“Dead?â€
Idristan Tournes’ reaction to the news was not one of shock or dismay. The arch of the Elezen’s brows did betray his surprise, but his tone remained even, as though he had heard this sort of news more times than he could count. It was the grim reality of the Dragonsong War. With a pointed glance and flick of his head, the knight captain dismissed the other sellswords that were lingering about the room--presumably the new recruits by the look on their not-quite weather-worn faces--then crossed his arms and turned to the paladin expectantly.
Roen nodded. “Aye. It seems they attacked an Au Ra in an attempt to retrieve his tail as proof of slaying a dragon.†She paused, studying the temple knight carefully. He had seen their ‘bounty’ in the past, whereas she had not. She wondered if this had been a recurring ruse. “The Au Ra defended himself and his ward, and Blacke and Fenco suffered mortal wounds in the confrontation. I came upon them after the deed was done and they had already perished.â€
The Elezen’s features creased into a look of muted vexation, the lines of his face accentuated by the crackling fire in the hearth next to him. “I see.†He too appeared to be searching through his memories for Blacke and Fenco’s past successes, but seemingly drew a blank, and said nothing more with regard to that. He pressed on with the questioning. “You were not there to witness this in person? How do you know this is the truth of what happened?â€
“I do not,†the paladin answered truthfully. “But the Au Ra is traveling with a woman that I knew before I came here. I believe her account of him to be truthful. She does not believe this Xaela to be a heartless butcher. Rash and callous perhaps, but she felt his actions were justified.â€
Ser Tournes pinched the bridge of his nose and frowned. “As sloppy and rapacious as the two were, Blacke and Fenco were still under my command. I am responsible for their lives while they perform the duties that I’ve assigned them.†He let out a long exhale through his nose. “Now all I have are unreliable testimonies by witnesses who have all the reason in the world to askew the events in their favor.â€
Roen’s lip twitched. She could not necessarily refute the temple knight’s account of things. She was not there. She had taken Edda’s opinion of the Xaela at face value, trusting in the woman’s judgement. That did irk her a little, for it was something that the paladin forbade herself to do now--take others at their word so readily.
“What do you think of him, Deneith?†Idristan’s eyes narrowed upon her. “Do you think him innocent? Should I simply let him go on the assumption that it was self defense? And that Blacke and Fenco met their end as a repayment of their own greed and zeal?â€
“But they were still our own, ser!†Bellows protested. The Midlander had been listening by the doorway, but now he was approaching the two by the hearth. “Their deaths shouldn’t be for nothin’, at least without being sure that they deserved it.â€
“I think the Xaela spoke the truth when he recounted the events,†Roen answered earnestly after some deliberation. Under the knight captain’s scrutiny, the paladin had managed to clear her thoughts and evaluate the situation objectively as she did not have the opportunity to before. “I believe he felt that the two threatened his life and he defended himself and my friend.†She knitted her brows as she met the Elezen squarely in the eyes. “He could have simply subdued them without ending their lives, aye… but I believe his own philosophies did not allow it. It may be the fault of his foreign culture, actually.â€
Idristan was still watching her intently. “Self defense or not, the Au Ra still killed two mercenaries. And he is now in Ishgard territory. I need to know he does not pose a threat to the next person he comes across that may mistake him for something else. We are here to protect the lives of Ishgardians from all threat, Dravanians or otherwise.†He bowed his head slightly, to level his gaze upon the paladin. “I need proof that there will be no further corpses that trails after this man.â€
Roen blinked then shook her head. “I do not understand what you are asking, Ser Tournes.â€
“Go and arrest him. Tell him he is to be held for questioning.†When Roen parted her lips to protest, the Elezen held up a hand to stop her. “I merely want to see his reaction. If he responds to such a request with violence, then I cannot foresee that any other civil discourse will end up peacefully as he travels through our lands. If he answers every conflict with a swing of a blade, then I cannot let him simply walk free.â€
The paladin narrowed her eyes. “So this is a test?â€
Idristan nodded. “It is. We are short on manpower, and I cannot expend the time nor people needed to investigate every deaths unaccounted for. I only intend to bring charges before the Supreme Sacred Tribunal if it is dire enough that it threatens anything within the Holy See's auspice. But I need to be certain this Au Ra will abide by the laws of the land that he walks upon.†The Elezen gave a pointed look to Bellows. “And to be certain that my men will not have to worry about the likes of him in the days to come.â€
Roen frowned. While she understood the temple knight’s dilemma, deceptions never sat well with her. Idristan seemed to read this on her expression and fixed his gaze on hers.
“I am allowing this test because you believe his story. If he surrenders himself, then he will be free to go as he pleases. If he brandishes his sword and resists the law of the land, then he will be cut down.†The Elezen ignored Bellows’ self-satisfied snort. He continued to hold her gaze. “Should he turn out to be a violent malefactor, I expect you to draw your sword first.â€
The knight captain straightened and looked to her expectantly. “Go. See if he lives or dies.â€
Idristan Tournes’ reaction to the news was not one of shock or dismay. The arch of the Elezen’s brows did betray his surprise, but his tone remained even, as though he had heard this sort of news more times than he could count. It was the grim reality of the Dragonsong War. With a pointed glance and flick of his head, the knight captain dismissed the other sellswords that were lingering about the room--presumably the new recruits by the look on their not-quite weather-worn faces--then crossed his arms and turned to the paladin expectantly.
Roen nodded. “Aye. It seems they attacked an Au Ra in an attempt to retrieve his tail as proof of slaying a dragon.†She paused, studying the temple knight carefully. He had seen their ‘bounty’ in the past, whereas she had not. She wondered if this had been a recurring ruse. “The Au Ra defended himself and his ward, and Blacke and Fenco suffered mortal wounds in the confrontation. I came upon them after the deed was done and they had already perished.â€
The Elezen’s features creased into a look of muted vexation, the lines of his face accentuated by the crackling fire in the hearth next to him. “I see.†He too appeared to be searching through his memories for Blacke and Fenco’s past successes, but seemingly drew a blank, and said nothing more with regard to that. He pressed on with the questioning. “You were not there to witness this in person? How do you know this is the truth of what happened?â€
“I do not,†the paladin answered truthfully. “But the Au Ra is traveling with a woman that I knew before I came here. I believe her account of him to be truthful. She does not believe this Xaela to be a heartless butcher. Rash and callous perhaps, but she felt his actions were justified.â€
Ser Tournes pinched the bridge of his nose and frowned. “As sloppy and rapacious as the two were, Blacke and Fenco were still under my command. I am responsible for their lives while they perform the duties that I’ve assigned them.†He let out a long exhale through his nose. “Now all I have are unreliable testimonies by witnesses who have all the reason in the world to askew the events in their favor.â€
Roen’s lip twitched. She could not necessarily refute the temple knight’s account of things. She was not there. She had taken Edda’s opinion of the Xaela at face value, trusting in the woman’s judgement. That did irk her a little, for it was something that the paladin forbade herself to do now--take others at their word so readily.
“What do you think of him, Deneith?†Idristan’s eyes narrowed upon her. “Do you think him innocent? Should I simply let him go on the assumption that it was self defense? And that Blacke and Fenco met their end as a repayment of their own greed and zeal?â€
“But they were still our own, ser!†Bellows protested. The Midlander had been listening by the doorway, but now he was approaching the two by the hearth. “Their deaths shouldn’t be for nothin’, at least without being sure that they deserved it.â€
“I think the Xaela spoke the truth when he recounted the events,†Roen answered earnestly after some deliberation. Under the knight captain’s scrutiny, the paladin had managed to clear her thoughts and evaluate the situation objectively as she did not have the opportunity to before. “I believe he felt that the two threatened his life and he defended himself and my friend.†She knitted her brows as she met the Elezen squarely in the eyes. “He could have simply subdued them without ending their lives, aye… but I believe his own philosophies did not allow it. It may be the fault of his foreign culture, actually.â€
Idristan was still watching her intently. “Self defense or not, the Au Ra still killed two mercenaries. And he is now in Ishgard territory. I need to know he does not pose a threat to the next person he comes across that may mistake him for something else. We are here to protect the lives of Ishgardians from all threat, Dravanians or otherwise.†He bowed his head slightly, to level his gaze upon the paladin. “I need proof that there will be no further corpses that trails after this man.â€
Roen blinked then shook her head. “I do not understand what you are asking, Ser Tournes.â€
“Go and arrest him. Tell him he is to be held for questioning.†When Roen parted her lips to protest, the Elezen held up a hand to stop her. “I merely want to see his reaction. If he responds to such a request with violence, then I cannot foresee that any other civil discourse will end up peacefully as he travels through our lands. If he answers every conflict with a swing of a blade, then I cannot let him simply walk free.â€
The paladin narrowed her eyes. “So this is a test?â€
Idristan nodded. “It is. We are short on manpower, and I cannot expend the time nor people needed to investigate every deaths unaccounted for. I only intend to bring charges before the Supreme Sacred Tribunal if it is dire enough that it threatens anything within the Holy See's auspice. But I need to be certain this Au Ra will abide by the laws of the land that he walks upon.†The Elezen gave a pointed look to Bellows. “And to be certain that my men will not have to worry about the likes of him in the days to come.â€
Roen frowned. While she understood the temple knight’s dilemma, deceptions never sat well with her. Idristan seemed to read this on her expression and fixed his gaze on hers.
“I am allowing this test because you believe his story. If he surrenders himself, then he will be free to go as he pleases. If he brandishes his sword and resists the law of the land, then he will be cut down.†The Elezen ignored Bellows’ self-satisfied snort. He continued to hold her gaze. “Should he turn out to be a violent malefactor, I expect you to draw your sword first.â€
The knight captain straightened and looked to her expectantly. “Go. See if he lives or dies.â€
