The School of Practical Mechanisms
Blitzheim and all of Chronotopia, is focused on the individual design and maintenance of a vast variety of unique machines. Clocks, of course, but other devices as well, simple or intricate, useful or awkward, fill the daily lives of the citizens. Reflecting this, The School of Practical Mechanisms is located at the heart of the city at the heart of their empire. The rest of the city sits at a safe distance, a few boiler explosions away, insulated from the institution by the student and staff resident buildings, and a wide open field. While offering several instructional courses and programs, the school is known mostly for its extensive blueprint library and experimental labs. Chronotopians, as a rule, like to work things out themselves.

The School has several entrances. It is in fact, several buildings that are interconnected or closely situated to each other. The stonework shows signs of recent and ancient repair, scars of prior lab accidents. A few of the doorways might simply be renovated damage. Gergesene and Salvatori stand outside what is likely the main steps. The other Landsknecht has been sent to search the residences. A few of the more keen students have already returned from the funeral to work on their projects, but the campus is almost deserted.

Salvatori looks around, closely guarding the trinket he is to give to Talia's son, regarding every passing student with his scrutinizing avian gaze.

Gergesene follows Salvatori with wings tucked behind his back, his abbreviated armor less intimidating than a full Cervani Landsknecht might be. He looks about at the students as well, then realizes that there's no way to be sure that all the students will file past obligingly for an inspection. "kkt – Ah, Father, perhaps we should ask after him at the office?" he suggests.

Brother Salvatori looks around at the knight. He caws, "Good Landsknecht, do you by any chance know where the office IS? I am afraid I do not know my way around."

The few passing students seem to be predominantly Rath'ani or human. The exceptions are either panther Khatta or Cervani that are obviously too old to be Jael.

Gergesene kaws, "Well, it seems evident that we have only to ask one of these helpful fellows, hmm? You! Litt'un, we are looking for the offices. Would you have any notion where they might be?"

The stopped Khatta bows to Gergesene, holding a backpack and a few books under his arm. "Well sir, its up those steps, then down the hall. You have to take the 2nd spiral staircase. That would be the 4th staircase. Those are just the temporary offices you see, the main ones had some water damage. You go up to the 3rd floor, through the fluids lab… perhaps it would be better if I showed you the way."

Brother Salvatori's eyes would cross, if they weren't on opposite sides of his head, being a bird and all. "*KAW!* Yes, good student, that would be most appreciated."

A Rath'ani with silver fur shuffles past. He chats with two younger looking humans about metaphysics as they walk towards the larger building.

Gergesene beak-grins. "It is good to find such helpfulness in others, my friend. All hope is not lost to Chronotopia so long as we are none of us afraid to lend each other a helping wing – ah, hand." He bows slightly to the Khatta.

Underneath a tree in the courtyard, a Cervani doe peers across the textbook she reads from to look at the two Korvs and the Khatta.

"Okay, come this way sirs, mind the scaffolding." The panther bounds towards a smaller entrance that goes into the side of the stairs to what is apparently the main door. Slinging his pack over his shoulder, he holds the door. "This is a short cut, upstairs is blocked off for repairs." Just inside the door, inset in the wall, a small clock with an almost obscured glass cover ticks away.

Salvatori pauses a moment to whisper to Gergesene, "Now, I do hope we can find a way to ask without drawing undue attention to the one we are seeking. Some subtlety is necessary. If only I had the presence of mind to ask our friend for a trusted aide who could identify this child for us… "

The door leads into stone passageways that are crowded by mostly broken, and a few still functional machines. The ceiling has several layers of pipes, and the walls are lit by small oil lamps.

The walls seem almost alive with machinery. Clocks tick, engines whirr and buzz, and other unrecognizable devices add to the noise. Cabinets line the wall as well, containing broken machinery, tools, and spare parts.

Gergesene blinks at Salvatori. "You ask for subtlety?" he declares. "Fear not, my friend, I shall be as subtle as the snow flake falling upon the stone, the light upon the web." He flutters his wings and then addresses the Khatta. "Tell me, my friend, what is your name so that I may know whom is to be praised for his gentlebeingly behavior?"

"Oh, my name sir? I'm called Tihbs." The Khatta replies, a smile on his dark face, pleased to have been asked.

Brother Salvatori occasionally hops or jolts at the noises, afraid that something might launch out at him or unexpectedly (or expectedly) explode. Gergesenes' reply would be considered in that category, given the knight's displayed 'subtlety' so far…

"Try not to touch the projects sir, some of them haven't been tested." The black Khatta requests, walking down the clear centre of the aisle. He leads the two past several doorways before opening one to reveal a spiral staircase. "Its just a bit further."

Gergesene glances over at the projects with some curiosity. Ah, youth! [though he might himself be included in that category] Ever bountiful with energy.

"Kujaku!" Whistles a mechanical bird as it springs out from one of the clocks to announce the half hour. The bird bobs in the air for a few moments and then vanishes back inside the clock.

"*KAW!*" says Salvatori as he leaps straight up in the air, wings fluttering!

Gergesene kaws, "Tihbs? An excellent name, litt'un. I know of several heroes with that name who have distinguished themselves with bravery and feats of skill upon the fields of Chronotopia. Perhaps you have, kkt, relatives who have served or still serve in the Landsknechts."

Gergesene beams.

Salvatori smoothes his feathers, looking askance to Gergesene. "Yes, an excellent name. One that shall be well remembered for great accomplishments in scholarly pursuits, if you stick to your studies diligently. A pardon for any distraction we are providing from such studies. Your help is appreciated."

Gergesene blinks at Salvatori as if to wonder why his brethren in feathers is giving him a strange look.

One of the clocks on the wall suddenly begins ticking rapidly, then stops altogether. A chitin gear falls out from the bottom of the clock and rolls across the floor.

"I've not been so fortunate sir. My parents named me after those heroes, I do have some relatives in the city guard though. We'd better hurry, the staff usually goes home now at this time. Thank you sir." The Khatta says, hearing the clock, nodding to Salvatori, then mounting the steps. His voice echoes back down the curve, "Follow me up, it's 3 flights."

Gergesene kaws! surprised by the mechanical failure, then peers suspiciously at the gear.

Salvatori sighs. "If only I'd known … we could have flown in to the roof and gone DOWN, saving ourselves a great deal of time… "

The spiral staircase is cramped, but otherwise devoid of anything that might leak, explode, catch fire or fall apart.

Gergesene hmms. It is only a small chitin part. Common. He clucks to himself, then hops after Salvatori and Tihbs.

At the top of the stairs the Khatta grins at the two Korvs, "Well, I would have to be able to fly, to show the way by that method, and I can't yet." The door opens onto a fluids lab, a place slightly more susceptible to the perversity of machines.

The buzzing sound of the mechanized bricabrac on the walls buzz in the crows' ears as they ascend the stairs.

Salvatori looks aside to Gergesene. "Notice … he said, 'yet'." He winks.

Gergesene grins. "Well, we cannot all be born Korvs, good Tihbs." Then blinks to Salvatori. "What, does our young student friend intend to sprout feathers?"

The fluids lab is devoted to liquid, its properties, transportation, and other uses. Machines on the wall diligently pump water, at least it looks like water, through various glass and chitin pipes that run along the ceiling and walls. A variety of carboys are filled with other coloured fluids. Some labeled, others not.

Salvatori caws amusedly, then whispers, "May well be! It will not be the first time a flying machine has been created by the prestigious School. Unfortunately, save for dirigibles, they all seem so prone to malfunction… " He shakes his head sadly.

"Oh no, I plan to get around that, and my feathers will be of cloth." The panther says proudly, "I'm sure a self powered flying device is possible, and if it's simple enough, it should be quite reliable."

Gergesene kaws, "Ah! Remarkable ingenuity, litt'un."

Gergesene privately shakes his head at the concept of cloth wings. 'Twill never fly, he is sure. Or if it should, it would never be as responsive as his and Salvatori's own wings.

A rubber bulb expands slowly and then shrinks down as a smoky blue liquid gurgles in a flask below it.

"Cloth … hmm … a novel idea. Except that it would be prohibitively expensive … perhaps some sort of zolk? Strong yet light … Hmm." Salvatori ponders these thoughts for a few steps then shakes them away. "Oh, but of course, good Landsknecht. But that does not make the pursuit of such dreams any less noble."

"Thank you sirs. I've already tested a small model, and it falls nicely." The panther pauses, and starts sketching out dimensions and form in an imaginary space in front of him. "About this tall, and wide, and the scale model of myself is this… I'd have to show you the plans sir."

Gergesene nods pleasantly to the Khatta. "It is a noble dream indeed. If none of us aspired to achieve them, then we should be naught but scratching at plants in the ground. I know this quite well… " He taps his breastplate proudly.

Brother Salvatori smiles and nods, continuing along.

In two sets of spiraled glass tubing, a stream of green liquid and stream of clear liquid slowly ooze downwards in a slow gelatinous race.

Tihbs considers, "Zolk, that might work. I was worried that when I scaled it up the mass of the cloth would change the performance. I hadn't fully explored the mass to lift ratios yet… hmm… Oh! I forgot, you want to see the Principle." The panther starts threading through the maze of pipes and jars in the fluids lab.

Gergesene looks distracted as he watches the race of liquids. "A remarkable experiment," he says.

"Mostly we learn about fluid properties here, laminar and turbulent flow. Piping systems. Its rather dull but useful for repairing the city sewers." Tihbs informs the two visitors, leading them to the wooden doors at the other end of the lab.

The green liquid seems to be winning. It oozes out of the pipe and slowly drips into a waiting beaker. A few moments later the clear liquid drips out and falls into the same beaker. The instant the two liquids contact, a loud hiss erupts from the container and the liquid vanishes in a cloud of steam.

Gergesene looks somewhat disappointed, as if he had been hoping for some sort of metaphysical explanation, then squawks! at the hissing.

The aroma of evaporating rain fills the room as the hissing inside of the beaker continues.

Salvatori nods, keeping alert eyes out for possible hazards … although, considering all the 'possible hazards' about, perhaps such vigilance is wasted.

Tihbs opens the door, prompting a sudden shout, "LOOK OUT!" He yanks it shut as something whizzes by outside. Faint voices can be heard cheering, "Go Samuel" and "Look out for that!" before a sudden crash makes the hallway silent again.

The black Khatta opens the door carefully and peeks down the hallway as Salvatori and Gergesene arrive behind him.

Gergesene backs away quickly, then hops after Salvatori and Tihbs. "Ach!"

Salvatori's feathers are all sticking out again. He whisper-caws a prayer for protection against all these … delightful gadgets.

"I think Samuel's Horseless Horse needs some more work," the panther comments to the two Korvs, once he sees it is safe to enter the hallway.

Gergesene blinks. "A horseless horse? Is that not a nihlity in nature, in essence, a project which exists only in the realm of philosophy?"

Gergesene tries to envision a horse without the horse as he hops along after Tihbs.

Salvatori gathers up his courage, and flutters in after the others.

A pot of boiling liquid whistles loudly as the crows depart, as if bidding them goodbye – soon followed by the sound of breaking glass as the container explodes under the pressure.

Gergesene and Salvatori both jump at the explosion, with feathers fluffing out!

"I wouldn't know sir," answers the black Khatta. "But its there in a few pieces at the end of the hall." He points, at the group of students helping Samuel up from the wreckage of his device. The 'Horseless Horse' seems to be composed of a few wooden beams, and two wagon wheels. Tihbs doesn't even flinch at the explosion, he must be used to them by now.

Salvatori reflexively makes the sign of the Star in front of him, cawing a long litany of prayers of protection and warding.

The panther closes the door behind the two Korvs, then leads them away from the crash down the hall. "We just have to go through the student lounge, then we'll be there. The temporary offices are in the wheels club right now."

Gergesene settles his feathers, kawing here and there, then peers at the contraption. "Ah. It is called a horseless horse because it is used to practice leaping up onto a saddle when one does not wish to disturb the stablekeepers," he says. "And the wheels must be to allow it to be moved from one place to another more easily. An ingenious invention. I am sure that the Landsknecht instructors will be interested." He nods wisely.

Salvatori keeps clear of the ruined contraption, in case it might explode. (To his mind, just about anything here is a candidate for explosions… )

"I'll suggest that to him sir." Tihbs says, "That purpose sounds like it would work much better than what he is trying to do with it now. This way." He opens the lounge door, letting the Landsknecht and the Healer enter the students' den.

Gergesene boldly strides forth into the lair of monsters – well, at any rate, boisterous young students, which might be considered by certain teachers as worser threats to the serenity of Chronotopia than Boschian demons.

An older Cervani looks up at the new arrivals. Bits of chitin dangle from the points of his antlers in an odd decorative fashion. A human girl next to him giggles and whispers something into the stag's ear.

The den is oddly lit, some of the lamps have gone out and not been refilled. Tired and broken couches lie up against the walls, and the centre of the room is filled with tables and chairs. Four students sit at one table, involved in a card and coin game, and don't look up as the three enter.

Salvatori looks to his guide.

A Rath'ani sits curled up on the couch. A book with a picture of a cogwheel is neatly laid over his face as he snores loudly.

Tihbs waves at two humans sitting beside a small structure composed entirely of wood. It's purpose seems very obscure. One of them looks up long enough to wave back, then replaces his goggles and goes back to poking. The panther calls back to the Korvs, "just come on through here."

Salvatori, eager to reach the end of this journey, rushes after Tihbs.

"Ah! A refreshing informality," Gergesene proclaims. "It brings back fond memories of days with my fellow students in the barracks." He hops after Salvatori.

Grumbling off in one of the far corners of the room, a Khatta flips through a book and shuffled through a pile of notes laid about him. He ignores the newcomers, intent on his studying inset.

Tihbs leads the two through another passage way. This one is covered entirely in non functional mechanisms that have been stripped for other purposes. At the end of it, is a large door with a wooden cartwheel mounted on it. The wheel has been cut with two arcs of the rim mounted of the door frame. The panther knocks loudly. "Principle, are you in there?"

"zzzz… *snork!* What? What? Yes. Come In!" A voice shouts from inside.

Salvatori lets out a sigh of relief that the Principle isn't out on business…

Gergesene peers at some of the non-working gadgetry, fascinated. "Such craftsmanship!"

The Khatta opens the door on a very messy club office, temporarily used for other purposes. Inside, at the desk, a scholarly looking panther Khatta is searching for his glasses. His build is stocky and his muzzle a little grayed. His suit is expensive, but a little frayed on the sleeves and cuffs. Finding his spectacles he looks at his visitors. "Ah! A Landsknecht, and a Brother. Good Day to you, I was expecting a Student!"

The Monk bows his head. "Ah, but it could be said that I am an eternal student, good Principle, just of another field."

Salvatori continues, "I do hope we are not distracting or intruding. I wish to see a particular student at your School."

Gergesene beams. "Indeed, good Principle, I hight Sir Gergesene of the Landsknecht, presently in aid of the honorable Father Salvatori."

"A little louder please." The Principle requests, almost shouting as he points at his ears, "Too many student projects gone wrong, I'm a little hard of hearing." The elderly Khatta steps around the desk to shake the clawhands of Salvatori and Gergesene, "How can I help you two gentlemen?!"

"I'll be going now sirs." Tihbs whispers quietly from the hallway, and vanishes.

Gergesene bows over the Principle's hand in acknowledgment of the respect due to age and position. "We are," he kaws loudly. "As Father Salvatori says, looking for one of your good students. Yes, thank you, Tihbs. You have been a great help."

Brother Salvatori pauses to try to gather how he is to be saying this, but deception would be unbecoming his Order. "I am looking for a student named Jael. A Cervani youth."

The Khatta blinks, "Young Jael? Really now! He seems quite popular. Is there some trouble he is involved in?!"

Gergesene blinks with alarm. "Popular? How is that?"

Brother Salvatori shakes his head. "I sincerely hope not, Principle. I merely wish to see him, if that would be no trouble. My apologies for any disruptions."

"Some palace guards where here about an hour ago," shouts the Principle, "Looking for him as well. Took some effort to determine where he might be, he is a student after all. He could be anywhere! His course records indicate he should be in a heat engines lab. Three hours, so its still going. Either there, or in his residence. The guards didn't say what they wanted him for."

Gergesene looks at Salvatori. "Palace guards!"

Salvatori caws! "Good Principle, could you point out the way to this lab?" He looks for a window.

The panther Khatta nods, "Its Easy. Out to the hall, up to the Half Third level. Then, Across the Bridge to the Mining building. Go down to the second floor and through the bridge to the Mechanical building, then… Wait… I'll get you a map."

Brother Salvatori says, "Much obliged. But … are there any easier directions by air? I can fly, after all."

Gergesene looks dismayed. "And I… And time is of the utmost urgency, good Principle. Chronotopia itself is at risk!"

The Principle searches through the papers on the borrowed desk, finding a folded campus map. "Yes! Here we are. We're in this building, Here. The heat engines lab is in the basement of this building!" He looks with some concern, at the Korvs, the window, and their obvious intent. "Do be careful, if you go out that way!"

Gergesene kaws, "Have no fear! Surely the Grand Machine will guard us from any who would seek to cloud the light of the Star."

Salvatori caws, "We shall try to be careful, indeed, but is there any particular hazard we should be especially wary of?"

Gergesene turns to open the window, looking for the catch.

"Good Luck to you then!" The Principle wishes loudly, "Some scaffolding is just around the side, but it should be clear!"

The window is a single pane wooden frame that is nearly the height of the room. It easily opens wide enough for the Korvs to work their way out. The stone ledge outside is covered in ivy, and there is a good clear drop down 3 levels before the grass. A stone wall juts out on the left side, but far enough away for wing-clearance.

Salvatori launches out, stifling a caw as he tries to find his bearing toward the intended destination.

Gergesene zooms out after Salvatori! He dives toward the ground, picking up speed, then snaps his wings out and rises to Salvatori's attitude, wingtip-to-wing. "Which way?" he calls out.

Salvatori keeps flying toward the building, keeping an eye out for any sign of the guards … whether they might be still on their way there … or, worse, on their way back.

Gergesene follows Salvatori's lead and keeps a keen eye out as well. Palace guards! But there is no Kaizer… Or is there now?

From above, there almost seems to be a method to the madness in the School's layout. The buildings seem like an abstract assembly of a large machine. The interconnecting bridges and walkways resembling pistons and levers. Paths appear to be power belts, and overall it resembles a colossal error caused by following the wrong blueprints. The desired Mechanical building is easily spotted, and so is the group of guards heading across the field out of the campus.

Gergesene calls to Salvatori once he's spotted the guards. "There! Do you see Jael with them?"

Somewhere below, but not directly below, an explosion rattles through the school. A few errant bricks fly through the air, trailing dust and smoke behind them.

Salvatori caws, "I see the guards. I don't see anyone with them, but we're too far away yet. Maybe we can … " He looks to see which WAY the guards are moving.

Gergesene peers uncertainly at the small antlered figures. "They have a young Cervani with them," he says to Salvatori. "That could be him! They're leaving the grounds."

The guards are quickly heading for a path between two residences. On the street past the buildings, a carriage can be seen.

Salvatori caws in dismay! "Whatever will we do? It would seem our 'secret' is out!"

The monk wastes no more time, not wanting to let the guards WALK faster than he can fly. He bears down toward them and the carriage.

Gergesene dives, plunging after Salvatori. "We have to stop them!" he calls.

Salvatori caws, "A noble intent… but the matter of HOW to do it … " He flutters down toward the ground, hoping to intercept the guards.

As the two Korvs dive, more details about the guards become apparent. As the Principle said, they wear palace livery and dress armour. They are all Cervani, and the small one with them stumbles along, holding a bag that his textbooks are falling out of.

Gergesene calls out, "We shall declare ourselves and ask them to render Jael to our tender care – are we not sent by his mother and charged with his safekeeping?" He dives and prepares for a swooping rush.

Salvatori lands, cawing, "Please! What is the meaning of this?"

The four guards stop as the monk lands in front of them. The lead Cervani steps forward as the other three surround Jael. Gergesene has not been noticed in his delayed dive.

"Please do not interfere citizen, this is none of your concern." The lead stag says to Salvatori.

The monk hmphs. "That it is of my concern is precisely the reason I have landed right here!"

Gergesene streaks forward over the ground, just over the height of a Cervani's rack. "I speak as a Landsknecht when I say that I will not permit a student of this school to be taken unlawfully," he yells, swooshing over their heads and then alighting on the other side, by Salvatori. "Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

Gergesene lays a hand upon the handle of a wing-saber to show he means business, but does not draw yet.

The guard's hand drops to his belt as he is about to reply to Salvatori, then he ducks in shocked surprise as Gergesene sweeps overhead. "A Landsknecht," blurts the rearmost Cervani. The lead stag straightens, and bows to Gergesene.

Gergesene bows back. "I hight Sir Gergesene, and though I may appear but a Korv, in heart I am as any of the Landsknechts, good sir. Furthermore… "

"I hight Varick, a leftennant in the palace guard. Our orders were very specific Sir Gergesene… " The stag speaks evenly, "… and very simple. We are to retrieve the boy, and let no one stop us."

"We are charged with a message for the young boy who accompanies you, if he is indeed the one I seek," the Korv knight continues. "One that cannot be delivered if he is abducted, and I cannot think that you plan only a momentary excursion if you have made him bring along his possessions as well."

"I'm not fighting a Landsknecht," the rearmost guard says. "Quiet Shem!" The one beside him orders.

Salvatori's head droops. As a member of the Celestial Order, he cannot but be a lawful citizen. "I cannot make you disobey your orders. But might I accompany, to see to the boy's well-being?" He looks to Jael, for any reactions from the child to all of this.

Gergesene pauses, hand still on his saber-handle which glints brightly at the unwrapped tip, looking into the Leftennant's eyes.

The young Cervani cowers amidst the guards. "I didn't do anything! Please, tell them I didn't do anything!"

Gergesene kaws, "Might we be granted a moment to speak with young Jael, Leftennant Varick? I am sure he will appreciate the message."

Varick swallows, trying to meet Gergesene's gaze. His hooves scrape at the gravel, but his hand is also on his weapon hilt, and he also doesn't remove it. "I suppose a message would be allowed."

Jael looks nervously at Gergesene – his legs shiver as he hugs his arms around his shoulders.

"On your honour, Sir Gergesene. We will give you and the boy privacy if you promise to return him to us." The leftennant says.

Gergesene nods firmly. "Your courtesy does you credit, Leftennant. Though the shadows are long across the land of Chronotopia, every soul that cherishes the light of the Star shall make them as nothing. Post your men as guards, and I shall respect them as if they were brethren." He looks to Salvatori to take the confused young Cervani in hand.

Salvatori moves to guide the young Cervani aside. "Take heart, young man," he caws quietly.

Jael says nothing. His eyes dart back and forth between the two Korvs.

"This is wrong Unwyn, we weren't told Landsknechts would be involved." Shem says to the guard holding Jael. "Silence!" Varick orders his men, "Release the boy and withdraw 20 paces." Then the lead stag bows once more to Gergesene, "Thank you sir," and he withdraws as well.

Gergesene listens to the whispers of the guards. Something strange is going on. He casts his gaze toward Salvatori, wondering if the healer has noticed that the men seem uncomfortable with their orders.

The palace guards are good to their word, standing 20 paces away and not looking at the conversation.

Salvatori is more intent upon focusing on the child. He speaks in hushed tones, surreptitiously digging out the pendant to give to the Cervani, and relating the message from Talia.

"I was watching a heat engine experiment." Jael says, almost to the point of hysteria. "I knew that mother was in jail… but… but… they shouldn't give them any reason to arrest me. I didn't do anything."

Salvatori pats the child. "That is correct. You have done nothing. The notion of Palace Guards arresting a child … " He glances sideways toward the Guards, frowning, then turns back. "I'll mince no words. Treachery is involved here, and corruption from the forces of Disorder. Your life is in jeopardy, but you must be brave and trust in the Star to provide guidance along the path you must follow without fail."

Gergesene stands guard, looking about. Even if these palace guards have legitimate reason to seize Jael, perhaps orders from the House of Lords, there may yet be agents of Bosch lurking about to exploit any chink. His gaze fixes on Shem, the Cervani who seemed most doubtful, wondering what has the Cervani so troubled.

Jael's eyes widen. "I'm in danger? Who would want to kill me? I'm just a student."

Shem seems to be trying to engage the other guards, but they aren't listening to him, and their responses are curt, "Be quiet." The Cervani fiddles with his weapon belt, looking at the ground, and around the campus.

"For now, child," Salvatori says, "you are but a Student, yes. But there are those who may fear your heritage. Even though this is not a monarchy, ours is still a society that expects the son to follow in the father's steps. It would seem that my fears have been confirmed, and that one wishes for no son to follow in the hoofprints of your father."

Varick also seems nervous, but has it well controlled. The other two guards, Unwyn and Farnell, seem content to wait and see.

"My father?" the Cervani's ears droop. "But I don't even know… " He looks back toward the guards and sighs. "I don't understand." Jael begins to cry.

Gergesene pauses, then fixes Shem's face in his mind. Is he merely young and unused to carrying out orders in the face of opposition, or does he see something wrong? The Korv knight determines to seek him out later and find out more.

Salvatori's voice rises, reaching a dramatic vibrato. "Though the forces of Disorder may wish to throw debris into the Cogwheel of Life, such filth will be burned away under the cleansing light of the Star! Yea, though some may be fooled by the work of the Dark Saboteur, the Holy Blueprints will prevail, and will never fade away! Hold true to them, my child, and the Great Machinery will perform its ultimate purpose, despite the works of those who are pawns of Bosch!" Then, all his feathers stick up, and his eyes go wide as he realizes he's gotten a bit carried away with his speech, especially since he didn't notice the child crying. "*KAW!* Oh … Take comfort, child… " He frowns severely.

Jael sniffles, and then reaches out and throws his arms around Salvatori. He clings onto the Korv's feathers tightly. "I don't want to go with them! Please, don't let them take me!" he sobs, and then breaks down whimpering "… I didn't do anything… " over and over into the crow's feathers.

Gergesene looks back toward Jael and Salvatori with some surprise, first at the speech, then seeing Jael's tears. He fluffs his feathers, then walks across to Leftennant Varick. "Sir," he says most severely. "Have you presented young Jael with the impression that he is some sort of… Criminal?"

Salvatori frets inwardly, mentally going over and over the various dictates and laws of his Order, trying to discern just what is the proper and just thing to do in a situation like this. He caws again in dismay, forming a sign of the Star over the child and in the air before him.

Shem seems to be increasingly nervous, and doesn't have the appearance of a fresh recruit. He paws at the ground with his hooves, looking around, looking at Gergesene, then Varick. Suddenly he breaks rank and marches over to his leftennant. "I'm not going to be involved in this, something is wrong."

Salvatori caws again! A light in the darkness! A Palace Guard breaking ranks? How can it be? Perhaps this is proof that their orders are not legitimate? … He holds the child closely, trying to soothe him with whatever proverbs he can offer. He certainly steers away from any that mention death or criminality.

Jael continues to cling to the Korv monk. He buries his face into Salvatori's chestfeathers and sobs softly.

Varick looks between Shem and Gergesene. He replies to the Landsknecht first. "I have not given him any details, except that he has to come with us, sir." To Shem he commands, "You will follow the commands, or you will go to the brig."

"Then I'm going to the brig." Shem states, turning and marching off, grinding his hooves against the gravel path.

Farnell glances as Unwyn, but they make no move to follow their fellow guard.

Gergesene raises his wing-hand. "You are brave, Shem, to question orders that seem to you improper. But please, bide a moment." He locks eyes with Varick again. "Do you act on orders from the House of Lords?"

Shem stops at Gergesene's command, and waits, but he noticeably stands aside from the other three palace guards. Varick gives him a cold stare before trying to face the Korv's eyes. "No, but they are legitimate, and I will not disobey them. I have not been given enough information to make any judgments on my own." He looks away from the crow.

Gergesene kaws, "Whose order then, do you follow, Varick? Who orders the Kaizer's guards?"

Salvatori, still holding onto the Cervani child, turns to look at Varick for his answer.

Gergesene taps the Chronotopian insignia on his breastplate, indicative of his own loyalty.

"The Palace, of course." Varick starts to lose his composure, "I am a loyal citizen as well! I was not told any reasons, I did not meet anyone in secret. I was told by my superior to go and secure the boy, and let no one interfere! He did not tell me anything more."

"The Palace," the Korv knight points out reasonably. "Is an inanimate object; it speaks with no voice but those who are gathered beneath its roof to contemplate… and decide… matters of state." His voice sharpens. "We shall go with you and assure that these orders are truly legitimate. If they are not, then I fear that I shall be forced to quarrel with you as to who shall safeguard the poor child, caught in fates that were not of his own making. I ask that you lend us your guard, Shem, to ride in the carriage with myself and the healer, and the young Jael."

Jael squeezes Salvatori just a little tighter at the mention of this.

Salvatori pats Jael on the back. "Take heart, child. Gergesene is a brave Landsknecht and true to his word and creed. He will not allow any harm to come to you, of that I am certain."

The Cervani child sniffs and nods. He draws back and wipes his nose off on his sleeve.

"I don't want to be involved. I do not want to be involved. When my orders bring me up against the Landsknechts something is very wrong." Shem shakes his head, arms folded across his chest.

Varick considers Gergesene's suggestion. The Korv can hear the Cervani's teeth grinding as he thinks it over. "Very well, that sounds reasonable. Shem, you will accompany them, and you will take them to the commander who issued the orders to me. Sir Gergesene, our orders were to deliver Jael to that officer. I trust you will fulfill that, so we are not neglectful in our duty. You may take the carriage, and we will walk back."

Salvatori bows his head. "You are most gracious, Leftennant." With that, he guides the young Cervani toward the carriage.

Gergesene turns to Shem. "Guard, your respect for the Landsknechts is most commendable. I salute you!" Which he does, bowing to him. "But never forget, your duty is to Chronotopia first and foremost. A commander needs men who follow him. Question those who are without honor, but obey those who stand foremost in rightness and bravery."

Gergesene kaws, "Come with us, and I shall speak well for you to your commander."

Shem nods to the crow's words, and follows behind Salvatori and Gergesene, reluctantly boarding with them. Inside the carriage, he sits staring at his hooves as the vehicle pulls away; Varick gives a wave to his men to follow and they march after it.