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Reality Fault

Realms: Taps Logs

No Diamonds in the Mine

It is Suraksha's plan to keep the caravan moving steadily during the day along the sluggish leyline they're currently on. Simultaneously, the lightning raids will occur: a scattering of two- or three-person teams containing at least one fighter and one person with the capability to sense. Whether the sensing is quartz clumps, ley energy paths, three-day-old tracks, or anything similar does not matter to Sura -- she just wants to be sure they end up freeing as much ley energy as possible. The teams will fan outwards from the caravan with the smaller or slower folks hitting the closer possibilities, while she herself -- as one of the swiftest fighters -- will be heading out for the furthest leyline energy beds.

It's Sna'tha that points out the fact that if they want to keep moving forward, they'll need to forget about the dried-up leyline behind them -- at least for the moment -- and concentrate on seeing if there are more of these on the tributaries close by. If they send a team back, it will need to be very fast and very dangerous people. Suraksha nods grimly, "I'll take that one, then." She glances at Dominic as she adds, "If you're willing to ride and to put in a long day, Dom, we can race back several miles, then work our way forward to the caravan again, tracking back and forth from dried bed to bed. Would that work, do you think?"

Dominic nods grimly. This is something very close to sacrilege for the serious young man, so he's more than willing to ride and do whatever work needs to be done. Rattler asks, "Goan be just de two of you?" He's being detailed to another team since he can sense the ley energy -- just not as easily as the earth Tap.

Suraksha smiles curiously, "Who else would you suggest, lover?"

Roy smiles wryly, "Me, Chanti, Buddy, Ohkwa. Doan wanna letcha oudda my sight, but dat jes' me bein' worried. You c'n take care'a yourself bedder'n any udder t'ree people, cher. Was really jes' askin' so I know who to 'spect back." The naiad king is putting on what he thinks of as light battle gear. Leather jerkin and heavy boots and gloves. There might be fighting, after all.

Suraksha looks puzzled, "Who... to expect back? Not sure what you mean there, please?" She's guessing he's not seriously suggesting she carry all those entities, however. Well, she hopes not!

Rattler smiles wryly, "Goan into battle, you wanna know who went out so you know who you godda mourn if dey doan come back, cher. Dis could git ugly. I jes' wanna know who's goan where. Even if I ain't de general."

Suraksha blinks slowly. "You... think this is... no." She sighs. "No, you're right. Whomever this is, they are unlikely to see the effective theft of thousands of quartzes as -- as simply a light-hearted romp by children." She frowns, mentally reviewing the teams -- then does a bit of revision so there are sneaky people included. After that she checks, "All right. I think that's it -- we should all be good. Does anyone else have suggestions before we do this thing?"

Dominic shakes his head. Sna'tha looks solemn, but she was a warrior and assassin long before most of the people in the caravan were born. Rattler says, "Jes' one las' t'ing, cher." He steps close to her and slides a hand to tangle in her hair and cup the back of her head before kissing her very seriously and very thoroughly. When it breaks, he rests his forehead against hers and murmurs, "You de light'a my heart. Le's bot' git back safe."

Suraksha smiles up at him, her arms twined about his neck; she has to stand on tiptoe to easily reach his lips -- but as far as she's concerned, that's just an excellent excuse to lean her front along his! "We shall, sweet man. I have faith in us all. We shall succeed." Rattler nods and takes a step back. His brush with death has him more pensive than is normally natural for the cocky king-in-exile. If there was ever anyone that Roy would have married, it is Suraksha and so he's more worried than he usually would. Her strength is one of the things he loves, after all. Suraksha whispers quietly to Rattler before he steps back, "You be careful too, beloved, yes? No need to show off for anyone in this -- just come back to me safe and sound, please?"

Roy smiles wryly, "Dis ain't my ideal venue for showin' off, cher. Dom de one bes' wid dis."

Suraksha laughs softly and gives him a gentle kiss at the corner of his lips. "Just... be safe, beloved. The bebes and I need you." She earnestly prays to her goddess, however, as she sheds her clothing moments later to change forms. She wants all her people to return, but she knows sometimes that's just not possible. If nothing else, she prays for them all to be in the hands of the Lady of Serpents. The various teams scatter and plan to rendezvous back with the caravan at various times. They all know not to expect Suraksha and Dom back as quickly as some of the ones that are doing quick scouting missions off this line.

Del has rigged up a sort of riding harness for Dom to use while riding Sura, mostly to keep the earth Tap from falling off the swiftly-moving tiger. There are no reins, just hand-holds and something like stirrups to keep his feet off the ground. Suraksha shakes herself hard once Dominic is on, to be sure he's firmly settled. Once he gives her the go-ahead, she and he both call goodbyes and good luck to the others -- then the massive tiger pads out of the caravan circle. She breaks into a swift gallop after they're out in the open, covering ground as quickly as she can in order to get to their first and furthest location before much time has passed.

Dom lays almost flat on Sura's back and just reaches out with that other sense, the one that connects him to the earth as if he were indeed dust of the dust and clay of the clay. They backtrack to the original dried-up leyline faster than the caravan made it, but it's still not a short trip. Once they reach the dry route Dom dismounts and crouches, tracing back and looking for tributaries. Suraksha stands careful watch over her young friend, her senses alert and questing around them. If she can, she'll try to build up a mental calendar of when the ley energy harvesters visit the area, through a (necessarily rough) sense-based estimation of their timing.

Dom leads them back along a smaller branch of the leyline and then a smaller one still, working backward off the big dry leyline. They find what they're looking for along a tertiary leyline, but the setup is somewhat different: the battery is smaller and it isn't sitting on a spring. The smaller leyline continues past it. Suraksha tilts her head curiously at the quartz battery, "Dh'ivveren'dh. I bh'ull, you sdh'ay ba'gh, yah?"

Dom nods and steps back from her, brows drawn. This one is close to full. Full enough, in any case, that the harvesters should be here soon, but the scents are days and days old. Suraksha crouches next to the battery and cautiously hooks a claw around it, like she did for the previous one. When she feels no shock, and if Dominic does not warn her to pause, she'll smoothly pull it out of the ground.

Dominic examines this battery. There are only about a half-dozen quartzes on this one and he frowns as he looks it over. The flow of the leyline is already starting to reassert itself. Suraksha stretches out like a sphynx again so Dominic can load up the tool once he's examined it. "Whazzup?"

Dominic says, "It just... there's fewer quartzes, like... like maybe they came back to here often to swap it out." He looks around nervously, "Do you smell anyone?"

Suraksha says, "Sefh'eral days agh'o." She looks around, then nods to Dominic, "Moun'dh u'bh. We gh'o fas'dh." Dominic nods and guides them back down the tributary and back up the next one. They hit two more small battery arrays like this one, both full and both several days unvisited. By the time they're done the secondary branch is starting to recover, heading back to the major dry branch. Suraksha sighs in relief at that news -- but she's also moving more cautiously now, taking the time to scent the air around them, and to listen for others. She's started sneaking more too, traveling through the shadows and under overhanging trees; avoiding bright, sunlit meadows. "Hogh'ay! Gh'ood so far. Where ne'ghzt?"

Dominic feels like the hair on the back of his neck is trying to stand up, "Think we oughta head on back toward town a little further... there's a good half-dozen major branches leading to this big one. I'm..." He hesitates, "I just keep expectin' to run into someone."

Suraksha nods worriedly, her head swinging around as she moves, so she can scent and listen more effectively. "Yah. Me dh'oo. We gh'ee'bh this way un'dhil mid af'dhernoon, yah? Then mus' re'dhurn."

Dominic nods and mounts up again, jaw tight. The next secondary branch has already started to see some renewed flow and that just makes him tense up further. "Lady, we might run into the harvesters up here..."

Suraksha murmurs softly, "Hush, bh'lease... lissenin'..." as she creeps along in the shadows towards the spot Dominic says is most likely, trying to spot either people or the battery.

The scents as they come upon the first of the tertiary branches are old as well, and the battery they find is still in place. Dom slides off Sura's back and moves carefully, asking, "Anyone close?"

Suraksha murmurs softly, "No'dh ye'dh." She's settled into a crouch so she can swiftly yank the battery, and Dominic can just as swiftly tuck it into the saddlebag. "S'dhay on my ba'gh, dh'ough, bh'lease..." She scents and listens carefully for a few seconds before yanking the battery.

Dom takes the battery and frowns, "This is... it's full. Completely full. That must be why the stream here is re-establishing..." Suraksha isn't listening -- she's busy sensing again. In fact, she's already started to pad carefully away, with Dominic still on her back and holding the battery. Her instincts and Dominic's words both tell her to depart. She wonders puzzledly -- could someone who usually retrieved these be dead? Oh! Could they have been retrieved by Doris herself? The scents Sura is picking up don't remind her of Doris. They're vaguely familiar, as if Sura had run across them whilst back in town. Perhaps someone she smelled at the palace, but not Doris and not Eloise.

Dom packs up the battery while still on tiger-back, then directs Sura to the next tertiary leyline, every line in his body tense. This makes him think they're either overlapping the harvesters or that the harvesters aren't coming back. Suraksha frowns thoughtfully as she pads cautiously along, whispering her thoughts to Dominic. She's relieved none of the scents are Sheriff Pawling... oh! Could any of them be the guards she was near? She sighs in quiet puzzlement, also wondering how the town kept from depriving itself of ley energy -- all these batteries are "upstream"!

The scents could indeed be the guards; they have the sense of people she smelled on the periphery. But they are indeed days and days old. Suraksha sighs thoughtfully as she adds another possible realization to Dominic: the reason they've not run across any harvesters is perhaps because Doris's body was just found -- and the town is in shock? The big tigress wonders how many people there will be feeling like they just 'woke up' now that Doris's control has been removed. That should certainly add to the chaos, if so!

The next two batteries are similarly full to overflowing and Dominic's eyes are a little wide at the amount of resources they're now carrying -- both in energy and in the trade value of all the quartz. Dom's voice is low too, "If they're the ones harvesting, that's why they aren't running out. They've got it all."

Suraksha says, "Go'dh wha'dh all?"

Dominic says, "The people in town that need ley energy. They're harvesting it all, so they wouldn't run low because of the dry leyline. It would..." He swallows hard, "It would be a very effective way of controlling Taps."

Suraksha glances puzzledly over her shoulder at Dominic, then goes back to carefully scanning the area as she continues towards their next stop. "Eggsbh'lain, bh'lease? Gh'on'dhrol how?"

Dominic speaks slowly, as if he's just working through this himself, "If Doris was harvesting the leylines, she wouldn't have to worry about the leylines being dry. She'd be the one with the quartzes. Access to as much energy as she needs while blocking it off from anyone that takes it directly from the leylines." He's feeling cold in the pit of his stomach.

Suraksha sighs worriedly, "Goddi'dh. So dh'is means is Baws'dhonians raiding ley ener'chee." Her tail flicks in short, angry lashes as she softly adds, "Bas'dhards! Where dh'ey ge'dh all dh'e money 'n gh'war'dhzes?!" More soberly she adds, "An'... how we s'dho'bh some'dhing so bh'owerful?"

Dominic is thinking hard on this and he says, "I wonder, though.. there are so many batteries... and there weren't that many Taps in town... this might be..." He rubs his forehead as he tries to work it out. He's good, solid, and dependable but not always the quickest on the uptake, "This leyline is big. Could they be using this like a central field? Like having a reservoir to fill jugs, that then are used to fill cisterns?" As he's pondering this, he loses track of where they're going and doesn't notice that the next tertiary branch is again dry. About the time he's starting to twig that something isn't right again, Suraksha catches fresh scents.

Suraksha crouches, whispering, "Hush!" as she glances around. Her ears swivel and she sniffs the air, trying to locate the harvesters. They're downwind of the humans, meaning that any animals they might have with them won't be scenting a tiger, but Sura can smell at least four -- and they all smell human to her. Dom asks quietly if he should get down so she can move more easily. Suraksha shakes her head -- she wants him close for now. She simply watches and listens, trying to figure out what precisely the humans are doing: have they yet figured out they've been raided? Are they the only harvesters?

These four are the only scents close and they seem to match up closely to what she's been smelling at the last few sites. It's possible that there are others at another of the battery posts, but it seems that they've met up with the harvesters as they were working their way upstream. Suraksha sighs silently in relief -- if these are the only harvesters, then there's a very good chance that all her dear friends will make it home safely! Now... time to assess the harvesters. Are they armed, are they wary, and do they know yet that they've been raided? She'll simply watch initially; if necessary later she'll try creeping closer to hear them.

When they get close Sura can hear one of the harvesters asking irritably why they're even out here? Doris is dead! She's the one with all the plans for these things! There's a sharp slap as one of the others growls, "Doris may be dead, but she's connected -- and you don't send your most important people to a backwater, numbnuts!" Two of the men are actually working with the battery. They seem to be removing the quartzes and placing them into padded carrying pouches, then fitting others into the battery array -- as if the physical copper tap is meant to stay in place. The other two are heavily armed and watching the forest around them.

Suraksha nods silently to herself; sounds like they're not wary and alert yet -- excellent! She muses for a while, then pulls back enough that she can whisper to Dominic: she thinks maybe they should just follow these folks and yank all the batteries they can -- since these men will guide them to where the batteries should be. Once the harvesters reach a point where they realize the battery is gone, then she and Dominic can decide whether to split for the caravan, or maybe try taking these guys down. The most important goal right now is to make sure the breathtakingly valuable treasure and this news get safely back to the caravan. It also means if fortune is against them, and the harvesters stumble over another of the caravan's teams... there's back-up for the caravaneers.

Dominic agrees. They may be working along a certain set of tributaries, which would leave he and Sura safe until they found some batteries missing... or they may have a set route and be going to the already-raided batteries another day. In either case, following them seems best. Suraksha nods silently, pleased -- and then the two of them skulk silently along, following behind the harvesters. Sura thinks now is as good a time as any to eavesdrop and learn if there's anything relevant or useful in the harvesters' gossip -- and if not, that's a win also, really. If the harvesters themselves have no idea what's going on with this stuff, then the town's former circle of power will be that much more chaotic and confused, and it will take that much longer for Boston to send replacements.

Following the harvesters, they pick up a few useful tidbits of gossip -- including the fact that there is some speculation that Eloise is the one that killed her mother and that's why the girl is missing. The carefully-chosen beautiful people of the town are in chaos, but at least one of the young men has already ridden out to take news of Doris' death... somewhere. Boston is the main assumption, but there are thoughts that he's going to the next town on up the line to the north.

Suraksha wonders thoughtfully if they can maybe find that young man. If Sna'tha's assessment of when the body would be found has held true, then the man has had less than a day in the saddle. Hmm... though he must also be carrying a quartz. Oh! Maybe they'll be quite blessed, and the young man doesn't know he will run out of energy if he straight-lines it down the road to the next town! Suraksha frowns -- in which case it becomes incumbent upon her, as a powerful entity in the know, to check down that road for the scent of a horse and rider and, if necessary, rescue the poor fool.

Dominic murmurs, "Do we want to stop the news getting back? Or do we want to follow these guys? Judging by the route they're taking, they'll find the places we pulled the batteries soon..." Indeed, it becomes obvious that they can't feel the ley energy has been reestablished, as they're heading up the last branch Dom and Sura raided.

Suraksha nods to Dominic, pausing so she can still hear the men, but can also whisper to Dominic, "Wondering: do we wanna dh'ry grabbin' dh'eir gh'war'dhzes inna bags?" She's relieved the men at least won't be stumbling over any others of her caravan -- that's one less thing to worry about! The armed guards seem to have daggers and crossbows as well as simple military-style sabers on their belts. The crossbows are being held as if they expect to see trouble any moment. Of course, Sura knows that this is how any guard with a valuable cargo would ride. Suraksha thinks. Though she'd love to deprive the Bostonians of all their quartzes... she must not be so greedy that she loses the treasure they've accumulated so far. She sighs and nods to Dominic, "No. We gh'o. Wan'dh dh'o see dh'eir rea'gh'dhion dh'o los'dh bh'a'dhery, bu'dh dh'en we go. Yah?"

Dom nods, agreeing. He loosens his own weapons in their sheathes. He doesn't work with distance weapons much -- but then he can do things other people can't. Like create an almost-instant barricade of earth. Suraksha crouches and creeps forward, staying low and out of sight as she listens carefully: how will the men react to discovering the battery is gone?

The guards are the first ones to enter the spot where a battery should be and isn't. They go on high alert immediately and the harvesters go stock still while the guards start to search the area, moving in an expanding spiral pattern, checking perhaps to see if an animal pulled the battery for it being shiny. Suraksha immediately starts backing out, and as soon as she's got a hillside or a thick grove of trees between her and the searching men, she turns to go. She pauses, glancing back over her shoulder -- then shakes her head amusedly at herself. She has a current partner on her back, and children, beloveds, dear friends and family, and an entire caravan waiting for her; no heroics! The big tigress begins her run back towards their mobile home.

As soon as she can, however, Suraksha also starts paralleling the road to the next town, quietly rumbling over her shoulder to Dominic to keep an eye out for the rider supposedly on his way to the next town. If he didn't know to carry a quartz, after all... he may have collapsed within an hour or two of riding! Dom keeps his eyes out and his senses as well. It's not as easy when he's not actually touching earth, but he can do it. They've been following the leylines rather than the road, so when they do get back on the road the traveling is faster. And they do indeed find the young man, slumped over his horse's neck and looking like he passed out. The horse is placidly cropping grass on the verge.

Suraksha stays well back, not wishing to spook the horse to the point that the young man falls off. She rumbles to Dominic, "Wha'dh you dh'in'gh? Gh'an you gh'rab horse, dh'ie man dh'o me, dh'en ride i'dh dh'o gh'arafan wi'dh me?" Dom is already dismounting and heading for the young man. He has been working with horses since the day he joined the caravan, so he knows exactly how to approach the animal with its unconscious load. He checks the young man -- one of Doris' pretty young things -- for a pulse and then starts to take him off the horse. The boy groans, but barely stirs. Suraksha sighs in relief as she sees the boy is still alive. She'll wait for Dominic to tie the horse, then bring the young man to her -- she doesn't want to spook the poor beast.

Dom is plenty strong enough to bring the boy to Sura and tie him onto the tiger. He says, "You go on at speed. I'll bring the horse up quick-sharp, but you goin' on ahead will keep from spookin' it."

Suraksha rumbles worriedly, "You no'dh worried 'bou'dh bein' gh'augh'dh wi'dh horse, seen as dh'ief?" Then she shakes her head impatiently at herself, "No, dh'a'dh dumb. I gh'o fas'dh -- come ba'gh for you, yah? You ride safe!"

Dom smiles crookedly and says, "I can put a big damn hole in the road between me and anyone comin' after me, but did it sound like anyone might be following to you?" He nods at her comment, "Go on. Run. I'll be right behind you."

Suraksha grins at that, her whiskers lifting, "Yah, good bh'oin'dh! Be safe, Dom!" With that, the big tiger vanishes into the underbrush, then whips swiftly across the terrain, running as fast as she safely can with her precious load. She doesn't bother with the road -- she heads directly for the caravan, leaping streams and crevasses, bounding over fallen trees or small hillocks. It's starting to get on in the day, and she wants to divest herself of her load to her friends, then start circling around to make sure all her teams get home safe and sound.

When she's spotted coming in at-speed with an obviously unresponsive human on her back, Sura is converged-upon by several of the caravaneers, Suze in the front. One of the other teams has come back, but that's all. Suraksha holds still so her rider and saddlebags can be removed, then shifts shape and with relief accepts the blanket thrown about her shoulders. She hastily informs Suze that the young man is just energy-starved, but should not be allowed to leave as he was heading on to the next town to alert them to Doris's death -- and the longer they can keep that from Boston, the better for them and Sheriff Pawling! She also warns of the extraordinary amount of treasure in the saddlebags, explains that she needs to go back to make sure Dominic on the horse arrives safely, and asks someone to take a quartz for just in case as they head out to the road, to wave Dominic down when he should turn off for the caravan.

Sna'tha listens in silent intensity as her godsdaughter also debriefs hastily about the harvesters, then adds that she-Suraksha intends to be in and out all afternoon and night if necessary, making sure all the teams make it home safely. Sna'tha nods and asks if the boy has been searched and if Dom searched the saddlebags. Suraksha shakes her head, "No, we wanted to get him here as quickly as possible, since the energy was starting to run again. I'll follow Dominic in, though, and if you would have someone search this boy now, we can also search the saddlebags then. Sound good?" Sna'tha nods and calls over one of the guards to go with Suze. If the boy wakens, it could be... well... bad. They take him not to the dorm-type caravan, but to a single one, quickly cleared of its occupant.

Suraksha gulps down some hot soup pressed on her by Fantine, then sheds the blanket and shifts shape again. She heads back towards the road, though careful to stay somewhat away so her scent does not alarm the horse Dominic will be riding. Once she finds the road again she'll check no one is coming, then carefully scent across the road to see if the horse has passed yet. Dominic is not moving slowly, but he's also trying not to harm the animal, so the horse seems to have passed not long ago. She can also see that there seems to be some large sinkholes that weren't there before across the road. Suraksha gets a worried look -- that is not a good sign! She checks for the scents of possible followers as well.

After she's got them fixed in her head, she'll dart off to the side of the road again -- then go racing along through the trees and underbrush, and over the small hilly areas, trying to catch up with Dominic. Hopefully she'll get there before he has serious trouble. The scents of the followers have diverted off the road on the other side. Dom has destroyed the road across the verge, so they would have been slowed some by the terrain, but Sura finds their scents stronger a quarter mile closer to the caravan.

Suraksha's tail lashes unhappily as she runs -- she really does not wish to have to kill several foolish men just to keep the caravan safe! She tries to speed up a bit; if she can intercept the men before they connect with Dominic, that's all to the better. As she runs, there is a rumble and she can feel the ground under her feet vibrating. She can also hear the frightened whinnying of horses.

Suraksha sighs -- too late for it to stay quiet, and they don't have someone in the caravan who can cause forgetting. She's going to have to kill some people, dammit. She continues her swift run, heading for the whinnies. Knowing Dominic, he'll get off the horse if he's in serious trouble -- and she has no problem with spooking the horses of his assailants. She will try not to burst out of the underbrush, however. Best to figure out what the problem is first -- then figure out the best way to deal with it. She's relieved her clever godsmother loaded her back up with the saddlebags and harness. This way she can, if necessary, try shifting shape, pulling on some clothes, and talking their way out of this.

Dominic is indeed off the horse and the horse is agitated but not running away. The other two horses, however, are going to be where they are for a while. Dom has done the opposite of the sinkholes here. Around what smells like two horses and two men, large earthen walls have surged out of the earth, the tallest and thickest between Dom and the captors. The scents are familiar. It smells like one of the harvesters and one of the guards.

Suraksha slows in relief, glancing around and dropping her lower jaw in a pleased feline smile -- how clever of Dominic! Maybe they'll get away with not having to kill these poor fools. She shifts shape, hastily pulls a tunic on, shoulders the saddlebags, and waves as she trots over to Dominic. She doesn't want to speak loudly enough for the two men to hear, but she does want to find out what the current situation is -- before one of the men thinks to climb onto the shoulders of the other!

Dominic is crouched barefoot in the road with his head cocked and eyes narrowed slightly. He's listening, but not to the people -- he's listening to the ground -- and he blinks for a second at Sura. Suraksha frowns a bit puzzledly at the scents -- why would the group split up like that? Very odd. She moves up to crouch next to Dominic, staying on the far side of him from the horse, and waits for him to finish what he's doing before she speaks. After a moment he stands carefully and says quietly, "They were going hellbent for leather. I think they were coming to check the other harvesting sites."

Suraksha stands up next to him, worry on her face, "They... well, thunderation. So they weren't actually after you?" She's starting to feel bad -- she's going to have to kill two men who didn't even know what they'd stumbled over.

Dom shakes his head, keeping his voice low, "Not even sure they saw me, actually. I heard them coming and got off the side of the road."

Suraksha is also starting to worry for the other teams. She needs to get Dominic safely off and away, then go check the others. She sighs and shakes her head, "Yes, but they saw one hell of a lot of earth moving! You've been leaving holes in the road for a while now. Won't they assume that's a Tap? We don't want them going back to town and saying a powerful Tap stopped them on this particular road, after all. That'd point rather directly at us... unfortunately." She blinks at a sudden thought, "Or... wait."

Dom looks abashed, "I was hoping they'd think they were natural. They happen sometimes. This... not so much."

Suraksha gets a slow grin on her face, "You said they were going hellbent for leather when you put the wall up in front of them? I wonder if they got knocked out?"

Dom blushes and says, "The horses threw them, I think."

Suraksha says, "If so... perhaps we could arrange things so it looked like a sudden avalanche caught them, rather than a wall of earth rising up?" She grins as hope flickers up -- she really hates killing people if there's any other way! She drops the saddlebags and whispers, "Can you make some simple steps or something for me on the side wall there, so I can peek in?"

Dom stands up and looks around, eyes narrowed, "Maybe not an avalanche, but a sinkhole... horses will sometimes sense them and balk... coulda thrown those guys down a hole as easily as against a wall."

Suraksha nods with growing happiness, "That could work! We just have to make it look feasible." She trots swiftly over to the side of the earthen wall, then starts trying to climb it. She whispers over her shoulder, "Hurry, please!" Dom grins proudly and reaches down, touching the earth and concentrating, more of the ground swells up, creating not so much steps as increasingly tall walls. Suraksha laughs softly as the walls firm up under her small feet, lifting her easily into the air. She whispers, "Thanks!" then crouches so she can peek cautiously over the wall. She doesn't want to get shot at if they're already awake... but she also prays quietly, internally to the Lady of Serpents: let them still be unconscious, please!

The horses are restive and dance-y, but they aren't stepping on the still forms on the ground. As still as the men are, Sura suspects that she got here not long after Dom imprisoned them. Suraksha sighs in relief -- then turns and beams as she waves an arm at Dominic, "They're out! Do it, please!" With that, she jumps lightly to the ground so she's out of his way. "Let the horses run, if that's what they want -- it will add verisimilitude to their apparent story."

Suraksha grins with sudden mischief at a thought: are the padded quartz carriers on the horses' saddles, or on the men? She waits for the wall to fall so she can check visually. If it's on the men, she should leave them alone. But if it's on the saddle? She could have Dominic loosen the girths on it so it swings under the horse's belly... and everything tied to it can feasibly have been torn off in the process of the horse's fleeing!

Dom nods and concentrates. The rear wall of his "corral" slides back into the earth from whence it came. The horses spook, dance and dart out of the strange earthen walls; however, they don't immediately bolt for town. Best of all: the padded carriers for the batteries are on the horses themselves. Suraksha beams at that, whispering, "Yay!" She hastily shares her plan with Dominic, then heads around so the horses don't flee while he moves the earth to create the "faux" sinkhole the men were supposedly thrown into. After that they swiftly get mud all over the horses' bellies and legs, as if the poor animals had to scramble out of the hole as well... and Dominic removes the padded carriers.

While Suraksha swiftly trots the boxes over to her saddlebags, Dominic loosens the girths on one saddle and slashes some tears in the other, so it looks like damage done during the sinkhole falling. When Suraksha comes back she helps create the "artistic" effect they're trying for: all the saddlebags, saddle rolls, and other appurtenances tied to the saddles are either loosened or ripped off and scattered near or in the sinkhole.

It doesn't take much for someone as experienced with horses and their tack as Dom to get the girths and other fastenings loosened or torn in such a way that it looks like it could have happened in a fall or in a throw. The sinkhole is easy to create and to create in a way that looks like the horses could have slid rather than falling... thus explaining the lack of broken legs on the beasts. When the two hastily working caravaneers have finished their stage setting, Dominic will step back and Suraksha will simply change -- that should panic the horses into galloping off and either losing or badly messing up their saddles. Dom examines the guard and murmurs, "Broken ankle, I think... and some cracked ribs."

Suraksha has shrugged back into the tiger harness and saddlebags, and Dominic -- still rather red -- neatly packs her tunic away in one as well. She nods gravely where she crouches cautiously on the edge of the sinkhole, "Gh'ood -- dh'a'dhz no'dh dh'oo bad. Ozzer is rela'dhifly o'ghay dh'oo?"

Dominic nods, "Just a knock on the noggin for him, I think... that usually makes it kinda confusin' when you wake up."

Suraksha's jaws part in a feline grin, "Yeah! O'ghay, le's go! Gh'ofer any dh'ra'ghz, dh'en we run." She adds in explanation, "If you gh'an, follow me on horse down road for a bh'i'dh... dh'en we swa'bh -- you dh'a'ghe dh'e gear, I go searshch ou'dh dh'e odder team -- an' ma'gh sure ours gh'ome home safe!"

Dominic nods and follows along until it's time to make the swap. He clears his throat diffidently, "I think the others might be headed back for town... that's the only reason I can think they'd split like this."

Suraksha nods gravely to Dominic as he shifts the quartz carriers over to his saddle, "Sure ho'bh so. Bh'u'dh wanna be sure ours are safe. When you ge'dh dh'o gh'arafan, dh'ell Sna'dha abh'ou'dh dh'is dh'ri'gh we bh'lay here. Maybe she wanna do for boy we fin'dh dh'oo?" Suraksha thinks that'd be a fabulous way to not have to worry about keeping the boy, especially- "Oh! A'mos' f'gh'o'dh! You searshch saddlebh'agh's ye'dh? Any'dhing in 'em? Ledder dh'o dh'own leaders, maybe?"

Dominic says, "There were some letters, yeah. Introductions and a scribbled one explaining Doris was dead... and a couple of small quartzes. They were full, so I don't know why he didn't just use them."

Suraksha grins slowly at a dawning thought -- but she says nothing for now about it, since they have work to do currently. "Goodh! Ho'ghay, you ride, I run -- see you la'dher a'dh dh'e gh'arafan!" With that she heads off at a swift, ground-covering gallop... and amusedly notes to herself that she's going to sleep quite well tonight! Tigers are not made for long distance running, after all. Hmm... she should ask Buddy for a big meal tonight too, if he's got the means for it. But for now she'll focus on running along the side of the road, following it back to where she and Dominic last saw the harvesters. From there she'll try tracking the other team, in the hopes that they headed back to town, and all her friends are safe.

It's heading towards night by now, so she's fairly sure she can just run up the road to get back to the caravan -- that's actually faster than bounding through underbrush, as long as she keeps alert to lights and riders on the road. It doesn't take much or long for her to find where the two trails split, and the other heads straight back down the road toward town. It may take them a while to get back with the bridge damaged, and they aren't going to be able to send a large force.

Suraksha sighs in relief. Fantastic! This is turning out better and better. She's going to have to light a candle to thank the Lady of Serpents for this wonderful fortune -- and for not having to kill anyone! Now to head back to the caravan. After that, make sure all the teams got back safely, dinner -- and suggest her plan to Sna'tha, if the exhausted young man has yet to awaken.

It's well dark by the time Sura catches back up with the caravan, and several of the teams have returned from their scouting. Buddy doesn't even have to be asked for a big meal. There's what looks like approximately half an ox waiting for her. Suraksha rowls a happy greeting to the big man, then nearly pounces on the lovely meat! She listens with one ear cocked as Fantine breathlessly updates her lady on which teams have returned, how many quartzes have been retrieved -- it's a staggering number! -- Dominic's safe return, and the continued unconsciousness of the rescued young man -- which is thought to have something to do with the fact that he's being kept sequestered from Eloise.

Suraksha is fascinated to hear that! She'll have to talk to Sna'tha and Suze about that later though. For now, she asks Fantine if she could please find out if Dominic and Sna'tha are available to talk to her for a bit? She has a possible plan for not having to keep the young man, and wants to run it by them for feasibility. Dom and Sna'tha are both at the communal fire, along with many of the returned teams. Roy's is not among the ones that have made it back, but he was being sent further afield.

Suraksha finishes devouring all the meat she can, then shifts and thanks Fantine for the wet towel and the clothing. As she hastily tidies up with the little loogaroo's help, she also thanks Buddy quite heartfeltly for the fabulous meal! Then she trots over to the fire and settles in next to Sna'tha and Dominic; he's still answering questions for Sna'tha in his slow, rumbling voice. Suraksha grins and waits until Sna'tha nods at her, then says cheerfully, "Dom, you were right! The other team went straight back to town. With the bridge out, it will take them a while to get any serious force through."

Dom nods slowly, "I think that's why they were late on their rounds, too... had to divert."

Suraksha considers, then grins again, "Good point! Good, that's wonderful news." She turns to Sna'tha and adds, "So... I may have a possible plan for not having to keep the boy, godsmama! Dominic has told you what was in the pack, right? So... the news of Doris's death is going to get out eventually, especially now the batteries are all swiped. So what if we set up a fake pothole in the road again, get mud all over his horse, and when he wakes up we tell him we found him in the sinkhole and his horse was standing nearby? That way we don't have to keep him, we look good... no, wait." She frowns, thinking aloud, "That... still connects us too closely to this area. Plus... the more we can delay the news getting out, the better, I'm thinking. This wouldn't delay it, would it..."

Dominic drawls, "Who says we have to be there when he wakes up? Or that the horse has to be?"

Suraksha says, "Hmm... point. If he's feeling really groggy, too... maybe he'll just ride back home? That'd work!" She grins mischievously as she adds, "Plus if his horse is really reluctant to press on towards the next town -- like if it scents something big and dangerous... yes, this should work! Thank you, Dom!"

Dominic tips his head, "Why does the horse have to be there at all? They run off when they're spooked sometimes..."

Suraksha thinks... then laughs! "Oh, you mean the saddle could be damaged too? Fabulous! Yes, we could do that -- and end up with letters of introduction, if we wanted, as well as a few more quartzes!" She beams at Sna'tha, "What do you think, godsmama? Would Dom's idea work well?"

Sna'tha looks at Dom thoughtfully and says, "I think that having letters of introduction to Brahmin society could be amazingly helpful. It can be difficult to fake them because they're often encoded in some way. They have a shibboleth, of sorts."

Suraksha beams, "Oh, excellent! Brilliant plan, Dominic -- thank you!" She laughs, then adds, "This is a wonderful windfall! Is Rattler back yet? I'd like to share!"

Sna'tha says, "He wasn't when you got here, but he was with one of the further ranging teams." She pushes to her feet, "Let's get this taken care of and get our young unconscious guest back along the road."

Suraksha nods happily, turning to Dominic, "Can you help godsmama make that happen, dear? I'd like to trot out and make sure the furthest-ranging teams get in safely, now it's after dark."

Dom smiles somewhat tiredly, but stands, "I'm gonna sleep like a baby tonight, but I can get it done."

Suraksha nods ruefully as she starts to shuck out of her clothing again, "Oh, yes -- me too!" Shortly thereafter she's bounding relaxedly along with a happily chittering Alg on her back, heading for the dispersal point to see if she can find her sweetheart and his companion -- and offer them a swifter ride home. She finds Rattler and Alan on their way home -- the bodyguard refused to let his charge go off without being the group's armed escort. Rufus is along with them as well and bounds up to meet the goblin and the tiger. Suraksha chuffs a happy laugh at Rufus' delighted greeting, and almost bowls Rattler over in her excited hug and nuzzlings! "Ha'rroo! How're you?! All well?"

Rattler oofs and wraps his arms around Sura's big, squarish tiger head, grinning and ruffling all around her ears, "Yeah, all's well, cher. Found a couple batteries, but de flow pick up considerable 'bout twenny mile out. T'ink dey stopped whuddever dey were doin'... or dey hadda perimeter."

Suraksha rumbles contentedly again, rubbing her head against her beloved as she happily growls, "Good -- lo'dhza good newz! Bu'dh for now, ho'bh on -- we run home!"

Alan looks somewhat reluctant, "That's a lot of people for you to carry, lady. Why don't you take Rattler and I'll come along behind with Rufus, yeah?"

Suraksha gives the wiry man an amused glance, "If you wanna dh'al'gh wi' Rufus, yus'dh say so, yah?"

Alan snorts, "Nothing private I need to talk with Rufus about, lady. Just don't think any of us should be alone and don't want to weigh you down more than needful." Rattler is already sliding his leg over Sura. Riding a tiger isn't quite like riding a horse, but Roy has a natural affinity for riding in general.

Suraksha chuckles rumblingly, "Alan, I haf gh'arried dh'ree big men, 'n four li'l ones. You're nodda bh'roblem. Ho'bh on!"

Rattler grins and says, "Get on, man. Been walkin' a long ways, us. We'll get back faster an' you can get a drink faster an' get t' bed faster." Rufus bounces excitedly around, his tail wagging. Suraksha chuckles rumblingly again as Alg screeches happily and drops onto the wolf, and the two of them go rolling in mock battle. Alan slides up onto Sura's back and then seems a little unsure of what he's supposed to hold onto. Roy snorts laughter, "Hold onta me if y' godda, Alan. Ain't a date. It's transportation."

Suraksha gives a chuffing laugh, then shakes herself strongly -- that will make Alan either grab on, or fall off! He doesn't yelp or make any other noises, but he does grab onto Roy to keep from being shaken off the back of the tiger. Once she's sure he's solid, she starts padding back home, and soon is in a swift canter. Over her shoulder she growls, "So, wha'dh you fin'dh? Leylines runnin' a'ghain? Or bh'adderies?"

Roy's the one that answers the questions, "Found coupla batteries, us, but not much. Twenny miles or so up de road, de flow is back to normal. Nice 'n strong. Might have a perimeter or sumpin', dem."

Suraksha sighs happily at that, "Egg'zlen'dh! Ho'ghay, ho'dh dinner a'dh cam'bh!" Soon thereafter the entire group come padding in to the central campfire and are greeted, hugged, relieved of their bags, and have bowls of hot food and drink pushed into their hands. Roy settles onto a seat near the fire with a gusty sigh. Alan takes his food elsewhere after making sure he's not needed. He's going to go help drop off the batteries they found with Sna'tha and the others that are inventorying what's been found.

Suraksha comes trotting back a few minutes later, changed into human form and dressed. She happily snuggles up next to Roy and the girls -- both of which came running to jump onto their Papa once they heard he'd returned. Roy chuckles and hugs both girls, listening as attentively as he can to their simultaneous accounts of what they did while he was gone. He oohs and ahhs appropriately and is suitably impressed by their tales of their accomplishments. He's become rather adept at eating around two enthusiastic daughters.

Suraksha checks with a runner: all the teams have returned by now, yes? They've indeed all returned, and the assorted team members are in various states of being fed and watered or debriefed. A couple came back with no batteries, but most came back with at least one or two. Dom and Sura found the highest concentration. Suraksha is not surprised at that, honestly -- they were closest to the town, and the most fast-moving and earth-attuned. She curiously checks: have the retrieval results been tallied yet? The runner goes to find Sna'tha, who comes back with Fantine, both of them looking a little shell-shocked. Suraksha blinks a bit worriedly, pausing in drinking her hot tea, "Ladies? What's wrong?"

Sna'tha, "Well, it's not so much wrong, child, as somewhat mind-boggling. There are a good sixty-seven quartzes, all told."

Suraksha blinks at Sna'thaid... then blinks again. "Sixty... seven?! Holy Mother of Serpents! That... that's... a king's ransom!" She blinks as she says that, remembering who she's sitting next to -- then sighs internally and shakes her head. Even if they did use the quartzes to ransom Roy's throne, there's no guarantee the Bostonians wouldn't just try again the next year. The small woman glances up at Sna'tha again, practicality coming to the fore once more, "All right. What are they good for, please? Are they distinctive, or can we sell or trade them? Are they all full of ley energy? Will that add to their value, or is it not noticeable for most traders?"

Roy blinks, having something of the same thought, but smiling wryly. He doesn't want to buy his city back only to have to do it all, all over again with the Brahmins knowing more of his secrets and abilities. He's been wondering, actually, if they might have wanted him alive. Sna'tha says, "They're mostly full, yes. Dominic thinks you met the harvesters on their way out on their rounds. They'd be useful to Taps, or to other folk that use the energy. I could sustain glamour almost indefinitely with what we've got. Also, they're not distinctive beyond being exceptional in quality."

Suraksha nods thoughtfully, "All right." She considers for several moments, then looks at her companions again and sighs, "Very well, then. The question becomes: if they had all this out here in the ass end of nowhere... what should we be expecting in the city itself? Perhaps worse: how do we defend ourselves against the Tap collectors?"

Roy rubs his chin thoughtfully, "I'd say de bes' way t' defend ourselves is be aware dey're dere. Add a Tap to de vanguard t' keep a feeler out for de leylines so we can tell when dey gettin' weak. Dey mighta jes' set dh'ings up here as a collection point 'cause de leyline's strong an' tappin' it dis way wouldn' inconvenience dem."

Suraksha nods silently as she listens to her beloved... but there's a small part of her that's getting more and more worried, the closer they get to Boston. What will they do if their two forward scouts -- both Taps -- don't return? What if there's a Tap-detecting Tap around now? She hesitates, then says slowly, "I... am sorry to say this, but... I am not sure how just knowing there is a huge and unknown variety of new Tapping abilities will adequately defend us against them. I mean, a child may know a rattlesnake is venomous, but that does not prevent either the bite or the venom -- it's staying well away that does." She gives Rattler a miserably unhappy look, but honesty compels her to add, "I am... starting to wonder if perhaps taking the entire caravan into this hornets' nest is wise. Might we do better sending just a small reconnaissance team?"

Rattler is looking worried himself, "Wouldn' want de whole caravan t' go in eidder, me. It's... might take an army, an' I dunno what dey got up dere."

Suraksha has no idea what to suggest at this point -- this level of wealth, greed, cruelty, and capability is so far beyond her experience that she simply falls silent, turning the issue over in her head as she tries to figure out what to do to best help her sweetheart. Sna'tha says quietly, "Then send in a recon team. Volunteer only. People that can blend into the society -- that will draw their attention." Her voice is serious, "Plant a spy."

Roy asks quietly, "Someone dey'll want to recruit?"

Suraksha looks confused for a moment -- then blinks, "Oh! I understand." She hesitates... then says quietly, "I'll volunteer."

Roy's jaw tightens and he says, "I-" and Sna'thaid interrupts smoothly, "You'd be perfect for it, but..."

Suraksha nods gravely, "But I'd really prefer at least a few trustworthy people with me, please."

The sidhe smiles, "Exactly. You go in as a Hetaera with a suitable entourage: bodyguards. A lady's maid. Perhaps a butler or majordomo."

Suraksha nods, relief on her face -- this, she knows how to do! She frowns thoughtfully, "Should all the attendants... no, actually. There's no reason that I'd be collecting beautiful people -- I'd want competence first, right. All right... what would I be searching for, please? Am I trying to meet with the king, or what?"

Roy looks like he might be literally biting his tongue. Asking for Sura's help is one thing; asking her to risk her life and freedom for him... that's something else. "Cher, cain't ask you-" and again Sna'thaid raises her hand to stop him, "Roy, you either let her do this or you give up your city for lost and watch as the rest of the continent is subsumed by them."

Suraksha says gently, "She's right, lover. Besides... you didn't ask. I offered." She smiles, then adds coaxingly, "So... what am I searching for, please?"

Roy rubs his temples, "If Doris a puppeteer and dey breedin' for new Tappin' abilities..." Sna'thaid murmurs, "Or for forgotten ones..." Roy nods and agrees, "For forgotten ones, you'll wanna find de puppeteers... de haids. Like a snake or a puppet: cut de strings, cut off de haid..."

Suraksha glances amusedly at Sna'tha, "So I'll need an assassin with me as well. Are we fairly positive the king is the source of this? How does one tell for sure? Is touch the only way it occurs? Are there protections against it?" She wrinkles her nose in amused distaste at her lover's comment about beheading snakes!

Roy winces, "Sorry, cher... been real tender of snakes in recent years. Revertin' back t' childhood sayin's, me." He scowls, trying to think of a way he can be in her entourage.

Sna'thaid says, "There may indeed be protections against it. And if you have them, it'll make them curious about what could protect against it... make you more appealing." The dragonfly sidhe considers and says, "There are rituals of protection. Amulets used to keep one's personal energy personal. I've seen them used in the Courts."

Suraksha nods to Sna'tha, thinking hard, "So... if I were able to fake possession... hm, no. I think I'd do better to arrive in town with some pomp, and let it be known that I'm interested in becoming the king's Hetaera. The more I resist possession, the more intrigued he's likely to become." She smiles ruefully, "Hopefully." She adds gravely to Sna'tha, "Godsmama, is this the time maybe to call in that boon from the Unseelie Queen?"

Sna'thaid looks seriously at Suraksha and asks softly, "Do you want to treat with this man in that way, child? If you offer yourself as his Hetaera, he will likely wish to take advantage of all of your services." She knows that Sulochana has trained for being a lover to those she does not love, but the sidhe feels she must ask, "As for calling in the boon from Titania... what these people are doing could reach across the boundaries of the worlds. They are courting the sidhe, but such people do not court to find an equal."

Suraksha gives her godsmother an amused glance, "With all due respect, godsmama, I'd rather hope he would! If we cannot... dispose of him any other way, he is unlikely to be proof against venom." She does not attempt to hide her profession or her thoughts from her beloved Chosen. She trusts him both to trust her, and to support her in her efforts to support him.

Roy blinks slowly and asks, "You would... call in a favor from the Unseelie Queen for this?" His voice is thick, as if there is some strong emotion there. He has always been aware of what 'Chana is and what she does -- but once he got over his initial wounded machismo, he has not cared.

Suraksha nods gravely to Roy, "But only if it will make a difference." Her smile is wry again, "Drawing her attention without good reason is not wise... but I'm sure you know that already, lover."

Roy is struggling with this. He's willing to risk himself and he is thinking hard about letting 'Chana risk herself, "Your godsmother right, ma cher. Ain't gonna stop at one city, dem -- or one coast. Or one world. Dis is... dey tryin' to create perfect people an' wipe out ever'one else. It... it's an abomination." Suraksha smiles faintly as her sweetheart works hard to convince himself that her risking herself is a good thing, and for an extremely valid reason. Roy's normal swagger and confidence are very much not in evidence right now. He's looking very much like a lost little boy. "Cain't tell if I'm being selfish here, cher."

Suraksha wraps her arms around her beloved, hugging him tightly as she whispers, "We're all a little selfish, my beloved. I want you to be happy and safe too, after all. But what this Boston king wants? It will shatter our world -- it will return it to the weakened world that died in the Great Dying Off, when everyone was the same and almost everyone died. I don't want to see that happen, and I'm guessing you don't either. Will you help us try to stop him?"

Roy takes a shuddering breath and hugs Suraksha back tightly, pressing his face against her shoulder and murmuring, "Ouais. Of course. T'ought I was only saving my city, me..."

Sna'thaid stands up, brushing her hands off, "We'll need to make sure Sulochana's entourage is suitably attired and caparisoned. I myself will go, of course. As you said, there will be need of an assassin."

Suraksha nods to Sna'tha over Roy's shoulder, murmuring softly, "Can you take care of finding volunteers, godsmama?" She's busy hugging her beloved close and murmuring soft reassurance... though it's not entirely clear who most needs the reassurance. Roy is stroking her hair softly and murmuring back. He wants to go with her, but if he does that it doubles the risk: from losing just her, to losing her and leaving the girls without two of their three parents. Suraksha wishes she could take Roy with her... but he is unfortunately distinctive -- and very much wanted by the Bostonians. She sighs quietly and reminds herself: knowing he and her beautiful babies and her Bringer are waiting is a very powerful impetus to return safely to them!

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Last modified: 2010-Aug-28 20:29:49

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