"And what 'somethings' are so important they cannot wait until an old man's had some rest?" he teases.
The Hammer has informed me you may be trusted, but we will see. If you are indeed truthful regarding what you know, we will need to get you into The Party. I will arrange entry. Someone will come to collect you tomorrow.
The note is unsigned aside from a symbol which resembles this.
Despite his tone and smile, Audria winces. Bartholomew probably hadn't slept all night. Still, she couldn't in good conscious delay talking about the would-be assassin they'd left tied up in a warehouse near the Bailer's Retreat. Starting there seems as good a place as any to the anxious, young priestess.
"The silver-haired man with stony skin, Sven, was being attacked by some men and woman while we were trying to meet with him to find the last of the children that had ran from Lamm's hideout," she begins matter-of-factly. Now that she's started, she begins to feel the walls she'd put up to protect herself from the emotions swirling in her mind cracking.
"W-we fought them, and after we'd beaten them, some people showed up, two that we could see, wearing red with strange, bug-masked helmets. Th-they killed the attackers we hadn't, except for one that we got off the streets and into an old warehouse near the Bailer's Retreat. We talked to him and-- and he seemed like he would just kill someone, had already killed others, if we let him go."
Despite her calm tone, Audria begins shaking and tears well up in her eyes to roll down her face.
"I-I killed one of them when we were fighting them, b-b-but I couldn't do it. I didn't know what to do, s-so I suggested we talk t-to you about it," she says, her voice quaking as her control frays.
"H-he wasn't the first one," she says, the words coming faster. "Th-the other night when the King died, I-I-I was out with the others, w-we'd been told where to find Lamm, and I-- *hic* and I k-k-killed G-g-g-giggles and held L-Lamm while-- Wh-while--"
Her face crumples as she buries it in her hands. She has blood on her hands, almost had even more after her fight last night in the alley. In her head, she knows she hadn't much of a choice. They chose to fight and paid for it with their lives. In her heart, however, she can't help but be horrified by what transpired and the blood on her hands.
When she opens her eyes again, she's on her knees and softly sobbing. The cobbles of the street blur through her tears. She barely feels Talanaliel on her shoulder as the walls between her and the emotions she'd tried to bottle up crumble and the control she had in place breaks like an overly taut rope. She tries to speak, but the words are drowned by feelings of guilt and shame too powerful to be denied.
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"Kiddo, everyone encounters things in their lives for which they feel directly responsible. Good, bad...sometimes that's just a matter of our perspective, and that will change depending on the day of the week, the weather, the sight of a keepsake...we just never know."
Bartholomew brushes Audria's strawberry blonde hair our of her eyes. "What I'm not going to do is tell you how you should feel about something powerful enough to make you question yourself. Questioning yourself and your motives is going to be a lifelong journey since you're the one who has to live yourself after any of your own choices."
His dark eyes look directly into Audria's. "Taking a life should never be easy, but how we deal with the feelings afterwards...you have to find that peace for yourself. Some folks turn hard, wall their souls off from the pain they know they've brought to the world. Others change it into something else, something they can see as a result which makes it worth it: art, song, teaching the next generation to be better then they think they were themselves." His own expression becomes a tad haunted here. "But let me tell you a trick my beautiful Olga always uses even now. Maybe you'll find something in it that helps."
He turns slightly and puts his hands onto the dirt covering the street and begins to smooth it out, pushing it into a pile. "She bakes her pain away. I know you've heard her say it, but really think about it. She pushes her pain, her fears, her sadness right into the dough. She pushes and pushes, kneads and kneads working all of that hurt inside making that dough the holding place for all the darkness she feels and sees and imagines. Then when it's thick and heavy, she shapes it. Pouring it into pans or tins, pinching it, twisting it. Now she's in control of it. Olga owns that pain that sadness, but it's on her terms, it's the shape she made it to be not the hurt that was given to her. And then she bakes it, frosts it, slices it up, whatever she wants. She turns her worry into something delicious and beautiful. And when someone eats it and is happy and filled, she knows she succeeded, turning the sadness and stress into something that sustains instead of breaking us apart. She doesn't let her worry control her because she believes Shelyn has shown her a way she will always be able to master her fears and bake them away. And if the same worries appear tomorrow, well, that's why we need bread every day of the week!"
He turns back to Audria and Talanaliel and dusts off his hands. "You are a good soul, Audria. It's not just me that sees this in you. Now you just need to see this in yourself. If you let your heart guide you, then you're going to find the path you should walk and it will be the right one...for you. Perhaps there will be pain and death along that road, but never forget the things that make you happy and smile as those will always be the reasons you make your choices, the people who love you and wish nothing but the best for you without asking you to compromise all the things that make you the you that they love."
Bartholomew sweeps Audria up into his arms and hugs her close while standing and bringing her back to her feet. He whispers softly, "It won't always be easy, and sometimes life is going to hurt, but we keep moving forward, and we make the best choices we can. Just remember the times you're happy and pray to the gods they will be greater in number than the darkest days which always come."
Audria listens, having been given too much wisdom by Bartholomew to ignore him. She's never really thought about how Olga actually baked the pain away. She and Eliana were only too happy to be away from Lamm's clutches after it was clear Audria wouldn't be suffering any lasting harm from the beating she'd received. The last thing the two of them wanted to think about was the pain and the fear they'd felt in those long, horrible years.
Maybe that was a mistake, as it was to keep the riot of emotions she felt after killing Giggles and Lamm's death bottled up, or like when she'd pushed her feelings down after slaying a man intent on causing another harm in the alley they'd found Sven in. Bartholomew is right, she'd have to find the answers to some of those questions and a way to deal with the pain and sorrow lest it devour her like greedy flames. She'd have to find her own way to bake the pain away.
She hugs Bartholomew back, even though the cold steel of his armor presses uncomfortably in her cheek.
"I'll try," she says into his chest. "Mrs. Olga always tells me you're a good Papa."
She wipes the tears away as she steps back and looks up at her mentor.
"Thank you, Mr. Bartholomew. I didn't mean to be such a mess about it, but I did want to talk to you about what's happened. I still don't know what to do about the man we left at the warehouse, though."
After her rather terse and rude reply, Audria shakes her head and looks up at Abella.
"Sorry, that didn't come out right," she says with a blush. "A lot has been going on since we met at Zellara's, and it all just came out at once. I've just been thinking about how to handle things in the future."
"It's been a long morning," Talanaliel explains. "Last night was not a pleasant one either. She got attacked by some crazy lady she ran into while looking for the children yesterday and a couple of thugs."
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Abella pats Audria on the shoulder. ”There, there, little Canary. Crazy ladies are the worst, especially when they have thugs. First person I killed was a crazy lady with thugs. Well, maybe second. Beth and I agreed to share credit on those two.” Despite her blasé delivery, she still remembers killing Maxine and Emmanuel Doming with a tensing of her jaw. Those cruel Nidalese nobles got every bit of what was coming to them, and she remains proud that she and her sister were able to get the better of them, but her body insists on remembering wounds even when she has decided such weaknesses are tedious. Someday she will have a mastery of thanergy so complete that she will conquer such pains once and for all. ”If any crazy ladies give you trouble in the future, I can take care of them for you.”
Audria wonders if she sees something flash in Abella's eyes or the tensing of her jaw as she talks about having to kill in her past. She isn't surprised to learn that about her, after the way she'd killed Lamm. If she isn't imagining things, then is it the memory of the woman with the thugs or the two she and her late sister had killed which caused her demeanor to change, however subtly. Perhaps it is both.
"Tallyfeather left out a few details," Audria says as she gently boops the little songbird's beak. She hesitates for a moment, wondering if she should say more. She doesn't want to talk about last night, not until she's figured out her own way to "bake the pain away." On the other hand, if the woman had come looking for her once, she would again, and probably be looking for ways to hurt Audria even more.
"The woman was the first lead I found yesterday. I think her name's Katrina Embresi, though the thugs only called her Ember or Embercat last night. She owns The Embercat's Fancy, and she mentioned Yargin the first time we meet, though I don't know what connection she had with him. She seemed vaguely familiar when I first saw her, but I couldn't place her. She's an older woman with graying hair and a gaunt face. Would you know anything about her," Audria asks, looking up at Abella.
As Audria listens to Abella's answer, she can't help feeling as if there is something more than her overactive imagination to what she saw when the mage spoke about having to deal with her own crazy lady and thugs and the two before that. When Abella is finished, Audria sips her drink and steels her nerves for a possible explosion.
"Abella, is everything well? You seemed tense earlier when you were talking about-- about-- about killing," Audria finally gets out after stumbling over her words. "I thought I just imagined it, but-- I didn't want you to suffer in silence. No need in both of us being stubborn."
She gives Abella a ghost of a smile at that, acknowledging her own issues opening up to people she knows has her best interests at heart.
Abella keeps a nonchalant expression as Audria describes the assailant. ”Can’t say I am familiar. Very silly of them to use her real name when it traces back to a business so easily. I would just report her to the hellknights and they can sort it out.”
She glares at Audria in response to Audria prying into her mood and past. ”Tense? Me? I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. And I am most certainly not suffering. Now I suggest you drop this line of inquiry or I shall have to be cross with you, and I shan’t think you like that very much.”
"If she was chummy with Yargin and Lamm, it's probably a front. I already told Mr. Bartholomew about what happened last night and he said he'd let the Guard know," Audria tells Abella.
In the past, Abella's glare would have made Audria shrink back and apologize profusely, but in the past two years, and especially the past week, the young woman has grown into a stronger person. Not much stronger, perhaps, but strong enough. She stands and wraps Abella in a hug.
"No need to be cross," she says, "Just promise me that you'll not let whatever it is eat you up from the inside, please?"
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Abella freezes as Audria hugs her. What did she do to deserve this? Getting comforted by Canary of all people. ”Nothing is eating me up from the inside. I am in complete control of not only my insides also my outsides, and I do not see that changing in the foreseeable future. Save the kindnesses for people who need them.”
Audria laughs as Abella tries to convince her that she's not one of the people that needs some kindness in her life.
"Who says I don't," She asks, a little of her good humor returning. "And you know what I mean, Abella."
She holds Abell a little tighter for a moment before letting go.
"Speaking of outsides, what all did you buy at Von Heller's," she asks, before remembering some of the other things he sells. Her face heats up as the blush turns her cheeks a cherry red. "J-just the clothes! I don't wanna know about the other stuff," she squeaks, trying to head off further embarrassment.
Bartholomew assures Audria he will advise the Sable Company soldiers he knows to check on and pick up the would-be assassin from the empty warehouse in which he was left. Then he urges her to go get something to eat to help ease the somber mood she exudes.
Brother Theolan comes out of a small office shortly after the young acolyte entered to deliver the letter. He speaks briefly with one the citizen defenders who disappears out of the front door. Soon Bartholomew and a member of the Sable Company return and enter the office with Theolan shortly afterwards. By the time everyone is done restocking and eating breakfast, the trio reemerge from the office. Theolan speaks to the young acolyte and gives him a note and he rushes off outside to pass this note to the smiling handsome Hellknight who nods to the boy, replaces his helmet, and signals for his squad to move out. They march down the street before taking up a sentry position at a nearby intersection of city roads. They are not particularly close, but they are still in a position to observe those who approach the Sanctuary from the south.
Bartholomew and the Sable Company soldier return outside and gather the defenders together in a huddle where many angry exclamations are to be heard. Shrike can't quite make out the conversation from her perch.
Brother Theolan approaches Audria and Abella in the mess hall. "When you have time, I'd like to ask you to gather your friends, including that gentleman with the cat, in my office."
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Shrike watches with interest as the Hellknight officer in the extra-elaborate armor shows every indication of patience over the several minutes after the acolyte in the doorway vanishes with his envelope, before finally the boy brings a return note. It seems unlike their behavior over the last few days to stand there politely cooling their heels. The little flurry of people going in and out, and the subsequent angry huddle among the citizen-defenders around the two Sable Company soldiers is probably related to the contents of the Hellknight's letter, but she is more interested in the fact that they have fallen back a fair distance from the Sanctuary.
She takes the chance offered to move back from the edge of the roof and picks her way over uneven shingles in the opposite direction the Hellknights moved until she finds a place to leap across the street that is reasonably narrow and out of anyone's immediate sight. In a short time she is able to slip down into the familiar atrium — after checking that it is unoccupied. She makes her way to the mess hall, where Audria and Abella, wearing a smart new outfit, appear to be moving toward an exit while chatting about fashion. She falls into step behind the two and waits politely for a break in the conversation to make herself known.
After Audria and Abella locate everyone and lead them to Brother Theolan's tiny office, he encourages everyone to get as comfortable as they can in the cramped space.
"I will get straight to the point. I have been summoned to Castle Korvosa. I am to bring whatever attendants I wish, and I would like it to be all of you. While you may not be surprised to hear me ask this of Audria, I'm sure the rest of you would wonder why I include you. In addition to being aware that you already desire to meet with the queen's courtiers to seek the reward posted for her lost brooch..." the blonde man pauses and takes a breath. "I believe my mistress Shelyn sent me a vision. Last time I had a chance to sleep, I dreamt of all of you standing before Queen Ileosa. It can't just be coincidence that a Hellknight maralictor brings a summons from to the queen's court two days after..."
Theolan's voice trails off almost as if he forgot the party is there before he blinks suddenly, and then says, "You are free to refuse, of course, but I believe this would be a great opportunity. All of the heads Korvosa's religious temples and various civic organizations including the Acadamae and the University of Korvosa have been strongly encouraged to attend, so I expect there to be quite a banquet and other festivities."
Abella winks at Audria, seeming back to her normal attitude of amusement. ”Oh it was just clothes. This time. You will just have to wait and see.”
Abella steeples her fingers as she smiles at Brother Theolan. ”Everything is proceeding as I have foreseen.” She then folds her arms behind her head and laughs once. ”I had a ‘vision’ too, so you could say.” She is canny enough to know better than to explicitly make fun of the Brother, but she cannot help but find the self-seriousness of religious types ripe for humor.
Abella winks at Audria, seeming back to her normal attitude of amusement. "Oh it was just clothes. This time. You will just have to wait and see."
This seems like a decent time to say hello. Waiting further might make it seem like she was trying to eavesdrop. "Morning."
Shrike's shoulders tense at the thought of being summoned before the new queen. If she was less aware of her body's movements, she would be shifting from foot to foot. "You're inviting us to... a party."
Audria starts to reply, but then Talanaliel takes off and flits to a nearby bush. Why the thrush has done so is answered when Shrike's hoarse voice nearly causes her to jump out of her skin.
"Oh, good morning," Audria says after taking a moment to recompose herself. "I suppose that's one out of three found." She looks up at Talanaliel and sighs. "Tallyfeather, get down here. You're being rude." She turns her attention back to Shrike, one corner of her mouth curled in a bemused expression. "Brother Theolan asked Abella and me to bring you, Dal, and Pip to his office. Care to aid a beautiful mage and her sidekick in finding them?"
Audria rolls her eyes at Abella's teasing. It's not the first time she's heard something like this, remembering some of the students and a few of the teachers at the Academae when she and Eliana had joined Brother Theolan on a trip there after the Imp Incident. At least Abella is being somewhat subtle. One Professor Diablus Focaccia had made his opinion on Brother Theolan and the pair of young acolytes crystal clear, and she'd never seen Brother Theolan so close to violence as then.
Even so, she's finding it hard to resist the urge to jab the mage in the ribs.
"I'll go if you want me to, Brother Theolan," she says, "but I don't know much about fancy parties. Eli and I still get which spoons to use for which part of the meal confused."
She frowns as a thought comes over her. She ponders on it for a moment before looking back up at the priest.
"Do you think that Zach's well enough to teach us the ins and outs of courtly etiquette," she asks.
The mask is impassive as the thrush flits away, but Shrike's eyes flick between Audria and Abella in momentary confusion. She decides that Audria is unlikely to unblushingly call herself beautiful and thus must have been referring to Abella, who is certainly eye-catching in this new orange and white. She doesn't mention the flash feathers. Abella probably wouldn't understand or appreciate being compared to a gannet. Shrike herself appears unchanged from when she left yesterday, except that the long hooked spear usually strapped to her back is missing.
"Sure," she croaks finally, but lets Audria lead them, as she is more familiar with the layout of the place. Perhaps the two are headed to the kitchen. That's where she would look first for Pippip. Observing the dark circles under Audria's eyes and the black ribbon in her hair, she adds neutrally: "Some night."
Audria does lead Abella and Shrike towards the kitchens since they are the closest to where they all met up. Her eyes darken as Shrike mentions last night.
"And a difficult morning conversation," she admits, her voice sounding a little strained. She shakes her head, clearing the ghosts for the moment. "I'll be alright. Just need time to get through this."
She smiles, trying to put both Shrike and Abella at ease, but as she turns away, something like guilt colors her expression.
Pip turns up restocked on chicken and pastries.
”Ready to go— I like social outings.”
"You're inviting us to... a party."
Brother Theolan nods to Shrike. "That would technically be an accurate view of my request." He seems to be about to say more but simply stops.
"Do you think that Zach's well enough to teach us the ins and outs of courtly etiquette,"
Brother Theolan replies, "The banquet will be tomorrow. I'm sure Zacharias will be happy to relay what he recalls, but I fear his explanations will be long-winded and perhaps more idealistic and romantic than useful. He certainly relishes the opportunity to provide teaching in the old style with recitations of epics and love sonnets from which some kernels of useful information of appropriate behavior can be gleaned. For my own part, I would simply advise you to say little and if asked any questions, answer what is asked as briefly as possible."
Brother Theolan answers any further questions the group may have and once completed, leaves everyone to prepare in whatever fashion they wish before the event tomorrow.
“Feel free to cast my lot in with those who are ill-suited for one of these gatherings,” Dal gestured at his outfit. “Any chance that Sarenrae’s chosen few would be willing to part with a few coins for a change in attire? I would hate to miss out on an opportunity to address the Queen in regards to Korvosa’s current climate. Any idea as to other attendees?”
”Of course I want to go to a queenly party! I would be insane to think otherwise. And I think everyone can attest that I am not.” Abella does not look to her companions for confirmation.
She further waves off the concern about manners. ”No need to worry yourselves over me. I know what I am doing.” In her mind, Abella knows exactly how to behave politely: act like Cainabeth. Also, part of the appeal of having commoners at these sort of functions is the nobles laughing at the boorish peasants, so they will be charming oddities.
Audria starts as she reaches for the door and finds it swinging open to reveal a... walking pack full of food?
She takes a step back, but then recognizes the pack and the hairy feet of its owner.
"Pip? How much did you get," she asks, a note of awe in her voice.
Those whose perceptive talents have been well-honed, it appears that Abella's statement and Brother Theolan's advice have triggered something in Audria, specifically her hair. It's only a fraction of an inch so far, but it appears to be growing.
"Brother Theolan, with all due respect, I would feel a little more comfortable if we had at least some basic instructions on etiquette. Who would you recommend if not Zach," she asks, praying that her nerves aren't showing too much.
Brother Theolan nods to Shrike. "That would technically be an accurate view of my request." He seems to be about to say more but simply stops.
"You see... any trouble?" Shrike doesn't question that Brother Theolan had a true vision. A god chose him; of course he has visions. And she does owe him a debt, so if he wants them there for protection, she must go. But she can't imagine being let into a fancy party as Shrike, and Merula has no reason to be there. She is undecided.
"Any chance that [Shelyn]’s chosen few would be willing to part with a few coins for a change in attire? I would hate to miss out on an opportunity to address the Queen in regards to Korvosa’s current climate."
"Loan you thirty sails, if you need it."
"Brother Theolan, with all due respect, I would feel a little more comfortable if we had at least some basic instructions on etiquette. Who would you recommend if not Zach?"
"I might know someone."
Audria turns to face Shrike a questioning look on her face. It disappears in another flash of guilt before she has her expression back under control.
"Do you think they'd be willing to teach all of us? I know a little bit, but only enough to keep from embarrassing myself when singing at fancy parties," she says.
"Brother Theolan, with all due respect, I would feel a little more comfortable if we had at least some basic instructions on etiquette. Who would you recommend if not Zach?""I might know someone."
“Any idea as to other attendees?”
"All of the heads Korvosa's religious temples and various civic organizations including the Acadamae and the University of Korvosa have been strongly encouraged to attend."
Following Dal's inquiry, Brother Theolan provides a dizzying array of names most of which Dal may even have heard before today as many would be people the citizens would have much gossip about and even seen at large civic or religious celebrations giving speeches.
Audria turns to face Shrike a questioning look on her face. It disappears in another flash of guilt before she has her expression back under control.
"Do you think they'd be willing to teach all of us? I know a little bit, but only enough to keep from embarrassing myself when singing at fancy parties," she says.
Shrike crosses her arms, the croak of her voice even. "Sure. Think she knows the easy stuff. Which fork. When to bow or curtsey. The right time to faint."
Audria, almost despite her nervousness, has to stifle a laugh at Shrike's deadpan delivery. It seems to the young paladin that some well-to-do ladies truly did see fainting as an artform, and she could not fathom the boredom one would have to experience before starting to practice it as such. Although, she thinks as her lips quiver from the effort of holding back more laughter and a mischievous grin, if given the chance she's sure that Trinia could have talked her and Eliana into doing something like that as a joke.
"D-do the fainting lessons come before or after the formal dancing ones," she asks Shrike, not quite able to keep the laughter out of her voice.
Talanaliel huffs as her charge appears to be fighting a losing battle with her sense of humor.
"Audria," she says in an overly patient tone. "Are you even taking this seriously?"
"S-s-sorry, Tallyfeather," Audria says while trying banish smile now spreading across her face. "I am. I promise that I am!"
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"Depends how much you like dancing." The masked elf woman's voice stays flat. It's good practice. Though she'll remember that Audria can sometimes be joked out of her nerves.
"Oh, she loves to dance," Talanaliel says before catching herself and leveling a birdy-glare at Shrike. "Oh, don't you start encouraging her! You're just as bad as Trinia!"
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”Who is this Trinia? You and her keep mentioning Trinia.” She holds her hand over her mouth in mock shock, her eyes lighting up with devilish glee. ”Do you have a girlfriend Canary? Oh, that is it, isn’t it! Shall I rename you Lovebird? Oh, no need to hide it any longer. Why, I still remember my first. That cruel b&~~#. We are still friends, you know.” She somehow makes “cruel b+#$$” sound like a term of endearment. ”Any wisdom you need from big sister Abella, I am at your beck and call.”
Pip bows to Audria.
”I may have enough for everyone. Especially as we may get some quality meals in the future!”
Brother Theolan encourages everyone to rest and prepare for the coming event. He leaves to oversee the dismantling of the make-shift barrier as part of the missive he received requested the streets be cleared to allow the Korvosan Guard, Sable Company, and the Hellknights increased ease of passage if the nearby causeway was needed to reach any new threats to Korvosa's social order.
Sister Jenelyn appears and let's everyone know they will need to be ready to depart this evening as Queen Ileosa's administration wants everyone sequestered and vetted prior to the banquet and related events. Attendees will be given rooms for the night and subjected to some questioning. Jenelyn assures everyone as long as they have no intent to harm Korvosa or the queen, there's little chance they will fail to qualify.
"I am sending a request for the presence of a stylist the Sanctuary often has dealings. Her name is Jessica L'Morie, one of the many adorable friends of the young Audria and Eliana. Despite her personality, she is brilliant when it comes to presentation. She will accompany Brother Theolan as an attendant but will not take part in the proceedings. If any of you would like to make use of her services preparing for the audience, she will be available," the beautiful Shelynite priestess says.
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The suddenness and the size was all a deliberate maneuver to keep any opponents to Ileosa's rule flat-footed and uneasy. If there is any chance members of the Peerage or the noble families did in fact have a hand in the unrest surrounding King Eodred's death, anyone not joining the event would be viewed with heavy suspicion. The agreement with the Order of the Nail had been very carefully worded to include protecting the Crimson Throne from fractious groups identified to be involved in the unlawful displays from the citizens in the past days. The precise wording hadn't been leaked because then clever minds would have figured out ways to argue it within the limits allowed by the Order's charter. Instead, vague and generalized descriptions of the agreement had been circulated to make the Peerage aware the Hellknights would be very problematic for anyone deemed to have a connection with identified insurrectionist activities.
Looking at the pile of paperwork requiring her attention, Sabina almost wished she hadn't talked Ileosa down from her insistence on lashing out at that poor artist girl, Trinia Sabor. The banquet idea had become the obsession Ileosa had acquired immediately afterwards, but despite her success in redirecting the queen's fixation, Sabina had a feeling that door wasn't completely shut, and Ileosa would revisit the discussion before long. Sabina glanced at the report related to the list of attendee's attendants and their backgrounds, when there is a shy knock on the queen's study door. One of the servants helping Sabina sift the paperwork looks to Sabina for approval and after her nod, opens the door.
"Ms. Merrin?" A young woman with pale hair brightening into a beautiful sea-green color at the ends enters the room. As usual, the slip of a girl's gaze darts around nervously still shell-shocked at finding herself here in Castle Korvosa before finally settling on Sabina's face. Even then a tinge of rose creeps into her features steadily darkening the more she spoke. "I-I'm wondering if I will be able to send word to my friends at the Sanctuary soon or possible go home for a bit. I'm sure they are worried sick about me, especially Audrie..." The girl's eyes widen suddenly as a thought occurs to her. "N-not th-that I-I d-d-don't enjoy H-her M-majesty's h-h-hos-pi-pi-t-tality, I-I-I-I-I m-m-m-m-m-m-mean-ean, I-I-I-I j-j-j-jus-*hic*-jus—" Her quiet voice begins to fade away even as her lips continue to move.
Eliana was in the middle of a beautiful flute solo when word had come from the Castle about King Eodred's passing. As Sabina had known things would get rather tumultuous, she'd insisted Queen Ileosa leave and return at once from the party where the performance had been taking place. Ileosa had been rather entranced with Eliana's playing and insisted on bringing the young performer with them back to the castle, so she could hear the rest of the piece. There had not really been time since they returned for such leisure, and the poor thing had been sequestered in her room (mostly by choice) while the Queen's tailors and stylists had been fitting the girl for a variety of clothing and styles to be ready whenever the queen desired her to appear or perform.
And now the dear girl was going to be the showcase of the evening's festivities. Sabina could almost feel the fear and trepidation pouring off of her. Rising from behind the desk, she moved across the lustrous rugs and reached out a hand to touch the pretty girl's shoulder.
"There, there. You're going to do just fine tomorrow, and yes, I'm certain you will be allowed to speak with your friends. In fact, we've received word that Brother Theolan and a small entourage from the Sanctuary of Shelyn have accepted the queen's invitation, so you will be able to see them soon. Most likely tonight!"
Eliana's shoulders sagged as relief seemed to fill her, and Sabina was sure the girl would have fainted entirely had she not been held up by the swordswoman's grip on her shoulder.
"Th-that's wonderful to hear," came the faintest of whispers.
"Now run along, and make sure Renor has finally finished your performance dress. And, of course, take as much time as you'd like to practice. Sometimes losing yourself in the pattern and the memorization can go a long way to calming nerves before an exhibition." Unbidden, Sabina recalls stepping onto a dueling square to quiet cheers and claps as she drew her saber and saluted her opponent.
Eliana swallowed and nodded, as always looking directly into Sabina's eyes. "Thank you, Ms. Merrin."
"Now, now. I've told you before. Just call me Sabina. I'm just a bodyguard. I don't have any flowery titles, so Sabina is good enough."
"OK, Ms. Sabina, I mean, just Sabina," Eliana corrected herself when Sabina raised an eyebrow. She started to drop a curtsy then arrested the motion as her face heated up once again. Her mouth moved into some kind of apology then she dashed out of the door in embarrassment.
Sabina shook her head even as she chuckled. There was just no denying how adorable the girl is, and she can understand why Ileosa has been inviting the young bard to their dinners. Dinner. Ah yes, the banquet.
Sabina returned to the desk just in time to be handed another report regarding how to vet the serving staff who had been on leave or caught outside the castle when the riots began and hadn't been able to return. So much to do in such a short time.
Sabina Merrin sighed again.
”Who is this Trinia? You and her keep mentioning Trinia.” She holds her hand over her mouth in mock shock, her eyes lighting up with devilish glee. ”Do you have a girlfriend Canary? Oh, that is it, isn’t it! Shall I rename you Lovebird? Oh, no need to hide it any longer. Why, I still remember my first. That cruel b#%*+. We are still friends, you know.” She somehow makes “cruel b@$&$” sound like a term of endearment. ”Any wisdom you need from big sister Abella, I am at your beck and call.”
"Huh?"
Audria looks confused, as if Abella is speaking gibberish or an unknown language to her. Then her eyes widen as realization dawns and the young paladin can't decide if she wants to laugh or groan and winds up doing both as she imagines what Eliana and Trinia are going to say if, no, when they find out about this.
"No, no. It's not like that," she says after a moment. "Trinia is one of my dearest friends. She's a painter, and got me into that artform shortly after Eli and I came here." She smiles as she remembers some of the shenanigans they also got up to when they weren't practicing their arts. "She and Eli are my best friends. We'd do anything to help each other."
Audria looks back and forth between Sister Jenelyn and Brother Theolan, wondering which was the bigger surprise, that Jenelyn called the buxom alchemist with all of her womanly charms suggestively displayed or that she would be escorted by Brother Theolan. As long as she'd known the priest, he never seemed to show interest in that sort of vanity. Then she remembers Abella's comment and wonders just how wild this party might get before it's all said and done with.
"Oh joy," she says under her breath as she pictures being sent to the dungeons to rot for... for... whatever the fancy legal term is for conducting mischief and shenanigans in the royal presence. "I just hope Dalinius isn't there. That'd make this night just... perfect," she sighs.
After being dismissed from Brother Theolan's office and everyone going their own way, Audria tugs on Shrike's sleeve to get her attention.
"Do you have a moment for us to talk," she asks, not knowing if she'd get another chance for a while.
When they get there, she stops and turns fully to regard the girl from behind the stylized black eyes of the mask. The silence is expectant.
Audria gives the vigilante a puzzled look as she sees Shrike leading her to the atrium. For a moment, she wonders why she wanted to talk in one of the most public places in the Sanctuary. Her lips thin as she realizes that she isn't going to have the time she thought she would have to do this properly. The realization stings and it shows all to clearly on her face.
"C-can you tell Merula I'm sorry about the other day," she asks quietly, feeling ridiculous but knowing she has to keep up the charade here where anyone could hear her, "and that I want t-to give her a proper apology the first chance I can."
The young paladin meets Shrike's eyes, and the vigilante can that whatever she's apologizing for, Audria feels that she hasn't done enough.
"I need to apologize to her personally," she adds, hoping to at least partly explain why she isn't just apologizing to Shrike. "It's just something that needs to be kept between us."
She looks away, no longer able to meet Shrike's inscrutable gaze.
A human woman arrives at the Sanctuary and slips in the main door without fanfare. Her slate blue dress, cut to make the most of a tall, slim figure, is decorated in muted bronze designs — not as plain as a tradeswoman's but far from as richly embellished as a courtier's would be, or even a wealthy merchant. Her platinum blonde hair is dressed in a loose braided chignon, and despite a rather distant gaze when at rest, her gray eyes seem to smile readily when speaking to someone. She introduces herself as Merula Antius, and offers, to anyone in the Sanctuary party who is interested, a crash course in making one's bow to the queen, eating at a royal banquet, and even the steps of one current popular dance that might be danced at a fancy fete. When everyone leaves for Castle Korvosa, the woman accompanies them at Audria's request.
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Audria nods and hopes that the woman behind the mask is less inscrutable than this persona she presents.
Merula finds Audria sitting at her desk. The soft scratching of charcoal on paper fills the quiet room. Talanaliel sits in a nest off to one side, sound asleep, barely even stirring when Merula knocks. Audria starts at the sound, clearly having been lost to the art she was practicing. She turns, allowing Merula to glimpse the spread of sketches and notes she has been working on.
"Oh, uh, yes," Audria says, clearly flustered. "Come in, would you mind closing the door," she asks as she stands up and draws the curtains to the window, making the room much dimmer.
Once the two of them, and a sleeping Talanaliel, are alone, Audria stands there, looking up at Merula and finding that she can't figure out what to say. She opens her mouth, only to close it again. Another false start at least has her taking in breath to say something, but the words feel hollow, they sound insincere in her head.
"M-merula," she says after struggling for another moment or two. "A-about what happened at Von Heller's, I-- I'm sorry. I shouldn't tried to get you to take the mask off. I was... I didn't... I was so stupid!" The words come out harsh as lye. She starts to pace back and forth in front of Merula as her words come out in a rush as she grows more animated. "I thought you were being paranoid and then I ran into this woman while we were looking for the children that ran from the fishery and she attacked me and then she almost killed Zach last night and tried to kill me and-and-and then I almost killed someone, again!"
She stops and turns to face Merula. She stands there shivering as she holds her arms tight.
"I'm sorry," she says again, her voice quiet but the words no longer coming out so quickly, "I'm so, so sorry, Merula. I was so stupid."
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By the end of the jumble of statements, however, the smile has not quite returned; but her expression is open and interested, not dismayed. She blinks slowly a few times to try to make sense of things in her own mind before speaking. When she does, her voice, too, is merely light and curious. "Forgive me if I am being a slow-top, but— A woman attacked you when you were looking for the children — without me, I might add, since I have no notion who you are talking about — and then this same woman tried to kill you and your young brother in faith again last night. And somehow this circumstance warrants an apology to me?" She shakes her head. "I wonder if we will agree about why. I would like to know more, but first things first. Audria, if you really want to apologize, will you do something for me? Whenever you want to say the words 'I was stupid,' even in your own head, instead say this: 'I made a mistake.' A mistake is something we do, not something we are. It can sometimes be fixed and always be learned from."
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Audria nods choppily at Merula's request.
"I-I'll try," she says. The tension that was coiled tight like a spring within her goes out with the words and she stumbles over to her bed and plops down on it. She looks up at the platinum-haired woman and wonders if she'll have any more luck explaining what happened this time than she did last time as she realizes that her hurried explanation, if it could even called that, left out some important details.
First, though, there are certain proprieties that must be observed.
"Merula," she says in a much calmer voice. "Would you mind sitting down. This might take a little bit of time."
When Merula has either taken a seat or made it clear she wouldn't, Audria tries explaining again what happened and why she felt that the apology was needed.
"It was yesterday, when we were looking for the last group of children from the fishery," she says, and a small part of her wonders if it truly was only yesterday. Between the fight to save Silver Sven and the fight she faced in the alleyway, it feels as if it has been longer. "One of the people I talked to while trying to find out where the children had gone said I should talk to Kaitlyn Embresi at The Embercat's Fancy. I didn't recognize her, but she knew me from when I was a Lamb. I guess she was friends with Yargin, the human who tried to dress fancy." She meets Merula's gaze and shrugs, not really certain why she needed to explain which of Lamm's now dead thugs she was talking about.
"Anyway, she recognized me and tried to stab me in the belly. I knocked her out and ran. I thought that'd be the end of it. Except it wasn't She got a couple of goons and came looking for me. Zach was the runner for the Andoran Blue Street barricade and he was late coming in with a report. Mister Bartholomew sent me to go see what was going on, and they attacked me in the alley." Audria pales as she remembers the fight. She hadn't the time to be scared when it happened, but now that she's looking back, she's amazed all she got was a nasty gash on her arm. "It was strange, almost like they couldn't touch me. I almost killed one of them, and the other ran after I'd cut him up a couple of times. I guess I hurt him pretty badly, and the woman, Kaitlyn, Ember, Embercat, or whatever her name is, she got me once, then ran off after I sent an arrow back at her." Audria grabs her left arm where the woman's arrow had left its mark on her. There isn't even a scar now, but the young paladin can still feel the sting
"I thought you were being paranoid, and that you didn't need to worry, not around here, not around Von Heller's," she says. "I was mad because of how you were acting. I'm not fond of the man, but he's not the type you accused him of being. I thought it was ridiculous that you were hiding who you were behind a mask and a character."
She takes in a deep breath, steeling her nerves.
"Then the thing you were worried about happening to you happened to me. Someone recognized me, and then she came after me." She snorts a bitter laugh. "I guess she came after me twice."
The bitter, ironic humor fades quickly as Audria's gaze falls to the toes of her boots.
"So that's why I felt like I needed to apologize to you. Even if in my head, I'd dismissed your worries, at least a little, and I felt like I wronged you, somehow."
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Her face does not change from its slight smile, but her voice grows very gentle. "Although I should like to pay this Kaitlyn Embresi a separate visit sometime, I think."
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Audria laughs at Merula's insistence that she not go off on her own like she has been, though the almost whispered statement at the end does worry Audria more than a little.
"You're starting to sound like Brother Theolan and Sister Jenelyn when they found out that I got chased through the Catacombs by an ettercap and a bunch of spiders," she says, her voice filled with laughter rather than venom.
She sobers a little as she meets Merula's eyes again.
"I think my investigating days are over. We've found all of the children that Lamm had under his thumb. All I can do is try to make Korvosa better by brightening our little corner of it," she tells the songstress and dancer. After a moment, Audria smiles.
"I think I like you better without the mask," she says. "This seems a better fit."
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She does not explain this somewhat cryptic remark, but moves on, seeming to assume that the subterranean escapade happened long ago. "I would not be so quick to assume you will be able to go back to an ordinary young Shelynite acolyte's life. If you have been having such adventures all along and surviving them, it is not just happenstance. You have a talking companion animal, at least one murderous foe, and shortly, the gratitude of a queen." Her gray eyes gleam appreciatively at the dramatic potential.
"I don't doubt you will continue to find trouble, or it will continue to find you. And if you need my help — with anything — you have it." Her face turns cold and serious for breath, before she smiles easily again. "However, just at the moment I plan to enjoy the celebration, redistribute a passel of infants to their families, and then focus on providing for my own for the foreseeable."
After a little chat with this 'Embercat,' that is. Isi and Mamma need me more than Korvosa needs a Shrike. The King of Spiders and Pilts Swastel are projects for the long term, and not ones the little lark would want to know about.