Tom and Val left for Corins Grove the next morning. Tom found he liked autumn in the Deep. The weather, while colder, was not unpleasant, and the light at dusk and dawn set the golds and reds and browns of the forest alight. Tom marvelled at the myriad colours, the all pervasive green, of course, but now a backdrop to the quilted change of seasons.
He was not looking forward to winter, about a month away now, however. They only rarely got snow, but the temperatures would drop once more, and he imagined he would be spending many cold nights in the forest, if Val had anything to do with it. Cold, and wet too, likely. And without even the reprieve of beautiful colours to distract him.
He sighed at the thought. At least therell be different plants and herbs about. Different monsters, too, though.
As the sun rose above the horizon, bathing the world fully in llow light, they stepped from the Deep and onto the small path that andered between apple and peach trees and into Corins Grove.
The path, rarely used except for Hunters, and the Reapings launched from here, was wide, though not well-trodden. It ended abruptly, so hundred yards before the trees, at a small earthen wall and ditch the villagers had made. It was barely chest high, but anything was better than nothing if sothing wandered out of the Deep Green.
The entire length of the ditch was staked, at least, bar a small gap at the end of the path. Each outer-ring village, on top of their usual work, was tasked with holding back the forest itself. The regular supply of lumber provided more than enough surplus. It ensured the villages could stake not only the entire ditch, but place them in tight, bristling rings around each ho in the village proper.
Once again, not much use against a drake, or an old enough golem, or anything even approaching village-killer status - but better than nothing. The illusion of security is often as much an aid to morale as enchanted stone walls.
As they walked down the path between orchards, Val turned to Tom. You might want to sub Sesa, now I think about it. The villagers will shit themselves if they see a six foot bear wandering in.
Sesa sent a mildly confused query to Tom. He couldnt understand Val as well as him, but enough to get the gist of what shed said. Val had explained a few days ago that being partied up helped a little with party mbers familiars understanding other party mbers.
The issue here was not one of translation though, but of perspective. Sesa seed to think of himself as being rather small and cute, and humans simply as being even smaller, though spindlier and knobbly.
Tom snorted at the sentint, and drew Sesa over to him. He sent the bear a feeling of regret, and a promise to be summoned again soon. Sesa sent him a feeling of aloof dignity, and when Tom hiked the left legs of his pants, he touched his nose gently to the bottom of the tattoo there.
There was a strange, not flash, but distorting, and for an instant it appeared as though Sesa was composed of the tattoo lines, or perhaps that the lines of the tattoo had spread and snatched him. In either case, the big bear was there one mont, and gone the next.
He spent the next few monts reeling as scents assaulted his nose. He could sll the earth, dry and hard and dusty, having been without rain for over a week. He could sll the apple and peach trees, light and fragrant and woody. There was smoke from the village, laced with iron and at and baking bread. He could sll Val, a holy scent, leather and cotton and soap, and Scorn and Smitten too. He could even sll villagers working in the orchards nearby. It was overwhelming. He had no idea how Sesa managed it all.
I think you should sub Scorn too, hes scarier than Sesa, said Tom, once hed collected himself.
Val just chuckled, though whether at the joke or at his discomfort was hard to say. Scorn looked as though he was making a particular effort to show the comnt was beneath his notice. Smitten turned back to them with a happy grin, her tongue lolling out one side of her mouth. Within another quarter hour, they had reached the village proper.
They didnt seek out the mayor, her being too busy with her day-to-day business for interruptions. Instead, they headed for the eting house, which doubled as a sort of tavern. Extra care had been taken to reinforce the walls and foundation of the large space, so that it could be used as a shelter in a pinch.
There, Val had a brief talk with the proprietor. They left all of the various goods theyd brought in with them, to be distributed out to the village, or ferried back to Wayrest, depending. He handed Val a few fat gold coins, set on one side with Wayrests concentric rings, and the other, with the sun of Truth. She also got a handful of coppers too.
It seed a ludicrous sum to Tom, but then again, the goods they brought in could either not be found elsewhere, or were outrageously expensive to import. Still, it was far, far more than they would need to restock. He quietly reassessed his estimate of Vals wealth. She already had a mansions worth of essence stones in the chest under the oak. If all her trips back to civilisation were even half as lucrative, then she must have a kings ransom stashed away. If they ever rescinded her exile, she could wreak absolute havoc on their economy. As they left the eting house, Val noticed him watching her with a ponderous expression, and gave him a sly grin.
Ti for the best part then, lets go get so food, she said with hearty cheer, and she led the way across the village square towards the bakers.
They were halfway across when Tom froze mid-step.
Is that a Tom-fucking-Cutter, I see!? ca a shriek from behind him.
He turned to see none other than Rosa Raventos striding across the square towards him. She was dressed in the uniform of the Guard, her jet black hair pinned in a bun, dark green-enalled breastplate shining in the morning light. It seed she had finally graduated from the Academy, and been posted to Corins Grove, no less. Her face, as usual betrayed no emotion, other than her hooded eyes trending slightly towards boredom or disapproval. Two more Guards, both n, one an officer, trailed her across the square. She stopped in front of him, hands on hips, looking him up and down.
Hear you manifested a fall before , you fuck. Congratulations! The corner of her mouth mightve twitched, ever so slightly.
Ooh, looks like youve got your hands full, Tom, Val said, chortling at him. Then she stepped around them. Officer Dale! Good to see you! Seems as good a ti as any for a chat about the Deep. You dont mind having Rosa here keep an eye on young Tom do you? New to the Hunters, you see, dont quite know what hes capable of. Yes, yes, good. Now, about three days ago, up north more, mind you, I saw drake tracks, not too big yet, but She trailed off as she led two amused Guards away, back to the eting hall.
Rosa simply stared at him, one eyebrow arched. Not a single hint of her having noticed the by-play. Tom wanted the ground to swallow him up. Dealing with her always made him feel like hed turned up to a dance and forgotten all the steps, but hed never thought of her in that way. Hed never had the ti.
Uh, hey Rosa. Good to see you? he managed.
Fucks sake, Tom, she sighed, and gave him what might have been a pitying smile. Co.
She led him to a small green just off the village square, situated around the village well. The whole area had small apple and peach trees planted at alternating intervals, with a small, figure-eight path leading under them, the well at its centre. Low wooden benches stood under each tree. Rosa chose one for them and sat, arranging herself as though she were a queen set to conduct court. Tom perched beside her, feeling like a scarecrow in a seamstress shop. She regarded him for a mont with liquid dark eyes.
I heard about your Reaping, Tom. Im so sorry. That must have been terrible for you. I cant imagine.
Its done now, he said quietly. And theres no changing what happened. I just wish I could have saved people. Clairvine, the Guard with , she he trailed off, suddenly unable to continue the thought.
Rosa gave him a mont, saying nothing. She just gave him a look full of compassion, and gently patted his knee.
He marshalled himself. Idealists, theyre supposed to make a difference, you know?
You cant help where Goddess sets your feet, yes? That would be putting yourself above her, and I know Tom Cutter is not stupid, she said with so conviction. You must trust her. Now, tell about these orcs.
Tom stared at her, looking for so hint of mockery in her eyes.
Fuck you, Tom. You think stupid!? she flared, I know a liar when I see one, and I know you, Tom. These two things are not the sa. Now, tell . I must know more if I am to prepare.
She waited impatiently on a response while he gathered his thoughts. He hadnt expected soone to not only believe him, but to actually want to act on it, and so it took him a mont to form a coherent reply.
He told her of his capture, and how they were dragged through the Deep. He told her of his escape, and how Gad had been tortured to death in front of him. How Sam, and the two soldiers had died. How he had been chased, pursued, hunted, endlessly, all the way back to re hours from where they sat now. She listened attentively the whole ti.
When he got to his rescue, he found himself continuing. Sothing in her placid expression, a softness in her look paired with an understanding in her eyes, drew more from him. He told her of the Hearing, and of his sentence. Slowly, then, he ran out of words.
Okay, I was worried, but this is simple. I will talk to mother. If the Council is too stupid to act, Raventos will not be caught lacking. Do not worry, Tom, this thing will be taken care of.
Tom felt his throat get thick. It was a sweet thought, and he knew that the power and sway of House Raventos was nothing to sniff at, but it would not be enough by itself. Nothing would be enough, without the Councils say-so. Still, her words touched him. He spent a long mont staring at the grass.
Tom she said. The hesitance in her voice was so unlike her that his focus snapped back to her face imdiately. You ntion Suffering I always suspected. Your father, he is not well liked. But this it is too much. Know that you are not your Ideals, they are just one part of you. I know you are not this.
Her perception surprised him, though maybe it shouldnt have. Knowing how long his journey to manifest was, knowing, just as he did, the pressures of noble life, having access to the noble rumour mill, and knowing he had manifested Suffering for his troubles - the pieces were all there for her to put together. Hot tears stung his eyes.
Suddenly, Rosa pulled him into a hug. Its okay, Tom, she hushed at him. Like I have said, these things, they cannot be helped. I know you have a kind heart, even if you have a thick head. He heard the smile in her voice. You will make the best of this. You will be a good Hunter. He pulled away, trying to dry his eyes as surreptitiously as he could. Rosa pretended not to notice.
You dont think Suffering is strange, then?
It is certainly unusual, but all Ideals are Goddess-given. To spurn them, to say one is above the other, to call one anathema - it is throwing the greatest of Her gifts in Her face. She mimicked spitting to her side.
Church of Truth indeed she muttered. Rosas family were originally from Horizon. There, they followed the Bloody Scripture. Their own take on the Goddess was as far removed from the Church of Truths as could be.
They believed that Goddess bestowed Ideals to us, and it was our holy duty as Idealists to use them to cleanse The World of monsters. They saw monsters and mana beasts that could use abilities without holding Ideals as heresy. It was for this reason that the monks from the Monastery above Horizon undertook their Bloody Pilgrimages.
The Church of Truth believed that The World was trying to bring us closer to Goddess through Ideals, and that only those Ideals made in the light of her image could do so. The Goddess was perfect, as their canon went, and so it logically followed that any unsavoury Ideals could not bring you closer to her.
Tom, for his part, took a different view on things, and had even before his manifestation and exile. He was not necessarily atheistic, as he believed in higher powers and the inexplicable, but he found too many inconsistencies and flaws in any religious dogma hed studied so far.
So, she began anew, straightening herself. Youre not going to congratulate then?
He stared at her blankly.
I have a pick now, you goat! she punched him on the arm.
Oh, thats amazing news, Rosa! he exclaid, genuinely happy for her. What did you manifest?
Smoke! she said her chest puffing with pride beneath her plate. To go with my Fire, of course!
Tom let out a low whistle. Fire was deadly enough as it was - he had seen Rosa spar at the Academy every day for years. Smoke would add versatility to her skillset. Tough to pin down, harder to injure - his mind spun out the possibilities.
None of that! she shot at him, interrupting his thoughts. I see your mind is still taking off with the fairies. Ti for lunch, I think. Then I should be getting back.
Fire and Smoke are okay, I guess. But theyre no fall, he told her as they stood, trying for humour as he summoned so of her icy imperiousness.
Fuck you, Tom! Suffering? More like Insufferable! You think, just because And she continued to good-naturedly excoriate him all the way back to the bakers.
And all the way through lunch.
And on the way to the eting hall after.
Tom had missed it.
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