This is the last side vignette I post.
[spoiler]Just a couple other vignettes:
Jac Cabel leaned backed against the tree, glancing with pride at the men and women who fought with him for two decades now. Then he spared a glance at Kestrel, one of his lieutenants and his impromptu spymistress.
“Anything new?” Jac asked.
Kestrel pulled a small pouch from her coat, and said “There’s a few things, but our…informant…also said he won’t be able to send word for at least a few weeks. He said de Eramant’s band was going to be on the move for the foreseeable future, and he doesn’t want to be compromised.”
“A discovered spy is good for only one thing,” Jac nodded in agreement, “Fertilizer. Still, I’m glad to see this Alya has the sense to go on the move. The Theurges can be…relentless…when aroused.”
Jac closed his eyes, and a couple tears ran down his face in remembrance of his mother. Kestrel remained quiet until Jac regained his composure.
“So what do we know of this kuria Alya de Eramant?” Jac asked.
Kestrel pulled some rough parchment from the pouch, and handed one sheet to Jac. He glanced at a charcoal sketch of a young woman, the artist somehow managing to convey a studious look on a rather average looking person.
“She’s the only daughter of her noble house,” Kestrel said.
“Single?” Jac questioned speculatively.
Kestrel shook her head as she saw the calculating look in her leader’s eyes, “Throw your nets in that water, and you will only catch seaweed.”
“Prefers the lasses?” smiled Jac, “Ah well. And I gather there was no betrothal arrangements before her rebellion?”
“Her house was small. Really, really small. Just her and her father,” Kestrel explained, “Certainly nothing to garner the interest of another noble family.”
“Well, if she wanted to stand-out, beating Phalangites is certainly one way to do it,” chuckled Jac. Then his tone became a bit more serious, “Was there any indication she was a Theurge…”
“Wisard,” Kestrel corrected, “That is the term she prefers.”
“Fine, Wisard,” Jac continued, “Was there any sign she had that knowledge before the rebellion?”
“None,” Kestrel said, double-checking her notes.
“So it makes sense she learned it on her own somehow,” he said glancing at the night’s sky, “Which means…she should be able to teach others.”
Kestrel nodded, “Assuming she would be willing to do so.”
Jac shrugged, “One Theurge…one Wisard, isn’t going to bring down the Karagonds on her own. No, if she desires eventual victory, others will have to learn that knowledge…knowledge we might gain for ourselves.”
Jac shivered as he remembered the devastation the Theurges wrought on the Westriding in response to his mother’s rebellion. Though he might bleed the Thauamtarchy here and there, he knew he would be an annoyance unless they could match the Theurges’ forces.
“Smart as she might be,” Kestrel added, “I would rate her as incompetent, at least for managing her inner circle.”
“Oh?” said Jac in a curious tone.
“Take her treatment of this Breden Reaper. All witnesses agree that it was because of him that they started to meet, to talk treason,” Kestrel said.
“But it doesn’t end there, does it?” added Jac.
“No. For a couple raids, there were more guards than normal…possibly fed by information within the kuria’s ranks. And that doesn’t include the poisoning…” Kestral said.
Jac stood up, “Poisoning? Was it deliberate?”
Kestrel shook her head up and down, “Our informant almost ate the stew. A third of the people were made ill…and this Breden Reaper was the prime suspect.”
“And kuria Alya didn’t kill him?” said Jac incredulously.
“I wasn’t using the term ‘incompetent’ lightly,” said Kestrel, “Her other lieutenants seem more trustworthy, just not particularly loyal to her.”
“Hmmm,” said Jac, “Well, we might have to give Alya a helping hand getting her affairs in order. For her own good, of course.”
“Of course,” said Kestrel, “But until that time?”
Jac smiled, “Well, thanks to her improbable victory, Alastors are rather light on the ground now. What do you think about making use of that?”
“Sounds good to me,” Kestrel said.
Lady Pelematou sat in her chair, glad that the day was finally coming to an end. It had been particularly exhausting of late. While she should be ecstatic at seeing the misfortunes of House Keriatou rise, it wasn’t like her own noble house was unscathed.
She drained her wine glass, as she remembered just how a few days ago, she saw the heads of cousins, nephews and nieces brought back to the family’s estate for their final rest. Not that her relatives were the only ones beheaded, but someone had been particularly savage to the scions of House Pelematou…all had their tongues removed.
And the Angels permitting, Capt. Tychon would be following them, she thought darkly, remembering how confident the Alastor captain had been in the days leading up to the forest assault…and how weak he was when he crawled out of the woods. In that moment, any affection she had for Tychon changed to disgust.
Lady Palamatou sighed , finished the last of the wine, and made her way to her bedroom. Just as she picked up a brush, she noticed a rather rough looking bag on her boudoir. She felt a chill run down her spine since it hadn’t been there before.
Opening the bag, she saw a small scroll, sealed with the insignia of House de Eramant. Unrolling it, she quickly read:
Greetings Lady Pelematou,
In interest of sharing in my victory, I have enclosed a small gift for you. Trust me, it should be near and dear to your heart. Hold it close, and think fondly of your son Geordon. We know what he did, and we intend to exact punishment when the time is right.
Hesitantly, Lady Pelematou reached into the bag, and pulled out a small pouch. A disgusting smell wafted up slightly from it. For a moment, she was tempted to throw it away, but curiousity got the best of her. Opening the bag, she pulled out a small leather cord…and at irregular intervals, several severed tongues made into a macabre necklace.
[/spoiler]