Sailing Away (Everyone)

Ka'Ri nods. "I would sooner renounce Osprem than do anything that would endanger your autonomy and agency. I do not have all your life experiences but I have been a scared kid with parents with plans for me, I would do everything in my power to ensure you would never go back to that world against your will."

Sithani nods. "Absolutely."

"No grabbing, certainly no killing, and no tricks," Sunrise agrees. Then she gives Tree a sheepish smile. "We had a suspicion that when we found you, you might not want to come back. We... might have discussed the possibility. Extensively. Bottom line is, we agreed to a rescue mission, not a kidnapping mission. No one wanted to force you to go back to Laerdya even before hearing all this, let alone now that we know more.

This much at least earns a wry grin from Korogur. He turns to Tree and kisses her gently. "You know I'll come get you again, if she did take you," he promises in a quiet voice. Tears springing to her eyes, she hugs him tightly.

"Okay," she agrees softly. "I mean. Not tonight because it's, like, late. But in the morning, I guess. Or whenever."

"Thank you," says Sithani. "Now, uh, Korogur? Captain? Preferably-not-'Boss'-because-that-would-get-confusing? How much do you know of what Betreygis was planning to do with the Xiloscient council seat, and did it tie into this 'take-credit-for-the-cure' scheme?"

Glen feels a surge of relief and tries not to let it show on his face. His eyes pop over to Sunrise. "Can you get word to Luther to make arrangements with Rik and the temple?"

He looks back to Tree. "Should we discuss possibly leaving tonight under cover of darkness? You're a very high profile kidnapping victim, and anyone who might catch you while we're escorting you back would put us right back to square one, maybe worse." He looks around. "I'm certainly willing to listen to other thoughts; that's just my initial reaction."

Sithani frowns at this, as it reduces her opportunities to score with Parih, but says nothing and waits for Korogur to answer her.

Korogur gives Glen an uncertain look. "If we leave now, it'll be dawn when we get to Brilight. If you want to bring her in secretly--and I agree--then we need to wait a good twelve hours or so, I'd say."

Turning to Sithani, he grins at her. "I'm 'Captain' to my crew. Everyone else calls me Korogur--or worse. And, no, I don't know Cousin Betreygis' plans; we're not close enough for him to confide in me. I think he's a prick and he thinks I'm a headstrong kid who causes him trouble. But I gotta think it'd be easier for a councilman to distribute a cure than for a nobody-merchant."

He shakes his head then, looking amused. "Y'all do know orcs die from the plague, too, right? I'm not saying Trey doesn't have a sinister reason to develop a cure, but I'm also not saying he does. He might just not want to die. Fancy that."

Glen nods. "Ah - I lost track of time on the way over. Twelve hours it is."

"We were first introduced to your family via Betregis's spouse," Sunrise explains, a touch of apology in her voice. "As Glen's pointed out, Thorn was... not treated well. It wasn't a very good first impression; between that and Laerdya's claim that you'd kidnapped and hurt her daughter, I'm afraid we've been casting the lot of you in the role of villain. It's taking some time to adjust to all the new information."

To Glen she adds, "I'm... trying. He hasn't answered me."

Then she takes a deep breath. "Okay, so. If we're waiting 12 hours: do you want to keep us close or get us out of your hair? We can sleep here or on our own ship, whatever you prefer." Then she grins. "And I never did ask what you were celebrating when we arrived."

"You can stay here, I reckon," Korogur says with a shrug. "We got enough tents. But if you need to send someone back to your ship so's your crew isn't nervous, that's fine too. I don't think we're keeping you prisoner." He glances at Tree and she nods in hesitant agreement. Then he grins at Sunrise and pulls Tree into a close hug. "And we're celebrating another month of freedom. We've survived this long out here. It's worth a party."

Luther's voice in Sunrise's mind is strained and hollow. I'm here. I'm sorry. It's just. A lot.

"Makes sense," Ka'Ri answers with a smile. "Every day of freedom you can steal is worth every coin of gold in the world. I think we'll have more discussions tomorrow as well about how we want to prepare ourselves especially if Laerdya or those who enacted the ransom scheme decide to escalate, but you are right that I need to tend to my crew's welfare. May Osprem's favor continue to bless you."

Those observing her notice she is a mixture of ecstatic and worried though she is trying to hide the worried at least.

Glen gives Ka'Ri's hand a friendly pat, assuming she's just worried about the crew, and then nods to Korogur and Sunrise. He says to Korogur, somewhat sheepish, "Thorn said you were kind to him. He's, ah, a good friend, so. Thanks, for what it's worth, and I'm sorry for losing my temper."

He then turns to Sunrise, looking hesitant. "Do you think something happened?"

"No," she says with a sudden sigh, a smile lighting up her face. "No, he's okay, just. Shocked."

A flood of relief comes through the connection with Honey, followed by words. I know, dear one. I know. But at least we know now, and we'll find a way to deal with it. She hesitates. Tomorrow night we're bringing her to the temple of Yondalla to meet with you and Rik. Can you be there, and tell everyone who needs to know? No authorities, not yet, and no Laerdya. Just you two.

Out loud, she says, "I think I might stay here, if you don't mind. After all," and she shoots Korogur a grin, "you were a pretty good dancer before you thought I was a threat to Tree."

"I am an amazing dancer," he agrees with a laugh. "I'll tell them to start the music back up. You can go back down to your dinghy if you like," he offers Ka'Ri. "C'mon, we'll head back up to the deck. Your friends probably think we slit your throats already, ha."

Yes. I will collect Rik. I know he'll be relieved. I am too. Thank you. Thank you. I'm sorry I'm not-- It's fine.

Glen gets up. "I believe I will stay as well, if I am welcome. I understand if you'd rather I not. But Elen would love to meet your crew, I'm sure." Elen gives a little chirp, noting that his ranger seems have relaxed a little after being very tense for much of the evening.

It's not fine, I know that. But we'll figure it out, okay? Together. For right now - your daughter is alive and happy and free and unharmed. Despite everything else, that's a win.

Sunrise smiles, reaching out to the little cat to skritch its ears. "Which reminds me. If we're all friends now and nobody's talking about killing anyone? I have someone to introduce you to when we go back up on deck."

"He's a good little baby, isn't he?" Tree coos at the kitty, charmed by the chirp. "Erdan would love you. Panthers are so pretty."

Korogur raises his eyebrows as he stands. "Oh? More friends?"

Glen stands by, smiling. Elen purrs softly and leans into the scratches from Sunrise, then turns to the lovely elf cooing at him. He bounds over to Tree and starts vigorously rubbing against her calves, asking politely for pets because he is, after all, a very good baby. He and Elen follow when folks leave the room.

"Sort of," she says with a smile. As they leave the room she calls out mentally, Honey, do you want to say hi?

"Just don't let anyone hurt her," she adds.

"Reasonable-to-good news all round, then."

Sithani turns to Parih. "Want to continue our dance?"

Tree, delighted by Elen, produces a length of rope and dangles it behind her for him to pounce.

Parih, shaking her head at these antics, smiles and pulls Sithani back into a dance, motioning for music to start up again.

Honey, nervous and uncertain, flits down and hovers before Korogur, who gives a low whistle. "What... is that? I've never seen anything like it!"

"She's a homunculus," Sunrise explains with a grin. "A gift from Luther. Her name is Honey." She holds out her arms to the little creature; when Honey comes to her she gets hugs and cuddles, and cooing over what a good job she did.

Over their link, Sunrise senses Honey's profound distress that Luther is unhappy, but the cuddles and hugs help quite a bit.

Sunrise presses her lips together for a moment, then murmurs, "Honey? Would you like to meet Tree?"