“Perhaps he truly is not to be found, whether dead or alive.†She has scoured the land to the best of her efforts. Asked around the cities to no avail. Either he was much better at hiding than she had ever given him credit for, or he was actually dead and her search had been in vain.
Rumors of a man who fit his description had lingered while she stayed near Gridania. For more than two cycles of the moon, she had spent her days within the city and its settlements, always seeming to miss the person. There weren’t many who fit the description of a tall hyuran man with red hair. Even fewer who were going to be foreigners to the city. But whoever the person was, it seems he had never the decency to make small-talk with the shopkeepers. He would enter, state what he wanted, pay, and leave. Never bought more supplies than what would last for a few days.
So she waited. She waited in the forsaken city far too long, pretending to be an adventurer who was traveling and had come to stay in Gridania. She had stayed so long that the locals recognized her. Had invited her to their festivals. She has a carved wooden halfmask as proof, having been told she must attend to cleanse her of woodsin, that the Elementals would inflict Greenwrath upon her otherwise. It was idiotic. How had the Garlean Empire, suitably capable of just burning and cutting down all of the trees, been stopped there of all places? How the high-ranking woman had fallen. Wearing a fake smile as she walked through the city, greeting the people and acting the same as any other local. It was a disgrace to her pride as a Garlean.
But, the city was not completely devoid of positive experiences. Even in their ignorance, the people were kind. After the festival, she had come to be accepted by even the elder people. People would occasionally bring gifts of fresh vegetables and herbs for stories she would make up, having found that by muddling the truth of old Garlean battles and myths, she could entertain the children as well as some of the adults. she could take pride in her skills as a spy. She had worked too hard to give up now. She had promised their daughter, Gratia, that she would find him, her husband, Gratia’s father. She might have no longer been Lydia Rem Evinxi, but Lydia Cen Tabern was not bad either. Rank meant little to family. She had decided that long ago.
--
Wandering around some of the smaller shops in Gridania, she was stopped by one of the local children. “Miss Lydia! Are you going to be telling more stories today? I wanna hear more! Especially about the man you’re trying to find. Those ones are the best.†she looked down to see Ester smiling up at her. The child was odd. Lydia had been told she was a “Hearer†or someone who could listen to the spirits and Elementals in the forest. Something that those with innate conjurer abilities could do. Garlemald had nothing like it. That one would believe the stories of a child speaking on behalf the trees seemed ridiculous. But being friendly had benefits. Ester’s family was well-regarded and the trust of the girl had earned her trust in the city. Lydia put on a warm smile. “I’d be happy to, Ester. But only if you find some other children first. If there’s enough, I think I’ll even share a story about how I met the man.†Children were easy to manipulate. She could see wonder and curiosity as Ester’s eyes grew wide with excitement. A look she had come to regard pleasantly. Ester was overly trusting. And the more the little girl trusted her, the more beneficial it would be. “Of course, if you have a good story to tell, Ester, that would also work.†Lydia awaited a reply as the girl seemed to contemplate her options.
“I saw a monster the other night. Does that count?†Ester seemed to pick the latter. “I couldn’t sleep one night because I kept hearing screams in the forest. Something weird was in it. I kept running to find the Elemental to see if I can calm it down, but suddenly the screams stopped and there was a little clearing among the trees. That’s when I saw it! The monster was all red and bloody and had three eyes. I- I think it killed the Elemental, but nobody will believe my story! I just remember seeing it turn around and look and me and screaming really hard myself. Then I woke up back near the city.†Lydia seemed amused at the “tradeâ€. “When I tried to tell my mom and dad about it, they yelled at me for leaving the house at night. How come nobody will believe me Miss Lydia?†Gullible. It was the easiest way to describe Ester. Lydia had come to find that the Hearer girl would share just about anything with anyone who asked. Perhaps dangerous for one who could hears things many could not. “That certainly does sound frightening, Ester. But you said you woke up by the city, yes? Are you sure you were not perhaps sleepwalking through a nightmare instead? Come now. If you find a few others, I’ll share a story of the man. I know just the one.†Lydia knew how to deal with children. Give them a little bit of genuine-looking trust, and they would spill out their trust and desires. “I’ll wait for you in the usual area. The small clearing by the river.†Lydia watched as the girl ran off, excited.
((to be continued))
Rumors of a man who fit his description had lingered while she stayed near Gridania. For more than two cycles of the moon, she had spent her days within the city and its settlements, always seeming to miss the person. There weren’t many who fit the description of a tall hyuran man with red hair. Even fewer who were going to be foreigners to the city. But whoever the person was, it seems he had never the decency to make small-talk with the shopkeepers. He would enter, state what he wanted, pay, and leave. Never bought more supplies than what would last for a few days.
So she waited. She waited in the forsaken city far too long, pretending to be an adventurer who was traveling and had come to stay in Gridania. She had stayed so long that the locals recognized her. Had invited her to their festivals. She has a carved wooden halfmask as proof, having been told she must attend to cleanse her of woodsin, that the Elementals would inflict Greenwrath upon her otherwise. It was idiotic. How had the Garlean Empire, suitably capable of just burning and cutting down all of the trees, been stopped there of all places? How the high-ranking woman had fallen. Wearing a fake smile as she walked through the city, greeting the people and acting the same as any other local. It was a disgrace to her pride as a Garlean.
But, the city was not completely devoid of positive experiences. Even in their ignorance, the people were kind. After the festival, she had come to be accepted by even the elder people. People would occasionally bring gifts of fresh vegetables and herbs for stories she would make up, having found that by muddling the truth of old Garlean battles and myths, she could entertain the children as well as some of the adults. she could take pride in her skills as a spy. She had worked too hard to give up now. She had promised their daughter, Gratia, that she would find him, her husband, Gratia’s father. She might have no longer been Lydia Rem Evinxi, but Lydia Cen Tabern was not bad either. Rank meant little to family. She had decided that long ago.
--
Wandering around some of the smaller shops in Gridania, she was stopped by one of the local children. “Miss Lydia! Are you going to be telling more stories today? I wanna hear more! Especially about the man you’re trying to find. Those ones are the best.†she looked down to see Ester smiling up at her. The child was odd. Lydia had been told she was a “Hearer†or someone who could listen to the spirits and Elementals in the forest. Something that those with innate conjurer abilities could do. Garlemald had nothing like it. That one would believe the stories of a child speaking on behalf the trees seemed ridiculous. But being friendly had benefits. Ester’s family was well-regarded and the trust of the girl had earned her trust in the city. Lydia put on a warm smile. “I’d be happy to, Ester. But only if you find some other children first. If there’s enough, I think I’ll even share a story about how I met the man.†Children were easy to manipulate. She could see wonder and curiosity as Ester’s eyes grew wide with excitement. A look she had come to regard pleasantly. Ester was overly trusting. And the more the little girl trusted her, the more beneficial it would be. “Of course, if you have a good story to tell, Ester, that would also work.†Lydia awaited a reply as the girl seemed to contemplate her options.
“I saw a monster the other night. Does that count?†Ester seemed to pick the latter. “I couldn’t sleep one night because I kept hearing screams in the forest. Something weird was in it. I kept running to find the Elemental to see if I can calm it down, but suddenly the screams stopped and there was a little clearing among the trees. That’s when I saw it! The monster was all red and bloody and had three eyes. I- I think it killed the Elemental, but nobody will believe my story! I just remember seeing it turn around and look and me and screaming really hard myself. Then I woke up back near the city.†Lydia seemed amused at the “tradeâ€. “When I tried to tell my mom and dad about it, they yelled at me for leaving the house at night. How come nobody will believe me Miss Lydia?†Gullible. It was the easiest way to describe Ester. Lydia had come to find that the Hearer girl would share just about anything with anyone who asked. Perhaps dangerous for one who could hears things many could not. “That certainly does sound frightening, Ester. But you said you woke up by the city, yes? Are you sure you were not perhaps sleepwalking through a nightmare instead? Come now. If you find a few others, I’ll share a story of the man. I know just the one.†Lydia knew how to deal with children. Give them a little bit of genuine-looking trust, and they would spill out their trust and desires. “I’ll wait for you in the usual area. The small clearing by the river.†Lydia watched as the girl ran off, excited.
((to be continued))
