It was a good thing that Ashling and he had decided to talk about that very matter before they had entered Solveig’s office, Tristan decided, when the clerk addressed his fiancée once more. Just like the lovely young woman next to him, he agreed with the woman’s general attitude; but by the Fates (and the spirits, because he lived in Melrath now), he began to wish that she were a little less thorough when it came to him. He was no evil criminal outlander that wanted to relieve the innocent inhabitants of Raelia of their precious nels!
On the other hand, he realized, as he waited for Ashling to answer the woman’s next couple of question, if Solveig was so thorough, nobody would ever be able to doubt that he actually deserved being a citizen. He would be beyond reproach, and ultimately, that was a good thing. He didn’t want anybody to doubt that he actually belonged here, and think that he was just an outlander of questionable past and questionable motives. He wanted to be a part of this nation, through and through, and be a respected member of Melrathi society!
(He would still make weird sculptures, talk to cats and wrap pretty ribbons around his potion vials though!)
When Ashling began to speak and explained the political set-up of Rynmere, he looked at her proudly. Comparing the dukes of Rynmere to the jarls was a good idea in his opinion; it would make it easier for Solveig to understand how that foreign country worked. Upon hearing Ashling speak about wasteful people, he furrowed his brow very lightly though. He supposed that he had been a bit wasteful in the past; in fact, he still was sometimes, he had moved past the point where he had just been a spoiled young noble though and grown up.
Whenever Ashling paused for a bit, Tristan looked at his fiancée encouragingly because it was obvious to him that she was a bit nervous and wondering if she was doing okay; he didn’t raise his voice though, not even once, because he didn’t want to give Solveig the impression that he was trying to influence his witness and persuading her to say something in particular. He’d never do that, and he trusted Ashling with everything that he had. She was absolutely fantastic!
So, instead, he stood there, trying to look calm and composed.
When Ashling finally started to talk about how he had been forced into exile, a dark look crossed his face for a moment though. Most of the time, he was fine nowadays, and he absolutely loved his new life with Ashling. Thinking about what he had lost – or hearing about it – still hurt every now and then though, even though it had been several arcs at this point. He listened attentively nevertheless though. He was impressed by how Ashling handled this complicated and somewhat traumatic topic. Did she know that the leader of the rebellion had been the husband of his cousin Zvezdana though?
When Ashling mentioned that a weird plague had followed in the wake of the civil war and talked about the rise of the Order of the Mantis, he furrowed his brow barely noticeably for a moment. Ellasin’s plague had only happened later, but there had been another disease in Rynmere (which had led to surgical masks becoming some sort of fashion accessory for a while). With that thought in mind, he continued to listen as she talked about how he became an able man who knew how to work and carry his own weight.
When she finished her speech by mentioning how he had taken part in the ritual sacrifices and would work with House Magnus and their alchemists, Tristan was convinced that they were done, and Solveig would hand him his paperwork and congratulate him on becoming a citizen – and state that Melrath would be lucky to have someone like him. Instead, the woman had more questions – and mentioned his family in Rynmere.
Was she implying that he was an irresponsible man who didn’t care what happened to his family and his servants, as long as his daughter and he survived? Was she implying that he was a coward? He was not a great hero, he had to admit that, but he would never abandon his family to save his own hide. That would be mean and cruel and selfish, and it was not right!
When he heard Ashling’s words, he was inclined to agree with her – he was quite furious as well – but then he took a deep breath instead and forced himself to calm down. Losing his temper would do no good now. On the contrary, it would likely have the opposite effect. Solveig was only doing her duty, and it made sense that she was subjecting him to the same expectations as if he were a jarl. Such people should set an example.
With that thought in mind, he took a deep breath before he answered in a polite and friendly tone of voice, “I had no idea how bad things would get in Rynmere. There was a period of calm following the civil war. For that reason, I decided to visit the island of Scalvoris. The university there has a good reputation, and I wanted to finish my studies of alchemy – and attend a symposium. Padraig Augustin granted me my Letter while I was there, due to my invention of an invisible box”, he spoke. The name would likely be familiar to her. Faith and Padraig Augustin were among the most famous couples in the world. Once upon a time, he had hated Padraig, because he had married Faith, but they had gradually come to an understanding.
He did not mention Padraig’s name (or his invention) in order to brag though, but so that Solveig would know that he had not simple gone on some sort of holiday. He had participated in an important meeting, finished his education and furthered his understanding of science, so that he would be able to help even more people and invent more useful things. He had not relaxed on the beach, at least not most of the time!
“I left everything in good hands while I went abroad”, he told Solveig in a firm tone of voice. “At the time, none of my family needed my help. Everybody was doing well. While I was in Scalvoris, the situation escalated though, quite unexpectedly. I tried to return to Rynmere, but none of the captains that I talked to were willing to take me to the island. All the harbors were closed due to the plague, and even reaching the Eastern Settlement constituted a considerable challenge. I couldn’t do anything”, he said, his voice trembling slightly now.
He was not acting, and he was not trying to make Solveig pity him; his sorrow was genuine.
“I’ve been agonizing over it ever since. The love for my daughter kept me going though. I needed to keep her safe and find a new home for both of us, a safe heaven far away from all the things that trouble other parts of this world. Melrath turned out to be that place”, he finished and proceeded to meet Solveig’s gaze.
She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before she nodded and remarked, “I heard something like that, that the harbors of Rynmere were closed and nobody could get into or out of Rynmere. For what it’s worth, I hope that you will eventually see your family again – or bring them here, and I hope that they are well.” She said the last words in a softer tone of voice. Solveig was strict, and a bit of a zealot, but she was not without empathy. And besides, Tristan’s story reminded her of the first settlers in Melrath. They had been looking for a new home as well and found it there.
“I just have one more question, and then I will make my decision”, she continued after a moment of silence. “From what you have told me so far, it sounds as if you are raising your daughter alone. What happened to her mother? Are you a widower, or divorced? I think I’d like to hear the answer from you”, she decided and looked at Ashling. “Did your fiancé ever talk about the mother of his daughter – and why she plays no part in his life?”
On the other hand, he realized, as he waited for Ashling to answer the woman’s next couple of question, if Solveig was so thorough, nobody would ever be able to doubt that he actually deserved being a citizen. He would be beyond reproach, and ultimately, that was a good thing. He didn’t want anybody to doubt that he actually belonged here, and think that he was just an outlander of questionable past and questionable motives. He wanted to be a part of this nation, through and through, and be a respected member of Melrathi society!
(He would still make weird sculptures, talk to cats and wrap pretty ribbons around his potion vials though!)
When Ashling began to speak and explained the political set-up of Rynmere, he looked at her proudly. Comparing the dukes of Rynmere to the jarls was a good idea in his opinion; it would make it easier for Solveig to understand how that foreign country worked. Upon hearing Ashling speak about wasteful people, he furrowed his brow very lightly though. He supposed that he had been a bit wasteful in the past; in fact, he still was sometimes, he had moved past the point where he had just been a spoiled young noble though and grown up.
Whenever Ashling paused for a bit, Tristan looked at his fiancée encouragingly because it was obvious to him that she was a bit nervous and wondering if she was doing okay; he didn’t raise his voice though, not even once, because he didn’t want to give Solveig the impression that he was trying to influence his witness and persuading her to say something in particular. He’d never do that, and he trusted Ashling with everything that he had. She was absolutely fantastic!
So, instead, he stood there, trying to look calm and composed.
When Ashling finally started to talk about how he had been forced into exile, a dark look crossed his face for a moment though. Most of the time, he was fine nowadays, and he absolutely loved his new life with Ashling. Thinking about what he had lost – or hearing about it – still hurt every now and then though, even though it had been several arcs at this point. He listened attentively nevertheless though. He was impressed by how Ashling handled this complicated and somewhat traumatic topic. Did she know that the leader of the rebellion had been the husband of his cousin Zvezdana though?
When Ashling mentioned that a weird plague had followed in the wake of the civil war and talked about the rise of the Order of the Mantis, he furrowed his brow barely noticeably for a moment. Ellasin’s plague had only happened later, but there had been another disease in Rynmere (which had led to surgical masks becoming some sort of fashion accessory for a while). With that thought in mind, he continued to listen as she talked about how he became an able man who knew how to work and carry his own weight.
When she finished her speech by mentioning how he had taken part in the ritual sacrifices and would work with House Magnus and their alchemists, Tristan was convinced that they were done, and Solveig would hand him his paperwork and congratulate him on becoming a citizen – and state that Melrath would be lucky to have someone like him. Instead, the woman had more questions – and mentioned his family in Rynmere.
Was she implying that he was an irresponsible man who didn’t care what happened to his family and his servants, as long as his daughter and he survived? Was she implying that he was a coward? He was not a great hero, he had to admit that, but he would never abandon his family to save his own hide. That would be mean and cruel and selfish, and it was not right!
When he heard Ashling’s words, he was inclined to agree with her – he was quite furious as well – but then he took a deep breath instead and forced himself to calm down. Losing his temper would do no good now. On the contrary, it would likely have the opposite effect. Solveig was only doing her duty, and it made sense that she was subjecting him to the same expectations as if he were a jarl. Such people should set an example.
With that thought in mind, he took a deep breath before he answered in a polite and friendly tone of voice, “I had no idea how bad things would get in Rynmere. There was a period of calm following the civil war. For that reason, I decided to visit the island of Scalvoris. The university there has a good reputation, and I wanted to finish my studies of alchemy – and attend a symposium. Padraig Augustin granted me my Letter while I was there, due to my invention of an invisible box”, he spoke. The name would likely be familiar to her. Faith and Padraig Augustin were among the most famous couples in the world. Once upon a time, he had hated Padraig, because he had married Faith, but they had gradually come to an understanding.
He did not mention Padraig’s name (or his invention) in order to brag though, but so that Solveig would know that he had not simple gone on some sort of holiday. He had participated in an important meeting, finished his education and furthered his understanding of science, so that he would be able to help even more people and invent more useful things. He had not relaxed on the beach, at least not most of the time!
“I left everything in good hands while I went abroad”, he told Solveig in a firm tone of voice. “At the time, none of my family needed my help. Everybody was doing well. While I was in Scalvoris, the situation escalated though, quite unexpectedly. I tried to return to Rynmere, but none of the captains that I talked to were willing to take me to the island. All the harbors were closed due to the plague, and even reaching the Eastern Settlement constituted a considerable challenge. I couldn’t do anything”, he said, his voice trembling slightly now.
He was not acting, and he was not trying to make Solveig pity him; his sorrow was genuine.
“I’ve been agonizing over it ever since. The love for my daughter kept me going though. I needed to keep her safe and find a new home for both of us, a safe heaven far away from all the things that trouble other parts of this world. Melrath turned out to be that place”, he finished and proceeded to meet Solveig’s gaze.
She looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before she nodded and remarked, “I heard something like that, that the harbors of Rynmere were closed and nobody could get into or out of Rynmere. For what it’s worth, I hope that you will eventually see your family again – or bring them here, and I hope that they are well.” She said the last words in a softer tone of voice. Solveig was strict, and a bit of a zealot, but she was not without empathy. And besides, Tristan’s story reminded her of the first settlers in Melrath. They had been looking for a new home as well and found it there.
“I just have one more question, and then I will make my decision”, she continued after a moment of silence. “From what you have told me so far, it sounds as if you are raising your daughter alone. What happened to her mother? Are you a widower, or divorced? I think I’d like to hear the answer from you”, she decided and looked at Ashling. “Did your fiancé ever talk about the mother of his daughter – and why she plays no part in his life?”
