| Logs |
2001-03-11
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
"Cat Got Your Tongue?"
Ludmilla, Baroness Kerensky, organizes the second expedition within hours of her return to the palace. The tigress is unwilling to leave her monarch's side, but sends an entire battalion of troops to capture the camp, comb the area for additional surviving kidnappers, and escort some mages into the mines to determine what the surge of magic was. The prisoners aren't very helpful, being lower-echelon troopers who weren't allowed down there.
- Dunbarton Palace -- Blue Room
The Blue Room is aptly named. A dark blue wool carpet matches the draperies at the windows, while the furniture is a lighter blue, almost turquoise. The walls are covered with tapestries depicting underwater scenes. The cloth-covered walls and floor give the room a hushed ambience.
The next morning, after everyone has a chance to rest and recover (and get cleaned up), another council of war is held. The queen sits at the head of the table, with Morgana and Ludmilla flanking her. Rishali, Thorn, and the Starfallers are seated a little further down the table, while Katrina observes from the end opposite her sister.
Alex is terribly formal, but also keeping her anger tightly reined in. Every time she thinks about the utter gall of someone trying to kidnap her -- and worse, risk St. Genevieve people in the process! -- her hackles keep trying to rise. She looks grim and determined.
You see an emerald-eyed young vixen with fiery scarlet fur,
proud carriage, and a quietly thoughtful demeanor. She wears with calm
assurance high leather boots and dagged rust-colored breeches gathered
at the knee. There are hints of soft yellow hosen showing through the
multiple decorative dags and slashes, and an antique gold undertunic
glows similarly from within the wide, full sleeves of her gold-buttoned
and -embroidered, dashingly scarlet, rich velvet vest. About her neck
depends the gold crescent and tree medallion, on a green-and-green ribbon,
which signifies she is a Knight and Royal Companion of the Queen of
Maidstone. She wears her full feathered, rust velvet, rolled hat at an
angle, to best accent her two proudly-worn golden campaign earrings. Her
practical and obviously-used, heavy rapier depends from the same sturdy
leather belt she's tucked her gloves into.
Carroll is wearing his ship's uniform and looks as sharp and correct as ever, any signs of his recent time as a black-smudged fox scrubbed away with far too much hot water. He listens quietly to the discussion and sits at Alex's side, apparently calm, unlike his sister's anger.
The fox you're looking at, Carroll Waynewright St. Genevieve,
seems completely at ease in the uniform that denotes him Captain of a
ship. His vest, a rich scarlet velvet trimmed in gold and embroidered
with the family crest, covers a yellow undertunic. He wears a pair of
rust-colored breeches, which reveal soft yellow hose through their dags
and slashes. Completing the outfit is a feathered, rust velvet rolled hat,
which he wears with style and casual elegance. His russet fur seems to
glow with life; the white under his muzzle and the flash at the end of his
full tail standing out against the red-brown of his jacket and breeches,
which blend well with his own fur. He wears a brooch at his breast of
sparkling gold and a few tiny diamonds, the pentacle and sword both the
family's crest and note of his station. Gold cufflinks and watch-chain
gleam subtly from his sleeves and vest, while his rapier hangs at his
side.
Horatio remains quiet, holding both his frustration and relief within. There was a time when he hadn't thought the life of the noble's son would be quite so exciting. He realizes, though, that the St. Genevieve children had been thrust into extraordinary circumstances from the start, and that led to such a chain of events...! He listens introspectively, wondering in the back of his mind about the whole affair.
A bit shy of five and a half feet tall, Horatio is the
shortest of the St. Genevieve sons, and the youngest. He has some noble
fox features to him, though they certainly appear muted and subdued. He
wears the uniform of his family; a pair of russet breeches tucked into
a pair of high leather boots, folded down at his knees. Close across
his chest is an elegant scarlet vest, finely embroidered and buttoned
in gold but not expensively so. Beneath the vest he wears a pale yellow
undertunic, also modestly embroidered but still fitting for a noble's
son. Perched snugly and evenly atop his head is a rolled russet velvet
hat, and across his chest is the dull leathern strap to his ever-present
satchel. From his belt hangs his small-sword.
The queen looks coldly furious as well, her night of recovery having done nothing to make her happier about the whole affair. The tigress shows no outward sign of her feelings, except for the *twitch*twitch*twitch* of her tail. Alex asks politely, "So... in reference to the prisoners. Did they have any idea who they'd kidnapped, or why there were troops for a single kidnapping, or anything like that? Or even who their leader was?"
Ludmilla shakes her head. "A low-grade mercenary group, they were. The troopers were mainly furrs who'd been either unable to make the grade with the Guilds, or who'd been thrown out for one reason or another. Apparently, only their officers knew what was going on or who they were guarding... the bear that I killed was an officer; apparently they didn't trust the troops to guard their prisoner. Their captain is apparently still unaccounted for."
Alex nods, murmuring flatly, "Well, we won't be finding him." She goes silent... until they get to talk with Westmark and Carlos, she doesn't think there'll be any new information.
Carroll nods, "I'm not terribly surprised."
Horatio frowns slightly. "Odd... that lends credence to the idea that they didn't really expect anything to come from this; otherwise the Society would have had their own people there." Alex glances at Arianna, then borrows a piece of paper from Horatio to scribble a note for the queen. It says merely, 'what did the officers call you, please?' She's curious if even the officers knew who they guarded.
The tigress continues. "One thing that they all agreed on... the prisoner was turned over to them by a group of very dangerous furrs which included several exotic species for this part of the world... they went down into the mine and never came back up." Alex nods slowly... so, maybe her assumption about a magical people-mover was correct. Carroll looks impressed. Having just dealt with the mage-relay to get the note telling his father that 'Alex' was safe, and asking another little thing, he knows how much power that would take.
Horatio blinks, looking to Ludmilla. "So they didn't take an interest in defending the prisoner themselves, and instead went off to the mine. In fact, they bolted as soon as the flag went up. Odd... horribly odd...." Arianna jots something down on the paper and passes it back to Alex. 'No name at all. Just "hey, you" most of the time.' Alex nods slowly again, then makes sure her brothers see the note too. Interesting... so they didn't really know who they held. Carroll has an incongruous thought as his sister passes him the note, which makes him smile a tiny bit, but he keeps it to himself.
Ludmilla shakes her head again. "They left as soon as the kidnapping was done. They'd been gone for some time when we showed up."
Horatio frowns more deeply. "They either trusted the troops completely with the defense of the prisoner -- which seems incredibly foolhardy, considering the quality of the troops (you don't use substandard material as a catalyst in a reaction, after all) -- or they simply..." He blinks, "-didn't care about the prisoner once they kidnapped Alex."
Arianna shivers for a moment, then shakes off the mood. "Viscount Westmark will be here in a few hours. What do you suggest we do with him?"
Alex's face darkens for a moment -- then she just bites her tongue. No need to be rude. Carroll says, "Myself, I'd suggest that he be asked to wait for several hours. Then introduce him to the Queen and I. Only then should Alex and Ludmilla and Morgana enter, to silently show 'You're not here to collect.' We can then see how he reacts, and if he's fool enough to say anything, before or after."
"Watch him from the moment he sets foot on the grounds," Horatio murmurs.
Alex flicks a curious ear at Carroll, "Why not let Arianna ask him leading questions as well?" Horatio is still a bit disquieted regarding Westmark, but only taps his chin for the time being. Alex rolls her eyes in exasperation at herself, and amends, "Why not let her majesty ask him leading questions as well?"
Carroll smiles, "If Her Majesty wishes to do so, I think it entirely appropriate. On the other hand, I think that if Her Majesty wanted to have him spitted and roasted, that would be entirely appropriate as well."
Arianna nods. "I fully intend to give him enough rope to hang himself."
Alex says, "Might want to send for his daughter too?"
Morgana nods. "Easy enough; she's usually in town."
Horatio nods slowly, "If she isn't already with him when he arrives, yes. And, if I may be so bold... then watch her as well, and interview them both separately." Alex nods again.
Carroll asks, "Can his daughter be trusted? Does anyone know her that well?"
Alex abruptly asks, "Does he know how to fence?"
Ludmilla snorts. "Lady Vestmark is a fluff-brain. All she ever does is go to parties, or give them."
Morgana shakes her head. "'Milla, that's not her fault. Her father won't give her any responsibilities and she's bored out of her skull. Just because she doesn't spend all her spare time on the practice field doesn't mean she's a fluffbrain." The tigress grunts, her worldview apparently not including the concept of partying.
Carroll smiles quietly at Ludmilla's reaction, recognizing it as one of Alex's. Alex waits determinedly for a reply to her query. Ludmilla shrugs. "He should; he vas in the Navy vhen he vas younger."
Alex shifts slightly in her seat, checking by touch that her dueling gloves are still tucked neatly into the back of her sword-belt... right, there they are. Good. She nods firmly at Ludmilla's reply, "Thank you."
Carroll nods, "So, she may be competent? Does anyone know her well enough to know if she can be trusted?"
Alex glances at Ludmilla, "Um... may I ask a protocol question? Do you prefer dueling to first blood here, or to the death, or let the seconds arrange it... or something else entirely?" Horatio blinks, looking at Alex in surprise... but then his look of surprise disappears, replaced by one of grim understanding. Alex adds, "Oh -- and do you know anything about the fighting style of the Costa Yermo nobility? Hm... never mind, I can ask this later." She shuts up, folding her small paws neatly in front of her and waiting... she'll get her chance.
Ludmilla, Morgana, and the Queen look momentarily surprised by Alex's apparent non sequitur, but follow the reasoning quickly enough. So does Thorn, who looks appalled. "Sir Alex, surely you don't intend to challenge them both without proof?"
Alex glances at Thorn, "No, of course not, Mistress Thorn. I intend to wait and see how they comport themselves with the queen first."
Carroll says, "Presuming they admit it, she wishes to be prepared to challenge them on the spot."
Alex nods firmly, "Absolutely."
The doe looks less upset, but still wary. "I would think that a truth potion would be more useful than swordplay, though."
Alex smiles a bit grimly, "The swordplay will satisfy my own outrage, mistress. A potion cannot do that for me."
Horatio interjects quietly, "And he may have taken that poison which reacts to truth potions...."
Alex grins at Horatio, although it's almost more of a snarl than a smile, "And wouldn't that be a shame?" then adds politely, "But I will wait for you to administer a potion, if that would make you more comfortable, Mistress Thorn." She glances at the patiently-waiting Carroll, then looks back at the queen's end of the table, "So... is Westmark's daughter trustworthy, do you think, majesty?"
Thorn nods at that, then sighs. "True. Unpleasant thought... the potion made interrogations so much more civilized." Rishali interjects, "And a lot more dependable..."
Arianna has been pondering that question while the dueling question occupied the table. "I really don't know, Sir Alex. I've never spent enough time with her to have any idea."
Alex glances inquiringly at Morgana -- maybe she knows the girl better. Morgana shrugs. "She does go to -- and give -- a lot of parties. I have no idea if she has any talents beyond planning them, though, or if she even has any political opinions. I gather that she wants a bigger say in her family's business operations, but she's never said anything about political service one way or the other."
Carroll asks, "If Westmark confesses, then what will happen to his lands and title? Will he be stripped of them and his daughter appointed, or will they be entirely stripped and appointed to a new Viscount?"
Horatio taps his chin. "So for all we know, she could be trustworthy... or she still could have orchestrated at least part of this..."
Alex nods to Horatio, murmuring softly, "Yes... but ultimately the decision whether or not to trust the girl is up to the queen. Not us."
Horatio nods to Alex, his ear tips turning a little pink. "Oh, true, Alex, yes... my apologies..."
Alex smiles (perhaps the first smile for the day, which is unusual for Alex's usual sunny disposition) and pats her brother's paw lightly, "It's okay, Horry... if she minded us musing I'm sure she'd have said something." She grins again, squeezing his paw lightly, then looks back at the head of the table.
Arianna gets a very baleful look on her face. "If he's guilty, his estates will escheat to the Crown. High treason carries that penalty. I suppose..." She sighs as Morgana holds up a finger to interrupt, "I know. Grabbing that much land would upset the balance of power, and I'd have to find someone else to grant them to." The mouse nods. "Don't forget that, your majesty. Taking down one of the Great Houses could antagonize the others. Regardless of his crimes, best to let the title pass to his heir."
Carroll nods, listening. Alex blinks at the mouse, opening her mouth -- then remembers her own warning to her brother and shuts it firmly. Ludmilla growls, "If his heir is in trut' innocent. Who is next in line after Lucrezia?"
Morgana frowns. "A cousin. Baron Fastberg."
Alex watches silently, but with great interest. In fact, she takes mental notes... so this is how the halls of power are administered. Not how she'd have done it... but okay. There's a reason she's not the queen. Horatio perks his ears slightly. This is a name he hasn't heard yet. Arianna frowns. "I remember him from the Birthday ceremonies. Any reason to suspect him of being involved?"
Morgana shrugs. "He avoids Westmark at things like that. Either he's a very good dissembler, or he thinks his cousin is a loon."
Carroll asks, "Would a Royal appointment of an outsider who seemed to deserve such rewards be taken better than a distant cousin?"
Arianna grimaces. "Normally, yes. But for a Great House? Any interference in normal inheritance rules by the Crown would be taken as a bid to put a lackey in place."
Horatio blinks, looking at Carroll. "Who?" he blurts out, then blinks and sinks into his chair, abashed. Alex grins at her impetuous brother.
Carroll shrugs and says to his brother, "I honestly don't know the local area well enough to suggest. My first thought was Baroness-Captain Winthrop, but I doubt she would be well-accepted."
Alex thinks about that, then nods slowly, "It would make a firm and unrelenting enemy of the daughter, certainly." She glances at the queen, then finally asks the question that's been bugging her, "Um... why don't you put her in that position -- the daughter, I mean -- but let her sweat it some first?"
Carroll nods again, and says, "Hopefully his daughter will be acceptable as the appointment then."
Arianna nods. "I intend to, as long as she's not involved. To be honest, I'd think that her competence is not at issue... if she's not, so much the better, right?"
Carroll asks Alex, "Put the daughter in which position?" Horatio's ears flicker slightly. It was so much simpler when we were opposing Pravinchandra, he thinks. He nods quietly to Alex, thoughtful.
Alex listens to the queen... then looks at her eldest brother, "Put her in her father's position -- as head of the Westmark estates. What her father did is truly terrible... but if the truth potions show she wasn't involved, then let her worry for a while that she won't get the estates... but eventually, when she'll be really grateful... make her the new Viscount. I mean, it's not like the queen has to announce instantly who his heir is. She could even say she needs to think about it for a few days, considering the magnitude of his offense."
Carroll nods, "That would take an unknown and make them a strong ally. Good thinking, Alex."
Alex adds dryly, "It's not like Cornelius has endeared himself to his immediate family, after all..."
Carroll comments, "Or to anyone else he's met, it seems." Alex smiles grimly again.
Horatio says, "I hate to make mention of this now, but... before it becomes difficult later, we should take into account that she may have, wittingly or not, been given that selfsame poison which reacts to truth-potion -- the 'truth-poison.' And if truth potions were to be applied, there should be plenty of witnesses. Forgive me, your Majesty, but the death of Viscount Westmark and his daughter, in the palace, apparently of poison, no matter what the full truth is, could be used against you." Alex glances at the queen, nodding. Excellent point from Horatio.
Morgana looks at Horatio, frankly surprised by the accuracy of the observation from the usually politically naive alchemist. "Very good point. Mistress Thorn?"
Carroll asks Mistress Thorn, "Can we detect the truth-poison before it kills someone?"
Thorn looks a bit nonplussed at that. "It would certainly be possible if I had a sample to work with. Just guessing at it would be... difficult."
Horatio sinks a little more into his seat, feeling vaguely disturbed. Politics isn't supposed to be my strong point, he thinks. Ugh... I feel like I'm covered in sod for even being able to think such a thing. Alex suggests, "Have the questioning be public, and in an official, neutral place? -like, maybe the mages' guild?" She glances at the queen. Hopefully she's made her decision, and they can move on to actually meeting with these reprehensible folks. She admits to feeling a certain excitement at the incipient duels... hopefully Dimitri's training will stand her in good stead.
Thorn sinks into a reverie, working through the problem in her mind as the conversation continues... Carroll murrs, "Or, perhaps with the other Dukes present to verify nothing dodgy goes on."
Alex nods to Carroll, "Right. Public, as I said."
Ludmilla nods. "Give same potion to someone else first, to make sure there is no poison in the actual potion, nyet?"
Horatio himself is not horribly enthused by the thought of Alex going against the ones responsible in a duel. Presumably a duel is fair -- these... people have shown themselves that they can't be trusted to be fair. Alex would have to watch herself carefully for any sneaky tricks. But he wouldn't dare say that to her, since she probably already thought that, and she doesn't need her brother to be a mother hen... heck with it, he'll mention it to her later anyway, if duels are to happen. Carroll says, "I expect that would be safeguard enough. When can we put this into action? I must admit some interesting in seeing the look on Westmark's face." Horatio looks up at Ludmilla's comment, and nods in agreement. Elements forgive me, but... I do admit to wanting to see this resolved, and quickly. Almost, at least, as much as I looked forward to seeing Pravinchandra's face when he saw Father.
- Westmark duly arrives at the palace, and Arianna meets with
him after only a short delay. As it turns out, she decides that she
wants to find out as soon as possible. The audience takes place in
one of the smaller formal settings, with Arianna, Morgana, Ludmilla,
and only a few guards present. The St. Genevieves watch and listen from
concealment behind a slightly opened side door.
The cougar sweeps in, once again wearing one of his fancifully outdated costumes. He bows formally. "Your majesty. How may I serve you?"
Carroll listens from concealment, quietly, ears perked. Alex's ears look like they can't make up their mind whether to be perked intently up -- or flattened in anger... but she's silent, watching regardless. Horatio's ears flicker slightly, keeping them perked. His hand seems to drift somewhere between the flap to his satchel and his sword, until he finally just clasps his hands together patiently.
Arianna waves him to a seat. "Your Excellency, you have been, shall we say, strongly recommended to me as a new Prime Minister. Would you be willing to serve in such a post?"
The cougar looks pleased, but puzzled. "Certainly, your majesty, if that is your desire. We of the Great Houses have the kingdom's interests at heart, and the experience in governing that should be utilized for the good of all. May I ask who recommended me?" His gaze flickers to Morgana, looking suspicious.
Horatio frowns slightly, listening. This doesn't sound right. Something's wrong, very wrong.... Alex gently reaches to both brothers' ears, whispering, "Guys... what if they're both innocent?"
Horatio replies equally softly, holding the ear Alex has very, very still, "Then they were scapegoats... and we look towards Don Carlos for our next lead?" Alex shakes her head slowly, fascinated... could this whole thing have been a setup -- for both men?
Carroll whispers back as silently as he can, "Then they'll have to understand they've been used, and all stays as it is." Alex nods gravely to her brother. She's definitely going to have to wait until after the truth potions, she thinks.
Arianna produces the note, handing it to one of the guards to hand to the cougar. "We were hoping you could tell us, your Excellency." Westmark reads through it, his expression growing more and more appalled. "This... this is monstrous, your majesty! I could not, in conscience, accept any office under such a travesty of coercion. If you wish me to remain here to appear to comply with these... these... requests, I shall of course be glad to do so." He looks up from the note, his muzzle and ears paling as he reaches the end. "Them???"
Alex's eyes widen and she breathes, "Well, well, well... guess who knows who the signature is for..."
Carroll nods, whispering back, "Wonder how he knows them. I expect Her Majesty will ask."
Ludmilla's tail begins a regular *twitch*twitch* behind her. "You recognize it, your Excellency?"
Horatio blinks, almost straightening in shock. "Ambassador Rishali knew them as well," he says softly. "Even so... I'm not expert, but that didn't sound much like acting... I imagine the queen might ask him to quaff a truth potion."
Alex nods quietly to Horatio, "I sure hope so... if for no other reason than to finally clear or condemn the man." Horatio nods soberly to Alex... then glances ironically towards the doorway.
Westmark looks nervous. "I do, Baroness. From many years ago, when I was young and foolish. You are aware of the significance?"
The tigress growls, deep in her throat. "Oh, yes. Is much better known in my homeland."
Alex raises an eyebrow. Years ago... this doesn't sound good for the poor guy not being involved in the old king's death... he's almost screwed himself over enough, she thinks wryly, that he'd better offer to take the truth potion himself. Carroll remains quiet, listening, waiting. Horatio reconsiders. Young and foolish... well, he was in the Navy, and in his defense he might have found out about them while he was there... but....
The cougar nods to the tigress, turning his attention back to the queen. "Very dangerous people, they are. Your majesty, have you any idea if they are serious about this ransom, or do they mean this as a warning?"
Alex blinks. A warning?! He's suggesting my kidnapping and possible death should be considered just a warning?! She covers her mouth, trying to stifle the low growl that wants to bubble up in her throat. Arianna motions the St. Genevieves into the room. "Fortunately, I don't actually have to worry about that problem."
Carroll puts his hand on Alex's elbow, and leads her into the room, hoping that Horatio will catch the cue and follow. Alex stalks in, her hackles up, and growls, "A warning?! That's all you have to say for yourself?!" Horatio cringes a bit as Alex stalks into the room, and follows along quietly behind Carroll and his irate, fuming sister. Carroll squeezes his sister's arm once and not even too hard hoping to remind her to be calm, and says, "I admit, I find the probable killing of my sister rather an unpleasant 'warning'."
Westmark backs off as Alex stalks into the room, noting the fire in her eyes and also that she's armed -- and he isn't. "Sir Alex! I meant no insult. Merely that the fact that they could kidnap someone of your current prominence means that they could perhaps penetrate the queen's security if they so chose."
Alex snarls at Westmark, "Maybe you should clarify that statement -- and volunteer for a truth potion!" She pauses a heartbeat, then growls, "Or are you afraid they've given you the anti-truth potion drink -- like they do for those that are high in their ranks!"
Carroll asks, "Are you suggesting they didn't intend to follow through on these plans?" He squeezes Alex's arm again, then says, "I hate to suggest this, Excellency, but we have had a couple of things, such as the demand for your assuming the Prime Ministership and the location of where Alex was being held, which led us to fear you were involved with this despicable plan."
The cougar looks indignant for a moment, starting to respond, "Of course I will take a potion to clear my name of such a..." He stops as the vixen continues. "A what?"
Horatio blinks, looking to Alex. He's seen her angry like this a few times. Only a few. He ponders that one of the wall-cracker concoctions made by one of the Academy's masters might cause less damage to the people in the room than Alex when she's like this. "Alex," he says, quietly and worriedly, so only she can hear, "Guilty or not, for the time being he's still a viscount...."
Alex folds her arms, her ears still well back, and turns to the queen, "You heard him, your majesty. He volunteered." She's angry enough, still, to let him worry about what precisely she just said.
Carroll says, to the older cougar, "As you can see, Alexandra is rather unsurprisingly upset by this whole situation. Please consider how you would feel when meeting someone who was quite possibly responsible for kidnapping, ransoming, and threatening to kill you." He pauses, hoping he can lower the tension in the room a moment, and then adds, "As to the potion my sister mentioned, we have seen one case where someone who may have been able to give damning information died when the truth-potion was administered. The alchemists feel they had been given a potion in advance. We know little about it at this point."
The cougar is still staring at Alex. "An anti-truth potion drink? I didn't know such a thing was possible. How do you tell if someone is telling the truth, then?"
Horatio says flatly. "You don't."
Alex stares hard at the viscount, her hackles still raised, "Tough question, isn't it?" Her gaze is still angrily challenging... but she's politely careful to keep her hands away from her sword.
The cougar looks positively gray. "It causes death? But..." He shuts up, then.
Carroll smiles serenely at the Viscount, watching the jaws of the trap close about him. He says, "However, we've only seen one case of this. I expect you have nothing to fear, and once this is resolved we will know the Queen can depend upon you, despite this slanderous use of your name."
Horatio glances sideways to Carroll, and leans a little towards him, whispering, "Very nicely done, Carroll, as smooth as Starfall silk."
"We're quite keen," the eldest fox adds, "-on finding out who has done this."
The cougar slumps back into his seat, seemingly oblivious to the foxes. "Death....?"
Alex stands next to her eldest brother, arms still folded and her cold-eyed gaze unflinching. "Maybe it's just... a warning..."
Carroll clears his throat, and asks, "Is there a problem, Excellency?" He thinks, Have we given you enough rope yet, old man?
Horatio blinks, glancing towards Westmark. That's odd... why is he obsessed about that? "Excellency..." he says gently, "-if you know something, anything at all... now, in the privacy of these rooms, is the time to say it."
The cougar starts laughing, half-manic. "Of course... it protects against the truth potions. What other protection would an assassin choose?" He continues laughing, hysterically, until Ludmilla finally steps forward and backhands him. "Chornye dirka..."
Alex shakes her head disgustedly, glancing at her brothers, "Sounds like they talked him into taking one." She looks irritated momentarily that it didn't occur to her to backhand the viscount first... but she just waits. She'll get her revenge soon enough... especially if he's taken the potion.
Carroll asks Westmark, "Did someone offer you a potion and not tell you how it worked, Viscount?" Horatio just blinks. He lost it? He couldn't have. It wasn't that great a shock. Or was it? Maybe Alex is right, and they did get to him? Oh, Fire and Essence! That must be it.
The cougar pulls himself together. "Oh, they told the truth. Assassins have their own code of ethics, after all... it protects against the effect of the truth potion, they said. But... Sir Alexandra, why are you here? They were supposed to take you through the gate... I saw you when they brought you in..."
Horatio blinks, glancing at his siblings. Through the gate...? Gate! Could that have been what was in the mountain that Alex was so nervous about? Alex's eyes widen -- and then, in two or three bounding steps, she's in front of the cougar, her reinforced dueling glove out of her belt and in her hand. She yells, "You pig!" as she slams the glove across his face as hard as she can!
Carroll lets his sister's explosion finish and then nods, smiling, "The best lies are half-truths, I fear, Viscount. How she is here should be obvious; we rescued her. Did you expect us not to try?" He then asks, "Can you tell us where they were going to take her?"
Horatio winces, then leans up to Carroll and says quietly, "They might try to silence him, once they realize we might not force-feed him a potion." He also considers: if they controlled a gate in the mountain -- assuming this is what he thinks it is -- then they may have immediately noticed that the queen wasn't Alex. Oh, by the Elements! We are so lucky they didn't try to find out who she really was!
"Oh, we expected you to try... they were supposed to take you through the Gate... no way to rescue you easily from the other side..." The Viscount hardly seems to notice the blow from Alex's glove, or the blood that drips down his muzzle where the metal caught him.
Horatio starts to feel a little panicked now. A bloody gate... no wonder they could lob as much magic as they did when they kidnapped her! "What's on the other side of the gate?"
Alex turns towards the queen and snarls, low and clear, "When you're finished questioning this -- this impertinent, cowardly miscreant -- I demand satisfaction!"
Westmark looks up. "On the other side? Bharat. Somewhere... I didn't go through myself..."
Alex looks over in sudden alertness, "When. When were they supposed to take me through?" Horatio doesn't mention that the gate may have... er, imploded, or exploded, or disappeared, or whatever it was. He holds his tongue, not quite feeling ready to as 'why.'
Ludmilla's tail is twitching continuously now, but it is the queen who answers, coldly. "Sir Alex... I doubt that there will be enough left of him when we are finished to give you any proper vengeance."
Carroll asks, "If I may ask, sir, what ever did you hope to gain with this outrageous plan?"
Westmark shakes his head. "They were supposed to take you through the next morning... as soon as you got there..."
Horatio considers. But they didn't... which means... they probably knew that they didn't have Alex! Unless I'm missing something.... Alex glances at the queen, her hackles starting to lower... then back over at the babbling cougar. She stares at him silently for several minutes... then looks back at the queen, "I fear you are correct." She doesn't sound sorry... more disgusted. She stares at the cougar coldly, silently watching him as he keeps babbling, her thoughts racing. They're definitely going to need to discuss this later... this is very anomalous. Carroll is still trying to get information from the cougar, before someone decides they've had enough and Westmark, like Pravinchandra, winds up dead. He doesn't remind the others in the room of that little leak.
The cougar looks up at Carroll. "But it was such a perfect plan... I would be under suspicion, of course, but the potion should have protected me... leaving me in a position to gain control of Maidstone and, even without Pravinchandra, the League...."
Horatio blinks, his ears perking sharply. "Pravinchandra?!" By all Fire, Air, Earth, Water, and Quintessence! He was in league with Pravinchandra!
Carroll smiles, "Perhaps, Cornelius, you would do us the favor of starting at the beginning and telling us everything you know." He doesn't care if the man notices Carroll no longer feels him worth of a title. Alex glances abruptly at the guards at mention of Pravinchandra, still listening intently. She wonders if her supposition that the assassins can somehow change their shape is correct... and she quietly and discreetly slips a dagger into her small paw, in case she needs it.
Westmark looks up at that. "And what is my reward for cooperation, eh? Life imprisonment at best? I didn't want to be killed; that's why I agreed to cooperate with them so many years ago. If I am to die after all, I will do it on my own terms."
Horatio listens as Westmark speaks, sighing softly. Pravinchandra. Westmark, now. Will this nightmare ever end? Then he sees it, as Westmark moves his hand to wipe the blood from his mouth. "Alex! He's trying to take something, stop-!" Although confident in his sister's abilities, he bounds forward out of reflex, reaching across too far a space to keep the small object in Westmark's hand from entering the old viscount's mouth...
Alex whips around at Horatio's yell, dagger already in her hand as she whirls. The dagger's pommel comes up hard, impacting with a sharp crack! against the cougar's wrist, almost drowning out Alex's furiously barked, "Bastard!" She slaps her free, following paw hard against the taller cougar's paw, making sure nothing can slip accidentally into his mouth. Her fury is such that even as he recoils from her double blow, she's already bringing her free hand back, in a sharp backhand against his face. "Coward! -for once in your life, keep your oath of fealty!" A small white pill skitters across the floor, Westmark trying to scramble after it until Alex's blows slam him back into his chair. He snarls at her and tries to get up again, until Ludmilla arrives. "Nyet!"
Horatio stops short in his headlong dive, and moves to retrieve the pill that falls from the cougar's hand, pulling a pair of gloves from his satchel and pulling them on. "Poison, probably," he notes, squinting at the pill and not noticing the multiple barrages of fisticuffs against the desperate, by now probably rather crazed man. He picks it up carefully, already rummaging in his pack for a vial or something to put it in.
Carroll steps up to the quite-pinned former-Viscount, and says very quietly to him (perhaps because he's that angry, and perhaps because he doesn't want the Queen to hear), "While I'm certain that the Queen has people who are quite skilled at this on her staff, perhaps she will let me ask you the questions myself. People always do a better job when they're motivated, don't you agree? Perhaps you'd appreciate that, too. If you answer my questions, I can promise you a swift death, with some dignity. If you don't of course, I'd probably let you live. Crippled, half-blinded, muted, and sold into slavery in a foreign country, yes, but you'd get to live." He smiles a little and adds, "I just spent some time near a place where they still practice slavery. Don't think I wouldn't do it, either." He steps back, looking coldly at the cougar, adding, "It might make up for how you've treated people I care for, and those who you were supposed to be responsible for." Alex fumes silently at the Viscount, standing at Carroll's elbow... but keeps her mouth shut. She's quite capable of playing heavy to his calm reasonableness... and she'd love a chance to skewer the cougar.
Westmark glares at the others in the room. "I think not. Execution after a trial, you can do. Torture and mutilation and slavery are against the law, especially for the nobility." He looks defiant.
Alex turns to the queen and with wicked calm says, "Your majesty... don't you get to say if someone's nobility or not?"
Carroll shrugs, and counters, "So is treason," leaving it at that. The Queen can decide what to do with him at this point.
Arianna sighs. "Tempting as it might be, Sir Alex... not in that manner. The laws are in place, and must be followed."
Horatio has finished placing the pill into a small vial, for later examination. He turns back to his siblings, having missed most of the interchange, and looks up to Arianna respectfully as she speaks. Carroll doesn't look disappointed. Instead he offers, "Perhaps Mistress Thorn can come up with a counter to the poison, and he can take the truth potion as he volunteered to do." He adds casually, "Worst case, it kills him."
Alex smiles, "Then he sounds rational enough to me, for me to get my satisfaction from him. May Carroll decide what weapons we'll be using?" Internally she wonders if it would be too terribly tacky for her to pincushion the cougar repeatedly...
The queen looks at Westmark as if he were a particularly disgusting cockroach. "Still, I suppose I could be merciful, and lock him up in a dungeon for the rest of his life instead."
Alex looks curious, "Why should you be merciful, your majesty? From the sound of it he's responsible for far more than just my kidnapping."
Arianna grins, a rather feral expression. "A merciful twenty years in a dank, unlighted, unheated cell with slops for food, until he finally dies of old age?"
Alex glances thoughtfully at the cougar, then shakes her head, "It is your decision, majesty." She tucks her dagger away... pity. She would have liked to do... more, somehow.
"If I may, your Majesty," Horatio says quietly, "-if he goes to prison, in fact if he steps out in public after this day, he will not last until sunset. The Society will get him for certain, and he will be dead. On the other hand...." Horatio thinks for a moment, then perks his ears slowly. "On the other hand... I cannot imagine that Mistress Thorn would not be able to find traces of the truth-poison within him, and therefore find an antidote."
Carroll casually asks Westmark, "So, how did your daughter help you with these disgusting plans?"
Westmark blinks. "My daughter? Why would I have involved a female in my plans? Now, if my wife had managed to give me a son..."
Alex bristles slightly, then murmurs, "Pity we can't extradite him to his precious empire... they have slavery there..."
Horatio winces, and looks away, not wanting to see what Alex is going to do to him for that comment. Carroll says, "Bigot," to Westmark, and then looks at the Queen, "I'm done with him, your Majesty."
The queen nods. "I think we all are, for the time being." She nods to the wolf sergeant in charge of the guard squad. "Take him down to the cells, please. I don't wish to have to look at him any more."
Alex doesn't bother watching Westmark leave. She's just sorry the queen didn't get confirmation of the attacks on her father, the old king. Although it's a good bet the cougar was indeed guilty of them, it's nice to know things like that for sure. She sighs... this was, unhappily, rather unsatisfying. She hopes she can at least find out more from the interrogation of Don Carlos. Horatio lets out a breath, stepping back. That, unfortunately, he thinks morosely, will be the last we ever see of him. He sighs softly, stepping beside Carroll. "Not that it matters in general," he says mildly, "-but as soon as the Society discovers what's happened, he will be very much, and rather irreversibly, dead."
Carroll nods, "This is probably quite true, Horatio. My worry is more about who else might wind up dead. To get in and kill him, they have to come through here -- and why not remove two problems with one assassin?"
Horatio says, "Or two problems with several assassins. We still don't know how close Westmark was to them, and thus how badly they'll want to kill him."
Ludmilla shrugs. "Is not easy for them to get in here, after all, or they would have gone for queen instead of her friend. Am not sure they'll get in that easily."
Alex murmurs quietly, so that those 'not in the know' can't hear, "Why didn't they take the queen when they had her?"
Carroll worries, "If they decide the time for finesse is over, having been so clearly exposed, they may change their minds. I don't know." He only shrugs at Alex, murmuring, "I can't even guess."
Alex says, "Either they lied to Westmark... or there was some weird change in plan for some reason... or they knew it was the queen. I can't think of any other reason. Unless... unless there was some problem with the gate?"
Horatio lets out a breath. "That's one of the things worrying me, Alex, and it's worrying me badly." He makes very certain his voice can only be heard by her and those 'in the know.' "They knew at least as soon as they got to the camp that their prisoner was not you, to the point where they left immediately and didn't bother taking 'you' with them. That means either they didn't know who they had but they knew it wasn't you. Or they knew it was the queen, and didn't want to kidnap her."
Carroll suggests, "They took her clothes. Perhaps there was a double-cross on the part of the mercenaries."
Horatio shakes his head quietly. "There didn't seem to be any problem with the gate. Remember, the prisoners said the assassins went into the mine after they delivered... you, and didn't come back out."
Alex says, "No, hold on, Horry... let's not assume that. We don't know that for sure. After all... even if they knew it was the queen, it makes perfect sense to take her -- that'd destabilize Maidstone for sure!"
Morgana shrugs. "If they knew they had the queen, why wouldn't they just give her a potion of some kind, or put a spell on her? I don't think they knew. It may have not been intended as a serious kidnapping, either... they may have decided to set Westmark up..."
Alex nods to Morgana, "That could be... and they just lied to him."
Carroll murrs, "Or only told him the half of the truth he wanted to hear."
Arianna smiles, another sharp-edged one. "A very effective way of lying to people, that is."
Horatio says, "A good point, Alex. So they probably didn't know it was the queen. And perhaps they were waiting for next week, when someone who could tell who it was would be there."
Alex hms... "Could the assassins have been staying in the mine while someone worked on it because the gate was messed up or something? It seems quite coincidental that they'd magic-flash the gate just as we were leaving, after all... actually, I'd have to say that at this point further speculation is just that -- speculation. Until we get more data from the mages we're just making things up." She sighs, adding, "Maybe we'll be lucky, and the mages can also figure out what the killer potion is from West- er, from Cornelius..."
Carroll counters, "Westmark said otherwise. I would guess he's as confused as we are to why she was still there." He nods, "Yes, if we could make an antidote, that would be quite useful."
Alex nods quietly... then glances at the queen, "So... when does Don Carlos get brought in? Sooner the better, I'm thinking." She sounds quietly grim.
Horatio says, "You're right, Alex. I probably shouldn't assume that everything on their end went according to plan." He taps his chin. "That leaves as our most immediate lead, however... Don Carlos." He shakes his head. "I still can't believe they were so blasted obvious. They would have had to have known that these two would fall into suspicion as soon as we got the letter. Unless... they're cleaning house, and chose this way..."