| Logs |
2010 November 23
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
Salt of the Earth
At Roy's worried comment, Sulochana murmurs dryly, "Gracious me, you must be right -- we should flee immediately in fear of the dark." Her sideways glance up at Roy is slyly teasing, "That should surely convince whomever of our innocence!" She chuckles as she adds in her more usual, nearly purring tones as a Hetaera, "I think not. Better to face danger than to have it at our backs. Besides, I am contracted with you, your majesty, for escort to a party." Her tone gets mischievous, "I've never attended a Southern party, although I hear they're quite something!" Except when teasing Roy, however, Sulochana keeps her alert gaze on the items in the smudged circle. She's not exactly sure why she feels so wary of them... but if anything rises out of them she wants to catch it before it harms her client. Chanticleer too is stifling his revulsion at the artifacts, not wanting to get much closer to them. But something in them might catch his attention, and as long as Froid Jacques has said they're safe, he's not too concerned with them doing anything to them.
Roy smirks, a tight and irritated expression, "Shit. Fergot 'bout the damn party. Alrighty, then, stay fer the party." He takes a deep breath and looks toward the doorway through which Froid Jacques disappeared, brows drawing together, "He been gone a suspiciously long time?"
Sulochana chuckles quietly, "Well, I figured it would have to be delayed a day or two, not cancelled entirely." Hopefully she adds, "If you can make it relatively soon, that would be helpful to the caravan?" She considers, then says slowly, "The houngan did say... we should stay here?"
Chanticleer arches a brow, looking to Roy, then to the door the houngan left by. He frowns; he doesn't have a great opinion of Roy but the man did become a lord by definite talent. "Why did he tell us to wait here?"
Sulochana gives the sidhe a puzzled glance, "Er... so he could check Roy's bedding, as he said?"
Chanticleer nods a little, then moves to the door. "Then there's no reason to wait here other than not keeping these things unattended. I'll go and check on him. Just to make sure that nothing in the bedding found him."
Sulochana grins at that and nods, "All right. We'll stay here -- it would be damn annoying if his majesty got bit by something you two were trying to off."
Roy nods, dark brows drawn together still. "Still..." He starts to unwrap his arm from Sulochana. When Chanticleer moves toward the door, he says, "'Ppreciate it, Chanticleer." His eyes flicker back to the smudged circle.
Chanticleer laughs quietly, saying, "This shan't take long. A servant probably intercepted him and told him he mustn't enter the King's chambers." Then after he steps out, the smile disappears. He's almost certain it didn't fool Lady Sulochana; he's genuinely worried now. He goes forthwith to the king's chambers.
Sulochana continues to lean slightly against Roy, counting on at least a hint of gentlemanliness to keep him from heading immediately off. Roy smirks a little bit, "Be surprised if anyone was able to stand up to him. He ain't exactly easy to intimidate." He takes a deep breath and lets himself relax a little bit.
Sulochana smiles lazily, murmuring as distractingly as she knows how, "So, not going to chase us all off, then?"
The king chuckles and absently brushes a kiss over her shoulder, "Seems like ya'll ain't givin' me much choice in th' matter."
Sulochana giggles, sliding an arm about his waist. Her voice is teasing, "Aww, you're right -- I'm being so mean, making you spend time with a lovely and entertaining Hetaera!" She does keep one ear cocked, listening carefully for any noise from the direction in which Chanti headed, though. She's not sure why she's still so worried... but she trusts her instincts.
Roy laughs and lets himself slip into his flirtatious manner, "Well, when ya put it that way..." He lets one hand slip down to rest on her hip, not quite on her bottom.
In the king's inner rooms, Chanticleer blinks, jaw agape for half a moment. He's found Froid Jacques slumped over and trembling on the floor, his head arched back hard enough to show the tendons in his neck, his hands clawing at the empty air. The sidhe immediately draws his sword, rushing to Jacques's side. "Jack!" he shouts, not yet willing to touch him in case there's something attacking him that will attack him, too.
At Chanticleer's shout Roy's head comes up and he says something rather sulfurous in what sounds like French, then says, "Goddammit!" and turns to sprint for the door.
Sulochana whirls reflexively towards the door into the bedroom -- then goes still for an instant, her eyes flashing angry scarlet as she thinks furiously. She snaps after Roy, "Do not touch him!" then glances around the room, checking to see if there's any steel weapons immediately visible -- no, wait, Chanticleer's wearing steel, right! She darts in after the king, prepared to toss him away from the houngan if necessary, to protect him. She remembers Froid Jacques using salt at the warehouse -- and putting the pouch away in a pants pocket. Maybe she can reach that?
Chanticleer says to Sulochana, "Haven't touched him yet!"
Sulochana nods tightly, "Good. Get out of that steel armor quick! That might ground him." She's shifted swiftly to crouch next to the houngan, keeping a wary eye on Roy as she adds, "Majesty, keep well back, please -- it's after you."
Roy has skidded to a stop and whispers in a horrified voice, "Holy shit." He doesn't reach to touch the houngan.
Chanticleer blinks at the request, then removes the armor with almost unseemly haste; he rarely thinks about how much he dislikes iron armor! He holds up the sword. "This, too? It's bronze."
The Hetaera sighs in relief as the king doesn't immediately do anything nobly foolish. "Roy, steel letter opener or dagger, please?" She shakes her head at the sidhe, "Keep that to hand. Defend the king. Kick the steel dagger over to me -- don't come close! I'm hoping I'm different enough from adult male that whatever it is won't immediately clue to attack me too."
Roy reaches down and yanks a wicked looking knife out of his boot and tosses it by the blade, an underhanded lob toward Sulochana. The houngan is starting to foam at the mouth and his skin is looking strangely leathery. Sulochana snatches the dagger out of the air, and in the same long, smooth move she tries to snag the salt pouch out of the houngan's pants pocket. The Hetaera grabs the falling salt pouch with her free hand, holding it over the choking houngan as she slashes open one side with the dagger. She drops the dagger next to her, closes that hand around her pendant of the Lady of Serpents, and recites in her native tongue a prayer for protection as she shakes the salt all up and down the man's struggling body. She closes with, "Damballa, hear us, please -- save your faithful horse! Ground him, refuse entry to hostile entities!" She tosses aside the empty salt pouch and hauls the steel cuirass over to lay it gently on Jacques... then she bites her lip nervously as she watches.
Sulochana, because she's close to him, can smell salt very strongly around the houngan as she pours the rest on him. The foam around his mouth is almost crusty. Chanticleer is keeping back as instructed, his bronze sword out and ready but not close. He isn't at all sure what it is that is attacking the houngan. The steel breastplate actually seems to help most. Froid Jacques seems to be sweating profusely, the water pouring off his body as if he has just run a marathon. His eyes are showing only the whites.
Sulochana mutters in quiet frustration -- this is not her specialty at all! If he's producing salt then it's unlikely more salt will help. She crosses her mental fingers that the Lady of Serpents is listening, or the steel will break the charm... and she turns her head to tell Roy, "Send someone for the other two holy people, and get a servant to bring a bathtub's worth of water." She doubts they'll arrive in time, but they have to try... and maybe as a daughter of holy women she can sanctify the water. Running water is supposed to be bad for charms, and if it's holy maybe that will help? She continues studying the houngan worriedly as she adds quietly, "And hurry." After a moment of thought she picks up the wicked looking steel blade and tries brushing the flat of the blade lightly over the man's arms and head, where the breastplate doesn't reach. She stays alert to a sudden grab or twitch -- she doesn't want to accidentally cut him.
Roy is already starting to head for the door when Froid Jacques collapses, panting. The touch of the blade on his forehead seems to have done the trick. He tries weakly to sit up. Sulochana sighs gustily in relief, her eyes closing for a fervent heartbeat of silent thanks. She calls quietly, "Wait! I think he's back." She shifts to kneel next to him, supporting him as he sits up, "Froid Jacques? Can you tell us what happened?" She's careful to keep the blade well away from sudden grabs, still. Chanticleer lets out a breath, relaxing for just a moment before tensing and readying himself in case something else happens.
The houngan reaches up and wipes his the foam from his mouth with the back of his wrist, then turns his head to the side and spits as if trying to rid a nasty taste from his mouth, "Worser gris-gris than I thought..." His voice is croaky and weak, "Meant to take the next thing you touch and make it kill you..." he plucks weakly at the breastplate, "I touch salt. It try to make the salt suck all the water out me."
Sulochana nods slowly, then murmurs apologetically, "I'm sorry I poured more on you, then, honored houngan. I was... well, I was guessing." She glances over at Chanti, "Can you ask a servant to bring a lot of water, please, for the houngan?" She rises to her feet, turning to offer the blade back to Roy hilt-first, "Thank you, your majesty."
Roy takes the blade back and makes it disappear into his sheath. The houngan snorts and shakes his head, "Good guess, child. Salt usually good for grounding. Protection. Glad that gris-gris all wrapped up now."
Sulochana smiles a bit worriedly at Roy, then turns back to the houngan and offers him a hand to stand up, "Me too. So will you be all right? Do you need help to get home safe?" She hesitates, then adds, "Er... did you get a chance to check the bedding?"
Roy strides back through the bedroom door, through his sitting room and opens the door, sending one of the guards there to find some maids and a tub full of water. After a moment he says, "Get Pierce, too."
Froid Jacques licks his dry lips and says, "Somebody lift this off me? I don't think there's anythin' in the bed." The bed itself looks like it hasn't been made since Roy got up. Sulochana nods to the houngan, sliding fingers under the edge of the cuirass and, with a grunt of effort, pulls it towards her and off the man. She watches him warily, hoping he's completely charm-free now.
Chanticleer moves to help Sulochana with the breastplate; Roy steps back in the room and says, "Here, lemme do that." He crouches and lifts the breastplate off the houngan, muttering, "Guess I owe you one helluva favor, Jack."
'Chana smiles her thanks at Chanti -- then blinks in sudden alarm as Roy gets near the houngan. She shifts her weight surreptitiously, ready to throw one away from the other if necessary. Froid Jacques croaks, "Guess you do, boy. Guess you do." He reaches up and puts a hand on Chanticleer first and then on Sulochana, "And them." He sits up slowly.
'Chana relaxes slightly as she doesn't feel or spot anything weird. She smiles at the houngan, murmuring, "His majesty doesn't seem to believe me, but this is part of what I do, actually. Hetaera are capable of protecting their clients long enough for them to escape assassination attempts."
Roy chuckles and stands up, offering the Hetaera a hand up as well, "Lucky me, then." Sulochana smiles, watching Froid Jacques carefully as she reaches to touch Roy's hand.
Chanticleer is still cautious. "Was it set somehow by Droog or his 'handler'?"
Froid Jacques says, "No, it was the gris-gris I found in his bag. Had a worser spell on it than I thought."
Sulochana says softly, "I think Chanti is asking if Droog was a good enough bokor to be able to fool you like that -- or if it must have been someone else."
The houngan ahhs and winces a little, "No. I think it was someone else. I am not fooled so easy."
Chanticleer frowns. "So then there's yet another involved." 'Chana nods, rising to her feet with Roy's assistance. She's relieved the nasty spell doesn't seem to be able to travel from Froid Jacques through her to Roy.
Roy's lips are pressed tight, "I'll hafta spend some time findin' out who." Froid Jacques says, "They have to be very powerful if they can make salt do that."
Sulochana nods slowly, "Yes... and I'm going to guess she's going to be harder to catch." She glances thoughtfully at Roy, "How will you do that?"
Roy says blithely, "Ain't gotta clue. But that ain't ever stopped me before. Din't have any idea how to get t'be king, either. Now look at me." 'Chana blinks -- then laughs out loud at that! There's a light knock at the door and there are suddenly a lot more people in the room: Pierce, a nurse. The maids and a couple of manservants bringing a tub and the water to fill it. The houngan is put into the water and Pierce fusses about him, checking vital signs and muttering. The Hetaera's still grinning as she steps out of the way, putting her back to the wall and watching people with interest.
The houngan tries to convince the chirurgeon to let him go back to his own house. The doctor is having none of it and has the man taken to the infirmary, then wheels on Roy, "No more. No more keeping that asshole's things to try and look through them. Burn 'em. Burn all of it." Sulochana has to cover a grin at that -- she finds she likes Pierce's blunt straightforwardness!
Chanticleer remains thoughtful and uncomfortable. Suddenly this is more complicated, right on the eve of when he was going to leave with Sulochana's caravan as well. He says warily, "I don't think that a dozen scouts are going to be safe enough going downriver, now. To see what happened with Lafayette, I mean."
Roy smiles fiercely at Chanticleer, "Known what? I think you might be right. Think I'll take a little time an' a few more folks down in the mornin'." He calls to one of the guards to have the downriver expedition delayed.
Sulochana tilts her head thoughtfully, then murmurs, "Your majesty, are you saying you're going to go with them? Might that not say rather clearly that you yourself are taking an interest in a simple smuggler?" She really doesn't want him haring off like that -- she has a contract to complete, and she can't keep an eye on him if he goes.
Chanticleer blinks. "You mean... you want to go to see Lafayette?"
The Hetaera murmurs dryly, "Hope not..." Chanticleer nods soberly to Sulochana. Roy starts to protest that this is different, as it was a direct attempt on his life. Pierce throws in with the sidhe and the Hetaera in protesting Roy's apparent plans to go downriver with the detachment of guards. There is rather a lot of gesticulating and raised voices between the chirugeon and the king. In the meantime, messages are being relayed and clergy are being fetched. It takes a good hour for everything to be cleaned up and Mother Therese and Father Alfonse to be called. Between them, they manage to use a couple pairs of blacksmith's tongs and move all the accoutrements first into one of the courtyards and then into a large and raging fire.
Sulochana grins and watches silently, whispering at one point to Chanti that she wishes she had some popcorn! When Roy seems to be getting adamant, she decides to intervene a little. First she asks Chanti if he could make sure the two holy people have all the help they need in burning Droog's things... then she slips through the crowd to Roy's side. She waits until he notices her worried face, then touches his arm gently and says softly, "Your majesty... Roy -- please don't go. Please?"
Roy hesitates and Pierce hides a smirk behind a hand. He knows the king well enough to know his soft spots; Sulochana is poking one with a pointy stick. Roy is obviously quite torn and says, "I really cain't let this one stand, Sulochana..." He sounds less convinced than before.
The Hetaera nods in understanding, "Of course not! But... but isn't that why you have such competent guards? Don't you trust them to do the job you want done?" She bites her lip slightly as she stares up at the king.
Pierce has stepped back, letting the woman work. Roy finally sighs and mutters under his breath in French again, then says, "Fine. Fine. I'll stay put. Goddammit. Jest... don't look like that." He actually puts a hand over the top half of Sulochana's face.
Sulochana gives a startled squeak as he covers her face -- then she ducks under his hand and hugs him tightly in relief, with her face buried against his chest. Her voice is muffled, "Thank you! Thanks, Roy. I, uh... how shouldn't I look?"
Roy wraps his arms around her and says grumpily, "Like I just stomped on yer kitten... damn." He pats her shoulder awkwardly. He eyes Pierce, who isn't trying to hide his grin any more, "Not a word outta you, asshole." He pats Sulochana again and repeats, "Damn."
'Chana leans back enough to give Roy a startled look, "I -- what did you call me?!" Her eyes start to fill with tears. Roy scowls and tries to explain he was talking to Pierce. Sulochana looks first hurt, then confused. She glances at Pierce, who smiles and nods to her, then looks back at Roy and sniffles before nobly saying, "I understand. I forgive you," and then hugging him tightly again.
Mother Therese is quite shameless about letting Chanticleer do the heavy lifting. Alfonse seems happy to have the sidhe with them and keeps glancing at Chanti's shoulder with a little quirk of a smile. Chanticleer doesn't quite seem to notice Alfonse's exact gaze; he wonders why the priest is smiling quirkily at him. But he is mostly too busy carrying quite a number of things for the two clergy, and concentrating on not getting any of the unpleasant magic-stuff on him. Once the magical accoutrements are nothing but ash, Frere Alfonse drowns the ashes with more holy water and Mother Therese makes some mention of burying the ashes on sacred ground. Chanticleer murmurs, "I wouldn't mind putting them in a sacred container, using a sacred shovel to dig a sacred hole in sacred soil, and then burying the thing while saying sacred prayers, and putting a sacred mountain on top of it."
Frere Alfonse is close enough to Chanti to murmur, "Careful you don't get volunteered for that job, my friend." Chanticleer shakes his head, looking wanly wry. He hopes he doesn't get that job either.
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