As Raven and Jerod arrive at the establishment, they see a few strapping men loitering out front. On noticing the pair, one slips inside. Two more stand up straighter, but don't make the first move. Someone is painting on the dingy signboard beside the door. How anything has had time to become dilapidated in Xanadu is unclear. Perhaps it was imported from Amber that way.
Jerod will remark quietly to Raven. "Watch our back and put down anyone who interferes." he says. He is not interested in the affairs of these individuals, but they are also not in his league. He's here to talk, but he doesn't ask their permission to do what he needs to do and he does not accept interference from them in what he needs to do.
"I got it," Raven answers. Mostly to herself, she adds, "You never know, this lot might be smarter than the last."
The first one that attempts to interfere will go down. If there are no weapons involved, then it would involve a manuever that is short, sharp (potentially breaking of limbs) but not immediately. If weapons are drawn, then the offender dies. It's Random's kingdom, but Jerod still follows the old rule that drawing on a Prince earns a death sentence.
Raven is basically following Jerod's lead here, but she's not actively trying to kill people that pull weapons. Smashing their faces in, yes, but not killing them.
The man who steps up is in Amber finery, which has seen better days. His accent indicates that he started dockside and has been trying to erase what traces of that origin from his tongue.
"My Lord, " he says, bowing towards Jerod, "Captain Raven, Welcome to Miss Scarlett's. You 'onor us with your presence. May I show you to a table are are you seekin' private accommodations?"
To Jerod he looks familiar. Perhaps he once worked at Red Mill.
Jerod commits the face of Miss Scarlett's Gatekeeper to memory, letting it sit in its own box in his subconscious to see if a name percolates to the surface. He also pauses long enough to give the others in the proximity a look over. He is curious both as to who they may be, if the Red Mill influence extends itself beyond this individual before him, as well as their immediate physical intentions towards them.
"Miss Scarlett. She has an appointment with me. I'm afraid I must take a terrible liberty in moving it up to fit my schedule. Please be so good as to have her attend immediately." Jerod says. He then continues forward, not trying to deliberately bowl the man over, but neither does Jerod stop simply becaus the man is in his way. Should the Gatekeeper decide to try to stop them, he will find any rumors he may have heard of Jerod's strength to be quite factual when a vise-like grip clamps onto the man's arm so that he can continue to accompany the new arrivals.
Raven continues to trail along behind, keeping an eye out for interference - although a faint sardonic smile has appeared. With an invitation like that, she's not sure if this is just going to go horribly wrong at any moment, or if it's going to be funny in that "I'm not sure which of them is going to come out on top or who I should root for" kind of way.
She does have a weather eye out for Max, though - the kid may not be brought along to the party, and she wants to know where he is if anything goes down.
"Of course, My Lord. I shall send word immediately." He pulls open the large door and a younger man slips inside, doing his bidding without being told. "I will show you to your table." If Jerod is going in first, the man will let him do so, then try to slip around him and lead the way to a table in the middle of the room. [OOC: Or not, if Jerod takes the initiative.]
"That one." Jerod says, retaining control of the flow of movement into the room, selecting a different table, closer to the door and windows as needed, easier to control access and prevent any issues that might arise and to see who else is in the room and what they may be doing. Also one that should be a bit more difficult to eavesdrop on.
As Jerod and Raven get used to the dim light inside, they see that the place is clearly being cleaned up. Also, it looks like someone is building a stage in one corner.
Raven doesn't see Max, but she recognizes one of the girls. Definitely from the Red Mill, or one of the other fancypants brothels. Scarlett is at least trying to move up in the world.
"Nice to know my damn money is being put to use," Raven mutters, not entirely under her breath and with nothing but ill grace. "Won't last, but still."
She circles the table Jerod indicates, unless he stops her, and leaves the seat with better visibility to him. She would rather keep an eye on the kitchen door.
A woman walks out of the kitchen door. Not every redhead looks good in a red dress, but this one does. She walks directly to the table, as if she owns the place. Perhaps she does.
For Jerod, it takes little more than a glance to recognize why this one would have attracted the attention she did, and does. Bits of reality are forever drawn to points of Order, and vice versa. He allows himself a little smile as she approaches, confident on her turf. He hopes that she proves as interesting as she appears.
She approaches the table and bows, adequately but a but awkwardly. She seems out of practice with courtly practices, but not without some training from somewhere. It's not something Raven has seen Scarlett do, ever. "Prince Jerod, I see you've met my ... oldest." She smiles at Raven, playing the proud mother. "I understand you needed to move up our appointment. Is this strictly a business call or can I convince you to sample our scotch? We're not the Red Mill, but we have ambitions in that direction." She puts her hand on a chair-back, next to Jerod, but does not pull it out without his permission.
Jerod nods an approval, keeping an eye on the interaction between mother and oldest, a correctly precise manuever for the current circumstance as he watches, noting lost talents re-surfacing. Another surprise, and since Jerod usually likes surprises, it is a welcome one. He considers for a moment the more gentlemanly responses he was trained with when comporting with a women in Amber culture, but decides not to indulge them. The terms of the relationship are still undefined and giving away too much too early is never wise.
"Miss Scarlett." Jerod replies. "I would thank you for your hospitality. There is nothing to say that business cannot be a sociable time as well and a drink certainly works to produce just such a time."
Scarlett raises three fingers and her staff moves to answer her bidding. To Raven, at least, it seems choreographed, probably by those Red Millers.
Raven eyes her mother's unexpected manners - and especially her smile - with the sort of resigned and deep-seated wariness one might find, right around dinner time, on the face of the owner of a dog that bites the hand that feeds it. It's not a 'please don't bite me' kind of expression; it's 'what are you up to this time?'
But she restricts herself to a simple, "Hello, Mother," in a matter-of-fact voice and goes back to watching the room at large.
"Hello, Raven. Thank you for carrying my message to the castle." She turns to Jerod. "Thank you for coming. I had another visitor from the castle today. Thought she was on your errand, but she didn't know what I was talking about." She smiles as a girl arrives with three glasses of whiskey on a tray. To Raven's surprise, the glasses actually match.
"Thank you, Mead," she says to the servant. The girl curtseys (which she does well), and heads back to the bar.
[OOC: pausing here to let anyone who wants to do react a place to do it. The whiskey is not truly excellent, but it's actually good. It tastes to Jerod as if it was laid down well before the Sundering, and probably in an exotic shadow-wood cask. He may even know the distillery. To Raven, it tastes like something Scarlett spent too much money on.]
Jerod collects a glass, nosing it absently in the way that one acquires after drinking spirits for years. He frowns slightly, collecting a second sample before tasting it and nodding. Not an exceptional scotch for certain, remembering the bottle his dad once had, a rare dark amber malt from a long finished distiller and decades old in the making. But still a good one, especially in light of the surroundings. That Scarlett is going upscale is not missed by Jerod.
"An Oban." he says, taking a second sip. "Older, probably about twenty five years old. From an old place, Acairseid. I visited there once...what was left of it. They used an unusual kind of oak, made for a distinctive aroma...if you knew what to look for. Your buyer did well on this one."
Raven takes a couple of sips, in the interests of not starting an argument yet, and then sets the glass down again. She's really just trying to stay out of the conversation at this point; it's for the kid's benefit, in the end, and arguing went so well the last time.
Scarlet sniffs the glass, more deliberately and inexpertly than Jerod. "I'm no expert, Your Highness, but there are them that are and some who wanted to come to Xanadu before Amber's notables showed up. I'm building from them." She sips the scotch. "I could get used to this," she adds.
After a moment, in which others have opportunities to reply, Jerod asks. "You had another visitor? What errand was this woman on?"
That, on the other hand, Raven is willing to speak up about. "Ain't like I announced it at dinner, Mother," she observes dryly. "Guess that moving up in the world thing is working out for you, if you've got Royals what ain't on your errands stopping by."
It doesn't exactly sound approving. But at least it's sort of neutral.
Scarlett smiles, but it's more the smile of someone who knows something rather than a response to the near-compliment. She turns to Jerod.
"She said she was here to get food for her flying lizards, which she did. I thought she was keeping your appointment with me, but she weren't interested. Hopefully, it was just a coincidence, but I worry about Max's safety."
"Concern for one's offspring is understandable. The Lady Robin would not be involved in this situation, nor would it be in her best interests to insert herself into this affair. You may consider it a coincidence." Jerod replies, idly swirling the contents of his glass.
"It is upon the topic of Max that I am here. I would know about his father."
Raven eyes her mother expectantly.
Scarlett nods and leans in towards the Prince. "Aye, it is the same topic that I wish to speak of. As Raven may have told you, my lord, both myself and the boy have been threatened by agents of his father. His mere existence ... disrupts their plans. It is one reason we retired from Amber to Xanadu, but not the only one. I find myself and my son needing protection from them. They are not the sort of men who let niceties like law or decency prevent them from doing as advantages them." She pauses.
"I do not think the lad's father knows, it is not his doing. I can say that his men cut off the money he was sending for the boy's support around the time I found myself even speaking to relatives of the King." She glances at Raven, then returns her full attention to Jerod. "I think it's a warning. I expect I will see a more forceful reminder soon. His agents are, I believe, arriving in this town like many from Amber. We are not inconspicuous here, and do not wish to be, but also we do not wish to be found floating in the harbor with our throats slit.
"Can the crown offer us protection? I would assume it would require more than just a stern talking-to, my Lord."
Jerod's expression does not change while listening to Scarlett, only letting the words flow, letting information filter and sift. Only when she has finished does he pause himself, curious as to details left out.
"I'm curious on a number of issues you have brought up." Jerod says, "So I think that we will go through these one at a time.
"First, you indicated that Max's existence disrupted their plans. What are their plans?
"Second, and this is just for me, I would like you to confirm the identity of Max's father."
Raven continues to just listen without comment, although she doesn't look much like she believes the whole of the story her mother just told.
Scarlett leans back towards Jerod. "They intend, I believe to continue to live handsomely without another woman with more claim on the Father interfering with their patron, who has not produced a son. They fear being cast aside." She pauses. "It isn't unwarranted, I supposed. She stole him away from a previous mistress, and yet is not so young as once she was." Her lack of sympathy for this plight is clear.
"As to revealing the lad's father's identity, I find myself in exactly the constraints I was in before. To tell you would be the same as revealing it to the King, and not safe for either of us, without assurance of protection. What would happen were I to do so was most graphically spelled out to me. I would certainly accept your protection, Prince Jerod. My aim is to trade the only thing I know you want for an escape from this damnable knife held at our necks by men who are beyond the law, but not beyond the reach of the hand of a Prince." She's not quite spitting by the end, although she's clearly worked up.
"Will you protect us?"
"Yes. I always protect family." Jerod says simply, finishing his drink before placing his glass on the table and leaning in, speaking softly. "But if you're thinking of playing me...the gentlemen with the knives will be a mercy by comparison." There is no change in his tone, no clenched fists or heated breath, no relentless stare into her eyes. His words are his conviction, and his oath.
He leans back in his chair. "You should start at the beginning."
Raven briefly considers fixing her mother with a look that, time was, meant that this one's trouble - but clearly her mother doesn't think she's worthy of this piece of business, so she can figure it out on her own as far as Raven's concerned. There's a certain entertainment in watching the conversation, anyway. She continues to listen.
Scarlett nods. "It was a few years before the sundering, back when things were better in Amber. Troubles, but not affecting the City. Lots of people with lots of money in the taverns. Nervous people drink, and they gather to drink." She pauses. "I must assume that you will count me as family in your protection, though I have not a drop of your blood, as I know it. My family ties to you are through Max and Co-- Raven. You must stop me now if I have misinterpreted your stance."
She waits for a moment. Jerod notices that when she is telling this story she slips into what sounds like a Seaward accent, as if she has Rebman ancestors.
"My interpretation of family is not what others might define it to be." Jerod replies. "I stand by my statement. Continue please."
Raven's eyes narrow at the misstep. It's in annoyance, but it could as easily be taken for a warning to not start.
While he noticed both her accent and her partial catch when naming Raven, nothing about his expression changes in the slightest.
"I was visiting a friend who had a more elegant establishment when I saw him and smiled. He took me for one of her girls, and I fancied him as well. He wasn't rugged, but he looked every bit the rake. A foreigner, well-dressed and rich, he was used to getting his way and she didn't mind that I let him have it." If the double-entendre is purposeful, Scarlett doesn't let on.
Raven snorts in quiet amusement at that.
"He had his fill and left, back to his home. He had no idea he'd got me with Max. I didn't see the man again until after the Sundering. I was visiting Tiercel again, and he was at the Mill. He recognized me, and I him. I told him that he had a child and he came to see the boy. After, some strained discussions, he agreed to pay for the boy's upkeep and education, and that was as much as I expected to ever see of him. He had his own Mistress at the Mill by that point, and I was back at my old place.
"It wasn't until later that her friends came by and made it clear to me that I was to keep myself and the lad away from him. This was before he had any heirs, of course. He gave Max his last name, too, but I ain't told anyone but Max that.
"He left me a gift, back when he gave me Max." She pulls a hand-kerchief from her cleavage, and smooths it on the table. There are initials engraved in the corner. "L St. C"
"Lucas was his Lordship's name. Lord Lucas Sincere."
Raven would notice that Jerod looks at the kerchief on the table but does not pick it up immediately. When he does, his movements are slow and precise, patience driving him as he examines it carefully. "Where is Max?" Jerod asks, looking at Scarlett when he inquires.
"Behind the fifth column on the balcony above my head, looking to see who his mamma is talking to," replies Scarlett.
Once he has her response, he flicks the kerchief around his index and middle fingers, spinning into a small ball that he places back on the table, closer to himself than to Scarlett. "For his mistress at the Red Mill, I presume you mean Silken?" Jerod asks.
With nothing neutral to say, Raven keeps her mouth shut and continues to listen. Judging by her expression, though, she has plenty of less than neutral things to say on her mind. Possibly something about playing favorites, and definitely something unkind.
Scarlett nods in response to Jerod's question.
When Robin inquires at the castle, she'll find that Captain Raven and Jerod left the castle earlier in the day and have not returned. [OOC: They're at Scarlett's, but they don't tell everything to the guards, who I have now metally labelled "Gimbel's" because Macy's doesn't tell them... ]
Robin nods to the guards sympathetically. She doesn't get told much either. 'Course that's mostly because she doesn't want to know.
Moving out of listening distance of the Guards, she turns to Victor, "Okay. My cousin Jerod? He's one of the civilized and esteemed elite." she drawls, "And also on real good terms with Prince Martin. Now, it could be that Jerod is just showing Raven where the best gentlemen's clubs in Xanadu are." Robin sticks out her tongue in a little gagging gesture. "Or they could be off dealing. And Jerod is no joke when it comes to dealing. Soooo, you want to head back to your sister's and see what's up? Or do you wanna lay in wait in this Castle for Captain Raven?"
Robin doesn't care much either... oh yes, she does. She'd prefer to annoy Jerod wherever he is and whatever he's doing. Girl's got no sense at all, she smiles to herself.
"Well, we know where she is, and I need to get you acquainted with the boy, so let's do that."
'Up the hill, down the hill. Welcome to Xanadu,' Robin thinks to herself as she and the firelizards finds hemselves in front of the erstwhile gaming den once again. Turning to Victor, she asks as she steps in, "Does this place have a name?"
Vic looks at the doors, and the doorman silently opens them. "They're callin' it Scarlett's, but that may be temporary."
And then, her green eyes take in the tableau of Jerod, Raven and Scarlett. And she nods. "Yep," she mutters under her breath to her companion, "dealin'. Vic? Just in case you haven't figured this out. Jerod and me are like fire and oil. Let's be sure and take that into account, shall we?" Then she steps aside to let the mighty demon-hunter make the introductions.
Scarlett pulls back when Victor and Robin approach. "Victor," she says, not quite sending him away but certainly not welcoming him warmly.
"Rufa," he says back. "I've been discussing your problem with my friend from the castle, Lady Robin, and I think we may all want to discuss it together."
Scarlett nods, "Might as well." She turns to Jerod. "Your highness, this is Victor. He's Raven and Max's Uncle."
Jerod is looking over Victor as he speaks to his sister, acquiring some physical first impressions, his garb and weapons, how he holds himself and more importantly how he operates near Robin, how they move or do not move inside the various personal zones that everyone sets for themselves. The ease that one can move in and out of another's personal space speaks volumes to one trained to notice such things, and Jerod always had very good teachers.
Jerod's best read on their interactions is that they've been very close in the past and are likely to have been either in battle together or lovers.
He looks over at Scarlett. "Have the boy come down. He is old enough to know the truth that he may be at risk and what may be done on his behalf." he says, before looking at Victor.
"Max!," she shouts. "Down here, now. Someone wants to meet you."
There's a scrambling of feet.
"Victor." Jerod says simply. "I'd be curious as to these....discussions you've been having concerning Max. Perhaps you'd care to share with us?"
"Aye, and you might as well call out of the woodwork any other family you ain't ever been bothered to tell me about, Mother dear," Raven adds curtly. "Might as well get it all done at once."
Scarlett shrugs at Raven. "I'll talk to you after this is settled." She turns to her brother. "Victor, this is my oldest, Raven."
Raven scowls briefly at her mother's response, but doesn't say anything. It's... probably for the best.
Victor nods towards Raven. "What she ain't saying is we each thought the other was dead, maybe 60 or 100 years back, depending on where you count.
"Your pardon, my Lord, while I am legally Max's guardian under your law, Rufa and I are not from here. I yield to her in the matter. She was tellin' me of her troubles with thugs and how she needed help with it, and as 'tis my duty to help her, I recruited Robin. I confess I did not expect to find my sister in conclave with a Prince of the City, but honestly, it makes her other stories more believable." He smiles at that, although Scarlett doesn't seem pleased.
Wow, Robin thinks to herself, and he was just telling me how no good with words he is. If Vic's 'no good' with words than I've got a LOT to learn.
The Ranger gives a slight shrug and a flat smile to Jerod, Raven and Scarlett/Rufa. She's just the muscle here, knows it and doesn't mind. Right now, she's just planning on backing Victor's play. Without starting a King-Notice-Worthy event that is.
"And now that you have found that your sister..." Jerod says, pausing just for a moment to look at Scarlett while he considers using her other name. It is clear he is considering it, a slight smile on his lips at the variance of 'Rufa' to her current form of address, but in the end, he decides against it. "...is in conclave, what do you intend now? My mandate from the crown Prince may not carry forward to the conclusion you had in mind when you were... recruiting a member of the royal family...an action that might require the crown to take a position publicly on any action you take...positions the Crown may not find desirable. Such...embarrassments of the Crown are not looked upon favorably after all."
While Jerod is looking at Victor when he says this, unless Robin is being very obtuse, it's clear there is a separate message for her.
Robin finds herself caught between the urge to stick her tongue out at Jerod or to break into chuckles. Or maybe she should just roll her eyes. In any case, none of it is helpful, so she'll just add all those urges to the growing Jerod bank and keep calm for what's going on here and now.
Raven leans back in her chair, crosses her arms, and regards Victor with a certain amount of interest. It's not like she needs more family at this point - not even by half - but at least this one can annoy her mother. And as much as called her a liar, too.
Victor sits up straight in his chair. "Now? I reckon I'll see what you've got in mind. It may well override any plans I might've had in mind. I'm generally an improviser anyroads. But if someone is threatenin' my sister and her kids, I think we need to talk to the boy's father. If he can't stop it, or won't, then we can break some heads."
Scarlett nods. "He won't like seein' me again, but he can control his bully-boys."
Jerod nods once, watching as Max approaches. "Lucas is dead." he says, looking at Scarlett. "His funeral was a short time ago, in the kingdom of Paris where my uncle Corwin rules as king."
Do not roll eyes. Must not roll eyes. Dung, Robin misses Cambina at this point. That's supposed to be her job.
Raven nods slightly to herself. Yep. Prince Martin said he was dead.
Further comment by anyone is interrupted by a wail of despair. A child's voice screams out "Noooo!" and the boy is off running back in the direction that he came from. It's not hard to guess that he's just heard news he can't bear to hear but nonetheless knows is true.
Scarlett is on her feet and with a glance to Victor, runs after the lad. "Max!, stop!"
[OOC: assuming no one follows, or at least that someone stays...]
Victor looks at the remaining people at the table. "Your pardon, Lords and Ladies. The boy is taking the unexpected news poorly."
Jerod watches silently as Max departs, Scarlett in pursuit. His expression is flat and unwavering to those around him at the table, a behaviour recognizable only to a select few who know him very well. That he can empathize with Max for his loss is not surprising...that he does not show it to anyone is equally unsurprising.
"We will let Scarlett bring the boy back." Jerod says, looking at Victor. "That will take a moment or two. In that time, you can tell me where you and ...Rufa... come from. The Seaward was noticeable in her speech." and he sharpens his focus on Victor's speech pattern, looking to see what elements might be there.
Raven scowls and looks at first Jerod and then Victor. And then, wordlessly, she stands up and heads off after her mother at a steady, long-strided walk. It's the right thing to do - the kid needs family, and probably someone a little nicer than their mother.
Besides, it ain't Max's fault that Jerod wouldn't know "break it to them gently" if it walked up and bit him in the arse, and it's probably better to go deal with the kid than to actually say so.
Raven reaches the kitchen quickly, and the door at the back is obvious. When she pushes it open, she sees a large yard, with what looks like a warehouse at the back. It's not very full, although there are some crates that may have come in on the Vale of Garnath. It smells of livestock, but there are none present.
Scarlett is at the back fence, and Raven hears a 'thud!' from the other side, presumably Max landing on the far side of the wall.
Scarlett heads to a gate on the side of the yard. She sees Raven. "He's headed to the caves in the cliff-wall. I can't catch him, he's too fast for me. You goin' to help?"
"Nah," Raven answers drily, as she changes direction for the gate. "Figured I'd follow you out here on account of this being a great time to talk about you playing bloody favorites and how I don't like being treated like I ain't supposed to be at the adults' table." She shakes her head and jerks a thumb back at the building. "G'won. Get. Go do what you do best. Can't promise I'll catch him before he gets there, but I'll bring him back one way or another."
"He idolizes his older brother, just so'en you know."
Unless Scarlett stops her, she'll duck through the gate and sprint in the direction of the thud, looking ahead to see where Max has gone from there.
Scarlett closes the gate behind Raven and the Captain finds herself in a dark, high-sided alley. The thud leads towards the light, which leads towards the ciiff face and the caves. It's a ways, and as long as Raven doesn't lose track of him, she'll catch up with him shortly, even if he is fast, he's too small to beat a Princess of Amber.
The way to the caves is surprisingly crowded, with people streaming towards town. Most are laden with cartfuls of goods. It looks like a ship arrived with new transplants, but they took a detour.
It's easy to track Max at first. He's not trying to hide at all, and is pushing people aside. The disturbance in his wake is a clear rutter.
After crossing a market square, Max turns and sees Raven. That's when he turns and really runs.
There's a market crowd in the square and it's pretty busy. Max is no more than a block or so away, but he's running. [Raven can run him down, maintain her distance, or do something else. What's your pleasure?]
Raven will close the distance, but she's not planning to lay hands on him yet - just settle in at a comfortable distance where she can talk to him without yelling but where she won't lose him if he decides to change direction suddenly, small bodies possibly being a bit more agile and all.
"Just so's you know," she calls when she's close enough to talk, even if it is to the back of his head, "they ain't following. And I think he's that much of a great flaming arse to everybody. Where're we headed?"
He doesn't respond and tries to speed up, but Raven is still faster than a 9 year old.
[OOC: Thought he was 6...?]
He's either a big, mature 6, or small, immature 9. Maybe he's 7 and a half.
[OOC: Once we told the story to Jerod we determined that we needed to fix the timeline a bit to make it work. He's definitely Lucas' oldest, unless he left bastards on Earth...]
"Nice moves, oh Prince of Amber, Duke of Rebma and agent of the Crown Pince of Xanadu." Robin says in round sardonic tones as she drops into the chair Raven vacated. She tosses a hand toward Victor to take Scarlett/Rufa's erstwhile chair if he so wishes. "I couldn't have handled it better myself." She says with a flash of teeth. It's nice to see someone else botch the social role instead of just her.
"If you can come up with a way to ensure that a young boy's world does not come crashing down when he is told his father is dead, then I'm all ears." Jerod replies, looking at her with only the vaguest of interest, and even less concern for her tone. He is confident in his knowledge that it is unlikely to be a skill that Robin would have any experience in, nor does he consider his action to have been out of line given that Max would have to be told at some point. Sooner rather than later. And if the boy wants to hate him, so long as Max is still alive Jerod will have no problem being hated. Better than the alternative.
"I've found it helps if you let them know that they're not all alone in a cold uncaring universe full of self-righteous uncaring adults." Robin says, shrugging one shoulder casually. Of course, far be it from her to offer advice (however pointed) to the already perfect Prince of Amber.
He returns his gaze to Victor after a moment. "Back to my most recent question - where are you from?"
Victor holds up his index finger. "I will answer that in just one moment, your grace, but first I owe my friend here a duty, "
He turns in towards Robin and speaks softly and quickly. Jerod can hear every word, but could choose to politely pretend he doesn't if he chooses. "Seems to me you didn't have a problem with words just then, but more of a problem with knowin' when not to use words. We're trying to get his help, remember? Here's your first assignment: figure out why you said that, and what result you expected to get out of it. Do that while it's fresh."
Jerod appears not to notice in the slightest any portion of Victor's quick conversation to Robin, though for a brief moment it is hard to remain so given how surprised he is that Robin would be associating with someone with a substantial working knowledge for the give and take of social politics, an unpleasant skill set to learn for anyone. Victor and Scarlett are even more intriguing than he first realized. On that note, Jerod will choose to do Victor the respect of oblivion to his conversation with Robin.
Victor turns back and smiles at Jerod. "You must have guessed, Prince Jerod, that we are of the Seaward. If our names did not reveal it, our accents would have. I cannot talk to my sister without our home coming back into my Thari."
"Such is the same for myself when I return home to Rebma. Home is never easy to divest oneself of, whether by choice or the flow of events." Jerod replies. "While your home and departure from there are of interest to me, on the note of Max I am more concerned as to whether those circumstances may have relevance with regards to Lucas and his men."
While Robin's hearing the rest of the conversation, it's obvious that she's off on another trail. Or two. Or three. Her head is tilted to the side and her brow is furrowed thoughtfully as she stares off into space. Her hands move unconsciously as she herds her thoughts around the aire above the table. It's obvious that at least one of her thought-trails ends in a place she both recognizes and doesn't like as stunned revelation crosses her face and she scootches her chair back a little in rejection.
This is followed by some heading shaking and minimizing gestures and, eventually, a satisfied nod. Robin's reached the end of her trails and focuses back on Victor.
Victor nods. "My sister knows more than I do, Prince Jerod. I only got to town yestere'en. The gist of it, as I understand, is that my sister arrived to find that the silent partners she'd bankrolled with Lord Lucas' money had gotten athwart of the Lord Mayor's Men. She booted 'em, with the Lord Mayor's blessing but they came back with Lord Lucas' thugs. They threatened to burn the place to the ground and take Max and sell him to some crazy slave cult back in Amber. Luckily, I showed up and they didn't like their odds against a crazy demon hunter from outshadow."
Jerod makes a mental note concerning Victor's mention of a slave cult in Amber, something may need to be burned down in the near future.
Scarlett walks back in during the conversation and pulls out her chair. "Raven's chasing him. She's faster than me." She sits solidly down, next to her brother. "I can't believe he's dead." She shakes her head. "The muscle is a great beast named Grimey, and his brother, a stabby lad named Kitten, the smiler is named Flannel, and the ringleader is named Heap. Heap was who Silken had delivering her threats back in Amber, too."
"Your silent partners." Jerod says. "What objectives did you bankroll them for? Specifically."
Robin presses her lips in a flat line. Ah well, she's not going to bite in front of Scarlett. But she does nod at the mention of crazy slave cults, Grimey & silent partners.
Scarlett nods. "A drinking and gambling house. They wasn't to do anything with women until I got here, as I didn't trust them not to run a low-class establishment."
She shakes her head. "I was as surprised as any when it turned out that they were running a fighting animal ring and somehow got hold of a cockatrice to fight things. I should've known that Flannel didn't have the guts or the skill to pull that off. That was pure Heap."
Jerod smiles. "And then Lady Robin comes along and crashes the party. End one animal fighting ring. Not something we'd want here, and no loss that it's gone.
"What happened next? When did the threats start?"
Robin smiles faintly too, somewhat mollified by the fond rememberance of violence past.
"Silhouette helped too," She murmurs for fairness' sake.
Scarlett nods towards Robin. "The old threats in Amber or the new ones? In Amber it was less than a year after the earthquake. Here, it wasn't 'til recently. I was expecting not to need no help once I had things up and running here, but I didn't count on Heap.
"I arrived on Raven's Vale of Garnath, is what happened next. It took me a week or so to get the lay of the land, but by that time there was people startin' to come via some Castle magics. That included a few of my friends from other establishments. People who knew I'd take care of 'em." She nods towards the staff, who are all discreetly finding work to do as far from the central table as possible. "Between them and Victor, and with the Lord Mayor's men knowin' what I was at, I booted Flannel and his friends. Told 'em they couldn't take my money and not expect me to run the place.
"Some of his boys stayed on, too. Guess they figured I was a better meal ticket than their old boss. Heap showed up, then, with Flannel and Kitten. Told me that they his boss-lady weren't happy with me and that if I wasn't careful, I might find out how flammable this place is, and he' d sell the boy to Jevlanlese slavers who would sell him to the sugar-planters."
Victor nods. "They ain't threatened to kill no one, exactly, but they'll do anything else to have it their way."
Jerod listens as Scarlett speaks, making note of her staff, watching to see which if any are paying more attention than others, to see if any of those that stayed may be plants left behind by Silken and company.
After Victor speaks, Jerod is silent for a long moment, the fingertips of his sword-hand rubbing in an odd, eccentric pattern. When he speaks, though both Victor and Scarlett can hear him, he is clearly speaking to Robin.
"Silken made a threat against the offspring of one of the Family. That requires a response, and Silken would know that if such a threat were to get back to us, that such a response would be forthcoming." he says. "So either she's stupid, or she's got something else up her sleeve. In either event, a response is required. It must be clean, and final, and private, and it cannot get back to the King. Not publicly at any rate."
Jerod looks at her directly. "Is that acceptable?"
Robin licks her lips and darts a glance to Victor. She leans toward Jerod and, with a furrowed brow, speaks as carefully as she can. After all, Jerod made that much of an effort for her sake.
"I want to help. And I have strengths that apply. Someone who threatens family?" Robin snaps her teeth sharply with a tearing motion of her head.
"I can do 'clean' and 'not public' if necessary. But I do not trust you enough to take your orders. And everything I do must be known to the King. Is that acceptable to you?" She asks him sincerely with a tilt to her head.
Victor clears his throat and puts his hand to Robin's ear, speaking quietly enough that perhaps Scarlett doesn't hear him. "So, think of it like sparring. He thrusts, you counter-attack, and if you've left yourself open, he counter-counterattacks. It's easier to side-step a charging man than charge back, right? What you want to do there is let him go out on the limb. 'Naturally, I would tell the King anything he asks of me. Why do you want to keep this from him?' See how that would've worked?"
Robin's whole face wrinkles in confusion and distaste. She shakes her head slightly, the beads and bones in her hair clicking quietly. "But..." then she stops herself. "We're going to have to re-track that one later, Vic." She shakes her head again in pure befuddlement and looks back to Jerod.
Whether Jerod appears to hear this as well does not register in his countenance when he replies to Robin, after Victor has had his chance to speak to her.
"Whatever you want to tell the King is your business, so long as it's private. I'd also recommend you tell Martin first." he says. "Attacks on family cannot be condoned, but they also cannot be seen to be happening in public. Such actions invite others to presume we are weak, even though we are not. Chaos ensues from there and requires us to suppress it. That can take time, cost us resources and also lives that should not be extinguished and that is not something I want to pursue. It's our job to make sure that doesn't happen.
"And since we're being so honest..." Jerod adds, with a slight smile. "...you may rest assured that I do not trust you to follow orders, given the results of our last outing. If there was anyone else available, you wouldn't be along for the ride. Raven's here but is not...experienced enough. He can fight, but he needs work if he's going to fit into whatever niche he ultimately chooses to make for himself. I need someone who can think before they fight, and fight without fighting.
"Which is why your friend Victor would be a good one to accompany us on this little jaunt." he says, in a tone which is very polite, eminently civilized and respectful, and such that there is certain to be no doubt that refusal...is just not an option.
"Okay, I think I got it." Robin hops a little in her chair. "King is between him and me, but check with Martin first." A glimmer of reluctance dashes through Robin's eyes but she'll probably do it.
"Private retaliation, 'cause we don't want folk asking what we're retaliating for. You don't want to work with me any more than I want to work with you, but since Raven's new, we throw the hand we got. And even without you holding Victor hostage against our tactical differences -- since we're fightin' regular folks I reckon I can slow down enough to think first. I just can't think the Jerod way. And I've already proven that I can fight without fightin'." Robin's lips curl with appreciation at that turn of phrase.
"That work? 'Cause I'm getting antsy about Max and Raven being out on own." She throws a wry smile to Scarlet, for muddying the negotiations.
Victor smiles, ferrally. "Robin, my bird, nobody holds a demon-hunter hostage. I'm in because it's for Maximus and Rufa. Some of my old demon-hunting companions would tell me I'm fighting on the wrong side, but I don't believe those tales about your family, Prince Jerod. I can follow a plan."
Robin winks one twinkling eye at the demon-hunter. She does have to admit that trying to hold Vic hostage is almost as unlucky as trying to her hostage.
[Victor]
"If possible, I'd like my older nephew involved as well. It's his
brother who was threatened."
"Raven will be along for the ride." Jerod says to Victor. "He and I have...other business to handle after this has been concluded. I also need to see how he handles himself, whether he can cope with the demands that will be landing on him soon."
He looks at Robin. "The terms of involvement are acceptable. I would recommend that we acquire Max and Raven immediately and return the boy to a different location where he and Scarlett will be assured of safety until we deal with Silken and company. I would find difficult to believe that you would not be under observation, so I would presume they will know that you have had two members of the Royal Family visiting you recently."
Robin nods. That works. And parallels her own thinking closely enough.
"Only Max-style safe-den I got in Xanadu's is the Castle. Which would probably send all sorts of weird, permanent-like messages. Can any of you do better?"
"The Vale" says Scarlett, and Victor nods. "Raven's sailors should be loyal to 'im and not to whoever Silken or her men can pay to attack 'em. Max can go, but I'm stayin' here. I won't be run out. They'd torch the place for sure."
"The Vale." Jerod says in agreement, looking at Robin. "Take Victor and find Max and Raven. Make sure Max gets there safely and bring Raven up to speed. I will meet you there shortly and we will go over what's needed for the next step. In the meantime, I have some questions for...Rufa."
Robin looks up from where she was squirming beneath a reluctant frown. She'd been pretty sure she was going to be stuck with defensive duty. As Jerod suggests hunting duty, her eyebrows go up and a flicker of delight dances through her eyes. Enough delight that's she willing to accept Jerod's phrasing as a suggestion.
"Can do." She nods and uncoils from her chair. For a moment, a 'thank you' hovers around her lips, but she presses them shut. It's still early on the trail of her and Jerod working together. Best to see where it leads first.
Robin smiles to Vic and with a come-along gesture of her head, she and the firelizards bounce toward the back door.
Robin and Victor are out the door quickly. Scarlett seems satisfied with the bargain.
"More Whiskey, Prince Jerod?" Scarlett asks by way of restarting the conversation.
"Gratias agimus tibi." Jerod replies, using the traditional form that ritualized court would use to give thanks to another.
"Salutatio," she replies and raises waves to her staff.
With Robin having departed, Jerod's mannerism changes, less focused on the protocols and walls that Family put in place when dealing with another who is not....on their good side. His tone is less clipped and more curious. "You bury the accent well. Your protocols are a bit rusty as well but I'd guess that comes from lack of use.
"Where are you from?"
"Before Amber, you mean," she says, and it's not a question. She hands Jerod a glass and takes one herself, and waits while the serving girl departs.
"When I was a girl, ours was a small shell, making a small living and holding on to stories of ancestral glories. We'd been sent to Rebma, in the hopes that we could revive the family fortunes. Victorious had an inexpensive commission, nothing as smart as the Coldsteam Guards, but not negligible. Mother hoped he'd marry well. She was a companion to Countess Cornelia, from the Neapward, who treated her household well. She always was kind to me." Rufa smiles.
"Something happened. I was too young to know what was happening, but I could feel the tension in the water. Mother sent word to Victorious, and he fled. I was whisked away to Amber by servants, but my mother never followed me. I later learned she'd be executed for her part in the Countess' murder. It was all tied up with the Libertists.
"I didn't see Victorious for three score years after that. By that time, I'd been in Amber for many years, and nobody was looking for a sixty something year old innkeeper who used to be a servant's girl in a dead house in Rebma.
"If you're still wondering why I stay far from politics and royals, I can tell you the story again."
[OOC: One thing Jerod recalls is that it was a long time ago, before Martin left Rebma.]
Jerod accepts the glass but does not drink from it, letting the contents swirl lazily as he listens to her, noting the name of Cornelia rising up once more, letting memory sift as he recollects details from his trip with Vere, his tales of her ghost. Nothing stays buried no matter how much you want it to be.
"I've found that stories can change as time passes and circumstances adjust." he says. "Perhaps I will ask you to tell it to me again in the future, to see what changes have occurred. For now, I'm curious as to a couple of things. The first being your mother's name. The second is why if you stay far from politics and royals you would involve yourself with Lucas. He liked to call himself rakish but he was as royal as they come and up to his ass in conniving. From there it is not many steps, through him, his mother or any family connection, to Rebma."
She grimaces. "She was Elissa, after the Queen. As for Lucas, his connections were a thing I found that out after the Sundering. He was merely a foreign nobleman with ready cash when first I met him. He was nervous about something, and I helped him take his mind off it. I didn't expect him to come back, like Corax's father didn't."
"And what would Lucas have been nervous about?" Jerod asks, filing away the part about Corax (ie: Raven?) for future investigation.
Scarlett shakes her head. "Of his secrets, I know but one, and he ran out the door a few moments ago. What he told me was that he wanted to be distracted, and I did so."
Jerod nods once. "As far as secrets go, Lucas appears to have hedged his bets. We have reason to believe that Max is not the only one that could claim parentage through Lucas. Were others to come to your attention, it would be appreciated if you would let me know. I am not entirely certain that Lucas' interest in children was strictly paternal, and I would prefer not to have other children suffer a fate that Max would escape."
Scarlett sticks out her lips. "Lord Lucas' plans were long term, I'm sure. He wasn't interested in anyone else knowing about Max, and made that clear to me. I suspect the mothers of his other little bastards received the same message. If you want to know more, you'll want to get Heap or Silken's books. They were his intermediaries in the City."
Jerod nods at this, his expression...shifting for the barest of moments. If one were a good judge of character, it is likely that Lucas' intermediaries may not find their futures to be viable for long. But the expression does not remain and is gone a moment later.
He finishes his glass, watching Scarlett closely. "Are you aware that Moire no longer sits on the throne?"
She nods. "The search for her was the subject of certain parts of the press for some weeks in Amber. I'm not looking to go to Rebma. Firsten, it wouldn't suit Maximus. Second, I'm not green-skinned enough to be of any importance down there. I like it here. It's got possibilities."
"I was wondering if that might be the case. In which my next question is very relevant. What of Corax's father? I do not ask from idle curiousity. It is necessary to confirm the identity, for Raven's sake."
She frowns slightly. "Don't think I wouldn't tell you would that I could, Prince Jerod, but that one was a different story. Navy man, came in with some of his friends, spending money like they were afraid it would choke them in their sleep. I knew their type. The fleet was going out the next day, and the single ones were spending what they couldn't hold on to.
"The bunch were officers, and we weren't the first house they'd been to that night. He was dark haired, handsome, and kept to himself. My girls couldn't get him to come out of hisself.
"It was getting towards curfew, one of The Half-hand's rules, he imposed when he felt the docksides needed some remindin', and a fight broke out between two crews. Normally, I'd've called the watch, but I didn't have to. He broke it up and he sent everyone back to their ships, but one of 'is men was hurt and he didn't want to move 'im. He and I sat up with his sailor half the night talking, mostly about places we'd been. When it was clear his man needed peace more than us tending him, we ended up spending the night together.
"He went out in the morning to arrange a carriage for his man, and I never saw him again. I asked the sailor who he was, and all he'd tell me was that I should call him Corby."
She leans in. "The fleet sailed on the tide, not long after sunrise, and I didn't see 'em again. Didn't even know what ship he was sailing on.
"I can tell you he was of good breeding, and clean, and has no idea he gave me a child."
Jerod is silent after Scarlett finishes, holding his empty glass by the rim as he thinks, nothing in Scarlett's story giving an indication as to the identity of this Corby. He wonders for a moment at the uncertainty of blood and how long it takes for it to thin too much to be considered Family. The Pattern doesn't care about whim or choice or your faith in an individual's character. It cares only for blood.
He looks at Scarlett more directly, checking the facial queues, the eyes, the hair of this not-green-enough Shell dweller, with fire and strength to attract two of the Family no less. How thin does the blood become, he wonders?
That is a question for the Pattern maker, Jerod decides. Random made it, and Random says that Raven is family. Jerod will trust the King on this matter, knowing for himself he would not be eager to see someone burning on the Pattern.
"Then we will trust the King's judgment on Raven's lineage." Jerod replies. "And I will keep an eye on him, just to be sure he's okay." and he smiles. "Even if he doesn't like it."
She nods, approvingly. "I raised him as an ornery cuss. He'll survive anything, even if he don't like it."
He places the glass back on the table. "Robin and Victor should have caught up with your two by now. I think it's time to get Max to the Vale and see about dealing with the remainder of this problem. You intend to remain here?"
"Yeah," she says. "I can't protect what I ain't here to protect. If I'm going to have a place to raise Max, I need to watch it." She seems to be watching Jerod very carefully, as if for some indicator of what he thinks of that.
"Remember that you can always rebuild a place. You cannot raise Max if you're not here." Jerod says as he stands up, pulling a scarf from his pocket that matches his colors. "Wear this, and make sure it's noticeable. If Heap has any brains, he'll know the line he'll be stepping over if he does something."
"As you say, Prince Jerod. But I'm worried about one opportunist rather than a full out-assault. I don't want Scarlett's to be an inviting target. An Heap had any brains, he wouldn't have got his own shop burned down in Amber during the Printer's War."
Victor is close enough behind [Robin] to slip through the door easily. The cliffs are no more than a half-mile or so inland at this point, so it's a quick jog. Naturally, that's too far to see Raven and his brother. But there's only one way, generally, they could've gone.
Robin turns her green eyes on Vic. "Thank you. Big talk later, hunt now?"
Robin continues, "Thinking like this. Send Chirrup to check on Raven and Max. Ooot with you, Peep with me. You take trails, I take canopy." Robin points to the roofs of Xanadu.
"Know of two other packs. Mayor's men, good teeth, clean hair. Respect. Heap's men, smell bad, not clean. Take care of discretely. Maybe bring back to Vale for Jerod to talk to?" She shrugs, not sure of that last bit.
The demon hunter grunts. "Heap's got money to throw around. All he has to do is tell people he'll pay for info, and we'll never know who his agents are. Any Shopkeeper sends his boy off to tell 'em that he's seen us, and the shopkeep has ten Royals and Heap is warned. Nothing we can do, since we don't have a gang like that. It's not level ground, and Heap'll use his advantages."
Victor grins, "But if we get lucky, we can drag someone back to Jerod, yes."
"Oooh," Robin says, "Cities." And she nods her understanding.
With a loving croon, Robin sends Chirrup skyward. She knows that if he is smart enough to bring her a petrified bird (because he is so wonderful), he can find Raven and Max and make sure they're safe.
Then, she transfers her little firebrand to Vic's shoulder with a kiss for both.
Victor seems a little reluctant to let her go, but does. When he sees her climbing, he says "Catch up, and re-orient me if you need to." He takes off running, at a pace that he and Robin both know she can easily catch.
A final wave and Robin scrambles up the side of Scarlett's, orients, sweeps what skyline there is with narrow eyes and is off towards the cliffside. She paces Victor and Ooot, keeping an eye on them both, even though she knows they can take care of themselves. Her primary concern is to see if she can get a feel for the hunters closing in on Max and Raven from her higher perspective.
Robin doesn't see anyone specifically after Raven or Max, but she does see a number of people using the heights. Most of them are under cover, as if they are avoiding the castle, far above. The shadows of the cliffside are more populated.
Shortly thereafter Robin drops back down to street-side next to the running Victor. "Canopy-dwellers hiding. Unknowns at the cliffs." She reports briskly.
And then starts running at a pace she knows Victor can maintain.
When [Max] reaches the cliff wall, he starts climbing. If he gets into those little cave openings, he'll be out of reach.
Raven sighs. Well, so much for the polite approach.
When she gets to the cliff wall, she reaches up and grabs hold of the kid - whatever will give her a good grip will do, be it around the waist or a big old fistful of shirt. And then she makes sure she's ready to catch him and pulls.
Raven is holding a struggling boy by the waist. "Lemme Go!" is the most coherent thing he has to say. From what Raven can see over his shoulder, he's been crying.
"Nope, can't do that," Raven answers. "Ma don't want you holing up in there right now, and she's got a point for once. Besides, I ain't gonna fit in those holes and I ain't of a mind to yell down them either, and it's high time you and me had a chat."
His face scrunches up, in an effort to get under control. "Who killed my Father?", he asks, fiercely.
Raven shrugs. "Ain't got the first clue. All anybody's told me is that he died. Why? You planning to go off and try to get yourself killed too? 'Cause that ain't the worst idea I've heard today, but it ain't far from the top of the list."
"My," he starts, then catches his breath. "My father hid me with my Mom because he had enemies. That's why he couldn't come see me much. He told me I had to grow up and be strong before I - before we could go live with him. If they killed him, I've gotta know who they are. I know I'm too young to get my revenge."
"Yeah? So you met your Dad? I think I ought to be jealous." That's a little wry, and Raven shrugs again after a moment of considering whether she actually is or not. "I either ain't met mine, or else I have and it's only 'cause there's some power what protects fools and madmen from what's coming to 'em that the both of us made it home. You got plans for what you're gonna do when you find out who 'they' is, then?"
Max nods. "First, I'm gonna keep away from 'em. Then I'm gonna train. Then I'm gonna practice my training on 'em."
Raven nods. "And what're you going to do if it was an accident and weren't nobody's fault but his own?"
The boy stops struggling and thinks about it. "Then I'd have no one to kill, but I'd still be trained, in case his enemies decided to kill me anyway." He pauses. "Even if they didn't kill Father, he still had enemies. They hated him because he was rich and powerful and important."
"Uh-huh." Raven doesn't bother to conceal her doubt on that subject, but she knows when she's not going to get through to somebody on something well enough. "So," she continues instead, "you ain't answered my question. You got to meet him? Your dad, I mean."
Now it's Max's turn to look askance at Raven. "Of course! I told you he told me to get strong, didn't I? He didn't come much, because he couldn't. But he said I was important to him and I'd grow up to lead my brothers. I have three. And two sisters. But I'm oldest."
"I'll explain why I asked some day when you're older," Raven says drily. "Right now - you ain't planning to run off if I let you go, right? I ain't exactly keen on getting back to the party, but there's some what might decide we been gone too long."
On cue, a small bronze dragonet (last seen on Robin's shoulders) lands delicately on the cliff side near Raven and Max. Looking at them with swirling eyes, he emits a happy 'chirrup' to see them both.
"Too late, I guess," replies Max.
Shortly thereafter, Robin reaches the cliff side herself with Victor not far behind. She raises a hand in greeting as she settles down near Chirrup being careful not to crowd the brothers. Peep and Ooot swirl playfully in the air currents above. Despite dodging through the people, Robin arrives free and loose. She's obviously someone who enjoys running and is pretty darn good at it.
"Raven. Max." She nods in greeting. "You okay? Need anything?"
Max looks wide-eyed at the miniature dragon.
Raven snorts and eyes the dragonlings warily. "Begging your pardon, Lady Robin, but are you sure you want me to answer that?" she asks bluntly. "'Cause there's some folks I ain't exactly thrilled with right now."
Robin thiiiiinnnnkss about it. "Yep," she says with a nod.
"Lot of talky-social-civilized stuff going on right now and, at least for me, that's a great recipe for bein' not exactly thrilled. But there are some of us that at least try to listen and help. However bad at it we may be." She finishes with a shrug. "So yep. I meant it. You okay? Need anything?"
Victor looks at Raven and Robin. "I'll just talk to the lad a bit, so as you two can talk private-like."
Victor takes Max aside, kneels down next to him.
"Patience," Raven says drily. She glances sideways at Max and Victor, and lowers her voice. "And while you're working miracles, I wouldn't mind a mother who ain't a pain in my arse. Aside from that, everything's fine. How'd you lot get stuck with finding the wayward children?"
"A visible lack of patience," Robin grins back. "I think Jerod wanted me out of his company as fast as possible. I cramp his style." She confesses with a glimmer in her green eyes.
"As for the other two requests? Let me share some advice a cousin gave me when I was first coming out in Court. I was wondering why the King would care what I thought. And it told me that there was a possibility that Random and I might share the same universe for the next ten thousand years. And that eventually everything we thought would come into contact with one another. I'm still not so sure about that last bit, but 'the ten thousand years' part really stuck.
"Jerod and I might get up each others' snouts. But with centuries of shared living staring us in the face..." Robin gives a low whistle and shakes her head, "yeah, I can find some patience.
"Another thing about that lifespan... Raven, I've already outlived two mothers. And am watching a third die even now." She shrugs sadly, "Take that thought as you will."
Raven frowns. "Did I say to just get rid of her? And what is it with you lot and the damn lectures?" She shakes her head, annoyed. "Never mind, never mind. Look, Lady Robin - I hate to take the dim view and all, but I don't figure you got sent after us just because you was tired of sitting still. Something up with the boys she says are giving her a hard time?"
Robin raises a Julianic eyebrow at Raven's tone. Then she remembers almost hitting Brita at the Memorial service, running away from the costuming Folly, desperately wishing she could melt under the table away from bar-hopping Conner and Folly, dodging Cambina and Vere within the halls of the Castle, climbing out a window to get away from Brennan, etc. etc. and a wry grin dances across her face. "Fair enough." She chudkles gathering Chirrup to herself. As she rubs him fondly over one eyeridge, Robin continues in a straight-forward tone. "Jerod thinks that the person behind the hard-time boys is a lady named Silken. And he reckons that this Silken knows her business when the Royal Family's involved. He and your mum suggested stashing Max on the Vale for the time being. If all that works for you, we can meet Jerod there.
"Oh and by the way," she says standing up, "I didn't 'get sent' to find 'the wayward children' -- I came because I was worried about you and Max." She finishes with a smile.
Raven winces slightly. "Sorry, I guess that weren't my best choice of words. The Vale ought to be fine, assuming he's of a mind to stay put. Most of the lads're more used to catching pretty girls what want to be caught than they are kids what get it in their heads that they don't."
"No worries, Raven." Robin clips her cousin's arm lightly. "You've got a long way to go before you've put your boot in your mouth as much as I have." She chuckles warmly again.
"And Unicorn knows, there ain't no use in looking for a prison for your brother, just somewhere safe he can run back to if he's of a mind." Being of a running mind herself, Max has got Robin's complete sympathy. Being her father's daughter, Raven does too.
Robin dusts off her thighs and looks over to Max and Victor to see how the Uncle/Nephew talk is going.
The Uncle/Nephew talk is just finishing up and there is an odd look on Victor's face. He pulls himself together when he sees that he is being watched. "We're ready to go to the harbor if you are."
[OOC: Expediencia, Goddess of keeping the game moving, declares that you get to the harbor (or "harbour" for those who like dipthongs) without hindrance. Raven can give orders to her sailors here, and then you all should post to "Heap Search". ]
Raven's orders are pretty much to the point: keep an eye on the kid, and anybody that comes for the kid that isn't her, Scarlett, Victor, or a Royal can be instructed that they won't be taking him anywhere without her permission.
Last modified: 4 January 2012