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Holmes: "So, OK, I know I said I wouldn't ask," says Mirkun, Lana's guide, "But, dammit you're just not the sort I'd expect to be out here like this. Just who are you?"
Lana: Lana smiles slightly, 'Just a courier, really. I carry messages that people don't want everyone to know about.'
Holmes: "So you're carrying a message to the Sel-kai colony below?" he says. "Is that it? Again, you're too pretty to be just a messenger."
Holmes: Mirkun thinks he's being charming.
Lana: Lana quirks an eyebrow, 'Excuse me? I'm not sure what you mean...'
Holmes: "Well, you seem determined enough, but this is dangerous territory," he says. "I'd think that whoever you work for would send somebody more...you know...rough."
Lana: A guileless look comes over Lana's face, 'What? Are you suggesting that someone might... try to harm me?' She sounds shocked and appalled.
Holmes: "Oh, not while I'm around," boast Mirkun. True Mirkun is a large sort, almost imposing. But Lana knows that his only real benefit to him being here is that he has a knowledge of the lay of the land.
Lana: Lana very carefully doesn't roll her eyes, 'Well, that is a reassurance, but does that mean that someone might _want_ to harm me?'
Holmes: "Again, mistress, there may well be things out on the moor that would do you harm. And..." he seems to hesitate to indicate something else.
Lana: Lana's eyes grow wide, 'Yes...?'
Holmes: Mirkun seems conflicted, but he can't seem to overcome Lana's wiles. "Well, there are these groups of...soldiers I guess...that go about at night. We're not supposed to talk about them. Nobody is supposed to know who they are, but I think it's pretty clear they work for the Lord of Ardania."
Holmes: A moment after he says this, he asks, "please don't let on that I told you. I could get in trouble."
Lana: Lana shakes her head quickly, 'Of course not! I wouldn't want you to be in trouble.'
Holmes: Mirkun realizes that she's playing him to some extent, and slinks back off to build the fire nice and high again to ward off wild animals, as it gets dark. Lana takes a step to the edge of the precipice and sees below the colony in question.
Holmes: Mirkun will definitely come in handy figuring out how to get down to the colony below in the morning.
Lana: Lana spends a long time looking down, and then goes to check on her things before sitting by the fire.
Holmes: The view from up here is quite breathtaking. The land below tapers off to the sea. So from any distance back from the edge, it appears to Lana as if the cliff edge is the edge of the world. Indeed, the drop to the bottom over the edge seems quite unnatural. Mirkun had told her the myth of how because men had done evil in the past, the world had split here.
Holmes: And how he felt that the colony below must be cursed, because it was in the evil lands near the sea.
Holmes: "I"ll have dinner in a bit," he says.
Lana: Lana smiles and sits down. She pulls a brush out of her pack and begins running it through her hair. 'Is there anything I can help you with?'
Holmes: Suddenly a woman is pulling Mirkun, far larger than her, back towards the cliff. Somehow the hold she has over him has him off-balance, and he cannot help but go with her. In a moment he's all but falling over the edge, the woman keeping him up just barely holding on to his arm.
Holmes: One shift from her, and Mirkun is a dead man. He grimmaces in fear, "D-d-d-don't let me go!"
Holmes: The woman is dressed in black explaining in part how she was able to sneak up on the pair. The outfit, Lana notes, is ornate, however.
Lana: Lana continues to brush her hair, 'Um... Might I ask what is going on here?'
Holmes: The detail of the woman's apparel is odd, not what someone in Sel-kai might wear. Simultaneously primitive and yet speaking of great effort to make. And yet advanced in certain subtle ways, too. The woman smiles at Lana and says, "I have some information for you, if you turn out to be right to get it."
Holmes: The accent is hard to place.
Lana: Lana blinks, 'I'm just a courier, is there someone you'd like me to carry this information to?'
Holmes: "No, this information is for you," she says. "We've been watching you. We think you might be somebody who should be in our organization."
Lana: 'What? You need a courier in your organization?'
Lana: 'It's not precisely a specialized job. All it requires is trustworthiness.'
Holmes: "You are far more than a simple courier," she says. Her hair is raven-black, and she reminds Lana somewhat of Isadora, though slightly shorter. "You have skills to kill, and a will to manipulate men. I saw you just now."
Holmes: "With this one," she says for emphasis pushing Mirkun a bit so that he squirms.
Lana: Lana rises and gracefully and picks up her pack to put her brush back in it. 'What does any of this have to do with hanging my guide over the edge of the cliff?'
Holmes: "The thing we want you to know is that we are an order that can train you. Train you to be superior," she says. "And give you a purpose in life."
Lana: 'I'm still missing something here. What does that have to do with threatening my guide?'
Holmes: "I'm so glad you asked," she says, and drops Mirkun.
Holmes: She smiles momentarily, and then leaps over the cliff after Mirkun.
Lana: Lana's eyes widen and she mutters, 'Damn, that was unexpected,' before she walks over to the cliff to look down.
Holmes: Mirkun's cry is cut off far too short. Lana imagines that he's hit the cliff part way down. But as she looks over the edge, she sees that the woman is hanging onto a ledge, and holding Mirkun by his foot.
Holmes: The woman's gaze comes back up to Lana's, "Would you like to be able to do this and much, much more?"
Lana: Lana smiles slightly, 'That is pretty impressive, but how are you planning to get back _up_ with him?'
Holmes: "Well, that's going to be difficult, but I think I can manage," she says. "But this is part of the test, you see. If you want to be a part of our organization, then say the word and I'll kill this man to keep our secret."
Holmes: "If you demand that I save him," she says, "then I'm afraid that you won't be allowed to join."
Holmes: She says this with a bit of a grimace at the strain of holding up Mirkun.
Holmes: "Let's not take all night deciding," she exhorts Lana.
Lana: Lana seems to consider this for a long moment. 'This is pretty impressive, but I think I'm going to have to reserve judgment until I see whether or not you really _can_ get him back up here. That would be something worth learning.'
Holmes: The woman shakes her head, straining, "No, no, you must decide, Lana of Green Lake."
Lana: Lana peers down at her, 'Are you saying that you _can't_ get him back up here? I ask because being able to jump off of cliffs is far less useful than being able to climb back up them.'
Holmes: "Sometimes the stubborn ones are the best," the woman says. She closes her eyes, and begins to glow. She makes a spinning move suddenly, grabbing the man with both hands - and her feet standing on the cliff as if the world were turned on it's side. She begins to walk slowly up the cliff.
Holmes: After a bit, she ends up at the top, and drops the quivering Mirkun.
Lana: Lana looks suitably impressed, 'Well then! I must say I'm very impressed. What else can you teach me?'
Holmes: The woman strikes Mirkun in the back of the neck, and he drops like a sack of potatoes. "The first lesson, she says, is humility."
Holmes: Seeing Lana considering using her swords, the woman draws a dagger, very ornate and bejeweled. The sight is almost humorous, given the small size of the weapon. The humor goes away, however, as the woman says a word and the dagger suddenly grows to a weapon like a Sel-kai longsword.
Lana: Lana takes a considering look at her opponent, 'I don't want to have an unfair advantage here...' she sheathes one of her swords and attacks in the same motion. She and the woman in black move back and forth, working their way around the edge of the cliff, neither able to gain the upper hand. Both are breathing rapidly when Lana says, 'I must admit, I'm quite impressed.' She times her words to be distracting just as her op
Lana: She times her words to be distracting just as her opponent steps into a bad patch of gravel, and a grin crosses Lana's face when her opponent slips and goes down. But the grins slips away as her opponent teleports herself a few feet farther back. Lana blinks, surprised, 'Well, maybe you're not handicapped after all...' She draws her second sword and redoubles her efforts. But now her opponent is teleporting and floating a
Lana: Lana manages, through luck more than skill, to nick the back of the woman in black's calf, causing her to slip to one knee for just a moment. Lana jumps on this oppurtunity and suddenly has a sword at the woman's throat. Her breathing is ragged, 'I must... admit... that your offer... is extremely tempting... Especially after... that demonstration.'
Holmes: "The woman's breathing comes quickly under control. "So? You accept then?"
Lana: Lana puts her sword away, 'Not quite yet, I think. I'd like to know a bit more about this organization before declaring my loyalty to it. Clearly you are quite skilled, but what is it you do?'
Holmes: The woman stands again, and walks over towards Mirkun, shaking off her bruises.
Holmes: "It doesn't work like that," she says. "You join, and then you discover the mysteries."
Lana: 'And if I decide I don't find them very interesting?'
Holmes: "You won't," she says. "But you'd be free to resign from the organization at any time."
Lana: 'Well then, where should I meet you once I've finished my current assignment?'
Holmes: "So you accept?" she says. "Very well then. Don't worry about it, we'll contact you when you're ready to start training."
Holmes: Then, suddenly, she swings her sword down, and cuts Mirkun's head from his body.
Lana: Lana sighs. 'Was that necessary? Now I'm going to have to spend all day tomorrow figuring out how to get down this cliff.'
Holmes: "You've made the right choice," she says, her sword shrinking back down to the dagger size as she pockets it. "As for the cliff, well...."
Holmes: The woman runs toward the cliff and leaps off it again.
Lana: Lana calls after her, 'I'm not jumping of this bloody cliff!'

Holmes: Not having any other plans for the day, Agnes finds herself following the elven ambassador from his quarters. Apparently he's going to the temple to see the mane they call Thrakelust. As they approach the pyrimidal temple, the elf points out the man in question apparently standing near the apex of the temple.
Holmes: "That's the man we're to see," he says.
Agnes: "Oh, and what does he do?"
Holmes: As they approach, half-way down the pyramid, Agnes notes several people standing before an odd swirling disc of colors. The elf says, "He's said to be in charge here in many ways.'
Holmes: The elf seems to be noting the people on the pyramid at the gate as well.
Holmes: Isadora, Okhfels and Rahkleth see the elven ambassador approaching. Rahkleth recognizes his companion as the newcomer to Green Lake, Agnes.
Agnes: "In charge how? I understood that the leader of this city was a woman."
Isadora raises her eyebrows. "That hasn't been true for some time," she says as Agnes and the elf approach.
Okhfels bows slightly.
Agnes attends to the older woman with a smile. "Oh, I guess things change in such a quickly growing city."
Teodric: Teodric approaches the small gathering "Ah ambassador how pleasant to see you." he nods to the others in the group.
Isadora: "It's a neverending festival of delights," Isadora says without a trace of irony, and then nods to Teodric as he comes up. "Is the governor feeling better now?"
Agnes: Agnes continues looking around at those nearby, smiling in recognition at Rahkleth but trying to learn the others.
Teodric: Teodric points up the temple steps "He appears to be."
Okhfels keeps his eye on the gate, for the telltale flashes of light that herald its opening.
Rahkleth: Rahkleth joins the throng, looking rather dashing for once in his formal uniform. He smiles at everyone and bows to Isadora and Ohkfels. "I'm not too late, I see."
Agnes: "Is someone going to see Cay this morning?" Agnes addresses no one in particular.
Holmes: Apparently Thrakelust has finished with his ministrations to the spirits, and looks ready to descend.
Isadora: "Not in person, I'd imagine," Isadora says to Agnes with a grin. "What are you looking for?"
Lxndr: "Yes," says Thrakelust, joining the group. "Was someone looking for me?"
Agnes: "I'm just learning the slope. Who's who and what's what. It's just that the last time I saw this gate it was a tunnel to Cay and behaving quite strange at that..." Agnes trails off at Thrakelust's arrival.
Thrakelust spreads his hands wide in greeting, and grins a large grin from the top of his 6'8" frame. "Hello."
Teodric: "I believe we have an appointment. I'm not sure about anyone else." Teodric looks slightly annoyed at the large group.
Isadora: "Don't mind us, we're leaving soon," Isadora beams at Teodric.
Isadora: "Just another moment, though, as this young lady--I'm Isadora, by the way--was saying something about the gate?"
Thrakelust: "That Gate has been My responsibility for a long time now. What is it you wish to know?"
Rahkleth: "Bah." Rahkleth grins at Ohkfels. "You're off duty now. You aren't required to be punctual."
Teodric: "I don't intend offence Isadora. I have been on edge since the incident we witnessed."
Okhfels: "I've changed one duty for another, Rahkleth. This isn't a pleasure trip."
Rahkleth: "True, I guess.... but judging from every other courtesan I've ever met, being late is a honed skill."
Isadora: Just out of Okhfels' field of vision, Isadora rolls her eyes briefly heavenward.
Agnes: Agnes looks surprised. "You're Isadora?" Agnes closes the short distance between then and grasps Isadora's hand for a shake. "What I was saying earlier...I thought...I mean, are you the Isadora who's supposed to be in charge?"
Rahkleth: "You should work hard on it, sir."
Agnes: "I mean...who I expected to be...you know what I mean....I hope."
Thrakelust looks at Isadora, waiting for her response, a smirk barely on his face.
Isadora: "I'm retired," laughs Isadora, returning Agnes' hand squeeze firmly.
Okhfels: Just out of Isadora's vision, Okhfels rolls his eyes briefly heavenword.
Agnes: "Wow...yeah, I -- we, happened to go with the others to Cay's home through this very gate -- it took a skyship and everything. It was a remarkable experience."
Agnes looks around at all the participants in the threads of conversation. "But maybe I'm interrupting more important stuff."
Rahkleth: "Yeah... ahem..." Rahkleth looks decidedly uncomfortable. "... remarkable. That's the word I'd use."
Agnes grins big at Rahkleth.
Thrakelust: "Who are you, young one? And why are you looking for the person in charge?"
Agnes: "My name is Agnes Hargreve and I am a newcomer to this place. I had been instructed to meet with the leader of the colony -- a woman of strength and intelligence named Isadora. In truth, it wasn't so much that I needed to meet with the leader as much as with her in particular. I have a package."
Thrakelust: "A package? Brought through my Gate? Meant for one of My subjects? Please, let us all see what it contains!"
Isadora: "Certainly. I'm about to leave, so let's see it."
Agnes: Actually, it hasn't travelled through the gate -- since it was placed in may care at least. I could fetch it if now is the best time." She glances at the elf first and then settles her gaze on Isadora.
Agnes scampers off.
Rahkleth: Rahkleth shrugs as Agnes leaves. "She's an odd one. Rode a giant lizard into the city a few days ago. It's still living in the stables area and not eating any horses... thankfully."
Teodric: "Well perhaps while we wait the ambassador can tell us of his business."
Thrakelust turns all his attention to the ambassador. "Yes, ambassador," he says, putting his hand on the ambassador's shoulder. "Please, how may I help you?"
Holmes: "We need to speak of the defensive treaty and it's details, Honorable Thrakelust," says the elf. "An agreement of this sort isn't actually worth anything without the details."
Thrakelust: "Of course," he says to the elf. "Without details, how can we be sure we are scratching the proper spots of each other's backs, yes?" He grins a grin of big teeth once more.
Okhfels looks over at the gate again.
Okhfels shifts his weight from foot to foot.
Thrakelust: "Okhfels, if the ambassador does not mind, I would welcome your input and commentary in this meeting..."
Rahkleth: "Yeah... I generally want to leave about now too." Rahkleth whispers to Ohkfels.
Okhfels: "Actually, *sir*," (the word never quite has the same ring when Okhfels says it to Thrake) "The gate is supposed to open any minute now."
Teodric rolls his eyes towards the heavens
Agnes returns with a five-foot by five inch bundle of the finest spider-silk cloth. After making sure that her arrival isn't interrupting anything critical, she presents it to Isadora. "My mother instructed me to bring this to you."
Isadora: "Thank you for delivering it," Isadora says, bowing over the package to Agnes before unwrapping it.
Okhfels tries to divide his attention between the package and the gate.
Agnes: As Isadora unwraps the hilt of her old sword she can't help but recognize it.
Okhfels: Okhfels' face darkens and he regards Agnes warily.
Thrakelust: "If you must go, Okhfels, please... after all, My gate won't wait forever."
Isadora: "Your mother, you say?" Isadora says softly, looking down at the partly-unwrapped sword.
Agnes nods as she grins. "She said that you'd want it back, as a souvenir if nothing else."
Agnes: "She was a bit vague on why she had it, but she's often a little...um...hard to understand."
Isadora: "I've missed it," she says, looking back up at Agnes. "Where can I find your mother to thank her?"
Agnes: "Oh, she's not really accessible. She's lived a mile underground for years and years. I think she's afraid to come up for some reason." Agnes' smile kind of fades away as she speaks. "It's sad really."
Thrakelust: "What is this, Isadora?"
Okhfels puts his hand on Isadora's shoulder. Whether it's a reassuring gesture, or a restraining one... it's not easy to tell.
Isadora: "Please convey my thanks to her when you get the chance, then," Isadora says, inwardly determined to find Agnes at some later date. To the governor, she replies, "An old possession I'd thought forever misplaced. No worries, my lord governor, we're about to take our leave and not further occupy your time."
Thrakelust: "Then come, ambassador, let us speak of the present instead of the past. The treaty!"
Teodric: "Sir, do you need me in attendance. Perhaps we can speak at a later date."
Agnes: "Well, I'm not sure if or when I'll see her again, but sure -- if I do, I'll let her know."
Okhfels: "Let's go, Isadora."
Isadora makes a final bow to everyone, then turns aside with Okhfels.
Rahkleth: Rahkleth watches Isadora and Okhfels until they leave before departing himself.
Okhfels takes Isadora's hand.
Agnes: Right before the couple crosses through the mystic portal, Agnes reaches out and squeezes Isadora's hand again flashing her perhaps naive smile.
Isadora flashes an inscrutable look back at Agnes, cradling the sword in her other arm as they walk through the gate.
Okhfels: Isadora feels Okhfel's grip tighten as they pass through the gate, the big wuss.
Agnes: Agnes turns to follow her escort as he heads off with Thrakelust.

Holmes: A bit later, as night has fallen, the ambassador from Lys and Agnes are meeting with Thrakelust in the open air collonade of his personal "quarters."
Thrakelust: "Now that the details of the defense treaty are finalized, please, let me treat you both to dinner."
Holmes: The elf smiles a smile that says, "Ah, yet another helping of the quaint local cuisine."
Holmes: "How are you tonight?" he asks Agnes with a smile like her father might have given her at times.
Thrakelust: "My chefs have managed to create quite a blend of the various cuisines afforded by our... diverse population. I've even managed to even coach him through some old Estrathian recipes." He claps, and of course the servants respond.
Thrakelust demurs to Agnes for further conversation, as she's been asked a question.
Agnes: "Oh...fine. Sorry, I was drifting." Agnes smiles and looks a bit embarrassed.
Agnes: "I'm excited to taste all the new foods that this venue offers. I'm used to quite different fair."
Thrakelust chuckles. "The finer points of treaty negotiation aren't invigorating to everyone. Our cuisine, on the other hand, is quite wonderful!" The first course is set before them.
Agnes: "Actually, I thought the negotiations were quite interesting. I'm not sure who you'll be defending against -- it seems like kind of a token relationship, but it was still interesting to see how you two function."
Thrakelust: "One can never be too careful," he says, with a voice that sounds like it's seen this too often. "Better to be prepared against an eventuality that does NOT occur, than be unprepared if and when one does."
Agnes nods her understanding as she eats.
Agnes: "So <chew> what <swallow> actually is the greatest security threat out here?"
Holmes: "There is one other matter that I feel it is time to broach," says he elf, finally, after tasting some of the rice dish he's been given. "Long ago, when men lived here originally, your people, Thrakelust, there was a mirror given to the people of the city. Perhaps you recall this?"
Holmes: The elf doesn't seem to realize that he's interrupting Agnes.
Thrakelust is happy to avoid Agnes's question for the time being. "I remember that event, yes," he says, nodding. "It was a momentous occasion."
Holmes: "We'd like that mirror back, if possible," he says. "Being of elven construction, there's every reason to believe that it might be intact."
Agnes cocks her head to the right. "Why was it given if you'd want it back?" She takes another long pull of wine and smiles at the two politicos.
Thrakelust: "That was a gift to the people of Estrath," he says. "Might I ask why you would wish to take it back from the Last Estrathian, while I'm in the midst of trying to rebuild my people's city?"
Holmes: The elf turns to Agnes, "My dear, it is a valuable thing. The people who it was given to are gone except for this one, who exists in the body of another. Not one of the humans of the original city exists bodily. It's merely a matter of recovering something worthwhile."
Holmes: Then to Thrakelust,
Holmes: "It remains unfound, does it not? I would do the searching for it myself, you understand?"
Agnes nods appreciatively.
Holmes: The elf, apparently captivated by Agnes' openness, asks, "Would you care to look for it with me? It might be interesting. And I'm sure I can get the princess to reward you if you were to help me find it."
Thrakelust: "What does it matter if I've lost my body? I am still here!" He takes a moment to compose himself. "The city is partially flooded, and mostly in ruins; my rebuilding efforts have barely begun. It is dangerous, even to an elf. Perhaps, though, if we can marry your desire for searching with my plans to rebuild..."
Agnes: "Perhaps it would be interesting. I know my way around tunnels and who knows what else we might unearth."
Holmes: This gets the elf's interest. "So, are you asking for elven help in restoring the old city? In return for which we would get the mirror, should it be found?"
Thrakelust: "The mirror is a valuable thing, indeed, and certainly not an artifact of interest to Estrath as it exists now. As valuable to the elves as restoring my old home is to me. It seems...mutually beneficient."
Holmes: "I will send word to the Princess in the morning, and we shall see if we can get her response soon," agrees the ambassador.
Holmes: (in previous dealings with the elves of Lys, it's quite clear that they have some magical means of relatively rapid communication)
Agnes: "So what makes this mirror so special?"
Holmes: Her elven friend looks to Thrakelust as though to a child, to see if this younger one wants to tell the story.
Thrakelust: "At its basis, it is a lens of Truth," he says to Agnes. "The elves recognized our ambition and our rise, but noted some of the...less pleasant tendencies of Estrath." He seems loathe to speak of Estrath's negative side. "The mirror was a symbol of the Elf support of Estrath, but also both warning and solution."
Holmes: The elf nods, but in a way that indicates that he thinks that this is a description flawed by the limited human perspective. But, apparently he feels that it would do no good to try to refine Thrakelust's description.

Holmes: Isadora and Okhfels seem to pass through worlds upon worlds and then suddenly emerge from a similarly tight opening to the one that they departed through. The first thing that Okhfels notes is a tall obelisk in front of him. And then that they are in a massive city.
Holmes: Isadora, more familiar with the place, sees that it is the navigator obelisk in High Town. Temple row is off to the left.
Holmes: A short, frumpy man addresses the both of them, "Do you require a navigagtor?"
Okhfels looks confused. "We just got here."
Isadora squeezes Okhfels' hand. "Don't worry, we're here. Nobody does phallic landmarks quite like Kaitaine."
Okhfels: Okhfels chuckles.
Holmes: "Yes," says the navigator, "and by such an interesting method you've arrived. You wouldn't perhaps, be from Green Lake, by any chance?"
Isadora: "Quite. And all we require for now is a carriage, thank you. Anything exciting happening in town these days?"
Holmes: The navigator heads off towards a small building nearby in a rush, not heeding anything but the first word she'd said.
Okhfels: "Well."
Isadora: "Tradesmen," Isadora says, loading more scorn into the word than Okhfels has heard her use for anyone but Thrakelust and Sebastian. She shrugs, then, smiling at him. "Welcome to my first hometown."
Okhfels: Okhfels nods. "I'm glad there's *someone* here to welcome me. Should we check in with someone?"
Isadora: "Not unless you want to have dinner with my family immediately," she says, looking a little surprised at the thought.
Holmes: Traffic bustles up and down the street by the side of the obelisk plaza. Odd that they should have arrived right here by coincidence. Previous trips to Kaitaine had mostly arrived in the Plaza outside of the library of Valris.
Okhfels: "Then let's wait." Okhfels tears his eyes away from the eyecatching obelisk to look around at the rest of the plaza.
Holmes: As they discuss, they note the navigator coming out of the small building leading a contingent of city guards.
Isadora: "I wonder if that girl's who I think she is," Isadora muses, looking down at the sword and not noticing the guards yet.
Okhfels: Okhfels drops one leg back. His hands don't go to his weapon but any trained fighter will know that he's ready to act.
Okhfels: "Iz."
Isadora: "Hmm?" She looks up. "Oh, bother."
Okhfels: "Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to find your family first after all."
Holmes: "That's them," says the short navigator. "Place them under arrest, sergeant!"
Isadora: "Sergeant, you'd do well to explain exactly what's going on here," Isadora says in a sharp tone, stepping ever so slightly in front of Okhfels.
Okhfels: Okhfels uses Isadora's body to block the seargeant's view of his sword-hand, which quickly loosens the braid holding his sword.
Holmes: "Navigator Arsos here says that you may be responsible for the disappearance of one or more navigators," says the sergeant. "His credentials are impeccable. I'm afraid that we'll have to take you to a magistrate to straighten this out."
Holmes: The man obviously wants to do his duty without starting a fight if at all possible.
Isadora: "I see. You wish me to testify to the magistrate about our slander charges against Navigator Arsos? I appreciate your courtesy in attempting a quick settlement, but we're only just arrived and were planning to stay in this evening."
Holmes: Isadora's social training that she'd first gotten in Kaitaine has been honed to a razor's edge in the wilds where she has gained her own distinct and unshakeable perspective over time. The guard, sensing this, backs down, "Um, yes, m'lady. I'll file the suit immediately. You have only to come to the magistatium on the day at the end of the moon's ascent and it will be looked at."
Holmes: The sergeant sees the navigator about to protest, but he waves him down as he turns to leave.
Holmes: The navigator gives them a glare, considers his compass (an ornate affair) for a moment, and then stomps off.
Okhfels: Okhfels lets out a sigh of relief.
Isadora: "Thank you, sergeant. What's your name, so I can recommend you to your superior?" Isadora makes the slightest kicking motion back at Okhfels, as if aware what he's ready for.
Holmes: The sergeant mumbles his name in an intentionally unintelligible manner. Things have not changed in Kaitaine. The monied nobility are still in charge, and still above the law unless accused by somebody more monied.
Isadora: Isadora, who simultaneously maintains a profound cynicism about this state of affairs and the belief that it's right and proper, turns away with Okhfels.
Okhfels follows, now far more wary than he had been.
Isadora: "Maybe I'll talk to some friends, see about paying that Arsos fellow a visit," Isadora muses to Okhfels as they go.
Okhfels: "Won't that be expensive?"
Isadora: "Hmm?"
Okhfels: "Maybe I'm thinking of the wrong kind of friends."
Isadora: "Ah, well, the old gang. We mostly operate on a favor basis." Isadora, who'd been thinking aloud, carefully steers the sentence around mentioning Fazeris as the group's leader.
Okhfels: "Ah," Okhfels says, nodding, not truly understanding.
Isadora: "Well," says Isadora, trying to inject an evaporated good mood back into her voice, "what would you like to do first?"
Holmes: *
Holmes: Later, at Isadora's place near the Greenbottle Inn, there is a knock at the door. Opening it, a messenger hands a note to Isadora.
Isadora unrolls it and scans the message quickly.
Holmes: Okhfels notes her getting the note from the comfortable divan on which he rests. One thing is sure, the Ikati know how to relax.
Okhfels peels himself a grape. There are limits, after all.
Holmes: The message is short: "Isadora, I heard through my contacts with the guard that you are in town. We should meet, Please send word back with this messenger."
Holmes: "Fazeris"
Okhfels: "What's up, Iz?"
Isadora: "Just arranging that meeting I mentioned earlier," Isadora calls back to Okhfels, scribbling a few words on the paper and handing it back to the messanger. "I'll step out for a few minutes later to take care of it."
Okhfels: "I'll come with you."
Isadora: On the paper, Isadora had written a time and a meeting place--an old hangout.
Isadora: "I don't want to trouble you. It's just petty business," Isadora says as she sees the messenger out.
Holmes: The messenger takes the paper and hurries off.
Okhfels: "Are you worried I'll run into Fazeris?"
Isadora pauses a second before turning around with a wry smile on her face. "Am I so transparent?"
Okhfels: "No. Your skills are as sharp as they ever were. What happened, happened a long time ago. If you can stomach living in Green Lake with Beliria, then I can stomach living in Kaitaine with Fazeris."

Shadow World

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