| Logs |
2010 November 22
| Neverneverwhere |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
| Realms: Taps Logs |
Gypsies, Tramps, & Thieves
For the past several days life had fallen into a slightly unusual routine for the caravan. During the days, while Sulochana slept, they'd all traveled up the mountainside towards Donner Pass. Since it was rough terrain, they were all pleased if they made a good ten miles a day, of course, and they all tried to resolve any issues without awakening her. Each dusk, as they settled for the night and Buddy served everyone dinner, Bradley would come walking silently into the caravan's circle. He was always scrupulously polite, and always very nattily attired as he awaited the Hetaera emerging from her wagon. For her part, 'Chana seemed enormously pleased to be picking up a bit more business from Roseville for the caravan... and she seemed also to be enjoying Bradley's extremely gentlemanly attentions. Just before dawn the manitou always returned with her, then departed, slipping into shadows and vanishing as she waved, then turned and tiredly headed into her wagon to sleep away the day.
Dominic relaxes when he sees Sura dealing contentedly enough with Bradley. He supposes that a fellow with a daughter like Diana can't be too bad. Travel along the smugglers' way was surprisingly easy and they'd discovered, when they came to the end of it, that they had not only avoided being stopped by the mayor's men, but had also cut off a section of road they all knew was particularly curvy and unpleasant for the wagons. The young man is plenty happy they've avoided treacherous trail. He makes a note of the pass, so they can use it coming back, too. Chanticleer has been keeping the watch up while they camp; he's concerned that whomever was prowling around the camp that night is following them. He takes the time to take a scout each night, to head along the way they came a bit, just to see if anyone is there. It's for a practical reason as well as security; if someone's gone from the town then chances are good the caravan might get blamed for kidnapping -- even if the person expired while never having been noticed by the caravaneers.
The main trail is actually a little harder going than the smugglers' road had been; they find themselves slowed down and having to avoid several boggy places that make Del very unhappy. She is quite grouchy about the animals that will be coming after them along such places, but doesn't try to get anyone to stop and repair the trail. Dominic makes note of the difficult parts of the trail with chagrin as well. He wonders... maybe he could fix it himself? Or not. Considering it, he realizes he's nowhere near that strong, and that's a lot of earth to settle... and besides that, part of the whole mess is the weather too -- not just the low spots and the uneven terrain. No, this place really needs a bunch of dedicated workers to hash all this out. There's no magical quick fix.
They're several days out of town when Chanticleer finally does see someone coming up behind them. They've hit the main road finally, but it is still quite an empty road behind them for the most part. Either people are taking more time to provision in Roseville, or it's a slow season. The person the sidhe sees is riding a horse and is traveling fairly quickly. Not galloping, certainly, but moving at the speed of a scout or courier. Chanticleer frowns a little, wondering who the person is. Well, nothing like asking. He makes sure his glamour is up -- it would be, of course -- and steps onto the road, telling the other scout to remain hidden for the moment. He hails the rider, wondering if he'll recognize him.
The rider is swaddled in layers of traveling clothes and gets fairly close before Chanticleer realizes it's not a male -- actually, it's not even an adult. The person on the horse is a young girl, though she rides with the skill of someone that's being doing it for a long time. Chanticleer blinks, and feels chilly suddenly. [Oh, please, don't let it be someone who wants to come with us! And... oh, please, don't let it be one of the girls who came to see the tumblers!] "Ah, good day to you, Miss!" he says. "My name's Chanti; may I ask what brings you along this road?" [Did she follow us down the smuggler's path?]
When Chanticleer hails the rider she speeds up to reach him more quickly and pulls back the hood on her parka to reveal a pink-cheeked and beaming face. Not only is it one of the girls from the other night -- it's Bradley's daughter Diana, "Hello, Chanti!" There are saddlebags on the horse and a very, very inexpertly-tied bedroll made up of the sort of blankets one would find on the bed of a rich little girl.
Chanticleer's jaw drops to his chest. [Oh Heavens, we're in so much trouble it's not even funny.] "D-Diana! Hello! What a pleasant... what a surprise! Ah, what brings you... along the same stretch of road we're on, in a manner that could be sort of looked at as following us?" He almost wishes it had been Zachariah -- that would have been easier to handle! He shakes his head. "Well, come on to the caravan for the nonce, at least. Roads are best traveled in groups."
Diana giggles as the man is surprised. She sits up a little straighter in her saddle, proud of her prowess, "I am following you! And thank you! I do want to come to the caravan. That's why I'm here. Dominic told such exciting stories and I want to have adventures like Miss Sulochana."
Dominic cranes his head and peers out from where he's driving the Lady's wagon... did he hear a horse approaching? Wait, Chanti's talking to someone... who is that? Chanticleer almost but does not quite weep. "Ah... yeah, let's get you speaking with Lady Sulochana." He leads the horse and Diana back, going through and dismissing half a hundred ways to break it to her gently and not-quite-so-gently by the time they reach the caravan.
Dominic huhs as Chanti comes back with the newcomer. That's strange, she looks like... like... "Bugger me sideways," he swears. He can't remember the last time he swore. He's quite good at it, but he immediately clamps his hand over his mouth, as if worried someone heard. He turns around them, trying not to lose track of Amanda. "Lady! Lady, we have a... a visitor! It's, uh... kind of important!" he calls, trying not to sound panicked. Suraksha has had a long night -- several of them, in fact. There's no sound from within her wagon.
Diana is quite happy to follow Chanticleer and his horse back to the caravan, wide eyes taking in all the wagons and people now they're underway and not camped in town. The people dress differently and the wagons have all their extensions folded in. Cargo is loaded and luggage and provisions strapped to racks and holders atop and alongside the vehicles. As Chanti passes the rear wagon -- Buddy's, as it happens -- the cook starts and swears in Greek, then calls out, "Is that who I think it is?"
Chanticleer calls back to Buddy, "That depends on who you think it is, Buddy." Fortunately Chanti has been making it a point to make sure people aren't doffing their glamour during the day while traveling this close to Roseville, especially since there was someone following them. He bids Diana to come along the caravan, while he hops up to the back porch of Surasksha's and knocks politely.
Dominic looks almost comical, trying to look back at Chanti and steer Amanda and get the Lady's attention at the same time! "Ma'am?! Ma'am, please wake up, we've got a problem!" he calls louder then, daring to give the tiny wooden door over the front window a couple good whacks with his fist. When there's still no immediate response he looks around for Dan to see if he can use the lad to get Ohkwari's attention.
Suraksha stirs within the wagon when Chanti politely knocks, then calls groggily, "Door's open!" She sighs and yawns, sitting up and pushing her hair back out of her face, pulling a blanket around herself. Dominic breathes a sigh of relief... sort of. Suraksha blinks at the panicked hammering, wondering what's wrong with Dominic. She rises and heads over to the little window, sliding open the wooden screen. "Dom? Calm down, dear." She glances around, sees no emergency, and smiles, "I need to answer the door and then I'll come help you, all right?" She closes the little window slide, and heads towards her wagon door. She peeks out as Chanti opens the door, covering a yawn again, "H'llo?" On the cushion outside, Alg sits up and sniffs curiously at Diana.
Chanticleer takes in a breath, then opens Suraksha's door, poking his head in. "Lady? I found the person following us. It's Diana." Boom, dropped like an anvil from a parapet. There was no way to sugar-coat it, so he didn't even try.
Suraksha blinks at Chanti perplexedly, not immediately noticing the girl behind him. "Um... is this a joke, Chanticleer?"
Diana is beaming and she waves enthusiastically at Dominic, still sitting astride her horse. "Dominic! Hello!" She giggles at Alg's snuffling, since he doesn't seem to be aggressive. Dominic clears his throat, and after considering it, wiggles fingers back at the girl. He doesn't have the heart to scowl at her, even if this has made a royal mess of things.
Suraksha's eyes widen in shock as she hears the girl. Chanticleer shakes his head. "I wouldn't joke about caravan security, Lady."
Suraksha leans around Chanti, staring -- then straightens up, one hand over her mouth, "Bright Lady of Serpents!" She keeps her voice low, "Chanti... oh, fuck a duck! She followed us? Is it just her?"
Chanticleer says, "Just her, as far as I can tell. She's not said anything about anyone else with her."
Suraksha nods, taking a deep breath. "All right." She's silent for several seconds, thinking hard... then she nods again. "Right. Chanti, stop the caravan. Dominic, would you take Diana back to Buddy, and ask if he can make her a nice chocolate drink? I'll be out in a moment -- need to dress." Buddy has stopped the rearward wagon and the others are starting to slow and come to a standstill as well. Dan is running along the caravan to speed the news that there needs to be a pause to take care of an emergency. Dominic absently makes a note to thank Dan for his quick work.
Diana's eyes widen at the coarse language and she blushes deeply. She's never heard a lady talk like that. "Well... I didn't come with anyone... exactly."
Chanticleer nods, "I think Dan is already taking care of the caravan, but I'll go make sure it goes smoothly." He steps outside, moving immediately to make sure the caravan is in good order.
Dominic clears his throat. "The word's already being passed, Ma'am. We're stopping," he assures Sura, bringing gentle Amanda to a halt and patting the camel's head before dropping off the wagon. Straightening his suspenders, he walks right up to the picture-perfect young Diana. "Why't you come with me, Diana, get you something warm and sweet to drink. You've been riding a good while."
Suraksha raises an eyebrow at the girl's reaction, then steps to the edge of the little porch and says quietly, "Diana, I apologize; my language was uncalled for." She thinks a moment, then adds, "Could I ask you to go with Dominic for a bit? I'll be right there, all right?"
The girl is quite happy to climb down off her horse and follow Dominic, chattering at him as they walk back toward Buddy's wagon, "I had to get up very early today to come find you." She reaches out to take the man's hand, actually skipping. She shows every sign of this being a magnificent lark. "But I made sure to stop and rest the horse a little." Suraksha quietly has Dan take the pony's reins and lead it to Del, before she ducks into her wagon. A few moments later she's trotting briskly along the wagon train, the Amazon sisters following her as she heads for Buddy's wagon.
Dominic takes Diana's hand without thinking about it, listening to the young girl chatter. "How did you know where we went?" he asks solemnly, and then clarifies. "Did you take the secret passage?" His own mind is working, trying to figure out how to handle this. He wants to be firm and tell her this is a bad idea... but he's not sure how to go about it. He doesn't usually do these things himself. He just carries out Sura's decisions. Best to wait, he supposes, before he says anything he can't take back. He adds, after a thought, "Did you tell anyone you were coming after us?"
Diana says, "Secret passage? There's a secret passage? No, I just came along the main road. I thought there was only one? And I knew you were coming this way and not going the other way. Because if you were going the other way, you would be able to be back before two or three years like Papa said." She uhms a little bit, "Nooo... not really. I left a letter, but Papa won't find that until he wakes up tonight. And I think we're past where he can come follow me. I think. I've never been out of Papa's territory before."
Dominic rubs his forehead. "Really. That's... exciting," he says unenthusiastically. He brings her up to Buddy's caravan, speaking quietly with the cook and asking for a cup of hot chocolate... maybe some coffee for the Lady, as well.
Buddy grunts at Dominic, scowling a little. He's already started with the making of the hot drinks. Diana looks nervously at him and half-hides behind Dominic. She knows the look of an adult who is displeased with her. Chanticleer can tell Dan has handled the caravan's stop just fine, and the sidhe ends up at the end of the train, eventually meeting up with Buddy, Dominic, and Diana. The big cook calls to Chanticleer, "Joe headed back along the trail already?"
Chanticleer says, "Not yet, Buddy. We're waiting on the Lady for the moment."
Suraksha pads up silently a few moments after that, glancing thoughtfully down the road, then up at the sun. Looks like it's just after noon to her... which means the girl started riding at dawn, and likely rode for four or five hours at a canter and trot after them. She accepts the coffee from Buddy with a grateful murmur of thanks, then smiles and gives Diana a gentle hug, "Hi, sweetie. Are you all right?"
Diana hugs her back and says, "I'm very good at riding. I'm a little sore maybe, but that's OK. It will go away when I've rested. I think." The last is added with a little tone of worry, then she says, "Is that man here yet?"
Suraksha blinks at the girl, then sits down on the edge of the chuckwagon so she's closer to eye-level with Diana. "Which man, Diana? Oh! Is Moses following you?" Dominic lets Diana stay with him till Sura can take over... and when she comes over, after she straightens up from the hug, he repeats back to Sura what Diana told him about leaving a note for her father. Suraksha nods quietly to Dominic, murmuring her thanks to him. Her calm, reassuring gaze doesn't leave the little girl, however. Dominic stays on hand then, still thinking about what he can contribute to support his Lady.
Diana says, "Oh, no! Moses doesn't start watching me until after breakfast. Nina and Sally look out for me before then. I meant the other man -- the one with the hat. He's one of the men that is always with the mayor when he does stuff." Dominic's heart goes into his boots.
Suraksha blinks at Diana, then stares down the trail worriedly. Her voice is quiet, "Chanti, have Dan make sure we're all... presentable. Immediately, please." Chanticleer nods and starts the whirlwind tour of the caravan to make sure they are as dour and dull as they were that evening when the townies arrived. Sura sighs quietly in relief, then says gently to Diana, "Sweetie, did you talk to the man before you came after us?" She's flipping through ideas as fast as she can, trying to make sure they're not all about to be stopped for attempted kidnapping.
Diana looks worried as the adults all start looking like something Really Bad is happening, "No. I don't talk to strangers. But he was in the store when Sally took me to pick out the fabric for my new dress. It's going to be very pretty." She sighs dramatically, "But I won't get to wear it because I'll be too big for it by the time we get back!"
Suraksha looks faintly relieved, then pats the back of the chuckwagon next to her, "Come have a seat, Diana, and tell me how you knew he was heading this way, please?"
The girl goes on, "He was buying stuff like beef jerky and beans and talking with the shopkeeper about what he might need to camp out in the mountains. He was acting a little bit like he was doing something he shouldn't."
Suraksha laughs at that, gently ruffling Diana's hair. Her voice is teasing, "Oh, and you're good at recognizing that tone, eh?"
Dominic clears his throat to get Sura's attention. "Should I put our guest's mount away, or are we going to want that out and visible?"
Suraksha smiles at Dominic, "Del has the pony safe, dear. No worries. Have a seat and a cup of coffee with us?" She looks back at Diana and smiles expectantly.
Diana blushes a little bit, "I try to be good, mostly. But sometimes it's hard." She peeks at Dominic a little bit, obviously starting to worry. These are not the sorts of questions she expected, "So... he's not here yet?"
Dominic nods at the Lady's unspoken message -- calm down and be supportive and not anxious. "We haven't seen anyone but you for a long while," he assures the girl.
Suraksha smiles and shakes her head, "Not yet, honey. But if he's headed this way, we'll see him soon." She sips her coffee thoughtfully, then adds, "So... does your daddy know you're gone? He won't worry, will he?"
Diana hedges slightly, "He won't once he reads the letter I left him. But he won't find that until he gets up tonight. Mr. Elliott might be a little, uhm, concerned. But they'll figure it out when Papa wakes up."
Chanticleer returns to the last cart, looking like the Dour Deacon of Darby again. He keeps the stony facade off for now. "Should be just about ready, Lady," he says. "If one of them show up it'll be like nothing's different."
Suraksha nods thoughtfully, thinking a bit... then she smiles at Diana, "So Mr. Elliott might worry because he doesn't have a note from you? Just your daddy does?" She has a sip of coffee again, then nods to Chanti with relief, "Excellent. Thank you, Chanticleer."
Diana looks like she hadn't thought of this eventuality, "Well... no. He doesn't. Just Papa. And Papa likes you and the other people. So he won't worry. Really. He won't be mad. I'm pretty sure he won't." She looks at the sidhe and asks, "Why is everybody dressing all boring again?"
Chanticleer smiles to Diana. "Couldn't have put it better myself, actually." He lets Suraksha answer the question, however.
Dominic sips coffee. Coffee, he thinks absently, does not make him all calm. "Because the other man might not be so understanding about you coming to join us," he asserts.
Suraksha smiles faintly, silently watching Diana as the tired woman sips her coffee. At the question she smiles again, "We do not know or trust the man heading this way, Diana. We don't know if he wants to get us in trouble, or what. He might accuse us of kidnapping you, and if he went back to your father with that story... might your daddy be kind of mad, maybe?"
Diana's eyes get very large, "But... but... I left a letter! And Papa and Mr. Elliott and all... they know you wouldn't do something bad like kidnapping! I promise." She's starting to get worried now, however.
Suraksha nods reassuringly, "Good point -- your daddy knows we wouldn't do that." She tilts her head thoughtfully, sipping her coffee, then adds musingly, "He might miss you, though. He does love you an awful lot, after all, right?"
Diana bites her bottom lip and is starting to look worried, "Well, yes. Papa loves me. But.... but I so want to go on adventures! And Papa says I must be a good girl and behave! I can't have adventures like that!"
Dominic puts his face in his hand and mutters something incoherent into it at Diana's last comment. Suraksha grins at that, then nods gravely to Diana, "That's a very good point." She gives Diana a gentle hug, adding, "Don't worry -- we'll come up with a plan!" She considers for a moment, then smiles at the girl, "You know... when I first went on my adventures, it was when I looked about 13 or 14. My parents said I had enough training to go out on my own then. Why don't you try that too, sweetie? Ask your daddy if you can go on adventures once you're all grown up, if you promise to train real hard to learn all the things you need to go adventuring successfully? We should be back this way in two or three years. You'll be a woman by then, right? Maybe you could come visit my family in San Francisco?"
Dominic perks at what Sura says, though... yes... yes, that's exactly the right tack to take. Not never -- just not now. She needs to learn things. Diana is starting to get agitated, "But if that man can do it, so can I! I didn't really think about going with you until he was talking about coming here. He was saying that he figured he'd have a caravan to ride with. And you all didn't even like him, so I realized that you do like me... don't you?"
Suraksha hugs Diana close, her voice reassuring, "Sweetie, if he's one of the men who was with the mayor, then you're quite right -- we don't like him much at all! You and your daddy are lovely people, and I'm proud to be friends with you both." She smiles at the little girl as she adds, "But I don't want to hurt your daddy's feelings either. What if he thought you liked me more than him, say? That wouldn't be fair to him, would it?" Dominic listens very carefully to what Sura says. This is pure gold, here.
Diana hugs Suraksha back and is definitely worried now. "Papa knows that I love him best." She is definitely trying to convince herself more than Sura or Dom. "But I do like you all very much." She peeks over at Dominic, "Especially you and Mr. Dom."
Suraksha nods in understanding, "He is pretty special, yes. He tells the best stories!" She considers a bit, then adds, "Of course, if you're not there to reassure your daddy..." She cuts off, frowning and absently gnawing on her lower lip.
Dominic melts slightly again, putting his hat against his chest. "I like you a great deal too, Diana... but the Lady is right. You've got a lot to learn about being on the road before you're ready for it. You're used to being in town, and all the lovely things that come with that. The road is an exciting place... but it's a place with a lot of mud, and icky weather, and mean people, and plain food. You've got a lot of bravery, Diana... but you also got to be tough," he explains, gently. Dominic is busy talking to Diana, so his attention is a little behind Suraksha's. The woman notices another horse coming up behind them while the rider is still quite a ways off, far enough that it's just possible to tell it's a person atop a horse. Suraksha nods thoughtfully as she spots the rider. Dominic straightens up. "He's coming," the scout says darkly.
Sura looks at Dominic and smiles, "Dom, dear, would you take Diana for a walk along the caravan? She might want to do some considering about how to reassure her daddy, and what she needs to learn to be a good adventurer." Diana brightens. That sounds promising!
Dominic nods solemnly. He considers his options, and decides to handle it straight and show her everything... even the distasteful things. Come to think of it, especially the distasteful things. "Come along, Diana."
Suraksha smiles and waves to Diana, "Have fun! Don't worry, I'll take care of this guy, all right?" She waits until Diana and Dominic are out of sight before she murmurs very softly to the Amazon shield-sisters, "I'm not as good a rider as you both are. Regardless of that, can you get Diana and myself back to town before sunset?"
Poly doesn't even have to think about it, "We can. But we might also have to deal with yon rider, and that might take us a while. Might it be better to take her in the morning?"
Suraksha smiles ruefully, "Her father will be coming for her tonight." She glances at the two women, "Wouldn't you come after your beloved daughter, in a similar situation?" She looks back down the road, adding, "Buddy and I will take care of this guy, whoever he is."
The two sisters nod and Poly says, "I'll get the horses ready."
Suraksha says, "Thanks. I'll be there as soon as I can."
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