Devlyn lets out an impressed whistle as he takes in the view around him.
"I sure am glad I'm not too scared of heights," he says with a smile. "Wow - this is amazing."
"You should see it from the air," Arielle chirped. "All of the nests and rooms are arranged so that they make my mommy's holy symbol."
"You should see it from the air," Arielle chirped. "All of the nests and rooms are arranged so that they make my mommy's holy symbol."
He just chuckles and shakes his head, still processing everything that happened while they were gone. "I don't doubt it!"
While they are admiring the view, Azuri'ith surreptitiously sends a messenger to Kiba telling him about the boy.
"Ah, Azuri'ith, you have returned. And the young lady as well," he adds with a bow to Arielle. "And I see we have guests. Welcome. Please make yourself at home here. I have set out a meal for you all in Arielle's quarters. She can show you the way while I take a moment to speak with Azuri'ith about the events of the day." The djinn smiled graciously and indicated which passage to take with a sweep of his hand.
"Ah, Azuri'ith, you have returned. And the young lady as well," he adds with a bow to Arielle. "And I see we have guests. Welcome. Please make yourself at home here. I have set out a meal for you all in Arielle's quarters. She can show you the way while I take a moment to speak with Azuri'ith about the events of the day." The djinn smiled graciously and indicated which passage to take with a sweep of his hand.
"Oh - well, much obliged then. Lead on, little lady," Devlyn says to Arielle with a smile.
Arielle skips down the hallway, singing. She stops at one of the doors. "This way," she says, going in. The room is luxuriously appointed. Silk wall hangings with embroidered patterns of stars lines the walls, and there are thick layers of carpet under your feet. Gauzy curtains are pulled back, but could easily be used to obscure the entrance to the balcony. In one corner is a large pile of pillows you can only assume is a bed. In the center of the room is a low table laid with several dishes. A delicious aroma wafts towards you. Around the room there are a rather large number of potted plants. Arielle skips around the room gently touching each plant in turn as she sings before sitting down at the table.
Arielle skips down the hallway, singing. She stops at one of the doors. "This way," she says, going in. The room is luxuriously appointed. Silk wall hangings with embroidered patterns of stars lines the walls, and there are thick layers of carpet under your feet. Gauzy curtains are pulled back, but could easily be used to obscure the entrance to the balcony. In one corner is a large pile of pillows you can only assume is a bed. In the center of the room is a low table laid with several dishes. A delicious aroma wafts towards you. Around the room there are a rather large number of potted plants. Arielle skips around the room gently touching each plant in turn as she sings before sitting down at the table.
"Impressive," Devlyn mutters as he helps Allura with her chair/cushion/thing at the table. :)
"You've got a lovely room, Arielle. And it smells like a good cook too," as Devlyn sits himself down.
"You've got a lovely room, Arielle. And it smells like a good cook too," as Devlyn sits himself down.
"Thank you. It's really my mommy's room. I'll probably get my own room after she comes back, but for now they seem to think it's easier to keep track of me if I stay here. And Djuhah does love to cook. I hope he made the pastries with the sticky stuff inside again. I love those."
"I notice that there are a lot of plants here, Arielle. Do you like plants?" Allura says, trying to make polite conversation. She smiles with amusement at Devlyn when Arielle makes her comment about the sweet pastries.
"Djuhah told me that they put them there so that my daddy would be more comfortable when he came to visit." She looks sad. "I hope I get to meet my mommy and daddy soon."
Mmmmm......roadkill
"Djuhah told me that they put them there so that my daddy would be more comfortable when he came to visit." She looks sad. "I hope I get to meet my mommy and daddy soon."
"You will, Arielle. Don't worry - they'll be back before you know it. Now why don't you tell me about all the bridges and balconies here while we eat. Are there rooms like this all around the Eyrie, as well as the nests?"
Devlyn and Allura will do their best to keep her engaged in cheery conversation, and LK as well.
"Djuhah told me that they put them there so that my daddy would be more comfortable when he came to visit." She looks sad. "I hope I get to meet my mommy and daddy soon.""You will, Arielle. Don't worry - they'll be back before you know it. Now why don't you tell me about all the bridges and balconies here while we eat. Are there rooms like this all around the Eyrie, as well as the nests?"
Devlyn and Allura will do their best to keep her engaged in cheery conversation, and LK as well.
"Yes, there are lots of rooms in the cliff, and lots of nests too. Djuhah says that more of them were full before the big battle. The walkways are so people like us who don't have wings can still get around the Eyrie."
"Yes, there are lots of rooms in the cliff, and lots of nests too. Djuhah says that more of them were full before the big battle. The walkways are so people like us who don't have wings can still get around the Eyrie."
"Those walkways are a kindness, no doubt," Devlyn says thoughtfully. "Glad to see those of the land and air getting along well here."
"Yes, there are lots of rooms in the cliff, and lots of nests too. Djuhah says that more of them were full before the big battle. The walkways are so people like us who don't have wings can still get around the Eyrie.""Those walkways are a kindness, no doubt," Devlyn says thoughtfully. "Glad to see those of the land and air getting along well here."
"I think that's kind of a necessity, considering," Allura says, with a mischievous grin.
"I think that's kind of a necessity, considering," Allura says, with a mischievous grin.
"Probably right, love. Shouting from balcony to balcony would get real old, real quick," he says with a wink.
"You weren't kidding when you said your friend loved to cook - he's got a real gift for the art," he says to Arielle.
Arielle can't talk at first because her mouth is too full of sweets. You notice that an inordinate amount of her 'dinner' is more accurately qualified as dessert.
"Yeph," she says, through a mouthful of food. "Ishfh good."
Arielle can't talk at first because her mouth is too full of sweets. You notice that an inordinate amount of her 'dinner' is more accurately qualified as dessert.
"Yeph," she says, through a mouthful of food. "Ishfh good."
Devlyn just looks at her for a second, then laughs good-naturedly.
"Alright, maybe you should eat some of the other wonderful things that Djuhah has taken the time and effort to make for you. And let us have a chance to try some of the sweets out at least!"
Arielle pouts and starts to look rebellious. "But I like the sweets."
Arielle pouts and starts to look rebellious. "But I like the sweets."
"I can see that," he says with a chuckle. "But if you never try anything else, you won't know if there are other things you like. Maybe even more than sweets..." he says with a shrug.
"Besides, sharing is a nice thing to do too, isn't it?"
She takes a couple minutes to think about that. "Okay," she says reluctantly, "I'll try. But I don't think I'll like it."
She takes a couple minutes to think about that. "Okay," she says reluctantly, "I'll try. But I don't think I'll like it."
"Fair enough," he says. He redistributes the food accordingly. :)
While by the end of dinner, every vegetable that was offered to Arielle still remains on her plate, she does reluctantly admit that she liked some of the non-sugary food.
While by the end of dinner, every vegetable that was offered to Arielle still remains on her plate, she does reluctantly admit that she liked some of the non-sugary food.
"You see? You did like some of it. Thank you for trusting me, and for letting us try some of the desserts. They were good too."
"So - are you up for showing us around? Or do you need to meet with your grandfather?"
While by the end of dinner, every vegetable that was offered to Arielle still remains on her plate, she does reluctantly admit that she liked some of the non-sugary food.
"You see? You did like some of it. Thank you for trusting me, and for letting us try some of the desserts. They were good too."
"So - are you up for showing us around? Or do you need to meet with your grandfather?"
She makes a face. "I'm not supposed to wander around the Eyrie at all." She stops and her face lights up as a new thought occurs to her. "But maybe Grandpa will say it's okay if you're with me. Let's go ask him." She stands up and is jumping up and down with excitement. "Hurry up. Come on." She can barely contain herself for her impatience.
She makes a face. "I'm not supposed to wander around the Eyrie at all." She stops and her face lights up as a new thought occurs to her. "But maybe Grandpa will say it's okay if you're with me. Let's go ask him." She stands up and is jumping up and down with excitement. "Hurry up. Come on." She can barely contain herself for her impatience.
"Alright, we're coming," he says with a chuckle. "We'll see what your grandfather says. Lead the way!"
Arielle skips ahead of them through the corridor until they come to the main chamber where Azuri'ith is talking with Djuhah.
"Grandpa, these ones want to go exploring and walk around the Eyrie. Can I go with them? Please, please, please?"
Arielle skips ahead of them through the corridor until they come to the main chamber where Azuri'ith is talking with Djuhah.
"Grandpa, these ones want to go exploring and walk around the Eyrie. Can I go with them? Please, please, please?"
"I am not sure that is wise right now, child. There has been sightings of a dragon flying overhead. Perhaps it is nothing, but I would not like for you to be put unnecessarily into danger."
"I am not sure that is wise right now, child. There has been sightings of a dragon flying overhead. Perhaps it is nothing, but I would not like for you to be put unnecessarily into danger."Arielle skips ahead of them through the corridor until they come to the main chamber where Azuri'ith is talking with Djuhah.
"Grandpa, these ones want to go exploring and walk around the Eyrie. Can I go with them? Please, please, please?"
"Perhaps the interior tunnels then? That would be safer. But if not, we understand."
"Grandpa! Grandpa!" She jumps up and down excitedly. "I can hear shinies up there." She points up to the sky. "They're really close."
Azuri'ith shoves Arielle behind him and motions for the others to be ready in case trouble should erupt.
Almost invisible against the evening sky, the lithe body of this young adult dragon is armoured with tightly fitting black-blue scales, and she moves with a confidence and assurance that speaks of either an arrogance monstrous even by dragon standards, or of a power way beyond what would be usual for one of her apparently relatively tender years.
She touches down on the central platform, glancing haughtily at the occupants of the Eyrie who scatter in all directions from her.
Where is the one known as Azuri'ith?
Azuri'ith hands Arielle over to Djuhah before stepping forward.
"I am here," he says, approaching the dragon's perch. "What can I do for you?"
Arielle hugs Djuhah tight, only occasionally peeking at the dragon.
I am given to understand that you were a correspondent up until recently of a dragon known as Smagnavast?
I am given to understand that you were a correspondent up until recently of a dragon known as Smagnavast?
"My granddaughter had dealings with him. He came here once, but I was not here at the time. I have never met Smagnavast in person."
In Blodwen's nest, the young starhawk Keehaar watches with a keen eye
Bird Cousin ...
To Azuri'ith:
Smagnavast has had some unexpected difficulties recently. Do you have any idea why he would want to meet with you?
Smagnavast has had some unexpected difficulties recently. Do you have any idea why he would want to meet with you?
"I would suspect that it might have something to do with my granddaughter's recent difficulties. As I said, he had some dealings with her."
Ah yes, your grandaughter. You're really not very good at seeing that your relatives know when to stay out of harm's way. Fortunately...
She breaks off in annoyance, apparently recollecting something about the topic that makes it unwise to continue to pursue it.
That is not pertinent to the current situation, however.
What is pertinent is that it appears that Smagnavast had retained the services of a spymistress whose services come very dear at some times, to carry out an errand of some sort for him. Would you or any of your allies have any notion as to what this service may have involved?
Ah yes, your grandaughter. You're really not very good at seeing that your relatives know when to stay out of harm's way. Fortunately...
She breaks off in annoyance, apparently recollecting something about the topic that makes it unwise to continue to pursue it.
That is not pertinent to the current situation, however.
What is pertinent is that it appears that Smagnavast had retained the services of a spymistress whose services come very dear at some times, to carry out an errand of some sort for him. Would you or any of your allies have any notion as to what this service may have involved?
"As I said, I never met Smagnavast personally. I could not possibly comment on what he might have contracted this person to do or why he would have done so. I do not believe that he confided in anyone here."
Mmmmmm.....roadkill
The dragon's gaze wanders, for a moment, to rest curiously u-pon Arielle, before returning abruptly to Azuri'ith.
Very well then - does anyone here have anything to say to me?
Again her gaze for some reason lingers on Arielle for a moment.
The dragon's gaze wanders, for a moment, to rest curiously u-pon Arielle, before returning abruptly to Azuri'ith.
Very well then - does anyone here have anything to say to me?
Again her gaze for some reason lingers on Arielle for a moment.
Forgetting her fear in her desperation, Arielle breaks away from Djuhah and runs up to edge of the balcony.
"Please can I have the pieces of my mommy back?" she yells.