Brishen's room, as it would happen, is dominated largely by a peculiar and elaborate bed, a gathering of cushions and pillows shadowed by a sturdy wooden arch. An oddity, until one takes into account that the young bat to whom the room belongs can easily be found dangling from the ceiling as often as she is curled up amidst the cushions below. Today, this morning, the latter is the case and an ear, part of a wing and a few strands of hair are visible, poking out from under an elegant, if somewhat dishevelled, blanket.

There's a soft rustling of feathers as an alien creature leans over the bed, wondering how to wake up the bat without startling her. However it got into the room, it wasn't through the door.

Brishen's ear flicks faintly as she squeaks, muffledly. Or, rather, she says something in a questioning tone of voice that's thoroughly muted by her blanket.

Figuring that the squeak is a sign of impending consciousness, Envoy tries to tap on where she thinks Brishen's shoulder is under the blankets.

A blanket is slowly drawn down, enough to allow a sleepy face framed by a tangle of hair to emerge. Brishen blinks a few times in the soft light cast through the curtains drawn across the windows, and squeaks. "H-hello? Who is – " Her eyes brighten abruptly as she catches a glimpse of a wing. "Oh."

Envoy whispers, "Nobody knows I'm here. The Savanites are safely hidden, if a bit excited still. How are things with you and the Temple?" to the Eeee.

Brishen giggles faintly, muffledly, then quickly motions Envoy to sit next to her. She signs, hurriedly. "Oh, everything is terrible! Did everyone make it safely to – wherever. Just where did you take them?" She pauses then adds, "No, no, no. Don't tell me! I don't want to know yet."

Nodding, the Aeolun sits on the bed. "Did the Temple find the note from Amaranth and believe it?" she signs back.

Brishen glances over at her door to make sure it is quite thoroughly locked, then to her windows. "How did you g – Oh. I don't want to know." She shrugs, "I can't say they fell for it. I mean, it was a great caper, but the Temple's not stupid." She grins, "I'm really glad you're okay!"

Brishen bites her lower lip and continues, without figurative pause for breath. "Listen, you're not safe either. People have seen you around here. Eventually, questions are going to be asked."

Envoy blinks in surprise, and signs, "I've been here on official Temple business most of the time. Since I never reported seeing Amaranth, I don't see why they'd associate this with me. Popular opinion is that I'm a fool, otherwise I wouldn't be breathing still. Are they asking you for some other form of payment now, or will they investigate things further?"

Brishen tilts her head slightly. "They will, eventually. I'm not sure what yet. Degarde's going bald over all of this." She rubs her eyes a little, yawning. Her nightgown is rather pretty. "Yes you have, but you've also gotten into trouble in the past. You have a history." She grins, "I do too! It does mean they're likely to suspect things, even when they shouldn't."

The Exile considers this, then signs, "Will you need to disappear before the Savanites can be smuggled off of the island?"

Brishen looks at her hands for a long while before answering. "You might want to disappear, yourself. As for me, I can't leave until I know everything will be fine with the others. And Reico's still missing! Wires! I've been thinking about the letter my mother sent me. She bites her lip again, "He could be in the city for all I know. He might think I don't want to see him anymore."

"If I disappear, then the Temple will definitely get suspicious. They like to know where I am," Envoy signs. "If something happens to you, who do I need to contact about transporting the Savanites?"

Brishen sits up, wriggling around a little until she can find a comfortable spot for her wings. An ear swivels, slightly, towards the door. "I don't think either of us can leave just yet. Not without causing problems." She frowns, thinking.

Brishen pushes her sleeves up. They slide down to her wrists again. She sighs. "I'll pass word along that you're to be contacted if something happens to me. I doubt the information'll be received well, but it'll have to do."

Envoy hmms, and signs, "The contact is someone who knows me then?"

Brishen grins. "You aren't hard to miss. If you aren't known, you will be."

The Aeolun smirks slightly. "If necessary, I can impersonate you. A cloak and darkness hide much, and we're roughly the same build. I can sound just like you, as well. Still, I worry about the Temple doing a thorough search of this building. Do you think it is likely?"

Brishen glances at the Aeolun's wings. "I don't doubt your voice, but your wings are hard to hide. And you're white!" She grins, stifling a giggle, "I don't have a horn – " Her eyes narrow slightly, "You know, Envoy, maybe you should let me in on your secret. At the very least, the Temple will want to see if there's anything of value to take. No doubt, someone will see it as poetic justice."

Through the thickened walls, the sounds can be heard of footsteps down in the studio. Degarde's voice, muffled, says, "All right. What do you think the appraisal value would be for this set of metalware? Surely we can find cheap substitutes for the interim… "

Envoy pauses to consider things. If Brishen is taken away, she won't be able to find out where to bring Pathfinder's family or when. If the ambassador just vanishes, though, there's sure to be a more thorough search. "Okay," she finally signs, "but if you're being chased, you can't risk it." Envoy gets up and goes over to a corner of the room near the doorway, and reaches up to press on a section of the wall molding. Almost silently, a section of panelling near the ground swings outward slightly to reveal a crawlspace.

The Exile crawls in and closes the panel behind her on hearing the voices outside.

Brishen's eyes widen. "Get out! Quick!"

Brishen ducks under her blankets.

Brishen decides, after a moment, that she's too awake to pretend to be asleep, and walks out onto the balcony, leaving the windows open behind her. She wraps her arms around herself, leaving her hair to twine about in wild tangles behind her. The hem of her nightgown flutters and gathers around her ankles.

There are more sounds in the studio … but no indication that anyone is coming up the stairs, let alone coming to the bedroom. "Now, what about these vases? They all match rather nicely. Surely that would make them more valuable."

Brishen tilts her head slightly. Perhaps, to anyone watching out on the balcony, the young bat has heard a knock on her door. She walks back inside. After blinking for a few moments, she looks at where Envoy vanished, through the wall, then back towards the molding that the Aeolun had pressed. Neither is touched, but bright brown eyes look to see if there is any sign of the Aeolun's passage. Then, she looks around her room to make sure that nothing was left behind she'd need to explain later.

There are more sounds from the studio. "I have a message for the Ambassador," a voice says with a hard-to-place accent. "It's urgent. I need to see her immediately." The owner of the voice sounds like he's either short on breath, or putting on a good act of rushing all the way here.

"The Ambassador is recovering from the shock of yesterday's events," Degarde says, "but I'll send someone to check on her. Er … ah … nevermind. I'll do it myself."

Brishen blinks a few times, looking from the window to her bed and back again, then crumples in a heap on her bed, listlessly twirling a lock of hair around a finger.

A light rapping can be heard on the door a few moments later – just long enough for an ambassador's aide to head up the stairs in dignified fashion. "Ambassador? There's a guest for you. A Kiriga. He says he has an urgent message for you. And he says he owes you a shekel, too. Shall I let him in, or have him wait outside?"

Brishen sighs quietly. "Let him in, Degarde," she says, after a very pregnant pause.

Brishen straightens up a bit, gathering her hair behind her in a loose, messy tail, then floats, albeit figuratively, to a small desk where she gathers her nightgown around herself and sits.

There is another pause, accompanied by the sounds of departing and then approaching footsteps. At last, the door opens, letting in a vaguely reptilian creature, but with mammalian features as well – a Kiriga, with an eastern Imperial look about his garb. "Madame Ambassador," he says, bowing with both hands clasped together. "I apologize greatly for the intrusion, but I have been sent by a concerned friend of yours to check on your health."

Brishen smiles wanly. "Come in." She waves the Kiriga in with a single, languid movement of a slender hand. "Had I known of your arrival I would have attired myself in a more – formal fashion." She picks at the sleeve of her nightgown, then dips her chin slightly. "Please, sit down." She glances towards a chair.

The Kiriga sits down, and fidgets with his hands … until he pops one open to reveal a wooden coin, which he flips over to the bat. "For you." It's made of pine. "Repayment of a little debt. Don't spend it all in one place!" He makes a polite little laugh. "Anyway, ah … " He looks around, and silently mouths, "Safe to talk?"

Brishen tucks the shekel away, then lifts her hand slightly. "It depends on how you talk."

Brishen sighs quietly. "Well, as you can see I am quite alive. I do admit, however, that the past few days have placed quite a strain on me."

The Kiriga grins, and signs, "Ah. You're not bad." Aloud, he says, "So I've heard. I do hope the Temple will be kind enough to move you out of the graveyard now." Silently, he signs, "Or do you need some help moving out of here from another source? That shekel is for you to keep and show as a sign if you need help from the owner's friends. But don't let it be found on you if you're caught. Burn it, break it, EAT it if you have to."

Brishen sticks her tongue out. This looks rather peculiar, since she sighs languidly while doing it. "One can hope, though I imagine they will be quite content to leave us here." She brushes a lock of hair from her eyes, then squints at the Kiriga. "Eat it? I'll try to avoid that if I can."

Brishen continues, smirking. "It doesn't look good at all. Without the Savanites, I think the Temple is going to try to take the furniture out from under me. That's not important. What is important is that they're going to be very interested in the Embassy for a while."

The messenger says, "Well, if they do, they'll surely think about improving the security now." He signs, "My master is unable to return at this time. He has to save a family friend in the Empire. I'm to help take the Savanites off your hands. That is … if you haven't made prior arrangements. I can arrange for a vacation for yourself as well, if need be."

Brishen slumps, melodramatically. "Even that, I doubt." "The Captain-Astromancer told me that the Old City was – beyond the pale. 'Not within our bounds' were the words he used. I think that's interesting. Very." She glances towards the door. "The Savanites are safe. A friend is taking care of them. Someone known to us. Envoy. This might make a certain person choke on his locusts, but she has helped me and she is my friend."

The messenger says, "Well, the Temple has its ways. In any case, I am glad to see that you are in good health after all." He signs, "How can she be contacted? Or do you prefer to act as intermediary?"

Brishen continues, quickly. "I'll see Envoy again, soon. When I do, I'll need to know a safe place where the Savanites can be brought." She looks at her hands for a few beats of her heart then adds, "Somewhere near the Old City. Can you do this?" She brings a hand up to her forehead, sighing, "Once this all is over, I think I'll be fine again. I haven't left my room for long, since – since – " She snuffles once, faintly.

The Kiriga leans forward, patting Brishen on the shoulder. "There, there. You'll pull through this." "The warehouse beside the Grim Fandango would be ideal." He then proceeds to sign out directions and instructions on how to find and get past the guards.

Brishen takes a deep breath, nodding. "As for me, there's a problem. I can't leave. Not yet. I need to know that my assistants, Degarde, Sunrise and Snow-Ivy, will be safe when I am gone. There's also – " The breath is released in a faint shudder. "Reico. He's a courier your friends have probably seen near the Old City since the Embassy was placed here. He's very – dear to me. He's missing."

The Kiriga looks apologetic as he says, "I wish I could do something for you. I'll put in prayers to the Golden Serpent for you." Signing, he says, "I'm sorry, but that's not within the guidelines set by my master. Perhaps when you can speak with him in person."

Brishen's eyes watch the Kiriga as he signs the map. For her, it is not hard at all to remember where the warehouse is. She snuffles, mumbling. "Thank you. That means a great deal to me." "I understand. For now, it's important we get the eight out of Rephidim. I'll take care of my own. With luck, we'll meet in the City of Hands." She glances up at the Kiriga, then adds, "The time of his arrival isn't certain, is it?"

The Kiriga shakes his head. "Do not despair. The wisdom of the Golden Serpent guides all things, to bring them to good." He signs, "There is no telling. I cannot speak of his mission. Or sign." He smirks. "I will make arrangements at the warehouse."

Brishen nods, snuffling. It allows her to concentrate on the movement of hands through air. "Slater, one of the guards, is a friend. Envoy is also to be trusted. She is white, like a small Rhian with wings and a horn. An Aeolun. She won't be hard to miss. If something happens to me, she is the one to contact. When arrangements have been made to move the eight, I will let Slater know. It will be very soon."

Brishen furrows her brow slightly, as her hands dart across the space between herself and the Kiriga. "There's more. The Temple will be sending a spirit mage to investigate the area where the – ghost was seen. This could be a problem. Also, the Temple will have members of the Audit and Inquisition in and near the Embassy – When, I don't know. I imagine they're interested in my silverware. They will also be problems."

The Kiriga pats Brishen some more, "There, there." Then, he signs, "Understood. We'll be careful."

Brishen grins, snuffling. "Good. Let our friend know that I still need Savanite lessons. Degarde has taught me a lot, but he's – he's… There has got to be a faster way to sign." She wiggles her fingers and slumps tiredly, then smiles at the Kiriga.

The Kiriga smiles, and stands. "Well, I'll let you rest up some more, Ambassador. May the Serpent's Coils glow warmly upon you."

Brishen smiles, her voice faint and weak. "Thank you." She stands, making sure to scrape her chair along the floor a little more loudly than she normally would, then leads the Kiriga to the door. "It was good to see you again."

The Kiriga makes his exit, leaving the Eeee alone again. Degarde is not to be seen in the studio, nor his guest from earlier. There are some sounds from the kitchen. He's probably doing the dishes.

Brishen shuts the door, then leans against it and sighs. ( Now I know what it's like to speak in two voices. ) She rubs her fingers absently as she looks around her strangely-alien room. ( What other secrets does this old place have? I suppose I'll find out, soon enough.) She sheds her nightgown as she crosses her room, wriggling along the way into something more suited for the work ahead. The wooden shekel, her passage to uncertain freedom, is tucked in a small pouch close to her heart.

Brishen takes a deep breath, twirling about in a circle in the middle of the room, then darts out the door. It sounds like Degarde may need some help.