Bird Furious

She shook her head vigorously. "No, no, there has to be some other option. Something I overlooked. Something. You're not a problem." She suppressed a yawn. --- "Exactly. That poses a problem."

She shrugged and looked down. "He's okay. Nice, I guess. I'm not going to let it get to an actual marriage. Ashli will think of something." --- "Thank you for your time," the man said, looking around, unimpressed. "Anything else we ought to know about this place? Dirty secrets and whatnot?"

She shook her head. "No, its fine. I'm just glad you're here. It's amazing to have someone around who I can trust completely." --- "And the other ones? They are not?"

7, if the elephant eats them and chokes. Why would they do that though?

"...fine. Just tired." She rubbed one eye. "Who did you say you were? How much does she know?" --- "'Room in the castle'. That's the best you offer? And at worse, isolation?" He scribbled some more. "And the souls are under your influence at times, yes?"

"Off we go," Ashli agreed. They traversed the halls to Haly's room, then knocked. Haly opened it, looking rather tired, but she straightened when she saw Ashli. "Another new one?" "I'll leave you to get acquainted and return soon." Ashli left. Haly slumped, feeling suddenly exhausted. "Thanks for being there, even though it was so boring. Come in." --- He squinted disapprovingly and scribbled something in a notepad. "Yes, I can see that. But the punishments and rewards?"

They arrived in a hallway that opened out into a large, round, dark-wooded room with lots of doors on the walls. Some had a red and gold plaque with a name, and others were blank. "Pick any room and I'll get that plaque set up while Ashli here takes you to Evalyn," Daente directed, indicating the woman, "since you already seem acquainted." --- He squinted disapprovingly and scribbled something in a notepad. "Yes, I can see that. But the punishments and rewards?"

"Heading back to the politician quarters. When we're in the palace, we prefer to be near the center of power, so there's a wing in the castle for all us dignitaries. We'll find you a room, then introduce you to the princess." "That's custom too," the woman added. Daente blinked. --- "I'm here representing the Wild Hunt. I'm here to survey the quality of this place. Tour. Now." He was impatient.

"Who might you be?" Asked a man with a little stubble and short hair. "This is Evander Carstile, appointed Watcher of Redeline," the woman answered for him. He nodded, eyes roving over TAAron's face. "Nice to meet you. Daente Puerten, Coordinator of Foreign Communication." --- "You do now," the man scoffed. "Let's get on with it, please."

Some people stayed, chatting. Others left the room, headed down a staircase, and went out the door. The woman beckoned him to follow her with a small group of people past those stairs and down another hallway.

A woman sitting in the center of the long side of the table stood up and raised her hands. She had long brown hair and features remeniscent of Haly. A small, delicate crown rested in her hair, and she wore a long cream dress. "Thank you all for coming tonight. I shall retire, as shall my family. Feel free to leave or stay as you wish." Haly and Sykel both stood up, and the three left into the hall. "It was more ceremonious at the beginning," the woman whispered. "Per the custom." --- "Excuse me, I said I need a tour."

"Should be any minute now. Ah, see, they're clearing the dishes." Indeed, servants shuttled the food from the table through doors that presumably led to the kitchen. "They'll formally end it soon."

"...beautiful countryside. The palace is so different--sleek and spiraley rather than a huge fortress." It was the man. Haly nodded. "Yeah, I've always liked it." He waited a moment, wondering if she'd say something else, but she didn't. "I hear you have a lot of siblings." "Four sisters, two adopted, and three brothers, two adopted." "Are they here?" "Just the blood ones. Sykel's there, Jaera skipped out, and Cjehu's not here." "Oh." They both fell silent, Haley very interested in her food. --- "Looking around. I'll need a tour."

A bored-looking man in minimal steel armor knocked on Death's gates. "Afternoon," he called.

She shrugged and sat back. "I suppose that's fair. I'll dig it up eventually."

"But ironic? Why? And why do you keep almost calling her her childhood nickname?"

"The very same. Good luck, Wynn--kill him well!" She smiled and saluted, more for fun than anything else. Confused, she looked at him sideways. "...why?"

"Why do you say that?" She took this in silently, eyes narrowed in thought. "I'll look into it. This abuse will not go unaddressed. And yes, the invitation stands, and will until my death or retirement--both of which I highly doubt."

"I've got to get her out of this betrothal so she can pursue her own interests. Originally, I'd hoped she could learn to live with him, as I saw no way out. Now I have to help her, but... I still can't. Still no plan." She sighed. "Unless you know an assassin who can walk through walls."

"Well, you're male. She's female. She's also not super interested in him."

"Actually, you're jamming the mechanism. But I'll figure something out, something to our advantage." Anastasia frowned slightly. "You lost your cards again? That's unfortunate. Ah, and death gods. I'll need more information. What does 'mistreating' consist of?"

"Plan? There is no plan! We're stuck! A plan is what I'm scrambling for."

"The betrothal. None of us like it very much, particularly as she's so young... but at the moment, we've no choice. I'd hoped she'd be able to love him... but I've just been disillusioned."

She blinked her way out of her thoughts. "I'm a political maneuverist. It's my job to find a way out of this and yet still be safe from Nolikar. Variables, there are infinite variables..." Sh waved her hand. "We've had a little trouble lately, but nothing to speak of. It'll smooth over. And with you? I've heard much. What is true?"

"Well. This makes everything ten times more complicated..." she muttered. "Though I suppose she could use a friend. Feast should be over soon, and I can go think. New card in play... ah, but what to do with it? Make or break, must be some way to make..." she lapsed into her own thoughts.