Preparations

[Benreeder]

Journal of Jack Outremer

There are plenty of excuses I give myself for why I am doing this.

“Think of the favors the families will owe you!”
“The Order will owe you a big favor!”
“It will upset the DeJardin to no end!”
“Think of the loot you might find!”

But in the end, it comes down to the least selfish, least…CRIMINAL of motives.

The DeJardin are using kids as pawns, as leverage against their parents. There is no lower deed than to use children so, whether it be as a guarantee for a parent’s cooperation, or to further one’s own ambitions.

If before yesterday I had any doubts about the cost of making contact with the refugee network or building the safehouse, they were dispelled the moment I read Arianna’s missive. It seems I completed both tasks not a moment too soon, in fact. No sooner were those things done than my cohorts came to me with the thought of rescuing the students of Hexhaven, their hearts mirroring my own. I could ask for no braver folk at my side, but my heart aches for the absence of Marcus and Poet, two folk I would dearly love to know are safe in these trying times. I could use their presence, both by blade and wisdom.

Speaking of Poet, seeing Posey brought such an ache to my soul, knowing that her sister is well, even if there is such danger to her, but with Poet so far away in this moment. She has sought her family for so long. I hope for their reunion, even if I only hear of it. That news would be a balm to my soul in this trying time. But even in the face of this, I am also grateful to have such good folk around me, for one of my cohorts took the higher path, and made sure certain other parties were satisfied without the bloodshed they seemed to crave on the surface.

Which brings me to a hard decision. I have three folk with me, but a fourth or even a fifth would not go amiss. More than that, and we are too many to move unnoticed, fewer, and we are woefully ill-equipped for the task at hand. A fighter would be well recieved, but I also need someone of a more mystical bent. There are many in Meadowmere who would go if called, but who to ask? Who to trust?

All I know is that in this, I have found an endeavor that is worth any risk. Some in this town think me a knave, and in this, a knave I must be, if for the best of causes.

[Author]

Posts