"I'm sorry ... I didn't realize that Kiyu Ceroill had guests ... perhaps I should go clean up before I embarass myself any further", Kay continued, switching to her best cahuenga. Many Darkovans didn't speak Standard, and it would be rude of her to talk to someone in a language that they might not know.
"Come Mairead, let's go wash", Kay added to the cat, bending over slightly. A small copper medallion popped out of the neckline of her oversized (and rather filthy) tunic. What caught Dani's eyes about it was that it was a Brigid's Cross with an upward-pointing pentacle at the centre. Very few people on this world bore THAT symbol. "Goddess Above!" she whispered.
Kay hadn't been expecting to find anyone here. Especially not someone who looked vaguely familiar, and certainly not anyone who invoked the Goddess. Then she suddenly remembered where she'd seen this girl before. Abruptly she stopped and straightened back up.
"I remember you...", she said softly, giving Dani a VERY intense stare, "you came into the Silver Swan the other day, just as I was leaving ... and that boy waved you over to what had been our table, as if you were one of his favourite people ... were you his family come to bring him home?".
Dani smiled to put the girl at ease. "I think so. My nephew can be very stubborn like his father".
Kay ventured a small smile. "Och .. stubborn as a Scotsman then. Well then, if you did him no ill, then I've no quarrel with the likes of you, lass".
Dani gave a small laugh. "I'm Danette Lanart-Aldaran". she added.
"Aldaran?", echoed Kay, raising an eyebrow curiously, "I've ... heard of them, Damisela Lanart-Aldaran". She recognized the name as being one of the often-fey-touched great noble names. But she couldn't bring herself to come out and ask this girl is _she_ was one. Fey matters were ONLY to be spoken of amongst the fey, so any such question would surely give away more information than Kay currently wished to share. Goddess only knew how much those people talked among each other. What if news got back to Melissa (who most certainly would wonder-and-worry, and want to know the _whole_ story) ?
But on the other hand, Kay didn't want to seem as though she was hiding anything; THAT was the surest way to draw attention to oneself. "You can call me Cassie Mack", Kay continued. Caution was a good thing. This would be easy enough for her to remember, if/when she wanted to find this girl again. And anyways, it WAS her name; just not the variant of it that she most commonly used. Since she wasn't speaking Standard, it might not be obvious that she was part-Terranan. And Terranan records did NOT list her full name, so this variant wouldn't be easily trackable.
Danette smiled. She could sense that Cassie was a telepath and she sensed something else that was very familiar! She smiled to herself as she pointed to Kay's necklace and said "A child of the Goddess?".
Again came the raised eyebrow from Kay. What sort of game was this Danette person playing ? That looked to be a very _knowing_ sort of smile indeed, as if she'd just discovered something that delighted her. Obviously she was indeed fey herself; all the more reason for caution.
Idly Kay wished that she didn't have such a headache. As much of a mixed blessing as her Gift sometimes was, she felt incomplete without it. From her previous mishaps, she knew that it was like a sore muscle -- its function would return eventually. In the meantime, since she couldn't manage any shielding, she'd have to pretend that the absence of it was deliberate.
"In some ways, vai damisela, we are _all_ HER children, regardless of whether or not we walk the Path of the Star", Kay ventured cautiously, "... and not just the race of mankind, but all living creatures as well". Down on the floor, Mairead meowed her agreement as she sat intently watching the two humans.
Danette smiled. "I agree. Life would be better in so many worlds if the human race could just accept that.
Pointing to the kitten, Kay added "As you've alreay heard, this little bit of black fluff here is Mairead .. 'tis short for Mairead Dubh, which means 'black pearl' in Standard". With a nod of her head, she then indicated the beak peeking out of her tunic. "And this is our wee bird ... I call her Amadaine because she'll be quite a beauty when she grows up. She's a wee bit tired right now, and likes for me to carry her around; the sound of a heartbeat comforts her".Kay very explicitly did _not_ mention Oberon, since he had chosen to remain at his post (hidden in the shadows at the top of the stairs).
Danette nodded. "She's beautiful! She's hurt too is she not?".
Kay stared at her wide-eyed with surprise. "Wha' fey sorcery be tha' ?", she exclaimed. Taking a single step back, she nervously bit at her lip for a few seconds before hesitatingly inquiring "Are ye ... perhaps ... a beast-healer, vai damisela ? I cannae ken tha' ye could ha' seen such wi' nae more than yer eyes". Hope and caution warred so strongly within her that she didn't realize that she was slipping back into her natural accent.
"No fey magic, Cassie. I have a hawk myself and after having her for so long I learned the signs. I was educated on Terra and learned a alot about animals from the ones I had as pets", Dani answered.
Still unsure as to whether or not to trust her (and trying to act casual to cover up her nervousness), Kay added, "Uncle should be back soon, if you're willing to wait, and your business with him isn't overly urgent. Since I'm a guest as well, it wouldn't be polite of me to rummage through his cupboards. So I can't offer you any refreshments right now".
"No worries. I can wait. I need to thank your uncle for a gift....." Dani cut herself off. She was not about to mention the visions, not yet anyway. Hmmm ... that was interesting. This girl obviously wanted more than she was saying. But what ? Had it been her Gift that led her here ? Kay didn't know all the possible gifts that existed. Her best guess would that this Danette person could either speak to animals, or could maybe see visions. If only she dared to ask...
Dani could sense that something was weighing heavuly on the girl's mind. She sighed and then said, "What's on your mind Cassie?"
Kay paused thoughtfully before very carefully choosing her words. "There are indeed things which I would wish to ask of you if I may ...", she began.
Deciding to begin with the easier question first, Kay added "as ye clearly did recognize me as one who follows the Path of the Star (and since there are few on this world who would have such knowledge), I would inquire as to how you came about it, and whether you have made any ... study ... of such matters".
Danette smiled as her finger toyed with the chain that hung around her neck along with her matrix. Slowly she pulled out the silver pentagram that she wore. "I began my studies shortly before I suffered a version on Threshold Sickness."
Threshold sickness ? Kay had never heard of any such thing. It seemed to be a ery odd coincidence that a person would become ill around the time that they were first called to serve the Goddess. She wondered if there might be some connection. But it would be rude to interrupt, so she said nothing as yet. However, she made a mental note to root through the data banks when she eventually got back to the Base (hopefully by then, she'd have a good excuse for her absence as well).
"I began my studies in the Craft at 15 and became a member of Stone Hold Coven", Danette continued, as she watched Cassie's reaction to her words...
Her suspicions melting into a warmer friendliness, Kay smiled in relief as she softly stroked Amadaine's feathers. "Blessed Be, Goddess-sister", she exclaimed, "I myself was taught by Ainne of Misty Hills, who was a solitary practitioner. As you are one of us, then I may speak more freely with you. And I beg your pardon for having mistaken you for one of them sorcerer-folk".
Danette smiled. "Blessed Be, sister. No insult was taken. We are all blessed with whatever talents She chose to give us. Who are these sorcerer folk you speak of?".
Raising an eyebrow in surprise, Kay explained "Perhaps you haven't yet recognized any of them for what they are. Most of the Comyn ones are up in the Castle, but you can also find a large concentration of them holed up in a Tower. Some of them look just like ordinary folk -- but the Power glows off of them if you look for it"
Dani noddded and silently wondered if that was how many people viewed Conner and Marius. She made a mental not to ask one of them in the future.She learned a while ago that it was not what you were that mattered, but what you did with it.
Kay paused, with a frown upon her face, before adding "The Goddess knows I've little enough reason to trust any of them. Exceptin' only two, they're NOTHING but trouble ... and trouble of the most dangerous kind too". With a frustrated sigh, she then continued hesitantly, "Which is why I would now ask a favour of you, Goddess-sister ... in the name of She whom we both follow, and for the sake of my bird ...".
"You have but to name it." Dani said. She smiled.