On Wings of Silver :: 02
My journeys abroad have kept me far and away from the oft-tread halls of Ul’dah, but for needs of commerce and business I found myself walking those sandstone corridors again this evening. I went to the Gold Court, as I often do, to read by the sound of the fountain’s burble, but who should find me there but Jack Nasty-face, the miqo’te brawler I’d met on the sidelines of the Bloodsands some sennights ago. I’m amazed that he recalled me, but I suppose it speaks of how a good deed etches one into a memory worth remembering.
He sat and spoke of idle pleasantries for a while as people often do with me ere they come to the true reason, which is to unburden themselves of some trouble or tribulation they find themselves in the midst of. Not that I mind, it speaks volumes of the trust people have in me to feel comfortable enough to come to me with their travails.
Eventually we came to it. Jack had questions about The Thirteenth Reflection. Truly must Jack be favored with Nymeia for him to find me, as I have had cause to travel the dark roads of the Thirteenth in my time so that I might rescue my dearest friend, Reynard Silvaire from its grip. While we didn’t linger long, I learned much and more of the realm from Reyn who spent far more time there than I would have preferred. It worries me that Jack has a mind to go there willingly after some voidsent that wronged his mother. While I don’t begrudge Jack his vendetta, the Thirteenth is no place for a man who cannot control his emotions. And I’ve seen how explosive Jack can be on the Bloodsands.
He seemed determined to go into the Void on his own, alone and unaided, as if it were some stroll in the park. I did my best to talk sense into him, to emphasize the danger it posed. He would be wholly unprepared. Even when I delved into that dread realm to save Reynard with a party of my most skilled companions, we were hard-pressed to escape unscathed and, as I recall, some of us didn’t. It’s no place for the untried, and even less for the unprepared. Jack doesn’t seem to have friends he can rely on.
So, being the person I am, I offered him my help — and the help of my extensive network of friends and adventuring companions. I couldn’t in good conscience let him go haring off blindly into the Dark and not do something. I’m sure Archambaut will sigh and shake his head, all while he strides off to find his armor and his shield. Zerey will swear and gripe about how we’re helping yet another stray I’ve picked up, but he’ll still put a hand on his katana and follow me into the fray. Valeria will shake her head, sigh, and lament to ignorance of the untried all while she packs her grimoire and her sword, prepared for any eventuality. Ardent Tempest will simply be there, implacable and imposing as ever, no questions asked. I am never without resources.
I’ve sent word to Valeria Camena and will meet with her tomorrow to discuss his little adventure of Jack’s and see what insights she might have to share. There are few others in the world I would trust on matters of the Void than Valeria. No doubt she’ll have some choice words for Jack if he goes on about his foolish idea of going it alone into the Void. That’ll prove an interesting conversation, to be sure.
