Arrotel and Meg

[Icebird]

Arrotel smiles, and looks back.

"Ok. Lead the way, again."

He stands, holding her hand, and slips an amount of gold more than suitable for paying on the table as they leave, headed for Hobnob hill.

[Wired*Nun]

A short walk turns into a hansom cab ride across town, where they pull up to the new Ritz Amber. Footmen open the door, doormen hold the hotel portal, and soon they are ensconced in a penthouse suite looking south toward Garnath. In the daytime, it would be visible.

Meg pops the champagne in the bucket, filling two glasses and handing one to Arrotel. "To new friends," she says, clinking his glass and taking a drink.

She kicks off her shoes and hops up on to the huge bed, laying down on her side and propping her head on her elbow, crinkling her nose. "Bubbles," she giggles.

[Icebird]

"Well, it's a good day for trying new things. As good a day as any." Arrotel takes a sip of the champagne, and makes a face.

"I suppose it's an aquired taste. Bubbles are the least of my worries about this stuff," he says with a smile as they tickle his nose. Dropping his shoes off neatly at the edge of the bed, he follows Meg on.

[Wired*Nun]

And on, and on, and on, as one thing leads to another. Meg turns out to be a thoroughly delightful girl in bed as well, not exactly what he would expect from someone in her line of work. She genuinely seems to care about Arrotel.

Though she did say she was fairly new at it...life hasn't has the chance to beat her down, yet. Steady, boy, Landon got took by that other one, maybe I should be being suspicious here.

Still, it's hard to be suspicious when everything seems warm, safe and your every immediate need and desire is being attended to by either companion or staff.

Afterward, well...after whatever Amber stamina and suspicion will allow, Arrotel looks down at that sleeping innocent face and muses...

[Icebird]

I really should get her out of here. She's much too good for this. Perhaps that family I spent a month with earlier? Not the lap of luxury, but Meg wouldn't want that anyways. It's a nice place. I'll ask her when she wakes up.

And what next? Alamor isn't dead, and he'll visit on his own if he wants. That leaves me back where I started, making up something for myself or continuing to look into Joss' death. Why not? Everone else seems to have forgotten about it, so now's a better time than it was before, with everyone bumping heads and the culprit on his guard.

[Wired*Nun]

As if in response to his thoughts, there comes a scratch, scratch, scratching at the French doors to the penthouse deck. A quick look shows it's Alamor, looking more or less ordinary, for him.

If Arrotel lets him in, he says, "Sorry to disturb you, I don't mean to be indiscreet, but I really think we need to talk."

[Icebird]

"No, no. I was just thinking about you, actually. I agree that a talk is in order. Would you care for anything to eat or drink? I never did learn anything about your kind, so sorry if that's a bad thing to ask." Arrotel gestures to a well stuffed seat, and takes one himself.

"Would you care to start, or should I?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Oh, we can eat and drink, even if things don't quite taste like they used to." He looks over the room-service cart and sorts out some strawberries and rare sliced beef. "Still, quality is quality, and this is rare fare for me." He starts to eat, alternating the berries and the beef.

"And as I'm sure you are dying to ask, we can go some time without drinking blood, and we don't go crazy with thirst if we don't, any more than the unchanged would with water. And though human blood is most potent, animal blood will do in ordinary circumstances. So, have no fear, I don't need to feast on you or your lovely. Now," he says, flicking crumbs of food away from his vest and fluffing his sleeves, "to business."

"I've uncovered a Chaos operation against your people and I'd like to help you take it down."

[Icebird]

"Actually, I hadn't thought about the blood. I suppose it does go with the job description, though. It's good information, though. With shadows around, shouldn't be too much of a problem most of the time." Arrotel pauses, suddenly struck with what he's just said. Am I really that callous to shadow dwellers? I see how the elders began to treat them like they do...

"I'm listening. First question is who, second is what."

[Wired*Nun]

"There are Chaos-bound demons operating in one of your Golden Circle kingdoms, and have all but taken it over. I'd like you to discover it, stop it from happening, and help me free those enslaved to my enemies. It's good for the both of us, and beside will make us both heroes in the eyes of our people. Interested?"

[Icebird]

"Sure. I'm new at Sorcery, but I think I could break some bonds. I'd need time to examine the spells without getting my eyes clawed out, and then a few hours to get the right answer set up, but I bet I could do it. Which kingdom?"

[Wired*Nun]

"Kashfa. I can teach you a spell to break the bonds of slavery if you like. If that doesn't work on some of them, I can call on a friend of mine to help." He smiles a toothy smile.

"Don't forget to leave the lady a little something for cab fare. If you have a Trump to get us to Kashfa, that would be helpful. Otherwise, we will have to go the long way - yours or mine."

[Icebird]

"I was hoping far a little more time than just running off right now. I need to set a few spells, get a few things taken care of... There's a time for being impulsive, which this is, but there's also a time for preparation, which this is as well."

"I had two thoughts. We could meet up tomorrow, or if time is pressing, you could get started now and I'll catch up when I'm ready. I'd imagine you don't keep trumps of yourself laying around, but I do have a friend who wouldn't slow you down that can call me." He'll go for the quick start, I don't doubt. Telloth should be able to keep up at whatever pace he chooses, though the night isn't his favorite time.

[Wired*Nun]

"All right, no terrible hurry. I'm not much good in daylight, so perhaps we should meet here again tomorrow evening. Just keep the room reserved, I'll rest in the closet or something. I don't have any Trumps of myself...in fact I only know of one who does."

All this conversation has woken Meg, who sits up with a start. "Who - " she says, as Alamor bows.

"Call me Alamor, milady, of Doracus, as your service."

"Oh, well, of course," she says in just-awoken confusion. "Arrotel, what - "

[Icebird]

"Some of his friends have been enslaved, and he wants me to help. Would you mind coming back in half an hour?" he asks, looking at Alamor. Assuming he does so...

"Sorry. He's got no other friends around here, so he came to me."

[Wired*Nun]

"Of course." Bowing, he exits the same way he entered.

"Oh...and he can fly?" She says this lightly, but her eyes are large, looking at the door to the balcony.

[Icebird]

"Eh... Apparently he can." Arrotel laughs lightly at her suprise. I just get so used to the extrodinary that the thought doesn't bother me anymore. I could probably fly too, if I took the time to find the right shadow. Maybe I will, later. If there's ever time.

"I was wondering... You don't have to go back to that place, you know. I have friends outside the city that would love to have you stay with them. You're too nice and good for that place."

[Wired*Nun]

"Well...I guess you have friends in high places!" She giggles.

You're too nice and good for that place."

"I've been told that before, but I don't want to live on charity, and I don't want to get old fast waiting tables or sewing people's clothes. I'm going to school to be an animalist every afternoon. I don't want to do this forever, either. If I did, could I come into the city every day for the school? And how would I earn my keep? I'm not tupping the young master for my supper. It causes hard feelings."

Funny what seems proper and not, to a...professional companion. Still, it makes a certain kind of sense...selling herself, but on her own terms. Don't we all do the same, sometimes, some ways?

[Icebird]

"They're not too near Amber, not that you could walk back to this city. But there's a university very near their house." Or at least it's somewhat likely that the town was based around a university that I just didn't happen to visit. "They're not exactly in a high place. Just a friendly couple who need help as they grow older."

[Wired*Nun]

She cocks her head and thinks for a moment.

"All right. Here's the bargain. I will be their maid, if I can get paid enough to go to the university, and I get the time to do it. And, I get one day off a week for myself. And, don't tell anyone what I did in the city, these small towners get funny about such things. And...I'll think of more as I go along. In return, I'll take care of them like I was their own daughter, for as long as it takes me to go to the school." She smiles, and flounces to her feet, incidentally making other things flounce and drawing Arrotel's eyes. He feels a stirring in his loins as she hugs him warmly.

"Ooh, my, are we starting over again? If so, I have to get a drink and pee. I always wake up thirsty." Her tasty backside disappears into the lavatory and the water runs.

[Icebird]

Why did I say half an hour?
"Eh... Alamor should be back in half an hour. I think he's pretty punctual, so better not start anything now."

That shadow wasn't too far out, was it? I took it real easy and it took a few days. I could probably hellride and get there quick, drop her off and have Telloth bring me back to Alamor. But Kafsha is in the Golden Circle, the closest shadows... Best that I get started tomorrow morning with Meg while Alamor waits until dusk to head out. I can go without sleep a few days, if I have to.

Arrotel stands as well, gathering their things into a pile. As Meg returns,
"I'd like to head out tomorrow morning, if we can. They're pretty well off, but happy with the simple life. I got to know them when Richart broke his leg and I stuck around to help Ann for a week."

[Wired*Nun]

Her pretty pout pokes out of the bathroom door. "Oh, all right. You can have a pass this time." After a moment she comes out with one of the hotel robes on, toweling and fluffing her damp hair.


Arrotel stands as well, gathering their things into a pile. As Meg returns,
"I'd like to head out tomorrow morning, if we can. They're pretty well off, but happy with the simple life. I got to know them when Richart broke his leg and I stuck around to help Ann for a week."

"Tomorrow morning as in...more than a day from now? It's after midnight, in case you didn't notice. Or did you mean this morning? I'm ready whenever, I should just pick up my things and tell the boss I am leaving." She starts putting herself back together in her clothes.

[Icebird]

"Yes, I suppose I do mean this morning. I was thinking that I could teleport us there in the morning... Or we could ride there, though we'd have to hurry a bit. Sorcery too strange for you?" Arrotel cocks an eyebrow, making it a bit of a challange.

He steps into the bathroom after she leaves, taking a very quick shower before dressing again.

"Do you want to spend the night here or go back to your place now? I'll be up late talking to Alamor and getting a few things together."

[Wired*Nun]

"Nothing is too strange in this business," she says with practical humor. "If your magic can take us there faster, I won't complain, though I do love to ride." She gives him a sly wink. "Horses, too."

After Arrotel cleans up, she replies to his question, "This is my daytime, in case you didn't notice. I'll just stay with you if that's all right. If your talkings are private, I can wait nearby. I can't help but wonder, if Saudra was some kind of spy, what else might be going on back at work. I want to stay near you." She looks up at him earnestly, hanging on to his shirtfront with small fists.

[Icebird]

"She was probably only there for Landon. Now that he's not there, any plots would likely follow us and end up here instead. I draw trouble like a magnet. On the plus side, it probably means I have a magnetic personality." He smiles at his own quip, and Meg's not too subtle innuendo.

"Then the feeling is mutual." He gives her a quick kiss on the cheek.

So it's one telport to shadow with Meg, trump back to the pallace, a second teleport to get Alamor and myself through Arden and save a day or two of travel. A modification of the spell, to carry two people with possessions instead of just one.

[Wired*Nun]

"All right...I'm ready when you are."

[Icebird]

Arrotel sits in a comfortable chair, and begins the process of creating his teleportation spells, expecting to be interupted by Alamor's return before he has a chance to really begin.

So, two people and their possessions... I'll use a lynchpin instead, to make it easy if someone else wants to come.

[Wired*Nun]

Arrotel becomes lost in the spellmaking, such that when he is finished concentrating, he realizes that Alamor is sitting in a chair across the room.

"I have little idea what you were doing, but it sure looked interesting. Some kind of magical preparation?" He says lightly.

[Icebird]

If he doesn't know about sorcery, I'll not tell him yet. Keep a few small things to myself. He hasn't shown me all his tricks yet, I'm certain.

"Yes, I was... practicing teleportation. I didn't think of it before, but I can get us at least close to Kashfa without delay. The place where we first met should do nicely. I need to have seen a place to go there directly."

"You said you knew a spell for breaking magical bindings? I could do it two ways, neither of which are particularly refined. Push the pattern against the binding until it broke, which might be very bad for the demon, or push with magic until it broke, which might not work and would be spectacularly wasteful."

[Wired*Nun]

"Teleportation might be a useful skill to have. Perhaps you could show me sometime. I have to travel the old-fashioned way...fly." He grins. "Well, old-fashioned for me."

"I only know a few spells...I'm not really a sorcerer, but we all learn the one for unbinding, so we can free those who are enslaved. I can teach you how to do it, maybe you can figure out a way to do it better."

[Icebird]

"I once had someone offer to teach me to fly. I never did get a chance, though I wish I had now. I think you'd need an initiation to the Logrus for me to teach you to teleport... though I'm not sure, really. I'm pretty new to the whole demonic powers aspect of things."

"I doubt that I'll be able to improve the spell, but I think I could put a bit more power behind it with the pattern than you can, if it needs it." If Alamor is willing, Arrotel trys to learn the basics of the spell.

[Wired*Nun]

"Even teleporting from place to place within one shadow would be useful, and should be learnable by rote...my problem is, as I understand these things, I have nothing upon which to hang a spell, so I have to cast them all the long, hard way. So, I don't rely on magic, it's just an occasional tool."

I doubt that I'll be able to improve the spell, but I think I could put a bit more power behind it with the pattern than you can, if it needs it." If Alamor is willing, Arrotel trys to learn the basics of the spell.

"All right." As soon as Arrotel is done with his own preparations, Alamor demonstrates the casting of the basic spell for unbinding of compellings. It takes about an hour, what with the starts and stops for instruction.

Everything seems fine, normal and sensible until the last instant, when Alamor changes the target of the spell with his last phrase, aiming it squarely at Meg.

[Icebird]

Assuming he has the pattern up for observation, Arrotel tries to interpose it, blocking the spell or at least deflecting it.

Then again, what harm can it do her? She's not bound, or I would have seen it by now. It'll be interesting to hear Alamor try and explain this one to me... Ignorance is not an excuse, when just asking me would have been enough to clear it.

[Wired*Nun]

Arrotel is too slow, given the surprising nature of his action.

The results are surprising too - nothing at all. Alamor looks sheepish, and says, "Sorry. I had to be sure, since she was with the other one. Hey, you mind moving that thing away, it's not very friendly to my constitution."

"What?" asks Meg. "What was that all about?"

[Icebird]

"He doesn't trust you. He just tried to find out what I already knew." Arrotel is a more than a bit annoyed as he goes on, turning back to Alamor. "I trust you to make your own decisions, but you need to trust mine as well." He finally steps away, back to his seat.

[Wired*Nun]

"Hey, I trust you, but you might be wrong. You'd be thanking me if I had been right...but again, no offense meant, especially to you, dear lady."

Meg still looks a bit bewildered.

Alamor explains further, "I think Saudra was posessed of a demon spirit bound to some kind of mission against Landon or Arrotel, or maybe just the first and best opportunity that came along. She certainly looked like she contained two spirits, when I saw her on the terrasse there, and it looked like the one in control was demonic. You yourself bear the traces of posession, and I couldn't be sure that I wasn't misreading things. Better safe than sorry, my sire always said."

[Icebird]

Ok. Cool down. No reason to try and start something when it's already over.

"Yah. You're right. But I would still like some warning next time you try something like that. I..."

Wait... She shows traces of possesion?

"She shows traces? Can you tell how recently?"

[Wired*Nun]

Alamor shrugs.

"As I said, hard to tell. I'm not an expert by any means. I wasn't even sure it wasn't happening now, but we - " *cough* "tested that theory, didn't we. Probably within the last year to month. We'd have to talk to someone more versed in these things than I to be sure. Something is a little odd with her, too, begging your pardon. Ladies of the evening with natural hearts of gold are pretty few and far between in my book..."

[Icebird]

"Yes, then again, it would be pretty hard to find the changed around Amber most of the time, and princes of Amber are rare as well. That doesn't stop me from running into them all the time."

"So, the plan is to drop into Kashfa tomorrow night, take a look at the situation and hopefully unbind a few demons that have taken over the place? I don't see what can possibly go wrong with that plan." Arrotel says this with a completely straight face. "Is there anything else we need to do before then?"

[Wired*Nun]

"You might be surprised what you would find around Amber, my friend. It's a power magnet for a lot of people and things." He smiles toothily.

"And because I'm not known for my planning skills, your plan sounds like a great one. However, I'm not stupid - let's get all the help we can. I have someone who might join us, and I have a few tricks to keep the Kashfans busy while we do it - can you recruit anyone to help, or raise some shadow commandos or something like that?"

[Icebird]

"I could probably call a few cousins, to see if they want to help. I've never cared to set up commandos or anything. No time or inclination. Shall we doth rally up what we can, and meet here tommorow evening?"

It's not exactly Raevyn's style, and Landon wasn't too nice last time I saw him... Roland or Heldrik maybe? I havn't heard from Kat recently.

[Wired*Nun]

"Sounds winning. I will gather my own assistance, and let us meet here again after sundown. I'm sure you can aford another night at this fancy place," he says without rancor. "Only next time, order the beef tartare for me, will you? I doubt they'd supply a pitcher of blood, so that's the next best thing. I'll be off, rather not get caught by the light."

He slips out of the doors onto the balcony, to change into a black batlike shape vaguely seen through the window, winging into the night.

After a moment, Meg speaks. "That was...wierd, Arrotel. Does stuff like this always happen to you when you go out on the town?"

[Icebird]

"Um... No, not usually. He is pretty wierd, even for me. Actually, now that you mention it, I guess my life has been more interesting of late. I like it this way." Arrotel smiles, and stares back out the window.

"Not many people have friends who can turn into bats. I need to finish some more preperations, sometime tonight or tommorow."

[Wired*Nun]

"Yes, well," she says primly, "what should I do to prepare?"

[Icebird]

"Nothing special. You were going to get some things and tell your boss... Say goodby to some friends, some places? I'll be pretty boring for a while here."

[Wired*Nun]

"All right, just as long as you don't leave without me. See you soon." She kisses him one more time, then gathers her things and goes.

[Icebird]

Ok. So, first to look for support, then to rack those spells. Then to sleep a bit, if there's time left over.

Arrotel pulls out his trumps and shuffles through, pulling out the ones for Roland and Katarzyna, then sipping a bit more of the champaigne. He then tries first Roland, and if that fails, Katarzyna.

[Wired*Nun]

After the conversations, he finishes his spell-hanging, then catches a nap, waking around noon. He remembers the meeting will be for "tonight", which he interprets as during or after dinner.

[Icebird]

Standing slowly and glancing around to make sure he hasn't missed anything, Arrotel leaves the suite. "Please keep my room reserved. I will be back tonight," he instructs the manager as he leaves. His first destination is the Bed Of Pearls, where he inquires after Meg.

[Wired*Nun]

No one at the Bed of Pearls has seen Meg since she left with Arrotel.

[Icebird]

Not so good. I had thought to take her away from here, keep her somewhat hidden from the game, but I didn't think anyone would act so fast. Then again, I could just be overreacting. Not everything has to do with the family.

Arrotel wanders slowly back through the city, thinking as he weaves through the midday crowds.

But I don't believe it. She's in trouble, because of me. Saudra was working to anger Landon or Martin; this is probably the same person. I'd better give it a few hours to be sure, but someone will pay for this. If only I knew who that someone was.

He finds himself back at the hotel, and heads for his room to wait for an hour or so. During that time, he finds himself breakfast, paces, and eventually settles into a chair.

Everything depends on someone else right now. Roland and Kat, Alamor, Meg, Random... Too much happening to start a new project of my own, but not enough happening to keep me busy at the moment.

[Wired*Nun]

What to do next, what to do next?