Tales of the Exalted

The next day it becomes clear that something strange is happening in the small village, and the Circle of Solars gets it's first chance to prove themselves returned heroes.

The morning came around and Callista woke in the room that had originally been set aside for Eida. She vaguely remembered falling asleep while still tending to the sorcerer, who naturally she wanted to go check on but she found herself reluctant to go do so as her dream from the night prior came back to her. It had been so incredibly clear and lucid that at first she had thought that it was real and that she was back home at the palace. Logic and pragmatism told her right away that she was in a dream, vivid or not so she relaxed and allowed it to take her where it would go. The result made her flush just thinking about it.

Callista sighed and told herself the dream was nothing more than an illusion created from worrying over Eida’s injuries and compelled herself to dress properly for a both meeting with a God and light travel before leaving her room. As it turned out she had slept longer than intended and the sorcerer wasn’t in his room so she descended the stairs to join the group for breakfast before they headed out.

Eida had awoken early to a very unusual dream, especially given that he really does not dream at all. His limbs felt strong, the pain was gone. He looked down and saw that his leg had completely mended itself. There was not even a scar across his limb. He smiled to himself and began to climb out of bed when he noticed the reason he most likely had that dream. Callista was still there with him. He flushed and got up silently, trying hard not to wake her. His ghostly light touch picked her up where she nestled into his chest. Together he snuck them out and deposited the princess in what was supposed to be his room. He left through the window and dropped down walk off and convene with Jaeda in solitude as he normally did.

The town was sleepy, noone was really awake, which suited him just fine. It gave him time to think about last night, what should have gone differently in the ambush, and what that dream had meant. He would return to the inn once he heard the town waking up, there was no rush.

Ruby waved Callista over to them as a steaming plate of hash was put between them. Serving herself before the boys and Silver devoured anything that was left, she fiddled with her utensils, clearly excited for the day. "Never thought I'd dream the day that I get to talk to a god. River was a mess of fun, but now we get to go talk to some stuffy elders to set up a meeting between them and Pisaurus. This is probably a stupidly big misunderstanding as generations outgrew their parents. Anything fun happen for you?"

Callista smiled at Ruby and took a seat in front of her thinking that some polite conversation would take her mind of the dream that was haunting it. ”The gods are strange creatures but have wants and desires somewhat like our own. I hope that this is all a misunderstanding that can be rectified. I am supposed to accompany Eida to see about this disease cult that has started but if you need assistance with the river god I will see what I can do.” There as so much to be done in this town, after the disease god was dealt with she would have to see the people of the village again but at least this time she would have the proper supplies needed. Was this what ruling was about? Choices and delegations?

She almost flushed when Ruby asked her if anything fun had happened. Callista could hardly call a strange dream fun. ”I spent the evening here, treating Eida who had been injured while out looking for the disease cult with Sanjuro.”

Cion had almost slept through the morning. The wine Donovan had started ordering had turned out to be much more potent than the ale he had been drinking. At least the repercussions from his drinking had lesser effects on him since his Exaltation, not that he indulged that often but it was nice to know he wouldn’t wake up in a fog.

”Maidin mhaith, ladies,” he said as he came into the dining hall. The warrior didn’t waste much time before digging into a heaping plate of food.

As she expected she found her brother in a silent vigil on the inn's roof. A normal person would miss him, the shadows enveloping his motionless form unnaturally.
But she was Azuma-ryu, and one of their best. Besides that she knew him better than anyone else. With a standing leap she caught the roof and pulled herself up in a fluid motion.
"Eida and his demon think you left him to die, he told Callista as much." she said, hiding a small amount of anger from her voice. He didn't turn to regard her, but his soft, even voice carried to her ears anyway.
"Is that why you let her sleep with the boy? I gave you to her so she might survive the intrigues of the Khal's court." he scolded. May's eye's narrowed.
"She is my mistress now, who am I to deny her?" she said back, testing her new freedom for the first time. Her brother's eyes fell upon her and a chill ran up her spine.
"We all answer to Khal Shono and Empress Min-Hee. All of them had best learn this fact, or they will not survive long. Your mistress especially. Chen is scheming. I do not know what it is yet, but that boy takes after his mother more than most know. Be glad it was Jin-Sahn that bore his father's blessing." he looked back out across the horizon. May wasn't sure what that meant, but Empress Min-Hee was Shono's favorite wife, and mother to his heirs for good reason.
"So kill him! You have wanted to since you were a boy." May nearly shouted. Sanjuro moved lightning fast and May saw black. She woke up a few moments later, her cheek already swollen from the open hand strike. She picked her self up. He stood over her, his eyes glowed red and features distorted like they did when he used his powers. She could hear the haunting sounds of the Azuma Mori for a brief moment.
"And how many innocent people would pay for my crime, Mayumi? Hmm? How many guards? How many servants? Will our Khal spare their families, or will I have to watch as he tramples them under his horse as well?" he seethed. Tears rolled down May's eyes as she remembered their last attempt on the royal family's life. She hated the reality that Sanjuro lived in, but she couldn't deny it either.
"It would be worth it, for her sake." she pleaded. Sanjuro looked at Mayumi again, a softness broke across his face, his aura vanishing.
"Are you asking this of me? My life for your love, even though she will never love you the same way?" he asked. His words cut her deeply. May cried for a long moment. She had no doubt he would try to kill Shono if she asked him to in this moment. She had always been her brother's one weakness. But she knew she was being selfish even considering it.
"No. No, I believe in her. I believe in all of them. I just... I have never been so afraid in all my life, brother." she admitted. He reached his arm out to her and she accepted the rare chance to embrace him.
"You've never felt hope before either." he said, pulling her close. "Now dry your eyes and go back to her. Watch her, advise her, but do not solve this problem for her." he said, letting go and returning to his vigil.
May dried her eyes and jumped down off the room. Callista was already in the common room with her friends already. She sat beside the Princess and asked for a cup of water. She smiled to herself as the demigods joked and ate.

Donovan's eyes shot up in shock. Eida had been injured?

The arbitration won't happen until this evening. I will accompany you to as well, I do not want to invite a repeat of Eida's injury's upon you or himself. He was sure others would like to come as well.

"I guess it's better than lounging around here all day. Who needs a break anyway?" Jill laughed as she eyeballed the last sweet roll before swiping it when no one was looking. "What's the chance someone is going to end up half naked again?"

May had been eying the sweet rolls since she'd gotten into the common room. Sweets had always been forbidden to her, the Azuma-ryu had a strict, bland diet to keep them fit. While the diet kept them full of energy and didn't add odors to their sweat, it didn't make her mouth tingle with happiness like the chocolate Callista had given her years ago.
She turned to regard Donovan and when she looked back the last roll was gone.
She frowned as Jill spoke about naked people. Maybe next time.

Mercy perked up at the sound of something to do. something always involved danger but every opportunity to prove herself moved her closer to becoming a knight, and real conflict was worth a thousand days in the practice yard or the lists of a tournament.

I'll ready the horses then she offered to the group.

The morning was just about over when Eida returned to the inn. He had time to think, and even began his preparation into a new technique Jaeda was offering to help him with. He was considering the application of such when Mercy ran thiugh the doorway past him.

"Good morning, squire of Donovan. Are we preparing for the day's events or are you on some other errand?"

Ruby started stacking up the plates to be taken away and washed while Cion finished his third helping. Donovan wasn't much better. Poor keep's stores might be empty by the time they leave.
"Just remember that we need to convince the elders they should go and anything that may come up from doing that. Callista, you want to join us for that? This is your nation after all, it may be a good chance to speak with the people."

During breakfast Callista tried her best to keep focused on what was going on and not let her mind drift off again. She only managed to finish half of her food before she gave up and handed her plate over to one of the hungry men. Gods, illness, strange cults, dreams, unknown futures. There was just too much on her mind.

”Hmm? Oh, yes I would like to come Ruby. I think it will help knowing that a representative of the royal family is here to oversee the negotiations,” she said peeling her eyes away from the doorway. Callista recalled how real and warm things in her imagination had felt, almost feeling cross at herself for having such dreams about someone whom she could never have that with. Then again perhaps her subconscious was focusing on something that couldn't ever be; a safe fantasy with little risk of becoming a dangerous reality.

She stood, wrangling herself back into the proper diplomatic and polite demeanor that was expected of a princess. ”There seems to be a misunderstanding between the river God and the villagers so after we see to the cult you have discovered some of us will be meeting with the village elders to rectify the situation.”

Eida Donovan waved him over form the front door. Tell us of your encounter last night, we have been discussing it in your absence, but, of course you were there

"I leave you to your task then." He supposed conversation would come later, for now Mercy had work to do for them.


Eida walked over to address them without raising his voice. "Why? There is nothing to tell. There were wild beasts outside of town. Now there are not. The Princess mended the injury, it was not serious enough to have lasting damage." The sorcerer dropped his gaze to Callista in thanks as he stood at the table.

"In the meantime, I believe that we had more interesting events take place? You made progress at the river?"

We did. The god of the river is displeased with the townspeople. We will bring the two groups together and mediate the accord this evening. He loathed to spark contention in the group but the lie of omission that Eida had committed could not stand for it could put the princesses at risk. The princess had said you requested her assistance for the work in the forest was not finished... we were preparing to go forth to address that. You now say the beasts are gone. Which is it?

Eida was perplexed with the strain Donovan put in his story. There was nothing incomplete about it. Not to mention that he had not mentioned anything else because he had yet to find anything of note out.
"You talk to me like I lie. Do not assume anything unless you have done the investigation necessary first. Walking into a topic uninformed will garner few friends in the political world, and strain your relations with people you believe yourself close with.

The beasts are dealt with. I return to the forest to look into a Plague god and his cult. The two incidents are not dependent on each other. I requested no assistance on the matter, as I do not know their disposition towards outsiders, and would not subject the Princess to an unknown factor without her insistence."

Slamming her hands on the table, Ruby jumped to her feet. "Alright then, doesn't matter what it is. Lets go out and deal with the problems. A spirit will be more impressed with all of us showing up to dismantle a cult killing the place, and the elders will have a debt of gratitude for solving it, giving us some bargaining power. Mercy should have the horses ready by now.

Ruby lead the way outside to the stables, fully intending to head to wherever this cult was. She looked over at Eida who just pointed out to the forest to the west.

Callista wasn't exactly sure what was transpiring but she would see the misunderstanding beginning to unfold. It was a little hurtful that Eida seemed to think she was insisting on going when all she wanted to do was help but she supposed there wasn't much use in going over her many reasons for wanting to go. Perhaps she was looking at it the wrong way and she should be considering that if there were wild beasts and cultists around she might be viewed as a liability rather than an asset for conversing wing a plague god.

She was about to interject and say something when Ruby spoke up. Callista would have liked to handle things a little more diplomatically but at least this got things going. Eida's pride might be hurt but she was glad they would have the rest of the group with them. Not that she thought he was incapable, on the contrary he had taken on several wild beasts alone but it was always safer to travel in numbers.

Once mounted there still felt like there was a bit of tension in the air. Callista slowed hers down to pace with the sorcerer's for a moment. ”I apologize if my mentioning the problem with the plague god to the group has caused any issues.”