The first part of this tranny where Noah and Marian make contact with Calian is missing. Aleez watched most of that from the roof tops, before Calian called her down to welcome the mortals into Aleez's castle. -Aleez is Lord of Tartanis.- Marian claimbs to be a soothsayer and to have information on Angelicia Croxx.

Noah ... When Noah finally admits to himself that they are being led to the windowless, fortress-like building, he stops right there in the middle of the street. He's still carrying Marian, who slaps his shoulder a little and mutters, "Don't stop now, basu." She knows she'll get an earful later for calling him that in front of these strangers... as well as for offering his hands for work, and getting them into this in the first place. "I'm not going in there," Noah mutters back.

Aleez Jae stops and half turns to face the two. Her expression is still one of evil delight, or slight amusement. She did catch the word that Marian called Noah, but assumes it is a curse of some sort. "Well you could stay out here and be fair game for dinner? You'll have better luck keeping your life inside however."

Noah ... Marian's hand clenches tightly to the short sleeve of his jacket. Don't hit the bitch, the gesture says. Out loud, Marian says scornfully, "Don't be such a baby. You can go get my cane for me in the morning." What those two things have to do with each other is... nothing at all. After a moment, while Noah is still not moving, Marian adds, "Fine. If you don't want to go in, I'll go by myself. It's not like that lady needs you to be there." Noah's mouth clamps shut, and he starts walking again--albeit slowly--toward the fortress. Not another word.

Aleez Jae isn't sure of exactly what is said between the two, but gets the impression that the words and gestures they use mean more to each other than they would to anyone else. She almost wishes she had someone to be that close to, but she's pretty sure it'd get old quick. Yes, life is better without having someone that can read you so well. She turns and starts to walk toward her home once more. Normally she'd fly, but Calian did tell her to be nice to these two, so she walks with them.

Noah ... Marian seems satisfied. And why shouldn't she? She's been getting her way for two solid weeks, now, with only fleeting arguments from Noah. Why the hell would you want to go to Tartanis? You know what that place is supposed to be like, he'd said. I'm going because I feel like it, she'd replied; You don't have to come. But what's the matter? You have nothing to fear there anyway. Marian sighs with a private kind of satisfaction. She's got her bearings back. To Aleez, she says, "I'll need some things for my work. I hope you have access to arcane wares."

Aleez Jae doesn't turn to look at the girl, she just keeps on walking, but she is clearly responding to the girl. Her tone is a little flat and unemotional, very professional sounding. "I can get you whatever you need. All you need to do is write a list.."

Noah ... Bearings back or not, Marian shuts up. It's impossible to get any sort of conversation going whatsoever with this woman. That's fine. Marian is patient under her frustration. She'll wait until they're inside that... place... and find someone who's got a bit more liveliness to their tongue. She knows that Noah won't say anything, either. Aleez can have it her way.

Aleez Jae as they near the huge gothic gate of the fortress guards can be seen moving about. Just glimpses of them is caught. The guards at night are vampires, and tough they seem clumsy, loud, and slow to Aleez she knows that most humans miss them altogether in the night. During the day loyal humans serve as guards, many of them hoping to become undead one day. As the heavy, iron portcullis is raised, Aleez turns to face her guests. "When the sun is up, wander around the city as you please, but be back inside before dark. Don't wander around the castle too much, someone might mistake you for intruders."

Noah ... Marian raises one thin eyebrow at that. She can barely see, even here. Noah, on the other hand, is making silent note of many things, his eyes moving here and there. It's all habit, for him. Meanwhile, Marian is saying, "There can't be so many servants about that a simple word to them about us won't suffice."

Aleez Jae says, "During the night, you shouldn't have any problem, but due to the way a vampire rests during the day some guards might kill first and ask questions later. If a door is locked don't go through it. I'm not so hard to wake during the day, but some of the younger ones sleep like the dead." She isn't really exaggerating at all. Vampire's hearts don't beat and they don't breath, so when they rest they look dead. If these two weren't here upon Calian's orders, Aleez would lock them up during the day to keep her clanmates safe.

Noah looks sharply at Aleez. He knew that something was odd about these people, but he had no way of knowing that they would be so frank about their... status. In retrospect, it makes a lot of sense: who else would be so free to admit them to this castle? Marian pats his shoulder and laughs at him a little; she's not surprised in the slightest. Step into my parlor.... "Ah," she breathes with a nod, "yes, of course. Forgive me; I hadn't been thinking about that. I was hoping, rather, that--I'm sorry. Our employer called you Aleez, but is this how you prefer to be addressed?"

Aleez Jae has to think about that one. She doesn't pay attention to the subjects of her land, she has people to do that for her. She's not sure what the call her or refer to her as. She's always assumed it must be Lady Aleez however, since she is a noble here. These two are not her subjects however. "Aleez is fine." She makes a gesture that they should enter her house now, but before waiting for them to respond, she turns and enters herself.

Noah ... They follow, Noah regarding their escort neutrally, and Marian grinding her teeth to hold back a growl. In her admittedly biased mind, Aleez is either the blandest person in the entire realm, or the vampire is actively trying to thwart her. "Aleez, are you acquainted with clairvoyance and the chakras?"

Aleez Jae was a little lost in thought when Marian spoke. She's not used to conversation and was busy trying to figure out where to put the two. She does have quest quarters set aside for mortal visitors for those rare occasions when one nobles of one of the other regions -not Croxx- come to visit or have business in the city. She'll have to put these two there, for other quest quarters don't have beds. Vampires don't need them. She doesn't really know anything about clairvoyance, other than she heard it has something to do with seeing the future or psionics. "I thought chakras where weapons looking like round towing blades. Like a discus with the center cut out?"

Noah ... Marian looks confused for a moment, but Noah quietly says, "You're thinking of 'chakram'," before giving Marian a warning look. She nods slightly. "Count on Noah to know the names of things you can kill people with," she mutters; "Anyway, as I was about to say... Your mistress wanted me to clarify a dream for her. For that to happen, we'd best be at the center of things. Or I'd best be at the center of things here, rather."

Aleez Jae isn't so sure she knows that Marian is wanting. She thinks if that is all true, then Calian should have taken the two and let Marian sleep in her dungeon next to the captured Angelicia Croxx. Calian didn't however, so it's up to Aleez to make sure the girl can give Calian what Calian wants. "What do you suggest?"

Noah ... "You know the immediate situation better than I do. It is a matter of atmosphere and empathy. Where do you think these things would best be fostered?"

Aleez Jae stops and turns to look at Marian. They are now standing on one of the dark corridors of the castle. The wall inside are as black as they are on the outside, the torches and candles do little to shed light within. She thinks about it a little. She's not normally the one that does all the thinking, she's better at the killing. "I'm not sure any certain spot in my castle would help you better than any other."

Noah ... Marian is looking worse. A lot worse. The night air outside did not do her any good. Here, in the dim torchlight, the dozen pox scars and blotches on her face stand out against the sickly whiteness of her skin. "If I cannot produce a thorough result for your mistress, it will be due to lack of responsiveness." Noah turns slightly, Marian still in his arms, and glances briefly back the way they came.

Aleez Jae turns to the door they are standing outside of and opens it. Servants have gone before them and were busy inside. When the door opens they freeze and look to Aleez. Most the servants are human. The room is much brighter than the rest of the castle, and the walls are not black. The room looks like a typical room suited for a noble of non-vampire origin. She looks back at her quest and the servants all clear out of the room. "I will bring this matter up with my Master and see what she suggests."

Noah ... Hmm. The subtle difference between 'mistress' and 'Master' tells Marian a lot. It nearly makes her pinch Noah in glee. "Excellent," she says, falling easily into talking like those around her. Noah takes her into the room and immediately helps her to sit in a chair. She looks around the room with obvious satisfaction. "This will do for us," she says. "I only need one thing more. This is about Angelicia. Would you sit with me a moment?"

Aleez Jae watches the two enter the room and was about to leave herself when Marian asks her to sit. She's not at first sure the girl is speaking to her, but then there is no one else around. She enters the room and shuts the door. She does not sit at first however. "I don't really know much about the girl."

Noah ... Marian shakes her head, still looking weak in the extreme. "If I had to learn much about her from you, I wouldn't be much of a clairvoyant, now would I? I only need to know where her crossbow is. Here, or abroad?"

Aleez Jae says, "I don't really know." She tries to think back on what she heard about Calian capturing Angelicia "I don't know if the girl had it with her. I'd assume not giving that she was in a city where carrying weaons is not allowed."

Noah ... Marian is nodding. "So it is likely at her home, then." She's obviously fishing for something.

Aleez Jae says, "At wherever she stayed while in Kayosia I guess. Her home is here in Hana'Var, but we Jar'Ha are not allowed to attack the Croxx on their homeland, only on ours or in a different kingdom."

Noah ... Marian nods as if she understands this. "As long as the crossbow is not near your Master," she explains, "and as long as it is not likely to be near her, I'll have some time in which to figure this out." During this brief exchange, Noah has been looking around the quarters they have been offered. He has unhooked his gunblade and left it on the bed, twirling it over his shoulder as if it was a blade of grass.

Aleez Jae doesn't get a very good feeling. Angelicia has made friends with high ranking officials of the Kelosh empire. Kayosia is the capital of the Kelosh empire. The odds of that crossbow falling into enemy hands are extremely high. She should call this to the attention of her Master quickly so they can send someone after it.

Noah ... Marian notes Aleez's mood and shakes her head slightly. "The crossbow itself may not be important," she explains. "It's presence may very well be symbolic--a sign that our time is catching up with the time of the dream. Do you understand? And at the moment, I haven't even crystallized the dream."

Aleez Jae doesn't understand, but nods and gives an expression that suggests she does understand. "At any rate, I'll have to make a report to my Master tomorrow night. I can brings these details to her attention. It's too close to dawn, for me to leave the castle again until nightfall."

Noah ... "Thank you for your time, then," Marian says, "And do ask your Master if there is a place where I can be that will assist with my vision." At that, she inclines her head a little to Aleez, all but dismissing her.

Aleez Jae doesn't really see the girl's actions as giving her permission to leave. She's been trying to get out of there since before they even arrived at the castle. She turns seeing that she is not needed anymore and leaves the horribly bright room with all it's light and color.