My Dearest Tallel,

We arrived in Red Butte without any incidents thus far, a fact which I am grateful for. The adepts, guards and spylings have done their jobs quite remarkably. And even though we still cannot locate the girl Javid has been tracking, things seem to have settled.

I’m still quite on guard however, I don’t trust this calm, and I worry because of your silence. I dearly hope Regina can locate you with this message, so that I can at least put this worry to rest, I want to know if your parents survived the attack, want to know that you survived it.

I’ve booked a set of entertainment nights, despite the current situation, I think it helps keep everyone’s hopes up. And it gives the adepts a chance to spy upon drunken conversations.

Be safe, Saikhan, I love you.

Forever Yours,

Willa

Willimina tosses sand on the missive she’s just written and waits impatiently for the ink to dry on the hide. Her lower lip catches in between her teeth, worry dancing in the chocolate hues of her eyes. She doesn’t like not knowing what is going on, she’d rather just ride out and take the Elders heads now…Fury broils within her, barely held in check by worry and what common sense she has left. When the ink is finally dry, Willa rolls up the missive and sends it with Regina, her gold ‘lizard. “Find him Gina, please.” The gold blinks ::between:: with a comforting chirrup, she’ll find him, sooner or later. It’s torture for Willimina, this waiting, the pregnant pause before all hell breaks loose. It gives her gooseflesh and then some.

Shaking her head, Willimina gets ready for the evening routine, managing to successfully rid herself of any signs she may be worried, or terrified, for the sakes of both her children and her people. They mustn't see how angry, and terrified, and thirsty for revenge/justice she is, not yet. Her retribution would be swift and fierce, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t scared shitless for her family and those closest to her. People could die. Her brave face is perfectly in place before she steps from her wagon to retrieve her children for the evening meal.

Some distance away….

Aztrexia spies upon the mother clan with a miniature distance viewer, her glass following Willimina in particular. Knowing the Zingari Leader would not be caught and detained easily, Trexa had mixed up a fun little concoction to douse the woman with. Then, the three adepts sent with her would snatch her and be away with her before anyone knew the wiser. It’s a delicate plan that requires perfect execution, and it has to be done the next time Javid leaves the camp to search for Aztrexia, who’s been dropping false rumors of her whereabouts with the surrounding peoples, she’s had him chasing ghosts for a seven.

Time to send him to chase another…..and with Tallel out of the picture as well, this should be easy pickings, if Trexa can successfully get in and drug the leader’s food or drink, most likely both if Trexa has a mind to do so. And if she succeeds, she’ll have a guaranteed place as second when the Elders place a new leader at the head. Seducing an Elder the night of her report had been well worth her efforts, she’ll want for nothing after this.

“The Armida have adepts in Keroon, keeping an eye on things since they do not know quite which way the Elders Fled, one of you ride to Keroon and set the vine to saying I’ve been spotted there. We need to get rid of Javid for this, he’s too clever, and too smart. It’s a damn shame he’s on the wrong side….”

“Yes ma’am, shall we report back to you when this is over?”

“Yes. And for Faranth’s sake, be quick about it and don’t get caught, you’ll be left to rot otherwise.” Aztrexia shoots a look of expectation towards the men. “This has to go smoothly, for the sake of all our heads.” She’d been lucky to get the Elders to trust her with this auspicious task, she’ll be able to redeem herself in their eyes finally, and she’ll have gained much in the process….if all goes well. She keeps reminding herself of this, it keeps her focused. There’s a bomb a ticking now, and she aims to not be on the wrong side of it when it blows.

Soon after, two runner-riders slip into the night, hellbound for Keroon.

Back in Camp

Dinner and entertainment has come into full swing, with WIllimina and her children dining at a table set to view the night’s performances. People have come flocking for a glimpse at some Zingari flash and mystery.

The night crawls by for Willimina, who smiles and laughs and claps when she should, but not a bit of it is sincere. With her children right next to her, she cannot afford to look anything but unworried and happy. Besides, she only has to wait until bedtime before she can start issuing whispered orders, and demanding reports. She sees not one of the spies in the crowd before her, which she takes as a good sign, seeming as how they are there to hear all and be seen by none.

After bedtime does come, an eternity later, Willimina makes damn sure her children are sleeping soundly before she slips from the wagon. She sets two fresh guards and an adept on the door to protect the wagon and it’s precious contents. “I’m going to get briefings from the others and set out the next seven’s orders, not a soul is to enter this wagon unless it be myself or Timotin, is that understood?”

“Yes ma’am!” Comes the chorus of three voices set to guard duty.

Willimina turns on her heels and heads for the meeting wagon, where her guard captain, a few of his men, a few adepts and a spyling await with reports to give. It’s going to be a busy night.

At Aztrexia’s Hiding Place…

It’s been a few candlemarks since her cohorts left and Aztrexia is still watching the mother clan through her distance viewer. Now all she can do is wait….and see what happens.

Meanwhile, along the road to Keroon, the two adepts answering to Aztrexia begin spilling the details of Trexa’s rumor to any ear who will hear them. It won’t be long now before word reaches the mother clan that a half-breed Zingari girl roams alone in the Keroon area, asking for alms and a job.