29: Gathering the Cast

"Whoo, yeah!" Braham cheered, cavorting through the snow and the ice. "I'd almost forgotten what it was like to fight in the cold. It's invigorating!"

"It's good to fight with fellow Norn, and thrash some Svanir scum," Annhilda said. "It's been too long since I did that." Her thoughts turned to her younger brother, who used to compete with her on hunting expeditions. She'd be able to outhunt him twice over now. She hoped he didn't feel too overshadowed. But anyway.

"Well done, Braham," Eir said warmly. "That was impressive."

Braham immediately blushed and stumbled. "Uh. Thanks. That was the first time I've ever seen you fight. I guess the legends are true."

Eir blushed too, and mother and son stood dumbly, avoiding eye contact. "Oh. Thank you. Um." Annhilda smirked. The ice between them was melting, slowly, but unstoppably, like the spring thaw in Wanderer's Foothills. In time, they'd be closer than she had ever been to her family.

"Yeah. Umm. So."

"So… who else is starving?" Eir cried. Garm jumped and barked. "Besides you, Garm, haha!"

Braham laughed too. "I could eat a whole dolyak… and its harness!"

"I could eat two dolyaks," Annhilda said, elbowing him.

Eir snorted. "Let's head back to Hoelbrak, and we can celebrate with a feast. What do you say?"

"I say that sounds like a fantastic idea," Braham said.

"I'll be there for sure," Annhilda said. "And you'll let me talk to Knut, right?"

"Absolutely," Eir said. "You don't have to wait for me to do that, do you? But I'll back you up when you go. And thank you for destroying the totem."

"We're always happy to send Svanir home crying," Braham said. "Even if it wasn't for a greater cause."

"That's exactly how I feel," Eir said, smiling at her son.

Braham ducked his head, but he was grinning. "…Yeah."

"Let's start heading back to Hoelbrak," Annhilda said. "We've got a lot of ground to cover, and I'm just going to be more hungry by the time we get back!"

Divinity's Reach was as splendid as it had ever been – and Caoilfhionn was dressed for the occasion, for Damara, Kasmeer, and he were going to a party! But it was no idle party for relaxation. There was intrigue afoot, and Damara, who didn't interact with the nobles if she could help it, had asked for his help. But he'd never seen his guildmate so handsomely dressed, no longer in her usual scaled leather, but a poofy blue silk shirt with a striking gold vest over top, black pants, and tall boots. Caoilfhionn himself was wearing the elaborate outfit Blathnat had gifted him after he had helped defeat Zhaitan, and Kasmeer looked as lovely as she always did.

At the behest of Countess Anise, they were looking for someone who was spreading ugly rumours about Queen Jennah, but as they approached the countess, Caoilfhionn was shocked to see the terrorist Secondborn Canach with her, armed and armoured, leaning against a pillar behind her with his arms folded forbiddingly. Countess Anise seemed completely at ease with his presence, and welcomed them warmly. "Kasmeer! Come over here. Don't look so glum. Hello, dear. Don't worry your little face over what the herald's papers say. You'll always be a noble in my eyes."

Kasmeer looked a little shocked for a moment. "Countess Anise. That's direct… and kind of you to say. I'm afraid I don't feel particularly noble."

Caoilfhionn waited a moment for the others to get deeper into their conversation, then turned to Canach. Damara could tell him anything he missed. "And what are you doing here?"

Canach gave him a mocking smile. "I'm on the job. Bodyguard for a countess. A somewhat more glamourous position than my last, I must say."

Caoilfhionn frowned with confusion. "You mean your position… as prisoner?"

Canach scowled. "Yes, and thanks for stating the obvious, painful truth. Technically, I'm still a prisoner. It's just now my bars are lined with velvet. Don't let that fool you, though. I'm definitely not free."

"Are you planning on behaving yourself?"

The mocking smile returned. "Absolutely. I'm no fool, sapling. I could be in a much worse situation than this. I guess you could say I learned my lesson. I know I have a reputation for acting rashly, but those days are behind me."

"Pardon me if I don't entirely believe you."

"No pardon necessary. You're in a crowd of many watching me like hawks. So far, Countess Anise has treated me with respect. I have no reason to betray her trust. Besides, she amuses me mightily."

Caoilfhionn took a step closer. "I'll be at the front of the hunting party if you mess this up."

Canach's smile widened. "I would expect no less, though I do believe you might have a hard time catching me again. No offense intended."

Caoilfhionn gave him one last glare and went to catch up with Damara, who had already started heading off with Kasmeer. "Anything I should know about?"

"Nothing new," Damara said. "Just keep your ears open, around ministers, about ministers, anything to do with ministers."

"One of them is our culprit, and we have to catch them and discredit them," Kasmeer said. "I'll be behind you, watching for liars."

"I'm so glad you're here," Damara said to Caoilfhionn. "I hate these sorts of things."

He smiled. "I think it's quite exciting. Not in the same way as a fight, of course."

"Oh Gods, it's not exciting at all, and this mission is exactly the kind of stressful that I hate. Go on, be a social butterfly, I'll buy you… um…"

"Wine?" he teased, eyes dancing. He didn't lack for wine when he wished for it, but he also liked gifts, so…

"Sure! Have at it. I'll try not to mess things up on my end."

They passed that particular noble, the handsome, rather gormless one, Lord Faren, who accosted them with a beaming smile. "Ah, Damara! You fancy up nicely when you knock the dirt off your boots! Although, the tough adventurer look suits you."

"Thanks, Lord Faren," Damara said flatly.

"Mind, beware the ministers. They're on the prowl."

"Great," Damara said. "Why can't they just get along for one party?"

Faren laughed lightly. "Humans. What can I say? We're an inscrutable race. Turn half the world against us, and we still find ways to argue amongst ourselves. Frankly, I think it's boredom that makes us do it."

"And what are you doing here, if you're not looking to argue like the others?" Damara asked.

"Me? Oh, I'm just here for the delicious desserts and ladies. I'm eyeing a few of both, but I can't quite decide which I'm hungry for."

"Ugh!" Damara said, and stalked off abruptly.

"W-wait – Damara? Where are you going?"

"Choose wisely," Caoilfhionn said, smoothly filling the gap in the conversation. "Too much of either can give you a bellyache."

Faren chuckled, Damara already forgotten. "Truer words were never spoken. Have a good time at the party!"

"Thank you," Caoilfhionn said, and offered him a slight bow.

"What's the matter, do you dislike him so?" he asked Damara, hurrying to catch up with her.

Damara sighed and rolled her eyes. "No, he's harmless, I just despise how flighty he is. And I can't understand how new women keep letting him near them with his reputation. Naivety?"

"I don't understand any of it," Caoilfhionn said mildly. "To fall in love with so many… is that truly love?"

"No, it probably isn't," Kasmeer said. "But then, Sylvari probably don't have the same psychology that humans do. Speaking if which… perhaps you'd better brace yourself."

"For what-"

He quickly found that he stood out more than he'd intended to, and people just gravitated towards him, particularly women – he was beautiful and exotic and looked wealthy, and that was all most of them needed. Under ordinary circumstances, he would have been more than happy to simply chatter at the centre of such a large circle, making all sorts of new acquaintance, learning what they thought about all sorts of inconsequential things – for inconsequential things added spice to life! But not tonight; and indeed, tonight so many of them wanted to talk to him about things that were definitely not about political scandal, and even telling the forward ones that he was married only put off a couple of them. "Goodness, my dear Marisa, surely you're not trying to lead me into scandal myself?" The fair Marisa only tittered, as did many of those around her, and batted her eyelashes more. They didn't understand his bond, and probably never would no matter how many times he tried to explain, so he moved on, ostensibly in search of pastries.

A circle of ministers did give him some relief, and a chance to tease some information out of them, under the guise of laughter and the topic of gardening. Caoilfhionn was further amused, every time he walked by Canach, to hear his fellow Sylvari becoming more and more bored and disgruntled.

"Am I to intimidate these ministers and aristocrats, to put them off guard? …Surely you can't imagine that these dandies pose some kind of threat to you." And a while later: "If there's nothing in particular you need me to do, would you mind if I helped myself to some of your refreshments?"

"Hmph." Anise remained in an air of contemplation, ignoring her companion entirely.

"Am I really so dull? Well, here's something interesting. Would you like to know how long a severed head remains conscious? …I suppose not. Do let me know if you need me for more than making debutantes and fops uncomfortable."

Caoilfhionn continued circulating, not exactly made uncomfortable by Canach's declarations, but irritated, hoping no one would be prejudiced against him thanks to his fellow Sylvari's actions. But still he had to smile and laugh and glitter, ask innocent questions and get less-innocent answers, and he played his part well, though with more effort than normal.

He was closing in on their suspect when he heard Canach yet again. "In absence of your orders, I've been occupying myself by planning the extermination of this entire gaggle of preening fools. I'd thought maybe some well-placed bombs here and there among the topiary, hm? Or perhaps I'll pick them off one by one with my blade. And hide the bodies in the pantry. I wonder, would that reflect poorly on your office? I imagine I'd become a hero to the Krytan people. …And still no reaction. I wonder, Countess, are you even at all with me?"

"Mmm?"

Caoilfhionn gave him another glare, no longer even a little amused, to which Canach coolly stared back. He wasn't particularly worried that Canach would follow through – there was no way he would reveal his plans before executing them. He was, even as he said, just trying to get a rise out of Anise. It was just… uncouth to speak so.

Still, he had uncovered enough for Damara to draw the trap shut about Minister Estelle, and then withdrew to where the real Countess Anise had been waiting. Canach joined them a minute later, after the Countess had congratulated them on helping Queen Jennah help them.

"Ah, there you are, Countess. I trust I played my part in your charade this evening?"

Anise laughed. "There, there, blossom. You did very well as the sore green thumb at my affair. I'm sure everyone was far too intimidated by your glowering menace to notice it was an illusion standing beside you the whole time."

Canach smiled toothily. "Yes, I thought you seemed rather vapid." If Anise were offended by that, she gave no sign.

"And Queen Jennah can come for certain?" Damara asked eagerly.

"Yes, of course. I'll be there as well, though… incognito."

"Thank goodness," Damara said. "Well, thanks for inviting us – the food was good, even if the rest of the party was stressful."

"It was highly entertaining," Caoilfhionn put in.

"Of course, pet. Enjoy the rest of your evening."

Knut Whitebear was coming to the summit, thanks to Annhilda, Braham, and Eir. Queen Jennah was coming to the summit, thanks to Damara, Kasmeer, and Caoilfhionn. Imperator Smodur was coming to the summit, thanks to Rhyoll and Rox. All that was left was the Arcane Council, but between Taimi, Wegaff, and Phiadi, they still had not swayed Councillor Phlunt to behave in the interests of the greater good.

So all of Hope's Legacy was present in the Cavern of Shining Lights as Taimi prepared to demonstrate her completed Waypoint Recalibration Device, though… Caoilfhionn wondered if that might not be any more effective than they'd already been. Unless they wanted Braham and Rox to try intimidating the councillor… which would probably be a bad idea. Caoilfhionn had already heard bad things about Phlunt's attitude from Wegaff, and Mabbran, who had stopped by to visit Phiadi, actually privately said to him: "If I could drop him over a cliff, I don't think anyone would miss him. I'd drop his whole party, actually."

And yet he was still not prepared for how callous, how greedy, how utterly outrageous Phlunt was. He cowered while the Mordrem attacked, while the others protected him and all his equally-arrogant and equally-cowardly cohort, and while they protected Taimi, more importantly. But the moment that everything hostile was dead, he cautiously lifted an ear and an eye… "Is it safe to emerge? You're sure – absolutely sure – that there aren't any more coming?"

"I'm sure," Annhilda said, impatiently. "The big one was the last one."

Phlunt straightened, adjusting his robes haughtily. "Yes, well… the big one, as you so quaintly put it, may have friends."

"There won't be more," Wegaff said, pointing at their miniature waypoint models. "We successfully recalibrated all the waypoints."

"So as you can see, Councillor Phlunt, my device will save the entire waypoint network," Taimi said. "You can thank me now, and later."

"Was this demonstration to your satisfaction?" asked Annhilda.

Phlunt grinned and cackled a little. "Yes, I believe it was. The waypoints are protected. Wonderful!"

"So you will agree to come to the Grove summit?" Braham asked.

"Not so fast, my muscular friend." Phlunt held up a cautionary hand. "In light of this new development, I have decided to add further stipulations to the deal."

"What? Why, you-" Taimi squawked.

"Silence!" cried Phlunt, but he'd already set Caoilfhionn on edge. "Taimi, as a ward to the College of Synergetics of Rata Sum, you are required to hand over all inventions for study and documentation. I hereby claim proprietorship over this waypoint recalibration device. I will hold it in trust for you until your graduation."

"What!?" exclaimed Caoilfhionn. That avaricious–

"No!" cried Taimi. "I made this, on my own time, outside of Rata Sum!"

"Irrelevant. Hand it over like a good progeny, and we will see you at the summit." Phlunt beckoned.

"No! I won't let you take it!" Taimi hopped into her golem and backed away a little towards her device.

"Taimi, no!" said Phiadi.

"No, that's not right!" Caoilfhionn cried, stepped a little in front of Taimi. "You can't just take her hard work from her!" He still found Taimi abrasive, but he could not sit by and watch this happen.

Phlunt waved at him impatiently and angrily. "Stay out of this, Sylvari! You know nothing! Taimi, you wouldn't dare disobey your superiors, would you? Just hand it over."

Caoilfhionn took another step forwards, his gaze hardening to stone. "I will not stay out of it! I will fight injustice wherever I find it!"

Phiadi grabbed his belt and yanked, hissing at him. "Caoilfhionn… shut up!"

"No, he's right," Damara snapped, drawing her bow and standing next to him, her hawk leaning forward aggressively on her shoulder.

"I told you, it's mine!" Scruffy scooped up the device and fled with it out of the cave.

Phlunt growled and pointed. "Agh! Krewe, after that delinquent."

"She's not a delinquent!"

"Caoilfhionn! Damara!" Phiadi held him back by the belt as the others ran out. "Listen to me. Phlunt may be the most colossal walking pile of hylek droppings to parade about Rata Sum – though I can think of a few others who also fit that description – but he's correct, if untactful. Progeny don't get to keep their own inventions until they've graduated. Even I didn't – I had to give mine to my boss, Varkk. You do get them back later, if you even want them by the time you've graduated. It's to keep progeny from dabbling too deep in unsupported fields by themselves. It's for their own safety."

"But… to such a person!" Damara cried. "Is person the right word? Self-centred, greedy wurm husk!"

"I know it's aggravating-"

"It's more than aggravating!" Caoilfhionn said. "It's wrong, and cruel, and infuriating!"

"You can go through the entire thesaurus, but that doesn't mean he can't do it. And if you plan to fight him on it, you can say goodbye to Asura participation at the summit. Is that what you want!?"

"Your people are thoroughly unreasonable," Caoilfhionn said bitterly.

"And your people are massive unscientific nitwits, like everyone else, but we still need to work together to fight those dragons," Phiadi said. "Stay here and abstain on principle if you must, but the outcome will still be the same. And you know, she might be in danger out there."

Caoilfhionn silently followed her. After a moment, Damara did as well.

He caught up to Mabbran. "If you drop him over the cliff, I'll kick him on the way down." Dishonourable, and he'd never actually do it, but satisfying to think about.

"Deal," Mabbran said, equally seriously.