Reign of Winter: The Snows of Summer [IC]

[lostsole31]

Councilor Teppen answers Amanu. "Our apiarist is a strange creature with an," and here she is careful as Zaarida leaves the room with some cups cleared from the table, "unfortunate choice of faith."

Elder Safander's mouth grows a little tight at that comment.

"Now, now, Elder," tries to placate Ionia, "your wife was brought up in that faith, and indeed we see that her manner of worship is in keeping with a farming village like Heldren. But she also is open enough to learn how to serve you as a helpmate in an Erastilian temple with shrines to others. And she is a fine ambassador for her people, that you met on your young adventures in Qadira."

Councilor Teppen turns to the party with an intensity that halts Minh's tactful bickering with Isolde. "Our beekeeper's parents taught her the ways of her religion ... the religion of our ancient enemy to the east. Even before Taldor lifted the ban on Sarenite worship, it is known that they managed to communicate with other underground Sarenite humans using various codephrases that were a function of body language and hidden writing. She was taught these deceptive ways ... ways lost on an innocent like Goodie Safander. That training in so young a child means that even before you consider what Darkhelm is, that deception had become second-nature."

"But," cuts in Old Mother Theodora, eyeing Councilor Teppen, "to her credit, she has led a life of quiet contemplation with her bees. Not bothering nobody except to sell her varieties of honey, beeswax, and pollinator attractors for farmers' fields. That's why some of the farmers call her the 'Peaceful Void.'"

"My wife didn't bring her up because these mercenaries need a waterproofing wax," says Elder Safander, trying not to let his annoyance with Councilor Teppen show. "She has .... other talents. That's the only reason I'm not buying your distrust as a Sarenite one as she was raised, but one smacks more of wild Gozreh the way she hermits herself away and focuses more on nature than people in her community."