Leader's arrival|Clan Char, Naurorod

[Northen Light36]

Damien strides in to Clan Char, managing a slight smile as he sees a few people run off to fetch Charanth. One thing no one would ever be able to claim about his people was that they weren't organised. Hating every second that passes, fearful of what his niece might be suffering at this very moment, Damien waits for Charanth, pacing restlessly with the air of a caged and angry lion.

[Kender Bard]

Charanth approaches, with a smile. His smile fades nigh immediately though at seeing Damien and his brow furrows with worry as he hurries over. "Honored Leader, I had not expected such a swift reply to my invitation!" Lowering his voice slightly he adds, "What's wrong, Damien?"

[Northen Light36]

"Ann's been kidnapped," Damien replies simply, but equally softly, and passes the singed letter to Charanth as his voice catches in his throat. "Perhaps we could speak somewhere more comfortable?" Damien adds in a more normal voice. The words 'and private' go unsaid, but they're there.

[Kender Bard]

Charanth nods, glancing around. He juts his chin towards an outcropping of rock. Somedays children go to climb around it, but with Charminei's arrival and all, they're all kept busy. "My home is currently in use, so let us go somewhere more meditative."

[Northen Light36]

Damien nods his agreement and leads the way to the outcropping. Once there and assured of some privacy, Damien sits heavily on a rock and covers his face. "I should never have let her out of my sight," he mutters.

[Kender Bard]

"Ann?" Charanth guesses shrewdly, perching on a ledge formed of the rock. "What happened?"

[Northen Light36]

"I decided to spend a few days in Sparkstrike," Damien begins. "Ann was making friends with some of the children there and I thought it would be good for her to spend time being treated like a normal child. You know how much Kara disapproved of how so many people let Ann do whatever she likes." Damien sighes. "Ann and the other children were playing some ball game and one of them kicked the ball to far. Ann went after it and the next thing I knew she was screaming for me, but all I found was her headband and the ball."

[Kender Bard]

Charanth frowned, leaning back on a pillar of rock and stroking his chin. "Just like that...? I smell a Mind at work here. Do you have any leads? Any clues at all?"

[Northen Light36]

"Only that letter," Damien replies, nodding to the paper in Charanth hands. "It's from a man claiming to have her and that he'll kill her if I don't do what he wants."

[Kender Bard]

Charanth frowned, eyeing the letter and then scanning it. He winced. "I see. Damien, I think you're going to have to go along with this for now. However..." He levels his friend with a stern look. "You're not going to want to hear this, but someone has to say it. Remember that if it comes to hurting a lot of innocent people or saving Ann, well..." He sighed. "You need to do the right thing. Okay? But I still want Ann home safe and sound just as much as you do."

[Northen Light36]

Damien closes his eyes. "What my mind is telling me is the right thing is very different to what my heart is telling me," he sighes. "But I know what you're saying, Charanth." Damien opens his eyes and stares out over the desert towards the ruins of Lacuna. "Not everyone from Lacuna endded up in Reave," he murmurs. "I could be walking right into a trap... Charanth, if I'm not back by the end of the week, send out messangers to the other Leaders, Cascata most of all. I'm almost hoping this is just aimmed at getting revenge on me, but..." Damien gives his friend a sad smile. "No one can afford another war so soon after the last. If I end up a slave, make sure the other leaders know to stop me as swiftly as possible."

[Kender Bard]

Charanth shuddered at the idea, his stomach roiling uneasy at that horrifying thought. "Aye, I will, I promise. Luckily it's going to be much easier getting word to Lya now that she has moved to Maelstrom. Wind types are better at news spreading than any other I think. What should we do if you do not return, friend? Who should take charge?"

[Northen Light36]

Damien rubs his head for a minute then sighes, thinking aloud. "Lior's still back in Reave, as is Tres... And Lior barely has the confedience to rule his own clan... I'm sorry to do this to you, Charanth, but it seems there's no choice but for me to put the burden on you, at least until Tres returns."

[Kender Bard]

Charanth resists the urge to wince, but he does lean his head back and shut his eyes. "It's okay, Damien. I have help now at least. Charminei has returned... Which is what I wanted to speak to you about, but that situation is paltry in comparison to this."

[Northen Light36]

Damien closes his own eyes. He really doesn't want or have time to deal with another problem at the moment... But Charanth is a friend... "What's the situation with Charminei? Has Black gotten her into some sort of trouble?"