The Royal Siege (23 Jan 2003) Angel and Redmane receive disturbing news from Kuon.

At the sight of the queen, Redmane falls to one knee and bows her head. "Your Majesty, I bring urgent news from Sir Theodore," she announces.

"Hi, Lady Redmane!" offers the princess to her knightly friend. "You're not hurt, are you? I think I saw you running around from the Black Boat."

Raising her head a bit to grin at Angel, Redmane tells her, "I'm fine, just a bit sticky with troll gunk at the moment."

At a gesture from the Queen, the rest of the procession halts. "Tell us, Lady Knight," she bids, not unkindly.

Angel wrinkles her nose at the mention of troll gunk. "Ew. But I'm glad you're okay," she says. Then she smiles warmly.

From her place behind the Queen and the other nobles, Hannah gives Redmane a look of relief, clearly signifying that she is happy to see the knight still in one piece.

The knight stands, and says, "Our attack against the enemy's siege engines brought a larger response than anticipated, and now Sir Theodore's men and the forces of May will be overrun if we cannot draw off some of the enemy forces."

The Queen directs a meaningful glance to those around her, then nods to Redmane. "Walk with us, Lady Knight. We are preparing for a sally and would know what information you have."

Redmane falls into step with the procession, and relates how they drew the enemy into a nearby field in hopes of reducing their forces, only to find themselves on the verge of being overwhelmed by their numbers. "If we can cause enough alarm on this end, then some of the troops at least would be recalled, giving Theodore's men time to recover."

Seraph nods. "It shall be done," she says, firmly. By this time, the group has reached the courtyard before the West Gate. The Queen walks with Melchizedek and Lord April towards Commander Craine, while Lord October takes his leave to muster a group of Forooves to lend support to the sally.

"A moment, Lord October!" Redmane calls out, "I have need of your crows, if any are available!"

The antlered lord pauses, glancing to Redmane, then he nods. He throws back his head and makes a sound, a noise simultaneously like and unlike to a bird's cawing. Moments later, three crows descend upon him, and he ushers one to Redmane, then continues on.

The summoned bird flaps to the knight, circling her while it waits for a perch to be offered.

Angel meanwhile looks amongst the men and women in the courtyard. She taps a bandaged archer. "Excuse me, sir. But do you know anyone who needs healing? Or maybe where the other healers are?" As a pre-emptive explanation of why she might want to know she wiggles her pharmacopoeia on the end of her wrist so he can see.

Redmane holds out her arm for the bird, and reminds herself to repeat everything three times when talking to it.

For her part, Hannah begins looking among the men within the courtyard, searching for any faces belonging to those of House November.

The man in question nods to Angel's query, and points silently to a corner of the courtyard where a few men have been laid out in stretchers, and are being tended to by a pair of harried-looking glass maidens.

"Thank you!" The little blonde girl curtsies to the soldier then hurries off to offer her help to the glass maidens.

The crow lands on Redmane's outstretched arm, then tilts her head at the knight. She caws, "You!"

"Good eve, friend crow," Redmane addresses the bird, wondering if it recognizes her or something. "I was wondering if you could cast or hold a glamour?" she asks, repeating the question to make sure the crow gets it.

On her second scan of the courtyard, Hannah spies her father, emerging from one of the side halls. He looks worn, and for the first time Hannah can remember, he is girded for battle.

"Nope," the crow answers. "Never been any good with glamours. Can't even make my own shinies prettier." She looks downcast at the thought.

"Ah, but can a glamour be cast upon you then?" Redmane asks the crow (several times, of course).

Hannah's expression draws into a serious frown immediately as she spies her father. She gives the Queen a quick bow, murmuring, "By your leave, Your Majesty...?" She then hurries toward Lord November, to speak with him before he has a chance to disappear again.

"I guess," the crow says. She ruffles her crest, and preens at her chest feathers. "Never thought about it. I fell for a glamour once. Thought a perfectly ordinary grey stone was a lov-er-ly shiny. Blasted imps! Wore off as soon as the imp was out of wing's reach, of course, but by then 's too late."

"Well, I'd like to try something then," Redmane tells the crow. "Can you collect as many of your friends as you can, and then go find the Sorceress Nymuae and ask her to make you all look like ... gryphons?" she asks the bird repeatedly.

"Gryphons?" The crow's eyes gleam. "Lady Nymuae?" She caws. "Well, the lords, they been rousing us and rousting us for messages. But ... gryphons? I will see who I can find, m'lady. Gimme a note. I can't tell people messages unless they know the right questions to ask." She raises one leg in anticipation.

Redmane pats at her armor, but of course it doesn't have pockets. "Hold on," she tells the crow, and seeks out the princess.

After quick introductions are exchanged, Angel makes herself useful by looking over some of the soldiers the glass maidens aren't able to tend to at once. A brief survey of the wounded and she sets herself to work on the man who looks to have been the most gravely wounded. "I saw something just like this once," she tells him soothingly. "It was when Sir Theodore just woke up. An arrow just like this one, and that wasn't hard at all, I'm sure you'll be just fine!"

Obediently, the crow holds on to Redmane's arm while the knight makes her way to the princess's side. The wounded fey looks very young and pale. Of course, the maidens tending the others are translucent, so maybe he's supposed to be pale. But he's surely not supposed to have an arrow stuck in his side.

Approaching the girl from behind, Redmane clears her throat before saying, "Pardon me, Angel. I don't mean to interrupt your work -- but would you have a bit of paper I could use to write a note on?" She smiles reassuringly to the wounded man.

"Sure!" responds Angel without looking back. She presses a poultice to the man's side with one hand and with the other reaches back to try and nab the knight's. "Press here where I'm holding and I'll check my purse." She glances back over her shoulder and abandons her grabby effort to shush the knight with a finger. "And no calling me Angel, Agatha. I'm supposed to be 'Jill' still."

In a corner of the courtyard, not far from the Queen and her officers, November speaks with his only daughter. A certain wariness hangs on his face as they start to talk, but after a short while, his expression relaxes. He embraces her quickly, then they join the others in planning.

Kneeling down, Redmane holds the poultice in place with her free hand, and asks the fallen man, "Have they done more than fire arrows yet?"

The young knight winces at his treatment, then sighs, closing his eyes. "You look like an angel to me," he murmurs, with a trace of gallantry, then he looks to Redmane. "Sir Theodore said to beware of poison," he answers. "But I don't know. I did not retreat quickly enough when we moved back after their rush, and I was overrun by the trolls. The defenders in the castle managed to rescue some of us who were fallen, when the bulk of the troll force pressed out."

With her hands free, Angel digs through her purse and pulls out a small notepad (pink, heart stickers) and an equally pink and greatly worn down pencil. She places them in Agatha's lap and then reaches over to retake her hold on the poultice. "You're silly," she tells the wounded soldier. "And, um, this will hurt just a little but this will numb your side but it looks worse than it is -- so don't look." She places a hand on the end of the arrow and turns to make an "I hate this part" face at Agatha.

Redmane grits her teeth. "I really, really hate trolls," she hisses. "They are far too persistent. Did you see any ogres, Vyglari or other creatures commanding them? ... er, do you need any help with that, Jill?"

"No," says the little healer sounding almost sad, "I've done this before. Sir Theodore's knights showed me how." And after closing her eyes she leans forward to push the arrow the rest of its way through his side at a safe angle. When the head breaks the surface Angel peeks with one eye, blanches, then deftly and with much haste breaks the arrow in two and pulls out the two ends of the shaft. When that's done she begins preparing another poultice with one free hand. The other hand returning to her original setting.

"There's no shame in that," Redmane assures the man. "They were made to instill panic, after all. But they aren't invulnerable."

"I hope not," the knight says, sinking back against the makeshift pallet. He closes his eyes again. "I'm sure not."

While the wounded man rests, Redmane tries to scrawl out a note for Nymuae using troll ichor for ink. "Please try to make these crows look like large fire-breathing gryphons. I started a rumor that they were going to be defending the walls, and if the enemy sees them they may believe the other rumors are true as well. -- Redmane."

Angel completes her second poultice with practiced ease and scoots it under the soldier where the arrow had gone through. For the moment she nudges the man to simply settle on it and then begins drawing out a length of bandage from a roll nearby with which to secure both poultices. "I've never seen a Vyglari," offers the healer as she busies about her work, "I've seen trolls, goblins, big spiders, slime, Lord Eoins, dragons, but no Vyglari. I bet they're really scary, though. I was really scared when I saw a dragon the first time. I'm glad Lady Redmane was there."

Redmane passes the note to the crow, and wishes it luck, adding, "You'd make a really impressive gryphon. Just imagine all the monsters running from you when you swooped down on them, and maybe even dropping shinies in their haste."

"I'm glad I didn't see dragons," the wounded fey says. He sounds half-asleep. "Vyglari's enough."

The crow caws enthusiastically, puffing out her feathers in pride. She touches her beak to Redmane's fingers in farewell, then flaps away, in search of the sorceress.

As Angel finishes with her patient, a familiar-looking dark-furred dog pads towards the pair, his ears back and his eyes concerned.

Standing up again, Redmane waves in surprise to the dog. "Is that you, Kuon?"

"Dragons like to talk. More than goblins, slime, trolls, but probably not Lord Eoins. Most goblins I talked to say things like, 'We're going to steal your Optikon, little girl!' and things like that. Maybe with a 'eeeheeehee' kind of laugh. Slime sort of goes, 'bubble, bubble, ooze,' and isn't very fun to talk to. Dragons sound big and important.Annnnnd," her brows raise high up as she spots Kuon, "and Kuons go 'bark bark!' Hi Kuon!" She holds out her arms.

Kuon doesn't go "bark bark," but he does loll his tongue out at Angel's greeting, and leans into her embrace. He even licks her face a few times, then turns to nod to Redmane's question.

Angel giggles at the slurp and takes a break from her work to wrap her arms around the dog's neck and lean against him. "What have you been doing, Kuon? I was worried about you. Tommy isn't hurt, is he?" She frowns at the idea.

Casting her gaze up towards the battlements, Redmane listens to Angel and asks, "Is something wrong? I need to go check on the enemy before we attack."

The canine shakes his head, but his brown eyes remain concerned. He pulls out of Angel's embrace, padding a few steps backwards, and half-turns, as if gesturing to both of them to follow him.

"I guess we should follow," says the princess. She removes a few leaves and places them on the man's chest before she stands and turns to one of the glass maidens. "If you brew some of this in water, the tea should treat the kind of poison goblins and trolls like to use. I don't think there's any poison, but just to make sure. I'm being summoned and have to go. But please come get me if you need to." And with that said she hurries after the dog.

But while Kuon is doing this, the Lord Protector parades before the assembled troops, and the officers are positioning the last of their forces. Next to Redmane, Ahearn says, If we're to join the sally, we had best go now.

Pausing in mid-step, Redmane turns to Ahearn and nods, then tells Angel, "If it's anything serious, try to let me know before we ride out, okay? I need to be in the charge to deal with any Vyglari."

The blonde girl looks over her shoulder and nods. "Okay. Look for me if you get hurt, too!"

"Of course!" Redmane promises, then goes with Ahearn to join Lord Melchizedek.

Sir Lefallon exchanges urgent whispers with Nashita, then bids her a farewell as he goes to join the troops. She watches him for a long moment, and then calls, "Lefallon!" As the young knight turns, she presses a cloth-- her scarf-- into his hands, and then steps back.

The younger knight blushes beet-red.

Kuon has taken another half-dozen steps away, but his ears flatten against his skull again as he sees Redmane is preparing to leave. He barks, twice, and shakes her head, going back to her. Ahearn whuffles at the dog, and they seem to exchange comments. Kuon believes that the Destroyer is anticipating this attack. He thinks that some kind of assault may be in the works on Ainigton. He wishes you to take him back there -- now. Ahearn tosses his head. He has no proof of this, only a hunch and a strong misgiving.

From the wall, Rachel, who had turned around at the cried name, smiles at the pair, then turns back to her post.

Ahearn continues, speaking to Kuon, I do not think that the Destroyer could have planned for Sir Theodore's knights to have risen a day ago, nor for us to be striking now. The timing has not favored him.

Redmane blinks in shock. "An attack on Ainigton? From where?" she wonders, then says, "We'll need to use the Royal Siege, and you'll need to come along as well Angel -- I don't know how to work the things!"

Reading the message off Ahearn's face, Angel reels at the suspicion. She covers her mouth as she gasps, then lowers her hand to her chest and shakes her head. "We should go to the Royal Siege now then, Agatha," she whispers over her hands. "I can work the Siege. I don't like to say it at all, but I think Kuon's right. I thought this might happen, too."

"I'll come along, of course!" Redmane says, then glances down at her armor. "Well, no time to change. Have you been in contact with Destre at all, Kuon?"

The Year's End can call the Siege of Wind, Ahearn says, dubiously. He glances back to the gate, where trumpets are sounding as it is cranked open. Kuon shakes his head in answer to Redmane's question, looking, if anything, more worried.

"Okay, I'll tell Lord Mel and then we'll get going," Redmane says, then asks Ahearn, "Do you want to come along as well?"

"It's hard to take a lot of people across, but I think it'll be easier since you two have both crossed a few time already," continues the princess. "If we use the Royal Siege, we'll be in front of the school. I can maybe try to do a glamour for you, too, Agatha ... but maybe not. Walking the Siege for everyone might mean I need to rest a moment afterwards. And before we go I need to tell my mother good-bye."

The white stallion favors Redmane with an incredulous look. You need ask? Let us tell the Lord Protector whither we go.

"Can you bring people over too, Ahearn? I might need help," asks the blonde.

Yes, Redmane and I can Siege-Walk, the Lord of Horses asserts, confident despite Redmane's earlier denial.

Redmane nods to both Angel and Ahearn. "We won't be there long enough for anyone to notice us, Alice; don't worry about it," she says, and then walks towards the black unicorn, thinking, "I hope my armor will still fit on the other side."

"Well that's good," says Angel. "I didn't do very well trying to take one of the Forooves in to Sir Theodore's glen." She follows after Agatha towards the Lord Protector and her mother. "I should ask for a pass to use the Royal Siege too. So I don't have to try and get inside like with the gargoyle."

Nashita walks gracefully up to Redmane's side and curtseys to her, and to Angel. "Fare well, my friends. Take care of dear Lefallon for me," she says with a smile. "Should you wish to visit, you will always be welcome in Isfahan."

The Queen stands near the West Gate, ready to watch her army ride forth. She looks regal and commanding, standing with her fur cloak flapping around her shoulders, long blonde hair flowing with it, back from her face. At Alice's approach, she offers a smile, but her eyes are on the knights and soldiers about to charge from the Gate.

Redmane and Ahearn have just enough time to catch up to the unicorn, and pass the recent information to him. The Lord Protector nods. Do what you must, he tells them. Then the Gate is fully open, and with a thunder of hooves, to battle cries of "For the Queen!" and "For Mirari!" the party sallies forth.

"I'll come and visit when everything is peaceful." The princess gives the djinn a smile and a little wave before she turns back to her mother and walks over to stand beside her. "I'm going to Ainigton because Kuon thinks Lord Eoin is going to assault it," she says, seriously. "We need to use the Royal Siege." She tries to stand tall and solemn, and to not look afraid at the idea of having to see Lord Eoin again and leave her mother far behind -- to look strong, just like her mother.

Redmane remounts Ahearn, and asks Angel, "Do you need to get anything before we leave?"

Blinking as if the question disrupted her intent seriousness the princess glances back and responds, saying, "No. I carry everything with me. Except -- oh! Ask a crow to get the mirror from Lady Nymuae and a note asking how it works, for her to put inside."

Once the distraction of the departing force is gone, the Queen focuses on the little girl's words. She looks shocked. "Lord Eoin? In Ainington? No! You cannot go. It is too dangerous, Angel. I forbid it."

The little girl pouts. "But I must, Mother!" she protests, forgetting her disguise for the moment. "If Kuon thinks so, and I think so too, I should go. It's just like Lady Nymuae saw. I don't want Ainigton to be at war too!"

"It can't be any more dangerous than coming here, Your Majesty," Redmane offers, while she jots down another note on the pad Angel gave her, then looks about for a crow. She's not about to try to call them the way Lord October did.

Kuon comes to stand next to Angel, and gives a little whine. The Queen is stone-faced.

Not far away, Lord November says, his tone quiet, "The Lady Knight has a point. While I am the last to deny a parent the right to protect her daughter ... it may be that Ainigton is safer than here." He gestures to the wall, and the army that lies beyond it.

Redmane scours the skies in vain for a crow, but she does notice a hawk resting on a pad on November's shoulder.

"Lord November, might I prevail upon your companion to deliver a message to the Sorceress?" Redmane asks the noble.

The princess flashes Lord November a grateful smile. "See, mother? Lord November thinks so too. And if Lord Eoin hurts Ainigton, he'll hurt Mirari too," she pleads.

At November's words, Hannah shakes her head almost imperceptibly. However, her eyes darken with concern at Angel's desire to go back to the mortal world.

The Queen folds her arms, trying to look stern, but her expression wavers. "You cannot go alone, certainly. Not if there is to be trouble there."

"Ahearn and I will be protecting her," Redmane says. "And she has other allies there as well."

"Oh no," reassures the princess. She gestures behind herself at her gathered friends. "I have Kuon, and Lady Redmane, and Ahearn coming too. Just like Lady Redmane says."

November glances warily to his own daughter, and looks relieved after a moment. He says, "Would you send a contingent of guards with her, your Majesty? Fey soldiers would be out of place in Ainigton ... and we will need them here." He takes the hawk from his shoulder with a silent movement, stroking the bird's head affectionately as he holds it out to Redmane.

Redmane offers the note to the hawk, and asks it, "Could you please take this message to the Lady Nymuae, lord of the sky?"

The hawk accepts the note, solemnly, and wings away.

The Queen heaves a sigh. She unbends, kneeling to hug Angel tightly. "I lay this charge upon thee, Lady Knight Redmane: Protect my daughter!" she commands, looking to the knight over Angel's shoulder. "And on thee, as well, Lord of Horses. Let no harm befall her!" Her eyes glitter in the moonlight.

Redmane stiffens her spine and nods somberly to the Queen. "On my honor, your Majesty."

Hannah does her best to ease her Queen's concerns by saying, "I am sure that the Lady Redmane will look after Angel well. She has done as much for me, in the past." Here she gives the red-haired knight a small, lop-sided grin.

The princess squeaks at the hug. "I'm sure Gabriel would really like to meet some of the knights, but I don't think the people in Ainigton would like it if a whole army appeared in the park. Well, they might like it once they got to meet everyone, but that's not very ..." She breaks off from her chatter, smiling broadly and burying herself in her mother's embrace. "I'll be okay! And I'll come back soon, Mother. You'll see!"

After these words, Seraph straightens, releasing her daughter. "And I had just found thee again, my child," she says, stroking Angel's hair tenderly. She exhales, then continues, "I give thee leave to go. But -- return to me, quickly, my Angel."

"Would you care to come along too, Hannah?" Redmane asks the November girl.

Hannah suddenly looks uncomfortable, although she does her best to hide it. "I am sure that you and the Lord of Horses will do well enough without me," she tells Redmane quietly. She does not seem inclined to say more.

"I promise! We'll do what we need to do and then we can come back," Angel agrees. She stands straight for her mother and offers her a following curtsey. "We won't let Lord Eoin bother Ainigton, not at all. We'll stop him. For my mother the Queen, we will!"

The gate bangs closed, the last of the party having ridden forth. Outside the walls, the sounds of battle -- metal clanging against metal, hooves churning snow and mud, weapons sinking into flesh, the cries of the injured -- bring a grim reminder of what goes on without.

"Let's not tarry too long here," Redmane mutters while listening to the battle. "Hopefully Nym will get the message and meet us at the Siege."

The princess glances back towards Redmane and gives her a little nod. "That's right. The longer we stay here, the more in danger Ainigton will be. We should go. Are you all ready, Lady Redmane?"

"I'll expect you to hold things down here until we return then, Hannah," Redmane says to the fey girl. "And let Thomas know what we're doing if you see him."

For the second time this hour, Hannah gives Redmane a look of relief. "That I will," she responds, smiling at the knight. "And if Thomas allows himself to be found again at this Court, I shall certainly pass along your message!"

The Royal Siege
As with most of Mirari, a blanket of snow covers this landmark of the Palace gardens, muting the features of the angel statue, her undrawn sword. The interlocking paths that curve in circles about the statue are hidden beneath the blanket of snow, but the lines are still marked, the snow being of a different depth where they cross. Instead of Ainigton's American flag, the banner of Mirari flies from the post set where all three circles intersect.

"This is it!" shouts the princess as she hurries towards the circles. "We have permission to use the Royal Siege, so we should be able to cross without any problems. We'll all need to stand in the center and if anyone needs help, they should hold the hand of someone who can take them across."

"You take care of Kuon then, Angel," Redmane says, as she and Ahearn enter the circles. "If we become separated on the other side, head for Harcourt Manor. That's the most likely staging area for Eoin."

"You will have little trouble, I think," a voice says, from the far side of the statue. A figure rises, and comes around into the moonlight: Nymuae. "You are returning to Ainigton," she continues. "Why?"

"Hello, Nymuae!" Redmane calls, smiling. "Kuon has a feeling that the Destroyer is about to attack there, since things aren't going according to plan on this side for him."

The blonde princess pauses a few steps inside of one of the outer rings. She turns to locate the voice and then smiles at the lady sorceress. "You made it, your ladyship! Kuon thinks Lord Eoin might attack Ainigton. I think so too," she explains.

The sorceress is uncharacteristically quiet for a moment after this revelation. Her eyes fall on Kuon, who is still in canine form. "It is possible," she concedes, at last. "I am not sure of this instinct. But be that as it may, there are things left to be learned in Ainigton. It will be good if you can find them out. You wished to take Angelique's mirror with you?"

"Yes," answers Angel. "I think it would be useful. Lord Eoin knows how it works, so maybe he won't try and hurt anyone if he sees it, because he might hurt himself. And it can be used to move around too, can't it Lady Nymuae?"

"Move around?" Redmane asks. This is the first she's heard of that ability of the mirror.

Angel nods to Lady Redmane. "Yes! Remember the letters hinted at that ability? We never found it, but Lady Nymuae did."

"That could certainly be useful for making quick escapes," the knight muses.

The sorceress nods. "It may be used to reflect or deflect harmful powers and attacks. The use of that depends on the skill of the wielder. The blood of Angelique's line in thy veins may help thee use it in that fashion, Angel, but I do not know for certain. Neither Eoin or Bram could use the mirror as Angelique could. Its powers of transportation I have been able to tap. The way is simple: the mirror may bring people, or items, to its current location. The person or item must be marked with the lion's head, the symbol of the mirror. If it is a person, that person must be loyal to the user. I was able to mark myself with the lion's head and summon myself to the mirror, at my tower, in that fashion -- of course, I am loyal to myself." Nymuae smiles.

"Possessions, likewise, must be marked," she continues, "and they must belong to the summoner. I had thought to use it to bring the reinforcements from the Houses here faster, but there has not been time since I obtained it to overcome the obstacles involved in contacting and marking the forces. And I have not been able to test it on anyone other than myself." She sighs. "Lastly, I do not know how well its powers will work in Ainigton. Some spells, like glamour, work in the mortal realm, but not all do, or work as potently."

"Did Thomas return the flute to you, Angel, or does he still have it?" Redmane asks, remembering how well that artifact worked in Ainigton.

The princess nods and offers, "But Lord Eoin will have that problem too, I think. His powers won't work quite as well so maybe that will help. Or make it even-steven." She steps forward to collect the mirror and as she goes, she answers Lady Redmane. "Tommy didn't return the flute. But that's okay. I think Tommy needs it more than we do."

"He's gone after Simon then?" Redmane asks.

"Yep! You know how he is," replies the princess.

Nymuae looks torn between laughing and scowling at that remark. She settles on a slight smile. "On the mirror, my princess: wouldst thou have it with thee in Ainigton, in the hopes that it may aid thee? Or wouldst thou rather itwere in my possession -- where thou might be able to summon thyself to it, and out of danger?"

"It will work like that?" Redmane asks, sounding skeptical. "To travel between the worlds without a Siege, I mean?"

"It may. Certain stories suggest that Angelique used it to bring knights between realms. But I have had no opportunity to test it. I cannot say," the sorceress admits.

Angel pauses at the question. "Hm." She wrinkles her face in a look of concentration as she considers her options. "Well if we take it with us we can bring someone else to us. Like Tommy if he learns to mark himself. And if Lord Eoin really does attack and he brings a lot of people we could get help. Also if Lord Eoin is in Ainigton it would be very comforting to have the mirror. Of course if we get in trouble we could always run away through the mirror, but, well, if we get in that much trouble doesn't that mean we shouldn't run away? That Ainigton is in real danger and needs us?"

"I don't expect an army of trolls to be roaming the streets," Redmane says. "More likely, Eoin will try to capture the King, or seek leverage against those of us who can alter things here."

"Then should we leave the mirror here, Agatha?" asks the princess. She glances back and forth between her friends looking torn. "If you don't think he'll attack us with monsters and spells and we won't need an army."

"We should take it, in case we need to bring Thomas or Simon to us," Redmane advises.

"Okay then." The princess holds her hand out for the mirror and smiles at Lady Nymuae. "Agatha knows about fighting things, so I think she's right. And we might need Tommy and Simon," she confides.

Nymuae draws the hand-mirror from the folds of her robe, fingering the carved handle with a certain regret. "I would that I had had more time to test it and put it to practice. If it works as I believe, it would be a potent tool in managing the movements of the armies of the Houses. And yet ... if the armies are, as the Lord Explorer believes, more distraction than threat ... " Her voice trails off. With a shrug more reminiscent of Rebecca than the lady sorceress, she hands it to Angel. "I will pass the word to the others, as I see them. I remain marked, so either of you may call on me, if needed."

"Hopefully it won't be necessary," Redmane says. "I still remember your prophecy, though, and will keep it in mind."

"Thanks, Lady Nymuae! When we're done with it, you can look at it all you want. The flute too, if you want. And maybe the pen if Tommy will let you, but he probably won't. You know Tommy." The princess beams another smile at the raven-haired magic user. "We should be going now though. I know time is different in the mortal realm but every second could be a second too much."

The sorceress's expression darkens at the mention of the prophecy. "Keep thy stuffed Lord Mel with thee, too, Angel," she says. "Thou mayst have need of him, as well." She pauses, then gives Angel a quick hug. "Go," she says after releasing the girl. She gently pushes her towards the banner post. Ahearn and Kuon already stand beside it, waiting.

Redmane takes her position as well, and nods to Alice. "Lead the way, Princess."

The princess takes a step back from the sorceress, offers a curtsey, then turns with a rustle of her skirts to hurry off. She crosses the lines of the Siege circles until she stands in the center of the intersection. "This is my favorite part," she says, reaching down to take Kuon's paw. She gives a nod, then takes a deep breath. "Here we go! Think of Ainigton and concentrate and the --" here she drops into a deeper voice, in an attempt to sound like Mr. Tuley the science teacher, "-- way to the other world will open before you! Woosh!"

Whoosh!

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This site serves as a chronicle of sessions in an online roleplaying campaign moderated by Conrad "Lynx" Wong and May "Rowan" Wasserman. The contents of this site are (c) 2001, 2002 by Conrad Wong and May Wasserman except where stated otherwise. Despite the "children's fantasy" theme of this campaign, this site is not intended for young readership, due to mild language and violence.