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Holmes: Though not having directly participated in the ritual, Tez and Kerem both feel a bit drained as they sit in the market having melons for breakfast. The Vajaari from the other night is approaching them.
Holmes: Alquas heard about these two from the innkeeper. Now that he sees them, he, too, recognizes them.
Chimrea sees Alquas, and sees him seeing Kerem and Tez--hoping to avoid trouble in case Kerem gets fidgety, she heads in their direction with a wave.
Alquas: Alquas had spent the last few days since Salya's arrival in troubled thought.
Kerem glances up at Alquas and narrows his eyes ever so slightly, casually eating melon.
Tez sucks the juice out of a piece of melon, with what seems to be a thoughtful expression on her face.
Alquas: "You are... Kerrem?"
Alquas rolls the R longer than seems necessary.
Kerem blinks. "Yeah, that's me. Did...can I help you?"
Tez cocks her head and stares unnervingly at the new guy. It's not that her gaze is piercing, or threatening. It's just that something lurks there that she doesn't even know about. She blinks and takes another bite. "You danced with Chimrea."
Chimrea: "And he's a fine dancer," Chimrea supplies as she arrives, "but I suspect he's not here to ask Kerem about that."
Alquas: Alquas seems to relax visibly as Chimrea has arrived.
Kerem glances at Chim cooly.
Alquas: "Chimrea, my dear. How wonderful to see you. I was here to... talk to your... friend?" He indicates Kerem.
Kerem: "I'd kind of like to know why he IS here."
Tez studiously returns to eating as Chimrea arrives. She was mad at her.
Alquas looks hesitant.
Alquas: "I have... a concern. I have need of.... aid. Of a certain variety." He looks profoundly uncomfortable.
Kerem: "Well, before you ask, I'm not much of a dancer."
Tez snickers. Stabs a melon slice. Cool, sweet melon.
Alquas draws breath, and then plunges onward. "In truth, I fear for my life. Forces are... arrayed against me. Powerful ones."
Tez giggles.
Chimrea kicks Tez lightly, under the table.
Alquas looks at Tez. Who is this woman?
Tez: "Ow."
Kerem: "Those are the worst kind of forces to have arrayed against you, all right."
Holmes: Looking at the area that was cleared for dancing that night (and is now covered with tables for people eating), Kerem notes Kloto and one of his thugs heading in his direction.
Chimrea: "Alquas, this is Tez. What kind of forces are you talking about? Kerem's a very resourceful man, so he can probably help."
Kerem blinks, and glances casually at them, trying to discern their mood.
Alquas purses his lips delicately, trying to decide how to sum up the political vagaries of his nation succinctly while portraying himself in the best light.
Tez is your average everyday girl with long, dark hair that was probably done in a neat coif last night before she slept on it, with a rather nice dress.
Holmes: Kloto has that look on his face that says he's looking to make a deal.
Alquas is startled by the new arrivals, and steps backward slightly.
Tez waves cheerfully to Alquas, then Kloto et al
Alquas: "I, ah, I hope I am not interrupting some planned meeting.."
Agnes: Involved in conversation, no one notices Agnes approach. She's just there with a large flatbread and some cold minced lamb, pushing the food to the center of the table and collapsing into an empty seat.
Holmes: Kloto, a heavyset Shay man (definitely from Kaitaine, by his clothing), has an air of authority about him... or at least confidence. He greets everyone with a little wave, and nods to Kerem.
Tez blinks as Agnes sits down, then waves at her too.
Alquas is positively bewildered by all the new arrivals. Seeking the closest thing to familiarty available, he looks to Chimrea.
Chimrea: "Don't worry," Chimrea murmurs to Alquas, watching the new arrivals herself, "I don't think Kerem plans much that happens to him."
Agnes smiles, but looks tired and dirty.
Kerem: "Hi there, Kloto. What's shaking?" Kerem smiles his business smile.
Tez: "Did you not sleep?" she asks Agnes conscientiously
Alquas looks uncertain. He stands stiffly.
Kerem makes a slight gesture with one of his hands, placed idly on the table. ::Privacy?::
Agnes: "I was out riding...couldn't sleep after the, uh, party."
Chimrea: "Let's give them a second," Chimrea suggests to Alquas, "and if Kerem will be busy for a while you can tell me about it. At least, I hope I can be of some help."
Holmes: Kloto nods slowly to Kerem, so most don't notice.
Chimrea waves to Agnes while smiling to Alquas in what she hopes is a reassuring way.
Agnes recognizes Alquas and nods. "Is your friend well?"
Alquas: "Ah, Ag-nes!"
Agnes smiles.
Kerem stands, grinning. ::Play it off.:: He claps Kloto on the shoulder. "Haven't seen you since we both got out of Kaitaine. Cmon, I'll buy you a skewer. Be right back, guys." He leads him, assuming no resistance, away into the market.
Tez sighs, resigned, and chews on some rind, now out of melon.
Alquas: "Yes, she is recovering."
Holmes: Chimrea notes Dhazari wander into the market looking for breakfast, obviously very tired.
Alquas: "I... should have done more to thank you." Alquas manages to look even more uncomfortable as he says this.
Agnes: "I'm glad to hear that. I hope that the accomodations are adequate."
Agnes gives an empty chair a kick so that it slides out. "Alquas, sit. Eat."
Alquas: "Ah, yes. The... Zhanjiir Teodric has not been seen since we arrived, however. My father is most impatient."
Agnes: "Zhanjiir?"
Chimrea sits in Kerem's vacant chair next to Tez, trying to keep an eye on everything and not really succeeding--but she has something important to say. Quietly, to Tez, she says, "Thank you."
Tez settles for staring at Agnes, licking her lips a bit as she recalls the unusual flavor of her blood.
Alquas regards the bench, notes that Kerem has departed, and sits down, gingerly.
Chimrea grins at Alquas as she lands next to him. "Have some of his melon, I'll get him another." She helps herself.
Tez: "What? Why?" she looks at Chimrea, confused.
Alquas: "Ah... a Vajaari term." says Alquas, by way of explanation.
Agnes: "Oh, you should go easy on him. He's not that bad."
Tez takes the opportunity to swipe some of Kerem's melon too.
Chimrea: "For helping with my family," Chimrea says, totally serious for the moment. "I don't know how it's all going to end, but thank you."
Alquas: "The term.. means no offence, Ag-nes."
Tez: "Oh." she smiles tentatively. "You're welcome. I bought a dress for you. So next time they will think I'm good."
Alquas: "Agnez, is there word of Teodric's health?"
Chimrea: "You did that for me?" Chimrea's face lights up in a smile. "You're a true spirit, Tez. Is there anything I can do for you?"
Alquas seems to be trying out different ways to pronounce her name.
Agnes looks a touch confused. "I haven't heard anything...what's the problem?"
Alquas: "We have been expecting to meet with him. For my father's... diplomatic mission. but he has not returned since we first met on the road."
Alquas phrases the words "diplomatic mission" with a particularly hateful delicacy.
Tez smiles back, and for a second, something seems out of place. "Help me." Then it's gone, and she looks away.
Chimrea: Chimrea, half-hearing the other conversation running at the table, shoots a pensive look over at Agnes and Alquas. She's not sure it's her place to tell about Teodric's father, if it isn't common knowledge.
Chimrea: "Of course I will," Chimrea says to Tez, "I've already agreed to come along." She also plans to help with the unspoken problem, but doesn't mention that.
Agnes: "Oh he probably just doesn't like these kind of political meetings. May I meet with your father in his place?"
Chimrea chokes.
Alquas: "I... ah." Alquas raises his eyebrows at this suggestion. "You.. have authority, here?"
Tez: "Where is Teodric?" she asks anxiously. "The bird wants him."
Agnes: "Authorty. Hmm? As much as anyone, I suppose. The human guards look to Rahkleth who looks to Teodric, for now. There are other forces here in Green Lake."
Alquas: "We... we arrived expecting to meet with a Thra-klust? And now?" Alquas shakes his head. "Your politics confuse me, Zhanjiir."
Chimrea: "Agnes represents a goblin army that she says will be invading soon," Chimrea says once she's cleared her throat.
Agnes: "I do not!" Agnes smiles. "I thought I explained it better than that."
Chimrea: "I was trying to simplify," Chimrea retorts.
Tez: "Goblins... I will stop them." she pokes at her melon with a knife.
Alquas looks at the two women as if they had just sprouted wings.
Tez: "Where are they?"
Agnes looks at Tez, surprized. "Why? I'd think you were interested in their blood rites."
Chimrea: To Alquas, she says, "Unless your father is looking for heart strain, you might want to have him talk to Rahkleth," Chimrea suggests.
Tez looks at Agnes funny, "Not all blood rites are right."
Alquas sighs. "It may be of little matter, at any rate..."
Agnes: "Alquas, you seem like an OK guy. I mean, like you're trying. What do you want to accomplish here?"
Tez: "Besides." she waves her knife dramatically. "It's destiny."
Alquas looks hard at Agnes. "Right now, I desire protection. I have money."
Agnes: "Really? Cool."
Agnes: "Protection from whom?"
Holmes: Chimrea becomes aware that Dhazari, having obtained some bread for breakfast, has discovered somebody he knows, apparently passed out since the previous night by the looks of him. The drunkard also looks like a well-dressed Ikaiti.
Alquas: "From.. assasination. My own guards... cannot necessarily be trusted. They are simple men and perhaps, easily swayed."
Alquas: "I require a foreigner, a person without... interest in our poiltics."
Chimrea listens to what Alquas and Agnes are saying, but leans back just a bit so that her eyes can easily wander to Dhazari.
Agnes: "I could investigate what they know. How many are there?"
Holmes: Watching over to Dhazari, she hears him calling the name of the man lying there, trying to wake him up. "Fazeris!"
Tez: "Yeah. 'swhat they said." she frowns, and mumbles under her breath and into a hurried bite of melon 'but they want me to kill teo'
Alquas looks puzzled. "I.. do not understand your meaning, Ag-nes."
Chimrea frowns a bit, thinking the name's familiar. She's trying to figure out what one of the Rhiani would want with a Kaitaine disaster-tourist.
Alquas: "In any case... if you are in power here, I am not.. It may be inappropriate for me to seek your aid in this.. internal matter."
Agnes smiles as Alquas feels a strange tickling in his head. "I know some things about men's secrets."
Holmes: Dhazari, weary of trying to roust Fazeris, stretches out, takes a bite of his bread, and, looking about, sees Chimrea. He stops dead in mid stretch.
Chimrea: "Be right back," Chimrea murmurs to Tez and slips off the bench. She heads in Dhazari's direction. "You're looking at me quite strangely," she says as she reaches him.
Alquas stares darkly at Agnes. "Some Zhanjirii sorcery, then? Hmph."
Alquas: "I had not anticipated.... I sought the certainty of steel."
Alquas: "The barkeep referred me to the man Kerrem."
Alquas seems very unsure about discussing this with you..
Tez: "I like Kerem." she supplies.
Agnes: "Alquas, do you have a problem with women? You didn't seem to want my help last time either."
Alquas: "Indeed?" Despite himself, Alquas smiles slightly at the... incongruity of the woman Tez.
Alquas looks back to Agnes.
Agnes: "Feel free to engage Kerem" Agnes shifts her focust to Tez. "Tez, I want to talk to you about blood. I'm not really sure how much you know, but I got the feeling that you might be able to help me."
Alquas: "Problem, Zhanjiir?" He laughs. "On the contrary, I love women. Such wonderful creatures."
Tez: "But he likes Chimrea. I like Chimrea, but she likes Kerem." she mutters, trying to sort things out. She looks up as Agnes addresses her. "Your blood is different."
Agnes: "Is it? I was hoping -- I think, to hear that. What can you tell me?"
Alquas is unseetled that Agnes appears to have lost interest in him. Without further word, he gets up to look for Kerem. Men are... simpler.
Tez watches Alquas leave unsubtly. "It's not alive right."
Agnes: "Sorry? Alquas or my blood?"
Kerem walks back and nearly bumps into Alquas as he starts heading out.
Tez: "You."
Kerem: "Uh, sorry about that."
Kerem: "Where'd Chim go?"
Tez: "Can I have more?"
Alquas: To Kerem: "She ah, was called away by a man."
Kerem: "...ah."
Alquas: "Kerrem, may we talk? In... privacy?
Kerem glances at Tez and Agnes.
Alquas: "I... wish to contract with you."
Alquas: "I have significant coin."
Agnes draws her knife and slices the fatty tissue between her thumb and forefinger. Blood wells up and begins to steadily drop onto the table surface. Agnes hold her hand out over the table toward Tez. "How much?"
Alquas says this in a matter of fact way.
Kerem says evenly, "Anything you have to say to me you can say in front of my friends."
Kerem: "They're not exactly doves either."
Tez realizes she doesn't actually know what she's doing and cups her hands under Agnes' to catch it, "I..don't know. Maybe this much?"
Alquas looks pained. "The situation is, ah, delicate?"
Agnes waits a moment, watching Tez. "Are you sure it's enough?"
Alquas looks over to the owmen, and his eyes turn wide.
Kerem glances at Tez and Agnes, and is also a little shocked.
Tez 's hands shake a little, and then stop, becoming steady. "This will do for now."
Alquas: "Kerrem, your friends are..." He pause, lost for words.
Alquas gathers himself together.
Kerem: "Yeah."
Kerem: "Uh."
Kerem: "Okay, let's, uh, take a walk."
Alquas: "I do not wish to seem indelicate, but I have doubts for their sanity. In private, please."
Kerem: "Tez, Agnes I'll be right back."
Agnes: "I have this problem. The elves whom I love are made ill by something about my person. An idea came to me that perhaps my blood might work as an antidote or something. What do you think?" Agnes retrieves her bleeding hand and wraps it in her napkin.
Kerem blinks at Alquas.
Kerem: "Excuse me."
Kerem: "Don't talk about Tez that way."
Tez tips her hands, to cause the blood to fill one palm and free the other for use. She brings her finger to her lips and tastes it again, measuringly, then dips it in her palm, brushing the melon rinds aside to mark the table with an intricate series of runes.
Alquas stares at him, trying to read the situation.
Alquas: "In any case they seem occupied. May we walk?"
Kerem cocks an eyebrow.
Alquas tries to look everywhere but at the women.
Kerem pauses, then..."All right."
Alquas is actually perspiring slightly.
Tez brings her hands together with measured movements, chanting the ritual of divination. The words flow easily as she brings both palms, now coated entirely with red, to hover over the markings. She closes her eyes, and sends the energy to the Gods.
Kerem stalks off into the marketplace.
Alquas goes with him.
Agnes: As the two men depart, Agnes nods her head in their direction. "That Alquas seems a little stiff."
Holmes: Looking at the blood linkages in Agnes, Tez can see it flowing around her body as though she could see through Agnes. Looking deeper, she sees that there is something in the blood, something that is not at all normal. Worse than the fact that it is definitely what's causing the problem with the elves, it's something that's not... alive.
Holmes: And there's another thing.
Holmes: Looking up from her investigation for a moment, she glances across the market, and sees the blood of many of the people there. As her vision clears, she sees two people, linked by blood. One is Chimrea, and the other is the man to whom she is speaking.
Kerem stalks back, clearly irritated about something, and smiles at Tez.
Tez: "Hm. Interesting."
Kerem: "What's up?"
Agnes: "Interesting?
Tez tears her gaze from Chimrea and the other man, and looks at Kerem. She smiles thinly. "I am assisting Agnes."
Kerem: "Uh...good?"
Kerem smiles slightly more.
Tez: "There is something in your blood that should not be there, Agnes. I can purify it, given enough time and the right tools, but I cannot make an antidote from it." she looks calculatingly at Chimrea, then back at Agnes. "It would take another's blood for that."
Kerem: "Anybody's blood?"
Tez smirks, "Why, are you offering?"
Kerem: "Uh...just wondering."
Tez scrapes the blood off against the edge of the table. She reflects resentfully that her servants are nowhere in evidence.
Kerem: "But, I mean. COULD you do it with anybody's blood? Or is there some specific requirement?"
Tez: "Let me see yours, and I'll tell you."
Kerem stares at Tez.
Agnes looks cautious. "Shouldn't be there?"
Kerem: "Uh...I mean...all right, if you want, I guess." Kerem gingerly extends a hand to Tez.
Tez holds out her palm, taking his hand in hers, and switches to her other knife. The edge gleams, as she gently slices through his skin,
Kerem winces, and holds his breath.
Tez performs a similar ritual, first drawing the same characters offset from Agnes', then linking them in various ways, and then looks to see how they interact
Chimrea comes back, looking a little distracted but coming back to earth quickly as she sees the blood on the table and Tez' hands. "Um, did I miss much?" she asks, sliding back into a seat.
Agnes: "She's reading our palms."
Agnes: "Well, our blood."
Kerem tries to snicker, but is too busy being in pain..
Holmes: Tez can see that Kerem's blood would be fine for the ritual in question. In fact, there's something about it that seems to make it feel nigh optimal for this sort of ritual.
Chimrea: "What's she seen?" Chimrea asks, professional interest fighting with wariness and mostly cancelling in her voice.
Tez: "Huh."
Tez: "Well, seems you'll be useful to Agnes after all."
Kerem: "Uh...huh."
Kerem: "Well, I like (ow) doing favors for people."
Kerem: "How much would you need?"
Agnes: "There's something in my blood that shouldn't be there." Agnes' rolled eyes give voice to her doubts.
Tez: "It's dark, not alive. It is what hurts your friends, the elves." she arches a brow. "If you don't believe me, you can look elsewhere for help."
Agnes: "It just sounds a little extraordinary..."
Agnes: "How can Kerem help me?
Tez smiles slightly. "Just lucky, I guess."
Agnes smiles at Kerem, appraising him anew.
Kerem: "I think she's, uh, suggesting that my blood can help out."
Kerem: "Not the first time I've had somebody ask for a piece of me, but the situation is usually a little different."
Chimrea snickers.
Tez rises, "I must gather supplies. I will tell you what I require when I return." she glances once again at Chimrea, then walks off confidently.
Agnes: "She seems better when she has a purpose."
Kerem: "Kind of."
Kerem examines his bleeding hand with some distress.
Agnes passes Kerem one of the hand towels.
Kerem smiles at her. "Thanks." He tries to tie his hand up a bit, not very successfully.
Chimrea: "Here," Chimrea says. "Let me do it."
Chimrea reaches to tie the makeshift bandage more securely.
Kerem smiles at her, too. "Thanks."
Kerem: "So, uh, I guess I need to hire somebody to assassinate Alquas."
Chimrea: "Wait, what?"
Agnes blinks in surprise.
Agnes: "What'd he say?"
Kerem: "He's worried that somebody's coming after him from his homeland."
Kerem: "He wants me to find out what the guy's plan is."
Agnes: "Then it sounds like you could just leave it up to him."
Kerem: "No, no, no. The point is, the easiest way for me to find out what the assassin is planning is to make him think I'm on his side."
Kerem: "Like, by paying him."
Agnes: "Oh. It's one of the local assassins, then?"
Chimrea: "Is this the way your business normally goes? No wonder you find it so confusing here, what with things making sense and all."
Holmes: Looking over Tez's shoulder, Kerem notes a rustle amongst the crowd in the market place. Then he sees the source. Several women wearing rather revealing, yet ritualistic white outfits come striding along the way. Many people on that side of the market point at the women with looks of alarm on their faces.
Kerem: "Well, I mean, being a criminal does tend to involve a lot of being sneaky and underhanded, yes. Who are they?" Kerem points.
Chimrea turns to look, craning her neck.
Kerem: "Also, when you say things make sense around here, that's a joke, right?"
Chimrea: "Would I joke about a thing like that?" Chimrea says, turning back, but there's a frown on her face. "Something weird about them, but I can't place the robes."
Kerem: "It's really pretty simple. I could hire a guy to go try to find this assassin, but what is he going to do? He's going to ask around, and try to find him, and probably pretend to be somebody he's not to get into his confidence."
Kerem: "Why pay somebody to do all that, when I could just do it myself?"
Kerem shrugs as if this is obvious.
Chimrea: "I guess that makes sense. Being a criminal sure is complicated."
Agnes: "So, if you're a criminal and this Alquas is going to be assassinated. Why do anything?"
Kerem: "Well, yeah, but you don't have to make any sacrifices to crazy blood gods or anything, so overall, I've always been pretty happy with it."
Kerem blinks over at Agnes.
Kerem: 'Oh, he wants me to stop him from being assassinated."
Chimrea mulls over that point while Kerem answers Agnes' question.
Kerem: "I'm not actually going to have him killed, I just want to find out who is already planning on doing that."
Agnes: "No, I understand, but why bother?"
Kerem: "Oh."
Kerem: "Well, uh, because he paid me to do something about it."
Kerem: "I mean, that's how I get money, which I trade for food and shelter and other things I like."
Agnes: "You sound pretty soft for a criminal. Aren't you supposed to take him into false confidence and steal from him and stuff?"
Agnes: "If he paid you, you can already do those things."
Agnes: "Or am I missing an angle?"
Kerem: "Sure, but then nobody would ever pay me to do things for them ever again."
Kerem: "Being a fixer is all about building a reputation."
Agnes: "Oh...he's going to trash your reputation after he's been assassinated?"
Kerem: "In Kaitaine, people knew that if they came to me, I'd get them what they wanted."
Kerem: "I..."
Kerem furrows his brow.
Kerem: "I guess you're right. If I sold him out, nobody would ever know, except for you two."
Kerem: "But, I mean."
Kerem glances at Chimrea, then back to Agnes.
Chimrea: "But I wouldn't lie about it if asked," Chimrea points out.
Agnes: "I'm not saying you have to...just trying to figure you out."
Agnes: "I think 'criminal' meant something different where I grew up."
Kerem: "I just..." he waves his hands a bit.
Chimrea: "Mother said anyone from the city who said they weren't some kind of criminal was lying," Chimrea shrugs. "Just like there are different kinds of priests, I guess."
Kerem: "I dunno. He hired me to do the job, I'm going to do the job. It's better that way. That's how we do things."
Agnes: "Well, and I guess you have a lot in common with him, so you wouldn't want to see him hurt. I get it."
Kerem: "Not everybody in the city's a criminal. Just the people who get what they want."
Kerem: "I what?"
Kerem peers at Agnes.
Agnes is the picture of innocence.
Kerem: 'I don't have anything in common with that arrogant lout."
Holmes: Rahkleth arrives, looking for somebody, Agnes can see. From his angle, he can't see her... yet.
Agnes stands. "Rhak!"
Agnes: "Sure you do. You share taste, for one."
Kerem: "I..." Kerem sits back and brushes at his hair.
Chimrea: "He can dance. Do you dance?" Chimrea asks, looking to expand the list of similarities.
Kerem: "I've never really tried."
Agnes: "Wow. That's usually tool number two for those who like the ladies."
Holmes: Rahkleth takes a moment to note where Agnes is, then pops his head up in recognition, and heads on over.
Chimrea: "What's the first one?"
Kerem opens his mouth and closes it without speech.
Agnes smiles big at the local commander. "What's new big man?"
Agnes: "Oh" Agnes answers Chimrea, "lying."
Holmes: Rakleth says, "You know very well what's up... you owe me a stables."
Kerem: "So, uh, how was your day, Chim?"
Holmes: "And you need to do something with your pets."
Agnes waves dismisively. "Hire some men to rebuild it...I'll pay their wages."
Chimrea: "A little strange," Chimrea answers Kerem with a frown. "Dhazari introduced me to an old friend of mother's, but he seemed uncomfortable about it. I don't suppose you'd have time for one more job?"
Agnes: "And what do you want me to do with them? Rot-rot doesn't have enough to do, but he's making wonderful progress. Really, look at how _little_ trouble he's caused."
Kerem shrugs. "I just hire people, usually. What would you need done?"
Holmes: Rahkleth rolls his eyes. Having heard Chimrea, however, he looks over to her and says, "Old friend? Who?"
Chimrea: "Someone named Fazeris. I think they stabbed people together or something, but I'm not sure."
Holmes: Rahkleth's mouth nearly drops open. "Did you say Fazeris? He's here?"
Chimrea: "Hung over but recovering, I think. Why--do I not need to hire Kerem to find out what's going on?"
Holmes: "It's just that..." Rahkleth considers who he's talking to and says carefully. "It's just that I never expected to see him back here again."
Agnes: "That name is nagging at my memories. My mother used to tell me stories of the Green Lake personalities as if she knew that I'd be coming here one day. Much of it is now out of date, but I'm sure she mentioned Fazeris. But I'm not recalling the stories. Who was he?"
Chimrea looks to Rahkleth to answer Agnes' question, eyebrows raised.
Agnes: Having sensed that this is more important than it would otherwise seem, Agnes takes a little peek into her friend's memories. It seems she'll never learn..."
Holmes: "Well..." says Rahkleth, "Fazeris is, or was, at least, a noble of Kaitaine. Important in dueling clubs. He showed up looking for your mother not long before I arrived at Green Lake, in fact. Apparently he wanted her to take up some position in a dueling club, return to Kaitaine. Of course your mother wasn't having any of it."
Holmes: Chimrea can tell that Rhakleth is holding back.
Chimrea: "He already told me that father didn't like him, so if that's what you're avoiding, don't worry about it," Chimrea says a little irritably. "He was a friend of hers, so he's a guest now."
Tez is now known as kAFKaesque
Agnes: Seeing into Rhakleth's memories, Agnes can't help but gasp aloud.
Agnes says nothing but looks from Rahkleth to Agnes and back.
Chimrea: "What?"
Kerem glances from person to person, out of his element.
Agnes: "I, uh, remember a story about your mom fighting with Fazeris...I think your, uh, dad somehow got in the way. I don't remember the details, if I ever heard them."
Chimrea: "Is that all? I swear, people get awkward about the strangest things." Chimrea nudges Kerem under the table with her foot, hoping he's listening.
Kerem flicks his eyes sideways at her, raising an eyebrow, then nods in comprehension.
Agnes: "Chimrea, did your mom fight a lot?"
Kerem: "Man, that meteor sure brought the Kaitaine nobles out of the woodwork."
Chimrea: "Not... in Green Lake," Chimrea says with some hesitation. "I think she did more in Kaitaine, although she didn't exactly talk about it much."
Agnes: "She sounds pretty cool. I have the idea that my dad liked her a lot and my mom, not so much."
Agnes: "But my mom liked her friend, Sebastian. That might be why."
Chimrea: "Yeah, I heard that story." Chimrea looks like she's stuck between proud and ashamed. To Kerem, she says, "Sebastian was mother's advisor and best friend, and I guess he was friends with Agnes' mother too. My mother, well, killed him."
Chimrea: "But I'm sure Rahkleth isn't here to talk about my family," she says in a bid to change the subject. "Something about stables?"
Kerem: "Your mom sure killed a lot of people."
Agnes: "Now _that_ is a criminal..."
Agnes: "I mean, except that she was in charge."
Chimrea: "What's that supposed to mean?" Chimrea snaps at Agnes.
Holmes: Glad for the change of subject, Rhakleth supports Chimrea, "Yes, the stables. What say you give me some money, and I'll hire those workers, Agnes?"
Chimrea: "I have to go." Chimrea drops her melon rind on the table and turns away, not even waiting for Agnes' answer.
Agnes flips Rhakleth a couple of Morbek Garnets. "Make it stronger this time."
Kerem: "Uh, hey. I'll go with you."
Kerem glances back at Agnes. "Hey, I'll see you later? And we can talk to Tez about that ritual or whatever."
Agnes: "Uh, bye."
Kerem stands and hurries to catch up with Chimrea.
Agnes nods "yeah."
Holmes: Rahkleth, not sure of the value of the garnets pockets them skeptically. "I'll be back if I need more, Agnes."
Holmes: He waves to the rest of the crowd, and departs.
Agnes picks at the minced lamb wondering why everyone was acting so strangely.

Holmes: Kloto and Kerem head for the skewer stand. The short Rhiani man behind the stand grins as they approach, and awaits their order. Kloto selects two for himself, and indicates that he's buying to Kerem.
Kerem smiles, and speaks under his breath. "So, what did you want to talk to me about?"
Holmes: "For reasons that I'm not about to go into, I won't be returning to Kaitaine any time soon. Not even if it stabilizes," says Kloto directly. "Instead I'm thinking of setting up shop here. But I'm short on help."
Holmes: He looks Kerem square in the eye, "We have to stick together, our kind."
Kerem: "Well, sure. I've been meaning to come by and talk to you, actually."
Kerem: "People like us ought to help each other out."
Holmes: "Right," says Kloto sounding pleased. "But I want you to be part of my new organization, you see. I've always thought you had potential."
Kerem: "Uh...see, about that..."
Kerem: "You know I've got this coin thing."
Kerem: "It can really put me on the spot sometimes."
Kerem: "That's why I don't make any long-term arrangements. I never can tell what I'm going to be up to, and it wouldn't be fair to you to make you think I could do something I might have to back out of later."
Holmes: Kloto shakes his head, "Come on Kerem, you can do better than that. It's time you made some committments."
Kerem: "Man, that's what my last girlfriend said, and look how that turned out." Kerem selects a skewer and starts chewing.
Holmes: "How?" asks Kloto.
Kerem: "Well, the city got hit by a meteor. I mean, it may not be DIRECTLY related, but can you be sure?"
Holmes: Kloto laughs, and smiles a broad smile, "Kerem, Kerem, Kerem. Be serious. You can't keep blaming everything that happens on being cursed somehow."
Holmes: "Tell you what," he says wiping his face.
Kerem looks up at Kloto, not smiling for a moment. "Sure, that's easy for you to say."
Kerem: "What?"
Holmes: "I'll pay double the normal rate for a lieutenant," he relays. "I'm desperate, you see. Do you have something better lined up?"
Kerem: "I've got a lot of stuff on my plate right now, and some of it's pretty tricky."
Kerem: "If you need anything dealt with, you know I can handle it. Just tell me what's up, and I'll tell you what I can do for you."
Kerem: "But I can't make you any promises about allegiance or whatever. Life's too complicated."
Kerem: "We've always gotten along great before. Let's not make things difficult. You know I'm your pal."
Holmes: Kloto rolls his eyes. "Right now I need somebody to be more than a friend. You disappoint me, Kerem. We could do a lot together here."
Holmes: But in the end Kloto cannot help but smile.
Holmes: "Still, I'm sure that I can find some work for you here or there. We'll make of it what we can, Kerem," Kloto smiles, and gives him one of the cult hi signs.
Kerem: "Sorry I can't help you out more." Kerem smiles back and reciprocates.
Kerem: "You know where to find me."
Kerem: "Thanks for the meat." Kerem starts heading back to the group.

Holmes: Dhazari tries to compose himself, "Chimrea."
Chimrea: "The Dance is over, but you look like you're still seeing ghosts," Chimrea says with a smile, though she's getting nervous.
Holmes: Dhazari says, in his typically direct manner, "Chimrea, this man is named Fazeris. He knew your mother."
Holmes: Fazeris, for his part, starts lolling into consciousness.
Holmes: Shading his eyes from the sun.
Chimrea: "Oh!" Chimrea looks surprised. "The name sounds a little familiar." She steps to cast shade over Fazeris and bends over slightly to look at him. "Hello, I'm Chimrea."
Holmes: Fazeris' head is obviously still not on straight. He stares at Chimrea trying to put some things together. "Hi"
Chimrea: "Dhazari says you knew my mother," Chimrea says helpfully, shooting a probing look at Dhazari. "Isadora."
Holmes: "Isadora?" Fazeris' head suddenly clear up. He stares at Chimrea for a moment. "You look like her somewhat."
Holmes: He sits up, and holds his head in his hand to stabilize it.
Holmes: His rapier's scabbard rasps across the ground.
Chimrea: "Thank you," Chimrea says with a momentary smile. "You know what happened to her, then?" She hopes she won't have to break the news again--it's not getting any easier.
Holmes: "What's that?" Fazeris asks after a moment.
Chimrea straightens a bit as if bracing herself. "I'm terribly sorry if you haven't heard. She and my father died recently." She looks at him with concern, wondering how he'll take the news.
Holmes: Fazeris needs several more moments to process this news. "Well, that certainly makes things simpler, then..." he muses.
Holmes: Without any sense of humor in his words.
Chimrea: "Simpler for you, maybe," Chimrea says with some bitterness before she can stop herself, then smiles apologetically. "I'm sorry, I'm being terribly rude. If you were a friend of my mother's, the hospitality of our home is yours, and I can at least get you something for your hangover.
Holmes: Fazeris says, "No, no, I won't have any of it. I can stay at the i..."
Holmes: He checks his clothing, "How embarrassing..."
Holmes: "I seem to have been robbed."
Holmes: He looks around for a purse on the ground.
Chimrea frowns. "I'm afraid that's likely, if you were here all night. Please, I'd die of shame if one of mother's friends was out on the streets." She pauses as a thought strikes her, and adds, "The lady Aspasia is also staying with us, and I'm sure she'd be glad for company from home."
Holmes: "Aspasia!" suddenly Fazeris' hangover seems to be forgotten. "Uh... I... uh..."
Holmes: Fazeris paces like a cat in a cage for a moment, trying to think of a way out of his connundrum.
Chimrea: "If, ah, you'd rather not overindulge in her rich company, I find that she keeps to her room much of the time."
Chimrea throws a look sideways at Dhazari, trying to figure out why he looked so offput at the beginning. So far, Fazeris seems as sane as anything else that's come in on an airship.
Holmes: Fazeris looks skeptically at Chimrea, but can't think of anything better, really, "I guess I'll stay with you."
Holmes: Then, recalling his manners, "Many thanks."
Holmes: Be bows.
Chimrea: "Of course." Chimrea curtsies, but is frowning a bit as she comes out of it. "What did you mean when you said her death made things simpler?" Though the subject is painful, she doesn't hesitate in going straight back for it.
Holmes: Fazeris looks guarded for a moment. A definitely Ikaiti look, one that might enrage an Rhiani.
Chimrea: "Please don't lie," she says helpfully. "I'm becoming rather short-tempered about people treating me like a child."
Chimrea: That came out even less tactful than she intended, but she winces only slightly.
Holmes: "You have more than just your mother's looks," says Fazeris, a crooked smile breaking across his face. "You're mother and I were close, you see, and your father did not much like that."
Chimrea: "Well, they didn't always approve of each other's friends," Chimrea says, a little uneasily. "I'm afraid that she didn't mention you, but she didn't always talk much about her Kaitaine business." She looks at his rapier and asks, "You're a duelist?"
Holmes: "Yes," says Fazeris. "Or, at least I was when younger. In fact your mother and I were involved in the same clubs at times. She must have told you that she'd gotten involved with the Red Rapiers on her last trip to Kaitaine, yes?"
Holmes: Fazeris squints at the sun, now getting higher in the sky.
Chimrea: "I heard something about that," Chimrea says--technically true, in that she eavesdropped on her parents talking about it. "Was she..." she hesitates, shy for a second, then finishes, "Was she good?"
Holmes: Fazeris grins, and then starts slowly, "One of the most profound lessons I've ever learned is that there are times when sheer determination is the most important thing a person can have in winning at anything, duel or otherwise. Your mother had sheer determination. When she wanted to, she could beat most anyone, myself included."
Chimrea: "That sounds like her," Chimrea says with a wistful smile. "Thank you."
Chimrea: Taking a breath, she says more briskly, "I'm sure you have business of your own to be about, but the house is easy to find and I do hope that you'll accept our hospitality. It's been a little irregular since they're gone, but we make do."
Holmes: Fazeris nods. His pacing about has brought him near to the skewer stand, and the smell of spiced meat rising from it suddenly sends an obvious hunger pang through him. He lets out a quiet groan.
Chimrea: "Oh!" Chimrea blushes. "I'm an idiot," she says, taking the purse from her belt and giving it to him.
Holmes: Fazeris wants more than anything in the world to refuse the purse, but really has no choice. He cannot starve.
Holmes: "You have my thanks," he says. "And I will repay this debt to you someday."
Chimrea: "Of course," she says, waving a hand dismissively. "I wish I could show you more of the city, but I fear I've left my troublemaking friends too long already. I'm glad I found you, lord Fazeris--it's good to meet a friend of my mother's." Smiling, she makes to go.
Holmes: Fazeris waves in return, and turns with Dhazari to buy some skewers.

Alquas is profoundly relieved to be away from the table.
Alquas: "You have the strangest friends, Zhanjiir Kerrem."
Kerem glances at him with an amazed look on his face.
Kerem: "...yeah. Okay. What do you WANT?"
Alquas: "Women should never act in this way. In my country, this is not seen." In spit eof it all, there's more wonderment than disgust in his voice.
Alquas: "To business, then."
Kerem: "No. Seriously. Get to the point. I'm not really...just tell me what you're looking for."
Alquas retrieves from his person a pouch of coin.
Alquas: "I seek a.." He searches for the right Rhiani word, "..mercenary?"
Alquas: "I have reason to believe I am or will soon be in danger for my life. I need protection, of the sword-weilding variety."
Alquas: "You are, of report, a man of.. resource."
Kerem: "Yeah."
Kerem: "Well, all right. That shouldn't be too hard."
Kerem: "Any special skills? Any specific idea as to what you'll be dealing with?"
Kerem: "The more information you give me, the more helpful I can be."
Alquas: "I should warn you, the man who comes for me, he is dangerous. He weilds the power of Z'tarr."
Alquas says this with great drama and portent.
Alquas: "He is called Praelector."
Kerem: "Oh yeah? Z'tarr, huh." Kerem thinks a bit, then shrugs.
Kerem: "Well, okay. If all you want is a bodyguard, that'll be easy."
Kerem: "If you want somebody to try to find this guy before he finds you, that might be a little more difficult, but also a little more effective."
Alquas: "In addition. My family has gaurds and a retinue of his own, but I have reason... to believe that they are not all faithful to us. I have, ah, thwarted one attempt on my life already. But I am not greatly skilled with a blade. My talents lie... elsewhere."
Kerem: "You don't happen to know where he might be, do you? Where in town he's staying, perhaps."
Alquas: "I do not."
Alquas: "He will be.. a man of my country. He will not wish to associate with.. foreigners. I hope to use this to my advantage."
Kerem: "How many of your guards can you trust?"
Alquas: "At the best of times, not all. Now? Possibly only those which lack the low intelligence needed for treachery."
Alquas: "In any case, the guards' chief concern is my father and brother."
Kerem: "But you can't just fire them all and get new ones?" Kerem shakes his head.
Kerem: "Okay. So you want the bodyguards. Do you, or do you not, want an assassin?"
Alquas: "I would like... information to be gathered. Before such a decision is made."
Kerem: "Well."
Kerem: "I can try, but if he's by himself, coming after you, I don't know how talkative he's going to be."
Kerem: "But I can put a few feelers out."
Alquas: "I just need to be warned of his coming, and of his... preparations. I need to know what to expect."
Alquas: "And, I need men whose loyalty to my money can be counted upon."
Kerem: "Let me be straight here. What you're asking isn't easy."
Kerem: "But I'll do what I can."
Kerem snickers.
Kerem: "That part? That'll be easy, as long as you're giving them enough money."
Alquas nods, slowly. "I believe we understand one another. Here."
Alquas hands over a pouch.
Kerem takes it, weighs it in his hand, sniffs and attaches it to his belt.
Kerem: "Where can I find you if I need to talk to you?"
Alquas: "I am currently resident at the demesnes of the one called Teodric. There, I care for the lady Salya, who is under guard by the few of the men whom I believe I can trust."
Kerem: "Okay."
Alquas: "The Praelector comes for her also."
Kerem: "I'll get back to you when I have something to tell you."
Kerem: "Expect a few men to show up at your doorstep. They'll ask for you, and say I sent them."
Alquas nods again.
Kerem: "All right."
Kerem: "And seriously."
Kerem: "Don't say stuff like that about Tez."
Kerem: "She's..." the pause stretches out..."doing the best she can."
Kerem: "All right?"
Alquas regards the man for a moment. "As you wish, Zhanjiir. The conduct of your woman is your own affair."
Kerem: "I...she..."
Kerem: "Okay, thanks."
Kerem: "Uh, bye."
Kerem backs up a few steps, then turns and walks towards Tez's table.
Alquas watches him leave.

Holmes: Alquas returns to Teodric's estate, hoping to avoid his family, but finding that they have come for him there already. They wait for him on Thrakelust's patio, ordering the servants about. His father addresses him, "We can wait no longer, Alquas, for this Teodric. His servants say that they do not know of his whereabouts. So I have found somebody else in charge."
Holmes: He gestures to a massive Rhiani man standing in the center of the group.
Alquas: "Ah."
Holmes: "This is Chulkar," says Jarya, "And his is to Cay as our high priests are to Z'taar."
Holmes: Chulkar, not understanding their language, nevertheless bows.
Alquas: "Chulkar? I have not heard this name before, father. My.. insights into the political situation here have not returned him as an authority." Nonetheless, he also bows to Chulkar, eyeing him uncertainly.
Alquas: "Nevertheless, if he is close with their Zhanjiir gods, perhaps he may suffice."
Holmes: "Yes, so I thought," his father looks pleased with himself. "I've offered him a Zhunjet."
Holmes: The Vajaari term for an honor gift is very appropriate in this case.
Holmes: "He's decided that he likes the look of Kani," says Jarya.
Holmes: His father smiles.
Alquas pauses.
Alquas: "Indeed, father?"
Alquas: "And.. she is to be the Zhunjet?"
Alquas: "I see. You have done well," he continues, "to communicate with this man without myself here to translate. I had believed you held my.. facility with their tongue in high esteem. Am I no longer required?"
Alquas eyes his father coldly. He has not looked further at the by now undoubtedly puzzled Rhiani.
Holmes: "Well, I'm not sure that he understands precisely," his father says. "In any case, once he has the gift, then the real negotiations start. For that... yes... we'll need your assistance."
Holmes: "Oh," he recalls, "and your friend can speak some of the local tongue too, it turns out."
Holmes: Alquas notes Slaya on the other side of the retinue trying to blend in with the scenery.
Alquas: "Salya? Ah. I see."
Alquas: "So, should I communicate to this man the nature of your gift, to ensure he understands precisely?"
Alquas speaks flatly and without emotion.
Holmes: Jarya, already conferring with Alquas' older brother on tactics of negotiation turns briefly to Alquas, "What? Oh. Yes, yes. Get on with it."
Alquas draws himself up to full height, and then, in his best fluent Rhiani, speaks as follows to the man Chulkar:
Alquas: "Zhanjiir Chulkar, warm greetings from we of Vajaar. My father, the great Seyjii Ajirii Jarya ei-Qeddim, Seyjii of Ajarrya, favourite of the the glorious Walhabbi, feared in many lands, is a fool and a know-nothing. He wishes to present to you as a Zhunjet, or honour gift, a girl by the name of Kani who I understand has caught your eye."
Holmes: Salya, who had a moment before been trying to eat a Rhiani meatball, chokes it up into her palm.
Holmes: She disposes of the remains in a nearby potted plant.
Holmes: Then watches Alquas, wide-eyed.
Alquas: "My father, doddering fool that he is, is unaware that this girl is stricken with syphilitic sores and is quite inappropriate for such a gift to an esteemed one such as youself."
Alquas: "You must excuse his well-meaning incompetence."
Alquas says this all in the same bright happy tone, smiling all the while.
Alquas: "We have many other serving girls who would prove more... willing gifts. I hope we can come to an understanding."
Holmes: Chulkar smiles at Alquas. Apparently the big brute is quite the judge of character. He says, "I understand what you mean, son of Jarya. And I would not cut a man down for a good jest. For that is what you have made here."
Holmes: He inclines his head, "I'll take the girl."
Holmes: Alquas gets the feeling, somehow, that Chulkar will not tell his father. Just something about the look on his face.
Alquas pauses, his shoulders slumping slightly. He thinks for a long while, and then says, "As you wish, Zhanjiir."
Holmes: Chulkar nods again.
Alquas turns to his father. In Vajaari: "He understands. He understands completely."
Holmes: While the Rhiani warrior-priest won't tell his father, Alquas also knows that, if asked, he'd be forced by his code of honor to tell his father.
Alquas stalks off to find Kani without a further word to anyone.

Holmes: At the camp, things are rather quiet. Entering the tent, Alquas finds Kani talking with one of the other servant women.
Holmes: She smiles as she sees him enter.
Alquas: "Kani? I would speak with you." His manner is brusque, clipped.
Alquas looks at the other woman, then back to Kani, then makes an urgent motion with his head.
Holmes: The other woman leaves. Sensing something is wrong, Kani stands up to face her master.
Alquas: "Kani, I.."
Alquas: "My father wishes to sell you."
Holmes: Kani stands speechless, but shaking.
Alquas: "To a Rhiani man. You are to.. be his Zhunjet. This is diplomacy."
Alquas: "I attmempted to.. dissuade the man, but he... desires you."
Alquas opens his mouth to say soemthign else, but stops.
Holmes: Kani, trying to maintain some semblance of poise, nods her understanding very slowly.
Alquas: "I... my position is... my father...."
Alquas: "I had not wished for this." he finishes, lamely.
Alquas looks at Kani, trying to see how she's taking this.
Holmes: Kani looks close to tears. Her trembling is becoming almost uncontrollable.
Alquas: "Please, say something."
Holmes: "I..." she has been well trained not to speak out of place.
Alquas looks round him, at the tent and the casually-discarded finery of his father's things.
Alquas: "Do you understand? To resist my father's will, I would be risking... I would be.. it would be.. everything I have known..."
Alquas pauses.
Holmes: Kani breaks down. She throws herself at Alquas' feet.
Holmes: "Do not give me away! I wish to be yours, master!"
Alquas looks aound wildly, then crouches down and holds the girl firmly at the shoulders. "Hush, Kani! You do not know who hears."
Holmes: "I do not care. I would rather be slain for my outbursts than have to leave you!" she cries.
Alquas: "You would happily have seen me dead, once."
Holmes: "Yes, I know, I am worthless. I do not deserve you," she exclaims piteously.
Holmes: "And yet I cannot help but beg of you not to have me leave your side."
Alquas: "My father..."
Alquas: "My father cares not if I live or die." he reflects.
Holmes: Kani clings to Alquas, sobbing.
Alquas brushes Kani's hair.
Alquas pauses for a long while, brushing her hair and listening to her furious sobs. At length, he stands.
Alquas: "You told me once," he says "that you dreamed f being my concubine, that you would see me Seyjii in my father's place."
Holmes: Kani wipes away the tears, looking up at Alquas, and nods slowly.
Alquas: "And I told you I shared that dream."
Alquas crouches back down again, grabbing Kani, and whispers urgently.
Holmes: Kani looks at Alquas, scared by what he might say next.
Alquas: "Even now forces come, for my father, my brother, for me. As you once were, they are tasked with our destrcution. I am making arrangements for my own safety..."
Alquas: "But I care not for my fathers. I would see them dead here too."
Alquas: "Kani, you had every opportunity to see me dead, and you refused. That's all the trust I have in the world, in anyone."
Alquas pauses again.
Holmes: "Then..." Kani asks, wondering what the future may hold.
Alquas: "We take the carpet. Now. We leave the camp. I have money, I know people here in Green Lake. The Praelector will come for us all, and there I will be prepared."
Alquas: "Will you come with me?"
Holmes: Kani looks frightened still, but nods her head vigorously. She drops to his feet again, and begins to kiss them. "I am the luckiest woman in the world to have so good a master."
Alquas grabs her and pulls her up. "No time. We leave now before I have time to regret this."
Alquas makesd haste for the tent where the carpet is kept.
Holmes: Some of the guards that remain around the perimeter of the camp look at him rushing with some bewildered bemusement.
Tez is now known as kAFKaesque
Alquas reaches the tent and the guard thereof. "Shadjiir, I will have use of one of our carpets! No aruguing."
Holmes: The guard starts to protest, but decides to merely look at Alquas for orders.
Holmes: Arriving in the partition of the tent where the carpet is kept, Alquas notes that it has been chained to a spike with a glowing red chain.
Holmes: Apparently too valuable to leave unattended.... or to tell the lesser son about.
Alquas regards the chain. He had not been expecting this. He moves a hand toward it gingerly, concerned the red glow might be heat..
Alquas: "My father apparently does not trust me with his things, Kani. A moment..."
Holmes: The chain does, in fact, give off considerable heat. It's only because it's on the sand that it doesn't burn anything.
Holmes: It must not affect that to which it is attached.
Alquas: "Hmm.. so hot already. Perhaps if I can increase the fires within..."
Holmes: The chain becomes even more heated, as Alquas concentrates, and suddenly melts into the sand, freeing the carpet.
Alquas smiles in satisfaction, and puts his bottles away. "Quickly, Kani!"
Alquas climbs aboard and issues the commands.
Alquas: With Kani aboard, the carpet sails straight out of the door of the tent, suprising the guard, and climbs high into the skies.

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