The dinner table was quiet as people ate. A messenger had arrived and whisked Typhon away. Something at the Temple she was needed for. Emmeline took the liberty to send a report back on the Hag attack. Poor Felix left with Typhon to journey back home, promising to be of service to the group should they wish him. He owed them his life, not knowing that the destruction was as much due to the party being hunted. The Parson was in with Elemix, helping with his recovery.<\/p>\n
Mazarin de Garin, Emmeline’s uncle, and his wife Beatrice were at one end of table. Spaced along the rest was Therise (32) and her husband Ronan, Josephine (29) and her husband Bruno, Germain (24), Maurice (15) who was Mirel\u2019s twin, Chandler (14) and the one non-de Garin – Renee (16). Emmeline sat next to Renee and Chandler on the far end. Mazarin\u2019s children by his first wife were not here. The sounds of young grandchildren could be heard from the other room.<\/p>\n
Mazarin broke the silence.<\/p>\n
\u201cHmm. Sorry that Cora, Jean, and Udo couldn’t be here. Busy they are with their own families I’s suppose. They said they be stopin’ by to see ye t\u2019morra. Germain here be shippin out on the Indefatigable<\/em> in a few days. If ye don\u2019t mind, I\u2019d like ya to take \u2018em with ya back to City.”<\/p>\n Emmeline looked at Germain. “Of course. Are you going … to Adera?”<\/p>\n He shook his head, \u201cNope. All I know is that we are leaving toward the south. Escort duty and seeking pirates they say. But an awful lot of ships left a few weeks ago already, probably not much to do and pretty boring. Rather stick around and hunt down the ones that attacked you and yours.\u201d<\/p>\n “I hope your trip is very boring and that you never, ever, see what it was that attacked us, Germain,” Emmeline said quietly. “We only lived because I was able to turn a sailor into an orca and because I can fly. For a very short time. You saw what happened to Elemix. The captain of that vessel and the other sailors weren’t so lucky. I don’t want that to happen to anyone else. Be assured one day I will deal with that so-called ‘sea god’.”<\/p>\n Germain nodded, though Emmeline could tell he longed for action. Mazarin spoke up and said, \u201cPerhaps, perhaps not. The way Mirel\u2019s last letter sounded, it seemed you\u2019ve got a good thing goin\u2019 up yonder there. People like you. Despite what me\u2019thinks aboutt your \u2018arrangement’ with that Baron, what I think of your crazy grandmother, and what I think of this magic-thing you do, I want ya to be happy. We all do. But ya can\u2019t be happy if you are always fightin\u2019. You need to cultivate your happiness and let it grow. That means a place you stay. That means land. That means a husband and a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n “I would be happy just performing and singing my songs again, uncle. And I do get to do that, too. It’s not all fighting for my life. I’ve grown a lot over the past year, in many ways. I know the Baron loves me and that will have to be enough for now.”<\/p>\n Her uncle nodded and the dinner talk segued to local gossip, family chats, and who was doing what. Later as the stars came out and the sound of the ocean echoed in the distance, Emmeline and Uncle Mazarin walked under the moonlight uncle to niece, discussing the farm and more. At one point, the old man said, \u201cEmmy. Methinks you\u2019d have made your mother proud. Your father too. He didn\u2019t abandon you ya know. He was trying to make money to support you. It just didn\u2019t work out. Now, I was not as successful then, but I would have taken you in. And when your grandpa died I did; but you were a rambunctious sort. Always disobeying and carrying on. You got five years of a father, eight of a grandfather, six of an uncle and now a year out on your own. And its been a risky year. I hear tale that your cousin on your mother\u2019s side there has been mostly dead three times?\u201d<\/p>\n Emmeline nodded. \u201cYes. But I\u2019ve got his back. And we\u2019ve always been able to get him back on his feet. He\u2019s a wizard, which means he has lots of power, but that makes him a target, too. I just try to make myself less of a target, and I don\u2019t like to spread it around that I\u2019m a member of the Wizard\u2019s Guild. I only want to be flashy when I\u2019m playing my violin.\u201d<\/p>\n She turned suddenly and gave him a hug. \u201cUncle? Grandmother, the Contessa, is looking into Father\u2019s disappearance. I gave her the lead you gave me.\u201d She looked at him, biting her lip trying to decide if she could take the risk of casting Dream for him or not. The Temple had said it was possible it could be noticed and she didn\u2019t want to get into more trouble. The fact that it would also eat into recovery time, preventing the kind of rest she needed to recover from the wounds she received on the ship, was secondary to her.<\/p>\n Mazarin gave her a slightly uncomfortable hug that slowly became more so.<\/p>\n \u201cI know a spell, Uncle. A very complicated spell that very few spellcasters my age can handle. Actually I don\u2019t know of any spellcasters my age that can cast it. With this spell I can speak to people in a dream, if they are alive and if they are asleep at the time. But I can also bestow this on someone else \u2014 make them the message for one dream\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He looked quizzical, saying, \u201cI don\u2019t quite understand.”<\/p>\n \u201cWhat I mean is, I can\u2019t remember my father. So I can\u2019t reach him. You are the only one that could do it. If I cast this spell for you, and he is still alive out there, then we would know for sure. It would\u2026 take away any doubt. If he isn\u2019t alive, then we won\u2019t know anything about what happened or when he died or anything like that at all. It might be worse than not knowing. And, I should tell you that the Aegis is up. That means there are magical defenses up on this Island and I could get into trouble for casting a spell that penetrates it. I feel like a coward to say it\u2026\u201d She shook her head. \u201cBut I will do it anyway if you want this.\u201d<\/p>\n She looked up at him, dead tired, beat up and still badly singed from the final lightning bolt that hit her.<\/p>\n With a swoop, the old man picked her up and began to walk her back to the house, \u201cYou first need to rest. My house, my rules. You had a full day and you have to take care of yourself first. Tomorrow evening, when you are rested and back from the fields, then we can try this \u2018dream\u2019 idea. I remember my brother well and the last thing he would want to do is let me let you wear yourself out or catch a death a\u2019cold. Agreed?”<\/p>\n “But Uncle tomorrow…” She worried that she would lose a day. But tomorrow was Friday and the formal wasn’t until Saturday night. Perhaps she could rest now and hurry back on Saturday and make it in time for the formal. “No you are right. I’ll be useless without rest.”<\/p>\n Mazarin brought Emmeline back to the homestead and placed her in her old bed. In his grumpy way he said “well, sleep now… Breakfast will be there for you.” After he left and just before she could fall asleep she heard in her mind, ‘can save Gustave need you to convey that to Tyaan tell her to welcome two women and a man using code ‘Phoenix rising west’.<\/p>\n Another message followed the first – ‘Get Thal to meet our people. Find out where would be out of the way. Code ‘A girl returns.”<\/p>\n Emmeline made a response, knowing she had very limited time to do so. She hoped they received, \u201cMessages will be delivered this night.\u201d<\/p>\n Emmeline then turned to Renee. \u201cI depend on you so much anymore,\u201d Emmeline whispered. \u201cBut I need you again. My work is not yet finished.\u201d Emmeline moved to an upright sitting position. \u201cI\u2019m going into a trance. If I topple that means I\u2019m going to sleep and I can\u2019t do that until I\u2019m done. Nudge me a little but don\u2019t startle me out of the trance. That should keep me awake enough to do what I must. As always, awaken me if there an emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n Renee nodded, getting up from her bed in her nightgown and taking a guarding position at the door. “Ready,” she whispered.<\/p>\n Em concentrated on her spell. First was the message to Desmodia.<\/p>\n After setting the scene as before, Desmodia recognized Emmeline. “You are back?”<\/p>\n Emmeline new better than to ever look anything but strong, powerful and without any weakness to a Tyaanite. And in this dream, she did. While the setting was the same, Emmeline portrayed herself as a White Witch of War, clad in her white armor and dark green cloak, she carried a mask the provided a hauntingly artistic impression of a fey face in one hand and the complex-seeming Rowan Rod in her other hand.<\/p>\n Emmeline nodded. \u201cWe have decided Gustave will be saved. Please welcome among you two women and a man. They will offer you the code, Phoenix Rising West.<\/em>”<\/p>\n Desmodia looked very confused at the look, as if it was completely foreign to her. “Is this how you really are?” she asked before saying, “What do you need of us? Of me?”<\/p>\n “This is how I look when I prepare for war,” Emmeline told Desmodia. “The three that are being sent to you can explain more. I can’t tell you if I’ll be among them or not. But for now, remember the code I gave you.”<\/p>\n “I will. You should know something is up. They moved the general and several ouf our people into the no man’s land. They are preparing something.” she replied.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you Desmodia. Before I go, are there any other messages you wish to pass on through me?\u201d Emmeline asked.<\/p>\n “Just this. You are outfitted for war, but you do not know war. Not really. Neither does Thalassa. War is coming and the refugees and raiders are just the beginning. Rumor has it that the new leader of Maelith is reaching out to the disaffected, many of whom do not care for what Thalassa stands for. Be warned that the terror visited upon my people will soon be visited upon yours.” she replied.<\/p>\n Emmeline tilted her head curiously, wondering what made Desmodia think she knew Thalassa\u2019s level of preparedness. Was Desmodia hinting she might side with the new leader of Maelith? Em felt cold in the pit of her stomach.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been in battles and I have seen great suffering. I\u2019ve seen ones I love cut down by enemy soldiers. I know war brings more of all that. My home does not lie in the soft cushions of a far-away city. My home lies on the very edge of the Periphery where a storm of violence always hangs and often clashes, where tree and stone reach the sky. Thalassa is aware of what you speak and has been preparing. The armies that are coming are led not by politicians or bookish wizards. They are led by hardened and determined warlords. Thalassa will<\/em> destroy her enemies. She will<\/em> aid her allies.\u201d<\/p>\n Even if Thalassa had to fall under the sway of a dictator that rebuilt the republic into an empire? The thought flit through Emmeline\u2019s mind and not for the first time. History seemed to warn that an empire born of war would live only so long as war could continue. And if the civilized world remained aflame, the war forges of empire could burn a very long time.<\/p>\n \u201cDesmodia, I know holding on is hard. You want to find a way to win but do not yet see it. Give these three individuals a chance. They will rescue General Gustave and you will yet have your opportunity to win back the city.”<\/p>\n \u201cConquer the city you mean,\u201d Desmodia corrected. “This is not our city, it is the Storuvani\u2019s, but it will be ours as they lost their rights the second the betrayed us. What we will do to them will terrify all around, and we will do anything to survive. I\u2019ll help your people get the General, but I doubt he will let us have the city. He is still one of them, albeit an enlightened one like you seemed to be. My question to you is this – as we help you, what for us? What for this new tribe forged by fire and strife; the abandoned, the Maha-j\u00e4e in our tongue. What does Thalassa promise us? I have nine thousand survivors will little food. If it means our survival I will without hesitation ally with the Ulan-Khatai, Hordes, or even the Orcs if it means survival. What option for us?\u201d<\/p>\n “Most of the options you name would likely mean slavery or death for your people. Thalassa wouldn’t do that to prisoners, conquered people, and especially not allies. Can you say the same for those you named?”<\/p>\n “Right now that is exactly what we face with the Storuvani. If we are to die, I’d rather go down fighting than waste away. You seem powerful. Could you not call on your allies, be they Thalassan or not, to intervene on our behalf and help us seize this city?” She asked. Despite her Tyaan religion she seemed to genuinely care about het people. “I just don’t understand how rescuing the general helps anyone, us especially.”<\/p>\n Emmeline hesitated. She didn\u2019t want to promise things she had no control over nor give false hope. But perhaps there was something she could say. \u201cI have let it be known what Storuvan did to you and your people. I believe I have convinced the leadership that the Herzogs are not our allies nor even good for their own people. I have done everything I know to focus Thalassa on helping you and your people. Right now, Thalassa\u2019s armies and navies are massing across the entire Periphery and the city herself is already geared and armed for war. This has been happening for months now.<\/p>\n \u201cI am trying everything I know to convince our warlords that your strength and continued survival are vital to our war effort. I\u2019m not a warlord but they are listening. I\u2019m working with people to end the siege of Adera quickly and with minimum bloodshed because a pitched battle there will only delay help for Storuvan. The armies are coming. My lover is among their leaders.\u201d<\/p>\n She hesitated. If things became truly desperate and Thalassa could not save them in time, might she call in a favor? Might she be able to convince John Brennius to intervene? But calling on him like that was never something she intended to do, especially not for a potential enemy like Desmodia. But if it meant Storuvan could be turned into an eastern stronghold that could improve the odds of her lover coming home safely, how could she not try? She decided to put the thought aside for now, however.<\/p>\n \u201cThree will come. Remember two women and a man. \u2018Phoenix Rising West\u2019. They may have more answers for you.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The dinner table was quiet as people ate. A messenger had arrived and whisked Typhon away. Something at the Temple she was needed for. Emmeline took the liberty to send a report back on the Hag attack. Poor Felix left<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2013,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[2],"tags":[4],"class_list":["post-3026","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-thalassa","tag-emmeline"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p8aqU2-MO","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2945,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2016\/05\/02\/on-the-road\/","url_meta":{"origin":3026,"position":0},"title":"On the Road","author":"Illuminatus","date":"May 2, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"As the party were passing hardby the highlands and woods where the hags were battled, Ren\u00e9e road up to the Baron, bowing slightly and discussed some thing Emmeline not Elemix could hear. Elemix could make out the words 'danger', and 'possible'. Once she was done, Ren\u00e9e backed her horse off\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2452,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2015\/08\/31\/epilogue-sessions-12-13\/","url_meta":{"origin":3026,"position":1},"title":"Epilogue: Sessions 12 & 13","author":"Edward","date":"August 31, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Overview From Thalassa, the party journeyed by ship to Breven. During the trip they were waylaid by seahags with intent to capture Emmeline at the very least. Surviving this, the party returned to Uzec where they were drawn into combat at Arresey where\u00a0hobgoblins fleeing their defeat near Faou and foraging\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4366,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2018\/12\/26\/gallery\/","url_meta":{"origin":3026,"position":2},"title":"Character Gallery","author":"Edward","date":"December 26, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Charcters Eastmarch Maga Emmeline de Garin Magus Elemix Dungaruun Maga Wren Miremy du Triel Brother Typhon N\u00e9 Castranova Characters Count Marshal Roland Countess Sophia-Maria d'Este-Uzec Sir Baptiste Montjoy Roux Dungaruun, Journeyman Wizard Blaise Cailin, Journeyman Wizard Redcap Giselle Alix Magus Karantine Barclay Mercer Boris, Redcap Master Tannhauser, Wizard Captain of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Maga Emmeline de Garin","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/08\/emmelineFairy-6.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/08\/emmelineFairy-6.png?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/08\/emmelineFairy-6.png?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2020\/08\/emmelineFairy-6.png?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2714,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2016\/01\/11\/epilogue-session-25\/","url_meta":{"origin":3026,"position":3},"title":"Epilogue Session 25","author":"Edward","date":"January 11, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Overview\u00a0 The party split up from Rivanon and went up river directly to Uzec while she stayed behind to wait for several score reinforcements she hoped to march over the Eastern Ridge pass. Ren\u00e9e, the daughter of Vorn's friend Captain du Triel, joined the party under Emmeline's tutorage.\u00a0After fighting a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2899,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2016\/03\/22\/message-for-the-herald\/","url_meta":{"origin":3026,"position":4},"title":"Message for the Herald","author":"Illuminatus","date":"March 22, 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"Emmeline and friends had ridden hard to Primel and the horses needed rest. And realistically, so did they. They had a long way to go yet to Derrien and it wouldn\u2019t be any easier. Her friends had been good enough to stick with her on the ride home \u2014 at\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Emmeline","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2016\/12\/image-300x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3518,"url":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/2017\/11\/14\/households-circles-spring-451\/","url_meta":{"origin":3026,"position":5},"title":"Households & Circles: Spring 452","author":"Edward","date":"November 14, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Dungaruuns of Mericourt Ridge Master: Monsieur Elimix Dungaruun, Magus Mistress: Lady Amelie Dungaruun Young Mistress: Lady Amelia Belladonna Dungaruun Landlord: Lord Marshall Roland d'Uzec-Leon Housekeeper: Mdm. Estelle Pineau Groundskeeper: M. Fernand Pineau Lady's Maids: Mslle. El\u00e9onore Ballou, Mslle. Claudia Carbonneau, Mselle. Nicoline Gavreau Valet: Master Hugues Mercier, son of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Thalassa"","block_context":{"text":"Thalassa","link":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/category\/thalassa\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3026","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3026"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3026\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3026"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3026"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/countlessworlds.org\/thalassa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3026"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}