Si'Dhuen of Trefrost Spire

2

The congregation that had gathered was large. A dour countenance had settled on all those in attendance. The ceremony had been grand. The presiding cleric had spoken at length of the gravity of the tragedy represented in today's interment. The crowd, consisting of the majority of the city's nobility, nodded in agreement at these words. They joined in prayer as the cleric led an invocation appealing for a quick end to the current scourge that harried the city and for the strength to carry on.
Si'Dhuen sat close to the open grave, beside his mother and his dead wife's parents. His face was set in contrast to the sorrowful expressions of his fellows. His brow was furrowed tight, and he glowered at the casket that held the last of his progeny. His apparent ire seemed to almost radiate off of him with every breath.
The final rites were said, and the casket was lowered to rest. The crowd then rose and began to disperse. The family lingered at the graveside as the work team began to cover the boy's resting place. Si'Dhuen continued to frown in the direction of the  casket, seemingly oblivious to the world around him. He hardly noticed as Xyl'Niadeis approached.
"Sid, my old friend," he said, coming to a stop in front of Si'Dhuen. "My deepest condolences. Tragedy has visited you far too frequently, my heart aches for you."
Xyl'Niadeis spoke clearly and evenly. His expression was mournful, and his eyes were puffy and red.
"I wish I knew some way to ease the pain you must feel," he continued, placing a warm hand on his friend's shoulder.
Si'Dhuen gently removed his friend's hand from his shoulder, smoothing his expression as he turned to look at Xyl'Niadeis.
"I would appreciate if you did me the honor of full address, Xyl'Niadeis Agnoufreson. I believe the day's events call for such formality."  Si'Dhuen's voice was low and soft; his tone was monotonous. His face was stoic and unexpressive now, and he stared down Xyl'Niadeis with almost overwhelming intensity.
Xyl'Niadeis recoiled slightly at the remark before he could catch himself. But, he finally nodded and said, "Of course, my lord. I meant no offense, merely to offer a small comfort in this dark time."
Si'Dhuen took a moment, then nodded slowly, allowing his shoulders to relax and sink slightly. He stared for a long moment past his friend to the working men currently occupied with interring his son. "I appreciate your concern, Xyl'Niadeis. Your presence gives me strength. I do not believe I would have made it through today without you." He bowed slightly and looked approvingly upon his friend.
"You do me too much kindness, Si'Dhuen of Trefrost. I am unworthy of such high praise," spoke Xyl'Niadeis with the practiced formality of his noble birth. He resigned to sticking to propriety and tradition as much as he could in Sid's presence. It seemed to be what his friend needed at the moment.
Si'Dhuen stood lost in thought for another moment, oblivious to the world around him. The moment passed and he turned to Xyl'Niadeis, looking decades older with tension and stress. "I could do nothing. They all required me, and there was nothing I could muster to assist. There was nothing, with all my influence, for me to do." He trailed off, apparently in search of something.
"It is natural, Si'Dhuen, to look for reason and answers in the chaos of recent tragedy. I would hope that you can see the trueness in your words, my lord. Sometimes the best course of action is acceptance." Xyl'Niadeis was kind in his tone and countenance. The concern for his friend was clear in his eyes.
Si'Dhuen took a deep breath, and closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he gave a small smile to his friend. Xyl'Niadeis returned the favor with a larger smile as Si'Dhuen spoke. "Thank you, my friend. Your advice reassures me greatly. I am so glad to know you and have you here." Breaking with tradition, Si'Dhuen reached out to embrace his friend.
Xyl'Niadeis quietly accepted his affection, holding him tightly in an offering of comfort. Separating from Si'Dhuen, he declared, in a confident tone, "You will always have my service, my lord. Make any request you will of me, and I will do all in my power to serve."
Si'Dhuen straightened at his, and spoke solemnly, "I will remember your friendship well."
He then turned for the carriage home, and strode wearily away from the grave site.
For the next few weeks, Si'Dhuen isolated himself in his home. Any business required by the household was delegated to the house staff. In his isolation, he wandered the halls and grounds in search of peace. He found little, and restless led him to spend days at a time milling around the house.
Long into his sojourn, Si'Dhuen finally fell captive to the family's small library. He dove into a review of the few tomes of his. However, he found no solace in the history of his city or his own genealogy. He eventually laid his own collection aside for his wife's.
The manuals of hers he found were mostly for cooking and household skills. He flipped through the pages slowly, reminiscing on his late wife's involvement in the household, smiling to himself over the early days of their marriage.
Eventually he stumbled across the collection of books his wife found for the children. He buried himself for hours at a time, sifting through tales of great heroes, fantastic lands filled with wondrous creatures, and wretched villains.
Flipping through the stories, an idea slowly dawned on Si'Dhuen.
He summoned a messenger when he formed the idea into words, and he arranged a meeting with Xyl'Niadeis for the coming morning.
Xyl'Niadeis was awaiting Si'Dhuen outside the entrance to the grand, alabaster manor. He smiled widely as Si'Dhuen descended from his carriage and briskly approached the house. "Sid! My good friend! So glad to see you've broken your self imposed exile to see a weary friend!" Xyl'Niadeis extended his arms to this friend, and took both of Si'Dhuen's hands in his own.
"I thank you for your hospitality, Nigh. Especially on such short notice. I am sorry to trivialize your welcome, but I'm afraid I have something important I wish to discuss with you." Si'Dhuen's smile was genuine, but his tone was excited, and he spoke with alacrity.
"Of course, dear friend. Please come in, I'll have tea readied," replied Xyl'Niadeis as he ushered his guest to his study. A man brought them a tray after they had settled and they were left in peace.
"So, Sid, what is this important business you wish to discuss?" asked Xyl'Niadeis, taking up his saucer and teacup while he reclined in his seat.
"Yes, so I've had a thought, Nigh. I was combing through my departed wife's books, the ones she had collected for the children. I found several stories there, of remarkable magics that can control the boundaries between life and death. Alter them, if so desired. Obviously, I have very little knowledge of the arcane; I'm more of a functionary than any kind of scholar. I wanted to come to you, to see if you knew anybody with any arcane skill. Someone I could inquire of such things. I want to know if there is any validity to these children's stories."
At this, Xyl'Niadeis mouth twisted up in a confused expression. He took a slow sip from his teacup as he considered the wisest path forward.
"Now," he said after this pause, "I wonder for what purpose one would seek this knowledge. Whether this is a purely academic pursuit, or there is greater aspiration sought through such an inquiry." Xyl'Niadeis peered down his nose at his friend, watching closely for his reaction.
"Now, Nigh," started Si'Dhuen, successfully keeping his voice even, despite the narrowing of his eyes and twitch of his lip. "Am I to find my best friend, a companion I've cared for – virtually from the womb – in contempt of my favor? Is this how I am to be repaid for the years of friendship, the earnest intimacy, the incalculable hours of care and devotion? Is this what my familiarity is worth to one I've trusted so fully all these years?"
"You misunderstand me my friend," Xyl'Niadeis stated calmly, placing his saucer down and considering his friend fully. "I only wish to know where your mind is, out of concern for your well being. If tread into lightly, the arcane arts can take those who wander carelessly to dark and perilous depths. It would pain me to lose one so precious to me to such an endeavor. You of all people should know how cautious I will be with your life and affection."
Si'Dhuen considered this for a long while. Eventually, he placed his saucer aside as well, and let out a sigh. "I'm sorry, my old friend. It is unfair of me to speak to you so. And I am grateful for your compassion. You can't understand what it means to me. But, now, I will not be at peace unless I know. I did everything I could think of to attempt to save my family. I had to trust those more knowledgeable than myself to see to those things that did not come to mind. Looking over the last few months, and the last months I spent with my family, I would be remiss if I didn't examine any alternative route I could have taken, not if it can bring me peace of mind. I don't feel that I will be able to rest until I can exhaust any hope I have of revealing a different path I might have taken. To know for certain that I did everything that could be done. Only then can I be at peace, I think."
Xyl'Niadeis considered his friend patiently. Si'Dhuen was earnest in his words, and passionate in his delivery. Xyl'Niadeis could sense the pain in him, and a pang of guilt and compassion overtook the doubt he felt about his friend's request.
"Of course, my friend. I understand completely. It would be an honor to ease your suffering, in any way I may," replied Xyl'Niadeis. He rose from his chair and crossed the room to his desk. From one of the small drawers in the desk, he withdrew a small notebook, thumbed through it briefly, and copied a small note from the book. He returned to sit with Si'Dhuen, fanning the parchment to dry the fresh ink.
"This is an arcanist I know well," Xyl'Niadeis began briskly, "He resides here in the city. I've copied down his address and name for you here. If anyone in Trefrost Spire can point you in the direction you seek, this man will help you find them, if he is unable to aid you himself, of course."
Si'Dhuen rose from his chair as he took the parchment from Xyl'Niadeis.
"Thank you, my friend," he nearly exclaimed in his excitement. Si'Dhuen swept Xyl'Niadeis in an embrace, profusely thanking his friend as he did.
"Your help is greatly appreciated," he continued. "I must apologize, however. I want to follow through on this as quickly as I can. I'm afraid I must leave immediately." He broke his embrace with Xyl'Niadeis and made to leave.
"No apology necessary, Sid," Xyl'Niadeis reassured. He guided his guest to the front entrance of the manor at his friend's hurried pace. He assisted Si'Dhuen into his carriage, watching intently as it drove down the driveway and off the property. As he watched him leave, he offered a silent prayer to any deity that would listen to help his friend find peace.