it would be better for her if she had never been born - Epilogue: Lilia, Alex
Next Post »
+ Show First Post
Total: 770
Posts Per Page:
Permalink
Permalink

"Jehanes is a loyal servant of the Reclamation government and I assumed would tell me if I would better be of service here," she says. 

 

Permalink

Jehanes is like everyone else in Cheliax frightened of and resentful of the Reclamation government and would be at war with it in a heartbeat if he thought he might win. Lilia does not resent being told blatant lies because if she did she'd have gotten tired of her job forty years ago. "I don't think he'll dare retaliate," she says as if Carissa had said something entirely different and more sensible, "but is there anyone we should protect on your behalf?"

 

Permalink

"No."

Permalink

Carissa's mother and sister died when Corentyn was sacked. Her father was smuggled out of the country safely. Beyond retaliation, at least the kind Jehanes is capable of. Not beyond being used as leverage, if it's Lilia using them.

 

"It would take you about five months to save up for your mother's resurrection."

 

Permalink

At that Carissa does actually just fail at controlling her face. The resulting expression is mostly - angry. 

 

Permalink

"I don't care if you do," the woman continues, casually. "But their trials will be delayed, if they have a shockingly wealthy relative who might, so it's not too late. Personally I do not love my sister but I would save her from Hell if it were convenient."

 

Permalink

"I don't have the bodies."

Permalink

"We do. It's too late for a Raise Dead, which is why it'll take you five months."

 

Permalink
Permalink

"I try to be thorough about hiring people."

 

Permalink

"Yes, ma'am. When - and, uh, where - do I start?"

 

 

 


 

Permalink

The anniversary of Iomedae's miraculous appearance in Vigil is looking liable to become a minor holiday there. Lilia decides that she'd like to attend it, not at all in her capacity as a spy except in the sense that she never really stops being a spy. She wants to have the set of shared experiences with Lawful Good people that make people automatically at ease around one another, that make them feel like they are not foreigners. She wants to know all of the Iomedaen jokes, even if they are not very funny; she is already with appropriate gradualness and casualness adopting their quirks of speech. None of this is actually cause to trust her, of course, but it reaches past the conscious mind to the place where trust actually grows. They will have to consciously remind themselves they don't trust her, if she feels like one of them.

 

Getting permission to visit Vigil is always a bit of an ordeal especially if you cannot truthfully answer no to all of the questions about a history of service to Asmodeus. She ends up appealing to Cansellarion for help. "I'm sure you've told whoever you see fit about me but I don't particularly want to attempt to explain myself to whoever grants entrance permits. I promise to be on my best behavior."

 

 

Permalink

"Your best behavior? I will see what I can do."

Permalink

He mentions it to Endel on their next social visit. "Montero wants to visit Vigil for the festival. Promises to be on, quote, her best behavior, end quote."

Permalink

"And she can't go through the normal process because of her history? I really oughtn't just write her one without interviewing her first… but I don't know if an interview will help with any of the concerns that's meant to deal with, given who we're dealing with."

Permalink

"You could do it in Axis. As far as I know that still works."

Permalink

"Seems a bit excessive, no? As long as you're checking her general honesty regularly."

Permalink

"Of course I am."

 


 

Permalink

"So you're the great and terrifying Lila de Montero? Alex told me you were younger but I was expecting less younger than you in fact seem to be. I'm gonna guess you won't tell me how you did it?"

Permalink

"It didn't involve anything that's illegal in Lastwall."

 

Permalink

"Well now I'm even more interested - if you can't or don't want to tell me that's hardly going to be counted against your passport application."

Permalink

"I know a guy. If Lastwall's people are not in such a hurry to get to Heaven as my current impression I can ask him his price."

 

Permalink

"Ma'am, when I joined the expeditionary cavalry I did it in the expectation that I'd never have to endure being fifty, and I passed that road post a while ago. Heaven aside, I could stand to be young again."

Permalink

She finds that oddly soothing. It's her least favorite thing about Cansellarion, the being in a hurry to get to Heaven. And the disinterest in having a better time in this world. "Youth is wasted on the young, as they say. I'll get back to you."

 

Total: 770
Posts Per Page: