** spoiler omitted **
Shalelu smiles again, and the two elves begin to disentangle themselves and rise to their feet.
Zaiobe touches her hand to Liothonae's.
Lio offers a tentative smile, it's sort of a reassuring expression.
Ulf, overhearing, tosses in the following, "Hellwasps? Nasty customers. Like flying poisonous piranhas, only not so sweet tempered. If they're locked up somewhere, might want to leave them for the authorities to deal with when we tell them about this. Evidence of deals with hellish forces aren't looked on too kindly in these parts, and the king's wizard can probably have banishing spells at the ready when they come to investigate. If you don't mind my throwing in my two coppers on it."
Kalimac spares a moment from his reunion with Ameiko. "That sounds like the best plan. For the wasps, at least. We still have some areas that we haven't swept for enemies, and I'd like to make sure we don't have anyone sniping at our backs when we leave."
Lio offers a tentative smile, it's sort of a reassuring expression.
There is a pause.
<They were delighted to discover that my bones were hollow and therefore quite easy to break,> she says at last. <I would rather not ... spoil the reunion by discussing it now. But I may take you up on your offer at a later time, if you truly would not mind listening.>
Ulf, overhearing, tosses in the following, "Hellwasps? Nasty customers. Like flying poisonous piranhas, only not so sweet tempered. If they're locked up somewhere, might want to leave them for the authorities to deal with when we tell them about this. Evidence of deals with hellish forces aren't looked on too kindly in these parts, and the king's wizard can probably have banishing spells at the ready when they come to investigate. If you don't mind my throwing in my two coppers on it."
"Fahir enuf." Lio says. "Ey traide ta get us ta let em oute. Bought aive sean 'eir handey worke b'fore. An' apparentley, ey onley speake summa 'ellish language, so 'ese guys kould 'ell ye whot 'ey aktually saide. Dunna kenn et was too konvencen."
Lio looks confused. Nought ahs fahr as aye knou. Ah jus' mention'd 'em sence he's oute 'ere summawhere, runnen amock, laikely. 'es ah freidnley."
Comprehension dawns. "Someone I shouldn't kill," says Kelda.
"Fahir enuf." Lio says. "Ey traide ta get us ta let em oute. Bought aive sean 'eir handey worke b'fore. An' apparentley, ey onley speake summa 'ellish language, so 'ese guys kould 'ell ye whot 'ey aktually saide. Dunna kenn et was too konvencen."
"They're evil little swarming devil-creatures from another dimension who like crawling into the helpless bodies of victims they've paralyzed and devouring them from within," Ulf says, nodding, "But I've never heard it said that they're all that bright."
Lio offers a tentative smile, it's sort of a reassuring expression.** spoiler omitted **
After giving the sword over to Ameiko, Mel again backs off. This time she moves over to the entrance, stopping briefly by the Varisian brothers with a whispered, "Sorry about all this, glad you are both okay." Then she just quietly watches the group, a mostly happy smile on her lips.
"They're evil little swarming devil-creatures from another dimension who like crawling into the helpless bodies of victims they've paralyzed and devouring them from within," Ulf says, nodding, "But I've never heard it said that they're all that bright."
'Naught braighte, bought persestent. Perhaps a wezard woulde best deal weth thes." Lio agrees. She silently makes an unhappy face at the thought of someone being paralyzed and devoured from within. She either has a really good imagination, or has seen it being done to someone from start to finish.
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Reta comes to. Her first, weak word upon waking is, "Missier."
As Myriana works on her chains, she adds, "Reta try to make you proud. They say to Reta, Goblin, tell us if woman whose name you cannot remember is related to some people you do not know, and where she has hidden the thing that sounds vaguely familiar! But Reta tell them she knows nothing!"
"I'm just glad you're in one piece," he says affectionately. "Sometimes I forget how tough you are."
Lio looks confused. Nought ahs fahr as aye knou. Ah jus' mention'd 'em sence he's oute 'ere summawhere, runnen amock, laikely. 'es ah freidnley."Comprehension dawns. "Someone I shouldn't kill," says Kelda.
Lio smiles at this. Nods once.
Still over by the door, after Lio's conversation with Zaiobe is done,
After giving the sword over to Ameiko, Mel again backs off. This time she moves over to the entrance, stopping briefly by the Varisian brothers with a whispered, "Sorry about all this, glad you are both okay." Then she just quietly watches the group, a mostly happy smile on her lips.
"Sorry about what?" Bevelek asks genially.
"I'm just glad you're in one piece," he says affectionately. "Sometimes I forget how tough you are."
"Reta is tough like month-old frog jerky," she agrees. "May I ask if big wolf will let me stick my head in her mouth, father?"
Koya's eyes snap open and she is instantly alert. She relaxes slightly as she takes in the situation.
"Never doubted for a moment you'd show up," she says with gruff affection.
Alaric can't quite summon any words, just putting a relieved hand on Koya's shoulder. He quickly removes it before it becomes too noticeable.
"Reta is tough like month-old frog jerky," she agrees. "May I ask if big wolf will let me stick my head in her mouth, father?"
Mel looks at Reta, then at Skygni. 'She could probably swallow Reta whole...' with a completely inappropriate stifled laugh.
Still over by the door, after Lio's conversation with Zaiobe is done
<I am... I don't know how to... I'm glad you are physically alright. I'm sorry they hurt you because of us. And that we couldn't rescue you sooner.>
<First, they hurt me because I made choices of my own free will, not for any other reason, and I would make the same choices again. Next, I have awakened in a room full of ... equipment which was never used on me, and I suspect that is because there was no chance since your rescue was so timely.>
A wash of guilt, shame and worry for the feathered woman. <When you were cut off... I thought you were... I am so very glad you are okay.> A pause, and then is a mental whisper <You are okay?>
There is a slight pause. Then: <I am now.>
<No such thing,> Alaric thinks tenderly.
There is a sense of a mind becoming slightly more alert. <Oh! It's really you! I - it's - oh ...>
Lio looks confused. Nought ahs fahr as aye knou. Ah jus' mention'd 'em sence he's oute 'ere summawhere, runnen amock, laikely. 'es ah freidnley."Comprehension dawns. "Someone I shouldn't kill," says Kelda.Lio smiles at this. Nods once.
"Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about Haggersley. His name is 'Lute Haggersley.'"
"Sorry about what?" Bevelek asks genially.
"Oh, kidnapping, torture, nothing major between friends." Mel quips, obviously relieved but not settled yet.
Alaric can't quite summon any words, just putting a relieved hand on Koya's shoulder. He quickly removes it before it becomes too noticeable.
Her answer to this is a quick, equally wordless nod.
Still over by the door, after Lio's conversation with Zaiobe is done
Mel seems to find her shoes very interesting. Her arms wrapped around her own waist.
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"Oh, kidnapping, torture, nothing major between friends." Mel quips, obviously relieved but not settled yet.
He nods. "But you come for us. Like Sandru, he come for us last time. Eh?"
"Reta is tough like month-old frog jerky," she agrees. "May I ask if big wolf will let me stick my head in her mouth, father?"
Alaric goes white as a sheet. Then a strangled: "If you like."
<I... hadn't noticed all that before. Kinda happy about that, more happy we were timely.> And her mind continues to babble relatively incoherently. Until finally, <And I wasn't the one who was being tortured, but all I want to do right now is grab onto someone to prove that we were really on time, but... everyone Alaric, Ameiko, Reta, you seems... occupied.>
<If you want to grab onto me,> Zaiobe answers quietly, <I would very much appreciate being grabbed onto.>
Alaric goes white as a sheet. Then a strangled: "If you like."
Reta happily trots over to attempt to "play" with Skygni.
"Reta is tough like month-old frog jerky," she agrees. "May I ask if big wolf will let me stick my head in her mouth, father?"Alaric goes white as a sheet. Then a strangled: "If you like."
Lio smiles a little, at Reta's strange brave enthusiasm and at Alaric's giving her permission to ask the winter wolf such a question. She silently hopes the wolf will agree, and not hurt Reta.
After a moment, her eyes move back to Shalelu. She smiles at the elf, mostly with her eyes.
Once he feels he can handle letting go of Ameiko for a moment, Kalimac makes his way over to Sandru. He lays his hand on the taller human's arm, giving a wordless smile. No words are necessary to convey the relief that his friend is safe after all of this.
Alaric very gently takes Zaiobe in his arms.
"Oh, kidnapping, torture, nothing major between friends." Mel quips, obviously relieved but not settled yet.He nods. "But you come for us. Like Sandru, he come for us last time. Eh?"
Lio raises an interested eyebrow, wondering what the story behind this comment is. But she doesn't say anything. If anything, she shoots a little friendly smile in the direction of the drivers and where Mel is standing.
I do not mind." She says, her mind firm in how she feels about this. "Whenever you wish to speak, I will listen." Apparently she holds some quiet affection for Zaiobe. It probably started when you went significantly out of your way and into danger in order to save Melinda's life. And that made her realize how good a person you really were... although that sort of thing probably isn't transmitted through the bond. Unless of course it is, because then, now you know.
<Thank you,> Zaiobe answers. <I think I may ... need that.>
There is a sense of hesitation, and a feeling that there is a question she would very much like to ask, but she does not do so.
Alaric very gently takes Zaiobe in his arms.
Alaric very gently takes Zaiobe in his arms.
She collapses into the embrace.
Voice shaky, <Would love to, but can't quite seem to get my limbs to obey me at the moment. Stupid, huh?>
<Perhaps I might be more critical if my legs were supporting me right now.>
Reta happily trots over to attempt to "play" with Skygni.
Mel smiles, "Skygni, Reta. Reta, Skygni. Reta, Skygni ate the woman who imprisoned you all."
Once he feels he can handle letting go of Ameiko for a moment, Kalimac makes his way over to Sandru. He lays his hand on the taller human's arm, giving a wordless smile. No words are necessary to convey the relief that his friend is safe after all of this.
Sandru acknowledges the wordless camaraderie. With words.
"We," he says solemnly, "Need to get seriously plastered sometime soon."
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Mel smiles, "Skygni, Reta. Reta, Skygni. Reta, Skygni ate the woman who imprisoned you all."
"Hurray!" says Reta.
Skygni regards the small being before her, then clamps her teeth around Reta's head.
"Hurray!" says Reta.
"Ve havits uv goflins ar nah unnown oo my feefle," Skygni explains around a mouthful of head.
Mel smiles, "Skygni, Reta. Reta, Skygni. Reta, Skygni ate the woman who imprisoned you all.""Hurray!" says Reta.
Skygni regards the small being before her, then clamps her teeth around Reta's head.
"Hurray!" says Reta.
"Ve havits uv goflins ar nah unnown oo my feefle," Skygni explains around a mouthful of head.
Lio actually breaks out into a grin. Apparently she is happy at this positive turn of events.
She glances back over at Shalelu. Because really, she can't stop looking at the other elf. Once Myri is done speaking to her sister, and Hrunndalf has greeted Shae as well, and anyone else of course..., Lio goes back over to Shalelu, standing quite near, possibly touching.
"Is there something you'd like to know... to ask?"
<Yes,> Zaiobe admits, <But it is on a different topic entirely, irrelevant, embarrassing, and unlikely to gain me the answer I seek. So I will refrain for now.>
<Instead, may I ask - how did you and Shalelu fall in love? I mean, when ... how did you know when she returned your feelings?> she asks, seemingly out of the blue.
Ameiko approaches Melinda where she stands by Bevelek and Vankar.
"Mel," she says. "Could I ... ask something of you?"
Lio actually breaks out into a grin. Apparently she is happy at this positive turn of events. She glances back over at Shalelu. Because really, she can't stop looking at the other elf. Once Myri is done speaking to her sister, and Hrunndalf has greeted Shae as well, and anyone else of course..., Lio goes back over to Shalelu, standing quite near, possibly touching.
Shalelu quietly takes Liothonae's hand in her own.
"Hurray!" says Reta.
Skygni regards the small being before her, then clamps her teeth around Reta's head.
"Hurray!" says Reta.
"Ve havits uv goflins ar nah unnown oo my feefle," Skygni explains around a mouthful of head.
Alaric winces with every word, but he does seem to be calming down a bit.
Hrunndalf belatedly remembers to greet Zaiobe and the two Varisian drivers as well. He gives Reta a nod: "You have been very brave." And to Skygni: "Thank you for joining us in battle. It has been an honor fighting on your side. "
He agrees with Ulf's assessment of the hellwasp situation. "If there's going to be an investigation, best to leave the remains of Goti's devil-work in plain evidence. The clearer the case, the better."
Once the mingling progresses and the crowd around Ameiko thins, Hrunndalf goes back to her and quietly speaks to her.