Roen was thankful that the day’s journey through Coerthas was an uneventful one. Her mind had wandered throughout the journey, especially after listening to the short exchange between Edda and Khadai regarding the purpose of violence.
"If the circumstance has deteriorated to the point of engaging in battle, then to fight and not kill is futile, for violence means all previous discourse has failed. At that point, permanent victory over your foe is the only thing that matters."
What surprised her most was that the words came from a man who she suspected to have no reluctance in taking a life. She realized that for him, resorting to bloodshed was a point of no return. When all previous discourse has failed...
And yet the paladin still regretted her own act of violence, even when she fully believed no other choice had been left. And that she would come to discover later than she had killed a man who still had hope in his heart…
“Deneith!†came the echoing call from the walls of Camp Dragonhead, and suddenly Roen found herself grateful to be broken out of her dark reverie. She quickly sniffed and straightened, shaking her head to dismiss the cobwebs of lingering melancholy. The paladin held up a hand to answer the call of the guard on watch, who then whistled down to someone else behind him and relayed a message she could not quite make out from her approach.
But soon Heibert Bellows and Stray Oak came trotting out of the gate. They nodded to Roen first then glanced to the two people behind her, their reaction to the tall Xaela obvious on their startled expressions. Both the mercenaries placed their hand on the hilt of the sword, but had enough sense not to draw them.
“You’ve been gone awhile,†Stray Oak said, at least managing a half smile. “We--I mean Ser Tournes--was worried about ya.†The Roegadyn shrugged and glanced back towards the Midlander sellsword that stood slightly behind him. “Though now that yer back, Bellows owes me fifty gil. He thought fer sure the night swallowed ya up whole.â€
Bellows flicked his chin her way, sucking on his teeth. “Where is Fenco and Blacke?â€
Roen did her best to keep her expression neutral. “I need to report to Ser Tournes about that. Where is he?â€
The Hellsguard thumbed back toward the gate. “He is looking over a few more new recruits.†His attention darted between Roen and the two travelers behind her, but it was Bellows that walked past the paladin toward Edda and Khadai.
“And what did you drag in from the cold?†Heibert made no secret about studying the tall warrior, his eyes narrowing into slits. “Ya found yerself a Xaela eh?â€
A sigh of relief manifested itself into a white puff of breath as paladin half turned towards Bellows and her two companions. At least she did not have to convince these two that she had not brought a Dravanian to their doorstep. “Aye. The woman is my friend, Miss Eglantine of Vylbrand. And the Au Ra… I just met him on the road. They are traveling together.†The paladin gave both the woman and the Xaela a pointed look, as if to beseech them to keep their silence for now.
“Is that blood?†The Midlander sellsword pointed at Khadai’s tunic. His other hand remained ever still on the hilt of the blade.
Roen grimaced. “It is. They ran into some trouble on the road.†She turned toward the gate. “You can listen in as I make my report to Ser Tournes.â€
Bellows gave her a long look as he prodded something out of his upper incisors with his tongue, deliberately holding his silence. “Alright,†he finally said, flicking a look to the Hellsguard. “Stay with ‘em eh, Oak? Show ‘em yer hospitality of the grand ol’ Dragonhead while I go with Deneith here.†He glanced over his shoulder first to the Midlander woman then the Au Ra. “Make sure he don’ run into any more trouble within the walls.â€
The paladin gave Edda a small nod in a subtle attempt at reassurance. Then she headed into the gates with Bellows, the Midlander sellsword shooting one more look of disapproval at the Xaela as he did so.
"If the circumstance has deteriorated to the point of engaging in battle, then to fight and not kill is futile, for violence means all previous discourse has failed. At that point, permanent victory over your foe is the only thing that matters."
What surprised her most was that the words came from a man who she suspected to have no reluctance in taking a life. She realized that for him, resorting to bloodshed was a point of no return. When all previous discourse has failed...
And yet the paladin still regretted her own act of violence, even when she fully believed no other choice had been left. And that she would come to discover later than she had killed a man who still had hope in his heart…
“Deneith!†came the echoing call from the walls of Camp Dragonhead, and suddenly Roen found herself grateful to be broken out of her dark reverie. She quickly sniffed and straightened, shaking her head to dismiss the cobwebs of lingering melancholy. The paladin held up a hand to answer the call of the guard on watch, who then whistled down to someone else behind him and relayed a message she could not quite make out from her approach.
But soon Heibert Bellows and Stray Oak came trotting out of the gate. They nodded to Roen first then glanced to the two people behind her, their reaction to the tall Xaela obvious on their startled expressions. Both the mercenaries placed their hand on the hilt of the sword, but had enough sense not to draw them.
“You’ve been gone awhile,†Stray Oak said, at least managing a half smile. “We--I mean Ser Tournes--was worried about ya.†The Roegadyn shrugged and glanced back towards the Midlander sellsword that stood slightly behind him. “Though now that yer back, Bellows owes me fifty gil. He thought fer sure the night swallowed ya up whole.â€
Bellows flicked his chin her way, sucking on his teeth. “Where is Fenco and Blacke?â€
Roen did her best to keep her expression neutral. “I need to report to Ser Tournes about that. Where is he?â€
The Hellsguard thumbed back toward the gate. “He is looking over a few more new recruits.†His attention darted between Roen and the two travelers behind her, but it was Bellows that walked past the paladin toward Edda and Khadai.
“And what did you drag in from the cold?†Heibert made no secret about studying the tall warrior, his eyes narrowing into slits. “Ya found yerself a Xaela eh?â€
A sigh of relief manifested itself into a white puff of breath as paladin half turned towards Bellows and her two companions. At least she did not have to convince these two that she had not brought a Dravanian to their doorstep. “Aye. The woman is my friend, Miss Eglantine of Vylbrand. And the Au Ra… I just met him on the road. They are traveling together.†The paladin gave both the woman and the Xaela a pointed look, as if to beseech them to keep their silence for now.
“Is that blood?†The Midlander sellsword pointed at Khadai’s tunic. His other hand remained ever still on the hilt of the blade.
Roen grimaced. “It is. They ran into some trouble on the road.†She turned toward the gate. “You can listen in as I make my report to Ser Tournes.â€
Bellows gave her a long look as he prodded something out of his upper incisors with his tongue, deliberately holding his silence. “Alright,†he finally said, flicking a look to the Hellsguard. “Stay with ‘em eh, Oak? Show ‘em yer hospitality of the grand ol’ Dragonhead while I go with Deneith here.†He glanced over his shoulder first to the Midlander woman then the Au Ra. “Make sure he don’ run into any more trouble within the walls.â€
The paladin gave Edda a small nod in a subtle attempt at reassurance. Then she headed into the gates with Bellows, the Midlander sellsword shooting one more look of disapproval at the Xaela as he did so.
