Goblin Town -- Logs

Thorn gets dropped off at the Infirmary, since it's closest to Currier's Hall and the palace. It's as the little group is slowly and tiredly heading back towards Cinnamon's house, as the next closest place, that Cinnamon confusedly asks Shane, "So... what was Niamh lying about, Shane, when she said where the chieftain leads, the trod follows?"

Shane mms? -having been lost in thought -- then ahs, "That's not entirely true. There have been coups. Most trods will follow their chieftain. Rowan would essentially follow Quinn without question, but he's shown himself to be more concerned with their welfare than his own."

Cinnamon blinks confusedly at Shane, "Uh... what? You said she wasn't telling the entire truth there... I wanted to know what you meant by that?"

Shane ahs, "That's what I meant, though. 'Where my father goes, the trod goes.' I got a feeling that that wasn't quite true. I don't know why it's not quite true, but it's not."

Cinnamon nods thoughtfully at that, plodding tiredly along for a bit... until she gets a small, wry smile, "She's good, too -- Niamh, I mean. She pegged Caradog immediately for the only one likely to be susceptible to her wiles, despite his upset at her being a sidhe! It was him she sobbed at to rescue her from the scary mean ol' dragon..." She snorts once, adding dryly, "Reminds me a lot of my little sister, actually! What was that about, anyways -- Caradog being unhappy that she was sidhe?"

Shane shakes his head, "I'm Rowan, so I wouldn't be sympathetic. Jaeger is a victim of this bullsh... idiocy. You're Liam's granddaughter. Elias was Liam's close friend. Caradog was the only one likely to be sympathetic. He didn't like that she's sidhe because he'd like to think that sidhe are better than that."

Cinnamon laughs softly and tiredly, "Ah? Good thing Marcus wasn't there, then, I guess!" She smiles wearily when they arrive at her little cottage, hugging and thanking both Shane and Veles for coming. She invites Josie and Spice in, of course... and unless anything drastic happens, she falls asleep quite soon thereafter! Josie and Spice agree to stay; they snuggle down to sleep on the futon that Cinnamon got to make it easy for her friend to stay over.

The next day, both Thorn and Cinnamon are visited by one of Caradog's pages with an invitation back to the palace for that night at the same time. Thorn checks with Iason about that, to let the healer know and to ask if there's anything Iason needs that would obviate going to the palace. Iason tells Thorn this is an important thing to witness. The centaur also says he's curious about how Qadan reacts to whatever potion Tag makes up, "He makes up some of our medicines. He has a source of very pure, very potent willow bark."

With that done, Thorn throws himself into the day's work -- in addition to his normal duties -- trying to find the limits of his healing spells. He'd rather find out now what he can and can't do! Iason is quite pleased to help Thorn work on that, and consequently some patients (which Iason was fairly certain would require a few days' recovery) are brought much closer to healed than they expected. Also, at about mid-morning, Thorn remembers to remind Iason to make a list of the medical costs for the attack. In particular, the cost will be absorbed by Moustapha's ill-gotten financial gains, so Iason should be unworriedly straightforward about costs incurred. Iason nods, "I will make the list. Nikos knows more about the costs of things, but I know more about what was needed. Thank you for reminding me."

Elsewhere, Cinnamon smiles sleepily at Josie, who accepted the envelope for her friend and is reading it aloud. Cinnamon is still in her warm flannel nightie and unicorn plushy slippers, and feeling far too frowzled to answer the door! She turns to continue pouring coffee for everyone as she murmurs, "That's nice of him. Before we all go, though, I have a few day errands to run... and then there's the small talk about weregild before everyone arrives to talk to Qadan. Sound good?" Josie nods, and over breakfast Cinnamon and Spice discuss what type of tablet upgrade Cinnamon should get, since the mercenary company is paying for the broken one. Spice cheerfully promises to go pick it up, once Cinnamon has placed the order at a nearby computer store -- this is an excellent excuse to get to wander around Boston with Josie!

Once they've all had breakfast and headed off their separate ways, Cinnamon goes to talk to Aisling about good warding plants for her window boxes. About two hours later she heads out excitedly to visit with Muriel -- she has a great list to run by the nature spirit! Muriel agrees with Aisling's choices, and explains what she needs, and Cinnamon happily agrees to fund whatever purchases Muriel makes! She'll just let John know it's okay... which is the next thing the young dragon does.

After that is a break for lunch at the Irish pub where folks often check for messages -- Cinnamon wants to know if Nasteexo has gotten her worried message yet, asking if the lwa and horses got out safely... and maybe left a reply? There is indeed a message from Nasteexo assuring Cinnamon that the lwa, her interpreter, and the human horses are all safe. Cinnamon sighs in relief at that, then happily thanks the waitress who was kind enough to find out for her.

After lunch Cinnamon heads off to Astrid's book and papers store... where the young dragon first spends some time thoughtfully and carefully selecting two 'get well soon' cards -- one for Aoi and the other for Killa -- then has a lovely time chatting with Astrid as well! Once that is taken care of, Cinnamon signs both cards, then heads off to the address she was given for the cousin of the deceased sidhe -- the sole death (at least to date, and hopefully there will be no more) from the attack at the emergency Council meeting. Cinnamon is very gentle with the cousin, apologizing for intruding on his grief and explaining that she completely understands this can never replace a real, living person... but she hopes the small fund coming to him from Moustapha's finances will be of some use to him. She's relieved when she departs some time later -- it's always hard to know what to say to someone who has lost someone dear to them! She's glad she went, though... the cousin seemed genuinely thankful for the roses and her visit, and surprised but also somewhat relieved at the weregild money.

Cinnamon checks her to-do list as she heads back to her house for dinner... Spice knows to check with John about the monies for the repairs to Currier's Hall, which is the last thing left to spend Moustapha's money on -- and everything left over will just get dumped in with Niamh's and Qadan's money. Tonight Cinnamon can ask about that money, as well as find out if Aoi and Killa have proxies which can attend the private council meeting for them... and on the way home she can invite them when she's delivering the cards, if the answer is yes. Oh! Cinnamon happily reminds herself: must research wooden trans-Atlantic ships today too! Also got to ask Shane how folks go about getting passports here, and -- Cinnamon brightens -- maybe over dinner they can all design the Elgan family crest!

Dinner is very pleasant for the little dragon, surrounded as she is by dear friends. The tablet is everything she was hoping for, and then some! -- and the new little family have a good time designing the crest together. Veles, Josie, and Spice agree to take it to Astrid's store so Elgan family letterhead can be crafted, before they come to the palace for the talk with Qadan. Cinnamon is also delighted to discover from Thorn that Iason has been informed of the use Moustapha's money will be put to... and the research on wooden ships turns out to be quite productive as well!

Cinnamon walks to the palace with Shane, mostly happily enjoying the evening and the company -- though she's still not quite confident enough to admit to herself that she rather very much likes Shane! Still, Coblyn Street never lacks for interesting things to see and do -- it's good emotional cover! On the way, Cinnamon checks with Shane: would picking up a box of pastries from Uta to share with everyone be seen as polite, or odd? She'd really like everyone at the meeting to be calm and happy, after all... considering how potentially contentious weregilds can be! She grins shyly when Shane laughs and assures her that Caradog will take care of feeding everyone! Her voice is soft, "Okay. I just... well, this is l-like some of the, er... more contentious financial cases, you know? And... m-my boss always m-made sure there were donuts there, so... I, I w-wanted to be responsible and thoughtful too!"

When they reach the palace, Cinnamon cheerfully gives the guards their names and informs the men that they're expected. She doesn't know the two entities, but she's seen how several other Councilors handled this step... so she simply does the same. Unsurprisingly, the visitors are indeed expected: a page waits to lead them in. Cinnamon grins at Shane as she adds, "Aisling says one should walk slowly through the palace -- gives folks time to make sure the meeting room is set up properly!"

Cinnamon also curiously checks with the page: have Elias and Jaeger arrived already? The young dragon is pleased to hear they're both there already, and waiting with Caradog for the arrival of the last two folks invited to this meeting. It doesn't occur to Cinnamon, however, that the two canny, ancient entities might have deliberately arrived early so that they and Caradog might compare amused and/or intrigued notes on the new, young, and enthusiastic dragon!

The room the two are shown into is a pleasant one, and Cinnamon recognizes it as where she and Aisling previously met with Caradog. The young dragon is pleased -- she likes this room! Tea -- along with Caradog, Elias, and Jaeger -- awaits them, and the lovely garden outside provides a nice, peacefully moonlit backdrop. Hopefully, Cinnamon thinks, it will also encourage everyone to remain calm and relaxed!

Cinnamon beams, giving Elias a hug and adding, "Hello, everyone!" before she seats herself on one of the settees... with a tiny internal hope that Shane maybe will choose to sit next to her! It's a small enough thought that it's not even really conscious... which is just as well, since she'd ruthlessly squash it if she realized. From her life experience, pretty people may be her friends... but they're not seriously interested in folks like her! Shane does indeed sit next to Cinnamon -- which causes her to unwittingly look happier. He's noticed she seems to be calmer if either he or Josie settles down with her in a possibly tense situation. Besides, though Cinnamon has yet to realize it, he enjoys the young dragons company.

Cinnamon enjoys her tea and a cookie first, giving folks a moment to say hi to each other and savor the tea -- which is indeed very nice. Only once a moment of thoughtful silence has fallen does she set down her teacup and smile a bit nervously around at everyone present, "So! We, um, I mean, I figured maybe if we all talked out what we wanted as weregild ahead of time, then... then in the actual moment of confrontation we'd all be, uh... calmer and more sure of ourselves?" She pauses... then grins shyly, "Well, or... I would be -- so, um, so I was hoping you all would be willing to do that with me!"

Cinnamon reaches into her bag, which is sitting next to her feet, and pulls out her little journal/notebook. Flipping through it to the right page, she pushes her glasses up and smiles tentatively at everyone there, "So... I made a list of things I thought might be important to ask for, or to get done... and I was hoping you'd all help me add to it so we had a really good and complete list of stuff to ask for. I figure I'll read it here and now, and you all should critique it so we can make it better. Is that okay?"

After she gets a nod or affirmation from everyone present, Cinnamon starts reading her thoughts aloud, bit by bit, "Okay! So-ooo... so I figured the most important thing we all want is that Killian and his offspring aren't in a position to do stuff like this anymore, and all the nettles are totally destroyed. Also, I'd like to see the treaty between Rowan and Holly changed so there's still peace, but the Rowan guardians can leave should they wish to, without Holly's guardians coming in and taking over. Umm... I think it also might be smart to ask Holly to please pick a different guardian lineage?"

She hesitates, then slowly adds, "Also, this part? I, er... I'd like your input on it, please?" She takes a breath, then continues: "What do you think about... exiling Killian and his get from supernatural enclaves which don't agree with assassination as a system of government... and, um, maybe confiscating their family money -- so it can be donated to helping all the folks they've harmed?" Pushing her glasses up as she glances around, she asks, "Do you think that might help make sure they can't pull this garbage again?"

Everyone listens to the suggestions, though Shane's expression gets dark as the old treaty is brought up. Caradog muses, "You know, I'm a bit surprised they didn't try to make some sort of marriage treaty... by getting Shane and Niamh handfasted."

For a shocked fraction of an instant Cinnamon feels like her heart seizes up at the thought of Shane handfasted to another. But then Shane actually snorts, "Not a chance in hell of that!" and the hurtful thought is lost -- as Cinnamon has to cover her giggle! She remembers Shane's description of what he said once to Marcus, after all.

Caradog says, "Well, definitely not now, there isn't. But these things are sometimes done when the prospective partners are children still..." He trails off, then muses, "Though... Quinn didn't announce he had a son until you were grown?" That makes a couple of people in the room either blink or smile.

Elias clears his throat, "We are off track. We can talk later about whether Quinn hid Shane or didn't know about Shane himself. For now we need to stick to the matter at hand." Cinnamon nods, then blinks and pushes her glasses up again as he turns to her, "Exile would be fair. Especially in a case that reaches outside the trods in question. If it is simply Killian and his get and his cronies, that will work. If it has spread like a cancer through the whole trod, things could get quite messy."

Cinnamon nods again, her voice soft, "Well... well, we can hope?"

Shane speaks up next, "Their family fortune would be forfeit. Though most of the trods are quite communal. In Rowan, for instance, Quinn is Chieftain -- but he's no more wealthy than anyone else. He's got better quarters and a few perks, but if it comes down to cash money, its all in a communal account. Everything has to be signed and counter-signed before anything larger than a couple of hundred US dollars can be withdrawn."

Jaeger chuckles dryly, "Ja, Shane, but Rowan is properly run. Holly has apparently become quite corrupt. Remember, Cinnamon and her household found an account that was being used by Niamh here in Boston." Cinnamon nods again at that, with a small thrill of pleasure -- she has a household! She pushes up her glasses again as Jaeger turns to the young dragon and adds, "I think those suggestions are quite equitable. I also believe asking for changes in the treaty would be a most proper weregild. If there are monies which have been diverted from the trods funds, those should go back to the trod. If the money has been from something outside the trod -- a fortune which Killian somehow amassed on his own, perhaps -- then that should be given to the injured parties."

Cinnamon brightens at that, "Oh, good! I was hoping I was kinda sorta on the right track, you know? I mean, 'cause I, er, I d-don't really know how these things are supposed to be done. So, umm... is there anything else you all think needs to be taken care of, that I missed? Here's what I've got so far..." She checks her notes, mumbling under her breath until she gets to the right section -- then she clears her throat and reads aloud, "Okay! So Moustapha's monies go first to the Infirmary and the injured and the deceased sidhe's cousin... then to the repairs for Currier's Hall. We've been using the money taken from the merc company to pay for our work, and a chunk of that went to Jaeger for Trod of the Elm too."

She looks up as she adds, "So... we still have a big chunk of money we... confiscated? -from both Qadan and Niamh, since we didn't want them to escape at the last minute if we couldn't catch them in time. We... kinda thought some of it should go to Trod of the Rowan because Branigan... but... is there anyone else we've not thought of that needs help still?"

Elias -- who may actually have spent more time with humans in the last two centuries than the rest of the older folk in the room -- says, "I suggest setting up a trust. Put it aside with John at the bank. Get Llewellyn to set up an application system. People that feel they may be entitled to part of the money can apply for it, and trustees can look over the applications to accept or deny them."

Cinnamon brightens, "Ooh, good idea!" When Shane grins and says, "Basically a class-action lawsuit setup," Cinnamon nods happily -- then starts scribbling notes to herself.

Elias nods to Shane, "That's what the humans call it, yes. I would say that some of the injured might wish some recompense. I suggest Iason as one of the trustees. He and his healers are the ones that saw to the injured. Choose two others as well. You need an odd number."

Cinnamon nods briskly again, quickly adding to her notes. Once that's done she looks up and smiles, "So... anything else we either need to talk about or agree on, regarding weregild for us all?" She pauses... then says slowly, "Actually... I have a question? What, umm... what do we do if the entire trod is in on this... horrible little conspiracy?"

Elias and Jaeger both sigh at that question, though it's Jaeger who speaks, "Then it might be war."

Cinnamon looks unhappy, "Oh." A moment later she says thoughtfully, "Well, is there... any way to stop that? Like... an overwhelming force insisting they follow the rules, or something?"

Shane says firmly, "Oh, yes, there is a way. Rowan has warriors, but we'd need to get help from other trods." He looks at Caradog with an arched brow and an expectant expression. Technically, the half-beansidhe holds no office -- but he is Quinn's son, and has Aisling's ear. He's even held her proxy a time or two.

The king chuckles and sighs, "If it turns out to be the whole trod, the members of the Trod of the Oak in Ireland will back Rowan."

Jaeger says slowly, "Elm is... a bit far from Ireland -- the trod in Europe is in the heart of the Black Forest. But I would suggest looking for a member of Trod of the Willow and perhaps Trod of the Ash."

Cinnamon glances back and forth between the speakers... then says earnestly, "I know there's only one of me, but if I could help I certainly would! But... but I was thinking more along the lines of the Council itself. I mean, isn't that what the Council is supposed to be for -- to prevent stuff like this happening? And... well, wouldn't the other Councilmembers maybe be a smidge... ticked off, say, that... that the very Council itself was being... well, effectively bargained-for by these folks? Wouldn't that be the sort of thing they'd, well... want to put a firm stop to? Not even mentioning the murdered..." she counts on her fingers, "there's Josie's father, Hilde's grandfather, Sparrow's, um... relation? They were all pretty much nudged mentally to leave -- for the greed of these people for a chair!" She looks around the room, asking perplexedly, "Isn't that... like, considered bad to do to Councilmembers?"

Elias smiles quietly, "Oh, yes... and I believe, dearheart, this might be one situation where there would be a solid 12-to-1 vote."

Cinnamon looks both intrigued and puzzled as she peers at Elias through her glasses, "Twelve... to one? Who do you think the dissenting vote would be?"

Jaeger's voice is dry and a little tired, "Qadan."

Cinnamon says in astonishment, "But- wait, but he -- he was trying to murder folks! Are you saying he's still a council member -- even after all that?! Can't we, like... like, send him home and ask for a replacement? Preferably a yellow tngri this time?!"

Elias nods, "He hasn't been convicted yet, so he is indeed still a council member -- not that his vote will count toward anything. But getting another council member could take months. I think we would prefer to have that vote before then."

Cinnamon is silent for a few moments, considering that... then she says slowly, "That's right... it's going to be a while before either Killa or Aoi can attend, isn't it." She frowns thoughtfully, then adds, "Would it be all right for me to invite a representative for them to attend the private Council meeting where I and my folks will be sharing the information we discovered? King Caradog and Jaeger too, of course -- we want to make sure everyone's aware of it as soon as possible, after all?"

Caradog nods, "I am quite sure they each have proxies. I believe Daniella is Killa's. I will have to have Llewellyn check the records for Aoi's."

Cinnamon beams at Caradog, "Thank you! I'll invite them on my way home then, when I stop to give them the get-well-soon cards I got them." Having been raised around humans, it doesn't occur to her to not sympathize with the pain of the Councilors on the 'opposing' side, after all. Turning to Shane, she adds, "You know Aoi's address, right?" When he smiles and nods, she beams again, "Okay then! So, let's see... so should we try asking the Council for back-up first, before we talk to Holly? Or wait and see, and hope that the entire trod hasn't gone bad, sort of?"

Shane smiles, "I know almost everyone's address." Cinnamon grins happily at Shane, pushing up her glasses, then turns expectantly back to the elders for a reply.

Elias considers, "Let us ask the council first. Contingency plans can be made if we have the backing of the council."

Cinnamon nods at that, scribbling a note to herself... then looks up at Caradog, "Ok, so who's going to be your representative with Holly, please? Also, can we pick a date for the private Council meeting to get all the data out? I want to invite Jaeger, Daniella, and Aoi's representative to attend as well, after all."

Caradog names a sidhe -- Corrig, who lives in the trod in Ireland -- as his representative, then calls his seneschal and gets a date set up for the private meeting. Cinnamon nods, still briskly scribbling. The folk who were sneaking out turn out to be low-level accomplices in the plan -- they were trying to get out and scrobble Caradog before he could arrive. Lorcan, the guard in the room at the moment, can't manage to silence a snort which does an amazing job of conveying 'That was never going to work!'

Cinnamon giggles at that, then looks up and beams, "Okay! That's all my questions and thoughts about the weregild. If you're all good with it, too, we can ask the Council about Holly after they're given all the information about the conspiracy. How's that sound?" There's general agreement that this is a good plan.

Cinnamon beams again, thanking everyone for their patience with her needing to plan ahead regarding weregild! After that she just relaxes while they all wait for the other folks who will be part of the attempted discussion with Qadan... though she does take a moment to proudly show Jaeger her research about wooden ships. Does he have a preference? She's partial to the one that takes only ten passengers -- that'll be more private for the supernaturals, and means there'll be two or three spaces left over if anyone wants to invite more folks! Plus, even though it's expensive, the mercenary company is paying for it all... so what does Jaeger think?

Jaeger seems quite happy with the suggestions about the ship -- in fact, he seems almost boyish about it! Cinnamon beams delightedly, incredibly pleased at how happy the elder elf seems! She doesn't realize it consciously, but the approval of Elias and Jaeger means a lot to her... in a way she'll never feel with her genetic father.

During that time, Caradog has everyone move to the same room in which they interrogated Niamh. Diarmaid is waiting for them there, as is Tag, carrying a small doctor's bag. Thorn perks up when he sees Tag, remembering that he's to observe Qadan's reaction to the potion carefully, as per Iason's request. Tag looks over at Thorn and smiles, tail swishing as he pads over to the healer and hands Thorn a small vial of a sort of cloudy blue liquid, "Some of the potion we'll be using tonight. I wanted Iason to have a sample."

Thorn brightens. "Oh! Thank you very much -- I'll get this to Iason as soon as possible!"

Tag nods, "I try to keep him aware of what might be out and about on the street... in case there's need of an antidote." As they're speaking, Caradog sends Diarmaid downstairs after Qadan.

Jalil is also there, wearing what may actually be formal clothing for him. The tunic-like garment is richly embroidered and he wears a small, round hat that is also embroidered and embellished. Cinnamon brightens and waves, "Hi, Jalil! Wow, you look really nice!" She's also happy to see Spice, Thorn, Josie, and Veles arrive soon thereafter. She whispers cheerfully with Spice, sharing the updates on their various projects... then straightens and takes a deep breath. Got to remain calm and unfrustrated with Qadan! Somehow she suspects he'd get off on pissing everyone off. She flips to her little list of questions for him... then waits patiently.

Diarmaid returns with not only the tngri, but another pair of guards as well -- they're apparently far more wary of Qadan than they were of Niamh. Cinnamon glances at the tngri thoughtfully, trying to tell if there's any remorse whatsoever in the entity. Qadan's expression has too much menace to be called sullen, but he gives the air of someone that is determined to not cooperate. His eyes flash with anger for a moment when he sees that Jalil is present, but he seems to overlook both Thorn and Tag... more fool he. Cinnamon sighs softly, relaxing back in her chair. Until the tngri has taken the potion -- or had it forced down his throat -- she doesn't think trying to talk is any use.

It's actually Elias who speaks first, "Qadan, will you willingly tell us about this plot?" Qadan sneers at the ancient vampire and Caradog rolls his eyes. Elias sighs, sounding truly regretful, "I didn't think so." Tag steps forward; the tngri's eyes settle on the vial in the puca's hand -- and then Qadan starts struggling against his guards. Cinnamon looks down at her notes with a small sigh, waiting to look up until the little battle is done. Diarmaid does most of the restraining, but it really does take all of the guards to get the angry tngri still enough for the potion to be poured down his throat.

The struggling goes on for a few minutes... but then Qadan slowly stops struggling and goes still. To Thorn's eye, it looks like the reaction of someone that's been given a very strong sedative. Thorn winces. He wonders if people becoming conspirators just don't think of truth potions being possible or a thing? or if they think that nobody will ever choose to use them if they got caught? Tag watches the reaction carefully, from a distance just out of Qadan's reach. When the tngri goes still, the little cat puca checks Qadan's pupils, then nods, "You can let him up now. But I wouldn't stay too far from him."

Cinnamon glances up, pushing her glasses into place as she murmurs, "Now?" She sighs at Qadan's relaxed stance, her voice soft, "Oh, good. Qadan, please tell us of your conspiracy, such as: who killed Liam and why, how Branigan and Killian come into this, why you wanted to destroy the Trod of the Elm, how you came up with the idea, and whatever other contributions you had to this."

Qadan actually looks blank, with none of the histrionics exhibited by Niamh -- there's really no expression at all as he slowly turns his face toward Cinnamon. Both the little dragon and Thorn can see there's almost no pupil showing around the tngri's iris, while the sclera has gone dark gray; almost black. The tngri's voice is distant... truly distant. It sounds like it's coming from a long corridor, echo and all. The first thing he says is chilling, with that calm, distant voice, "I killed the lizard. He was not a true dragon. None of you in the west are true divine dragons." He goes on, "He needed to be gone. He was keeping us from our true glory."

Cinnamon sighs softly and doesn't bother replying -- she just waits for the answer to the rest of her questions. Frankly, she's not surprised Qadan's response is so... well, pointless. This whole conspiracy has been nothing more than vicious action and vile behavior... by petty, childish, self-centered people. Cinnamon is actually quite relieved she finally noticed the pattern. Now they can root out the crazies and the Council can start acting to the actual benefit of all supernaturals... as well as the humans. Qadan is, honestly, nothing more than a vastly more powerful version of the schoolyard bullies who tried to make her cry for their amusement, when she was a child. She's not going to let his bullying get to her -- and now, finally, she has the power to ensure he can't bully anyone else. That thought gives her a small, warm glow of happiness.

Seated nearby, Thorn feels a sudden rush of anger. "Our true glory." "Our proper place." "Our destiny"... all of a sudden it's absolutely infuriating that these so-called 'superiors' are playing with other peoples' lives. Of all the selfish, self-centered, malignant, and just plain toxic bullshit Thorn has heard in the last twenty years of his life... this, this takes the cake. It is pissing him off to no goddamn end that these self-proclaimed ubermenschen think they have the right to decide who lives and who dies -- according to their plans. He has to take a breath and remind himself that he's a healer.

The rest of Qadan's answers are just as cold-blooded. The Trod of the Elm needed to be destroyed because Jaeger had been close to changing sides, and Qadan was certain that Marcus would be swayed too. The plan was: destroy the trod, weaken Marcus, possibly supplant him -- and thereby punish Jaeger for daring to think for himself. It sounds very much like the sort of tactic an invading army might take: kill the people and salt their metaphorical fields.

Cinnamon can't help a ruefully sympathetic glance at Jaeger when she hears that -- poor man! It shows how little Qadan understands, too... Marcus isn't likely to change his mind anytime soon, after all! Elias sighs and shakes his head, voice quiet, "I had forgotten how very certain so many of the Mongolian and Chinese cultures were, that their laws and ways were the only true ones."

Qadan goes on: Killian's people had reached out to Qadan because the Chinese were known for their herbalism and alchemy. The plan there had been to let Killian's trod take over Rowan -- Branigan was too sympathetic to the humans! That could infect an entire trod with such wrong-thinking. If Rowan had been taken over by Holly, Killian or someone of his choosing would have taken Aisling's place. The poison Killian handed over later gave Qadan what he needed to rid himself of Liam.

Cinnamon raises an eyebrow -- intriguing! So Qadan used Moustapha as his 'face' to help with Branigan's death -- which means it was indeed murder. She sighs softly again, reaching under the table to gently squeeze one of Shane's hands in silent sympathy. She wonders if Moustapha came up with the idea of mentally nudging the Councilors that departed... or if that was Qadan too. Shane has kept his face calm, but he squeezes back a little harder than he means to when he hears that his grandfather was murdered -- among other reasons -- as a way to get Aisling off the council. Cinnamon is quietly happy that she can be there and supportive for Shane -- it's about time she helped him even a tiny bit as much as he's helped her!

Thorn folds his hands, under the table, to keep them from visibly shaking in anger. It's almost over. Qadan is confessing to everything; his fate is sealed and the conspiracy is effectively broken. But there is still the issue of the Trod of the Holly, and that reckoning will not be so easy as these. Jalil looks impassive, though even as part of the 'reveal' faction, he wasn't antagonistic to the humans.

Qadan's voice is starting to fade and his eyelids are drooping; he doesn't seem to have much else to say. Throughout his talking, his reasoning seems to be as follows: the humans haven't been falling in line in the last couple of centuries. Tag clicks his tongue, "I think he may drop off here soon..."

Cinnamon says quickly, "Qadan, who came up with the idea to mentally nudge the Councilors who departed?"

Qadan blinks slowly, "Moustapha. It was the only idea of his that was original."

Cinnamon nods slowly, then glances at the others, "He's answered all my questions. Anyone else got anything?" Thorn has a brief flash of curiosity, as to why this potion is affecting Qadan so dramatically differently from Niamh. Cinnamon adds one last question: "Qadan, were you responsible for the retirement of Jalil's predecessor?" Cinnamon knows that was 50 or 60 years ago, as opposed to the 25 since Branigan's dea- no, wait, call it what it is: murder. Still... she wants to be sure -- and maybe that was the inspiration for all this cruelty, even if Qadan didn't have her removed.

To that, Qadan says, "No. But it did start me thinking." Cinnamon nods, unsurprised... then gives Jalil a small, unhappy smile before she glances around the room again to see if anyone else has anything to add. She makes a mental note to herself, though, as she does so: she may not be impartial, but she is going to be darned sure she speaks to everyone who will talk to her, on all the various issues that may come up! Jalil shakes his head and frowns, but he hasn't spoken yet.

The tngri's eyes are almost completely closed, and he's gone limp. Tag clucks his tongue again, "I think that's all you'll get out of him tonight."

Cinnamon mutters quietly to herself, "I wouldn't want any more, after that!" Caradog nods to Tag, then has Diarmaid and the others take Qadan back to his cell. Cinnamon sighs gustily... then she reaches out to pour herself a fresh cup of tea. She doctors it heavily with cream and sugar, and takes a small cut sandwich and a cookie... then sits back and consumes all of them in rapid order! She feels obscurely better after that.

After Qadan is removed, Thorn takes a deep, calming breath, then asks Tag, "Why was his reaction to the potion so different from Niamh's?" Cinnamon snorts quietly at that question! She remains politely silent so Tag can reply, however. She's pretty convinced by now that Qadan is a humongous bully -- and not much else!

Tag mmms thoughtfully, "Different potion. Some of what was in that one would have seriously harmed Niamh. I put it together from the knowledge I have of other air elementals and other Asian beings. I know quite a bit more about Celtic beings than Asian ones, however. Dosing a sidhe is easy for me." The puca adds, "I should adjust it a bit. It ran out of usefulness and into outright sedation a little more quickly than I would like."

Cinnamon says, "I bet part of it, too, is that Qadan's still sure he's absolutely right... maybe even that he's still going to win in the end!" She glances between Shane, Elias, and Jaeger -- the three most painfully affected present -- as she quietly adds, "I'm so, so sorry, guys."

Elias and Jaeger both look sad. Jaeger, in fact, looks as if his whole world has crashed down -- despair is writ large in his body language and on his face. His whole trod to be killed... because he changed his mind? Shane looks icily angry -- a look that does not sit well on his face. Elias shakes his head, "You did nothing wrong, child."

Cinnamon reaches out to pat Elias' hand, her small smile rueful, "It's a sorry of sympathy, Elias. You lost a dear friend." Then she glances worriedly at Jaeger -- but it's Shane who is seated next to her. She almost timidly touches the young beansidhe's arm, "There is one good part to this, isn't there, Shane? You get to change the treaty, as weregild! And... and we stopped them, peeps! We won! Right?"

Thorn lets out another breath and nods, feeling his emotions buoyed. "That's true." he says. "We did win. And it's thanks to you, Cinnamon."

Cinnamon blinks at Thorn -- then grins, "Me, yeah -- and you! And Spice, and Veles, and Shane, and Josie..." She looks around the room, smiling, "Jaeger helped because he was willing to talk to us, and Athala was willing to answer your questions straightfowardly, Thorn -- they helped a bunch too! And Elias and Aisling -- they helped us see we were on the right track!"

Shane nods, but apparently doesn't quite trust himself to speak yet. Caradog leans his head back and puts his hand over his eyes, "Of course this happens while the Council is here." He groans a little, adding, "While this is unconscionable, there's going to be quite a spanner thrown into the works with this. Aoi is incapacitated, as is Killa. Qadan's seat is open..."

Cinnamon blinks, adding, "Jalil and Sparrow helped tremendously too! Jalil actually stopped Qadan, and Sparrow taught me how to eat fire so Killa wouldn't die!" She sounds almost fierce as she adds, "We won -- b-because we understand that smart people work together! They don't put on airs and assume they're just better than everyone else -- a-and I think we're going to continue to win as long as we're willing to continue to work together!"

Jalil murmurs solemnly, "I was able to do that because fire eats air... and it was the very least I could do after Moustapha added to the suffering."

Cinnamon says firmly to Jalil, "I, um, I know I'm really young and -- and likely I'm not getting it right yet and all, but... but I don't blame you at all for Moustapha's bad behavior, Jalil! I'm just sorry I had to bring you such horrible news about him, you know?"

Jalil nods, "I am glad. He was still my responsibility." He says something sharp and obviously irritated -- and then his voice calms, "I believe I shall take my leave. I have much to contemplate."

Cinnamon says softly, "Thank you for coming, Jalil." She glances around the table, wondering if it might be best to suggest everyone just go home... so they can all process all this horribleness. She has two errands to run on the way home, but... she can see Jalil's point!

Caradog sighs, "If I were a better host, I'd stay with you... but I also have much I need to consider, and letters to write. But please, feel free to stay and finish the tea. Elias, Jaeger: I know you'll both be able to show everyone out?" That gets him nods. Caradog leaves, his guards with him -- apparently the king trusts this little circle of people.

Cinnamon quietly thanks Caradog as well... then looks at the little group, "Um, maybe we all should go home and... rest? Does anyone need someone to stay with them tonight?"

Thorn takes in a breath as well, standing, "I should get back to Iason. To, ah, give this to him." He indicates the vial Tag gave him, adding, "Also to see if anyone came in tonight. But if anyone here needs to talk... I can't promise I can heal hearts or minds yet, but I'll be glad to listen."

Cinnamon smiles quietly, "Thorny, you've been absolutely critical during this whole crisis. Thank you too."

Thorn smiles warmly to Cinnamon, "And thank you again, Cinnamon... for getting this all figured out." He takes his leave, then, heading back to the infirmary. He wonders if Iason is still awake.

At the Infirmary, Thorn discovers Iason is indeed still awake -- there are nights when it seems the centaur healer doesn't sleep at all. Thorn greets Iason, passing along the sample Tag gave him, and relates the effect it had on Qadan -- being as detailed as he can be while having had no physical contact with the air elemental. Iason nods as he studies the vial, which has a small tag attached with some notations that look almost like shorthand, "I had wondered. It sounds almost like a hypnotic. They give them to humans sometimes if they're going to be performing minor surgeries." The centaur looks at the human medic, adding quietly, "Something tells me you aren't as calm as you'd like to be."

Thorn's shoulders slump as he sighs, "I'm not, no. Qadan's testimony made me... really, really angry. He genuinely believes that he and his and others of his ilk are superior to everyone else -- that they can decide who lives and who dies... that they can do what they want because by some measure that of course they stack up to, they're superior to everyone and deserve to be called 'gods.' When in reality they're callous, cold, cruel, selfish, and don't have even the barest iota of benevolence or compassion. I know it takes all kinds of gods, but...."

Thorn looks down as he continues, "Sorry. I guess I'm still not not-angry." He pauses, then adds quietly, "He killed Liam. Not just conspired to, but killed Liam -- because he believed to his core that Liam wasn't 'divine' and didn't belong on the Council." Thorn's fist clenches, "I... I had some very un-healer-like thoughts about him when he said that."

Iason rests a hand on Thorn's shoulder, "The black tngri are... unpleasant -- and yes, they believe they are correct and everyone else is wrong; they have no empathy. Everything is from their point of view." He sighs, adding, "The yellow tngri are different. I hope one of them gets his seat -- or at least I hope that, if it's another tngri." His voice is gentle as he says, "You don't have to be not-angry, Thorn. Being a Healer doesn't mean infinite compassion." He sighs softly again, admitting, "Having violent thoughts comes to almost all of us. I have wanted, at times, to trample people who caused harm to others. In my younger days I did mete out what I saw as justice to one or two people who hurt their families... and for the councilors, the whole of the supernatural world is their family."

Thorn remains defeatedly slumped, "That's true. We're... a family, not the hierarchy that the reveal faction wants us to be." He sighs again, "I just... I'm just hoping that there aren't any more of the violent ones in the reveal faction anymore, you know?"

Iason nods, "I hope so as well. There are too few of us to kill one another just for petty politics... and now we are left with Killa, Aoi, Jalil, Marcus, and Nasteexo."

Earlier, back at the palace, Cinnamon is hastily considering. She knows Veles will be with Shane, and Spice and Josie will be together, and Jaeger's got the entire mansion of folks... her voice is soft, "Elias? Will you be okay?" Oh! Maybe... maybe she has a good idea: "Do you want to tell Aisling about this?" There -- someone closer to his age who can maybe help him through this, if he needs it?

Elias smiles and pats her hand, "I will be, but would you like to come have a little late-night snack at my place? I think you, perhaps, also need not to be alone... and Aisling does need to hear this, considering she too was a target."

Cinnamon smiles in quiet relief -- it sounds like he's going to be okay! "I would love to have a snack with you, Elias!" Hmm... maybe Shane would be better off spending some time with Elias and Aisling too? She quickly adds, "But... can everyone come? I have two little errands to run on the way there, but I'd be pleased to join you all after that?" Though... how to ensure Shane gets that time with Elias? Hmm... maybe this will work? She turns to Shane and says apologetically, "Though... would it be all right to ask you to, um, accompany me? So... so I don't have to flame anyone by accident, please?" Hastily she adds, "They're just quick errands! I just want to stop at Killa's and Aoi's compounds?"

Elias smiles, "Of course everyone can come, if they wish. Thorn could as well, but I think he needs to make his report to Iason."

Cinnamon nods in relief -- then glances hopefully at Shane, who nods, "I'd be happy to come along. That was... unpleasant."

Cinnamon looks unhappy, "I -- I'm so sorry, Shane!" She shifts uncertainly in her chair -- she'd like to hug him, but she's not sure if he's still too upset for that. "Should we, um..." she glances around at everyone else, "head on out now? Jaeger, will you be okay too?"

Jaeger nods gravely, "I will recover. Sorrow passes eventually." He adds with quiet dignity, "I believe I shall spend the night in the atrium at the manor."

Cinnamon nods, looking relieved, "Oh, good -- okay then." She rises, trying to urge everyone to start moving instead of sitting and possibly sinking into despair, "Shall we go, then?"

Everyone starts moving when Cinnamon does -- and once they do, some of the despair seems to wash away. Shane puts an arm around Cinnamon's shoulders as he says, "I'm sorry you had to hear him being like that about killing Liam."

Cinnamon is padding along quietly in the middle of her little cluster of friends, feeling very glad to have them all present. At Shane's comment she gets an odd, quirky little smile on her face. Glancing up at him, she says -- so that everyone can hear, "When I was a little girl, Shane, there were these three bigger guys who used to love to torment me, out in the schoolyard during recess. They'd try to get me to cry, then run away laughing... and when I told the teachers about them, I was told that it was just boys being boys."

Her face is still as she continues, "This went on for... oh, two or three grades? ...but at some point it hit me: these boys were just nasty little bullies! All they wanted was to hurt me and others like me -- folks too weak to be able to get them to stop or leave them alone -- to make themselves feel better." She has no idea, as she speaks, that she's describing precisely the folks Shane used to fight against as a child, as well... instead she continues, "Once I realized they could only hurt me if I let them, though... I won. They lost. They couldn't hurt me any more... so they eventually quit pestering me."

Cinnamon takes a deep, slow, cleansing breath before she quietly continues, "Aside from power levels... there's really nothing different between them and Qadan -- they're both bullies who're sure they're the only important things in the world... but are wrong -- and on some level I think they're desperately afraid to realize that." She smiles up at Shane far more sincerely as she adds, "Plus... now things have changed for me. Now it's me that has the power -- enough power to stop nasty people like that from hurting others!" She looks around at the people with her as she quietly adds, "All of us do... because we're willing to work together to stop this -- th-this bullshit f-from happening again."

Elias murmurs, "From your mouth to the gods' ears, dearling."

Cinnamon blinks uncertainly at Elias, pushing her glasses up, "Er... is that... good?"

Elias chuckles, "Yes. It's good."

Cinnamon grins shyly at that, "Oh, ok!" Glancing up and around, she happily adds, "Oh, there's my first stop -- Aoi's place! Shane and I will meet you all real soon, okay?" She waves to her friends as they all head off with Elias, then smiles up at Shane, "So... yeah, I'm okay. I've dealt with bullies before. Are you okay, though?" She hesitates, then adds a bit uncertainly, "Would you... like... a hug or something? Would that help you feel better?"

Shane grins down at his friend and answers her question by hugging her instead of using words, "Here's to the downfall of bullies."

Cinnamon eeps! -then giggles, hugging back tightly, "D-down the toilet with them all!" She finds she enjoys the hug quite a bit! It's doubtless due to relief at having finally captured and stopped the conspirators, she thinks. When Shane releases, she does too -- she doesn't want to be weird about hugs, considering how lovely they are! -- and glances around, "So, Aoi's place first. I, um, sent her some flowers... but not Killa's folks. I... well, I didn't think they'd like them, you know?" She's chattering quietly and a little nervously as she steps forward to tap on the door... but then she falls silent.

Aoi's place is new to her! It's set back from the street, and the twenty or so feet from Coblyn to the door are filled with a Zen rock garden, including a small water feature with something made out of bamboo and stone that makes a pleasant little 'tok' sound every minute or so. Cinnamon whispers to Shane, as they wait at the red-painted door, "This is very pretty! Is it open to the public?"

Shane tips his head down and murmurs back, "Only in the fact that the public can see it from Coblyn. It's bad form to trespass." He pauses, "Not that it stops anyone."

Cinnamon giggles softly! -then whispers back, "Well, it's still beautiful. I wonder if it's polite to come sit here, as long as you leave something nice?"

Shane is starting to speak when the door is opened. The person there looks human: small, compact, and neatly dressed in a tunic-like shirt, with simple blue slippers. He speaks to Shane with a smile in an Asian language, as far as Cinnamon can tell. Shane replies in a friendly way in the same tongue. When the doorman motions toward the left side of the door, Shane sits down to get his moccasin boots off, saying, "Shoes off. They have slippers for us inside."

Cinnamon blinks interestedly at Shane, pushing her glasses up, "I didn't know you spoke Japanese, Shane! How cool!" She smiles at the doorman, then watches Shane carefully so she can imitate him correctly.

Shane grins as he stands, slipping his feet into a pair of the indoor slippers they've been provided with, "Not very much. Enough to be polite. My first aikido sensei was Japanese and I asked him very nicely to teach me enough Japanese not to come off as a stupid, rude American. Izumi and Himeko have taught me a bit more. Don't worry, everyone in the household here speaks English as well. Izumi just tries to speak Japanese with me -- immersion."

Cinnamon nodnods excitedly, "Oh, good idea!" She beams at the man -- Izumi? -- and adds politely, "Please, do continue speaking Japanese to Shane? I would like to hear it; it's a lovely sounding language!" She wonders happily if she'll start picking up other languages on Coblyn, aside from the ones she intends to learn. What an exciting idea, if so! She adds to Shane, "Er... but who is... Hi-meh-ko, please?" She's careful with the name, trying to pronounce it correctly... then she beams as she adds, "You must be Izumi, yes?"

Izumi smiles and says in perfect, unaccented English, "I will do so if Shane is happy to translate. I still have to translate for him sometimes as well."

Shane nods, "I'm not completely fluent... and you've met Himeko. You bought a bunch of your furniture at her shop."

"Oh!" Cinnamon's voice is startled, "Yes, I know Himeko -- she's a lovely person!" She blinks at a sudden thought: is it awkward to live in the same house, and to be beholden to, someone you disagree with? She frowns thoughtfully... then decides this must mean Aoi is actually a better person than Cinnamon had realized -- if the phoenix puts no pressure on Himeko despite their disagreeing! Cinnamon beams again as she adds, "I didn't realize she lived here, though -- how cool!" She turns to Izumi as she says with careful politeness, "I hope your household liked the flowers, Mr. Izumi. I d-don't know the Japanese flower language, so I tried to pick blooms that were beautiful and strong and enduring... like Aoi herself."

Izumi shakes his head and says something. Shane translates, "No. Himeko doesn't live here. I just shop at her store fairly regularly." He hands Cinnamon a pair of the slippers to put on. Izumi smiles again and nods, letting Shane translate, "The flowers are beautiful. He's sure Aoi will love them."

Cinnamon hastily pulls on the slippers, then grins at Izumi, "That's okay -- she's still a lovely person... and I'm so glad to hear the flowers made people happy!" She pulls the little envelope out of her bag, then hesitates, trying to remember what little she's read about Japanese courtesies. Hmm... something about one hand being 'dirty' or somesuch... and bowing? OK, better to use both hands, then! She gives an uncertain little head-bob, offering the envelope with both hands, "This is just a little get-well-soon card for Aoi as well, and I hope she... is up and about soon! Also, I know the king will send a formal invite, but we'll be having a private Council meeting where I'll be giving all the information about the conspiracy."

She gives the date, then apologetically adds, "I'm sorry it's before Aoi will be all better, but I wanted to offer a personal invitation to whomever her representative is, to please come and hear it all? Also, if you want, I can make print-outs for that person to bring back to Aoi, and if she still has any questions I'm happy to answer them?"

Izumi nods in kind and takes the invitation, showing no upset or concern with Cinnamon's manners. Shane translates, "I'll be sure the great lady gets the invitation and your good wishes. The person holding her proxy will be in town by tomorrow night."

Cinnamon has been listening carefully to the Japanese and the translations -- she's excited at the thought that maybe (like Elias suggested) she's 'bred true' to her grandsire! That would go a long ways in convincing her that she's not just a second-class fill-in, but rather actually worthy of the role... though she hasn't yet consciously realized that. Instead she grins excitedly at Shane, pushing her glasses up as she asks almost breathlessly, "OK! So... how do I say thank you very much and good night, please?"

Shane gives her the words carefully and phonetically, promising to help her with the actual separate words rather than the phrase as a single thing later. Cinnamon beams excitedly, unwittingly lighting up with happiness, "Okay! Thank you, Shane!" Then she turns and says to Izumi, "I look forward to seeing Aoi soon!" She follows that, slowly and carefully, with the phonetic phrase Shane gave her... then grins hopefully at the two men, "Did I do it right?!"

Izumi smiles and Shane says, "Surprisingly well for a first timer. You'll get it quickly, I'm sure."

Cinnamon laughs happily, almost bouncing on her toes, "Awesomesauce!" She grins as she adds to Izumi, "We have another house to visit still, so I apologize for taking up so much of your time and I hope to see you again soon!"

It's only a little later that Shane and Cinnamon are headed on their way towards Killa's compound. Cinnamon is still bubbly with happiness, "-so exciting to hear new languages like that -- and they're so pretty! Oh! Also, I'm kinda excited about visiting Killa's place too -- it's been almost two days since the attack, after all, so do you think maybe Daniella's convinced them all that I really do just want them to be nice to folks in payment for my blood-debt?!" She laughs a bit self-consciously, "You know, when she first mentioned it, I didn't know what she meant -- I though she wanted to give me actual blood! I was trying to gently explain that that's more a vampire thing, you know? Oh!" She's slightly breathless from talking so fast, due to her excitement, as she adds, "There's the compound! Okay, here we go!" She nervously nibbles on her lower lip -- then grins up at Shane as she knocks on the door.

Shane stands with her. The two people that answer the gate are familiar: one is the female guard that was so sulky and walked off. The other is the one with the bandolier of throwing knives that Shane held onto until Killa's people left. Cinnamon smiles uncertainly, "Um... hello? Good evening! I, ahh... would like to speak to Daniella, please?" She hopes they're not too upset with her -- after all, neither of them had weapons destroyed by her?

The one with the bandolier is actually quite polite -- he even smiles. The woman scowls. Shane does that thing that seems to upset pissy people even more: he ignores the sulk and smiles at the man with the bandolier. The male guard says, "She is with our lord. He is... recovering. But it is slow."

Cinnamon sighs in relief, "Oh, good! I mean, I know everyone said he'd get better, but..." She pauses, remembering the devastated serpentine body when she'd finally gotten all the fire swallowed -- and shudders slightly in spite of herself! A bit huskily she adds, "N-nobody deserves to get hurt l-like that!" She swallows hard and takes a deep breath, then smiles uncertainly, "W-well, would it be better to, um... to give her my message, then? Should she not leave him? Or... or should we wait while you get her?"

The male guard says, "I would request that you send the message, rather than ask her to come away. I will personally make sure she gets any message." His voice is calm and respectful. The woman is continuing to scowl.

Cinnamon nods at that, pulling the little envelope out of her bag, "Okay! In that case, could you please give her this?" She offers him the envelope as she adds, "Also, the king is going to send formal invitations, but I wanted to offer a personal one too, for the private council meeting where we'll be laying out all the information about the conspirators." She gives the date and time, then hesitates at a sudden thought, quietly adding half to herself, "Oh, my... that means we'll likely be voting on what to do with the prisoners too, then!"

Cinnamon absently gnaws on her lower lip -- then shakes herself once, "But anyway! So since Daniella's Killa's representative, I wanted to let her know that if she wants, I can also do some printouts of all the data so she has something to show Killa later? -and also, if Killa has any further questions, I'd be happy to answer them." She smiles uncertainly at the guard, adding, "Okay? And, um... thank you for delivering the message?" Uncertainly she adds, "Also... I n-never got your name, sorry? I'm, um... Cinnamon?" She cautiously offers her hand to shake, not sure how the man will react.

The man nods and listens carefully. At the end he says, "I'm sure she would appreciate the printouts. She has much on her hands with the running of the compound. She will appreciate the invitation." He shakes Cinnamon's hand and looks her in the eye, "Thank you for saving him."

Cinnamon smiles shyly, "H-how could I not? He's a fellow supernatural... and from what I've been told, there aren't enough of us in the world." She's curious as to why the man hasn't given his name, but doesn't want to embarrass him... so she'll ask Shane later, she decides.

Shane, realizing that the guard may actually have completely missed being asked, adds, "Jes�s, we really do thank you for what you're doing."

Jes�s nods and sighs, "We all know that there was a lot of issue with the beginning. I pray that it goes on better now."

Cinnamon glances startledly at Shane -- then blinks as she realizes: he's not swearing! That's actually the guy's name! She smiles and nods as she pushes her glasses into place, "S-so do we!" Her tone is heartfelt... but then she politely thanks them for their time again, and wishes them a good night. Jes�s and the scowling woman say their goodnights and move back to their posts -- unlike Caradog's palace, the guards retreat inside the walls rather than waiting outside. It's not until later, when she and Shane are strolling along through the darkness towards Elias' place, that Cinnamon says musingly, "Is it... foolish of me to think that, um... that maybe they'd be a lot happier... if they just were nicer to folks?"

Shane considers the question, "I don't know that they understand that. For the most part, I don't think they trust people because there's been a lot of colonization in that part of the world. Anyone from outside is a potential enemy." He sounds solemn and quiet... and just about then is when they reach Elias' door.

Cinnamon nods slowly, her thoughts churning as they walk. She taps lightly on Elias' doorframe, calling out, "Hello, we're here! How is everyone?" She crosses her fingers that being with others will help all her dear friends to cheer up a bit... she just wishes Thorn and Jaeger could be there too! Admittedly, Thorn's in the best possible hands, should he be feeling poorly... but she worries a bit about Jaeger looking despairing. She'd hoped he'd realize: he had friends -- folks who would stand with him against cruelties like those Qadan inflicted upon others.

Elias answers the door and invites them both in. He's smiling, but he's also obviously quite tired. Dark circles under the eyes show up startlingly well on such a pale face. Cinnamon blinks startledly! A vampire, tired?! She blurts out without thinking, "Are you okay, Elias?! You look... kinda tired?" She's abruptly concerned for him again... hopefully he'll listen to Aisling, if she suggests he needs to go rest?

Elias laughs quietly, "That's because I am tired, dearling. Come in, come in. Aisling is already here." Indeed, Aisling is there. She's dressed as she almost always is: understated, old-fashioned elegance.

Cinnamon waves as she enters, smiling shyly at Aisling, "Thanks f-for coming, Aisling! How is everyone?"

Aisling smiles, stands, and comes over to hug Cinnamon and then Shane. Shane also gets a kiss. It's a friendly kiss. Not the sort full of passion, but it is on the lips. She replies, "Oh, as well as can be expected after the death of one councilor, the temporary discorporation of one, and the massive phosphorous damage of a third."

Cinnamon winces slightly, her expression wry, "Yeah, umm... well, er, hopefully we'll get everything cleaned up soon?" She sighs as she adds, "I really don't know what the right thing to do about Qadan is, too!"

Aisling's voice is level, "Well, if it weren't for the fact that tngri are nigh-immortal, I'd say put him to death. But I'm old-fashioned sometimes."

Elias shakes his head, "No, Aisling; no death-for-a-death. We can't do that. Vengeance like that really only leads to even fewer of us."

Cinnamon looks puzzled, "But doesn't saying someone is 'nigh' something... mean they aren't actually that something?" She hastily adds, "I mean -- I'm not -- this is just... er... me asking? Not... voting for death?!"

Aisling nods, "Nigh means almost. Killing Qadan would be very, very difficult. I don't know how it could be accomplished. But we also didn't know how to easily kill Liam -- and Qadan still did it."

Cinnamon nods unhappily, "Same thing for, um... Killa, right?"

Elias says, "Killa is a bit easier to kill than Liam or Qadan. He is a very small god. Barely over the line from demigod."

Cinnamon nods thoughtfully... then sighs and says, "So... why do we even bother with saying this person or that one is a god or not? I mean, it's clear it just causes problems with arrogance and stuff?"

Aisling smiles humorlessly, "Because people cling to their titles and classifications. Sidhe were considered gods, but we aren't. We're all sub-species of a very long-lived but mortal branch of the evolutionary tree." She rubs her temples, adding, "All right. There will have to be at least two proxies and an investigation into who will take Qadan's seat... and we want to be very, very careful there."

Cinnamon blinks curiously, pushing her glasses up, "Two proxies? Explain, please? Or... oh! Do you mean for Killa and Aoi?"

Elias nods, "That is indeed what she means. Qadan will be officially divested after you show the evidence... not to mention everyone's testimony to his confession."

Cinnamon nods, unsurprised, "Honestly, I'll be glad to see him go. I believe someone that narcissistic and sociopathic shouldn't be making decisions for others!"

Elias smiles wryly, "It happens more than you would think." He sighs and shakes his head, "Dear friends, I am going to rest. I need it." As he starts to stand, Aisling does as well, murmuring, "Let me walk you down, Elias."

Cinnamon smiles and hugs Elias, "We'll clean up, then leave, okay? Rest well!"

Shane agrees and helps Cinnamon clean up. On the way back down the street he slips an arm around her shoulder and sighs, "She'll be good for him."

Cinnamon nodnods happily, "She will! I'm really happy that I thought of her... especially since Josie and Veles and Spice had to head off early to rest." She murmurs to Shane, "I wanted to be sure all my friends had someone to be with tonight -- especially after such a nasty reveal, you know?" She pads along silently, enjoying the feel of Shane's arm warm about her shoulders... then remembers her sudden heart-lurch earlier. Softly she adds, "Hey, Shane? Why would Caradog ask about you and Niamh being married... when technically it would have been your dad, Quinn, who was both Branigan's son, and of age to be married to Niamh?"

Shane tends to be affectionate with his friends. Cinnamon's likely seen him put his arm around other people in this way as they spoke. He's humming quietly to himself and smiles, "Veles told me he was going to sleep for a week. We need to find somewhere for him to live, if he's staying." At her question, he blinks and looks down at Cinnamon, "Because I'm currently the heir apparent, in a way, and Niamh is basically a princess. Age variations don't make a great deal of difference when your people can live for centuries or millennia. There were a couple of marriage offers to Quinn when he was younger. He refused all of them, though, and Branigan wasn't going to force him. Then he came west... and I happened."

Cinnamon nods slowly, debating with herself. She hesitates... and then it all comes out in a rush, "W-well, I -- I, I'm glad you didn't!"

Shane laughs quietly again and shakes his head, "If they made an offer, Quinn hasn't told me. And me mam never told Quinn about me. I showed up at Rowan when I was fresh out of high school -- stumbled over the trod! Quinn seemed to appear out of nowhere, started asking me questions, and I started answering before I could stop myself. Asked me if me mam's name was... her actual name. Described a little beauty mark she has, and when I was shocked and didn't know how he could know that, he told me he never thought any son of his could be so thick."

Cinnamon giggles in spite of herself, "Really?! Wow, bit rude maybe? I mean... he must've realized you were really young still, right?"

Shane laughs and nods, "Oh, yeah, acushla. He knew I was young. After all, it had been less than twenty years since he'd had to rush back home when his own da' died. Quinn isn't really rude, exactly... he was just teasing me a little. He really only does that with people he likes, or when he's surprised and covering it up. Then Aisling just sort of... appeared... they seemed to do that a lot at first until I got used to it. She fussed at him for using truthspeaking on me." He shakes his head with a grin, remembering how shocked he'd been.

Cinnamon grins shyly up at Shane -- she really likes his smile! Impulsively she says, "Why don't you and Veles spend the night at my place, Shane? Josie and Spice said they'd be there tonight, after all... and it'll be nice for us all to get to have a nice, warm breakfast together too?"

Shane smiles down at her again, "You sure? That's a lot of people and a lot of body heat." It's not as if he's not slept there before.

Cinnamon beams happily up at Shane, her eyes sparkling, "I, um... I actually really like the company?" She adds cheerfully, "Plus, we can open the skylight and turn on a fan if you're too hot?" She's blissfully unaware of the potential flirtatiousness of her commentary, however!

Shane grins and doesn't tease Cinnamon. He's enjoying seeing his friend open up and get comfortable, "Let me drop you by your place and go roust Veles. we'll meet you there."

"Okay!" Cinnamon beams happily, "It'll be nice! Heck, who knows? Veles might be waiting at my place to walk back with you to your place... and then you won't have to go get him!" As it turns out, the night is fairly slumber-party-ish. Josie and Spice end up snuggled into about the cutest little werewolf ball possible, with Josie almost able to envelope Spice. Veles sleeps near the front door, and Shane sleeps at the foot of the loft ladder/steps.

The next morning the entire house is awakened to Shane returning from Uta's with cinnamon rolls and asking if they should go check on Thorn. Cinnamon comes sliding down her recently installed firehouse pole -- it still makes her giggle! -- and happily suggests Shane maybe go invite Thorn to breakfast? By the time they get back, there should be eggs, bacon, fruit, pastries, and more eggs for everyone! Shane agrees to do so, trotting off down the road and leaving the other three with Cinnamon. He checks first at the healers' quarters and -- if he doesn't find Thorn there -- at the infirmary itself.

Thorn woke early, feeling rather refreshed and in somewhat better mood. The conspiracy is effectively broken for the moment, and the toxic attitude Qadan espouses should be ameliorated on the council... at least for a time. Shane's message about breakfast cheers him even more, and he checks with Iason to see if they can spare him for a little bit. With Iason's okay, he goes with Shane to Cinnamon's place. Iason is, in fact, quite sanguine about Thorn going to breakfast. After all, the centaur knows his newest Medic is going to be doing some traveling. The chirurgeon is very sure to let Thorn known that his services are an amazing asset, and will be even more of an asset when he travels, in taking care of enclaves that don't have good healers.

Breakfast is warm, friendly, filling, and full of laughter and friendship. It makes Cinnamon feel wonderful to be with friends like this! Later in the day she, Veles, and Spice -- as well as anyone else who'd like to come along and witness -- head up to officially register House Elgan as well. That too makes the young dragon almost glow with happiness! Later, the closed council meeting takes place at Caradog's palace. There are too many workpeople coming in and out of Currier's Hall to make it actually private in any room there, while Caradog has a couple of chambers that will hold the reduced council and one assistant for each of them.

Cinnamon also makes sure that Thorn, Shane, Veles, Spice, and Jaeger are there -- and if necessary she quietly makes sure Josie, she, and whomever else will help take them along as 'assistants.' After a little negotiation, Caradog agrees to a few extra parties that are directly impacted.

When the time for the private Council meeting occurs, Cinnamon quietly thanks Daniella and Aoi's representative for coming, and makes sure the two proxies also get the sheaf of printouts, each neatly enclosed in a sealed manila envelope, before they all start. She checks with Jaeger as well. How's he feeling? She's still a bit worried about him, though she tries not to show it... mostly successfully! Daniella is dressed in a simple, well-made business suit. She thanks Cinnamon for the condolences and well-wishes; apparently she got the entire message, which Cinnamon is quite relieved to hear.

Thorn is wearing his healer's whites to the meeting. He doesn't stare but he's quite curious about Aoi's proxy, and what they had to do to come this far to Coblyn while concealing themselves! Aoi's proxy turns out to be a small person that only looks vaguely humanoid, but they do have eyes and take the papers with a respectful bow. Somewhat like Nasteexo, the proxy has someone with them, though most people in the room have previously met Himeko. She explains that the being with Aoi's proxy cannot make sounds approximating speech, though everyone in the room hears them make a humming, greeting sort of sound.

Cinnamon uses her new tablet as, with Spice's able assistance, she once again runs through the presentation she put together... wow, it seems so long ago now! Once she's done she sighs, looking down at the little tablet for a moment... then looks up at everyone and says quietly, "Since then... we've had confirmation of almost all our suspicions. King Caradog was wise enough to have appropriate potions handy for the questioning of both Niamh and Qadan... and they've both confessed their duplicity. As it turns out, Killian had Branigan murdered with Qadan's approval -- they expected to take over the Trod of the Rowan, at that time." Caradog can't help a brief, bleakly amused smile -- he had the one potion to hand, and only after regular tactics weren't working. He very much appreciates the image boost!

Cinnamon takes a deep breath -- her heart hurts for poor Shane and Aisling, hearing about this again! The young dragon continues, though, determined to get it all out, "Turns out Qadan was indeed the organizer of the entire conspiracy, as well as the actual assassin of my many-greats grandsire Liam. Qadan also ordered the murder of Jaeger of the Trod of the Elm, as well as that trod's later obliteration. Killian, through Niamh's hands here in Boston, provided the poisonous nettles... and Moustapha was the cause of the retirement of Lark, Josie's father, and Hilde's grandfather. Qadan planned to next kill Marcus... and at that point when Killian or one of his offspring became the next Council member, they were to dismiss Aisling for someone else of Killian's choice." She closes her eyes for a moment, waiting for the expected outburst of anger and upset.

As the information is brought up and shown around there are a few questions here and there, not all of them directed at Cinnamon. Jaeger and Marcus are both asked questions, as is Aisling. Even Shane comes in for a little grilling about the affairs of Rowan. Thorn is queried regarding the nettles and even about the potions used. Himeko translates the question from Aoi's proxy: what is the formula of the potion used on Qadan? Cinnamon blinks at the questions, somewhat confused. She just told the Council that Qadan intended to murder them all! ...and they're asking... about the chemical make-up of interrogation potions?!

Thorn answers the questions directed to him as best he can, though Aoi's proxy's question is actually a bit of a surprise, "Ah, I don't know off the top of my head. I'll have to ask the apothecary... but I'll pass that answer on to you as soon as I know." Aoi's proxy seems quite pleased with that. Himeko explains that they are curious because Eastern medicine deals very much with herbs and alchemy. Having such knowledge could be useful -- partially because if someone as deadly as Qadan were to pop up again, it would be good to have a suitable potion on hand.

The entire feel of the room is tense and angry -- even the reveal faction are horrified and outraged at what Qadan did. Of course, all of them respected Liam... and they are all now quite aware that the black tngri would have likely turned on them with no remorse if they, like Jaeger, seemed to be changing their minds or swapping sides. Cinnamon sighs in quiet relief as it registers -- so, they are taking this seriously! Perhaps this attention to detail is how these folks deal with upset. Whatever works, really!

The young dragon waits until the questions are done, then says quietly, "So... one last thing. Qadan finally got impatient as his plans kept not quite coming to fruition... and that's when he ordered the attack on King Caradog, the Council itself, and any audience present. So he's responsible for..." she checks her notes, continuing almost dispassionately, "eight actual murders -- one of which he carried out personally -- three crippling attempted-murders, three psychic attacks... and the injuries of countless others -- all folk who'd done nothing to personally harm him! -- and all occurring over the span of a quarter of a century. He has no remorse whatsoever for his actions, and seems completely uncaring of how many deaths might occur due to his vicious actions. Which leads to the question: what do we do with him? What would be a just punishment, considering the magnitude of his crimes?"

There's quiet... then some murmuring between various council members. Aisling (who has already told some of the group what she feels ought to be done) is quiet simply because she knows her suggestion is really not the best for here and now. Finally, Jalil stands, "I think we need to find the council member that will take his place first. We here have seen the evidence, witnessed his machinations, and experienced what he has done. But once we have that person, we need to find out how one imprisons a black tngri."

Cinnamon nods thoughtfully, "I'll second that... with the proviso that the replacement please not be yet another black tngri?" Internally she's quite surprised -- and pleased! -- that these ancient, powerful beings aren't calling for a death sentence. She'd half expected most of the reveal faction would! Both Daniella and Aoi's little proxy have great cause to hate the almost-murderer of their deities, after all... and if Aisling thought death might be appropriate, then Cinnamon can totally see Marcus being for death too -- especially since Qadan had turned on him despite Marcus being staunchly pro-reveal! Cinnamon doesn't know enough about the domovoy or the Norse aelfar to be able to predict their choices, though. Heck, she'd have guessed that the 'traditional' vampire would be for death... but then, Elias is anything but!

Daniella snorts, "I vote we not have another tngri at all." Himeko reads something from Aoi's proxy -- who apparently either doesn't have or doesn't share a name -- saying that a yellow tngri would be acceptable but they believe finding another species might be wise as well.

Hilde eventually speaks, "He can't be released. Someone that dangerous to the entire world -- human and preternatural -- cannot be free to wreak havoc! He is essentially a force of nature... and we have all seen what those can do."

Cinnamon nods to Hilde, then raises a hand as she adds, "I'm going to take it, then, that we're unanimous on removing Qadan from his current office of Councilmember? Or should we officially vote on that?"

Thorn keeps his thoughts to himself, his brow furrowed as he listens to the discussion. The tngri, he recalls, are solely focused on the nomadic Mongolians -- perfectly acceptable, but they might not have any... empathy for other supernaturals. Or humans who are proximally supernatural outside of the nomadic tribes, for that matter. Probably not a good choice for the Council. He agrees with the observation that the next member shouldn't be a tngri. Something still bothers him, though, and clearly it's on the minds of everyone. He's not a clever man, but he thinks intently on the problem of what to do with Qadan. Hilde is right: the tngri is a danger to everyone... but Thorn still doesn't approve of execution.

There's a murmur and then Hilde speaks again, "I move that we vote to remove Qadan from the council for the cause that he was treacherous and not acting in good faith." Sparrow, much to everyone's surprise, seconds the motion. The vote after that is unanimous -- no one on either side of the aisle wants Qadan back. Aoi's proxy makes a suggestion: one of the Chinese water spirits, perhaps?

Cinnamon shakes her head in perplexity, "But... wasn't Qadan supposed to be representing the Mongolians? So... wouldn't it be fair to let them suggest who they want, maybe?" She doesn't also mention that she read about the Mongolians considering Chinese obliteration of their culture to be offensive. She doesn't want to be contentious about that! But equally... she doesn't want the new Councilor to not care properly for their people. She adds slowly, "Also... I just realized I have one last bit of information to relate to you all. Remember I said we... confiscated their money to make sure they couldn't escape? Well... I thought maybe you all might like to know what's up with that?"

There's some conversation about letting Qadan's people choose his replacement. After all, he may actually have descendents or a will of sorts naming his replacement. Everyone also seems quite curious about the money. Cinnamon smiles and waits until the Council has decided to wait on Qadan's replacement choice, then grins, "Sure! Here's what I've got so far, regarding the money." Occasionally referring to her notes, she explains where Moustapha's money all went, and why, adding, "If there's any left over after Currier's Hall is repaired, it'll go into a trust fund -- that's where Qadan's money is going. Elias thought that might be a good way to ensure those who feel they need it can actually get some financial assistance."

Cinnamon takes a breath, then continues in explanation, "Llewellyn is going to make up the application form, and the decision-making panel should consist of three people, so that there aren't any tied votes. Elias suggested Iason, since he took care of all the injured. I thought the other two should be calm, sturdy people who won't be easily pushed around, who aren't part of the Council at all, and who hold their tempers really well. I was thinking of asking Shane and Ivan, in fact." She glances at her tablet, then continues, "Niamh's money will primarily be going to Trod of the Rowan, as weregild for Branigan's death. Whatever is left over might potentially go back to trod of the Holly, if it turns out Killian was robbing them. If they were in on it too, however, the money will go into the trust fund instead."

There's quiet and only a few questions as Cinnamon goes over that. When she's done, Jalil looks at Thorn, "Has Iason agreed to this?"

Thorn nods, "Iason is aware of this, yes, and he has agreed." He doesn't add that this was part of a prophecy Iason had made!

Jalil nods, "Iason is steady and fair. Who are the people nominated as the other two? No one on the council, I think?"

Cinnamon nods in agreement, "Right, no one on the Council! I suggested Shane and Ivan."

The vote on those is unanimous, even though Shane looks a little surprised that he'd be chosen. He leans toward Cinnamon and murmurs, "I'd think people would see me as biased, what with being Rowantrod and all."

Cinnamon smiles warmly at Shane, "You're a truth teller, Shaney! Of course they'd want you!" She then straightens and looks around at the entire Council as she gravely continues, "I -- along with Thorn Elmtrod, Iason's apprentice -- actually spoke with an oracle about all this. Due to their input, a group of us are going to visit the trods of the Rowan and Holly to make sure the last elements of the conspiracy are dealt with." She takes a deep breath, then continues as firmly as she knows how, "This is... a distasteful possibility... but it could be that Trod of the Holly were all in on this. If that is the case, I would like to know if the Council will be united in their insistence on punishment for all the conspirators... since adherence to the rules is, from what I have been told, part of what we do."

That question causes a lot of murmuring and discussion. In the end, however, it's agreed that it cannot be let slide. Influencing the council with politics is one thing, but murder is not an acceptable form of politics any more -- at least not in the last few centuries. Cinnamon looks relieved at that!

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Last modified: 2019-Jun-12 19:53:32

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