A Record of Ash & Ruin: The Grieving Lands - Book 2: Chapter 40: The Truth Within the Lies

It is alright to occasionally stumble and fall. It is not alright to think that it is alright to stumble and fall.

– Gilgamesh of Uruk.

Despite hitting Dumuzi a little less than half the time, I got no further gains in my skills. Feeling generous, I used Heal on the boy, perking him up, and passed him a few extra coins, which he accepted with a bow and an inane grin. I had to resist the urge to pat him on the head like a dog.

After the evening meal, I saw our Rogue trying to juggle some knives, to Larynda’s amusement, only to see him miss a catch and hurt himself. That did not seem like the Elwin that I knew, and it was this that prompted me to take him aside for a serious talk. Had the Rogue lost his edge? Also, Cordelia had told me the Church’s side of things, but I wanted to hear it from a different point of view, even if it meant opening up barely-healed wounds.

“What’s with the serious air about you, Gil?” Elwin started, noticing my look and running a hand through his hair. Hair that had mysteriously thickened, slightly.

“You’ve been through a lot Elwin, just wanted to let you know that if you need to talk about anything, I am here…” I offered gently. In my mind, I was already calculating how I could extract some necessary information from him.

“That’s nice, Gil. Really is. I… the things they did. Like I said, I’m sorry I told ‘em. But they didn’t get it easy,” he replied, looking away. I saw that his hands were shaking.

Luckily, the man had given me the opening I needed. Though I trusted Cordelia, more sources of information were always better. Especially when it involved having a bunch of religious fanatics in search of me.

“I know Elwin, I know. We’ve been through so much together. I’m just glad that you’re safe and in one piece again,” I said with a bitter smile, which he returned with a wry grin. “But, I need to know what they were asking about, and why they want me?”

“They…” the Rogue gulped, his eyes growing far and distant for a moment, before he found himself again, “They wanted… wanted to know where you was going. That’s it. That’s all I know. Maybe, something about a big guy wanting you. That’s all I heard on the way over. I was all beat up, Gil. They only brought me along because I know your face. They were looking for someone with the ‘Divine Light,’ or whatever that’s supposed to mean. Way I see it, it’s got something to do with the odd miracle or two you’ve been doing right?”

“It might indeed,” I said worriedly, “According to Cordelia I am the Herald of Avaria, or something to that effect.”

“Well, this is just my own reckoning, mind. I’m thinking that maybe you being the Herald, may make you something of a power within their Church. An’ what I know about people and power is that people don’t like to be sharing their power with just anyone. This Mauros fellow—a Cardinal by the way—they were talking about him.He really wants you. A dangerous man, that one. The way I see it, to them you’re basically the next best thing to Avaria herself. Guess I got myself a friend in a high place now,” commented the Rogue in a low voice.

I took a steady breath and added my own thoughts, “This is certainly something to think about, Elwin. I know all too well the machinations of men and their lust for power. Though I can’t say for certain if I am truly this Herald. Never felt there was anything special about me, if I am being completely honest with myself. I am just a man, like you. Can’t say I’m the particularly religious sort, either. I tell you this for a fact, before I ever came here, I had never heard of Avaria.”

Elwin narrowed his eyes, and I realized I might have said too much, “What do you mean came here, Gil? I know you’re strange in the head, but just where exactly are you from? You don’t have to answer if you don’t want…”

“Perhaps it is better that way. Just know that it is a place, far, far away from here, my friend. And even if I did tell you, I doubt you would believe me,” I countered.

“Ah damn, Gil. I think this is a bit something of my fault too,” he said, kicking at some yellowing grass. “I ain’t been completely honest with you, either. It’s not that I’ve lied to you. No. Just haven’t told you and Kidu the whole truth. I …

“You don’t have to, Elwin. It’s oka… alright,” I interjected, not wanting any more character exposition from him. He would have none of it though.

My interjection notwithstanding, his eyes shifted for a moment and he continued, “When I said about my family. It’s kind of a special family. Let’s just say I work… well, worked for a group that some might call ‘unsavory.’ Since you’re a foreigner, I doubt you’d know anything about a group called the Bulls of Heaven. I fell in with that lot when I was younger, then got to have my own crew after a while. One of the younger up-and-comers was a bit hungrier than I expected… there was a struggle, and I lost,” he sighed mightily, lost in a recollection

“So that story from before…?” I interjected pointedly.

“Completely true, well almost. That’s how I actually fell in with ‘em. Remember ‘bout how I covered for the boy who had started poaching? Got accused of being a corrupt servant. Was not having it, so I escaped from my sentence, I did. On the run and all, I got offered work and protection in a big city by one of the gangs, the Bulls of Heaven. Found that the work suited me. Stalking a man through the streets ain’t too different from tracking an animal in the forest,” he paused for a moment, then, lost in thought, he grew suddenly quiet.

With nothing to add, I let him fill the silence between us with the rest of his tale.

“Then one day, I just wanted to, you know, check up on a few things. So, I went back home, only to find the wife already shacking up with the neighbor. Went off in a bloody rage. Don’t really know why, it wasn’t like we were, how shall I say, intimate with each other, for a long time anyways. Whatever made me fly off the handle, I wonder?” he continued, almost looking wistful.

“And then?” I prodded, wanting to hear the rest and to stop him from going off on a tangent.

“Don’t really remember too much of what happened, but they found me sitting in my chair the next day and shortly after finding me, they found the two dead in our marital bed. This time there was no escape. Would have hanged me, too, if the alderman didn’t see that it was a quick way to make even more money on the side, you see,” he finished flatly.

“Well, are you wanting to go back to your family?” I inquired, eager to now know his reasons.

“As I said, it’s true Gil. Got a son, I do. Least, I hope I still do. Was thinking of getting my old crew back. There will be a bit of grumbling, but that is nothing a bit of violence couldn’t fix anyhow. Was at the top before, could be again. They wouldn’t be expecting me. I thought I could make my own fortune again, send a little bit back to my son, secretly. See if he was alright, maybe check to see if I got any grandchildren. Old man things,” he paused for a moment and stood a little straighter, “I say this with no small amount of pride, but for wetwork, in all of Aranthia, I was perhaps once one of the sharpest blades. I have killed more men than most have had hot dinners. That’s why I understand you, Gil… That’s why you scare me a ‘lil,” he explained, looking at me through narrowed eyes.

I feigned innocence.

“I saw you looking at me, Gil. You probably think I’ve lost my touch, but I am almost as sharp today as the first time I met you. Some trials break a man, but maybe because of those miracles that you keep pulling out of your arse, I feel more spry than I have in many seasons. In my heyday, they simply called me ‘Luck,’ for it was only their own misfortune that they could blame if I set my sights on them. Nothing more than bad luck. The streets knew of me, and I was feared by both common whore and noble lord. And let’s just say that I got more than enough reasons to be sticking around with you now. Be not afeared, Gil boy. I got your back,” he smiled, with a little of his former spirit returned, before drawing me close with a conspiratory whisper.

“Again, let me warn you of the redhead. That sword she wields has a different name on the streets. They called it the Blind Executioner, for it cares not who it cleaves, no matter if they are innocent or guilty. Too many bad tales are told about the bearer of that blade. Not saying that such a tool ain’t useful. Just make sure it cuts the right way. Her lot be like, ‘better that ten innocents perish than a single guilty man roams free’. A double-edged sword, in all senses of the word. Like magic. That’s why I got you that damn book. I know I don’t have a fancy education, but you learn things, and even I know that all magic stuff has a price. I hope you don’t mind paying yours,” he finished rather ominously.

“It’s a price I have no regret in paying. Magic, it saved us, didn’t it?” I replied wryly, trying to change the mood.

“Yes, it did, Gil. And I won’t be forgetting. You trust me on that. Now, I got to be off to see a little knife-eared missus. I bet she’ll be wanting a few pointers on how to take down the big man,” he said with a grin, though his voice was solemn.

“Be well, Elwin,” I said softly as he walked away. The Rogue, not looking back, merely raised a hand in reply as he left.