Edith
**Admiral Retto Elbaroda**
**The Council Room**

Retto turned his attention away from the bard to his king when addressed. "Sorry, sir." 

He turned back to his fellow bard and stood up. He pointed his thumb over his shoulder towards the wall not to far from them. "He's talkin a bi' o' private affairs. If ye wan' t' keep talkin' we'll step over there. Th' name's Retto by th' way. Admiral Retto Elbaroda, o' th' Secon' Flee'. Mos' people either address me as Captain or Admiral. Ye can call me Retto, or wha' mos' o' those who know me do; Elbaroda. Up t' ye." He told the bard as he walked over to the wall.
Lawrence
Ivagneth Wrencrest
Castle Grunewald, Vallen


Ivagneth gave Heath a thoughtful look as he related the story of Cecilia and the shifters. The idea of a knight from such influential, highborn stock forming a friendship with such a creature—she noted the distaste he had shown when she'd used that word—deeply fascinated her. Were they lovers, perhaps?

Feyshore, to her, was a very mysterious place; Father had told her much about Terresol and Araedia, and she felt that, of those kingdoms, she had an intimate preconception that was like to match the reality. Her knowledge of Feyshore, however, had come mostly through what tall tales, such as Crazy King Cleburn's preposterously numerous progeny. Twenty-four children? Impossible, she thought, even for a cosy, oversexed Southerner. She knew no family with more living children than second-cousin-once-removed Edwald's, with the four youngsters his Araedian hussy had popped out down in their depraved corner of Reaper's Skull.

Ivagneth was about to ask more about his history with Cecilia when she was interrupted by King Gregor's wretched servant. She nearly shuddered when he gave them that horrific smile. Once he was gone, she sighed with relief, and she chuckled faintly at the knight's quip. "Quite. I hope that we'll be able to visit the Northshore sometime soon. Grandfather used to say that Father would be far more suited for a kingdom of such extravagance, as opposed to our, uh, somewhat *Drab* Homeland. It often feels like he's trying to create, with our city, a little slice of foreign splendour in the middle of the 'cold, barbaric Witherlands,' but, um ... I think that dream will always be a little bit out of our reach, unfortunately. 

"But anyway—it was a pleasure meeting you, Sir Heath." She curtsied. "Good day to you and yours." With that, Ivagneth retrieved her cat from Feineth's arms and made her way back into the throne room, as her cousin hurried after her, averting her eyes from Heath.

Seeing the girls return, Bennard gave his daughter a wide smile. "What did you make of all that, Ivva?" His mirth dissipated when his daughter ignored him, taking her seat on her unfolded stool and looking straight ahead. Adelhayd beckoned the girls over to whisper into their ears.

"What?!" Ivagneth blurted, her eyes wide. Adelhayd grabbed her wrist and snapped at her to be quiet, then gave her some soft-spoken words of comfort. Ivagneth nodded, her expression very grave. She moved her seat closer to Lady Anna before back down, Jade resting snuggly in her lap. "Lady Anna? My lady, I'm sorry to hear about what happened. I'll pray for the welfare of your sister and all others in the castle tonight."

Kallophon Dikegora
The Council Room

Kallophon raised a brow at the Pirate King's words. Was that a threat? Truthfully, he *Yearned* To know the thoughts and feelings of the villainous Pirate King, more so than those of anyone else at the council. Alas, it seemed like pressing into that domain would be a walk through thorns in a dark, beast-ridden forest. Another time, perhaps. Maybe the Duchess knew him?

To the Islander's offer, he nodded his assent. His hand ceased its playing, in favour of merely holding his lyre against his chest as he followed the man over to a more private spot. "My name is Kallophon Autele, though 'Kallophon of Milo' is my more popular moniker. And my-my, a player *And* A sea captain? To which description do you feel closer in spirit? Actually, ignore that question. I'd like to hear your full story—if you'd be willing to share it with a nosy stranger from the decadent northeast, that is."
Edith
**Admiral Retto Elbaroda**
**The council room**

"Kallophon, eh? A fine name" He leaned against the wall and stroked his beard. "Truth be tol', I love t' play music, bu' I'm an islander. My hear' will always be with th' sea. Though, I'm surprised a nosy strange' from th' northeas' wan's t' know a savage pirate from th' barbaric islan's story. Jus' by bein' willin' t' talk t' us, ye are already many steps ahead o' other mainlanders"
Shelly
Charity Lane
Vallen, Taemar

There was relief in Charity as the uncertainty of her delivery's fate was resolved. "I hope it brought you some joy during our months long separation, and maybe after the Council you and I can share our gifts" Charity had not expected a return gift, but as long as their was one, they may as well get drunk off their asses, and then that 'oof' won't be the last sound she forces out of the Grand Duchess. Or at least that would've been the plan, Anya looks like she needs rest, a quiet evening might suit better.
Katherine
Anyanka Durkhan
Vallen, Taemar

"I would like that, if I'm still able to stand by the end of the day." She admitted. What little energy she had was already draining from her, and her mind had wandered to the vial Danico had given her. He had said it would help with her energy, but given a warning with it. She didn't remember the warning, just the mention of one, and she swallowed thickly, giving Charity a soft but tired smile. "I'm glad to see you, these aren't my favorite circumstances for it, but I'm very glad it was you calling for me and not someone else." Their embrace loosened, but she lingered close regardless, admittedly a little worried she might swoon if she moved too quickly again.
Shelly
Charity Lane
Vallen, Taemar

Charity let go of Anya, Charity was unsure if 10 minutes had yet passed. She should make her way back to the Council room, but given Anya's state she couldn't very well leave her to go to her room alone. "I'm just glad you're okay, relatively. I need to go back to the Throne room, but maybe on my way back in I could send Mrs. Stafford or Mr. Harmattan to help you towards your room?"
Michael
Wisdom Serafina
Castle Grunewald, Vallen

Serafina quietly observed the royals around her during the short break thinking that it was no suprise so many kingdoms were in disarray if the nobles refused the guidance of the Gods. At least, she assumed they were refusing it - the Gods would never allow such chaos to descend upon their people. 

'The council will resume soon, where is the Queen?' She sat up a bit straighter and glanced around the room, her eye catching Bradai's for a brief moment before glancing over to where the bard was speaking with the Islander who had played the night before. The Wisdom rose from her seat and made her way to the stairs. She didn't see the Queen at first and traveled a little farther down before hearing voices. Within a few moments she stumbled upon the Queen in a warm embrace with the Duchess, which was quickly broken. "Forgive my intrusion, Your Majesty, Grand Duchess Anyanka." The woman said, smiling warmly and nodding to the two women. "The discussions of the origin and cure for the plague will begin shortly. I'm sure your people wouldn't want you to miss a moment of it."
Katherine
**Anyanka Durkhan
Vallen, Taemar**

Anyanka squeezed Charity's hand, the last lingering place they still touched, and was about to let her know not to worry about it when the Terresolian Wisdom stepped into the hall to interrupt. Her eyes moved to her, transforming from tired and soft for Charity to steel at the woman who had interrupted. She wasn't angry about it, but didn't want anyone spar those she trusted seeing the exhausted look she'd just been bearing. 

"We're coming," She said simply, squeezing once more and then releasing Charity's hand. "And for the record, Wisdom, the correct title is 'Queen' for myself as well." She noted, giving Charity a look that said _walk with me?_ as she headed back inside.
Shelly
Charity Lane
Vallen, Taemar

Charity looked over to the interrupting Wisdom, who had incredible timing in suggesting that the Queens return just after Charity mentioned returning. "Have ten minutes already passed so quickly?". When she looked back towards Anya she was surprised to see the transformation between injured and regal queen. She nodded slightly in response to Anya's nonverbal question, and together the walked back towards their seats.
Michael
Wisdom Serafina
Castle Grunewald, Vallen

Serafina was slightly taken aback by the "Queens" Response, but simply smiled and nodded, moving to the side for the women to pass. "Of course." The women followed them to their seats and gracefully sank into her chair, contemplating what she had seen. 

'I can't say I would be thrilled to have someone with such a temper as my Queen.' Serafina thought quietly mulling over the sight she had stumbled upon. It seemed that she would need to keep a close eye on the Queen of Terresol. The rumors appeared to hold more weight than she originally thought.
Lawrence
Kallophon Dikegora
The Council Room

"Well, I don't think your savages. That you have an appreciation for music is proof enough to me." He nodded towards Retto's hurdy-gurdy. "I even know a few Islander songs. Some are fun, and some are just ... Beautiful. The histories of our two peoples are so different, giving us such contrasting worldviews and experiences. I see so much, um ... Magnificence in that difference, you know?

He laughed. "I often wish I could have grown up on one of the islands off my kingdom's great arm. It seems so romantic growing up surrounded by salty ocean, gazing out into the familiar one way, the foreign another way, and otherwise the distant unknown. I was stuck inland, unfortunately. Lake Famid is lovely, but the sea is its own world."
Katherine
**Astorian Party
Council Room**

Anya returned to the council room at Charity's side, the Wisdom a step behind them as they entered. She gave Charity a soft look before departing from her side, back towards her seat at the table. Mikhail and Angelica both looked up and stood when they saw her, and she paused beside Mikhail. 

"Are you alright?" He asked, and as answer his mother wrapped an arm around his shoulder, pulling him into an embrace. 

"I will be." She murmured, holding him for a moment before inhaling and releasing him. He watched her with a concerned eye, but took a seat when she did. Angelica didn't comment, but looked somehow both pleased and concerned that Anya had returned instead of getting some rest. 

"I thought you were going to go rest?" The blonde prompted, pouring a glass of water and passing it to Anya. "Mikhail and I can handle things here." 

Anya raised a shoulder, accepting the ledger Angelica moved to her. "I know you can, but I don't want to hear this information second hand."
Robert
Sir Heath Romanov
The Council Room

The knight opened the door to the throne room, allowing the girls back into the belly of the beast, before walking in himself. He re-joined the Romanov clan, lowering himself into the seat next to Queen Elle. The King and Queen of the Northshore had elected to stay during the break, not trusting King Gregor upon his word. Queen Elle sat, proding her bone broth with her spoon, sickened by the layer of skin that had formed on the top. She pierced through it and watched as the broth began to envelope the hardened layer. "How was your smoke break?" She asked, placing her spoon down and folding her hands in her lap gracefully. 

"It was a much needed escape. I spoke with the Wrencrest girls. They're quite sharp," Heath answered. Elle hummed, nodding her head. Her berry stained lips immediately turned down upon seeing what her husband was doing beside her. King Daniel braved the broth and brought a cautious spoonful to his mouth. He seemed to have trouble swallowing the thickened liquid, dabbing at the corner of his lips with a cloth. Elle inhaled sharply and brought all of her attention onto Heath, turning her shoulders to face him, ensuring that Daniel was out of her sight.

"I was afraid you'd gone after Anya," Said Elle, "It would have been in poor form and I am a bit disappointed that I cannot scold you for it, this time."

"Well, I did not," Heath said, curtly. Elle smirked, delighting in her brother's reaction. "I also do not think that she would have wanted me to, judging by the wounded expression on her face when I insisted that Cecilia not be put to death."

"I quite enjoyed the stabbing," Elle said, her bell-like laugh bubbling up. 

"Yes, well, that's why father made the family physcian bleed you ever other week," Heath said, dryly. "It clearly did not work. You're still wicked."

"He did that because I was prone to bouts of coughing!" Elle whispered harshly, turning pink. 

"Keep thinking that," Heath said with a sneer.
Joan
Zane Harmattan
The Council Room

Zane had been half asleep for most of the trial, idly paying attention to the words being spoken, and it wasn't until Anya stabbed the shifter did he actually snap to attention to what was happening. While he didn't necessarily agree with stabbing the shifter, he could see it for what it tried to show.

Now it was just a matter of if it worked.

The intermission being called was just another excuse for the man to close his eyes, and he whole heartedly took it. Shuffling and moving near him was all he paid attention to, Mika's chair moving the most, the young man not seeming to know where to sit it seemed. When Anya returned, he glanced up at her and sighed a bit.

"Most of us would prefer you hearing it second hand, then you being here wounded." Zane sighed, stretching his shoulders a bit as he spoke.
Rosa
The Pirate King Bradai Maith
Council Room

The Pirate King actually quite enjoyed bone broth. While the majority of the food in Taemar was hard to stomach, bone broth of any kind was a welcome addition. He had made it halfway through the rapidly thickening bowl before he noticed his sister staring at him with disgust.

" 'ow can ye eat that?" Her eyes scrutinized the bowl in front of her and placed her spoon on top of the broth, watching as it slid across the reflective surface as if it was ice. " 'ow can a king, in a kingdom full of 'ogs, not be eating sausage for breakfast? I'd love a sausage." 

Bradai pointed at her with his spoon, a loose bit of gelatin dangling off the end. "Eat." The Pirate King leaned over and took the fork from his sister's hand. " 'ow could you—" Bradai pursed his lips as he forced his weight onto the spoon and fork, cracking open the boiled bones. " 'ow can you not like vhis, Gitten? Our muvher, you know vhis, she makes good bone broff. Don't you enjoy 'ers? Wiff tha rice?" Bradai swallowed a spoonful of marrow. 

Gitten sighed, sliding her bowl over to him. "Ye look like an old lubberman eatin' that soup. Our mam cooks like a lubberman."

Bradai watched as the bone broth shook in the bowl, its contents not spilling over. He ran a hand through his smiling copper beard, wiping it on his pantleg. "Still warm." The surface of the broth cracked under his spoon as he dug into his second bowl.