Madame Natasha's Wagon
Dark. Very, very dark. The Khatta seems to prefer to keep the lights low in her somber wagon. The walls are draped in black fabric with arcane silvery symbols. In the center of the wagon sits a round table that's about enough to seat three people around it. In the center of the table rests a crystal ball. A few feet behind the table hangs another sheet of dark fabric, presumably for keeping her bedding and personal items away from prying eyes.

It's the morning following the rescue of Djivan. The Skeek decided to stay in Djivan's wagon that night … mainly to help cheer up a rather depressed rat. Dealing with his father put Djivan into a bit of a funk in the end. But, that makes it easier for a Rath'ani messenger to find Olivia the next day. Apparently, Natasha wishes to see her when she awakens. Leaving a sleeping Djivan, Olivia now stands in front of Natasha's wagon. Lamps are lit inside and there are sounds of movement.

Olivia yawns and sticks her flowered hat back onto her head before rapping at the door to Natasha's wagon. It took her a while to get Djivan back into a happier frame of mind last night, so she is somewhat tired this morning. Sleepily, she calls out, "Natasha? It's Olivia. You wanted to see me?"

The door creaks open. The face that greets Olivia isn't Natasha's though; it's Bravil. "Come in, Olivia," he says heavily and backs away from the door a bit. "She is expecting you."

Olivia looks rather startled to see Bravil, but then she smiles happily. Once inside the wagon, she reaches up to give the wolf a hug around his waist, which is as high as she can reach on him. "Hello Bravil! I'm glad to see you're feeling better!"

The large canid looks rather surprised to be hugged but doesn't seem to complain about it. He carefully hugs the Skeek in return and ushers her inside. "I am feeling … a lot of things. Most are unimportant right now," he says and looks to the black Khatta at the far end. This is probably the first time Olivia has ever seen the Khatta fussing over her appearance. Right now she's actually trying to even out the length of her hair using a sharp knife. "Hello, Olivia," she says absently as she works.

Olivia looks between the Khatta and the Jupani for a few moments, the corners of her mouth twitching. Finally, she says to Bravil, "Excuse me for just a bit, will you? I think Natasha might need some help… " Giving him a quick smile, she walks over to the Khatta, taking a pair of scissors out of one of the pockets of her overalls as she goes. She hands these to the older woman, saying quietly, "You might find these easier to work with if you're going to cut your hair, Natasha."

"And even easier if you do it," Natasha notes as she hands them back, then sits down into a chair a moment later. "I cannot get the line right standing in front of a mirror. I suspect you must be wondering why I requested you come by."

Olivia smiles again and takes back the scissors, plus the comb that the Khatta had been using previously. Then she carefully combs her hair over the back of the chair, noticing how thick and black it is. As she gets to work with the scissors, she says, "Yes, is there anything I can do for you?"

The hair is a mess of tangles and odd lengths as Olivia quickly finds out. "I think I need you to arrange a meeting for me. I … intend to talk to Inaya today. I rather suspect she would faint if I just showed up," the feline says with a sigh. "Undead I can deal with without a flinch, my sister … well."

Olivia almost drops the scissors at this revelation. Pausing for a minute in her cutting, she says in surprise, "I'm so glad you've decided to talk to her, but… what made you change your mind? The last time we talked about this, you seemed dead-set against it."

"I've been thinking over what Mage Qing had said, and if he can help protect them … then this should end," Natasha says as she folds her hands together on the table. This may be to help hide the fact her fingers are twitching nervously. "But, she will also have to understand I have family here now I cannot leave behind, either. They need me as much as I need them."

Olivia busies herself with untangling a few more knots in the Khatta's hair before answering, "This is true. However, you may find that she's so happy to know you're alive that she may agree to just about any request you put to her. So, how would you like for me to arrange this meeting? At a neutral place somewhere? At her cottage in town? Or here at the camp?"

"Or she will be angry and argue that I should return," Natasha comments with a sigh. She almost shakes her head, but then thinks better of it. "I think a neutral setting might be best. That way neither of us can be seen to have the advantage, as it were."

Greatly daring, Olivia raps the Khatta gently over the head with her own comb a few times, as if to knock her depressed thoughts right out. "Now don't start thinking like that or you're going to talk yourself right out of this!" she chides, then goes back to snipping away a few uneven locks of hair. "Neutral ground, hmm? Weeeellll, if you wanted to, I'm sure I could talk my aunt into letting you use her 'parlor' over at the Weavers' compound. That's where she meets with all of our business clients when they come by to discuss placing large orders and things like that. Would that do?"

Making a face, Natasha intones, "Many would not be so brave as to thump me on my head with a comb, Miss Weaver. I might be tempted to turn you into a frog." The tone of her voice suggests she's joking. Even Bravil, who has been standing quietly in the corner, looks bemused. "Now, I will forgive it this time. As for the use of the Weaver's room, that would be fine. Neither of us have seen it, therefore neither could be seen as having an advantage. How long would it take to arrange it? Would you need a representative of the tribe to go with you?"

Olivia giggles at the older woman's teasing, then combs out another tangle. "How long it takes depends on when Inaya will see me. I can tell her that you wish to give her more information on your encounter with Valicross, things that you would rather discuss in private," she says. "That will probably get her thinking that what you have to say concerns her sister – which it does, of course, but not in the way she'll expect. So that would get her to come! And having a representative from the tribe go with me would be a good thing – it would add a sense of formality and gravity to the request."

"A member of my tribe would be considered formal? Well, I suppose it would depend on who you wished to go with you, I suppose," Natasha muses. "Still, your plan seems reasonable. What about your Aunt? How long will it take to arrange things with her?"

"All I have to do is ask my aunt if she will be using the parlor in the next few days and if she's not, I think she would let us use it – as long as I sweep the place out afterwards," Olivia tells the Khatta. "She's very keen on making good impressions on her business contacts, so the place has to be kept spotless!"

"All right. So, who would you wish to accompany you?" Natasha asks.

In answer, Olivia turns to the Jupani. "Would you come with me, Bravil?" she asks. "Somehow, I don't think this is the right kind of job for Djivan or Liliana!"

Bravil looks rather surprised at being asked. "Would I not … be a bit terrifying to have around?" he finally asks. "I am larger than anyone in this town, Would not your Aunt be afraid of me?"

Olivia snorts and quirks an eyebrow at Bravil. "My aunt? Scared of anything? You do know that she used to run Loom #4 all by herself when she was just an apprentice, right?" she asks. "And besides, Inaya's seen you before, too, so your presence shouldn't be that much of a shock."

"Mmm. Well, if you do not believe I will cause issues, then so be it. I will accompany you," Bravil says and does as much of a bow as he can manage in the wagon. Given his size, it's not much. Natasha chuckles quietly and shakes her head.

Olivia smiles happily and gives the Jupani a quick curtsy in return. "Thank you! Then all that's left for me to do is to finish cutting Natasha's hair, then we can go and talk to my aunt about the room."

---

Augusta Weaver's Front Parlor
The door to the room where Augusta Weaver entertains all of her business clients is located in the middle of a very short hallway, close to the main entrance of the Weavers' compound. Inside, it is decorated very formally, with a round table and four straight-backed chairs standing in its center, a small fireplace in one wall, and a roll-top desk with an overstuffed chair in one corner for writing out contracts. A large window in the wall opposite the fireplace has frilly lace curtains drawn across it, to keep out the afternoon sun.

Once the Skeek finishes trimming Natasha's hair, she leads the Jupani back into town and to the Weavers' compound to meet with her aunt. Once there, she sends a message with another apprentice for her to meet them in the parlor, then takes Bravil into the room and opens the door for him. "Here we are – do you think this will be a good place for Natasha and Inaya to meet?" she asks nervously. "It was the best 'neutral ground' I could think of!"

Bravil rubs his chin briefly in thought. "It should do. It has an appropriate air of formality, which will put her sister at ease," he notes. The large Jupani then raps his knuckles lightly on the wall, adding, "And thick enough walls to keep out prying ears, such as Lapi and Eee. I just hope this was not a bad decision. I advised her against it; but she insisted."

This last bit of information surprises the Skeek. "Why did you advise her not to do this?" Olivia asks. "Are you afraid that her sister will not be happy to see her alive, since she is with a gypsy tribe?"

"I do not wish her to leave. As much as she says she will not … I cannot believe she will not be tempted," Bravil admits.

Olivia thinks about this for a few minutes. At last, she says, "Well, having other people depend on you is a pretty strong motivator to stay where you are. And her sister is a grown woman and can take care of herself. Besides, she has money and servants and a fine house, probably. So you may not have to worry about Natasha leaving the tribe. Well, except for visits, but I don't think she would leave for good!"

"I hope you are right," the Jupani says. "Now, where is your Aunt? The messenger has been gone for a time now. Is the complex large? It did not seem so outside."

Olivia smiles and shakes her head. "Our compound isn't as large as the Wingnut's, for instance, but I'm betting that Aunt Augusta got stopped several times on the way here so that people could ask her things. But it shouldn't-" Right in the middle of her sentence, however, a rather heavy set of footsteps is heard approaching the room. In fact, pictures start rattling on the walls the closer the sound gets to the door.

Bravil's brow goes up at the pictures rattling. "She must be a large woman," the Jupani observes flatly. "Or wears very heavy clothing." The canid moves back to stand against a wall, trying to assert the point that Olivia is the main messenger.

Olivia is about to reply when the door swings open and in walks Augusta Weaver, matriarch of the Weaver clan. Standing at four and a half feet, she's taller than most Skeeks – and wider, too, which would account for all the picture-rattling. Her dark, chestnut-colored hair is wound around her head in a severe crown braid and she wears little half-moon spectacles to correct her nearsightedness. Straightening these to have a good squint at her niece, she asks in a booming, alto voice, "You wanted to talk to me about something, Olivia? You'll have to make it fast, I'm afraid, because we have a shipment of-" Here she breaks off, noticing the Jupani for the first time. With her eyebrows threatening to vanish into her hairline, she fixes Bravil with a stare and says, "And who might this be?"

"Viktor Von-Ril," the Jupani says with a short nod to the large woman, "Also called Bravil. I am with the gypsy tribe camped outside of town and am here on behalf of them. Our leader, Madame Natasha, wishes to use your meeting room for a private discussion with the visiting Lady Inaya. This room was suggested as the best place by your apprentice, Olivia."

Augusta now swings her head back towards her niece and asks, "Is this true, Olivia?" When the Skeek girl nods, her eyes go back to Bravil and she looks him up and down in an appraising sort of way. Finally, she folds her arms across her chest and says, "Well, you've got a polite tongue in your head for a gypsy, I'll grant you that. Still, I have to ask – why did you want to use this room instead of going somewhere else, such as the Lady Inaya's rented cottage? That seems like a private enough place to me."

"Neutral ground. Inaya's cottage is her territory, the gypsy camp is ours. A neutral location would be more comfortable for both parties involved, as neither can be perceived has trying to have a positional advantage in the discussion," Bravil answers simply and folds his arms together. "Granted, there is no reason for either to be concerned as it should be an amicable discussion, but such are the desires of Madame Natasha."

Augusta tugs thoughtfully on the folds of skin hanging beneath her chin while Bravil talks, obviously mulling over his words. After a short silence, she nods curtly and booms out, "Fair enough. All right – as long as Olivia agrees to clean up afterwards and everyone takes care not to bang up my furniture, I'll let you use the room for this meeting of yours. I speak with with important clients in here, so the place has to be kept orderly!"

"I cannot imagine either would damage your room. It should be a discussion, nothing more," Bravil says. Then with a glance to Olivia, adds, "As for cleanup duties, she would need to agree on her own. I cannot speak for her."

"That's fine, Aunt Augusta, I'll make sure everything's just as you left it!" the Skeek girl pipes up. "Thank you for letting us use the parlor!"

Augusta turns a steely eye on her niece and intones, "Make sure that you do, Olivia. And let me know when this meeting is supposed to take place, so that I can make sure no one disturbs you. Well, if there's nothing further, I do have that shipment of wool to inspect before we pay for it. They tried to sneak a substandard batch past me last time!" With that, the older Skeek woman gives Bravil another nod and lumbers out of the room.

"She never smiles, does she?" Bravil asks when the older woman is finally gone.

Olivia scratches her nose absently as she replies, "Not when there's business to discuss, no. She's a lot nicer and more relaxed when you get to know her, though! So, I guess we should try to find Inaya now?"

Bravil nods. "That should be easy, I imagine she is at her rented cabin. I do not think she is spending the day with the poodle, Erik," the Jupani says. He eases himself off the wall and walks out of the room.

---

Cabin Living Room
The living room of the rental cabin is spartan. This one has apparently been slightly redecorated by the current renter and has what some could identify as an "Abu Dhabian" flair to it; colorful silks, and fluffy pillows. In two of the corners stand the hulking feline guards; bare chested, billowy pants, and looking rather grumpy.

The walk over to the cabin is quiet. Well, except for the point where Bravil, for whatever reason known only to him, decided to pick Olivia up and just put her on his shoulder. Admittedly, they do get to the cabin faster, so maybe that was why. In any event, the two are let in and escorted to the living room. While they sit and wait for Inaya to come out of the bedroom, the tigers glare at the pair. One even licks his lips absently while looking at Olivia.

Olivia starts a little upon seeing the tiger guard unconsciously consider her a snack, then mutters to herself, "I hope they're not hungry today or this meeting will be shorter than I'd planned… "

"Just ignore them," Bravil comments to Olivia as he arches his brow at the feline.

"What brings you here today? Miss, Olivia Weaver, was it? And ah, Mister Bravil," comes the melodic voice of Inaya as she glides through the open doorway. Peering through the door is Kalila, her daughter. She disappears from sight fairly quickly, though. The feline brushes her silken dress down as she settles lightly on a chair, facing the two.

Olivia gets up quickly to curtsy to Inaya as she enters the room, then sits back down in her chair when the Khatta sits. "Thank you for seeing us, Lady Inaya," she says politely. "We have come here to pass along a message from the leader of the gypsy tribe, Madame Natasha."

"Oh? So she changed her mind and accepted my offer to pay for her education with the Collegia?" Inaya reasons. The Khatta smiles, adding, "I had hoped she would."

Olivia shakes her head with what she hopes is an expression of regret. "No ma'am, unfortunately this has nothing to do with the Collegia," she replies. "Natasha wanted me to ask if you would meet with her in private to discuss her encounter with the necromancer, Valicross. It seems she has other information to give you."

Inaya's expression shifts to one of confusion. "She has more information? What more could be known, unless she uncovered what he did to her, perhaps?" the Khatta muses, then shakes her head slightly. "Very well. I will speak with her more. Please escort her here," she says and her eyes level on Bravil.

"She does not wish to meet here. Olivia has arranged a more private location," Bravil says.

Inaya seems to start as Bravil speaks with more eloquence than he had previously. She eyes him oddly for a bit, then says, "I see. Where does she wish to meet, then?"

Olivia nods in agreement with this and adds, "There is a private parlor at the Weaver compound that my aunt has graciously allowed us to use for this purpose. You will not be disturbed there. Is this acceptable?"

"I am curious as to why she does not wish to meet here. Unless she feels this location is not private enough, I suppose," Inaya muses. The Khatta sits quietly for a bit, her hands absently smoothing out the folds in her dress. "Very well, I will go as long as one of my guards can wait outside the room."

Olivia exchanges glances with Bravil as she says, "I think that is most reasonable, don't you, Bravil?"

Bravil dips his head in acceptance. "It is understandable and fair," he agrees.

Looking back at Inaya now, the Skeek asks, "When would it be convenient for you to meet with Madame Natasha?"

"Is tomorrow morning acceptable? I have a dinner I believe I am expected to attend tonight that I should prepare for," Inaya offers.

Olivia nods and smiles. "I think that will be fine. I will tell Natasha of your wishes and she will meet you at the Weavers'. I can return here tomorrow to lead you to the meeting place, if you like?" the Skeek offers.

"That will be acceptable," Inaya says with a small nod as she stands back up. "I will see you tomorrow, then. Good day to both of you."

"Thank you, Lady Inaya," Bravil says as he stands. The Jupani bows slightly to her, then waits for Olivia.

Olivia stands and curtsies again as Inaya rises from her chair. "Good day to you, as well!"

Bravil exits the small cabin. Without looking back, he says, "I believe she suspects something is up. The request for the guard and and with how she looked at me suggests such. But, no matter, the meeting is arranged. What will come of it only the Great Gear knows."

Olivia follows along in the Jupani's wake. "Just as long as her tiger guard doesn't get antsy and maul my aunt's furniture, everything should be fine!" she quips, trying to put Bravil more at ease. "Still, at least one of us will be with Natasha at the meeting, too, so I think that will help. Let's just hope it all goes well."