Penance

[Tobias Lysand]

It had been his first time out of the infirmary for a long while, and he relished the feeling of being able to stretch his legs. He knew that he wouldn't get to stretch his legs for long though; he had a mountain of paperwork waiting for him at his desk. So many letters to write... The thought of it made him wish that he was still bed-ridden. At least he could pace now. With all his worries lately, his inability to pace had nearly driven him mad.

Thus he was pacing now, right in front of the gate to the castle. Lysand swallowed, hands wringing behind his back as his mind flitted back to his last encounter with Brenthor. His lips pressed into a thin line as he questioned the wisdom of allowing the guard captain to continue to escort him everywhere... No, he couldn't start falling into Brenthor's hands. This had to be some sort of trick. Yet... He let out a sigh of frustration, running a hand through his hair. Banez needed to get there before he thought himself into a coma.

[Banez Gladpath]

The characteristic clatters of armor had disappeared from the halls for a day, instead replaced by the soundless graze of fabrics. His fingers fiddled with the edges of his grey cloak as he approached the front gate, in only fawn brown breeches, boots, and two layers a red tunic and a white overshirt for protection. He even failed to have his arming sword, for it was highly inappropriate to carry a weapon into a church of all places, but his shield was still strapped to his back.

Lysand appeared irritated, which had been persisting since the time that Banez had returned with Brenthor. Banez could only assume that the advisor was worried about the pile of work that he must have, and about doing penance. The captain knew that he would feel embarrassed in the confession box for his long absence. "Are you feeling alright moving?" he asked.

[Tobias Lysand]

Lysand turned as Banez spoke to him. He took in the fact that the guard captain had no sword feeing a tingling of... was that relief? Well no matter. "It's fine, Captain." His voice was as cool and emotionless as always, revealing nothing of the inner turmoil he felt. "It's a relief really. The mild pain is a small price to pay for mobility."

His hands clasped behind his back as he stopped his pacing. "Now I suppose that we should get going?" There was no use just standing around after all. He needed to get this over with.

[Banez Gladpath]

"Alright, just take it easy. Tell me if you want to sit down," Banez said, looking off in the direction of the cathedral. It was hard to miss, and its style seemed distinct from all the other buildings in the capital. He remembered all the years ago how splendid it looked with the sun shining in and how calming it was on a bright night with little activity. "Yes, let's go," he said, gesturing to the cathedral before he started leading the way.

[Tobias Lysand]

"I'll be fine, Captain." Lysand fell into step beside him, staying further away from him than he usually would have. His eyes focused straight ahead for a few moments before they strode to the man next to him, as if he would suddenly be able to read if there was deceit behind those seemingly honest eyes. He shifted before focusing on the ground. He had never told Banez about the night with Brenthor. He feared that doing so might somehow cause it to come out that the ambassador was right. He allowed a small sigh, before he bit it back. There was one thing he was sure of though; he had allowed the captain to become much too close to him if he was agonizing about this that much... But as it was... He needed to dig for something. "So both you and the ambassador survived your travels together, I see."

[Banez Gladpath]

Banez didn't notice Lysand's distance as he was trapped in his own thoughts. Did he smell... nectarines? Maybe he was going crazy.

...Angel Haven had nectarines. They were pink and heart-shaped.

He broke out of his reverie at Lysand's speculation. Banez glanced at the advisor, then ahead, "Barely! I was fairly certain I was going to strangle him by the end of the trip! I can only be called a dumb dog so many times before I start losing my patience." He sighed. "I know why you sent me with him, though. I felt better knowing that I had an eye on him, myself. I'd just... rather not do it again."

[Tobias Lysand]

"Felt better that you kept an eye on him. I see..." Why, so he wouldn't get in the way of your plotting, Banez? He was quiet for a moment before he asked. "Was there ever a time that he was left alone? Or that you were alone?" Well... One would go hand and hand with the other. He wasn't sure if Banez would even answer the question truthfully. Would he admit that he gave Brenthor time to plot on his own? Or was it he who was doing the plotting? What if- he cut his thoughts off right there, just waiting for his answer.

[Banez Gladpath]

"Well..." his brows knit up, as though being caught with taking cookies. Really big, serious cookies. "I stepped outside while he was stuffing his face with food. A strange woman approached me and started talking to me." He turned to Lysand, "Blonde-ish hair and jade eyes." He drew his lips into a line, but shrugged lightly before wrinkling his nose. "She was very odd... she said she was a traveler that fed off the land by collecting herbs. But it must have been... maybe ten minutes before I went back inside."

"And then when we were in the forest--" He turned to Lysand again, eyes bright and voice lowered. As consequence, he stepped close to Lysand, "I think I saw an angel! It was faint, but I could tell there was something bright through the trees. I left Brenthor in the forest for a while as I chased it, but I ended up in the sacred ground between the wereanimals, and found the werewolf alpha and werecat chieftess. So I ended up doing Brenthor's job for him..." He blew out a breath. "Wasn't able to find the angel afterward... But Angel Haven must be near that area somewhere." Oh, right, Brenthor. "I found Brenthor later. He didn't seem very happy at all..."

[Tobias Lysand]

Lysand's heart skipped a beat. Blonde hair... Jade eyes. That was what... his assassin looked like. A coincidence? Or was that a confession? Was the guard captain mocking him with that? When the guard captain suddenly stepped closer to him he flinched and stepped back quickly. He almost lost his balance, but he managed to remain standing. His hand had fallen to his side, but he wore no rapier today. He tensed, but relaxed as the captain began speaking of Angel Haven. Of course. What else would the guard captain possibly be talking about? "Wait, you negotiated with the wereleaders?" He hadn't known Banez to be that politically crafty. Perhaps he underestimated him...

[Banez Gladpath]

Banez panicked and reached over to grab Lysand's arm, but the advisor righted himself, so the captain took his hand back. Why did Lysand backpedal from him like that? He couldn't help but feel hurt. Lysand would know that Banez of all people wouldn't try to rough handle him while he was still healing!

"Yes," he answered proudly, chest puffing slightly, when the wereleaders were mentioned. And why shouldn't he be proud, when Brenthor was slamming his competence the whole journey, only for the captain to fulfill their actual mission! Irony was sweet. "They were very understanding. The alpha is a little abrasive, but we managed to work everything out."

[Tobias Lysand]

Lysand said nothing at Banez's hurt expression, but there was a slight pale wariness to the advisor's face that he couldn't hide. As the guard captain spoke of the wereanimals, he found his confusion growing. To get the werecats and werewolves to work together... That took real political skill. It wasn't something that happened often. Or perhaps it was his honest aura that prompted it. But still... His gaze stared into Banez's eyes searchingly for any sign of underhandedness. "Good work, Captain. I'm pleased that it all went accordingly." His eyes focused on the church ahead. "Perhaps you should have Brenthor's job instead."

[Banez Gladpath]

Banez blinked as Lysand looked at him with a somewhat critical gaze. Was he looking for something? Banez was still the same old Banez! But Lysand mentioned Brenthor's job, and the captain grinned. "That's what I said to Brenthor when we got back. He didn't appreciate that at all. And he told me that the game wasn't over." Oh, there was the church.

[Tobias Lysand]

"Of course it isn't. The game's never over. Its just that sometimes you lose track of what piece belongs to who." Lysand didn't look at Banez anymore, feeling sick to his stomach. Why was it that each day things grew more and more convoluted? He couldn't talk to the guard captain about this. He couldn't just ask him if he sent that assassin. He couldn't just ask any one! Who was telling the truth? Who was lying? Just how many people were set up against him? How many sides? "I hope penance is as relieving as many claim that it is. If there's anything I need right now, it's relief."

[Banez Gladpath]

Banez looked at Lysand with sympathy. "If you ever need to talk about anything, I'm always here." He opened the large wooden door to the cathedral, which was lit with ambient sunlight, which spilled in shards through the stained glass windows. Banez drew in a long breath, as though he could detect how holy the air was comparatively. He looked back to Lysand, offering an encouraging look and holding the door for him.

[Tobias Lysand]

"I... Thank you Captain. I'll remember that." But he could never take him up on the offer. Not now. There was only one person in this world he could trust now.

Himself.

He shuddered at the thought before he gave Banez a slight nod. "Thank you," he said quietly as he entered the church. There as a man in priest's garb standing at the alter, his head bowed in prayer. He looked up as they entered.

"Advisor Lysand... What brings you here?"

Lysand hesitated. "The guard captain and I are here to receive the act of penance."

"It's been a long time since I've heard you say that, advisor... So, who wishes to go first?" He crossed the room, indicating the confessional.