6 Midsummer, 6107 RTR (Mar 22, 2006) Olivia delivers the play clothes for Kalila, Amy tells Inaya about Erik, and Miranda shows up to collect Kalila for the day.
(Amelia) (Gunther) (Miranda) (Olivia) (Stonebarrow) (Sylvania) (The Return of Valicross)
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    Cabin Living Room
    The living room of the rental cabins 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.

It's a day after the running around and visiting with the gypsies and Amelia's narrow escape from the corrupting claws of Liliana. Amelia finds herself sitting in the living room of the cabin rented to Lady Inaya. Her early morning was spent dealing with Erik and the mayor as she laid out the current plan to try and keep the visitors away from the dam. Erik, ever one to seize the chance of tourists spending money, told Amelia to inform Lady Inaya that he would be paying a visit that evening. So now, Amelia waits for Lady Inaya, who apparently is still making herself decent  for visitors. The two tigers simply stare at the Kadie.

Amelia tries to smile to the bodyguards, hoping they don't take it as a threat. It's an odd situation, not being the intimidating one for a change. "So… are you two related?" she asks, trying to make small-talk.

"Yes," they answer in unison. Then the one Amelia thinks is Azar continues, "We were sold into servitude by our father to pay for his debts. We were later bought by Lady Inaya's household to protect it."

The Kadie ponders this for a moment. Standard isn't her first language, and it probably isn't for the tigers either, so she asks, "When you say 'sold into servitude' do you mean a work contract, or slavery?"

"Slavery, Lady Blacktail," Azar answers honestly. "It is common practice."

Amy isn't sure how to be tactful, so she just says, "Slavery is outlawed in Sylvania. Uh… I'm not sure about Gallisian law though."

"We are not Sylvanians," Azar replies bluntly. "We have had it better than most. Most male Khatta such as us are made into eunuchs, so they will be safe in households. Lady Inaya's family chose to trust us, instead, and left us intact."

About this moment Olivia pokes her head through the door and asks politely, "Am I interrupting anything?" Upon seeing Amelia chatting with the tiger guards, she gives them a smile that includes all three.

"Oh, do you have families of your… oh, hello Olivia!" Amy says, getting up to hug the Skeek in greeting.

"No, we do not," Azar replies. The tiger then dips his head in greeting to Olivia. "Good morning, Miss Weaver. We were not expecting you to call today."

Olivia comes all the way through the door to hug Amy back, although the gesture is somewhat hampered by the large parcel in her hands that is tied neatly with red ribbon. Then she bobs a quick curtsy to Azar. "Good morning to you! I'm here to present Lady Kalila's play clothes to her and her mother for their approval. I just finished them last night."

"Ah, then you are just in time," comes the voice of Lady Inaya from the far door. The Khatta walks through the doorway dressed in golden zolk. Not a hair, whisker, or seam is out of place. Her gray fur also shines in the mix of lamp and sunlight. "Lady Miranda Chalk should be by any time to pick up Kalila for the day."

Olivia jumps a little at Inaya's sudden entrance but manages to recover in time to give her a curtsy, too. "Good morning!" she chimes.

"Good morning to you as well, Miss Weaver," Lady Inaya says with a smile. The sound of her voice is still right on that edge of creepy, so close and yet so different, to Natasha's. "What do I owe you for the clothing?"

There is a light, polite rapping on the doorframe, quickly followed by the head of a dark-haired Lapi, ears first. Miranda takes a quick look about at the people in the room before coming the rest of the way in, nodding politely to Lady Inaya and everyone else, and not wanting to interrupt the current conversation.

Lady Inaya motions for the Lapi to enter. "Please enter, Miss Chalk. Miss Weaver and I were just finishing some small business," she tells her.
Amy smiles in greeting to Miranda.

Miranda nods pleasantly once more to the Lady, feeling more than a little awkward around the noble as well as both guards. "Ah, thank you Mith Inaya. I didth not want to interrupt your converthation. Hullo Olivia, Amy… " she says, smiling back at the Kadie.

Olivia turns and gives the Lapi girl a quick, welcoming smile and wave before telling Inaya, "The bill of sale is included in the top this bundle, Lady Inaya." As she hands it over to the Khatta, she adds, "You can pay me now or whenever I next see you, as you like! There are two outfits included, one with a skirt and one with loose pants, in complementary colors. That way the pieces can be mixed or matched as needed."

Inaya takes the bundle of clothing and walks over to a small side table. Carefully, she unfolds it and examines each piece carefully, then the bill of sale. "Tsk, Miss Weaver, you do not value your services enough. A proper merchant should start high and bargain low," she chastises the mouse. The feline reaches into the folds of her robes and produces a solid copper shekel. She offers it to Olivia, adding, "This is payment for the clothing, and for any repairs it may need during our stay. I hope you find this acceptable?"

Olivia tries very, very hard to keep her eyes from widening to three times their normal size. She bobs another curtsy to the Khatta and says quite seriously, "Yes, I find it… er, very acceptable indeed. I'm glad my work pleased you." Then she takes the copper shekel and places it carefully into the inside pocket of her rose hat.

Amelia blinks at the sign of visible wealth, which seems more impressive to her than the two tiger slaves.

The dark-haired Lapi's jaw drops briefly at the coin, exposing her broken tooth, before she very quickly shuts it, hoping that no one noticed.

"Then the deal is concluded. I am certain the Gods have smiled upon both of us," Lady Inaya says with a smile. "Now, Miss Chalk, do make yourself comfortable. Azar, fetch Lady Kalila, please," she tells the tiger. The tiger bows, then heads out of the room.

Miranda nods to the Khatta and finds herself a seat near Amy and Olivia.

"Lady Inaya, I've spoken to the Mayor and Lord Erik about your request to visit the dam," Amelia says. "Erik will pay you a visit later today to discuss it, if that is alright?"

"Lord Erik? Do, please tell me about your ruler," Inaya remarks and settles herself down into a chair and places her hands lightly into her lap. "Is he a charming man? Wise and tall of stature?"

Amelia rubs the back of her neck and looks to her fellow town-folk briefly before replying. "Well, he's tall and dark, certainly," the Kadie says. "And he's a scholar, which I suppose makes him wise in some way. He's… likable."

Blinking, Miranda silently wonders to herself why a Noble Lady would want to visit the dam in the first place? She gives an internal shrug and contents herself to listen for the moment.

Olivia hides a smile behind one hand before adding, "I'm sure you'll find him interesting to talk to, at any rate. He's full of ideas – many of which he's willing to discuss with everyone!"

"Yes, he's very keen on education," Amy adds, with only half a smirk.

"Ah, a scholar? I would figure any Lord out in these lands would have to be a gallant knight and slayer of many monsters," Lady Inaya remarks with a smile. "Will his wife be attending as well?"
"I dont thhink he'th married, Mithh," Miranda pipes up, not really knowing much about the 'Lord' herself. She was usually more focused on errands and things.

"Definitely not married," Amelia agrees, thinking to herself: what woman would put up with his mother?

Olivia pats Amelia fondly on the shoulder and says to the room in general, "No, Erik isn't quite the monster-slaying type. We just leave that sort of thing to Amelia here!"

"To Amelia? Ah, then perhaps she would be the perfect wife for him. A warrior and a scholar. It would be the stuff of many romance novels," Lady Inaya notes. "Those are quite popular back in Abu Dhabi. Not my cup of tea, though."

"Err," Amy says, feeling a bit embarrassed for some reason. "Lord Erik is more of a thinker, ma'am… and he's a Gallee, of course. Erik von Richebeau, son of a Chevalier."

"Ah, did he anger his father, then, and get sent here as punishment?" the Khatta inquires.

"Not… quite," Amy replies. "This land was granted to his father, but the Chevalier… suffered an accident that leaves him unfit to manage things. So the duty fell upon young Erik."

"What sort of accident?" Lady Inaya asks. She stares at Amelia intently.

"He was apparently turned into a hog," Amelia says, bluntly. "Although the Lady von Richebeau is sure he'll snap out of it any day now, thinking he's just being stubborn."

The quiet Lapi blinks at the Lady Inayas comment about Erik, feeling just slightly insulted that her first thought was that the man was sent there out of punishment… Sylvania wasn't that bad.

"See? This is why the college is intent on eliminating all those horrible witches and warlocks. To prevent innocent and righteous rulers from such terrible fates," Lady Inaya says and wags her finger at Amelia.

The Kadie stares at the wagging finger for a moment, then just nods slowly. "Ah, yes. Although really it's for the best if the good Chevalier stays being a hog. It works out better that way for all concerned."

"It is a pity I am so far from home. I would have paid for the best mages to see to his care. But, ah well. Such is the way the Gods wish," Inaya says with a slight shrug. "Now, is there anything else that you wish to speak to me about?

"Oh, the Lady von Richebeau would never truck with mages, ma'am," Amy explains. "If you meet her, please don't even mention the possibility. Gallisian nobility is very disdainful of magic." After a moment she also replies, "Well, I think Erik is going to ask you about perhaps having a formal ceremony in town, instead of going out to the dam. He's very big on having festivals and such."

Inaya is about to reply and at that moment, the large Azar returns and announces in a rather booming voice, "May I present, Lady Kalila." From behind the huge feline, all the guests can see Kalila rolling her eyes at the tiger.

For the second time in as many minutes, Olivia hides another smile with her hand before bidding the young Khatta good morning, too.

Miranda immediately looks in the direction of the announcing voice and gives the young feline a small wave, and a smile, though its hard to keep it from being a humorous one.

"I hope you've been having fun, Kalila," Amy says, then adds, "… as appropriate for a young noble," to placate Inaya a bit.

"Azar, you do not have to be so loud," Lady Inaya chastises the large feline, sounding mildly annoyed, "Continue to interrupt my guests and I will have to see about having you adjusted." But, Kalila now interjects to stop her mother and says, "Good morning, everyone." The little feline curtsies.

Olivia really wants to ask how someone could ever 'adjust' a huge, hulking tiger guard, but says instead, "So, just what do you two have planned for the day, anyway?" She looks politely over at the Lapi girl, giving her the chance to jump into the conversation if she desires.

"I want to explore a castle. Have an adventure and fight monsters," Kalila declares to the room. "Now Kalila, that is not proper for a young lady. Young ladies to not climb around in dirty castles and fight monsters. That is left for the more common, and the noblemen," Lady Inaya chastises the little girl.

Amelia just bites her lower lip rather than comment.

Miranda scratches her head and smiles at the Khatta girl. She pauses to look at Olivia, and then Inaya, a little bit wary after that chastisement. "Ah, I wath hoping to thow her around a bit more and tell her about thome of the legendth of Thtonebarrow… Maybe thow her thome simple games to play? If that ith alright of courthe."

Inaya nods her head to Miranda. "That would be most acceptable. I only ask you do not expose her to dangers, such as monsters or witches, please. She is headstrong and doesn't need any other foreign ideas making her more so," she says.

Th Lapi ahhs, quickly replying, "Well… I thertainly wouldn't want to go near any monthterth mythelf… " After some of the vehement comments about witches from the noble she decides not to mention Morgan…

Inaya motions towards the clothing on the table. "Kalila, please get dressed in your play clothes, then," the older Khatta instructs. The little girl curtsies and collects the clothing, then slips off into the kitchen to change.

Thinking of play clothes, Amelia's mind jumps sideways for a moment. "Pardon me for asking, Lady Inaya, but do you or your sla-… your attendants swim?" she asks.

Inaya looks at Amelia quizzically. "They do. It is an odd habit of that particular bloodline. Distasteful, if you ask me, but they enjoy it. Why do you ask, Miss Blacktail?" she asks.

"Oh, just curious, since you come from a dry land," Amy says, wondering how much the information will be worth to the Akwavi. "If you like, I can have one of the Oggtons come 'round to guide them if they want to try the swamp. We have a reservoir that's safer, but while the dam is being repaired it probably wouldn't be open to visitors."

"Mmm, I will consider it. I have heard rumors about the otters of these parts," Inaya remarks. "Speaking of the dam, you said it was off-limits to me?" She sounds disappointed.

"Ah, I said Erik would like to discuss it with you," Amelia says. "With repairs going on, it's a very dangerous place, and there are issues of community security to consider… "

"So, your town considers me a threat?" Inaya asks next. Her cool blue gaze locks on Amelia, unwavering.

 Again Miranda has to wonder why the Lady Inaya is so keen to see the dam in the first place.

"Umm, it's not that, Lady Inaya," Amy says quickly, and tries to think of a better way to explain things. "It's just… well… if Kalila was hurt and being tended to by healers, you wouldn't let a bunch of strangers come and gawk at her, would you?"

"Only if they were family," Inaya admits and smiles apologetically. "I apologize for misunderstanding, Amelia. The town square will be adequate for my purposes. I am not planning anything big, of course. Those I learned were involved I brought things for. Those I learned when I arrived were involved, well, I will also do something for."

Amelia relaxes just a little bit. "Maybe when it's safe, a visit could be arranged," she suggests.

"Well, I do not know if I will be here long enough for that," Inaya says with a smile. Kalila returns, now dressed in her 'Olivia Original (tm)' attire. The kitten looks entirely too pleased to be out of the showy and very girly zolk robes.

Olivia turns and surveys her handiwork on the young Khatta. "Very nice! I'm glad to see everything fits you properly… you did wiggle around a bit while I was taking your measurements," she chides gently, to clearly show that she is teasing.

Kalila huffs and crosses her arms over her chest. "It tickled," the kitten insists. "And all those bunnies hopping around didn't help."

"She shouldn't attract too much attention this way," Amelia says, nodding in approval.

"She looks so … common," is Inaya's opinion.

Olivia hmms and smiles, not looking entirely convinced by this. "Got the 'hopping fever,' eh?" she says, amused.

"Well, it's distracting. She hops when she chases them," Kalila says and points over to Miranda. "It makes her ears flap."

"Hopping is fun!" Amy notes. "There are all sorts of hopping games, like Toad on Top and Chalk Shuffle and… well, Miranda can teach you about that."

"I don't like toads," Kalila says and wrinkles her nose. "They're slimy and they pee on you."

Miranda smiles at the kittens new attire and then blinks at the comment, giving a small chuckle, "Well Kalila, that'th not really thomething I kin help. And yeth! I would love to teach yew thome gameth, I know quite a few. And thereth no real toadth in that game… " She replied with more than a trace of humor.

"Good. There won't be any boys too, right? They like to stick slimy things down my shirt," Kalila notes and shivers. "Boys are icky."

Raising a finger to her lips, Amy whispers to the kitten, "Oh, try not to insult toads, or the Frog Prince might hear you. And if any boys try something like that with you, you just kick 'em in the… adjustables."

"A FROG PRINCE!" Kalila yells loudly. The kitten then dashes and hides behind Azar. "No frog princes! I will not kiss a frog!"

"Oh, you don't have to be afraid!" Amy promises. "I'm the Frog Princess for the rest of the year, so he wouldn't dare ask someone else to kiss him."

Kalila ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwws. "YOU kiss frogs?" she asks, eyes wide. "Ew, ew, ew, ew, ew! Miss Blacktail's boyfriend is a frog!"

Inaya tries to smile politely. "I'm sure Miss Blacktail is just kidding. There is no such thing as a frog prince, surely," she says.

Something very much like a strangled snorting sound comes from Olivia, who quickly smothers it by pressing her lips tightly together. When the moment has passed, she turns to Amy and says, "Well, er… do you think we should all get going now? I'm sure Kalila would like to start learning all those Lapi games and we do have things to attend to today!"

Amy puts a hand to her forehead and closes her eyes. "It's not like that… I didn't kiss him, I hit him with my broom… it's complicated."

The Kadie nods to Olivia, grateful for the chance to escape…

Inaya eyes Amelia suspiciously now. "A broom? Are you a witch, Miss Blacktail?" she asks.

Miranda rolls her eyes to herself when she feels no one is looking specifically in her direction before piping up, "No, it ith part off a fethtival where we collect frogs, set them looth and then chathe them out of town with broomth… " she says trying to give Amelia a break.

"It's in honor of a heroic girl who fought off a monster," Amy adds.

Miranda simply omits the actual frog prince for the moment from her description, nodding along with Amy's addition. The Kadie could explain that to Inaya later… if she still wanted to attempt it of course.

"Ah. Good. I do not wish my daughter associating with witches," Lady Inaya says firmly. She then stands and curtsies to the group. "I believe I heard Miss Weaver say you are leaving? If so, then I wish all of you a good day and that the Gods smile upon you."

"Thank you, Lady Inaya, for your hospitality," Amy says, standing and giving a little bow.

Olivia curtsies in return and says, "Good day to you, Lady Inaya! Please let us know when the arrangements for meeting in the town square are complete and when we should attend."

The Lapi like-wise stands and gives a small, polite bow, saying, "Yuth, good day, and I will be thure to take good care of watching your daughter."

Inaya curtsies again and says, "Thank you for entertaining my daughter." The Khatta turns and disappears elsewhere in the cabin. Within a few minutes, the group is standing outside. Kalila is peering around curiously and muttering something that strangely sounds like 'toad'.

Switching back to Sylvanian, Amy asks Miranda, "Has the girl been behaving, and have any otters shown up trying to tempt her away with fish… or have any strange shrubs appeared to be following you?"

Olivia quickly remembers her time in Gunther's cage and adds, also in Sylvanian, "Oh yeah – if you do see any strange shrubs around while Kalila's with you, and they appear to have Kadie tails attached… er, don't poke them. Gunther's set up shrub-related traps now! I should know, I fell in one yesterday!"

"We have got to get Gunther a girlfriend," Amy mutters.

While speaking more quickly in Sylvanian, Miranda's speech is still slurred by her dental imperfection, "Actually, the young kitten hath been behaving pretty well. A little rambunctiouth, but what elthe can you expect? I'm hoping that some gameth and thtorieth will entertain her, though, unlike her mother I don't mind letting her run about a bit, tho long ath thee thtays in thight. Um… We didn't run into any otterth latht time, tho I haven't theen any evidenthe of that, though once or twice I thought I thaw a buthh move… but could haff been my imagination."

Miranda makes sure not to mention Kalila's name in her explanation, so the Khatta girl would not be offended thinking they were talking about her.

Olivia fixes Amy with twinkling eyes and replies, "Actually, that may be possible! Gunther's asked to me try and fix him up on a date with Nene. Do you know if she likes him or not? I kinda got the feeling she does, but my interpretation of otter body-language might be a bit off."

"Nene is pretty intense at times, so she might like that about Gunther," Amy admits. "I could ask her to see if it's worth a try to hook them up… "

Olivia nods and thanks her friend, but her eyes are now wandering to something she sees on one of the cottage's windows. She gives the other two a 'go-on-with-your conversation' gesture and starts edging around the corner of the cottage – carefully, and trying to make as little noise as possible.

"Best not mention that copper coin to anyone either," Amy whispers to the Lapi, while watching Olivia try to be sneaky.

Miranda blinks quickly in curiosity as she also seems to have noticed something. Looking at Olivia curiously as she starts to sneak around, she looks reluctant to go at the gesture from Olivia, but nods, and again to Amy, whispering back, "Yuth, I know."

Just around the corner Olivia can spot a crate. The string Olivia is following goes around the crate. While she can't see what is behind the crate, she can sure see a shadow moving on the ground.

Kalila seems more or less oblivious to the goings-on. She seems more interested in watching the people moving around in the nearby town streets.

Amelia pauses once they reach the side of the Toad and Peach Tavern, out of sight of the cottage. "I wonder what Olivia is looking for?" she says to Miranda.

Olivia steps as silently as she can over to the crate, trying to peer at whoever – or whatever – is behind it. If this is Gunther sneaking around again, he's not going to get the chance to design that new security system before I kill him, she thinks grimly.

It's amazing how often the cause of the problem is Gunther. On the other side of the crate Olivia can plainly see the Kadie now. He's crouched down with what looks like jugs strapped over his ears. His expression is a mixture of what could be described as concentrating and constipated. He's scribbling on a notepad and muttering. "Hoopa-joopa, fibble? What is that supposed to mean?"

Scratching her head once they pause, Miranda explains to Amelia, "I think thee found a thneak… there wath a thtring thingy attached to tha window of tha cabin."

After rolling her eyes heavenward and cursing silently a few good times, Olivia creeps back to the strange object and attempts to peel it quietly from the window.

"A string?" Amy wonders, looking perplexed.

Once she has the cup-thingy in hand, the Skeek takes a deep, yet quiet breath – then screams as loudly as she can into it, "GUNTHER KETTENRAD WINGNUT, YOU STOP THIS SNOOPING AROUND BEFORE I SET THE TIGER GUARDS ON YOU!!"

Miranda says, "Yuth, it had thort of a um… " she pauses to think of a description, "A shuction cup thingy on tha end attached to tha window."

There's this huge crashing sound from behind the crate! Papers and bits of stuff go everywhere as Gunther Kettenrad leaps about ten feet straight up then runs around in a circle as he tears off the jugs from his ears. "OW!" he yells.

Hearing the commotion, Amy just leans back against the wall of the building, and says, "Oh… Gunther and his gizmos."

Olivia runs around the corner of the cottage again with the cup still in her hand, but bloody murder in her eyes. Somehow, Gunther might not want to stick around to see if she'd actually carry out such a deed.

Alas, no, he doesn't. The Kadie is already scrambling to get his papers back together, then runs off holding his head. He's probably going to have a really bad headache for a while.

The Lapi blinks at the rather calm statement from Amelia, making sure to keep an eye on Kalila while replying, "Heeth tha one yew were talking about who maketh tha walking butheth right?"
Kalila just watches the spectacle. "Hey! It's the bush guy again. Why is he holding his head?" she asks and points at the disappearing Gunther.

"Yeah, he's very suspicious of strangers," Amelia notes. "And also of friends, for that matter."

Olivia growls and gathers up the rest of Gunther's listening apparatus so that he won't have the chance to use it again. Or at least he won't be able to use this particular model again, anyway.

Amy, not really knowing why Gunther is holding his head, tells the kitten, "He probably stuck it someplace he wasn't supposed to."

Shrugging herself, Miranda agrees with Amy's explanation, commenting, "Yuth, yew have to be careful about that around here thometimeth."

Thinking, the Kadie mutters, "Hmm, Gunther and Nene. Nene with gadgets… or Gunther with actual spying skills. Maybe we shouldn't get them together after all… "


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GMed by Jared

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Today is 14 days after Candlemass, Year 29 of the Reign of Archelaus the First (6128)