This was not the Ishgard Roen knew.
Roen sat by a small table set upon the porch, her fingers wrapped around the warmth of a steaming cup of tea. Her gaze remained on the young girl dressed in light leather armor practicing with her sword and shield in the courtyard. She noted that Leila’s posture with her weapons had gained a better balance and she now swung with improved dexterity and strength. The noble girl spun and struck around the wooden dummy, and her fierce expression seemed determined in her opponent’s utter defeat.
But the paladin’s thoughts did not stay in the courtyard for long. Ever since her return to Ishgard only a few suns past, she had been hit with one surprise after another. She had returned in the cover of night to escape notice, for she still did not know who was looking for either her or Khadai before they had left. But a discreet inquiry with Gibrillont at the Forgotten Knight revealed that since their departure, none had come looking for either of them.
It might have had something to do with the battle with Nidhogg at the Steps of Faith and the complete overhaul of the Ishgardian governing body in the recent moons.
The fact that the Thousand Year War came to a climactic end while she and Khadai had ventured out to Dravania was something that she was still trying to wrap her head around. In the past year and a half that she had spent in Coerthas acclimating to their rigid and unforgiving culture, never once did it occur to her that such a sweeping change was even possible. It made her nearly nostalgic at the news. The theocracy was no more, replaced by a bicameral government that seemed to give equal voice to both the wealthy and the poor. Most Dravanians were no longer considered enemies of the state, and the zealous hunt for heretics were almost considered obsolete. It seemed that the Church had been removed from its throne of power and the Inquisition had lost its fangs.
Or so it seemed.
The Church and the Inquisition were the first organizations that Roen approached upon her return, for she believed that the answers she sought were to be discovered there. Instead, the paladin was met with tight-lipped clergy members and more than a few looks of disapproval when she inquired about the activity of a particular Inquisitor over a year ago. None wanted to cooperate with an outsider, Eorzean Alliance be damned. The Inquisition appeared as exclusive a group as ever, and it became obvious that she would gain no assistance in her quest here.
Roen also returned to the House of Theron and was grateful that Lord Theron accepted her back into his employ after her prolonged absence. He showed quiet patience, and since she had given him notice before her departure, accepted her return without question. Roen suspected that the man was far too busy with the minutiae of Ishgardian politics that he did not give her situation too much thought. And the fact that both his children favored her... she reasoned that he simply gave them back the tutor that they wanted.
It was Astidien that brought her the letter that was sent many moons ago by her former Captain, Idristan Tournes. Roen had not heard the news of his arrest until she read it, and her dismay was quickly replaced by indignation in learning the details of his trial and imprisonment. The Elezen knight-captain had always been a fair and faithful servant to Ishgard, and one of those rare men who did not look upon outsiders with inherent contempt. The facts of his trial were a matter of public record, and it was clear that suspicion was brought upon him for the fact that on the same night that he had allowed an Au Ra to enter Dragonhead, a surprise attack of Dravanians had occurred. It did not matter that Khadai had taken part in defending the keep; the Inquisition still arrested the knight and all the soldiers that served beneath him.
Such was the ruthless authority that the Inquisition had been capable of. Roen could not help but relish in a small amount of satisfaction, knowing that they no longer wield such power.
But even with much of Ishgard government changed, it still did not change the fact that one member of Khadai’s tribe had still been murdered fairly recently, in what seemed like a ritual killing. And she had first come upon this act over a year ago. If everyone was busy fighting Nidhogg’s brood and repairing what was left of Ishgard, then who were still hunting down the Au Ra? And why?
Were there those that even now still clung to the beliefs that the Au Ra shared ancestry with the Dravanians? It was certainly no longer a popular belief. Even hunting down heretics was no longer a commonplace. But was it possible that beliefs and animosity held for generations could not be dismissed so easily and quickly?
The paladin sighed. The city-state as a whole was taking steps to remake itself, but the people within, the culture itself, and the long ingrained beliefs, they would be slower to transform.
So it was still Ishgard she was dealing with, only without the constant threat of being thrown off of Witchdrop at a mere suspicion of heresy. That alone at least made things a little easier, she mused wryly.
The sound of heavy books laid upon the table brought her attention back to the present as an Elezen youth pulled up a chair next to her. It was her pupil, Astidien, the proper one that was supposed to be practicing swordplay. But neither the siblings seemed to mind and neither did the paladin.
“Here are the parchment and ink you requested, Miss Deneith.†Astidien scooted a stack of leather bound parchments, quill, and ink her way. His inquisitive eyes peered up at her just long enough for Roen to look at him twice.
“If you have a question, ask.†Roen’s voice remained soft, even as she opened up the leather bindings, withdrawing one parchment.
“Did Ser Tournes relay anything of import in his letter?†Astidien sat straight in his seat, folding his hands upon his lap. His question was quietly spoken, and Roen knew enough about the gentle boy to know he had more to say on the matter. He had already been helpful in informing her of all that had happened.
“I would say everything in the letter was significant, since I knew none of what had passed.†Roen exhaled with a frown. Her gaze strayed to the folded missive that was on the table, partially hidden beneath the tray that held the tea set.
“Father was displeased at what happened as well.†Astidien seemed to already perceive her disapproval. When Roen glanced at the youth, he gave her his best beaming smile and leaned forward. “But he is free now and was proven innocent, rightfully so. And our nation has set forth on a new path. Surely that must ease your mind somewhat, Miss Deneith?â€
Roen curled a small smile; the young Elezen’s optimism would not be denied. She nodded once. “I am happy for what has happened to your city-state. I truly am. There was a man I once knew that would have liked to see something similar happen in his own homeland.†She dismissed the wistful pang, her expression turning stern. “But there are still others being hunted down wrongly, and I aim to put a stop to it.â€
She dipped the end of the quill into the bottle of ink and started penning her first letter.
Astidien scrunched his face thoughtfully before he spoke again. “There are still plenty that do not see the good in what has happened,†he murmured. “My father has many friends, including an honored dragoon. I know Ser Valencourt is unhappy as well.â€
The paladin paused in her writing, her grey eyes glancing at the Elezen. “I know of whom you speak. How do you know he was unhappy?â€
The youth shrugged his small shoulders, looking sheepish. “Father thought I was asleep, but sometimes I like to read in the study when the house is quiet. I saw Ser Valencourt visit father late into the evening and leave in a manner that was not of a content man.â€
Roen chewed her lower lip in thought, then continued on penning the letter. She had to ask more questions, of Ser Tournes and others. She would seek out her allies, those she trusted first. But she had to look farther and deeper this time.
Perhaps she needed add a certain dragoon to that list of people to seek out as well.
Roen sat by a small table set upon the porch, her fingers wrapped around the warmth of a steaming cup of tea. Her gaze remained on the young girl dressed in light leather armor practicing with her sword and shield in the courtyard. She noted that Leila’s posture with her weapons had gained a better balance and she now swung with improved dexterity and strength. The noble girl spun and struck around the wooden dummy, and her fierce expression seemed determined in her opponent’s utter defeat.
But the paladin’s thoughts did not stay in the courtyard for long. Ever since her return to Ishgard only a few suns past, she had been hit with one surprise after another. She had returned in the cover of night to escape notice, for she still did not know who was looking for either her or Khadai before they had left. But a discreet inquiry with Gibrillont at the Forgotten Knight revealed that since their departure, none had come looking for either of them.
It might have had something to do with the battle with Nidhogg at the Steps of Faith and the complete overhaul of the Ishgardian governing body in the recent moons.
The fact that the Thousand Year War came to a climactic end while she and Khadai had ventured out to Dravania was something that she was still trying to wrap her head around. In the past year and a half that she had spent in Coerthas acclimating to their rigid and unforgiving culture, never once did it occur to her that such a sweeping change was even possible. It made her nearly nostalgic at the news. The theocracy was no more, replaced by a bicameral government that seemed to give equal voice to both the wealthy and the poor. Most Dravanians were no longer considered enemies of the state, and the zealous hunt for heretics were almost considered obsolete. It seemed that the Church had been removed from its throne of power and the Inquisition had lost its fangs.
Or so it seemed.
The Church and the Inquisition were the first organizations that Roen approached upon her return, for she believed that the answers she sought were to be discovered there. Instead, the paladin was met with tight-lipped clergy members and more than a few looks of disapproval when she inquired about the activity of a particular Inquisitor over a year ago. None wanted to cooperate with an outsider, Eorzean Alliance be damned. The Inquisition appeared as exclusive a group as ever, and it became obvious that she would gain no assistance in her quest here.
Roen also returned to the House of Theron and was grateful that Lord Theron accepted her back into his employ after her prolonged absence. He showed quiet patience, and since she had given him notice before her departure, accepted her return without question. Roen suspected that the man was far too busy with the minutiae of Ishgardian politics that he did not give her situation too much thought. And the fact that both his children favored her... she reasoned that he simply gave them back the tutor that they wanted.
It was Astidien that brought her the letter that was sent many moons ago by her former Captain, Idristan Tournes. Roen had not heard the news of his arrest until she read it, and her dismay was quickly replaced by indignation in learning the details of his trial and imprisonment. The Elezen knight-captain had always been a fair and faithful servant to Ishgard, and one of those rare men who did not look upon outsiders with inherent contempt. The facts of his trial were a matter of public record, and it was clear that suspicion was brought upon him for the fact that on the same night that he had allowed an Au Ra to enter Dragonhead, a surprise attack of Dravanians had occurred. It did not matter that Khadai had taken part in defending the keep; the Inquisition still arrested the knight and all the soldiers that served beneath him.
Such was the ruthless authority that the Inquisition had been capable of. Roen could not help but relish in a small amount of satisfaction, knowing that they no longer wield such power.
But even with much of Ishgard government changed, it still did not change the fact that one member of Khadai’s tribe had still been murdered fairly recently, in what seemed like a ritual killing. And she had first come upon this act over a year ago. If everyone was busy fighting Nidhogg’s brood and repairing what was left of Ishgard, then who were still hunting down the Au Ra? And why?
Were there those that even now still clung to the beliefs that the Au Ra shared ancestry with the Dravanians? It was certainly no longer a popular belief. Even hunting down heretics was no longer a commonplace. But was it possible that beliefs and animosity held for generations could not be dismissed so easily and quickly?
The paladin sighed. The city-state as a whole was taking steps to remake itself, but the people within, the culture itself, and the long ingrained beliefs, they would be slower to transform.
So it was still Ishgard she was dealing with, only without the constant threat of being thrown off of Witchdrop at a mere suspicion of heresy. That alone at least made things a little easier, she mused wryly.
The sound of heavy books laid upon the table brought her attention back to the present as an Elezen youth pulled up a chair next to her. It was her pupil, Astidien, the proper one that was supposed to be practicing swordplay. But neither the siblings seemed to mind and neither did the paladin.
“Here are the parchment and ink you requested, Miss Deneith.†Astidien scooted a stack of leather bound parchments, quill, and ink her way. His inquisitive eyes peered up at her just long enough for Roen to look at him twice.
“If you have a question, ask.†Roen’s voice remained soft, even as she opened up the leather bindings, withdrawing one parchment.
“Did Ser Tournes relay anything of import in his letter?†Astidien sat straight in his seat, folding his hands upon his lap. His question was quietly spoken, and Roen knew enough about the gentle boy to know he had more to say on the matter. He had already been helpful in informing her of all that had happened.
“I would say everything in the letter was significant, since I knew none of what had passed.†Roen exhaled with a frown. Her gaze strayed to the folded missive that was on the table, partially hidden beneath the tray that held the tea set.
“Father was displeased at what happened as well.†Astidien seemed to already perceive her disapproval. When Roen glanced at the youth, he gave her his best beaming smile and leaned forward. “But he is free now and was proven innocent, rightfully so. And our nation has set forth on a new path. Surely that must ease your mind somewhat, Miss Deneith?â€
Roen curled a small smile; the young Elezen’s optimism would not be denied. She nodded once. “I am happy for what has happened to your city-state. I truly am. There was a man I once knew that would have liked to see something similar happen in his own homeland.†She dismissed the wistful pang, her expression turning stern. “But there are still others being hunted down wrongly, and I aim to put a stop to it.â€
She dipped the end of the quill into the bottle of ink and started penning her first letter.
Astidien scrunched his face thoughtfully before he spoke again. “There are still plenty that do not see the good in what has happened,†he murmured. “My father has many friends, including an honored dragoon. I know Ser Valencourt is unhappy as well.â€
The paladin paused in her writing, her grey eyes glancing at the Elezen. “I know of whom you speak. How do you know he was unhappy?â€
The youth shrugged his small shoulders, looking sheepish. “Father thought I was asleep, but sometimes I like to read in the study when the house is quiet. I saw Ser Valencourt visit father late into the evening and leave in a manner that was not of a content man.â€
Roen chewed her lower lip in thought, then continued on penning the letter. She had to ask more questions, of Ser Tournes and others. She would seek out her allies, those she trusted first. But she had to look farther and deeper this time.
Perhaps she needed add a certain dragoon to that list of people to seek out as well.
