The barge bumps against the dock as it returns to Blackshire Keep from the village. Born-in-Shame secures the ropes, then drags the unconscious foppish fox (and his lute) out of the wooden boat and onto more stable "ground".

Off to one side of the dock, bubbles rise from the murky water. Limned by the faint glow that comes from the glassed-in dome of the once-Garden Hall underneath the water, a serpentine, three-headed form can be seen sleeping, wrapped around the tower. Apparently, the dragon has no problem breathing underwater.

Jynx leaps off of the side of the barge and onto the dock, giving a grimacing glance at the giant reptile. He holds his injured arm close, still grumbling under his breath about the earlier fight. The feline stomps towards the door of the castle, not saying a word to his two companions.

Finding neither head nor tail of the crystal shard she was seeking, the nervous little Aelfin walks out of the castle keep, quietly taking a moment to glance towards the dock. Much to her fright, Jynx and the others have arrived. Having heard what that strange opponent called Jynx, the little one has no want to have the black Khatta notice her. Thus, she quickly scuttles off to hide in the nearest shadowy corner.

Ysnor, the hunchbacked Skreek, opens the door for Jynx. "Master! You are home! Ysnor was worried, for you to be out so late!"

Born-in-Shame drags the foppish fox past Ysnor, and on up the stairs.

Still clutching his bruised appendage, the black Khatta merely scowls at the Skreek. "I'm fine; now go back inside. Where's my grandmother?" He looks the castle up and down, and back at the dragon, "and that little mage too? I don't want her traipsing through the castle all recklessly."

Ysnor says, "The little one? She entered the Keep, master … but Ysnor has not seen the little mage since! Lord Kurai's grandmother is in the Garden Hall with her helpers. Ysnor thinks she is having them move dirt into the flowerbeds?" He looks confused.

"Move dirt into the flowerbeds?" Jynx's ears shoot upwards in alarm. "Great Dagh's Ghost! That might bring those stupid plants back!" He pushes his way past the Skreek and into the stairwell, starting off down to the Garden Hall.

Scooting further into the shadows, the Aelfin reaches over to get her wand out. After all, there is a legendary assassin and his alien knight friend about. Scarlet isn't quite sure what part the fox plays, but she supposes he must be an alien too. Regardless, she uses her robes to cover the wand, and whispers to it. "Find the crystal fragment."

The wand does nothing.

Except … to spark a bit.

Then to spark some more.

*pop* *crack*

A strange noise comes from the stone wall.

The black Khatta halts as he enters the stairwell, noticing something out of the corner of his eye. Sparks? Is Martinette having exterior work done, too? He turns to look in the direction of the little points of light, squinting to see their source.

"Oh? Oh… oh no!" Scarlet whispers as she spies the wall. Perhaps having found the fox, the find spell was exhausted, but the fragment spell was not. The Aelfin decides it's best that she dash down the stairs as quickly as possible.

Jynx does a double take at the wall as he looks down the stairs. There goes the Aelfin, but… what did she do to the wall? The Khatta starts to rundown the stairwell, making for the cracking wall.

*crack* *drip* *drip* *dribble* *trickle* *crack*

As the Khatta reaches the wall, he can see that a large section – a fragment? – is cracking away from the wall. And, of course, on the other side of the wall is … well …

"Feli!" calls out a voice from the bottom of the tower. "Is that you, Feli? Come on down, dearie! We've cleaned up the kitchen, and I've put on some stew!"

"Oh Dagh, oh DAGH!" The cat keeps sprinting down the stairs. "Martinette! Grandma!" he screams, "Get out! Everyone, get out now!!" The feline continues to run down as fast as he can. "The castle's falling apart!"

Martinette blinks. "Dear, it looks bad, but it's quite sturdy… " She silences herself, as a drop of water lands on her nose. "Oh dear. EVERYONE! DROP EVERYTHING AND GET OUT! FLOOD!"

Skidding to a stop midway down the stairs, the Aelfin's mind manages to locate a proper "F" word to perhaps stop the imminent disaster. She spins around and points the wand at the fragmenting wall. "Fasten!"

Crashing noises can be heard from the Garden Hall, as Martinette's lackeys are quick to obey and dash for dear life for the base of the tower. But can they possibly get up all those steps in time?

The wand sparks, fizzles … then crackles to brighter life. Steam hisses from the edge of the fragmented piece of the castle wall, and the rock turns red with heat!

Jynx skids to a halt on a step as he waits for the others to make their way up. "Hurry!" He yells out. "There isn't much … time?" He looks back at the breaking wall in confusion. "Wha- What could have caused thi-… The mage!!" Jynx's fur rises in anger. "Where's Scarlet, that little mage?" He peers about for her, silently fuming, but still nervous all the while.

The rock around the fragment slowly cools and darkens … hardening into a fused, smooth surface. It would appear that the crack has been rather handily dealt with.

Martinette and her lackeys are still pouring into the base of the tower, hardly having time to get very far up the stairs. "Feli! Are you all right? Why are you standing there?"

The mists created by the vaporizing swamp water – mixed with a bit of smoke – make things a little bit hazy in the interior of the tower for the time being.

The Aelfin leans against the wall and gives a sigh of relief. After all, she would like to put an end to whatever plot is being run here, but she would rather not hurt the innocent or herself. Using the smoke as cover, she makes her way down the stairs, away from the black Khatta.

The black feline does a double take at the walls, a clear look of puzzlement on his face. He comes back to, and starts to wave the mist from his face with his injured arm, only to wince in pain. "I- I'm fine, grandmother," he says unconvincingly, starting to make his way back downstairs. "I think it's safe to go back, for now."

Martinette lets out a long breath, and waves her servants back into the chamber … though they don't look the least bit relieved. "You don't sound fine, Feli. You come on down, and I'll fix you up a nice warm cup of tea… "

Heavy boot-steps can be heard, as Born-in-Shame makes his way down the stairs as well … though he's still considerably far behind Jynx. The foppish fox is presumably sleeping off the effects of whatever he drank at the inn, and therefore is nowhere to be seen at present.

Jynx sets his ears back at being kittened, but only slightly. He is in pain after all, and it's been a while since he's had a true shoulder to lean on, let alone one of family. "Yes, thank you." He forces a small smile, and begins to make his way back down with the others. "That little mage did this, no doubt. She's reckless."

Deciding against going to anyone who is the legendary assassin's grandma, Scarlet makes her way quietly to the balcony level above Jynx's grandma and her helpers. There she attempts to hide to avoid the approaching others.

At last, Jynx makes his way down to the bottom-most level of the tower, and the doorway that opens out to the Garden Hall. Martinette gasps when she sees how Jynx holds his arm. "Are you all right? Come out here and let me see that arm… "

The black Khatta sighs, but turns over the arm to his grandma. "It's only a few bruises, no big thing." He looks down at the ground in embarrassment, scowling.

Martinette looks over the arm with an expert eye. "Hmm. Looks like you got grappled something nasty. Feli, dear, what sort of a fight did you get into?" She leads him over to a table, where her assistants have already brought out an antique tea set.

Born-in-Shame lumbers into the Garden Hall, last of all, looking this way and that, as if expecting monsters to pop out for him to fight at any moment now.

Jynx sits down at the table, and frowns. He's already been embarrassed enough as it is, and now to have to rehash the story to his grandmother, well… "I'm not sure exactly what it was all about," he says, giving a glance to the cheetah. "There was this Count guy, and he said he was in some tournament or something, and had to defeat the school of the Sable Palm or something… " The Khatta mumbles this all out, not touching his tea.

"He challenged you, dearie?" asks Martinette in a calm, almost detached voice, as she cleans Jynx's arm and examines it.

The black Khatta's face scrunches up in exaggerated pain like a kitten at the motherly doctoring of Martinette. "Yeah, sort of. I think he thought I was… Grandpa." He sighs. "I turned him down at first, but I think I said something to make him mad, and then he attacked me."

"Now, dearie, what could you have possibly said to make him mad, that he wouldn't accept an apology for?" purrs the lioness.

She pushes a cup of tea – on a matching saucer – to slide it over in front of Jynx. "And you can have a cup of tea in between telling me bits of your story, of course."

The Khatta flattens his ears. "Well, he thought… he thought I was Shikouju, and I called people who thought that idiots!" He gives a small hiss under his breath. "And it was his fault, so I wasn't about to apologize! He's the one who came after me!" Claws out and fur on end, he grabs the tea cup, and swigs down the entire contents, both in anger and thirst.

Hidden carefully, the little one listens in on the other's conversation. She mulls over what is being spoken of, while trying to figure out where that crystal fragment may have wandered off too. Only the fox looked around the castle alone besides herself. Maybe he took it, she thinks.

"Careful with your claws, dearie," purrs Martinette. "So, you refused to apologize after insulting a count?"

"Well," interjects Jynx, "it was his own fault!" He looks down at the table in embarrassment again, flattening his ears. "He got me in a hold, and I had to… apologize before he broke my arm… "

"Quite wise of you, dear Feli." Martinette examines the arm. "Well … nothing broken. Nothing physical, that is. In any case, you really should learn some manners."

"As it is, you sound just like your dear grandfather," Martinette says, sighing gently.

At this, the black Khatta looks down at the ground, almost ashamed, but more angry. Finally he looks back up to Martinette. "I have a question for you… "

"Only one, dearie?" purrs the lioness. "Well, you might as well let me hear it."

Jynx blinks – only one? "The Count said something of the Sable Palm technique, when he talked about Grandpa… " He looks hesitant. "Do… do you know what he was talking about?"

"Well, of course, Feli, dear!" purrs Martinette. "I know the particulars, though I can't exactly demonstrate them as well as your dear grandfather. It just wasn't my … specialty."

"Your grandfather, you see," purrs Martinette, "was known both as the Sable Palm and the Silver Dagger. He was not only an accomplished knife-fighter. He was considerably dangerous without aid of weapons as well … even without his claws."

Grandma? Grandpa? Maybe Jynx isn't who Scarlet thought he was, although the Count did identify him as Shikouju. Considering this, the Aelfin puts two and two together and decides Jynx must in fact be Shikouju's grandson, making the woman Shikouju's wife and quite dangerous. Regardless, the Aelfin has things she must do, things that must be done if they really are friend, or sly foe. Leaving her place of hiding, Scarlet sneaks back upstairs to check the fox.

The black Khatta nods, but frowns. "That must be why he was after me, but he said that there was one last pupil of the technique left." He looks to his grandma. "Can you… can you teach me what you know? I want to learn… "

Martinette smiles. "Why, of course, Feli." Her smile fades. "But you cast aside the tradition of the Silver Dagger. What brings you to pursue the heritage of the Sable Palm?"

Jynx looks away again, ashamed at his own motivation as it is, but still motivated nonetheless. "Someone has to keep it alive," he says in an almost rehearsed fashion. "But… that's only half the reason." He looks back up, embarrassed but angry. "I want to get back at that sniveling Count."

"Why ever for, Feli? Because he put you in your place?" purrs Martinette, as she sets the black Khatta's arm down and pours herself a cup of tea. "That's hardly a way to endear yourself to the neighbors, dearie."

"Because he made me look like an idiot!" fumes the black cat. "And because he insulted me! He was the one that came looking for a fight, and I tried to avoid it!" He throws his paws up in frustration. "So now, by Dagh, if he wants a fight, I'll bring it to him!" He then mutters some snide remark about neighbors, but it's too inaudible to hear…

"Calm down, Feli. Don't throw a tantrum. It isn't befitting a lord of a castle, you know," purrs Martinette.

Jynx sits back down in his chair, chest heaving from his heavy breathing. "I know it's not the most noble of ambitions, but I can't just stand back and let people spit on me and my heritage like that." He looks back up, "So, will you teach me?"

Venturing upstairs, the Aelfin locates the sleeping fox and searches him over for any trace of the shard. Finding nothing but snoring, the discouraged Aelfin leaves the still-sleeping fox and makes her way back downstairs.

Martinette purrs, "Only if you promise never, ever to talk back to me … if you promise to do as you are instructed … and if you do not to resort to petty name-calling. Calling names is a sign of weakness … of someone who is unable to come up with something more clever to say, or action in place of his words."

Jynx blinks at his grandmother as she drops the matronly guise, somewhat shocked at her suddenly stern demeanor. He almost instinctively straightens to attention. "Y-yes ma'am." He blinks again. "Th-thank you."

"Oh, uh," the cat scratches his head. "Wh-when do we begin?" ( I can't believe it; I didn't expect her to say yes! )

"Well, dearie," says Martinette, regarding the black Khatta's arm, "I think right now it would be best for you to recover from your little … adventure first. While pain resistance is a useful skill … I just don't think you're ready for that quite yet."

Still a bit amazed, the black Khatta just nods his head. "Y-yes, I think you're right." He picks his arm up, and holds it close to his chest, turning around to look at Martinette's helpers. "What were you doing down here before the wall incident? And that reminds me; where's that Aelfin at?"

Walking out to the balcony above, the Aelfin makes no attempt to hide herself. She holds her staff in her right hand, and her wand in her left. Given her robes and equipment she could be a impressive, if short, sight. She seems to be here to talk, for she shortly speaks. "Are you really the grandson of Shikouju?"

Martinette smiles and points at the little mage. "I do believe she's right there. Now, won't you be so polite as to handle this question, dearie?"

Jynx blinks. "She is?" He turns to look at where the lioness points at, and scowls as he notices the little mage.

Martinette smiles. "She's a fairly sneaky one, even in all those baubles. If not for them, I might have missed her myself."

The black Khatta glares at the Aelfin, crossing his arms as he regards her question. "Yes, he was my grandfather. Why do you ask?" He flattens his ears, "And after that, I have a few questions for you."

Scarlet turns to the female Khatta and smiles nervously. "We have met before, but I feel I should introduce myself. I am Scarlet, Water Mage Apprentice. I would rather like an introduction from you as well. I trust who you are is quite an interesting tale." After that, she turns back to Jynx and answers him in turn. "It is not often one finds themselves in the presence of a legendary assassin, or at least one who turns out to be related to an assassin. Not only that, but one who travels with a 'Silent-One' who tells me he hails from another planet entirely. You can see my concern, no? These matters rather worry me, do understand."

Jynx just glares at the little mage. "Concern? What in Dagh's name are you talking about? You've been traveling with us for weeks! What difference does it make, now?" He is then reminded of the little fiasco that occurred only moments before, and stares at Scarlet. "And what was all that with the castle about? Did you have anything to do with it?" A suspicious look crosses the Khatta's face.

"Now, now, Feli," says Martinette. "Don't go too hard on her. After all, nobody actually got hurt." She casts a dubious glance in Scarlet's direction, however, despite her placating words.

Scarlet glares right back at the Khatta. "You should be nicer to me. All you do is complain and bring everyone down. And yes, that was my doing. It was a mistake of magic, I may have broken the wall, but I also fixed it." The girl folds her arms around her staff and shakes the wand at Jynx. "You always get mad at me, and to think I looked up to you. You should be nicer, more like your female friend there. She certainly is much nicer."

Sparks fly from the wand.

Sparkles fly about the room, swirling through the chamber. The Rhians whinny, and a couple of old Jupanis whine and duck, covering their heads and tucking their tails. The Skreeks rush for cover.

"Go easy on her! She could have gotten us all killed! I – " The black Khatta freezes as the world begins to go haywire. "Hey, wh-what's going on?!"

Martinette cries out, diving at Jynx, slamming him into the floor!

"OOF!" The Khatta slams into the ground, his grandmother pinning him to the floor.

The sparkles begin to coalesce … then launch inward to the spot where Jynx was standing just a moment ago. They swirl about in a column, and begin to increase in intensity.

Being quite used to the effects of magic going haywire around her, Scarlet stands fast and watches the happenings. Obviously in her nervousness she made a mistake, so trying to save herself against it would be dishonorable. "Oh! Jynx… what did I say… Oh I see, Jynx-female. How silly of me!" Scarlet muses as she watches the sparkles fly.

Jynx struggles underneath Martinette, his injured arm flaring up, unable to see what's going on. "Hey! Get off! What's going on?"

The sparkles begin to swirl … and then change color, forming a radiant band going from red to purple to blue, side to side.

Martinette calls out, "Get clear! It's magic gone berserk!" Her lackeys are already scrambling for cover…

The black Khatta tries to get to his feet, trying to wildly scrabble in any direction in all the insanity.

"The target is Jynx! Let it hit him, and it should not do anything unexpected! We can handle the after-effects later; I know what they are. But we must not let it go out of control!" cries Scarlet from the upper area.

The glittering colors begin to form some sort of an outline … but, frankly, it's hard to tell just what of.

Martinette casts a cold glare in Scarlet's direction, as she hustles Jynx out of the room.

Jynx, still confused, follows behind his Grandmother, trying to look back at the wild magic. "What in the name of the Star… ?"

The ghostly form rises upward … and then passes right through the ceiling of the chamber. Outside, something seems to be happening to the waters, as they churn fiercely.

Without second thought, the Aelfin spins around and makes towards the stairs to pursue the magical oddity. Her face carries a frown from this second, and likely final, mistake. At least from above, she can flee from this place.

The Black Khatta peeks into the chamber just in time to watch the apparition fly upwards, and his mouth drops in disbelief. "What just happened?" He begins to make his way for the stair, motioning for the others to follow. "Come on! If something happens to my castle, I have to see!" He turns back to the stairs, grumbling, "and get my hands on that little mage… "

It's a mad rush up the stairs … and the Aelfin makes her way to the top first, though Ysnor is already out on the dock. The waters are burbling wildly, letting off much steam and mist.

Jynx makes his way out behind the Aelfin and Skreek, and sprints out to the dock, skidding to stop to a halt. He peers out at the water. "Ysnor, what's going on?"

Ysnor doesn't seem to hear Jynx, staring instead at the waters. Three heads rise up. At first, they look like the heads of the dragon … but they're … different. Sleeker.

Three more heads rise from the muck. They stare intently at the first three heads. Their expressions could almost be described as … googly eyes?

The black Khatta blinks; he can tell something is different with them, but he's not familiar enough with them to tell. Not believing his eyes, he leans out over the dock to get a better look. "By Dagh, what's happened to them?"

"Ashtoreth!" Scarlet calls out as she dashes beyond the Skreek and towards the dragon that looks like her own.

The six heads look at each other. Or, that is, three of the heads look at the three other heads. Large wings rise out of the water. Three of the heads start to rise. More wings … and two three-headed dragons rise out of the water!

The reptilian heads start making alien noises … something like a cross between a roar and a coo, if that were possible.

Jynx does a double-take; there's two of them now? He clasps his paws to his ears at the strange noises. "Dagh, what a racket!"

The two dragon-creatures soar into the overcast night sky, only illuminated by flashes of their unnatural breath and the faint glow from the lanterns on the dock and the tower. They soar about, circling each other, crying out again and again.

The mage runs to the edge of the dock and stops, lifting her head to spy the two dragons. She makes no effort to stop them at this point, or even say anything about it all. She just watches quietly.

The dragons begin to soar off to the north, occasionally circling each other, roaring out, then flying on again. And, eventually … they're out of sight, nothing remaining of them but a few echoes rumbling across the countryside.

Martinette purrs, "Well! You don't see that happen every day!"

The black Khatta's mouth hangs open, and his face is awash in utter confusion, "I'll say… " He looks back down to the dock, and notices the Aelfin. "You!"

"Mm." The mage slumps to her knees and lays her staff across her lap. The wand is tucked away too. Her ears perk as she hears Jynx, but she doesn't respond to him. She simply lowers her head and closes her eyes quietly. Every so often, she shudders, and if you listen carefully, you can hear her sniffling.

Jynx crosses his arms, tapping his foot. "What was that all about?! What did I tell you about the things in this castle? They're dangerous!" He throws his hands up again. "Quit that sniveling, and stand up!"

"Come now, Feli," purrs Lady Martinette. "No sense in sending her away heartbroken. It seems that she's lost her … pet."

"D-do n-n-not yell at m-m-e," Scarlet whimpers as tears begin to stream down her cheeks and across the baubles of her robes. "D-do what you w-will; I w-w-will not run." She doesn't stand up. No, she simply stays where she fell, and cries.

Martinette puts a hand on Jynx's arm – the good one.

Fur still on end angrily at almost being zapped, and… well, altered, Jynx yells, "Do what I will? Do what I will?!" The feline snarls! "I ought to dunk you in that swamp until the monsters that live in it eat you alive, is what I ought to do!" The cat seems to get angrier and angrier as time goes by, but at his grandmother's touch, he only slumps his shoulders with a sigh. "Forget it. Just get inside, and stay put," Jynx yells. "If you go anywhere or do anything else… " He just gives her a stern look.

Quietly, the little one pushes herself to her feet with her staff. She doesn't look at anyone, keeping her eyes averted to the ground below. Thus she drags herself to the entrance of the castle, staff being pulled along the ground. Despite how she is dressed, she may very well appear just a child at the moment – a dejected and upset little one in the robes of an archmage.

Born-in-Shame steps forward and bows to Jynx.

Jynx watches the Aelfin go, fighting to keep his fur down despite the anger welling up inside him. He notices the knight, and turns to him. "Yes, Born-In-Shame? What is it?"

Born-in-Shame signs, "Until now, Scarlet has presented no danger to you, sir. In fact, she may have saved our lives on more than one occasion. This incident is alarming, but your treatment of a lady is unbefitting of a lord. It is with no pleasure, nay, with shame, that I sign this."

The black Khatta blinks at the cheetah. "What is it you have to say? Go ahead… "

Soon the Aelfin disappears into the castle, and makes her way upstairs to the top of the tower. She obviously isn't moving very fast as her steps' echoes are far apart. She seems to stop every so often to sniffle a bit, and wipe her nose.

"I believe the mage's place is not here," signs Born-in-Shame. "I am willing to escort her back to Rephidim."

"True, she has saved us before, and I have not forgotten this, nor am I ungrateful," signs the Khatta, "but she has also ignored my orders time and time again, and today nearly killed us all! And then this! She almost changed me with that accursed wand of hers; could you take me seriously then?!" He sighs as he looks at the cheetah, finally starting to calm down. "This will all simmer down in time, but you may be right; her place is not here. You may escort her back to Rephidim, and meet back up with Redeemer-of-Shadows. But keep your eye on her; she's more dangerous than she seems."

Up in the loft, the little one gathers some blankets and wraps herself up in them as she waits for the others to return. Nervous, she reaches over and digs through her pouch to see what she has that might help her calm herself. Of course spotting the 'Jynx' doll doesn't help much. Still, she pulls this out and stares at it quietly, ears pressed back, sniffling.

Born-in-Shame bows his head to Jynx, then heads back into the tower … and up the stairs.

Jynx sighs, and turns to Martinette. "I'm sorry, Grandmother. I didn't mean to lose my cool." He sits down on the dock, twitching his tail back and forth. "But people just seem to… get on my nerves so easily. Especially this group!"

Martinette nods. "You must learn to control it … or it will cost you everything you have." She turns and walks back into the tower, leaving Jynx alone with Ysnor. Ysnor is still staring after where the dragons flew off.

Jynx gets back to his feet, staring down at the water for a short while, before turning on his heel and starting towards the castle and the others. He pauses, and turns back to the Skreek, "You coming, Ysnor?"

Ysnor snaps out of it, and numbly follows after Jynx. "Yes, master!"

The black Khatta, with servant in tow, makes his way back up the stairs to the attic. Maybe things have started to simmer down now.

Before the others arrive, the girl quickly tucks the doll away beneath the covers, not having time to fully put it away due to her scared daze. She looks up as the knight approaches from the stairs below.

Ysnor shuffles past Scarlet, quickly scurrying up to the attic. Born-in-Shame just stands quietly, making room for Jynx to come upstairs. Martinette finds a place on the couch, smoothing out her skirts as she sits down.

Jynx takes a seat near his grandma, looking over at the Aelfin. "Mage Scarlet? If you are still awake, we have some things to discuss with you."

The little mage seems awake, for she lifts her head up from the blankets. "Yes? Are you going to hurt me? If so, I plan to put up a big fight," Scarlet answers in a tired, worn-out voice. She doesn't seem in the mood to put up a fight, but one never knows. Jynx did call her "dangerous".

The black Khatta frowns, his tail-tip twitching only slightly. "No, no fights." He stands up, and paces a few steps with paws behind his back. "I'm not going to lie about tonight; I'm not happy. You nearly cost myself and my companions their lives, not to mention my holdings. Then, you recklessly used your wand at me!" He sighs, and looks her right in the eye. "But, you have been a good friend while you've been here, and you've saved our lives before, so I'll call us even."

Jynx continues, "But this place is too wild for you; it has too many things that can go crazy, and you didn't listen to me when I told you to leave things be." He twitches his tail. "Soon, I'll be training too, and won't have time for much else, so Born-In-Shame and I think it'd be better if you were back in Rephidim, possibly back to the College."

Born-in-Shame waves his hands around.

Scarlet lowers her ears again, looking from Jynx to the others. "Well… I will go, if I must. I did not want to cause you any more problems. I doubt my instructors will be very happy with me, since my goal was to see the effects of magic on the surface, and I seem to have just made things chaotic." She frowns more and lowers her head to lay on her knees as she sits up. "Jynx? Can I do one last thing for you?"

Jynx grimaces to Born-In-Shame, but nods to him. "The trip will be all expenses paid, and I'll give you some iron to help you back on Rephidim. Oh yes, and since, overall at least, you have been helpful to us, and have shown some impressive magic, I'll write a letter of commendation to your professors, to say that your exercise was a success." He pauses, and cocks an ear to the Aelfin. "Yes, go ahead."

"I would like to help you get rid of that evil sword, and ask that your knight friend help me to do so. I plan to take it to the borders of Bosch, where I will enlist the help of the knight stronghold there, if they will assist me. I think it might be nice if your knight friend sees other Templars, and besides, I would like to show I can do this one thing," Scarlet tells Jynx, with hopeful blue eyes.

Born-in-Shame slowly turns to look at Jynx.

The black Khatta shakes his head, as though he were not sure he heard that correctly. The feline's brow furrows. "I thought I had said that that thing was off limits!" He sighs, and plops down onto the couch, rubbing his eyes. "The sword is evil, and it is dangerous." He looks at the Aelfin, then at the cheetah. "Do you think she can do this?"

Jynx watches as the cheetah signs something in return to him, and signs back.

Scarlet looks between the two men as she waits for a yes or no. Uncertain as to what they are signing, she turns her attentions towards the lioness and smiles a bit. "I am truly sorry I nearly gave you a granddaughter."

The lioness doesn't reply, instead looking at Jynx.

Born-in-Shame waves his hands again.

Overhearing the remark, the black Khatta gives a small, sober smirk, but then nods to the cheetah with a sigh. "Very well, I'll let you do this." He turns to look down at Scarlet, wearing an extremely sober face. "But you had better be extremely careful. This sword is evil to the hilt, and if anything goes wrong, many people could be hurt."

Born-in-Shame waves his hands again.

The Aelfin lowers her head a bit once the lioness doesn't respond. Soon, though, it is raised, for Jynx gives her the answer she wanted. "Oh, I will not fail you, Lord Kurai. I studied the history of the object and know well its powers. It must not be removed from its bonds. Hopefully, it will remain bound until it is mere ash floating upon rivers of lava," she tells him, smiling brightly despite her situation.

Jynx gives another affirmative nod to the cheetah warrior, then turns back to Scarlet. "For your sake, you had better hope you do not fail." He gets up, and walks over to the trunk he brought with him from Rephidim, pulling out a few iron rods. "These should be enough to book you passage on a ship and give you some leftover shekels to spend. Before you set off for Bosch, however, Born-In-Shame must make a stop at Rephidim." He pulls the copy of The Sylvanian Heresy off the shelf, and gives it to the cheetah. "He has business to attend to, and you should report to your professors, to tell them your change of plan."

Born-in-Shame wraps up the tome in heavy cloth, then puts it somewhere underneath the robes covering most of his armor.

Scarlet bobs her head once. "Yes, I will, though I am uncertain that sword should be taken to Rephidim. That would be the worst possible place for it, were it freed. But no matter; I will take it to the College during our stay in Rephidim. They should at least be able to secure the sword in magic bonds." A pause, and the Aelfin looks between the others. "Again, I am sorry if I caused you problems. My magic does not go well when I am nervous, and well, you are a group that has made me very nervous."

The black Khatta retakes his seat by his family matriarch, then looks at everyone in the room in turn. "Can't say as I blame you," he mutters under his breath. "Anyways, we all have busy days tomorrow; I suggest we get some sleep."

Lady Martinette stands. "Well, Feli, I've made up all the beds in the bedrooms, if you care to use them. I've made a clean sweep for any possible pests. Now, then, I think I'll be going downstairs." She gives Jynx a peck on the forehead. "Good night, dearie." Then, she heads for the stairs.

"You have a very nice grandma Jynx; I'm sorry I had to upset her," Scarlet mentions as Jynx's grandma departs. The girl stands up now as well, letting the the covers fall and putting that doll away once she finds it.

Jynx stands up from the couch, stretching, and a few popping sounds come from his back and tail. "Just be glad you didn't upset her too much!" He grins, then yawns. "Anyways, good night. I'll see you all in the morning." He heads down the stairs to the bedroom level, disappearing inside Neko's room. As he slides inside the covers, he ponders over the day's events. He'll get back at that count, with Martinette's help, so help him Dagh. He then remembers the wand fiasco, and shudders. One granddaughter is enough.

The Aelfin smiles at Jynx and his words before she heads off into the daughter's room. It has been a long time since she has slept in such a nice room, but it is a small comfort considering the day's events. At least Ashtoreth will be happy, and that thought makes her smile as she drifts off to sleep.