All About Torc

A conversation between Constance and Julian regarding Alvis, Lord Torc and the nature of the Fae – set just before she rides out to lead Ranger patrols for the Root & Branch episode

“Constance, what did Torc offer you in return for hiding him away in the Rangers?”

“I asked him to teach me Advanced Glamours some time before that.” She continues, “Torc was very reluctant as the Fey know your views on things looking as they are.

“There was no certainty about the sole plan to enable your escape from House Karm. It ultimately succeeded because of the loan of the Pattern Sword.

“You trained me to always have a backup plan. Always that backup plan was I would take your form and you would look like me, clearly having fainted, to type. My cousins would have carried your Glamoured body out and I would have made my own way out later.

“Either way. Job done. But Father, I regret my disobedience of your strictures. The only other thing I have applied is functional armour.”

She does the apology with all her little soul.

As far as Constance can tell, her apology has zero impact on her father – the fact that he blinked twice during her reply implies this was not what he’s interested in.

“So, Torc ‘reluctantly’ taught you Fae dweomers in return for hiding him from me within the Rangers?”

Constance considers.

“The agreement was to get him out of Chaos, Father. Being among the Rangers was a way...” Her eyes narrow suddenly, “that I may have been manipulated into. He ran the same risk as our Rangers when he might have appealed directly to Prince Bleys and owed me nothing.”

“Constance, Isis, Artemis and Bragi are travelling with the army at this moment – there was an open offer to all the envoys who wished to travel back. Torc came with the funeral cortege himself, so he would have known that he had no need ask this boon of you.” He smiles coldly, “I think I have mentioned the deceit inherent in the Fae before – they are naturally duplicitous, even when there is no need, it is their default.”

“Point taken and learned,” Father.

“I hope so, though I have been disappointed before – my point in raising the issue is to highlight your own Fae blood, daughter. The reason I have not sought a more forceful way of conveying my displeasure over your part in this wholly unnecessary deception is that I suspect Torc’s purpose in all this, if he had any purpose at all, was to sow discord between us – father and daughter, Warden and lieutenant. You’ll note he did so by playing on your distaff heritage in a dual sense. I expect he will try to do so again, doubtless endeavouring to lure you to Faerie, perhaps he may mention your mother...

“He already has, Father and, again with a show of reluctance showed me an image. Could have been any Fey woman.” She shrugs. “You brought me up as your daughter in Arden. I see less and less attraction in Faerie.”

“I would like to think our conversation has put you on your guard against such ploys.”

She nods.

“Thank you, Father. I’d best be about my duties.”

“I would deem it wise – fair riding, daughter!”