| Logs |
2011 June 01
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
Closure
Chanticleer remains quiet, though he does bow to the Queen and observes all the protocols of disengaging from the Unseelie Court -- because quite frankly he wants out of there as soon as possible and to consult with Sna'tha. While he's trying to keep his body language from showing it, every minute they're walking towards the exit without interruption is a relief... though he does smile politely to the queen's friend, whomever or whatever they are. He lets his curiosity distract him from his urgent need to depart soonest, but only a little. Suraksha steps up enough to murmur quietly to the queen's friend, once they're out of the courtroom, "We are carrying several items loaned to us by her majesty. If you would lead us to a place where we may divest ourselves of them before departure from these lands, it would be most helpful?"
The entity walking along with them wears loose-fitting trousers that billow like silk, with a long, tunic-like garment over them. Rings of sparkling garnet or ruby encircle ankles and wrists along with strings of tiny gold bells that tinkle with every movement. The clothing is of a deep auburn color which wonderfully sets off the golden color of skin and eyes. The whole figure is willowy and androgynous, "If you wish. I can take you to the armory before taking you to the passage back to your world."
Suraksha nods gravely, "That would be excellent, and most helpful." She's quite pleased -- this means they'll likely get to thank Aurora and the gryphons, and check to be sure Sova and Jongleur are safe. The tiger-woman also does not wish even a hint of impropriety in the arrangements between them and the now-furious Unseelie queen.
Their guide says, "You may call me Orlaith. I am Morganna's cousin, though I am privileged to be called friend as well." She walks with them through passages and stairways, moving downward. There doesn't seem to be a set direction she's moving, but she seems quite sure of her path.
Suraksha nods at that, "Very well. I am Sura, and this is Chanti." She doesn't expand further past that; she already knows Guaire managed to coerce one of Morganna's trusted.
Chanticleer nods pleasantly to Orlaith when he is introduced, glancing behind them now and then; he'd rather someone didn't sneak up on them. While 'backstabbing' isn't as common in the Courts as it once was, they just left behind an extremely unhappy queen, and likely an even more unhappy king -- either of which may have followers who don't like the people who put their monarchs in such a state at the moment; perhaps the king's retainers and friends moreso than the queen's.
The path down to the armory is a quick one -- or at least the one Orlaith walks them down is. She calls out as they come near the door, "Aurora! I have some people wanting to return your tools!" Suraksha cautiously starts to put back her hood, glancing around to see who is there.
Aurora is inside the armory and working away at a forge, her sleeves rolled back to show her massive arms. She raises her head curiously; not having actually heard Orlaith over her own hammer, she asks, "Back already? It's not been even a week."
Suraksha smiles and waves a hand toward Orlaith, "We're here to return your tools. Ahh... has Sova returned yet?" Chanticleer smiles quietly to Aurora as well, lowering his own hood.
Aurora sets the piece she was working on back in the forge and strips off her gloves. Her face is solemn, "Sova is in the custody of the gaolers. Just the gaolers, luckily, and not the questioners."
Chanticleer nods quietly at that, rather glad -- then grimaces as he realizes 'questioners' is a polite way of saying 'interrogators' or 'torturers.' It's the sort of thing both courts -- to varying degrees -- simultaneously deny vehemently and quietly condone. Suraksha sighs in relief, "Thank goodness. Poor girl -- Guaire threatened to turn the nightmare on her. Even so, in the end she warned us regardless." She glances at Orlaith, adding, "I take it the events which just transpired are, ahh... not secret?"
Orlaith looks amused at that question, "I'm not certain how they could be, as they took place in full view of too many courtiers to simply disappear."
Suraksha nods to Orlaith with a faint smile, then turns back to Aurora, "Yes, we're back. The mara was captured, Nuadha is even now being fetched, and Guaire is deposed." She grins after that whopper of an announcement, laying all their borrowed gear on the scarred, heavy wooden table nearby, "Here is everything loaned to us, but for the tunic, boots, and breeches I'm wearing. I'll be happy to send those back with Orlaith once we're out of the Fey Lands. We greatly appreciate your help, and that of the gryphons as well. Also, have you seen Jongleur? Is he safe? It was the slaying of all the queen's ravens, after all, which caused Morganna to, ahh... lose her temper with Guaire." She adds a bit wistfully, "I wish we could find a bow this fine for Chanti in the human realms. Your equipment is truly excellent."
Aurora automatically starts looking through the equipment Suraksha lays out, glancing over it to make sure it is in good repair. She stops mid-examination, however, and says with pained incredulity, "The ravens sent with you were killed? Morganna will be inconsolable..."
Suraksha says grimly, "She knows. One survived." She is faintly amused internally at how much Aurora thinks first of her liege and queen: the news of the mara, Nuadha, themselves, and Guaire all are of no import to the huge bear-woman, compared to the effect the death of the ravens will have on Morganna.
Chanticleer says quietly -- and a touch wryly, "'Inconsolable' is not the word I would use. Guaire is lucky to still be alive." He remembers mention of 'questioners.' "Maybe 'lucky' is the wrong word."
Aurora nods and takes a deep breath, "I'm glad to see you came back and to hear that Nuadha is out of danger." She pauses, "Can't say I'm unhappy to hear that Guaire overstepped his bounds. I have never thought he was a good match for the queen." Suraksha smiles again at that, simply waiting silently and patiently for Aurora. She doesn't know what it is about the bear folk, but they all seem quite... deliberate in thought and action. Aurora sets the bow and quiver Chanticleer was using off to one side and says, "As for Jongleur, it's been in and out and about. So I would say it's perfectly safe. I doubt it even remembers what it was doing a few days ago. Creatures like Jongleur have the happy ability to live forever in the moment."
Suraksha grins at the news, both delighted and relieved to hear that. "Thank goodness! I feared for him as well, once I'd heard the ravens were all slain." She hesitates, then adds, "Could you convey our appreciation to the gryphons as well, when you have a moment? They were quite admirable in their steadfastness around the poor mara." She thinks a moment more, then quietly continues, "As for the mara herself... I wish her blessings. Poor thing... she and Nuadha both, I suspect, will want to forget this time as quickly as possible. I'm just relieved Chanti and I could keep it short."
Chanticleer nods, "I'm glad it went quickly and -- relatively -- well. The queen is... unhappy at the moment. This is probably not a good time to have been a minion of the king." Suraksha smiles wryly at that, nodding once.
Aurora finishes her inspection of the weapons and supplies, and nods in satisfaction. The bow and quiver she hands back to Chanticleer, "Keep this. Sidhe ought to be equipped properly." She wipes her hands on a rag tucked into her waistband and says, "The mara is likely safe. It was bound to do what it did, after all. It wasn't a free choice."
Suraksha brightens with delight at the gift to Chanticleer, "How kind!" She beams at the sidhe, then adds, "I believe the mara is, yes; Morganna had her chirugeon attend to her -- the mara is female."
Chanticleer blinks in surprise, then bows respectfully. "Thank you! That's extremely kind and generous of you! I'll use them well, with respect to the one who gave them to me."
Aurora smiles kindly at Chanticleer; if one were not familiar with ursine people the smile might looks slightly sinister. "I enjoy having people use the things I make, if those people use them properly. I can tell you took care of the gear." She lays her hand almost affectionately on the daggers, "Then the mara will be fine. She will live to horrify another day."
Suraksha chuckles at Aurora's comment regarding the mara, smiling and nodding to her, then glances to Orlaith, "I think we are ready to depart now... unless there is aught else?"
Orlaith has been standing back unobtrusively as the interchange with Aurora happened. She had become... not invisible, but certainly easy to overlook. Once Suraksha speaks to her again she smiles and steps forward, "I'll be happy to take you back. Please, follow me." She moves ahead of them out of the armory and into another series of corridors; she seems utterly familiar with the whole of the strange palace.
Chanticleer blinks a little, watching Orlaith -- or rather listening to her -- or more specifically, not being able to listen to her. She moves utterly silently; the only sounds she makes are the clothing and jewelry she wears. He suspects she's more than just a 'friend' to the queen -- that would be an ability the eavesdroppers at the Seelie Court would pay in blood to have available... in more ways than one. "If I may ask," he says courteously to her, "I've not seen fey of your like before, and I was wondering what you are called?"
As they move, some of the hallways begin to seem familiar, and they are definitely moving downward at a steady pace. The supernatural flashes a smile over her shoulder at Chanticleer and says, "I am called Orlaith." The nearly-silent fey laughs, "But I suspect you really wish to know what sort of being I am, yes? I am a moon-spirit."
Suraksha tilts her head curiously, "Fascinating. I have never heard of such before."
Chanticleer blinks in surprise, blushing a little at Orlaith's admonishment and smiling quietly to her. "I've not, either."
Suraksha walks silently for a while before she murmurs to Orlaith, "Have you any idea what will happen to Sova and the mara?" While she'd love to ask many questions about the nature of moon-spirits, she suspects that would be considered rude, alas!
Orlaith laughs again and turns so she's walking backward, looking back at Suraksha and Chanticleer, "Well, that's what we're called by those folk looking for a label for everything. As for the mara, she was just doing what she was bound to do. To punish her for that would be as foolish as to punish a snake for biting. Sova... she is another matter."
Chanticleer's expression fades a little at mention of Sova, and he nods a little. Suraksha sighs quietly. "Should she be punished for being terrorized by a brute, though? In the end she did do her best to help us, after all."
Orlaith says, "Oh, I doubt her punishment will be severe. She was, as you said, threatened. But she could have come directly to Morganna."
Suraksha nods slowly; she does not know under what circumstances Guaire assaulted Sova. Still, this is better than Sova's initial assumption: that she'd be either slain or exiled. "True. Well, hopefully things will settle out soon." She reviews mentally for a moment, then nods to herself -- they've taken care of everything she can think of here. Now she and Chanti need to get swiftly and safely home, and debrief with Sna'tha. She wonders idly what a "rich reward" is to a queen, and that makes her smile: Sna'tha (as the caravan's bookkeeper) will likely be pleased with that. Chanticleer tries to think of anything left to do as well, but he thinks they've covered everything that propriety and protocol dictates they take care of before they leave.
Orlaith continues walking backward, smiling at the two of them, "I'm sorry Morganna didn't send you immediately home with your reward. Things did not happen as she expected them to. Personally, I think they came out much better... aside from the poor ravens." She laughs cheerfully, "Oh, Guaire is going to have quite a difficult time of it if he survives that knife wound you gave him."
Suraksha gives Orlaith a curious look, wondering if the entity is reading her mind. Chanticleer smiles quietly, "No need to apologize. We understand. We'd rather not trouble her with worry about that for now; she has pressing issues on her mind."
Suraksha politely adds, "We too are mostly pleased with how things turned out." She sighs softly in genuine regret, "I'd have saved the ravens if I'd known." Chanticleer nods in agreement with Suraksha.
Orlaith says, "That you brought back even the one is a coup, if you ask me." She smiles and turns around, actually skipping down the last passage. They come to a large archway, on the other side of which is darkness and the smell of damp earth, "This is, I believe, the cave through which Jongleur would have brought you."
Chanticleer blinks, looking around. "I think it is, yes."
Suraksha smiles thoughtfully at the darting little spirit. While Sura realizes the astonishing tour de force performed by Chanti and herself, she'd not expected anyone else to understand it. However, if Orlaith can see what a coup this entire mission has been, perhaps Morganna will come to that realization as well... and perhaps it will be reflected in both her feelings towards them, and her gifted reward. Suraksha would like that; she wants her beloved caravan family to stay safe and well. She nods to Orlaith, "Might we impose on you to wait a moment before returning? I'd like to give you the clothing I borrowed, but I'd like to step outside the cave first. Chanticleer can bring it back to you, if that's all right?"
Orlaith tips her head to the side, puzzled, "Do you not want to keep them?"
Suraksha says, "They were loaned to me, as far as I'm aware." The tiger-woman interestedly checks Orlaith's chakras as she adds, "Is there something special about them which I don't know?"
Orlaith shrugs and says, "Probably not overly so. But I'll be happy to wait for you while you send them back if you want." Orlaith's chakras don't look unusual -- or at least no more unusual than any other fey Suraksha has scanned.
Suraksha grins tiredly at that nebulous statement. "Overly so? How do you mean, please?"
Orlaith says, "From the look of them, they're some of Orion's work. Much of his work is imbued with little cantrips and charms, such as a don't-see-me or trust-me. I can't tell if those particular clothes are bespelled, but I wouldn't be surprised."
Suraksha looks down curiously at the clothing, then smiles puzzledly at Orlaith, "Have I misunderstood, then? Were the clothes meant as a gift?" She thinks back: what was accomplished while wearing the clothes? Sova was unable to betray them, the flyer boy chose to trust them and obey her, and Nuadha approached them to make sure they were all right. The tiger-woman grins ruefully -- too much variety to be sure what small cantrips were woven in, if any.
Orlaith shrugs again, "Did Morganna say to have Aurora loan you clothes or give you clothes?"
Suraksha says to Orlaith, "I... am not sure. Let me think..." She closes her eyes for a moment, thinking back. Chanticleer blinks and can't exactly remember himself, either.
Orlaith grins, "Go on and keep them. If Morganna asks, I'll tell her that I told you to keep them."
Suraksha opens her eyes, "Oh, good -- because I cannot remember precisely." She smiles, "You are very kind; we appreciate your guidance." She waves to the woman as she heads for the cave's entrance with Chanticleer, "Blessings of the Lady upon you and yours!"
Chanticleer bows politely to Orlaith and bids her best wishes, before leaving the cave with Suraksha. They're far out of the cave before he lets out a relieved breath. Suraksha grins ruefully over at Chanticleer, her golden pupils huge in the darkness. "My thoughts exactly! Let's get back to the caravan quickly, so we can verify we've been returned as promised, and so we can debrief to my godsmama."
Chanticleer says wryly -- and a touch thoughtfully, "I never thought I'd experience that sort of thing again."
Once out of the cave they find themselves in exactly the spot Jongleur brought them from. The moon seems to have moved just enough to indicate an hour or so has passed, and their own tracks are still fresh on the ground -- finding their way back to the caravan should be no problem at all. Suraksha sighs in relief, flashing a beaming and toothy grin at Chanticleer as she swiftly shucks out of the clothing, "Here, you carry this and I'll carry you -- we'll move faster that way!"
Chanticleer nods, accepting the clothing and not quite looking at Sura as she divests herself of it. Once he's accepted the clothes she shifts into tiger form. He murmurs, "We'll have to get the clothing looked at, in case it is enchanted." Suraksha chuffs laughter, nodding her broad, heavy head once in agreement.
It's only a short while later they're both at the caravan, the big tiger padding silently through the night and sniffing to locate her godsmother. Sna'tha isn't hard to find; she doesn't sleep much on the best of days. She's moving around the encampment, just checking on things. Suraksha gives a low cough to alert the sidhe woman; by now she expects her godsmother is aware of their mission. The tiger-woman wonders with a bit of pride if Sna'tha will be pleased at how swiftly they accomplished their goal. "Ghodsmama! Wanna debrieve, ya?"
Sna'tha turns at the cough and a look of sheer relief passes over her face, easily read despite her compound eyes, "Yes. Please." She walks with the pair of them back to Suraksha's wagon, where Fantine comes hurrying out with a dressing gown for Suraksha.
Suraksha shifts shape and cheerfully accepts the gown, tightly hugging everyone in relief as well. "Come, let's all sit and relax a bit! Fantine, some hot tea would be utterly fabulous, if Buddy can provide some?" She heads into her wagon, dropping the bed so there's room for everyone to sit. Once the door is closed she nods to Chanti, "Show Sna'tha the clothing, please? Godsmama, there are apparently small charms possibly woven into the clothes and boots. Can you identify them at all?" Chanticleer nods and lays out the clothing for Sna'tha to examine.
Sna'tha takes the clothing and examines it closely: stroking it, peering at it, and even sniffing it. After several minutes of minute examination she says, "Well, the boots and breeches are just ordinary, but the shirt seems to have a sort of trust charm on it. Or... well.. not trust exactly. More like a very faint aura of 'you like me.'"
Chanticleer arches a brow. Interesting, potentially useful, but he suspects Suraksha would see it as 'unfair' to wear the shirt herself. Suraksha looks faintly disappointed, "That's it? Ah, well... I do that myself already." She considers a bit, then smiles at Chanticleer, "Would you like it? You certainly performed magnificently despite being thrown abruptly into this hornet's nest of politics."
Chanti blinks again at the offer. "I'd really have no use for it, to be honest." [I can't say I found myself in need of it at the ball, after all....] "But thank you, Lady." He considers. "We should use it for scouts who go to check out new towns or communities that may be near our route. It may help them learn more about those places.
Sna'tha says, "It would be useful in that capacity. Perhaps for Joe." She chuckles, "Though Little Joe is likable all on his own."
Suraksha nods thoughtfully, "That is an excellent idea. I bet Little Joe would appreciate it." She smiles at Sna'tha as they both come to the same conclusion. "True! Here, I'll give it to him later. Chanti, why don't you start the debriefing, and I'll chime in as necessary." She folds the rest of the clothing and puts it away -- good, sturdy clothing is nothing to sneeze at, in the rough conditions of the trail, after all -- and sets the shirt aside for Joe.
Chanticleer nods and begins to relate the entire story from when the little Unseelie pookah found them. It is a constant monologue, with Suraksha including the occasional addition. The sidhe tells the tale with none of the embellishment that would come with a storytelling: This is a debriefing, not a tale around a fire. Sna'tha listens, only interrupting occasionally to ask for clarification. When it's done she says, "It sounds as if you two came out of this with surprisingly little damage done."
Chanticleer comments, "For dealing with the Unseelie court directly... yes. Shockingly little."
Suraksha sighs in relief over her hot tea, the curlicues of steam swirling about her face, "Oh, fantastic. I was quite worried I'd disappoint you!" She beams at Chanti, reaching out with her free hand to lightly slap his shoulder, "Do we work well together under pressure, or what, eh?"
Chanticleer grins to Suraksha, "We did indeed! I'd rather have less pressure than the Unseelie Queen, admittedly."
Suraksha grins cheerfully at Chanti and Sna'tha both, "Wonderful! So... 'rich reward' is easy -- we'll use it to upgrade the caravan, of course -- but what would be wisest to do with a boon from the Unseelie queen?"
Sna'tha smiles wryly and says, "Of course, Morganna still owes you payment for your work -- which might just be an excuse to come ask you to do something else for her."
Suraksha laughs at that! She shakes her head amusedly, "I may just tell her it's against my religion to work for extra dimensional royalty more than once a year, or something!" She giggles, then sips her tea.
Chanticleer laughs quietly, "She may take that as a challenge of some sort, Lady." Suraksha snorts amusedly.
Suraksha's caravan is finally wending its slow way in towards Baton Rouge, and Roy knows it -- Joe delivered a Miss you! Be there hopefully by the end of the day! letter from Suraksha for him. The king is impatient and restless, so partway through the day he decides 'fuck it!' and tells his advisors this meeting is over! It's too nice a day; he's got to take a break and go riding!
Everyone there's kinda grinning -- they know what he's really after. Roy heads out quickly soon thereafter on Hermoso, an almost indulgently smiling Jacko mounted up with him, and they head their horses at a swift canter along the road by which the caravan will be arriving.
The caravan is, of course, steady but slow. Several hours later, when Roy catches it, he rides a tightly collected canter next to it, along one side of the road so he can pass without slowing it even further. The folks driving wagons and walking or riding alongside are grinning and waving, calling teasing comments to him; the elephant raises her trunk and trumpets a cheerful greeting too -- which nearly gives poor Hermoso a heart attack! Roy calms his mount, and is giving polite smiles and nods, but he's clearly searching intently -- and then he spots Suraksha's wagon! She's laughing delightedly, standing on the end of the bench seat and waving to get his attention.
She's got someone else with her that she's already handed the reins to. She's bouncing a bit, hanging off the edge of the wagon as she waits for Roy to see her, and he wheels Hermoso around and slows the stallion so he can walk next to her wagon. When he grins and holds his arms out for her, she laughs and, with perfect confidence that even if Hermoso spooks a bit, between her and Roy she can certainly make it -- she leaps lightly into Roy's arms!
Suraksha settles astride Roy's lap, facing him, and wraps her arms about his neck. He hugs her close, and as the well-trained horse continues walking briskly along with the caravan wagons, the two lovers share a very, very long, hungry, and sweet kiss! The other folks in the caravan are laughing and giving teasing catcalls -- they think it's adorable! Jacko's got that patient 'yes, I'm with him; ain't he cute' smile as he follows. When the two finally pause for a breath, Roy murmurs to his shining-eyed, blissfully happy lover, "Welcome back, cherie. Sure missed you too!"
A few minutes later Hermoso is getting used to walking along tied to the back of Suraksha's wagon; she'd coaxed Roy into coming inside: please, just for a little bit? Just a short cuddle?
It's a few hours later in the day that the caravan finally arrives in Baton Rouge. Leading them in is a very smugly pleased-looking Roy on Hermoso -- with a tousle-maned Suraksha happily seated pillion, her arms around his waist and peeking out from behind him with a delightedly mischievous grin!
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