| Logs |
2003 November 16
| Idlewild |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Idlewild Logs |
November 16
Milk as white as a cow
Corn as yellow as hair
A blood-soaked shoe
Dead man's fingernail
Cloth severed from a lost land (one inch square)
Virgin's blood
Virgin's tears
The moonlight song of a virgin clad only in silver and acorns
Semen of a righteous man
Dust from a gift long lain fallow
Rest for the weary
One drop of blood from a true and piercing love
A painful apology that speaks no language
Aiden, Steven and Seodil are being urged to consume just one more beer each when Soleil ducks in, carrying her clothes, and sets them down inside the door. Cheerfully naked, the amber elf says "Lotte's ready to start the ritual. She's waiting at the pasture for you."
Aiden looks up when Soleil arrives and nods. He stands up, leaving his pack with Soleil's clothes.
Sol waits patiently to lead the group to Lotte when they're ready.
Steven give s a bit of a start as Sol enters, naked. he blinks.. twice.. then shakes himself. NO Steven, no looking! Stop that! This is Sol! Gah, one too many beers...! "Uh... right! All set!"
Sol says reasonably, "Then get UP and let's go, Steven. Time to water the fence." Farmer Marron walks over to hand Sol a rather large keg, which the naked elf handles without apparent problems. Gruffly, the redbearded farmer says to Soleil, "Since yer not dancin' or leakin', you kin carry th' beer." Sol grins and says, "Oh, I'm naked for extra luck. Naked beer-carrying it is. --C'mon, guys. Keep up." She turns and saunters out the door.
Aiden laughs, shaking his head. He follows Sol out the door.
Steven blinks. Twice. "Uh... okay." Though he says it well after Sol's left. he follows the others out.
Seodil tosses back the rest of his mugful and joins the exodus with Farmer Marron. The group gets to the pasture fairly quickly, and sees Ghost standing protectively by her bardic charge. Lotte herself is squatting on the ground at the center of the pasture, making her naked redheaded self into as tight a ball of pale flesh as possible.
Steven does his level best not to stare at anyone in particular, keepign his gaze levelly upward or focussed on someone's eyes at any one time.
Aiden keeps his eyes on the ground. Lotte is uncomfortable enough with this and she certainly doesn't need to be thinking that anyone is getting an eyeful at her expense.
Marron booms merrily, "Alright! Boys t'the corners, Aiden North, Steven East, Seodil West, me South. When I give the signal, drain th'lizard on th'fence and mutter somethin' 'bout yer direction and think consecratey thoughts. Don't hafta be too fancy, just sincere. Th'earth understands."
Aiden heads off for the north and turns so that he's facing north and away from Lotte, which will hopefully help Lotte's comfort level. He quiets and does what he needs to do to ready himself for Marron's signal.
Steven does as instructed, facing east. He tries to think of something he might be able to say about the east.
Once all the males are in place, Marron calls out, "Ok, lads. Consecrate away!" He sounds entirely too cheerful. Maybe it's the beer.
Aiden coughs slightly at the choice of Marron's words there, but he does so, saying quietly under his breath, "May the winds of the north cleanse this land of the sickness that holds it.." He hopes that'll do.
Steven grimaces a bit, and.. ahem, does so, hurriedly murmuring what he'd tried to compose. "Bright East, from the sun rises, cast your light upon this land." And he really hopes that's sufficient.
Seodil and Marron murmur something as well, too distant to hear. Both are put back together when they turn around and the farmer yells, "Virgin time! Dance and sing, 'member ta do it inna circle, and then, more beer!"
Aiden adjusts himself, but stays turned north.
Lotte waits for Steven to join her, then starts to make some nervous swaying movements with her arms and sings, "To this earth, we give our love... and so we sing the virgin's song..." She then looks to Steven for help, while still making strange dancing movements with her arms and legs. It is very obvious that she is trying to keep her hips from having any part in the dance.
Seodil considers the miserable picture Lotte makes and turns back around, considerate.
The farmer calls helpfully, "Circle 'round, virgins. Important. To yer left."
Steven winces himself. Virgin time. Augh. He keeps his gaze eitehr straight on Lotte's eyes and no lower, and manages to stand causally concealling himself. Uhm... Right, virgin song.... He tries to match Lotte's strictly upper-body movements and tries to come up with another line. "Uh, and so we hope this land is healed, as we dance.. nude, in this field...." he starts moving in a circle, to the left.
Aiden leans up against the fencepost, curious but completely unwilling to compromise on turning around. He would expect the same courtesy of them, afterall.
Sol yells happily, "Good job, guys! Only a little farther and you'll have made a whole naked circle!" She adds a trilling, yipping noise that might be Winter-pack-style encouragement. Or possibly she's gotten her hands on some Xena episodes.
Lotte cringes as the farmer tells her to circle, as it forces her whole body to move. At a whim, she grabs Steven's hands and feels much better circling with him this way, replicating the gaze he keeps on her- right into his eyes and nowhere else. "Grow corn, grow wheat, grow and be strong..." She shrugs and repeats, "And so we sing the virgin's song."
Steven takes Lotte's hands and manages somehow to keep his eyes upward. There's absolutely nothing he can do to add to Lotte's so, though, unless she wants to repeat the verse as he dances with her in a circle.
Farmer Marron hollers, "Great job, virgins! Y'kin have beer and pants now! It's done!"
Soleil obligingly calls, "Naked beer wench RIGHT HERE! Get'cher naked beer!" She's grinning hugely, obviously quite amused by it all.
Aiden stays where he is for a few moments, trying to contain his amusement at Soleil, lest Steven and Lotte think he's laughing at them. After he's given them enough time to get dressed, he turns around. "Thanks, Lotte, Steven."
Steven gets dressed, lookign oddly and rather stunned at Soleil, not able to believe he, uh, she just said that.
Marron says, "Yer, thanks. Missed having fresh milk. Cows ought t'be right as rain after a few days in this field now. When th'beer runs out, got brandy back at th'house!"
Sol giggles at Steven.
Nakedly.
Lotte's facial tension is broken by a smile as she laughs at Sol. The elf's obvious comfort with her own nudity calms Lotte slightly. She only walks over to her clothes and puts them on, instead of running like a madwoman.
Ghost trots over to Lotte and whuffs encouragingly. She looks like she's smiling.
Lotte makes a goofy and relieved expression at Ghost.
Steven relaxes some as the rest of the group relaxes. A job done, if not well done, though Lotte carried the whole thing with her song.
Aiden walks over to Soleil and leans to drop a quick kiss on her cheek. "Well. Now what?"
Sol beams at Aiden and says, "Well. You could take your clothes off, too... or you could just drink beer." She adds solemnly, "There is much beer."
The mostly-clothed-again group (Soleil having failed to persuade Aiden to match her) proceeds to drain the cask of beer, and makes its rather joyous if unsteady way back to the house for that brandy. Somehow they all make it up the stairs to Marron's living quarters, and it is quite late in the evening-- or early in the morning, if one is feeling technical-- by the time Lotte and Steven fall asleep on Marron's only tall-person furniture, and Aiden, Sol and Seodil are shown to the hayloft that makes up the other half of the barn's top story.
There may or may not have been additional singing. By the time morning light rolls around, no one is quite sure...
Steven and Lotte are just beginning to wake up to a delicious smell of bacon frying when the door leading to the hayloft bangs open and Soleil stalks through the room and down the stairs without a word to anyone. The amber elf's usually-golden face is nearly white, her lips pressed into a thin, furious line.
Lotte takes a moment to fully wake up before calling Sol's name and following her down the stairs.
Aiden stays in the loft for a moment more to carefully pack the jar from last night back into the bag and then tuck the works back into his pack, along with the list. He heads out of the loft into the main area, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Sol is hard to catch up to; she's moving fast and using long legs to good advantage. She glances back at Lotte and pauses, still looking absolutely furious. She snarls, "Going for a walk."
Steven drags himself to consciousness, enough to see Sol stalk through. He blinks as he sits up, groggilly and woozily, trying to make the room stop dancing widdershins. He frowns, realizing he should have been the designated dri-- uh, designated dancer last night and not imbibed. Maybe he could have.... What? Done what? Sigh, absolutely nothing at all. Okay, Lotte is taing care of Sol... There's Aiden. He tries to stand, and manages to get his foot planted firmly on the floor after only one try.
Farmer Marron, in the kitchen area, wisely continues cooking and says not a thing.
Lotte stops in her tracks, half at Sol's tone and half at the pounding headache she just noticed. She calls, "If you wanna talk when you get back..." and leaves it at that.
Soleil nods shortly, manages a curt "Thanks" around a mouthful of sharp white teeth showing more than usual, and whirls off again.
Aiden stops near where Lotte and Steven are, looking at the two of them. "How're you two feeling this morning?" He says it quietly, just in case they woke up with headaches that matched his.
Lotte raises her eyebrows, but heads back to the barn and up the stairs to the rest of the group.
Aiden looks at Lotte as she comes back in. "Feeling okay?"
Steven rubs his head a little. "I am the punching bag for the cowboy on the boat of Ra," he mutters. "And I have no idea what poem that's from. But other than that, I'm... fine. Orange juice will make me feel better, eventually." he looks up to Aiden. "What about you...?" He manages to make 'you' sound like a plural interrogative.
Lotte rubs her temples and just kinda groans. "Yeah, what's up with Sol?"
Aiden winces, keeping his voice low, "I sympathise. Let me see if I can get you something for your head." He ignores the other question. He walks towards the kitchen and pokes his head in the door, sounding a bit more cheerful than he feels. "Sir?"
Marron answers easily, "Yes, Aiden? Don't 'sir' me, you did me a favor and we're on fairly familiar terms now." He grins.
Lotte sighs loudly, but decides to leave it alone. She knows deep down that it's none of her business anyway.
Aiden smiles, "Lotte and Steven are suffering this morning. Don't suppose you have orange juice that I can pass off to them so that their heads will stop pounding? I'd suggest a bit more of the brandy to cure it, but I think they'd hit me."
Steven sighs, glancing to Lotte. "I hope this one gets resolved before long," he says to her quietly.
Lotte nods to Steven and looks about to say something back, but doesn't.
The farmer looks sad. "No orange juice, nay... but!" He brightens. "Kin getcha tea, and raw eggs, and brandy. Raw eggs, brandy an' pepper makes a fine remedy. Got plenty, kin have all the raw ones you want without scanting the fried ones."
Aiden says, "Tea would be perfect, Marron, if it's not too much trouble. I appreciate it."
Lotte adds, "I'd like to try that remedy."
Aiden looks back out of the kitchen door, "Brandy, a raw egg and pepper, Lotte? Are you sure?"
The farmer looks vaguely disappointed, and busies himself making tea. It's ready before long, the water already nearly boiling, and he puts the pot to steep on a tray with several cups. He brightens at Lotte's comment and adds a glass with a fresh raw egg in it, a sprinkle of pepper, and a generous splash of brandy. After a short pause, he makes another one just like it, smiling hopefully, and hands the tray to Aiden.
Aiden smiles again, "Thank you, Marron. You've been a wonderful host. Thank you for everything that you've done for us. We appreciate every bit of it." He takes the tray and sets it down on the dining table, then brings the egg conconction over to Lotte and Steven.
Steven's nose twitches when he spies the... concoction. "What.. is that?"
Lotte gratefully takes the nasty remedy and drinks it down quickly, sputtering at the pepper and brandy.
Aiden gives Steven a steady look. "It'll help. Believe me."
Marron's voice floats cheerily out of the kitchen, "Make you all of those you want! Sometimes it takes two or three before it really kicks in. I'll start a 'nother batch!" The sound of eggs cracking comes faintly from his direction.
Steven eyes it warilly, and looks up to Aiden. "Well... all right..." He hesitates, sighing as he hears more eggs cracking. "Oh, God...." he takes the concoction and downs it, trying hard not to gag on it."
Aiden waits until they're both well into choking that down and goes to get them tea to wash it down with.
Marron brings out two more raw egg concoctions, beaming, and offers them before Aiden gets the tea ready.
The farmer adds, "Bacon, grits and any kinda cooked eggs y'like, on th'way! Requests?"
Lotte accepts the next drink, but only holds it in her hand like a coctail.
Aiden comes in with the tea, offering it to the two of them. "Excuse me, would you?"
Marron beams, "Go ahead, lass... drink up! Slides right down the gullet and does y' a world o' good."
The redbearded farmer eyes Aiden worriedly. "No bacon? Eggs?"
Aiden says, "I'm just going to see if the other two are hungry. I'll be back up for food in a few. I'm starving."
Lotte simultaneously shakes her head and does as she's told, drinking the mixture down quickly. She then grabs for the tea out of Aiden's hand and takes a big sip.
Steven grimaces, making a face at Aiden as if to say, 'Do I hafta?' "What does it do, anyway?" he asks, as he down the second one, his stomach still trying to recover from the first one.
Marron's eyes are shrewd. He just nods, and says "Come back with yer appetite if they ain't hungry, eh? Growing boy like you needs his tucker."
The farmer answers Steven, grinning broadly, "Well... Takes yer mind off the hangover, don't it?"
Aiden grins at Marron, "If I was to choose not to come back, I'd miss one of your meals, Marron. More than I'm willing to sacrifice."
The farmer laughs heartily and tells Aiden, "Good. Tell th'others they don' wanna miss my breakfast beer, neither. Raspberry."
Aiden nods, "I'll make sure they know." He looks at Steven and Lotte, "Take your time, eh?" He heads out downstairs, to look for Seodil and Soleil.
Lotte groans at the mention of more beer and clutches her side. "No more beer for me, sir. A girl has to do something to watch her figure."
Sol is nowhere to be seen. Seodil is walking-- more, trudging-- over by the pasture. He spots Aiden but doesn't walk off. Instead, he sits on the fence and looks resigned.
Aiden walks up to Seodil. "Hungry? Marron's got breakfast on."
Seodil looks a little startled, then says in quiet tones, "Just had a rabbit, but thank you."
Aiden points his thumb over his shoulder. "Want me to save you a beer? Marron apparently has raspberry beer for breakfast." He grins.
Looking more and more confused, though it mostly shows in his eyes, Seodil says, "That sounds... fascinating." He hesitates. "Who has already tried this marvel?"
Aiden spreads his hands, "I'd have tried it, but he didn't mention it until he used it as a bribe to make sure that I came back for breakfast. Not that he needed to, I'm starving. You coming?" He registers the confusion, "C'mon? You think I'm going to be pissed off at you because Soleil wound off and bitchslapped you? I'm more reasonable than that." He wanders back towards the house.
Seodil flinches and stays put, looking torn.
Soleil still does not appear on Aiden's way back. Wherever she is, she's still feeling angry and hurt, though hurt is stronger now, with growing undertones of guilt.
Aiden stops and turns around. "Up to you. I'm not going to try to force you. I'll be inside." He heads back into the house and upstairs.
Seodil slinks up the stairs not long after Aiden gets back and sits down, looking wary. He tilts his head. "Raspberry beer?" He sounds far more tentative than usual, and his right cheek is slightly, freshly bruised.
Aiden pokes his head back into the kitchen, "Can I give you a hand with anything?"
Lotte gapes at Seodil's posture, then even more at the bruise on his cheek.
Seodil flinches, then appears very convincingly not to have noticed Lotte's reaction. He sits down and pours himself tea, quietly absorbed in the act.
Marron hands Aiden a giant tray of bacon, eggs scrambled, fried and over easy, corn muffins and grits. He grabs a tray of mugs and a pitcher of something red, and follows Aiden back in.
Steven has by now recovered form his second 'remedy,' convinced it's some odd way of developing gastrointestinal fortitude. He thinks that he can get some real, good food down, heading to where he smells food and most especially, tea to wash this awful taste out of his mouth.
Aiden heads back into the other room and sets the tray of food down carefully on the table, sliding it out of Marron's way. He settles down, next to Seodil.
Lotte stares at both Aiden and Seodil in disbelief, then growls demandingly, "What the HELL is going on?"
Seodil flickers his eyes to Aiden, with an expression that clearly says, 'Do whatever you want.'
Steven winces, the cup of tea only halfway to his mouth, though he doesn't hide his own interest as he downs it.
Aiden says, "Seodil and Soleil had a slight.. disagreement on.. policy this morning. I've spoken with Soleil about it. He's probably outside somewhere calming down."
Seodil looks curious in his own turn, now, but forbears to say anything out loud, sipping tea and eyeing Aiden thoughtfully.
Lotte shakes her head. "Policy? Disagreement? I'm not following you."
Aiden pauses for a moment to grab himself some food, then takes a few bites before he speaks. "Over leadership and where we're going. At least, that's the gist of the part I caught."
Seodil's eyes flick to Marron, who has just gotten up to walk back into the kitchen, and the silver elf nods slightly. In a low voice he says, "It would be.. better discussed when we are walking, later."
Aiden nods his agreement between bites of food.
Lotte look confused. "Leadership? Sol's always been our leader." She glares at Seodil. "I'm not walking anywhere until I know where I'm being led!"
Aiden says, "We're going where we've always been going, Lotte. We'll discuss it more later.. It's better if we do."
Seodil actually winces and says calmly to Lotte, "We are going back to the mage's tower, then to the Summer Court, as we have always been, Lotte. Do not worry on that count."
Soleil trots up the stairs looking cheerful and says, "Marron! Do I truly smell bacon? You glorious man!"
Steven looks about the group, then sighs quietly, as he reaches for some of the eggs. I'm getting used to this 'not being told jack' thing.
Lotte throws her hands up in the air, half in frustration and half in disgust. She passes Sol at the top of the stairs and marches down them in silent anger.
Seodil's voice is pleading when he adds, "I promise to say more when --" he clams up when Sol arrives.
Aiden rolls his eyes and shakes his head. He continues eating, determined that even if he ends up with a worse headache than he woke up with this morning, he is going to leave here well fed.
Seodil eats quickly and in silence, not meeting Sol's eyes, then excuses himself politely to go downstairs after a little bow and thank you to Marron that seems to please the farmer.
Steven chews on some bacon, wondering if anything would have been different if he'd told the others what he had about his visions, then he shrugs a bit, and finishes his breakfast.
Soleil munches bacon and eggs with the appearance of cheerful enjoyment, though she does not meet Aiden's eyes.
Seodil walks over to Lotte and says quietly, "I offered to obtain an item or two for us. Sol objected." He nods toward the temple.
Aiden finishes up his meal and heads for the kitchen again, something of a theme this morning. Maybe it's because it's welcoming, like the kitchen at home always was. "Marron? Can I help you up with dishes or something?"
The farmer laughs and says "Don't mind if you do. C'mon in. You are a polite young man!"
Aiden smiles, "Thanks.." He ducks back into the dining area to grab empty plates, then heads back into the kitchen and rolls up his sleeves to help out with the dishes.
Lotte responds to Seodil in a shrill voice, "So she hit you? That doesn't make an ounce of sense."
Soleil looks toward the kitchen and visibly decides not to go in.
Seodil winces again, and responds in not entirely convincing tones, "It is her right as my lord if she chooses to take it. I disagreed with her decision, and was not accepting it as final despite the oath I swore to obey her."
Steven quietly and silently chews on his breakfast. He doesn't want to go away and leave Sol sitting here, but, still, there's not ablessed thing he can do. Except. "Uhm, bacon, Sol?"
Soleil smiles at Steven and eats bacon. Mouth full, she says "Mmfflmh. Mmph."
Steven tries to translate that into Steve's English. He smiles, and nods, and sets the platter of bacon in between Sol and himself. Might have been 'Thank you, no.' Could have also been, 'Please, more....'
Lotte has begun pacing, but stops when she thinks Seodil is still lying. "I honestly can't see Soleil hitting anyone over a disagreement." She points her finger at him and says with only slightly less anger, "If I find out later that something important has been kept from Steven and I... I'm... I'll take that key and turn back to my own quest."
Sol and the bacon commune with the evidence of enjoyment on the still-living side. From the kitchen, Marron's voice booms, "Thank you again, Aiden my boy. That'll be all-- you go join yer friends, eh? I'll pack you a lunch to take with, and see you on your way, as they've the look of unfinished business about 'em, much as I have liked the company."
Aiden smiles, "Thanks, Marron. You've been very kind to us all."
Aiden wanders back out into the main room. "Marron's kind enough to pack us a lunch before we go. I'll be downstairs." He wanders out into the sunlight.
Steven says, "Oh! That's... that's very kind of him! Thank you, thank you very much!" he saysm, standing and calling into the kitchen.""
Seodil's eyes go cold as ice as his voice turns flat and biting at Lotte's answer. He says, "I suggest you try pointing that shrill voice at Soleil yourself someday and see how you enjoy it. Perhaps you'll find it more to your liking... at least you'll have something new to squeak about." As Aiden arrives, Seodil is stalking away from Lotte, back stiff.
Aiden says, "Seodil!"
Upstairs, Sol flinches, wishes Marron a quick but flowery thanks, and beats it hotfoot down the stairs.
Silver hair flying out around him, Seodil spins on his heel and gives Aiden a stiff look from a few steps away. "What NOW?"
Aiden sets his backpack on the ground and pulls out the list and one of the as-yet empty jars. He hands them to Seodil without saying a word about it. He sits down next to Lotte.
Seodil blinks at Aiden, confused right out of irritation... until Soleil bursts through the door looking quickly side to side, and scoots to a stop when the others are so easily found. Seodil abruptly looks as though he'd rather be anywhere but here, though he stays put, holding the list and container.
Steven thanks Marron for everything, including -- evenif he turns a little green at it -- the remedy. He says he's just going outside to check on the otehrs, and heads down the stairs looking around for where the group -- at least, he hopes it's the group -- is gathered.
That group is not only easily located, being right outside the door to the dusty, chicken-strewn barnyard, but remarkably complete-- for now.
Aiden gives Seodil an even look. "Dust."
Seodil looks stunned and turns pink.
Soleil actually chokes, then has a coughing fit.
Steven walks over to the group, frowning a bit at the more or less silent interchanges going on.
Aiden looks suspiciously like he's not going to listen to any argument on the issue at all.
Faintly, Seodil says "I beg your pardon?" looking at Aiden.
Lotte, about to say something, shuts her mouth with a snap.
Seodil adds, "What exactly did you have in mind?"
Aiden says, "Look. The longer we delay, the longer Steven has to carry that thing around. Everyone's done something either painful, embarrassing or that they simply didn't want to do." He shrugs, "I have no idea what it wants."
Soleil's eyes go from sparkling to flat in seconds, for no apparent reason.
Seodil blinks, then bows his head a moment. When he raises it, he says "Very well. I believe I have something that may fit. When we return to the area closer to Frangipani's tower, I will see about it."
Aiden nods, "Thank you."
Soleil looks downright dangerous for a moment, then it passes and she says brightly, "I'll go see if Marron needs help with those lunches. Be just a moment."
Steven is left clueless. He's used to it, he realizes, and peers at the list to see what's left.
The only items remaining on the list are: a dead man's fingernail, a blood-soaked shoe, Dust from a gift long lain fallow and a painful apology that speaks no language.
Lotte says quietly to Aiden after Sol leaves, "Aiden, did Sol really hit Seodil because he argued with her?"
Aiden nods. "Yep."
Seodil appears not to have heard Lotte.
Lotte cringes and whispers, "Is that... normal behavior? Is there something else we should know? Steven and I have to trust you here, but we'd like to know as much as we can."
Aiden lowers his voice when he answers, "I don't know. I can tell you that it's never happened before, at least since Seodil joined us, that is. I'm really hoping that was the first and last time."
Lotte looks extremely worried. "Doesn't it bother you? It just doesn't seem right."
Aiden says, "Of course it bothers me. That's why I spent most of the morning arguing with Soleil. It bothers the hell out of me."
Seodil sighs and looks at Steven. "Raspberry beer. Really rather good. How is your head this morning?"
The silver elf is quite intensely ignoring Aiden and Lotte's quiet conversation.
Lotte nods with slight relief. "Ok. Ok. Well, it's just hard to read you. You were so calm, like nothing happened. I can't be that way, and I can't read people who don't wear their emotions on their sleeve." She shakes her head. "I'
Lotte continues, "Can I trust that we will be informed of such things in the future? As a group, we all need to know things like this."
Steven says, "Mmm? Oh. Didn't have it. Beer for breakfast never really was my thing. Uh, even raspberry. Headache's better, though.'"
Aiden shakes his head, "Sorry. I'm not nearly as calm or cheerful as I look, Lotte. I'm just good at covering it up. There's not much I can do now beyond what I did. I gave Soleil something to think about and all I can do for right now is hope that he acts on it."
Aiden nods, sympathetically. "I'm hoping that this will be a short storm and over quickly." He slips an arm around her shoulder and gives her a half hug. "I'll do my best to keep you both informed."
Lotte nods again, fully comforted. "Thank you. I should also try to keep my temper, I think."
Seodil gives Steven a look that verges on sympathetic and says, "Good. Dwarven brandy is not the best idea late at night in quantity, but I myself was not thinking as clearly as I should have been either." He grins, a small but real thing. "Next time will go easier on you, however."
Steven smiles to Seodil and bows a bit. "Thanks. I don't think any of us were, but no harm was done in the evening." HE is thoughtful for a long few moments, the says to the group a tlarge, "A few days ago.. I had a dream...."
Seodil blinks at Steven, but listens seriously.
Lotte turns from Aiden to listen to Steven.
Aiden looks up and over at Steven.
Steven speaks quietly, to no particular person. "I'd.. forgotten about it somewhat. But I thought i should tell you it. I saw Lottee, getting farther and farther ahead of us. We're trying to catch up. Something was sparkling in her hand, then suddenly she was gone, replaced by a castle with trees around it and a moountian on both sides. Behind me I heard three wolves snarl.. and then I woke up." He looks up and around at the others. "Just thought I should let you know. I had tht dream before we started on this side-trek.'
Seodil tilts his head and says, "Three wolves... fairly clear who that is..."
Aiden cocks his head off to the side, "Does the castle sound like the Summer Court?"
Steven says, "I don't know. It sounds kind of bleak."
Seodil shakes his head. "No. Summer is gold, and copper, brass and bronze. But did not the directions to Haasha's castle include two mountains?"
Lotte purses her lips and nods.
Steven nods quietly.
Aiden nods, "Right. It did."
Seodil frowns. "Do your dreams often come to pass, Steven, or can they be averted... as warnings?"
Lotte regards Steven as though the entire world rests on his answer.
Steven considers for a moment. "I think they're warnings. They can be confusing with conflicting imagry. I had.. a series of visions once that were confusing, all potentialities, none set in stone.
Seodil frowns, serious. "Visions of what, Steven? Do you recall?"
Steven considers for a long moment. "I'll.. have to think on that. I never really ever got my thoughts fully together about it.
Seodil nods, accepting.
Footsteps on the stairs sound, and the door swings open moments later. Sol and Marron appear with arms laden. The farmer booms cheerfully, "Y've been such good guests and help, I've made y'some lunch t'take along."
Aiden smiles up at Marron. "Thanks so much, Marron."
Steven says, "I promise that as soon s I get my thoughts together on it, I'll let you all know, though. It's been a while since i've had dreams like that...." he stands as Marron and Sol appear, and smiles
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