Zion - LotNM Character Prologue (Lady Marion)
Zion - Path of the Moon Mother Prologue, Lady Marion
The bar in Low-Town was not the usual kind of place Lady Marion would visit, but, then again, hers was not the usual kind of errand. She was accompanied by guards, as were all priests and priestesses of the temples when venturing in Low-Town. While all parts of Myre were equally safe, the temple had come to know long ago that some places were more equally safe than others... and some less; Low-Town was one of the latter.
The guards she brought with had been hand-picked. Lady Marion had selected the male ram because he was even-tempered, astute, and had an excellent tactical mind. The second guard, a female lion, was chosen for her ferocity, quick-reactions, and aggressiveness. Separate, the two guards were incomplete but, together, serving Lady Marion, she knew that they created the best protection she could ask for.
The ram moved to a nearby table, half-way between the door and the bar-keep, and pulled a chair out for the priestess. Lady Marion smiled appreciatively and took a seat; he had learned much in the short time he had been her protector. The leonine guard went immediately to work, making her way around the bar, interrupting anyone who wasn't paying attention to her, and got straight down to business. It was a forward way to go about gathering information, but Lady Marion knew that it rarely failed to get results.
As anticipated, the lioness did not take long to find someone who was willing to speak. With a courteous "Excuse me." to the other individuals sharing a table with him, the guardwoman pulled a relatively young jaguar out of his seat and brought him to Lady Marion's table, depositing him in a chair opposite her. "This is Lady Marion." the guardwoman introduced her to him, "Priestess of Tah'aveen."
"Lady Marion." the jaguar bowed his head, as was custom. She noticed that he had quite a grip on the table.
"Thank you for taking time out of your afternoon to speak with me." Lady Marion offered genuinely, "I realize that my assistant's methods may seem a little extreme, but the sensitive and urgent nature of my task requires more speed and less finesse than I would normally prefer."
"I've had worse." the jaguar responded, eyes focused on the table.
"And you've had better, I'm certain." Lady Marion acknowledged, "and for that, I am sorry." she turned her tone a little more formal, "But, as I said, my errand cannot wait, so you will have to forgive me my directness." she looked to the jaguar, "Where is Valda Corwin?"
"Who?" the young male asked. The twitch of his whisker-- the faintest dilation of his pupils-- the too-casual flick of his ear... even without divine guidance, Lady Marion could tell he was lying.
"It is imperative that I speak with her." Lady Marion explained, "And I'm told that you know where she is."
"I don't know who told you, my Lady, but--"
"Tah'aveen herself has guided me to you," the priestess cut off the jaguar's sentence before any more lies could damn him, "and it is her will that I find Valda Corwin before the building referred to as 'The Orphanage' is put to the torch." She watched his eyes go wide as she explained more of her errand than she knew her superiors would appreciate, "Now... will you tell me where I can find her, or will you be responsible for such a loss?"
"I... grew up there..." the jaguar's eyes glimmered almost immediately with wetness.
"Then the Moon Goddess was right in having me seek you out." Lady Marion rested a hand on one of his paws, slowly pulling it free from its death grip on the table, "Now, Keelan... please... tell me everything." She realized that speaking the jaguar's name would surprise him. It did not matter how many time the casual believers saw proof of Tah'aveen's will, they never failed to be amazed. He would cooperate... of that she was sure.
* * * * * *
"Let me go!" the red squirrel screamed at the top of her lungs. Lady Marion's lioness guard dragged her down the street, "You have no right!" she attested. All of the arguing stopped the moment the guard brought her around the corner to stand face-to-face with the priestess.
"Valda Corwin?" Lady Marion inquired.
The squirrel gave her an appraising look, "Too young to be Matron Georgine..."
"Matron Georgine is my mother." Lady Marion announced patiently.
"Lady Marion." the squirrel acknowledged without even having to be told.
"Correct." the priestess nodded her head, "I am pleased that your knowledge lives up to its reputation."
"Bullshit." the squirrel cursed, "Only three humans serving at the temple would ever leave the grounds and you're the only one related to Matron Georgine. Only a moron wouldn't be able to figure out who you were."
"Perhaps..." Lady Marion let the vulgarity slide, but she realized that she would have to make amends to the Goddess for it later, "Then it is a good thing I am looking for you and not a... moron." she noted the last word after a slight pause.
"What do you want?" the squirrel demanded, "I haven't done anything."
"We have all 'done something'." Lady Marion explained, "but I am not here to condemn you, Valda Corwin."
"Then you'd be the first." the squirrel countered.
Lady Marion laughed at the comment and motioned to the lioness. The guardwoman released Valda. "I do not believe that one or even one hundred lapses of judgemnt define someone. It is not what what we have done that defines us, rather it is how we conduct ourselves to make up for such transgressions that tells the most about who we truly are."
"And what about someone who hasn't done anything wrong?" the squirrel countered.
Lady Marion shook her head in regard to the question she knew would come-- it always did. "We have all done wrong, my dear... we are all mortal and mortals are imperfect."
"Well I haven't." the squirrel countered, leaping into the air. Nimbly, she planted her feet on the lioness' shoulders and vaulted up to a ledge situated just overhead. With barely any effort, Valda swung herself up to the rooftop, "Nice talking with you." and, with nothing more to be said, the squirrel made to flee.
"You are about to." Lady Marion spoke up so her voice could carry to the young woman, "If you leave now the guards at the place you call 'The Orphanage' will burn it to the ground."
"You're bluffing." the squirrel countered, and disappeared from view.
"Please... I am trying to help you avoid making a grave mistake!" the human priestess called after the sqirrel... but it was too late. Lady Marion let out a sigh and held her hand up as the lioness made to give chase, "No..." the human let out a breath and emerged from the alleyway. She turned to head up the street to make her way back toward the temple, "Tah'aveen, forgive me, I have failed... this pain is unavoidable."
"You did as well as you could, my Lady." the ram spoke to her as he took position to her right.
Lady Marion shook her head, "It was my pride that caused my downfall. I thought that I could reason with her and show her the light."
"Not everyone can be redeemed." the ram offered.
"Everyone can be redeemed." she countered, "but sometimes it takes more work than most are willing to give."
"My Lady?" the ram inquired.
"The temple will have Valda Corwin one way or another and I do not intend to give up." she stated, continuing up the street toward High-Town.
"Lady Marion..." the ram paused, "they are going to send her out of Myre."
The human priestess nodded at that, "I am aware of that... and, as repentance for my own shortcomings, I shall go as well."
"The High Priest would never allow it." the lioness challenged.
Lady Marion glanced back at the guardwoman, "We shall see."