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Realms: Idlewild Logs

November 23

Sun Nov 23 2003

The party begins the trek back to Frangipani's Turning Tower well-laden with Farmer Marron's gift of lunch, split into two cloth-wrapped bundles for carrying off. They still lack four items on the list-- dead man's fingernail, blood-soaked shoe, a painful apology that speaks no language, and dust from a gift long lain fallow. The first two lie behind them at the farm temple Marron tends, off-limits by the bounds of politeness after the good farmer stated he could not supply them. The other two may be more accessible-- at least, Aiden handed Seodil a magic container before they left and seemed to think he might have an idea about that dust. Silent apologies are thus far not appearing, and as the group walks, Soleil and Seodil stay at opposite ends whenever possible, not speaking. Soleil seems brightly cheery and unaware.

On the walk back, Aiden stays almost completely quiet. He runs the scene this morning in his head a few times and who can help but notice the distance between Soleil and Seodil? You'd have to be blind. He's not buying Sol's cheery attitude or the thought that Sol hasn't noticed. The cheerfulness is bothering him, though, and he glowers silently, angry.

Despite Aiden's fairly obvious glare, Soleil appears to remain oblivious and even bubbly, chattering away at anyone who will respond. Her standards for "respond" seem to have dropped to "make eye contact, any noise, or keep walking." The group walks the entire few hours like this, with Sol's cheerful murmur eventually much like birdsong-- meaningless, vaguely melodious, and everpresent.

The tower valley appears at last, the party's previous grassy discussion spot still empty of other occupants, as everyone begins to feel that lunch might be welcome in the fairly near future.

When they reach the grassy spot, Aiden stops and looks at the others. "Lunch?"

Soleil smiles, "Sure!" and starts unpacking half the picnic. Marron even sent a checkered tablecloth. The amber elf spreads that out on the grass and beams up at Steven.

Steven nods, bringing forth the basket and opening it as he settles onto the ground beside the blanket. "Lunch... sounds like a fine idea."

"Go ahead, Steven, the ground's set." Sol grins.

Sandwiches of unknown paste that smells like chicken salad unwrap, alongside bottles of raspberry beer, boiled eggs, and cheese.

Lotte sits down to eat her share. As always, she splits her food with Ghost.

Seodil sits without a word, acquires the food nearest him-- incidentally, farthest from Sol-- and eats, quiet.

Ghost accepts only a bite, this time, and gives Lotte a reproachful look when she doesn't eat it herself. "Grrff."

Aiden settles down on the ground next to Sol and eats unenthusiastically. He has an appetite and does eat his share, but he does so without much enjoyment.

The observant would note Soleil flinch when Aiden sits next to her, and that she does not look him in the eye.

Lotte shrugs and eats her food, occasionally offering some to Ghost even though it is refused.

Steven eats as needed, not liking the sudden tension the group is under but -- without the succubus ring making him not only more reckloess but also a little more people-oriented -- not entirely sure of the best way to defuse this. Neverthless, it's starting to grate on him.

Ghost waves her pale grey tail when Lotte eats, and makes a wolf-faced smile out of the wrinkling of her nose.

Seodil finishes first, neatly, and rises without warning. He looks down at the group and says, "I will see what I can do," then turns and walks toward the woods-- not in the same direction as Marron's farm, however.

Aiden nods up at Seodil. "Thanks."

Sol looks, interestingly, no less nervous now that Seodil is leaving when caught unguarded. She nods without looking up at Seodil and murmurs something that might have been thanks.

Steven look sup curiously at Seodil, frowning a little and wondering what he's talking about, though he knows it's about an item on the list.

Lotte ignores the feel of the group as Seodil leaves, pretending everything is normal.

Seodil's silver hair walking into the distance offers no answers; Steven must seek them from those at hand, if at all.

Soleil smiles a little desperately at Lotte and says, "Want another egg? They'll go bad, and I'm really not very hungry."

Steven taps his fingers on his sandwitch for a moment, then sets it down on his napkin. "The house with broken timbers cannot help but fall." He folds his hands, and looks, one at a time, at the people still present, looking patient.

Soleil looks frantically cheerful for a moment before it crumbles and she just looks intensely unhappy.

Aiden looks up sharply at Steven. He takes a deep breath and says, calmly. "The broken timbers need to be mended, and there's only one person that can start that process."

It turns out to be possible for Sol to look more unhappy.

The amber elf shoots Lotte a pleading look.

The look on Aiden's face proves that he is not enjoying this in the slightest, but he's resolute.

Lotte gives Soleil a pained look. "We all need to know what's going on, Sol."

Sol's shoulders seem to shrink as she slumps, staring at the crumbs on the picnic cloth in front of her crossed ankles. "What exactly do you want to know?"

The amber elf's tone is resigned, not evasive.

Lotte shrugs and looks to Steven and Aiden with an expression that asks where to start.

Aiden sighs and gives Lotte a look. "This morning. You haven't gotten the story from her yet, as I recall. I'd be interested to hear it too."

Lotte looks back at Sol. "What happened this morning? Why did you strike Seodil?"

Soleil looks entirely miserable, sighs, and begins to speak... very quietly. "You may recall that Steven mentioned our list of needs to our former host, Marron, and that the farmer-priest told us he would not assist us with the dead man's fingernail or bloody shoe, despite our awareness that a corpse was lying in state in his temple..."

Lotte nods and listens.

Sol continues. "Seodil offered to obtain those items for me, quietly, and to take the guilt upon himself so that my conscience would remain clear and I could state honestly to our host that it was not my idea or action, should it be discovered... in fact, he did not offer, so much as state his intent."

Softly, Soleil says "I said no. More than once. It would have been my fault still had I allowed him to take the items our host had already forbidden, as I would have been both aware and not stopping someone sworn to me from doing that thing."

Lotte nods, "And...?"

The amber elf shrugs, heavily. "He didn't listen. I have authority to maintain over at least my actual, sworn court members, Lotte... if I can't trust him to do as I decide when we're in Summer, we could all be in a lot of danger. So I hit him, to get his attention."

Sol adds, "Words weren't doing it." She still looks unhappy, staring at the cloth-covered ground.

Aiden says, "Sol. You were the one that told me that he is true to his word. He swore to you that he wouldn't do it. That was enough for you before."

Sol closes her eyes and says quietly, "He swore to obey me as his lord when we first freed him, after I spoke to him at length that night. He was not, however, accepting the course of action I demanded this morning-- he kept arguing after I had said no, and no again. I do trust him to keep to his word-- but he was starting to wear at it when he did not do as he'd said, and obey after I made myself clear."

She finishes, "So I made myself clearer,..."

In a very small voice, Soleil says to her knees, "And he did listen. But it didn't help other things much, no."

Aiden says, in a quiet, but firm voice. "Then apologise."

Lotte adds gently, "It doesn't seem like hitting him was necessary."

Sol sighs. "For what? For hitting him when that may have been what got through to him? He stopped arguing after that..."

Aiden shrugs, "We can't go on until this list is done. Lua is counting on us."

Soleil looks forlorn. "What if he loses respect for me when I apologize? I'm not supposed to be wrong. I'm his prince. I have to decide things."

Aiden looks exasperated, "Everyone makes mistakes. The good leader is the one that can admit when they've made one and if he doesn't respect that.." Aiden shrugs, "Then there's little you can do."

Sol puts her face in her hands and stays there a moment, then raises her eyes back to the group dully, looking at everyone briefly in turn-- silent Steven who started it, Lotte who's encouraging it, Aiden who's insisting on it. Resigned, she says "You... you all have wisdom. So. It says painful. It will be painful, to do. But how do I apologize without language?"

Aiden frowns, "That, I don't know.. " He looks at Lotte and Steven.

Steven frowns a bit, and shakes his head a little. "I'm.. not sure...."

Lotte looks in the direction where Seodil disappeared and smiles. "What that guy needs is a big mushy hug.

Soleil's eyes go wide and golden. Nearly round, in fact. She chokes on her beer and has a coughing fit.

Aiden looks at Lotte, muttering something under his breath that sounds suspiciously like "hope your life insurance is paid up."

Steven blinks, slowly, to Lotte.

Recovering somewhat, Sol says faintly, "Well... that would be painful. And... silent." She winces. Hard.

The amber elf says, "Do you think it would, uh... get the right message across?"

Lotte lets out a giggle in spite of herself. "I don't think it would go over as badly as you all think. There's a side of him that just needs acceptance. I saw it in the cornfield."

Steven murmurs, "Painful more... for whom?"

Aiden says, "There's only one way to find out.."

Aiden opens his bag and pulls out the last jar, holding it up towards Soleil.

Sol eyes the last jar like it might be poisonous. "You think I should go now, alone? Can't I wait til he gets back? Here?"

Aiden says, "I doubt he's going to be very open with all of us sitting here watching, Soleil."

Sol says weakly, "Well, it's not like we have to talk..." but deflates, and takes the jar. She starts getting slowly to her feet.

Aiden looks up at Soleil. "I'll go with you if you honestly think he's liable to hurt you, but I think it's best if I don't."

Sol sighs. "No. The one thing I'm sure of about this is that he won't attack me physically. But thank you."

Aiden nods. "Alright."

Glancing soberly at each of the group in turn, the amber elf nods once, turns, and walks away in the direction that Seodil took.

Lotte looks slightly taken aback that her suggestion was actually accepted.

Steven lets out a breath as Sol heads off, and quietly finishes his sandwich.

Aiden takes the list out of the bag and stays where he is, despite the curiousity that's threatening to eat him alive.

The list has already crossed off the dust from the gift long lain fallow. Long minutes pass. And then more. Fully an hour later, the list crosses off the painful apology.

Steven wonders, frowning a bit, what the dust was, then simply waits for Sol and Seodil to return.

By the end of the hour, Aiden has gone from checking the list infrequently, to keeping his eyes locked on it. He sighs in relief. "It's done."

Another hour passes, slowly. No one comes back.

Lotte starts to fidget. "Should we go look for them?"

Aiden looks at Lotte nervously. "Let's give them another half hour. After that, we're going to go find them."

Lotte nods in agreement, but looks nervous as well.

Steven frowns, not liking the implications but not going to voice them. After fifteen minutes instead of half an hour, he says, "Actually. We don't know this area too well; Soleil and Seodil don't, either. Aiden, you wait here in case they come back. Lotte and I will look for them." He stands.

Aiden stands up, "Wait wait. We're not splitting up. No way."

Steven says, "We need someone to stay here in case they come back to tell them that someone is out looking for them. And frankly it'll take a lot less convincing to have you stay than it would Ghost.""

Aiden sits back down, gritting his teeth. "Fine. Don't get lost."

Lotte looks more than slightly guilty. "Perhaps she should stay with you, Aiden."

Steven smiles encouragingly to Aiden. "We won't. We'll be back before long." He waits for Lotte before heading out in the direction first Seodil, then Soleil went in.

Ghost looks distressed when Lotte tells her to stay with Aiden and leave Lotte's side, but obeys when Lotte is firm. She lies down beside Aiden, nose on forepaws, and sighs. Loudly.

Aiden looks at Ghost, "Yeah. I know the feeling."

Lotte pats Ghost gently before following Steven into the woods.

The wolf snickers. Maybe. She does regard Aiden somewhat more favorably after he speaks.

Steven and Lotte wander in the woods for a short time before they find the missing elves. Neither is bloody or visibly broken; they are sitting a few feet apart on a fallen log, talking. Seodil is-- apparently absently-- jugging three pinecones with one hand, not looking at it as he talks. They stop talking and look up as the others approach. They both smile, a little.

Lotte looks thrilled that the two have been talking, and says with empty harshness, "You two scared the hell out of us!"

Steven gives a mental sigh of relief, and smiles a bit. "Hi," he says. "Sorry... were worried. We don't really know this area, thought something had happened." He tries, hard, not to be envious of Seodil's hand-eye coordination.

Seodil laughs out loud and starts tossing pinecones lightly at Lotte, underhand and not hard to dodge or try to catch, with what can only be described as a playful expression.

Soleil tilts her head and Steven and says solemnly, "He did not slay me or devour me. This time. But I thank you."

Lotte shakes off her worry and suprise at the situation, making a silly face at Seodil.

Seodil grins and rises. "I think that we are ready to return, if you have need of us. My lord?" He gives Sol a polite look.

Steven thinks neither would believe him if he said, "Oh, we weren't worried about that," so he doesn't even bother. He simply nods.

Sol snorts and gets up, less gracefully. "Let's go... Aiden's probably worried."

The little group of four returns peacefully to Aiden and Ghost.

Seodil is still juggling pinecones when they walk up, having added a few to the pattern and now using both hands to keep the loose, tall circle of six in the air.

Aiden looks up when the group comes back, still sitting right where they left him, except for scratching Ghost behind the ears if she permits it. He looks not the slightest bit worried. Liar.

Ghost permits Aiden to pet her in a queenly manner, but perks up when Lotte arrives and abandons him.

Soleil smiles at Aiden, fondly, and walks over to sit quietly by his side. She murmurs, "You were right. I'm sorry."

Aiden looks extremely relieved. He puts an arm over Soleil's shoulder and pulls her into a quick sideways hug.

Seodil tilts his head at Steven. "Is the list pleased?"

Steven nods, "Except for two items, the list is indeed pleased, and we may have more than enough of other things to cover."

Soleil closes her eyes and just beams.

Aiden turns his head to whispers quietly in Soleil's ear. "Thank you, Soleil. I'm sorry I hurt you."

Seodil sighs, looking tired and triumphant. "Then shall we go, Steven, and offer it to the mage? Perhaps the others are not needed." He slants a look toward Aiden and Sol. Lotte and Ghost quietly get up to join Seodil and Steven.

Steven nods, "Sure!"

Sol appears content to stay leaned against Aiden, quiet.

Aiden nods and stands up. He digs the bag out of his pack and brings it over to Seodil, "You have the other two?"

Seodil nods, and takes the bag. He regards Aiden thoughtfully, then smiles, turns and walks off with the main group to see the mage.

The mage Frangipani opens the door as soon as the group rings the bell, Big Ben chiming hollowly through the valley. She looks... avaricious.

"Yes...?" she says happily, from her very small height.

Steven blinks a bit at her expression. "Uh... hello, ma'am.... We have most of the items you requested. We hope that the quantity is sufficient to cover what we couldn't get....

The wrinkled brown mage beams up at Steven. "I know what's in the bag." She cackles. "Only one of those pots of seed is righteous, me boy, but I'll take them both. I have uses."

She looks over at Seodil and adds, softly, "Very pretty. Didn't think you had it in you." Seodil raises a surprisingly wry brow at her and says nothing.

Steven blinks. "Ah. Okay, uhm... sure, then!" He passes over the bag to her. He doesn't ask what 'uses' she'll make out of either.

Muttering to herself, the mage squints her eyes, then nods decisively and opens just one very wide and focuses it on Steven. "I'll have both your desires in two sunrises. Feel free to hunt the area, I'll give you gold for fresh meat if you have extra. Knock with meat or at the appointed time."

Steven blinks. "I... all right. Thank you. Thank you very much."

Handing the bag to Steven, she adds "You did well. Keep it. It's empty of my things now... just don't put another bag of holding in it, or it'll explode. A lot." She turns and shuts the door behind her as she goes in.

Steven blinks and looks at the bag. and almost self-consciously holds it out a little ways away from him. "Explode a lot." The mental image that conjures is disturbing.

When the group returns to Aiden and Sol, they look roughly the same as they did earlier. Sol looks up and smiles. "So?"

Aiden looks up, anxiously, "How'd it go?"

Steven smiles. "Two sunrises. She said we can hunt here in the meanwhile, and she'll buy any extra meat we have."

Aiden nods, "Great.."

A companionable silence falls, for a time. Soleil points out a bright star that comes into focus in the sky, twinkling and golden despite the early time.

Aiden looks up. "Bit early for stars, isn't it?"

Seodil peers at it. "It's getting bigger."

Steven blinks. "Bigger?"

Aiden frowns, "Bigger?" He watches it closely.

The star is definitely growing. Much like a meteorite might look if it were headed straight toward one's head, burning up in the atmosphere.

Aiden says, "Oh, shit.. that's.. not good."

Aiden stands up and slings his pack on. "Not that it'll do much good if that's what it looks like.. but maybe we should move?"

Steven stands, nodding and not looking away from the 'star.' "Yes... yes! I think we should move. I think we should move now."

Seodil, Sol, Lotte and Ghost follow suit, and head away from the tower by unspoken agreement that if something falls from the sky near a mage tower, perhaps away from that tower is a better idea.

Aiden quite happily follows them away, but keeps on eye on the 'star'..

The glowing dot enlarges rapidly, and is soon obviously heading straight for the group despite their move. It's also not big enough to be a meteorite, as it proves itself much closer than suspected and about the size of a spread hand...

Steven says, "... Not to state the obvious, but it's purposely aiming for us....""

Sol yells and jumps straight up as it closes the distance faster than expected and heads straight for her feet.

Aiden dives for Sol, trying to knock her out of the way. He does not want to see her hurt.

Landing firmly on Aiden, Sol knocks the breath out of him from a good three foot fall after he tags her legs in the air. The golden star is sparkling in the grass near their feet, but setting nothing afire.

It chirps, and as the glow fades a bit, a sparrow-sized bird made of light and sparkle peers all around...

Aiden blinks at the bird..

The bird has a small scroll attached to one leg.

Steven hadn't gotten in the way when he noticed it heading for Sol, and just tried to make sure nobody else was at risk of being hit by the... glowing bird? He blinks. "A messenger?"

Aiden looks at the bird dubiously. "I hope this isn't him.." He looks at Sol. "It was aimed for you, do you want to take it, or should I?"

A little weakly, Sol says "I'll touch it...if it had wanted to hit us, I think it might have succeeded." She reaches out to take the scroll. It falls away easily into her hand, and unfurls itself with a golden flourish of sparkles. The bird flutters up to land on Steven's head, contentedly.

Steven blinks, and tries to peer up at the bird. "I... guess that means it expects an answer." I really hope this bird isn't going to leave more than just that message....

Aiden grins when the bird alights on Steven's head, then looks at Sol as he unrolls the message.

Soleil blinks at the scroll in silence, expressionless, then says "It's from Summer."

Aiden raises an eyebrow, "From Summer? They know we're coming?"

Soleil nods, slowly. "Someone does. The princess and her scribe."

Aiden frowns, "What's it say?"

Steven glances up at the bird, reasonably sure that some kind of answer is going to get back to the Court wether they choose to answer or not.

Soleil coughs to clear her faint voice, and reads the letter aloud...

Soleil says, "To our Most Royal Cousin Prince Soleil, current Heir to Endless Winter-- from Your Royal Cousin, Heir to the Golden Halls of Summer: Greetings."

Sol continues, "It has come to Our Attention that You are journeying to visit Our ancestral home. As this is not yet common knowledge, We suggest to You that a small delay in the fine city of Sindinbrigh' may prove beneficial-- specifically, at the establishment of one Orthallino, a tailor of good taste well known to Us. The Topaz Chair has been instructed to expect You and provide for Your needs during Your stay.

Our sources are not open to most of this Court. Both Your arrival and its circumstances may come as a pleasant surprise-- to different parties. Our gift to You is a token of esteem brought from our certain knowledge that all has not been as it should be in Winter. My regards to Your Royal Sister, and We look forward to discussing Our common interests when Your entourage arrives. You have been missed.

With deep cordiality,

the Summer Princess Seulement, by the hand of Clairchiare Averet.

Seodil looks like somebody just punched him in the solar plexus.

Aiden frowns. "Well. That sounds plesant enough. What's the catch?"

Aiden looks over at Seodil. "Someone you know?"

Seodil has absolutely no expression whatsoever. "No."

Aiden has that look on his face that practically screams "I'm going to bring this up again."

Seodil has a grim sort of sparkle that answers, "Just try it."

Steven looks between the two for a moment, then to Seodil, then to Sol. "So.. what does this mean? She wants to prepare the court for our arrival, or a subtle hint to get appropriate clothing?"

Seodil looks at Aiden and says flatly, "He must have been born after my time. I never met anyone by the name." He looks away to Soleil's answer to Steven.

Sol frowns thoughtfully at Steven. "The latter, definitely-- but a surprisingly polite one, and she's gifting us with it. The catch may be that she is offering to sponsor us... and we will arrive in her debt. And we do not know what she wants."

Seodil adds tightly, "That did not sound like she wanted the court prepared, to me. I think that she wishes us to be her private surprise to the others."

Aiden nods, "We're probably not in much position to say 'no' either, are we?"

Steven considers this for a moment. "Then we should go in presuming that she wants us in her debt, and that she already has something in mind that she wants us to do in return.

Seodil nods soberly to Steven, "Exactly. You understand it well."

Sol says slowly, "It would be an insult to say 'no,' I think..."

Aiden nods again. "Well. We have to do what we have to do, then."

Steven says, "Is there any way to politely decline her offer?"

Sol smiles ruefully and touches her cheek briefly, before shaking her head at Steven. "I can't think of one but I'll keep trying."

Steven nods quietly. "We have until we check in with this tailor, I take it. So we have some time. At the very least.. two sunrises.

Sol nods, face still and thoughtful. "And I will be male..."

Aiden cocks his head off to the side. "Are we that close?"

Steven says, "We need two sunrises before Frangipanni will take care of our.. problems. I don't know how far this city is."

Sol yawns, suddenly, and winces. "Mmf. We may be if we travel right... maybe a few days after we leave here if the bird shows us the way. That city is in Summer, and has a gate to the Summer Court themselves."

Aiden says, "Well. At least we have a bit of time, then."

Seodil sits down, looking pale and tight. "Not very much, Aiden. Not much at all."

Aiden shoots a weak smile at Seodil. "We'll be okay.."

Seodil says grimly, "I will make certain that you all are."

Aiden shakes his head, "We're all in this together. Don't take all the weight on your shoulders. You're liable to collapse under it."

Steven considers, but doesn't press the issue for now. He nods. "Well. Since we don't have to worry about trying to preserve meat, why don't we try to find something like that for dinner."

Seodil stands and puts a gentle hand briefly on Aiden's head, nearly a caress. "I will keep that in mind, Aiden. Steven, that sounds excellent. I will join you."

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