Connloath Good, Magic Bad (Also, damn scary)

[Anonymous]

It seemed like things ought to feel different, on the other side of the border. Not just feel different, but look different... Rathnait had expected magic-twisted creatures, trees that tried to eat you, or something. It shouldn't look like just... well, just like the rural parts of Connlaoth. It seemed deeply wrong to Rathnait, and rather put her hackles up. Not that that showed at all, outwardly - her posture in the saddle was nothing unusual, straight-backed, chin up, and maybe she was eying the landscape a little suspiciously, but no more than would be expected from the average foreigner on not-exactly-friendly territory.

Nevertheless, for all of her outward calm, she rather wanted to nudge her heels against her mare's flanks, turn her about, and run hell for leather back home. However, a glance to her mother discouraged that thought - Alaois Vaili looked perfectly calm, apparently undisturbed by the presence of magic here. Then again, Alaois wasn't disturbed by anything, that Rathnait knew of.

The Connlaothan ambassador and her daughter, traveling into Serendipity, didn't come with any particular fanfare - they certainly didn't want to attract the attention of any mages outside of the assumed protection of Serendipity's palace. Rathnait would prefer they didn't encounter mages at all, ever, but obviously that wasn't an option here. However, despite the lack of fanfare, they did travel with Alaois' men at arms, a good number of them, and there was no mistaking both Alaois and Rathnait as Important Personages. Both of them small, blond, well-dressed and obviously noble-born women mounted on well-bred horses, accompanied by a number of heavily-armed men... Anyone who couldn't identify them as important people was either blind, or a complete idiot.

[Anonymous]

There are certain patterns to people’s thoughts, she’d noticed.  No two people were exactly the same, of course, but there were patterns.  City and country people, for instance, had different ways of thinkingâ€"like how many city people subconsciously were generally connected a cow with a good side of beef, or a pig with pork.  One was a living creature that someone somewhere keptâ€"the other was food.  Country people tended to watch seasons more.  However, the most telling difference for her was generally cultural.  Different cultures patterned different ways of thinkingâ€"even just a tree could be perceived differently by people from two different forms of upbringing.  A lifetime around her villagersâ€"and they were hers, because she was their pet and they absolutely spoiled herâ€"and her family, as well as a few other people if she decided to go out, meant that she knew any Glaustrian on sight.  Or mind-sight, ratherâ€"which generally happened long before the visual.  But on this occasion, she felt someone rather… different.

She wasn’t sure which had caught her attentionâ€"the almost-herd of similar mindsâ€"guards, from the wariness, she knew the kind of attention they gaveâ€"the spot of near blind panic that almost made her burst out laughing in the small town squareâ€"what was there to be so afraid of, after all?â€"or the deceptively cold spot.  She frowned to herself, trying to figure it out… and then she blinked.  With that many guards, it meant someone important, and both the minds had that peculiar arrogant tint of being nobility (and she knew that far too well, feeling it in her own family).  And because they were heading south, it meant towards the city.  And the only place north of Glauster….  Connlaoth.  They’re from… Connlaoth?  She couldn’t, perhaps, try prying into their thoughts from this distanceâ€"and it made Father so unhappy when she did, anyway, that she really couldn’tâ€"but one thing was certain: they were heading in her general direction.

Nadia kept rather close tabs on themâ€"anyone from a country where they would kill her family without a second thought warranted a certain amount of distrust from herâ€"and as it became clearer that they really would pass through their little village…. No one saw her small smile.  If they had, they would have run far, far away.

With her big brother burying himself in the latest shipment of books, something they always got due to the fact that he hid in them, and Meri and Katrina and her parents in the capital, there was only one small problem…. After conveniently nudging the innkeeper to drag Ceallie off to see to a mare near foaling, Nadia had grinned and promptly dragged Aidan and Avrilys to the main square, made sure there were lots of littles around, and began one of her epic tales.

And so it was that they had a cave with a giant fire-breathing dragon in front of it, and a female pinned to a rock.  All that could be ascertained was that it was femaleâ€"and not quite life-size, with the two storytellers on either side of the illusion cast in mid-air on the green.

“But ‘dan, it has to be about a beautiful noble maiden! It always is!�

“That’s why it’s boring, Nadi!  Anyway, it’ll be funnier if it’s just some normal old woman and he goes through all the trouble of…â€?

“Aidan!â€? She stamped her foot adorably.  â€œIt has to be! Dragons only want to eat beautiful little noble girls! ‘Vril, tell him I’m right!â€?

[Anonymous]

Avrilys, who was concentrating her hardest to make sure the ground under the littles vibrated a tiny bit with each move and roar the dragon made, just sighed.  "Aidan, I really don't want to get into an argument right now.  Let it be a pretty girl this time, and next time we'll make it some old homebody for the comedic relief, alright?"  Though she thought rather forcefully that if he put up an argument, Nadia should back down or they would be finished with the story altogether.  Avrilys had some magic, yes, but it wasn't anywhere near as strong as most of her relatives', and using it and keeping an eye on Nadi and Aidan at the same time...

Well, she'd gotten headaches this way.

[Anonymous]

Rathnait unconsciously tightened her grip on the reins as she saw a village coming up on the road ahead of them. Passing through would mean people, which would mean the possibility of meeting a mage - and how would they even know, if the mage didn't want to be noticed? Gods above, she hated this place, she hated this place and its people and everything in it - all without ever having met even one person who lived here. She just hated it on principle, and there was to be no negotiating on that point.

The leader of the guards, Cadaen, dropped back from the head of the group to ride alongside Alaois, close enough that Rathnait could hear them as they spoke. "My lady, perhaps we shouldn't ride through the village..."

Alaois didn't so much as turn to look at him, but she spoke calmly. "I want you to outline for me exactly why you believe that."

"If we go through there's a village, there's a chance we may encounter hostile mages. That may not be the best state of affairs for us, if they decide to attack... We'd do better to ride around."

"And waste time going off the road, and look like we're frightened of some villagers," Alaois said with a sneer in her tone, if not on her face. Rathnait looked silently at her mare's ears and thought, We are frightened of them. Any sane person would be. Oblivious to her daughter's silent contradiction, Alaois went on, "We'll ride through the village, and there will be no trouble."

As if by saying it so confidently, she could make it so. Strangely, Rathnait more than half believed her, and certainly Cadaen and the other guards seemed to. Cadaen rode back to his position at the head of the group, and they continued on, straight into the village, Rathnait's shoulders knotting with fear and uncertainty with every step they took.

[Anonymous]

Nadia had to force herself not to start giggling uncontrollably.  This would work out absolutely perfectly.  She quickly checked on her two older siblings, and after satisfying herself they were well out of the way for the moment, returned to her performance.  Which really was what it was, from beginning to endâ€"and the other children seemed to be enjoying the argument almost as much as the story.  Which was, of course, the goal of the whole exercise: the more they were obviously enjoying themselves, the more innocent, harmless, and totally inconspicuous the whole even would lookâ€"not to the travellers, of course, but to her brother.  And as long as she had little chance of getting in trouble… She couldn’t help the very quick, self-satisfied smile.  Oh, this was fun…

“But it’s always the beautiful maiden,â€? Aidan sulked.  â€œAnd we always do it your way.â€?

“Because my way’s the right way!â€? She paused, then said with exasperation, “And if you’re going to be stupid about this at least stop the thing from moving, or you’ll give poor ‘vril a headache and she’ll stick a frog in your bed again.â€?  Aidan obliged instantly, despite the argumentâ€"they’d all had reaction headaches at one time or another, and not even caught up in an argument would one of them simply let another develop one.  As a result, the image flickered and stopped completely, and several of the older children, who could appreciate the irony in the whole situation somewhat better, snickered.  This of course led to the younger children giggling, even if they had no idea what was so funnyâ€"but hey, it was funny, right?

“But why would the princess be outside anyway? Wouldn’t she stay in the castle most of the time?�

“I didn’t say princess, I said beautiful noble maiden.�

“Well, wouldn’tâ€"â€? and here Aidan broke off suddenly, realizing that both Avrilys and Nadia would kill him if he implied that noblewomen were all idiots.  And then it might say something about me.  Okay.  â€œWell, wouldn’t the… gardener or cook still be more likely to be outside?â€?

“Why’d a dwagon wan’ t’eat a gawdeno?  Be all dirty.â€? lisped little four year old Pera on the ground.  Her mother was one of the servants at the house and, as such, she’d developed something of a hero worship for Nadia.

Nadia basked in it.

“Exactly.  See?â€? She tossed her hair.  â€œNow stop arguing with me, Aidan.  I always win anyway, so you might as well.â€?

“A beautiful noble girl wouldn’t be fat, right?â€? he retorted with a challenging note in his voice.  He ignored the cold look Nadia gave him in response.  â€œWell, then,â€? he said triumphantly, “wouldn’t a big dragon want something with more meat on it?  Besides, the cook would have spices on her and stuff.â€? He paused then, and almost fell over laughing.  â€œOr him!  Who says the dinner has to be a girl anyway?â€?

“Aidan! Of course it has to be a girl!â€? She glared daggers at him.  â€œI suppose I could let the girl be a milk-maid or something, as long as she’s young and beautiful.â€?

“Why?�

“Because everyone would know who’d been taken, and who ever heard of a knight running off in a passion of righteousness to rescue a fat old cook?â€? She raised her chin stubbornly, and even though she was clearly nobility from her dress (the most obviously noble of the three), she for once looked less like an adorable little girl and more like… well, frankly, her father.  It was the same motion.  â€œThe dragon will have to try to eat the beautiful young girl, is that quite clear?â€?

“But what if…â€? He trailed off at her set expression and sighed.  â€œOh fine.  Be that way.â€?

She beamed and bounced up to kiss him on the cheek. “Thankyouthankyouthankyou!â€? She giggled internally with satisfaction at the way Aidan stopped sulkingâ€"not that he showed it, but that trick had always worked on him.  Most of her family, actually.  Then she bounced back to her place, waved a hand airily, and said with all the authority of a queen, “Carry on, then.  We still have to have the girl nearly get roasted alive.â€?

[Anonymous]

Of course it was at the exact moment that the little magic show started up again that the group of Connlaothans got near enough to see it. That was just the way the laws of irony worked¹. It was at that moment that they turned a corner in the street and came into view of the dragon, the maiden tied to the rock, the group of children clustered around it - clearly magic, therefore clearly evil. And the only ones who could be controlling the magic are the children... therefore evil children. It's just the way Connlaothan logic works.

Immediately the guards react, the majority of them clustering around protectively in front of Rathnait and Alaois while a couple hung back behind the two of their wards in case an enemy came up from behind. Every single guard - and Rathnait - had a sword out, and a few of them pointed directly at the mages. 'Nait didn't have her sword pointed at any of the children, but she kept it low, at her side, in a position where she'd be able to attack at a moment's notice. Her grip on the reins of the horse tightened, and in the back of her mind she silently calculated whether the best course of action would be to attack if there were danger, or to turn and run.



¹And the laws of irony are generally governed by the whims and senses of humor of the Powers That Be, colloquially referred to as the players. The senses of humor of these beings can be quite twisted.

[Anonymous]

It only took the noise of a number of swords being drawn at once to get Avrilys' attention away from the story.  She glanced over the heads of the littles and saw the little group, her eyes widening.  She stood quickly, obviously marking herself as the oldest in the group, and never took her eyes off the guards.  

"Aidan, Nadia, stop the story.  Now."  The only people who would react that way to a group of children putting on a show were people from across the border.  People from Connlaoth.

The 15-year-old knew that no one in Glauster would let these men harm any of the littles, but it still made her nervous, all these children gathered around, with all those swords.  "Kids?  Story's over.  All of you get home."

"But Miss Avrilys..." one of the children started whining.  Avrilys shot him a warning look.

"NOW, if you please."

[Anonymous]

Aidan started to comply, but Nadia stepped in.  â€œNow ‘vril, there’s no reason to stop.â€?  She smiled, her chocolate brown eyes completely shining with innocence.  â€œWe’ll just finish up the story in a few minutes.  There’s no reason for you all to leave.â€?  Her tone, though rather sweet and, as far as the children were concerned, totally calm and reassuring, had a hint of steel in it.  It was the tone she’d learned from her father and oldest siblings, the one that had every cadence of nobility, even through the lilting accent that some nobles would immediately dismiss as backwater or countrified.

“Nadi?� little Pera asked somewhat timidly, and Nadia patted her on the head reassuringly.

“It’s all right, Pera.�

“Look, Nadia…â€? Aidan began, about to assert all the authority of an older brotherâ€"in Nadia’s case, really none at allâ€"when she stepped forward somewhat daintily to stand in front of the group.

With a sweet little smile and wide, innocent eyes, she curtsied prettily, though not too deeply.  â€œI think we’d all prefer it if you’d put up your swords.  People here tend to frown on killing children without reason,â€? she said sweetly.  After all, it didn’t hurt to remind them where they wereâ€"they were on her territory, not theirs.  She had to suppress another giggle.  A bunch of men with swords were scared of her.  And a reminder of their moral failings never hurt.  â€œIf you need directions to the capital, I’d be more than happy to help you, of course.â€?  She paused, then, and added with a bit of a mischievous glint in her eyes, “Of course, if you’d like to join us for the story, we’d be more than happy to have you.  We were just trying to decide if dragons prefer eating noble girls or fat old women.  Weren’t we, Aidan?â€?

“Uh…huh…â€? Aidan was eying the swords in distinct nervousness.  Nadia, I know you can hear meâ€"STOP.  NOW.  And tell Tyroshaun to get over here.  Please. Before they mince us or something.  He realized she was just standing there smiling up at them, realized she was ignoring him.  I mean it, Nadia! They’d do it, you know that!

A train of thought, far more rational than his own panic, surfaced in his mind.  This isn't Connlaothâ€"and they can’t go around killing people they don’t even know without provocation.  We’ve done nothing to hurt them, so they can’t hurt us.  Besides, we can always mention who Father is and they really can’t do anything…

Nadia! Get Tyroshaun! Now! Please!  But she just stood there, smiling brightly up at them.  She knew the children would obey her easily enoughâ€"and luckily, no one else had noticed yet.  People didn’t worry about the children playing on the green here. So she had a little time before any of the adults arrived or went for her brother.  Though she’d never admit it, half the reason she didn’t want him involved if she could help it was that even she wasn’t sure just what he’d do.  And he could be scary.  She quickly sent the same thought to Avrilys’s mind she had to Aidan’s, with a touch more impression of “don’t you dare go get anyone until I say so.â€?  No, she had this under controlâ€"and she was enjoying every minute of it.

[Anonymous]

The guards all shifted uncertainly, a few horses dancing under them as they sensed their riders' nervousness. None of them had intended to attack, of course - they weren't to attack except under orders from Alaois, or unless first attacked by someone else. But... it was Connlaothan instinct, when faced with mages, that you either attack the evil mage, or you run to a soldier who can attack the mage for you. And when you're holding a sword, generally you're the one doing the attacking. A few of the guards glanced to Alaois, apparently hoping for orders. Cadaen and the more stolid guards kept their eyes on the children - mages, which took them out of the realm of children and into enemies - and their hands on their blades.

Alaois raised her eyebrows, expression otherwise unchanging, and leveled an icy look at the girl who'd spoken directly to the group. She nudged her horse delicately forward to come level with Cadaen and watched the little girl for a moment - pointedly not looking at the magic show, the images of the dragon, the woman chained to the rock, any of it.

"The swords are a precaution. Seeing as you already have your weapons available-" and now she glanced to the magic images, just briefly enough to make a point "-and need not reach for them, it's only fair."

'Nait clenched her jaw, wishing she dared to tell her mother not to bait the mages. She wouldn't confront her in public, though, in a situation such as this, so she simply settled into her saddle, her entire body tense. She should have refused to come along. She couldn't for the life of her remember why she didn't, at this point.

[Anonymous]

Avrilys made a slightly frustrated noise and strode forward to stand next to Nadia - almost in front of her.  You are in SO much trouble if you did this on purpose.

"We have no intention of attacking you, ma'am," she said with a slight tight smile.  "However, if you were to attack the youngest two children of the duke of Glauster and his niece... well, I don't think my uncle would need magic to seek retribution for an act of that sort."

She shifted her gaze to the men and... one girl, her age, with a sword.  That made Avrilys blink a bit in surprise, but she said nothing.  "I am Avrilys Kaleaster, niece of Duke Cinaed Kaleaster.  May I ask why a party of Connlaothans are passing through my uncle's lands?"  She didn't have the steel under her tone that Nadia could do, the tone of 'I am nobility and you will heed me', but she had a fierce protectiveness in her gaze that was almost as good.

[Anonymous]

For a moment Nadia’s concentration was brokenâ€"she hadn’t been expecting ‘vril to get all protective like that.  I have everything under control.  Really, if people would stop getting in the way…  It was long enough for her not to notice that the inn-keeper’s wife had started watching, with mounting concernâ€"because she’d grown up in the house and worked as a maid until her marriage, and she’d seen the younger years of the duke.  And she remembered what his temper was like.  Suffice to say that she had no intention of either letting his daughter do anything similarly insane or of getting into trouble with him.

“Oh, don’t be silly, ‘vrilâ€"they’re obviously going to the capital.  Almost no one from Connlaoth ever leaves, so they’re going to see Fenway.â€?  Yes, she’s irreverent.  And she was glad to have found a good explanationâ€"she didn’t even have to read minds, as loudly as these poor sods were shouting.  â€œDignitaries or some such.  Kingdom housekeeping requires a certain amount of peace, usually, and that does mean talking to the people next door.â€?

Aidan was gaping a little at Nadia.  Of all of them, he was probably the most well-intentioned and least imposingâ€"Avrilys included, because he had a sort of very obvious goofiness about him.  He raised his chin, though, because he was still a Kaleaster and they’re stubborn to the point of idiocy.   He stepped up next to his sister, tooâ€"because even if he was a little scaredâ€"he wasn’t big and strong or good with a sword like his brotherâ€"and tried to ignore the way Nadia nudged just a little ahead of them.  She clearly wanted to be in charge of this situation.  â€œThey’re just pictures, anyway.  We were telling ‘em a story, like she said.  We do it a lot.â€?

“Nadia’n’Aidan tell gweat stowies!� piped up little Pera from her place on the ground.

“Um, Nadia…� One of the girls spoke up rather nervously.

“It’s fine, Gina.  Just a minor interruption.â€?  The rest of the children seemed either too scared, too impressed by the sight of that many people with swords, or too busy thinking that their lord’s family was stark raving mad to really speak up.

Nadia smiled a little.  Still salvageable, if she worked it just right… “He is right about the pictures.  Illusions don’t get solid.  You can touch if you like,â€? she added with that same little glint in her wide brown eyes.  She was most definitely enjoying herself.  â€œAnyway, there’s none of us children with magic of the kind or strength to hurt any of you.  I didn’t even do the pictures. My idea, but not my work.  Aidan’s the illusionist.â€?

“Nadi!â€? he squeaked, glancing quickly at the group again.  It looked like even the girlâ€"who he might have been able to handle, from her sizeâ€"knew how to use her sword… and that scared him.

Nadia just stood smiling innocently back up at Alaois, not a trace of fear in her.  Hopefully she’d just, by placing most of the blame for the illusion on Aidan and herself, effectively protected the other childrenâ€"and even ‘vril to an extent.  Now if only she didn’t blow their cover again… She hadn’t even lied at allâ€"and yet, she also hadn’t excluded her back up.  After all, she only assured her of safety from children… With another internal giggle, she said rather sweetly, “We’ve introduced ourselves rather nicely, I thinkâ€"I don’t suppose you would return the courtesy?â€?

*

Tyroshaun had already bought the books he was interested in at the moment, and was leaning against a shelf in the back quietly skimming through one of them.  The rest were in a neatly tied bundle under his arm, his free hand drumming absently on the hilt of his sword.  He took no notice when the door opened and he heard a soft murmur of voices.

“’scuse me, m’lord?�

He looked up, and smiled a little.  â€œYes, Berte?â€?

She seemed unsure of what to say.  â€œUm, the post come, sir, thought y’d be the best to give it to…â€? She held it out, and he took it, quickly rifling through to see if there seemed to be anything urgent.  As there wasn’t, he looked back up with a frown.

“What’s wrong?�

“No offence meant, sir, but the little lady, miss Nadia that is…�

“Oh damn.â€?  He rubbed the back of his neck and thought wistfully that his peaceful afternoon had effectively disappeared.  â€œWhat has she done this time?â€?

[Anonymous]

Alaois - and, indeed, all the Connlaothans present - listened quietly (and, with the exception of Alaois, tensely) as the children conversed. Alaois looked calm, while the rest of them looked... if not terrified, very, very unsure of the situation. This is never a good situation in which to have a group of men and women with swords, confronted with something that scares them out of their minds in a deep, ancient, culturally prejudiced way.

And when the girl fell silent and seemed to be waiting for introductions, Alaois merely looked to Cadaen with a clear look of This is where you get to speak. The lead guard turned to Nadia - who appeared to be the leader, despite the other children seeming older than her - and said firmly, "Call him off." Clearly he was referring to Aidan, as speaking of some attack dog snarling and held off only by its handler's word. But then, that was what Connlaothans generally considered mages to be - dogs, or, in truth, less than that. Connlaothans liked their dogs.

[Anonymous]

“Look here now, I’m standing right here you know!â€? Aidan objected in a far more forceful tone than he’d used before.  No, he didn’t at all like that tone that insinuated he was somehow less than human, and it showed.  He might be the most pliant and easy going of the Kaleaster children… but he still was stubborn as hell when he wanted to be.  â€œIf you want me to do something, ask me directly.â€?  And there went the chin, tilted up exactly like his sister’s.  On the other hand, Nadia just smiled a little smugly, catching the man’s immediate assumption.  Of course she was the leader of them.  After all, there really wasn’t anyone here who could actually make her do anything if she didn’t…

The illusion flickered briefly and then vanished altogether, and Aidan blinked and rubbed his forehead.  â€œHey, you didn’t have toâ€"â€?

“Nadia.â€? Tyroshaun spoke quietly from a little off the main group.  With his hair so long and pulled back, he looked somewhat older than he actually was, although his sheer size and strength certainly didn’t detract from the impression. And despite his somewhat simple choice of clothingâ€"just a dark blue, sleeveless doublet and loose linen shirt underneathâ€"he was rather clearly the ranking noble, in part from the way Nadia almost blushed.  She kept her chin up, thoughâ€"and that was another telling difference.  In both the younger siblings, that slight tilt to the chin was an almost conscious gesture of defiance.  With Tyroshaun? It was just there, simple, natural arrogant assurance in himself.  Or cover for the fact that he wanted to just turn, walk away as fast as possible while looking calm, and lock himself in a library, one or the other.  His left hand rested completely casually on his hip, or rather on the hilt of his sword which was somewhat in the way.  Despite his uneasiness at the crowd of people he didn’t know, his eyes were steady and his voice quiet and controlled.  All in all, a rather impressive picture (and a pretty, for anyone watching closely).

…Or at least he would have been if he hadn’t had three or four books tucked under his right arm and another still open in his hand, his thumb keeping it at his last page.  It might have ruined that.  Just a little.

“Yes?â€? Nadia said with a bit of challenge to her voice.  Aidan looked rather sulkily at his brother, still rather annoyed that he’d just cut off his magic like that.  That really hadn’t been called for.

Tyroshaun ignored his little brother’s pout.  â€œWhat are you doing?â€? What are you doing provoking Connlaothans?

She gave him the same innocent look.  â€œWe were just telling a story and had just decided the dragon would eat a pretty noble girl instead of a fat old biddy like ‘dan wanted.  Weren’t we, Pera?â€?  The little four year old nodded in awe.

“That’s enough dragons for today, then, Nadia,â€? he said evenly as he crossed to stand next to his siblings and look down at them.  â€œAidan, go find Ceallach, please, and stay with her a moment.  Avrilys,â€? and he turned and smiled a little at her.  There was almost no trace of her magic, in comparisonâ€"he rather thought she was collateral damage here.  â€œTake these,â€? he handed her his package of books, then checked his page quickly, “and this, and go put them in my saddlebag, all right?â€?  He paused for a moment.  â€œAnd pick up the mail from Berte while you’re at it, and put that with them.  Now, please.â€?  It was a tone he rarely used with her, but it was the one that didn’t allow much room for argument.

Once they’d trotted offâ€"and he noted they seemed to be going in the same general direction, towards the inn’s stables, as he’d suspected they wouldâ€"he turned and looked Nadia straight in the eye.  He didn’t even seem to care he had his back to the group of Connlaothans.  She shifted a little, staring back at him defiantly for several minutes before she finally looked away and down slightly.  â€œGo tell Ceallach I’ll be along later, thenâ€"and tell your cousin why she’s going with you.â€?  He paused, and then added with exasperation, “And take Pera with youâ€"she was supposed to be home hours ago.â€?

“Yessir,â€? Nadia said compliantly, and went and picked up her little friend and wandered after Aidan and Avrilys.  Tyroshaun sighed, rubbing his forehead briefly.  Great.  Now I get to deal with Connlaothans.  My lucky day.

“Uhm… milord?â€? One of the boysâ€"Berte’s son, he thought a little vaguelyâ€"said rather hesitantly.  â€œIs there… I mean to be saying there’s no reason to…â€?

“No, no.  You all run along home, now, as I’m sure your parents will be worriedâ€"I need to talk over a little business with these people.â€?  The children knew, from his tone and wording, that meant they weren’t to interrupt or eavesdrop.  They started to scatter off and return to their normal business, although with a great deal more excitement than usual.

“Er, there be anything you’re needin’, sir?�

“No, that’s quite all right.â€? Tyroshaun smiled a little at the boy hovering in front of him.  â€œJust tell your mother I said thank you.â€? The boy (Tyroshaun could not for the life of him recall his name, though he knew it quite well, but he somehow couldn’t quite find it…) nodded and darted off.

Taking a deep breath, trying to look far more relaxed and nonchalant than he actually felt, Tyroshaun turned back to face the hostile group.  â€œI apologize; Nadia is rather… young, and the others tend to follow her lead.â€?  He glanced over them, and mentally dismissed as important most of the guards.  They were just extra edges in a fight, not the ones to be dealing with.  He also dismissed the little blond girl out of hand, not so much because she was so littleâ€"he knew from the way she held the sword that she knew how to use itâ€"but because, quite frankly, she looked a deer cornered by a wolf.  She wouldn’t be a danger.  He glanced at the other two, the leading man and womanâ€"and immediately settled on the woman. Even if she and the girl (her daughter, he gathered) hadn’t obviously been nobility where the others were not… she was the only one calm in the entire group.  He almost smiled.  â€œNow, is there some way I can help you?â€?

[Anonymous]

Alaois gave the guards a sharp look as the young nobleman finished speaking to the children. The guards immediately sheathed their swords, but kept their hands near enough to the hilts that they could be easily drawn at a moment's notice. Rathnait, notably, did not sheath her sword, but rather kept it out, still pointed at the ground but ready for use. Alaois noticed, and gave her a momentary hard look, but didn't take the time to lecture her daughter just then.

"Apology accepted," she said coolly, remaining at Cadaen's side. "I am Ambassador Vaili. We are travelling from Connlaoth to Arca, and I carry a letter from the Matron of Connlaoth to King Fenway. I apologize for the unfortunate hostility, but my guards are unused to seeing such public displays of magic." There was the slightest hint of scorn for that magic in her voice, but only barely, and not enough that she could be called on it. "It was certainly not our intention to cause any kind of confrontation here, and I hope you will forgive us."

'Nait hung back as her mother spoke, but as she finished, 'Nait nudged her dapple gray mare forward so that she came almost level with Cadaen and her mother. Her blade remained pointed at the ground, but still in hand. Next to her mother, the relationship between them was unmistakable - she shared her mother's features, the curling blond hair, though 'Nait's was slightly more curled rather than simply wavy, and cut short rather than grown long and bound back, the skin complexion was exactly the same, and their eyes were similar enough, storm gray and pale blue. But the differences were just as evident - namely, in that Rathnait didn't exude the iciness her mother did. She was much softer, much warmer, and not nearly as calm. At this particular minute, as a matter of fact, where Alaois was chilly and calm, Rathnait was starting to get a little angry.

"Excuse me, but you have yet to introduce yourself. It seems only polite under the circumstances." Her breathy voice was loud enough to be heard clearly despite the careful distance she kept between herself and the man in front of them, and she managed to keep the fear out of it. The bit of anger, not exactly, but she mostly masked the uncertainty. Nevertheless, Alaois shot her a warning look that ordered immediate silence. 'Nait, with her eyes fixed on the blond man, didn't particularly notice.

[Anonymous]

Tyroshaun shifted a little as the woman spoke so that his hands were behind his backâ€"where he could twist his signet ring nervously and be confident she wouldn’t see it.  He needed to do something about his nervous energy, but he didn’t dare do anything too obvious.  He mentally stored the name away and wished he had more complete information on Connlaoth.  He’d done all the research he could, of courseâ€"but that was limited, and somewhat sketchy.  Everyone knew about their hatred of magic, of course, and with Glauster so mage-friendly and on the border, they were a frequent haven for those who managed to make it across.  He’d gotten some idea of their military, as well, from accountsâ€"and from those mages who made it, he’d heard about the Mordecai.  He knew that a diplomatic ambassador would not be so insane as to bring one across the border, but the possibility troubled him.

More immediately pressing, however, was this small issue of being outnumbered about twenty to one, with a bunch of jumpy, armed Connlaothans.  He was fairly unconcernedâ€"his shields would hold up perfectly well if he had to use them, and that much metal would make any necessary offence more than simple.  And he could feel a lot more at ease with their swords put away, as he’d see if they were trying to draw, and he could take care of the problem.  He inclined his head slightly in acknowledgement of Alaois’s introductionâ€"he rarely bowed to anyone, but especially not someone who would take that tone about magic.  â€œWelcome to Serendipity and to Glauster, then.  I’m somewhat sorry this was the first you’ve seen of magic.  Both the children have a certain flair for the dramatic gesture in their story-telling, and probably disquieted you more than was necessary.â€? He smiled a little. Dragons were a favourite topic of Nadia’s, for some reason.

He turned with some surprise to note the girl he’d dismissed as too frightened to speak spoke up.  He’d guessed already they were mother and daughter, but now he realized that maybe the girl was a little older than he’d first thought.  He gave her a quick, thoughtful look over, and immediately realized what the difference was.  The womanâ€"the ambassadorâ€"was clearly completely cold and logical before all else, ignored emotions for the most part, and would likely have anyone she disliked killed given the opportunity.  In other words, the woman was everything he tried to appear to be.  The girl, though… he could already tell she was different.  And that she was a lot more vulnerable than she’d like to let on.  He couldn’t help the faint smile that touched his lips.  Silly girl.  She needs to get over that insecurity.

He blinked, then, and bowed a little again, though holding her gaze evenly.  â€œI’m sorry.  The children rather distracted me from my manners.â€?  Then a brief hesitationâ€"he was always a little uncomfortable about his name and title.  â€œViscount Aldanrin, ma’am, miss,â€? including both small blondes.  He paused another moment.  He didn’t know how much they knew about Serendipity, either, so he decided to elaborate.  â€œMy father’s the duke of Glauster.â€?  He didn’t entirely realize, not having heard the little confrontation, that they already knew Nadia and Aidan were his siblings, but at least it gave him a little more authority in this situation.  After all, it was his land.  Or sort of.  Nominally, at least, with his father not immediately present.

[Anonymous]

Rathnait continued to watch the man with a good deal of mistrust - but perhaps not much should be read into that, because she would probably distrust all people not from Connlaoth at this point, given their inevitable exposure to magic. She only took her gaze off him when Alaois prompted gently, "Rathnait, it's not polite to hold swords on those whose land you're a guest on." Despite the gentle tone, Rathnait knew her mother well enough to read the warning for what it was. Politeness was not necessarily her main concern - rather, she cared about diplomatic incidents, and avoiding them where possible. 'Nait clenched her jaw and sheathed her sword, placing both hands on the reins now just so that she would have something to hold.

Her daughter brought to heel, Alaois turned to consider the young man once more. "Thank you, Viscount," she said icily, tilting her head ever so slightly to one side. "We apologize again for the trouble, and if you don't mind, we'll be moving on and soon be off your lands."

She nodded to Cadaen, who started forward, and the other guards followed immediately. Rathnait continued to eye the viscount, shoulders so knotted they'd probably be aching for days. She did manage to... well, not unwind, but at least pretend to enough to nod in a semblance of politeness and murmur a soft, "Aldanrin," in what might perhaps be considered a cool farewell, in the broadest of senses.

[Anonymous]

Tyroshaun had, by this time, decided he disliked Alaois Vaili in the extreme.  Besides her attitude towards his siblings, which was, of course, entirely unforgivable but not something he could entirely show given the circumstances Nadia had so effectively engineered, there was just something about her iciness that irked him.  Cold-hearted bitch.  That’s what she is.  Cold-hearted bitch who’d see anyone who got in her way disposed of without a shred of remorse.  Still, he fought to keep that out of his expression, and to that end focused on that girl-child who was recovering somewhat from her fear.

He wondered, briefly, what the ambassador thought of him, then realized he didn’t really care.  Until, that is, he remembered why he had worried about it in the first placeâ€"he had to think about how she’d consequently react to his father.  Ah hells.  So he again did his sketchy half-bow, half-nod to the woman, his eyes flickering between the two.  â€œOf course.  I’d hardly wish to detain you.â€?  He paused for a moment, thinking rapidly.  He needed to get a letter to his father by the quickest route possible.  Maybe… “If I may offer a suggestion, the most comfortable lodgings for the night are probably in Nanden. It’s not as far as you could go before nightfall, but by far the easiestâ€"and it’s east of here, putting you more in line with the direct southern road to the capital.  The travel’s better along that highway, naturally, and somewhat more… ordered, as it’s not under local attention.â€?  There, sensible, and would get them a little out of Ceallie’s way, just in case.

His eyes settled back on the girl, who still seemed to be watching him warily, and he wondered if she was afraid of him, too, despite his distinct lack of flashy displays.  It never once crossed his mind that she wouldn’t assume he was a mageâ€"after all, she knew at least one of his siblings was, and there was no reason why someone so hair-triggered wouldn’t.  He mentally tucked away the fact that her mother had called her Rathnait.  At least it gave him an identification.  He nodded slightly to her, a faint smile on his lips.  â€œMiss Vaili,â€? he replied just as softly.  In the broadest of senses, he may have been laughing at her.

[Anonymous]

Alaois paused briefly when the viscount addressed her, watching him silently with a very slight upward curve of her lips, arrogant and cold. There was a nod, polite as could ever be asked for, and a not entirely sincere murmur. "My thanks, Viscount Aldanrin. I appreciate the advice."

Of course, they would have to consult on the road, and Cadaen would decide whether the suggested route was in fact their best bet or whether they were being led astray, but diplomacy insisted that she thank him anyhow. With that, they continued on, all of the guards anxious to leave - if Alaois was, she didn't show it.

Rathnait, however, found herself glancing over her shoulder as they left, jaw clenched at the faint smile he directed at her, the comment that she felt strangely might be mocking her, though she couldn't fathom why. Finally, with an irritated growl under her breath, she turned away from him and kicked her mare forward quickly to pass by Alaois, and come level with Cadaen at the head of the group. She was probably the most anxious of all to leave this place - but then, leaving meant going deeper into Serendipity, and she was fairly certain that was the exact opposite of what she truly wanted.

[Anonymous]

Returning the cold smile with one of his own, Tyroshaun simply said, “It’s easy to get lost in Glauster if you don’t know the way.  I’m more than happy to help.â€?  Given how bad a liar he was, everything he’d told them was the exact truthâ€"and it left the way open for a fast messenger to get there and leave again long before they would ever near the city.  I hope Ceallie’s up for a ride.  It’s been a while.  With another quick nod, he stepped out of the way, back a little towards the inn where his horse was, but keeping his eyes steadily on the group.  Mainly he watched the now three he knew to be of some importance, although he suspected the man’s leadership was a matter of chance and momentary preference.  He couldn’t help the faint smile as he caught her lookâ€"very jumpy, that girl.  And somewhat amusing, actually.

Once they were gone, however, he slumped ever so slightly and leaned back against the wall.  Ye gods, I have a headache. As he slowly realized Berte was hanging worriedly in the shadow, he smiled a little.  â€œI don’t suppose you’d mind getting me a strong shot of something before I head home? I think I could use it.  I’ll be in the stable.â€?  She gave him an understanding nod and a quick curtsey before vanishing, and he stood there a moment longer trying to collect himself before heading to the stable.  Getting Dust tacked up himself would be calming, and Dust was better behaved around him.  And the sooner he got home, the better.

*

Much later that night, after a bit of evasion from questions on all sides about how things had goneâ€"saying simply that everything was fine and could they please just let him eat nowâ€"he escaped to his room.  Normally he would probably have gone to the library, but ‘vril would still want answers, and at this hour he knew his room was probably the best bet on a little peace and quiet.  And after the morning’s events, he needed that desperately.  As soon as he shut the door he pulled off his doublet and threw himself into an armchair.  He closed his eyes and sat there quietly for a few minutes, then heard a soft footstep from behind him.  He didn’t even have to touch his magic or open his eyes to know who it was.  â€œWhat do you know?â€? he asked as he sat up a little, and Nadia curled up on his lap to tell him.