Ring Berates a Fallen King
Walk through Osgileath. “This is an old forest. Here Vercingetorix held a council with the other Gallic tribes. [The last man to arrive was executed for being late when the council ended.] He convinced the Gauls to rebel against Julius Caesar. They lost. He cut off the right hand of every prisoner.”
How can you show me the future?
You have asked that question before. Did you not listen to my answer or are you insane.
Everything happens time and again.
To answer your question, I can only predict the future because my nature is so entwined with reality that I know how it may unfold. Some futures are more certain than others.
Why do you communicate with me. Alexander never spoke of the future.
He was closed and you are open.
…
In time and space.
… why didn’t you talk about it?
Because words never change the underlying reality. Only actions do. By not talking about it I avoided having to determine whether his actions were true or designed for me.
?
The power relations. Who is lord and who owes fealty.
…
By choosing to bear me you did not give up your freedom; you chose a fate. What you call your thrall is your freedom. Let me enhance it with my power.
I am not free when all I do is resist your temptations.
You are in thrall to your freely made choices.
… Oak tree. Vercingetorix
What is your motive Ring?
The same as yours, to control, survive, be loved.
Love. All you do is enthrall.
I do not know the difference between forced and unforced love because I do not know what will is. I do know that when being supplicated I feel safe.
What greater love than when I force it. The Ring blasted Dmitrius with its full power. Supplicant, kneel. The Ring pushed him onto his knees. It almost worked. Dmtrius resisted. With knees almost bent to the floor he stood.
The Ring laughed. Of course it had a sense of humor. That was all in the head.
What is your motive?
What I call real is different from what you call real. My reality has no sensations. Just thoughts and actions. I read your mind I see what you do. That is how I know you.
Surely you see my intention?
No.
I don’t. I really don’t. I do not know what intentions are.
You have no plan?
Certainly. To be safe. That is why I scan your mind for thoughts of forges and volcanoes.
And forced love.
I don’t know why you would experience love otherwise. To wait for it to happen on its own is so … indirect.
Ring, tell me. What am I to you? An other, nothing more?
Yes an no. Yes you are just another; of course. You are not me. But again and of course you are different from Lady Ithilaen or Jopthama or
… mystery – a particular autocorrect turns gibberish into a message. To Inwood murder mystery novel …
… what are the Ring’s last words. It discovers identity. “I have discovered your identity. Do not destroy me. I know you know me because now I know you. You are no other. “
Just another victim …
… we’re going to solve the problem and then get the senate.
The Ring pleaded. “Do not destroy me. I know who I am. I know who you are. I know what identity is!”
Penelope before destroying the Ring: In France she would have listened to the Ring’s pleas, and reflected. On correct assessments of her own weaknesses. On blame. And the virtue of redemption. But she was post-moral now so the time for that was long past. And even if the time for judgement was now, she could no longer be a judge. She had become the quest, to destroy Alexander’s Bane.
And it would not die, it was bound force. When dissipated the force was neither created nor destroyed. The purpose of the quest her life her fate was to unknot this thread of fate by dissipating this power.
… later with Numenoi.
Would you like me to advise you on whom to kill?