Given his status and reputation as a monster on the battlefield, Riegar constantly found himself questioned. From recruits those questions would range from stories of his “heroics”, if one could call them that, to why he has refused retirement. He never gave them an answer for they were not something said recruits needed to know. It was far more important that they needed to know, and always pointed out they should be more concerned with their own skill so that they might not die.
Today, however, he was being asked a different question from a rather unique individual. Across him was a man far younger than him, who he had come to be rather well acquainted with during his time under Duke Bastion after instigating a bar fight with them. A bar fight which had spawned from Riegar mentioned his far more feminine appearance and that he, one of the most decorated knights in Reine, couldn’t help but feel embarrassed for. Whether it was because of the misgendering or the fact he had lost that brawl, he would never tell.
“You know, I can’t help but feel that someone of your skills should be doing a bit more than guard duty,” The man said, slamming down the mug of something alcoholic. The two had sat themselves in one of Makaus taverns, outside of course since Riegar was in fact supposed to be on duty at that moment. It was for that reason he did not join the man for a drink. “You surely have the renown to be among the King’s Guard. Even in your forties you fight better than most people half your age. So why not?”
Of all the questions Riegar had ever been asked, that was probably one of the few he didn’t mind. It was a decent question, after all, and he had been offered a position among the King’s Guard, considered the most elite knights in Reine who answered directly to King Sullivan. The man looked to Riegar, who was currently eyeing the fiare attendees and citizens that passed the street.
“Perhaps a younger version of me would have, but that isn’t my place,” Riegar explained without turning his head. “Duke Azkeith’s province is near the Acamus border, and when they next call for soldiers I will be there. The frontlines are better for what I wish,” He finally turned to the man. “In other words, the same reason you are here in Reine and not in New Numar, Alex.”
“I guess that is true, isn’t it?” the man, one Alex VerNero, asked rhetorically. He smiled as he said it, leaning back into the chair and bringing his hands behind his head. “Though you forgot to add in that Reine is not some blasted desert that manages to get sand into all the places that makes one uncomfortable.”
“Guess that would be even more true for you,” Riegar stated, getting a nod from Alex as he finished his sentence. “So, you were telling me about a new mark you got. I assume that means after the faire you will be leaving Makaus?”
“Yep, though I wouldn’t call it a new mark,” Alex explained. He shifted from relaxing back on the chair to bending forward. He took another small sip before continuing. “I told you about that Numaran general I started hunting some time ago? The one deemed a traitor?”
“You got a lead on him?” Riegar asked.
The smile on Alex’s face said it all. It was a smile so wide it went nearly malicious, making the knight more than worried. He could see the way their shoulders rose and fell, indicating a silent chuckle that lasted a good ten seconds. His eyes were closed for that entire period, only opening them again when his laughing fit was done. Crossing his legs, Alex once again turned to lean back against the chair.
“Word has reached me that said general is currently hiding in Barborassa. Not sure what he has done still, but the rewards for it will set me for a good while,” Alex said with enough cockiness and confidence that would make someone believe the mark had already been taken care of. “That’s what bounty hunters like me look for.”
“Then I wish you luck, and hope that things go well,” Riegar replied, crossing his arms as he looked back out into the crowd around him. “Also, for the sake of us knights and soldiers, don’t make to–“
“Excuse me, sir knight!”
Riegar’s words were cut short as he heard someone speak out to him. Looking through the crowd, he noticed a familiar figure in the crowd for a few days prior. Soliene waved at him, Nyal and Reonda behind her with the latter looking more than a little concerned for the Numaran. Riegar got up, turning back to Alex who was staring at Soliene with narrowed eyes. He decided it was best to not ask about whatever was going through his head.
“Seems my assistance is required. I’ll see you after my shift,” Riegar said, giving a formal bow.
“Tepra, I’ll finish this then and go enjoy the festivities a bit more. See if any of the merchants have stuff I might like,” Alex said, bow his head in respect to the older man. He then dramatically pointed to Soliene, who was still waving at him. “Now, go be some young kid’s hero. Help her find her parents or whatever.”
Riegar shook his head at Alex’s way of speaking, but once again remained quiet about it. As he turned and made his way over to Nyal, Soliene, and Reonda, Alex rested an elbow on the table and rested his arm in that hand. He chuckled, for while he knew Riegar likely couldn’t see through the disguise he could. Afterall, they weren’t the first Numaran he had run into. The disguise was common but effective, at least when one wasn’t half-numaran themselves.
“Clever. Very very clever,” He whispered. “Wonder how long that disguise will hold up. This Is only a matter of time till you end up in trouble,” His smile grew even wider. “If you weren’t already, that is. You should have stayed in your den, beastkin.”
“You remember what I said, right Nyal?” Soliene asked in Harparic, a hint of command in her voice.
“Don’t say anything about your heritage. Don’t worry, I won’t,” Nyal said with a smile, hiding the slight worry in her voice. One of her talons trailed the ground, taking deep breaths. “This is really my first time talking to a human like this. Even if my words are just translated, it’s gonna be scary.”
Soliene smiled under her mask, playfully rubbing the Harpen's head. She then turned back to Riegar, who had nearly made his way to them at that point. Reonda could feel her heart beat faster and faster the closer he got, knowing well who it was that stood before her. There wasn’t a single soul from Acamus that didn’t know of him, and she wasn’t entirely sure if Soliene had chosen him on purpose or by pure chance.
“Afternoon, miss. You're the girl from a few days ago, aren’t you?” Riegar asked.
“Yes, sir knight. The name is Soliene,” Soliene said, curtsying to the knight. Reonda couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow at how easily the girl fell into playing a character. “I wish that this second meeting could be under good circumstances, but I’m here because of some dear friends of mine.”
“I wouldn’t exactly say we’re friends but… whatever,” Reonda replied, shrugging her shoulders. She held her left hand out towards the knight, who noticed it was shaking quite a bit. “Reonda Perciple. It is good to meet you, Deathwisher.”
Reonda knew before she spoke that saying her full name was a bad idea. The fact Riegar’s face shifted into a grimace the moment she said her last name confirmed that. She curled her right hand into a fist, looking at Soliene. They were staring right at her as well, and the combined glare of them both made her feel really uncomfortable.
“I assume there is a–“
“Nyal Mols Mors, sir knight,” Nyal said with her best attempt to put on a cheery smile.
Riegar and Soliene both looked at the hen, whose smile only made it even more clear she had no idea what was going on. Reonda let out a sigh of relief, petting Teolus in an attempt to calm herself further. Soliene facepalmed at Nyal’s horrible timing while the hen and Riegar stared at each other. Nyal glanced for a moment at the Numaran and, realizing she had messed up, blushed and turned away in embarrassment.
“S-sorry,” Nyal apologized.
“I know what my parents are responsible for, and if you would want to make an example out of me when this is all done I understand,” Reonda said, getting things back on track. She put her hands behind her back, Riegar looking at her confused. “Just, before that, I ask you to help Nyal. She is here to ask for Duke Azkeith’s help.”
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“I’m here to make sure Reonda doesn’t go back on her word, as well as to be a translator for Nyal,” Soliene explained, not noticing the slight surprise in Riegar at hearing the second part. Hearing the doubt Soliene had for her made Reonda’s heart ache slightly. “The Harpen trusts her, so give her a chance. Especially if she isn’t lying about being the one who had been sabotaging Acamus months back.”
Riegar closed his eyes and thought about it for a few seconds. Clearly he had not given Soliene’s education as much credit as he should have. Who she was under the robes, he didn’t know, but she was most likely some merchant or artisan's daughter. That would be the best explanation of how she could act as a translator. That was not the part he should be questioning, however.
She looked to Reonda, then to the hawk on her shoulder. It felt near impossible to think that a Perciple would willingly allow a bird to perch on them, but no one would willingly claim they were a Perciple to begin with. He then turned to Nyal, wondering how she could trust someone with such an upbringing. It quickly dawned on him that he was somehow considering Reonda was telling him the truth.
He would have arrested her right there, if someone else hadn’t spoken up.
“Reonda tells the truth, Sir Riegar.”
Nyal perked up, recognizing the voice immediately. She, along with the others, looked to the right and watched as Klaus made his way towards them. Truth be told he had been watching the entire exchange, and while part of him knew getting involved could work against him, he couldn’t stand still. He could not bring himself to see an innocent life possibly put at risk, though he knew “innocent” was probably an exaggeration given what he knew of Reonda.
“Klaus!” Nyal called out happily. The man looked to the hen, an awkward smile on his face. At least she didn’t know yet. He was thankful for that. “It’s good to see you again!”
Reonda and Soliene looked between the hen and man, feeling more than a little confused. While Reonda did so with no idea what was being said, Soliene was simply wondering how the two knew each other. Klaus ignored the confused glances, gave a small wave to Nyal, and turned his attention to the knight. He bowed before speaking.
“Klaus Velstrum, at your service. I can personally assure you, being a former citizen of Acamus myself, that young Reonda is telling the truth,” Klaus explained to Riegar as he rose from his bow. A confident smile was on his face. “Her own dear parents branded her a traitor for having freed prisoners among several other things. I don’t blame you though for not knowing; Acamus wouldn’t dare let the news escape when it would empower the people of Reine.”
Reonda gritted her teeth, hating the almost poetic way in which the man talked. She could feel Il’jan’i trying to crawl its way back up the more it went on. The only thing that kept her in control was the knowledge that, despite sounding as if he was taking some pleasure in her pain, Klaus was trying to help. She would be sure to give him a punch in the gut later though for his delivery.
“Sir Klaus is correct,” Reonda replied, hanging her head in a sign of humility. “I know it may be hard to believe, but it is the truth. Still, if it would make you comfortable, I would gladly turn myself,” She took a deep breath in, the next few words said with a mix of guilt and hate. “It is what I deserve, after all.”
Soliene’s mouth went ajar as she heard those words, then closed it. Riegar looked at Klaus, then at Reonda, then back at Klaus again. He had no clue who the man was, and questioned in his mind if the Acamian’s were part of some inside job, but kept it to himself. He would inform the Duke about it at some point; the man was better at sniffing out lies than most anyone Riegar knew.
“Then we shall hold you to your word, Perciple,” Riegar told Reonda. The Acamian smiled sadly, and gave a nod. “Though I regret to inform you that, due to the faire, Duke Azkeith is not seeing anyone at the time. You wouldn’t mind waiting a day, I hope.”
“Not at all. Though if you can get us to meet him sooner, that would be most reassuring,” Reonda replied with a shake of her head. “We shall meet outside the castle gates tomorrow.”
Riegar nodded and bid them all farewell for the time being. As he walked off, the three girls switched their attention to the only remaining man before them. Nyal smiled at the man, remembering the short meeting between him and her some days prior. Said remembrance also quickly brought to mind the book he carried, and how it was similar to that of hers and Reondas.
“Thanks for the help, Sir Klaus,” Reonda said, managing to conjure a smile of her own into existence. “I doubt things would have gone that well without your intervention.”
“Well, the white knight always arrives at the last second right? Just playing the part,” He joked, making himself chuckle in the process. Nyal found his chuckle infectious and couldn’t help but giggle as well. Soliene just rolled her eyes. “In all seriousness though, you see one from your homeland getting wrongfully targeted, and you expect me to stand by? If your “traitorous actions'' mean anything, it shows you are more than the Perciple you were born as.”
“Thanks, Sir Klaus,” Reonda replied, bowing to him. That had been one of the most genuinely nice things she had heard in a long while.
As that conversation took place, Soliene turned to Nyal. The Harpen had, like she had from most of the day, been looking at those around her with a smile on her face. The Numaran couldn’t help but be a bit jealous of the ignorance the hen was able to keep. Though her situation was not the best, the smile had always managed to remain on her face for all to see. At best it was a show of the girl’s strength. At worst it was a well made facade to hide the hurt deep down. Soliene hoped for the former over the latter.
“You know this Human, I take it?” Soliene asked the girl. Nyal nodded. “I guess we can assume he is a friend then.”
“Yep!” Nyal answered with the cheer of a toddler. She then looked away sheepishly. “Well, more acquaintances than anything. He visited us the last day I was with my parents. He also has a Historia,” Suddenly, it dawned on Nyal what that meant. “Wait, if that is the case then…”
Nyal couldn’t finish her sentence, her heart beating rapidly and her smile disappearing. She looked to Klaus, taking a hesitant step back as she remembered what the Historia had told her.
"I am sorry young lady, but for the safety of one of Rag’na’rog’s Oracles I can’t reveal that."
“All three vessels are right here,” Soliene said, finishing the sentence. Her mouth was once again ajar under her mask. She looked between Reonda, Klaus, and Nyal, unable to help but feel a little lightheaded as she tried to grasp what was in front of her.
Klaus and Reonda looked to the Numaran, clutching her head. With it, Nyal’s attention turned away from Klaus and to Soliene as well. She tried her best to not faint, shaking her head as if that didn’t do anything but make the world spin more. Mere seconds later she found her attempts to be futile, fainting and falling backwards. Reonda and Klaus quickly caught her, pulling her back onto her feet, with Klaus hoisting her onto his back after. Nyal, despiting knowing he was doing his best to help, felt a part of her blood boil as soon as Klaus had touched Soliene.
“Not now, Darling. This is not the time for questions.”
Nyal’s eyes went wide, looking around her for the source of the voice. She picked up no one in the crowd watching her, and she reasoned that it was just part of a conversation she had heard. Still, the voice of whoever had spoken, having a motherly and caring tone, was correct. This was not the time, especially when the only way for her to speak with him was currently out cold.
“You okay Soliene?” Reonda asked as the Numaran slowly recovered from her lightheadedness. Nyal looked back to them, allowing her worry for Soliene to take priority. Soliene held her head in her hands again, still clearly distraught. “Soliene?”
“Three vessels, right before my eyes,” She whispered, Reonda and Klaus sharing a surprised expression at her words before looking at each other. “It’s official. This day is gonna be the end of me.”