Gusairne once more is fooled by Sara's charm offensive, distracting him for some time and allowing the rest of you to better prepare for the remainder of his inspection.
While Sara occupies the Seneschal, Zhi makes a circuit of the manor. Anything that might be even remotely incriminating gets temporarily stowed in her bag-o-everything.
If in the process, she surreptitiously keeps an eye out for anything Melodie might have stashed for her birthday, she keeps it to herself.
She then heads into town to stash it behind the bar in the tavern.
"Could you keep an eye on this for me for just a little bit, Onora?" she asks before returning to the estate to be by Melodie's side.
Once she arrives back at the manor, she takes the changeling's arm possessively.
"Sir Gusairne," she says. "It's so thoughtful of you to arrive for my birthday. There's no need to make a big fuss, though."
For some reason she feels the need to poke the bear just a little.
"If you'd like to stay around for a few days, you might even get invited to our wedding."
She leans closer to the taller woman and plants a gentle kiss on her shoulder, bringing attention to the myriad of marks on the woman's skin.
Gusairne raises an eyebrow at Zhi's declaration. He looks between the rogue and Melodie, and consternation briefly clouds his features before quickly vanishing behind his usual stern gaze. "Hmm. Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials. I'm afraid my duties will keep me far too busy to attend the ceremony, however."
Duchess Veleto seems to be quite good at hiding, as there's no sign of her when Gusairne does his sweep of the manor.
It's clear the inquisitor is distracted as he conducts his inspection of the Wolf's Whisker, giving the bar just a cursory glance and overlooking the stash of incriminating evidence.
Melodie on the other hand seems to have no interest in Guisarne at all, giving the man a frankly vicious cold shoulder with all the disdain that nobles are capable of. If the Night Swan were present she'd probably feel that all of her bad opinions about Lady d'Valois were justified!
Gusairne meets Melodie's disdain head on, though it's evident that the seneschal is used to this sort of treatment when dealing with nobles. Because of this, the inquisitor doesn't bother looking too closely to notice that Melodie is anything more than what he expects her to be.
As the day concludes, Gusairne nods in satisfaction, "Once more, it appears the rumor mill in Lotheedar has got things wrong. I shall report to His Excellency that he has nothing to worry about here in Stachys. May the Master of the First Vault guide your efforts to continue with your civic improvements. Good day."
He bows and departs.
"So what do you think about Lady d'Valois Mai Zhi? It's got kind of a rhythm to it," she says after a moment, looking up with a grin.
"Oh, so you're just marrying me for my name?" Melodie asks with a smile. "Would that make you Zhi d'Valois, Mai Zhi d'Valois? I still don't really understand how names work in Tian Zia."
With Gusairne safely diverted Melodie leaves Zhi to restore the various items she whisked away from around the manor and shuts herself away, first in her study in the top of the tower where she has a long conversation with the domovoi and writes a letter, and then in her bedroom.
When Zhi arrives, she finds the whole room softly lit by paper red paper lanterns, with strings of small, intricate flags strung across the room and Melodie's usual desk pushed back to the wall to make space for a long, low table set on a beautifully elaborate rug. The air is filled with the scents of Tien cooking and Melodie stands at the far side wearing a wrap-around silk gown and a wide belt.
"Happy Birthday, fiancée." She says with a smile, stepping around the table to kiss Zhi. "I'm so lucky that I get to say that!"
She leads Zhi by the hand to the table and gestures for her to sit down. "I tried to get as much food from your homeland as possible - I'm afraid I don't know what any of it is supposed to taste like, so I hope it tastes all right!"
After dinner Melodie comes around the table to sit next to Zhi and produces a carefully wrapped parcel. "It's not up to what you gave me yesterday, but this is your first present." She demands a kiss before handing the package over, and watches as Zhi opens a pair of long boots in a fine deep blue. They lace up from the back and at the top, just above the laces is a small silver raven.
"I hope you like them," She says, a hint of anxiety in her voice. "They're enchanted, and specially designed to support your feet. I also made sure they had a bit of a heel - you'll be nearly as tall as me in them!" After another deep kiss she pulls back, looks Zhi in the eyes and smiles.
"This is your other present. But you have to promise not to read it until I'm out of the room." She says, pulling another scroll from inside her robe and pressing it into Zhi's hand, before rising and stepping quietly out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
The note reads. Wait five minutes, and then come and find me in our bedroom. No clothes allowed, except for your present.
When Zhi enters the bedroom she finds it lit with the same soft red lanterns. On a side table lies a selection of items Zhi has never seen before including two sets of soft leather cuffs, massage oil, some coiled lengths of short rope and a variety of other items which Zileska would likely recognise, including a small flogger. Melodie is kneeling on the floor by the table in nothing but a thin collar around her neck with the word 'Zhi's' embroidered on it in silver thread.
"I'm your present Mistress, what do you desire?" She asks as Zhi closes the door behind her.
"Oh, so you're just marrying me for my name?" Melodie asks with a smile. "Would that make you Zhi d'Valois, Mai Zhi d'Valois? I still don't really understand how names work in Tian Zia."
"Of course," Zhi replies with a giggle. "How else am I going to move up in society. Oh, wait, I'm already a 'Lady'."
She turns more serious, but no less affectionate as she pulls the taller woman closer.
"In Minkai, family is always considered more important than the individual and the names reflect that. The most important name comes first. So I am of my father's family, the family of Mai. And my personal name is Zhi. If it wouldn't create more confusion than anything, I'd go with the name of Melodie Mai Zhi."
She looks Melodie in the eyes.
"The most important name first."
She leans in for a quick kiss, but the kiss goes longer then intended. Once she pulls back, she says with a smile, "I'll settle for d'Valois Mai Zhi."
~~~~~~
As Gusairne departs, Zhi turns to Melodie. "Brrrr ... " she says, touching Melodie's shoulder with a giggle. "I'll just hope that cold tone never gets turned on me."
She giggles some more, but there's a small trace of apprehension in her humor.
As Gusairne departs, Zhi turns to Melodie. "Brrrr ... " she says, touching Melodie's shoulder with a giggle. "I'll just hope that cold tone never gets turned on me."
She giggles some more, but there's a small trace of apprehension in her humor.
I'm sorry it has been so long since my last letter, it has been very busy here in Meratt and I have wonderful news for you both!
I'm engaged!
I've already told you a lot about Zhi, the young woman you met after the Exaultation Massacre. I've cared for her deeply for a long time and she's returned my feelings - I think I already wrote to you about her becoming my girlfriend in my last letter.
Well she told me a few days ago that she had a surprise for me, which seemed a little odd since it was her birthday coming up! Thank you for your help with her present - I'm going to give them to her tonight and I know she'll love her new boots. (She's quite short, and I tease her about it, so I know she'll appreciate the heels!)
Well she gathered half of the village in the Wolf's Whisker and I thought she was going to make some sort of big announcement about the village or the new improvements we've been working on. Instead she serenaded me with a special song and then proposed! I think I must have blushed like a lighthouse but I said yes of course!
I really want you to meet her properly mother, so I was hoping you could come to Stachys soon and see what we've been able to do here. It's been hard work but I truly feel that we've made a difference and that people's lives are actually improving! I'd love you and Father to see it all and meet Zhi properly. I need to talk to you about the wedding too, I don't want to plan it on my own!
Could you bring, or send, grandmother's ring for me? Zhi gave me a ring and I want to give her one that shows how much she means to me.
Your loving daughter, and soon-to-be bride,
Melodie.
P.S. I've been hearing the music I mentioned to you a lot, do you have any idea what it might be? I don't think anything strange has happened again but I keep feeling nervous for no reason, like someone is watching me or calling to me.
I'm sorry, it was silly. Don't worry Mother.
Lot's of love.
When Zhi arrives in the study, she's dressed in a long black silk dress with a high collar but no sleeves. There are silver threads thoughout that when the light changes on it shimmer in a celestial pattern. Her hair is pulled high and held with silver pins. Over one ear is the flower that accompanied the invitation.
"Happy Birthday, fiancée." She says with a smile, stepping around the table to kiss Zhi. "I'm so lucky that I get to say that!"
She leads Zhi by the hand to the table and gestures for her to sit down. "I tried to get as much food from your homeland as possible - I'm afraid I don't know what any of it is supposed to taste like, so I hope it tastes all right!"
Zhi looks around the room in amazement.
"You're the lucky one?" she finally manages to stammer out. "Melodie ... "
She clears her throat and reaches up and wipes her eyes.
"Melodie, no one has ever ... I don't know what to say. This is so sweet. Thank you."
...
At seeing her new boots, Zhi coos over them. She pulls them up to her face and rubs the material against her cheek.
"These are beautiful! Thank you!
...
Zhi enters the bedroom still in her black dress, but as the door clicks closed the dress vanishes revealing Zhi standing naked with the exception of the blue high boots.
If the dinner was overwhelming, the scene laid out before her in the bedroom leaves her entirely speechless.
"I'm your present Mistress, what do you desire?" She asks as Zhi closes the door behind her.
Zhi walks slowly over to the side table and looks over the items laid out there. After a moment, she reaches out and gingerly picks up a small marble sphere. After feeling its weight in her hand, she sets it back down next to its twin with a faint -click-. She then reaches out and traces her finger along the length of the flogger.
Images of the marks the flogger would leave on Melodie's delicate skin begin to flood her mind and Zhi pulls her hand back as if burned.
She turns and looks back at the kneeling changeling and her breathing becomes heavier. She steps over to her, her feet making almost no sound on the wooden floor.
Oh gods, are we really doing this? She's so beautiful.
Her hand hesitantly reaches out and touches the collar around the girl's neck, tracing the embroidery spelling out her ownership. Her finger moves underneath Melodie's chin and she slowly lifts her face to look at her. Her finger continues to trace upwards following the tracery of lines on the girl's face indicating the porcelain mask.
That's cheating.
She reaches out and pulls the mask from Melodie's face. She turns and walks away, placing the mask on the bureau. She stands there still for a moment, steadying her breathing and gathering her courage. Her thoughts go back to the book she had borrowed from Zileska and some of its warnings.
She turns back around and slowly walks back to Melodie. She ensures that her heels click on the floor with each step. Once she reaches the kneeling woman, she leans down and whispers in her ear, "Do you know what a 'safeword' is, printesa mea?"
The day after Zhi's birthday, Sara seeks out Melodie, requesting to further discuss "civics" with a barge ride in the bog. "Just a private trip out to go and make sure the pumphouse is running right."
While out and about, she explains that the Night Swan is prepared to come out openly in favor of them and their cause, providing the Baron Okerra is also.
"This is just me speaking, but it's time to start thinking about our end game here. I think that we need to start carefully coming out to some of our allies, and asking them to stand with us when the time comes, namely Okerra and Voinum.
"We don't want people believing we stole the land for the Princess or that she is a usurper, and we don't want people idolizing Bartleby or viewing him as a martyr. With the open support of the nobility, those outside Merratt will view our claim as legitimate, and with the open support of the Night Swan, the common folk will as well.
"I know your opinions of her, and I understand your worries, but Swan has the love and support of the people, and if she supports us, they support us."
The morning after her birthday, Zhi takes ink and parchment and begins writing a letter that she's always entertained the notion of writing. It's been a long time since she's written the Minkaian symbols, but they come back without much urging.
There are tears in her eyes by the time she finishes but it feels like a catharsis and once she's finished she returns to their bed and curls up to Melodie with kisses.
10 Gozran, 4718 AR
Stachys, Maratt, TaldorTo Matsua Aiko,
Kasai, MinkaiI've wanted to write this for a long time, but each time I try, the anger gets so great that it overwhelms me. Something has changed. I think the anger is becoming diluted with something else; sadness. Sadness for you.
There are so many things that you have missed in my life. Good things and bad things alike. Things that a mother should share with her daughter. Moments that should have been shared and are now gone forever.
And there are things that you will miss. That's another reason I finally decided to write this letter. I'm getting married.
Her name is Melodie d'Valois and she's such a beautiful woman. She's kind, tender, thoughtful, compassionate, strong, loyal, and she loves me. Sometimes I wonder why. And she has a voice like angels. You wouldn't believe what she did for me for my birthday.
Speaking of which; That's more moments that you've missed. Nineteen birthdays. When I was little, I would spend my birthday wish on the hope that you would somehow magically appear and make everything better. That you would finally arrive and fill that spot that's been vacant all this time.
I think I'm old enough now to finally realize that that spot will never be filled. It will always be an ache that will be unsoothable. But one of the things that Father taught me was that pain is one of the ways that life teaches you important lessons.
The lesson that ache teaches me is that I do want to be a mother some day. I want to be the mother that you never were. I want to see my child's smile in the happy moments and be there to dry their tears in the sad.
I don't know how we'll make that work. Perhaps we'll adopt. I've tought myself magic so maybe I'll be able to find a magical means to facilitate it. Yes, something else I've learned without your help.
He's gone now. Father, that is. I don't know what happened. It's been over a year and I'm now convinced that he's dead. So it looks like there won't be anyone on my side of the wedding isle. The wedding will really be for Melodie, anyways. I asked her and she said yes - that's enough for me.
I know now that you're not coming. You're not going to magically appear and I will live the rest of my life never knowing you. You'll never be here to answer my questions. You'll never be here to partake in my joys and sorrows.
The only thing I'd really like to know is why? Why did you leave? Was it me? Was I that much of a burden? I don't really expect an answer.
I guess that's the real reason I'm writing now. Not for answers, but to ensure that you are not allowed to imagine that I don't exist. I'm here and I'm a wonderful person and you'll never get a chance to know me.
No need to worry, I won't write again.
Your daughter.
Mai Zhi, soon to be d'Valois Mai Zhi
The day after Zhi's birthday, Sara seeks out Melodie, requesting to further discuss "civics" with a barge ride in the bog. "Just a private trip out to go and make sure the pumphouse is running right."
While out and about, she explains that the Night Swan is prepared to come out openly in favor of them and their cause, providing the Baron Okerra is also.
"This is just me speaking, but it's time to start thinking about our end game here. I think that we need to start carefully coming out to some of our allies, and asking them to stand with us when the time comes, namely Okerra and Voinum.
"We don't want people believing we stole the land for the Princess or that she is a usurper, and we don't want people idolizing Bartleby or viewing him as a martyr. With the open support of the nobility, those outside Merratt will view our claim as legitimate, and with the open support of the Night Swan, the common folk will as well.
"I know your opinions of her, and I understand your worries, but Swan has the love and support of the people, and if she supports us, they support us."
Melodie listens quietly to Sara's explanations and nods slowly when she is finished. "Good points, all of them. I never knew that you were such a deep thinker Sara!" She says the last bit with a wink and a small grin. "I've been thinking about what you said too and I don't think Bartelby is ever going to be seen as a martyr - you have to have some sort of popularity for that and I don't think he does, no matter how within his rights he is he just isn't a warm enough person, I can see that now."
She pauses before continuing. "That makes it more important than ever that we are the ones with popular support. I'm sure the people of Stachys will support us now, and with Dame Crabbe on side Moost as well. We shouldn't rush this though - if nothing else it's for the Princess or Martella to give us the final word, but until then we need to focus on our public presence, build up ourselves and loyalty to our cause to make sure that the people see us as the ones in the right."
"I don't know how well Baron Okerra will take this idea..." She muses quietly. "I think Voinum will be fine - she has no love for Bartelby so we can probably count on her neutrality at least, benevolent neutrality even if we make sure to send her a few more bottles of this years wine. You and she got on well, perhaps you and Maria could check up on her?"
By this point its clear that Melodie is thinking aloud as much as actually having a conversation. "Okerra... Zhi and I will need to have that conversation. He's close to Zhi and she to him, and I'm the one who will actually bear responsibility so I need to be there to prove to the Baron that this is something we are serious about. A letter from the Princess would help, but that's too dangerous..."
With the pumphouse finally in sight Melodie snaps out of her reverie to look at Sara properly. "So, what would you suggest Sara? What else can we do to secure the loyalty of the people? If... when, we go up against Bartleby we need as many people on side as possible."
When Sara suggests that she and Melodie venture into the bog to discuss the current political situation, Zhi is visibly annoyed but doesn't interfere.
"You be careful," she says with a simple kiss and then a eye at Sara. "The bog still isn't completely safe. There are still dangers there."
~~~
She takes the opportunity to spend some time with Zileska and return the book that she had borrowed.
"It had some great stories," she says. "I think I might need more practical information though."
Blushing profusely, Zhi confides in the priestess the nature of her birthday present. Even going so far as to describe some of the implements that Melodie purchased.
"I'm feeling kind of ... out of my element," she says finally in conclusion. "I really enjoyed last night and want to continue to ... to ... enjoy ... her."
Her desire is clear.
"But I don't like that I haven't a clue what I'm doing."
"I don't think we should split the party on this; I think we'll need everyone's body and voice to get our point across and gather the trust of our friends. An intimate request makes sense but it's like," she trails off.
"We're asking our allies to enter open warfare against their Count, even if it's just a body on a horse they send, that's still mutiny, but like, not on a ship. I dunno, I'm just nervous about doing this piecemeal." Sara sighs and runs her hand through her long thick hair. She continues to push the barge in the general direction of the pumphouse.
"I'm the one who brought the Night Swan into this, so, at the very least, I'd like to be there to convince the Baron of her goodwill. Let me draw his ire.
"But if you think we should split this mission up into chunks, maybe Maria and Zileska can go to New Towne and Jambis to ask for help from Vort and Telus, and while they're there they can help them settle back in, and we can all meet back in Moost or Voinaris to finish it together."
Melodie shrugs. "It's for speed mostly. I suspect Crabbe will be with us - we made a good impression by saving Sepsimia. The same with Telus, Zileska has him over a barrel and he's a red-blooded male so she can probably convince him to do just about anything..."
"As I said, I think Voinum is too canny to support us openly. She was really direct when we negotiated last, she'll want us to lay it out straight but I don't know what support she can offer, what any of them can do really, except for not telling Bartelby that we're coming. Baron Okkera is the only one who really matters I think, if we can't convince him that we mean well then he might well oppose us and he's the most powerful noble around her after the Count."
As they arrive at the pumphouse and Melodie steps delicately from the barge she turns back to Sara. "It's not that you can't do it - I just think that, since you are the one talking to the Night Swan its better that you don't see Okerra, ig you do it gives him someone tangible to be angry with."
Once they've checked the pump-house, which seems to be running smoothly(?), Melodie looks to Sara as they start the journey back. "So, how do you want us to do this? This is your plan, I'll back you whatever you suggest to the others." She gives Sara a smile. "We're in this together."
By the end of the party as the guests have drunkenly assigned their ribbons, Zileska brings up the winners, gives them gifts, and then provides the promised tokens for the forlorn and lonely souls who had no ribbons of their own. She helps to herd the children back home with their toys and candies and even helps a bit with the clean-up.
She winds down from her party with a raucous romp with her Duchess, then when word comes down that Gusairne is coming knocking again, she equally quickly switches gears to help find the Duchess a comfy place out of sight.
~~~~~~~~~~
The next day she's nowhere to be seen. As Gusairne performs his examinations, there's no sign of the priestess anywhere. Somehow, though, once he leaves, she's back again in time for supper.
"So Zhi, I would be delighted to explain to you about the nuances of what could be useful to you," she says as Zhi returns her book. "A private conversation after supper, perhaps."
"Maria," she says to the detective over supper, "I haven't been a very good friend to you lately. All this whirlwind of activity and we never just sit down and talk. I'm sorry for that. Let me know if there's some way I can make it up to you."
~~~~~~~~~~
As the discussion moves to political matters, she listens carefully, then says, "As an aside... does anyone know how many militants the church of Abadar has? Since he's the lawful ruler, the Count will have their support, and in large municipalities that church has knights and paladins and other hard bodies."
"Telus, though... I'd be happy to go diplomacize him. He can bend me over a barrel if he wants."
As the discussion moves to political matters, she listens carefully, then says, "As an aside... does anyone know how many militants the church of Abadar has? Since he's the lawful ruler, the Count will have their support, and in large municipalities that church has knights and paladins and other hard bodies."
"Telus, though... I'd be happy to go diplomacize him. He can bend me over a barrel if he wants."
"That's why our current work is so important." Melodie agrees. "We have to make sure that we are seen as being the champions of Meratt, that we are the ones in the right. If we have the people on side, nobles and Unbearded alike then we will be in a much stronger position. Even if the church is meant to send help, that doesn't mean they will... if they believe Bartelby to be in the wrong."
Zileska shakes her head in a rare show of disagreement. "No... the Abadarans are not as concerned with right as they are with legal. Even if they think that the Count is a bad person, they will support him as the lawful ruler. What will motivate them to stand aside, or to oppose him, is if he proves to be unlawful; that is, if he is somehow shown to be not the real ruler, or has committed some offense so grievous that Taldan law demands his removal. A small number of Abadarans may disagree, may even hate him, but they will quote chapter and verse - literally - to defend his position, no matter how terrible he is, as long as he hasn't broken the law."
If the discussion involves Zhi at all, she'll confirm that the Baron has said that he'll stand with them, whatever they choose to do.
It'll also remind her that she needs to write a very gushing girly letter to Selli to let her know that she's engaged.
Zileska shakes her head in a rare show of disagreement. "No... the Abadarans are not as concerned with right as they are with legal. Even if they think that the Count is a bad person, they will support him as the lawful ruler. What will motivate them to stand aside, or to oppose him, is if he proves to be unlawful; that is, if he is somehow shown to be not the real ruler, or has committed some offense so grievous that Taldan law demands his removal. A small number of Abadarans may disagree, may even hate him, but they will quote chapter and verse - literally - to defend his position, no matter how terrible he is, as long as he hasn't broken the law."
"So we emphasise that we are acting for the princess, who is asking Bartelby to step down from the role of Royal Steward. What could be more legal than that?" Melodie suggests, looking at Zileska to gauge her opinion on that strategy.
"There you go. Use their chapter and verse. Bartelby is legally obligated to renounce his position when the rightful ruler requests it. The Abadarans won't have any wiggle room there," says Zileska.
Sara nods thoughtfully at Melodie's comments. "If not me, take the others, or at least Maria, if Zileska plans on asking Telus for aid. I'll go and meet with the Baroness privately- we're friends, after all."
She pushes the barge in silence for about a minute before slapping herself in the face. "A coup! That's the word I was looking for, not mutiny."
----
Sara is loathe to bring up these details inside as long as the Duchess remains with them, but does so anyway, likely at Melodie's prompting.
"But what if the Grand Banker approaches Bartleby? We can't just waltz up to her and be like 'hi, we're here to ask Lotheed to step down as steward and return the county and his landings to the Princess, it's all above board thanks.' She could easily sabotage this for us. As much as I hate to disappoint a woman, when the time comes, we could just send her fake tickets to that opera in Oppara. I'd imply that I'll meet her there and then just- not show."
As an afterthought, she says, "Us approaching our allies doesn't mean today, tomorrow, or even soon; our goal is just to make sure that we have the support of the whole county, and that when we call, they will answer."
"I'm not saying that we necessarily go to the Grand Banker in advance. She may be Abadaran, but she's a smart woman. If the whole situation suddenly unfolds and the clear deduction is that Bartelby must legally step down, not only because of law but for the stability of the county, she's canny enough to know which way the wind is blowing," says Zileska.
Sara nods, understanding better the points being made. "There's also the Beggarwood to discuss. As I understand it, there's a bounty out on the leaders there, the Four Hoods. While we're seeking out allies, we can't forget them."
"Or the people living there," says Zileska in agreement. "Living in squalor is a poor kind of freedom."
"I still don't think we should send our public faces to the Beggerwood," Zhi says. "I'm not sure which way that's going to go, and if we end up recruiting them, then I think it would be better if it wasn't the 'Ladies of Betony' seen doing that."
Sara smiles, "I can go, then. Claim to represent the Night Swan, say we're preparing to do war against Bartleby. If rumors of our treachery reach the Count, it will only be that the Four Hoods have teamed up with a couple of birds."
Later that evening, Zhi takes pen to paper again. Although, this letter is much more enjoyable for her to write.
Dear Selli,
I hope you had fun on our fishing trip. I know I really enjoyed having you with us. If we do something like that again, I'll invite you.
I'm so excited! Do you remember the Lady d'Valois from the fishing trip? The one that sang so beautifully. (The one that I said was my girlfriend?) Well, I didn't think I would be able to do it (in fact, I didn't do it like I really wanted), but I asked her to marry me!
Selli, she said yes!!!
Oh, gods, she makes me so happy!! I still can't believe it. I'm going to be the Lady d'Valois Mai Zhi!
We haven't decided when we're having the wedding, but I'd love it if you'd be there.
Zhi
"It's fine, Zileska," Maria responded when the cleric asked if there was a way to make it up to her, "I've just been distracted with a few things lately. Getting us some eyes and ears elsewhere in Meratt is taking up more of my time than I thought, despite it being more of a managerial position at this stage."
As the conversation shifted to how the Church of Abadar would react, Maria spoke up. "I'll see about doing some research into the relevant laws and scripture that might sway them either direction. If we want to avoid a conflict with them, better to make sure we have the right tools to sway them. Being able to quote their own doctrine back to them should help."
"Oh, before I forget to mention, if you are going to want more practical instruction, be sure to tell Melodie first. The last thing I need is for her to barge in while I'm showing you something exotic and draw the wrong conclusion and turn everything into a screaming fight."
"I mean, it would be hot, but bad."
"Yes ... that ... that would be bad," she finally manages.
She then looks confused.
"Wait, why would that be hot?"
"Sex involves consent, which means it involves power. Power over people, to give them pleasure, or receive it; to grant your favor or withhold it. Power to make them so crazed with lust that they know not what they do."
"This power relation means that conflict is also at the heart of sexuality. That is why Calistria is both lust and revenge. Lovers quarrel and that heat is stronger than any other argument. Those spurned enact their bloody vengeance on the ones who have wronged them."
She tugs at her coiled whip and said, "This is also why some people enjoy... kinks. Restraints. Or roles. Or specific acts. They want to dominate, or submit. They want excitement. They fancy a fantasy."
"So that means that after an argument, the sex when you make up is more intense. More visceral. Because it's healing. And it's sharing that power again."
"Which in turn means some people find it very erotic, too."
"Umm ... " Zhi says, hoping that wasn't going to turn into a fight. "I was planning on sending the Raven as well."
She looks around at the others and then back to Sara.
"I think we'd like to present a more ... centrist viewpoint."
Initially, Sara is unopposed to accompany the Raven. She had figured that if Melodie was insistent on going alone with Zhi to the Baron, it would be a worthwhile use of time for her to head off to the Beggarwood at the same time. But there was no reason she couldn't wait for Zhi to be done to join her.
She even opens her mouth to assent and explain when Zhi continues.
And upon having her politics challenged, her entire attitude changes.
"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize that I'm thought of as an extremist. You know I'm not doing this to satisfy the Night Swan, right? I'm here, same as all of us. I believe in the Princess. Do I want the nobility held accountable for their crimes against their subjects? Sure, but I'm not going to start killing people, that won't accomplish anything. If there's a diplomatic solution present, I want one. So, now you know, I guess. If you still doubt me, fine: send a chaperone. Don't bother me any."
The morning after your conversation, Onora comes to you with a grim look on your face. "We've had another criminal incident. This one's a doozy."
A jeering crowd gathers in the Wolf's Whisker as the sheriff brings out a shackled half-orc. Aside from Maria's agent, he's the only half-orc you've seen in Stachys. "This is Partulles Mayne. He owns an outlying goose farm west of town. He's known to skimp on deals and keep livestock that wander onto his land, and one of his recent arguments with a local appears to have turned violent. A family driving their goats by earlier report seeing Mayne and Ershal Sutor arguing over a mule that had wandered on Mayne's land, and later I ran across Mayne trying to bury the body of Sutor. Sutor was killed by a powerful blow to the head."
"Justice!" members of the crowd cry. "Blood for blood!"
When asked what he has to say for himself, Mayne growls. "That durned mule wandered into my garden and ate a fair supply of my turnips. 'Twas only fair I keep the beast to eat over the winter in the turnips' place. I offered to sell the mule back to Sutor for only 6 gold, well below market price, but he weren't having none of it. He stormed off.
"'Twas only later that I discovered the man dead on my property. I knew I'd be blamed for it. Nobody here likes me. I decided to hide the body. But I didn't kill him!"
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"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't realize that I'm thought of as an extremist. You know I'm not doing this to satisfy the Night Swan, right? I'm here, same as all of us. I believe in the Princess. Do I want the nobility held accountable for their crimes against their subjects? Sure, but I'm not going to start killing people, that won't accomplish anything. If there's a diplomatic solution present, I want one. So, now you know, I guess. If you still doubt me, fine: send a chaperone. Don't bother me any."
Melodie lets out an audible groan as Zhi says 'centrist' and as Sara unleashes the sarcasm slaps the table hard with the palm of her hand.
"That's enough! Both of you!" She yells, genuinely annoyed. "This is a planning session not a bickering of fish wives in the market place!" She turns to her fiancée first, "Zhi, Sara and I have discussed this, at length. I trust her, and we all should. Yes the Night Swan is a lunatic and taking her ideology much too far, but we can use her - at least for now."
She turns to Sara, equally exasperated. "And you, calm down! No-one is accusing you of anything unless you keep blowing up like that and making everyone worried that it is what you intend to do."
She sits down abruptly, cradling her hand. "I've got to stop doing that..."
"These are serious charges." Melodie responds with all due solemnity as the situation is explained. "We must investigate this as fully as possible before I pass any judgement."
She turns to her friends. "Zileska, can you examine the body, see if you can work out what killed him. Maria, do you have any experience with work like this? Anything you can do would be helpful. Sara - you're good with animals, would you take a look at the mule, see if you can learn anything from it?"
Melodie beckons Zhi off a few paces and lowers her voice. "Can you ask around about Mayne and this Sutor man? I need to know as much about them both as possible and everyone responds better to you." She pecks Zhi's lips with a swift kiss. "I certainly do!"
As has become her custom Melodie stands with Onara while the rest of the group break up to deal with their own tasks. "What do you think Sheriff? Mayne doesn't seem like the most pleasant fellow but its a long way from keeping a mule in payment to murder..."
Onora shrugs. "An innocent man shouldn't have cause to hide a body. Mayne doesn't like people, and the feeling is mutual with most of the townsfolk. Regardless of his guilt or innocence, the locals are gonna want to see him punished. I reckon it'll be mighty hard to calm 'em down if your sentence isn't to their liking."
Maria nodded to Melodie as she asked about what she could do. "Provided the site of the altercation and burial haven't been disturbed, I may be able to gleam something from there. I would like to question Mr Mayne before I set off, however."
With how the crowd was acting, she turned to the rest of them.
"For the benefit of everyone else present who might find themselves thinking the same as Mr Mayne has claimed; I have insisted that any and all crimes of this nature are to be investigated in full and judgement is based on evidence, not public opinion. Mr Mayne; had you approached us directly and honestly about this, I would have gone into this investigation assuming your innocence until I found evidence to the contrary."
The taverns renovations meant that there were now enough spare rooms to commandeer one as an interview room. She was glad Kara was there and asked the gigantic half-orc woman to guard the door and make sure nobody tried to listen in.
"Now, Mr Mayne. If you could explain, in your own words, exactly what happened. Spare no detail." As she listened to the man's story, Maria paid careful attention to him, both what he said (and making notes of such) and how he said it.
Mayne repeats his story, going into as much detail as he can remember. He attests to the heated argument with Sutor, then he went into his farmhouse for the remainder of the evening. It was only after dinner did he discover the man's body on his property.
Mayne's demeanor is gruff but calm. Maria senses no deception from the half-orc. He appears to be telling the truth.
After completing her interview, Maria stepped out and spoke quietly to Melodie and Onora. "Either he's telling the truth or he's a far better liar than any recluse as the right to be. Please tell me that you kept the crime scene undisturbed as much as possible and that nobody would have gone traipsing through it since. Because if he's telling the truth - and I very much believe that to be the case - then we have a murderer loose in the area." A thought occurred to her.
"And when I get back, I would like to go over Mr Sutor's personal effects and his body. Not to disparage Zileska's skills, but a spare set of eyes never hurt anyone."
"Aye, it's as pristine as I could keep it," Onora confirms.
Quickly making her way to the crime scene, Maria started her examination. She carefully measured and catalogued any footprints in the area, taking careful notes of size, arrangement, and depth with the intent of getting the sizes of both Mayne and Sutor boots later to better work out who was where, though the depth was helping to make it easier to see which ones were Mayne's.
In the process, she also kept a careful eye out for anything that didn't seem ordinary - recently broken plant life, anything that might have been dropped or torn off in a scuffle, even the scene's proximity to where the argument was witnessed and what sort of sight lines were around that passers-by might've seen through. Anything and everything that could give an indication of what happened is examined in full.
Melodie lets out an audible groan as Zhi says 'centrist' and as Sara unleashes the sarcasm slaps the table hard with the palm of her hand.
"That's enough! Both of you!" She yells, genuinely annoyed. "This is a planning session not a bickering of fish wives in the market place!" She turns to her fiancée first, "Zhi, Sara and I have discussed this, at length. I trust her, and we all should. Yes the Night Swan is a lunatic and taking her ideology much too far, but we can use her - at least for now."
When Melodie rebukes her, the hurt in Zhi's eyes is readily apparent as she looks with surprise at the mesmerist. She crosses her arms and glares down at the table, her arms crossed like a sulking child.
She remains that way throughout the rest of the discussion, offering only monosyllabic answers.
~~~~~
Zhi's pouting continues through the evening and well into bedtime preparations. She doesn't even spend any time reading. She simply dismisses her light and turns on her side to go to sleep.
~~~~~
Melodie beckons Zhi off a few paces and lowers her voice. "Can you ask around about Mayne and this Sutor man? I need to know as much about them both as possible and everyone responds better to you." She pecks Zhi's lips with a swift kiss. "I certainly do!"
"Yes, Ma'am," Zhi replies with a smile and a mock salute.
Zhi will ask around the village about both Mayne and Sutor, trying to find out all she can about them. Did anyone else have a motive to do Sutor harm? Did anyone else have motive to frame Mayne?
Sutor was generally well-liked in Stachys, whereas Mayne has a bad reputation for reneging on deals. Nobody seems to have any motive or know any reason why somebody would want to hurt Sutor or frame Mayne.
"So when I tied up Mel and I ... " she begins, her mind spinning though things she hadn't thought of before. Her face goes suddenly red, realizing what she said.
"I ... I mean ... If ... If someone were to ... to tie up someone. That's why it would ... it would feel so ... "
She swallows.
"Umm ... I need to let Melodie know that I'm going to be talking to you about these things."
Sara dutifully tends to the mule, brushing it and getting to know it. She hates farm animals, but does her best not to get in the way.
Sutor's family has claimed ownership of the mule--Chauncey. Sara evaluates the beast, who snorts and shies away from the woman. It whickers irritably and digs furrows in the ground with its back hooves, unwilling to cooperate. Sara concludes that Chauncey is a particularly ill-tempered and skittish animal.