Nothing out of the Ordinary

[Bjorn]

"I can offer you the same communications that I used to contact Bloom and Shuker," Bjorn offers, seriously.  "You should use it as a last resort, as it can be overheard, but in an emergency, there may be nothing better."

[Dracos]

"hmm...that would be pretty safe.  I know wizards couldn't hear that.  Though they could sense the responses from Bjorn, I believe."

Dracos

[Bjorn]

Bjorn turns and studies Phil.  "Well, then," he says after a second, turning back to Lindsey.  "There you go."  He cocks an eyebrow.  "Admittedly, you will have to trust me."

[Brian]

"What ... ah, that was you earlier, then?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

[Bjorn]

"Yes," Bjorn admits freely.  "I didn't know about the invisibility trick of servants of Aestock, and so I wasn't quite sure what you were trying to warn me of."  He shrugs.  "I didn't have any way to warn you in advance, but I thought it was worth a try."

[Brian]

"Very well.  How do I use that to contact you, though?" she asks.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn summons the mindboard, pushing at the Lindsey smudge.  "You'll have to let me in," he says.  "After that, any thought you want me to...  hear, I will."  He frowns.  "Unless it's an emergency, I won't reply to you -- a tad dangerous.  Shall we try?"

[Brian]

"It's better than nothing," she agrees.  "If it comes to it ... well, at the worst, you'll remember what I knew, right?"  She allows you to complete the connection, and now you have an eerie dual-perception of where you're holding her hand.  It's odd to feel it from her and your point of view, actually makes you a bit uncomfortable.

Just as you're considering this, Mirallia -- followed by two other vassals -- rounds the corner of the keep.

[Bjorn]

Bjorn does not immediately let go of Lindsey's hand, even after spotting Mirallia, but he does make sure that he is still maintaing the high hand and the clear distance between the two of them.  "Is there anything else?" he says to Lindsey, quietly.  "Keeping up this link takes... a bit of concentration.  Given the assassin that seems to be stalking me, I don't really like being out in the open when I'm this distracted."

[Brian]

"No," Lindsey says quietly, wobbling a little bit on her feet.  "Thank you," she says more loudly, letting go of your hand.  "The footing is uneaven on the mud."  She sends a thought across the mind-link: As long as you can be aware of what's going on ... in the meantime, I'll take care of this.

"Ah," Mirallia says aloud, her face perfectly expressionless, as she glances between Bjorn and Lindsey.  "I see you're busy?" she asks, looking at Bjorn speculatively.

"Not at all," Lindsey answers quickly.  "He was guiding me to you, as I had asked.  Madame Mirallia, I had wanted to ask you for your advice on how to treat the sick and the ill," she says earnestly.  "I fear my touch at healing is less exact and not as gentle as your own."

This seems to distract Mirallia, and she turns to look at Lindsey appraisingly.  "Well," she says slowly, "we could discuss that, if you'd like....  But the other vassals wanted to speak with Bjorn about the defense of the keep."

"Well, I think they can do that without our help," Lindsey opines.  "And before you say anything about guards, Lord Bloom and Sir Shuker here have graciously offered to escort us, so you needn't fear being unprotected."  Across the mindlink, she asks, Does she suspect that you are not from this world?

[Bjorn]

Bjorn hesitates for a second, partially weighing the risk of the means of answering, and partially to judge whether to be honest or not.  But... Yes, he replies, the chalk a tight, concise script.

"Mistresses," he says out loud with a bow.  "Lord Bloom, Sir Shuker.  If you will pardon me, we will part ways here."

[Brian]

The vassals nod at you, and motion for you to follow them.

Bjorn now leaves this thread, and returns to Zero Hour.

[Dracos]

Dracos frowns ever so slightly, his voice low.  "That...could've gone smoother."

Dracos

[Brian]

"I'm sure," Lindsey says, smirking.  "Madame Mirallia, I think we'd be more comfortable in my rooms.  If you'd care to join me...?"

"I suppose," Mirallia says dubiously.  "But you said that Lord Bloom and Sir Shuker agreed to provide an escort?"

[Dracos]

Dracos smiles.  "We'd be glad to escort you two on your walk."

Dracos