The Worlds of Katherine Kurtz

King Nicholas didn't leave him alive for chivalric reasons, but for political/diplomatic reasons. Lord Davorin isn't his subject, he is the Hort's (or since Létald is only 13 months old, it's his Regent's responsibility to act in his name). Could he order an assassination of a foreign dictator? Sure. Would that go over well with the people of that kingdom, or the legitimate government there who would prefer to handle the matter via their own legal processes and in their own way even if they agree the man deserves killing? Probably not. And his sister is the one who would end up having to deal with the fallout of that, being the dowager Queen Mother in Orsal and Tralia, yet without the political power necessary for her to be able to legitimately try and execute him herself since she is not the Regent. But as the Hort's mother, she will still have to work closely with the Regent for at least the next 14 to 15 years, so let's not tick him off right out of the starting gate.

However, Davorin is now Blocked, paralyzed, mute, and his hired mercs have left. The Regent is arriving in mere hours. How much mischief are you worried he's going to get up to before morning? I think Davorin has more cause to worry someone might take advantage of his helplessness than the Orsalian public need worry about him getting up to more villainy in his condition! 

[18:03] * Joins: web18
[18:03] <The_Bee> a cold child? Give her a blanket!
[18:03] * web18 is now known as KK
[18:03] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Hi
[18:03] <~bynw> Hi KK
[18:03] <KK> Hllo, all.
[18:03] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Trying to get situated again. I had to get up to find some warm socks
[18:03] <The_Bee> Hi KK!
[18:03] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Hi KK
[18:04] <KK> Cold where you are, Evie?
[18:04] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Only 49F at the moment, but we are under a freeze warning tonight
[18:04] <~bynw> i would like 49 that would be nice and toasty
[18:04] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Morning is supposed to be below freezing. I'm recharging my coat's battery pack.
[18:04] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> We're listening to Bynw's cold story
[18:04] <The_Bee> How was your week, KK?
[18:05] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Given we had temps in the 70s earlier today, 49 is pretty darn cool.  The temp started falling like a rock around the time the sun went down.
[18:05] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> But I think we might get to the 20s tonight or the wee hours of morning
[18:06] <KK> Squirrely weather all around.
[18:06] <KK> Is Bynw frozen?
[18:06] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Good ol' Autumn
[18:06] <~bynw> yes Bynw is frozen
[18:06] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Yeah, we're supposed to hit our low of 29 around the time I venture out to pick up the grandbaby to take her to daycare.  Fun.  🙁
[18:06] <~bynw> it's 26 but feels like 10 and it's going to get lower before the night is over
[18:07] <KK> Yike, Evie!
[18:07] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Then when I pick her up on Tuesday, its supposed to be between 23-25 F
[18:07] <KK> And Yike, Bynw!
[18:07] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Feels like 10 is mighty frosty
[18:07] <The_Bee> I have a squirely clock radio.  I tried to reset the alarm, and now the clock doesn't know what time it is..
[18:09] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I can feel the cold coming through the bedroom window. I might need to change into my fleece PJs tonight
[18:10] <The_Bee> Cuddle up with your DH.
[18:10] <KK> Already? It's only early November!
[18:11] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Hi Everyone!
[18:11] <~bynw> hi Jerusha
[18:11] * Joins: HoundMistress
[18:11] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> The thermostat doesn't care if it's early November or not. It's still dropping down to the 20s regardless. 😄
[18:11] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Hi HM
[18:11] <The_Bee> Seasons come at any time of year nowadays.
[18:11] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Hi Jerusha
[18:12] <HoundMistress> Hi, everyone!
[18:12] <The_Bee> Hi Jerusha
[18:12] <The_Bee> and Hi HM
[18:12] <HoundMistress> Hi Jerusha
[18:12] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> And I can't cuddle with DH tonight. He is down in FL to get my MIL's house sorted so we can sell off what stuff she isn't keeping and then rent it out so she will have a source of additional income.  And MIL and DD are at the airport waiting on their flight to join him.
[18:12] <HoundMistress> We're in the A/c, heat, A/C, heat season
[18:13] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Jerusha! HM! Hi chicks!
[18:13] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Yeah, I had to turn my A/C on briefly last night because it was 74 F in the house when I got home.  That is definitely not an issue tonight!
[18:13] <HoundMistress> Hi, st nezz
[18:14] <The_Bee> I hope all goes well with all your folks, Evie.
[18:14] * CG [discord] <jerusha2> quack
[18:14] <KK> Hopefully, DH and DD will not get their flights cancelled.
[18:15] <~bynw> hi HoundMistress
[18:15] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> They'll be down there for a week getting it all taken care of.  I am hoping that the UHaul truck of stuff they come back with has someplace to go besides my house, because I already feel like I'm living in a storage unit
[18:15] <HoundMistress> Hi bynw
[18:15] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> KK, how did your medical appointments go?
[18:15] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> They had a two hour flight delay, but they've seen the plane land, and I'm taking it as a hopeful sign that they just got word of a delay rather than a cancellation.
[18:16] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Now they just have to wait to be able to get on board it
[18:16] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> good grief
[18:17] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I don't know how much time they have to wait between when the plane lets passengers disembark and when they can get on it, but the plane is currently emptying out, I think.
[18:17] <KK> Appointments went ok. I don't need to see the ortho surgeon for 7 years. Yep, that's what he said. And in I'm in the process of getting an appointment with Neuro for the balance. Good news is that I didn't fall once in the past week.
[18:18] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Yah!
[18:18] <The_Bee> Great!
[18:18] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Great, KK!
[18:18] <HoundMistress> Did you fall???
[18:18] <~bynw> that;s awesome news
[18:18] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Not falling is good news
[18:19] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> It is 4:20pm here and it already looks like sunset.  that is crazy.  should not set for at least another 45 minutes
[18:20] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Speak to the manager
[18:20] <HoundMistress> I just ate some leftover Thai food and I swear the chef snuck in and put more hot in it.
[18:20] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Depends upon the left over.  I think some spices like to settle to increase flavor
[18:21] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I have some of DH's leftovers I need to finish for dinner tonight so I can clear out some room in the fridge for stuff MIL has in hers that will go bad if not eaten this week.
[18:21] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> That does not sound promising
[18:23] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Although I had to laugh inside when she asked me to take her veggies and milk so they wouldn't go bad before she gets back, because this is the same woman who would keep food in the pantry with expiration dates ten years out of date if we didn't toss it out for her, because "those dates don't really mean anything, they're perfectly fine if they're canned."
[18:23] <HoundMistress> Quanah won't even lick the bowl. That NEVER happens.
[18:23] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> 92F today. Might get to 60F tonight
[18:23] <The_Bee> Smart dog@
[18:24] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I want to live with Laurna right now.  60F would be bliss
[18:24] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> agreed
[18:24] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Come on over
[18:24] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Temp has dropped 4 degrees already since the beginning of chat
[18:24] <~bynw> 60 would be a heat wave
[18:24] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> HAHA
[18:25] <HoundMistress> 59 here and going down to 38 tonight
[18:25] <The_Bee> 57f here
[18:25] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Bynw would be running around outside in his swimwear if it were 60 in Des Moines
[18:25] <~bynw> current is 25 feels like 11
[18:25] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> YIKES
[18:25] <HoundMistress> I agree, Laurnarose
[18:25] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I've laid out in 55* weather before. In February.
[18:26] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> in a parka, perhaps
[18:26] <KK> Tomorrow is high of 39 and low of 26. Cold.
[18:26] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> that is DO NOT leave the house Weather
[18:26] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Pretty chilly, kk
[18:26] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Minus 6 C here now
[18:27] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> OWEEEE
[18:27] <KK> Yep, down jacket when I leave for physio at 3p.
[18:27] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> It's going to get that cold here by Tuesday morning, Jerusha
[18:27] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> My new Baby chickens would need a better house.
[18:28] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Dress warm, Evie
[18:28] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> DH used to put a heat lamp out for ours when it got this cold. Fortunately it rarely does drop into the 20s here
[18:28] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Maybe you need a baby chicken spa
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> They have a heat lamp right now.  because 8 of them are 2 months old. (half size) and 4 of them are 2 weeks old.  Pint sized.
[18:29] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I have warm clothes and a heated jacket. I'm more worried about non-slip shoes with good arch support for tomorrow. I don't own orthopedic winter boots, so I'll have to see if any of my insoles will fit my old winter boots.
[18:30] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> The worst thing I every did was go to the ski lodge in normal tenisshoes.  when they get wet, your feet freeze.  I learned the hard way.  get winter boots when playing in snow.
[18:30] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Fortunately I don't have to dash over to MIL's house to winterize the coop tonight. Unfortunately it's because some predator managed to get into it a few months ago, so DH's last remaining chickens that hadn't died of old age yet have shuffled off this mortal coil with a bit of assistance from some critter eager to help.
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> OH NO
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Fortunately we don't have to worry about snow or ice, just cold
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Oh dear!
[18:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Maybe a bit of frost
[18:31] <KK> Yes. I don't wear mine very much, but very glad to have them when I need them.
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> I have a pair of Uggs.  So soft and warm...
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Saddly, chickens are one of the critters that are low on the food chain.
[18:32] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Everyone eats them
[18:32] <HoundMistress> We pretty much don't have that kind of boots and shoes here. In Feb 2-021 would have been handy.
[18:33] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Poor lil chickies
[18:33] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I was eyeing some nice boots on Amazon, but figured I wouldn't need them before Christmas
[18:33] <The_Bee> R.I,P. chickens
[18:33] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> But my chickies are just for fun and eggs.
[18:33] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Since we normally don't get super cold temps until late December or January
[18:34] <HoundMistress> Us, too
[18:34] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Fun with chickies?
[18:34] <HoundMistress> LOL! No, super cold
[18:34] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> The current weather looks like it wants to visit Jerusha before she gets to Florida.
[18:35] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Feel free to keep it for awhile
[18:35] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> What fun does one have with chickens?
[18:36] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Jerusha  why don't you head south west this summer  for a change
[18:36] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Yeah!
[18:36] <HoundMistress> Chickens are funny sometimes.
[18:36] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> and stop in Utah on the way
[18:36] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Cool
[18:36] <The_Bee> Baby chicks can be cute to watch them running around.
[18:36] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Would be nice, but we have a house in Florida.  Had it painted after we left last year, and haven't seen it yet!
[18:37] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> That will be nice to see a freshly painted house.
[18:37] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Unless there are Cavaliers to pet, of course
[18:37] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Hope you like the colors
[18:37] <The_Bee> What colors did you choose?
[18:37] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> OH Yes.  I have a few of those just for your lap
[18:37] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> If they got it right, all will be good
[18:37] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Someone called them Velcro dogs and I can not disagree
[18:37] * CG [discord] <jerusha2> craving puppies
[18:38] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Bee, we went with sunshiney colours.  It was rather drab before
[18:38] <HoundMistress> Baby kitties are my weak spot
[18:38] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> 🐕
[18:39] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Those little pointy tails and needle teeth!
[18:39] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Actually, Welsh Springer Spaniels are known as velcro dogs
[18:39] <HoundMistress> Yes, but puppies have the needle teeth, too.
[18:39] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I mentioned that breed to my sister, and she got interested very quickly
[18:39] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> If you hace a Welshie, you will never have to visit the bathroom alone
[18:39] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Plus they have puppy breath
[18:40] <HoundMistress> LOL! Bubbie never lets me go to the bathroom alone.
[18:40] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Welshies are an active dog, though.   Need a purpose
[18:40] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> She has 3 achers and 4 horses.  pleanty of purpose
[18:40] <HoundMistress> Oh, yes! Puppy breath and puppy bellies to rub!
[18:40] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> LOL!  Years ago, a friend of ours hired a contractor to paint the exterior of his house while he was at work.  He gave the guy the paint swatch of the color he wanted for the walls.  He comes home hours later, and the guy had either finished or at least made a really good start on painting the house, but the color was *way* off.  Like (I don't recall the exact colors), it was mea <clipped message>
[18:40] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> nt to be something like blue, and ended up being rust colored.  So he was understandably upset and asked the contractor what was up with that.  That's when the contractor said that he was colorblind, but he had taken the swatch to the store with him and bought paint that he thought looked the exact same color.  Now, what I have to know is, WHY DIDN'T HE JUST ASK AN EMPLOYEE FOR A <clipped message>
[18:40] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> SSISTANCE?!
[18:41] <HoundMistress> LOL!
[18:41] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Yikes
[18:41] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Oh good grief, Evie!  (Hoping our contractor is not colour blind)
[18:41] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Let's hope that's a one in a million story.  😄
[18:42] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Or that if your contractor *is* color blind, he has the good sense to ask for assistance with paint color matching!
[18:42] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I had a friend tell me they had painted there house a soft blue.   when I visitied I discovered it was the electric sky blue.   Just not a house color.
[18:43] <HoundMistress> We see a lot of bright blue houses around here.
[18:44] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I am an earth tone person.  unless it is a victorian house.
[18:44] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> A pink house, Laurna?
[18:44] <The_Bee> "There's a blue one, and a pink one, and a green one and a yellow one...."
[18:44] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> LOL  yes  a pink house
[18:44] <HoundMistress> Properly painted Victorians are really gorgeous!
[18:45] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I had a friend who lived on a street that had a purple house right in the middle of the block.  Apparently most of the houses there were neutral colors, and one of his neighbors had objected to the slate blue that he had picked out, and was trying to force him to pick a neutral like everyone else on the street, so instead he went and found the loudest purple he could find and pai <clipped message>
[18:45] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> nted the entire exterior in that color just as an up-yours.
[18:45] <KK> My house has pa;e sage green vinyl siding, so I don't have to worry about painters being color blind.
[18:45] <KK> That's pale sage green.
[18:45] <HoundMistress> And they're all made of ticky-tacky and they all look the same!
[18:45] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Yep
[18:46] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> My fingers are crossed that  I did pick the right colours
[18:46] <KK> What did you pick?
[18:47] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> A light goldish colour with off white accenting.  Not garish or too bright, but sunny
[18:48] <The_Bee> That sounds lovely.
[18:48] <KK> Sounds nice. Where is it again?
[18:48] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Before it was an awful mustard colour with a dark green garage door and front door.  Ugh
[18:49] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Melbourne, FL
[18:49] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I love sage green
[18:49] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> My parents house was what I used to call "breastfed baby turd yellow," but they hated the color too, so they repainted it green.
[18:50] <HoundMistress> friend called
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Goldish will be lovely
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Sounds like it will be nice and inviting looking, Jerusha
[18:50] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> I hope so. It will be there for a long time, whether nice or not
[18:51] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Thank you, Evie
[18:52] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Does Hammy have her own room?
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> She has the little alcove above the family room.  I do have to speak with her about kicking peanut shells onto the floor
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> My parents always had white walls in their houses when I was growing up, because being in the military, they knew if they had colored walls, they'd need to repaint them white every three to four years when it was time to move.  So they just got into the habit of keeping the walls white. Finally they bought this house, which is likely to be their last one, and the interior walls n <clipped message>
[18:53] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> eeded repainting very badly. (The former owners only painted the walls with white primer, and very messily, with no actual paint over it. Who does that???)  So Mom and Dad went a bit crazy with the options and picked....ta daaaa!...a shade of gray so pale it might as well be white, and white trim.  😂
[18:55] <The_Bee> a ghostly place
[18:55] <KK> Pale grey with white trim is very nice. An there's a pale blue-grey that's neutral without looking washed out. We had it in several room both in Ireland and here.
[18:56] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> It's so pale, the first time I saw it, I didn't realize they'd had the rooms repainted already until I realized they weren't splotchy anymore.
[18:56] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> And that the trim was slightly whiter in comparison
[18:56] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> So very daring of your parents
[18:56] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Yeah. I got a giggle out of it
[18:57] <KK> Sort of a fog grey.
[18:57] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Those rebels!
[18:57] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> With the Pink house I learned to not fear color.  we had a redish pink dinning room  and a coral pink living room and a Deep blue kitchen
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Neutral is good, though.  You can add colour with accent stuff, and then change it without a lot of effort
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> True
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Upstairs every bedroom was a different color.  from green to purple and gold and Aqua blue
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> BTW, Kilauea is erupting nicely tonight.
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> V3 cam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqmpkUdMtyA
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> V1 can https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0tfYDxrUA embed: [V3cam] Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii (south Halemaʻumaʻu crater) - Live view from Halemaʻumaʻu crater from the southern rim of the caldera [V3cam]. This camera is a pan-tilt-zoom model and the view may change depending on activity.
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> Other livestream views of eruption:
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> [V1cam] Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii (west Halemaʻumaʻu crater): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0tfYDxrUA
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> [V2cam] Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii (... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqmpkUdMtyA
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039>  embed: [V1cam] Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii (west Halemaʻumaʻu crater) - Live view of the eruption in Halemaʻumaʻu, from the northwest rim of the caldera [V1cam]. This camera is a pan-tilt-zoom model and the view may change depending on activity. The V1cam is an autofocusing pan-tilt-zoom model. The camera automatically focuses its view, and USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory sta <clipped message>
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <tm_9039> ff may change the view angle or zoom ... - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk0tfYDxrUA
[18:58] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> WOW
[18:59] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Ouch
[18:59] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Nice! Glad I'm not there.  😄  I like my volcanoes from a safe distance, having lived near Vesuvius
[18:59] <The_Bee> My imaginary house has sections in colors to match the four seasons.
[19:00] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Just barely outside the range that was affected during the 79 AD eruption that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum.  I love volcanoes, but have no desire to be anywhere near one that is erupting.
[19:00] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> I had moved from Tacoma before Mount St. Helens decided to remind us she was there
[19:00] <The_Bee> Kilauea is acting up again.
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Nezz said she was in Tacoma too.  I believe
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Yes, I was born in Tacoma
[19:01] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Oof, yeah, I remember that one!
[19:02] <~bynw> tomorrow marks the 50th anniversy of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerld ... been fancinated with that ship wreck for most of my life
[19:02] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Great place, unless you drive a car with a manual transmission.  (oh those hills!)
[19:02] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I hear Mt Ranier is actually acting a little rumbly
[19:02] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> /channels Gordon Lightfoot
[19:02] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Someone get Mt Ranier some Alka-Seltzer.
[19:03] <KK> The Edmund Fitzgerald. Is that the one that sank in one of the great lakes?
[19:03] <~bynw> yes
[19:03] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Yes.
[19:03] <~bynw> superior
[19:03] <~bynw> when the gales of november come early
[19:03] <The_Bee> Yes, my tv was playing the lines from the song of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
[19:03] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> I had a great-uncle who went down with his ship in the Great Lakes
[19:03] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Superior, it's said, never gives up the dead when the waves of November come early
[19:04] <~bynw> i'll have a tribute post tomorrow on facebook
[19:04] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> The bell rang 29 times for each man on the Edmund Fitzgerald
[19:04] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I'll have to play the song in memory of them
[19:05] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> My dad use to tell a story about when he was 14 he and some friends went sailing on these little 12 foot boats on lake Supprerior.  and a huge storm came up and blew them down the lake by multiple miles.   they managed to come a shore in the dark and had to sleep on the rocks until morning to find out just where they were.
[19:05] <~bynw> i've downloaded 3 documenteries about it ... so i'm watching them
[19:05] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Oh my
[19:05] <KK> I think Ive heard the song, and probably read the story of the sinking on Facebook.
[19:06] <KK> Bynw, please send me those links.
[19:06] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> I misread that, and thought it was about the sinking of Facebook
[19:06] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I'm sure you have heard it, KK. It was pretty popular for a time. Gordon Lightfoot wrote and sang it
[19:06] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> No one would miss it if it did. Jerusha
[19:06] <KK> I'm very fond of sea chanties and the like.
[19:07] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> If only they had made Whitefish Bay in time
[19:07] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Hey all, I am here! Better late than never at least
[19:07] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Back in my Sable Weyr days (Pern fanfic), I wrote a ballad about the weyr to the tune of "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald."
[19:07] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Hello Quasisparklz
[19:08] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Hi Quazisparkle
[19:08] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Ooh, I need to find you the link to the video Voiceplay did with a medley of sea chanties, KK
[19:08] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Hi Quasi!
[19:08] <The_Bee> Hi ninjabbo!
[19:09] <The_Bee> and Hi Quazizparkle
[19:09] <KK> I love the Wellerman song, and the Kittyman parody.
[19:09] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> DD and MIL have finally boarded the plane, so with any luck they'll be en route to Orlando soon
[19:09] <KK> Excellent, Evie!
[19:09] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Hope they have a comfortable and safe flight
[19:10] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Yes
[19:11] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Is everyone getting over their colds and flues.   I don't hear any coughing.
[19:12] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I'm coughing up a lung over here, but since I don't have the mic open....  😄
[19:12] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Oh  I am sorry,  I was hoping that darn bug would go away
[19:12] <~bynw> i sent them to you on Facebook Messagner KK
[19:12] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Oh dear
[19:12] <~bynw> including the song
[19:13] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> oops, Bynw.  I read that as sending KK colds and flu
[19:13] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Don't want that!
[19:13] <~bynw> LOL
[19:13] <KK> Thanks, Bynw.
[19:13] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> It has gone away, mostly, but I still have a tiny bit of post nasal drip, which means I still have the occasional tickle cough. About once or twice a day when one of my meds wears off, I have a small coughing fit, then at bedtime when I lie down, I cough again for several minutes while waiting for my bedtime dose to kick in
[19:13] <The_Bee> May I have the links too, bynw?
[19:14] <~bynw> i'll post them here in the chat too
[19:14] <The_Bee> Thanks!
[19:14] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Oof, that sounds not fun Evie.
[19:14] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I've managed to avoid illness so far this season. As long as I make it through this week unscathed I'll be good.  Have customers coming to the office for training and I'm going to have 3 very long days.
[19:14] <~bynw> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aofg88mEGvY
[19:14] <~bynw> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8KpkceTklu0&t
[19:14] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I recall days like that too, Evie.  hope it does not last too much longer.
[19:14] <~bynw> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2f0tZBSByI&t
[19:14] <~bynw> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vST6hVRj2A
[19:15] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Hi Quasi
[19:15] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Hiya, Nezz! 🙂
[19:15] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> My phone just wants to call you Mezzanine
[19:16] <The_Bee> Smart phones are too smart for their own good.
[19:16] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Indeed!
[19:18] <The_Bee> I think AI should really stand for "Artificial Idiocy."  They can't understand a simple human question.
[19:21] <HoundMistress> What did I miss? Friend jusst got off the phone.
[19:21] <The_Bee> Has everyone gone silent, or has my computer frozen?
[19:21] <HoundMistress> Something about the Edmond Fitzgerald sinking?
[19:21] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> They were silent for a little while
[19:22] <~bynw> there was a couple of minutes of silence
[19:22] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> I'm still here
[19:22] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I think everyone was watching the links
[19:22] <KK> Just got caught up in a post that the shutdown is about to end. Good news for all concerned.
[19:22] <The_Bee> Bynw has sent links to the songs.
[19:22] <The_Bee> For real, KK?
[19:22] <HoundMistress> YAY! I hope so!!
[19:23] <The_Bee> I wonder who blinked.
[19:23] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> I must toddle off. Tomorrow is panic packing day
[19:24] <HoundMistress> Have a good week, Jerusha
[19:24] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Try not to panic.  Wish you well in your travels
[19:24] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Bye Jerusha!
[19:24] <HoundMistress> Safe travels
[19:24] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Thank you.  You have no idea how much Hammy want to bring...
[19:24] <~bynw> cya jerusha
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Hammy's overpacking again?
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> He is just a little fellow too
[19:25] <HoundMistress> It's hard to have to leave them.
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> If you get there and find all your clothes were left behind because Hammy needed room for more nuts....
[19:25] <The_Bee> Good bye, good packing and good trip, Jerusha.  I hope the house colors meet you hopes
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Little fellow with big ideas
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> At least she will have motivation to writie
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I need that
[19:25] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Nighters everyone!
[19:26] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Good nIght Jerusha
[19:26] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Yes, write while driving
[19:26] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Nope; I'm the navigator
[19:26] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Only if you have voice over
[19:26] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Pretend your next meal is coming from being able to sell your story. Even though that's not true, tell yourself if you don't write that next scene, it's crackers and water for dinner tomorrow.  😉
[19:26] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Hammy might get you lost.  so keep him in his cage at least for the main drive
[19:27] <CG> [discord] <jerusha2> Most definately!
[19:27] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> He can write while you're navigating
[19:27] <HoundMistress> Hope it's warmer in FL
[19:27] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> He can run his wheels while you drive
[19:27] <HoundMistress> If only you could hook the wheel to the engine
[19:28] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> LOL
[19:28] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> and the Navagation system too
[19:28] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I have "Write, Write, Write!" as one of my to-dos on my Finch app.  If I don't write or edit something daily, I have to look at that little birb and know I am disappointing Noodle.
[19:29] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> OH eVIE
[19:29] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> I keep forgetting to turn my notification on
[19:29] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I"m just in the habit of checking it when I get up, at lunch, usually a time or two in the afternoon and evening, then right before bedtime.
[19:30] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I have to finish reading about 40 more ultrasound articles and taking the tests for .5 points each to keep my Liscense before the end of the year.  I procrastinated too long.
[19:30] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I suddenly recalled this fact about three days ago.
[19:31] <The_Bee> License for what?
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Plus being in a Discord server with other app users helps, since I've met others to interact with in the app there, and a lot of them are generous and like to help newer players by gifting them with stuff.
[19:31] <KK> LOL. Gotta go, folks. Daphne has been very patiently napping on my lap--didn't even have to block her from getting front of the monitor--so the least I can do is get her some supper now that she's awake.
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Ultrasound
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> You have any plans to go back to work?
[19:31] <HoundMistress> You have some spllainin to do
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Good Night KK
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <ninjabbo.> Night, KK!
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Night kk, have a good week
[19:31] <~bynw> night KK
[19:31] <HoundMistress> Night KK and have a good week
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> Bye, KK!
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> No plans for working.  but after 35 years I would hate to lose my liscense from stupidity.   just in case
[19:31] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> I thought you were retired, Laurna
[19:32] <The_Bee> Bye KK and bye Daphne
[19:32] <KK> Nighters, all. See you next week, God willing and the cold doesn't freeze all of us.
[19:32] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> I am not on social security for 3 more years.  so  need that liscense for emergancy
[19:32] <The_Bee> Good week to all
[19:32] * KK steps onto her Portal, waves goodnight, and disappears in a shower of purple sparkles.
[19:32] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Good night bee
[19:32] <CG> [discord] <evie.delacourt> DD and MIL are now on the Tin Can Bird in the sky.  Or at least I hope they are in the sky. At least they are on the plane now
[19:32] <HoundMistress> Night, Bee
[19:32] <CG> [discord] <stnezz> Night B
[19:32] <CG> [discord] <laurnarose> Fly High fly Free
[19:33] <KK> Ta-ta.
[19:33] * Quits: KK (Quit: Client closed)

I still think that leaving Lord Devourin alive and (pretty much) intact is a major risk and mistake. The only time I can think of where someone got upset at a major opponent getting shanked was Caesar in re Pompey. (And Caesar's inclination for mercy resulted in being hacked.) And even though it's 300 years later, you'd think the Haldanes of this time, and their people, would have heard of Festils and Mearan pretenders, and how one line escaping and continuing was a royal pain in the donkey for decades or centuries.

If keeping the miserable cur alive and basically intact is nevertheless seen as somehow necessary for some stupid chivalrous reason, well, hamstringing him and crushing his hands in non-healable ways means he's not gonna run and he's not gonna fight, and his supporters have seen that his enemies are powerful and holding back.

Previous chapter: https://rhemuthcastle.com/index.php/topic,3499.0.html


Chapter Twelve

June 19, 1465
The Palace at Horthánthy
The Hort's Apartment
Night

Lord Geoffrey and his protegée ended up returning to the secret passage for nearly an hour longer until they both felt certain that Lord Davorin had fallen sound asleep. In the meantime, the guards continued to make their regular patrols, but the intervals between them had grown slightly longer. That was to Geoffrey and Saoirse's advantage, if that trend continued, since it would give them a minute or two longer to get into the Hort's private bedchamber, take care of their business, and make their escape before the guard returned to their wing of the apartment block.

The long delay had given them sufficient time for Lord Geoffrey's temper to cool slightly. While they waited, he devised a modified plan for dealing with his son's murderer.

Once they had determined it was the perfect time to act, they waited until they heard the retreating footfalls of the guard leaving the Hort's antechambers before leaving their concealment and slipping down the corridor to the bedchamber door at the very end of it. Geoffrey did not dare extend his senses to check if the Hort was, in fact, fully asleep, for if the man was as cautious as Geoffrey was, he would likely awaken at the first hint of an unknown mind probing at or even brushing against his shields. But all was completely quiet on the other side of the door, so he began his work, tasking Saoirse to keep a watch out for any untimely interruption by the Palace guard as he set his hand on the door latch, visualizing the arcane symbol Lord Davorin's manservant had Mind-Shared with him as he turned it. The latch opened easily, the faint click of it barely audible in the silence.

Geoffrey waited another few breaths before stepping into the room, Saoirse following shadowlike behind him. He silently closed the door behind them. The usurper lay in the large, curtained Bed of State at the center of the room, facing away from them. The two Gwyneddans stealthily approached the side of the bed, Geoffrey walking slightly ahead of Saoirse with sword drawn in case Lord Davorin should suddenly awaken, wary for any sign of movement or change in the sleeping man's position. Saoirse's line of approach took her towards Lord Davorin's head while Lord Geoffrey's path veered slightly away from hers, heading towards the foot of the bed.


Something felt off. Lord Davorin awakened abruptly, remaining unmoving while he tried to assess what felt wrong.

Nothing seemed amiss at first, but then he saw it--the dark shape of a man silhouetted against the slightly less black darkness of the room. He sat up, calling up a fiery blast of energy from deep within himself in order to cast it at the intruder's form, or at least that was what he had meant to do. Instead, nothing happened. Instead, Lord Davorin felt slightly disoriented, his perceptions strangely dulled, as if some vital sense like sight or hearing had unexpectedly gone missing. After the briefest of moments, he realized what it was--he could no longer Sense the world around him.

The silhouette moved closer, one hand extended palm up towards him. It suddenly blazed with a pale violet fire, illuminating the face and form of a man he knew to be dead. He had killed the man himself, or at least he had disposed of the man's body. The Gwyneddan guard Jourdain, damn his hide, had already set a trigger in his own mind that had wiped his memory before shutting down the centers of his mind that kept him alive. Lord Davorin had looked forward to extracting the man's memories first before enjoying his slow and painful death, and both sources of satisfaction had been denied him. He remembered the young man all too well.

He realized the man before him was not Jourdain, but the illusion was extremely convincing. This, then, must be his sire, the suspected Gwyneddan intelligencer Lord Geoffrey Arilan.

He opened his mouth to call out for his guards, but no sound came out. Lord Davorin's confused alarm turned into fear.

Something touched the back of his head, then a movement out of the corner of his eye caught his attention, and he glanced that way, finding to his horror that he was unable to turn his head, just his eyes. He was just as paralyzed as Jourdain had been in his final moments. Another figure stepped into view, this one also looking like Jourdain.

"We're done here?" This second figure whispered.

"Almost," said the first. "You've carried out your end of the mission?"

"He's been Blocked, and I took the precaution of rendering him mute and frozen until we are long gone. Hopefully that will afford him some time to contemplate his sins and seek out a confessor in the morning before the Lord Regent's fleet arrives."

"Excellent." The first man smiled. "In that case, we should leave at once. But first...." The man approached, serving up a lightning quick jab at his face and a second to his solar plexus before turning away, causing Lord Davorin to fall rigidly backwards onto the mattress convulsively gasping like a stranded fish, the air knocked out of his lungs. "Now I'm done." At the second man's reproving look, he shrugged. "I'm not as much of an angel as you are."


July 20th, 1465
Rhemuth Castle
A guest apartment
Morning

The Queen of Orsal and Tralia had been provided with temporary lodgings in the Queen's Tower at Rhemuth Castle in the same apartment where she had spent the latter half of her girlhood. Only the furnishings had been changed to accommodate multiple ladies-in-waiting as well as Miranda and her children.

Duke Joscelin had been sent back to Corwyn on the previous day with special instructions from the King, shortly after bringing Miranda and her ladies through the Library Annex portal to Rhemuth. Miranda had been informed that same day that the King had received word that most of her other ladies-in-waiting, with the notable absence of Lady Genevieve, had managed to escape to Bočna, so among other instructions the King's Champion had been given had been to make the necessary arrangements to reunite the remaining ladies-in-waiting with their Queen.

"I have had the chambermaids set up Richeldis and Elisa's former rooms for the rest of your ladies also," Queen Catalina assured her, "and my ladies are prepared to help them get settled in here until it is safe for you to return to Horthánthy. Hopefully it should take no longer than a few days for Comte Réhon-Rogan and his forces to secure the Palace and deal with Lord Davorin and what remains of his loyalists."

"Colin tells me the Corps Phénix have already fled in advance of the Regent's arrival," Miranda stated. "Hopefully that should help."

"That will help matters considerably in Tralia," Queen Catalina agreed. "In Joux, not so much, unfortunately."

To help her ladies-in-waiting while away their time in exile in a useful pursuit, Miranda had set them all to sewing, thinking this would fill the dual purpose of giving them all the opportunity to supplement their meagre wardrobe of borrowed clothes as well as providing them with more permanent wardrobe choices so they could return the loaned garments promptly. With any luck, they would be back in Tralia before requiring much more than a new chemise or kirtle, but keeping her ladies occupied would at least keep them too busy to spend much time fretting.

If only the same occupation would help to still her own mind! Miranda made a valiant attempt at creating a new kirtle for Rezza to replace the one she was on the verge of outgrowing, but after having to clip and pull the thread from the same seam twice, she stood, walking towards the window and looking down into the garden below. She could hear her daughters' laughter–the first she had heard from either of them since Lord Davorin's coup began. They were playing with their cousins, Colin and Melisande's children, who had been given leave to skip their schoolroom lessons that day to meet their Tralian cousins. The infant Haldane Prince, of course, was still too young to join them, although a nursemaid sat on a nearby bench holding him as he slept and keeping a close watch over Létald as he contentedly played with a stuffed toy horse rather than attempting to join the older children's games.

Lady Marija's son also sat nearby, watching the others play but seeming reluctant to join in. As Miranda watched, Colin's eldest son walked over to him, head tilted slightly as he spoke, apparently asking him a question. After a moment, Dmitri shyly replied, and the two boys wandered slightly apart from the others. The other boy–Balian, if Miranda remembered correctly–reached into a basket and produced a stuffed leather ball, tossing it at Marija's son.

Miranda sensed Marija approaching from behind her and stepped slightly to one side to allow the other woman to view the scene below them. "It looks like your Dmitri has found a new friend," she observed.

"Da." Marija watched the two boys as they tossed the ball back and forth, occasionally venturing some attempt at conversation. "I'm glad he has found someone here near his age. He hasn't had much experience with playing with other children, and he tends to be a little shy. Not speaking very much Gwyneddan can't be helping with that."

Miranda nodded. "It's hard to gain fluency just from schoolroom lessons. Maybe he'll feel more comfortable with the language once he's spent a little more time here hearing it spoken all around him." Drawing Marija a little apart from the others, she asked, "Have you had a chance to give what I said about Dmitri's need for Deryni training a little more thought?"

Marija shook her head. "I realize it is important, but I wouldn't know where to start. Perhaps Anna will have some suggestions. I always relied on the Hort to make the necessary arrangements when it came to that sort of thing."

"There is a very good schola for Deryni here in Rhemuth," Miranda informed her. "I'm told that Balian–the King's son–will be starting his studies there this coming autumn. Perhaps that would be a good option for Dmitri."

Marija frowned. "I am not sure I can afford that. It might depend on how much damage has been done to my dacha and what the cost of repairs is likely to run. I would need to speak with my steward first."

"Surely Adémar must have left you and Dmitri well enough provided for?" Miranda asked. "If he hasn't left some sort of trust for Dmitri, then I'm certain he must have intended to get around to it in time. That ought to be sufficient for any living expenses for him to attend the Schola."

Her lady-in-waiting stared out the window at the boys. "I will think on it," she said noncommittally. "Though I can't imagine the other children will be as welcoming once they discover that my son is not a nobleman's heir, but just the Hort's by-blow."

Miranda raised her eyebrows at that. "If that's to be an issue for Dmitri, it will be for Balian as well, but I dare anyone make that complaint and have it reach the King's ears!" She sighed. "Marija, I know you want to protect your son, and that's completely understandable. After the past few days, it was difficult for me to let my children out of my sight long enough to go play in the garden! But you are doing him no favors by trying to keep him hidden out of sight. Not only does he need to learn how to develop and manage his powers, he also needs to learn how to interact with the greater world. Hiding him won't keep him safe; you've already discovered that. Teaching him how to develop his strengths in a world that isn't always safe will give him a greater chance in life, not just to survive, but even to thrive. And besides, unless you plan to keep him locked away for the rest of his life, people will figure out who his father is eventually. He looks just like a younger version of Adémar."

Marija's blue eyes filled with tears. "He does. I remember Adémar at his age."

Miranda could sense her lady-in-waiting's deep grief, contained barely beneath the surface of her tightly held composure, a sharp counterpoint to her own vaguely guilty regret. She drew Marija further apart from the others. "Walk with me; I think we will be able to keep a closer eye on the children from the gallery walk." She led the other woman out of the apartment, strolling a short distance down the corridor until they found a more private window niche.

"Tell me about the Adémar you fell in love with," Miranda coaxed gently, taking Marija's hand. "Help me to see him through your eyes. I was married to him for nearly eight years, but I'm not sure I ever truly knew the man. Perhaps if I had...." She sighed.

"If you had," Marija admitted quietly, "you would perhaps still feel the same way about him as you do now. But he was not always the man he became in the last decade or more of his life. You would have had to go back a decade more to know my Adémar von Horthy."


Between Marija's haltingly told tale and the memories flitting through her mind as she reminisced, Miranda pulled together a more complete picture of her late husband's younger years.

They had grown up together in the Royal Nursery, Adémar and Marija. Jesaminda also, as well as several other children hand-picked from the families of various favored courtiers who had attended Adémar's father the Hort and his Queen. There were other royal children as well–Adémar's three sisters, two long since married off and the other dead now, and a younger brother who had looked up to his older brother and tried to emulate him.

But even as a young child, Adémar had been Marija's favorite and she, his. He didn't tease like some of the other boys, nor was he aloof towards her like the princesses or Jesaminda, just because her father was a lower ranked courtier than theirs. Her mother was a lady-in-waiting to the Queen, but that counted for little in their eyes. It was the Hort who was important, not his wife.

But Adémar had always had a ready smile for the adoring little girl who enjoyed hearing his stories. And he'd had a great many stories to tell in those days. They helped to while away the moments between his indulgent father's rare visits and his indifferent mother's even rarer ones.

"Someday, many years from now when the Hort my Father is dead–though hopefully not anytime soon!--I will be the Hort of Orsal and Tralia, and once I am, I'll buy us all the sweetmeats we can eat, and maybe a pony. And we'll have our own little dacha in the country. Would you like that?"

Marija had nodded eagerly, wondering what sort of sweetmeats he intended to buy. "What's a Hort?" she asked.

He'd laughed. "Oh, it's a bit like a King, only grander, you see. Because even the King of Joux has to bow to a Hort." He'd winked at her, and she giggled, even though she wasn't really sure what all of that meant. She'd only been three or four at the time.

"Will we all live there, or just you and me?" she'd asked.

He'd shrugged. "I dunno. Who do you want to come live with us?"

"Not Jesaminda! She's mean!"

"Is she mean to you?" He'd frowned. "I hadn't noticed. She's nice to me. But I'll tell her to stop teasing you."

The years passed slowly, yet all too quickly. She began to see less of Adémar as he spent less time with the younger children and more time in the schoolroom, yet he still stopped by a few times a week once he was done with his studies. He'd grown taller and more lanky, and a fair bit more self-assured, but he still found the time to tell her stories. They were filled with all sorts of interesting things that he'd been learning.

"Far away, on the other side of the Anviller lands, there's a realm called Al Zakkar that has fabulous gold mines. A man came to Court last week who had been there. Here, let me Show you something." He'd taken Marija's hand, and a moment later she saw a fabulous beast in her mind's eye, something like a large and misshapen horse with two huge lumps on its back and a man seated on a strange saddle in between, crossing the desert sands. "Would you rather have a pony, or that?" he'd asked with a grin.

She'd laughed. "Oh, a pony, please! I would have no notion how to feed that! What does it eat, sand? And what is it?"

"The man called it a gamal, but Father calls it a camelus."

"And will you go there, to this Al Zakkar, and see the gold mines?" she'd asked, thrilled by the idea of going on such an adventure. Already she was beginning to feel the strictures of being a young lady in Court life, her governess already fussing at her about sitting up straight and being graceful, and all of the other refined habits a well-brought-up girl should develop in order to know how to conduct herself in a royal court. She accepted the necessity of the lessons, but chafed a bit under all the restrictions. Adémar's life seemed so much more free than hers in some ways.

Adémar had shaken his head, a slight scowl on his face. "I wish I could, but Father would never let me go so far outside of Orsal and Tralia. Maybe if I wasn't his Heir, but I am."

"I wish I could go, but I'm a girl." Marija had sighed deeply, making him laugh.

"Oh, come now, it can't be as bad as all that! At least you're a very pretty girl!" He paused, seeming to look at her as if noticing her for the first time. "You really are beginning to look more like a young lady now rather than just a small child. I suppose I shan't be allowed to keep visiting you before too long, at least not without others hanging about."

"Why not?" she'd asked.

He'd turned a bit pink. "Nothing you need worry about. You'll understand in time."

She'd understood much better in only a few more years. She'd already had to fend off Prince Piotr's advances a time or two by then, the few times he'd managed to catch her alone in the formal gardens at Vár Adony. It was not at all difficult to refuse his clumsy attempts to kiss her; Piotr was a self-centered ass.

Marija had entered the garden labyrinth one late spring evening in an attempt to get away from the younger Prince, who appeared to have been under the mistaken impression that her 'No' had simply meant 'Try harder.' She'd nearly run headlong into Adémar and Jesaminda. They'd been mostly hidden in the growing shadows under the small pergola at the center of the labyrinth, but she had managed to see enough. She'd turned and run halfway back, unwilling to leave the labyrinth completely for fear of encountering Piotr lurking outside the entrance waiting for her to emerge, yet also unwilling to see Adémar in anyone else's embrace.

She'd shrunk back into a corner of the hedge-lined pathway when they'd started back towards the Palace. As they drew closer, Adémar had stopped Jesaminda. "You should go on ahead before you're missed," he advised her. "It won't do for us to be seen leaving the labyrinth together." Jesaminda had given him a conspiratorial grin and a lingering kiss before continuing on towards the exit, either seeing or sensing Marija as she'd walked past the spot where she hid. She shot a gloating smile at the damp-eyed girl, pulling a golden locket out of her bodice and displaying it triumphantly as she passed by.

Marija was so furious at Jesaminda, she didn't hear Adémar's approach until he stood right beside her, making her almost jump in surprise. He studied her tear-streaked face in concern. "Are you all right?" he asked.

"Yes!" She fumbled for some excuse for her distress. "I just...tripped. But I'm fine."

She could tell he was unconvinced. "Nothing happened back there," he said quietly.

"It's none of my business," she assured him. It had certainly looked like something had been happening, though!

He shrugged, looking very uncomfortable. "We kissed a bit. That's all. It wasn't anything important. I mean...it's just Jesaminda. She's not special to me or anything, she's just...."

"Easy?"

He'd flushed. "I wouldn't know. If I was going to try for anything else, it certainly wouldn't be in the middle of the garden, though." He'd waved a hand towards the Palace. "You can see everything from Mother's apartment. She'd flay me alive!" He gave Marija a cajoling grin. She'd looked away.

"Marija...." He'd given her shoulders a gentle squeeze. "Please don't be angry with me. I know it was stupid."

"It's all right," she'd whispered. "I don't own you. You don't owe me anything."

"Maybe not, but the last thing I ever meant to do is hurt you."

They'd grown even further apart for a time, not by choice on either side, but that had been the summer when the Hort had unexpectedly died, leaving Adémar suddenly having to figure out the duties he had assumed he would have many more years to learn. He'd been not quite yet twenty-one at the time, too old to need a regent, yet young enough to not feel fully secure about assuming his newfound responsibilities even though his father and tutors had been steadily preparing him over the past few years. Still, even then he had tried to slip away from his duties from time to time, needing respite.

"I don't know what I'd do without Lord Davorin," he'd admitted to Marija on one such occasion. "The man is making himself quite indispensable!"

There was something about Jesaminda's father that she didn't quite trust, but there wasn't any reason for her distrust that she could figure out how to articulate to Adémar. "I wouldn't depend on him too much," she tried to caution him. "I know it's tempting to, but you need to figure things out for yourself."

"I am!" he protested, sounding hurt and a shade too defensive.

"I know you are," Marija reassured him swiftly. "It's just that it would be best not to grow too reliant on anyone."

"Anyway, enough about work," he said, pointedly changing the topic. "Do you remember when we were children, and we used to pretend we were going to buy a dacha and run off there to ride ponies and eat sweetmeats?"

She laughed. "Yes!"

He gave her a charming grin. "Can you keep a secret?"

She studied him curiously, wondering what this was about. "I suppose so. What sort of secret?"

He glanced around. "Do you think you could slip out after dark? If not, I'll try to figure some other way to show you."

She'd bit her lip, thinking. It would be a bit risky. She'd be in major trouble if she got caught, especially now that she was a junior lady-in-waiting to the Queen. But the Queen had been rather lax with her household of late. There were rumors that she planned to return to her homeland rather than remaining in Orsal or Tralia.

"I think I can, if it's not too very late. Maybe after feast, but before I have to return to the Queen's Apartment for the night. Where do you want me to go?"

"Meet me next to the kitchens, near the pantry."

She had slipped out of the Banqueting Hall a little early that evening, making her way to the location he'd mentioned. After a few minutes, he joined her there, leading her up some stairs and into a part of the Palace she'd never been inside, although she recognized it. It had been his apartment after he'd left the Royal Nursery, but before he had become the Hort. Currently it was vacant. She looked around in confusion at the vacant rooms he led her through. "What do you want to show me?"

"It's not here," he said with a chuckle. "But this might be my last chance to show you, since in a few weeks Lord Davorin will be moving into these chambers."

"How are you going to show me something that's not here?" Marija asked, genuinely bewildered. She was even more confused when he led her through a short corridor into what appeared to be a garderobe.

"You are going to think I've gone stark raving mad," said Adémar with a boyish laugh. "But do you trust me?"

"Yes," she'd told him, smiling up at him.

He walked over to a counter that held a basin and ewer, currently empty. There was a small niche to one side of it. He backed up into that niche, feet spread slightly apart, then beckoned. "Come stand right in front of me, and put your feet between mine."

Mystified, she did as he asked. He shook his head. "No, a bit closer." He reached out to clasp her around the waist, pulling her close as if intending to kiss her. She stepped closer, hoping that he would.

Instead, the world gave a sudden lurch, and suddenly she found herself elsewhere, standing in total darkness. She clutched at Adémar in fear.

"Shh, don't be frightened," he soothed her as he chased away the darkness around them with handfire. "I'm sorry, I should have warned you what was going to happen." He took her hand in his free hand, the other one still lighting their way as he led her up some stone steps."

"What is this place?" she whispered.

"Well, at the moment, it's just an old estate I've inherited." He opened a door at the top of the stairs and led her into a fortified manor that had seen better days, but that was far from decrepit. With a bit of restoration, it could look quite grand again.

"I seem to have inherited an old dacha," he told her, slipping an arm around her waist and giving it a gentle squeeze. "It needs some fixing up, but I'm thinking it will make a nice little getaway." He grinned. "It might be missing some sweetmeats and a pony." He looked around at the dusty room around them, looking wistful. "I wish I could actually live here. But maybe you can someday."

She bit her lip. "It's lovely, but it wouldn't be proper for me to accept a dacha from you. And anyway, it wouldn't be the same without you living here with me."

Adémar heaved a deep sigh. "Jesu, I wish I could! Sometimes I wish I weren't the Hort, and that we could just live here in the country and get away from all the politics and the brown-nosers and boot-lickers at Court."

"But you are the Hort now," she'd whispered.

"So I am." He sounded bitter. "And it's everything I've ever wanted in some ways, but nothing at all like what I want in others." He walked over to a window, tracing a line in the dust on the windowsill. "Lord Davorin keeps hinting that it's time I start thinking about marrying and siring heirs. I think he's hoping I'll marry Jesaminda."

"Will you?" Marija asked, her heart in her throat.

"God, no!" Adémar replied with a slight laugh.

That might have eased her mind if it weren't for the rumors swirling around the Court in recent months. "Court gossip has it that you've had her in your bed already." Marija tried to keep her voice even, as if that didn't matter to her.

He glanced away, staring out the window. "People talk about all sorts of things, Marija. Half of them aren't true, you know that."

"That means that half of them are."

He turned to face her. "Look, even if I have, it didn't mean anything," he tried to reassure her, his expression suffused with guilt. "It's just that...well, men have certain needs...."

"And women don't?" she challenged him.

He flushed. "Well, I wouldn't know," he said with a quiet laugh, "never having been one myself."

"Stop trying to humor me, Adémar. I can see straight through the crap you're shoveling." Marija turned away. "I want to go home now."

"All right," he told her, his voice sounding very subdued behind her. He put his arms around her, holding her even as she stiffened in his embrace. "I'm sorry."

Marija couldn't quite keep the tears out of her voice. "Why Jesaminda?! She's a spiteful, manipulative, conniving little bitch!"

"I know," he whispered in her hair. "You're right. I keep meaning to break things off with her."

She turned in his arms, the tears running freely down her cheeks now. "Then why don't you?"

Adémar shook his head, looking miserable. "I don't know." He wiped her tears with his fingertips. "I'm so sorry. You must think I'm horrible."

She shook her head. "Never that. Just...confused." She lifted her face to his, daring to kiss him. After a moment, he returned the kiss.

"I should get you home," he whispered, "before I do anything else we'll both regret."

She wondered if he meant what she thought he might. "I wouldn't regret it," she admitted.

"You would eventually," he warned her. "I can't marry you, Marija. If I could, I would." He sighed. "But if it's any consolation, I also can't marry Jesaminda, even if I wanted to, which I don't."

"That's good, because if you marry Jesaminda, I might have to kill you," Marija exclaimed, only half joking. "But why can't you marry Jesaminda either?"

"Because I'm the Hort. I'll be expected to marry a princess, or a duke's daughter at the very least."

The flow of whispered reminiscences and fleeting memories called to mind stopped as Marija, recalled to the present by the realization of who she was sharing her deeply personal memories of her beloved Adémar with, looked at Miranda briefly with an apologetic smile before glancing away, brushing the dampness from her eyes as she attempted to compose herself. The Haldane Princess that Adémar had ended up marrying clasped Marija's hand with an empathetic smile. "Thank you. I'm sorry that life didn't turn out the way that any of us had hoped for. But it helps a bit to see what Adémar was like before...." She waved her free hand as if that might conjure up an apt way to describe the Adémar she had known without being unduly unflattering and hurting the woman who'd loved him any further.

"Before he grew jaded?"

Miranda nodded. "Yes. He wasn't the only one. I suppose I could have done a bit more in trying to meet him halfway." She glanced back down into the garden below, watching the playing children. "Please consider what I said earlier about Dmitri's education. At least maybe he'll get the chance to follow some of his dreams."

Forgotten Shadows is a long term campaign that has several major story arcs. This means from time to time there may be a need of having new players join in.

This is one of those times. I am looking to add 1 or 2 new players to the mix. If you are interested please let me know. No experience with RPGs is necessary to play.

Amy's heart was racing. So much pain to squelch. With Elspeth, she had seen many burns before, but none ever as deep as these. She realized now that subconsciously she had always eased the burn-victim's pain with her own thoughts, but never before realized just how much more the powers of her birthright would allow her to block all pain from Edwin's mind. This Airich had taught her.

At first, Amy tried to take over what Aidan had been doing, for he was working only on adrenaline and would tire soon. Minutes later, however, she realized she too would tire too soon if she did this on her own. With one hand on Edwin's torso, Amy reached her other hand to touch the novice's wrist. We have to do this together. I know you witnessed Sir Airich and I that night with the student, Robert. Now you and I need to do the same thing. We can do this! Yes?

Mistress, we have to! The youth seemed desperate, upset that Amy had taken over. His hand grasped hers as he rejoined her in tenuous Rapport. Edwin saved me, I have to help him. He can not die like my brother.  Aidan started to cry, and Amy knew that would destroy their fragile connection. She fought to strengthen what they had, using all she had learned from Sir Airich. She wished he were here. But dare not spend a second to find him.

"You keep one hand on his head and the other on my wrist. Hold it tight if you have to. Just don't let go. We, together, will do this. We will see Edwin through the night." Amy said this both in Rapport and out loud so that Elspeth would know the determination of her helpers.

With two Deryni learning how to focus and rely upon each other, they eased their patient, Edwin, who sighed relief and fell into a sleep without pain or dreams.

According to the research I did before writing this scene, they did. They thought the heat of fire held close to the victim would draw out the heat from the burns so they would heal.  This was pretty much only in the middle ages, and didn't last long.

Did they really use fire on burn victims back in the day?

Yes, Yes, Elspeth! Do what the new medical advice is not the stead treatments with poor outcomes.  We need to keep our dear Edwin with us, Please!

A big "thank you" for Laurna and Nezz's contributions to this.

Friday late afternoon
Bishop's Palace
Grecotha

When Elspeth arrived with Lord Thane and the very obedient Father Rastus in the waiting area outside the bishop's study, the same old monk rose from his desk and knocked on the study door.

Bishop Bernard entered the waiting area and gave the priest a saddened look. "Bring him and follow me," he said to Lord Thane. "You remain here," he added to Elspeth in a voice that brooked no argument. So she curtseyed and watched them go. Did she really want to watch as the Deryni lord pulled the information he needed from the priest? Probably not, so she sat on the bench and waited.

In a short while the bishop and Lord Thane returned. Thane gave Elspeth the briefest of nods and hurried away.

"Advise me when the next group arrives," Bernard said to the monk and returned to his study.

Elspeth's hood was still raised, so the old monk did not see the flash of anger in her blue eye. The only thing that stopped her from pounding on the study door herself was the arrival of Amy and Guardsman Jimmy with their captive priest. The guardsmen Callum and Dand followed, taking up positions on either side of the door.

As with Lord Thane, the bishop led Jimmy and Father Weyland away, leaving Amy behind. Amy gave the briefest of curtseys and slumped onto the bench beside Elspeth.

"I was probably a little lacking in respect," Amy muttered to Elspeth.

"I honestly doubt he noticed. Now tell me how it went..." Elspeth stopped as Jimmy and the bishop reappeared.

Jimmy Taylor at least paused to bow as he hastened to the door. "No time to waste. Safest if you stay here." And he was gone, with Callum and Dand following him.

"Well I never!" Amy exclaimed. "You'd think at least the bishop would tell us what they found out."

"Seems we report to the bishop rather than the other way around," Elspeth said dryly. "You were about to tell me...." She stopped, as the woman beside her sat up straight and the colour drained from her face.

"It's Airich," Amy said. "He is safe," she added hastily, seeing the instant concern on Elspeth's face. "But Edwin is not. Father Theo set him on fire!"

Sweet Jesu! Elspeth glanced at the old monk, who was gaping at them and starting to rise.

"They have taken him to the infirmary. Airich wants us there at once." Amy was already moving toward the doors.

"Tell him we are on our way."

Airich, we are coming as fast as we can.

Good. You need to know that Aidan is Deryni. He discovered his powers when Father Theo pushed him too far by laughing as Edwin burned.

Theo is an abomination!

You'll get no argument from me on that.

Their conversation ended as the two women ran from the Bishop's Palace at full speed.


Elspeth and Amy stopped in the middle of the main room of Grecotha's infirmary. Both were breathing heavily as they scanned the occupied beds along the side of the room, but they did not see the young man they desperately wanted to find.

"Aidan is with him," Amy said between breaths.

"May I help you, mistresses?" asked one of the lay brothers who was carrying an armful of bandages.

"Edwin Scrivener has been brought here. Novice Aidan McLain is with him. Where are they?" Elspeth was in no mood to mince words.

The lay brother nodded. "We have placed him in a private chamber. If he awakes, he is likely to be screaming. Master Steadman has been sent for."

"Pray take us to Edwin at once," Elspeth said firmly. "And bring those bandages."

The lay brother looked at them nervously; Master Steadman would not approve.

Elspeth spoke one single word: "NOW!"

The lay brother gulped and then nodded. "This way."

The smell of burnt flesh greeted them as the lay brother opened the door to a chamber behind the main room. Aidan knelt beside the bed, one hand placed gently on Edwin's forehead. He looked up at them, but did not move.

The shutter to the room's only window was mostly closed, making it difficult to see Edwin clearly.

"Amy, open the shutter a bit more to give us light and air."

"Is that wise?" the lay brother asked, but Amy was already opening the shutter.

"Yes it is," the physicker said curtly. In a more gentle tone, she asked, "What is your name?"

"Simeon, Mistress."

Elspeth joined Aidan and Simeon brought a low stool for her to sit on. She began a close visual inspection of the blackened flesh of his left arm, torso and thigh. The reddened flesh on his neck and across his torso continued to blister. She needed to act quickly.

Amy returned to the other side of the bed and placed her hand beside Aidan's, gently easing into rapport with him. He tensed for a moment and then relaxed. As did Amy, surprised to find the novice's burgeoning powers.

Sir Airich showed me how to control Edwin's pain to keep him comfortable. He is afraid Edwin will give up rather than bear it. I must not fail him.

You won't fail him, and I will help as Elspeth tends to him. Both Amy and Aidan quickly accepted the other's abilities.  All their attention was needed to keep their friend from experiencing the horrific pains from such burns.

"We must remove any clothing that was not consumed," Elspeth said. "Simeon, set the bandages down and help me cut them away. Try to disturb him as little as possible."

They were finishing when an older lay brother entered holding a small, unlit torch and a candle. He looked suspiciously at the two women.

"Master Steadmen is administering to Father Theo. He sent me to draw out the heat from the student's burns." He moved the candle closer to light the torch.

"You will do no such thing!" cried Elspeth, horrified. "Would you also bleed a woman after childbirth?"

Amy discreetly snapped the fingers of her free hand and the candle went out.

"See here, Mistress," he said, looking at the candle warily. "This is not your infirmary!"

Elspeth drew a deep, steadying breath. The correct treatment was tucked away in her memory. ¹

"The physicians of Byzantyun discarded this treatment as ineffective and harmful two decades ago," she said firmly. "Their current medical texts recommend soaking the burns with cool vinegar to reduce the heat and help prevent suppuration. This should alternate with bandaging the burns after applying an ointment made from honey. I will also give him talicil to prevent fever.  It is lucky we have a fresh batch. That is our best means to prevent fever."

"And how do you know this?" the older man returned sceptically.

"I have copies of the texts and have studied them thoroughly." She looked up as Master Steadman entered the chamber.

"That was quite the declaration," he said. "I have heard of this treatment before, but it takes time." He walked toward the bed and studied Edwin's burns closely. "Time this young man may not have."

"Then we must not waste that time arguing over his treatment. Pray let me proceed."

Master Steadman shrugged. "Then he is under your care, and no longer a concern of mine.  Father Robert and another man need my attention now." He turned and hurried away.

"He doesn't believe he will live either way," Simeon said quietly.

"Then God willing we will prove him wrong. Pray fetch a basin of cool vinegar and clean cloths." Elspeth rolled up her sleeves and looked down at Edwin.

"Stay with us Edwin; don't give up. We need you." ²

---

¹ Elspeth had an Eidetic memory. 2D6 6+3=9.

² Elspeth is a physicker. She will heal with a successful roll. 2d6 plus 4 grit. 4+3=7. Success on a 4 thanks to the grit. Edwin is healed for 2 Hit points.