2018-07-22: Iceheart

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======================<* Pendrago - Business District *>======================

The business district in Pendrago begins right at its gates. This city is the largest on the continent of Glenwood and that size stands out when one enters. The streets are paved with cobblestones and the plazas of carved stone are ornate. A large fountain is in the plaza just beyond the gates, gushing high into the air. Here, the foot traffic is heavy, with both lone travelers and caravans setting up before departure or resting just after arrival. Beyond them, the inn and many of the stores do a steady business serving the travelers funneling into the city.

The business district continues up the northwestern part of the city, along a very busy street. The shops here are more for locals: food stalls, carts selling local wares, and the more opulent storefronts owned by nobles. Travel is heavy here, as individuals go to and from the city's castle district and entrance. A gate in the northeast leads to the richest part of this city, which is always guarded by a squad of knights.

The nobles' manors are located in this little walled off section. Rolance's nobility are often merchant princes, who own large companies and make larger profits. Their manors tower against the walls, tending towards height instead of being the expansive manors of Ladylake.


<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

It's a busy day in the business district of Pendrago, despite everything. The sign on the door of the building that Kourin and Spirit have led everyone to is labelled "Iceheart's Sword Academy." It's a relatively unassuming building, but obviously constructed to last. The door is heavy and made of strong, reinforced oak. It is not, however, presently locked, and a bell rings when Kourin pushes it open. A group of students are training under the watchful eye of a petite young woman, who gestures for them to continue as everyone files in. She raises an eyebrow at the motley group that has arrived with Kourin.

"Can I help you?" she asks.

"Er...I have come here to meet Iceheart," Kourin explains. "I am called Icehand."

The students freeze and stare, and the young woman turns slightly pale. "G-get back to drilling," she commands the students, then returns her gaze to Kourin. "She is...upstairs. I...Please wait here, I will find out if she is free to meet you." She glowers at her staring students, who hurry to oblige their instructor, then heads to a door at the back of the room. As soon as she's gone, the students drop the pretense of drilling, returning to gawping at Kourin and the assorted friends she has brought. Kourin is visibly taken aback by that reception. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Even in the midst of all the trouble Rolance and Pendrago were facing, business still needed to go on. As a merchant, Jacqueline understood that well. She could admire their spirit, but right now that was not what she was here for.

No, the important thing right now was that she be here for Kourin, as she met with this 'Iceheart' that Sister Elaine had lead them to.

She follows along behind Kourin quietly, and when she introduces herself, Jacqueline offers a polite bow.

"I do hope we aren't too much trouble." Jacqueline says...

...And waits.

She had to admit, she was curious about what Iceheart was like... 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Catenna decided to keep her head down to an extent today, with Rolance so mired in war and many of her companions beginning to show up on wanted posters. She did this in a very simple way.

She put on a pair of glasses. Unlike Jay's, Catenna's are just for show.

The reaction to Kourin surprises her, but she can only really observe, at this point; Catenna herself has absolutely zero basis to discuss anything with martial arts, her own skills as a sword person being relatively basic, after all. She just moves to stand near Jay, folding her hands and bowing her head. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        Ethius is along. This is somewhat noteworthy for the amount of time he's been traversing the western parts of Glenwood on his own, but true to what he's said, he's joined the Caravan Kinship back down to Pendrago. He's been quiet the whole ride. He's quiet now, as Kourin leads the lot of them inside the Sword Academy.
        He has no commentary for the exchange that transpires between Kourin and the assistant instructor. He stands a ways behind Jay, arms crossed behind his back as he stands at attention - making sure his back remains against a wall to avoid any prospective angles of ambush (which seems to be a general habit of his anyway). 

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

Cyre appreciates Catenna's glasses.

What? They make her face look even prettier. Glasses are amazing and magical things.

Cyre is not wearing glasses, though. He's just tugged his hood over his face a little more than usual. It makes him look... Not shady but maybe a bit more suspicious than not. Fortunately, he's also travelling with a bunch of people who AREN'T shady! At all!

Except Ethius.

But he's always shady.

Cyre tilts his head curiously at the instructor's... unusual reaction. How far and how fast had word spread, exactly? What's the deal with all this? 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Lydia Seren is here largely to give emotional support for Kourin should she need it. In terms of swordsmanship she doesn't actually have much interest, but she does care for Kourini. So as to not draw more attention to herself than normal she is wearing a cloak around her body that covers most of it aside from her face which does still have those little metallic beads under her eyes but she can just call them studs or something.

"Why're they starin'?" Lydia asks, placing what she intends to be a reassuring hand on Kourin's arm.

It's unusual for sure. 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

When Ethius was involved? Tess was on edge thusly she didn't make too much of a fuss about it. She's a bit behind Kourin as they ring the ball and the bomb is dropped. She will wait and see where this goes but it's clear the name drop carried a heck of a lot of weight here.

 "That was one heck of a response..." 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

The students whisper amongst themselves, and one of them is eventually shoved forward, having obviously been voluntold that he will speak for the group. "Is...is it true that you've come here to challenge Mistress Iceheart to single combat?" he asks.

Kourin looks shocked. "No! My business is...personal. You should be practicing your footwork like your teacher said--"

The other students look relieved and ask a barrage of questions.
 "Is this your mercenary company?"
"Have you ever killed anyone?"
"Are you here for the war?"
"Who's the shady guy?"
"What's your dog's name?"

Kourin looks positively overwhelmed. Spirit wags his tail at the attention. 

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

Cyre coughs! Ahem! HEM! He raises his staff in-between Kourin and the paparazzi accosting her. "Excuse me! That is very rude. I am not shady, and we are not mercenaries! We are merchants. Would any of you be interested in purchasing potion coupons, redeemable at the Caravan Kinship for one healing, stamina rejuvinating or persistent itch-curing potion of your choice?"

Yep.

Disarm with a sale. That's the capitalistic way. 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Lydia watches the students as they start asking questions. Her eyes widen at the first set and then frowns, stepping forward, "Hey hey hey. Take it eay. One question at a time! She's not here to hurt anybody." As far as she knows anyway. "And the dog's name is Spirit."

She crosses her arms. "And killin' isn't something you just up and ask somebody about neither."

She looks over to Ethius for a moment, largely to see if he will do something shady as he has been designated the shady guy. Unless they mean Cyre? He is looking kind of shady at the moment anyway. 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Looking up at Cyre through her glasses, Catenna sidles over to him a little, sliding her hand into his and squeezing for a moment.

Kourin's the one getting all the questions, though, and they're questions Catenna doesn't know how to answer. She blinks as Cyre answers for them.

...Yep. Yep, going with that. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

The students are whispering amongst each other. This, as most people know, is a sign of impending disaster. Jacqueline had already braced herself, but Kourin seems overwhelmed.

"Now now, students..." Jacqueline says, stepping forward and raising a hand. Cyre steps in...and offers a sale!?

If she weren't trying to maintain a calm demeanor, she would send him an approving nod.

"We're simply trying to arrange a business deal with Miss Iceheart, that is all." Jacqueline says.

This is a lie, but she can think of no better way to immediately drain them of any and all interest in continuing questioning, if Cyre's plan doesn't work. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        The only shady thing Ethius is doing is existing!
        Other than that, it's easy enough for Cyre to take the heat as being the 'shady' one.
        "It's your hood, Mister Cyre." Ethius is also wearing a hood, as he remains standing with his back up against the wall as he remains a ways behind Jay to obscure himself about as well as he's going to... what with height differences, and all, as he weathers the questions being asked around him without really so much giving any answers.
        ...That's kind of normal for him too, isn't it? 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue was about to finger Ethius as as the shadey one by saying he's trouble thankfully Crye has cut her off at the pass there. She just get a goofy grin now "Merchants pretty much though I hunt game a little bit to feed us or sell." 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Sadly for Cyre, any offers of purchasing potions are cut off by the return of the instructor, which sends the students scrambling back to trying to look like they've been drilling. The instructor sighs, glaring at them, then turns to Kourin. "She will see you and your friends upstairs." She glares at the students. "So that you lazy louts will not be distracted!"

Tromp tromp tromp up the stairs. The room above is another training room, with dummies lining one wall and many swords on racks lining the others. There is a tall, slim woman with dark hair, tied back in a tight braid, who is standing facing the weapon racks, a training sword in hand idly.

"I'd heard the name of Icehand and wondered when you would come to challenge me," she says calmly. "I assume your seconds will not interfere...?" She turns, and raises an eyebrow.

The family resemblance is immediately obvious. Kourin doesn't seem to notice it, however.

"I am not here to challenge you, Mistress Iceheart," she explains, producing the cloth with the sigil of Iceheart's now defunct mercenary company. "I have come to ask you about this. I was left as an infant at a church of Althena with nothing but this cloth to identify my parentage."

Iceheart simply stares in surprise and shock. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline is glad that it didn't go on any longer than it did. She sends the instructor another polite bow then moves to follow her upstairs into the training room where Iceheart itself was to meet them.

She speaks and turns to face them and...

"...Ah. I see..." Jacqueline comments, looking her over. She doesn't specify what it is she sees. It was entirely possible that it was just a coincidence, but looking between Iceheart and Kourin, well...

...It would be quite the surprise if it wasn't.

"If there is anything you could tell us, Miss Iceheart, we would appreciate it greatly." Jacqueline says. She didn't see jumping out with accusations to be very helpful...at least, not right away.

She glances toward the others, to see what they have to say. 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Catenna's glad it didn't go on longer than it had to, too.

Her eyes dart between Iceheart and Kourin, taking note of their features and measuring them against each other - then frowning slightly as the assumption she'd made turns out to stand right on the edge of being validated. Stepping to one side, she folds her arms beneath her breasts and shifts to settle in beside Cyre.

She doesn't pile on. Kourin's the one with the question; she doesn't really have anything to add to it besides being present for moral support if it's needed. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        Ethius is the last one up the stairs. He lingers at the bottom of the stairs for a few extra moments as if to ensure the students in question are continuing to do their drills. When he rejoins them, he once again appears to favor standing behind people and ensuring his back is up against a wall.
        Or back against a dummy or a sword rack. Either or.
        He turns his head to Jay as she starts to speak. Otherwise, he seems to silently already be complying with Iceheart's expectations to 'not interfere,' even outside of the intended context in which such would apply. He says nothing about the obvious physical resemblances. 

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

"My hood is amazing and finely tailored!" Cyre protests in Ethius' direction as his attempt to conduct a mutually beneficial exchange of goods and services is suddenly and abruptly cut short. He huffs, gently tugging his cowl a little tighter down. His ears twitch a bit underneath. How mortifying, being thought of as SHADY of all things!

He's not actually all that offended.

Nope.

"Oh, hey," Cyre says between the challenge and the gasp. "Sisters? The resemblance is uncanny."

CUT STRAIGHT THROUGH THE AWKWARD TENSION, CYRE LORENTZ. 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Up the stairs!

"Man," Lydia says after a moment. "Is bein' dense part of bein' a super cool warrior, like your brain becomes dense with the rest of your muscles or somethin'?"

She is, at least, still Lydia. She doesn't point out the obvious similarity just yet because one of these people is still being shocked and she can always point it out later. "The cool thing wasn't like an intentional pun it just sorta came out like that." Lydia adds after a moment.

She glances over to Cyre as he points it out anyway, "By the Guardians, Cyre..." 

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

"Look," Cyre huffs, crossing his arms defensively over his chest. "It seemed like a good way to..."

Oh no.

"...Break the ice."

Beat.

Cyre's expression falls, "I swear to the Guardians, I didn't mean for that to come out like that. It just sort of started to come out and I couldn't stop it. Lydia, you understand. Right?"

They are, together, utterly helpless to resist the urge... The urge to pun...! 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

"Chill out, Cyre." Lydia says.

She promptly palms her face. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        Ethius moves to lay a hand on Cyre's shoulder, retreating from the safety of trusting his back to a mannequin or something just for the sake of putting a hand on Cyre's shoulder. Surely he has been overwhelmed by a need to just reach out and touch someone's shoulder with no other idea or cause attached. 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Catenna gives Cyre and Lydia a brief look.

It is a frosty look. 

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

"SEE!?" Cyre points!!

Catenna gives him a look. His ears kind of flop down helplessly.

It's a baskar curse. They can't stop. They can't... stop...! 

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

At least ethius is there to sympathize. That is a sentence nobody has ever spoken ever. 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Iceheart scowls briefly. "Damn his soft-hearted--You were never meant to have even that much. You were meant to be far from here, and safe from those who might use you against me. It was all I could do for you...daughter."

Kourin blinks, staring.

"What possessed you to take the name 'Icehand'? I've heard you're good with a blade, at least. You won't bring me shame. Why have you come now, though? Do you plan to take part in the war?"

"I...No! I...my hand...I injured it with a magical ice bomb..." Kourin flexes her gloved left hand, then pulls the glove off and holds it out for Iceheart to see. Iceheart reaches towards it and then nods, satisfied at the explanation.

She seems to be ignoring the peanut gallery for the moment.

"How...who is my father? Where is he?" Kourin asks, quietly.

"Dead," Iceheart says, with an air of finality implying that she is unwilling to discuss it further.

She turns finally to regard Jay, Catenna, Lydia, Ethius, Cyre, and of course Tesni. "Your friends...share a camaraderie akin to a mercenary band, but do not carry themselves like mercenaries. What do you have to say for yourselves--aside from terrible jokes about my nom de guerre? You may call me Lumis, if it will help you refrain from further...commentary." 

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

Oh! Mother. That makes more sense. Cyre clears his throat bashfully and extends a hand to this new woman. "We are the Caravan Kinship, a band of travelling merchants, not mercenaries. I am Cyre Lorentz, a friend of your daughter's. It's very ice-- NICE. Nice too meet you."

Yes.

"I think there's probably a lot of story to be told between the two of you," Such as how it was that Kourin wound up being left at a church halfway across the world. Cyre shrugs, "I'm sure you understand that we have a few questions of our own, though." 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue looks to the instructior for a moment "Thank you!" With that she's gopne following the others her long braid swaying with her movments as she heads up. She pauses lookjing from Icehand to Ice Heart for a moment and nearly double takes. Then comes the shocked reaction from Iceheart. Okay something big was going down here, she is quiet for the moment and then the colony drops. She just watches for a moment.

 "I am an scholar of the past and I hunt a bit really I am Tesni Inoue. Kourin has been a friend and taught me how to better handle a blade."

 Given the empty quiver she's more of an archer sort from the looks of her. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Jacqueline looks pointedly away from Cyre and Lydia as they argue with each other, caught in an endless cycle of punnery. She tries very hard to pretend, just for a moment, that they just wandered in here.

She doesn't have to wait long, as Iceheart speaks. She remains quiet as she and Kourin exchange words, and the former confirms what they were all expecting.

Kourin's father was dead...? Jacqueline sends her a sympathetic look, but her attention turns to Iceheart as she introduces herself and addresses them.

"...I'm so sorry about them." Jacqueline says with a sigh, shaking her head. "But yes, as Cyre says, we're merchants. I'm Jacqueline Barber, the proprietor. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lumis."

With that said, Jacqueline gives a respectful bow.

"Your daughter has been a good friend of mine, and a reliable ally. She's helped keep us safe in our travels, as well as teaching us a thing or two about swordplay." She says. 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Catenna opens her mouth a little as Iceheart demands that they account for themselves, after just scowling at Kourin with the thinnest of explanations when the woman confronts her. The Moon Shaman doesn't say anything.

        [Iceheart] gained -2 [Catenna Rep]

Seemingly content to be relegated to the peanut gallery for now, she takes a step back and loses herself in the much bigger social glow that is Cyre H. Lorentz's larger personality. Folding her hands at waist level, she closes her eyes a moment, breathes in through her nose, then lets it out, trying not to think unfortunate thoughts.

That's a fairly sympathetic look she eventually directs at the back of Kourin's head, though. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        Ethius stops himself from flexing his fingers on Cyre's shoulder as they're all addressed to speak proper. Cyre sets the bar by giving out names. Names that would probably eventually be asked, but if there's anything Ethius doesn't like - and there seems to be a lot of things he doesn't link - it's giving a straight answer on his name!!
        He withdraws his hand from Cyre's shoulder. While the group doesn't carry themselves like mercenaries, there is something telling about the man's body language - or lack thereof. He stands at attention, wastes no movement, and... well, that stare of his is well-documented to not bear further repeating in interest of jumping to another paragraph.
        As introductions make the rounds, he makes no effort to speak his. Merely stand and watch, arms behind his back, back up against something.
        He scarcely reacts much at any of the news about Kourin's parentage and the whereabouts of her father. He's just... standing there. Present in body, sure, but offering little more. 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Lydia Seren frowns. "That's a funny way of saying you sent her away for her own safety and that you missed her so much."

She crosses her arms slowly. Lydia has mom issues herself, of course, and Jay can probably tell that she's rearing up for a rant. In fact, normally Lydia would already be ranting at just from what Iceheart had said, but it seems that she's holding herself back for Kourin's sake even if this is a temporary measure depending on just how, well, icehearted Kourin's mother intends to be.

She doesn't say anything else besides that, which is a miracle. 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

"Ah. Merchants." Lumis Iceheart seems content to leave that thought there. "Kourin, is it?" She purses her lips. "Another gift from your father, that. He was one of my soldiers, a mage of some skill. I assume from your comment regarding your injury that you've inherited that as well as my not inconsiderable talents with the blade. Which reminds me--under whom did you study? If you are teaching others, you must have some degree of mastery, but I thought the Church would be more inclined--ah, of course. I have seen the wanted posters for you." She snaps her fingers in recognition. "The Guard? And how is old Leo? I haven't seen him since our master's funeral."

Kourin is trembling. She's not sure what she expected, but...this surely wasn't it. This woman seems remarkably uninclined to do the things that a mother should do upon being reunited with a long lost daughter--hugs, tears, confessions of regret, all that sort of thing.

For many years, after all, and for all the times Kourin has spoken of a theoretical mother, it has been clear that her expectation was that her mother could not have wanted her, but this...this seems to confirm that thought, which others have long assured her was merely the product of an over-worried mind. 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Glancing to one side, Catenna briefly catches Lydia's eye.

The Moon Shaman presses her lips together, then nods to the Star Shaman. There's tension in the way she holds her shoulders and something slightly outraged behind her eyes.

When she looks back towards Lumis, it's with a small clear of her throat - and she steps forward, moving to rest her hand on Kourin's shoulder.

"'Hello, Kourin,'" she says. "'I'm sorry I left you, Kourin. I love you, Kourin. I want to tell you why, Kourin.' I have yet to hear any of these things."

She narrows her eyes slightly. "Kourin is your child," she says firmly. "She has wondered all her life why she came to be in the place she was. The least you could do is let her into your heart." 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        Ethius steps ahead as Catenna moves to stand with her dear friend Kourin. By then, Catenna has already cemented her positioning in the room. He can't draw closer, to the front of the both of them, without risking coming off as (more) threatening. Unable to come any closer with how everyone is presently oriented, a hand comes up to his forehead. What was he moving to do? Whatever it was, it seems like he presently cannot...
        ...
        "She has honed her techniques across multiple masters and disciplines across Lunar." Ethius takes up the mantle of filling in that blank, pre-empting others who might be inclined to bring that up. He deliberately seems to be leaving out anything involving the Blue Star.
        He lingers where he stands, though those watching him might notice he appears to be keeping more careful watch of Catenna. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Our masters? If she trained alongside Leo, then that had to be...General Heldalf. She only knew the name from that doppleganger they faced alongside Leo in Ash Hare, so long ago.

That gives Jacqueline can tell that her Caravan Kinship are...less than pleased with Iceheart's reception. Jacqueline hoped that it wouldn't be this way, but...

Well, there were some parts of reality that one could not avoid.

Jacqueline was keeping an eye on Lydia, ready to head off a potential rant if it gets started...

...But it's Catenna that speaks out first. Well, Jacqueline can understand why. She moves a little closer to Kourin, to ensure her presence can still be felt.

"Kourin has become a fine swordswoman and a talented user of sorcery, yes...but more importantly than that, she has grown into a wonderful person that I'm proud to know." Jacqueline says. There was more to life than one's martial skill, after all...but she had a feeling Lumis might not see it that way.

She had to wonder what Kourin would be like if Lumis had raised her personally. ...She couldn't imagine she would be anything like the Kourin she knew today. 

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

Well! This lady seems about as unpleasant as her name suggests. Considering her first thought was that Kourin had come to challenge her to a duel for something or other, that is perhaps unsurprising. Cyre's expression darkens at jus about the same time Catenna launches into her own verbal assault. The shaman throws a meaningful glance her way and goes quiet as the others take charge of the conversation for now.

Too many cooks spoil the stew, and Cyre's voice may be better served being silent for now rather than letting slip the... Vitriol that he can already feel boiling in his gut. 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Maybe you did her a favor, Lydia is thinking, but she doesn't say it because...because don't act out of hatred or anger, don't do it, but this is love isn't it? To speak out here? Even Catenna is doing it. She gave a bit of her mind already and she closes her eyes for a moment, meditating on this, exhaling out air as she calms her heart and mind.

When she opens her eyes again, there's a strange determination in them.

"That she has," Lydia says, at first agreeing with Jay. "So if you don't want her around, that's fine because Kourin is doing fine, more than fine actually, she's doing great with friends and family that care for her. She is going to have a great life so you don't have to worry, we'll see to it for you, and you don't gotta worry about anybody using 'er against you. She's going to do amazing things that you can only dream about in this little school for slackers you've got goin' here." Okay maybe she's slipping there a bit, she exhales for a moment to calm herself down once more.

She places her hand on her chest. "Kourin has traveled farther than you ever will, seen things you'll never get to see, fought which you'll never get to fight, and found treasures you'll never own. Her life is going to be so incredible, and I'm glad I get to be there for any of it." 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue finds Kourin's mother lives up to their nickname, and then Ethius stands up for her and she makes her mind to trya nd do some of the same. "She has proven her skill time and again in my experiance. She has stood her ground against horrors which could rip a person in two. She has proven an able friend and comrade." 

<Pose Tracker> Kourin has posed.

Lumis snorts. "Love her? I met her all of five minutes ago. I am not sorry for having sent her away--it was necessary. I did say why." Her expression drips scorn. "Such loyalty. Such fury. I am impressed. Perhaps you are not mercenaries, but you clearly have spirit."

Spirit perks up slightly, hovering by Kourin, tail between his legs.

"It was a war zone. I was the captain of a mercenary company. What could a child do for me but serve as a danger? Do you think your dear friend, my daughter, would have *survived* had I 'let her into my heart'? Do you think I could have become the successful mercenary I was if I let such foolishness dictate my actions? No! That leads to foolish decisions in the heat of battle. You seem to know well what battle is like--but I wonder. How many of you bear scars gained from something so stupid as loyalty?"

Kourin slaps her, with her left hand. As Iceheart reels in shock, Kourin turns and manages, "It was a mistake to come here. We...we should go." 

<Pose Tracker> Catenna has posed.

Narrowing her eyes ever so slightly, Catenna lets out a slow breath through her nose. "Frankly, I do not care about what you consider to be spirit," she says, keeping her tone level. "You placed battle and profit above someone who needed a mother. That is contempti--"

Kourin does something much more direct than Catenna's used to. The Moon Shaman cuts off, blinking quickly and taking a step back with surprise. "...Kourin...."

She reaches out, and lays her hand on her friend's shoulder, beginning to turn to move away with her. But she pauses and takes a look back towards where Lumis has been left reeling.

"...For all your successes on the field and in enriching yourself, I should wonder how it feels to be so utterly morally bankrupt," she murmurs, before moving along behind Kourin. 

<Pose Tracker> Ethius Hesiod has posed.

        Ethius turns his gaze back over from Catenna as Lydia speaks. Lydia has plenty to say about less-than-ideal parents - maybe more than almost anyone. With the bandanna over the lower half of his face, there's no reading how he thinks. No tell-tale smiles or frowns, just changing glances. He says something that's lost in Lumis' venomous retorts. These are awful things for a parent to say to a child who has spent so long looking for them. They should stir fury, righteous rebukes, based on their own understandings of the matter. Ethius doesn't really seem to be joining that outrage, for... some reason?
        Isn't Kourin someone he's been close to, if not usually about the closest to her? Why would he not want to voice for her beyond pre-empting anyone from giving details about where she's gathered her skills from?
        When he tries to speak up again, Kourin up and slaps her and declares that 'we should go.'
        "Yes. I am in agreement." Ethius remarks, neutral and detached - as almost always when he speaks - as he gestures to usher everyone back down the steps.
        Like he would prefer for everyone to hurry along. 

<Pose Tracker> Tesni Inoue has posed.

Tesni Inoue looks to Iceheart for a moment she does not say aytning for a momnet sh shrugs a bit. She turns and for once is in full agreement with Ethius. "We should go." Tes normally sunny tone is just flat. She turns to go and her thougths can be summed up in words best not said about children. Unless she's stopped she will pile out without another word. 

<Pose Tracker> Cyre H. Lorentz has posed.

Yeah, that slap was deserved. Cyre doesn't even bother wincing at it. You don't wince at slaps you feel are merited. "Wow, complaining about an emotional weakness is one thing, but what kind of mercenary can ever become successful without valuing loyalty? When you pay for someone's services, you expect that they will provide those services. That's the fundamental base of all trade and commerce."

It seems Cyre's learned quite a bit living with Jay and the other merchants, hasn't he?

Well, Fengalon and Lucadia are patrons of travel and mercantilism, after all.

"Nevermind that the first thing you thought was that your daughter was out for your sword. That's some kind of paranoia you've got there, lady." He shakes his head, turning about to follow the others out, "Well! The could shoulder act is up to you I guess. We'll make do, and muddle through I'm sure."

The sooner they get out of here the better.

Cyre can only keep his anger limited to just barbed words for so long, after all. 

<Pose Tracker> Lydia Seren has posed.

Lydia looks back to Lumis.

She could remove her cloak, reveal that silver arm of hers and lord knows what else has spread from her last injuries, but she doesn't do that. Not out of anger, she had told herself, not out of hate. She takes Kourin's hand with her own flesh-hand and is fully intent on helping guide Kourin out. Sounds like Lydia is also in agreement. Leaving good. Going away, good. She'll breathe again once they're gone. 

<Pose Tracker> Jacqueline Barber has posed.

Kourin actually slaps her. Jacqueline flinces a little...but she can't say it was not deserved. Kourin suggests they leave, but Jacqueline has a piece of her own to say first.

"...Perhaps it is as you say, that sending her away at that time was safest for her. ...However, you had every opportunity to look for her afterward, to at least see that she was being well taken care of. And even if that was not possible then, you could have welcomed her now..." Jacqueline replies, shaking her head and folding her arms in front of her. ...Lumis's words seem to have struck a nerve. Cyre raises some good points, too.

"But I see now where your heart lies. A mercenary without loyalty, without empathy, is nothing but a beast on a chain begging for scraps, waiting for the next master to come along and set them loose. Is there more to you than that, Miss Lumis - no, Miss Iceheart?" She asks. "Scars gained from loyalty are nothing to be ashamed of. You'd do well to learn that."

With that said Jacqueline turns to leave, without another look back...though she does join Catenna in resting a hand on one of Kourin's shoulders.

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