Brental nods along at Lina's assessment. "I'll remain here with Kundal for now. We won't be able to talk for much longer, but I'd like to be here when he transforms back."
The druid tilts his head back to the werewolf. "Why did you come here, of all places? And where did you come from?"
Kundal snarls one last time as Lina leaves the room exiting to a small crowd of curious townsfolk kept at bay by the guard/militia that Kesten had assembled. Kesten stands at the front of them and looks relieved when Lina and the others exit. "Excellent, you've settled matters in there I trust? Your people grow impatient and seek word on what will be done with the prisoner as, frankly, do I." The guard-captain professes.
Signy does her best to explain what's going on to the crowd, trying her best to say it all like Lina asked and hoping she doesn't forget anything.
Her own uncertainty about what's happening doesn't help in making her very persuasive.
"We're still working on figuring out the man's curse, which shouldn't take a long time to do. He will go on trial after that."
Meneas folds his arms, right-hand fingers flexing. "We're going to put him on trial, and soon. We have a grasp of what might be happening here, and are in our final stages of seeing what we need to ensure justice is carried out." He replies to Kesten, though he keeps his gaze on the crowd and his voice just loud enough for them to hear.
Meneas does not seem terribly pleased with the outcome of this discussion.
“Tomorrow, at the latest, or as soon as he’s fit to answer in the trial: as you may have seen last night, he was recklessly defiant in resisting our inquiries,” Lina clarifies, as to timing, just a bit proudly. The others seem to be playing it rather closer to the chest than she would, and she does want to reassure everyone as much as possible and work on her communication skills. (If it also lets her indulge her shamefully pedantic side, well, that’s just a nice perk.) “Brental is looking after him now. There is some evidence that the accused is not in his right mind, but pending the last details we have to confirm, the very most lenient sentence he can expect is banishment on pain of outlawry. Until such time, we’re hoping to consult with Jhod for further magical support.”
She’s not silly enough to be completely open about everything. Now is not the time to mention that if Kundal is telling the truth, she’s considering suggesting temporary exile, and certainly not the time that dreadfully powerful fey and witches are presumably lurking behind the attacks.
It's a miracle what a good night's sleep and some progress in an investigation can do, as well as staying in town where she can dress more suitably for her role than in such armour as Lina's been able to collect so far. And maybe the inspiration of a bit of obsessing about it as much as she could over the past several hours. Her face is a picture of sympathetic understanding and her tone measured, with an almost audible commitment to careful deliberation and fairness.
As the others leave, Brental continues to stare amber-eyed at Kundal. He knows that his spell must be winding down, so he takes the time that he has left and uses it to his best. "To see the world has long been my fervent wish as well. If the World wills it, the cure takes hold, and your mind is restored to its previous order, I will advocate for your return to the wilds you love and the purpose you seek. After all, I think we have a common enemy: the way who did this to you has attacked our fledgling land previously."
The druid sits back on his haunches, almost ready to shift back into his human form. "My only fear is that you may not remember this conversation when you transform back. Is there something I can tell you that your human side may remember or recognize and believe that we're telling the truth?"
The crowd initially feels skeptical of Signy's uncertain deliverance and many mutter complaints under their breath, however Meneas and Lina's more authoritative certainty afterwards goes a long way to easing the tesntions of the crowd and many begin to disperse speeaking in hushed whispers amongst themselves. They seem content with the current situation though it is apparent to all that their neeves are quite frayed.
Kesten nods assuredly, satisfied with Lina and Meneas's words. "Good, the sooner this whole nastiness is taken care of the better... I feel that many in this town- err- country, are considering this to be your first real test of leadership so take that as you will but I would tread very carefully... This could be seen as a defining moment for our land's history." He remarks grimly.
Meanwhile back in the make-shift dungeon, the spell is about to were off and Kundal barely has time for one last remark. Before the spell fades he mutters,
------
The next morning comes swiftly and with it a decision, how will the day proceed?
Meneas simply nods quietly. We need to get more protection up in the area. Have to talk to Akiros, Chief Sootscale, and Kesten about figuring out how to arm and employ watchers, at least.
The Hooded Knight is up early, patrolling the streets atop Veil's back and searching for any signs that Kundal is not the only werewolf in the area.
Brental chuckles with Kundal. "I'll remember."
Although his ability to speak directly with the wolf ends shortly thereafter, he stays with the werewolf in lupine form for a few more hours. Brental eventually shifts back into his humanoid form, shaking his hair as he gets up, and goes to check on Vodnykel and the others. He shares what more he learned while speaking with their quarry and encourages them to rest well for the trial on the morrow.
---
1st: charm animal, cure light wounds, speak with animals, tears to wine
0: create water, detect magic, guidance, resistance
Come morning, Brental spends time communing with the World in his grove. He then seeks out his fellow rulers. "I am prepared to speak with Kundal in either form, and eventually to help him deal with the effects of the wolfsbane." He considers the trial itself. "If we can help our people understand that Kundal freely choosing the wolfsbane may result in either his death or his redemption, they may accept it as at least a partial punishment. What do you think?"
Once the crowd disperses, Lina hurries to try to track down Jhod and explain the situation. With his history, she hopes he won’t need much convincing to beseech his god for a suitable spell to guide the leaders of Helikia through their trial, but, even if she wouldn’t be happy about it, she’s not above flattery and appealing to the bond of friendship between Ketephys and Erastil to suggest that similar should extend to elves and Old Deadeye’s followers.
After that, she’s not sure what else she can do but fret over what’s likely to happen, trying to foresee as many twists and turns as possible, but she does drop by Zuki’s to see if she has any scrolls that might be helpful at the last minute. Apart from that, Lina tries to make herself available for the more usual business going on in Limen that might need her attention, modeling the idea that things are getting back to normal.
* * *
As the next day dawns, Lina carefully goes over the spells she’ll prepare, and then dresses carefully from among such finery as she’s managed to collect so far, making a mental note to plan for something more suitable for capital cases. She proceeds to where the trial will be held, looking out for Jhod, if he’s coming, and her friends.
Come morning, Brental spends time communing with the World in his grove. He then seeks out his fellow rulers. "I am prepared to speak with Kundal in either form, and eventually to help him deal with the effects of the wolfsbane." He considers the trial itself. "If we can help our people understand that Kundal freely choosing the wolfsbane may result in either his death or his redemption, they may accept it as at least a partial punishment. What do you think?"
<“Harmless subterfuge, in the service of mercy,”> Lina remarks in Elven, in response to Brental’s question. <“I like it. We should probably also explain that it will take time for the cure to work, and banish him for at least the duration, with an oath to check in frequently on the other bank. And in the worst case, if he has been toying with us the whole time, and manages to resist the wolfsbane, we can add perjury and such to the charges, and proceed more directly than through the poison.”>
Next she goes over what she thinks they can expect, and then takes her seat.
1. Swearing in, opening statements, presentation of current evidence.
2. Introduction of expert testimony: that Jhod will cast zone of truth, (if he will), or that Lina will charm Kundal, with detect magic to make sure the spell holds, followed by interrogation.
3. If Kundal isn’t lying about not knowing what he did, administration of wolfsbane with bear’s endurance, resistance, his rage (if I’m reading through the lines correctly) and moment of greatness (if available) going.
4. Assuming Kundal survives, exile under parole through the next full moon at least, to make sure the cure worked, possibly longer for his own safety if the crowd’s not buying it.
5. Wrapping it up?
Jhod has heard word of the werewolf himself obviously as it is the buzz of the town. Oddly enough, he seems more than eager to help out with this particular case viewing it as some kind of act of redemption for having jumped the gun the last time a suspected werewolf was on the loose in his town.
Things at Zuki's shop proceed whimsically as ever. The smell of sweet treats lingers in the air as the small human woman goes about assembling Lina's order requesting that her elven friend try some of her most recent invention, minty everlasting gelatinous cubes.
Eventually the freckled girl steps forward with two cupcakes in hand each with what would appear to be a scroll sticking out of the top... and sprinkles... lots of sprinkles.
"Righty roo! Here's what I've got in stock Lina~ I think this is what you wanted and I'm relatively certain that they aren't actually scrolls of fireball... eighty percent... seventy three percent." The blue-eyed woman purses her lips as she revises her assessment of the potential lethality of the cupcakes.
"Anyway! That'll be 175 gold minus the 'friend of Zuki' rebate that'll run you 170 gold cash or pixie dust! Oh and I have buckets for when you wanna spit out the cubes. They quite literally never stop."
Meneas listens quietly to his friends conferring, though when Lina speaks in Elven, he sighs inwardly. With a slight flex of his fingers, he nods. "I believe that I can sell it to them as such." He replies to Brental.
Signy doesn't involve herself with preparations for the cure or the trial. Instead she sticks to Lina's request, keeping tabs on the mood of the people. While one good speech can set the right tone at the beginning, how people think and feel about something will remain fluid. To Signy, gaining and keeping trust and good will is not like fixing a wagon, it's like tending a garden. Without ongoing effort, past work is eventually undone.
Signy goes back to her daily routine of doing very little of anything that is easily identified as work, while also being out and around among people. As she idles here and there, chatting or listening in on other conversations, she tries to detect signs that suspicions, or rumors, or anxieties may be creeping in and eroding confidence that the werewolf situation will be handled well. If she finds anything alarming Signy intervenes gently and obliquely with her own views and interpretations of things, fighting the weeds that always encroach and threaten to take over as it were.
“Oh, thank you!” Lina says earnestly upon seeing the cupcake-scrolls. “If this works, you can pride yourself on being very literally a life-saver, Zuki.”
She’s less sure about the everlasting mints, as she counts out the gold for the scrolls, but some out-of-the-box thinking should do the trick. Knowing her luck, she’d be sucking on one when she gets jumped by some horrible monster, swallow in surprise, and then – well, probably end up the origin of a rumour that elves have cubes in their gizzards that make them taste minty fresh. Maybe the cubes can also add a bit of punch to various drinks and potions? They sound like quite a handy thing to have while preparing various refreshments.
Lina decides to keep the one scroll in reserve, for now, but tries to figure out how the easier spell works to add to her repertoire.
* * *
The witch blinks at Meneas' blank expression following her remarks, belatedly remembering that not everyone who speaks Sylvan also speaks Elven. She repeats herself in the language of the forest fey, before switching back to Common as everyone gathers, Signy reappearing from her discreet handling of various parties in the new town.
"Sorry about that, Meneas. Got all into my head," Lina says, taking a moment to ground herself more fully. She can hardly afford to get careless now. "Right. Shall we get this started?"
Brental chuckles at Lina's linguistic foibles. It seemed increasingly likely that Sylvan was becoming a secondary language of the realm, with Draconic as a likely tertiary tongue. Were Lina to have her druthers, Brental is sure that she would see Elven taught in all of the future schools.
The druid looks on Meneas with uncertainty. He had become more inscrutable recently rather than less. Brental isn't sure exactly where he stands on the upcoming proceedings, though he appears ready to do as they had more or less collectively agreed to do.
And Signy? Well, she had been off doing her own preparations, probably keeping her ears paired with a healthy pour of ale to lull loose tongues out of the people of Limen. Hopefully she had learned something useful.
"Yes--let's see justice done."
Meneas bows his head slightly in acknowledgement of Lina's apology, a brief giggle escaping from beneath his hood. "This'll be a test of our authority and set a precedent for all crimes to come." He says in Sylvan, his tone somewhat amused, but growing more serious as he continues. "We'd do well to keep that in mind."
Over the next few minutes the common townsfolk begin to assemble around the make-shift stage set up in the town square. Whispers and grumblings are exchanged with one another, growing louder and louder as more and more of the townsfolk assemble until quite suddenly a hushed silence falls over the crowd as their attention seems to have been drawn elsewhere.
As Kundal is lead out in silver chains to the town square to face his trail surrounded by militia guardsmen a tumultuous 'booing' is heard evetually drowning out the clanking of his bonds. Still, the man seems to pay no mind even as a few pieces of spoiled fruit here and there are chucked his way, the barbarian's gaze focused intensely on Brental seemingly having formed something of a bind with the druid or at least a mutual understanding.
Kesten lead Kundal to the center of the stage and gives Lina a questioning raised eyebrow as if to say, "Alright, here he is. What now?"
From her seat on the tribunal, Lina sends a stern glance at the few bits of rotten fruit that fly upon the introduction of the accused, conveying a warning both lest any of it come too near her and that such should wait until after a condemnation in any case.
“Good people, citizens of Limen,” she begins, with perhaps uncharacteristic brevity, knowing the situation doesn’t play to her strengths, “this will not take long. This morning you will see justice done. There are only a fewer finer points that need to be aired in the open, ascertained by the grace of the gods and -” What does Brental call it? “- the will of the world.”
She nods to Jhod and Brental, presents the whole court party, swears everyone in, and briskly sets out what’s been discovered so far: the tracks from where Billy was attacked, the confrontation with Kundal, his protestations that while he’s had disturbing dreams of late, he didn’t even know he was a werewolf, let alone being able to remember waking in the night to transform.
She anticipates that this isn’t going to go over well, and spares a few minutes for outcry and grumbling, before holding up a hand and calling for quiet. “Jhod, by the power of Erastil, will now cast a spell that will compel the truth from any speakers before us. If necessary, Brental can speak with the accused in animal form as well.”
She does her best to convey how that's likely to work in layperson's terms, but ends up having to lean rather heavily on the idea that surely the good gods wouldn't mislead one of their priests, and, worse, there's an unmistakeable hint that she's dreadfully unsure that the great unwashed would appreciate the finer points of the series of spells to be cast shortly, including detections to make sure that Kundal doesn't resist and isn't protected by countermeasures, and so forth. Her glance at the others is a clear invitation for someone with more patience for ordinary, honest folk to step in.
Signy, who is standing down in the crowd rather than up with the others, speaks up. Her question isn't so much for herself as it is a way of creating a guided opening for a second chance to explain to the gathered crowd what is going to happen,
"So what you're telling us is, we should be patient while you use magic to see if the accused is telling the truth? And then after that a decision will be made about what to do with him depending on what you find out? Is that that right?"
Lina is, as always, deeply impressed and frankly baffled by Signy’s ability to cut through to the heart of matters at hand. She supposes that that must come from the groundedness and self-awareness that so many folk who have found patrons and causes they can devote themselves to seem to possess.
“Precisely! Yes, that,” she burbles, very grateful to be saved from herself.
Brental tries to keep his expression from changing too much as Lina seems to fumble, more in her tone than her words. He's appreciative of Signy's break in the proceedings, and nods at her. "Yes, that's the idea. We want no further danger in our lands, and we need recompense. But we also want to be certain that our judgments are passed fairly. Magic can help to ensure this fairness." He looks out at the people, sadness in his eyes. He could see that they were frightened. If Kundal's words were to be believed, then there were even further reasons to be frightened than one lone werewolf. But they could not live in fear. They would need to hew together against threats, not fall prey to xenophobia and paranoia.
The people of Limen seem to grumble unfavorably towards Lina at first, seemingly put off by an air of superiority she gave off as well as a percieved 'high and mighty' attitude. However, once again, Signy is able to cut through to the heart of the matter and empathize with the average citizen in a way Lina seemed to struggle with. Her basic and 'down to earth' manner of speech far more clear to the layman.
Thus, despite a few dissident voices calling for an immediate execution which are quickly hushed the crowd seems to wait patiently as Jhod approaches the captive Kundal and weaves the rites of his deity. For his part, Kundal does not appear to resist the spell in any way shape or form which is confirmed to Lina when Jhod steps up to her an solemnly places a hand on her shoulder.
"It is done, he did not resist or if he did he could not overcome the power of Erastil... Do him proud on this day, for all our sakes." The older priest warns solemnly before moving back away from the stage as all eyes turn once more to Lina including those of Kundal.
There is a fierceness to the man's eyes and as Lina is aboit to raise her questions the man barks out of his own accord, "If'n you're gonna ask me if I knew I killed those folk the answer is 'no,' I thought I were only dreamin'... I would wake up on my own and covered in blood out in the wilderness but I didn't believe it was me... I thought somethin' mighta been messin' with me an' I couldn't go to the town guard 'cause I'm an outsider I knew what would happen if they suspected anythin' at all." the barbarian scoffs.
The crowd stirs angrily here and there are more than a few calls of 'liar' and 'monster' from the gathered masses.
“Your cooperation is noted and appreciated,” Lina says dryly. She’s certainly not the best at reading people, but she’s hardly so naïve as not to know that the people of Limen would expect Kundal to say anything he can to avoid the avenging sword – which is, in this case, not just a legal metaphor.
She trusts Jhod, and with her own spell running to confirm that the priest's spell’s taken hold, she briefly addresses some of the protests from the crowd. “Jhod’s spell was cast successfully, as anyone who can detect magic would be able to tell. That means that, by the power of Erastil, the accused simply cannot lie.”
She lets that sink in for a bit, but expects that the Limenals will need a bit more. “But tell me, Kundal – and please confine your answers strictly to the questions we ask – you were bitten by a huge canine before you came here? You got away, and the wound healed quickly, so you chalked it up to another bad dream?”
Don’t mention the crow. Or the witch. I said, ‘the questions we ask,’ thank you, she thinks at him fiercely, not needing additional complications for now.
She waits for his answer, but does add, “We can understand your fears about being how the community would react, since you’re an outsider, but giving in was cowardly, and selfish, and only brought more suffering upon you and our people. With the Elk Father’s blessing to confirm the truth of your words, I can accept that you weren’t yourself, and clung desperately to anything that let you believe that what you saw wasn’t really happening. We have a cure, but there are consequences to keeping something back that affects us all, so disastrously.”
She’s aware of the irony of her words, but there is a difference between state secrets and a werewolf on the loose. In any case, she pauses again to give the crowd a chance to catch up and realize that Kundal’s not just going to be sent off with an “Oh well, bad luck all around.” It will also give her and the others a chance to gauge the mood of their citizens.
Brental casts his eyes downward as Kundal speaks, but then brings them back up when Lina asks him to confine his answers to only those questions asked.
Stop making this harder on yourself, he thinks. And us.
The druid nods to Kundal in encouragement. "You can trust that we will be fair, Kundal. Remember...mother's spicy herring soup."
The people of Limen seem to ponder Lina's words and despite some indecision about the veracity of her claims about the spell as many among the peasantry are completely unfamiliar with the ways of magic... it seems they understand enough to believe their elven leader, for now.
Kindal looks about ready to bark back at Lina when Brental's carefully chosen words catch his ear. The man turns slowly to look at Brental confused before something akin to understanding dawns on the barbarian's face and he slowly nods his head before returning his gaze to Lina, now more peacable in tone and expression. "Aye, the beast bit me in my dream, and it was healed by the time I woke up. Seemed obvious to me it was just a dream or it woulda left more of a mark right?"
“The curse does come with remarkable powers of resistance, with the exception of silver, as everyone knows,” Lina nods.
“And it is understandable that one might be confused and distressed after such an attack, and then to lose one’s nights and awake to such terrible sights at the full moon…” she continues, proceeding to elaborate what she knows of lycanthropy, that the first few transformations are frequently traumatic and sufferers are often unable to remember them in the mornings after for some time.
She brings that back around to the other evidence, pointing out that no one else seems to have connected the dots while she and the others were away, and that, if Kundal had been aware of his condition, with travelers coming and going at the inn, it would have been trivial to camp out in the woods and pose as a trapper coming to trade or the like rather than hole up in town at greater risk. She concludes, “On the whole, the available evidence was already consistent with what the god’s power has confirmed for us: Kundal speaks truly when he says he did not know what had happened to him or what he had done.”
“There is a cure. It is a hard one, quite possibly fatal, if fortune will have it so,” she explains. “It will be administered presently, in full view of you all, and we shall take measures to ensure that it has taken full effect, with Kundal kept under guard until he may safely be dismissed. That said, while there are extenuating circumstances, he was negligent, and he did attack us. The court will hear any last details to take into consideration before passing sentence. The council are welcome to approach.”
Lina looks from the crowd to her friends, knowing that they’ve probably got a much better sense for the push and pull of the citizenry’s feelings, and what the most reasonable course of action is.
Signy pipes up from the crowd again.
"How do we know he won't just run off if the cure doesn't work? Or that we'll be able to find him in a couple of weeks? We have to keep him confined here until after the next full moon so we really know if he's been cured or not. That way we know he won't kill again, whether he knows he's doing it or not."
Signy does believe this. But she also thinks it would help in the long run if Lina and her crew showed responsiveness to people's fears and alterd course, rather than always thinking in terms of how to sweeten unilateral decisions so the populace will comply, or at least not grumble too loudly.
More grumblings as the crowd appears unsure of what to think of the punishment though more of the grumblings appear to align with Signy's way of thought of greater caution being applied to minimize any further risk and perhaps there is a little vindictiveness in some of the villagers that want to have the barbarian suffer as much as possible for his crimes.
For his part, Kundal stands tall, back straight and eyes intently focused on Lina unblinking and unflinching in his resolve, whether this be the result of his barbarian upbringing or perhaps just his pride is unclear. "I am ready for any punishment or treatment you will give me. I have taken from this village and owe a debt. This is the first step in repaying that debt."
Meneas keeps his arms folded in silence for a time before speaking in Sylvan.
Switching to Taldane, he continues. "I agree with Signy. We'll keep an eye on him for a month and see whether he's still afflicted. If he is, we'll have to deal with it then. Until then, I think as much for his sake as for that of our people, we should keep him out of their reach."
Although he hasn't been as quiet as Meneas has, Brental has mostly allowed Lina to run this show. Once Meneas speaks up, Brental smiles lightly.
Then he likewise switches back to Taldane, but keeps his eyes on Kundal. "Then we shall administer the cure. If the gods see so fit, this man will survive and cease being a threat. And then he shall work off his debt."
There was much philosophical or legal writing that could be cited or consulted to further inform their decision, but intention and precedent--along with the reaction of the people--was what would truly matter in this instance. Brental nods to Kundal, and then turns his attention back to the people. "This man, who unknowingly did damage to our land, nonetheless willingly takes an herb which may cure or kill him. And then he is willing to repay his debt, should he survive." There by all rights ought to be a therefore to add, but Brental thinks it may be condescending and preachy to do so, so he lets his words hang.
There don’t seem to be too many complaints at the idea of keeping Kundal under guard in town, he seems to have resigned himself to his fate, and they can always work up to maybe putting him to work under close supervision after a while, as Meneas suggests. It’s a compromise that sounds eminently reasonable, so, once she’s heard from all the others, Lina nods, summons her sense of drama, and waits an appropriate beat before delivering sentence.
“Very well. After the cure is administered, if he survives, as Brental says, Kundal shall be remanded to the guard to be held in durance for one month to ensure that the cure is successful. Let this be a lesson to all: so much pain could be avoided if we look out for one another, trust in their best intentions, and work together. If you suffer, or see someone suffering, there are good people here you can tell without fear of officiousness or unduly harsh judgement.”
Her glance flickers over her councillors, acknowledging the ways they devote themselves to the community, fueled by the various powers they believe in. It’s an idea that Lina has trouble wrapping her head around, but she can hardly argue with the results of Brental, Signy, and Jhod’s conviction.
“If we close ourselves off, we imprison ourselves in walls as strong as stone,” she concludes quietly, rising to deliver her last remarks before looking to Kundal. “Let us prepare the wolfsbane – and may the Hunter have mercy on your soul.”
She turns to Brental with an arch look as she steps up to help him ‘make sure the draught is ready.’ If the people want a show, it’s also a good opportunity to ensure that Kundal has the best chance of shaking off the curse that he can.
Many mutterings are had from both the assembled crowd and the casters as they apply a multitude of spells to the captive were-wolf. Eventually all the spells are applied and it is time for the wolfsbane to be put to use.
In the moment of truth Kundal snarls and scarfs the poisonous herbs down without hesitation.
For a few seconds nothing changes and the silence is thick as the tension mounts then suddenly Kundal contorts and begins trembling as tremors wrack his body. Sweat pours down his brow and he screams in pain as he falls to the ground and begins to thrash about violently. The barbarian's body rocks about on the floor all the while twisting and contorting unnaturally for a time, it even seems as if something is moving under his skin effected by the poison as well as the man and tearing at him from the inside.
For a few minutes it isn't certain if the man is going to survive this experience.
After a time he stops thrashing and slowly makes his way back up to his feet soaked in sweat and nods.
"Well, I ain't dead yet... So? Where am I goin' exactly?"
It’s taking her a while to get there, admittedly, but Lina is beginning to see that there’s nothing wrong – rather, that it’s often best – to delegate and get others in on the work.
Besides, she should get away and write down her observations of Kundal’s cure while they’re still fresh. Her people skills are a bit off, but even Lina knows better than to lean in with a notepad on her lap and her witchy fascination showing.
They should also probably think about building a proper barracks sooner or later, and eventually a prison, but for now, maybe a room under guard in the basement of the town hall will have to do.
“I have every confidence that the Lords Marshal and Warden can find secure and salubrious accommodation from which, in due course, supervised excursions may be possible,” Lina carefully puts on a big smile at Meneas and Kesten as she prepares to retreat to her toxicological notes and other, more Limen- and Helikia-wide business. Her hand lifts in a gesture somewhere between Deal with this and Sorry to fob this off on you, but…
Unfortunately, she drastically overdoes it, and what is meant to be a reassuring smile looks unhinged, very much more in keeping with a mad witch far, far too enthused by the prospect of escaping from public business and ensconcing herself with new ideas for poisonous concoctions. ... Which, OK, was kind of a gimme.
"I think the plan is sound. I'm satisfied."
Signy turns to look at the people around her.
"We can live with this and see what the turning of the month brings us, can't we?"
With a sigh of relief, Brental puts a hand on Kundal's shoulder. "You did well," he says, barely above a whisper.
He then turns to the crowd, cringing as Lina continues to insist on elevated vocabulary with the common populace. We'll have to discuss that. A proverb, though, might at least encourage the people to think, even if it might go as much over their heads as everything else Brental does.
"Helikia recognizes the foul work of curses and seeks restoration. This is how we grow strong roots and cultivate our soil: not with salt, but with iron."
Meneas nods briefly at Lina before turning to the crowds of Limen. "I will be personally overseeing his repayment to the people of our little settlement. If he proves to be any danger to any of you, I will take the necessary steps to ensure that he does not harm anyone."
Other than me, probably. The knight is once again thankful for his cowl, keeping his face shaded from their view. He half turns to Kundal. "In due time, we will look towards what you may do after your debts have begun to be repaid."
"If any have specific desires for reparations, please bring it to our attention." He finishes.
Meneas nods briefly at Lina before turning to the crowds of Limen. "I will be personally overseeing his repayment to the people of our little settlement. If he proves to be any danger to any of you, I will take the necessary steps to ensure that he does not harm anyone."
Other than me, probably. The knight is once again thankful for his cowl, keeping his face shaded from their view. He half turns to Kundal. "In due time, we will look towards what you may do after your debts have begun to be repaid."
"If any have specific desires for reparations, please bring it to our attention." He finishes.
"Helikia recognizes the foul work of curses and seeks restoration. This is how we grow strong roots and cultivate our soil: not with salt, but with iron."
Lina pauses just before she sweeps away, her mouth briefly falling open in surprise and chagrin.
That is a matter of perspective for the most part, surely, she thinks, as the druid’s remarks touch one of her specialities quite nearly. She also wonders, considering Meneas’ fey attachments, if nothing else, whether silver would be a better choice, though she appreciates that there’s a metaphor - mattocks and hoes and harrows and all that - at work here.
In a rare moment of common sense, she closes her mouth and takes her leave.
Once again Lina's words seem to go over the heads of the common folk, many of whom have never even heard half the words she elects to use in this precarious situation.
And yet Meneas the Cowl's cold words are simple and solid. Something even the common man or woman can grasp and they hear in the tone of his voice that Kundal will be granted no lenience under his iron watch. Those few who are not fully convinced take comfort in Brental's words of wisdom or else in Signy's understanding patience and eventually after much murmuring the crowd seems satisfied enough for the time being and slowly disperses.
Soon after the trail Kesten approaches Meneas. "Very well put Lord Meneas... The people sometimes need a stern hand to guide them it can give them comfort of a sort... But... where did you wish for us to bring Kundal for his banishment exactly?"
After the trial, as the citizenry begins to disperse, Brental pulls Lina away from the others. "Well done, with the trial and the cure." He means it, but his voice betrays that he isn't done. He feels like Lina might have some misgivings about the events despite a positive end outcome. "Are you all right, though?"
Meneas folds his arms thoughtfully, looking to his companions. "It's a good question. We don't have a prison yet, nor anywhere especially secure to hold him. Keeping him under guard at all times is impractical."
He looks to the others again. "I think we could keep an eye on him personally, but maybe my fellows have some other ideas."
Signy isn't much of a builder, but she does volunteer to do her part by taking shifts guarding Kundal while he's detained.
The crowd mills about thickly enough and there are enough ideas buzzing in uncomfortable profusion in Lina’s mind that despite her lanky steps and eagerness to be gone she doesn’t actually manage to disappear into the town hall before Brental stops her.
She’s not actually much of a retinue sort of person – not that she’s thinking that far ahead, really – but maybe a flock of courtiers flitting about as a loose escort wouldn’t go amiss, eventually.
After the trial, as the citizenry begins to disperse, Brental pulls Lina away from the others. "Well done, with the trial and the cure." He means it, but his voice betrays that he isn't done. He feels like Lina might have some misgivings about the events despite a positive end outcome. "Are you all right, though?"
“Am I all right? I am impeccably accurate, as … often,” the witch quips, though a certain twitchiness betrays her. She can vaguely understand that the citizenry was more responsive to the reassurances of the others, to whom she passed the last details, but her thoughts about cataloguing symptoms and side effects from their case study take precedence, and she’s not sure what more she can do in the moment. Probably send for some manuals of conduct for a refresher on the finer points of polite society, and write to Alaïs to beg (embarrassingly) for a crash correspondence course in charm. Practice, probably.
It has been a very trying couple of days, and rather unexpectedly, it wasn’t the subduing a disoriented, pugnacious werewolf that was the most troublesome part of the whole business.
But she’s at risk of letting another important piece get shuffled off to the side prematurely. Right.
“Let’s put him back in the basement room we kept him in overnight, for now, and yes, we can certainly take our turns checking in on him from time to time,” Lina says, thinking that the sooner she can figure out how to cast some sort of geas the better, and mentally reviewing the state of Helikia’s treasury, raw materials ready, and work crews available. “Why don’t we expedite the construction of a barracks for our brave and dutiful militia when they take their turns in the guard? We’ll want a dedicated jail eventually, but for now a spare closet, armoury, or arsenal in a place where there’ll be guards constantly coming and going and on duty anyway is probably the next best thing.” At least, until we can reliably keep offenders that need incarceration in conveniently polymorphed forms or the like.
Brental bites his lip, unconvinced. "As you say, your ladyship," he offers, over-formalistically. She didn't want to talk about it, and that was fine. If Brental could offer her some wine later--dandelion, rather than grape--maybe she would open up a bit.
"I'll prepare some magic tomorrow to aid with the construction," he says, trying not to let his machinations be apparent.
Meneas glances at Signy. "You and I should take a look to see if we can find any signs of other werewolves or threats, Signy. It's possible that he infected someone else - or that whoever infected him is still around."
Whether or not Kesten takes note of the subtle disagreement between Brental and Lina is entirely unknown as the diligent captain of the guard simply bows his head before Lina and mutters a practiced, "By your will my Lady." He then proceeds to drag Kundal back towards the makeshift prison until further instructions are recieved.
Signy agrees to go with Meneas.
"Sure, I can come along. Depending on where we end up I might go on north to Oleg's to see Vlad when we're done."
After pausing for a moment Signy adds "do you think we'll find anything really? If this involves the giant crow and so forth, maybe we should be talking to the local fey living in the forest to really get some idea of what's going on".