It felt… strangely good to have soone to talk to. To really talk to, and not just about important things… but personal things too.
Even back in the day, back when I had been openly waging war and building nations… I'd never really had anyone like Renn. I've had trusted allies, close friends… a few lovers… even those like Miss Beak who I'd classify as true companions, but with all of them there had always been a small disconnect. Even with Miss Beak, who I had honestly spoke more openly with than I was even with Renn lately, I had still not trusted her with certain details. Or told her certain things… though I was unsure if that was because I hadn't trusted her or if because I knew she would not have actually cared or understood even if I had. She had been, after all, a monarch. A real one.
Sa could be said about all those I've entrusted certain things to over the years. Those like my retainers during the wars, my generals and such. I had trusted them, but only in the way I would a tool or a weapon… not for anything personal.
Renn though…? She was… well…
I trusted her with my heart. Which was why I was so scared to share it with her.
I didn't want to burden her with the truth. The ones that hurt. The ones that broke people. The ones that could break even . Yet… because I so trusted her, and wanted to trust her, I at the sa ti wanted to share those truths. Not to ntion the fact that she deserved to know them… especially since she was so involved now…
But I was struggling with it. Heavily. Last night I had tried to tell her more, as we sat in that little, slightly cold room, and talked about riah… the gods and other things, I had tried to hard to say more. To go into more detail… but I hadn't been able to. And once Renn had happily switched topics, choosing to focus instead on Riz and other people instead of our own issues, I had regrettably accepted the easy way out and allowed the conversation to linger away from the important details.
Renn had long since agreed to give ti. To take it slow… but sotis I wished she just pushed a bit more. I don't think she realizes it works… though maybe that was for the best… especially since one of the main topics I really wanted to bring up wasn't even about Renka or the gods, but instead sothing far more personal.
"And now you're smiling… what is on your mind, Vim?" The Chronicler asked.
Children. "You get upset when I scowl or act indifferent, and now are upset that I'm paying attention and smiling calmly. Make up your mind," I said with a huff.
The Chronicler gave a frown… and then glanced to her right at Mapple who stood up straighter in apprehension because of it. "Had I been upset?" she asked Mapple.
"Oh! Um… uh…" Mapple didn't seem to know if she wanted to answer that, if she even could, so I went ahead and helped her out by waving at the two.
"I already am escorting the ducks, picking up a few more along the way to Lun is no big deal," I said. Honestly I was a little surprised she was even asking in such an odd way. She had sent Mapple to find early this morning, before daybreak even, as to formally request a eting with … so I had honestly been expecting sothing far different. Such as an official inquiry to what had happened with Casper and stuff.
Instead all they were asking to do was pick up so mbers at so location near the mountains a bit east of Lun. Directly on the path I'd already be heading… such a thing wasn't a bother at all. Especially since I knew Renn would love to et new mbers, too.
Even now that was what she was enjoying herself with. I had not even gotten the chance to take a nap with her last night, as I had been planning and hoping to, since she instead had ran off as to spend ti with the young cal.
I'd almost laugh at how easily my wife abandoned in my ti of need, but at the sa ti I was kind of happy over it. It both gave ti to think and be alone, while also told how strong she really was.
Most would shatter. Break and crumble, like fragile glass does when crushed within my grip, if they knew the gods were after them. Renn though was… taking it rather well, all things considered. Though that might be my fault, or well… was likely my fault entirely.
It's not like I'd really explained to her how dangerous and evil they were… though I'd of course ntioned and hinted at it throughout the years, so maybe I had…?
Not that anyone ever understood. Even those back in the beginning, the ones who had quickly rallied alongside to fight and slay the gods who had been tornting the world had not fully understood what they were capable of. Even while suffering under them constantly, under a daily basis. Even I could only understand so much myself…
"The reason I ask, Vim… is because of who it is you'll be escorting," The Chronicler then said.
"Hm?" Who?
The old false-saint sighed softly as she leaned back in her chair. We weren't in her main office, but instead her bedroom. Or well… the room attached to it. She, although a dedicated mber of the clergy and cloth, didn't live simply like many of them did. She had several rooms to her own, and they were well furnished and packed. Mapple had brought here instead of her offices, though I wasn't really sure why. Maybe she was taking the day off or sothing. "You'll be escorting one of my sisters, Vim," she then revealed.
Ah… I nodded slowly with a frown. "Okay?"
For a long mont neither the fake-saint nor Mapple said anything… they just stared at . As if I was crazy. I was about to ask why they were doing so, at least so blatantly, but before I could the Chronicler leaned forward a bit in her chair and coughed. "You… uh… you knew already?"
"Knew what?"
"That she was alive?"
Oh. "I had assud so of them were. I an… I had long thought Light had been dead, so her return proves my assumptions are misplaced, no? I've been running into many people lately who I've long thought gone, so although a small surprise it's not one so great to bother ," I said.
The Chronicler took in a deep breath and sighed it out as she leaned back, suddenly looking exhausted. "And I had worried for nothing!"
Worried…? "Why…? Did you expect to grow irate over it or sothing? In a sense I'm glad… it ans we'll have more competent leadership to handle the influx of so many new mbers. I'm honestly glad that I'll not have to handle everything on my own," I said honestly. Even those like Tressi was a boon. She was like Nasba… a bit odd, but reliable and trustworthy. The kind that could keep entire locations safe and healthy, ones whose presences genuinely sotis decided if a place survived or not. Those like rit and Kapni were like that too… and even though I hated to say it, many mbers of the cloth were like that too. Nothing held a community together like faith, especially when tis got hard.
Mapple shifted a little, but remained quiet as the fake-saint chuckled at that. "Always the realist. Though I've no doubt most of this magnanimity is thanks to Renn."
Magnanimity? Really? "Though I will admit it's a little frustration to hear so much lately of locations I know nothing about… you know, per my agreents, that if a location wishes to remain private or even out of my knowledge that those at it have the right to such a thing… but what of those lately who have struggled to find safe shelter…? I hope you've not been neglecting those in need as to keep your secrets," I said, and warned.
"Heavens, Vim… you think we'd actually do such a thing?"
Yes. "Have you?"
"Of course not… for your information most of said locations are new. As in, only a few years old at best. The few that have been around for longer, are places where singular people had lived. Either living alone for their own reasons, or out of necessity. Hardly locations worth being called safe," she argued.
Hmph. "All the sa… so? Where even is this place? You said near the plateaus?" I asked.
"I've drawn you up a map, though I planned to give it to Renn alongside so other letters… it's on the northern side, near a small river. It's a place that is difficult for humans to get to, especially horses and such."
Oh…? A place not easily gotten to then. Wonder why they were there… those mountain ranges had plenty of space, the kind that would keep them safe from humans and other prying eyes. They didn't need to go through such lengths unless… well…
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Maybe they did. What with a saint being there and all. "I see," I decided to end the topic there, hopefully wisely.
"Not going to ask which sister it is…?" the old woman then asked.
No. "I'll let it be a surprise."
She scoffed at that, but smiled. "A pleasant one, I'm sure."
Whatever you say. "Since we're on this topic… of survivors and returnees…" I hesitated half a mont, but then gathered my nerves and nodded before the Chronicler or Mapple could give any odd looks. "I think it might be ti we spoke in detail of it all. I… am still the Protector. For now." At least. "I know you all are very busy, and also have been planning this for a very long ti… which is likely why you need not involve too heavily… but…"
"I've been told to only involve you when absolutely needed, Vim."
I shifted at her tone, and knew better than to argue with it.
That had been one of utter confidence. Of surety.
That had been an order. From Light, or those like her. Maybe even Celine, from before her death.
There was likely prophecies. Ones that told them to do certain things carefully, and one of those things was involve . Which was… concerning.
You'd think my involvent in all these new mbers showing up, and needing to be escorted around and helped with settling into new hos, would be needed. Wanted and desired… to the point of contention. Yet… instead… I was intentionally being kept away and at a distance.
Concerning… just what had they foreseen? What brought them to such a conclusion…? Did it have anything to do with the gods?
Had… had Celine foreseen this all, I wonder…?
I nearly flinched as I rembered sothing important. Sothing I should have rembered already.
Narli. The narwhal. The saint.
She had been stuck in a prophecy. Not long before I had first encountered the gods again. Stance, specifically.
She had ntioned… after she had received a separate prophecy, after the one she had gotten stuck in… that she had been here. Or at least, amongst many of us. I had assud it had been for the vote. For she had said there had been many people. Hundreds. More than she's ever seen. That was why I had assud it was for the vote… because the Society at the ti had not possessed enough mbers anywhere for such a thing to happen. Though now, with all the new mbers… that was a possibility. One very likely to happen, at any mont.
And she had ntioned that during said mont… disaster would strike. The kind that involved , chaos, and a lot of deaths.
"Vim…?" Mapple finally spoke up for once, and I collected myself as I took in a small breath and nodded.
"I'm fine… just rembered sothing annoying," I said lightly, trying to play it off.
"You've been doing that a lot, I think," the Chronicler noted.
Yes. I had been. And not for good reasons.
"If there's such a reason as that to not involve … then please involve Renn. Let her know what you can. My not knowing certain locations, especially if they're places with dozens if not hundreds of our people, can be catastrophic if not handled properly. If I can't know of them, until needed, then at least let her know instead," I offered, and forcefully changed my mind's focus.
I'd think and deal with Narli's prophecies later.
Mapple smirked as the Chronicler sighed at . "We're already doing so, Vim… what do you think she's been doing the last couple days? She's been introducing herself to everyone, and has been spending ti with Mapple and the rest by updating the maps," she said.
Maps…? "I see," was all I said. I had known Renn's lately been active with people, but had figured she had just been spending ti with those she called friends. I had not realized she had actually been busy. Again she was doing things I was unaware of.
"At least that's proof she keeps secrets from you, at least when needed… Light had worried originally that Renn would be an open book with you, what with her tendency to wear her emotions and thoughts so visibly upon her," The Chronicler said.
"Yes. So terrible, isn't it? That a wife would trust her husband," I said with a bit of scorn.
Mapple smirked at that as the fake saint waved my tone away. "Please. I'll make sure to set aside so ti then, to go over so stuff with her if that makes you feel better."
Great, now I didn't want her to. But oh well… I'd asked. "Is that all then? For now at least?" I asked, ready to end the conversation here.
The fake saint studied with her glowing eyes, and then sighed at . "For now, Vim. Yes. I take it you are still leaving tomorrow…?"
I want to. "We might stick around a few more days… I have a couple things I need to check in on, even with you all keeping at a distance I still am finding myself busier than usual nowadays," I said.
"You're the only man I know who complains about having too much work, but only because you want more than you have and not less."
"Saying that while knowing I want to step down, are you?" I asked.
The Chronicler shook her head at . "You can lie to others, but not Vim. I know you'd never use that as a reason, even if you're willing to tell others so."
"The fact you know well enough to say that is annoying," I said as I turned and headed for the door.
They didn't say goodbye as I left, and went to talking about so eting that was coming up instead. I accepted the easy escape and left her room and stepped out into the quiet hallway outside.
The Chronicler lived on the fourth floor of the Cathedral. In a section rarely visited, where only other nuns lived. I really didn't know this area well; since I rarely visited it even back when Celine had lived nearby… but I had good reason for such a thing. This was a place for nuns, won of the cloth; it was not a place for those like .
"At least Renn isn't that bad yet," I mumbled as I headed for a stairwell.
Honestly it was surprising that she wasn't more religious. Such faith tickled her fancy well, in many ways, though I did wonder if maybe the only reason she hadn't allowed herself to get more involved in such things was my fault.
As much as I would like her to not get… as bad as so, I also didn't like the idea that she was limiting herself in an attempt to make happy. Or at least, keep from growing annoyed. I loved the woman and wanted her happy, and if faith was a thod for her to beco so… then…
"Ah! Hey Vim!"
I slowed and nodded down to Fressi who ran over to . Her long robe, barely covering her feathers, made her look so odd and weird that I really felt as if I should say sothing. She and her mother really shouldn't be walking around up here, even though no one would dare try to look under a nun's robes it was… well… kind of obvious sothing was off with them thanks to their feathers.
"How're you, Fressi?" I asked.
"Pretty good now that I found you!" the young duck happily said as she bead a smile up at .
Oh boy.
"Need sothing?" I asked, ignoring the hidden aning in her words… though at the sa ti not trying to be rude as I did so.
"Nope!"
Of course you don't…
I nodded and gestured for her to follow as I went back to walking. She joined without any hesitation, going to walking right beside … and did so in fact a little too close, especially since I knew why she was doing such a thing.
"Are you and your mother ready to leave?" I asked, hoping to use small talk to distract her from doing sothing foolish.
I knew well what these ducks were like. Renn found her antics cute, but she had no idea how bad it could get and how fast it could get so.
"We are! I can't wait to travel with you, Vim! I was sad that we hadn't been able to co here together!" she said happily as we neared a stairwell.
"Hm. Renn will be very happy too," I said gently.
"She likes traveling too…? I thought she likes to stay ho?"
Stay ho…? Maybe Renn had told her of SilverCreek and this duckling had mistaken her joy over it in that way, or sothing. "Renn actually likes to travel, yes. She usually is traveling with , it's actually rare for her not to be as she has lately."
"Hm…" she humd at that, as if in disbelief, but I knew it wasn't because she actually didn't believe it. She was simply being… well…
A duck.
As we descended the stairs, I found myself slightly smiling at the kid. I found it a little annoying, to a degree, but in truth I was kind of enjoying the mont. Not because I liked the fact a child was fancying , but instead because of… well, what she was.
She was a non-human. A pure one. Her antics used to be common place. Sothing that wasn't rare but instead standard… now though she was a rarity. Sothing special. Kind of like that wolf girl back in Lun…
"Speaking of traveling, it's just you two right? Going with us to Lun?" I asked.
"Hm…? I think so?"
Huh… "What of the others? Weren't there other ducks amongst you?" I could have sworn I had seen so.
"There are. But they and the others don't want to leave yet, or want to go elsewhere. Mother only wants to go see our family, otherwise she too might not be going," Fressi said.
Right… but those other ducks should have been related to them too…. Wonder what that was about.
Ah well. Best not to pry, else I'll either learn sothing I didn't want to know or sothing worse like get myself stuck escorting ducks for months.
"Where we going?" Fressi then asked.
Ah. Right. "Well… I was going to go find my wife, to invite her to lunch," I said.
The young duck gave a look of utter annoyance, and then she sighed and nodded. "Okay… I guess I can join you, I suppose."
Can you now? "Hungry are you?" I asked, teasing her slightly.
"No…" she groaned, like most ducks she was at least honest.
"Good, neither."
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