"What kind of crystal is this here?" the captain asked when they started down the path to the exit to Arachii's world. "Do you think we'd be able to add that to what we could trade for?"
Emily shrugged. "Maybe, but I think you'd need to talk with the unicorn about that first," she answered. "After all, this is her forest. So, I doubt the person we'd be going to meet would be able to agree to that or deny it."
The captain didn't respond, but Emily felt like she was still thinking about that crystal as they walked. It didn't matter to Emily, as when they were about to leave, they ran into some people that she knew: humans that she'd seen before at Heathcliff's home. Two blond sisters who sometimes acted as secretaries for Heathcliff depending on what meeting he was having.
Emily hadn't been able to tell if they were twins or not, but they both had blond hair and blue eyes. Though, one had a scar that ran from the middle of her forehead to her right ear, making a pass of her eye in the process. The one with the scar was Jasmine and the other was Juniper. Neither of them really like Emily.
So, while she knew them, it was pretty much the worst two for her to run into at this time. The only consolation was the fact that they'd at least let Heathcliff know that she needed to speak with him. Beyond that, she knew they'd rather not having anything to do with her.
"Where the hell did you come from?" Jasmine snapped, as soon as they recovered from the surprise.
"I came to talk with Heathcliff," she merely replied. "I brought someone who represents someone from another world that would like to negotiate a trading agreement with."
"So, you're like a messenger girl now, huh?" Juniper asked, as if that was demeaning to Emily.
It wasn't like she hadn't been used for that before, since she didn't have that much education to do pretty much anything else with Heathcliff's company. Though, these two seemed to consider it an insult for whatever reason.
"Just like that last time I had the displeasure of meeting the two of you?" Emily replied cheerfully, earning a scowl from them. "Would one of you please let Heathcliff know that I brought someone who wants to talk with him?"
"We're kind of busy to be playing with a little kid, you know?" Juniper snapped. "We'll let him know when we're done with what we're taking care of."
"No problem," Emily said, suddenly feeling conscious of the captain's gaze on her. Almost like her gaze had a physical presence that was stroking her skin. "We'll just wait by the gate. Take your time."
Emily knew that she was likely to meet up with others if she waited there. Especially with the fact that people were travelling through here like this. It would only be a matter of time before she encountered someone else and with the way that Jasmine and Juniper glared at her with her last statement, they might get in trouble if Heathcliff found out that they didn't let him know about Emily's arrival.
"Fine, I'll go let him know," Juniper said, as if she was granting a large concession and that Emily should be grateful for the concession in general.
"Thank you," Emily merely replied politely, nodding her head. She couldn't say how much she enjoyed their reactions to her simple statement. She hadn't been sure if any of that would get to them or not, but she couldn't say that she wasn't tickled pink by the fact that it had. Especially since she knew that they couldn't really come after her about it since she was merely escorting the person who she would be translating for.
While she couldn't say what was going to happen in the negotiations, or while they waited, she was starting to feel optimistic about this. Even the feeling of needing to take a bath from being under the captain's gaze and touch was gone right then. She doubted that it would stay away, but right then she was willing to accept that. It was just a wonderful day after that encounter with Juniper and Jasmine.
_
Jenn wasn't sure what to expect when she showed Tchisa and her band the gate to where Jenn's people were building a home. Not so much about what Tchisa's reaction would be, or that of her band, but rather what to expect to have changed in the settlement. In total, it had been five days since she'd left, which was also less time than she had really expected to take.
She knew that there wouldn't be any significant structural changes, but she wouldn't be surprised to find other significant changes. Such as weather, an encounter with creatures native to that world, or even a discovery of something they'd been looking for to help out the establishment of the settlement. Like some kind of metal that they could use to turn into other metals that they need.
As Jenn stepped through the gate, she was aware of the sudden drop in temperature. Which meant that there was either a storm on it's way or the season was potentially shifting to winter. Jenn wasn't sure what to expect, just that it wasn't a welcome change in her mind.
Though there wasn't anything that she could easily see in the cul-de-sac around the gate. The skies were clear and there didn't seem to be anything that stood out about the current surroundings she could see.
As the others followed behind her, she wondered if the change in temperature would affect what Tchisa's decision had been. While she doubted it, it was at least something that she could imagine would create a difference in her thinking. Though, she couldn't be sure that it would be detrimental to what she was working at if it did turn out to be that way.
"You were right," Tchisa remarked as she came through the gate. "I am able to tell the difference right away."
Jenn couldn't help but smile. While she had mentioned about the difference, she couldn't say that she had thought that it would be this kind of difference. She'd been mostly thinking of the mountains rather than the temperature. Which she suspected that Tchisa was referring to.
Jenn didn't pay attention to the chatter that picked up behind her, but rather continued to walk towards the settlement, not sure what else to do. She wanted to just lay on a straw mattress, since that was the best they'd have to offer, the rest of the day so she could relax from all the walking she'd been doing, but doubted that she'd be allowed that luxury. Even if she had made it clear to everyone that she was the Blue Rose here.
There was just too much that she knew needed to be done before she'd be able to really even think about that.
Such as how she planned on having whoever was her stand-in accept Tchisa's allegiance and welcome her into the Order of the Blue Rose. Afterwards, she planned on ironing out some of the finer details so that her band would be able to be accepted into this group. Though, she hoped there wouldn't be any significant issues come up.
Mostly what she had in mind was merely for show, to give Tchisa's band a sense of the agreement being official and all. A way of declaring in a more positive manner of the fact that the Blue Rose would be higher in the pecking order than Tchisa.
Which Jenn hoped would smooth over pretty much all the bumps that would likely occur as the bandits got used to being part of the Order of the Blue Rose. Though she did expect a few issues pop up here and there. She'd be more surprised if there wasn't anything that came up.
In addition to that, she hoped that her stand-ins would start to understand exactly why Jenn had wanted them to keep their faces and hair hidden. This way when they weren't taking a turn as the Blue Rose, they wouldn't likely be noticed beyond being another person working.
She had sent Yaelish ahead to give warning of their return. That way she wouldn't have to worry about one of her stand-ins getting caught in a way that would require Jenn to dismiss her from that position. She really didn't care to do that, but she also wasn't sure if she'd have an option depending on what she would have otherwise seen.
When they came out from the cul-de-sac, Jenn stopped. Not because of anything specific but because of the light snow that had dusted everything. It wasn't currently falling, but the sun was shining and it felt almost like an otherworldly scene was in front of her.
The snow was refracting the light to create prisms of color wherever she looked. The buildings were standing strong and there didn't seem to be any serious problems with it, but she had a sinking feeling that the snowfall occurred sooner than they were ready for.
The season was likely moving to winter at the moment and Jenn couldn't help but feel like the wheat they'd planted was likely wasted. That those weren't going to likely survive or regrow. However, it wasn't like she had any reason to think that they were in a tight spot. Not with what she'd been able to find before this that would at least allow their food supply to be extended for a couple months at least.
What she needed to work on now was to get enough money from her plan to start a mercenary band to get the money to buy what food they would need after that. Though, she felt like she should check with those who seemed to have been put in charge by everyone while she was out with the Lost. That way she could be sure what might have already been done in addition to what the logistical situation was.
Though, since she couldn't be sure how heavy the snowfall might get here, she also thought it would be good to discuss alternative options in the event that it started to get too heavy for the buildings that they had been able to get built.
"Are you just going to stare or are you going to lead us to where we can get warm?" Tchisa asked, pulling Jenn back to the present. "It's getting kinda cold out here, you know?"
Jenn nodded and continued walking as if she hadn't gotten lost in thought from the scene in front of her. Though, she hoped that Tchisa was the only one who had noticed. She wasn't sure if it would affect how others saw her or not, but it was at least something that she felt conscious of.
Jenn was heading straight towards the main building where she had her own residence. As she walked, she reached out with her magic to let those who were in charge, as well as her stand-ins know that it was time to start the show.
–We're on our way over, so it would be good for whoever's turn it is to be the Blue Rose to come out and accept the bandit's pledge of loyalty.–
Jenn didn't expect a response, since she hadn't been able to teach her stand-ins any magic, so it wasn't like they'd be able to reply in kind.
The settlement was quiet as they walked through. Quieter than she had expected. Though, she wasn't sure if there was another reason for it. As she did remember that nights when it snowed back on Earth that it always seemed quieter than usual, yet she wasn't sure if it was because it was so cold out, but she didn't even hear sounds coming from the buildings where she knew many had to sleep. At least given how high in the sky the sun was currently.
She was starting to get a sinking feeling in her stomach as they walked past buildings that felt more empty than Jenn felt they should, when the doors to the main building opened up and she saw one of her stand-ins wearing the hooded tunic and mask that she'd created. The hood was pulled up and Jenn was satisfied at how it looked. How it had the effect she had hoped it would have.
"Welcome back those who travelled out for me," Oleania's voice said. Jenn was confident that's who's turn it was and was standing before them. "And welcome to those who would like to join us."
–Tchisa, step forward and say what we talked about you saying.– Jenn told Tchisa with her magic as she knelt down with her head bowed where she was, paying her respects to 'the Blue Rose' in front of them.
While she didn't look, she was aware of the others that had started out with her also kneeling. She was pretty sure that they were mimicking what she did, but she couldn't be sure if they wouldn't have done that anyway. Provided that they thought it was actually her behind the mask rather than one of her stand-ins.
Tchisa walked forward and Jenn guessed that she either had said something to her band or that she'd gestured for them to stay back as no one else followed her as she approached 'the Blue Rose.'
"On behalf of my companions, I pledge myself to your service as long as you would have need of me," Tchisa said loud enough for everyone present to hear.
"I accept your pledge," Oleania said. "My people, rise and enter. We're having everyone stay in this building until we figure out what to do about the cold here."
Jenn stood up and couldn't help but feel better about what Oleania had told them. If everyone really was in that building, then it was clearly done as a result of the sudden onset of winter. Which also meant that everyone there would likely have to be rather cozy with each other. Especially given how little room there really was overall in that building.
As Jenn stepped inside, she found she was more correct than she'd expected, with how a number of them were huddled together for warmth. Some even looked to me in a more intimate position than she would have expected or wanted to see.
No one in there seemed inclined to speak and Jenn quickly made her way up to the second floor where her room would be, especially since she had a feeling that they were having a meeting up there to determine exactly what to do in regards to the cold. She was careful not to step on anyone, even though she doubted that they'd have complained if she did. Though, she suspected most were too busy trying to keep themselves warm to even consider the fact that Jenn was passing by herself.
She would be surprised if the others didn't want her to make the decision of what to do or if they'd already made one. She didn't like the idea of leaving the settlement, since the only real option would be to return through the gate, but it wasn't like she could think of anything else at the moment.
The question there would be where to go after that. After all, she doubted that it would be good to start up a village right where the gate was. Especially if they were just going to essentially winter there. Although, as she climbed the steps to the second floor, she suddenly remembered something that mostly came from the memories she'd gotten from helping the Lost. Memories that told her about a place that had at least once been a village. A place that should still have a place that they would be able to stay. A place that wouldn't draw much notice if it was discovered later on.
Before Jenn knew it, everyone was in her room. Though, most were already gathered there without her needing to even say anything, even with her magic, so she supposed that they were either already in the middle of something or were discussing that very topic that she'd been thinking of herself just then.
While she had directed her stand-ins to make her room theirs as well, so as to aid in keeping the identity of who exactly was the Blue Rose was secret. Or at least from those who would join later, such as Tchisa's band of bandits. Otherwise she suspected that it would get noticed that certain people would come here on different days and wouldn't be seen after that.
Yet, she couldn't help but notice there were only three other straw mattresses on the ground. While she wanted to ask about that, she was pretty sure that it wasn't something that was important enough to bring up at the moment. Especially considering how cramped it was downstairs.
"So, what's been discussed already?" Jenn asked as she made her way across the room, conscious of Oleania and Tchisa following behind her.
"Uh… well, we've discussed options for where to relocate everyone, but the scouting parties haven't returned yet," Laer answered, sounding a little hesitant. It was clear to Jenn that she was choosing her words carefully because of Tchisa's presence as she added a minute later, "Though, the Blue Rose is still open to other suggestions."
"Don't worry about Tchisa, she already knows about who the true Blue Rose is," Jenn answered, unsurprised at the look of shock that spread across those in front of her.
"Why did you let her know?" Maelia asked, her tone a mix of uncertainty, surprise, and unease.
Jenn waved her hand as if she could dispel the uncertainty that her statement had caused by doing so. "Not something I chose, I assure you. She's a thought mage and she saw that in my mind. So, she became aware of that before I'd even been able to even mention the offer for her and her band to join us."
While Jenn's statement seemed to help relax everyone in the room, she still got the sense that they still weren't happy about it, but Jenn couldn't see what she could have done about it in beyond what she'd already done. If they didn't like it, well there wasn't much any of them could do about it. Although, Jenn wondered if maybe it was like a loyalty test or something, since Jenn hoped that it was clear that she trusted Tchisa in that regard, even despite her knowing that Jenn herself was the Blue Rose.