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Completed Chapter VI: Eye of the Storm

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Meric cleared his throat before speaking. "Actually, between Auri, Erya, and Baron Durand, we now have enough invitations for a wholly legitimate infiltration. If we needed it."

Baron Alston Durand was the nobleman whose daughter was murdered in a kidnapping gone wrong recently, a case solved by Vittorio and elaborated on during dinner by the necromancer himself. Long story short, besides the weighty reward, the grateful baron had offered to bring Vittorio along with him to the queen's banquet. As Vittorio himself had put it, Baron Durand turned out to be no ally of Ilhirel's and gladly accepted the chance to aid a cause against her.

"There are nine of us, with three invitations; two of which are diplomatic. Both Auri and Erya are entitled to the 'trusted three' custom, and even Baron Durand's ordinary invitation includes an escort. Thus Auri should take Maggie and Laurolf at least. I shall go with A'kal and Battojutsu as part of Erya's company. Vittorio accompanies the baron, so that leaves Asher and Violet who will take the stealth approach together - albeit to two different ends. That makes nine."

"I won't risk being recognized." Violet clarified. "So I'm not joining you inside. Besides, I will have work to do with my forces in securing the escape route. Fort Artan isn't going to conquer itself."

Meric nodded. "We'll go through the escape plans last. Now let's begin."

"I am coming with you." Battojutsu interjected just when Meric was about to unfold a large piece of paper on the table. The westerner was looking at Violet. "I will be put to better use with my blades in the dark of night than at a posh reception. I am a samurai of Yamatai." He said the last sentence with unhidden pride.

"If Violet doesn't mind..." Meric began, but Violet was nodding her approval already. "Fine. If anyone else objects their post, speak now. Otherwise, here's what tomorrow night will look like. On paper." Without further ado, the elf ceremoniously unfolded what appeared to be a large scroll, like a blueprint or map, for all to see. "How's that look?" he asked.

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"...not impressive enough, I guess." the elf concluded after a prolonged moment of zero reactions. "Alright. No, no, that's alright." he held up a hand to dismiss any comments that may have arised just then. "As you undoubtedly surmised this is a map of the ground floor of the palace. Freshly made at that, mostly based on my own memory." He glanced at their host then. "I would have consulted you, Auri, had we not been able to complete the map before we returned here."

"I don't mean this map." he clarified, brushing a finger across the parchment. "This is just the first draft, put together so that we'd have something to work with. Allow me to present to you the final result."

mjnzOxI.jpg
 


Maggie blushed. "Sorry, Meric, I was just trying to figure out where things would be, not having been in there before." She looked interestedly at the second map he laid down. "Oh, that's much better! I mean, not that there was anything wrong with the other one, but I can see where things are now." She pointed to the Great Hall. "I guess that's where the banquet is going to be?"
 
Most of the Chosen seemed to be trying to figure things out. Meric waited patiently until they've had the time to do just that, then replied to Maggie's remark.

"Correct. The great hall is where banquets, balls, and other events have always been held. There is no doubt that it will be the same tomorrow. It is the only room big enough, save for the throne room which never doubled for such purposes. At times, happenings have taken place in the palace gardens but it is too cold for that this time of year. So the great hall it will be. It is a massive room, as you can see - the map is quite accurate in scale, I should point out. Part of it is slightly raised, near the outer wall - that will be for the queen and the most prestige guests. Aside from that, I'm not sure what the exact layout of the furniture will be. But it doesn't matter. Whoever remains in the great hall will be there to keep an eye on the Sorceress and maintain our cover, possibly sending a warning to the rescue team in case of trouble." Meric concluded.

"Now, the colors mark the different parts of the palace." he continued, "The green part of either wing represents the safe zone. This is the area where the guests are usually allowed free, unhindered access. Well, some of the kitchen maids would probably kick you out if you tried to wander about in the kitchen." The elf grinned, pausing for a moment in a way that made it clear he was reminiscing.

"The red part is the keep itself, the most important part of the palace. That's where the throne room is, obviously. The higher of the two round towers is bigger, and its upper floors house a number of important chambers, such as those of the queen. I don't believe we'd find Dina in that area, which is good because I wouldn't relish infiltrating the eastern tower. However, she might be locked away in one of the bedrooms of the western tower - the smaller one. Provided that the Sorceress has decided to treat her with any degree of decency, that's my best guess at where she would put her. The guest bedrooms on the second floor of the south wing, green, just don't feel right. She'd want Dina close to her, and secure. The west tower would be perfect for that."

"Unfortunately," sadness lined Meric's voice, "It is just as likely, if not more, that Dina was simply thrown into one of the subterranean dungeons. The dungeons are located below the north battlement, colored orange, and only accessible via the stairs inside the northern watchtower. Needless to say, the entire battlement area of both wings is off limits to party guests, with the notable exception of the lavatories. It won't be easy getting Dina out of Ilhirel's dungeons, but I fear that's just what we will have to do. In fact, it would be easier to break into the west tower and check that first. Just in case. Permission could be obtained to enter the throne room - people have done it before. It is quite a sight to be admired. Of course, as soon as one scaled the tower from the antechamber they'd be trespassing."

Finally, the elf leaned back in his armchair and sighed. "So once more, in less words: The party will probably take place in the courtyard and the great hall. Dina is most likely to be imprisoned either in the west tower or the palace dungeons. And the only areas that we are legitimately supposed to be in are the green parts of either wing, in addition to the lavatories. What are your thoughts so far?" he inquired.
 
Auri the Insatiable
Ambassador of the Drakkar Nation​

Auri examined the map closely with his old eyes. Thoughts swirled about his brain like ingredients being mixed to some fine recipe. "How precisely shall we use this to our advantage? Should I perhaps create a disturbance in the green area that perhaps our stealthier friends might make their way to the orange and therefore perhaps Dina?"
 
"I hope it won't have to come to that, Auri." Meric replied, looking up from the unfolded map. "I was hoping to use the map as a visual aid to plan out the three main stages of the mission: infiltration, execution, and extraction. It's not a hundred percent accurate and it bears no enchantments that would reveal the positions of Ilhirel and her guards, but it should suffice for planning."

"And if there's to be disturbances, know that they're somewhat of a specialty of mine." the dwarf boasted, to which Meric sighed. But before the elf was able to say anything, someone else spoke.

"Speaking of disturbances, what of the opposition?" A'kal asked, appearing way too leisurely on his perch.

Violet moved to answer that question. "The palace guards - mostly men and elves. Keep in mind that these are our compatriots, even if we happen to be on opposite sides for the moment. In fact, some might even be friendly to our cause, if only we knew which. Three years can't have been enough to convert every man-at-arms into the usurper's lapdog. Word of our actions will spread like wildfire throughout Alicante and beyond - we cannot risk tarnishing the Resistance's reputation by murdering our own people." Violet's tone was one of firm warning, delivered in the solemn voice of a natural leader. She was looking at everyone while she spoke, but concentrating her glances on the Chosen that were most likely to have to fight. "Slip past any palace guards undetected if at all possible," she instructed, "Or immobilize them somehow. Killing must be a last resort here."

"But there will be Oni, yes? Demons?" Battojutsu asked, the foreign word resonating ominously in stark contrast to the calm with which he said it.

Meric's voice broke the silence that had started to amass. "The palace is the only place in Alicante that is confirmed to contain demonic presence within. The Sorceress still keeps an unknown number of demons at her side, though she probably won't display them in front of the guests. I think." He didn't sound too sure. "However, those of us who stray from the common areas might encounter a few."

"Or more than a few." Violet suggested with a grim expression. "Especially as you near Dina's prison. I loathe the idea of those... things... being anywhere close to her, but I fear that may be the case. If so, you have my blessing to show them to back beyond the Veil. Swiftly."

"But do not go out of your way to do so." Meric warned. "This is a rescue operation, not a demon hunt. We will do what we must to get Dina out of the palace - no more, no less. And if we can accomplish that without losing the element of stealth, all the better. Understood?"

"I understand." Battojutsu said without hesitation, and his acceptance seemed to have been what Meric was waiting on. The westerner was a demon hunter by profession, but he appeared to be ready to keep his instincts in check for the sake of the mission.
 
Auri the Insatiable
Ambassador of the Drakkar Nation​

Auri scratched his head. Matters of infiltration and physical espionage were not his specialty though he felt he could adapt as best as an old Drakkar could. And besides, this Dina-friend of everyone's life was at stake! What could be effective? And simple? And perhaps even pleasant?

Well... Auri could always rely on his appetite.

"Er, well, since it is infiltration we are looking for into the orange part of town here," he tapped the map with his pinky claw, "my reputation for feasting and good food might help me, say, get into the kitchen where I might fancy a recipe or twelve... and you know what happens after that! A trip to the lavatory!" He winked. "I could excuse myself from company and perhaps 'roll' my way into the orange zone here and visit the men's 'place of business' as it were and from there, I might 'lose my way' downstairs dungeon-ward, all in the guise of incompetence and age as it were? Then mayhap I might find some clues as to where this Dina of yours is before someone finds me and escorts me out?"

It was not a great plan, but then again, Auri was no rogue. Still, some plan was better than none!
 


Maggie shook her head, not in denial, but in thoughtfulness. "It is a pity that everything is so straightforward. More of us might 'accidentally lose our way' if the building was more confusing. Still, Auri's idea has some merit. And perhaps I could go looking for him and end up in the same place?" Her face grew solemn. "I was able to learn some miracles that are particularly useful against demons, so I think, if we can manage it, that I should be with the rescue team, to aid them if need be. Besides being able to heal Dina if she needs it."
 
The others listened attentively to the ideas presented by Auri and Maggie. Especially Meric, who took turns nodding and frowning. Eventually the shadow elf cleared this throat and spoke.

"You make a good point there, Maggie. While I'd like nothing more than for us to find Dina safe and sound, we have to accept and plan for the event that she is not." He paused for a bit there, giving Violet a cautious glance. The she-elf, however, was staring blankly at the floor. "She may be injured. Perhaps unconscious, or incapacitated in some way."

"We still have no idea what she could even want with her, do we?" A'kal asked.

"None." Meric shook his head. "I mean, Dina is the heir to the throne; the last descendant of the Tenárus bloodline. This was clearly the motivation for her abduction, but what does Ilhirel hope to gain by taking her? Dina is the old king's bastard child, one that the nation is entirely ignorant of. Proving her claim would be difficult enough, but even so... Dina is the answer to the problems that would arise after Ilhirel's demise, not before. It is still the Resistance that has to defeat her in the first place, and having a lost princess on their side doesn't improve their chances so much that it should give the Sorceress more to worry about."

Battojutsu fidgeted in his lotus position, his eyes just returned from the flames of the hearth. "Then perhaps this is not about Dina the princess, but Dina the Chosen." he suggested.

"Doubtless that it is, at least in part." Meric accepted. "By now, the traitor Xenthriss has told Ilhirel everything about the Chosen and our search for the Amaranth. But somehow I doubt this is an attempt on Ilhirel's part to dissuade us from our quest. The fate of the world is at stake, after all. She must know that we're not going to give up on Amaranth, regardless of whether we come for Dina or not."

Violet raised her head at that, an almost estranged look on her face.

"Isn't that exactly what we are doing, though?" A'kal observed, putting his feet down on the floor and sitting up straight. "We're all going to the palace to rescue Dina. None of us are looking for the Amaranth. And if things should go badly tomorrow," the man continued, dangerously unaware of the storm brewing in Violet's eyes, "There may as well be no Chosen left to continue the quest. Maybe the Sorceress is simply using Dina to lay a trap, hoping to get as many of us as possible to fall for it."

"If that was her plan, she'd have been better off having Xenthriss slay us in our sleep. Besides, even if you're right and she is planning a trap, she's too late. Remember that the portal in Dunn's mages guild was repaired only after Xenthriss had already taken off with Dina. As far as Ilhirel knows, it will take us at least a week until we reach the capital, when in truth we are already here. But you do have a point, A'kal."

"Enough!" Violet's commanding voice boomed through the room. The she-elf was standing firmly by the wall, her hand stretched out in an accusing gesture. Both Meric and A'kal fell silent in the middle of their discussion. "Shall we send only non-essential personnel to Dina's rescue, then? Only people that we can afford to lose? What are you volunteering for then, Meric? You're Chosen. We need you to save the world! Wouldn't do to risk your well-being, no! Anyone else?" she turned to the room, scrutinizing everyone without mercy. "We're all here. If you want to stay behind, now is the time. Feel free. But I'm going. I'd go even if I was the only one. I'd go even if the Sorceress herself sent me an invitation with a: 'p.s. It's a trap' written at the bottom. And do you know why?"

"Violet please, it's not -" Meric started, slowly recovering, but Violet just bludgeoned through as if he didn't exist. She was very upset by now, clearly unstable. Her grey eyes were starting to turn red, her voice faltering.

"Because I can barely go a moment without imagining Dina lying face down in some... damp dungeon, alone, in the dark and cold. Or Dina on a torture rack, her secrets forcibly pulled out of her. Dina... huddled in a corner, crying and telling herself that she just has to hang on for another hour, because we're almost there and..." Violet's voice broke just as a surge of tears slid down her face. Tears that weren't there mere seconds ago, but suddenly wouldn't stop. "She could be hurt. Badly." she pushed the words out with great effort, her jaw trembling. She looked like she was in great pain herself. "I can't stop thinking about that, even if you did make me forget for those few hours. You know, while you walked me around town like we had not a care in the world. Like my friend might not be dying a few miles down the road."

"Violet..." Meric uttered her name, but had nothing to follow it up with. His hesitation only seemed to encourage her.

"No, Meric. Just... Just leave me alone. I can't." She said bitterly, not bothering to wipe the tears off her face as she turned around and walked out of the room.

Meric looked stupefied at first, and it almost looked like he was about to follow her. Instead, he slumped down into the armchair behind him, defeated.
 


Maggie had listened to the discussion between Meric, A'kal, and Battojutsu without comment, letting their statements sink in while she watched Violet's face with concern. Thus the other woman's outburst didn't catch her totally by surprise, though the violence and passion of it did -- she'd never seen Violet so upset. The priestess stood up to follow, laying a hand briefly on Meric's shoulder as she walked past him. "Let me, while you all continue planning. This is something I can help with." Hesitant to put herself forward during discussions of strategy, whether military or spycraft, Maggie moved confidently now that she was on a priest's business. For so she saw this: a soul in pain and needing comfort, calling out to her no less strongly than physical injuries did.

When she caught up, she offered Violet a handkerchief, not with a smile -- that would do no good right now -- but with sympathy and shared worry in her eyes. Her hands were spread apart in invitation, if the other wanted a hug, but not so wide as to make it rude if Violet didn't want to be touched. "I'm here," she said simply, waiting to see what Violet wanted or needed.
 
Violet ignored the invitation to hug, trying not to look at the priestess, but accepted the handkerchief and put it to immediate use. She had made it all the way to the foyer before Maggie was able to reach her. She was either going to get some air, or was about to launch the rescue mission on her own.

"Yes." she uttered, in a voice that sounded rough but not hostile. She stood turned sideways to the priestess, wiping her cheeks. "It figures that it would be you. Like back in Dunn, when we first met. Your fellow priests and defenders barely took notice of our group, but you went through the trouble of circling the battlefield just to check up on us. That was a foolish thing to do, by the way." she frowned, as if scolding her, but her heart wasn't in it. "If I hadn't noticed you back, who would have shot down the monsters that pursued you?"

"Maker, I can't believe that was less than a week ago. So much has happened since." she sighed, silent for a while. During that time she paid Maggie a proper look, allowing her to see her face that still bore the telltale signs of crying. She had nearly calmed down, but appeared to be on the verge of falling part again. "I really messed up back there, didn't I?"
 


Maggie smiled slightly at Violet's "scolding," but let the smile fade when the subject changed. "You startled us all, certainly. I don't think anything irreversible was done -- since you didn't do something foolish like go off by yourself. At least at Dunn I was running towards you, not away!" She paused, then continued, "No, truly, I think everyone understands how important Dina is to you. It's hard to discuss her rescue objectively when you're so close emotionally. But that's all we were doing, I think. No one's seriously suggesting not going after her." The priestess's face echoed the resolution in her voice when she added, "Even if they do decide their quest for the Amaranth is more important -- to them -- you'll still have me, and probably Auri, if no one else. I will not leave Dina to the sorceress's nonexistent mercy. I promise you that." She nodded firmly.
 
Auri the Insatiable
Ambassador of the Drakkar Nation​

"Do pardon me but a moment," Auri bowed and exited the room in another direction.

Having watched Violet depart and Maggie follow, Auri could only do what was prudent for a host in his situation - he served spirits. With calmness and quiet, Auri made his way to his mini-bar, opened the cabinets there, and grabbed the human and elven glasses along with one of his thick dwarven mugs. A wine bottle popped here, a mini-keg tapped there, and a short time later, Auri returned with a pleasant grin on his face.

For spirits, in the right amount only, possessed the power to soothe. Glasses did not gossip, bottles did not backtalk; each held its own way of calming inner turmoil. One serving would be enough to settle the mood of the room in a fine way though Auri doubted Battojutsu or Maggie would indulge. No more for a moment like this.

Meric was first. To Auri, the shadow elf looked like his soul had received a punch to the gut. His heart and mind seemed at war. Now, Elven wine was a fine and graceful archer, but it would not do on this battlefield; Auri broke out the heavy cavalry with a shot of his heaviest whiskey. Auri was certain that what sat in that gold-plated crystal shot glass would distract Meric's mind off of his troubles faster than a fireball through a farmhouse. Meric had but to raise the glass to his lips and partake for a whole new perspective.

Auri could not then serve such a potent thing with a good dwarf present and so Laurolf was next with a foaming mug of rich ale, dark and moody as a midnight storm and just as powerful in its own way. Beside Maggie's small plate, Auri laid a chilled mug of fresh milk and hoped for her return before it warmed. It was a metal lidded mug that was good at keeping things cool; though the mug was meant for Drakkar children, Auri was certain Maggie would be able to heft it if she used both hands. Mysterious Violet could ask for her pleasure upon her return.

Each of these, of course, were silent requests of Auri. Above all, he wished his guests peace. The insatiable old drakkar reasoned inside that each player of this dangerous game would have to have some kind of peace themselves if they were to provide any for Dina.

As for the others, Auri glanced to each of them with kind, questioning eyes and open claws. To those who had not yet received, he made the offer.

"My bar is open for one drink only. Dear guests, what will it be?"
 
Maggie's words seemed to hit the mark. Violet looked up hopefully, the lines of her dark face steeling in a determined expression. "Yes. Thank you." she said. "Now if only Meric would be so understanding. After I lashed out at him like that, I don't think he'll simply shrug it off. All he's done was be nice to me, and I attacked him for it. I don't even remember the last time I acted so immaturely. Way to remind him that I'm less than half his age..."

The she-elf gave Maggie a helplessly miserable look and sighed.

*** *** ***​

Meanwhile, back in the living room, Laurolf was giving high praise to Auri's ale. Or kept giving it, that is. For after each healthy swig the dwarf repeatedly made his satisfaction well known to his host, comparing this brew with others he'd had in the past and guessing at its origin. Needless to say that his mug was drained before long.

Meric accepted the glass of whiskey offered to him without a word, though he was not in the habit of drinking at all, apart from a bit of wine here and there (something that Auri couldn't have known, which was why everyone but him raised a brow at the shadow elf). He then proceeded to empty the glass in a similar stoic manner, but kept hold of it with both hands even when it was empty, as if unaware that it was.

Neither Battojutsu nor A'kal made any requests. The samurai recited a proverb from Yamatai in his defense: "Sake-wa honshin-wo arawasu; sake reveals the true heart," he translated into Common Asgardian. "But my heart is not hidden from you as it is." Hearing that was what made A'kal pause and pass with a curt thanks.

No one seemed eager to proceed with the planning while Meric was so visibly absent.
 


Maggie smiled. "I haven't known you nearly as long as Meric has, but I know how unusual that sort of thing is for you, so I'm sure he does too. We're all under stress right now, you more than most, and surely he knows that." Her smile turned into an impish grin, making her look her actual age (far less than either Meric or Violet!) and she added, "And if he doesn't, why then, I'll just take him aside for a talk." She tilted her head questioningly. "Are you ready to go back? Or shall we give them a few more minutes?"
 
"You... You know?" Violet asked, a little surprised, referring to Maggie's first thought. Then she frowned a bit. "Wait - what sort of thing?"
 


"You know, that little scene just now?" Maggie tipped her head slightly to one side. "You're usually much more calm and controlled than that, at least from what I've seen. And you wouldn't be worried about what Meric would think if it was a side of you that you showed him often, right?"
 
"Ah, r-right. Of course." Violet seemed a bit relieved and no longer confused. In fact, she was just about her regular self within moments. "Right," she said. "We should return to the others. We've yet to formulate the plan properly."

*** *** ***​

Everyone looked up as Maggie and Violet rejoined the meeting - including Meric, though he was quick to turn his gaze downwards at the table with the castle map. Violet paid an uncertain, almost pained glance at Maggie, before going to sit next to Laurolf. The dwarf met her with an encouraging smile. "Right." he declared. "Where were we?"
 


Maggie smiled as Violet became more herself. She nodded firmly and followed the elf back to the others.

*** *** ***​


The priestess smiled reassuringly in response to Violet's glance. Meric was probably just unsure what to say. She took her own seat next to him and patted his shoulder. If need be, she'd have a discussion with him too, but later. Right now, however, they needed to get back into the planning. Time was short, and getting shorter all the time. And talking about something they both held important -- namely, Dina's rescue -- could very well move them past the awkwardness without her interference.
 
Auri the Insatiable
Ambassador of the Drakkar Nation​

"'Where were we?' Still putting together our plan for Dina's rescue, seems to me." Auri appeared a bit relieved when the two women returned. Auri pointed out Maggie's waiting cup of milk with a wink. Then he stood by, watching and waiting for an opportunity to be of service to anyone.
 
"Why, of course." Laurolf said. "But how far did we get?"

"We described the layout." Meric spoke for the first time. Though his voice hadn't the original spark, he was slowly building up to it. "We decided on the infiltration method. And we were just about to agree on how to start the search once we're inside."

Violet tried to send Meric an encouraging glance, but he simply wouldn't look her way. So she turned to Auri and Maggie instead. "While I appreciate your bold readiness to help, Auri, I can't help but feel you'd be more useful within the bounds of the party. More specifically, in close proximity to the Sorceress. It would be good to know her whereabouts, especially if she suddenly decides to leave."

"Not to mention," Meric added, "That even at an event such as this, sure to be attended by quite a high-ranking lot, you will still be one of the few people able to approach Ilhirel at will. Erya will be another, of course, and remember that she has made plans to do just that. She may need your support. I would rather have Laurolf and myself doing the searching, perhaps with A'kal - if you think a man of your stature could go unnoticed." he turned to face him.

"I've done fine in the past." A'kal reassured him.

"And perhaps even you, Maggie? Being found in the wrong part of the palace in your company would be far easier to explain than say, with either of those two." He indicated both A'kal and Laurolf with a single glance.
 
Auri the Insatiable
Ambassador of the Drakkar Nation​

"'Hold. You still want me to talk to the Sorceress herself while the rest of you sneak and snoop? It seems to me we have already walked down that road. This continues to make no sense. If you are robbing a bank, do you schedule a chat with that bank's head? If you plan to secretly spring a prisoner, do you stroll over and start up a chat with the head jailer?" Auri shook his head. "I would think you avoid either at all costs lest something slip! Now, keeping an eye on the Sorceress is something this old ambassador can do. But how I am supposed to contact you should she come your way? I have not the method."

"But for someone like me to rub elbows with the one incredibly-powerful person who with little help conquered all of our nations, summoned up an entire army of heartless demons, and has magics so far beyond my own I likely cannot fathom them?" He scratched his head. "Put plainly, I am out of my league with her. Someone as devilishly crafty as the Sorceress, a woman so capable as to outsmart every leader we had at the time, including mine, is far more likely to sense or glean something amiss out of me. After all, I am a communicator and a mild mage, not an espionage agent." He sniffed. "The advantage of a meeting under these circumstances will clearly lie with the Sorceress and endanger all of us - including Dina!"
 


Maggie nodded to Meric. "Of course. Anywhere you think I'd be best placed, and I'll do my best to help." Scooping up her milk with a smile of thanks to Auri, she sipped at it while listening to him. "Why is Erya going to talk to her? I'm afraid I've forgotten, if I knew. Is it something about those two that got arrested earlier, and that's why Auri should be with her?"
 
Meric appeared somewhat taken aback at what Auri had to say at first, but listened patiently without interrupting. He ended up nodding quietly, clearly in agreement. "You're absolutely right, Auri. Ilhirel is everything you've just described, as well as dangerously unpredictable and highly impulsive on top. We cannot remind ourselves of it enough. Confronting her for whatever reason is not something I'd normally recommend - but I can't tell Erya what to do. Unless she's changed her mind, she is going to speak with Ilhirel in her official diplomatic capacity about that uncanny arrest. I don't think that's wise, but if you cannot dissuade her then it's safer to help her than stand on the sidelines. After all, the matter concerns you both. You will be there in an official capacity as well - it might look more suspicious that you're not taking interest than if you were."

"Actually," Violet chimed in, "I think it would be more suspicious if you avoided the Sorceress like the plague than if you engaged in conversation. Generally speaking."

"That's what I meant." Meric agreed, properly looking at Violet for the first time since their argument. "You don't have to chat her up, but don't make it look like you're intentionally avoiding her, either. As for the matter of the dwarf and drakkar, I am leaving that entirely to your, and Erya's, wisdom. For the Chosen, do keep Ilhirel in sight and let us know if she leaves the party grounds. By tomorrow I will get you a discreet way of doing that. Besides that one thing, we're not asking you to do anything outside your bounds as an invited guest and ambassador."

Meric had just started breathing more easily, confident that this issue at least was resolved, when Laurolf raised a thus far unmentioned question.

"What about our newest, eh... ally?" The dwarf's tone was reserved as he shot the stoic Asher with a calculating look. So far the self-proclaimed master thief hadn't said a word. "I'm not so sure if our gracious host's fitting description of the enemy has struck home with him. We can trust you not to do anythin', say, stupid? Aye?"

More than one set of eyes turned to Asher.
 



Asher had a lot to consider. He knew of the danger that the sorceress represented, but the extent had only just come apparent. You could only get so much from rumours, after all.

Killing her outright might be... impossible.

Though his lust for revenge was nearly suffocating at times, Asher wasn't a fool. He decided to put his own feelings on hold.

"Despite me having no reason to, I will infiltrate the palace as I planned, and help you rescue your friend. I cannot go against the sorceress alone, regardless of my power." Asher responded to the dwarfs probing.

"I agree that we should have someone near the sorceress, probably someone with a communication link to the rest of us, though that will probably be difficult, as such devices could easily be discovered. The guard routes and entry points still haven't changed, as per my investigation today, though the situation on the day of the party will definitely be different. Once inside, using my abilities I can traverse through the zones more easily than anyone untrained in stealth, even without shadowmelding. All I need now is a route to follow... If I traverse the battlements, after scaling the wall, I can end up infiltrating near the west tower. Or I could sneak my way through the courtyard and find an entry point into the palace through there... the kitchen should have a back entry for the servants. Both options should be fairly easy for me, so what would you have me do?"
 
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