back to the knight-captain, and the group around the paladin began to lead their mounts back towards Dragonhead. But Roen did not move. Her eyes remained trained on the scene ahead; she found herself leaning forward slightly to catch the words that were being exchanged.
“I beseech you, Inquisitor Dumergue.†The midlander male laced his fingers together, his hands shaking with emotion. “These charges are not true. My family is innocent. We have always been loyal to the Holy See!â€
He was only met with a cold stare from the blonde Elezen, her gaze traveling down the length of her long hawkish nose. “Then place your faith in Halone’s judgement. Prove your innocence and leap forth and entrust your fate to the Fury.†She gestured with the sweep of her hand to the perilous edge of Witchdrop.
Roen blinked, her eyes going wide. Without a word she unhooked her feet from the stirrups and slid off her bird. But before she could take another step, Idristan came to stand before her, blocking her view.
“Leave this be, Deneith.†His words carried a sharp warning as did his narrowed eyes.
“But…†The paladin glanced from the knight to the scene beyond him. She tried to step around him. “Does she mean to… how is throwing himself off the cliff--â€
“You are an outsider.†Idristan took a step to his side to match hers, still blocking her way. “And I have seen each and every one of your kind react to these proceedings in their own way.†His voice was not raised and likely not audible to those by the cliffside. They were only meant to gain and hold her attention. “This is our way. You have no right to interfere or question.â€
“My children! Please, Inquisitor. At least spare the children!†The Midlander’s raised voice echoed into the chasms below.
“Are they all to jump? To prove their innocence?†Roen found her own voice trembling and not from the cold. “The woman? And the children?â€
Idristan’s steely voice did not waver, nor did his stern expression. “That is up to the judgement of the Inquisitor. But if you obstruct her work in any way, you would be committing heresy.†When the paladin took another step to the side, the knight-captain grabbed her by the shoulders and pushed her roughly against Goldwind. The chocobo bristled and jumped once.
“Do you really want to do this Deneith? Leap headlong into matters you do not understand? Impede an inquisition sanctioned by the Holy See, where the only outcome for you is to be branded an outlaw--or even a heretic? You will be exiled at best. At worst, you will find yourself standing by that cliff.â€
“But the children…†Roen rasped. “Certainly they are innocent…â€
“There is no such thing as innocence," the paladin heard another remembered voice whisper in her ear. "Only varying degrees of guilt.†She immediately shook her head, as if to push his words out of her mind.
“Perhaps if you can speak to the Inquisitor... appeal for mercy…†Roen looked up at the knight, and for a moment she thought she saw sympathy in his eyes. But it was quickly replaced by chilled indifference--practiced and enforced in this ice-cold land--and hammered in place by a heavy scowl.
Idristan lowered his head to level his disapproving gaze upon hers. “This is our way of rooting out the drachen fiends, Deneith. If you are to stay on our soil, you must abide by our laws.†His hands released her shoulders and he took a step back. “Ask yourself again why you came here.â€
Her chest rose and fell with heavy, quickened breaths, white puffs of steam quick to fade into the cold. No longer pinned to the side of her bird, Roen glanced to the cliffside again. The man’s head hung low and he nodded and murmured something to the Hyur woman. The woman was sobbing, shaking her head. Her grip was tight around the shoulders of her children, as she buried their faces against her skirt. The half circle of armored knights had drawn their bows and their lances, holding them at ready, warily watching the accused. With a nod, the man approached the edge of the precipice.
Roen stared for another breath, her hands shaking in tight fists by her side. When the man paused at the very edge of the drop and folded his hands over his chest, the paladin forced herself to spin away, grabbing and yanking on the reigns of Goldwind. She strode away from Witchdrop as briskly as possible, straight into the biting teeth of an angry northern wind.
Coerthas' howl could not drown the wail of a woman’s heartbroken cry. Roen could only bow her head and quicken her steps to remove herself from its proximity. It would stay with her long after the wind had fled.
