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Realms: Bough Logs

Fifth Movement, Twelfth Verse

The morning rises over the Mirror, casting bright light throughout the Dreamtime as Dawn rises. The rakshasa encampment slowly becomes a bustle of activity as the sleeping tiger-demons awaken from their night of revelry in welcoming Tawhaki to the encampment... and the other event which took place.

The rakshasa already knew of the god-touched nature of one of mortal guests, but even then it was something else to recognize it in a second of them, in this case Jareth as a goddess-figure. There is somewhat more respectful greetings of the mortals that morning as they emerge from the tent into the chill morning air.

To say nothing of some of the confusion some of the rakshasa -- male and female -- are experiencing. They're not quite sure whether to refer to Jareth as a 'he' or a 'she.'

Jareth finds that he's loath to put on normal clothes the morning after the dance with the kachinas and instead wraps himself in a length of silk cloth around his waist, wearing it much like a long skirt. Some of the female rakshasa had happily been let loose on Jareth's hair the night before after the dancing and is liberally decorated this morning with braids, beads and ribbon.

Norris is wearing normal work clothes himself...nothing for him has changed, not yet. He is still the young man he was, still the smith. But seeing Jareth in his new outfit, all done up, makes him smile as he come up behind, squeezing the bard's shoulder. "Trying something new?" he rumbles fondly.

Jareth was mid-stretche, hands laced and pushed up over his head when Norris spoke and he grins back at his friend, "Something like that. Whatever that thing was that I was wearing while I was dancing was comfortable."

Norris touches his cheek to Jareth's beaded hair. "You're very pretty." he rumbles, almost teasingly, wrapping his arms around Jareth's bare belly, looking at the morning Dawn with his friend. Or something slightly more than. "Watching you dance with Mikal was amazing."

Norris lets the silence sit, a moment, and then adds, "How did it feel, for you? The dance, being Her."

Jareth leans back against Norris without thinking about it. He snorts laughter at being called pretty, but he's smiling as he watches the sun rise, "It felt kind of nice, actually. And being Her with Mikal being Inanna felt like the most natural thing in the world at the time. I'm not sure I was actually ready for everyone to know about Myself, but it was apparently the right time."

Norris makes a contented noise as Jareth presses into his embrace. He doesn't feel the same as the young noble did, desiring the handsome bard and acting on that desire, but Melzi's presence left its mark on Norris's mind, and he enjoys the intimate contact. "Do you worry about others knowing? Worry about...I don't know. The attention. The adulation, or whatever." He is noticing some of the Rakshasa noticing Jareth in his new duds as he's saying this.

Jareth laughs again and shakes his head, "I don't worry about adulation. I worry about assassination. You've known me my whole life, Norris. I actually like attention."

Norris's eyes twinkle. "This is truth." His arms squeeze around Jareth's midsection. "No one's ever gonna hurt you again, Jareth. Promise. Aint never gonna make an error like before, leave you open t' being hurt." he says firmly.

Jareth pats Norris' hands where they rest on his stomach and says, "You can't promise to always protect me. And I don't expect it."

Norris grunts. "I at least aint never going to leave your side like that, in a fight, less someone looking after you. isn't about what you expect, or don't, or anything. It's about being smart. And it's about you're family, and you gotta look out for family. So you don't worry none about assassins. That's muh and Mikal's job, hey?"

Mikal ducks out of the tent, looking somewhat bleary-eyed. She heads directly towards the little creek they've been using to wash up, a towel over her arm. Raphael comes trotting out after her, and cheerfully yodels inquiringly right next to her. She winces away, covering her ear, then growls at the much larger -- and quite mischievously delighted -- raptor wolf. "Must you be so... so perky in the morning, Raff?" The word 'perky' is delivered much the same way she might say 'verminous.'

Jareth nods at Norris' reassurances and then his eye is caught by the bleary-eyed Mikal. He gently disentangles from the smith with a quiet laugh, "Let me check on my mon lapin..."

Norris laughs! "Sure'nough. Save her from the tricky puppy what thinks it's funny to startle'er/

Jareth arches a brow at Raph and makes "shoo" motions with his hands as he moves to crouch down on Mikal's other side, smiling affectionately at his grumpy mate.

Raphael practically giggles as he dances off on his toes, his heavy balancing tail even wagging a little. Mikal glowers at him as he does so, then turns back to where she's sitting by the streamlet. She makes a small, startled squeak as she abruptly notices Jareth is on her other side, not quite falling into the stream but making a big splash as she plonks a hand in to brace herself. That makes her squeak again, yelping, "Cold!" as she yanks her hand back out. She falls back on her butt, then sighs ruefully, looking up at Jareth, "Hi there. Not my morning."

Jareth leans in to kiss Mikal on the forehead, still smiling quietly. "I noticed, ma cherie. Do you need help?" He's got a feeling about him of calm and some of his old joie de vivre is back after his strange period of sadness and moping.

Mikal closes her eyes and smiles at the kiss, then sits up, wincing slightly. "Nah, I think I'm all right." She touches her forehead lightly, adding in slightly aggrieved tones, "Apparently Inanna can drink more than I can, though."

Jareth says with an authoritative nod, "Willow-bark tea. And kisses. That's my prescription."

Mikal giggles tiredly, then sighs and leans against Jareth, "You're wonderful, you know that?"

Jareth smiles and wraps his arms around Mikal's shoulders, "People keep telling me such things this morning. I may have to just choose to believe them." He kisses her temple again, "Wash up. I'll find the tea."

Mikal mms and hugs back, then blinks as a beaded braid bonks gently against her face. She sits back, taking the bead gently in her fingers to examine it... then blinks again. She takes another moment to really look at Jareth... then tilts her head interestedly, "Huh! What's this, mon chat? Looks nice on you!"

Norris gives Jareth and Mikal their space...he's feeling way too active, today. He needs to burn some energy, and that wrestling the night previous was energizing. He wonders if Hephaestus ever wrestled...he doubts it, not with his crippled legs. He finds the need to see if he can find someone to spar with, his thoughts still on Jareth's mention of asassination. They're going to be walking right into the belly of the beast...he hs to be ready.

Jareth grins again and shakes his head to make some of the braids bounce, "Some of the rakshasa thought I needed to be decorated befitting a goddess, I think." His eyes are twinkling as he stands up, "Wash. I'll find the tea and be back." The improvised garment falls into place around his legs and nearly brushes the ground as he heads off in search of a medic, or just a well-stocked cook.

Mikal gets a slightly silly grin on her face as she turns to watch Jareth walk away. She keeps watching until he's out of sight, then sighs happily and turns back to washing. That makes her squeak a few more times, but on the whole she manages to keep from splashing herself all over with cold water again. When she's done she pulls on one of the long, embroidered tunics, then gets a thoughtful look. She glances around to see who, if anyone, is nearby.

At the moment, the mortals are being left to their own devices, though it is then that Mikal and Norris spot Tawhaki and Vhibishana nearby, talking quietly to each other as they walk about the encampment.

Mikal smiles faintly at that and doesn't bother them. She waits for Jareth to return, and idly pulls some of her hair forward over her shoulder, wondering if she can decorate it nicely too. Feathers, maybe? She doesn't want to just imitate Jareth -- he deserves to look special all on his own, after all.

Norris is going over to one of the rakshasa nearby to ask about where the sparring pits are, if any, when he sees Tawhaki and Vhibishana talking. And that gives him an idea. He makes a beeline for the two of them, a big grin on his face, though he doesn't want to interrupt...lingering nearby till there's a break in the conversation.

\Conveniently -- though likely not coincidentally -- enough, she spies nearby a small pile of feathers. They appear to be vulture or anzu feathers. The question then becomes, did they hapen to be there (not likely) or did she will them there?

The two are not talking much, and it seems to be idle conversation. It isn't hard at all to find the break in the conversation, and Vhibishana greets Norris immediately. "Good morning, Bear," he says, sounding like he's never had a bad morning in his life. "How are you this day?"

Jareth isn't long in returning with the willowbark tea, and he's stil smiling.

Norris beams at the men. "I'm good, Lord Vhibishana. I was wondering...would either of you like to fight me, please?" he queries. He doesn't intend his query to be really overheard, but in his excitement, he misjudges the tone of his voice, and his query is easy for others to hear.

Both men -- rakshasa and demigod -- blink in surprise. "In what way, Bear Lord?" Tuwhaki asks, curious.

Mikal stares in astonishment at the feathers, turning them over almost reverently in her fingers, then staring around her hopefully. She'd not realized there might be any of the sacred Anzu birds left! She beams at Jareth when he comes back, "Look, mon beau chat -- anzu feathers! Can you imagine?!"

Jareth smiles at the feathers and says, "They're lovely, mon lapin."

Mikal is almost bouncing with excitement, "Nono, Jair -- the bird! The sacred bird! He must've been here only moments ago!" She stares around her hopefully, shading her eyes, "Do you see any?"

Norris grins. "Well, kinda like last night? I enjoyed the wrestling. Or, like maybe with training swords, or sommat?" His voice lowers a little then, leaning in as if to make a confession. "If we's really going to be going int' Babylon, I'd preciate a chance t' hone mah skills. Be honest, haven't been in that many serious fights. And what with Rabbit pokin' a hole in Uriel's pride, want t' be ready." he explains, he expression more serious. Resolute, even.

Jareth shakes his head, "I saw no bird, love." He stands up, looking around, still holding the steaming mug of tea, "Perhaps someone brought the feathers as a gift?"

Vhibishana looks quite pleased to let Tuwhaki handle the conversation, not being keen on fighting; Tuwhaki for his part looks intrigued, "Well," he says cheerfully, "I think I can accomodate that, certainly. I've not wrestled with a mortal in a very long time. When would you like to spar?"

Mikal sighs after a few moments, sitting down with Jareth and accepting the tea from him with thanks. She has a careful sip, looking thoughtful. Finally she says, "Well... maybe they're from another type of bird? I don't know, love."

Norris swings his arms, seeming like a teen with too much energy. "At your convenience, please, Lord." he says agreeably. "But soon!"

Jareth shakes his head and holds one of the feathers up against Mikal's face, smiling, "You should weave them into your hair."

Mikal brightens at that, beaming at Jareth, "You think so? It... it wouldn't take away at all from how uniquely pretty you look right now, or anything?"

Jareth grins, "Of course not. Feathers would suit you, and then you'll have your tea and we'll go speak with the others."

Tawhaki nods, cheerfully., "Perhaps noon, then, before the midday meal? Vhibishana Lord said that there were some... internal issues he wished to take care of before then."

Mikal beams shyly at Jareth, not quite wriggling in place with happiness. She glows down at her tea then, squeaking, "OK!" She blushes, then hastily drinks more tea.

Norris looks very pleased. "Excellent! Thank you, lord." he replies, inclining his head in thanks. Inside he's rather ebbulient: he feels alive and active, working towards a proper goal, a goal that he is not naturally inclined to, like he is for smithing.

Jareth lets Mikal drink her tea and does his best to weave some of the feathers into Mikal's hair. The bard/goddess thinks they suite Mikal's sometimes-feral nature and he wants to do soething to soothe her from her hangover.

Mikal sighs contentedly, relaxing and enjoying both the tea and the affection. When they're both done, she grins shyly again as she hugs Jareth and thanks him. "So... what's on the list for today, mon beau chat?" She thinks a bit, then adds curiously, "Why did you want to talk to the prisoners before the rakshasa brothers give them the test I have for them?"

Jareth says, "I thought I'd see if they might let me help with the wounded from the battle. And to speak with Vhibishasa and our Uluran friend.""

Mikal nods to that, getting up to follow Jareth.

Jareth takes Mikal's hand as they walk, absently kissing her knuckles, "I want to see if I can feel them out. As I can sometimes tell what someone intends."

Mikal blushes happily at Jareth's attentions, then mumbles shyly, "Y-you make my heart go all flippity when you d-do that, Jair -- it's nice!"

Jareth grins and does it again, "I'll keep that in mind, mon lapin." He's definitely got some of his normal joy back after the dancing.

Mikal giggles and gives Jareth a quick hug, then patters along next to him. There's a renewed lightness to her step as well, now that Jareth seems happy again.

About then, Ravana is going through the camp, searching; his eyes light up as he sees the mortals, and he moves swiftly to join them, letting them know that he would like to do the 'truth test' now, if they're available.

Ravana leads them to the tent prepared, passing word on the Vhibishana. Shortly, then, the rakshasa deputy has called together the five suspects, each of whom is escorted by their respective captains; two are in the same company as the other, and their captain has brought along a second soldier to provide escort as well. The suspects are arrayed before the entrance to the prepared tent as the mortals arrive.

Mikal has dressed up a bit, once she heard Inanna's abilities would be required. She smiles at Jareth, quite happy to let him go first.

Jareth is still wearing the improvised skirt and the bead-bedecked hair.

Ravana looks seriously at the assembled suspects; all appear to be curious and confused as to what is going on. "One among you," he says sternly, "allowed the Mazikim, Marchorius, to access the defenses of our encampment which protected us from aerial attack by the angels. You could not have been mistaken as to what the result could have been: a routing of our forces by the flying angels, who without that defense could have killed us from the sky. If not for our friends," he indicates the mortals, "we would have perished. And so surviving, we must find and punish they who would have seen their brothers and sisters perish."

Ravana nods to Mikal and Jareth, stepping back. "Rabbit and Cat have devised a ritual whereby we will determine whom of you betrayed us. If you would, please?"

Mikal nods gravely to Ravana, then nods again to Jareth. After that she goes back to praying silently over the towel she's going to use.

Jareth steps forward, carrying a small jar of scented oil. It's actually meant to be used for massage, but he is quite solemn as he traces a circle with an upturned crescent atop it on the forehead of each suspect. In truth, he's simply giving himself time to feel for their emotions.

As he moves down, the line, he asks each of the suspects a simple question "Do you believe you will pass this test?"

Each one, with apparently conviction, replies that yes, they do so believe. It's remarkable that they all believe it... though three look a little unsure of themselves.

Jareth gives each of the men a nod as they answer, though he hesitates over the second-to-last just a fraction of a second. Mikal's test, he is sure, will bear out his findings. He steps back to his mate's side and says, "The test will surely bear out the truth in your souls."

Mikal smiles at that, thanking Jareth quietly, then holds up the cloth as she explains to the soldiers, "This is a blessed cloth that will determine which of you is lying about betraying your people. I will hang it in this tent behind me. Your lord will ask you each individually once more if you were the individual who assisted Marchorius in his treachery. After answering, you will wash your hands before you go into the tent, then dry your hands on the towel before exiting. It will let us know who is faithless among you. Do you all understand?"

The five rakshasa, all looking curious, nod almost as one, the one that Jareth paused before hesitating a brief moment before nodding as well.

Mikal nods and ceremoniously raises the cloth towards the heavens, her lips moving in a silent prayer that her stratagem work to aid the rakshasa. She steps into the tent, making sure to get the towel good and chalky before she hangs it where it can be barely seen in the dimness, then exits the tent out the back, the way the rakshasa are to leave. When she does so Vibhishana, who is ready and waiting there, calls out for his brother to begin.

Norris has been quiet throug this whole ceremony...he has nothing personal to contribute, except to see to the safty of pack. So he is with Mikal and Jareth, the silent shadow, just in case something goes horribly wrong.

Ravana steps before each of the rakshasa in turn, asking them point-blank if they are they betrayer. Each answers in the negative. Jareth can still sense some of the lingering emotions from each of the rakshasa as they enter. The first one enters the tent, and departs, with a light coating of white chalky goo on his hands, looking a little confused as to why the towel felt so odd and chakly. The second does as well, then then third, and finally the fourth....

Jareth, still sensing a faint echo of the rakshasa's emotions, senses the sudden calmness from the fourth rakshasa shortly after he enters. He is in there for perhaps five more seconds than the others were in the tent for....

Mikal notices Jareth's silent alertness to this one, and nudges Vibhishana. She whispers, "Be ready." She steps out of the way.

Jareth puts a hand on Ravana's wrist and murmurs, "He's doing something strange. He's much calmer now..."

Mikal casually pulls her bow around, laying an arrow across the string. She wouldn't be surprised if the traitor decides to take out as many as possible before dying.

Norris isn'tobviously picking up on the same things...but when he notices Mikal stringing a bow, he picks up his mace from where he leaned it, squeezing the handle. Wondering how a traitor would react, caught in a lie. Wondering if he even believes himself a traitor.

The fourth rakshasa steps out of the tent. When Vhibishana asks him to show his hands, he blinks, then gets a look of understanding. Vhibishana is just starting to order him to show his hands, when the suspected traitor makes a leap for apparently the most vulnerable of the assembled group: Vhibishana. The raksasha lieutenant clearly hadn't expected this reaction.

Mikal swings her bow up and fires smoothly.

Norris's eyes tighten, and he doesn't even blink. Even as Mikal looses her arrow, he's darting in from of Vhibishana and meeting the charge with a blow...

Mikal's arrow thunks into the rakshasa traitor's side, well before he can reach Vhibishana. It is not enough to drop him, but it is enough to set him up for Norris's strike with his mace. Before he even manages to lay a claw on Vhibishana, the rakshasa has the wind knocked out of him, and he is unable to immediately attack Vhibishana, instead missing and falling to the ground, only just starting to bring himself standing.

Mikal lowers the bow, watching impassively; she knows the soldiers will pounce on the traitor.

Norris is not quite so impassive: never having fought a rakshasa, nor knowing his mind, he looms within striking distance of the soldier, prepared to unleash his mace again. Tense, feeling that when he struck, he struck with an undertone of anger.

Instantly, the rakshasa is surrounded by troops with pikes, not to mention Ravana glowering over him. The rakshasa lord roughly takes hold of the suspect's hands, baring them: they are completely free from any chalk. Ravana grunts in satisfaction. "Take him away," he rumbles. "We will deal with him later." Then, he orders -- curtly -- the last rakshasa to go through the 'ritual'. The last rakshasa, already startled and cowed a bit, goes through the process in record time, coming out with chalk-covered hands as well..

Vhibishana, looking a little shaken, approaches the mortals, "Thank you, my friends," he says quietly. "I should have anticipated that a cornered tiger is twice as dangerous. I had not expected the traitor to grasp what the 'ritual' was so quickly after emerging."

Jareth says, "I think he may have had some idea when he went in. He was agitated while we waited and I marked them and when he went inside, he became calm. As if he had made some decision or was sure he had beaten the ritual."

Mikal smiles quietly up at Vibhishana, patting one large hand, "It's all right. You're a scholar."

Vhibishana makes a quiet sound, gently taking Mikal's hand. "Perhaps, but I am also deputy and spymaster to my brother. This is the sort of thing I should anticipate." He smiles wanly. "'Cunning' does not always equate to 'master of deception.' Hopefully, however, I will be able to anticipate this sort of thing in the future. And thanks to you, I will live to learn.

Mikal smiles again, giving the rakshasa a quick hug. When she straightens she cheerfully asks, "So, you wanted us to ask Marchorius some questions for you, yes? Do you have them yet?"

Norris smiles at Vhibishana, but seems to have no words, choosing only to sling his mace and watch their attacker be led away. Once again, the need to fight has been removed, and he is conflictedly both relieved and frustrated.

Vhibishana nods, "Yes, I do," he says, drawing a roll of parchment from his belt. "They are fairly straightforward: What did they offer him, how did he get in contact with the angels, how were arrangements made, what was the name of his contacts with the angels -- if any of them have any known true names that might be helpful.

Mikal nods and beams at Vibhishana, pulling a slightly crumpled scroll out of her beltpouch, "That reminds me! Here's the list of about 20 angels you've got captured, that we have True Names for!"

Vhibishana brightens, as he accepts the paper. "Ah, thank you, Rabbit! We will use them as a last resort, if any of them are uncooperative and hostile. Most have -- so far -- behaved themselves, but we have not done much serious interrogation and debriefing yet."

Mikal carefully accepts the parchment from Vibhishana, glancing at it before she hands it to Jareth, when he comes walking over. "OK! If it's all right with Bear and Cat, we can talk to him now if you want?"

Norris inclines his head in agreement: he's rather interested in the answers to these questions, himself.

Vhibishana nods. "Certainly. That would work out best, actually.

Jareth is a little frantic at first, but is happy to see that the only injured party was the traitor and attacker. He hugs both his packmates tightly before he takes the parchment from his mate.

Mikal smiles and hugs Jareth warmly back, not sure why he's upset seeming. She's relieved when he calms down.

Norris hugs back enthusiastically...having the traitor attacking Vhibishana - a good person - was bad enough. Having Jareth in harms way, that would have made him even more tense, under the circumstances.

Mikal murmurs softly to Jareth about what Vibhishana just said, so he knows what's up too.

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