"Should get these bodies dealt with." Silver pulled himself upright. "Though the Master may not approve of the blood everywhere."
"I believe the liberation of his fief might excuse a few bloodstains. Did we check everyone..?"
"Yeah. Let me just..." Violet got up, busying herself with checking the bodies over. Each of the hobgoblins had some money- the rest of everything else was fairly mundane. The magic-caster had a dagger on him, but otherwise nothing special. Nazin's body made Violet pause- she delicate in her movements. Eventually she discerned he had scale mail, a fancy coat and of course, the flail. That damned flail... I remember every lash inflicted on me with this thing...
To nobody's surprise, Violet picked the flail up. She tucked it away into her backpack, a trophy of triumph. Instantly after Violet scurried back, Thorin grabbed the priest's body. Silver and Asriel grabbed the trio of hobgoblins, and Sera picked up Nazin. Moving down to the main floor with the bodies, they were greeted by a very surprised staff- and the Master himself, surprised and delighted to see the six.
"There you brave heroes are... Though I am, ah, surprised to see you brought-"
"The bodies down? Yeah, it beat ruining all the nice floors more than they have. Mind, they might be already ruined beyond repair... Anyways, where can we put them?"
"Right. Outside, please- I have people who will take care of them. For now, come with me." All seven walked along after the bodies were put out- back into the main tower, up to the top floor. Opening a chest, he had Asriel pull something out. The two of the them stepped out onto the balcony- and the man lowered the Iron Ring flag. With Asriel's help, they raised a new flag- signifying the reclamation of Highdell Keep. In turn, the original flag had been given to Asriel- who passed it to Violet, she tucking it away as well.
"You have my deepest gratitude... My apologies, I have not caught your names."
"My name... is Asriel. These are... Silver, Jordan, Sera, Thorin and Violet." Each waved in turn silently at the mention of their name. "Forgive us... I believe we have yet to find out who you are."
The man smiled. "Ah, yes- I am Ser Renald, Master Of Highdell Keep. I wish to extend my deepest thanks, to the Defenders Of Highdell. Should there be anything I can do for you, please don't hesitate to tell me."
"I believe we are fine, thank you. Is there... anything else we can do for you, Sir Renald?"
"No, thank you kindly."
"Perhaps we will be... allowed something, then?" A brief pause, then he spoke on. "In the chapel, there are... Those who met an unfortunate end. Might we be permitted to perform last rites?"
"Of course, of course! I don't see why you would need permission?.."
"We need a space for cremation." Violet's soft-spoken voice startled Sir Renald. "My uncle Tahnlan is one of the bodies, and-"
"Tahnlan was your uncle?" Violet nodded softly, rubbing an arm gently. Renald thought about some of Tahnlan's stories- and many things clicked. Violet was the niece he spoke fondly of, the one he searched for on and off for years. This was the hin that the Iron Ring spoke of. It makes sense now... His mind tugged at a memory- a snippet of information, about the Good Folk. They were prone to cremate their own, for reasons unknown to the Lord.
"We will clear space for you, so that you may complete the rites."
Violet brought her uncle Tahnlan out- burning the body carefully. Tahnlan's ashes were gathered for Violet to take back to her family. Even if he was well and truly gone, the gesture was welcomed. Asriel frowned, but kept his silence. The cleric was set to rest in the cemetery, last rites performed. Everyone else cleaned up the grounds, assisted by staff. After this, the six were offered accommodation for the night- but they wished to see the town, promising return by nightfall.
Going down, townsfolk rushed out to see the Defenders Of Highdell- cheers and admiration aplenty, from those who had seen the rising flag. Asriel found himself drawn to a particular building as they passed- a woman standing outside, watching with quiet admiration. Slipping away from the group, he walked over to her- seeing a familiar set of iconography. "Good afternoon, Sister..."
"Sondal. A pleasure, young man. I was wondering which among you was of the faith." The Sister smiled gently at him. Opening the door, she led Asriel inside to the chapel. Intimately elegant in design, though depreciating, the large chapel had seen better days. Various shrines, stripped down to barest essentials, greeted him. Eyes drank everything in, shock crossing his features.
"Was this... The Iron Ring's work? Nazin's doing?"
"Unfortunately. Nazin had levied heavy taxes- so heavy, it would ruin the chapel. I had no idea how I would have come up with the funds- we had already drained the coffers, and..."
"I understand." Bitterness laced Asriel's thoughts a moment. "Might I be... allowed to-?"
"You need not ask, young man. Defenders Of Highdell are always welcome here."
Settling before a shrine, prayers were offered to Tiresias. But the prayers felt not quite sincere, and incomplete.... Much swirled in his mind, a rare emotional maelstrom raging. Sadness for the senseless and violent deaths of those devoted to shared faith. Disgust for the desecration currently around him. Anger toward the Iron Ring, and all their destructive touch wrought. Satisfaction at achieving liberation for these good people. Camaraderie for the group he'd fallen in with- they seemed a decent lot. These were surface emotions, easy enough to identify. Touches of confusion, over the burning of the body and claiming of the ashes. Was it a hin thing?
Laced throughout all of this, subtle and nuanced emotions toward and about the focus of this entire adventure. Violet. On one hand, something about her bothered him. Perhaps it was in the inclination toward violence and murder, reminiscent of the Ring she strove to escape from and stand against. Perhaps the enigmatic nature of the hin. Asriel couldn't even be sure her name was Violet- for all he knew, it was a fake identity of sorts! Maybe it was her ice-cold persona, and insistent recklessness. All these elements bothered the goatman.
Yet he knew why she acted that way. Asriel witnessed for himself Violet's softer side- a side that he gleaned the impression nobody ever saw anymore... Underneath the sarcastic, distrustful, icy and enigmatic surface lay someone... delightful. Passionate. Dedicated, when she set her mind to something. Loyal and fierce, protective once you got through her deeply-icy exterior. That camaraderie did extend to the hin- but it was unfortunately tainted. Contradictory and confusing, that's what she was. With a soft sigh he got up, thanked Sister Sondal and left- leaving a most generous donation behind to the chapel.
Weaving his way through the streets, all eyes were on him as Asriel made his way into the bustling tavern- looking up at the sign. ‘Nonnie's.’ He took note- as people began to part for him… Just in time to hear some recounting of the day's events.
"...The battle was absolute chaos. As good battles are want to do. But with the help of the others- the day has been claimed."
"I concur, the combined efforts of all made victory attainable."
"I'd say we couldn't have done it without Violet. She's the one who's dealt with the Iron Ring before. And without her, we wouldn't know how to handle them. Let's raise a flagon! To Violet!"
"To Violet!! To the Defenders Of Highdell!" A toast was given, though the Hin looked rather uncomfortable with being the focus.
They couldn't have waited a little bit?.. Weaving his way inside, people cheered louder and raised a secondary toast. But the goatman paid it little mind- from his perspective, it seemed he'd been left out of the celebrations. Asriel settled into a corner, a drink slid over by a Hin woman who smiled at him.
"For you- the finest ale, perfectly aged from our Cliffside Brewery." Asriel nodded polite thanks and took a sip. Light, with a slight woody and spicy flavour. Slightly bitter, to balance it all out. It was well made- but didn't do much to warm his spirits. His mind was sloshing everything over, falling into a dark spell- brought about by the state of the church.
"I think Asriel's feeling a bit left out." Sera tapped Violet's shoulder, holding up the board- then subtly tipped their head over.
Violet nodded, looking to him sitting alone. "I think you're right. You wanna talk to him?"
"Maybe? Think you'd be better off doing it, if I’m honest. But I think we should bring him into the fold, you know?"
"Makes sense. But I'm worried about making things worse?" Sera and Violet shared a nod and a sigh. Before they could decide how to proceed, the crowd focused their attention on the duo.
"Tell us what it was like Violet! Facing the Iron Ring again- your blue-haired friend here said you'd dealt with them before!" One man shouted.
"Yeah! How was it seeing them again? Did your companions make it easier??"
Violet paled, then raised an eyebrow at Jordan- who grinned wildly. Note to self, kill Jordan later. Crowds were not her thing, nor was being open. Forced into both, Violet had little recourse. Standing atop a table, so she be on height par with everyone, she nodded- trying to hide her discomfort. "I have dealt with them before, this is true. To see Nazin again, it was... The Iron Ring is not a force to take lightly. Sadistic, twisted and cruel, they are living nightmares. As all of you well know. With that said, having a good group of people behind me, made all the difference."
Everyone hung onto her every word. Silence fell over the room- Violet speaking on after a short but dramatic pause. "Everyone was incredibly brave- not just us, I mean everyone of all the villages here. Great fortitude is needed to take on a force like the Ring. A toast- to everyone's strength and bravery!" Cheers went around, another toast had before she spoke on.
"I want to also share my gratitude for the five who I was fortunate enough to meet. These fine people came purely on my word. I gave them a chance to go their own way- knowing of the dangers coming. They chose to come, without hesitation. And here they stand- each of them defenders, protectors, advisors... and the best friends a woman could ask for. To friendship, and the Defenders Of Highdell!!"
More cheers, another toast. All five were surprised to hear Violet call them her friends. A small gesture, but one that would not be forgotten. Looking over to Asriel, her glance caught him watching her- sadness and suspicion on his face. Impulsive, Violet made a decision- with no way of knowing if it would be the correct one, but hoping it would. Leaping over, Asriel barely grabbed his drink before Violet topped the table and sat beside him. All eyes were on him now, his eyes on her.
"...And a special thank you, to Asriel. Without him I wouldn't be here. None of us would be, without his guidance and counsel. To Asriel!"
"To Asriel!!!" The most energetic toast yet was raised, purely in his honour. Despite the good face he put on, it made him rather uncomfortable.
~
Celebrations went on well into the night- but the group excused themselves at sundown. While most of them lingered, Asriel left immediately- Violet not far behind. She had to run a little to catch up with him, confused by the emotional storminess. "Asriel! Wait up!" Violet fell in time with him, barely able to keep pace. "Hey, something’s clearly bothering you- what's going on?"
"Like you don't know." Asriel strode on- only to find himself cut off by the Hin staring at him. Looking hurt- the same hurt expression she wore in the cellar.
"I don't. What's going on, Asriel? First you disappeared when we went to celebrate. Then you showed up and were upset. Now you're ignoring me!"
"I'm not sure if I'm more upset with the Ring... or with you." That certainly caught Violet's attention. "The Iron Ring has done a lot of harm here… especially to the Church. That is... infuriating. And hurtful. Not to mention… we lost two good people. Still can't believe… Tahnlan is related to you, of all people." A pause, before he went on. "But you... One moment you hate us, the next… we are your friends? I don’t like lies. And, Violet… if that even is your name-" She recoiled at that. "-I didn't like... being put in the light. You left me out. Trying to fix it… will not work."
Glaring down at her, it surprised him to see her staring up in shock. "...I- I'm sorry Asriel, I didn't want to- to put you on a spot, I… Please understand, I do care. Yes, I've been... difficult, and I’m sorry. This brought up a lot. Nazin has done a lot of harm- seeing him again made me remember.” Momentary silence fell- Violet looking down at her feet.
”You may not realize this, but… When we got to Nonnie's, I was surprised you weren't with us. The people inside wanted to celebrate, and we figured you'd join us later. Asriel, we're not trying to leave you out... I promise. I-" Looking up, she could see his skepticism.
"You’ve already decided, I'm lying. I... All I can say, is that I’m sorry, for everything. I’ll make it up to you... Even if you decide Nazin and LEviticus were onto something with me." Asriel caught the tear sliding down her face. He reached out- but she turned on her heel, sprinting toward the castle. Tears glittering in the moonlight as she ran.
Sighing deeply, he watched her run. There was a lot more that Asriel had to think about.
Chapter 21- Chaotic Assault On Highdell, Vindication