Chapter 3

Trouble in Falkovnia

Marinae purchased an old horse for Petrov for much more than she was worth and set out for Borca. During the trip, Petrov was more or less quiet but much more friendly than in the past.

“What do you pick up from him?”, Marinae thought to Rambis, her trusted familiar.

“Smells very much bad.”, the cat replied. “Needs to lick himself more often.”

“Any bad vibes?”, Marinae asked with a hint of playful annoyance. “I'm not sure how far I can trust him.”

“No. Just smelly human.”, Rambis replied, making Marinae smile.

Several days later they arrived in Levkarest. At The Great Cathedral Petrov thanked Marinae again and disappeared inside. While she waited for him a messenger approached her and handed her a letter.

“Damon in trouble.”, the letter read. “Didn't want you involved but said he has no choice. He needs your help. If you come, go through Pont-a-Museau to Silbervas. Be careful. Great Danger for you.  Signed, A Friend.”

"Dammit.", Marinae said to no one in particular. She tipped the messenger and thanked him. Then she returned to her thoughts. She had no idea what she was going to do next.

An hour later, and outfitted once more in the vestments of warrior of Ezra, Petrov returned. He also wore the stone face that Marinae was used to seeing. He walked up to Marinae and looked her in the eye.

"Why didn't you tell me.", he said. His voice was filled with anger.

"Tell you what?", Marinae answered innocently.

In a fierce whisper Petrov hissed, "You know exactly what I'm talking about. Why didn't you tell me that Eliza had run off with that whore?" He clenched his jaw and the cords of his neck were standing out.

Now it was Marinae’s turn to be mad. "That 'whore' is my friend, you blunt-eared idiot!”, she shouted at him. “Frankly, their relationship isn't any of my business, or yours. I didn't tell you first because it's not my place, and second, because I knew damn well you'd react like this."

Petrov was taken aback. Marinae continued, a little calmer, "If you care a whit about Eliza, you will respect her, and Lynn. Don't you EVER call her that again in my presence. Do we understand each other?"

Petrov stood motionless. Marinae felt the need to add more. "You should know that Eliza is happier than I've ever seen her. That's what should matter, not who she's happy with."

Petrov composed himself and replied, "Because you helped me in Nova Vaasa, I will do as you ask. Where are they now?"

"I don't know.”, Marinae replied. “The last I saw they were near Port-a-Lucine. But that was months ago."

"Then that is where I'm going. I must speak to Eliza. How could she just throw away everything she had here."

The two set out for Port-a-Lucine. Petrov pushed his feeble horse as fast as she could go. Marinae rode alongside estimating that they would be in Sturben by mid-afternoon at their current pace. Marinae hoped that Petrov would stop there and give his horse a badly needed rest.

"How are you feeling?”, Marinae asked. “Aside from your, er, bottom? That horse can't be a very good ride."

"The healers here have done what they can.”, Petrov answered. “I'll be alright."

As the entered the outskirts of Sturben, Marinae spied two cloaked figures holding hands cresting a hill.

“Can you tell who those two cloaked people are?”, Marinae asked Rambis.

“Not from here.”, Rambis explained. “Want me to go look?”

“Go ahead.”, Marinae thought back to him. Then she smiled towards Petrov, hoping to distract him.

Rambis leaped down and trotted closer to the figures in question, sniffing the air.
 

"We should come back here every year.", Lynn said smiling.

Eliza grinned "Yes. That would be wonderful."

"Does he look familiar to you?", Eliza said, motioning towards a cat trotting towards her and Lynn.

"Rambis.", Lynn replied.

Rambis rubbed figure-eights around Lynn's and Eliza's legs, purring. Eliza looked around and gasped softly. "Petrov."

Lynn looked where Eliza was looking. "And Marinae."
 

Rambis accepted Lynn’s and Eliza’s attentions for a few minutes and then headed back to report to his master.

"Lynn, and Eliza.”, Rambis told Marinae. “They smell like flowers.”

“Thanks.”, Marinae replied. “Here's where the fun begins.”

Marinae passed him a mental image of Petrov throwing a fit.
 

Lynn tugged at Eliza’s arm and began to walk towards Petrov and Marinae. Eliza looked at her and bit her lip before falling in a step behind. Petrov glanced up and met Eliza's gaze. He dismounted and approached her, his face was blank. Lynn felt a chill move through her. She wrapped her arms around herself and reached one hand underneath the other inside her robe and placed it on her katana. Petrov walked slowly towards Eliza. The two looked at each other for the longest time before Petrov took her hand and kissed the back. He then promptly returned to his horse and rode off towards the temple. The others let out a collective sigh of relief.

Eliza took Lynn's hands. "I'm going to go talk to him."

"Alone?", Lynn asked.

"Yes. I'll be alright.", Eliza replied.

"Need a ride?", Marinae said, offering her horse.

Eliza smiled broadly at her. "Thank you. It's good to see you again, Marinae. I've missed you."

Marinae smiled. She felt the same way. Marinae whispered a few words to Maelstrom to let him know that it was okay for Eliza to ride alone. Eliza climbed atop the horse and rode off after Petrov. Lynn let her go, hoping that she would be alright.

"How have you two been?", Marinae asked after a brief silence.

"Wonderful.", Lynn replied, but her voice was filled with apprehension.

"I told him I'd kick his blunt-eared ass if he messed with either of you.”, Marinae said reassuringly as Lynn let out a muffled laugh. “Eliza can deal with him. It's the Temples I'm worried about."

At the mention of the church Lynn’s mirth quickly went away and her voice became grave, "I fear that Eliza will split the church in two."

"Sounds like someone's been busy, hmmm?”. Marinae smiled, trying to cheer Lynn up. “What have you done to the Old Men's Club now?"

"Oh, nothing.", Lynn said shyly. "We've been away on our own. But Eliza wanted to see Marius again. So we came here. Eliza showed him that Ezra was still with her. Now Marius wants to spread the word."

"Oh my, yes, I can see how some might not like that.", Marinae said thoughtfully. Then she changed the subject. "You'll never guess where I found our um, friend."

"Levkarest?", Lynn guessed, poorly.

"No. In an alley in a piss pot town in Nova Vaasa.", Marinae said scandalously. "Half-naked, beaten like a dog, and half-crazed. Well, more so than usual."

Lynn gasped, "How?"

"He had bites all over him.”, Marinae said, leaning closer to Lynn and whispering. “Apparently he was abducted by vampires, held as an easy food source."

"Oh no.", Lynn said honestly. "Is he...?"

"I don't know.", Marinae replied. “What he told me was that he was part of a team sent out to find a vampire named Vladimir Ludzig. They tracked him to Nova Vaasa and attacked his stronghold in the sewers. They failed. Some of them were killed, and the others...”, Marinae paused. “Vladimir and his minions drank their blood. Petrov was the only one to escape and survive."

Lynn’s eyes were wide open. She could barely believe her ears.

“He isn't thrilled about your relationship with Eliza.”, Marinae added. “That's why I sent Rambis to give you a safer greeting than what I was expecting."

Lynn listened carefully to everything that Marinae said. Finally she answered, "I don't trust him."

"I don't either.”, Marinae agreed. “But I'm willing to give him, how do you humans say it? Give him rope?"

"All his life he's fought against evil.", Lynn said softly. "But who is good and who is evil?"

"My people have a saying.”, Marinae replied. “Evil is whatever a powerful man fears. And good is whatever he desires."

"Then Eliza is good. And I am...", Lynn stopped.

"You're good.", Marinae reassured her. "I wouldn't be willing to fight to the death protecting you and Eliza if you weren't. And Eliza wouldn't be with you if you were evil."

"But what does Petrov believe?", Lynn answered.

"Hang himself!”, Marinae blurted out. “I just remembered the saying...enough rope to hang himself."

Lynn laughed. She fingered her ring with her other hand, hoping that all the feelings coming from it would be good.

"Petrov's just been spoon fed stupid things by his Church.", Marinae continued, composing herself. "Keep this in mind, the Church is a business. It has a vested interest in setting things the way it wishes them to be."

Suddenly Lynn felt a sudden emptiness. Eliza had removed her ring. Lynn let out a muted scream and fell to the ground as if she'd been stabbed in the heart. Marinae was taken completely off guard.

"What's wrong?", Marinae exclaimed, rushing to Lynn’s side.

"Eliza.", Lynn gasped.

"Eliza.?", Marinae stood confused for a few moments. "Her ring?"

Lynn staggered to her feet. "She's in danger.", Lynn said.

In an instant Lynn’s strength returned and she started to run towards the temple. Marinae followed along behind but Lynn was going too fast for her to keep up. Minutes later Lynn was running along behind the buildings in town. At the back entrance to the temple she saw Eliza standing in the doorway and Petrov walking away from her. Eliza slid her ring back on. As she did so, Lynn felt the connection reestablished. Eliza's feelings were a jumble but there was a blanket sensation of sadness.

Lynn kept running like a woman possessed. She headed straight for Eliza, but watched Petrov out of the corner of her eye. Marinae rounded the corner just in time to see all three of them together. She hastily readied herself to cast a spell if she needed to and watched closely as Petrov glanced back at Lynn passing by him.

"Don't take her for granted.", Petrov advised sternly. Then he disappeared around a corner.

Lynn took Eliza in her arms. She put her hands on her cheeks and kissed her.

"Don't ever do that again.", Lynn said breathing hard. Then she moved her hands down to Eliza's neck, checking for bite marks and was relieved to find none.

"I'm sorry.”, Eliza apologized. “It was something that I needed to do on my own. Will you forgive me?"

"I thought that something awful had happened. I thought...", Lynn caught her breath. "What happened?"

"He asked why I did what I did. I tried to explain. I tried to tell him what it's like with you but I don't know if he understood or not." She hesitated and looked away "He said he loved me."

"Ouch.", Marinae interjected as she walked up next to them.

"I know.", Lynn replied. "I knew that when we were in the chapel under the ruins. I didn't want to come between you, but..."

Eliza put her fingers over Lynn’s lips. "It would never have worked anyway, he and I. I think he knew that too."

Lynn held back her confession. She held Eliza close and slowly began to feel better.

Eliza pulled back a little from Lynn and looked at Marinae. "Have you heard anything about Damon? I've been worried about him ever since he left last year."

"I got a note a few days ago.”, Marinae replied. “He's in trouble in Falkovnia."

Marinae passed her the note. "I don't know if it's for real, actually.”, she admitted. “You know how things would be for me should I go there."

Lynn held Eliza and swayed back and forth until the awful feelings went away. Then she relaxed and started paying attention to what was being said.

Eliza nodded, "What will you do?"

"Hmm.”, Marinae murmured. “I should have done this to begin with."

Marinae cast a spell on the note and frowned. There was not a trace of magic on it.

"I don't want to go to Falkovnia.”, Marinae confessed. “But if Damon's in trouble."

"Whatever you do, we'll be there to help.", Eliza said helpfully.

"Yes.", Lynn added.

"Thank you. I dare not go alone.", Marinae smiled a little, but the thought of Falkovnia made her extremely nervous. "Have either of you seen Weamar?"

"Not since last year.", Eliza answered.

"I believe that it's real.", Lynn said quietly after reading over the letter. "Whoever wrote it didn't sign it so that he wouldn't get caught if the message was discovered."

Then Lynn put the letter up to her nose and smelled it. She detected the faintest of hints of lavender perfume.

Lynn smiled. "I was wrong. SHE didn't sign it so that SHE wouldn't get caught."

"She? I still have no idea who it might be.”, Marinae thought deeply as she talked. “Unless it was whomever he went off after? Or someone who knows her?"

"What does your heart say?", Lynn said.

"My heart says I'm scared shitless.", Marinae replied with a nervous laugh.

"If we hadn't had to go to Port-a-Lucine, would you have gone after him?", Lynn asked.

Marinae stood silently, searching her thoughts. "I don't know. Falkovnia is one of those places parents threaten their children with to make them behave."

"I don't want to go either.", Lynn admitted. "But I never felt good about leaving him behind."

Marinae stared at the letter and sighed, "I have to go. You two might have to drag me kicking and screaming across the border, though. I should have spent more time studying the appearance-changing spell instead of that stupid rope trick."

Eliza smiled, "I think kicking and screaming would tend to draw unwanted attention."

"So will these.", Marinae said, pulling back her hood. "These ears could get us all killed.”

Marinae paused. Then her voice gained a hint of hope. “Word has it Drakov is making noise along his northern borders. That's why we're going in via Museau."

"The brands.", Lynn added. "We need to fake them."

"How are they done? I can’t do that with magic.", Marinae replied. Then she smiled, “Maybe if we just kill anyone who looks at me funny."

"Maybe Marius knows someone who could help.", Lynn suggested humorlessly.

"Your way is less invasive", Marinae replied with a smile. “Yes, let’s ask Marius.”

Soon they were all gathered in Marius quarters. After having the situation explain to him, Marius sat at his desk and thought.

"It would be quite a dangerous trip.”, Marius said shaking his head. “The Reniers of Richmulot are perhaps the most vocal of Drakov's detractors. It's said that they have agents inside Falkovnia tasked with sowing the seeds of armed revolt. There are also rumors of an underground network of safe houses meant to get refugees out and weapons and supplies in. If you are truly certain of this, your best chance would be to try and contact the Reniers."

"If they're fighting each other, they're less likely to bother us.", Marinae said excitedly. Then she held herself back. "I hope."

"We have a chance to save him.", Lynn added.
 

It was a mild day and Weamar was accompanying Jacqueline on her errands in the city. She had just finished meeting with a local magistrate. Weamar was about to help her into her coach when coming up the street he noticed some familiar faces. He saw them pointing at him and heading his way but he kept his cool.

Jacqueline collapsed, exhausted, into the carriage. "Tell the driver to take us home, please."

"Certainly ma'am.", Weamar replied.

Weamar passed the instruction to driver and turned to the trio, looking slightly uncomfortable.

"Hi.”, Weamar said brusquely.” I'll meet you all back here later, after work."

Marinae felt snubbed. "We could give you hell, of course.”, she smiled. “But we'll wait for you, instead."

Weamar mounted the carriage and they rode off. Back at home, Jacqueline gave Weamar a long distant stare and got out of the coach.

"I'm going to retire for the day, Weamar.”, Jacqueline said sadly. “I will see you in the morning."

"Very good ma'am.”, Weamar said, doing his best to sound subservient. "If you have no further need of me, I shall return to town, as some old friends of mine arrived just as we left."

"Oh. Very well. I hope you enjoy yourself.", Jacqueline said, but she cared little if he did.

"Thank you ma'am. Rest well.”, Weamar said bowing. Then he turned and went in search of his friends.

It didn’t take long before Weamar heard Lynn's melodic voice coming from a nearby inn. He stabled his horse and found Eliza and Marinae inside at a table, enjoying Lynn’s singing. Marinae was sipping on her ale and Eliza’s eyes were fixed on Lynn. What she was thinking was obvious. To Lynn it felt like old times again, on her better days. She sang mostly happy songs, but put in a few sad ones because they felt good too. Lynn also sang a few love songs, and a special one for Eliza. But she remembered that she had to hide her love for Eliza out in the real world.

Eliza noticed Weamar and waved to him. Weamar waved back and headed in her direction, taking a seat at their table. Marinae greeted Weamar with a grin and a raised mug of ale

"It's so good to see you again.”, Eliza said smiling. “How have you been?"

"You too, very well recently.", Weamar answered. "I wasn't expecting to see the three of you, what brings you here?"

"Another adventure.”, Marinae began. “Damon's in trouble a little north of here. In a little country called Falkovnia."

Marinae took a heavy pull on her ale. "I get the feeling I am going to be one toasted elfling before too long.", she added.

Weamar put two and two together, "Damon?", he asked.

"Damon. Me olde fadder.", Marinae answered with slurred speech.

Marinae noticed that her ale mug was suspiciously empty and suspected a leak somewhere. She carefully set the mug on the general vicinity of the table top and then wondered how she missed the table. She turned back towards Weamar and hoped that no one else noticed.

"So, there's a rescue mission on?", Weamar asked.

"I think you've had enough.", she advised.

"Yesh, yes.", Marinae said with a slight hiccup.

Marinae passed Weamar the note. Weamar read it carefully and handed it back.

"That doesn't sound good at all", Weamar said flatly.

"No, it's not good.”, Marinae agreed. “Which is why I think I need, another drink. Where is my mug?"

"Marius said that we should find the Reniers.”, Eliza suggested. “He said they were involved with the resistance."

Weamar looked slightly surprised at Eliza's comment. "The fates seem to be playing games with us, again.”, he said with a slight grin. “Lady Renier is my employer."

"Strange how these things always work out.", Eliza replied. "Do you think she would help us?"

"Perhaps. I don't really know", Weamar answered. “It might be easier if I broached the subject with her first. If nothing else if I'm to go along I'll need to let her know I plan to leave her service.”

“Where'sh my mug?”, Marinae thought to Rambis.

“It's where you left it.”, Rambis replied.

Marinae looked at the table, “Isn't.”, she answered. She squinted hard. “Am I drunk enough yet?”

“Is the room spinning yet?”, Rambis asked.

Marinae looked around. The room lurched as she did. She began to feel sick.

"I'll be...be...um...privy.", Marinae said, standing up carefully.

“Now I remember why I don't drink much.”, Marinae thought to herself as she made her way to the bathroom. “I get sick before I can really enjoy being drunk.”

Lynn finished her set with the happy drinking song that she liked to end with, got a glass of rainwater, and joined her friends. After a few minutes Marinae made her way, a bit more slowly, back to the table and sat down.

“Kill me.”, Marinae groaned in her mind to Rambis.

Rambis just climbed into her lap and went to sleep. Marinae ordered some willow bark tea and hoped for the best. She scratched behind her cat's ears and tried to block out the noise of the other patrons. Lynn leaned next to Eliza. Singing for a crowd with Eliza among them brought back memories. Wonderful memories.

"I love you.", Lynn whispered in Eliza’s ear.

Eliza blushed and brushed her fingers across the back of Lynn’s hand beneath the table. Their rings throbbed with warmth. That night Lynn made Eliza feel at home in a bed far from their cottage. She searched Eliza’s entire body over for bite marks. And when she didn’t find any she gently made a few of her own.