Beginning of the Decline

[Lavinian Ambition]

Closed, Solo. If you wish to join please PM me to work out an entry point for you. I have a story I wish to tell and woudl like to maintain that story's integrity.

Boredom.

If there was one thing Jared hated more than anything else in the world, it was that single concept. The act of having nothing to do and being forced to do it. The act of sitting on his hands so as to not cause any more trouble than he already had. It was one thing when boredom struck on a ship, he could move for a change of scenery, but when your entire task was the very definition of boredom, Jared knew fast he would grow to hate his time in Berevar. He couldn't just walk around and change things, he had nowhere to go. If he wanted to freeze to death sure he could go elsewhere, but he liked his soul right where it was.

The fact he had the Lavinian Hawk, Garret Brown with him didn't help at all. Even more the fact his wife was with him as a sort of vacation from his usual duties. This created uncomfortable scenes as they traveled in which someone would think Jared was Rachel's kid. The jokes had been humorous the first few times, then quickly got old. Of course they played on that belief, not correcting any who made the "connection" but Jared hated the fact he was sorely outclassed in this small area of age. Even as much as two years older and he would have had the frazzled edge of a fully grown adult, not the adolescent enthusiasm that marked a kid in most people's eyes.

Of course the two gave him his space, often because they were too busy enjoying each other's company. Though they already had one kid it seemed that his erstwhile companions felt they needed another, and as such had begun the process. With Jared as the next door neighbor he had been subjected to the noise that entailed. Repeatedly. His anger towards Hawk only enflamed when the man made light of the situation. Needless to say he wasn't even sure why they were in this backwater hole watching some chick with white hair, while trying to look like a bunch of yokels on pilgrimage.

Even now he was sitting on the front porch of the inn they were staying in, slowly peeling the skin from the apple before he would cut a slice and pop it into his mouth. Garret would snort at the fact Jared was using the daggers he had gained on full membership to the Lavinian Thief's Guild, but otherwise had left the boy alone knowing full well that Jared and him just wouldn't see eye to eye. So he sat, in the frigid cold, bundled under a cloak and sighed as he watched the young girl who he had been dragged up north to watch once again move home from the local church, which doubled as some sort of school.

It was the barest edge of Autumn in Berevar, giving the trees a riot of color almost out of place in the world. A wooden fence ran along the road in spots, more to allow horses to be tethered to it than form any true boundary. The field nearby was nothing more than the open area near the church that doubled as a play yard. The road would take them out of the business part of town, and closer to the homes that lived in the farms and the small glens in the nearby forest. even now leaves danced upon the wind as a harsh breeze stripped a few from their position on the branches. Students moving along the fence even as the occasional boy tried to walk to fence casually, showing off for some girl no doubt. At least, that's why Jared would be pulling such a stunt.

It was sad really, even as he popped another apple slice into his mouth he could see who would move in now. Two girls seemed to be the leadership of the so called flock, and the girl in white hair was a favored target of these jackals. They often tormented the girl to the point of near violence till the girl would turn and leave, and each time Jared was certain that he was missing something. Why was he watching the girl? Why was she so hated here? Who the hell was she? It just didn't add up that Darith of all people would order this sort of behavior from his thieves. The girl was a pariah, an outcast and had quite the temper, probably from having to fight for any ounce of respect in this town.

They ignored her when she was well behaved and started on her when she acted up. Even the priests seemed on edge around her, though they at least had the common courtesy to not blatantly show their bias against her. Jared could see it in the way they watched her, almost waiting for her to turn into some monster that they would in turn kill them all. Jared frankly wouldn't have blamed the girl if she came to school with a knife and started stabbing kids, the way they constantly taunted and harassed her made it clear that whatever anger the parents had towards her, was carried by the children with prejudice.

Today however, things were already starting vicious. One of he girls had picked up a rotten apple from the ground, and it was lobbed as the opening salvo in the new wave of torment of the poor girl. Even as she looked incredulously at the apple on the ground and rubbed the back of her head, where rotten juices had seeped into her scalp, she was already yelling at the girls who giggled. That was until his white haired charge said something. Jared couldn't make it out, but he could tell it had her opponents infuriated. Trouble was brewing big time as their postures changed to one of a fight brewing, her tormentors seemed to take the insult as a challenge. The two were ready to go to blows and it was obvious that if someone didn't step in, he'd be looking at a catfight that could turn ugly.

He looked about and saw the adults had ignored the treatment of the young girl, her white hair marking her as the outcast child. However now that things were tensing up he could see some of them muttering under their breath. One walked by talking about how the "Ambria kid was at it again..."

That lit a fire in Jared's chest as he moved, even as the apple was dropped to the ground discarded and intervened in what he could only assume was the end of a vicious cycle of taunting and fighting that would have continued had no one stepped in. Suddenly the girls were arguing the next he was talking, and somehow, the words just felt...right, "Ladies, no need to argue over little 'ole me, there's plenty enough to go around..."

That sure got everyone's attention.

[Lavinian Ambition]

"Who are you?" The voice came out accented, and from pink lips that on any other woman Jared would have found cute, had he not witnessed just how rotten the girl's soul truly was. He hated bullies, and today was the rare time he decided to step in. Still Jared kept himself firmly between the white haired girl he was sent to watch over, and the blonde haired girl that had been antagonizing her, her friend now behind her as if trying to shield herself from the would be savior.

Cowards...

"Just stopping by, and noticed you seem to be working extra hard on dirtying up the girl. You don't need to trash the competition cutie, I'll be more than willing to spend my time with each of you in turn..." The words were oozing with pride and confidence, even as his heart beat in anger. It was odd, to be trying to seduce a girl he'd rather punch in the mouth. He took it as another sign of that growing cynicism that Darith was warning him about.

The girls face scrunched in confusion and anger before she sputtered, "Why would I want to spend my time with you?"

Now was the time to go on the attack, "Oh, so you weren't trying to impress me? Wow, the way you go after the poor girl you'd think you were jealous or something..." Then he caught it, the fist coming from the side full on his cheek. He stumbled a step a carefully felt the jaw, and upon feeling nothing loose or out of place spat the coppery fluid of blood from where the punch had caused his cheeks to cut on his teeth. His eyes glinted mischievously towards the school boy who stood with his hands down at his sides in that typical macho boy look that so many kids found so cool. It was laughable to anyone who knew how to fight, but Jared kept the wry amusement out of his voice as he spoke, "Oh, you're spoken for? "

"Leave the girl alone, she wasn't hurting anyone!" The boy hissed as he stepped up to Jared face looming in front of face. A look of boredom passed the Lavinian's face as he shook his head softly. The boy pushed Jared hard, causing him to back peddle a step before he caught himself, now feeling the heat of the girl he was supposed to be watching behind him. He found it odd the girl hadn't run, but filed that away for later as he raised an eyebrow and chuckled, "What's so funny?"

"You got any idea how big a hypocrite you really are?" Fist flailed out again only to be caught in hand as the Lavinian carelessly tossed the arm aside, another leaf falling from the trees between the two boys as Jared continued on, "Oh yes, protect your ladies. Keep them safe from the dirty outsider, but fuck the girl with white hair. She's a demon in human clothing and deserves nothing but torment from you assholes."

Fists flailed out uncoordinated, and furthermore, in rash anger, Jared merely moved his body the minimal distance to avoid each blatantly telegraphed punch before the boy was reduced to a panting wreck of a man. Jared clucked his tongue in disapproval before he heard Garret's voice over the din, "Jared, what the hell are you doing?"

Gauntlet clad hand gripped the back of the boy's cloak roughly thrusting him away from the fight as the Boy scrambled away from the older man. Obviously the inclusion of an adult in the affair caused it to go straight to escape as the kids all ran off, except for the white haired girl who watched the two of them from behind eyes simmering with anger. Jared looked at Garret with a look of disbelief on his face as the older man began his lecture, "What part of stay on the god damned porch do you not understand boy? Do I have to spell it out from you? We're on our way through here and that means make as little trouble as possible. If we pick a fight with the locals we aren't going to make it very far in each town. Now get on the porch!"

Jared checked his cheek again before he spat more blood out and spoke up, "I thought one of the Seraph teachings was tolerance and kindness..."

Garret gripped Jared by the front of his cloak and said firmly, "I said get on the porch, now move."

Jared barely managed a 'yes sir' before he was shoved firmly towards the porch. looking over his shoulder at the girl he gave a sheepish shrug and said softly, "Sorry, I guess..."

The girl only watched him for what seemed like a moment before she turned on Garret and started yelling at the man. He took the tirade stoically only nodding his head in agreement or voicing such acknowledgments as she continued before she turned in a huff and ran home. Jared was more than certain he picked up a few choice insults in the exchange that ensued before Garret came back and sighed, his shoulders sagging greatly before he spoke, "Do you have any idea, what you have done Jared?"

"Protected her from the bullies. They were about to come to blows..."

"No Jared, you didn't. You only delayed it, and now that they have a full night to plan, its going to be worse for that girl. Do you have any idea how stupid you are? You just literally cursed that girl with a harsher punishment than before," Garret said softly. He patted Jared on the shoulder before he spoke, "There is a reason we only watch. We can't protect her all the time, and if we tried, we'd only harm her when we couldn't be there."

"Why is she here? Why are we watching her? Why the fuck do we have any interest in what's going on here anyways?!?"

Garret closed his eyes and sighed before he saw Rachel coming up the street with a small bag of food. He shook his head slowly before he muttered an oath under his breath and looked to his wife. She walked up to the two of them picking up on the solemnity of the moment before she asked, "What did Jared do now?"

"Why is it magically my fault?" Jared asked exploding in righteous rage at the accusation.

"Because Garret and I have been doing this for twelve years and haven't had an incident yet. You come along and have my husband looks like he's on the verge of tears. You had to have done something, or you wouldn't be standing on the porch with red teeth nursing what's going to be a bruise tomorrow on your mouth."

Jared's mouth snapped shut at the accusation as a cool wind rustled between them and Garret spoke up, "He defended her when she was getting bullied."

"Jared, you didn't..." Rachel looked at Jared with a motherly look of concern that was entirely unexpected on her face before she looked at Garret.

"Get inside we have a lot to discuss..." Garret finally explained. They moved inside, even as a wind rustled rocking the peeled apple from the afternoon in the dirt, unforgotten and uncared for in the wake of the events that had just transpired.

[Lavinian Ambition]

The room was lit by a solitary candle the flame flickering in the fading light as Jared sat down on the bed and looked at the married couple. Rachel moved with the food and tossed it on the bed behind Jared before she leaned against the wall and looked to Garret, who was looking at Jared with his eyebrows furrowed together in an almost seamless line on his brow. The silence stretched out for awhile before Garret looked at his wife and asked softly, "You want to explain it?"

Jared's mouth opened only to get a placating hand from Rachel before she replied, "Your friend, you tell it. Besides, you know everything better than I do..." The red head looked at Jared apologetically before she said, "You gotta give us some time to work up to it. It hurts seeing the girl get treated like that. She's almost like our own kid..."

"What do you know of Seth Dahlios?" Garret finally asked.

Jared raised an eyebrow before he spoke, "Enough to know I never want to be like him."

The bed creaked as Jared shifted his weight to get more comfortable, his eyes looking at the thief as he spoke, "Easy for you to say. You never got to meet the guy. You think that you know him because you hear enough of the rumors to paint a picture. That, and you got a piece of him stuck in you..."

"How did you-" Jared shot up pointing accusingly at Garret.

Surprisingly it was Rachel who responded, "Please, you mean you can't feel it resonating even now? Seth didn't die peacefully, it shattered his soul. I'm surprised you haven't been complaining about headaches with how loud it rings in Garret's head."

"I just thought he was respecting my wishes and shutting up for once," Jared replied scratching behind his ears.

The two looked at each other before shaking their heads and laughing. It was disconcerting coming from the elders, but Jared could only cross his arms as he muttered, "What's the joke?"

"Seth shutting up? That's not likely. More likely he's ignoring you, if you have his attention he won't shut up. Just how he was...anyways to the point."

"Please...I want to know why this girl is so important," Jared said the bed squealing in protest as he collapsed on it once more.

"That girl is Samantha Ambria," Garret explained.

"And that means what exactly?"

"Seth loved someone, someone who accepted him for who he was, what he had become. She tried to give him the other path, help him do what he needed to get back on track with his life," Garret explained. He leaned against the wall taking some pressure off his feet as Jared chimed in.

"Not Mariah..." Jared asked frowning at the information he was being given.

Rachel clucked her tongue softly before she shook her head, "Rose is a great girl, but too inexperienced, and too soft for Seth. He had a tryst with her, it was never meant to go beyond that. Seth had his inadequacies, but even then Liliana came back to him..."

"Liliana, Liliana Ambria?" Jared asked suddenly making the intuitive leap.

"Now you realize why Darith is willing to expend resources?"

"I understand, and I don't, why isn't she in Lavinya? She looks almost old enough."

Rachel responded in Garret's place a hint of cold sorrow in her voice, "Liliana forbids it. If she knew Garret of all people was watching her little girl she would get upset."

"By upset you mean-" Jared tried to hazard a guess but only ended up rolling his wrist a if trying to reel in information.

"Dead in a gutter."

"So when I got involved..." His hands went to his temples massaging the headache he felt coming away.

Garret placed a hand on Jared's shoulder before he spoke, "Not your first mistake. Least said easiest forgotten. Now do you know why we sit on the porch and don't throw ourselves in like a hero?"

"How many has she killed?"

"Two, Sinner and Bear. They got too close to Samantha and the second they talked around Liliana she figured out who they were. A few days later they were found headless in the nearby woods. The damndest thing is that the heads wound up on Darith's desk a month later, with a note stating that the blood was on his hands," Garret explained.

"Apparently Bear and Sinner weren't told that she was hunting thieves that messed with her or her daughter," Rachel replied.

"She doesn't leave the grove they live in, which is to my benefit. She knows us on sight, and I hate to think what she'd do if she found us here," Garret finished. His arms crossed over his chest he shook his head before he said, "Point is, you screwed the pooch on that one Jared. We have to leave before she decides to leave the grove, all it would take is even a cursory glance and she'd have us pegged. I'm not going to die for this detail."

"What if we apologized for her?" Jared asked.

"Yeah, what do we say Jared? Sorry your husband died here's a fruit basket and we promise never to let it happen again?" Rachel moved to the bed and plucked an apple from the bag before she took a crisp bite out of it. She then looked at Garret before she said, "Well, what's the plan boss?"

"Jared's right, we gotta placate her eventually..." The older man replied.

"Thanks for agreeing with me Hawk. It means a lot to me-"

"...that's why you're the one talking to her."

"...are you out of your mind!?"