Plans of deception

It was midday, yet still she felt chilly, unaccustomed to the gentle sun of the Northern lands. Or maybe these were the recent changes in her body, due to almost constant use of Xotli's powers. Going back wasn't easy. Her guise as a priestess made her forget, no wonder - humans forget easily. The body forgot, and although the pain was gone from the arms and back, the memory of it still lingered: training without a day's rest with that sword wasn't easy.
 Yet now, although not at the peak of her former self, she was good enough to take care of herself. Thus the necessity to travel as Mandisa was no longer there. Mandisa has disappeared from Sepermeru long ago, and whatever few ties she had had been severed by lack of communication. Only one person currently not in the Order of the Blade knew who was the woman under that dark blue hood. As for the Order, she knew Lord Amunsol could be trusted not to tell anyone, as probably could be most of his knights. Lower ranks neither knew nor cared for the identity of a new member. She didn't know how much interest the squires of the most prominent blade Lord drew, yet so far it seemed not a lot.

 The tavern of Tesso came into view all too soon. Mandisa patted her horse on the neck - she loved this horse. Having given away so much gold for it, it was worth the purchase - the best breed that could be found in all of Hyborea, it was swifter than wind itself it seemed. She sometimes wondered if some magic ran through their blood.
 A few warriors could be seen standing outside. The town square looked empty, unlike the last week when a big fight broke out. Mandisa approached cautiously, dismounting and leaving her horse next to an Armorsmith shop nearby. Though with Arine's face instead of hers, she still felt as if any who looked at her properly would realize it's Mandisa, not Arine.
 ..

 She found Kemena on the second floor of the tavern. It was crowded even more than the Serpent's Head the night before. The clamour of armor and mugs deafened the ears, rumble of voices drowning out whatever little sound she made walking towards her 'daughter'. A gentle tap on the shoulder caused Kemena to turn around, her face almost instantly transforming into a radiant smile.
 'Mama!'
 They hugged, Arine kissing the young woman.
 'I got your letter dear.'
 She didn't really have any particular purpose in mind this day, yet she couldn't refuse the invitation. Enough time has passed since she left fort invicta, yet her plans were progressing slowly. Although she did hope that Neverlin, who was mad enough to come to the inn full of Invictan's every Thursday, would be there again, so that she could talk to him. He left their last meeting suddenly and she could not get anything out of the mage except numerous complaints about how, at The Battle of The Buff, Order members have attacked him without any reason. It didn't make any difference her explaining to him that being sighted right next to Satetka on the road would cause any guarding the place to attack him. Whatever games the mage was playing at, there was price to pay, and he knew that. Yet he was complaining like a child who fell down from his horse and scratched his knee.

 Fortunately there wasn't much opportunity for talk, for the guests were numerous. Folk from distant countries were here, even Amazon women, who she heard of, but never seen, with their Queen amongst them. Curious to talk to the Amazons, especially after the queen mentioning that they supported Conan, she hang around the table for a while, but no opportunity presented itself. Yet exactly when there was a convenient moment, she heard Neverlin's voice coming down from the upper level.

 There was some commotion. Apparently one of his subjects, that annoying girl Mokii, could see him very well unlike Kemena. Mandisa has always wondered when his magics would fail him, resulting in an instant death, yet this was not that day. After shouting herself stupid, and having Hrothgard twist her arms so that she doesn't gut the mage where he stood, Mokii suddenly fell silent. "Maybe that stomach wound?" Mandisa didn't even want to know for once what forced the girl into submission. 
 ..

 They bumped into each other on the stairs, which was forunately deserted. Neverlin grabbed her by the elbow, preventing her from going past him, though there was no need.
 "You disappeared so suddenly last night, yet I need to talk to you." Mandisa whispered hastily, looking around for any witnesses.
 "And so do I, dear priestess.."
 They lingered there a bit longer, agreeing on a place. It was getting dark, which was good, for Kyzafi returned from the distant lands together with Aurelius and Mandisa didn't look forward to another interrogation session by the scholar. The guests were leaving one by one, yet there was still a crowd when she told her 'daughter' it was time for her to leave. All the nicities and repetitions of how unfortunate it is that they cannot be together made her feel annoyed and tired. It took a lot of self-control to not let that show in her face. Yet one thing she was satisfied with as she rode through the fields towards the river: a knight from a guild called "Order" approached Kemena this evening, having brought her rather exotic gifts. There weren't able to talk, yet Kemena did say they were meant to help her discover the nature of this curse Arine said was on them. That worried her, yet it was lucky, for she'll be able to ask Neverlin right now..
 "As soon as I find him, where is this wretched mage.."

He was sitting on a rock that jutted out into the river, conviniently protected from all sides by stone formations so that they were hidden from view. She prodded him with her foot before sitting down, for he seemed to be meditating.
 "Wake up"
 That wasn't necessary for Neverlin noticed her the moment she approached.
 "I am glad you accepted my invitation."
 "What invitation?" Mandisa sounded annoyed. Here he goes with his formalities again. She didn't have time for those. So much to speak of, yet she already got a call from a knight saying that a party is heading out, and she had to be there. "It was Kemena who invited me to Tesso tonight, in her letter."
 "But it was me who invited you to the rock."
 Realizing he was speaking about their current meeting made her feel stupid, and thus even more annoyed. She watched the water for a moment, then turned to him.
 "Firstly I have a concern. A knight, what was his name.. Sintax, brought Kemena objects that he claimed would help her with the 'vision'. What is this vision? We couldn't talk but she told me she's working to discover what this curse is that's been put upon us."
 Neverlin laughed, and mocked instead of replying, his usual self:
 "They will never get a vision."
 She gave him another moment to see if he'll continue, but he didn't - typical.
 "Yes but what vision was he talking about? What is it exactly she's trying to do?"
 When she later reflected upon this conversation she was forced to think the Necromancer either likes to leave her in the dark because he thinks it makes him attractive, or he is hiding something - and he is skilled at changing the course of the conversation when it suites him. She frankly suspected the second, for she trained herself to never assume that her feminity lies at the root of any action of a man. Not that it didn't, in fact it often was exactly so, but rarely with men of Neverlin's calibre. They were better than that, and so she must assume 'the worst'.
 There wasn't much time, so she brought up the next topic.
 "I was in Aurelius' office and he is truly a barbarian - nothing. A stack of notes, very few letters. Nothing of value whatsoever. I made a copy, and I have a plan.. I came here in hopes you will have some fresh ideas."
 He nodded, prepared to listen.
 "Writing. I will somehow find out, for there are few signatures, whose writing is in the letters."
 The mage extended his hand: "Give me the letter, I can make Kemena tell me whose writing it is."
 "Are you mad, I don't have them with me. It's quite a pile of notes, and I don't want to drop them somewhere on the road to Tesso. Later.. But here's the plan. If a letter was written by someone important from King's Guard, we can forge a letter in that writing that blackmails Arine to manipulate her daughter. We can play to their numbers and say leaders of King's Guard were afraid of Invicta. They knew Invicta's forces exceed theirs, and they feared the dependance of their success upon them. They craved to have some control over those forces.. So this mister X tries to go through Kemena's mother to get to Aurelius.." She paused, thinking how to express the next idea better. "Because going through Kemena herself wouldn't work, she is too righteous. Her mother however is known to be frivolous.. Mister X tries seduction first. When that doesn't work, he uses blackmail.. So what do you think?"
 Neverlin pondered.
 "Who do you have in mind for mister X?"
 She shrugged.
 "I don't know yet. Some big cheese. Even Thorious would do. He seems unsubtle enough, from the conversations I had with him and from what I've seen. Such crude approach with blackmail suits him."
 "Big cheese.. I see." Neverlin sounded thoughtful. He rested his chin on his slender fingers, looking at her. The look was cold and searching, made her feel a bit uncomfortable. "I think your plan is beautiful."
 She felt gratitude, yet didn't want to show it.
 "I was rather hoping that you'd provide some fresh ideas, and make it even better."
 He was still looking at her, finally asking a question she didn't expect.
 "Why are you doing this?"
 Her mind shut out the reason, and genuine anger and indignation showed on the face.
 "You know why, to get Invicta and King's Guard at each other's throats. It will do good for everyone." She thought of the word 'balance' and smiled to herself.
 "But for who?"
 "For myself" - she snapped, knowing full well the answer was rather stupid. That was a lie, yet that was certainly what it looked like right now. It seemed she was alone, she served noone. So for who else?
 A sudden thought came.
 "Wait Neverlin, why are you doing this? I can ask you the same question. Does this mean you are trying to please Satetka?" The hatred showed clearly in her face, then she turned away to look at the water, calming herself and admitting:
 "That of course would get you into his good books though, I agree."
 "No it is not for him."
 His voice was grave. What followed she never expected..

After the story was almost over, she wondered why, of all times, he chose this one to tell her that. For, there were days when their relationship was much closer. Indeed, lately he kept saying how he cannot trust her. Or was he frustrated? Maybe indeed right now they were closest they could ever be, yet knowing what's in this man's mind and heart was impossible, especially after what he has just confided into her as to who he is. One part of her, the pure Stygian self, daughter of the sands and she who forever will server her god, made her feel a bit disappointed. She thought his blood was like hers when they were in that pyramid. And yet his blood was ancient enough to enable him to see what no Stygian now alive could, he alone could read those prophecies and he was crucial.
 She was looking at his face rather stunned, wondering if he'll show her the true self.. when she heard footsteps. Praising herself for carrying the searching orb in her pocket at all times, she held up her hand:
 "Wait, I heard something.." Standing up quickly and following the sound - someone was clearly trying to hide - she performed the spell, and with a slight pop a golden trail in the air indicated the direction. Moki was there, hiding behind the rocks.
 The girl must have seen them from the other shore. Mandisa had no idea why would she wander so far from the tavern, unless she was looking for the mage on purpose. Wouldn't be surprising, given how persistently she tried to kill him today. But if she heard all of it..
 "A very interesting story," the girl announced mockingly. So there was hope she didn't hear the plan. Mandisa strode up to her, followed closely by Neverlin, lowering her voice so that it sounded menacing.
 "And the one you will never be able to re-tell in the inns." She knew she should leave it up to the mage to control the wench. Were it her will, she'd cut her down right there and dump the body into the river. Or better yet, poison, they would say later she was poisoned in the inn. Yet Neverlin had strange affection for his pets, and found many uses for them. Mandisa watched him talk to her, attaching, with a flick of his finger, a block of ice to her neck that wouldn't melt, threatening to drown the girl.
 "I just want to know if she heard the story only, or the plan as well..," - Mandisa whispered into Neverlin's ear, before she walked off, leaving them alone and looking back once, to see the mage push the girl into the water with enourmous block of ice clinging onto her..

((OOC and yes it was great, I actually heard the steps and did a search, popping Mokii out :D We had no idea she was there))