”I can take care of you, Ameiko. I always keep this one prepared.”
Kisaiya’s mind is elsewhere as the little drinking ceremony starts. She follows the lead of the others as they gently remind her, though. ”To the Empress of Heaven and the Soon-to-Be Empress of Minkai.”
Gertrude adjusts her glasses and shifts her cigarillo in her mouth so the burning tip is lined up with her target in the angle of her vision. She is patient and waits for a moment she feels is right.
Gertruths: HP: 9/9 AC: 12/12/10 Saves: F2/R2/W4 Arcane Bolts Used2/7 Spells Active: 0: (Detect Magic, Light, Spark, Prestidigitation)
While the fun may be infectious, Kisaiya is quite immune to all pathogens. She is somber and humorless, yet focused. By all appearances, Kisaiya has a ravenous appetite tonight, clearly famished from all of her hard work on the feast. In actuality though, she eats very little. She discreetly takes whatever food she can and finds the homeless people and invalids who need it the most but lack the means to get the food themselves. The Prince has instructed his subjects to be happy, after all, and who can be happy if they are hungry? She knows that she herself cannot be happy knowing the stark class difference, in case anyone tries to suggest she is going against the Prince’s wishes by not celebrating herself. And should that answer not be sufficient, well, she is not his subject anyways, and thus she is not subject to mandating happiness.
Kisaiya redirects her efforts upon discovering the Prince’s particular wishes, though she is not happy about it. A locality’s cuisine is a matter of what ingredients are available, what the community does for labor, the climate, the tools, and a million other smaller variables. Simply showing up someplace and cooking in the style of another is more effort than it seems, especially when none of the support staff know what you are asking for. So what could be recognizable Avistani, require the least amount of retraining for the staff, look appropriate for a fancy feast, and work with non-Avistani ingredients? Pies. He’s gonna get pies. Big pies, sculpted pies, pies with crusts you eat, pies you eat of, sweat pies, meat pies, sweet meat pies. Worried the pie isn’t fancy enough? Stick some crenelations and little flags on it. Rich people also love it when you cook two animals and sew them together and pretend it’s a new one. A camel-horse and a pig-sheep should work. None of it is particularly exciting and is, as far as she is concerned, using cheap tricks to gussy-up simple food, but she knows it will fulfill the ask and do it well. If he wants novelty, he’s gonna get novelty.
Kisaiya is quite impressed with the fare, and she does not balk at a single one of the cuts of meat. Who is she to be precious about a pigeon brain or a chicken foot? If a life must be taken to provide nourishment, then the most respectful action she can take is to not turn her nose up at it. No, her mind instead works at trying to determine from taste and look alone how the dishes were prepared. What can she learn? How does a meat with this amount of fat pair with that sauce? If a mixture of ingredients doesn’t seem like it would have gone together well, how was that difficulty overcome?
Feeling compelled to participate in the physical activities, she picks the only one she thinks she might not totally embarrass herself at: wrestling.
She struggles at first, knowing how little she must know compared to a practiced grappler, but as she acclimates, she begins following her instincts and not getting caught up too much in her head.
Kisaiya has no preparations to make as well. She scowls at the sight of the slaves groveling. Any place in which such treatment of people is not only allowed, but expected, is unworthy of respect. Nevertheless, she steels herself to hold back her feelings so she does not cause trouble.
Kisaiya gazes off into the distance, finally within Tian-Xia. It does not feel any different, not that she expected it would. She does not expect any magical feeling of belonging or purpose, and honestly, she’s not even sure she would want it. She has enough belonging, enough purpose. She sits down next to Ameiko. ”I can tell you are worried. You can worry if you want. But if you don’t want to, I can worry for you. Whatever you need, I’ll take care of it.”
Kisaiya returns to the ground and takes a seat before letting herself fall onto her back, arms outstretched, in the snow. ”Thank you, Empress of Heaven. That f###ing sucked. I think I need a nap.”
Kisaiya takes a deep breath, happy to finally have a way of talking. She steps back and holds her hand up, completely calm and unfazed by the displays of intimidation. ”Hi there. We are not looking for a fight. Sorry we scared you. We really just want to be able to pass in peace.” Struggling to think of something else to say, Kisaiya defers back to the one thing she knows she can always do well. ”Would you like some food? I’d be happy to share. Or prepare some if you have any around in need or preparation.”
Kisaiya’s stomach cannot handle the poison and she can no longer focus enough to even swing a single time. She steps back, no longer able to stay in melee with the beast at the moment.
Kisaiya calls upon the power of the Empress of Heaven to protect her and guide her sword. ”The blindness was a kindness. I don’t think you will enjoy seeing this.”
Nutrition Facts: HP: 60/75 AC: 24/13/21 (+4 all vs bbeg) Saves: F12/R8/W11 Hero Points: 3 Smite Evil Used: 1/3 Lay on Hands Used: 0/6 Divine Bond Used: 0/1 Resolve Used: 0/1 Challenge: 1/1 Second Chance Spells/Effects Active: Air Walk, Haste, Heroism, Resist Fire 20, FoM
Kisaiya enters her battle stance and wastes no time in striking hard and fast at the remorhaz.
Nutrition Facts: HP: 75/75 AC: 24/13/21 Saves: F12/R8/W11 Hero Points: 3 Smite Evil Used: 0/3 Lay on Hands Used: 0/6 Divine Bond Used: 0/1 Resolve Used: 0/1 Challenge: 0/1 Second Chance Spells/Effects Active: Air Walk, Haste, Heroism, Diviner’s Fortune, Resist Fire 20, FoM
Kisaiya takes an easier breath knowing that nobody has fallen victim to the wights’ draining touch. As Unk and Durgan discuss a plan, Kisaiya continues to relax, feeling emboldened that they not only know what they are facing, but have measures to prepare everyone. ”We have everything we need to face this creature, so I say we go for it.” She wonders how one cooks a beast that is full of so much fire.
Kisaiya lands on the ground and takes a stance at the yrthak’s neck, severing it with a single slash. She lets the tension fall out of her body as she leans her head back and sighs, gazing upwards. Part of her had still been worried that maybe she was not meant to get past this point of the north. She knows it’s stupid, but it’s hard not to feel like it was waiting here just for her. Now that it’s gone, so much that didn’t feel possible before suddenly feels open and waiting. If there is any lesson to be learned—and she would like very much to get a lesson out of this—it is that she should not rush. She was in a hurry to find adventure those years ago, but she should have just worked on herself first. Hastily began, hastily ended. She remembers that she is not alone, but has an audience. She nods at Durgan. ”I hope their spirits rest easier now.” She consider’s Unk’s suggestion. ”Barbecue might work. I’ll have to take a look at the meat to see which preparation method would work best.”
Kisaiya freezes as she sees the flying beast. ”That’s it. That’s the one. It really is here.” She immediately pulls a scroll out of her handy haversack and prepares to cast it, pointing at her armor. There’s no way she would ever face this beast unprepared again. ”Suishen-sama, that is the beast that took my eye and fingers and killed the rest of my caravan. Please, honor me with the ability to rise to fight it.”
She casts the spell from the scroll, Serren’s Swift Girding, and she is instantly in her full armor, as though she had taken all the time to put it on herself. She then moves to the edge of the trees, shouting back to the others. ”SPREAD OUT.” She shouts again, this time at the Yrthak. ”I AM KISAIYA SHIRAISHI, AND I AM HERE FOR EVERYONE YOU KILLED.”
Nutrition Facts: HP: 75/75 (DR 1/- vs yrthak) AC: 22/12/20 Saves: F10/R5/W9 Hero Points: 3 Smite Evil Used: 0/3 Lay on Hands Used: 1/6 Divine Bond Used: 0/1 Resolve Used: 0/1 Challenge: 1/1 Second Chance Spells/Effects Active: Air Walk, Bless, Challenge (yrthak)
Kisaiya feels that prick of excitement at the word “dragon.” There’s a certain prestige and romance to the creatures in her mind, and she can think of few foes more worthy to spar with, either via word or blade. ”I am certainly in favor of dealing with a dragon, if that is how we must needs proceed.” She wonders briefly what a dragon might taste like before reminding herself they are sapient, and thus not appropriate choices for such things. Alas.
Kisaiya takes Mukluk’s usual refrain in stride. ”At the worst for us, someone will try. At the best for them, they will not succeed.”
After several weeks, each member of the Betony nobles receives a hand-delivered letter with no signature or address. Each letter is delivered casually and wordlessly by a common worker such as a gardener, a teamster, a driver, or a maid. The handwriting is familiar, though. The Letter: I want to congratulate each of you on our great success in preventing the reactionary forces of empire from capturing the government and sending us tumbling backwards into an era of fear and war, as well as for removing a deep-seated source of corruption from the shadows of Taldan society. We have struggled and we have won, and a much deserved rest is in order. I, however, am not much of one for resting. While we have succeeded in preventing a catastrophe, there is still endless work remaining to bring us to a state of liberty and equality for all. This will be the work of many more lifetimes, work that will not see its culmination until we have all passed from this world. Unlike our late foe, I have no intention of artificially prolonging my life and have already accepted I will not see the world that I wish for. This brings me to the issue at hand. I would like to offer each of you a chance to assist in this work. Do not worry; the violence remains over. This work I speak of is increasing access to education for the lower classes, removing barriers of privilege and tradition that prevent people from raising their stations, shifting from a rule of hereditary privilege to one of law and justice, guaranteeing access to fundamental necessities like good food and clean water, and ensuring the fundamental rights and freedoms of each person in our country. I would ask each of you to join me in making sure these changes all come to pass. This work will require time, will, and money, but you can participate while still taking the time to rest upon your laurels. If we succeed, then the next time the reactionary forces make their move, the people themselves will have the tools to fight back so they will not need a collection of nobles to fight on their behalf. If the civil conflict we just fought in required us to consolidate our power, consider my request as denouement, a chance to take that consolidated power and spread it around once more to those who need it most. If the scope of this work does not entice you, or you simply find yourself too weary to begin, you are welcome to join if and when that changes. Further, if you find yourself in such disagreement you would prefer to end our association, I will respect your wishes. All I ask is that you keep this offer between us, in recognition of our shared struggles during this War for the Crown. Do as such, and I shall call upon you no more.
The Night Swan takes off her helmet and mask and takes a knee before the young prince. ”I want tell you a secret. I do not believe that office or station of royalty should exist. After how easily these past emperors were turned to see you as a mere tool, I hope you can understand why I feel this way. I tell you this so you know that I kneel not because of deference to your position, respect for your title, or any nonsense like that. I do it because I respect and trust in you. Because I see echoes of the suffering I endured in your own, so I know better than anyone how you must feel. You deserved none of this. You should have never been subjected to any of it. None of these villains ever cared for you as anything but an empty vessel for their own desires and dreams. I wish you did not have to go now, right when there is a chance of freedom. I wish you could have the opportunity for a life without all of that weighing on you. I hope that at least you can have it in death. You no longer have to be anything or anyone save yourself.” She stands and begins to put her mask and helmet back on. As she turns away, she looks back over her shoulder. ”That is my dream, my desire. So do not feel constrained by it either. Go forth and remain Carrius, whoever you think that should be.”
Kisaiya bows her head at Mukluk’s compliment. ”It is not my power. It is Suishen-sama’s. I take no credit for it and only honor the charity in providing me with such a boon.” She sheathes the blade and goes to assist with the recovery and repair.
Kisaiya finishes the witch off with her second blow. ”Well I think we found the culprits behind the murders in the town.” She considers Snowball’s suggestion, frowning as she realizes none of the options feels good. Kill them, leave them to die, or imprison and question them before doing either of the aforementioned. ”What would they have to tell us even? I doubt they have anything to do with our enemies from Minkai. I just wanted the ghosts of this town to be able to rest, and for those who travel after us to not face the same fate, and now we have done so.”
Kisaiya considers calling upon the power of the Empress of Heaven to grant her blows more power, but it feels excessive. Such gifts should not be called upon callously and speak to a deficiency of character, at least as far she is concerned. Likewise, as in cooking, you always use precisely as much salt as you should because too much ruins the dish. And as you do one thing, so do you do all things. Musing upon such topics, she tries to bring this battle to a close.
Nutrition Facts: HP: 62/66 AC: 23/13/20 +2 all vs evil Saves: F10/R5/W/8 +2 all vs evil Hero Points: 3 Smite Evil Used: 0/2 Lay on Hands Used: 1/5 Divine Bond Used: 0/1 Resolve Used: 0/1 Challenge: 0/1 Second Chance Spells/Effects Active: haste, magic circle vs evil, air walk(?)
”This could be unrelated to us. But it could also be more oni looking for Ameiko. Let us be careful as we continue.” She looks to drag-marks pointed out by her comrades. ”Ah. Perhaps this was done by something closer to home.” She nods towards the icy water, hand on Suishen. ”Whatever did this is probably still there. I doubt there are any survivors, so if we were to go in after, it would be to slay whatever evil did this. Depending on what it is, I may be obligated to deal with it. What do the rest of you think?” [ooc]Feeling reminded of Beowulf. Who wants to go after Grendel and his mom?[/ooc{
The Night Swan can guess that some selection of cups will be called for. She considers the possibility of them all being poisoned and some sort of acquired or magical immunity immediately, but decides there are other points against that theory. If this were, say, a contest of wits between a single charlatan and a rogue in which death is on the line, she would consider it a given. But Beldam would not want to poison too many people, as he would have too many webs in place; pluck a single string from a web at a time and it shall always recover, but pull a handful at once and it will collapse. No, there must be some logic, some puzzle here.
Kisaiya, now wearing an apron and practical clothes instead of her ō-yoroi, comes back over as she hears the shouting. She looks at the giant, then at the cat, then at the cat’s fit-to-be tied charge, then Mukluk, then Durgan, then the giant again. She’s not sure what supplication would entail, but prostrating in snow for a full day would waste time. She suggests the one thing that always seems to work: ”You want something to eat?”
Kisaiya glances around. ”Uh, I think Mukluk went to get her. Stay here until he gets back and I’ll go get started whipping up something.”
She carves up some fish for the talkative cat and then makes a bowl with fish, rice, dried seaweed, and sesame for the cat’s human.
Kisaiya relaxes more, satisfied now that this is an oddball, not a threat. Of course, that now means she doesn’t know how to handle this person, so she struggles to find a conversational footing. ”Well that sure is…something. I think you are at the right place. We do have all those various people you mentioned, including Koya. And we have fought oni.” She falls back onto her standard strategy for pulling herself out of awkward conversations. ”Would you like something to eat? I can make you something.”
Kisaiya nods gravely as Rory speaks of leaving. She knows there’s no point in arguing and that he only would have said it if he was sure. She offers him a big hug. ”It was great to have you with us, Rory. You have always treated me well. You’ve always made me feel respected and, well, normal, I guess. That means a lot. I hope we can see each other again someday. Anything you want, I’ll make it for you.” She offers storm a pet on the head. ”Same for you, Storm.” She tries to smile, but it falters. She wants to be the kind of person who can just always believe deep in her heart that no matter what, parted friends will meet again, but she knows better. The world is too big and too dangerous. She bows deeply, arms at her sides. ”Sayonara, Rory-san.”
The Night Swan scoffs at the quasi-resurrected first Emperor. ”Oh please. We all know who you are, so you can stop the posturing. We have all spent our entire lives listening to people invoking your name to justify more taxes, less taxes; more rights for the poor, less rights for the poor; more laws, less laws. Your name has appeared on documents marrying people who loathe each other, promoting the cruelest and least competent among us, on deeds for land stolen from its inhabitants. It’s all you, First Emperor. You see, we do not get to decide our legacies, not even you, and that legacy is all that’s left of you. You aren’t even human anymore in the afterlife. We met you. You are more concept than person now. This shade of you here is just the leftovers, the bits that didn’t fit into a body of shiny metal. And which bits are left? What is there underneath the legend? I don’t think you want the answer, but I give a rat’s piss what you want, so I will tell you anyways. You really are the same as every other conqueror: you expanded nothing except lines on pieces of paper and built nothing but piles of corpses. You are a murderer who killed enough people that those who are left gave up on stopping you. You are a tyrant who managed to get them to build some statues that would last long enough that people would forget the blood soaked into their masonry. Go back to sleep and leave the living alone to mourn the freedom we lost to your vanity.”
She does not expect him to give a damn about anything she says, so she prepares for battle to be joined, entering her battle stance and adjusting her tactics to account for the grogrisant. Snake Style (to use if she is targeted by a spell with an attack roll):
Kisaiya Level 7: Taking a level of samurai (yojimbo) with Order of the Warrior +1 BAB +2 Fort +8 HP New Class Features: Resolve, Challenge, Order of the Warrior Edicts, Resolute Defense New Feat: Shielded Gauntlet Master Skills Ranks +1 swim
The Night Swan activates her pennon to grant herself heroism before they begin their investigations. ”Measure twice, cut once, Kamari. We should ascertain the full measure of the situation before making any moves we cannot take back.”
”What manner of wild beasts could we expect up north, Ulf? I know of at least one dangerous enough to destroy a whole caravan, an eye, and two fingers off a right hand.” Kisaiya nods gravely. She description sounds right, and as he suggests, there can’t be a lot of reptiles up here. ”Boreal yrthak…so that’s what it was called. I was hoping it was still alive, that nobody had gotten to it before me.” She nods to herself. ”You know if it’s smart like a person or like an animal?” If the former, she will know to be wary. If the latter, she can start thinking about recipes.
”I think you are all thinking a bit too rationally. People might say something because they are offered something, or they may talk because people like to talk. Defeated foes may like one last chance to spit in the face of the victors, or to go out gloating about how their allies will make this triumph moot. There is just so much we don’t know right now.” She sighs and her remaining eye gazes off to the distance. She hates being the arbiter of someone’s life, even when they are a villain. It’s all so much easier in combat, when there is no time for thought. She knows death is not the end, but it also does not feel like a triumph either. Evil always comes back because the outsiders never die and the mortals just go to become outsiders. She always hesitates when there is a chance to talk because there is still some vain hope in her that something will stick, that perhaps she will say something that sticks with them, or even that they will see how sad she is to do this and give pause. She knows it’s stupid, perhaps even dangerous, but she doesn’t know how to be otherwise. It probably doesn’t matter anyways. She should save her energy for more important things. ”But the group seems to favor simple execution though, which I will honor should Ameiko also agree.”
Kisaiya raises Suishen up high for just a moment before slashing down upon the oni.
She swipes the sword to her side, the flames shooting off. ”You’re cooked.” Nutrition Facts: HP: 51/58 AC: 25/13/22 (+4 all vs oni) Saves: F9/R6/W9 Hero Points: 3 Smite Evil Used: 2/2 Lay on Hands Used: 0/5 Divine Bond Used: 0/1 Second Chance Spells/Effects Active: bless, campaign trait buff, barkskin, bulls strength, smite evil, air walk
Kyrie shakes her head and scowls. ”I will not throw a match. I will instead redouble my efforts to ensure we do win. I will in fact do the opposite of what you are suggesting so there is not even a question that I am doing my utmost.”
”Acquiring the scrolls will be no trouble at all. I am quite skilled at disguise, and can do without being detected by magic sensors.” She heads off to throw together a disguise.
Edelmira glares at the doppelganger. ”I sincerely hope that we were not infiltrated by someone so inept as to think all of us actually wished to kill the Princess. So either cease this bizarre farce of playing dumb and have the decency to own up to being caught, or use the rest of your clearly deficient powers of observation to listen as we explain to you just how much you have been duped.”
Kisaiya stares with her one eye, trying to figure out what she should say. What would her grandmother say, if presented with such a boon by her future sovereign? She knows Ameiko does not hold these ideas of honor in the same high regard that she does, so she cannot expect Ameiko to have already considered them. It may seem like a silly unreasonable line, her self-imposed restriction on swords, but it is those silly unreasonable lines that are how she makes sense of the world and her place in it. They are how she shows her respect for those that came before her and how she gives weight and grounding to that history. By swearing that oath to not use a sword until her family’s honor is restored, she was saying that she remembered how they lost their honor and would not carry on as though it didn’t happen. It made it real for her, and so much of her family’s history felt so unreal, a nice story to tell but so far removed from the realities of day-to-day. All that said, if your future liege offering you the use of the royal sword is not a sign of restored honor, what is? And the sword himself agrees. It feels vainglorious to consider this could be a sign of favor from the Empress of Heaven, but the thought lingers. She wants it to be true, and her life has taught her too many times that she will never get the things she wants. It all seems to have begun changing recently with this adventure, but will it stay that way? Can she try to remain open to the thought that maybe something will work out for her? She slowly begins to nod. At least for today, for this moment, she bring herself to believe that something better is possible. That will have to be good enough. ”I will do as you suggest, Ame. All I ask is that I am able to kneel and receive this honor with a touch of ceremony. It’s important to me. Please.”
Kisaiya looks ahead at Ameiko to remind herself how important it is she gets across. She swore to her friend, the most important person in her life, that she would follow her and protect her. She can’t be beat by a damn plank of wood.
The Night Swan lowers her halberd for now. ”Are you an ally of the late Duke? A prisoner?”
The Night Swan nods respectfully. ”Good work. I would not have expected to see stone crumble so quickly to arrows and bolts.” She looks over the door as well.
I do. Apologies. This has been a rough week and I had to cancel plans and rest all weekend
The Night Swan scowls under her mask. The gods truly are useless, if their gaze can be hidden from by the rich and powerful. If even death cannot be counted on to save the weak from those who exploit them, no wonder the the nobility and royalty hold such an iron grip. She thinks back to Count Bartleby Lotheed and his manor in Meratt County, how it had that living painting—a trompe l’oeil—masquerading as his wife. She kneels down next to the Duke’s head. She does not know if he can hear her, but she speaks nonetheless. ”Did you not think your wife worthy of your immortality? Did you find her human traits inconvenient and desire a version that would never change? Or perhaps I am too harsh. Maybe you merely were unable to pull this trick until after she died, and that painting was the best you could muster. Or perhaps she died and drove you to this obsession with death until you learned to cheat it.” She pats his cheek. ”None of it really matters. Underneath it all, you are just a scared little boy, scared to death something in this world might change. I am here to tell you that it will. Oh yes. You cannot stop the world turning, and each revolution will leave you further behind. The people will be free. Pray Pharasma finds you quickly so you don’t have to see all your works come undone.”
Yes, having her as a resource off-screen sounds fine
Kisaiya slams a fist into the table. Her eyes dart back-and-forth as she tries to figure out when in the cooking process this could have happened. She finally stands up. She bows deeply to her comrades. ”It is my responsibility to provide meals, and I have failed to catch such a grievous treachery. I apologize with all my heart for not noticing sooner.” She straightens and scowls. ”This is not just craven, to attempt to poison our food, but the deepest of insults. I care about providing for people. That they would try to sneak it into my cooking…to try to turn my work into something vile and treacherous. I will not stand for it. Whoever is responsible for this will pay. I will make sure of that.”
The Night Swan stows her halberd, produces a crowbar, and rushes over to the floor and tries to break open the hole in the floor.
GM Euan: Part of her bonus is from this Armor Trick: Steel-Plated Smasher (Power Attack): You gain a bonus equal to 1/4 of your armor’s armor check penalty (not including any reduction to the armor check penalty from class features or feats) on Strength checks to break doors and objects with less hardness than your armor. When your base attack bonus reaches +8, this bonus increases to 1/2 your armor’s armor check penalty. When your base attack bonus reaches +16, this bonus increases to equal your armor’s full armor check penalty.
The Night Swan’s fist tenses around the haft of her halberd as she gazes upon the scene. She knew that their foes were cruel, vicious nobles who feel entitled to the country, but to see their crimes laid out so viscerally for her in a way so reminiscent of her own memories is beyond the pale. Her greatest anger is for herself, though. How could she not have noticed Virgil missing? How could she have betrayed his trust of her worse? If she cannot even notice a worker so close to her being replaced, how can she consider herself a woman of the people? ”Oh Virgil, dear Virgil. I am so sorry. I will take care of you. You and your family will never want for anything. You deserve so much better than this.”
The Night Swan has already been thinking about how to profile what she knows about this Masked Marquis. The mask that someone chooses can be more revealing than no mask at all, and the fact the late assassin chose a name that suggests not just anonymity but nobility suggests he desired to be seen as a person of status, even when nothing else is known about him. That these creatures bow to him reflexively confirms this in her mind. She tilts her head and slowly turns to look at the sniffing creature. She knows well how to communicate nonverbal ally in a disguise. She does not say anything, acting as though she would not even deign to speak to such a creature, that she has no need to make any excuses or offer any explanation. Her authority is enough. Hopefully.
Kisaiya listens thoughtfully to Durgan and nods. ”I am of the same mind as Durgan.” She is rather shocked at Mukluk’s assertion that everyone in cities is…murdert-ing. Not know where to start with that issue, she instead recalls something she heard once. She recites the line automatically, lacking the intense scolding tone of the original delivery. ”’If the enemy is an ass and a fool and a prating coxcomb, is it meet, think you, that we should also, look you, be an ass and a fool and a prating coxcomb, in your own conscience now?’”
Edelmira shifts uncomfortably in the borrowed clothes, her more significant musculature making the outfit chafe annoyingly. ”If we run into anyone and they do not attack immediately, just play along with me. I have a few ideas for how to play it.” She readies to move further down into the earth.
|
