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Blinked for a moment and nodded, he could do that. And slowly the whole world would shudder and then dissolve piece by piece. Drae's mental walls to hold back the ebb and flow of what he saw shifted to allow entrance of this path. When he was offered the peacock feather he grabbed it and gave a tug. The protest made him smile and he had the urge to say that it'd be the pull he'd been waiting for. But he kept that in his brain, this wasn't his Luci the humor would be lost. Ish.

He took a breath and started following the...cock feather.

Philomela shook her head, "No...not really." She'd back up a few paces, "I'll retire to my own dreaming then Lord, and leave you to yours." She would bow again, and then she'd be trying to envision that doorway back to her own dream. Maybe she could still investigate that odd contraption she had seen earlier.

His path might waver along the way; at first, he'd pass through vague imagery of things to come, that had been things long past--things he'd never gotten to experience. Thereafter, it became clearer, as in passing vague attachments; by the time they neared his time, even images of Zenthus, Erodious, or Wehfre could fall into place. His conception would be the beginning of paralleled time, even if it wasn't an entirely clear image, just an old white wolf reporting to a blue snake master with his head down--not particularly something typically seen from the one who portrayed himself so dominantly. From there, the dreamish visions became progressively more personal, even if they were only wavering at best. Nearing his time, Ferous would be relatively visible--and by "relatively", the vague spectreish appearance the other should be familiar with was the whole of definition.

"As we are in a dreamstate, we must deliver you by dream to someone else; at which point, a momentary focus of your time prowess should deliver you to where you sleep. As I am vaguely familiar with your woman, it will be at her side. You may or may not find a dualistic version of yourself who hasn't lived these events; if that is the case, it is on you to find this aspect of yourself to a proper time. If you contact us in the present, we may be able to even escort you through another dream to wake in a more appropriate time. How does this sound?" If so, well--Chiara, among his most present thoughts, would have her dream at the end of the line, held open like a curtain by a colorful wing of the one who's tail he just reached the base of.

Squeek.

I know we've been through a few thousand years together, but I still feel like I barely know you enough for that. ...Ah, well. I'll probably see you on the other side, ne?

He nodded. "I'll see you in the morning." He'd let her find her own way out, as she'd found her way there. The player, on the other hand, has to get going.

Took it in, he hadn't dream woven before and it was...different to him. But as the images got more personal Drae found himself looking down at the feather and less at the images around him. He could feel the familiarity especially with Fer as he edged closer to his time but he didn't need to see it yet again. Not this time, at least as much as he could avoid.

Fer was talking to him about how he would be getting back and he nodded looking up, "I...z'ould be alrite fram 'ere. Once I get in Key'z Drae-dream I tink I'll be good. If I find maizelf ta early I gotz it taken care ub."

Luci made him snigger, "In a few t'ouzand yearz ya'll wiz' ya knew me dat well." There was a playful lilt to his voice, but otherwise he was...set?

Time would pass. Draeval's absence made the days somewhat less eventful. Without the immediate return of Apollo, everything went fairly back to normal. The change in the moon meant little of Ash was consciously in akasha, the rest grounded into the world here even if his primeival body was elsewhere. She might find the pool if she attempted to go by night, but no guide.

Ash would continue to be Ash: When seen, he was largely in the tavern, and often associating himself with the female persuasion. She was more than free to come and sit whenever she liked. Any look of question from her would bring him to curl a finger and draw her in. But for at least the time, Ash had reached the limits of what he was willing to speak of involving his past with his brothers. If she came with questions needing advice, he would answer it in his own esoteric way, but avoid direct address of the issue at hand.

Other times, he was rightfully absent; he had other places to be and other things to do. He hadn't NEEDED to take the ship to Alexandria that they had. His interests were in watching a few specific affairs that traversed with it; no, he could cut one apparition and grounded location for another. Ferous was expectably absent or invisible, and Luci was as difficult to run into as ever--usually managing to be at the fringes of wherever she went without much direct encounter, once even being the baying of the Musaeum's hounds as he lept away from his last hunt; she may have even had chance to get an educated guess if she was between the right streets he near-flew across.

Unless something monumental came to conversation between the two, it might be safe to pass just beyond a week. Unrest began collecting at the shores a few days before, and the Roman presence in Alexandria became more focused along the seaboard. Other forces seemed to answer by keeping men on their ships nearby, watching the occupiers carefully.

Ash had settled into position earlier in the morning, spreading love in his own typical fashion: a flirt with the barmaid by a brush of the hand, an answer to someone he didn't recognize, and perhaps even inviting Philomela to sit across from him if she ventured in to look.

A breathless Luci broke into the scene. Well, he never actually breathed, but even he looked tired with the way he leant on the counter after bursting out of thin air, causing some distress among the patrons. Ash looked at him with a single raised brow of question, only to be answered by a raised finger as the colorful one collected his thoughts. "Bellus comes for the Pharos." Ash's unbending stare coaxed more out of him, "I heard it from his ship as it approaches. There's others ahead of them. I checked them all. They're suited for war. They have mortars. They wouldn't--"

"No." Ash interjected, shaking his head.

Ferous interjected from behind, suddenly there in leather-wrapped cloak with folded arms. "It's too tactical of a position. If they intend to use force on Alexandria, they would want it for themselves. That, and even if they do occupy it... they wouldn't want their ships marooned."



Via paused, and nodded. "I tried to tell Sophia, but she refuses to leave."



"She hasn't left in a few decades." Ferous pointed out. "It's not our business. People will war over their land regardless of our input."



"Populus!" Via sounded shocked, and maybe even offended. "But you're supposed to--"



"...Give tactical support. However, these people do not see me as such a patron; if anything, to answer those who pay heed to my warful nature, I would be more due to answer those set to invade." And with that, Ferous turned her head away and vanished.



It was probably the first time Philomela had a chance to see Luci sneer, much less at Ferous. Luci turned to face Ash, only to find the typical stony face, even if his eye had come to close thoughtfully. "Regardless of what I say, you're going to try to intervene on your own terms. Go on." Ash didn't seem so ready to spring in and interfere either, even as the sounds of mortars began to very distantly thunder; it didn't happen to be near the tower, however--in fact, it was considerably downshore and away from the strait.



If Philomela WAS present, she'd finally get a belated nod from Luci; it was more concise, more pointed, more solemn than normal--something more expectable from Ferous, but with that, he disappeared back out, leaving what patrons remained staring at them.

Ash focused his eyes to Philomela; if she were at the table, right across--if not, he would go so far as to head to the barn and wake her with a knock at the stall. "Tell me, dear. Is there any particular subject in the library you surely need? Now would definitely be the time for me to retrieve it. I would send Via, but his interests and attentions are elsewhere. Unless you prefer Populus to escort you."

Philomela had been present at the table, quietly enjoying some tea with Ash. She hadn't been following him around constantly while he was in town, but she did enjoy sitting with him in the morning and sharing some of the better dreams she had. Big cities made entirely out of metal, that odd contraption with the wings, and horseless carriages among other things.

Her afternoons were usually spent in the library, learning new things. Even if nobody was around to show her what to look at, she seemed to be doing fine on her own. She'd eventually strayed from her original topic, and now she gladly read whatever she could get her hands on.

That morning was different though, and she looked pretty bewildered sitting there across from Ash. Her eyes widened at the look Luci shot Ferous, and her attention returned to Ash, "What...what's going on?" She's biting her lower lip, "There was a scroll I was especially fond of..." She's still confused and when Populus is mentioned she'd shake her head, "I don't think he would like that very much..." She'd watch the spot Ferous had disappeared at for a moment, before returning her attention back to Ash. She's looking worried, and that's understandable given the conversation that had just taken place.

"Rome seems to have decided it's time to take full claim of the land. I doubt they'll directly attack the tower. The strait is too narrow for any tactical progress and that part of the shore is well-guarded. I hear Ares' work distantly." She might think he meant war, but no, he intended to speak of the mortars. "You did, however, forecast damage to the library and so," He rose slowly, slid from his chair and offered his hand to her, if she chose to use it to rise, "Let's take a walk."

Philomela still seemed a little alarmed, but she would stand when he offered a walk, letting him help her up. "I did? When?" She could never remember her prophesies after she told them, so she had no idea what she was saying most of the time. She's going to head out of the bar and towards the library, probably with Namine following behind them, as she had been outside the bar.

"Why won't Lord Athena help?" She'd glance up at Ash, she was only curious. She hadn't asked him anything about his family since that last night she'd visited his dream, maybe he'd be willing to answer.

"When you first arrived." He answered concisely before answering the latter, "Because the affair is that of a large spread of humans. If gods interfered in every such affair, free will would be irrelevent. Beyond that, the impulse of coming to aid is shortlived, and Populus is not an impulsive individual." Yeah, just talk and walk as if everything were normal, even if there was a sense of nerves and the start of commotion in the streets. "If she aided in this incident, then the romans would return, and it would need to continue infinitely. We've learned our lesson involving the ill effects of sculpting human fate. There are a few instances that demand it. Popul does not feel this is one of them."

Philomela accepted his answer, and didn't question about her prophesy. She's trying to stay calm, but it's hard when she's got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach that she can't quite shake.

She'd nod at the explanation, "I suppose I can understand that. Lord Hermes seemed to disagree with her though." It wasn't a question, just a statement about what she'd observed. She'd lower her voice a bit, "Do you think I'll still be...safe here? Or is it time to move on?" She had been enjoying her time with the library, but if what she'd said was true, and she was never wrong, it wouldn't be there for much longer.

"That, my dear, is because 'Lord Hermes' is impulsive." He managed only the meekest hint of smile. It was more an attempt to bring light to an otherwise morbid topic. "I do not know." Safety in the future was vague at best. "Via decided to move his woman south when he heard your prediction. I see no harm in you doing the same, once we recover the manuscript you seek." The large building was in view, even if still some blocks away.

Philomela smiled faintly, "I see." She seemed a little worried when Ash said he didn't know if she would be safe or not. "I've...left my pack in the barn." She'd still have to go back for it when she got out of the library. She wasn't even objecting to going south, she was sure she could find something to interest her, and maybe she'd even run into Eudora if she was lucky.

Namine was still trotting along behind them, and she'd bleat at Ash, before going a little faster to catch up and walk near him. She could go back for the missing pack, but she couldn't put it on by herself.

Ash shook his head at Namine. Don't worry about it.

Philomela earned an appropriate silence from him for a block before he spoke again, drawing near to the library. "It's for the best. You're bound to find yourself mugged or raped if you continue on in a stable, especially in a town like this. Moving elsewhere, we may find somewhere more appropriate for you. I considered offering you the room I've been renting out, but I imagine that may feel awkward. You would be welcome any time, of course, even if I have company--but you don't seem the type to sit by during that. I could, of course, give a signal by hanging something on the door grip, and you could decide whether you chose to enter regardless. I am not a particularly shy creature."

Philomela shook her head, "But all my notes are in my pack, and my money, and gifts from Draebal, and Eudora." She couldn't just leave it.

Ash again voices that he didn't want her staying in a stable, "But it's cheaper and they never let Namine stay in rooms with me..." He had a point, though she'd not had a problem with that thus far on her journey. Philomela's cheeks turn a dark shade of red when he mentions sharing a room with him, along with his typical activities. "If you could...hang something there...it would be appreciated." He may not be shy, but she definitely was. Hopefully she'd never have a moment where curiosity got the best of her.

"I understand that. We'll return for it. She was offering to try to go back for it herself. We should have time. As for the rest... perhaps the next town will be more forgiving. Sometimes smaller villages are more accomodating to that type of thing."