Though they had only met once before, Killian's concern seemed sincere and was all the more welcome for it, even though Jigano didn't know quite what to do with it. For the moment he only shook his head, sinking into a chair across from the young man and tilting his head in offer for his guest to continue. It didn't take him long to find words, and though he was a bit unpolished there was a raw charisma that shone through, along with the enthusiasm and eagerness of a friendly young hunting hound, bursting with energy and striving to be on the trail.
A place to start? It was indeed, or had been until recently. Jigano swallowed hard as the well-meaning boy's words plunged arrows into his chest, striking straight to the core of his guilt and self-recrimination. He took a slow breath, only years of practice keeping it from shaking as he folded his hands on the table in front of him to keep them from curling into helpless fists.
"I am honored that you would come to me and the Loreseekers," he began, blue eyes bleak as he looked across the table to meet Killian's gaze squarely. "And a day ago, I would have accepted your application gladly. But now..." He exhaled sharply, leaning back to find the words that needed to be said for the second time that day.
"Two of my guild are missing," he said, the words dropping like lead to fill the room with their echoing softness. "We had, in fact, gone on a scouting mission to the new woods. I trusted someone I should not have, and we were ambushed and my people were taken from me one by one. I still don't know if I truly escaped or if I was allowed to do so. I do not know if my guildmates are alive today." His hands flexed against the ancient, newly-polished wood of the tabletop, knuckles white with pressure. "I am going back after them, though." He drew in a careful breath, considering the bright ray of sunshine that was the newly arrived outlander before him. So young... but not a child. Killian was able to make his own choices, so long as Jigano was upfront with his information.
"This is not the safest of guilds," he said slowly. "As yesterday's events proved. But... I am in no position to turn down help, if you truly wish to offer it. But think carefully: is this truly what you wish, Killian of Regne du Jour? Are you sure there is no safer profession you would rather take up?"
A place to start? It was indeed, or had been until recently. Jigano swallowed hard as the well-meaning boy's words plunged arrows into his chest, striking straight to the core of his guilt and self-recrimination. He took a slow breath, only years of practice keeping it from shaking as he folded his hands on the table in front of him to keep them from curling into helpless fists.
"I am honored that you would come to me and the Loreseekers," he began, blue eyes bleak as he looked across the table to meet Killian's gaze squarely. "And a day ago, I would have accepted your application gladly. But now..." He exhaled sharply, leaning back to find the words that needed to be said for the second time that day.
"Two of my guild are missing," he said, the words dropping like lead to fill the room with their echoing softness. "We had, in fact, gone on a scouting mission to the new woods. I trusted someone I should not have, and we were ambushed and my people were taken from me one by one. I still don't know if I truly escaped or if I was allowed to do so. I do not know if my guildmates are alive today." His hands flexed against the ancient, newly-polished wood of the tabletop, knuckles white with pressure. "I am going back after them, though." He drew in a careful breath, considering the bright ray of sunshine that was the newly arrived outlander before him. So young... but not a child. Killian was able to make his own choices, so long as Jigano was upfront with his information.
"This is not the safest of guilds," he said slowly. "As yesterday's events proved. But... I am in no position to turn down help, if you truly wish to offer it. But think carefully: is this truly what you wish, Killian of Regne du Jour? Are you sure there is no safer profession you would rather take up?"
