Chronicles of 'Team B' - Chapter 51 - Flights and Fancies

General Summary

Malina Petrovna, with Merius in tow, fly back to Ladeisk. Though the flight through the cold early winter air is traumatizing for for poor Merius, an eagle's eye view allows Malina to have a good view of the land, and to avoid any trouble on the ground. At night, she erects her magical towers, and though a few callers come (one in particular, with the voice of an old woman), Malina refuses to answer, pressing on with her mission.
After a week, they arrive back in her home city. Merius is left to wait in the woods on the opposite bank, while Malina sends a bird with a message for Trofim Andreevich, indicating that she would like to meet. She herself comes at the appointed time, and finds the prince playing chess with Zhadan Cheslavovich. She waits for the castellan to leave, and then transforms. Trofim Andreevich initially taken aback, but subsequently, confronts her about her presence, and the state of the mission. Not getting into details about Arsenii's health, she produces the letter that calls on Grand Prince Gintaras to put them to death. Trofim Andreevich denies writing the letter, indicating that he "has people for that", and adds that it would make no sense for him to want to get rid of Malina and the rest of her companions, as that would obviously endanger the mission that he himself wants to see accomplished. He promises to write a replacement letter, but says that if he is to make a move against Zhadan, he needs unequivocal proof that the castellan wrote the letter, and is in cahoots with his enemies. He also impresses upon her once again that time is of the essence, and tells her that the new letter will be ready on the morning of the following day. Having that in hand, she collects Merius, and flies back to Shchavel'.

* * *

Back in the village, Zorina and Lokan decide to make use of the downtime by scouting the lay of the land, and seeking out rumors in the neighboring settlements, and up to the area where the Kapkan' Marshes begin. Meanwhile, Agapia Vladimirovna Anfisova ministers to her wounds as well as those of Arsenii, and judging by his increased will to live, he seems to be on the mend. She also solicits some work weaving baskets and bast shoes, and is so successful, that by the end of the first week, she solicits orders from Shchavel' and neighboring settlements - not only for baskets, but also for braiding hair, for which she also seems to have a knack. The local priest, who lives several versts away, gets her to leave the 'tavern' at which she's been staying, and to move in with his family. He seems especially excited that she is tending to a princeling, and has Arsenii moved to his house as well. More importantly, she is also approached by a local wise woman named Apraksia, who also puts in an order for some strange-looking figurines made of straw. The young girl does her best, even though she can't figure out what it is she's made. Apraksia is grateful, however, and rewards Agapia by teaching her a spell that allows her to summon a hare.

* * *

After nearly a fortnight, Malina returns with Merius, and begins making plans with all the companions who stayed in Shchavel' to continue on to Laima, to complete there mission.

Rewards Granted

• A new letter from Trofim Andreevich 
• A bunny-summoning spell for Agapia

Character(s) interacted with

• Nikanor, a local priest near Shchavel'
• Shchavel' villages
• Apraksia, a wisewoman in Shchavel'
• Trofim Andreevich, Prince of Ladeisk 
• Arsenii Trofimovich 

Report Date

23 Apr 2021