Goblin Town -- Logs

People are starting to step up near Killian, and there are hands on swords on both sides. The Havvarger are spreading out to either side of their group, along with Maebh and Shane. Josie and Fraser are still missing... or at least not easily in sight. Killian speaks again, his voice cold, "You will leave or my people will make you leave."

Cinnamon smiles and shakes her head, "Even if we leave, Killian, which we are not... you have still lost. Do you really want the global Council against you?" She turns towards the trodmembers of Holly, "Seriously, people... is this who you want guarding you? He's a murderer, a thief, and a liar." She's noticed something which Killian has missed: the number of armed people moving as if to back him up is actually quite small. In fact, it's less than twice the number of armed people with Rowan. However, the armed people moving definitively away from Killian and Darragh is larger.

Cinnamon smiles ruefully, both unsurprised and relieved to see that. However, while she's turned partially away to look, there's the unmistakable thwip! of an arrow coming out of the forest around the clearing. It doesn't penetrate her skin, instead bouncing off her arm -- but it's sharp and was traveling at speed. Cinnamon yelps startledly, blinking at her arm -- then turns to glare indignantly at Killian, "That was not nice! You stop that at once!" She shakes a remonstrating finger at him as she snaps, "And put that sword away before you hurt someone!"

Thorn's breath catches when he hears the sound of the arrow... then sighs out a second after the arrow drops to the ground. [Now they've done it,] he wryly thinks, [they've thrown the first punch -- and they've made her mad!]

Killian smirks as, from the trees, come not just a few arrows -- but a good dozen or more, arcing over the trod of the Holly... aimed mostly toward Cinnamon, though a couple seem to be aimed over Cinnamon and towards Veles, Thorn, and Corrig, Caradog's representative. Those three stand on the far side of the clearing, their backs to the trees. Thorn blinks at the surge of arrows, then hisses softly as he dodges around the tree, managing not to be skewered -- then he quickly checks to see if anyone else was struck.

Near Killian, Cinnamon yelps again, ducking instinctively... and turning to watch where the other arrows go. Though she ends up looking a bit like a wobbly-quilled porcupine, she ignores the arrows that thud off her or catch in her clothing. Instead she straightens abruptly with disbelief on her face -- as she realizes her friends are being targeted too! She takes a deep breath... then whirls around and snarls at Killian, "That is it! I have had it with your vicious little shenanigans!" There's a small whoosh! of displaced air -- and abruptly a shimmeringly scarlet dragon comes stomping purposefully for Killian! Without missing a beat she growls, "-and if any of my friends were poisoned because of you, I am holding you personally responsible!" She spreads her wings slightly, hoping to draw all the incoming fire -- she's deeply concerned about her companions' continued good health!

Large numbers of the Hollies are totally taken by surprise at the sudden appearance of a large red dragon -- where, moments before, there'd been only a small and rather mousy woman! Perhaps they didn't believe Jaeger's assertion that she was Liam's granddaughter? Elsewhere on the field, from around and behind Thorn and the other two men come two simply enormous wolves! The Coblyn group have all seen Josie bipedal, of course... but she's still bloody well enormous in her quadrupedal form! On the other side of the clearing stalks Fraser's red-furred shape, hackles and tail raised as he and Josie both growl menacingly. They're staying with the 'squishy' members of the party.

Elsewhere, Cinnamon grabs at Killian -- if she can just capture him then maybe all the fighting will stop! Behind her, the still-human Havvarger move forward until there's a small wall of shields beneath the front edges of Cinnamon's wings. This creates a sort of bunker for Shane, Maebh, and Jaeger, giving them cover to join in the battle. Maebh starts loosing arrows of her own, while Shane takes a crossbow off Arvid's back and begins cocking it. Jaeger seems to produce throwing daggers out of nowhere as Cinnamon angrily adds, "This is all your fault, Killian -- you and your pathological need for revenge!"

Seeing the dragon grab at him, Killian moves -- very fast! Consequently he's not quite where Cinnamon expected him to be as her taloned paw-hand hits the ground. Simultaneously, another volley of arrows comes hissing from the trees... but, intriguingly, members of Holly are also rushing the trees! There are dozens of people out here, after all, and many of them are unarmed. Cinnamon pauses in her grab at Killian to take a deep breath -- then blow a burst of super hot flame at the oncoming arrows! If she can burn them all up, all the better for her friends! Then, she decides, she's just going to keep smacking her hands down to grab Killian until she gets him -- the nasty little monster!

Most of the arrows are incinerated, though a few make it past. One of those hits Josie in the shoulder, which makes her snarl and shake her body all over. It doesn't come close to putting her on the ground, however. Elsewhere, when Killian sees those long, curving talons coming at him again, he darts away once more! The beansidhe are all inhumanly graceful and quick, but Killian goes well beyond that. Perhaps it's his training as a warrior, or perhaps it's something else -- but Cinnamon slaps her paw-hands sharply down in four more fruitless attempts to capture Killian before she finally grabs him. Each time she strikes, there's a distinct thud! and the ground shudders slightly, causing some of the Hollies to stagger or lose their footing -- things are definitely getting a little chaotic!

The scarlet dragon is snarling in quiet anger, her tail lashing like a cat's as she slaps her paw-hands repeatedly up and down on the ground in her attempts to pin the elusive sidhe -- and there's a roar of triumph when she finally catches him! "Ah-hah! Gotcha, you... you nasty little doodyhead!" Her wing knuckles turn down and brace her as she sits up on her hind legs, the half-stunned sidhe held tightly in one paw-hand. She roars again -- louder this time, "Stop! Fighting!"

Cinnamon's companions aren't on the offensive, so they hold position -- it's clear the Havvarger are used to working as a team. There are a few other minor injuries, but Josie's seems the most serious. Killian is stunned, so can't really call his people off. Still, most of them are starting to, if not put their weapons away, to at least stop attacking -- no more arrows come shooting from the woods. Cinnamon nods grimly, growling, "That's better. You feisty lot -- back off!" She curls her neck enough that she can look down under her wings, adding, "Do we have a way to restrain Killian so we can actually negotiate rationally with the trod's elders?" Then she lifts her head and turns her neck so she can look over her shoulder as well, calling towards Thorn -- so she doesn't inadvertently point out who the healer is, "Can someone check Josie's shoulder too?"

Josie is already being urged back toward Thorn. She's going with obvious reluctance, but considering how slowly she's moving, it must really hurt. She's usually quite stoic about discomfort. Thorn moves forward quickly to meet Josie, once all the shouting and shooting has stopped. She appears to be the worst harmed of the group, but he keeps alert for anyone suddenly realizing they have an arrow in them. He starts to carefully study the werewolf's wound, looking to see if the arrow can be safely removed or if a touch of the healing magic would be better called for. Cinnamon looks relieved -- Thorn will take care of everything there! She turns her head back so she's studying the copse of trees, and waits to see if any of her folks answer her. Arvid has moved back to assist Josie; he calls to Cinnamon, "Might want to let the medic look at him..." Josie is snarling and trying to get out that she's fine and she needs to go back and... Thorn hisses softly through his teeth. Looks like the arrow is barbed, so taking it out is going to be majorly unpleasant! Still, magic would likely be worth it just to try to remove the nasty thing.

As Cinnamon is turning her head back there's a shout in Irish: "Le haghaidh Cuileann!" Darragh seems almost to blur forward, bringing a wicked-looking dagger down to slam into Cinnamon's forearm!

Cinnamon is, quite frankly, mostly worried about Darragh at this point. Will he do something stupi- "Yeowch!" The big dragon yanks her free paw-hand up and away from the dagger, glaring at Darragh as she snarls back in Irish, "T�imid ag gn�omh� do Holly. Is n�ire scagach, gan on�ir th�!" Several of Darragh's people hastily yank him back, whispering sharply to him as they watch Cinnamon and her people. The sense of it is 'Are you insane to rush a dragon?!' Cinnamon frowns, shaking out her paw-hand -- then she lashes forwards to grab Darragh up as well, if she can! She figures if she can capture both the initiating lunatics... things may well calm down quite a bit!

Thorn blinks at Cinnamon's shout, and takes in a sharp breath to shout... but wait! Looks like Cinnamon has it very well in hand! ...so to speak. Heh. The healer returns to gently explaining to Josie that the arrow is barbed, and he needs to check for if it was in any way treated or poisoned. Getting it out is going to be a grave endeavor.

It's likely only the fact that Darragh was being held by his own people that lets him be grabbed so quickly. The red-haired beansidhe's eyes are gleaming with anger and very, very little sense -- but none of his people dare confront a dragon! Cinnamon sighs in relief, "Excellent! Okay, you two behave yourselves!" Then she looks at the Holly elders, "So, this is really your decision, elders. What do you want done, please?"

Back by the treeline, Josie is still growling a little, but there are whimpers in with her growling as well. Something about the wound is apparently quite painful -- whether it's the barbs, or something on the arrow. Thorn hisses softly again, worriedly murmuring, "It could be poison. Josie, lie down, please. I'm going to use magic -- I hope -- to get the arrow out and cleanse you of any foreign irritants and poisons." Josie nods and gets down on the ground, rolling so the shoulder with the arrow is uppermost.

Back in the meadow and standing by Cinnamon, Shane hisses through his teeth as he listens to Thorn and Josie -- then he turns and glowers at Darragh, "What was on the arrows?" Darragh is glaring right back, but he's not speaking.

The three elders step slowly forward, and Siobhan says carefully, "What do you ask as weregild?"

Cinnamon brightens, "Oh, don't forget to read the report, okay? It's really interesting... okay, um, weregild. Moment..." She takes a breath, bracing herself so she can hold both men securely, but also so they can't reach anything or anyone else... then begins speaking: "Okay, so all the folks that are owed weregild got together, and we all talked it over, and this is what we'd like, please? First -- and one of the most important things -- we'd like all the nettle destroyed!"

Cinnamon tilts her massive head so one eye studies the extremely thin red-head, and dryly adds, "Might want to have witnesses for that, just to be sure..." She grins at the man -- unwittingly baring a lot of fangs! -- then looks back at the three elders, "Two, we want the treaty between Rowan and Holly to be changed so there's still peace, but the Rowan guardians can leave should they wish to, without Holly ever having any ability to come in and take over ever again. Three, we'd like to ask you all to please pick a different guardian lineage? Four, we'd really like Killian and his get to be banished from all the supernatural enclaves which don't agree with assassination as a system of government any more. Next, we think all their family money should be confiscated and donated to helping the folks they've harmed and/or murdered... and finally, if there's any monies they've stolen from your accounts, we'd like to see that returned to the trod." She beams hopefully at Siobhan, Niall, and Caoimhe, "How's that sound?" then cheerfully adds, "and also, you can verify this with any of the representatives here!"

The elders are nodding and murmuring together. It sounds like Irish, but it's also sort of odd -- perhaps an older dialect? Cinnamon catches most of it, but not all. Eventually Siobhan says, "We agree to those terms, but we don't know where the nettle might be."

Back by the treeline, Thorn is very careful in removing the barbed arrow. It involves a little 'squicky' work, and careful fingers to not get the barb caught on anything (including his own hands), but he eventually gets it out of Josie without any further distress. He sets the arrow on a cloth -- they may need it later if the Holly folks won't tell them what it was dosed with. Then he works on getting any poison out of her, visualizing himself drawing it out of the wound. Josie does her best not to growl as the arrow is being removed, but she does whine much like an upset pup at the pain. She's got her head tucked too, as if she wants to make sure she doesn't nip anyone. Arvid is crouched with her, stroking her ears and speaking quietly to her -- mostly gentle murmuring like, "Good girl. You're going to be fine."

To his great relief, Thorn can feel, with the healing, that something is cleansed out of Josie... and hopefully that magical addition to his usual medical training will be sufficient to sterilize the wound completely. He sutures and bandages the wound, then carefully wraps the arrowhead in cloth -- he doesn't want anyone accidentally coming into contact with the nasty thing.

Cinnamon's ears flatten in unhappy sympathy as she hears Josie's whines, and she turns her head to glance over her shoulder worriedly... then shakes her head once. She's got to focus! She turns back to the elders, nodding, "That's fine. Do you mind if we question your herbalist and these two nasty jerkfaces?" She holds up Killian and Darragh. Then she glances down at the people still standing by her -- Shane and Jaeger in particular, "Also, did I cover everything? Or do you guys want to add anything?"

One of the elders can't help but snort at Killian and Darragh being called 'jerkfaces'! "Yes, you may question them. Though there's more than one herbalist in Holly." One of the female beansidhe that looks more like a gealsidhe -- blond hair and green eyes -- murmurs something to Siobhan, who nods, "There is only one that is close with Darragh."

Darragh himself is sputtering incoherently, which causes Jaeger to smirk at the beansidhe as he says to Cinnamon, "No, child, I think you did quite well."

Cinnamon beams at praise from Jaeger, "Thank you!" She gently shakes Darragh, rumbling, "Hush... don't be rude, guy," then nods to Siobhan, "That's fine. Um, is that skinny red-headed guy with blue eyes that everyone looked at when I mentioned an herbalist -- is he the one that's friendly with Darragh? If he is, could you send him over here, please?" She can't help grinning as she adds, "My hands are full, but if he's willing to be straight with us I don't think there'll be any problems?"

Siobhan nods, "Aye, that's he. They are cousins."

Back by the treeline, Arvid offers Thorn a small leather pouch to put the arrowhead in, rumbling, "Perhaps their herbalist will tell us what those were adulterated with."

Thorn thanks Arvid, murmuring in reply, "No 'perhaps' about it -- they will, or else! I'm getting very sick of people using poisons."

Arvid nods solemnly to Thorn, "As am I. They are simply dishonorable!" He bares his teeth in a fierce grin as he hears Cinnamon talking about her hands being full, calling to Fraser and Rafe, "Take those idiots from her!" The two Havvarger nod and look to Cinnamon to see if she'll let them do so.

Cinnamon beams down at the two werewolves, "Thank you!" and carefully hands over Killian first. She waits until they've thoroughly divested him of all weapons, then hands over Darragh -- and she's careful to keep a grabbing hand free while he too is swiftly and completely searched. She tchs, shaking her head at the little pile of weapons left behind, then looks up at the herbalist in question, "Hi! You can call me Cinnamon. What's your name, please? Are you willing to come help us? Or... would you rather be part of the exile group?"

The herbalist is watching Cinnamon and the wolves quite nervously -- it's obvious he's considering bolting. Finally, though, he sighs and his shoulders droop, "Call me Raven. Yes. I'll cooperate."

Darragh starts to snarl invective at him, only to have Fraser's hand clap over his mouth. The big red-haired werewolf growls amusedly, "Now, now... let's be civilized here!"

Cinnamon beams toothily, "Awesome! Thank you, Raven. Okay, first could you come check these weapons, please, and let us know if there's any of the nettle poison on them? Oh, and the arrowhead that hit Josie -- that one too, please?" She glances around, then ducks her head down low so she can (mostly) whisper to Shane, "Um... could you give me a hand with shifting, please... while folks are checking the weaponry?"

Shane nods to the young dragon, "Want to step back into the woods? Get a little privacy."

Cinnamon nods firmly in agreement with Shane, "Yes, please!" She makes sure to scoop up her backpack with one claw, handing it to Shane to carry before she pads quietly after the half-sidhe, muttering, "Someday I'll have some peace and quiet so I can just flip back and forth in practice enough times that I always get it right... but not today, unfortunately."

Shane smiles and chuckles, "Ah. I know that feeling. Time to practice before you have to use it in extremis..." The young dragon nods wryly! Once they've ducked into the trees a bit -- with Cinnamon hunching tightly down, wings neatly folded flat along her back -- Shane politely holds up the sheet the young dragon packed along with her extra clothes... and then Cinnamon tries to shift.

Veles takes the herbalist over to Thorn and Arvid, over by the treeline. Raven says quickly, "There shouldn't be any of the nettle on any of these, but there are other poisons. It's, ah..." he looks nervously at Josie before saying very quietly, "it's wolfsbane." Both Arvid and Josie herself growl at that! Apparently that's not just a name, when it comes to wolf shifters.

Deeper within the copse of trees, Cinnamon is almost glowing with happiness! "Oh my gosh it worked, Shane! On the first try, even!" Then she looks down at herself and notices her rather... arrow-shredded clothing, "Eek! Don't look! J-just, um, p-please hand me the backpack?" She sighs wryly, "Another set of ruined clothes... I'm going to end up setting some tailor up for life, aren't I?" She comes back out a minute or so later, still rather glowingly happy at how successful her shift was! She's dressed in a different set of clothes now, however, and has shouldered her own backpack. She hugs Shane happily as she thanks him -- then heads worriedly over to see how Josie's doing. The big werewolf gets a warm hug!

Thorn's brows shoot up at Raven's words, "Wolfsbane! Really. Very specific poison, isn't it?" He makes a mental note about it, adding, "I won't ask if they had it on hand for some reason or just got it specially for this group. But thank you. I've drawn the poison out of the wound. Now that we know what it is, is there anything else I need to do?" He's addressing Arvid as much as Raven.

Arvid shakes his head, "No, you've got the poison out... but I'm going to make sure all my wolves know not to touch the arrows bare-handed, in case they get cut."

Raven sighs in relief as Thorn doesn't ask the question, "The nettle... I have some of it growing at the trod. As far as I know, it's all that's left in the world."

Thorn nods to Raven, "Thank you." Hearing about the nettles, he mentally adds, [Not for long!]

Josie has slowly slid back to bipedal form, but is still wolfish. Cinnamon raises her head from hugging Josie, to study Raven... then glances inquiringly at Shane -- was that true? Her voice is dry, "All right, I'll bite: was the wolfsbane dragged out just because they smelled wolves?"

Raven is too pale naturally to go much paler, but the look on his face shows he doesn't want to piss these people off, "Y-yes. Killian wanted us well-armed." His eyes flicker toward the edge of the woods where some of Holly disappeared.

Shane nods, "It's true. As far as he knows, his nettles are all that's left." After that, though, he moves over toward where Fraser and Rafe are restraining Killian and Darragh.

Cinnamon scowls at Raven, murmuring to Arvid, "Looks like some of the wolfsbane is still out there with the sympathizers." She hugs Josie again as she adds, "Be careful, okay?" then turns to trot after Shane, inquiring, "So should we send someone with Raven to make sure it's all destroyed, or what?" She's completely unaware of the incipient attack coming up behind her! Apparently Killian and Darragh both have that 'even more than supernatural' speed -- or perhaps Darragh is simply desperate -- because just as people are starting to relax, the beansidhe manages to wriggle free -- which causes Rafe to swears and leap to follow the elusive beansidhe. Darragh whips out a short, wicked blade hidden somewhere on his person -- and lunges for Cinnamon! He misses Cinnamon, but the blade slides by the side of her neck close enough for her to almost feel the chill of the silver.

Cinnamon squeaks startledly as the collar of her shirt abruptly yanks her sideways -- then tears! She staggers off balance into Shane, trying to see what it was behind her that hit her so... and spots Darragh, his face contorted into a hateful snarl! Shane stumbles -- he wasn't expecting Cinnamon to thud into him, after all. Also, he knows going down will cause the least damage to himself and the young dragon. Next to him, Cinnamon's eyes widen in shock as it registers: Darragh is now striking at Shane! Worse, she herself fell into Shane and knocked him off balance -- which means Shane can't just flip Darragh aside like usual! The realization floods through her body almost viscerally -- and in less than a heartbeat she screams, "No!" -- and flame roars out of her mouth to engulf Darragh! The beansidhe screams as he's engulfed by a wave of superheated air and flame -- and the results are... not pretty.

Thorn whirls at the shout, and the sound of the gust of flame. He stares in horror at the sight, gaping. The first thing Shane does, once Cinnamon's mouth has closed, is clap his hand over her eyes. Cinnamon struggles in fright for an instant before she realizes who it is. She grabs his wrist with both hands, panting, "Shane! Are you okay?! D-did I stop him in time? Uhmm... w-why are you covering my eyes...?"

Shane murmurs next to her head, "I'm fine. It's fine... come with me. Just trust me and come with me."

Cinnamon is confused, but she trusts Shane implicitly... so she simply murmurs, "Okay...?" A heartbeat later, though, she stops and worriedly adds, "Shane, that crazy guy was trying to backstab us both! Surely we should be keeping an eye on him until we're sure he's stopped?"

Shane's voice is gentle, "We don't have to worry about him trying that again. Come on." He glances behind him to see what's being done about Darragh. Cloaks are being used to cover the sidhe's still form. It's disturbing, and no one wants to look at it. Killian is swearing and struggling, but Fraser is larger and more muscled. Now that Killian can't do that scary-fast movement thing, he's well in hand.

"We stopped him okay, then?" Cinnamon looks relieved -- then frowns, "Wait. I felt the knife go by. Let me check your back, please?" She steps around to behind Shane, worriedly running her fingers along the back of his shirt. If there are no tears she'll be greatly relieved!

She doesn't find any rips in Shane's shirt, and his voice is reassuring, "I'm fine, acushla. He wasn't going after me. I was just in the line of the knife." He's quite purposely making sure her back stays toward where she was before. Also, back by the treeline, Thorn fidgets. That was... a hell of a lot of very high-temperature fire! He's reasonably sure Darragh died almost instantly -- or at least is already dead -- so Thorn's healing magicks would be useless. He swallows nervously, looking again at the draped form of Darragh... then firmly continues to tend to whatever wounded and living people there are left. Luckily, most of the injuries are minor. Josie is the only lupine person that caught one of the arrows, though there are a couple that hit the Havvarger shields.

Cinnamon sighs in relief... then smiles ruefully at Shane, "He was behind you, Shane! How can you be sure he wasn't trying to kill you, after missing me?" She frowns as she adds, "Heck, for all we know he was going for you to wipe out the heir! Bad enough he's co-responsible for the assassinations or almost-deaths of three good men who worked hard to support and strengthen their respective peoples -- your grandfather, my greatsire, and Jaeger!" Frowning, she glances towards the elders, wondering how they're taking things... and if they have any further questions regarding the weregild. "Oh! That reminds me!" She turns to the elders, calling to them, "Hey, can you call in the rest of the folks that were backing Killian? We don't want them shooting any more wolfsbane poisoned arrows around, after all."

The elders reply, "We can. Would you wish to come back to the trod, or have them rounded up and brought here?" Near them, Killian is trying to thrash his way out of Fraser's grip... but it's not happening. He's also not saying anything because the big Scots werewolf's hand is still firmly over his mouth.

However, when Cinnamon turns to the elders, there's no way she can miss the cape-and-cloak-draped form on the ground. Cinnamon's eyes get very wide as she stares at the very still form on the ground, and both hands come up to cover her mouth. After a few heartbeats of rather too rapid breathing, she says a bit faintly, "Is that... d-did... is he... is he dead?"

Shane puts an arm around Cinnamon and says quietly, "Yes." He's not going to try to tell her a lie, "But he tried to kill you." Veles is at Cinnamon's other side now.

Cinnamon takes a few slow, deep breaths -- she can't seem to look away from the body, and she's not really aware that she's trembling slightly in reaction. It takes another few tries before she can make her puzzlingly dry throat work, and she croaks out, "I... d-did I... oh my gosh, I didn't mean to! I just -- I j-just wanted him to not stab you...!" She feels weirdly dizzy, with tears welling up, and she ends up blinking rapidly as she takes deep, gasping breaths.

Veles speaks in his softly Slavic voice, "He was not trying for Shane. Shane was simply in the way."

Cinnamon glances up at Veles, her face crumpling up a bit, "I-it was me, wasn't it... I k-k-k... I ki... -- m-my fire k-killed him!" Her last words come out as a wail, and she covers her face with her hands, her voice trembling, "I'm s-sorry!"

Veles and Shane look over Cinnamon's head at one another, but it's Jaeger who speaks, "You protected yourself using your natural abilities, child. There is nothing for you to be sorry about. What he did was honorless. Even his father should see that... except for his father also being an honorless dog."

Cinnamon looks up at Jaeger, tears streaking her face, "B-but I don't want to k-ki-kill people, J-Jaeger! How's anybody gonna trust me if th-they're always scared of me?!"

Jaeger's blue eyes stay on Cinnamon's, "I don't want to kill people, either. But I have, in defense of myself and my people. I can be quite deadly if I need to be. Are you scared of me?"

Cinnamon pauses at that, blinking and rubbing tears from her face as she studies Jaeger for a moment and thinks hard. Finally she says slowly, "N-no... b-but is that because I know you're trustworthy... or b-because I'm overconfident?"

Jaeger rests his hands on Cinnamon's shoulder, "It's not the latter, I can assure you of that."

Shane's voice is calmly confident, "It's because you've nothing to fear from him."

Cinnamon blinks again as she glances thoughtfully between the two men... then nods slowly, "O-okay... oh, that's right!" Her smile at Shane is a little shaky, but she's trying! "I remember: Quinn said Jaeger was a lot more dangerous than him, right..." She looks up at Jaeger, and her smile is a bit more real this time, "Thank you."

Jaeger chuckles, "Thank you." He turns toward the members of Holly, "Bring them here. You can take Darragh away as you go. Killian should stay."

Cinnamon takes a deep breath, then searches for a hankie in her backpack. After wiping her face and blowing her nose, she nods once, her voice starting to regain its ordinary steadiness, "Okay... okay. So... okay, where were we? What's left to do here, please?" After that she hesitates -- then turns and gives Shane an almost fierce hug! Her voice is muffled as she mutters just to him, "I'm still glad you're not stabbed!"

Shane smiles almost crookedly and hugs her back, "I'm hard to hurt and keep hurt."

Cinnamon hesitates... then decides not to belabor the point -- but she's still most glad that he's not hurt in the first place whatsoever! She takes a deep breath as she straightens again, smiling a bit shakily up at him... then nods once. Shane can almost see her trying to pull on her 'accountant face' as she tries to make sure she doesn't embarrass any of her friends here. She pauses, then worriedly asks Jaeger, "Oh, umm... hey, I just had a thought? Even if the Hollies want Killian to leave... um, how do we make sure he doesn't hang around either here or around Rowan and... make trouble for folks? Is there a... a spell or a banishment ritual or something that gets used?"

There's a few different voices before Jaeger's finally comes out on top, "By threat of death. Exile is a way to avoid killing someone. If they return from exile, they face execution."

Cinnamon glances around curiously at all the people speaking at once -- Arvid, Siobhan, Maebh, a few she doesn't know... then nods slowly as Jaeger's reply predominates, "Uhh, okay...? So..." she looks at the elders, "are you all good with that?"

Siobhan's voice is disgusted, "From what I've seen in this," she motions to the report she's flipping through, "I am quite willing to believe. Darragh also helped no one's case." She frowns sternly at the still-thrashing Killian, "Further, I believe we may need to speak with Killian before he goes."

Cinnamon thoughtfully studies the furious sidhe... then sighs and nods, "Yeah, okay. You can let him talk now, Fraser, please?" She's bracing mentally for getting called all sorts of names.

Arvid pats Thorn on the shoulder and lowers his voice, "Stay alert. Killian is the kind of snake that Americans call rattlers -- he will bite even when his head is cut off." Nearby, Josie is still bipedal and near Thorn -- not only because she's nervous about repeated injury, but also because she's worried about Thorn being hurt as well.

Thorn nods to Arvid, murmuring back, "Will do." His eyes flick to Darragh's body, then back to Killian. [Especially when Killian believes he's the one who's been wronged,] the healer thinks, [despite it being his own sins come back upon himself and those around him.]

Arvid nods and moves toward Fraser and Killian, but he's speaking to Siobhan, "You should have someone bring the things he will take away with him. I would not let him back into my den if he were one of my pack."

Killian literally spits on the ground, "Those papers mean nothing! Anyone can write anything down and call it truth!"

Cinnamon tilts her head puzzledly at Killian, "What about the confessions? Why're you ignoring those?"

Killian scowls, hissing, "Murderer. I will not speak to a cowar-" -- and Fraser claps his hand back across Killian's mouth again, his own voice gruff, "Thot's quite enough o' thot!"

Siobhan nods to Arvid and calls to two of the members of Holly to bring some of Killian's things, "Once he's off our territory, does your healer wish to come see the herbs and plants he was concerned with?"

Cinnamon brightens at that, glancing back hopefully at Thorn... who feels an immense anger welling up inside himself! Killian has the gall to call Cinnamon a murderer and a coward?! He has half a dozen people assassinated -- even more killed as 'collateral damage' -- and he has the unmitigated fucking gall to say that?! Thorn takes in a deep breath to tear into the beansidhe... then catches himself, and simply nods tensely Siobhan. "Yes, please," he says quietly, "I'd like to see them."

Cinnamon looks relieved, then calls to Thorn, "You'll want to take some folks with you, right? For just in case?" She glances around, thinking furiously. Jaeger for sure -- he'll be able to recognize the nettle, considering his age. Josie for protection... maybe... maybe that's enough?

Thorn looks pointedly at Killian, then to Cinnamon, "Yes, for the time being, I think, please."

Cinnamon grins at Thorn, then gives Jaeger a hopeful look, "Would, um, would you be willing, sir?"

Arvid rumbles, "Rafe will go..." Before he can add any of the other Havvarger to the list, Josie shifts back to quadruped and trots forward. She's not speaking but 'I'm going too!' is clear in her posture.

Jaeger nods thoughtfully, "Yes. I believe I shall." He looks to Siobhan, "Who will you send with us?" The elder looks over the people there and details two of them. Cinnamon looks relieved -- Josie, Rafe, and Jaeger should keep Thorn safe! Just because he's scary-powerful doesn't mean he can't be unpleasantly surprised, after all. Heck, Liam was tragic proof of that! Then she wonders thoughtfully what the Holly trod looks like inside... then sighs and sits down heavily on the ground as the adrenaline rush of the past few minutes starts to finally ebb. Maybe... maybe she'll just sit here and recover a bit! She tiredly rests her head in her hands as she wonders with weary amusement: how on earth is she possibly going to manage another three hours of walking tonight?!

Rafe puts his arm around Thorn, saying something in French that Arvid translates for him, "You will be safe with us."

Siobhan looks around, "Once we have set Killian on his way, we would appreciate having you all come back to the trod, actually. You will be under hospitality, and you can all rest."

Cinnamon looks up hopefully at Shane, murmuring very softly just to him, "Would that... be okay, maybe, Shane?"

Shane considers, then nods, "It will be OK... especially if they have offered hospitality." He pauses and looks around. The others know this already, he knows, but to Cinnamon he gravely adds, "But don't accept food or drink one of us hasn't approved. Don't go off alone with anyone... and take anything you hear with a grain of salt."

Cinnamon sighs in relief, "Thank goodness! Okay, I can do that. Umm..." she glances around towards Thorn, "can someone be sure to tell Thorn and all the werewolves that too?" Shane nods and starts to speak, but then Jaeger can be heard to tell Thorn much the same. The elder doesn't seem to worry that the Havvarger need to be told these rules. Cinnamon considers for a moment, then adds, "Can we make sure the, um, trigger-happy kids have all their wolfsbane arrows taken away too first, please?"

Thorn is relieved that they've been outright offered hospitality. He felt more than safe enough with Josie, Jaeger, and Rafe to watch over him, but now, with everyone as well as the protection (however slight that might be in some cases) of hospitality, he's reasonably confident they'll be all right this evening. Provided, of course, Killian doesn't do something stupid. Thorn admits to himself that he's curious, in fact, as to what is going to happen to Killian besides simple expulsion or exile. Something about that doesn't sit well with the healer. After all, the sidhe clearly has a network of contacts and resources throughout the world -- enough to get Balkan mercenaries to both Holly and Boston, and to arm and equip them. Thorn has a feeling Killian isn't going to take this lying down -- that he'll be making an attempt at return and revenge.

Cinnamon slowly scrambles to her feet, puffing a bit, and pulls on her backpack... then sighs and smiles at Shane, "OK, I'm ready. Let me know if I can help with the wolfsbane arrows too, okay? Like... if they want them burned or something?" She makes a mental note: got to get Spice working on Killian's bank accounts so he can't access that money to further his vile plans! Hmm... maybe Cinnamon herself can ask to search through Killian's paperwork?

The walk to Holly is done slowly and there are several pauses for Siobhan to point out beautiful things about the trod's land. It takes perhaps an hour of this easy, meandering pace to reach the actual trod. However, by that point poor Cinnamon is limping slowly, utterly exhausted by the time they arrive -- this is the eighth hour of exercise she's had today, after all! She tries to smile when spoken to, but past that she's just doggedly mumbling to herself, "Just... one... more... step... one... more..."

Rowan's trod entrance is a mound, just as the legends speak of. Holly's, however, is what looks like the entrance to an ancient stone tomb of some sort. A stone lintel that is no more than eight feet at its highest point is set into what looks like just a small slope. As with Rowan, however, there is an intense feeling of unease upon approach -- there are even actual growls from some of the wolves. Weirdly, where Rowan gives a sense of unease and a feeling that you want to be elsewhere... this is almost terror. Thorn wonders just what kind of society Killian had been fostering here, based only on the unease that the werewolves are showing. He doesn't think a lot of sleep is in his immediate future, but that's fine. Maybe spending as little time as possible here is actually better.

Siobhan says, "One moment; I'll be back. Please, back up until you feel comfortable." Cinnamon is so tired that she almost misses Siobhan's words and keeps walking... but once they register she just flops down on the closest solid thing she can see to sit on. Thorn blinks -- he hadn't even realized he was getting more and more fearful! It is with relief that he remembers the trod's defenses, and backs up until his heart isn't racing as much.

Siobhan is gone for perhaps fifteen minutes. When she returns, they're treated to another of Holly's defenses: for a moment it looks as if she's a shroud-wrapped mummy. Once she breaches the plane of the door, however, she looks precisely like herself again. Thorn blinks, and revisits his prior assessment: why did Killian feel the need to implement such drastic defenses? Each of the visitors is handed a small sprig of Holly by Siobhan -- and once the little sprig of greenery is in each person's hand, there's an immediate and sudden lack of fear.

Cinnamon takes hers and tries to smile at Siobhan... then looks down at the little sprig and wonders tiredly: how did Killian manage to buffalo not one but three elders? Rowan only has one elder, and Quinn (who is probably no less a warrior than Killian) listens quite attentively to her! The young dragon frowns thoughtfully at the holly, bits and pieces starting to filter together in her head... things like Darragh's wide-eyed, almost insane-seeming fury -- to the point that he charged a dragon -- and not only once, but twice! There's also Killian's apparent need for everyone to fear him, and his desire for repeated deaths in order to satisfy his lust for revenge... Darragh's knack being the ability to 'nudge' someone emotionally to do what he wanted, coupled with Quinn and Shane both having truth-related knacks... Cinnamon blinks, looking up at Shane as she softly asks, "What is Killian's knack, please?"

It must be something that affects people's minds, she realizes -- perhaps to the point that the constant, possibly unconscious nudging by his father caused Darragh to lose his own mind on this matter... because Cinnamon simply cannot otherwise explain first, why Darragh was so crazy-fearless around a dragon... and secondly, why Killian has this entire trod so thoroughly under his thumb!

Shane rubs his forehead, "There are a couple of possibilities. He's... charismatic. Charming. Aisling's got some of that -- charm. But..."

Siobhan speaks softly to the pair of them, "Killian is unusual in that he's got two. He is charming, but he also has..." she motions around her head, "shadow-mind."

Cinnamon frowns thoughtfully up at Siobhan, "Okay. So what's shadow mind, please? Is it... something that allows him to... to change other folks' minds? To get them to do what he wants them to do?"

Shane blinks slowly, "No, acushla. He breeds fear."

Siobhan motions to the entrance to the trod, "He created that."

Cinnamon frowns thoughtfully, staring at the holly sprig again, "Fear. Okay. So... so he tries to charm you into doing what he wants... and if you don't, then he can use fear... and can turn it off once you obey?" She looks up from the ground at the two sidhe, her expression wry, "And we're unleashing this... on the poor humans?"

There's a moment of silence.

Jaeger murmurs solemnly, "That... is a very good question." Cinnamon nods wryly to Thorn from where she's still seated on the ground... then sighs in relief that Jaeger doesn't think she's being emotionally overwrought. She's unfortunately exhausted enough that she'd wondered that a bit, especially considering her birth family always accused her of that when she'd get tearful at being either left behind or mocked -- as well as utterly exhausted -- on their treks.

Thorn finds he is... very glad Cinnamon brought that point up. To him, exile from a trod would be a powerful sort of punishment, but combined with his concerns earlier that Killian would just come back... actually, this is an even bigger concern. Without even the modicum of standards imposed upon the revenge-bound sidhe by being the chieftain of a trod, Killian would be capable of anything. Thorn raises a hand slightly, "Options? Options besides, um, that would be good."

Siobhan nods and looks around with a small sigh, "We will bring him back to the trod for the night." She calls over someone else, adding, "Belladonna. Small dose. Just enough for sedation."

Cinnamon considers for a few heartbeats, not wishing to be a weenie... but finally she hesitatingly asks, "Um, if he's drugged, though, how, er... how will you talk with him?" Even more hesitatingly she adds, "Also, umm... if... if it's okay with you all? M-May I maybe -- only if it's okay with you, of course! -- maybe I could, er... go through his stuff to see if he's got, like... like a checkbook or something that'd tell us where to find his family's fortune? S-so he, um... so he couldn't later use it to, well, like... like hurt more folks?"

Siobhan replies, "I want to have something on hand to keep him harmless once things are done for the night. He will need to be neutralized. Belladonna is good for that."

Cinnamon nods in relief -- she understands that! She heavily hoists herself to her feet again, then takes a deep breath and sighs it out. "Oh-kaaay! Last leg of the journey, right? We can sleep after this? Maybe eat?"

Siobhan looks carefully at Cinnamon, "Rest, child. It has been a long day. You can speak to him in the morning."

Cinnamon nods and smiles tiredly, "I was actually thinking that might be better... not currently at my best, sorry." She plods with weary determination along with everyone else towards the trod's doorway. With the sprigs of holly in their possession, the entrance no longer carries that dread and horror. A moment where it feels like walking through utter darkness -- but then in the next step, one enters into a lighted passage. There's a palpable sense of relief around the trod.

Where Rowan has a very earthy, homey, almost cozy feel, Holly seems to have been going for something more palatial. The walls of the passage are delicately carved limestone and the floor beneath their feet is tile of some sort. The ceiling is high enough that it's not really easy to see in the eerie light. Where Rowan has small candles and oil lamps in niches along the wall to light the way downward, Holly has small, shallow bowls of something bioluminescent -- some of them greenish and some blue. There is not the same welcoming yellow light of fire here, and the shadows the lights throw seem odd. It's as if it was meant to follow on from the fear if you got past it. Thorn still somewhat thinks that the aura of unremitting terror surrounding the trod was something Killian specifically wanted -- but at least they're within the trod now, and Killian is, well, at least partly neutralized.

After perhaps twenty minutes of moving down this corridor, the travelers come to a large, brass-fitted wooden door carved with holly leaves and berries. It sees to simply open to them and they find themselves in a hall, also carved of either granite or limestone. There are a few doors off from it, but unless there is a back entrance somewhere, people would have to come through this room to get anywhere else in the trod. The light here is mixed: there are torches on the walls, but there are still places lit with the bioluminescence. There is a hearth here as well, but unlike the one in Rowan's great room, this one has been built of very even, closely fitted stone. There is none of the organic beauty of the drystone-type construction of Rowan. This does not look like a place to relax despite the chairs and sofas and other furniture.

The only people here are the dozen or so Hollies who just entered with Cinnamon, Thorn, and everyone else in their group. Cinnamon glances around tiredly, absently wishing they were back at Rowan, where it felt comfortable and like you maybe could get a bite to eat and find a nice, warm place to sit... or maybe even snooze. Then she sighs faintly, glancing over at Siobhan, "So... is no one else here because they're scared of us?"

Siobhan stays with them, but the other elders split off from the group once everyone reaches this room. Siobhan says, "Most of them have scattered to do one thing or another. Several have gone to make food. Some have gone to fetch Killian. A dozen have gone to bring Darragh's body back and prepare the rites. He was a traitor, but there is hope his spirit will be cleansed by the proper rites. Please, sit." Cinnamon nods, flumping down in the closest chair that's out of the way... then sighs and shrugs out of her backpack before leaning back in the chair and closing her eyes. She feels like waves of tiredness are flowing over her poor, battered-feeling body... it'd be easy to drift off to sleep for just a few minutes, while waiting for everyone else to get organized... and after all, it's not like she's needed for anything just now, right...?

The Havvarger and Veles look around and then pull several pieces of furniture out of their usual places to make sure there are enough seats for the whole Rowan contingent to be near one another. Siobhan's people bring her a chair to sit in as well and she sighs as she sits, almost as if she was hiding some kind of physical pain. She adds, "Your rooms are being prepared. We thought you might prefer to be housed together, so we are shuffling some things."

If they think for a moment, the inside of Holly seems as if it might be trying to emulate something like the palace on Coblyn. Thorn is a little unsettled by that -- all right, a lot unsettled. The atmosphere of Holly is in marked difference to that of Rowan and Elm. It seems... more style, less substance. Thorn wonders, briefly, who Killian was trying to impress by making the interior of Holly so palatial? [Killian must have wanted the place to look wealthy, but he seems to have missed out on making it healthy.] The healer also wonders how this has affected the people of Holly. He settles down into a chair near Cinnamon, glad that the dragon can now get some rest. The Havvarger make sure that Cinnamon, Josie, Jaeger, and Thorn are all together and backed by the more obvious warriors. Josie only agrees to not be with the warriors because she's still tired, though Thorn's healing was amazing.

Cinnamon is starting to float into sleep. The voices around her are trusted and calm, and no one is talking to her. Her curled-up body feels heavy and achy, and it's so, so much easier to just let her consciousness drift away... Josie gently cold-noses Cinnamon, "Hey. Food's coming. Then we can all go to bed." Just as Josie finishes speaking, a door opens and several people come in carrying trays of food. Small tables are brought as well so the visitors don't need to move from their seats.

Cinnamon responds a bit sluggishly, though she does respond -- one hand flaps vaguely towards the cold-nosed nudge and she mumbles something incoherent. A moment later the wonderful hot-food smells start to register... and Cinnamon blinks blearily a few times, struggling upright and pushing her bangs out of her face, "Ohh... thanks, Jo..." She yawns hugely, then rubs her face and sits up straighter, trying to wake herself up. She smiles groggily at the person setting a table next to her, mumbling, "Thankoo..." then eyes the food hopefully. Her tummy rumbles, and she remembers Shane telling her not to eat anything that hasn't been okay'd... gosh, she really hopes that doesn't take too long!

Rafe, Josie, and Fraser actually smell the food and the people serving it and pronounce it clean. What's brought is surprisingly homey, given the palatial surroundings: sausages, fried potatoes, a wilted salad of some sort. Water, mead, and wine. There are even small custard tarts. Fortunately none of the denizens of Holly seem affronted at the food being checked. Thorn gratefully thanks the people bringing out the food, though he remembers Shane's warning and doesn't dig in right away. He's not about to, as is -- he's still wary about even spending the night in Holly after all that's happened... but there's no helping that at this point.

Cinnamon watches silently, and is quite relieved when everything is okay'd. She eats with the almost mechanical doggedness of the exhausted, chewing up the food without really tasting it deeply, due to her great hunger. She clears her plate and asks hopefully for a bit more... if there is any left over? Once she has some food in her she also starts to remember her manners -- so she shyly thanks the people from Holly who're around the food, and asks them to please thank the cook for her as well, maybe? She sticks to the water, though -- she knows better than trying alcoholic beverages even when she's not as exhausted and starving-feeling as she currently is!

One of the young men that brought the food gives Cinnamon second helpings. Others in her group are taking extra food, too; Josie is on her third plateful. When someone comes to tell Siobhan that the rooms are ready, Jaeger says, "They have beds for two, yes?" That causes another slight delay as accommodations are shifted, and it appears Jaeger wants none of them sleeping alone. Rafe is in with Thorn, and Josie is in with Cinnamon. The rooms are not quite as soulless and odd as the rest of the trod, though things are much more richly carved. The bedding, though, is simple white linen with quilted coverlets in single colors.

Cinnamon smiles tiredly at Josie when the sleeping arrangements are explained -- she's actually rather happy to hear that she'll get to puppypile with her big werewolf friend! Hopefully Josie doesn't mind being stuck with her too... at sight of the little room the little dragon sighs in relief, dropping her backpack and almost carelessly shucking off her shoes, socks, and jeans... she nearly totters over to collapse on the bed, and the last thing she consciously remembers doing is putting her glasses aside -- and then the exhausted, overwrought little dragon is out like a light. Before she goes to sleep, Josie drags the dresser (no simple chests here) in front of the door.

Studying the bedroom, Thorn can't get it out of his head that Killian was trying to impress someone with the decor and style of the trod. But who? His own ego? No, he doesn't seem that type. He certainly wasn't trying to impress the trod's inhabitants -- they'd see right through that. Just how much power as chieftain did Killian have? Rafe has been one of Thorn's companions and guardians since the human magus healed him in their first week aboard the Valkyrie. He pats Thorn on the shoulder and smiles as Fraser explains the sleeping arrangements to the other wolf in the shared language the Havvarger use. The werewolf also skips moving furniture in favor of curling up in front of the door himself. Thorn is more than happy to bunk with Rafe, but he's surprised at Rafe's choice of sleeping spot. "Are you sure?" he asks, indicating the door and hoping his message gets across. Rafe smiles and waves Thorn off. He does take one of the pillows off the bed, though. He waits until Thorn has fallen asleep before willing himself into lupine form.

The night passes without incident and the visitors are allowed to sleep quite late, though it's difficult to tell the time of day when one is underground with no windows. Cinnamon awakens feeling hugely better! Her body feels heavy, true -- but not like one massive bruise, and she's warm and rather cozy feeling. She smiles sleepily to herself as it registers: Josie is all wrapped about her! Some of that heaviness could be that Josie isn't just wrapped around, but partially draped over Cinnamon as well! She's in her bipedal lupine form too, so there's a lot of her to drape. Cinnamon giggles quietly as it registers just how warmly... smothered she is in Josie! It makes her feel safe... and cared about! Mmm... lovely way to wake up.

Thorn wakes up feeling refreshed as well. He takes quick stock of the room; nothing appears to be out of place, and Rafe is where he went to sleep the night before. The werewolf is still in lupine form, relaxedly wagging his tail. Apparently nothing disturbed him in the night. It seems they passed through the night without treachery, which is a good sign any day of the week.

Both Cinnamon and Thorn hear knocks at their doors not long after they wake up. Cinnamon hmms... there's no way she's going to be able to get up without disturbing Josie, unfortunately... so she just calls quietly, "Who is it?" Josie mumbles at the knock and gets up to go to the door. Cinnamon blinks -- then sheepishly apologizes, "I'm sorry, Josie! I'd have gotten the door, but I didn't want to -- to disturb-" though she did call out, "-er, t-to... sort of shove you off, you know?" She sits up... then blinks down at herself. Did she go to bed without undressing completely?

Elsewhere, Thorn sits up and starts to go to the door -- but he doesn't want to disturb Rafe. "Who is it?" he asks, hoping it doesn't disturb the werewolf and his obviously happy dream too much. However, Rafe also stirs and gets to his feet, snuffling at the door. He seems satisfied and settles on his haunches so the person with hands can open the door.

Back at Cinnamon and Josie's room, the big werewolf opens the door to pick up a tray that was left on the floor outside the door. There's a teapot, toast, bacon, and eggs sitting in egg cups. The flatware and dishes are all quite nice and seem to be actually silver. Cinnamon blinks startledly, reaching her hands out in a reflexive attempt at protection, "Oh! JoJo, don't touch the silv- er... is it actually silver?" Cinnamon winces slightly as her ability to identify metals tells her the tray is indeed silver! She scrambles hastily out of the bed, trotting over to take the tray from her friend, "Yikes, did they use silver for all the werewolves?!" Turning to the big chest at the foot of the bed, she carefully sets down the breakfast tray, confusedly adding, "Is it just me, or is that... kinda rude, y'know?"

Josie scowls a little, "I'm not sensitive to it the way some of the Havvarger are, but that's... really, really rude!" While she's right by the doorway, Cinnamon sees there are trays at the foot of several doors. Cinnamon looks relieved -- she's not over-reacting then! She trots over and leans out into the hallway to see if the person(s) delivering the trays are still visible. Maybe it's just a well-meaning mistake, and she can quietly warn the poor Hollies who accidentally messed up?

Down the hallway, Thorn's tray is quite similar, though whoever brought the trays is nowhere to be seen. Thorn looks outside, to either side of the doorway, and says, "Uh, thank you!" then brings in the tray. He frowns at the distinctive -- apparently -- sheen of silver for the flatware and dishes. "That's... odd. Rafe, this may be silver?" He hopes he can communicate 'silver' properly to the werewolf... apparently so, because Rafe begins to growl, hackles going up!

Cinnamon doesn't see anyone in the hall from Holly, but Jaeger is just opening his door to pick up the tray. He frowns as he gets a good look at it and looks up and down the hall as well, catching Cinnamon's gaze. She calls quietly to Jaeger, "Um, I... I think the trays are silver, Jaeger? Uhh..." She looks down at her rumpled state, then blushes as she ducks back into the room, with only her head sticking out. "I, um, let me get dressed and I can warn folks, okay?" Cinnamon darts into the room and glances up at Josie, "This is kinda important, isn't it?" She bites her lower lip at Josie's grim nod, then simply grabs a quilt off the bed and wraps it about herself. She trots out of the room with a quilted tail dragging behind her, heading hastily to the trays to check and make sure they're all silver.

Jaeger nods, mouth tightening as he says to whoever is in the room with him, "Don't touch it." He's already dressed and steps out of his room, calling to Cinnamon, "I've got this half of the hall. You get the others."

Every one of the trays is either silver itself or has silver... silverware on it -- except one. It's the room Maebh is in. She refused to have a bodyguard since she herself is a warrior... and that one has steel utensils. Cinnamon sighs as she straightens and calls back to Jaeger, "Okay, I was hoping this was accidental, but..." she sighs and shakes her head, "they're all silver, dude! All except the lone sidhe -- Maebh." Grimly she adds, "Hers... are steel. This has to be deliberate."

Thorn pokes his head outside when he hears Cinnamon's voice talking with Jaeger. He hisses softly to himself. He had a feeling they wouldn't be terribly welcome here, even with 'hospitality.' Killian's corruption ran deep. Down the hallway, Cinnamon thinks a moment... then carefully starts shifting things around, "You know what, let's give Maebh some silverware... and here, we can put these steel utensils here, on this tray that only has silver in the utensils. Then..." she glances around consideringly, then nods firmly, "I think I'm gonna move away all the all-silver ones from the doors first... so no one gets burned just 'cause they're sleepy!"

Jaeger's eyes narrow as he says, "I wonder why there's no steel on mine..."

Arvid, who stayed with the sidhe elder, drawls, "They didn't expect you to be the one to open the door. You're a noble in their eyes."

Shane's door is opening as well and he's blinking sleepily, looking somewhat rumpled, "What's the commotion?"

Cinnamon starts pattering around, trying to make things better while still holding the bulky quilt around herself. It's oddly... cute, despite the attempted attack. She looks a little like a heavily quilted gnome, in fact! She beams startledly at Shane when his door opens, "Oh! Hi, Shane! Do you have a werewolf with you? If so, don't let them touch, umm..." she hovers her hand over his tray for a moment, then nods firmly, "Okay, that, that, and that are silver on yours, but the tray isn't."

Shane nods, "Fraser's in with me."

At mention of his name, the big Scots wolf looks over Shane's shoulder, eyes narrowed, "If that's not at least an attempt at harm..." Further down the hall, Rafe has put his head around Thorn's thigh as he growls to everyone visible. His hackles are ruffled up.

Cinnamon nods to Fraser, her voice unhappy, "Unfortunately we have to agree with you, Fraser... because the only person that didn't have silver utensils was Maebh... hers are steel -- er, were." She grins shyly, "I swapped 'em for some silver ones on someone else's tray." The rest of the doors are opening. Veles is coming out, followed by Bjarke, his own companion wolf. In fact, by now most of the Rowan contingent are in the hall -- which startles the maid coming along the hallway with a rolling cart holding more trays.

Cinnamon blinks thoughtfully at Fraser, then looks abstracted for a moment as she counts on her fingers. Her voice is very soft, like she's talking to herself -- though it's a good bet all the keen-eared here can hear her easily, "So if the third day of the full moon is counted as one, then days two and three were sailing... and we docked on day four. Day five we traveled to Rowan, and day six was when Quinn talked to everyone. The next day I..." she shudders, then sighs, "well, the traitor found me... and the next day we interviewed him and Quinn sent the message for Corrig, right. Then Corrig arrived really early on day ten, and we left for Holly... and that makes today the eleventh day!" She pauses, then says worriedly to Fraser, "Hey, um... considering the first night of the full moon is... day after tomorrow, what, um... did you guys have plans for the upcoming full moon or something?"

Thorn arches a brow when he sees the maid, particularly when she has a cart with more trays. He's wondering now if someone had the idea of trying to get at them before the 'real' meals arrived. Cinnamon blinks at sight of the maid, then grins shyly at Fraser, "Um, just a moment, please?" She patters over to the maid, her voice cheerful, "Hi there! Can I check something, please, real quick?" The maid looks nervous, though Cinnamon is already waving her free hand over the cart's contents, searching for silver, steel, or anything else worrisome -- considering her companions' natures. Fortunately all the metal on the new trays is pewter -- luckily not the lead sort. But most everything is wooden -- the trays themselves are wood, as are the dishes.

Bjarke glowers over Veles' shoulder as he growls in his heavily-accented voice, "This is a poison attempt!" Rafe too is still growling, hackles up as he stares at Thorn's tray.

Cinnamon nods as she turns to the others, "Okay, this set is fine! It's all pewter and wood." She pauses, then adds, "Um... I mean, as far as I know... er, is anyone, like... allergic to that?"

Thorn puts his hand on Rafe's shoulder. "Does contact with silver contaminate food?" he asks.

Cinnamon smiles at the maid as she adds, "Sorry! We're just a little jumpy 'cause someone put out the first batch of food on silver... well, except for one tray that went to a beansidhe -- that one had steel-" She cuts off, her eyes widening as she thinks furiously... then she turns back to the maid, asking urgently, "Steel's bad for you guys too, right? So... who here in your trod can handle steel?" She adds over her shoulder to her friends, "That's our attacker, right? If there is one? -well, at least one of our attackers?"

Thorn blinks thoughtfully, "Unless they were a sidhe who was particularly careful... that's a good observation, Cinnamon, yes."

Cinnamon grins excitedly at Thorn, "Or someone who's part something else too, like Shane!" She beams at the maid, "Do you have anyone like that here?" The maid is wide-eyed, clearly worried that she's alone down here with a lot of angry people.

Arvid rumbles, "No, it doesn't. But he doesn't like something about that tray." He whistles sharply to Rafe and says something in the Germanic language the wolves share. Rafe nods once, then steps back from the door to change back into human form.

The maid shakes her head at Cinnamon's query, "No. Shane is... special." She glances at him and flushes, adding, "But there are a couple of non-sidhe here. They're both boggles."

Thorn says quietly, "Let's not eat anything just yet." His stomach grumbles and he adds, "Despite what we may want. Something has Rafe very unhappy, and it may not just be harmful metals that someone's sought to get to us with."

Cinnamon blinks at Arvid, "What's 'it'?" then turns back when the maid replies. "Ooh, boggles? Can they handle steel? Can we talk to them, please?"

The maid says nervously, "One can... er, but some people here work with steel -- just very, very carefully. They're sort of our bomb squad...?"

Cinnamon blinks again, "Oh! 'It' -- as in silver doesn't contaminate food. Got it! Sorry!" She grins sheepishly at Arvid, then turns back to the maid, nodding with interest, "Uh-huh? Okay, can we, um... actually, you know what? Could we ask you to go get one of your elders, please?" The maid nods, looking very happy to get away from all the unhappy (and dangerous) visitors! She doesn't actually run, but she's moving at speed.

Those not susceptible to silver are starting to move the dangerous trays into one area. Maebh has arrived, looking thunderous -- she overheard the bit about steel on her tray! Rafe returns in human form, telling Arvid and the other wolves: something smelled off in the food. Cinnamon glances around... then decides now is a fine time to dart back into her room and dress properly! She's starting to worry that she's accidentally flashing folks as she moves around wearing mostly just a quilt, after all. Josie lets her friend past, then stands in the door glowering. Cinnamon emerges a few minutes later, with a small 'whew!' of relief. Much better now! Her hair is brushed, she's wearing her glasses and her less-ripped shirt, along with her clean, second pair of jeans and her hiking boots. Now that she's had time to recover, her feet aren't swollen any more, and the boots fit just fine!

It doesn't take long for the maid to return with Siobhan, who is looking rather confused... possibly because the maid's words are spilling over one another in her worry and excitement. Cinnamon smiles ruefully and waves to Siobhan, "Hi there! We just had a poisoning attempt and we thought you might like to know?" She points at the various elements as she explains, then smiles at the elder again, "So, um... sorry?"

Siobhan's face had been mostly serious or apologetic during all of yesterday's encounter. Today she looks first horrified -- then furious! She turns to the maid and snaps, "Get the others -- and find someone to make sure Killian is still confined!"

Cinnamon sidles over to Rafe, murmuring quietly in French to him, "Is the food on the second cart okay? I'm starving! Bet I'm not the only one, either?" Then she blinks at another, alarming thought: if Siobhan's worried that Killian might have escaped, then it's a good bet the former guardian is indeed gone -- it's easier to escape with someone than to hang around and wait to poison folks, isn't it? She's not sure... but if they're trying to escape with Killian then it's quite possible he'll want to first stop by his room(s) to grab anything of value there... which means... she blinks, then says sharply to Siobhan, "Can you lead us to Killian's rooms? Right. Now?!" Siobhan nods and starts to take them that way.

Before they'll let her leave, however, Shane and Josie get dressed and insist on coming with her. Cinnamon is almost jittering with impatience -- she doesn't want Killian to get away with all his money and the nettle, if there's anything at all she can do to impede him! She sorts through possibilities as she trots quickly along after the beansidhe, not quite on the poor woman's heels -- since the faster, the better, Cinnamon thinks! If Killian trusts banks then he may well have paperwork associated with the one which holds his family fortunes... and if they're escaping... oh! She adds to Siobhan, "Can you also send armed folks quickly to the herbalist? The one that kept the nettles? We don't want any of that to escape with Killian's followers!" The young dragon crosses her fingers that the untrusting Killian kept all the prepared nettle in his own room, though -- and that they get there before he's shaken off the belladonna enough to hit his rooms and dash for freedom!

While Shane and Josie are getting dressed, Cinnamon anxiously asks if maybe some of the wolves could go to the main gathering room and keep an eye out for Killian escaping that way? "After all, that room's a bottleneck into the rest of the trod, right?"

About then is when Arvid speaks up -- as if something hadn't occurred to him yet, "Cinnamon? The full moon is every 28 days. We're coming up on the dark."

Cinnamon blinks thoughtfully at Arvid, running numbers in her head... then beams at the werewolf captain, "You're right! I'm sorry; I was wrong -- good!" Arvid nods and smiles, then takes Fraser with him toward the great hall. They're accompanied by Maebh and one of the members of Holly, who arrived when Siobhan sent the maid after people. Shane makes sure, before they leave, to ask the member of Holly that's going with the wolves if he had anything to do with the poisoning attempt. His answer in the negative seems to satisfy Shane.

As Siobhan takes the little group of friends down the hallway she says, "We'll check Killian's room first. We moved him out of it and into a smaller room. I chose people I am... was... quite sure I could trust in this." Cinnamon gives Siobhan a wryly sympathetic glance behind the poor woman's back. How awful, to realize how... how unbalanced, how sick or damaged one's home has gotten! As she trots worriedly down the hallway, following Siobhan, Cinnamon also keeps half an eye out for any of the young people she remembers as hanging around Killian and Darragh... but mostly she's hoping they either catch Killian, or get to his room before he does.

Siobhan adds, as if just now remembering she was asked a question, "Yes. The main hall is a bottleneck of sorts... but there are a couple of escape tunnels. No one makes only one exit from an underground stronghold. It would be a bad tactical choice." Cinnamon grins wryly to herself, thinking, [Plus, that'd be way too easy for us!] Past that, though, she saves her breath for keeping up with the others. Siobhan adds, "Of course, we do have guards on those tunnels and I changed them last... night..." She hastily turns to the young man with her -- this one blonde and blue-eyed -- and speaks sharply with him in Irish, sending him to go check the tunnel guards. From what Cinnamon gathers from Siobhan's words, she has also sent the young man to have others meet them at Killian's room. Cinnamon nods to herself -- good idea! She hopes they're not too late, and that the first they'll realize that is a howl and the sounds of combat from the main room.

Rafe is close by Thorn, growling even though he's bipedal. Thorn's thoughts as a healer turn to the recurring idea he's had that Holly is sick. It has a sickness deep within it thanks to Killian's leadership, and it's getting hard to tell how deep that sickness goes. He's also stricken by how gross a violation of hospitality this has been; the level of sheer hate that Killian spread is abominable.

Killian's room -- or perhaps quarters is a better term -- is on a hallway that has just three doors. Siobhan explains that the other two doors belong to Darragh and his sister. There are guards outside Killian's door; they look startled at the influx of people. Cinnamon slows, a thoughtful expression on her face as she glances at the other two doors. Wow, no wonder Darragh was crazy enough to attack a dragon! He's been nearly marinating in charm and fear for all his life! The little dragon wonders if it's possible for Niamh to recover, considering she's been away from her twisted father for the last couple of decades. Cinnamon waits for Siobhan to talk with the guards, glancing around with interest... and hoping her earlier thoughts on Killian turn out to be true -- and he really has kept all his incriminating stuff hidden in his room.

There's a quick conversation between Siobhan and the two guards. They both swear that no one has been down this hallway besides them and the previous guards from the night watch. Cinnamon glances at Shane with a raised eyebrow, wondering if this is truth. Shane translates quietly for those that don't speak Irish. He's peering intently at the two guards... and then he nods once: they're telling the truth. He clears his throat and says, "I believe the two of you, but where are the night watch now?" Thorn grimaces. Of course the night watch would (possibly) be a part of this shenanigans.

There are a half-dozen of Holly coming down the hall toward them. Only of them is of the red-haired phenotype. The rest look like the typical beansidhe, pale of skin and dark of hair. Siobhan says, "They should be in their rooms." She looks over the half-dozen arrivals, narrows her eyes and chooses one of the dark-haired ones, "Find me the night watch. Have them meet us here." Once her messenger is on his way, Siobhan has the current guards open the door. It takes a heavy brass key to do so, but the key moves smoothly and so do the hinges. Cinnamon watches with interest... and, admittedly, a bit of confusion. Why are there so many redheads and blondes here? Wasn't it the gealsidhe who were light colors, and the beansidhe which were dark haired? Thorn fidgets, unsure as to what they will find in Killian's room.

Once the doors are open, the contingent from Rowan get another look at the difference between Killian and Quinn. This is not simply a spacious bedroom! This is a suite. The door opens onto a sitting room and there's another door at the back -- currently open -- that leads to a bedroom. Cinnamon blinks in surprise -- then glances at Siobhan, "May we enter? I'd like to check for both paperwork, and more of the nettle poison, please?" Siobhan nods, moving into the room before them. The sitting room looks fine; there's nothing that seems out of place. Cinnamon glances around for something like a desk -- a flat working surface with some sort of storage. That's where she's guessing official paperwork might be... maybe?

The sitting room doesn't have a desk or anything like that in it. The furniture is in a very French style -- very Louis XIV. The colors are mostly deep greens with contrasts of silver and red. There's a thick rug on the floor of the sitting room and the walls are hung with velvety arrases. The ceiling looks plastered and has been painted with a night sky. There's a fireplace here as well. The bedroom, in the next room, is furnished in much the same style with a large (overlarge, really, for a single person without a partner) four-poster bed with heavy hangings. Here is where there's a secretary-style desk, though it's been heavily rifled -- there are papers, pieces of parchment, and even a single diamond earring on the floor. Also on the floor is a heavy rug that's been pulled aside to reveal what was obviously a cache of some sort. It is now mostly empty. Cinnamon sighs, her shoulders sagging, "Well, poop! We're too late, folks." She flips desultorily through the remaining papers, checking to see if there's anything that got missed.

Thorn grimaces. This is so not like what he's familiar with, at least in the Trod of the Elm -- but even so... what a stark difference. How much time, effort, and resources did it take to decorate these rooms? Then again, it's possible Killian didn't design the rooms... but that's not really the point now, is it? He growls quietly, "Dammit."

As they're looking through the room there's a small influx of people. One of them is another with the 'normal' beansidhe coloring -- though he currently looks like he had a painful fight with some sort of woodchipper, given the amount of abrasions and cuts on his face and arms. He pants, "Siobhan... we... we caught... caught him!"

Cinnamon glances over -- then blinks, "Yikes! Are you okay?!" In the paperwork Cinnamon has found a couple of pages which look like part of several letters... and she also finds mention of Coblyn Street on them! She quietly gathers up the relevant paperwork, then murmurs softly to Siobhan, "May I take these for later reading, please? They mention Coblyn, and I'd like to review them carefully?"

Thorn blinks startledly and moves to check on the beansidhe -- who looks really banged up! "What happened?" the healer asks urgently, checking the wounds for signs of poison or iron. He wouldn't put it past Killian to use those poisons, after all, by this point!

The panting beansidhe bends over, hands on his knees, and winces, "I... I'm... f-fii..."

One of the others snorts, "No, you're not fine." She turns to Thorn, adding quietly, "Sword fight." Some of the wounds look nastier than what simple slashing wounds should look like, however, so it's entirely possible there's poison.

Thorn hisses softly again. "Not just any sword," he says, then adds, "Lie down," to the injured beansidhe. He starts the spell to draw poison or any lingering iron from the wounds, envisioning them being pulled out from the body. Cinnamon shakes her head slowly -- she simply cannot understand someone who would attempt an agonizing poisoning -- especially against those they're supposed to be protecting!

Siobhan nods; she looks furious, "Yes. Please." She glances at one of the beansidhe who've just arrived, "Is he still alive?" At his nod, she takes a deep breath, "Bring him here. Him and anyone else that was with him. Now!" That last word has something like the crack of doom in it.

Cinnamon smiles uncertainly at Siobhan, murmuring, "Thank you," as she tucks the papers away on her person. After that she goes to the cache, running her fingers lightly around the inside to see if anything got missed. She has absolute confidence in Thorn's healing capabilities, after all, so she knows she's not needed there.

Thorn glances over to Cinnamon. "Please be careful," he says quickly. "He might have left a trap of some kind!" Then he focuses on getting the poison out of the beansidhe's body, sighing in relief as it seems to help.

Cinnamon grins over her shoulder at Thorn, "Then I'm the best person to check for it, right?" She honestly doesn't want to see anyone else hurt.

The beansidhe starts to protest about laying down... right up until his companion physically lifts him and then lays him down horizontally on the floor. There's a groan as the poison is drawn out and the female warrior with him relaxes. Some of the wounds even start to close, as if they were only as bad as they were because of the poison. The injured beansidhe blinks, saying, "I... didn't know I was feeling that bad."

Shane snorts, "It's adrenaline and endorphins. You'll feel bad again tomorrow."

Over by the hole in the floor, Cinnamon finds a small latch on the side of the cache. A split second later she also realizes there's something sharp on it! She frowns, feeling gently with her fingers -- can she somehow bend or break the sharp bit so no one else might be harmed? The sharp point isn't quite long enough to bend. It would need to be hit fairly hard to blunt it. But that might stop the latch from being activated. Cinnamon decides to first flip the latch... then try damaging the sharp point. Though... wait. There has to be a way to use the latch without hitting the sharpie -- because otherwise this would be useless to Killian! Cinnamon tries feeling around a bit more, and if she has to, she'll lie on her side and use her cell phone as a flashlight in her free hand.

There's a button just about half an inch below the latch that's almost flush with the wooden side of the cache. Cinnamon beams quietly to herself, gently pressing the button -- maybe that'll do it? The button seems to retract the blade or needle or whatever was there. After that, the latch is easy to open. Cinnamon's gleeful grin of triumph is for Thorn as well -- and the formerly-injured beansidhe that the healer is helping so effectively! Thorn lets out a breath, and smiles to the beansidhe to hide his anger at the use of poison, "Just relax for the next day or so and get your wounds tended to."

The injured beansidhe snorts and then winces, "I will." Siobhan is speaking in low tones near the door with two of the beansidhe of Holly. There's soon a hullabaloo in the hallway. Cinnamon quietly feels around to pull out anything and everything that's in the cache there. She finds more papers and what look to be locks of hair, along with a couple of small pieces of jewelry. The young dragon will back into a corner once that's done -- both to stay out of the way of what she suspects will be many very angry people! ...and to see what she's found.

Cinnamon quietly shifts the desk chair back to the corner, then spreads the paperwork on her lap. First she'll check the jewelry and the hair -- because she finds the hair a bit... alarming? Was it used in charming someone or something like that? She really hopes not, but from what she's seen of Killian, she wouldn't put it past him. A few minutes later two of Holly drag in -- literally -- Killian. They've got him by his upper arms; his head is hanging down limply and his feet drag on the floor. Thorn looks up and frowns as he sees Killian being dragged in -- looks like it was quite the fight! He glances to Siobhan, in case she might want him to do (some) healing on what is surely the former chieftain. Cinnamon too glances up at the arrival of Killian... then just shakes her head once. She wonders if the folks that were helping him -- that tried poisoning guests of the trod -- were captured as well. Someone had to help shake Killian out of the belladonna, after all!

The two people half-carrying, half-dragging Killian drop him to his knees in front of Siobhan. He sways groggily, his hair hanging before his eyes. There's some blood dripping from his chin, though it could be coming from anywhere on his face. Siobhan goes to one knee and lifts Killian's head with two fingers under his chin. It gets the hair out of his face enough for Thorn to see that there are no cuts -- or at least no sword cuts. His skin is parted in a couple of places, but Thorn has seen cuts like that from fistfights -- if the fists are applied hard enough. Shane is standing near the door, looking very serious as he speaks intently with one of the group that came in with Killian.

Cinnamon finds the paperwork she's got in her lap is simply more letters. The only way they weren't grabbed is because someone was in an all-fired hurry -- or because they weren't told they were there. The little dragon checks quickly: who are the letters to and from, and what's their general subject matter? The letters seem to be written in either a language Cinnamon doesn't know or some sort of cipher. Cinnamon sighs and adds them to the paperwork she picked up earlier -- she'd absolutely love to play with the cipher, but she really doesn't have the time right now! She checks the hair next, finding several different locks in various colors. Each is tied with a bit of twine and each has a name attached. They aren't names she recognizes as people they've met yet.

Cinnamon hmms thoughtfully... then carefully tucks those away too. It's her guess that Killian was indeed doing something... unpleasant with the hair! She listens absently as she checks the jewelry last -- though it's her bet that this little haul is just a potential source of later monies for the deranged sidhe.

Siobhan says with gentle sadness -- like a mother who has discovered her child plans on murdering their entire family, "Killian. Why? You could have had a decent life."

Killian tries to sneer -- which just clarifies that some of the blood seems to be from being punched directly in the mouth, "I had a nearly decent life -- and then you chose to believe interlopers and enemies above your own king!"

Thorn looks around the elaborately-furnished room. "Nearly" decent?! Cinnamon glances up puzzledly, her voice soft, "I thought you were a guardian of your people... not a king?" She's wryly relieved that neither Quinn nor Jaeger are currently present -- since their reactions to such an abuse of trust might well be far more, um... dramatic!

Siobhan's brows draw together as she says, "King, Killian? There has not been a king in Ireland for centuries! ...and for good reason."

Killian is glowering, "I. Am. A. King! I am of the blood of kings!"

Siobhan's voice is wry, "Oh, aye -- ye have some of the blood of the last king in you -- but so do I... and yet I know that my place is to protect."

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

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