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[Anastasia]

To this Ranbar takes a long breath and meets your gaze. Her eyes are gentle and kind, "The last several hours have fundamentally changed my life." she admits freely. "What is going on? Donald told me to talk to you."

[Corwin]

Seira's divine will ensures that their privacy is guaranteed, before telling Ranbar, "I believe the best way is to ease you into this. I will only say that there are things -- secrets about Creation itself -- that you may only talk to me when we are alone, until I deem that you understand the situation properly. One of them is that I am one of very few who have been selected by Zaphkiel to safeguard Creation from Shar and its other enemies. To that goal, Zaphkiel is personally ensuring that our knowledge of these secrets is protected from all, in a much stronger variant of anathemic knowledge, which you have surely come across before in your studies. You, personally, have received that same protection through my association with you, as have Amaryl, Kascha, Donald and Elle."

[Anastasia]

There's silence as Ranbar digests that, "Yes, my lady," she finally says, "I don't know what to say to all of that, but I understand what you want."

[Corwin]

"You might, merely from being in my inner circle, hear troubling things about the state of Creation. In fact, given your intellect and curiosity, I imagine that you would have soon realized on your own that only a great peril would justify such a blatant intervention from someone who does his best to stay hidden, as Zaphkiel does. In such cases, talk to me while we are in private, and I will bring you further into things until you've been properly caught up."

Smiling at Ranbar now, Seira says, "Our ongoing tasks remain the same, of course. The Abolition War is our chief focus right now, and that's who I told Donald to get us a good target for some hands on action. You'll head out together with me, since I believe that in combat, the best way to acclimate yourself is through such an experience. Just keep your cool and learn what works as you go."

[Anastasia]

"I have so many questions," Ranbar says the moment you stop talking, "May I ask them, my lady?"

[Corwin]

Seira gestures for Ranbar to go on.

[Anastasia]

"Why me?" Ranbar asks, "What has prompted this rapid rise? I've done well in your service, but this exceeds anything I could ever imagine, as his this power I've so suddenly gained. What of your own struggles if I can gain this so easily?"

[Corwin]

"I had a need, which Zaphkiel no doubt sensed. That is what I consider to be the reason. As for being granted power this way? I wish it happened differently, but the important things are that you are a good person, and that you justify your selection with your deeds from this point onwards. The rest doesn't matter."

[Anastasia]

Ranbar bows her head at that answer, silent long moments after. When she speaks again it is softer, "I understand then."

[Corwin]

She will in time. "Were you curious about anything else?" Seira offers. "Not that this is your sole chance to ask me, given we are going to be working quite closely together."

[Anastasia]

"I..confess I'm at a loss for so much," Ranbar finally says, looking to you. "I know you and your faith, yet in ways I barely know YOU, my lady."

[Corwin]

"Realizing this, I decided to bring you along where I can so you could witness me in my natural environment," Seira tells Ranbar with a wink.

[Anastasia]

"...thank you, of course, and I am honored. It's just...I'm not Donald or Elle or any of them. They've known you for decades, known you as you, my lady. I just feel so overwhelmed." Ranbar admits.

[Corwin]

"We all started somewhere," Seira says reasonably. "My first meeting with Donald was about as bad as it gets, I was quite sneaky while becoming apprenticed to Elle, and when I met Amaryl she was a scion of a noble house while I was just a messenger of the neighboring country. You might've been worried that Zaphkiel let you cut in line and forego some of our struggles, but this is a good example of one he left for you to handle."

[Anastasia]

"Then, why does Zaphkiel meddle in our business so? Are things so dire and are we that joined to Celestia now?" Ranbar asks.