Silina

Jp with Omni, Lucian and Bandorchu

With both of their accounts, Tarmen saw that he was far behind them in knowledge.

“Well, if Gra’akast is gearin’ for war and the Brotherhood does their dirty work, why are they after her?”

He motioned to Silina. It was a thought that had crept in through their talk. They could have killed her like they had tried him, but the way they had attacked her didn’t match up with outright murder.

“Makes sense they would want us dead, but a few of them were pretty focused on Silina. Any thoughts?”

“They were?”

Alexis looked pensive. She didn’t have the time to observe what was happening outside of her own fight.

“Not sure. Maybe she has an idea herself?”
She offered.

“They are gearing up to something… big. And I mean aside of the war with Ostiarium. Could be she is to play a part in that, but I really wouldn’t know.”

The identity and presence of the girl was part of the inquiry that she wished to bring up, but she also wanted to confirm their suspicions about impending war.

"It may or may not surprise you to know that there is a horde of Ozainae amassing in the desert north of here. A gathering of the septs... readying to war with Ostiarium... and these dark robes were heading there to join them. With casks of eggs which I discovered were the hatchlings of giant scorpions known as Skara. On top of that, they have a blood witch... and the cryomancer. Those things aside... Who is this Ozainae girl? How and why did she save your life?"

Voah did not realize the girl was responsible for conjuring the dust storm that allowed them all to get away.

Tarmen hadn’t put much thought into the why, assuming it had been a matter of convenience. Allies of circumstance.

“She can control the sands, used it to great effect to help me kill the Brotherhood that had enslaved me. Her name is Silina, she was almost killed by them when she was on her pilgrimage and we made a tense acquaintance since then.”

He had forgotten that tidbit as well. Every time she had been around these black robes, they had sought her life. He looked to Alexis, knowing she had seen their work.

“The Brotherhood were the ones killin’ travelers in the sands.”

“So she was a candidate to become Sister Locust…?”

Alexis glanced at the young woman again.

“… that might be a strike in the ‘they still have plans for her’ category.”

Tarmen nodded to confirm.

“That’s where I thought you had been chosen. Talk of a foreigner being the new Prophetess traveled fast and I didn’t know anyone else was here.”

More of the pieces locked into place. The dead girls in the desert whom the Ozainae blamed on Helians, a pilgrimage, the Immortal Prophetess... Islana... That was the most bizarre piece and the hardest to fit into the puzzle.

Voah stood up, glaring at Silina, debating what she should do about it. The girl couldn't even be in her 20s, but Voah was in no condition to fight anyone, let alone some young witch.

"First the Creed... now a witch... foreign Gods? Islana? Fuck."

The moment Voah stood, so did Alexis. Positioning herself between the girl and her.

“A witch that saved our lifes.”
she said and her tone was calm, but sharp.

“I thought you weren’t Inquisition anymore?”

The mercenary had a point. She had left the Inquisition, but there was more to it. It was complicated.

"My hatred for the maleficium goes deeper than the Inquisition... but you are right..."

Voah was now understanding that the whirlwind was Silina's doing. She sat back down and turned away from the witch and over to Gonyaul's sleeping form.

Tarmen was glad she could be talked down, being in no mood for a scuffle. He ran his hand over his growing stubble, already tired from all of this.

“She seems to hold a similar outlook on us. Begrudgin’ allies. She could have slit my throat any night we were in the desert and she didn’t. If she chooses, I would want her to join us, though it was something I would have brought up later.”