All they say is "trust in what is written"

[secondcity_npc]

Characters: NPCs and you!
Time: Various
Location: Various
Content: Questions and answers.
Format: Poster's choice
Warnings: n/a

Comments

The Public Library - History Section

[becauseimboring]

[the_postoffice]

"I doubt you'll find any true answers in there."

He was passing her by her at that moment, a dozen or so yards away and as silent as the grave. He didn't offer any more than that, although he did pause to frown at her - the expression did nothing to lift the weary look in his grayish-blue eyes.

[becauseimboring]

[the_postoffice]

He didn't turn to tell her to stop following her, but neither did he completely give her his full attention. "You're asking me to tell you something that is influenced by specific circumstances." He paused, rounding a corner to find himself surrounded by tall bookshelves brimming with books dating back to the beginning of the twentieth century. "Circumstances that took place in a setting that I was not present to witness."

He stopped then and looked at her askance. "I should be asking you what you know about the Grail from your encounter with the knights."

[becauseimboring]

[the_postoffice]

Houdini silently took in her words even as he seemed to be looking for a specific book on the shelves in front of him. Even when she had finished speaking, he didn't answer right away - as if the search for whatever dusty text was more important than the tenth pillar.

Finally, he pulled a small black-covered book away and turned back to her, although he didn't lift his eyes to meet hers. "He hid it from you," he murmured, paging through the book. "Having all ten pillar together at the same would be detrimental for some reason. The question is why."

He briefly looked up at her, that serious gaze revealing nothing of his innermost thoughts. "I assume it is working like an amulet."

[becauseimboring]

[the_postoffice]

Dark fire flashed briefly in his eyes and he seemed inclined not to even grace that with an answer. "There's no reason to hide it from us. If there is anyone who knows the importance of finding the eleventh pillar, it would be one of Arthur's knights."

He pointed to the charm that still hung around her neck. "Weeks, days, months - they are meaningless here without context. Whether you believe it or not, we don't constantly watch over your shoulders to keep you in line." He turned slightly, snapping the book shut loudly. "The Grail is a holy relic - trying to comprehend why it acts as it does would be trying to take the position of a knight."

His next words were very quiet, nearly inaudible: "Which is why, it seems, he would give it to you."

[becauseimboring]

[the_postoffice]

"Time doesn't run in a straight line," Houdini corrected her with something shockingly akin to patience. "And neither do the different universes. Giving you the Grail and hiding it away may mean that he knew, from his experience, something would happen if he didn't." He shook his head. "It's a paradox and one you'd do best not to make sense of."

He began walking down the aisle, leaving Clare no choice but to follow if she wanted answers. "It may have been resonating with the other pillars - but if they all went cold, it could mean that the time isn't right to bring all ten together." He shook his head wearily. "I'm not going to pretend to understand how it adds up - no amount of research can reveal what wasn't there in the first place."

[becauseimboring]

[the_postoffice]

"It may alert you to how great the danger is," he replied, nodding at the charm. "Or the presence of the Summer or Winter courts - it's difficult to say exactly."

Something strange happened at her last question: Houdini suddenly stopped dead in his tracks and cast a frowning look at Clare, settling into a sudden and unnerving silence. When he finally spoke, his accent clipped a lot of the words, making them sound colder than even he probably intended.

"Whoever said it wasn't written down?"

[becauseimboring]

[the_postoffice]

He narrowed his eyes at her words. "Let me clarify - no amount of research can find what isn't readily accessible." He looked to be weighing his next words carefully even though a glint of annoyance flashed briefly in his eyes.

Finally, he let out a short sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose as if fighting off a headache. "The only trouble with your research is that it led you directly into every fabricated myth about the Arthurian legend ever created."

[becauseimboring]

[the_postoffice]

Surprise flickered across his face, soon watered down by that same weary disposition that seemed to encompass him. "Exactly," he asked slowly, looking awfully tempted to pinch the bridge of his nose, "how long do you think my 'brotherhood' has been around? The stories you have encountered were created by none other than the White Council of wizards - sure, they have some truth to them but most of the myths are distant variations of the truth."