The Countess glares at the departing sidhe's back, though the expression seems very out of place on her plump, kindly face. Finally, the Countess stands and moves to the edge of her balcony, looking down on the main floor below. "All who would fain follow this quest, please stand before me."
Brighteyes steps forward.
Sebastian takes several measured steps forward from the wall where he has been quietly observing and faces the Countess head on. "I stand, your Excellency, provided I have leave of my uncle's tutelage." He looks back and forth between the grey old satyr and the round faced boggan.
The older satyr nods affirmatively and smiles.
Keighvyn steps forward, one hand resting lightly on the hilt of the slim sword at his side.
Sylvana stands from where she has been kneeling, and takes a place next to Keighvyn.
Tethran, without hesitation, steps forward, placing her hand on Brighteyes shoulder and giving her a comforting squeeze.
Jubair finishes writing down the prophecy, puts his pen and paper away and moves over to the others standing before the Countess.
Nutiket steps forward with grim nods towards the others who already responded to her call.
"Wait!" a voice calls out, its echoes sounding like the sharp bark of a fox. "Wait, I want to come too!" A childling pooka scampers into the room, barely skidding to a stop before crashing into everyone. The boy stands at 4 feet tall, clothed in a brown leather coat and pants that hang a little loosely on his wiry frame. Tendrils of long strawberry-blond hair hang over his face and almost obscure his large plum-colored eyes. His nose juts out an inch from his face with a smudge of dirt on the tip. Large fox ears poke out from the sides of his head, each tipped with black. His canine teeth are elongated, hanging over his lip when he smiles at everyone broadly. A bushy fox tail curls out from behind him, swishing from side to side while he fixes his coat and combs his fingers through his mop of hair. He flicks an ear with a fingertip and bows deeply before the Countess. "Your Excellency, forgive my manners. I got overexcited." He straightens, curling his tail around himself and absently smoothing the ruffled fur with a palm. "If it pleases everyone present, I would be honored to accompany them on the quest."
Eddie's eyes grow wide and light up, a large, open-mouthed grin sweeps over his face. This has definitely caught his attention. Eddie runs from his place at Dr. Rowan's side to stand beside the other pooka, completes a deep showy bow, and says "Cow-Tents, I will take up this quest too."
Lungwam Nutiket's mouth drops open in shock at the spectacle of three children stepping forward for this quest. "Your Excellency," said the 16 year old, "is it wise to send mere children on a quest such as this that promises great peril and hardship?"
Brighteyes turns her head slightly towards the large rock. "We're all in this together, Lungwam. It doesn't matter that some of us - like me - are a bit young. I hope that we all get along..." She glances at Kelia and Keighvyn, then looks back at the countess.
"Brighteyes has a point, Lungwam," Jubair adds. "Children can often see things we miss or take for granted, and they can certainly add a different perspective to things. Besides, I think we would rather die than see any of them come to harm. I for one would have no problem with them coming with us."
The Rock Giant sighs slightly, then looks down... all the way down... at the children, then back at Jubair. "Perhaps you are right. But we must protect them. Any child coming to harm in this quest must be made inconceivable by our efforts."
"No need to worry, sir," Andy calls as he cranes his neck all the way back to look at the Rock Giant. His left ear twitches as he smiles. "We little 'uns won't get in your way. It would be rather painful for us if we did." He offers his hand for a shake.
Tess moves to take Andy's hand before Lungwam can, grabbing the young pooka by the wrist and turns the hand over so the palm is showing.
Tess smiles up at Lungwam, "Can't be to careful with this rascal." Tess pats Andy on the shoulder, releasing the pooka's hand. Continuing to Lungwam, "The kids are with me, they'll be fine," says Tess.
Andy waits patiently for the inspection to end, then offers a smile. "You know me better than that, Miss Tess. I would never turn an introduction into a prank, especially if the person could use me as a toothpick." He looks back up at the Rock Giant. "I do hope Nunnehi consider shaking hands a friendly gesture, sir," he says. "I'm none too familiar with your culture, I'm afraid."
For the first time since his arrival here, Lungwam Nutiket smiles warmly down at the child, taking his hand in a gentle handshake. "Well, I suppose that you are right after all."
Andy grins and swishes his tail from side to side. "Of course I am, sir. I, for one, am too crafty to get in any trouble." His eyes dart around the room. "Goodness, I have a whole room to introduce myself to." The fox pooka travels from person to person, offering his hand to each. "A pleasure to meet you, indeed it is! I am Mianderr, but you may call me Andy if that's your cup of tea."
Hecataeus, the old goat who serves as the countess' court sorcerer, clears his throat. "Your Excellency, if I read the prophecy aright, these childlings may indeed have much to add to this quest."
The Countess nods, "And brave hearts should not be denied."
Tethran says, "If there are no others coming?" Tess's eyes land momentarily on Chris's, questioning, before she turns to the Countess.
"Given my probable lineage," Kelia grumbles, "I'm not sure I'm welcome."
Brighteyes blinks rapidly and looks back at Kelia. "Why is that?"
"'Given my probable lineage'?" Tess says. "I'm not sure what your lineage has to do with this Chris. Just because some of us don't like the ranking member of your House, doesn't mean that we can't like you, or your House."
"When the ranking member of my House, my probably House, is insulted," Kelia replies calmly, "then so am I and all members of the House. If you have no respect for Baron Lorewick, at least have some small amount for me." Kelia practically glowed with offended sidhe dignity.
With a grin toward Lungwam, "If ,after what some of his friends have done to some of Buckeye's knights, we can accept him. We can easily accept you." Tess smiles a little at the 16 year old figure standing so proudly. "Nothing personal Lungwam."
"Oh, that's quite generous of you," Kelia replies irritably. "A representative of those who kill our people for sport, we like him well enough, so we can probably like you, too. That makes me feel all warm inside."
Lungwam Nutiket's mouth drops open in shock, and he flusters for words a moment before stuttering out "For... for sport?!?" He opens his mouth to object again, but stops himself as the Troll begins to speak, closing his mouth but looking rather flustered.
Tethran sighs softly, shaking her head. "Kelia, I know its been a rough day for you." She turns to face the sidhe calmly, "But at this point, you're not acting rationally. You may, or may not, be part of the Baron's House. He was insulted. However, I doubt that the insult was aimed at his House, but at him as an individual, in response to a perceived insult to someone who isn't familiar with our ways."
Chris snorts delicately at the words 'rough day,' then narrows her eyes at the words 'not acting rationally.' Her lips twitch a bit, but she stays silent as Tess continues speaking.
"Which is sort of what I was trying to say before," Keighvyn puts in quietly. "I'm sorry if I wasn't clear." He absently brushes an errant forelock of raven hair from his eyes, then bites his lip, looking down at the floor.
Tess shakes her head, "If you chose to see it as in insult to his House, that is of course up to you. I will tell you, I have not heard anything that makes me respect him, nor has he done anything this night to cause me to respect him. I _do_ however, respect his position, as both Baron, and ranking member of House Eiluned. As such, I, as well as those in my charge, will treat him with the respect due his position. I ask you to join us, not because of your House, but because I had come to respect your ability to deal with the stress of the situation you have been thrust into."
Putting her hand out to Kelia, Tess continues, "Please Kelia, set aside the anger growing in you. We," Tess says, indicating Keighvyn, Brighteyes, Jubair, Sebastian, and herself," have come to know you, and though you may not always agree with the way we handle things, we have always had your best interests at heart."
Jubair smiles at Tess's words. "She said it better than I could," he says quietly.
Chris nods slightly toward Jubair and smiles slightly. She laughs softly. "I'd hate to see what you considered dealing poorly with stress," she whispers in reply. Nonetheless, she appears quite mollified by Tess' words. "Okay, I'll help you all. I mean, if I'm going to learn anything before this fior thing, I'd best spend as much time with you guys as possible, so if you're looking into, only makes sense. Besides, I've got a sequel to plot out. Today has just played merry hell with my outline, you know," she adds, in a mock-accusatory tone followed by a willing, if somewhat wry smile.
Chris turns to Keighvyn and whispers with a rather devilish grin, "You gonna be okay bein' my foster-daddy, Handsome?" She winks at Keighvyn, then turns to face the Countess.
At that comment, Keighvyn flushes an intense shade of hot pink and becomes very interested in his feet. After a perceptible pause, he returns, "I shall endeavor to do my best, milady." Under his breath, so no one but perhaps a sluagh could hear, he mumbles, "Great Raven, what have I gotten myself into?"
Lungwam Nutiket sees the Sidhe turn bright red for no apparent reason and blinks confusedly, then nudges him with an elbow and whispers "You OK? You look kinda red."
Jubair chuckles. "Oh, he's fine - he's just being embarrassed by our new young Sidhe, that's all," he says with a smile.
Expression now one of serious reserve, Kelia takes a small step forward and says to the Countess, "I believe my best interests lie in my assisting in this endeavor, Excellency, if that meets with your approval."
"It meets most thoroughly with our approval." the Countess answers, "And no, I ask you all to take the Oath of the Long Road, calling upon the Dreaming to confirm your quest. A Great Dark threatens, yes, and against that I send the Company of Ten. A propitious number, I believe. The years was once ten months long, and we can hope that Ten shall be the number needed to save it."
Taking the lead, Tethran steps forward, away from the childlings. She draws out her broad sword, and holds it, blade in one hand, handle in the other.
"I, Tethran, swear that I shall defend the Light and defeat the Dark, or lose my honor, that I shall defeat the Dark, or lay down my sword, that I shall defend the Light, or Dream no more. You and the sky my witnesses, so mote it be." She slowly moves the sword blade against her tightened palm, causing blood to flow.
Keighvyn steps forward and grasps Tethran's sword as well. As Tethran intones the oath, Keighvyn's voice joins with hers: "I, Sir Keighvyn ap Scathach..." He tightens his grip on the blade, and his blood joins with Tethran's.
Sebastian steps up and places his hands on the blade. The satyr's voice resonates several tones lower than the others as he speaks the words "I, Sebastian Larkatos...." He squeezes so hard that his arm begins to tremble, until blood runs the length of the blade, mixing with that of the troll and sidhe.
Jubair follows Keighvyn and Sebby and finds some room on the blade of the sword to hold onto. Jubair speaks the Oath with the others, but the voice doesn't quite sound like his normal one. "I, Jubair the Traveler..." He grips the blade with all the strength he can muster and slides his hands down it a short distance before letting go. As he watches his blood mingle with the others, his facial expression changes to a solemn mask.
Kelia moves forward slowly, clearly apprehensive. She placed her hand on a clean portion of the blade and slides her palm against the edge. "Ow!" she whispers, snatching her hand away. Resolutely, she places it back on the blade and a slight trickle of blood joins the others. "I, Christine Elizabeth Logan, also known as Kelia fer Eliuned..." Chris removes her hand and looks blankly at it. The cut isn't particularly long or deep and is hardly bleeding, but one wouldn't guess that by her expression. She looks around for something to bandage her hand.
Keighvyn fishes in the pouch on his belt for a minute or two and produces a clean handkerchief. "Here," he says, passing it to Kelia with a smile. "You can use this if you like."
"Uhm, thanks," Chris murmurs, taking the hanky and wrapping it around her hand. "Stings a little," she whispers almost apologetically to Keighvyn, flashing him a grateful smile.
Lungwam intones a slightly different oath. "I, Lungwam Nutiket, swear that I shall guard the Light and defeat the Donogaot, or lose my honor, that I shall defeat the Donogaot, or lay down my tomahawk, that I shall guard the Light, or Dream no more. You and the spirits my witnesses, so mote it be." He takes up his tomahawk and slashes open his palm without changing expression, turning his clenched fist to let three drops of blood to drop to the floor. He then puts the tomahawk away.
Mianderr's eyes widen when he sees the others taking the oath. Swallowing the lump lodged in his throat, he steps forward and draws his dagger. Closing his eyes and clutching the blade, he squeezes tightly and repeats the oath: "I, Mianderr..." He allows his blood to mingle with the rest, then he tucks his wounded hand under his armpit. He mutters to himself slightly, seeming to be in a faraway place or time, then snaps back to reality with a few blinks. "Well then, now that I have wounded myself in the name of an oath, I think I'll go faint in the corner over there..."
As the Company of Ten takes the oath, the air is suddenly filled with thousands of little tiny motes of light dancing around the party until they sink into their bodies, suffusing their fae souls with the smell of warm gingerbread, autumn fires, spring flowers, and summer rains. Finally, the motes fade away leaving only glamour and a renewed sense of confidence in their wake.
Sebastian removes his hand from the blade, looking at the open wound on his palm. He pulls a small plastic vial from his satchel and collects a small quantity of the glamourous substance. He corks the container and places it back in the pouch at his hip.
After waiting for a moment, Tess says, "Your Excellency, my friends and I have spoken to a few people, and dug up a little information concerning the quest. If your Excellency has a few moments, your good opinion would be appreciated." Tess makes a slight sigh, and with an obvious attempt at humor says, "Your bad opinion might not hurt either."
"Yes, it is time this wretched Court were ended." The Countess claps her hands three times, "Go, those who have no more business here. Enjoy Our Gardens, or follow your Dreams."
She walks down from her balcony, and the glamour of her cantrip pulses once with a warm, golden light then fades into the general vibrancy of the plant filled free-hold. She approaches the Company of Ten, "I have had a small feast prepared, an informal affair. Come join me, dears, and we can discuss this dangerous business." She shudders.
Not waiting for an answer, she leads the way into the Pacific Island room, where a long table has been set with a wide variety of good food and drink, all with an island theme. She sits saying, "Come, sit and talk! the time for formality has ended. Let us enjoy ourselves while we discuss these dark prophecies."
Time: 7:40 pm Wednesday, 26 August 1998
Current Weather: Sunny Expected Weather: Sunny
Original summary by Paul Westermeyer; converted to HTML by Midori Hirtzel-Church