The Vampire & Her Witch-Chapter 1164: The Prices We Pay (Part Two)

At the head of the table, Ashlynn paused mid-conversation at Aspakos’s interruption. She’d just been explaining to Diarmuid how she’d come to understand so much about Eldritch food during her time with Amahle, cooking communal meals with the members of Amahle’s coven every morning and night, when Aspakos broached the topic that she’d been putting off discussing.

The sorcerer wasn’t wrong. The topic he and Erkembalt had come to discuss this evening was one that needed to be shared with Loman and Diarmuid before the opportunity passed them by. Soon, she intended to take Ignatious with her to strike at the stronghold of the Inquisition in Maeril and once they made their move, it would be difficult to find time for the former Inquisitor to educate his younger peers about the things he’d learned since becoming one of Nyrielle’s progeny.

"I’d hoped to wait a little longer," Ashlynn said with a light sigh. "But I can see why you’d ask. Ignatious?" Ashlynn said, turning to the former Inquisitor. "Can we trouble you to share what you’ve learned?"

"Of course, Lady Ashlynn," Ignatious said politely after giving Heila’s hand a brief squeeze. "But we should keep the discussion private," he said with a brief glance at the servants who moved about the space, refilling goblets of wine and refreshing serving trays stacked high with flatbreads.

"I understand," Ashlynn acknowledged. "Master Georg, I hate to rush any part of the feast that you’ve prepared, but can you have the desserts brought in? We can serve ourselves when the time comes, but..."

"You don’t need to apologize, Lady Ashlynn," Georg said with a touch of relief in his voice. As much as he relished the opportunity to cook for Lady Nyrielle and her guests, tonight’s gathering had been far more intense than her usual gatherings. He was proud beyond words to have helped Lady Ashlynn create a path for their new guests to understand and accept the Eldritch world, but diplomacy between former enemies really was too intense for him to feel comfortable around.

"I’ll just make sure that everyone has plenty to nibble on, with a few casks of wine and ale, and then we’ll leave you alone until you’re done for the evening," he said with a polite bow.

"Master Georg," Diarmuid said suddenly, as though he were afraid he wouldn’t have an opportunity to speak to the bearish cook again for some time. "Thank you for the meal, and for helping to open my eyes," he said sincerely. "I have a feeling that things will be hectic for some time," he said diplomatically.

"But I hope to have a chance to speak to you again," Diarmuid said sincerely. "Maybe I can even imitate Lady Ashlynn’s example and spend some time in your kitchens learning to prepare Eldritch dishes."

A week ago, it would have felt like an odd thing to ask for, but after listening to Lady Ashlynn talk about food tonight, and watching the way Master Georg made the differences and similarities between their people so accessible with his cooking, Diarmuid found himself curious how much more he could understand about the strange world he found himself in if he spent some time in the kitchens.

In this meal alone, he’d been introduced to not only the diversity of Eldritch dishes and ingredients but also the permeability of the dividing line between humanity and the Eldritch. Diarmuid suspected that Lady Nyrielle was right about humans learning how to prepare caviar from the Eldritch, and it was clear from Georg’s soup course that the Eldritch were learning from humans as well.

There worlds had once seemed like oil and water, two things that could never mix, but on Georg’s plates, those worlds blended beautifully, and Diarmuid wanted to understand where else that might already be true.

"I’d like that," Georg said as his ears perked up and his smile grew wider. "You can come to my kitchens any time, just like Sir Ollie or Master Isabell do."

It took a few minutes for the servants to clear away the things that could be removed and to bring in everything for the next course. Several people were still nibbling on the seasoned meats of the previous course, and Ashlynn was in no hurry to move things on to dessert, especially now that a somber atmosphere had once again filled the formal dining room and the casual side conversations had died down in order to give way to one of the evening’s most serious topics.

For now, the sweet treats could sit under their covers, waiting for the right time to bring some levity back into the room. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Diarmuid, Loman," Ignatious said, looking at each man in turn once Georg and the servants had withdrawn. "Commander Aspakos asked me to share the things I’ve learned with you because he was deeply concerned to hear about the sorcery that Loman used during the Battle of Hanrahan, and I don’t disagree with his assessment."

"But, before I begin, you have to understand that the things I’ve learned since becoming one of Mistress Nyrielle’s progeny and entering Eldritch lands may shake the core of your faith," Ignatious warned. "Lord Liam, Master Isabell, I don’t know how devout you are, but this may be hard for you to hear as well."

"The truth is often hard to hear," Diarmuid said, taking a deep breath to prepare himself for whatever the High Inquisitor was preparing to reveal. "I still have faith that my feet have carried me here for a reason. From the day I was summoned to investigate Lady Ashlynn’s ’murder’, each step has brought me closer to this moment," he said, glancing briefly at Loman, who had sent the original report to the Holy City that resulted in Diarmuid’s presence here.

"I promise to listen, High Inquisitor," Diarmuid said formally. "And to judge the truth of what I hear once I’ve heard it all."

"That’s the way of a true seeker," Ignatious said with a gentle smile. "Hold fast to that, and if something I say is unclear, then ask questions. Understanding how you arrived where you are is more important than you know," he added solemnly.

"The first thing that you need to understand," Ignatious began as he swept his gaze across the eclectic gathering of people. "Is that many of the fundamental truths of the Church are likely lies," Ignatious said bluntly. "Because lies are simpler than truths, and a man can be led more easily with a pretty lie than he can with an ugly truth."

"The second thing you need to understand," he said, holding up two fingers as he made his point. "Is that the lies that were likely meant to protect people from harm and to save them from danger, have become chains that bind the faithful to a path that the Saint Teacher and the Great Prophet would never have placed their people on."

"Breaking free of those chains will come with a great cost," the former Inquisitor said solemnly. "But make no mistake, remaining bound to them carries a cost of its own," he warned. "Once you understand, you’ll have to decide for yourselves which price you wish to pay..."