The Problem with Power

For once, Ahsch managed to impress his mentor when he showed up for their next lesson and was able to create and break a bond with a random object repeatedly, like flipping a light switch. It was expressed as an intrigued, raised eyebrow, and a small nod. "Unexpected, given your progress thus far," was all she said before they proceeded with the lesson. This time, the focus was on inspecting bonds to understand their nature, as well as the usual, continuous goal of increasing the acuity of Ahsch's bond-sense. "We will not be dealing with manipulating bonds beyond mere creation and destruction, as altering the nature of a bond is a much more complex and dangerous affair. That being said, exercise restraint in making use of what you know, even now; and be aware that the cost of creating or destroying stronger bonds is quite heavy, and beyond your reach. Still, you will likely find the ability useful before long."

The lesson itself was mostly a lecture over the various natures of bonds and how strength could affect them. The individual variations in effects were too numerous - and the number of individuals who could sense and organize them too few - to properly categorize them. There were some generalizations about broad groups, but it was much like a color wheel: sure, you could point at, say, leaves or grass and call it green, but there were colors that could be called green, but could also be called something else without being incorrect, various shades of meaning. For example, the bond between Ahsch and Butler, and the one between him and Dorin, were relatively similar, being that of a master and servant, and most of the difference was in strength, with Dorin's being much stronger due to the closer relationship. However, there were further differences, as Butler was, in some ways, also a teacher, and was not necessarily Ahsch's subordinate in the way that Dorin was.

Despite being able to explain the differences in that relationship, there wasn't any sort of proper term or label to differentiate the bonds. Shades of meaning indeed.

The upside was that, once he had some basis of understanding, 'reading' other bonds came much more easily, and increasingly so as the Dominant Mage examined more and more bonds. Some of it seemed to come intuitively, and in a way, it almost felt like numbers: once you knew the ten digits and understood the basics of the ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, and so on, you could count any number and have a rough idea of how big or small it was contextually. In a similar way, once the hrafthi was taught some of the basic meanings he could 'see' in the most prominent of his bonds, he was able to make sense of other bonds, even if they were quite different.

Though he wondered how much of that was a benefit of Object of Worship and having a domain of bonds. Though he also wasn't sure how much of what Rwnil was teaching him counted as 'spells,' which was what the Boon explicitly benefited.

As great as the System Description was, it really managed to be vague when it wanted. And, re: Cleansing Light benefiting healing and banishment, it also tended to leave out critical information, and Office Lady's explanations weren't logged in the descriptions.

Though he had to admit, it was better than fumbling around in the dark.

Deficiencies of the System Description aside, the real interesting event that came from Ahsch's third lesson with Rwnil was when he was going through his bonds and all but stumbled across the one he had with Kirasiel. It wasn't that he thought he didn't have one with her, but more that he hadn't even thought of it, since most of his bonds were either neutral or positive, like the ones he had with Avery, or Ariin, or Sarvas, or the temple.

And, what actually surprised him was what he gleaned from reading it. His half of the bond - essentially, his connection that he had towards her - wasn't unexpected, as he already knew he had a rather low opinion of the royal brat, even if he felt some responsibility towards her. And while it was harder to read, especially with her being further away, he was shocked by the tangled mess of her connection towards him.

It wasn't like reading a diary of her true thoughts - that wasn't how bond-reading actually worked, but at the stage Rwnil was at, one could infer a lot from the makeup of a bond - but he could pick up her confusion and confliction in regards to him, a mix of dislike (though not true hate), respect, and even...

Ahsch **** his attention away, feeling like he had glimpsed an unintended peek of nudity. If only there was a way to properly forget things, he growled to himself.

Alternatively, the devil on his proverbial shoulder named Mahat said, _you could _not disappoint Phashak and Phashim and actually make use of what you've learned.

I could also have taken advantage of her fucking vulnerability back in Sarvas, he growled back. She would not doubt feel violated if she knew I saw that, and I sure as hell don't want to **** my power over her.

There was a long sigh from his familiar. _At some point, you'll need to recognize that you do have power over her and actually decide what to do with it_, she said.

I recognize...

_No, you ignore it, Master,_ Mahat interrupted him. _And I understand - in the general way that I 'understand' most things about mortal morality - your reasons, but the truth is that you hold a great deal of power over Kirasiel, she recognizes it, and honestly, if she doesn't hate it - which you know she doesn't - and better still, if it gets her off? Keep in mind, Phashak all but gave her to you as a gift, and while we haven't been paying the best attention to her political actions, I'm willing to bet that she isn't exactly the best Head of House that Celes could have. You don't want to hurt people needlessly - commendable. But what if, by not making use of the power over her that you do have, your inaction results in harm to numerous others?_

Ahsch's jaw was clenched. That these were thoughts he had entertained since discovering who Kirasiel truly was only made them land all the harder. The royal girl wasn't evil, he didn't believe that - never had, even if he disliked her greatly. But she was a spoiled brat who lacked empathy for others and seemed to have few qualms about abusing her station.

Fuck, he thought, resolved, and sent Dorin a request to fetch all documents about Kirasiel's actions as Head of House Celes for him. He was thankful that Mahat had the tact not to comment.

With a sigh, Ahsch put down the last of the documents. "Well, it's hardly the worst I could imagine," he said.

A derisive snort greeted that statement. "Hardly good either," the hrafthi's wife retorted, lazily tossing another paper onto the pile. "Upping taxes on her holdings, demanding greater tithes from almost all the Houses under Celes, not to mention this witch hunt she's on."

The Dominant Mage raised an eyebrow at Avery. "I'd hardly call 'looking for the people who murdered her family' a witch hunt," he said.

"You might not, but that is not how royals engage in these things. Any other House would be looking - tactfully - into the goings-on of other Houses who might stand to gain from the deaths; and where House Celes is concerned, that's a very short list. The cunt has just been rounding up everyone even remotely involved with her father, mother, and brother in the weeks leading up to their deaths, including their families, and they just disappear for a week or two." She took a long sip of her whiskey. "Luckily, it doesn't seem like anyone's been executed, but that's not how to do things. And commoners aren't likely to have been involved at all in the first place, assuming it even was ****."

"We're not? I thought anything that's a rumor at court was truth?"

"Oh, they definitely were murdered, that's not in question - the problem is, nobody is allowed to say that, not until there's even vague evidence for it. And 'that's suspicious and coincidental' doesn't count, not without suspects."

Ahsch groaned and massaged his forehead for a moment. "That's not even the worst part," his wife continued.

"Wait, it's not?"

"She's supporting some... questionable proposals at court. Proposals her father_ _didn't... and that her mother and brother wouldn't have either. And that's not really surprising, she barely attended court and had no hand in the political game before half her family was offed."

"What kind of proposals?" Ahsch had read through most of the documents, but when she had gotten wind of what her husband was up to, Avery had quickly joined him and absolutely tore through all of them. Experience really was king, and Lord Avery Odestag had years of experience dealing with politics.

"Reducing scholarship funding for the academies, specifically for commoners; increasing the power of the Church of Irzton in both the constabulary and courts; and restricting the power of lower houses and the nobility in general."

Ahsch frowned. "That seems like a pretty straight-forward 'corrupt' move... but I didn't take her for the corrupt type. Spoiled, yes, but not... that."

When Avery put her glass down and sat forward, her husband paid attention. She was almost never like this. "Think about the second point in particular," she said.

"What, Irzton? What about them?"

"I'll admit, this might just be a... wild conspiracy on my part, but the more I think about it, the more I'm starting to think I'm right."

"Okay...?"

Avery let out a deep breath. "First, you remember that Byrdrek Fel'len - that's Kirasiel's uncle via her late aunt - is constantly hanging around her? Probably in an advisory capacity."

Ahsch nodded.

"He's an Irztonite. Not part of the clergy, but still..."

"Okay, so maybe he's got some sway with her, and has a 'scratch my back, I'll scratch yours' agreement with the Church, I'm not..."

"Fauna is also an Irztonite." Ahsch shut up instantly. "And a damn devout one. Fucking fanatic, really."

Ahsch took his time in responding. "What makes you think she's involved, beyond the Chuch connection?"

"She's a power-hungry bitch, and all the proposals Kirasiel's supporting would benefit the fucking psychopath in some way."

"But we don't know she's involved?"

Avery sighed. "No," she admitted. "But it... it feels like something she'd do. She hasn't made any real public plays for power since... for years. But she's been in the background. Plotting. Scheming. Making backroom deals and shit."

"And you know this...?"

"Because I keep a fucking eye on her is why," his wife snapped. "She's dangerous. Hell, for the Kingdom, more dangerous than me, and I'm a fucking deadly bitch. If she's working with Byrdrek and they orchestrated the **** of Kirasiel's family to put her in place as Head of House Celes, all so they could manipulate her - which, honestly, isn't hard, given how untrained she is at politics and she's a petty cunt in the first place..."

Ahsch nodded. "Okay, maybe you have a point. But we don't have any proof."

"Then we should get some."

The hrafthi frowned. "How?"