Presently, the Freedom's Dream is still moored on the island which people are pretty sure is Paradys, especially since a number of Solus-like creatures have been discovered within the "tower" who can bolster such claims – since they claim to be the descendants of Shokar's crew.

A lot has happened since that discovery, mostly involving the return of Roho to his ship, along with several of the winged cats. They can't really do much of anything, since none of the Eeee speak Vartan, and the winged cats do not speak Eeee (or Rephidim Standard), but they appear to be friendly, at least.

Also presently, a white bat in sky blue mage robes sits in a magic circle at the rear of the ship. Despite her repeated attempts, she can't cast so much as a cantrip, but she's bound and determined that if she keeps trying – and can avoid sneezing for long enough – somehow it will all come back to her. Right now, the only thing coming back to her seems to be more pollen than her nose can handle.

*WACHOO!*

Roho's ears flip back a little, and he wipes his face. He steps off to one side, and hands Wynona another mug of steaming brew, "Okay, breathe again, but this time point the other way… "

Wynona sniffles. "Sorry. I … I DO think it's getting better. Or less horrible, anyway. Maybe."

Roho nods, "Perhaps. I still can't figure what you're allergic to, unless it's simply everything."

The winds stir about the deck. This would not seem unusual, except that the winds, during all this time, have kept a fairly constant flow toward the center of the island – and the tower that rises from it. There's something odd in the way the wind is making a little dust-devil on the deck, and all the Eeee nearby can't help but notice it.

Wynona says, "That's probably it." She sniffles again.

Roho doesn't notice the little swirl, "Okay, well, try these, too." He drops some more leaves in the water, and the scent changes.

Wynona sniffles at the leaves … then her ears twitch. "Did … did you hear something?"

Roho nods, shrugging, "Some whispering… crew?"

Wynona listens intently, and then her eyebrows raise. "They heard me! THEY HEARD ME! They know we're here! They're sending help!"

Roho blinks, "Who? Who was whispering? I don't hear it anymore… "

The white bat seems on the verge of bouncing. No, past the verge. She bounces in place. "The College! I … I sent them a distress message on the winds when we crashed here … before … before I got zapped."

Roho looks confused, "And they answered in like? What'd they say?"

Wynona pauses, then says, "Well … I think the message is pretty old. I mean, this isn't an instantaneous form of communication. But they said our message was received, and that a ship is being sent. But … the College wouldn't send a SHIP just for little ol' ME. Uhm … " She looks around at all the Eeee on the deck. In a lower tone, she whispers, "Can we go somewhere to talk privately? I think I can trust you, but … "

The other Eeee on the deck apparently caught part of Wynona's original declaration, and are now busily chattering amongst themselves about prospects of rescue.

Roho nods and doesn't say anything, as he gathers up his herbs…

Wynona helps Roho gather up his things, and leaves her candles and other items behind, untended, as she follows him. "Maybe to your office?" she whispers.

Roho walks a little ahead of Wynona, "Yeah, that'd be best, probably." He goes below-decks, followed by the bat, then rather abruptly turns and enters Shokar's old cabin, shutting the door after Wynona.

Roho rasps, "Sorry, but my office tends to be busy. But it won't hurt for the others to think I'm there, they seemed curious."

Wynona nods. "Oh. Yes, I suppose so. Sorry." She sniffles before continuing again, "I … I wasn't thinking."

Roho shrugs, "Well, you haven't seen my office during the evening rush." He sits on the edge of the bed, "Now… what happened up there?"

The white bat proceeds to walk around the cabin, looking under the bed, around the bed, into the closets, and all around.

Roho rasps, "There's nobody else here, if you're worried… "

"Well," she says, sitting down and apparently satisfied with her search, "The College Esoterica isn't sending the ship, really. I mean, they don't usually embark on rescue missions for stranded airships. Or journeyman mages. That's not their job. But … ah … A ship is being sent out, sponsored by a rich noble poodle. And he has a bounty hunter on board. We're among … ah … traitors." She shudders at the notion.

Roho blinks, "Traitors? I didn't know we were allied with anyone whom we could betray."

Wynona looks around, as if the walls might be watching, and then whispers, "I can trust you, right? You … you've been to Babel. Everyone has heard about you. So you'd know more about some of this than me. I mean … I was born in Rephidim. I'm not an Ashdodite."

Roho nods, "I've been to Babel. We were exiled, and Boghaz was cut free. Do they now consider us traitors?"

Wynona bites on her lip. "It was … Well, you see, these kind of messages don't … well, it's a magical thing. They aren't quite as good as getting a hand-delivered letter, so I have to fill in some blanks. But … Babel has declared war on us. So, they know Boghaz is the son of the Sabaoth, and they don't really stop to think about his exile, and … I think we may have some problems. That's 'traitors'." She holds her fingers up in Rephidim Standard's equivalent of a "quote-unquote" around the word "traitors", though, of course, it's wasted on Roho's eyes, if the change in inflection doesn't do the trick.

"But there's more," Wynona says. "Zoltan's in trouble." She bites her lip.

Roho goes slightly pale, "War? So, both sides will consider us enemies. That's cozy." He blinks, his expression changing, "How so, for Zoltan?"

Wynona frets and fidgets. "I … Oh dear. Well … It seems Zoltan must have stolen something from Lord Titus haut Mikide. He's this really rich poodle noble. He made an expedition to that City of Hands we visited but which got blown up, you know. And … I was informed to watch out for a Savanite witch. She has three eyes. And she goes by the name of … Jezebel."

Roho grimaces. "Okay, this makes some sense. So, who is sending the ship? Titus?"

Wynona seems especially uncomfortable. "I've heard rumors about that sort of thing, you know. I … I'm not sure if I believe it. But … yes. Titus. It's a bounty hunter ship."

Roho sits back and sighs, "Well… we can take comfort in the fact that they most likely won't find us, and if they do, they won't be in any better position than we are."

Wynona ponders that. "Well … yes. But in my message I did tell them of the dangers. But then, I certainly didn't have any solutions to offer, either."

Roho nods, "Well. I guess now, we need to decide if we should tell the others this."

Roho continues thinking aloud, "We're fugitives from both sides of a war. We could probably make a comfortable, if not luxurious existence here. Or if we escaped, we could settle someplace neutral. But both Rephidim and Babel would be closed to us… "

Wynona cringes. "No! I … I can't spend my whole life here! Or … Rephidim is my HOME!"

Roho nods, "Well… you might be okay. You were hired on a ship from Rephidim, you could claim you had no knowledge of our activities until it was too late. Being a Rephidim native, they'd stand a chance of believing that."

Wynona slumps down. "That … that doesn't make me any more happy. I mean … what about you? You're awfully nice, and I've heard such good things about you. And that big Vartan … I … I can't imagine him being a criminal. He just doesn't seem the type."

Wynona pauses. "I could believe the part about Jezebel being some sort of witch, though."

Roho nods, "I could, as well. She and Zoltan seem to have some sort of agreement. But you're right about Zoltan, he's not the criminal type. Unfortunately, since Babel, my profile's a little too high to slip back into Rephidim unnoticed. Zoltan might, though… "

Wynona says, "But … there are foxes everywhere! And everybody knows all foxes look alike … er … I mean … Oh dear. Sorry."

Roho chuckles, "Yeah, but Zerda aren't common in Rephidim. Anyways, I wasn't too fond of Rephidim, I prefer open spaces. Well, I think we've got quite a bit ahead of ourselves, in any case. We're still stuck to this tower."

Wynona slumps down, resting her chin in her hands. "Yes. You're right there." She groans.

Roho stands, pacing a little, "Well, this needs to be treated carefully… but I think you should tell Zoltan, at least. He'll keep silent, if you ask him to, I believe. And the three of us can decide whether Boghaz should know."

Wynona squeaks, "Tell … ZOLTAN? But … but … what … what if he IS a criminal? He could snap my little neck with just one hand!"

Roho nods, "He could. But I would trust him with my life. I can't ask you to do the same, it's a decision you need to make. And I won't tell him, if you don't wish me to."

Wynona pauses, fretting. "I … Uhm … I … Oh dear!"

"I CAN'T MAKE DECISIONS!" Wynona squeaks, her wings flapping behind her.

Roho chuckles and presses Wynona's shoulder, "We're not going anywhere, think it over tonight, if you wish… "

Wynona nods. "But … I don't know … how long ago that message was sent. Why couldn't they add, 'Hello, this is being sent to you five days after Candlemass' or something like that? Ooooo. Cheapskates."

Roho chuckles, and ignores the ranting, "Would it make you feel safer if I told Zoltan? If I went missing shortly thereafter, that'd be a good indication to you to hide… "

Wynona at first seems somewhat relieved by Roho's offer … then makes a sharp gasp. "Oh dear! No no no! I can't let you get in trouble!"

Roho chuckles, "Wynona… I won't get in trouble. Zoltan is not a criminal… at least, if he is, he hides it better than anyone else on Rephidim."

Wynona covers her mouth. "I … Oh dear. I've … This can't be good. I've heard stories about Lord Titus haut Mikide. He's … He deals a lot with the Sphere of Mind. He's … he's … dangerous."

Roho looks a little less sure of himself, "Could he alter someone's mind, make them forget that they're a criminal for a time?"

Wynona says, "I … I really don't know about the Sphere of Mind. I stay away from those mages. And they … well … I don't trust them."

Roho sighs and nods, "Well, we need to take a risk. I'll talk to Zoltan, unless you want to, or specifically don't want me to."

Roho rasps, "We can't just sit on this, and let the airship sail through those clouds, and attack us."

Wynona nods. "I … I guess that's probably the best thing to do." She looks worriedly at Roho. "But … if anything happens … I won't be able to forgive myself. Please be careful."

Roho nods, "I will. I don't believe he will hurt me."

The bat fidgets a bit … then goes forward and throws her arms around the fennec. "He can't. Nobody could hurt a nice old Zerda like you!" she squeaks, voice quivering.

Roho jumps in surprise at the unexpected hug. He hugs the bat back for a moment, "Well, it'd be nice to think so. He won't, it's not in him to hurt someone out of wrath."

Wynona pulls back, and wipes her muzzle, sniffling again. "Ah. Sorry. I … Oh well. I … I'd best be going. Maybe if I try hard … I can cast a spell and get us off this island."

Roho nods, "Keep trying. I think… I think I'll wait here for Zoltan. Stands the best chance of getting him as soon as he gets back from the tower."

Wynona nods. "Thank you, Doctor." With that, she heads out and quietly closes the door behind her.

Roho stands in the room, his blind gaze following the departure of the nervous bat. As the door shuts, he stands for a few moments more. Then he walks over to the chair by the desk. He sits in the chair, facing the door, and waits.