LAMM. That bastard spoils everything, even this moment.
Alexiad nods, hot with disappointment, but makes no move to stop the masked girl stepping away, or to follow her. "I understand."
Aware that the silence between them - normally so comfortable - has become awkward, he changes the subject. "Would you, uh, mind keeping an eye on Mira this evening? I don't know when my vigil will end and I'd like someone she knows to be close by until I get back. I'm sure she'll be fine, I just feel bad about leaving her alone..."
Asp takes a step back, facing away from Lexi - she had to regain her composure, and control of the situation:"I...will look after her."
Breathing calmly, but not quite able to look at her brother again, she continues:"You know I have my reasons to not make contact with her directly, but I will keep her save. Where did you shelter your sister?"
The question came naturally...Mira had learned to assume the role she was to perform almost perfectly...down to details like that. But Asp was more than a role, she was another aspect of her personality. But that came with a distinct viewpoint, and it became frightfully easy for Mira to both dive into that alter ego, or let go of it again.
Sunset. Dusk, Dawn, Twilight. It's all one in a certain way, anyway., Mira thought as she made her way towards Lancet Street shortly after.
If some mystery person wanted her to come here at the end of the next day, she would at least case the joint tonight. Plus, NOW she had time...the next day, unless her brother had another vigil, might have made this more difficult.
Alexiad nods gratefully: "I'm sorry you and Mira don't see eye-to-eye. I would like you to both get on, you're both important to me..."
He takes her hands in his, interlocking their fingers, while he looks her straight in the eye. "I'm no good with words. I'm a street thug who got religion and is doing the best he can, but I haven't got... eloquence."
He shakes his head. "I'm sorry I was ever your client, more sorry than you can know. I want you to be free to live the life you wish ... we can do a lot of good together. I've started trying to find street kids, get them out of harm's way, get them set up with families and stuff. But a lot of them, they see a man and they run. If you could help me with that, they'd listen to you where they might run away from me. That's my hope: that when Lamm's out the way, we can work together on that..."
He takes a deep breath. "Anyway. Mira's staying at a place in Trail's End, top floor of the Soldado Tavern."
"Aye...lets see things through with Lamm, then take it from there. He is just one of several people I want to see justice for - it's not like I'll disappear on you once he's gone. I'm not sure the street kids would like my mask any better, so maybe consider asking your sister for help on that one...but there'll be plenty opportunities to work together, I'm certain."
With all said and done, Asp leaned in for a goodbye kiss that lasted a bit too long to be considered 'friendly', before making her exit.
Sunset. Dusk, Dawn, Twilight. It's all one in a certain way, anyway., Mira thought as she made her way towards Lancet Street shortly after.
If some mystery person wanted her to come here at the end of the next day, she would at least case the joint tonight. Plus, NOW she had time...the next day, unless her brother had another vigil, might have made this more difficult.
The place you're looking for isn't difficult to track down - a shabby-looking house on a shabby-looking street. The door is firmly closed, and round the brass doorknob hangs a set of ribbons that indicates the place belongs to a Varisian fortune-teller. It's both a promise and a warning: thieves may find more than they bargained for, but honest visitors are welcome to trade.
There doesn't seem to be any more to find out. You watch the place, out of sight, for several hours, but nobody comes and nobody goes.
============
The next morning, you awake (after an exasperatingly weird dream) to the smell of a cooked breakfast wafting up the stairs from the common room: bacon, eggs, and other delicious things.
Making your way downstairs, you see that your brother has returned from his vigil - he looks hollow-eyed from loss of sleep, but is in good spirits. He is teasingly asking the young girl, Brienna, about the 'secret ingredient' that makes the bacon taste so good; as he guesses one thing after another, Brienna just shakes her head - "It's a secret silly! Even if you guess right, I'm not going to tell you!" It's clear from the tone that this is a game they have been playing for some time now, and it's a side of your brother (playful, fun) that you haven't seen much of. All those years apart - is he a different person now?
He flashes you a boyish smile as he looks up and sees you. "Hey, Sis! Good to see you awake."
Breeze looks up at you, blushing, and scoots away; almost forgetting to take your order in her haste.
Alexiad smiles, at ease and well fed after a long night. He watches Brienna hurry away. "She's a good kid. And she likes you. She's been through a lot, you know, kind of like we have... I'm glad she's found a good home."
Watching from the Shadows gave a lot of time to think. Also about the possibility of heading towards the place right now. Wake the fortune teller up, and learn both how they managed to place the note, and what they wanted to talk about.
But then, disturbing the nightly rest of a fortune teller actually worth the money they made people pay - that kind of stuff could lead to all kinds of bad luck. Safer to try and come around the appointed time.
____________________________________
When she comes down for breakfast, Mira lingers at the stairs for a moment, amused by the banter. When her brother notices her, she continues her way down, then smiles:"The secret ingredient is, of course, love."
Giving a moment to allow a few interpretations to pass the mind, but not long enough to invite protest, she continues:"Even the result of a simple task turns out so much better if you enjoy what you do. Brienna could use all the herbs and spices in the world, what makes the Bacon so good is that she's pouring her soul into what she does! Isn't that right?"
When Breeze looks at her as a deer caught in a daylight-spell, Mira seems amused, but makes it clear she was just teasing the younger girl with a friendly and genuine laugh.
Taking a seat next to Alexiad, Mira thinks back to the weird dream she had just once more, then pushes it away from her mind. "Aye, a good kid. With a good safe home thanks to you and Tace." Taking one strip of Bacon from her brothers meal, savoring the taste, she continues:"You do know she...likes you? Right? -...- What are you doing today?" The note had not actually specified that she would need to come alone. An oversight, possibly, or an opportunity. But best to first learn what her brother would be up to before any hasty invitations...
Taking one strip of Bacon from her brothers meal, savoring the taste, she continues:"You do know she...likes you? Right? -...- What are you doing today?"
Alexiad nods, completely missing the implications of Mira's comment. "She likes everyone, doesn't she? And they like her... I'm so glad I got her out of the streets. I hate to think what would have happened to that sunny nature." He blinks as his bacon is deftly whipped away. "I don't know where you put it, Sis. You must have hollow legs."
He yawns, hollow eyed from lack of sleep. "I'm going to have a quick rest. And then..." He puts on to the table a card that is identical to the one you received. "Found this in my prayer book last night. I'm assuming you got one too? You've as much reason as I have to go against Lamm. I wonder if our masked friend got one too. I don't suppose she mentioned it when she came by? I asked her to keep an eye on you, just in case."
He hesitates for a moment, toying with his food and deliberately not looking at Mira, suddenly uncomfortable. "I don't - I don't suppose she mentioned me at - at all, did she?"
"She...does like people, yes.", Mira considers teasing her brother as well, then quickly dismisses that idea. Breeze would probably not appreciate it if she spelled things out.
Finishing the strip of bacon, she sits down at the place next to Lexi:"Not hollow, but my Breakfast will be dark bread, some ham and cottage cheese. This was just Luxury. I mean, rules need to be regularily broken - otherwise how can one evaluate one's priorities in following them."
When he steers the conversation towards her alter ego, Mira opts for a distraction. Fishing the Courtesan from her Bra with a single fluid move, she places it on the table next to Lexi's Hierophant:"Slept like a child. No idea who was or was not here, but I woke with that under my pillow. Figured it may be a prank, but I guess not? Are we going there?"
Alexiad stifles a yawn. "Interesting. But I really need a quick rest before I do anything else - and then we'll make our way there." He leans against Mira, enjoying the fact of her presence after being apart for so long. "Alright. I'll see you later. Don't get into any trouble - this isn't the best neighborhood."
With that, he makes his way upstairs to bed.
More sleep...was tempting.
But she had grown accustomed to her dual life - maybe a short nap around mid-day.
She was...free - and found herself with little to do with that Freedom, right now. She didn't want to risk going out and leading Lamm here by getting spotted by one of his lackeys...surely, the old man was furious, and no doubt there was a price on her head already.
Finishing her breakfast, Mira instead slipped into the Kitchen, hoping to find Tace or Brienna:"Anything I could help with? Like, basic things?", she smiled apologetically.
She had basically no experience running a household or cooking - on the street, neither was applicable, and later, these mundane tasks were taken care of by serfs - not to her benefit, of course, but so that her valuable time was not taken up by such trifles.
Breeze looks up at you from where she's chopping food, giving you a smile as she pushes her hair back out of her eyes. "That's nice, but we're good." Her sister, Deyanira, doesn't even pause in her activity.
The younger girl gives you a grin: "We're doing a special supper tonight - one of the local boys." Her look turns conspiratorial as she mock-whispers "Deyanira's boyfriend!"
Her sister glares at her: "Will you cut it out?! He's NOT my boyfriend!" She quickly explains "Ruan Mirukova's one of the locals who made good - he plays the ocarina at the opera house for the Chels and rich folk, but he comes back here from time to time. We try to put on a show to welcome him home. All of us, not just me." She gives Breeze another glare, but Breeze just rolls her eyes and sticks her tongue out, before scampering away with a giggle.
Deyanira throws up her hands in disgust. "Argh! Younger sisters are the worst! Oh - no offence, I forgot you're Monsignor Alexiad's sister." Her gaze flashes to the tattoo on Mira's hand. It's clear that (unlike Breeze) she recognises exactly what it means; but she does the polite thing of pretending not to see it.
"So, not yet your boyfriend?", Mira smiles at Deyanira, continuing "Your kid sister seems perceptive, so I suppose there might be a little truth in her teasing? And nothing wrong with that, you hear?"
Looking around the place, Mira shrugs:"So, you're good for the kitchen. Anything else that needs doing? I could scrub the place or something. Alexiads sleeping, I don't want to wake him, and I'd much prefer making myself useful over sitting in some corner and waiting for him to wake up."
Deyanira smiles back: "I'm sure we can find something for you to do..." The morning passes in a flurry of basic labor: washing, fetching, dusting, tidying.
When Mira heads up to the room for a nap prior to leaving, she finds that Alexiad has ignored the various beds in the room and has curled up to sleep on the floor below the window - next to the only available escape route. His eyes open wide when the door opens, and he rolls into a crouch reaching for his quarterstaff before he wakes enough to realise who it is. "Oh. Hello, sis." He blinks. "Did I oversleep?"
Mira does her best to help with the basic labor. Most activities, she is REALLY not good at in the beginning, but having Deyanira or Breeze show her a few times, she learns quickly by imitation, and at the end, does a satisfactory job of helping them. Not good, but at least she didn't cost more time because of needed instruction than she saved due to the work she did.
_______________________________
"Not at all. Rest easy."
Longer talk would only wake him unnecessarily - and if her intent was to find some time to catch up on sleep, that would be detrimental. For a moment, she wonders why he didn't simply move a bed there - but the comfort would probably dull his senses, not allow him to react instantly. But it said a lot - he did not feel entirely safe here either, after what they had done.
Oh well, no use for both of us to guard against intrusion
Inspecting the simple linen dress she wore, full with flour, dirt, grime...she let it fall to the floor next to the mattress intending to wash it after her nap, then found a comfortable position below the blanket and fell asleep.
It's perhaps an hour or two later that Alexiad wakes up properly. Moving silently as he can to avoid waking Mira, he creeps to the bathroom (he's stayed here enough that he knows which floorboards are the ones that creak) for a wash and a shave.
After that, refreshed and fully dressed once more in his grey priestly robes, he spends some time in prayer. Pharasma doesn't demand significant worship from her clerics: actions, not prayers, are the currency that she judges everyone by. Still, it's right to spend some time in contemplation, to try and ensure that his actions will be ones she will judge well.
Kneeling, he closes his eyes and is silent for several minutes.
Lady of Graves, Lady of Repose, Goddess of Prophecy... protect us and grant us your guidance as we go on our way... Help me in my quest to bring Lamm and his cronies before you, to face your judgement... Heal Mira from the harms that have been inflicted upon her...
He also spends some time in prayer for his elusive, masked companion/ally - although he is unsure exactly what to pray for. Opening his eyes once more, he sits in silence for some moments, just watching Mira sleep. It's been so long since they were last together - it's hard to believe that they are finally reunited. His face sets in determination: nothing - NOTHING - is going to separate them again.
Eventually, he reaches with one hand under Mira's blanket, poking her in the ribs with one long finger. Neither of them are especially ticklish, but he knows the spots where she can be tickled awake...
"Hey sis." He grins at her, boyishly. "Time to get up." The grin widens. "Plus, you were snoring."
If the dirtied dress next to the sleeping place was an indication of her clothing state, the attempt to wake her quickly turns into a confirmation.
While Mira could do with little sleep, in the past years, she had no longer needed the cat-like caution from when they slept on the streets. She slept deep, and was not as easy to rouse as back then.
Feeling the ticklish finger on her skin, in half-sleep, she pulls the hand along as she rolls on her side, placing it on her breast:"Just a little longer..."
The blanket, entangled between her legs, does not manage to fully cover her back, revealing her to be fully nude beneath the blanket. The light snoring momentarily continues.
Oh. OH.
Alexiad's eyes widen as he realises what's happening: she's reacting to him like a client.
Oh, Mira, what did those bastards DO to you?!?
Moving his hand carefully, he rearranges the blanket so that it covers her properly, before lying down and wrapping his arms around her in a hug. "Sis, it's ok, it's me, you're fine, you just need to wake up..."
He runs his hand along her arm. "It's ok, it's ok, you're safe..."
Silently he vows again that the bastards who hurt her are going to PAY. ALL of them.
Mira wakes up properly this time around, cuddling the back of her head against his chin. Sitting up, she almost forgets to cover herself, but quickly fixes that, pulling the blanket up.
"Hm? You seem agitated? Did I have a bad dream or something?", she asks innocuously, then looks at the window :"What time is it? Will we need to leave soon?"
Mira's not-so-innocent question throws Alexiad further off-balance.
Pharasma is not one of the deities (like Sarenrae) who insists on absolute truthfulness from her priests; but Alexiad has long since discovered that honesty is the best policy. Partly because telling the truth is simpler than having to keep track of all the lies - but mainly because he really, really, sucks at lying.
OK, don't panic, just think of something you can say, only not-
"I kissed your friend."
-only not that. OK, THIS should be interesting...
"Your masked friend, I mean. Not that she's exactly your friend, from what she said, but I don't know her name - which is ridiculous, right? I mean, if she'd wanted me to make a move on her she'd have told me her name, don't you think? But like an idiot, I moved in anyway and now I've messed it all up."
You know, this is probably more embarrassing than just admitting to Mira that you accidentally touched her br... ok, maybe not. But it's close. What you need to do is to-
"And it's not like I've got so many friends that I can afford to lose one, right? I mean, yes, she's sexy as hell but she's so much more than that - she's tough, she's smart, she's resourceful, she's funny, she's a truly reliable friend - yes, yes, I know I've fallen for her, I do have some self-awareness - but I should have known better than to go and behave just like every other man she's ever met. I did know better, that's what really stings - I knew it wasn't the right thing to do, but I went and did it anyway. I wish I could tell her how stupid I feel - no, not just stupid, ashamed - but I don't know how to find her - she was always the one who knew where I was. Oh, I'm such an idiot!"
-is to Stop. Talking. Right. Now.
He takes a deep breath. "OK, our next hideout is going to be in a cellar. That way, it'll be much easier for the Abyss to open up and just drop me straight into it."
"Lexi...my masked friend is, as it happens, YOUR masked friend. You two spent a lot more time with each other these days. Since she claims I helped her, I have an idea on who it might be, but if she meant for you to know her true name, you'd probably know, so I'll respect her wishes.", Mira attempts to deflect her brother's first outburst. No good. He was stumbling ever deeper into the topic - and she had no desire to spend overly long discussing her alter ego - nothing good could come of it.
With a sigh, she commands:"Turn around while I get dressed!" - which Alexiad did, not that it stopped him from talking. He just about kept going until she had her silky outfit adjusted. Walking over in front of her brother, she puts a finger on his lips as he mumbles about being an idiot:"Listen, I know you, and I can guarantee you that she experienced much worse. You don't want to hear that because you know it happened to me, as well. But you knew THAT before they left you for dead. If you were an idiot, apologize, to her, not me. But keep it simple, keep it short. Lamm is still alive, I am certain you will meet her again."
On some level, Mira was aware that all those compliments, all that talk about love or sexyness was aimed at her, in a way, but she and Aspie were two completely different mindsets. She was not her.
When Lexi finally relaxed, taking a breath and commenting about their next hideout, Mira turned from him and headed towards her cloak near the stairs down:"If so, make it a Wine cellar. I doubt the Abyss cares much, and that way we can have fun while we wait."
Alexiad gives a boyish smile, his good humour returning as Mira puts him in his place: "You're right, sis, you're right, thanks for the pep talk - I just needed to get that off my chest."
He gives her a thoughtful look. "And you're right, too, that I don't need to know what happened to you. But if you want to talk about it, then I'm here. Always. Although now that you're breast - dressed! I mean, now that you're dressed, uh"
He stumbles over the words for a moment, before quickly regaining his composure. "I know that Lamm gets a lot of his girls hooked on drugs, to make them more... well, you know why. If that's happened to you, then I DO need to know, because you can't just stop taking it, the withdrawal will kill you. You aren't the first of Lamm's girls that my masked friend and I have rescued, so I know what to do, but you need to tell me so I can help."
"Aye, and that's all fine. We're here for each other. But, you know, no girl likes listening to guys talking about other girls all day long", she smiles.
When he stumbles upon his words, she examines her silky outfit, leaving little to imagination:"I had no chance to aquire more modest clothing yet. The girls borrowed me some plain linen dresses, but they don't fit well. It's probably not clothing to hang around in at home though, I guess."
As she picks up the cloak with the hood, she listened to her brother worrying about drugs. She returns a sharp laugh at the notion. "Drugs? That was for those he could not break. The ones that he got late. Those who had perspectives for escaping, family elsewhere. For those in the cheapest brothels, so they would not object to any practises. Lamm broke me good, Lexi. He had you as leverage, and after that, I had no hope. He told me to spread my legs, I did. I didn't ask for whom, or why, or what for. I obeyed. That obedience gave me freedom, and that freedom allowed me to survive no matter what happened to the rest of me.
"That is one thing you would do well to understand...me, your sister, Mira...thats up here, thats what counts.", she taps her temple, indicating her brain, her head.
Then she puts her hands on the shoulders, letting them slowly wander down as she seductively dances, her hips thrusting forward, hands highlighting her breasts and nipples, the slight lifting ot he skirts showing of her long legs:"This, my body? That is a tool. Dedicated to Calistria. It is to me what your Pharasman Symbol is to you. A way to further my goals and those of the deity listening. But it is MY tool now, not Lambs any longer."
Alexiad nods in reply, with a smile. "I hear everything you're saying, sis, and I respect it. I just disagree about one thing..."
Stepping forward, he brushes a strand of her hair back from her face, so he can look her fully in the eyes. "I've seen the people Lamm has broken, sis, and they're afraid - afraid of Lamm, afraid to cross him, but most of all, they're afraid of their own lives: if you offered them freedom, they wouldn't know what to do with it."
He gently taps her temple, mimicking the gesture she made moments before. "The Mira up here, she's not afraid - she's a brave, tough, smart, resourceful survivor. She took the worst that Lamm could do to her and she didn't let it destroy her. She wants to destroy him, and she wants to be free." He smiles at her, gently, letting his words sink in. "The 'Mira up here' is someone I want to know better, after so long apart from you - so I suggest we go find out what this mystery messenger has to say, and then we can grab supper together - there's a great little wine shop that I know, run by a really nice Ustalavic couple. They took in a girl I rescued a few months back, and I'd like to see how she's getting on..."
He gives another smile. "So, shall we go?"
Mira smiles: "Oh, I was broken enough, I just always kept enough of the real me save, away from it all. You are right, I am not afraid of him. Or anyone. I learned to play my role, and do it good. I retreated inwards, and performed for people outwards. I think there's some northlander saying of 'You can have my body, but never my soul'. What I am saying is that all these years, I was trained to make use of this tool, and it is a good tool. One I will not stop using because of a morality that never did anything to help me."
They had not talked about that, yet...and it probably was best to get it out of the way soon. "That is the will of me, of the Mira up here. To make use of my skills, of what I can do...but for me, not for someone else!"
"Just think about it, for now. we head to that mystery messenger, and then we grab supper and check on another of your rescued girls. We can talk more in the evening, then!", she's ready to go.
You see from your brother's eyes that he is mentally filing this one away under 'to discuss later' but he nods and you head out.
Trail's End, where you're staying, is on the other side of the Jeggare River from the city of Korvosa, and the road is busy with traffic in both directions: carts, wagons, horses, and pedestrians like yourselves. Everyone entering the city is given a cursory inspection, but almost everyone is allowed in - the city depends on trade for its livelihood. The guardsmen manning the gate are professional and - for the most part - polite unless someone seriously provokes them. Even wearing her cloak, Mira attracts some stares, but no guards try to 'pat her down for weapons' or other obvious ruses: the Korvosan Guard are famously incorruptible (even Lamm didn't manage to get more than a corporal or two on his payroll, to give him warning of raids and knowledge of the patrol schedules. Not taking bribes is a point of pride for most of them). Everyone gives Lexi a wide berth: they're not rude about it, but 'Death-priests' are for the most part respected rather than admired. He doesn't seem to notice.
Eventually you are through the gates, and into the city proper. It is the same as always, a buzz of activity and a throng of people. What is different is the graffiti: even in the more prosperous areas, slogans have been daubed on walls, protesting the high taxes and insulting the King and/or his Queen. It is well known that the King is gravely ill, possibly even dying, and most citizens have no love for the Queen, who is young, beautiful and not from Korvosa. Rumor has it that she spends the city's treasury on herself first and foremost.
The place you're looking for isn't difficult to track down - a shabby-looking house on a shabby-looking street in the poorer part of town. The door is firmly closed, and round the brass doorknob hangs a set of ribbons that indicates the place belongs to a Varisian fortune-teller. It's both a promise and a warning: thieves may find more than they bargained for, but honest visitors are welcome to trade.
When they stand in front of the shabby-looking house, Mira sighs. Of course it had not been hard to track down, she knew were to look, after all.
Moving up to the door, she knocks loudly, three times. To be perfectly honest, she was rather curious to learn who would be waiting for them. And, perhaps more important even, what they wanted...
Alexiad looks suspiciously at the door - Pharasma is the goddess of prophecy (among other things); his experience of fortune tellers is that they tell you what you want to hear. On the other hand, this one obviously knew how to find them, and what they wanted. Which maybe makes it even more suspicious.
But on the other other hand, he's carrying a quarterstaff. If this is a trap, he's ready to face it.
A cheerful woman's voice calls out as Mira knocks at the door: "Come in, children - it's not locked." And so it proves. Opening the door, you find yourself in a gloomy room badly on need of dusting.
An old woman wearing a Varisian headscarf sits in the only chair, next to a table on which she is dealing her Harrow cards. Without looking, she draws from the pack and places a card: the Twins.
She does it again: the Courtesan.
And again: the Hierophant.
Finally, she looks up at you. "Hello, my dears. Excuse the mess - I don't see the dirt any more. I'm sure you have questions. Let me, heh, put my cards on the table. My name is Zellara, and I want Gaedren Lamm dead. You want the same thing. I know where to find him, but cannot strike at him; you can strike at him, but cannot find him. Let's make a deal."
Looking at the cards, Mira is not particularily impressed...their Host knew who was coming, and when. And stacking the cards was probably in every fortune tellers repertoire.
But the woman had found them, which meant she had skills, occult or otherwise, that one would be wise not to underestimate.
"Actually, the dust somehow makes the whole thing even more authentic. Good evening, Zellara. You are right in that we seem to want the same. But things are hardly ever that simple are they? You seem to be at a certain information advantage - before we discuss deals, let us, as you said, put the cards on the table. How did you know of us? Find us? Which little bird delivered your message - because no offense, you don't seem the type to climb up building facades to drop hidden messages. And do you want Lamm dead because he wronged you? Or simply because he's in your way?"
Zellara's eyes harden at the question, although her friendly tone is unchanged. "In my way? No, my dear, the sewer rat and the butterfly have different concerns. Lamm came to my attention only because he murdered my granddaughter. She inherited the Sight from me, and when I retired I gave her my best Harrow set, the one I inherited from my grandmother. Her good for nothing husband got into debt with Lamm, and took the Harrow set to him in payment. My granddaughter went to get it back - you can't give that sort of power to a man like that - and Lamm killed her."
She sighs. "It's always the women who suffer for the men's misdeeds, but I don't need to tell you that, do I? As for finding you, I asked the cards and used the Sight to find you. Finding and seeing, are my gifts; justice and revenge, not so much."
She looks thoughtfully at Alexiad, before turning back to Mira. "Your brother's going to ask why I don't just ask for help, instead of trading for it, isn't that right? He does like to help people. Very trusting. But people who trust can be betrayed, can't they? Even by those closest to them. Especially by those closest to them. Can you be sure that what he doesn't know won't hurt him?" Her eyes glint as she looks at you for a reply.
Alexiad puts a hand on his sister's shoulder, giving a reassuring squeeze. He looks at Zellara with a defiant expression. "I don't know what your game is, but if you're suggesting Mira would betray me, that's ridiculous, and if there's something she isn't telling me then it's for a good reason. I trust her. With my life, if it comes to it."
Mira remains unfazed at the explanation:"First, I am sorry to hear about your granddaughter. Lamm has caused a lot of suffering, and he will pay for it, dearly, in this life or after Pharasma judged him."
Mira absent-mindedly grabs her wrist with the other hand, her tattoo suddenly itching.
"The reason I asked for your own role is that I am certain you are not alone. It may have been you, the Cards and the Sight that lead you to us, in which case I hope Lamm has no one with the same gifts on his payroll...but I am certain that it was not you who delivered these...", she lifts her own Courtesan-Card up. "It certainly managed to get my attention, but at the same time puts me on edge because I felt vulnerable long enough, and whoever sneaked by me while I slept brings that insecurity back..."
Her eyes narrow a bit:"As for your final Implication, if your Cards and Sight mean to imply I would betray my brother, then I am done here. That which he does not know, I have not told to spare him pain, to keep him safe, and to keep me safe. Telling him would only bring unnecessary danger to all of us."
The old woman shrugs. "It was a Sending ritual, dear - I don't have servants who sneak into people's bedrooms while they sleep! But if you're looking for security, then I cannot help you. Lamm is nothing compared with what this city faces. The cards tell me of catastrophe piled upon catastrophe... but I am getting ahead of myself."
"You want to know where to find Lamm. You may not realise it, but you have already struck him a grave blow. The destruction of his hidden laboratory has deprived him of money, and influence. But most of all, its location was known only to a few - he now suspects them of treachery. Almost friendless and alone, he has retreated with his inner circle of acquaintances to his last, and best, hideout. The nobleman Ausio Carowynn knows Lamm from time long past. It is with him that Lamm now resides, as he gathers the last of his funds and calls in the last of his favours, before he flees this city for good."
Zellara pauses, thinking about what to say next. "Lord Carowynn himself is almost untouchable - he has long made an enemy of the King and of his Queen, and he has guards and magical wards. Sneaking in is out of the question."
She gives a grim smile. "Fortunately for you - for us - he and his wife also have, of course, nearly unlimited vanity: a desire to show off themselves and their wealth. As you know, in two weeks' it is the feast of All Souls, and the Carowynns' party for this is the most extravagant in Korvosa - masked balls, costumes, imported food and wine, no expense spared. Anyone who is anyone tries to get an invite to their grand house in South Shore."
She looks at you. "Once inside, you will find Lamm somewhere out of sight. Look for either a cellar or a loft, or possibly a building on the grounds that nobody is going into. When you find him, you will find my cards - the ones he stole from me."
"It is not security I was worried about...but if you, a stranger, managed to find me, and deliver a note while I slept, then I have to be afraid that others with a stronger bond could find and kill me in the same manner. I did not mean to pry into your secrets. If you can guarantee that the path you took is not open to Lamm, I am content.", Mira shifts uncomfortable on her chair. No matter what kind of ritual that was, she would not sleep calmly without jury-rigging the windows and doors to give an audible alarm upon entry.
When the name Carowynn fell, Mira froze. She and her brother both knew that name - back then, they were still allowed to meet and talk. He took her innocence from her...or at least completed what Lamm had started.
And his name was among those of a few select individuals that Mira intended to take revenge on. Lethal revenge.
Lamm hiding there simply meant she could swat two flies at once.
Her hands formed into fists, she listened silently as Zellara explained:"I will seek contact with a few of my former clients...I think I may be able to aquire such invitations. For both of us.", she faces Lexi: "On such short notice, there's no other chance. And yes, I am going to try to kill Carowynn. He's long overdue for judgement, and if the guards don't deliver it, Pharasma will..
Alexiad hasn't forgotten the name. He hasn't forgotten the sick feeling of helpless rage, of knowing what had happened to Mira and being powerless to do anything about it.
He wraps his arms around her, holding her close. "I'm not going stop you, sis. Hell, I'll hold your cloak while you end him."
Zellara looks sceptical. "Lord Carowyn has made an enemy of the king and most especially his queen. He has protection you won't get past, and if you try, you will fail - and die. And Lamm will live."
"I'll be the judge of that. I'll heed your advice, but I won't pass up an opportunity to end him now. And end him, I will. If not now, then another time!", Mira is agitated, and feels herself slipping into...a different self.
Quickly getting a grip on herself, breathing in and out in a controlled pattern, focusing on the lines on the wooden table mentally, she returns to her usual self: "It is unfortunate if Carowyn indeed survives the night, but the important thing is to get Lamm. I will not let hatred distract me from what we need to do. As long as Lamm lives, we won't be save."
Mira sighs - then raises her hand, holding Lexi's arm close to her: "Your support means a lot to me. Alas, first, we need to aquire an invitation to the place. I'll do that. Lexi, you take care of the costumes! So short before the feast of All Souls, it may be hard to come by something that does not look out of place at a nobles party, but I am certain you can manage!"
Alexiad nods, wrapping an arm around his sister's waist. "Leave the costume to me, I have an idea already."
He bows to the fortune-teller: it seems a good idea not to offend someone who seems to know too much about him. "Farewell, Zellara - and thank you."
Leading Mira out of the weird house, back on to the relative normality of the streets, he shuts the door carefully behind them as they leave. He shakes his head, and grins lopsidedly at Mira. "OK. Did any of that strike you as normal?"
"Anyway. Enough of that for now. Let's grab some dinner - I know just the place. It's time for us to catch up on each other's lives."
Mira ponders their situation for a moment longer, but concludes that there was little else to talk about with Zellara - the woman was dangerous, no matter her intentions: "Farewell. Thank you for the information, we'll remember the cards when the time comes."
After they leave, she makes sure they move away from the door before she answers Lexi: "Far from it. Definitely not normal. Most in her profession are simply playing tricks on people. And honestly, I am more comfortable believing she is being dishonest over believing her art is real and my privacy is not."
She shakes her head: "Just imagine what such power in the wrong hands could do..."
When Lexi sees her dwelling on the topic, he attempts to cut it off by suggesting Dinner, and Mira gladly focuses on something else: "Ah, certainly! I was so anxious and excited because of the meeting I totally forgot about being hungry. And it'll be great to have some time to talk. Where are we going? You know, just because Lamm is in hiding does not mean all his associates are..."
She didn't want to be a worrywart - she trusted her brothers choice of location, but it felt better to speak up and be reassured than to have the thought linger in the back of her mind.
After they leave, she makes sure they move away from the door before she answers Lexi: "Far from it. Definitely not normal. Most in her profession are simply playing tricks on people. And honestly, I am more comfortable believing she is being dishonest over believing her art is real and my privacy is not."
She shakes her head: "Just imagine what such power in the wrong hands could do..."
That comment gives Alexiad considerable pause. It's true: the degree of Sight that Zellara has shown is the sort that only the most powerful of Pharasma's priests are gifted with. Whatever powered her vision must have been something truly out of the ordinary. He shakes his head. It's just one more mystery, but it will keep for now.
"I'm fairly sure she's on our side - or at least, against Lamm. It'll do me for now."
When Lexi sees her dwelling on the topic, he attempts to cut it off by suggesting Dinner, and Mira gladly focuses on something else: "Ah, certainly! I was so anxious and excited because of the meeting I totally forgot about being hungry. And it'll be great to have some time to talk. Where are we going? You know, just because Lamm is in hiding does not mean all his associates are..."She didn't want to be a worrywart - she trusted her brothers choice of location, but it felt better to speak up and be reassured than to have the thought linger in the back of her mind.
Alexiad grins, his good humour restored for the moment. "Where we're going, Sis, that won't be a problem. Which reminds me..."
Quickly ducking down one of the many back alleys that twist and turn through this quarter, he shucks off his priestly robes and dresses in something more conspicuous (giving Mira - if she's peeking - a glimpse of the taut, street-fighter's build that still lurks beneath the concealment of holy orders). He emerges a few moments later, dressed in shabby but reasonably smart (and most importantly, nondescript) civilian clothes.
He bows, and offers her his arm. "Shall we?"
Mira shivers slightly:"Yes, I believe she is on the same side as us. But the implications of that power are scary, nonetheless..."
She sighs, then shrugs:"But beggars can't be choosers...Story of our Life, hu?"
When her brother suddenly rushes into one of the back alleys, Mira's first instinct is to follow. When he suddenly starts to change clothing, she's too surprised to do anything but stare. While her mind attempts to process how what is happening is connected with getting dinner, her eyes just take in the raw, unfiltered information summing up that her brother's puberty has been taking him in a very different direction from her own.
Just as he is about to be finished, Mira shifts out of the Alley, slightly blushing as she realizes she was gawking. When he returns and offers his arm, she smiles, curtsies, and takes his arm:"We shall."
From where you currently are (slap in the middle of Midland district), your path leads up north and west, to where North Point forms a 'buffer zone' between the gentrified glory of The Heights and the slum central of Old Korvosa. Here, the worst effects of Old Korvosa are kept at bay by the bridges; and those visiting from The Heights get a genteel taste of urban danger, although with plenty of the Korvosan Guard on hand things are law-abiding, more or less.
This is where the semi-legitimate businesses thrive, the pawnshops that take stolen goods (if they're not too hot) and the various fronts for the Cerulean Society (Korvosa's official thieves' guild). It's a place that Lamm and his kind are not welcome - Lamm, after all, plays by nobody's rules.
And even criminals need to eat: at this hour of the evening, mouth-watering scents float across the air from tiny restaurants, little more than kitchens with a common eating area.
Your destination however is a little more discreet: when you enter, you see that the dining room has been partitioned off into curtained areas. As the serving-girl comes to greet you, the flap of curtain she emerges from parts briefly, revealing a glimpse of one of the Cerulean Society's more well-known crime bosses, busy eating with friends or enemies, it's impossible to know for sure.
The waitress (one of Alexiad's rescues, much like Breeze and her sister were) curtsies to you both, her eyes fixed intently on Alexiad; although he seems oblivious as ever. She takes you to a small table, and brings you a jug of wine before leaving you to it.
Alexiad smiles, relaxing slightly as he pours two glasses of wine, passing one to Mira. "Cheers, sis." He points at the curtains enveloping the table. "This place is discreet, so don't worry about being overheard. And the Cerulean Society hates Lamm, so we can relax a bit, for now."
He smiles. "A long time since we spent time together. Of course, Lamm killing me didn't help with that! I don't recommend dying, sis. It's not a comfortable experience." One hand idly fiddles with the spiral of Pharasma around his neck: even out of his priest's robes, he is still mindful of the goddess he serves.
"Cheers!", Mira sips from her wine. She had not eaten much today, and was slim - resulting in a remarkably low tolerance for intoxication.
And she was not quite comfortable enough in this place to let her guard down - but then, Lexi seemed relaxed enough. She takes another small sip.
"Discreet can be good and bad. The Society may hate Lamm, but if he got Bounty Hunters looking for us, they can still move freely. But you are right, we can't worry ALL the time."
Mira attempts to look around, with not much success, considering the nature of the place:"It's been a long time since we had a chance to relax and spend time together...much too long. So tell me more about what you've been doing - Do you come here often? It seemed like the waitress and you had a past...at least it seemed like she wanted to greet you with a kiss. Probably would have, if she knew I'm your sister, and not a romantic date."
She leans on the table, flutters with her eyelashes, and flutes in a mockery:"Oh my, this place, what a hardened criminal you must be to take me here for dinner."
She then laughs, more of a giggle, but bright and clear - genuine - before realizing the tattoo on the back of her hand - causing her to quickly stop laughing and covering it with the other hand. She still was not used to it.
Alexiad grins back: "I've missed your laugh, sis. I've missed you. So much." His hand slides across the table, covering hers as he references the tattoo she is hiding. "I know, sis. I know what that tattoo means. If you want to talk to me about it, about what ... happened to you, then I'm here to listen. If you just want to forget about it and never discuss it then that's fine, too. Whatever you want."
He gives her hand a squeeze. "You're free now. You don't have to do anything you don't want to."
He leans back in his seat. "As for me, well... quite a lot of my time has been learning to be a priest rather than a thug, you know? And most of the rest of my time was spent looking for you, although I found a bunch of people on the way - Breeze, her sister, our - my - masked friend, of course..." He looks momentarily awkward and hastily moves on. "And Lianna; that's the waitress here, by the way, and I'm pretty sure she guessed we're twins. I mean, I know I've got taller, and you've got... curvier." He coughs.
"But we still look pretty similar, you know. At least, I think so. Although you're definitely prettier than I am!" He winks at her.
As Alexiad grins at her, Mira pouts playfully: "You missed me? What should I say, I thought you were dead. I always felt it was not so, deep inside, but I was afraid I was just lying to myself to keep going! I thought I had lost you!"
When he covers her hand, her first instinct is to withdraw it, but she holds still: "It...nevermind. I am just glad that Lord Carowyn has such tastes as he has. He offered Lamm a lot of money to have me...unsoiled. What I'm trying to say is...you saved me in time. It's...despite the tattoo, I never had to...you know.", Mira blushes violently as she tries to explain, but eventually stammers out.
She is glad when the uncomfortable silence gets broken by Lexi explaining about what he was doing, and she even manages to smile again: "Silly Lexi, it's not like we're identical twins. You think we look similar because I'm familiar to you. Not that Lianna would notice even if you were right - she has eyes only for you - boys are pretty in different ways, you know?"