The Truth of the Matter

Monday, June 8, 1529
--------------------------

As usual, Tirvor watched from a perch high up on a hill just outside of the village of Mont Pierre. The various groups were heading back to their respective camps. The most recent victory in the war belonged to Sir François. We had overrun the fort that housed men loyal to his cousin, Adrien, and taken over. This would limit his cousin's ability to cut off the supplies to his army - well, my army, actually - that wes besieging the castle. If it continued to go this well, the battle would be won before the winter.

Looking down below, he noticed Sir Francois talking to his various allies, including la Meute, Firodan, and a few others. They had helped win that battle. But so did others...

With that, Tirvor turned to look at the soldiers from Vauraken. They were packing their gear and items, obviously intending to leave the area of Mont Pierre. They had failed in the mission to capture the Book of Legion. No doubt they would be back for that, and Beregon would once more become the hunted. There was obviously no love lossed between the Meute and the Vaurakiens, and Tirvor suspected that future meetings between them will probably be bloody.

Shame really, since they were good people to fight alongside. Tirvor had fought with them against the strange creature in the tree, and likewise in the attack on the fort. True, their shifting allegiance has caused much confusion and hatred. None of the others trusted them at all. And with reason. Even Tirvor had been attacked by them when they switched side, twice, in the middle of the battle against the enemy messenger. They had apparently wanted to avoid bloodshed. Noble intentions... but badly executed. Really badly executed.

But they fought well. Perhaps I can find a use for them, put their skills to a better cause than they were being used for now, Tirvor mused. I just need to figure out some goal or objective we both have in common. He should go and talk to them, learn more about them. But talking to the Vaurakiens was not his priority.

For now, Tirvor had to prepare for his own journey. The locals of the village of Mont Pierre had talked about a sage that was located about a week away from here. Tirvor had some questions he needed to have answered, to determine the source of the nightmares.

With that, he got up and walked down the hill and headed toward le Comte de la Britain. Once there, he informed Sir François that he would be leaving for a few weeks. With the fort captured, the army had the advantage for now, and surely he could manage on his own without Tirvor and Draken for now. Sir François was curious as to were Tirvor was going, but Tirvor didn't answer, stating only that there was something he needed to do.

He talked with Draken and the two were ready to leave. But before he would go, Tirvor had someone he really wanted to talk to first. There had been two occasions when they tried to talk since she re-appeared in his life just a few days ago, but neither conversation had gone well... not even close to what he actually wanted to say.

Tirvor told Draken he'd be right back, leaving to find Domino. But before he left, he saw the Countess Laure-Emanuelle approaching both of them.

D'un pas leger elle approcha Sir Tirvor et Draken . elle inclina la tete en salutation a Sir Tirvor.

-- mon seigneur .

ensuite elle detourna son regard doux malgre ses yeux blanc vers Draken, elle lui sourit en prenent une grande respiration laissant ses joues rougir legerement. Regardant les deux hommes elle repris un peu ses esprits. Ses mains entrelacer devant sa poitrine et mordillant sa levre inferieur. La nervositer etait apparente dans ses gestes.

-- messieur, vous savez que je viens de revenir , bien en sorte , nous avons regler un problem, parcontre il en reste encore a faire. Comte Adrien de la Britain comme vous le savez a pris nos terres et Sir Tirvor je suis tres reconnaissante pour ce que votre armer fait pour les retrouver.

Sir Francois comptais sur la force mais je crois que parfois la force n'est pas le meilleur moyen. Donc de ma part j'aimerai prendre un moyen beaucoup plus politique. Je voudrai envoyer un message au Comte Adrien de la Britain pour parlementer .

elle regarda autour d'elle pour s'assurer que Sir Francois n'etait pas pres d'elle pendant cette conversation.

-- je vais envoyer un messager aupres de Sir Adrien, si il accepte mon entretien j'aurai besoin d'un escorte ......

ses yeux se dirige vers Draken , elle voudrai si bien lui entrelacer ses doigts avec les siens mais elle se retenait si bien, elle ne quitta pas du regard Draken mais continua de parler avec Sir Tirvor

-- ma question est celle-ci ... me serai t-il possible de prendre Draken comme escorte, je ne doute aucunement de son travail et j'ai eu la chance de le voir a l'oeuvre a quelque reprise.


encore un fois elle regarda Tirvor

--et si possible de garder le secret , je ne crois pas que Sir Francois approuverait de mon plan. quand penser vous monseigneur ?

At first he smiled as he saw the countess approach the two of them. He had felt an immense sense of relief ever since the Countess had finally been exorcised of her demon. When he realised how nervous the Countess was as she started talking, he raised an eyebrow in curiosity. As she finally told them of her plan, he had the look of suprise on his face as he looked at his friend and watched for his reaction. He thought to himself that he did not think it was the best, or safest of ideas but he was also telling himself that he could not let her go by herself. He kept silent and his gaze went from the Countess to Tirvor, awaiting for an answer.

Tirvor listened carefully to the Countess. Although he was present when she was exorcised, he still wondered, not for the first time, if part of Legion was still there. Her white eyes certainly did not help.

He nodded his head and rubbed his forehead as he thought about how he would answer her questions. The way Draken and Laure-Emanuelle were looking at each other certainly played a factor in his response.

<< Pour répondre strictement à tes questions, la réponse serait oui pour les deux. Oui, vous pouvez avoir les services de Draken, s'il en est d'accord lui-même. Et oui je garderai le secret. >>

After all, concerning the Countess and Draken, it wouldn't be the first secret he was keeping.

<< Mais je doit questionner la sagesse de votre plan. Je pense vraiment pas que ca va fonctionner. Sire Adrien a rien fait pour essayer d'arriver à une entente entre lui et votre mari. Il est asiègé en ce moment, et nous venons de détruire une partie de ces forces qui coupait les provisions à mon armé. Ca serait normalement une mauvaise situation pour lui... mais il ne semble pas vouloir se rendre. Donc il croit certainement qu'il a encore l'avantage. >>

<< Ceci me laisse à croire qu'il a quelquechose d'autre gardé en réserve pour lui donner cette confiance de victoire. Peut-etre ces alliers s'en viennent lui aider. Apres tout, si Sire Adrien était seul, la couronne royale n'aurait pas peur d'intervenir sur le coté de Sire François, avec l'armé de La Rochelle. Mais la couronne a rien fait sauf donner permission à Sire François d'essayer par lui-même. >>

<< Notre seule avantage est le fait qu'on l'a surprit. Il s'attendait pas que Sire François soit capable de ramasser une telle armé dans si peut de temps, et cette surprise nous a permit de lui asièger. Mais la surprise est fini. Il va commence à élever ses propres forces, et ces alliers - dont j'en suis certain existent même si on en a pas entendue parlé encore, vont faire pareille. Si nous avions pas une victoire concrète d'ici quelques mois, ou que nous obtenons pas d'autre alliers nous-même, j'ai peur que nous allons perdre. >>

Tirvor raised his hand to stall the response he saw comming.

<< Oui, ceci veut dire que convaincre Sire Adrien de se rendre nous permetrait une victoire rapide. Je ne le ni pas cet fait. Mais le problème est le rique. Si au lieu Adrien vous prend prisonière, c'est toute foutue. Ca nous forcerais à arreter, et, de là, ses renforts vont avoir le temps d'y arriver avant la victoire. Dans une siège normalle, avec des forces à l'équilibre, ca vaudrait la peine. Mais dans notre situation du moment, je crois personellement que vous prennez des risques très élevés pour une chance minimale de gagner quelquechose. C'est pour cela que je croit que c'est un mauvais plan. >>

<< Moi je suis ici, avec mon armé, pour aider le Comte and la Comtesse de la Britain. Je suis donc à votre services, gente dame. Mais je recommende fortement que tu en parle à ton mari avant. >>

Tirvor then turned to face Draken. << As I said, the choice to accompany her will be yours. While I was about to leave, I can wait a few days, and in any case I do not need you by my side for this journey. It should be safe... and perhaps someone else might follow instead. >>

<< But helping the Countess will be dangerous, unless you come up with a really safe means of meeting him face to face. And while normally that would be a reason not to let you go, I can understand why you would want to. After all, I was just as stupid and followed someone all the way to the Pass, which was even more dangerous than this plan. And as you know, that cost me - or rather us - dearly. It's only fair to let you make foolish decisions with your heart as well. >>

Tirvor kept a close eye on the countess as he spoke to Draken, wanting to see her reaction.

Draken was visibly uncomfortable after he realised Tirvor had given him permission to do whatever his heart desired on the situation. He scratched his head and looked at both of them once, and then kept his gaze on Laure-Emanuelle as he spoke up.

"Je n'aime pas ce plan. Les risques sont trop elever, et les chances de succes sont trop basse. Je ne doute pas de mes abiliters ou les votres, mais dans cette situation nous sommes presque sur d'entrer dans un piege, et le resultat du piege n'est pas tres positif; ma mort plus ou moin certaine et une otage d'importance qui pourrait pousser Sir Francois a laisser tomber le siege et ses terres."

Il soupira et baissa son regard par terre en continuant de parler.

"Cependant, il n'y a aucune chance que je vais vous laisser y aller seule, la decision est la votre."

Remplie d'inquietude elle fixa Draken dans ses yeux doux. Ses paroles etait sage mais vrai. Vulnerable a ce qui ce passais avec le Comte Adrien de la Britain elle essaya par tout les moyen d'offrir sont aide. Laure-Emanuelle baissa les yeux et reprit avec une douce voix.

-- vous avez raison, il serai impossible d'en sortir de cette situation. c'est plus grave que je ne le croyais.

elle regarda Tirvor pour un moment avant de revenir a Draken

-- il y a surement quelque chose que je puisse faire. une lettre? ... un message plus menacant. je ne sais pas ... je ne peux pas rester ainsi a regarder mes terres de faire encloutir par ce cousin, qui ce crois maitre de la conter.

une seconde fois elle baissa les yeux et mordilla sa levre inferieur, les idees lui tournait dans la tete. Peu-etre attendre et faire des gestes encore plus secrets, attendre que tout les gens dorment ou soi partie, personne ne l'arreterai a ce moment. une lettre choquante qui fera agir le Comte Adrien de la britain. et encore plus les idees etait meler elle ne savais plus quoi penser . Laure leva les yeux vers les deux hommes qui se tenai devant elle.

-- auriez - vous un autre plan ? .. peu-etre ... sieger sans action accomplira pas a grand chose ... nous devons agir ! nous avons deja la forteress ... il nous faux maintenant le manoir et les terres. Libere les habitants des mains de Adrien.



relacant ses doigts pret de sa poitrine, les signes d'impuissance a la situation etait apparente. ses yeux blancs se tourna encore une fois vers Draken elle le regarda profondement.

Tirvor could tell she was impatient. He reognized many of the signs that use to plague him long ago... well, not that long ago, actually. It was the Pass that had changed him.

<< Tu pourais bien écrire des lettres à Sire Adrien. De cette façon, tu pourrais essayer de la diplomacie. Oui, ca prendra plus de temps qu'une rencontre face à face, mais tu ne te mettera pas personellement en danger. Donc aucun risque à notre cause. >>

<< Et je suis certain que Sire Francois serait prèt à t'aider avec les lettres. Je pense pas qu'il aurait des objections à ça. Ca sera une bonne façon d'aider à la cause. >>

Tirvor waited to see if the Countess would be willing to accept this suggestion.

As Tirvor spoke of sending a letter instead of people for the negotiations, he slowly nodded his head and smiled at the countess. He thought this was the better idea, even if he thought time for negotiations were over. He crossed his arms as he spoke.

"Je pense qu'un lettre serait la meilleure sollution. Les chances de succes serait les memes, mais au moin avec une lettre, il n'y aurais plus de risque."

d'un simple mouvement de la tete elle affirma la desicion prise , parcontre ses penser etait ailleurs. on voyais dans ses yeux blancs qu'elle mijotais un autre plan

-- tres bien j'ecrirais les lettres et les fera signer en mon nom et celui de Sir Francois. il est jamais trop tard pour quelque message .. je m'arrangerais pour le messager ...

elle detourna les yeux briefement et laissa un sourire en coin apparaitre avant de le faire disparaitre et de retourner ses yeux vers les hommes.

-- et pour vous qu'aller vous faire ? ... vous etiez sur le point de partir.

Tirvor was glad that Dame Laure-Emanuelle had found a way to keep herself busy - and useful - to the battle against Sir Adrien.

When she asked her question as to where he was going, Tirvor wasn't sure he wanted to answer that.

<< Nous quittons Mont Pierre pour quelques semaines. Il y a quelquechose qu'on a besoin de vérifier, et des rumeurs nous ons pointé vers quelqu'un qui pourrait peut-être nous donner des réponses. >>

Tirvor took a moment to scan the area, watching everyone go about their business; the Devoniens, the Meute, Pigeon and his followers, as well as the others.

<< Notre victoire sur le fort nous donne l'avantage pour le moment. Sire François va être capable de garder tout sous controle sans moi pour quelques jours. Il n'y devrait pas avoir de problèmes pendant qu'on est partie. >>

Tirvor then looked from the Countess to Draken, and back to the Countess.

<< Mais nous sommes pas oubligé de partir maintenant. Je suis certain que notre départ peut attendre à demain. J'avais quelquechose que je voulais faire avant quand même. >>

ecoutant les plan de Tirvor et ensuite son regard et commentaire elle rougit d'avantage. et baissa la tete.

--tres bien c'est comme vous voulez , j'espere que votre sejour loin de nos sera profitable et sans danger.

au dernier commentair de Tirvor Laure-Emanuelle regarda Draken et lui sourit peu-etre acceptera t'il une invitation quelconque elle attendit un peu que Tirvor se detourne avant de chuchoter a Draken .

elle prit quelque pas vers Draken et lui demande si doucement.

-- si vous voulez bien mon cher Draken m'accorder une soiree au clair de lune il y a deja longtemps que nous avons discuter. j'ai besoin de parler de ce que j'ai vue et j'ai besoin de savoir ce qui c'est passer durant mon absence ...

elle lui sourit avec les yeux remplis de passion.

Il jeta a coup d'oeil pour faire sur que personne ne remarquerait leur conversation personelle et sourit en fesant un signe de tete.

"Bien sure, gente dame. Il me ferait plaisir de vous accorder une soiree, nous avons tant a discuter!"

Il rit un peu en finissant sa phrase et lui jeta un clin d'oeil

Tirvor walked away, leaving Draken and Dame Laure-Emanuelle to enjoy the rest of the day and evening together, catching up on events over the last several months. Besides, Tirvor did have something else to do... or more specifically, someone to see.

Tirvor walked down from the hill, down the trail toward her camp. He paused along the way a couple of times, realizing that he wasn't really sure what he wanted to say... or how to say it. He just knew that he needed to fix things, and make them better, as they use to be before. But ultimately, after each pause, he started he walk again, getting closer to his objective.

Tirvor finally arrived at her camp. He nodded in greeting to Wulf and Topanga. Eliam, Beregon, and Winsthroft were also there. << Sires, >> he said to both Eliam, a Knight of the Heart, and Winsthroft, the new Marquis. But he continued on his way, as they weren't the ones he wanted to talk to this evening.

He saw Domino sitting at the table not far from the fire. He paused again, watching her for a while. Other than the last three days, he hadn't really seen her in over half a year. And, in all honesty, he hadn't seen her all that much over the last three days. His attempts at talking to her hadn't gone well. Not well at all. It seemed that the words he wanted to say somehow never came out of his mouth. She must have some sort of Valédens-granted ability to befuddle his mind.

She looked up and saw him. Tirvor shifted uncomfortably, sort of smiled, then sighed, and shook his head. Might as well just approach now. He came to sit beside her.

<< Ca va ? >> he asked.

<< Je me demandais... si... >> he paused a bit. << si je pouvais te parler. J'aimerais recommencer la discussion d'avant-hier. Vraiment recommencer. >> Tirvor held his eyes low, obviously worried about the answer he was going to receive.

Domino shrugged at his first question. Things were… abnormal. She didn’t feel like herself and felt like she lived her life in a constant cloud of haze.

However, she couldn’t help but smile interiorly at his proposal. She lifted her head and did a half-sigh. She got up, and extended her hand to Tirvor to help him get up. Domino checked to see if Sir François was around. She saw that he was meditating near the fire, so she mentioned to Nienna that she was going for a walk.

They set off, Domino trying to keep her emotions in check while listening to what Tirvor had to say.

Tirvor accepted her hand and got up from his seat. As they left, Tirvor started to realize he still wasn't exactly sure about what he was going to say to her. He remained quiet for the first while, content to be taking a simple walk with the priestest. He could tell that Domino was waiting for him to say something. Occasionally, he'd start to say something but stop, shake his head, and continue on with the walk.

As they got away from the camp, however, he finally made the choice to speak.