apostatised | [prompt] if wishes were horses then beggars would ride

a wish that came true; knowledge

Elenes were simple creatures, led more by their devotion to some foolish idea of logic than the religion that they freely spilled the blood of countless others in the name of. A race of bullies, armed with the steel they so admired, with numbers and cunning enough to rule wielding brute force. They were like children, and they disgusted him.

He couldn't understand what value Sephrenia and the vile thief she blindly worshipped saw in Elenia - much less in the sword arm of their holy mother church. Lowering herself that way...

The muffled metallic thud of a coin purse hitting the table interrupted his thoughts, and his gaze met that of the white-haired knight in front of him. A proud and powerful young man, the very finest that the Pandion Order had to offer; his hubris would be his downfall, and so much the better. The cool arrogance in his eyes, the warrior's strength and tactician's mind - he was exactly what was required.

All the same, Zalasta would be glad to see the back of him. He counted the coins slowly, muttering the numbers under his breath and ignoring the impatient chuff of air across the table. "Good," he said, in harshly accented Elenic, "sit down."

a wish that didn't; impulse control

"Morning, sir."

"Good morning, Ewar." The Lord did not look up, his attention caught and held by the map (the mountains here, though he'd have to see it right side up to be sure) spread out on his desk in front of him - it was a bit makeshift, Ewar thought, but it'd do well enough until work in the tower was completed. "The south side. We're having problems?"

"Minor accident that way," he reported dutifully, "but nothing to worry you with. I thought I'd let you know before I went down to keep an eye on 'em."

"Good man. I'll stop by this afternoon." He traced a path with a piece of charcoal, eyes narrowed, and eventually looked up as his young Arum overseer did not, in fact, go down to keep an eye on them. "All right, out with it."

"If it's not too bold-"

"Oh, I'm sure that it is. Go ahead."

"I saw you changed your mind about putting the woman out of it. Sir."

"What powers of observation you have, Ewar."

"Well done, my lord."

Martel laughed, and when he said nothing else and turned back to the paper in front of him, Ewar took it as a dismissal. He caught up with Langler on his way down to the south side, and clapped him on the shoulder. "Look busy, my friend. The lady of the manor's arrived."

(It was more of an implication than a rumour, when it started.)