[sub]in collaboration with [@Meiyuki], [@Ellion], and [@Wildeyes][/sub]




[h1][center][u][i]"Chatter"[/i][/u][/center][/h1]




Saen was poised at the gates, her head lightly resting on her coils. She gazed at the returning witches through half-lidded eyes. "Welcome back, Lorelai. I trussst your mission was successful? At least more so than mine. And some new members of the coven, too. Fresh blood is always welcome here, so let me be one of the first to greet you at your new home."




[color=00aeef]"We suffered a casualty,  Vespa's blood preserved our sister's."[/color]  Lorelai said grimly.  [color=00aeef]"If you'd excuse me I should put her things in order."[/color] 




Saen glanced at Lorelai with a dour look. She knew how close Lorelai and Vespa had been, and decided to let the witch have her space. Moving back into an alcove, she let the other returning sorceresses through.




Ang, who had been hoovering near Medusa, made her way towards  Lorelai. It was clear, even from her lack of care towards human emotions, that Lorelai wanted to pass without much fanfair. So, of course, she made a point to introduce herself. "Hello, Lorelai is it?" she said, quickly. "I am Angharad Seher  of the Seher clan. Medusa has told me much about you, although she failed to mention you had a child, an adorable one at that," She gave Lotte and almost hungry once over, before giving her attention back to Lorelai. 




Lorelai stiffened at the look Ang gave Lotte.  She'd had some small faith that Medusa would leave the girl out of their conflict,  but that dissapated in an instant.  [color=00aeef]"Seher are you?  How's Grethu?"[/color]  Her voice carried a hard edge amidst its forced cheer as she addressed the witch.




"Dead and rotting in some cave last I check," said Ang, shruging it off as those she cared more about the weather. Ang's eyes flicked  over the girl once more before giving a little bow. "Well, I won't delay you further, it is obviouse you could do with a bath and perhaps a good night sleep," she said, turning to walk away. 




[color=00aeef]"Good night."[/color]  Lorelai said stiffly,  she'd kill Ang later.  For now she needed rest,  and a plan.  [color=00aeef]"I'm sure the rest of you can get settled,  come by my room of you need anything."[/color]  She turned to address Liz and Phagora before making her way up the steps and into the castle,  with Lotte close behind her.




Phagora was the next one inside. She gave a small curtsy, then introduced herself. "A pleasant day to all of you. I'm Phagora. Lorelai found me out on the road and decided to take me in." Which was true, insofar as it went.




Upon hearing her name, Saen sprang into action. "Phagora, there's something you need to know. A hunter is here, named Mat. Apparently, you killed his father, and he's been swearing revenge ever since."




"I've killed a lot of fathers. You'll have to be more specific," Phagora said disdainfully. Still, she gave Saen a soft nod. Information that could save one's life was always welcome.




Alyssa bounced up to Phagora and Saen grinning,  she'd caught the tail end of their conversation.  [color=2e3192]"Killed alot of fathers huh?  Isn't it wonderful to have a wide seleciton of enemies?"[/color]  She looked Saen up and down.  [color=2e3192]"I haven't seen a lamia up close in ages,  how wide does your hood get?  If you don't mind me asking."[/color]




"I'd rather have a few really good enemies than a whole bunch of mediocre ones." Phagora smirked at Alyssa. "Besides, I hear the Von'Strausses have more than their fair share of bloodthirsty foes."




[color=2e3192]"We Von'Strauss wear our enemies like badges of honor."[/color]  Alyssa laughed.  [color=2e3192]"And hoard them like gold.  Occassionally even steal them from other witches if the supply is low enough."[/color]




Saen let out a deep hiss, the lamia equivalent of a belly laugh. "Let me show you, then." Saen spread her hood out as far as she could, Her neck scales stretched to the limits of comfort, which in her case, was about three feet. She folded them back in slightly. "A useful party trick, but no more."




[color=2e3192]"Quite the accessory too,  your scales are quite lovely."[/color]  Alyssa struggled to find the correct phrasing for her next question,  eventually just deciding to blurt it out.  [color=2e3192]"Do you ever milk yourself?  Your venom of course not... uh?  Do you even?"[/color]  Her face turned a shade of pink,  perhaps blurting wasn't the proper choice there.




Saen opened her jaws a little bit, just enough for Alyssa to see a few amber drops of venom leaking from the tips of her fangs. "I don't need to, little one. I spend about an hour a day hunting, and these fangs aren't enough to kill some prey on their own."




[color=2e3192]"I should probably give you my name huh?"[/color]  Alyssa let out a small sigh of relief as Saen glossed over her blunder.  She extended a hand in greeting.  [color=2e3192]"Alyssa Von'Strauss,  and might I get yours?"[/color]




"Von'Strauss? Of Lorelai's blood? She must have been overjoyed to find you were still alive. In any case, it is truly a pleasure to meet you, Alyssa. I am Saen." The lamia took the offered hand in her own and gave it a hearty shake.




[color=2e3192]"Saen.  Lovely."[/color]  Alyssa grinned.  [color=2e3192]"Oh yes,  Lorelai was quite pleased to find me and little Charlotte still alive.  I think the girl's a distant cousin,  but she bears the gift nonetheless."[/color]




She let out a small laugh.  [color=2e3192]"Quite protective my sister is,  I think she's already close to killing Angharad over some of those ill-advised looks she gave her new daughter.  Enough about that though,  tell me,  what do you do?"[/color]




"I'm Medusa's resident artifact purchaser. Whenever word comes up that another coven is putting their treasures up for sale, I'm there to negotiate a deal. As for my magic..." Saen put her hand on Alyssa's forehead, and spoke into the other girl's mind. [i]This is what I do.[/i] Alyssa would feel a light touch on her psyche, but she didn't dare go any further without being invited. She had [i]some[/i] standards, after all.




Alyssa shuddered at the gentle invasion,  while Saen didn't traipse all the deeply into her mind she got the sensation that the witch could have if she had wanted to.  Her eyes were wide when it ended.  [color=2e3192]"That's... awesome!  What all can you change or look at or..."[/color]  She grinned sheepishly.  [color=2e3192]"Details please,  for short."[/color]




"If I wanted to, I could see your innermost thoughts and memories, and take them from your mind. With a little effort, most mortals would never even know I was there, though I can't hide from fellow witches."




"And yet I've always found the Von'Strauss gift fascinating, myself. The intense study and discipline it must take to enslave beings of ancient power and incalculable cruelty... I've wanted to learn a little of that craft, but never found the right time to ask Lorelai."




[color=2e3192]"As within so without."[/color]  Alyssa spouted the rehearsed phrase nodding.  [color=2e3192]"The Von'Strauss believe that one must master their inner demons before attempting the outer ones,  as such the lessons are nearly as brutal and cruel as the twisted beings the aspirant hopes to tame."[/color]




[color=2e3192]"Perhaps when all this... buisness is finished I could teach you."[/color]  Alyssa winced as she gestured to the witches already gathering into groups to plot or gossip.  [color=2e3192]"Who will you be joining?  Out of curiousity."[/color]




"I do not wish to say," Saen replied respectfully, which was answer enough, given who she was speaking with. "But enough talk of ill tidings and plotters in the night. If Medusa wants to have a feast, we shall need fresh venison for the table, and I shall ask you to join me on the hunt. It can get lonely in these woods, and we need not worry about spooking our quarry with our voices."




Alyssa's shoulders fell slightly,  it really wasn't difficult to determine Saen's loyalties considering her name already spoke for hers.  She'd be left to hope they were never forced to confront each other.  [color=2e3192]"I'd love to,  I'll need to get to know these woods better anyway."[/color]  They had at least the next three days to enjoy each other's company however,  she'd make the most of it.




[color=2e3192]"I'll make sure my bow is in top shape tonight then."[/color]  She favored the lamia with a bright smile




"That's good to hear, Alyssa. Meet me on the path outside the castle gates tomorrow morning. I'll need some sunlight before we go." Saen went outside to the castle grounds, basking in the beautiful golden rays of late afternoon sun.




Alyssa sighed as the turned to Phagora.  [color=2e3192]"A shame... I was just starting to think we might make excellent friends."[/color]




"Friendships can survive wars quite easily. It's happened before, and it will happen again. The friends themselves, on the other hand... there's the trick." Phagora's voice turned gloomy. "It didn't have to be like this. If Medusa had just given Lorelai a reason to trust her, this could well have been the strongest coven in the world. A coven that could make the greatest of kings tremble in terror at the mere mention of the name Bloodrose. Instead, it's going to tear itself to bits. What a pity."




[color=ed145b]"The best way to keep a friend is to be there for them. At the very least, you can be there for them as they pass."[/color] Alphonse's voice surprised the two women, he hadn't even been a shadow, just standing silently behind Phagora. 




[color=2e3192]"Were you born this gloomy?  Or did it take time?"[/color]  Alyssa turned,  frowning at Alphonse after her small start.  [color=2e3192]"You and Lorelai both,  god,  would it hurt you to crack a smile once in a while?"[/color]




Phagora nearly jumped out of her skin as Alphonse spoke. "Alphonse, have you been behind us this whole time, just watching us? I'm not sure whether to be impressed by your control of your shadows, or disturbed that you were stalking us. Perhaps a bit of both?"




Alphonse's face cracked into a grin. [color=ed145b]"oops, there you go, now there's no getting rid of it."[/color] Alphonse winked at Alyssa. [color=ed145b]"And, no, Lorelai has retired for the night, so I thought I'd take a stroll. Sorry if I surprised you, the conversation seemed interesting and I thought I'd hop in. I've always wanted to see a trembling king."[/color]




[color=2e3192]"Well I suppose that puts a damper on the primary topic of our discussion."[/color]  Alyssa winked at Phagora.  [color=2e3192]"How best to kill a one-armed shadow assassin,  although I suppose you'd have the best insights into that wouldn't you?"[/color]




"Well, in any case, you could try warning us next time. I, for one, would appreciate it. Tell me, Alphonse, why did you come to this coven? There are few enough warlocks out there, and all the ones I've heard of live alone. What made you think differently?"




Alphonse stared at Phagora for a long minute. [color=ed145b]"Wait. you mean I could live by myself? Avoid all this coven nonesense? Be my own man?!"[/color]  Alphonse disapeared into a shadow. There was a long pause as the two women watched the spot where he had been standing before his voice arrived from behind them both. [color=ed145b]"Actually, I've thought about it, but I wouldn't last long on my own, I'd starve without any one to disapoint or infuriate. But really, life outside wasn't good for me before the Coven found me. I was the weird kid who didn't have a dad. Food was scarce, and mom was a little crazy. Frankly, when I was taken in it was a blessing. They discovered my talents and helped me refine them into something that I can be proud of."[/color] He held up his stump. [color=ed145b]"And of course, it's never dull around here."[/color] 




[color=2e3192]"Hmm,  so you're a coven success story then?  I've never had one,  the very idea that a witch would share her wisdom and expertise is a little odd isn't it?"[/color]  Alyssa looked between the two.  [color=2e3192]"I mean... why assist future rivals?"[/color]




"I guess I'm somewhere in between the two of you, then. I was part of a coven since birth... if you can call two witches a coven. It was just me and my mother, and she was deep into the dark arts. Murder, blasphemous rituals that would make even Lorelai's head spin, the whole package. She had a bounty placed on her head of a thousand gold coins by the Doge, but it was time that collected the reward. Then my father's voice appeared in my head, telling me he had lost me in a game of chess, of all things, and I was to pack up what few things I had and head north."




Alyssa nodded,  the fact that Phagora's upbringing was probably horrible completely lost on her.  The dark arts were cool as far as she was concerned,  she merely envied the opportunity to learn some of the more coveted blasphemies and rites.




"So, that's my story. Mayhem and depravity since before I could stand, with the occasional act of spiritual cannibalism thrown in for variety."




[color=ed145b]"A game of chess huh? Maybe I lucked out on the no dad thing. I should have introduced myself to you sooner, with a back ground like that, I get the feeling we'll be cooperating quite a bit in the future."[/color]




[color=2e3192]"Speaking of my sister's strange ability to gather people for no apparent reason,  do either of you know anything about the island of Malta?"[/color]  Alyssa asked.  [color=2e3192]"She was looking over some maps on the way here,  with that [i]focused[/i] look of hers."[/color]




Alphonse raised one eyebrow as his grin shifted into a smirk. "Paladin strong hold? Full of sacred relics? Attracts Turks like Lemmings off a cliff? Never heard of it."




Phagora turned to Alphonse. "Oh, no. She roped you into this scheme of hers? Gods, help us all." Looking at Alyssa, she said, "While we were at Castle Ruvina, I learned of an item with incredible healing powers. Maybe even enough to resurrect the dead, body and soul. Your... sister... seems to have gotten this crazy idea that we can do what an army couldn't and steal it. I knew the loss of Vespa hit her hard, but this... she's blindly grasping at straws, Alyssa. You need to talk to her."




[color=2e3192]"You want me to talk her out of it?"[/color]  Alyssa's eye widened,  clearly not thrilled at the duty being thrust upon her.  [color=2e3192]"The woman razed villages for kicks!  I don't really want to know what she'll do to me if I even [i]think[/i] about telling her she can't try to resurrect her love... Do I really have to?"[/color]




She pointed to Alphonse.  [color=2e3192]"Make him do it,  he's got better odds of running."[/color]




Alphonse rubbed his chin with his still attached hand. [color=ed145b]"hmmmm, it would mean less work. Then again, a completed saint could probably repair my arm."[/color] Al waved his stump arm about to accentuate his point. [color=ed145b]"Aaaaand, Lorelai get grumpy if she doesn't involve me in enough suicidal quests in a given month, so I'd rather not skip out on this particular one. Unless.....I had some more incentive?"[/color] Alphonse regarded either of the women, seeing if either would come forward.




Alyssa sighed,  narrowing her eyes at Alphonse.  [color=2e3192]"Fine,  I'll talk to her.  Tomorrow though.  If she kills me,  try to remember me fondly.  Thank Taran for the roll in the dirt too,  never did do that."[/color]  She shrugged.  [color=2e3192]"I'll either convince her to call it off,  or make sure she's got a decent plan.  That's the best I can manage."[/color]




"Two things, then. One, good luck, Alyssa. We need a sane leader of this coven, and Lorelai at least has a chance of getting to that state. Second... if she does kill you, could I have your magical gear? You've got some pretty neat stuff in there."




Alyssa nodded, rolling her eyes.  [color=2e3192]"Sure,  but you'll have to share with Lotte."[/color]




[color=ed145b]"Wait, wait, wait, you had a roll with Taran? Innocent "Not before marriage" Taran?" [/color]Alphonse affixed her with an incredulous, inquisitive leer.




[color=2e3192]"Yeah,  he's a weak willed, nubile baby donor.  I didn't see a pressing reason not to."[/color]  Alyssa grinned with pride.  [color=2e3192]"It took a bit of convincing,  but the innocent ones never really know what to do with themselves if you get a little aggressive."[/color]




[color=ed145b]"huh. Good for him, I was worried he'd never make his way out of his shell." [/color]Al's expression returned to his normal smile, though his eyes did not shine quite so brightly. [color=ed145b]"So what's this about a hunting trip?"[/color]