Re: A meeting with Scolo
(Melissa is Scolo's "minder". She keeps him stable. Melissa is an ex-Blackguarded, "converted" with the aid of Eadoin's staff. Before that, she was a thief and a prostitute. She's in her mid 20's, dark eyed and dark haired, thin and of average height but with a very athletic build.)
“Scolo,” Melissa says, “look at me. Listen to me. Trust Theoderic. I know him. Probably as well as… well, almost as well as Aelasuria does. Maybe more, in some ways. Back when I was a Blackguard I gathered information about Theoderic. That was a large part of my life for a year. If anyone could be considered an expert on him, it would be me. He said he was going to get your villagers back. And he’ll make good on it. He’s got to let the Academy help because they know magic and he doesn’t… that’s his weak spot, that and Aelasuria. You don’t even know half of what you conjured up back there. So he’s sending Byron and the Academy is sending Kyriel, and what’s more, he’s sending Rita. Now, Rita… if there was anyone you should trust the lives of innocent villagers too, it’s Rita. She’s running an orphanage. A home for children without parents. It doesn’t matter what the Academy does, Rita will make sure no one innocent is harmed, and promises are kept. Everything will be okay.
"Now, meanwhile, let’s think about you. We’re heading north, to help Theoderic with something on the north side of Belgica, and in the process, we’ll be looking for a place for you. A new home. But where? You need a new home, don't you? Hmmm... do you like the ocean?"
Syanthus, meanwhile, has heard all he needs to hear from Scolo. He gives Scolo a slightly sympathetic look, an "alas, a great mind has fallen" shrug, and rises. "We must do what we must do," he says in the way wizards do when they need to say something that sounds very wise.