Horrifying night|Aegestrom, Maelstrom

[Kender Bard]

Lya shook her head, her heart tightening at Acqua's words. "We came here to ask the exact same thing," she replied. "My daughter is missing as well. I thought at first that someone had either snuck in and taken her, or that someone in my own household had turned traitor. But this is worrisome... it seems there might be something else at work here. It's as though the children have simply disappeared. Luminous was safely tucked away in her room for bedtime and that was the last I saw of her."

[Northen Light36]

"Has anyone seen the children?" Vortai asks.

"No," Acqua murmurs. "They've been looking, but there's no sign of them. Although..." she looks at Vortai and murmurs, "I saw Echo tonight. She said they children were all right, but she couldn't say where they are... Against the rules, apparently."

Vortai wraps an arm around his sister's shoulders. "We'll find them sis," he promises, although he looks at a loss for what to do.

[Kender Bard]

"I was visited as well, with much the same information," Lya answered. She shook like a leaf, but did her best not to show or react to it at all. "I've gotten every man and woman I can hunting for my Luminous, who is presumably with your children. If we don't find them soon, then I will contact the Calders to do the same in Talen'sul. All of Caelium will not rest until my daughter is found."

[Northen Light36]

Unlike Lya, Acqua wasn't trying to conceal her own distress aside from a stubborn refusal to cry in public. She leans into Vortai's hug, shaking at least as much as Lya is. Vortai tightens his hold on his 'twin', offering what comfort he can.

"Acqua, your Majesty, we should combine our resources on this," he murmurs to both women. "We have the same goal, after all, and the Thieves Guild can fit into places where the guard would stand out if they went there for information."

[Kender Bard]

"Fine," Lya agrees quickly. "I'll have word given to the commander to also look for your children, Lady Acqua. In the meanwhile, I think I shall return home in hopes that word might be waiting for me already."

[Northen Light36]

"Thank you," Acqua murmurs softly.

Vortai looks between his sister and the Queen, considering his options. "Sis, where's Mat?" He would have thought that they'd be together at a time like this.

"Ilyamen," Acqua replies.

"Then come back with me, sis," Vortai says firmly. "You look exhusted and sitting alone in the house won't do any good." Realising that he's inviting his sister into someone else's home, Vortai flushes slightly and looks at Lya. "That is, of course, if you have no objections, your majesty?"

[Kender Bard]

Lya waved dismissively. Under normal circumstances she might have berated Vortai later for his lack of protocol and basic manners, but her mind was far away and completely unconcerned with such trivial matters at the moment. In fact, she left them both behind, spreading her wings and taking off into the sky on the off-chance hope that she might spot the children from above... though she seriously doubted it.

Once home, and after threshing herself and giving herself a million things to do to keep her busy and moving, the moment she dreaded came. It came shortly after dawn, when she had begun to nod off despite her best efforts.

~You will leave 100 gold twenty miles south of Maelstrom and 100 gold twenty miles east if you ever want to see your daughter alive again.~

Lya jumped with a small cry of surprise and sought out Vortai immediately.

[Northen Light36]

Vortai wasn't hard to find. He was sitting on his bed with Acqua (though Acqua had fallen asleep with her head on his fairly damp shoulder, her eyes red and swollen from crying) and staring out the window, his fists clentched into tight, angry fists as he quietly berated himself for not being able to protect Luminious.

When Lya enters though, he spots her reflection in the glass and turns to look at her, waking Acqua in the process. Taking in Lya's expression, Acqua and Vortai exchange worried looks and Vortai holds his sister's hand tightly. "Has there been news, your Majesty?" Vortai asks softly.

[Kender Bard]

"We've been given the ransom notice," Lya replied. "Via telepathy. So, either it was a Mind who took our children or the perpetrator is using one in some manner. Either way, we were told that if we wanted to see Luminous alive again, we must deliver one hundred gold twenty miles south of the capitol and one hundred gold in the same distance to the east."

She glanced at Acqua and added, "No word or ransom on your children however."

[Northen Light36]

Acqua frowned, quietly considering that. "I think I should go home and check if a note or something has been left at my house," she says, standing.

~Kitten! Bas is hurt! And now she's not responding to me!~

Acqua pauses, paling as she 'hears' Smudge's shout. Vortai looks at her in worry. "Acqua, what's wrong?"

"Bas..." Acqua whispers, looking vaguely ill. "One of the guild minds managed to reach her..."

"And?" Vortai demands. "Where is she?"

Acqua swallows hard, fear written all over her face. "They don't know. They just know she was hurting and... now she's not responding to them..."

Vortai closes his eyes and swears softly. "We'll find her sis," he says. "Just have a little faith. Go home, check for a note and-"

"And I think it's time I let Mat know what's happened," Acqua replies, her voice flat. "Your majesty, Vortai, if you'll excuse me."

After Acqua leaves, Vortai takes a deep breath and then looks at Lya. "We better get the ransom for Lumi together. I think we better plan a trap for whoever picks it up, though. Just in case they intend to keep Lumi."

[Kender Bard]

"Aye," Lya agreed quietly. "Arrange it. Vortai, I know you're stretched thin between myself and your sister." She lay a hand gently on Vortai's shoulder, closing her eyes so she didn't lose her precarious grasp on her composure. "Thank you for your dedication." Letting out her breath slowly, she went to begin to put together the ransom that was demanded.

Though not long after, in the streets, one of the criers began to march around the streets, ringing his bell, and shouting in a strained voice, "Heed me! To all people, noble and peasant alike, who have recently lost children, they will be returned safe only once the Queen and King have paid the ransom demanded of them!"

[Northen Light36]

Sitting in her kitchen, trying to soothe Wish, Smudge and Pixie's fear while getting her own under control, Acqua looks up sharply as she hears the crier's message. A moment later she hears the door open and close and Mat flops into a chair next to her.

"You heard that?"

"Yes," Acqua replies, looking up. "The Queen's already gathering the ransom. Started when she got the message demanding a ransom for Lumi." Mat nods and the two lapse back into silence.

"You know, something bothers me about this," Mat remarks a few minutes later.

"I know," Acqua agrees, looking at her husband with a frown. "Why take so many children? The King and Queen would have paid for just their daughter. Why go to all this trouble?"

"Because there's more to this then just a ransom," Mat murmurs. "Come on Kitten, I think we need to talk to the Queen." Acqua nodded in agreement and the pair made their way towards the Manor, watching and listening to see what the public reaction to the annoucement was.

[Kender Bard]

Just about ever parent who had a child stolen was gathered together outside of the palace, held in check only by the guards there. There was another, separate group, a little ways off. The grieving parents demanded at the top of their lungs that Lya pay the ransom and bring their children home immediately. Finally, one of the Winds in Lya's employ informed everyone quite loudly that she would, indeed, be paying the ransom.

From the smaller, other group came some quiet grumbles but they scattered at the murderous looks the parents were giving them.

[Northen Light36]

Acqua and Mat push their way through the crowd, elbowing ribs and stepping on toes as needed, to reach the guards. "Could we see my brother, Vortai, please?" Acqua asks a guard calmly. "I need to speak with him."

[Kender Bard]

The guard recognized Acqua and nodded, waving her through. Then the two guards turned their attention back to reassuring upset individuals.