The mystery of Benfal (Moore, Tryll)

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles as he starts to fly up and over the "river," such as it is.

"I think the natives here have a very negative view of anyone not of this plane." Moore says as they go along. "I'm sure they have to deal with people with greed in their hearts on a regular basis coming through to plunder what they see as easy targets. One could argue, 'what good is all of this to be confined here,' but I think even Waukeen would agree that the wealth here isn't the type to be squandered for gold -- it's monetary value is irrelevant, since it belongs to people who see it all as just part of their home and nothing more."

[Anastasia]

"It is magnificent," Ilsenine murmurs, "All the treasures of the earth, freely lying about and manifest. How many lie in eternal rest here, victims of their own greed?"

[Nephrite]

"Or who got turned into something." Moore comments with a sour face. "Ugh, I'll never look at an opal the same way again. It's interesting, just... the very difference. To them, to the people of Mineral, this is all so mundane and boring. I have to wonder if something like a plant or a tree would give them the same sense of awe as we have looking at the riches we perceive."

[Anastasia]

"If so, I would think the mercane would have already pounced on that," Ilsenine says quietly, "Never have I met such a rapacious group."

As you fly up, you see the river of gems continues ahead for some time.

[Nephrite]

"They know what they're good at, I suppose." Moore laughs as he continues to fly along with the river. Hmm, should he just cast Lay of the Land...? Maybe in a bit. "One might say the same for us, though -- fey get a ... mostly deserved reputation, I think."

[Anastasia]

Ilsenine smiles and slows, "We have...I mean, I have no complaint with Filbrez, he has served Aurora loyally. Other mercane are another story." Then Ilsenine looks out, "It has been a long time since I engaged in merriment or pranking. A....long time," Ilsenine trails off, with a soft sigh.

[Nephrite]

"How exactly did you come to be Queen, anyway?" Moore asks. "I... feel rather ashamed I'm just now asking that question, admittedly."

[Anastasia]

Ilsenine finds a rock nearby and perches on it. "My mother was a Queen of her own court. Like mother, like daughter."

[Nephrite]

Moore stops as well, considering for a moment before he asks, "Did you want to be Queen?"

[Anastasia]

"Yes," Ilsenine says, "I enjoyed it greatly before the fall of Lifasa." She smiles a little bit, "Afina was my trouble solver - my assassin, to be forthright. When I needed her to take care of one little thing, she would. Little else of my court remains to remind me of better days."

[Nephrite]

Moore nods. "Well, when Lifasa is restored, you can decide how you want to proceed. I'd be fine if you wanted a break, though. Although... well. I think it's okay if you take a break now and then to be yourself, you know? Like now, for example." Moore says with a gesture at the river. "I don't understand the finer points of the stresses you have to endure, I'm just saying you don't have to endure them by yourself."

[Anastasia]

No answer, Ilsenine bowing her head. "I won't know until Lifasa is restored. I can't be the same Queen as I was before. I no longer have the will to see my own trimmed, to see sorrow in my court and the endless petty warfares of social standing. I want a court of happiness and life, a court of the highest summer."

[Nephrite]

"I understand." Moore says. He does, at least a little bit. "Despite what happened, I think the situation has allowed you to grow more than you thought you could before. I'll do whatever I can to support you and the Court, Ilsenine. I know that puts the cart before the horse, as it were... I think, though, our journey to Yggdrasil helped show all of us the way forward. Even as I am -- a part of Celestia, I'm sure there's a spot for me as a liason between them, between the chaos and order."

[Anastasia]

This gets a rosy blush from Ilsenine, "As long as you're with me, I..."

[Nephrite]

Moore smiles and nods and gives her hand a squeeze. "Let's see where this river comes from -- can you really even call it a river, though?" He laughs.