"Edy seemed convinced," Jigano said soberly. "And given her power... I doubt she's been cooperative enough to get eaten by a banshee or trapped by a Wicker Woman." Loren's conviction was impressive however, and seemed utterly sincere. Jigano nodded slowly, acknowledging the vow though he didn't know the young scholar well enough to know whether he would keep it, or break under the pressure that Zariah could exert with her manipulations and lies.
Because it wouldn't be Loren she threatened. Oh no. It would be Remi, and anyone else the scholar seemed close to. Loren might be resolute enough to hold himself firm in the face of her dark magics, might have courage and more to face her in direct combat, but would he hold so firm if she pressed her fingers to Remi's throat and promised to drain the life from the alchemist if Loren didn't submit to her will again?
"I hope that you don't have to," the bard said quietly, and just as sincerely.
Again the scholar tried to turn all talk about himself into self-deprecation and insults, and this time Jigano lacked the strength to fight it. "Are you sure you don't have the blight as well?" he asked dryly, rather than trying to refute it again.
At least talk about his world and past brought a spark to his eyes and animated him for a time, but the reminder of what he had lost was a pill made freshly bitter by the blight in his blood. The other man's condolences were thin, colorless words and Jigano waved them off with a sigh. "As am I. But Caido has granted me other things in turn so..." He shrugged, swallowing back the bile of regret and forcing his frown from his face with an act of will as he looked back at the summoner. "What magic did you have in Northwind? Was it different than what you have now?"
Because it wouldn't be Loren she threatened. Oh no. It would be Remi, and anyone else the scholar seemed close to. Loren might be resolute enough to hold himself firm in the face of her dark magics, might have courage and more to face her in direct combat, but would he hold so firm if she pressed her fingers to Remi's throat and promised to drain the life from the alchemist if Loren didn't submit to her will again?
"I hope that you don't have to," the bard said quietly, and just as sincerely.
Again the scholar tried to turn all talk about himself into self-deprecation and insults, and this time Jigano lacked the strength to fight it. "Are you sure you don't have the blight as well?" he asked dryly, rather than trying to refute it again.
At least talk about his world and past brought a spark to his eyes and animated him for a time, but the reminder of what he had lost was a pill made freshly bitter by the blight in his blood. The other man's condolences were thin, colorless words and Jigano waved them off with a sigh. "As am I. But Caido has granted me other things in turn so..." He shrugged, swallowing back the bile of regret and forcing his frown from his face with an act of will as he looked back at the summoner. "What magic did you have in Northwind? Was it different than what you have now?"
