Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Herb Garden outside of the Thèvenet Household

Peppermint. Lemon Balm. Next was thyme. Jasmine would move to harvest it from the large springy bush beside her. She stood up from her crouched position, brushing off her garden's rich soil from her dark blue dress as she made her way over. She took out her small scissors and began to snip off lengths of the fragrant herb, placing each carefully in her basket.

"What are you doing?" Asked a voice beside her, causing her to startle slightly. Normally the servants knew that Jasmine liked to pick her own herbs, despite their constant offers to do it for her. She knew the voice well, and knew who it belonged to.

*Elroy.*

"Hello darling," She said sweetly, in what she hoped was a charming manner. She saw her husband's dark green eyes travel from her messy braid, to her dirtied dress, and finally rest on her face. Did she have dirt on her cheek? With Elroy's expression, she assumed so.
Carol
Lord Elroy Thèvenet
Greenhouse on the Provincial grounds

"Drills this afternoon, Andrè." Elroy ordered, handing his sword from an earlier fight to the squire of his second in command. "If they are late this time demote them - I don't care who it is." Andrè nodded solemnly, wiping his sweat stricken face with a stained towel. "Understood. They will be ready." 
————————
Having cleaned himself up, Elroy sat at his desk in the study pouring over a collection of history books. He had spoken with Marcus during his latest visit home and they agreed on the need to change their military structure. Elroy had taken it upon himself to study other structures and write up a proposal for Queen de Barbarac. His studies were interrupted by a knock on the mahogany door. "What is it." He asked gruffly, not bothering to look up from the book open in front of him. 
"My lord, a letter came from Erillia. It bears the royal seal." Elroy pointed to the desk, indicating where to place it before dismissing the messenger with a wave. "Shut the door." He demanded. A letter from the Queen rarely bode well, though Marcus, his son, had not reported anything of note earlier. The words of the declaration burned his vision and his mouth pressed together in a frown. The price for their failure was high, but he wasn't sure how willing the people would be to pay this price. *If they don't, then they will be removed.* "Xoliles will be done." He whispered into the striking silence.

————In the greenhouse ————
He inwardly smiled as she jumped before glancing her over and raising a hand to gently wipe a dirt stain from her cheek. "The servants can gather the herbs for you." His hand had dropped to his side as his eyes searched hers. Jasmine was a healer and adept in her craft and Elroy knew she wouldn't take the news of the pilgrimage well. It was a necessity, yes. They had to show their loyalty to Xolile and rid themselves of the plague that had killed thousands of Araedians.
Loretta
Kedra
Fields outside Delekou

"I've heard rumors, whispers floating around the edges of civilization of what some call a man, and others call a hero. Even more call him a terror. Tracked the stories all to one place. Here. I also met his son. Not much of a hero, I guess. Not if he leaves his own son." She said, sighing. 

"Though is anyone a hero these days? With the plague, wars brewing everywhere, and a council of important people meeting god knows where, there haven't been any good signs. I must admit that things are not looking good right now." She said, before her stomach began to rumble. 

"Thank you, however. For your time, of course. And if you ever see him again, please tell him that there are people out there wishing to meet him." She said, before turning to walk away.
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Herb Garden outside of the Thèvenet Household

"I know very well the servants can gather them," She replied gently as she stood up, the small basket in her hand. "However, it gives me a sense of peace to pick them by hand." She smiled over at him. "Such a lovely place, this garden. It makes me think of when we used to..."

Her voice trailed off as Elroy's dark green eyes searched her face. Though he tried to keep his expression neutral, she could sense an underlying tenseness about him. There was a problem ailing him. Something beyond the normal battle tactics or training problems.

"Something is troubling you," She stated calmly as she looked up at him. She reached up and rested her hand on his bicep. She felt the hardness of muscle under her fingers. "What is it?"
Carol
Xavier de Delekou
Fields outside of Delekou 

Xaviers eyes widened in surprise. "A son?" He grimaced inwardly at the thought of leaving a child behind. "Do you know who it is or where I can find the boy?" His eyes held a sense of urgency. Though Levi had left many years ago, Xavier felt responsible for checking in on his alleged child. 

The man sighed as the woman listed the disasters of the current time. He agreed. It was a disaster and the solution was not one he wanted to see through. *'The solution to one disaster.'* Xavier, however, concealed his feelings and expressed a sympathetic smile. "Xolile will light our way. There is always hope in its flame." 

She thanked him for his time, it before she could leave he called for her. "Wait! I will ask about Levi, if you wish. How can I find you to relay information?"
Loretta
Kedra 
Fields

Kendra's warm smiled showed her bright teeth as she turned. "His mother's name is Rhesa, I believe. She stays near the edge of the fields we now stand on. I will return to her home later, as she has invited me to stay for a few days." She said, turning towards him again. 

"Though if you wish to reach me, all you have to do is send a letter to the house on the hill nearest to the oldest tree in all of Araedia. I will respond as soon as I can." She said, frowning. The sounds of the wildlife waking up was making her almost sick.
Carol
Lord Elroy Thèvenet
Greenhouse on the Provincial grounds

Elroy noticed his wifes expression change and shook his head. She had always been able to see through his facade. In many ways, she was the only one who saw him as a whole man. His men saw a leader and comrade. The court, a cold military lord. His son, it seemed, his superior. Their relationship, while not sour, was only cordial. 

"I received a letter from Erillia." He sighed, holding up the letter penned in the Queens hand. "Read it." Elroy watched Jasmine closely for her reaction as her eyes scanned across the paper.
Erin
Jasmine Thèvenet
Garden outside of the Thèvenet Household

Jasmine felt a cold sensation wash over her body as she saw the letter in her husband's hand. She took it, and after another look at him, read it. A numb wave washed over her as she digested its contents.

Those who have the plague must be purified by fire. Their possessions burned. 

A phrase in the letter cleared the haze in her mind, a strong anger searing into her heart.

*A holy pilgrimage.*

Jasmine's mind flashed back to her days in the Trials before she could stop herself. Horrible, indescribable events. The agony. The hopelessness. Her mind drifted to what was to be. Screams of men and women, wailing children. Burned alive as a sacrifice. And the Thévenet family was to be responsible for carrying the order out. Her body began to tremble, but she quickly made herself rigid.

*A holy pilgrimage*, the letter taunted her, the words burning into her entire being.

"I see," Jasmine said quietly, handing the letter back. She could not meet his eyes. She didn't want Elroy to think the hatred in her face was directed towards him. He was devout, a loyal subject to Xolile. Her husband was a good man. And she loved him.

But he knew nothing about the horrors that she, and countless others, had faced at the hands of that "God."
Carol
Lord Elroy Thèvenet 
Bladegarden, Provincial Thèvenet 

Elroy's trained eye saw her tremble and his arm enveloped her waist pulling her a bit closer to him. His eyes searched her face, worried. She handed the letter back, but refused to meet his eyes. 

"Jasmine." He lifted her chin with his hand to meet her gaze and when he saw the fire in them it trailed down to her collarbone where the scars from her trials began, though they covered her entire body. Elroy had only inquired about her Trials once and it was then that he saw a similar fire. They had shared many things with one another, but she had never offered the information and he had never pressed her for it. If the scars were any indication, it was a traumatic experience.
Erin
Lady Jasmine Thèvenet
Bladegarden, Provincial Thèvenet

As soon as Elroy pulled her closer, Jasmine felt a strong urge to cry. To be comforted. To have his arms wrapped around her, and for him to tell her that everything would be alright.

But she could not be weak at a time like this. Tears would solve nothing.
And everything would not be alright.

As he tilted her head for their eyes to meet, she saw his concern for her. And something else.

Resignation.

Despite the obvious trouble the letter had caused him, he had already carried out the order in his heart. He would do it. He would carry out this most-holy massacre.

*Ah,* She thought numbly. *Then there is nothing I can do, is there?*

Yet again, she helpless to save innocents from The Circle's grasp.

Her husband's expression changed, and his arm around her tightened. Jasmine realized that a tear was falling down her cheek.
Carol
Lord Elroy Thèvenet 
Bladegarden, Provincial Thèvenet 

The tear rolling down his wife's face broke his heart and Elroy had to fight his urge to push down the emotions. She deserved better. Silently, he pulled her into an embrace, arms wrapped comfortably around her torso. 

"You did your best." He whispered in her ear, a hand reaching up to gently stroke her hair. Pulling back slightly he lifted her chin again. "You cannot save everyone."
Erin
Lady Jasmine Thèvenet 
Bladegarden, Provincial Thèvenet

Jasmine let herself be held in her arms as his words echoed in her head. 

*"You cannot save everyone."*

...But what if she could?

Her mind raced for a solution, and an answer donned on her almost immediately. La Gruador was a highly respected hospital and healing facility, and she was its head. Yes. There would be a way where they could be saved by medicine instead of fire.

It could work. *It had to.*

"The Queen," Jasmine whispered as Elroy stroked her hair. She felt his hand freeze. "I need to seek audience with the Queen."
Carol
Lord Elroy Thèvenet 
Bladegarden, Provincial Thèvenet 

*I need to seek audience with the Queen.* Her words set off alarms in his head and he calmly pushed her back. "You know how difficult that can be. What for?" 

Elroy was being polite. He could see why in her eyes. Jasmine believed she could cure them all and spare them from their death. The answer would be no. Though he tried to push it down, Elroy could feel fear rising in his throat, threatening to stumble out with excuses. The answer, however, was simple. Juliana would kill his wife.
Erin
Lady Jasmine Thèvenet 
Bladegarden, Provincial Thèvenet 

"I may be able to sway her," She said calmly. "You've seen what La Gruador is capable of. Perhaps-"

She paused, her mind still racing.

"Perhaps they will think that Xolile has given me a gift they can use. A gift that they did not consider before ordering the pilgrimage." She knew her voice was beginning to show her desperation, but she no longer had the strength to hide it. "I must try."
Carol
Lord Elroy Thèvenet 
Bladegarden, Provincial Thèvenet 

"No." His eyes hardened and his grip around her arms grew stronger. "Jasmine, you and your students are capable of incredible feats, but this is not something you can cure." His eyes searched her face for understanding but he only found stubbornness. 

Elroy shook his wife, raising his voice slightly. "Promise me." He demanded, fear flashing through his eyes, terrified she was going to be reckless.