Delluth's DecisionIndex | Time Under Chaos | Game Logs | Delluth's Decision Continued from Gathered on the Queen: Mandor and Petra (except there's a lot of off-list stuff)
A minute later, [Delluth] stepped onto the grounds of Hendrake University, looking around and up with both normal and Logrus-enhanced senses. The campus seemed calm and peaceful. Lights in the windows of a couple of the student blocks suggested some people were either partying or perhaps working on late night essays - lights in the library suggested this latter too. A couple of the dons' lights were on as well, but other than that all was calm and peaceful. The moon was in the sky, nearly at the full once more, just as it should be. Of the full moon, Tir, the stairway or, indeed, a strange dome around Amber, there was no sign. He took a deep breath of the mountain breeze, daring to relax a little. ~They must have done something,~ he thought. Not knowing *what* it was they had done was a minor irritation, compared to the relief of finding Amber safe. At least, it seemed safe. For the moment. Still, he should look around ... He flung out a tendril of the Logrus and brought himself to his locked office. Seating himself in his chair, in the book-scented darkness, he again sent up a careful wisp of chaos energy, questing toward the slopes and stairs of Kolvir. He saw ... soldiers moving towards the stairs. Two familiar figures seemed to be accompanying a senior officer - the Counsellor Ingrey and Lady Tasha Minobee. And there was a seething mass of darkness awaiting them ... Duke Helgram. Warily, Delluth positioned his point-of-view to observe. But after a few minutes, he flinched, let the Logrus tendril wither down to nothing, and wiped the sweat off his face. ~Prudence,~ he assured himself. Then he looked toward Kolvir and murmured, "Be careful, Ingrey!" The room was still dark, except for a little moonlight, but he had no trouble getting around his desk and letting himself out. A bit of a walk would do him good, he thought, and paced quietly along the School of Medicine's deserted corridors. Outside, he took another deep breath of the fresh air and turned toward the castle. He could bring himself to the dining room, but in the circumstances that didn't seem like the best idea. But on the other hand ... the Logrus was a tool, he reminded himself. One that he might need, given that he didn't know much about what had been going on up here. He set himself a moderate pace and concentrated. But he had not gone a few doors beyond the College before he was stopped by two members of the City Watch. "Excuse me, is it Dr Delluth?" The other man seemed to be examining a small piece of pasteboard; he nodded confirmation. "Get the boss," said the first - and then, to Delluth. "If you'll just wait here a few minutes, Sir. There's someone who wants a word with you." "No," Delluth said calmly. "Whoever it is can catch up with me at the Palace. You can come along, if you like." And he moved forward, apparently expecting the man to clear out of the way. But the guard reached out a hand to detain him. "We have the campus surrounded and sealed off, Sir. By order of the King. I'd advise you to wait." Delluth paused, rather than let the man touch him, then continued to pause, apparently in confusion, while he finished calling up the Logrus. With darkness deeper than the night flickering around his fingers, he met the man's eyes. "Did they even tell you that you were looking for a Chaos Lord?" The guard swallowed. Clearly they hadn't. But he answered stoutly enough. "I was told it was the King's orders that you were to be found, Doctor. And I have pledged my life to the King." Delluth gave him a slight nod of approval, and crossed his arms over his chest, staring up toward Kolvir. The way he was gripping his own elbows made more visible the way a quartet of Logrus tendrils twined around his hands and then stilled, like strange rings coiled up his index and ring fingers. There were the sound of approaching footsteps and, looking around, Delluth could see the officer who had hurried away, accompanied by Vikund Anansi. His expression soured with distaste at the sight of Anansi, but he did not move. "Good evening Doctor, or should I say 'Good Morning'?" Vikund said evenly, with a ghost of a smile (though it was hard to tell in this light). "The king has requested your presence at the castle, immediately. Perhaps I could arrange the transfer for you, if you'll allow?" "I'd rather walk, if you don't mind," Delluth answered. "It's not far." "I'm sorry, but that won't be possible," Vikund replied, advancing at a leisurely pace. "My orders were quite specific, and I know you would hate to keep His Majesty waiting. He is most anxious for news of his First Minister. You know, the one that was left in your care?" Delluth's posture could no longer be called relaxed, though he had not moved. "Can you assure me that he is in no way responsible for the Minister's ... problem?" "I can give that assurance," Vikund replied. He paused, staying where he was. "You understand the seriousness of the situation, and the sensitivities of the Crown in relation to these matters. It would be wise to proceed in a manner that would not give rise to ... misplaced suspicion. I ask again ... may I arrange the transfer for you?" Delluth was offended at the notion of 'suspicion,' but at least Anansi hadn't attacked him. And he knew perfectly well that underhanded people expected underhanded behavior. "Very well," he said gruffly. The tendrils on his hands writhed, then disappeared. "Unarmed, even." And if they killed him - but he refused to complete the thought. "Thank you," Vikund said, offering Delluth a deferential bow. This also served to show his own hands were empty. A moment later the king's trump card was in his hand, and he was reaching for contact ... But before he could make contact, he felt the tug of someone trumping him. It could be someone in the palace... or maybe not. They could call back later. He blocked out the call, waited for the moment to pass, then tried Merlin's card again. The doctor nodded courteously in response to Vikund's bow, then turned his head to stare up toward Kolvir again while he waited. Merlin's visage came to life. "Vikund," he said. "Have you found my brother ... or the doctor?" "The doctor is here," Vikund said. "I'll bring him through." He extended his hand to Delluth as he stood framed in rainbow light. Delluth unfolded his arms, still not sure this was the right choice, and took it. Continued in News for the King?
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