Back To Basics

A few minutes after running after his sister, Adonis returns to the clearing, tying the stalk of some sort of thin creeping plant around his waist as a makeshift belt to a tunic he definitely did not have when he left.

His first look is to Luke. His second is a search for his father.

Luke is at the edge of the cave, where Adonis left him.

Julian and Totter are gone from the clearing. They must have departed while Adonis and Robin were talking.

If Adonis is disappointed he does not show it. With a smile, he checks Luke one more time before moving him bodily in to the cave.

The horse to which Luke's travois was attached has also remained behind.

Very useful! :-)

He indulges in small-talk with Luke, asking how he feels, where he'd like to be placed, does he need a fire, etc, etc. If Luke has any questions, he'll do his best to answer them.

At one point, Adonis lets slip that he forgot to ask Robin's permission to eat the meat left in the cave but that he's fairly sure now that she won't mind. If Luke asks, he'll give him a very precied summary of their conversation.

Luke doesn't ask; the doings of his Lord all seem good to him. He does have some preferences about which side he lies on and such, and about the temperature of the meat. He's happy to make small talk, to the extent one makes it with one's god, but he is tired.

The point of the small-talk is to make Luke feel more comfortable, to set him at his ease, but if Adonis feels it's doing more harm than good then naturally he'll desist.

Adonis doesn't think it's doing any harm, but to Luke he is a god, and even when a god is waiting on him, the god is to be revered. It's not so much that the talk puts him out of sorts or ill at ease so much as it is that he has a hard time imagining what Adonis could be interested in about his circumstances, other than as they relate to Adonis.

This is less a failure of Adonis' caring than of Luke's imagination.

Adonis is quite happy to eat it as it is but he expects Luke will want it heated a little. He also thinks Luke may heal quicker with a slightly more varied diet so he takes some time out to scout nearby for certain herbs and other plants.

Heal check all Luke's wounds and ensure he's settled for the night. Adonis will watch over him as he sleeps.

Adonis will also eat his fill, demonstrating an apetite worthy of anyone in the family - especially as he hasn't eaten a crumb in over 24 hours.

In the morning, both men feed again before Adonis makes an appraisal of Luke's capacity for travel. If Luke wants to know where they'll be going, he'll be told 'Amber'.

Luke will be able to move on horseback, which is fortunate, since they have the horse to hand. When Adonis says he wants to move on, Luke says he is ready, although Adonis thinks they'll move more slowly than Luke is willing to admit.

Since he no longer has his father's signet, Adonis decides not to stop at intermediate Ranger outposts but instead heads for the one on the edge of Arden closest to Amber. If he encounters rangers, however, he makes no attempt to avoid them.

Luke sits on horseback with Adonis on foot leading, picking a pace and a path to suit the health of the rider. They may frequent stops and Adonis ensures both eat frequent snacks of cold pork and root vegetables to keep their strengths up.

Their conversation revolves around the slow movement of Spring toward Summer - unless Luke has any particular subject he'd like to bring up. At some point, Adonis would like to learn more of Luke's family background, who he's left behind and how he feels about that, etc.

Luke thinks of his life before religion as barren. He lived in Amber for most of his life, but Amber was rent by the Sundering and is in the autumn of its years. His time in the depths of Arden and that place where Adonis met him were years when he lived like a beast. Now he is reborn and new, and serves Adonis.

The heathen in Amber will not appreciate his words, but Luke will lead them into light.

This is Adonis 3rd consecutive day without sleep. He doesn't show it but he's beginning to feel a little tired so the pace and food suit him too.

Adonis anticipates that when he finally takes a nap, it will be a good long one, too. He can burn the candle at one or both ends for a while longer, but the complete lack of sleep is beginning to tell.

He makes a mental note to secure a good sleep before reaching Amber - he feels he'll need to be at his best.

After another day or two of travelling, Adonis comes on outliers of No-Sun, the Ranger post closest to Arden. He spots the Rangers early, but he knows they will surround him quickly, because that's standard procedure for unknowns coming out of the depth of Arden.

As he senses the rangers fanning out to either side, but well before he's encircled, he stops and gives the standard recognition signal he's heard and given so often before. He also adds a short trill, probably recognised only by his father, Vista and perhaps a bare handful of others, which specifically identifies himself.

He waits, spending the time re-assuring Luke and the horse.

One of the rangers returns the first whistle. Adonis doesn't think the second was recognized.

A fellow with dark skin and salt-and-pepper hair emerges from the greenery. "Welcome to No-Sun. Where are you coming from? Have you any news?"

"Greetings, ranger! My injured companion is called Luke, and I am Adonis. We have travelled from deep within Arden, near Arcadia, where I have recently spoken with my father, my sister and my brother." Adonis pauses to let the use of pronouns sink in. "All were in good health as of two days since. Where the Warden and the Dragonrider are now I know not, but Ranger Robin is currently visiting my homeland. May I ask whom I am addressing?"

"Crumble, of No-Sun," the man says, not unpleasantly.

"Luke and I are travelling to Amber to see the King. May I request some sustenance and a place to sleep before we continue our journey? Also, if you have news pertaining to our destination and the road thence, we would be most grateful."

"If you have news of the Warden and Robin, Vista will want to speak with you at the camp. There will be food and a place for you and your companion there."

Adonis nods willing acquiescence. While waiting for further activity, Adonis warns Luke not to proselytise in No-Sun, but to practise the arts of observation and listening - "I will want to know your thoughts when we leave, Luke."

"Yes, my lord."

Crumble gives a whistle and several other Rangers appear. They help Adonis and Luke into the camp, acting as both an honor guard and a real guard. A tent is located for Luke, and the rangers assist him to it. Adonis, however, is escorted to the command tent, with assurances that dinner will be brought for him.

"Thank you, Crumble! Might I ask you to take especial care with Luke? He recent injuries were serious and he is still a little fragile."

Inside the command tent, Vista is sitting at a camp desk working on a dispatch of some sort. He rises when Adonis comes in and says, "Come on over and sit down. They tell me you have word of your father and Robin."

Adonis pauses a moment to gauge Vista's response to seeing him in clothes before offering his hand.

Vista looks like an old codger who expected his young charge to see common sense one day even if the young charge never expected it. He accepts the handclasp with his surprising strength.

"Greetings, Vista! It is good to see you well. I imagine Pater has left your hands very full in his absence so I will not linger with such news as I have, meagre though it is."

There is a bench in the tent where Adonis might seat himself.

[Assuming Vista accepts the handclasp]

Adonis seats himself and waits for Vista to resume his seat. He makes no attempt to survey any documents on the desk.

"My news is some two days old. Pater was well when last I saw him, in company with a ranger by the name of Totter, whom I'm sure you know. He has told me his current intentions are to investigate the recent disappearances of my children from within the ranger corps. This was apparently well west of where he seemed to be going, however, so perhaps he has other things on his mind as well?" Adonis shrugs, a little apologetic that he can't offer better than mere speculation.

Vista shrugs. He's apparently used to Julian changing his mind.

"I have clearer news of Robin; she is at this moment in Arcadia, in search of one 'Breeze', apparently also of my lineage." He pauses to observe the effect of his words on Vista. "...She is alone!"

"Robin's a tough bird. She'll do as well as anyone will in there." Vista has a lot of confidence in the senior Ranger. "Your kids are still vanishing. I sent one up to Amber a while back with a message for the King. I got another one here with me ... and here he is."

Adonis throws an odd look at Vista; perhaps to be read as a 'you're up to something, I don't know what but I'll play along for now' sort of expression. OTOH, there's probably no such thing and he's just a little nonplussed at having to change mental gears so quickly.

A youth enters the tent, carrying a tray of meat and cheese and bread, and a jug of what Adonis suspects is ale. He's dark-haired, and aged about 14. He presents himself and the tray to Vista and Adonis. "Ranger Vista, sir, dinner for our guest."

Adonis pays no attention to the tray, choosing instead to quietly appraise the boy before him while waiting for Vista to make the introductions.

Vista does so. "Adonis, this is Sage. Sage wants to be a Ranger when he grows up, and he's helping me right now since the forest's not safe for young runners. Sage, this is Lord Adonis, the Warden's son."

Adonis continues to observe the boy carefully, but definitely not critically.

Sage's eyes get a little wide. Obviously Julian is something of a celebrity, and not one he expects to have much to do with. He sets down the tray on a stand that it was obviously made to fit, and bobs a nervous bow at Adonis.

"Pleased to meet you, my lord," he says. His voice has broken, but Adonis doesn't think it was that long ago.

[Sounds to me as if Sage's mother must have fallen pregnant during one of Daeon's very last sorties from Arcadia before the unpleasantness arising from Ignia, not long before Corwin's return. That cuts things down quite a bit. Can Adonis picture Sage's mother in his mind; when, where and who?]

[He can narrow it down, yes. How much detail do you need?]

[I'm sorry, you've lost me. Since the boy could only have been conceived within quite a narrow time frame and a similarly limited locality, I was thinking Adonis should be able to put a face to the mother, followed by a name - even for Adonis it can't be too many women and he has a very good recall for all the women he's ever slept with - each one for him is something of a mystical experience.

or do you mean you want me to do the creative thing? I can do that, no problem, I just wasn't sure you wanted me to.]

[You can fill in the details if you want to. I just didn't want to overrun you if you wanted to add details about her, or put out a bunch of detailed information if you just wanted to know if Adonis could identify her.]

[Fine! I've been meaning to give you a couple of portraits of Arcadian VIPs so I'll add her to the bunch - I assume I can do naming and casting myself? - though please bear in mind that my track record in finding good NPC castings has been woeful since gamestart.]

Adonis nods courteously back. "Your manners do you credit, I am sure your mother must be proud of you." He pauses as if torn between a choice of subjects. "Sage, would you do me the honour of granting an especial favour?"

Sage looks at Vista, who gives him a nod. "Yes, sir," he says, then glances back at Vista and adds, "if my duties permit it."

Adonis smiles wryly, there's something ironic going on again. "For several reasons it is inappropriate to give me the appellation of 'lord'. I would regard it as a personal favour if you would call me simply by my name, which should be sufficient." His smile is now definitely just kind and understanding, rather than amused. "Of course, should you feel your duties or..." he flicks a momentary glance to Vista, "your orders conflict, please remember it is merely a request. But it would make this stranger, far from home, feel infinitely more comfortable in an alien place."

Sage looks at Vista again, and Vista nods.

"Yes, your lo--Daeon."

"In this aspect, Sage, I am called Adonis." Adonis doesn't seem even slightly nonplussed that his son has just called him by name so far unmentioned by anyone. Obviously the lad has been schooled in advance. Since this reeks of 'set piece', it's hardly a surprise.

The boy is innocent. Vista, on the other hand, looks a tad smug.

Vista says to Adonis, "I've been thinking about sending Sage here with my next dispatch to the castle. If you're plannin' on goin' up there, maybe I should send him with you. What do you think about that?"

Sage looks anxious, but doesn't say anything.

"What do I think?" Adonis seems slightly surprised by the question; that it should be asked of him, that is. He replies after a pause long enough to imply a modicum of careful thought. "While I would be delighted to enjoy Sage's company, I feel that to be in my company might be a very dangerous thing for him...at this time." He looks Sage deeply in the eye, waiting for some indication of his reaction to this reply before turning the same gaze on Vista. "What do you think?"

Sage looks confused. He's smart enough to know that some byplay is going on over his head between the Warden's right-hand man and the Warden's son, but it is over his head.

Vista shifts in his chair the way a man somewhat advanced in age does to keep his joints from stiffening. "I think if you're going up to the castle directly, it'll spare me a rider to send with him. No boy his age rides in the forest alone right now; I need to send a message to the King. There are enough dangerous things out there that I need every man I can get for my own purposes. What do you think your father would think?"

Sage is really nervous about that question, but most boys his age with aspirations to be a ranger would be.

"Oh I make no pretence as to knowing my father's thoughts." Adonis sounds like a ploughman asked about particle physics. "I have asked, but it his nature to say little...less...least. Even at the danger of saying nothing at all.

"However, I feel I must advise you that he and I did not part on the best of terms when last we spoke." Adonis' tone is earnest and frank; all he wants to do is help Vista. "Mmm! Let me see if I can recall his precise words, 'You have forfeited my trust by your lies...the forked dragon's tongue with which you spoke...has no place in my counsels, nor in that of my children'."

He clearly enunciates the ellipses. Vista may even be impressed at Adonis' ability to copy his father's tone of voice - at least a whole octave below Adonis' in pitch and positively glacial - but thinking about it, probably not.

Vista's also reasonably hard to impress. Sage, however, is not so worldly, and his expression gets wide-eyed and his mouth makes an 'o'.

Adonis' demeanour turns from studied veracity to enduring sadness. "He gave me to understand that, for a variety of reasons, he regards me as a danger to my siblings. He stated this quite...uncharacteristically...forcibly.

"I respect his opinion in this matter and would fear for Sage in my presence. You rightly say there are dangerous things in the woods. I would hazard there are few more dangerous than I. Mater and Pater have both made it clear that they would have me in Amber. I leave it to you to speculate as to their respective motives. Otherwise I would regard my presence outside Arcadia as inappropriate at this time.

"I do not wish to bring danger to those I love, Vista." Adonis expression conveys that this includes both the men in his presence, as well as many, many others.

"Sounds like whatever you did pissed your father right off. Well, I'm not your father, and I believe in second chances, or I'd'a had your sorry ass put on a wagon and sent up to Amber last time instead of chancing you running off like you did. And I believe in third and fourth chances, if a man wants to take 'em."

"Ah, yes! Last time." Comments Adonis, reminiscently.

Vista shifts again. "My men say you're goin' up to the castle. If you tell me you'll take the lad with you and see him safe there, your word's good unless you prove otherwise."

"I recall our last conversation, Vista. It bore many resemblances to this. I think we might agree that it ended less than satisfactorily from both our points of view." A single eyebrow invites acknowledgement.

Vista nods slowly.

"I feel our last exchange ended the way it did because you felt unable to grant my simple request and neither of us was willing to compromise on the issue, assuming compromise was possible. Having recently received an object lesson in this subject, I would not wish to depart without making some effort to accommodate your simple request so...

"Luke and I must depart on the morrow for Amber, assuming you grant us leave to stay tonight. Should anyone be travelling the same road at the same time, it would be foolish for us not to travel in company and their companionship might be welcome. However, I cannot offer my word that any such person might arrive safely in Amber, because it is not within my aegis to ensure this.

"There are...certain entities at large in the World, mainly relatives on the distaff side, who are focusing a part of their attention upon my person. Some of them have also expressed an interest in those of my bloodline. For the most part, they are vastly more powerful than I. I bear at least one curse, and Pater has intimated he feels there may be more, though he and I may be in disagreement in this. The precise nature of these curses is unclear to me but it is not unlikely that they may aid certain parties in following my progress.

"You say you want Sage safe in Amber; once I am in Amber, Amber will not be safe. What makes you think that Sage will be better of there than here?"

Sage is looking very confused and disturbed by this turn of the discussion.

"There's fightin' here, and truth be told we should send all the boys his age away," Vista says. Sage starts to say something, but thinks better of it in front of the senior ranger and the Warden's son.

The briefest of glances reveals that Adonis notes Sage, but his focus remains on Vista for the nonce.

Vista continues, "Among my people, we say that no man knows the hour when death comes 'til it's upon him, but we also say the Unicorn helps those who help themselves."

Now something distracts Adonis' attention; perhaps he's heard something? Gone is the usual unworldly air, despite his eyes being focused elsewhere.

"I think the King will know better what to do about what you're worryin' about than I do, and I ain't too proud to ask his aid. As for Sage here, maybe we better ask him what he thinks." [Vista] looks over at Sage.

Adonis' unblinking, reptilian gaze follows Vista's.

"Sage, the Warden's son Daeon here says he'll let you carry my message up to the King in his company. What do you think of that?"

Adonis' eyebrow puts the mark to the end of Vista's question.

Sage says fiercely, "Begging your pardon, sir, I don't need any company going up to the castle. I can do it on my own!"

"Well," says Vista, "I suppose that solves your problem, Adonis."

Who nods his acquiescence. Now relaxed again, Adonis seems absurdly pleased at the turn of events; perhaps that it's now Sage's personal intent, rather than Vista's order, that sends his son with him.

Vista's still looking a little smug. He says to Sage, "You still gotta leave first thing, so you'd best go finish up with your duties and get ready."

"Thank you for the victuals, Sage." Smiles Adonis kindly. "I shall look for you on the morrow."

"Yes, m'lo--Adonis."

Adonis reaches for the tray and sets it on his lap. His first act is to break the bread, muttering something in Arcadian under his breath. Then he offers half to Vista; a gesture of hospitality, or perhaps he just doesn't like eating alone.

Vista takes the bread and eats a single large bite of it. Adonis suspects this is ceremonial hospitality of some sort.

Adonis, noting the formality, does not force anything else on his host but is happy to share the drink should Vista give the slightest indication of thirst.

Adonis takes a couple of minutes to take the first edge off his thirst and hunger before pausing. He fixes Vista with a quizzical expression; Vista just knows another stupid question is in the offing, but he has to wait until his guest swallows before he hears it.

"You have other boys Sage's age; and girls?" Vista might take the question as salacious but there's no trace of this in Adonis' expression. "If they should all be evacuated, why not send them all together?"

"War is a harsh mistress. I need as many as I can keep, but I send those I can spare, starting with those at most risk, out of danger," Vista replies.

"Amber is less dangerous than here?" No reply is really requested, though the question is not exactly rhetorical either. The delivery suggests the concept is news to Adonis but that he will file it away under 'useful things to know'. Of course, if Vista is perceptive, he'll know Adonis doesn't really think Amber is any safer than Arden for Sage - or for anyone else, for that matter - but Adonis does not have a measure on Vista's perceptions. "What hazards might we expect on the road?"

"The further you go up the mountain, the fewer there should be. But there are reports of wild men who steal young folk past the borders of Arden and into Garnath. Used to be the Rangers kept the city folk and the settled people from gettin' in trouble in Arden. Now we keep the troubles of Arden from spilling over into the settled lands," Vista explains.

His guest nods once before returning to his meal; food for thought and vice versa.

Adonis continues to eat and drink with the gusto of any of his paternal relations, though his manners are faultless. He does not eat with his mouth full, nor when someone is talking to him directly. But as he finishes off the last of the vittles, he leans back to savour the last of the beer and clearly wants to enjoy Vista's company a little longer.

"I know I am keeping you from your pressing duties, Vista, and for that matter I am sore in need of a few hours sleep," says the boy who looks as fresh as a daisy, though his garment could probably do with a wash, "...but I've a question I've been meaning to ask for some time, and current affairs make it pressing as we may not have the chance to speak again.

"Has there ever been a time in the past, when you might have said Pater and my uncle Corwin were close?"

Vista eyes Adonis speculatively. "Few outside the Royal blood are old enough to remember, but your father was Prince Corwin's squire when he was a lad. Why do you ask?"

Adonis swills a mouthful of beer around his mouth before swallowing. He sighs; he doesn't seem surprised. "I am...concerned...about Pater. It occurred to me that his knowledge of Arden's ways must predate his wardenship, and the gaining of such skills would have been difficult without the previous warden's co-operation.

"That their relationship has been...difficult since Pater's appointment, is common knowledge. I can see why my uncle should dislike Pater, but that Pater should reciprocate with, what has always seemed to me, an uncharacteristic vehemence, required explanation." Adonis fixes Vista with a candid but speculative eye. "Corwin, Rilga, Artemis; now myself and perhaps even Dione: from Pater's point of view, perhaps a history of betrayal by those loved?"

"Your father has had a hard life in his own way. What lies between him and his brother is for him to say, and not me," Vista says, not unkindly. "Are you telling me he's acting differently somehow now? Or is just him unsheathing that temper of his on you? He's got a fierce one, for all that he doesn't show it much."

Adonis nods. "There are some who reckon him cold and unemotional, but this has never been my experience of him. He is a man of great passion. I am in no way influenced by his temper." [Adonis may be lying here, just a little, but I wouldn't expect Vista to spot this.]

[On the other hand, Vista is probably even older than Adonis and even if he doesn't detect falsehood in the statement, he may know enough about human nature to call bulls**t on the statement. But in any case, he doesn't obviously react.]

"And I considered my words carefully before provoking him. His words, while harsh, were not unfitting and revealed much, which of course was my intent. To the extent that I had an intent.

"Despite his outburst, and I held further words in reserve lest he be not adequately provoked, yet still he had to reaffirm his love for me. It was his wording of that reaffirmation that caused me some surprise. I remember precisely, 'I shall continue to love you according to my bond'..." Adonis again slips effortlessly in and out of his Julian impersonation.

"My bond, not our bond, as though it were something pertaining exclusively to him." Adonis muses, profoundly troubled. "It sounded odd...and feels odder the more I think on it." He raises a furrowed brow to his host; a study of concern. "Tell me, Vista; would you say Pater is given to theatrics?"

Vista's face screws up in a thoughtful expression. "I'd say your father's got a way with words, and a sight more than the thimbleful of book-learnin' than you or I got."

Adonis smiles wryly at 'got a way with words'. He's still smiling as he sits forward and fixes Vista with the intensity of his stare. "He said, 'love you according to my bond'; what do you think he may have meant by that?"

Vista frowns, but he doesn't look away; he meets Adonis' stare squarely, the way he would a predator who was trying to decide whether to eat him. "I don't rightly know. But your father's always done right by his obligations as best he can. Maybe he figures you're man enough to look after yours--or as much as you ever will be."

Adonis sighs and drops his gaze as he places the jug on the tray. "I am tired, Vista," this time actually sounding like it, "and I must get some sleep before setting out in the morning. I need only three things before I take my leave of you: directions to where I may rest; to where I may rinse my garment before resting; and as to how much Sage knows of his ancestry."

"There'll be a boy to take you to the tent where your man is resting. Give him your clothes, and he'll get 'em clean for you, or give you new if you'd rather," Vista says, eyeing the tunic as if he doesn't think it's quite appropriate for a visit to the castle.

"The boy, he don't know anything. Your father believes if he let all the kids you sired know, they'd either get swelled heads or other folks'd coddle 'em and they'd never grow up. So it'd be no favor to tell, especially a man whose ma you'd left." And Vista's tone suggests he agrees with this strategy.

"As for you, you look like you've been drug through a knothole. Rest up, and worry about the boy in the morning."

"I do not order my worries as to a schedule, Vista. Either something is a concern or it is not." Adonis shrugs. "It is not fitting for another man to wash my garment. If you would be so kind as to provide the directions I have requested, it will be but the work of a few minutes for me to rinse it and leave it to dry for the morning.

"If you have something against this mode of action, then I shall have to search the camp for such facilities myself. If the truth is that you have no dedicated facility for the ablution of garments, then I shall have to find a suitable water course, but I have always thought Pater regarded hygiene highly."

Adonis knuckles the side of his head, behind one eye, world weary as well as physically tired. He can't see why this should be an issue for the ranger, but his stubborn streak is showing again.

[Assuming Vista complies]

"Thank you Vista! For everything! Despite our differences, I trust you know I respect you. I am very glad that Pater has someone so reliable to fall back on in these times."

[And Adonis takes his leave to go wash clothes, himself and sleep wherever he's put.]

A runner--not Sage, but another youth--leads Adonis to the tent he will share with Luke. Luke has obviously been fed and cared for, and he has fresh garments. He is asleep in a camp bed. There is a basin and pitcher, both made of wood, for Adonis to clean and refresh himself with. A second camp bed has been made for Adonis, although there is enough room for him to pull off the bedding and sleep on the rug that serves as a tent floor.

Adonis is happy to sleep on a bed. He can sleep just about anywhere.

He washes but before hitting tha sack, he says his prayers. Among which, he asks his mother to offer every assistance to his sister. He also remembers his father, brother and Vista before finally asking for his mother's blessing on tomorrow's journey.

Adonis sleeps long, and awakens refreshed, but with fragments of disturbing dreams in his mind. He vaguely remembers a woman crying for the death of her son. It's not his mother, and he doesn't remember the woman as being among his many lovers, but the scene was upsetting.

There is bread and cheese and small beer for Adonis and Luke set on a platter just inside the tent. Next to it is a bundle containing Adonis' tunic and some other clothing, which Adonis guesses is more Amber-appropriate. There is a second bundle with new things for Luke.

From the sound of the birds and the fall of the light, Adonis believes it is morning.

He pokes his nose out of the tent. He wants to make sure Sage knows he and Luke are breaking their fast. If Sage is immediately available, he'll be invited to join them. Otherwise, hopefully a message can be sent to him. Adonis wants to make sure the three set off together.

He serves Luke himself, asking after his health, checking his recovery, etc.

Presumably, the three men are ready to start soon after breakfast.

Adonis wears his robe. Perhaps the spare clothes may come in useful for Luke.

They are. Luke can ride, and walk some, but he tires easily. After an easy morning's ride/walk, the three arrive at the edge of Arden, far in the distance, Kolvir nestles Amber like a mother nestles a child in her arms. The sight is impressive, although the missing tower from the castle still seems wrong.

Adonis has never visited the castle but he has been a frequent visitor to the City and he's seen this view many times before. The last time about a decade or so ago. He scrutinises the castle long and carefully but makes no comment about the altered appearance. Neither of his two companions can know how deeply disturbed he is to see the damage.

In the near ground is what looks like a farmsite. It cuts into the forest as if there's been some clearing done. There are a cluster of houses nearby, all, like this one seem abandoned. At least one was burned some time ago, although the site seems to have been cleaned up.

"Wind Grove," Sage names it and spits on the ground. "They killed a Ranger here."

"They?" asks Adonis, still focusing on Kolvir.

"City people. Refugees from the Sundering."

Adonis nods. "People in fear do things they might otherwise not. What was the name of the ranger?"

"Badger. He was the first Ranger I ever knew who got kilt by people."

"You knew him well?"

"No, not well. He was a Ranger," Sage says simply.

"When those we love are harmed by strangers, it is natural to feel some enmity toward those responsible. It is a test of character to do the right thing in such circumstances, which is sometimes to go against our natural instincts.

"But the real test comes when those we love are harmed by others whom we also love." Adonis rubs his chin thoughfully, his gaze inward.

Sage says nothing.

"When my sis...", begins Adonis, voicing his inward thoughts, but then shakes his head brusquely as he changes his mind; inward thoughts should remain inward. "It is no matter. If this place holds bad memories for you, we shall press on with despatch."

Summary: Luke didn't think much of the Rangers until he lived in the forest without them. Sage thinks most city people are fine, unless they mess with Rangers, but he's egalitarian: anyone who can become a Ranger is OK. Luke might be Ranger material, and he's with you, the Warden's son, so a certain benefit of the doubt is available. Not overly much though, because Sage is young and sure of himself.