While the group travels across the Westlands away from the First Gate, Alexis addresses Gustav across the campfire one night.
“Gus, level with me.
Last time I asked why you’ll take favors from non-human gods but turn your back on the Grand-Matron of humanity. You sidestepped it, pressed the VahnYir bracers into my hands, and paid the price yourself—a brave move, but it felt like cutting off your nose to spite your face.
Since then, you’ve kept refusing the Grand-Matron’s workings, and then turned down a solid tool against Bandesinge and blood magic, and yet you’re fine with the collegium’s spells and Ca’armine’s gifts. I’m not here to put you on trial—I’m here to get this team through the the trials we face in one piece. To do that, I need more than a yes-or-no list. I need your why. If there’s a line you won’t cross, show me where it runs and what it protects. Your compass matters.
Ca’armine takes blessings from the other human gods. I understand that map. Help me read yours.
So talk to me, Gus: why turn down help from allies? What do you trust, what don’t you, and how can I lead so your convictions make us stronger—not weaker?”
Alexis patiently waits for Gustav’s answer. There is no rush on his face or in his body.
“Hello Alexis,
You brought up the bracers. I thank you for helping me understand the basis of their power being something that dilutes and moves me away from my god. I was not sidestepping, I was recognizing the truth you showed me and taking action against a bad future.
If a gift isn’t backed by any god, I can take that gift as it is not taking in the influence of another god. So collegium spells are usually fine to take as they are not usually under the influence of gods..
What are Ca’armine’s gifts to me that aren’t from my god? Ca’armine seems to be a true believer. Is he taking influence from another god when casting upon me? If so, I will have to stop taking those gifts. It is up to him whether he takes other gods help, perhaps he has a different relationship with his god. His own castings are from his and my shared god I believe.
The more I take help from other gods, the more my god starts to fade from me. He would start to look away from me and onto others with more faith and trust of him. I don’t want to be left in the wildnerness. I would die alone without the light from my god. Please don’t see it as turning down help from allies. See it as me being no use to you if I take on help from other gods. I would eventually become a lowly vagabond, travelling the wilderness and dying of some disease or murdered by some thief. I only exist in the light of my god.”
Alexis leans forward, voice even, with a trace of warmth.
“I asked you for a path forward, Gus, and you gave me a fanciful story. A story where Raiden is so fragile that the mere touch of another gift will make him turn his face away from you.
But look at Ca’armine. He kneels to Raiden same as you, and Raiden bows to Anashar, king above all. If Raiden himself honors another’s strength, why should you fear it? Ca’armine takes what’s offered, weighs it, and keeps his connection intact.
You said Collegium spells were fine because they don’t come from a god. But all magic traces back to the gods. Saying otherwise is like saying every bow is tainted just because elves first first invented them.” Alexis nods to Gustav’s bow “It still shoots straight. It still brings down game.”
“Now, I don’t fault you for shunning wicked tools. That makes sense. Bandesinge’s tricks, blood-magic—that’s poison. But you’ve also stepped past things that were no threat at all, even things Raiden’s own servants would grasp without shame. Dauntless comes to mind. But you also turned aside other clean tools—like the bracers. No taint in them, only strength for your bow-arm, and still you cast them away.
So help me with a path forward; with the map I need: if Ca’armine says a magic is clean, will you take it then? Or is there some other measure you’ll accept?
I’m not asking you to break faith. I’m asking you to show me the line you truly need to keep, so I can lead. We must take down Bandesingh and the Dark Hand. I can’t steer this company blind, Gus. If you’ve given me your trust as leader, then let me see where you stand, so I can put your strength to work beside the rest.”
“Sure, I understand now you are looking for specific rules.
These have been my rules:
– I don’t want to be cast upon by other gods spells
– I don’t want to wear or use items that have magic created by other gods.
My teacher when I was young who taught me about the ways and powers of my god said I need to be very careful to avoid losing favor. I have followed that rule. However, I trust Ca’armine enough that if he says that another gods magic will absolutely not dilute or refute my connection with my god, even a little bit, then I will take it on. I would ask that we try small spells first to test.”
Alexis nods his head a couple times.
“Thank you Gus. That’s helpful.”
Alexis turns to Ca’armine “can I count on you and your guidance in this matter? Taking down Bandesingh and the Dark Hand is going to need us unified.”
Ca’armine’s reply takes a moment for him to compose, but as he starts to speak, he stops again, and looks troubled.
“I will have to think more on this, Alexis.”
After a moment he goes on.
“Raiden is a new god, among the pantheon of powers. A man, raised to godhood. He cannot be preeminent among the gods, though to me, he is preeminent, in that he stands closer to man and to the perils we face.”
“I myself trust that my companions, when they offer me blessings from their gods, are doing so in service to our common aims. As such, it has seemed no betrayal, to answer ‘yes’ and take in those energies.”
“But can I make that decision for another? It seems you are asking Gus to promise he will accept my judgment, but in so doing you merely move the choice from him, to me. I now must give more thought to this decision. I do not fear that Raiden is going to turn away from me, if I accept strength from my comrades, even though it comes from the blessings of another god. But Gus’s soul, and mine, are separate matters.”
Alexis takes a moment with what was said.
“Taking responsibility for another is never easy. Parents do it. Teachers, mentors, the ones who shape lives. Gus has set you in that place, Ca’armine.”
He holds the soldier’s gaze a moment, then let his hand drift across the plain band of his Collegium ring.
“If we must find someone else for Gus to follow, so be it. We’ve already seen what comes when he’s left adrift and stubborn. He needs a steady hand.”
“If you cannot take that role, Ca’armine, tell me before we reach Ghanil. Out here in the Westlands, we’ll not easily find a teacher of Raiden’s path. This is no soil for his roots.”
“I did not join this team to become a priest and guide a congregation. I did not think that was going to be part of our mission. I did not consider whether the Crimson Calling would be Raiden worshippers, in fact! It did not seem so important, as my desire to chase down the Dark Hand and disrupt their evil works.
But things have changed. Rask needed my guidance, and then most recently, a significant intercession from Raiden, to rid him of his curse. Gustav has asked me to provide him guidance, too, about the impact on his soul, and his relationship with Raiden, will come from accepting the assistance of other powers. We have services and sing songs together.
If Gustav trusts me as his priest, I will live up to his expectations and serve in that role. The same is true for Rask. I will be their priest.”