Chapter 32. Atonement

our sister warned me about this,” Brigit said sadly as they sat together in the shade near the edge of the forest.  The sun was high overhead and already the air was heavy with moisture as the land heated up.  Morisedd glanced at her, aware that his thoughts had been elsewhere.  At some point she had been telling him about one of her teachers which caused his mind to wander to a more innocent time.

“I’m sorry,” he replied, “I’m trying to adjust to life in a guild again.”

“You’re bored,” she replied, shrugging as she fetched her whetstone and polishing cloth from her pouch and unsheathed her axe, “Can’t say I blame you.  I hear Uriel never liked to stay in one place for very long.”

He had avoided talking about Uriel, particularly around Teleri’s friends.  Feeling a little trapped by the direction of the conversation he decided to head it off.

“I’m glad to be of use keeping the avacara at bay.”

Brigit laughed at his transparent attempt to avoid her curiosity.

“Tell me about Uriel.  Teleri has painted her to be something of a monster.”

He blushed in anger and embarrassment.

“I am jesting,” Brigit soothed, “Your sister is rather forceful in her way, but she clearly loves you and wishes for your happiness.  Believe me, I’m more than a little uncomfortable that she chose to hurl me at you when it’s obvious you simply aren’t available.”

“Why then do you spend your time with me?”

Brigit shrugged, her red hair flickering about her shoulders like flames.

“I like you.  You’re kind and gentle but you fight like a demon.  A warrior likes to have someone like that to back them up,” she replied, “To be honest, I wouldn’t mind sampling your wares, but I’m also a realist.  Whoever Uriel is, she has your heart on a string.”

Morisedd might have felt scandalized if anyone else but Brigit had spoken those words.  Her freckled visage betrayed no deception and her eyes narrowed as she rubbed the burs from her blackened axe.  He liked her, truly he did, but she had correctly surmised that his heart was elsewhere.  It was a torment to be so attached to someone he could not reach.

“So why do you love her so much?”

He stared at his gloved hands, unable to find words for what he felt.  At the best of times words did not come easily to him and now his throat clenched and nothing came out.  Brigit continued to smooth the edge of her blade.

“When I fell in love with Uriel I thought she was an angel of love incarnate.  I was still raw from the loss of my parents and Sywno sought to help me crawl out of my isolation by taking me with him on his journeys.  He had volunteered to patrol the region around Nolani Academy for brigands and we were given a room within its great walls.

“The first time I saw her she was carrying books from the library up to her master’s study.  Our eyes met and I was instantly in her thrall.  She was so beautiful and gentle.  After that I sought for her when my master was away and we met in secret.  Her generosity and sweetness were as a balm to those who suffered loneliness or despair.  I never imagined she would love me in return.  I was content merely to be in her presence and bask in her light.  Everyone loved her.”

Brigit frowned, pausing in her work to gaze upon him.

“Why do you speak of her in the past?  Did something happen?”

“Her master sent her to Orr on a diplomatic mission as a representative of Nolani Academy.  The Guild Wars showed signs of letting up, but there was still enmity between our nations and she stood accused of spying.  At least, that is what Tasos told me. 

“She won her freedom, but when she returned she was full of grief and anger.  I tried to help her but my affections and words only drew venom.  They had done something to her in Orr but she would tell me nothing of her imprisonment.  I soon learned that everything she and Lemony earned was being sent back to Orr, but again, I knew not why.  She grew restless and frightened when I tried to pry.  I wanted to help her but my poor attempts only caused more bitterness.  She insisted that she still loved me, but also she was in great pain.  And I asked her many times to give up her wandering ways and marry me, but always she refused.”

Morisedd turned away from Brigit, ashamed that he had spoken so freely.  She must think him a fool to have trailed after a woman who mistreated him so. 

“It must be difficult,” Brigit observed shrewdly, sensing that any display of pity would cause him to grow silent, “Yet you left her.  Why?”

“She took a mesmer scoundrel into her bed this time, a thieving tomcat.  Something happened between them, some small secretive act that she would not describe, but it was clear they were bound together in their private misery.  By day they sparred and quarreled, but at night they rutted like animals.  I would have sent him packing given half the chance, but she protected the lout and even Lemony bid me be patient. I was rewarded for my love with betrayal.  I had to leave.”

“It was not her first time?”

“There had been others, but she rarely kept them around more than a day.  I fought one off when he turned violent.  Why would she do these things after five years of being faithful to me?”

Brigit shrugged.

“Maybe the Orrians bound her with a curse to prove her guilt and it backfired somehow.  My father fought in the Guild Wars and he hated the Orrians.  He said they were deceptive and cruel.”

“Even in death, apparently,” Morisedd mumbled, remembering the undead he had encountered on the way to Kryta.

The fell silent for a moment, both of them lost in their private thoughts.  Brigit hooked her axe to her harness and once more and put away her tools, whistling idly to herself.  Morisedd, however, fretted as he thought back on the years he had shared with Uriel.

“A curse.  It had to have been a curse.  And she gave it to the mesmer.”

“I suppose that’s possible,” Brigit replied as she rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“Can a curse be passed to someone else?”

Brigit shrugged.

“It’s not really my area of expertise.  A necromancer or mesmer might know, hexes being their specialty.  If there was an object being passed around, perhaps.”

“If she has passed the curse to the mesmer, then she might finally be free of it.  I think I will leave a message for her in Lion’s Arch.”

“I’ll come with you.  It looks like the avacara are beaten down for the day.”

Morisedd grinned at her since they were officially done with their rounds an hour ago.  He unstrung his bow and slung it over his shoulder, gesturing her to follow him back to their home.

“Thank you, by the way,” he said as they walked.

Brigit shrugged non-committal.

“I play the role of the other woman rather better than most.  If things fall through with Uriel, though, you know where to find me,” she laughed sardonically.

“I’m sorry,” Morisedd replied sincerely, “I am rather a fool.”

“Nah, it’s sweet.  Uriel is lucky, methinks.”

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the hour it took to walk to the little gathering of huts.  As Morisedd approached his home, Mabane charged toward him playfully with Geetha in tow.  He managed to stay standing as they wrestled him to the doorway of the hut amid Teleri’s laughter.  She fell silent when she saw his face, however.

“Where are you going?” she asked as he retrieved his pack and began preparing for a journey to Lion’s Arch, gathering up his coin pouch and tossing it inside.  While he was there he planned on obtaining a few supplies.

“Lion’s Arch.  I’m going to leave a message for Uriel and hopefully when she gets done with her most recent exploits she’ll contact me here.”

Teleri looked annoyed.

“Why are you still chasing her after she has caused you nothing but grief?  Half the women in this camp would count themselves blessed if you paid them even a fraction of the attention you lavished upon that miserable cow.”

Stung, Morisedd straightened his back and met her gaze.

“Brigit helped me to realize she was cursed in Orr.  I plan to help her if I can.”

Teleri looked guiltily away.

“You’re probably a bit late, then.”

Puzzled, Morisedd waited for her to continue.  She sighed and shame darkened her features.

“The morning of the day you arrived, I saw her,” Teleri confessed, “She was a captive of some Canthan brigands.  Her and two others.”

“You never told me this?!” Morisedd roared, horrified.

“I was just glad to see the back of her.  They were Canthan.  I assumed they’d take her far away and that’d be the end of her.”

“Teleri!” he choked, unable to believe that his sister could be so callous, “Why did you never tell me?”

“Do you think I’ve enjoyed watching that woman tear you to pieces from the inside out?” Teleri replied with a shrill of agonized rage, “You’re my brother and I love you.”

“That was not your choice to make!” he shouted, grasping his things quickly.  Holy Melandru of the sacred tree.  How could Teleri have been so pigheaded and cruel?

“Don’t leave, Uncle Murdi,” Mabane pleaded, frightened by Morisedd’s rage.  He paused in his frantic preparations to gaze upon the boy.

“I have to go, Mabane.  I’m sorry.”

“My son needs you, you can’t leave!”

The room darkened as a shadow fell before the doorway, their arguing having spilled over into the camp.  The two of them fell silent as Mabane’s fear and grief rent the air.

“Come,” Teleri said softly and Sywno pulled the blanket in the doorway aside and gazed within, his gentle features and silvery mane gleaming in the dappled light.  The old ranger nodded politely to both of them in turn and waited for Teleri to gather Mabane into her arms to soothe his tears.

“I wish to know the source of this discord between brother and sister,” he said, “for in passing I overheard something that disturbed me greatly.”

Morisedd noticed that Sywno’s canny gaze was now focused intently upon Teleri.

“Is it true that you hid Uriel’s endangerment from me and the man who loves her?”

Teleri lowered her face, trembling now in her shame.

“I know I should have told you, Master.”

In all the years Morisedd had known the old man, he had never seen him lose his temper.  And yet, what he did now was far more chilling.  Disappointment burned from his steady gaze and Teleri shrank guiltily away as if she had been burned.

“Even were Uriel your enemy, Morisedd had a right to know.  His choices are not yours to make,” Swyno said angrily, “That aside, you also know I would not abide kidnappers in my territory.  You should have reported them to me immediately.”

“I’m sorry,” Teleri breathed, “I was stupid.”

“Mabane, my son,” Sywno said softly, holding out a weathered hand so that the boy came to him, “You will stay with me while your mother and uncle go to help Uriel.”

Teleri dried the tears from her face with the heel of her hand, making no protest.

“I bid you go with haste,” Sywno said, “and pray that your selfishness has not resulted in lasting harm.  If the brigands took three with them, three must be freed.  In this way you must atone.”