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((Triple Wednesday -- Page 1 of 3))
‘Appreciated.’ Garovel broke for a pause. ‘Now, okay, I should preface this by saying that you are absolutely welcome to stay here at Warrenhold as long as you need or want. However, I am curious as to what plans you or your family might have going forward.’

Dimas’ eyes fell to the table.

Hector waited. This man sitting in front of him was the very recently recognized new head of House Sebolt. No doubt, the tragic losses to his family at Dunehall were even fresher in his mind than they were in Hector’s. It was certainly an important question that Garovel had just asked, and Hector wanted to know the answer, but he might’ve asked the reaper to wait a bit longer before posing it, if he’d known Garovel was going to.

At length, Hector felt compelled to add, “You don’t have to answer that right now, if you don’t want to. There’s no rush.”

‘Indeed,’ said Garovel. ‘If anything, we’re more worried about you leaving. I can say with confidence that Hector and I would both prefer that you all stay here. Indefinitely, if need be.’

Dimas looked up. “Indefinitely?”

‘If need be,’ Garovel reiterated.

Dimas took a breath and rubbed his brow. “I know virtually beyond doubt that my kin will wish to locate and free the others from the Vanguard’s captivity.”

‘Yeah, that’s what we’re worried about,’ said Garovel. ‘I don’t think that’s a very good idea--not with everything you’ve been through recently--with everything we’ve ALL been through recently.’

Dimas just clenched his jaw and said nothing.

Hector could see the man’s dilemma. From everything that Hector had come to learn of the Rainlords, the idea seemed embedded into their very identity that they should take enormous risks for the sake of their blood and loved ones.

Maybe that was historically what kept getting them into trouble, but Hector also got the feeling that that was why they seemed to be so fiercely loyal to one another, too. And that loyalty, by extension, was probably how they had survived all that trouble that they got into.

A double-edged sword, if ever Hector had seen one.

“...I have to agree,” said Dimas. “Pursuing our captive brethren now would obviously be a fool’s errand. We hardly even know where to begin looking for them. Korgum, perhaps, considering that is where the Gargoyle is most likely stationed, but that is not enough information on which to base a rescue attempt.”

‘I’m glad to hear you say that,’ said Garovel. ‘Personally, I think you and your people need time--and perhaps a lot of it.’

“...You may be right,” said Dimas. “But I worry what will happen if and when a supposed ‘opportunity’ appears before us. I fear that the others will jump at any chance as soon as they see it.”

‘So don’t let them,’ said Garovel.

Hector gave the reaper a look. That was a stronger stance to take than Hector had been expecting.

He couldn’t say he disagreed, though.

‘You’re the presiding Lord of House Sebolt now,’ Garovel went on. ‘Your opinion will have considerable weight behind it.’