SolomonV2 Recap Page

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ST:EM Fourth Iteration — Solomon Waystone Running Recap

Quick Links:

• Solomon Waystone — Full character entry
• House Waystone — Family record
• House Rimbaud — Mother's family

This page is a running narrative record separated by session date, newest entries at the bottom. It is a holding place for session content prior to formal categorization into vault documents.

9-11-2025

Family Expectations — Fire, Legacy, and the Name "Merlin"

The world opens on a quiet renewal as Solomon Waystone and his father, Hector Waystone, speak of the boy's uncertain future. Hector insists that Solomon is meant for more than soldiering—his intellect and promise belong in the family gem business. They share talk of youth, temptation, and Solomon's friend Joshua, who once boasted of a non-human brothel near Four Rivers.

Later, father and son work together in the sheds, burning away remnants of old projects. Among the papers marked for fire, Solomon finds a piece of vellum written in elegant hand. On its reverse lies a short note: Meet in the usual place Thursday. – Merlin. Over dinner, Solomon shows it to his parents. Hector remarks that Merlin was "an old friend… knew your grandfather, too."

9-24-2025

The Shepherd's Cross Incident — The Voice Beneath the Earth

Solomon joins a caravan bound for Toth Wynnd and takes a scout's assignment alongside Jeffrey. They ride ahead to inspect the trail and watering hole at Shepherd's Cross, only to find it dry and muddy. Jeffrey turns back to redirect the caravan while Solomon seeks the spring's source. After hours navigating narrow canyons, Solomon discovers a high valley with a flowing spring that feeds into a hidden cavern below. Climbing to investigate, he glimpses a cabin and grazing cattle before slipping and falling into the cavern itself.

Inside, the space proves to be an ancient cistern. Solomon salvages driftwood to make a fire—evidence suggests fires had burned there before. His father's sword is gone, lost to the depths. He cannot climb back out. Praying softly, he follows the current through flooded tunnels and over cascading falls, losing nearly all his possessions. Exhausted, he finds a ledge with stacked stones diverting the flow of water. When he removes them, a calm voice warns, "Brace yourself." The released torrent nearly sweeps him away but restores the spring above.

Emerging into the late afternoon light after a full night underground, Solomon hears voices approaching. Instinctively he hides—just as men's shouts pierce the air: "Find him and kill him!" A desperate chase follows. Cornered, Solomon fights one attacker hand-to-hand before Jeffrey and Bucephalus arrive, arrows felling the man. Kneeling beside the dying foe, Solomon asks quietly if it hurts—his voice filled with pity, not malice.

10-2-2025

Roads and Revelations — Wittich the Mage and the Family in the Dale

On the road beyond Emberton, Solomon seeks food and encounters again the mysterious musician he'd once noticed at a roadside club. The man, Wittich, strikes up conversation, bluntly asking if Solomon is attracted to men. Solomon declines the notion; Wittich only smiles, saying there is something unusual about him. Across hours of talk, Solomon confides that he heard a voice in the cavern. Wittich immediately recognizes this as the likely cause of the strange attention surrounding him. He names Franklin Flinch as a real and living person, then demonstrates his own power—retrieving a newspaper from Deepdale through a shining doorway. The revelation of true magic leaves Solomon stunned.

Wittich soon departs with another caravan. Solomon, weary, falls asleep on Topaz, who wanders from the road. He awakens in late afternoon to startle a bear, then spends hours regaining his bearings. Spotting what he believes to be his caravan in a dale below, he rides to it and finds instead a friendly family who know his parents. They feed him and offer shelter. That night, while he sleeps, a young woman enters his tent unannounced. By morning, Solomon realizes with unease that it was not the elder daughter he had been flirting with, but her younger sister. He departs soon after, finding Bucephalus waiting for him. The two ride together, Solomon confiding the strange and unsettling turn of his journey.

10-23-2025

The Crossroads Massacre and the Mage's Door

Solomon Waystone and Bucephalus rode to catch up with the caravan, knowing they had one more night's camp before reaching Toth Wynnd. The evening passed without trouble, but at dawn Bucephalus and Eddert, one of the hired hands, rode ahead to scout the way through the Bloody Hills—a stretch of valley descending toward the great clearing outside the city. For ten miles in every direction around Toth Wynnd, the forests had long been cut down to deny raiders and bandits any cover. The southern crossroads was their planned camp for the night, a common meeting point for caravans entering the city.

By the time the Barrickea Gem and Mineral Caravan reached the crossroads, the place was strangely empty. As dusk fell, theirs was the only camp on the flats. Uneasy, Bucephalus and Stoja, the second-in-command, rode out to survey the treeline, agreeing to return within two hours. Solomon, left in charge, ordered the others to stay alert. Stoja returned alone—nothing amiss, he said—but Bucephalus had not come back.

Solomon took rest before his watch, but sleep was short and troubled. When Bucephalus remained missing, he sent two riders to look for him, warning them not to go deep among the trees. They found nothing. When Stoja proposed a full search party, Solomon refused: "Bucephalus would never leave the caravan undefended to chase one man in the dark." His steadiness impressed the others, who quietly praised his decision.

Moments later, the horses went tense, staring toward the eastern verge. Solomon turned to shout a warning—"Hey, somethi—" —and thirty riders in black erupted from the treeline. The camp dissolved in screams and chaos. Solomon ducked behind a wagon as the bandits butchered his men. Running would mean crossing open ground; staying meant death. He crawled through brush until he found shelter beneath tangled roots, watching helplessly as wagons were looted and driven away. When the raiders began counting bodies, they realized one was missing and fanned out with torches. Solomon's mind fractured under the horror of it.

He watched as Topaz was struck and roughly saddled. A massive man tried to mount and was thrown hard, arguing with another who seemed no more in command. When the second man moved to take the horse, Solomon gathered his courage to rush them. He rose—and pain exploded in his chest as an arrow struck him through the ribs, another through the abdomen. One of the searchers had seen him rise and fired. As the world dimmed, Solomon heard a name spoken among the bandits—McLean. His fading thought wondered if they meant the ranger of legend.

Scene for the Audience

In a tavern at Toth Wynnd, Wittich sits with his companions Ossian and Riva, exchanging jests and stories of recent travels. Between laughter, Wittich remarks that he now understands what others mean when they say they can see potential in a person. As he speaks, a rider arrives outside and ties up a horse Wittich recognizes instantly. "That's the horse of the young man I told you about," he says.

The rider, pressed by the mages, confesses he was paid several hundred silver and a handful of gold to sack a gem caravan and vanish with the cargo. The three mages exchange grim looks and ride for the crossroads. By the time they arrive, buzzards circle the sky. Other caravans have stopped to bury the dead. Following a trail of scorched grass, the mages find a burned hollow and a body among the ashes.

Ossian kneels and turns the young man's face toward the light. "It's him," Wittich breathes. They share a moment of sorrow—until fresh blood wells from the wounds. In a heartbeat they move: arrows drawn free, hands blazing with power. A doorway of light blooms open. Wittich, Ossian, and Riva carry Solomon through, disappearing into the forest beyond.

The Witch of the Forest and the Factor of Wynnd

Solomon awakens in agony, gasping as his head strikes the table beneath him. Voices surround him—urgent, commanding, foreign. Fingers press into his wounds; pain surges, then dissolves into the wild confusion of magical healing. Emotion floods through him: terror, ecstasy, grief, and wonder all at once. When it is done, his clothes are soaked with blood. A woman named Vordai offers him a fine shirt that once belonged to her daughter's father, the cloth worth more than Solomon dares guess.

In the candlelight he meets his rescuers: Vordai, called the Witch of the Forest, the mages Riva and Ossian, and a quiet youth named Aerin. Vordai teases Solomon about giving her a granddaughter—or perhaps she isn't entirely joking. Soon after, he travels by a mage's doorway for the first time while conscious, emerging within the walls of Toth Wynnd to recover his horse. Bucephalus, however, remains missing, and Wittich departs to search for him.

The next day, Solomon meets the Factor of Toth Wynnd, Malachi Brunswick. Malachi offers perfunctory condolences for the loss of the caravan but is chiefly concerned about the missing cargo. He hands Solomon a parchment addressed to Hector Waystone. "If you don't find your father," he says dryly, "I suppose you can read it yourself." When Solomon asks what he means, Malachi shrugs. "Caravans disappear, people die. Things happen."

Determined to reach his father, Solomon pays a silver coin for passage on a river skiff bound for Toth Safira. The vessel rides low, heavy with cargo, and soon grounds on sandbars. Solomon helps the crew lighten her, earning a meal among them. During their talk, the captain and first mate, Janni, reveal that a crate was loaded aboard this very skiff the morning after the massacre—a revelation that fills Solomon with dread and resolve.

Upon reaching Toth Safira, Solomon goes to his uncle's mansion but is refused entry by a servant. Through a window he sees his grandmother, Hemetia Waystone, matriarch of the Waystone gem empire, who tells him where to find his father. Solomon races to the warehouse district, where he discovers Bucephalus and his uncle in tense conversation with Hector. Reunited, Solomon embraces them both and recounts all that has happened.

Together they read the note from Malachi Brunswick. It contains only five words: "You owe me 350 gold." The implication is clear—Brunswick arranged the attack as an insurance fraud, and the massacre of the caravan was collateral damage in a debt unpaid.

11-12-2025

The Party at Toth Safira and the Fall of the Waystones

At Sebastian Waystone's estate in Toth Safira, a grand party brings together the region's gem merchants, investors, and social elite. The event feels wrong from the start. Solomon Waystone senses tension beneath the polish — a forced celebration masking quiet schemes. Among the guests, Solomon notices Nessa, a frightened young woman being bartered for the evening's entertainment. He intervenes, hiding her away and ensuring her safety before returning to the gathering.

Later, Solomon finds Bucephalus collapsed and incoherent, suffering from what physicians call a skull crush wound to the head. His mind reels, showing early signs of the dreaded stagger curse. Solomon carries him to an inn to rest and calls for help. Through fragmented speech, Bucephalus reveals that he knew of plans surrounding the caravan attack — but before Solomon can learn more, Bucephalus is found murdered the next morning in Toth Safira. His throat is cut, his body left as warning.

In the aftermath, truths begin to surface. Sebastian Waystone is revealed to have made a secret accord with the Brunswick family, aiming to force Barrickea Gem and Mineral into bankruptcy so that the firm could be reborn as an end-merchant enterprise — a long-held ambition of his. The mercenaries he hired were meant to stage a loss, not a slaughter. When the killings began, the situation spun beyond his control. Confronted by Solomon and Hector Waystone, Sebastian defends his actions as "necessary business." Hector, disgusted, disowns his brother and assumes full responsibility for the Brunswick debt himself. They are thrown out of Sebastian's house.

At Hector's request, Solomon arranges passage aboard a vessel bound for Synhoven that same night — the fastest route out of Toth Safira. The family gathers under cover of darkness, fearful of reprisal. Hector arrives at the last moment, calming their panic only long enough to say that the Brunswicks "accepted the deal with impatience." Once aboard, he confides privately to Solomon that the meeting did not go well and that the Waystones now flee for their lives.

As the ship cuts through the black waters toward the open sea, Hector speaks of sending Solomon and Melisande to Nialis to live with their uncle Steadig. Solomon pleads not to be separated — Hector will need his son's sword arm for what lies ahead. Moved by Solomon's conviction, Hector relents, and the family begins to make new plans for Nialis, the shadow of the Brunswicks' wrath stretching long behind them.

12-03-2025

Waiting for the Dead and Meeting the Enemy

With the Waystone family scattered and the future uncertain, Solomon Waystone purchased a fresh horse and new equipment and drove the animal hard toward Troydon, seat of the Grand Monastery. Upon arrival, he intercepted and dispatched a courier bearing a letter from his parents to Count Margrave in Emberton. Solomon then took refuge at the monastery as a paying guest, where all travelers were welcome for a few nights. During supper in the dining hall, he was startled to see Nessa among the guests. The two shared a quiet evening together, a brief moment of calm amid the storm.

The following day, Solomon traveled back downriver toward Toth Safira, continuing on to Synhoven, where he had arranged to reunite with his father. Unknown to Solomon, darker currents followed close behind.

Scene for the Audience

Nessa is confronted by a bounty hunter in Troydon. He reminds her that she is a runaway bound by contract, and that her obligations remain unpaid. His threat is clear: she must return and fulfill the terms, or be taken by force. Solomon is not present for this exchange and remains unaware of the danger now closing in on her.

In Synhoven, Solomon checked into an inn under the name Elumas. Each day for the next week, he asked the front desk if anyone had arrived for him. Each day, the answer was no. He haunted the docks, questioning captains and stevedores about arriving ships, first cautiously, then openly, no longer caring if he was recognized. By the twelfth day since his separation from his family, despair had fully taken hold. Certain something was wrong, Solomon went to the Barrickea Gem and Mineral factor shop in Synhoven seeking news.

The news was devastating. Wreckage had been found along the route of the ship Nina, and no word had been received from her crew or passengers. A dark northern vessel had been sighted in the same waters. Solomon's heart collapsed inward. His father Hector Waystone, his mother Laeala Waystone, and his sister Melisande Waystone were presumed dead.

Solomon took a horse from the factor shop and rode it mercilessly back to Toth Safira. He delivered the news to Hemetia Waystone, who collapsed under the weight of it. When Sebastian Waystone appeared, Solomon confronted him with raw fury, declaring, "You're dead to me." He left the estate and rode out of the city, eventually stopping to make camp with a passing caravan.

At dawn, Solomon discovered Jarrus of the Toth Safira warehouse cooking over the fire. After Jarrus departed, Solomon offered prayers to Franklin Flinch, asking for guidance in sharing food and mercy with those in need. He returned to the Waystone estate, apologized to Hemetia, and then went to the Toth Safira warehouse to take stock.

There, Solomon learned that Sebastian had been telling the men that the caravan massacre had been Hector's fault. Enraged, Solomon asserted his assumed authority as majority shareholder and declared it a terminable offense to slander either his father or his uncle without proof. Reviewing the books, Solomon discovered that the deal involving the murdered caravan did not exist in the ledgers at all — implying the presence of hidden accounts. One worker approached Solomon privately, asking to meet later at the Old Fish Inn by the wharf. Solomon, overwhelmed, forgot the meeting and never went.

That evening, Solomon shared tea with Hemetia in the arboretum. He apologized to Sebastian for his earlier cruelty, though he did not retract his words. Confronting him again, Solomon demanded the lies about Hector stop. Sebastian admitted he had sold shares to the Brunswick family and that their agreement required full control of the company. He warned Solomon that it would be in his best interest to abandon the Toth Safira location entirely. Questions about the hidden books went unanswered.

Solomon returned to Synhoven and met with a warehouse manager recently returned from Van Oerendia. There was no sign of the Nina. Solomon ensured the workers continued to be paid during the transition, then boarded a ship bound for Van Oerendia, intending to continue onward to Nialis to inform Steadig of his sister's death.

Three hours into what would be a two-and-a-half-day voyage, Solomon encountered Damon Brunswick. With calm efficiency, Damon asked Solomon about his intentions regarding the company. Solomon restrained his anger and answered honestly: he was grieving and not yet in a position to decide. Damon clarified Sebastian's situation and surprised Solomon by his candor and restraint. He suggested that, when the time came, Solomon should speak with his sister, Zarra Brunswick. Over the next day, the two spoke casually, and Damon repeated that Solomon and Zarra should meet.

Unable to sleep one night, Solomon went to the deck around the fourth hour. There he witnessed Damon speaking quietly with Zarra, urging her to get to know Solomon. Damon explained that it would do her good — and that it might help if Solomon associated the future of the company with a friendly face.

Solomon later awoke to a hand on his shoulder and a voice: Zarra Brunswick.

Over coffee, Solomon and Zarra spoke for more than an hour. Solomon felt a connection unlike anything he had known — not lust, but depth and clarity. Zarra offered, without prompting, to help him search for news of his family. Solomon accepted, adding quietly that she might accompany him to tell his uncle that his sister was dead. They spoke of cities, travel, and favorite places, agreeing to be fast friends and see as much of the world as they could.

Scene for the Audience

Zarra later confronts Damon privately, asking whether he intends to kill, extort, or threaten Solomon. Damon answers no. Zarra tells him she has offered to accompany Solomon in his search — or to deliver the news of death. Damon accepts this without objection.

As the ship neared port, Solomon and Zarra arranged a place to meet. When the time came, Solomon admitted uncertainty about her preferred mode of travel. He planned to walk the city and buy a horse, offering to arrange a carriage if she wished. Zarra smiled and told him she could walk just fine. The two young heirs stepped together into the streets of Van Oerendia.

Van Oerendia and the Instrument of Authority

Solomon's worst fears were confirmed along the docks of Van Oerendia. No one had seen or heard from the ship Nina since her last departure. Reports of wreckage and of a dark northern vessel circulated in low voices among sailors and merchants alike. The weight of this news bore heavily on Solomon Waystone, who had been straining to remain hopeful. Zara Brunswick did her best to distract him, though there were moments when conversation faltered and she inadvertently touched the wound of his grief, apologizing when she realized it.

The pair secured a small sulky transport and made their way to the home of Damon Brunswick, where they would spend the night. Damon proved a simple and practical man, cooking for them himself. Solomon found himself unexpectedly befriended by him, admiring the older merchant whose holdings were at once rival, partner, and customer to Barrickea Gem and Mineral. That evening, while Zara prepared herself for rest, Damon spoke privately with Solomon and advised him to secure an Instrument of Executory Authority, or similar legal protection, warning that Solomon's life might still be in danger. Solomon trusted Damon and found himself looking to him almost as one might a benevolent uncle.

The next day Solomon went to the BG&M warehouse in Van Oerendia and requested a lawyer. One was recommended, and work began on the necessary document. Solomon would have to return the following morning for its completion. Returning to Damon's house that evening, Solomon overheard a conversation between Damon and Zara—Damon asking if she was falling for him, Zara replying that she might be. Solomon's heart lifted at the thought, though it could not fully escape the shadow of his family's presumed death. He also overheard mention of Zara's experiences with the gods, which strengthened his trust and gave him courage to speak more openly of his own.

The following morning Solomon received the completed Instrument of Executory Authority, containing language to the effect that, should he fall before matters were resolved, the sealed authority in Oerendia was to be enacted without delay. With legal protections in place, Solomon arranged passage aboard a vessel bound for Niallis. During the voyage, Solomon and Zara spoke at length. They were invited to dine with the captain and officers in a cramped cabin. Zara demonstrated a clever drinking trick—appearing to drink deeply while consuming almost nothing. Sleeping arrangements placed Zara in a hammock directly above a bench where Solomon lay below. In the dim light, Solomon observed an older crewman descend the ladder and stare too long at Zara before departing.

Upon arrival in Niallis, the pair immediately began inquiring after ships that might have carried passengers, asking specifically for the Nina. They were directed to the name of a captain who might possess knowledge, but when they sought him in the alehouse he frequented, they learned he was no longer in Niallis and no one knew when he would return. The alehouse was rough, and Solomon kept close watch over Zara, instinctively placing himself between her and any potential threat.

From there they set out toward the Rimbaud compound. Though Solomon had spent more than a month there years earlier, time had altered his memory of the roads. He chose a path by instinct, pausing to pray for guidance before continuing toward signs of settlement in the distance. The road proved correct. They were met by a tall metal gate surrounding the compound. After knocking, the gate opened slightly to reveal Keshie, who stared in disbelief before recognizing Solomon and embracing him warmly. Introductions were made between Zara and Keshie, and they were brought inside to see Steadig. The first question Solomon asked them both was simple and desperate: "Have you seen my parents?"

Niallis, the Rimbauds, and the Messenger's Warning

Steadig and Keshie were shattered by the news of Laeala Waystone, Hector Waystone, and Melisande Waystone. The grief struck deeply—Laeala had been Steadig's younger sister. Through stunned silence and repeated condolences, Solomon and Zara Brunswick were welcomed as guests for as long as they required. Solomon was even offered a permanent place within the Rimbaud household.

Over the course of that evening, Solomon recounted the entirety of the last two months: his fall into the cistern and the voice he heard; the caravan massacre and the arrows that pierced him; his healing at the hands of mages; his reunion with Hector; the betrayal of Sebastian Waystone; the desperate flight by sea; and the long vigil in Synhoven awaiting a father who never arrived. He spoke of crossing the ocean in search of news, of the docks of Van Oerendia, and of the rumors of wreckage and the black ship. Much of this was new to Zara, who until then had only known fragments of his grief.

Exhausted from travel and emotion, Solomon and Zara retired to the guest house. Solomon awoke later to unfamiliar voices in the main house. Entering the room, he froze, believing for a moment he was seeing the ghost of his mother. As he rushed forward, the woman turned her face and he realized she was not Laeala. Steadig introduced her as Willow Rimbaud, Solomon's aunt.

Willow revealed herself to be a Felix—a magic user of the Order of Olympus, whose gods differed from those Solomon knew. Solomon spoke of the mages he had encountered, and Willow demonstrated magic for Zara, who struggled to understand what she was witnessing. When Solomon asked whether Willow could travel as the mages did and search for his family, she departed briefly, leaving Solomon and Zara to rest once more.

That night, Solomon poured out his heart in prayer to Franklin Flinch and the four gods of Troy, asking for direction. In sleep he was taken into a vision, finding himself speaking with a figure he could not clearly see. The edges of the world were present only in his periphery; direct focus caused the details to slip away. The figure identified himself as a messenger of the gods and declared that plans existed for Solomon, though they would be revealed in time. Solomon was permitted a single question.

After deep consideration, Solomon confessed his intention: to ask Zara to be his wife and to travel the world together. He asked whether, if he married her now, he could still fulfill the gods' plans for him. The messenger paused, then answered as the vision began to fade: "No. If you marry her now, all that you are to accomplish will not come to pass. You may choose later, if that is your will, but this is not the path set before you."

Solomon awoke alone; Zara had already risen. The day passed in shared labor around the compound. That evening, as they sat together on her bed, Zara leaned forward and kissed him. Solomon hesitated, and Zara immediately sensed it. Embarrassed, she withdrew, fearing she had misread him. Solomon asked her to wait and confessed everything: his instant attraction to her, his gratitude, his desire to ask her to marry him within an hour of meeting her—and the vision that forbade it.

Zara's composure crumbled as he spoke. When he finished, she rose, wrapped herself in a cloak, and went outside to sit alone against the workshop wall. Solomon watched from the window before bringing her a blanket. When she asked if he had been watching her, he admitted he had, wanting to ensure her safety.

Willow returned later. When Solomon asked if she had learned anything further, she confirmed what he already knew. Seeing Zara's distress, Willow sighed with understanding when Solomon explained. Zara eventually returned inside, exhausted, and went to bed without further words. Solomon and Willow continued speaking quietly in the yard before Solomon also retired. By morning, the household resumed its work, though the air remained heavy with what had been spoken.

Zara's Departure and the Herald's Arch

The following morning, Solomon Waystone and Zara Brunswick spoke quietly in the yard—their first words to one another since the night before. As they talked, Willow Rimbaud returned. Solomon asked if Willow could help Zara return home. Willow agreed. The original plan had been for Solomon to walk Zara to her parents' door, but magical travel made that unnecessary.

When Willow transported Zara through magical passage, the experience proved physically overwhelming. Zara became violently ill upon arrival and begged Willow not to let Solomon see her in that state. She asked Willow to accompany her the rest of the way and not bring Solomon. Willow honored her request.

Scene for the Audience

Zara is escorted not to her parents' home in Roi Soleil, but to the residence of Damon Brunswick in Van Oerendia. There she finds her brothers—Damon, Malachi Brunswick, and Silas Brunswick—engaged in business. Shocked by her sudden appearance, they quickly abandon their work when she breaks down in tears. As Zara recounts the events in Niallis—the confession of love, the vision, the prohibition from the gods—the brothers grow increasingly angered toward Solomon. Damon attempts to temper their reaction, reminding them of what the boy has endured. Yet the damage is done. Their opinion of Solomon, and of Barrickea Gem and Mineral more broadly, cools noticeably.

Back at the Rimbaud compound, Willow returned after a short absence—long enough to make Solomon uneasy. When he asked about Zara, Willow explained only that Zara had not wished him to see her ill and that she had been escorted safely to her destination. Solomon assumed she had returned to her family in Roi Soleil, unaware that she had instead gone to Damon's household.

Willow then asked if Solomon was prepared to travel. He agreed. Farewells were exchanged with Steadig and Keshie, and Solomon promised to visit again as soon and as often as he could. Willow explained the nature of the protective magical "bubble," and together they passed through the Herald's Arch, departing Niallis in an instant.

Return to Troydon and the Valise of Otho

Through the Herald's Arch, Solomon Waystone and Willow Rimbaud arrived in Troydon, site of the Great Monastery of Franklin Flinch. Solomon briefly asked Willow about the monastery where she resided in Deepdale, and she spoke of it in measured terms. He promised to visit her there as often and as soon as he could. Their farewell was brief but warm; Solomon offered a hug, and Willow accepted it before departing.

Solomon entered the Great Monastery and began inquiring after Nessa, whom he had left there some twenty days earlier. He was informed by one of the matrons that Nessa had departed with "her uncle." Solomon did not know that she had, in truth, been taken by a bounty hunter. He made reverences in the main chapel and prepared to secure a horse and supplies for the three-day journey to Emberton. As he rose to leave, he was seized by a powerful and unmistakable impression that he was forgetting something important.

Though he strained to recall it, the memory would not surface. The insistence remained strong. Seeking counsel, Solomon asked several priests how one might remember something forgotten. One suggested writing lists in hopes that the act would stir the mind. Standing at a podium with parchment and quill, Solomon listed everything that had transpired and everything he carried or required. When he finished, he noticed unfamiliar doodling among the lines—one clear name written in the margin: OTHO.

Solomon brought the parchment to the same priest and asked if he knew anyone by that name. The priest promised to inquire. An hour later he returned, visibly unsettled. A man named Otho had arrived at the monastery ten days prior, fallen ill upon arrival, and remained in a coma since. Among his belongings was a monogrammed valise bearing the name Otho.

Solomon was escorted to the infirmary and left alone with the unconscious man. A nurse quietly reminded him, "They can hear you, you know." Solomon spoke aloud, uncertain why their paths had crossed. In his mind he then heard a clear thought: "Open the valise." The case bore a noble seal. Breaking such a seal was a crime. The thought came again. Solomon opened it.

Inside lay a single letter addressed to "The Honorable Hector Waystone." As Solomon broke the seal on the letter itself, a caregiver entered and demanded to know whether he had done so. Solomon revealed the letter and explained that it was addressed to his father, now deceased. After a moment of tension, the nurse asked what the letter contained. Solomon read aloud an invitation from Count Lucius Malgrave requesting Hector's presence.

The nurse insisted that the matter be brought before the Father. Solomon was escorted through several layers of monastery authority, including an officious prothonotary whose duty was to prevent access to the Duke and High Priest, Titus Barrickeus. By providence, Titus was available, and the pair were admitted.

Titus greeted Solomon kindly and offered condolences upon hearing his name. Solomon recounted the events in full, answering the Duke's questions clearly. As they spoke, another priest entered the chamber to report that Otho had awakened from his coma. The timing stunned those present, lending weight to the claim of divine involvement.

As Solomon concluded his account before Duke Titus Barrickeus, another priest entered the chamber and announced that the sick man, Otho, had awakened from his coma. The timing stunned all present and further cemented the sense of divine providence surrounding the events. Titus rose, returned the letter to Solomon, and assured him that his office would assist in setting matters in motion should Solomon wish it. Solomon replied that his parents had trusted Count Lucius Malgrave, and so he would as well. Titus nodded and dismissed the young man with urgency so that he might act without delay.

Solomon departed the monastery, gathered his supplies, and began the three-day journey to Emberton.

Audience Scene — Athenis Aelius, Deepdale

Main characters unaware.

In Deepdale, within Athenis Aelius—the heart of Felixi power—an aged page was turned by steady hands. Willow Rimbaud entered a quiet study where Zosimus, acting head of the Order of the Felixi, sat perched over an ancient tome.

Willow informed him of her sister Laeala's death. Zosimus offered condolences, remarking gently that Willow was still young enough that such loss struck with unfamiliar sharpness. Willow clarified: her family had not simply died—they had been murdered.

Her account continued: the destruction of the ship Nina, Solomon's arrival at Steadig's compound, his knowledge of magic users, and the signs she had witnessed in him. She described his latent power as "vast as an ocean." Willow proposed that Solomon be invited to study with the Felixi before his inevitable breakthrough, so that he might be shaped into a powerful ally.

Zosimus rejected the notion almost immediately. If Solomon had been visited by a messenger of Franklin Flinch, then he was likely already claimed by the Mages. "You may do as you wish," Zosimus warned, "but you will answer to Mirabel if you interfere with plans Merlin has long been making." The two continued their discussion briefly before Willow departed.

Return to Emberton

Solomon's journey to Emberton was swift. Near nightfall on the final day, he halted an hour outside the city, unwilling to enter after dark. He made camp among a semi-permanent gathering of travelers. While setting his tent, he heard music and followed the sound, discovering Wittich performing for a lively crowd.

The two locked eyes in recognition. After his set, Wittich withdrew with Solomon to a tent, where Solomon broke down in grief. He recounted everything since their last meeting in Toth Wynnd—the caravan, the arrows, the loss of his family, the flight across the sea. Wittich mourned with him and attempted to restore some measure of hope. When Solomon mentioned that his aunt was a Felix, Wittich paused and remarked that such blood explained much. He spoke openly of Solomon's limitless potential and expressed surprise that he had not yet broken through. They parted with quiet understanding.

Upon reaching Emberton, Solomon stood before his parents' home and realized it was now his alone. He entered carefully, avoiding prolonged inspection of rooms heavy with memory. After bathing and changing clothes, he proceeded to Vespertine Hall to meet Count Lucius Malgrave.

After navigating guards, servants, and attendants, Solomon was received by the Count, who had just dismissed a petitioner arguing over grazing rights. Solomon delivered the letter and recounted his recent trials at Malgrave's request. The Count listened attentively and then offered to place Barrickea Gem and Mineral under a provisional county trust until Solomon reached his majority.

The offer unsettled Solomon. He thanked the Count and asked for time to consider.

The House of Mourning

Returning home, the weight of grief overcame him. He collapsed onto his parents' bed and sank into sorrow. Morning found him unmoved. At last, something within him stirred. He gave himself a stark choice: die quickly in despair, or rise and live deliberately.

Solomon chose motion. He cleaned the house thoroughly—washing linens, clearing dust, restoring order. He rearranged the rooms and claimed the master bedroom as his own. In doing so, he selected small, intimate tokens of remembrance for each member of his lost family—objects not of wealth, but of touch and presence.

Tokens of the Dead

Solomon did not choose the most valuable objects in the house. He chose what they had touched. The house was too quiet. The echoes felt wrong in rooms once filled with voices. He moved slowly through drawers and cabinets—not searching for wealth, but for weight.

Hector: In the bottom drawer of his father's desk, Solomon found a small piece of smooth onyx carved with Hector's initials. It was smaller than he remembered, dark and deeply black, faint veins only visible when angled toward light. The carving was firm and practical—no ornamentation. He closed his fingers around it. The stone was cool. Always cool.

Hector had used it for years to steady invoices and contracts against the night breeze. Solomon remembered sitting at the desk's edge as a boy, watching his father lean over parchment by lanternlight, hearing the steady scratch of quill. The edges of the stone were softened where Hector's thumb had pressed again and again. One corner bore a faint crescent indentation where his nail had tapped during long calculations. Solomon pressed his own thumb there. For a moment, it felt as though Hector's hand overlaid his own—broad, steady, patient. He set the stone aside carefully. Not as a relic. As continuity.

Laeala: Her comb was wrapped in linen at the back of a chest. Silver in Oerendine design—elegant and balanced—but modified with rose-bronze Embertonian filigree laid into geometric patterns. The bronze caught light warmly against the cool silver beneath. Time had darkened the recesses; raised edges gleamed where fingers had polished them through years of use.

Her hair was still caught in its teeth. Fine, pale strands twisted where she must have drawn it through one final time. Solomon did not remove them. He could not. One section of teeth bent slightly—not broken, simply worn. He remembered her seated near the open window in late afternoon light, brushing her hair while speaking in a voice that carried both Oerendian cadence and Emberton rhythm. He ran his thumb along the comb's spine. The metal warmed slowly in his hand. In its reflection, his fingers looked too large, as though layered awkwardly over hers. He imagined the slight resistance of hair, the gentle tug when the comb caught. He placed it beside the onyx. Silver and black—balanced.

Melisande: Beneath her bed, scattered among smaller things, Solomon found her carved camel. It had been shaped from the wood of the Qathari bush—once pale honey-gold, now darkened where her hands had held it most. The grain ran in wavering lines along the animal's neck and back. If lifted close, it still held a faint scent—dry, resinous, sweet. Desert memory.

One ear was chipped. The legs were uneven. It was no masterwork—just market craft. The back was worn smooth where her thumb had rubbed it repeatedly while she imagined it crossing the dunes south of Emberton. Solomon's hand engulfed it now. He closed his fingers and imagined, for one unbearable second, her smaller hands beneath his—the way she would have tucked it against her chest when tired. The wood felt warmer than stone or metal. Almost alive. He set the camel slightly forward on the shelf nearest his bed. Not because it was valuable, but because it was unfinished.

Second Vision

When the house was restored to order, Solomon threw himself onto the bed in prayer and supplication. He asked for direction. He received none. He prayed more earnestly. Eventually, sleep claimed him.

As before in Niallis, he was drawn into a vision. A different messenger stood before him—unseen directly, only perceived at the edge of sight. Again he was permitted a single question.

Solomon asked whether he would break through as a magic user.

The messenger replied that it would shock many if he did not. Then came the warning: he must not attempt to force it. If he strained too hard to bring it about, it might never come to pass.

The vision dissolved. Morning light found Solomon awake.

Letter to Zara and Affairs of the Living

Solomon composed a letter to Zara Brunswick, expressing his desire that they remain fast friends, though he was uncertain whether such a thing would be possible for her. He wrote plainly that he did not know how to live in opposition to what the gods had declared, and that he hoped she would one day forgive him. He sealed the letter and arranged for a courier to deliver it to Damon Brunswick's residence, having no other suitable address.

While securing the courier, Solomon also arranged for Topaz to be retrieved from Toth Wynnd, settling the month's boarding fee. With these practical matters concluded, he proceeded to the Barrickea Gem and Mineral warehouse in Emberton.

At the warehouse he was met, as he had been repeatedly in recent weeks, with condolences and offers of assistance. Though grateful, Solomon found himself inwardly irritated. He quickly corrected his attitude, recognizing that these people were only now encountering the tragedy and had not yet had opportunity to grieve alongside him.

He spoke with the warehouse manager about arranging a modest employee draw to maintain food and household upkeep. The manager offered a sum equivalent to Hector's former earnings, but Solomon declined, stating that he would not assume that level of income until the inheritance of shares was formally resolved.

Counsel of Seychelleus

Solomon next visited Seychelleus, the lawyer who had long served both BG&M and Hector personally. They discussed the Instrument of Executory Authority drafted in Oerendia and reviewed related legal documents. Solomon inquired what might occur should his personal interests conflict with those of the company.

Seychelleus proposed serving as Solomon's personal counsel in addition to his corporate duties, and the two sealed the understanding with a handshake. Solomon confided his unease regarding Count Malgrave's offer to hold the company in trust.

Seychelleus revealed additional context: Count Lucius Malgrave was burdened by an insufferable nephew—Percy, son of Malgrave's sister Rowena. Furthermore, Malgrave had once lost both the love of his life and their child in a single night, leaving him without heir. Since then, the Count had quietly searched for someone worthy to mentor and shape.

Solomon departed with plans to retrieve additional documents in the coming days.

Second Audience with Count Malgrave

Several days later, Solomon returned to Vespertine Hall. After formalities, he was admitted to Count Lucius Malgrave's presence once more.

Solomon expressed gratitude for the Count's earlier kindness. He admitted uncertainty about his path. He shared that his mother Laeala had once told him he might become a lawyer or nobleman, though he had favored soldiery simply because he excelled at it.

Their discussion returned to the provisional county trust. In the course of conversation, Malgrave suggested an alternative: perhaps Solomon might serve him directly. The proposal began modestly—as a "hand" of the Count, functioning as messenger, officer, or enforcer—but evolved into something more deliberate. Malgrave tentatively offered to train Solomon as a statesman.

The Count reiterated portions of his personal history, mirroring what Seychelleus had disclosed. By the end of their meeting, it was agreed that Solomon would begin study under Malgrave on Ka'Resh (Monday).

Return of the Felixi

Solomon left Vespertine Hall uplifted, resolved to give thanks in prayer for the clarity granted him. As he passed through the town center, he heard his name called. Turning, he saw Willow Rimbaud separating from a group of women and hurrying toward him.

They embraced warmly. Willow explained that she and her companions were in Emberton on a mission—one that involved recruiting him. As they walked toward his home, she mentioned plans to enjoy themselves while in the city. Solomon offered lodging at his house if needed. Willow, as always, was welcome there.

The Felixi Offer

Willow explained the purpose of her visit: Solomon was being invited to Deepdale to study among the Felixi. She was certain that he would one day break through as a magic user, and believed that early instruction would better prepare him for that moment. Solomon shared with her the warning given by the messenger—that he must not force the breakthrough. He explained that while he wished to visit Deepdale and learn, he feared attempting to hasten what must come in its proper time. He also told Willow of Count Malgrave's offer to train him as a statesman, and that he had agreed to begin on Ka'Resh. Willow encouraged him to consider both paths carefully.

After she departed, Solomon returned home. He spent the day in prayer, cleaning, and preparing the house for guests. Night fell without sign of Willow or her companions. Solomon prepared his bed on the living room floor, leaving the bedrooms for the four Felixi should they arrive.

The Night of the Felixi

Late into the night, there came a knock. Willow and her companions—Bryony, Felicity, and Chennyth—entered in a state of unusual intoxication, more affected than they themselves seemed to expect. Solomon helped them to their beds, and the house fell quiet.

In the night, Solomon became aware that one of them had joined him beneath his covers. Chennyth, bold and playful, sought his company. What began as playful mischief became something more intimate. During their encounter, she spoke teasingly of Willow's feelings for him, implying truths Solomon had not yet fully acknowledged.

When Willow discovered them, she hesitated, conflicted between restraint and desire. Encouraged by both Chennyth and Solomon's reassurance that she would never lose him regardless of her choice, Willow allowed herself to follow where her heart led. What passed between them marked a crossing of emotional boundaries neither could fully undo.

By morning, Solomon awoke to the scent of food and the presence of the Felixi gathered together. Willow introduced her companions formally—Bryony, Felicity, and Chennyth. They spoke openly of the differences between mortals and magic users, clarifying that their nature carried its own rules and protections.

A Choice Between Paths

The Felixi renewed their invitation. Solomon now understood more fully the life they offered—one of power, freedom, and understanding beyond mortal limits. They suggested that he could delay his apprenticeship with Count Malgrave and instead come to Deepdale to study.

Later, Solomon and Willow walked together in the yard. He expressed no regret for what had passed between them, though Willow spoke of the difficulties such a bond would carry. Their relationship could never be fully public. She also questioned whether he had truly released his feelings for Zara Brunswick. Solomon did not answer aloud, but realized how far his path had already diverged from what it once was.

Willow told him she would return in several days and urged him to decide. Solomon resolved to speak with Count Malgrave and request leave to travel to Deepdale and study among the Felixi. Willow seemed pleased. Soon after, she and her companions departed, leaving Solomon alone once more with the weight of choice before him.