Chapter 3: The Enemy Within

[Jeff]

Matheu inclines his head to acknowledge Streko. I do not require a servant. I am self-reliant. But I thank you. He swivels his head to look at Kal. Yes, I will examine Pel now. Bring the dagger. I have a theory.

[mike]

"When you are done, I have a few questions for you," Torhak says to Matheu. "But they are of little consequence compared to the matters at hand. Make your examination of Pel - we shall talk later, you and I."

[Jeremy]

Goran looks levelly at Kal, giving a sardonic grin.

"Hopefully assuming possession of that dagger will assuage your Ego, Deneith."

"I find it amusing how you rationalize it though, and how you seem to bend the choices of your Lady to suit your own wishes. Keep the damn thing. I'd warn you that you're fracturing the respect some of us may have for you, but you obviously don't care about that."

Goran turns to Torhak.

"Ever the Lords and Ladies of our world find the noblest explanations for keeping their wealth and exerting their will."

The half-elf looks at Streko with a weary smile.

"Please don't anyone start bemoaning my words, I'm not walking out on the group or anything. He's not worth it."

[mike]

"Ever the Lords and Ladies of our world find the noblest explanations for keeping their wealth and exerting their will."

"Indeed," replies Torhak. "Certain things never change, regardless of how long one might be trapped away in solid stone."

A thin smile almost crosses the dwarf's usually stern face as he speaks - almost - but then it is gone.

[Jeff]

Of course, Matheu says to Torhak. Whenever you wish.

Matheu follows Kal to Pel's room. Mist opens the door and admits them inside. Draw out the blade when you speak with her.

[Darren]

Kalarian gives Goran a sour look. "Calm down, Ranger. It's not my intention to keep it, but my theory ran in the same direction as the all-knowing dragon's there, and I wanted to be the one to test it. You are welcome to it when I'm finished." He sighs and mumbles to himself as he exits, "It is interesting to see how the predjudice runs in both directions. Still they think I am incapable of marshalling my strength for use on the battlefield..."

Reaching Pel's room and moving inside, Kalarian casually sits upon the bed. As he does so, he slips the dagger from the sheath at his leg and leans over nearer to the changeling, not holding the dagger in any threatening way, but keeping the blade where it is visible to her. "Pel, we have some more questions we'd like to ask you, if you are feeling well enough to answer..."

[Jeff]

Bound to her bed, Pel is slumped in misery. She lifts her head slightly as Kal and Matheu enter. Mist remains at the door, leaving it ajar in case anyone else wishes to enter.

"She has been cooperative so far," Mist says to the Deneith heir.

The changeling eyes the dagger and meets Kal's eye. There is smoldering resentment there but also sadness.

Matheu lights upon the headboard of one of the other boards. He watches for now, saying nothing.

"Will you be blindfolding me, too?" Pel asks.

[Darren]

Kal looks at Pel's restraints. "This was not my idea, Pel, and was against my wishes. I understand the sacrifice you have made," he says. "Would you like me to untie you for a bit, so you can stretch and move around? Please understand that I am on your side, and simply want to rid your body of Malov's presence." As Kal speaks, he makes as if he is going to untie the ropes, keeping the exposed dagger in his hand. He 'accidentally' allows the flate side of the blade to touch Pel's skin, observing any reaction she might have.

[Jeff]

The blade does not react at all, nor does Pel. "Yes, please," she says. "I'd rather be tied and untied repeatedly than to remain bound up constantly."

Matheu speaks to Kal, and Kal understands the pseudodragon isn't speaking in Pel's mind, too. I think it's safe. Between you and Mist, and myself, we have to little to fear from Pel at this time.

[Darren]

Kal returns the dagger to its sheath and begins to untie Pel. "It would seem that Malov is not present right now. While his influence has waned, can you remember any more of what was said during your meeting?"

________________
Where is Tangat these days? Can I assume he's also in the room?

[Jeff]

Sickbay

No, leave it out, Matheu says to Kal, prompting him to keep the dagger unsheathed. He points to a small table nearby as a good place to lay out, out of hand.

"Kal," Pel says, getting up and walking back and forth between two beds. "My recent memories are bad. I can't even recall how long I've been with you. I remember the rail accident, just a little. But when was that? A week now? I remember Gurend, that Aundairian man.....but he was like me. Gur, his name."

"There was something going on in Passage, people doing work for Malov. Rituals. One of them was that man, that nobleman, a friend of the House Orien patriarch, Baron Kwanti. I suppose...that makes Malov's plans part of a conspiracy against at least that dragonmarked house. He had a servant who was close to the baron. But whatever that man was doing, I think were are more like him. In Fairhaven. Performing some sort of rites. Rites of...preparation?"

Skyfang's blade suddenly flares brighter as Pel suddenly stops and catches herself on one of the bedposts. "Damn it..."

She turns and looks back at Kal. "Gur," she says venomously. "I expect a tumble out of the lightning rail was an unpleasant way for that traitor to die. Well, him and a number of others. Good times, good times."

A low growl begins in Tangat's throat. Matheu watches carefully. Interesting. The dagger's reaction suggests that Malov is, or has become, an Outsider. That means he has a connection to one of the other planes. Shavarath, if the experience with Phorem and the book is linked.

Pel looks to the pseudodragon in puzzlement. "Who are you?" she snarls.

If Matheu answers her, Kal cannot hear it. There is silence between them.

____________________________________

As a rule, Tangat sticks with Kal. Unless I mention otherwise, yeah.

[Joe]

Streko decides to close his eyes and curl up into some type of sleep. His body is sore, his mind tortured and his friends have elsewhere they need to be...a place he cannot find the power to step foot near again...at least not soon.

[Josh]

As the party disperses, Grafth spends a brief time enjoying the fresh air before heading below deck once again. Venturing toward the sickbay, the shifter remains outside the room, but is close enough to hear what is transpiring within. He arrives just as Pel mentions Gur, and decides to listen in discreetly.

[Jeremy]

Goran decides to take a walk on the deck.

"Wanna get some fresh air?" he says to Torhak.

Whether he not the dwarf joins him, he will go out onto the deck and relax, perhaps leaning against the railing.

[Darren]

Kalarian reaches slowly and casually over to pick up the dagger. "Yes," he says, remaining seated, "killing traitors is a good time, isn't it?" Once again, Kalarian lets the flat of the dagger's blade brush against Pel's skin, marking any reaction that might occur.

[Jeff]

Pel has been walking around in the space between the beds; not somewhere Kal can casually reach up with the knife. Either way, Matheu says, It won't work like you think. That it has reacted suggests that Malov's spirit is present. But if the knife can harm him—and her—with its power, it will only so with a direct strike. Mere contact will not affect him as silver would a werewolf.

[Darren]

"Hm," is the only reply Kalarian gives as he returns the dagger to its sheath. "So, Malov the Magnificent, what shall we discuss this time?"

[mike]

"Wanna get some fresh air?" he says to Torhak.

"A fine idea, my friend," Torhak replies.

The dwarf joins Goran on the deck.

[Jeff]

Kalarian, Matheu says, leave the dagger unsheathed. We can learn nothing if its blade cannot be observed. Unless you plan on striking your changeling friend with the blade, it needn't be right beside or touching her to make us aware of his Malov's presence.

Pel, obviously unaware of this telepathic dialogue , begins speaking before he is finished. She flicks her eyes from the pseudodragon to Kal. "What would you like to talk about, Kal? The irony of who is even now pursuing you?"

____________________________________

Mike, when you get a chance, check your private thread.

[Darren]

"Sure, Malov, let's discuss that." Kalarian silently complies with Matheu's instructions, idly holding the dagger in his hand.

[Jeff]

"Actually, I'd rather not," Pel says with a smirk. "It's good for a laugh but not particularly relevant to our problem. Would you care to discuss your pet here?" She points to Matheu.

Matheu lifts his head in irritation. I am an observer, he projects openly (even Grafth can "hear" it). His gestures with one tiny claw at Tangat. I am not a familiar or a servant. You would do well, Malov, to treat a dragon of Argonnessen with respect.

"Or what?" she laughs. "The dragons will come in force and interfere with my plans? At least half of the real dragons from your land would applaud my efforts."

Keeping him talking is best for my examination, Matheu says only to Kal.

Pel sits down on one of the beds, eying the dagger in Kal's hand. "So you've learned a little bit more about that, have you? Lady Korvine's gift. Would you like to share?"

[Darren]

"Not really," Kal says, "but I will say that it's nice to finally hear someone put the little dragon in his place for a change." He nods at Matheu, hoping the dragon will not be offended by his ruse. "He's been nothing but a pest since we met him. I guess we do have something in common, Malov. I'm not sure how I feel about that..."

[Jeff]

Matheu endures Pel's and Kal's condescending words stiffly. His body remains upright and utterly rigid, but Kal and Grafth can hear his barbed tail scraping deeply against the bedframe just behind him. He says nothing.

Pel laughs, her voice melodic. "Enjoy it, Kal. Indulge in it. Why not have your other friends in here to join you now? Or...are you their leader? Yes, that would make sense. A dragonmarked heir, proud, wise, making the decisions....making parlance with the enemy."

"Of course, young Streko is dragonmarked, too. Another heir, biding his time. Waiting for Lord Kalarian to slip. Or waiting for...guidance?"

[Jeremy]

Goran smiles at Torhak's reply and walks out to the deck. Once outside, he leans on the railing.

"I guess you've noticed there's a little...tension, amongst our ranks? How much do you know about what's going on? I can probably fill in a few blanks if need be, but I assure you I'm still quite in the dark myself. I'm just trying to get through this alive...if I can do some good by the way then...by all means."

He pulls away some hair the wind has threaded across his face.

"I have business of my own, should I make it through."

[Darren]

"Don't forget good looking, Malov," Kalarian says with a grin. "Not to mention the power of magic that courses through my veins and the strength of arms I wield on the battlefield. I'm a natural fit, of course. But I admit, I'm no match for your cunning and your intellect. I suppose I could learn a thing or two from you."

[Jeff]

"Truly, you impress me, Kal," Pel says. "You are making excellent use of your time with me. Let me leave you with a simple request."

She looks to the porthole but makes no move toward it. "The next time I return to you, Kal, I wish to speak with Streko. If he is not here at that time, bad things will happen to his sister, Varnaleen. I'm trying to find a use for her, and Streko might be able to help me with that."

Pel smiles and looks back to Kal. "Do you think you can arrange this meeting between us? I'd really like to avoid bad things. Do you understand?"

Pel stands and moves toward the wall where the porthole is, as if to peer out. Instead, she lowers her head and throws herself into it. He head cracks against the window and she collapses. Almost instantly, the white light diminishes on Skyfang. Pel moans, struggling to sit upright on the ground, blood leaking from her forehead.

[Josh]

Listening with interest, Grafth is nonetheless moved to peek inside after hearing the blunt strike of Pel against the glass. Seeing Pel on the floor and bleeding, he enters the room. "So... he can do more than observe us... he can control her movements as well. It is as I feared."

He looks to Kalariarn, "I overheard her— that is, I overheard Malov's mention of a pursuit, an 'ironic' one at that. To me," Grafth says, his tone utterly serious, "this could mean one of two things.

"Either someone we were in contact with before, someone like Cutter, or Oss, or perhaps Dhaz... someone on the rail with us was in league with Malov from the start, or in fact our pursuer is a member of your house. Tell me, what exactly did you send through the speaking stones of House Sivis? How much was divulged of our intended actions?"

[Darren]

"Damn!" Kalarian shouts in anger as Malov disappears again. He grabs the dagger and hurls it across the room in frustration, the moves to pick up Pel and lay her back upon the bed.

"I told them nothing, Grafth. I gave no indication of our current location nor our destination, and I made sure that Amal's letter was the same. The only information they'd have about our whereabouts is knowledge of which Sivis station the message came from." Kalarian moves across the room to the other bed, retrieving the dagger as he sits heavily. "It's difficult to decipher anything that madman says, and it's impossible to get information out of him. If we are being pursued, so be it. Maybe whoever is following us can tell us something. I mean," Kalarian stands and faces the shifter, "where are we even going, Grafth? What are we doing? I'm not even sure. All we know is that we have a book that Malov seems to want, and that Malov has Streko's sister. We don't know what it's for, or...we don't know anything, Grafth."

Kalarian's frustration begins to look like pain as it becomes plainer upon his face. He takes a deep breath and turns to Matheu. "Please tell me you found something out, Matheu. Please tell me that, for once, we don't have to be 10 steps behind those who would kill us."

[Jeff]

Mist has watched from the doorway and admitted Grafth in when he was ready. At Grafth's mention of an old companion possibly in league with an enemy, she simply says, "Espionage."

Pel, crying softly, lapses into sleep quickly enough with Grafth's help of making her comfortable again. Is she to be bound again?

Matheu watches, then speaks. I was not with you from the start of this adventure, so I cannot speak of 'steps behind.' But this is what I have observed.

Malov can take possession of a body, but he cannot be in more than one place at once. I suspect he maintains enough awareness in Pel's body even when he is not here, not to directly observe, but just enough to know when you are present before her again. He comes only when he hopes to learn something new from you. He cannot possess more than one body at a time. When he leaves Pel, he goes somewhere else....to his own body, or another body he has made host to his spirit.

If he was once a mortal wizard, he is something else now. Something about his disappearance a couple of years ago led him to this state. It gives him certain advantages, but I do believe his powers are only limited to the body he possesses. He cannot do any more than Pel can do. She is an arcanist of some kind. Which is all the more reason to bind her hands, at minimum, or else he will use her magic.

We are going to the Whisper Woods because of something you found in his book. I believe, despite your doubts, that it is the only place you can go if you are deciding to oppose him.

The afternoon is growing late. Soon it will be dark.

________________________________________

If you wish to do anything else, go ahead. If you don't post, I'm going to assume you're just passing the time and we will move on.

[mike]

"I guess you've noticed there's a little...tension, amongst our ranks? How much do you know about what's going on? I can probably fill in a few blanks if need be, but I assure you I'm still quite in the dark myself. I'm just trying to get through this alive...if I can do some good by the way then...by all means."

"Indeed, I had noticed," says Torhak. "It seems to me that not all priorities are the same for some of your companions. But as I have just met them - and you - it is not for me to say whether this bodes ill for us all."

"As for the events at hand ... my only concern for now is our impending journey to the Whisper Woods. I know that going there is important, however, I do not know why it is important, nor what - or who - we hope to find once we arrive. If you could tell me our purpose there, I would be in your debt, good sir."

"I have business of my own, should I make it through."

"Indeed? Well, should you need assistance with your ... business, as you say, I would be willing to assist you once our current quest is complete."

"Particularly if your business is less strange, and less sorcerous. I prefer less complicated foes to vanquish than the likes of this Malov."