OOM All Skate Skellig Dream Magic Weirdness -Part Eight

[brave_kreyu]

They spent yesterday helping curtail an outbreak of the White Death and doing a bit of shopping. Luckily, or not, depending on your point of view, they ALSO found out that today is the day the former slaves they plan on helping go before the judge.

That means this morning has involved a lot of preparation on Kreyu's part, because if she is appearing in an Official capacity, she must look just so. She is very grateful that Skellig is willing to help her make the small braids and decorate them with beads that match the dress.

"You can see part of why I don't do this very often," she quips.

Comments

[27_53]

Skellig steals a very chaste kiss (to her cheek -- he would not want to smudge her makeup) and nods. He can see that there are people already milling about, coming and going from the building without issue.

"I will await your arrival eagerly, my love. Be safe."

With a gentle squeeze of her hand for good measure, he takes his leave and does just that as he wanders towards the building; it is as she said, freely open to those who would wish to come and go, and he finds himself a seat in a somewhat out of the way section of the room, taking a spot on one of several low benches that line the space.

He is grateful for the language spell, as he is understanding much better what is being said by the person he assumes is either the judge, or one of their associates, perhaps?

[brave_kreyu]

It's nowhere near as formal as a court in the world he came from, but there is clearly a place where the judge sits and a row of benches where people are waiting to be called up. There are also people sitting in the benches around him who are either here to see what's going on, to support someone who is already waiting, or possibly just wanting to get in out of the sun.

The man he and Kreyu spoke to pleads the case for himself and his fellows, although he's quite careful NOT to mention what his former masters were hunting! (Wise, honestly, as it's doubtful anyone here would take them wanting to KILL their goddess well.)

There is muttering in the crowd, distrust, when they say where they are from. Even the judge frowns ever so slightly. "That land has sent others before with claims such as yours. We took them at their word, and they were knives in our backs, poison in our wells."

[27_53]

Even though he is highly certain how this claim for mercy and sanctuary will pan out (thanks to Kreyu's incoming presence) he is quite interested in the way that the crowd reacts. Clearly there is distrust here among these people, trauma and discontent.

But he keeps quiet, observing as the man pleads again - attempting to explain that is not the case, with their party.

The muttering grows louder among the crowd, and he can hear snippets of 'examples' of what happened the last time people from those lands were trusted. He can also hear what some members of the public suggest might be done with these men - as a warning to the next who might try to sneak in and cause trouble!

Clearly, this is not going favorably for the former slaves and it is obvious they are getting nervous.

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu times her appearance very carefully, the sun is directly over the hole in the roof, light flooding into the room like a spotlight. The judge raises a hand. "Would any here speak on behalf of these men? Is there more that should be known?"

Kreyu appears in the midst of the light, wings unfolding with a rush of air. The sun on so many shining beads is blinding, sends dots of colored light around the room. The transformation to 'Goddess' is not a physical thing,only a change in body language, in how she speaks. She stands tall, proud, powerful, as someone who KNOWS they will be listened to and obeyed. Her tone and her words are more formal when she speaks. "I would speak, for there is more to be known than what has been spoken here."

The slaves, ALL of them, immediately prostate themselves on the floor in a mix of awe and terror. They know that their masters were here to KILL her, and they fear that she might know this and hold a grudge. The judge stares at her open mouthed, shocked. Emotion ripples through the locals in the crowd, wonder, awe, and excitement. "The Great Lady" and "The Great Lady Kreyu" ripple through the room in a wave of hushed whispers. Children are lifted up on shoulders so that they can see her in all her glory.

[27_53]

Even Skellig is impressed when she enters, his attention focused immediately on her - and then to the vivid pricks of colored light that surround the entire room, that shift with every slight body motion and breath that she takes as she speaks.

She is sparkling, and he likes that very much.

He allows his gaze to dart around the room - he is focused mostly on the children, who are staring at Kreyu as if they are seeing a creature that they have only heard through myth and legend passed down from their families - which is likely truth. Not only for the children, but for many of those who are here perhaps as well. The change in the energy (from negative to positive) is practically palpable, and Skellig is subconsciously grateful for the shift.

Sighing softly under his breath (so very proud of her) he watches her as she stands tall, listens to her as she commands the attention of everyone in the room just by being as she is.

The Great Lady, indeed!

[brave_kreyu]

The judge is supposed to acknowledge the person who would speak BEFORE they begin, to keep people from shouting over each other. so Kreyu waits.

Someone, an aide?, whispers frantically in the Judge's ear, jars him out of his shock. "We would hear the words of the Great Lady," he says at last, voice cracking a bit from nerves.

Kreyu folds her wings, feathers rustling. "I know that these men speak the truth, for I beheld their former masters at the hunt." She tilts her head, braids swinging slightly "A king's son and the sons of many nobles they were, until in their folly they sought prey no mortal should." She sighs. "They began as men, but I saw their end as offal. They speak the truth, and there is no malice in their hearts for our people."

[27_53]

Skellig does not need to really hear the 'argument' being made in this case, as he knows the details already (and those she is not saying out loud) but he listens all the same, if only to hear her voice as it resonates throughout the room.

(Aside from an occasional hushed whisper of awe or murmur of agreement, the room has fallen quiet - nobody would dare INTERRUPT the words of the Great Lady!)

Those beads do look nice, woven into her braids just so, he thinks to himself, watching as the light reflects upon them and the dress. He is grateful that his body has decided to cooperate, though hardly anyone would pay any attention to him at all, not when the entire focus is on her.

He notices a few more people sneaking silently into the chamber - clearly word has gotten out that they are being blessed with the Goddess' presence, and people are eager to catch a glimpse, if they can.

[brave_kreyu]

More people are sneaking into the chamber to catch a glimpse. It's entirely possible that even if his body weren't cooperating no one would notice at all.

"I would urge compassion upon you all," she says, eyes moving around the room. "For I remember when your ancestors came to our island, in need of shelter, of safety. This land has prospered because we have welcomed those in need, do not let the actions of a few harden your hearts to stone against all."

Those voices who were urging punishment before, even the judge, seem chastised by her words.

[27_53]

Even if Kreyu cannot act smug in this moment, cannot shoot back her words with an added I told you so when those who were calling for punishment, even if she does not feel that as an emotion - Skellig can think it on his own as he feels hearts and minds shift around them.

Compassion is a powerful emotional response to feelings of sympathy and empathy.

Skellig watches quietly from his seat as soft murmurs of acknowledgement ripple throughout the crowd. Perhaps they did act too swiftly, in their rush to judgement based on the actions of previous bandits and spies. What might have happened if these innocents were punished similarly, just due to their mistake and prejudices?

[brave_kreyu]

In the grand scheme of things, it might have changed nothing much. Or it might have changed everything, for who knows what one life in the right place at the right time might do?

Most of the former slaves do not understand the native tongue, what is being said, but they can feel the mood shift in the room, and they lift their heads slightly in a mix of hope and bewilderment. The man they spoke to before is weeping, but not in sorrow, just great and terrible relief.

The judge clears his throat when it is clear that the Great Lady is done speaking. "With such testimony, there can be no doubt as to your sincerity." He turns to the now free men. "Be welcome, brothers. Never again will you be slaves. The property with which you arrived is yours, to do with as you will."

His smile turns a little sharp. "Should the relatives of their former owners protest, they are, of course, free to present their complaint before me." Which is about as likely as hell freezing over, and everyone here knows it.

[27_53]

Everyone does know it, and now that the men have been freed from their former owners (or whoever might try to lay claim to them, after the Great Lady Kreyu dispatched them readily just a few days prior) and they are free to take their leave, the excitement builds again within the room.

Word has gotten out now, for sure - the earlier trickle of people who had begun to wander in has thickened to a steady stream. Skellig is sure that Kreyu will choose elsewhere to entertain an audience, perhaps? After all, it has been some time since she has made an appearance.

She should know wherever she chooses to move to, he will follow along - keeping his distance, of course. Perhaps he might go and fetch Neferet and her mother, if word does not reach that part of the city - though likely there are already runners sprinting through the streets and alleyways, proclaiming her arrival for all to hear!

[brave_kreyu]

Kreyu turns, gives a small smile meant just for Skellig. (Although, given the way one young man standing behind Skellig has his heart start to race and his breath catch, it's not quite as exclusive as she meant it to be.)

One of the now free men bruised himself a bit in his haste to throw himself prostrate on the floor before her. She pauses beside him as she moves out of the sunlight, crouches down. Kreyu takes his pain, greets him in his own native tongue, then rises.

The crowd isn't bold enough to try and TOUCH her, and they move out of her way as she proceeds in a stately manner to the entrance, but their desire to be near her, their awe and their wonder, is a palpable thing.

Outside, is, well, we hope no one was planning on GETTING anywhere anytime soon. He may needs his wings if he wants to move at any speed!

[27_53]

As they make their way out of the building (if there were any cases left to be heard today before the judge, they have likely been postponed as the large majority of EVERYONE who was in that room is now following her as she makes her way towards the entrance) Skellig ends up alongside the young man, claps a hand upon his shoulder lightly, the faintest of smirks painting the corners of his mouth.

"Perhaps one day," he mutters beneath his breath. "If not her, one just as beautiful and fair."

There's no point in crushing hopes and dreams in this moment, and he knows it is harmless in the grand scheme of things.

Once they are outside, Skellig desires to get away from this ever-thickening crowd; it is not chaos or pandemonium by any means, and he is actually quite impressed with the order that is remaining; as the sunlight hits the glittering beads and gems that cover her dress, her wings glistening in the light, it is as if the crowd parts on instinct as she moves through them, without prompting. (Though there are some who would shout for those gathered to make way for the Great Lady and other calls of adoration, excitement, and joy.)

With his own wings concealed and tucked close into his body, he makes his way in the opposite direction towards a side-street, which is a bit difficult in reality as he is a fish vile nasty creatures swimming 'upstream' against the current. But once he is clear of the crowd, he is free to mutter the concealment spell she has taught him and take flight, heading for the poorer neighborhood they were in just yesterday as they worked to fight off the White Death.

Word has reached here, of course, and those who are able are already moving about, murmurs of excitement. Perhaps she might pay a visit to her temple? They do not have much to offer, but they can try. Others are headed in a group towards the main square, in hopes they can catch a glimpse of her.

Skellig wanders after landing towards the house where he knows Iset and Neferet reside, knocking lightly. (He knows they are there, he can heard their heartbeats and Neferet's excited chatterings. But he would not simply stride in uninvited.)

[brave_kreyu]

Neferet manages to make her way to the door before her mother. "Hello, Skellig," she says as she hauls the door open. She knew it was him BEFORE she opened the door, clearly.

"Neferet, the door is much too heavy for you," Iset tells her with a slightly exasperated sigh. "Please, come in," she says, smiling at her savior. "You must be thirsty, with the sun so bright today."

[27_53]

Skellig already has a hand on the door to 'assist' in opening it (and closing it behind him once he has entered) so that Neferet does not have to strain too much to manage.

"The sun is bright, as is the mood," he says cheerfully. "I wished to come check on you, see how you both were feeling?"

There are also Other Reasons he is here, but he'll get to those in a moment. He can sense that they are both fine, recovering well from their illness.

[brave_kreyu]

"We are well, impossibly well," Iset confesses, flushing slightly. She might have some FEELINGS toward Skellig. (So kind, so good with children!)

She pours Skellig a mug of water, offers it. Neferet, heedless of propriety, throws her arms around whatever bits of Skellig she can reach. "The shadows are all moving today," she whispers. "Bending toward the center of the city."

[27_53]

"I am glad to hear it," he says, taking the mug of water with a grateful nod of his head, before he looks down at Neferet, who has latched herself onto his legs. "And you are right, little one. They are all moving. You can sense all of that?"

He sips from the water, tilts his head curiously as he asks.

"What else can you sense, with the shadows? Can you tell why they are bending towards the center?"

[brave_kreyu]

Neferet shakes her head. "Too far away to see," she tells him, pouting a little.

Iset smiles at him. "Sometimes, the gods have blessed me with moments where I perceive things others do not, but only rarely. I, I am glad you are able to understand her, when I can not."

He is handsome too, Iset is realizing, now that she's seeing him when she isn't dying from the White Death. If her cheeks are a little more flushed as she fetches some olives, perhaps no one will notice.

"Why are you red, Mamma?" Neferet asks, all innocent curiosity.

"Never you mind that, Neferet," Iset huffs. "I was planning on cooking one of my specialties tonight, if you'd care to stay?" she asks Skellig.

[27_53]

With his focus on the child, Skellig does not initially pick up on on the flush in Iset's cheeks, or her slight waver as her nerves wash over her words as she smiles at him. And then it clicks, when she invites him to stay for dinner.

And with his skin as fair as it is, even with the sun having done its best efforts (and Kreyu's enchantment on the amulet to help him blend in a bit more) he flushes slightly as well.

"I could not impose," he says, apologetically. "I have already promised my wife that I would make it home tonight, after having worked so many hours the last few days to rid this area of illness."

(He can feel her energy shift as he mentions my wife, but at least it was early in the conversation, he would have felt awful if he had lead her on unintentionally!)

In an effort to brighten things: "Besides, I wished to tell you both why the shadows are bending," he says. "Which may cause you to change your plans for the evening meal, as I suspect there will be much to do in the city in celebration."

Neferet squints her eyes at him, clearly she is trying to figure out what sort of secret Skellig is hiding from them!

"The Great Lady Kreyu has made her appearance," he says, as he crouches down to her level. "That is why the shadows are bending, because the pull to her is so vast. I would take you both to see her, it is quite crowded already, but I do not doubt my abilities to get us close enough for an moment during her audience."

[brave_kreyu]

"Truly?" Iset asks, surprised.

"Please, Mamma. I would like to see the Winged Goddess." Neferet deploys her best puppy-dog eyes.

"They don't call her that in most of the city, sweetheart," Iset tells her daughter. "Our temple here isn't....official." She glances at Skellig, at a loss as to how to explain things further to Neferet.

"Would we be welcome? I, the gods do not come to us in the flesh in our homeland. I would not know how to behave."

[27_53]

Nodding gently, he does his best to project an energy of reassurance and acceptance.

"She welcomes all who would act virtuously in her name, all those who would ask for protection and her guidance," he says. "I have seen the wards carved upon the doors here, even if your temple is not 'official', it is still a place of reverence and respect, and I feel that is what matters most."

A glance to Neferet. "And I have it on rather good authority that she is fond of all types of offerings, no matter the value. Perhaps there is another stone from your collection, that you might wish to present to her if we get close enough?"

Inwardly, he is smirking because he knows that they will be getting close enough, even if he has to use some tricks up his sleeve to do so.

To Iset: "As far as behavior, I do not feel as if she requires anything specific? Today I believe she just wishes to allow herself to be seen, as it has been some time." He does not wish to discuss the slaves in front of Neferet.

[brave_kreyu]

"Oh, I have the perfect stone!" Neferet lets go of his leg to go and rummage in a tiny basket.

Iset seems relieved at his explanation. She pats her hair as if to smooth it into place. "Then yes, we would go and see her. Thank her for her mercy, her kindness, delivered through you."

Neferet crows in triumph as she comes up with a piece of rutilated quartz, polished smooth by the sea. The 'gold' of the inclusions makes a kind of star shape. "See, isn't it pretty?" she asks, presenting it for Skellig's inspection.

[27_53]

"That is beautiful," Skellig says eagerly as he inspects the stone, turning it over in his fingertips before he hands it back to her. "She will be most delighted by such a gift."

He looks at her seriously for a moment. "Now remember, what we said about speaking of shadows," he cautions her. "Most of the attention on today will be on Great lady Kreyu, but you must still be careful of when you choose to speak of such things, okay?"

[brave_kreyu]

Neferet nods, a serious expression on her face. "I remember."

Skellig can HEAR the crowd long before he sees them. The murmurs of excitement, awe, and hope. And, of course, those more practically minded souls who have moved their stalls or are otherwise taking the opportunity to flog their merchandise to a captive audience.

The Great Lady has settled in a park like space within the city, filled with fountains and plenty of shade. Skellig can feel the faint hum of Karma against his skin, so it appears that the area is ALSO a karmic zone, albeit a weak one.

Neferet's legs are getting tired, and she's FAR too short to see over the crowd.

[27_53]

The Karma within the space is a welcome feeling and it works to ground him somewhat, gives him something to focus on to quiet the absolute bedlam of heartbeats and voices that are echoing through his mind right now. He can hear HER heartbeat, clear and true above the din.

He can also sense that Neferet is getting tired, and she is at risk of getting lost among this large amount of people as everyone is milling about the space. Some are fetching food and drink, others gathering trinkets and charms, others lining up in some semblance of order for just a chance to have a blessing from the Goddess herself!

"C'mere, little one," Skellig says to her, reaching down and extending his hands to her - asking silently for permission to lift her up. When she nods eagerly, he swings her up and settles her on his shoulders, so that she can better see. (Neferet may sense the rustle of his wing feathers, with them as close to her as they are.) "We will still have to wait our turn, but we would make our way to see her in time. Are you hungry? Would you like a snack while we wait? A drink?"

The offer is extended to both of them, and they are nearer the stalls than Kreyu now anyways, so the opportunity is there.