Finn made a point of being engaging while also being a critical observer. Hilana was his friend, but she would be the first to tell him that his duty to the Custodes trumped that. Lykos was his countryman, but he was sworn to the Divine Twins. They knew he would be duty-bound to report on their conversations, but Hilana, at least, knew Finn always had the best of intentions. Whether her sister and the Rathari-cum-Draegir knew, well, Finn couldn't only very carefully listen to his Symphony, lest the power of it deafen his mind.
Perhaps Phocion would allow Lykos and Hilana their trip to Kalzasi. Perhaps he would send Finn as well, as transportation, guide, guardian, and chaperone. He liked that. Finn had wanted to show Hilana his homeland, though he would have to Command her Symphony to stillness whenever Orkhan were nearby lest she commit murder.
"Slow and deliberate seems in tune with the nature of Winter," he opined when Lykos wondered where to start. "Perhaps learning yourself here in the desert where - well, the seasons exist, but not in such violence as Karnor. But if you are approved to travel north, perhaps some of the knots will untie themselves." Finn's smile was gregarious, hopeful.
The sisters had insights to share, and he nodded along, not adding too much there. He was curious to observe as much of the process of apotheosis as possible, both to better do his job and to better serve his empyrean lord. Time would tell whether the will of mortals would change a god or the god change the mortals' understanding of his domain. Any season could kill. Any season could offer much. If a new Winter was born, then perhaps that meant there would be a sea change, that the mortal souls would learn to understand its nature with new subtlety and sophistication.
Time would tell. He wondered if he had enough time to learn those lessons, but he brushed that thought aside as it always fluttered toward dangerous territory, wondering how long he had with his amatus, and who would take care of him when Finn was gone.
"That is a mark of Arcas," he said. "Yes." His face was amiable enough, but still. He did not appreciate curses aimed at his old friend, even though he understood where it came from. The Twins themselves had made peace with Arcas' new incarnation; religion, though, moved slower than the gods.
"Strange. Deus Aværys would not permit his mark upon me. But then... he permitted his ancient enemy to sojourn here, and you were already marked when you ascended if I understand correctly." His frown was thoughtful; he hadn't read in any of the reports whether Talon - Dæmon in Solunarium - had offered any insight into Lykos.
Perhaps Phocion would allow Lykos and Hilana their trip to Kalzasi. Perhaps he would send Finn as well, as transportation, guide, guardian, and chaperone. He liked that. Finn had wanted to show Hilana his homeland, though he would have to Command her Symphony to stillness whenever Orkhan were nearby lest she commit murder.
"Slow and deliberate seems in tune with the nature of Winter," he opined when Lykos wondered where to start. "Perhaps learning yourself here in the desert where - well, the seasons exist, but not in such violence as Karnor. But if you are approved to travel north, perhaps some of the knots will untie themselves." Finn's smile was gregarious, hopeful.
The sisters had insights to share, and he nodded along, not adding too much there. He was curious to observe as much of the process of apotheosis as possible, both to better do his job and to better serve his empyrean lord. Time would tell whether the will of mortals would change a god or the god change the mortals' understanding of his domain. Any season could kill. Any season could offer much. If a new Winter was born, then perhaps that meant there would be a sea change, that the mortal souls would learn to understand its nature with new subtlety and sophistication.
Time would tell. He wondered if he had enough time to learn those lessons, but he brushed that thought aside as it always fluttered toward dangerous territory, wondering how long he had with his amatus, and who would take care of him when Finn was gone.
"That is a mark of Arcas," he said. "Yes." His face was amiable enough, but still. He did not appreciate curses aimed at his old friend, even though he understood where it came from. The Twins themselves had made peace with Arcas' new incarnation; religion, though, moved slower than the gods.
"Strange. Deus Aværys would not permit his mark upon me. But then... he permitted his ancient enemy to sojourn here, and you were already marked when you ascended if I understand correctly." His frown was thoughtful; he hadn't read in any of the reports whether Talon - Dæmon in Solunarium - had offered any insight into Lykos.
