Frederick, if the guards will let him (Wednesday)that_hedgehogOctober 15 2009, 05:42:10 UTC
So far, it had been a long day of walking- just like the day before, and the day before that. Going so slow was making Sonic antsy, and anyway, there wasn't too much to do aside from wait for the shaman to tell everyone where to go.
So he decided to give talking to Frederick another try. He wanted to know more about the humans, the prophecy- and the guy himself.
He trotted up to the line of guards that separated the royalty from the commoners. "I'd like to talk to the Prince," he said to one of them. "If that's alright with you."
The guards did, in fact, let Sonic pass; Frederick was just ahead of them, on horseback, his face impassive. From his expression, it was impossible to tell what he was thinking.
His eyes flicked to Sonic, at his approach. He nodded, once -- an invitation to begin speaking.
"Uh-huh." Gods liked prophecies. They liked to tell them to shaman-types, too. The amount of new information that gave Sonic was zero.
"And all it says is that, someday, this really powerful majik is going to manifest and go on a rampage?" That was vague and cryptic even by prophecy standards. "Nothing about what happens after that?"
"It predicted the birth of a girl who would be the most powerful majik of this generation," explained Frederick. "The girl was born to human parents, in Landing. Her protection failed -- her parents were killed, and she was taken by mermaids, who wanted a majik to raise according to their own standards." He glanced down, to Sonic. "We believe that this girl is the same one who became a druid, weeks ago."
"Got it." Frederick hadn't answered Sonic's second question, which lead him to believe that the prophecy didn't give too many details about the upcoming battle. Which... was a good thing. Better than if it said she'd take over the world, anyway.
Wait a minute. They 'believed' it was the same girl?
"Well, that girl- Elimyr- I kinda met her. Pretty early on after I arrived here. It's just like you said: she was taken away from her folks when she was really young. Mermaids raised her, turned into a... pretty horrible person." Sonic's face was still serious, but it wasn't forced anymore. He hated thinking about how that had happened to her. And it still bothered him that she couldn't be saved. "I wasn't in Jhelbor when the big smack-down happened-" how did he keep missing out on those, anyway? "-but when I heard about it, it just made sense. Super-powerful young female water mage leading a pack of mermaids: who else could it be?"
"Not to mention she's the one Mikney faced off against, which would probably put her on the top of the list of candidates for druidry." In Sonic's experience, epic battles between unmatched foes ended up in the weaker one either getting utterly crushed, or somehow rising the meet their opponent's level of power. He didn't know how that worked here, but it still made sense.
Frederick listened to the story, brow slightly furrowed. Glanced forward, once, to make sure that the princess wasn't paying attention -- but no, she was listening to her mother tell her something, something the desert wind was tossing just out of the range of Frederick's hearing.
"She faced off against him?" Frederick asked, prompting more information.
"Yeah. Apparently it all ended near the tree. The Rowan Tree. And yeah, it exists. Which... you've probably figured out already." Sonic glanced back toward the crowd of worldwalkers that were tagging along with the group. "Sorry. Reflex. I spent a little time in Mage City trying to get info and got a lot of awkward stares instead."
"Then she was very strong," said Frederick. Or Mikney was unusually weak for a druid. He did wonder why the man didn't simply sweep away the curse of the sirens -- surely he could, if he could grow life where there was naught but death before.
"Subjects of prophecies tend to be." He threw in a secret little smile to himself. Prophecies. Destinies. He knew a thing or two about those...
...Though neither of the ones that had anything to do with him might be relevant anymore, if he never got back to his own universe.
Huh.
"Tell me more about humans." He hoped he wasn't coming off as presumptuous, but hey. They were walking through a freaking desert. What else was there to do but talk? "Those of us who've been here from the beginning have been around both elves and demons, but you guys are new."
"Elves believe in rule of the best," said Frederick; "demons believe that rule of the multitude, with real power given to no one, ensures that the 'best' don't abuse their power. Humans, on the other hand, have codes of law that endure, and have authority over those in power."
So he decided to give talking to Frederick another try. He wanted to know more about the humans, the prophecy- and the guy himself.
He trotted up to the line of guards that separated the royalty from the commoners. "I'd like to talk to the Prince," he said to one of them. "If that's alright with you."
Reply
His eyes flicked to Sonic, at his approach. He nodded, once -- an invitation to begin speaking.
Reply
Sonic looked up- boy, Prince Frederick was way up there. Stupid horses.
He decided to look forward instead. Also: totally time to put on the serious face.
"I've been wanting to hear more about this prophecy."
Reply
Frederick frowned, a hint.
"There isn't much to tell," said Frederick. "It was brought to a shaman named Noreen, fifteen years ago, by one of the gods."
Reply
"And all it says is that, someday, this really powerful majik is going to manifest and go on a rampage?" That was vague and cryptic even by prophecy standards. "Nothing about what happens after that?"
Reply
Reply
Wait a minute. They 'believed' it was the same girl?
"Just for your info? I'm pretty sure it is her."
Reply
Reply
"Not to mention she's the one Mikney faced off against, which would probably put her on the top of the list of candidates for druidry." In Sonic's experience, epic battles between unmatched foes ended up in the weaker one either getting utterly crushed, or somehow rising the meet their opponent's level of power. He didn't know how that worked here, but it still made sense.
Reply
"She faced off against him?" Frederick asked, prompting more information.
Reply
Reply
His mouth thinned. "He was a druid, and she a water mage, and she held her own?"
Reply
Reply
Reply
...Though neither of the ones that had anything to do with him might be relevant anymore, if he never got back to his own universe.
Huh.
"Tell me more about humans." He hoped he wasn't coming off as presumptuous, but hey. They were walking through a freaking desert. What else was there to do but talk? "Those of us who've been here from the beginning have been around both elves and demons, but you guys are new."
Reply
"Elves believe in rule of the best," said Frederick; "demons believe that rule of the multitude, with real power given to no one, ensures that the 'best' don't abuse their power. Humans, on the other hand, have codes of law that endure, and have authority over those in power."
Reply
Leave a comment