SeekingJovannaCouncilOfWarAnother person might have paced. Giulian Anderon couldn't pace, but the deliberate back-and-forth movement of the caneback rocker served the same purpose; not a relaxing motion, but a restless one, a channeling of nervous energy. He'd invited people to meet in his rooms this evening around eight, late enough that classes would be over, the workday finished, dinners eaten. Giulian had only picked at his own dinner, leaving the tray barely touched in favor of a quiet half-hour kneeling at the prie-dieu at the foot of his bed. He'd proposed the meeting to Harry, Sasha and Renata in the carriage coming home last night. He'd asked Harry to bring Elissa, and the girls had said they'd pass the news on to Devon. This morning he'd written notes to Romeo Acciaio and -- elaborating on what he'd told him last night, in light of what he'd learned from Jack in the meantime -- Lord Talaren Bahlmis. He had Renalda's letter safe in an inside pocket. He'd have to make time to speak to Romeo privately, either before or after the meeting proper, depending on when (or if!) Romeo arrived. I didn't really need this complication, not along with everything else ... but he'd promised his sister. He hoped that, when they put together all the information they had, it would point to a course of action. If Jo's in some sort of trouble, we owe it to her to try and help. He refused to think about the possibility of a blank wall, that there wouldn't be anything they could do. Giulian hated feeling helpless, the more so because in the course of his life he'd had to do it more than most. And if this 'Lord Whiteblood' is responsible, came the darker thought, that's just one more I owe him. He stopped rocking abruptly. Was that someone at the door? Harry had taken a long way around to bring two ladies to Giulian's door. After picking up Sasha first, at the usual corner, he took a leisurely trip to pick up Elissa in the hackney, taking the unmistakable opportunity to take a few extra minutes with Sasha in the process. Still, when he picked up Elissa, he was a model of decorum both before and thereafter, speaking lightly with them as he directed the hackney, and the two ladies, eventually, to Giulian's door, doing the knocking for them that Giulian heard. The door, though not as impressive as the main entrance to the house, was of heavy, carved dark wood, framed by two panels of stained glass in a multicolored, abstract pattern. It wasn't long before the door was answered by Peterson, Giulian's manservant. "Lord Harold," he acknowledged Harry, standing aside to allow him and his charges to enter. "Lord Giulian is in the sitting room," he went on to inform them. "Thanks, Peterson," Harry said with a smile and a nod. Elissa looked around at the gorgeous home and felt out of place. She was never allowed to come into a home by the door. Let in by a servant, no less. She made her own entry for the most part into a place like this. From the door she could glimpse a hallway apparently stretching the width of the wing, since there was a door at the other end, too. Another hallway angled off to the left; where the two came together there was a stair going up. Bright woven mats lay in front of both doors, and there were a number of bizarrely painted masks hanging on the right-hand wall. She stayed back, glancing at Harry and Sasha, her fingers clutched to the strap of her bag. What am I even thinking about by being here? she thought to herself. Devon wasn't far behind them, arriving at the door looking vaguely windblown. His features were tired and drawn, faint circles under dark eyes. He had his battered leather bag hung with the strap across his body. He nodded to Peterson when he answered the door, then to the others when he saw them. His brow furrowed slightly as he saw Elissa, but he said nothing. Elissa glanced back, recognizing the face, and raised an eyebrow in a silent question. Devon's scowl only deepened, but he didn't say anything. Harry turned to the newcomer, giving a nod as he recognized the young man, and then smiled. "Mr. Byeroth," Peterson acknowledged him, before leading the way to the sitting-room door on the right, which he opened for the group. Romeo was still coming up the path, and watched Devon enter the house. He kept himself from calling out to him, but a small smile still crept over his face. He let himself be led to Giulian's rooms without any small talk and found himself a seat near his sparring partner. Devon glanced over and a offered a brief grin of greeting before lapsing back into his scowl. His arms were crossed tight across his chest, tension lining his body. "Good to see you, Acciaio," he said quietly. Sasha seated herself carefully on the outskirts of the group, letting those who were more familiar with the House and Giulian seat themselves closer. She was looking around the room with a keen interest -- not awe so much as an intellectual curiosity; the look of a scholar who had, after a lifetime studying the works of the Italian Renaissance from expensively reproduced plates, found themselves on a visit to Florence. The room itself was constructed on noble and gracious lines, by Anderon ancestors now long dead. The furnishings were evidently chosen (or mostly chosen) by the current occupant, and were rather a hodgepodge of styles, but it was a harmonious hodgepodge at least as far as colors and patterns went. Couches and chairs alike were notable for their comfort. Arguably the best piece in the room (leaving aside the oak sideboard which was probably original to the house) was the painting over the fireplace, a wild and fantastical mountainscape in a gilt frame; though the bronze charioteer over the mantelpiece ran it a close second. "Lord Talaren Bahlmis," announced Peterson from the door. The tall figure of Talaren entered. A nod to Giulian, and then to Devon, and he moved easily across the room to take up a position to one side of the fire; not seating himself yet, but leaning back against the wall and watching the others. Giulian, in his caneback rocker near the fire, his crutches propped in their brass holder nearby (it looked to Sasha as if it might have held fireplace tools in a previous existence), seemed ever so slightly relieved to see Talaren walk in. "I'm glad you could make it, Talaren," he said. Devon straightened, and looked from Giulian to Elissa. "You're running the show, Anderon. But I have to ask. What is she doing here? Some of the stuff we might be talking about is sensitive, and I don't know her. I've already broken confidence twice today to people I trust. I don't want to do it to someone I've only seen once before." Elissa stood still upon hearing Devon and grumbled under her breath. She didn't bother to take a seat. Her arms crossed under full breasts as her dress and long vest swirled around her legs. "What? Do I carry a sign somewhere that says 'do not trust?' Tell me, please. I'll remove it immediately if that will knock off the scowls and complete distrust," she snapped to the crowd from her position just inside the doorway. "I don't think you need to take Dev's remarks so personally," said Sasha. "I think he would raise the same objection to anyone he barely knows being present, even if their pedigree was one of the longest on Aqiuila. What will knock off the scowls and complete distrust is getting to know you. "And it would be helped by not acting as though we're all out to get you when most everyone has made every effort to be nice," she added under her breath, in a tone which only Harry, closest to her, could hear. "Not take it personally? Why should I not when he directed it straight at me... Oh... sorry... Just 'her'," Elissa said. "That's rich, coming from you. You've hated me from the moment you set eyes on me. I haven't done one thing to you... To any of you," Elissa said. "I know Sasha. I know Jules, I know Harry, I know Romeo and I know Talaren," Devon snapped. "I don't know you. If someone else walks in here and I don't know them, I'll say the same d*mned thing. I'm not about to stand here talking to someone I don't know about personal things. The girl I love is missing, and I'll do everything I can to change that. But that does not include spreading her personal life around. If you can't understand that, then that only makes me more certain that I'm not saying a thing in front of you. Or anyone else I don't know. Do you understand that?" "Elissa is here," Giulian said firmly, "because she has twice gone out of her way to help people in this room; once when she helped Harry and me out of what could have been a serious scrape, and once when she brought Renata the warning about Lord Whiteblood." He glanced between Talaren and Devon as he said that name; then his gaze went to Sasha. "Where is Renata, by the way? Do you know whether she's coming?" "I think she is," said Sasha, whose colour was slightly raised. She looked at Elissa. "Do you really see my letting you stay in my private apartment as a sign that I've hated you from the moment I set eyes on you? I'll be blunt and say I'm still not sure that we can trust you. But I've made the effort to -- and you've seen a practical demonstration of that. Hades, you've slept in a practical demonstration of that. But can you please try to see things from Devon's perspective? The woman he's in love with is missing -- could be in danger of her life. How does he know he can trust you? Only by listening to what we have to say -- and by hearing how you can help us." Elissa rubbed her fingers against her forehead, one long finger brushed the darkened bruise riding high on her cheekbone. "I know Jo. I know of her and we barely met and talked. I'm sorry to hear that she is missing and I have no idea if it's connected to Whiteblood. You should also know that I've made my own demonstration that I have done nothing to any of you. I have not touched or taken any of your belongings. I gave you my word that I would not do any of those things. I don't befriend people only to turn around and steal from them." She glanced at Sasha and the others. "I have no idea how I can help any of you or what I am doing here." "Perhaps you could start," Giulian said calmly, "by repeating the warning you brought last night, for the benefit of those who may not have heard it yet." He looked over at Romeo and Devon as he said this. "But first, please come in, sit down, have something to drink..." He motioned toward the sideboard, which held a coffee service and several decanters, as well as a large platter of sweet biscuits. "Harry, since Peterson's watching the door, maybe you'd do the honors?" "Certainly," Harold said to Giulian with a smile. He walked toward the sideboard and stood there expectantly, looking at the assembled group for their requests. Devon shook his head, not wanting anything to drink. "Red wine please," said Talaren. "That merlot I had last time I was over, if Lord Giulian has any left." "Do you?" Harold turned to look at Giulian. "It's there. Second from the right," said Giulian. "No one's been around to drink it, much, between then and now." "I'll have wine too," said Sasha. "The merlot will be fine for me, my lord." There was a lurking mischief in the glance she shot Harry. Perhaps she was remembering their first encounter, when she and Dev -- and Jo -- had been serving wine and canapes to Lady Bahlmis' guests at the Salon. At all events, this reversal in their roles seemed to amuse her. Harry smiled to Sasha and nodded. He found the bottle Giulian indicated and poured the two glasses, setting them aside for a moment. After a moment, he delivered them to Sasha and Talaren respectively. Elissa moved quietly to sit in a chair set a little further away from the others. She stared into the fireplace for a few moments, letting her frustration and uncertainty burn away with the embers. "Elissa," said Talaren quietly, "will you join us for a drink?" He glanced at the others. "Dev ... I followed up the lead you gave me. In certain areas, I can vouch for Elissa. Certainly as a friend of Jo's." Talaren's words startled Devon, and his scowl eased slightly. He glanced at Romeo, shrugged, and settled back into his chair, slouching. It was an improvement over the ramrod straight tension he'd had before. In response to Talaren's words he nodded curtly. Talaren sipped his wine. "And ... Elissa? Mr Grundy sends his regards." Elissa turned to look at Talaren, her eyes widened slightly. "Ahh, just something simple for a drink. I can take a glass of merlot as well. Umm... Ermm... Thank you for passing that on, sir." Harold nodded and poured a glass of merlot for Elissa, offering it to her quietly. She nodded with a smile. "Thank you," Elissa said and sipped at the merlot. "What about you, Giulian?" he asked Jules. "Coffee for me, please, Harry," said Giulian. Devon waited while everyone else was served their drinks, his hands laced across his stomach, white knuckles showing the tension that still remained. "So," he said, voice hoarse. "Where do we start?" "I thought we'd start by pooling information," said Giulian. "What we know about Jo's disappearance, what you and the girls may have found out earlier today..." He glanced over at Elissa. "Maybe what we know about Lord Whiteblood, too." Romeo seemed to roll the name over in his head, but couldn't place it, not even as a monicker in other social cirles. "I wish I had more to offer -- I only heard of it myself yesterday -- but I'm all ears." "We searched Jo's room this morning," said Sasha, glancing at Dev. "I think ... everything was normal -- as though she'd just stepped out for the evening. I don't know if Dev spotted anything. I saw ... this." She pulled out a piece of paper. "It's Jo's notes on her meeting with the heretic priests. You know those leaflets that were distributed through the city, setting out their aims? According to this, Jo was behind it." Giulian took a sip of his coffee and commented, "I can't say that surprises me very much." He recalled his encounter with Jovanna, and Renata, in the Nest. Somehow he didn't think it would surprise Renata either. "It also means, if it is true, that we might not be dealing with Whiteblood at all as the reason why Jovanna has disappeared," Harry put in, still improbably standing at attention at the sideboard while regarding the group. "Those leaflets ruffled more than a few feathers." "So, you think Jo was abducted by the Church?" Romeo asked incredulously. "I don't know," said Sasha. "But I do know that religion can stir up some strong feelings. Anyway -- that wasn't all we found. She had a picture ... of an offworlder." She glanced, almost hesitantly, at Dev. "I know you don't want to discuss her secrets, Dev, but this could be important." Talaren was silent and watchful from his place by the fire, studying the faces of the younger people gathered in the room as they responded to Sasha's words. Devon scowled, his arms crossed tightly across his chest as if he could fold in on himself in a small box of tension. "Piotr Petravich. The Lasse assassin." A small pause, and the last words were bitten out with sharp edges. "Her father." Giulian sat up, his eyes widening in surprise. He knew that name, too. Elissa's eyes widened over her glass of wine. She heard of the name, if not the man. Otherwise, she remained quiet. "I knew him," said Talaren quietly. "And his connections were ... wide-ranging. If he's back on the planet, he's been keeping a low profile. I think it might be worth someone checking out the spaceport. It might be a little hard to see the manifests ... but there's always gossip." He glanced around the group. "That might be rather safer than going into the lower city at the moment." "Because of Lord Whiteblood, you mean?" said Giulian. "But Petravich ... helped against him once before, isn't that so? Maybe he'd do so again, especially if his daughter was in danger." His tense, erect posture slumped a little and he added, "If he's here. If he's still here." "That is why," said Talaren, "I'm suggesting that someone should go to the spaceport and endeavour to find out. Rather than sticking their heads into the hornets' nest that is the lower city and drawing attention to themselves." "If she's missing, they'll expect me to come looking," Devon said quietly. "Izzie... her friend... knows we're together. So do others I've bumped into. Although they might not even know she's gone yet. I'll wait... but I don't want to wait too long. If there's something to be found, we might not be able to find it if we wait too long. And... so you know... I don't know if Petravich knows he's her father. So he might not help her because she's his daughter because he might have no idea. When Jo told me, she said he didn't know. I don't know if that's changed." Talaren nodded. "You'll be safer in the lower city than most. But you should still not go alone. Take someone who can act as bodyguard. No matter how good you are with a blade, you need someone to watch your back." Devon glanced at Romeo, a question in his eyes, in his shrug. Romeo nodded. Devon wasn't going anyplace dangerous without the Acciaio at his side. Devon nodded in return, with a flicker of a smile, then returned his attention to Talaren. "But others should check out the spaceport." "We're accumulating quite a list of people and places to check out," Giulian noted. "The college newspaper ... the lower city ... the spaceport. And probably none of us should go alone to make our inquiries." "I'll go to the spaceport," said Sasha. "It'll be easier for me to mix with spacers. If ... someone will come with me." "I'm familiar with the spaceport," Harold offered from his position at the sideboard. Giulian nodded as if he'd expected this. "I stopped in to talk to Abe at the newspaper yesterday afternoon, when I was trying to figure out why she'd missed lunch," Devon said. "They may be on alert." "Do you think that would make them more, or less, likely to answer our questions?" queried Giulian. "Or would that depend on who was doing the asking?" "Let me know wherever I'm needed," Elissa offered in a low voice. The sudden smile Giulian turned in her direction hinted that he had not expected this. "Thank you, Elissa," he said. Just then Renata arrived, dressed again in one of her stylish jumpers, her hair properly plaited, but with subtle changes in her manner and expression. She wasn't exactly the same as she'd been when she'd first encountered Jovanna Starr at the Bahlmis Salon... "Sorry I'm late," she said, minus her customary breathlessness. "Does anyone have any news?" Harold chuckled and smiled to his sibling "Our councils have really only but begun, dear Renata." "We're still pooling information," confirmed Giulian, "and making plans for further inquiries." Renata nodded and sat down next to her brother. "And there's been no word at all? Not even a hint of a word?" She was becoming seriously worried. "Nothing," confirmed Sasha. "But we have got some leads. Her father ... if he's still here. Perhaps the newspaper ... And perhaps the priests." "I think we should all be in groups of at least three, wherever we're searching," Romeo suggested. "You know, one to stay with the body while the third goes for help." Renata frowned at that, not sure if Romeo was trying to be funny -- which she thought tasteless at the moment -- or serious, which seemed like cheap fear tactics. Devon nodded curtly. "I think that's an excellent idea. Does anyone have any idea who could go down into the lower city with Acciaio and me? I've said earlier, I don't think the girls should go... we'll be going to a house of..." he paused, flushing, "and well, I don't want anyone to get any ideas about them. Harry, I think you're too recognizable. And Giulian, it sounds like you've got other things going on." "Perhaps Elissa would go with you," suggested Giulian, "if she doesn't think it would be too dangerous for her to be seen there right now." Rising to her feet, Elissa replaced the glass of wine with the sharper aroma of coffee. She enjoyed the rare treat of the bitter, pungent brew. She added a dollop of cream and sipped it. Leaning against the table, she nodded. "I think it would be best that I join whoever ventures down there. I know my way around with my own reputation. I have no idea if I should be there because of Whiteblood and other things going on. No matter what, we should not be wandering around once night settles in dark and deep. It makes things that much more dangerous and vulnerable to everyone, no matter how good we are with blades or a stick," Elissa said, sipping once again from the thick mug. "And where do you want me?" Renata asked. "And don't say home, Harry, because I have as much a right to help as anyone." Harry bit his lip and didn't answer. Devon's expression was tight. "Actually, Elissa, I'd like it if you could stick with Renata on one of the assignments. All joking aside, Romeo and I will be fine on our own. And given how I'm known there, it would stick out like a sore thumb if I suddenly showed up with you on my arm when I'm needing to talk to people about Jo. Just like bringing a girl to one of those places would be thought a bit strange. And if you want to help... no offense Renata... I'd like to see Renata protected." His attention turned to Renata, and his expression softened with a fond smile. "I know I've taught you what I can. But I'd rather you had someone along for backup. So I'm thinking... Harry, Sasha, and Talaren at the spaceport. Me and Romeo down in the lower city with the people Jo knew. And Elissa, Renata, and Giulian..." he stumbled to a stop, looking for the third place to be, and glanced at Talaren. "...the paper?" Giulian suggested. "And other places in the Uni district." He had an additional agenda of his own, but it was one he didn't care to discuss with the others. Nor was it one for which he felt he'd require backup ... not of the sort they could give, anyway. Though come to think of it, Renata might try something similar. He'd have to ask her later. Talaren nodded. "Actually, Jules, there's something else you could help with ... but my plans in that area aren't definite yet. Perhaps I could call on you tomorrow?" The fact that Talaren had used Giulian's family name as opposed to the formal address he had been using suggested that this was serious. "Certainly," Giulian answered at once. "What time?" "Around ten," said Talaren. "That should give me time to enjoy a leisurely breakfast." Only those who knew Talaren well enough to know he regularly rose at five would guess he was planning to do something else before he called. Giulian, who happened to be one of those people, acknowledged this with barely the flicker of an eyebrow. "Ten it is," he said. "And Lord Harry and Miss Matisse had better tackle the spaceport on their own. I might be making a few enquiries of my own." Harry nodded to Talaren, his expression serious. "And Byeroth -- we should have a word before you go plunging back into the lower city," Talaren added. Romeo gave Talaren a good once over before looking back to his friend. Talaren returned the look coolly, and with some slight amusement. "After this. I need to go find someething to eat, if you want to join me," Devon suggested. He glanced at Romeo, silent shrug as invitation. Romeo bit his lip and just nodded. Devon nodded as well, and turned his attention back to Talaren for his response. "Perhaps we should talk another time if you're already engaged," said Talaren equably. Devon frowned, glancing at Romeo. Romeo shrugged. Devon stole a deep breath, let it out slowly. "No, I'd rather do it sooner than later. And I still need dinner. So when we're done here sounds good to me." Talaren nodded, his expression unchanged. "And Jules, Elissa and me to the newspaper, and sleuthing around the Uni," Renata said. She glanced at Elissa and said, "If we're found somewhere we wouldn't normally be we can always say we're showing Elissa around as a prospective student. You can be a distant cousin, in from one of the rural areas... your mother could be married to one of Lord Creoni's top people... Just wear a jumper, you'll look fine." Devon nodded his approval at the idea. Elissa nodded as she sipped at the coffee again. "A jumper? I think I may need to borrow one of those..." She glanced down at her dress and long over-vest. "Other than that, it sounds fine to me." She moved over to lean against the couch where Renata was sitting and smiled at the young noble, quietly happy that someone wanted her nearby. "I can give you one," Renata said easily. "Do you like blue? It's one of the house colors, so I have an awful lot of blue. But if you prefer green or brown or even burgundy... Your shoes are fine, but I'll bring you some stockings and so forth..." She was glancing at the others as she spoke, sensing that a lot was going on under the surfaces and wishing she'd been able to get away sooner, so as not to have missed so much... "Blue will be fine. I'll try not to disgrace the color," Elissa said and glanced at her legs. "I have stockings in the bag. I put some on, they're a light color." Renata gave Harry and Sasha another glance before responding. She looked down at Elissa's legs and nodded. "Those will be fine, they're at least as good as anything I own, and it gives me a good idea of what shade to pick for you. You really do look splendid overall, I don't think anyone will even question us. Everyone knows Jules, too, far more than they know me, because this is my first year at the Women's College. So we're really rather unremarkable there." "Do you have classes tomorrow, Renata?" Giulian asked. "I can pick Elissa up and come meet you at the Student Union after your last class." Sasha moved closer to Harry. "When shall we go?" she asked in an undertone. Harry lowered his voice, glancing briefly at his curious sibling before turning fully to Sasha. He tried not to turn on his charm too intensely, but the closely watching would see a brightness in his eyes as he spoke to Sasha. "The sooner the better, I think. We are under a deadline, and getting information more quickly is all to the good." Sasha nodded. "The spaceport doesn't have night or day," she pointed out. "We could go there now ... or I could go back to my apartment and change." She smiled. "It might be easier to get information from spacers if I didn't look quite so much like a proper young Aquilan lady." She looked thoughtfully at Harry. "Or perhaps we should go tomorrow, early?" Harold looked thoughtful for a moment and glanced at the others. Finally, he nodded. "Early, tomorrow, unless anyone thinks that we really should go as soon as we leave here." Harry looked at everyone else for their reaction and thoughts. "We probably should not travel about too much at night," Giulian pointed out, glancing at Elissa and remembering her warnings. "The spaceport itself may be on its own schedule, but it's a good long drive out there." "Agreed," said Talaren. "I'd reinforce that ... "And I'd also suggest we meet again to pool accumulated knowledge. Lord Giulian -- can we meet here? There's nothing exceptional about so many people visiting you..." "Not anymore," Giulian agreed with a grin. "Yes, we can meet here." Romeo looked to the other noble. "Do you have a moment, Giulian, if we're done for the moment?" Giulian looked at him keenly. "Yes, certainly." "Then perhaps we should all be on our way," suggested Talaren. Devon nodded and stood. He glanced at Giulian. "I've got something to do tomorrow, and I'm not sure when it is. If I'm going to be late, I'll send a note." Then he walked over to join Talaren, and wait for the older man before heading out. "All right," said Giulian, with a nod. "Take care, Dev." Sasha rose to her feet. "Lord Harry, could you offer me a seat in your carriage home? I think I should return to the apartment -- it will occasion less comment if you collect me there tomorrow." She smiled at him -- and then glanced at Elissa. "Do you wish to stay there too?" Elissa looked up at at Sasha and nodded. "If you don't mind. I would feel safer there. Oh, Giulian, I do not mind meeting all of you on campus somewhere. It will be easier for me to make my way there than have you come all the way to the apartment only to return. We should all be fine during the day. It's the evening-early morning hours that are more dangerous." Harold nodded. "I'll take you both back to Sasha's apartment. And drop off Renata too, while I am at it," he added. "Depending on what time of day it is, picking you up might or might not take me out of my way," said Giulian. "When do your classes end, Renata?" Renata got up. "I've only got morning classes. Romantic Literature and Music Appreciation. I'm out by eleven." "And I'm seeing Talaren at ten..." Giulian said thoughtfully. "How about if I meet you and Elissa at the Student Union at twelve, and take you both to lunch?" he suggested. Lunch? Renata thought. It didn't look as if she and Elissa were being taken very seriously on this mission. But she nodded and smiled, knowing that if she made a fuss now it would just get everyone's guard up. "That would be very nice," she said. "You'd know better than I would which places Jo would frequent," Giulian went on. "We'll start with one of those." Now her smile deepened, became more genuine. She should have known better, should have trusted Giulian. He had never dismissed her. Why would he start now? "That's a wonderful idea." Harold agreed with a smile, relieved that Renata wasn't being pensioned off. "Sounds fine with me as well. I'll meet you at the Student Union then," Elissa said. "Good. I'll see you then," said Giulian, since everyone seemed to be preparing to leave. "Thank you, Giulian." Harold looked to the ladies and smiled to Sasha, Renata and Elissa evenly. |
