"Tis a pretty story to be sure, but Dolorous is only one man. There are thousands of adventurers now." the hyur scoffed.
"Aye," I conceded, "there are thousands upon thousands but only a fraction of them live long enough to earn the title of 'Warrior of Light'. I wonder why that is."
I watched him think about my words as I took another drink. Silent communication passes between the tavern owner and I while the silence settles comfortably around my companions and me.
The waitress brings a hot meal and places it in the middle of the table. Salad, aldgoat steak, sautéed chartelles, dzemael gratin, roast artichokes, crowned pies and a fresh round of drinks for all of us filled the table. I nodded to the waitress in thanks.
"Eat, drink and be merry, my friends, for tomorrow you may find you are not one of the chosen," I say in answer to the questioning stares around the table.
"A rather morbid thought." the Viera murmured.
"I prefer to believe it realistic. We don't know. Not even I know if the next task set upon me will be my last and I don't pretend I'm invincible. I never sought glory, but the fates care little for what the players on the stage desire. We are used according to their fancy."
Quiet settled as we each served ourselves according to our tastes.
"Alright then," the Viera said brightly, though a note of challenge run in her voice, "I say we journey for righteousness. We shall make it our goal to expose the truth wherever it lay hidden."
I admired the Viera. Part of me wished I had her naivety and innocence again. Part of me was sad she would lose it. I kept my own counsel as her companions considered the goal.
"No ill could come of righting wrongs and exposing corruption. I could agree with that." the Elezen said after a time. The Hyur nodded slowly in agreement.
Oh, my sweet summer children, all of you. I thought to myself.
"It occurs to me you've not been in Ul'dah long or you would know how wrong you are. People protect their secrets and they have cost the foolish their lives."
"Nonetheless, there are truths that need to be exposed. Though it be painful, the people will be better for it."
I cast my mind back to Ishgard and The Syndicate, hell even Garlemald and weigh the Elezen's words.
"You put me in mind of a story. Indulge my tale and I will have you council me, is the truth better exposed, or should it remain in shadow?"
The young adventurers nodded and settled into their meal, listening closely.
~
The Autumn song war was a travesty as all wars are. Loss of life on that level is always heavier when beloved leaders are counted among the dead. Such was true in this tale. Gridania's leader was well-loved and strove for peace. When the dust settled he was honored a hero and a day of remembrance held in his honor.
Years later, as Ala Mhigo and Gridania are walking towards a tentative peace, one the honored leader gave his life to see, a letter is delivered to the twin adders. The letter alleges there is a book, a journal of sorts, that proves the leader was not killed in honorable combat as the stories told. The journal proves the beloved leader was the victim of foul play and poison was the cause of death.
The Adder's Nest took the letter seriously and dispatched me and a few allies to investigate.
Our journey took us to Castrum Oriens where we met an Elezen who claimed to be the descendant of the lost leader. He admitted to not having the journal, only have heard of it but enlisted our help to retrieve it.
That Elezen was a problem and a half. He didn't expect the Adder's Nest to take him seriously, you see. Certainly not seriously enough to dispatch me, Sanson and Guydelot. We were seasoned and well-known. Yet he was opportunistic enough to believe he could use us to his own ends. So he redoubled his efforts.
The problem with trying to deceive multiple people is resources. You have a finite amount of memory to recall who you told what and keep your story straight. When you are so focused on your own lies, you lack the wherewithal to see behind the masks others use to deceive you. Remember this lesson we'll because it will serve you more often than you'd like.
Anyroads, on with our story. The dear Elezen descendant tripped up and we found he was working with some unsavory groups. Anti-Ala Mhigan sentiment was growing in Gridania and this boy was meeting with those who were fanning the flames.
I don't know if he fell in with them or if they placed the idea of the journal in his head. Truly, it matters little for the end result was the same. The journal did exist and the rumor was true.
The leader of the Ala Mhigan forces invited the Gridanian ambassador to dinner with the alleged intent of furthering peace talks. The Gridanian leader wanted nothing more than to end the war and bring peace to his beloved nation. So, taking nothing more than his son and a token force as a guard, he went.
In words penned by the Ala Mhigan ambassador's own hand, he poisoned the whole entourage only the young boy got free.
That child returned to the Gridanian base and do you know what he told his leaders and allies? He told them his father was killed en route. That child knowingly lied to the leaders of nations willing to go to war for his father.
A child, barely a man himself, saw what the truth would do to the nation his father gave his life to protect. So he chose to lie, to bury the truth instead of see his nation plunged deeper into bloodshed.
~
I looked around the table to see them all leaning forward, listening intently. I raised my cup to my lips and let the moment be. When I sat my mug down and asked them the question I promised at the beginning of my tale.
"You tell me, in that situation, who is best served by seeking the truth? When you are on the edge of peace, who is to gain by starting war?"
YOU ARE READING
Journeys
FanficA bard, who has long grown bitter, is asked to regale the next generation of adventurers with the stories of her travels. (There will be spoilers where they need to be and they will be called out. The stories may be slightly different from canon as...
