| Logs |
2009 May 03
| When The Bough Breaks |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Bough Logs |
Third Movement, Fifth Verse
The dream-serpents wait patiently, resting after the long, fast flight, as the mortals prepare a small camp for the evening. The huge tree of the Summer Palace looks far in the haze, barely visible.
Jareth stands at the edge of the camp once it's set up, staring off in the direction of the tree. His arms are crossed over his chest.
Norris is giving Mikal some space, particularly after she became unresponsive, and he comes up beside his friend. "Yew okay, after that flying past stars and webs, annat?" he checks.
Jareth mms quietly. On closer inspection, he's more hugging himself than cross his arms, "The stars were beautiful. The webs were terrifying. That tree...." He points to it, "That tree is... amazing."
Norris nods agreeably. "Tis that. Lak th' first tree what ever wuz." he comments. He tilts his head. "Wunner if'n it's a fruit bearing tree. Cuz if it is, must be most amazin' fruit ever."
Mikal is staying Under Cover. She builds the fire quickly and easily, but the little shelter she crafts is in the underbrush, and the fire itself is shaded by a tree. She's smart enough not to have the fire in the underbrush, but she's currently still shuddering at the horror of what she saw, and she's not stepping into any more open meadows for a good long while.
Jareth smiles a bit, "You know, I hadn't thought of that." He looks over his shoulder at the serpents, "I wonder if they'd know..."
Mikal searches for a stream or other water, but even that she accomplishes from within the underbrush, and when she finds one and scoops out water from the others, she does it under a tree as well.
Virgil is curled up nearby, and looks to be lightly dozing; he does, however, open up one eye at mention of the tree. "Fruit of the Summer Palace? I've heard it's quite simply some of the best to be found. There is none there right now, however. The Summer Palace awaits when it is to be next inhabited, in a sort of eternal, timeless state. Disturbing it would be dangerous, it is said."
Mikal whispers from the underbrush nearby, "When's it next due to b-be inhabited? A-and do you want some water?"
Jareth's face softens a little at Mikal's voice and says, "Yes, please, lapin."
Virgil says gently to Mikal, "Yes, please, water would be wonderful. And it will be some time. Nobody is really certain of the procession of the seasons which govern the habitation of the palaces. It is Winter now; and so the alfar are in the Winter Palace. Beyond that, it is a matter of time. They may move to the Spring Palace any day now; or it might be thousands of Dawns from now. Some believe that they will remain at Winter until Mordred and the spider-wasps are delt with.
Norris nods at Virgil thoughfully. "Not in season, ah see." he agrees. He's quiet for a bit, thoughtful. And then he leans in to converse more privately with Jareth. "Is there sommat wrong wi' me? Jus seem like...ah, dunno. Y'all seem t'...I mean, wi' stuff what's goin on, seem like mebbe ahm not scared lak ah should be. Lak yew an Mikal get. First time ah wuz ever scared, wus durin a dream. Not sure ahm feelin' anythin' lak ah shoul' be. Ah allus knew I wus different, but..."
Mikal passes her water pouch around for everyone who's thirsty. As it gets handed around she hesitates, then asks the question that's been preying on her mind since the flight, "V-virgil, wh-why didn't you tell us this w-world is getting wrapped up by the spider-wasps too?!" There's a note of anguish to her voice.
Jareth speaks quietly to Norris, "Because you're brave."
Norris's brow knits. "Ah is?" He thinks about that for a bit. "Dun feel brave."
Jareth shrugs, "You are. Mikal is, too. But there are some things she can't face."
Mikal settles down with her back against a tree, half hidden in the underbrush as she waits silently for Virgil's reply.
Norris nods thoughtfully. "Kin see that. Guess mebbe that's all there is to it. Cept..." He trails off, and now he looks uncomfortable. "Cept that aint all there is to it. Cus it's not just fear. It's...other things."
Virgil looks surprised. "I am sory, Mikal. When you said you wished to cross the Mirror, I had thought you remembered seeing the spider-wasps and their webbing there.
Jareth's attention is starting to split his attention between Mikal and Norris, speaking with Norris but making sure he can see the miserable young woman. "What other things?"
Mikal's face is pale and drawn as she stares huge-eyed at Virgil. She whispers, "How long do we have till here is gone too?"
Virgil says gently, "The webs of the spider-wasps will not go beyond the dreamscapes of the Mirror. They will never reach the Palaces, nor beyond the wall. The spider-wasps have no interest in the Dreamtime."
Norris chews on his lower lip as he thinks of how to explain. "Guess ah just feel lak ahm disconnected t' most things. Lak...lak I need to actively work t' care about stuff. Ah mean, not about yew, an Mikal. But th' whole war, an wasps, an alla that...feel curious an stuff. But not really...like, urgent r' anxious. An makes me worried that mebbe I'm like Mordred. That mebbe ah get to a place where ah dun care about things enough that ah'd jus as soon destroy everything. Cus...cus th' Norris ah dreamt of? He made a Lotus Seed. Terrible weapon. How could he make weapons, an not care?"
Norris waves his hand. "An ah know yew said...it's a tool, an it's not good or bad. But it's not th' morality ahm wunderin about. It's me."
Jareth turns to face squarely toward Norris, "I think you feel disconnected because it isn't real to you yet. Stanton feels real still, doesn't it?" He reaches to lay a hand on Norris' shoulder.
Mikal sighs softly, looking down at Virgil's words and listening silently to Norris's. At the query she murmurs softly, "Maybe he was just... terribly tired and couldn't see an end any more." She slips back into the underbrush.
Norris squints. "Sorta? Ah mean...Stanton is home. But see...that's the thing! That's whut..." He looks at Mikal then, and his voice lowers again. "Yew know...Okori wuz talkin' t' me, afore th' first time we left. An she said..." His face is getting redder, and he trails off. "Yew like girls." he says then, trying a different tack. "Ah mean, really like girls. An ah wanted t' be lak yew, cuz yew wuz mah friend. An, well...th' kissin looked like it's be fun. But ah just...ah's not really feelin th' same way? Ah mean, iffn' ah liked girls, wouldn't ah...want it more?"
Tigernmus has been silent throughout the conversation, simply tending the fire and listening quietly.
Jareth looks a bit taken aback by that comment. He really hasn't thought of himself as a role model. "Well... what do you want, Norris?"
Norris considers that question carefully. "Well..ah dunno. Ah want y'all to be safe. Guess when you get down to it, ah want everyone to be safe. An...ah wanna feel lak ahm doin somethin good, like muh master. An..." His face screws up a little. "Ah wanna be normal, ah guess. Just allus feel like ahm not, tho. An sometime that's okay...but other times, feel like it just set me apart."
Mikal's voice drifts quietly out of the underbrush, "At least you're human, Norr."
Norris makes a surprised noise. Now he's blushing to his ears. "She dun got good ears." he comments.
Jareth motions toward Mikal's hiding place with his head, "She does. Why don't we go over there and talk?"
There's a small giggle, followed by, "I'm not that far away, guys... and Raphael has better ears than I do."
Norris looks square at Jareth. "Yuh think it's okay? Talkin about girl-feelings, annat? Ah dun wanna offend her."
Mikal blinks, where she's sitting curled up in the underbrush, then asks, "Why would I be offended, Norr? I wasn't ever offended at watching Jareth, after all?"
Norris uhs. "Yuh. Good point, that."
Jareth's lips twitch in amusement at that. He's still a little surprised that people actually paid attention to his comings and goings in quite that way, "I think that not everyone wants to be with a lover all the time."
Mikal grins silently, then lays her head on Raphael's side, where he's curled up with her, and simply rests a bit.
Jareth says, "And you say this doesn't feel real. What does feel real? I..."
Norris takes Jareth's hand, then, going with him to where Mikal sits. "Yeah, ah kin see that. Seem like a lotta married folk needed t' spend time apart in Stanton." He shakes his head. "Mebbe ah just chasin' mah tail over nothin'."
Norris headtilts. "You an' Mikal feels real, don't it? R'...well, not lak ah knows about that sorta thing."
Jareth reaches over and rests his hand on Mikal, "Yes. It feels very real to me, but it took dying to figure out just how real all this was."
Norris groans. "That dun feel like a good teaching tool, specially with Raven on th' run. Fergive me iffn ah keep my body free of sharpened wood an metal."
Mikal smiles at Jareth, slipping her fingers through his and squeezing gently before she looks back at Norris. Quietly she says, "What's wrong, Norris?"
Norris shakes his head. "Ah donno, Rabbit. Guess it's just a concern, that ah dun seem t' feel things strong. Lak yer, uh...fear. Or Jareth's love. R' anythin."
Jareth can't help but snort laughter, "No, it's not the best way to go about things. But I'm saying..." He squeezes Mikal's hand, "I think that it's an easy trap to fall into. Just like the one Tomas fell into, in some ways. He saw only one thing. And you... you see a lot because you've taken a step back."
Norris blinks at Jareth. "Yew think ah see a lot? That's, uh...that's a kinda smarts, huh?" He brightens a little.
Jareth nods, "It is a kind of smarts. Just like Rabbit is smarter than either of us in the woods. And you've got us." He reaches out and squeezes Norris' shoulder, "Like Rabbit says, we're pack."
Mikal nods silently.
Mikal adds quietly, "I wish I didn't feel the fear."
Jareth raises his voice a little, "And like Tigernmus is wise in the ways of the Wyld."
Tigernmus glances up, and smiles a little. "It wasn't anything that anyone couldn't learn, given enough time," he says quietly.
Norris encircles Mikal's shoulders with...no, that's not a slab of beef, it's just his arm. "Ah wish ah could help ya with that, Rabbit. But ah guess th' important thing is that we is a group, an we support each other, yeah? Lak Jair says."
Mikal leans against Norris and nods, "That's what pack is for, yes. It's easier for me to be brave, for pack."
Norris looks at Mikal seriously. "Wou'l it help, iffn' I was more scared? Woul' that make ya braver? It's sommat ah kin work on."
Mikal grins tiredly up at Norris, reaching up to gently tweak his nose, "No, that'd make me wonder what was wrong with you!"
Norris blinks as his nose is tweaked, and he smiles. "Jus sayin...dun want t' hog all the bravery."
Mikal murmurs quietly, "Can't ever have too much bravery, Bear."
Norris looks at Jair. "Is there anythin' we kin do to help? Mebbe Jair kissin ya makes ya less scared?"
Mikal laughs softly, hugging Norris before she answers, "You're sweet, Bear, and thank you. But I'll be fine -- I'll just return to the Winter Palace by traversing the inner pathway inside the wall that borders the Mirror."
The conversation winds down, as the evening comes. By Dawn the following day, the group is ready to depart. The dream-serpents ensure that Jareth has the wand, and that they all understand how to use it. A sally port is found and opened, and after the group crosses through, the dream-serpents seal it behind them.
Before the group is a broad expanse of green plains, interspace by great rolling hills. With their backs to the wall, far ahead of them such that it seems like only the peak is visible above the high-flying clouds, is what Tigernmus identifies as Mount Meru. It is a stippled mountain, set up as if there are hundreds of tiers even as it appears to be naturally-formed. The peak, however, is not clothed in snow but seems a vibrant green and gold even from here. From this distance, mighty and elaborate buildings can be seen along it's slopes.
Somewhat closer, there is a large town, with elaborate spires and arched trellises, broad streets and stonework walls that have ben plastered with pinkish clay. Colorful banners wave and catch the light, and the sound of a hundred songs wafts its way up the slopes to the group. It appears to be a trading town, with quite a bit of traffic in and out of it.
"I'm not entirely sure what town this is," Tigernmus says carefully, "but it is a good place to get our bearings. Likely it was set up here to be a trade center with the Summer Palace.
Norris huhs. "Should be safe enuff, though, yeah? We's real far away from the army, annat."
Mikal nods silently, glancing uneasily up at the open sky out beyond the sheltering trees. She takes a deep breath, firmly reminding herself the spider-wasps can't come here, then gently knees Iron Antlers to head out. She keeps her eyes carefully downcast towards the road, though. She tells herself she's searching for that weird stuff to stick in the bow.
Tigernmus nods, "Yes, Mordred's focus is on the Winter Palace. It is unlikely we'll find any of his agents here, let alone soldiers."
Norris nods! "Excellent. No durn soldiers sending folk after us. Just th' occasional highwayfolk, an rakshasa t' worry about, till we get to th' Wyld."
Jareth says, "It would not do, however, to completely discount it."
Norris nods. "Yuh, ah know that. Jus' sayin. Safer. We's far away from annehone that knows us."
Jareth tries to keep his mount even with Iron Antlers and Mikal, feeling the need to make sure she's aware of his presence, "A trade center will be a very good place for us to find out about other travelers, too."
Norris huhs. "Yuh think we should stop in town, then? S'a good ideee, suppose. FInd out local news."
Jareth glances sideways at Mikal, "You don't have to come in with me if you don't want. But I would feel more comfortable getting a feel of the land. After all, we're a very long way from the Winter palace and news travels slowly."
Mikal smiles a bit tightly at Jareth, "That'd be fine. There's at least some shelter offered by all the buildings, after all."
Jareth's brow creases slightly, but he lets Mikal's comment go without saying anything just now.
The group moves towards the town. The trip doesn't take long, but as they mount the hill, Mikal can hear children playing up ahead in the road.
Norris seems confidently relaxed. Nothing bad can be happening when children are playing. That said, he is suddenly interested if these are shark children, or human children, or what.
Mikal tilts her head slightly, listening, and smiles a bit more sincerely... then looks faintly puzzled, "Tigernmus, can mortals have children here?"
Jareth doesn't say anything aloud, but he listens quite attentively.
Tigernmus looks at Mikal curiously. "Yes, but it is not common. It takes a great many attempts. Some scholars believe that for a mortal child to be conceived in the Dreamtime, the timing must be just right so that a child is conceived in the Waking at the same time.
He adds, "But with the way time and perception is in the Dreamtime... who can tell."
Jareth says, "A child to the same parents in the walking world?"
Mikal nods silently, a thoughtful look on her face. She murmurs softly to Jareth, "Either way, I can't see how bringing a child into these worlds would be anything but irresponsible -- at least until the spider-wasps are gone."
Jareth nods solemnly and reaches out to squeeze Mikal's hand silently.
Norris looks sidelong at Mikal. "Even iffn' the child might make th' world better? Seem t' me, the more folk fighting, th' better it is."
Mikal smiles faintly in return, gently squeezing back. She looks forward, curious as to whether the children are mortal or not. At Norris's words she replies simply, "I'm not here to breed soldiers, Norr."
Norris grimaces. "Well, when ya put it like that..."
Mikal smiles at Norris with some sympathy, "It's all right. It's just when I have children, I'm not going to consider them expendable, you know?"
As the group crests the hill, they see what brought about Mikal's question: a number of children are playing in the road, some sort of game involving a top and jacks of some kind. They are not mortal, the group can tell that at a glance; they don't look fully human, either. Their faces are somewhat monkey-like, and their bodies are wiry and agile yet husky; a fine layer of fur covers them. They wear long smocks or robes, and with simple adornments of shells and brightly-colored stones.
Almost immediately upon being seen, they all look up with bright, curious eyes as the horses and fey-stag and their riders -- and Tigernmus -- come over the hill. They don't appear scared, rather immensely curious, even as they get out of the way of the group. They even walk along with the group for a bit. "Where are you coming from, Miss Stag-Rider?" one asks Mikal, enunciating carefully.
Mikal smiles down at the child, checking to see if it's mortal. She waves an arm behind her, "That way! What's the name of your town?"
Norris scratches the back of his head. "Ah's not saying t' make kids just t' die. Ah mean...mebbe a new child, withough th' prejudices of grown folks, with a new mind an all...mebbe they could help make it better, some way other folks couldn't." He trails off when the group is approached.
Jareth smiles down at the children in their smocks and their little adornments, half-wishing he had some small baubles to give them. He fondly remembers a particular traveler through Stanton when he was a child that had a pocketful of beads that he gave to the village children brave enough to approach him.
One of the girls opposite the boy who asked the question replies. "Dandaka, Miss. Lots of traders come through here. Are you traders?"
Jareth smiles, "No little one, we're entertainers. Though sometimes I think it might be easier if we were traders." In the back of Jareth's mind, that idea takes root slightly: Traders can travel even more freely than entertainers.
Mikal enunciates carefully, "Dandaka, thank you."
Mikal doesn't recognize what type of aethyr or species the children are. They do appear immensely curious, if in that slightly annoying and yet charming way that children are.
Another child asks Jareth, "What do you do? Do you juggle, sleight-of-hand, sing, tell stories, do plays?"
The girl says to Mikal, "You're welcome! What's back there?" she asks, indicating where Mikal gestured.
Meanwhile, a fourth child is asking Mikal, "Your stag is very pretty! What's his name?"
Meanwhile, the fifth child is asking Norris, "Are you a blacksmith? My father's a blacksmith, and his hands look the same!"
Mikal smiles, "Iron Antlers is his name." She grins, adding, "He likes grass."
Jareth beams at the child, "We can do a little bit of all of that! Would you all like a story now? I like to practice before we try and entertain a whole town."
Norris suddenly wonders what he can do to entertain. Feats of strength? Juggling? Maybe he could juggle children...or not. That sounds dangerous. "uh?" He realizes then that he's being asked a question. "Yess'm, lil one. Ah dun work in th' forge from time t' time. S' good honest work. Ah also protect mah entertainer friends, annat." he explains patiently.
Jareth hopes internally that Tigernmus will go along with their cover story. He seems well-traveled and world-wise, so it's a fair bet that he'll undestand.
Another child answers Mikal, "We have lots of grass! Some traders even bring grass all the way from Calcutta!"
Meanwhile, the girl who asked Iron Antler's name looks seriously at the fey-stag and says carefully. "Hello, Iron Antlers. My name's Anjana."
The girl talking with Norris says, "Father says there's always work for blacksmiths in Dandaka, what with all the horses and llamas and alpacas and camels and water-horses and...."
The boy tlaking with Jareth brightens. "That would be great! Yes, please!"
Mikal looks over puzzledly, "What's a water-horse?" She grins down at the children, "If you're polite, Iron Antlers probably wouldn't mind being patted." At a distinct cough, she giggles and hastily adds, "And Raphael doesn't mind having his ears rubbed!"
Jareth quickly rifles through his mental store of stories and, judging by the age of the children, chooses one that entails high adventure and narrow escapes and a hero and a princess.
Two of the children try to pantomime what a water-horse is. Whatever it is, it's big, it's lumbering, it's built low to the ground, and it makes some sort of deep rumbling sound.
Mikal blinks in confused interest, "Huh! Well, I'll look forward to seeing one then!"
Norris looks curious. "Yuh need help with th' shoeing? AH kin do that." He now looks all pleased...something he does well! "Ah kin do that. Ahm still workin on my act, but helpin with the shodding is sommat ah do well."
Jareth also makes a mental note to find something that Norris can do to masquerade as an entertainer comfortably.
Two of the children pantomiming what a water-horse is to Mikal are giggling and trying to out-do one another, before scampering up ahead as the town nears view.
The children are entranced by Jareth's stories, and when the other three children have giggles, waved good-bye, and scampered on ahead, these two remain close by, listening raptly to Jareth's story.
When the story draws to a close, Jareth beams down at the children and asks, "Can you think of any place in town that might welcome a good storyteller for the night?"
Norris waves goodbye to the kids. "Well, they dun seemed nice. Friendly town, ah bet." he says to Mikal.
Mikal murmurs quietly, "Hope so." She grins over at Jareth, adding jokingly to Norris, "Maybe we should all tell stories?"
Both children look at each other, then nod eagerly. "Kesari's public house!" one says.
"He's nice. He likes having storytellers and entertainers."
"Even though we're not supposed to go there since we're too young."
"But Kesari lets us hide in the rafters and listen to the storytellers."
"Especially the ones who recite stories from the Ramayana Veda!"
"Yes, yes! He says those are the most important ones for children to hear! At least, Vanara children."
"He says it's important for us to remember that we helped Lord Rama a long time ago!"
Getting closer to the town, the group can see that the traders are of all different types of people, including mortals of a variety of shapes and forms. The townsfolk appear to be much like the children, some sort of cross between monkeys and bears, and the air is alive with the sound of their chattering, eager, excited speech mingled with the bustle of a market.
Jareth nods seriously to the children, "Maybe later, you can tell me some of those stories. I don't think I know them. I've never been here, after all."
Mikal blinks a bit startledly, murmuring half under her breath, "...vedas? I... know those, I think. Holy stories, yes?"
One of the children nods sagely (as much as a child can, anyway) to Mikal. "Very holy stories! From long before the Godswar."
Norris shakes his head. "yuh got me. Ah wuz impressed enough ah knew what Rakshasa wuz, even a lil bit."
Mikal blinks at the child again, then says carefully, "Are your people related to Hanuman?"
One of the children, the boy, makes a tiny 'eep!' sound that doesn't sound quite human; the girl says carefully, "My mother says the rakshasa protect us... sort of. But they're scary. She says we should be thankful they don't come to our town very often."
Jareth files that information away, "Do you have any stories about the Rakshasa?"
Norris huhs. "An protect you from what? Who are you in danger from?"
The boy says, still a little timidly, to Jareth, "There are a few. They stay near Mount Meru mostly. There were a few who came to our town a long time ago, though. They were scary. one almost broke Kesari's house when Kesari refused to serve him beer, but that one's friends kept him from doing much damage."
The girl replies to Norris, "I don't know. Mother wouldn't say."
Norris grimaces. But it makes sense. No need to scare children. "Do they just look scary? or do they act scary, too? Have you ever seen one?" he queries the girl, trying to be friendly and encouraging.
Jareth nods to the boy and says, "Thank you very much. Those are interesting stories. Can you show us where to find Kesari's house?"
The boy looks a little nervous. "They're... they're big tiger-like people, but their hands are backwards, and they have this loud roar when they're angry or when they're happy, it's hard to tell which. Mother says I saw one long long ago but I don't remember." He overcomes his apparent fear of the Rakshasa, then, and beams up to Mikal. "Yes! Lord Hanuman was a Throne, before the Godswar." Then he looks a little sad. "He disappeared when the Lord of Dust took over. Our teachers say he went to fight with the gods when the angels attacked Mount Meru, and fell fighting the Archangel Uriel."
The girl nods happilly to Jareth. "Sure! We can show you! Right this way!"
Mikal murmurs to the little boy, "He sounds like he was very brave. You're lucky to be related to such a great warrior then, don't you think?"
Norris tries to follow all this. Backwards hands? He can't even imagine what that looks like, or how that works. How do you hold things if your hands are backwards? And they make the same noise if they're mad or happy? That's got to be very confusing.
The boy nods, a little shyly, at Mikal's question. Meanwhile, the girl is happilly leading the group through the winding streets.
Dandaka is a bit of a sprawl; few buildings are higher than three stories, but there's a cleanliness about it that puts Jericho to shame. There are also plenty of temple-like or library-like buildings, littered with mighty bas-reliefs of epic scenes, of gods and mortals and other beings; most not even really recognizably human. But the variety is stunning and fascinating. Most of the larger merchants appear to be vanara, though there are some who are human, but all the visiting merchants are of a variety of aethyrs, much more varied than even the Winter side of the Dreamtime; at one point, Iron Antlers and the horses have to very carefully step over what looks like a massive snake tail... a tail that appears to be the lower body of a cloaked and hooded woman who is carefully going through the wares of an herbs and spices vendor.
Norris blinks, and stares at that tail...and is turning to stare at her even after they've passed her. "uh...wow. That's dun different."
Mikal's eyes widen, and she nearly whips around in the saddle as she notices the tail, searching for what it connects to. She scrambles back on the stag's rump to keep staring -- then simply slides off and tiptoes around to see if she can peer cautiously at the woman.
Norris gacks as Mikal actually leaves to check out the woman. "uk! Wait!" he calls out. But he's in the wrong direction to rein in his horse in short order.
The woman seems unperturbed by Mikal's peeking; beneath the cloak she is bare-bosomed but for an array of jewelry, and she has piercing eyes; she does not seem to have snakes for hair, but her hair is elaborately coiffured beneath a conical helm or crown. Her eyes are a piercing ruby, and her skin alabaster white. Without looking at Mikal, seemingly intent on a clear glass jar of what looks like black peppercorns, the snake-woman says, "Is there something I may help you with, Daughter of Satyavrata?"
Norris finally manages to reign in his horse, and hauls his big legs over to dismount. Thankfully, the earth does not quake when he hits the ground. When he moves to close the distance between him and Mikal, though, he skids to a stop when he sees the woman addressing Mikal. Frozen there a moment, not sure if he should just take a step back, and give them space, or if this could turn ugly, and he needs to protect Mikal.
Meanwhile, the street continues to be busy, and a variety of people and mounts pass by. Including one creature, pulling a cart, which Jareth thinks must be a water-horse.
Mikal jumps slightly as she realizes she's being addressed -- then she hastily puts her palms together, bowing her head slightly, "Please forgive my rudeness, Mother of Memory; I search for another."
Mikal nearly scampers off, heading back for her companions. It doesn't occur to her that might be an enigmatic answer.
The naga -- how did Mikal know that term? -- turns slightly to Mikal as the mortal girl scampers off, arching a brow. After a moment, she returns to her careful choosing of spices.
Mikal grins confusedly at Norris, coming to a halt, "Oh, did you want to talk to her too?"
Jareth's head swivels on his neck and his eyes widen in fascination. Leaning down, he asks the little girl, "Is that a water horse?"
Norris is taken aback, as Mikal dashes past him again. He looks at the snake-woman, and then back at Mikal, and finally turns to catch up with her. "What was that about?"
The girl nods enthusiastically. "Mother says to always treat them well," she says up to Jareth. "They can have a mean temper, but when they're watered a lot and fed well, they're very faithful."
Mikal takes Norris's hand as she heads back to the others with him, "I was looking for whether she had the ruby in her forehead, Bear. The naga with the ruby -- that one's enlightened."
Norris uhs. "Okay." He pauses. "Enlightened about what? And why's that matter?"
Jareth reins in his horse to watch the water-horse go on by. Something about the creature makes him grin broadly, "They look like they would be good protectors."
Mikal smiles up at Norris, "She knows Ninshubur and Ereskigal and Inanna."
The girl nods enthusiastically. "They can be very fierce! Mother says even a rakshasa will think twice before taking on a water-horse, which is why we try so hard to befriend them."
Norris looks completely lost, now. "Whatta whatta? Durn, Rabbit. It's not bad enuff ah dunno what yer talkin bout, ah caint even say it."
Jareth nods to the little girl and says, "Does your family have a water horse?"
Jareth is starting to feel more and more uneasy about the Rakshasa.
Mikal giggles and hugs Norris, "It's all right! They're all great ladies, and the first one was mortal -- the high priestess of Inanna. She gave up being a warrior queen to serve Inanna, and was elevated above all mortals as a result. She was incredibly brave -- she defeated both mortal and immortal foes for her lady."
The girl replies, "Oh, no. We couldn't afford it, not and properly take care of one!"
Mikal adds quietly to Norris, "That was one of the enlightened naga, but she seemed cranky, and it's never wise to annoy them."
Norris huhs. "Yeah, that does sound important, annat. Never heard o' no warrior queens. What were this Innana goddess about? What's her thing?" He does sound interested, even if he can't elucidate himself well.
Mikal beams at Norris, "Inanna is wonderful! She's, um..." She takes a breath, then breaks into cheerful song,
"Queen of all the ME, the laws that hold together heaven and earth -- Radiant Light
Life-giving Woman, beloved of An and Urash
Hierodule of An, much bejeweled,
Who loves the life-giving crown, fit for High Priestesshood,
Who grasps in your hand the seven ME
My Queen, you who are the Guardian of All the Great ME,
You have lifted the ME, have tied the ME to Your hands,
Have gathered the ME, pressed the ME to Your breast."
Mikal grins at Norris, her eyes sparkling, "That's Inanna! and Ninshubur was her sukkal... like a vizier, sort of, you know?"
Norris is silent. "That's...uh..." He looks kind of stunned.
Mikal blinks curiously at Norris, pausing to wave a hand in front of his eyes, "Bear? Are you all right?"
Norris hnhs? "No, I'm here, Rabbit, just...where'd yuh hear that? Fer a moment there, singin' that, yuh seemed like a different person."
Mikal looks puzzled, "Sorry? Still me." She smiles, "What'd you see?"
Mikal is a little surprised to hear a few others in the crowd actually sing along with her. But the moment passes after she finishes, and it's not easy to pick out who was singing.
Mikal brightens, looking around, "Oh, you know it here too?! How wonderful!"
Mikal beams up at Norris, "See? The Lady of Heaven is still loved here too."
Norris's brow knits. He's not sure how to explain it. "Ah know it's yew, Rabbit. Just...the way yuh did it, just seemed...lak yew was more than yerself. Ah know yew love th' forest an Raph, and animals, but this was...you wus just this powerful presence wi' yer song."
Norris head tilts. "Does that make sense?"
Mikal listens a bit confusedly, but at Norris's comment about presence she brightens delightedly, giving him an impetuous hug, "Thank you, Bear!" She laughs delightedly, taking his hand again, "Let's get back to the others before we get left behind. But that was very nice of you to say!" More softly she adds, "And I can come back later to try speaking with the naga -- when I have a proper gift."
The girl is still leading Jareth forward, throgh the thronging crowds of the variety of people, to what doesn't really look like a tavern. It is an irregular building, and the inside is more of a restauraunt than a pub.
There are quite a few people here, talking and conversing, some even apparently discussing business as well, and the well-mannered publican -- Kesari, apparently -- is pleased to show the group to a table.
Mikal takes a moment to see the horses and the fey-stag stabled comfortably, untacked, and fed and watered -- then she slips quietly in the back, glancing around for her companions.
Jareth thanks the publican and keeps his ears open, listening to see what people are talking about.
Norris keeps his eye out for Mikal, personally...and when he sees her, he quickly brings her to the table. He likes it bettern when he can keep an eye on her, and not have to worry because she's feeling hemmed in.
The publican brings over a basket of warm, flat and crispy bread, also taking orders for drinks and such. It is the middle of the afternoon, and it is a calm time in the public house, and people are starting to gather for evening meetings and meals. Jareth is picking up on some conversation: the height of the news appears to be what seems to have been a battle between rakshasa and angels some thirty leagues away from the town. It was only a small party of each, but apparently it left quite the mark on the landscape. There is some speculation as to what one side or the other were doing so far from the mountain, but nothing definite.
Jareth reaches for and takes Mikal's hand when she and Norris get back to the table. His demeanor shifts a bit when he does, relaxing just a tiny bit.
Mikal beams at both Norris and Jareth, settling down happily next to the slighter young man and whispering to them both, "The animals are all happy and taken care of!"
Norris beams. "Allus right wi th' world, then." He knows Mikal takes her responsibilities seriously, and that relaxes him, that she's carved out her own little stable niche.
Mikal grins happily at Norris, delighted he recognizes the importance of taking care of one's responsibilities, "Exactly!"
While none of the drinks are familiar to the group, the publican is pleased to offer them something that is rather mild and gentle to foreign taste buds -- in this case a drink called 'makkhaniya lassi' which, he says, is quite refreshing and sweet and nice to have when settling in after a trip. Mikal whispers worriedly to her companions, "Do we have money, guys?"
Tigernmus, who is perusing a small menu, says easily, "I believe that you've been paid by the Winter Palace for a number of things you've done for them -- I don't know the details, but I did notice your coin-purses. The coins the Palace mints have unfixed awen within them, of varying amounts. It's accepted almost all over the Dreamtime for that reason."
Mikal looks relieved, "Oh, good!" Sheepishly she adds to Tigernmus, "We, um... didn't use coin where we came from, and I keep getting mixed up about how to use it. S-sorry!"
Tigernmus waves a hand. "Think nothing of it, Rabbit. I have met many who were fresh from their dreamscapes who needed a little bit of information in getting around."
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