Her Majesty's Court

I have woken up in a cold sweat again, Journal. As much as our cabins on the airship have begun to feel like an airborne “home,” I have also grown accustomed to this. Waking up in a place that has to settle around me like a drawing curtain before I can make out a familiar wrinkle or feature that tells me where I laid down my head at the beginning of this night. It came back to me in sluggish slips of memory that we are now in a room at a prince’s house, deep under the mountain in the city of the Klar clan: Tran. I always double check my work Journal and you know that to be fact, but I can understand that you might feel some hesitation to believe me when I say that we are with a large group of Klar; it is truth. And Laina? Well. I have, as per usual, laid the groundwork for the story to unfold. Let us begin again. There will be no going back to sleep for me until the words have flown out of my head to the page once more.
 
After Bo and I returned to the airship via graceful and elegant flight, she had to prise my arms from around her neck because they had grown so stiff and cold, locked in the terrifying effort of not plunging to my doom. How I wish I could think of a better way to hang on than just to dangle by my arms from her broad shoulders; surely if there were an easier way, it would be intuitive, so there must not be. Oh well. At least my legs, useless in the flight, are rested and ready for the next thing. Raas’ reappearance was a surprise to the rest of CotBT, so Bo and I sailed breezily through an explanation of his accompaniment on the next leg of our trip. She spent more time with her boots and I watched her proudly as she clicked her heels like she had been born to do it. I heard Myza muttering something about how unnecessary the heel click was to actually WORK the boots…but when you look that natural doing something, how can that activity be denied? Answer, it shall not be.
 
ANYway, we re-mapped back to our original intentions for the trip in the mountains, which was to find the undermountain dwarves and give them a heads up about the copper dragon wing. Is it silly to ask a group who lives UNDER something a heads UP? I guess call us silly, because that is our intention. Myza expertly navigated as we all split up to pass the days in our various occupations. The first day was vastly interesting, because it is always fascinating to watch how new members of a group can influence the whole’s habits, and what habits are unexpected from any newcomers. For example, based on her physique, I would have bet Xavier’s life on the fact that Kravana spent a good part of her days exercising, doing challenges, or going through battle forms like Madlyn and Bo. I was wrong; she likes to meditate. Like, a lot. She sits on the prow of the airship, right where the edges curve into a point; her torso is long enough that her head rises above the edge of the rail that edges the ship. I cannot help but wonder what thoughts occupy her mind as she sits at the precipice of the world like that, always on the edge of diving forward into the unknown.
 
On the first day of her residence in this position, Kaylan looked peculiarly at me and squared her small shoulders as she marched up to continue her meditation practice right NEXT to Kravana, bless her! I think Kaylan has such a unique perspective on second chances in this life and she knows why I fought so hard to give Kravana hers. My morality series with Kravana just moved from the black and white to the mystical and fantasical world of grays; that’s a world Kaylan and I live in constantly, for good or for ill. My sister and I believe that the sum of a person’s life is both the choices they make and the choices they are given. Plus more, but I digress again. Long story short, Kaylan’s profound love of colors does not discount the beauty of gray. Like Kravana’s skin.
 
Never to leave my sister on her own, I got up from my own perch on the deck where I had been making notes in my spellbook to sit my customary 10ft from Kaylan in case something should happen or she should need me. To my surprise, I looked to my left and just ahead of me was Madlyn taking firm, determined strides to also join Kravana and Kaylan. The thin line of her mouth made me pause mid-stride with a leap of my soul for Kaylan’s sake–was it jealousy, Journal? I have replayed the moment a thousand and more times in my head and I cannot say for sure what it was, and what my own wishful thinking has created. I DO know that Madlyn’s eyes drifted to Kravana’s midsection and an odd light of satisfaction livened her eyes…I’ll have to ask her about it later, find a tactful way to get this piece of information about feelings from our indomitable and discipline-driven leader.
 
As we settled into our positions, I made sure to face away from the group at the prow; the very last thing I needed was to have any distractions while I was making important spell notations, perfecting what I can in my casting methods. I can’t help it if they were talking so loudly that Grandpa Mary in the afterlife could probably hear them. Or if my hearing is particularly tuned for my sister’s voice. My quill paused again and again as I laughed quietly to myself, listening to Kaylan attempt to talk to the stone wall that Kravana can be. She fired question after question at her and with all attempts to draw her out, she met with a grunt from her prey. Thoughtfully and like only Kaylan can, she pivoted quickly to another method of friendship building and asked to share about her family. I covered my nose with my hand to hide my snort when Kravana’s reply drifted back to me on the wind: “Well, I can’t stop you.” Knowing that Kaylan would be nonplussed and continue cheerfully on, I allowed myself the flash of amusement. Sure enough, Kaylan began to talk in really the most embarrassingly beautiful ways about ME, of all things. I hope she didn’t hear my snort of laughter turn into sniffles as a small tear snaked down my cheek, listening to the way my sister sees me. We should never wait until the end of life or when times are tough to hold up the mirrors we build for our friends; I am the most fortunate to have Kaylan to always be showing me the person I most want to be. Oh, and I must say, I am also grateful to Madlyn for the levity of her commentary on my strength–when she had an incredulous outburst about how “strong” I am, I was able to look ruefully at my puny little bicep and have a nice laugh about how right she is. The sting of the comment did not pierce me, as I know what kind of strength Kaylan was talking about; a gray kind of strength, where Madlyn’s strength is a gorgeously defined black and white. Kaylan ended her monologue to Kravana about my attributes with a happy little veiled threat about not “hurting” me. I felt my cheeks flush; how could Kravana hurt me? What does Kaylan mean? It has to be physically, and Kravana could most certainly do that. She didn’t seem confused about what Kaylan was saying, only grunting in response. Those grunts don’t mean much to anyone, but I kind of like how simple she is; like a warm country day in Lemish, nothing in your way for the day but a trip in the sun to the market for more bananas and reading books in the soft grass in the afternoon.
 
Kaylan lapsed into silence for a few moments, but I could hear her breathing devolve into bored sighs; with final huff of satisfaction at her successful “meditation session,” I heard her stand up and begin to skip away to her next activity. As she passed by me, I caught her hand with a lump in my throat and squeezed it, giving her as big a smile as I could command. What a sweet light my sister is.
 
As for the rest of the group in our travels, Raas split time between giving flight lessons to Bo in her new boots with Thestral calling out some complicated aerial maneuvers as well (maybe the next time I hitch a ride, it will be more smooth than a plunge to the near death through the skies) and giving archery lessons to Zy. Zy seems to have a fascination with his plumage, but it could be just professional interest given their common hobby. I still find it hard to read Zy, sometimes. Laina trained with Bo and Madlyn and spent more time in quiet thought than I would have expected, given that she usually has a critter or one of us with her; I think I can understand, though. Her thoughts had to be heavy with the task we were about to do, especially considering what seems to be a tortured past with dwarven clans. I really hope that whatever we do, she finds some closure with the ancestors, peers, and progeny of her fellow dwarves. I found excuses not to train with Madlyn (YES OKAY I am finally admitting to some good old-fashioned avoidance) and continued to mark my spellbook with updates, and in between my own studies I found topics that might interest Kravana in ongoing lecture series. The others seem to think it is a punishment for her, but I swear every once in a while I can see a sign of life in those depthless eyes. The eloquence of her grunting never ceases.
 
A ways into our journey, we were all on deck in our various pursuits when I saw Kaylan march determinedly up to Madlyn. I was upwind and Kaylan’s back was to me, but I saw the hands behind that back twisting and gripping tightly in the way they only do when she has mischief afoot. Madlyn’s face was an almost comical tableau of expressions–for all her training, she sure does have an expressive face. From polite interest, to confusion and incredulity, to the savage light of competition (Kaylan…challenged her to something? What on earth?) I watched her face change. Curiosity got the best of me and I began to meander slowly toward them just in time to hear Madlyn say, “Yes, yes. It’s a date, today is indeed a date, and tonight will be the time.” Kaylan’s clenched fingers trembled, then shot straight into a small clap behind her back and I felt a grin tug the corners of my mouth. YES, finally!! Kaylan turned to me and practically floated away from the conversation with a beautiful, blooming expression on her face. She had to whip around and make a hilarious series of silent miming motions at Bo NOT to accept Madlyn’s invitation to learn a new form of “fighting” (really, Kaylan? I guess she knows how to capture Madlyn’s interest, well done and I hope you’ve truly thought about how to maintain her interest). Bo, to her credit, took the hint and muttered something about needing to feed Steve, which prompted an interesting conversation with her and Raas about the purpose of a horse.
 
Not wanting to interrupt but wanting desperately to assist Kaylan in making a magical evening, I hatched a scheme with Bo to float underneath the side of the airship with her flying boots so we could make some extra magic not already supplied by moonlight. I cast the most colorful dancing lights I could muster, and Bo and I warbled out a lovely tune we made up on the spot with great cleverness, I would like to believe. We could not see what happened, but we took the cue that we could rejoin the deck crew when we heard a creak from the front of the ship indicating that Kravana (forgot she was up there) was making her way down to her berth on the ship. A look at Kaylan’s glowing eyes told me that the night was at least something of a success, and my happiness swelled with hers. Again, I promised the gods a portion of my soul should they wise up and grant Kaylan a happy ending in this life. Is that something people do? Offer up a portion of their soul in exchange for something? Who knows, but I’d do it for her.
 
The very next day brought us to our first dwarven destination, the undercity known as Tran! It had the kind of entrance that we only knew how to find because we…knew how to find it. I’m so glad I’m not in charge of navigation because I confess that all of these rocks and crags look the same to me. We parked the airship high above, set Raas on scouting patrol and left Myza at the helm, and descended to find guards who were giving no quarter at all. They were quite stubborn, but I felt confident as Madlyn stepped forward that we were going to be alright. She argued brilliantly, making all of us proud yet again that she was our leader and could be so persuasive. However, the dwarves had faces as though made of stone. They could not be persuaded and eyed our admittedly odd party with obvious suspicion. Madlyn’s arguments became increasingly more frustrated with their clear lack of reason, until finally she demanded that leadership be brought to us if we could not gain access to their city–but then, to our collective shock, Laina stepped forward.
 
She pulled out her necklace with the odd dwarven markings signifying her clan, I believe? The dwarves' faces registered surprise when they saw that the markings matched their own. I felt my own surprise dawn on me then–were they all Klar, here? This was good, right? Well, it was good until they asked her who she had stolen the emblem from. Laina, with more authority in her voice than I have ever heard before, named her parents…and the guards looked unsure for the first time in this entire conversation. How could two names mean more in this conversation than Madlyn’s entire well-spoken argument? What was going ON? Our awe reached its pinnacle when the guards finished a quick hushed conference and straightened up, stepped aside, and BOWED us in. HEH?? I stared at the side of Laina’s slowly reddening face before I couldn’t take it any longer and blurted out, “Hey, uhhh…how important are you exactly, in the Klar clan?”
 
She heaved a dramatic sigh and finally, FINally, gave us some insight. Apparently, she is not only royalty (like a duchess or something), but a PRINcess. A princess of the Klar! We have been traveling with her all this time and she never put on airs or acted any differently than our own Laina. I cannot help but admire that kind of behavior fiercely, and am so proud of her–proud enough that I cannot stop giving her back this title I now believe she so richly deserves, Princess. She is presumably uncomfortable, but if I let signs of discomfort stop me from interacting with people, I would never have another conversation again. It’s just a curse I was born with to cause that emotion in people. Probably hereditary. Oh, speaking of hereditary, Laina is not just a princess, but THE princess, the next in line of the succession in the dwarf clan. When her grandfather passes on, all the sons and daughters he once had are gone; she is the oldest grandchild. All of that said, Laina said she didn’t even know this place existed, an entire faction of the exiled Klar clan. Wow, it’s a lot to take in. Madlyn not only takes it all in stride, but actually manages to soak up some of the glory like it’s the water she drinks as we follow Laina through the bowing guard line and deep into the mountain. I’m so happy we have Madlyn to confidently show us how to behave in these different scenarios! I learn from her all the time.
 
We descend deeper and deeper into the mountain and my awe does not diminish; it starts with Laina’s admission and flows seamlessly into awe for the structure of the place we are entering. What a truly marvelous feat to have carved anything at all into the unyielding innards of a mountain, but to do this? The dwarves have always had my respect thanks to Laina and the way she conducts herself, but a newfound respect for the dwarves for their own sakes is taking over as well. Any group able to make something so lasting and beautiful has to be a group who invests heavily into their passions. I sneak a quick glance to Kravana to see how she is taking this in after our lessons; her face is still a mask, hiding any potential reactions to the world around her.
 
We were led to the Hall of Ancestors, where guards aplenty blocked the way stoically and could not be persuaded to let us pass to talk to the leadership. Thankfully, there was plenty to look at as the crew tried to talk through the next steps in our strategy. A large hall with intricate, very life-like statues lining its walls was adjacent to the room with the closed doors. In the center of the room was a statue of the current leader, which I remembered with a jolt was Laina’s grandfather. I studied him closely, looking for the family resemblance. Maybe a little bit of the stylish mustache?
 
I walked around with my hands behind my back so I would avoid my nasty habit of wanting to touch things. I read somewhere that a memory of a place is solidified further by the use of many senses–touch, taste, smell, sound, etc. My mind drifts wantonly as this thought crosses my mind…but I wrench myself back with an effort and heard the final words of the conversation with the guard. Laina was passing along a message to be given to her grandfather in stead of being able to actually SEE him right now. I eyed the guard, completely unconvinced that he would actually be passing along the information, and remembered my Magic Mouth spell! Hooray, what a great idea–I could probably configure it to trigger the same message to anyone who passes the statue, and you know what they say about a rumor–the more people know the further it’ll go! I nudged Kaylan to step in front of me, which she adroitly did, but as I began the complex wiggle of my hand, I caught Laina’s panicked eyes and she mouthed very clearly “NO.” My first command from a known princess, I guess I’d better heed it! I quickly hiked my spellbook back into my sleeve and turned around casually, tripped over my gown, and realized how many guards were also beHIND me. Oops. Good call, Princess.
 
We got some information on a local inn called the Forged Fires and headed toward the place. All of us had our heads on a swivel as we traipsed through our first dwarven town. There were smithies and the sounds of forging everywhere! I guess common hobbies aren’t a problem around here. Bo’s countenance radiated pure joy, her stride getting more strut-like with every sound of hammer on anvil. The smell of melting ore filled the air and cheerful shouts were heard from all quarters…except when it came to people looking at us, that is. Travelers must not be common, because it was like everyone saw us but nobody saw us. We were noticed, given the once-over, and then promptly ignored. I glanced at Laina to see if this wounded her, but her face was unreadable as we trekked through this group of people that she belonged in, in another life with different circumstances.
 
When we got to the tavern, Madlyn did her thing and secured us some rooms and some food. She glanced around our group as she prepared to order one or two goats, with Bo wildly gesticulating that two was definitely better and then pointing to Thestral as though HE were going to be the one to eat the majority. Madlyn agreed and let the bartender know; he raised his eyebrows to his hairline, but gave the order anyway with a clap of his hands. Too late, we remembered that the animals of the mountains were definitely a different size than where we came from; they pushed 8 tables together and still the wood creaked and groaned as it accepted the weight of two gigantic goats. I swear I heard Kravana snort a little bit. On the bright side, we gave Thestral and Bo one of the goats and were able to feed the rest of the tavern with the other one! And the bartender clearly believes us about Laina being a princess, he swept into a courtly bow. Finally, someone around here appreciates her! The meal was full of the merriment that only ale and free food to most of the room can bring. I wandered lazily with a full stomach and an ale clutched in my hand through the crowd, dreamily imagining the library that might be in a town like this. I drifted through the crowd, letting my hand skim past tunics and skin like a child running down a fence line and delighting in the “thwack” sound her hand made as it high the posts. At one point, I panicked when I couldn’t find Thestral–but I should have known when I saw the side of one of the goats move on its own. Peering into the carcass, I saw Thestral with the biggest belly I’d even seen him have, happily snoring. I gave his belly a little pat and continued my rounds. A giggle bloomed into a full-bellied laugh when I heard Madlyn give someone her titles, but added “daddy” at the end of it. Since when? My left ear felt like it was burning as my laughter finally subsided, and I turned to catch Kravana watching me. Quickly, I looked away. The room really was becoming too warm for comfort, wasn’t it? Maybe I should open a window.
 
Eventually, the door opened and a sort of hush fell over the crowd. Due to ale and high spirits, the noise quickly filled back in, but the crowd deferentially parted for the newcomer that had accompanied that opening door. He scanned the group, eyes lighting first on the tallest of us–Kravana–and quickly moving to Laina thereafter. His face took on a soft smile of recognition and he (along with the rest of our crew when we noticed) began making his way toward her.
 
He was her cousin! Norduc was his name. Laina happily greeted him and told him of our plans. He very generously eschewed our current plan for sleeping quarters and invited us to his personal quarters. We accepted and trudged again through the town; he had a carriage, but we decided to walk off some of the ale and the goat. For two hours. I think my calf muscles are finally coming in! What a nice surprise.
 
Norduc had the most beautiful home I’d ever seen for one person (well, and I guess his array of house staff). He offered us everything from his bedrooms to his cellars of alcohol to the pantry of food to the basement, where he had hot springs. A quick glance among us had us nearly immediately choosing the hot springs! Of course. What better place to have a relaxing and still vaguely tipsy discussion about the fate of the world as we knew it? And Norduc might be our best resource for reaching Laina’s grandfather (and his too, I guess). I found myself being very glad that neither he nor Laina seemed greedy for the throne, since after Laina, he is in line for succession. Her presence here had to be somewhat complicating for him, but if it was, he did not show it. Maybe I need to take some lessons from him about a good poker face, though I have Kravana for that. She never changes expression.
 
As we descended to the hot springs cave, a confusion of decisions slowed my step. To the left, a set of screens was present for discretion in changing into…what? Are we to dip into the springs in our undergarments, or fully clothed like some of the other pools we have found? What’s the protocol here? I began hesitantly walking for the screens, looking over my shoulder to see what the rest of the group was doing–and felt my jaw drop. Madlyn and Kravana had basically walked out of their armor and clothing and were wearing absolutely nothing. Stifling the half-hysteric giggle bubbling up my throat at the look on Kaylan’s face as she wildly averted her gaze from Madlyn striding toward the suds sans anything on her body, I studiously avoided looking everywhere but at the rippling muscles and leonine, unbroken stride that was Kravana also heading for the suds. Breathing in as deeply as I could through my nose to clear my still ale-ridden thoughts, I quietly ducked behind the screen and shyly stripped down to nothing, donning a towel before stepping back out from behind the screen. I squeezed my knobbly knees together as I quickly headed for the edge of the pool, hoping no one was looking at my abject lack of muscles. Not looking at anyone, I sat on the edge of the pool still in my towel and felt a small groan escape me at the sheer pleasure of the heated water lapping at my legs. Less caring what anyone else thought anymore at the need to put my whole body into this pool, I leaned my torso back and slithered out of the towel and into the pure bliss of the hot water. With the layer of pool foam now covering anything I would hope to keep unseen, I relaxed fully and let the immersion soothe my aching body, stripping away weeks of travel pains. This was WONderful.
 
The other wonderful thing about being here was that Laina and Madlyn could handle many of the diplomatic chats. They were the ones who knew most about this culture and being good at talking, so I could speak when spoken to. I listened carefully to the first part of the conversation, which was fascinating because we learned that in our Arm and Hammer quest, at least the Arm was kept by the Klar here. Less fascinating and more terrifying was learning that the Klar were exiled in the first place over these very items and not sharing them. This clearly complicates relations with the other clans if they were to speak up and say they had found the Arm; they would be accused of doing the same thing their ancestors did. With a fierce flash of protectiveness toward our princess, I absorbed the information that Norduc’s parents and Laina’s mom were killed in the “skirmish” over this exact thing. How tragic, and so very sad. The Hammer, per Norduc, is unreachable right now. He stated that they had found its location and had sent ever larger scouting/retrieval parties to get it back, but that all parties had met with doom and demise. The remaining survivors had managed to communicate that it was “shadow” that had killed the ones bold enough to attempt its removal. Curioser and curioser, but maybe this is our “in” with the other clans! Retrieving the Hammer and reuniting the Arm and Hammer’s power once more, drawing up a contract for its equal sharing among all the clans…I stopped listening as the sweet heat’s flush over my whole body soothed me into a somewhat soporific state. I floated dreamily, letting the pleasant bubbles from the bottom of the rock float up underneath me, carrying me where they would, Zy’s voice in the background asking for a slab of rock…drifting, eyes closed, feeling the scrape of hard rock underneath me periodically as I settled into the most comfortable spot I’d found yet in the pools…
 
“Hey, you look like you’re book smart!” Norduc’s louder voice brought me immediately to attention from my half-sleeping state and I sat up with a startled splash. As I shoved upward from the edge of the pool with my elbow, I heard a mildly pained grunt–and whipped my head around to discover that I was literally in the most mortifying position of my life to date–and that’s SAYing something. I was in. Kravana’s. LAP. How could I have mistaken her physique for the rocky side of the pool? In a confused tangle of limbs, I extricated myself and mumbled some sort of answer to the question he posed, I honestly can’t even remember what it was. Journal, it is definitely safe to say that I avoided ALL eye contact for a good long while after that. And stayed very, very alert.
 
ANYway. We finished up the conversation down in the hot springs with the disappointing knowledge that Grandpa Klar knew about the Takhisis threat, and had know about it for some time. He was unwilling to put more Klar lives on the line, though; I guess, who could blame him? From his stance, he would be putting his beloved people at risk for what reward? Ongoing exile from the other clans and potential friendly fire, the actual enemy, and loss of resources and the comfort this town obviously enjoys. Where is the upside for someone like him? I guess that is what Laina will have to help him decide tomorrow, at the council she will attend.
 
We all hop out of the hot springs in our predictable ways and head off in different directions for our next few hours. Kaylan wanted to find some apothecary’s, and though I would happily have accompanied her as I always do, Madlyn volunteered before anyone else could and I thought maybe some time to themselves would be nice in this relatively safe town. Especially after the airship night and the springs. Bo and Zy when to a forge, so Bo could be in her happy place and Zy could keep an eye on her–I am about as useful in a forge situation as a wet candle. So I accompanied Laina and her cousin to dinner, and Thestral joined us as well because–well–food. Kravana stayed in the hot springs, I think. I don’t know. I don’t keep track of her every move, okay? I have enough in my OWN life and of my OWN problems to keep track of. Am I thinking too loudly? ANYway.
 
I got the chance to ask Norduc a little about magic wielding in this place, and he said that dwarves less wield magic than wield runes, in the common folk. They use them to perfect their craftsmanship. It sounded absolutely fascinating, but he told me flatly that it was not open to outsiders to see and that I would not likely find it actually as fascinating as I thought–and there was no library. So, truly, my trip here is runed. HAHA just kidding Journal, I’m having a great time! Had to get the rune joke in there, did you see it? Who says intellectuals can’t be funny? The magic wielders are all in the actual council that Laina will be attending tomorrow. I tried to bluster my way into an invitation to this council because I’m very worried for our princess, but met with iron resistance. Sigh. I’ll just have to help her braid her hair perfectly and dress well before she goes. She looks nervous, but I know she is more than equal to this task. She and Norduc chat away happily about old times and good times, how the council will go, etc. I watch as Thestral continues to live his best life in this place and fills his belly on the delicious stew we were served right away; it pays to be with the prince and princess of this place. We brought a whole cauldron back for the rest of the crew, to Bo’s delight; she worked up a sweat in that forge! I can’t wait to get a minute alone with Kaylan to see what she learned in the apothecary shop as well.
 
Sleep is finally dancing around at the corners of my consciousness, and time is beginning to do that sloppy thing where I can’t decide if I’ve been writing for hours or for minutes. Time to subside for now…best to be rested for tomorrow so we can be ready to aid Laina if she ends up needing us!
 
Word of the night: pernicious