As Vanier and I left the tavern, still glancing over my shoulder in case the Paladins changed their minds about destroying me, he began walking directly towards the outside of town. Given that I didn't finish my supply run and had no idea where the ruins were, I tried to object, but he motioned me to relax, "I have tricks for living off the land and you don't need any survival supplies. I'm sure the reward for this will be larger than your average bounty."

Slightly alarmed, I addressed that immediately, "Larger than normal means higher profile than normal. I don't need to be famous or get any attention. Last thing I need is to be in the public eye."

Vanier nodded and spoke reassuringly, "That's the odd thing. Deal with people with a high enough profile and they actually pay you more to be invisible. The most you hear about a lot of us is whispers of rumors and a lot of nicknames. Some of us inherit them from the previous owner. Either way, you are in the major leagues now. I know you will do just fine." He laughed a little at my annoyance before centering himself some. "I am sorry I didn't ask your permission first but I figured this sounds like a quick job and we could both use the company. I imagine you don't travel in groups for more than business?"

I explained calmly, "Well, when most people think your existence is either an abomination or a legend, it is hard to find people you can drop your guard around." He nodded, as if he understood the picture. Still, I pressed, "How did you see through it? Those Paladins didn't seem to notice the disguise. So why did you?"

Vanier tapped his eye much to my annoyance, like I was supposed to know. He realized what the issue was and clarified, "I didn't really learn my lesson after these burns on my arms. I figured that if I was already marked by the first time then it didn't matter if it happened again. So my left eye doesn't see so well because of it, but the runic network on it is like staring through the surface of water. It makes tricks like yours work a little less effectively, letting me get a bit of a look underneath. The Commander works with taboo breakers all the time. Says it helps him keep tabs on us if something goes wrong. The most reasonable Paladin I've ever crossed paths with." He walked up to me and started to look over my body. Even though I looked like I was wearing plate mail, to be examined like this almost felt intrusive. I pulled my cloak closed which seemed to annoy him slightly. He threw up his hands and muttered something about maintenance before continuing down the path. "He said it was a set of ruins just outside of town. I've seen the maps and the only one that matches the description is Kazdei, The Blade of Earth. Runers called it that because of the sharp incline used to make the stairs into the entrance."

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Slightly offended I stated, "I've done my research, you know. I have been doing maintenance on my network for years without any complications." He nodded and waved me off, much to my annoyance. I followed him down the road some and to pass the time eventually asked, "So, is the Paladin back there your father? I heard his last name and just-"

He spoke coldly, "No. No, he is not. While legally we share the same last name, the man is not and will never be anything like a father to me. He helped me when I needed it one time and I keep his last name for protection and convenience. Not that I go by it much given my other title." At the time, I had not been following the tales and rumors of the land, mostly just the ones that lead to my quarry. So when he said his title, the silence that followed eventually became one of bewilderment and amusement on Vanier's part. "Have you not heard of Red Banner before? The scourge of the open sea? Pirate of Pirates?" I shrugged, having never gone out on the open sea before. Why would I? Swimming is truly outside of possible for me these days. Why would I wish to risk sinking deep beneath the waves from which I may never escape? He sighed with a smile, "That's it. When this is done, I'm taking you out on the Crimson Tide. You will love it."

"Not going to happen. No land for miles? Out where ocean spray and endless winds can blow me away? Not a chance at all." Vanier gave a mischievous smirk and I slowly began to realize that he had now dedicated himself to convincing me of the glorious splendor of the sea. How beautiful his life on the open waves were. I didn't know it yet, but I had just uncovered his greatest passion. More than his knowledge and manipulation of runic networks, every sentence that flowed from him about sailing and the crashing waves proving it more and more. As much as I was resistant to his charms, his endless stream of praise for the life within the sea and the life he lived upon it helped the time pass as we walked. I was so enthralled that I had hardly noticed the sun dip beneath the horizon or the amount of distance we had covered on this road in the moonlight. I kept expecting him to tire out. To grow weary or need a nap but he seemed as lively now as he had when I had seen him saunter into town. I knew he wasn't like me. That he still had blood, muscles, and organs. That he had limitations that I could no longer feel. But in this moment, whatever tricks he was using were enough for the illusion of comradery. The comforting lie that I wasn't alone anymore. The difference between this conversation and my mother's garden was only that he still drew breath. That there was still the faintest hope that he would be the exception. The first time in a long time where I had allowed myself to believe things were going to be okay.