Jeran retraced their tracks back to the river as quickly as possible.
With only one dweomercat sent scurrying away by the lanterns, Jeran leads them back to the river easily and without delay.
"Okay..." Oniero says as he looks over the map again. "We're a couple of miles from the last known location the expedition with the Book of Forlorn Blood was going. Unless the last owner was like me, we might get lucky and not need to take any naps."
"Then let's keep going as quickly as possible. Mr. Darkclaw, if you wouldn't mind leading the way? And Khassar, if you wouldn't mind taking the last position? I think we'll be best off keeping those familiar with wilderness on the outsides."
"Yes that's probably best."
"Alright, then. We're in agreement. Let's get moving."
"I really should have summoned a mount earlier. It makes this much less unpleasant."
Jeran leads the way as they forge their way ahead towards where they hope the book is waiting for them, trying and not always succeeding in hiding his impatience with his spellcasting companions who, with the exception of the tengu, didn't really seem cut out for well, outdoors.
KItty groaned as Saffire started singing in her ear. Why must he be such an early riser? And so totally tone deaf?
Surprisingly, Michael isn't in the room. How in the world did he leave without waking Kitty, and why?
Puts a reassuring arm around Nala's shoulder
"This is really hard for her Headmaster. The thing she's reluctant to say is, her Mother requires her death. I won't get into how or why, but that's the bottom line. In order to get what she wants, Nala has to die. I am not willing to let that happen. I don't think peace with Mab is an option, unless there is some way for her to legally disavow her daughter, or have her legally taken by someone else. Fey are all about laws and loopholes..."
"I'm hardly willing to let her die either. I can spend some time researching ways myself, but time seems to be of the essence at the moment. Anything either of you can tell me could be helpful. Even minor details or things you don't think are important could be of use."
Ryuzo actually blushes and looks at Nala, looking for approval.
Ryuzo actually blushes and looks at Nala, looking for approval.
She nods. "You can tell him. All of it. It's too hard for me to talk about it. But he needs to know."
Surprisingly, Michael isn't in the room. How in the world did he leave without waking Kitty, and why?
Kitty sat up, confused. "Where?"
"I know, Saffire. You're hungry. Just let me take a shower and get dressed, okay? At least, I assume Michael won't mind if I borrow his soap and such. Well, he's not here so he can't say no. You want to play in the water too, Saffire?"
She laughed at his enthusiastic agreement and headed for the bathroom.
With a little nod from the beetle, Michael slips back into the room after Kitty heads to the bathroom and sets down a large tray of food he's pretty sure she'd like. He'd floated himself out of the bed at an excruciatingly slow pace this morning so he could do some studying on food from her hometown and get it ready before she woke.
"It's just another form of alchemy. Should be easy." He had thought in the kitchens. He wasn't wrong, except for that last part. How could such simple looking recipes be so difficult? If one of the kitchen staff hadn't taken pity on him...
Kitty comes out of the bathroom after a few minutes wearing nothing but a towel since she'd forgotten to bring her clothes in with her. She sqeaked in surprise and blushed when she realized Michael had come back to the room.
"Breakfast? Oh, it smells soooo good. Umm...I should probably get dressed first. I'll just be another minute..."
"Take you time." Michael manages to squeak as his face goes red and he looks down at the food.
Kitty grabbed her clothes off the top of the dresser and quickly retreated to the bathroom. She came back out a couple minutes later wearing her outfit from the evening before.
"Well, I think that's probably better," she said with an awkward giggle. "Mmm. It smells like miso soup and baked tofu!"
"Oh thank Tapio, that means I probably didn't screw up the food! I swear I have several antitoxins ready if I end up poisoning us though."
Kitty laughed and knelt down in front of the tray. "I'll risk it," she said, picking up a pair of chopsticks and taking a bite of the tofu.
Ryuzo nods
"From what I've been able to gather, as Winter Princess, she has to bring in the next princess, afterwards she's umm...discarded. She also has to help out with...umm...making a new Knight of the Winter Court...by...umm..."
He pulls out a book, and indicates Ryo should read a passage he has dogeared...he can't quite come out and say it...
"So, to sum up, Nala can't have a normal life as long as she's the Winter Princess. She'll be killed off in favor of her daughter, you'll notice it says nothing of sons, and any man who...is...'with' her becomes the Winter Knight. We have got to get her out of this!"
Michael smiles as he tries the soup.
"It's not bad. Guess I really didn't poison anyone. Yet anyway."
The Headmaster stays silent for a few moments, thinking.
"If we could convince the Winter Queen that the bloodline would be too diluted, we might be able to send her away."
As they travel, the light begins to fade just a bit. It's not that a lot of time has gone by, but that the canopy of branches over head is becoming much thicker the deeper into the jungle they go. Oniero's flight becomes shaky as he has to re-size his paper wings or fly sideways to get through the trees.
Jeran soon catches several different scents, all of something that's been dead a long time. Further along they stumble across the first skeleton of an expedition, and can see there are others are not far away.
"The one we're looking for was known for the locket he keep tied around his arm. Said he liked 'wearing his heart on his sleeve' or something like that." Oniero says as he looks over the closest remains. "Hopefully it didn't fall off somewhere in the jungle while they were running for their lives."
The Headmaster stays silent for a few moments, thinking.
"If we could convince the Winter Queen that the bloodline would be too diluted, we might be able to send her away."
"Good luck with that. I'm her direct child. Not grandchild or great-grandchild. She's actually my mother. Unfortunately. She's....she doesn't really care about the safety or longevity of her knights. So I'd guess it's been more than a year since she lost the last one. And without me she can't get any more. Unless you can find some way to make me not the Winter Princess I don't know how to fix this."
"I can't even hold hands with my boyfriend without having a panic attack, and I like him. The knights are...they're not good people. Well, good people wouldn't serve the Winter Queen. She picks her servants for their ruthlessness. You could not by any stretch of the imagination call any of them kind. Or gentle. I was very young when the Queen decided I should perform my duties as princess. Much, much too young. I...I don't know if I'll ever be able to heal from that. I can't go back. I'd rather die. And not after giving her a new heir. I don't want to have a child. And if I did, there's no way I'd hand over a child of mine to that monster just so she could do to her what she did to me."
Michael smiles as he tries the soup.
"It's not bad. Guess I really didn't poison anyone. Yet anyway."
She smiled. "It's tasty. Thank you so much. I can't believe you actually cooked me breakfast. And all my favorite breakfast foods too! You're awesome!" she said, leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek.
As they travel, the light begins to fade just a bit. It's not that a lot of time has gone by, but that the canopy of branches over head is becoming much thicker the deeper into the jungle they go. Oniero's flight becomes shaky as he has to re-size his paper wings or fly sideways to get through the trees.
Jeran soon catches several different scents, all of something that's been dead a long time. Further along they stumble across the first skeleton of an expedition, and can see there are others are not far away.
"The one we're looking for was known for the locket he keep tied around his arm. Said he liked 'wearing his heart on his sleeve' or something like that." Oniero says as he looks over the closest remains. "Hopefully it didn't fall off somewhere in the jungle while they were running for their lives."
"As horrifyingly grisly as this is we should all search. Hopefully we'll find what we're looking for quickly."
Jeran sniffs out the not as obvious bodies, checking each one for this 'locket'.
"Is there a way to copy Nala? Give her a copy that can't reproduce?"
Khassar has Nexiv check any burrows and smaller spaces as he looks.
With everyone looking, the skeleton with a heart locket is found at the far end of the group, partially covered in moss and creeper vines. When touched, the locket beats just like a real heart would except there isn't any blood. With a grimace and a giant paper brush, Oniero sweeps away the vegetation and flips the skeleton over as gently as he can. His hand shakes as he reaches for the still decaying pack the skeleton. It falls apart as soon as he touches it, and among the debris sits a thin book bound in red leather.
"The S-sanguine Tome of the D-desolate." Oniero whispers, his voice shaking. The book pulses and the title changes to The Book of FOrlorn Blood, complete with a page marker.
"Well. This was almost anti-climactic...I don't suppose that this has a clue as to where we can find the next book? Although unless it's right here we should really head back to the school first anyways."
"If you were no longer fey, would that be enough to keep you safe?" Ryo asks Nala, thinking very carefully of a solution-any solution-to his student's impending mother.
"If you were no longer fey, would that be enough to keep you safe?" Ryo asks Nala, thinking very carefully of a solution-any solution-to his student's impending mother.
"Umm...I think so. I can't be the Winter Princess if I'm not fey. Is that even possible?"
0.o
"Is that possible?"
She smiled. "It's tasty. Thank you so much. I can't believe you actually cooked me breakfast. And all my favorite breakfast foods too! You're awesome!" she said, leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek.
"I just made the foods I'd seen you eat before, and that looked like I could stomach too. It wasn't all me though, one of the cooks took pity on me after I nearly ruined it all."
"If you were no longer fey, would that be enough to keep you safe?" Ryo asks Nala, thinking very carefully of a solution-any solution-to his student's impending mother."Umm...I think so. I can't be the Winter Princess if I'm not fey. Is that even possible?"
0.o
"Is that possible?"
"I'm not sure, but Professor Yrrum is an alchemical geneticist. That may be partially my fault, but if he can put DNA together, he can surely take it apart. I do not think it will be a simple matter though, or painless."
She smiled. "It's tasty. Thank you so much. I can't believe you actually cooked me breakfast. And all my favorite breakfast foods too! You're awesome!" she said, leaning over to give him a kiss on the cheek."I just made the foods I'd seen you eat before, and that looked like I could stomach too. It wasn't all me though, one of the cooks took pity on me after I nearly ruined it all."
"They're really nice like that. Cooking is harder than it looks. But you still thought of it all on your own. So you're still awesome," she said, picking up her bowl of miso soup and taking a sip.
"Well. This was almost anti-climactic...I don't suppose that this has a clue as to where we can find the next book? Although unless it's right here we should really head back to the school first anyways."
"Why did...?" Oniero trails off as he stands and turns to Ori.
"Why did he bring it here?" A low voice growls. There is a soft thud, barely audible, as a dweomercat of immense size leaps down from the trees. A bright green jewel glows in it's chest with an ominous light. "You're supposed to be smart, world-dreamer."
"I'm not sure, but Professor Yrrum is an alchemical geneticist. That may be partially my fault, but if he can put DNA together, he can surely take it apart. I do not think it will be a simple matter though, or painless."
"I'm not sure about this. I think I'd like to get more details before we go ahead with that."
"Well. This was almost anti-climactic...I don't suppose that this has a clue as to where we can find the next book? Although unless it's right here we should really head back to the school first anyways.""Why did...?" Oniero trails off as he stands and turns to Ori.
"Why did he bring it here?" A low voice growls. There is a soft thud, barely audible, as a dweomercat of immense size leaps down from the trees. A bright green jewel glows in it's chest with an ominous light. "You're supposed to be smart, world-dreamer."
Ori sighed. "Of course it can't be that easy. Let me guess, a voice in his head told him to?"
Sadie breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the wall. The run had made her head feel less fuzzy, but now her stomach felt quite sick.
"Whatever you want to say, Ursula, just can it," she snapped. "You've said your piece. Now go find your idiot brother."
She looked the other way as Ursula stomped off.
"C'mon, Vai. I'll walk you to the infirmary. Umm. I mean, if you don't mind."
Vai stumbled and covered her nose, trying to get the bleeding to stop. She glared at Ursula as she stomped away. "She never apologized." Vai said a bit morosely. Blood was dripping onto her dress now. "I... I don't mind Sadie. I... I'm sorry, I ruined our evening didn't I?"
"They're really nice like that. Cooking is harder than it looks. But you still thought of it all on your own. So you're still awesome," she said, picking up her bowl of miso soup and taking a sip.
"They seemed particularly happy about it being a 'normal-sized' amount for some reason... Anyway, how awesome could I really be? It's just a breakfast without the usual crowd of people."
Tyrrin was a little drunk, but she smiled when Jaiye rescued Albin from the folks. The dancing was awesome though, and Tyrrin was fully enjoying herself. She had already pushed away one guy who had tried rubbing up against her though.
Once the dance finally ends, Tyrrin exits and stands against a cold wall. She casts neutralize poison to clear the alchohol from her system before going to bed.
"I'm not sure about this. I think I'd like to get more details before we go ahead with that."
"I'm not sure, but Professor Yrrum is an alchemical geneticist. That may be partially my fault, but if he can put DNA together, he can surely take it apart. I do not think it will be a simple matter though, or painless."
"Understandable. One moment." The Headmaster pulls up a screen on his desk and taps it once. A moment later Professor Yrrum appears on it.
"Hey, Ryo. What's with the early morning call?"
"Long story short, Miss Zamarosok's mother is on her way and if she get's Miss Zamarosok she will kill her. How easily can you separate fey DNA from non-fey DNA?"
"Well... you're asking for a full DNA split? That could have unexpected consequences, but it's possible. The nanites can be programmed to deconstruct the fey portion and reconstruct it as the non-fey portion given time."
"How much?"
"An hour, maybe two. It depends on the individual."
"Nala?" The Headmaster asks. "Do you have any questions for the Professor?"
Sadie breathed a sigh of relief and leaned against the wall. The run had made her head feel less fuzzy, but now her stomach felt quite sick.
"Whatever you want to say, Ursula, just can it," she snapped. "You've said your piece. Now go find your idiot brother."
She looked the other way as Ursula stomped off.
"C'mon, Vai. I'll walk you to the infirmary. Umm. I mean, if you don't mind."
Vai stumbled and covered her nose, trying to get the bleeding to stop. She glared at Ursula as she stomped away. "She never apologized." Vai said a bit morosely. Blood was dripping onto her dress now. "I... I don't mind Sadie. I... I'm sorry, I ruined our evening didn't I?"
Sadie pulled a non-essential scarf off of her costume and handed it to Vai to wipe off the blood. She smiled gently.
"No way. You didn't ruin anything. You were awesome. The way you told her off...Nobody has ever stood up for me like that. Zren and Rikken have my back, but they always follow my lead. Not like that. I...I think I might love you. Ummm....no pressure to say anything to that. Sorry. I really need to stop blurting things out. It's like I'm talking faster than I can think tonight. C'mon, let's get you to the infirmary."
"They're really nice like that. Cooking is harder than it looks. But you still thought of it all on your own. So you're still awesome," she said, picking up her bowl of miso soup and taking a sip."They seemed particularly happy about it being a 'normal-sized' amount for some reason... Anyway, how awesome could I really be? It's just a breakfast without the usual crowd of people."
She grinned. "Exactly. Just a quiet, romantic meal with just us. Totally awesome."
"Nala?" The Headmaster asks. "Do you have any questions for the Professor?"
"Well...to start with, is doing this going to make me lose all of my abilities? Because there's something important I have to do first if that's the case. Also, how much of a decreased normal lifespan would we be talking about here? Would...would I still look the same? I...I know it might hurt. I can deal with that. But...how big are the chances that it outright won't work? Or will only half-work or something horrific?"
Ori sighed. "Of course it can't be that easy. Let me guess, a voice in his head told him to?"
"Oh no, nothing as seemingly sinister as that." The gem-encrusted cat purrs. "Do you not know about the books? What did you say, world-dreamer?" The creature asks when Oniero mumbles something as he opens the book to the marked page.
"Each book leads to the next..."
"Good boy, you remembered!" The cat laughs. "Too bad that knowledge does you no good. As the Book of Forlorn Blood's guardian, I can't let you take it, and even if I could, you barely passed the Book's test with the help of your friends. How could you expect to pass the rest as they continue to become more difficult?"
"Well...to start with, is doing this going to make me lose all of my abilities? Because there's something important I have to do first if that's the case. Also, how much of a decreased normal lifespan would we be talking about here? Would...would I still look the same? I...I know it might hurt. I can deal with that. But...how big are the chances that it outright won't work? Or will only half-work or something horrific?""Nala?" The Headmaster asks. "Do you have any questions for the Professor?"
"It's difficult to say. You're a witch, yes? Your patron provides most of your abilities then, so you shouldn't loose them. You might experience a slight decrease in strength for a little bit, but that will fade."
"Your lifespan should become that of a normal human, maybe a half-elf, unless you want me to keep it the same. I just have to extend the life of your cells and slow down the rate of aging. Your looks should remain unchanged of course."
"The chances of this not working are slim. I may not be the best, but I can read genetic code exceptionally and Professor Sunwake's nanites are top-notch no matter where you go. I can fix any and all problems as they arise."
She grinned. "Exactly. Just a quiet, romantic meal with just us. Totally awesome."
Michael grins as he thinks of something, but bites his tongue and shakes his head, ocassionally shaking with silent laughter.