One of the younger maids answered the door at the Haldar Suites. Not recognizing the young woman in front of her, she settled for simply saying "Vai Damisela ? Is there something I could help you with ?". As curious as she was, it would be impolite to ask. Perhaps this young woman had been invited to share breakfast with someone. Or perhaps someone needed to be summonned for an emergency. Either way, it was really none of her business.
Danette smiled at the maid. "I have a message for Damisela Melissa Ridenow and I was told that she was here. May I speak to her please?". Dani could sense the question that was comming next so she said "You can tell her Danette Lanart-Aldaran is calling."
The young maid nodded. "If you'll step into the visitors' room, vai damisela, I'll go see if she's available", she invited. It was easy enough to find Melissa. "Excuse me milady", she began, hoping that the interruption would not be unwelcome. When she was sure she'd been noticed, she added "If it pleases you to see her, you have a visitor. She says her name is Danette Lanart-Aldaran, but she didn't mention what her business is with you".
Melissa looked up from her book, suprised. "For me? Oh! Please offer her something to drink, and I'll be right there."
Puzzled, she hurried to the dressing table, and checked her hair and clothing to make sure she didn't look too rumpled. Reading always caused her to slouch up in her windowseat in a most unladylike fashion.
Satisfied that she wasn't going to disgrace the family in any way, she went out into the main area of the suites. The name the maid had given wasn't ringing any bells, and she had no idea what this was all about.
"S'diya Shaya, I am Melissa Ridenow. How may I help you?" Her curiosity was nagging at her, almost at the same time as she wondered if Kay had received the note she had sent earlier in the day to her terran quarters.
Danette jumped slightly at the sound of the voice (and the sudden familiar image that had leaked out at her, along with the name 'Kay'). So 'Kay' was then a short form of 'Cassie', which must in turn be the short form of something else. She smiled at the woman and said "Greetings Damisela. Kay asked me to come and give you this".
Dani reached into the pocket of her dress and pulled out the note. She handed it to Melissa and waited.
Melissa'e eyes widened in surprise. Kay? But why would she ask someone else, like this, to deliver a note...?
With more than a little bit of apprehension, Melissa took the note, and did her best to smile graciously. "Thank you, Domna, for bringing this", she said, "Please, can I offer you anything as refreshment? Where have you traveled from? And where is Kay? Is she not at the base? I sent her a note earlier". Suddenly she shivered, and looked up at the other young woman.
Dani smiled and said "A glass of water would be delicious. I'm in Thendara with my betrothed and my nephew". She took a breath and added "Kay's at Leaves."
Melissa frowned in puzzlement as she poured Dani a tall glass of water. Leaves? What did that mean? "Is Kay in trouble? Is she all right?", Meliisa asked anxiously.
Dani's smile disappeared. "That depends on what you mean by 'all right'", she answered. Something about her chat with Kay was bothering Dani. Kay was hiding something, but what?
Melissa handed Dani the glass, and could feel Kay's note practically burning a hole in the palm of her hand. "I don't mean to be rude, but would you mind if I open this and read it now? I'm starting to get quite worried...", she said.
As Dani assured her that was fine, Melissa excused herself and went into her bedroom, tearing open the seal and reading Kay's note with a great deal of worry and confusion.
"Vai damisela, your presence is requested in the name of she who carries the knife of your sister under her skirts, and who shares both a breda and a bredu with you. This is a confidential matter related to what we discussed the other day in my home, when I introduced you to my Terranan friend from the base (the one with the odd accent from that place on Terra, who you were so curious to know more about), and asked your advice on how to get myself out of some trouble. If it pleases you to do so, I would have you seek me later today, in the home of our mutual bredu's friend (the one that he and I visited that day that I almost ran him over while leaving McBrides' shop). And, unless you have such knowledge yourself, please bring someone you trust who is experienced in the healing of winged animals --- Cassie of Skye".
Her heart beating wildly, Melissa tried to puzzle out what Kay was talking about. Of course it was from Kay, but sharing a breda and a bredu...? She must mean that friend of hers from the guards, Gwenn, was his name? Perhaps the customs of the mountain folk took such ties more literally than they did here... It made sense, she supposed, with their being a bit more old-fashioned... And something involving that Louis at the base ... OH NO, she wouldn't have dared to try something foolish... but it sounded like she had... The location of where Kay was made no sense, the note was so vague... But Dani had said Leaves...? And bring someone with what? Veterinary experience? Birds?
Melissa thought hard for a moment, something ringing a bell in the back of her memory. She couldn't bring anyone from the tower, Kay would just spook. But she needed someone wih an understanding of laran, because she was sure that indeed Kay _had_ done something rash... And birds... Suddenly she snapped her fingers and stood up, grabbing her cloak. Of course!
She came back into the sitting room, and sat near Dani. "I've been able to get the idea of what she's talking about here, but she's so very vague... Can you tell me where she is? She needs me to go to her, but I can't puzzle it out... Where is 'Leaves'? Is she safe? The fact that she has been able to write this at all is a comfort, but still... why the secrecy? Can you tell me anything more?"
Dani sighed. This was one of those moments that she wished that Marius was here instead of her! "I believe the secrecy has to do with myself. I think that Kay is testing me" she said. It didn't take much for Dani to figure out that Cassie was just an alias. Kay was hiding something bigger and that Dani was somehow involved.
Melissa blinked in surprise. "Testing you...? But why...?" She was beginning to lose her patience with Kay's constant air of mystery, bordering on paranoia... But trouble was trouble, and whatever had happened, all was not well with her breda. She could give Kay a shake later, but now she needed help.
"I think that it has something to do with my Laran", answered Dani. "She's leary of people that have it..." her voice trailed off and she shrugged. Melissa chuckled. That was an understatement. Dani looked at Melissa and said "I can take you to her if you'd like."
Smiling with relief, Melissa nodded. "I was hoping that you'd say that!" She found Dani's willingness to help a relative stranger kind and reassuring. She hesitated. "I do need to make one stop, though... Can we go by the tower quickly? I need to get someone who can help Kay - she's requested it." She didn't want to be too direct, in case Kay's secrecy was somehow vital to what was going on.
Dani laughed and got to her feet. "Yes. My experience with healing animals is limited, so I was going to suggest that".