|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 6:41 pm
With most social groups of people, gossip spreads like wildfire, and the village was not an exception. It wasn't long before news of Klu'chud's heroics had reached every corner of the village, and Zelda was especially keen on any information she could glean about the situation.
After eating a meal in an easily ignored corner of a busy area full of talkative Jivvins going about their day, the Daewl quietly made her way to the nearest unoccupied side street. Even though she had been living in the village for the past several months, Zelda had yet to acclimate to the hustle and bustle of all the people in such a relatively small place. The noise itself distracted her and often brought on headaches coupled with irritable moods.
Today was no different, and once she reached a more secluded part of the street, the Jivviness pulled back her hood, shaking her ears and hair free. Absently, she looked back towards the crowded market and sighed.
She missed her quiet family life. Hell, she just missed her family.
Abruptly, Zelda turned on her heels and began the long, roundabout journey to her next destination. It was due time that she stepped back into the real world, instead of hiding from it.
Soon enough, she found herself in front of a familiar door, and found herself nervous to knock. A deep breath later, and she completed the motion with her wrist before taking a step backwards and waiting patiently.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:01 pm
The past several days had been rather maddening. With Baylohved's return and Klu'chud's 'heroics', his work load had gone through the roof. The Council was on edge, but cooperating; Kyros still shaken from his experience, and Lysius mourning the deaths of his patrolers with his Sargtlins and many others across the Village. Raechel was fussing over the weakened Bay, and not a word had been heard from Soyala. Only he and Aleda seemed to have kept it together--and that meant picking up everyone else's slack.
God above, he was exhausted.
He had just settled into his chair with a glass of his favorite vintage when the knock sounded from the door. For a long moment he considered ignoring it, then, remembering the current state of things, reluctantly rose to his feet and shuffled towards the door. He kept a stubborn hold on his glass of wine. Whoever was out there should know that they had interrupted his rest and might just go away.
After opening the door, Jatin knew that would not be the case. He seemed almost disappointed to find Zelda on his doorstep, but, after a beat, stepped aside nonetheless and waved her through. "Come on in, then. It's cold."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:32 pm
She nodded and quickly stepped inside, waiting until the door had shut before breathing out a large sigh. Funny, she wasn't aware she had been holding her breath. Thank you... I know that you must be busy with recent events..."
Busy, she knew, was an understatement to the matter, and she made a motion for him to return to his relaxing. "Please, sit back down. I didn't mean to interrupt your daily relaxation through a nice glass of red." On cue, Zelda reached deep into her long jacket and produced an unopened bottle of one of Jatin's favorites, or what had been one of his favorites back when she had once upon a time lived with him.
She figured the gift would help pardon her unannounced visit. At least, she hoped as much.
"Do you mind?" Zelda motioned towards the kitchen, indicating that she definitely would be interested in a glass herself, if at all possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 7:44 pm
He closed the door behind her, then made a beeline for his chair once more, even as she bid him relax. He knew Zelda wouldn't hold him to formalities, and that was one of the key reasons that he had invited her inside. That and, following the Klu'chud debacle, he would have been surprised if she hadn't sought him out.
The proffered bottle did win an approving look from the Olplyn, and his mood seemed to brighten just a bit. "Help yourself," he assured her with a wave towards the kitchen, then dropped back to his seat, careful of his own glass. He took a small sip, propped up his feet the short table in the center of the room, and craned his head back to follow her towards the kitchen. "How long have you been in town?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:08 pm
She couldn't help but crack a smile as he made a beeline for his most comfortable chair. With his permission, she slipped into the kitchen and sought out the open bottle. No use opening a new bottle for a simple glass.
His question came while she poured her glass, and she frowned bitterly. "Ever since my darling son blew up my home," Zelda answered directly as she stepped back into the living room, leaning her hip against the door frame as she sipped from her glass. "I've been staying low key at an inn ever since."
Zelda paused as she swallowed another sip. "This is good," the Jivvin murmured appreciatively.
"It's too noisy for me," she admitted absently, "But I'm adapting... What about you. You look close to death."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 8:17 pm
"He blew up your house?" Jatin raised a brow, and sat up in his chair to further turn to face her. Zelda had come to visit him some time ago, to warn him of Klu'chud's impending arrival...but she hadn't mentioned anything about losing her home. It must have happened around the same time, though, if Klu'chud was to blame, for he hadn't left the Village since his arrival. They had been keeping a close eye on the young man. "You should have come to me sooner. I do have an extra room.... Are you sure it was him?"
He couldn't think of a single other source for such an explosion, not for such a precise target hidden away in the forest. But the blue Daewl hadn't seemed the type to throw such a temper tantrum. "Scion's attempt to clear snow from the roof, perhaps?" It was common knowledge between the two that Jatin had absolutely not affection for the white Daewl. A moment later he realized the sloppiness of his question--if Zelda had been living in the Village, Scion was certainly not with her. A sensitive subject?
"It's been an exhausting week," he admitted, diverting the subject. "Aleda and I are about the only ones getting anything done right now, so I've been putting in some extra hours. I trust you've heard what happened, if you've been in the Village?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:03 pm
Her lips tightened for a moment into a frown. "I know my son... And I know his ability." A deep breath and another sip of wine followed her affirmation. They both knew that her pride had kept her from searching out his charity, and should he had offered, the Daewl would have stubbornly refused.
The mention of Scion brought further silence and a detached stare from Zelda, and she was relieved for the swift change in topic. The white Daewl remained an unwise subject for even her to think about.
"Yes," she began, "I've heard. Everyone's talking about it, of course." Pushing herself off of the door frame, she made her way over to the couch and sat down, pulling her legs into her chest and curling her tail around herself. Might as well get comfortable.
"He's put a lot of thought into this, hasn't he?" She asked suddenly, keenly watching Jatin for a reaction.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:17 pm
He found himself wondering, briefly, if she even knew that Scion was alive. Perhaps that was why she was avoiding the subject? If she had returned to find the house destroyed and no trace of the white Daewl, it was an easy assumption to make... Poor girl.
He seemed more confused by her question than surprised, and took a small sip from his glass, searching his mind for this 'he' that she spoke of. When no one popped to mind, he gave a small shake of his head. "You've lost me. Try again?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:21 pm
That wasn't the reaction that she expected. Maybe Jatin didn't know as much as she had assumed. However, there was no going back now, and besides, she trusted Jatin. "My son," Zelda finally clarified.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:26 pm
Here he did seem surprised. Jatin let his feet fall to the floor and sat forward in his seat, lowering his glass to lazily cup it between both hand. "You think that he planned this?" His voice was quiet, as if he was suddenly concerned of someone overhearing the conversation. "I don't see how he could," he mused aloud, frowning. "We've had guards following him night and day. Like I said, he's never left the Village... Do you know something? You must tell me if you do, Zelda."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:34 pm
Whoops.
Zelda lowered her eyes to her own glass, feeling very vulnerable now that she couldn't hide behind an illusion. "I don't know anything for certain, but I know that he's intelligent and has lofty goals." Finding her glass empty, she quietly placed it down on the nearby table before running her hand over her face.
"He wants the seat," she finally murmured through her hands as quietly as possible. "Like I said... Lofty..."
More wine seemed to be in order.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 9:42 pm
"I think we've all suspected that much." He seemed to relax slightly with her admission and, after a moment, sunk back in his chair once more. That had been close. "But I think he knows better than to challenge Soyala outright. Even if he did, the Daewls of the Village would never support him, newly arrived and unusual as he is. Mind, he's fitting in well... But it will be years before he's won that sort of confidence, I expect."
He paused and lifted his glass into the light, apparently admiring the color of his selection. A very good year. "If you'll pardon me saying so, Zelda... I really think you've misjudged the boy."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:01 pm
Yes, more wine was definitely in order.
"I know now that he knows better than to challenge Soyala," she agreed while making her way back into the kitchen, returning with the bottle just as Jatin was examining the color of his wine.
His statement took her by surprise, and she nearly missed the glass while she poured. "Explain," she demanded as calmly as possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:12 pm
He gave a small shrug, and again lowered his glass to consider her. "I realize you can't have had it easy, watching him grow up with...his father. But you've said yourself that Klu'chud is intelligent. He's very intelligent, very logical in his thinking. But I don't think he has his father's madness."
He hesitated; he may risk incriminating himself if he wasn't careful. "I've spoken with him several times at great length, usually at his request. He's...curious about absolutely everything, but especially politics. Leadership. The mechanisms and everyday patterns of the Village, the social workings of its people. Occasionally I'll note that he seems...contemptuous of how something is done, or disappointed. And we'll debate about it, for hours if need be, until he's satisfied with how we do it or we've worked out a better solution."
It was clear by his tone that he had quite a bit of admiration for the young man, and again he hesitated, as if embarrassed by the slip-up. "I don't think he's trying to come through and start a dictatorship. I think he genuinely wants to be a part of this community, and I think he's working towards a good end. I think his major problem with Soyala is how little attention she shows to her own rank."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2010 10:42 pm
She genuinely listened, and watched him carefully as he spoke, getting comfortable again on the couch in the meantime. As Jatin continued on, Zelda couldn't help but feel a rush of motherly pride swell within her. The Klu'chud that Jatin described was one that the Daewl had always hoped he'd achieve, but as he also pointed out, she feared his father's influence. Not Scion's influence, but the damaged side of him that resulted from his splitting from Asios.
His lingering madness was her fault, and she still felt guilty.
The more she listened, the more she watched the scope of the situation morph and shift. Her son was researching, and seemingly leaving no stone unturned. She kept her smile at bay and a poker face up front as she continued to listen.
When he finished, she took a deep breath before addressing his explanation. "You must understand," Zelda began, attempting to choose her words carefully, "Klu'chud's potential is great, and children are quite impressionable... I had a great fear that he would lose sight of the grand scheme of things, and that any moral structure would fall to the wayside. I feared that somehow, Soyala would notice that potential, and interfere either subtly or blatantly..."
Her voice wavered, and she took a moment to steel herself. "I also feared that I'd..." She paused. "That I would lose Scion by raising his son wrong, but that doesn't matter now, does it?" Her jaw was set and her gaze did not waver from the fireplace, but her eyes were damp. Despite her fighting, a few drops had managed to escape to freedom.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
