RP:No Silver Lining

Part of the The Day I Tried To Live Arc

Summary: Khitti and Brand meet with Lionel and Hildegarde about the ever-growing problem that is Amarrah. The plans are laid out before the Queen, but Khitti's given a grim warning should Amarrah not be taken care of soon: a death sentence given by the Silver herself as judge, jury, and executioner.

Frostmaw Fort

At Lionel’s insistence, Khitti made her way to the fort with Brand in tow. Well, in stereotypical female fashion, this took her hours (it was highly unusual for Khitti to do this, but she was seeing the Queen again!). Several anxiety attacks and cups of stress-relieving teas later, she’d managed to settle on an outfit to wear: the red and black swirled knee-length dress with long black lace sleeves that Brand had given her for Christmas. It wasn’t super formal like the dresses worn at Hildegarde’s coronation, but it certainly looked better than her usual attire (plus it probably wasn’t a good idea to show up to see the Silver wearing the scales of Raiez the Blue). Once everything -seemed- perfect enough to Khitti, she’d drag Brand to the Fort (though to be fair, it was probably more him dragging her there before she’d chicken out entirely and move away from Frostmaw forever to avoid possible confrontation). Mustering up all of her courage, she stopped the first person that crossed their path, asked if the Knight-Commander had shown up yet or not, and was met with an unfortunate ‘no’. A faux, pleasant smile and a thank you was gifted to the aforementioned fort-goer and as soon as they were gone, Khitti’d turn quickly on booted heels to face Brand, green eyes wide and a look of sheer panic plastered on her features, “Ve should go. Now. Before he shows up. Agreeing to zhis vas probably zhe biggest mistake ever.” At this point, Khitti was quite convinced she rather go about dealing with Amarrah and -not- telling Hildegarde--better to risk getting eaten by the dragon than having to actually talk about things. She’s not so good at the people-ing, you see, even if it -is- just Hildegarde. But, this was important. Super important...and she was convinced none of this conversation with the Queen was going to go well--or even in her favor.

Brand, on the other hand, had made minimal additional effort for this visit to the Queen. Which is to say, he’d actually checked himself in the mirror this morning and brushed a hand through his hair -- yep, lookin’ good enough. Dressed in the same sorts of clothes he always was, and additionally bundled in a coat and gloves to keep out the chill, Brand accompanied Khitti with none of the apprehension she seemed to carry. In fact, all Khitti’s panicking earned her was a beleaguered sigh and a firm hand on either shoulder, propelling her further into the fort and to the throne room. “You’re gonna be fine, kiwi,” he insisted as he pushed her forward. “Juuust fine. Peachy, even.” Easy for him to say. He wasn’t the one being summoned.

Walled Courtyard

Hildegarde had assigned the task of wrangling Khitti to the fort to Lionel, which he had done with ease! Khitti and Brand were now here and Hildegarde was on her way to greet them, sending Lisbeth first to corral them towards the Walled Courtyard so they might have a little greenery for this visit and something a little less stuffy than the fort. Once the pair had settled out there, Hildegarde finally joined them. "Khitti, forgive me," she began, immediately bowing at the waist to Khitti in way of sincere apology, "I did not mean to be quite so late. I assure you, my time is yours now," she promises her. Finally, she looks to... not Dominic. "Ahh, yes, it's... Brand, right?" She had met Brand maybe once or twice, she didn't know this side of Dominic all too well. Well. This person all too well. Dominic would have gotten a warmer reception, to be sure. "Can I get you two anything?"

Lionel is feeling better about this whole thing than Khitti, no doubt. After all, he has spoken with Queen Hildegarde about his aide-de-camp's present condition, and she has graciously and honorably voeed to do everything in her power to be supportive of the situation. This comforts the Catalian as he slips into his stately red uniform and turns the knob on his door, but he finds his fingers have clutched the cool metal without twisting it open. He stands there, pondering the variables, and remembering how close a call they'd all had with Amarrah in the underground tunnels beneath the Southern Sage. If Hildegarde had been there -- if she had seen the legion of the undead! -- would she be so calm? "Don't start doubting her now," Lionel chides himself. "You're seeing shadows where none belong. She's a good queen and a great woman and Khitti is her friend." With a sigh, he steps out from his chambers and into the torch-lit stone hall. Much to his surprise, a young blond-haired guard had just been preparing to knock. Cheeks flush with embarrassment that the lad might have heard Lionel mumbling to himself, and he clears his throat and nods. "Sir, your guests have arrived. Also, I have taken stick of provisions for the guild's trip to the Nameless Desert. All is well." Lionel, already halfway down the hall, offers a thumbs-up from behind. "Aces, Anton. Good work." Lionel faintly overhears a cheerful thank-you from the fellow as he turns a corner. Before long, he reaches the walled courtyard, hardy wintry birds chirping overhead and multi-colored vines sprawled across the perimeter. The vines make him think of Chisel, however, and he flinches; serenity is in short supply in a world with killer plant people. His azure eyes keep straight ahead as he approaches his friends. "My queen," Lionel bows, in what is likely the most regal he has ever appeared to either Khitti or Brand. "Thanks for coming," he tells the Dhavislaavian and his countryman, and then he seats himself quietly off to the side.

The aforementioned Dhavislaavian allowed herself to be guided to the courtyard by the captain of the Queensguard and pretty much damn near chewed her lip off along the way. She doesn’t bow to Hildegarde as she was more focused on the nervous fidgeting with her hands, but it’s not out of disrespect at all--she’s just not very good with the whole royalty thing, you see--and thankfully the Silver knows that in advance from previous interactions. Where the heck did all of that von Schreier determination that was just there in the days leading up to this meeting go? Well, for starters, she still hadn’t had many interactions with dragons since the whole Raiez incident and that was throwing her off a bit. She was practically a puddle of goo at this point and scrambled to gather her thoughts as the other Catalian--the incredibly -late- Catalian--showed up and thanked her and sat down elsewhere! The nerve of that guy. Certainly, he’d get an agitated flailing of her arms at his face later on. In an attempt to steel herself and get on with the things that needed to be said, she offers a brief side-glance towards Brand and said along their mental link, [Remind me to tell Lionel later that he looks like a pompous doofus in that getup.]. The urge to snicker outwardly was resisted, much to her dismay, and a heavy sigh shoved into its place. “Right, um, Lionel’s said zhat he’s spoken to you already.” Good, good. Keep going, silly. It’s literally not going to get any easier from here so you might as well keep talking. The redhead reached into Brand’s coat, pulled out a book from its inner pocket that she’d borrowed from the library in Xalious, and edged closer to Hildegarde. “I’m going to zhe Shadow Plane to get rid of Amarrah. Zhey’re coming vith me--and Dominic too, of course, “ she said with a nod towards both of the blondes. She came prepared, it would seem, in typical bookworm-Khitti fashion as the book is opened to a page with various underlined sentences that would explain that dark otherworld: what it was, what was within it (what the book told her anyway), how to get there, but sadly not the means to do so. Now she started to feel that fire again as she spoke of her intent to go, the nervousness fading entirely, “I already have a plan in place. I just need to find a spellbook vith zhe ritual to get zhere.” There’s a brief pause, and a very different sort of air overcomes Khitti--one of confidence with a dash of that rebelliousness of hers--as she finishes her thoughts for now until anyone else had spoken, “I vill -not- be deterred from zhis.”

Brand stood up straight in Hildegarde’s presence, hands clasped behind his back. He may not have dressed up in anything special for today’s visit to the Queen, but he at least had the sense to adopt some sort of professional demeanor. He very nearly broke character, however, when Khitti’s thought shot across their link. It was so very… Khitti. Smothering a smirk, he addressed Hildegarde with a, “Nothin’ for me, thanks. And aye, Brand.” Frankly, he could have just as easily shown up in illusion form if Dominic had wanted to take part in this, but the black-haired boy was still proving to be rather withdrawn of late even when he -was- kept informed of things that were going on. Whatever. It made no difference to Brand. “We’ve figured the scoutin’ party should be kept to a small group the first time we go over there,” he added, following along Khitti’s train of discourse. “There’s a number of precautions we’ll be takin’ -- we’ve enlisted the aid of your blacksmith and an enchantress for some protective items, for starters -- but the Shadow Plane’s still unknown enough that it seems wise to limit exposure. In case of adverse effect.” Hoo boy. Them’s some big words, Brand. Seems all that reading is paying off. “Not to mention, seems wise to do all this on the down-low. Peach here” -- that’s Khitti, for the uninitiated -- “has faced some mighty hostility over Amarrah enough as it is. Plus, there’s concern that widespread knowledge of how to access the Shadow Plane would draw the sorts of people who’d… well.” Brand cleared his throat and stalled as he searched for words that wouldn’t implicate anyone in particular. “...Some people’s first instinct when they see somethin’ new an’ shiny is to try to conquer it, or otherwise abuse it for their own gain. We know there's other living bein’s on the Shadow Plane, and some, like Amarrah, are sentient. It’s for their good, you understand, as much as for ours here in Lithrydel.”

Hildegarde's fiery brow raised up just a touch at Khitti's firm statement and resolution that she shan't be deterred from her path. Instead of immediately addressing it, she listens to Brand first. Nodding here and there, the Silver listens to all he has to say before lapsing into silence. "And I assume that this spellbook is out west in the forbidden reaches?" she asks, turning her gaze to Khitti. "I understand what it is to have a quest and to be prepared to go forth, allowing no obstacle to deter you from your path. I sympathise, Khitti, I do." But even a friend should think carefully about making a demand. "You may access the library. But you take that book and only that book," she need not add to this, she need to say 'touch another book and I'll slice a finger off for every book you touch' because she knows Khitti will take her word seriously. "You return it once you are done. And if... well. If it seems like something or someone else will use the book or will return to our natural plane, you are to destroy the book. And destroy the portal," meaning there was a chance that this trip would be a one way trip. Hildegarde was never lying when she said she would do everything to protect the realm.

Lionel purses his lips and remains stoic for the duration of Khitti's dialogue. Briefly, at the precise moment the Dhavislaavian mentions own planned involvement, his eyes flicker to the queen. She would be well within her right to object, royalty or otherwise. Frostmaw's domestic problems have multiplied, man-eating insectoids are stalking tunnelw beneath the earth, and the peace with Larket remains tense. Lionel's absence, however temporary, will require copious planning with the military and various dignitaries. But Hildegarde says nothing on the subject. Hildegarde, Lionel estimates, is aware now of how much Khitti means to him. It's a friendship that has helped him back from the brink, the proverbial mental precipice, and there is nothing Lionel would not do to repay the favor in kind. Nor would he turn his back on Brand, who by the time Lionel snaps free from his slight daze has taken over the conversation. He adjusts himself, listening intently. Sentient beings. He grimaces, pondering what sorts of sentients they might encounter. And then the queen speaks, and her final statement seems almost to echo through the courtyard. In fact, a mild breeze passes over the area a few seconds past Hildegarde's command, chilling the corridors. This feels like Lionel's cue. He stands upright and fixes his gaze on Hildegarde. "If we encounter anything with such intentions," he speaks with the confidence of a man who believes his own words, "and we fail to stop it through force or diplomacy, we will destroy the portal to prevent any incursion." He peers at her for another moment, then tilts toward Khitti. "And we'll do everything in our power to prevent such an incident and get my friend what she needs."

Khitti just stood there, stone-still, blinking at the Silver once Brand has added in his side of things, the Queen herself had said her thoughts, and even Lionel backed up his fellow Catalian and the Dhavislaavian with more assurances to Hildegarde. “Zhe ‘forbidden reaches’? Zhe ‘library’?” was all she could say at the moment and then it hit her: Hildegarde had promised her access to that library months ago upon their second meeting. “I...uh…” How could she have forgotten about a thing like that? It’s a -library- for frak’s sake--a very secret and powerful library. “I--” It’s then that the redheaded woman shook her head, composing herself yet again, “No.” Wait...did she just? “I vill find it some other vay. It may be in zhere, in zhat city, but I von’t be zhe one to take it from zhere. It’s a book; I’m sure zhere are others, especially because of zhe plane’s ties to zhe dark arts.” It was seriously taking a lot for her to turn down this opportunity right now, but she seemed to be taking it well. As she paused in her thoughts, she cast a side glance at Brand, and then towards Lionel, carefully chewing the inside of her cheek as she mulled things over, “Zhere’s a lot of awful zhings going on right now and zhis zhing vith Amarrah pales in comparison to zhem all. She’s just one tiny piece of of a whole lot of bad and I’d rather not use zhe library for zhat. Not if I can help find something to zhose people out zhere zhat’s being affected by zhat ‘red dirt’ or something else. Something more important. Something zhat could actually do some good.” Somehow Khitti was still clinging onto that hope that she might be able to do some good in the world, even if the bad followed her like a puppy. “Vhen I said zhat I vill not be deterred I had meant zhat should you decide zhat Lionel should not accompany me or even go so far as to not allow Brand or Dominic to go or anyone else for zhat matter, zhat I vould do it myself. And, I know I have a job too, out zhere in zhe ruined city, to be considered but as of right now zhings are quiet on zhat front and I’m confident it vill be fine until my return.”

Hildegarde listened to the correction and the information that Brand provided about Amarrah's slaying of the innocent. The Silver took a long moment of silence to suss out what exactly she would say in reply to this dilemma. Lionel was her right hand man. She needed him in these trying times, but she had made a vow to help her people as best she could. She couldn't let Khitti down at this point, though it would possibly cost her dearly. With a grunt, Hildegarde spoke up: "Take Lionel, if he so wishes to go with you," she tells them. "He's a fine warrior. He'll likely keep you safe," she tells them with a little smile. "But... If you do return and you are not Khitti," she begins and Khitti will likely know where this is going, "I will personally see to it," she vows softly. It wasn't fun to promise to kill someone for the greater good, but it was Hildegarde's oath and she would always be a knight before she was a Queen. "A bit grim, I know. Forgive me. Is there anything else that can be done to support your endeavour?"

Lionel remains quiet, mostly. This is Khitti's course, and Brand's too for that matter. Oh, it's Lionel's fight just as much as theirs; he's nodding empirically the instant Hildegarde expresses her willingness to allow him the transit. But he'll stake himself on deeds to be done, not words to be spoken. He talks enough as-is. If any should look upon him now, they might catch of glint of his own apprehension at leaving Frostmaw's troubles, and the strange insectoid troubles abroad, for any length of time. There is a certain stoicism on his face, however, a tightening of the jaw, which symbolizes commitment to the cause. Why, in front of these three, it should be easy to tell that Lionel is unwilling to do anything less than everything he can in order to save his family.

Khitti could only stare wide-eyed in horror at first Brand, then Hildegarde as her death sentence was verbally given, but thankfully not carried out. The shock subsided and gave way to a memory as she nodded slowly to the Silver, one that would briefly leak across that link to Brand in her distraction: a council, shouting at each other in the Dhavislaavian tongue; some called her for her head, others for the pyre, and even more still for the noose. None of them could agree on the way, but all could agree that it needed to be done--except for one. Banish her, the councilwoman said, it’s not her fault--she didn’t even -want- this. Didn’t ask for it and lost everything in addition to it; she was absolutely nothing to them now. Somehow…-somehow- Khitti had been numb through the whole thing, took the judgement and dealt with it in spite of the problems it’d create down the road. But now as she stood in a similar council of those she thought actually gave a damn, about the very same thing, it was hard for her not to break. Khitti could understand Hildegarde’s side of the matter--she had to take care of her people after all--but Brand? Lionel? For one to make matters worse and the other to say nothing, it was certainly a blow indeed to that confidence and fire that’d been shining oh so brightly lately. There was no eye contact made with any of them now as she hugged that book of hers to her chest, her emerald line of sight fixed on the ground between her and Hildegarde. “No, “ she said, at the risk of her voice cracking as it was wont to do when she was upset but doing her best to hide it. “Zhat’s it.” Suddenly, an uncharacteristic formal nature overtook her as she not only bowed gracefully and with the utmost respect to the dragon woman, but added, “Zhank you, Queen Hildegarde. You vill be notified if it has or hasn’t been dealt vith vhen ve return, “ addressing her in the proper fashion suited for a Queen. There was a pivot towards the door, and then silent steps taken towards the exit without a word said to either Catalian.

It wasn’t even sort of the same thing. This was the message Brand shot back along that link, the thought bristling and harsh at the comparison. If Amarrah ever took over Khitti completely, unrelinquishing… there would almost certainly be no Khitti left to save. “Thank you. We’ll make sure it doesn’t come to that,” was all Brand said aloud, his own bow signaling his intent to depart. He’d pulled Khitti out from under Amarrah’s control before. The fact that the battles were not every day or even quite every week signalled that it took the shadow creature a certain strength to maintain that hold. And if they got rid of her soon enough, well… Amarrah wouldn’t get the chance to grow any stronger.

Hildegarde had a duty to the realm first, then her friends second. As much as she wished to promise to do everything possible for Khitti, to endanger many lives in a bid to protect her, she simply couldn't. An honest woman, this one was. "Khitti," Hildegarde began as Khitti moved to leave with her formal farewell, "I care for you, that you know to be true. But you know my duty is to the realm. If I can help you in some way, you must tell me how. But it would be unfair of me and unjust to our friendship if I did not give you the honest truth of what will come to pass should our quest fail."

Lionel watches them leave. Members of his family. What a word. What a foreign word. He purses his lips in thought, much as he's been doing for a fair bit of this conversation. When both Khitti and Brand are making to depart, he remains beside his queen for a moment, and he stares at the grassy ground as if there is an answer there, some higher calling. "I care about you all," he whispers, solemnly. "The realm comes first. I will remember that." He seems to have given himself his own resolve, by virtue of the things the queen has said. WIth a bow, he excuses himself to follow the others. Lionel is still coming to terms with these bonds.

Khitti didn’t bother saying anything in return to Brand’s irritated retort--there was no point in arguing with him, he’d never see it from her perspective. She also caught that whisper of Lionel’s thanks to that vampiric hearing of hers, but likewise didn’t comment on it. Whatever. If it came down to it, she’d deal with all of this all on her own. That’s how it always was, maybe that’s how it was meant to be in the future? The vampiress did, however, stop to address Hildegarde again before finally exiting, “Zhere always have been and always vill be bigger problems zhan Amarrah and I, and all of them seem to always fall right into your and Lionel’s laps as of late. You do as you vere crowned to do and vorry about everyone else, if you vould please, and I vill do as I have done for a very long time--try to survive.”