Tentative Talking

JP with Winteroak and Bandorchu

He watched as Alexis Greyriver walked towards the abandoning domed building he had chosen for their encounter. The mood in the city was still tense and convoluted but there was a sense of hope now. In less than half a day, three Penitents had emerged from the desert claiming to have received The Call. Claiming to follow in the footsteps that the first Seer had taken almost two thousand years ago.

Sometimes and he truly thought about the immensity of the deed his mind swam. Two thousand years of unbroken lineage from Sister Locust to Sister Locus. The complexities of the Ritual and the will of the Twins span eras with only one constant. It was hard to grasp sometimes. Agizul knew it was only faith really that allowed for the faithful to claim to understand and accept it.

She was alone. Or seemed to be. Part of him thought she would not have risked it. Another part of him could not deny Tamazzalt warnings and conspiracies. The Helians were in the Holy City. Their agents were afoot and he needed to find out more. Why were they here now? Were they moving before the war came? Were they here to strike at the heart of their realm and faith?

He greeted her as she approached, with a smile that could not fully hide his trepidation. He needed to know how she had come to know of secrets long forgotten by most Ozainae.

"I wasn't sure you would come, Alexis Greyriver." He said truthfully.

Alexis inclined her head in greeting.

“Likewise, Agizul, Water-Bearer of Yther.”

If he insisted on invoking her full name each time he addressed her, so would she.

“Yet here we both are.”

She regarded the priest for a moment. Clearly, he was just as tense as she was. She wondered what he hoped to gain from this.

"I feel compelled to know ore of your quest." He said truthfully sitting on the ground that was covered in sand asking her to sit opposites him. "I cannot but note that for the first time ever in 5 years Helians seemed to be active in our city, at the dawn of our most scared ritual."

Alexis followed his invitation and sat cross-legged, looking back at Agizul.

“If there are other Helians in the city right now, I do not know of them. I had a companion, but we got separated on the way…”
she answered quietly.

“But I agree there is… a lot coming together here. Ever felt like being carried away by a forceful current?”

She shook her head. Man wasn’t here to here to listen to her musings.

“I already spoke of it yesterday. There seems to be part of an ancient relic of Fang hidden here, somewhere. I am to find it and bring it back.“

She searched his eyes for a moment.

“What do you hope to learn, Agizul? You’d be a fool to believe a word I say, wouldn’t you?”

He nodded. Indeed he would. But somehow, despite knowing they were on different sides of a coming war, he felt he could trust her at least for now, despite not knowing how to explain it.

"What is your interest in the Brotherhood? They too have become more active of late i our city. " He asked not wanting to speak of the forbidden symbol she had drawn. At least not yet

“From what I have learned I believe they might have leads where to find what I seek. Because it seems they were responsible for breaking the relic apart in the first place.”

Alexis explained to the best of her abilities.

“Will you tell me about them?”

He nodded. "The Brotherhood is old, older than the Priesthood of the Twins. When the first Seer emerged from her Pilgrimage they were the only sect of the Ozainae that for reasons now lost to time, resented the emergence of a Spiritual Leader to our people." He started. "Most scholars believe it was due to the fact that the First Sister Locust was Odonine by birth. Myself I was never convinced that is the only reason." He said. "At some point the staged a coup, and killed one of the first Seers. They have been outlawed throughout the centuries with a few exception where we have tried to integrate them into our society." He shook his head. It clearly had not been very successful.

"Now they are little more than a cadre of assassins. Seeking them will be dangerous. You being here at this time is very dangerous. But it seems your presence also brought us good fortune." He said with a smile.