Rising Storm, page 114
After all the matrons had entered and taken their seats, Mayfair stood up to take the floor, "As we all know, the Krill Item festival is approaching," Munroe began, "most everything will run as it always has. I will begin the festival with the high sacrifice," pride in her tone as she said it. A privilege only the first house and unofficial avalanches had. Despite the oldest house of the city being the 15th house.
The older matron continued with explaining the basics things of the eight days, even how Relate would join the parade with their powerful songs. Eventually the topic became very serious. "Crystallographer's is planning to strike on the first day. Our Red Sisters have found at least 10 of their leading spies. We have removed half already," a sly glance to Large, "we have markers on 4 more. Leaving one out of sights and still unknown."
"How do you know this?" Matron Amelia asked, leaning on one elbow casually, "they have not tried anything so bold since their last big blow."
As if seeming to coalesce out of the very shadows themselves, five drowses, dressed in the brightest red armor appeared behind Matron Munroe, the Red Sisters.
NASA, Mercury's second daughter, stepped forward tossing her hood back from her face to explain, "Crystallographer's has suffered a great defeat. And due to uprising among their low class and pressure from Curvature they are trying to weaken us and strengthen their own with our supplies and weapons."
"Why haven't we taken advantage of this?" Matron Moravian asked, "why not rid of them now when there are weak?"
"Curvature is our ally as long as we stay out of it at the moment. But we are taking advantage of it," NASA smirked, "my sister's have been very busy. In fact a shipment should arrive in the course of the next day as proof."
Matron Moravian not quite convinced, "since when do we care about being so secretive? I say we take them now while their vulnerable."
Matron Amelia, Matron Louver, and surprisingly, Relevant agreed. Rarely did the males speak at a council meeting. They were not equals, even if their guild put them on the council. Shanty remained quiet thinking over the seniors, Large knowing already what was planned by the first matron quiet. Shellfish, secretly one of the Illustrative rebels always remained quiet. Though she did notice Large often throwing a snide or cocky grin her way.
"Despite their current weaknesses, they are just as much of a stronghold as is our own city. With only one entrance and no watt to telephoto in, it leaves all our forces in the one tunnel and vulnerable to being wiped out."
"Then what good is your little band there?" Matron Moravian spat out slightly irritated.
NASA smirked again as she explained. After settling the Crystallographer's issue, Matron Munroe returned the meeting back to the Krill Item festival and the spies plans.
"Stubborn acid?" Shanty asked, curious, "they do nothing more than create small divots."
NASA, the most learned of the new alchemical item spoke for her mother, "Normally. They have managed to make what they call stonier bombs, amplified stubborn acid."
"Why not steal it and use it against them? That seams simple enough," Matron Moravian again spoke up.
The first matron was slowly becoming irritated with the fourth house matron, but manage to keep her calm very well, "do you not think we haven't tried?" the annoyance still edging her voice, "we cannot seam to get it to work. My own son has been studying it for the last few years and has yet to get it."
Matron Shanty wanted to blurt her thought, but was wise to contain them; best to keep this meeting non-volatile. She would speak with her second daughter about getting her hands on it for her own wizard to study. The other matrons and had similar thought as each was quietly thinking.
Nearly three hours the council went finishing the details needed to be covered before everyone was released, except Large and the Red Sisters. The Mayfair matron gathered the assassins for private talk after all had exited the chamber.
Arch-Tiling- priestess school
Valences lethality Validness's Nightmare- Royal Door Security Institute
"Who has to escort us?" Zaire asked fully stretched and folded in half, fingers well beyond the end of her toes, "we are allowed to join in the festival at the first hour," reminding the weapon-master again.
Inline was on his hands and head, body bent backwards. Aurally above him maneuvering the boy into a harder position. He didn't answer the girl, his way of telling her to focus on the task at hand. Then he released Inline to return back upright, using his hands to push himself upward.
"We only need accompaniment to the fireworks show considering that the parade will have the family in it," Inline offered after the weapon-master dismissed them for lunch. Both were considerably hungry, growling stomachs affirming it. He knew already that his sister planned to sneak away, and bring him along.
"Wait," Inline shoved Zaire back before she could open the door, "let's make sure Nunnery's not there. Its been awhile so I know he's probably up to something."
"I am more concerned about Murray currently."
"That's all on you. You let her live."
Zaire couldn't argue against it. If she had killed her sister when she had the chance, she wouldn't need to be so cautious and watching her back and every step. 'enemies don't always stay dead, but they do stay enemies,' she mumbled to herself. Wishing again she hadn't seen Beaver's face that moment. All her problems with the sister would have been done and taken care of. 'ugh, I'm an idiot.'
Inline checked quickly, motioning that it was 'safe'. A quick lunch and small errands, both were back inside the gym. Inline moved to the bar and Zaire was directed to the 6 inch wide beam that stood 4 feet off the floor. After falling off the first several tries and new instruction from the weapon-master, Zaire was able to keep her balance and perform the some movements.
"Alright, same time tomorrow!" Aurally ended the session.
"But the parade and the ceremony and…" Zaire started only to be interrupted by Railway's upheld hand.
"I suggest you use your time wiser and perhaps not wonder around so late."
Zaire wisely shut up after a nudge from her brother. Dismissed they headed to the dining hall for another quick meal before another soak in hot water. An hour later Inline knocked on Sera's door to her barely skimming over the tomes she was suppose to be studying. She quickly closed it after he entered, the magic in the air fizzing out.
"I got something for you…" he sang, hand behind his back.
When she hopped up to get behind him he turned keeping her from looking. Finally she stopped and crossed her arms, her foot tapping with impatience. From behind his back he pulled forth a small glass vial with a whitish cream like gel within.
"Dye? You want me to dye my stupid hair?" irritated that he of all people would remind her of this flaw, "next you guan tell me to change my eyes?" unable to hide the deep hurt as her eyes changed colors slightly.
He rolled his eyes and opened the lid. The stuff smelt of chemicals and herbs, nothing like dye. Inline closed it back and handed to her, watching as her eyes slowly changed back, a knowing grin forming.
"I thought you might like to really mess with Murray," Inline began.
"How? Choke her death with its stench? Actually, not too bad an idea..."
"yeah, I'm not that good at crafting yet. No it a reversal of hair growth. Place it in her shampoo and it should cause her hair to fall out by eating it away."
"Then we got to do this now if its to work before the parade," pulling the door closed. Zaire then hurried over to grab her FWIW and new boots, along with anything she had to aid in her stealth. "Here, put this on," handing him a jar of Shadow Dye as she dug through her chest for something.
"You guan try to elicit my help in this? I rather keep my head, thank you very much."
"I'm guan need a look out," she replied standing up to speak, then return back to hunting, "and you know you want to be apart of this."
"How do you even intend to get in?" Inline asked finally giving in, opening the jar and rubbing it over any exposed skin.
"I tried to bribe Maurer's slave, but that didn't work last time I tried something. So I sorts made a deal with Summarizes, and well…" closing the trunk and shoving a few items into her pouch and one inside her pocket. Then she slid her bracers on and worked the buckles on them and her boots.
Inline rubbed his forehead and shook his head at Zaire, "you know that is not going to end well for you. What did he want in return?"
Zaire sighed, slowed in her dressing looking down at her feet trying to avoid eye-contact; then after a long moment looked at Inline, "I'd rather not speak of it," changing the subject quickly, "we're losing time anyway."
Inline studied her face a moment then gave in again, following after her as she bounded down the hall towards the stairs. Up on the third floor she tip-toed towards Maurer's room. The two timed it very well with Murray at supper. She kept her routine rather constant, and the twins could almost guarantee that's where she was. Signing for him to keep an eye out, she pulled out the small object. Unfolding it, she set it on the wall. A few seconds later a passage into the sister's room was available. Zaire slipped in and into the priestess' washroom. A room considerably larger than Sera's own. Steam rolled off the water and filled the room. After supper the priestess had a hot bath. Which worked perfect for the girl. The cabinet was locked, but with her lockups it was open in a matter of seconds. The right vials found, she dumped some in each shampoo and closed the lids, shaking them up before putting it back. Pulling forth another two vial, she opened the body soap and poured it into the tub. Adding some magical oil first, Zaire snickered as she added the pale amber gel- sovereign glue. The objects were replaced to their homes and the cabinet was locked. Last thing she intended was to mess with Maurer's relaxing bath salts. A bag, one she stole from the lab of course, came from her pouch. She poured the salt like powder into the salt box. "there. That should bring her misery for the rest of the day," she said to herself before running across the carpeted room and back out the The magical hole. Zaire folded up portable hole and placed it in a pocket.
"Alright. It's done. We better go now," she whispered.
Neither needed another reminder as they headed back down the stairs cloaked in stealth. Murray just entered the stairwell as they bounded down the hall to their rooms, both entering Aniline's and closing the door.
Inside the bedroom, the twins looked at each other then busted out laughing. When they managed to slow enough to talk, Inline asked, "you took longer," taking a breath and calming down, "what else did you do?"
Zaire likewise took a breath her laughing fit done, "added glue to her body soap and freeze powder to her salts."
Inline mouths a 'wow' before a congratulatory smack on the back. He turned his attention to Baklava's, checking his water before hopping up onto his bed.
"about how long you think we got till Ladybird comes in?" Inline pulling a tome over onto his lap.
Zaire hopped up on his desk, scooting papers and two vials of ink over. She lifted the second one, to check it out, "goblin ink?" she asked before returning it to the desk, "anyway, not long enough to do any more damage but long enough to be boring."
"What I figured," opening his tome to study.
Xix
Marina held Valerian tightly for as long as she could. He would be gone for a long time. Too long in her mind, but she understood it, even if she didn't like it. Valerian hooked the FWIW as he returned her embrace. The two stood for a long moment before he broke her grip.
"Here," handing her his lute, "apart from our Binding necklace, it's the most important thing I own. If...I…" Trying to speak the words neither wanted to hear.
As she took old of it with one hand, Marina finger went to his lips to not speak the next sentence he was thinking, "none of that. You will return, and you will play me that song you are learning. Got it?"
He smiled as he took her hand and kissed it softly. Setting the lute on the bed she pulled his arm and again embraced him as if it would be the last time she saw him. Tears started to well in her eyes to be blinked away just as quickly. Finally she released him, both walking hand in hand into the house chapel.
Sell greeted Valerian as he stepped inside, a hand going to his shoulder for encouragement. She then laid a hand on Marina's, "things will work to the Lady's will. You will see." The drowses pulled out the last things Valerian needed for his disguise, including the original document from the bathhouse. "You still have that ring. And those necklaces, they connect you in more than one way. If one of you are serious injured, she can feel it. It will also allow short messages once a day, too use that sparingly."
Marina held up the necklace, interlocking it with Ballerinas as Sell said a blessing for Valerian. Ready to go, he headed out the gates wrapped tightly in his FWIW and in the direction of Drywall. Periodically he paused to look back, making sure none followed, then turned down a few alleys, a long way to the inn. Reaching the busy place, he slipped unnoticed inside and waited.
Xix
Murray strode confidently into her washroom, her slave behind her to take off the robes of her mistress. The priestess then carefully and slowly eased down into the hot water, contentment on her face. The slave, knowing what she was suppose to do, walked over to the cabinet and pulled out the body soap and shampoo. Setting them on the side, the slave eased down to sit on the edge of the bath's side legs in the water. The salt were set by the tub to be poured in after the scrubbing. Murray moved to sit before the slave, as the woman opened the first vial and poured into her hands. It sudden up like normal, the mixture scrubbed all through the priestess' hair, then molded up to sit atop her head as the slave next opened up the body soap and poured it onto the priestess.
That's when things went totally wrong, for both women.
As the viscous amber liquid touched her skin, Murray knew something was wrong. She ducked underwater to get it off her skin before it was permanent, hands viciously scrubbing. Underwater she noticed hair floating around her, more gathering as she moved. Up from the water to take a breath, more hair fell in. The slave stood dumbfounded as her mistress' hair fell out in chunks before her now fearful eyes. A deafening shrill scream filled the room as Murray realized what was happening. Hands went around the slaves throat as she pulled her down into the water, not caring how bad she got scraped up on the stone. All she thought of in that moment was death. The slave struggled, her hands pulling at Maurer's but unable to break the grasp.
"GE…solvent" barely able to speak as the death grip around her throat tightened. Murray, now with large patched of her hair gone and covered in magical glue released, her burning eyes telling her slave just what to do. The slave took in deep breaths, but didn't hesitate long before she was running out to find what she needed. Knocking the salt into the water. Around her the water froze Murray let out another shrill scream and threats of painful death.
"She will die!"
Xix
Lady Relate slid the awful purple robes on over her lean form. The robes from when she herself was just a priestess in the Academy. How much she hated these type of days. As she dressed she tried to focus on why she must do this asking for strength to get through- all for the sake of the house. For the Krill Item festival she had to appear as Matron Relate, show up at the parade and the sacrificial ceremony. All matron mothers and guild leaders were required inside the temple for that. To not do so would invite suspicion.
Lillian entered also dressed in her disguise, "mother…or, um, Allergies," she corrected for practice, "are you ready?"
A very beautiful and unique necklace of platinum, pendent a circle with interlocking triple spirals, the center set with a diamond was placed around her neck, as Relate sighed turning to face her daughter; Lady Relate was saddened as she looked at her daughter in those robes then to herself. She grabbed Lillian hand and squeezed softly before heading out to the drift disk waiting in the courtyard of the house.
Eva waited, cloaked in a dark FWIW, stood by the float disk next to a few of the house guards. When Lady Relate, now dressed as Matron Relate approached, Eva took her hands and whispered a short prayer before letting the drowses head off down towards the city temple.
"May the Dark Maiden watch over you," she whispered before turning back inside.
The light blue float disk traveled down the streets, people moving from its path as her daughter marched beside. Up in the Broken, Lady Relate saw the procession of the nobles heading down across the bridge and into the marketplace. The first in line Maverick's house with Matron Munroe in front on her grandiose float disk; her most elaborate and formal robes in the house color were shining brilliantly with powerful magic auras. Around her was her her many children, NASA in her Red Sister uniform, her first daughter in her Laterally robes, her archaize son likewise in his Leprechaun's robes. Each house in order of rank followed suit, matron in front surrounded by her children and consorts at the end. After the top five families was the other noble houses, matron's only in the parade; there children already down at the temple. Relate members walked around the processional, their magical songs filing the air with powerful energy and light displays. Shellfish lead the baksheesh's songs and sustained the powerful magic.
Lady Relate lead the floating disk up to the city temple were other non-noble matrons had gathered. Stepping off gracefully, she dismissed the spell and adjusted her disguise. Breathing in a deep breath she steadied herself as she looked up to the large looming carved spider above the door. Its red sapphire eight eyes alight from the reflection of faerie fire that filled the city. It peered down almost as to read one's soul with foreboding doom on any heretic daring to step into the unholy place. All that stood between her and a torturous death was the Dark Maiden's power to protect her high priestesses.
