All is fair in love and war
bloodshed in velvet shades
as battles burn, but one remains
they call her Queen of Blades
Unlike Amalia, war was all Roana had ever known, and she wished it had not followed her here.
Quietly she watched as she wrestled with her words, her reasoning – knowing her logic was sound but also that sound logic alone didn’t make it agreeable – and trying to come to some terms with them. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t kind. It flew in the face of all that one like Amalia cherished. ”The gods made the barrier. All of them. Mort was but one, to my knowledge.” she said, wondering if she was not correct in that understanding. ”How much death did it prevent though? Look at how much Long Night in the barrier changed, from something peaceful to a nightmarish bloodbath. And really, Amalia, was being locked away without the ability to explore the full world and all Caido has to offer life? Or simply not-death?” Roana asked. To her, they were very different things. ”And are the Ascended really living? Or are they simply pawns in the Voice’s game? I am not certain you or I can make that call, but I can only say what Ludo has asked of me.” she said, shaking her head a bit. Life and death were large concepts, the former far more subjective than the latter.
”Not all. There will be those who agree with this method. And to stop me, they will have to know it is me, and save for you, I don’t plan to be caught in it.” she said softly, but watching her with seriousness. ”I have three children. I cannot put them in danger over this. I will keep my identity hidden for as long as possible.” And whether she would allow it? She sighed and shook her head. ”Neither of us get to allow anything. It is the will of Ludo. But if you would like to consult Mort, I would accompany you. I am pretty certain you need not consult the god of Life to know what his thoughts would be on the matter.”
Quietly she watched as she wrestled with her words, her reasoning – knowing her logic was sound but also that sound logic alone didn’t make it agreeable – and trying to come to some terms with them. It wasn’t pretty. It wasn’t kind. It flew in the face of all that one like Amalia cherished. ”The gods made the barrier. All of them. Mort was but one, to my knowledge.” she said, wondering if she was not correct in that understanding. ”How much death did it prevent though? Look at how much Long Night in the barrier changed, from something peaceful to a nightmarish bloodbath. And really, Amalia, was being locked away without the ability to explore the full world and all Caido has to offer life? Or simply not-death?” Roana asked. To her, they were very different things. ”And are the Ascended really living? Or are they simply pawns in the Voice’s game? I am not certain you or I can make that call, but I can only say what Ludo has asked of me.” she said, shaking her head a bit. Life and death were large concepts, the former far more subjective than the latter.
”Not all. There will be those who agree with this method. And to stop me, they will have to know it is me, and save for you, I don’t plan to be caught in it.” she said softly, but watching her with seriousness. ”I have three children. I cannot put them in danger over this. I will keep my identity hidden for as long as possible.” And whether she would allow it? She sighed and shook her head. ”Neither of us get to allow anything. It is the will of Ludo. But if you would like to consult Mort, I would accompany you. I am pretty certain you need not consult the god of Life to know what his thoughts would be on the matter.”
ROANA
