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Days Past, Present [26/12]
Topic Started: Jan 19 2011, 05:40 AM (673 Views)
Asterie de Sauveterre
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The halls of Valerian House were often quiet ones, a blend of clever architectural design and the habits of those that spent time beneath its roof. The passage of a single person had little effect on that, particularly when her footfalls were all but silent.

That was normal then, the hush. And normal too, were the tasks that shaped Astérie de Sauveterre's day, the things to be done large and small, the reports to be written: all the matters that tolled the hours past. All was as it had been, upon the surface. Yet a pall hung above her thoughts, drifting tendrils into near every one if she did not watch closely. The events that passed on the Longest Night troubled her still, an unpleasant intrusion, but one that she could not ignore anymore than she could ignore unpleasant medical realities. It was dangerous to do so.

Very dangerous, often times.

But troubled or no, there was work to be done. Her path hooking past the corridor that lead to the retainers' quarters, Astérie moved along at a slowed pace, owing to the small wooden box she cradled against her body with one arm. Her free fingers nudged at the contents as she confirmed all she requested was within. Once satisfied with her inventory, she took hold of the box with both arms and continued on at regular speed.
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Leal Verreuil
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Of all the things to worry about, the events of the Longest Night were furthest from Leal's mind. Or at least, the events everyone else worried over.

All he could think about was Tambour. Tam, his little brother. The face of an eight year old boy haunted his memory, especially the last time they saw each other, with Tam confined to his bed and unconscious. They'd never really said a proper good-bye, and it was all his fault. You just had to test your stupid contraption with his help.

Now, Tam, a grown man, in the Night Court. In Valerian House.

And here was he, companion to a young woman who frequented Valerian enough that he had almost, almost, become immune to the quiet outrage which was his right to feel as a Cassiline. All he could think about now, though, was whether or not Felice had ever... if Tam had ever been....

Normally when he'd been left behind to stew in aforementioned righteous outrage by himself, he sat or stood or knelt.

Today, he paced the space restlessly, face tight with strain, looking as though he might fall apart at the seams.
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Asterie de Sauveterre
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The irregular sound of it caught her ear: someone roving back and forth, back and forth, in agitated tempo. The steps were owned by a man to listen to them, the tread not right for a woman. But no matter who they belonged to, it was jarring to hear it in the halls of Valerian House.

Experiencing a prickle of concern, Astérie shifted the box in her arms and peeked around the corner into the adjoining corridor. It was a broader one, reaching along towards a common area onto which more private quarters opened. And it was there she caught sign of movement, a flash of grey and a cruciform hilt.

Surely there was only one person that could be, here.

Venturing forth to where the Cassiline was - for it was indeed him, she saw, once her view lay clear - Astérie spoke softly.

"Leal? Are you alright?" For now, closer, it was not the tenor of his pacing alone that brought the question. She saw his face as well and it struck a note of worry in her ice blue eyes.
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Leal Verreuil
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At the sound of Astérie's voice, the only one within these walls that would be a comfort and relief to him, Leal stopped his pacing long enough to look up at her. The answer to her question was written in the pale, strained expression on his face and the darkness beneath his eyes.

He had not been sleeping well, and probably not eating well, either. Of course, as a Cassiline, vigils and fasts were par for the course for him, yet he seemed to be pushing himself past even a Cassiline's limits.

"Astérie," he said, and only she would be the recipient of this trust from him, "my brother is here."
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Asterie de Sauveterre
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At clearer sight of Leal's ravaged features, the concern in Astérie's gaze bled down across her entire face and she drew closer.

"Astérie, my brother is here."

"Leal. . . ." She eased over the box she held until only one arm was wrapped about it, and then set the other gently upon the young man's forearm. Her lips parted ever so slightly, ready to say more, yet then pressed closed again.

The quiet could be deceptive here. And there were even fewer guarantees in the retainers' quarters than some other areas.

"It would be better, to speak elsewhere in the House," she said softly. "Will you come?" And then, for he was a Cassiline and there were things to be considered: "I shall see to it that they know where to find you, should your ward be ready to depart ere you return here."

That said, Astérie stepped back in readiness to lead the way should Leal consent, expression steady and compassionate. She could think only of the look of him now, juxtaposed against Tambour's on the Longest Night, and the distress that fairly radiated from each brother. Shaded in different ways mayhap, yet likely not so far distant from one another at the heart.
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Leal Verreuil
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Almost immediately he relaxed, not entirely, but enough. Astérie understood him better than anyone outside the Brotherhood, understood the importance of his vows, and he honestly did not know what he would do without her here to listen to him and treat him with respect. Probably lose his mind.

"Thank you," he said quietly, with a crossed-arm bow. Then he fell into step behind her, teeming with thoughts and emotions about to find an outlet.

Tam... why are you here?
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Asterie de Sauveterre
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Astérie nodded silently and turned for the door, presenting Leal with the braided coronet into which her hair was arranged, as she lead the way out of the corridor from the retainers' quarters and down another hall. It was a careful path she traced, balanced between avoidance of major thoroughfares and not drawing Leal through parts of the House not intended for outsiders. They passed several servants as they went and, as promised, the chirurgeon dispatched one of them to notify the appropriate party of the Cassiline's new location.

Soon enough, they arrived at the healers' quarters and she had not been gone so long on her brief errand that much had changed within. Entering the outer room, one which held work tables and shelving well-stocked, she could hear faint sounds of movement from assistants in the room beyond, but for her own part, she made for a shut door off one side of the present room. Plucking up a key depending by decorative chain from her girdle, she fitted it to the lock.

The door swung open to reveal a sort of study. A desk formed the main furnishing, arrayed with the accouterments of writing, and a set of shelves was nearby, holding a selection of books and other odds and ends. Upon the walls were several paintings: two of views of the coast of Eisande and another that depicted ruins in a place that did not seem to be in Terre d'Ange itself. The room was not overly large, but its other end did hold a small gathering of chairs and a dainty table. It was to one of the former that Astérie gestured Leal, as she set the box she was carrying upon the desk. That done and the door pushed to, she came to sit in a second chair.

"I had not heard his family name before," she said then without preamble, voice soft and her pale blue gaze not flinching from peering at Leal's face. "And so did not know. But during the Masque, he told me, Tam did. That he is your brother."

That revelation made, for it struck her as unfair not to state it upfront, Astérie fell quiet and simply waited.
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Leal Verreuil
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Leal followed her, giving the outer room with its shelves and stocks no more than a cursory glance. He'd been here often enough that none of it was new or unusual for him.

Astérie's study held no more interest for him, though he had in the past marveled at how the personality of its owner was quite apparent in all the books and writing utensils. Astérie had a studious mien, one he appreciated, as much as he appreciated her quiet and easy respect. He tried to how his appreciation with respect in return, for her position and for the choices she'd made; if she had not chosen to work with Valerian House, he would not have her here now, as a friend.

So it was that when Astérie revealed she'd known Tam's relation to him since the masque, he was not at all angry or upset with her that she hadn't told him sooner. When else should she have told him? This was their first meeting since.

Leal did not sit, uncomfortable with sitting for longer than a few minutes, but he did release a breath and relax even more. Something about being in this room, confessing his thoughts to someone who at least understood them, if not agreed.

"I..."

Words clung to his throat, unsure. So long since he had even spoken about his brother, said even his name aloud. It was easier, in the Brotherhood, to pretend one did not have family, than to be haunted by the memory of them every day, and always wondering where they were, what happened to them after.

Now, he was doubly glad he hadn't wondered too hard in Tam's direction, for had he imagined his brother as a healer or inventor, this revelation would have been that much worse.

"Is he...?"

What did he even want to ask? In no way was he curious about his brother's... work... here. That was not for him to know, but he did want to know something.

"Tell me about him," he finally said. "I... haven't seen him since he was eight years old. Tell me about him, Astérie, please."
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Asterie de Sauveterre
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Astérie waited patiently for Leal to gather his thoughts, hands clasped in her lap as she gazed up at the Cassiline. When he ultimately articulated a full question, a bud of relief opened within her that he did not start out with something to which she could give no reply.

Still, what was asked was more complicated than the simple words suggested. How to answer such a thing, a request for the summary of. . .of a person, a life? How to begin? Her eyes unfocused, gazing absently at nothing in particular, as she turned it over in her mind.

Then: "Tam is. . .one of the most cheerful people I know. Not just here, but of anyone I've ever met. I cannot think of anyone he does not at least get along with, and I would say a great many people count him as a friend. Including me."

Tam did make her smile and his joy was infectious in a way the adept himself likely did not suspect: he was someone who had made his choice and was happy in it, so far as she had seen. There was a peace in that, a blessing wearing a human guise.

"Even if he did not obviously look Siovalese, I would have to suspect it nevertheless. He is terribly nosy." A fond expression crossed her face, naming the term a friend's tease more than anything. "He is interested in all manner of things, always asking questions. He loves music. And. . . ."

Trailing off, Astérie suddenly returned to her gaze to Leal. "He wanted to speak to you, Leal, during the Longest Night. But felt he should not bother you while you were working." She was far from convinced that was the whole of it, but it was what Tambour had said and so she did not presume to guess aloud at the reasons that might have gone unspoken.
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Leal Verreuil
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Some others might smile at her description of Tam; who wouldn't want such a man as their brother as Astérie described?

Leal, though, stood at rigid attention as though he were on duty, but leaned slightly forward, as though drinking in every word she spoke. No trace of a smile on his lips, only a deep and painful desperation in his eyes. Since seeing Tam at the masque, seeing his brother dressed up in that silly costume for the amusement of royals and other lustful patrons, Leal wanted nothing more than to know about him, know if he were happy, well cared for, but more... if Tam were a good person.

Misguided. He heard that word every day in the Brotherhood, every day while he practiced the whirling, circular forms of the Cassiline discipline. Misguided, every D'Angeline who did not believe as they did, who loved not purely, but with abandon and flesh.

A comfort in this: the Misguided could always be turned to another path, taken under the wing of a better guide.

He tried, with Felice, though so far his attempts had come to nothing.

Tam, though. Tam was his brother, still so much like the young boy Leal remembered, if Astérie could be believed, and Leal always believed her. Tam needed him.

He blinked rapidly when he caught the last of her words.

"No," he said softly, "I couldn't have, not then."

Not only because of Felice, he meant, but didn't say. He thought perhaps Astérie understood anyway.

He couldn't have, because he wouldn't have known what to say other that how could you come to this?
Edited by Leal Verreuil, Mar 3 2011, 10:14 PM.
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Asterie de Sauveterre
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"I think that he realized that," Astérie agreed quietly at Leal's last words. It would have been ill-timed for either one of them to reveal their kinship, then and there at the Masque. But she did not dwell on might-have-beens; there was enough to focus on when it came to the reality of this moment. Her head tilted a fraction, her thoughts knotted around the matter of what next to say, Leal's rigid stance and the burning emotion in his eyes laying no easy path.

Feeling unsure, it was a long moment until she began to speak again. "When Tam--"

A knock at the door sent her shoulders into a surprised jump, so focused had she been on what she was about to say. Coming to her feet, Astérie looked an apology at Leal and went to the door. She could not neglect her responsibilities. As things stood, she could but hope the interruption had nothing to do with the fact she had seen Tempest sprinting through the halls in her nightclothes earlier. . . .

Pulling the door open, she was presented with the sight of a House servant standing there, a tray held by deceptively willowy looking arms. Of course. The other request she had sent away with the servant addressed earlier about Leal's being in the healer's quarters.

"Oh, thank you." She stepped out of the way and the other woman entered to set the tray upon the little table. A few of the items were shifted to be more suited to consumption of the food than carrying of the tray. Then she deftly poured a stream of hot tea into each of two cups.

Turning back, she shot a covert glance at Leal, but faced Astérie. "Will there be anything else, my lady?"

"No, this is quite fine. Thank you for coming so quickly." Not that there was any doubt in the efficiency of the Night Court, even when it came to its kitchens. A curtsy bobbed, the servant departed and Astérie closed the door again.

"I apologize for the interruption, but I thought you might be hungry." Turning back to Leal, she regarded him with gentle concern, for the look of him made her suspect he had been eating poorly even past the fast of the Longest Night and there was no good to come of that, particularly with the stress the Cassiline was under. The food on offer was not the sort to constitute a normal meal, but instead a selection of various snack-like items, easily eaten without fuss.

Re-seating herself, Astérie picked up one of the teacups, but did not drink from it immediately. The servant's entrance had given her time to think better of what she had been about to say before and she switched paths to something different.

"Would you wish to speak with Tam now?" she ventured at last. "That is, not this very moment, but sometime soon? I suppose that with your duties, it could only be when Felice next visits the House. Unless there is some other time that would work. . . ?" The chirurgeon gave Leal a questioning look, unsure if there were truly never a time he might not be at his ward's side.

This entire matter was no easy thing and Astérie was only too aware of it. It could not be simply soothed with a figurative balm and bandaged, then let to heal without further issue. But still, she wanted to help how she could.
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Leal Verreuil
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Leal gave the food only a cursory glance before turning his mind to Astérie's question.

Did he want to see Tam? Could he see his brother without... without....

Without what? Leal wasn't even certain.

His face still somewhat white, Leal took to pacing what area of the room he could, his hands clasped together in front of him as though praying with every step he took.

"I don't know. Astérie, I... never expected to find him here. Here, of all places." Pausing, he turned his gaze to her, his eyes begging her to understand even as he knew she did. "I don't know what I might say to him...."

Because he loved his brother. Though disgusted by the Night Court and everything it stood for, Leal loved his brother very much, and had no desire to say anything cruel to him. Yet, should he see Tam face to face, he suspected only cruelty would emerge from his mouth.
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Asterie de Sauveterre
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Astérie took a sip of tea, but it lay tasteless on her tongue and she finally set the teacup aside on the table.

"I don't know what I might say to him...."

That Leal recognized what might well happen during such an encounter demonstrated a keen self-awareness. That his doubts were as they were, ghosting through his expression, bound into his upbringing. . .that only served to increase the grief she had felt building at this entire situation. The brothers Verreuil were like a pair of scales, a lessening of the weight in one pan sending the other plummeting. 'Lessening' did not even do it justice, for it was difficult to imagine either side coming out of it buoyed with good cheer. Sorrow reflected back to Leal from Astérie's eyes, sorrow on many levels, for they were both her friends.

"Perhaps it is too soon then," and her tone was gentle. "There will still be opportunity later."

There were so many things crowding her mind to say further, but she realized that they might be too much, far too much, to be said in a first discussion. Some of them might have the opposite effect of what was desired, just as a person could not be healed faster by pouring concoctions down their throat by the pitcherful. At a certain point, it helped no further. Past that, it could harm. Head turning to look at the food arrayed on the nearby tray, she experienced an uncharacteristic flash of anger, that Leal Verreuil had been brought up in such a way that it had come to this. The Brotherhood had no more right than. . . .

Standing suddenly, Astérie set a hand upon the Cassiline's clasped ones. Even in that light touch, she could sense the tell-tales of tension that no doubt echoed throughout the rest of his body. It was something she looked for, something she knew too well, in her work. Usually, it was a call to action. Now, she felt nearly helpless; a huge swath of the things that could be done to address this in one of her patients were unlikely to work well here. So instead, she asked.

"What can I do to help, Leal?" Earnest in expression, she peered up, having to tilt her chin somewhat even standing, due to his height.
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Leal Verreuil
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Leal was aware only that he would probably say something that would hurt his brother. He knew very well that his opinions--the opinions of the Brotherhood, trained and beaten into him by harsh taskmasters and hard life--went counter to the opinions of everyone near him now. For whatever reasons, Tam had ended up in Valerian House, in the Night Court, and Leal could only...

... only what? Hope he was happy? No. No. He couldn't leave it at that, though he didn't know exactly what he could or would do, he had only half-formed thoughts, and no ideas.

If anyone else touched him, Leal would go rigid and pull away. Fighting the urges of the flesh was not easy, and Leal tended to shy away from most forms of physical contact.

But this was Astérie. He trusted her. And under her light touch, he relaxed somewhat.

"Just... tell him... tell him I love him and I'm sorry. Please. If you would."

He tried to smile. It looked more like a sickly grimace.
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Asterie de Sauveterre
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Feeling a faint relaxation in the tautness of Leal's clasped hands, Astérie squeezed his fingers lightly in response before dropping her hand back to her side. She might have given him a comforting embrace, as she would to another friend under such painful circumstances, but she did not wish him to take it amiss. The situation seemed too rickety as it was, to attempt such a thing with a Cassiline, even though the sentiment would be extended in friendship. That was another thing to feel sorrowful at: when, if ever, did those of the Brotherhood find a kind touch from others? She, born with a healer's heart and trained in that path, could scarcely imagine going through life with the only touches exchanged being those of violence. It was a dreadful notion.

"Just... tell him... tell him I love him and I'm sorry. Please. If you would."

"Of course, Leal. I would be very glad to do that. And if he has a message for you in kind? Or even a letter perhaps, what of that? Would you be willing to read it?"

Astérie glanced over at the table, then back to Leal. "Won't you eat a little? I can only imagine how hard a situation this must be for you to bear. But please, I would hate for you to fall ill for not taking care of yourself, on top of everything else."
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Leal Verreuil
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This time when he smiled, it was more genuine. Of all the people he knew here, Astérie was one of the very few he respected, and he considered her a kind, lovely person. He wished her nothing but a long, happy, prosperous life.

"Of course, Leal. I would be very glad to do that. And if he has a message for you in kind? Or even a letter perhaps, what of that? Would you be willing to read it?"

What must she think of him? To think he would not... but then, he had just told her he didn't want to speak to his own brother. He supposed it wouldn't be too difficult to misunderstand the reasons, though he had hoped she would understand.

"Yes, yes of course I would read it. I wouldn't have to worry about saying something insulting to a letter." A low, mirthless laugh. "And I could compose a return letter carefully."

Anyone else, he wouldn't be concerned with insulting. There were plenty of people running around the city who had been on the wrong side of one of his tongue-lashings. But Tam was different.

Leal paced the room once or twice more before he realized what she said, and answered faintly, "I'm not hungry."

But then, he fasting was part of his training. He might not even recognize the signs of his body needing food, if he were very upset and very determined to wallow in misery.

"Just... here, of all places," he muttered, sounding miserable.
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Asterie de Sauveterre
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"Yes, yes of course I would read it. I wouldn't have to worry about saying something insulting to a letter." A low, mirthless laugh. "And I could compose a return letter carefully."

Astérie nodded solemnly in return, though she was pleased to hear it, for she had already thought to suggest to Tam a letter might be just the thing to try. To hear that it would be accepted only cemented it.

That small mote of relief became smaller however, when Leal resumed his pacing without a reply on the matter of eating and her concern swarmed back to the full height it had been. She did not think he was ignoring her, but she could easily believe the weight on his thoughts was great enough to distract him so. The Cassiline did pause then, eking out a quiet reply. And before she could respond, a qualifier came.

"Just... here, of all places."

Understanding came then, without an answer paired with it. What did one say to that? Or do? She could not very well sit on him and force him to eat. So she said what seemed the best under the circumstances. "I hope you will eat when you get home then."

It felt inadequate, particularly in the face of what they had discussed. 'Home'. Was it even much of a home to him? It was Felice's home, but to Leal, was it home-like in any way, or merely one of the places in which he must work, as he must work wherever he accompanied his ward?

Staring at the floor before her shoes, a notion struck, almost immediately intercepted by hesitation. Blue eyes lifting uncertainly and peering across the room, Astérie walked the short distance to her desk and stopped beside it. Her gaze lingered on a book set upon a nearby shelf and she did not look away even as she began to speak again.

"My mother was an adept of Balm House before she married." That was how she began. It was something she had not revealed to him before now; the topic had simply never had reason to arise in conversation. It was not, strictly speaking, something that had to come up now for what she intended to say. But she said it anyway, perhaps in a show of solidarity with Tam and the other adepts, perhaps for some murkier reason. In the moment, Astérie herself could not have said for certain.

"And so while I could not say how many people unassociated with the Night Court take to reading it, this book--" Her fingers brushed the spine then, very lightly. "--is something I first read long ago. The Journey of Naamah covers pieces of the Eluine Cycle from her point of view." She shook her head suddenly, as if warding off a misunderstanding. "It is not one of the erotic texts, but speaks to the spiritual aspects. If you should want to read it some day. . . ."

The young woman turned around then, looking to where Leal's pacing had brought him most recently. "I am not saying you must. . .must accept the ideas in it, but simply being aware of them. . . . Knowledge can be a bridge. There is Cassiel's side to Elua's tale too, and while I cannot speak for Tam of course, knowing him, I think he would be willing at least, to hear you talk of it. And so if you might be interested in returning the favour of awareness, then. . . ."

Uncharacteristically struggling to express what she was trying to say, hoping Leal would not take the suggestion poorly, Astérie moved one hand unconsciously, fingers curling a little as if attempting to grasp and hold the heart of what she was thinking, right there where it could be seen.

"--then you would be welcome to borrow the book. It does not have to be right now, but later, if you think you would like to, you have only to let me know."
Edited by Asterie de Sauveterre, Mar 25 2011, 06:11 AM.
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Leal Verreuil
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If Leal knew the bent to which her thoughts turned, his heart would be lightened a bit to know she was so concerned for him. Especially because he could understand it; as a boy, he had tried everything he could to keep from being sent away, because he didn't want to leave his family, and he'd heard stories about the harsh living conditions of the Cassilines.

Now, however, as an adult, trained and taught, he understood better what being a Cassiline was about, and why the life had to be so difficult. A Perfect Companion was not made from soft stuff, but of hard stone and honed steel. This could be said both of the rigorous physical training, and the stark spiritual training as well.

If Leal knew how concerned Astérie was for him, he would smile, and tell her not to, because he was fine.

Besides, in one more year, if he was judged to have served Felice well, he would be allowed to visit his family.

"My mother was an adept of Balm House before she married."

This made him turn to her, his eyes slightly wide. "I... did not know," he said, in a neutral tone, not easily read.

"The Journey of Naamah covers pieces of the Eluine Cycle from her point of view. It is not one of the erotic texts, but speaks to the spiritual aspects. If you should want to read it some day. . . ."

Leal pulled in a breath and turned away from her. Not out of disgust for her words, though perhaps of the thought, maybe just a little. No, merely from the need to think about them, and what she meant. Oh, he would very much like to have a conversation with Tam one day, calm and rational, about Cassiel and God, and he would hope with all his heart that it would be a conversation that would help Tam turn away from the life of a Night Court adept. Naamah had played her part, but she had also been as Misguided as the others.

Could he, however, read about Naamah, about her pleasures and her debauchery spoken of as though it were as spiritual and divine as Cassiel's true Companionship? Just the thought of it sent a sudden tremble down his spine, one he of which he was not certain of the origin. Naamah... Naamah's arts and temptations were in their way the worst for a Cassiline. More trainees fell to the pleasures of the flesh than to any other temptation, and while there were almost no fully trained Cassilines who left the Brotherhood, those that did nearly always did so in order to follow the flesh.

"No," he finally said, very quiet. "No, not right now." Though he meant not now, not ever. "Please just give my message to Tam."
Edited by Leal Verreuil, Mar 25 2011, 11:33 PM.
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Asterie de Sauveterre
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Her heart beat a little faster when Leal turned away so abruptly, but he did not speak right then. She thought she might have seen the faintest tremor at his shoulders, yet was unsure if it were only her imagination.

"No. No, not right now. Please just give my message to Tam."

Astérie nodded, a graceful motion that did not speak of inner doubts. It was a thing which physicians had to learn, but it came in useful in other circumstances. "I will." She said nothing further on the matter of the book. The seed had been planted and if it might grow to something in future days, time would tell. For the moment she would be relieved his reaction had been so. . .so constrained.

Quiet for a moment, she considered him. Then spoke. "Would you like to return to the retainers' quarters now? Or, you are welcome to remain here if you would like; they know where to find you and I am not busy right now. I would be happy to talk further, about whatever you like. Or if you prefer--" Astérie peered behind her. "--I have a book or two you might like to read. Not," she smiled faintly. "About herbs, I promise. There is one my father got hold of recently, about Chi'n. They have invented some very interesting things there and this book touches upon several of them ."
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Leal Verreuil
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At first, it seemed as though he would probably say he just wanted to leave. This entire conversation weighed heavily on him, his mind and his heart. There was a part of him that just wanted to see Tam, wanted to take Astérie's offer, wanted to abandon Felice and his vows and just take the easy road.

It will happen, said the Prefect in his mind, the day he left for his assignment. Out there in the world, there are dangers, there are temptations. It is not within our natures to be completely immune to them. That is why we must be strong. Stronger than temptation, stronger than our natures. It is our duty to fight, whether it be those who would harm our wards, or ourselves. The shame is not in feeling temptation, the shame is in not fighting it.

Leal drew in a deep breath. He would fight.

This was the state of his mind when he turned back to her on the verge of saying he should probably go. Until she mentioned Chi'in, and the Siovalese light of curiosity entered his eyes.

"They've always done innovative things in Chi'in," he said. "You said the book is recent?"
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