>>5496107>>5496107“Your abilities are admirable,” you acknowledge readily. “The way you manipulate light and shadow to your advantage… It s of particular merit, facing foes from above and below alike. Those accustomed to darkness can be blinded with light, those used to light can be blinded by its absence.”
“I wasn’t given command of a border patrol at random,” Jazkarmel quips.
“I can see that. I am impressed.”
The Drow frowns, and looks away.
“And yet,” she notes sourly, “with the border patrol I shall remain.”
You wince a little under this implicit critique. It behooves you to say something, you feel… But expressing such feelings as empath and affection remains somewhat alien to you, a foreign country, barely colonized.
“I… Understand.”
Jazkarmel raises her eyebrows, looking back at you.
“It was necessary,” you explai. “Our alliance, our races’ futures, it RELIES upon relations between Bloodrise and Wevenore. It was not… EPrsonal.”
“So it goes, with lizardmen.”
You sense some tension there, and you realize at length that Jazkarmel is not upset with YOU… But with your subordinate—her lover, the Archer.
“Oluwadamilare is loyal to the cause,” you say. “It does not mean he does not love you.”
Jazkarmel huffs, and rubs her forehead.
“He can’t even tell me what his lifespan is, as a hybrid. Humans… They live such short lives! Who knows how long we have? And yet…”
You hesitate a moment, then do as the elves do, and rest your clawed hand upon the smoothness of Jazkarmel’s silk-swathed shoulder. She pause sin surprise.
“He does this for your future, and his, as well.”
You think of the Novice, and of your other… Well, not LOVE, necessarily, but your first mate, and the bearer of your children: the great glowworm-queen whom you call ‘Glowie’, bearer of a clutch of your eggs. She waits for you at the Drow encampment even now.
“We all do what we must,” you say, “for those whom we care for. It is not always a GOOD thing, but it is a NECESSARY thing… And it is done out of love.”
Jazkarmel meets your eyes for time in silence, then laughs her crystalline laugh, and rests her forehead upon your chest as she collects herself from the outburst.
“You know, you have become a very sappy creature, Theral,” she comments.
“I am sorry,” you say.
“I know,” the Borderguard Princess acknowledges. “Now, assume the position. We meditate until you can summon light and darkness as easily as you control fire and earth.”
>+1 Illusion>Learned: Dazzle [Imposes a minor disadvantage against any foe when successful, and a doubly-severe disadvantage against those used to darkness]>Learned: Shadow [Imposes a minor disadvantage against any foe when successful, and a doubly-severe disadvantage against those unused to darkness]<C>
