NeoTiamat wrote:"You... you knew about all of this?" Remy breathed. "Why didn't you tell us?! Some of us might've liked to know that our own professor was part of a secret society or that we were traveling with a werewolf!" Remy hissed, venom in his voice, glaring at Lia with a palpable hatred. "You knew we were just pawns and you just...!"
"Yes Remy, people keep secrets. Congratulations on this discovery." Sebastian said mildly. Remy subsided, though there was a sadness in his voice. The Richemuloise professor continued. "You still haven't explained yourself, Miss Mournswaithe. Please do."
"Yes, I found these things out and kept them a secret," Lia says. "Yes, I did. I was assured by several knowledgeable authorities that the secret organization
kills people who find out about it, and in a particularly unpleasant manner.
If you recall, Lassard, there was a time when I tried to apologize for what I had done to you. I was
this close to telling you ... and decided not to. I had - have - no particular desire to put you in that kind of danger, not when I had no real certainty as to whom on this expedition was involved with the organization and who was not. That 'which is more important' than trusting you with such frightful knowledge, was simply a desire to keep you under the organization's line of sight and out of danger. I am sure you can find it in your heart to hate me for that, but I will not regret trying to keep you out of harm's way when I still could."
Lia turns her back on the rest of the room to sip more nectar, but continues to speak.
"Whatever Jervis is, it seemed unpleasantly obvious that he is bad news in many ways. The werewolf bit is just added sauce to a rather bad roast ... and I did not know whether he was human or other. All I had to go on in that respect was his odd reflection in the Near Ethereal, where he resembles a black dragon.
One of the reasons I did not bandy all of this information about, is that I was hoping to play the Dilisnyas against the organization; it seemed the sensible thing to do.
I thought the Dilisnyas, as mercenaries, could be persuaded, bribed if you will. As for your so kindly formulated request, Marchand-Renier, the Dilisnya made it quite obvious that any deal which included him, would also have to include Lilith. We were close to having an arrangement, but I suppose the Lorelei's blessing trumped what cards I had to play in one fell swoop."
Lia turns back to the room, her glass drained to the dregs. "I gambled," she says quietly, "I lost. I have no excuses for that. I am ... rather new at this game of maneuvering and dealing."
The Wizard sighs and turns a brief
look on Charles, but then shrugs and goes for broke: "Confessions, confessions ... Most of you know about my
delightful family situation by now. If my father has not already made arrangements to end my life, then surely he will do so soon. I had come on this expedition to become too visible a figure, too integral a member of the university, for him to be able to have me bumped off, that is entirely true.
I also had a pressing desire to be away from Dementlieu for a while. A man forced me to reveal my face to him, not too long before we left. He drowned himself in the river immediately afterwards - on purpose, I assure you, and not my purpose. I had no desire to be burned at the stake for such a matter.
But none of those reasons are why I choose to go on;
they do not matter to me any more. The Eye must be destroyed, or buried so deep that no one will
ever find it again. I have seen the same things most of you have, heard what most of you have. The visions conjured by the Anubite, the books in Dezbar keep, in Pharazia ... The Vistani laying of cards. I choose to go on because I am fed up with watching evil do as it will. I say no more. I will go on. Until the end, one way or another.
I would remain a part of this group if it will have me. If it will not, I will try to make my own way somehow. Noisome as the thought is, I can contact a greater Fey, and negotiate terms if such becomes necessary. I can conjure mounts and housing to cross the desert. I can rain destruction down on our enemies and provide other services. And more importantly, I trust most of you gathered here.
I would go on. We have been whittled down to the bone, but now at least we know who is on our side and who is not.
I would go on."
