As the now pacified maid left, having been promised a leave- a paid one, to her home soon, Old Osmond pondered the newly revealed information that his trusty familiar overheard (not that he sent the mouse to check the undead-err… undergarments. Not at all). 'Well, at least she seems to hold no grudge, against us, and seem still fond of the Princess. Her cordial discussion with Colbert looks promising.'
As bizarre and strange as the tale was, it did fit with some of his theories about her disappearance, though he never expected her to end up that far away.
And her unique condition would be most interesting to the scholar within Osmond. Why it was an opportunity like no other, even if limited to the mostly noninvasive study.
As for the ability she demonstrated with magic-it was like nothing he has ever seen. He wondered, could be replicate any of these spells? Could Young Miss Valliere still cast the traditional spells of a proper Brimiric mage? Oh-right, she was the student that tended to fail- di her brimiric spell work improve? And just what fascinating foreign magics did she learn?
It was a grand chance to learn much, and Osmond hoped both he, and his dear familiar, would get to use it without the church learning of it.
Weather it was The missing girl, or some other entity, he hoped the Duchess will come to appreciate the risk he, his fellow teacher, and the Princess did, by their attempt, and will come to accept her daughter, 'and I find myself slightly more convinced that it is her, or part of her then before, though we should be careful if she ends up near any Spirits or Firstborn', lest she lose her youngest child irreversibly.
Now they needed to move to another place, lest someone come to investigate.
He knocked on the door leading to his professor and former student, and announced himself, before entering, knowing from his mouse that there was no interrupted conversation, nor any untoward activity about to be interrupted between the teacher and the girl- now clearly adult woman to his perceptive gaze.
"Miss Valliere, we should depart soon, would you be kind as to prepare yourself to the journey with us and your mother? I hope you are still in shape to travel, despite the dreadful ordeal that you have been through."
He did not specify if he spoke of her time in the strange land she got summoned to, or her retrieval-truthfully he was uncertain himself.
"I will be ready soon, assuming all that was with me was transported, and was not disturbed, professor… pardon me, but I do not recall, you are…" her voice lacked the harshness of her first spoken words, but still, the unpleasant metallic sound accompanied it.
Osmond suspected it to have been a permanent part of her now, and pondered the list of mages that could help in removing such a conspicuous aspect of her unique state. It would not do to have her discovered, or declared an abomination.
"Professor Osmond, the Headmaster of Tristain Academy of Magic-also known as the Great and Wise Old Osmond." He helpfully replied with a false cheer.
"…"
She stood there unmoving for some moments, deathly motionless in her thinking, before replying in her gravelly voice, that was starting to give him a headache.
"I remember you, I think… but weren't you called 'Old Osmond, the Senile Pervert', or something?" while under the metallic echo it seemed to be a tone of innocent wonder to her voice, Osmond thought he spotted a tiny twitch of a lip, and that maybe, were there some life in the chilly frame before him, it would have been shaking with mirth.
As displeased as he was by her moniker, he took her jest as yet another positive sign, and hint that he may have chosen well, in his gamble to accept the girl before him as Louise Valliere.
' Founder, I hope it will NOT turn out like the last time I was cordial with an undead woman- I still miss you sometimes, Helena…'
The Princess was already no doubt preparing, if not long packed- urged by her loyal and competent musketeer with the boring choice of attire.
No he was left to call the Duchess.
He really didn't want to talk to her, but knew it was a necessary task, and not only to remind her of their scheduled departure.
Author Notes: another update, and the stage to their departure-next chapter is their journey to another hideout ( the reasons, if are not hinted enough, will be explained in the next chapter).
Hope you still think the fic to be as good as when you read that first chapter.
And do review more- The button demands its sacrifice! it might spawn another chapter by the end of the week if indulged sufficiently. For the Ebon (Pen) Blade! The New Lich King Commands you to review!
