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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 4-2, Your Highness

Aodhan had quickly become the unofficial leader of the group but Friar Arlowe was still willing to ague with him over how best to proceed. The party had finally arrived at Vallara and the wolf wanted everyone to stay out in the forest overnight while one or two of them went in to scout the town out. Ultimately the Friar won the argument, but it was only by negotiating a middle ground.

A small inn was situated at the edge of town, and the Raccoon Dog won approval to relocate the party to the inn while Aodhan and Runs-on-Air proceeded with the scouting.It made sense really, since the two Tribals were the ones least likely to be sought after for any wrongdoing with the escape of a Heretic. Further, there were enough Tribals at any time in Vallara that nobody would so much as look twice. In the meantime, Friar Arlowe would be able to get his son and their other patient under a roof where they could be better cared for; the monk was relieved that his son had survived the journey to Vallara, but he also didn't want to take any undue risks so close to the help they sought.

And so it was that the group entered town quietly and cautiously. They had waited until dusk when the half-light of the late day would help provide added cover from any long distance observers. The transaction at the front desk went well enough and the party reserved three rooms. The inn keeper, a long-toothed old Hound didn't bother asking many questions aside from why it was there were injured men among them; he thankfully accepted the explanation that Friar Arlowe was caring for them. The Dog did create an obvious stir among the party when he wrote it off with the comment of, "Well... with so many a you Curchys in town, what's one more?" They got their keys... and a number of unanswered questions.

The monk took the room with two beds and a cushioned chair-- one bed for each patient and the seat for himself. Sister Aurelie and Aodhan had a room together, which left Brother Rhys and Runs-on-Air, but, in both cases the rooms were left to one occupant each; Aodhan and Runs-on-Air spent very little time dropping off unnecessary equipment and freshening up before heading off toward the center of town to seek what it was they needed.

Rather than be left alone, Sister Aurelie and Brother Rhys found other ways to occupy themselves. Both spent some time in Friar Arlowe's room assisting him with situating and caring for the injured. Once it was determined that both Cruff and the scholar were settled, they each went off to their own tasks. Brother Rhys returned to his room to pray, and promised that he would keep watch on the area around the inn from his window; Sister Aurelie went down to the common room to keep an eye on the entrance to the building. Friar Arlowe was left on his own to care for his son and the well-dressed but bloody prong horn.

Even though monk was no healer he could tell that Cruff was not doing well. Alternating between checking wounds and praying, he could do little but fret about his son. Each time he felt as though he was at his wit's end, he forced himself away from his son and chose to focus on the antelope, who was progressing towards health much faster. It was during the fourth or fifth check-in that Friar Arlowe realized that the antelope had regained consciousness. The man opened his eyes slowly, and let out a shaky breath. once their eyes met, the man's gaze focused acutely, "...Friar?"

The Monk nodded, "Friar Arlowe, yes, my son. Do not worry... you are safe here."

The man grunted as he moved to sit up, but quickly (and wisely) thought better of it, "And... ah... where's 'here'?"

Friar Arlowe was quite forthcoming, "We are in Vallara."

The prong horn almost bolted upright but, instead rotated slightly with a grimace, "Vallara? But... my expedition just arrived at the Yew Tribe!"

The Monk nodded, "Yes... and, if not for your timely intervention the tribe might have been completely obliderated."

"But... Vallara is leagues away. How could we even be in Vallara?"

The Raccoon Dog once again decided that directness was the best policy, "Your wounds put you unconscious for a number of days."

The antelope quieted down after that, gazing at the ceiling. When he spoke again it almost sounded as if it was an apology, or, at the very least an explanation, "I'm... not a warrior, really... I'm a scholar."

The Monk said nothing at first, waiting until the man gazed his way, and smiled comfortingly, "Very few of us were, my son... but we all still aided as we were able... and, for our assistance, the Tribe was saved from a very wrongful end."

The prong horn nodded, the tip of his one unbroken horn scraping against the head board, "Good... good..." he let out a sigh, closing his eyes again before adding, "Oh... I'm sorry, Friar Arlowe... how rude of me. I'd stand, but, well--"

Friar Arlowe smiled, "Perfectly alright. We have some of our number out seeking a doctor."

The man nodded, "Be that as it may, I should have at least introduced myself... Tobias Severna... field scholar in service to--"

"The University of Progressive Thought." the monk finished for him, "We learned as much from your companions before you parted ways."

Despite his surprise at the announcement, Tobias had obviously learned better than to try and sit up again. Instead, he simply slammed an open hand into the mattress, "They aren't here? Why would they--?"

Friar Arlowe moved closer and placed a paw on the scholar's shoulder, "Calm yourself, my son... they did so because it was necessary... you were not the only of your number harmed in the attack and they needed to get help in other ways."

The prong horn's gaze drifted passed the monk and settled on Cruff, and asked delicately, "Is... is he one of yours?"

The monk nodded solemnly at the question, "Yes, my son."

The scholar put his head back down on the pillow, "It's alright, Friar... you can just call me Tobias... or Mr. Severna... whichever you prefer."

Friar Arlowe's heart felt broken, just like a pained smile he offered to the antelope, "Of course, Mr. Severna... but, I meant to say that yes, my other charge was indeed traveling with me and that he is my son."

The scholarly immediately tripped over his words, "Oh... I... ah... I mean... please forgive me, I didn't... I mean to say I did not realize--"

The old Raccoon Dog's smile was just a little easier, "It is quite alright. You could not have known and I take no offense." An extended moment of silence passed between them, pregnant with the obvious unasked question of how a monk could have a son. At length, Friar Arlowe offered the answer, "I was married before my time with the Church."

Whatever the antelope's thoughts on the matter, he hid them behind a polite façade of rapt attention, "And... is he recovering?"

The Monk's smile disappeared and he changed his focus to his son, taking a seat on the side of the bed and brushing back some of the younger Raccoon Dog's fur from his face, "We hope a doctor here will be able to help him. Right now he is not getting worse... but of all options at this point, I am willing to thank God for at least that much."

Silence filled the room once again as Tobias provided him his moment. At length, however, the prong horn groaned, swinging his legs around and slowly rising up into a sitting position on his bed, "You said the rest of my expedition isn't here with us in Vallara? Where did they go? Do you know where they're off to?"

Friar Arlowe nodded, "Newport. They're going to the University"

The scholar let out an even breath, "Theo has some new information to submit, no doubt... and the tribesmen from the Valley Tribe? They went back to their village, I assume?"

The monk shook his head, "No, Mr. Severna... they went with your fellow scholar, the sailor, and the white-furred fox."

Tobias nodded in thought then paused, one eyebrow cocking upwards. He reached up to feel along his damaged horn and to where it terminated in a messy break, "Oh dash it all... that's worse than a crack, isn't it?"

Friar Arlowe slowly urged the scholar back into bed, "Consider yourself lucky. Your antler will regrow in time, I'm sure... far better than a limb would."

Tobias' response was blunt, "It's a HORN, not an antler..."

The monk was slightly surprised by the severity of the comment, "I... apologize... though it WILL grow back, yes?"

The scholar sighed, "I'm sorry, Friar... that was uncalled for. Yes, it will regrow, but it takes far longer than an antler and, unlike antlers, mine do not shed, they simply slough the outer covering as they grow throughout the year and--" the explanation continued on for some time, making the monk's head spin with how detailed the man was about the differences between antlers and horns.

He listened, even though he retained little of the scientific information; he knew that sometimes having someone to listen was what people needed the most... and the dizzying elaborations did help keep the Raccoon Dog's mind occupied. When the scholar finished, it was clear and succinct, "...and, although it doesn't make up for my rudeness, I'm certain you can understand why it is I am so specific about clarifying that I have horns and not antlers."

Friar Arlowe smiled, bowing his head, "You are very much clearly a scholar of the University of Progressive Thought... I am humbled by your knowledge."

The antelope's smile came easy to him, "Well... it's what I do. I'm sure you could probably talk circles around me when it comes to religious scripture. My mother used to tell me that it is our diversity that helps make us stronger. If there is one thing I've learned from studying people it's that specialization allows everyone to prosper from our individual expertise."

The monk nodded at that observation and was just about to speak further when a soft knock at his door put an end to the discussion. Friar Arlowe looked to the portal, slowly stood, and moved over to open it, mindful that the chain lock was still in place. When he realized that it was Aodhan and Runs-on-Air he quickly unlatched the chain and let them in. There were a few moments of courteous introduction before Aodhan got straight to the point, "There are several of the Church's hunting parties in town."

Friar Arlowe was taken aback by the announcement, "How? Why?"

Runs-on-Air spoke several words to Aodhan in the Tribal tongue, and Tobias spoke up behind him and to the side, "The PRINCE? You're saying the PRINCE had them detained?" The prong horn fell silent when several eyes turned his way.

The monk remade introductions, a little more thoroughly "These are Aodhan and Runs-on-Air. Gentlemen, this is Tobias Severna... he is a scholar from the University... and apparently he knows how to speak the Tribal tongue."

The prong horn nodded, and winced, pressing a hand to his shoulder, "My mother started teaching me when I was young, and I've spent years living among the people of the wild lands and studying them-- er... you."

Aodhan leveled a gaze at the scholar, "You have found yourself in an unpleasant situation... the Church is looking for many of our number under less than ideal circumstances."

Tobias blinked, "You speak the common tongue very well, Mr. Aodhan."

The wolf stepped into the room and closed the door behind himself and Runs-on-Air, "I was raised for a time among the settled people." Aodhan then switched to the Tribal tongue, leaving Friar Arlowe in the dark as the two exchanged a few words; Runs-on-Air interjected only once, but the response the scholar offered was apparently sufficient for him. The deer glanced to the Raccoon Dog, nodded, then exited into the hall; Aodhan closed the door once again after the buck showed himself out.

Tobias closed his eyes, letting out a sigh as he nodded, switching back to common, "I suppose that makes sense... we heard about the Chruch planning an attack on the Yew Tribe village and the missive was sent to the Valley Tribe by Prince Malcom himself.. it's only reasonable that he would have pulled some strings to further help give them-- ah-- give YOU a fighting chance." The prong horn scholar paused for a moment before asking, "If the Church is after you... it wasn't just a coincidence that they attacked the Yew Tribe while you were there... was it? They went after the Yew Tribe because they wanted you..."

Friar Arlowe swallowed a knot in his throat, "It is... complicated, Mr. Severna."

The scholar shook his head, "No... it's very simple. If whoever in the Church wants you is willing to destroy an entire tribe then either you are very VERY bad people, or whoever sent out the order has far overstepped the realm of what is reasonable, and you are being persecuted as much if not more so than the tribesmen."

Aodhan raised both ears, focused on the prong horn, eyes glinting as he appraised Tobias, "The question then, would be 'which is it?',"

The antelope was very decisive in his quick response, "You took me with you to find a doctor... the answer should be obvious." For the first time in a long time, Friar Arlowe was able to find the joyful good fortune in not having to explain himself.