S3E10: Good At Keeping Secrets

Now my dear boy, I can understand that you are afraid that this makes you a pariah squared, but think about it this way: Either you are a pariah or you aren’t. If you are one already, how different is it? Hardly at all! People may not like what you are, but they can be persuaded - especially if you have the art of charms at your fingertips. Just remember that a person who dislikes you for what you are before they know who you are can never be entirely relied upon. As for background on the blood of fire, well, that is hard to come by- but what our histories tell us, the accounts that you won’t find in any books in Parieso or Aru-Sha, is that The Diabolist was in the same line of business that many of us in the coven are. I suppose you may have gathered this already, but you are old enough to know that there are powers in the world so dangerous that even to name them invites desperate peril. Those of us at the heart of the coven have been part of a long and careful project of containing them, protecting the world from a return to the disasters of the past, mediating the ancient contracts that hold them and preserve the structure of nature. The story goes that the Diabolist caused the plague that wiped out old Carisona, but our accounts tell us that he was trying to prevent the plague and failed. Perhaps he succeeded in containing something even worse, however. We are safe for now, the borders of the forest are strong and although the rangers have passed south, we have our own devices and the foresters are conscious of the danger. I do not think even these enemies in the south wish to see our work disrupted, our enemies are no friends to them. I am sure we will be safe, for now at least. I am very proud of you Bambari. You have travelled further than I ever have and it sounds as though you have the chance to make quite an impression in the world. Mark my words: There will be people who would treat you as a pariah now but will one day wish they had met you. - Your very proud mother