[The Spectral Forest] Ties of blood and kinship

[Faith Augustin]

11th Vhalar 719

"And then," Faith said with a slight smile on her pale face, "I brought her home. That was yesterday, but I had to bring her here, to tell your mother." She looked at her friend and considered it. Faith looked different, she knew. She had changed, so much, since the first time she and Kura had met. This woman had been one of those who had talked to her of freedom in slavery, she'd taught Faith to shop and helped when Faith was pregnant and scared in Rharne. She trusted Kura, and the woman had earned it a hundred times over. When first they'd met Karem, Padraig and she, Karem had been pleased when they'd been clear. Karem was an important person. Someone to be respected. Not because she was an Immortal, but because she was their friend's mother. The Immortal had cared for Faith's children during the War and given Faith and Padraig a place to be, to rest, to recover once it was over.

She sighed, just slightly. "Will it ever really be over, Kura?" Faith wondered. In the distance, the sound of the children squealing and whooping with delight could be heard. Whatever Karem was doing the twins adored her, and it seemed that Rose fit right in. "So, it turns out, Labrae had been messing with me since birth, she made my mother choose me as the one to be sold," Faith could still hear it, see it, remember it. The one on the right. Just take the one on the right. "Then got the owners to behave like they did. Machinated Rose's birth, then her being whisked away and interjecting her into Ellasin's life." There was no way that Faith was fooling anyone with her quiet and calm demeanour, she knew. But that was alright, she wasn't trying to. The young human woman was simply trying to make sense of what had happened and explain it the best she could.

"Turns out, once upon a time, Ellasin was a healer. A medic. It's all just .... anyhow...." And Faith told Kura the story of what had happened the trial before. Where Ellasin was now, how Famula had no idea, and then Sintra, and the skittering and it must be said, Faith's shoulders rose almost to her ears at that. "Then, Labrae turned up, and..." it was like a who's who, or some sort of carriage station, Faith said and then continued with the story. Yes, even to the point that she told Kura about giving Famula the feather and then she shrugged slightly.

"And then I took her home. She asked me, last night, as I tucked her in to bed," Faith said softly, "to tell her who her family were. So I told her a story about a little girl called Rose and how many people loved her. I told her about you, and your mother. About Nir'wei. Vivian and Varlum, for Tristan and all the people who had been looking for her, and hoping for her for so long." Faith breathed in and let out a long, ragged breath.

"I'm too young for this, Kura. I really am." She chuckled. The Velduris pups could be heard yipping and yapping with the children. "I didn't want to let her sleep." Faith admitted. "Between what Aelig did when she was born and then... she crumbled to dust in my arms, you know? In the mirror?" Faith realised something and glanced at her friend. "Did I tell you that bit?" She would - if she hadn't, she filled Kura in on all of it. But Kura knew her friend, and Faith wasn't hiding it. She'd lost her daughter twice, and both times it had been more pain than all the years of slavery before. Both times, it had killed a part of her that would never recover. And the worst bit?

"And she's still not safe." Faith's face was neutral, calm almost, but the pain in her eyes was evident. She clasped her fist closed, pressing her finger pads into her palms. "There's still Maxine and Patrick. Patrick, I believe, is in jail and as for Maxine?" Faith looked at Kura and gave a soft, slight smile. "Well, there's a reckoning coming there. Carter and I were linked, so I know what happened, up to a point." What that point was, she didn't say. But she shrugged and looked at Kura. "I'll do whatever I have to, in order to protect my children, you know that," silver eyes regarded her friend. "Whatever it takes." Yes, Faith had changed. Looking down at her hands, she saw how covered in blood they were, to her eyes, and she'd triple it before anyone harmed a hair on her children's heads again.

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

"And somehow, she's five years old now. At least you don't have three diapers to change, yeah?" Kura said, grinning slightly before she looked off in the distance towards the sounds of laughter. "Sounds like mum likes Rose as much as she does the other two. From the sound of things though, a cold canine nose just found someone's belly." she said, laughing slightly before she looked at at Faith. The little healer had changed a lot over the course of this war. She looked older now, but not so much physically. There had been a sort of purity to Faith before. Not exactly innocence, but it was like even the suffering she had endured as a child hadn't touched her soul. Now there was an edge to her that almost broke Kura's heart to see.

When Faith asked if it would ever really be over, Kura could only sigh. "Not for a long time, at the least, if ever. Somethin' I had to learn a long time ago though, is that we have to take our victories as we come by them, and not worry about what some idiot is going to do next." she said, a sort of weary resignation to her voice. Kura had been in the world saving business for a long time, and she knew full well there would be more threats and wars in the future. But for now, they could just enjoy the peace they had fought to win. When Faith started explaining what Labrae had done, however, Kura's eyes started to turn more and more gold as Faith told the tale.

When it was done, however, Kura let out a sigh. "It's good for Rose to know she's got such a big family. She'll never lack for people who love her, and that can have a big impact on people." she said, before shaking her head and letting out a growl. "Labrae though, I never would have suspected she could pull that overarching show off. She's never shown that kind of nature before. And her only savin' grace was that she did all of that out of love for Ellasin." she said, before shaking her head. "Though I wonder if it ever even entered her head to just ask for help. With Sintra as a mother, it's just as likely that she was raised to believe that manipulatin' people was her only option. Still no excuse, though." she said, her tone a low growl.

When Faith said she was too young for all this, though, Kura reached over and pulled the little healer into a hug. "It's easy to forget, as talented as you are, that you're barely older than a pup yourself. You never should have had to bear all this on your shoulders, not when you're so young. I'd have kept it from you, if I could have." she said, a note of sorrow in her voice. When Faith said she hadn't want to let Rose sleep, Kura let out a small laugh. "Mum and I were the same way when we brought Ela home after her father was killed." she said, letting Faith go.

Then Faith started talking about what had happened in the Truthblade and when she got to Vri, there was a moment, just a brief moment when Kura's eyes changed to pure black, reflecting a light that simply wasn't there, the way owls did late in the night. Then it passed and her eyes were gold again, but Kura was still radiating suppressed rage. "I'd have killed him if I were there. To curse someone who has never shown anythin' but exemplary service is monstrous." she said, her anger evident in her voice. "Fortunately, the Twins had their heads on straight, mostly." she said, before shaking her head. "The great failin' of many of the Immortals is that they assume they have some sort of sovereign right over the lives of Mortals. Even the best of them can forget that they are not, and never have been, gods." she said, a borderline murderous snarl in her voice.

When Kura changed tack to talk about Patrick and Maxine, however, Kura jumped and her eyes turned back to their regular icy blue, as she was pulled back to current events. "I actually wanted to talk to you about Maxine. It appears that Famula took matters into her hands regardin' her. She cursed Max on the 3rd, collared her and made a leash that can compel Max to obey the commands of whoever has it." she said, before shaking her head. "So of course, the leash landed in my hands. I don't know if Famula intended it, or if events just fell that way, but now I hold Max's leash. She is, however, incredibly angry about the whole thing." she said, before letting out a sigh. Then she paused as something occurred to her. "You said Ellasin attacked you because she didn't know you didn't have Rose? That means she thought you had your kids with you. I don't know what it's worth, but Max knew that mum had the kids. She was sitting not five feet away from me and mum when mum agreed to babysit durin' the war. She didn't tell Ellasin about it, though." she said, her tone calm.

After a moment, something occurred to her and she looked back at Faith. "You were trackin' both Max and Patrick, yeah? What were your exact orders there?" she asked, her tone intent.

[Faith Augustin]

11th Vhalar 719

"Easier said than done, that," Faith said with a smile to Kura, "I'm not worrying about me. I'm worrying about the ways that said idiot can hurt those people." She nodded towards the children, although she didn't need to. She told the story, the simple truth of it all leaving her in a stark retelling of a time which, in all honesty, she would never quite get over. Kura, of course, had all sorts of complicated understands of it, but Faith considered that hers was fairly simple. She was tired, tired in her bones of being someone's pawn. Tired of her family, her love, her life being on the line for strangers. When Kura pulled her into a hug there was no hesitation from Faith, she hugged her friend and did so tightly. "In so many ways," she said softly. "Being a slave was easier. Choices, consequences, decisions. They're hard." So very difficult to manage and, more than that, she thought and she looked up at Kura and smiled, although her silver eyes were pale and her face showed her tiredness. "And more than that. It isn't just me who has to live with them, and that isn't fair. " She motioned, almost helplessly, towards the forest. "I never had that, Kura. You know what I had instead. They will have a childhood if I have to kill everyone who gets in their way. They won't have it ripped from them. Not for anyone." She looked towards where the sounds came from and she had no tears in her eyes, but the look on her face was pure determination. "Not even for me. I won't be what stops them having a childhood." Quite what she meant by that she didn't say, but there it was.

That Kura would take it from her, if she could, Faith didn't doubt. But she shook her head. "It's mine to take. I was never a pup, Kura. We both know that. I've met so many people, with so many stories of their lives, their childhoods, and why it means they're not responsible now." She shook her head. "Sometimes, I envy them a little. But I can't be that person. I can't lie to myself. I choose now what I choose now." Personal responsibility was such a gift, Faith wouldn't deny it, ignore it, or pretend it wasn't there. It simply wasn't her way. So, she moved on and she told Kura about the truthblade, and Vri, and Kura's eyes did the thing which showed her emotions. Faith, however, shook her head. "You're wrong about him, you know." It was rare Faith was openly argumentative or said such to anyone. Kura was in a small group of three. Padraig and Nir'wei made up the other two. "He's more human, more mortal, than almost any of them. Of course he is. Sorrow. Death. Love. Remembrance. His children just perished. He's grieving and he's not allowed to do so because he's an Immortal and he has a job to do. His job is to epitomise the sorrow of death, which he feels every trial and then, his children died. Nothing prepares you for that and his grief must have been tenfold. They didn't live out their lives, they simply were, and then they were not." Faith's hand moved, gesturing to out there.

"They think they have a clue? Those who would judge him? The most mortal of emotions, the most personal of bonds, and he is there, trying to hold it together. No. He doesn't think he's a god." Faith was, it must be said, quite genuinely irritated at people's opinions of Vri. "But I bet you he wishes he was a man so that he would be allowed the courtesy to grieve for his children." Faith rather thought that Kura might understand this. She was, after all, hundreds of arcs old and no parent should have to bury a child. "Grief is what he is, yet he is allowed none. What right have we to judge that?" She meant it most sincerely.

But then, they spoke of Maxine and Kura told her of what was happening. Of the leash, of Maxine, of her thoughts and how Maxine was angry. Incredibly angry.

And in that moment, Kura got to see Faith's eyes change colour. From silver to a deep red. "She's angry?" Faith said and her entire body was tense. Furious. "Is she? Is that because her selling of our information didn't get her what she wanted? Because Carter stepped in before she got to kill the baby?" There was no doubt that Faith felt as strongly about this as she did about anything. "That Maxine sold out our people, our place, and was willing to lead the woman who was trying to murder my children in their sleep really makes 'but she didn't tell Ellasin that they were with Karem where she couldn't get to them' rather pale into insignificance don't you think?" Faith looked at Kura and she gave a slight, and entirely mirthless smile at Kura's question. "Really? Are you asking me that because you want to go back and tell Maxine that I'm not the person that set Carter on her? So that Maxine turns her attention away from me? Come off it, Kura, she's volatile and has zero self-control." Faith looked at the woman who she genuinely believed was her friend. She genuinely believed that Kura would know her well enough to know the truth of what she said next. "You have that leash? Fine. Give it to me and let me deal with Maxine my way. She betrayed me and everyone I love, she threatened me and everyone I love. She led Ellasin and her army into my home and the place which should have been safe. So don't you ask me for reassurances for her. She sold those to Ellasin and Famula fooled her. Well there we go. She was too hell bent on what she saw as her revenge and her right." Faith looked at Kura and nodded. "So, you know me. You know who I am. Give me the leash and I'll end it."

Kura didn't need more than that, Faith hoped. "Because damnit Kura, I'm not the one in the wrong here. I got a 'you shouldn't leash Maxine' lecture from Sephira when I told Max what the mark did, and asked Max if she wanted it, to which Max said yes. But you have her on a leash and I provide the soothing balm? That isn't happening. Not today." Small hands. Faith had small hands and always had. But, she had hands which right now were balled into fists and which had held emotions which most people had no idea of. And where Kura came from, it was the person who had committed the crime who did the recompense. Not the one who'd been betrayed.

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

Kura smiled slightly when Faith said she was worried about what some idiot may do to hurt the children, but didn't respond. There wasn't really anything she could say to that, since it was true, and things like that were what kept Kura so busy most of the time. When Faith said that being a slave had been easier in a lot of ways, Kura let out a small laugh. "Of course it was easier. All a slave has to do is obey. That's the justification so many slavers have used throughout history, that they're helpin' their slaves by takin' to burden of thought from them and shoulderin' it themselves, as they are clearly so much more capable. The worst of the worlds nobility and monarchs do the same thing, and with the same result. So much is lost because the bottom rung, be they slave, serf, or beaten down peasant, are taught to obey and never think for themselves." she said, a note of disdain for that last bit very clear in her voice. Then, as Faith said she would kill anyone who tried to stop her children for having a proper childhood, Kura looked at Faith for a long moment, then nodded. "Yes, you would. Keep hold of that, lass. I get the feelin' you're not goin' to have a natural lifespan, if you catch my meanin', and you'll be needin' somethin' like to carry you through it." she said, her tone calm.

When Faith said she had never been a pup, however, Kura nodded. "No, you weren't. And you're right, everyone has to take responsibility for their own actions. But never forget that someone's past influences their actions. It doesn't excuse them, but it helps to understand them." she said, her tone serious. When Faith started on her speech about Vri, however, Kura remained silent until it was over, then shook her head. "First, you misunderstand me. Pier and Pre were the ones playin' games there, when they cursed your Ithecal friend." she said, her tone calm. "As to Vri's grief, I would certainly not deny him the right to mourn, or the right to be angry. I do, however, deny him the right to curse people for pointin' out that he was misbehavin'." she said, her tone very firm on that last bit.

"Now, as to him bein' more Mortal than any of the other Immortals, he isn't. His Domains give him a greater understandin' of some facets of what makes up a Mortal, but that's it. And even then...it's wonky. Ornery, my little owl, exploded not two feet from him and all he could think to do was ask why I broke him. No, lass, Vri is no more Mortal than any other Immortal, and sorrow is no more "mortal" an emotion than any other. Mortals are natural creatures, made up of a whole host of emotions and feelin's. Immortals are created, and they are what they were made to be. Some of them lack certain emotions entirely, and others don't know how to handle the ones they do have because their creator forgot to give them what they need to handle it. Vri may act more like a Mortal than a lot of them, but he's as far removed as Faldrun or Qylios, or even mum." she said, her tone almost sad.

When Faith started on her rant about Maxine, however, Kura once again remained silent until the end of it, then sighed. "No, lass, you aren't in the wrong, barrin' that you misunderstood the nature of my question. If you and Max want to have it out sometime, that's up to the two of you. For now though, the leash is mine, and I'll deal with myself. Maxine is a Scalvonite citizen, however troubled or trouble causin', and that makes her my responsibility, not yours." she said, her tone firm. "As to the question about Carter, it has nothin' to do with Max. I need to know if I need to worry about Carter doin' somethin' stupid." she said, before shaking her head. "As I said, Max is mine to deal with, and she'll be a handful to manage. You said Labrae manipulated Carter because he had inclinations towards revenge. I need to know if he's gonna be gettin' the middle of things." she said, her tone calm and reserved.

[Faith Augustin]

11th Vhalar 719

That Vri had no right to go around cursing people for telling him he was misbehaving was a wonderfully Kura way to put it and Faith couldn't help the smile which lifted her face. "That is a very fair point," she said and then listened to how Kura discussed the Immortals. "I mean, I don't know them like you do, but that makes sense. I just ..." she shrugged slightly. "I feel bad for Vri. I do." Frankly, it seemed to her like his Domains were more tricky than many of the others, but then, Faith also knew the truth when she saw it. "I can only see things from a mortal's perspective and, frankly, a narrow one at that. So, I must bow to your superior knowledge there." Faith had no issues being wrong, never had.

It was in the discussion on Maxine that Faith glanced at Kura and her eyebrow raised slightly. "Are you above the law, Kura?" Faith asked, quietly. There was a genuine curiosity in her voice, because to Faith things were very clear. "The Lightning Knights, the Scalvoris Elements and the Thunder Priestesses sent protection to my house. My house which was attacked. Attacked by Ellasin's troops. Maxine was in receipt of information regarding the plan of defence and attack which she gave out. Thus, betraying Scalvoris' troops, as led by Sephira, and the troops of Rharne." She looked at Kura calmly, "every person that died is assisted by Maxine's actions. She sided with Ellasin. The woman who created the Rynmere plague. This is not a petty criminal, as well you know."

Faith looked at Kura calmly. Her eyes clear and her gaze unwavering. "And if I tell the respective Councils that, and that you have this traitor but are not handing her over, what sort of political mess do you think that will cause?" There was no threat from Faith there, and she was quick to reassure Kura of that. "I have no intention of doing that. But I'm not naive to how this works, and you're taking a heck of a risk here, Kura. So. As far as I can tell, this woman took out Rey'na's spark. She betrayed me - and us, all of us, to the point where Ellasin's forces were attacking Rharne. Literally, as you know, thousands of people died, and Maxine was part of that." Faith hadn't wanted to make the decisions she had, but she stood by them. "Patrick sold us out to the Shadow Quarter, and is in prison for it. That is justice. What is this?"

Somewhere along the line, Faith had done something which she'd never thought she needed to do. She'd grown up. Because she had been naive; she'd been young and foolish. But no more. "So, no, I disagree. Maxine is not yours to deal with. I and my husband are Scalvoris citizens and you even having this leash is a diplomatic nightmare in the making. You have the leash because Maxine chose you to? I'm sorry, Kura, she doesn't get a vote." As for Carter, Faith merely shrugged. "He's not risking the lives of every man, woman, and child in Rharne and Scalvoris and Rynmere. He's not siding with a monster. And he, unlike Maxine, is prepared to take responsibility for his actions." There was a tiredness in Faith's expression, but it was outmatched by sheer force of will. "She needs dealing with. If you think you can genuinely rehabilitate her so she is no longer a threat to me, or my family, which includes my mother-in-law, then tell me that." Did Faith believe that was possible? It was hard to tell behind those silver eyes. These days, she gave less away. "Do you really believe you can?" She gave the slightest of smiles. "If you do, Kura. If you really do, then I'll say no more. But her hatred for me is deep as it comes. Which is fine. What is not fine is that she doesn't care who she sides with, or who they hurt, in order for her to scratch that itch." And that, in Faith's eyes, was the truth. "And, maybe without even meaning to, she'll take you down with her. She's already begun," Faith said, quietly. "And she'll never once say or see any blame for herself."

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

When Faith said she felt bad for Vri, Kura nodded. "As do I. What happened to his children would be enough to break most people." she said, her tone somber. When Faith asked if she was above the law, though, Kura looked at Faith curiously, then remained silent as her friend outlined her issues with what Kura was doing. "Above the law? No, not really. I've bent the law in all sorts of ways before, and I'm havin' to play very fast and loose with some definitions this time, but legally speakin', that leash is Maxine's punishment for treason. Even were I willin' to throw her back into Slags Deep, which I'm not for a whole slew of reasons mostly to do with Slags Deep, she's gotten out of it before, so there's not much point." she said, before grimacing. "As for justice, it probably isn't, but I wouldn't really call throwin' anyone in prison justice either, because frankly, if prisons are justice, then all justice does is mark time. Throwin' someone in prison doesn't accomplish anythin' besides keepin' them in a box for however long, and frequently, folks come out far worse, and far more skilled at bein' worse, than when they went in. They don't learn anythin' useful, they cost money and don't give anythin' back to society as a whole, and all they know how to do when they get out is more of what got them thrown in there in the first place." she said, shrugging. "If that's justice, lass, then it's very counterproductive." she said, before giving Faith a serious look.

"As for Rey'na's spark, yes, she did take it. I organized that mission into Rynmere, and I got the report from it, from Sephira and Maxine, and what I could see through Rupturin'. And by all accounts, the only reason the Order of the Mantis even knew that they were there was because Rey'na lost control of her temper and started usin' her magic in the middle of street. The regular order members, they probably would have killed her. I sent Maxine on that mission to keep Rey'na and Sephira alive, and she did that. If Maxine hadn't taken Rey'na's spark, Rey'na would, at best, be dead." she said, her tone calm. Then she smiled slightly. "Though it's funny you say that Max never takes responsibility and mention Rey'na's spark. See, Max very much blames herself for removing your sisters spark and considers it very wrong. Perhaps she's right, and a more experienced operator could have saved Rey'na's life without removing her spark. But odds are, a more experienced spy or assassin wouldn't have tried to save her, since she's the one who blew their cover." Kura said, letting out a sigh. "When things get to that point, they're never black and white."

"As for Maxine picking me to have the leash, it's not whether her vote matters to us that's relevant, is it? Famula's the one that let her choose the holder, and I don't think that I can choose who to pass it on to. I do know that it goes to Padraig if falls out of my possession though. As to Carter, fair point." she said, nodding in agreement to Faith's assessment of the man. When Faith said that Max was pulling Kura down with her, though, Kura gave Faith a look. "You should know better, lass. I do believe that I can rehabilitate her, and so does Famula, unless she's bein' out and out cruel." she said, before outlining how the leash worked and what the condition was for its removal. "Now, if I didn't think I could rehabilitate her, I'd have killed her on the spot. Truth be told, I considered it. But, I feel some responsibility towards her. I've seen some remarkable changes in people before, and I was filled with hate and rage once too. But I had mum to get me through it, to keep it from consumin' me. Ela was startin' down that path, and you and I pulled her off of it. I have to try, lass, even if I won't succeed." she said, before letting out a bark of laughter. "Besides, the whole reason I went into politics was to achieve the impossible, and this will just be very difficult." she said, before giving Faith another serious look. "In the meantime, I've used one of the leashes prohibitions to keep Maxine from actively doin' anythin' that'll cause any harm to you, your family, or the Zuuda as a whole. Pardon the pun, but I'm keepin' her on a short leash. She'll be able to defend herself though, if any of the Zuuda, for instance, decide to attack her." she said, before giving a grim smile. "And I'm only ever this lenient once. If Maxine pulls this sort of thing again, she'll wish that I had just killed her when she gave me the leash." she said, her tone now very cold.

Then she snapped back to her normal self. "So yes, I think I can rehabilitate Maxine, though it may take time. But while I'm doin' it, she can't so much as poke you and yours, and if I succeed, she won't want to." she said, before frowning. "Though if you think of any loopholes in the prohibition, let me know, yeah? I'm a clever sort, but this sort of divine thing always comes with complications." she said, before a peal of laughter and wolf howls sounded from where Karem and the kids were. "You do know you may be gettin' another puppy, yeah?" she asked. "Unless Rose already has a spider or crow or somethin'?"

[Faith Augustin]

11th Vhalar 719

"Legally speaking, the leash is nothing to do with the law. We both know that. That's not to say it isn't punishment, mind you." And as for Kura's view on prisons? Faith and Kura could not be more in agreement if they tried on that matter. Prisons were not something which Faith could ever put her belief in and, somewhere down the line, she'd end up fighting them, she knew. Slavery first, but then prisons next. Maybe. That people who committed crimes needed to have an appropriate punishment was not something she doubted but to her mind, prison was far from it.

When discussing Rey'na, though, Faith's eyes hardened and she nodded. "I know," she said. "Rey'na told me. She couldn't watch a child being burned to death in the streets." Faith looked at Kura, well aware that her friend knew that detail and had left it out. While Kura's explanation was factual, it certainly missed something important. To Faith's mind, something vital. "I don't like that sudden taste of politics in my mouth. For trying to save a child, it is deemed acceptable that Rey'na has half her soul ripped out and Maxine is there, and allows it. Presumably, having been there and allowed - or been prepared to allow - the burning of said child." Faith raised an eyebrow. "Justice, you say?" Faith shook her head. "At least it was a child, not a baby." There was no doubt in Faith's mind, none at all. She stood by what she said, and what she believed. "Because if that's justice, Kura, then it takes counterproductive to a whole new level. It really does." Turning away, she looked out at the surroundings and spoke quietly. "Rey told me not to be cross at Maxine," Faith said, softly. "She said that, when it was happening, Maxine squeezed her hand and it made her feel better, so not to be cross at her." Faith shook her head in disgust and more than a little disappointment. And Max blamed herself? Faith laughed, and there was no humour in it at all. "Oh, does she? When she was using it to try and get a rise out of me, to try and taunt me into retaliating against her poisonous venom, she didn't seem bothered. If she blamed herself in the slightest, she'd do something about it, Kura. But she doesn't. She uses it as an excuse to seek the response she desires. The one that makes her a victim to allow her to continue to excuse her own behaviour."

Whatever it was that made Kura so blind to this woman, Faith did not know, but in that moment she knew that, whatever happened, it could only come from Kura. Faith had a momentary choice - she trusted her friend or she didn't and Kura had more than earned Faith's trust a thousand times over. So, there was no question, no pause. When Kura said that she'd stopped Max from coming after Faith or her family, Faith waved her hand, almost dismissively. "I don't doubt that. Thank you." She sighed. Was there hope for rehabilitation? Faith just didn't know. Frankly, she didn't believe so. As for the Zuuda, Faith shrugged. "People died in the war. She openly kicked off and I haven't hidden, nor has Carter, that it was her who betrayed us. There are a lot of families who have lost loved ones." That was undoubtedly true. More than anything, though, when Kura spoke of keeping Max on a tight leash, and asked Faith to help with any loopholes, the young human nodded. "Just be careful, Kura. She's not a wolf, she's a hyena." Faith looked at Kura and the diminutive healer said in complete honesty, "And you need to watch your back with her. Just be careful. Always, be careful." Kura was her friend - the closest thing to a mother Faith had known for a long time - and she was one of the people on the list of those who Faith called family. That meant that Faith would protect her, no matter what.

No matter what.

Though, at the thought of another puppy, Faith grinned. "That would be most welcome." Standing there, she looked at Kura and tears sprang into her eyes. "I got my Rose back. It was ... everything, I'd do it all again to have her back." And that was the simple truth of it. Then, the dark and serious conversation done, she looked at Kura and said, with mock-seriousness. "You haven't been eating well. I'm a passingly good cook you know. Have dinner with us?"

[Kura Wolfsdotter]

When Faith said she didn't like the taste of politics, and explained in more detail why she was so troubled about what had happened to Rey'na, Kura sighed. "Nothin' about that was right, lass, and it had naught to do with justice, or fairness, or anythin' good. What Rey'na did was...right. Heroic and good, and all those wonderful things we all wish we could be. It also could have gotten all three of them killed on the spot, or captured and tortured, or caused the Order of the Mantis to go "Screw this." and purge the entire area, thinkin' it was a mage hangout. Plus, none of that's gettin' into why I sent the three of 'em to Rynmere in the first place." she said, before sighing and shaking her head. "Part of my frustration durin' the war was that I'd had to send those three in the first place. Scalvoris is young, sure, but to be so...unprepared as to require sendin' two front line soldiers with no proper trainin' for that kind of job and a convict that was only sort of trustworthy? It was utter madness, and frankly, I tried to go myself. The rest of the Council refused, with some logic to be sure, but...look, my mum doesn't like most of the Immortals, and I'm not too keen on a lot of them myself, but even the ones that stay out of Mortal politics, like Famula for instance, know they need to have people who can do the bad jobs. Like Carter or that dog, for instance." she said, her tone saddened. "So no, I don't consider what happened to Rey'na acceptable. I just consider it to be far from the worst thing that could have happened to her or the rest of her team, or the people they were tryin' to protect."

When Faith brought up that Maxine had used what happened to Rey'na to get a rise out of Faith, Kura growled. "Now, that I didn't know. It is possible she was lyin' through her teeth, and I was seein' what I wanted to see. I'll concede that, to be sure. But...well, let me be clear. I know Maxine has made enemies, and if she breaks another law or someone goes to pick a fight with her for what she's done, I won't interfere with her gettin' what she's earned unless goin' after her puts others in dangers. And I don't trust her. I want to help her be a better person, but that don't mean I think she already is." she said, before letting out another laugh as Kura compared Maxine to a hyena. "No, that one's no animal at all. Animals are easy to understand, because they run on pure instinct. They aim to survive, but they aren't truly selfish, or cruel, or evil. They just are what they are. Maxine thinks herself as someone who runs on pure instinct, but she's wrong. Accepting that she's more than that would mean takin' responsibility for herself, and she's been dodgin' that so long I doubt she even realizes she's doin' it anymore." she said, her tone holding a bit of a laugh in it.

When Faith said that she'd go through everything all over again to have Rose back, Kura nodded. "Aye. It's good to have her back, though hopefully there's no lastin' issues from what the Scarecrow did." she said, before letting out a sigh. "That's surprisin' though, Labrae takin' independent action like that. I can't recall that I've ever heard of her stepping outside her mum's orders before. Certainly, what she did and why she did aren't somethin' that Sintra would be doin'." she said, before letting out a huff. "Ah, I shouldn't be too surprised though. Labrae's half-mortal, much the same as I am, and it's that mortal blood that makes us willin' to do the maddest things for the most impossible goals." she mused, before opening her coat and looking down when Faith accused her of not eating well. "Well...I mean...I had a bit of rabbit just this mornin', I get by." she said, half defensively and half jokingly. "But aye, I'd love to join you all for dinner. And I think, lass, that you're rather undersellin' your culinary talents." she said, her tone amused.

[Pig Boy]

Faith

Experience: 15 no magic

Knowledge:

Politics x 2
Negotiation x 2

Renown: none

Skill Usage: Appropriate to level

Loot/Losses: none

Injuries/Conditions: none

Consequences: none

Kura

Experience: 15 no magic

Knowledge:

Politics x4
Tactics x4

Renown: none

Skill Usage: Appropriate to level

Loot/Losses: none

Injuries/Conditions: none

Consequences: none

Comments: Sorry about the lateness.

I enjoyed reading more about the backstory on just how Rose and Labrae were involved. There were some bits in there that I missed myself, so I'm glad to have read this.

Faith has been through a lot in the past few arcs, and it shows in her growing personal experience and the way she faces problems. I genuinely hope she has some time to relax and just live before moving onto the next big challenge. She's a great character.

Kura was interesting in her defense of Max as a Scalvoris citizen. She really does take her position as leader of Scalvoris council seriously, and that extends to all who are Scalvoris citizens. Although I have to confess I suspect she's a bit biased when it comes to Max. She may have her hands full with that one!

Great writing and enjoy the points/knowledges!

If you have any concerns about this review, please PM me about them.