DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Hall of Fame - Latest Top 10 completed games HWD: The Heartwood HWD: Midsummer's Day - Council

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal ... and the Mouse ... meeting Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine ... followed by the Lady Bekkah and the Scamp.

Morning started with a knock-knock-knock on Kadri's door.

How she got in was a mystery, some sort of magic perhaps, because it was her knocking that woke both Mikal and Kadri each. All dressed pretty and proper, wearing a summer bonnet, the Mouse slipped the latch to Kadri's inner room door to peek in. Near Mikal, on the table, was already set a smallish platter, upon which waited apples and carrots and assorted cheeses as well as a small covered basket smelling of fresh baked bread and other pastry tidbits. A tall silver carafe claimed the middle of the table, with two lead crystal goblet filled with water. The girl squeaked, and waved all friendly like to see if her New Young Miss was awake. And if not it would be an equally silent move to just - just barely - come within arms reach of the newest Korie Lady.

For a light but very serious poke.

Poke.

Poke.

Poke.

Poking was serious business.

Now, through breakfast, the Mouse stood quiet, next to the door, hands folded together and resting gently on the front of her skirt. She looked perfectly forward, her nose twitching every now and then. It was very easy to forget she was there, except, perhaps, when aught refilling a goblet with water.

*******************

The doors to the Great Hall had been thrown open, as if to welcome the representatives of all the mainland's keeps. The room had be rearranged and cleaned since last night, set with the furniture for the year's negotiations.

There were three tables, arranged in a "U", open towards the hall's main entrance. There was room to walk around the tables, to allow anyone who spoke the opportunity to take up that center area, the focus of those seated. At the far end, the base of the "U", the high table was dominated by a large, black, wooden throne. It stood hauntingly empty, watching over the proceedings. On the left side sat Khorall Dorian Korie, and to his left sat his heir, Marcus. Of the Korie women there was no sign, but behind them stood three retainers. A tall and sturdy Knight in red and gold. A middle aged man with harrowed eyes, a large book, and robes of blue. And a young lady in creams and white; while she could be a priestess, the chances were slim - the blonde looked nervous and out of place, as if she were performing in a child's play, as if she were just a token place holder.

The Allaine contingent had already arrived. Dandelion stood behind the bookish heiress, in her brigantine and leggings, arms crossed and looking stern and silent, to reminding folks she just might be the most dangerous person in the room. Kisa Allaine stood for just a little bit, pointing to the chair next to her, refusing to sit until Daxia Yurisdotter took that chair. Only then would she take her own place, setting her own big book next to her as well as a small pouch that clattered as if it held many little stone-like objects.

On the left hand side, closest to the Kories, there were two more empty seats; behind them was the Brockman's banner. Next to them, already scowling, the Lord of Montague folded and unfolded his hands from open to fists to open to fists again. His advisor - per se - leaned back in his chair, balanced on two legs, arms crossed. Jakal looked over the council chamber like a scavenger might. Especially when he noticed the young curves of a red headed heiress far, far away from home.

Sitting opposite them were the two Kierkegaards; the Khorall and his remaining son. While on one of the side tables, they did take higher ranked place right next to House Allaine.

Khorall Dorian Korie drummed his fingers on the harsh tabletop, already impatient. Amber and the Larsens were missing.

Of course there were servants dashing back and forth, but they were trying their best not to be noticed.

Council started to go downhill, even before it started, with a knock-knock-knock outside the open doors.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK

The Mouse immediately jumped backwards,a hop, a scramble and then a hiding behind Mikal, all done in an instant, as one of the Rames guards at the door slammed the heel of his spear down on the marble floor, stepping in front of Kadri and Mikal... and a Mouse.

"Just where do you think YOU are going ... uhm ... My Lady Korie. The wives are all up in the gardens."

There wasn't even a chance for an answer, however, when further down the entrance way, the very doors to the Keep itself were thrown open. They were crowded, full, with a literal handful of angry men bust into castle and stormed down the hall towards the council chambers. Their footsteps were loud and fast, they wore light armor - leather andchain - beneath long flowing robes. All of them wore riding boots, all of them were driven by a harsh determination, covered in road dust.

The Mouse squeaked! Caught on both sides!

So intent they were, they stormed right to the doors of the chamber, not even realizing, not even caring who they passed.

"DORIAN KORIE!"

The tallest, the eldest, whose hair was prematurely gray, dragged off his turbaned pointed leather hat, sweeping it away like a scarf or veil, handing it to one of his sons.

"We shall now discuss GELDING your son!"

In their wake, last but not least, two more entered the Keep and the grand tall, one all fine and proper, the much more scruffy looking.

Kay simply looked up to Bekkah.

"Ay-yup.

"We found them."

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

It wasn’t that Dazi objected to sitting at the Council table beside Kisa. Well, a swordswoman sitting, rather than standing, in a room full of dangerous men didn’t make sense, but she did understand Kisa’s rationale for her position at the Heir’s side. And Captain Koromov was behind Kisa. The young Koromov would be along soon enough, and she was certainly as skilled as her cousin... though not as polished. And certainly not as intimidating. However, she and that scamp were going to have to work on communication. Back in time for us to escort Dama Kisa to Council had a slightly different meaning than show up in the Council Hall whenever you manage to get around to it. Slightly different, yes.

No, it wasn’t sitting at the Council table that Dazi found peculiar. It was the fact that said Heir, at whose side she was to sit, was being silly — SILLY! — and insisting that Dazi sit first.

Now, that was improper protocol even in Dawnview!

Of course, it did ever so slightly imply that Dazi was of higher rank than Kisa. And wasn’t that a tasty little morsel of food for the fine fish in the lake? She just wondered if anyone would actually notice. So she had inclined her head to the Heir and sat where Kisa wanted her.

It gave her an exceptional view of most of the room. She did need to look past Kisa to see the Kories, but she was fairly certain she and Kisa would naturally align themselves so that Dazi could see whatever Dazi needed to see. If Dazi was constantly, slowly, almost lazily scanning the room, it would not seem at all unusual if her gaze fell on any particular person at any particular time. If anyone was disconcerted by the fact that her eyes seemed to track at a different speed than her head... well, that was their discomfiture, wasn’t it?

To look stern was Dandy’s role. To look... hmm... inscrutable, or at the very least above all this, was Dazi’s. Of course, all she had to do was imagine another stern Dayalan standing behind them — one who had a habit of throwing things at the Dayalan who actually stood there — and Dazi was more than capable of the most expressionless expressions possible. Kassia was an excellent teacher, after all.

Brockman was late... or chose not to attend to avoid listening to others decide his fate. On some level, Daxia couldn’t blame the man. And on another level, she would have liked to see him pull his pride of heritage around him and face his fate like...

Well, that was unfair of her. Like a Dayalan she’d been thinking. Well, then perhaps like his subject Mikal D’Allyne, who had courage to spare.

Larsen was late... but for some odd reason, Dazi wasn’t even surprised. Larsen would arrive when Larsen arrived.

Amber, too, was late. Kisa hadn’t seemed concerned about them... perhaps it was that she’d been more concerned with other matters? Yes, that was more likely.

The absence of Larsen and Amber seemed to make the Khorall of Grand Talantal unhappy. The drum drum drumming of his fingers on the table telegraphed that to all but the most clueless. The redhead would have been surprised to find anyone clueless in this Council Hall. Daxia idly wondered if Dorian Korie was ever happy.

The impressive empty throne was a nice Imperial touch... saving a place for the Imperial Viceroy should one happen to show up. She suspected a compliment to Khorall Dorian wouldn’t be accepted well, at least not from her, which was too bad as it appeared to be quite a finely crafted piece of furniture.

Khorall Kristoff and Lord Rikart, being solid folks from the Black Mountains, were doing what they did so very well... they were being patient.

Corliss, too, was missing... but that was even more understandable than Brockman excusing himself.

And lastly, there was Montague.

Daxia Yurisdotter had faced brigands and Easterners, countless Eastern Hunting Beasts, Chaos Riders, a demon, a sorcerer and an Avatar of an Eastern God... to say nothing of the entire army of the East one foggy night at Highside Heather.

She caught the look Jakal Montague gave the Allaine Heir, and decided she’d rather face any of them again rather than be alone in a room with Jakal Montague.

Yes. Even the Avatar... for all the Avatar could do would be to kill her.

The commotion at the door, a Knight of Rames trying to dissuade Kadri from entering the chamber — oh, and good luck with that, Sir Knight; Lady al’Terilanquel-Korie is stubbornness incarnate — caught everyone’s attention. And that was good, because the Amber delegation rushed right by them, furious and in quite a hurry.

Well, Dominic was a smart lad to stay in Bordertown where he generally spent his Midsummers.

But, oh poor, poor Dorian Korie. He must be tipping to and fro already.

Dazi checked to see how many shadows where in the room, and just where they were located.

Gelding of the Khorall’s youngest son had not been on the agenda.

The Dayalan wasn’t certain she agreed with the Vixen Goddess that this Court would be fun, but it likely would be very, very interesting.

Mikal

He woke instantly to the knocking, leaping to his feet, sword sliding from it's sheath as soon as he realized it was coming from behind him!

**How did anyone get into the room past the door?**

He has taken two steps across the room towards Mouse before he recognizes who it is, whereupon he stops, glaring slightly, although mostly in anger at himself, and slides his sword away.

He takes in the rest of the room, although seeing all the work Mouse seems to have done while he slept does nothing to improve his mood.

He takes up an apple off the table and takes a bite, offering the girl, "Good morning to you Mouse. I did not mean to frighten you, but might you wake me next time you come here? I'd not want to harm you accidentally. Alright?"

He dresses and washes, finishing the apple and some cheese to take the edge off his morning appetite, then, dressed in his best, with Kadri's surcoat he walks with her to the council chambers.

When the Knight steps up to block Kadri's path into the room, he takes a step forward and says quite softly, with a menacing smile. "I will thank you to move out of the way and to never offer such insult to your better again. Should I hear words in that tone directed towards Lady Kadri leave your tongue again, you will lose the tongue."

His hand rests easily on the pommel of his sword and his smile increases just a tad. The man may now realize that Mikal is within a foot of him, far too close for him to use his spear effectively but very nicely placed for the short sword and dagger Mikal carries.

As he waits for the Knight to react, the Amber delegation rushes past. Mikal takes the opportunity of the commotion to slide a half-step to the side and position himself more next to the Knight such that if Kadri chooses she can pass between Mikal and the edge of the door to move past the Knight and the man would need to knock Mikal out of the way to get to Kadri.

Kadri djinn Khayriyah djinn Terilanquel al'Korie

When poked awake, Kadri smiled, thanked Mouse, and set about the arduous process of getting dressed up. She gives mouse an appraising look.

"You have talent. Actually, a little like me when I was rather ... younger. Disappearing might be a fun thing right now ... Although making them squirm, while dangerous, has its points ..."

She watched Mouse - and her technique - curiously through the morning, although not overtly.

I had forgotten what getting properly attired was like. You feel like a fancy doll, dressed and set on a shelf. You are bound in places that want no binding. And as soon as you get it all on it ITCHES where you cannot scratch.

*******************

She moved quietly through breaking her fast. Quietly again through the first part of the day before arriving at the Great Hall. She was dressed again in her finery - modified to include the Korie colors in the ensemble. She was careful to hold her carriage erect, and her chin up just so. She was putting as much attention into having a presence as the Mouse put into vanishing.

As she moved to enter the Great Hall, the guard interposed himself. As he speaks, she looks over at him - and slips into her role. After Mikal makes his move, her eyes pin the man to the door and she speaks herself, her voice measured and steady, but also a voice that was not looking for a reply but instead for acquiescence.

"That is not true. This wife is here, just where she wishes to be. And she will not be hindered in that wish. Move from my path knight and do your duty - which does not include being in my way. Resume your post."

She swept forward utilizing the blocking maneuver that Mikal had provided and past the guard into the hall.

As her father spoke, she paused momentarily on the brink of freezing up. This was Father. The larger than life man who was to be listened to and obeyed, not some random peasant off the street.

And I am Kadri djinn Khayriyah djinn Terilanquel al'Korie - I have faced down hunting beasts of the east, fell demons and phantoms of the past. I am a Dancer in Shadows - and he does not own me. No one does.

Her 'assumed role', and her core being, took over and five words whipped from her loud and clear like knives thrown into a target.



"No, Abba*. We. Shall. Not."(*daddy)

Her eyes flashed like lightning between dark clouds waiting to touch ground and strike. Whatever else were true the fact that she was related to the man who had just spoken was bluntly evident. She was of the Terilanquel - and the women could be every bit as fierce as the men.

She continued - her voice quieter now, but still penetrating enough to travel the entire hall.

"Perhaps you should have realized at some point around when I was seven summers of age that your own blood ran hot, fierce and burning in my veins, and that your own legendary determination had passed on to your daughter. Perhaps early on you should have realized that your little Kadri had a mind of her own, and that ignoring her to go hunting with your sons one more time was a bad idea. Perhaps many things but - definitely one thing - I am not your property. I won't be bid and bargained for like beads at the bazaar - and you will not merely talk over my head as if I were not present. After all - you did just now manage to walk right by me as if I were not there. One more thing, Abba ..."

She motions a hand towards the Khorral.

"Right now you are in the House of Korie and you will respect it - as you are a guest here. You have accepted the hospitality of the Khorral's house, would you now commit a dishonor by reneging on that? Do you in fact intend to neglect your responsibility as a guest of the most honored and influential Khorall Dorian Korie over a daughter who you scarcely knew? Show your host the respect he is due as ancient custom demands. He did not steal me away - "

"I stole myself!"

Her eyes locked on him, unflinching.

She was invoking the Amber traditions of hospitality - a thread that ran deep and long through their culture.

There we go, Lady Mine. That should confuse my new 'family'.

Cesare

He and Kathi entered the Great Hall, both in livery and both carrying lots of things. Kathi is carrying two baskets full of warm bread and sweet meats, aromas to tempt the appetite. Cesare is carrying a large water pitcher and some bowls, he also has towels tucked under his arm.

He is very aware that there is tension in the room, raised voices and that the focus seems to be Kadri. Whilst not unexpected it is unwelcome. He looks around trying to keep a low profile, unsure of where to deposit the items he carries. There is a set of three tables in a U in the centre but that area is occupied by what only can be the Amber clan and he is not sure he wants to enter that fray. There are other tables dotted about too, offering other possibilities.

He looks at Kathi, his eyes looking to the tables and then back at her, eyebrows raised in an obvious question. He will assuredly follow her lead.

Bekkah

It seemed nothing rattled the blond priestess. Well nothing since a certain knight had treated her like a precious antique. So it would surprise nobody when she calmly walked around the angry men and moved towards Dazi.

One of Bekkah's strengths is that she seemed to be able to carry herself in any situation. She could spend time with the poorest of the poor and they would accept her as one of their own and she could walk amongst Kings and not appear out of place. Such was the way she carried herself now. She glided towards her sister, face serene, eyes bright, moving as if she fully expected any in her path to make way for her.

When she got to her sister, she smiled.

"I got your message, without your messenger having to drag me by the ear as she claims you told her to do." The smile on Bekkah's face told her she knew beyond any doubt that Dazi never said any such thing.

"I see I haven't missed any of the fun."

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

The Dayalan watched the drama unfold in the room; she watched those doing the watching, noted Cesare and Dominic’s servant make their way expertly through the hubbub, and noted especially Kay’s arrival with Bekkah. Her sister had certainly refined a presentation of serenity... and unlike her own facade at times, Bekkah was very nearly always perfectly serene. Daxia had to wonder at what point Atteran Priestesses became, well, incredibly fierce... like Lady Alice in Cragside, and Lady Kay in Bordertown, and Lady Anastasia here in Talantal. Bekkah’s fierceness was still always, always, always wrapped with incredible kindness, and no sharp edges.

As her sister approached, Dazi spoke softly to Kisa, “Excuse my absence for a moment, Dama.” She waited for a signal from Kisa before standing and greeting the Atteran Priestess. She was still able to scan the whole of the room, however... and now had the advantage of being able to see the Kories quite well. No. Dorian Korie did not look like a happy man.

“I did not mean for the child to hurry you from your duties, Lady,” she said quietly. “She is clearly prone to flights of fancy, for it is but a small matter.” She gave Kay a sharp look before taking the Priestess’ hand in hers and whispering close to the Atteran’s ear. After a brief moment, she stepped back slightly and gave the Priestess the sort of bow worthy of her rank.

“Thank you for your help, at your own convenience, Lady Bekkah. Your kindness will be remembered.” Still, the Dayalan spoke softly. Even the closest persons not of their party — the Kierkegaards — might not have heard above the cacophony of the men of Amber, and the daughter they lost to Korie. She waited with a smile, possibly the last she would show in this room, for Bekkah’s response before she would return to her seat beside Kisa.

But still... she was watching. Everything.

Bekkah

She knew anything Dazi did here would be with a caution to the circumstance so her reverence to her own sister did not come as a surprise and she took in stride.

"Of course. We strive to aid all in need." She said before turning. When she knew her hand would not be seen, the note was stuffed in a pocket and her hand returned to her side as if she had never held a note.

She started for the exit, looking to leave this madness. If she thought she could help, she might have stayed, but she was curious about the note and she suspected her skills would be best served elsewhere. Remembering what Dazi had said, she caught Cesare's eye and with a slight motion of her head she indicated that she wanted him to go with her.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine, Lady Bekkah and the Scamp and Kathi and Ceseare

"And you, sirrah, might find yourself without a head, for even threatening a Knight of the Korie House Guard."

The follower of Lord Rames the Protector looked down upon the Jvrillian, matching Mikal's fierceness with his own haughtiness. He in fact took a step forward, towards Kadri's bodyguard.

"Now, now, now ..."

A new voice spoke up, a mans voice, light and easy and friendly. It was as if a cool breeze had slipped into the court entrance, calming matters, to bank harsh tempers. It was Khorall Tieg Larsen, dressed in his finest, whites and blues, with a playful surcoat bedecked with an uncountable collection of seahorses.

Dama Larsen was an excellent seamstress, it seemed.

"No one is going to lose their head, no one is going to lose their tongue ...

"And most importantly, no one is going to be gelded, are they my dear Amber friends."

Coming right to the front the seaside Noble clasped his hands on the Amber Lord's shoulder in greeting. The lord Terilanquel looked shocked, blinking, puffing out a breath like a strong stallion might whuffle.

"First, because the young whippersnapper isn't in Court.

"Second, because if you geld him, there will be no chance for grandchildren. And is that something you truly want to deny either of your most charming, deserving wives?"

The lord from Talesan's Village smiled conspiratorially.

"Answer that question carefully. For we all know your answer will reach all our wives before lunchtime."

The Terilanquel Lord whuffed out another hot breath, his gaze still sharp upon his wayward daughter before stepping back and waving a hand from one side to the other.

"Dorian ..."

The Amberite turned his attention back to the Court and Council.

"Dorian. Your women now speak for you? We come here to barter, to trade and to make exchanges. Fine. I offer your family my apologies for my words. In return, I give you this girl. She's your problem now."

The Korie looked up, already seeming tired.

"So it seems. I already have one troublesome child. What is one more."

It was his turn to wave his hand, indicating that all should enter and sit.

Eventually, all were in their place. Or, at the least, all who were going to be at the morning session of council.

"Hey. I said what was needed, ja?"

That was Kay's response, when she settled into place behind Kisa and Daxia, leaning on her spear, next to her cousin Captain. just like Daxia she looked about the court, sizing up those collected. Allaine. Korie. Kierkegaard. Larsen. Terilanquel representing for Amber. For the men in grey the young whippersnapper just offered a snort.

Which got her a glare from both the Montague Khorall and his brother.

To which Dorian Korie gave everyone a harsh look and slammed his fist to the table before him.

"I declare this Midsummer's Council in session.

"Now first ..."

He looked around.

"In Brockman's absence, I think we should start with trade. Specifically, steel and grain ..."

To which Kisa interrupted.

"I disagree. The fate of Brockman's will affect all our subsequent discussions. We should start wih the shaggie in the room, Khorall Korie."

"I agree."

The seconding came from an unexpected source. Khorall Tieg Larsen.

"I come bearing Brockman's proxy. since he is ... ill. so there is no reason not to start with one of our Noble Keeps."

Frowning again, the Korie simply sat back, crossing his arms.

"Fine.

"Debate is opened on the annexation of Brockman's Holdfast into the territories of Montague Keep."

Mikal

He has made his promise, no threat at all. He simply meets the Knight's eyes as the man gets all hot and bothered. Hands on the hilts of his weapons, he stares at him with an expression of derision. Any who offer insult not only to a friend of his, but also a Lady of the House the man professes to owe allegiance to is not worthy of any respect. Besides, Mikal is quite sure he can put the pointy end of his dagger thru the man's left eye before he can bring that unwieldy spear into play should it come to that.

When Dag Larsen intervenes, he holds the Knight's gaze for another moment, then turns his back on the man, offering Kadri entrance to the room past him. "My Lady." He says, with a small bow. Even with his back mostly turned to the man, he keeps awareness should he hear, or sense, the man move towards him.

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

The Dayalan looked at the Allaine Heir, a brief glance, before allowing her eyes to rove over the others seated at the Council tables. Her demeanor showed that she believed she belonged among these Nobles, that she was one of them, and that her gender was no more a hindrance to her competence than that of any Allaine. She was Daxia of Dawnview, companion to Morning Star, rescuer of commoner, Princess and Imperial alike, slayer of demons and Avatars, breaker of Curses.

Expressionless, she looked at each of the men at the table, even daring to meet the Warlord Montague’s eyes before her gaze fell on Khorall Tieg Larsen.

She allowed herself the smallest smile, hardly more than the softening of a hard expression, before she spoke.

“My Lord Larsen, as holder of Khorall Brockman’s proxy, perhaps I might ask you a question... perhaps two?” she asked, looking at the Khorall of Talesan’s Village, but watching the Khorall and Warlord of Montague from the corner of her eyes.

Nudge.

“I would not presume to inquire of Lord Brockman’s thoughts on this matter, but might I ask if you know his Heir’s thoughts regarding the annexation of the ancient Brockman’s Holdfast into keeping of the...” She hesitated for less than a heartbeat, only thinking... not even in the forefront of her mind... young upstarts. “...Montagues?”

Nudge.

The Knight of Dayala paused a moment, her smile increasing oh so slightly, though it reflected even more in her eyes. And how could one not smile in the presence of a Larsen?

“And you, my Lord, I think could speak to the matter of the Heir Presumptive’s health. The child is healthy, yes?”

Push.

Kadri ..

Kadri blinked.

Her father gave in that easy. She had been expecting more ... Drama ... Even with the intervention of Tieg Larsen. Father NEVER backed down that easily.

She offered a bow to Tieg and to her father, arms crossed and gripping her shoulders.

She then moved towards where the Khorral and the Heir were sitting ... And if there were a seat, sat, and if there were not, stood.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine, Lady Bekkah and the Scamp and Kathi and Ceseare

There was a place for Kadri to claim as her own, next to the Talantal heir.

And somehow Mouse was there, to pull the big chair back - which was an almost comical and somehow silent struggle - for a lady to properly sit. The servant easily moved aside to give Mikal a place to guard from. A full goblet of water was set next to her Lord's lady and then the Mouse stepped back.

across the hall, a certain Abba saw where his once daughter sat and frowned.

And at the Amber representative's grimace, the Korie simply tapped a single finger to the table. A simple and slight motion, but one that did not go unnoticed by the redhead sitting next to daxia. there was the slightest shift, the heir drawing herself up a little bit more proper. She closed the book she had brought with her, folding her hands very properly atop.

The Kories had just scored a point.

A satisfaction that lasted only until the other redhead spoke, the Allaine second asking one question and then another.

The sudden silence thundered across the hall.

Even Tieg Larsen looked uncomfortable. Very much so.

It was Khorall Korie who broke the silence. He turned his head to the side, looking past his new daughter to the contingent from the easten portions of the tarn.

"You said there was no heir."

"But there isn't ... its a fact ... its a truth ... Dag Brockman never had a son! There is no soul to ..."

As Hadrian Montague replied to the Korie, his attention did change; from the other Khorall to his brother.

"Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww ... "

Some personalities just cannot resist an opening. Her head resting against the side of her long spear, Kay Koromov made an observation.

" .... did the big guy miss someone? But then, how would I know. Countin's far too complicated for a farmer's daughter like me. I mean countin' heirs, that must be had. You start at ... what is it, oh ja, ja. One. And you count all the way up to .. up to ... up to ... that's right ...

Jakal turned, his glare immediate and sharp, as sharp and as loud as his slamming heel as he took a step forward, hand reaching for the hilt of his sword.

"... one."

The warlord was stopped, buy a firm grasp upon his arm. Hadrian Montague did not look amused. His glare towards Kay was deadly but the look he spared his brother could have sent a dragon to the quarries. Leaning upon her spear, the youngest Dayalan tried to pass off an innocent smile. The warlord just clenched his teeth, like a wild stallion barely held in rein. Through his teeth he whispered, and it wasn't a friendly or soft whisper.

"There ... is ... no ... son."

That swung the Korie's attention back to Daxia Yurisdotter.

"Which is true ..."

Taking a breath, it was the Larsen who spoke.

"However, Kristine Brockman is doing well and fine and certainly enjoys her... what is the term? Oh yes. Fostering. She takes lessons in the Cathedral, is learning to both ride and sail, though we admit it will be a handful of years before she is old enough to serve as a Khorall. I am sure she will be indebted to the lord who temporarily holds her lands in Regency. Since her mother was your cousin Dorian, I believe that makes it your ...

"A girl! Girl's don't count!"

It was a loud, brutal interruption, but for once Hadrian Montague looked like he agreed with his brother.

Khorall Kisa Allaine simply, and very quietly replied.

"Excuse me?"

Mikal

Entering a proper distance after Kadri, he takes his place behind her chair. He restrains himself from offering a deep sigh as the 'games' begin, but is eyes scan the room, taking in all those present and calculating risks.

The subject of the discussion, the annexation of Brockman's Holdfast to Montague is like drinking spoiled milk to him, and he can't keep the sour expression from his face, not the look of contempt for Hadrian and Jakal as they speak.

When Kay speaks, his eye flick to a scolarly looking man, in the Korie retinue, dressed in blue, consideringly.

Kadri:

She frowned a bit to herself.

Twisting the dagger a bit on her father was possibly a bit unpleasant ... But necessary in this case. Her attention soon shifted to the ongoing proceedings ... And her eyes landed on the same man in blue.

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

As she watched where her words fell, the Dayalan’s eyes stayed on Tieg Larsen, although her attention almost absorbed the goings on around her. His reaction was interesting. Slightly worrying, true... but this smaller thing needed to be brought into Her light before greater things were mentioned.

When Dorian Korie broke the silence, her eyes followed the interplay between Korie and Montague... she listened for any reactions from Kierkegaard and Amber... and she kept Larsen in her peripheral vision.

But Kay’s comment to — her taunting of, really — the Montague Warlord caused Dazi’s mind to wonder amid the hullabaloo just what in the name of Dayala the child was doing!!

But as Hadrian held back his brother... glared at her young charge... looked even more fiercely at his brother...

Oh.

Of course.

If Dazi had thought one Koromov alone was tenacious, smart and courageous, two of them were all that doubled... and then doubled again... and again... a double handful of times, no doubt.

In her observations of those in the room, she noted — and so wondered about — both Mikal’s and then Kadri’s attention to the Brother of Hastur.

Well, it was shaping up to be the sort of Council the Lady Vixen would consider ‘fun’, anyway. Unfortunately, that probably wouldn’t make the Korie happy.

The Starrider wasn’t sure if the softly echoing resonance in her head sounded more like the clack clack clack of Kisa’s tiles falling or the clang tang skree of her sword against Mikal’s as they practiced. It either case, it was a surprisingly soothing sound. When Khorall Korie turned his attention to her, she met his gaze with equanimity. She gave Khorall Larsen a nod of thanks for answering her second question so... provocatively.

Whatever calm her mind had held was threatened, however, when Jakal Montague insulted Kisa Allaine... and by extension, Linnell Allaine, Sasha Allaine, Eleni Allaine and Katrina Corliss.

At the very least.

Actually, if she thought about it for merely a heartbeat, the entire fullhand of fullhand of Dayalans in this world would also take offense at the remark. She might guess this was an inadvertent bounty for Jakal; given the behavior he’d demonstrated so far, she couldn’t fairly give him credit for intentionally insulting such a large number of warriors. No doubt he had a similar lack of remorse for insulting the followers of the most beloved Goddess of the world, Lady Attera. How sad.

Daxia Yurisdotter, boorish insult notwithstanding, simply... refused to take offense.

She merely glanced back at her Initiate and gave Kay a stern look. While to others the message might appear to be Behave yourself, keep quiet... it was actually more on the order of Let me finish talking before you start poking at that Coven Wolf again, would you?

Kisa’s Knight spared her liege a look and a soft whisper in Ancient, “I will speak to this.”

Looking again between the Khoralls of Korie and Montague — her glance also taking in the Heir of Korie; Lady Terilanquel-Korie and her retinue, including a wee Mouse; the Imperials behind the Kories, especially the one who’d caught the interest of her friends; even the Warlord, expression particularly blank there — Daxia’s eyes once again settled on the Khorall of Talesan’s Village.

“My Lord Tieg, your comment intrigues me as much as it lifts my heart to know Dama Kristine is doing well both in health and her studies. I have traveled from Dawnview to Talantal — and, indeed, hope to see your lands and the Sea of Opals one day, as well — and have observed and heard a great many things I had not expected to find when I passed through Snowgate Pass. To hear you speaking so freely of the young woman serving as Khorall of Brockman’s Holdfast is yet another of these revelations.

“Begging your Lordship’s pardon, but...” She looked for a moment, surely a handful of heartbeats, at Dorian Korie before finishing her question for Khorall Larsen. “...I was taught that such a thing was not the way of the Noble Families on the High Tarn.” She shared a smile with Lord Larsen — for how could you not? “However, given how many things I have learned since leaving the Temple in Dawnview...” Daxia paused, head canted to one side, smile fading, before the smallest of shrugs was offered. “What is one more thing, ja?

“But speak realistically of this possibility if you would, my Lord. Though crudely and inexpertly stated, and not accurately reflecting the existence of the common people I have met in my journeys, the Warlord’s underlying sentiment is something upon which we should shed Her light.”

Daxia looked at Jakal Montague then. Looked at the man, looked at the rage, looked at the near chaos of his being. She shook her head and said with a hint of sadness, “You’re wrong, you know.

“Any man who feels protective of his mother, his sister, his wife, his daughter knows that women count.

“We are not all meant to be Khoralls, and most of us will never even live in fine homes, let alone a fancy Keep. Do not discount us because you believe the ordinary work of women — whether we be Khorall or Lady Wife, Healer or Warrior, goodwife or seamstress or servant in your own halls — is unimportant.

“And do no tell any man who has seen his dear mother, his favorite sister, his beloved wife, or his precious daughter go dancing with Krysta that girls and women don’t count. That is as ludicrous as believing I, a Knight of Dayala, would say that men don’t count.”

She had spoken calmly and softly, in the same way she would speak to a guest of Khorall Linnell at Dawnview Keep. Perhaps her tone lacked the full measure of respect she would give her Khorall or even — today, in his own home, and because he was not the enemy — Khorall Korie. But there was no disrespect either.

No, that came when she simply looked away from the Warlord and gave her attention back to Tieg Larsen.

But she was watching... the people, the Patterns, the reactions.

Clack clack clack. Clang tang skree.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp

"Hadrian Montague, silence your brother lest he embarrass us all further."

Dorian Korie replied quietly to the Council, his level of happiness dropping even further. And while his words did cause the expected response from his allies - Hadrian's fists clenching so tight they went almost white and Jakal's anger turning towards a barely banked rage - three others suddenly looked up, as if the choice of words were so very very important.

Kisa Allaine. Captain Dandelion Koromov. And a tall man in blue robes. He carried no tome of Law, making him one of Hastur's Eyes.

However, with all this, it was the Kierkegaard Khorall who spoke next.

"I believe this brings a new light to the matter of Brockman's Holdfast. If the heir is not of age, an annexation is not the traditional solution. The appointment of a regent is the matter at hand. As Dag Brockman has already acknowledged his proxy, Kiekegaard states that the regent shall be from the seahorse's family."

"Allaine seconds. We tender the Corliss proxy."

Kisa spoke up, quick and sharp, an while her answer was for the Korie ... her gaze locked with the Montague warlords.

"Amber stands with Allaine and Kierkegaard."

Thus spoke the tall and proud Amber horseman. He crossed his arms, self satisfied and sure. If one was counting coup, Amber just evened the score with the daughter-stealers.

With each call, Hadrian paled more, grew tighter. His brother started to literally seethe.

"The Khorall of Kierkegaard does me much honor."

Tieg Larsen smiled.

"It would be impolite to not stand with him, Amber and Allaine.

"Oh.

"And lest I forget.

"I speak for Dag Brockman, and I am sure he would want only the best for his daughter. Larsen tenders the Brockman proxy."

"Nonsense."

Finally Hadrian Montague spoke.

"Larsens is too far removed from the Holdfast to be a proper regent. The Noble Family Montague shall be regent."

He turned his head to the side.

"Isn't that correct, Khorall Korie?"

In answer The Korie simply folded his hands together, fingers interlaced. He addressed the entire council, all those in the room.

"Convince me."

Kadri djinn Khayriyah djinn Terilanquel al'Korie :

Kadri spoke up, her voice smooth and relaxed, even though in some ways she was baiting vipers.

"There is another consideration. It seems to me that some people may be inclined to, unfairly of course, conclude that the Montague acting as regent might have something other than solely the best interests of the young Brockman at heart. They might suspect that the reason for the regency was territorial ambition. It would be a shame if the noble name of Montague were to be sullied by such untoward accusations. I think it very likely that there are none here who think that the Khorral Larsen has territorial ambitions over Brockman's Holdfast."

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

The sharp looks given to the unhappy Dorian Korie by Kisa, Dandy and the Eye — the Watcher, the Rememberer — were very interesting. She replayed the Khorall’s words in her mind. Oh yes. Very, very interesting.

While Lord Larsen did not have the opportunity to answer her question — perhaps that could come later, at a time and place more relaxed that the Council — the momentum of this topic increased dramatically.

And so, in such short order, the matter of Brockman’s Holdfast and the regency of Dag Brockman’s Heir was almost... so very close to truly... decided. One family stood in clear opposition to six of the other families. But for this matter to be settled, Korie would need to join with Allaine and Kierkegaard and Corliss and Amber and Larsen and Brockman. Korie would need to stand against Montague.

Convince me.

Even without Kisa’s warning last night, Dazi knew well enough not to betray any of the thoughts or emotions she had at the impact of those two words.

Korie wanted a reason to stand against Montague.

She studied each person at the table as they sat in silence. She could not take time to consider the consequences of Korie standing against Montague — not now, not yet. Yes, it would have violent and perhaps far reaching repercussions. And yes, she and her little band of misfits would somehow manage to find themselves at the center of one of those consequences.

But now was the time to shed Her light on a topic so painful that Dazi would rather not even speak of it... never mind speaking of it in public. But the Path was so bright and clear that it felt almost as if her Lady was pointing it out.

Kadri spoke quietly and so rationally... supporting Montague by not supporting their claim. It was precisely what a good daughter would do for the ally of her Father. Her Korie Father.

This might not be Dawnview Vale, but by her Lady Dayala, the Knight of Dawnview would act as she would in Khorall Linnell Allaine’s Court... with civility and respect for those who were her betters. And even — for the most part — for those who were not her betters... for in this matter, she agreed wholeheartedly with Kay that the Montagues were not a Noble Family. They were little more than thugs.

“The Noble Family Montague shall not be regent,” Daxia said calmly and evenly from Kisa’s side. Those with very, very sharp ears might hear the almost imperceptible hesitation before the word ‘noble’. “I will share my story with you, Khorall Korie, that you may be convinced.”

Then Daxia looked at her liege, silently, for a moment, and whispered in Ancient, “I wish this could have waited. But I feel now is the right time; I see a bright Path that I must walk.”

The Dayalan stood and slowly walked around the tables... behind the Kierkegaards, behind the Amberites, behind the empty chairs reserved for the Noble Family Corliss. As she stepped into the space in the center of the Council tables, she acknowledged Khorall Larsen with a nod, and then focused her attention on the Kories, nodding slightly to Kadri, before looking the Khorall of Grand Talantal in the eyes. She purposefully ignored the Montagues. It was an insult, pure and simple. And a risk... although a calculated one. But just as she trusted each member of her small troop on the road, today she trusted her two Temple Sisters, a Jvrillian mercenary, and a young Squire of Rames.

She even trusted, at least in this matter, the Kories.

“I will preface this by making two apologies. My initiate reminded me of a teaching poem that has been long disregarded, for it is at least as old as the Second Age. Always keep a Korie happy says one line. I apologize in advance, my Lord, as parts of this tale will not make you happy.”

The redhead turned her head to look at Khorall Kierkegaard and his Heir. “Khorall Kristoff, Lord Rikart, I apologize to you as well, for there are things I must say publicly that should be said privately. Please know I would spare you this pain and hold it for you myself for all time, if it were only possible.” She gave the Kierkegaards a respectful bow. It was nothing as elaborate and elegant as Kadri’s; it was simple and practical like the people of the Black Mountains themselves: a mere dipping of the head that was deeper and longer held than a mere nod.

And then the Knight of Dawnview turned back to the Khorall of the Imperial Duchy of Talantal, her bearing one of confidence, but not overly prideful. She was respectful not because she was a woman, a commoner, a pagan and Dorian Korie was a man, a Noble, an Imperial, but because she was a guest in his Court... because she was taught that one was respectful in Court... because Korie was not the enemy... and because, perhaps, she really did want to make this Korie happy simply for the sake of seeing him happy. In the space of less than one entire day, Daxia had come to believe that he really needed some happiness in his life.

“My Lord Korie, to properly tell my tale, I must give you a frame of reference. Dama Kisa has asked that I speak for the Noble Family Allaine without knowing much of what I wish to share with you, and the whole of the Council. I will beg your indulgence, and that of the Council. I have been told that I talk too much...” The redhead shot her her Temple Sisters a look of... acknowledgment? She continued by addressing the Khorall again. “...but to place before the Council the common sense of this matter, in terms so plain and firm as to leave no doubt as to my meaning I will, of necessity, use a great many words.

“It is difficult to see one clear path that led to this place and this day, for it is impossible for me to say precisely where the path began that led us all here. But I will begin with an incident from many years ago, for that was the catalyst for many things I see here today.

“There were two young people who pledged themselves to marriage; although to some it would have certainly been seen as merely an advantageous political alliance, to those close to them... to those who knew them as Khorall and Heir... it was not a secret that Innocence Allaine and Danton Kierkegaard were very much in love. This is still spoken of to this day... the depth and fire of their love.

“I was but a child then, but the facts that are known to the people of Dawnview Vale are thus:

“Khorall Innocence Allaine of Snowgate Keep and her betrothed husband Lord Danton Kierkegaard, Heir of the Kierkegaard lands, chose to journey through the lands of the Frontier Keeps. They wished to see their people; they wished to greet their people.

“Lord Dorian Korie, the Khorall of the Grand Duchy of Talantal, offered to the couple the great honor of a contingent of the Korie House Guard to escort them on their pre-wedding tour. And yet, instead of Korie guards, the wedding party was escorted by mercenaries.”

The look she gave Dorian Korie was one of understanding and, perhaps oddly, compassion. It was certainly not the anger one might expect from one who appeared to be an Allaine retainer.

“Dama Innocence and Lord Danton disappeared, as though they never existed. It has long been assumed that they are dead, but there has been no evidence that this was the case.

“I will give you honesty, my Lord, though I do not say anything you do not already know to be true. The blame for their disappearance, at least by many in Dawnview Vale, was set at your feet.

“I will speak now of a day in Yrick, two years ago. I was a student at the Dayalan Temple, and one of my lessons was to observe at the Allaine Court. I witnessed the session where a Brother of the Lord Hastur came bearing condolences from the Noble Family Korie for the disappearance of the Khorall of Snowgate. There is no need for me to recount that session, for I know the Brother would have returned and relayed back to you everything with perfect accuracy.

“What he could not have relayed was the deep pain it caused Khorall Linnell. It is not appropriate for her to show that in Court, da? So only the anger was relayed back to you.

“I did not think hard at the time about the questions I have come to consider in the past several months.

“The following Yrick, now less than a year in the past, an insignificant Initiate was deemed well trained enough to commence her Initiate’s Journey outside Dawnview Vale.” Daxia paused, her eyes flickering to Captain Koromov for an instant before returning to Dorian Korie. “The leaders of our Temple tell us that the purpose of this journey is for each of us to learn something of the world beyond the Vale before we take up our service in the Temple.” The Knight who had been one such Initiate, who had been told that very thing, smiled crookedly and so slightly. “I have come to believe, however, that the true purpose is for each of us to learn as much as possible about the world; to examine and question our teachings; to examine and question everything I once believed to be true.”

Daxia’s expression sobered. “And so I traveled forth. I met people, I made friends, I had my beliefs challenged almost constantly... or so it seemed. I entertained the thought that since I had been raised in the mountains to the east I would therefore travel westward, to the Sea of Opals itself, before returning home.” She shrugged and offered a self-deprecating smile. “It seemed less fanciful then than it does now.”

She took a deep breath before continuing.

“One day on the Brementown Road, I and those who traveled with me came upon a young woman riding for her very life, being pursued by a band of pale Eastern riders.

“Had I stopped to think, my Lord, as a wiser and more experienced person might have done, every event that followed, and that led me here to stand before you, would have been undone. But I am young, I am — perhaps — idealistic, and I saw a person in dire danger. The teachings of my Lady are no less clear than the teachings of Lord Rames... we must stand to defend and protect those who are defenseless or weak. And so I did not think. I merely spurred my horse to follow the damsel and the Easterners who pursued her into the Forest of Roth.”

Again she paused, but this time she relaxed a bit from her formality, sighed, and nodded. “Yes. I know. It was foolish.” Her eyes shifted to the Dayalans standing behind Kisa, and her gaze settled on Kay. “And as foolish as it was, it was the only course open to me, one I would not hesitate to follow again.” After a heartbeat, she looked at the Khorall again.

“As I rode into the glade, it was neither the damsel nor the riders that caught my attention, but a old and battered banner of the Noble Family Allaine.” She paused again, but she had vowed to herself that this time, today... perhaps only just today... she would heed Tashka’s admonition to not beat herself up about things over which she had no control. But she could never forget the death wail she emitted as she rode toward the banner to claim that patch of forest for Dawnview and Allaine.

“We did battle with the Easterners, learning in the process that they, indeed, are mortal; that demons are thoroughly disgusting when they are killed; and that sorcerers are base cowards. It was after the battle that I learned the important points of today’s narrative.

“My thoughts ran thusly, and in such a furor as to make my head ache. How could a banner of the Noble House of Allaine have come to be in this well-hidden glade in the Forest of Roth? What else, if I dared to search, would I find in that glade? My directive upon leave Dawnview Vale was to learn, to observe, and to eventually return to the Temple to share what I had gleaned by traveling across the High Tarn. I had most assuredly not been let loose upon an unsuspecting world to solve eighteen year old mysteries,” Daxia said with a hint of humor.

“But we did search, my compatriots and I, for everything that might give up any bit of an answer to my questions. We found a number of wagons buried under earth and deadwood and new growth by the passing years. We found... the remnants of the party that had ridden in those wagons, had guarded those wagons.

“The banner, the wagons, the bodies all told a tale whose fullness was not revealed until recently. The tale those remnants told was of a caravan set upon by a few ragged bandits... of Jvrillians and Kierkegaard men fighting and dying... all of them protecting, at the last, protecting their Lord.”

The daughter of Dawnview Vale turned to the Kierkegaards, arms crossed loosely across her abdomen.

“I searched long and diligently, my Lord Kristoff, for absolute proof that your son, Lord Danton, was the man at the center of this scene. I wanted so desperately to be wrong, though I knew I wasn’t. Yet, I also wanted just as desperately to find some small thing, anything, that I could bear to you as a token. I found nothing but the clothing that said these men were Kierkegaard, this man seemed to have finer clothing than the others. I am so sorry, my Lord, that I have only my words to bear to you, and I am so sorry that I must bear them to you. They were all honored as warriors in the only way I know, but I swear to you I knelt and prayed for every Kierkegaard man that night.”

Because she faced the Kierkegaards, it was only they and the Amber delegation and the Allaine delegation that could see the fullness of her pain at having to deliver these words to a father, to a younger brother... and in public, at that. It felt so wrong. She breathed deeply again, pulling her emotions back as best she could, before turning again to Khorall Korie.

“Your hired men were also honored for their service to Kierkegaard. They died trying to fulfill the Contract they made. And you may now also have the same questions in your mind that I had on that day, my Lord.”

This time, Dazi only turned her head to look at Kisa... her friend, the bearer of her heart, her liege. And for Kisa, she would be the Knight she needed to be now.

“Except for that lonely and battered banner of your House, my Lady, there no sign that your Lady Aunt had ever been part of that caravan. We found some trinkets of jewelry that could have belonged to anyone; none of it looked to be of Dawnview design or origin, nor was it distinctive enough to say it was something dear to a Kierkegaard. There was not even the smallest star from an earring or bracelet to say that Innocence Allaine had been there. And yet, as a child of Dawnview Vale, I knew she had been there if that was, indeed, her beloved lying among his men. And now I entreat you to hear well the remainder of my words, for they are as important to Allaine as they are to Korie.” She knew Kisa would listen well; she knew Kisa could hear calmly what her Lady Mother might not. Others might see an echo of the Snowqueen in Kisa’s careful and attentive listening... but Dazi knew better.

Fully composed once again, the Dayalan turned back to the Korie Lord.

“And so, my Lord, I wondered — as we all must be wondering — how it could be possible that some few ragged bandits came to overcome a party of Khorall Kristoff’s very fine House Guard, bolstered by a small troop of Jvrillians? This worried at my mind in a profound way, for I have been trained by some of my Lady’s finest Knights. I have had the opportunity to learn at the side, and in one case at the hand...” She paused to rub the side of her head where Barris had struck it when she’d parried too slowly during their single training session. “...of Jvrillians, and even beside a Squire of Rames. I thought it impossible then, and my conviction has only hardened. It simply could not, it would not, be possible for bandits to have overcome the party.

“And I wondered, too... where was the Khorall Innocence?

“It was near the end of our searching that one of my party discovered another body left at the edge of the clearing. This body was not clothed in the blue and green and black of Kierkegaard. It was a man, and so would not have been clothed in the black and silver and red of Allaine. The body did not bear the manner of clothing worn by the Jvrillians we had discovered, nor even the ragged bandits. No. This body was clothed in the colors of one of the Noble Houses.”

She turned so she could see both Montague and Korie.

“The body bore the greys of House Montague. And that was when I could see how the event might have occurred... it almost seemed to play out right before my eyes. Bandits supplemented by Montague men? Yes, they certainly could have attacked the caravan...

“They certainly could have killed every man who thought to protect the Khorall of Snowgate and the Heir of Kierkegaard...

“They certainly could have killed Lord Danton Kierkegaard...

“And they most certainly could have carried off Khorall Innocence Allaine.”

As she stared at the Montague delegation, her thoughts reached toward the Heartwood’s most arrogant Unicorn.

“Which is what you did,” she accused the Warlord of Montague.

For once... for the first time... the Starrider knew that she did not need to rely on her heart. She had a Unicorn to keep her honest.

And so when Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter raised her hand and jabbed a finger in the air in the Warlord’s direction, she spoke from that knowledge... and not from her heart.

“And DO...

“NOT...

“SPEAK...

“...Jakal of Montague, until I have finished having my say. Keep your foolish tongue still.”

Her eyes flashed like sapphire lightning, and her voice sounded sharp and hard, in a way that Captain Koromov would likely recognize. Even to her own ears, she sounded exactly like Kassia did at her most annoyed. Or furious, depending on who was doing the describing.

“You should not have left behind one of your men for sharp eyes to see, for a sharp mind to connect this bit and that bit.”

Except there wasn’t really any anger in her voice. It was simply sharp and hard, as if — perhaps — there was an unspoken but heavily implied “cobble block!” at the end of her statement.

Her eyes shifted between Warlord and Khorall... back and forth... two times, three times. She almost looked as if she might say something more... in truth, she almost wanted to say to the Khorall that she was just a bit sorry he had to put up with such a violent and stupid man. But she thought better of it. Hadrian Montague had what he deserved to have.

The Dayalan again gave her full attention to the Korie.

It had not escaped her attention that she had spoken to the Warlord as an equal... well, equal in rank, at any rate.

“But what of Lady Innocence? I asked myself this question over and over fullhand after fullhand times each day for all the months between that day mid-way through Crown until a day mid-way through Poet where we stayed at a small farmstead just past Brockman’s Holdfast. I had suspicions and theories, for I had heard rumors. But the truth of the matter eluded me.”

She glanced at the Brother of Hastur and shrugged a bit as if to say, “as the truth, of course, would.”

“But on that morning, at that homestead, when Montague sheriffs questioned us about a missing man from their quarries, I had my opportunity to verify a rumor, to see if my thoughts ranged far afield or kept close to the truth.

“I asked after a miller down in Laine’s Town who was said to have a wife with hair of red, and a daughter, too, with the same trait. The sheriff was kind enough to inform me that the miller, one Rolf McLaine, was indeed the miller I sought, and verified that the miller’s daughter had, indeed, run off.

“I shall share the exact words I spoke, the exact words the sheriff replied. I believe, my Lord Korie, that one of Montague’s own would be a reliable witness — although in absentia, although I assure you my memory is excellent — who could speak to the fitness of Montague to stand as Regent to Brockman’s Heir.

“I had said there was a tale high in the Black Mountains that the miller had the most beautiful wife in all the land, with hair red like mine except of course so much more beautiful than my mop. And that — this part was whispered, you understand, because... well, such things are whispered in the Black Mountains, you know — she was even more beautiful than the Khorall beyond the Snowgate Pass. You’d see why such a thing would be whispered even in Kierkegaard lands hard against the Rock. Oh, I’m sure it was just a fanciful tale and an exaggeration worthy of the best minstrels! Why, for all I know, the Miller McLaine has a plain wife with plain hair, and half a dozen perfectly plain children.

“In response to my distinctly poor acting, the sheriff most kindly replied...

“Yah mean Inno? Pretty lass, and nice enough, I guess. We’s quarry folk and he’s town folk, so our paths didn’t cross much. Heard she had the patience of a boulder, the way she let Rolf boss her around, keep her close to home and smack her when she got out of line. Until a while ago; a year, maybe more?

“The day after her daughter ran off, Rolf got himself called up to the Keep. When he came down he was powerful angry and blamed whatever happened between him and the Warlord on her, sayin’ it was all his wife’s fault. Now the way I heard it, he went to strike her and she, like she had been savin’ up her backbone for years and all, came after him with a carvin’ knife.

“Rolf’s whatcha call a widower now. But before she got beat down she made bloody sure he’d be rememberin’ her every time he looked at his reflection.”

She watched Dorian for a moment, before looking at Kisa again. And for a long handful of heartbeats, Daxia simply met Kisa’s eyes. Finally, she said, “What little more I know of your aunt, and what I know of your cousin... I will tell you all I know, Dama. Later, da?”

Perhaps Kisa had more memories of her aunt than she herself had of her parents. And perhaps... ah, so many ‘perhaps’! But Daxia still had work to finish here, and so she nodded just once before taking a deep breath as she turned yet again to the Khorall of Korie.

“And now, my Lord, I must place before you and the Council the truth as I saw it that day in Crown in a Forest of Roth glade, and the truth I see before me today at Midsummer in this Council chamber. A wise person once counseled me that, ‘there is only one truth, but it is an elusive mystery that can only be chased and never caught. For in the end, it doesn’t matter what that one Truth might be because whatever Truth is, it can only be perceived’ — at least by those of us who do not wear the robes of Hastur,” she added with a respectful nod to the Eye of Hastur. “‘Truth can only be perceived, and the perception is different for each person.’

“And so, I asked myself, ‘what role did Korie play in this tragedy?’ Today, because I am not the same person I was then... today, because I see Korie in a different light... the answer to that question is not the same as it once was. But I beg your Lordship to hear me out, as some of these thoughts have not been kind.

“Did House Korie provide mercenary troops instead of the promised Korie House Guard? Yes, that much seems clear from all I have seen. From what I knew then, I inferred an insult towards Allaine and Kierkegaard on the part of House Korie. I have gained experience since, and see that it could well be reasonable to offer a seasoned Jvrillian troop familiar with the mountain passes rather than your own men who are far more comfortable on the plains of the Tarn. This is not said to insult their honor or their expertise; it is simply an observation that some people possess skills that others lacks. It is to be expected.

“So today I would say that Korie is not as negligent in this matter as Allaine believes.” She looked at Kisa, a questioning eyebrow raised. “Da? This could explain much.” She did smile softly and sadly at Dorian Korie, though. “A messenger to Dawnview with such information could have spared both great Families much enmity. Ah!” She absently waved away the thought.

“Done is done. There is only now, and tomorrow, and the rest of the future.

“But with this first question reasonably answered to my mind, I then asked myself, ‘would Korie have orchestrated this attack?’ I speak truth now, my Lord, for I will not have my word and honor later impugned... there was a time when I believed such a thing was possible. Now... now I do not believe so.

“How did I come to this conclusion? I asked, ‘what would Korie gain by this?’ And when I was honest in my mind and in my heart, I could find nothing that your Noble House or you personally would gain by alienating both the Noble House of Allaine and the Noble House of Kierkegaard. I am not naive, and I do not believe there would never be conflict among the Noble Families of the Little Kingdoms. Such has always been the way of the Kingdoms. But in this, the Imperial Age when we are all governed over by the Empire of the Bankorpools, the Little Kingdoms have seen greater prosperity.

“And the more I tried to find anything, even one small thing, that the Noble House of Korie would gain from orchestrating this attack, the brighter Her light shone on my own prejudices. It is no secret that Korie is not a friend to Allaine, and that Allaine is no friend to Korie. And yet...” The young Dayalan shook her head, seeming almost... puzzled perhaps. “Korie could only lose in this scenario. And indeed, both Korie and Allaine have lost much because of this heinous and cowardly attack.

“But if you, my Lord, were not responsible, I was forced to ask the next question. ‘Who would benefit from driving a wedge of distrust and anger between Allaine and Korie?’ That question was easily answered,” she said as she looked dispassionately at the Montagues.

“One last question, then, remained to pick at my mind,” she said to Khorall Korie. “It was the most difficult of all to answer, for I am after all a daughter of Dawnview Vale. ‘Would Korie have known of this attack, even if there was no involvement in its planning or execution?’ As I stated before, there was a time when I believed you must be aware of this. That time was as recent as yesterday, my Lord.

“But as I pondered the activities I witness here yesterday, as I spoke with Dama Kisa and my Temple Sisters, as I prayed on your ramparts this morning, I had to admit I was being false to all my teachers in holding even that small prejudice, and I was being false to an Immortal as well... which is a far more serious offense. And so as I looked over your holdings to the east, as She rose to light this Midsummers Day — so very different from the visage of the Dawnview Mountains, but no less impressive in its way — that question demanded honesty.

“The honesty I give you now is this: I don’t know.

“But I believe that the first you learned of it was, perhaps, just after Midsummers two years past... too late to speak to Khorall Linnell when she attended Council that year, but not so long afterward that a Brother of Hastur could be dispatched to arrive at the Dawnview Court on that day I witnessed him in Yrick. It is the only destination my thoughts can reach while traveling the twisting and looping paths that has them arriving at the Noble House Korie sending condolences eighteen years after the fact.”

One final time she addressed the Allaine Heir. “Dama, of this last I have no proof. I have only that single Path illuminated by Her light. It feels like truth, but...” Dazi gave her friend a half smile and small shrug. “...I may be Verchovai and Starlord Kassia’s best student, but I am still — on occasion — a cobble block.

“But I ask that you merely consider it as truth until found to be false by one who cannot be refuted.”

She looked then not at Dorian Korie or Marcus Korie, but the blue robed man who stood behind and between them.

“There is more.”

Kisa’s Knight turned to the Montague delegation. She crossed her arms — and might have even leaned against a wall, had one been available — and looked at the brothers as though they were naughty children. Very dangerous, very volatile, and very naughty children.

“It is not a secret, Lord Montague, that your brother has not only a temper that you alone can contain — at times — but that he is cruel, and has unseemly... appetites. ‘Heard the Lord’s thrall has a likin’ for redheads,’ is what I heard from one of your men. If that wasn’t enough, I myself observed him leering at Dama Kisa, the Heir of Allaine. The Heir, sir!”

In all of this, those three words were the only ones spoken with any anger, and it was in equal measure with disgust.

“And because your brother’s... temperament is no secret, Innocence Allaine — a noblewoman, a Khorall of one of the two most powerful families in the Little Kingdom, given over to a miller as a prize, forced to live as a slave, forced to bear him a daughter — oh, Innocence Allaine most assuredly feared for that daughter’s well being, and for the child’s very life. I will tell you what I know of the Noble Family Allaine, Lord Montague. Dawnview’s daughters are fierce and determined. I am but a far flung cousin, and dare to stand before you, wearing a sword, in the Grand Imperial Duchy of Talantal. So I have no doubt that Korinna McLaine heard tales of the warriors of Dayala. I have no doubt that the name of Verchovai Poppy was whispered often. I have no doubt that Rolf McLaine’s daughter ran off when she did because she was urged to do so by her mother; I have no doubt that Verchovai Poppy was waiting patiently to take her in. And I have no doubt that Innocence Allaine would have killed Rolf McLaine had she even a small measure of training her daughter now has.”

Daxia shifted her eyes to Jakal. “You couldn’t break her. And she took from you that one thing you coveted so very much. From right beneath your nose, and without any hint for you to hear, she sent her daughter away from your perversions and to relative safety.”

Finally, Dazi looked at Kadri. “Lady Terilanquel-Korie, you do your Father...” She paused and glanced over her shoulder at the Amber delegation, then back to Kadri. “...your Fathers, both of them, proud in your eloquence to spare the good name of Montague. But as you can see, my Lady, Montague is not a name that can be sullied by something so banal as territorial ambition.”

She glanced behind Kadri to Mikal, and nodded once... minutely... and blinked slowly. Her gaze passed over Dean, too, before looking at the three representatives of the Imperial Court behind the Kories.

“My Lord, I beg your pardon for my pagan ways in your Court. I mean no disrespect to the Lords and Lady of the Imperial Court, and have nothing but respect for them.” Daxia, daughter of Yuri, paused, rolled her eyes in Her direction, and held her breath for a pair of heartbeats...

...and then let it out, shrugging and giving the Khorall a small, but very real, smile. “Ahhm... it doesn’t appear my Lady will smite me. At least, not in your Hall.”

Then, in the blink of an eye, the Court Observer, the Speaker for Allaine, the Knight of Dawnview was back.

“Khorall Dorian Korie, I have presented for your consideration, and the consideration of the Council, my observations, thoughts and reasonings for disqualifying the Family Montague from Regency of the Brockman holdings. They have no care for what they have already taken from Brockman. They have no care for what they have taken from Allaine. They have no care for what they have taken from Kierkegaard.”

She gave the Heir a pointed look, recalling his younger brother’s words regarding who might have an accident first... Marcus, or the Heir’s wife, Talia Montague. Sibling differences, yes... and understandable since Dominic’s birth deprived Marcus of a mother. But from the very, very little she saw of the Heir yesterday, Marcus did not seem like a bad person... and his Lady Wife most assuredly did. The Starrider’s piercing blue eyes returned to the Khorall of the Grand Duchy of Talantal.

“I so conclude my statement before Council, but stand to answer any questions in my power to answer.”

It was not the easiest thing to curtsy with a sword strapped to one’s side, but in addition to carrying bucket after bucket after leaky bucket from the well to the temple — we are all broken buckets, Daxia — Kassia insisted that if one was to serve in court, one should learn to properly curtsy. Even if one wore a sword.

Daxia’s curtsy to Khorall Dorian Korie was very proper, very graceful, and held just the perfect amount of respect.

Mikal

He listens to Daxia tell her tale. Logical. Forthright. Compelling. In the beginning of it he is simply intrigued. But as she proceeds the light goes on behind his eyes as even he, as unused to politics and intrigue as he is, can see the pieces all fitting together.

He finds his hand gripping his sword hilt tightly. Initially in anger as he realizes what additional atrocities the Montague are responsible for, but later with readiness as he more than half expects to see the Jakal leaping from his seat to attack Daxia.

He slides a half-step closer, so that he is better placed to assist, should the room explode into combat. He maintains focus on his job of protecting Kadri, but in this case he sees the threat to her as minimal. Daxia and the Allaines are the ones at risk. Of course with Daxia and the Captain of the Wild Horde present, he doesn't think they will need help, but with the Montagues, treachery is always a threat.

When Daxia says "Montague is not a name that can be sullied by something so banal as territorial ambition”, he cannot suppress a snort, a large smile, and a small nod in returned acknowledgement.

As she finishes, he leans in to Kadri and says in a voice loud enough for the others to hear. "Just so you are clear, My Lady, it becomes evident that the Montague are not simply the blackhearted thieves that everyone knows them to be, but in addition are murderers, kidnappers, liars, and even possibly traitors."

He glances across the table, then adds to Kadri. "Sometimes those who spend their lives in the field can be more straightforward than those who spend their time in a more Courtly setting. I did not want you to misunderstand what Mistress Daxia related."

Kadri ...

... Leans back and listens, nodding, showing shock at the appropriate times and nodding to Daxia at the appropriate times. And as she continued, a hardening around the eyes and a tightening of the mouth were the only signals that, were Jakal at her mercy, she would not be very merciful.

She leans over and murmurs to Mikal.

"Oh, I understand all too well what she was saying, Mikal. All too well. And nothing would please me more than to see Jakal hung by his neck until the twitching stopped and the remains to be left hanging for crows."

However, to any outside observer, she leaned over, murmured in his ear, and made a curt hushing motion with her hand, as if to silence a bodyguard out of place.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp

The silence that followed was heavier than a dragon's breath, darker than a starless night and sharper than a milk white blade.

The first to move, to stand, was the young Kierkegaard, his tall chair clattering backwards, his hand reaching to the sword at his side - perhaps a bit awkward - for an expert like Mikal it was easy to note that while the passion of a brother was there, the skill to back it up might not be.

The elder Kierkegaard made no move to hold his son.

"Black blood and star's tears. When we was fightin' the East, at least we was fightin' the ... East. You know. White hair, pointed ears, too tall and not caring if they live or die as long as there's blood everywhere.

"You went after your own."

It was the scamp, of course, interrupting suddenly, leaning on her spear, looking forward to level a cool dark eyed, dak haired glare at the Montague lords.

"Your Daxiness. Can I gut him? Like now? Begging your pardon, mister old, worn and Korie-ish, he's in a right powerful need of bein' gutted."

It was Jakal who answered Kay, definitely looking down at the much shorter girl.

"You?

"You're half my size, witch. I'll have your head before you can even figure out which way to point that pig sticker of yours."

The Warlord's attention then swung harshly to the Allaine heir.

"You. Girl. Pretender to a throne. Hush your whelp a'fore I cut out her tongue. Last I heard the children of Tom Koromov were commoners, and she just threatened a recognized noble. One word and you will not live to see the borders of these lands."

For once, for once, Hadrian Montague did not quiet his brother. Instead he waited until Jakal had finished and before anyone could reply simply raised his hand for attention.

"Unfettered by the shackles of propriety as he may be, my Brother has sound logic."

Hadrian directly addressed his Korie counterpart, his darkened gaze falling straight upon the Korie's shoulders, like a card player holding a winning hand.

"The Larsen may be correct, but they are a poor seaside keep, the closest they come to a credible threat is a handful of fishermen who'd rather spend their time fighting their fiends in a tavern brawl.

"The practical Kierkegaards. Let us be practical. They are defensive warriors; their security forged by narrow passes that only require a handful of troops to hold. Aye, they are assuredly quite skilled, but they are few in number.

"That leaves the young heiress.

"With two body guards. One who wasn't born when my brother killed his first ... brigand. The second, true, is one of the best sworders of our generation. But she is here on her own. The rest of her mercenaries are weeks away for they cannot come west of Bordertown, because that would put them in Talantal territory, an act of aggression Khorall Linnell Allaine would never dare.

"The third talks too much.

"Thus, are you not ucky, to have the strength of Montague right at your doorstep, my Dear Brother-in-Law?"

The Khorall Korie literally paled. Even with the might of Talantal, it seemed he just might have understood the costs of such a quarrel between neighbors.

There was a second silence in the room.

"Oh this is choice."

Captain Dandelion Koromov broke the silence.

"I don't suppose this is the best of times to announce that I am no longer under contract to Khorall Linnell Allaine?"

Both Dorian and Hadrian were taken aback.

"I don't understand."

"Then what are you doing here ...."

Captain Koromov leaned back, against the wall, crossing her arms.

"Me and mine are now in service to the Allaine heir."

"How in all of krysta's bloody hells did you manage that!"

Hadrian Montague slammed his fist hard on the table.

Kisa Allaine shrugged her shoulders and answered quietly.

"I saved up my allowance."

Both the Korie and the Montague blinked again.

"It makes no bloody difference."

Jakal interrupted, looking smug.

"The Horde is still weeks away."

This time it was Kisa who held up her hand for silence.

"Khorall Dorian Korie, I must now beg your forgiveness. I must admit to a certain strategic subterfuge, which is not as much a matter of trickery but simply staying ahead of the Marrennen storytellers. Michael's Dark Mark is no longer part of the Bordertown Thing and the town's allegiance has shifted east. This has thrown the traditional borders between your Keep and mine into dissarray. Now, after the last winter Dawnview Vale cannot afford to not have sufficient farmland within her Borders. It is true, I came here to offer Talantal all the steel you might wish. In return for all the lands between Heatherton Manor and Glacier Keep.

"I must beg your apology, Khorall Korie.

"Because the Wild Horde is now on this side of the Silk Creek Ravine.

"Dawnview Vale was not going to take no as an answer.

"That said ...

"It now puts me in a unique situation.

"For my fellow Khorall's benevolent acceptance of these very practical changes in the map of the mainland, it would now be my pleasure to offer you the services of my personal guard to maintain the piece of all our borders."

Now it was Hadrian Montague's time to pale.

Dorian considered this, for a long set of heartbeats. He rose, and with a nod he summoned his entire entourage, including a very scared looking seneschal and his daughter.

"I don't think you want to be here for this, daughter."

He paused at the door, and with a wave of his hand banished every single servant from the room. Except for perhaps Mouse. Only because she wasn't to be seen.

"I am taking some air.

"Midsummers Council will reconvene when I return.

"With whoever is left."

Kadri:

She looks over to Dorian and raises an eyebrow.

"Did I not, when reciting my name, also list Terilanquel among those of my titles? I may have your proud name by marriage, but I have another by birth. I am of Amber born, and I do not shy away from the sight of honor being avenged."

She looks over to her father and brothers, and calls out in her native tongue.

"Ta! Ilken!! D'rhan al'esherah fey an wahed m'alesh'er alahemer."

She points over towards Daxia.

"Eda kan lha shefreh hadh kema lesanha, feswef tedweq Jakal alesleb."

She slides out her her more constricting outer layer, and carefully folds it on the table. Wouldn't do for a lady to ruin her fine dress. Would be quite unladylike. Then she pulls on her cloak. Again, she WAS a 'fine lady' after all.

A knife is strapped to her hip. Each hip.

She looks over to Mikal and murmurs to him.

"Oh dear. I am afraid that they may be a threat to my safety. Whatever is a bodyguard to do in a situation such as this, when his charge has so recklessly decided to stay in the path of danger?"

Her expression is completely, and totally deadpan.

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Daxia just gave Kay a look. And then sighed and shook her head as Jakal proceeded to underestimate her Initiate.

“Well, Scamp, not just yet, da?”

Then she looked at the Montagues and snorted at Hadrian’s comment.

“Yah, Dazi talk,” she said in a normal tone of voice that might not be heard over the rantings of the Montague Khorall. “Dazi not cobble block, though, like Warlord thinking spear bearer child of Thomas. Ha. Who tell Warlord this not good spy. Or Warlord big, big cobble block. Yah, that maybe so. Also best spear bearer Dazi ever see, so maybe Warlord stop beating chest, yah?”

The corners of her mouth twitched when Dandelion spoke up. But when Kisa explained how she’d come to hire the Wild Horde, Daxia burst out laughing. “I’m sorry, my Lady,” she said after a moment. “I know I was given strict instructions, but...” She allowed one last chuckle to escape, before schooling her expression to that of a serious — mostly serious — Court Observer. “...but that was funny.”

But she listened and she watched as Kisa explained her game. It was logical, and well laid out. And now, instead of coming to Korie with demands, she’d been given the opportunity to present it as something mutually beneficial to the Korie Khorall...

Thanks to her Knight.

And her Knight’s ragtag band of misfits.

Of course, one of the many things that could be an outcome of this Council session was the possibility of Korie not only having enemies at the gate, but an enemy within his own house... in the person of the Heir’s Lady wife. At least seven of them were corralled here in the Council chamber.

Daxia then watched the Lord of Talantal empty the hall of his entire retinue and all the servants, leaving only the Nobles of the Council and their retainer. As she stepped back to guard the door herself, she noted that Kadri showed no sign of leaving. She noted the Amber delegation, only Kadri’s father and three brothers, talking quietly among themselves, also showing no signs of leaving.

Her gaze crossed the Kierkegaards — Khorall, Heir and four guards — before Kadri spoke up. Her response to her Father-in-law was not the slightest bit surprising. The exchange with her Father and Brothers was interesting, and a bit odd in the instant she was the focus of Kadri’s attention.

Looking back at the Allaine side of the table, Daxia caught her Initiate’s eye.

“To me, Scamp.”

She looked between Kisa and Dandy, then nodded to the Captain, trusting her Temple Sister to keep the Heir of Allaine safe... only secondarily because she was being paid to do so. Although...

No. Allaine had every bit as much right to see this through as Kierkegaard did. She would not ask Kisa to leave. She would trust the Captain.

Then her gaze moved to Dean and Mikal, locking eyes with the Jvrillian for a moment. In that moment — less than heartbeat, perhaps — her jaw tightened and there was no doubt between them that both were ready for battle. She noted Kadri’s change of outfit and very nearly smiled at the knives.

Her eyes raked over the Montague Khorall and Warlord, the five guards that stood behind them. Really? FIVE?!? The Dayalan couldn’t decide if that was a sign of paranoia, a signal that they really were trying to perform a power and land grab, or if maybe it was just overcompensation for their lack of male anatomy.

And finally, she looked at Tieg Larsen.

“Unless you’d care to stay as witness, my Lord, you might want to take your leave now.”

Kierkegaard, Allaine and Terilanquel-Korie certainly outnumbered Montague — with the Amberites clearly interested but neutral — but Montague was an evil whose greatest weapon was treachery.

With her hand on her sword hilt, she said to the Khorall of the not so very noble Family Montague, “I don’t suppose you’d agree to have your men lay down their arms and the two of you do the first honorable thing in your miserable lives by falling on your own swords, would you?

“No?

“Ah, well. I suppose it is too much to hope that wretched creatures such as yourselves would know anything about honor.”

Mikal

He watches as the Khorall, his retinue, other witnesses, and especially the Eye of Hastur leave the room, and as Daxia and Kay move to ensure no one else can leave without going through them.

At Kadri's 'so innocent' comment he grins grimly, and when Daxia locks eyes with him he nods imperceptibly.

Taking a step around the table, he places himself between the Montague and Kadri, hands firmly gripping the hilts of his two main weapons he calls on Jvrill in a silent prayer.

**My Lord. Your servant beseeches you. In furtherance of my contract my companions and I are about to engage in combat with those whose words and oaths are shown to be worthless. I ask for your blessing in infusing myself and those who fight alongside me with the fanatical righteousness of your might.**

(OOC - Wolf - Morale.)

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp

"Hoi your Daxiness ..."

A table? That was nothing to stop a Koromov. A step forward, a hop up - almost but not stepping on an heiress- and then a two footed drop to the floor. In the end the Initiate was a proper two steps behind Daxia, just off her right shoulder. The proper place for a spear bearer to be.

From the far side of the side table Jakal glowered. he counted those against him, matched the numbers of his foot soldiers and growled against battle lin set before him.

"So which one of you wants to be the one that dies?"

The Warlord's hand slowly drifted to the hilt of his sword; as if matching the set of Kay's spear and Mikal's powerful words.

"No one."

Two words, solid and resolute.

And spoken by Hadrian Montague. At those two words Captain Dandelion frowned. She frowned, leaned back against the wall and stayed silent.

The Khorall of Montague keep slowly dusted off his hands and pushed himself away from the table.

"Stand down, Brother."

His words were curt and coarse.

"You may forget your place with others but not me."

The Warlord turned, just the slightest.

"We can take the witches with us ..."

"Did you not hear what I said."

The quarry lord straightened his tunics.

"We have lost this fight, Jakal. Have the good sense to realize it.

"We cannot afford to lose another."

With a nod, the Lord of Montague Keep slowly walked towards the big doors. Two of his retinue immediately followed.

Jakal Montague watched his brother, his gaze dark and narrow. His lord doesn't even turn around when he speaks again.

"What are they going to do? Murder us in cold blood?"

Very unhappy ... the Warlord followed in Hadrian's wake.

His three liegeman, in turn, followed him.

Kadri:

An impish look crosses her face. And her voice was sly.

"I have had a burst of creativity. Something to commemorate Jakal to posterity. After all, he is one who knows something about cold blooded murder ... so why should he not always be remembered?"

One thing those on the plains were expert at was the art of the insult - and the key was not in the words used, although they could help, but in their delivery. Scorn, condescension, amusement: The impression that your target was but an object of ridicule. Her face lit up like a bonfire, and the grin on her face was quite savage. She belts out a sing-song dripping with pure acidic mockery - staring right at Jakal. Her voice was, of course, accompanied by appropriate illustrative hand gestures.



Oh yes, she despised this man. This was a bully. Someone who viewed people as THINGS for his pleasure. The same voice she had used at her entrance into the hall whipped out again - only this time it wasn't tinged with frustration and anger against a man who, despite all, she still loved. This was unalloyed scorn, tinged with razor blades and sharp thorns.

She jabs a finger definitively in Mikal's direction.

"You call yourself a man, Jakal? You DARE insult men that way? There is a man who knows more of honor that you could begin to comprehend."

She motions to the Kierkegards and the other men present

"Over there, too, are men."

She then motions to her brothers and father.

"And there are men. You would not survive a fortnight on the Plains of Kaa, as someone would have to put you down like a rabid dog, before you further stained their honor. They know what honor is. You are not a man, Jakal of Montague. You are an animal. A mere beast. And real men can recognize one who is without honor for what they are, and act accordingly."

At the last sentence her eyes deliberately flit towards Hadrian - if only for the briefest of moments.

She then holds up a hand to check herself then corrects herself.

"No, you are worse than that, Jakal. You have been gifted with the mind to know better - yet you choose not to use it. You. Are. Beneath contempt."

She spits on the ground to one side.

Then she slowly deliberately, and in an exaggerated manner ... curtsies.

Because, after all ... She was a 'lady'. It would not do to forget the graces.

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

She stared at Hadrian Montague as he approached, listening to the insult Kadri slathered on the Khorall’s brother.

As the Montagues neared the doorway, the Dayalan held up a hand... the one not resting on the hilt of her sword. “If your lordly Montagueship would wait but a very small moment...” She held thumb and forefinger perhaps slightly less than a finger width apart. “...there’s a slight matter of bureaucracy that needs to be tidied up, da?”

Then the Verchovai looked at her Initiate.

“Lady Kay, I’d be most appreciative...” There might have been a glance at the top of youngling’s head. “...if your Imperialship would instruct the Noblenesses of Montague to sit themselves back down. I think there are folk here who’d like to chat with them.”

She nodded to Kay as a confirmation to proceed, but stopped in mid-nod. “Oh, goodness, we need our tiles all lined up properly, don’t we?”

Daxia looked at Kisa then. “Dama Kisa, will the Noble House of Allaine recognize Ekaterina Koromov as a member of the Imperial Family Koromov, having been born prior to the disenfranchisement of said Family and not being the daughter of Thomas Montgomery Koromov?”

She tilted her head as she looked at Hadrian Montague, her expression one of slight frustration... as if she was forgetting something. Her friends, of course, knew better.

“Oh! Right!” She rolled her eyes. “Silly me...”

She cracked open the large door to the Council chamber, and spoke to the guard outside.

“Most sincere apologies for upsetting your Lord. We’ll be needing a Justice in here as soon as you can fetch one, please. Oh, and Lady Anastasia, too. Justice and Mercy, da? I’m sure Lady Jasmine is ever so qualified, but... well... the Lady Anastasia has much more experience. We’ve quite the tangled web here. Thank you.”

Daxia closed the door and turned back to Hadrian.

Then she looked behind him to Jakal, just barely managing to control the scorn she felt.

Finally, she glanced again at her Imperial Ladyship Ekaterina Koromov. Or rather, at top of her Initiate’s head.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp

"Gawk?"

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

The redhead reached over and tousled the dark hair of her Initiate.

“Nothing gets by you, does it, Scamp? All the excitement seems to have scrambled the mess in there, though. Now, don’t you worry about it, child. What kind of Knight would I be if I didn’t take care of my Squire, train her up right and all? Hmm?”

Daxia still gave Kay a look, however.

“Just tell their Montaguenessess to heave their nobley selves back to their seats, reacquainting their backsides to the chairs over there.

“It’ll have to be you, my dear Kay... because you’re a Koromov and because you’re not the Captain’s sister. Well, but for the part about being a Temple Sister, you’re not.”

The elder Dayalan tsked and shook her head. “I’m sure we talked about all this, and I thought you’d attached that bit to another bit to this little bit and came up with a handful.

“Now stop your gawk gawping, and just tell the naughty boys to sit down, Kay.”

Mikal

"No. Murder in cold blood is a Montague specialty. Perhaps you should spend some time working your own quarries? It builds character, something you sorely lack, until it kills you."

He watches as they try to leave. "Huh. For all your talk. Afraid of a girl."

He's been struggling internally since Daxia's speech about Innocence. All the time he's been in the room with Hadrian and Jakal he's wanted nothing more than to kill them. Jvrill's teachings, however, don't account for revenge or even righteous retribution. They are extremely mercenary. Personal feelings don't really come into it. No matter how much he'd like to pay them back for his family, that is a personal vendetta and not something he'd expect Jvrill to sanction.

Plus he is Kadri's bodyguard. His first mission is to protect her, and anything he does reflects on her right now. Would Korie want to be known as condoning attacking in cold blood? Of course Mikal's blood is anything but cold at the moment. He could boil water with it, metaphorically.

**Now**, he muses harshly, **if someone in the room offered me a reasonable sum of money, (not a token amount, it'd have to be a real fee), to kill Jakal, I'd take it in a heartbeat. Presuming, of course, that Kadri temporarily released me from her service.**

A thought occurs to him, as he glances at the Kierkegaards. His eyes lock with the elder Khorall as he says. "Offer me a contract to return justice to these men for your loss. An eye for an eye. No trials."

He then glances down at Kadri. "If the offer comes, release me from your service."

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Lips pressed together in a thin line, Daxia scanned the room yet again... this time watching the Kierkegaard delegation carefully before looking at the Montagues.

“It would appear that you are not very well liked.”

The Dayalan paused, giving the impression of thinking through a variety of complex topics. She was buying time for Kay... to recover, to remember that no matter what other role she might need to play here today, she was still a Dayalan, still Verchovai Daxia’s Initiate, and still expected to bloody well do what she instructed to do... even if it was strange and unsettling.

No more strange and unsettling than being taken to the Allaine Court for the first time and instructed to watch the Heir... who did absolutely nothing. Nothing! Well, that’s what it seemed like that first day.

Yes, we all have our burdens of strangeness to bear.

She shook her head and looked at Hadrian as she spoke, although her words were meant for Jakal.

“Now, the Kierkegaards... they’re honest, honorable, hard-working folks. Do you think Khorall Kristoff would take the Jvrillian up on his offer? You did, after all, kill his eldest son.

“Of course, you’ve been blessed with a bit of luck that Khorall Linnell sent her Heir to Council this year. I suspect she’d have already seen your head rolling across the floor. I must say, you did make her very angry, and even though her anger was focused on Korie at the time, we all know it now belongs to you. And the Heir has already spent her allowance on securing the services of Captain Koromov and Wild Horde.

“Well, who really knows how much allowance an Heir gets, da? Oh, but does it really matter? I mean, she’s already hired the Horde.

“Yes, yes... a mercenary troop headed by a Dayalan might have different sensibilities than one headed by a Jvirillian. Oh. Did I say ‘might’? Yes, look at the difference between the Horde, who go about keeping people safe, and the Dark Mark who... hmm... come to think of it, I’m not sure what they do beyond the dirty jobs no honorable mercenary would do.”

She shrugged, and then tilted her head as she stared at the Khorall of Montague.

“Do you believe in the deepest part of your black heart that the Gods we serve will save you from a skewering or a lopped off head or a seriously damaged body bit? That’s not a threat, by the way. I really want to know if you think we’re so good and pure and honorable that we won’t cut you down where you stand.”

Blue eyes looked between the two dark brothers.

“I hope you don’t think that.

“Because while I really want to believe that I’m that good and pure and honorable...

“I have doubts.

“I have some very, very serious doubts.”

She smiled grimly.

“But I also have an Immortal companion who, let us all hope, will talk me out of doing something monumentally stupid.”

Daxia’s smile turned almost predatory.

“On the other hand, he might very well consider you an annoying little nuisance, like a tiny fly buzzing about on a hot day, and think it a fine idea to eliminate the annoyance.

“You don’t know.”

Daxia was fairly certain she knew what Morning Star would say — at least the gist of it — but he’d managed to surprise her more than once.

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Strangely, bizarrely, and perhaps seen even as a sign of madness, the flame haired Dayalan smiled. She didn’t smile grimly, she didn’t smile with an eye towards vengeance.

She smiled as if today was Midsummers Day, as if she was looking forward to celebrating and dancing, and as if perhaps — just perhaps — she held a secret far too delightful to share just yet.

And then she stepped aside, motioning for Kay to do the same.

“Between Her Light and uncertainty, I pray I shall always choose Her Light as I have on this day,” she said as she swept her arm towards the door. “As it is Midsummers, I do wish you a day, Hadrian and Jakal Montague, and pray that the noteworthy care you have shown the people of the Highest Tarn as their Khorall and Warlord be returned to you nine fold.”

Daxia watched with thumbs tucked in her belt as the Montagues and their retinue left the room. As soon as the alleged nobles were through the doorway, she shot her second a hard look and minutely shook her head.

When the last of the Montague guards had left the room, she looked at Kay.

“Yah, holding two or even three contradictory thoughts in your head at the same time isn’t easy. It takes some practice. Da, okay, a lot of practice. Your clever cousin over there,” she said, tilting her head in the Captain’s direction, “had a few words of advice that helped me. Maybe she’ll have some words that will help you.”

She glanced out the door, then turned on her heel and strode to the Korie end of the high table, standing almost toe to toe with Mikal. She was certainly close enough that she needed to look up at him.

“I see you.”

It was said softly, and it was all she said for a moment.

“There is a Jvrillian I trusted enough to Contract with him, to have his God stare over my shoulder for a fullhand and more. We all almost lost that Jvrillian today, along with my own honor.”

Again, she was silent for several heartbeats as her blue eyes met his.

“It is easier to be cruel and evil. It is so very hard to be fair, kind and honorable. Those are Romana’s words, and it says something about how the world has spun and flipped end over end and shifted into a new place that an Immortal whose brother died at the hands of Easterners at the Bordertown Temple would not only repeat them to me, but admit that she is right.

“Montague lost this battle.

“There may still be other battles to fight, but killing Jakal here and now would not undo all the evil that he’s done, and it would make him a martyr.

“It is better that they leave in disgrace.

“It is better that we retain our honor. As warriors, sometimes that is all we have beyond our skills, da?”

A worried look flashed across her features in an instant, and was gone again.

“You and I both came too close today to falling into their trap, be it a conscious one or not. We can’t be like them. We must be better, we must be more, we must be the heroes and not the villains.

“It’s much harder to do the honorable things. But we would not be here today, together... all of us... if we were not up to the task. Da?”

Kadri:

Her voice is low and quiet, and her eyes narrow.

"I ... But I... I am no honorable warrior. I'm just a girl from the plains. I'm not better, I'm just me."

She frowns.

"And they are just walking away unscathed. Unaffected. Unharmed. They _got away with it_. No consequences."

Her hand is clenching white-knuckled for a moment at a knife-hilt.

"Free to continue ..."

She closes her eyes, and bites at her lower lip, and let's go of the knife as they approach the door.

"... It is what it is."

She calls out quite a bit louder before they leave.

"Ta, Jakal, Ta Montagues - you have just been given your life back. By a GIRL. By Amber reckoning, that means she OWNS whatever small pitiful tattered and dishrag grey scraps of honor you have left. Think on that, sit on your swords and spin. Ta. Farewell. Run along now."

She makes shooing motions with her hand, as to a recalcitrant puppy.

"Shoo."

Mikal

He watches the Montague leave. As Daxia moves up to him his eyes remain locked on them, even as she speaks. She can see the hardness there. The simmering anger. The muscles in his arms and hands twitching as they beg him to let them draw his sword. The growing frustration as the target of his life's misery is allowed to simply walk away.

As the door closes behind Hadrian, Jakal, and their retinue, his gaze turns to Daxia. For a split second the anger behind those eyes seems to be redirected, but it evaporates quickly, replaced by sadness. Where before there had been lingering sadness, mixed with a small amount of hope, now the hope seems to have leeched away, replaced by guilt. And the sadness has taken on a permanency it did not have before.

He simply stares at Daxia, glancing briefly at the Kierkegaards, then back to Daxia, then to the closed door.

"That was my decision to make."

His shoulders slump, and he emits a deep sigh. Returning to his position behind Kadri's chair he says softly, so only those near him, such as Kadri, Daxia, and Dean can hear, "My best chance. Perhaps my only chance. Lost."

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

She watched Mikal, watched the emotions so clearly written on his face and then in the set of his shoulders. And she worried for him.

“Yes,” she said simply.

The journey this group had made together was a string of decisions... some individually made, and other reached by the group. This one though...

“And no.

“You are my Second... Contract or no Contract, until we part ways, I will look to you first in martial matters.

“This is a political matter, however. Montague is sly and treacherous, and set their trap well. They could not have known so much light would be shed on their darkness. Perhaps it was a hastily laid trap, and I don’t think Jakal quite realized what his brother was doing. Oh, it was cunning and devious, and very, very political. You... I... all of us very nearly stepped into the trap they set.”

Morning Star’s final question still echoed in her mind, so when she spoke again it was as a friend, as a swordsister, as one who had stood beside him to face the terrible things they’d faced on this journey.

“Mikal, we have a saying so old that I found it on a scroll in the Temple, written in Ancient, but it is still a cautionary note to every Initiate.

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process she does not become a monster. And when you look into the abyss, the abyss also looks into you.”

She could never begin to understand in the depths of her soul what it meant to Mikal to watch the Montagues leave unharmed. But she did understand the anger. More importantly, however, she understood, finally and perhaps not fully, what seeking revenge could do.

“Best chance for what, Mikal?” she whispered. “Vengeance? Vengeance is a monster that you chase; it is the deepest of voids you gaze into. Would justice not be better?”

The Dayalan then turned her head to look at the Amber princess.

“No. In this instance, you’re very wrong, Kadri. Do you claim to be without honor? I would then say you speak falsely.

“You picked up your knife to attack and not defend. Perhaps that does not make you a warrior, but it does make you willing to act as one.

“Most importantly, though, you are no longer ‘just a girl from the plains’.

“You are Lady Kadri Terilanquel-Korie, and for all your protests that you are just you, just ordinary you...” She chuffed out a quick breath, half grim laugh and half frustrated sigh. “You will never be ordinary again. You are wed to Lord Dominic Dominie Korie, you have thrown your lot in with a Dayalan who rides a unicorn, and trouble followed you even before our paths crossed.

Dazi raised an eyebrow, almost — though not quite — daring Kadri to contradict her.

“Ordinary, indeed.”

Taking a step backward, the Dayalan surveyed the council chamber.

“Yes, they’re walking away. But they’re walking away in shame. They have been exposed as dishonest and dishonorable. Unaffected? Do you think these good people here...” She gestured to the Nobles in the room. “...will be quick or eager to trust the Montagues in the future?

“And unharmed?” Her eyes met Kadri’s. “There are more ways to harm a person, to harm a family, to destroy a dynasty than with a knife or a sword or a spear.

“The Nobles of the Little Kingdoms know who Montague is now. Montague hid their activities these several generations since breaking from Brockman. And now they will be seen as the bullies they are.”

Dazi looked at Mikal. “How would you balance your loss against what you have helped to accomplish for your Khorall? You have won back a chance for Brockman’s Holdfast. The Noble Family Brockman will retain their rightful place among the Noble Families.”

She shook her head, looking first at Kisa, then Khorall Kristof, and finally Khorall Tieg.

“How do Noble Families treat the people who live within their borders? A true Noble serves his or her people as much as their people serve the Khorall. A true Noble respects the efforts and labors of the farmer, the fisher, the smith, the merchant, the baker, the cooper. This I believed even of the Kories when I had what I thought were good reasons to hate them. A true Noble does what is best for their people, and some decisions they make are hard. Very hard.

“Outsiders may even see the results of those decisions as unwise and inflammatory, yet I do believe that within the reach of each Noble Family, those unwise and inflammatory decisions were the best at the moment to make.

“Montague made easy choices, and proved they have no respect for the people who unwillingly serve them.

“Kay has pointed out more than once that Montague is not a noble family. They are not in her teaching poems.”

Dazi looked steadily at Mikal. “Nothing they have done can be undone. But they can be undone. Justice often arrives more slowly than vengeance, Mikal. But justice is sure.”

She sighed and addressed Kadri again. “It is not I who should be credited with sparing Jakal’s life. I am only the messenger. An Immortal reminded me who I am, and in the process quoted the words of an Eastern princess. But I don’t think Romana would be any happier owning someone or even a part of someone than I am.” She smiled wryly. “I don’t even think Morning Star would be interested in eating them.”

With a final look at Mikal, allowing him to see her concern, she returned to the Allaine side of the table.

But she didn’t take her seat beside Kisa... not yet.

She looked at the Kierkegaard and the Amber delegations... father and son and House Guards; father and sons. Perhaps not unexpectedly, there were looks ranging from mild bemusement to outright confusion at what had just happened. The Terilanquels were looking at one another and their expressions almost seemed to say, What was that?! Rikart Kierkegaard stared at the door and didn’t look a lot happier than Mikal was.

She wanted to say something to the Kierkegaard Heir, but what was there to say? He’d been the first Noble from outside Dawnview Vale who’d noticed her existence, although in truth it was likely only because it had been Midsummers and he’d made a point of dancing with every woman and girl in the room... from the Khorall to the Khorall’s youngest daughter. Eleni must have been only a handful of years old then. Dazi remembered the ease with which he seemed to glide across the floor, whether it was oh so courteously with Khorall or trying to control his laughter when a bold, red haired, newly made Initiate of Dayala showed him the right way to perform a certain set of steps in one of the country dances... because that was the way her beloved older sister had taught it to her. Why remember now the thought she had when he patiently followed her lead.

Bekkah would really like him. He dances almost as well as she does!

Shaking her head slightly from her reverie, Daxia glanced at Dandy and Kay before sitting down beside Kisa. She folded her hands in her lap, and murmured softly, “That was not fun.”

Mikal

He listens stoically, and when she is finished he replies, "You say things have changed, and while they may have here, in a Noble's Council, out there," his hand points vaguely out the window, "where real people live real lives, nothing has. Did we force Montague to leave Brockman's holdfast? To pull their occupying troops out? To return the lands they stole in order that Brockman might be a viable Holdfast once more? To stop their depredations of the people? To allow those falsely forced into labour in the quarries to leave if they wished? To pay reparations for the decades of vile activities in which they have engaged? To pay for killing the Kierkegaard Heir?" He glances at Rikert Keirkegaard briefly. "No, we did not."

"You say Brockman remains as a Noble Family. With what? It's an empty title. His lands, even his keep, are overrun and occupied by Montague. He has as much authority as Khorall of his lands as I would were I to claim to be Prince of Bankerpool."

His voice softens a bit.

"You say we should not become that which we despise, and yet if keeping ourselves pure means allowing evil to flourish then perhaps it is worth the loss of a single soul to benefit the thousands who suffer? Are you willing to explain to the mothers who will lose their husbands and children in the next years that we had a chance to stop it but we chose not to in order to follow the process of justice, no matter how long it took and no matter how many had to pay the price of our honour?"

He closes his eyes in despair, adding quietly, "I was not prepared to make those explanations. I was prepared to make that sacrifice."

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Daxia looked up, looked over at Mikal as he spoke. She made no attempt to maintain her Court persona; it was abundantly clear to everyone that his words were giving voice to her pain and doubts as well.

After he spoke his last quiet words, she nodded... acknowledging the validity of his questions, acknowledging his willingness to make the greatest sacrifice for the people of Brockman’s Holdfast and the Montague Highlands.

“I know you were, my friend,” she said as quietly. “And I couldn’t let you do that.

“We few here are, in effect, only the small troop holding the bridge against the horde of the East. The Council represents the forces of Roth, for they are the ones who can crush Montague.

“Not us. Not we few.”

Dazi stood again and leaned with palms flat on the table. She looked around the room, she looked over her shoulder at Kay. Then she looked at Mikal before speaking again.

However, now... now it was not the Court trained Dayalan, speaker for the Noble House of Allaine, whose voice flowed through the room. It was the Knight trained, bloodied, battered and oh so lucky to be alive Dayalan warrior who spoke.

“We few could not stop all that is wrong in the Montague Highlands. Killing Hadrian and Jakal Montague would not have done anything to stop it, Mikal. We are warriors, we are commoners, and we have no authority to affect any change in this matter. None. If we are to make a change in the Montague Highlands, we must be given that authority by the Council or one of the Noble families, or we are no better than the Montagues themselves. I will not allow us to become something so abhorrent.

“Even with Hadrian and Jakal Montague dead, do you really believe the people of the Montague Highlands would be free overnight? That the Holdfast of Family Brockman would be restored in a day?

“Mikal, it is easier to break a seven generations long curse, defeat a horde of Chaos Riders, and kill the Avatar of an Eastern god than it would be for us... for we few... to cure the ills caused by the rogue family Montague.”

Her eyes were sharp with determination; if any of the Nobles had entertained the idea that she was the polite, well educated retainer of Family Allaine, she was swiftly disabusing them of that notion. Perhaps she was polite, and certainly she was well educated... but she was not a retainer of Family Allaine.

Starrider Daxia Yurisdotter was a Wild Dayalan who had strong ties to the Noble Family Allaine, that was true... but she was first and foremost accountable to Dayala, and her loyalty was to The Heartwood even before the Family Allaine, even before her liege, Lord Kisa... though it was a convenient Pattern that Kisa’s interests were so well aligned with hers. Oh, there was no coincidence there.

She lifted a hand and brought her open palm down sharply on the table.

“Tcha, Mikal! We are only the foot soldiers holding that bridge. You know very well what that means.

“And I will say now, with Dayala as witness to my words, I will not see that bridge destroyed again.”

For a moment, her jaw clenched tightly and her eyes flashed with an anger that had little to do with the events of this day, or in this place. She took a deep, shuddering breath.

“I will not let that bridge be destroyed again,” she said more softly. “I fear that is the effect your sacrifice would have had. I will not allow my brother in arms to be the one to destroy that bridge.”

Daxia straightened and turned slightly, so she could glance between Kay and Mikal.

“I won’t speak of honor, then. I won’t speak of the political ramifications of spilling blood in the Great Hall of Talantal’s Keep. I will speak of pragmatism, I will speak of strategy.”

She tucked locks of hair behind an ear, locks that stubbornly threatened to fall over an eye again when she shook her head.


“What changed for the people of Cragside when we took an interest in an orphan girl, and returned to her what had been taken? The ordinary folk, I mean, as a whole? I doubt much changed in their day to day lives. We could not undo the murder of the child’s father, but that small act of kindness continues to have far reaching consequences to this day.

“What changed for the people of the mainland when we rescued a damsel being chased into the Forest of Roth? Nothing, Mikal, for not even a fullhand of people even knew about that rescue... and yet everything changed. Everything. And only we and a handful of others know how drastic that change was.

“And at Highside Heather, what changed for anyone in the whole of the world, Mikal? Except in our memories, and except for a single young farm girl from Darkdown way, absolutely nothing changed... except for our understanding of the world, perhaps.

“I should not even speak of Bordertown, for that was probably the most spectacularly stupid and irresponsible thing I have ever done in my life. The fact that the rest of you followed my lead didn’t make it any less ill-advised. Yes, in Bordertown more people were affected, more people noticed our actions.

“And many more people died, Mikal. A lot of good people died that night who didn’t need to die. One of our own died there.”

She closed her eyes and shook her head again. She swallowed and sighed, then looked at Captain Koromov when she opened her eyes. The pain of all that loss was reflected in the young Starrider’s blue eyes, but the set of her shoulders said that there would be no doubt she would do the same thing again... even though she was not quite so laughably naive anymore.

Daxia blinked; her eyes clear, the pain tucked back in a corner of her mind and heart, and she looked at Mikal.

“Do you see it?

“Do you see the connections?

“Our ragged band of misfits is best suited for the small tasks that have few day to day consequences for most people, but have repercussions that can be seen only seasons or even years later... perhaps even generations later.

“Montague would be another Bordertown for us. But unlike Bordertown, we are not part of a small group of people even aware of this problem. We are not in the minority of those willing to solve this problem.

“We are not even the most capable group for dealing with this problem.”

The look she gave him was, to an outsider, possibly more anger than anything else. But he would know, Kadri would know... perhaps even Dean and Kay would know... that she was, in truth, merely frustrated. Only the fullness of time could solve all the problems the Montagues had created and perpetuated, and she didn’t like the idea of people continuing to suffer any more than Mikal did. But her Lady had created Time for a reason, to bring Order to a world that was only Forest, Horse, and the many ever-changing forms of Chaos. The Dayalan needed to respect that.

There was one other thing though...

“Sea and stars, Mikal!” she said, giving the impression of tossing her hands in the air merely with the inflection of her voice. “Just how did you expect our motley crew would save the world next time if you’d gone and gotten yourself killed here today? Hmm?”

Mikal

"Sometimes", he replies gently, "a person can do more as a symbol than as a living being. Imagine the rallying power of a simple farmer from Brockman's who had died killing Hadrian and Jakal Montague? An entire Small Kingdom could rally around that."

Returning to her earlier comments he sighs.

"You said not us, as we are too few. I know the people of Brockman's. They would rally if someone would lead them. If someone would train them they could create a Troop that would toss off the yoke of Montague. That would take back the lands stolen so that Brockman's could thrive once more. As good as he is to his people, he would never take that step."

He seems to be looking internally and musing out loud.

"Yes. Someone who could lead them. Train them. Heck, make me Regent and I'll do it."

He pauses, chuckling in embarrassment, and hoping no one heard him or took him seriously.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp

"Tax rolls.

"Accounting.

"Trade balance and Household affairs. Does the keep have enough flour. Does it have enough grain? Are your farmers working two, three or four fields? How hard was last winter/ How hard will be the next? Arbitrating an argument over a horse. Breaking up an argument over a mule. Discovering its the same argument. When it doesn't rain its your fault the crops are dying. When it does rain, its your fault it floods. Having to be at every single wedding in your lands. Having half the new children in the lands named after you. trying to decide what to do about the fact that someone built a windmill. Trying to keep the millers from killing the windmill owner in his sleep. Trying to keep the mill owners from killing each other every time someone does something to change the head of mill stream. being nice to your neighbors because they are your neighbors. Trying to figure out how not to have your sister marry one. Realizing your son is more valuable as trading piece than a person.

"Discovering you cant even lift a sword any more because you've gained three stone and haven't lifted anything heavier than a pen in months.

"Discovering that you need to send other people out into the world to do all the things you want to ...

" ... because your are imprisoned behind a fifty foot wall and a gate."

Kisa Allaine of Dawnview Vale looked across the room, to the man guarding Kadri.

"I am sure, if that is what you wish, it can be agreed to."

She simply folded her hands before her.

"You don't understand.

"This is Council. What happens here, becomes Law.

"The Council has decided to grant Larsen regency over Brockman's Hold, and when the child is old enough and learned enough, she will rule. That is now Law.

"If Montague dares act against that?"

Kisa looked across to the tall blonde behind her. Captain Dandelion Koromov just nodded. Kisa continued.

"They will not face Brockman's alone. But everyone at this table. That is something that Hadrian will think long and hard on. That is something that will make him keep Jakal on a leash.

"Yes we have a viper at our backs. But it is a viper we know.

"All we have to do is keep Talantal happy ... with ..."

Kisa's word, however, are interrupted by the great doors opening, thrown aside in a grand manner. Through them storms back Dorian Korie and his entire revenue. He does not seem too displeased that one family is missing from their ranks. His arrival stills the Kierkegaards, the younger standing down from his martial stance and looking to his father. For the Amber clan their disappointment in their wagering falling apart is hastily replaced by a sudden volley of new bartering, their attention shifting between Kisa, Daxia, Kay and someone not there? Or at least someone not their but known enough to cause a fast and intense exchange of words and coin.

It is the Korie who steps up, flanked by the elderly Atterran and an equally wizened man in blue robes.

"I was partaking in tea and someone summons my Judge and the retired Priestess? This is Council, not bawdy game of come out come out wherever you are in a second ring tavern!"

Except,of course, he was interrupted, by the flurried arrival of younger, but more officious looking healer.

Almost out of breath, this one turns her attention to a certain woman with re hair and a sword.

"You!

"Where is your sister!

"Does she have any idea what her white haired wench of an Initiate is DOING!"

Mikal

He shudders at the litany of responsibilities as Kisa lists them, eventually holding up a hand. "Enough. You have more than made your point. Being slowly gnawed on by a Softpad would be preferable."

He sighs.

"Yet, as I said, nothing of this helps the people of Brockman's now. Today. Or even tomorrow. How will Brockman's survive with no viable income? What will make Montague pull their occupying forces from the Holdfast? Return the land and the people falsely imprisoned? How many more will die before the Heir reaches her majority? And when she does, then what? Is she to rule over a land emptied of people by starvation and imprisonment?"

He falls silent as the doors bang open.

Kadri

She looks at Daxia for a moment, but says nothing.

She listens to Kisa's statement to Mikal, and his reply ... and then she fell silent as the doors opened. She briefly considered the dress ... and then decided to leave it folded on the table. It was not worth trying to get back into it. They would either take her as she was, or not. She moves back towards her seat.

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Dazi knew all too well the duties of one who was in charge of a Keep. Kisa had spent many an hour explaining the importance of the tax rolls, the connections and interconnections between the people, the land, and even random events like weevil infestations in the farthest corner of the Vale. By the time the Khoralls of Allaine and Korie began their embargoes of steel and grain, the Dayalan well understood just what that embargo would mean for Dawnview Vale and the common folk who lived there.

She was a warrior and had no need to know any of that. Despite it all, despite the fact that learning the things Kisa was learning as Heir was far more difficult for Dazi to grasp than any of the lessons Kassia taught — except the one about the buckets; that had been the hardest lesson — Kisa never stopped gently nudging her friend to think and learn about the demanding and mundane duties of the Khorall and her Heir.

Whatever Kisa’s reasons had been, they’d been sound. It was easier to see how one thing connected to another in the larger world outside Dawnview Vale, though by easier it only meant that Daxia wasn’t a complete cobble block... it was still only in hindsight that she saw with clarity how Cragside and the Forest of Roth had affected Bordertown, how Bordertown had affected Highside Heather, how the deliberate choice to travel toward the Highest Tarn in Montague lands made today’s events possible... even inevitable.

“You know, you could take a journey to the seaside,” she whispered to Kisa before the Heir looked at Mikal, “before you imprison yourself in the Vale again. Lord and Lady Larsen would be delighted.”

Daxia straightened, pretending she had not just suggested that the Heir do something so frivolous as enjoy a journey for the sake of the journey... to see something spectacular that she might never have the chance to see again.

But she barely had a chance to begin a smile at Mikal’s response to the litany of duties, no chance to remind Mikal that Khorall Larsen held the Regency of Brockman’s Holdfast and, knowing the Larsens, would send the very best seneschal he had who would be — again, knowing the reputation of the Larsens — extraordinarily capable, when the heavy doors were flung open.

The Dayalan blinked and looked between the Khorall of Talantal and a Priestess of Attera.

Wisdom dictated that the happiness of the Korie was of more importance than finding out what Romana was doing to upset the local hospice workers. If Romana was doing any of the things she imagined Romana might be doing, it might be difficult to keep from grinning.

She bowed to the Khorall.

“My lord, I do beg your forgiveness for interrupting your tea. The matter to place before Lord Hawthorne and Lady Anastasia had a greater urgency prior to the departure of the family Montague. It is now, perhaps, merely something of academic curiosity, though your Lordship might find it of some small interest.”

Daxia looked at the Justice. “I’m sure every follower of Lord Hastur will find it most intriguing.” She smiled slightly, and with some small amount of fondness. “Especially that delightful Lord Random out in Bordertown.” Then she paused, recalling how annoyed Lord Random had been when she couldn’t provide more information on her family. He’d worked himself into such a frenzy, she had thought he was accusing her of not being who she said she was. And an Eye of Hastur certainly wouldn’t do that!

“Well, then again, perhaps not Lord Random.”

Looking at the Atteran, she fixed a countenance of puzzlement on her features. “Lady Jasmine, I presume? As I am sure you are aware, my Lady, I am merely the younger sister of the esteemed Lady Bekkah.” Gesturing to her own attire, she said, “I could certainly have no authority over a Priestess who serves the Kind Lady Attera, even if that Priestess is my own sister by blood.”

Sidestepping, for the moment, the matter of Bekkah’s location, she focused on Romana.

“If the white haired wench, the Initiate Romana, is doing what Lady Bekkah likely instructed her to do, then yes... I’m sure Lady Bekkah is aware that her Initiate is practicing the skills the dear Lady, my sister, has been teaching her. It is possible...”

She paused, biting the corner of her lip with a look of deep concentration on her face.

“Well, it is possible that Initiate Romana is... ah... being extremely enthusiastic in her practice. She does so love to learn, and she wants so very much to help people in the Lady of Mercy’s name. Is that what the trouble is, my Lady?”

Dazi glanced back at Kay, then looked back at the Khorall, the Justice, and the two Priestesses, shrugging and spreading her arms out slightly, palms up.

“It is the nature of Initiates, is it not, to be eager to learn all they can? My own Initiate has that quality, as did I when I was an utter nuisance to my own teachers.”

Although quite aware that all the attention in the room was focused on her — except perhaps the Amber delegation, and she’d really like to know what they were nattering about — she maintained a poise that would have at least gotten approval from Kassia in the form of not being rapped on the head. And although her own attention seemed to be tightly focused on the Khorall and those of the Imperial Court, she was paying attention to the entire room.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp

"And by what word were the Montagues given leave to abandon their noble responsibilities before this Council?"

Khorall Dorian Korie just stood there, arms crossed, glowering at the allaine side of the hall, as if nothing good could come from that corner of the mainland. Thus it was Kisa Allaine who spoke up, to defend her side of the Council.

"It was commanded by the Family Korie, in the word and deed of your newest daughter."

The Allaine Khorall bowed her head towards Kadri.

"I believe the word she used was ...

"Shoo."

Dorian Korie just raised a brow to that, looking sternly to his newest relation. His finger drummed on the sleeves of his tunic before he turned to face the Amber Continent.

"I shall expect her dowry to arrive within a fortnight. We are keeping her."

The Amber lord, he slammed his hands down on the council table. And then took a deep deep breath. he turned his head and just looked at his daughter.

"You. Then. For your wedding, I give you the Parent's Blessing."

Across the hall it was Captain Koromov's turn to snort.

" ... may you be blessed with children just as troublesome as you are ... "

Dorian Korie then brought his attention back to Daxia. "You. Be quiet. You will explain yourself later."

He then turned to the Rames Knights, first - and then the High Priestess of Atterra in Talantal.

"What is it that you couldn't keep your Priestess in line? Satisfied? Taken care of?

"And you ...

"What did your Monster do? Turn someone into a possum?"

Priestess Jasmine drew herself up and stomped her foot. Hard and aristocratic like. Her eyes narrowed, sharp and fierce.

"No."

She glared at Daxia.

"Enthusiastic? That's like saying a summer breeze is enthusiastic against a tarn-born tornado."

She looked back to her Khorall.

"She's healing folks. She's healing poor folks, coin less folks. And its not just bandages and potions like she's supposed too. I've been told that she's already collapsed three times because she's given away all her power."

At those words, the scamp suddenly takes a step back from Daxia, not realizing what she is doing until three steps later, before suddenly stopping herself. Priestess Jasmine continued.

"And she's drawn Darcy and Marcy into it ..."

The Priestess held up her hand, as if to command silence as she continued.

"And how can I chastise them? This is what we do.

"Except they are not asking for even a penny in tithing.

"So?

"Think!

"The word has reached the second ring, and those who are sick and hurt have been pouring into our shelters.

"The third ring ... and Goddess bless, the fourth - you know, the Noble and Merchant ring, the richest bloody ring in your keep.

" ... what are we to say when they look at us, when they say so what if you fall flat on your face? Why should we not get the same treatment as the lowest of the city? A tithe? Why should we pay when the first ring, when the slums do not?"

The priestess snapped her head around and then pointed to a large man in fancy robes. The Lord Seneschal of Talantal.

"I told you this would happen. But no, you said the Hospice had to pay for itself."

The man gave the priestess a dark, forbidding look.

"I have told you time and time again that the Keep cannot afford such charity. It would bankrupt the treasury."

The priestess slammed her foot upon the marble tiles once again.

"THAT'S NOT WHAT LORD TRAY SAID."

Mikal

Listening to the discussion he cannot tell whether he is more disgusted at the thought of mercenary healing or the fact that someone is upset that people are being healed without paying. He cannot help but blurt out.

"Pardon, Lord, but it seems to me that this is in your best interest. A sick person cannot work, and thus brings in no income to pay taxes. Not only that, but if he is sick enough to need a healer then he likely needs another to care for him, and that person is also not working and bringing in income to tax."

"The healthier your people are the more they work, the more money they make, and the more taxes you collect. Seems to me free healing for all would more than pay for itself."

"If the wealthy complain, tell them their donations will get them house visits instead of needing to stand in line with the poor. Surely avoiding such embarrassment would make them willing to contribute."

Realizing suddenly that his speech is out of place, he falls silent. "Pardon, Lord."

[OOC: The Allaine Khorall is a pasta bazillion miles away at Dawnview Castle in Dawnview Vale. As far as we know. What we do know with certainty is that Linnell is not here. FOR REASONS.

In my role as Super OCD Woman and Keeper of All the Disparate Information, I feel duty bound to point out that Kisa Allaine is the Heir and is representing the Allaines with the full authority of the Khorall; however, she herself is not the Khorall. As noted previously, she also holds the Corliss proxy.

<shrug> This is what happens when a linguist gets involved in an endeavor in which new words have been coined. It matters not that said linguist is one by avocation rather than vocation.

#sorrynotsorry ]

Kadri:

At her father's statement, she smirks ever so slightly, then grins widely.

"Aba, oh Aba dear, I accept your blessing, and welcome it! Any child of mine should indeed be as troublesome as I, else they would be no child of mine."

She listens to the conversation regarding the Atterans .. And sees Romana in her mind's eye. Romana, the Eastern 'Monster' - healing her way to rebellion, one injury at a time. She taps her fingers on the table - then speaks in a calm and genial tone.

"So, Lord Seneschal, am I to understand that you are upset that Atterans are honoring the object of their reverence in a manner most befitting of her? Lady Attera the Merciful. Lady Attera the kind. Lady Attera who is generous to even those who may not have coin to give in return, and you believe it your place to declare that her followers must act as merchants rather than as healers in Grand Talantal? Are the finances which are in your trust truly in such poor condition that you must extort rent from Atterans to make ends meet? That in all the holdings of the Noble Korie, you cannot scrape together the coin that would allow the benevolent Lady to shine forth her Mercy with all of its grace and grandeur in the grandest of cities? That by your estimation noble House Korie can afford fine drink and banquets but cannot afford simple strips of cloth for bandages? If this is indeed the case, I would have to think that it is time for desperate measures to remedy those finances."

One eyebrow slowly raised up until it achieved maximum arch.

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

The only reaction Daxia had to Dorian Korie’s command was a slight bowing of her head.

If silence made the Khorall happy, then silence she would give him. Easily enough done. She was beginning to suspect the reason certain people, and a certain unicorn, complained — if, indeed, complained was the right word — about her plethora of words was that she just saved them all up to use at once. She could easily go a handful of days saying very little. But it was as if she was storing them all up for the day that a torrent of words would flood over unsuspecting Heirs, Dayalans, Easterners and Unicorns. Not that Kisa or Romana had ever mentioned it, of course... it just seemed to be Dayalans and Unicorns who felt the need to note it.

Oh well.

She bore the Priestess’ ire with a bland look. Lady Jasmine might be a Priestess of Attera, with the sharp corners of personality and sharper tongue that appeared to come with the position, but Daxia had experienced all too often the words of Dayalan Starlord Priestess Kassia Dariansdotter, whose words cut as easily and deeply as ironsilver.

Her lips twitched as her head turned toward her Initiate, however. Her expression implied a certain level of I told you so. And although Daxia sorely wanted to send Kay down to the First Ring to fetch Romana back, she knew Romana was well and truly an Initiate of Attera. She’d return when there were no more people who needed her help. Or they’d wrap her up in her cloak and drape her over Dancer’s back on their way out of Talantal. From the sound of it, there were plenty of people in this city who weren’t able to... tithe to the Church? Who ever heard of such a thing?!

Though it did seem Lady Anastasia’s two scamps were helping Romana; perhaps she wouldn’t wear herself out completely. She remembered letters from Bekkah, who was just as enthusiastic...

Was anyone quite as enthusiastic about life as Romama? Perhaps not.

...and writing that Lady Catherine had cautioned her to not try to do everything at once.

Her eyebrows drew together and lips thinned as she pressed them against her teeth and frowned when the Lord Seneschal spoke. Anger sparked for a moment in the Dayalan’s sapphire blue eyes.

Her attention was diverted momentarily by Mikal’s remarks... practical and prudent in terms of economics.

However, the point was that the Ladies who served the Kind and Merciful Attera were not supposed to beg for payment. She’d never heard of anyone not sharing whatever little they could with one of the Lady’s healers. Oh, there were stories to be sure, cautionary tales every one, that told of the ill fate that might befall a person foolish enough to harm a Lady of Attera; there might well be stories that urged one not to be miserly either. Daxia couldn’t recall one, and found it difficult to comprehend customs where the services of the Atteran healers were parceled out like any other commodity.

There was an Atteran hospice near the Dawnview Temple, near Dawnview Castle — the Atterans were the only branch of the Imperial Church in the Vale, with several hospices — and the kind Ladies never wanted for the few things they claimed to need. She glanced at Kisa, recalling all those many days and months and seasons of pouring over the tax rolls to understand the connections found in them... and it seemed that no matter the individual circumstances of the people of Dawnview Vale, no matter what minor local calamity befell a region of the Vale, the hospices of Lady Attera always had what they needed. Always.

In fact, Bekkah often said that healing was its own reward. If it made her feel that much closer to her Goddess, as she said it did, Dazi could certainly understand the sentiment.

Kadri put it well, though perhaps more kindly than the Lord Seneschal deserved.

Daxia looked from Kadri to the Lord Seneschal to Lady Jasmine. She studied the Priestess for a moment before looking at the Khorall, her eyes scraping across the figure of the seneschal again as she did so.

Quietly and respectfully she said, “My Lord Korie, I ask your indulgence to answer one of Lady Jasmine’s previous questions, which will perhaps allow Her light to shine upon this matter.”

The redhead looked at the Priestess as she began. “My Lady, you asked if I knew where my sister was, and I failed to answer that question, believing it less urgent than your concern over her Initiate’s activities. I see I was in error, and I apologize.”

Dazi fixed her eyes on the Lord Seneschal, although her words were still directed toward the Priestess.

“Lady Bekkah went to visit with Lord Tray, to determine the cause of young lord’s ill health and to make him whole again, if such was the wish of Lady Attera. As I have seen, and as you might know, my sister is humble beyond measure and very much loved by the Lady you both serve.

“If you say that Lord Tray contradicts the advice of the Lord Seneschal, I might wonder — as Lady Kadri more politely stated — why the hospices must beg for scraps when the Lord Seneschal has clearly not missed a meal in many a season, and wears robes as fine as any I’ve seen on the wealthiest of merchants in Bordertown. I might also wonder why it is that Lord Tray continues to languish with so many of Lady Attera’s attendants here in Talantal.”

She looked at Jasmine again. “Surely, it can’t be that there is a lack of skill among your Ladies. That is something I cannot fathom, nor could I possibly believe it. It must then be something that continues to plague the young lord despite all the best efforts of so many of you.

“While it is right and proper for Jvrillians to be paid for their service, to secure coin in return for their service to those they Contract with, such a thing is not seemly for you who serve the Lady of Kindness and Mercy.

“That the Lord Seneschal compels you to austerity while he grows fat... and worse, turns you into mercenaries, which is a profession suited to warriors but not healers...

“That Lord Tray contradicts him and, being bedridden, might be even more bookish and learned than Dama Kisa...”

Daxia shrugged slightly, implying that being a bookworm was no more idiosyncratic than wielding a sword of cold iron; unusual, perhaps... but most assuredly significant.

Her gaze took in the Khorall, as well as Lord Hawthorne and Lady Anastasia who stood nearby... watching, listening. Oh, Dazi was well aware of the presence of the senior members of Hastur’s and Attera’s branches of the Imperial Church.

Her eyes slid once again to the Lord Seneschal. Although her voice was mild — it would take sharp ears indeed to hear the faint hint of mocking in it — the Dayalan looked at the seneschal with scorn.

“I wonder if the Lord Seneschal could truthfully say that he has the best interests of the Noble Family Korie at the forefront of his mind. Or would the Lord Seneschal be most truthful if he admitted he has his own interests or, more damning, the interests of others before that of the Noble Family Korie? Is Khorall Korie, and by extension the whole of the lands he oversees and the Imperial Church itself, being best served by a fat man in rich robes?

“I am a stranger in a strange land, but I have seen many things in my journeys, I have spoken to many people, and I have been well educated. My education may well be more broad than that of a seneschal who insults the women who serve Lady Attera. My experience makes me wonder what else the Lord Seneschal has said and done that benefits him more than the Noble Family Korie, the Imperial Church, the people of the High Tarn.”

Daxia finally returned her attention to Dorian Korie, her bearing and being changing ever so slightly so that she was again the retainer of the Noble Family Allaine. But there was a subtle difference now.

Is this, too, what you trained me for, Kassia? To shed Her Light on those things others cannot see hidden in their own shadows? And you are shining Her light into my shadow, are you not, your Magnificence? Very sneaky, the whole lot of you.

And perhaps, too, she’d been influenced by a rapscallion in Bordertown in more ways than she’d first thought. For, while certainly in a role as retainer of the Allaines, Daxia Yurisdotter truly wanted to see some small bit of happiness come to Dorian Korie.

“You said you said a troublesome child, my Lord. And I would not dare disagree with you, especially after having met the young Lord Dominic. He is, indeed, a rascal. But he also has a good heart, and while perhaps not suited for a life here in Talantal, he does care for his family.

“He made the first blow to shatter the prejudices I’d once held as a daughter of Dawnview about you and your Noble Family. His words were eloquent, and in particular his words about his eldest brother were most... touching. I now wonder if perhaps Lord Tray might have been the man at your side — and, may the day be far off, at Lord Marcus’ side when he becomes Khorall — had he been a healthier man. I wonder at the inability of these fine Ladies of Attera to keep Lord Tray healthy enough to serve you and his brother in the way it is apparent he should... from my humble observations and the words of his youngest brother, of course. I might think the Lord Seneschal had something to do with Lord Tray’s condition if I was a more suspicious person.”

She glanced at the seneschal, and her expression seemed to say, I am that suspicious, however, and I do think you are guilty... of something.

Daxia shrugged and glanced around the room before looking at the Khorall again. “Lord Dominic’s little Mouse was here not long ago. Perhaps she could see how my sister fares with your eldest son, my Lord.”

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp

"Lady Jasmine is correct."

The words drifted down from the Gallery, soft and quiet, with a stilling effect. At the gallery railing stood a tall man with moppish gray hair, dressed in a tunic just this side of black ovr which was worn a deep blue Talantal surcoat. with him were Lady Bekkah Yurisdotter and Cesare - perhaps a few steps behind the servant Kathi could be glimpsed.

Marcus Korie turned, his expression grim, perhaps even dark, as he looked up to his elder brother. Dorian Korie simply stood and stared, shaking his head once, his first thought, spilling out awkward words,

"You shouldn't be here ... you are not well ..."

Lord Tray Korie held up a hand.

"My pardon Father, Khorall of Talantal Keep. And my pardon to you brother Marcus, heir to the lands of Talantal ..."

Tray Korie had chosen his words very well, very specifically. Both Kisa and Dandelion had noticed their choosing as well as each of the Eldest of each Familiy in attendance. And what was spoken in Council was law. Marcus simply nodded, resting back agains his tall chair, next to his Father.

"The coffers of House Korie should well be enough to support the temple of Attera, in all the rings. Of all the four temples theirs is the most austere- they have no libraries to keep, no horses to feed, no armor and swords to have forged. They are also the only institution in these lands that could be cursed with donation. Especially if it became known that those who have the means actually do so, being the Atterans are the only institution on the mainland where it has been historically proven that being altruistic in one's concern for them has pragmatic benefits.

"Your daughter ..."

Tray smiled and waved down from above.

" .. is absolutely correct ...as is her guardsman.

"Their counsel is wise. You should look to it."

He then looked across the hall, where a well fed and well dressed man was trying to slowly, surreptitiously, make his way towards the room's main entrance.

"The Dayalan is also correct.

"Your youngest son does care for his family.

"For without his actions I could not do this, for you and Marcus. Oh. Lord Hawthorne is here. That is good.

"Guards ..."

He called out for those at the door.

"You must place the Lord Seneschal under arrest. He will admit to theft of his Khorall's coin and rightful taxes, misappropriation of the Keep's resources and mis-management of the Korie lands made his responsibility. He will accept his punishment without defense ...

" ... or ....

"I shall ask Lord Hawthorne a question concerning apple cider."

The Seneschal's face went white, white as death, as he led away. Dorian Korie looked up at his eldest with his head tilted

"You look and sound well, son. Will it last, this time?"

Tray nodded

"I believe so. With Attera's blessing. You have this Lady to thank."

"Aye. If this sickness is broken ... "

Dorian Korie suddenly blinked and turned around, giving Kisa Allaine a sharp and sudden look.

" ... then these new ties between Talantal and Allaine are founded in more than trade. Is that not correct, Witch?"

In the silence that followed, the snowqueen just smiled.

A silence that was suddenly and brightly shattered. Kay waved her hand.

"Hoi!

"First, can someone tell me just what happened here?

"And two, can I go and make sure tall, light haired, empty headed and bereft of the ravages of common sense doesn't get herself hurt?"

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

She looked up at the gallery when the voice spoke. Seeing her sister, she smiled warmly... seeing Bekkah had succeeded in her task would make Dom Dominie very happy. Her eyes were suspiciously more bright than usual.

Perhaps young Dominic was not the only person happy to see Tray Korie well. The catch in their father’s voice was hardly noticeable, but it was there.

Daxia glanced at the others of the Allaine delegation. Indeed... both the Heir and the Captain of the Horde knew exactly what Tray had said.

When the Korie Khorall spoke to Kisa, Dazi had to duck her head to hide her smile. It was all she could do not to chuckle.

But then she looked up at Kay, an eyebrow raised to accompany a smile that was only slightly more subdued than the one she’d given Bekkah.

“Family happened here, Scamp,” she said, gesturing to Dorian... then Marcus... and finally Tray. Her gaze stayed on Tray and Bekkah for a moment before she continued, looking at Kay again. “Kindness and Mercy happened here.”

She would not say it aloud, not yet... but perhaps Friendship could also have begun here, for the Kindness and Healing Lady Attera granted Tray through Bekkah could not have happened if a red haired girl from Dawnview had not decided a rascal of a young Korie lord had earned her provisional friendship. Without that provisional friendship, the Dayalan would not have mentioned to her golden haired sister from Dawnview that there was someone in Talantal who needed her skills.

If Dorian Korie wanted to credit Kisa with somehow engineering the whole thing, Daxia wasn’t going to argue the point. After all, part of the reason she was out here — outside the Vale — was to see the things Kisa couldn’t and report back to her. Perhaps the Snowqueen had a hand in this — though Kisa was no more the Snowqueen that she herself was Verchovai Jeminy Kilkenna. Perhaps Kisa had simply set that first tile tumbling into the others to create this pattern here in the Council chamber in Talantal. It was enough.

His inflection of the title he gave Kisa was interesting, however. Very interesting indeed.

The Starrider grinned at her Initiate. “And no, you’re not going anywhere. You can’t protect Romana from herself, as much as you’d like to try. She is neither helpless nor defenseless, for she is an Initiate of Attera, doing the work of Lady Attera.”

Dazi looked back up to her sister, sharing a knowing look. “Lady Jasmine brought news that Romana is... well, Romana is Romana is Romana. You can imagine what she’s doing.”

Kadri paused, turned her head to look up towards Tray, smiled impishly, winked ...



... and waved back.

Looked back over towards Dorian:

"Dominie was always quite insistent in his concern for Tray."

Bekkah

She remained quiet at Tray's side, letting him talk. He was doing quite well for himself.

She caught Dazi's eye and gave her a quick wink.

She listened to them discuss Romana and that made her smile. She had no doubts that Romana was healing people as taught. She might be a bit overzealous in her efforts, but she would not be hurting anyone. Perhaps it would be best if she went and checked on her initiate. She was after all responsible for her.

She'd wait a few more minutes to see how things went here, then she would beg her leave and go check on Romana.

Cesare

For the moment he is content to remain where he is.. a servant standing by if his Master's brother required anything? He doesn't seek the limelight, almost always preferring to be in the background, overlooked and mostly underestimated.

His concern for the moment is to ensure that Bekkah's good work is not undone. He has no idea what has happened in here since they left, certainly some people are absent and others have arrived, but he does not know the players here and the risks they pose. He only know that Bekkah undid a terrible wrong and likely someone might want to restore their status quo.

So he stays close to the newly restored Lord, ready to defend if required.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scam ...

...along with Bekkah, Cesare, Tray and Kathi.

From the shadows of the gallery walked a small shadow. Shy and inquisitive and unbelieving and completely silent, in the midst of the court hub-bub the little Mouse walked up to Tray, looked up at him, blinked and hen very slowly poked him.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Poking was very serious business.

Then Mouse just smiled.

Tray simply patted her head, rustling her hair. With a squeak the little one covered her ears with her hands and scampered away, step light in a hop skip and a soft wistful whisper.

And then she was gone.

Again.

Tray simply closed his eyes for a moment biting his lower lip until a call from below broke his thoughts.

"Tray, you should be sitting at your brother's side."

It was a sentence of halves from his father - half command, half request, half understanding, half protocol, half tradition, half duty, half wishful, half worried.

Marcus just looked narrow-eyed worried.

Tray held up his hand.

"I would only be there because I am your son. I have been shut in my room for far too long - I know not matters of Council or Keep. I should learn them first. And today, would anyone blame me for wanting to walk beneath Her light? I am in good company, I trust my brother's retainers.

"Marcus will need a seneschal. That you need to decide. My apologies for taking yours away.

"For me. This is my first Midsummers since I was made ill.

"I've never seen a black unicorn. Nor the steeds from Amber. Boots from Kierkegaard - something comfortable and practical. perhaps for the first time I should visit Dama Larsen instead of she me. I am sure the ladies Marcy and Darcy would faint, and I have never heard anyone refer to a Lady as a Monster. That has me curious.

"I beg your leave, my Khorall and Lord."

Marcus nodded once, waving his hand dismissively. His father considered the matter quite a bit more and then nodded.

"But only because it is Midsummers."

For Cesare, here upon the Gallery, it was open, it was public, it was beneath her light, even if it was filtered through a rainbow of bright stained glass. So the threat of attack was minimal- but it was obvious that they were being watched. Of course that too was normal, considering the circumstances. One of the servants, bearing the Khorall's tabard - a slender, older woman with braided brown hair, seemed particularly interested. As well as one of the Guards; with a gruff expression, short cropped sandy blonde hair and arms crossed. Two women in white and cream hovered at the edge of site - they wore gold crosses like Bekkah so their interest, at least, may simply be professional. Another of the serving staff, an older man, gray hair and wizened, in the service of Lord Marcus, he had passed along the gallery several times - either someone was sending a twenty foot scroll worth of messages or he was trying to appear ... busy.

In the hall below, Dorian tapped the table with his fist, three sharp raps.

"Council is once again in order."

He looked straight to Priestess Jasmine.

"It is Midsummers. The crown shall cover all your needs this day. Let all know there will be no tithes asked. But also let those of the second, third and fourth ring know you will, of course, be recording their generosity, for it would please their Khorall to hear of the kindness of those who serve him.

"The new seneschal shall be asked to look at your accounts."

He then leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms.

"The Kories accept the Allaine's terms for the opening of the steel trade. We accept the logic behind our cousin's need for the lands east of the Silk Creek ravine."

He would then hold up his hand.

"This leaves the following matters for discussion. First, the appointment of two new seneschals; one for Brockman's Holdfast and the other for the grand Duchy of Talantal. Second, the disposition and technicalities of our Eastern Manors in view of the Allaine's offer to aide Talantal while we summon the forces of our titled nobility. Third, the mysterious summoning of a Priestess and a Justice to the Council by the Allaine second. I do not like mysteries. Last, the listing of needs by the Families of Kaa and Talesan's Village - including the terms of the fostering and safety of Dag Brockman's heir.

"All within these chambers may speak on these matters."

The Khorall of the Grand Duchy of Talantal then turned to the side, to his daughter in law, looking Kadri straight in the eyes.

"However, these matters must be set in their proper priorities.

"So, Daughter, in which order shall we resolve these tasks."

That, that finally got a sudden sharp laugh from Marcus, the heir very quickly covering his mouth.

From the balcony came a softer, more knowledgeable laugh. Tray whispered to Bekkah,

"That's the other reason I didn't want to go down to Council."

Cesare

He smiles softly as Mouse whispers but the smile is bittersweet.

He leans forward slightly and whispers to Lord Tray.

Her other eyebrow raises to match the first, before both drop to normal. If he thought to intimidate her, he would be disappointed. She purses her lips thoughtfully, and maintains the eye contact, tapping her fingers lightly on her jawline.

"Normally, I would not presume to know politics or the proper order of things - being of course that I am the simple woman I am. I will still not so presume, but since you ask it of me, I will give my opinion."

"Brockman's Holdfast has been in a state of uncertainty for long enough - that uncertainty should be remedied as soon as possible. Part and parcel of that would be the listing of needs of by Talesan's and the Families of Kaa - the new Seneschal and the terms of fostering and safety of the 'Brockman to be' to be are naturally intertwined."

Bekkah

"From the commotion raised, it seems I should check on my apprentice. I suspect that she had done nothing wrong except to do things differently, but some resist change more than others. If you were going that way first, I would be honored to accompany you."

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp with Bekkah, Cesare, Tray and Kathi.

"The Disposition of Brockman's Holdfast, then. First, there shall be a regent ..."

Dorian Korie turned to the quiet man at the end of the table. Tieg Larsen just blinked.

"Do you have someone in mind?'

Folding his hands together, the seaside noble nodded.

"Actually I do. He's young, but his heart is in the right place and his skills are about to surpass the need of our small holding. He will have to be granted spurs and a belt, for he is a Squire. Those who follow the Rames are protectors, yes? His name is Erik. We shall spare an Initiate of Attera and one of my bookkeepers.

Larsen smiled,

"Fine. My bookkeeper. So I'll have to do mathematics again. There are many worse things. Is that acceptable?'

Dorian Korie held up his hand. It was Kisa Allaine who then stood.

"House Allaine shall watch over Brockman's Holdfast until the regent arrives, to maintain the safety of the Keep and its people."

Looking over her shoulder, Kisa snared the attention of the Horde's Captain. Dandelion Koromov simply nodded.

"That will put you between that will put you and yours between Talantal and Montague."

Dandelion shrugged her shoulders, unable to not smile.

"That's the entire point, isn't it."

It was Rikart who then rose to his feet, speaking for his Father.

"Kierkegaard will protect Snowgate Pass until the Horde is released from its duties."

The eldest of Amber spoke next.

"Amber will provide Brockman's eight fullhands of steeds, including two handfull mares. The lands about, though dry and parched, should support a sturdy, rough hewn bloodline. While one might say we are giving away our dregs, these are horses of which we speak - and this land may suit their nature better than our own fields of grain and grass."

The conversation came back to Dorian Korie.

"Talantal shall fund these endeavours until Midwinters.

"Any other who wish to speak - do so now or we shall close this matter."

As he waited for anyone else to participate, he looked to Kadri.

"Next?"

Mikal

He listens, then glances at Captain Dandy. "The Montague may need to be persuaded to leave the keep. They seem to have become a bit too comfortable there, to the detriment of the people. Please let me know if you need any help with that chore. As onerous as it may be, I would be pleased to assist."

He shrugs apologetically, adding, "One must find one's entertainment where one may."

Ooc: i was mainly waiting in case anyone else wanted to comment before moving along

[OOC: Dazi will say what Dazi has to say when Dazi has something to say.

Note that I'm leaving town early tomorrow morning and while I will most likely have an internet connection at every stop along the way, I probably won't be anywhere near my laptop during the day for the next two weeks.

In other words, y'all might have to wait longer than usual for my post(s).]

Kadri

"Amber has waited ... patiently, I would say that their due must be given, and their concerns aired - and then a Seneschal appointed for Talantal - and with a complete house in hand, the particular details of eastern manors worked out with the Allaine. And lastly, because a good mystery should always be savored and left until last and because it involves imperials other distractions should be already placed out of the way, the matter of the Honored Priestess and Justice."

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp

"Persuading a keep is always a long and loosing fight."

Dandelion Koromov directly addressed Mikal's statement about those currently residing.

"And this not the place to discuss how to convince an entrenched guest that they have overstayed their welcome. The usual solution is to make them think it's their own idea to leave. Now my sister would probably deal with it more directly - which would probably suit your tastes better - but the chances of Erika leaving Trundle are about as good as getting an apology out of Jakal Montague."

The Horde's Captain then let her gaze ise to the gallery.

"Erika was the direct one. Barris Ironhand stands with me because I tend to chose the less direct way.

"He says its more interesting and the last place he'd want to be is wondering what I am up to."

Frowning a bit, the Captain continued.

"You are a good sword, lad. But I'm not sure this kind of campaign will suit you, nor will it end the way you wish. You are like Barris, strong in the head on fight, there on the field. But I truly doubt Montague will vanish in our lifetime. If you want a piece of them, a piece of Jakal Montague, you have to think strategically. The big picture. Jakal is a wild beast, and Hadrian Montague will not let him off his leash between here and the Highest Tarn - he would be like an angry heard of merebeasts - unpredictable, striking out simply to strike out, not caring, un-focused - and even Hadrian does not squander his men to simply vent anger.

"If Hadrian lets his brother loose, it will be purposeful. He will send him after the person who caused him his troubles.

"You stay with Yurisdotter, all you have to do is wait.

"Montague will come to you."

Khorall Dorian Korie tapped his fist on the table hard, to claim the Coincil back.

"Enough. Old business and the consequences of poking a hornets nest with a stick. Seneschal of Talantal."

The older Korie looked to the younger Korie.

"I recommend you ask your elder brother. He is a scholar, he is educated in words, numbers and history and he is a Korie. You can be assured where his loyalties will lie."

Marcus frowned, crossing his arms. He'd consider that possibility for a long set of heartbeats.

"First, it would also resolve any question of succession ..."

Kisa Allaine added this simple fact, in a quiet and scholarly voice.

"Second, having chosen to promenade the town ..."

She nodded to the slightly less full balcony above - Lord Tray, Lady Bekkah, Kathi and perhaps even Cesare were no longer there.

" ... he cannot disagree with the appointment."

That finally got a smile out of Marcus Korie.

"He lost me my Seneschal, I suppose it shall serve him right. I will accept my the Lord Tray Korie as Seneschal of the Grand Duchy of Talantal."

Which then turns everybody's attention to the Lords of Amber. The Eldest, the Father simply folded his hands together. Lord Halahmbrah spoke.

"It seems this is a Council where we are being asked to give up our daughters.

"We came prepared to give up one, only to find two.

"However we do have a concern.

"Lord Rikart's betrothed was to accompany him to the Black Mountains after this Council, with the appropriate chaperone of brothers, sisters and mothers.

"But with a poked merebeast on the borders, is this still a wise path to ride?"

Mikal

He listens stoically, shrugging once Captain Dandelion finishes. "I can work strategically, when necessary, and I need to do more of that if I am ever to lead my own Troop. I just prefer to execute tactical plans. It is more immediately rewarding, and there is nothing more satisfying then seeing your enemy's widening eyes staring at you over the hilt of the sword you have just embedded in his chest, as he realizes Krysta's cold embrace is quickly approaching."

"It is diplomacy and politics for which I have nothing good to say. I prefer to measure myself against my foe man-to-man, as it were", he nods to Dandy, "if you take my meaning, rather than skewer him with cutting words and half-truths in council."

He holds up a hand. "And yes, I know the right half-truth spoken in council can be worth an entire Troop on the battlefield. I understand it, but it doesn't mean I have to like it."

"Still, a long siege was not what I envisioned. We have not declared war against Montague, unfortunately, after all. If the council directs they are to leave to allow the Brockman's regent to be invested there then it is more a matter of", he glances at Kadri, "what did my Lady call it....., oh yes, shooing." He grins.

"But if my Contract take me elsewhere then so be it. Staying with Yurisdotter suits me for now."

When Dorian Korie speaks, followed by the Amber Lord he quirks an eyebrow. "Montague seems well versed in ambushing Noble Wedding parties. Perhaps a bit of misdirection would be appropriate? Send a group that looks like Lord Rikart, his betrothed, and their retinue via the obvious route with all the proper pomp and circumstance while at the same time the actual Noble party travels a more circuitous route in more discreet dress?"

He leaves unsaid who he thinks should play the roles of the Lord and retinue, although if it attracts the personal attention of Jakal Montague he would not turn down the offer to participate.

The Heartwood
Talantal, the Grand Duchy of Talantal
Mid-Morning, Midsummer's Day

Kadri, Mikal and the Mouse, Daxia, Dandelion Koromov and Kisa Allaine and the Scamp

As the mercenary spoke, Dorian Korie simply sat back and crossed his arms. He looked to his daughter-in-law and nodded.

"Your man has an interesting thought."

The Korall turned to Mikal, glancing between him and the elder Koromov.

"They are bound for the Highest Tarn; that is where their lands and men are. That is one road. The wedding party would be taking another, and at the moment, for the next handfull of days, would be heading in the opposite directions.

"The possible destinations for the wedding party is Kierkegaard Keep up in the Black Mountains or upon the Plains of Kaa in the Amber lands - either passing over the Silk Creek Bridge or taking the long route via Sherman's Keep.

"You would have only your own household to do this.

"How would you tempt Montague out of their Highlands, what path would you take, what would you have waiting for them?

"Go on ... this is an interesting intrigue.

"Tell us more."

Verchovai Daxia Yurisdotter

Daxia had not taken her seat beside Kisa when all the others in the room had taken theirs. She watched with interest as the Nobles took it upon themselves to provide for Brockman’s Holdfast until its heir would come of age. As she herself learned in the course of leading her small gang, when people worked together many things could be accomplished quickly and efficiently. Perhaps, after the fractious session earlier, she might have been ever so slightly amazed at the alacrity with which they came together.

It was in their best interests, of course. However, it was still a more than pleasant sight to see all of the Nobles acting as she had always understood Nobles should act.

She did have to smile — hardly noticeable, true — when Rikart offered the Kierkegaard forces to guard Snowgate Pass. While an attack on Dawnview was remote, Rikart’s offer was generous and served to further weave these five Families together in a tapestry of friendship and cooperation. She couldn’t remember a time when the Allaines and the Kories were not at odds... and here they were working together to rebuild the Noble Brockman Family.

May you live in interesting times.

Was it the old baker down in the market outside Dawnview Castle who used to intone that anytime something out of the ordinary happened? Daxia always thought the man was cursing people more than wishing them an interesting life.

As to Rikart’s offer... well, Montague would need to cross most of the mainland to reach the Pass, and unless there was more unrest among the Chaos Riders still entrenched in the Forest of Roth than usual — a possibility, though she suspected they’d be too busy finding a new leader from within their ranks, which would entail a great deal of fighting among themselves, to look outside their own sphere — the troop of Dayalans garrisoned at the Snowgate Keep was sufficient for the ordinary troubles that wandered in and through the Black Mountains.

Even when in the employ of Linnell Allaine, the Wild Horde didn’t spend their time defending Snowgate Pass. Their particular skills were often employed along the Road East and in certain places on the High Tarn during the Spring when their especial foes were most restless.

The young Starrider gave the Horde’s Captain a long and hard look at the latter’s comment to Mikal about sticking with her.

“Until very recently, no one had ever called me simply ‘Yurisdotter’. I find I rather prefer most of the Scamp’s nicknames to it, considering who it was that first used that single name for me.”

The look she gave Dandy wasn’t quite a scowl.

“Come to think of it, I prefer ‘Lady’.

“Or even cobble block.”

She practically barked out a thoroughly non-humorous laugh.

“I can’t tell you how excited I am to now be a magnet for the ire of the Montagues. Yes. Of course. I should have thought about that before laying out the catalog of their misdeeds before the Nobles’ Council.”

Daxia sighed and shook her head.

“Never mind. I’m sure you and the Horde have your own enemies, and I’d prefer not to face some of them. When we do our jobs and protect the people of our world, we’re bound to make enemies, da?”

Daxia shrugged and looked at Mikal.

“The Captain is right. We’re suited to different tasks than the Horde. I don’t doubt that the things we’re suited to doing will turn out to be… as interesting as our past adventures.”

The look on her face made it fairly clear that the area that would likely become their expertise did not make her particularly happy. On the other hand, the Horde probably wasn’t overjoyed to be fighting the Fair Folk whenever they decided to break through into the world of humans.

She bit her lip when Mikal answered Lord Terilanquel’s question, but her brows drew together as she frowned at Khorall Korie’s comment.

“Begging the Khorall’s pardon,” she said, looking between Mikal and Dorian, her gaze finally settling on Mikal, “but why would anyone want to actually pull the Montagues from their hidey hole? Yes, if the goal was to eliminate them, such a strategy would be reasonable — deal with them before they can plot further and gather more of their loyal men to their banner. But as the Captain pointed out, it is not likely we will see their disappearance in this generation.

“If the Montagues are, indeed, returning to the Highest Tarn with my Sister and her men following in order to ensure Brockman’s safety and security, would it not be more prudent to provide a proper escort for the wedding party?”

Daxia looked down at Kisa, and then back to Dandy, sighing softly enough that only Kisa was likely to hear her, before she continued. “Unless Dama Kisa’s escort was comprised of Allaine House Guards as well as Captain Koromov, she, too, will need an escort as least as far as Snowgate Pass.”

The Dayalan looked at Khorall Kristof and Lord Rikart, smiling slightly as she nodded once. “I fully trust the capable Kierkegaard men, of course, but if there is a concern for the safety of the bridal party, I will offer my services and those of my Initiate — as well as any of my small company who would accompany us — as additional guards...” She paused for a moment, considering the members of her party. “...and chaperones.”

Daxia looked down at Kisa again, one eyebrow raised, and said in Ancient, “By your leave, of course, if you do not need me to remain on the Tarn.”

She considered the implications of such a journey — Lord Rikart and his new bride to be, as well as the bride who’d run away to escape marriage only to marry the youngest Korie lord, layered over the general trouble that seemed to dog her Path.

Interesting times, indeed.

And there would also be the... ah... problem of the incongruous presence of a Jvrillian and a Squire of Rames in her party should Kisa allow Dazi to escort her all the way to Dawnview Castle.

Oh, yes... and Romana. She was an Initiate of Attera now, that was true. But she was still an Easterner.

Mentally, Daxia shrugged. For Romana, the young Starrider would face down the whole of the Allaine House Guard, every Priestess in the Temple, and even Kassia herself if her teacher had still been in the Vale. That such a thought no longer shocked Daxia, or even gave her pause, would likely make her rather unpopular back home. However, the thought of the young Koromov defending the newest Atteran Initiate very nearly caused the Dayalan to chuckle.

Not quite, no... but very nearly.