| Logs |
2001-05-06
| Starfall |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
Prodigal Sons and Fathers
The process of questioning the surviving assassin will take some time, and the hour is already late, so the queen decides to retire for the night. She invites the group to stay at the palace if they wish. Alex asks if she can see Don Carlos again, and is assured by the palace healers that he is fine.
Alex smiles, "And is that a yes, or a no, please?"
The little rabbit blushes under Alex's gaze. "Yes, you may, Sir Alexandra. I'm sorry."
Alex grins, "Thanks! Wasn't sure, and didn't want to be a bother. I promise we'll be very, very quiet!"
Carroll smiles, adding, "I'm pleased he is fine. Let us have a few words with him if he is awake, then? Can you show us the way?"
Alex is true to her word, and tiptoes in cautiously, peeking around the doorjamb to see if the don's awake or not. After a horrific wound like that she doesn't expect him to be... but... well, she just wants to peek, that's all, to see that everything's fine. Yes. That's all. Carroll waits behind Alex for her to decide whether or not to go in, smiling quietly and watching his sister's concern with silent and hopefully unobtrusive amusement. Within the room Don Carlos is sitting up, reading something as Alex peeks in the door. He glances up at the flicker of motion and smiles. "Sir Alexandra! Welcome, welcome. Come een!"
Alex freezes for a moment... then mentally decides it'd be silly to dash off now that she's been seen. She straightens up and walks in calmly, "Hello! How're you feeling?" Horatio trails somewhere behind Carroll, curious as to the Don's condition as well, but also some part of him watching their backs. He knows he's not nearly as good as any of his siblings at that, but he's still disquieted by the evening's events. His ears perk at the don's greeting -- Oh! Wonderful, he's awake and sounds relatively well!
Carroll follows Alex in to the room, holding the door for Horatio and making sure he too is inside. He turns and looks at the Don, adding, "We were worried about you there for a while. It's good to see you're talking again." Horatio enters, following after Carroll as his elder brother holds open the door. He tries not to intimidate the don (a small part of his mind wonders seriously how he could possibly intimidate Don Carlos) and so stands between Carroll and Alex, ears perked interestedly, though he steals a glance now and then to the corners of the room.
The coyote shrugs, a bit stiffly. "I have felt better, I theenk. Steell, theengs could be worse. The healer assures me I weell be as good as new tomorrow."
Alex is suddenly no longer sure what to say. She stands by the bed's side, small paws clasped behind her back, and smiles at the don, then curiously studies the room... since it'd be ill bred to study the don's bandages. Carroll smiles and easily picks up the conversation, saying, "I am sure it is a relief to know you are in such excellent care." With a wry grin he adds, "You certainly know how to throw an interesting party, too."
Alex brightens at a sudden thought -- she knows what to say now! She curiously asks the don, "So... have you any idea who those people were?" Thank goodness Carroll picked up the conversation there! she thinks.
Don Carlos twitches an ear at Carroll's comment. "I fear eet was not eentended to be quite as eenteresting as eet turned out." His face turns serious, then. "Not yet. I was a target, but I do not yet know who else was. My first guess was that Colonel Rivera was up to one of hees usual clumsy treecks, but apparently thees ees not the case? Unless he was even clumsier than usual."
Alex's ears prick forward in sudden fascination, "You were a target then? How'd you know?"
Horatio glances up to Carroll, biting his lip. I guess he doesn't know that Colonel Rivera is dead, then... Carroll says, "If so, he was particularly clumsy. He did not manage to escape the attentions of the assassins."
Carlos nods. "So Baroness Kerensky said. As for me being a target? Why else would an assassin have followed me away from the party?"
Alex frowns, considering that. Carroll says, "While I can't say I was impressed with his social graces for the short time I knew him, I expect he could not be quite that incompetent and yet have attained the position he had." He considers the Don's question, and says, "Perhaps simply to keep you from summoning help. Perhaps you were a target. That seems likely to me, I must admit."
Alex hesitates, then ventures, "To keep you from raising the alarm? ...umm... no, that doesn't make sense... why would they want you dead though?" Then she nods at Carroll's comment, smiling at their having spoken almost at once.
Don Carlos looks at Alex very seriously. "Eef we can find thees out, we weell know who tried to keell me."
Horatio's ears flicker, then droop a little. Silly student... jumping to conclusions like that. He glances up to Carroll, then to Carlos. "Do you know what it was they were shouting, Don Carlos?" he asks quietly.
Alex absently pulls over a chair and sits, then nods to the don, "Well, they're questioning him still. They have to get rid of the anti-truth potio-uhhhh..." she fades to a stop, wondering if the don still doesn't know how terminal the anti-truth potions are! What did we tell him? Problems with allergies, that was it.
Carlos shakes his head. "I fear I deed not hear eet. My opponent was not shouteeng, and I was a beet too deestracted to leesten carefully to the shouts from the ballroom. Ees eet eemportant?"
Alex looks relieved as the don focuses on Horatio's query, and glances at him for him to tell the don. She hms, still thinking... But if the don knows nothing of the Society of the Mountain, translating the shout won't mean much to him, right? Still... be interesting to see how he reacts...
Horatio taps his chin. "Uhm... possibly, but... I'm not really sure." Does he know about the Society? I don't seem to recall him saying that he recognized the seal of Vashtri...
Carroll says, "Mostly wondering if you understood the language, I think. It was a new one to me. When Alex repeated it, as had others, Baroness Kerensky translated it as 'For our Leader,' I believe." He watches the Don's reaction closely.
Carlos frowns again, considering. "Eenteresting. But not the Preence, eef they were not speakeeng Boveyan. What language was eet?"
Carroll looks a little blank, and then says, "You know, Don, I didn't ask her. She said it was from some sort of nomads in the east." Horatio doesn't trust himself to say a single word, merely looking up to Carroll and nodding.
Alex nods, "The Nomad Lands." She too is watching the don quietly... although maybe it's just the natural interest of a girl being courted. Maybe.
Carlos looks utterly blank for a moment. "Ah. Them. The Hasheem."
Alex says, "The who?"
Carroll asks, "Do you know something more about them?"
The coyote shrugs. "A name and a rumor. The Hasheem are a... group of fanateecs. Eet ees said that they conseeder their highest honor to die while keelling their master's enemies. One wonders how thees master ees chosen, of course."
Alex leans her chin on her small paw, asking curiously, "They're from Costa Yermo?" Horatio's ears flick curiously as he listens.
Carlos looks puzzled for a moment, then chuckles. "Oh, no. Much farther east. The Nomad Lands lie between the Han Empire and the Hundred Realms. Eet ees said that they are lower than the ocean herself, and very hot and dry."
Alex oohs... "Is that the desert? Have you been there?" She grins, "Have you seen a camel?!" She wonders internally (and a little worriedly) just how much contact the don's had with these folks... well, as long as her questions keep the don talking, Carroll will have more information.
The coyote grins, lying back against his pillows. "Eet ees a desert, certainly. Not the only one een the world. And no, I have never personally met a camel."
Alex says, "Have you been there? In the Eastern Lands?" Carroll smiles at Alex's enthusiasm and watches the Don's reaction to it. Alex grins, adding, "You must've traveled a lot as a diplomat!"
Carlos shakes his head. "No, I have never been that far. To the Empire, si, and to Ha'Sheera briefly, and to Cabreda in my first posting. I have never been to the Eastern conteenents."
Alex huhs thoughtfully, then asks curiously again, "So where'd you hear about the uh... the hasheesh? Hasheem, excuse me."
The coyote looks a little thoughtful. "One hears theengs. Especially when one's security offeecer ees such a clumsy and careless one. A word here and there, and weeth time to put the clues together... "
Alex brightens, leaning forward with interest, "Ooh! What'd you discover?" She would never, of course, being a nice girl, know that her shirt gaps just a touch... Carroll doesn't look perturbed at this possibility of rudeness, casually keeping an eye on where the coyote's eyes wander.
Horatio blinks a little. "From... from the Colonel?" he asks softly, then casts a worried glance around them. He remains blissfully unaware of Alex's angle, at least for the time being.
And Don Carlos, being a gentleman, would not draw attention to such things by letting his eyes wander. "From hees talking to hees subordeenates, from heents from other Eenqueeseetors in various places... they have a need to brag, the Eenqueeseetors -- as eef they weesh to persuade themselves how eemportant they are. As for what I have learned, eet ees leetle enough, and I have already told eet to you."
Horatio frowns. Fascinating.... Costa Yermo's Inquisitors have had contact with the Society, it seems... but as collaborators, or as enemies? Alex nods thoughtfully, sitting back and thinking hard as she agrees with the don, "Yes, that does seem to make sense... the colonel was a bit, er... eager to seem impressive..."
Carlos nods. "Eet ees a common failing of theirs."
Carroll says casually, "You take advantages of weaknesses where you find them," and smiles at the Don.
Alex frowns, tapping her fingers lightly on her knee as she thinks aloud, "Okay... so there's these Hasheem, and the Inquisitors know about them... do they work together at all?"
"The Inquisitors... would appear to hire them on occasion." The look on Carlos' face matches that of someone who's bitten into an apple and found half a worm. "There were certain... eenceedents that followed the previous times I heard thees name."
Alex's eyes widen slightly, and she breathes softly, "So... Iago does work with them!" She glances at the don with sudden sympathy... then gently, a little hesitantly lays her small paw on his arm, "I... I'm so sorry your prince is trying to kill you, don Carlos..."
Horatio blinks, his eyes widening. Oh, dear heaven! Could this be where it all comes down to? No... no, don't get excited, Student.... He blinks to Alex, then realizes that what she's saying is true: for some reason, Iago decided to have Carlos killed. "But... why...?" he murmurs more to himself, his brow furrowed and his tail unusually flicking back and forth.
Carlos shrugs. "Eet could be worse. Thees was not tryeeng to keell me, eet was more being weelling to let me be keelled. Eef he just wanted to keell me, he would replace me and recall me to Ciudad Draco."
Alex winces slightly, her ears flattening and a faintly disgusted look crossing her face. She nods quietly, "Very true... then I am sorry your liege is such a pathetic excu- er..." She catches herself, taking a deep breath and sitting back again. Politely she says, "Excuse me, that was uncalled for."
Don Carlos gives a rather lopsided grin. "Ah, but far be eet from me to deespute the opeenions of such a lovely lady. Seriously, I am not sure thees really ees hees doings."
Alex looks at her folded hands in her lap, a little embarrassed at her outburst... then simply says quietly, "Well... what do you think was the reason for this attack, then?"
Carroll says, "For your sake, Don Carlos, I hope that this idea is wrong; that it is merely coincidence that someone would hire this same band of assassins. Anyone with the resources would be able to do so, and there could have been any number of people at the ball who might be the object of such an attack. I believe we caught them off guard, so it is difficult to say who might have been targeted, and even more difficult to say who may have done it." He frowns, adding, "I find the idea that your prince would order or even allow the execution of his own staff reprehensible."
The coyote nods, "The Hasheem are noted for being assasseens for hire, and quite good at their work. The Inquisition hires them on occasion, I am sure, but they are not the only ones who might do so. Whoever tried to kidnap you, Sir Alexandra, might also be responseeble for thees."
Alex nods quietly at Carroll's comment, adding only, "Resources... and contacts." She looks suddenly irritated at the don's comment... then just sighs, grinning ruefully, "Drat. There went all my pleasure at not being the target this time around!" More quietly she adds, "I certainly hope not, though... because that would seem... to... uhhh..." She fades off again, thinking furiously.
The don grimaces in Carroll's direction. "I am not pleased weeth thees idea either, Capitán. But Prince Iago ees... not entirely stable."
Horatio shivers slightly. Okay... maybe Carroll's right, and we're jumping to conclusions. Maybe the Hasheem are different from the Society. But how do we find out without getting killed? He nods quietly in agreement to his little sister, at her pleasure at not being the target. Alex says slowly, "Hey... guys? Um... is it just me, or have there been two distinctly different modes of attack on me? -one trying to kill, the other capture me?" She pauses, then says in sudden, high indignation, "Dammit! Just what I need -- more lunatics after me for no good reason!"
Horatio blinks to Alex. "Possibly, Alex, yes. But if they sell their services, their client may have requested something different for each time... maybe..."
Carroll says, "You've been kidnapped, yes. People have tried to kill you, but I can't say they're related or that they were even after you specifically. I have no idea or not if they'd be organized individuals, related, or just random things which have happened."
Don Carlos shakes his head. "An attention you are certainly better off weethout, Sir Alex."
Alex glances over to Horatio and angrily snaps, "Then their client is just darned unstab- uhh... unstable..." Her gaze drifts slowly and thoughtfully to the don, as the nearest associate of Iago. Unstable... like Carlos' prince. But... why would Iago even know, let alone care, about me...?! she wonders bemusedly. I have just got to think about this more, she concludes, absently murmuring, "Um... yeah... so... we should probably let the don sleep now, yes?"
Horatio winces and half-cringes. He sighs softly, folding his hands behind his back, then nods quietly. Carroll smiles, "Yes, that would probably be wise." Looking back to the Don, he says, "I hope you are doing better tomorrow, Don Carlos. Good luck replacing your staff." Alex nods politely to the don, although she's got that deeply-lost-in-thought look to her eyes.
Carlos nods. "Let us hope eet ees not heem, then. Goodnight, Sir Alex. Capitán Carroll. Lord Horatio." The little rabbit, given a directive that matches her professional inclination, shoos everyone out of the room.
Horatio nods. "Good night, Don Carlos...."
The Queen invites Carroll for breakfast the next morning, while Don Carlos does the same for Alex. Jessie and Horatio are left to their own devices for the meal. Afterwards, another brief council of war is to be held. Alex is a little surprised at the separate invitations, but after checking to make sure that her brothers are happy with their prospective breakfast companions, she decides it probably won't be too annoying... he's been a gentleman so far, after all.
Alex taps lightly on the door of the infirmary at the correct time, peeking around the corner, "Good morning?" She notices the small rabbit nurse there as well. Good... doesn't hurt to have company to be sure the don behaves himself. Although... to be fair, he has seemed quite well behaved so far.
Don Carlos is in a private bedroom; actually a well-appointed guest suite. The furnishings are expensive but understated, and the coyote is sitting propped up on pillows wearing a dressing gown. "Buenos dias, Sir Alexandra! They eenseest that I stay een bed for today to make sure I have properly kneetted together. Thank you for joining me."
Alex grins, slipping quietly into the room, "They're right... you got pretty hacked at, Don Carlos." She smiles and nods politely as she carefully essays, "Ah, bue-nos di-as, senyor?"
Carlos grins. "Si. Thees ees 'good morneeng' or 'good day.' We might as well make thees a language lesson while we chat, yes?"
Alex settles into a chair by the bed, neatly resting her rapier's scabbard forward between her booted feet, and tucking her well brushed tail tidily into her lap. "Um... I guess? Is that something you want to do? I don't want you to get tired, after all?"
Carlos smiles, waving a hand in gentle deprecation. "Thees ees not so bad. I would have survived even weethout the healing potion, and I am feeling much better today. My chaperone theenks I should rest to make sure, but I suspect eet ees not necessary." The rabbit is giving the coyote her best stern doctor look, but he's mostly ignoring her.
Alex eyes the don thoughtfully... well, maybe he doesn't really understand what truly happened, or who rescued him. She should be nice... he is still hurt, after all, and that can affect how one thinks. She simply nods, then curiously asks, "Do you remember the incident at all?"
The Don looks at Alex more seriously. "I should say, I would have survived once you and your friends cut down my attacker. I owe you a debt of honor now, Sir Alexandra. And my profound thanks."
Alex's demeanor is carefully, expressionlessly formal... not having done this precise thing before, she's not exactly sure how to react. She thinks for a moment, then simply nods very politely, "You are too kind, sir... but I should tell you that it was more all my family, rather than just I alone, who chanced upon you at that moment." She adds with a smile, "I am pleased we were all able to assist you."
The coyote nods. "As you say. Things were rather confused at that point in time." He grins. "And I'm afraid my escape route ees rather compromised now. And eet ees so expenseeve to make new ones."
Alex laughs! -then grins, "Well, while I'm very glad we were able to help, I must admit there's something else I'm hoping you recall as well." Her eyes are dancing with mischief as she watches the don.
The coyote ponders this for a moment. "I recall the tango, milady. Eet was quite an experience." He grins, then waves to the sideboard, which is loaded with breakfast pastries, beverages, eggs, and most of a roast chicken. "But please, have some breakfast. I am afraid she weell not let me get up to serve you."
Alex blinks at the don in faint surprise, then grins a little ruefully, "Aw, you caught me -- I was going to tease you about that!" She adds to his comment re serving her, "Oh, you don't need to do that." She hops up and strides lithely over to the buffet, adding over her shoulder, "Would you like something too, don Carlos? Hey, I have a question for you... did I do the tango right?"
Don Carlos has a plate already, which he has been waiting to start until his guest arrived. "Perhaps another cup of coffee, if you would be so kind." He smiles at the second question. "As I said, milady, eet was a remarkable experience. You have the grace and talent of a born dancer."
Alex beams quietly to herself -- then gives a slightly puzzled glance over her shoulder at the don's words, "Thank you, don Carlos, but... well, I was wondering... why did you swing out in the middle of the dance? I don't recall that being part of it, but um... well, I'll admit I'm mostly a beginner?"
Carlos shrugs. "There ees no seengle way to dance the tango, Sir Alexandra. Eet ees an improveesation each time, depending on the dance floor and the museec. The sweeng ees one of the posseeble moves, and quite dramateec to the onlookers eef done properly."
Alex nods, "All right." She returns with food and two cups of coffee, settling comfortably. "Good, glad to hear it. I thought I'd done it wrong or something." She hands one mug to the don, then sips the other and sighs contentedly, "Mmm... so!" Her grin returns, "There's still one other thing you forgot, you know..." She covers a giggle, watching the don.
Don Carlos looks more puzzled than anything. "I cannot eemageene what. Unless you are referring to language lessons."
Alex giggles, "No, silly! Where's the night of dancing you promised, mmm?" With mock indignation she adds, "I only got three dances, you know!"
Carlos grins. "Does thees count the one weeth my assailant? I apologize that my party was eenterrupted by these hooleegans, milady, but I am afraid I cannot have another one unteel my staff has been replaced."
Alex grins, tilting her small nose up amusingly, "Well! I guess I'll just have to wait then -- but don't think I'll let you forget!" She giggles softly behind one small paw again, then nibbles some breakfast.
The Don sketches a bow from his bed. "I would not dream of thees, milady. You are quite perseestent, I have noteeced."
Alex grins more dryly, "Well now, I can't imagine that Carroll would not have warned you about that already, Don Carlos."
Carlos thinks about this for a minute, eating in companionable silence. "Your brother said nothing about persistence as such. Your interests, si, and your ambeetions, but the persistence was obvious from the beegeening."
Alex has a few more tidy bites of breakfast, then grins again, "All right, now I'm curious. What does that mean, please?" Then her ears tilt suddenly up in a bit of relief, "Oh, he told you I'm going to be a captain? Oh, good." She smiles ruefully again, "I was wondering how to tell you that."
Carlos nods. "He deed. He warned me that eef I weeshed to court you, I should know that I would never be able to deny your desires -- I thought eet was a feetting ambeetion for you. And Punta del Fuego ees a port ceety, so I know a leetle of sailors."
Alex thinks about that one for a moment... then simply nods again. "All right. Um... so... what did you mean, before?" She looks quietly pleased that people think her being a captain is a fitting ambition for her.
Carlos smiles. "You are unweelleeng to take no for an answer, milady. Eet ees obvious to anyone who pays attention that you weell succeed at whatever you weesh to do. Eef thees ees persistence, then so be it. I theenk of eet as dedeecation."
Alex blinks a bit... then blushes faintly around the mouth and eyes, looking pleased again, "Thank you, don Carlos. That's... very kind of you to say!" She has another sip of coffee, feeling a little self-conscious, then changes the subject a bit, "So, ah... is Punta del Fuego part of your estates or something?"
Carlos nods. "Parts of the ceety are een the estate, parts are held by my own vassals, some ees held directly by the crown, and some ees eendeependent. But the proveence trades gold, seelver, copper, and teember for grain, tools, and luxuries. I have some small eenterests een trade."
Alex looks curious at the 'breakdown' of the city's ownership -- how odd! "Er... do you mean parts as in geographical sections? -or parts as in, say, a merchant family is independent, or a particular industry belongs to the crown? Heh... yes, I'd guess with a port city that you'd want to be interested in trade!"
Carlos shrugs. "Both, and neither, I'm afraid. Some theengs are held as rights by one party or another, others are actual places, others are monopolies of trade or eendustry. Eet ees quite complex in detail."
Alex looks a bit puzzled, considering that... what a tangled plethora of detail that would seem to indicate! She's glad for a moment that she doesn't have to deal with anything that strange... then realizes, a little worriedly, that she's going to have to at least visit there, should she start seriously considering the don. After all, she's going to have to be sure that she's comfortable there if she's actually going to live there... but for now she just smiles and shrugs, "Well... sounds very odd, but I'm sure it makes perfect sense to the folks that live there."
Carlos looks a bit pained for a second. "Perhaps I should say eet ees tradeetional. I am not at all sure eet makes a lot of sense."
Alex nods unruffledly, "That's actually what I meant, don Carlos. I apologize if I sounded flippant or dismissive. Not my intent, I assure you."
The coyote grins again. "Deesmeeseeve ees reasonable, I theenk. I have found that some theengs are deefeecult to do because the authority to do them ees spread among too many parties -- other theengs are not done because there ees no one to oversee eet at all, the craft not having been known when the tradeetions were set."
Alex looks curious, "What doesn't get done? Does it need doing? Why doesn't someone just do it, if that's the case?"
Don Carlos nibbles at a drumstick, thinking about the problem. "For example. We do not beeld ships larger than fisherman's boats, even though the craftsmen are there and probably could do eet -- because the ceety, the crown, and my own representateeve cannot agree on who should pay for the workshop and docks and who should get the tax money. Each claims jurisdiction based on some of the rights they have now... but een the meantime, notheeng gets done."
Alex laughs softly, "Nothing? How maddening... and so none of them are able to benefit from the increased trade larger ships would bring in, yes?" She grins, shaking her head amusedly, "Bureaucrats... how silly."
"Si. And corrupt ones at that."
Alex blinks, looking a little shocked, "Corrupt? Good heavens, why haven't they been fired?!"
Carlos sighs. "Because they have either eenhereeted their jobs, they have the favor of one of the factions, or because een some cases there ees no one better to replace them weeth." Alex blinks again, looking simply shocked... she can't think of a thing to say to that! Carlos nods. "And thees ees why my country outnumbers the League and ees not nearly as powerful in the world."
Alex shakes her head slowly... then shakes it again, incredulously, "So incompetents are allowed to retain office, simply because of inheritance?! And... how could..." She falls silent as it occurs to her that it'd be rude to badger the don about something he's obviously already unhappy about. She simply says softly, "Excuse me... I'm not there. I'm sure people are doing the best they can." She sips her coffee silently, wondering a bit bemusedly... why on earth would anyone want to live there, if it's that bad? She's starting to doubt seriously that anyone that incompetent or corrupt will be intelligent enough to treat her like a person, rather than yet another helpless doofus of a female.
Carlos sighs. "Eet ees the system they know. Too often, skeell and ambeetion ees rewarded weeth abuse and theft, so the skeelled do not work hard and the ambeetious leave. You hold a hereditary offeece yourself -- or your brother does, at least. Eet ees not always a good theeng, I begeen to see here... because not all hereditary nobles have your sense of obleegation and duty, Sir Alex. Eenstead we get people like our Prince and hees cronies."
Alex raises an eyebrow, retorting, "Carroll is the heir not just due to primogeniture, but also because he is competent, don Carlos. I'm sorry, I fail to see how here..." she pauses, suddenly deflating as understanding hits, "...oh..." She sighs softly, then says gently to the coyote, "I'm so sorry it's like that for you."
Carlos nods. "Eet needs to be changed. The question, of course, ees how?" Since neither of them have an answer, the conversation slowly wanders off into less depressing subjects.
At the council of war called by the queen, Ludmilla is not happy, stalking back and forth while her tail lashes constantly. Morgana looks much better, at least, a night's rest and some healing magic having done her a world of good. Alex glances at Ludmilla, then smiles wryly, "Let me guess... the assassins knew the queen was there?" Horatio looks worriedly at the baroness, then blinks to Alex. Oh, I hope not.... But why else would Ludmilla be angry?
Carroll is quietly satisfied after a pleasant meal with the Queen, and having been able to spend a few minutes alone and not worrying about it, lost in the idle pleasantries of the social dance of the meal. His serious mood returns only slowly, spurred on by the tigress' irritation.
The tigress starts and gives Alex a very dirty look. "Nyet. He knew almost nothink at all. He vas to kill the ambassador at the signal. That is all ve get out of him. The potion does not make you talk, of course, just makes you speak truth if you speak. He won't talk. He told us that much before he realized he could not lie, and then has not said vun vord since."
Alex nods, smiling faintly. Well, looks like her attempt to point out that things could be worse didn't work so well. She adds mildly, "I'm not sure why Mistress Thorn thinks those things are so wonderful, and make people not use torture. From a strictly pragmatic viewpoint I'd see them as actually encouraging torture... since they don't force conversation, but you know that what you get will actually be the truth!"
Carroll hrms, then says, "To kill Don Carlos? Who would want to kill Don Carlos?" He doesn't look pleased at this thought pattern."
Alex settles comfortably in a chair, watching and listening. Ludmilla snorts. "I doubt he knows anythink anyvay. He is just underling, not knowink who hires them all."
Alex says, "Then why are you so upset, baroness, if I may ask?" Horatio lets out a silent breath. He looks rather startledly at Alex, but mindfully keeps quiet, only looking towards Ludmilla curiously. Carroll nods, also looking up at the big woman curiously.
Ludmilla stops, except for the twitching tail, then breaks into a reluctant grin. "Da. Good point. I vas not expectink anythink useful, vas I? So vhy be angry vhen I am correct, da?" Alex smiles... then sighs internally, still bemused as to what use a truth potion is when torture is forbidden... but figures that's a question for another time. If the baroness really wanted to know more, with a reputation like hers... she'd know. The tigress continues, "I am still thinkink, though. These assassins rarely miss their marks, and if there vas a specific target they vould have enough power to kill that one. Am thinkink that somehow Colonel Rivera vas primary target, and I am not understandink vhy."
Horatio lets out a sigh, and nods, managing a relieved and pleasant if disquieted expression. He does not mention the conversation with the Don from the previous day, however; that would be for his siblings to decide to do. "And Don Carlos? Wouldn't he have been a primary target?"
Alex points out pragmatically, "Well, he missed his mark. Almost got him too. Had we not walked in just then, the don would probably be dead." She grins then, thinking, and he'd better get better! He owes me big time... for a whole night of promised dancing I've not yet gotten!
Ludmilla dismisses the captured assassin with a shake of her head. "He vas not a good vun. This indicates that the Don was part of the cover, not the primary target."
Alex eyes the tigress dryly, oh, thank you so much for dismissing our efforts. No, that's not fair... but what she's saying still doesn't make sense. It's just silly -- how could she know what a "good" assassin was? Carroll murrs, "Not if he didn't know anything. If Rivera, as the Inquisitor, knew something which could be damaging, he could be a target. But as Don Carlos suggested, why not just replace him and do the killing safe in Costa Yermo?"
Horatio asks quietly, "If I may ask, Baroness... there must have been movement to or from the embassy as the assassins were moved into position. Has anything come up about where all these assassins came from? Any movements around town, or arriving, and on what ships?"
Ludmilla checks her notes. "Nothink except for caterers. Ve are thinkink from the conversation Alex reported that they had been infiltratink over several days, and more came in vith the catering staff this evenink."
Horatio frowns slightly, trying to wrap his mind around that, then shakes his head. That sort of thing is Carroll's forte, not his. And it's a little moot if magic was involved. Alex nods quietly. More and more this isn't making any sense... obviously there's some terribly important piece of information they don't have yet. She settles quietly cross-legged, curling her tail neatly into her lap and just idly stroking it as she listens. Maybe the big clue will arrive if she just thinks hard enough. Carroll asks again, "And why go to that effort, when you could merely send the man home for a replacement, and take care of him in the security of your own nation? That doesn't make sense to me at all."
Horatio nods quietly in agreement. "We have an amalgamate," he mutters, "but we're missing one element to it. And not just any element -- the Quintessence of the affair." He closes his eyes in though. Think, think, think, Student.... What to we need to figure out? Then he blinks a little. Maybe it doesn't make sense... because it doesn't. Oh, that'll get the Philosophers arguing for hours, Horry. "If I may... uhm... maybe we're trying to find a reason where none exists. If it makes so little sense for Iago to have Rivera and Carlos killed here at the embassy in Maidstone... then maybe he didn't. Maybe it was someone else entirely...."
Alex mutters under her breath, "Maybe he's just a fruit bat..."
Carroll says, "It doesn't make any sense to me for Iago to do something this risky and heavy-handed when he has the clean and simple option the Don pointed out available to him, no. If not him, who would it be?"
Alex looks up suddenly, "Whoa... guys, maybe that's the reason... Iago doesn't make sense any more!" Then she winces, her ears flattening in sudden rue, "Eeeurgh... I hope you're right and I'm wrong, Horry... 'cause trying to outthink someone that doesn't make sense would be painful!"
Carroll hmms. "The borderline between 'mad' and 'stupid' can be rather thin. I, however, still find it difficult to believe. Would there be anyone else who might do this?"
Horatio nods to Carroll, then blinks to Alex. "You mean... he's taken leave of his mind? That, at least, we can look at and confirm or deny!" Thank heavens! Something they can apply method of experimentation to! "Can we get a summary of policies that Costa Yermo's implemented lately? Principal decisions and the like?"
Alex says gently to Horatio, "Horry... the don's already told us that Iago's unstable." She settles back in her chair, sighing softly... either she's right, in which case she's not going to be any use in figuring out what the mad prince wants, because she doesn't know how to throw logic out the window... or she's wrong, in which case she's still lost. She hopes Horatio keeps having insights... she sure isn't having any.
Horatio says, "But if he's unstable enough to try killing an embassy-full of his officers and guests, then he'd be more inclined to do horribly stupid and insane things with his country's economy and laws. If his mind is a cauldron, part of it cannot be boiling with insanity while the rest condenses ex thermia."
Arianna looks at her seneschal. "Send a message to our embassy in Ciudad Draco, then. Find out if Iago's been up to anything strange recently."
Alex smiles ruefully at Horatio, "I don't know, Horry. I'd consider it madness, were I he, to allow my nobility to rapaciously live fat off my peasantry, or to have desperate slaves mining my gold mines... but he may consider that just the usual status quo."
Carroll murrs, "All I can suggest at this point is that I don't know what is going on." Alex nods wearily to Carroll, then just goes back to silently combing her tail with her fingers.
Horatio nods quietly to Alex, sighing. "You're right. Madness that sees him doing that to his people doesn't mean that he's not cautious when he's messing with the situations in other countries. Though that letter that... the queen received, ransoming Alex, seemed almost written by a madman. It couldn't have been more obvious who it was supposed to benefit from the situation, which made it all the more inobvious as to who benefited from it." He blinks. "Actually.... uhm... who's benefited from all this, from the attempt on the Queen's life, from the kidnapping of Alex, from the assassins at the Costa Yerman embassy?"
Alex murmurs bitterly, "Not us, that's for darned sure."
Carroll says, "I have no idea. The assassins who got paid for it?"
Alex hms, thinking... then shakes her head, "Darned if I know." She glances up at Horry, "Who?"
Horatio's brow furrows, then he nods and reaches into his satchel for a rough map of Maidstone he had sketched from some of his charts. "Well, locally. Father's said nothing about any incidents back home, and I imagine the news would be abuzz if there were similar incidents occurring across the League. Which makes me think possibly that this is strictly local to Maidstone. So maybe if we start with who might locally benefit from all this... the first answer, which may or may not be wrong, is one of the ducal families. Westmark is obvious, but he was a pawn. That leaves... three others." He shakes his head. "I'm not saying they are responsible, but... someone in their houses may be. Or someone else, again locally...."
Alex shrugs, "The only person I can think of that it might benefit is only if we assume someone is so twisty-minded that they'd get themselves into trouble, so as to appear that it's not them... Iago." She eyes the queen silently and hopes for her sake that this suggestion of Horatio's is wrong... poor lady, to have half her major nobility plotting her demise. Then she hms... well, she can think of one other person it might help... but she doesn't care to suggest that Ludmilla's status might depend on the queen needing her badly. That'd be unkind, rude, and Alex has no desire to get (rightfully) smacked by the tigress for such a baseless accusation.
Carroll says, "You're suggesting one of the local dukes again, Horatio?" He considers this idea.
Horatio starts to shake his head... then stops, blinking. "Oh, silly student," he mutters. Looking rather discomfited, he leans back in his chair, looking at the map, thinking. "This can't be right. This is too obvious. But maybe...." He looks up at Carroll, fretfully. "Brother... how common is it in the League for... erm... for... well... firstborn to plot against the titled member of their house?"
Alex murmurs dryly, "Firstborn are the titled members of their houses, Horry."
Horatio nods very slowly, then looks at the map. "Exactly, Alex. Unless there's something that will prevent you from becoming the titled member of the house, even if you are firstborn."
Alex sighs, "Go on, Horry. If you think you know who it is, please say so."
Carroll says, "It's not unknown, Horatio, although most positions of nobility aren't worth such efforts any more. It's more common in the empire." With an evil grin he asks, "Do you think Dimitri is out to get me, so he can inherit the house?" Alex sighs again.
Horatio nods to Alex, then blinks to Carroll. "Good heavens, no. I doubt he'd want it, actually." He sighs and rubs his eyes. "Westmark's daughter," he finally says wearily. "I'm sorry, that's the only name I can think of. She's Westmark's firstborn, but there's no way that he would ever let her inherit, since she's a woman. So she works to have the queen assassinated and have her father framed for it. When that fails, she later works to have her father implicated in the kidnapping of Alex."
Alex says, "Oh. Lucrezia." She sighs again.
Horatio says, "Oh! That's right -- that's her name. I'd forgotten..."
Carroll hmms, and says, "That is quite a reach. And if so, why wouldn't she stop, having achieved her goal?"
Alex nods, "Doesn't make sense to me."
Carroll murrs, "This incident at the Embassy seems pointless for her to have considered, doesn't it?"
Alex says, "Since when has being female been a problem here?"
Ludmilla's tail has finally stopped twitching. "Not if Rivera vas her partner in dealing vith the Society."
Horatio says, "Has she achieved it yet? Her father's in prison but hasn't been publicly charged with anything." He taps his chin. "It isn't for anyone here, Alex, except for her father's very Imperial couture. As for the embassy..." He looks to Ludmilla, blinking.
Carroll looks at Ludmilla and considers. He says, "Interesting."
Morgana shrugs. "She may not have the title, but she has the power now. If she was behind all that..."
Alex rolls her eyes in deep exasperation, cold anger starting to rise in her voice, "Lady's tits, I got attacked repeatedly and my friends were endangered... because some stupid little bint couldn't keep her shorts out of a knot?! I'll KILL her if you're right, Horry!" Carroll doesn't contradict his sister. Alex has risen to her feet, then freezes for a second. She turns and stares at the queen, "If you want me to spook her like I did her father, that's fine... but TELL me this time. That includes not dangling a duel in front of me too, please."
Carroll says, ignoring Alex's temper, "If this is the case, what would be the appropriate next step?"
Arianna is not saying anything yet. "I'll tell you this time, Sir Alex, I promise. This... we need more evidence."
Alex sighs and shakes her head sharply, then rubs her face, mussing up her fur, "I... need to get some fresh air. This is the stupidest thing I've heard in a long time. Please excuse me." She bows politely but swiftly to the queen, then the baronesses... then walks swiftly out.
Carroll watches his sister leave, then looks back to the others. "If you will excuse me, I think I will make sure Alex is all right."
Horatio blinks after Alex and swallows. For Lucrezia's sake, he thinks, if she's behind this, I hope she's up to facing Alex in a duel. Then he considers again. Of course, as a St. Genevieve, if she is responsible, I hope she gets skewered right well. He is only a little surprised by this; a small part of him is fuming in anger at having not even thought of Lucrezia. He blinks. Would she be that simple? So simple as to just want the ducal coronet for herself, and in so doing get the St. Genevieves involved? He nods quietly to Carroll, standing with his brother and bowing to the queen and her company.
The night is not as foggy here in Maidstone as it usually is
in the northern cities of the League, but the darkness conceals much of
the same sort of activity. Sten Rivard walks through the streets of the
League's largest city, his purse still plump with the proceeds of his
latest assignment with the guild. He's not really concerned yet about
finding a new one, and with the amount of trade running through the city
he's sure that there won't be a problem when the time comes. His reverie
is interrupted by the unmistakable sound of steel on steel from around
the corner just ahead.
Sten blinks, hands instinctively going to his swords. Should I get involved? Let's see what this is... but might as well be prepared. He tries to be quiet as he draws both swords and goes to investigate as sneakily but quickly as he can, to see who's fighting.
You see a six-foot-tall russet wolf with a distinctly
vulpine cast to his features and fur. He seems a fairly sure call for a
half-breed, with a muscular but lighter-than-pure-lupine frame. The red
canid is not possessed of a handsome face... it's fairly unremarkable
but for warm golden eyes outlined in darker, near-black fur. He wears
plain but clean attire; good black calf-boots that have seen a lot
of walking and loose trousers a few shades darker than his fur. Even
darker russet than his trousers is a tabard covering chain armor and a
cream shirt that probably used to be white. His chest is crossed by a
leather strap holding a heavy crossbow at his back, and two sword belts
are slung in a low X across his hips; a short sword at his left side,
a broadsword at his right. Plain black leather gloves and a pouch or two
are tucked into the wide black belt at his waist. Despite the arsenal,
the tall canid moves with an easy grace.
Around the corner is a tableau all too common in the slums of cities around the world. Two furrs against one, with the one trying to guard a female. The pair attacking are a rather disreputable appearing pair, a cat and a badger with an eye-patch. They are attacking a mouse and presumably his wife. The little fellow goes down with a cry of pain even as Sten comes around the corner, and the female shrieks, "No!!"
Sten snarls and charges the attackers, shouting "Let them go!" Six-foot-even of very angry mostly-wolf bears down upon the cat and badger with two swords drawn, intending to place himself between the attackers and the attacked. The two footpads, seeing someone obviously capable of fighting back, take off as Sten charges them. This game is obviously not worth the risk any more. Sten pants, furious and denied a fight. He reins the unneeded emotions in hard and looks at the mouse on the ground to see how badly he's injured and apply first-aid training if needed. "Are you ok?"
The little mouse femme sobs with relief as Sten chases off their attackers. "Oh, thank you, thank you... they've hurt my brother, sir." The one on the ground looks to be bleeding from a gash on his leg.
Sten bends to inspect the wound and do what he can, sheathing his swords. "You're welcome, ma'am... glad I heard you. What happened?" He does his best to bind the male mouse's gash with a roll of cloth he happened to be carrying in a pouch for such occasions. "You should get that looked at... can you walk?"
The young male nods. "I think so, sir. Thank you for chasing off those ruffians." His sister chimes in with her own thanks, and they depart, she supporting him as they go.
Sten smiles at the mice, careful not to show teeth-- a snarl is still chasing around his brain trying to get out. He calls, "You're welcome, of course. Are you far from home? I can walk with you if you like."
The mice assure him that they're close to home and don't need his assistance, he's done too much already. They have just barely gotten out of sight around the corner when Sten realizes that his purse suddenly feels much lighter than before. Sten blinks, lips drawing back from his teeth, and runs after the mice.
As he rounds the corner, the mice are in sight and also running -- they are going flat out down the alleyway and make a right turn into the street beyond. Sten tries to make the most of longer legs as he pounds after the thieving rodents.
Alex has persuaded her brothers that an evening of relaxation in town would help take their minds off the problem of Countess Lucrezia, and they are returning from a fine meal when a pair of mice bursts out of an alleyway right in front of MacKenzie and Mikhail. They turn to run away at the sight of the two armed guards, as MacKenzie scoops up the female. "What's going on, now?" Alex glances curiously at the mice, then looks around carefully, one small paw dropping to her sword.
The femme-mouse shrieks. "Oh, help, help! He's trying to rob us!!" Sten skids out of the alleyway just as the little mousette points in his direction.
Alex blinks -- that's a big one! -then draws her sword warily. Carroll frowns a little and says, "That's bad." He looks at the big fellow charging out of the alley and takes half a step back at his size and intensity.
Carroll Waynewright St. Genevieve stands before you, dressed in
a fine burgundy doublet of some soft material. Beneath it, a surprisingly
white long sleeved shirt lets white ruffles tipped with lace spill out at
his throat and sleeves. Thin gold chains trail loosely around one wrist,
while his short sword rides easily at his hip; difficult to say if it's
mostly ornamental or not. His full, white-tipped tail seems to match the
frilled sleeves. He wears tan leggings with yellow-gold trim down the
outside edges, and soft leather, calf-high boots. He smiles pleasantly
at you and nods graciously.
Alex checks behind them, nodding to Mikhail to cover the rear, then looks back at the huge wolf. Carroll draws his own sword a moment later, keeping the mice close at hand and inside the line of guards. Alex glances at the male mouse to be sure he's safe too... where is he? The other mouse didn't stop running, and is already some distance away. Alex blinks suddenly... the male is fleeing? She says puzzledly, "Hey..." Horatio blinks at the sudden commotion -- then as his siblings draw their swords he steps back slightly, looking to put his back to the wall to leave his siblings room to fight and -- but, wait, that doesn't seem to be happening...
Well, he stands a bit shy of five and a half feet tall, and
has some noble features about him. That seems to be where nobility left
Horatio and had done with him, though. A pair of bright pale blue eyes peer
out, and sometimes squint, at the world around him from behind a pair
of spectacles. He also walks a little awkwardly, though you notice his
drooping tail is held motionless behind him, as if he was concerned
he would turn his back and accidentally swipe an experiment in his
workshop. He wears a tabard and cloak in the colors of the St. Genevieve
family, as well as somewhat rough (and slightly singed) clothing fitting
for a nobleman's (younger) son. A sword-belt is cinched around his waist
as well, with a scabbard in the hangar, though he seems to carry the small
sword with not a great deal of dexterity. However, it is with somewhat
more grace that he carries a well-worn satchel, its strap crossed over
his chest like a bandolier. You get the impression that he has a lot
more little items tucked away in the folds and pockets of his tabard,
cloak, clothing, and boots.
Sten skids to a stop as the group gets in the way and collars one of his thieves. He eyes the mousette. "Your partner left you. Does he have my money, or do you, and he just doesn't care about you?"
Alex studies the huge wolf for a moment, then looks at the mouse... then back at the wolf. She says politely, "Sir, if you would wait but a moment?" then turns to the mouse. "Perhaps you should show me the contents of your purse, and we'll see if he can name them or no?"
An attractive young vixen with proud bearing, she carries
herself with quiet, thoughtful strength. Despite the pretty lace-trimmed
silk shirt she's dressed in a decidedly non-feminine style, with snug
bottle-green breeches; well-worn, quality, black riding boots; and
long leather fencing gloves (finely embroidered with the house crest,
of course) tucked casually into her sturdy leather belt. A plain and
practical military epee (with a decidedly well used look to it) hangs
at her hip, and there are two golden earrings in her left ear, won at
the cost of her naivete, but honorably worn with steadfast pride. Her
fur is a fiery scarlet, and she regards the world with a pensive,
green-eyed gaze.
The mouse-femme shrieks again, trying to burrow under MacKenzie's arm as if for protection. "Please save me, noble sir!" Alex's ear tilts quizzically... interesting reaction. She uses her free hand to check for a purse.
MacKenzie nods to Mikhail and Jessie, and they take off after the other mouse before he replies to her. "I will, if you're the one telling truth here."
Carroll frowns at the hysterical reaction. He looks up at the big wolfish sort and asks, "Can you tell me what's missing?"
Sten notes dryly to the strangers, as the mouse appeals to them, "That's how I got involved. She and her friend were set upon and I stopped to help, then noticed I was lighter by some coin..."
Carroll continues frowning and keeps his sword drawn. He says, "Considering she has told us you're trying to rob her, I don't know what to say about that. Coin is not terribly identifiable. Is anything else missing?"
Alex looks curious, "Nothing in her purse, guys." She does a careful visual check of the small woman... anything anomalous? "Well... a few small coins," she carefully puts the purse back, adding, "-but that's it." Oddly, the mouse-femme continues to jingle even as Alex takes her purse. The young vixen frowns thoughtfully, then joggles MacKenzie's arm gently, listening carefully for the jingling's location.
Sten frowns and reaches to his neck... and finds nothing. His face twists into an angrier mask. "She took my pendant as well. It's rather important to me, though-" he directs this to the mouse, "-it's worth far more to me than it is on the market. You should have stopped at the coin. Now I'm upset."
Alex eyes the angry wolf warily, then says calmly, "We're searching, don't worry." Then she ahs, and nods to MacKenzie, "Hold her tight... she's going to squeal." Once the wolverine has her firmly, Alex steps between the men and the mouse female, and... checks the young lady's cleavage.
Sten breathes deeply and looks more composed. He says quietly to Alex, "Sorry. That pendant is all I have from my father, and my mother recently passed away."
Alex nods absently, her voice drifting over her shoulder, "We will try to get it back to you if this young woman has it, sir..."
Sten adds to Alex as she searches, "It's silver enameled dark red on the front, and it's engraved with my parents' names. 'From Timothy to Joiselle.' There's a pattern on the other side, a pentagram atop a broadsword, in gold." His tone turns wry. "In case you find several pieces of jewelry in there and need to distinguish it."
Alex freezes, one hand still down the poor mouse female's dress... a moment later she straightens and stares at the tall wolf. There's a very odd tone to her voice as she says incredulously, "What?!"
Carroll looks oddly at the fellow, and says, "Timothy? A pentagram over a broadsword? Like this?" He removes the pin of the house sigil he is wearing and shows it to the stranger.
Sten's tone is slightly defensive as he says to Alex, "What do you mean, 'what?' It's perfectly natural to keep a token from one's deceased parent."
Alex says puzzledly, "But... who's this Joiselle person?" The mouse's cleavage is indeed mostly metal... a cunningly sewn pair of pouches easily filled with coin and other goods. Alex's impromptu search yields about 500 LD in gold coins and a silvery pendant... a pendant engraved with the House St. Genevieve arms. Alex looks down at her findings, still bemused... she holds the pendant up, and it spins slowly in the light, "It... is ours..."
Sten frowns slightly. "No, actually, it's mine..."
Carroll says, "I believe she is rather startled to hear your description." He asks again, "Is the design like this?" and show his pin again, dropping silent when Alex finds it.
Alex says softly, staring at the pendant she's holding up, "Carroll, Horatio, look..."
Carroll asks Alex, "Is it inscribed as he said, Alex?"
Alex nods, then realizes that can't be heard, and simply murmurs, "Uh-huh... guys? Who's Joiselle? Why's Daddy giving her jewelry?" She sounds a little stunned.
Sten looks at Carroll's brooch as directed and blinks, startled. "That's... that's exactly it. Where did you get this?"
Alex's head turns sharply, the two gold earrings jingling softly, as she snaps at the mouse, "Where did you get this?!"
Sten turns to Alex, ears going slightly back and face getting shell-shocked. "Joiselle is my mother. I haven't actually met my father. They weren't married."
Carroll puts up his sword, looking a little stunned. He says slowly, "Do you see, perhaps, why Alex is a little startled? This is our house seal. I was given this by my father, Timothy St. Genevieve."
Alex looks a bit bemused, glancing between the mouse and the wolf... then deals with the simpler of the two issues -- she grabs the mouse by her shirt front and shakes her, snarling, "Where?!"
The mouse is somewhat taken aback by all of this and hasn't come up with a plausible answer before it's obviously too late. "I…" She goes silent, her ears drooping and coins dripping out of her bodice. "He..."
Sten says in a higher pitch, "What do you mean, 'why is Daddy giving her-'?" then hears Carroll and spins to face him. He looks at a loss for words... and definitely stressed.
Alex gives the mouse a disgusted look, straightening, "So... you're just a thief." She sighs, "MacKenzie, can you take care of her?" Then, almost reluctantly, she slowly turns and steps to Carroll's side. She silently hands the pendant to Carroll so he can see too, avidly studying the strange young wolf before... no, wait... hm... okay, maybe there are vulpine touches... she puzzledly studies the young man standing before her.
Carroll looks at the set of the large wolf's ears, and then looks a little closer, noticing red fur and a slightly vulpine cast. He takes a step back and says, "Now, sir, calm down. There's nothing to be upset by here."
Sten stands there for a moment, mouth hanging slightly open, looking like a large, stressed rust-toned wolf. Alex suddenly has to cover a smile... then she steps forward, "Good sir, I don't think we've been introduced. Would you care to come into the inn here with us? They have an excellent bar... and perhaps we should talk?"
Carroll looks at the pendant, reading the inscription. He offers it to Sten, saying, "As you say, this is yours."
Sten blinks, takes a deep breath or three, and nods at Alex and Carroll, suspecting he's the reason the male fox stepped back. He gently accepts the pendant and nods gratefully. "Thank you. And certainly. My name is Sten. Sten Rivard." He clasps the necklace safely around his neck again and tucks it under his tabard.
Alex's mouth silently forms the words of the young man's name as she listens, ears close-pricked up in fascination. Carroll smiles, and introduces himself, "I am Carroll St. Genevieve. This is my brother Horatio and my sister Alexandra. Please, allow me to buy you a drink, as I think we should talk a bit." Alex nods politely as she's introduced, then tilts her head, still curiously studying the strange young man.
Sten smiles at the siblings. "I'd be delighted. You have all my attention at the moment, I assure you..."
MacKenzie grins as he sees Mikhail and Jessie returning with a rather bedraggled-looking second mouse. The mink looks all wet, as well. "I think we've got her accomplice, too. The rest of you stay with them, and we'll take Miss Lightfingers here to see the Watch."
Carroll smiles, "Thank you, Mac. We'll remain here until you return." So saying, he leads the way in to the inn, and tries to get a quiet place to talk, perhaps for a while. Alex finds a table for her brothers, then simply dumps a pile of coin from the mouse into the young man's hands, "I guess this is yours too, yes?"
Sten grins at Alex, "So it is. I think I shall have to buy the next round or two in thanks for your help in regaining it." He looks ruefully at his shredded purse, and finds another pouch on his belt with room for the coin, freeing his hands again.
Carroll says, "If you insist, although I believe I'll be perfectly happy to buy you a drink or many. So, your mother wasn't married, your father left before you were born. She was a wolf. Where are you from? What do you know about your father?"
Alex grins cheerfully, studying the young half-breed's face... well, he seems a fighter, and straightforward enough! "No problem! Um... actually, can we talk you into telling us about yourself? -and um... your parents?"
Sten grins again at the tag team approach, and gathers his thoughts. Carroll flags down a waitress and makes sure drinks are coming, too. He decides to add some sort of snack... he has the feeling a few bites of something might help settle everyone. Alex leans her chin on her fists, watching in fascination... could this actually be a new brother? She giggles softly to herself -- Daddy will be in town soon -- boy, will they have a surprise for him! Naughty man... she gets a slightly wicked glint in her eyes... if Father is shaken up enough, maybe she can get... information about him in regards to her speculations on him and Bryn? -or... ooh, better yet! Maybe a promise of a captaincy!
Sten says, "Well, I'm from Skaergard, to start with. I'm here because of work; I'm mercenary by trade, and a merchant caravan wanted guarding whilst they traveled here. You met me shortly after I'd been paid for finishing that, and you entered the story..." Carroll nods and listens. Sten says, "Mom -- Joiselle -- was a chevalier in the Empire and, as you guessed, a wolf."
Alex looks curious, "What's a chevalier?" She murmurs softly, as if testing the words, "Joiselle... Rivard..." then looks back up to the young wolf, her eyes bright with curiosity.
Sten says, "She met my father after she came to Skaergard, and obviously liked him quite a bit..." He looks wry, then stops to answer Alex. "A chevalier is like a knight, basically, but in the Karadan Empire rather than here, so different word." His tone and grin are not condescending, but more as though he's remembering how he was first told the same.
Alex huhs, listening interestedly. Carroll nods slowly, listening. He asks, "What was she like?"
Sten says, "Anyway, she gave me the pendant -- his present to her -- when I was young, and suggested I find a match for the sigil if I was curious about my father." He smiles softly at Carroll, "She was beautiful, of course. And strong. She didn't mind that I was small... she taught me my first weapons." It's obviously a good memory.
Alex accepts the drinks from the waitress, passing them around to her brothers, then nudging the snack plate into the center of the table so everyone can reach it. She sips her drink, her eyes still bright with curiosity over the rim of the mug. She blinks at the 'small' comment! -then says firmly, "There's nothing wrong with being small. Good things come in small packages!" She frowns, looking a little torn as she glances at the pendant and worries a little... why was her father giving engraved jewelry to strange women? She sure hopes Mother knew... and didn't mind.
Carroll also looks a little odd at the 'small' comment. He smiles though at the description, "She sounds like she was quite something."
Sten smiles, still soft in remembrance, at Carroll. "Oh, she was... and smart, too. But then, all Moms are perfect, so I suppose I might be biased."