The black-furred Eeee, sitting on a narrow-backed chair, leans back, a wry half-smile on his face. "Forgiven, my lady." He closes his eyes for a moment.

The disguised lady poodle continues to look away from the bat. A fierce blush slowly fades away from her face, a creation of embarrassment formed from both her previous argument with Cyprian and his following touch. She breathes a sigh and then speaks off-topic, saying in the tone of one distracted with thoughts other than what they speak of, "Your hair has grown longer than I've ever seen it. I rather like it." After a pause, she amends, "But it could do with a comb."

The bat brushes a stray lock of hair out of his eyes, making a face. "Do you? I rather hate it." He tries to claw it into a semblance of order. "It's quite hopeless, I'm afraid. I would get it cut, but events have conspired against my barbers." He shakes his head. "One perished when the boomer struck, a second left the city when his family home was destroyed by looters, and my last one," he gives a meaningful smile to Elise, "was sent to Rephidim to stay with a kindly friend of her family, who offered her sanctuary from this violent city."

"I'm sorry to have stolen your barber, as well as her assistant," apologizes the woman with laughter in her voice. She turns her head back to face the man and she smiles with some effort. "I fear I may try and convince them to remain in my custody, or at least within the city. My returns would seem all the more quiet without their presence. It seems to me I am looking less and less forward to my return home with each passing mission. Though my beau has somewhat begun to make up for it."

Cyprian quirks an eyebrow. "Are your missions so enjoyable that home seems dull by comparison?" he asks, his words light but a hint of concern under them.

"No, my returns are more unsettling these days. My sister whom I thought to be hiding something from me, hence her reserve in her greetings upon my return … she may very well have simply begun to dislike me. It hadn't even occurred to me until a boring hour upon the airship left me with nothing but my own thoughts to review. I used to think I was in some way helping to protect my family. I realized that I have actually caused my sister more grief than good. I didn't want to believe the kidnapping was because of me, either, as a sort of revenge. I sorely did not want to believe it. But … I am beginning to. And if she knew, I could understand her displeasure with me. Among other reasons," explains the lady.

The mage's face sobers as Elise speaks. "I suppose I am scarcely in a position to comment on your sister. But this much I might offer – Liana has often written that she is sure it is only for love of you that the Lady Katherine agreed to take in my foundling relatives." He hesitates, as if considering saying something more. But he adds only, "I cannot imagine that she would hate you. You were the one who saved her, and it was not by your wish that she came to harm."

Elise smiles a bit at that and says, "You know she hates that I show any regard for the Eeee? When she took a rather wild leap of logic and deduced wrongly that I intended on marrying you," the lady here gives her own version of Cyprian's wry smirk, "of all things why she had been more angry than I had ever seen her. I eventually corrected her in this matter but surely some of that distaste for me remains. But I will heed your point and reconsider. Perhaps there is another matter troubling her; perhaps my original thought on the matter is correct." She gives a short bark of laughter. "If only I hated the Eeee, both the Eeee and my family would find things well and proper!"

Cyprian chuckles at this last. "All too true, I am afraid. Perhaps it is a pity our world cannot be so simply circumscribed." He pauses a moment, then adds, "Liana has also written that your sister is much changed since her ordeal; quieter and more withdrawn. Liana said that she often wishes there was something she could do to assuage her pain, but her abhorrence of my kind has only increased, as is only understandable."

The lady inclines her head to the mage's comment. "Yes," she agrees, "I had hoped Liana's and Keyni's presence would help ease Katherine's hate of the Eeee. But it hasn't, and I have since stopped trying to press the point with her. I too have little idea how to ease her pain. I can only imagine what occurred on that airship. Had I not already killed them all I would have made them suffer more dearly, one and all."

The Eeee nods, quiet and contemplative. "May Rephath find them in the Sea of Souls," he says, absently, in Babelite. It has the ring of a common saying.

"I'd rather be willing to believe Rephath would not be inclined to my justice," Elise remarks offhandedly. "If my sister was the whole of my problems at home I might count myself content enough. But as you have perhaps heard, Seline von Shanar has succeed her test and has become the first of the new knights. What you may not be aware of is that von Shanar and I were something of rivals in our academy days. In fact, to appease a haunting spirit I urged von Shanar to make public news of an illegal duel that one of her ancestors was party to, and caused her family some degree of shame for it. Of course the ghost would have likely drained dry her very essence if we hadn't stopped, but no, von Shanar left me that day with contempt and nary a thank-you. I am certain she hates me to this day, and I am equally certain she would do all in her power to deny me a second chance at knighthood."

Tilting his head slightly, Cyprian asks, "Did you not already decline the opportunity to test as a knight? I understood that you preferred to become an Executor."

"I had," answers Elise, "and I rue the day I did. Not that I haven't gained from my service as an Executor, mind you. I have learned a great deal I might not otherwise have had a chance to. And I am more confident in my skill with a sword than I have ever been. But for all that, I may have accepted the offer. Now it may be far too late. During the time of the tests I had recently returned with my sister from an admittedly badly executed rescue. My spirits were not high and my faith in my own skill was sorely lacking. I couldn't think myself ready and so I declined. And, well, I wanted a greater revenge. The deaths on the Siren's Tail did little to sate my desire to wreak vengeance on the sort who would do such I thing."

The bat mind mage nods. "But surely it is not too late to pursue your interest, if you wish to become one of Rephidim's knights instead. My lady has been through several different career postings in the time I have known her; I cannot imagine that your Temple will hold you back from another."

The lady cocks her head to the side at that. "Do you really think they'll agree? I fear they'll consider me too flighty if I continue changing careers. First Ones know the clerks must have my name upon their blacklist. And then there is von Shanar, who I'm sure would love nothing more than to ruin me somehow."

Cyprian inclines his head again. "Perhaps, and perhaps not. Is it not the will of your First Ones which are meant to judge these tests, and not the whims of their mortal servants?"

The lady gives Cyprian a look as if he might well have suggested she grow wings and flutter to the Procession. "The Temple is a religious body, my dear mage, but it is more of a government. The mortal servants are quite capable of judging me. But perhaps if I made the offer sweeter. If I provided for some reason to think giving me another chance was profitable to all concerned. If I am denied."

He chuckles. "All right, I will give up my vain attempts to understand your Temple's ways, with only a confession that that last smacks more of Babel than anything else. Perhaps our cultures are not so different as I thought. An unpleasant prospect; let us search for a happier topic. You have mentioned a new beau?"

The lady laughs as well. "Yes, let's move on, for that connection certainly depresses me just as much as it does you, I assure you. But yes, my beau. Let me see." Elise cocks her head thoughtfully as she considers the man, saying, "I believe you've met him. Ambassador Jean Dunbarre. He would be the man who made our lives difficult as we searched for the traitors amongst your fellows on Caroban. Or at least mine."

Cyprian blinks several times. "Ambassador Dunbarre?" He sounds incredulous. "You jest, my lady?"

"You'd think so," responds the lady as she tries to talk through another burst of laughter. "But no."

"Ambassador Dunbarre?" The mind mage struggles to regain his usual aplomb. "I … ah." He presses a hand to his forehead. "Forgive me, my lady, I cannot imagine it."

Elise reaches up and covers her mouth as she dissolves in to giggles. She proceeds to remain as so for a good few seconds. Finally she shakes her head and forces herself to regain some of her previous composure. "I think," she says as she eyes the mage teasing, "I am going to have to get used to answering such disbelief. But yes, him. I assure you he's much easier to relate to when he allows that act of his to rest. He's actually quite intelligent beneath his mask, rather charming, and I think perhaps a bit lonely. Something I can understand all too well."

"Once again, I shall defer to your greater expertise," Cyprian offers with an incline of his head. "I confess I regard myself as typically a good judge of character, but I must be much mistaken in Lord Dunbarre. I wish you and he all due happiness," he adds, sounding sincere.

"I'm sure you'll have a chance to see for yourself if our relationship continues on a good note. That is if you wouldn't mind an invitation. I would understand your declining of course. I'm not so certain I could be convinced to attend if it were the other way around. But then I possess quite a temper," says the lady, smiling.

"I would be honored, my lady," he answers simply. His eyes are gentle, and his expression does look pleased by the thought.

"Good," says the Executor. "I'm glad. Really this is much easier to say than I expected it would be. As silly as it might well seem to you I think for the longest time I couldn't convince myself to really open to anyone else for fear of betraying you somehow." Her smiles waxes bittersweet. She reaches over to pat the man's hand. "You'll always be my first love, though. I don't think I can forget you. First Ones, how could I? We're practically a Gallisian novel."

"Are we?" Cyprian turns his hand over to clasp hers, squeezing gently before releasing her fingers. "I suppose, after a fashion." He smiles again. "I must apologize if I am not living up to my part. Am I meant to go into a wild fit of jealous rage now? Or should I simply pine away and die?" he queries earnestly.

"Either one would have been sufficient for a book. However I would not appreciate the jealousy, nor would you have my blessing as to the matter of pining away and dying. And that may well show I am no Gallisian romantic lady either. Certainly not a one of them was an Executor." The lady's true smile returns and she runs her thumb gently over the mage's hand as if to comfort him. "Beyond that I think jealousy is my vice, not yours. Though you rather did show poor Leos up. I do hope he survived if he was indeed real; he seemed uncustomarily pleasant for a Babelite."

"Leos?" the mage looks momentarily at a loss, then he glances heavenward. "Ah yes. Lios. I am glad you found him pleasant. He was a great irritant to me, I will have you know." One finger strokes his jaw. "At least I did not strike him. Do you know … " He frowns in concentration. "I believe he was real. And I do not think he was one of those who perished. Perhaps he was about in the countryside somewhere." Cyprian shrugs. "If I am lucky, I will never know."

"You poor man. Having to defend my honor like that. I would have struck him if you preferred," she offers, then grins. "But let me see. What else has happened that you might be interested to know of? Secrets and Mystery are doing quite well at the estate. Though it may inspire you to further jealousy and or pining, Secrets has grown to become that third love of my life and I spoil him endlessly along with his opposite. I would spoil Keyni too, but I have been routinely prevented from it. And, oh," she reaches in to one of the many leather pouches on her belt and removes a single wrapped form, "I bought some of those statues they made in honor of the punishment of Rockmore. I'm afraid they amused me terribly. You should see mine. It's absolutely dreadful."

Cyprian shakes his head and covers his face with one hand, stray hairs falling around his fingers. "Thank you, no," he declines. "I have seen enough of them to last a lifetime."

The lady covers her muzzle again as another bout of laughter finds her. "Very well," she manages through her hand as she laughs, "I'll keep it to myself." The statue is thus replaced in her pouch and by the time she's done she has managed to let her laughter die down to a chuckle. "You know during my time here I saw something rather curious. I take it you know there's a flag of the Temple on the Tower? I had heard something of this but as it wasn't related to my mission I hadn't considered it much until now."

One green eye peeks out between the fingers of his hand. After verifying that the offending statuette has been safely hidden away, Cyprian drops his hand, and nods. "Yes. There are dozens of stories circulating on the subject, but the most credible has it that a group of Eeee invited in Temple support for their … movement? I can hardly call it a rebellion; that would imply Babel had a government to begin with. But these 'Rephidim loyalists' ousted the General, who had been keeping the Tower, if nothing else, under his command, and installed their own people along with the flag. I'm afraid I have no idea at this point what this will mean for Babel as a whole. Numerous other attacks and strange events keep filtering back. As for us, we huddle behind our tower walls and spells and hope there will still be a city left when it's over, whomever happens to win."

After a pause, he adds, "I cannot tell you how grateful I am that Liana and Keyni are safe on your estate in Rephidim, and nowhere near this nightmarish place."

"As far as I'm aware, the 'Rephidim Loyalists' have yet to gain the support of the Temple and quite frankly I am opposed to the idea. Babel as a whole would never permit Rephidim to rule it. It would be a disaster of management and resources, the woman says dismissively. "As for your Liana and Keyni, I am well and truly glad to see them safe. They are welcome to remain as long as necessary but if they must remain overlong I might need to insist on arranging them employment and housing within the city proper. My sister may well grow to truly detest me if I allow them to remain too long. And I don't believe Liana would wish to rely upon my good graces too long. She seems proud and inclined to supporting herself."

"She is," Cyprian acknowledges, with a trace of a smile. Something in his manner remains troubled, however. "She has grown accustomed to finding various preoccupations for herself. She wrote once that she was tempted to find gainful work but she feared… ," he pauses, his pleasant mask slipping a little farther to betray his unease, before he finishes, "embarrassing you."

"I'm quite capable of embarrassing myself these days, so no need to worry about that. Now tell me," the lady raises a brow and leans forward a little, "why ever would she fear that?"

"Ah, well, I think the gossips of Rephidim would find it reflects poorly on your household's hospitality if one of your guests took in work as a washerwoman or a nursemaid," he quips in answer. The sentiment is accurate enough, but Cyprian looks no more relaxed for having said it.

The lady gives a very un-lady-like snort. "Really. Indeed. The gossips of Rephidim are a group of useless half-wit leeches who couldn't benefit society if the First Ones themselves had appeared and described the means in detail to them." The woman gives a roll of her eyes followed by a shake of her head. "If I cared a beggar's promise what the gossips thought I would never have gotten this far. If she really worries so very much, I can see her trained for a better position, even something in the Temple, but if she is content in knowing, I do not writhe to think a washerwoman lives in my home then she may feel free to seek what work she chooses. Really! Only a holiday ago I was in a Himar dive for a mission. I'm no one to look down upon a washerwoman."

"It is very kind of you to say as much, my lady," Cyprian replies. "I … " He sighs again. "I am glad to hear that you do not care what the gossips think or say, because I fear that, in light of that curse we investigated earlier, they will have much worse to say than that." He rubs at his nose, and irritably pushes another lock of hair away from his eyes. "Specifically, they will have much worse to say about Liana and Keyni. If my lady will allow me a moment to explain?"

"Please elaborate. And know I care far more for Liana and Keyni than the approval of gossips," replies the woman.

The black-furred Eeee lets out a long breath. "First, allow me to apologize for not informing you of this earlier. I did not think Liana would be gone so long, and until today I did not think this scurrilous bit of gossip would ever find the wings and stamina to fly to Rephidim. But … be that as it may." He waves one hand aside. "Kindly Ones, but there is no good way to put it. In Babel, it is commonly believed that Liana is my mistress and Keyni my son," he says, rather flatly, and winces at his own words. "It is not true."

One of Elise's brows steadily climbs until the woman has a almost comical expression of interest and surprise. "I see," she says uncertainly, sounding quite at a loss for what else she could possibly say to that.

The woman clears her throat and adds, "Even were it true, I wouldn't revoke my protection."

Cyprian studies her reaction intently, searching her face for signs of disbelief. At her final comment, he blinks several times. "You would not?" He sounds more surprised than she did at the revelation. "That – my lady – " He flounders, at a complete loss for words. The Eeee mage bows his head. "My lady is much too kind," he finishes at last.

"No, I'm not," Elise says flatly. "I've done some terrible things in my time, and 'kind' would not be very accurate at all. I understand and I am not so very inclined to judge the faults of the people I care about as much as I may have once been. I care about you a great deal and if it were true I might well be unsettled but I would not revoke my protection. I would still care about Keyni, and I would still help Liana. Though I perhaps couldn't look at her quite the same again. I am not fair, either, incidentally." The woman frowns suddenly as she finishes and glances away to stare thoughtfully off in to the distance. "And now that you mention it I fear the rumor has reached Rephidim. I overheard talk of something I suspect was it during a party at the de Medici estate. And if it was there it has likely filtered everywhere by now."

The mage winces again. "I am most sorry to hear that, my lady," he replies, contritely. "I may assure you that there is no truth to the rumor whatsoever … but I am afraid that there is little I can do to squelch it, either. It is a bit of fiction, a conclusion that she and I have allowed people to jump to for the last several years, as … safer, than the truth. Safer in Babel, in any case. At the time, it did not seem to us that it would matter, whatever people thought."

The Executor tilts her head curiously. "'Safer than the truth,' Mage Cyprian?"

"Yes." He offers nothing more.

After studying the mage for a moment the lady relents, remarking only, "I see. I shall hope then that your belief holds true in Rephidim as well. I would hate to think you are keeping anything I should know from me. Anything dangerous."

"My lady," Cyprian answers, quietly, "I have been keeping dangerous secrets all my life. Telling them would not make anyone safer, not you, or me, or those we love. I realize that you do not fear the power of the Lady of Secrets, but I do. This is the worst possible time for me to divulge anything dangerous."

"I see your point. Very well, I will not ask any further for the time being. You must forgive my Inquisitor's curiosity," Elise says.

The black bat releases a breath he did not know he was holding. "Nothing to forgive, my lady. It is I who must apologize for my own boundless paranoia. I thank you, once again, for your patience." He stands in order to bow to her.

The woman looks about ready to protest this latest compliment but seems to reconsider after a moment of considering the bat. Instead she smiles faintly and nods. "To change the topic, as you are likely aware, Mage Cyprian, if I am permitted to journey upon my quest for knighthood, I will need to form an expedition into the wilds of our world. Would you care to join me? Or perhaps recommend a mage? I may well need one."

The mage re-seats himself, raising an eyebrow. "Indeed? What sort of quest are you planning on, that you expect the need of a student of the Sphere of Mind?" he inquires, curiously.

"I would need to locate a hereto-unknown Sifran site and procure lost relics as an example of my faith, bravery, and skill. As of current, not many have succeeded. I intend to try and learn from their mistakes if at all possible and invest in people with more skill than noble-born leadership and good intentions. It would be dangerous, and it would be well documented," explains the disguised Gallee.

"I see, my lady. I fear I am no expert on Sifran artifacts. A Chaos mage might, conceivably, suit your needs best – they tend to be strong in theoretical subjects. If you could find one sufficiently stable to manage the journey without causing any untoward disasters, that is," Cyprian answers, shaking his head a little.

"I will have to consult Dean Fyiara, I think. I do understand your point. I have met your local, ah, Queen of the South Marches and the Golden Realm," agrees the woman.

"Southron Marches," he corrects, with a joking smile. "Her Grace, believe it or not, is one of the more reliable and trustworthy among the Chaos mages. Dean Fyiara would be an excellent choice, but I doubt you will be able to pry her away from her work on Caroban. The High Council likes to keep its deans handy at all time. I would not wish to deter you from trying, however."

She smiles in remembrance. "I would be more than pleased if Dean Fyiara would join me. Remarkable. I rather like her. I can't for the life of me quite explain why, but there it is. I shall have to ask her if she would be interested in making the journey as a guest. Not a hireling, mind you; I don't think the estate could afford the possibly several holiday-long attentions of a dean of Caroban. I would be quite satisfied with someone else provided they are, as you say, quite sane. A scryer, too, would also work I should think."

"If the quest is one of sufficient interest and merit, you might lure her along," Cyprian concedes. "She's quite an avid researcher, and I suspect she would welcome the opportunity to do some field work. Getting the High Council to go along, on the other hand… " He shrugs his shoulders. "Ah well, no need for my speculation. In any case – in answer to your earlier question, should the specifics of your chosen mission suggest that a mind mage would be useful, please consider me at your disposal. It is not as though my services are presently in high demand here; I daresay the Guild would do fine without me for several Spheres."

"Grand. I would be well pleased to have one or better yet the both of you. It would ease my mind more than you may know to have my friends nearby as I journey to fulfill my quest and become a knight. It certainly would make the journey more rewarding." The Executor slides her cane from her lap and uses it to help herself as she begins to stand. "It's a good thought. More pleasant than many I've had of late, and a better future than I've planned for. You've definitely given me something to think about Mage Cyprian. Your counsel has been well received."

The mage gives a little bow, without rising from his seat. "I am pleased to have been of service, my lady. I must confess my own pleasure at your visit this evening. It is delightful to sit and talk with you again."

The woman smiles at that as she settles her hands upon her sword-cane, shifting her weight upon it. "I shall hope the journey requires your presence. I should enjoy your council upon the journey, as much as I have today." She glances off towards begins to turn in that direction when she pauses to glance at the mage. "Would you be a dear and help me to the door?"

"Of course, my lady." He rises and offers her hand to help her up. "I am still glad to be of assistance to you, if not quite so glad to be assisting you to the door," he finishes, with a quick grin.

She returns his grin and after he has opened the door the Executor pauses again. This time she leans forward and gives the bat a peck on the cheek. "Thank you, Cyprian," she whispers, then draws back in to the hall where she hobbles off and away to make her journey home.

After she pulls away, Cyprian lingers by the doorway, resting his shoulder against the frame. "Safe journeys, Elise," he says to her back, too softly for her to hear. His green eyes glow with a light that has nothing to do with magic.