It is a rare skill, and to speak truth, there are many who- who do not believe that the gods would grant such powers.
[ Maia, despite his attempt to not to speak poorly of them, is clearly not one of those people. Spirituality may be out of fashion at court, but that has changed nothing about the depth of Maia's own belief. ]
But they do, and Witnessing can provide solace, and truth, where before there was only grief and uncertainty.
[ The answer to Geralt's question is a little more complicated than just yes or no. Maia had had to be present, for Mer Celehar to Witness, but he had not been able to look for more than a moment at the broken corpse of his father. He had not seen the ritual itself, but stood there with his back turned, feeling sick with misery. Still... Maia cannot imagine a way to say any part of that, without spoiling his appetite. So he lies a little by simplifying, saying: ]
We have. For... our father and brothers.
[ He busies himself with the food, then, and it is only too clear from the shortness of his answer to the droop of his ears that he doesn't care to speak about it much more. Fortunately, another topic presents itself to his mind, and he asks eagerly: ]
Mer Geralt, if you do not mind us asking - did your world have goblins, and elves? You did not stare, when you first saw us, so we wondered...?
no subject
[ Maia, despite his attempt to not to speak poorly of them, is clearly not one of those people. Spirituality may be out of fashion at court, but that has changed nothing about the depth of Maia's own belief. ]
But they do, and Witnessing can provide solace, and truth, where before there was only grief and uncertainty.
[ The answer to Geralt's question is a little more complicated than just yes or no. Maia had had to be present, for Mer Celehar to Witness, but he had not been able to look for more than a moment at the broken corpse of his father. He had not seen the ritual itself, but stood there with his back turned, feeling sick with misery. Still... Maia cannot imagine a way to say any part of that, without spoiling his appetite. So he lies a little by simplifying, saying: ]
We have. For... our father and brothers.
[ He busies himself with the food, then, and it is only too clear from the shortness of his answer to the droop of his ears that he doesn't care to speak about it much more. Fortunately, another topic presents itself to his mind, and he asks eagerly: ]
Mer Geralt, if you do not mind us asking - did your world have goblins, and elves? You did not stare, when you first saw us, so we wondered...?