Nostrum: Tales of Valor

Misconstrued

"If what you say is true," Marne begins, roughing up his brow as he does so, "then what does that mean for the end of this plague?"

"It is no plague." Hael sighs lightly and tips her head. "It is a curse. One that's name is not commonly spoken, as you must be aware. The true name is Mildew."

"Mildew?" Marne chuckles for a brief moment and shifts between the faces of each other in the dining space. Then, looks back to Hael, whose expression is unwavering.

"Yes, Mildew. Dabria spreads it through the inhalation of its pollen. I'm sure you can understand how that may be a rather large issue... given how our environment functions."

"Of course." Interjects Yuler with a nod of her head. "The pollen could be carried to just about any place at any time. A simple bee could transfer it to an entire hive of honey and we might not even know it until it's too late."

"Precisely."

"So, let it be true then." Marne crinkles his nose and sniffs sharply. Then, turns to face Lee specifically. "If Dabria's pollen is what causes Mildew, then how has it become so widespread, even in the face of those who have otherwise never come into contact with it?" Pulling his shirt up from the waist, Marne exposes large scars that run the entire length of his stomach, which heaves in and out as an underlying rage begins to show through. Now facing Hael, he continues. "If it is a flower's pollen that infects us, why was I so sure that Belial had to kill me on that night? It was certain that I had been infected. The same night, might I remind you, that you yourself discovered me, Hael! In the cave!"

"Yes, I remember." Hael adjusts herself, stiffening her back and placing both hands against her lap as she listens to Marne's heated words.

"Then tell me; if it were mere pollen, why did I have to die? Why did I have to leave my brother?"

"Twas that Kneller's doing." Lee concludes. "That accursed bell it rang is what revived you on that night. Not us. Though, we did assist in the effort."

"Go on." Marne lets his shirt fall back over his waistline, attempting to remain calm as Lee explains further.

"We led it into the cave. We gave it most every opportunity to take advantage of your condition and it did. With a simple chime of that bell, it brought you back to life. You were no more than a husk of your former self, but your brother did the right thing. You'd been submerged in that ungodly filth. Your lungs were filled to the brim with fluids and your blood had stopped pumping. If not for your brother's efforts having preserved your humanity before you died, we may not have been able to save you."

"What Lee is trying to say is- We brought you back by allowing that Kneller to revive you as one of its own puppets. You were still human beneath it all, as the conditions in which you had died prevented the Mildew from further spreading. With that and the fire, the plague within you had died. The Kneller simply brought it back to life with the magic in that bell, and through killing it as we did the disease died once more, being only a fraction of what it had been before your corpse was burned. That is what brought you back. Your humanity persevered once the disease was gone. We just needed to time it right in order to-"

"You have not answered my questions. I care not how you brought me back to life. I wish to understand how I had contracted this disease while lacking contact with Dabria."

"Once Mildew infects another living creature, it can then be transferred through blood and saliva." Lee raises himself from his chair and lines his eyes up with those of Marne before continuing to speak. "Given only a brief amount of time, it will begin to coat the innards of your lungs with a white, cloudy fungus. This stage causes great weakness in the one who has been infected."

"Like what happened with High Priest?" Yuler wonders.

"Precisely." Lee answers, giving a nod as he does so before looking back to Marne. "Once this is out of the way it moves on to the brain, the bloodstream, and whatever else it can latch onto. That is when beasthood takes hold. That is why the bite you took was fatal, no matter if you came in contact with Dabria, or not."

"Mildew is a very transmissive ailment, Marne. I assure you, we never wanted to separate you from Belial."

"Then why DID you?" Marne slams his fist against the table, startling Hael and further aggravating Lee. Gritting his teeth he feels soft fingers run over his knuckles and looks to Yuler, who holds a sorrowful expression.

"They kept you from Belial for your sake. Your brother was too far gone for anyone to save, as he attempted to fight the sickness on his own and chose to tell no one. Until the very end."

"But they knew, Yuler." Marne jabs a finger in the direction of Hael and Lee as he speaks, but maintains eye contact with Yuler. "They... all... knew."

"It was for the best that you and Belial lacked any further contact. He was lost and there was nothing more we could do for him. We were trying to protect you." Lee insists, with his fingers bending in an almost unnatural way as he leans against them.

"And what of Cronn? Hm? What of Briar? Why did you not try to help them when they needed it most? Your efforts to save me resulted in the deaths of three Nostrum far superior to myself, yet you expect me to be thankful for what efforts you did put forth, rather than angry over those which you failed to attempt? I think not." Slipping his hand out from under Yuler's, he knocks his chair into the wall and storms off down the hall. Leaving only the vibrations of his getaway behind.

"Let him be, Lee. It'll be alright." Hael grabs at Lee's wrist as the taller man begins to step in Marne's direction. "Give him some time."

"I am no father of that man. It is not my duty to guide him, nor is he a reasonable age for me to do so. I'll be resting now."

As Lee follows Marne's ways and walks off towards his own room, Hael shakes her head and begins lightly strumming her fingers. Yuler watches her do so for a brief moment. Attempting to find the right words for the situation and not wanting to abandon such priceless information. Pulling her mug up to her lips one final time, she finishes off the tea and gulps loudly.

"Care for a mix of my own brew?" Hael slips a hand beneath the table, where Yuler hears the sound of a leather strap being undone. Moments later, a thin bottle of booze is resting in her palm, and a faint smile has formed at the corners of her lips. "You can trust me. I'd never sell you on weak liquor."

Yuler accepts a helping and swiftly takes a swig once Hael has poured a fresh glass for each of them. She then bites at her bottom lip for a moment and decides to continue on with the prior conversation.

"Forgive me, but you seem to have been speaking from experience, rather than from the standpoint of one who has heard an old tale."

Hael swishes the booze around in her mouth for a second before gulping it down. Then, proceeds to pluck at the flame of a candle that sits in the middle of the table. Yuler watches her do so, acknowledging that each motion Hael makes causes the orange light that fills the room to flicker for a brief period. Once her skin seems to be getting too hot, Hael stops and sits as far back in her seat as she can. Seemingly unsure of whether or not her next words would be wise to say aloud.

"It isn't so much that the knowledge comes from experience, as much as it is that it comes from a very trusted source."

"You mean, one from the story itself?"

Hael nods but does not elaborate any further. Instead, she chugs the remainder of her beverage and winces. Then, proceeds to readjust her bindings, which Yuler notices to be slightly different in the way they are sitting. Rather than a single strip of cloth covering both eyes, Hael has chosen to situate two pieces that cross one another and appear tightly bound together.

"May I ask one question more before you head off to your room?"

"Of course." Hael stands from the table and slides her chair beneath it. Being sure that the back of the chair makes contact with the table's corner before seeming satisfied with its placement. "When you're ready."

"The day Belial had turned and The Keep fell to Ryoushi forces, they seemed to take pity on me."

"The Ryoushi can be a strange people at times. That is certain." Hael chuckles briefly and begins to walk around the table, but remains aware of Yuler's words, so as to not offend her.

"Indeed. However, they could not have had the time to call someone forward to collect me that day... and still, you, Lee, and Marne were already waiting at the front doors."

"Well, most every Pureblood was to be present that day. It was obligatory that we showed."

"Yes, but...," Yuler bites at her lip once more before continuing, "they were killing Purebloods that day, and yet, they had no interest in harming you or the others. Or, for that matter, me."

"Why would they want to injure the one who gave them The Keep?"

Yuler's blood freezes in her veins as her eyes dart towards Hael's knowing, toothy grin.

"I knew it was you who was disguised as Devough. It was you who informed the Ryoushi of Belial's approach. I had eyes on almost everything that went on throughout our time under Achlys. What I did not know, however, was that Cronn would get himself killed on that fateful day."

"You... anticipated he wouldn't?" Yuler swallows a knot as it forms in her throat, attempting to remain lucid through what is left of the conversation.

"I had spoken with Cronn before the executions took place. I had informed him of the many routes that could be taken, but even I could not foresee the path which unfolded. I failed him. I failed you all."

"No. You should not see yourself as the one to blame for any of this."

"You should heed your own words, Yuler." Hael extinguishes the candle's flame and turns to face what remains of the fireplace embers. Seemingly guided by the warmth they continue to provide. "We all have our secrets and we all have our demons. Never let them become one and the same."