Brothers and sisters|Aegestrom, Maelstrom

[Northen Light36]

"Those two children are no family of yours," Esmeralda replied, eying Talon and giving a distainful sniff. "They belong t-with me, being raised in their true family."

Wish, having been knocked into a tree trunk, lay still at the base of it, panting.

[Kender Bard]

"They are my sister's children," Talon said, glaring at her. "And hear this. You will not take them. Ever. That is a promise and I keep my promises and I take the hides of people who make me break them. My family has suffered enough losses, I won't let more happen."

[Northen Light36]

Esmeralda raised an eyebrow at Talon, unimpressed, as the panthar at her feet snarlled warningly at him. "Actually, they are my daughter's children," she replied coldly and glanced at Acqua. "And I assure you, your sister is no child of mine. So, understand this sir, I will have those children. No one takes what belongs to me."

Amaro stepped up beside Talon, scowling. "Prehaps you misheard my brother? Those are my sister's son and daughter and we will not allow you to take them from their parents," he growled. "More importantly, my niece and nephew wish nothing to do with you, so I suggest you simply leave."

The panthar rose, baring its teeth theateningly as it stepped towards Amaro and Talon.

[Kender Bard]

"You know," Talon said, taking out his dagger now and twirling it carefully. He addressed the panther. "I once fought and killed a tiger that was twice as big and fierce as you in the Beastlands. I left it there because I hadn't wanted to do it and felt bad that such a beautiful creature is dead. But you... I think you would look very nice in front of my hearth if you so much as nibble my friend there."

[Northen Light36]

Smudge and Pixie gave Talon an amused look and Pixie whispered into his mind, ~I think that brute missed most of that. We'll translate for you.~

Smudge hissed at the panther who looked at Talon and snarled. Esmaralda put a hand on the big cat's jewelled collar and said, "Silent, that's enough." She gave Talon a dark look and added, "I would advise you to be more careful, sir. Silent becomes tempermental around weapons. He considers them a threat, you understand, and I would hate for a... misunderstanding to led to someone being injuried."

[Kender Bard]

"Just sharing a story," Talon replied with a nasty grin. "Nothing more. But you are most correct, these things are dangerous." He continued to twirl the weapon. "One small slip and this could go flying." He stopped and held the dagger still, point up. "My family is attempting to have a pleasant day in the park. Make all the false claims you want--I think the guards will be more inclined to cast suspicion on you, an outsider, than local nobility if we complain that some riffraff is bothering us. So. Go away now."

His grin deepened and only became meaner for it. "Shoo. Scat."

[Northen Light36]

Esmeralda glared at Talon for a moment and for just a moment there was something cruel and unpleasent in the woman's eyes before it disappeared, replaced by a dignified, reserved expression. She glanced at each member of the family for a moment, then turned and strode silently away.

Bas and Pas instantly ran to Wish, fussing over the silver tabby and talking to him in beast speak.

"Well done," Amaro remarked to Talon before looking at the twins. "Wish all right?"

"I think so," Bas replied, while Pas continued to fuss over his companion. "Just bruised, I think."

[Kender Bard]

"Good," Talon said. He'd been worried but didn't exactly have the moment to go fuss over the cat when he had to back down the woman. "See kids? I told you Uncle Talon would chase her off. No problem."

[Northen Light36]

Bas, Robin and Letha all hurried to hug Talon and chorus, "Thank you, Uncle Talon."

Acqua gave her brother a warm smile and a greatful look as the family settled down to enjoy their afternoon. Even the tension that had been between Acqua and Mat faded as the day moved on peacefully.

---

The next morning though, Amaro pulled Talon aside. "I don't like the way that woman looked yesterday," he said quietly. "How about you and I slip into the back of today's audience, just in case she tries anything there?"

[Kender Bard]

"Aye, I agree, though if she doesn't start tearing out throats I think that this is going to be your domain," Talon told Amaro quietly. "I'm no nobleman, after all, and somehow I don't think the court of Maelstrom has its ears open to the common man as much as Talen'sul does."

[Northen Light36]

One of the facts of life in the Sanderson household was that if you wanted privacy, you pretty much had to leave. Letha proved this by peeking around the door she'd been hidding behind, listening in on her uncles.

"You're going to audience?" she asked eagerly. "Can I come? Please?"

"Why do you want to, Letha?" Amaro asked, somewhat amused.

"To see all the pretty ladies," Letha replied. "Please can I come?"

[Kender Bard]

Talon shook his head. "No, Letha. Amaro and I will be busy while we're there." In truth, he just didn't want the little girl being frightened by a potential appearance of Esmerelda again. "How about we come back and get you once the audience is over? There'll still be lots of pretty ladies in the court afterwards."

[Northen Light36]

Letha pouted - no wasn't a word she heard applied to her very often - but she didn't throw a fit. She didn't really like the boring parts of audience, she just liked looking at everyone's pretty clothes, so as long as she got to do that... "All right," she agreed. "But you have to promise you'll come and get me."

"We will," Amaro replied, amused. Who would have thought my rag-bag little sister would produce a little girl who loves to look pretty and dress up? he thought, smiling.

---

Audience started peacefully, but it wasn't long before Esmaralda did show up, and the peacefulness was shattered. When given her turn to speak, Esmeralda told of how she was being denied even the chance to get to know her grandchildren, to the point where just the day before, she'd been threatened with drawn daggers just for taking a walk in a park that the children had happened to come into.

She certainly had a nack for story telling, and for making a situation sound worse then it was without ever telling a lie.

[Kender Bard]

That family is only digging themselves into a deeper and deeper hole, Lya thought as she listened to Esmerelda prattle on. Oh why couldn't they live in some other nation? She gave an irritated sigh.

Talon frowned and glanced at Amaro. "Should we speak up?" he asked, unsure of how these things went in a court.

[Northen Light36]

Amaro nodded and stepped forward. "Madam Shadowpaw, you certainly have a gift. Perhaps you should take up a career as a story teller." He bowed to Shadow and asked, "My Lord, will you permit me to tell of events in a less... entertaining manner then the lady has done so far?"

Shadow couldn't help but feel a flicker of grim amusement. The more of Esmerelda he saw, the more irritating he found her. "You may, Lord Mellissan-Ronoh," he replied with a brief nod. "Forces know, you have a gift for bluntness."

Amaro nodded back to Shadow, choosing to ignore the implication he was tactless. It was, after all, the truth. "The bare facts of madam Shadowpaw's tale are true, but she has left out some of the detail. My family were having a pleasant time in the park when one of my nieces saw madam Shadowpaw watching her brother and sister. As this alarmed the children, my brother approached the lady to ask her to stop and move on."

Amaro paused for a moment to give Esmerelda a distainful look, then continued, "In response, madam Shadowpaw's panther companion attacked Pas' cat and behaved as though it might behave in the same manner towards my brother and I. In response, we informed madam Shadowpaw that if her companion proved a threat to the children, we would, of course, act to protect them. We also suggested that she leave to somewhere more private until her companion was calmer and no longer dangerous. She did so."

Esmerelda gritted her teeth in annoyance.