Strength and courage overrides / the privileged and weary eyes

[gistful]

Characters: Anton Shudder and Eva (NPC), and possibly other NPCs depending on what he's told.
Date: 10th of August, following River's post and Clark's.
Location: Various places while he searches.
Situation: Anton wants to talk to the Queen's Maiden about the Knight.
Warnings/Rating: None as yet.

After Anton's talk with the Sensitive child on the console, he felt it prudent to seek out more information than he currently had available. The gang-kedan knew only so much about the girl's 'Knight', and it was clear Evandau had very little interest in engaging with the Foreigners he brought into the city. Perhaps that was due to secrecy; perhaps not.

Either way, with the 'Queen' dead and suspicion cast on her 'Knight', the most prudent course of action was to ask other people who might have known both of them. The woman with the direct hand in keeping the Foreigners in Keeliai seemed the best place to begin.

That was not to say it was easy. While the other prominent personages in the city seemed to have places where they were seen most, Eva did not, and Anton's gang contacts, while willing to help, were not always knowledgeable. Eventually, however, one of the kedan had told him she had seen Eva at Milyn, the healer's, of late. It was a far cry better than walking up to the police-station to try finding her there, so Anton went to Milyn's clinic and entered, looking around.

Comments

[cherrywood]

Milyn isn't in the shopfront when Anton enters but at the sound of the bell above the door, it's only a moment before she comes out of one of the back rooms. She's a petite and seemingly young woman (though with the kedan shapeshifting, that can never be fully trusted) and easily a full foot shorter than Anton. There's a perky bounce to her step and she smiles upon seeing a Foreigner she hasn't had the opportunity to meet yet.

"Hello! May I help you?"

[gistful]

"Hello." Anton bowed at her. "I am looking for Lady Evastelei. I heard she has been attending your clinic of late."

Even if Lady Evastelei wasn't available here, it was possible Milyn might know something about the previous emperor. She would have had to be present when others were brought in on previous occasions, surely; it was possible the healer, also, had worked with Eshai.

[cherrywood]

"She is here but resting," Milyn answered, which was neither permission nor a decline to allow him to speak with Eva. "Was there something I could help you with?"

[gistful]

Neither permission nor decline was a rejection of request. "I would like to speak with Lady Evastelei," said Anton patiently, "if she is well enough to receive a visitor."

Politeness indicated it should be at her discretion, but Anton wasn't sure they had the time for that sort of courtesy currently.

[ironwood]

"I'm here," Eva spoke from the doorway to one of the back rooms of the clinic. Her face was drawn and pale, distorting the burn that covered one side of her face and down her neck, but she stood without slouch or brace. "It's fine, Milyn."

The healer pursed her lips as though ready with a disagreement, but gestured that Anton could follow Eva into the back.

[gistful]

"Thank you." Anton bowed toward the healer and then turned to follow Evalestei into the clinic's room. He closed the door but not completely, leaving the jamb unlatched so that Eva or Milyn had ready access if they felt it was necessary. Likewise, he stood away from the door, and away from Eva unless she indicated she might need some help.

"I apologise for interrupting your rest," he said, turning to face her without any reaction to the sight of her burn whatsoever. He'd seen worse. "However, I find the need for knowledge rather pressing."

[ironwood]

"She thinks I need more rest than I do," Eva smiled, although the expression was still weary as she nodded at the healer. Milyn harrumphed at the lie and went back to her jars and scales in the front room, and Eva sat on the edge of the examination bed and gestured for Anton to take the chair.

"Knowledge, like medicine, needs to be given in doses," she said. "But I'll answer your questions if I can."

[gistful]

Anton took the chair only to make Eva more comfortable, but he sat upright, not intending to linger more than he needed both for the sake of her rest and the sake of his other duties.

"Yes," he said, "but currently we are starved for knowledge, and the emperor does not seem inclined to assuage that need. In fact it is the emperor I would like to know more about. What can you--either of you--tell me about him? And, perhaps, his relationship with his predecessor?"

[ironwood]

"Evandau has bigger concerns than telling old stories to your folk," Eva replied, her tone factual rather than rebuke. "As for wanting to know more about him, Eshai took him in a very long time ago. His whole family was killed when he was a young man and she brought him. He always respected her, though they did clash from time to time."

"Never in public," Milyn added, having taken up a position near the door as if to keep an eye on both of them; Anton to not overtax Eva and the magician not to get off track. "They were always very professional about that. Too much so sometimes, in Alderwood's case," she added, using the differing title since both had been 'Emperor'.

[gistful]

"Yet by sharing knowledge we would be better able to help shoulder the burden of those concerns," Anton pointed out, also even and matter-of-fact rather than accusing. "I have been given to believe they argued over the manner in which to combat the enemy. Is this so?"