abraxaslogs | MEANWHILE AT CASTLE THORNE

MEANWHILE AT CASTLE THORNE

Once the hour is up, the execution courtyard of Castle Thorne is a great deal emptier than it had been. The portals are gone with no trace and life is trickling back into those frozen by wild magic. The banners resume their fluttering, the sounds of the castle resume, and guards stumble as they complete steps they’d started. Throughout the courtyard and beyond there’s a general sense of bewilderment as time resumes.

It doesn’t take long for any of the Thorneans to realize what’s happened - they’ve lost a large portion of guests and prisoners. Some guards begin rushing out of the courtyard to search for any who may have lingered, lesser mages stagger in to lend a hand and investigate.

And many eyes turn quickly to those who remain. Any prisoners who have lingered are immediately seized and returned to the dungeons. Welcomed guests are rounded up and herded back to their rooms, where a guard remains posted at each door and will not allow them to leave. While they remain unshackled, it is clear that even welcomed guests will not be treated with impunity.

One by one, everyone will be interrogated regarding the events of the day.

Thorne is not happy.

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[ Ronan frowns, a pensive expression rather than further displeasure. From his point of view, it doesn't matter whether it's two or twenty people. It's all about the skill and willpower of the magician. At least, that's how it works with dreamers. That's how it works with him. ]

I've done magic like that before. I just haven't done it to so many people at once. But I think that means I might be able to figure out a shield against it. Or a cure, in case it happens again.

[ Jolene's posture becomes noticeably more alert at this possibility. She crosses her legs at the ankle and leans forward, resting her clasped hands on the table. ]

And what would be necessary for you to figure it out?

It's gonna take a lot of experimenting. My partner, Hennessy — the one you've got locked up in the dungeons right now — we can work on it together, if she can get out of there.

[ He can't think of anything Hennessy would hate more than experimenting with mindfuckery magic... except spending one more day in that cell. The threat ought to keep her cooperative. ]

[ There's another scrawled note, this one about Hennessy, but not particularly descriptive. Jolene may very well not be able to identify her by name alone. ]

Can you describe to me how you would experiment? What the process is?

[ Ronan hesitates, warring internally for a moment. These are mages, right? They're not going to kill him for being a dreamer. They locked up Hennessy, but that's probably because Hennessy is Hennessy, not because she's one bad dream away from causing the apocalypse. These people have the magic to work with dreamers instead of eradicating them. ]

We start in our dreams. Me and Hennessy, we share a dreamspace, so we'd go back to what we saw during the attack and work out the details of the magic. Then we'd probably come up with something that could recreate the effects, since we'd need to mimic that magic before we could test a cure for it. But we wouldn't do that here, obviously. Safer to do it out in the wilderness somewhere, try it out on some peasant farmers or whatever.

[ They of course would never kill him for being a dreamer, and Jolene seems both interested and appreciative of his description of this magic. It seems similar to how she's heard the Horizon works, which is fascinating in and of itself. She writes down his answer in shorthand, circles the word wilderness. ]

Ronan, if I am free Hennessy for this task — and we would have her upstairs with you, of course — her behavior will your responsibility. If she misbehaves or causes havoc, it will reflect directly on you. Are you willing to accept that?

Yeah, I am.

[ Without hesitation. There's no question about it. In fact, he could be absolutely certain she'd step out of that cell and immediately betray him and he'd still agree to those terms, because the alternative would be to allow Hennessy to rot in a dungeon, and he won't. ]

I don't know if you've got any spare towers now that all the cowards ran off, but if it's possible, Hennessy and I shouldn't sleep near other people. Kylo should stay close, since he can sense a nightmare coming, but anyone else is at risk if they're in the room. Or... nearby rooms, sometimes.

Actually, two of your roommates are missing. She should be able to just move into one of their spaces.

[ She waves a hand at one of the guards, shoos him to go get Hennessy from her cell. ]

She can remain upstairs so long as you two work together and she assists in solving the problem. Any trouble and I'm afraid you'll both most likely be locked up again.

[ ...Oh. Well. A flicker of surprise and disappointment crosses Ronan's features at the news of Nadine and Lloyd fleeing, but he smooths it away just as quickly. People are simply like that. They leave. ]

I understand.

If there's nothing else, then you are free to go and escort Hennessy upstairs. Take some time to rest. We've all had a long day.

[ One of the guards opens the door, and Jolene stands to walk him to it. ]

[ At that, Ronan looks intensely relieved. It's not that he doesn't want to continue the discussion — he can always use more guidance from the mages — but the dungeon's atmosphere feels like a noose around his neck and he's eager to be free of it. As they reach the door, he dips his head in an almost deferential gesture to Jolene. ]

Tell Ambrose not to leave my gifts at home next time.

[ She smiles and returns the gesture. There is a distinct air of resignation in her voice, as if to say that she has no control over Ambrose. ]

I'll make sure he knows.

MEANWHILE AT CASTLE THORNE

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thank you for your patience!