| Logs |
2008 November 23
| When The Bough Breaks |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Bough Logs |
First Movement, Eighth Verse
The group settles in; Norris and Mikal return to the group to find that Jareth and Tomas have neatened up the cottage they've been given to live in; it's big enough for four people, and more than comfortable for three, considering Mikal has her lair in the forest north of the castle.
Mikal nearly bounces into the little hut, gleefully announcing, "Hi! Norris and I just met a kitsune and we want to introduce Jareth to her because she's a very nice lady and seems a bit lonely!" She takes a breath after that.
Jareth straightens up from what he was doing and grins at Mikal, "So I'm the person to cheer lonley people up?"
Norris's expression is dry. "Ah do think yer name came up in passing." he comments casually.
Mikal beams and nods to Jareth, "Oh, yes! Just like when you insisted I stay with you that night on the mountainside!" Ruefully she adds to the others, "I was so beat up! -but Jareth was very sweet and bandaged it all up!"
Jareth's lips twitch a little, but he manages not to smirk.
Norris blinks. And then looks between MIkal and Jareth. Is there subtext here he's not aware of?
Tomas just looks puzzled, like he walked into the middle of a conversation.
Mikal has utterly missed the potential subtext of her commentary -- she's already heading out the door, calling over her shoulder, "Let's go, guys! Weren't we going to go see if we could help at the gate or something?"
Norris seems to consider it, and then dismisses the notion. If they'd...been intimate, surely it would be obvious in Mikal's manner. Wouldn't it?
Tomas shrugs and heads for the gate.
Norris looks at the others. "Is it just me, 'r is Mikal bein abnormally perky, e'en fer her...
Tomas says, "I guess it's because she is fixing up Jareth with a kitsune, whatever that is."
Norris's brow crinkles...he's not sure if that's true...but does the kitsune know that? "T' explain...a kitsoone..is a fox. A fox what kin talk. An act! She acted a bit fer us when we first met 'er."
Jareth shrugs, "Mikal's Mikal. There's not a whole lot of way to predict her."
Norris considers that statement. "Shore has given me a hella lot surprises over th' years."
Mikal has already vanished into the underbrush, although Raphael can be seen sitting and enjoying a good scratch. He tilts an eye towards the others, then rises, stretches and yawns -- his jagged teeth and curling tongue showing to good effect -- and also vanishes into the underbrush.
Tomas wonders what a fox would have to say.
Mikal abruptly appears in front of the three young men as they head down the pathway, "Hey, weren't we supposed to talk to the seneschal first? Or am I remembering wrong?"
Norris is still pondering the antics that might or might not result between Jareth and the kitsune putting their heads together - as it were - when Mikal asks her query, so is a bit bemused for a moment as he tries to realign his thinking.
The enthusiastic girl's bouncy demeanor makes Jareth smile and he does his best to stay out of the way of the better woodspeople.
Mikal blinks, thinking a bit, then grins, "Wait, my error! We already did that, and we're supposed to come back when we're ready. So! Meet the kitsune, visit the seneschal, or visit the gate?"
Tomas says, "I vote for gatehouse. If there is to be trouble, that's where it will start."
Norris considers. "Ere's not trouble yet. Might as well innerduce th' lady t' everyone first off...just so Tomas don't get antsy iffn she shows up, hey?"
Mikal says, "All right, we can do that! And after that the gatehouse." She turns and skips down the path, vanishing into the underbrush soon thereafter. Raphael snorts amusedly and trots off as well, and her voice can be heard calling, "C'mon, you guys! "
Jareth was starting to open his mouth, when the others alraedy made the decision. He shrugs and wanders off after Mikal and her brother.
Tomas follows reluctantly.
Norris grabs Jareth's sleeve. "She's nice, no doubt...but friend t' friend, y' shoul' be careful. She's uh....intense. Yeah." he mutters to the comely man.
Mikal swiftly and circuitously guides the others back to the little clearing. She calls ahead, "Keets-nay! Lady, are you there?"
THe group sets out to the forest just widdershins of the castle. They travel for only a little before reaching the little lair Mikal has claimed for herself. Okori is not immediately visible. She doesn't immediately answer, either, if she's around.
Jareth shrugs and smiles, "Some people think I'm intense, Norris."
Mikal turns to Raphael, "Can you sniff her out?"
Norris blinks thoughtfully. He's never thought that of Jareth...but he supposes that maybe because they're friends, and Okori is a stranger, there lies the difference.
Tomas looks up into the branches.
A moment later, there is the crackling of branches overhead as something plummets through them, then something large and red and soft and furry lands heavily on Jareth's shoulders.
The big raptor-wolf sniffs around fruitlessly. In the interim, Mikal clambers happily back into her tree and continues to check it out and make it more comfy with more dead leaves and other soft things. At the crackling she peeks startledly out -- then laughs! "There you go -- that's Jareth, Lady keets-nay!"
Tomas chuckles, "It's your girlfriend, Jareth."
Jareth yelps and half-stumbles with the surprise of something landing on his shoulders. His eyes are huge and he's trying to turn around and get the thing off his shoulders at the same time. It's more than a little comical.
Norris whoas at the sudden sound of fox pouncing on jareth...and after he sees it happen, he smiles ruefully. He should have expected this...or not, considering Miss Okori is a self assumed 'trickster'. Isn't the idea of tricking people to surprise them in the first place?
Mikal giggles, then turns and vanishes into the tree again.
The fox manages to hang on, not using its claws, and it seems to be laughing. "Oh, you were right, Mikal-chan, he is cute! Konnichi-wa, Jareth, I promise not to bite...? Unless of course you ask nicely....""
Mikal's voice trails out of the tree, sounding vaguely pleased, "Told you so!"
Tomas says, "They make a lovely couple."
Mikal giggles!
Norris does reach out insitctively, as if to right Jareth up...and then decides he doesn't want to ruin Okori's fun. He does look askance at Tomas taking pouncing, talking foxes in stride...maybe he's getting settled here, now, along with the rest of us. He blinks. "Why woul' anyone ask to be bitten?" he ponders, mostly to himself, but certainly out loud...
Tomas looks at Norris, "There have been so many weird things lately I'll accept pretty much anything now." He says to the fox, nodding towards Norris, "Excuse him, he's very young and has led a sheltered life."
The goatherd finally quits spinning in circles and stands still, smirking a little at the flirtatious remark. He says to Norris, "You'd be surprised, friend." He reaches back back over his shoulder and offers Okori his hand, "That's very sweet of you."
Okori daintily touches her paw to Jareth's hand. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance!" She leaps nimbly off of Jareth, tidying up her fur neatly and primly. "And no need to apologize for Norris," she says merrilly." She perches on her hind legs looking up to Tomas with what must be a smile. "And you must be Tomas."
Tomas says, "I don't have to be, but I am."
Norris doesn't seem to get Tomas's comment at first. And then, when Okori he connects it together with an earlier conversation with the Kitsune, and the candle goes on over his head. He clears his throat, cheeks slightly pink, but decides not to pursue it.
Okori laughs musically, then stands up on her hind legs and bows. "Michio Okori Aiko, at your service."
Jareth sweeps a theatrical bow back, grinning, delighted to meet such an amazing creature. "And I am at yours, lady."
Tomas nods to the fox.
Okori beams -- it's not quite certain how a fox is managing such human facial expressions. "Oh, cute, and a charmer. This is going to be interesting! So! What brings you gentlefolk back to the woods so soon?"
Mikal's voice trails proudly from the tree again, "Me!"
Tomas says, "We are looking for ways to stop the great git of a spider thing that is going to destroy our home."
Jareth laughs and nods, "Indeed, it is her that brings us here. She seemed to think you wre lonely and would want to meet me."
Norris finally speaks up. "Jus makin introductions, Miz Okori. Annat reminds me...we was talkin about a place to stay...Mikal founds herself a nice lil bower fer her and Raph...ahm still on th' fence about sharin it with 'er. Jareth, yew have any thoughts bout sleepin in a tree?"
Jareth arches a brow, "I think we have a house, Norris."
Tomas says, "The senechal gave us house in village."
Okori seems nothing but inutterably amused by Norris's slight slip, and waits patiently, watching as this works out.
Mikal slides out of the tree, brushing a spare leaf or two off, and trots over, "So, Oko-ree, want to come with us to meet the seneschal?"
Norris waves his hands. "Ah know that. Hello, Mikal knows that, but she wan't t' live...outdoors. An I'm just sayin...maybe we shouldn't be leavin her alone. Ah mean...okays, she aint alone. She gots Raph. But..." Norris trails off, suddenly unsure what his point was in bringing this up.
Jareth smiles at Norris and pats him on the forearm, "She does have Raph. And she likes living outdoors. Should we maybe try to find someplace closer? or even maybe some tents? Would that ease your conscience?"
Mikal smiles up at Norris, gently patting his arm, "It's all right, Norr. Raph and I will be perfectly safe." She looks inquiringly at the kitsune then.
Okori says, "Oh, I daresay she'll be perfectly fine here. Nary too many satyrs in the Palace grounds, I would say," she adds, eyes twinking.
Norris nods at Mikal, but is still pensive, his thick eyebrows creased like they do.
Mikal looks puzzled, "What's a satter?"
Tomas says, "A thing that is 1/2 man and 1/2 goat."
Mikal gives Tomas a horrified look, "Oh, yuck! Where do you get these ideas?!"
Jareth murmurs, "I've heard stories of them being randy."
Tomas looks surprised. "It's an old tale. I supposed everyone heard about them."
"They're actually quite charming," Okori says cheerfully. "But they do try to woo anything that moves. But you're safe, dear. There are only a few in the Winter Palace and they are on their best behavior."
Norris blinks. "Mus be inneresting stories."
Tomas looks meaningfully at the fox. "Pass the word among them that if they do anything unwanted with Mikal they will be losing a vital piece of equipment."
Mikal blinks at the fox woman, still looking a bit shaken up -- then she shakes her head abruptly, "It must be a shapeshifting thing. Yuck. Anyways! Did you want to come see the seneschal too, Miss Keets-nay?" She blinks at Tomas -- then smiles.
Jareth clears his throat a little.
If a fox could raise a brow, Okori does so. Smiling slyly, she stands and pads towards Tomas. "Of course," she purrs, getting within a foot of him as she leans upward to peer into his eyes. "But how do you define 'unwanted,' mmm?"
Mikal says obligingly, "Something where Raphael ends up biting them."
Tomas says, "Not for me to say, that's up to Mikal."
Mikal says, "Because I asked him to." She smiles at Tomas again, "Thank you."
Norris chuckles wryly...he's sure that Raph can handle most normal folk...and if 'satyrs' are just half a man and half a goat, that sounds easy enough for Raph to deal with too.
"Oh, well, that's easy, then," Okoris says merrily, stretching and looking back to Mikal. "Seneschal Rowan. Mmm, there is all sorts of talk going on about Mordred's army, isn't there? I wasn't quite sure what I would be needed for, but all things considered I should at least check in with her, yes?" As she finishes speaking, wallward and a bit deosilward -- eastward and a little southward, in the area of the gate -- the group can see a bright, white light moving upward, which then bursts into a bright light that seems to illuminate the landscape for miles around.
Tomas exclaims,
Mikal blinks, murmuring a quiet, "Ooooooh!"
Tomas exclaims, "What in the name of the wee man is that??"
Mikal glances worriedly at the others, "Umm... should we hurry?"
Jareth throws his arm up to shield his eyes.
Norris uhs. "Hmm. That doan look good." he drawls.
Okori blinks, her orange eyes reflecting the light. "Signal light. From the gate."
Mikal says, "What does it mean?"
Tomas starts to the gate at a jog-trot, his poleaxe at the ready.
Norris unslings his hammer...and he moves with those long legs, to cath up with Tomas.
Okori says, starting off towards the gate, "It means that they've spotted something, that they're starting to close the main gates, and if you're outside, you probaby very much want to be inside very shortly."
Tomas picks up the pace. "Follow me," he shouts.
Mikal nods a bit startledly, then glances around. She nods as Raphael darts forward into the trees to run point for Tomas, then calls quietly, "Iron Antlers! Could I have a ride, please?" She stays where she is, waiting... and a few moments later she's scrambling up onto the stag's back. The big animal bounds quickly off after the others, easily catching up to them. Mikal leans to call to Tomas, "Raphael is running point for you! Should I go ahead, or what?"
Jareth heads off after the others, eyes ahead of him.
Tomas says, "Stay close."
Mikal nods and does so, basically using the stag's longer legs and greater speed to circle the little group as they move, making sure nothing comes near or threatens them.
Tomas slows a little to let the others get in front of him, so he can help any who straggle.
It isn't long before the group arrives at the massive gatehouse. This is the closest they've been to the gates so far, and the structure is imposing. Easilly seven stories tall, the main entrance is a tunnel bored right through the wall, with a pair of side passages on either side. The main 'gate' is actually a massive block of stone of the same material as the wall, set into slots in the sides of the gatehouse and which seats into a depression set into the stone 'floor' of the tunnel; it is almost as wide as the wall itself, and is held up by several sets of massive chains and pulleys. The chains groan and complain as the massive capstains are turned to slowly lower the massive stone block into place; it's obvious why the Seneschal said it was hard to reopen the gates. The smaller sally ports are more conventionally closed off, and are too small to allow much through beyond a stag and its rider.
Above the gatehouse are a series of bulwarks and battlements, scaffolds and walkways built up around and behind the wall. There is also a battery of about a dozen trebuchets on fixed pintles about twenty-five yards back from the wall, to either side of the main road which leads up to the Plaza of Songs.
At least a hundred soldiers, and growing, are in the area, many of them with torches, braziers burning fitfully. They see Ulflinde conferring with Captain Vijdis, and gestures, pointing up into the sky. Another signal light leaps from her, soaring into the sky before it bursts into an even brighter light.
The group is closest to a ladder that leads up to the battlements, which would give them a view of the landscape from above the gatehouse.
Mikal sits on the fey-stag's back and stares in open-mouthed awe up at the gate. She's never seen anything built by humans (or humanoids) that's so large in her entire life!
Norris, being in the lead, is that first to the ladder...and impulsively, he sheathes his hammer again in his baldric sling, and climbs to the top, unless someone stops him...
Tomas climbs the ladder.
Mikal blinks at the hundreds of people -- then nervously backs the stag out of sight into the darkness.
The ones climbing the ladder shortly reach the top, and they can see what the others see: about three leagues distant, thousands of lights moving against the darkness. They don't seem to be moving towards the wall, but the line seems never-ending, rising up out of a valley and moving until a tall hill blocks them from view.
As they watch, an alfar stagrider gallops at full tilt towards the wall as if the hordes of some hell were after him. In the distance, they can see another riding in from another direction.
Tomas turns to the person to his right and asks, "Mordred's army?"
Jareth stays on the ground and near Mikal, hand on her knee as she sits atop her mount.
Mikal gives Jareth a nervous, slightly shaky smile, "I, we, uh... I mean, they'll call us if they n-need us, right?"
The person Tomas talks to is a soldier, probably a sergeant by the crest on his tall pointed helm. The ljosalfar nods, grunting. "Spotted them about fifteen minutes ago, starting out of the Valley of Snow. Not sure what their intentions are. They might be moving off, might be forming up to lay siege.
Norris blinks at the lights. And then he swears for the first time in his life. Unfortunately, he's not that good at it.
Jareth gives Mikal a warm smile and nods, doing his best to seem reassuring, "I'm sure they will, little rabbit."
Mikal sighs, looking relieved, "Oh, good. That m-m-means I d-don't have to s-s-stand out there -- with all those people st-t-t-staring at me!"
Norris turns and looks down at his friends...he's not sure how to tell them what he's jsut seen. In all this stuff that's been going on...ever since they stopped seeing the spider-wasp, he's felt that these things might be managable. But how can a few simple folk help fight against an endless enemy like that...he'll do all he can, but unless someone gives him a Hammer of Thunder and a set of mail like knights use, there's very little he can do. He starts planning to learn how to make armor as soon as possible.
Mikal relaxes quite a bit at that, watching with interest from the vantage point of Iron Antler's back. Raphael seems completely unflustered -- he wanders around casually sniffing at things while Iron Antlers grazes.
Tomas asks the sergeant, "Are you well stocked? Is there a well within the walls?"
Jareth chuckles and pats Mikal's thigh absently, "No, Rabbit, you can stay right here with me and Iron Antlers." The goatherd makes a mental note to learn a little more fighting.
Mikal smiles down at Jareth. She looks pleased at being able to stay tucked away in the dark.
The sergeant nods. "We've been stocking up, could stand a siege of about a hundred, two hundred days. Several wells that can't be reached easily from outside the wall. But I didn't think his army was that... big."
Tomas says, "Well, that may mean they will run out of food all the faster."
Norris pats the bulwark in thought, listening to the conversation between Tomas and the soldier...the more he stares at the lights, the more worried he gets. And he finally goes back to the ladder. No point in reporting this to the seneschal...she likely already has someone telling her that. But he would like a duty, something to do feel useful in this dark time.
Shortly, on the inside of the gate, with their hooves clacking upon the stone floor, the first of the stag riders dashes through. THe stag is foaming at the mouth a bit, and the scout looks more than rushed as well, as he leaps from the back of the stag. A few soldiers hurry up to provide water to both mount and rider, and Captain Vijdis to talk with the scout.
Mikal oohs softly, leaning down to whisper next to Jareth's ear, "Look, it's a real stagrider!" She's silent a moment, watching... then she pats her stag's shoulder and loyally adds, "Although Iron Antlers is much more handsome, don't you think?"
Norris finally rejoins the others. "Soon as Tomas is done, ah think we mights be heading back t' th' castle. Seems where we be doin th' best good, hey?" he drawls casually.
The charming young man looks at the rider and his mount that Mikal points out, smiling up at her, "The pair of you are a striking sight indeed." He does seem a little distracted and it occurs to him to wonder where the kitsune got to.
Mikal beams rather proudly, patting her stag again before she goes back to curiously watching what's going on in the small sea of aelfar.
"Indeed," Okori says merrily, from atop Iron Antler's rump. Even the stag looks a little surprise the kitsune is there.
The stagrider is describing something animatedly to Vijdis, as the second stagrider gallops in, looking much the same. Vijdis takes the reports from the two, then starts to move to the castle; at that point she sees the group, and waves to them, starting to walk towards them.
Norris hunhs as they're spotted and approached. "Wunner what that's about." He stands facing the lady curiously, giving a nod of greeting as the man comes in range.
Mikal jumps and squeaks slightly in startlement, her hand tightening on Jareth's, resting on her thigh -- then she whispers fiercely to the fox woman, "Don't creep up on us like that, please!"
Mikal blinks, then blushes, adding, "Th-th-thank you!"
Tomas continues to discuss the possibilities of the siege with the sergeant.
Vijdis nods to the group as she approaches; she looks rather worn. "I take it you heard?"
Mikal blinks blankly, "Heard what?" She looks around, wondering what noise she missed.
The sergeant doesn't have much more to suggest, unfortunately, though he does suggest Tomas talk with Captain Vijdis or the Seneschal to see if there's anything he can help with.
Norris's brow knits. "Well, we saw th' warnin flare...an ah saw the approaching army...but haven't heard nothin, yet."
Mikal gives Norris an alarmed look, "An army?!" More softly she murmurs, "Oh, dear..."
Tomas climbs down the ladder to talk to the captain.
Mikal looks back at the aelfar woman inquiringly.
Norris clears his thoat as he looks at Mikal... "Well...ah assume it's an army. Th' soldier's said so. Right now, is just a buncha lights....a lot o' lights, realleh."
Vijdis folds her arms, "That's part of it, yes. The scouts are reporting running into outriders from the army. We think they're moving off to about ten leagues' distance in order to prepare for a siege in the coming weeks. We have that much time to prepare for the siege." She considers for a moment. "And, if you're willing to, there might be something that you can do to help us to prepare in that time."
Jareth's jaw is tight with nerves, hearing this news. His eyes are trying to take in the people on the wall, how they move and how they hold themselves.
Mikal nods worriedly to her friend, then adds softly, "Okow-ree's behind me."
Tomas says, "There is at least 1 person for every light, but that doesn't make it an army. It could be just a big mob."
Mikal waves to Tomas, then looks curiously at the woman, "What's that?"
Tomas says, "Did the scouts see any type of engines?"
Tomas asks, " and do you have any sally ports near where they might camp?"
Norris grimaces at Tomas. "When there's that many people, Tomas, doan matter much what yew call em. Even iffn they aint armed - which ah doubt - th' number o lights we seen aint nuthin t' sniff at."
Tomas says, "Without a bit of training, that many people will just get in each other's way. Training and discipline will beat numbers every time. "
Vijdis blinks, and leans over a little to spot the kitsune. "Oh. Okori? I'm surprised to see you here."
The kitsune says, a touch hurt, "My dear Captain, I do live in the Winter Palace the same as you. I've an interest in seeing it un-sieged by that ruffian Mordred."
Vijdis makes a quiet sound. "Good point."
To Jareth's eye, the people on the walls are trained soldiers, but they're a little nervous; whatever they see out there is a bit more than what they've seen in the past."
"I'll be honest," Vijdis says, "our soldiers are capable and disciplined but we've never seen an army the size of Mordred's. It's like he's managed to hire every disaffected mortal and aethyr out in the Wylde. And rest assured, Tomas, it's an army. Our scouts have confirmed that they're reasonably disciplined, and at least orderly. Of course that all depends on how they are in battle.... Our scouts reported some mobile siege weapons, the makings of many more, and... some other things we're not entirely sure of what to make."
Norris considers. "Ah spose that's right. But th' Captain's takin these folks serious...and this whole thing about poisonin guards at th' towers, aint no accidental thing." he replies to TOmas.
Mikal looks a bit bemusedly at the captain... then leans down to whisper to Jareth, "I don't think she heard me, Jareth. Would you ask her what it is she wants us to do?"
Tomas says, "Then we'll just have to be smarter than them."
Jareth pats Mikal reassuringly, whispering back, "She heard you, I'm sure. It's okay, Rabbit. Give her a moment."
Mikal looks dubious, but nods, "All right."
Vijdis thinks for a moment, then says, "There is a settlement, about two leagues away, on the edge of the Valley of Snows. Snowcrest is an independent tow, populated by about a hundred samebito. We've been overall friendly towards them, and they to us, but they've never formally allied with the Winter Palace.
"One of our scouts discovered that a squad of Mordred's soldiers is occupying the village while their army withdraws. The samebito are certain to have seen more of Mordred's army up close, and are not likely to have been pillaged or driven off or killed as allies of the alfar. You as mortals will have an excellent opportunity to go and quietly see what's going on there, and will not be assumed to be in the employ of the Winter Palace. You can easily pose as travellers through the Wylde without stirring much if any suspicion, much easier than any alfar.
"Would you be willing to go to Snowcrest and ask the samebito, quietly, what they may have seen in the Valley while Mordred's Army was there?"
Mikal blinks. "What's a sammy-bee-tow?"
Jareth asks, quietly, "Will it be part of defeating the spider-wasps?"
Tomas says, "I certainly hope so."
Norris scratches his head as he thinks that over. "An, how exxactly is we supposed t' get there without runnin int' the army?" he adds to the questions.
Tomas says, "A sally port, of course."
Mikal blinks at Tomas, "A what?"
Tomas says, "A place were the defenders of a castle can sneak out to attack their beseigers. I hope they have them."
Mikal says, "Oh, all right." She still looks confused, but remains silent since clearly others understand.
Norris huhs. "Never heered o' that. Inneresting. Ah guess folks what go to war are prepare for such things."
Mikal says, "Can Iron Antlers come?"
Tomas says, "Did you think the defenders of a town just let themselves be trapped behind their walls?"
Norris shrugs. "Mnot a professional fighter. Most o what ah know is about making stuff." he says honestly."
Vijis answers Mikal: "A samebito is an aethyr, not unlike alfar in that they aren't as powerful as mortals. They're sort of... hard to describe."
She says to Jareth, "For that question, I can't answer for you. But I can say this: Mordred wants the spider-wasps to eat all the worlds in the Waking. We of the Winter Palace don't want that to happen. If we can find some way to defeat Mordred's army, or at least stave off their siege, then we will be able to continue to fight the spider-wasps."
Vijdis adds, to Tomas, "We have sally ports through and over the wall in some locations, none of them close enough to Mordred's army, but several will get you on the other side of the wall. We will sweep the area around one for any of Mordred's scouts, so we can let you out unnoticed. And we will keep the sally port manned by a squad of soldiers against your return. And yes, Iron Antlers may go with you. There are some mortal stagriders out there, and not all of them are associated with the Palace."
Mikal says, "Oh! Someone like you, all right." She looks pleased to hear the fey-stag can go too, then curiously adds, "Will Oka-ree be coming with us too?"
Norris looks at MIkal. "Figger that's up t' her, hey?"
Vijdis looks at Okori consideringly. "Do you want to, Okori? I know you've been to Snowcrest a few times."
Okori looks uncomfortable, but assents with a faint sigh. "I'll go, sure," she says, soberly and with uncharacteristic lack of jocularity. "I'm sure I could help....."
Mikal says, "Hmm, good point." She twists around and adds reassuringly to the little fox, "You don't have to if you don't want to, you know."
Tomas thinks to himself, "We are collecting quite a zoo."
Okori smiles quietly, "I know, but... it'll be good to help."
Norris uhs. "Now wait a minute...mightn't it be dangerous fer her, what with being a kitsune? R' are th' kitsune not identifyable as bein allied with aelefar?"
Mikal smiles, reaching out to gently brush the fox's fur with her fingertips, "Thank you. It will help a lot to have someone who can show us the way." She adds curiously, "Do you need to eat, like Iron Antlers does?"
Okori smiles, albeit it's a bit uncertain. Vijdis smiles, and bows a little. "Thank you, all of you. We'll get you outfitted as soon as you're ready to go, with appropriate coinage in case you need to... pay informants, coinage that won't link you directly back to the Palace."
Okori nods, "I have to eat, yes. Not a lot, but I will be able to find something to eat out there."
Mikal says, "All right!"
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