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The elf laughs when called Desna.
"No, I am not so powerful as my goddess. I am Selalia, one of the Starsong's many servants," she says. "Still, I have some small power of my own, and I am happy to see that you've started to make what I have given you your own, Scrapeknee."
He is a bit sheepish at having caleld her a goddess, but he's grateful for the gift and says so "Nice to meet you, Selalia, and thank you. Your gift saved many lives."
Her smile fades as she continues. "I fear you will need it and more. Since Aroden's death, prophesies have been fickle, their meanings lost and muddled. Yet there are still thread of fate that we can sense and feel. Some of those threads have begun to converge on Sandpoint. I brought you here so that I may warn you. A dark cloud hangs over your home. It's up to you to help decide Sandpoint's fate. I fear that ill omens hang over your head."
At that, he exchanges a worried look with Dani, but nods, and then asks Selalia, "Thank you for the warning. I'll protect Sandpoint from this Cloud, even though I am unworthy to decide the fate of a town. What else can you tell me? Any advice? I ... I have friends. Can I ask their help in this? Dani and I probably won't be enough."
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Various red fruits and jellies would quickly flash through onlookers' minds as they witnessed the explosion of color on poor Cailyn's face. Personally, I think strawberries would be the closest color comparison. Bright strawberries on a bed of soft cream. (since Cailyn rarely made it out in the sun).
"How-" the bibliophile started to ask "How did you know?' but stopped. This was a goddess. HER goddess. She knew because she was what she was.
The thought might have only started creeping into her mind over the last few days, but it wiggled increasingly as the depression she hid very well grew and grew.
A simple marriage of convenience, that's all, nothing wrong with that. Except there was so much wrong with that.
Her mother would disapprove almost violently, her father would simply frown but seem a thousand times worse, but she would have books and no one would have to worry about her anymore. Herself included.
"Wilberforce" she said instead, identifying her cousin unnecessarily "He is a good man, despite himself." she smiled, faint but proudly for him. A goddess had even seen that, maybe someday he would as well.
She nibbles on her own bread, savoring the taste coupled with the remnants of the bacon in her mouth. A moment or two of silence that Ganny gives her.
"I did help..." she thinks aloud since keeping it to herself wasn't an option in the presence of divinity. "I didn't think about it, I just... Did" Cailyn thinks about EVERYTHING but not this. Her blue eyes look up at the most mothering kobold in Golarion existence. "Do you really think I could again?"
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"Mmm," she purrs. "Oh my name? I am Ekaterina Strahdinov, but most of my friends call me Kat. You may call me Kitty."
"Oh, well, what-ho, Kitty," Willie smiled more than a little awkwardly, not entirely convinced he should be encouraging the vivacious dream-woman. Still, the real test of good manners was as ever one's ability to put up with bad manners.
Rummy name, though, he considered. Sounded a bit Riverfolky. Why in the world the young man would be dreaming of names he'd never heard from parts of the globe he'd never seen didn't enter his mind.
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"Because it's true." She shakes her head. As she adjusts to her situation, old fears creep in, scars loom large: No one is ever just kind to Dare for no reason, so it's silly to expect it now. What if this safety and beauty is a lie? What if it's all a trap? As such she starts to tuck the rare vulnerability she had been showing behind her "armor" of defensive attitude. Indeed, perhaps in this place suddenly her image flickers, clothing morphing between red and black and blue and white.
"Listen, who really are you? People talk to me for two reasons: to tell me they're better than me, or to tell me what to do. You're obviously better than me, so no need to point that out, and I know the sun needs no help from me to rise, so what is it you want?"
Further fears strike her even as she finishes speaking. Now she's done it. What if she offends this celestial? What is she even doing? This is why she doesn't belong here, of course. A person who deserves to be in a place like this would know what to do.
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Conrad offers his hand to Joanna and helps her up, and turns around when a masculine voice calls out to them. His initial irritation at being interrupted quickly gives way to shock when he lands eyes on what appears to be, for all intents and purposes, an actual angel. What in the f#~*ing hell.
He stares at the man, speechless, and, still holding Joanna's hand, sits down quietly.
The stranger certainly seems very serious, though, and what comes out of his mouth sounds much more like a mission briefing than casual chit-chat. Part of him wonders why the man would know so well what happened at Sandpoint - although, if he was a dream, maybe that would make sense...
And another, smaller part of him, can't help but wonder what the hell did he do to find himself surrounded by attractive people in a dream. It almost never happened. Was it his birthday or something, and he hadn't been told?
It takes Conrad a while to realise that the man is waiting for his answer. It must have been several seconds since he got lost in his own head. "Um," he glances at Joanna "O-k-kay? I g-guess?" Gods, even for the correct answer, that was lame.
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"Nobody's nothing, Dare. And the way things are for you right now doesn't have to be the way they are forever." She reaches a hand out in a placating gesture, slow and non-threatening as she can manage it, even char-black and clawed as the offered hand might be. She doesn't try to make contact, keeping herself a respectful distance from someone clearly feeling threatened.
"I don't know what was meant by asking me to help you. But if what you want is for things to change, then you'll have any help I can give."
"Of course you don't have to face this alone," Selalia says with a warm smile. "I suspect that your friends are all having similar conversations. As for advice, don't let the expectations you imagine others have for you keep you from being the person you should be. Some things we cannot change about ourselves, true, but the important things, your actions, your thoughts, those you can change, Scrapeknee."
She stands up and walks over to where you and Dani stand. Her hands feel warm as she places them on your shoulders.
"I wish you both luck and happiness on your journey, wherever it may lead you," she says. "If I had more that I could tell you, I would, but the future is always changing and shifting, more so than ever in this Age of Lost Omens."
There's a flash of light and you find yourself alone in the center of the Cathedral with Dani.
"Take care, Scrapeknee, Watcher of Stars," Selalia's voice echoes around you. "And don't lose heart."
After a moment of stunned silence Dani turns to you, her hand holding tight to yours.
"I'll do whatever I can to help. You know that, right," she tells you.
"Without a doubt," Ganny Elda says with a ferocious grin. "You and your cousin, both of you are far more capable than you tell yourselves that you are. You have a good heart Cailyn. I don't doubt for a moment that you'll do the right thing whenever innocents are in danger."
"Yup! Cleo wouldn't like you so much if you weren't a good person," Honeysuckle pipes up as the owl nods in agreement.
"Mmm-hmm," she purrs as she wiggles in closer to you. Somehow a blanket now covers you both. "Just relax, Willie. You've earned that much," she says sleepily.
Joanna smiles encouragingly as she takes your hand in hers. Despite looking so delicate, you can feel the callouses that you've felt on the hands of those that have trained with a sword.
"We will," she says confidently.
"Then that is all I can ask for," the angel says before turning to you and giving you a smile.
"Never forget, Conrad, that it's what's in your heart that matters far more than what others see. You have the makings of a good man. If you remain true to what you know is right, you'll be fine," he tells you before taking wing. "I wish you two the best. You and your friends will face hardships, but do not falter. You are always watched and loved. Help is never far."
He vanishes into the sky, leaving you alone with Joanna.
Soraiel frowns in concern as she hears Dare's outburst and sees the shifting of her clothing. She waits for Lita to finish speaking before moving closer to the two of you.
"Dare, I am nothing more than a servant of Sarenrae, the Dawnflower. I am no better than you. I would say that you are better than I am. For all of the pain and strife you have endured, you still see the good in this world, and you still feel joy. You still help those that are in danger, despite what doing so in the past has cost you. I have not experienced the pains and doubts you have, yet you are still a good person. I am not here to tell you what to do. You are here because of your heart, and your actions clearly show what you hold within it, even if you try hard to hide it."
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"Of course you don't have to face this alone," Selalia says with a warm smile. "I suspect that your friends are all having similar conversations. As for advice, don't let the expectations you imagine others have for you keep you from being the person you should be. Some things we cannot change about ourselves, true, but the important things, your actions, your thoughts, those you can change, Scrapeknee."
When he is told his friends may already being alerted, another weight is lifted off of him, so much so that he almost doesn't pay as much attention to the rest but when he does, he wonders if he's had wrong thoughts that need changing? When an agent of a god warns you of that sort of thing, you heed. He makes a note to think more better!
"I will, thank you!"
She stands up and walks over to where you and Dani stand. Her hands feel warm as she places them on your shoulders.
"I wish you both luck and happiness on your journey, wherever it may lead you," she says. "If I had more that I could tell you, I would, but the future is always changing and shifting, more so than ever in this Age of Lost Omens."
There's a flash of light and you find yourself alone in the center of the Cathedral with Dani.
"Take care, Scrapeknee, Watcher of Stars," Selalia's voice echoes around you. "And don't lose heart."
Inspired, he says "I wont." Then he turns and... realizes Dani maybe sharing a dream with him, but she is not likely just a creation of his dream.
After a moment of stunned silence Dani turns to you, her hand holding tight to yours."I'll do whatever I can to help. You know that, right," she tells you.
OjWoj Scapeknee, now with a right to claim Watcher of Stars as gift name, though it is a bit long, squeezes the hand back "So you really ARE Dani. This makes me feel very ah.. brazen for just pushing for that dance." A light blush, "And yes. I know. But.. I'm also not sure how far you've gotten in your own gifts from your goddess." He remembers she did not appear to be able to cure wounds, light or otherwise, at least not magic "I don't want to put you in danger before you're ready. Heck, I'm not sure I am ready. But then again Selalia spoke to us both so neither of us will be doing nothing. I need to talk to my friends, see what they learned as well. Can you check any records or the like at the Cathedral? I know omens are lost, but.. maybe there's something in the teachings there that can give us a clue or so? I'm not much of a Scholar."
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Dare regards Lita's proffered hand. She does not recoil from its Abyssal look. Enough folks would look askance at her own huge, green, calloused digits that she does not have much judgment for appearances. Her only hesitation is simply the act of vulnerability that touch conveys.
Instead she simply turns her own palm out toward Lita, in a gesture of openness. "Look, I- I. I don't even know if you're real right now. I don't know what's real right now. If it's really you, saw you the way you looked at the pig. The Sheriff, that is. So maybe you've dealt with some of the kind of things I've seen. Where I come from, the gangsters are more trustworthy than the law. But the Family still wants to use me. I just want to live my own life. I don't want to betray them or harm them. I just want out. And no one can give me that. Not unless you want to take on the whole Sczarni clan, and you can't because they keep worse monsters at bay."
To the winged one, she just blinks. She may know some of the things she says are true--although being "no better than" is such utter placative b#!%$%!+ she almost has to hold back a laugh--but truth be told, she is at an utter loss at how to interact with the lady. "Look, the paladin's right there," she says, "I reckon you'll make more headway talking to her."
She takes a step back, partly behind Lita. She'll follow the tiefling's lead.
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Inwardly, Cailyn winces at Honeysuckle's encouragement. Never in her life had she wanted to be the hero of a story, always content to simply read about them. But now, she looks into the shining eyes of three beings that screamed Good, and wonders.
She smiled, shyly, and says "I will do my best, Ganny Elda." pausing before adding "Honeysuckle and Cleo" to her list she is promising to. The poor girl doubts herself madly at that moment, even very very briefly reconsidering that comfortable haven of matrimonial wall-to-wall bookshelves.
Instead, she forces a bit of Vanderale will into her smile, then pops a buttered hunk of bread in her mouth.
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Had that blanket always been there? No, Willie was quite sure it hadn't; he wasn't in the habit of diving under duvets with strange women. Yet such was the nature of dreams that there is was, covering the two of them and seeing them share heat in ways not entirely appropriate without a pastor's blessing. Surely there was a step or two they'd leapt over in this whole affair? The young man might be averse to all amortary entanglements, but a few preliminary skirmishes over sago pudding and stewed rhubarb were customary before all this. He hadn't even met her parents!
The old lemon was throbbing in thought, trying to find some way to extricate himself from the situation. More surprised was he then when 'Kitty' apparently had no designs more indulgent than sleep. "Oh! Yes. Yes, of course. Er, good night."
These were deep waters, an awkward Willie lamented, feeling like a plank of wood swaddled by an affectionate cat. Even so, foreign as the sensation of dozing off in pairs was to him, he couldn't deny it was pretty dashed comfortable, and so found himself gradually relaxing. She wasn't wrong either, was she, this Ekaterina? He did deserve his rest. He'd been something of a hero today. That was the old Whyte and/or Vetillus blood in him, no doubt! Yes, he deserved all his heart desired, a small voice - a new voice - assured him. My, this couch really was very agreeable.
Willie let out the softest of snores, the comforting smoke covering the two of them as surely as the blanket. What a rummy thing it was, going to sleep in a dream.
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Conrad can only watch stupidly the man fly away. His tiny speck in the sky becomes smaller and smaller, but never disappears completely from his sight. Soon, it's indistinguishable from the distant stars - a little beacon of light against the darkness...
Joanna squeezes his hand gently, and he suddenly realises he never let it go. "What d-do we d-d-o now?" he asks, shaken. He stammers even more than usual.
Lita offers Dare a smile as she steps half behind her, turning her attention back to the angel addressing them. A part of her wants to move to the side, keep Dare from removing herself too far from the conversation, but thinks better of it. She's off-balance already, clearly uncomfortable, and if Lita can be an even halfway comforting presence in the moment, then that's enough. Instead, she nods back towards the sun rising, gesturing towards it, accepting Soraiel's earlier invitation and extending her own for her to continue.
Dani walks around so that she can face you and smiles.
"I have not gotten very far. I can bless others and few other minor things, but that's about the extent of what I have been able to do," she says. "I'll look for anything that might help, but most of the records from before five years ago were burned along with the rest of the church." She looks down for a moment before taking in a deep breath and stealing her nerves.
"Scrapeknee, I--" she starts to say before clamping her mouth shut. She shrinks back for a moment before setting her jaw and standing on her toes to plant a kiss on your cheek. She's blushing as she comes back down off her toes.
"Even if I never get a chance to do that in the real world, I wanted you to know how I feel," she says. "I've always thought you were a good person, and after today... I.. I just wanted you to know."
Now that business has been dealt with the rest of your time in this strange dream vision is spent enjoying breakfast and talking about favorite snacks and the best places to try various foods. Despite wanting it to last longer, you feel the tug of sleep pulling on your eyelids. As your consciousness fades away, you feel a warm, clawed hand on yours.
"Rest easy, hatchling. You're better than you know," Ganny Elda says before you fall back into a deep, dreamless slumber.
"Good night, and sweet dreams," Kitty murmurs as you both drift off. Perhaps it wasn't so bad, cuddling with a pretty woman on a couch.
Joanna shrugs, then yawns.
"We could take a look around," she says as a wave of sleepiness washes over you as well. Somehow, the two of you are under the small pavilion again, sitting next to each other and holding the other's hand with fingers intertwined. The young noblewoman's head is on your shoulder as she dozes off. Soon, you too find it impossible to keep your eyes open. The last thing you remember as sleep takes you once more is the warmth of the young woman by your side.
Soraiel looks unsure of what to do as Dare slips behind Lita. She nods to Lita and walks the paladin over to where the columns hold up the domed roof. Before you is a majestic vista of mountainous forests and shining lakes and rivers as you join Soraiel in greeting the dawn. The warmth of the sun washes over both of you, encouraging you to put your minds at ease and let it take away the tension you feel.
After a few minutes, the angel turns to Lita.
"I fear a darkness is falling over Sandpoint," she says, getting straight to the point. "The raid was only the start. If nothing is done, I fear that Sandpoint and much more will be doomed. Lita, Dare, I know this world has hurt you both, but please, find it in your hearts to forgive those that have wronged you and help keep this darkness from spreading."
She looks at both of you with pleading eyes.
"I have not gotten very far. I can bless others and few other minor things, but that's about the extent of what I have been able to do," she says. "I'll look for anything that might help, but most of the records from before five years ago were burned along with the rest of the church." She looks down for a moment before taking in a deep breath and stealing her nerves.
"That sounds like a great start to a journey of faith." He smiles
"Scrapeknee, I--" she starts to say before clamping her mouth shut. She shrinks back for a moment before setting her jaw and standing on her toes to plant a kiss on your cheek. She's blushing as she comes back down off her toes.
The Shoanti young man blinks as this gesture is made, and is surprised how ... nice it feels. How nice it makes him feel. BOTH his cheeks warm as what just happened sinks in.
"Even if I never get a chance to do that in the real world, I wanted you to know how I feel," she says. "I've always thought you were a good person, and after today... I.. I just wanted you to know."
The praise makes him embarrassed even more than the kiss, "Not THAT good...Just doing what anyone would do for neighbors and family"
She's not Shoanti, but.. you know, she's a wonderful girl and...she likes me. Maybe it would be okay to be just a little selfish ...as long as I was a gentleman about it?Scrapeknee says "If we remember all this and... can, would you like to share a meal at story at Risa's Place sometime?"
Cailyn gives a sleepy smile as she snuggles back into the sleep she thought she was already doing.
"I'd love to," Dani answers as she leans against your shoulder. The two of you sit on the ground leaning against each other. Inevitably, you close your eyes and fall asleep with Dani's scent lingering in the air.
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And he snoozes with a smile on his face
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Hearing someone offer her friendship was a source of joy that beat an angel's smile any day. Without condition. Without false promises. She has not had a friendless life. Heck, she's pretty sure she's already befriended Conrad. But two friends in the same place at once? That's...
... well, it's a miracle.
So Dare gives Lita with a rare thing, then: an actually happy smile. The tattoo on her eye curls upward, animating the flame so that it looks like it is reaching toward the heavens.
She follows Lita's lead as she said she would, with looking toward the dawn, but the light washing only them only amplifies what she has begun to feel. She doesn't know if any of this is real or not. But it's rare she has something nice happen to her in a dream, so she just holds onto that for a moment.
As such, it takes a bit for her to grasp that the angel is speaking to her again. The angel's request feels more transactional by comparison to what Lita said: do this thing for me. But that's gods and their servants for you--and it's only fair, she's prayed to Sarenrae for help before. It's not like she's asking for anything unreasonable.
"I wouldn't ditch this place if you asked me to help or not. I've got friends here."
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His dreams have become a lot more vivid lately, getting weirder and weirder. He can't shake off the thought that this isn't a good sign.
It leaves him highly disturbed.
Dare wakes up with the sun in her eyes, as she blearily realizes the window her mattress is next to faces east, and she quickly resigns herself to being unlikely to fall back asleep. Thank goodness she drank little the night before, or the process would be far more painful. The sky is not quite the flaming spectacle of color she thinks she dreamed of, but it is pretty enough to forgive the loss of sleep. She quietly collects herself, moving over to the dormitory room's collective washbasin, glad at least of being able to be the first person at the water, and splashes some water on her face to wake herself up and get the rheum out of her eyes.
Trying to stay as quiet as possible so as not to disturb the others sleeping in the room, she returns to her sleeping area and uses prestidigitation for the rest of her ablutions, scouring herself and her clothes, under and over, clean. She'll have to ask if she can get a proper bath--cantrips are nice and all, but it's been ages since she had a proper soak. She dresses in her magically cleaned clothes--it's nice of them to have some folding dividers to separate the sleeping spaces--and gives her boots a wipe with an oiled cloth. She checks to be sure her tusks are clean and runs her fingers through her hair until it is untangled yet properly fashionably unruly. And then she heads downstairs for small beer, strong tea, and porridge, greeting the nice older halfling lady who seems to run the day to day operations.
She sighs, mentally steeling herself for her plans for the day. She has been putting it off long enough; she needs to go to the Cathedral and talk to Joanna and Tera. Hopefully both are faring better after a night in the clerics' care.
Come to think of it, if opportunity presents itself, she'd also like to converse with the others whom she ended up fighting alongside--coincidentally, most of the same folks at their table from a few nights' prior. In her mind, she has begun referring to the group collectively in her mind as "Lita's Corner Table." Anyway, the fine folks of Lita's Corner Table all stepped up to the plate when the gobbos attacked, and how it all came about doesn't sit well with her--and that was before she dreamed of angelic warnings of incoming darkness.
Soraiel smiles at Dare's reply.
"That is why you are a good person, Dare," she says. "You care about others."
The warm sunlight covers you both like a blanket. Your worries fade as teh two of you close your eyes and sleep off into a deep, dreamless sleep.
You all wake, whether at the Rusty Dragon, the White Deer, the Cathedral, or wherever else you called home for the evening. Some rise early, other rise later. One probably has to be pulled from his bed by his aunt's butler sometime before midmorning. Whatever the case, you are greeted by a Sandpoint that is fast putting the raid behind it. Rumors say that the consecration of the new Cathedral has been postponed, but will still happen.
When you go to pay for your room and breakfast, a bright-eyed Ameiko looks at the silver with confusion.
"Did I forget to tell you your room is free? And breakfast on the house is the least I can do to repay you for what you and the others did yesterday," she tells you as Bethan, the elderly halfling that helps her run the Rusty Dragon, finishes getting things set up for the day.
You find Joanna at the Cathedral, but not among those recovering. The young noblewoman is following Dani around and helping the young acolyte with her taking care of the injured, even if both of them are still limping a bit from from the wounds they took yesterday.
"Oh, Hello Conrad," Joanna says cheerily. "I-It's nice to see you this morning."
She blushes slightly as she smiles, and she looks dazzling in the simple white blouse and blue dress she is wearing.
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Dare pauses before responding to Ameiko. "Where I come from, nothing's free. But no, I know you're bein' nice, but..." She opens her hand on the counter, carefully depositing the coins she's counted out. She had aimed to pay her way, and wanted to make use of what she'd earned yesterday as she'd intended. "The staff still have a hell of a lot to do, cleaning up after Lord Creepypants' party last night, not to mention all the recent guests, and that's before we get to whatever the goblins have chucked at the outside walls. Even if you've some cleaning cantrips, it'll take awhile. Fine if you don't want to pocket the coin, but your workers should. Now I'd like my porridge please."
Once she's finished breakfast, she heads toward the cathedral.
The sun is still rising when Lita wakes, really this time, though it takes her a few seconds to realize that the soft light falling across her face is really the dawn. She sits up, looking out the window without really seeing, just thinking through the dream and its message, and... Dare. She needs to talk to Dare.
Once it's no longer too early to be polite, at least.
In the meantime, Lita busies herself with her morning routine before making her way into the Cathedral proper, either to attend to her normal duties or to help lend aid and comfort to those still there from the night before.
Cailyn wakes with the pleasant memory of soft buttered bread and savory bacon, and her stomach rumbles in regret once it realizes all that is filling it is memory.
The young noblewoman flounces out of bed, then spends the laborious next hour cleaning, brushing, lacing, and then layering, until she is finally ready to descend to breakfast at the Deer.
"Good morning, Sir Scrapeknee, did you sleep well?" Cailyn asks, looking perfectly arranged in a crisp white blouse and dark skirts. She is holding a book, one titled 'Thasonian Edible Delights: the seven sins in seven bites', which she cracks, even as she greets her friend.
It seems like the avid reader is slipping back to her old habits even with her godly push. Surely Ganny Elda meant she would be needed when she was needed, not when she is not, which seems like the latter is the current, so... she hums a little melody as she nibbles on pastries and words.
Dare takes her time with breakfast. But perhaps whether in the public room in the Inn or whether she is on the way to the cathedral, she hears the odd hoofy footsteps on the wooden floor that suggests Lita is approaching.
She turns toward the approaching footsteps, and she gives Lita a friendly gesture to suggest they walk together. There are many things she wants to ask. Did you have that dream? Am I crazy? Tell me about Sarenrae. Are you really my friend? Or was that just fantasy?
What she actually says is, "Oh. Hey."
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Scrapeknee woke up, smile still on his face, and he realizes that he ... that that was no ordinary dream. Hurriedly, he rose, and...
There was his gear, his weapons, his armor. He wore it at the festival as much in case crowd control was needed, not because goblins were expected. His smile falters a bit, no, it crumbles, and he sighs when he thinks of those who died. So many more would have if not for Sandpoint uniting, and the heroes he was lucky enough to find himself surrounded by.
It's a new day, yet trouble is still on its way, if the Dream was right. He puts on the armor and takes his weapon, at least it's been cleaned, and he heads into the main area of the Deer and on his way out.
He hears Sarla practicing her music. It's a mournful tune, sad and melancholy. But she is getting better. He sees Rubus behind the counter.
"Hey, Rubus, I need to head out," He feels like apologizing for it, "Tell your dad I..."
"Sure sure," Rubus nods, heir to the Inn, he looks at his cousin as if he doesn't know him anymore, "We got this."
Scrapeknee tilts his head, "Thanks. Is my hair a mess or something?"
HIs cousin shakes his head, "Nope. Just... OjWoj... since when do you... do that stuff?"
Oh. It sinks in He's ...scared of me? Rubus isn't scared of much he... "Since Yesterday, it seems. It's..nothing special about me, more of a ...gift. I'm still me, Cuz."
Rubus looks at him, less afraid, but still a touch distant, "No, I don't think you are, OjWoj. I'm pretty sure you're never going to be the same you again."
And Scrapeknee feels like he just got gut punched, not that Rubus meant it meanly, but it was a truth he... Whatever I do from now on, THIS is with me. I'll never be the same again. I...wow.
Then he's tackled by a ten year old girl, "You're a HERO!" Veedie, youngest of his cousins, seems to be quite sure this is an amazing things, "Your friends saved Jonu's mom! She told me about it! You're a hero! They're heroes! That means I'm hero adjacent!"
Rubus snorts, "It means you need to get to helping mother with breakfast. Go be Server Adjacent."
Veedie sticks her tongue out her older brother, then looks to Scrapeknee, "Tell Cailyn she's cool, she has a magic OWL. That's one of my favorite animals!"
"And you only have like seven favorites," OjWoj fights a smile "But she is cool. Now go help your mom while i goof off doing uhm.. hero stuff."
"Good morning, Scareknee, did you sleep well?" Cailyn asks, looking perfectly arranged in a crisp white blouse and dark skirts. She is holding a book, one titled 'Thasonian Edible Delights: the seven sins in seven bites', which she cracks, even as she greets her friend.
It seems like the avid reader is slipping back to her old habits even with her godly push. Surely Ganny Elda meant she would be needed when she was needed, not when she is not, which seems like the latter is the current, so... she hums a little melody as she nibbles on pastries and words.
And the ten year old girl , Veedie, freezes as if royalty were visiting, her jaw dropping open. Now, by now , Cailyn has seen Veedie and Rubus before, but today, Veedie gazes at her as if she were a brand new person, not just a customer, but a heroine!
With a magic owl!"Good morning, Cailyn. I had ...interesting dreams actually. I mean to talk to you and the others about it," Scrapeknee says, "I was about to head to the Cathedral but... did you have any odd dreams yourself?"
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For a second it seems like Cailyn didn't hear Scrapeknee, that she was too absorbed in her book. But someone observant would have noticed her eyes had gone troubled and paused on the word she was on. Her cheeks had a new rosy hue as well.
'Godly pushes come from all around it seems' She lightly berates herself for simply wanting to slip back into the cozy daze of literature.
Cailyn looks up, eyes clear and bright again, "Yes, I did in fact." The truly lovely book is regretfully snapped closed. "And it would be impolite to pretend otherwise." She slips off her stool and pats her lips with the napkin that had once graced her lap. Just then she notices Veedie, the energetic hurricane of youth that has caused Cailyn to burst into laughter more than once in this very room. "Veedie, I must cut my repast short. I am sorry for the trouble and the waste. Would you mind disposing of this treat and apologize to the cook for my insult?"
If forgiven, the young woman beams her thanks, then joins Scrapeknee, slipping her arm in his. Or at least she starts to, but then stops, remembering both yesterday's misunderstanding and the adoration in Dani's eyes. Best not muddy any waters, she tells herself, then smiles. "Would you mind if I join you?"
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'Godly pushes come from all around it seems' She lightly berates herself for simply wanting to slip back into the cozy daze of literature.Cailyn looks up, eyes clear and bright again, "Yes, I did in fact." The truly lovely book is regretfully snapped closed. "And it would be impolite to pretend otherwise." She slips off her stool and pats her lips with the napkin that had once graced her lap. Just then she notices Veedie, the energetic hurricane of youth that has Cailyn burst into laughter more than once in this very room. "Veedie, I must cut my repast short. I am sorry for the trouble and the waste. Would you mind disposing of this treat and apologize to the cook for my insult?"
"It'd my honor, Lady Vanderdale," The ten year old curtsies, and takes the treat up, then whispers "Cleo is AMAZING, tell her I said so , please?"
If forgiven, the young woman beams her thanks, then joins Scrapeknee, slipping her arm in his. Or at least she starts to, but then stops, remembering both yesterday's misunderstanding and the adoration in Dani's eyes. Best not muddy any waters, she tells herself, then smiles. "Would you mind if I join you?"
"I was hoping you would" He says, and starts to offer his arm out of habit then chuckles and opens the door for her instead, then follows. The chuckle is a bit forced, but it's there.
As they head to the streets, he says "In my dream I was told others were having dreams as well, not just ordinary dreams, but messages. I think I spoke to a servant of Desna. Which sounds like hubris I know, but there you go. Dani was there... in my dream getting the same message. I want to talk to her too and see if she recalls."It is possible that others may see them heading to the Cathedral as they walk
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"A servant of Desna!" Cailyn's tone conveys her awe. She clutches her book to her chest as they walk "I'd ask you to painstakingly detail your dream, but the basics are probably the same. 'You and your companions are needed to prevent a darkness from descending on Sandpoint and destroying all the good cooks.'" she gives her head a small shake, looking a little embarrassed, "Just for example of the oncoming threat, of course"
And to distract from that mistake, she says "And Dani was there?" her eyes dance with questioning tease "I ask, but only if disclosing would not be in bad taste."
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"I'd ask you to painstakingly detail your dream, but the basics are probably the same. 'You and your companions are needed to prevent a darkness from descending on Sandpoint and destroying all the good cooks.'" she gives her head a small shake, looking a little embarrassed, "Just for example of the oncoming threat, of course"
"Cooks? Mmm... For me it was... 'A dark cloud hangs over your home. It's up to you to help decide Sandpoint's fate. I fear that ill omens hang over your head." He shakes his head, as they walk "I Hope that was a 'you' plural, because i am not qualified to decide anyone's fate let alone a whole town."
And to distract from that mistake, she says "And Dani was there?" her eyes dance with questioning tease "I ask, but only if disclosing would not be in bad taste."
His cheeks heat a bit, "Yes, I mean, she is training to be a cleric of Desna and.. well, I didn't think she was real at first. I'm afraid I was too forward ... I asked her for a dance. We did. Then , of course, I came to realze oh she's really in here, and felt like a fool. And, by the end of the dream I was asking her out. So... if she remembers that, I'll definitely know it was real." Ahem, "But that isn't the important part. You and I both had messages from higher powers. I suspect the others did too. We need to each hear what the other remembers and see if the pieces give us a bigger pattern on what we need to do."
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"N-nice to see you too," he timidly returns Joanna's smile. It feels incredibly weird to be facing her after the night's events, but that's the way dream were. No better or worse than having to face your teachers and classmates after dreaming you walked to school bare-arsed.
"How d-do you feel this morning? Your leg b-better?" he makes eye contact with Tera as he speaks, letting her know that the first question also applies to her.
Romance books have never been Cailyn's first choice of reading material, but she has indulged, especially during the years of confusion and change.
So even she recognized the romance of such a story. "Our many years together began as our minds danced together in a dream." Cailyn encouraged with a combination of wistful and happy as a lark.
Before he can respond, the woman spies two of their forming group "Ms. Ashborn and Ms. Turandarok, good morning to you both." Cailyn's friendly tone she used for Scrapeknee shifted to a more formal one, as she dips into a half curtsey, since clutching her book requires at least one hand.
Dare starts at the approaching pair, lost in still trying to figure out how to start the conversation with Lita.
Cailyn had switched back to "pleasant" mode, apparently. Well, she was talking to Dare, not avoiding her like she was at the caravan. Perhaps she'd accepted Dare indeed was not an arsonist.
So she nods, "Morning, Princess." She tilts her head toward her companion. "Scrapeknee. Sleep well?"
Scrapeknee doesn't have time to respond at Cailyn's romantic narrative of his and Dani's meeting. Which might be good as he's not sure how to respond to that.
So she nods, "Morning, Princess." She tilts her head toward her companion. "Scrapeknee. Sleep well?"
"I had dreams, to be honest," He answers, "And in that dream I was told others might be getting messages and warnings to. If that's the cause, I thought maybe we should compare notes, He admits, "How about you two?" A side glance to Lita then back to Dare
If Dare's awkwardness comes across, it doesn't show on Lita's face, the tiefling's expression brightening into a smile as soon as Dare gets her attention, and already half-jogging over by the time she's finished beckoning. She's full of questions, about the dream and otherwise, each competing with each other for the honor of which gets to be the first out of her mouth, such that what actually happens is just falling into step beside her without much word beyond a simple "Good morning!"
Great!
Thankfully, the awkwardness doesn't get to last long, before they come across Cailyn and Scrapeknee. Each of them given a wave, and a 'good morning', and a "Really, Cailyn, just 'Lita' is fine, Turandarok isn't a real name-" before Scrapeknee cuts through all the competing thoughts with a directness that makes Lita laugh, surprised and relieved all at once.
"Oh, thank the Gods you said something. I wasn't sure how to bring it up." She shifts on her hooves with a glance towards Dare, her tail swishing nervously behind her. "If Scrapeknee got something similar, then... That was really you I was talking to?"
"Stout work, fellows! Stout work!" the young man called out in passing, commending a group repairing a storefront vandalized by the goblins. Vigorous as the chipper cry was, somehow his tie was louder still. A girl of six was compelled to point and inform her mother. He neither noticed nor cared; Willie was in a good mood. In fact, he had woken up to said splendid spirit! Not even the Deverin butler rustling him out from under the covers before noon, the barbarian, could dampen his gaiety, especially as Aunt Kendra had been convinced to grant him some leniency on account of his recent heroics and given him the morning off. Her heart hadn't been entirely in that bit of verbal sparring, admittedly. The poor thing had an awful lot on her plate following yesterday's attack.
Willie was of course helping in a fashion. Namely by not getting in her way! Those few days she'd had him follow her in her duties like a trusty terrier had amply proven that all this managerial whatsit wasn't for him. Why, he could barely manage his sock drawer! No, best that he didn't hamper her for now. So it was that young Wilberforce instead flounced about Sandpoint this morning, taking in the restoration effort. He let his vest expand over a deep breath. Ah, it really did a soul good, seeing honest chaps at honest toil, setting right what those green miscreants put wrong. That was the old indomitable human spirit at work! Yet there was something more about this morning, a certain zip in the air, a sort of bally freedom that got in one's blood, bucked you up and made you feel that Aroden had reached a Heaven of his own, all was right with the world, and you didn't care if you've had odd socks on.
Not that Willie's silken pairs, secure under his garters, were anything other than a perfect mirror, of course.
He wondered for a moment what had sparked this mood of his. He'd heard that surviving close calls such as yesterday's could induce a rummy elation in a fellow. Or was it his heroism under said call that had ennobled his spirit in more sense than one? Perhaps, but who could guess at these things? Mayhap he'd just slept particularly well.
Actually, he'd slept like a babe on its breast, come to think on it. Had a dream visited him? Willie stopped in the street to gaze ponderingly at a cloud. Somehow this question seemed important. He shook his head. What a silly notion! Dreams were for prophets, soothsayers and other madmen to get drunk on, and the gent was happy to leave them to it; he much preferred a plain tipple. And on that notion, the Rusty Dragon had just come in sight.
"What-ho," he cried through a wide smile at seeing none other than those delightful co-heroes of his gathered round a table. "Good morning, you kings and queens of the battlefront! Perfectly topping day, what?"
"Thank you, Lita" the request to use the first name satisfies etiquette. She was about to ask about Turandarok not being a name when the conversation moved on.
"You shared the dream together?" There is a hint of curiosity in her voice. Okay, much more than a hint, and her eyes dart to Scrapeknee.
"Hello Wilberforce." Cailyn greets her cousin warmly "It seems like divinity and oneirology on today's discussion topic, did you have any dreams last night?"
Dare pauses before responding to Ameiko. "Where I come from, nothing's free. But no, I know you're bein' nice, but..." She opens her hand on the counter, carefully depositing the coins she's counted out. She had aimed to pay her way, and wanted to make use of what she'd earned yesterday as she'd intended. "The staff still have a hell of a lot to do, cleaning up after Lord Creepypants' party last night, not to mention all the recent guests, and that's before we get to whatever the goblins have chucked at the outside walls. Even if you've some cleaning cantrips, it'll take awhile. Fine if you don't want to pocket the coin, but your workers should. Now I'd like my porridge please."
Once she's finished breakfast, she heads toward the cathedral.
Ameiko listens to you as you lay out your reasoning, snorting in laughter at your description of one Lord Aldern Foxglove.
"Alright then, I'll make sure Bethan and the girls get their fair share. I say you've more than earned a free place to sleep, but if you feel that strongly about it, who am I to argue against someone's good intentions," she says with a shrug. "As for breakfast, I think we can do a bit better than porridge."
The young innkeeper puts deed to word and a few minutes later, a plate of pancakes, sausages, fruit, eggs, and grits with cheese, butter, and freshly cracked black pepper is placed before you.
"Dig in," Ameiko says with a grin before heading back into the kitchen to work on breakfast and start the dishes for lunch.
Joanna and Dani nod when asked if their legs are better while Tera rolls her eyes.
"They should be taking it easy," the young woman says before they can protest, her eyes on the pair, "but no! They're pushing themselves, and too much in my opinion."
"Tera, I can't just--" Joanna starts to say before her friend cuts her off.
"You can't just sit and do nothing while others are hurting," Tera says with a smirk. "I know, but you won't be doing nothing. You'll be healing and keeping Conrad here company. Besides, don't you two have something to talk about," she asks as her grin turns positively impish at Joanna's deepening blush.
With speed and grace, Tera takes the bandages and other healing supplies from Joanna and shoves her closer to you.
"Conrad, would you be so kind as to keep Miss Too-good-for-her-own-good here from doing anything that requires her to be on her feet," she says. "She probably wouldn't mind being carried again if that's what it takes," she adds in a wicked tease aimed at Joanna.
Before you can offer any protest, she has ushered Dani away, leaving you and Joanna alone for the moment.
"Um, C-Conrad, did you-- Did you have a dream last night," she asks after a few moments. She can't meet your eyes as her blush deepens even further.
Dare in truth had asked for porridge because her stomach had been in knots for a few days. But her read on Ameiko, based on both what she'd heard as well as the body language read here, was one of someone legitimately generously spirited, so objecting to the meal upgrade felt like picking one unnecessary fight too many, so she accepts the meal as given with a simple "Thank you." As Ameiko is about to turn away, it strikes her to ask, "You're a former adventurer, right? How do you think the goblins so far past the gates without being stopped?"
"Oh, thank the Gods you said something. I wasn't sure how to bring it up." She shifts on her hooves with a glance towards Dare, her tail swishing nervously behind her. "If Scrapeknee got something similar, then... That was really you I was talking to?"
Dare's face flushes, self-conscious of the vulnerability she'd expressed in her dream. "With the winged woman and the white robes?"
"You shared the dream together?" There is a hint of curiosity in her voice. Okay, much more than a hint, and her eyes dart to Scrapeknee.
"That's personal!" She objects, but then relents as her head turns back toward Scrapeknee. "Actually, you did mention warnings, right? The sunrise angel warned about a- a... 'coming darkness.' Coming here, to Sandpoint." She looked around at all of them. "Even if it was just a dream, something was up with that goblin attack, I think. And those merchants, the two women who wanted me to put on a magic show, they mentioned an interest in ruins here. Thassigonagain or something. I was goin' to the Cathedral to see if they're feeling well enough to chat with. Well, I have personal business with them, but if there's ancient ruins here, maybe that's a good place to start looking for coming darknesses."
Ameiko hesitates for a moment, a pained expression crossing her face when Dare calls her a former adventurer.
"I'm not sure. Goblins are sneaky when the want to be, but I don't think they were working alone," she says. "Maybe they had help, or one of them got a lot smarter. Either way it's not something I want to think about." She shudders and rubs her arms as she looks towards the north. "I wish Shalelu was here. She knows more about goblins than I do, and she'd know what was up. I just hope nothing bad happened to her."
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Conrad splutters something nonsensical, too taken aback to answer Tera's wink-wink nudge-nudge remark, and suddenly he finds himself alone with Joanna, not knowing where to look.
Well, at least he knows where he wants to avoid to look. He apparently has a newfound fascination for his toes. "How d-did you know?" he says, sounding as though he's scared of the answer.
"That's personal!" She objects, but then relents as her head turns back toward Scrapeknee. "Actually, you did mention warnings, right? The sunrise angel warned about a- a... 'coming darkness.' Coming here, to Sandpoint." She looked around at all of them. "Even if it was just a dream, something was up with that goblin attack, I think. And those merchants, the two women who wanted me to put on a magic show, they mentioned an interest in ruins here. Thassigonagain or something. I was goin' to the Cathedral to see if they're feeling well enough to chat with. Well, I have personal business with them, but if there's ancient ruins here, maybe that's a good place to start looking for coming darknesses."
"I was going to see Dani myself because.. it appears she and I shared a dream." He focuses on the danger to sandpoint "In which we were warned uhm.. how was it? 'A dark cloud hangs over your home. It's up to you to help decide Sandpoint's fate. I fear that ill omens hang over your head.' and so on. I was told others were receiving messages as well. I asked if I could reach out to you guys for help. The messenger said of course I could."
"Thassilonian" Cailyn helps with the pronunciation, but with a furrowed brow at why Ms. Ashborn would have personal business with her cousins. She would ask, but she can just see the other woman obstinately snap out 'It's Personal'
"Scrapeknee, here, knows a prominent scholar on the subject, just up there at the old tower. But the Father of the Cathedral is a good place to start when it comes to having a conversation about divine dreams."
Looking around she sees a lack of something "Has anyone seen Mr. Mendelson this morning?"
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Dare shoots an apologetic look when she sees Ameiko wince. She's not sure whether it's the "former" or the "adventurer" bit that offended her, but she's afraid to ask. Instead she says, "If your friend's missing and you need help, let us know. I know we're a bit wet behind the ears compared to the likes of you but... I... well, I just have a bad feeling about all's going on and all."
It's amazing how much more patient she is when the person she's talking to isn't upper class and Magnimarian.
Dare belatedly nods to Willie when he runs into the group.
"I was going to see Dani myself because.. it appears she and I shared a dream." He focuses on the danger to sandpoint "In which we were warned uhm.. how was it? 'A dark cloud hangs over your home. It's up to you to help decide Sandpoint's fate. I fear that ill omens hang over your head.' and so on. I was told others were receiving messages as well. I asked if I could reach out to you guys for help. The messenger said of course I could."
"So are shared dreams a common thing round these parts? Cause either the gods are all warning us about the town being about to swallow us whole, or someone's messing inside our heads, and I don't like either option. And why us? Why us in particular?" Her anxiety is making her talk a bit more, but she pauses mid-stream of thought.
"Don't get me wrong, I'm in. Whatever's going on, whatever little I can do, I'll help if I can. Folks here with some exceptions, have been more nice to me this one week than the whole 19 years I've lived in Magnimar. I live my life risking my neck for other people, I'd rather do it for decent folk."
"Thassilonian"
"That's it."
"Scrapeknee, here, knows a prominent scholar on the subject, just up there at the old tower. But the Father of the Cathedral is a good place to start when it comes to having a conversation about divine dreams."
"Well if he's not busy, we can ask him too."
Looking around she sees a lack of something "Has anyone seen Mr. Mendelson this morning?"
"Who? Oh, you mean Conrad." She shakes her head. "No, but I moved into the Dragon last night. Could be he's still staying at the Feedbag, despite Ameiko's offer. He didn't like the looks of that creepy toff who paid for the drinks last night--and good reason to--so he might have chosen to keep some distance. Anyway, I reckon if something's dragging us all together we'll run into him soon enough."
At Dare's concerns, Scrapeknee sympathizes, "I'm not worthy of this trust either, Dare. And I don't know why us in particular. Maybe we're all they've got. Maybe it is because the holy day, the festival, lets them at least advise? All I know is, we appear to be asked for help so... thank you, for answering like this." He actually seems touched at the praise for Sandpoint
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"Oneirology?"
Willie could hardly look more politely confused than had the whole party answered his greeting by growing plumage. What in the world was this all about? He followed the animated discussion with the air of someone walking in on a debate on the merits of cannibalism, which was to say anxiously enthralled yet afraid to join in for fear of being made part of the deviants' agenda - whether as peer or diet.
Dear old Cailyn didn't give him much choice on the matter, however.
"Did you have any dreams last night?"
He started as if asked where his allegiance lay by a cudgel-wielding Asmodean inquisitor. "Me? Never. Don't believe in it, in fact. Plain peculiar for the grey matter to carry on like that without one present, that's what I say. No, I slept like a hall boy last night."
He nearly went on to ask her about her own night as a point of courtesy before catching himself; best not to encourage this rummy talk! The gent was getting more than a little worried about these fine fellows. It was as if they all had gone to sleep as champions and woken up madmen. Dark portents? Destiny? Divine will? This sounded like the flapdoodle nonsense of maniacs at worst and those heroic adventuring types at best, neither of which Willie fancied himself as. This was doubly concerning as a little flutter somewhere round his bean reminded him that perhaps he had hosted some apparition last night.
"Well," he admitted, eyebrows wiggling in thought, "there may have been some passing fancy flitting about the dark hours. Something about a cat I think?" Yes, that sounded about right.
No dream quest handed him from beyond the spheres, certainly. And a good thing too given how Willie was loath to join in on this mania. But best as he was about to suggest everyone calm down with a nice tipple from the inimitable Ms Kaijitsu, the group decided to march on the temple. The young man looked very torn indeed, his eyes darting from the band he wasn't sure he wanted any part in to the inn keeper's warm pies he was quite sure he wanted part of him. As ever, a stern voice directed him in the end, specifically the imagined outcry of Cailyn's parents no doubt due him if they learned he'd left his cousin to trounce about on some imaginary heavenly mandate. A reluctant Willie followed.
Probably for the best, really, he considered in ankling behind. This flighty lot needed a down-to-earth sort of chap like himself at hand when they came crashing back down into said dirt! He was just about to gently query whether they hadn't dreamt the whole thing (forgetting that dreams were the order of the day) when the orcoid said something more unseemly still.
"He didn't like the looks of that creepy toff who paid for the drinks last night--and good reason to..."
"Steady on now," he countered, surprised that this morning's madness could extend to besmirching as smashing a character as the Lord. "Old Foxy is a topper, a corker and I dare say as superlative a gentleman as was ever bred. Why, you could fling gold pieces by the half hour in Magnimar's busiest street without hitting one chap willing to insult him!"
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"Steady on now," he countered, surprised that this morning's madness could extend to besmirching as smashing a character as the Lord. "Old Foxy is a topper, a corker and I dare say as superlative a gentleman as was ever bred. Why, you could fling gold pieces by the half hour in Magnimar's busiest street without hitting one chap willing to insult him!"
"Listen, Socks, and listen careful. The reason you won't find someone willing to insult him in Magnimar, is because he's married to the cousin of the boss of the Gallows Gang in Rag's End. And has a whole host of dodgy business deals aside. Secret societies, laborers disappearing, that sort of thing. And if that don't bother you, it should at least bug you that he was eyeing your cousin," she indicates to Cailyn, "The same way she looks at puff pastry."
She gives sort of a deferential bow toward Cailyn. "Not that you aren't capable of taking care of yourself, Princess, but were I your cousin, I wouldn't want to see a married old lord looking like he's planning a midnight break-in to your larder."