[Royal Palace, Kindeance] The winter had been a hectic few months. It was a period when everything ground to a halt, where everyone was content to just tide it over until spring. In such idle times, gossips and rumours spread like wildfire amidst the bored populace and... well, it wasn't the good kind. Despite the king's best attempt, the voice demanding war never faded and on the contrary inflamed further with every passing day. The duchess was busy preparing for that inevitability, alongside some projects that Theodore wasn't privy to. Not to say that he wasn't busy himself, but his responsibilities were on a much smaller scale. And one of them was to lay the groundswork for the mage reform. And to that end, there's one individual that he needed contacting. He tried scrying to the fourteenth medallion occasionally through the winter, but true to expectations Cedar was likely hibernating. The trinket was in a dark enclosed space and as far as he could tell hadn't moved an inch the entire time, thus the only option was to wait. Once spring came he scried periodically, at midmorning every three days without fail like clockwork. The first few times had failed, a small suspicion budding that the medallion was ditched in a hole somewhere, but eventually it received a feedback response. On Cedar's end, a translucent image of Theodore projected itself out of the medallion. It was off-center, with depiction of a room filled with books and unusual contraptions fading around the edge of the projection. [b][color=#d896ff]"Ah, master Cedar. I was wondering if you'd wake anytime soon."[/color][/b] He greeted, his visage carrying a carefully manicured mild and polite impression. [b][color=#d896ff]"Is this a good time to talk?"[/color][/b] [Great misty forest-- Meche border] Cedar blinked in confusion, and nearly dropped the medallion in surprise, but instead just oogled the image incredulously for a few seconds, before responding. He was mindful of the fact that he must look very haggard, given his 'nearly didnt make it' condition. [color=7bcdc8]"Uh.. Uh s'pose so... 'is weren't haow uh'd a thought'a sayin' hullo 'dough.... whatcha need 'ere lil' fellar?"[/color] Theodore Steinwell was not really all that "small" of a person, but he was still fairly young, and most importantly, smaller in build and stature than Cedar himself was. In the greater scope of things, Theodore was many many years Cedar's senior, and despite appearances, was the very image of the coolly collected intellectualism distilled into mages everywhere. His demeanor reflected this flawlessly. [b][color=#d896ff]"I'd like to confirm your availability for a visit, considering how our conversation ends hastily last year."[/color][/b] If Theodore had any personal opinion about the bear, he's showing no outward sign of it. Instead his chatter was businesslike as usual, unhurried as if the crisis wasn't in full swing at the moment. [b][color=#d896ff]"And perhaps you'd like a report on how Fanghorn fares while we're at it."[/color][/b] Cedar, however, was anything but that. He was very much the rural scion of a hermit in basically every way imaginable, including temperament, though he DID try to behave himself. Sometimes it was more difficult to do than others. [color=7bcdc8]"Uh though' you lot said you'd take care uh dem people!"[/color] He blurted suddenly, almost throwing spittle with a shocked, incredulous ferocity that stunned even himself. He quickly reigned in the outburst, sucked in his lips, and tried again, imposing a lot more self control this time. [color=7bcdc8] "Sorreh... bu' as uh kin'a blurt'd ayout 'ere... uh wuz unn'er deh impression at you nice folks was takin' care o' 'em poor people...."[/color] He made a pregnant pause in which he sucked in a breath, held it, then chewed the inside of his lips for a moment before resuming. [color=7bcdc8]"...it been all win'er... ya.... ... ya DID help em people.... ... righ'?" [/color] The issue of the fate of the residents of Fanghorn-- the village that he had "no small part" in destroying last fall-- was one that had haunted him perniciously ever since. (It turns out, abusing wild magic meant to deflect hurricanes from islands and coasts, into brutally terminating an evil flying wizard, has "Repercussions" on the people below. --Like flattening all their houses. As a consolation, it DID put out all the burning buildings that said wizard's cronies had set ablaze-- small as it may be.) Cedar was a kind-hearted, and benevolent sort, that did not take any kind of pleasure in causing harm to people. Especially innocent people, simply caught up in things stirred up by people more powerful than themselves. He DID NOT relish being one of those who many might call, "More powerful", and the role he had played in their suffering. Theodore was completely unfazed by the outburst however, strictly business. Almost impossibly cool, and matter-of-fact. [b][color=#d896ff]"Of course we did. I gave my word, did I not?"[/color][/b] The mage visibly picked up a piece of paper, though the writing wasn't visible through the projection. [b][color=#d896ff]"Some mages were dispatched to clear the rubble and erect a few emergency dwellings. Alongside with the few that are still in relatively decent condition, there's enough shelter for everyone by winter albeit a bit of a tight fit. We also provided supplies throughout the season. Construction will resume in a few weeks after the road is no longer slushy from melted snow."[/color][/b] The paper was placed down, Theodore's gaze seemingly finding Cedar through the projected image. [b][color=#d896ff]"You can visit them on the way here if you'd like."[/color][/b] This was... Not the kind of news he had wanted to hear. "Oh yes, we tucked those people in good and tight-- Built them houses as quick as we could, and stocked them proper for the winter." was more in line with what he would have done himself, if given the chance. That's the kind of help those people NEEDED.. not... Not what he had just heard recanted to him. [color=7bcdc8]"... ... Uh see..." [/color]he said again, after a long pause. [color=7bcdc8] "..Uh'll.. ...Uh'll try... Uh ain't in such good shape muhself... Dunno if'n ya kin sees 'at 'er not... .. an' dey's a lot tuh do 'roun' 'ere first.... Mebbe a week er tuhs...."[/color] The condition of those people was not something he wanted to tolerate persisting any longer, but his own condition DID also, need to be considered. You cant help somebody else, when you cant even help yourself. That thought resonated with him awhile, and he wondered if it was just "political blindness" that had driven this "not even barely adequate" response from the castle to their plight, or if... If the kingdom itself was, as he was.. not in a good way. [b][color=#d896ff]"Of course. Do take your time, we're not terribly in rush. You look positively terrible."[/color][/b] Said the mage, indirectly confirming that the projection was two-way. [b][color=#d896ff]"If you need to contact us you can tap some mana into the medallion. Now, before I go is there anything else you want to discuss?"[/color][/b] [color=7bcdc8] "Naw... I dun think suh..."[/color] he replied solemnly, deeply consumed with these troubled thoughts. [b][color=#d896ff]"Very well then. Looking forward to meeting you in person, master Cedar. Until next time."[/color][/b] The shimmering image projected from the medallion faded, then vanished, and the draw from it subsided to a dull ebb. Stricken with newfound worries and guilts, he placed it with his robes, then looked up above the (now cleaned out and empty) wooden 'crib' that served as his summer bed. He would need to fill it with fresh bed-straw, and prepare it for use-- if he was going to be using it this summer... Recent news.... Suggested he wouldn't. Again. On a rack above, drawing dust, was an enormous wooden bow his dad had made for him some years back, though he had never actually used it for much except practice shooting. He was not one for going hunting; He detested the idea of ending lives just to sustain his own, and tried to stick to the least costly modes of life he could, but if things were brewing like that outside... His thoughts returned to that terrible excursion to Fanghorn, and how everything there had gone sideways. He REALLY could have used this thing there... Back then.... He stood, then removed it from the two wooden pegs it was suspended from, and slung it over his shoulder. He needed to get dressed. He needed to see his father. As soon as possible.