A Great Man's Madness

See Also: Bardic Knowledge

Keribrar, who had missed the clash around his life tree, was visiting Ragash at her brewery. She is the only non-human allowed to hold a home or business in Crofterton. He is seeking her advice on how she accomplished it in order to better understand the people of this city - she appreciates the hard work he puts into the simple tasks.

Quilate had returned to the burned out building that once housed the Veridian Vault. In the morning he flies to the camp and sees a dozen new tents laid out tending to the wounded. Benevenuta is moving from person to person and overseeing the changing of bandages. Behind her walks Father Karl giving small sips of holy water from the Cup Everflowing.

Ambition, madam, is a great man's madness.The Duchess of Malfi by John Webster

As the two chat about what happened yesterday Father Karl mentions that he is one again going up shelf to speak with King Merridan. He will not be deterred by the King's edict about his in the wake of what happened to Lady Anne Mowbry. Keribrar arrives with the gift of a small barrel of Ragash's Red and meets up with Quilate. When they go to speak with Lady Anne they find a squat dragonman speaking to her. They feel the bond of Aegrin with him and once again the parting of their connection with Lady Anne. He introduces himself and tells them the others are waiting in the Watchers' House.

When they seek out a door to the Watcher's House they come across a large number of elves standing in front of a tinkerer's shop. They can hear the voice of Alavara arguing with someone. They push their way past the heavily armed elves and find Alavara in front of Thaogut, who is blocking the door with his chest. The fae gnome refuses to move and allow her to pass. He says Queen Mirasandoral asked him to see that nobody can enter the house before her representative arrives.

Keribrar steps forward to argue with Thaogut when the score of armed elves part as Mr Canders arrives. He is leading a large black horse upon which is riding a large stick woman wearing a colorful sari. She introduces herself as Mei Mahogany and thanks everyone for patiently waiting for her. Thaogut bows deeply to her and steps aside clearing the door.

While Mei Mahogany and Alavara argue over who should enter first, Mr Canders yells, “Assassin!” and dives to protect Mei Mahogany. He misses the small bolt, which strikes Alavara in the shoulder. The handmaiden collapses and is immediately shielded by Reysalor, one of the Arborists of Ethiald. Quilate takes to the air, while Kukla and a half dozen elven warriors give chase on the ground. Keribrar, with the help of Reysalor, drags Alavara through the door. Mr Canders, guarding Mei Mahogany, follow behind. Several of the elven warriors try and go through as well, but each of them are turned into ice statues.

The assassin tries to run to the market to escape in the crowd, but Quilate sees him the entire time. He leads Kukla, who has outpaced the elves, to cut off his escape. The assassin is finally cornered in a crumbling building near the gang territory. After knocking him unconscious they find a well-crafted and very complex crossbow, two more darts, and a small pot of poison. He has the brand of the Empty Eyes on his chest.

Once awake he says his name is Ottor and he is a farrier from a village, but he cannot remember when he came to the city. He does remember speaking to a woman who told him exactly when and where he was supposed to be to kill the woman. He does not know why, but her request seemed reasonable. Freya Snowstomper delivered the complicated crossbow to him and Bacco gave him to pouch with the poison pot.

In the Watchers' House they drag Alavara into the parlor so that Reysalor can tend to her wound. The staff bring Reysalor what he needs to counteract the poison under the watchful eye of the High Lady of Ice. The High Lady tells them that she extends hospitality to those inside the house and ensures Reysalor that his charge will not die.

Keribrar can see that Thorne and Hafwyn have a table in the dining room, which has been set up for a formal negotiation. Four chairs sit at the long table and the room seems to have expanded to fit a growing count of fae - most unseelie, but at least a score seelie are in attendance. Mr. Canders has escorted Mei Mahogany to a table vacated by several seelie before returning to the foyer to settle down.

Mei Mahogany stands up near Hafwyn as the room watches. She presents to her a silver leaf as a token of the favor of her Queen. She may call upon her Queen's subjects should the need be great and they will answer. She then returns to her seat and watches the High Lady. Hafwyn notices the silver leaf has sharply pointed edges, the meaning of which is not lost on her. Recognized by one faction, in any dispute, means being targeted by the other.

Kukla lets Ottor go free after taking anything of value from him. Most of his belongings are junk, but the crossbow and pot of poison might be needed. When they return to the door they find several of the elves arguing with a bewildered family. The family own the house the Watcher's House was using and are baffled why there are a dozen heavily armed elves outside their house. The elves cannot get the door to work, in addition one of them has been frozen solid as he tried to open the door.

The frozen elf is accidentally knocked over and shatters. The spell broken the frozen pieces turn back into chunks of meat. The elves use a cloak to gather their comrade and take him back to their crematorium for his final journey. Their leader thanks both Quilate and Kukla for trying to catch the assassin (Kukla does not mentioned he freed the man). When they have gone the door does not work for them.

Given the injuries to Alavara The High Lady of Ice announces that negotiations will be put on hold until she recovers. Reysalor tries to stand in her place, but Alavara made it clear that she was negotiating for the elves. Without missing a beat Keribrar steps up and says he is negotiating for himself. He was the one who freed the root of the Great Tree and forced the sapling from it. The High Lady accepts his position and offers him a place at the table.

Keribrar takes his seat and Reysalor takes position as his second. Alavara's condition is stabilized and Reysalor wants to ensure the elves have access to the tree. The High Lady of Ice sits at the opposite side and as her second is a large Yushka. The negotiations go against Keribrar as he is facing off against one of the Sidhe. He ends up ceding all access to the tree by the elves, but does strengthen his own right to unfettered access. Reysalor objects several times, but Keribrar presses on.

Thorne, bored by the endless talking, is watching the others in the room and notices that Mei Mahogany is sending a small vine to the floor. It has burrowed through the stone and whatever lies below. She notices that Thorne is watching her and looks directly at him when “it” happens. What happens is that suddenly something stops - even though they were not moving - there is a sickness of being wretched to a halt.

The seelie were prepared for the timing and immediately draw weapons and attack, Mei Mahogany runs out of the parlor and crashes through the main door - guarded by Mr Canders. The seelie press their attack, joined by Keribrar who unleashes his puppet on the room - even daring to strike the The High Lady of Ice.