[FIN] Coffee, Carrots and Sudden Collisions {Macaire & Faye}

[LoveByLetters]

The morning glow of the sun spreads a pink cast over Cadence's rump, Macaire notices groggily; he wonders if the Guardian notices or if he cares about the feminine color added to his hide. Possibly not, the old soldier thinks, as the tavern wench brought him a plate of carrots this morning, and the Guardian is crunching through them with every evidence of outright glee. Macaire is not sure what prompted this generosity on the part of the serving wench, but Cadence has always been a friendly sort, so perhaps that has something to do with it. He keeps one eye on the Guardian as he eats, however, to make certain that Cadence does not reward the serving wench's kindness by trying to stick his head under her skirt -- an incident which has occurred more than once before, to the amusement of everyone present save Macaire himself.

Thus far the buck seems content to behave, crunching and munching happily, ears flicking now and then in the direction of some noise or another while his Chosen works methodically through his breakfast. He has plenty of time to finish, for the jeweler he works for is not terribly fond of getting an early start on things, and anyway there are few folk who wake up early to get a good bargain on gemstones. Breakfast outside of this tavern being a part of his morning routine, it would not be difficult for someone to locate him here, if questions are asked around the neighborhood, or at the bakeshop above which his rented flat is located.  

[Nyx Argyros]

Someone with the connections and resources that Faye had need not resort to such measures as asking random strangers around the neighborhood for her friend. Instead, she need only inquire to the nearest urchin and even if he did not know, she would still have an answer in no time at all. Perhaps not the most "respectable" of methods, but it was most efficient and Faye was in a hurry.

But a few short minutes after she had made her inquiry, a flurry of green skirts barreled into the giant of a man, likely before he even had a chance to identify the owner of said skirts. The young doe following sedately behind the girl, however, should be much easier to identify. After all, there were few guardians as lovely or vicious as Lethe.

"Macaire!" even muffled though the voice was against the bulk of the man's chest, the cry still disturbed the peaceful quiet of the morning. "Is it really true?"  

[LoveByLetters]

It is lucky that it is so early, doubly lucky that his eyes catch a flash of her skirts, triply lucky that her little voice rings out before he can properly react. And so though one hand goes to his belt and the long knife he wears there, the other arm goes out, and within heartbeats his arms have closed around her, as gentle as a doe curls around a fawn. " .. shh, shh, me little lass, nae tears, nae tears! Oi have ye, oi have ye." He sits straight up now, his meal forgotten, and for a moment he looks wildly around them, seeking an enemy following at her heels -- but there is only Lethe, who while dangerous cannot be what Faye is afraid of. Even more concerned now, he runs his hand over Faye's head, looking down at the little girl clinging to his chest. "Is what true, lass? Who is it has affrighted ye?"

Cadence meanwhile has lifted his head, and regards the other Guardian with a pleasant expression -- after a moment's thought and a few pointed crunches, he nudges the bowl of carrots towards her with his nose.  

[Nyx Argyros]

Lethe eyed the other guardian, used to his presence by now, but still as suspicious of him as ever. Despite that, she stepped closer so she could nibble on the treats as well. At least she rarely tried to bite him anymore.

Faye sniffed and took a moment to collect herself before peering up at the man with her big, pitiful eyes. She was not usually one for hysterics, nor one to show any weakness in front of people, but Macaire was different. He was trustworthy, enough so that the ex-urchin felt secure enough around him to let go and reveal her fears. He was one of less than a handful of such people. It was a rare honor.

Yesterday, she had heard some people talking about awful things. Terrible things. Things to do with guardians and wolves and people dying. Things that would not necessarily trouble her, except she had Lethe to mind and the way they had described everything had been positively dreadful - and certainly not meant for the ears of a young lady.

"Are the wolves really eating people?" she asked at last.  

[LoveByLetters]

Ah. And here, Macaire thinks, is the problem. Though he'd been received well enough by Faye's "professor" before, he wonders in this moment if that's going to continue to be the case after today, because Macaire is a soldier and as much as he wants Faye to never, ever, know the truth, he's been wondering if that's the right way to go about things. To shelter her too much could cause her harm, couldn't it, if the Small Gods have their way and take Faye will-she, nil-she, to the battlefield. And so he pets her hair and then after a moment uses his arm to brush his food back away from him, so that he can lift up little Faye and set her on the table in front of him. In this way he can more easily look her in the eye, and she will notice that his expression is not at all like an adult about to tell some pleasant lie. He is solemn, and there is that same old sadness that creeps into his expression sometimes, though most often it appears when they talk about Lethe and Cadence.

"Do ye mind the stories, my wee bonny lass? They donnae tell the same stories in Airelund, but oi know they tells them here. If there be wulves, who is it what stands against them? What is it 'tis the ainly thing can best them?" The stories, Macaire knows, are almost as old as the stories of wolves -- and the answer he is looking for is Guardians. He is hoping by this route not to make Faye think of battling wolves, oh, heavens, no! But to make her realize that she is well protected against them.  

[Nyx Argyros]

"Guardians," came her immediate reply. Even children of the street knew that. The Guardians were one of their favorite day-dreams. Especially the Wardens. They were more than wolf-slayers. They were champions of justice and peace - sure to rise up against the cruelty in society and rescue the homeless children from poverty and death. They were heroes. But they were only day-dreams. In the end, no one actually cared about a handful of urchins living in the gutters. Until the professor, of course, but that was another matter entirely.

Instead of cheering her up, Macaire's leading questions only seemed to further depress her. The girl fiddled half-heartedly with the end of a bow decorating her dress before making herself stop and look at the man once more. "...but they can get hurt too."  

[LoveByLetters]

"Nae so easily as us'n," he tells her promptly, reaching out to rap his knuckles on Cadence's thick skull. The Guardian looks cross-eyed at Macaire's fist as he does so, perhaps a bit puzzled by the action but to all appearances unhurt by it. "Would thonder gods be sendin' em if they couldnae help?" His voice is firm, for this part he does believe, that there is some good that the Guardians -- and those they Choose -- can do. But he worries whether or not the human side of that equation will be able to live up to the task, or if (as the old songs of Aireland tell) whether it will cost those humans their very lives to do so. "Ye willnae hear many folk as say it, but aye .. oi willnae lie to ye. The wolves are there. But so, me wee likkle lass, am I." By now his voice is a low, fierce whisper, and he places his hand on hers to make certain she is listening and looking him in the eye as he utters this last phrase.  

[Nyx Argyros]

Hearing the ferocity in his voice, staring into his unwavering eyes, for a moment, Faye really, truly believes. With Macaire there, well, who could possibly stand against him? What foe, man or beast, could possibly win? It was the faith of a child, and it was almost enough to assuage her fears. Almost. If there was one thing she learned on the street, it was doubt. Live with the professor had done much to heal her, but she still had her moments and likely always would. At the very least, she felt the need to pick, pick, pick at things to see if there was any flaw.

"...but they're really, really big." she said at last.  

[LoveByLetters]

This makes him sputter a laugh outright, though he does not wish to be cruel to her; he is not, after all, a small man by anyone's measure. When he is able to gain control of himself once more, he reaches out and tweaks her nose, grinning at her all the while, big and wide, as if neither of them have a care in the world.

"Aye, lassie! So'm oi!"  

[Nyx Argyros]

Faye stared at the guffawing man indignantly. She was being quite serious! However, when he spoke she did have to concede the point. At the very least, it elicited a small smile from her. Still, she was not done yet.

"But there are lots and lots of them," she argued, for she had heard the rumors. Such terrible rumors they were, whispered in alleys and shadows, never spoken of openly. The men spat and the women made signs against evil when they spoke of such things.

"There are enough to eat 300 soldiers! What if they sneak past you? There is only one of Lethe. And she doesn't have antlers like Cadence. What if she gets hurt?"

Looking up from the bounty she had confiscated from the buck, Lethe flattened her ears and snorted derisively. Clearly, she had no concerns about being able to take on any number of wolves.  

[LoveByLetters]

"Oi would wager, lass, that your wee gel there wouldnae let them get close enough tae hurt her." The corner of his mouth twitches again; Cadence learnt his lesson about Lethe some time ago, that he cannot approach her even for a showing of affection. Bribing her close with carrots is about the best that the older Guardian can manage, and even then Cadence is watchful for some sort of showing of teeth. So far as his Guardian is concerned, it is a small matter that Lehte does not have antlers; she is still someone to be wary of!

"Oi donnae know if 'tis true that they have eet sae many as that, but --" He pauses, looking intently at her as if trying to decide what he ought to say, but finally he leans just a little closer. "Oi'll tell ye a secret, lass. We b'ain't sae few neither, those loike ye and me: there be mair Guardians than ye think. Oi've heard of a Lady, a grand lady, what has a great big book as has got all the names of them as has got Guardians, and them as are witchers, and it has ever sae many pages innit."

This is something of a stretch, since he has only heard of Maeve of the Swan and has not had the chance to enter his name into her grand book. And he is rather hoping that he will not have to delve too deeply into who Mauve is or what the Swan is, though if Faye has spent any time on the streets the idea of a madam is probably not beyond her. Nonetheless, it'd turn his cheeks red to burning if he had to try and explain it!  

[Nyx Argyros]

The girl glanced wryly at Lethe, and had to concede that perhaps Macaire was right. Her Guardian was not to be taken lightly. Many a person and their bloody fingers and torn shirts could attest to that. Still, she could not help but worry. Even the seemingly indomitable were still just mortals. Or at least, she thought they were. She frowned. Were Guardians mortal? Well, some died in the old stories, so she supposed that they must be. This, of course, only justified her worry, but Macaire's efforts were not in vain. There might still be worry in her heart, but it was not so strong as it had been but a few minutes ago.

The girl was completely in awe of this mysterious lady, however. Wild imaginings of a regal woman in a great, stone castle sprang to mind. Or perhaps she was a Witch herself and she lived in a mighty tower in the Wood. "Really? Who is she?"  

[LoveByLetters]

He'd swear, if it were possible for him to swear in front of a child .. and a girl-child, at that! This is becoming a truly uncomfortable conversation! At least Cadence and Lethe are the only ones around to hear it, and so long as he keeps Cadence well supplied with flowers, the Guardian probably won't share the tale of his embarrassment ..

"Well, y'see .." He flounders for a moment, trying not to turn red, and then hits on what he thinks is an absolutely capital idea, one that will explain everything to a starry-eyed child like Faye without (so he thinks) causing her harm. " .. she be in hiding," he whispers to her in a quieter voice, with a glance about to check for listeners, and to add verisimilitude to his story. " 'Tis a grand, grand nobble lady she be, blessed with wisdom an' cleverness, aye, in full measure. But she be in hiding, for there be them as dain't believe in yon Guardians, when she believes in them and wulves, too. She be preparin' for the fightin', but she be in hiding so that them as dain't believe cain't stop her."  

[Nyx Argyros]

She frowned at this. Not expecting any falsehood from Macaire, who had been honest with her in everything as far as she was able to sell, she did not doubt his words. Still... "But everyone knows the wolves are back now. Surely they would not try to stop her."

Even as she said this, she thought of her history books and all the talk on the street. If it was true that adults did things for stupid reasons sometimes, of things that made no sense, then it was doubly true of nobles. Maybe if she asked the professor about it, he could explain it better.

Something else occurred to her. "If this grand lady is organizing all the Guardians, then there really must be a lot." Macaire had suggested as much, of course, but somehow the idea of the lady at the head of them all made it seem more real. Faye could easily picture her in glimmering, silver armor astride a great steed, leading the Chosen into battle against the Wolves. Just because no one actually wore armor anymore did not mean that the image did not hold a certain appeal for her. She just wouldn't mention it.  

[LoveByLetters]

Macaire is very quickly approaching despair now; whenever he thinks he's managed to escape, she comes up with a new and more difficult question than before! How to explain his fear of the failures of humanity he's sure will happen? And why, oh why, can't she ask her scholar all of this? He is not feeling charitably to the man at this moment, and is in fact contemplating telling Faye to ask the man some truly embarrassing questions, in the hopes that he would be pressed to explain equally uncomfortable things, when he manages to put together a tolerable answer.

"Aye, lass, there'll be a fair number of us'n, 'tis true. 'Tis sarrowful, but them as are in power sometimes think on things a wee bit different from smarter folk like you'n'oi. And sometimes think on things differently from each other, and there are them who are afraid that these nobbles'll spend so much time arguin' and fussin' about who's tae be leading the Guardians that nobody'll be ready fer thonder wulves. So the Lady been setting things up, careful like, since there are them that dain't see much call for a lady fightin', even though you and oi ken that ladies be powerful strong fighters." He flashes her a grin, and then gives Lethe a wink: certainly the doe seems to have a fiercer fighting spirit than the older, larger Cadence.