"It is time, sister."
"So it is, Aife."
"Something troubles you. Tell me, what is it?"
"It's just that..."
"Just what, Scathach?"
"Will this bring them closer together" Or perhaps drive them further apart?"
"Whatever follows this course, it is by their hand, and their hearts, Scathach. We can only show them that they have not been abandoned, and at the same time show him, that he cannot simply waltz into the lives of our children, and their friends, and kin and do as he ever so pleases.
There is a price to be paid, and the time to recompense is at hand. It is time for them all to see, that we have not tucked tail and made for the shadows of legend, as many would believe. As he would have our own children believe.
It is time for examples to be made, along with points of fact made openly known, to any who have ever doubted what our children have fought, bled and cried for. For what they have stood for, and what they stand for, and what they shall continue to stand for, so long as they have life in their hearts, and through them, us."
"How long has it been, Aife?"
"It has been far too long, for you and I, Scathach. We have held back far too long, sister and now I believe, as I did when we first talked of this, that it is time to take that next step. Our daughters have adapted, and evolved and they did so in our names. They did so in the course you have laid out before them, for us."
"You are correct, Aife. Thank you."
"As I also said before, sister. Do not thank me so readily, not while this is still 'in play' as some of our daughters have been known to say. This will be far from over, even after this eve has concluded. The truth matter at hand is what will follow with our daughters, and the path each of them decide to walk, when this dust settles, so to speak."
"Say what you will, Aife. I will thank you, when I wish to and right now I shall do so. As to Illea, Jenai and the others....No matter which path they walk, be it my order or your own, so long as their hearts remain true to the calling, and they commit to their paths with honor and humility, all will be well. We shall see to that.....I shall see to that."
"Scathach?"
"There is no more time for trepidation, Aife. You are right. We will show them, and we shall more importantly, show him and any others who would beset foul and twisted machinations upon our daughters, and their works. Those who would force themselves upon the weak, and trample their freedoms. Those sick and twisted souls, that are ever so deserving of having righteous vengeance dispensed upon themselves, and those who serve their sick measures.
Those who look upon us for guidance in their time of need, those who require healing and shelter, even for the briefest of times. Those who come to our sanctuaries seeking aid, or direction. Even the kindest of words, if only. Our daughters, our enemies, alike.
We shall show them, that they have not been abandoned, even if we did not answer when they called out. Even if we did not show a sign, when they sought so hard to find one, because that very answer was closer than they could ever have imagined. Even when they walked from us, only to come home.
They were never abandoned, Aife! Not by me, not by you, and not by their own order! Even if it seemed that way, they were not....Not ever. We have taught them since the beginning, and through those years so many have been taught. Generation upon, generation. They have been taught our ways, my ways....Your ways....And they have taken them to heart, many keeping them closer than others. And yet no matter, how far any of our daughters have strayed, we have never been so far behind, that they would not feel that tug upon those faintest of heart strings!"
"Even the prodigal?"
"Especially the prodigal, Aife! She feels it, and she knows it and that is why she fights as she does, and why she has bedded herself with those she has chosen to whore herself to! Yet, despite all of that, she has not been lost to us, and she never will and her time will come, Aife. I swear upon all that I am, and all I would be to our daughters, she will come home and she will answer for all she has done against our own, and so many others! And tonight, she and her allies will see and hear that we have not walked away from our daughters, and those in need, and we never shall, no matter what is put against us, or how weakened some think me, to be! They will learn that we have never left, Rhy'din and never will.
We started with a sanctuary, and now we have a sanctuary and temple. Where we had one order, we have two. Where we struck from the shadows, we now strike openly. Where they thought us weak, we shall show stronger than ever and our daughters will bring down the hammer of justice upon each and every one of them!I swear it!"
"And Jenai" What of that which we sealed, and is now free?"
"We shall see how Jenai handles herself with what is to come, and how she copes with what has escaped her. If we must intervene we shall do so, only if. In the end, only she can decide how she wishes to remain, when this is said and done."
"Of course, sister. And I will be at your side, always."
"Despite how different we have been and are, Aife. Despite what happened, so long ago....I have never had any doubt of that. You are my greatest rival, and my sister and hold our teachings to heart like no other save myself. You like our daughters have bolstered me, more than you know. I am honored to have you at my side sister."
"The honor is mine, sister. I will make ready with the preparations. As we speak the parties are assembling within the city. I will send word to the temple and sanctuary."
"Very well, Aife. I too will make ready."
"So it is, Aife."
"Something troubles you. Tell me, what is it?"
"It's just that..."
"Just what, Scathach?"
"Will this bring them closer together" Or perhaps drive them further apart?"
"Whatever follows this course, it is by their hand, and their hearts, Scathach. We can only show them that they have not been abandoned, and at the same time show him, that he cannot simply waltz into the lives of our children, and their friends, and kin and do as he ever so pleases.
There is a price to be paid, and the time to recompense is at hand. It is time for them all to see, that we have not tucked tail and made for the shadows of legend, as many would believe. As he would have our own children believe.
It is time for examples to be made, along with points of fact made openly known, to any who have ever doubted what our children have fought, bled and cried for. For what they have stood for, and what they stand for, and what they shall continue to stand for, so long as they have life in their hearts, and through them, us."
"How long has it been, Aife?"
"It has been far too long, for you and I, Scathach. We have held back far too long, sister and now I believe, as I did when we first talked of this, that it is time to take that next step. Our daughters have adapted, and evolved and they did so in our names. They did so in the course you have laid out before them, for us."
"You are correct, Aife. Thank you."
"As I also said before, sister. Do not thank me so readily, not while this is still 'in play' as some of our daughters have been known to say. This will be far from over, even after this eve has concluded. The truth matter at hand is what will follow with our daughters, and the path each of them decide to walk, when this dust settles, so to speak."
"Say what you will, Aife. I will thank you, when I wish to and right now I shall do so. As to Illea, Jenai and the others....No matter which path they walk, be it my order or your own, so long as their hearts remain true to the calling, and they commit to their paths with honor and humility, all will be well. We shall see to that.....I shall see to that."
"Scathach?"
"There is no more time for trepidation, Aife. You are right. We will show them, and we shall more importantly, show him and any others who would beset foul and twisted machinations upon our daughters, and their works. Those who would force themselves upon the weak, and trample their freedoms. Those sick and twisted souls, that are ever so deserving of having righteous vengeance dispensed upon themselves, and those who serve their sick measures.
Those who look upon us for guidance in their time of need, those who require healing and shelter, even for the briefest of times. Those who come to our sanctuaries seeking aid, or direction. Even the kindest of words, if only. Our daughters, our enemies, alike.
We shall show them, that they have not been abandoned, even if we did not answer when they called out. Even if we did not show a sign, when they sought so hard to find one, because that very answer was closer than they could ever have imagined. Even when they walked from us, only to come home.
They were never abandoned, Aife! Not by me, not by you, and not by their own order! Even if it seemed that way, they were not....Not ever. We have taught them since the beginning, and through those years so many have been taught. Generation upon, generation. They have been taught our ways, my ways....Your ways....And they have taken them to heart, many keeping them closer than others. And yet no matter, how far any of our daughters have strayed, we have never been so far behind, that they would not feel that tug upon those faintest of heart strings!"
"Even the prodigal?"
"Especially the prodigal, Aife! She feels it, and she knows it and that is why she fights as she does, and why she has bedded herself with those she has chosen to whore herself to! Yet, despite all of that, she has not been lost to us, and she never will and her time will come, Aife. I swear upon all that I am, and all I would be to our daughters, she will come home and she will answer for all she has done against our own, and so many others! And tonight, she and her allies will see and hear that we have not walked away from our daughters, and those in need, and we never shall, no matter what is put against us, or how weakened some think me, to be! They will learn that we have never left, Rhy'din and never will.
We started with a sanctuary, and now we have a sanctuary and temple. Where we had one order, we have two. Where we struck from the shadows, we now strike openly. Where they thought us weak, we shall show stronger than ever and our daughters will bring down the hammer of justice upon each and every one of them!I swear it!"
"And Jenai" What of that which we sealed, and is now free?"
"We shall see how Jenai handles herself with what is to come, and how she copes with what has escaped her. If we must intervene we shall do so, only if. In the end, only she can decide how she wishes to remain, when this is said and done."
"Of course, sister. And I will be at your side, always."
"Despite how different we have been and are, Aife. Despite what happened, so long ago....I have never had any doubt of that. You are my greatest rival, and my sister and hold our teachings to heart like no other save myself. You like our daughters have bolstered me, more than you know. I am honored to have you at my side sister."
"The honor is mine, sister. I will make ready with the preparations. As we speak the parties are assembling within the city. I will send word to the temple and sanctuary."
"Very well, Aife. I too will make ready."