"After this, not only will you receive your amnesty but you could almost ask for a knighthood should that please you."
She stands and offers her hand for shaking.
"A pleasure. When the Mockingbird sings, I trust you'll answer."
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Sara tilts her head. "Swan will not hesitate should the man enter their path, of that I can assure you. But one thing I have learned from them is that while the Night Swan does not ask permission, they do their own handiwork. I refuse to make a promise on the behalf of myself, the Swan, or anyone. If you want Guisarne dead, ensure it. Take charge and yourself. There will never be a better opportunity than this one. Join us and prove yourselves champions and heroes of the common folk."
Dressed as the Mockingbird, Sara sits down with the Four Hoods. "Speaking plainly, fine fellows, we're working with the Night Swan and intend to bring a swift end to Count Lotheed's rule in Meratt. We're here to ask your assistance. I know that the four of you could use a decent PR boost, and I'm sure the public will remember all involved as heroes."
Dressed as the Mockingbird, Sara sits down with the Four Hoods. "Speaking plainly, fine fellows, we're working with the Night Swan and intend to bring a swift end to Count Lotheed's rule in Meratt. We're here to ask your assistance. I know that the four of you could use a decent PR boost, and I'm sure the public will remember all involved as heroes."
Sara is caught completely off guard by the kiss, but she returns it in kind. She embraces the Night Swan and places a leg behind her, dipping her deep, kissing almost all the way to the roof, before pulling her up and out of the dip. She smiles broadly, holding the Night Swan's hand. "I have a," she pauses, swaying her hips as she thinks, "contact that I believe is in good standing with one of the Betony heirs. A Galtan expat, and revolutionary, helped organize a wave of class protests with the Betony security chief. I'll pass the message of our deal: the open support of the Night Swan, conditional on the open support of Baron Okerra. "In so doing, we either change Okerra as a person, make him more flexible, while simultaneously destroying his reputation of honor and tradition, or, barring that, simply settle for defaming him."
Pacing back and forth, Sara begins. "I see several options in regards to the Baron: "What if we can get them to cajole Okerra into directly opposing Lotheed, standing with them in the end? It will strike a blow both at Lotheed, his most trusted attendant lord in open war against him, and at Okerra's reputation as an honorable man. "We could also make our temporary alliance with the Betonies known. Frankly, if the two of us stand openly in support of the Betonies, even just for the time being, it will sow a seed of discord deep within him, knowing who he has allied himself with. He will either change or sever ties. "I, personally, am in favor of trying to do both. It will wreak havoc with Okerra's public image, to be an ally to usurpers, and make the end of Lotheed's rule that much sweeter." She approaches close to the Swan, trailing a finger on her cheek. "For the immediate moment, I say we play our hands close to our chest," she punctuates this by placing a hand on the other woman's rib cage. Her voice lowers, sultry, conspiratorial. "I suspect they will not move forward for at least a week or two more. We have time to plant these seeds, and plan how we, together, will conquer these challenges, topple Lotheed, and ensure the safety and prosperity of the proletariat in Merratt."
Sara blushes upon seeing her ribbon on the Swan's costume, hoping that the darkness and her mask would hide her flushing skin, but alas, it does not. "Actually, I just wanted you to see what I'm seeing- but that doesn't mean we can't have some fun while we're here. Have you ever been to Stachys before, Swan? Even a month ago, you wouldn't recognize it. "After I saw you last, I came here to tail the Betony heirs and keep an eye on the Raven's agent in the house, Hayashi Zhi, to identify what the Betonies and The Raven were up to. And mostly, they've been fixing the town. This temple was built in a matter of weeks, the streets were once overgrown and full of holes large enough to pop a wagon wheel, the land itself was untenable and flooded. "They're enacting change in a very real way, on a small and personal level, and, despite their status as interlopers, I admire that. So I ask you, what is it that they have that we lack? "According to the Raven, our goal is adjacent with the Betonies, to depose Lotheed. Now ours is farther reaching, but if their strength is in organization, I have to wonder, could we use them to further our own goals?"
Entranced, Sara finds herself staring at the Night Swan's red lips. "You are easily one of the most beautiful women in the county. What's more, Swan, I admire you. I've led demonstrations against the wealthy and powerful and only ever seen punishment. While I tried to lead others, you simply seized the opportunity to do something about it personally. You've inspired me, milady."
Sara shakes her head. "I am no assassin. I am not afraid of killing a man, but to take his life while he sleeps, unarmed, unprotected? No, I cannot. But there is nothing stopping the legend of the Night Swan from spreading, is there?" One of her ravens, flying overhead, swoops down and perches on the Night Swan's shoulder. "You should do it. Take the glory and the notoriety, and I'll spread your story. What else does a Mockingbird do but sing?" She takes a single step forward, reaching her hand out as if to stroke the woman's face only for her raven to hop onto her hand in a perfectly practiced motion. "Of course this kind of bold action might not paint either of us in a good light. To break the sanctuary of the Grand Bank of Abadar to murder a man in his sleep could be exactly the type of thing that would take you from pest to public enemy number one." The tall woman steps back, turning away to pet her bird. "There would be no more hiding, Night Swan. And the commonfolk would no longer see you as a hero, but a villain, willing to desecrate sacred places and kill unfairly. "Better, I think, to take action only after the Baron's crimes have been exposed; make him answer not only to his subjects, but to all of Meratt. And then- and only then -, after making his past as a murderer and cannibal known to all, we should gut him."
Cloaked in ravens, Sara begins. "The Betony Heirs arrived before I did; they ransacked the Baron's Manor and bound and gagged him, dragging him through the streets to Lotheedar, where they healed him rather than exposing his crimes and his existence as a monster. He sleeps right below us in the Grand Bank, recovering from his nightmare. "I think the reason they were driven there is the Raven; Lady Hayashi Zhi is the Raven's agent in the household, and she was definitely present when I arrived in Jambis. "Perhaps the Raven is correct and they could be our allies, but if allied in thought they are not allied in deed; they do not go far enough. The Baron deserved to be brought to the Boneyard and judged as both a monster and as a man; he did not deserve a chance at living redemption."
"I mean if we're comparing colonies, Galt had it better in hand than Andoran- at least at first. Most of the people on the list were noble families allied with the House of Thrune, whereas nobles not on the list were offered the chance at exile or to have their wealth redistributed. 'Tweren't really til they killed Courage Heart that they lost the plot. In Andoran, the wealthy and loyal stayed in power after the revolution, continuing to control and bankroll and shape the nation to serve them, offering the lower class a mere image and idea of freedom and success." Sara yawns and stretches. "I know that if I were to make a list of my own," she says between stretches, "Lotheed would be on it. The Count," she clarifies, "not Martella."
"Your message and hers weren't connecting, so I," she pokes her index fingers together, "filled in the gaps." Sara nods at the retooled schedule, making one note. "Last night, I found out that the Grand Banker's missing acolytes went to the Grand Bridge for one reason or another. If you wanted, we could stop by on our way back, ride in in disguise and claim that the Betony heirs led us there, cementing our reputation with both the Night Swan and the well to do."
Sara's jaw drops. "I think I'm in love with this woman," she whispers to Zhi. When the Night Swan speaks of proof, Sara volunteers herself. "We will find out what happened to Baron Teleus and ensure actions are taken to correct his neglect, even if by violent means." Upon the Night Swan's departure, Sara lets a long low whistle, inadvertently sending her birds squawking and flocking around her. "What a !"
That sounds crazy ominous |