Idlewild -- Logs

The next morning dawns bright and early-- a little too early for some, just on time for others. The group wakes at its own pace, nothing disturbing anyone's sleep. Assorted fresh fruit and nuts are waiting in the common room when most awake, but Steven rises with the symbol of his god again today and thinks he catches a glimpse of an ethereal woman moving almost too fast to see as she sets the table. The moss bed agrees with Lotte-- she wakes feeling refreshed and downright perky. Aiden is somewhat less perky, having been to bed a bit later than anyone else...

Aiden wanders out into the main room when he wakes up, dressed, but not entirely lively. He sits down on the couch, picking at a bit of food, and trying to rouse himself into a more wakeful state.

Steven blinks a bit with the vision, then smiles quietly to himself. If he ever sees them for longer than a split second, he'll have to make sure he thanks them. Then he sighs. And they'll think I'll be talking to nothing again, darnit. He begins to do his morning ablutions and exercises.

Lotte samples some of the fruits and nuts before retrieving her guitar and playing some simple melodies.

A steaming pot of tea with five cups sits unobtrusively by Aiden's elbow on a small table by the arm of the couch. That table wasn't noticeably there before.

...Neither was the teapot.

Aiden blinks at the table. "That's new." He shrugs, assuming he must've walked past it when he was still mostly-asleep. He pours himself a cup of tea, cradling it in both hands as he sips.

Steven pauses at the door to his room, thinking he'd heard a soft creak from the luggage chest. He mentally grits his teeth, and resolves he will not turn to look. In fact he's going to go out and enjoy breakfast. Which he does... after he peeks back in at the chest, despite his admonishment

Lotte finishes her practice and joins Aiden in sipping a cup of tea.

Ghost plomps herself on the couch contentedly beside Lotte, taking up most of it. Her head tilts as she listens, then she regards Steven with a curious expression when Lotte stops playing.

Steven blinks at Ghost. "Er... yes...?"

Lotte looks startled at her first sip of the tea, as it tastes just like her favorite kind from back home.

Aiden closes his eyes, smiling. The tea reminds him of home and it's comfortable. He does crack one eye open when Steven starts looking back into his room. "You okay, Steven?"

Steven says, "Huh? Oh... I'm fine, thanks.. nothing wrong, honest. Why?"

Steven noticed no change in location from the suspect furniture when he looked, but he could have sworn it suddenly sat back down with a small thump, as though it had been... raised... when he wasn't looking.

Aiden says, "You just looked a little nervous there, that's all."

Steven says, "Oh, no.... I'm fine, really." He sets himself down at the table and takes up some breakfast fruit. "So.. what's up for today?""

Lotte looks up from her tea to study Steven, but says nothing.

Aiden glances around, "We have that appointment to keep with the Prince today, but.. we need to talk before then."

Seodil joins the small group looking perfectly groomed and wearing a blue-grey tunic and dove-grey pants picked out with silver and bits of moonstone. After acquiring breakfast, he settles on the couch next to Aiden. With head turned toward Steven, he swallows his bite of pear and says "I do believe we have an audience with Princess Seulement's husband, Prince Lyriquin, regarding your green car beast and your true origins, yes. I would suggest taking special care with one's attire for that."

Aiden nods, "Do we know when that's going to be?"

Lotte looks nervous at Seodil's last comment. "What shall I do about my clothes?"

Seodil shakes his head, "No, but I believe Clairchiare thought it might replace the morning ride our princes have been sharing, so it could be soon. I expect my brother here as soon as he knows, he is nothing if not polite... ah. Here he comes." Nobody else hears the footsteps yet, but Seodil obviously does. To Lotte, he frowns, "I am not sure. Do you fit anyone else's?"

Soleil straggles out of his and Aiden's bedroom looking rather tired, but cheerful enough. He too is not only neatly and elegantly dressed, but his short golden hair is still spiky-damp from bathing.

Aiden glances at Lotte, "You might fit into some of my stuff.. why don't you come have a look in a few here? I need to get showered and changed anyway." He smiles at Sol, "Morining."

Clairchiare's voice calls greeting as the rose-haired elf strides in wearing pale pink velvet and white satin with silver piping. He smiles warmly at Seodil first, then very correctly greets Sol out loud before his cheerful tones include the rest. He's not visibly surprised by Lotte's inclusion, though he does look at her last and say with a smile, tossing knee-length pink hair back over one shoulder, "And may I have the honor of your lovely companion's name this morning?"

Aiden says, "Good Morning, Clairchiare." He motions at Lotte, "Lotte, this is Clairchiare.. Clairchiare, Lotte."

Sol smiles at Aiden, glances narrowly at Seodil taking up the other half of Aiden's couch, and goes to get something for breakfast from the low table.

Lotte stands and stares wide-eyed at Clairchiare as he enters. When he finally looks at her, she blushes crimson and looks down at her feet. After Aiden introduces her, she mumbles, "Uh, nice to meet you" before scurrying into Aiden's room, pulling Aiden along with her.

Aiden, caught quite offguard, is yanked along very easily. He shuts the door with a word when Lotte gets him into his room. "What's wrong?"

Steven blinks in surprise as Lotte absconds with Aiden.

Lotte tries to compose herself but still looks flustered. "Uh, nothing. I just feel so, uh, smelly... everyone else is so pretty." She blushes again. "Can we find something for me to wear?"

Aiden smiles, "Yeah, sure. C'mon." He leads her over to the hidden closet in the wall and opens it up. "Feel free to grab whatever works for you, I don't mind in the slightest."

Everything Aiden was given came in tones to match him-- the things there, in silks, velvets, satins and linen, are mostly in shades of honey, golden brown or deeper, and grey-blue that perfectly matches his eyes. A few undershirts are cream or a brighter light blue instead. With a little creative mixing, Lotte finds a grey-blue silk shirt that falls to mid-thigh on her and could be a very short dress if she chose not to wear it with the dark brown velvet leggings that fit like tights. A brown vest that's very close to lace hangs nearly as long as the shirt. It's covered in apatite and tiny gold beads and is almost sparkly enough to distract from the fact that the shirt is very, very low-cut for a girl and the vest does not hide this.

While Lotte is finding clothing, Aiden goes into the other room to grab a quick shower before they go to meet the Prince. He comes back into the room fully dressed to get something to change into, just in case Lotte is still there.

Lotte quickly pulls on the garments she has selected and is twisting her hair into an elegant knot as Aiden returns. Once done, she gives him a quick 'thank you' before scurrying out into the main room and over to her bedroom. In her bedroom, she digs out the necklace that Seodil gave to her for her moonlit ritual and puts it on. She looks down at herself and sighs at her sandals, then fidgets and fusses until she feels ready to join the group.

Lotte enters the common room with struggling composure and rosy cheeks freshly pinched.

Aiden picks something out of his closet, changing into it and then heading back into the common room and back to his cup of tea, which is no doubt cold by now. That doesn't stop him from finishing it off, though.

Clairchiare has been quietly putting tiny braids-- and somehow, cabochon moonstones-- into the top layer of Seodil's hair, like a spiderweb of silver touched with morning dew. He looks up and beams at the returning Aiden and Lotte. Commenting to Seodil, the pink elf chuckles "Your new companion will outshine you all if you are not careful, my brother," before half-rising to bow toward the lady with a cheerful "You are both more than appropriate for your morning meeting." Aiden also happens to be in that direction.

Lotte blushes yet again and smiles shyly down at her feet.

Aiden smiles, "Thank you, Clairchiare. When are we meeting him? I didn't catch any mention of the time."

Seodil looks up with only his eyes, seated in front of Clairchiare, and seems to get a warmer smile when he notices Lotte's necklace... or possibly when he sees Aiden looking fine in honey and cream with a lacy golden vest that nearly matches the one Lotte chose.

The rose elf says brightly, "He awaits your readiness, as you were not given a time yesterday. The prince offers his apologies for the tardiness of the notice, and has cleared his schedule until noon to await you."

Aiden nods, "Quite alright. It was rather sudden."

Steven glances around as the dishes start to simply disappear, and looks about ready to say something when he doesn't. "Uhm... oh, right, I should get changed, too...." He goes into his room and hurriedly, if carefully, gets changed. I really have to ask Clairchiare about those etherial persons. Though now that we're known to be Grey Worlders, maybe they'll look at me much less that I'm a nitwit, when I ask a stupid question..."

Soleil gives Clairchiare a thoughtful look, eyes shifting to Seodil in front of him. "Would it be rude for us to go advise Steven on his audience attire while you assist your silver image?" The golden elf's tone is utterly charming.

Clairchiare blinks at Sol and smiles. "Not at all, Prince Soleil. I will attend my brother and wait for your return."

Rising, Soleil offers Lotte a hand up and smiles at Aiden. "Shall we?"

Aiden nods, setting down his teacup and rises, following Sol into Steven's room.

Lotte has looked up from her shoes to stare at the two elves, and is now led absentmindedly into Steven's room.

Steven is trying to decide on what to wear, andlooks quite relieved to see the others.

Aiden closes the door once Lotte is inside the room. "Hey, Steven."

The little band of three walks in on Steven's outfitting attempts en masse, and Aiden mutters the word to reclose Steven's door, shutting out the admittedly very pretty sight of the two elegant male elves sitting like marble and rose quartz statuary, grooming.

Aiden looks at the newly closed door, then at Lotte. He grins faintly and whispers the word to turn the door transparent to them, but keep it closed to the outside.

Sol says briskly, "Wear that," tossing things out of the closet at Steven. The newly transparent door restores the sight of Seodil turning to smile at his mirror-image brother, who is laughing and thwapping the silver elf with his own bright hair.

Aiden glances at Sol. "We're obviously not in here to discuss Steven's wardrobe. What's up?"

Soleil gives the door an irritated look, turns his back on it and says, "We need to talk, you said?" with a look at Aiden. "This is as alone as I think we'll get before that audience."

Aiden nods, "About our excursion last night and what we overheard."

Sol nods, "Thought so.. and I agree. Good thing the pretty pretty princess is distracting her sister."

Lotte sighs longingly at the door and tries to pay attention to what's being said.

Steven nods, starting to put on the indicated clothing and trying to make it looklike it's taking a while to pick something out.

Aiden glances over at Lotte, one eyebrow raised. "Anyway, Sol and I wandered last night, and we happened to overhear a conversation between Linden and Rathskeliad in the garden where Clairchiare's rosebush is. They were talking about Seodil.. something about feeling 'fatherly' towards a part of himself.."

Aiden says, "Linden promised Rathskeliad that she hadn't told us what it was for, and that she only brought us there as friends. He told her that had we picked the bloom from the bush, he'd have had it out of her hide."

Sol adds hastily to Lotte, "Clairchiare has a private garden with a central rosebush, we weren't allowed to touch it when Linden led us there the first time."

Lotte frowns. "What color are the blooms?"

Aiden glances back out, looking at the two elves in the other room. "I think we may have found the container that they kept Clairchiare in, Steven. It would explain the dates, if his mother delayed him by putting him in statis for a while."

Aiden says, "Pink, Lotte. An exact match for his hair."

Sol shrugs, "They're the same color as Clairchiare's hair," almosr in unison.

Aiden grins, "Speaking of which.. I can't believe you like him and not Seodil. They're carbon copies of each ot--" He stops dead, eyes widening.

Soleil raises an eyebrow at Aiden. "You just noticed?"

Steven frowns. "Container... how do you mean?" Then he blinks. His hair the same color as the roses.... That makes a wierd sort of...." He blinks again. "Lotte... what was that you said about.. about a kitten-tree?

Aiden turns around again, staring at Clairchiare and Linden. "I thought Rathskeliad was talking about Linden when he said that thing about feeling fatherly towards a piece of himself." He turns back around. "Steven.. if you didn't know better, because of the dates.. would you have assumed they were twins?"

Lotte begins to respond to Aiden's quip, "I never said..." She quickly catches on to the conversational turn and looks thoughtful. "We created clones of her cat... and grew them in a tree."

Aiden says, "Twins have all the same traits.. but a little genetic manipulation.. and clones can become very different from each other. If one were to just.. adjust the colours.. to assure that there was no failure... Holy shit. They're not brothers."

Soleil's orange eyes go very wide.

Lotte whispers, "Oh my gosh."

Steven says, "Oh, dear."

Aiden sits down on the edge of Steven's bed.. hard.

The bed bounces, ruining the solemnity of Aiden's shock just a trifle.

Steven is so stunned he can't even suggest that Aiden might not want to sit on the furniture that heavily. He tries to put it out of his mind, the image of a tiny Clairchiare in the heart of a rosebud.

Aiden lets out a breath. "Well. That conversation makes a lot more sense suddenly." He shakes his head, trying to clear the shock. "I'll talk to Seodil about it when I get a chance, see if I can figure out how to explain."

Lotte exclaims, "No!' She even looks suprised that she said it and quickly snaps her mouth shut.

Aiden blinks at Lotte, "Why not?"

Aiden says, "He has a right to know."

Soleil says softly, "I'm not sure I'd tell him either. What are your reasons, Lotte?"

Lotte looks embarassed but responds. "Think what that would do to his feelings. He just found his brother, he doesn't need to know how completely messed up the situation is... yet."

Aiden says, "Just think what it would do if he found out later that we've known for however long and never bothered to tell him."

Steven says, "HE should know at some point. He does know about the date issue, doesn't he, though?"

Aiden says, "Yes. And he knows what Sol and I overheard last night."

Lotte says, "So let him bring it up. He'll understand why we kept it from him. He's not *that* rash."

Aiden shakes his head, "I'm not keeping this from him. He has a right to know. It's not going to make him turn around and stop liking Clairchiare. Look at the two of them. They're as close as twins, and they've only know each other for a few days."

Soleil snickers. "Not that rash, no... downright painfully controlled, actually. It's a mercy his... copy... is a little looser."

Sol tilts his head and says, "Heh. You know, it wouldn't be incest, now. Sure you want to tell him?"

Aiden's jaw drops when he parses Sol's comment. It takes a few moments to sink in. He closes his mouth, a faint grin on his face. "Yeah. I'll tell him."

Steven keeps his mouth shut. He's SO not going there.

Soleil shrugs, a smile playing on his face. "I'm not going to be the one, so I don't mind if Aiden does or if all of you do... just not me telling him."

Aiden glances around. "We should probably get back out there before Clairchiare comes in here to find out if we're all right."

Aiden says, "He'll probably take it better if I talk to him alone.."

Glancing at the door, Soleil snorts "Normally I'd agree, but the clones are in their own little world. I hope they don't start talking some twin language."

Lotte says, "Wait. Aiden. Maybe I should tell him. I dunno why but... maybe I can explain it better."

Aiden tilts his head off to the side. "I'm a biology major, Lotte. But, if you want to try.." He shrugs.

Lotte says, "Well. Hrm. Why would he take it better if you told him alone?"

Aiden says, "I get the feeling he doesn't like surprises.. he'll probably deal with it better if he's not surrounded by a bunch of people."

Merrily, Soleil says, "Why don't you both tell him? You can take him aside and--" he falls silent and smiles.

Lotte nods to Soleil, despite his happy demeanor at such a sad story. "Maybe you and I both. I can explain about the kitten tree and you can take it from there."

Steven glances at Soleil, and shake shis head a bit. he still remins silent. "That might be best. THough at least Seodil wont' be theonehaving to eal with being likened to a kitten.

Aiden looks at Lotte and says, "Why would he take it better from me? He tends to listen to me on more.. friendly terms. If you want, we can speak to him together, or you can explain it to him. I honestly care less about who and more that it's not hidden from him."

Lotte smiles at Aiden. "Then let's tell him together, Aiden."

Aiden nods.

Strolling over to Steven, Soleil says, "You want to tell him too, or are you going to keep me company outside that room?" He grins.

Steven blinks at Sol. This is odd for him. "Uhm... I, uh, think we agreed that he'd take it best from Aiden and Lotte alone...." The hell?

Lotte's eyes widen. "We're going to tell him right now?"

Aiden says, "No, not right now.. Later. Tonight."

Soleil winks cheerfully at Steven and says, "Good. I'll count on the company. I need someone to help me remember not to call him "Puss" or "Kitty" after the tree comment you just made anyway."

Lotte looks relieved. "Oh, ok."

Steven shudders a bit. "SOmehow, I think he'd make it amply clear after the first time it happened..."

Aiden winces, "Sol.. I don't want to see you in traction.."

The golden elf tilts his head. "Traction?"

Aiden frowns, "It's where they elevate your limbs to keep them perfectly straight. Usually right after they've been broken."

Sol's eyes widen slightly, and he says "..Oh. Well. I suppose it is time to go back out hmm?"

Aiden nods, "We should, yes."

Lotte hides a smile and simply nods.

Aiden stands up and walks towards the door, waiting for the others to indicate that they are ready before he opens it and walks back into the other room.

Sighing a little, Sol nods and follows Aiden with a suddenly serene face.

Steven nods, having finished dressing while this has gone on.

Lotte follows Aiden into the other room.

Seodil and Clairchiare look up as one and smile. Clairchiare's hair is now a longer version of Seodil's thinly braided spiderweb, the two having switched seats. Clairchiare's rose-colored hair pools on the floor behind him. Smiling, he says "Ready?"

Aiden nods, "Sure are. Sorry about the delay."

With apparent seriousness, Clairchiare says, "Oh, I understand the importance of proper grooming. Sometimes you need more than one pair of hands to look your best."

Steven nods. "Certainly ready, now. Thanks to them."

It's clear that Clairchiare feels that looking one's best is high up there on the Very Important Things List, too.

Lotte straightens her blouse and tugs at her leggings self-consciously.

Rising gracefully, with assistance from Seodil that could have been choreographed for extra pretty, Clairchiare leads the way out onto the path to their appointment.

Aiden follows along behind, at the back of the group. He watches around them as they walk towards wherever they are meeting the Prince.

Steven remains more towards the middle since Aiden is taking up the rear. He also is paying attention to where they're going, watching carefully for landmarks or distinctive elements of the architecture or hallways they pass through.

Steven isn't sure, but he's fairly certain that he'd do a bang-up job getting them lost.

Clairchiare leads the group swiftly through a series of winding garden mazes that no one has yet entered, and ends up shepherding them into a gazebo with faintly shimmering air between its support posts. The shimmer closes behind them as they enter. Waiting in the gazebo is Prince Lyriquin, or so Clairchiare introduces the tall, white-blonde elf with golden skin and bright violet eyes. Lyriquin nods to them and says in a gorgeous voice, "Don't bother bowing, just sit. We need to talk. Clairchiare tells me you're not what you seem, and I need to know if I can trust you."

Besides Aiden, Soleil starts, as though this was not the Prince Lyriquin he was expecting after joining him for several morning rides before. Sol sits quietly.

Aiden nods his head to Prince Lyriquin and sits when he's bidden to do so, waiting for the Prince to start asking questions before he opens his mouth.

Steven isn't quite sure what to make of the Prince's blunt manner, but he does find himself approving of it. On the other hand, Soleil's reaction doesn't bode too well. He does as he's told, and remains quiet.

Lotte looks suprised at the prince's bluntness, but sits quietly and waits for what's next.

Clairchiare alone does not seem surprised. He is also the only one still standing, obviously keeping watch. Prince Lyriquin says, "Soleil, are you still who you say you are, of Winter?" Sol nods and says, "I am he. My companions have not lied, they are now of Winter-- but their birth and raising was indeed across the veil. They can answer for themselves; I am friend and not ruler to them, though they choose to serve my cause."

Lyriquin nods and turns a molten copper gaze on the group. "Then answer. What do you seek here, and who is this flame-haired lady who arrived by magic last night?"

Aiden says, with a sort of quiet dignity. "I am here because the Prince is here, and I have chosen to travel with him since my arrival here." He motions with an open hand, palm up towards the ceiling, towards Lotte. "She is my sister."

Steven nods quietly in agreement with and confirmation of Aiden's words.

Lotte looks slightly startled, but manages to answer in a dignified voice. "My name is Lotte. I am sister to Aiden and Steven, and friend to Prince Soleil. I have decided to travel with him as well, though I stayed behind to help the mage Frangipani on our journey here."

Seodil says quietly, "I am that Deosil Averet that you-- that your Princess Seulement sent a message via that bird of her desire. I have renounced the Averet name first given me and am called Seodil of Winter now, nor do I seek to return here to live where none stood to keep me long ago when my family tired of my sight."

Prince Lyriquin nods gravely to Soleil and to each Grey Worlder in turn, and visibly winces at Seodil's words. He answers the silver elf first, sorrow in his voice to match his eyes. "No one old enough to save you spoke for you. That you were not told your only friend did, however, shames me even further. This Court owes you a blood price and I mean to see that you get it." To the rest, Lyriquin's voice firms. "Then what do you seek here for yourselves and for your chosen Prince and friend, Companions of Winter? Rumor has it that Winter needs aid."

Aiden flicks his eyes over to Soleil and Seodil, not comfortable answering this question without some sort of go-ahead from them.

Lotte looks to Soleil for an answer.

Steven blinks in surprise at the prince'smention of Seodil's only friend, but he doesn't ask abotu that; that's for Seodil to speak upon. This is a question, too, best answered by Soleil.

Soleil nods to Aiden, catching his eyes and then trying to catch the gaze of both Steven and Lotte as he gives silent assent before adding very softly, "I trust you. You know what we need, and this is not a bad time to state it. After all we have shared, you are as good a voice to begin as I."

Aiden nods, "The rumours are correct, Prince Lyriquin. Winter is in need of aid. I cannot speak to the state of the court in prior times, having not been there, but what I have seen is in disarray. The King has.. fallen, and the Court is, even now, trying to pull itself out of its poor state. I do not believe it can happen without aid."

Lyriquin nods and looks at Steven and Lotte. "What kind of aid would you send them, if you could?"

Steven remains quiet at first, Aiden speaking it well enough, but he wonders at the Princes reaction. There was,he remembers being told, tension and rivalry between the two courts. he considers thoughtfully the Prince's question. "It would need... supplies, laborers or monies to hire laborers to rebuild and restore it. And to.. ensure that whomever sits on the throne does not also fall."

Lotte says, "The king was... overcome... by a mage named Haasha. We managed to defeat the evils in the Winter castle, but Haasha escaped..." She isn't sure she should say more, and looks back to the rest of the group."

The white-blonde prince listens with uncanny attentiveness after Sol's somewhat derisive comments days earlier that Lyriquin was a fluff-brain that cared only about hunting.

Soleil sighs, and nods to Lotte. "Go on."

Lotte decides to reiterate what Steven and Aiden have already said. "We would need help to secure the Winter Court and keep it safe."

Prince Lyriquin nods and says bluntly, "Thank you for your honesty. Do you have anything to add, Prince Soleil?" Sol smiles and shakes his head slightly, looking proud. Lyriquin takes a deep breath and makes eye contact with everyone in the group by turn as he speaks again. "I am of Fall, which took no part in the last war between Winter and Summer. The Princess also has no grudge against Winter for events that ended before her birth. We are by far your best choice for support in this court, and I will give you my word that we will do all in our power to aid you in your desire to rebuild the Winter Court and protect it in its new and delicate youth... but my support hinges upon both trusting you and gaining your aid in something as well. Do I have that support, and can I trust you not to speak of what I ask you today to anyone not in this gathering?"

Steven gives a bit of a start. This is the first he's heard of courts other than Winter and Summer. He looksto Soleil, though he knows what the answer willbe; Winter needs Summer's support far too much. He nods, once.

Lotte waits for someone else to respond first, then mimicks Steven and nods as well.

Soleil says firmly, "You have my word as Prince Soleil Aelorothi of Winter that I will not knowingly speak of what you are about to ask us here except as I believe myself to be in the sole presence of those included in this gathering. My aid I cannot promise until I know your need, with all due respect."

Aiden says, "Please, excuse my bluntness, Prince Lyriquin. I will never carry any word of what you speak of in this room beyond the doors of it, and it is very likely that I will agree to aid you, but I cannot promise you that I will, until I know what it is that I am agreeing to."

Seodil says, "I am with the will of my prince and my companions in this." Clairchiare is obviously exempt, still watching the surroundings beyond the gazebo for signs of uninvited guests.

Lyriquin flashes the group a wide grin and says, "Your spoken word, please, and then I will be pleased to trust it. Forgive my formality, Steven, Lotte, Seodil."

Seodil repeats the exact phrasing of Soleil's promise without apparent insult taken, calm.

Lotte repeats a similar promise, wondering what is needed of them.

Steven does the samme as well, a little bit nervous about the Prince's smile. He's notinsulted, either; thre's something to be said for the spoken word, after all.

Lyriquin smiles faintly and says, suddenly obviously weary, "I expect you to join me on our hunt for the green car beast from your world, but I do not expect you to do more than advise. I have excellent hunters visiting from my own clan. ...What I do need from you is far more grave and urgent. I have lost my princess and we suspect foul play. Help me save my wife."

Soft, Clairchiare adds a pleading whisper. "We lost her the day you arrived. She vanished. That is why you have had no audience, despite our rush to bring you here... and our care. Someone took advantage of my absence as bodyguard to take her while I met you, and I did not know til I returned that it was the Prince that had summoned me back."

Aiden's jaw doesn't quite drop, but his mouth does open slightly. "I'm terribly sorry to hear that, Prince Lyriquin. I will aid you in any way that I can, both in advice on dealing with the car, and to find your missing wife."

Steven thinks, Well, that's that mystery solved. Though we made the wrong guesses.

Lotte takes a moment for everything to sink in, then looks sad. "I will help you in any way that I can, Prince Lyriquin."

Soleil nods seriously, "I will promise you my aid in the finding of the Princess Seulement, Prince Lyriquin." Lyriquin looks at Sol and smiles faintly, sad. "You are very careful with your words, Prince Soleil." Sol's smile is much the same as he answers, "I like you, but you are married to a court that slaughtered mine not that long ago. It behooves us both to be certain what we promise each other." Lyriquin nods again; it looks resigned but respectful.

Seodil says simply, "I will not leave here until we get Seulement back."

Steven glances over to Seodil. Somehow.. Seodil's reaction doesn't surprise him,considering his reaction to the question about a year and a day. "I will help in whatever ways I can, as well."

Lyriquin looks at Seodil and says, "She is still fond of you, too." He looks terribly tired. To the group, he says, "We suspect someone at court did not want you to speak with the princess. We are not, however, sure why. You were supposed to come here timed correctly to avoid the notice of Elis Shh, Court Adjuster of Balance." Clairchiare doesn't look happy, but he says nothing. Lyriquin adds, "Now I do not know what fang I am overlooking, as she was not here when you arrived. Watch your step in tall grass, my allies."

Sighing, Lyriquin says "I am more grateful than I can say for your aid iin this. While alliances are often political in nature... I am very worried about her and my hope that she can be returned alive diminishes daily. Look quickly, for both our sakes." He hesitates, and says "She might have been carrying a child." His eyes close for a moment, before he says without opening them, "Thank you for your time today. Please, return to your day. Clairchiare will show you home and convey our next meeting time."

Aiden nods, "I'll do whatever I can to help bring her home safely to you, Prince Lyriquin."

Lotte's eyes bulge at the mention of a child as well, but she simply nods and waits to be led back to their rooms.

Steven swallows a but, and nods in agreement, looking to the others a bit worriedly. In the back of his mind he notes thePrince's comment, and wonders how Seodil and the Princess were in childhood.

Seodil's face goes very still and blank, and he nods as he rises. Soleil chews his lip and walks to touch Lyriquin's hand silently before letting Clairchiare shepherds them all away, leaving Lyriquin with his eyes still closed in the solitary gazebo.

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