| Logs |
2001-04-29
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
"Cry Havoc!"
Costa Yermo Embassy -- Grand Ballroom
A bright and cheerful
room, with white stucco walls up to the heavy wooden beams that support
the ceiling nearly two stories above. The musicians are seated on a
balcony to one side of the room, out of the way of the dancers, while
another balcony opposite them is available for quiet talks. A buffet table
is set up under the musician's balcony and a bar under the other, while
most of the beautifully inlaid parquet floor is available for dancing
and conversation. Magelight chandeliers keep the room well lit.
The
furnishings are expensive and elaborate, but in a style that minimizes the
amount of wood used for each. Coats of arms and tapestries with desert
and mountain scenes hang from the walls. The festive atmosphere of the
important guests is marred only by the dark presence of the embassy's
staff Inquisitor, a black-uniformed coati.
The dance floor is crowded for this dance, the samba being energetic enough to be appealing without requiring the skill level of the tango. Alex is on the sidelines at the moment while Don Carlos mingles with others who are not dancing. At one point he is approached by Colonel Rivera and has a brief but apparently sharp exchange with him. Alex watches with quiet, alert interest, wondering if the poor ambassador is going to be shanghaied into planting eavesdropping needles again... she keeps an eye out for a hand-off, if so. She wonders also what the magic mirror does, eyeing it curiously at some point.
The Inquisitor disappears into the kitchens after this exchange, and Don Carlos drifts back toward Alex. The young vixen raises a thoughtful eyebrow at the don, checking his general demeanor for clues. The coyote is muttering under his breath, "...idiotic son of a camel. May his fleas carry him off..." He shakes his head as he gets closer to Alex. "He ees paranoid, I think. As well as stupeed."
Horatio thoroughly enjoys the dance with Jessie, whirling with her in the dance, grateful for the fact that skill in dancing is not quite as important as simply energy and vivaciousness; he still tries to avoid stepping on her feet though. Out of the corner of his eye he manages to catch the Inquisitor talking with Don Carlos briefly, then moving to the kitchen, but he doesn't dare look too closely; the dance is thoroughly engrossing and a moment's inattention could draw far too much attention to Jessie and he.
Alex grins curiously, "What's a camel? Was my teasing him during the dance too much for him?"
Carlos blinks. "A camel? A dirty and smelly creature of the desert, accordeeng to legend. No, thees was sometheeng different. He was accusing me of hireeng new servants without cleareeng it with heem. I haven't been involved in that side of the embassy since he got here."
Alex nods slowly, thinking... then says with sudden, quiet sharpness, "New servants?! Where?" She looks around, then slides an arm through his, walking with firm but not hasty deliberateness towards the cloakroom, where her weapons are. As she does so she murmurs to the don, "I sure hope you're right and he's just paranoid... but when stuff like that happened around my family, it meant Pravinchandra was moving in on us!"
Carlos follows, for an instant quite surprised at Alex initiating contact that way -- until his brain catches up and processes the implications. "Caramba. You theenk..." He pats her hand, then disengages, going toward a guarded door. "I shall be right back, Sir Alex."
Alex nods to the ambassador, then pauses just long enough to see where her siblings are... she catches the eyes of her brothers, one after the other, and makes small gestures to indicate they should all meet after the dance over by ambassador Rishali. Then she turns and heads more swiftly for the cloakroom... weapons and Rishali's magic may both be necessary to get the queen safely out of here.
Horatio catches Alex's gesture and frowns slightly, unable to hide his expression of subtle concentration. As he bows to Jessie after the dance ends, he whispers to her, "Something's wrong. Let's head over to Alex..." Inside, he's shivering. Whatever it is, please, Elements, let us have enough time...
Carroll murmurs to Arianna, "Alex is trying to get my attention. We should talk to her after the dance ends." The dance carries he and his partner around the floor, and he begins to maneuver a little more carefully, so that he'll be nearer where Alex wants to meet, adding, "I wonder if something is up."
Alex hastily gathers up all the family weapons and satchels, putting them into Carroll's cloak (as the largest one), then wrapping it neatly up in her arms. She smiles and shoos the cloak-room attendant away, heading hastily out, so she'll be able to walk with her most smooth and calm pace towards Rishali... no troubles here, indeed not!
Jessie nods and begins moving in that direction as the music ends. Horatio considers as he walks with Jessie. Oh, blast... I almost forgot. The queen! Ludmilla's going to roast us alive if something happens. Please let this be nothing... but just in case... Element of Air, lend me clarity of thought. Element of Fire, lend me vigor of spirit...
Alex's actions have attracted the attention of not only the cloakroom attendant, who is hovering ineffectually, but one of the guards as well, who starts to move towards them to find out what is wrong. Alex smiles at the guard, and firmly says, "I believe Don Carlos is in the kitchen, and is looking for guards."
The guard, a burly cougar, nods and starts to turn, then realizes what Alex is carrying. "Milady... you can't bring that into the party."
Alex doesn't slow down at all -- she's nobility and this is 'merely' one of the guards. She snaps, "Don't be ridiculous... did you really think I'd try this if it weren't by the don's permission?" She sweeps out.
Carroll says, "Stay with me," to Arianna, then breaks out of the dance, striding across the floor to where his sister and the guard are, with his full noble-in-motion stance. When he gets close enough not to have to shout at the guard, he asks, "May I ask just what is going on here?" He is looking straight past his sister and at the guard. Everything about him suggests he expects an answer. Now.
Alex has brushed past the guard, whose face sets as he begins to draw his sword. He freezes for a moment in mid-action as Carroll bears down on them, then yells something in a language no one recognizes and finishes the action. The room erupts in turmoil as several of the guards and a few of the waiters pull weapons and attack various guests.
Alex rolls her eyes -- didn't make it in time -- and just stops, dropping the cloak at her feet. She tosses a sword towards her eldest brother, "Carroll!" then shouts, "St. Genevieve! To me!" and puts her back to the wall, drawing her own sword. She glances around, dagger in her free hand, seeing if there's anyone she can aid instantly. Horatio blinks at the sudden commotion, and hesitates for just a moment. Then Alex's call rings out, and he glances to Jessie worriedly. Trusting her to know the urgency of the situation, he begins to move towards Alex hurriedly.
Alex blinks as the cougar heads for her... then smiles grimly, and flings the dagger (with some magical 'oomph' added) directly at the cougar -- let him have a little of his own back. Carroll reaches inside his jacket, pulls out one of his four daggers, and throws it at the guard who has just called out and is closest to Alex, saying, "Rana! Get to Alex. She has our weapons."
The cougar goes down, his dress uniform not being proof against sharp steel -- he was not expecting his victims to be able to fight back effectively. The rest of the room is a mad scramble, with some guards fighting other guards, and several guests already down. The guard at the door Don Carlos went through has vanished, and that door is hanging open. Alex gives the door a worried glance, but first things first -- bow and arrows to Jessie, satchel to Horatio. There's a sword by Carroll for Rana... she's got daggers... okay, how's Rishali?
Ambassador Rishali is a blaze of magical energy to Alex's vision, and even the non-mages can easily see her flinging bolts of light around the room. Two assassins, a waiter and a guard, already lie at her feet. Carroll catches the sword Alex has thrown at him with his free hand, and copes with getting it put back on quickly. He makes sure Rana has hers, and asks her, "Do you have a way to reach help? Your staff would be quite handy at the moment." He adds grinning, "Although, when she's done here, I think she's going to kill me."
The cloakroom attendant has vanished, probably cowering in the back of her room, and a few other guests are moving to retrieve their weapons. Arianna nods. "I doubt that they're actually after me, but let's not take chances. I'll stick with you until help arrives."
Alex nods to herself. All right... looks like things are balancing out here -- the attackers didn't expect guests that could take care of themselves. However, she's going to bet that the front is heavily guarded... so hm... hmm... back doors, hmm... she glances at the door hanging open, then calls to Carroll, "Out the back, Carya?" Horatio retrieves his satchel from Alex, dropping the strap across his chest, and looking around quickly, keeping his back only to his siblings, Jessie, and Arianna.
Carroll nods, "Yes, let's try that way. What happened to Don Carlos? He might need help." Looking around he adds, "Where's that Inquisitor? Was he surprised by this too?"
Alex grins with almost feral glee at her siblings, but politely doesn't say, isn't this FUN? Let's do it again!, since she knows how it makes Carroll's tail hink up when she does that. She just nods, putting herself at point, "Yes, he was, and Carlos went this way. Jessie, can you cover our rear? Let's go, guys!" and heads for the door. Alex pauses only long enough to untie her skirts, then whirl them neatly into a bundle around her left arm, for makeshift protection. She grins, wondering what the poor Don will think if he sees her -- then smiles, shaking her head and doing a roll through the door.
Jessie strings her bow and slings her quiver over her party dress. "Yup, let's go." She sends an arrow into a guard fighting with Duchess White Haven, who seems to have had a dagger somewhere on her person. Horatio moves quickly, following his other siblings, remaining only just ahead of Jessie, glancing between covering her and looking ahead. His heart pounds heavily. So much for nothing happening! What next, what next... I hope Don Carlos is all right. He blinks in surprise at that thought, then shakes his head, making a mental note to worry about it later.
The first room beyond the door seems to be an office. Another door stands open on the far side, and the sounds of a duel can be heard through it. Alex nods to the others, then simply 'shoves' the door open with a magical slam of her small paw. Then she darts into the room, putting her back to a wall so she can see what's up, and who's dueling whom. Carroll follows his sister in through the first door, and barely slows when the room seems quiet. He says, "More fighting," and follows Alex, moving to the other side of the door, sword and a dagger ready.
The room behind the office seems to be private quarters of some sort, and the duel is between the missing 'guard' and Don Carlos himself. The coyote is bleeding slightly from a slash to his left arm, but is holding his own for the moment. His opponent shifts as the door slams back, trying to watch the new arrival and the Don at the same time. Alex straightens, and barks firmly, "Surrender, knave, or die!"
Arianna follows Carroll, her sword held competently if not expertly. The ersatz guard shouts that same phrase again, and tries one last swing at the Don, connecting this time. Alex instantly 'shoves' her dagger hard at the guardsman, coordinating with her eldest brother. Carroll also throws his dagger, and cries, "Horatio! Have you got any healing?" The assailant goes down, but his last act is to shove his sword brutally into the coyote's chest. Don Carlos falls, bleeding profusely, his muzzle and ears going pale with shock. Alex is, unfortunately, momentarily flustered at the accuracy of the strike at the poor don -- and although her dagger flies true, her coordination with her brother is shot!
Horatio, from behind Arianna, only sees his sister dash in, her challenge, and his brother's call. He moves forward quickly, one hand going into his satchel to find one of the healing potions, trying to move quickly past Arianna. "Excuse me," he murmurs quickly and hurriedly.
Carroll runs forward, pulling the guard off of the fallen Don and cursing loudly. He does what he can for him, and says, "Horatio, can you help here?" Alex shouts, "NO!" and dashes in, putting her sword by her side to kneel by the don. She's not fantastic at healing, but she'll help her cleverer brother as best she can. She glances up worriedly, "Jess, Rana, stand guard!" then goes back to doing her best to help.
Horatio finally maneuvers his way in and doesn't even to pause at the grievous wound the don took. He hurriedly moves beside the fallen coyote, slipping the healing draught from his satchel and lifting the don's head slightly. "Don Carlos, hurry, please drink this..."
Carroll makes sure the sword is out of harm's way, and does his best to staunch the bleeding, getting Alex's help where he can. Alex aids Carroll as best she can, leaning on the pressure points, her expression grim. Unsurprisingly, none of the siblings seem at all worried about getting bloody. The don, however, is unsurprisingly still unconscious. Alex glances at Horatio, then just shifts so she's kneeling above the don. She puts his head into her lap, tilting it back and sliding her fingers carefully to open his mouth. "Pour, Horry... just a bit at a time."
Carroll spares a glance back to the door they came in from, quickly checking to make sure that the two that are left guarding are not being overwhelmed, before moving a little out of the way to worriedly watch his brother's ministrations to the coyote. Horatio grimaces as he notices the don is rather unconscious -- I don't imagine I'd want to remain conscious when getting skewered, either. He glances quickly to Alex before pouring the draught into the Don's mouth carefully and sparingly, so as not to spill too much onto where it will do no good. "Thanks, Alex," he says softly. "They don't really recommend doing this. It's supposed to be drunk, but it should help..." Alex nods grimly to Horatio, gently stroking the don's throat to get him to swallow.
Carroll flicks his cloak off, and tears the lining out, using it to bind the worst of the wound, too, hoping they can do enough so they can get help. Horatio watches the wound carefully, placing the back of his hand upon the Don's brow, then checking his throat. He makes a tiny sound. "It's not working as well as it should..." he says, a note of morbid fear touching his voice. He watches Carlos for a few moments more, then sighs softly. "It... may be enough," he finally says. "It's better if it's ingested, but..." He makes a tiny shrug, still looking at the coyote worriedly, glancing now and then, curiously, to his sister.
Alex mentally crosses her fingers, and leans to study the wound... does it look better? She calls softly to the don, "Carlos... Carlos, can you hear me? We need you to wake up, please?" The potion is absorbed by the edges of the gash, which grows back together a little, though it still looks raw and threatening. Carlos' breathing improves a little, the chest wound no longer bubbling air through the blood. After a few moments, his eyelids flicker open. Alex looks up, frowning, "We're going to have to carry him, aren't we."
Alex sighs in relief as the coyote's eyes open, "He's awake! Okay... Carroll, can we can wrap him in your cloak? Horatio, can you carry him?" Jessie is still standing guard at the door, occasionally shooting into the melee. White Haven, who is carrying an unconscious Morgana, has joined her.
Horatio nods to Alex, then looks at the don, frowning, and shakes his head. "It'll take two of us to carry him, Alex, using the cloak..."
Alex glances around thoughtfully... then nods to Horatio, "All right, let's have you and Rana carry him then, yes? That way-" she nods politely, "Duchess, a pleasure-" then continues, "That way we'll keep our fighters' hands free." Alex is, once again, unflappably applying her training. Yes, she's got only part of a ball gown on and she's got blood all over her lap and arms... but like her brothers she firmly believes the St. Genevieves shall always show well under stress!
People dash about for a bit, finding that there are plenty of blankets in the private quarters nearby. Carroll moves over to the downed and still unconscious wolf, and directs, "Alex, can you grab a blanket or something to tie this one up with?" Alex nicks the edge of a spare blanket with her dagger, then tosses it to Carroll, so it's easy to tear up and use as bindings. Carroll moves quickly, disarming the fallen wolf, and tying him up. He also uses strips of material to bind his wounds, so he won't bleed to death. Carroll finds, of note among the wolf's possessions, a small potion vial, which he hangs on to -- along with everything else the wolf was carrying.
Alex helps get the don hastily loaded into a blanket, makes sure no one is left alone or defenseless... as soon as possible they're ready to move again. She's still point, with Carroll behind her. Then come the wounded and those carrying them... and finally, as tail, Jessie.
Carlos winces as he is picked up, but hangs onto consciousness by sheer force of will. "Een my bed chamber... behind the wardrobe..."
Alex gives the don a puzzled glance... then simply dashes off hastily to see what the don's calling for. She hauls on the edge of the wardrobe as hard as she can, trying to move it enough to see what's behind it. It doesn't move at all! She blinks... it's... attached to the wall? She checks quickly to see what it is... if it's not metal, it can be either hacked free, or if it's some sort of latch... maybe she can figure it out? She calls into the other room, "Am I getting papers here, or is this an escape hatch?" -and pragmatically keeps searching as she calls.
Horatio looks up, and then looks to Carlos. "What should Alex be looking for?" he asks quietly, trying not to push the man.
Carlos murmurs, "...way out..."
Alex sighs, then calls from the other room, "Uh... hello? Some help here? Hints?" Her voice gets a little sheepish, "Road maps?"
The coyote grimaces at an injudicious movement. "Latch inside, wardrobe sweeng out..."
Carroll says, "Go look at it, Horatio."
Horatio nods quietly and gently sets the don's head down before scampering quickly into the other room. "He said there's a latch inside the wardrobe, making it sweeng -- er, swing out." A moment's mad quirky humor makes him add, "Probably to keep it from being found by a normal search..."
Alex blinks at Horatio -- then giggles as she tosses the wardrobe open! She murmurs, "Whoa... lotta clothes..." as her small paws slide hastily along the inside of it, searching for the lever. She grins at the sudden thought that the don has more flashy clothes than she does! -then she sternly reminds herself -- they're escaping assassins, darnit, not playing games!
Carroll also thinks to gag the wolf, rolling a wad of cloth in to his mouth and tying it there. Having him call for help or such would be inconvenient. Once done with that, he looks up and asks those still here, "Shall we move in to the inner room, then?" Arianna nods and the two carefully lift the injured coyote, trying to keep him horizontal. Carroll smiles and finally greets White Haven, "Duchess, such a pleasure you could join us. Shall we flee?" and urges everyone into the farther room.
White Haven grins at Carroll. "I like a bit of excitement at parties, but this is a bit much."
The latches turn out to be near the bottom and top of the wardrobe, on the left. The heavy piece of furniture swings out with a section of wall, the seam hidden behind it when closed. The hole leads to a narrow stairway down. Alex oohs appreciatively, then calls, "We found it! Let's go!" She searches the stairway's entrance for some sort of lantern or torch, then beams as she finds an unlit but fueled lantern, just inside the secret entrance. She glances around -- she can't imagine the don isn't prepared with matches nearby for her to light the lantern with, so she'll do so -- and pauses long enough to be sure the entire group is present before she heads on down, leading the way.
Horatio glances down into the revealed exit, then glances to Alex. "Well, if the Don suggested it..." He hurries back to the other room and starts to gather up his end of the ersatz stretcher. Jessie closes the wardrobe behind her as she leaves the room, and the party is safe from immediate pursuit.
The stairway leads down below the street level, then strikes out in a short tunnel that leads to a brick wall. Alex's momentary alarm fades when she realizes that the bricks are not mortared together, and on the far side is the Maidstone sewer system. Horatio comments quietly, "They must have had this installed a long time ago..."
Alex wrinkles her nose, thinking, oh, this is going to be elegant!, rapidly followed by a faint giggle to herself at how poor, fastidious Carroll will take this! She wipes her sword neatly off on her improvised skirt-shield, then sheaths it... a moment later she's warned everyone back, and 'shoves' the bricks free for everyone. She peeks cautiously both ways into the sewer, lantern held high, waiting for directions from one of the locals.
Carroll's nose works when the bricks fall. "I can't complain. We're escaping," but he doesn't sound terribly pleased at the idea. He tries to console himself by thinking, I expect this is not a part of the city that the Queen or the Duchess expected to be familiar with either.
Horatio's nose twitches slightly, but he's smelled worse in the Academy. "Let's hope it doesn't let us out very far above the ocean. At least to the harbor. That seems the best way to go. We might even get out near the Mare..."
Alex ews, then glances back to warn those carrying wounded of the necessity to keep them above the sewage. Then she takes a long, slow breath -- even heroes get dirty! she reminds herself firmly, followed by a dryly amused, do they get this dirty? Ah well... -- and steps cautiously through, testing before she'll let everyone else follow her in. She doesn't want anyone carrying wounded to be surprised unpleasantly.
The side tunnel comes out into one of the city's main sewers, the passage easily wide enough to stand upright in.. though it will require wading knee-deep in rather noisome liquid. The tunnel is round and made of brick, with small pipes entering from the sides, that dribble their contents downwards. There are no major side tunnels or access points in sight, and no obvious indication as to which direction should be followed. Alex pauses, holding the lantern up and studying it to see if the flame flickers at all. Best to follow fresh air to the sea, she suspects. She nods to herself, noticing the slight waver in the lantern's light, "Guys? That way's the ocean. Shall we head that way? We at least know it will let us out."
Carroll says, "Everybody stay close and go slowly." He makes a little noise, then adds unnecessarily, "Nobody wants to slip and fall in this." He nods, "Good thought, Alex. Follow the flow downstream to the outlet, yes. Worst case, we'll find the ship."
Alex nods to her brothers, adding, "Cross your fingers, everyone..." then slowly and cautiously heads downstream, lantern held high in her left paw and a smaller, more flexible-to-use dagger in her right. She feels her way as she goes with her toes, not wanting to find any drop-offs unexpectedly. Horatio works to keep the Don above the mucky water as best as he can, keeping an eye on 'Rana' as well, seeing how well she's doing. He mentally rebukes himself; just because she's the monarch doesn't mean that she can't do what she's doing well.
Carroll can't help but fend off the thought, Ludmilla is going to be so unhappy about this. as he slogs through the muck. It is probably not one of the highest points of his life, and it is little solace to him that the Queen and Duchess -- or even his sister -- are here. For one brief moment he misses Dimitri, but isn't sure if it's because of the big fox's strength or because Carroll would like to see him up to his knees in this sludge too. He tries to think about anything but what is in the sludge.
About 100 meters or so further along there is an access point.. a narrow brick shaft along one side, with a ladder and a metal cover on the top. Alex hms, looking up thoughtfully. How well crammed down does that metal cover look? Carroll asks softly, "Do we want to come out this close to the Embassy? And how will we get the wounded up that shaft? Help from above?"
Horatio glances upward at the cover. "It should be far enough away," he says. "At least we'll be able to get our bearings."
Alex sheaths the dagger, then hands the lantern to Carroll. She warns everyone back, then climbs high enough up the ladder that she's out of the muck. A pause to vigorously shake first one foot, then the other -- that's why she warned everyone back -- then she swiftly swarms up the ladder, to carefully examine the metal cover. She listens carefully, although she doesn't hope to hear much. There may be some traffic noise... low tones seem to penetrate. It's hard to recognize what they are. Alex sighs -- no go on telling where they are -- and calls quietly down to her companions, "I can open this... but should we go a little further from the Embassy first, perhaps?"
Carroll calls up, "If we could get help it would be a very good thing. Do you think some of the Queen's people might be around?" He doesn't say why they might be around, just that they might be.
Alex nods, "Gotcha, captain. Okay... why don't you guys stand even farther back, all right? -and dowse the lantern, so you're not visible from outside, and I'll see if I can find some help?" Horatio nods, edging back while still holding the don up out of the mire. Carroll steps back a little bit but doesn't put the lantern out -- just moves so that it should be covered and in shadow from anything but a glance straight down the access shaft. He looks curiously at White Haven, who outranks him, to see if she has any input. The Queen outranks him too, but not everybody knows that, and Carroll is sure she's smart enough to let her views be known anyway.
Alex waits until people pull back and the lantern dims down to nothing... then takes a slow, deep breath, focusing. A moment later she slowly, carefully, and disciplinedly 'pushes' up the metal cover enough for her to peek cautiously outside. White Haven and Arianna seem to be willing to let Alex look first. Nothing dangerous seems to be out there, at least. Alex 'lifts' the cover out of the way, rising enough so her eyes are above ground, and does a slow 360 to see if she can recognize where they are... and who's there, if anyone.
Alex recognizes the street, two blocks away from the embassy, and a half-block from the casino where she first discovered her magical talent. The street seems to be emptier than it should be for this time of night. She looks relieved. Okay, now to see if there's any help nearby... she turns to magical scanning, looking for the telltale glow of Ludmilla's promised mages. The only trace of magic is the glowing magelights that illuminate the street here. Ludmilla's people would have been stationed closer to the embassy anyway, and when Alex listens she can still hear the sound of fighting off in that direction. She nods quietly to herself... then looks carefully back and forth, trying to figure out what's closer, and in what direction -- the Palace, or the Mare.
As she does so, she hesitates... then decides to try one careful experiment. She makes sure her head is close to the ground, so her voice will carry but won't betray her location... then she calls softly, "Kerensky!" She listens alertly -- did the tigress leave anyone outside this far?
The street remains quiet, hurrying feet and distant voices the only response Alex hears. She sighs softly. No one nearby. All right... so, how to get to the Palace safely. That's where her brothers want to go first. She studies the roads, then where the sewers lie... then she slides down enough to softly call what she's discovered to her brothers. Do they want to try moving overland, or via the sewers? She adds quietly her recommendation that they try overland... they don't know the sewers... what do they want to do?
Carroll listens carefully to what Alex says, then says to the others, "I think we should get out of the sewers and make our way to the Palace. It's a known safe place where we can get help. Unless any of you can think of anything closer? And if we get lost down here, we're in deep trouble. Or even if I just drop the lantern."
Horatio glances to the don, considering. "You're right," he says quietly. "We'll be able to make our way quicker, overland."
Alex nods, then calls quietly to the others, "Hey... do we want to go to the Palace fastest, or safest? If we have time, Carroll's the sneakiest of us -- he could dash to the Mare for help?"
Carroll suggests, "I could go to the Palace directly for help, too, if we're worried about all going."
'Rana' snorts. "I'd rather not wait down here any longer than we have to. And I doubt that the air is very good for Don Carlos."
Carroll comments, "And I don't think I'll be terribly sneaky smelling as I do." He makes a face.
"I don't know if we should split up..." Horatio says warily. "Though he could probably get to the Mare ahead of anyone..." His mind sets to work on the task of getting the wounded coyote out of the sewers.
Alex nods, "All right, up and out then." She slides down the ladder to get the lantern, then shimmies quickly back up so she can stand guard topside while the wounded are brought up. She adds, while she's downside, "Carroll, why don't you use the blanket as a sling across your back for Don Carlos. Tie him in it to your back, and put Horry right behind you on the ladder to help." She adds a bit apologetically, "It's not going to be fun for the don... but it's the safest and surest way to get him up, I think?"
Carroll nods, "All right." He gets Horatio's help to bundle the Don over his back as carefully as he can manage to do so, and climbs slowly and gently up out of the sewer. Outside, Alex watches warily from the shadows, daggers at the ready to hopefully surprise anyone that might have the bad fortune to stumble across the small group. White Haven and Arianna manage to bring the injured mouse up with them, using 'Rana's' uniform tunic as a sling. The Duchess grins as she recognizes their location. "Ah, here we are. Shall we pop over to the Silver Talon for a game or two?"
Alex giggles softly at the duchess, "Oh, they'd love us in this condition!"
Carroll smiles, "Duchess, I fear I'm hardly dressed for it at the moment. However, we might get a carriage."
Alex grins ruefully at Carroll, "I don't think they rent, do they?"
Horatio deadpans, "I think we've almost run through our allocation of luck for the evening..."
White Haven chuckles. "They'd let me in with my friends, no matter how bad we smelled. They love my money more."
Alex pauses, tilting her head at the duchess, "Do they have healers?"
White Haven shakes her head. "Not that I've ever noticed. They don't hire carriages either, but if one of my friends is there I might be able to borrow one."
Carroll hmms, "Some rest and stability might do the Don best. Will they have a private room we can commandeer?"
White Haven nods. "That they do. Shall we?"
Alex glances between the duchess and the others... then looks to Carroll, "Captain, want me to go with the duchess and see? Or should we not risk attracting unwanted notice?"
Carroll says, "Let's go there. It will be a safe enough spot to reconnoiter until we can contact who we need to. And her Grace is right... our money will overcome all worries about any disruption."
Alex nods, "Then let's get there and get everyone else out of sight first."
Horatio nods. Then he looks around, frowning. "Where is everyone?"
Alex grins wryly at Horatio, "Watching the battle at the Embassy, I'm sure." Near the Silver Talon she makes sure everyone's tucked neatly out of sight and Carroll and Jessie are standing guard. Then she shakes her skirts free, tying them around her waist tidily, then buckling on her sword belt. She grins at the duchess, "At your service, your grace!" She heads inside to reconoiter first, with the duchess.
The Silver Talon is its usual self, the clientele busy gaming with little regard for the excitement outside. The odor that Alex and Minerva bring with them turns a few heads, but when the Duchess is recognized, everyone suddenly doesn't notice. Alex grins at the duchess cheerfully, brushing her hair back out of her face and walking proudly next to the ever-entertaining mink! The duchess grins and whispers to Alex, "See? Money always smells good." Alex covers a giggle, then looks around hopefully for someone the duchess can sponge off of.
The concierge hurries over, the look on his face bland and apparently taking no notice at all of the Duchess' latest perfume. "Your Grace, what a pleasure it is to see you again. What may I do for you this evening?"
Alex smiles to herself, but also scans for people who are way too interested in seeing them... she's worried about more assassins. White Haven gives the fellow her most pleasant smile. "A private room, Gerard, if you please... somewhere near the back, so my friends don't need to use the front door? We've had a bit of an accident..."
The concierge, a red squirrel, bows and leads them to a room. "The back door is right down this hall, your grace. Shall I have someone here to open it for you?" The mink shakes her head. "I'll wait here, Gerard, and send my friend here for them. We'll be fine." The squirrel bows again and heads back to the gaming rooms. Alex nods to the duchess, already heading swiftly down the hallway. Her paranoia is such that she has her rapier in hand as she cautiously opens the door.
The back alley smells better than the sewer, and Alex reaches the others very quickly. She leads them back along the alleys and soon everyone is inside, Don Carlos and Morgana carefully deposited on soft couches. Alex sighs in relief once everyone's in, then looks to Carroll, "So... should Horry check Morgana too, while the duchess can see if she can find a friend to borrow a carriage from?"
Horatio blinks and digs into his satchel, hoping he has another draught. Stupid, stupid, stupid, student! I should have thought of that before, when we were down in the sewer...! "I have one here, a moment, please..."
Carroll says, "Yes, that sounds like a good idea. Worst case, we need to find and send a messenger to the Palace. And have a drink." He moves over to look at the unconscious coyote, and carefully checks his wounds to see if they're staying closed or if they got full of sewer. He comments quietly, "You certainly know how to throw a party, Don Carlos," and chuckles quietly.
Morgana looks concussed, but not in any immediate danger. Horatio gently gives Baroness Morgana the healing draught, the same way they gave it to the unconscious coyote earlier, just to be certain that she won't be further hurt. After his eye falls on the vial of antivenin in his satchel, while he replaces the now-empty healing draught, he checks both Carlos and Morgana for any signs of poisoning from the assassins' weapons. The mouse rouses as the potion takes effect and blearily opens one eye to look at Horatio. "Hunh. I don't think I had that many drinks." She looks puzzled for a moment. "Wait a bit. It's coming back to me now."
Alex nods, looking to the duchess, "Did you see anyone that you could borrow a carriage from, or would it be better to just send a messenger?"
White Haven shrugs. "Didn't have much chance to look. I'll check as soon as I get cleaned up a little."
Alex hesitates, then says cautiously, "Um... it be faster to just send a messenger then, if we're going to clean up a bit, don't you think, excellency?"
White Haven shrugs. "Depends on the courier. For that matter, it depends on how much security you want."
Alex thinks a bit, then smiles at the duchess, "Well... I think maybe Carya can come up with a message that will attract Baroness Kerensky's attention." She glances over at Carroll, "That should be enough, yes?"
Carroll says, "If she is on hand, yes." He composes a note, 'The party at the Costa Yerman Embassy has ended on a sour note, and we have retired to the Silver Talon for the evening. It would be greatly appreciated if a carriage large enough for our party of eight could be sent by to collect us. Baroness Du Prei and Duchess White Haven are with us. -- Carroll St. Genevieve.'
Alex leaves getting the message written to Carroll... he's better at that, and at dealing with the duchess. Instead she goes to see if either Horatio or the wounded need help. Horatio nods quietly to the Baroness. "We were attacked, Baroness. But," he adds quickly. "We're all fine. We don't appear to have been the main targets." Alex smiles reassuringly at the small baroness, then worriedly examines the unconscious coyote. Don Carlos is breathing easily, though he is still out. The wound seems to be intact.
Carroll says, "There, that ought to be innocuous enough to stand scrutiny by strangers, but rouse the Palace's interest." He chuckles, and rather quietly asks everyone if he's forgotten anything, giving Rana a particularly long look. Rana nods, imperceptibly unless one was watching for it.
Alex tilts her head, asking Rana, "Should we mention the ambassador?" then adds to Carroll, "Yeah, we probably should. Could you add that Rana says the Costa Yerman ambassador really needs a healer?"
Carroll is watching, and smiles, saying, "Good idea, Alex, although if an assassin catches it, they'll know the Don is with us. Let's put it in; maybe the Palace will send someone right away." Having changed the note, he asks White Haven, "Can you have the concierge find us a messenger to deliver this?" He looks at Morgana, and tells her, "I'm glad you're awake again, Baroness."
Alex nods, pleased that an acceptable excuse for putting Rana's name into the note was found, and turns back to the unconscious coyote. She sighs softly to herself... he really does seem like a nice man... but good heavens, he attracts trouble almost as bad as she does! She grins with quiet rue to herself, wondering what sort of astonishing jinx on the city would occur if she and Carlos spent any time together...
Morgana winces as she tries to sit up and hastily lies down again. "I'm not sure I'm that glad at this point. Go ahead and send it before Ludmilla tears the city down."
Horatio nods a little wryly to Morgana. "Actually, I'm a little surprised we didn't run into anyone outside, but Alex says that was because everyone went to the embassy when the fighting started." Alex nods to Horatio, then decides to be useful. She'll get some warm water and soft rags sent to the room, so people can start cleaning themselves up a bit. She'll also, very carefully, try to clean off the worst of don Carlos' wound, after cleaning herself up a bit too. It's something to do to keep herself busy... and she needs to be busy -- she's still a bit wired up from the fighting.
Carroll moves from where he was next to Don Carlos to sit next to Rana and relax in the moment's calm, asking her, "Would you like a drink, milady?" and smiling a little.
Arianna grins at Carroll, almost giggling. "You do this sort of thing all the time, don't you?" Alex grins ruefully over her shoulder at Carroll and Arianna, then goes back to trying to clean up a little. Arianna starts to relax, now that things seem to have calmed down. "I'd love a drink. What do you recommend?"
Carroll shakes his head, saying, "Oh, no, not at all. However, we try and be ready for something like it all the time, so when it does happen we can handle it as well as possible." As the adrenaline drains from him, he relaxes, adding, "By knowing what we can each do and what we can rely on the others for, we can handle much more than we could alone, too." Returning to the serious matter of drinks, he says, "Something simple and large. Ale, perhaps."
Alex smiles over her shoulder again at Carroll, and softly adds to 'Rana,' "It helps to have folks you trust implicitly and know well, of course." Her gaze lingers rather fondly on her siblings for a moment... then she goes back to what she was doing before. She sighs softly, examining the don's shirt... then shrugs and pragmatically cuts it open.
Horatio digs through his satchel, hoping he might find something in there to keep himself busy also. "Since this is a casino... shall we make bets as to when Ludmilla will be storming through that doorway?"
Alex grins at Horatio too, "Don't tempt me... I'm trying not to think about that part... it's gonna be... loud..."
Carroll looks hard at both of his siblings, and clears his throat sharply. He says, "Yes, I'm sure she will be worried about Morgana, and upset by the fight in general."
Arianna winces in anticipation. "Oh, my. She will be, won't she? I think I'll take your suggestion, Captain, and have a mug of ale."
Alex grins at Carroll, "Carya, she's always loud and upset when things get disruptive in her city!"
Carroll stands and asks, "Anyone else like something?" Collecting drink orders, he sticks his head cautiously outside to see if he can flag down a waiter or the concierge.
Horatio mentally berates himself again. You're getting sloppy, student, blast it! "Nothing for me, thank you, Car- er, Captain..." Carroll returns to sit next to 'Rana,' casually taking her hand and relaxing until drinks and/or the Palace staff shows up, enjoying a moment of calm while he can.
The message quickly bears fruit, though everyone does have a chance to finish their drinks first. A squad of the Queen's Own and a pair of carriages shows up to whisk everyone up to the palace, where Morgana and Carlos are sent to the infirmary and everyone else goes to meet with Kerensky. The tiger's tail is switching back and forth as they step into her office, and the obvious shift in what she was planning to say when White Haven steps in is painfully obvious. "Your ma- you made it back, Captain. What happened?"
Carroll smiles and says, "We did, Baroness Kerensky. The Don's staff had been augmented or replaced with assassins, in his guard and wait-staff. Alexandra got a little warning because she heard someone else on the Don's staff complaining about the new help, and the Don mentioned not knowing where they'd come from and not having hired them. This reminded her too much of our own run-in with Councilman Pravinchandra, so she went to arm herself. When the fighting broke out we were close to one another and armed. We followed the Don and managed to dispatch his attacker, but not before he wounded the Don. They cried out something in a language I do not speak, and I do not know where they came from." He asks, "Did anyone find the wolf we left tied up?"
Alex glances a little wistfully over her shoulder as the wounded are whisked away, then turns to face everyone. She just nods quietly at Carroll's rendition. A moment later she looks down at her dress a little mournfully, wondering if it's reparable... it's her favorite one for dancing.
Kerensky nods. "Ve vondered vhat had happened there. How did you get out?" She stops and sniffs, then answers her own question. "Ah. The sewers. Secret passagevay?"
Carroll continues, "The Don told us about his escape route, which we used to get out of the Embassy and into the sewers." Wrinkling his nose, he adds, "-which I expect you've noticed." He continues, "We came out near the Silver Talon, which the Duchess frequents and knew would be a safe place to wait for help. From there we sent the message you received, and I think you know the rest. Has that fight been ended? Did Ambassador Rishali get out all right? Were many hurt?"
The tigress nods. "Da. Ve vent in as soon as ve noticed the fighting. Ambassador Rishali gets... qvite noisy vhen she is attacked. There vere a number of fatalities, and many more vounded." She lists the known dead. The only name on it that anyone recognizes is Colonel Rivera.
Alex sighs quietly, not sure if she's more relieved or sad about that. "Did any of the attackers get captured? Does anyone speak that strange language they kept yelling?"
"Ve did not capture any of the assassins alive, except for the one you dealt vith, Captain. They all took poison. Fanatics."
Carroll looks surprised at that, "Colonel Rivera? I'm surprised to hear that. I don't know what to make of it." He nods at the news of the assassins' deaths, saying, "That doesn't surprise me, Baroness. I hope the one will be informative, but I don't expect it." Then he ahs! as he remembers, "I took everything from the wolf. Among his things was a small vial. Probably poison, but I'll let your staff determine that." He produces from various pockets on his person the items he collected from the wolf.
Horatio frowns slightly. The assassins would have sought as best as they were able to get their primary target. If they were at all professional -- besides being fanatical -- they would at the very least get their primary target; in this case Rivera. But what if they weren't...? "Excuse me, Baroness... you called them... fanatics?" He nods slowly. "This is just a hypothesis, but if they were after Rivera and Carlos -- who would likely have been killed without Alex and Carroll's intervention -- then it's possible these were Costa Yerman rebels sent here to kill those two and other Costa Yerman nobles, which means that the situation in Costa Yermo is destabilizing rapidly, if it already hasn't."
Kerensky nods. "Suicidal assassins. The battle cry... could it have been 'ili etu jombay'?"
Horatio blinks a bit at the Baroness's mention of the battle cry. He glances to his siblings for confirmation of that? Carroll considers, then says, "That sounds like it, yes. I only heard it a couple of times though. Do you know what it is?"
Alex says slowly, "Why would the Society of the Mountain want to wipe out a large section of Maidstone society -- and the Costa Yermo embassy?" She shakes her head to Horatio, "Not rebels. They weren't thugs. Too well organized."
The tigress nods. "Means, 'for our leader.' Means these vere suicide assassins, or else a very good copy." She shakes her head. "No tellink yet. Ve need to find out who their primary target vas."
Horatio says, "Were they from the Society, with a battle cry like that, Baroness?"
Alex frowns thoughtfully, "So... what would have happened... they'd have definitely looked like they weren't allied with Costa Yermo, and Iago would have gotten rid of a bunch of expendables. Hm... I wonder if he intended to offer the queen his condolences and aid in getting rid of this... 'terrible scourge' or somesuch?" She grins in sudden macabre cheer, "Hey! At least they weren't after me this time!"
Carroll laughs at Alex's comment, saying, "No, for once we didn't seem central to the attack. How reassuring."
Horatio smiles in gallows humor. "In a way, that is reassuring, Alex."
Alex grins at her brothers cheerfully, then looks back at the tigress, "Well... now the question becomes... how'd they get in so easily as servants? But I guess that's your forté, not ours. Can we maybe talk you into letting us know what the one you caught tells you?"
'Rana' gives a sharp nod behind White Haven's back. Ludmilla nods as well. "Of course, Captain. You have been very helpful vith these things all along."
Alex grins, nodding towards Carroll as if the remark were addressed to him, not her, since he's the captain. Carroll smiles and says, "We've been all too happy to work with the crown on these issues. We seem to manage to keep being entangled with them."
Alex covers a grin at that wild understatement! -then pauses a moment, to make sure her aura energy levels are a nice healthy green again. Then she glances at her brothers curiously, adding, "So... let's see. First the attack on the king, with a sword. Then the attack on Queen Arianna with the blowgun, which was probably supposed to cast blame on Hamasura, but turned out to be um... the former viscount and the Society of the Mountain... and maybe Iago? -don't know... then there was the kidnapping of me to force the queen to marry Iago... what else... now this? Did I miss anything?"
White Haven stretches in her seat. "Mind if we get cleaned up a bit before we continue? I still smell like sewage, and I'm tired of it."
Alex hms. "The common theme from the assassination attempt on the queen onwards seems to be the Society. Er, excuse me, duchess."
Carroll chuckles, and says, "I think, Duchess, that you have an eminently good point there."
Kerensky nods. "Might as vell, I suppose. Vill you be staying at the palace overnight? Ve can send a message down to your ship."
Alex looks a little wistfully at her dress again, then to Carroll, "Um... can we try to get our clothes repaired, Carya? -if it's not too much of a bother for us? It's just, um... well, this is my favorite dancing dress?" She looks apologetic.
Carroll chuckles, "Repaired or replaced, Alex. I'm certain we can find you another nice dancing dress." He doesn't comment about how unusual it is for Alex to want dresses.
Alex beams in relief, then smiles at the tigress, "If it's not too much of a bother for us to stay, that might be nice?" She suspects the tigress is searching for a reason to talk to them sans duchess, after all.
Carroll says, "We would be pleased to accept the Palace's hospitality, if it is not an imposition, Baroness." Horatio remains quietly in the background, silent but disquieted, as he usually is by situations like this -- not only where there's been some sort of assassination, but when they're trying to conceal the queen's identity.
Ludmilla nods. "No problem at all. I feel certain her majesty vill insist on it vhen she is informed."
'Rana' grins from the back of the room, and nods at Ludmilla again. Alex grins quietly, then sighs and relaxes back against the seat she's in. She's tired... and stinky... and would really adore a nice, hot steamy bath! Especially before the baroness tiger starts roaring at us! she thinks ruefully.
Carroll says, "Thank you, Baroness." His thoughts on baths aren't much different from Alex's. If anything, they're more intense.
Alex says, "Um..." She pauses, then adds, "Would it be all right to let us know when, ah, Don Carlos wakes up again?" She frowns thoughtfully. Odd... now that he's supposedly going to be trying to court her... she feels somewhat responsible for him. Strange thought.
Carroll looks curiously at Ludmilla regarding Alex's question. Ludmilla nods. "He vill need rest most of all, but ve vill give him more healing elixir when he vakes up."
Alex nods, looking faintly pleased, "Thank you, baroness." She glances around, then adds, "Can we go clean up now?" Her tone is a little wistful again.
The tigress actually grins. "Yes, yes... go clean up. I'll debrief the lieutenant vhile she's washing up... ve vill see you again in an hour, da?"
Alex nods, looking relieved -- a bath, heaven! Carroll murrs, "Yes, Baroness, that will be lovely." Horatio nods his head. The stink, while not bothering him much (vitriol on base metal is, not only more pungent, but even lethal) is pretty distracting and makes him feel... well, 'uncomfortable.' "Thank you, Baroness..."
An hour later, a somewhat different group gathers to discuss the implications of the episode. Arianna is back in her real fur, Ludmilla seems to have gotten any shouting out of her system, and Morgana is present, though lying propped up on pillows rather than at her usual seat. Jessie, Horatio, Alex, and Carroll are dressed in borrowed clothing, which fits quite well, but the Duchess is nowhere to be seen.
Carroll settles in quietly and asks, "Has the Duchess returned home?" Carroll is calm, clean, and perfectly groomed. By looking at him, you'd not know an hour ago he was mucking in the sewers.
Arianna smiles at Carroll as he enters. "Minerva decided to go home." Queen Arianna is wearing a fairly informal outfit, almost a housecoat and slippers type of thing, although there's a skirt as well as a short tunic involved.
Alex looks quite relieved to be tidy again, and with her sword back at her hip where it belongs. Her fur is drying a little wildly harum-scarum... but at least it's clean, thank goodness. She brightens at seeing Morgana there, and nods politely, "I'm glad you're feeling better, baroness."
Morgana waves a hand in Alex's direction, but doesn't take the cloth away from her eyes. "I've still got a terrible headache, but they said there's no reason I can't talk."
Alex nods in some commiseration, "We'll try to talk softly then, baroness." She bows politely to the queen, smiles at the tigress, and settles where they're indicated to sit. Horatio nods quietly in agreement with Alex. He's feeling much better since taking a bath. While he didn't mind being so mucky, being clean is much preferable.
Carroll smiles at the Queen and says, "We keep having excursions interrupted." Alex's smile fades a bit at Carroll's comment... that worries her. She's not going to enjoy saying it, but she thinks it's important that folks realize how dangerous this is.
Jessie snorts. "That's one way to put it. You people have too many enemies." The mink has a standard tunic and leggings -- her boots are still being cleaned, but her bow is propped in the corner. She rather enjoyed the bath, and made sure she had a chance to help scrub Horatio.
Alex nods gravely to Jessie, "Er... yes. I'm afraid that may well be true." Her glance at the queen is almost apologetic as she adds, "Way too many."
Horatio says dryly to Jessie, "Believe me... if we had a choice..." Alex is just quietly watching Arianna, Ludmilla, and Carroll, wondering if they'll realize the same thing she's realized.
Jessie curls up against Horatio, oblivious to the somewhat amused audience. "I know. You've got a dangerous family, Horry."
Carroll says, "Well, in one thing we do have a choice. That is not to continue taking such risks with the Queen's person." He adds, sounding rather unhappy about needing to do so, "As much as I may enjoy the time with you, Your Majesty, I fear it is not wise and we should not continue to take such risks." Alex nods quietly, relieved that Carroll brought it up first.
Horatio's ear tips turn pink beneath his fur, and he smiles wanly to Jessie. He blinks, though, as he looks to Carroll. Which means... until we get done with the Society, he won't spend as much time with the queen as he'd like... Oh, dear. I'd feel horrible if I were him. If I were me even, and I had to spend less time than I'd like with Jessie, I'd feel horrible.
Alex adds softly, "Um... I had a thought though, your majesty, in regards to that... you'd mentioned once that you were tired of excessive formality. So... I was thinking... why don't you have little teeny informal dinners, or small fun balls, just for you and a tiny handful of friends? That'd be better than no fun at all, wouldn't it?"
Carroll says, "I hope we will be able to find a way for you to spend some time with people other ways." Listening to his sister, he says, "That is a good suggestion."
Arianna looks a little embarrassed. "'Milla and I had a rather... spirited discussion about that. I'm afraid you're right. I hate the thought of being trapped in here, but I can't risk getting caught in a crossfire. I could have been killed tonight and no one was even trying to get me." She smiles at Alex's suggestion. "I will. It's not the same as getting out of the palace, though."
Alex nods quietly, "I'm sorry, your majesty... but in this case I think the baroness is quite right. Too many people know already, as it is, that you have something that allows you to change fur."
Jessie nods. "She shouldn't have done it at that party. If I could figure it out, others can."
Alex murmurs dryly to Jessie, "I think we all did, actually."
Carroll doesn't say anything about the party, apparently having been the only one of his family or staff to have been surprised, despite having danced with her all evening, but he does say, "If there's anything we can do to help, your Majesty, please say so." Alex nods to the queen also. She isn't going to encourage the queen to take foolish risks any more... but she does feel sorry for the poor lady, trapped as she is in the palace.
Arianna smiles. "I'll keep that in mind, Captain."
Carroll nods and smiles in return. There is a long pause before he asks, "So, what do we know about tonight's attack?"
Alex frowns, thinking, "Either assassins or good imitations." She adds a little puzzledly, "What I don't understand is... why not just poison the food? That would have gotten everyone -- no danger to the assassins at all. But instead they apparently felt the need to die publicly. That's what makes me wonder if they were good imitations, y'know?"
Ludmilla clears her throat. "Now that that is settled, can ve move on? The fatalities vere primarily the embassy's real guards and unofficial bodyguards of the guests who vere attacked. Colonel Rivera and the Cabredan ambassador vere the only important people killed, though of course Don Carlos and Morgana were seriously attacked, and the Hamasuran military attaché is going to need some luck to pull through." She smiles at Alex. "Poison vould have been too easily detected."
Horatio says, "Poisoning the food would have lacked the impact of a large number of fanatics unafraid of dying for their cause."
Alex frowns again, looking unconvinced, "If poison is so easy to detect, baroness, why wasn't it easily detectable when, er..." she glances around, then realizes she can speak freely, "-when Arianna got kidnapped as me?" She sighs internally. The Hamasuran military attaché... that nice armadillo that danced so beautifully. She hopes he makes it; he was a nice man.
Ludmilla shrugs. "Poison is easily detected vhen you are looking for it. State banqvets are always checked for poison."
Carroll murrs, "Do we know these were related to the Society of the Mountain?"
Arianna taps a finger-claw against her teeth. "We don't know for sure, but we suspect they are. A branch of them, at least. From this region..." She points at a map that has been left on a side table, indicating the Nomad Lands.
Alex nods, studying the map intently, "So... where did you say the actual Mountain was located? In Maharisha, was it? Or Pripyatna?"
Morgana speaks up from her sofa. "Near the border of Maharisha and Bharat."
Alex nods slowly, still studying the map, "So... they're really spreading out strongly in the East." She sighs, sitting back down, adding, "Poor people. I wonder if this was no more than internecine fighting amongst them."
Carroll asks, "If not, why did they come and do this here? It seems a long way from home to be random."
Arianna shrugs. "From all we've been able to find out, there are no serious factions. This Lord Vashtri seems to have the whole thing under control. The Han are not controlled by them, nor are Pripyatna and Karaganda... yet. Mixtaca isn't either, but..."
Alex ponders quietly, "I wonder if, after all those years... if you can really consider yourself a furr any more. When you get to that age... is there anything you care about but yourself, any more? Are you even sane any longer?" She rubs her cheek, unwittingly ruffling up her fur so she looks surprisingly young... then sighs, glancing at the others, "I don't think we have enough information to make any kind of good guesses at what tonight was all about." She glances up at Ludmilla, "I'm going to guess you've not had a chance to interrogate that wolf we caught, right?"
Ludmilla smiles at Alex. "He has the anti-truth drug in him. It's going to be a little bit slower. Mistress Thorn is vorking on neutralizing it right now."
Carroll smiles a little. "Hopefully they won't be prepared for someone who is able to do that."
Horatio shivers slightly. "Then his association with the Society is pretty much assured, then, if he has the anti-truth poison in him."
Alex nods gravely to Horatio, then wonders silently what happened to the former viscount... has he managed to kill himself yet? Has his daughter arrived in Maidstone yet? She feels a little sorry for the poor girl... it's going to be a shock. She covers a yawn, then verbalizes her curiosity, "Is the former viscount still alive? Has anyone tried talking to him? He might be more willing to talk now, after all... and his daughter, Lucrezia. How's she taking things?" She adds thoughtfully, "Maybe we should wait to see what we learn from the wolf before we try to figure things out here?"
Ludmilla snorts. "Mistress Thorn finally got that muck out of his system, and he's been qvite talkative. Unfortunately, he doesn't know that much. He vas more of a pawn than anythink."
Horatio says, "I don't think we have enough information either, Alex, no. But we can start inferring things: Colonel Rivera and Don Carlos were clearly at least primary targets. Or at least Don Carlos was, since an assassin bothered to follow the Don into his private quarters to kill him, rather than just kill him since he was in the way... but why Rivera, then...?"
Carroll nods, "I don't know what more we can surmise without more information." To his brother he says, "Which of those two is the real power for Costa Yermo here, Horatio? I'm not sure I understand. If you really wanted to cut it off, you'd have to remove both of them."
Ludmilla shrugs to Horatio. "Ve found his body in the kitchen. He may simply have surprised the assassins."
Alex nods, "That would be my guess. He was jealous of his prerogatives. He probably confronted one of the false servants and demanded credentials of him, or somesuch."
Horatio says, "That could very well be, Alex, to the point where I would say that's probable. And Carroll, that would depend on how much faith Iago has in Don Carlos now. Don Carlos is head of the mission, while Colonel Rivera held a great deal of fear over the heads of everyone in the mission."
Arianna nods. "Don Carlos is the accredited ambassador. Colonel Rivera was merely the head of embassy security. This gave him a fair amount of power to deal with the embassy itself, but he had no power or influence outside its walls. He wasn't very good at it either, apparently."
Alex smiles ruefully at Arianna's comment, "Er... no. He was far too flusterable."
Carroll nods. "And it seems to me that he was reporting on Carlos' actions to Iago or someone, keeping him in Iago's control."
Alex adds to Horatio, "Iago certainly doesn't trust the don, if he feels he has to hold his children hostage against him. Killing everyone in this embassy would certainly have lost Iago no one he considered valuable, to my view."
Ludmilla frowns. "You are suggestink that Iago might haf been behind this?"
Carroll murrs, "Nor would it have hurt the Society. Could originate from either of them. Can't say at this point, I think."
Alex shrugs, "Even if Iago wasn't... whomever did this didn't really hurt him. Helped, in fact -- the poor man, his very embassy here attacked! Shame on the queen for allowing that!" She adds dryly, "Can't you see him saying something like that?"
Horatio says, "I don't know how insane Iago would have to be, though, for him to order the deaths of an entire embassy. That is a lot of people to have killed in cold blood." He frowns. "It's not something to put past him, but..." He blinks to Alex. "I think you may have hit on just the thing, Alex. Embarrassment of the Queen. First the kidnapping of the Queen's friend, Alex St. Genevieve, then when that failed, something a little more public..."
Arianna looks disgusted. "I can see it, all right."
Carroll asks, "Is his embassy considered foreign ground, as they so often are? If so, then it's not the Queen's responsibility, unless someone can suggest she ordered it."
Alex nods in response to her brothers... then wishes a little wistfully that there were some coffee or something available. Bad enough that I only got three dances tonight! she thinks amusedly to herself. Wait, she can ask politely here in the Palace... she raises a small paw and asks a little hesitantly, "Um... would it be okay if I had some coffee? I'm... feeling a bit tired, I fear?"
Arianna nods. "Yes, the embassy is considered sovereign territory. He'll be likely to fuss that we let it be attacked and in the very next breath denounce me for sending my people in to rescue his and in the process violate his prerogatives..." Alex grins a bit tiredly at Arianna -- sounds about right. Arianna nods at Alex' query. "Certainly, Alex. Any snacks while we're about it?"
Alex brightens, "Oooh... snacks?!" in a hopeful tone of voice. Ludmilla goes to the door and orders coffee, wine, and pastries.
Carroll shrugs and says, "If he is so transparent, it's clearly poppycock, and can be ignored. Even if it can't be, I think there are more pressing worries."
Arianna agrees. "It's not like everyone doesn't already know he's nuts."