18 - Seed of Hope (Patreon)

“Someone, please explain why this is happening,” Phoenix mentally pleaded to her party.

“I think only the kid knows why he’s doing this, so you’d have to ask him,” Rayna responded, which didn’t really help her at the moment.

“Right now, it doesn’t matter why specifically. Only that the request has been made, and you must answer,” Dazien interjected, glancing back over his shoulder to meet her eyes, “It’s not just his life either. As lord of his House, you now determine what happens to any of its surviving members.”

“Can I just… not?”

The gemite gave a gentle smile, “That sounds like asking not to be an Adventurer because the monster is too scary. It’s part of the job, and you’re a noble now. I’ve never seen you back down from a challenge.”

She gave an annoyed huff and asked, “Can you explain those options Kara gave?”

“Absolution means you forgive them for any past wrongdoings,” the Defender began reciting.

Rayna interjected, “You better not pick that one just to get out of choosing, though. They don’t deserve that at all.”

“Forgiveness isn’t about deserving,” Saiya corrected, “That’s kind of the point.”

“Agreed,” Dazien continued, “But I also agree that you shouldn’t choose that. It would send a very confusing message to the people and other Houses that might make them believe House Ruwena wasn’t truly at fault for their actions. We do not want that from a political viewpoint.”

She nodded in understanding. Despite wanting to not deal with any of this, she couldn’t bring herself to forgive the family that caused her so much stress, fear, pain, and death… not yet at least. 

“Death is pretty self-explanatory, but that’s also one I wouldn’t recommend. Even if you think some of the remaining members might deserve it, you would be condemning all of them,” the Defender continued explaining, and she blanched.

“They would let a lord kill his whole house like that?”

“It’s an old law but one that is still upheld technically. Some have tried to change or remove it, but many people cling tightly to traditions no matter how ridiculous they may seem. The fact that this situation is exceedingly rare also keeps the law from getting changed as it’s simply not a pressing issue.”

“I doubt that would remain non-pressing if Phoenix chooses death now,” Saiya said sourly.

“Or it might further cement the law into being as a righteous path picked by the Chosen One,” Dazien countered, “Who is on what side of every decision matters in politics. It’s never completely clear what the ramifications might be of a choice made in haste or in reaction to a perceived threat.”

“You shouldn’t make the poor boy wait too long for judgment, Regent Wayland,” Kara called over to them. “If you choose the last option, I can see the law carried out right away and be done with the whole lot by dawn’s light,” the Obsidian Caster said, and Phoenix knew the woman would do no such thing. Not only because there was no way she would choose it but because it wasn’t part of “protecting her or the city,” which was the point of the champion’s presence… at least, she hoped so.

“I wish to discuss the matter with my brother, Paladin Fairweather,” Phoenix replied in her ‘noble tone’ she had been getting to practice far too much lately and fought back a smile when Dazien’s eyes rolled before adding, “If he wants my judgment then he can be patient.”

“Banishment is also fairly obvious. They all have to leave, not just Tulim but the whole nation of Blomsterang,” the gemite quickly summarized, “Servitude strips them of all their material possessions, binds any Casters in Chains of Silence, and they all become… well, basically enslaved to your House but there are protections against direct harm to their persons. 

“Annexation also forfeits all of their wealth to House Wayland; however, the people become a part of it. They would become Waylands, or you could choose to place them within an existing branch family or create a new one, but they would be bound to the House as family.”

“I don’t think I can make any of those choices,” Phoenix said, scrunching her nose in frustration, “That sounds like a huge political move that needs Pati’s approval. Not just me as the child Regent.”

“I don’t believe another can choose for you, and I’m not sure there’s a way to postpone,” Dazien said with a frown, “This is an ancient law, and usually both parties would be aware that it was going to happen beforehand; at least among the nobility. It would be part of surrender negotiations or such and be decided upon before risking the death of an entire House.” 

“This law is stupid,” she grumbled.

“I didn’t write it,” he replied then gave a small smirk and added, “I’ll remember to exclude it when I make my own kingdom.”

Phoenix moved forward to place herself next to Dazien instead of being shielded behind him to get a better look at the teenager she hadn’t seen in months. He looked younger and more haggard than she remembered. “How old are you?” she asked curiously.

“Fifteen, Regent Wayland,” the kid replied without moving from his position.

She stared at him for a moment before looking towards Dazien and silently inquiring, “I thought kids… the actual child-child ones, needed a House Ambassador for certain things? That’s why I have Pati for the big decisions that affect others. Can he even do this?”

The Defender’s frown deepened, and he replied solemnly, “Only when they’re the oldest member of their House.”

The Wayfarer’s mouth dropped open at that, and she looked back to the lord of a House only left with children. She had thought of the name “Ruwena” as one synonymous with the word “evil,” but the revelation that all those who remained were younger than sixteen shook her beliefs in an oddly dissonant way.

Not sure she really wanted the answer, she asked the party, “Do any of you know what happened to the adults?”

“You don’t know?” Dazien asked in confusion, “Paul didn’t tell you?”

“I’m starting to think there were a lot of things he didn’t tell me in an effort to protect me,” she admitted sadly, “He would have been the one standing here instead of me, right? I wouldn’t have needed to know…”

“His mother was sent to the nation’s capital, Blomstra, for public execution. The rest that survived the battle for Tulisuda had their executions carried out here in private, but the outcome was posted for the public to know.”

“Even the elderly?”

“Yes. They were found guilty,” he replied bluntly, “Those under sixteen were deemed not responsible for the actions of their parents or for not speaking out against them. Thus Camrin Ruwena became its lord despite his age. However, he’s apparently decided that leaving their fate in your hands is the best course of action.”

As she watched Camrin stay in that uncomfortable-looking position –not daring to move an inch to the point of trembling at the strain– she voiced her next question aloud, “Why are you doing this?”

She couldn’t see his face still but she heard the sincerity and sorrow in the boy’s voice as it wavered and he admitted, “I know my House is guilty. I know we did wrong against you specifically. We will forever be scorned despite the price that has already been paid in lives. We have nothing to offer in recompense except our future.” 

He paused to take a steadying breath before adding, “I’m not worthy of being a lord, Regent Wayland. If I want to make things right again, you’re my only hope.”

Phoenix was startled by the phrasing, recalling the famous quote from her old world spoken by a rebel princess pleading for help. That’s exactly what Camrin was doing now. Begging her for help in his darkest moment.

The Wayfarer glanced up to see Kara intently staring at her with that amused smirk. She wondered if the Obsidian Caster really was like how her party described; bored and looking for anything different to entertain. Or perhaps the woman was testing her? Seeing if she was worthy of being her goddess’ Chosen? Did she need to behave like a champion right now? Did she even want to?

Too many questions and not enough time is what it felt like. That seemed to be a constant for her by this point though. Always more questions than answers, and time kept ticking away whether she wanted it to or not. It was overwhelming… but that was what she had friends for now. Friends that she trusted to support her.

“Right now, what’s everyone’s vote?” she mentally asked them.

All four of them responded in unison, and she spoke the answer aloud, “Annexation.”

It turned out that Camrin was one of the two portalists requested to help transport the research expedition back to the city to rest before going to the northern Reality Seed in the morning. King’s Dream, with Kara following, escorted the annexed lord back to the Wayland estate, where she was relieved to find Patricia already at home for the night.

Letting Dazien do what he was best at, she listened to him talk. Alone with just her and Patricia in the latter’s study, he explained not just the situation with House Ruwena but also highlighted the events of the expedition.

While he was being debriefed, the Wayfarer noted how different this study was from Paul’s –his feeling more private and purposed for reading books and filling out paperwork– while his sister’s felt much more inviting and open to entertaining guests. It had more of a focus on the small bar and sitting area that held a table currently laden with some sort of board game that Phoenix didn’t recognize but reminded her a bit like chess if three people were playing at once.

The aesthetics the siblings shared between their respective study rooms was a large amount of green plant life and carved wood with touches of white brightening up the earthy colors. The sunlight streaming through the large glass window also helped enhance the feeling of openness in what felt more like a parlor than a study.

“It’s not entirely surprising that Camrin took the path of desperation,” the noblewoman said with a sigh as she retrieved a notebook from a large flower blossom she conjured in the air, “A child forced to take care of other children rarely leads to happy outcomes and never without a heavy toll. You made the right choice, but this is not going to be an easy process. Do we know how many we’re taking in?”

“Nine from the main House,” the gemite answered, “Then there are the two branch families they had, but I assumed you would sever them, so I didn’t ask about their numbers. Was I mistaken?”

“No, that’s probably for the best,” Patricia replied, writing notes on a sheet of paper.

“Sever?” Phoenix asked hesitantly, thinking that sounded rather fatal.

“Most branch families are a bit odd in that they aren’t considered nobility, but they are tied to and backed by the noble House that will either feed or pull members between them,” Dazien explained, “Sometimes, if an heir apparent is missing or there’s a promising member within a branch family, the Head of a House will raise them into the main family.

“Alternatively, if the Head wished to, they can renounce a family member into a branch family; this is most commonly done when they are a disappointment in some major way.”

“Some nobles will choose to renounce themselves, not wanting the status for some reason or another,” Patricia interjected, then added off-handily, “Honestly, I’m still surprised my father didn’t renounce Paul and Paul didn’t renounce himself. It makes me believe they both hoped for reconciliation eventually, despite both being stubborn arses.”

Both Dazien and she chuckled at that before he continued explaining, “Severing a branch family means cutting off that connection and support. They become just another common independent family. In this particular case, I doubt House Wayland wants to maintain the connection or potential burden.”

“I will bring it up with the House Council later, but I’m pretty confident they’ll agree with severing,” Pati reiterated, then noted, “Nine more children to take care of won’t be much of a hardship. We’ll want to contact the temple of the Mender and Traveler, though, and see if they can help set up something for adjusting to everything.”

“I would recommend contacting High Priestess Deserin at the temple of the Parent. She already has contacts for handling similar situations,” Dazien suggested.

“Similar to getting absorbed into another noble family?” the Wayfarer questioned in confusion.

“Similar to having your parents die suddenly and everything you’ve ever known taken from you,” the gemite clarified somberly, “To feel lost and alone in a strange environment.”

She fell silent at the parallels drawn not just between him and the newly orphaned children but also to herself and everything since her own mother had died not even a year ago. The thought also reminded her to see if she should set up talking with Priest Jacob again soon. It had been a few weeks since she had scheduled time to meet with him, her days mostly consumed by missions and wars.

“Thank you for the recommendation, Dazien,” the runeforged said, writing the name down in her notes, “Now for tomorrow, I’ll be joining your party not as Ambassador Wayland but as Priestess.”

“Oh? Why’s that?” she asked.

“My goddess is interested in the seed being cultivated there. She asked me to request its survival.”

“What? Why?”

“I’m not sure, but she said it would be made clear to me once I visited and that it was a ‘seed of hope’ for Tulim.”

“I swear the gods are so melodramatic,” Phoenix grumbled.

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