A/N: Posted 2 chapters in 1 go! So if you read this and are lost - go read chapter 7!
"A coup," Anur shook his head as they walked out of the infirmary, Jakyr and Devek already deep in an exchange of news and gossip. The soldiers' work, for the moment at least, was done. They'd see one or both of them in a few days. "I know you were expecting one, but I still think it's crazy. Lightning, Kir. And a massive statue and a Firecat and no altar fires needing to be lit this year – why would anyone try and go up against that?"
"Because it'd be easy enough to fake all of that," Kir shrugged, before correcting, "Well, not the Firecat, but that is such a recent development rumors have probably haven't even gotten out of the District yet."
:I wouldn't be so sure of that. The speed of gossip is not to be underestimated,: Kari replied dryly, Anur chuckling and relaying it to Kir mentally, his brother rolling his eyes before saying, "Point."
"A major factor in how quiet it's been within the District is the simple fact that the Midwinter Re-Igniting is the most attended High Holy Day within Sunhame," Kir continued to explain as they reached the chapel. "So everyone who is anyone attends – which means most of those who would challenge Solaris personally witnessed her Ascending Miracle – and probably had plenty of time to check with mage-sight for any trickery. After her Ascent, I don't think anyone dared leave, so they will also have seen the sorts of reforms she's making and now they'll have started to hear about Hansa."
"So then who's behind this?" Anur asked, waving his hand around in an idly all-encompassing gesture, shutting the door behind them, "If the more powerful ones we weren't able to check out aren't behind it."
"They may very well be supporting it, or even be figureheads of one faction or another, but those doing the work are, most likely, disgruntled summoners who've found that their major avenue of power – Fury summoning – is now cut off. They'll be able to pull in other supporters, both mages and not, but what it boils down to is a group of middling powered individuals who want to be more powerful than they are, fancying themselves terrifying forces of wonder and awe, who have now been told that they are, in fact, not, and they need to go back to the ordinary priestly duties they've scorned for so long," Kir's tone grew increasingly sour as he went on, and Anur couldn't blame him. That was not the sort of attitude one expected in a priest – at least not a good one – and with how desperately happy Kir was to perform anything approaching 'ordinary priestly duties' he definitely wouldn't have any sympathy for these idiots.
"Brother Calais," Kir said abruptly, turning and looking towards the sacristy. Anur was actually surprised to find the other priest still awake. It was some marks after they'd arrived and it'd been rather late when they'd received Loshern's message.
The man jumped slightly, even though he'd obviously been waiting for them to come back, rising to his feet and staring at Kir with a wry sort of wonder, "So you're the one I've been failing to measure up to."
"Ah," Kir gave a soft laugh, "The Senior Lieutenant was not subtle, I take it?"
"Oh he was subtle enough," Calais waved it off, gaze cutting between the three of them now, apparently still unable to decide who he wanted to keep an eye on the most. Anur found it amusing he measured up to Kari and Kir in that respect – was it because he was an Enforcer, or because he was an unknown soldier? He doubted Calais had Loshern's attitude towards the Sunsguard, not if he'd been working here as a chaplain for any length of time, but the distrust between the Sunsguard and priesthood Kir had run up against was definitely not only one-way.
"It's something of a game of mine, you see, to see if I can guess how I compare to the previous chaplain with the transfers," Calais shrugged, "And so far, I've done rather well for myself. I don't connect with the men particularly well, but I stay out of their way and that seems to be enough. Senior Lieutenant Koshiro is certainly not the first to seek me out outside of mandated encounters to get a feel for me, as it were, but he's the first where I've come out feeling like I was measured against some impossibly high standard."
:Not impossibly high,: Anur refuted immediately, wanting to kick the man for that comment. Kir may have never mentioned the fear, but he knew Kir worried about others, about the other Firestarters in particular, comparing themselves to him in some way and finding themselves unable to measure up simply because he'd been living as a treasonous heretic for years.
They hadn't betrayed the leader of their nation in thought or deed, and while in this case that was morally reprehensible, people shouldn't feel they were failures for not taking that path.
:Fantastically amazing, I'll grant you,: he continued, hoping to prod Kir into viewing this as another amusing sideline than some comment on the example he was setting.
:Oh stop with your flattery,: Kir retorted, mental voice clearly fond so Anur would take it. :I'm not that easily guilt-stricken, though I will need to pull Koshiro aside at some point and speak with him, particularly if he wants to continue in the Sunsguard and become a captain himself.:
:All right, I see your point there,: Anur admitted, :Though we'll have to agree to disagree about your guilt-complex.:
:It's not a complex, it's a healthy understanding of my actions' consequences!:
:Healthy? There is nothing healthy about - :
"He really shouldn't have even made the comparison," Kir said aloud, cutting off Anur's mental response and while he could continue his rant, and usually would, right now they were both tired enough that crossing their conversations was entirely possible and too risky for any temporary amusement that might be gained.
"Our situations are so far removed from one another – the 62nd was beset with near continuous supply woes with everything from food to medicine to reinforcements, so the needs of the unit quickly outstripped the official and usual duties of the chaplain," Kir shrugged and summed up his actions with a simple, "So I simply helped where I could."
"Did you actually fight alongside them? Koshiro has made a few idle comments about the usefulness of being able to defend oneself with steel while I've been around," Calais elaborated, "It is not something that people consider necessary for priests, so I found it interesting he would even bring it up."
"Of course," Kir offered a smile and was quick to assure him, "But that was a personal choice on my part – when I was first assigned in the 62nd I had some basic weapons training already and simply continued with it. It wasn't until recent years that I actually fought alongside them though; I was not trusted that much until they were truly desperate."
"Yes, I can imagine it would be particularly difficult for one of your Order," Calais hesitated before finally bowing to them and saying, "I thank you for the discussion, and I would love to speak with you further about your experiences as a chaplain, but it is very late – or early, if you would rather – and while my duties are simple enough, I believe you have far more demanding schedules."
"I look forward to continuing our discussion," Kir said honestly, a true smile on his face as he returned the gesture and exchanged farewell blessings with the man, "Perhaps in a few weeks when things in Sunhame have settled again."
Kari yowled and Anur held his arms out, the cat quickly leaping up into them. He found it rather odd that the Firecat seemed to gravitate towards him rather than Kir, but he wasn't going to complain. Kari's fur was incredibly soft and it was more than a little relaxing, especially when they'd been surrounded by the Firestarters all day, to just stroke his fur.
There were occasional moments when the enormity of what he was doing hit him. So much of it just rolled one into the other that he got caught up in the flow of events, didn't really think about what was going on in any great detail. But when he could pause for a breath, when things caught up with him – well. The gibbering panicked breakdown hadn't hit yet, but he had a feeling it was coming. If petting Kari helped set that back a few more days, he'd take it.
Kir's arm settled around his shoulders as his other hand tangled in Kari's fur, and there were flames all around them. Anur had to close his eyes, he had kept them open the first time and it had only been Kir's arm around his shoulders and his solid presence in his mind that kept him from freaking out – it wouldn't have been a full panic, but it still wouldn't have been pretty. They didn't feel like Kir's contained flames, or have any crackling presence to them like real fires did; they just felt like a warm breeze, but visually it was still frightening.
:Well,: Kari said, Anur opening his eyes and relaxing as he recognized the room he and Kir were sharing, :If you will excuse me, there is a nightmare I need to go help soothe.:
"If there is anything I can do, please don't hesitate to tell me," Kir said immediately, Kari having apparently spoken directly to him at that point. Eventually, Anur had a feeling Kir was just going to accept that Kari was going to speak to him and just hope that Kari didn't talk too often. So far, the Cat didn't seem much of a conversationalist, so at least there was that.
The Cat butted his head against Kir's hand, still resting on his fur, and purred, saying, :Brother, you are doing more than enough.:
"For Solaris, for the nation, maybe," Kir conceded with a nod, "But for my Firestarters? No, I don't think I'm doing near enough."
Kari simply gave him a long look before he vanished from Anur's arms in another curl of false-breeze flame. The last dregs of tension faded from Anur's shoulders at that and he gave a happy sigh, "That means we can sleep. Right? Kir, if you say we have to go do something else now – "
His very serious warning was interrupted by Kir's laughing shove, Kir saying obediently, "We have nothing else to do. We can sleep… for the few marks we have left."
"A few marks is better than no marks," Anur said, pulling his boots and armor off while Kir headed for the privy, "And I'll just keep telling myself that."
***===***pagebreak***===***
A few marks had been more than enough, and if Kir were the suspicious sort, he'd wonder if Kari or some other well-meaning enchanter had anything to do with just how rested they felt after a mere handful of marks' sleep. He had plenty of experience with exhaustion and the amount of sleep they'd gotten was that insidious amount where it was enough to keep you moving, but also make your body crave more.
As it was, he took the well-rested feeling as given and gave silent thanks during the Sun Ascending service that morning. He was getting better.
"Your Incandescence – "
"Not you too, Jaina," Kir interrupted, Anur snickering as they turned to face her. Her forcibly bland expression cracked and a faint trace of the girl he remembered learning alongside showed in her rueful smile.
"I suppose," she said, "that fourteen years wouldn't have changed your distaste for titles."
"Certainly not fourteen years as a chaplain," he agreed, "Eldest, sister. That is title enough, if you truly must."
"I must," Jaina said, inclining her head slightly. "You may not appreciate formalities, but they must be observed. Particularly by me."
He was about to refute that, when the words caught in his throat and he instead sighed. She was right; at the moment, with only other Firestarters to deal with and Kari and the changing robes to indicate divine favor at his own ascent, it wasn't a problem. But once it was no longer confined to the Firestarters – which would be any day now, he was certain – those looking for weaknesses would jump on any perceived resentment.
And Jaina, as the one who'd lost the most power, was the one who'd be watched the most carefully.
"See, you haven't forgotten all of it," she said with a quiet laugh, "That is something of a relief. I wanted to let you know we've been able to get Etrius, Maltin and Rodri away from their minders for the day. When would you care to speak with them?"
"As soon as they arrive," Kir replied promptly. He had hoped to get the three youngest of the Order out of the way yesterday but there had been difficulties in communication after the Conclave had been not-quite dissolved. "Also, I'm afraid simply assuming that everyone will go along with the reforms is not enough anymore. Our hand has been forced and I must know how far I can trust each member of the Order in that respect."
Jaina stiffened and her eyes went wide, "How do you plan to answer that question?"
"A truth compulsion," Kir replied frankly, "Applied individually and privately, so Anur and I will be the only ones to hear their responses."
"You intend for your Enforcer to be present?" she asked, non-plussed and casting Anur a sidelong glance.
Best to nip that in the bud now. Kir let his expression drop into his once habitual blandly forbidding cast and said shortly, "Anur speaks for me. It would be difficult for him to do so if he did not have access to the same information I did, don't you agree?"
Jaina looked startled at the sudden shift in tone and glanced between the two of them. Anur gave her a cheerful smile that didn't carry to his eyes, which only served to unnerve her further if Kir had to guess. "I understand," she finally said, even though she very clearly didn't, "And will offer no further challenges in that respect."
"Thank you," Kir said with a polite frigidness. "Now, if the acolytes are not here yet, would you care to get the questioning out of the way?"
"Yes, I suppose that would be efficient," she replied faintly, almost visibly shaking herself back into focus and asking more confidently, "Where would you care to have the conversation?"
"Perhaps the small meeting room off the other corridor?" he suggested, Jaina agreeing as if she'd had a choice and even leading the way.
:Seemed a little harsh. And this compulsion is actually the truth spell, second stage, I assume?:
:I believe she was under the impression she would become my right hand and second, as she is the only other First Order Firestarter. And yes, if that is all right. My apologies I didn't ask first, it only just occurred to me.:
:…She won't be? And of course.:
:Thank you. And she might take that role, within the Order or even within Sunhame. But I wanted it established that she is not to issue you orders – if anything, you are her superior.:
:That won't cause problems down the line?:
:If it does, I would not want her in any command position within the Order anyways,: Kir said shortly.
If they could not respect Anur, they could leave.
Given, he probably could have timed that dressing-down so that it didn't take place right before he insulted her intelligence and loyalty by demanding she answer questions under a truth compulsion he hadn't even offered any details on.
At least the others hadn't witnessed it. This was going to be bad enough as it was.
:I don't suppose Kari is available?:
:He is dismayed you thought you even had to ask.:
By the time the not-quite interrogations were over, Kari's presence had been much appreciated. Even with the Firecat looking on, he'd needed to provide some dramatic fire effects and exercise his authority as Incendiary five times to keep some from storming out of the room the moment he mentioned a truth compulsion, put out seven fires and actually bind Laskaris to a chair with cords of flame. Thankfully, he'd been impressed enough by that skill – and worried enough about his skin – that he stopped shouting and let them finish the questioning.
"Well, that was enlightening," Anur said with forced cheer, rubbing at his temples. "At least none of them are actually involved in this coup or even willing to be."
"I didn't think they would, none of them seem to have the motivation for it," Kir snorted, "Somehow we've managed to get a Firestarting Order utterly devoid of ambition – and I don't think it's solely due to shock."
He shook his head, leaning against the arm of the chair Anur tossed himself into, feeling rather disbelieving about the whole thing. He had hoped that the Firestarters' isolation had kept them removed from any political influences that would put them in direct conflict with Solaris, but for there to only be one that professed any disbelief or disdain for her reforms?
And even with Laskaris, who didn't see how witch-powers could be anything but evidence of wickedness and saw no reason to cease the summoning of Furies – he had no intention to ever act on it. He was perfectly willing to abide by the new rulings, to simply follow them, even though he did not agree at all. It was strange, really. It seemed too easy.
But then he'd thought about it, and it made a sickening sort of sense. So much of the evil in the world was simply because people looked the other way, assumed someone else could deal with it – here in particular. How much of the priesthood's descent was due to apathy? Was due to priests and priestesses simply shrugging and adjusting to the new rulings without thinking about them, without wondering why – and if they did wonder, if they did question, they never did anything about it. That apathy worked both ways – just as they did not care enough to bring about change, nor did they care enough to stop or challenge the change when it came.
It was a strange thing to witness, because that was how Kir had thought he was, had thought he felt. He had never intended to change the country, to beome a revolutionary, but even when he'd been keeping his head down in the 62nd he'd acted – maybe only where he could get away with it, where he could simply avoid decisions he knew were wrong, turned the other way when adherence to the Rule went against his conscience – but he had still acted.
"I thought I had been apathetic," he finally said, Anur snorting and poking him in the side, saying, "Please. You were never apathetic, Kir. If you'd been that you would never have even bothered to think that what you were doing was wrong. You're mistaking caution, resignation, for apathy."
"I suppose," Kir temporized, still finding the dichotomy odd. He'd simply – done what he hoped would allow him to sleep at night without screams echoing in his mind.
Shaking off the strange mood that had overtaken him, he cast a worried look Anur's way and asked, "How are you doing, by the way?"
"The headache's not bad," Anur waved him off and Kir was tempted to let it lie with that but he couldn't. Not with his brother.
"Good, but aside from that," Kir replied, knowing he wouldn't need to elaborate further. Anur noticeably hesitated, clearly thinking it over before relaxing and offering Kir a weary sort of smile.
"I'm doing all right," Anur said, "It's – strange. And when I actually remember just where we are I get a little short of breath, but I can manage until this coup is settled for sure. Getting a chance to leave the District will tide me over."
"If you can't – you don't need to stay," Kir corrected himself, knowing full well Anur was capable of ignoring his own needs and mental distress for long enough to manage Sunhame. But that didn't mean he should.
Anur laughed and got to his feet, clapping an arm around Kir's shoulders and pulling him up into a half-embrace, saying, "Of course I don't! But neither do you, and you're staying. I'm not leaving Kir, not after all the work we've put into this. I'm seeing this through."
"Besides," he said after a few moments' comfortable silence, tilting his head to rest his brow against Kir's, "Safest place in Karse is standing next to you. Now let's go, I think we've given them long enough to rant and rave at the injustice of our truth spell."
Kari had happily provided a scapegoat and actually had informed them halfway through the questioning that Firecats had a very similar ability they called the Tell Me True spell – and it was essentially identical to the Heraldic second-stage truth spell, with all the same weaknesses and limitations. Of course by that point Anur and Aelius had been on a roll so had simply finished out the interrogations themselves, but it was useful knowledge to have.
Hopefully, with that excuse in the wings, he'd never actually need to search for the truth compulsion Cristan had found. While it sounded useful, he doubted he'd ever be able to bring himself to even consider actually using it.
"Kari says they're lurking in the kitchens," Anur relayed, opening the door into the hall and wincing at the sunlight streaming in from the courtyard. The room they'd been using had only stained glass windows, so the light had been less harsh on the eyes. "Don't suppose you brought any of your headache tea with you?"
"Never leave our room without it," Kir replied, pulling the wax-paper packet out of his belt-pouch; any cutpurses would be very disappointed with the tea and string he kept in there. He'd added pockets to the inner lining of the armored vest he'd claimed soon after his arrival in the 62nd – not that he'd actually had authorization for any such thing – and kept anything approaching real value there. Passing Anur one of the sachets before he put the packet of teas away, he joked, "Between headache tea and prodka, I can cure anything."
"Or kill it with fire," Anur teased, bumping shoulders with him as they crossed the courtyard to the kitchen's side-door.
"But of course," Kir snorted, noting that through the window, thick-paned though it was, the group looked reasonably calm. He probably had Kari to thank for that – the Cat had left with Fabron, the last of the Firestarters to be questioned. At least they probably wouldn't be facing steel and fire the moment they walked through the door.
All conversations died when they walked into the room, Kari seeming to preside over the gathering with how he was sitting on one end of the long table. Kir walked over to stand next to the Cat, taking the time to let his gaze drag across attempting-to-be-bland faces that still weren't quite enough to cover up nervousness. Laskaris, understandably, seemed the most on edge along with Lumira, strangely enough. He'd have to keep an eye on her.
"I cannot apologize for subjecting you to questioning in that manner," Kir said finally, "Though I can wish it had not been necessary. Given all your answers, I can at least inform you that the coup we all knew was likely has entered the active stages."
Most of them gained grim expressions to mirror his own, Jaina asking, "And what are we expected to do?"
"Stay out of the way," Kir replied shortly, shrugging and elaborating, "Should any of you want to assist, that would be appreciated. But my primary concern was that Anur and I will be leaving this afternoon to deal with a problem Loshern brought to our attention, which means we will not necessarily be here when the coup's in-District branch begins to make active preparations."
"So you needed to ensure none of us were involved, or planned to become involved," Colbern grimaced, "And obviously, none of us do."
"Which is a relief," Kir nodded and for a moment, he hesitated, not sure if his threat even needed to be stated. But at the same time, they would all assume his threat existed, so perhaps if he actually said it, they would be less paranoid about a strike in the dark for violating some random whim of his?
"And though I doubt this even needs to be said, I would rather have it stated clearly so there is no chance for misunderstandings," Kir continued, careful to meet every one of the Firestarters' eyes as he spoke, "If I find that one of you has contrived to act against Solaris, in this coup or in some future endeavor, I will kill you myself."
"…And on that cheerful note, anyone want tea? I promise, I won't poison it," Anur said into the silence that followed Kir's less-than-friendly declaration, passing Kir two mugs of water, one with the headache tea sachet and one that was simple water, undoubtedly so Kir could add one of his own tea bags to it. Excellent, he'd been craving mint.
"I think we'll pass, thank you," Colbern chuckled, Anur shrugging and dropping into a chair. Kir sighed and passed Anur freshly heated tea before finally sitting down himself, pulling out a mint tea sachet for his own mug.
"And here I was, about to accept the offer," Lumira laughed, pushing back from the table and heading for the cupboards herself. "Laskaris? Fabron?"
"Why not?"
"Where will you be going, then? And who is Loshern – that black-robe friend of yours, Kavrick?" Jaina asked, Kari padding over to her and sprawling in front of her so she could pet him.
"Yes," Kavrick nodded, "He came to me yesterday evening with a message from some chaplain for Father Kir – something about a bishra in Almondale? That would be linked to the coup somehow, I assume?"
"Indeed," Kir grimaced, "Which is why we will be going there. The chaplain was for the 35th, in the Oakrich's, and a lieutenant from the 174th rode in to speak with their Senior Lieutenant – they both served with us in the 62nd. He had recognized the bishra in the first place but was infected himself, so by the time he reached them he hadn't been able to speak. Thankfully the Senior Lieutenant was able to keep him stable long enough for us to reach them, with Kari's assistance. As for relating it to the coup – Almondale is too far from Hardorn's borders for the bishra to reflect that source of blood-magic. I find it more likely that disgruntled priest-mages have turned to blood for power, forming a potential two-pronged attack against Solaris."
"But you're going to ride out to Almondale?" Jaina frowned, "May I ask why?"
"Of course you can ask," Kir replied, unable to resist. She actually rolled her eyes at him, recognizing the same trick their Firestarter mentor had always pulled. At least some of her forced formality was fading.
"There is one thing I didn't miss," she grumbled, Kir laughing and not forcing her to ask the question again, instead answering what she'd wanted to ask.
"First, Kari is here for the entire Order, not to ferry Anur and me around the country. Secondly, our horses could use the exercise, and finally – it provides an opportunity for those plotting within the District," Kir took a sip of his tea before continuing, "I doubt any will directly approach the Firestarters, we've never been particularly involved in internal politics as an Order. But once word of my promotion to Incendiary gets out – if it hasn't already – they will know that I, at least, fully support Solaris. By leaving on horseback, they will mistakenly assume that I am out of reach for a few days at least."
"Even if they don't approach us, your absence would give us the opportunity to sound out others without them immediately assuming their answers would reach Solaris," Seras said, eyes narrowing.
"If you want to take that initiative, I would appreciate it, but I am more concerned in keeping you all out of the crossfire," Kir replied, wanting them to understand that he wasn't going to use the Order as a mere extension of his will. He would provide them guidelines, provide them boundaries, but would not force them into confrontations they truly wanted to avoid. Bitter or reluctant help could often be worse than no help at all, and they had enough to worry about.
He also now knew that one of them simply did not agree with Solaris' reforms. Many of the others had been on the fence, not having a solid opinion just yet, but able to firmly say they had nothing to do with a coup attempt and had no desire to ever be so involved. But acting directly against Solaris wasn't the only way to express dissatisfaction, just the one he could point to and explicitly forbid without worrying too much about misinterpretations.
Judging by the startled looks and exchanged glances, they hadn't expected to be free to choose their own battles, to not be used solely to advance his goals. Not surprising, given the usual manner of things in Sunhame, but hopefully something they would come to truly believe he meant.
"There will be time enough for you to go against blood-mages when Ancar makes his move," Kir continued, "There is no need for you to go out now, so soon after the priesthood and this Order in particular has been turned on its head."
"And if we want to?" Valerik spoke up, his notably average features contorted into a grimace as he continued, "Being able to sit this out is all well and good, but I would prefer my first acts against blood-mages to not be dependent on some foreigner getting his act together. Besides, we're familiar with how summoners and other priest-mages work, with how their trained. Going against them would make for a good practice run for combative Firestarting."
Kir could feel his lips twitching into a smile at Valerik's disdain for foreigners – it was common enough, but his wording and the fact he was referring to an enemy monarch – well. Anur was fairly radiating amusement, so at least he wasn't alone in that.
"Valid point," Colbern inclined his head, "They'll be conducting their own warped rites, so it won't be pitting rites against on the fly battle spell-craft, it will be a little more even. Also, they have been taught to view us as threats – psychologically speaking, that could give us an advantage."
"Or make them all the more vicious," Tristan pointed out, "But I suppose you would simply find that more entertaining."
"What form of the rites do you use? Channels, full monologues, any props?" Kir quickly redirected the conversation, a strange tension flaring between the two and their respective allies – because of course it was too much to hope for that the Order was as unified as it seemed on first blush. It was a tension that would quickly draw him in too, if his suspicion as to the origin of Tristan's bias was accurate.
Kir would be chaplain for the 62nd first and always, with Incendiary a distant third. Being Anur's brother counted as a job in itself, after all.
"For speed, I think we will all need foci of some sort," Jaina frowned, "At least until we have a chance for further practice. I use a stave, when I use a focus – which is not often. Usually simply for meditative practice."
:How do you meditate with a stave?:
:Practicing forms, sparring without an opponent – memorize the steps and moves, and your mind can disengage.:
:Ah, I see. Thanks. Easily modified for combat then.:
:Hopefully.:
"I prefer thread," Lumira spoke up, "And Fabron is most familiar with them, though he's still dabbling in others."
Fabron had evidently been her acolyte then, for her to be so familiar with his working style and for him to be so comfortable with her speaking for him. It was unusual, even with an acolyte-mentor relationship to fall back on, for a priest to be comfortable with a priestess speaking for him, or even simply instead of him.
With Solaris in power, that would likely start to change, and about time.
"Quartz," Laskaris said shortly, "Clearer the better."
"Tiger's eye for me," Henrik said, and similar statements followed. The third order Firestarters stuck with semi-precious stones and thread, both because of the low power requirements and their being relatively inexpensive. It had been the same when he had been told to choose a focus – in order to distract from the fact he'd needed no such thing, he'd chosen string.
It had allowed him to start making knotwork again; Verius, having claimed him for the priesthood in the first place, had likely realized that he was preserving memories of his family that way, but he had never spoken of it. His thirteen-year-old self had clung to that knowledge with a desperate fierceness, and it had gained Verius a staunch defender for some years.
Laskaris was the only one of the second order Firestarters to use something so simple as quartz. Valerik used beads of varying materials, from wood to true gemstones, each one for a separate cantrip and purpose – Kir was curious to see how that actually worked, he'd never seen the man perform an ignition.
Kavrick was another odd one, in that he claimed to use a stave, much like Jaina, but he hesitated afterwards, as if he were considering adding something but refrained. No one seemed much surprised that he didn't say anything further, but Valerik gave him a sharp look so it seemed he, at least, knew what he had been intending to say.
Kir let it lie though, as he had questioned them enough for one day. He would get it out of the man eventually.
Seras used quotes – from the Writ, from various Rites, from the Rule – even from histories and tales if Colbern's muttered teasing wasn't entirely jest. It was startlingly appropriate for the man, who Kir remembered almost constantly either running into or carefully avoiding within the Records Hall when he studied here.
Colbern used a battle-axe. Where exactly he had obtained said battle-axe, and exactly how he had managed to become proficient in the odd weapon's use, was a mystery. Hopefully, one day Kir would be able to ask the man and get an honest answer, but that was some years away he was sure.
"I don't suppose anyone besides Colbern has actual weapons training and experience?" Kir asked after briefly mulling over options to get them something approaching combat-ready. He didn't expect them to fight on the frontlines, but if they were going to go against Ancar's blood-mages, they needed something – and in all likelihood, if they had any enthusiasm for it at all they'd end up on the frontlines and at the least they'd have a basis to build on.
It was also something that would keep them busy while the priesthood rebuilt itself.
"I get in a lot of bar fights?" Valerik hazarded, Kavrick snorting from his seat next to him and Kir raised an eyebrow. That… was most certainly not expected.
"I go out into Sunhame in plain clothes a lot," Valerik explained with a shrug, ignoring the disapproving expression on Tristan's face and the faint sneer on Fabron's. No one else appeared to notice them, but Kir doubted that was the case; more likely this was simply a long-standing conflict. Tristan could become a problem, combining this with his apparent disdain for Colbern, possibly due to his former occupation as a chaplain. Fabron would bear watching, as he was recently promoted enough that it was entirely possible he was simply mimicking those closest to him in rank.
If he wasn't, then it was entirely possible he was echoing Lumira's opinions and just wasn't as good as she was at concealing emotions. So now he would need to keep an eye on her for that disdain for mingling with the masses.
It was also entirely possible that the two of them simply thought Valerik getting in bar fights was highly inappropriate; which it really was, all things considered, but Kir didn't have much of a leg to stand on there.
It was only his second full day as Incendiary, and he was already regretting his rejection of Anur's offer to flee to Jkatha. This was not a good sign.
"Excellent. I need to go to your bars," Anur muttered, breaking the brief tension and Kir rolled his eyes, saying, "The last thing you need is to get in bar-fights, or need I remind you of the last time that happened?"
"The last time that happened you told me to make a distraction so you could deal with that corrupt circuit judge, and we were in a tavern where people were celebrating a decision he'd made with assistance from some less-than-acceptable bribery. I don't know what sort of distraction you expected if not a bar fight," Anur retorted, referring to one of their more successful – if messy – investigations for Solaris' list.
"Oh starting the fight was fine, even expected, but breaking a platter over that man's head? Entirely unnecessary."
"He was fine!"
"We had to flee the town because his friends were literally chasing us with torches and pitchforks," Kir shook his head, "I didn't know that actually happened outside of stories. Pitchforks? They weren't even a farming settlement! Why were there that many pitchforks?"
"But that was hilarious!" Anur protested, "They were trying to set you on fire – that was their plan? Priceless!"
"We were in plainclothes Anur, they had no idea I was a Firestarter," he said flatly.
Anur paused, mouth already half-open to retort, before he sat back and thought it over, drinking some tea in the meantime, finally saying, "Point. I forgot that part. But I still found it funny."
"I know," Kir said dryly, "I'm the one that was dragging you when you were laughing too hard to run."
"Oh Sunlord," Jaina groaned, covering her eyes, "There are two of you. And Valerik. We're doomed."
"Please tell me you've been keeping records," Colbern burst, Seras casting his friend a bemused look and asking, "Isn't that supposed to be my line?"
"You want boring records no one ever actually reads about the minutes of meetings that take too long and obscure references to just who did the repair work on that ugly arch in the gardens," Colbern waved him off, "These records would actually be interesting!"
"I have been, yes," Kir offered a rueful smile, "I was reminded a couple of years ago that our efforts might be of interest to those attempting to trace Solaris' rise to power."
"Well I don't feel half so bad about my own efforts now," Valerik admitted, some tension Kir hadn't realized the man was carrying easing from his posture. Apparently he didn't comfortably sit with his shoulders that precisely square, even though he had been every time Kir saw him until now – good to know for the future. "Given, I had no particular mission that the fights were necessary for, but it provided an opportunity for intelligence and a few circuit judges within Sunhame were helped with the things I overheard."
"Fighting with weapons is… different," Kir finally said, "But you'll have something to build off of. Staves are workable, though I'd prefer you add some steel to that somehow, and as for the rest, knives are the simplest from both a basic defense and supply perspective."
"I suppose that's your primary weapon?" Colbern asked, "You carry them all the time."
"Habit," Kir shrugged, "And not one I am going to change. Yes, I primarily work with long-knives and daggers; though I have basic experience with a sword and saber, I prefer dual-wielding long-knives. But for the most part, my flames serve as my defense."
"Are your knives your foci then?" Jaina frowned, "I remember you using string…"
"Ah," Kir coughed, stalling as he tried to figure out how to explain just what it was he did – and why he had concealed his abilities for so long. "Well, I chose that because I enjoy knotwork and it was an excuse to let me practice. I don't actually use a focus at all."
"Does glancing at things count?" Anur asked idly, "You tend to glare at things when you really want them to burn. And occasionaly wave your hand in their general direction or make some gesture, though you don't really do that in fights."
"No," Kir replied, automatically elaborating, "Foci are unique tools to enhance and focus power, they're not something you use outside of the situation where you need that power. I look at things or glare without setting them alight all the time, and the gestures I use are not any special forms, they're simply indicators of direction – they focus what I'm doing, but they're not unique to my starting fires."
"Got it, thanks," Anur smiled, before raising his mug with an impish gleam in his eye, "Speaking of…"
Kir rolled his eyes but nonetheless heated his brother's tea back to steaming. The man was just going to let it cool to lukewarm again before he drank it, so there was little point besides demonstrating the fact he needed no gestures – and no flames even – in order to do a working.
"…You need no focus?" Jaina asked slowly, brow furrowing, "Your flames build that quickly? I don't – that doesn't make sense!"
"Of course it does," Kir raised an eyebrow at her, holding a hand up and sparking a flame in his palm, having it coil up and weave through his fingers in a messy tangle. "Fire is fire – why should I need complicated gestures and involved practices to warp what comes so easily? I forced myself to learn the techniques Verius taught us because standing out was dangerous, but fire was never outside of my grasp."
Jaina simply stared at him, and she wasn't the only one. She was the first to speak though, saying quietly, "I thought you had been holding back – but you were never even in the same class, were you?"
Kir shrugged uncomfortably, releasing the flames and stalling by sipping his mint tea again, finally replying, "I never truly needed the lessons Verius gave us, though they were interesting and helped me gain finer control. I don't know how much of that I can pass on to you, at least in such a short time-frame, but I hope to try."
Anur had a contemplative look on his face, but didn't speak up. He was probably discussing something with Aelius or at the least musing over some knowledge that wouldn't be believable coming from a Karsite Lieutenant-Enforcer. It would have to wait, then.
"Well then, where should we start?"
***===***pagebreak***===***
Anur only kept half his attention on the conversational debate that broke out between the Firestarters. Colbern was advocating an immediate start to weapons training, while some of the others, including Seras, seemed to be far more interested in potentially enhancing their Firestarting. Kir was simply drinking his tea and watching them talk it out, though he'd undoubtedly come up with his own ideas by now and was just seeing if anyone had something better.
The weapons-work was more urgent and more likely to actually produce results, so Anur was definitely firmly on Colbern's side in this – but his reasoning needed some work.
Oh it made perfect sense, but the presentation could be a problem. Admitting to knowing the difference between a witch-power and mage-craft, and then to even knowing that a witch-power involving flames existed – well, it would have been problematic even without the new knowledge that at least one of the Firestarters still viewed witch-powers as signs of wickedness.
:Chosen – you're calling them witch-powers,: Aelius pointed out, voice warmly amused nonetheless and Anur paused, working through his thoughts before mentally snorting. Aelius was right, of course, and it was probably a good habit to have since he was living in Karse and now living in Sunhame, but still.
:Any ideas? I thought Kir had realized that he had a Gift, like Griffon, and enhanced it with mage-power, but if he thinks he can teach these Firestarters his techniques…:
:I think he knows it, but doesn't quite know it, if that makes any sense. He's obviously aware that what he does is different from everyone else here, but perhaps not to the extent that it's not just a different perspective on fire and flame, it's a different source of power entirely.:
:That follows – it's not like we've spent much time worrying about technicalities of Firestarting or teaching others,: Anur said ruefully, taking a sip of his tea and restraining the urge to make a face. It was far too hot again, but he'd wanted to provide Kir with a convenient demonstration of his techniques and something of a springboard, so he'd just have to suffer through too-hot tea.
He'd just pretend he'd stolen it from Kir, who always drank his tea near-scalding. That would make it easier to ignore.
:Kir, what are we doing with the acolytes?: Anur asked, dragging his brother into the conversation. It wasn't like there were any new ideas coming up in the Firestarters' discussion, so there was no need for him to simply sit and watch.
:I really just want to introduce myself and ensure they actually want to be within the Firestarting Order, even with our changed duties. Also, I think it might be useful to have them move into the Hall itself – particularly if we have a coup coming.:
:It would probably be more secure, true,: Anur agreed, :Well that shouldn't take very long then.:
:Hopefully not – I would like to see Axeli again, after all.:
:So, act like nothing has changed.:
:Precisely. Ideally, we can simply ride out this afternoon and pass it off as a habit of ours to go out for rides every few days.:
:…Can we make that a habit?:
:Of course.:
Kari's voice entered the conversation then, saying, :I believe the acolytes have assembled in the library.:
Anur quickly relayed that to Kir, who inclined his head slightly and sent a wordless thread of gratitude in response before rising to his feet and saying, "Seras and Kavrick, you are the mentors for our two acolytes?"
"Indeed," Seras looked up, startled, "You want us there?"
"An introduction would be appropriate," he replied dryly, Anur hiding a smile in his mug. Kir undoubtedly realized that with their recent interrogations, any mentor worth their name would be worried about the two of them questioning their students. Concerns about pressuring the acolytes into staying against their will could be addressed later, if they even needed to be.
Seras and Kavrick didn't question it further and led the way to the record's hall, eager to see their students. Probably also eager to give them some warning as far as their new leader went.
:So this discussion, then head to the forges?:
:We need to alert Solaris to the situation first.:
:…I forgot about that.:
:I did too – a comment Henrik made reminded me,: Kir's mental voice was swamped with rueful amusement, :We're a little too used to working alone, I think.:
:At least with Hansa and Kari, should we need it, we can deliver near instantaneous updates. I'll be honest, that message delivery speed is the thing I miss most about Valdemar.:
:Not that we've had messages to deliver until now,: Kir pointed out, :Delays and slow messages have worked to our advantage for years.:
:True. Why isn't scrying more utilized then? What Calais did? It'd be dead useful, we're evidence enough of that,: Anur asked, genuinely curious. One of Valdemar's biggest advantages was relatively instantaneous communication between the capital and anywhere else with the right Herald-Companion pair. Between Fetching and Mindspeech, they could handle all sorts of emergency communications.
:It's not as… easy, as Mindspeech,: Kir's hesitation before the word easy was heavy with a wry sort of irony. Mindspeech wasn't easy, not for him, and while Anur fairly burned with curiousity about what could have traumatized him so badly – given where they were, the possibilities he could think of were all horrific enough he was somewhat relieved he didn't know.
Because every time he thought nothing more could startle him, could make him cringe, he learned of some new absently accepted atrocity.
The fact that those discoveries were matched, if not surpassed, by things he'd never have imagined finding comforting, becoming fond of – it meant he'd never come to regret the somewhat spontaneous decision of his to join the Sunsguard.
:We'll see if that attitude holds when this all gets out northwards,: Aelius commented dryly, :We're getting deeper into this mess of confidentiality every day.:
:We can probably work out something to send northwards,: Anur said doubtfully, following Kir into the record's hall and shutting the door behind them.
:Back with us?: Kir asked dryly and Anur shot him a sheepish look, saying, :Apologies. Got distracted.:
:I wouldn't worry about it,: Kir's voice was clearly amused even though his expression was bland, :I get distracted just as easily on occasion. We'll discuss scrying later.:
:I do not get distracted easily!: Anur said indignantly, that indignation only growing at the amused and doubtful silence from his two mental links.
:Oh, you two are conspiring against me now? I should never have encouraged you two to speak without me as a middleman,: Anur grumbled, Aelius and Kir both laughing at him and he suppressed a smile.
Occasionally where he was struck him and he had to lock down on a surge of panic. But just as often, there were moments like this when who his best friend and brother was hit him and everything just seemed so much brighter.
Because if a Herald and a Firestarter could call each other brother, could call each other friend, after hundreds of years of enmity – what else could change?
"Father Kir!" Rodri was clearly delighted to see them again, turning his smile to Anur and greeting, "Lieutenant-Enforcer, it's good to see you again. Can we still go to the forges today?"
Kir nodded, a small smile on his face and from the bemused wonder Anur could sense, the fact that anyone within the District would be genuinely pleased to see him, with no underlying wariness or fear was incredible to him.
One day, Anur vowed, Kir would no longer be stunned when someone smiled at him, when they failed to shy away from his robes or his title.
One day, Anur would see his brother minister a wedding.
