It's late in the afternoon when Zoltan returns. He's made a point of leaving Jezebel up in the tower and instructing the 'vartans' there to not let her leave. He hated lying to the Savanite, but managed to come up with an excuse about wanting to get the picture of Shokar from the cabin to show the other Vartans… and that he'd be right back.

The Vartan is quickly ushered towards his cabin after being told that the Zerda healer is there waiting for him. Now he has his one chance at telling his friend the truth. The Vartan nervously raps on the door.

Roho stands up, blinking sleep from his eyes, "Who's there?"

The door slowly creaks open. "Is me, doctor. You alone in heres?" Zoltan scrawks.

Roho nods, "Zoltan, yes, come in. And close the door. I'm sorry for having to meet you like this, but something has come up."

Zoltan shuts the door behind him and seats himself in front of the Zerda. "What happens? Cannibals attack ship while I was gone?"

Roho shakes his head, "No, nothing on the island. Wynona got word from the outside, through some message from the College. Don't ask me how it works; I don't know."

Zoltan's ears perk. "Oh! They know we here? Is rescue coming?"

Roho rubs his temples, unsure of where to begin, "Well. I guess I'll be perfectly blunt, right off. The large news is, Rephidim and Babel are now at war."

Roho shakes his head, "Rescue's not coming. The college doesn't spend airships looking for lost pupils. However, someone is looking for us."

Roho rasps, "Apparently, we are enemies to both sides. Rephidim considers us traitors, for joining an Eeee crew, and Babel considers Boghaz an enemy."

The Vartan erks at the news of war, although the threat of it had always been looming. Babel and Rephidim were never on good terms. "But… if they no rescue, then what… hrr… the Temple? Temple find us?"

Roho shakes his head, "Not the Temple. Zoltan, I have to ask you a couple of questions, and if you can't give me honest answers, please tell me. I understand, and I won't press the matter, but I think it's very important."

Zoltan makes a nervous rumbling noise. "I think I know what you going to ask me… and I promise, I not lie. Is been lying enough to you lately… "

Roho nods slowly, "That's past. First, did you steal something from a Rephidim noble? Tipho, or Titus, or some name?"

"Yes. Was Titus. He had crystal hands that I needed to find island with, he take them from City of Hands when I go there with expedition he send out," Zoltan replies.

Zoltan squawks, "No gots them anymore. I gave back to Savanites in City of Hands… since that who they belongs to in first place."

Roho nods again, "Well, that explains one thing. There is a bounty on us, and an airship has left Rephidim to find us. Hired by the noble. Of course, that's of little concern now; they're unlikely to find us here, and if they do, they'll be little better of than we."

There's a soft gasp from the Vartan. A bounty… oh Dagh.

Roho rasps, "There's more. I have to ask this." He quirks an ear unconsciously at the door for a moment, then focuses back on the Vartan, "Are you telling us all you know about Jezebel?"

Zoltan flinches a bit… then scoots forward, lowering his voice to the faintest of whispers. "No. She a shadow mage, I not tell anyone because they kill her if find outs. Remember ball of lightning that hit wind mage? I lie when I say it only hit females… It hit magic users and take their powers. Took Wynona, Jezebel, and Mind mage below deck."

Roho flinches, "That's what I feared… Wynona heard something of a Savanite witch in her message. And she's on the bounty, as well."

Zoltan whispers on. "Janus hate her… he jump at chance to get her kill I thinks. If he find outs he probably be one to cut her throat. Savanite mages is put to death."

Roho nods, "Well, I can't see how we can do anything one way or another about it, and getting her killed now won't help, so that can stay secret. Wynona won't tell."

Zoltan frowns. "Titus wants Jezebel back. I think she do magic on him… maybe I should ask her why Titus want her back so bad."

Roho nods, "Might be best. Right now, I'm just passing on what Wynona told me, I'm still mostly in the dark."

Roho rasps, "You said you had been lying. Was that in hiding the secrets of the hands, and Jezebel? Or is there more?"

The Vartan lets out a long rattling sigh. "Titus tell Zoltan that there no magic in City of Hands. Vartans not like magic… is only cause trouble. I guesses it only fitting that word of trouble coming by way of magic. Is what I deserve for getting involved."

Zoltan jerks his head up. "There one more thing… but you maybe think I crazy if I say it."

Roho doesn't move, "You won't know until you try me."

Zoltan sighs again. "I been having dreams. Vivid ones… and sometimes, when I see in dreams come true."

"I dream about cannibals on island, and Vartans landing, and chamber we see when we go in tower… and abouts Jezebel," the Vartan continues.

Roho's claws tighten on the wood of the bedframe he's sitting on, seemingly thinking of something else, "Dreams can be powerful… What did you dream about Jezebel?"

Zoltan hugs his knees to his chest. He still keeps his voice to a whisper, as if he's afraid Jezebel could be at the doorway, listening. "I dream about her memories once, scene from childhood. And another time I dream I was Shokar, and Jezebel was there… pulling off spots from fur and throwing them over airship. She make all of Sinai explode."

"Once, I have dream where I have some control… and I ask it what would happen if she became Priest-King." He shudders at the memory. "Was horrible… she attack Rephidim, and then all of Sinai was wasteland."

Roho goes slightly pale, "And as Priest-King, she might well have the power, from what I've heard. How far do you trust her?"

Zoltan frowns. "No much. I think she plotting something with Savanites on ship right now, she Priest-King to them alreadies. But… she not type to kill people with no reason. I think I know her pretty well; she know that helping us right now is best… although I not know how far that help going to be. As soon as we off island, or she gets powers back she could get Savanites on ship to attack."

Zoltan squawks, "I ask her if slaves help us with cannibals if we need to fights them to get crystals. She answer yes… in way kin say yes when he know army fight he enemy."

Roho muses, "But… not killing without reason. Could she believe that she's been given reason already? I know she led a difficult life."

Zoltan nods. "She has. Was oldest daughter of seven. When parents started having more kittens she get less attention and feel bad. Then she have grandmother teach her Savanite dance… and grandmother die in accident. I think family blame her for it. She also captured by slaver for year… horrible pirate, probably abused her. Finally pirate let her go and she come back to family. One of sisters say she just run away, and nobody believe her story. She was just kitten when all this happen, angry. You understand why she no likes them much?"

Zoltan squawks, "Is bad for Jezebel if we all die. Might need air-mage to get off island, and she no can talk to Vartans or cannibals who are only ones that can help her. If she plan to kill us, is stupid to do now."

Roho nods, "You mean us, though, I think … the masters. Non-Savanites. I know almost nothing about them, though… "

Roho changes the subject, "Have the Vartans in the tower given any insight into getting Wynona's powers back?"

Zoltan shakes his head. "Vartans hate magic, they no help us with that. I think that if we restore crystals and raise siren trees, magic come back. Helmet tell me something like that."

The Vartan sighs. "Problem is, I see siren trees in my dreams too. They make Vartans go crazy even if they plug ears. How know it not make us crazy too?"

Roho nods, "I guess it somehow can be heard through a plug. But if there is a way to completely deafen someone for a limited time… "

Roho chuckles, "Which would render me just about useless… "

Zoltan squawks, "To raise trees, someone have to put on helmet. Helmet make people go crazy as well, I see things that no there after wearing for awhile. I know what to ask helmet to do though, and I no want others to risk what might happen if they go under."

Zoltan sighs at the prospect of leaving the island as a greater lunatic than Titus, or Kame Ikata.

Roho rasps, "I wonder … Do you suppose… "

Roho rasps, "What would happen if I wore the helmet?"

Zoltan grabs the fennec's wrist. "No! It make you go crazy! You needed if we have to fight cannibals or bounty hunters; can no risk you going crazy."

Roho rasps, "But you said that people go crazy seeing things that aren't there. How can that affect me?"

Zoltan squawks, "It put pictures into you head too. I still see map when I think of it, and it fill you head with words that no mean anything." He sighs. "I no stop you if you try… but we all in trouble if it hurt you."

Roho nods, "I'll consider it… if it turns out to be our only option. I'm not sure, though… What are the siren trees? Are they what lured Shokar here in the first place?"

"I not sure exactly what trees are. When I ask helmet how to give magic back to wind-mage, it tell me that I need to 'extend stabilizing vanes'. But it also say that they no work properly until they fixed. I hope that putting crystals back fix it," the Vartan squawks.

Roho sighs, "Okay, and where do we get the crystals? I have a feeling things would be easier if I spoke Vartan… "

Roho rasps, "I missed plenty up there in the tower."

Zoltan sighs. "Cannibals have them."

"Logbook Kryago show me say that cannibals have magic at one time," the Vartan scrawks, "I beginning to wonder if trees connected to them somehow, wish there was some way to find out more abouts them."

Roho nods, "And, that is why we may have to fight them? I'm beginning to understand." He thinks, "Would the other Vartans assist us, for a chance at getting off the island?"

Roho rasps, "If they had magic, why did the island not steal it from them, as it did from Wynona?"

Zoltan nods, although considering Roho is blind he doesn't see this. "Other Vartans help us… but cannibals as strong as Vartan, and they fight tricky." He scratches his beak with a taloned finger. "I think it did steal from them when Shokar landed and pulled out crystals. Maybe when trees went down, it do something to cause magic to get sucked away from here. This whole place is big machine, they gots to serve some purpose."

Roho nods, "So, we return the crystals, and it reverts… we hope… "

Zoltan squawks, "We return crystals, make trees go up… and hopefully we no all go crazy from siren trees."

Roho nods, "Perhaps… there's a way to prepare. Perhaps."

Zoltan sighs. "Problem is… if we all deaf, we no understand each other. And bigger problem… Savanites WILL understand each other. We be very vulnerable."

Roho nods, "Not deaf. I'm thinking of another way." He pauses, forming his words. "You said that the sirens would affect even those with their ears plugged. That makes me think they use sounds in the very high range, perhaps too high to be heard. But if we could drown out the higher range of sounds, we may remain unaffected. And we've got a whole ship full of high-pitched sound makers… "

Zoltan squawks, "Is maybe work. I just hopes that drowning out sound will make trees still work."

"I think I need to study logbook Kryago gave me again, and talk to Vartans about cannibals and machines in tower. Kryago say it broken. What if it no work rights even after we put crystals back?" Zoltan scrawks worriedly to himself.

Roho nods at Zoltan's first comment, "And, that drowning out works at all. The Eeee may simply succumb faster than us, with their more sensitive ears."

Zoltan squawks, "Hrr… maybe helmet can tell me way we can keep trees from hurting others, and still give magic back. Dagh, so much to find out… and every drop of knowledge cost lots."

Roho sighs, "There's one more question I have… Do you think we should tell the others of the war, and the bounty? It could change plans drastically… Nobody here has a home anymore. If we escape, where do we go? I don't know about you, but I think I'd make a lousy pirate… "

Zoltan sighs. "Captain Boghaz is good person, so are bats on ship. Should probably tell captain about war… and that there bounty on me for stealing hands. Let captain decide if rest of crew should know."

Roho nods, "Perhaps they could yet convince Rephidim that they're not on the side of Babel, and that they're not traitors. Of course, that doesn't solve the problem by a long shot… "

Zoltan squawks, "You say ship coming for us is hired by Titus, yes?"

Roho nods, "That was what Wynona believed."

"Then they no goings to care about you or bats on ship. They after me and Jezebel," the Vartan growls softly.

Roho rasps, "No. All of us. We've been declared traitors by Rephidim."

Zoltan squawks, "Titus no care about traitors. He may kill all of you so you no tell anyone he has shadow mage for slave, but he send ship back for Jezebel. She mess up his head."

Roho nods, "I guess I don't know much about this Titus. Or Rephidim, for that matter… "

Zoltan growls softly to himself. "Titus is liar. He tell Zoltan that no magic was in City of Hands, then I find out that that all there is… and death. He has mind mage mess with head… steal memories from people so he can brag to others. I think Jezebel do things to he head too… hrr… I have to ask her about that."

"If Temple wanted us," the hippogryph scrawks, "They send ship after us… and not let Titus send hunter. He probably lie to Temple too."

Roho nods, "Well, that makes things a little easier. But not perfect. There's still the problem of you and Jezebel."

Zoltan nods. "I willing to turn self in if it keep everyone else on ship safe… or go someplace alone with Jezebel so Titus only hunt us. Would rather be able to go back home after all this, but that look doubtful right now.

Roho nods, "I don't suppose there's a way you could reach a compromise with Titus? Do you still have the hands?"

Zoltan squawks, "No… they left in City of Hands. City not supposed to exist anymore, and I no think Titus rest until he gots Jezebel. If she think we going to give her to him… she definitely get Savanites on ship to kill us all."

Zoltan smirks. "Is what I probably do in her shoes."

Roho looks sour, "Well, I'd like to avoid that, if possible… "

Zoltan squawks, "I talk to Jezebel. Maybe if I lets her know that we going to try and keep Titus from taking her, she no play her card yet."

Roho nods, "Perhaps. Or she may smell a rat, and panic. I don't know her, I've never talked to her of course. So that's best left up to you, how likely it is you think she'd snap."

Zoltan growls. "If I tell her Titus sending people after her that is… she probably find out anyway, then get mad at me for keeping secret. Hrr… is so many things that can happen."

Roho nods, "I have a feeling that a lot of things may come together in a very short time. It's best we prepare. I'm going to try the helmet… I'll take it off if I think that it's going to affect my mind, giving me visions even in blindness."

Roho rasps, "But I'll need you to tell me what to ask it."

Zoltan squawks, "Hrr… there million questions we need to ask it. If it knows about spotted cats, if we need to do anything besides get crystals to fix it… "

Roho chuckles, "The critical ones first, please, I don't want to kill myself staying there forever."

Zoltan squawks, "It kick you out before it hurt you too much… I think."

Roho nods, "Okay… I hope."

Zoltan squawks, "But you rights. You probably only going to get two or three questions… and you might no understand answers."

Roho nods, "I may not, but it's a worthwhile risk. When and while we travel, tell me what the most important questions are, and then what to ask if I get the time."

Zoltan rises and touches the painting of Shokar. "I need little bit of time to get things together. Told Jezebel I bring her food when I get back."

Roho stands and nods, "I'll return to my office. Find me there when you're ready."

Zoltan nods. He pauses to ruffle Roho's headhair with his beak, a Vartan sigh of friendship, and then ushers him out the door. "I sing to earth spirit tonight. Maybe he give me answers… or guidance."

Roho turns back for a moment, smiling a bit, "I think Wynona will want to hear of this meeting… She was convinced that if you were a criminal, you'd snap my neck."

Roho blinks, then smooths out his headfur, chuckling. He presses Zoltan's shoulder in a Zerda gesture, "We could all use a little guidance now."