Nostrum: Tales of Valor

Reintroduction

"Welcome, welcome!" Comes the voice of Farrow, who extends an arm to either side of his body. "What an honor it is to be in the presence of such great companions!" Stepping over Lady Mardelia's corpse, Farrow proceeds to near the others, who now walk towards him from the throne room's doors. "I must personally thank you lot, as, without you, none of this would have been possible. You've saved us many men, and might I add my own blood."

The party looks over one another, still finding themselves to be in a peculiar situation. Though the gratitude of some was to be expected, it is not the gratitude of savages that they sought. Now standing toe-to-toe with the man they once met in the tavern, they observe him up and down. His garbs and weapon display a clear history with the Ryoushi, yet his behavior would suggest otherwise. Open arms and a willingness to work with others are an uncommon sight in such men.

"What now?" Asks Lee, who moves over to the feast and collects a bottle of yellowish liquid, uncorks it, and sniffs the contents. "You've got The Bethel's works in the palm of your hand. What more could there be to gain?" Satisfied with the beverage, Lee pours the contents into a flask at his hip, sets the bottle back down, and sips heavily from the flask.

"The destruction of those works."

Lee pauses for a moment as these words leave Farrow's mouth. Buzzed eyes meet those of a war-torn man before either speak more.

"The destruction of... what works?" Wonders Marne, who gains the attention of half the room with these words. Childish laughter rings out as if his words had been a joke.

"Why, the scripture, of course! The very thing that makes The Bethel what it is!" Farrow plants an arm around Marne's shoulders and walks with him for a moment, followed by Hael and Yuler. "You see my dear boy, every sacred text that has ever been resides within these walls. Every story, incantation, charm, and blessing. Every bit of what gives The Bethel power is right here, and we must destroy it."

"We?"

"We."

"You've yet to recognize me, haven't you, Marne?"

Puzzled at the mentioning of his own name by the man once more, Marne does not speak. He simply shakes his head with an unknowing expression and awaits further explanation.

"It has been some time. You've certainly changed in many ways yourself. Come, take a seat." Pulling out a chair at the table, the man offers it to Marne, who in turn accepts it. Once he has done so, the others proceed to do the same until all four are seated, while Lee continues tinkering with different alcohols some distance away. "Marne, my dear boy. How glad I am to lay my eyes upon you once more."

Now understanding the tone in the man's voice, Marne pulls himself away and scrunched his brow tightly together. Creating deep creases in his skin as he does so.

"No. My father never made it through the threshold."

"Alas, I have. But... I wasn't brought to the same place as yourself." Farrow rests an elbow against the table before speaking further on the subject. "Something must have gone bump with the Strategem I had taken, as I was placed near a Ryoushi camp, completely alone. Or so I thought. The Ryoushi that discovered me were quick to attempt murdering me. Certain that I was some sort of spy, when in fact, I knew nothing of who or what they were." Farrow laughs for a moment and shakes his head. "I tell you, it was not an easy thing to talk myself out of." Farrow then looks to the others. "You lot may call me Farrow, as that is the name I have been given." He then looks to Marne. "You, however, may call me what you please."

"I shall, Farrow."

A small amount of disappointment befalls the man, but an understanding seems to come to the surface.

"Of course."

"We will give you two a moment to talk." Hael stands from her seat and pulls Yuler with her, even though Yuler gives some resistance at first. Marne and her look to one another for a moment before their line of sight is broken by a passing Nostrum.

"Someone special to you?"

"Hm?"

"The girl." Farrow sips from a golden chalice before speaking once more. "I assume she is someone you've found a liking in."

"And what if I have?" Marne questions with anger building in his tone.

"Then you have."

"Are you not even the least bit curious as to what has happened with your son?"

"My son is sitting right here before me. What could there be to be curious about?"

"I'm referring to Belial."

Farrow holds his chalice to his lips, but his throat no longer suggests the consumption of anything. He then places the chalice against the table and a cold expression is made known under pale skin.

"There is nothing to be curious about. I heard what had transpired atop that mountain. I know what has become of your brother. Of my son."

"How could you not be angrier than this? Does it not make your blood boil that something so devastating could have happened?"

"Of course it does, but there was nothing more that could be done for him. He was let down long ago, and I heard that even you have been touched by that darkness."

"Yet I am here."

"Indeed you are." Farrow smiles in Marne's direction and shakes off what shame he has begun to feel. "That is why I need not know anything more of the past. I've been told all I need to know by fellow Ryoushi, and they have sent me here to establish this rebellion, which I have done. The present is where I live now, as all that is in the past, should remain in the past."

"Indeed. It should." Marne stands from the table and moves back towards the others, where Lee has already begun to sway where he stands. "Could we speak in private?" The words find themselves to be directed at Yuler, who quickly nods and finds herself being pulled by the wrist by Marne until they are far enough away from the crowd that only the ears of Hael could hear them. "I do not trust that we should remain here any longer."

"W-why? What of your father?"

"That man is not my father. Not any longer." Marne sighs and looks about himself, ensuring that Farrow remains seated at the table while he speaks. "They intend to destroy everything that The Bethel stands for, and while I understand that, I do not believe that we are needed for anything more here. Let us leave while our purpose has been served."

"But-"

"Yuler, Dabria has been destroyed, and very soon, this city will be too. Why stay where we are no longer needed? There are lives to be lived outside of here and Hael could not be in a less safe place. It would take the wrong person noticing her to upset the mobs and-"

"And what?"

Marne takes in a sharp breath and turns to his left, where Farrow managed to sneak up on him.

"I assure you, your beastly friend is safe with us."

"Wh-"

"We know of Hael's condition. You didn't think we wouldn't research the defectors before allowing them reentry into the city, did you?"

"Wait, if you knew about her, then why did you allow her back in?"

"We need her."

Hael turns to face where the voices come from, with Lee doing the same in his drunken state before silently questioning her on what is going on. Marne watches them converse back and forth as the conversation he is having carries on.

"No man has managed to slay the beast that is High Priest Ordaite. While Lady Mardelia was an easy target, nothing can truly be done until the High Priest falls as well."

"What makes you so sure that Hael would be willing to assist you with such an act?"

"She could very well be risking her life to do so." Warns Yuler, who now seems worried.

"It is in the best interest of all. As the warden told you; It is... prophesized."

Hael begins walking nearer to the three with Lee following at her side.

"What is this nonsense?" Demands Lee, still swaying as he attempts to look intimidating. "I will not allow her to risk death for the sake of your agenda."

"You don't have to. Isn't that right Hael?" Farrow looks to his idol directly as he speaks to her, where she immediately appears to become uncomfortable. "There is, of course, a reward for such an action." These words catch the attention of all four as they are spoken. "Your eyesight."

Lee laughs at the man, as if there is nothing funnier in the world that could be spoken in a moment such as this.

"Surely you know what has caused her condition. What could a man such as yourself possibly do to restore something such as the gift of sight?"

"Not me." Farrow unbuckles the front of his coat, allowing it to fold at his sides as he reaches within. Pulling out a thick book, he flips it to the backside, exposing a missing half. "This book is full of The Bethel's most sacred texts. Within it is a ritual that can cure the blind, elderly, deaf, so on and so forth."

"So you are holding it ransom then?"

"Of course not." Farrow returns the blue-dyed leather back to his coat and folds his arms over one another at his front. "That ritual resides within the pages of the second half."

"Where might the second half be?"

"Well, being that this half was found neath the throne of Lady Mardelia, we can only assume-"

A loud cry is heard coming from the gardens, cutting off many conversations and disrupting the peace that has found itself within the throne room. Because of this, many Nostrum and rebels alike begin to curse and scream at the beast outside, with some even tossing food at the shattered windows.

"It would seem he has already been aware of our findings."

"You believe Ordaite to be harboring the second half of the book, yes?" Yuler folds her arms in a similar manner as she asks this.

"Yes."

"I'll do it."

"Hael, you don't-"

"I said... I'll do it."

"Excellent!" Farrow claps his hands with excitement as he takes in a deep breath and begins walking off back towards the thrones. "Come, come! Please!" As his call is heard across the room, men and women stand from their seats and begin swarming the base of the thrones, where he guides Lee, Hael, Marne, and Yuler to the front with himself. "Ladies and gentlemen! Nostrum, Ryoushi, and Purebloods alike! May I present to you, Adherent Hael! She was not only the one to light Dabria ablaze, the one to prove that humanity can reign supreme over beasthood, but she will also be the one to lay, High Priest Ordaite... to rest!" The crowd before them cheers loudly at these words. "Let us clear the way for the next great thing to happen under this setting sun! With Ordaite... taken care of... we will be able to conclude our work here in Maciofim!"

"What purpose do we serve in all this?" Questions Lee with a raised brow.

Farrow offers him a soft smile in return, then nears the man with a whisper.

"Bait. What we need is for you and Yuler to soften the beast so that Hael will have no trouble bringing it down."

"I will be joining them as well." Assures Marne, who steps forward as he speaks."

"Very well." The displeased voice of Farrow speaks. "Give us a show that will earn the respect of this city."