Winter 40th, 5123 AV – Kelwyn’s Knocker – Evening
The Safe Haven Hostel was quiet at this time, most of the patrons had slipped away to their beds for an early night’s sleep or had wandered to the nearest tavern in meandering trails of hopeful ides for the passing of the evening Bells. Zandelia had not followed them, instead choosing to sit at one of the tables, her boots resting upon the top of the rough wooden surface and her shoulders propped up against the wall she had chosen to lean against. The only other one in the room was Vysia who was, as always, scribbling away in her ledgers. She knew what the woman kept in them and had learnt enough not to pry into such affairs – trouble would only follow.
Yet conversation is always welcomed, she enjoys conversation after a fashion she told herself, though for now not breaking the tranquil silence, leaving that to the scratching of a quill upon parchment.
In truth she was considering something, a curious item that she had heard many a whisper over. It was a small thing, a tiny thing but seemed to cause the occasional ripple throughout entire quarters of the Celestial City. Some told of deaths, others of more amusing affairs. Her favourite had been the one of the boy’s clothing coming alive and wandering down the street as if her were still in them. She had seen nothing herself to corroborate the telling but she presumed that something at least was happening or there would be no stories at all. At the moment she was toying with the idea of it being a mischievous mage hidden in the shadows, using the cover of a door knocker for their amusements.
“Vysai…”
“Yes…Amelias,” the female monk did not look up from her writing, “what can I help you with this time?”
“Have you heard tell of this…Kelwyn’s Knocker? It has been brought to my attention repeatedly over the last score of days”
The Monk ceased her scrawling for a moment before sighing and placing her quill to one side and finally looking up to meet Zandelia’s gaze. Vysia knew her well enough to perceive that the question would not have been asked without some form of intent. The fingers folder into each other, the smile flickered across her lips and her head tilted as she assessed Zandelia as easily as Zandelia assessed others.
“Thinking of using it, or watching another use it instead?” came the question.
“Perhaps both. I am not even sure that it does anything. I haven’t met a singular person who has used it, or rather is willing to admit to using it. It is…a puzzle” she returned with her own half-smile.
“It is dangerous, that is all you need to know”
“Because you know I will avoid it or because you know I want to use it more besides”
“Both. It should never be allowed. There have been deaths, some slow and others quick. It is a foolish contraption that people insist on turning into a competition. They would be better served in serving the city”
“Hmmm”
“What?”
“It’s just that the way I hear it you’re not a true Nykaan until you do use it”
“Where do you keep hearing these things I wonder?”
“Oh…around”
“Thinking of joining the fold?”
“Pehraps”
Vysia snorted then and returned to her writing, the conversation was over and the other woman already knew what was going to happen. Zandelia’s curiosity was always far too dangerously powerful for her own good.
Of course I’m going to use it! I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t she sighed to herself.
