And so once more months did go on, and for our Kingdom, it was a good few months. What limited banditry assaulted travelers having all but disappeared. The Kingdom was largely at peace, prosperous, and other than at least one noteworthy incident, wisely ruled. Corruption limited as it was, likewise that had been disappearing from the lands. Winter was on its wane, once more the air was cool, but the Sun was warm, and sleeves were short. I mean... except for our dear Revenant, his style of dress has changed none. not for the depth of the winter, not for spring, and likely not for Summer.
Unlike the last time we peeked in on him, he is more.. groomed. His facial hair still present in all of its black bristliness, but it is trimmed short. His hair still long and unbound, but at least groomed into passing neatness. And where is he? But sitting calmly in a chair in front of the currently vacant desk of the Capital. That blade that keeps him company rested across the desk, one leg folded over the other, a rare show of those thick leather-soled boots dangling clearly out from the shadows of his long coat.
His eyes, softly luminous in that sickly shade of purple turned to the door as it opens, seeing a scribe of some sort, not the Captain himself, roll in exasperation. Not everything can go to plan, can it? His lips part to speak in that strange tongue, interrupting the scribe who did not expect such a dark countenance inside the captain's office before she can speak
"Wide-eyed, unsoiled, is the Lamb." and with those words the scribe's face blanked, falling into a trance. Shaking his head with minor frustration he simply points to the far corner of the room. "Do be a kind girl, and stand quietly in the corner. Close your ears and hear nothing." He said in that melodic Northern accent of his and watched the woman do as she is bid... only to realize the door was still open. he clucked his tongue and stood with another shake of his head, not even able to even suggest she return to close it, so diligently was she not listening after all. he slowly closed the door before he returned to his seat and... resumed waiting.
Not too much later did the captain finally enter his office, eyes first caught by the scribe waiting off in the corner, a perturbed confusion crossing his face. Once more, our revenant did interrupt before words could be said. "Do please close the door, and have a seat captain, don't mind the scribe. we have things to discuss.'' With that, the Captain's gaze slid to the man darkening his office.. and to the ornate blade almost haphazardly laid across the desk as if it was lounging out and stretching its legs across his scrollwork and reports.
The Captain, tall, fit, adorned in armor, plate probably though the tabard of his office obscured most everything but the chain shirt. He looked to the Revenant and narrowed his eyes, but seeing the coat, he assumed this was official business. So our Captain choked back whatever indignities he felt like addressing at this unannounced visit and moved around to his desk.. and sat. "So what brings you to me, The Royal Army doesn't often interact with the Guard." He said curtly, and in response, our Revenant just smiled.
"While I appreciate the Decorum, and it does suit you well, I am not in the habit of lying. I am not with the Royal Army, nor have I been for almost a year." The Revenant spoke as the door just.. closed on its own. "Our Business is a bit more, interpersonal I suppose." The Revenant spoke with a shrug, the Captain became warier... His eyes darted to the sword laid across his desk, Eliciting an amused exhale through the Revenant's Nose. "Ohh I wouldn't advise grabbing that blade, it's terribly picky about who wields it."
At that, the Captain Cleared his throat. "Then Tell me, what can I do for you, Citizen?" he said, adopting his authority like a mantle to try and push things along. This action only brought another quirked smile from our revenant. "Well you see, I seek information on your donors." the Revenant said as he stood, and walked over to the scribe, still standing in place with all the vacancy of livestock. He faced her, back to the Captain. Black-gloved hands reached up to sort through her hair as he spoke. "We're going to try and make this as simple as can be, just a few simple rules." The Captain raised a brow at this, both agitation and Curiosity mounting on his expression, his tongue held as the Revenant continued. "Grab the blade, and there will be a new captain after they give up looking for you. Lie to me, and the Scribe pays for it, perhaps with a finger, perhaps an Eye.." he said tilting his face to the side as he examined her a bit closer. "No probably not an eye, would be a shame to ruin her face."
The Captain did stand in response to this, grabbing his own blade without drawing it as the Revenant turned to face him finally. The Captain Spoke, Aggression in his tone, a challenge, an assertion of Dominance and authority. "And what makes you think you can threaten me in my own office, Theris Vagrant." The Revenant smiled, and just responded coolly. "Power." And for one moment, depending on who you asked, the revenant, or the captain and scribe.. it was but a second... or perhaps it was dozens of them, drawn out in terror as the room filled with whispers, hundreds of them. It was as if they were far enough away no words could be spoken, but tone and intention were clear as can be, some wrathful, some mournful, others manic and excited, some still plead for only the revenant knows what.
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The Revenant took a moment to stroke the Scribe's hair, to calm her. "Ohh ignore that, it was not meant for you." He said softly to the vacant woman who would not hear those words. Turning back to the captain he gave an almost apologetic smile before he spoke. "See, I understand you are largely dutiful, stalwart in your job, whilst I cannot speak of your personality... Most people have nothing but respect for you. I would hate to have to roll the die on what your replacement would be like. I simply want those that Tarnish your Honor." he said walking over to the Captain those few steps. "Is that really such a hateful thing?" He said looking into the Captain's Eyes with those haunted orbs of his own. A shudder overcame the captain as he sat back, calming himself as the Revenant left him and walked back around the desk, to sit back in the chair.
With a Sigh, the captain thought on those words, silence filling the room for a few long minutes before finally, he spoke. "These are who you are looking for..." and to this, The Revenant smiled, listened.. and afterward left. No need for bloodshed or Trauma here, now is there?
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Later that evening, not too long after the Sun finished its dance with the Aurora of dusk, Our Revenant was once more, sitting and waiting. This time at a tavern, a rather nice one that catered to the skilled tradesmen and women of the capital, merchants, and other people of means but without rank and clout to own land and have cooks and servants of their own. The Captain had taken less time than he was expecting, but then the man was rather reasonable after all. This time he was waiting on Two men of means, and unlike the Captain, they had been notified beforehand that it was happening.
They Arrived, Northerners like our Revenant.. Or Therisians as you might have deduced from our Captain's slur. Unlike the Revenant, their hair was pulled back in a series of subtle functional braids, and their long coats were made of colorful linens with a tabard over the front, showing their status as the Leaders of their Order. The mood was Somber, as news had reached them by now of the slaughter of their once home, and this was their first meeting with the only other person of their Village beside them to still be alive.
They sat without a word, Nodding to the Revenant, who nodded to them in turn. A few solemn moments passed before the taller of the two spoke. "We heard what happened to our Home..." at this the Revenant sneered softly. "Ohh did you now, of how they sent not a single blade to honor the Oath?" the way they both recoiled at the words made it plain they had not. "We... No.. we had not." They said letting the silence linger once more. It was the Revenant who broke the Silence this time. "I called you, my brothers here, to figure out if you were to be added to My home's Funeral pyre." The shorter of the two curled a lip before retorting "Our home." to which the Revenant snorted before replying. "No. No, it is not. You chose to live in these soft lands, if I hear of your two calling Yourselves Da'Rou I will remove every connection you have to this land so you will have nothing holding you back from going back to your birthplace and making good of such a claim." his voice had taken on an acidic edge by the last of those words.
The tension sitting between the three before the shorter of the two spoke once more. ".. you are right of that. I apologize." He said, to which the Revenant nodded, The Taller called to a serving maid to bring them some drinks before turning back to the Table to speak. "So tell us, Brother, is that why you called us here, to tell us that?" he said, the tension still in his voice. "To threaten us? You're not alone in that loss." the tall one spoke, trying to ease the tension. To this, the revenant inhaled softly and gave an exhale. "No. No, I came to tell you that you must disband your orders.. live here.. move to another village, it matters not. The Crown no doubt broke its Oath because... for the first time since making it, he had no incentive to do so." he said before waving to them both. "he has you, training soldiers.. wedding Locals, if I am not mistaken by those braids." he said with a dismissive disgust in his tone. the two looking... horrified at the realization, Guilt outweighed offense at his tone.
The Drinks arrived, but none partook, sitting in brooding silence, even as the Revenant looked on wistfully at.. who knows what he saw with those changed eyes. "The Crown is to gain nothing from breaking their Oath." The Revenant spoke, and the two nodded, letting the thoughtful silence rule for a moment longer before the shorter spoke up once more. "There is no disagreement, but the crown will not just.. let us go." And to this Revenant smirked. "The Crown will have other concerns, you have my blessing to wait to disband your Orders till the Crown has been dealt with, which I will need no help from you both with." the Revenant said, turning to look at them before continuing. "All the same, should they come from you, cut them down. Any who would stand for the oath breakers are to die. if you die, I promise you those who hunted you will not have neither ancestors nor descendants living." he said before standing up. "I have things to do still, my once brothers. Drink and Remember."
With that, he left them both to wander out into the night, no doubt to haunt the short remains of a few unfortunate lives he had very recently gotten the identities of just this very day from a Dutiful Captain.