Private Chat in the Cathedral (18 Jun 2002) Agatha and Tom catch up on old news.

Galon Annwn
Water runs freely down the rocks of Galon Annwn, leaping vibrantly in sparkles of light from the cracked edges of the channels, a rainbow bridge crossing the shores. Immense columns, long fallen, have become dew-laden so that they catch the light in brilliant lines, guarding the doors of the stone chapel. Grass has begun to grow, reclaiming the parched earth, and tiny blue flowers spark here and there like land-bound stars.

The rest of the morning has gone by quickly now that Galon Annwn has been freed from the curse that the "Black Robes" had placed on it. After the celebrations, Thomas sent Sir Lefallon, Rachel, and Ahearn off on a short patrol to make sure there were no other monsters in the immediate area -- with strict instructions not to engage, only to observe and report back should they encounter anyone. Agatha was specifically asked to stay behind and look after the other horses before Tom also vanished. He decided to take some time to inspect the cathedral a bit closer and to plan out what to do next.

Footsteps echo, as Thomas returns.

"Now that we're alone," Thomas says as he exits the cathedral, adjusting the makeshift headband he converted the sheet strip into, "we can speak in private. There are probably questions you have for me, considering the urgency in which you came out here. Or perhaps you don't think I'm capable of taking care of myself. Perhaps a bit of both. In any event, there is much to discuss, Redmane." Thomas then quirks a grin and leans against the remains of a fallen pillar.

Agatha finishes beating sand out of the last of the horse-blankets, and sits down on a similar bit of fallen masonry. "Why don't you fill me in on what you've been up to and what you've learned first then," she suggests.

"You came all this way to just pick my brain?" Thomas asks, smirking. "I'm flattered. Much of what I've been up to, I think you can guess. I came back to Mirari and met up with Lord December. From there, I headed to House November -- a bit homesick, I guess. It was there I was asked to locate Lord November's daughter, Hannah -- and I did so. She found us as we were coming to find her. We dealt with one of Jack's servants in the forest. Someone I think you should know well, eh?" He grins, then continues, "I sent my letter back to you, then headed out from there. Things have only gotten worse -- even though I have been able to test a few theories along the way.

"What theories?" the girl asks. "And I assume you mean the Bandit Queen by 'the servant in the forest.'"

"That to some degree this world is very affected by what we decide to believe is true, Redmane," Thomas replies. "It is no fluke the others and myself found our way to Caer Sidi. We decided we would find such a place, a crossroads of trade, along the way -- where Oberia, my old friend, lives, in fact. Such came to be."

"Well, that would explain it not being on the map you gave me," Agatha admits. "Have you figured out why I don't have Redmane's memories as well?"

"Well, it's not like I have all of Thomas's memories, but I have some. Like I do remember drawing that map and making the original journey. But, there are holes. The reason I think you don't have Redmane's is because you don't want to, plain and simple. I think you fear losing yourself," Thomas replies, then pushes himself off the pillar and takes a few steps. "Plus, as long as you're still 'Agatha,' you can walk away from this anytime you want."

"I can hardly walk away," Agatha claims. "And speaking of which, do you intend to return to the Palace after springing Lord April?" she asks, then suddenly smiles at her unintentional pun.

"Well, Lord April and the Lord Protector both are my concern. But, to answer your question, I do not plan to return directly to the Palace," Thomas replies with a shrug. "We walk a razor's edge, given that the Destroyer now resides within the court. I need to organize my allies of Lord December, November, and perhaps October with Rachel's help before heading there to confront him."

"I doubt he'll be there for you to mobilize against, once he's exposed," Agatha notes, shaking her head. "I bet he'll be heading back to his fortress before there's a chance to expose him. That's where I'd put my forces to try and catch him."

"If we alert that we're coming for him, but point noted. We could probably arrange a surprise for him while we're at his fortress," Thomas agrees. "I am trying to push him into acting before his plans are fully solidified, and exposing himself. We shall see if that works or not."

"What about informing Alice?" Agatha asks, crossing her legs. "She's got the trust of the Queen, and if there's going to be an attempt to smuggle Lord April back in secret we'll need her help."

"He already knows I walk the land again, given he has sent ..." Thomas pauses for a moment, looking concerned. "... given he sent my old friend -- now enslaved to him -- against me. He has decided to make this very personal." He then nods and adds, "Ah, Alice. I worry about telling her simply because she might go further into danger than she should. I would feel better if I had a few of the Golden Hawks there as well, should a quick evacuation of Alice need to be done. And to inform her -- we would need to be very careful how we worded it. If the letter was intercepted, it cannot reveal whom is suspected to be the Destroyer."

"Suspected?" Agatha asks, her eyes narrowing. "You mean you aren't sure that the Lord April imposter at Court is the Destroyer?"

"Oh, I'm pretty sure it is. But, it would be the Destroyer's way to replace Lord April, then, say, serve as a servant of Lord April's and controlling from the background," Thomas answers. "He is the master of deceit, after all."

"Right," Agatha says, giving a quick nod. "So do you plan to head straight for his keep, or check the Icejaw Pit first for Lord Mel? I suspect the Pit is where he's being kept, and I think there's another worthwhile reason to check it out."

"I agree. I want to check out the pit, as well, plus the surrounding mountains. On my very first trip out that way, Oberia, Randall, and I lost something that might prove useful," Thomas replies. "We lost Lord Bram's journal. What is it that you seek in the pit? The fabled dragon?"

Agatha nods. "Old Monitor could become an ally against the Destroyer, if his attitude is still as it was when we met him back in Ainigton."

Thomas nods and with a grin, says, "Heh, that he could. Speaking of the mortal world, I have other things to check out back there, now that I know a bit more about King Riordan and the Rule of a Year."

Raising an eyebrow, Agatha asks, "Gonna share it?"

"Good old Grandma, she knows more than she lets on," Thomas replies, starting to pace. "King Riordan! Or rather, I should say 'Ryan Jordan.' He was a guy both my grandmother and Anastasia ... well, liked -- a lot. He had to move a year after he first came to Ainigton, and in his parting, he said that a year was long enough for any king to rule. That's where the rule came from. Simple as that. Nice things also come from knowing that: I can map Year One of Mirari to the timeframe of the mortal world."

"I guess that is pretty handy. We've got pictures showing the physical mapping, sort of, between Mirari and Ainigton too," Agatha says.

"Which will also be helpful. By the by, did you know there is a passage beneath the Siege at the Palace of all Seasons?" Thomas asks.

"Nope," Agatha says, plainly. "I haven't been to the Palace yet. Oh, by the way ... I've got Hannah with me. Back with Oberia actually -- she got hit with a curse from one of those Black Robes."

Thomas eyes narrow. "Hannah. Came. This. Way?" he asks in a low tone.

"She rode with me from Nymuae's lake after delivering your letter," Agatha says. "I asked her to, since I wasn't familiar with the territory."

Thomas shakes his head, muttering. "Well, I'll give her some credit: if she came with you she's braver than I thought," he replies, grinning widely.

"Hey, was that an insult?" Agatha demands, slapping a fist into her palm. "Hannah held her own against the trolls really well, I'll have you know."

"Now, would I ever insult Redmane, hmmm?" Thomas replies, still grinning widely.

"If you thought you could get away with it, you'd do anything," Agatha remarks, but calms down a little. "When I saw the first troll, I thought, 'Gee, we caught up to Tom already!'"

"And now you're just trying to flatter yourself. Feel lucky I waited," Thomas replies, still grinning. "Still, I will have to deal with Hannah. After all, I did sponsor her into the Golden Hawks -- then she promptly goes against what she told me."

"Well, wouldn't you have done the same thing?" Agatha counters. "And yeah, if you hadn't waited for me, I'd have to have gotten all dirty burying your bodies out here."

"Heh, not likely," Thomas replies and waves his hand. "We would have found alternate methods for dealing with the creature. And might I remind you that I had to tell you to remount your steed? Lord, Redmane, you're slipping."

Agatha grinds her teeth. "Hard to live up to a figment of the imagination, so excuse me. And don't fool yourself into thinking the Destroyer has some personal grudge against you. He's only baiting you so you'll make a mistake. Again."

"Oh, I know he's trying to bait me. He's already made me kill an old friend," Thomas replies, remaining calm. "And I'll point out it wasn't that bad of a mistake. I did stop him for fourteen Years."

With a sigh, Agatha calms down as well. "Look, killing monsters and people is still new to me, so cut me a little slack, okay? I'm not fey after all. And you'll have to do better than fourteen years this time around, because I don't want my kids having to deal with this stuff all over again later."

"I'll stop him this time, even at the cost of my life," Thomas says with finality. "You're right, you're not Fey. Nor, do I believe, was Redmane entirely. Fey cannot normally wield iron weapons, yet she did. And if you think I'm pushing you hard, you're right. One mistake could get you killed, Redmane. I don't want to see you dead."

"Yeah, well ... just be a little nicer about it, okay?" Agatha says. "If you think I should be remembering what it is to be Redmane, it would help if you treated me like you would her. And I doubt she'd have put up with half the junk I do out of you."

"So certain of that, are you? We were friends, and friends often put up with a great deal." Thomas asks. "I'm harsh to wake you up, Redmane. This isn't a game here. This is deadly serious. It was likely my error that trapped Redmane Years ago too, you know."

"I know how she got trapped, and I'm on watch for it this time," Agatha says, crossing her arms. "I'll talk to Ahearn about what I'm doing poorly and how Redmane would act. Don't worry about me -- although I know you will anyway, because you worry about everybody."

"Know for certain?" Thomas asks, eyebrow raised. "And as for worrying about everyone, well, perhaps."

"Ahearn told me," Agatha says, standing up and brushing sand from her pants. "They got into an odd argument and split up. Ahearn got tricked into a trap, and Redmane probably was tricked the same way. If you know more about what happened though, I'm all ears."

"Ah, probably fell into. So, you don't know for certain," Thomas replies, then grins. "As for more, I sadly do not. An odd argument, do you say? Is Ahearn certain that he was actually arguing with Redmane? Perhaps she was replaced before that argument."

"Well, you'll have to ask him that," Agatha notes. "I'm not sure about anything, really, and the advice I got from Pelles was that I shouldn't try to be. It'd only limit future actions, since we can change things to a certain degree."

"Quite right," Thomas replies with a nod. "We can affect the world. In any event, we have plenty to deal with right now, such as the 'Black Robes'. At least we hold most of the cards now. They can tell us what they know about Lord April."

"Assuming the townspeople haven't driven them out by the time we get back," Agatha says. "But I can always rush ahead with Ahearn."

"I doubt it. It will take some time for the water to fill the rivers and fountains again," Thomas answers. "They'll probably have blockaded themselves in their monastery. And you said they harmed Hannah? That was a bad move as well."

"She gave an urchin some water," Agatha reports. "Apparently that's not a good thing to do in public as far as the Black Robes are concerned. Pelles told me Oberia can fix her up, though. You aren't going to take it personally, I hope?"

"I won't, but Lord November might -- which plays into our hand. They have a city and a Lord angry with them now," Thomas replies. "Hannah is responsible for her own actions."

"If they're the ones holding April, then they probably aren't concerned with having big enemies," Agatha points out. "They think the Destroyer will win this time, after all."

"Well, they weren't holding him, Redmane. They only provided supplies to those who were. They can tell us where they were headed," Thomas counters.

Agatha blinks. "So, April isn't being held at Caer Sidi then?" she asks.

"Not to my knowledge," Thomas replies, then grins. "Nothing is ever simple. Supposedly, they were headed West with Lord April under the pretense he was a murderer going to trial."

"West," Agatha mutters. "On your old map, that would be Point of Peril probably. Or else they're taking him to wherever they're holding Lord Mel ... which would certainly be convenient if we can track them."

"If we can track them? This is me you're talking to," Thomas says with a rakish grin. "Isn't the dragon in the Icejaw Pit supposed to be iron? Would be a great place to imprison a Fey." He then shudders at the thought.

Agatha notices the shudder, and says, "You'll need to practice with my sword, Thomas. Even if Redmane was only half fey, she still managed to handle it, and even Ahearn can tolerate it. It's a fair bet the Destroyer has trained himself to use an iron weapon by now too."

"Redmane," Thomas starts to say, "I couldn't even make myself touch it. I don't see how I can learn to use it."

"You'll take small steps," Agatha says. "Being able to stand in its presence is a start. It doesn't bother you while it's sheathed, so I'll bet that silk or glove leather can help shield it. Eventually, you'll have to do some sword-practice against me to make sure you can fight against someone wielding iron at least."

"I was wearing a glove," Thomas points out, then shrugs. "And are you certain sword practice would be wise? Well, it might help you remember, at least."

"Yes, I'm sure we both could use the practice," Agatha says, crossing her arms. "I won't take the chance of you getting ill if you have to face such weapons later on."

"So, you'll just make me ill ahead of time?" Thomas asks, a smirk playing on his lips. "And I thought you didn't care."

Agatha rolls her eyes. "Geeze, Tom. When you exasperate me like this I don't know whether to slug you or kiss you," she says, then leans forward to poke Thomas in the chest adding, "but only because I can't decide which you'd find worse."

"Or maybe you're just remembering the romance Tom and Redmane used to have," Thomas replies and waggles his eyebrows. "Or maybe I'm just making that up," he then adds with a grin.

"Hmmph! Either way, it's only fair that if I have to build up a tolerance to your personality, then you should have to build up a tolerance to my iron," the redhead says, crossing her arms again. "It'll be good for you in the long run, just like broccoli is."

Thomas smirks. "All right, all right. I'll try to learn to use it," Thomas replies, then raises an eyebrow. "I couldn't take it before -- but I wonder if I had my eyes closed and you placed the hilt in my hand -- I might be able to hold it."

Agatha smirks, and says, "Sure, we can try that. Nobody here to see you turn green except me and the horses. I'massuming you've forgiven Rachel for being a faerie by now, after all."

"You might say that, yes," Thomas replies with a shrug. Thomas takes in a breath, then says, "All right, get it."

The girl draws her sword and holds it easily by the blade, then says, "Okay, hold out your hand."

Thomas checks his glove several times for holes. Then slowly he holds out his hand, palm up and closes his eyes. "I hope you brought Band-Aids," he mutters.

"Won't need them," Agatha says as she places the hilt into Tom's hand. "Iron burns fey flesh. You'd need ointment."

Thomas' brow furrows, and moments later his hand drops away from the hilt. His muscles strain, but his hand simply will not stay near the hilt. He mutters grimly, flexing his hand. "Well, that did nothing useful," he comments.

Pulling the sword back, Agatha says, "Sure it did. It shows more than ever that you need to practice fighting against an opponent wielding iron."

"I suppose," Thomas replies, then extends his hand again. He grits his teeth and says, "Try again."

Agatha pulls out a silk handkerchief and wraps it around the hilt first this time, then offers it once more to Tom's hand.

Thomas' arm shakes violently, but his grip remains this time. He inhales sharply, holding it for a goodly amount of time. He then lets go and drops the sword to the ground. Immediately he clenches his hand and pulls it to his chest. "I think using it may be out of the question," he says slowly, trying to remain calm.

"Let me see your hand," Agatha demands, holding her own out for it.

It takes Tom a bit of time, but he extends his hand and painfully uncurls his fingers.

Agatha peels off the glove, and examines reddened flesh of Thomas' palm. "Doesn't look too bad," she decides. "Let some water run over it, unless you'd like me to kiss it to make it better?" she says with a smirk.

Thomas pulls his hand back and scowls. "Don't flatter yourself," he mutters, then goes over to the pool of water and immerses his hand. "Heat up an iron poker sometime and hold it, if you want to know how it felt," he comments.

The water feels silky-soft and soothing on Thomas's hand, reducing the swelling and reddening visibly.

Laughing, Agatha says, "Oh, I've done that! It's why my dad doesn't let me visit him at work anymore."

"Figures," Thomas comments with a grin. He flexes his hand again and says, "I think I better stick with fighting against iron and only resort to using it in extreme cases."

"Okay then, we'll stick to sword practice," Agatha says, recovering her sword and sheathing it. "Nice to know how fey react to it too, since I haven't actually faced any in sword-to-sword combat yet."

"Well, you did face that one Black Robe. He was Fey," Thomas says, standing back up. "I wonder if the Destroyer is still John Harcourt."

"Harcourt?" Agatha asks, coming over to stand near the water. "This is news to me. And that Black Robe was at the end of my lance, not exactly fighting back."

Tom nods. "Lord Eoin. John. You didn't figure that out?" Thomas asks. "He's also why the Destroyer's fortress always seemed to move."

"He moved around Ainigton a lot then?" Agatha asks, sitting down on the ground. "I don't know much about the Harcourts."

"Sort of," Thomas answers, walking around for a moment. He perches himself atop a fallen pillar and says, "One time, it was his bedroom at the manor. There were other places as well, but it ended up being settled upon as the old mines toward the end of the 'games' Anastasia used to play. He hated the game, partially because they decided Ryan would be king, not him."

"Your grandmother told you all of this?" Agatha asks, propping her chin up with her palms.

Tom nods. "Yep, she did. She doesn't know exactly what happened to Ryan Jordan after he moved away. I've been planning to try and track him down when I travel back to the mortal world."

"Think he could be Richard Kuning now then?" the girl suggests.

"The thought did cross my mind," Thomas admits. "It would be interesting to have my grandmother meet him."

"I wonder how many other families in Ainigton were involved in all this," Agatha says, shaking her head slightly.

"Probably more than we know. I'm curious as to whether we created the people we are in this world, or we came from this world originally," Thomas muses.

"Sounds like the chicken-or-the-egg riddle to me," Agatha notes, and then stands up to stretch her legs. "How much of a lead does the group carrying Lord April have on us?"

Thomas grins sheepishly. "A good part of the Year, I'm afraid," he answers. "They are bound to be wherever they were headed to by now, Redmane."

"So I guess we aren't in any particular hurry then," Agatha notes, grinning. "Good. I want to get a hot bath back in Caer Sidi, if the water reaches it in time."

"You could use one," Thomas observes, grinning.

"I won't argue with that, after riding hard and getting troll blood soaked into places I'd rather not think about," Agatha says, and scans the horizon for a moment. "And at least one of us should be clean and presentable."

"Hey, as I once told you, Redmane, I am not a knight. I live in the wilderness," Thomas replies with a shrug. "It's not like I get invited to Courtly ceremonies."

Agatha smirks. "Living in the wilderness is one thing," she says, "but wearing it in your clothes is another."

"Like I care," Thomas says, then eyes Agatha. "Redmane, if I didn't know better, I'd almost think you were concerned about me and how I looked. Is there something you're not telling me?"

"Hey, I just don't want to make any mistakes if we're attacked by trolls or rabid foxes or bog-monkeys or whatever," Agatha says, holding her hands up palm-out and looking innocent. "Nothing more. After all, I have Ahearn to look at if I want to see a well-groomed male."

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