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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 13, 2007 16:03:03 GMT -5
I arrived at the white heart a little before sunset, and had the matron arrange a booth that was far off from the remainder of the crowd, that Riva and I have all the privacy we needed. I was happy – and excited. But mostly, I was hopeful. So much was to come of this meeting… the possible end to my curse, the liberation of my affections for Mirielle, the possible gain of a young apprentice full of potential. Oh, there was much, much to be hopeful for.
I sat in the booth, and awaited Riva’s arrival. To-Biko would know where to direct her.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 13, 2007 20:40:41 GMT -5
To-Biko had arrived exactly when promised and he had escorted me to the White Hart. Once there, he helped me out and led me inside to where Gillermo was waiting.
"My lord," I said, smiling and curtseying when we stopped near Gillermo. The skirt of my red flowered dress whispering softly as I rose again. "It is good to see you again."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 13, 2007 20:48:49 GMT -5
I stood as Riva arrived, and inclined my head in response to her curtsy. "It's good to see you again as well," I replied. "You look ravishing. Please, have a seat," I added very gently.
To-Biko bowed, and left us, though he did have a silly grin. I think he fairly liked Riva, and that alone amused me.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 13, 2007 21:21:47 GMT -5
I smiled at To-Biko as he left and he grinned at me. I was becoming fond of him and had enjoyed our ride together.
Looking back at Gillermo, I took a seat in the booth. "How have you been?" I asked.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 13, 2007 21:26:59 GMT -5
"In truth," I sighed, pausing. "I've been overall well, but frustrated in a lot of ways, and tired, and drugged." I realized I was rambling, and stopped myself, looking at her once more. "But I'm glad to see you, and there have been... events that may bring some new facts to light."
I looked at her, searching her brow for signs of happiness or woe, "And how have you been, Riva?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 13, 2007 23:12:57 GMT -5
"I've been well, thank you," I said, smiling softly. I reached out and laid my hand on his. "What's happened?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 14, 2007 14:11:05 GMT -5
I smiled softly for Riva's gentle touch. It was comforting.
“There is a woman I love,” I said, looking away. “She is everything beautiful and perfect in this world, and she had hesitated in her affections for me. A few days after our assignation, she wrote to me.” I paused, closing my eyes on the words for they were like music. “She loves me,” I whispered. “But the revelation woke the demon, and what followed…” I felt my wrists clench at the thought. “What followed is awful to recount, and cannot be permitted to happen again.”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 14, 2007 22:12:36 GMT -5
I knew I could reach in and find out what had happened, but I also knew it was likely to cause a rather violent reaction from me in this very public place.
"Tell me," I urged, searching his face. "It will help."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 14, 2007 22:26:16 GMT -5
"Some of what I tell you, I do not recall," I explained. "It was told to me by To-Biko. It seems the revelation of her love brought the demon forth, and it forced my body to rebuff her, and all the rage it held sprang forth, and I awoke on the bed, tied and bloody. I had apparently clawed myself." I paused, feeling suddenly weary for the memory of it. "To-Biko went, and got Mirielle, told her the truth of it, the lie that the demon claimed, and Mirielle came." I paused, feeling my eyes water. "Oh, she came, Riva, and it was like the sun blazing in my life for the very first time. And she begged to be touched, and I gave in, and it clawed at her, and I lost consciousness. I awoke, tied up like never before, and I understood what had happened - it was to blunt not to perceive - and self-hatred filled me galore. But she called me forth, and I remember like in a dream it's awful voice, and the golden rope of her hair, and how she called me back."
I paused, and had a sip of my wine. "I've been living in fear, of causing pain - every since, Riva."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 15, 2007 1:08:52 GMT -5
It took all of my strength not to pull away from him as he recounted everything to me. When he was done, I drew a deep and shaky breath.
"Octavier and I have found a ritual that should release you from its grasp," I told him, tucking my feet underneath me on the seat. "It's a little complicated, and it could kill you if it goes wrong though."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 15, 2007 17:48:48 GMT -5
She was oozing something I couldn’t quite place. Fear? Disgust? Horror ? Perhaps a mix of all three. I saw her, wrapping around herself like a cat into a little ball of self-protection, and I had a moment of wild regret for taking such a young, youthful and pure creature into my world. Did I just render her own universe amiss? I repressed an urge to stroke her hand - and I almost apologized.
“I think I would tempt Lady Death herself, to be free of it,” I told her resolutely. “I do not fear it, I do not fear passing into the arms of Asherat’s passors, or Terre-d’Ange-That-Lies-Beyond. Kushiel can come for me – his punishment will be sweeter than this torment, Riva. Tell me, of this ritual.”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 15, 2007 20:39:55 GMT -5
"There is a ritual written of in a scroll that details the travels of a former Gentian adept after he left the House. He yearned to learn of the spirituality of other lands first hand and he traveled for decades. He stopped at a small village a few leagues outside of Meroe and begged shelter for the night. They granted him shelter, but told him he must stay in his hut until dawn and not come out for there was a sacred ritual to be preformed that night in the village. He kept his word and stayed in his hut, but to satisfy his curiosity he pried apart the sticks in the wall just enough so that he could watch what happened."
I stopped and took breath, wishing I'd asked for something to drink before I began talking so much.
"There was a young girl bound in the center of the village. She was screaming and crying, and appeared out of her mind. The villagers were chanting and their holy man was beginning a ritual. The adept… he was like me, a reader… and he focused on the girl, letting him see what was truly wrong with her. He describes it as if there was a figure made of shadow and oil devouring her very being." I shuddered slightly as I remembered how I felt reading the scroll, then hurried on. "The holy man performed a ritual and when it was over, the shadow was gone and the girl was fine."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 15, 2007 21:01:27 GMT -5
I listened to Riva with riveted attention, my ears drinking all that she said, my mind filling with memories of Meroe. "It sounds very Jebean indeed," I replied thoughtfully. "But I don't see, in what you are telling me, where the risks would lie..."
A lass came by, and I made a gesture to Riva - she needed to order something, lest the poor girl get a throat raw with exhaustion. I had a feeling her story would be somewhat longer yet.
A figure of shadow and oil devouring her very being. Was that what plagued me? Was that what she saw in me? I did not dare ask - the visual was too awful already.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 15, 2007 21:08:25 GMT -5
I asked the girl for tea and she went off with a smile. I wondered if she knew yet she was with child.
"The ritual… it's not simple," I explained. "He wrote down every detail, so it could be reenacted, so we can do it if you choose but you need to know the risk is very real. The snake I saw in the cursing ritual, we need one to remove the curse as well and it has to be in very close contact with you. Also, you would have to give some blood."
The girl returned with my tea and I stopped until she had left again.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 16, 2007 18:19:22 GMT -5
Ah, Asherat of the sea ! Snakes. I hate snakes.
I’d never developed a fondness for them – to the point that it was a teasing matter with To-Biko. I teased him about eating turtles, he teased me about fearing snakes. Would that I be as impervious to their slithering grime as he!
I wasn’t squeamish about blood though. I fought – I had killed on the battlefield. It wasn’t that bad of a thought – not as bad as that of the snake, anyway.
“I see,” I replied gravely, repressing a shudder of disgust. “You know To-Biko is also batting it. Will the ritual be performed for the both of us simultaneaously?”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 16, 2007 20:44:50 GMT -5
As I swallowed my sip of tea, I shook my head slightly.
"He hasn't asked for my help," I told Gillermo. "Does he want it removed?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 16, 2007 23:20:34 GMT -5
“I can’t imagine he wouldn’t want it removed,” I replied pensively. “Though he’s never mentioned it. You know, men…” I shrugged. He seemed to have it under better control than I. Mayhap it was that he wasn’t in love. “I will have a word with him, ask him what he thinks of it. If he wants to be helped, is it possible?”
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 17, 2007 22:09:38 GMT -5
"Yes, it can be done, but not at the same time. I don't know that I have the strength to perform two rituals at the same time," I said, my tone a bit apologetic. "To-Biko isn't in as much danger at the moment though. You are much further gone and we should see to you first."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 19, 2007 9:33:12 GMT -5
“I understand, Riva,” I replied gently. “So be it then. When the time comes, To-Biko will benefit from the trial, if he wishes to.”
I thought a moment, drumming my hand on the table, and the lass came. I ordered a light dinner for myself, and waited for Riva to place her order.
When she was gone, I looked up, considering the young adept a moment. “Thank you, Riva. I understand this will be rather exacting for you. I’m sorry,” I said with sincere gratitude and regret.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 20, 2007 12:53:29 GMT -5
"I only hope I can help you," I told him. I looked down for a moment before meeting his eyes again. "I will understand if you want someone… older and more experienced to handle this. Your life is in danger and that's all that matters."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 20, 2007 17:29:14 GMT -5
"I understand, Riva," I said quietly. "I'll just ask you to bide me time, that I may spend some time with my family and my loved ones, before we perform the ritual. Should anything go awry...." I paused, thinking. Would I die for it? I would definitely die for a chance to live with Mirielle our love.
That left me with other questions, and I took a moment to think. "Riva, what of my proposition? Should I survive it, would you accept that I buy your marque, and teach you all about the complications of my work?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 21, 2007 0:27:16 GMT -5
I floundered for a moment as I tried to gather my thoughts and remember the things I'd promised Aleron I would ask about.
"I… um…. I have to ask a few things first before I can accept," I told him, my tone now fully apologetic. I was no good at this.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 21, 2007 1:22:09 GMT -5
Oh, gods, poor thing. "Alright, I understand that," I replied quietly, though my smile was genuinely patient. "Do tell. First lesson : there is no possible agreement, without an open discussion..." I added with a teasing smile that was intended to be as rueful as it could be.
I looked at her in earnest quiet, waiting. I was ready for compromises - and I had faith that she wasn't going to be unreasonable.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 21, 2007 16:36:43 GMT -5
"If you purchase my marque, how long would I contracted to serve you?" I asked, remembering the two bigger concerns Aleron had. "And… and would you ever take me away from Terre d'Ange?"
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 21, 2007 18:24:47 GMT -5
Ah, the need for freedom. I looked at her with a gentle smile, and said, patiently, "Well, you would be free at the end of my assignment here, in two years," I replied after I thought on it a moment. "Though I should hope my teachings perhaps would give you the desire to continue on. As for travelling...." I thought on the matter a moment. "When my assignment here ends, you will have the choice, to come or not, as a free agent. Soon, I may have to travel to La Serenissima, and in fact I'm thinking I would ask you to... oversee things in my absence."
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 23, 2007 0:17:22 GMT -5
Two years? Only two years and I could be free to make decisions about my life for myself? I was nodding before I even spoke.
"Yes," I told him. "If, at the end of the ritual you still want me, then yes I come work for you." I reached across the table and touched his hand. "Thank you."
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 23, 2007 1:00:38 GMT -5
I grinned, rather pleased. "No, thank you, Riva," I replied soberly.
I added, on a quiet tone that hid my own mirth, "Oh, and I forgot - of course you will have adequate quarters at the townhome - and I would wager, no-one would quite notice if your Aleron came about once in a while, as long as you are... conspicuous. My head maid is a little traditionnal, being a goodly Caerdicci matron..." I ended that on a grin.
Such was my whim. If she were able to grant me freedom to love, she should have it in turn.
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 23, 2007 12:39:06 GMT -5
His words made me so happy, that I leaned across the table and kissed his cheek.
"Thank you, and I promise I will abide by the rules of your house," I told him, smiling nearly ear to ear.
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Post by Gillermo Stregazza on Nov 25, 2007 0:29:53 GMT -5
"I trust that you will," I replied with a gentle smile. "I wouldn't want you for my apprentice otherwise, now, would I?"
I shuffled with my drink, thinking. "I guess I should make arrangements to spend time with my family before the ritual. When do you expect we should start?"
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Post by Riva Carle (R) on Nov 25, 2007 13:23:17 GMT -5
"At the new moon," I said, settling back into my seat. "Will that be enough time for you?"
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