"Thank you very much, kind friends," the newcomer says cheerily as she sits down. "My name is Mierul Ardelain, traveling musician. Perhaps you've heard of me?" She smiles prettily and begins a sweet rendition of a popular Irrisini song. She's quite good . Once it's finished, Mierul claps her hands, and her lute vanishes in a shower of sparkles. "And what of you, fellow travelers? Where does your road take you?"
Nadya speaks up before anyone can say anything. "Uh, they're distant relatives of mine. They're vacationing in Waldsby."
Everything has died down till morning.
If you only knew how dear to me
Are these Irrisini nights.
The river moves, unmoving,
All in silver moonlight.
A song is heard, yet unheard,
In these silent nights.
Why do you, dear, look askance,
With your head lowered so?
It is hard to express, and hard to hold back,
Everything that my heart holds.
But the dawn's becoming ever brighter.
So please, just be good.
Don't you, too, forget
These summer, Irrisini nights."
Allie looks at Nadya sideways, then looks at Percy. "Hey sis? Are we related to the daughter killer? If we are, I want to disown her..." She frowns at Nadya and makes a tsk-tsk motion with her finger. "I just met this lady today, pretty, blue, cloven hooved lady." She motions to be picked up. "Can you teach me that song?"
Percy shakes her head. No, we're not related to this killer. It was a witch. No good Spell Slaver. She needs to be de-eyed. And quick.
"What in the inferno is a spell slaver?"
Those who bend magic to their will against its own nature. Witches, wizards, and their ilk. Their magic is not given by blood or the gods or the Eldest. she performes a sign of reverence to the Twins. Not all of them are bad, granted, but they are never to be trusted. They are not of the natural Order.
"Oh you mean like Zses. Didn't figure him for a bad guy. But yea, I get not trusting witches. Believe me."
Vashti quietly grabs the nearest non-gome, non-Nadya by the arm and squeezes tightly. She also readies and action to grab her shield if needed.
Lady, for what purpose have you burdened me with this for? Have I not endured enough? Little bright spot must be touched some how, but I yet lack the power to cure her. can she be cured? is it madness? I believed I left the misery and pain behind when we burned the village...
"Zses is a witch!?" Allie glares at Zses. "Of couse! Thats why you've been able to make a bird talk like it has a real mind of its own!!" She sighs. "Looks like one has infiltrated the ranks, dear sister... What shall we do?"
Percy locks a furious gaze on Zses, then crow, then Zses. That's why the bird doesn't know the language of the world! She hisses. I thought it was an abomination, but I didn't realize you were a Familiar!
Silence again bit his tongue and stayed off to the side, He had indeed caught how quick Nadya had... claimed relations to them all. They would have to be very very careful indeed. He would have to wear his helm more often now, with the menpo attached. He did his best to remain nondescript.
He would have to speak with the fiery one about her tongue. Her words rude at beast and did their little group no credit. The poor woman had been through enough and it was obvious (to the felinerai at least) That it was not as if the woman had a whole lot of choice in the matter. These winter witches seemed the worst kind of wrong.
Then the explosion of words happened.
Allie looked at Percy. "So sis, what do we do with this witch and his scurge bird?" She locks her gaze on Zses as well.
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You will do nothing, Friend Zsestrian is an honorable man, who has done no harm or wrong, He has burned down no inns, has brought criminals to justice and done his best to help and aide those who need his help.
The felinerai began freezing in place. His tone was calm and quiet... very quiet.
Allie looks at Nadya sideways, then looks at Percy. "Hey sis? Are we related to the daughter killer? If we are, I want to disown her..." She frowns at Nadya and makes a tsk-tsk motion with her finger. "I just met this lady today, pretty, blue, cloven hooved lady." She motions to be picked up. "Can you teach me that song?"
As Allie is presumably picked up, Vashti will make her way next Nayda and Zses, deliberately placing herself between the twins and Zses.
Yes, please teach her a song..
Allie looked at the big kitty. Her voice had a different, flatter tone than usual, her eyes dead. "How long have you known him?"
He's a witch. We could burn him, but he's part of our team now. That Black Rider blessed him same as us. That has to mean something. And that something probably discludes burning of group members. Besides. she glances over at Vashti. Mommy probably wouldn't let us.
She seems lost in thought for a moment.
Go learn your song, sis.
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I have known him as long as I have known you, I have seen honor from his actions and words, less so from yours.
He said again simply quietly almost a statue sitting there naginata on his lap, sharpening stones in hand.
"Yea, let's not burn our own teammates."
This Lady Masilliovna is of interest to me, what can you tell me Mierul Ardelain, of her?
Allies voice is still flat, her eyes still. "If something needs to be done, why not do it? Perhaps the Black Rider was a spell-slaver as well. He did work for Baba Yaga." Her entire body language changed, she didnt seem at all like Allie. Even Little Allie shied away from her.
Her cold, dead eyes flicked to Silence. "If you have not known someone for a while, you do not know the person. Actions of a person for only a few months can be altered; changed to fit the situation. If you allow yourself to be fooled by just a few months of knowing someone, you are sure to be killed."
She looks at Hobbes. "Perhaps not. He can be useful, but that does not mean he isn't worth desposing of later." Little Allie changes into his original form and flies in front of Allie. "TI POTS! TI POTS!"
Allie! I said go with Vashti and learn your song! Percy interrupts.
Allie shakes her head. "Huh? Song? Oh right..."
Little Allie calmed a bit, seeing life come back into his friends eyes. Her tone is back to normal.
"Oh yes! Please teach me the song!"
I have said all i will on this matter. Zsestrian is a good person.
He said with a finalilty rising from his spot.
With all the wild animals about I am going to patrol a bit make sure we are safe.
He finished offering a short little bow before turning smartly away torwards where he had the horses picketed
Yes, go now, have fun!
Percy glances at each of the group and gives them a worried look that says, I need to discuss things with you. Without her.
Allie smiled. "I agree kitty! Besides the strange bird, I like him alright." She then took Vashti's hand. "Lets go!"
When the argument began, Mierul, Nadya, and the others became very quiet and still - unsure of how to react. Once Allie calmed down, Mierul sat in silence for a minute before smiling broadly. "Of course, little one. Let's practice over here; we'll put on a grand show for the others, and we don't want to spoil the surprise." She gives Percy a knowing wink when Allie's back is turned. They move out of earshot but make sure to remain within sight of the campfire.
Nadya continues to look hurt and confused but gives Percy a small nod.
Sigrun's eyes narrow at the exchange and she glances at Percy.
Percy braces herself before speaking. This is clearly a difficult topic for her. My sister and I have been on our own for a long time. I know her better than she knows her. And she knows me better than I know myself.
... a pause. An indrawn breath.
Something's wrong. Allie is loving and carefree to the point of violence and loves fire more than life, but her behavior, her words, her hurtful nature that she has been displaying these past hours. It's wrong. She's murderous. Not soul-crushingly cruel. The worst you could expect from Allie before is to get burned alive, but I can usually see that coming and head her off... She trails off helplessly.
He paused eyeing her his tail flicked back and forth as did his ears. He slid off his best friend Mule and pat the great warhorses side.
I am partially aware of that miss Percy. I apologize for loosing my temper my father would be shamed at my lack of... control. I will warn you, and please do not take this the wrong way, I would love to help you and your sister, but if she begins to harm others in more than verbal ways, cutting as they can be, I will do my best to stop her, without harm if possible, but I will not allow the harming of innocents.
He paused again and offered her a little bow.
"I was gonna mention, this was new from Allie. So what do ya think is wrong? What can we do?" Hobbes wanted to help the gnome sisters and not just because he liked Percy. But this was something different, not something Hobbes was used to dealing with. "Think a witch got to her?"
Sigrun nods silently, processing Percy's concerns.
Percy stares at Silence for a moment. Agreed, Silence. But see that you do not harm her. She is the world to me.
She then turns to Hobbes, her face growing darker still. If it was a witch, said witch will die. Unpleasantly. Multicolored energy plays down the cracks in the skin of Percy's badly burned and blackened arms. As for helping her. I don't know. As I said, this change is very new. It might not even be permanent. She does the gesture of the Twins and says a silent prayer that it isn't permanent.
Sigrun goes down to one knee, looking Percy in the eyes. "If your sister can be helped, I will do everything in my power to do so. And until then, we will try to contain her."
Percy grins in relief. Thanks, sexy. I knew you'd be with me.
The ulfen redhead flashes Percy a very warm smile. "We'll face whatever is causing this together."
"Sure, call her sexy. Not the obvious sexy shoeless god of war."
"Yep, you can count on me, gorgeous."
After learning the song, Allie pops up behind Hobbes. "Who are you calling goregous, big feet!" She giggles bubbily.
"Your sister, but you're cute too. What's wrong with my feet?" Hobbes says staring down at his hairy hobbit-feet.
With a deep breath he adjusted his weapon belt. My patrol awaits, I would keep a wary eye on our guests just in case. He said simply again giving a short bow before clambering smoothly atop Mule again kicking his mount into the snow. He kept his eyes out watching for trouble. A circuit or two about would give him time to think perhaps.
Allie tilted her head and crossed her arms. "Who is cuter? Me or Percy?" She looked at her sister and winked, but kept up the game for Hobbes.
"I think you know the answer doll." Hobbes says avoiding the obvious loaded question.
Allie hung her head. "Yep. Percy has always been the more beautiful out of the two of us. I can tell why you are trying so hard to get in her pants!" She giggled again, obviously not taking offense. She truly believes her sis is more beautiful, but for different reasons than just looks.
She hugs Percy lightly, as to not hurt her arms and kisses her cheek. "But you remember what we promised to mama!! No kids until we are older!" She poked Hobbes. "Even with a strapping halfling." She laughed again and went off to play with the blue lady and Little Allie.