Bryn'adûl | Mindsweeper

[Ehud]

DRAEMIDUS PRIME​

OUTSIDE XAELDRASK​

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Ehud chose the location of their meeting with care.

The giant Baedurin seer sat at the enterance of a barely-used cave system, which led up and out of Xaeldrask. Further up was the Draeyde caves, vicious creatures that could strip the bones off a Drael in less than a minute while swarming. But Ehud seemed calm, letting his large clawed hands touch the rocky ground beneath, feeling the wild, untamed nature of his planet.

He had chosen this spot for it's seclusion. It would be better for both of them if they were not disturbed. Ehud was always the most at peace alone, and he did not want his subject's thoughts clouded with the thoughts of onlookers.

In addition, he had a contingent of Sraelvun hidden a few hundred feet inside the twisting caverns, prepped with weaponry and the orders to kill if Ehud gave the mental command. In case the allegations were true. If [member="Naramphra"] had, truly, attempted to kill the Chieftain.

It was an unthinkable act. One that Ehud was very interested in learning about.

But that was neither here nor there. His subject would arrive soon. He would learn all he could. Then he would dutifully report to his Chieftain.

So he watched.​

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And he waited.​

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

The guards escorted the shamed Naramphra to @Ehud. She swallowed as she felt utterly ashamed of her incompentence to lead to such an event... That event. They had almost succeeded too. The bulk of Naramphra pressed forward into the Draeyde caves, the two guards marching behind her - nearly prodding her forward.

She was guilty. At least, that was what everyone believed. In truth, Naramphra had no idea her soldiers had conspired to commit treason. She would never have though to them to do such a thing... She still didn't grasp their reasoning, in truth. Why? They weren't even that intelligent - was something else behind it?

One thing was sure. And it wasn't a good sure.

But maybe this Seer Ehud would be able to figure something out - be able to give reason to [member="Tathra Khaeus"] and the courts. She was willing to fight for her innonence, even if it meant death.

She arrived. She held her head high to the Seer, minus a brief bow to him. "Seer Ehud," she said perhaps quickly. It was supposed to come out stronger, more confident than that.

 

[Ehud]

There she is.

Ehud felt her mind before he saw her. It broadcast itself to him in his quiet state. Even without delving into her mind, he could feel her resigned anxiety. Her confused sureness. It was a delightful set of contradictions, one only the unconscious mind was able to conceive. Naramphra's emotions were enough to announce her to him. Of course, he felt the guard's minds. Each was resigned, a conviction guiding their movements.

Ehud was not so sure.

As they came within sight, the seer squinted, trying to make his blurry gold eyes focus. He finally gave up as the tall, tailed Drael stopped before him, and gave him the reverence deserving of his post. But Ehud felt her veneer of confidence fall for a second. A different seer might have seen that as an admission of guilt. But not Ehud.

"Theron Naramphra," he said, acknowledging the slightly younger Draelvasier with a neutral tone. "Sit. Join me for a moment of respite." Of course, it wouldn't be anything resembling respite, for either of them. But it would be far easier to discern the truth if she were calm.

He looked to the guards, almost annoyed by their presence. "Leave us," he rumbled, giving each of them a mental push to obey his orders. They looked confused for but a moment, before marching back down from whence they came.

He waited for Naramphra a moment, to let her get comfortable in any way she wished, before speaking. "You have been accused of treason." His voice was impartial, not accusing, nor comforting. But there was a hunger there nonetheless. A hungering for the truth. "I am here to discern if that is the case."

"We must work together to suss out the truth, or I will be forced to do it alone. That would be unpleasant for both of us." He said it matter-of-factly, holding no malice or passion. "I will require complete access to your mind."


He didn't ask for permission. There was no need. It was the only way to help her, or condemn her. He waited a beat, studying the lithe form of Naramphra.

"If you wish for a moment to prepare, I will grant it."

[member="Naramphra"]​

 

[Gaia Sunaris Cadera]

Hold your head high, Naramphra, she spoke mentally to herself. She was innocent - and [member="Ehud"] would be able to see this. He had too, right? But a sigh escaped her lips. Even if he was able to deem her innocence of treason, the troops were under her command. She still would likely be punishd. By death? By trial? By something else?

She gave a nod, the fake confidence she had slowly falling apart. She took a breath as she sat on her knees, long tail curling in a spiral beside her. "Thank you," she said quietly at his offer of sitting. In truth, plenty of other seers would have already deemed her guilty, likely without even trying. She was lucky to have gotten one who wanted to know the truth.

The guards left, and Naramphra didn't look to them. No, she couldn't. They had already deemed her guilt.

She winced as the Seer said the word treason. "I understand the charge," she said quietly as she tried to control her breathing. The mild panic in her mind.

"I will do whatever is necessary to prove my innocence," she stated after a few seconds. "I know you are not asking, but you may fully access my mind. I am ready when you are."

No, she didn't need time. She just needed to get this over with.

 

[Ehud]

"No, I am not," he agreed, nodding his head to her in thanks. "But your permission is appreciated."

This would not be a quick process. Partially because Ehud was meticulous. He wanted to leave nothing to chance, nothing to deception. Patially because he was curious of the being across from him. Like himself, Naramphra was an anomaly to the Bryn'adul. But while he was weakened, she was strengthened by her deviancy. He wanted to explore that as well, learn exactly what that meant to her.

Perhaps find a kindred spirit.

Oh well. A seer could dream.

With those last thoughts echoing in his head, Ehud began his work. His eyes began to flicker a molten color, burning with the intensity of an entire people. He hesitated briefly at the entrance of the Theron's mind, checking and checking again that they were both prepared for the experience. Then, Ehud walked into Naramphra's senses. And he took control.

- - -​

Naramphra would suddenly wake up in an empty space. There was a deep blackness all around her, sloshing and riling in the distance. There was apparently solid ground here, even if one couldn't see it. Lightning like synapses stretched across what passed for the sky, flashing from murky cloud to murky cloud, lighting up like rainbows. Then, there was Ehud.

He was no longer sitting. Instead, he stood, and observed their surroundings with rapt attention, his eyes now flooded with golden light. It was a strong mind for one not of the Gift, that was obvious to him. Rigid and regimented with Drael training. In that regard, it was easy for him to navigate. But he wished for a guide.

"This is your mind, Theron Naramphra," the Baedurin rumbled, an ancient curiosity in him. "Each bolt a thought, each miasma, a memory. For now, you are in control of it." He studied Naramphra, and her reaction. Not just her face, but the emotions that stirred all around them.

"Let us begin. If you would, tell me of your first memories."

As Naramphra would speak, her mind would race, creating the memory around them, for them both to see, as if they were standing there, back in time.

Ehud couldn't wait to see what would happen.

[member="Naramphra"]​