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 Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:29 pm
  "Hmmm...," was the initial response offered by the sorceress, a single thin brow arching as she noticed the young man's sudden descent into sleep... and the abrupt reply. That golden gaze remained on him for a long moment, allowing some level of lingering silence to add weight to the gaze... before she shifted her hand, taking a small sip of her tea, and breaking the silence with that odd, bell-like accent once more. "A clever enough response, but for one small detail, Lord Dalearin. Shrinking the tower would be easily enough accomplished, for someone strong in shaping the Weave... but how did the rooms within remain the same size, without some level of destruction occurring to tower, or interior?"
That faintly impish smile curved her unpainted lips as she allowed him a moment to ponder the query, before her voice issued once more, it's tone more brisk than the languid musings it had just offered. "Dear Aerith, I believe it is time for you to take our two newcomers down to the kitchen, and introduce them to their first tasks for the day. Allow them to attempt it on their own, first... see how they manage, based on the cleverness at least one of them possesses. If they stumble upon the how, but not the specifics, demonstrate that small but critical detail until they've grasped it, and show them about their next task. If they do not stumble upon the how, return them to me, and we shall begin our first lesson."
With that, Ishtarelm turned her attention back to her steaming cup, that directive clearly a gentle dismissal. But as they were departing, those slanted golden orbs drifted back to her newest students for a moment... and that odd accent emerged once more. This time, though... it seemed to lack a small fraction of the verve and vitality it had, instead carrying a level of... almost age-induced patience.
"Lord Dalearin, before you depart... there is one matter I must clear up with you. Your sires worked most diligently at acquiring my agreement to instruct you, and I promised that you would have my utmost attention. Now, that may be somewhat tedious, coming from an old crone, but...," she murmured, withdrawing a small, delicate crystal orb from the depths of one of her sleeves. As the orb settled into her hand, a hazy image began to form within it's depths... and a small, but definitely recognizable pair of voices began to emerge. "I do take my oaths quite seriously ("Oh, come on. Why does this old crone have to live at the bottom of a gorge?"). As such, it may be best for you to assume that you have close to undivided attention upon you at all times... ("Oh, I know. I'm just getting my kicks in while I can.")... and if you feel any particular urge to joust, verbally or mentally, well... perhaps it would be best to speak to me about it, rather than hope I do not realize it is said, yes?"
With that, she gave them all a smile that had amusement in it still... but a faint hint of something more shadowy... more sinister... and allowed them to depart the study.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 2:51 pm
 
Naelonni listened to the Kae'dryn's query to her brother, all the while studying their new mistress. There was something about her, something ancient and a bit mysterious. Suddenly she notices her brother has not responded yet. Blinking, she glances to her side to find that he has dozed off. Internally she winces faintly. She very much hoped that his struggle with bouts of narcolepsy would not diminish their chances of setting a good first impression.
Heron seems to snap out of it quickly enough, and a wave of relief washes over her. At least she didn't have to wake him this time. Unfortunately, the long pause from the Kae'dryn left no doubt that the woman had certainly noticed as well. Unconsciously Nae crosses her fingers, a faint and almost negligible amount of movement from her otherwise very still form.
The emergence of the small orb sparks her curiosity, and she watches the cloudy image come into view with utter fascination. Her eyes widen as she realizes what the little crystal ball is replaying. How did she know that?? She thinks in mixture of shock and awe. The display absorbs her attention so that she doesn't catch that they have been dismissed until the others begin to move around. Blinking again, she scolds herself for not paying attention. Wonderful... she growls in her mind. I completely missed what our first task was..
I am a leaf on the wind...
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:09 pm
 Heron begins to ponder on the teacher's words. He stands when Aerith does and turns to leave the room when Relm displays the orb and the sounds within it. His face becomes pale enough to give his hair a darker color by comparison. He feels a cold sweat break upon his brow. He swallows hard and stammers out a response, "M-m-my apologies Kae'dryn Ishtarelm. I will mind my manners from now on." He waits for his twin to catch up to them then follows Aerith out of the room.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:33 pm
 Aerith gives her teacher a nod, then opening up the doors behind them, she waits for the others to move into the hallway. In particular, she watches the young man. Her eyes had flickered to him periodically during the conversation, once or twice with a dubious tone.. especially at the mention of his study of her 'anatomy'. At the moment she was still trying to curb the smile that had creeped over her features as the Kae'dryn laid down a small amount of smitage. Once they were all settled in the hallway, Aerith closes the study doors behind them and turns to address her new wards. Motioning for them to follow, she leads them back down the long staircase. "We'll be heading to the kitchen for your first task. Do you have any questions for me thus far?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:34 pm
 Never mistake tears for sadness...Her grin faded slightly as the guard's manner grew cold though it did not completely disappear. She waited a moment before answering, weighing the question mentally, then shook her head.
"No, not amony your ranks as of yet. My alligence is my own though, truthfully, I have thrown my lot in with your enemies before this. After a theological disagreement with my comanding officer, I left. I was aided in the fact that we were far beyond the Cathedral walls. After a band of your soldiers in fact. I was able to depart without incident and ended up here."
The tale was an easy one, a believable one. She felt herself picking up the threads of this make-believe life. Breathing the lie as easily as she drew air. She would remain herself and yet not herself.
"Should I have a choice in the matter, I would much rather help you lot out than wander about aimlessly. That creature owes me blood."
Her voice remained calm for the most part though her anger bled through that last word. She had seen enough dead, soldiers and children, to summon true anger to lend sincerity to her words. ...that will only bring you grief.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:46 pm
Heron keeps his head down as he mumbles, "No ma'am."He couldn't believe she had been watching them since they had crossed into her territory. At the same time he scolding himself for not even thinking that she would, of course, have some sort of surveillance method. Especially considering how much of a recluse she was for the most part. He turns his head to Naelonni and asks her, "What about you Ney Ney, do you have any questions for Aerith?" His primary reason for repeating Aerith was to make sure, if Naelonni had ventured into lala land, that she knew what was going on.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:54 pm
"Actually... if you don't mind repeating... " She starts shyly, hesitant to admit her mistake. ".. I missed what our first task was. I'm very sorry. I was so fascinated by that little orb.." As she follows, she squirms softly in embarrassment. "It isn't that I wasn't interested. Far from it..." her voice trails off, and she decides there really isn't a good explanation she could give as to why she wasn't paying attention earlier.
I am a leaf on the wind...
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:55 pm
 Ky relaxes a bit. He could empathize with the woman to that extent. His face reads a calm demeanor. "Very well. I must ask a more pressing question at this time, tho. When you saw Lord Johannes take flight, did you happen to notice if there was anyone else around him? I implore you to think carefully, this is a matter of utmost importance."
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:07 pm
Moving through the familiar main room, she escorts them through to the kitchen area. Although extremely tidy, like the study was, this space is filled with various cookery and knicknacks. She pauses at the counter where several cloth bags sit unattended. Looking within the totes reveals several small paper wrapped bundles in each.
"You are fine, Naelonni," Aerith assures the girl, her voice slightly softer than before. "The Kae'dryn didn't say what your first task would be, only that I am to present you with one. It would, however, be in your best interest to try to keep mark on what the Kae'dryn says. If she is speaking, it is for a reason, and chances are you need to know."Facing them, she motions to the bags on the counter. "Within each of these are parcels that have been shrunk for ease of travel. The spell binding the packages is not dispellable. Your task is to find a way to bring them back to normal size, then help me put the contents away."
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:24 pm
Naelonni bites her lip softly, her gaze falling to the market bags. Make them bigger without dispelling the enchantment.. She thinks to herself thoughtfully. Then she remembered something that had helped her solve difficult puzzles before. Looking up at Aerith, she suddenly feels another pang of shyness. Drawing her courage up, she asks "May we muse our thoughts on it, and you give us feedback as to whether we are heading in the right direction?"
I am a leaf on the wind...
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:26 pm
Never mistake tears for sadness...Eva paused again then shrugged mentally. She wasn't particulary happy about revealing anymore than she had to but appearing helpful would, in the long run, be to her benefit. Besides, someone else was sure to have seen the exchange between the two Angels. Still, no one said her vantage point was a good one...
"The first time...not that I am sure, but I think there might have been a second caster. A second Angel even. It must have been for the spell to work. I am no mage but I know enough to guess at the level of energy needed to power such a spell...well, it's a guess. I could see no person beside him."
An Angel, yes, but no person.
"When Johannes took off the second time, I was busying myself with other matters but his retreat did not seem as swift. He was carrying something though what, I would not know."
She shifted her weight then, considering her next words.
"I would think with your bounty of witnesses, many of whom are trained to be observant to all things, that you are already aware of the circumstances. I must then assume your questioning serves another purpose. Do I pass muster then?"
Eva salutes him lazily, her tone soft though edged slightly with sarcasm. Her patience was dwindling though she fought to keep her more...unsociable qualities under control. ...that will only bring you grief.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:29 pm
Heron puts his thumb and forefinger to his chin, nodding in response to Naelonni's inquiry. "Yea, I mean it's not like you and I can't put this puzzle if we put our heads together. Right Nay Nay?"He ponders for a moment, tapping his foot to make sure he doesn't fall asleep standing up. He brings up a thought, though unsure of it's direction, "Maybe it's a similar concept to what Kae'dryn was saying about bending the weave to change somethings size?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:40 pm
Aerith was surprised at the girl's query. None of the other apprentices she had worked with before had ever asked her about simple brainstorming before. Usually they asked her question upon question trying to get her to just give them the answer. "Yes, you may try that. If you come up with an answer on your own, try it. If it doesn't work, you can continue your discussion. For every time you actually try something, I will give you a hint as to why it didn't work. I think that is fair."
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:40 pm
Ky glares harshly at the woman for her sudden bout of sarcasm, unaccustomed to speaking to someone that wasn't in either the order or the Iron Fist. He sighs and straightens up, removing his hand from the guard of his sword. "I thank you for the information that you could provide. I am merely gathering as many points of view as possible. For you can not truly say that you see an entire mountain when you are only looking at it from one side."He looks around him and wonders how he managed to have himself surrounded by three strange women within an hours time.
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Posted: Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:47 pm
 A beautiful roaring scream, of joy and sorrow so extreme...
Talise shifted her weight faintly in the moment of silence that followed Ky's brief interrogation of this new person. She wondered why she had not received similar treatment when she first arrived, or why the paler girl who was a bit faint wasn't either. Perhaps the young man did have some rough guess when people were lying, he was just more susceptible to women who bat their eyes at him instead of make jovial conversation. A smile formed upon her lips at the thought.
"I'm Tali." She tells the new woman. "Pleasure to meet you." She looks to Ky now. "So what is the plan, boss?"
There is a love in me raging. A joyous, magical feeling...
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