The good citizens of Jade were locked safely in their homes. Night had come and there was chaos, but on the streets, all was quiet. There was no trace of fire, no wail of sorcery, no cries, no death. At House Sigata, all was calm as well. The lights were out and the shutters closed. Any passers-by that braved that night would have seen just a mansion and nothing more. Doubtless, the Guildsman and his family had the good sense to get to bed, as did the rest of the city. However, there was quite a different scene going on within.
Vrekk and Quin debated the ethics behind the Wyld Hunt while Zao listened eagerly. Arbat, after a pointed glance at Tidus, had risen to accompany Adele to the gardens, while a man named Keln sat under the window and drank. Fatigue wore on the merchant until he felt he could no longer stand to sit and listen to the wearing on of the desperate and collected. Excusing himself, Tidus stood and walked through the kitchen to sit on the courtyard terrace. A moment later, Adele and Arbat passed by on their way further out into the gardens. The latter cast another withering look as if to say, “You may have thrown in with all of us, but don’t think for a second I trust you.”
Tired, he ignored the man and looked up through the clear night at the stars. It was true, he reflected, they all had good reason to fear and mistrust him. Why, a stranger had intruded on their private meeting, and only because they were too polite to tell him to leave was he present for the swearing of their oath. What he’d said to Zao had been the truth, though, Tidus had no idea what made him step forward and pledge brotherhood with men he’d not known more than two weeks. Even worse, they were now sworn to protect him as he them, and that probably stuck in more than a few craws.
Still, Arbat had no right to speak to him as he had. The situation was as tense for all of them, and he should learn to handle his anger, or else, learn how to suppress it until alone.
“You should learn a bit about us before you offer unwanted advice.”
Tidus sniffed, irritated. Us? The last time he checked, he had been speaking to Quin, not the circle as a whole. And besides, all advice is unwanted until it’s followed. He was just trying to be helpful, to offer something to them to show that he really did intend to uphold his part of the oath. There was again, that crushing feeling in his chest, and only by clenching his fists and sheer willpower was he able to force down the panic; Tidus Bandrovic was caught between the proverbial rock and hard place, the Wyld Hunt on one side, and refuge with those who resented him on the other. He sighed deeply. Should he leave the house and brave certain death on his own, or wait until Arbat or Gannon convinced Quin to have him killed?
Voices carried through the warm, pleasant air, and Tidus could dimly see the forms of Arbat and Adele arguing among the flowering trees. Then, a flash lit his vision and he reeled, dizzy. Adele didn’t look, well, quite herself and neither did the young man, in fact, the whole scene turned to day and the light fuzzed until he could barely see. There was a soft hand in his. He was moving.
“Here, like this.”
“Like this?”
“Ow! That’s my foot. Maybe you should let her lead.”
“You’re a riot, you know that?”
More flashes, the feeling of moving, dancing. Was he dancing with Tatiana at the Merchant’s Ball at age fourteen or was he dancing under blossomed trees in some far-off time? Warm sunlight on his face and head, from behind him, the laughter of another man, and the woman laughing lightly.
“Wear a dark rose, Vhotan, and she won’t be able to resist you!”
“Lucretia, you’ve been so helpful.”
The presence of another man, a smile, they all smiled, and then the scene dropped as Tidus’ vision went dark and he realized it was still night. Arbat and Adele had moved further off into the gardens, and so he sat heavily on one of the wrought-iron chairs. Focusing on a single tile of the terrace, he fought not be ill. These dreams had now invaded his waking hours and that either meant prophecy or madness. Based on how others were reacting to him, Tidus was willing to bet on the second option. It started after he swore that oath, with the Essence released.
He rubbed his eyes and sighed inwardly, exhausted. Perhaps, if he had a chance to speak with Adele when she was looked more up to interaction, perhaps she would have some answers. Stopping to think again, he wondered at her motives again, just as he had the night he first saw her and then night he met her. Surely, with the currant situation in Jade, things had spun out of everyone’s control. She acted as a go-between for the city and Quin, but why? What stake did a former courtesan have in her brother’s business? There was the fact of their race, and that probably brought them together, but he felt there was a deeper level that he could only sense, not read.
Ah yes, their race. Tidus had believed for three years that he was the last of his kind; a fluke of fate that had been reborn. Then, to find that Adele was like him, it was a shock he had almost not been prepared for. Again, he could not understand what idiocy had prompted him to tell her his secret. To take that kind of risk with a woman who was clever and probably manipulative, it had been madness, and a lapse of the kind Tidus usually never made. He’d felt somehow safe with her knowing, as if it didn’t matter, but he shouldn’t have felt that, and it frightened him.
So much, he wanted to trust her, but then, she’d known about the rest of the Solars, and hadn’t told him. It was after she avoided him for two days, he accidentally found out about Quin, Zao, Arbat, Gannon, and Seven Jade Fortune. Suddenly he felt old and worn out. Why should Gannon be so strong and also be gifted? Tidus had always thought that as nature had shorted him on sheer brawn, it had repaid him with his Exaltation. Once more, the barbarian shone golden while he could only stand by, a weak and unwanted man. Well, if Gannon tried any stunts again, he’d keep up. His anima storm might not be as impressive as the beast the barbarian could conjure, but that was only the least of his powers.
No, and he shook his head, he would do nothing. He would ‘yes sir, no sir, of course sir’ to Gannon and Quin, because he was sure the mountain of a man would as soon kill him as look at him, and the circle leader might just agree. What savage times these were, Tidus mulled dimly. An errant petal, falling from one of the trees, drifted in front of him and he caught it in his hand. The wild man probably thought he had designs on his wife. How interesting. If Arbat really wanted him out of the circle, he should persuade the bully that his lovely wife was having an affair with the cultured merchant from the east. Very poetic, but he doubted he’d have to worry about it.
Adele. She was very beautiful, it was true, but to want her? No, that would be far too easy. Besides, there were prior oaths to honor. And above and beyond anything else, she was the closest ally he had in the circle. Zao was friendly, but admitted he had yet no opinion of Tidus. That Seven Jade fellow seemed pleasant enough as well, but he’d only seen the man once. In the neutral category was Quin, which was probably a good place for the leader to be. As far as he saw it, Arbat and Gannon stood openly opposed to him, and Tidus knew he’d be a fool to trust that a simple oath could tame the raging emotions of his kind.
How quickly his life had changed in the space of a month. He’d come to Jade to expand the house’s influence west and he’d met Adele to gain the attention of the local Guild, never dreaming that she was a solar and so were her friends. Still, for all the misery it was likely to bring him, Tidus was still glad to know there were more of Sun’s children; for once in his life, he was undeniably a part of something whole.
The conversation within grew heated and it drew his attention for a moment. Adele had hired him to watch and listen, to protect her brother from those who may try to do him harm or have malicious intentions. A sudden breath filled him and he realized that this was his chance for redemption. It was a cruel method of fate, but Tidus was a student of irony and would follow well. Protect Quin from the vipers, serve him as best he could, advise if it was his place.
It was as if light shone now and he sat up straight in the garden chair. Yes, he could prove himself worthy, use the talents he was born with and the skills his father had taught him. So maybe he couldn’t throw an ox or best a gladiator, he still had his wits and his rapier, didn’t he? Arbat, Gannon, he’d defeat them in the best way; he’d show his usefulness, his friendliness, and little by little they’d be converted. Softly, his fingers brushed the scar on his face. There was a lot to make up for, but the sun was shining now, wasn’t it? The long night was over and even though the nobles rode the Wyld Hunt, the circle would escape and thrive.
Feeling better, almost…cheerful, he stood energetically. Striding back into the house, he caught his reflection in the glass terrace door. Smiling, he ran a hand through his long-cut blonde hair and adjusted his great-sword. Yes sir, he said to himself, this is the time of prophecy, Vhotan.
With a violent start, he shook his head to see the reflection of Tidus Bandrovic again. Trembling, his knees gave out and he fell weakly to the ground. This was no dream or fever-shade now, it must be madness and he resolved to speak with Adele the next night. A young servant showed him a room in which he could spend the night, and while the Wyld Hunt raged without, a man with a handsome face and tormented heart found peace in unbroken sleep.