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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 5-5, Convergence

Sandoval let out a long breath as everyone in the group looked at him. Considering the number of Tribals with them it made perfect sense that they didn't want him around, especially considering his admission of having a hand in the destruction of an entire Tribe-- had he not already known his own story he likely wouldn't have wanted to be anywhere near himself either. Regardless, Umberto did quiet everyone down enough to provide the swordsman the opportunity to tell his story and, if nothing else, Sandoval DeLaRocha was a storyteller.

"To comprehend what has brought me to this point you must first understand the catalyst that began a long series of events starting back from the point of my birth. You see, I was not born under auspicious signs, nor was I born to a family of any great means. My birth was as unspectacular and as uninspiring as my household... plain... simple... common. Although we were poor, I loved my family greatly and, though we often barely managed to scrape together our meals, there was nothing I would not do for my father, or mother, or sisters."

The big black wolf known as Aodhan sat directly across from him. He leaned forward, palms down on the table's surface, "Are you saying you killed an entire tribe for your family's benefit?"

The Human shook his head, "No, my friend-- not exactly. We are starting at the beginning... and the destruction of the Mist tribe comes much later."

Aodhan frowned, and pulled his paws back in, crossing his arms over his chest, "This almost sounds like a stalling tactic."

Sister Aurelie rested a paw on the Wolf's shoulder; the Cat's entire demeanor suggested an interest in calming and placating him, "Peace, Aodhan... we're waiting for Prince Malcom anyway; it isn't costing us anything letting him explain himself."

Sandoval nodded his head simply in thanks to the Cat, "Indeed... as I said, there was nothing I would not do for my family and, as the first and only son of my parents, they chose to grant me the great honor of carrying the family name of the lady of the land as my given name."

Brody shifted from his place in the armchair by the fire, glancing back at the gathered party, "How does that work, exactly?"

Friar Arlowe provided the answer for him, "Lords and Ladies in Soyria are often honored by their serfs by giving their first born son the noble's family name."

The Human nodded at the Raccoon Dog's knowledge, "Quite so. And, on many occasions, the Lords and Ladies are honored enough to grant their serfs a small stipend in thanks."

Tobias frowned, "So... basically the nobles bribe the peasants into giving their children the noble family's name?"

Sandoval shook his head, "Although I can understand how such a thing might be perceived, I assure you that it is all in the name of honor, appreciation, and mutual respect, my friend. In my family's case we received no such stipend, but my parents were still perfectly happy to honor our Lady in such a way."

Brother Rhys nodded in thought, a paw still on Runs-on-Air's shoulder. The buck remained hostile in every sense of the word, staring Sandoval down; the swordsman had no doubt that he would have attacked if not for the Rat's continued contact. Regardless, the Yew Tribe youth still managed to find words in Common, "Why did you kill The People?"

"Allow me to skip ahead then and satisfy your curiosity. When I reached the age of apprenticeship my parents had no coin to offer up to a respective master. They wanted a better life for me, hoping that I would be able to go farther and do more than remaining the son of a Cooper and taking up the family trade."

Brody cocked his head to the side, "Your family raised chickens?"

Friar Arlowe was once again the one with the answer, "That would be a Poultry Farmer. A Cooper crafts barrels."

Sandoval nodded with a soft smile, "Just so."

Umberto rubbed the fur at the end of his chin in thought, "How did you end up as a swordsman then? I always assumed that apprenticing to a master swordsman would be one of the most expensive of apprenticeships."

The Human smiled, "Ah... and there we get to the heart of the matter. You see, I have always had a natural talent for... well... shall we call it 'skilled confrontation with panache'. It was during a minor altercation with three other village boys that my ability to defend myself was taken of note by a visiting dignitary from here in Lehsunia."

Tobias flicked an ear, expression neutral, "Soyria is a LONG distance from Lehsunia. I can't imagine many dignitaries willing to make the trip."

Sandoval nodded, "Indeed... very few do so without reason, and the woman of whom I speak, a businesswoman by the name of Alarice came to Soyria because she had a very important meeting with Princess Noriene."

Sister Aurelie looked immediately confused, "But, Princess Noriene is FROM Lehsunia."

Aodhan rested a paw on the Cat's, "She spent a decade there. Her mother was originally from Soyria."

The Human nodded at that, "Indeed-- our Land's lady, in fact. Your Princess Noriene is still technically heiress to those lands as well."

Sir Umberto grunted, "If we're speaking TECHNICALLY, then TECHNICALLY Prince Regent Thaddius would be heir."

Sandoval chuckled, "No, my friend... in Soyria, though men still lead the household, it is the women's lineage traced, not the man's."

Brody practically cackled from his spot on the armchair, "Which explains why they give their SONS their ruler's family name and not their daughters."

The Human ignored the comment, choosing instead to continue his story, "Lady Alarice had me bring her to my parents and offered them a hundred Sigils to take me into her tutilege."

Runs-on-Air looked no less accusatory, but the buck's natural curiosity gave it enough of a break that he asked a question, "Sigils?"

Again, it was Friar Arlowe providing the answer, "It is money... like we have in Lehsunia. They are gold coins, like our Crowns."

Brody let out an appreciative whistle, "Wow... one hundred gold."

Sandoval nodded, "So it is easy to see why my parents accepted the offer. Not only was I going to learn numerous skills and talents, but they were being paid for their son's service."

Aodhan had smoothed his fur out but his stare still held no small amount of accusation, "And how does this get us to you erradicating the Mist Tribe?"

The swordsman set the Mechanist ring down on the table, "She was a Mechanist. I learned about them through her-- she intended to bring me into the fold and make me a member of their organization once I was ready. She always spoke about a better world... a stronger, more unified people. She explained that people as a whole were stupid and that they made far better followers than leaders... which is why a strong leader had to be cultivated, nurtured, and guided."

Sister Aurelie stared, feline eyes locked onto him in rapt attention, "But you said the Mechanists want to control everything."

Sandoval smiled despite his pain at the Cat's question, "If you raise up a ruler then you control the ruler... but, aside from that, the Mechanists are faulty at their very core. In my eagerness to help my family, prove myself, and learn everything I could about the world from her, Alarice had me help her destroy far more than she ever created. It took some years for me to realize just how horrible she was-- that, despite her gilded exterior, there was a rotten center. It finally became clear with the destruction of the Mist Tribe."

Aodhan sat up a little straighter, "Now to the matter at hand. Alright... tell us why you destroyed the Mist Tribe."

The Human nodded, "As you wish. Alarice had brought me with her back to Lehsunia, where I served her for some five or six years. At that point she had explained to her followers that we were to complete a task at the behest of the Church-- her story changed a number of times as she also said on varying occasions that she slaughtered them for amusement, as retribution for a personal slight, and any number of excuses. I learned later that it had nothing to do with the Church, but it was a wonderful foil for their recent attempt at missionary work among the Tribals... it was just another one of several actions undertaken by the Mechanists."

Brother Rhys 'hmmm'ed quietly, his tail interlaced between the fingers on one paw as he considered the story, "It seems strange that she would release you from service intact with all of this information to later be used against her."

Sandoval let out a scornful 'ha' in response, "We had our falling out... a very severe one. Once I realized just how corrupt and evil she was it was my intent to kill her."

Umberto leaned forward, "...and?"

The Human shrugged, "We fought, and I lost. She had me shackled, weighed down, and thrown into the southern sea... but not before promising me that my family would pay for my actions."

The Wolverine's ears raised, "For fighting back?"

Sandoval shrugged, "That, and for warning one of her newest wards of Adriana's trechary."

Tobias gave him an appraising glance, "Didn't you say her name was Alarice?"

The swordsman nodded, "She used the name 'Alarice'... just another one of her many masks. This young lady, Nicole Arnswold... she was the only survivor of the Mist Tribe massacre. I convinced Adriana to take her in and train her as she had done with me. She was put into my care but, as the days went by and I learned more and more about what it was we were truly doing I put all my effort into helping Nicole see the truth were I hadn't."

Aodhan grunted, "You're skirting the issue... you've spent minutes telling us your story, but only seconds explaining the Mist Tribe."

Sandoval stood, keeping his hands pointedly away from his weapons in the event that someone in the party would be aggressively cautious, "I promised to explain my actions. You know what happened to the Mist Tribe, so it needs no repeating. What I wanted to tell you was that I aim to put an end to The Mechanists so they will not be able to play with peoples' lives ever again."

Brother Rhys gave him an appraising glance, "Are you sure it isn't about revenge?"

The Human smiled, "Of course it is about revenge-- I would be lying if I were to say that was not a big part of my motivation... but this is also about finding a degree of peace by making up for the evils I have done... and trying to make certain that the 'better world' of the future isn't based off of the Mechanist's vision."

Aodhan stood, as did most of the rest of the group. The Wolf gave a firm, definitive nod, "Well... I don't think any of us plan to stop you from finding that peace... but you won't be finding it with us."

Sandoval offered a courtly bow, "And, with that, I take my leave."

The swordsman took his hat off of the peg where it hung by the door and showed himself out. He could tell that the group was already talking about him but he'd long since learned that nothing he would say or do could keep people from doing just that-- his actions, however, often helped to influence what it was they said. Before he was done, Sandoval DeLaRocha hoped that fate would help him create quite a story to be told. Closing the door quietly as he left, the Human stepped out onto the street-- if he was going to write that tale then it was time to pick up the quill.