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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Silver Moon" data-source="post: 5950797" data-attributes="member: 8530">Chapter 64 "Together Again” (Episode Two, Chapter Twenty-four) - Saturday, September 10, 1882, 7:15 A.M. As Mina and Abby consider their next move the train arrives. The soldiers move forward and force the crowd back. From the front Pullman car exits a sheik attired in silk robes with gold and platinum embroidery. He has a harem of scantily clad women following him and over a dozen burly male bodyguards carrying large, sharp scimitars. Following them are a dozen ogre laborers carrying large trunks. From the next car exit an Egyptian man in a suit with nearly four dozen workers who head back toward the freight cars. Half of these men then begin unloading barrels and crates with firearms sticking out of them. The other half begin unloading horses and mules from the cattle cars. Other unload empty wagons and carts tied down to the flatbed cars. Abby says, "The second car, I get. The first car... that comes into a war zone with his harem? Well, I guess a guy who's really confident he's coming out on top of whatever happens.”Four passengers depart the final car. Mina and Abby immediately recognize two of them as their friends Alsoomse and Hardin. Accompanying them is a Centaur and a bearded man in a dark suit carrying a well-worn suitcase. Abby exclaims, “Alsoomse is here. Guess we're taking the next train out." Abby lifted her hand and waved at the others.As Fish and Hakar near the train depot they are startled by the sight of a flying ogre, dressed in military garb, and of fairly high rank based upon the various ribbons and insignia. He is flying overhead approximately thirty feet above the ground and at a fairly quick pace. Rather than flying directly towards the train it then stops and hovers above the crowd, looking intently below. Dozens of people stop and look up, several pointing in surprise. Neither John Hardin or Alsoomse notice Abby and Mina at first. Then a flying ogre arrives, hovering over the crowd, and lands immediately before Mina and Abby. Seeing them, Cetan uses his size to clear a path for Alsoomse and friends. The ogre exclaims, "Mrs. Parker, the Princess has need of you." This captures the attention of everybody around, including John, Alsoomse and the Centaur friend, as well as Fish and Hakar at the other end of the street.Abby says to the ogre, "I'm guessing that telling you we're in a hurry and the Princess would really want us to get where we're going isn't going to persuade you to let us send her our regrets?" The Ogre turns to Abby and says "You can go where ever you wish, it is only Mrs. Parker who the Princess needs." Abby replies, "I go with Mrs. Parker. There is too much going on right now for any of us to be acting without an idea of what the others are doing. Beside that we also need to talk to our compatriots who just got off the train."Alsoomse, Cetan and John Harding approach Mina, Abby and the Ogre. Hakar and Fish move closer to them from the opposite direction but still keep their distance. "Come on over, y'all," Abby said with a wave. "This nice gent wants to take us to see the Princess. Well, he just wants Mrs. Parker but I don't think he'll mind too much if we tag along."Given that the crowd is still staring Hardin drops back, more out of sight, and waits for Fish and Hakar to approach. The crowd is now redirected to the train, which has started taking on passengers. A group of well-dressed men are escorted to the Pullman car. Regular passengers are then allowed to enter. Rather than stacking luggage in the freight cars people are just keeping them with them, turning the freight cars into passenger cars too. Rails are put up on the flatbed cars, which also then take on passengers (albeit those that have livestock with them).Abby looked up at the Ogre and said, "Looks like we're goin' to have a large group. Do we just follow you to where the Princess is? That is, if Mrs. Parker is actually agreein' to go. And our friends actually get off their backsides and get over here." She looked over at Mina. "You are agreeing, aren't you?" Mina says to the Ogre, "It seems to be the best choice, lead the way." He takes them through the city. Entering the fanciest hotel in town, eyes turn to stare at the centaur, but nobody makes any attempt to stop them. They head up the stairs to the top floor and Presidential suite. As they walked over Abigail dropped back near Alsoomse and spoke very quietly. "We've learned a lot since you left for Heliopolis. You may hear some things that will shock you when we talk to the Princess. We'll get you up to speed as soon as we can get a bit of privacy."Approaching the door to the Princess' suite Abby moved forward again to stand with Mrs. Parker. "I'm ready when you are," she said, half to her companion and half to the Ogre mage who had led them here. The door is opened and the group are led into the center room of the suite. A number of ogre guards and human servant girls are present. The Ogre who led them there approaches a closed bedroom door and knocks. Moments later the door is opened from inside by a large man with red curly hair and red beard, wearing demin pants and a plaid shirt. Also in the room is the Princess, attired in a purple and white Egyptian style dress. Cetan thinks to himself, "The princess is fooling around with a lumberjack? This can't be good!" The Princesses head snaps to see who the visitors are. "What's the meaning of this intrusion??" she asks. Abby looked to the Ogre mage, who looked just as stunned as some of her companions. She thought to herself, “She called for Mina, you'd think she'd know what this is all about.”Ruby’s impression of the Princesses voice fools everybody except for her Grandmother Mina, who just smirks and plays along. Abby spoke up, saying, "Mrs. Willamina Parker, as you requested." The tall lumberjack in the corner nods to the Ogre. The ogre then exits the room along with the servants and other guards. The lumberjack steps forward and looks from eye to eye at Mina, Cetan, Abby and Alsoomse. Once all the guards had left the Princess said, in Ruby's voice, "Well, that worked." She ran over and hugged her grandmother. "Nana, I am so glad you are here! And you too Abby." Abby says, "I was wondering why we didn't see you here. Feels so strange to wear someone else's skin, doesn't it?” "Yes, it's very odd.” Ruby replies. Abby asks, “So what's the situation? We were just trying to figure out how we were going to get ourselves on the overstuffed train when Alsoomse appeared. We can catch the next train, but time is still short." The Princess attempts to speak in as deep a voice as she can, but it still comes out surprisingly high-pitched and not what the others expected from the tall man. He (she) says "Before we begin, you should know that we may be interrupted. The Princess's father may have his wizards come to take her once he receives word of the wedding. If that happens, do not resist. I also have one favor, if they ask please say that I am Mrs. Parker's bodyguard, otherwise things may not go well for me."Abby says, "If there might be interruptions we should get started. Time is of the essence for all of us.” The lumberjack speaks up and says in her regular voice, "I am Princess Neferka." Abby pauses the says, “Princess, you called for Mrs. Parker and she's here. If you don't want us to interfere with the interruption, how can we help you?" Ruby says, “I don't really like it, being someone else, but the Princess," she nodded toward the tall man, "Needed our help desperately. It's a magic item and it will deactivate the moment I hit the palace. I'm a little concerned about this plan but for my end, I don't see any other way. Once I am in the Palace and myself again, hopefully I can get the King to listen to me. I plan on telling him that the Princess actually loves the General and was not forced to marry him but also some of the information you told me Abby, about the French plot to murder him. The more explanation you can give me to give him, the better! I realize I am missing some of your information." Abby says, “I can go over everything I learned with you again, but what I meant was how in seven hells are you getting to the Palace, and why would it be dangerous to you? Obviously if the Princess just wanted you to go as a messenger, she'd send you with a note of introduction and some guards..." Abby looked at the lumberjack/princess for a moment. "That skin must be even stranger to wear. It seems Ruby has some kind of mission for you, what can WE do for you?" Neferka replies, "You can claim that I am Mrs. Parker's bodyguard if the wizards do come to kidnap me. That is merely speculation on my part, it may not happen at all. You can also give Ruby any evidence that you may have discovered regarding the duplicity of the French, as she will have to convince my Father." She replies, "Princess, I don't have any physical evidence. No notes or messages. I was masquerading as one of the French wizards to help rescue some British archeologists. I even fooled her teacher and he discussed the plan with me.We think most of the wizards don't actually know the entire plan, only their part. But Sarah Bernhardt, the actress, is supposed to get a druidess out of the way. She helps guard the royal sheep. The shepherds are to be kidnapped but not hurt. I think Bernhardt and her companion are going to try to sneak in using mundane disguises and poison most of the people in the Palace. Someone is trying work up some fanatic named Abdullah, trying to get him to attack the palace to cover up what really happened there.And Princess, I don't have details of how, they plan to get rid of your new husband as well. The end goal is to rule Egypt themselves, though you as its Queen. Much as I'd love to see their faces when they find out you won't be ruled, I'd rather stop it before people die. Mrs. Parker and I were on our way to Heliopolis to try and stop her. Bernhardt, that is."Alsoomse states "I have just come from Heliopolis. There is indeed a fanatic there by the name of Abdullah El Adin who is trying to stir up the population in support of the rebel causes and against the King. I saw no evidence of any French, however an actress of Miss Bernhardt's talents could easily disguise herself as an Egyptian." Abby says, "That's the idea. The wizards already tried to get two people into the palace using magical disguises and they were caught, tortured, and killed. That's why they sought out actors, people who could disguise themselves without magic." Abby turned to Ruby and added, "I think you skipped something Ruby. You're going to the Palace to talk to the King. I mean, that's good. If he'll listen to you he'll be warned if we can't stop those wizards. But.. You left a lot of why's out of your explanation." Ruby says, "Oh, right, that... Well, it's much faster for me to travel this way and as you know, time is of the essence. So the Princess asked me to use her magic item to make me look like her. She is convinced that once the Frenchman who is almost there delivers news of her wedding to her father, he will send a wizard to magically transport her - me - back to the Palace. Instead they will kidnap me and once I get to the Palace, the magical disguise will wear off, and I will try to convince the King of these things. I will take the note she has written as proof I have not harmed the Princess and hopefully that will work. If not," Ruby grinned, "You all will have to come save me! Easy peasy."Ruby asks, “So, Nana, Abby, your plan now is to find the actress. If you do find her, what will you do then?" Abby says, "Find a disguised actress in Heliopolis, and rescue a red-head from the royal palace, all in day's work, honey. Just don't get yourself absorbed into a harem, alright? I don't wanna answer to your fiancé on that one." "Oh trust me, I'm not planning on THAT happening," Ruby laughed. "I love my guy and don't plan on losing him! He'd fight for me too but I don’t want to put him up against THOSE odds. Okay so you all now what I'M doing... what are YOU doing? Do you think you’ll be able to find Bernhardt? I'd like to get some time to talk to her, after all, she is one of my idols. Even if she is involved in some highly suspicious warmongering. "Abby says, "Mrs. Parker and I were heading to Heliopolis to find Alsoomse and see what we could do. But since she's here now we can plan now. Finding Bernhardt won't be easy, we may have to look for the Druidess instead. At least her mentor thought Bernhardt would be upset by her role to play. He wasn't surprised to see her in the camp, and thought I was there to object. Why don't we all sit down, this could take a bit of time.""Sure," Ruby said as she waved her arm around the suite, "We have a lot of room here. Have a seat. Alsoomse, did you find out anything new for us?" The elvan woman replies, "I found out that there are a group of six French wizards visiting the King at this palace and offering him advice, specifically, the former French Empress Eugenia Maria de Montijo de Guzman who was wife to Emperor Napoleon III. With her is Victor Duruy, who was a chief advisor and top mage to Napoleon III. Both of them are very highly ranked in the French wizards group, holding the positions of Ace and Queen of Diamonds. I know both of them, and can assure you that neither would be involved in an assassination plot."Ruby says, "What about the other four with them? Might it be them or one of them? Or do you think it's a completely different group of French? I hate to say this but the Princess herself sent a French emissary to her father after the wedding." The Princess speaks up and says "I believe that diplomat, Mr. Frederic Passy, is totally sincere in his desire for bringing about peace. He too is fairly highly ranked in his group, the Jack of Diamonds I believe. If there is a conspiracy among these French wizards it clearly is not the entire group. A rogue faction perhaps." Ruby nodded. "I'm just not sure who to trust anymore. But it's good to have these opinions, they mean something.” Abby says, "All the people you've mentioned are part of the Diamond suit. When I was talking to Merimee, he said that the Diamond suit is no longer trusted by the others. The Empress and Duruy have lost their positions on the French council because of their attempt to get those Atlantean artifacts. I think you're all right, none of these people probably know of the assassination plot. Someone called Gay-Lussac is the team leader for the plot. The wizards who died trying to get in before were Montblanc and Pascal.”Alsoomse says, "Joseph-Louis Gay-Lussac is a chemist, physicist and wizard. His expertise is in gaseous objects and acidic compounds. He was the inventor of the Potion of Insubstantiation. He is over a century old, and also fairly highly ranked among these wizards." Abby continues, “Merimee said the only reason he was approached was because they need Sarah and someone named Sardou, because they could act and use mundane disguises.” Mina says, "Victorien Sardou, a well known author of plays who began his career acting on the Paris stage. His specialty is the ability to write masterful plays of every genre. He will be dangerous, due more to his ability to improvise and adapt to any changing situation." Abby says, “As for Miss Bernhardt, what we do will depend on what SHE does. I don't want to hurt anyone, but I will to prevent mass murder." "We all will," Mina states. Abby nodded and was quiet for a moment. "Perhaps we need to go after Sardou. If he's trying to rile up this Abdullah, he would be easier to find.If we can find and watch him, he might lead us to Bernhardt." Ruby says, "That sounds like a good plan Abby. Perhaps he is the key to all this. But where might he be?" “ Abby says, "Sardou should be wherever Abdullah is. And it shouldn't be too hard to find a frothing at the mouth fanatic who wants to kill the King of Egypt." "Very true. A little information gathering should do the trick. Unfortunately I can't help as my ride will be here soon. But I bet Fish could really help with that. If you can find HIM," Ruby laughed.Mina says, "Okay, it's decided then, Abby and one or two of the others should head off on the next southbound train. The Princess should be able to write them an official note to get them into the Pullman car ahead of the crowds. I will stay here with Ruby and the Princess for the time being while we wait for George to return. If Callum or Benjamin manage to return I will apprise them of what is going on." Ruby says, "I'm not sure George will be back for a while Nana, he is photographing the armies. Maybe not until tonight he said."Abby comments, "I'll have time before the next train. We should check the hotels for Ben and Cal. It'll probably take longer for Cal to get back, especially if the people he made insubstantial moved away from Zakazik instead of toward it I probably shouldn't admit I'm nervous about going on our own out there. The consequences if we fail are enormous." Mina says, "Alsoomse and Cetan could accompany you as well. You're also looking for a druid, both of them ARE druids." Cetan asks, "What you want'em druid to do?" Abby replies, "I want you to think like what you are. When we get to Heliopolis we might have to track down a powerful druid. I wouldn't know one if she sat on my lap. You'll know where a druid wouldn't be and where she would be. You'll know what she'd consider a threat and what not." Abby paused, for a moment losing a bit of confidence. "You used to be in a show right? You don't need to put on a show for me, so be yourself, warts and brilliance."Abby, Cetan and Alsoomse head over to the other hotel, expecting to find John Hardin and Lawrence there, but also discovering that Benjamin 'Fish' Trout has also returned. "Fish, you made it back!" Abby gave him a hug that wouldn't ever hint that they hadn't known one another long. "Not that I thought you wouldn't. Heard anything about Cal?" Fish has no new information as they split up in Tanis. Abigail, Alsoomse, Benjamin and Cetan pack up and head down to the train depot for the southbound train to Cairo and Heliopolis. Alsoomse looks towards Cetan and says, "We'll come back to Zakazik some time later, there really is more to see here than these two hotels." They arrive at the train depot, where despite one train full of people already heading south, the crowds are larger than before. The note given to them by the Princess gets them to the front of the line and into the depot itself, where two dozen of Zakazik's most wealthy citizens are waiting to depart in the Pullman car. "Don't worry Cetan, I haven't seen much else yet either. Just add the temple of Bast and you've been everywhere I've been."Abby looked around the station. "I feel like a bit of a heel taking up space on the train when so many people want out. I have to keep reminding myself what we're doing is important." She swept her eyes over the crowd, looking for any familiar faces. She spots a distance back in the crowd the Scotsman named Robert Lewis Stevenson, who had been held in Tanis by the French who mistook him for Callum. She realizes that he will not possibly recognize her, as she was wearing the face of Sarah Bernhardt when he last laid eyes upon her.She leaned over to Alsoomse and said, "I see one of the men we smuggled out of the French camp. I'm going over, I'll be back." Abby made her way through the throng and came up behind Stevenson. "Sir, my name is Abigail and I'm here to get you out of here," she laughed, repeating what she'd said in the prison tent and using her distinctive accent. "I see you made it out of the camp just fine."He does a double take and has a look of confusion on his face at first. The realization of who she is then dawns on him and a smile comes to his face. "Yes, I did, and I thank you for the assistance yesterday. The archaeologists were all united with the British military, and are on their way back to England as we speak, but I am not ready to return home as of yet. The political unrest in Cairo is something that I wish to witness first hand." She asks, “All the archeologists? The ladies too? We haven't heard anything from our friend who went to get the ladies out?” He replies, "He headed back to Tanis once we were all safely on our way. He was still invisible, so should be safe." She asks, “You're not concerned about being mistaken for a Stuart again and arrested?“ He smiles and says, "No, the British Colonel we connected with drew me up some papers." With a smirk he adds, "If they execute me, it will now be under my own name." Abby nodded. "I'm not sure what he still had to do in Tanis, but it's good to know everyone got out safe. I'm not his mother, I guess he'll let us know what he's up to if he wants to. As for executions, I try to avoid them under any name. Doesn't really matter what they call your corpse. Are you at least trying to get out of Zakazik?" He says, "Oh yes, this isn't the safest town to be in with a British accent. Cairo is my next stop, provided that I can get on the train."Abby said, "Stick with me, I can get you on the train. I never could resist a lad in distress. You can repay me by telling me anything and everything you heard while you were in the French camp. Come with me, honey." She started him over toward her group, still wondering about Cal. After he'd been so excited to see her he sure hadn't taken any pains to make sure he even let her know he was alright. Abby gave her head a little toss, throwing a bit of hair back over her shoulder. He'd come back around or he wouldn't. She had work to do.</blockquote>

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