It gave the bard pause to hear that Sam had stood against Ascended 'business' and been punished for it. What cruelty had the Voice undertaken, that the bookmaker had stood against? That the others had been willing to do in the name of the Voice - Rexanna included? Another set of deaths, like the Fae and the Mathair? Like the guardian serpent? More killing to add to the Voice's bloody tallies as she honed her children into weapons and cast them at the world and the Old Gods's servants?
Jigano's expression fell to neutral lines for a few moments, but he nodded slow acceptance of Sam's decision. "Of course," he murmured. His friend still was Ascended, after all, even if only in the most basic sense. Even if he'd left the Voice he was still one of them in the end. "Was Rexanna against you, too?" In this decision the Voice had forced on him so cruelly.
His attention was momentarily taken by the birds, and though he was able to send most away he was curious to see which ones lingered. A silver brow arched in curiosity as they came closer, keen black eyes shining in the moonlight as they seemed to hope the pair of men might be holding out on them with some treats.
Sam's stuttering brought the bard's eyes back to his friend, however, and he listened thoughtfully as the deal that had been struck was revealed in more detail. "She didn't take everything, then," he said, a bitter wryness to his tone. "She took the strengths she'd given, yes, but she didn't take the weaknesses. Didn't return you to the way you'd been before, or give you back the strengths she'd taken from you at your Ascencion. Maybe it's because she can't... but... I suspect it's because she refuses to try. And why would she? It's never been about giving the Ascended a choice if they change and grow from the people they were when they come to her. If they become disenchanted with her killing ways they are still bound to her without any other option. Just the way she wants it, I suspect." He sighed and shook his head, offering Sam an arm up if he'd take it.
"I'm sorry, old friend. You never deserved to be caught in such a trap. No one does."
Jigano's expression fell to neutral lines for a few moments, but he nodded slow acceptance of Sam's decision. "Of course," he murmured. His friend still was Ascended, after all, even if only in the most basic sense. Even if he'd left the Voice he was still one of them in the end. "Was Rexanna against you, too?" In this decision the Voice had forced on him so cruelly.
His attention was momentarily taken by the birds, and though he was able to send most away he was curious to see which ones lingered. A silver brow arched in curiosity as they came closer, keen black eyes shining in the moonlight as they seemed to hope the pair of men might be holding out on them with some treats.
Sam's stuttering brought the bard's eyes back to his friend, however, and he listened thoughtfully as the deal that had been struck was revealed in more detail. "She didn't take everything, then," he said, a bitter wryness to his tone. "She took the strengths she'd given, yes, but she didn't take the weaknesses. Didn't return you to the way you'd been before, or give you back the strengths she'd taken from you at your Ascencion. Maybe it's because she can't... but... I suspect it's because she refuses to try. And why would she? It's never been about giving the Ascended a choice if they change and grow from the people they were when they come to her. If they become disenchanted with her killing ways they are still bound to her without any other option. Just the way she wants it, I suspect." He sighed and shook his head, offering Sam an arm up if he'd take it.
"I'm sorry, old friend. You never deserved to be caught in such a trap. No one does."
