[Blanche looks the cut over when he presents it to her, brows furrowing briefly. It's definitely a very minor cut, but look at what they did to his clothes. She can't imagine that he's too happy about that, to say the least.
Still, she does at least heal that cut right up. She can take care of his clothing in a bit, once they've settled in.]
Of course. These bandits have quite a bit of gall to attack a city so close to the castle. They couldn't be allowed to live.
[Either way, Blanche finishes off the healing spell easily and looks around where they are in town. It's definitely sustained some damages from the bandits, but...]
...It looks like the storm must have passed through here, too. Take a look at the damage; it's a far cry from what the castle sustained, but they suffered due to this as well.
[No wonder the bandits seized an opportunity to attack. How sickening.]
We need to check with the townspeople. I imagine that they've many injured among them, and I have no intention of letting them suffer any longer. Let us be off, Alaric.
[The cut heals up quickly, and Alaric nods at her words. The damage here definitely seems to have been caused by the storm, which explains why the bandits thought it was the perfect time to attack. No telling how many casualties there are right now, but Blanche is right. They need to see exactly what they can learn from the townspeople.]
Agreed. But hold a moment...
[He moves to undo the clasp holding his cape and swiftly removes it. It's one of the shorter ones he wears, in a vibrant red. It's lined with thick, dark fur, that's certainly not doing so well after the rain, but it should be warm and more importantly, it should cover the queen. Alaric holds it out for her to take.]
No sense having you walk into town in just your nightgown.
[Now isn't really the time to care about such things, but is that going to stop Alaric? No.]
[Oh? Blanche looks at Alaric directly when he tells her to hold a moment, and at first she's not sure what he's doing. What on earth could he be possibly taking his cloak off for--
And then he actually tells her, and her eyes briefly widen, looking between herself and the cloak for a moment.]
Oh. [...Off to a rousing start.] Yes, it would be most prudent to cover myself, with everything considered.
[It really isn't the time, but there's a bit of softness in her gaze, she definitely looks thankful if nothing else as she takes the cloak. Blanche is very careful when putting it on, though; she knows how much he doesn't like having his clothing ruined, after all.
And with the rain having dampened it, it is much warmer than just the nightgown. 10/10 work, Alaric.]
Thank you. Let us be off.
[And off to see the townspeople they go--most of them are gathered at the gate of the town, and while there are certainly quite a few, there is definitely something troubling.
The town's population is significantly smaller than the kingdom last recorded. Perhaps they can attribute some of this to the storm, and perhaps even the bandits. But even that doesn't contribute to the fact that the population is so small now.
Of course, the townspeople take notice of their saviors--an older woman in particular coming up to the both of them, though the crowd definitely whispers and babbles to themselves.
"Your Majesty! Oh, thank the heavens the both of you were here to save us! We were so sure that we were done for..."]
Please, it is no trouble at all. [Blanche's voice is gentler than her usual, and though her expression is still stony, there's no doubt her tone's gone soft.] It is a queen's duty to protect her denizens. Will you bring me to your injured?
["Yes, right away, your Majesty!"
Blanche gestures for Alaric to follow her; they can question more people like this, and she's certain they'll give them both of them plenty of information to work with as gratitude.
As they walk, though...]
Forgive my prying, Miss, but may I ask what has happened to this town?
["Well, it's just the darnedest thing! First this big old storm comes blowin' in, and by the time it's over, we woke up to more than half the town gone...some of 'em lost their life to that storm, but most of them are just...gone." The woman seems clearly distressed when she talks about that much. "Ain't see my little Lily since it happened. And with these bandits comin' in..."
...Oh dear. That's definitely some grim news to take in, but they come upon the injured while they walk and Blanche sets to work on their injuries. Feel free to ask some questions, Alaric.]
[It gets a smile from Alaric, though that's not unusual. Despite the dire situation, they're out of trouble for now so he's slipped back into his usual lackadaisical nature.
They're greeted by one of the townspeople, and Blanche takes the lead as always. Alaric follows, listening intently as he studies the village around them. Yes, most of this can be attributed to either the storm or the bandit attack, but the number of people is concerning. The old woman's words really aren't helping matters much.]
Tell me about the bandits. Have they been troubling the town for awhile now?
[It's certainly possible there were reports about bandit attacks in this area, but Alaric doesn't recall any off the top of his head. His job isn't to oversee the knights, after all; he protects Her Majesty. Still, he does greatly prefer to know what's going on throughout the kingdom so he can offer his insight - however wanted it may be.
The topic is a serious one, so he's at least slipped into a more serious tone to address it, though his expression's still easy and relaxed. Chatting with the townsfolk isn't anything he dislikes, after all.]
[The old woman turns to Alaric and thinks for a moment before nodding her head.
"They weren't brazen enough to attack the town before today, but...we've been havin' some problems with 'em for the past week, yes." The old woman continues after saying that much. "The knights in the area were takin' care of 'em pretty handily, from what little I heard from the boys themselves. But ever since that storm happened, I ain't seen them either."
Blanche's expression darkens upon hearing that much. Considering Alaric's theory about the storm itself, this can't be a coincidence.
"They either up and dipped, or the storm might'a displaced 'em too." The old woman continues, though she shakes her head. "And considerin' how good those boys are at solvin' problems? I'm willin' to put gold on that second one."]
[If the storm specifically targeted the knights, that's further proof that it's an attack on Blanche specifically. Considering there isn't much out this way aside from the town, it does seem odd that the storm would tear through here, but if it targeting the knights, that would make sense.]
["Sure did! Everyone in this town did--damn thing was howlin' up a storm here just last night. In all my years of livin', I ain't ever seen a storm get that bad in this here town. Went around blowin' out windows and shakin' foundations like it was nothin'."
The old woman sighs and shakes her head. "It'd been clear all evenin' long, too. Seems more than a mite unusual for a storm like that to pop up overnight."
The man that Blanche is currently healing--he looks like a sailor, pipes up a bit too from where he hears the old woman talk.
"Aye. Just came through here on my trading route, and there was nary a cloud in sight while my men and I were on the sea. And we just came back from Vernier territory."
Which is definitely quite a ways away from the kingdom, especially if they sailed.
At that much though, a young woman looks over--a cleric, from the looks of it, though she doesn't speak up. She seems briefly conflicted, between tending the wounded and speaking up herself.]
[Clear all evening long. That's exactly what he thought, but he'd been busy running training drills so he wasn't entirely certain. If there was any doubt that this storm was unnatural before, it's gone now.
The sailor's words get him to glance over, and Alaric's eyes narrow at the mention of Vernier territory. It is a long way from here, and if the entire trip back was peaceful... Well, no sense thinking too much about that right now.]
Thanks. Pretty strange that something like this happened out of nowhere.
[There's no sense in sharing his thoughts with them right now, though. It'd do nothing but get them panicking, and they aren't in a position to deal with that right now.
As he glances around at the injured Blanche is steadily healing, he notices that cleric. Something's definitely up here... He catches Blanche's eye and inclines his head a bit in that direction; he'll be right back, don't worry. After that, he approaches the woman and lowers his voice.]
You didn't happen to see anything unusual, did you, miss?
[It's not threatening, still spoken with the same calm tone as before.]
[Blanche nods her head at the inclination of Alaric's head; go take care of what you need to, dude.
The cleric in question startles briefly when Alaric speaks up--a little too focused on her current duties rather than anything too surprised, at least. Though, she keeps her voice low when she speaks up.
"I'm...afraid that I did. I was traveling with my fellow sisters, and...we were beset by a horrible woman. The tome she weld was incredibly powerful, and...able to change the weather in the immediate area.
...And she implied that it could do much more."
Well, that's a juicy tidbit of information. The cleric looks around, clearly fraught after saying that much, as if she thinks the woman will appear out of thin air--
"That is all I know. She appeared on our way through Miramas. If you value your lives, do not face her. I...I was lucky to escape, scathed as I am..."
Cast and point: she's got quite a few layers on, but her right arm hasn't moved for the entire conversation. The implication is likely obvious.
Miramas isn't the longest journey they could have to take on foot, but it is long enough and far enough from the kingdom that they need to be prepared for whatever journey comes ahead. Especially given they're going to be going through another noble family's territory in order to get there, and relations are still strained at best.
Of course, in the background of this, Blanche has finished healing all of the injured residents. They're all definitely thankful, giving what little bits of things they can. Some give money, some give vulneraries, at least one's just given us a Killing Edge (a gift that'll best suit Alaric, Blanche notes), and...
"Please, allow me to house you and Sir Alaric at the inn for the night, Your Majesty!" The old woman smiles easily. "It's the least we can do for your hard work in protectin' us. Free of charge!"]
You have our thanks for your hospitality; we will gladly take it.
[The cleric finishes her own work, and pauses for a moment...and whether Alaric notices or not, she slips something into his hand; it's an amulet that seems to be infused with a mild level magical protection. A touch worn, but...
"May the fates ever protect your steps."
And the cleric will walk away, for the time being, as Blanche turns around and gestures with her head to Alaric. Coming with?]
[A mage with the power to change the weather... fascinating. Alaric supposed it's possible that she was just using unique and powerful lightning magic, but this is a damn good lead. It gives them a direction to look in, at any rate, and it'll take care of a problem and keep people safe. Blanche will certainly want to pursue this.
Miramas isn't all that close, so they're definitely going to have to prepare. Maybe the storm has let up around the castle, but if it hasn't, they're going to need to get their hands on supplies here. Hopefully they've still got enough here that they can part with... Anyway, Alaric glances back toward Blanche as she's showered in gifts, proving that the village certainly hasn't lost too much in the storm and bandit attack.
That's when the cleric presses something into his hand, and he nods as he returns his attention back to her.]
Thanks. I'm sure they will. What you've told me is very valuable, and I appreciate it. You take care, now.
[He's quick to join Blanche, nodding appreciatively at the sword. Now that's a nice find, well done, villagers.]
We should head toward Miramas. Might be someone up that way who had a hand in the storm.
[That's all he'll say for now, but he'll elaborate once they've got a bit of privacy. Once again, no sense in worrying the villagers.]
[Blanche nods in approval at Alaric; excellent work. They have a path set, now, and she's certain that there's more to it than that. They can definitely discuss it later.
The old lady leads them to the inn, and it is unfortunately a little packed; there are several people who lost their homes or got otherwise displaced that she's allowing to stay until the recovery efforts are in full swing, so the bad news is they will be sharing a room. But the rooms aren't bad at all, from the looks of it; two nicely made beds, a well kept bathroom, and more than enough space for the both of them.
Blanche thanks the old woman, though she does whisper a brief request into the woman's ear after telling Alaric to go on ahead; the woman chuckles easily, and by the time Blanche enters the room with him, she's got something in her hands and she's locking the door behind her.]
This woman truly is kind. In such a time of need, she's willing to house and take care of these people...it's truly an example to lead by.
[Blanche sits on the bed, though, smoothing her nightgown and Alaric's cloak out. She'll give it back to him in a moment, but...]
So, I take it our adversary comes from Miramas, then? Quite a ways away to cause such a ruckus...what were you able to find out?
[...]
And give me your uniform, while you give your report. I will take care of it.
[It's blunt, but Blanche opens her hand shortly after; it seems she's obtained a needle and some white thread in the process. Surprise!]
[It's not really a surprise that the inn is packed today, after all, a lot of homes were destroyed between the storm and the bandits. While some people may be missing and others are dead, there's still the living to tend to, and the innkeeper has welcomed them so easily. It's small things like this that are a nice reminder that sometimes, people don't suck.
Alaric heads on up to the room first to check the place out - not that he was expecting anything off here, but it is a nice room. Two beds, so at least there's that. It's improper for the queen to be staying in the same room as her knight, but given their current situation, this is the best option. It's better to be nearby in case anyone else tries to kill Blanche.
Alaric's already sitting on the other bed, frowning at the cut in his sleeve and how it hangs now when Blanche enters. Her request gets a sharp laugh from him, but he doesn't hesitate in removing the uniform jacket. The shirt underneath is a plain white one; an undershirt rather than his usual dress shirt, but it's not like he had a lot of time to spare while getting dressed this morning.]
The queen probably shouldn't be handling this in my stead, but I appreciate it.
[Sewing has never been one of his talents...
With that out of the way, he leans back and holds the amulet up to the light to get a better look at it.]
The cleric who was there said she ran across a mage who could control the weather up that way. No idea how much weight that holds, but it's a start. If it's more than just lightning magic, it could give us some insight into who could be causing this.
Oh, and she gave me this. You know anything about it?
[Magical amulets aren't really his forte, so he holds it out for Blanche to look over.]
Think nothing of it. [...] One good turn deserves another, after all.
[It's a bit of a better thanks for lending her your cloak, in basic terms. And she's had a talent for this for years, it's cool.
Still, that is...interesting, to say the least. Blanche listens while she works, her eyes on the uniform but clearly listening. The method for stitching this back together without obvious stitch marks is a little involved, but it does give Blanche plenty to think about.]
It's a better start than I could have hoped for. Excellent work as always. [Even so...] Our path is settled then; we march to Miramas once we are well supplied. If a mage of that caliber is running around unchecked near that town, it's only a matter of time before they cause even more problems. Especially if the nobility of the area are sitting on their thumbs and doing nothing about it.
[And boy does she not like that.
Blanche does look up when he mentions what he got from the cleric, and turns her attention to that. It requires some careful scrutiny, Blanche touching the amulet to get a sense of it's power, but...]
...Yes, I recognize the magic within this. [She sounds surprised, but--] It's clearly been used, but...it's a ward meant to protect one from powerful magic, and it's no mere beginner's ward. This is quite advanced.
[It may be the reason that cleric survived to tell the tale about the magus. Blanche's gaze goes hard, before looking directly at Alaric.]
Keep it, Alaric. It may keep you safe, should we come across that magus.
[And she's sure she doesn't need to remind him why.]
[He'll take it back and slip it on, securing it around his neck. He's not usually the sort to wear necklaces, so it's a little odd, but if it'll be more useful in his possession, then he'll keep it. Blanche has already proven that she can take a magical hit that strong; it would be pointless to hand it over to her when it'll undoubtedly kill him without it.]
The people of this town are generous, I'm sure they'll provide us with everything they can before we leave.
[Hmm...]
We'll need a map to start with. If I'm remembering it right, we can get to Miramas from a few different directions. The most direct route will put us out in the open; if the mage is responsible for the storm, it'd be better to take a different path.
[Though his memory for geography isn't the greatest, so maybe taking the quickest route would be best here. There's no telling if or when that mage will move on, after all.]
[Listen, gotta have some kind of insurance when you inevitably charge the siege tome boss, right??? Hopefully it doesn't break before you reach her.........]
I am sure of that as well...were the situation not so dire, I would like to stay a few days and help with the rebuilding efforts in return...
[blanche where the fuck do you think you are, you think you got time for that shit???]
But yes, I am in agreement. Though unfortunately the area around Miramas is one I don't know so well... [But that'll be what the map is for, at any rate, and she trusts Alaric's sense of geography more than her own.] We've only the two of us; the path of most caution is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that we make it to this foul miscreant unscathed.
[So she is in agreement. Their plan is set, really, and yet...well, they finally have time to themselves, and Blanche's look shifts to something melancholic.]
...Do you think that we'll find everyone, when we confront that mage?
[The first part gets a sigh, though it's more affectionate than anything else. That's Blanche, she's always going to care about the people and want to do everything she can for them. One destroyed village is just as important as everything and everyone else. She's definitely going to spread herself too thin one of these days...
But for now there's something else to address, and Alaric rests his chin on his hand as he considers her question.]
I don't know nearly enough about magic to speculate on what happened to those people. If the point was to kill them, it would have made more sense to leave their bodies where we could find them.
[That isn't a guarantee that they're alive, though.]
If you want my opinion, [too late you're getting it anyway] I doubt this mage we're chasing will be the true cause of this. For one, if they were planning an attack on the queen herself, they'd likely want to keep themselves better hidden. For another, magic like this isn't common. I've never heard tales of anything like this, much less seen anything close to it. If your parents had this kind of power, they would have used it in exactly the same way.
[It's nothing against Blanche specifically, just a statement of fact. Those with power will use it, particularly against their enemies' leaders.]
What I'm getting at is that it'd be strange if it was only one person involved in this.
[Blanche goes back to focusing on the sewing while she listens to Alaric; she's almost done, but his words are certainly not lost on her. This sort of atrocity is exactly the sort of power grab that her parents would be dying to use on other countries to get them to submit. Taking people hostage, destroying the land and killing anyone unfortunate enough to get caught in the way...
It makes Blanche's blood boil, and her look darkens as she finishes patching up his uniform. All nice and sewn, as if nothing happened at all.]
...No, you are right about all of that. It would be entirely too strange if this was the work of one simple person. And my useless parents would have made an ostentatious show of power like this.
[Here, Alaric, you can take back your uniform now. Blanche's look goes contemplative, considering Alaric's opinion. Which nobody should probably do, but Blanche has never been one to not make mistakes--]
But no, you are correct; it would be entirely too strange. I would be foolish to believe otherwise. [Hmm...] If I had to guess, this magus must have been paid off by whoever they are acting under. It would make the most sense, would it not?
But who would be brazen enough to act against the kingdom in such a manner? Who would benefit from such a move?
[...]
I can think of several families who may not be too fond of what I have done, but truthfully, I know not where to start in casting suspicion.
[He accepts the uniform back, checking over Blanche's work with an appreciative nod.]
Thanks.
[And with that he'll slip it back on, listening as she continues.]
That's my thought. Some group paid them to do this so it'll be harder for it to be traced back to them specifically. The more difficult it is for us to find them, the more they feel they can get away with.
[And given how brazen this attack was with so little regard for life... Well, it's likely this isn't the last they've seen of this incident. It'll probably be even worse next time, once they're aware Blanche survived.]
Given the power, money, and influence that would be needed, a noble family would be the likely culprit. But there's no sense in trying to figure out which one it could be just yet; if we start suspecting the wrong one, it'll just make things worse.
[Relations with noble families are exceptionally important, as little as Alaric likes to admit it. They can't simply be destroyed at will. Many of those families play an integral role in the kingdom, after all.]
For now, let's seek out that mage and see what we can learn.
[...This is true, as much as Blanche hates to admit it. She supposes this might genuinely be the problem with realizing that direct action gets you what you want from the world more than trying to be nice about it. But Alaric is right; he always has been. They need to take this one step at a time and find the mage responsible first.
And at the very least, once they find that person, they may be able to follow the thread elsewhere. Blanche is already scheming, at least minorly, about how to utilize this to their advantage.]
Of course. One step at a time, as you said.
[Blanche is honestly ready to sink into the bed after the rather...eventful day they've had, really, and at first she does, surprisingly cozy--
And then she realizes why and promptly jolts up. Right, she--]
Ah-- [Hang on, let her get this off.] My apologies. You might want to take this back before I get too comfortable with it...
[One step at a time. It is frustrating that there isn't much they can do right now, but at least they have a lead. There are a lot of preparations that will have to be made tomorrow morning, and Alaric's lost in thought considering all of that as Blanche gets ready for bed.
And then she's suddenly jolting upright and he's staring at her like she's grown a second head.]
No? [okay hang on he just sounds baffled now—] You hold onto it. We're going to have to get you some proper clothes, so I'd just be giving it back to you in the morning anyway.
[...Oh that's. Right, actually. At least on the part of probably just needing it back in the morning anyway, but even still--]
...I had...thought that you might want it back for the night, at the very least? [Like.] ...That and I was nearly prepared to fall asleep with it on. I simply did not want to...
[Impose upon you for longer than needed. That's the first thing that pops into Blanche's head, and objectively, it's sound to her. Alaric looks so strange without his cloak? And she knows that he likes the damn thing, he only gave it to her because she did need to at least have something that wasn't her nightgown.
She could also just tell him he looks odd without it. Like, the guy likes his clothes and it looks strange off of him.
Furthermore, Blanche has never been particularly good at asking for things that aren't explicitly given to her, or brought up at a given opportunity. It...just feels strange, even if he's given this much to her, she just assumed it was for public appearance.
If she were emotionally competent, she could choose to express any of these sentiments. Unfortunately, you're dealing with Blanche Lamarre, and she is bad at this sort of thing. She just elects to shake her head instead, trying to dismiss the subject.]
--Never mind. Please, just forget about it. I...think I simply may need some sleep; it's making me act daft.
[And so she just kind of...promptly flops over on the bed so she doesn't have to stare at her knight's baffled face and she can hide her embarrassment. She almost had to express an emotion, that was terrible, please don't call her out on this--]
Edited (i could've stood to go into this more SO I'M GONNA) 2021-01-04 21:26 (UTC)
[He can practically see the gears turning in Blanche's head, and maybe if they were in a less stressful situation that would be something to tease her about, or perhaps even something to discuss. Alaric isn't going to pretend he understands everything about Blanche, and maybe this reaction is just a sign of things that simply haven't come up between them before. Or maybe he's the one reading too deeply into this.
Regardless, he lets it go with a shrug.]
No need to worry so much. Get some sleep; we're going to need an early start tomorrow.
[With that he gets up off the bed to head into the bathroom for his preparations for bed; he won't be up for much longer, but he needs to run one last check over the place to make sure things will be safe for the night. You can't be too cautious - especially not after what they did to the previous rulers and Blanche's siblings. Blanche made a lot of enemies that day.]
[Blanche has never been one to sleep easily, but thankfully if nothing else, she's quiet about it. Even as she likely wakes up a few times in the night due to nightmares; never once screaming or anything of the like, just waking up with a sigh and closing her eyes again. The nightmares have always been something she's dealt with, but what happened to the castle is what's plaguing her now. What would happen if she died, if Alaric died, if they didn't move--
By the time the next morning comes, Blanche looks the same as usual, though. This has been her normal for quite some time now, and the stone-faced queen has better things to focus on than her nightmares.
Namely, supplies. Alaric was right, at the very least; the town's people are more than generous with helping them get supplies, and in a way, Blanche can't help but feel a little guilt. It's something she doesn't express outright, but between the food, the clothing, and everything else they're able to get for the road, they'll be able to make it to Miramas with enough to spare. And if all goes well, perhaps they'll be able to stock up there as well.
(Of course, Blanche does look back towards the way they came, by the time they leave, and the storm is still somehow raging over the castle grounds. It's practically cloaked the entire castle from view, and it's...
Something Blanche isn't going to think about right now.)
Either way, the two of them are on the road again; their path is going to be a long one, since they're taking plenty of caution to hopefully not be detected by this stormy magus. Alaric has the map in hand and has charted out a path for them that will get them there with hopefully few problems. Blanche is at least dressed prepared for the situation, though. Sure, she's gone for the most goth yet noble ensemble possible, and for convenience sake, she's elected to go for pants instead of a skirt for travel purposes, but everyone will know it's her once they see her face. She's sure of that much.
Still, they've certainly got a long ways ahead of them, and the brush is definitely thick enough to cover them. Of course, it's also thick enough to be an inconvenience in multiple fashions; Blanche is pretty sure that some of those leaves are poison ivy, and they'll need to avoid that like the plague. And the bugs...don't get her started on the bugs. If Blanche has to swat away another fly away so help her gods--]
These insects are practically treating us as a beacon... [Blanche doesn't really complain much. Really, she doesn't! But good gods.] Really, you would think they haven't had a meal in weeks with how irritating they're being.
[It isn't exactly a surprise that Blanche isn't a sound sleeper. Not that Alaric's ever had to share a room with her like this before, but considering everything they did, it would be more surprising if she did sleep soundly.
Of course, Alaric doesn't have the same problem.
He's up bright and early though, setting about gathering up supplies and getting a bit more information before they head out. The storm still rages over the castle, but the skies are clear above them and in the direction of Miramas. That doesn't mean they'll remain clear, but it certainly is a bit worrying. Blanche says nothing about that, and Alaric isn't going to bring it up.
With all their supplies packed up in a bag Alaric's carrying, they set off. The route he's picked is one that takes them through the forest for most of their journey, but it will eventually give them the option of descending onto the plains for the shortest route, or heading up into the mountains to go around the back way. They can decide on the best course of action once they're there; for now, they simply have to make it there.
Traveling like this is something Alaric's familiar with, though it's been awhile since he had any reason to do it. He and his mom lived very far away from the castle and he had to hike just to join the knights, much less make it all the way back out there. Of course, that was before he'd saved up enough to move his mom to the city some years ago, but that's a thought that's better left alone for now. It's not like they had time to go check the city surrounding the castle after their escape, after all.]
It's how they always are. Insects are a huge pain. Try not to scratch too much if they bite you.
[Not exactly the most confidence-inspiring response, but what did you expect here...]
[listen. blanche trusts alaric for three things in this world; protection, murder, and and objective advice. it's fine.]
They could stand to be far less so. But your advice is noted and appreciated.
[As for Blanche's leg...]
...It's fine enough. I checked it before we left this morning; it's left a scar, and there's some slight pain I can't get rid of with magic. It isn't anything hindering, however.
[The pain will probably pass in a few days or so. It's Fine And She'll Deal, basically. Business as usual, at least.
...And there's another mosquito buzzing around her ear, ugh can you not you little dastard--]
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no subject
Still, she does at least heal that cut right up. She can take care of his clothing in a bit, once they've settled in.]
Of course. These bandits have quite a bit of gall to attack a city so close to the castle. They couldn't be allowed to live.
[Either way, Blanche finishes off the healing spell easily and looks around where they are in town. It's definitely sustained some damages from the bandits, but...]
...It looks like the storm must have passed through here, too. Take a look at the damage; it's a far cry from what the castle sustained, but they suffered due to this as well.
[No wonder the bandits seized an opportunity to attack. How sickening.]
We need to check with the townspeople. I imagine that they've many injured among them, and I have no intention of letting them suffer any longer. Let us be off, Alaric.
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Agreed. But hold a moment...
[He moves to undo the clasp holding his cape and swiftly removes it. It's one of the shorter ones he wears, in a vibrant red. It's lined with thick, dark fur, that's certainly not doing so well after the rain, but it should be warm and more importantly, it should cover the queen. Alaric holds it out for her to take.]
No sense having you walk into town in just your nightgown.
[Now isn't really the time to care about such things, but is that going to stop Alaric? No.]
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And then he actually tells her, and her eyes briefly widen, looking between herself and the cloak for a moment.]
Oh. [...Off to a rousing start.] Yes, it would be most prudent to cover myself, with everything considered.
[It really isn't the time, but there's a bit of softness in her gaze, she definitely looks thankful if nothing else as she takes the cloak. Blanche is very careful when putting it on, though; she knows how much he doesn't like having his clothing ruined, after all.
And with the rain having dampened it, it is much warmer than just the nightgown. 10/10 work, Alaric.]
Thank you. Let us be off.
[And off to see the townspeople they go--most of them are gathered at the gate of the town, and while there are certainly quite a few, there is definitely something troubling.
The town's population is significantly smaller than the kingdom last recorded. Perhaps they can attribute some of this to the storm, and perhaps even the bandits. But even that doesn't contribute to the fact that the population is so small now.
Of course, the townspeople take notice of their saviors--an older woman in particular coming up to the both of them, though the crowd definitely whispers and babbles to themselves.
"Your Majesty! Oh, thank the heavens the both of you were here to save us! We were so sure that we were done for..."]
Please, it is no trouble at all. [Blanche's voice is gentler than her usual, and though her expression is still stony, there's no doubt her tone's gone soft.] It is a queen's duty to protect her denizens. Will you bring me to your injured?
["Yes, right away, your Majesty!"
Blanche gestures for Alaric to follow her; they can question more people like this, and she's certain they'll give them both of them plenty of information to work with as gratitude.
As they walk, though...]
Forgive my prying, Miss, but may I ask what has happened to this town?
["Well, it's just the darnedest thing! First this big old storm comes blowin' in, and by the time it's over, we woke up to more than half the town gone...some of 'em lost their life to that storm, but most of them are just...gone." The woman seems clearly distressed when she talks about that much. "Ain't see my little Lily since it happened. And with these bandits comin' in..."
...Oh dear. That's definitely some grim news to take in, but they come upon the injured while they walk and Blanche sets to work on their injuries. Feel free to ask some questions, Alaric.]
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They're greeted by one of the townspeople, and Blanche takes the lead as always. Alaric follows, listening intently as he studies the village around them. Yes, most of this can be attributed to either the storm or the bandit attack, but the number of people is concerning. The old woman's words really aren't helping matters much.]
Tell me about the bandits. Have they been troubling the town for awhile now?
[It's certainly possible there were reports about bandit attacks in this area, but Alaric doesn't recall any off the top of his head. His job isn't to oversee the knights, after all; he protects Her Majesty. Still, he does greatly prefer to know what's going on throughout the kingdom so he can offer his insight - however wanted it may be.
The topic is a serious one, so he's at least slipped into a more serious tone to address it, though his expression's still easy and relaxed. Chatting with the townsfolk isn't anything he dislikes, after all.]
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"They weren't brazen enough to attack the town before today, but...we've been havin' some problems with 'em for the past week, yes." The old woman continues after saying that much. "The knights in the area were takin' care of 'em pretty handily, from what little I heard from the boys themselves. But ever since that storm happened, I ain't seen them either."
Blanche's expression darkens upon hearing that much. Considering Alaric's theory about the storm itself, this can't be a coincidence.
"They either up and dipped, or the storm might'a displaced 'em too." The old woman continues, though she shakes her head. "And considerin' how good those boys are at solvin' problems? I'm willin' to put gold on that second one."]
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[If the storm specifically targeted the knights, that's further proof that it's an attack on Blanche specifically. Considering there isn't much out this way aside from the town, it does seem odd that the storm would tear through here, but if it targeting the knights, that would make sense.]
Did you see the storm pass through?
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The old woman sighs and shakes her head. "It'd been clear all evenin' long, too. Seems more than a mite unusual for a storm like that to pop up overnight."
The man that Blanche is currently healing--he looks like a sailor, pipes up a bit too from where he hears the old woman talk.
"Aye. Just came through here on my trading route, and there was nary a cloud in sight while my men and I were on the sea. And we just came back from Vernier territory."
Which is definitely quite a ways away from the kingdom, especially if they sailed.
At that much though, a young woman looks over--a cleric, from the looks of it, though she doesn't speak up. She seems briefly conflicted, between tending the wounded and speaking up herself.]
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The sailor's words get him to glance over, and Alaric's eyes narrow at the mention of Vernier territory. It is a long way from here, and if the entire trip back was peaceful... Well, no sense thinking too much about that right now.]
Thanks. Pretty strange that something like this happened out of nowhere.
[There's no sense in sharing his thoughts with them right now, though. It'd do nothing but get them panicking, and they aren't in a position to deal with that right now.
As he glances around at the injured Blanche is steadily healing, he notices that cleric. Something's definitely up here... He catches Blanche's eye and inclines his head a bit in that direction; he'll be right back, don't worry. After that, he approaches the woman and lowers his voice.]
You didn't happen to see anything unusual, did you, miss?
[It's not threatening, still spoken with the same calm tone as before.]
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The cleric in question startles briefly when Alaric speaks up--a little too focused on her current duties rather than anything too surprised, at least. Though, she keeps her voice low when she speaks up.
"I'm...afraid that I did. I was traveling with my fellow sisters, and...we were beset by a horrible woman. The tome she weld was incredibly powerful, and...able to change the weather in the immediate area.
...And she implied that it could do much more."
Well, that's a juicy tidbit of information. The cleric looks around, clearly fraught after saying that much, as if she thinks the woman will appear out of thin air--
"That is all I know. She appeared on our way through Miramas. If you value your lives, do not face her. I...I was lucky to escape, scathed as I am..."
Cast and point: she's got quite a few layers on, but her right arm hasn't moved for the entire conversation. The implication is likely obvious.
Miramas isn't the longest journey they could have to take on foot, but it is long enough and far enough from the kingdom that they need to be prepared for whatever journey comes ahead. Especially given they're going to be going through another noble family's territory in order to get there, and relations are still strained at best.
Of course, in the background of this, Blanche has finished healing all of the injured residents. They're all definitely thankful, giving what little bits of things they can. Some give money, some give vulneraries, at least one's just given us a Killing Edge (a gift that'll best suit Alaric, Blanche notes), and...
"Please, allow me to house you and Sir Alaric at the inn for the night, Your Majesty!" The old woman smiles easily. "It's the least we can do for your hard work in protectin' us. Free of charge!"]
You have our thanks for your hospitality; we will gladly take it.
[The cleric finishes her own work, and pauses for a moment...and whether Alaric notices or not, she slips something into his hand; it's an amulet that seems to be infused with a mild level magical protection. A touch worn, but...
"May the fates ever protect your steps."
And the cleric will walk away, for the time being, as Blanche turns around and gestures with her head to Alaric. Coming with?]
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Miramas isn't all that close, so they're definitely going to have to prepare. Maybe the storm has let up around the castle, but if it hasn't, they're going to need to get their hands on supplies here. Hopefully they've still got enough here that they can part with... Anyway, Alaric glances back toward Blanche as she's showered in gifts, proving that the village certainly hasn't lost too much in the storm and bandit attack.
That's when the cleric presses something into his hand, and he nods as he returns his attention back to her.]
Thanks. I'm sure they will. What you've told me is very valuable, and I appreciate it. You take care, now.
[He's quick to join Blanche, nodding appreciatively at the sword. Now that's a nice find, well done, villagers.]
We should head toward Miramas. Might be someone up that way who had a hand in the storm.
[That's all he'll say for now, but he'll elaborate once they've got a bit of privacy. Once again, no sense in worrying the villagers.]
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The old lady leads them to the inn, and it is unfortunately a little packed; there are several people who lost their homes or got otherwise displaced that she's allowing to stay until the recovery efforts are in full swing, so the bad news is they will be sharing a room. But the rooms aren't bad at all, from the looks of it; two nicely made beds, a well kept bathroom, and more than enough space for the both of them.
Blanche thanks the old woman, though she does whisper a brief request into the woman's ear after telling Alaric to go on ahead; the woman chuckles easily, and by the time Blanche enters the room with him, she's got something in her hands and she's locking the door behind her.]
This woman truly is kind. In such a time of need, she's willing to house and take care of these people...it's truly an example to lead by.
[Blanche sits on the bed, though, smoothing her nightgown and Alaric's cloak out. She'll give it back to him in a moment, but...]
So, I take it our adversary comes from Miramas, then? Quite a ways away to cause such a ruckus...what were you able to find out?
[...]
And give me your uniform, while you give your report. I will take care of it.
[It's blunt, but Blanche opens her hand shortly after; it seems she's obtained a needle and some white thread in the process. Surprise!]
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Alaric heads on up to the room first to check the place out - not that he was expecting anything off here, but it is a nice room. Two beds, so at least there's that. It's improper for the queen to be staying in the same room as her knight, but given their current situation, this is the best option. It's better to be nearby in case anyone else tries to kill Blanche.
Alaric's already sitting on the other bed, frowning at the cut in his sleeve and how it hangs now when Blanche enters. Her request gets a sharp laugh from him, but he doesn't hesitate in removing the uniform jacket. The shirt underneath is a plain white one; an undershirt rather than his usual dress shirt, but it's not like he had a lot of time to spare while getting dressed this morning.]
The queen probably shouldn't be handling this in my stead, but I appreciate it.
[Sewing has never been one of his talents...
With that out of the way, he leans back and holds the amulet up to the light to get a better look at it.]
The cleric who was there said she ran across a mage who could control the weather up that way. No idea how much weight that holds, but it's a start. If it's more than just lightning magic, it could give us some insight into who could be causing this.
Oh, and she gave me this. You know anything about it?
[Magical amulets aren't really his forte, so he holds it out for Blanche to look over.]
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[It's a bit of a better thanks for lending her your cloak, in basic terms. And she's had a talent for this for years, it's cool.
Still, that is...interesting, to say the least. Blanche listens while she works, her eyes on the uniform but clearly listening. The method for stitching this back together without obvious stitch marks is a little involved, but it does give Blanche plenty to think about.]
It's a better start than I could have hoped for. Excellent work as always. [Even so...] Our path is settled then; we march to Miramas once we are well supplied. If a mage of that caliber is running around unchecked near that town, it's only a matter of time before they cause even more problems. Especially if the nobility of the area are sitting on their thumbs and doing nothing about it.
[And boy does she not like that.
Blanche does look up when he mentions what he got from the cleric, and turns her attention to that. It requires some careful scrutiny, Blanche touching the amulet to get a sense of it's power, but...]
...Yes, I recognize the magic within this. [She sounds surprised, but--] It's clearly been used, but...it's a ward meant to protect one from powerful magic, and it's no mere beginner's ward. This is quite advanced.
[It may be the reason that cleric survived to tell the tale about the magus. Blanche's gaze goes hard, before looking directly at Alaric.]
Keep it, Alaric. It may keep you safe, should we come across that magus.
[And she's sure she doesn't need to remind him why.]
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I will.
[He'll take it back and slip it on, securing it around his neck. He's not usually the sort to wear necklaces, so it's a little odd, but if it'll be more useful in his possession, then he'll keep it. Blanche has already proven that she can take a magical hit that strong; it would be pointless to hand it over to her when it'll undoubtedly kill him without it.]
The people of this town are generous, I'm sure they'll provide us with everything they can before we leave.
[Hmm...]
We'll need a map to start with. If I'm remembering it right, we can get to Miramas from a few different directions. The most direct route will put us out in the open; if the mage is responsible for the storm, it'd be better to take a different path.
[Though his memory for geography isn't the greatest, so maybe taking the quickest route would be best here. There's no telling if or when that mage will move on, after all.]
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I am sure of that as well...were the situation not so dire, I would like to stay a few days and help with the rebuilding efforts in return...
[blanche where the fuck do you think you are, you think you got time for that shit???]
But yes, I am in agreement. Though unfortunately the area around Miramas is one I don't know so well... [But that'll be what the map is for, at any rate, and she trusts Alaric's sense of geography more than her own.] We've only the two of us; the path of most caution is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that we make it to this foul miscreant unscathed.
[So she is in agreement. Their plan is set, really, and yet...well, they finally have time to themselves, and Blanche's look shifts to something melancholic.]
...Do you think that we'll find everyone, when we confront that mage?
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But for now there's something else to address, and Alaric rests his chin on his hand as he considers her question.]
I don't know nearly enough about magic to speculate on what happened to those people. If the point was to kill them, it would have made more sense to leave their bodies where we could find them.
[That isn't a guarantee that they're alive, though.]
If you want my opinion, [too late you're getting it anyway] I doubt this mage we're chasing will be the true cause of this. For one, if they were planning an attack on the queen herself, they'd likely want to keep themselves better hidden. For another, magic like this isn't common. I've never heard tales of anything like this, much less seen anything close to it. If your parents had this kind of power, they would have used it in exactly the same way.
[It's nothing against Blanche specifically, just a statement of fact. Those with power will use it, particularly against their enemies' leaders.]
What I'm getting at is that it'd be strange if it was only one person involved in this.
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It makes Blanche's blood boil, and her look darkens as she finishes patching up his uniform. All nice and sewn, as if nothing happened at all.]
...No, you are right about all of that. It would be entirely too strange if this was the work of one simple person. And my useless parents would have made an ostentatious show of power like this.
[Here, Alaric, you can take back your uniform now. Blanche's look goes contemplative, considering Alaric's opinion. Which nobody should probably do, but Blanche has never been one to not make mistakes--]
But no, you are correct; it would be entirely too strange. I would be foolish to believe otherwise. [Hmm...] If I had to guess, this magus must have been paid off by whoever they are acting under. It would make the most sense, would it not?
But who would be brazen enough to act against the kingdom in such a manner? Who would benefit from such a move?
[...]
I can think of several families who may not be too fond of what I have done, but truthfully, I know not where to start in casting suspicion.
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Thanks.
[And with that he'll slip it back on, listening as she continues.]
That's my thought. Some group paid them to do this so it'll be harder for it to be traced back to them specifically. The more difficult it is for us to find them, the more they feel they can get away with.
[And given how brazen this attack was with so little regard for life... Well, it's likely this isn't the last they've seen of this incident. It'll probably be even worse next time, once they're aware Blanche survived.]
Given the power, money, and influence that would be needed, a noble family would be the likely culprit. But there's no sense in trying to figure out which one it could be just yet; if we start suspecting the wrong one, it'll just make things worse.
[Relations with noble families are exceptionally important, as little as Alaric likes to admit it. They can't simply be destroyed at will. Many of those families play an integral role in the kingdom, after all.]
For now, let's seek out that mage and see what we can learn.
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And at the very least, once they find that person, they may be able to follow the thread elsewhere. Blanche is already scheming, at least minorly, about how to utilize this to their advantage.]
Of course. One step at a time, as you said.
[Blanche is honestly ready to sink into the bed after the rather...eventful day they've had, really, and at first she does, surprisingly cozy--
And then she realizes why and promptly jolts up. Right, she--]
Ah-- [Hang on, let her get this off.] My apologies. You might want to take this back before I get too comfortable with it...
[world cold and hard. cape soft and warm.]
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And then she's suddenly jolting upright and he's staring at her like she's grown a second head.]
No? [okay hang on he just sounds baffled now—] You hold onto it. We're going to have to get you some proper clothes, so I'd just be giving it back to you in the morning anyway.
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...I had...thought that you might want it back for the night, at the very least? [Like.] ...That and I was nearly prepared to fall asleep with it on. I simply did not want to...
[Impose upon you for longer than needed. That's the first thing that pops into Blanche's head, and objectively, it's sound to her. Alaric looks so strange without his cloak? And she knows that he likes the damn thing, he only gave it to her because she did need to at least have something that wasn't her nightgown.
She could also just tell him he looks odd without it. Like, the guy likes his clothes and it looks strange off of him.
Furthermore, Blanche has never been particularly good at asking for things that aren't explicitly given to her, or brought up at a given opportunity. It...just feels strange, even if he's given this much to her, she just assumed it was for public appearance.
If she were emotionally competent, she could choose to express any of these sentiments. Unfortunately, you're dealing with Blanche Lamarre, and she is bad at this sort of thing. She just elects to shake her head instead, trying to dismiss the subject.]
--Never mind. Please, just forget about it. I...think I simply may need some sleep; it's making me act daft.
[And so she just kind of...promptly flops over on the bed so she doesn't have to stare at her knight's baffled face and she can hide her embarrassment. She almost had to express an emotion, that was terrible, please don't call her out on this--]
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Regardless, he lets it go with a shrug.]
No need to worry so much. Get some sleep; we're going to need an early start tomorrow.
[With that he gets up off the bed to head into the bathroom for his preparations for bed; he won't be up for much longer, but he needs to run one last check over the place to make sure things will be safe for the night. You can't be too cautious - especially not after what they did to the previous rulers and Blanche's siblings. Blanche made a lot of enemies that day.]
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By the time the next morning comes, Blanche looks the same as usual, though. This has been her normal for quite some time now, and the stone-faced queen has better things to focus on than her nightmares.
Namely, supplies. Alaric was right, at the very least; the town's people are more than generous with helping them get supplies, and in a way, Blanche can't help but feel a little guilt. It's something she doesn't express outright, but between the food, the clothing, and everything else they're able to get for the road, they'll be able to make it to Miramas with enough to spare. And if all goes well, perhaps they'll be able to stock up there as well.
(Of course, Blanche does look back towards the way they came, by the time they leave, and the storm is still somehow raging over the castle grounds. It's practically cloaked the entire castle from view, and it's...
Something Blanche isn't going to think about right now.)
Either way, the two of them are on the road again; their path is going to be a long one, since they're taking plenty of caution to hopefully not be detected by this stormy magus. Alaric has the map in hand and has charted out a path for them that will get them there with hopefully few problems. Blanche is at least dressed prepared for the situation, though. Sure, she's gone for the most goth yet noble ensemble possible, and for convenience sake, she's elected to go for pants instead of a skirt for travel purposes, but everyone will know it's her once they see her face. She's sure of that much.
Still, they've certainly got a long ways ahead of them, and the brush is definitely thick enough to cover them. Of course, it's also thick enough to be an inconvenience in multiple fashions; Blanche is pretty sure that some of those leaves are poison ivy, and they'll need to avoid that like the plague. And the bugs...don't get her started on the bugs. If Blanche has to swat away another fly away so help her gods--]
These insects are practically treating us as a beacon... [Blanche doesn't really complain much. Really, she doesn't! But good gods.] Really, you would think they haven't had a meal in weeks with how irritating they're being.
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Of course, Alaric doesn't have the same problem.
He's up bright and early though, setting about gathering up supplies and getting a bit more information before they head out. The storm still rages over the castle, but the skies are clear above them and in the direction of Miramas. That doesn't mean they'll remain clear, but it certainly is a bit worrying. Blanche says nothing about that, and Alaric isn't going to bring it up.
With all their supplies packed up in a bag Alaric's carrying, they set off. The route he's picked is one that takes them through the forest for most of their journey, but it will eventually give them the option of descending onto the plains for the shortest route, or heading up into the mountains to go around the back way. They can decide on the best course of action once they're there; for now, they simply have to make it there.
Traveling like this is something Alaric's familiar with, though it's been awhile since he had any reason to do it. He and his mom lived very far away from the castle and he had to hike just to join the knights, much less make it all the way back out there. Of course, that was before he'd saved up enough to move his mom to the city some years ago, but that's a thought that's better left alone for now. It's not like they had time to go check the city surrounding the castle after their escape, after all.]
It's how they always are. Insects are a huge pain. Try not to scratch too much if they bite you.
[Not exactly the most confidence-inspiring response, but what did you expect here...]
How's your leg doing?
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They could stand to be far less so. But your advice is noted and appreciated.
[As for Blanche's leg...]
...It's fine enough. I checked it before we left this morning; it's left a scar, and there's some slight pain I can't get rid of with magic. It isn't anything hindering, however.
[The pain will probably pass in a few days or so. It's Fine And She'll Deal, basically. Business as usual, at least.
...And there's another mosquito buzzing around her ear, ugh can you not you little dastard--]
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