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[Prophet]

81st of Spring
6th Bell

There was a slight cloud cover in the early morning and a bit of fog rising from the canals. Syna was just rising over the eastern horizon when the first scream was heard. The ear-splitting tone was echoed within ticks from another part of Ravok and then accompanied by the whistles of the City Guard. Within the next fifteen chimes, there were a series of screams across the heart of the lake and a whole chorus of whistles. The great bell tower rang out a warning which roused every soul in Rhsyol's great paradise.

By the time the average citizen had managed to get out of bed and down to the water, the bustle of the floating city was in full swing but to a much different tune. Instead of ravosalas carting people back and forth to various shops and businesses, the skinny ships were mostly docked aside from a few that had been commandeered by the black armored soldiers of the Ebonstryfe. City Guard patrols were everywhere helping to usher people around a few locations*The Citizen’s Registration Office, The Nitrozian Estate, The Defiled Blade, Tarsin’s Boarding House, The Slave Market, The People’s Market which had been cordoned off. Amidst the uniformed guards and armored soldiers were the black robed and cloaked men and women of the Black Sun. Some were directing the people and members of the other organizations while others seemed merely content to watch the events from shadowy corners. Anyone wishing to travel to the shore was denied. The great doors of the shipyard opened and a handful of vessels, some even partially painted, took to the calm waters and began to circle the city. Fishermen were directed to dock and forgo their duties for the day as were any traders who had access to a water glider or barge.

The immediate areas where the commotion seemed to be centered were crowded. The citizen population wanted answers while the law keepers and soldiers wanted control. This created thick lines of people on both sides who tried to exert their will upon the opposition. In truth, the populace wouldn’t rise up against their protectors and it was mostly due to respect, not fear –but curiosity is a powerful motivator. Some people found points of elevation from which to spy and called out details to those at water level but the organization of the Black Sun and its subsidiaries was the ultimate victor. The scenes were blocked off in neat squares of black cloth; a heavy material woven from the cast-offs of the lily pad farms which made a nearly waterproof mat. These were draped in such a way that officials and witnesses could move in and around the area without the evidence being seen or contaminated.

As one might suspect, the rumors of what had taken place ranged from a sneak attack by the Syliran knights to monsters to Rhsyol making an example out of a nonbeliever. Some people, like the ravosalamen, were not happy to be put out of work while other were overjoyed and found better uses for their time. By the time Syna’s orb was completely visible (8th Bell), the areas around the restricted sites had swelled with nosey neighbors, wannabe investigators, children and even people who had simply gotten bored and fallen victim to the many hyped rumors.

However, behind the scenes and the tarps, investigations were being conducted on a multitude of levels. Dozens of arrests had been made and most of them were kept secret. Inside the Nitrozian Estate, Ebonstryfe and City Guardsmen flanked entries and exits while Black Sun agents and acolytes took statements and testimonies. A city guardsman with a red skullcap walked to where his Commandant was standing and handing out orders. There was a man with one white eye dressed in a thin, black suit who held a black leather case. There were three other more experienced guards there as well and the group stood just inside the Nitrozian’s foyer.

“Master Sitanos told us to question everyone. The chief of estate, Nestor, has explained that every family member has been sent back to their rooms for questioning.” He looked to the Black Sun agent then back to his men. “This man is now your captain. Obey him as you would me. I am needed elsewhere but your oaths still apply.” With a look of almost regret, the Commandant stepped from the house and into the cool air of the morning. The agent looked at each one and nodded then headed upstairs.

A chime later, there was a knock on Evarista’s door. The cherry turned the knob but found it locked. A leather-bound fist beat against the wood but a polite voice carried behind it. “Please open your door. We have some questions for you.” The agent smiled and moved the recruit aside. From inside his jacket, he retrieved a pick and rake. Within moments, the lock clicked and he opened the door a few inches. The agent stepped back and an elder guardsman stepped forward. He held the door open about three inches and looked back at the other men as he spoke in a gruff voice. “Are you decent? May we come in?”

Nothing's as it seems...

[Evarista]

When the soldier's gloved fist struck the door for the first time, Evarista was not even awake. Which wasn't strange, considering that in her sleeping schedule, the 8th bell was still the dead of the night. The general commotion in the city was too far removed to bother her, and it was not until her own room was being invaded that she cracked an eye open. Even before the uninvited visitor spoke, she could already tell it was a stranger. The servants never banged on the door when they wanted to enter, and her family members never wanted to enter at all. Was there a fire in the building or something? No, unfortunately this wasn't someone else's business. The demanding voice on the other side made it clear that she was in some sort of trouble. Pulling the blanket over her head, the half-dormant girl shuddered in discomfort, anticipating a confrontation that would most likely land her in even bigger trouble. It didn't help that she had a weighty hangover and no clear memory of what exactly she was doing last night. The only thing she could tell for certain was that she was on one of her traditional drunken roof tours, and was back just before dawn. So far, she's been very successful in evading unwanted notice, but it looked like her luck has run out today. The worst part was that she couldn't remember doing anything that would risk her attracting this kind of attention. The aggressive-sounding voices were fairly intimidating. The click of the lock also signalled that their requests for permission to enter were purely rhetorical. Evarista made a last-moment consideration to jump out of the window, much preferring an icy bath in the canal over the incoming conversation. It probably wouldn't help, though. She'd still have to return home at some point, get caught again, and then everything would probably be even worse. Might as well not bother. Since the gentlemen in front of the door were obviously not inclined to wait for her to complete her morning routine, there was no point in stalling. She was dressed in a set of wrinkled linen pajamas and her hair was... uncombed, but if they decided to barge into her room at eight in the morning, they'd simply have to put up with her not looking fit for parade. It took several attempts of clearing her throat before she got her voice back, while images of all that could go horribly wrong rapidly scrolled in her head. "Come in." As the officials filed into the room, Evarista peeked out from under the blanket skeptically, not sure how to greet them. Eventually she settled for silence, leaving the first word to the invaders. Her only barrier against the armed men was a thin blanket, so hasty proclamations were likely not in her best interests anyway. Although she was slightly curious about what they wanted to interrogate her about, there were few questions of import in this world that the foggy-eyed failure child could answer with anything other than "I don't know". Ah, well. Far it be from her to teach Rhysol's own how to spend their time.

[Hwyn]

The Death of a Salesman

Unknowns were bad, or, were bad until proven otherwise at least. Thus strangers were the embodiment of most things unpleasant. When he’d heard that agents were in the estate Hwyn had frowned, it was perhaps a necessary evil after all the family was a business magnate and as such officials often graced the manor, but when he heard that they were interrogating the family his blood chilled, what could they want? He’d immediately taken off for his mistress's room, the thought of ebinstrife scum laying a finger on his lady disturbed him greatly.

Padding up the stairs to her chambers Hwyn was already running scenarios through his head, he hoped he’d beat them there so he could warn Eva, perhaps he could goad her into a day on the town, or something that would keep them preoccupied for the day. But when re rounded the final floor what he saw was decidedly worse than what he was expecting, they were standing outside her door. One of the two was already working on Eva’s door, he knew a thing or two about being a criminal and watching the man crack the lock with ease made him swallow hard. He was facing enemies, anyone who would behave thusly was in Hwyn’s mind already on bad ground, though picking a fight with the ebonstrife was unwise he’d do it gladly if asked to. An echoing thought of a time when he’d only cared for himself flared up, it said to run away, but he pushed it down. Eva needed him!

As the men entered the room Hwyn padded down the hallway ready to claw scratch and bite if they so much as implied harm. Creeping into the room Hwyn didn’t sneak so much as file in. Looking from the men to Eva Hwyn subtly arched an eyebrow and blinked slowly at Eva, keeping his distance from the two agents Hwyn didn’t deign to look at them for fear of glaring at them and earning from them the Ire he felt for them. But was there anything he could say? As a slave it wasn’t his place to speak even if he wanted to. Moving to eva’s bedside he looked about for something he could turn into a weapon, the only object that looked like it would be any use was a heavy wine bottle, one of the consistent effects of Eva’s room. Taking his place by Eva’s bedside as any good servant would Hwyn waited on the first move to be made, in his own mind a sentinel coiling to strike, Though the Nitrozeans wouldn’t stand for an assault in their manor Hwyn did not trust these people. Forcing himself to breath Hwyn pulled a small false smile and waited.

[Prophet]

There was an awkward pause that shuffled through the rank of the guard and the agent as the blonde servant slipped into the room. A full roster of those living in the house had been acquire earlier so the agent knew about the boy but the presumption that the slave took upon himself to just enter the room was not only fascinating but entertaining as well. This revealed itself in the slight curl of the man’s mouth. This amused expression rolled itself along the fancy blankets that hid the young heiress. Her child-like façade peered over the covers like one who was afraid of a storm and though it seemed fitting for the circumstance, it didn’t match the notes he’d been given regarding the same girl who had been caught trespassing at the new hospital some seasons ago.

Regardless, he had a job to do and moved over towards the window where he stretched himself out like a cat soaking up the rays of Syna as they tumbled through the dirty glass like a haze. The agent ignored everything within the room and everyone for several chimes to the point that even the Guardsmen were looking around with confused expressions. The gaze; one brown and one white turned to follow something taking place out in front of the elaborate home. Satisfied with whatever was happening, he turned to finally address the residents of the home.

“Good morning.” His voice was apathetic and his face registered much the same. “A body was found outside of your home, well-“ The man cocked his head to one side and read his notes from inside the leather notebook. “A right leg was found outside, to be accurate.” He opened his mouth to say more but a loud commotion stirred up from downstairs. There was a knowing look that crossed his face but it was fleeting as he turned away.

Whatever was taking place in the foyer at the bottom of the stairs was moving through the Nitrozian house like a brushfire- and it was coming closer. Suddenly, there was a scuffle outside Evarista’s door. The guardsmen inside opened the door to check but one was snatched out so suddenly that he didn’t get a chance to yell. The other was so distracted that he missed the agent sneaking over and dosing him with a needle of something sticky. The smaller agent took a step back and the big guard made one very powerful but off-balance swing of his leather bound fist then collapsed into a heap on the floor. After the noises outside had stopped, two Ebonstryfe soldiers stepped in and gave a nod of respect to the agent who was turning back to the two young folk in the room.

“Alone at last.” His eyes locked onto Eva for a moment then moved to the messy-haired slave. “Take the boy. We’ve made a place for him.” The soldiers crossed the small amount of space and moved to hoist Hwyn by his arms. The agent simply stared at Eva while all of this was taking place. He certainly had a plan.

Nothing's as it seems...

[Hwyn]

Title and Date

When the man spoke Hwyn wasn’t quite sure what to think, a leg had been found? Like, a detached limb? What could have happened to cause such a thing, Hwyn didn’t hold any illusions anymore that morality was one of his masters strong suits, but he couldn’t imagine her committing murder. It just seemed surreal. Then the sounds of commotion in the hall broke him from the chilling line of thought.
Then the men came in the agent before them not reacting as his guards were struck down in quick succession by two men who made it all look easy. Then they moved for him, He stepped into them when they came cutting them off from ever reaching his masters side, but they snagged him all the same. He couldn’t imagine why he’d be wanted, were they after his eyes? Clawing and kicking at his captors to little avail Hwyn snarled at the man that was orchestrating all this.

“You touch her, and you’ll regret it… y-you festering b-bbloat head! I mean it!”

A quick blow to the stomach silenced his tirade though. Doubling over in the grips of his captors Hwyn swallowed the bile that rose in his throat as his stomach knotted. Glaring up at the man Hwyn grimaced in pain though defiance still lit his eyes, he didn’t know why he cared about his apathetic master, but he’d been happier recently than ever before in his life, and he was willing to fight for that. But he was still too weak. The iron grip of his captors told him that much, his best bet was to wait for a moment to strike back. Until then he dropped his head, his gaze looking at his feet dangling inces above the ground as he was hoisted up by his shoulders.

What did they want with him, he looked unique perhaps, but beyond that he was just as average as any other employee of the estate, and less skilled than many, he didn’t view himself as an ideal servant or anything of that nature. No something sinister had to be afoot, though he still hoped that it was misfortune for him not for his charge, he knew he could take it, if he had any talents it was his ability to suffer. Selflessness however was a trait he wished he could purge from his being he knew that Eva couldn’t… wouldn’t? save him, but he was still content if it was just him being harmed he thought. At least this way nothing of worth was being lost.
Then the pain at his core truly began to affect him, he didn’t know what it was but it hurt, maybe he’d been jabbed with a needle like the guard had, maybe he really was that weak, whatever it was, his consciousness became thick like syrup and his eyelids fluttered as his mind drew him into darkness to protect him from the outside.

Credit to Shimoje, the bestest buddy

[Prophet]

When Hwyn would wake, he would find himself in a sterile looking room. It was a large chamber with four empty walls and over a dozen beds which were just metal carts with a bit of padding on top of a set of springs. His clothes were gone; replaced by an itchy uniform that was well-worn but still whole. His blonde hair was tied back with a strap of leather but the knot was reckless and pulled against his scalp. Clearly, this was the work of one with little regard for the comfort of the young man. The lighting was dim and washed everything in a lifeless grey. It was a dingy looking room with no windows but several large clusters of torches which were arranged amidst mirrors to bounce the light around. The strange thing was that the more the orange and yellow tongue of fire tried to push back the darkness the more the shadows seemed to thicken. The strange ambiance was compounded in its creepiness by the silence that was oppressively running over the new arrival like a river bursting with a month’s rain.

A sudden change in the pressure of the room was a dead ringer that something had changed. The rhythmic clicking of heels was matched by a very light swish that sounded like fabric. Vertical dividers were everywhere but little more than cloths stretched over rectangular frames on casters. The light shone through some more than others and the shadow puppets of whatever or whomever approached grew more terrifying with each step. Hwyn was facing such a barrier when it was suddenly shoved aside to reveal a woman who was in her early middle years but was still very pretty. However, whatever beauty she possessed was lost to the cold as stone expression she bore as the empty eyes stared at a clipboard.

“Name, age and any illnesses you’ve had in your life.” Her voice, like her appearance was lovely but distant like an oasis at the end of a desert that never seems to get any closer. Sweet like honey were her tones but the inflection was that of an executioner preparing last rites. “Speak quickly, boy, or you’ll miss lunch and hungry children make poor students.” She finally lifted her eyes to Hwyn. The deep pools of lavender swallowed their prey like a python. Within ticks, she had lost her patience and the ice was beginning to boil in her veins. A long, drawn out sigh was a clear indication that the new ward was running out of time.

Nothing's as it seems...

[Hwyn]

The Death of a Salesman

Perhaps there would have been a time when waking up blearily in a new place would’ve surprised him, as it were, he was just tired, and a tad sore. Though this was sadly not a first Hwyn had waited patently in the room until the oppressive sound of other humans approached. He couldn’t bring himself to care, it just was beyond him, the twinge of fear he’d grown accustomed to was still present it was simply dulled with use. When the woman arrived Hwyn looked her over with dull eyes. She wasn’t threatening him or wielding a brand, that was a start but she also had a no nonsense air about her, something that didn’t particularly bother him, if she wanted to be cut and through, then he would be happy to oblige.

“My name… Is Hwyn… I-i-i, I don’t know how old I am…. It’s more than my fingers, I’ve never had any bad illnesses except indigo fever.. A long t-time ago.”

Looking at the woman semi hopefully at the mention of food he fidgeted with the hair band that had been so aggressively tied through his hair, it was unpleasant enough wearing clothes that felt like burlap, but at the very least he could make himself presentable. Pinching his cheeks to bring a healthy rose to them and smoothing his clothing from his… impromptu nap…. It occured to him he wasn’t enitrly sure why he was here… or what had led him to waking up here… He’d been with Eva right? Had she done this had he been sold? Was she the sort to abandon something that had lost use? Perhaps he’d been deemed useless such a thing wouldn’t really surprise him even if it was depressing. He was… decidedly useless…. But that still didn’t tell him where he was or why he was being interrogated. He wanted to ask, but he was too familiar with the rules too speak up. Dn not speak unless spoken too, do not act unless ordered to and do not be in the way. All slaves new these tenants well and unless whips and bruises looked good to you, you followed them to the letter.

He’d follow the woman for now, but he wondered what kind of person she was, all people in ravok were always after something, money, power, slaves, or just out to satisfy sadistic vices, it was just a matter of knowing what people wanted, benevolence was an illusion in a city like this. So he just needed to fall into step, plans like escape.. Would wait until he understood his position. He was a broken person, perhaps mentally, but his spirit… it wanted things… though he was still unsure of what they were.

[Evarista]

The long pause seemed to make everyone else tense, but for Evarista, it was a grace period to relax and catch her bearings. The men didn't seem intent on violence yet. At least not against her. There was a weird air between the guards and the agents; she usually didn't pick up such subtleties at all, but this was so obvious that even she caught on. Hwyn's tense figure next to her bed didn't make her feel any safer; it's not like he could seriously fight them, and the moral support of a friend's presence - something that most others would appreciate - was lost on her. The Black Sun agent turned to her, and she finally noticed his white eye, thinking it familiar. He had the same air about him as the Druvin at the hospital, if somewhat more modest, and a cursory glance at his aura confirmed this. If someone like him was here with military entourage, something really bad was clearly going down. And Evarista sensed that she was going to be blamed for it. The knot inside started forming even before he opened his mouth, but the word "body" felt like a punch in the stomach. "Leg" was like another punch. Evarista's breath paused, and she felt torrents of sweat pour down her back. The temperature in the room rose sharply. Blurry images of severed limbs, impaled on her own striped talons, flashed past her eyes. She desperately tried to remember what exactly she was doing last night, but everything was blank. During the nightly roof-crawls, she never had an inclination to attack people, only spy on them. Could she really have butchered someone and brought a severed leg home with her last night? Was it likely? No. But was it plausible? Definitely. At least, it was by far the most likely reason why a severed limb would end up on estate grounds. Although the agent was not done speaking, it felt like all eyes were already directed at her. The girl's heart rate was reaching a dangerous height when everyone's attention was distracted by a commotion outside. A second later, the officials were fighting each other. Evarista was too concerned with her own skin to pay attention or even be surprised by the strange event, but was startled by the guard's heavy body hitting the floor. Having the vibrosense turned on was already a subconscious thing to her, and it made her acutely aware of the footsteps outside. Two pairs of feet. Truly enough, two soldiers in Ebonstryfe livery entered the room. The atmosphere suddenly became much more threatening. Hwyn moved to react, but the soldiers snatched him up like a ragdoll. This was the first time she's heard him hurl insults at someone, but she was more surprised that he was doing it on her behalf. Being a bodyguard was not a part of his duties, was it? It was slightly amusing to watch him being defiant in the face of such adversity, although that only earned him a punch in the belly and a needle in the neck. Upon seeing the needle, she got a faint idea of the purpose of the agents' visit. Many eyes turned to her once again. She realized just how crowded the room had become. It was the first time in her life that she had to endure this kind of unsolicited invasion. Her room has always been her bastion, and an inseparable part of her personal space. The strangers looming over her bed was a violation of that space as much as if they were all shoving their hands up her clothes. Which could just as well happen next. Maybe an icy bath in the canal would be a good idea after all. Her eyes darted to the window next to her bed, but it was closed, and opening it would take too much time. There were no avenues of escape. Slowly wiping the thick film of sweat off her forehead with her sleeve, Evarista looked up at the agent with the white eye. He looked like he'd been eyeing her for some time. Evarista met his gaze and stared back at him for a short while, though her hazy expression made it clear that she wasn't doing it out of defiance. The tip of the girl's tongue traced her thin upper lip slowly, as if she was thinking of a response to everything that just happened in front of her. "Hmm... If you want me to come with you, I'll do that. Please don't hit me." Her even drone made her seem more calm than she actually was. Whatever the case, she wanted to at least slightly reduce the imminent prospect of getting manhandled and drugged, which more or less seemed to be the Black Sun's way of saying hello. Remembering the run-in with the Ebonstryfe at the hospital made her sweat-soaked pajamas cling to her back even more. Now that she was fairly sober and not under the influence of mind-warping magic or extraterrestrial shrooms, the threat of getting assaulted by a group of heavily armed men made her knees tremble. "And don't shoot me up with that... I'll die." She tilted her head towards the needle still held by one of the soldiers. It was widely known that combining sedatives with heavy alcohol use, and Ravokian whisky especially, was brain-destroying at best and lethal at worst. Since the desk next to the agent was covered with empty whisky bottles, he should have easily understood what she meant. Evarista was about to blurt out something about being innocent, but stopped herself in time, simply continuing to sit on her bed, hiding behind her blanket and petrified by tension. Her hazy eyes, already a bit bloodshot, shifted between the men's faces, as if trying to predict which one of them would lunge at her first.

[Prophet]

Miss Sonja made a few notes in regards to the boy’s responses. She paused a moment as he straightened himself and pinched his cheeks. The chilly gaze narrowed and contemplated a few things but whatever it was she did not speak of the subject. Instead, she lowered her face very near to his and studied the stars around his eyes. A smile, as cold as the stone well of the Black Hole, spread over her pretty face.

“You have the most exquisite eyes, Hwyn. Have you aways had those accents?” The woman took a step back and returned to her clipboard. She made a few notes and waited for his answer. Anything he said would be written down and stored away for later use and further scrutiny. When all was said and done, the woman would escort the blonde out of the infirmary and along the hallways without explaining much other than to point out various rooms. When they reached the Cafeteria, she pushed open the heavy wooden doors and ushered Hwyn inside.

It was lunchtime and the place was full of almost eighty children of all ages, sizes, colors and builds. Some looked nice while other appeared to be downright evil. The smell wafting from the kitchen was not dreadful but it certainly wasn’t manned by master chefs preparing meals for dignitaries of state. Miss Sonja grasped Hwyn by the shoulder in a very commanding way until he turned to fae the head nurse. “Welcome to the Galatos Family’s Commorancy for Children, Hwyn. You are our ward, now, and we will provide you with food, shelter and an education.” Her grip loosened as if to release him but then it reverted and became a vice grip of pain and warning. “Good boys and girls are well treated…and we don’t have any bad children here.” The violet eyes burned with a madness not often seen but it was quickly erased by that beautiful and cold smile. It lingered for a moment and then the woman was gone leaving Hwyn all to himself at the mercy of the other children –most of whom had taken notice.

***************

The agent smiled warmly at Eva. He could almost read the drunken logic in her eyes as they calculated ways to escape and at the same time reaped the imagination’s darkest corners for things that might befall her at the hands of so many rude and obviously deceptive men. His face was a thing of peace and rightfully so. The dead body had come as a surprise and needed investigating but that was not the man’s specialty. The white-eyed man was well-equipped to deal with certain circumstances and this happened to be one of them.

For as long as anyone can remember, the Black Sun and Ebonstryfe have sought out ways to increase the efficiency of their chaos units; the Dravlak. Handlers are specially chosen though they mortality rate is almost certain. Few survive the selection process and then only a small percentage last more than a few years. Dravlaks are creature touched by Rhysol and twisted by his chaotic essence. They are monsters of great power and no reason but each has an innate awareness to choose a handler. This keeper bonds with the beast and slowly trades his reason for limited control over the monster. As time goes on, the madness inside the Dravlak leeches its way into the mind of the keeper thus making him suicidal, ineffective or he dies.

Recently, a theory has come up that gained enough momentum within the heads of the orders to pursue an experiment. Like all good experiments, this one requires the proper staff and filling positions with skilled individuals is the very talent which the man in Eva’s room represents. Sensing her discomfort, he turned and shooed several of the soldiers outside leaving just himself and one man. When he turned back around, he walked over with a hand outstretched, palm up, to Eva.

“My dear girl, we have no intention to harm you.” His words dripped like honey and his face was alight with good vibes. Charm was another talent that he held under his mastery. “We simply jumped at this opportunity –sad as it is- to offer you a chance to come and work for us, the Black Sun.” When she finally decided that she was ready to get out of bed, taking his hand would lend her his assistance in a very gentle and nurturing way. If she refused it, he would simply step aside with a slight bow of his head and return his hands behind his back. “There are those who know of you and your talents but rather than make an example out of you for the wayward decisions of yesterday, it has been decided that you should be given a chance to share what you know for the betterment of our city.” As they approached the door, he stopped with hand on the knob and looked at her with a very piercing stare. He was searching for her conviction. “Will you help us, Lady Nitrozien? Will you serve our great god Rhsyol?”

Nothing's as it seems...

[Hwyn]

The Death of a Salesman

Her chilly presence would have at one time mortified him, as it was, his more recent company had given him more than enough exposure to cold shoulders that such things hardly even felt unnatural. He did as he was told and answered accordingly when questions were asked of him.

When she drew close asking about his eyes Hwyn swallowed before deciding that the truth was likely going to be in his favor. “I uh.. I was in alvadas and get trapped in a maze, and… a snake attacked me…. I’ve… I’ve h-had them ever sense” Even when he told it he felt like a lie would have been more convincing than the truth but it was too late now to say otherwise he just hoped she believed him.

Letting her does as she wanted he was relieved when she stopped pinching his cheeks at when she told him that they would be taking care of him his face hardly reacted he had long ago accepted that he did not have any control over his own fate so he’d taken his hands off the plow and was letting it steer as was it’s want.

However when she led him out and took him to see the children he frowned, though it slowly crept into a wan if self loathing smile. Other people, his age, something he hadn’t been around in a long time. Unsure of how to react he bowed deeply and quietly introduced himself as Hwyn. He didn’t know what to expect or if he would be able to make friends here, but for a moment he wondered if this was truly his home now, he missed the estate already, though he was saddened to think. They probly did not miss him. He wondered if it had been set up by somebody, he hoped Eva was ok. The icy grip on his shoulder however reminded him that he was to step in line, and for the moment he hadn’t the willpower to do otherwise.