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Holmes: Chimrea, having tracked down Kloto, has wrangled from him an explanation of where Kerem has gone, if not precisely why. Kloto, for his part, seems to be helping Chimrea with an eye towards getting to know her better for some reason.
Holmes: "What's your interest in all of this, young lady?" he asks.
Chimrea sizes him up, wondering where this is going. "Kerem said he'd help me with something I need done," she says, truthfully enough, "which he can't do if he gets his fool self killed first."
Chimrea: "And he's a friend," she adds.
Holmes: Kloto nods, "That I can tell. I fancy myself somewhat a judge of character. And you care for him. That's clear."
Holmes: He pauses for just a second and then, "Perhaps I can help you help him?"
Chimrea: "That would be great," she says cautiously, "but I get the impression that not many of Kerem's friends work for free. What do you want?"
Holmes: Kloto grins broadly. "I need to understand certain things about your culture that pertain to relationships between unmarried men and women. And what the status of such unmarried people are."
Holmes: He's being deliberately vague, but there's still a salacious slant to what he's trying to get across.
Holmes: Chimrea has seen this sort of thing in other Ikaiti before... it's the sort of thing that set's a Rhiani on edge.
Chimrea: She decides to answer the question straight. "Green Lake girls can take care of themselves, and the ones who can't usually have bad-tempered siblings. The Rhiani don't take kindly to sleeping with strangers, but the Ikaiti descendents are more worldly."
Holmes: Kloto nods. "I gathered that. The problem is the relative dearth of the Ikati sorts. Are there no Rhiani women who need work? Or is it that problematic?"
Chimrea: "You're looking for... oh, of course." Chimrea blushes a bit, but recovers quickly. "There are some Rhiani women who need work, but not badly enough to risk being cast out of the tribe." She shrugs. "The Rhiani who came from Sherezak have lived in cities for longer, so they might have fallen farther away from the traditions."
Chimrea: "Besides, if refugees keep coming from Kaitaine, there are going to be a lot of out-of-work people," she adds grimly, then wonders if she should have said it.
Holmes: "I guess what I'm asking is if you could show one of my men to where we might find some of these ladies in need of employment?" he asks.
Chimrea looks at him narrow-eyed. "You're asking a sixteen-year-old girl to be your procurer? You really *are* a cynical one, aren't you?" She looks like she's thinking it over, though.
Holmes: Kloto leans back, with a dismissive look. "First, sixteen is quite a ripe age, at least in Kaitaine. Second, I'm not asking you to do anything more than point the way, and, perhaps, let me know how not to trip over my own Sharkalka."
Holmes: Kloto uses the aphorism that refers to the Ikaiti long skirt that some men wear to social events.
Chimrea: "Yes, we've been seeing a lot of ripeness from Kaitaine recently." She frowns. "I won't act against the tribe, but I've got no heart for outsiders, and I can spot the ones who won't be able to make it here without a friend like you. How does that suit?"
Holmes: Kloto looks at her sidewise for a moment, but then changes his expression, "That will suffice. I will hold you to your word, you understand?"
Holmes: Without doing so explicitly, somehow Kloto indicates his man off in the distance down the beach, as if to indicate what might happen should Chimrea back out.
Chimrea: Chimrea's eyes flick to the distant man, then back to Kloto. "Sharkalka hemming trick number one: don't ever say something like that to a Rhiani, unless you're looking for a fight. They're really touchy about lying."
Holmes: "I'm learning that quickly," he says.
Chimrea nods. "If you can get that down, you'll last longer than most of the Ikaiti refugees." She's not sure how much longer she can keep up her businesslike air--she's creeped out by the whole affair--so she says, "Now, Kerem?"
Holmes: Kloto nods. "Yes. No rush, really... he's not in time, you see... Nevermind, I'll send you. Here's what we must do. Fortunately, most of the preparations are still right at hand just over this way."
Chimrea follows along, hoping that their previous conversation was too elaborate a set-up for him to be conning her now.
Holmes: *
Holmes: *
Holmes: Doing the ritual to cross starting from behind Thrakelust's place was quite surreal. But, as she moves along the streets as she was told, suddenly she comes around a turn, and sees a palace, quite unlike anything she's ever seen in her life, amidst a city far larger than any she could imagine. And, looking at the gate from a nearby hiding place, is Kerem.
Chimrea doesn't want to mess up whatever Kerem's doing, so she'll duck into a nearby doorway and peek out, marveling at the city and trying to figure out what he's up to.
Kerem watches the position of the sun and waits for the news of the slave rebellion to reach the palace guards, drawing them away from their posts.
Chimrea will start edging her way in that direction, trying to blend in with people.
Holmes: The guard start milling about a bit wading out towards the crowd, hoping to stop them before they even get near the palace. Soon they are caught up in little swirls of people, and are somewhat overwhelmed.
Holmes: As Kerem tries to keep track of the situation, he notes that far out in the crowd, now, Chimrea is in amongst the other people.
Holmes: She's apparently watching him, too.
Kerem begins darting towards the palace, sees Chim and aborts abruptly, nearly falling. He quickly makes his way over to her, waving his hand in some unusual gestures he doesn't understand, before he catches himself, and hisses, "What are you DOING here?"
Chimrea: "At least when I went off to do something stupid, I didn't leave a note to follow," Chimrea hisses back. "I'm going to help you, of course."
Kerem: "I-- you-- it--- what do you mean, STUPID?"
Chimrea: "I admit that's an assumption, but it seemed safe. What are we doing, then?" Chimrea smiles at him, sunny as the day they met.
Kerem glares at her for a second, then grabs her hand. "Come with me." He notes the positions of the remaining guards, and attempts to maneuver around them, into the palace.
Chimrea follows, glad the first hurdle is past--she'd been afraid that he wouldn't want her help.
Holmes: Kerem keeps Chimrea in tow, and, waiting for just the right moment, he darts inside the palace guards without being noticed, and inside the gate. Just as the legend says, the gate is just a little open... sometimes luck is important.
Holmes: He does this with such aplomb, that they have plenty of time to search for the harem. It does not seem to be obvious which way to go.
Chimrea: "What are we here for, anyway?" Chimrea asks, seemingly without shame for having tagged along.
Kerem: "Well, I'M here to try to rescue my friends from the divine bondages they have fallen under."
Kerem: "I'm not sure why YOU'RE here. The whole point was that I wanted you to be SAFE."
Kerem: "I wanted to..." he fumbles... "I wanted to...do this for you."
Chimrea: "You left a note with my name next to Tez' to explain yourself. Either 'safe' means something different in the big city, or you have a lot to learn about women." She glares at him, then sighs and says in a small voice, "And when I thought you might get hurt without someone along to help, I couldn't stand it."
Kerem: "I..." he just looks at her for a second, then looks back at the walls. "Where the hell are we going, anyway?"
Kerem: "I...thank you."
Kerem grips her hand.
Kerem: "I just...this might be really dangerous. You're right. Someone might get hurt. But...it should be me and not you."
Kerem: "You deserve to be safe. And happy. I wanted...I just wanted to do something for you."
Chimrea: "I can take care of myself," she says confidently, squeezing his hand. "But I was sort of counting on you to know where we're going."
Kerem pauses. "Wait, what about the note? What was wrong with the note?"
Chimrea: "Um, maybe we should have that conversation later? Kloto made it sound like you had something specific to do."
Kerem: "I'm trying to steal the Golden Key. Or something. I'm not actually all that good at stealing things, it turns out. But for someone who's supposed to be the Thief God, A'taal doesn't seem to do as much straight-up stealing as you'd think."
Kerem: "Actually, I'm beginning to think people have him all wrong."
Kerem: "Wait, Kloto? You talked to KLOTO?"
Holmes: Just then, after looking for a short while, they seem to have stumbled across the harem. A bevy of scantily clad women shriek due to the appearance of a man in their doorway.
Chimrea: "Uh, let's talk about Kloto later," Chimrea is just starting to demur when they reach the doorway. "Oops."
Kerem flashes a big smile, and puts a finger to his lips. "Hello, ladies."
Chimrea shoots him a hard look--somehow, he neglected to mention that the quest went to the harem.
Holmes: One of the women seems attracted to Kerem's charms, instead of afraid, and gives him her best "come hither" eyes.
Chimrea: "Go on," she says sweetly. "Go look for the key."
Kerem catches the look and shrugs a little helplessly, then saunters into the harem.
Kerem: "Hi there, miss. My name's A'taal. And this is my friend, who is not named in the version of the myth I am aware of."
Kerem: "Why don't you have a seat, Chim? Make some, uh...conversation with our new friends."
Chimrea: "Don't mind me," Chimrea murmurs as she takes a seat near the doorway. "I'll keep an eye out."
Kerem: "So. Come here often?"
Holmes: The woman shakes her head not understanding the offhand comment from before. "You are the great A'taal, and that is your cat, Latuka, I take it. And... what can I do for you?"
Kerem: "Latuka. That's a good name."
Kerem: "Well, actually..." he puts one hand on her shoulder, and gestures with the other. ::I was wondering if you might be able to help me free you all.::
Holmes: Looking at Chimrea, Kerem notes that she appears to be a cat lurking at the door now.
Holmes: "Well, actually," she says, "I was thinking that might wait a few minutes."
Kerem: "Uh..."
Kerem: "Hold on a second. I need to talk to my cat."
Kerem: "Don't go away now," he winks.
Chimrea: "Meow," she says, a bit sourly, but ostentatiously watching the hallway.
Kerem: "Yeah, I didn't write the myth."
Kerem: "Um. So."
Kerem pauses.
Kerem is over by the door and out of earshot of the harem girl now, by the way.
Kerem: "In the legend, A'taal seduces the harem girls and they give him their greatest treasure, the Black Sky Diamond."
Chimrea: "Gosh, I'm so glad you decided to do this quest for me," Chimrea says, all wide-eyed innocence. "Why don't I go shed in the hallway, then, and you can look for the great treasure here."
Kerem: "I."
Kerem: "Look."
Kerem: "If you don't want me to do it, we can, uh, think of something else."
Kerem: "What do you want?"
Kerem: "You don't have to take that tone, like I am a total idiot who cannot possibly recognize the awkwardness of this situation."
Chimrea grins. "Okay, I'm being mean. Go do your thing. What am I going to say? I went looking for Rozgar and found Old Man Spider instead. You can't help but handle this better than me."
Kerem: "i."
Kerem: "Really?"
Chimrea: "Look, I'm trying to be all mature here. Can we just talk about it later?"
Kerem seems, uh, surprised.
Kerem: "...yes. Okay."
Kerem: "Man, we're going to have a lot to talk about later."
Chimrea waves him back inside and stands guard outside the doorway, muffling her occasional sniffles in her sleeve.
Kerem heads back, bemused.
Kerem: "Well, my cat says it's okay for some reason."
Holmes: *
Holmes: A while later, Kerem stands holding the incredible treasure that the woman has just given to him for his efforts.
Kerem sighs. "Geez. Well, that...I...uh, well. Thanks. Um. It was really nice to meet you."
Kerem: "Uh. Maybe I'll see you later. Or something." He steps out of the harem. "Hey, Chim. Okay, uh. Let's go."
Kerem: "You okay?"
Chimrea: "Meow," she shrugs. "Where to next?"

Holmes: Tez wakes up in a familiar place, but one that her memory doesn't immediately place. It is early morning, apparently, and the light in the stone room dimly shows in through a single window. She is in a bed, and not far off she notes a familiar face in the window.
Tez yawns sleepily and runs her fingers through her hair, sitting up, and looking over at the window
Holmes: The face is that of a boy, who, from just his shoulders showing is quite brawny. She recognizes who this is. The same boy who taught her to be a warrior.
Holmes: As he speaks the name comes back to her. Atamka says, "Come on Tez, get up. If you hurry, we can be gone before they come for you."
Tez: "Come for me? What do you mean, Atamka?"
Holmes: "Your servants," he says with a "duh" look. "Let's get out of here, before they make you dress up nice."
Tez laughs and wrinkles her nose, "Ugh, I hate dresses. I can't walk in them!" She shoos him "Go on I'll catch up. No peeking!"
Holmes: The boy's face drops out of sight.
Tez quickly gets dressed in her sturdy, sensible clothes and slips out the window after him.
Holmes: Atamka grins as he looks up at her. "Great, let's get going. I've got some equipment at the training field."
Tez sticks her tongue out at her window and saunters off with her friend, occasionally fighting imaginary enemies with an invisible sword along the way.
Holmes: After a bit, they reach the training grounds and, obtaining the wooden swords he had stashed away, they begin to spar. At one point Tez hits Atamka a bit too hard on one shoulder.
Holmes: "Ow," he shouts. And then after a moment he says, "You blame me, don't you?"
Holmes: His look is one of concern.
Tez: "For getting in trouble? No, it's okay. They get over it after a while. My parents talk big, but they're pushovers." She grins, but there's an itch in the back of her mind... is that really what he's talking about?
Holmes: "No, Tez," he says. "I mean about that day. The day you found your parents gone."
Holmes: "I never saw you again."
Tez: "They're not gone." she insists, attacking him again with her practice sword.
Holmes: "Tez," he says, ceasing to defend himself. "This is a dream."
Tez hesitates, and her sword swishes past him harmlessly. "I... " she puts her head in her hands, letting the sword drop. "I should have saved them! I should have died with them. Why wasn't I there?"
Holmes: Atamka shrugs. "Fate must have spared you for a reason."
Tez: "Fate... I'm tired of fate! All it's brought me is pain. I don't want DESTINY, I just want my life back."
Holmes: "The Gods exist here beyond time, but, until we die and go to be with them, we're bound to move forward," he says resignedly.
Holmes: "So," he says trying to get a little "me" time from Tez.
Holmes: His question is still outstanding.
Tez looks down. "I dunno."
Holmes: He looks down, a bit dejected. "That's OK, I suppose, I'm only a figment of your memory, after all. Still, it would be nice to know how you feel."
Tez: "I miss you."
Holmes: "I miss you, too," he says. "I think."
Tez: "You think?" She pouts a little, "What's that supposed to mean?
Holmes: "Well, we don't really know," he says. "Do we? Maybe I was involved in setting up the ambush, and maybe not. How can we know?"
Tez stares at him, appalled, "Don't even say that." She turns away from him. "It wasn't your fault. You're my friend."
Holmes: "I hope so, too," he says. "Shall we spar now, forever and ever?"
Holmes: He lifts his sword.
Tez: "I..don't feel like fighting."
Holmes: "Then what?" he says.
Tez: "I should go back. I should wake up... I have things to do. Something."
Holmes: "Where would you like to wake up?" says the dream boy, who suddenly seems to have snow white skin.
Tez tries to remember what she had been doing before... "Agnes... I need to find Agnes. And the Praelector. We were going to visit Akalatan... but I just want to go home."
Holmes: The face grows much larger, filling the landscape until he is only infinitely deep eyes. "You can only go one way. Choose."
Tez stares into his eyes, "I need to find Agnes. Take me to her."
Holmes: Tez falls into the oblivion of sleep once again, only to wake up in the corridor near Agnes.

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