The things we do for family|Aegestrom, Maelstrom

[Northen Light36]

It was a good thing that Audiences were open to the common folk as well as the upper classes, or he'd stick out like a sore thumb, Amaro thought idly, leaning back against the wall and watching as people began to gather in the hall.

The noble classes, here to show off their finery and whine more then to air any true problems, earnt a sneer from the mercenary. Forces how he'd hoped never to set foot among the Maelstrom court again.

You'll never be welcome among the noblity again. Flash's warning of decades earlier echoed in his memory and Amaro smiled a fraction. Thank the Forces for small mercies, he thought, watching the primping nobles and grimacing at the thought he might have become like them.

As usual, Flash entered the Audience Hall a few minutes before the King and Queen were due to arrive. He scanned the gathering, noting who looked to be particularily angry or distressed, then tensed a fraction when his eye fell on Amaro. That was protential trouble right there and Shadow and Lya would need advance warning, Flash decided, making his way back out and heading down the hall to where he knew Shadow and Lya were waiting. "I don't suppose either of you know why Lord Melissan-Ronoh is attending audience today?" he asked casually.

[Kender Bard]

Lya paused in her primping and looked at Flash in surprise. "What? No, of course not... I hadn't even heard he'd arrived in Maelstrom." She cast an anxious glance at Shadow. "Did you?"

[Northen Light36]

"If I had, I'd have arranged a vacation for us," Shadow muttered, grimacing. "Where's an emergency when you need one? Oh wait, he's standing out in the audience hall."

Flash chuckled slightly. "Well maybe we'll get lucky and he's just stopping by for old time's sake," he remarked.

Shadow snorted. "And maybe it'll rain gold tomorrow," he replied.

[Kender Bard]

"I'm more inclined to agree with Shadow's sentiment," Lya sighed. "Well at least our visitors aren't going to play witness to this one."

Of course Locket could always show up. She seemed to delight in roaming the mansion under the pretense of looking for Lya.

Lya slipped her arm in Shadow's. "We can't hide out here then. Let's go and see what he and dozens other want today, darling."

[Northen Light36]

Shadow sighed and muttered, "I suppose just throwing him out would be out of the question."

"Yes," Flash laughed, following the royals into the Audience hall.

The audience went smoothly for a bit, with the usual problems and complaints being airred, rulings made and so on. Shadow was almost starting to forget Amaro's presence altogether when Amaro finally stepped forward. Bracing himself, Shadow nodded to Amaro and said, "The Audience reconises Lord Melissan-Ronoh." Instantly a handful of nobles began whispering as all eyes turned to Amaro.

"Thank you, your Highness," Amaro replied with a bow. "Your majesties, my youngest sister and her family were attacked a few days ago by people my sister recognised from the Ilyamen Mercenary guild and some men who made reference to being from the Ilyamen guard. Acqua was knocked out and left helpless in the street while my brother in law was abducted. Your Majesties, as head of my Family, it is my right to demand that Ilyamen be held to account for this outrage and my brother-in-law be returned safely." He paused for a second then added, "The people of the Kingdom should be able to walk around inside the walls of Maelstorm and Talen'sul without fear of abduction and assult by other nations."

The whispering exploded into talk and demands that something be done. Gritting his teeth, Shadow had to acknowledge that Amaro had handled that nicely. Even though he wasn't well-liked by the court, Amaro's suggestion that this could happen to anyone present was calulated to get them supporting him. After all, there was nothing most of the nobility liked better then their own skins.

[Kender Bard]

Lya, for her part, was simply shocked over what she had heard. "What on Naruta does Ilyamen want with your family, Amaro?" she asked aloud. She was vaguely aware he was in charge of some mercenaries in Talen'sul. Had they done something to incur Ilyamen's anger? Even if so, Ilyamen should have come to them, not dealt with it themselves in such a ham-fisted manner. But she wanted a little more information to this shocking reveal.

[Northen Light36]

"I wish I could say, your Majesty," Amaro replied. "But they didn't bother to inform anyone of why they felt the need to attack my family or 'arrest' as they called it, my brother-in-law. The first I heard of this was when a family friend brought Acqua and her youngest son and daughter home. My neice and nephew are four years old, your Majesty, and they were left alone and helpless after witnessing their father being abducted and their mother held down and drugged so she couldn't aid in defending her family. There is no justification for that, even without considering that no one in my family has set foot in Ilyamen in nearly five years."

[Kender Bard]

Lya glanced at Shadow with a frown, clearly troubled and upset by the news that Amaro brought. If it was even a little true, it was grave indeed. "We shall adjourn Audience today to deal with this matter with all the haste it deserves," she announced.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow was frowning as well, already deep in thought on the matter. He was certain of Acqua being a thief and suspected her husband was as well, but they'd never been caught or even accused of being so that he was aware of. And even if Ilyamen had some evidence of a crime, it should have been brought to his and Lya's attention rather then Ilyamen sending people to sneak around inside his lands and abduct people.

"Lord Melissan-Ronoh, please accompany us to somewhere more comfortable while we decide on the best way to deal with this matter," Shadow told Amaro, rising from his chair as the audience hall began to, slowly and reluctently, empty out.

When the group was alone and in the privacy of Shadow's study, Flash turned to Amaro and asked in concern, "Is your sister all right?"

"There hasn't been any lasting effects of whatever was used to drug her, but..." Amaro shrugs slightly. "Her husband has been abducted. I wouldn't say she's all right."

Flash nodded, his eyes dark with concern. He had spent a good deal of time with both Acqua and Mat and he liked them both. The thought of either of his young friends facing the cruelity he knew the Ilyamen guards were capable of horrified him.

[Kender Bard]

"We need to speak immediately with Ilyamen on these matters," Lya told Shadow. "Perhaps if we reach her via telepathy, we can put enough weight on our words that we can bluff her into giving the man back to us."

After all, Caelium was a military power to be reckoned with.

[Northen Light36]

Shadow nodded in agreement. "It's certainly worth a try," he agreed. "At the very least a strongly worded warning should make them think twice about doing anything stupid or rash." He nodded to Flash, who hurried off to fetch one of the Mind messengers. While they waited for his return, Shadow glanced at Amaro and asked, "Where's your sister now?"

"She and my brother have gone to Ilyamen in an attempt to do what they can for Mat," Amaro replied.

[Kender Bard]

Lya sighed heavily. "Pray that they don't do anything too rash themselves then," she warned him. "While justified, these matters will only become muddled and difficult for us to sort if some sort of wrong were perpetuated against Ilyamen during our meeting with them. Two wrongs, after all, do not make a right."

[Northen Light36]

"They won't do anything rash unless Mat's life is in imediate danger," Amaro replied.

"Fair enough," Shadow remarked. He wasn't sure he could manage that level of restaint if Lya was in danger, and highly doubted Amaro's implusive sister could either, but he'd have his doubt private and use it to motivate himself to resolve this quickly.

Flash returned with the mind, Sherlock, who bowed deeply to Lya and Shadow. "You summoned me, your Majesties?"

[Kender Bard]

Lya gave the man a curt nod. "We have an emergency situation and must speak with Ilyamen immediately. Try to get hold of Lady Evanlyn if you can."

[Northen Light36]

Sherlock nods and, chanting softly, touches his signs, reaching out with his mind to brush against other minds until he finds who he's looking for. ~Lady Evanlyn? Please excuse the intrusion but King Brightmore and Queen Brightmore wish to speak with you imediately.~