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Tranquil Waters: The Lead Crown Ch 7.1, Un-Escaping

Death was as much a part of life as anything else among the Valley Tribe; Gift-of-the-Earth had lost many people who had been important to him over the years. His parents had been given to the spirits by a disease; friends from his youth died in various accidents or calamities; a prospective mate was swept away by flood waters during a storm; and yet, never had anyone close to him died due to the actions of a person intent on causing harm until that night... until he had lost Metal-Eyes... until his the Valley Tribe lost its Shaman.

The oddities of the Stone Tribe village did not draw his focus away from his thoughts even as they slowly rolled past them in the wagon brought by the she-wolf. Princess Noriene spoke endlessly about things that failed to hold Gift-of-the-Earth's attention, but were apparently of some great importance to the two remaining members of his party from the Stone Tribe... Theo especially. They'd had three, he reminded himself; Nicholas had died defending them from Marcelle, just as Metal-Eyes had done.

The brown Bear spared a glance to look across the wagon at his brother, who was seated on the boards that made up the 'floor'. Roaring-Flood held the metal-and-glass Stone Tribe seeing lenses that had been Metal-Eyes', and he was looking down at the thing, staring at it as he turned it over and over in his paws. Beside him, Sanmer kept one paw on the large fisherbear's shoulder even as he took part in the far-too-convoluted discussion he and Theo shared with the wolfess Noriene and the Ermine Lilian. In so far as Gift-of-the-Earth could tell, Roaring-Flood looked as though he was still processing the loss; he looked... numb.

Sanmer raised his voice, indicating that the discussion was not going in the direction he liked. "What we WANT are ANSWERS."

The Ermine woman stood up defiantly, "Remember your place! This is Princess Noriene, and you have no right to--"

The Wolf raised a paw, "No, Lilian... he has every right to get answers and, considering everything they've done for us, they deserve some."

The Fox was not consoled and he fired right back, barely remembering courtesy at the end. "We didn't do it for you... your Highness. We did it for Kesst."

The red Dragon, who had remained silent throughout the entire conversation looked up from his place in the corner of the wagon. He glanced around the gathered travelers before lowering his head back down, "I think everyone's already done enough for me. Nobody had to die tonight... except because, for whatever reason, I'm on their list."

Noriene smiled tenderly, glancing to the Dragon, "You are entirely correct, Kesst. People died tonight because they thought enough of themselves that they wrongly assumed that you were theirs for the taking."

Sanmer quickly spoke up, adding a hint of distaste to her honorific. "He's not YOURS for the taking either... your Highness."

The Ermine woman stood up, paw moving to the hilt of a partially hidden blade, "Watch your tongue, street Fox, if you value keeping it."

The Wolf's gaze slowly slid to Lilian and she reached out a paw, resting it her attendant's arm, "Be at peace, Lilian... after all they've been through they have every right to be at least somewhat hostile."

Sanmer's hackles remained up as he leaned back against the side of the wagon, "This isn't me being hostile... you'll KNOW when I'm being hostile."

Noriene spoke up before the Ermine could, "You will get answers, Mr. LeMarre, just as soon as we return to the manor. The street is nowhere to hold a proper council, and I assure you that the discussion will be meaningful enough that you just might even want to take notes."

Something about the Wolf's endearing smile was both comforting and concerning at the same time; Gift-of-the-Earth attributed it to the fact that it seemed entirely too much like the ones he'd seen Metal-Eyes wear from time-to-time when he revealed just enough information to give one impression of something without entirely explaining it. The Bear hoped that would not be the case with the 'council' she had proposed.

The return trip was uneventful after that. An uneasy, brooding silence settled over the wagon and the only disruption was the rhythmic clack-clack-clop of the wheels rolling over the stone road. After a time even that stopped, however, as they proceeded into what Theo had once noted as being 'the nicer part of town'... a trait that Gift-of-the-Earth had never fully understood, as any given part of Newport was essentially the same as any other part to him. A short time after that the wagon came to a stop in front of what the Bear recognized as the large home of Noriene.

Without waiting for input and not offering any words of parting the Wolf woman hoisted herself up and over the edge of the Wagon and onto the ground. The men standing at the gate to the large home opened it for her and she passed through. "Lilian, bring them around to the study once everyone has had the time to freshen up."

Sanmer remained difficult, "I'm good enough to talk now."

Noriene's reply held a carefully veiled hint of danger to it, "And you are 'good enough' in my home, which means we will meet on my terms, Mr. Lemarre... and until you gain a seat in the house of nobles or establish yourself as an emissary of a foreign power, I will point out that all of our meetings will be at my leisure."

Lilian stood by the gate for a moment with just the hint of a smug grin tugging at the corner of her muzzle, "An hour should be sufficient time for you to become cleanly. I will seek you in the common room of the east wing at that time. Errol?"

An imposing Bull dressed in the same fine, restrictive-looking clothing worn by Noriene's servants took two steps closer; in size he could easily have given Roaring-Flood a challenge. The man had roan fur with silver capped black horns and his black hooves appeared to have been polished, "Ma'am?"

The Ermine motioned to the group as she walked off. "Show our Lady's guests to the eastern wing so they may choose their accommodations."

The Bull did as was requested and, thankfully, although Sanmer had at first appeared to be intent on causing problems, he instead settled down once Lilian had departed. Roaring-Flood's focus left the trinket in his paws long enough during the discussion that he was able to express surprise. "You are behaving."

Sanmer winked, "Only a little... besides... if I act up now I'll only get this fine fellow in trouble."

Roaring-Flood nodded, "Oh."

The Fox stepped aside so he could walk right behind the Bull, eyes obviously sizing the man up, "Mmm... 'fine' fellow indeed... mmm-hmm."

Gift-of-the-Earth took a step closer to Kesst, who hadn't said a word since expressing his feelings of responsibility over the deaths. "You cannot be found at fault for the actions of others, Kesst."

The Dragon shrugged, "You can say it, and I can say it, but that doesn't mean I'll be able to feel any different.

The Bear nodded, "The mind cannot easily change what the heart feels."

For whatever reason, that comment caused the Dragon to smile... just a little. "You're starting to sound like Julius."

Gift-of-the-Earth wasn't entirely sure what about Kesst's comment affected him in the way it did but it was enough to make him stop. A moment later his paw closed around the item handed to him by the Shaman before he died. "The only one who sounds like Julius is Julius."

The Dragon cocked his head to the side, one eye ridge raising, "Huh?"

The Bear moved forward with renewed purpose, "I need to be ready to meet with Noriene."

Kesst followed after him, "PRINCESS Noriene... you don't just want to use her first name... some kings and queens take it badly."

Gift-of-the-Earth filed away the suggestion for later; he suddenly had a lot to consider, and a task to complete. The moment the bull had indicated where it was they would be staying, the Bear chose a room and got quickly to work cleaning up. Cleanliness usually waited until after greetings among the folk of the Valley Tribe but, he reminded himself, the Stone Tribe customs would prevail in Stone Tribe lands.

His curiosity continued to press at him, but he resolved to leave the wooden box for his meeting with the she Wolf. Metal-Eyes had given him a task, and he planned to see it all the way through. Although much in the recent past had confused and confounded the Bear, Gift-of-the-Earth had no doubts when it came to his mission: the Shaman had given him something to deliver, and he would do just that.