The morning started with another pill for Danton. After
witnessing what had happened to the clone of Moma he decided that he would stop
taking chances and stick to a regime. This was followed by another new part to
his morning routine, stretches. He didn't feel like a new man nor did the night's
sleep reinvigorate him. In truth, it partially felt like a way to prove to
himself he was a better person than the blood-soaked viper he had been last
night. The thoughts of what had happened started to prevail and so he stretched
harder, flexing beyond what was comfortable in hopes that the pain would help.
There was a gentle rasp at the door which knocked his concentration. Jarvan announced
the arrival of well dressed gentleman who had enquired about him. There was
concern on his face which Danton try to disperse but what was left underneath was disapproval.
Downstairs Mavis was nursing one of the worst hangovers she
had experienced. She hadn't given much credence to the Oraea but one or two of
them had certainly come close to drinking her under the table. It was due to
this state that Coe had received hospitality from Jarvan, who had now taken on
most of Mavis' duties. In front of Coe was a half finished breakfast which
Danton recognised and gave a quick glance over to Jarvan, who now trying to
convince Mavis to eat herself. Coe mentioned the promise Danton had made the
night before and soon the necklace and the amulet were revealed. He draped it
across his hand, although he did not remove it from his neck. Coe brought out a
pair of spectacles and closely examined it, noting the design from last night
along with the dark wood and contrasting and almost luminescent blue substance
that filled in cracks.
Without hesitation Danton explained in part what he knew of
it. The necklace was almost forced upon him by a old woman, a vagrant peddler. She was
practically giving it away, owing to its supposed cursed status. She was
working in his part of Qi and felt sorry for her. There were scars marking her
skin to which he attributed to her working on the Marish Clan side of the city.
He put it on for her to pass judgement but she had gone when he raised his
head. The necklace itself gave him confidence, bravado; a belief within himself
to take control like he hadn't before. His
words felt weighty even if he was whispering. His men reacted without much
grumbling or objection from then on and with that, the amulet never left his
side. The tale had intrigued Coe and pressed him further on what he knew about
the design and Xera. An uncomfortable silence was left unchecked for only a
second or two before Danton replied he would be explaining it in time to him.
With a wry smile he mentioned that Xera had a slight distaste for him for
whatever reason and would keep a close eye on him just to make sure nothing
escalated. A little taken aback, he gladly accepted the help.
Xera's morning had blurred into the previous night. He had
found himself trying to distract his wandering thoughts with the books he had
been given from the Oraea while simultaneously trying to ignore Umbra's
constant card shuffling and solo plays. It was a relief when Raneaux turned up.
She seemed well rested but certainly hadn't cleaned herself up as much as she
could have, leading him to suspect that she had declined to stay at the Drunken
Tallon in preference to her own place. She instantly made a clearing for her to
sit next to Umbra and started to play against him, with a few giggles and
laughter as she managed to beat him at his own game. Xera sighed and slammed the
book shut without Umbra or Raneaux even turning to look at him.
Danton arrived at the lab about an hour after Raneaux, fully
fed and properly bathed. Coe pushed past him as they entered and he took up his
perch by his bench and drowned the world out with his own thoughts and
experimentations. Danton called Xera over and in the space of around half an
hour, both had managed to divulge the information they knew about the Neave
clones, this history of the Oraea in conjunction with Chloe the Vessel and the vanguard
they were seeking to destroy. They also lamented that they couldn't help any
further, the expert on the matter had been abducted by one of the clones but
they were too late to stop her and her tracks had gone cold before they had
even stepped foot into Darkperch. They did however offer something of a consolation.
Valma. The immediacy at which it responded to its name surprised Umbra,
especially from where she had come from. It asked it's never ending and
perpetual question to which Umbra laughed and told it that he had a lot to
teach it if it was willing. Valma spun around the room, knocking over what Xera had at least tried to put back
in some order. Umbra was surprisingly
unphased by her unnatural existence and
was quickly given a warning not to lose a game to it, otherwise it would inflict a lot of pain. He tilted his
head and his smile widened which
unnerved Danton and Xera.
He thanked them for
the gift and thanked Valma for its willingness in accompanying him. He patted
the flat metal top. The intricate designs on its surfaces turned a misty shade
of grey and its aura faded into muted
smoke. He told the three of them that he
or one of his associates would be in contact in the future. He knelt down to
Raneaux and thanked her as well, looking directly into her eyes. He passed her
something heavy, metallic but away from the eyes of Xera Danton and initially
even her. He whispered in her ear that he and his fellow Hawks may call upon
her sooner than those she kept company with and told her to keep a watchful eye
on the three men. Umbra stood back up nodded his head, Valma attached itself to
his belt and they both melded into the shadows of the lab.
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