Bad News From A "Good Woman"

JP with Omni, Lorem, and Winteroak

There was a pause around the fire at Gonyaul's words before the men started to laugh in good nature.

"The love of a good woman is indeed important, young man." Zargani retorted.

"If you ask me there are more important things to be 'beat, by a good woman..." Said one of the men nearby bringing more laughter from the group and a playful slap on the head from a passing woman that was bringing water to the group.

"Not much to beat in your case, Sintor." Came the quip from another man further down the line. More laughter.

Gonyaul had no idea what they were laughing about. The joke was completely lost on him. He simply continued smiling lightly, not from what they were going on about, but because he was thinking about Voah being a good woman.

He took his eyes off of their ruckus and back on Voah eating.

He thought to him. ‘Voah is indeed a good woman. She is clothed with strength and dignity. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction. She watches over her relationships and is not idle.’

Gonyaul scooted closer and whispered in her ear. For a moment it was just him and her. “Many good women, but you surpass them all."

The jokes and subsequent retort of the woman delighted Voah, reminding her very much of her parents and the playful, affectionate attitudes of the others in their convoy. She couldn't help but chuckle along with the Atsigani.

Distracted by the scene, Voah turned her head into a raised shoulder, shuddering in response to the pleasant sensation brought on by Gonyaul's sudden breath upon her ear. Her neck and cheeks flushed unintentionally.

Instantly, she replaced herself in the thought with another good woman, one they had left behind just weeks ago, but Voah was very glad to surpass all others in his mind.

"So, what news from the Stone City?"he asked. "We heard more ships have arrived."

Zargari's next question drastically changed the pleasant mood. Voah silently took a sip of her stew and sighed before beginning.

"You have heard correctly… Not good news for the people of this land, I'm afraid. Several ships have arrived and their passengers number in the hundreds... An army of holy warriors and city soldiers has amassed several miles north of city...”

She looked out over the plains in the direction they came from.

“They have already begun their own holy war in addition to the city's war... and those in charge care nothing for the natives of this land."

The patriarch nodded. "War cares little for anyone." He said. "But I fear you two will have a very tough life being who you are in the coming years." He predicted knowing full well that not everyone would be kind to the outsiders from across the sea after this war.

There was little choice for Voah, she could no longer bear to continue doing the will of the Inquisition. Not the way things would have been under the Purger. Her mind was resolved and by now it was too late to go back. For her, the choices were torture and death… or fleeing into the unknown.

Arcadia had already been tough, but surviving the unknowns all alone was probably going to be even tougher than she cared to admit.

In these new places, they would need connections. She was certain that Gonyaul would have no problems making alliances with anyone he met. It was the former Arbiter of the Pillars that would cause the most trouble for them, and the fact that they were foreigners who brought the war. How in Zin’s Garden was a holy woman like her going to make it in a Holy City of foreign Gods? She held Gonyaul’s hand.

“Your fears are more right than you know… we will need all the help and information we can get. What can you tell us about where we are going? Desmen and the Holy City…” she asked the man, her face grave with worry.