Real Estate Affairs - Alustariel Urdil [Sameheen 24th TT]

[Alustariel Urdil]

"Lady Seneschal, forgive me, I have attempted to decieve you and have wasted much of your time" Alustariel breathed unappily.

"My name is Alustariel Urdil, daughter of Elamshin and Rilinatar Urdil, both formerly of Kislovan. I myself have lived in Taloh for most my life, untill recently I found my brother, Ashtallion in the Citadel.
When I met Asht, he had been invited to take part in a Tournament, in which Caesar Anochrim himself was fighting. Asht fought the Caesar and bested him"

Alu's eyes looked as if to cry, genuinely. The fact that her brother could be caught up in this after she had only just found him was distressing.

"It should not have been that way, the Caesar could have beaten my brother a million times over - with great respect to Asht - but something was wrong, the illness that gripped the Caesar was taking hold and he was bed-ridden soon after"

"It was a dilemma of being in the wrong place at the wrong time, Asht, victorious over the Caesar - and the ruler falls sick, is never able to recover....and finally dies."

"I became paranoid, as my behavior can suggest, I can be most irrational at times - and urged my brother to follow me to Kislovan before anybody sought to use him as a scapegoat - the Citadel has become a dark place indeed and such a thing would not be uncommon"

"We took on our guises should anybody from the University we studied at should follow us - hence we renamed ourselves - it was foolish and it has not really worked"

Alustariel leaned across the desk "I know my actions so far do not mark me as trustworthy and I have over-wearied you, But we are good, law abiding people, Lady Duedheal, and look for a new start in Kislovan. I do not wish to go back to the darkness that is consuming the Citadel...."

She leant back in her chair, knowing well what this speach might get her, but posing as Lustra was a dead end, they could get nowhere posing as faleshoods - and the false identities would have come off, one day later if not now.

[Syra]

There we go.

Despite the feeling of pity growing somewhere for this strange lady, the Seneschal felt extremely good. Her hunches had been proven right again, proof that her mind was still as sharp as it ever was, no matter the copious amounts of paperpushing she seemed to be doing these days.

"Namaste, Alustariel Urdil." The lady replied, her hands folded under her chin. "It is good to start this meeting anew. There are too many secrets already."

The story was nothing less than incredulous. Besting the Caesar Anochrim was probably doable, lady Duedheal never held a great love for the man. The stories about him were just a bit too strange. Yet the conclusions this woman and her brother had drawn were equally strange!

I wonder if it's something in the water. The lady mused. Nobody mentioned this Ashtallion as Anochrim's killer. Why would they run from a truth that seems to be friendly towards them? Surely they had to have heard of the procession towards Kislovan. Why move here when they tried to get away from it all?

There obviously were too many questions left. The Seneschal decided to go one step beyond: "We know about Caesar Anochrim's death. He was escorted here to be buried on the 22nd. Why did you choose Kislovan, the very place where he was to find his final rest?"

She would hold out a little longer on the facts behind his death, just to see what other involvement this brother and sister might have to the entire tragedy.

[Alustariel Urdil]

"Thankyou Seneschal, your patience is great indeed" Alustariel nodded and relaxed back into her chair.

"Truth be known - I did not know the Procession was coming to Kislovan, it was a probability that I did not give a thought to. If Ashtallion knew that they would - he did not tell me" Alu felt this was unlikely for Asht to keep anything from her.

"Strangely enough, we encountered the Procession at the portal shortly after we arrived - but we stayed out of sight"

Alustariel sighed, what she was about to say was near-unfounded, and Ashtallion had regarded her with doubt when she had fiirst spoken. But it was related to the speed in which they fled the Citadel

"I have suspected that the Charred Circle, a sinister cabal known to have operated in the Citadel, may be involved in the dark recent events. I wasn't even taking the romote chance of leaving Ashtallion in the Citadel to be the one they choose to lay blame on for their crimes. It is said that the Charred Circle has their grip even in the Court of the Caesar, and worse still, the Univervisty of Magick where we studied - thus I panicked when the authorities sought to question Ashtallion"

"They released him" Alu breathed, for the first time findind relief "But I was no longer long for the Citadel and how it had become and so we left"

"At nearly the last minute, we chose Kislovan, as the ideal place to grow and train - to better ourselves"

Alustariel looked into the Seneschal's eyes, this honesty felt so much better to her.

[Syra]

The lady listened without interruption. The story was intriguing, albeit still illogical to her trained mind. There were too many gaps, easily explained by the twins' inexperience with people and life in general, but the pure paranoia speaking from their actions was something to keep a close eye on.

"I see..." she replied, staying still for valuable flickers, her fingers tapping her chin lightly. "Tell me more about this Charred Circle. And...do I understand correctly that you did not flee the Citadel as such but rather decided to leave because of the changed atmosphere?"

She got up from her chair and moved to the eastern wall where her fingers played with one of the vines growing up towards the ceiling. Turning back to Alu the Seneschal smiled, some warmth creeping into her face. "Kislovan is ideal, isn't it? So...to summarize, you are still looking for a job -the both of you, right?- and in the meantime you seek housing and training...it is certainly a hand full. Is there any risk of either one of you getting into trouble because of your...past?"

[Alustariel Urdil]

"The Charred Circle are shady group that has of late been quiet. They are generally comprised mainly of magick users - in fact, one of it's initiates, a sorcerer named Tarrant, was destroyed by my sibling

"When I returned to the Citadel I learned of them and their infiltration of the University of Magick - at which Tarrant was a professor - learning a little more I had heard rumours, nothing too founded, that they had infiltrated the Court of the Caesar - thats why, when the Caesar fell ill, I started to worry. Asht is a magick user - a magick user who destroyed one of their number - would it not be fitting and satisfying for them to use him as a scapegoat"

Alustariel's eyes remained steady on the Seneschal - yes she had gotten through Alu's defences, but all these questions could indicate that the woman doubted her still.

"It might have been a remote possibility - but think yourself, Lady, if one of your own kin was in such a situation, would you simply sit by and hope everything would be alright?"

"I guess you could say we 'decided to leave' as the Citadel's atmosphere was growing strange indeed, and we were not keen for the change and fearfull of the unknown to come" Alustariel said reflectively.

The adhiel woman sat silent for a little while as she thought on the Seneschal's next question.

"Your summary is correct, my brother is seeking training at the moment - and I took it on myself to enquire about lodging and means of income - " Alustariel paused again, the Seneschal had asked if any trouble could me imminent during their stay.

"That anticipation, dear lady, gave birth to Lustra Silverhair and Lustros Goldeneye (not that that venture went well though!) - but I suppose if they really wanted to stop us leaving, they could have. ....... if they had my brother under suspicion he would most likely have been watched and prevented from leaving - I never thought of that" Alustariel smiled weakly at the end, but internally groaned, this woman must think her utterly insipid.

[Syra]

The Seneschal shoved some papers off her desk and found a blank piece, making a few notes while Alustariel told her story and added the details.

Interesting. I'll have to contact the University about this. Charred circle...I wonder if it might have to do with...hm. We'll see. Reason to keep an eye on this particular pair. And how does one keep an eye on people?

"Well then." The lady looked up from her papers. "That seems to be all for now. Seeing how you have the word of the princess -oh trust me, I'll have someone check that up for me, or did you wish to come back on that story as well?- and how you are looking for something of an administrative job...I might be able to get you in on the ground floor. Nothing fancy, mind you, but we do need a keen eye to sort out some files. If you are willing to take up servants quarters, I think we might have you and your brother sorted out for now."

After all, what better place than here to keep you close? I'm watching you, girl. One wrong move or story and you will be finding refuge somewhere else!

"You will wear the uniform of the palace staff...if you take the offer that is. What do you say?"

[Alustariel Urdil]

Alustariel's eyes narrowed. She had just about had enough of this rather dour woman and her distrust of her.

When the Seneschal arrogantly stated she would check with the Princess for sure - the womans manner made Alustariel's blood boil.

"Have your contempt of me Seneschal, I care not" Alustariel said sternly but calmly "I am no liar"

"I will think on your offer Seneschal, If I may, I will need to consult my other half" Alustariel stood and moved to the door.

"By your permission, I will take my leave, and send my answer tomorrow. Thankyou for your time"

[Syra]

The lady's eyes revealed nothing of her feelings. Instead she arched her eyebrows and regarded Alu a last time before her leaving: "No liar? Really, Lustra?"

Oh, that's right, you can come in here and feed me nonsense about your name and background, be found out...and still be surprised I decide to check up on your latest story? You little hypocrit!

The conversation was obviously over. "Until tomorrow then." Without another word Lady Duedheal picked up her paperwork where she left it, planning to have someone keep a good eye on those strange twins. Something told her there was going to be trouble before this was over.

Big trouble.

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The end!