Xath's Report

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 12:00 AM

Xath enters the royal chambers. Her face is gaunt and streaked with tears; her eyes are red , but lifeless, as though she has lost all hope. Jaine stands unsteadily on her feet, cradling her daughter, marked like her father, pacing around the fire. Xath takes a knee before the queen, not daring to look her in the face. The baby sleeps peacefully.

Jaine turns, once more towering over Xath. Before Xath can speak, she says, "I know."

Xath replies, without looking up. "Once again I have failed you, my Queen."

“I know what happened...at least...most of it.” Jaine says. "They have my son, don't they?"

"Yes," Xath says simply.

Jaine pauses. "And yours." It is a statement, not a question. Xath doesn't say anything for a moment. Then she nods, almost imperceptively. The Queen's voice, having gained some of its even timbre, hitches for a moment as she speaks, "I'm sorry for your loss." Another pause. "I have lost...lost a vassal as well. Was it...my husband...or...or yours?"

Xath replies mechanically. "I fear Archonus Bluestar was killed while I was in Thanesport. By the time I returned, it was too late for me to revive him."

Tears fill the Queen's eyes. "He...thank you. Thank you for the news. I knew the price of my children's lives would be the life of another. I thought I would pay that price. Perhaps I did. But he did, as well."

Xath stands, still looking down. "I...am sorry for your loss as well."

She dries her eyes with her free hand, noticing that Xath has stood. "Sit. You need to sit." Xath sits, obediently. She continues, "I will stand a while longer, if you'd not consider me too rude. It has been...some time."

Once again, Xath nods. "What would you have me do, my Queen?

“Rest for a moment. Tell me..." anger flushes the Queen's features, "...who took my son, and who took yours."

"When we arrived in Thanesport Palace, we were beset by many guards and..." her voice gains an edge, the first emotion she's shown "Ahrianna Blackadder." She pauses. “I need to rest first, but I will return to Thanesport to seek your son, should you wish it of me....I fear it is too late for mine."

At the mention of Thanesport, the Queen waves her hand dismissively. "I would not spend your life so callously...unless you think you can get them back?"

"I would give my life to try, my Queen. I do not know whether I would be successful."

Jaine looks at Xath with eyes ablaze, her face the face of a Queen, once more. "Give me your best case. Could you retrieve them?"

"With the full circle, we may stand a chance of escape with your son, my Queen. When I arrived, it was still possible to teleport into Thanesport Palace. I doubt it is so now, but it would not be impossible for us to infiltrate. Tain's dark defenses cannot be too plentiful if he wishes to maintain his image. Tain will doubtless have powerful defenders, but we are not as weak as Blackadder would have us believe."

The Queen looks shocked, "You were inside the palace?"

Xath shakes her head. "We were in the courtyards, just outside of the door. If your son is still in Thanesport, we will have a chance at least of retrieving him. As for my son, I fear there is only one person who can aid me in retrieving him. And his price may be too high for our cause."

Jaine ponders for a moment. “Tain's forces may seem normal on the outside. But the palace itself will be a nearly impenetrable bastion. I would not spend any of your lives on a fool's errand, but nor can I stop you. I will not order you after my son. Not yet." She pauses again. "You speak of the Bluestar?"

Xath nods. "The magic Blackadder used was powerful and evil. The only one who would know such secrets is the...Lord of the North."

Jain nods her head. "He has proven a better ally than I could have dreamed. But any price for your son would be yours alone to pay. I would not lose you or him to the Bluestar." She pauses. "But once more, I will not forbid it."

Xath nods once again.

To be continued.....

The_Universe · 12th April 2005, 12:20 AM

"Yet, even he may not know. I could only wonder if even he would cringe at the use of such magic."

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 12:58 AM

"If I do not ask, then I have abandoned my child. I do not wish him to become what she would do to him."

The_Universe · 12th April 2005, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xath

"If I do not ask, then I have abandoned my child. I do not wish him to become what she would do to him."

"Xath, you must ask if, in the end, whatever debt you would owe the Bluestar is a debt a grown man would wish you to pay. Would your child sell his mother for his freedom...and would he endanger the world to get it?"

Queen_Dopplepopolis · 12th April 2005, 03:00 AM

((Would Xath like Justice to Commune and ask if Big Blue would be able to get her child back?))

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 03:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queen_Dopplepopolis

((Would Xath like Justice to Commune and ask if Big Blue would be able to get her child back?))

She'll probably ask her later.

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Universe

"Xath, you must ask if, in the end, whatever debt you would owe the Bluestar is a debt a grown man would wish you to pay. Would your child sell his mother for his freedom...and would he endanger the world to get it?"

"Whatever price I pay, I know to make sure that the war and the circle come first. I have been....reminded of that. But that does not mean that I can just do nothing."

The_Universe · 12th April 2005, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xath

"Whatever price I pay, I know to make sure that the war and the circle come first. I have been....reminded of that. But that does not mean that I can just do nothing."

"No matter how valuable the reward, not all prices are meant to be paid. I...for once, Xath, I speak not of the war. I speak for you."

The_Universe · 12th April 2005, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queen_Dopplepopolis

((Would Xath like Justice to Commune and ask if Big Blue would be able to get her child back?))

Or she could just ask the Bluestar. Request an audience.

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 03:50 AM

Quote:

"No matter how valuable the reward, not all prices are meant to be paid. I...for once, Xath, I speak not of the war. I speak for you."

"What am I now but a tool of the war?"

Queen_Dopplepopolis · 12th April 2005, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Universe

Or she could just ask the Bluestar. Request an audience.

((That was why I asked if she wanted to Commune... not going to be so easy to get Archonus to agree, I don't think... but - it'll be cool no matter what!))

The_Universe · 12th April 2005, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xath

"What am I now but a tool of the war?"

"What is it with all of you!?" the Queen nearly shouts, "You show unimaginable bravery in the face of creatures that the nightmares of man could not conjure in their darkest hour, and when anything...anything personal...happens, you crumple as if you were made of nothing more than stiff paper!"

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 01:27 PM

Xath laughs bitterly and her voice becomes sarcastic. "Perhaps it is because we have no time for such frivolities as personal lives." She takes a deep breath and her voice returns to normal. "I am sorry, my Queen. I am not myself right now."

The_Universe · 12th April 2005, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xath

Xath laughs bitterly and her voice becomes sarcastic. "Perhaps it is because we have no time for such frivolities as personal lives." She takes a deep breath and her voice returns to normal. "I am sorry, my Queen. I am not myself right now."

The Queen slaps the sardonic smile from Xath's face, nearly shouting, "Damn you! Of course I would not deny you personal lives, nor would I ever characterize them as mere frivolity."

Grabbing Xath by the arm, the Queen nearly drags the smaller woman to her shuttered window, her iron grip releasing only to part the shutters enough to allow a bit of sunlight through. "Look out there!" she states through gritted teeth, "How many of them have lost sons? Daughters? How many have lost Husbands? Wives? Lovers?"

"Now how many are committed to this war? Despite their losses...how many of those men and women, and yes - even children - would march to war with little more than a word from me - or even you? How many!?"

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 04:11 PM

"All of them. And so would I." Xath straightens and her back stiffens. "Excuse me, my Queen, for my moment of weakness. Rest assured that it was not you to whom I was referring in regards to my personal life. I shall endeavor to be more dedicated to the cause."

The_Universe · 12th April 2005, 04:37 PM

The Queen shakes her head, "You poor fool. Men do not die for causes...but they will die for you. And you believe in a cause. Don't you?"

She sighs, "I cannot, would not ask you not to grieve. Nor would I ask that the search for my own son cease. But we must be reasonable. Our lives are not the only ones at stake here, and though we have lost much, there are others out there who have lost more, and would still die at little more than a whisper."

"I ask not that you deny your humanity [DM note: Elfidity?], but I ask that you remember that for all the losses that have already occured in this war - you are a hero. All of you are heroes. You put more at stake than any of them, and you will lose more than any of them. But this is the path that you have chosen for yourselves. We will do what we must to get both our children back - but if you cannot live for yourself," she pauses, throwing the shutters open wide, "live for them."

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 06:07 PM

Xath simply looks on and nods.

The_Universe · 12th April 2005, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xath

Xath simply looks on and nods.

The Queen sighs, "Now, what will you do?"

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 06:25 PM

Xath stares out of the window for a few moments. Then quietly she speaks. "You must think me the worlds biggest fool. It's not as though I've never lost anything before, lost any battles. This one just...hit me harder than I expected is all. You'd think that the more you lose the easier it gets. But that doesn't seem to be the case. But...." and an edge of resolve enters her voice. "I cannot afford to be weak now. There will be time enough for sorrow when the war is won."

**Xath** · 12th April 2005, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Universe

The Queen sighs, "Now, what will you do?"

"I will continue to do what I have always done. But I will not give up on my son. If time permits, I will seek audience with the Bluestar to find out what his terms are. And then I will be faced with a choice."