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At the Hospice

The Hospice is quiet as Barris sits next to Captain Koromov, and the two carefully scheme. The problem, of course, is winter food and where to get it now that the walls of Cragside are closed. But the mercenary does look back to Roxanna. "I'm not sure, but I don't think even Velikii will dare come against the church here, lassie."

Roxanna sighs. "Not immediately, perhaps. But it's only a matter of time if he isn't stopped, I fear. This is how it started in Trundle, as well -- at least that's what Lady Alicia said."

"It would be bad tactics." Barris frowns quietly. "In order for him to hold the town, he has to be a hero to the people here. And a hero that dismantles their Imperial Church... they won't follow that hero... blindly."

Roxanna says, "I only remember the end... the Temples closed, the guards of the Imperial families running amok through the city when they weren't fighting each other, and the common folk huddled for fear."

Barris just shakes his head. "That's how the Captain tells it too. And how she says her mother told it. So it wasn't an overnight matter. And I think if he tried that here... the results might be different. The Tarn is a bit too independent. But that's putting it nicely."

Roxanna nods. "Fair enough. The trick will be getting her out of here once she's healed, then."

Dandelion Koromov just chuckles. "I'll ask Kenyonsson."

Roxanna says, "Hmm. From what your messenger said, I'm not sure he'll be much help."

The Captain just whispers, her voice with wry mirth. "You do know he can't say no to a woman, don't you?"

Roxanna almost giggles at this, and whispers back, "Is this a character flaw, or just an oath?"

Resting her head back, Dandelion smiles. "It's being Lord Protector of All the World, especially us weaker lady types. Every Knight of Rames must protect and serve a woman. They tend not to like to be reminded about the serve part of their oath. And it's any woman. Not just Imperials. Even sly mercenary captains." The Captain lets out a long sigh. "Not that I'll have to draw that card. I think that Velikii would rather I leave quietly than loudly."

Roxanna grins conspiratorially. "Well, good. They deserve it, after the way the treated poor Brisa when we arrived."

Shrugging, Dandelion nods, "It comes with the territory. That's actually why I ran with my sister's gang. Showed folks real quick not to pick on me."

Roxanna says, "So, may I ask why your late opponent was out for your blood?"

Shaking her head Dandelion whispers, "Because I broke up the most successful Jvrillian troop since the Knights of Roth. Ironhand's Heavy Horse."

Roxanna says, "Ah... thank you. I suspected there was more than a simple change of allegiance there."

Dandelion nods. "Aye. I got in the way."

Barris just frowns darkly. But it is the grim soldier that continues his Captain's tale. "Dorian Korie wanted Corliss so he hired me, Mohlkavin, and Anwynsson to do it. Hired us so it wouldn't be traced to Korie politics. We ran into the captain's Wild Horde. And she beat us. Badly. Skillfully. And I'm not a dumb soldier. I stopped sending my men to her slaughter. Jvrill didn't like that. I said the girl was better at His game than Him, and compared Him to Marin."

Roxanna says, "Oooo. I bet that didn't go over too well."

Barris just shrugs. "I think he could have handled being compared to Marin."

Roxanna says, "I sense a 'but' in there..."

Dandelion just whispers, "But he didn't like the fact that Barris admitted I beat the three of them."

Roxanna nods. Barris just shrugs, a grim and dark motion. "Mohlkavin got over it. Anwynsson never did."

Roxanna says, "Well, not until recently, at least."

Barris shakes his head. "Always was too headstrong for his own good."

Roxanna says, "You could say that, yes..."

Shifting and wincing, Dandelion lets out a long breath. "Tamaris, Donovan, and Kathena... they still haunt the Alley?"

Roxanna says, "They're still there. Quite famous, they are." She grins shyly. "I got to sing with Tamaris once..."

Managing a small smile, Dandelion lets out a long breath. "Good. I'd hate to hear that they ran into trouble. And I remember hanging out down next to the river. Kathena was just... strange, and Tamaris trying to figure out what those strings did. And you did? That's pretty good, lassie. He doesn't do that very often. Or at least he didn't.

Roxanna says, "No, he doesn't... just once in a while."

"It's odd thinking of that place as home" Dandelion whispers.

Roxanna says, "I'm finding, as I travel, that Trundle is an odd sort of place. Too close to the East."

Barking out a sudden chuckle, Dandelion winces. "That's putting it nicely. Too close to the East or too far from Talesan's Village. I can never tell."

Roxanna says, "Could be either, I suppose. Haven't gotten that far yet."

"I've been there once. Quaint little village." Dandelion smiles again. "Best beer this side of the Archipelago."

The hospice is quiet as the night deepens. When Trystan finally stirs, Roxanna is still in conversation with the pretty mercenary Captain and Barris Ironhand.

Trystan sits up in bed, tucking his feet cross-legged under him as he scratches his head sleepily. "Are they back yet?" he asks blearily.

Roxanna shakes her head. "Not yet. Things seem quiet outside so far."

Trystan shudders, rubbing his shoulders through his rough shirt, reaching for his tunic to wrap around him. "I hope they're ok. Roxanna nods. Trystan folds his hands in his lap, looking at his palms, "I wish there were somethin' I could do."

Roxanna says, "While you're here, why don't you let me look at that arm. Make sure the scratch is healing properly."

Trystan blushes and looks around, mumbling something about it not being anything. Nonetheless, he rolls up his sleeve, finds that there isn't enough play in the fabric of his coarse shirt and resorts to taking it off entirely. He offers the arm as he wraps his rough tunic about him for warmth. Roxanna inspects the area that had been slashed carefully, turning the arm a bit as she does and watching for any winces. Trystan's arm has the barest hint of anything having brushed its surface, no bruise, only the faintest pinkening of skin where a blade might have touched. Not even the fair line of soft hair is disturbed. He blushes, "I understand your desire to see it... really I do. It is," he shakes his head as words fail him, "It really was much better than it looked."

Roxanna sits down and gestures for Trystan to sit as well, a distance away from where Dandelion and Barris are planning for their new winter quarters. Trystan makes nervous conversation, blushing deeply, "See? It didn't even touch me..." he trails off, a bard uncertain of his own words. He mumbles softly, "Mm... must've been lucky... G-God must have been watching me... or... something." He wonders softly, turning to gaze at Roxanna, "Why... Why did you become a healer?" He looks away into the dark corners of the Hospice, his eyes soft with genuine curiosity and a kind of caring that must reach out to all living things. Then he tilts his head softly into the question, warm green eyes seeming to sparkle even in the subdued lighting.

Roxanna tries to glare, though not very successfully. "You are trying to change the subject. It's... a long story, anyway."

Trystan quirks his brows, "What subject, and... we've probably got a while before they return." He smiles warmly, even genuinely.

Roxanna says, "You are trying to distract me from that arm of yours. I know what I saw, and the scar is exactly where I saw it...but you've healed weeks' worth in a day."

Trystan sniffs politely, "It didn't really hurt... maybe it didn't cut..." He shakes his head, "I really am curious... did you feel a calling to it? Did you know it was right? Did your parents choose this path for you?

Roxanna says, "Maybe..." She shrugs. "My parents? Never really knew them. I was a street urchin in the Alley -- an Alleyrat -- surviving however I could. Lady Alicia saw something in me, and took me under her wing, taught me what she knew and gave me as secure a home as anyone had there..."

Trystan smiles softly, warmly, "That's very sweet, that she saw in you the touch of something beautiful, something good and caring... that she did something to help nurture it. How was she, Lady Alicia?" He sighs softly and murmurs almost sublingually, "I can't believe all this is happening... I can't believe that people can hate each other this much..."

Roxanna says, "At the time, she was the only Atteran left in Trundle. I made two when I took my vows. But things continued to get worse, and she finally ordered me to leave while I still could."

Trystan softly asks, "Why? What happened?

Roxanna says, "The criminal elements were losing their respect for us. The city government had long since been trying, at best, to ignore us to death. The situation was just getting more and more delicate."

Trystan sighs softly... "I'm sorry... is... is she still there? Is she ok?"

Roxanna says, "Alicia thought that she'd be safe enough as a full Priestess. As far as I know she is... but she was very old. I think she was finally dying and didn't think I'd survive her long if I stayed."

Trystan smiles softly at the word 'Priestess,' not something that anyone would notice, just a warmth that prevails over his being. He wonders softly, "Are you pagan?" As he says this, he instantly regrets it, "It's ok, you don't have to answer that. I'm sorry for asking, I... I am out of," he ducks his head, "-I'm sorry." He tucks his knees up to his chest and rests his chin on them, unaccustomed to being so 'fumble-fingered' with words.

Roxanna reaches gently out and suddenly thwacks your nose. "I'm an Initiate of Attera, you goof. Bozhemoi..."

Trystan clears his throat, a demeanor settling over him that seems as foreign as waves washing up on the stars overhead. "Bhmozi... I'm unfamiliar with that sect of the Imperial... oh... never mind," his shoulders slumping, he smiles, "I'm glad to hear that... very glad." He smiles mystically, his free hand reaching out to touch Roxanna's chin, "There's too much misunderstanding and hatred in this world anyway."

Roxanna smiles gently. "We're healers. And we don't share the bigotry of the rest of the Imperial gods."

Trystan smiles, a glowing half-smile, "I'm glad to hear that. I wish more people were like that." With that he gets a far-off look in his eyes as he gazes out beyond the walls, "...and you work outside of the conditions put forth within the Imperial... judgement? ...and they're ok with that?"

Roxanna grins mischievously. "We can override the Imperial judgement. They're not necessarily okay with it, but that's their problem, not ours. Mind you, we don't do it a lot."

Trystan hmms, nodding softly... then whispers, "With all the hubbub that's going on... over... whatever... it would be easy for them to make it not just 'their' problem... don't you ever worry?"

Roxanna says, "I worry about the Velikii. The other Temples aren't a problem."

Trystan questions softly, "The Velikii?" His question is open-ended and soft... as soft as his caring gaze.

Roxanna says, "The Imperial house who's just walked in and declared they're taking over the town."

Trystan starts to say something... then quiets, just looking out through the wooden walls of the Hospice. He wonders aloud... "Do you hate the Imperials?"

Roxanna says, "The Velikii I do. Black hearted, vicious, miserable, nyeh kulturnye..." She stops herself with an effort. "I'm really not supposed to do that. "

Trystan wonders softly... "What did they... do?" He trails off, an open-ended question, inviting without pushing.

Roxanna says, "You've never been to Trundle-On-The-Hill, have you?"

Trystan shakes his head softly... "No, I haven't. What's there?"

Roxanna says, "The Imperial families rule Trundle... badly. Their guardsmen roam the city, stealing at will when they're not fighting with each other. And... two of the Temples stand empty now..."

Trystan mutters under his breath something about Imperials, divine rule, and acceptance and understanding. He looks softly at Roxanna, "You worship The Goddess? Did you choose her... or did She choose you?"

Roxanna says, "Hard to say...we chose each other, I think, with Lady Alicia's help. But you didn't ask about the third temple."

Trystan smiles softly, "How old were you when you when you came to Her... the third temple?" He nods, "What happened?"

Roxanna says, "The Temple of Rames in Trundle was converted to a tavern."

Trystan stammers with genuine surprise, "A tavern?"

Roxanna says, "A tavern. This is why I find the Imperials a little ... questionable. Those Imperials, at least."

Trystan sighs softly, a barely audible, "God..." He nods softly, "I can understand."

Roxanna says, "For now... however you healed... you should rest. Morning will be here soon enough."

Trystan smiles softly, "Yes... you're right... rest would be good... and for you too." He beams with genuine respect and admiration. Then he sheds his tunic wrapped around him for the warm blankets, "Sleep well Lady Roxanna... I'm sure your Goddess will see our friends through...

Roxanna says, "I hope so. Though She isn't very fond of violence." She walks over to check on Dandelion once more before napping. "Goodnight."

Trystan nestles into the blankets, "A good night... to us all..."




Last modified: 2000-Apr-07 19:56:48

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