Despite Verena’s distrust for Hob, the two must approach Lio the Guide in attempt to renew truce. Will pride and rivalry undermine their shared task?

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Roll: Face Danger, Wits, navigate streets at night – Miss; Pay the Price – New danger-foe

“I think we’re being followed.” I swore I had seen a person in the shadows.

“I know. Can you tell who?” The first words Verena had uttered to me since early that day when, upon my return from losing the blade to Cadigan, she had demanded I follow her to see Cera about my ‘errands’.

Roll: Compel, Heart, convince Kormak to lend me a weapon – Miss, makes demand, can only share smaller weapon and needs collateral

“I can’t see. Just shadows…it feels like many shadows though.” I tried to calm myself. Within these shadows were people, not nightmares. This was not the Beacon. I moved my hand near the knife on my belt (not obviously close though). It was one of the long daggers carried by those from the north, almost too large to be considered a knife, temporarily exchanged from Kormak for Haf’s shield and my new blanket. 

I pondered, “Do you know who they might be? Could this be Sayer?”

She huffed and shrugged, “Likely. Let’s move faster so they can’t get ahead of us. They probably don’t have a boat waiting for them.”

“Aye, not too fast though. They may rush us if they know we know.” I took a deep breath and walked, trying to keep my eyes forward as if unaware. I was terrified, every part of my will screaming at me to turn and face the threat, not to leave my back exposed or, if I must, then to run. I caught myself, I had been walking faster, too fast. I begged my legs to slow and they listened, reluctantly.

Roll: Secure an Advantage, Heart, stay cool to gain a lead before we try to escape – Weak Hit

We passed the last of the empty stalls, the market long since closed, and saw the docks. We were close.

“I hope they are ready for us.” More words offered by Verena. I noticed they were less barbed when real danger presented itself, maybe a good sign.

“Aye, if we don’t want to fight we may need to leave quickly.”

Thankfully, they were ready for us, or close to.  As we came within sight of the men, one already in the fishing boat and the other on the docks waiting, our pace increased.

The man on the docks gave a nod and stepped to meet us. Verena shook her head, just loud enough for him to hear. “No, back. We’re being followed! We need to depart now!”

The friendly smile fell from his face as the young man took in what he was told. Then, without a word, he turned, quickly retreated the way he had come, and began unmooring the boat.

Then, footfalls behind us. Those in the dark were taking action! Without pause, Verena and I broke into a run. I risked a glance behind me. Still only shadows, but now the shadows were moving. I ran faster.

Roll: Face Danger, Edge, push off – Strong Hit (this was a very thankful and unexpected Strong Hit, Hob having 1 Edge and all)

I’ve never been one to win a foot race but I did that night. Fear of facing battle without the blade to wield me pushed me forward. And then we were on the fishing boat and the young man was shoving off as the old man thrust oars into our hands and barked that we row. Once it became clear we might make it to water before they could reach us, our pursuers hesitated. They slowed and then halted, afraid to leave the shadows, afraid to reveal themselves to their escaping prey.

So we rowed in silence, watching the shadows shift and hoping no spear or arrow would fly from them. Thankfully, none did and we were soon far enough away from the dock that we could breathe and speak as the two men got to work raising the small sail.

The boat belonged to Lago, the demanding old fisher, and his son, Nakuras, the affable young man who had reacted quickly back on the docks. I was curious what their ties to Cera were as both spoke with the deep abrupt cadence that matched mine, that matched those who had only known the coast or Barrier as home. I hadn’t realized her support spread beyond those tied to Longbridge and the Havens. They seemed only wishing to speak with each other though so I didn’t ask and instead turned to Verena.

I assumed she had volunteered as escort just to keep an eye on me. I had not been pleased at first, but now, having shared a dangerous escape and presently stuck on a boat together, I realized it may have resulted in a rare opportunity to address our differences, maybe even to move past them.

I gazed across the water, towards our destination, the shadow of island and fort. The moon was waning but the sky was clear enough that its lingering reflections still lit the empty fjord.

I started, “Are you sure they were Sayer’s?”

She puffed but then caught herself before giving an honest reply.

“I’m not. Likely, but not certain. The streets are more dangerous at night now. Some exploit the turmoil. It could have been others.”

I wanted to ask who but I held off, afraid Reese and his partner might be the answer, them having been humiliated by me and promised reprisal the day prior. I hoped to avoid giving her further reason to renew spite before I sought truce. So I approached the topic outright.

“You don’t have to trust me but you do realize that if you undermine me while at task, you also undermine Cera, right? It better serves her if we attempt to reach accord, or at least find understanding.” 

Roll: Compel, Heart, +1 hard truth Honorbound, quash it – Strong Hit

She started to huff and then caught herself again, pausing for a moment as if considering her words.

“It is hard not to distrust someone who serves a different purpose than I, a different purpose than the lady.”

I had guessed this to be the concern and so was ready with response. 

“Do you not have free wardens in Longbridge? Have you never worked with an ally that served a different master or only temporarily served yours through contract?”

“Aye, but I haven’t trusted those free wardens I’ve known either, not enough to let them stand under our banner. The banner is not for one with mixed loyalties. Not for those with secrets. Not for those so young and witless that they would befriend our foes. You have not earned it, or my trust.”

I spat, “Cadigan is no friend!” And then I pushed away my defensiveness. “But you are right, I am young and I can be witless, for which I am now paying the price. I don’t understand much of this place and I’m apt to tangle the threads. I strive to earn confidence though, to aid in task.” And then I attempted a joke. “Would it help if I promised to tell you where I was going whenever I left the grounds, invited you to come along when I bartered for bread?”

No huff in response this time, just a chuckle. “Yeah, maybe that would help.” She had deflated, not in a dejected manner, just relaxed, her pride spent. 

Mark Progress: Regain Cera’s Trust – Remove Verena as obstacle to begin making progress on vow

It was not truce but it was growth. We had spoken plainly, I had quelled my pride and she had exchanged in kind. Conversation exhausted, we sailed mostly in silence towards Mouth’s Watch, where Lio had fled after his attack to recover in safety. Towards the moored warship from the Western Reach and the campfires of its warcrew.

Mark Progress: Convince Lio to uphold truce – Reach Mouth’s Watch

They had been expecting us. Nisas of Tidemark, captain of the Starving Wolf, the crimson sailed warship that the Sustainers and I had passed a week prior when arriving to Autumnrush, was waiting for us on the small dock along with a dozen other well armed sailors. I had never met a warcaptain before but he matched how I’d imagined one to look. Boisterous yet unbothered. Imposing, but not so large that it slowed him down or that he could not bound across a plank. Dark hair and bright eyes.

He assessed us as we rowed the boat alongside the dock, looking to Verena and I, “Basira?” I nodded, acknowledging I was her, and he offered a hand before continuing.

“Come with me, the rest of you can stay in the boat until she is finished.”

I accepted his hand and stepped onto the dock.

“Thank you, but my companion *nodding to Verena* should attend. Cera will want to hear her report, good?”

Roll: Compel, Heart, bring Verena – Weak Hit

He looked to Verena, eyes drifting down to the short sword on her belt and then to the long knife on mine.

“Good, but the blades stay with the boat.”

It seemed an unnecessary condition, the island crawling with heavily armed warcrew that would have struck us down the moment we drew blades, but I still felt uncomfortable leaving Kormak’s dagger behind. I told myself it wasn’t needed and wouldn’t do me any good even if it was, and then Verena and I left Lago and Nakuras with the boat and our blades, following Nisas’ escort up the path towards the fort.

Mark Progress: Convince Lio to uphold truce – move past the Starving Wolf’s warcrew to gain audience with Lio

It was late and those crew still sitting by their fires gave only disinterested glances towards us as we passed. The fort at the top of the hill was old, weathered but standing. The wooden doors had long since surrendered to age, now just iron hinges remained, remnants of the decayed boards scattered on the ground below. The fort itself looked generations abandoned and only recently re-occupied. Likely built after the first landings and then deserted when it became clear that the Skulde did not follow. Not like Uncle Temir, the Watcher at the Gate, still true to his ancestors’ task.

Nisas directed all but two of the escort to remain outside, motioning for Verena and I to follow, and stepped through the doorway. The threshold opened to a large room, stairs on the far side leading to the top of the fort. A hearth was lit and an elder sat upright nearby, atop a pile of furs. He had not seemed to notice our entrance and continued staring into the flames. The healer seated at the table in the center of the room did though, looking up just long enough for me to spot tattoos behind their tangled ashen curls, before they returned to the herbs they were grinding, the rhythmic scrape of pestle against mortar.

Nisas roused the old man. “Lio, Cera’s hound is here.”

He stirred from his reverie, turning to the voice. His eyes were unfocused, wild. Gradually they narrowed and fixated on the speaker, and then drifted to me. I was unsure where he had been prior, what he was witnessing in the flames, but he was with us now. He pushed himself to his feet, I thought he would fail more than once in the process. His whole body shook, he struggled, but he managed to stand and walk to the table, sitting on a stool beside the ashen curls and the grinding herbs.

I moved to sit across from him. Verena, Nisas, and the two warcrew remained standing. I noticed no visible injury or bandage, no sign of an assassin’s wound, but clearly Lio was ailing. He was an elder but not old enough that he should look so frail. His legs were wide, too wide to show such weakness.

I began, “I am not Cera’s hound, but I do speak with her voice. I am Basira of Sota’s Gate.”

I had planned to lead with a story to develop a rapport, a chance to gauge each other, before relaying Cera’s word. But the man was in no condition to be an audience. Brevity would be a mercy, so I skipped that step and spoke directly.

“Cera asked me to express her sorrow and anger on hearing of your attack. She wanted it clearly stated that she was not behind the attempt. Nor knows who was. That doing so would have run counter to all that she hopes to achieve. Counter all that you hope to achieve, since you and her share much of the same vision.”

Roll: Compel, Heart, convince Lio that Cera was not behind assassin – Miss => Burn Momentum – Strong Hit (really glad I saved my momentum up to 9 in anticipation of this roll)

His face scrunched up and he became more animated, a livelier response than I had expected from someone in his state.

“Oh I know that! She knows if I die, they’ll just send another Guide, one that trusts her even less. She knows that the Starving Wolf would move to the docks to secure our shipments. Everything would get worse for her, and she would see no gain.”

His face lowered, tired now, waning again.

“Is that the only reason you came here? To tell me what I already know. I thought she may have learned something, had aid to offer beyond simple words.”

Mark Progress: Convince Lio to uphold truce – Convince him, that was easy (The Vow narratively seems over at this point but the progress is only at 6/10 so I’m going to continue to explore why it isn’t truly finished.)

Mark Progress: Regain Cera’s Trust – Carry her voice without falter, confirm Lio will uphold the truce

I thought I understood his message, maybe? That it would be in Cera’s interest for him not to die, that she could maybe do something to prevent it. Was he asking for help?

“I’m sorry, we have heard no information about the attack on you. I have only heard that it was an outsider, and that they were thwarted and slain. Is there anything else she could do to help besides listening.”

“There is another, it is ritual.” The humming voice behind the ashen curls startled me. “There was another beyond the one that failed, one is still striving.”

I stared, I did not understand. They continued.

“They are close, they cannot make flight. Their magics would follow them and they would fail as well. It is ritual.”

I guessed, “Are you saying he is cursed?”

They lifted their face to look at me, still grinding the herbs. Their cloudy eyes showed agreement. I saw their tattoos. Runes? No, too flowing. They were art, an animal?

“Yes, curs-ed.”

“And they are nearby?”

“Yes, they cannot flee or it will be undone.”

Roll: Gather Information, +1 from previous Strong Hit on Compel – Weak Hit

Through this manner, confusion and clarification, I learned about Lio’s attack from the person behind the ashen curls. I learned that the wound had been minor, the blade barely piercing his chest. That Lio had then defended himself and killed the man. I was surprised by this, glancing at the wilting Guide, looking like he needed to lie down again. He had been strong once, and not far in the past.

He had withered and waned after the attack. It was not poison though, the blade had been clean. After his flight to Mouth’s Watch, he had grown worse. It was magics. There was something about the knife, it had a connection, a thread to another, a mystic and a ritual. The other was close, no further than Autumnrush, as the curse would weaken if they abandoned it. But also, if Lio fled the curse, it would worsen, grow stronger, the reason he had deteriorated when he’d left the port. It all seemed so complicated and I would likely have dismissed the claims altogether if I was not myself on a personal vow to understand the visions of a bloodthirsty blade. The one thing that the ashen curls stated clearly was that the only way to stop Lio’s wasting was to break the ritual.

I asked to see the knife that had wounded him.

“I know dark blades, maybe I can follow its thread.”

Their eyes momentarily cleared, and then clouded again.

“Yes, you do. You do know them.”

They stopped grinding, rose, and retrieved a bundle from a small altar beside the hearth. Unwrapping the bundle revealed a simple long knife, not quite so long as Kormak’s but long enough for fighting. I turned the ebony handle over, the blade was sharp, meant for both cutting and stabbing.

“I will take this back to the port. Maybe it will reveal the thread and lead us to the ritual.”

The ashen curls did not object. They returned to the table and their grinding. Lio did not object, he was away again, studying the dancing shadows cast by hearthflame on stairs.

I looked to Nisas, “Good?”

“Uh, aye.” He looked surprised. Like this was all new to him as well. He admitted as much, he had not been able to make sense of the words behind the ashen curls, he had dismissed them.

“This sounds far-fetched but if Longbridge is convinced enough to act, then I shall likewise. You can take the knife but also, you will need to take me to the docks at least.”

I looked to Verena, she did not object. And so we left Mouth’s Watch. Truce restored but still threatened. Ebony knife, bundled and tucked in my belt, as guide. And the warcaptain of the Starving Wolf and his two companions, a lanky woman and stoic man, as passengers.

Rename Vow: Convince Lio to uphold truce => Try to keep Lio alive so that he may uphold the truce (I’m too scared to roll to fulfill this vow now since the progress is only 6/10, too much is on the line with my relationship with Cera to risk a miss. So there is more to be done. If he dies, his replacement will not have any trust or history of truce with Cera, so to protect the truce, he needs to be kept alive.)

Also, I guess Hob’s thing now is apparently just collecting cursed weapons.

As Lago and Nakuras delivered us back to the docks and bid farewell, Nisas informed me that he would start investigating in the morning. They would ask around the docks regarding the failed assassin, Bevan (a name I was just then learning). If we needed to find him, we should ask at the Tidewater warehouse. He pointed to it, it looked like all the others.

Verena warned him to be careful, that there were those that skulked in the dark. She told of the night’s earlier shadows and our escape to the water. I was not thankful for the reminder. It was still long before dawn and we would need to brave those shadows again to return to Cera’s grounds.

Roll: Face Danger, Heart, brave the shadows – Weak hit; Endure Stress – Weak Hit

I saw nothing in the dark this time, heard no footfalls. It had been hours, it made sense that the ambushers would have abandoned their task. But it still took all of my will to force my legs to walk, not run.

I was finally able to breathe once we reached the grounds, a sigh at the sound of the bodyguard demanding we announce ourselves. I recognized the voice but did not remember the man’s name. Verena did. “Katram, it’s us.”

I had not expected Cera to still be awake, sitting by the hearth, awaiting our report. She seemed anxious but veiled it well. Her concern lifted as I told her that the truce was upheld. She was skeptical of the healer’s claims, of the threaded blade and bound ritual. But she did not reprimand me for having offered assistance to her rival. She seemed to be learning to trust my judgment, or maybe it was just because, for once, Verena and I were not at odds over it, maybe she only trusted our combined judgment.

Mark Bond: Cera of Longbridge (Due to previous Weak Hit on Forge a Bond, I had to hold off on this until I spoke to Lio and renewed the truce. I know I haven’t completed the truce vow yet, since it is evolving in scope, but I did satisfy her specific request, to gauge Lio and convince him that she wasn’t behind the attack, so I think it is fair to mark the bond and make Bannersworn a full asset.)

Mark Progress: Regain Cera’s Trust – Bonded, I carried her voice as promised and she saw Verena and I in agreement

Roll: Ask the Oracle, Did Cera acquire a Balestone for me, 50/50 – yes, how nice!

I was weary, the bed was calling. I gathered the courage to excuse myself, my report having been given, but Cera stopped me as I prepared to leave.

“Thank you, Basira. If this second assassin truly exists, find them and end this. If they do exist though, I imagine you may need your blade to do so, and so you shall have it. A balestone will arrive for you by morning.”

I could have hugged her, I almost did but caught myself. Cera of Longbridge was not one to be hugged. So instead I beamed. Blushed and beamed. I thanked her and she nodded, giving an amused smile before turning and retreating to her quarters in the rear of the longhouse. 

And that was how Cera of Longbridge gained my true loyalty, with a gift. Looking back, I now realize that was exactly her intent. But a thoughtful and vital gift is something larger than mere bartered allegiance.