Edarial makes a list of necessities for a wife. He has Zevros check it over, who promptly rips it up and throws it at him. He is of the opinion that if Edarial doesn't actually want to marry a specific person, he shouldn't, and Zevros will have nothing to do with any of it. Edarial sighs, rewrites it, and keeps it and a copy of it away from his twin in the future.
He makes the announcement to various interested people that he will be looking for a bride. Just saying it makes him feel sick. Edarial manages to keep it together long enough to give a list of the qualities he's looking for before he flees. He says he's busy, no one will look twice at him being curt and disappearing to get work done. So no one comes after him when he hides in his room and locks the door.
Face buried in his pillow, he realizes that there's no way he can be personable to his - whatever they are. Potential brides, suitors - whatever, he doesn't care. He'll hire someone to vet them, so he doesn't have to torture himself dealing with women trying to persuade him to marry them.
Generated:
Post last updated:
Announcement
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
The first two candidates Nataliem sends Edarial's way are rejected outright for being associated with him. The third gets herself thrown out by getting on Zevros's bad side, and then Nataliem has to start finding other options, because it's not like women that suit Edarial's inane list of necessities are easy to find. Iobel is on his list of candidates. He considers her skepticism and unwillingness to marry the man that'll become king problems, but getting around those will not be as difficult as getting around the prince's pickiness.
He forges a letter from the prince, having already practiced his handwriting years ago, and then finds out where Iobel lives and has the letter sent. In it is a royal order for Iobel to present herself as a marriage candidate at the palace. That should get around her shyness quite nicely.
He forges a letter from the prince, having already practiced his handwriting years ago, and then finds out where Iobel lives and has the letter sent. In it is a royal order for Iobel to present herself as a marriage candidate at the palace. That should get around her shyness quite nicely.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Nope. No it won't.
An invitation would have done just fine. She'd have shown up if invited. A royal command? Nope nope and nope. Iobel starts packing, banking on a few days' grace period to let her get the contents of the store and her books into boxes.
Nataliem's familiar is sent to spy on her, and see if she needs any correcting. The raven notices with alarm that Iobel is not packing for a trip, she's packing to flee the country. Her person has miscalculated - and now a fourth candidate's about to be lost. But this is preventable - there is something that only the palace offers, something that would get her where her human wants her.
She flies off, steals a vial of a very slow acting poison, and then returns. Ravens have good dexterity, and she is cleverer than most - she's not even seen. When Iobel and Cricket are both distracted the poison is mixed into Cricket's food, and then the raven finds a place to watch the effects of her plot.
She flies off, steals a vial of a very slow acting poison, and then returns. Ravens have good dexterity, and she is cleverer than most - she's not even seen. When Iobel and Cricket are both distracted the poison is mixed into Cricket's food, and then the raven finds a place to watch the effects of her plot.
Cricket
Cricket suspects nothing.
And is thereafter very unhappy.
It's too late to vomit up the poison when he starts feeling symptoms, although he tries, anyway. He lurches to Iobel and collapses on her foot while she's wrapping a glass hex in paper.
And is thereafter very unhappy.
It's too late to vomit up the poison when he starts feeling symptoms, although he tries, anyway. He lurches to Iobel and collapses on her foot while she's wrapping a glass hex in paper.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel charges up and deploys healing spells until she's tried the six best candidates and she's out for the day, and then -
she scoops up her cat and gets on the fastest boat to the palace and runs for the fountain gate.
she scoops up her cat and gets on the fastest boat to the palace and runs for the fountain gate.
Once the poison has reached its intended target, the raven flies off to inform Nataliem. She gets there before Iobel does. She explains the situation, how she handled it, and Nataliem pets her affectionately for her cleverness and reacts accordingly.
There are guards, stationed outside of the fountain gate. They ask for her name.
When they learn it, they refuse to let her in.
There are guards, stationed outside of the fountain gate. They ask for her name.
When they learn it, they refuse to let her in.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"My cat is - my familiar is dying!" Iobel says. "I'm out of spells for the day! Let me in!"
"Hand me the cat," says one of the guards, "and I will dunk it in the fountain. He will be returned after the prince has chosen a bride."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Is that what this is - I can't very well marry anybody unmade!"
"So hand me the cat," shrugs the guard. "And you won't have to worry about it."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel gives him Cricket.
Cricket is taken. He is dumped in the fountain, and healed. Then, he is not given back. Instead, into an out of the way closet he goes. There is already a litter box and food and water in it. How thoughtful.
The second guard looks at Iobel with a stony expression. "Not to worry, miss," she says in what should be a comforting tone but somehow misses it, "he is perfectly safe as long as you're here."
The second guard looks at Iobel with a stony expression. "Not to worry, miss," she says in what should be a comforting tone but somehow misses it, "he is perfectly safe as long as you're here."
Cricket
The guard handling Cricket after he's healed is sworn at in two languages and scratched and bitten as much as Cricket can manage in the process of trying to escape, but he doesn't escape. He yowls from his closet.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Wh- give him back!"
The guard handling Cricket gets one hell of a scratching. That will leave scars.
The one dealing with Iobel says calmly, "He will be returned unharmed, not to worry. Just not right now."
The one dealing with Iobel says calmly, "He will be returned unharmed, not to worry. Just not right now."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"You're holding my cat hostage to make me stick around and meet the princes. You're seriously doing that?"
"I wouldn't use those terms," says the guard. "We're just trying to guarantee that this country has the best chance it can get."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel fists her hands in her hair.
"Right. Hostage cat. Where am I supposed to go?"
"Right. Hostage cat. Where am I supposed to go?"
"At the main palace gate there's a man accepting guests. Tell him your name and title and you'll get a guest room."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I don't have a title."
But she goes.
But she goes.
She gets a guest room. It's nice - pleasantly furnished and with a lovely little single bathroom with running and heated water (made by magic).
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Sure. Lovely place to wait out the hostage-taking.
She wants her cat.
She wants her cat.
Eventually there's a knock at the door.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel goes and opens the door.
There is a short, portly old man with a clipboard. "Hello -" he checks the clipboard, "- Miss Iobel Swan. Edarial's feeling ill at the moment, do you mind if I have a word in his stead?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I just want my cat," she says plaintively. "I just want my cat back safe, is he - where is he?"
"... Your cat? I beg your pardon? I wouldn't know where your pet is, ma'am..."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"My familiar. Someone took him."
"Your -" The little portly man startles. "- Oh my goodness. Oh my goodness, do you know who took him?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I didn't get their names, the guards at the fountain, he was sick, they wouldn't let me take him to the fountain myself and then they took him - he got a good few chunks out of the one that was holding him but he didn't get away."
"The guards at the fountain?" asks the little man. "What? No, no, you must be mistaken, the guards would never do that!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Then maybe they were fake guards, but they were at the fountain and they wouldn't let me in!"
"Oh my goodness! I will have to file the right paperwork -"
Then he looks at his clipboard.
"... Um. Miss, I'm really sorry about this and you have my solemn word that I will get to the bottom of whatever this is, but I have a job and if I don't do it I can't feed my kids!"
Then he looks at his clipboard.
"... Um. Miss, I'm really sorry about this and you have my solemn word that I will get to the bottom of whatever this is, but I have a job and if I don't do it I can't feed my kids!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel leans heavily on the wall. "What is it your job to get me to do, then?"
"Just an interview, it won't take very long!" assures the bureaucrat.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Can you get my cat first and then give me the interview?"
"Trying to find your cat might take a while, I don't know where to begin, there's so much paperwork to fill out! But the interview won't take very long, I promise."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I don't want to be here at all, but they have Cricket and I think they'd kill him if I tried to leave," she murmurs.
But this bureaucrat is not very helpful and she doesn't think holding his survey results hostage will get anything more than wheedling, whereas sending him on his way might actually get him looking however ineffectually for her cat.
"What are the questions?"
But this bureaucrat is not very helpful and she doesn't think holding his survey results hostage will get anything more than wheedling, whereas sending him on his way might actually get him looking however ineffectually for her cat.
"What are the questions?"
"I'm very sorry for the trouble, miss, I'm just trying to do my job."
There turns out to be a lot of questions. Mostly about how she would react to certain situations, what sort of solutions she'd have to certain problems, that sort of thing. It seems to boil down to be less about her personality and more about if she would be any good as a queen. Or, at least, in the opinion of whoever is getting the results. The portly little man writes down all of her answers, then thanks her for her time, tells her he will get to trying to find her familiar 'Right away' and then trundles off to go do that.
There turns out to be a lot of questions. Mostly about how she would react to certain situations, what sort of solutions she'd have to certain problems, that sort of thing. It seems to boil down to be less about her personality and more about if she would be any good as a queen. Or, at least, in the opinion of whoever is getting the results. The portly little man writes down all of her answers, then thanks her for her time, tells her he will get to trying to find her familiar 'Right away' and then trundles off to go do that.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel closes the door and cries and then goes and splashes water on her face until her eyes stop stinging.
The portly little man tries his best to find her cat through normal means. He files various reports, fills out a metric ton of paperwork, and even makes and gives out little pamphlets to guards filled with information on what to do if they see guards they don't recognize. But he doesn't go to Edarial, or even Zevros - the thought doesn't occur to him that either would want to know this happened in the palace. So he goes through entirely official channels.
Someone else working through official channels notices. Nataliem is annoyed, but it's not like this is a difficult problem to fix. The bureaucrat is stonewalled by bribed and threatened officials.
Ultimately, he makes almost no progress at all.
Someone else working through official channels notices. Nataliem is annoyed, but it's not like this is a difficult problem to fix. The bureaucrat is stonewalled by bribed and threatened officials.
Ultimately, he makes almost no progress at all.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
Except, of course, with his survey.
The answers to the questions go to Edarial, who reads them and sorts them into piles of 'terrible' 'not terrible' and 'actually good.' There is only one set of interview answers that make it to the 'actually good' pile. Edarial stares at it for a few minutes, then puts it back on the table and feels a wave of nausea at the prospect of marrying someone he doesn't know. But if he met her, then it's highly likely that he'd back out the first chance he got, and then Zevros would be the one to get forced into marriage.
Starchy formality it is, he'll write a letter. He writes it, hands it to someone to deliver to her, and flops onto the bed, face buried in his pillow.
Whoever 'Iobel Swan' is, he hopes she's at least personally tolerable.
The answers to the questions go to Edarial, who reads them and sorts them into piles of 'terrible' 'not terrible' and 'actually good.' There is only one set of interview answers that make it to the 'actually good' pile. Edarial stares at it for a few minutes, then puts it back on the table and feels a wave of nausea at the prospect of marrying someone he doesn't know. But if he met her, then it's highly likely that he'd back out the first chance he got, and then Zevros would be the one to get forced into marriage.
Starchy formality it is, he'll write a letter. He writes it, hands it to someone to deliver to her, and flops onto the bed, face buried in his pillow.
Whoever 'Iobel Swan' is, he hopes she's at least personally tolerable.
The letter arrives with a knock on Iobel's door. It's not being delivered by the person Edarial thought - instead, it's the guard from before. The female one, that didn't get scratched. Nataliem is on his game today, his latest candidate made it and he is not about to let her flee and ruin the country's best chances for an actual competent monarchy.
She looks at Iobel, without expression, and offers the letter.
She looks at Iobel, without expression, and offers the letter.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Where's my cat?" Iobel snaps, not touching the paper.
"Safe," says the guard. "You will want to read this." Letter wave.
(It has a royal seal.)
(It has a royal seal.)
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel takes the letter, notes the seal, cracks it, and reads.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
It reads, in the same handwriting as the royal order that started all of this:
"Dear Ms. Swan,
I am quite sure you're curious as to the purpose of the interview and questionnaire - I apologize for not being frank with you, but I needed the results to be as accurate as possible, considering the circumstances. This precludes actually meeting you in person, to avoid my personal opinions of aesthetics and good looks get in the way of finding someone competent enough to run a country.
In short - I've read over your answers, and I like them. They're intelligent and insightful, while still tempered by a sense of empathy. Reading them, I think you are the best option for a future ruler of the country. So, I would like to extend to you a proposal of marriage.
I doubt I will make a fairytale husband. It's likely that throughout our marriage I would prefer negligible amounts of personal contact, and focus on various tasks at hand for monarchs. Rest assured if you ask the staff for anything you want, you'll get it.
Thank you for your cooperation, and if nothing else - I do look forward to meeting you.
Signed,
Prince Edarial Cartalian"
"Dear Ms. Swan,
I am quite sure you're curious as to the purpose of the interview and questionnaire - I apologize for not being frank with you, but I needed the results to be as accurate as possible, considering the circumstances. This precludes actually meeting you in person, to avoid my personal opinions of aesthetics and good looks get in the way of finding someone competent enough to run a country.
In short - I've read over your answers, and I like them. They're intelligent and insightful, while still tempered by a sense of empathy. Reading them, I think you are the best option for a future ruler of the country. So, I would like to extend to you a proposal of marriage.
I doubt I will make a fairytale husband. It's likely that throughout our marriage I would prefer negligible amounts of personal contact, and focus on various tasks at hand for monarchs. Rest assured if you ask the staff for anything you want, you'll get it.
Thank you for your cooperation, and if nothing else - I do look forward to meeting you.
Signed,
Prince Edarial Cartalian"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck.
Iobel translates, trying not to cry again. I'm marrying politics, not a human being. You probably won't fuck up my country if I give you a tiara. Marry me or else. Don't bother me in person about your cat or anything else, my goons will give him back after we're hitched. Act like everything's normal during the ceremony or I might stop being so pleased to meet you, understand?
She resists the urge to crumple the letter. She resists the urge to weep.
"The instant I marry him, I get my cat back?" she asks.
Iobel translates, trying not to cry again. I'm marrying politics, not a human being. You probably won't fuck up my country if I give you a tiara. Marry me or else. Don't bother me in person about your cat or anything else, my goons will give him back after we're hitched. Act like everything's normal during the ceremony or I might stop being so pleased to meet you, understand?
She resists the urge to crumple the letter. She resists the urge to weep.
"The instant I marry him, I get my cat back?" she asks.
"Certainly," says the guardswoman. "We would never dream of holding the queen's familiar hostage."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
If it were just Cricket she might be able to leave him. He might want her to, she can imagine him snarling in his language about how they can all hang for trying this stunt and he'll take bits of them when he goes. But it's not just Cricket. If he dies -
(She has a mental image of her mother sitting up a her-shaped vegetable in bed and force-feeding it broth. Kinder to just kill the unmade, Iobel thinks, but Raney has never believed that, and Iobel supposes unmade she might as well go to serve her mother's preferences since she'll be little fit to do anything else -)
"So when's the wedding?" she mutters.
If they don't give her cat back she will assess the elsewise horror of the situation and maybe she'll just off herself. Cricket gets a clean end that way, she can't exactly ask him but supposes he'd rather it to being shut up wherever they've secreted him away.
(She has a mental image of her mother sitting up a her-shaped vegetable in bed and force-feeding it broth. Kinder to just kill the unmade, Iobel thinks, but Raney has never believed that, and Iobel supposes unmade she might as well go to serve her mother's preferences since she'll be little fit to do anything else -)
"So when's the wedding?" she mutters.
If they don't give her cat back she will assess the elsewise horror of the situation and maybe she'll just off herself. Cricket gets a clean end that way, she can't exactly ask him but supposes he'd rather it to being shut up wherever they've secreted him away.
"In a week, if you accept his proposal. It can be postponed for longer, if you like."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I'd like my cat."
"I'm sure you would," agrees the guard.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"How are you planning to sleep at night?"
"Extremely soundly. Greater good, and all that."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Prettiest architecture in the world will fall apart if you build it out of rotten wood. Fine. A week."
If she can't find Cricket in here and get out with him before then, anyway.
If she can't find Cricket in here and get out with him before then, anyway.
"You see why we get proper materials, then," says the guard, motioning to Iobel herself. "Thank you for your cooperation."
She departs, uncaring about the cat's welfare.
She departs, uncaring about the cat's welfare.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Sure. Hostage queens aren't ever going to unexpectedly fail on you, are they?
"Don't give him too much fish it makes him sick," she half-sobs after the departing guard.
And then she flops into the guest bed.
She wants to be at least napped when midnight falls and she gets a new set of spells.
"Don't give him too much fish it makes him sick," she half-sobs after the departing guard.
And then she flops into the guest bed.
She wants to be at least napped when midnight falls and she gets a new set of spells.
Nataliem is of the opinion that this is all going beautifully. As much as can be expected, anyway, if this were going truly perfectly Iobel would have come here herself, but - well, he works with what he can.
He posts a guard outside of her guest room, and sends his raven to watch her window.
He posts a guard outside of her guest room, and sends his raven to watch her window.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel wakes up a little past midnight, full up again, and notices the raven. Sneaking out via window won't be happening, then. She doesn't know a spell to walk through walls. She can be invisible, but that won't fix the fact that she has to open the door.
She tries it, anyway. If there's someone out the door no point in being invisible, they'll see it.
She tries it, anyway. If there's someone out the door no point in being invisible, they'll see it.
There is, indeed, someone at the door. Oh look, a guard.
"You will," says the guard, "want to go back inside, miss. Someone might think you're up to something."
"You will," says the guard, "want to go back inside, miss. Someone might think you're up to something."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I want to look around. You could come with me if you want."
Because she knows a couple emergency spells, too, and they'll work on a guard as well as they would on a hypothetical mugger.
Because she knows a couple emergency spells, too, and they'll work on a guard as well as they would on a hypothetical mugger.
"Okay," he shrugs.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel stalks down the hall. If all she gets tonight is a decent layout of the palace that'll be something, anyway.
Layout planning past midnight! It is a big palace. Pretty, too, but the size is the important part. Lots of places to hide, lots of places to hide things. Or cats.
The guard follows her - like a bodyguard, except immoral and holding her hostage.
The guard follows her - like a bodyguard, except immoral and holding her hostage.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel uses every mnemonic she's ever tried to force a spellchart to all hold together in her head, attempting to memorize the maze of the place. She doesn't have a notebook proper in that room, she didn't bring one with her when she expected to be able to dunk Cricket and go back to her boxes and stacks of things at home, but her memory's not a slouch unaided.
She walks and walks and walks. She whistles a song Cricket'll recognize, if he's awake. If she hears him answer her this guard is going to be floored with her quickest charging emergency magic and she's going to get him back.
She walks and walks and walks. She whistles a song Cricket'll recognize, if he's awake. If she hears him answer her this guard is going to be floored with her quickest charging emergency magic and she's going to get him back.
It's a big palace.
But not so big that Cricket can't hear her, from his closet.
But not so big that Cricket can't hear her, from his closet.
Cricket
The highest, thinnest mew possible emanates from just - there.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel doesn't break stride. She shuts her eyes to hide the white glow of a charging spell, and when the forty-one seconds this particular spell takes are up -
the guard following her falls unconscious unceremoniously. He'll have a nasty headache all day tomorrow.
Iobel breaks into a run, and charges up another of the same, ready to abandon it if the closet's unguarded but suspecting that it's not.
the guard following her falls unconscious unceremoniously. He'll have a nasty headache all day tomorrow.
Iobel breaks into a run, and charges up another of the same, ready to abandon it if the closet's unguarded but suspecting that it's not.
It's not. The guardswoman from earlier is present, along with the scratched up one that grabbed Cricket earlier, still bearing his multitude of scratches, and a third that Iobel doesn't recognize.
Well. That'll make this interesting.
Well. That'll make this interesting.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel drops the unfamiliar one as an unknown quantity and instantly starts charging again, for the static deterrent that will apply if the others touch her on top of its release value.
"Here I am," she says in Cricket's language.
"I'm intact and pissed off lemme out!" howls Cricket in the same.
"Here I am," she says in Cricket's language.
"I'm intact and pissed off lemme out!" howls Cricket in the same.
"Fuck!" says male guard. He goes to retrieve his sword - but his companion stops him.
"Nonlethal," she barks. Then she retrieves a hexed bauble, and says calmly to it, "You were right."
That was probably her calling for backup.
"I am not touching that fucking cat again -" says the male guard.
"Then go," she growls at him.
Lady guard will stay and protect the closet door, larger male guard is going to tackle Iobel.
"Nonlethal," she barks. Then she retrieves a hexed bauble, and says calmly to it, "You were right."
That was probably her calling for backup.
"I am not touching that fucking cat again -" says the male guard.
"Then go," she growls at him.
Lady guard will stay and protect the closet door, larger male guard is going to tackle Iobel.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel dances backwards, keeping out of reach as best she can while she charges.
That's really not fast enough to avoid a guard running at full speed at her. She is tackled to the ground.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
The wind's knocked out of her, but her eyes don't quit glowing. Twenty-four seconds in. She struggles, trying to kick him somewhere soft or claw at his eyes.
The guard's got armor for the kicking, but attempts at clawing do just fine. "Augh! Fuck, you and your fucking demon spawn, lady!"
He grabs at her hair, trying to slam her head into the ground and stop her from charging.
He grabs at her hair, trying to slam her head into the ground and stop her from charging.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
And he can do that! She's knocked dizzy, ears ringing, eyeglow sputtering out. She's still conscious, but now her skull's killing her. She lets out a little whimper.
Cricket's speaking Marlese, now, he knows a little of it, interspersing his own language where it fails him: "Fucking [scratch] your fucking [eyes] out and fucking eat them I will I will -"
Cricket's speaking Marlese, now, he knows a little of it, interspersing his own language where it fails him: "Fucking [scratch] your fucking [eyes] out and fucking eat them I will I will -"
"Oh shut up, demon cat!" yells the guard to Cricket. Then he focuses back on Iobel. "Now! What'd you do to Joal?! Is he dead?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Uuuungh -"
The ability to charge actually requires less wherewithal than the ability to speak.
The ability to charge actually requires less wherewithal than the ability to speak.
He is not a spellbinder, so he doesn't know that. He shakes her, a little. "Oi! Answer the question!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Her head clonks on the floor again. "Augh!"
Cricket
Cricket is beyond Marlese at this point. "[I will bite your throat out I will strew your intestines around the whole city you let my Iobel up you let me out you do it right now and maybe she'll heal you after I've had at you fucking poisoner kidnapper bastards!]"
"I asked you a -" begins the guard again, but he's interrupted.
"Nonlethal," growls the female guard.
"She ain't dead!"
"Stop it, all the same."
He sighs, then stops shaking Iobel, releasing her hair.
"Nonlethal," growls the female guard.
"She ain't dead!"
"Stop it, all the same."
He sighs, then stops shaking Iobel, releasing her hair.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel's head gradually stops spinning -
There is a man on top of her and Cricket's shouting -
She starts charging again.
There is a man on top of her and Cricket's shouting -
She starts charging again.
"Son of a-" growls the man. He shakes Iobel again. "Stop that, we fucking won!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
She loses the charge. "Nnnng -"
Cricket
"[THE CANALS WILL RUN RED WITH YOUR BLOOD BEFORE I'M DONE WITH YOU,]" roars Cricket.
The guard stops shaking her. "None of that, got it?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I - I -"
Cricket
"[DEATH WILL BE A MERCY TO ANYONE WHO LAID A HAND ON MY BINDER!]" caterwauls Cricket. "[HER PERSON IS SACROSANCT! YOU ARE ALL DEAD ASSHOLES WALKING!]"
The female guard says in a soothing voice to Iobel, ignoring the cat, "It's all right. Everything will be fine, okay? We would just like you to stop hurting people."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"wan' my cat," Iobel whimpers.
"You'll get him back, he's hurt us more than we've hurt him. He's fine," soothes the woman. "He will continue to be fine, we're not monsters."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"wan' my cat," insists Iobel.
Cricket
"I will out!" howls Cricket in ungrammatical Marlese.
"Fucking demon spawn is a fucking menace to the world..." mutters the male guard. His companion shushes him.
"You will get both. If you cooperated this would be easier, but you haven't, so it isn't," says the woman.
There's the sound of footsteps, down the hallway. Their companions are coming.
"You will get both. If you cooperated this would be easier, but you haven't, so it isn't," says the woman.
There's the sound of footsteps, down the hallway. Their companions are coming.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel hisses and starts charging again.
Slam. Head, floor, you have got to stop meeting like this.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"nnnnnmmmf"
Cricket
"I KILL YOUUUUU," snarls Cricket.
"... Apparently we're not needed?" asks an unfamiliar voice.
"Apparently not," says the alpha-bitch guardswoman. "Look, Iobel - stop charging, we're not going to hurt you, it'll be okay."
"Apparently not," says the alpha-bitch guardswoman. "Look, Iobel - stop charging, we're not going to hurt you, it'll be okay."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"heal," she whimpers, "head."
She has long abandoned hope of getting anywhere with retrieving Cricket on this night.
She has long abandoned hope of getting anywhere with retrieving Cricket on this night.
"... Fine," says the woman. "Go ahead. Orman, let her. But if you do something offensive, there will be a problem."
The man currently holding the main threat of 'head, meet ground' growls a little, but nods.
The man currently holding the main threat of 'head, meet ground' growls a little, but nods.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
The charge for the healing spell takes a while. Her breath is coming in short awkward pants, but she manages to hold onto it until its release point at four minutes, three seconds.
Her head clears.
She scrunches her eyes shut and emits a whimper that is purely about misery and not pain.
Her head clears.
She scrunches her eyes shut and emits a whimper that is purely about misery and not pain.
"You set to walk, now?" sighs the guardswoman.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Just give me my cat," she pleads. "I won't let him hurt anybody if you just let me have him now."
"Not until the wedding. We've got orders."
Cricket
"[What's happening?]" Cricket demands.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[I'm sorry,]" sniffs Iobel. "[Too many to down now with what I've got even if the charge was instant.]"
They will let her converse with her familiar. Though they will be suspicious, now.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[The prince wants me to marry him and you're hostage. And don't tell me to tell them to go fuck themselves, kitty, I can't - I don't even know how bad it'll be - and they say I can have you back after.]"
Cricket
"[They should all go fuck themselves! Marry him? He's so much trash, you shouldn't waste your time to spit on him!]"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[Kitty, I think they'd kill you.]"
Cricket
"[Well, we run away after, then!]"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[Maybe. I don't know.]"
"How long of a conversation are you ha-" begins Orman.
"Ssh!" says the guardswoman.
"Ssh!" says the guardswoman.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"The fucking least you can do is let me talk to my familiar through the fucking door," hisses Iobel.
Cricket
"[Are they taking you away? Do you have spells? Kill them all!]" advises Cricket. "[I know you don't like to but these are special!]"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[I don't know how long they're giving me. I have half spells but they'll just hurt me again if I charge, kitty.]"
The guards will let her talk to her familiar through the door.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[You okay in there?]" she sighs.
Cricket
"[There is water, and food, but not enough to last forever, and I will make them sorry if they open the door,]" growls Cricket.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[Will it last you a week?]"
Cricket
"[It could. They want you to marry him in a week? Bastards. I'll bite them.]"
Cricket is usually impolite, not violent. This is a special occasion.
Cricket is usually impolite, not violent. This is a special occasion.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[Don't, don't provoke them, kitty. They haven't hurt you yet but they can drop you in the fountain as many times as they want to if they decide to do more than lock you up.]"
That is, in fact, their plan if Cricket causes too much trouble. Not that they would know what she's saying.
Cricket
"[You want me to be their docile little pet?]" snarls Cricket.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[I won't tell you to let them touch you. But don't deliberately - antagonize them. Okay, kitty? My brave Cricket. Wait a few days till we know more?"]
Cricket
"[For you,]" growls Cricket.
Their captors continue to wait for them to finish talking. It's not like they know what they're talking about.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[I'll see if I can get together some paper and chart up something more useful than what I had for muggers,]" promises Iobel. "[I don't think I'll suddenly crack teleportation, but something to go through walls maybe, I don't know. And if I can't - then I'll marry him and maybe if I have to I'll kill him in his sleep or something - we'll see. Patience?]"
Cricket
"[Fiiiiine.]"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Are you going to move him now I found where he is?" she asks of the guards. "Or will he be here?"
"We'll move him," says the alpha bitch.
"'We'? Uh, no," says Scratched Mccatinjuryson. "Not going near it."
"... We'll move it," she repeats.
"'We'? Uh, no," says Scratched Mccatinjuryson. "Not going near it."
"... We'll move it," she repeats.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Are you going to offer me anything to ask him not to mark you up worse? He does what I tell him."
"You are really not in a position to make demands right now. If he attacks us, we will act accordingly," says lady guard.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"He knows that too, and I think of his own accord he'd rather take you all on regardless, and I won't feel a thing unless you actually kill him, which you aren't going to do unless I don't marry the prince," says Iobel.
"Then that's up to you both," she shrugs.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[They're not giving an inch, kitty. You be careful for yourself, not me, okay?]"
Cricket
"[If they touch me they'll regret it,]" he growls.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[I know. One of them's terrified of you already. I don't know how much longer they'll let me stay here and they say they'll move you. I love you, kitty.]"
Cricket
"[I love you too. Kill the prince in his sleep. If he touches you do it slow.]"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[I'll think about it.]"
She will, whether she winds up deciding to do it or not.
She will, whether she winds up deciding to do it or not.
"Are you just about done?" sighs one of the newcomers. "We don't have all night, you know, some of us need sleep."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"My eternal sympathies," mutters Iobel, "that must be so terrible for you, what can I have been thinking?"
"Cut the sarcasm," says the same newcomer, grumpily.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel doesn't even dignify that with a response.
"[They're getting impatient, kitty.]"
"[They're getting impatient, kitty.]"
Cricket
"[Don't let them touch you,]" hisses Cricket.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[Love you, kitty.]"
And rather than wait to be dragged, she hauls herself to her feet, glares as much venom as she can at all of the conscious guards, and stalks back the way she came to her room.
And rather than wait to be dragged, she hauls herself to her feet, glares as much venom as she can at all of the conscious guards, and stalks back the way she came to her room.
Several guards follow her there and make sure she gets there safely. The rest go to retrieve their two downed fellows, find that they're alive, and dump them into spare beds to sleep it off.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
The guards are going to wake up with splitting headaches the next day but are indeed alive.
Iobel goes to bed. Maybe if she waits another couple of days she can go out of her room with a complement of six spells and use them all on an escape attempt and then have the changeover of midnight and - her limiting factor is still charging time.
In the morning she opens her door again to see if there's anybody there to ask for paper.
Iobel goes to bed. Maybe if she waits another couple of days she can go out of her room with a complement of six spells and use them all on an escape attempt and then have the changeover of midnight and - her limiting factor is still charging time.
In the morning she opens her door again to see if there's anybody there to ask for paper.
There is. He's unfamiliar and looks at Iobel with a bored expression. "Yes, miss? Is there anything you need? Breakfast should arrive in a few minutes, we weren't sure when you would wake up."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Paper, pens. Spellchart paper if you have it, the big kind, but I'll take regular."
Eyebrow raise. "Why do you need that?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I'm bored out of my mind. That's what I do with my time when I'm not being kidnapped. I'd ask for my in-progress work from home but I'm pretty sure no one here can be bothered and I don't like the idea of you lot in my place anyway. So spellchart paper, pens, I'm not asking for a caged firebird and the Jewels of Valreen."
"... Fine," sighs the guard. "I'll see what I can do."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Good."
Iobel shuts the door and waits for breakfast.
Iobel shuts the door and waits for breakfast.
Breakfast arrives - with spellchart paper and several pens neatly stacked on the tray.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Good.
She usually does her spell development in Marlese - she publishes, after all - but it's no harder to do it in Cricket's language. Spirit animals and familiars don't come with writing systems, but Iobel's always had a lot of private stuff to write down and it wasn't hard to come up with ways to spell Cricket's words.
She eats breakfast with a fraction of her attention while she tries to plot out a spell to walk through walls that will last long enough and combine well enough with invisibility to let her find Cricket.
She usually does her spell development in Marlese - she publishes, after all - but it's no harder to do it in Cricket's language. Spirit animals and familiars don't come with writing systems, but Iobel's always had a lot of private stuff to write down and it wasn't hard to come up with ways to spell Cricket's words.
She eats breakfast with a fraction of her attention while she tries to plot out a spell to walk through walls that will last long enough and combine well enough with invisibility to let her find Cricket.
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
While she works, someone has noticed some of the strange results of her captivity. Two guards that complain of splitting headaches, and a third is absolutely covered in - what are those, claw marks?
Zevros is of the opinion that something is up.
He goes to his brother's door, and knocks. "Open up, it's me!"
Zevros is of the opinion that something is up.
He goes to his brother's door, and knocks. "Open up, it's me!"
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
"Not in the mood!" replies Edarial, muffled by application of pillow to face.
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
"Weird things are happening! Two people have splitting headaches and a third looks like he got mauled by an angry pocket-sized bear! You're the magic twin, you figure it out!"
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
Edarial sighs. The door opens, and he looks at his brother. Edarial is not at his best - he's scruffy looking, his eyes are red and a little puffy, and he's wearing the same clothes from yesterday.
"Yes?" he hisses.
"Yes?" he hisses.
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
"... Um!" says Zevros, raising his eyebrows and eying the state of his brother. "You also look like shit. Are you in on whatever the thing is?"
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
"No. And no, I am not in the mood for investigating things right now."
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
"Clearly. Way to bite my head off."
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
"Not. In. The mood," Edarial sighs. "Please go away."
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
"Okay," says Zevros, "Fine. Leaving now, call me when you're off of your period."
Then he leaves.
Then he leaves.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
Edarial doesn't dignify that with a response. The door closes, and he goes back to burying his face in his pillow and wishing there was a simple solution to all of his problems.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel works almost continuously on her spell. By the time the wedding day rolls around, she actually has something that she thinks might work, but has yet to succeed in cramming the whole thing into her head for the one minimum instant necessary to have it to keep. It's big. Contingencies for different types of walls, affordances to allow the subject to breathe, failsafes to prevent falling through floors, guarantees of awareness of when it wears off - maybe she should prune some of these, maybe she can just hold her breath every time she goes through a wall, she's in a hurry -
She doesn't get her pruning done fast enough.
She doesn't get her pruning done fast enough.
There's a knock, on her door, on the day of the wedding. Her wedding.
It's not people with her cat. It's a bright, perky young woman with a smile that looks like it's had a forced take over and is ruling over all other expressions with an iron fist.
It's not people with her cat. It's a bright, perky young woman with a smile that looks like it's had a forced take over and is ruling over all other expressions with an iron fist.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"What?" Iobel asks.
"Hi! I am here to make you look gorgeous for your big day!"
She sounds super excited about the marriage.
She sounds super excited about the marriage.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"There's no need to sound this obnoxiously pleased about it." Iobel lets her in.
"But it's so exciting!" says the woman. "You're really lucky, the prince is really good looking and you'll get to be queen!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Maybe you didn't get the notice, but I'm here because he had my familiar kidnapped and won't get him back until after the wedding. I didn't wake up one morning and say to myself what say I marry a total stranger."
"... Um? That doesn't sound like something he would do!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Then where," says Iobel, "is my cat?"
"I have no idea! Do you want me to tell Prince Edarial, if you think he did it then he might know -"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I imagine he does know where my cat is," says Iobel. "I really don't think asking nicely is the sort of thing that will help, though knock yourself out if you want to try it. I got as far as finding where they were hiding him, the other day, and I got my head slammed into the floor a few times by the guards for my trouble, and then they moved him I know not where, and if I annoy the wrong person the wrong amount the implied threat is unmaking."
"What?!" cries the woman. "Unmaking? That doesn't sound like him at all, are you sure it's him?!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Do you want to read his proposal?" asks Iobel, plucking the letter from the bedside table. "Here, read that in the context of me trapped here, guarded night and day, cat kidnapped."
Read, read.
Then she makes an 'Eep' sound, and drops the letter.
"Oh all-knowing one above, oh my god! This is against your will and the prince has forced you here?!"
Then she makes an 'Eep' sound, and drops the letter.
"Oh all-knowing one above, oh my god! This is against your will and the prince has forced you here?!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"My cat," Iobel adds, "was poisoned when I was packing to leave the country because I didn't like being ordered here, and they took him when I brought him to the fountain."
"Oh my god," repeats the woman, both hands closing over her mouth and looking terrified. "And they still have him?!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Yes. I found him the first night, knocked out two guards on my way, but they said they were going to move him after that."
She nods, shivering. "I'd - in a normal situation I'd get the prince, but that won't work here, do you think I should get - Zevros or, or - oh, no, no no he would be on Edarial's side, wouldn't he, they're always on each other's side..."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I wouldn't know. I've never met my future husband or my future brother-in-law."
The woman makes a little frightened but sympathetic sound. "They work together on everything, they act like they fight but it's fake, they don't have actual fights at all, oh god I can't get Zevros. The - the former king's useless, no actual power, oh my god I don't know what to do," she squeaks.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Apparently what you're supposed to do is pretty me up for the wedding," says Iobel.
"B-But - but you're - you're a hostage, you shouldn't be here!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Yes. I know. Do you think you can get me my cat? Because if you can't I still have to get married."
"... I-I could try but I wouldn't know where to look and if he's guarded I wouldn't know what to do! I'm not a spellbinder, I've - I've got no experience with weapons or - or anything, I'm - I'm so sorry, I'm so, so sorry..."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I could turn you invisible. I was working on something to walk through walls but I didn't get it finished in time."
"... I'd still have to open doors. If he's guarded then it would be in a - room or something, they'd notice me opening the doors..."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Yeah. That was my problem, too."
"I - can look during the - the wedding, maybe? Or - no, then you'd still be married to him..."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I currently expect to get him back after the wedding, and then I'll see - if it's bad enough to risk running away. If they don't give him back..."
"I-I can help look?" offers the woman, shivering a bit with fear.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Maybe. What's your name?"
"Zephrys," says, apparently, Zephrys. "Zephrys Birch, it's um - nice to meet you, but not under the circumstances."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I understand the feeling. Okay. What am I wearing?"
"A pretty dress? I was all prepared to get excited about it before but now it's just..."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Of the things that bother me about this situation the dress isn't really one of them. We might as well get on with it. I don't want anyone to think I'm stalling so I can put together a grand cat rescue plan and have them decide to jump the signal."
"Good point. Okay, dress and hair and makeup."
She gets to work doing her job. She turns out to be extremely good at it.
She gets to work doing her job. She turns out to be extremely good at it.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
At the end of it Iobel is attired in lavender satin and draped with periwinkle silk, both shot through with silver threads, and several tendrils of her hair have been woven into complicated braids that form a knot around the loose remainder. The makeup is pretty enough to supply an extra incentive to try not to cry, even if she'd never want to spend the time on an ordinary day. The jewelry could probably buy an entire row of houses, all sapphires and platinum.
There's a tiara, but apparently she's supposed to carry that and let her husband put it on her, not wear it yet.
She looks like a princess and she's about to look like a queen.
Fuck.
"Okay. Do I go now, or later - are you showing me there or is someone else?"
There's a tiara, but apparently she's supposed to carry that and let her husband put it on her, not wear it yet.
She looks like a princess and she's about to look like a queen.
Fuck.
"Okay. Do I go now, or later - are you showing me there or is someone else?"
"I'm showing you, I - Iobel, he might not - unmake you, I don't think it's a thing he'd do, so if you - if you run..." Her voice is shaking.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Then he'd still have my cat, and it would be hanging over my head forever until someone decided my extremely unfriendly cat was too much trouble. He's already covered one guard in wounds that are definitely going to scar."
Zephrys nods, looking kind of like she wants to cry. "Okay. Then - then I guess there's... Nothing I can do." She moves to take her hand. "I'll help in any way I can, okay? It's probably not much, but I'll try!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"If you find the cat - want to learn a phrase in his language so he doesn't attack you?"
"Yes, please."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel walks her through the phonetics for - "taught this nice brunette lady to say this". She doesn't really expect this terrified servant to tell anyone else the words, but just in case, she doesn't want it to be a panacea for Cricket's wrath.
Zephrys memorizes the phrase, practices a bit, softly, then nods to Iobel and says, "Okay, I think I've got it. Um." She looks guilty and sad. "We - shouldn't be late, it starts soon..."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Of course. Let's get on with it, shall we?"
"Yes," she winces.
They leave the room - oh look, a friendly escort. 'Friendly.' Zephrys looks at them with surprise, but doesn't dare question it, she just smiles a fake, happy smile and then starts filling the silence with wonderful things Iobel can do in the palace.
It's a distraction. She takes Iobel's hand, and gives it a squeeze. She's so sorry that Iobel has to do this.
Off they go. To the wedding.
They leave the room - oh look, a friendly escort. 'Friendly.' Zephrys looks at them with surprise, but doesn't dare question it, she just smiles a fake, happy smile and then starts filling the silence with wonderful things Iobel can do in the palace.
It's a distraction. She takes Iobel's hand, and gives it a squeeze. She's so sorry that Iobel has to do this.
Off they go. To the wedding.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Yes indeed.
Iobel manages not to cry on her pretty makeup.
Iobel manages not to cry on her pretty makeup.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
The groom, elsewhere, is trying not to freak out.
He's been freaking out for about a week straight, and he's decided that he needs to stop it. He can't let himself fall to pieces, not now. Edarial will be king, and then he will finally have the power to fix the numerous problems with Marlatia. If he falls apart, nothing gets fixed, and either Zevros is forced into a loveless, incompatible marriage - or there would be civil war. He has three options - his twin's suffering, the country's suffering...
Or his own.
Deep breaths, deep breaths, think about the goal, think about the end result, that's what's important. It'll be worth it. Not for him, maybe, but for the country, for his brother - yes. It will be.
He fixes a bit of his hair, hopes that his hands will stop shaking during the ceremony itself, and then heads off to be married.
He's been freaking out for about a week straight, and he's decided that he needs to stop it. He can't let himself fall to pieces, not now. Edarial will be king, and then he will finally have the power to fix the numerous problems with Marlatia. If he falls apart, nothing gets fixed, and either Zevros is forced into a loveless, incompatible marriage - or there would be civil war. He has three options - his twin's suffering, the country's suffering...
Or his own.
Deep breaths, deep breaths, think about the goal, think about the end result, that's what's important. It'll be worth it. Not for him, maybe, but for the country, for his brother - yes. It will be.
He fixes a bit of his hair, hopes that his hands will stop shaking during the ceremony itself, and then heads off to be married.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
There's a curtain across the center of the ceremony hall. When Iobel is on one side of it, tiara in her hands, and Edarial is on the other, the priest who's officiating pulls a cord and the curtain falls to floor.
Iobel isn't running, maybe, but she's not whimpering and powerless, either. She looks Edarial right in the eye, levelly, coldly.
Iobel isn't running, maybe, but she's not whimpering and powerless, either. She looks Edarial right in the eye, levelly, coldly.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
Edarial is momentarily distracted because the woman who will be his wife is absolutely gorgeous. He wonders, vaguely, if it's even fair that someone he chose for her intellect should be that - ... That. Then he wonders if maybe he's not damned to a loveless marriage, after all.
That little, frail, pathetic hope dies when he meets her eyes. Cold as ice, without a trace of even basic respect.
He averts his eyes and closes them. Nope, he's definitely damned to a loveless marriage.
That little, frail, pathetic hope dies when he meets her eyes. Cold as ice, without a trace of even basic respect.
He averts his eyes and closes them. Nope, he's definitely damned to a loveless marriage.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Edarial Elire Cartalian and Iobel Maryah Swan are here today," says the priest, oblivious, "to join in marriage. Marriage is a powerful force. It solidifies love, connects families -"
(Iobel's family is not here. She supposes they don't even know where she is. She was going to write them after fleeing the country. She supposes she'll instead write them after getting married.)
"- begins dynasties, and models commitment for a new generation of children."
(She does not visibly shudder. How long will it take her to find a sterility spell or invent her own from scratch and cram it into her head?)
"The marriage between the young man and young woman before me will surely do the same, and moreover, it will see new royalty on the throne of Marlatia. Edarial, do you swear to protect, cherish, and guide Iobel as your wife in sacred ordained marriage for so long as the tie binds?"
(Iobel's family is not here. She supposes they don't even know where she is. She was going to write them after fleeing the country. She supposes she'll instead write them after getting married.)
"- begins dynasties, and models commitment for a new generation of children."
(She does not visibly shudder. How long will it take her to find a sterility spell or invent her own from scratch and cram it into her head?)
"The marriage between the young man and young woman before me will surely do the same, and moreover, it will see new royalty on the throne of Marlatia. Edarial, do you swear to protect, cherish, and guide Iobel as your wife in sacred ordained marriage for so long as the tie binds?"
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
He notices her family's not here. What, did they not want to come? That's... Okay, whatever works for them, he supposes. He's not about to call them out for incredible rudeness. Her familiar, too, where is he, Edarial had thought that Iobel was a spellbinder. Usually they always attended their human's marriages. Did she just - not want them involved? Or what?
Then it gets to the part Edarial wishes he could have had changed. 'Protect, cherish, and guide' her? What, like she's a goat? His familiar, the snake Berathyme, agrees with his sentiment and rolls her eyes. She didn't catch all of that, but she caught the gist of it and thinks it's stupid.
But it's what he has to say to become king (and so his brother doesn't have to, and so the country doesn't fall apart).
"I so swear," he says, quietly, so his voice doesn't shake.
Then it gets to the part Edarial wishes he could have had changed. 'Protect, cherish, and guide' her? What, like she's a goat? His familiar, the snake Berathyme, agrees with his sentiment and rolls her eyes. She didn't catch all of that, but she caught the gist of it and thinks it's stupid.
But it's what he has to say to become king (and so his brother doesn't have to, and so the country doesn't fall apart).
"I so swear," he says, quietly, so his voice doesn't shake.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"And Iobel," says the priest, "do you swear to heed, adore, and support Edarial as your husband, in sacred ordained marriage so long as the tie binds?"
She tells herself the promise is meaningless. Given under duress, the ceremony would be stupidly worded anyway, she's more likely to kill her husband in his sleep than "adore" him. But she knows her script full well and he has Cricket.
"I so swear," she says in a low voice, still staring down Edarial with eyes full of ice.
"My prince, take the tiara from her hands and make her your queen," says the priest.
She tells herself the promise is meaningless. Given under duress, the ceremony would be stupidly worded anyway, she's more likely to kill her husband in his sleep than "adore" him. But she knows her script full well and he has Cricket.
"I so swear," she says in a low voice, still staring down Edarial with eyes full of ice.
"My prince, take the tiara from her hands and make her your queen," says the priest.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
Edarial is trying not to think about the look she has on her face. If he did, he would turn and run, just go with Zevros's half-baked plan and flee the country. The thought of - being bound to a woman who's looking at him like that, like he's a monster - it makes him want to throw up. What did he even do to deserve this kind of treatment? But he can't think about that, he needs to get married.
The tiara is taken, and onto her head it goes.
Edarial can't help but feel like he's just locked himself in a cage with a tiger.
The tiara is taken, and onto her head it goes.
Edarial can't help but feel like he's just locked himself in a cage with a tiger.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"And you may kiss your bride," says the priest.
Iobel
holds
absolutely
still.
Iobel
holds
absolutely
still.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
He very nearly asks the priest, 'Do I have to?' He refrains, thankfully, his patience hasn't deteriorated so much as to ask that during the ceremony. Still, Edarial's getting the distinct impression that Iobel does not want to kiss him. Edarial realizes that he doesn't care if the priest or the people watching the ceremony's upset with him. He will not kiss a girl without her permission.
But he does need a kiss to seal the ceremony. So he leans over, and gives her forehead a gentle peck.
But he does need a kiss to seal the ceremony. So he leans over, and gives her forehead a gentle peck.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Primarily, Iobel is glad that at least for the time being he's not going to insist on putting his lips to hers, but secondarily she is even more outraged that this man has stolen something that means everything to her to collect a prize he doesn't even want. He has gone to such lengths and caused such misery and he doesn't even want her, and the wanting wouldn't have made anything pleasanter but it might have made it less senselessly heartbreaking.
She makes no sort of protest about the presence or location of the kiss.
"So mote it be," intones the priest, and polite audience members applaud.
Iobel doesn't know where they're going next or when she'll get her cat back. She stays put, finally breaking her glare to peer around the room and look for a cue.
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
In her glance around the room, she can see a man with a circlet on his head, and a sword at his hip. It's pretty easy to guess who exactly he is. This wouldn't be very worthy of note -
- Except he's staring straight at Edarial with the death glare to end all death glares. It beats Iobel's, and that's no easy feat.
- Except he's staring straight at Edarial with the death glare to end all death glares. It beats Iobel's, and that's no easy feat.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
The twins don't fight, huh? Apparently that information was out of date, or close to it.
"You may get on with your honeymoon," winks the priest.
Iobel swallows.
"You may get on with your honeymoon," winks the priest.
Iobel swallows.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
Edarial's pretty sure that the priest is both blind and stupid. Poor man. He can't even tell when two people do not want to 'get on with the honeymoon.'
But, whatever. He glances at his brother, winces at the glare, then says softly to Iobel, "Follow me, please?"
But, whatever. He glances at his brother, winces at the glare, then says softly to Iobel, "Follow me, please?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel nods once.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
He reaches down, picks up his familiar, and deposits her around his shoulders where she's most comfy. He's warm, she doesn't have to slither, and she can offer commentary on things. Everybody wins.
Edarial leads her off to the honeymoon suite. It's nicely decorated, and a lot of attention is paid towards the bed. For obvious reasons. But it has couches and a table with chairs and what looks like a tiny bar filled with various types of alcohol. Edarial plops into one of the couches, looking tired but otherwise expressionless.
"I'm fairly certain," he says quietly, "that you want absolutely nothing to do with me in - er, bed, correct?"
Edarial leads her off to the honeymoon suite. It's nicely decorated, and a lot of attention is paid towards the bed. For obvious reasons. But it has couches and a table with chairs and what looks like a tiny bar filled with various types of alcohol. Edarial plops into one of the couches, looking tired but otherwise expressionless.
"I'm fairly certain," he says quietly, "that you want absolutely nothing to do with me in - er, bed, correct?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Good guess, well done," she says scathingly.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
... He has absolutely no idea what he did to deserve that. Maybe she's just naturally kind of mean. Whatever, they can just ignore each other, he supposes. He raises an eyebrow, but otherwise doesn't remark on her comment.
"Then I'll leave you be."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel sits on a chair and hugs her knees and makes no reply.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
"... Are you okay?" he asks, peering at her.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I'd say asking me that could be your good deed for the day, but."
Where is Cricket, she wants Cricket, she's supposed to have him back at this point.
Where is Cricket, she wants Cricket, she's supposed to have him back at this point.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
"Do you want me to just go?" he asks. "And leave you alone entirely?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"As opposed to?"
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
Sitting here and listening to various insinuations about how he's a terrible person? It's kind of starting to get to him, he doesn't even know why this woman is randomly angry at him, she was the one who accepted his proposal.
"Sitting here awkwardly?"
"Sitting here awkwardly?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Your letter said you'd prefer negligible personal contact," she points out, icy.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
"... Fair enough," he sighs. "I'll go."
He stands, goes to the bar, and carefully chooses a bottle of wine. And then calmly pours some of it onto the bed. It gets replaced at the bar, without any further ado. Edarial doesn't like alcohol very much. But they are supposed to have had sex, so - wine stand in. He doubts anyone will care to look any closer than that.
"Have a nice night," says Edarial with a sort of - resignation. Then, he departs.
He stands, goes to the bar, and carefully chooses a bottle of wine. And then calmly pours some of it onto the bed. It gets replaced at the bar, without any further ado. Edarial doesn't like alcohol very much. But they are supposed to have had sex, so - wine stand in. He doubts anyone will care to look any closer than that.
"Have a nice night," says Edarial with a sort of - resignation. Then, he departs.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel waits for a few minutes to see if anyone's going to bring her Cricket of their own accord.
Elsewhere, a guard says to a closet, "Okay, we're about to take you to Iobel, so don't - scratch or maul us or anything, okay, kitty?"
She has a cat carrier. It will be used to transport him. Unless he doesn't cooperate, in which case they might have to throw out the cat carrier idea and just go with a sack or something.
She has a cat carrier. It will be used to transport him. Unless he doesn't cooperate, in which case they might have to throw out the cat carrier idea and just go with a sack or something.
Cricket
"Iobel?" (something something) "Iobel!"
"... Go to Iobel," says the guard, then - she carefully opens a crack in the closet door, showing the cat carrier to Cricket.
Cricket
Cricket peers at the carrier.
"I go," he says, "I will, no box."
(Some of the hexes Iobel has been known to sell are boxes.)
"I go," he says, "I will, no box."
(Some of the hexes Iobel has been known to sell are boxes.)
"... Fine," sighs the guard. "Fine. But no running."
Cricket
"I will go Iobel," says Cricket. It's debatable if he knows the word 'run'.
That's probably about as good as they're going to get. If all else fails, they chase down the cat and throw him into the bag.
Slowly, the closet door opens, revealing a hilariously large number of guards for one cat. They're all in armor. Some of them have weapons, though not sharp ones - nets and such, mostly.
Slowly, the closet door opens, revealing a hilariously large number of guards for one cat. They're all in armor. Some of them have weapons, though not sharp ones - nets and such, mostly.
Cricket
Cricket steps out of the closet and regards them all with utter disdain. "Iobel?" he asks. "I go Iobel? Iobel Iobel Iobel."
The guardswoman considers him, then shrugs and says, "Follow me."
She starts walking in the direction of the Honeymoon Suite.
She starts walking in the direction of the Honeymoon Suite.
Cricket
Cricket dashes ahead of her as soon as supplied with a direction and stops at the next fork in the hallway.
She points. Left.
Cricket
He goes left. "Iobel! Iobel!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel hears him and opens her door and catches him when he leaps into her arms and hugs him and sobs once.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
Edarial's ruminating on why in the world his wife seems to hate his guts. Was it the letter? Did he word it badly? As he does, he wanders the halls, hoping that he won't run into anyone who will ask awkward questions.
He thinks he hears something, as he walks - he thought it sounded like 'Iobel,' repeated, but that - can't be right. It's his head playing tricks on him.
But he goes to investigate, anyway.
He thinks he hears something, as he walks - he thought it sounded like 'Iobel,' repeated, but that - can't be right. It's his head playing tricks on him.
But he goes to investigate, anyway.
And he runs into another person who's wandering the hallways for an entirely different reason. She's trying to find a cat.
She stares at Edarial, in surprise.
She stares at Edarial, in surprise.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
"Hello, Zephrys," says Edarial, politely.
That is when she slaps him.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
Edarial is more confused than angry, or even hurt. "... Why?" he says, stunned and holding a hand to his now stinging cheek.
"You know what you did!" exclaims Zephrys indignantly. "Bastard!"
Then she turns and storms off.
Then she turns and storms off.
Edarial Cartalian
royal_obligation
"I beg your pardon?" murmurs Edarial to a soon empty hallway. "... What did I do?"
He's... Just going to stop wandering the halls and go hide in his room. The great soon-to-be king of Marlatia, hiding in his room. How utterly fitting.
Edarial curls up with his familiar and tries not to cry.
He's... Just going to stop wandering the halls and go hide in his room. The great soon-to-be king of Marlatia, hiding in his room. How utterly fitting.
Edarial curls up with his familiar and tries not to cry.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"[Oh my brave kitty. Are you okay? Did they hurt you?]"
"[No,]" purrs Cricket, pressing himself into her as though he is a much heavier cat. "[No I am fine I did not even murder them though they would have very much deserved it are you okay he didn't touch you did he I will make him BLEED -]"
"[No,]" says Iobel, "[no, he didn't, I'm - I'm fine. All that and he's not going to touch me, looks like. At least until it's about time he had an heir.]"
"[Will we run away?]"
"[I don't know yet. Not today.]"
"[No,]" purrs Cricket, pressing himself into her as though he is a much heavier cat. "[No I am fine I did not even murder them though they would have very much deserved it are you okay he didn't touch you did he I will make him BLEED -]"
"[No,]" says Iobel, "[no, he didn't, I'm - I'm fine. All that and he's not going to touch me, looks like. At least until it's about time he had an heir.]"
"[Will we run away?]"
"[I don't know yet. Not today.]"
There is a frantic knocking on the door.
"Iobel! Iobel, it's me," says a familiar voice. "Let me in, are you okay? Please be okay!"
"Iobel! Iobel, it's me," says a familiar voice. "Let me in, are you okay? Please be okay!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel opens the door, clutching Cricket to her shoulder with the other hand. "It's okay, we're fine," she says.
"... Ohmygoodness you have him back!" says Zephrys with a smile. Then it drops and she looks fearfully over her shoulder. "... I also just did something really stupid!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"...What?"
"I may have um - slapped the prince. It was in the heat of the moment! He was just looking at me like everything was normal and I was so angry at him and I just -"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I assume you mean the king," says Iobel dryly. "I don't know how much protection I'll be, but if you can get yourself assigned to work for me or something..."
"Oh! Yes, um - king, the king. I slapped him. I'm not even sure I can be protected at all! Oh all-powerful one above, what if he has me executed?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I don't know what I can do," says Iobel, "but if I can do something I will and if you're nearby it will be easier to notice if I can."
"Okay - um, maybe you can ask for a personal servant and I could - do that? And hide behind you and pray the king doesn't see me again?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Who do I ask?"
"... Him, I guess? Or someone in charge?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"The only people in this palace I have met are the guards who took Cricket, and the king, and you, and an incompetent little bureaucrat who told me a week ago he'd look for my cat and never came back. I don't know who's in charge. Who are you reporting to right now?"
"Um. Mrs. Lyre, who reports to the king."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Okay. Can you show me where she is?"
Zephrys nods. "Yes. Follow me?"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel nods, still holding Cricket; he's purring in her ear.
She leads her to a wing of the palace that seems to be set aside for servants - there are quite a lot of them, all around. Zephrys leads Iobel up to a woman who's currently barking orders at people while doing what looks like paperwork. She waits until a moment when she's not barking order to address her.
"Um. Mrs Lyre?" says Zephrys.
"Hmm?" asks the stern looking woman, not looking up from her paperwork.
"Um. Mrs Lyre?" says Zephrys.
"Hmm?" asks the stern looking woman, not looking up from her paperwork.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I am," says Iobel, "the queen, and currently don't have my own staff. I like Zephrys. Can she be spared?"
Pause. Stare stare stare. "Um! Yes, of course, your majesty!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Thank you."
Iobel turns to Zephrys. "What all are you competent to do, besides what went on this morning?"
Iobel turns to Zephrys. "What all are you competent to do, besides what went on this morning?"
"Um - cleaning, some cooking but I'd leave that to the professionals. I can do lots of fashion stuff, too - picking out clothes to wear for the right occasions so you give off the correct feeling."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"All right, I don't care what I wear so I'll leave you in charge of that, do you know how to get miscellaneous - things, from wherever the household source is? Paper and the like? Do you know how the palace interacts with the mail system?"
Zephrys nods along to this. "I can get you things, and bring you letters and send them out, too."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Okay. I think I'm going to go back to the room I was in the first time we met. Eventually I might want my things from home, but not just yet."
In case she runs after all and thinks she has time to stop home for a box or three.
"To start I want envelopes and stationery and the like, there are already pens up there - and more spellchart paper, and blank notebooks. Can you get me those, and something to sleep in - I've been in the clothes I arrived in for a week except today and this isn't sleepwear - and something to wear tomorrow, and then meet me back there? Mind anything I put on will get cat hair on it, so ideally it won't show too much or be hard to get off."
In case she runs after all and thinks she has time to stop home for a box or three.
"To start I want envelopes and stationery and the like, there are already pens up there - and more spellchart paper, and blank notebooks. Can you get me those, and something to sleep in - I've been in the clothes I arrived in for a week except today and this isn't sleepwear - and something to wear tomorrow, and then meet me back there? Mind anything I put on will get cat hair on it, so ideally it won't show too much or be hard to get off."
"I'll go get all of those!" agrees Zephrys. "And find something that will work even covered in cat hair." She smiles at Iobel, brightly.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Thank you," says Iobel. "What can you tell me about meals around here - where will the queen be expected to turn up for dinner?"
Directions to where this is are given - there are sometimes larger official functions but the court fell apart under the delicate care of the previous queen. So Iobel will at least not to eat her meals with huge crowds of people.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Thank you, Zephrys."
And Iobel goes back to her room, the one without any spilled wine.
And Iobel goes back to her room, the one without any spilled wine.
Zephrys goes off to do what Iobel asked! She retrieves all requested items (along with some chocolates, as a thank you) and delivers them to Iobel.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel is startled into laughter by the chocolates. "Thank you."
Cricket purrs at Zephrys.
Zephrys smiles at them both. "You're welcome!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"That should be everything, at least until after dinner."
She nods. "Okay! Let me know if you need anything, and um -" She shifts a little. "Please, please stay safe, okay? With the king and the - everything going on. I want you to be okay!"
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I'll do my best."
Little happy smile. "Good!" Then, Zephrys bows, and departs.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel writes a letter to each of her parents, and then one to her landlord, explaining what's happened (in more detail to the parents than the landlord; the landlord is only asked to make sure everything's locked up and forward her correspondence).
And then, when that's all done, she tucks them into envelopes to give to Zephrys later, and she goes to dinner still in her wedding dress.
And then, when that's all done, she tucks them into envelopes to give to Zephrys later, and she goes to dinner still in her wedding dress.
Edarial is not present.
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
But his brother is.
His feet are on the table, and he's spearing bits of food with a dagger. He's looking just as angry as Iobel saw him last, though not directed at anyone in particular.
His feet are on the table, and he's spearing bits of food with a dagger. He's looking just as angry as Iobel saw him last, though not directed at anyone in particular.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel gives him a noticeable berth anyway.
(Cricket hisses at him on principle, though.)
(Cricket hisses at him on principle, though.)
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
Zevros doesn't look up from his food-spearing, and wordlessly flips Cricket the bird.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel keeps Cricket in her lap for the entirety of dinner, hand-feeding him bits of everything that appeals to him, murmuring to him softly as he denounces everyone at the table in his private language.
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
Food skewer. Food skewer. He's mostly just stabbing things, at this point, it's not even cutting up the food. Just - stab. Stab. Stab.
When he's in a bad mood it does not seem to be subtle.
When he's in a bad mood it does not seem to be subtle.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
As long as he isn't threatening to stab her, or Cricket, Iobel can just - not interact with him.
She eats quickly and then she picks up Cricket and carries him away.
She eats quickly and then she picks up Cricket and carries him away.
Zevros Cartalian
royal_pain
Yup. That is a thing the both of them are free to do. Zevros will just be here.
Stabbing his food mercilessly.
Stabbing his food mercilessly.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
Iobel sits and works on her spell, for lack of anything better to do - no need to prune it in a desperate hurry to get it into her head; she can do it the long way, now. When Zephrys comes back she hands over the letters, one two three.
Zephrys comes back, retrieves the letter, and then asks if there's anything else Iobel wants.
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"I'm fine for the time being. If you hear about any - queening that needs doing - then let me know, I guess."
"Yup!" agrees Zephrys. "But honestly I have no idea how - 'queening' works."
Iobel Maryah Swan
come_midnight
"Well, neither do I. Two sets of ears will find more of it to do than one."
"Makes sense. I'll ask around, maybe someone knows!"