Three days later...
The Weather workers had gotten the storm calmed and dispelled. The Ravens and Bloody thorns were saddling horses to return to the Court of thorns. Crevan was already on a horse, his hands tied to the pommel, iron shekels on his wrists. He did not look well, as though he hadn't slept in the intervening three days. The iron around his wrists did not help, that would need to be treated once they were back at the freehold.
"He insisted on the shackles," Tam said, his helm tied to the back of his saddle. "...A show of good faith I suspect, but he's puked twice. I wanted to have one of the healers ride double with him, he refused."
Pen watched, thinking of what Regis said, about the distance between Crevan and Ciri in later years.
"A crown for your thoughts Milady," Aethen said, riding up to her a bit later.
"...I am thinking of something Regis said, about Lady Ciri." She said. "I do not know if he was editing the truth of it..."
"The vampire has been with the Guild since its founding, it would stand that some of our practices would rub off." he said. "and if he did it was for good reason, as the reasons may have been private at the time."
She looked to where Crevan was swaying between two Ravens. One had a strong grip on his arm to keep him upright.
"...He is barely in the saddle, but refuses aid." Aethen said. "I cannot tell if he's punishing himself...or he is that much out of his mind."
She turned. "Out of his mind?"
The Night Elf's expression said volumes as to what Crevan had been out of his mind on. She was going to personally skin the bastard who had smuggled it into him.
"Regis was swearing this morning, It seems our dear sage was an addict." He said. "He got his hands on some...substance. He was drugged to the gills when the guards checked on him yesterday." He frowned. "He's been on watch since then, and we are looking for the one who smuggled it into him. Those two are of the table, volunteered to make sure he didn't go wandering off."
Pen knew what that meant. He wasn't going anywhere alone for a while, even to the privy. Those of the table could be near fanatical in preventing their brotherin from using again.
"He was sober enough to ask to be shackled, though he won't be thankful when we get him back to the Freehold," Aethen said. "...he isn't going to like the trip in a few minutes either..."
Pen saw one of the healers ride up beside the trio and near force something down Crevan's throat. She knew what it was, and its effects.
"...That is cruel." She said.
"...And you need him with enough of his wits to question the captives." Aethen said. "It won't delay us long. Himself ordered it."
She watched Crevan lean over the side of the horse and vomit. She turned her attention away and continued on.
#
The freehold welcomed the extra guards from the Royal seat among their garrison. The healers took Crevan from the horse and into a secured room in the Manse. Pen took the extra time to see to the horses before entering the Manse. One of the healers was waiting for her, report on the two captives in their hands.
"...The wounds when Septic almost immediately." He healer said. "We won't be able to question them for a few days..."
She frowned, this was not good news.
"Any other casualties?"
"A few sword wounds, hound bites...The merchants want them hanged."
"Well, they'll have to wait in line." Pen said. "...His majesty's representatives will want to question them too."
"That can be arranged." He said. "...As to the Sage, we gave him a bath and another dose along with treating the iron burns."
She knew Crevan would not be in good shape coming out of the purging.
Regis resisted snapping at Pen when she came to see him. He should have paid more attention, especially after she'd pulled on the threads. He knew it was a skill she did not like to use.
"...You should have told me." Pen said. "I would have asked for watchers."
"And I was a fool not to think of them," Regis said. "I did not think what pulling on the threads would do to him."
"I did not either." She said. "I did not enjoy it, but I needed his answer."
"You knew we were being spied on, you had to give them a reason to suspect we did not trust him."
"I'll have to keep that illusion until he either asks for sanctuary or takes the oath..." She said. "I wish the Aen Elle to know there is a price to enter the Court of Thorns..."
Regis knew what Pen was talking of, the one countermeasure that was the reason no one could portal into the freehold. He would rather not activate that particular artifact if he did not have to.
"...Activate them, and you'll give any magickal being within a mile of the freehold fits." He reminded her.
"They are a resort of war..." She said. "I was not talking of the generators," She drew out an ancient key. "...I was talking of the crystals." She set the key in his hand. "As the oldest and wisest, I leave that decision to you..."
The words and giving him the key made sure the crystals could not be misused. She had already left by the time he realized what she was asking.
#
Pen moved in the grace of the "dance" blindfolded, letting her other senses guide her movement and blades. She needed to focus on something other than the problems on her doorstep for a little while. There were few options, and she did not think it wise to get into bed while her mind was so distracted. She finished one "dance" and moved into another. She was drenched when she finished. She took off her blindfold to meet the gaze of a young Sidhe dressed in the Royal livery.
"...Urgent news from the Royal seat." He held out a sealed piece of parchment.
She sniffed the air, watched how the young Sidhe handled the parchment. She took it carefully, she knew the Viceroy was a manipulator and not above false information. The young Sidhe bowed out, leaving her to read the parchment. She tucked it away if it was booby-trapped she wanted to be in a place that was safe to detonate it.
The workroom was layered in enough shields to make it feel like being under a heavy blanket within the room. It was one of the rooms they trained young singers, nothing to fly off or break. She was also shielded, as were Tam and Regis. She carefully opened the parchment, The seal had looked wrong and luckily she was shielded. The parchment went up in flame, she would have been badly burned or worse.
"...I want his head." She hissed stomping away from the smoldering work table. "Both of them..."
Regis moved out of the way, Tam just turned a pale shade as his mother passed.
#
Nuada was amused when he heard of her words, at this point he would have granted her both attached so she could remove them herself. The Viceroy was there demanding the return of his people, refusing to deal with Pen for their return.
"...They raided the freehold, her domain..." Nuada said. "It should be her you should be demanding Wergeld from, not me."
"You are king, she is your subject..."
"I will emphasize Freehold..." Nuada said. "She is not my subject, noble in this court yes but not my subject."
"...you let Humans dictate your actions."
Nuada was not going to rise to that bait.
"For one who does not think much of humans, Lord Ge'els, you are behaving like one who has had their toys taken away," Dain said.
He watched the viceroy's mouth work, rendered speechless. Dain was hiding a smile, as representative of House DeRosin on the council he had to be at court for this.
~Good, because you are acting like a brat~ Nuada thought.
"You speak out of turn, Lord DeRosin..."
"I speak for my mother, and what I said is exactly what she would have..." He said. "You demand and expect us to Cow to you, we are no longer the people you abandoned..."
"Lord DeRosin," Nuada said, his tone warning
Dain fell silent, while the Aen Elle continued to bargain.