Correl of Otley
Correl couldn’t be sure if the room was becoming more or less tense as Lord Brighid’s investigation went on. Her lord’s questions were easily answered by Virgil, Fort Hawke’s magician, but Lord Hawke herself only seemed more and more angered.
“Sir Virgil, have you recently, within two month’s time, visited Lord Petrel’s estate in Caldune? Or recently spoken with Sir Ionel of Muney, or Lady Tor, of Caldune?” Brighid said, as if casually speaking about the weather.
“Unfortunately, the last I spoke of either Lady Tor or Sir Ionel would have been earlier this same year, during a festival gathering. Nothing recent to note, my lord.” Virgil responded, as natural as the stars in the sky.
To Correl, it seemed that Virgil was either incredibly well versed in interrogative questioning or he was telling the absolute truth, but it was hard to say. Only Lord Brighid knew what she was looking for for her quest.
And that was nothing to say of Lord Brighid’s calming and commanding demeanor. The air she presented now was nothing like the unsteady shakiness she’d carried earlier in the day.
“I see. And what of Sirs Gordon, and Jericho? Have you heard from them within the last quarter month or so?” Brighid continued, to which Virgil responded much like before. Nothing conclusive. This had already gone on for the better part of half an hour, with Lord Hawke’s permission and presence, but that bottle had finally managed to run out.
“Are you done?” The fearsome lord snapped, giving Correl a small start that she barely managed to keep hidden. Even in Caer Wynn she’d never wanted to be yelled at, so her reaction was ingrained even when the rising temperament wasn’t directed at her. Lord Brighid and Sir Virgil seemed unfazed, however, with the latter turning to Lord Hawke.
Virgil had a kind and pleading voice, when he responded to his mistress, “Lord Hawke, I must do whatever Lord Brighid requests of me to proclaim my innocence.” Correl couldn’t help but feel he may deal with that temper often.
The mistress of Fort Hawke was not amused, “No. You’ve answered what amounts to the same question for far too long already. Not to mention our guests tardiness… T-this feel’s somewhat deliberate on their part, as if they’re trying to force a lie out of you.” Her voice was low, but like a coming storm, the cloudiness was evident, even if she was being quiet. “I was with Virgil for majority of the times you’ve mentioned, you could very well have asked me abut his whereabouts, Brighid.”
Correl turned to Lord Brighid who was either unamused by the Lord Hawke’s venomous tone, or completely unaware of it. Cool grey eyes looked on unfazed, and she responded, by turning her head towards Virgil, “You should know as well as I, my lord. While I can appreciate your statements on Sir Virgil’s whereabouts, I must hear from his mouth directly.”
Lord Hawke growled, like an animal, in response, the low tone of her voice rising slightly. Correl managed to catch Brighid’s eyes for a moment, and her master shrugged, the smallest smile playing on her lips before fading away, leaving Correl to question if it had ever existed in the first place.
“We are, once again, sorry for our late arrival as well.” Lord Brighid added, her face once again the calm, stoic mask, as if that was really the crux of the issue here.
Correl moved closer to Lord Brighid, as much as she could professionally. She was sort of out of her element here, and in this air, was concerned about a fight breaking out between the two. While Lord Brighid was an incredibly powerful knight of the modern day, Lord Hawke was a powerful warrior long ago. So she was finding herself grappling with the very real possibility that they were walking on thin ice.
In the small silence that threatened to form, Sir Virgil spoke up again, “Tensions are high,” he mustered out, once again that same airily, sleepy calm voice, “Perhaps a night’s rest and first light will make for better conversation and calmer minds.”
Lord Brighid once again agreed, “That would be excellent, my most gracious host.”
Sir Virgil called for a servant to set up a room for them, and offered to take the pair to their room, and before Correl could question what they would be doing for the interrogation, Lord Brighid agreed on their behalf. Lord Hawke, too seemed confused, and upset, trying to get a word in about us stating here, but Virgil seemed to halt that conversation in its tracks.
Correl wondered about what type of power a court magician must have to be able to supersede their lord like that. Lord Hawke had quieted, resorting to grumbling something, but not another biting word came from her, and Virgil seemed to speak with her quietly but Correl couldn’t quite make out what was said. Before she could try to listen deeper, Lord Brighid placed a hand on her shoulder, shaking her head lightly at Correl. A sign to stop and withdraw apparently. Virgil led them both out of the Lord’s study and down several hallways, all the way along, speaking with Brighid in quiet tones.
“Have that many of us truly gone missing in such a short time? He asked, and Brighid’s stoic mask seemed to drop back to that somber, tired reality. “Yes…” she responded, “…but you, and your master, will be happy to know that I can rule you out of this investigation, Soothsayer.”
Virgil’s eyes widened and his walk slowed to, “I…” but Brighid held up a hand to wave away his discomfort, “I can see now how you deal with your lady’s temper.” She mused. Correl on the other hand, was thoroughly confused.
Correl was not well-versed on magic, it was never a topic that would come up in Caer Wren, aside from the fact that there were a very select few in this world who were able to use it. Whatever a Soothsayer was, it could not have been the cause of the murders that Brighid described, so that was good. But why, if he was immediately ruled out, then did they not tell the incensed Lord Hawke of Sir Virgil’s innocence?
She was not able to ask this question of either of them, since they were still caught up in their own conversation. As a squire, Correl herself was not actually privy to any information or conversation unless directly given permission by Lord Brighid. So there was no real moment for her to pop in and ask, “What the hell are we talking about?” She wold just have to ask for more clarification from Lord Brighid alone later.
Tuning back into their conversation, she heard Sir Virgil, “…never would have assumed that there was a knight among the kingdom of Yor who knew anything of magic!” He was thoroughly astonished, “This must be why King Hedrick chose you to look into this.” Lord Brighid shrugged off the praise, and their small party seemed to arrive at their destination. Sir Virgil opened the door for them, and Lord Brighid motioned for Correl to go first into room, which she did.
She did a once over, and noted the room was mostly empty save for one bed, a writing desk, and a window, and almost immediately reminded of her old room. She had their bags from Trillion and placed them down in a corner of the room to sort out later. When she turned back to the door, she saw Sir Virgil muttering something to Lord Brighid, who had leaned down a bit to hear him better. She was nodding.
The conversation ended shortly after and Sir Virgil bid them both good night. Lord Brighid walked into the room, and sat down on the floor. Immediately she looked exhausted, and sad. Correl crouched on the floor near her. “Can I ask you what Sir Virgil said to you before leaving?”
“I believe I already said that you may ask whatever it is you need of me, as fair trade for your assistance.” Brighid, rubbed her eyes, and while the voice she’d spoken with had been lighter and more joyous, she still looked so tired.
“Sir Virgil had some information he felt might be useful to me.” She continued, “He’d made mention that his magic was granted to him, to all magicians from… some place. That usually this place and our natural world are not usually so easily connected other than through the magicians that grace the courts, but that something was wrong with it now.”
Correl was worried of sounding stupid or meddlesome, but remembered her lord’s comments about her asking whatever she needed to, “What…does any of that mean?”
Lord Brighid laughed, covering her mouth up quickly, “I’m sorry! I didn’t expect you to ask so…honestly.” The lady coughed for a moment, then shook her head, “The way it was explained to me, would be similar to… armor.” She tugged on her sleeve, “The armor protects one from the outside world and while it is on, no damage should come to the wearer, right?” Correl nodded along, taking mental notes.
“From what Sir Virgil has told me, there has been a hole punctured through this armor, which usually contains the magic that he and all other mages use. While there is a hole there, the magic can no longer be protected from the outside world and leaks out into this world.” Lord Brighid even motioned with her hands where the magic would “leak out” and like a wound, make contact with the outside world.
“Ah.” mused Correl, “So the magic… is leaking out and attacking people uncontrolled?”
Brighid shook her head, and her eyes darkened, “No… from what Virgil said there were other…creatures that inhabited that world. And one of them seems to have taken to murder.”
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