A Landen Village in Southern Glacia, Kaeleer [Wednesday Afternoon, Fandom Time]

[glacial_queen]

It was almost time for then to catch their portal home, but Morton had cautiously decided that there was enough time to visit one more landen village before they left. Even Julian didn't have much a problem with this, mollified by the five Blood males (and seven females) that Karla had handwavily, because cons are exhausting offered a place in her First Circle, once she'd made her Offering.

Once there, they'd scattered to their respective duties with an ease that came with having done the same thing many times within the past two weeks. Karla took over whatever building was the largest, more interested in being a Healer than a Queen, taking care of whatever ailments came her way, either with Craft, mundane medicines, or just some brisk advice. Warren sat nearby, making sure she had plenty to eat and drink, while talking to the people about their problems and their woes, making sure they felt heard, understood, and cared for. People who might otherwise have been afraid to come to Karla were set at ease by his openness and, more importantly, his lack of Jewel.

Jono and Julian were teamed up elsewhere, talking frankly about the war that Karla would be bringing to Glacia, about her plans to depose the current Queen and her Ruling Council, and making it clear that any landen who wished to fight--or even learn to better defend his village--was welcome to join with them. Jono made it very clear that the landens that joined with them would be more than simply fodder for the Blood. Their willingness to fight for a Queen that would see them as people too had even Julian offering a grudging respect.

Morton was out in the fields, delivering the Queen's Gift to nourish the crops. A cupful of Karla's blood in a bucket of water was enough to give the tiny plants new life and fullness, ensuring that the village could meet their new tithes while still having enough leftover for themselves. And Kaelas remained outside of the village, keeping watch with his superior kindred senses, which he never failed to point out to their group of tiny noses and ineffectual teeth.

[NFB, and all PCs modded with permission. Violence and dark themes in the comments, because what would a trip to Glacia be without those?]

Comments

[kaeleerans.livejournal.com]

"You haven't heard the stories, boy?" The male asked, sneering to cover his fear. "I thought you said you were a landen, too. Or is that just one more Blood lie?"

[wwiii]

"I'm not Blood," Warren replied, swallowing and trying like hell to not let a brief sting of rejection show in his eyes. "I'm not Glacian, either. Stories and nightmares might be universal from one place to the next, but that doesn't mean the names don't change."

His voice softened a little more.

"Please, sir... we want to help. But we can't do that unless we know more."

[glacial_queen]

Karla's jaw set as she reached for Warren's hand. This was her not responding. See how not-responding she was?

SHE DESERVED A COOKIE FOR NOT RESPONDING, WARREN.

[kaeleerans.livejournal.com]

The man looked from Warren and Karla and back, finding Warren's earnest expression more comforting than Karla's Go ahead, keep talking to my boyfriend like that.

"Maybe that's so," he allowed, "but you're gonna have to keep walking with me. No one smart is gonna be outside when the Devourer gets here."

[glacial_queen]

Karla shivered as the stepped outside. Night was falling, but it felt colder, darker than it really was. It felt as if the village was on the verge of a terrible storm, like the wheat should be shaking and bending in wind that didn't exist. The villagers weren't helping in that regard, either, all of them rushing towards their homes, slamming the doors and shuttering the windows.

There were no children on the street. None.

"Warren," Karla said, voice low, all traces of anger forgotten. "I think I'm scared."

[kaeleerans.livejournal.com]

"Damn right you should be, Lady-Queen," the man said, remembering his manners. "The Devourer...she's not natural. She looks like a woman, but is more like a spider--more like one of those Black Widows the new Queen outlawed. Only good thing that one's done since she took that seat. A spider in silks, waiting for her prey."

[wwiii]

Warren bit the inside of his cheek, hard enough to draw blood, if only just for a moment.

"The Black Widows aren't our enemy, here," he murmured. "They've been forced from their homes, too. They're in the same position that you'll be in, if things continue to go the way they are, only they've been outlawed because they represent a threat to Hobart and his toy Queen. Don't believe everything you hear about a group of people just because you don't know them."

He had taken Karla's hand, given it a squeeze.

"When we fight to free Glacia, our victory will come from the strength of landens, Blood that believe in the old ways, and Black Widows who just want to go home."

Deep breath. Exhale. Okay.

"Right now, it's individuals that we need to worry about. It's this Devourer. Please... help us. We can't help you if you don't."

[kaeleerans.livejournal.com]

"There's not much more to tell," he said, taking a quick glance over his shoulder. The Coach was now visible in the distance, a dark spot coming up the dusty road to the village. "She usually comes after dark, hunting through landen villages. She takes people, most often children and handsome youths, but anyone will do if she needs. And then she throws them into her Coach and takes them away and they're never seen again. But some people say that she eats them, blood and body. That's what happens. Once or twice, she's thrown the bodies back out the Coach, leaving 'em there, bent and broke and dead."

[wwiii]

Warren shuddered involuntarily at that mental image. Children's bodies, broken in the streets. He only wished he could say that he didn't know what that looked like.

"If there's anything we can do to prevent it..."

Well... Then they would. Right? That's what they did. They saved the day, spandex not necessarily included. He was supposed to be the Angel, right?

He hated that name.

"We need to find the rest of our people, first. We're out-ranked and outnumbered, as it is."

[glacial_queen]

"Warren, we can't let her hurt any of these people!" Karla said, grabbing his arm. "What good are any of my promises if--"

She was cut off by Julian yelling over a psychic thread. She winced and shook her head.

"I'm not going to hide! Not when there are children's lives on the line!"

[wwiii]

Well, that said volumes about what suggestion had just been brought up, didn't it?

"She's wearing a red jewel, and flanked by people who obviously don't care whether or not the people around them live or die, Karla," Warren said, frowning. "I'm not saying we let anybody die, but if we get caught out in the open before we have some sort of plan, it'll be Agio all over again."

Warren wasn't in any hurry to see another landen village slaughtered. Not today. His hand on Karla's, and not letting go, he gave a quick glance around and then started to drag her to the nearest cover.

"We need to regroup before we can do anything."

[glacial_queen]

Karla didn't struggle against him, but her face was mutinous as they joined the other three.

"I am not best pleased about this!"