Bonus 1 In Which the Paladin Gets the Party Started

Bonus 1 In Which the Paladin Gets the Party Started

He watched the peculiar young nobleman stride to the door of the Guildhouse, collecting a more shabbily-dressed man loitering nearby whom Rhydion took for a servant. Shifting his concentration, he let the almost blindingly intense blaze of magic illuminating Lord Seiji give way in his sight to the more restrained (in this case) view of mundane auras, otherwise inscrutable details of thought, feelings and personality writ visibly to him in the form of shifting patterns of color.

Aster and the servant showed him little of interest, save that the connections between the three of them were still quite tenuous. Reasonable, for people who had met only the day before under violent circumstances; the meager threads of light which shifted between them suggested a bond which had had little time to develop, though it seemed to Rhydions admittedly uncertain interpretation that it was tinged by more wariness all around than he would have expected, based upon their story.

This was far from the first time he wished the so-called Helm of Truth revealed more than shifting displays of colored light, or at least had come with some manner of instructions. He saw no reason to disbelieve Asters account, exactly, but Rhydion didnt need to wear an oracular artifact on his head to tell him there was more to their story than shed told. Well, it was probably down to the sorts of secrets nobles and their staff always kept, especially as Lord Seiji had hinted he was some kind of refugee, or at least had left his home in a hurry and arrived in Fflyr Dlemathlys with little to his name.

What a curious individual.

Seiji paused at the door, turning to glance back into the Guildhouse and meeting Rhydions eyes. Not that he could tell, of course; hed be staring at the closed visor of the Helm. Rhydion made no attempt to disguise the direction of his attention, though, just watching to see what the man would do.

He frowned in open annoyance, an expression Rhydion was not accustomed to having directed at him, but it was nothing compared to the crimson flash of anger that spiked through his aura momentarily before giving way to is apparently normal seething orange. He had been like that throughout the entire conversation, despite his apparent composure: constant, simmering frustration and annoyance, punctuated by miniature surges of open fury whenever literally anyone spoke to him. Not anger at anything, no tendrils of light connecting his aura to other sources. No, he was just mad. Generally. Rhydion had never encountered someone so fundamentally irritated by his own existence. It must be an exhausting way to live.

Then Lord Seiji turned and strode through the door, gathering his followers with a curt gesture. In a second, they were gone, leaving Rhydion to his thoughts.

Their short encounter had given him reason beyond the simple peculiarity of the man to dig into his story, but there would be precious few avenues to pursue. He couldnt even place his nationality by his features or accent. Usually the Helm of Truths vision would reveal some hint upon which he could follow up; he was sufficiently experienced at interpreting its cryptic visions at this point. Lord Seiji was not the first person to thwart its power, and he was just like the rare others in that it wasnt anything he was doing on purpose. To Rhydions knowledge there was no defense against the Helms sight, it was just that some people had something so single-mindedly consuming their personality that it obscured all other traces. Seiji was the first hed encountered who was just congenitally pissed off about everything, but it did the trick. He had seen nothing of particular use in the mans aura, save the incredible intensity of his magic. Nothing that offered him details upon which he could follow up.

Well, there was one. It was a tenuous thread to be sure, but it was what he had, and so he did not waste time. Rhydion turned and strode toward the keyboard, as always moving quietly for an armored man thanks to the Boots of Grace. The inanimate object had no aura and would reveal nothing to the Helms sight, but the woman with whom Seiji had briefly conversed was still over there, watching.

She straightened up in alarm upon realizing he was approaching her, self-consciously smoothing her robe and absently touching her hair. That was nothing compared to the roil of emotions which blazed through her aura, so many overlapping and shifting in such rapid succession that he could barely pick any out.

Rhydion did not grimace, even knowing his face was fully hidden behind the visor. He did not plan to wear this armor forever; sooner or later another would come along who would be a worthy bearer, and it was his intent to pass it on well before age or injury forced him to. When that day came, it would not find his social skills atrophied, and so he moderated his expression behind the Helm just as any well-bred person would do, anywhere. But by Her light, the hero-worship was exhausting to deal with. Particularly when it came from an individual with whom he needed to have an actual conversation.

In the last steps before reaching her he altered his focus, changing the glow of her aura from the basic emotional state to the glow of a Blessing. She was a sorceress, and decently powerful for someone in this little frontier branch of the Kings Guild. It was like a mental version of adjusting the focus of his eyes, something he had stumbled upon by pure accident a few years after first donning the armor, and which still left him wondering what other features the Helm might have that he hadnt discovered.

Good morning, he said, nodding to the woman upon stopping before her and politely ignoring her star-struck expression. My name is Rhydion.

Of course! she blurted. I mean, everyone knowsthat is, its an honor, my lordI mean, your

Please. He held up one hand, deliberately making his tone gentle even as he cut her off, a fine balance at which he had an unfortunately substantial amount of practice. I have forsworn all titles so long as I wear this armor. We are merely fellow adventurers and members of the Guild.

Oh! I, uhof course, Im sorry. I knew that, I just

Confusion and embarrassment flashed through her aura; Rhydion hated to make it worse, but he couldnt see any way around the inevitable next question.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

And might I have your name?

Pray do not be discouraged, Sister Dhinell. Soulfire has refused to select a bearer in her last three appearances. I suspect that in her old age she has grownI believe persnickety is the term I heard used. If you are at liberty and willing to aid my cause, I should be glad if your presence at my side. Surely our meeting was serendipitous.

Nothing would give me greater honor, Rhydion! she swore. He nodded gravely, examining her aura and withholding his opinions. Well, there was no harm per se in her using his mission and reputation to advance her own career, so long as she did her job well. The Inquisition did not tend to produce half-hearted agents, after all.

This will not be a short mission, I fear, he cautioned. The need to investigate, especially in dangerous territory like the khora forest, makes everything more complicated by far than simply slaying a Void witch or errant devil. The mixed blessing of that is the time it grants us to recruit more companions, for I would not take on such a foe with only two. At minimum we will need a skilled healer. Perhaps another will come along, but unless that occurs, I would like to continue investigating this Lord Seiji as time permits.

Seiji? Is that his name? Dhinell wrinkled her nose again. Do you really think he is a good choice for this kind of work?

I believe that the Goddess sends me the tools I need to carry out Her will. Rhydion shifted to glance at the door through which the lord in question had departed moments ago. If a powerful healer is placed incidentally in my path just when I need one, experience has taught me to see Her hand at work. Besides It is only a hunch, of course, but I think there is more to that man than we have seen.

Hes a She caught herself short of what was probably an expletive, to judge by the darkening of her cheeks an aura.

No doubt, Rhydion agreed, then went on more softly. Buthe was kind to his subordinate. And that says a great deal.

Anyone can put on a pleasant face when it advantages them, Dhinell said skeptically. He suspected she would know.

Indeed, context and agenda matter a great deal. It is precisely that which inclines me to seek out his aid. While in an emotional state in which most noblemen I have met would be either throwing a stomping tantrum or calmly murdering someone, while his new bodyguard was having an emotional crisis which unequivocally was wasting his time, he stopped to show her consideration. And not simply from bare politenesshe made the effort to think of a solution to her problem, one which will cause him further inconvenience later. I would much rather work alongside a man who is aggressive toward his equals and compassionate to his subordinates than the reverse. Obviously, one prefers comrades who are simply kind and well-mannered without qualifiers, but is it reasonable to ask that the Goddess send us perfect companions when we cannot claim to be perfect ourselves? She is adept at producing divine results from base components.

He paused, noting her still-skeptical expression and thoroughly disgruntled aura, and added more pensively.

I thinkthis Lord Seiji is a deeply unpleasant person who will try to do the right thing if he can. For the sake of the latter, I can endure the former. Can you?

As She wills it, Dhinell intoned, sidestepping the question. Isuppose it would be hard to call in aid from the Convocation, if they did not send you any to begin with?

I am here as a free agent, he agreed. The tension between the Convocation and Clan Aelthwyn will create complications that slow us considerably if we begin to import powerful Blessed from the capital with high rank among the Kings Guild or Convocation itself. I only hope your status as a Dountol native and relative novice will avoid such nuisances.

Oh, you neednt worry about that. I have it on excellent authority that I am no one of political interest even to the Clans on Dount. Her tone and face managed to mask the bitterness behind that statement, but it flowed through her aura like black poison.

Rhydion controlled his own instinctive reaction. This, too, made her a useful addition to his quest, even if it would make her rather a trial to deal with. A difficult person who did not bring political entanglements along with their skills was precisely what was called for here. Lord Seiji would be more of the same, if he could be persuaded to lend his power. But perhaps the mission would be to their benefit, too; after all, Rhydion had seen how the right quest and companions could bring out the best in the most obstinate people, and change them for the better. Sanora rarely acted with only a single purpose in mind.

Then let us embark, he said aloud, offering his hand encased by the Glove of Precision, and execute the Goddesss duty.

May Her grace guide our path, Dhinell agreed fervently, placing her smaller hand in his armored grasp.

And so the quest began in earnest. Her will be done.