Fatima's Diary

reflections for the lost

29. Sour times

Tolmadrin then let us tell him our story, of being in the Fairy Mound, and all of the perils since then. He at first did not believe us when we explained about the Fairy Mound, but then with a laugh at our fate accepted it. He did note that we seemed a more experienced band since when he first sent us on our mission.

Tolmadrin then stated that he did not have the money he owed us for destroying the Arawn Cell that we had attacked. I was surprised by this because I believed we were doing it for the good of us all! But being paid would cover the cost of his escape. Either way, he explained that the Cult of Arawn has been slowly making Cells and small Cult Circles in the northern mountains and woods, destroying many small towns and driving some farmers into an insane frenzy. Apparently, there are bands of gibbering madmen in the north, raping and destroying as much as they can, until they meet another band and then they both either join or fight to the death. I am not sure how aware Toran is of all of this, but apparently the Emperor's sickness was so vile that he was needed there above his Kingdom.

Tolmadrin then explained that this Cult of Arawn was suspected to be in league with House Abrantier. This was obviously not new information to us, but he pleaded with us to get information connecting the two together, so that House Abrantier could be disbanded and it's members hunted down.

New information was then explained to us. House Abrantier has been a rustic, rural House for as long as any history or memory goes back. They have been a secretive and secluded lot, without visitors from outside within anyone's memory.

Tolmadrin, when questioned, didn't know anyone who had ever visited their estates. Taxes were not collected, they were delivered. Toran hadn't ever inspected their House or their Grounds. It was shocking to be told that they didn't even trade in the towns with outsiders! Whenever trading is needed to be done, they arrange a meeting place, far outside of any town, and have a bazaar-like fair. It occurred to me that if I found this collection of information so suspect, why didn't any of the Indigenous people of this land also find it suspect? I guess when you and your ancestors all are born and age with an Adder in their midst, they forget to kill the Adder.