It took everything Mariael had to remain stoic and seem unbothered by what stormed inside her when speaking of Nephilim’s death. Anyone would expect his daughter, who’d been raised so closely with him, to show grief over the death of their loved one, but Mariael wouldn’t (and felt she couldn’t) allow it. To show sorrow was a weakness, she felt, and ally or no – Mariael would not show such vulnerability to anyone. She only nodded briefly to Shamwari’s kind words, knowing if she carried on speaking of it, it would only become harder to speak of.
The conversation turned to things easier for Mariael to speak of – politics. She inclined her head in an agreeing nod as Shamwari laid out his terms. “I would expect nothing less of family,” she replied. It was a precarious situation. Mariael knew what her father would have wanted her to do, should she discover Orkaan was treating Vita Nova miserably. Mariael knew it was the same thing Maziel would expect, as would Paradiso and as would anyone. Yet in that moment, if Mariael were to discover Vita Nova was being treated ill, she would be forced to choose between doing what was right for Vita Nova and her family or doing what was right for Tinuvel and for her herd.
“Should Orkaan be mistreating Vita Nova, I will not keep it from you.” Mariael declared firmly. “I will inform you exactly how she is being treated once I find out.” Even if Orkaan was being a reckless brute, Mariael would not lie to cover his transgressions. The truth would be presented to Shamwari and he could do with it as he pleased.
But it was Shamwari’s words – telling Mariael that her father would be proud of her – that momentarily shook the careful, proud expression she often wore. Somewhere inside her was still a girl longing for her father, looking up to him and glowing when he smiled down at her and told her how wonderful she was. Mariael cleared the emotion away from her throat and smiled a small smile, the sadness in her eyes the only betrayal for how much she truly missed her father, and nodded. “Thank you, Shamwari.” She glanced at Paradiso and smiled kindly, happy he had come to the Bay. She looked at Shamwari once more.
The importance of such an old bond struck her then and Mariael knew where her loyalties must lie.
“I understand my alliance with Orkaan places us in a slightly precarious situation depending on the future,” she said, “but I would like to share an alliance with you. I take great pride in Tinuvel as I’m certain you do Luthien, but your friendship with my father transcends that. In his memory, I would like us to remain allies.”
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