The town seems almost a blur, or perhaps a dream, as Redmane made we way back to their residence for the night. To make the evening all the more surreal, Thomas said nothing on way way back, he simply walked along with his hands clasp behind his head and admired the architecture. Well, at least that seemed like what he was doing, it's always hard to tell for sure.
"Do you want me to call for some water to fill the tub?" Thomas asks as he follows Redmane into the room and locks the door behind them.
Redmane blinks, as if finally noticing they're back in the room, and then nods. "Yeah, I need.. I need to relax," she explains, sounding a bit subdued for a change.
"Bubbles?" Thomas asks as he unlocks the door and heads back out, leaving the woman alone in the room. The room is eerily quiet now.
It takes a moment for Redmane to parse that question. "Wait.. you mean bubble bath?" she asks. "The wolves have bubble bath soap?"
Too late now, Thomas has left the building! Well, room. Or maybe building. You never can tell with him.
"Hmmm," the woman goes, and checks out the marble bath. She even looks for a privacy curtain or screen.
There's a full privacy screen folded up behind the bath. It nas a delicate paining of the moon on it rising over a shadowy landscape.
Redmane admires the artwork, but in a somewhat distracted way. What has changed for me, if anything? she thinks. What should I tell Thomas? That we may not be doomed? She turns from the bath to go through her pack, deciding that, for tonight at least, she wants to wear her flannel pajamas.
Alas, the legend of the man in the moon doesn't extend to paintings, for it offers no answers to Redmane's inner questions. As Redmane is fishing out her pajamas, there is a loud knocking on the door. "Are you decent?" Thomas calls from the other side. "As in, are you dressed. I know you're never really decent."
"I'm still dressed, yes," Redmane calls back. "If the locals see fit to wear clothes then so will I."
"Pity," Thomas comments as he enters and closes the door behind him. "They'll bring water up in another ten minutes or so. They have to rouse some of the staff," he notes as he heads right to the bed and flops on it, face first and arms spread. "Ahhh."
"Tired?" Redmane asks, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You haven't asked me why I was acting crazy yet."
"A ten minute rest and I'll be ready to conquer the world. Or maybe find a snack," Thomas claims. His head rolls to the side, his right eyebrow cocked curiously. "Do I actually have to ask? I assumed you would tell me when you felt comfortable doing so," he remarks a rather matter-of-factly undertone to his words.
"I was following a ghost," Redmane explains. "My ghost, it turns out. Sort of," she says.
Thomas rolls to his side and props himself partway up on his elbow. "Continue," Thomas prompts with no hint of judgment in his voice.
"Cerridwen has returned to her people here," Redmane says. "She was there, in the temple. She asked me if I had regrets, and what I wanted."
It's rather creepy the way Thomas can sometimes look and listen without any outward signs of what he's thinking. "Were you happy to speak with her, then?" he asks, "And do you have regrets?"
"I was surprised," Redmane admits, looking down. "I said that I didn't have regrets. I don't think that I do. I try looking forward, after all."
"Mm," Thomas observes, "You're lucky, you know."
"Lucky in which way?" Redmane asks, lying back across Thomas' back.
"Not many can claim they have a Goddess taking personal interest in them," Thomas says, "Well, many can claim it, but not many would be correct about it. I've never had a conversation with a God or Goddess, for example. Nor has anyone else I know."
"Well, you're lucky to know me then, right?" Redmane teases. "She asked me if I wanted to keep serving her. I said yes. I'm proud of what I do to make a difference. But also that I wanted to be happy."
"Or cursed to know you," Thomas teases right back, the tone of his words such to ensure it isn't taken seriously. "Do you see serving her and being happy as mutually exclusive? If serving her means doing good things, then I don't see them as such. Lonely and difficult at times, yes, but not something that would prevent you from finding happiness."
"It means being there when things go bad," Redmane says. "Although it could be peaceful in between."
"Eh, that's also called being nosy. And I should know; I'm always in the middle with things go bad," Thomas claims.
"Well, that's because you look for trouble," Redmane notes, rolling over. "I can have children, I think," she says quietly.
"Egad, the world is doomed!" Thomas laments, "A bunch of little Redmanes running around terrorizing the countryside and herding the livestock!"
Redmane reaches over and pinches Tom's ear. "Oh really? That awful? What about little Thomases then?"
"No tree will be safe," she says in mock terror.
"Ack, hey!" Thomas says as he swats at the fingers on his ear. "Never thought about having kids myself. I lack the proper anatomy, you know."
"Ha ha, you'd be the father doofus," Redmane notes. "Besides, you seem to do okay in the role. Unless you managed to get Hannah killed somehow."
"She can take care of herself. She doesn't need anyone holding her hand. If she did, then she wouldn't be suited for the job," Thomas says, "Her confidence could use some work, but then that's the point of having to go without someone else guiding her. Without a safety net means she has to deal with her decisions and learn from them and learn to trust herself better."
"So you admit you've taken over for her dad?" Redmane asks with a grin. "I think I've figured some else out too.."
"No, I'm her boss," Thomas claims, "Parents coddle, I don't." After reaching back and flicking Redmane's nose, he asks, "Oh? And what have you figured out?"
"I think baths make me frisky somehow," Redmane states. "Have I ever been.. uh.. aggressive.. without having just taken a bath?"
"Not that I recall. And given that observation, my decision seems all the better," Thomas announces.
"What decision?" Redmane asks.
"To go up to the small balcony while you bathe. The air here is peaceful and relaxing," Thomas answers. "And safer for me..."
Redmane laughs. "Well, it could be the hot water, or that you were there while I was bathing, or other things. I'm honestly feeling a bit.. shy.. tonight though. So if you don't want to scrub my back I'm okay with that. But you do like watching me take a bath when you can, right?"
"Ooo, now that is a baited question," Thomas points out, "And very dangerous to answer. So ... I think I'll leave you wondering."
"Hmph! Well, I remember that being a wolf made you frisky," Redmane notes, and rolls off of Thomas. "But since wolves don't take hot baths, I guess you'll just have to suffer if we make the change again."
"So you feel safe in leaving me with the other lady wolves, then?" Thomas asks and waggles his brow as he pushes himself upright, then stretches. "I'm just sure one of them will take a liking to me..."
"And they still mate for life, remember?" Redmane asks. "Willing to get married to one?" She grins devilishly.
"Depends on how cute she is," Thomas threatens right back with his own grin ... and adds in a waggle of his brow, to boot. It's right about then there's a knock at the door. "Hot water!" calls a voice.
Redmane gets up and goes to open the door. "Thank you! Sorry for the inconvenience.."
And of course Redmane is greeted by a shirtless werewolf male. Tall, muscular, with a thick head of grey hair, long wolfish ears, and yellow eyes. He has a bar lined with pots slung across his shoulders. "No inconvenience," the male states, "You're a paying guest, after all."
"Are you part of the family that runs this place?" Redmane asks as she steps aside so the man can get to the tub.
"Of course," the man states as he slips into the room and heads to the tub. He hefts the bar from his shoulders and sets the pots to the floor with a dull clank. As each pot is being poured in, Thomas pushes himself off the bed and heads to the door. "Have fun with your bath," he tells Redmane.
"Don't be out too late," Redmane notes. "I may just wash my hair and go to bed."
"You can always come looking if you get too worried," Thomas points out as he slips out and closes the door.
"My companion can't get into any trouble stargazing on the balcony, can he?" Redmane asks the attendant.
"Your husband seems a strange fellow, but he should be safe enough on the balcony. Other than jumping from it, what could threaten him there?" Redmane's bath attendant comments as he empties in the last pot of water, then tests the temperature with the tip of his index finger.
Redmane doesn't bother to correct the man on her and Thomas' relationship. "I have to ask; do werewolves use these baths themselves? It's been a while since I've been around any, and that was.. well.. back when they were more into embracing the feral ways."
"Of course we do, we're not completely primitive. When on two legs, we are no different from regular fey such as yourself. And where else have you been around our kind? We haven't been that feral here for many generations," the man comments as he collects his pots and lifting bar.
"Would you believe it was here, but 13 years ago?" Redmane asks.
The man pauses. "You do not look that old," he says with an odd note of suspicion in his voice. "Nor was the town allowing Fey visitors at that time. Not unless you were one of those ... chosen."
"I wasn't one of the chosen, exactly," Redmane notes. "In any case, I suppose there'll be an announcement about it tomorrow," she says, and tests the water with her own finger.
"Who are you?" the man asks. The water is warm to Redmane's touch, but not uncomfortably so.
"I'm the Countess Redmane," Redmane admits. "Although back then I was just Knight Redmane of May. I'm pleased that you know your history. Back then it seems everyone had forgotten the most important parts."
There's a long pause. "Then why are you staying here?" he asks. "You would have been welcomed at the mayor's home. A far better place than our meager inn."
"I like this place," Redmane points out. "If the Mayor invites us, then I guess we may stay with him. But we got here late, and Einsam wanted to see his family, so.."
"Einsam? That los ... " the man begins, then seems to catch himself. "Who is your companion that went to the balcony, then?"
"Lord Thomas the Troublemaker," Redmane notes, and starts unlacing her boots.
"Hmm. Then I must ask ... what was his involvement thirteen years ago?" the man asks, "The records that survive that mention him are vague. Some rumor he had no involvement at all. Others say he had much to do with the changes that happened here."
"He came to investigate and was captured and changed, just like the chosen," Redmane notes. "He we a big help to me in unraveling the roots of the divide between the wolves and fey at the time. And we went on to uncover links to the Destroyer behind it all."
"Odd that the records record little of that," the man notes, "But then there were always rumors that they were deliberately altered to remove mention of him. Some claimed conspiracy, of course."
"Yeah, he was the one behind the conspiracy no doubt," Redmane notes, as she wiggles her now free toes. "I need to take the rest of my clothes off now," she tells the man.
"Why would he try to erase his own history?" the man asks as he heads to the door.
"He has issues with history," Redmane notes. "He's complicated about stuff like that."
The werewolf merely shrugs at that and looks confused. Out he goes and the door closes behind him.
"Rats, forgot to ask if there was a masseuse on staff," Redmane notes to herself, as she prepares for her bath. This includes getting the bottle of shampoo from her pack as she really does wash her hair this time.
No hordes of monster barge in and attack Redmane as she bathes. In fact, it turns out to be extremely relaxing and comfortable. The only disturbing part, really, is that she only realizes an hour has passed because the water she relaxes in has grown cool.
Getting out, Redmane begins the laborious process of drying her hair without causing it to get frazzled or curly. The fireplace and warm fur-covered floor make an ideal spot of drying off in general though, and the towels are plenty large enough even for her. She hums a little tune as she works her comb. "I wonder if Thomas is still awake out there," she muses.
Alas, the fireplace can't answer her musings. She either has to wait for him to return, go find him, or fall asleep alone.
Once she thinks her hair is dry enough, Redmane puts on her pajamas - green plaid ones that originally belonged to Agatha's brother Toby. Making sure nothing's going to fall off, she opens the door and steps into the hall. "Hmmm, I should check the kitchen first," she muses, and heads in that direction.
The kitchen is easy enough to find since the scents from earlier dinner still linger in the air. The kitchen itself is now dim with only the dull glow of dying embers in the clay oven to illuminate it. Seems the staff are mostly in bed now.
Checking quickly for signs of Thomas' raiding (since he had mentioned getting a snack) Redmane also takes a moment to enjoy the lingering scents of dinner before moving on to check the balcony.
Well, he might have gotten a snack as there is a supply of dried meats here. It's hard to tell, really. Finding the balcony is easy enough, it's the door at which the stairway ends. IT opens out onto a small moonlit balcony overlooking part of the city streets and provides a wonderful view of the cathedral she was at earlier. The moon has risen high above the cathedral now and illuminates the landscape. And sure enough, Thomas is up here. He's perched and stretched out on the railing like some sort of overgrown cat. And ... he's talking to a young, and very beautiful, lady werewolf who stands near the railing and is leaning upon it. Her hair shimmers like silver in the moonlight and those yellow eyes of hers practically glow. Thomas is in the middle of laughing about something.
Redmane freezes for a moment, feeling a flush of embarrassment at coming on the scene - and a little guilt for the flash of jealousy she felt as well. She clears her throat in the doorway to try and get Thomas' attention.
It does't help that when she coughs the yong wolf throws her head back as she turns it to find the source of that noise ... and manages to generate a fwoosh of her hair in the process. "Hey!" Thomas calls out and waves from where he reclines, "Jade, this is Ilrine. She's one of the priestess' of the cathedral. She was walking by and we started chatting at distance. To avoid waking others, she came up so we could talk face to face."
"Ja.." Redmane starts to ask, and then realizes Thomas is trying to hide their true identities. She also feels downright frumpy standing there wearing baggy pajamas and with still slightly damp hair. "Oh, pleased to meet you, Ilrine," she says instead, forcing a smile.
Ilrine laughs lightly as she bows her head to Redmane. "You are indeed foreign to our lands. Forgive me, but I have not seen such clothing before. Am I guessing correctly that it is intended for sleeping? Why not sleep naturally, without clothing?" she asks.
"Well.." Redmane starts to say, and suddenly seems flummoxed. "I usually do.. I just.. wouldn't be able to wander around like that without getting a chill, since I just took a bath.."
"She is shy, you were right," Ilrine remarks to Thomas. Thomas merely grins and shrugs. "I suppose you came to collect Erik for bed?" she then asks Redmane.
Blushing even more now and wondering just what stories "Erik" has been spinning, Redmane bobs her head in a nod. "I'm going to bed, Erik, unless you'd like to invite Ilrine over for a nightcap," she says.
"Oh no, we have to be up early. Ilrine was telling me about the ceremony of the waxing moon that is help just before daybreak every morning. I think we need to make an appearance at that," Thomas replies.
"Oh, alright," Redmane says, having no idea what the ceremony involves. "Before breakfast?" is all she can think to ask about it.
"I do hope to see you there," Ilrine says to Thomas as she reaches over and brushes back a few stray strands of his hair from his face. She then smiles to Redmane and says, "Goodnight to you both."
"Goodnight, Priestess," Redmane says. Her smile lasts just long enough until she can glare at Thomas with a confused look.
Thomas' expression is one of 'what'? It's about then that Ilrine jumps over the railing and off the building!
Redmane squeaks at the sight of that, and then feels even more foolish. "What did you tell her?" she whispers to Thomas. "And.. why the phony names? What did you just volunteer us for in the morning?"
Thomas leans back and watches a small wolf land and dart off into the city. "What do you mean, what did I tell her? I told her we were visiting the city and wanted to experience its culture," he answers as he looks back. "As for why, I want our appearance to be grand and surprising, of course. You need to learn how to make an impressive entrance; the best times are often at the ends or beginnings of ceremonies and other similar events.."
"Fine, but.. I don't like lying," Redmane notes. "It's one thing while we were traveling through towns along the way, but everyone is going to know who we are here anyway. And.. uh.." She seems to run out of steam.
"And you don't like that she was flirting," Thomas adds to that. "That was not my fault."
"What? She was flirting with you too?" Redmane asks, looking surprised. "Why? Did you invite her up or did she offer to come up herself?"
"She came up so we wouldn't be shouting at each other," Thomas answers as he slips himself off the rail. "Come on, Jade, lets get some sleep," he adds with a mischievous grin.
"You think she was pretty I bet," Redmane says as she heads back indoors. "And I look like I'm wearing a sack..."
"Of course she was pretty," Thomas comments as he heads down the stairs, "But remember who I'm sharing a room with ... not to mention the strawberry incident. And who helped you carry unseen stuff into the cathedral."
"Well, I'll forgive you for now then," Redmane says graciously. "But you owe me a massage later. Just because!"