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The horned man watched the horned child.
O-Rehn Fahn sat tailor-fashion within the Gaze, his back to the entrance. Save for the slow and steady rise and fall that signified his breathing, there was no movement from the Padjal... nor were there any indications of abnormal aetherial activity. Whether or not there was more afoot where he could not see it was a cause for concern in the mind of one Tengri Geneq.
He could almost hear her, as though she had not departed mere moments ago, as though she were retracing the steps of the conversation that had led him to this moment.
"There is much he could do to rectify the wrongs he has committed."
There was no doubt in his mind that the Hearer had the right of it. All that he had witnessed served to confirm all that he had heard: that the Padjal were possessed of great power, that their responsibilities drove them to act, and that at the heart of them was a desire to serve the people. There had never been any question concerning O-Rehn's capacity.
There had been many questions regarding his intentions, many questions regarding his designs.
We are very much alike in that regard, thought the Geneq. Summerfield is a fool if she thinks she needs point that out to me.
Fahn was a symbol.
"Captain," murmured a deep voice from behind his right shoulder.
"Make the arrangements," he instructed, his voice low so as to not carry to the Child. "The Lady Conjurer has the right of it. If this redoubt is compromised, we must fall back to the secondary. Send me Pierre, then notify Sarangerel."
"But Captain... Dravania...."
His eyes fell shut and he pinched the bridge of his nose against a rising headache. "I am aware, Ortolf. That said, Jredthys has proven difficult. I cannot help but feel that Fortune has conspired to present us this opportunity, that we might attend to one matter while pursuing another."
"Then let us pursue it! Leave this bairn behind, the risks--"
He turned on the voice, his left hand lashing out. The gauntlet struck a barrel chest, drove the highlander to which the chest belonged back and into the wall. That same hand then found purchase around the highlander's neck, pushed, squeezed.
"I WILL NOT!"
He could sense the change behind him as it happened, could feel the slight shift through the air, the rustle of cloth, the sudden weight of the Padjal's regard as O-Rehn Fahn broke from his reverie and turned to watch the Xaela pin his servant against the cold stone. Tengri found that he cared little... but he did care. He forced himself to take several deep, calming breaths.
"There is much that you do not understand, Forgehands," he hissed, "let alone comprehend. I would not part with this Child, even if the Traders themselves demanded him of me. Question me no further on this."
The highlander nodded his assent. The Au Ra released him, dismissed him, turned 'round to glance back at the Padjal even as Ortolf Forgehands fled from the Fury's Gaze.
O-Rehn had his back to Tengri once more, had returned to his meditation. There were no inquiries, no admonishments, no suggestions. There were no words from the Fahn for the Geneq, just as there had been no words between them since Liadan had left the former seedseer in the care of a self-admitted megalomaniac.
"There is much he could do to rectify the wrongs he has committed."
O-Rehn Fahn sat tailor-fashion within the Gaze, his back to the entrance. Save for the slow and steady rise and fall that signified his breathing, there was no movement from the Padjal... nor were there any indications of abnormal aetherial activity. Whether or not there was more afoot where he could not see it was a cause for concern in the mind of one Tengri Geneq.
He could almost hear her, as though she had not departed mere moments ago, as though she were retracing the steps of the conversation that had led him to this moment.
"There is much he could do to rectify the wrongs he has committed."
There was no doubt in his mind that the Hearer had the right of it. All that he had witnessed served to confirm all that he had heard: that the Padjal were possessed of great power, that their responsibilities drove them to act, and that at the heart of them was a desire to serve the people. There had never been any question concerning O-Rehn's capacity.
There had been many questions regarding his intentions, many questions regarding his designs.
We are very much alike in that regard, thought the Geneq. Summerfield is a fool if she thinks she needs point that out to me.
Fahn was a symbol.
"Captain," murmured a deep voice from behind his right shoulder.
"Make the arrangements," he instructed, his voice low so as to not carry to the Child. "The Lady Conjurer has the right of it. If this redoubt is compromised, we must fall back to the secondary. Send me Pierre, then notify Sarangerel."
"But Captain... Dravania...."
His eyes fell shut and he pinched the bridge of his nose against a rising headache. "I am aware, Ortolf. That said, Jredthys has proven difficult. I cannot help but feel that Fortune has conspired to present us this opportunity, that we might attend to one matter while pursuing another."
"Then let us pursue it! Leave this bairn behind, the risks--"
He turned on the voice, his left hand lashing out. The gauntlet struck a barrel chest, drove the highlander to which the chest belonged back and into the wall. That same hand then found purchase around the highlander's neck, pushed, squeezed.
"I WILL NOT!"
He could sense the change behind him as it happened, could feel the slight shift through the air, the rustle of cloth, the sudden weight of the Padjal's regard as O-Rehn Fahn broke from his reverie and turned to watch the Xaela pin his servant against the cold stone. Tengri found that he cared little... but he did care. He forced himself to take several deep, calming breaths.
"There is much that you do not understand, Forgehands," he hissed, "let alone comprehend. I would not part with this Child, even if the Traders themselves demanded him of me. Question me no further on this."
The highlander nodded his assent. The Au Ra released him, dismissed him, turned 'round to glance back at the Padjal even as Ortolf Forgehands fled from the Fury's Gaze.
O-Rehn had his back to Tengri once more, had returned to his meditation. There were no inquiries, no admonishments, no suggestions. There were no words from the Fahn for the Geneq, just as there had been no words between them since Liadan had left the former seedseer in the care of a self-admitted megalomaniac.
"There is much he could do to rectify the wrongs he has committed."
![[Image: 1qVSsTp.png]](http://i.imgur.com/1qVSsTp.png)