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Ashlyn walked beside the pair, whispers abound of what it may mean. Delivering the child to his parents, Ashlyn spoke with them and after a bit handed the couple a rather handsome amount of gil to help them momentarily. Help them at least be able to gain some status within the Brume and even offered them positions within her manor, although only the mother seemed willing to accept.
Seeing the Viera display this act of kindness, Istrone fought with herself more and more. Soon enough, she found herself being willing to trust this bunny. At least for some time. Soon enough, they would be off to Istrone’s own parents. Once there, they instantly recognized Ashlyn. For they were at her trial. Fear crossed her father’s eyes. He ordered Istrone to leave Ashlyn’s side immediately. The small Elezen listened to him and went inside their hovel. Yet, she couldn’t help but be curious. Peeking out from a hoarfrost coated window, she couldn’t make out a single word as the Rava talked with her parents.
Once the small girl was out of earshot, her father asked. “Why were you with our Istrone? Did you not kill enough? Did you not hurt enough of our people? Why are you here?” Ashlyn sighed. “Look, I know I’ve done many wrongs, you have to believe me. I was not lying when I said in my trial that I want to ato-” He interrupted her “Enough with your lies heretic! You may have fooled the Tribunal, but you cannot fool me.” Ashlyn just silently stared at him.
“I want to take your daughter as my squire.” She simply states. This stunned both parents. “S-squire? We aren’t highborn. Why would you want her as a squire? She’s not proper stock for it.” The Viera nodded her head slowly. “I see in her the very same determination, and desire to bring about justice that I had at her age. That I still have. I watched her fight bullies, she lost but she still did the right thing. I want to reward that. That’s exactly who I am looking for to be my protege.”
The parents looked to each other. Her mother states, “You know Rudix, she might be telling the truth. Istrone does fight a lot and you know I worry about her…” Rudix slams a fist against the side of their hovel. “Damnit Olpine, what if this… heretic is lying? What if she means to capture our daughter to kill? Can we trust her?” Olpine looked towards Ashlyn, directly in to the Viera’s eyes. After a moment she breaks the contact. “I trust her, I don’t know why, but I do trust that she means her words.”
“If it helps, I can send you guys a moonly stipend of say a hundred thousand gil. Istrone will live with me in my manor. I will give you both the address so you can visit or send mail whenever you please. She will learn the ways of the court, she will be educated in the arts, maths, and sciences. She will be well taken care of and raised under my care. Not that you two aren’t capable parents. She would just thrive much better in my care.”
Rudix was clearly fighting with himself. “She’s our only child… you’re asking me to give you my only daughter…” Ashlyn nodded. “I’m a parent myself. I know what it’s like. Like I said, you two can come visit whenever. There are airships that come to Ul’dah daily. I’ll give you the stipend once a moon and you can use that to… well live better than you are here.”
Olpine tugged on his sleeve. “Think of it Rudix, this is… this is a once in a lifetime opportunity for both her and us. She can get the stuff we could never provide. She can live… a good life.” Ashlyn nodded. “I am not only a Knight-Captain, but I am exceptionally wealthy independent of my status. I have connections. I can help her even after she is done training under me. I can help find her a lord or lady to serve.” Rudix’s knuckles turned white. Then just as suddenly, he went limp. “Fine… you win. You can take her. Just… promise me no harm will come to her.” Ashlyn nodded slowly. “I’ll treat her as one of my own kits. She’ll be given a caring home to live in. You can visit her, or she can visit you whenever. I will not tie her to me unless my work takes me to far away locales.”