![](http://cobalt-company.wdfiles.com/local--resized-images/writing:2025-04-23-there-is-too-much-let-me-sum-up/style="margin:/medium.jpg) |
| Details |
| Author: | Alli |
| Summary: | In preparation for action, allies are assembled to be informed of the current state of the Lathrik curse situation. Lena is there to summon the druids, Merelda and Oslynn. Then Siamus, together with Lathrik and Peril, brings the aforementioned as well as Aszera, Bertrand, and Emerine up to speed. Miss Curran is there as well, assisting Lathrik. ~5400 words. |
| Rating: | T for Teen |
Arc: The Red String Game
Siamus Fallon's office has been readied for company.
The two striped blue armchairs that usually stand before the desk have been shifted to the hearth seating area, set at the head of the coffee table and angled toward the couches. On the coffee table itself, a tea and coffee service has been laid out, along with a platter of sandwich triangles, tiny dill-flecked scones split and filled with creme fraiche and smoked salmon, little flaky pastry crescents filled with apricot or raspberry jams, and pastel macarons. It's Fallon House, Cook is going to feed guests.
In the carpeted space in front of the desk, from which the chairs have been removed, Siamus Fallon stands in rolled-shirtsleeves-casual mode with Lena Coit and Miss Curran to begin summoning the two guests not present.
"Lady Merelda I know," he tells Lena. "The other one — the cat? — not as well. Though I've met her. Farrens is the one better-acquainted."
Lena nods. "Then we'll need Farrens to assist in that summons, to bolster the connection. There's a chance it won't work, you know, especially if I don't know the person."
Bertrand Aspenwood sits on one of the armchairs in a similar rolled-shirtsleeves casual mode to Siamus, drinking a cup of coffee.
Emerine slips into the room with a smile. She is dressed in dark leathers, but her hood is down. Her hair is growing out and her eyebrows are coming along nicely, if not back to their usual glory just yet. She strolls around the room and stops next to Bertrand's armchair. "You look like an Aspenwood."
Bertrand chuckles. "I am. The middle - the oldest of the brothers, these days. Bertrand." He holds out a hand to shake.
Emerine shakes it firmly. "Emerine Nightvine."
Lathrik sits at the end of one of the couches, leaning forward, arms resting loosely on his knees, staring at the table with such an intensity that someone might wonder if he isn't trying to set it on fire.
Behind him, pacing the length of the couch, is Peril, all wriggles no chill. He has his notebook in hand… for some reason, poised to start writing at any moment.
"How're you feeling, Dinnsfield?" Bertrand checks in.
Miss Curran glances that way briefly to survey Lathrik.
"Fine," Lathrik says automatically. There is a looooong pause. "As fine as expected." Whatever that means. He does not lift his gaze from the table.
Bertrand nods. "You keep being fine, then, and don't get worse than that," he says. He is in the wrong place for a friendly shoulder-clasp, but the comradery affection makes it into his tone instead.
"You," Emerine says to Peril, "are making me want to start walking around. I'm Emerine Nightvine, and you are…?"
Peril freezes nervously at the sudden 'You' directed right at him. But then he lets his breath out and relaxes a margin. "P-Peril Farrens, intrepid reporter of the Azerothian Interest, the Greatest News in Azeroth and Beyond!" he says, and if his voice squeaks a little, well, maybe the nerves aren't quite gone.
Emerine grins. "Oh! I love the Azerothian Interest! 'Taurens don't have skin', that was you, wasn't it? And 'how to be a noble'?"
"Wear blue," Bertrand recites, and looks down at himself. He is wearing brown and green. "I've already failed the first step."
Siamus eyes Bertrand and smiles wryly.
Lena is in a casual dress herself, one of the simple linen ones, and she glances to the man who introduced himself as Peril Farrens a little curiously.
Another person slips into the room, a dark-haired blindfolded elvish woman in boots and trousers — no gowns today. Aze doesn't exactly seem to look at anyone, but she nods in a general way in greeting and takes up stand behind the opposite couch, alert and attentive.
"Lady Merelda first, then," Siamus says to Lena.
Miss Curran nods politely. She casts another glance at Lathrik on his couch to make sure he's not melting from lack of mana.
"I'll need two people then," Lena says, extracting the shard from her bag. She begins the ritual of summoning.
"Sunstrike," Bertrand says, nodding to Aze.
Aze nods back, "Aspenwood."
Emerine looks at Aze with open curiosity. She'll loop around there once she's done meeting this reporter, probably.
Siamus nods at Miss Curran.
"Ready," she says to Lena.
Peril, his cheeks red from the compliments, steps closer, ready to assist with the summoning.
Lena murmurs, "Merelda Veyne," and a moment later the red-haired woman appears, stumbling a little on the landing.
"That is a touch disorienting," Merelda says, nodding politely to Lena, Siamus and Annai. Then she turns to the others, glancing over the group."You're friends of Ozzy's?"
Bertrand goes, "Who?" He probably is not a friend of Ozzy. Yet.
Annai steps back wordlessly to excuse herself as superfluous. She goes to stand behind Lathrik on his couch.
Emerine winds her way around the outside of the couches, holding a hand out to Aze. "We haven't met, or I'm sure I would remember you," she says, smiling. "Emerine Nightvine."
There's just the slightest of pauses before Aze reaches out to take her hand.
"Aszera Sunstrike, an ally," she says quietly, not to distract from the summoning. "And yes, I'd remember you, too. I haven't been traveling much lately — mostly around Fallon House."
Emerine bends to air-kiss Aze's knuckles in the most society-polite fashion, then straightens up again. "I worked here for a time myself, we must have missed each other."
"Shame, that," Aze says, her expression relaxing into an easy smile, though she's still a little tense in her form. "Looks like we'll be working together now. I'm pulled in by Elle and Fallon."
"Well, I suppose we'll have to make up for lost time," Emerine says. She releases Aze's hand and turns to watch the summoning.
"Lady Merelda," Siamus says. "Pleasure to see ye. We're actually shy on friends of Ozzy, so we'll need ye for the summoning. You and Mr. Farrens, if he doesn't mind." He nods to Peril.
"Ah, the young man who sent the letter," Merelda nods politely to Peril. Turning to Siamus, she adds, "And it is a pleasure to see you again as well, Admiral — my apologies on forgetting my manners upon arrival."
Merelda gives an appropriate curtsy, and continues, "I should warn that Oslynn may not… that is… however she comes through, I am certain she means no disrespect."
Lena looks at her with mild curiosity and says, "In any case, let's get the portal going. Myself and Farrens and Lady Merelda, just reach your hands out and let yourself connect with it."
Siamus steps away and crosses to stand casually at the other end of the coffee table, in front of the fireplace. He leans against the mantel and waits politely.
Bertrand stands habitually, setting his coffee cup down on the edge of the table.
Peril opens his mouth at the words 'young man.' "How old are —" he begins, but stops himself because that is rude, Peril. "I mean uh, young man, huh? That's…" He clears his throat. "Sure."
"A little curious you're not summoning her yourself," Lena says, just an observation, and then she continues smoothly to say, "Oslynn."
Lena closes her eyes and focuses, reaching out for the unfamiliar soul with the help of two who know her.
A woman in her early twenties appears promptly, wearing a clean sage-green dress, the sort a shopkeeper might wear in a nicer sort of shop. Over it is a slightly battered brown leather coat and a wavy mane of wheat-blonde hair. Other than the coat and a look of wide-eyed zeal she seems like a very normal and civilized sort of human person - until she opens her mouth.
"COR!" she exclaims. "Wot the @#$%, Merry?? Fewt loike me insides go' shaken aroun' in a bag wif a bunch o' dead snakes!" After a pause she grins hugely and asks Merelda, "Can we do i' again?"
Then she seems to notice the room full of extremely pretty and fancy people. She presses her lips together and laces her hands behind her back.
Siamus smiles at Ozzy, slow and a little sardonic, his eyes gleaming. He knows that cat. He straightens up to incline his head to her. "Miss —"
There might have been a surname intended there, but file not found. He leaves it at that.
"Let me translate," Merelda says with an amused smile. "May I present Miss Oslynn Boles, who so enjoyed her summoning that she would like to do it once more."
Ozzy turns a little pink at the 'translation.'
Bertrand laughs outright at the description.
Bertrand bows politely to Merelda (and Ozzy, who is by Merelda). "Lady Merelda, Miss Boles."
Merelda smiles encouragingly at Ozzy.
"Um it's Gravehowl," Ozzy says quietly, but it comes out sounding more like gryvowl.
"Miss Gryvowl?" Bertrand tests out.
Ozzy nods. "Loike the pack. Lord Gryvs, ya know."
Peril holds out a hand for Ozzy's to shake it up and down a hundred times. "Ozzy, the druid, thank you thank you thank you for coming," he says. "And for bringing your friend. That's Lathrik." He points to the brooding man on the couch.
Ozzy smiles at the hand-shaking, seeming to relax a little. "Ello Lafrik," she says.
Lathrik finally looks up from the table, casts a cursory glance over Oslynn and gives her a nod, a lazy smile falling across his face. "Ozzy, then. Nice meetin' ye."
Siamus's brows go up. "Graves is a good friend, as it happens. Welcome, at any rate, to the pair of ye ladies. Make yourselves comfortable."
"Ah, yes, I forgot. Miss Gravehowl," Merelda says, her own cheeks flushing faintly.
Siamus clears his throat and looks around. "I believe we're all here, then. If we'd like to get started? I expect ye all know me — Admiral Fallon. These are Lady Merelda Veyne and Miss Ozzy Gravehowl." He just learned that. Good job, Siamus. "Miss Lena Coit did the summoning, and Miss Curran is the lady over there. These are Emerine Nightvine and Aszera Sunstrike. The gentleman there is Lord Bertrand Aspenwood, and these are Mr. Peril Farrens and Mr. Lathrik Dinnsfield. The latter two gentlemen are the reason we've gathered."
He gestures at the table. "Help yourselves as ye like, and make yourselves comfortable. This may… take a bit."
Ozzy looks around as though there's going to be a test on all the names later but won't it be fun? Will there be a prize?
The real prize is the friends you'll make along the way, Ozzy.
Bertrand nods to Ozzy. "A member of your pack is a friend of mine. Nelly and I worked together in Westfall." He waits to be seated until the ladies are seated.
Merelda smiles. "Oh, Lady Kenelly is a friend of mine."
Lathrik drains a mana potion in silence, then looks for somewhere to throw it… Oh right, he's not at home. He slips it back into the pouch at his side.
Miss Curran cannot be seated, sadly, as she is playing the role of an IV at the moment. She watches Lathrik.
Aze turns towards each person indicated, her expression intent. She is memorizing for that quiz, too, Ozzy.
Emerine gives Ozzy and Merelda a friendly little wave. "We'd better sit, or I bet the gentlemen'll never sit," she says to Aze. She puts two hands on the back of the couch like she's considering vaulting over it, but opts not to and comes around like a normal person to have a seat in the center of the couch.
Ozzy sits as soon as Emerine says that. Just… right where she is, on the floor.
Bertrand laughs. "This food's for all of us, Miss Gravehowl. Come have a seat with us, won't you?"
"Right, yeah," Aze says, moving in to take an empty seat on the couch. She remembers these rules.
"A chair, Ozzy?" Merelda suggests, as she moves to take one herself.
Lena takes the nearest available seat to where they were summoning.
"Food!" Ozzy says excitedly. She does not need to be asked twice. She goes and sits. And eats. And EATS.
Merelda takes one of the salmon scones for herself. Aze takes one of the raspberry pastries. Lena doesn't eat for now, but takes a cup of coffee for herself. Post-summoning fortification.
Bertrand finally takes a seat and collects his cup of coffee again.
Ozzy keeps an eye on which foods other people don't seem to be going for as much, and she seems to make a choice to mostly cram her gullet full of those.
"Right," says Siamus. "I'll explain the situation to everyone, and I'll… do my best to keep it concise." He indicates Lathrik again. "Mr. Dinnsfield is at the heart of the matter, but Mr. Farrens, who is his brother, is involved as well.
"Mr. Dinnsfield is a paladin in service wi' the Stormwind Guard. He's been a fine and loyal guardsman for many years, saw the horror in Hillsbrad and risked himself to get word back to the Alliance, was a great help to the House of Nobles investigation of the Remembrance Day matter earlier this year, so on." He waves a hand. "I'd go on but he wouldn't like that and we can't have him leaving just yet.
"Mr. Dinnsfield is also suffering from a… curse, or a geas, or a binding… I'm not sure the precise term to use, as there's no simple means to remove it, by druid or mage or priest or elsewise. The only way that we know will work for certain is to kill the person who cast it on him, and is bound by it to him."
Bertrand watches Siamus instead of Lathrik, nodding along. He has clearly already been told some of this.
Emerine snags a triangle sandwich for herself. She glances at Lathrik, and then at the druid standing behind him.
Lathrik hunches further over, back to staring at the table. His secrets are becoming not-secret, and he is clearly displeased… but even he realizes the necessity at this point, so he bears it without complaint. Except on his face. His face is the complaint.
Merelda looks curiously from Lathrik to Peril. This seems a story worthy of Azerothian Interest, from what she knows of it.
Lena peers at Lathrik, like she might be able to see the curse. She cannot.
"So it's a search-and-destroy?" Aze asks, for clarification. "We're out to kill the curse-giver."
Emerine's ears perk up. Both 'search' and 'destroy' are within her wheelhouse.
Lathrik stiffens at that. "No," he says quickly. "That is… a last resort."
Aze looks confused, but waits for explanation.
"We're out to find the curse-giver," Siamus clarifies. "And learn if there's — if it can be removed by the caster. And if she'll do it. The only solution we know of is death, but it seems likely that the person behind it will know better than we do, aye? The problem has been in finding her."
He glances at Lathrik and then back to the rest of the audience. "Dinnsfield and Farrens lost their parents in the fall of Stormwind. At the time, they believed — and their mother believed — that their father had died with his unit. Their mother took them north. On the way, they were attacked by orcs." He pauses. "Their mother… drew on some kind of power, on the void, to defend them. In doing it, however, she set a mark on Dinnsfield. An actual mark, that is. Which is the source of his curse."
He spreads his hands. "And then the lady disappeared."
"So you think the harm may have been unintentional?" Lena asks, pursing her lips in thought. "And if she could be found, she may realize it and remove the mark."
"Well," says Siamus. He glances at the two brothers and then back to Lena. "That would be… the best case. For a time they weren't certain she was even alive. But Dinnsfield realized some time ago that the mark wouldn't still affect him as it does if the lady were dead. Unfortunately, he also learned the lady belongs to the Twilight's Hammer."
Ozzy just listens. Maybe because her mouth is full. Really, really full.
"Oh," Lena says. Just that. Then she adds, "It may be your mother has some kind of mind control on her? They do that. So if we break it…"
Merelda frowns. "That's the Deathwing cult, yes? Cults are.. difficult."
"It's the Void magic," Peril says. "It did something to her. Made her go… weird, and leave us. But there's still a chance, so we have to try."
Ozzy gives a sudden derisive snort.
Bertrand sighs and looks sympathetically at the brothers, who he has just learned are brothers.
"The void can do things to people's minds, for sure," Lena says sympathetically. "Sometimes… irreversible things. But there's got to be a chance."
"People sure do like to give the wrong people chances," Ozzy mutters. Luckily between her accent and the food in her mouth it is likely unintelligible.
Emerine's ears twitch at the mention of the Twilight's Hammer.
Siamus mentally arranges information. "This past autumn, Dinnsfield was… carrying out an investigation at Count Amerith's manor. In the course of that investigation, two things happened. The first is that he discovered Amerith had information on his father that indicated the man was also, in fact, still alive. Why or how Amerith came into possession of this knowledge is unknown.
"The second thing is that while Dinnsfield was in the manor, there was an assassination attempt. An extraordinarily powerful shadow user — a Twilight cultist — got into the manor. Dinnsfield thwarted what seemed at the time to be the attempted murder of Amerith himself. However, the assassin seemed to recognize… not Dinnsfield personally, but the magic laid on him. He said something about it being 'hers'.
"In addition, Dinnsfield's lady friend, who has some knowledge of shadow and light arts herself, was looking through his eyes at the time this happened, and the assassin knew it; he identified her presence."
Behind the couch, Miss Curran makes a subtle gesture. A greenish light flares for an instant around Lathrik before fading, and there is a brief scent of rain and the ozone hint of lightning.
Aze listens with the air of someone taking careful notes.
"Is Count Amerith active against the Twilight Hammer?" Merelda asks, frowning in thought. "Or why should they try to assassinate him specifically, and not another member of the House of Nobles?"
Emerine sniffs once.
"Ah," says Siamus, and gestures at Merelda as though she is a student who has just called out a correct answer in the lecture. "In fact, the assassin was not hunting Amerith himself but Amerith's houseguest at the time. A lady some of ye may know. Almeiria Fey."
"And this Almeiria Fey is… related to the cult?" Merelda asks. "A particular enemy of theirs?"
Siamus inclines his head to Merelda. What a good student. "A former member. Escaped. The assassin is her former master in the cult."
"COR!" exclaims Ozzy around a mouthful of sandwich.
"I didn't know they could escape," Emerine says. Whether this is a 'good for her' or 'she's probably still evil' is genuinely difficult to tell.
"If they're trying to kill her, then it's a good bet she's a real defector," Aze says with a slight nod. "And one they value. Did she know the curse-giver?"
"She didn't," Siamus says. "But, as I said, she knows the assassin. An extraordinarily dangerous man, she's warned me. The assassin knows Dinnsfield now, and has connected him both to his mother and to Amerith, and so perhaps to Miss Fey. Whatever the case, we know that someone began to draw hard on Dinnsfield's curse recently.
"The curse drains his mana, ye see. Used to be it was a sort of… gradual sapping, but in the last days it's like a dam's been opened and he's just being poured out. He can't outlast it. On his own he can't, that is.
"His lady friend, Miss Kensington-Whit, began to use a light-spell on him to replenish his mana, and that helped. But she can't cast it constantly, he can't drink potions constantly, the pair of them can't be awake round the clock. Which is where Miss Curran and the pair of ye come in." Siamus nods at Merelda and Ozzy. "Another friend, Mr. Hartrim, observed that druids have an ability that can rejuvenate a person's mana. Our hope is that between the lot of ye, working in shifts, we can keep Dinnsfield together long enough for us to find his mother and have the thing undone. And give him and Miss Kensington-Whit a little rest, besides."
"Roight," says Ozzy. "I'll do me best."
"Ah, yes, innervation," Merelda nods, and looks to Peril. "That was what I took from your communication, Mr. Farrens. The three of us, then, and — there's something light-users can do as well? Should we enlist more of the priesthood, or perhaps contact the Temple of Elune? It may be four is all that's needed, but if the dam breaks wider… not to alarm you, Mr. Dinnsfield, but to be honest I'm a little in the dark about the bounds of this curse."
"The priesthood is… infested," Lathrik says grimly. "Cultists were found sheltering in the Cathedral itself, and had to be dealt with. Hard to say how many have been turned and just aren't showing signs. As for the elves, they're busy fending off an Elemental Lord. We can't expect any aid from them."
Emerine wiggles her fingers. "Just a little bit from one of them. But I'm no druid or priest."
"Crikey…" Ozzy breathes.
"Ah, yes," Merelda says. "My teacher is involved in that — a number of their people must be. That is terrible news about the Cathedral, though. However, it does seem prudent to avoid the Cathedral for the time being, then."
"Do you have a name and description of the mother?" Emerine asks.
"Solari Farrens," Siamus says, and looks to the brothers. He does not have a description of the lady.
Emerine nods.
Ozzy finally seems to finish stuffing her face, and turns more apparent attention to listening. It's not clear how well she was listening before, as her eyes, hands, and mouth were fully occupied with food.
Aze nods at the name, and doesn't seem bothered by the current lack of description.
Ozzy looks from one to the other. "Wot abou' loike, lettin the muvver fink she's foindin' 'er kid? Just loike, makin' some real big evidence that one or bof' of 'er kids is somewhere particular, puttin' some of us there to watch, an' seein' if she shows up? If it were my long-lost kid oi would."
"It's the lady herself who's been lost," Siamus says. "Neither of the gentlemen in question has been lying… particularly low. I believe if Mrs. Farrens had hoped to reunite with either of them, she might have found her way to by now."
"Well then sounds like we's @#$$ed, roight?" Ozzy says amiably. A"zerof's a pretty big place, innit? If she ain't free to move about, loike, wot we supposed to do, look under every rock?"
"Ah," says Siamus. "But that's where the information that Amerith held comes in. Ye recall I mentioned that he had information on the whereabouts of their presumed-dead father? Who is less dead than presumed? That gentleman may know a great deal more about Solari Farrens than any of us does."
He nods toward Lathrik. "So I went to Amerith's place last evening and got from him the information as to Fray Farrens' whereabouts."
"Oooooh," Ozzy says, leaning forward as though she has popcorn. She doesn't need popcorn. She's had enough snacks. "Noice!" she adds, as though Siamus may not be aware that he's done well.
Siamus nods modestly to Ozzy. He is not above accepting praise.
"We haven't seen her in… We were children," Peril says apologetically.
Ozzy shoots Peril a sympathetic look.
Bertrand looks sympathetic too. Two estranged parents and neither of them trying to get back to their children.
Lathrik's gaze sharpens and he looks up to regard Siamus. "Aye? He give it direct, or go cryptic with it?"
Emerine looks faintly suspicious. "Fray is your father's name, I take it? Is he a cultist as well?"
"He gave it direct," Siamus confirms. "Asked a favor of his own, and one I'm more than happy to see to."
"He traded for it?" Merelda asks. "Is there some reason he'd rather the Farrens-Dinnsfield family remain separated, that he needed convincing?"
"Or… more to the point, we're going after the father?" Aze asks. "Is he somewhere we can go?"
Lena just looks on curiously.
"He's Count Amerith," Siamus answers Merelda dryly. "Man's as contrary as they come."
He looks to Aze and nods. "Fray Farrens is in the Highlands. My friend Shine is with him now." He glances apologetically at Lena.
"Now?" Lathrik sounds genuinely surprised. "Right now? How…"
Siamus leans back against the mantel, folding his arms across his chest. "Amerith had a man keeping eyes on him. He put his man in touch with Shine, who happened to be in the Highlands already on Cobalt business, and Shine followed through."
"Ah, so that's why," Lena says quietly. "At least he should be easy to locate, then. There's a portal from Stormwind — I've been up that way before."
Emerine nods approvingly. "And does Shine have an opinion on this man yet?"
"Shine thinks he's solid. He can be trusted, and trusted to help his lads." Siamus nods toward Lathrik and Peril again.
At this news, Lathrik's ears and cheeks turn a bit red, and he stares at the table — no, his hands. Wait, what should he be doing with those? He settles one on the arm of the chair, then thinks better of it and shifts it into his lap with the other. "That's… good, I suppose."
"Hm." Emerine accepts this and sits back again.
Almost as an afterthought, Ozzy gestures toward Lathrik. It looks as though she intends to give him a comforting pat from across the room, but instead a soft green tendril of mist seems to extend from her hand toward him, encasing him briefly in soft sparkles and the scent of green oak wood.
Peril, too, lowers the rim of his hat to hide his face. "We're going to do this," he says quietly. "We're really going to."
Ozzy leeeeeans over, trying to peer under the hat from where she sits.
This makes Peril blush harder and adjust his hat. Pretty soon, his face is just hat.
"We are going to do this, aye," Siamus confirms. "I need to arrange permission wi' the authorities for a group of civilians to use the portal and come through Highbank. That means I'll need a headcount and the names of all of those people. Meanwhile, if Lady Merelda and… Miss Gravehowl would be willing to travel back to his home in the city with Dinnsfield and keep the man sound, we'd be obliged." He nods courteously to those two ladies. Or that one lady and the slightly feral lass.
(You totally forgot Ozzy's name again, didn't you, Siamus? At least 'Gravehowl' is easy.)
"You got it, guv," says Ozzy agreeably.
"Yes, we can do that," Merelda nods. "I can also offer my family's home, if that might throw any further assassins off the scent. It sounds like we will be leaving fairly soon, though, so perhaps that isn't necessary."
Aze trails a finger along the table and says, "One thing I do want to be clear on — who makes the calls on Solari Farrens?" She turns towards the brothers. "Lathrik? Or Peril? Both?"
"Peril's not headed into any combat," Lathrik says firmly. "Chances are high he won't be present. And given that my current state is not ideal for making decisions, I would like to first meet with Fray Farrens. If he seems more stable than I am, it'll be his call. If not…"
He falls silent for a moment, then slowly lifts his gaze to regard Siamus. "If not, then Fallon will make the call."
Siamus straightens, visibly startled. "Ye — me, man? Are ye certain?"
Ozzy looks at Siamus curiously, and then back to Lathrik.
"You're close enough t'all this to know what's going on, but far enough out of it to make rational decisions," Lathrik says. "You've experience as a commander, one who knows the burdens of leadership, and if things get out of hand, you'll handle it as such."
Bertrand nods agreeably to Lathrik. "Good pick."
Ozzy gives Bertrand a big smile, for no particular reason except that he is handsome and seems agreeable!
Siamus gazes at Lathrik for a moment more, and then nods slowly. "Well. And we'll all hope it doesn't come to that, aye? But if it does…." He nods again once, and then smooths one end of his moustache between his fingers. This is his emotional support moustache.
Aze nods, satisfied. "It's always good to be clear about these things, before you're in the moment."
Now Ozzy is staring at Siamus's moustache.
Siamus clears his throat. "Dinnsfield, Farrens, anything to add? Anyone have questions?"
"Oi'm good," says Ozzy. Is she, though? Is she?
"I'm good to travel at any time," Emerine says, "if you want to send me ahead to catch up with Shine."
"I've a question for Dinnsfield," Bertrand says, and asks Lathrik directly, "What did your mother call you as a child? Is Lathrik your birth name? I'm assuming 'Dinnsfield' isn't. I don't want to meet your mother and accidentally reference a person she isn't familiar with."
"Aye, Lathrik I've had all along, but you're right. Dinnsfield's made up," he replies. "It was to separate from Peril once he started publishing. My real name's Lathrik Hazard Farrens. I'll still thank ye to call me Dinnsfield."
"Do you want me in the Highlands?" Lena asks Siamus, and then turns to the brothers. "I'd like to help, if so."
Ozzy snorts, grinning.
To Emerine, Siamus says, "I'll get Shine's present location for ye, and let him know to expect ye. Ye may as well get up to Highbank meanwhile. Connect with him before ye get within introducing distance of Farrens, in case the man gets skittish. It may be ye'll be wanted for perimeter or the like." He glances at Lena and nods. "We'll want ye along, aye. Not least because I don't believe I could stop ye heading up there anyway, could I?"
Lena smiles. "I might've headed up there anyway, yes. I can make my own way — I'll just meet you all there?"
"Ye may as well," says Siamus with good-humored resignation. "Same thing as I told Nightvine, though. We don't want to spook Farrens or draw attention to the man too soon, aye?"
"Will do," Emerine says.
"Right, last thing," Lathrik says. "If I could ask all of ye to keep the information about this thing vague? Leave out details such as, 'a member of the Stormwind guard had a Twilight death curse,' and such? I'm not askin' for ye to say ye don't know me. Saying, 'I helped Lathrik with something, once,' is okay. Saying, 'I helped a man with a Twilight death curse,' is also okay. Jus' no connecting details, aye?"
"So the situation is not a secret and you're not a secret, but the fact that you're in the situation is a secret," Aze says, nodding. "I can do that. I appreciate the clarity."
"I suppose I can see how this might be a negative influence on your career," Merelda says, considering Lathrik. "Especially if people are particularly sensitive to void-influenced individuals in their midst at the moment. But I am convinced as to your forthrightness, and therefore if the matter does somehow become public, through words other than mine, I expect House Veyne will stand — with others — by your good reputation."
Siamus bows his head respectfully to Merelda.
He looks around the room. "If that covers everything, then we'll get to it. Lady Merelda, Miss Gravehowl, ye'll accompany Dinnsfield home to the city. With the pair of ye there for the moment to help, I'll need Miss Curran to address some business for me here before she rejoins ye. Nightvine, Miss Coit, we'll meet the pair of ye in the Highlands. Everyone else, prepare for the trip. I'll see to the permissions. Dinnsfield, if there are any other names I need to clear, get those to me, aye?"
Outside the office, muffled by the door and some distance, something goes clackclackclack ominously.
Siamus clears his throat. "And I believe we're done. Thank ye for coming, everyone."