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 Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 2:43 am
   Participants:Oa Destati Nyctimus
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Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2017 5:43 am
"As you well know the political instability is rampant in that particular region, more so in the central regions than those torn asunder by the scourge," Destati had welcomed back his children with open arms when they had returned from what their mother had decided would be their new home. He had remained uncertain of this decision, but rather than overrule it, he had allowed the three to enter his home to observe it for themselves. Nyctimus had been prepared on what to expect, if he was to truly live in that region then he was the most likely to be heir (if he chose this route), while the other two would have much more dramatic futures. Destati had been non-commital, refusing to confirm or deny the future of his offspring, even to his own collective in the days that the three had been born. He was well aware of the prophecy, well aware that Prometheus was exactly what the priests had described, but as he had been born in the Outlands and in a world free of such divisive strife, the Justicar was unwilling to force that future upon him.
Eventually he would explain the significance of his pale son's existence, but it wouldn't be today.
If anything...it wouldn't be until after he had managed to overcome the obstacles in the outlands and could return home. Only then would he needed to consider the rammifications of having the number of children that he did, and what their futures might need to be. Suffice to say that after spending so much time out here he had come to appreciate this world's emphasis on a freedom to choose. Tethys and Dione had chosen well for themselves, and by extension, he had confidence that his remaining three sons would possess the ability to make the same difficult choices. Fortunately it didn't appear that this would happen any time soon, as much to Destati's exasperation, they hadn't really made any significant progress against what was quickly becoming his new pet hate.
Even as a young child he hadn't remember the scourge being quite so difficult.
"You weren't kidding about the noble factions," Nyctimus agreed with a disgruntled sigh. "They are incredibly vocal."
"They always were, they've just gotten braver as of late," Destati rolled his shoulders as he motioned for his son to follow and disappeared into what appeared to be a warren. "Without a visible presence from any Justicars, they seem to be under the impression they can do whatever they please," he explained. "They are not above assassination to get their way, and they have been making fine use of blackmail to make progress elsewhere," he continued and shook his head.
"They keep boasting that the Justicars will eventually fall in to line," Nyctimus wrinkled his nose. He hadn't quite understood that particular promise, did they have an in with anyone in partcular, did they have something of substance that they could use to exploit the weakness of one of those in power? He had yet to see any proof and based on his exposure to his own father, he wasn't entirely certain it was possible to blackmail them effectively. The Justicar's seemed to place duty above their own happiness and as much as Destati may have loved his children, Nyctimus wouldn't have been surprised if he placed them in the firing line to keep the status quo safe. Perhaps that was why Destati permitted them so much freedom, and gave them the opportunity to choose if they wanted to return to the Al-Siq, even if their mother had been insistant.
Regardless, he followed his father into the warrens and down into the tunnels that wove beneath their paws.
"They are rather determined, yes," Destati came to an abrupt pause and then finally turned in to a small room, it was at this point that he motioned with his paw towards what lay within. "In fact their arrogance is their hubris, they believe they have enough on us to send their own to demand obedience," he concluded and glanced towards the awake, but quiet lioness. She seemed to have now accepted her lot in life, she had no right to speak and had been categorically advised of her place. For the time being her desire to survive outweighed her need to be outspoken, whether this was through the work of Destati's trusted collective or her was something that Destati had not delved in to. Gideon had at least been able to read her well enough to know that she wasn't particularly manipulative and as such, lacked the capacity to make such a long play.
"And this is...?"
"Oa," Destati nodded in greeting. "One of the nobles in the faction that believes I should bend the knee to them," he added.
"And she came out here to say this," Nyctimus continued, peering quizzicly towards the lioness who seemed to be regarding him with some interested, but not quite as much as that which she might have had in the past.
"Credit where it is due, she had considerable confidence and certainly has a firm belief in her place in the world, but this has now been corrected... or at least she knows I have no intention of providing my assistance to her cause," Destati shook his head, Oa had glanced away, her expression grim. "However, based on the direction this war is taking and the rate that our foothld is degrading, we can no longer hold her here."
"So you want us to take her?" Nyctimus looked confused. He wasn't the best at holding prisoners and he certainly knew that neither Epimetheus or Prometheus lacked the disposition to hold anyone against their will.
"I need you to take her home," Destati stated.
"Home?" It was Oa who spoke up in a tone of pure confusion, she'd been held here for so long that she had been certain she would be used as an example when the Justicar returned home. Yet here he was, asking for his son to return her home. "You would allow that to happen?" she added.
"You are entitled to spout whatever political nonsense you may wish in the safety of the Al-Siq," Destati replied bluntly. "We cannot afford the extra manpower to protect you, we are running out of time and it is no longer viable or safe to keep you here. As inconvenient as your intentions may be, now is neither the time or place to handle it," he pointed out. It was a reassurance that he hadn't forgotten her arrogance and that he was aware of the possibility that she would return to her normal self when she got to the safety of her noble compounds, but for now she had a reprieve. Should she be up to her antics when he got back then that would be another matter entirely, but for now... Well for now she was entitled to her freedom and a second chance, while Destati addressed the much more important issues that lay ahead.
"What's the catch?" She certainly hadn't lost her suspicion, but this should have no surprise to anyone. She was a noble and as a consequence, accustomed to backstabbing and betrayal, it was simply how that particular sect of society functioned.
"There isn't one," Nyctimus interjected and rolled his eyes; if he'd been under the impression she was meek before, this notion had now been dispelled in a spectacular fashion. "You sound like you've been here long enough to realise my father doesn't play your games," he pointed out. She cast a glance towards him, and her expression seemed to hold a begrudging respect. "We'll get her home safe," he said as he turned to his father. "I'm not sure how Epimetheus and Prometheus will take to her, but we'll still get her home," he murmured.
"You have far more children than we were aware of," Oa observed as yet more offspring were mentioned.
"Yes, and you were not aware I had a mate either," Destati pointed out with a dismissive wave of his paw; Oa's brief flicker of distress was enough for him to be satisfied. Suffice it to say that Arimathras had certainly given Oa a welcome to the Outlands and an introduction to the divine beings that lurked out here too! "It's been a long time, Oa - I imagine many of the other Justicars have just as many surprises," he lifted a brow as he turned round and began to leave the warrens. "Your kind would be wise to remember that you know little about us, that has always been the case, and it is something that is unlikely to change," he finished and disappeared from view.
"So are there any others I should be aware of?" Oa asked quietly as she glanced at Nyctimus.
"Unless my mother is pregnant again, there's only five of us," Nyctimus uttered reassuringly. "However she seems to rather like motherhood so anything is possible."
"Pardon?"
"There is every possibility there may be more of us, they're just not here yet and neither my siblings or I are aware of a change in circumstances," he clarified and shook his head. "I'm assuming you have the ability to walk?"
"I do, they stopped paralysing me several weeks ago," Oa confirmed as she rose to her paws.
"Paralysed?" It was his turn to be surprised.
"I can be very opinionated," she muttered. "My previous guard didn't appreciate the sentiment; but those who are phantom born are always violent," she snorted as slipped passed him.
"Ah, that'll be Adar then," Nyctimus identified the male from the description alone. "You may wish to re-evaluate that last bit though," he padded after her.
"And why's that?" she demanded, though she did check her tone.
"Because my brother, as you put it, is 'phantom-born'," he finished and lengthened his stride; Oa could do little more than stare after him in surprise...Words: 1660
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