Galahad Caradoc
Hien Rijin
Perhaps an hour or so after Izayoi and Lord Hien had finished their argument, Galahad found himself standing outside his door. Having long since doffed his dragoon's armor, Galahad mulled over what he was doing here. He was a leader, expected to take charge of the Kirins' and their objectives, make allies and discuss next steps towards their goals, but he was no politician, or mediator for that matter. The scars of the war ran deep, yet Galahad couldn't sit idly and let his comrades do what was his work. Oddly enough, a part of him was offended on Izayoi's behalf–having risked her life to save him, only to have it thrown back in her face. Their problems were probably much more than he knew, and if Izayoi ever caught Galahad feeling pity for her, his head would probably not be attached to his shoulders.
Yet here he was.
With a sigh, Galahad collected himself for a moment longer before he rapped a pair of knuckles.
”Lord Hien. A moment, if you would.” Hien sat kneeling on a mat within his quarters, attempting to meditate to calm himself. And failing. With a frustrated sigh, he rose and forced a placid expression on his face before opening the door. He looked at the man before him.
“Ah. You must be the dragoon. I’ve not seen your face compared to the others, so that narrows it down. Come in, come in! You helped save my life, I won’t bite. At the very least, you aren’t Artorias Caradoc.” He chortled briefly before ushering Galahad inside.
Galahad frowned, his lips forming a fine line as he paused in front of the threshold.
“No, I am not. My father and I currently have… differing opinions regarding my being here.”
“I am Galahad, though a Caradoc no longer. If my presence displeases you, I will excuse myself.”Hien’s expression turned unreadably neutral at the revelation, though he made no move to push Galahad to leave, continuing to allow him inside.
“Well. Isn’t that…unfortunate. Regardless, I believe you had something you wished to discuss with me?”
He turned and strode back inside, sitting with his legs crossed on the mat he’d previously been trying to meditate on. Galahad sighed but followed him, taking a seat a respectful distance across the mat. He'd have found out in the next few minutes anyway, better to have been honest and up front.
“By all means, let’s hear it.”
“Firstly, I'm glad to see you've made it back in one piece. We may have caused a bit more chaos than intended, but your people here are quite capable. Ciradyl and that ninja Chisaki especially.” Galahad said with a respectful nod, taking a moment to take stock of the young lordling.
“I lead the Kirins.” Galahad started simply, gesturing with his head towards the door where the rest of the party went about their business.
“We're spearheading an effort to stop the Blight that's been plaguing these lands. Our current working theory is that Valheim is responsible– if not for its creation, then at least for its propagation throughout Osprey and the rest of the continent.”
“It seems we'll be in Osprey for at least a while longer. It is my hope that we may be able to help one another.”“I don’t disagree with your assessment.” Hien nodded. “The reports from the outlying villages didn’t begin until after the invasion.” He mulled over the rest of Galahad’s words for a moment longer, squinting slightly as he looked the man over.
“There were reports from the desert that I’d been meaning to send people to look into before Valheim took me captive. Now, I’m to begin the arduous task of finding what remains of my men and rallying them back under my banner. And Lady Ciradyl’s people, gods bless them, aren’t quite direct fighters.” Hien said with a rueful smile on his face as he continued on.
“Quite frankly, I can’t turn down your offer of aid at this junction. We can discuss this further in a day or so, give your people time to recover. And for tempers to cool.”
Galahad couldn't help but chuckle at that.
“You mean Izayoi? Smart, that. The woman's more explosive than the mages sometimes.” He paused for a moment,
“But, for all my misgivings, she's always done exactly what she said she'd do. If I understand correctly, she's your bodyguard? Instructor?”“One, then the other, once upon a time.” Hien nodded solemnly. “She was…unassailable when I was a boy. A pillar of strength.” He looked away, his mien suddenly grim.
“It hurts to see her practically
shattered like this. Worse to know she’d all but abandoned us until her own personal tragedy pulled her back in. May as well have told us to kick rocks.”
“Glad I only see her now then.” Galahad chuckled mirthlessly,
“Otherwise I'd might not have lived to have this conversation.”The Dragoon paused for a moment, regarding Hien's face for a moment. Galahad was no aged veteran himself, but the boy looked young, not quite naive, but not quite found his stride yet in the world.
“She didn't abandon your people.” Galahad said quietly,
“At least I don't see it that way. I think she died for your people, on that mountain. Her family gave her a reason to live again. Then Valheim took it away.”“Were this from anyone else, I’d take it as empty words. But you’re a
Caradoc.” The other elephant in the room. “From you, I may actually believe it. Though it still stings that she was absent when we needed a paragon the most.”
Hien stood and turned, looking out of his chamber’s window. Fires and smoke from the breakout could still be seen in the distance, along with crews scurrying about to try to put them out.
“Tell me, how
is the man responsible for my father’s death?” An undercurrent of rage, grief, mourning in his words that he couldn’t quite keep restrained. “I doubt you were at that first battle, Izayoi would have cut you in twain if you were, but let’s not beat around the bush here. We both know who had the last King of Edren’s ear about that conflict to begin with. And who profited the most from it.”
“I think I could give her a run for her money nowadays.” Galahad replied,
“But no, if we met during the war, we'd be one more Caradoc short.” Galahad too stood, but rather than joining the Osprean Lord by the window, Galahad sufficed with examining a few of the scant portraits that adorned the wall.
“He's alive.” Galahad's voice a bit tense,
“I'm not sure why he opposes the new King's efforts to stop the Blight, but I've never been one for politics.”“Though if we're to begin pointing fingers, we had offered to trade for the mines, but our diplomats came back missing from the neck down. At that point, I think war was inevitable.”“By all accounts, Lord Caradoc’s offer was insultingly low. The Emperor was infuriated when he was informed of the offer. Some thought that was deliberate, you know. Force us into war with a slight upon our honor. So yes, war was likely inevitable. Though still from the same source.” He looked to his Edrenian counterpart, weary.
“But we’ll be here all night should we continue to split hairs. As much as I wish to see your father’s head displayed before me one day, you aren’t him. If there’ll be nothing else, Knight Galahad?”
Not quite angry, but Galahad had tensed, readying a retort of his own before he stopped himself and sighed. Hien was right, they'd be arguing all night at this rate– and he doubted either of them would be able to change the other's opinion in a single night.
“You're right. Perhaps tonight is not the night to debate on the war. I think the scars run too deep on both sides to have it reconciled so easily.” Galahad sighed, his hand massaging his brow.
“But that being said, we must appear strange to you, Lord Hien.” Galahad said,
“A dragoon and a samurai– working alongside one another.” Galahad couldn't help but chuckle at the ridiculousness of it all.
“Demon, Limbtaker, the woman who slew my brother, and yet I still stand with her.”“We live in strange times. Five years ago, Lady Ciradyl was merely a very talented singer. And now she runs the only active resistance cell in Kugane.” He chuckled back, nodding and just letting the mention of Izayoi and Galahad’s brother pass. Nothing would be gained by prodding into that just now.
“Regardless, as I’ve said, I’ll lay out all of the details once everyone’s had a chance to recover. And you should, as well. It can’t be easy managing so many disparate personalities in your squadron.”
“Five years ago, I couldn't imagine it either.” Galahad replied as he made his way to the door.
“But war changes people. Izayoi too. Forgive my impertinence, but I think the two of you value each other more than you both understand– or perhaps are willing to admit. Life is short and fleeting, and if I may offer you something from my own experience: Don't say things you won't be able to take back.” Galahad offered the lordling a short bow before crossing the threshold.
“Goodnight, Lord Hien.”
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