Interlude: Velri Imerdan

Velri stood back from the door, her annoyance fading into satisfaction at seeing Clevis’ smug face register a moment of surprise before she abruptly shut the door on him. She hated dealing with Clevis on the best of days. His eyes tended to wander too much for her liking.

He’d been stupid enough to do more than look at her once, and she’d swiftly taught him the error of his ways. Ever since then, if she looked hard enough, she could glimpse a shiver of fear in those fragile violet eyes of his.

She glanced at her sisters. Warmth blossomed in her chest.

Rila had dozed off soon after Julian had left and was snoring softly. She’d argued for a few minutes, demanding that she and Brynn take her home, then had been out like a light.

A smile tugged at her lips.

Typical. She always sleeps too much for her own good.

Brynn was sitting in a chair next to the bed, her face in her palms.

“So, why’d you tell me to send Clevis away?” Velri asked curiously.

Brynn looked up at her and sighed.

“I… I don’t know. I heard his voice from the hallway and was just... oh gods. I suddenly felt like I didn't want to see him, and I have no idea why. I just felt this... flash of disgust," she said, her tone rife with worry.

Velri raised her eyebrows, crossing her arms beneath her breasts.

Perhaps she's finally coming to realize what I've known all along. That Clevis Revenar is a womanizing idiot who only cares about himself.

“What’s the matter? You were fine an hour ago,” she said.

Brynn shook her head.

“I am fine. I think. I’m not mana-exhausted or anything like that, it’s just…”

“What?” Velri muttered frustratedly. She hated when people struggled or refused to give her a straight answer, whether through nervousness or dishonesty, though in this instance she could forgive her sister for stumbling over her words. It had been a very long day.

Velri approached her sitting sister and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Whatever is wrong, you can tell me, Brynn," she said softly.

Brynn’s gray eyes met hers.

“Lately, whenever I think about Clevis, I feel a wave of disgust come over me. When you were speaking with him in the hallway, I think I almost threw up. Just at the sound of his voice. That's not normal!” Brynn said, clenching her fists. Her face paled again and her eyes flickered with fear and confusion.

“I don’t know. That sounds like a perfectly natural reaction,” Velri muttered, her lips curving upwards.

Her younger sister glared at her, a familiar anger igniting in her gray eyes.

“That’s not funny!” she snapped. “This is serious. Something… something’s wrong with me. I… Clevis helped us. He’s always been nice to me. Why in the name of the gods would I feel this way? It’s not right. I know you don’t like him, but can’t you accept that I feel differently?”

Velri frowned disapprovingly. Her eyes were drawn to Rila's sleeping form as she shifted on the bed. The blonde's eyes were still blissfully shut. Were Rila awake, Velri had no doubt that she would be backing her up.

Sure, Revenar fought with us, but it was obvious he only did so because he wanted to look good in front of Brynn. He cares nothing of honor and has no sense of loyalty. If he did, he wouldn’t be letting his greedy eyes rove so easily over other women, in Brynn’s presence no less. He thinks he's sly with his glances or his casual interactions with serving women. A marriage between Clevis and Brynn would never last. And gods help Brynn should any offspring bear fruit from their union. Brynn would likely be expected to care for them herself. There are much nobler men who offer our family more in the way of political capital than the second born son of a mid-level branch of the Revenars, who are already our allies. Men who would treat Brynn with the respect and love she deserves.

“Because he’s not a good match for you,” she reiterated. How many times had she uttered the exact same words and been rebuffed? “I’ve told you this before, explained my reasoning as clear as day. Yet you refuse to heed my advice. You're being foolish.”

“Well, y-you’re wrong about him! He's b-brave and kind and h-hand-” Brynn gagged suddenly. Her eyes widened with fear, shimmering with unshed tears. "Oh gods, what is wrong with me?"

Now Velri was genuinely worried. Her eyes swept over her sister clinically.

Perhaps there is something genuinely wrong with her. An illness, maybe? The basement of that inn was hardly the most sanitary place. There are probably all manner of toxic molds growing down there. It was pure foolishness to go down there without proper preparation!

“That’s it. I’m going to get someone to take a look at you,” she said firmly, nodding to herself. She ignored Brynn's protests as she left the room, stomping down the hallway. A visitor to the mending ward wisely got out of her path as she made her way to the lobby and approached the first Mender she saw.

She was a blonde elvish woman who looked not much older than herself. The Mender wore the characteristic purple robes of the Menders of the Crescent Flame, with faint gold lines stretching down diagonally from the robe's left shoulder. Exhaustion was written plain on the woman’s face, but when Velri explained Brynn's situation, the woman’s intelligent sunset-orange eyes narrowed with concern and she immediately strode purposefully down the hallway Velri had come from.

Velri felt her respect for the Mender grow.

The woman wastes no time and immediately gets to work solving a potential problem despite her clear exhaustion. I like that.

A few minutes later, they were back in their room. Rila was still blissfully asleep, her body now curled into a fetal position beneath the sheets.

Brynn was still sitting in the chair next to the bed, her face pale. She raised her eyebrows.

"That was fast," she muttered quietly, glancing up at Velri, who gestured for the Mender to tend to her sister.

The Mender nodded and approached Brynn. She wore a friendly smile that struck Velri as genuine.

"Hello there. So, your sister says you've been feeling ill," the Mender said.

Brynn nodded hesitantly. "I don't know, I guess I am."

Velri rolled her eyes.

I swear she's even more thickheaded than Julian sometimes. She should just tell the Mender how she's feeling instead of wasting time.

"I'm sorry to hear that," the Mender said. She placed a hand on Brynn's shoulder. "Stay still for a few minutes, okay? I'm going to cast some diagnostic spells and see if they don't come up with a reason why you're feeling the way you are."

She muttered a litany of incantations under her breath. Her hands glowed white as she swept them over Brynn's sitting form.

The brunette shivered. "Oh, that's cold."

"An unavoidable side-effect of light magic, I'm afraid. It'll pass," the Mender said. She muttered another series of incantations, her glowing hands radiating white light that outshone the room's lone mana torch. Still asleep, Rila smiled, as if comforted by the light.

The Mender stopped muttering after a few minutes, her hands losing their glow. She looked Brynn in the eye as she spoke.

"So, my diagnostic spells aren’t detecting anything wrong with you. Injury or illness-wise. Can you tell me more about what’s been going on with you? I want to know if you’ve experienced anything unusual, even if it doesn’t seem significant.”

Brynn licked her lips.

“I, um... Sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

The Mender gave her another one of her friendly smiles.

“It’s Aldiel. And you’re Brynn, right? I like it. I’ve always thought human girls had such pretty names.”

Brynn’s cheeks colored slightly as she smiled.

“Thank you. Yours is pretty, too.”

Aldiel grinned.

“That's nice of you to say. You know, I just spoke with an Enforcer who arrived here to visit you. I’m surprised he’s not here,” Aldiel said. Her smile grew strained.

Velri nodded with satisfaction, liking Aldiel even more.

Figures that even a trained healer would find Clevis Revenar repulsive.

Brynn immediately paled. She gagged, doubled over and vomited on the floor. Velri instinctively stepped back. Aldiel stayed where she was, her sunset-colored eyes narrowing with concern.

Oh gods, she may actually be sick!

Brynn panted and gripped her knees. Her eyes were bloodshot.

Velri scrunched her nose at the mess as the scent of it assailed her nostrils.

“Oh gods, what’s wrong with me?” Brynn moaned, her hands covering her stomach.

Aldiel muttered another incantation, her hands glowing once more as she swept them over Brynn. She let out a frustrated curse.

“Still nothing?” Velri asked, keeping her voice level.

Aldiel glanced back at her and nodded slightly.

“There’s nothing wrong with her that my magic can detect.” She turned to face Brynn. “Your mana is at a healthy level. You’re not injured or sick in any way that I can see. When did you start feeling ill, exactly?”

Brynn frowned in thought.

“A little bit ago. I was talking with my brother and sisters when I suddenly thought about the Enforcer you mentioned, and I…” she moaned, her face growing pale again. “I felt disgusted. Sick, though not nearly as bad as just now.”

Aldiel frowned, tucking an strand of hair behind her ear.

“You said you were talking with your brother as well as your sisters. Where is your brother now?” she said, an undercurrent of curiosity in her voice.

Brynn swallowed and took a deep breath.

“He went home. He has… new duties, so he wasn’t able to stay here with us.”

Aldiel nodded thoughtfully. “I see.”

Velri crossed her arms beneath her breasts.

“What are you getting at exactly?” she said.

Aldiel stood up, smoothing out her robe.

“Nothing,” she said. “As a Mender, it’s my duty to follow every avenue to try to discern a person’s condition. According to every diagnostic spell I know, she should be completely healthy. I even tested for food poisoning. Either her reflexive sickness is the result of some mental trauma or effect, a disease that hasn’t been encountered by us Menders before, or something else we haven’t seen. Perhaps even something nefarious. That's certainly possible considering you were all involved in a fight with an uncatalogued monster.”

Her eyes widened as a thought occurred to her.

The monster was a **** Mage, or something like it. Curses or afflictions shouldn't be in its spell repertoire. It never even managed to hit Brynn with any of its attacks. And if Brynn picked up a toxin from the basement, I doubt Aldiel would have missed it. No Mender worth her salt would. Brynn's symptoms didn't start until around the time Julian arrived. Julian's a Hexer. Hexers curse people. They make the unnatural happen.

She thought back to her adventuring days. One of her closest allies had been a Hexer. The woman had been astonishingly powerful, able to weave curses that made men rot and disintegrate before her very eyes, their hands clawing at their skin as it blackened and melted right off their bones. The resulting screams had been the stuff of nightmares. It would have been child's play for the woman to inflict someone with a fit of vomiting.

But Jienora was at a high level, higher than me. Julian has only just classed; he’s probably not even level ten. It shouldn’t be possible for him to have access to any spell not currently known inside and out by every organization of healers throughout the Empire. And even if he could, why would he do it? What could he possible gain from making Brynn sick at the mere mention of Clevis Revenar? Why not curse Clevis himself since he hates him so much?

She took a deep breath and tried to set the thought aside. Yet still it persisted at the edge of her mind, like a snapfly biting at her skin and then retreating before she could kill it, only to bite her again.

It might be worth writing Jienora to see if she has any insight. It's probably nothing. Just paranoia. Adventuring's taught me to expect the worst.

"It’s possible Brynn might just be experiencing trauma from your earlier fight. Her illness could just be from being overstressed," Aldiel said suddenly, jolting Velri from her thoughts. "It's common among adventurers and soldiers who are put through extraordinarily stressful, life-threatening situations."

"That's possible," Velri said, backing her up. She'd seen her share of adventurers who had been thrust into **** situations and nearly perished. Many of those who had survived were irrevocably changed by their experiences.

It's possible that might be what happened to Brynn. She did nearly die once. If it hadn't been for Julian's consort deflecting the monster's sword, she very well may have. Gods, how could I not have thought of this before?

Frustration and guilt ate at her insides like bubbling acid. Julian had classed. He had endured injuries the likes of which she would never have expected him to stomach and fought without complaint or hesitation. He had put his life on the line to save a woman he claimed to have affection for. She could never fault him for that, much as she would like to curse him for stupidly disobeying their mother's orders to remain at the estate. She would have to make an effort to train him in addition to Rila, she knew. To do whatever it took to drill a modicum of good sense into his thick skull.

Brynn huffed. “That’s ridiculous. I fought monsters before and come out fine.”

Velri shook her head disapprovingly.

"You haven't been in a fight as **** as that last one, against a monster that could have killed you with a single swipe of its sword had any of us faltered for even a moment," she chided her sister, unable to keep the worry out of her voice.

Brynn's eyes flashed with anger, and just when Velri thought she was in for an argument, Brynn sighed and nodded.

"Y-you're right," she croaked. She shivered slightly, her eyes taking on a far-off look that looked all too familiar to Velri.

Aldiel met Velri's eyes, asking permission. Velri gave it with a nod.

The Mender turned to face Brynn. "I’d like to keep you overnight for observation.”

Velri voiced her approval aloud for Brynn's sake. “That may be a good idea. Perhaps the Menders might discover something if given more time to study your condition. And if your condition worsens, there are few better places you could be than in a mending ward.”

Aldiel smiled gently. "Your sister speaks sense. You should listen to her."

Brynn shifted uncomfortably.

“B-but I have to prepare. I’m supposed to be going on an expedition in a few weeks. If the organizers hear I’ve been kept at a mending ward because of some stupid trauma they might decide they’re better off without me.” Brynn’s hands gripped her knees, her knuckles slate-white.

Aldiel kept her voice level as she replied, “No one outside this room has to know. You have my word as a Mender and as a member of House Vrestivar.”

Velri and Brynn’s eyes widened.

“You’re a Vrestivar?” Velri said interestedly, leaning forward slightly.

The elven woman smirked.

“What? You think because my family formed the Obsidian Blades that I can’t decide I’d rather be a Mender than an adventurer?” she asked.

Velri shook her head.

The Obsidian Blades. Easily one of the largest and richest adventuring companies throughout the Empire and beyond. They do almost any job conceivable from monster eradication to merchant escort. And a member of the family that founded it is living as a humble Mender. Aldiel is certainly more than she seems.

“It’s not that, I was just surprised. Forgive me,” Velri muttered, inclining her head respectfully.

Aldiel shook her head.

“Relax. You’re not the first person to get all wide-eyed once I’ve told them my heritage.”

Velri glowered at her.

She probably did it just to get a reaction out of us, the scoundrel!

The elf smirked knowingly before glancing at Brynn again.

“So, will you give me another day to help find out what’s causing your bouts of illness?” she asked. "Us Menders can be discreet. As far as anyone knows, you'll just be a concerned sister unwilling to let her sibling out of her sight."

Aldiel glanced over at the still-sleeping Rila for emphasis.

Brynn heaved a heavy sigh.

“Fine. It’s late anyway. I wouldn’t be opposed to finding a bed to sleep in overnight instead of heading home at this hour. And besides, someone has to make sure this reckless brat doesn't do anything stupid.” She glanced over at Rila, an exasperated smile on her face.

The elven woman smiled. “It’s settled then. I’ll go find a spare cot for you and have it set up in here so you can stay with your sister. I'll have someone come and clean up that mess.”

Brynn smiled gratefully, her eyes lighting up.

“Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it,” Aldiel said before standing up. She glanced at Velri. “If either of you needs anything, be sure to come find me. I should be here all night.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Velri said. She gave the elven woman another once-over, assessing her in a new light.

She’s a shrewd one, but I don’t think she’s a bad sort. She seems to genuinely care about Brynn’s wellbeing. What more could one ask for in a healer?

After Aldiel left, Brynn started to drift off, and Velri was soon left to her thoughts. She yawned suddenly.

Damn. Haven't slept in over a day. Perhaps I should ask Aldiel for another cot. Tomorrow, with Brynn and Rila rested up and hopefully healthy, I'll take them both home myself. Then I'll write a letter to my old ally. Better to have all possible facts than meander about in darkness.

Julian Imerdan (lv. 7 Psion)

HP: 142/142

ST: 119/119

WP: 287/470

Skills...

Attributes…

Effects…

Julian's Skills

[Manipulation] Suggestion (cost: 20 WP): Telepathically implant a suggestion in the mind of a target to influence or induce an action, thought, or emotion.

[Manipulation] Hypnosis (cost: 30 WP) – Lull someone into a hypnotic trance. Requires the use of a pendant or other foci to draw the target’s gaze.

[Affliction] Mind Jab (cost: 15 WP): Project a weak bolt of psionic energy that attacks the mind of an opponent, causing crippling mental pain that lasts for a few moments.

[Affliction] Psi-Bolt (cost: 5 WP) – Emit an unguided bolt of psionic energy that inflicts low Psi damage to a target upon impact. It deals moderate Psi damage against targets affected by Mind Jab, but clears them of the status.

[Connection] Detect Mind (cost: 2 WP/s): Focus your awareness outward to detect the minds of sentient organic beings within ten feet.

[Connection] Connect Mind (cost: 5 WP) – Choose two minds glimpsed with Detect Mind and link them together for a time, allowing a psionic Skill used on one mind to affect the other.

[Matter] Piercing Field (cost: 15 WP) – Imbue a weapon or projectile within range with an impossibly narrow telekinetic field, allowing it to cut through armor. The field dissipates after a single attack.

[Knowledge] Safe Fall (cost: free) - You have learned how to shift your body mid-air to significantly mitigate falling damage.

[Knowledge] Meditation (cost: free) Clear your thoughts and retreat into an introspective state within your own mind. Your WP regeneration is significantly increased while meditating. Meditation is a viable substitute for the equivalent amount of sleep.

[Innate] Focus (cost: free): When in combat, enter a state of emotional detachment which allows you to ignore pain and resist negative mental effects.

Julian’s Attributes

Human - As a member of the human species, your body is more resilient than most other sapient races.

Magical Ancestry - Several of your ancestors possessed powerful magical abilities and talents. The barest hint of their talent resides within you, granting you easier use of magical items.

Psionic - You are capable of affecting physical and nonphysical reality through Will alone. You are resistant to mental effects and psionic damage. You can perceive all spectrums of psionic energy.

Fardreamer - While you sleep, you may randomly send your mental awareness to another place in the universe.

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