of Magick and Lies
The Never Ending Quest - Episode 58983
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Ambassador Whickid stood dumbfounded for quite some time. The fact that
the most probable cause for the Princess' disappearance was magic did not
sit well with him. His people hated magic. The Allarian people, their
leaders had spent generations devising a system of control over what they
considered a fundamentally evil force. The Ambassador kept looking at his
hands as if they were tainted, as if some kind of obscene creature had
splattered its feces upon them. He kept rubbing them together.
The Lady Aephi had already ordered all in the inner court to clear the area, and ordered that none walk farther than the outercourt. If magic was involved the court sorceress would be able to pinpoint its source. Soon she arrived. "Tell me exactly what happened," she said as she began to sniff the air. "Madame Xenistrix," began the Lady Aephi, "This man from the north was dancing with our Princess, hand in hand." Xenistrix closed in on the Ambassador. She sniffed him and his hands. She made strange clicking sounds with her lips and tongue. She stared at the man. "Show me," she said. The Ambassador was confused and a bit frightened. "Sh-show you... what?" "Where." "Wh-where... wh-what?" She looked at the man and then turned to the maidens who had entered in with the elder woman. "Not too bright, this one." They smiled and nodded in unison. She turned back to the Ambassador. "Where you two were dancing, when she disappeared." The Ambassador regained a bit of his composure, he didn't like being treated like a little boy, nor being flustered by a woman who seemed more witch than lady. He walked to where he had last held the Princess. The sorceress knelt down and sniffed the floor, her nostrils crinkled. "Trace... violet-pink," she said. One of the women with her knelt down with a kerchief and rubbed the floor. She took the cloth and tucked it into a bag, giving it to another of the maidens. The elder woman straightened and approached the Lady Aephi. "No doubt, it's magic. We'll need to do some needlecraft to get to its source. It'll take time." Just then the Queen entered the hall - Queen Heliastra. "Where is Princess Royal Ithamarastra, where is my daughter?" she asked. Madame Xenistrix bowed and said: "With the needles we'll find her, M'Queen. We'll need the man some more, his hands are charged." Upon hearing this the Ambassador began rubbing his hands on his pants even more roughly. This caught the attention of the sorceress. She giggled, a dry laugh and deep. "Rub all you want if it'll make you sleep sounder. Don't worry, though, we'll take care of you." With that she and her attendants left the room. The Queen looked at the Ambassador. "You will remain our guest here until you are no longer needed." She turned to some guardwomen, "Take him to his room." -------------------- -------------------- -------------------- Governor Gilder looked at the woman before him, she was tall, of red hair and bronze skin. "My lady," he began. "Whether your skin needs the tonics or no, what I would like is the truth. You are either from Califie or you are not, you are either a spy or you are not, you are either a witch who cursed this man's tongue or you are not. Which is it?" Astra looked at him and was about to respond when Fred opened his mouth. "Sir Governor," he said. "I deeply apologize, but my first words ...the whole Gelda/Califie thing was a lie." Governor Gilder took a moment to consider the little man's words. He didn't look like a Geldan, he spoke with an Allarian accent, and he was wearing the colors of Suffex. Why would he lie to begin? thought Gilder. He probably did not know of the trade agreement just signed between Hespan and Suffex, if he was not privy to the trade delegation how would he know? Three days out, the delegation was certainly not back to the Duke's lands yet. But then why was he here? Why was a man of Suffex here? "On any other day I would have you deported to toil the rest of your life in the silver mines of Nom Malbra," said the Governor. Astra picked up the careful wording, "On any other day?" she said. "Woman!" he barked. "Witch or wench, I will discover, but for the moment let your companion speak in peace." Astra fumed but knew better than to anger the man who could imprison her, or worse. "I am from the Duchy of Suffex, in the Great Kingdom," said Fred. "You know... our ways with wine and women. You know the laws against improper relations. I... I am ashamed to confess... I came here wanting only to fulfill my needs in simple quiet, without any questions or... or worry of gossip." The Governor looked him over. This sounded feasible. The Allarians were known as prudish, the upper classes had more social regulations than a spider had webs, and though taking pleasure from the lower classes was permitted, many still looked down upon that and spread stories ceaselessly. "I appreciate your honesty," replied the Governor cooly, "and the woman?" "She is not from Califie, as I said," continued Fred. "She... she is my serving wench." Astra noticeably rolled her eyes, but besides confessing her true identity, there wasn’t much she could do...she decided to go along with this. "I didn’t say anything earlier because I know that the practice of indefinite servitude has been outlawed in Hespan." This was true...Hespan was much more progressive than Allaria in this regard. "Harrumph. Even though you are breaking Hespan law I am prepared to let you go." Incredibly the Governor seemed to believe Fred's lies, or was the Governor lying in return, and yet why, to what end? "Yes, I will let you go, but on one condition."
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Y (i was just passing by...)
5/30/2006 9:56:21 PM
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