Family Matters|Aegestrom | Maelstrom

[Northen Light36]

Acqua's in just a bit of a bad mood as she slips up to the wall of the palace gardens. She has a bad feeling about Amaro going off on his own like this, but the Storm had flat out refused to let her come with him. We'll see about that, Acqua thinks. Luckily the Guild tunnels had let her beat Amaro to Maelstrom.

With Faith to serve as a lookout, scaling the wall and sneaking into the palace isn't a problem for Acqua. Finding Vortai's room is more difficult, but Faith manages to follow the yongest Melissan's scent.

Sitting on Vortai's bed, Acqua waits for her 'twin' to come back to his room.

[adris]

Vortai finished up his rounds and handed off sentry duty of Luminous's room to a guard. Nothing was going to happen to her that could be blamed on him, he even instructed the sentries on exactly how he wanted the watch done. Entering his room he immediately noticed Acqua on his bed, but instead of being startled he just gave a heavy sigh.

"Breaking an entering in the royal palace I'm employed to help guard, this had better be good sis," he did smile to let her know he was only joking, "I should tell the queen and king to sleep in Lumi's room, at least the guard there won't let them get eviscerated."

He closed the door just so nobody peeks in to see him talking with Acqua, not because he is embarrassed but in all technicality it is still illegal. This obviously had nothing to do with Amaro's letter, she wouldn't be so casual if it were. He was glad there was one thing in the world he could relax a little about.

[Northen Light36]

"There's a law against me visiting my little brother now?" Acqua asks teasingly. "Besides, I didn't break in. I walked right through an unlocked door... Of course, I climbed over the wall in order to get to the door." She laughs then gets serious.

"Vortai, have you heard Saph Calder's missing? Amaro's gone to look for him but..." Acqua sighes. "Call me paranoid but something about this makes me edgy. Amaro won't let me go with him, so I'm not telling him I'm following bt..." Acqua grimaces. "I'm not really in perfect shape for traveling... Any chance you could tag alone and watch my back, Vortai?"

[adris]

He just shakes her head at her, as if saying without words 'you are going to be the death of me.' His mood grows serious with hers as well though, knowing the talk of Saph Calder well enough with his shadowing of the princess. He really doesn't know what to do though and rubs his forehead as he was trying to think.

"Where has Amaro gone? Perhaps I can take some time off now that the King and Queen are back. I would hate to leave Lumi alone, but if the guards have listened to anything I have said that should handle itself. Bes..id..." a thought caught him right there though as he shot a quick look to Acqua, "What do you mean you aren't in perfect shape for traveling?"

[Northen Light36]

"Amaro went to Naurorod," Acqua replies. A glance at Vortai proves that her brother isn't going to let her off that easily. "Well," she begins slowly. "Amaro told you about Burak right? How he kidnapped me then threatened me after Talon and Saph Calder got me out? Well Amaro and Talon went hunting for Burak and didn't come home. I got worried and went looking for them and..." Acqua shudders just slightly. "I ran into Burak."

[adris]

Vortai leaned back against the door of his room, he really didn't know what to do from this point forward. He needed to put everything into perspective, something that was still difficult for him to do. He had only just started study of strategy and his lack of reading skill still made that difficult.

"How can you seriously advocate that I bring you along with me on this Acqua? You're worried, fine, but I need to ask you to lessen your worry with me on the job. I'm guessing from what I see that Burak is a problem of the past, but how many close scrapes until..." his voice fell into a near hush, "until I'm one second too late again?"

The forces wouldn't give them a third try, he could almost count on that. All her years on Naruta combined makes her far too young to get into a scrape again. He wants to trust her, she is the best at what she does, but it would unforgivable if anything goes wrong again.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua sighes, making no move to get off the bed. "Vortai, your concern is sweet," she begins. "But I can't spend my entire life hiding behind you, Amaro, Alethia or Talon." She looks seriously at her brother. "Life is risk, Vortai, but the risk is worth it. Do you really think I could just go home and sit around playing babysitter for Alethia, while you and Amaro get into trouble? Vortai, I would rather die right now then have to go on without you or Amaro."

Getting up, Acqua puts a hand on her brother's shoulder. "I'll follow your lead on this trip, Vortai, but don't ask me to stay behind. I came here because you and I work best as a team." Acqua falls silent, waiting for Vortai to decide.

[adris]

Vortai kicked at the dirt between him and Acqua at the moment. Its been a while since he saw Aideen, maybe that can be his excuse for some time off. He obviously couldn't tell the kind and queen what he was really planning or else he would get kicked out for involving himself in their affairs.

"I guess at the least I will be there instead of someone from the guild," having decided long ago he was going to abandon that life, and if they really wanted to do something about it they could feel free to try, "besides, for once it is Amaro running headfirst into something like an idiot, I guess the change of pace is nice."

Now he just had to get over how nervous he will be while he is not here looking after Lumi. It is perhaps his biggest regret that he can't be everywhere at once and he was hoping Amaro's presence would make this whole ordeal easier rather then how it is turning out.

He added, in a more lighthearted grumble, "perhaps I should just get you arrested so its guaranteed you can't go anywhere."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua crosses her arms over her chest and replies, "Do you REALLY think that would stop me, little brother?" Grinning, she gives Vortai a quick hug. "Besides, I'm probably being paranoid and this'll turn out to be nothing," she adds reassuringly.

[adris]

Vortai just shakes his head but accepts the hug anyway. He was so easy to talk into things like this it is probably why she comes to him so often. He must admit that after a long period of time looking up to her as a great thief, it felt good to be the one asked for favors.

"all right, you get out of here, and make sure to tell your thief friends that Lumi's room is impenetrable, or really easy to get into, whichever works best these days. That place is more schizophrenic then you can be when you want something."

He waits until she decides to take off, then after giving an appropriate amount of time he leaves his room to go find the royal couple. Either of them will work, he only needs some leave. He hopes whatever they give is enough for him to do whatever is needed then get back though.

[Northen Light36]

"Who says I hang around with the guild anymore?" Acqua shoots back before she leaves. "Meet you outside the wall tonight, Vortai. Don't be late." With a teasing grin, Acqua slips out the window and is gone again.

Judging by the fact that no shouts of alarm are heard at any point, it would be safe for Vortai to assume that Acqua got away again safely.