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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1443449" data-attributes="member: 15043">A Present, and a Diversion“M’lady Tess,” one of the acolytes interrupted with a bow, “there is another message for you.  More a present... for you.”  Tess raised an eyebrow.“What kind of present?  From where?”“From the Church of Hieroneous in Obash,” the acolyte said politely, though Tess caught the hint of something more in the woman’s eye.  The glint of an unformed smile?  What would the Church of Hieroneous send as a present... other than...”Quin?!” she excitedly grabbed the acolyte’s robes.  The woman gave a small smile... no doubt the fullest extent of a grin they would see from her.“Follow me, m’lady,” the woman motioned gracefully, and Tess hurriedly followed.  They rounded several corners through the hospice wing of the massive temple, before she gracefully opened a door, and Tess looked in.Quin was laying on a bed, reading a book.  He had not missed the noise of the opening door, and sat up hurriedly... but not before Tess reached him, and tackled him in a massive bearhug.“Quin!” she cried, a few tears falling from her face as she rested her head on his shoulder, rocking back and forth.“Its me... in the flesh,” he said with a grin, hugging her back with the fierceness only a sibling can muster.  The two were in the embrace for several minutes, before Tess pulled back, and slugged him in the shoulder.“Quin!  Don’t you ever, ever do something stupid and die on me again!” she growled.  This was no mild admonishment... Tess’ voice echoed with the sounds of a solid command.  Her lecturous comment was received with a laugh.”Don’t worry, sis... I found death rather unpleasant.  I don’t plan on dying again for some time!”“If you do,” she put a finger in his face, her voice stern, “I will follow you into the afterlife and I will pummel you... you hear me? Pummel you for decades and decades... non stop!”  “Oh, horror of horrors!” he chuckled again, causing Tess to put her hand son her hips in exasperation.  Seeing her reaction, he added with a grin, “I hope dying of old age won’t gain me that punishment!”Tess gave a sigh, and a small smile.  “I guess I could allow an exception for death by old age... only if you didn’t do anything stupid to cause it!”  They both chuckled at that.Tess and Quin proceeded to spend the next hour or two reminiscing about their collective experiences.  Quin recounted his short stint in the afterlife, while Tess told them of Elenya’s ordeal, the death of Rogar, and the freeing of the dragons.  After a while, however, the rest of the party quietly informed Tess they needed to go to the palace, per the summons.  Tess promised Quin she would see him and talk to him again, and with a hug, the two parted again...It was only a short time later when the party found themselves travelling through the streets of Irulas, headed towards the Imperial Palace.  The city was bustling, as vendors plied their wares to a now vastly increased crowd, as soldiers and contractors bid for fruits, odds and ends, and exotic items.   As the party neared the palace, they began to leave behind the market quarter of the city, and the vendors became less dense.  The buildings to their sides changed from the crowded, looming tenaments of the lower quarter they had passed through to smaller, better built structures... and then to villas with greenery.  Ahead, in the distance, loomed the massive colonnaded form of the Imperial Palace, with more imposing buildings closer to the party along the route.As the party drew closer to the nearest of the behemoths, they were able to make out its shape... a massive, but graceful structure made of stone, sixteen massive columns guarding its entrance.  Two large and ornately carved wooden doors kept outsiders from peering in, though one could clearly hear the distinct and pleasant chords of a singer’s voice coming through.Hmm... pretty, Tess thought, judging the singer’s tone and pace.  Female... low soprano or high tenor...  follows the Chalcedian school of music thought...  These were little more than idle games her bored mind played within itself, before her eyes caught Lucius sidling up to the door, and away from their march to the palace.“Luke!” she hissed, “what are you doing!?”  Tess grabbed him rather roughly by his shoulder, and pulled him from the door.  “Peeping is not polite!  You are a noble!” she continued to fuss, as Luke waved her to calm down.“I want to stop and watch,” he said, heading back towards the door.  I’m scared to go into the palace... I need to think of what I’m going to say to Alexander...“LUKE!” she hissed again, grabbing him.  “No!  We have to get...”“The notice said, ‘as soon as possible.’  I don’t think its possible for me to come until I have heard the wonderful voice that comes from within that building,” Lucius said flatly.  Siabrey cleared her throat, and gave him a look that screamed, Tell the truth, Luke.  Lucius bowed his head.“And... um... I don’t want to go to the palace right now.”  With that remark, he opened the door and ducked inside.  Tess growled, and reluctantly followed as the rest of the party quietly filed in.    Tess was about to hiss at Luke again till she saw him pay the doorman rather handsomely, and take a position discreetly in the rear.The woman singing alone up front was rather pretty, though one could tell that age had begun to claim its toll on her, as her makeup and paint did not fully hide the wrinkles that had started to gouge her skin.  Her voice, however, was perfect beyond compare, enough that Tess was suitably impressed.The audience, mostly a mix of upper class or court functionaries, stood and applauded as the woman finished her last performance.  She gracefully bowed, and exited the stage, mingling among her fans.   Tess was about to leave when her eyes caught those of the woman’s... and she realized that the singer’s eyes lit up.  Tess then watched in shock and with a little apprehension as the singer began gently pushing her way through towards her.Why is she headed towards me? Tess asked herself.  Her experience at the Imperial Ball had given her a massive dose of caution, but nonetheless, her musical senses began to tingle with anticipation as the woman, clearly an artist of some repute, finally got close enough to call out a greeting.“Are you Tesseron Keldare?” the woman’s hand was already thrust out, and Tess shook it a little hestitantly.“Yes,” she said slowly, “I believe we haven’t met.”“You really are Tesseron?  Goodness, I’ve been looking all over for you!  My name is Myria Syltaren...” the woman continued, and Tess stopped in confusion and surprise.Myria Syltaren was indeed a singer that Tess was aware of.  Her group was famous throughout the Valley, and performed in the premier concert halls and theaters of Irulas, Kulloden, and indeed before the late unhappiness... Holstean.  Tess had never seen her in person, but had heard her praises sung by other artists and performers... and this woman was looking for Tess...“It is a... an... honor, Ms. Syltaren,” Tess began haltingly, until Myria smiled.“Please... just call me Myria.  I’ve heard many good things about your skills as a harpist, Tess?  May I call you that?”  Tess nodded, still in shock.“Well, I’ve heard of your skill as a harpist... rumor has it your last concert in Irulas sold out to the tune of 300 gold?”She knows about my last concert here?! Tess’ mind jumped.  The last time she held a full concert in Irulas had easily been her best performance ever, and she literally outplayed the singers she covered. Evidently, the news of the performance had made its way around...“Um... yes... yes it did,” Tess nodded excitedly.  The other party members stood by in confusion and/or boredom, waiting for Tess’ conversation to end.“Good.  Say, I need a harpist... one time thing, tommorrow night.  Pyotor up there,” she pointed at the man currently hauling some equipment off stage, “has come down with a... gentleman’s disease.”  Tess looked, and noted that the back of his neck seemed splotched, and nodded in comprehension.Brothel goer... I see...”He needs a day or two of rest before the minor healing we got him will fix the problem.  I have heard many good comments about you, and I could sure use your help...” Myria left the offer dripping.“I... um... well, I don’t know where I should be tommorrow.  As a matter of fact, I was just on my way to find out for sure about tommorrow’s schedule,” Tess offered haltingly.  I don’t know what the Empress has planned... hopefully... HOPEFULLY nothing tommorrow night...  “Where may I send a message to let you know for sure?  Of course I would love to play beside you, but I need to get this sorted out.”Myria nodded.  “Of course.  We are in the Hotele del Rue, near the center of the city.   Where are you staying, that I may send the music there tonight to give you a chance to warm up?”“Temple of Pelor,” Tess said with a smile.  I’m going to be playing with a famous musician! she beamed.  As she the party gently took her by the arm, the thought, Please, please let the Princess not do anything too stupid... I want to be free tommorrow night, ran through her head...</blockquote>

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