You do note for certainly, however, that he is alive; his chest rises and falls with each breath, but he’s unconscious and probably in quite a bit of pain from his beating.
Darian scoops the man up and follows after Galen and the others, checking periodically to see if they are being followed or watched.
Varian helps out his cousin in carrying the unconscious body of the black-gloved man. "Hurry!" he says clenching his teeth.
No time to deal with the ones we put to sleep. Hopefully, we've at least taken all of the fight out of them when they wake up.
Phineas will hurry over and help Isabel carry Dany. He clearly isn't used to carrying anything, and has trouble holding up his end of her body as the group escapes.
"Ug...s-sorry...heavy..."
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Galen had his eyes shut tight when the man’s head came clean off from Darian’s blade, blood spraying in a bright crimson line across the street even as the man’s body still shook and stood for a moment before collapsing. With his dagger in one hand by his side Galen has his other hand at his mouth, his eyes clenched shut, trying not to vomit. He’s seen violence and blood before, but nothing like that. Like before at the Aria, he feels as if lost in some nightmarish dreamscape that he cannot quite wake from, the surroundings familiar but distinctly separate from what he considers his own true reality. Sounds are muffled and indistinct, though he picks up voices that are shouting and screaming all around him. His face is flushed and his heart pounds hard in his chest.
The word ’home’ from Avrora stirs something in him, and the pragmatic orders from Isabel give him something of a mental ladder to cling to and to climb out of his waking nightmare. Galen forces his eyes open, turning so as to not look at the swath of blood and the stump of the thug’s neck right before him on the street. He sees “Davis” with Isabel hefting up his beloved behind him, and in the alleyway “Charles” with “Julius” bringing up the unconscious man that they all chose to fight…and kill…for. There was nothing for it now – bodies and bystanders were everywhere on the Stirling Way.
Thankfully, he knew exactly where he was and how best to at least attempt to get them to a place of safety.
”Okay,” gulps Galen weakly, once again finding his throat dry. He shakes his head as if to clear it and looks to the others. ”Okay right!” He looks down Stirling as if deciding whether they should go farther down that way before turning in, but with the number of people pointing and gawking he decides against it. With sudden alacrity he runs out of the middle of the street and into the same alleyway where Varian and Darian have recovered the unconscious man, passing by both of them nimbly and taking the lead. ”This way!”
****************
They head down the alley towards the center “courtyard” of the four old, two-story dilapidated buildings with old columns that make a shape like an octagon; the bottom stories are boarded up and the buildings appear unused, though they can hear footfalls and activity above them on the second story walkways which cover the bottom floor entirely. Galen takes a right-hand turn and is off down a skirting side alley, which eventually angles around and down to another right-hand turn on another alleyway that heads east towards the cemetery of Old Kintargo. Yet they don’t stay that course for very long, taking the very next left alley back to the south, down a worn muddy path between two run-down boarded up buildings where most of the cobblestones have either eroded or been taken out for other purposes; the alley reeks of filth and garbage strewn about, with rats and mangy cats scurrying away from them even as a few dirty beggar-children run away as well, evidently attempting to use rocks to earn a few pinch with Thrune’s first proclamation. ”This way!” says Galen undeterred by the reeking filth of the garbage-strewn alley as he picks his way through it with practiced ease, waving with his hand for the rest of them to follow.
Coming out to a larger east-west alley that is still not large enough to be called a street, the six unlikely compatriots still find themselves in the run-down living area of Old Kintargo with its leaking roofs, worn-away facades and musty smells of rotted wood mixed with the salty air of the ocean. Yet there are vast differences from where they were just a couple of streets and alleys over – here they see scraps of bright colors in cloth and dyes that break up the drab browns and greys of old wood and stone. Sounds of music, shouting, talking and laughter can be heard from open doorways and collections of poor-garbed people sitting or standing out on swept wooden porches. Children laugh and play in the alleys, even as other children carry goods on errands or place dead pests in sacks with slings in their hands. To their east the alley runs straight as if it would head back towards Olmer’s Smithy, but at its end seems to be mostly blocked by several parked wagons with a group of burly men talking and sharing a makeshift bonfire. Doorways on the bottom floors of dilapidated buildings as well as windows on upper floors often have bundles of dried herbs hanging from them, or even hand-woven dreamcatchers in some places. The sounds of people talking is not all understood, revealing the people that live on this street are not native Cheliaxians.
”Welcome to Little Lowcleft,” says Galen with an air of affection in his voice after they all emerge from the nastier-smelling northerly alley that is somewhat blocked by ropes with old sheets of sailcloth to obscure the view. ”Not much to look at I’ll grant you, but those from my former homeland do their best to live here and make do. Community is the lifeblood of the Varisian…Lowcleft is a common but lively district in Magnimar you see…one can always find something that suits their fancy in the Lowcleft…anyways let’s head west another block and then left down the next street.”
As their group moves down the northernmost street of “Little Lowcleft” they can definitely tell they are the largest attraction of interest, with numerous women, older men and children looking in their direction from various downstairs doorways or upstairs windows. Galen nods and waves at a few of them, getting a few nods and even a few that respond with ’Galen’ or ’Zephyrus’ as he passes by. Given they carry two unconscious people with them and have stains of blood and battle however, the faces they pass by are grim and stern. By the time they make their next left there’s already a small group of children that are running ahead of them giving out what are probably warning whistles, with another small group of tough-looking men trailing behind them about sixty feet behind.
The small street they turn down has clotheslines strung overhead between two upper levels of rickety wooden dwellings, many with balconies and even makeshift catwalks that allow passage between the buildings lining the street. Colors are even more vivid here than on the prior alley, though the children bear only mild-colored scarves that are dyed a single color, whereas the adult men and women have more brightly dyed kapenia scarves of multiple hues. To their left are a series of local shops and craftsmen workshops on the bottom floor, with living areas on the second and third stories. To their right is a free-standing single-story market hub that looks like a general store of sorts, with an old worn three-story, double-winged larger building just behind it. Galen makes a decisive turn to the right to the near side of the general store and towards the larger three-story structure, towards an open doorway with a creaky wooden porch that is swept but clearly needs new boards for repair. The doorway has an etched ‘V’ across the top in painted colors of green and red that have almost completely faded from the sun. Two younger women with worn wooden brooms on the porch say nothing as the group passes into the edifice, nodding at Galen but with visible scowls.
Just as they all enter into what appears to be a large common room area with at least one stairwell and two hallways leading off from it, Galen forces a smile but whispers at them, ”Best if you let me do all the talking, alright?” Inside are a group of six older women all sitting around a heavy bed quilt they are collectively sewing, with a few young girls seated on the floor watching them or tending a low fire in the fireplace where a few teapots are tended to. It is clear that the boarding house owner has a good handle on who enters or leaves here, at least by the front entrance.
Galen says hello in passing and gestures to make for the single stairwell leading up, but he is called out about halfway across the room by one of the oldest quilting women with a bright red and green kapenia scarf, and long hair that has long turned white. Her blue eyes, however, are sharp and penetrating.
”Galen! Now I have given assent before of your young student friends when they come to call, but never so many and dressed as…” The old woman stops short, seeing the unconscious young woman and other man being carried, followed by the armor and shield of Avrora and the beggar’s clothes of “Julius” as well as small spatters of blood across several of their clothes. She seems to recognize Dany’s unconscious face, and stands up abruptly from her wooden chair as well as several of the others. Two burly men now step up onto the front porch behind them, no weapons in hand yet but looking tense. ”Galen…what has happened to your girl Dany? Why is she…who are these strangers that come into my house armed so?”
”I’m sorry, Madame Violca, truly I am! There was violence at the Aria just now and these men just started wading into the protest with maces and clubs…and they hit Dany and…and there was violence done…if it hadn’t been for these here I would have been killed and Dany with me…”
Madame Violca claps her hands once to interrupt him, putting up her hand for silence. She nods to the two men out on the porch, who promptly turn to block the door from anyone else coming in from outside, waving others over and speaking low in Varisian. Madame Violca likewise starts speaking in Varisian to Galen, with him replying to her in a tone as much as a grandson would speak to his grandmother.
”The Dottari did this?”
”Yes, they and ones who call themselves “citizens” of the Lord-Mayor, with maces and armbands of their allegiances. Thrune called for them to attack the crowd.”
”You did do violence then? On one of these citizens that attacked you and Dany?”
”I was involved, yes. Killing was done in self-defense. More than one. I think. Up on the Stirling.”
”Tell me all, Galen. Quickly.”
Galen takes the next minute to relate what happened at the Aria to Madame Violca in Varisian, with the old woman simply nodding and waving her hands at him to be quick in his explanation. When finished she snaps her fingers and points to two women to start carrying a table and chairs outside, as if to barrier off the front of the boarding house in an appearance of doing work on the front porch. A bustle of activity occurs in the common room as old women and young girls all start moving with purpose even while staying quiet.
As for Madame Violca, she has a final few words with Galen in Varisian.
”Were you seen coming here from the Stirling?”
”I don’t think so – I took a varied way and saw no one following, coming in by the Path of Refuse to throw off any scent.”
”Clever boy. By my vow to Mireli’s spirit I would spill blood to protect you, young Galen, but I cannot risk my family or the others in my clan for these others you bring here. You understand the limits of my aid to you?”
”Yes, Madame Violca. But they saved my life and Danyeren’s and I cannot abandon them.”
”Of course not. But you are giving them the trusted oath of your family for anything they do here, and you must take responsibility.”
”For whatever my family name is worth, I freely give the oath of hospitality to them, taking on any burdens they should make as my own.”
”Very well. Take them upstairs to your room. I shall have Ylenia and Sorinah bring you food and strong tea soon. You know the whistle calls describing numbers and location. We will keep the Dottari and these citizen dogs befuddled and confused should they come to our streets. If they do come here though, you know the sounds of the cat fight, yes? The one used before when Greedy Karl made a botch of his pilfering the Cheliaxian merchant last year?”
”Yes, Madame Violca. I know it.”
”Good. If you hear it take your outsiders down the back stairs to the old basement level and out that way towards the cemetery. If necessary, Madame Mihaela here will hide Dany as her own – she has always loved her singing you know. But I will not hide this other man, so your friends must make a choice if it comes to it.”
”I understand, Madame Violca. I’ll make sure they understand.”
”Good boy.”
Madame Violca turns to the rest of the group and says sternly, ”Galen Mistbringer has given his Varisian oath to shelter you, taking responsibility for all your acts that you do here in my house. Do you understand? I shall try to hide and shield you, but if the Dottari or their henchmen come to my doors you must leave quickly and quietly. Galen knows the secret ways should this come to pass. Now go, and I shall have food and drink brought up to you soon.”
****************
Up the stairs to the second story, they go right down a hallway and around a corner, passing by a number of doors that bear no numbers to them, though each has a marking or splash of color on it that seems to differentiate one from the next. A few feet from the end of the hall where a shared washroom exists they come to a door with a stylized ‘Z’ carved in the doorframe, at which Galen opens a rather poor-looking latch and enters. The room is larger than expected but still a single room, with a lone window on the far end draped with a ragged cloth windowshade tacked up at the top. The room is poor and sparse but surprisingly clean, smelling faintly of a pleasant aromatic incense. Two rickety wooden chairs stand next to a pine wooden table fashioned from spare wood and ends of logs, a lone candle worn down to the nub sitting atop it. A wooden sidetable holds a few wooden mugs and plates, though they all look to be clean and stacked neatly. An old couch sits on one wall, all its upholstery long gone but padded with blankets and a rather colorful though worn patchwork quilt. On the other wall closer to the window lies the bed, old wood with a broken-down stitched mattress to it, but otherwise clean and made up with another patchwork quilt. A heavy clay chamber pot with a matching lid stands in one corner by itself. The walls are bare except for near the lone table where several parchments are tacked up with sketched ink drawings of various scenes of Kintargo, as well as a portrait of Galen himself. Though poorly furnished, there are a couple of exceptions that do not fit the lifestyle - a finer-made oaken bookshelf holds about a dozen books of various sizes along with several collections of loose parchment and quills, and a heavily engraved oaken footlocker chest sits at the foot of Galen’s bed which was clearly not scavenged. Finally, a lone wooden shelf on the wall above the bed displays a pretty glazed ceramic vase of blues and greys, along with several figurines made of carved wood or polished stone depicting various types of small animals.
”My home is your home,” intones Galen formally as they enter, before he wearily sits himself down on his own floor, offering the chairs to his guests. ”If you can set Dany on the bed…and this other poor man on the couch I suppose…I can start up some tea for us that I happened to buy earlier in the week.”
Following Isabel's direction, Avrora follows behind the others as Galen leads them through the maze-like streets of Old Kintargo. She had heard that Little Lowcleft existed, but had no idea that this microverse existed. As much as she would like to take in the views, however, she is too focused on the possibility that they are being followed.
Inside House Violca she remains silent as Galen suggests, sizing up the two men who now block their exit.
Once inside Galen's room, she gets a better look at the unconcious man and woman they have pulled unwittingly into their group.
As the adrenaline of their escape begins to wear off, the day's events start to weigh heavily on her mind. She leans her shield against the wall and sits heavily on the old couch, placing the crown of her morningstar on the floor between her boots. She cups her hands over the pommel, rests her head, and closes her eyes. Images spring unbidden to her mind--screams, Dottari, her own weapon crashing into the skull of a thug. The Chelish Citizens Brigade. Hells. She thinks, too, about her prayers to Milani, and the warm presence she felt in the alley. Are you with us now, Mother? We need your guidance and your courage.
After a few minutes, she looks up. "Well, what now?"
____________________
Darian sets the body of the man down on the couch beside Avrora. He then moves over to a wall near the corner. He unfastens his sword belt, and lets it clatter to the floor, as well as his shield. They immediately lose their illusion returning to the grander appearance of their Tanessen make. He then slumps against the wall, sliding down its surface until he reaches the floor, resting his arms atop his raised knees.
Criminal.
Murderer.
Traitor.
Rebel.
He was certain that he was going to be hung within the week. It was likely the Dottari were in the Greens right now, pulling his family from their estate, and burning it to the ground like the Victocora's.
He stared off ahead of him as if looking at a point beyond the confines of the room, his facial expression lax and numb, as the illusion shimmered away and revealed his true face, blood splattered and covered in sweat.
As for the black-gloved man, he's fine; he's just unconscious due to having been beaten and strangled. With some healing - or time - he'll be back on his feet in no time. However, you do note as you inspect him that he seems.. familiar somehow.
It had been a hell of a day. The protest, the violence, the bloodshed. And the new Lord-Mayor, laughing cowardly behind the curtains of the Opera House. During the lively journey across the neighborhood, Varian head was filled with visions of pain, sorrow, blood and death. Maybe I never should have gone to the protest...
---
As they pass through "Little Lowcleft", Varian's heart begins haching. In every Varisian woman's face he saw Celissa's. He couldn't help but clench his teeth and swallow his pain. So this was your people Celissa? he thinks to himself, touched, as he keeps on carrying the unconscious body of the black-gloved man through the streets along with his cousin Darian.
As the group reaches its destination and Galen engages in a conversation with a Varisian woman, Varian's toughts drift to Celissa again. Varian starts nervously moving his right leg, a single tear pouring out of his eyes. If only I could save you...
As the conversation in Varisian ends, and the woman explains to the group the rules of the house, Varian quickly nods and follows the other upstairs.
---
When they eventually reach Galen's room, Varian quickly sets the body of the black-gloved man on the couch with Darian. His face is dull, his voice suffering. "I'll take care of them now" he simply says before devoting all of himself in the task of bringing back both Dany and the black-gloved man to their senses. He uses all of the healing techniques he had been shown by his mentor Alazario and begs for Milani's help several times. Remember, Varian, remember. To channel energy you have to focus on your own aura and gradually release it outwards, as if you were trying to expand your area and make everyone else rejoice in Milani's glory. Slowly, slowly...
___________________________
As far as Danyeren goes.. the situation is much more grim. Although alive and not suffering from any physical harm on her outer person, she’s suffered major brain damage due to a concussion. She’ll probably wake up in a few days.. but she will no longer be the same person as Galen once knew.
”Oooh.. ow..” With Varian’s healing taking effect, the black-gloved man slowly wakes up, moaning in pain as he opens his eyes and sits up on the Galen’s couch. His ungloved hand goes to his head and he rubs it furiously, trying to properly wake up from his forced-nap. After a few moments, he squints and sees the group surrounding him, all looking at him expectantly. His eyes go wide. ”Oh. ”
Galen picks himself up off the floor after a moment of staring at the wall, pushing himself into some useful action as he walks to the table and sets out all four wooden mugs he has there, plus his own tin mug from his satchel. He takes out a small metal teapot as well as a small pouch of spiced black tea that has an aroma of oranges to it from the southern reaches of the Inner Sea. He pours some fresh water from a enclosed ceramic pitcher into the teapot, and with his own magic begins to heat the water up. "I bought this just last week for Dany, as it's her favorite kind," says Galen to no one in particular. "Expensive too as it comes from Absalom I think, or perhaps Rahadoum. She prefers coffee such as they have at the Long Roads but I did get her to enjoy a good tea every now and again."
When the stranger with the black glove wakes up, Galen turns from his efforts at the table and says to him, "Stranger, you are a guest in my home, including the rights and protections of hospitality here. Rest easy and please do what...ah...what Charles says to do, as he is a skilled healer and is trying to help you."
Varian breathes a sigh of relief seeing the black-gloved man coming to his senses again. Thank you Milani he mutters to himself.
He stands up, smiling friendly at the stranger as Galen proclaims that he will benefit from his hospitality. "This man needs some more rest, but I suppose that he could benefit from a tea and a friendly talk".
Then, Varian turns to Galen and place a hand on his shoulder. "Galen, may I ask you to follow me outside? I need to talk to you, in private" says Varian with a contrite tone and an even more saddened expression.
---
"Galen" begins Varian with a resolute voice, placing his hand on the Varisian's shoulder once again, "You have to be strong" He looks him into his eyes for a few, intense seconds before loosening his grip on Galen's shoulder and resume his speech. "Dany is alive and not suffering from any physical harm on her outer person. But..." he hesitates, his voice trembling, "She's never gonna be the same again. Or at least until we find a way to heal her. She’s suffered major brain damage due to a concussion. It's worse than I had imagined. She’ll probably wake up in a few days, but she will no longer be the same person you're used to know."
When he's done with his grim verdict, Varian grins and clenches his teeth, then winning his hesitation hugs Galen in a brotherly embrace, holding him tight and strong. His voice is touched. "I know how this feels. I've lost my bride-to-be two days ago. I still have to learn to live with this. I'm sorry, my friend..."
After a few seconds, he adds, in a whisper, "I don't know if we will ever manage to do that, but I know that there's a spell out there that could heal her. Only the best spellcaster of this whole world are able to cast such a magic. It is called miracle, and that's not by chance. But I promise that if I would ever come into possession of a magic item able to replicate that spell's effects, I will give it to you...Be strong, Galen." He concludes, seriously touched.
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As she and Phineas man(or should that be woman?)handle Dany through the streets Isabel can feel the shakes coming on. Just like after a duel, when the adrenaline wears off, the shakes follow. Gritting her teeth Isabel soldiers on using willpower alone to keep herself moving.
Little Lowcleft is a revelation. I never knew there were so many of them, and so much life. How do they live so close together? It actually distracts Isabel from her battle with post-combat fatigue as she wonders at the scenes around her.
She curtsys to the varisian matron before following Galen up to his room and easing Dany onto the bed with Phineas' help. Not a moment too soon, neither of us are the strong kind. She pats Phineas on the shoulder as they both get out of the way for Varian to do his part. As the waves of healing power flow through the room Isabel relaxes, the fatigue washing away under Varian's tangential ministrations.
The clatter of Darian's sword and shield hitting the floor jerks her back to the present and she dismisses her own illusion, reappearing in her full blonde haired splendor - without the hat, her hair cascades down her back, providing a vivid streak of color in the otherwise dull room. Crouching down next to Darian she takes his hands in hers and tugs gently until he meets her gaze.
The pain Darian is in shines clearly in his eyes, undimmed by the blood and sweat across his face. Isabel takes a single deep breath to steel herself and begins pushing gently into Darian's mind. As she eases in she can feel his pain, the guilt as the image of the decapitated head flying away plays over and over in his vision.
"Be strong Darian" Isabel doesn't have any idea if this is helping, or even if he can hear her voice but she keeps 'speaking' and mentally massaging Darian's hurt and fear. "You did what you had to to protect innocents. That man was hurting the innocent, you acted in self defense. None of us blame you for it - you saved another life. Without you we could not have saved Dany and Avrora would likely have been lost already. You are a good man Darian and a credit to your family."
At the mention of family the fear screams back into being as pictures of the Dottari invading Aulamaxa manor flood their shared consciousness. "Ssshhh my friend, your family are safe. No-one knows who you are and we were not followed. There is no trail leading from the body to you - we made sure of that. Besides, your mother would never permit the Dottari within her grounds. They will be safe. I promise." Isabel crouches, unblinking, until Darian himself breaks the connection when she flops back onto the floor. From this position she takes her first good look at the man they saved...
Galen nods quietly as Varian gives him the grim news, accepting both his words and his embrace. Galen knew it was bad. He saw it happen after all, right in front of him. So much blood...the sound of the truncheon hitting her head...the way she collapsed as surely and with nearly such finality like the citizen-zealot losing his head. He had hoped it would not be so. Yet after Varian's first demonstration of his true power at the edge of the Aria and Dany didn't stir at all, Galen knew it was bad. She was alive...and yet she was still taken from him completely. Perhaps that was even a worse state for her to be in than death.
Tears fall from his eyes as he hears Varian's faint offer of hope one day for her. Galen knows it is a fool's hope - perhaps as much of a foolish thing to wish for as Shelyn herself hopes her godly brother could be restored back from the twisted Xon-Kuthon. Yet in hope there is life, and Galen decides mentally to cling to it anyway, foolish as it is. For now, it's enough for him to keep from simply collapsing to the floor and weeping in front of the man that has asked him to be strong.
Varian...Julius...Charles? The words suddenly jolt within Galen that he has lost his love as well, in that more permanent, final way. A spark of recognition flares in Galen's mind as his pragmatic, intellectual self pieces together the puzzle of Varian's beggar-like appearance. He doesn't look like this merely as a disguise. It was because of what happened to her, that he couldn't save his love. Just as Galen could not and can not save Danyeren. In that realization he realizes he misjudged Varian completely in the prior week. Varian was right. Thrune is a cruel monster, and his malevolent acts and vile depredations are just beginning. It has nothing to do with reasonable people and being measured or reasonable.
"I...thank you...for what you have done for her, Varian. I understand...I know if there was more that could be done for her now, you would do it or tell me what could be done." Tears continue to fall, but his voice is calm and measured as one who has a degree of discipline and self-control to his being. He looks down to the floor for a moment, gathering more words to say to him. "I...am sorry too for your own love's loss. I didn't understand before, but I do now. Maybe we can find a way - all of us - to bring some meaning and justice to all these terrible acts since the Night of Ashes started."
Wiping his eyes and trying to offer a smile, Galen asks, "Would you excuse me out here for a few moments then, Varian? I promise I'll be along shortly. Oh, and though it may be a poor fit for you, please feel free to find a change of clothes in the chest by the foot of my bed, whatever you find that fits and suits you."
Avrora watches Varian lead Galen from the room. She is not a cleric, but she knows the girl's condition is dire. She issues a silent prayer for all of them.
Meanwhile, the man with the black glove stirs. Avrora draws close, sure that she has seen his face before...
"You are safe now," she says clearly, gently shaking his shoulder. "Can you tell us what happened in that alley? Why were those men assaulting you?"
______________
Phineas helps carry Dany though Little Lowcleft, concentrating on struggling to hold up his end of her body. The strain on his muscles, too soft from lack of manual labor, distracts him such that he barely notices the stares and scowls from the Varisians as they move through the area towards Galen's home.
Phineas stands silently while Galen does the talking, recognizing that this is not his place or time to speak. When they reach Galen's room and place Dany down on the bed, he gives a nod of thanks and steps back to lean against the wall, trembling slightly from the exertion and the fading effects of adrenaline.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Galen. I would appreciate some of that tea you mentioned to help calm my nerves." And settle my mind. People died out there. I helped kill one...I've never seen anything like that before. I wish I could think I won't see anything like that again, but I fear the blood has only begun to run.
Phineas studies the man intently as Varian examines the two unconsious bodies and heals the group. He's the contact I was searching for at the protest. Let's see what he has to say of his own accord before I start pushing for information about the Silver Ravens.
______________________________________
Darian looks into Isabel's eyes, finally focusing on sometching other than nothingness, and smiles numbly at her, rubbing the back of her hands with his thumbs. As Varian comes back into the room, he clenches his teeth and stands up, taking but a couple strides past Isabel, and punches his cousin square in the jaw!
"I told you!" he says through clenched teeth. "I told you all this would happen!" he adds waving his arm around the room at everyone gathered. "And now, people are dead! And while trying to save your life," he points an accusatory finger at Varian, "you've managed to implicate me and the rest of my family in...in...in all this!" he holds his arms out as if he were pointing out the entire riot scene.
__________
The black-gloved man coughs to clear his throat and focus himself, but remains sitting on Galen’s couch. He winces when Darian punches Varian and watches with morose eyes as the former lectures the latter. It is then he chooses to speak. ”It is not Varian who implicated everyone in the bloodbath that occurred earlier. That would be our new ’Lord-Mayor’s’ doing.. And yes I am aware of the fact I speak of Varian Tanessen, formerly of the Silver Dragons. I believe it is best if I explained myself about why I’ve been keeping tabs on each of you since you all met at the Tooth and Nail - and later at Ms. Rhelian’s abode. But first, let me remove this disguise of mine, as it would be impolite for me to know your identities when you do not know mine.”
He closes his eyes for a moment to focus himself and then claps his hands suddenly, causing anyone not paying much attention to startle at the sudden sound. Although his clothes and hair - including his beard - remain the same, his facial features change subtly until everyone in the room comes to a sudden realization that they all know this man - and that according to the government, he died in a fire a week ago along with his parents when his family’s manor burnt to the ground during the Night of Ashes.
This man is none other than Rexus Victocora, son of Aneran and Porcia Victocora.
”I see by your faces that you already know who I am.. but nevertheless, proper introductions are in order.” He shakily and slowly pushes himself up off of the couch, still reeling from the ‘tender’ ministrations of the militiamen earlier. Once up, he keeps one hand on the arm of the couch to steady himself - something he seems used to doing. ”My name is Rexus Victocora - and, by all accounts of our new leaders, my charred, burnt corpse was exhumed from my family’s home along with the bodies of my parents and those of our staff. Yet, here I stand, thanks in part to your timely rescue earlier.”
It was during his teenage years when he met a Shelynite tutor that migrated between sexes as others might do so between nations. You yourselves might have been tutored in one way or another by this very same tutor (Who now goes by the name Ariena Soroani and still teaches young nobles in the ways of art, dance, song, and the like from the Songbird Temple). Regardless, this tutor gave him a new insight on how to live, and although each of you personally may or may not have agreed with his change, there were others who threatened him with bodily harm and more than one of his friends forsook him, and the whole thing was quite the scandal amongst the nobles.
It is very likely you fell out of contact with him (if you were his childhood friend) as he focused more and more on his studies at the Alabaster Academy - however, knowing that he survived the fire when the government said his body was given a proper Asmodean burial along with his parents is surprising - or not, considering who now runs Kintargo’s government.
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Phineas takes his eyes off of the rescued man to glare disapprovingly as Darian hits Varian in the face. He opens his mouth to speak, when Rexus beats him to it.
As Rexus removes his illusory disguise, Phineas sharply inhales in surprise. "Rexus! I hadn't dared to hope that any of your family had survived the fire. I -- ah, yes, the beard."
Phineas reaches up and removes his false beard, wincing slightly as the adhesive sticks to his face.
"I don't know if you remember me or were already aware of my true identity, but my name is Phineas Aceron. I used to work with your parents on a number of legal matters related to the opera, and I was quite fond of them. I was deeply saddened to hear the news of your family's demise on the night of ashes. But if you are still alive...did any of the rest of your family make it?"
Phineas' eyes flicker down to Rexus' hands, then back to his face.
"And you...you planted the rumors that a member of the Silver Ravens would be at the protest wearing a black glove on one hand, didn't you. Are you truly one of them?"
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That's not helping Darian! is the first thought through Isabel's mind as Darian resorts to violence to sort out his feelings. Thankfully Varian seems understanding and the situation doesn't break down into an all out brawl.
Seeing Rexus is slightly strange for Isabel. She had heard of his change between the sexes and is herself well familiar with his tutor, Ariena, whose gradual retirement to Songbird Temple left the gap in the market-place which allowed Isabel to establish herself in the first place.
"Rexia! It's good to see you." Isabel gets up and kisses the man on both cheeks, as befitting an old friend. Then she realises what she said and colours slightly. "I'm sorry. Rexus. It's been some time and I, err..."
Rex! Alive!
As Phineas and Isabel begin assailing him with questions, Darian looks to Varian and holds out his hand, offering him an assist back up. "Sorry...I just...well, you know."
He then turns back to Rexus and begins piecing together things that had happened in recent weeks, before interrupting the others and asks "So that is why your home was burned, because you were involved with the Rebel movement?"
Varian nods to Galen, allowing the broken man to spend some time on his own. As soon as he enters Galen's room again, though he gets hit by Darian. His cousin. Varian could have blocked the hook. But he didn't. He clenches his teeth, massaging his left jaw with his hand. He can feel the prickly beard behind his touch, remembering him of his tragedy. He listens his cousin spitting accuses against him with widened eyes, standing astonished in front of him, without speaking a single word. Then, he speaks, calmly, still shocked. "If hitting me makes you feel better do it again. If blaming me for all of this makes you feel better, keep doing it, cousin. You know nothing. You can't understand me, you can't understand us. For you this is just a joke. An entertaining interlude in your happy life. You still have your family. You still have everything".
Varian pauses for a few seconds, while he keeps massagin his jaw, but then a burst of anger fuels his words: "You think I'm the one to blame? Fine! Keep pretending you don't know who's the real guilty for what happened. Blame me if you want! I don't feel guilty. You were so brave when we were young. And now what? You've turned into a shaking coward, ready to blame your own cousin for what you've done? I don't know you anymore Darian..."
He shakes his head, a furious expression on his irate face. "If you fear for your family, if your fear for yourself...Go away, and do it now. No one has used your name. Runaway like a coward if that makes you feel safe. But know that what happened to Galen today and to me a few days ago could happen to you in the future. What would you do then? Will you just pretend the government was right? Will you still worry about being "implied" in all of this? Tsk. Do as you want. But don't blame me. You've done the right thing today, if you want to believe it or not. This city is bleeding. And I will fight for the only thing that's left for me. Kintargo is my family now. And as you say, my family is already involved in all of this. I will fight Darian, I will not hold back".
Then, when it seems like his fury has finally calmed down, Varian whispers through clenched teeth: "Oh, and remember. The next time you'll hit me, I'll hit you again cousin".
Only Rexia coming back to his senses and addressing to him directly stops Varian from continuing his argue with Darian. He widens his eyes as memories about that man fills his mind. Varian abruptly turns to the man. "D-Did you know about the Silver Dragons...You? How?" he says, his words bringing pain and sorrow along with them. He sees Celissa. He sees Alazario. He sees his friends. And he sees his cousin, hitting him in anger. Varian tries to drive away those painful memories, focusing instead on the man in front of him: Rexus Victocora. He met him a long time ago, when Varian was still a child and Rexus a young boy. His mother was one of Varian's mother dearest friend. I though he was dead just like all of his family...
Varian listens almost mouth agape to the man's account. Absolutely brilliant! he finds himself thinking as the man tells his plan to make the government think he was dead.
And then, he speaks that word. Silver Ravens. It was a dream, something he had clinged to in his speeches to the Silver Dragons, a memory of a brighter time when the people of Kintargo had the boldness to fight against injustice. They were long perished, along with all of their members. But Phineas was telling another story. Why would Rexia plant rumors about a member of the Silver Ravens being at the protest? I want to see straight through this thing.
"Rexus. I'm glad you're still able to recognise me. What's real in this Silver Ravens thing?" he asks, praying that the man's answer is not "nothing".
"Rexus..."
Avrora remembers him both as his current and former selves, and the awkward transition between the two. Her parents' aspirations to rub elbows with the likes of the Victocora's gave them ample opportunities to interact. As teenagers, both were forced into the same vapid social functions, including one scandalous cotillion in particular where Rexia appeared in full tuxedo as Rexus. After that, her parents forbade Avrora to see the Victocora youth. They felt it would be a bad influence on the Vikta children. She remembers her brother Boros's hateful comments about Rexus, but quickly pushes all thoughts of her family aside. Rexus, after all, was presumed dead.
She is so shocked to see him that she hardly registers the scuffle between Darian and Varian. Varian's angry words fill the modestly-sized room, yet Avrora barely hears them as she tries to comprehend what Rexus has said.
"Oh Rexus, you must tell us everything."
As he is assailed with questions and, from Isabel, kisses, Rexus is momentarily taken aback. ”Where to begin, where to begin! Ah, first, where are we?” He looks around the room, completely unaware of his current location, though amiable to the homely room he finds himself in.
Varian fills him in on the info, his jaw still sore from being punched by his cousin; nevertheless, Rexus nods in understanding. ”As good as a place as any I suppose, the people here bear no love for Thrune.. so even if we are overheard, it should be of no concern.” He takes a deep breath again and decides to sit back down on the couch, wobbly as he remains from his earlier encounter. ”First, the matter of how I ‘survived’ the fire. As it happens, I wasn’t even home at the time - I have been boarding at the Alabaster Academy off and on the past few years, and I was on my way home a week ago when I saw the flames that engulfed my parents’ estate. I had just finally came to the conclusion to follow in my mother’s footsteps when the Night of Ashes occurred.” He pauses for a moment and looks morose, his focus temporarily turned inwards as he recalls the painful memories associated with the night. ”When I got home, the manor was ablaze and the entire site was under control of a large number of soldiers wearing Thrune’s colors. I kept my distance and fled into the night, only to eventually arrive later that day at the Tooth and Nail under disguise and overheard the conversations there. Thats where you caught my eye.”
He looks almost embarrassed at what he is about to say next, but quickly shrugs it off. ”Needless to say, I ended up spying on the meeting and heard just about everything - that was when I made my decision to contact a few of you - most notably Isabel and Phineas - and spread the rumor that I was a contact for the Silver Ravens. I had originally planned to meet you at the protest, but I was late - and in the panic that erupted during the Chelish Citizens’ Group attack, I lost track of you - and you saw what happened later when a group of those thugs decided to gang up on me.”
”I must thank you again for that timely rescue - with your willingness to help a stranger when one of your own was injured and incapacitated, you have again proven yourselves individuals of uncommon skill, and I am a man of uncommon needs.”
He sighs, taking a deep breath after the long winded speech, but doesn’t appear finished just yet. He continues to sit comfortably on Galen’s couch, and as he speaks he absentmindedly scratches at a patch sewn into the arm of the couch. ”Now, more than ever, we need Kintargo’s infamous spirit of rebellion to stay strong, but Thrune’s actions have driven into hiding those who would stay strong and resist. Those who could once rally the city to a cause, such as Lord-Mayor Jilia Bainilus and my parents, or even Shensen, are missing at best, and are more than likely dead. I cannot do it on my own, but with the aid of talented citizens such as yourselves, I have hope that together, we can. Before I continue with what information I have on the Silver Ravens, I need to know.“ He looks at each of you in the eye, one at a time, including Galen who rejoined the group after he stayed outside for a few minutes.
”Will you aid Kintargo? Will you save the city from the devil?”
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Rexia...Rexus, alive and a rebel. Now I really have seen everything.
It takes only a moment's thought for Isabel to respond. "I am with you Rexus. We cannot leave this monster who calls himself Lord Mayor free to squat over our city and destroy it. Avrora, Varian - this is the chance we have been waiting for, the chance to make a difference. Will you join me friends?"
Isabel looks around the small rooms, eyes bright and full of hope.
Phineas steps forward, a gleam in his eye and an expression of anger on his face. "I will. Most of you here have lost something to Thrune. Family, friends, a normal life. I too have lost much to the Church of Asmodeus and their Thrune compatriots. They may have taken my family from me, but I refuse to allow them to take this city's soul as well. I may not be a native son, but Kintargo is my home in ways that Egorian, for all its splendors, never was. I will fight with everything I have to see her free of the grasp of hell."
Now, the question; will Darian accept? I believe I know where the others stand, but he is much less certain.
Avrora looks with admiration at the man before her--the handsome, well-spoken gentleman that Rexus has become. She remembers a time, before the madness, when the future seemed bright and possibilities were real. She remembers a younger Avrora, a whimsical girl who fancied herself in love. She misses that time, before the cruelty of the world smothered her dreams. She remembers the jail. She thinks of Rose.
But hope remains. That world is not lost. There is still the possibility of a future, for herself and her daughter.
"Rexus, of course. We all are friends to the cause," she says, shooting a sideways glance toward Darian. "But what chance does a motley group like us stand against forces such as Thrune? You were there today. You saw the beast they unleashed. Can the Ravens really hope to overcome such treachery?"
Galen pours his spiced black tea with the nice orange aroma to it into the cups he has available, the water hot now from his teapot and the tea brewed with practiced precision. His eyes are red-rimmed from sobbing outside, though he seemingly has it together for the moment. With deliberate measure so as to not look in the direction of Dany lying on his bed, he walks over to Rexus Victocora and hands him the first cup of his tea, a measure of his hospitality. Galen then hands four others his remaining cups of tea should they show they wish it, only taking one for himself if the others do not all partake in it.
Galen then moves to stand in front of the rather nice bookshelf he has in the poorly-furnished room, touching the tomes lightly as if in some sort of fond remembrance. Looking at no one directly he says, "I didn't ask for this you know, any of it. Neither did...neither did the students of the Alabaster who stood by us when the killing order came down at the Aria."
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Isabel accepts a cup of tea with a smile. "That is why we have to act Galen. If we do nothing then there will be more occasions like Aria and the more that happens, the more Thrune tightens his grip, the less chance anyone has. If we stand up then, hopefully, we can stop anything like this happening again."
”Galen..” Rexus shakily gets up from his couch and gently puts his cup of tea down after having taken a sip from it. He walks over to the young Varisian and clasps his shoulder. ”I too have lost much - my entire family estate.. probably my parents.. our staff.. our livelihood in the Opera House.. everything. I understand what you’re going through. But that is the reason why we must stay strong. Danyeren would want you to be strong - for her. All of us - we all need to be strong for ourselves, our loved ones, and for all of Kintargo. For who is next on Barzillai’s list?”
He looks directly at Darian as he continues, ”Barzillai has already proven that he isn’t above attacking this city’s nobles. Your disguise was flawless, so your actions won’t be linked to your family, but who says he doesn’t find some excuse for some slight to his dignity, to be rid of the Aulomaxas anyways? To claim it as an ‘accident’ much as he did for the fires during the Night of Ashes? This is why we must fight. Why we must be strong. For he has already removed anyone and everyone else who would fight against him - and that is where we have the advantage. He will be complacent after his victories - he won’t expect a rebellion to stir so soon after he has taken the city. That is why I - no, Kintargo - needs you - all of you.” He claps Galen hard on the shoulder again and moves to go sit back down.
After he does so, a flicker of a smile appears on his as he lifts the cup to his lips. ”And its not like I don’t have a plan,” he adds before taking another sip of the delicious tea.
Varian smirks at both Rexus and Isabel. "And you ask to me? Of course I will fight!" he says with enthusiasm. "Thrune have taken everything away from me. Now my city is the only thing I've got left. And I will fight for it!"
Then Varian smiles at Rexus, encouraging the man to continue. "A plan? I'm listening, Rexus"
As all eyes turn to him expectantly, Darian sighs and hangs his head.
They were right, as much as he didn't want to admit it, they were all right. Rex's presence merely confirmed his deepest fears. And with his cousin so vehemently involved in this...he couldn't let him do it alone.
"I suppose I don't have much of a choice. I'm in. What sort of plan do you have for the six of us to do the impossible?"
”Seven,” Rexus corrects Darian. ”I may not be the most able fighter.. but I intend to do my part.” He takes a moment to watch Galen as he takes a long sip of his tea, all eyes on him as he does so. Satisfied enough that at the least, Galen won’t betray the group even if he decides not to join them, Rexus nods and puts down his cup. ”As it so happens, the morning after the Night of Ashes, I contacted an old friend of my mother's - some of you may know her as the proprietor of the Long Roads Coffeehouse, the halfling Laria Longroad. I was destitute with nowhere to go, and I knew she would at least offer me a place to stay while I figured everything out. As it turns out, there was more to it than that.” He pauses, almost for dramatic effect. ”Much more.”
Rexus takes a moment to reach down into a money purse he carries on his belt. Although it doesn’t appear that large, his whole hand disappears inside of it momentarily, and he brings out a small coffer - something that by no means should have fit in there. The coffer is made of rich mahogany reinforced with ornately designed mithral and steel; emblazoned on the top in mithral is a strange rune. Rexus gets up from the couch and goes over to place the coffer down on Galen’s pine table. He pulls out of the same money purse a small, delicate mithral key and unlocks the coffer with a click.
”The contents of this coffer comprise of my entire inheritance, kept safe for me by Laria in case of my mother’s disappearance. None of it matters - except for this.” he says as he pulls out a small envelope, its broken wax seal bearing not the same symbol on the coffer, but the Victocora emblem - that of one of Kintargo’s famous Silver Salmon entwined within a musical treble. On the front reads, in exquisite handwriting, simply “Rexus”.
Carefully, he opens the envelope and pulls out a piece of folded vellum ornately gilded on the border. ”My mother, it turns out, was a high ranking member of a secret society known as the Sacred Order of Archivists, a group of Iroran scholars dedicated to the protection and restoration of history.” He hands the letter to Varian to read, before passing it on to each person in the room. ”According to Laria, my mother handed the coffer and this letter to her just over a week ago - right after Lord-Mayor Bainilus disappeared. Laria thought my mother was overreacting, but that very night was the Night of Ashes, so she knew my mother - her friend - was telling the truth about fearing the worst was about to come.”
He pauses for a few moments to let everyone read the letter thoroughly before he continues, ”As you can see, my mother found one of the Silver Ravens’ old hideouts beneath the Fair Fortune Livery, but was unable to explore it. While there might be nothing there, my mother believes otherwise - that the Silver Ravens left something important there, hidden. If we are to oppose Barzillai, we need to find out what they left behind. Being how I am, I don’t think I could explore it alone - not with the rumors of the place being haunted, at least.” As he speaks, he pulls out numerous additional items from the coffer and lays them out on the table one by one. The first is a dagger tightly kept in a silver-banded sheath marked with the Victocora insignia; Rexus takes the blade out momentarily to show that the blade is not made from steel, but mithral. The second item is a silver Victocora signet ring; the third item is a pair of well-made reinforced leather bracers. Lastly, a small, yet heavy silk pouch jingles as it is pulled from the coffer and placed on the table. Rexus opens it up to show it bulging with golden sails; ”One-hundred and fifty golden sails I offer along with all of my inheritance if you’ll help me. A small price to pay for Kintargo’s freedom.”
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Darian looks at Rex, folding his arms in front of him, "So we find an old hideout. Then what?"
Phineas sips his tea and listens as Rexus lays out his plan, and his resources. A mithril dagger? That must be worth a fortune. And a magical pouch as well. As the letter reaches him, Phineas sets his tea aside so as to avoid any possibility of spilling the drink on the document. He finishes reading as Darian speaks.
"I feel that will depend on what we find there, Darian. There are many ways to begin building a rebellion. I have given some thought to the matter myself, but since we have this opportunity, I think it wise to first see what we can learn from our forebears in this regard." Phineas finishes reading the letter and hands it to Galen to examine.
"Unless you have more concrete proposals already prepared, Rexus? The letter implies the rebellion will start with us, as the Silver Ravens are long dead. Have you already given thought to how you intend for this to proceed?"
Galen takes the letter from Phineas with a grateful nod and peruses it - something in the letter makes his eyebrows raise a bit, but he says nothing openly. Instead, he makes his way over to his small but prized bookshelf and withdraws a large tome with a worn and tattered cover, apparently something about Cheliaxian varieties of flora in the heartlands around Egorian. He takes it gingerly into his hands as he turns to speak to the rest of them, still avoiding his gaze in the direction of the bed.
"Before you continue I need to give you my words on this, Rexus Victocora." He looks at the others with a slight degree of apprehension. "Well, to all of you here. It is not that I have reservations on joining you in this rebellion. Not now, not after the Aria, and Isabel saving my life there and the rest of you trying to help...her...it's just that giving my oath to such a matter is neither easily nor lightly given if I haven't thought it through. But I've thought about it, and I accept the risks to it, and will give my oath to you all now, swearing upon my own life and that of my family's truename and my ancestors, to see it done." He touches his kapenia scarf lightly with one hand as he tells them this, as if in remembrance of those he mentally invokes to seal it in his mind.
"After all, even without what I have lost today, how can I go back to my normal life after the Aria? How can I possibly tell my stories to the children of hope and love and heroes and believe them if I do nothing? Or stop drinking my tea at night as foolish as that sounds, or see the Opera House from afar and not be reminded of the loss of my dear Lady Shensen! Or know that her place was burned - and yours Rexus - and not know it was done with a dark purpose! I had heard rumor today that the Dottari were at the Thrashing Badger when it burned and picking through the wreckage in a way that suggested they were not there to help, but now hearing what you saw with your own home in The Greens, I can no longer fool myself that it was some mere accident."
Galen steps forward and offers the ratty tome to Rexus. "I don't join your rebellion for your inheritance, Rexus, but as a Varisian it does speak well that you would lay down both blood and treasure to see it done. I have memorized this and so you may keep or borrow it as is your preference...perhaps it may bring you comfort or guidance to honor your mother's dedication to you."
Avrora accepts the letter from Galen, gingerly unfoldering it into her lap. Excitement ripples through her as she reads through it. Here, now, an opportunity to take on the mantel of a revolution?
What if this is a trap, an elaborate attempt by Thrune to rout out opposition? She stands and approaches Rexus, searching his expression for any signs of ill intent. She gently picks up the ring, admiring its fine craftsmanship before returning to its resting place on the pine table. "Your mother clearly trusted you very much," she says, still watching his face.
"After all, even without what I have lost today, how can I go back to my normal life after the Aria?"
"You can't," she says, slowly approaching the young man. "That's the secret, you see. There can be no 'normal' life, for you or any of us, not with the likes of Thrune. And he wants us to remember that, to know that, after the fire, whatever...miserable existence we are left with, mere ashes, that is all we can hope for. He wants to see our spirits broken. Our 'normal' lives are over, whatever course of action we choose at this junction."
She turns to look at Dany's crumpled form, lying so helpless and so still, her chest slowly rising and falling as she dreams whatever dreams come to one so afflicted. Avrora hopes she dreams of a better life.
"There is no turning back."
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A skinny boy ran through the garden. He rushed to his mother, who was speaking with one of her dearest friends. "Mom, Rex doesn't want to play with me!" whined the child. The woman calmly caressed the child and look at him with a smile. "Don't you see, Varian? Rexus is reading a book. You should not disturb him" she said. The child didn't seem content with the explanation and turned to her mother's friend, his eyes almost covered in tears. "But there's no one else I can play with! And Rex is great at taking on the role of the guard!" whined again the boy. His mother's friend smiled and called out to his her son: "". His cousin, Darian, had just left, depriving Varian of his playmate.
An adolescent boy approached with a smile, holding a closed book in his hands. "Ok, Varian, we can play for a bit. But this time you're doing the guard!" "No! I'm the robber! You are the guard! Chase me!" giggled the child as he begin running through the garden again. Rexus smiled and give him chase.
"I'm so sorry, Varian has just distracted your Rexus from his studies" said apologetically Varian's mother. "Don't worry about it. They need to cement their relationship. Something tells me that one day they will need one another" replied Porcia with a smile. "Varian, Rexus! Don't forget to claim your prize-cake when you're done playing!" she yelled at them. Varian laughed, happy.
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"Your mother was a great woman, Rexus" says Varian, his teeth clenched in pain as the memories filled his mind. "She deserved a better fate. I won't let you alone in this. Her death won't be in vain. On my honor, I will do everything I can to help you carrying out her last will. We need the Silver Ravens. We need even the smallest clue about them. They fought for Kintargo and gave this city a hope in the darkest of times. Now this task weighs on our shoulders. We must stand up and fight for our city. I'm in!" says Varian giving Rexus a pat on his shoulders.
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A few minutes after, when everyone has had the chance to confirm his will to take part in the plan, Varian turn to his allies with a confident smile. "We can do this. Together, we're stronger. But I think there's no need to rush. Everyone of us needs some time to relax and dispose of what happened today at Aria Park. I, for one, could use a hot bath and a shave. My abilities need to be restored as well, and I would need some time to pray Milani in order to regain her favor." Varian looked to his companions. They were not scared. "If you agree, we could let things calm down a bit and reach the livery bomorrow. Back at the protest, I overheard someone talking about it: the people think that place is haunted, they won't be going there. There's no need to hurry"
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Isabel scans the letter over Avrora's shoulder and nods decisively. "We are settled then, tomorrow morning we can deal with this new information. In the meantime I will return home - given what Phineas and I did to the anarchist at the Aria it is probably wise for myself at least to return home swiftly.
She turns to Phineas and Darian enquiringly. "Will either of you gentlemen be returning with me? It might be sensible Darian, for us to be seen far away from Aria Park, just in case. Thank you for your hospitality Galen." She pauses for a moment as a thought strikes. "Darian, if you will come with me we could take Dany to Songbird Hall on our way back. I am well known there and they will care for her with kindness. If you don't object Galen I think it would be the best thing for her. We can make her the victim of a mugging or some such if anyone asks."
Darian sighs and nods, as he looks to Galen to see if he is open to the idea before he moves to pick up the man's loved one.
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He pauses and steps to the side of the road to a quiet corner, "Deep down, I suppose I always knew what was going on. What was at stake. Especially after the Night of Ash. Seeing those flames so close to home made it all seem too...well...just too much. I hoped that, with time, everything would settle in back to normal. But, it is clear that it won't, not without help."
He looks her directly in the eyes, "But if we do this, which it seems we must, we have to be smart about it. Everyone in this city should be treated as an innocent Kintargan, unless their actions prove otherwise. There will be plenty of people we meet who are just following orders, and I will not be responsible for...well...for anymore of what just happened unless it is absolutely necessary."
He turns and looks over the city as he mutters, "Winning her back will take more than just steel. It will take winning the hearts of the people, on both sides. It is going to take resolve, wits, and cunning."
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Isabel steps in close, head tilted to look the taller man in the eye, "That is why we must control the direction of our... undertaking. Our friends are good people, brave and courageous but none of them have dealt with the city as you and I have seen it. Julius has been gone too long and I believe his views have changed too much for us to trust him as a leader. His belief in Milani will demand standing up to Thrune and, if premature, that will ruin everything."
The two of them are now standing close enough to be mistaken for lovers as they conduct their conversation in lowered voices. "He and Avrora will be wonderful in Old Kintargo, they have the passion and the fire to inspire the people. It will be down to us to pave the way on this side - if we can bring the nobility round to our side then we can rouse all the city at once, but it will take time and subtlety."
Isabel grins, suddenly mischievous. "I trust you can be... subtle when required?" She leans in and kisses him briefly on the lips before stepping back into the street proper. "Must I return home alone or will your Lordship be gallant enough to escort me?"
Darian's eyes shoot wide when the lovely half-elf kisses him!
Whoa! That...that was a pleasant surprise! I often imagined during the dance lessons...but...whoa!
He quickly regains his composure, and smiles at Isabel, "But of course, m'lady! It would be rude not to provide a maiden as fair as you proper accompaniment to her home!"
As they walk down the road, Darius spots a pair of Dottari patrolling the down the other side of the street, and his moment of levity is reigned in as he mutters behind a now feigned smile, "Especially in times such as these."