It was bad enough that her long, relaxing soak had been cut short at the very end. Worse still was that Roen and her entourage had interrupted it for reasons she could not quite comprehend. To be suspicious of Khadai was a natural reaction, but the purpose of an interrogation – here and now – seemed unusually silly. Yet there was little she could do but watch; her input would carry no weight in an exchange between the two.
The roegadyn man that stood behind Roen seemed to be distracted by her, for whatever reason. Perhaps he was not used to having a civilian bear witness to such proceedings, and Edda peered curiously at him over her shoulder. He was not participating in the interrogation, and so she had to wonder what purpose his being here served.
“Is something the matter?†Edda asked softly as she met his gaze.
Oak licked his lips, his eyes having difficulty concentrating on her face. “It could get cold out here, Miss. If ya want ta be puttin’ on somethin…†he murmured. He was not wrong – it was becoming rather cold out in the hallway. She could bear it however, and she must. There would be no chance for her to step back into her room and change; she would not miss a moment of this.
Edda looked back to the doorway which Khadai lay beyond. “I am quite fine,†she said quietly. She had no intention of interrupting the two, though she frowned as they continued bickering. Their conversation was quickly going nowhere. “I trust my dear chocobo is taken care of,†she said to Oak. His stare could still be felt on her shoulder.
“Your bird is doing fine Miss, likely being fed some—“ Oak cut himself off when Roen spun around to face Edda, her expression one of suppressed indignation.
“How long will you serve as guide to this man?â€
She hesitated, the question an unexpected. “I- I do not know,†she said, and put a hand to her chest and looked down. She would quickly become useless to Khadai once they reached Ishgard, her familiarity with the city tenuous at best. No doubt he would want to be rid of her, and quickly.
“Should more fall by his blade, you know you may also be held accountable. Do you understand that, Edda?†Her words were grim, her eyes intent on the noblewoman.
She looked up at the paladin, her face set in resolve. “Of course. The burden would be mine alone to bear. As it should be now.â€
Roen shook her head and looked at the woman searchingly. “No. His actions are his own. As clearly as he stated his role in it, naught that happened falls upon you. At least… not yet.†The redhead licked her lips and looked sidelong to where Bellows was leaning against the wall. She looked as if she wanted to say more, but did not.
“Be that as it may,†Edda began slowly. “It is my responsibility to see he follows the laws of this land. His actions are his own, yes, yet if he fails to behave under my supervision, I alone should shoulder the blame.â€
“Just why did you enter into a contract with this man?â€
A strange question, one she felt was already quite clear. Did it really seem so strange, for her to do such a thing? Edda looked away to gather her thoughts, before glancing back with a small smile. “Would you not do the same? I become lost quite frequently. Eorzea is as much of a labyrinth to me as it is to him… I could not abandon someone with whom I empathize.†A pause. “Besides, he will be helping me as well, when the time comes. I need him.â€
Roen bowed her head slightly and let out a sigh before nodding. “I think that will be all,†she said quietly, her voice having softened slightly. Edda relaxed through a sigh of her own, and Khadai could be heard pulling himself up from the tub. It seemed her answers had been adequate, and the investigation drew seemingly to a close.
The roegadyn man that stood behind Roen seemed to be distracted by her, for whatever reason. Perhaps he was not used to having a civilian bear witness to such proceedings, and Edda peered curiously at him over her shoulder. He was not participating in the interrogation, and so she had to wonder what purpose his being here served.
“Is something the matter?†Edda asked softly as she met his gaze.
Oak licked his lips, his eyes having difficulty concentrating on her face. “It could get cold out here, Miss. If ya want ta be puttin’ on somethin…†he murmured. He was not wrong – it was becoming rather cold out in the hallway. She could bear it however, and she must. There would be no chance for her to step back into her room and change; she would not miss a moment of this.
Edda looked back to the doorway which Khadai lay beyond. “I am quite fine,†she said quietly. She had no intention of interrupting the two, though she frowned as they continued bickering. Their conversation was quickly going nowhere. “I trust my dear chocobo is taken care of,†she said to Oak. His stare could still be felt on her shoulder.
“Your bird is doing fine Miss, likely being fed some—“ Oak cut himself off when Roen spun around to face Edda, her expression one of suppressed indignation.
“How long will you serve as guide to this man?â€
She hesitated, the question an unexpected. “I- I do not know,†she said, and put a hand to her chest and looked down. She would quickly become useless to Khadai once they reached Ishgard, her familiarity with the city tenuous at best. No doubt he would want to be rid of her, and quickly.
“Should more fall by his blade, you know you may also be held accountable. Do you understand that, Edda?†Her words were grim, her eyes intent on the noblewoman.
She looked up at the paladin, her face set in resolve. “Of course. The burden would be mine alone to bear. As it should be now.â€
Roen shook her head and looked at the woman searchingly. “No. His actions are his own. As clearly as he stated his role in it, naught that happened falls upon you. At least… not yet.†The redhead licked her lips and looked sidelong to where Bellows was leaning against the wall. She looked as if she wanted to say more, but did not.
“Be that as it may,†Edda began slowly. “It is my responsibility to see he follows the laws of this land. His actions are his own, yes, yet if he fails to behave under my supervision, I alone should shoulder the blame.â€
“Just why did you enter into a contract with this man?â€
A strange question, one she felt was already quite clear. Did it really seem so strange, for her to do such a thing? Edda looked away to gather her thoughts, before glancing back with a small smile. “Would you not do the same? I become lost quite frequently. Eorzea is as much of a labyrinth to me as it is to him… I could not abandon someone with whom I empathize.†A pause. “Besides, he will be helping me as well, when the time comes. I need him.â€
Roen bowed her head slightly and let out a sigh before nodding. “I think that will be all,†she said quietly, her voice having softened slightly. Edda relaxed through a sigh of her own, and Khadai could be heard pulling himself up from the tub. It seemed her answers had been adequate, and the investigation drew seemingly to a close.
