New Fortunes|Aegestrom, Maelstrom

[Northen Light36]

It was getting close to midnight and Bas knew she was in trouble as she and Smudge hurried up the path towards the front door. Pausing by the manor steps, the little beast girl winced when she saw all the windows were dark.

She sat down on the steps for a moment to catch her breath and give Smudge a sheepish look. "I hope Daddy isn't out looking for us." They hadn't meant to stay out so long, but it was such fun to 'hunt' and chase down rabbits that they'd gotten caught up in the game.

~He probably is,~ sighed Smudge.

Bas was about to suggest they look for Mat when she heard the gate opening again and, expecting to see her father, turned to greet him. She blinked in surprise to see a stranger coming up the path and one hand moved to rest on her dagger, just in case. A bit late for visitors, isn't it? she thought to Smudge.

[Kender Bard]

The man looked a bit tired and dirty from the road. He seemed surprised to see Bas and approached her, taking a rolled parchment from the satchel he carried. "Are you of House Ronoh-Melissan?" the man inquired of her.

[Northen Light36]

Bas raised an eyebrow at the question, but nodded. "Yes. I'm Bastet," she replied, using her full first name as she'd been trained to do in matters involving the House. "Is there something I can help you with?"

[Kender Bard]

The man offered the parchment to her. "This is for you, or rather, your House." He was also looking at her with a slightly hopeful and expectant look. It was polite to tip a courier after all and this looked like a wealthy house.

[Northen Light36]

"Rather late for a message delivery," Bas remarked and drew a silver out of her pocket. It was late after all and the man looked like he'd been traveling a bit. And besides, she'd pickpocketed the silver a few days ago anyway. "Here, this should make up for the lost sleep. Who's this from, can you tell me?"

[Kender Bard]

The courier beamed at the coin and touched his forefinger to his forehead in lieu of doffing a hat. He bowed a little as well. "Didn't give me his name, m'lady," the courier apologized. "Was a fellow from Humontis though. Young man, nicely dressed. Had dark hair and skin and eyes. That's all I can really remember, begging your pardon."

[Northen Light36]

"That's fine, the message will probably say who sent it," Bas replied with a grin. "Well, good evening to you sir." With a wave, she headed inside, lighting a candle in the kitchen so she and Smudge could sit down and read the message.

Pixie, woken up by Bas' arrival, remarked, ~Your sire is unimpressed with how late you are, Bas.~ Scolding given though she lept up onto the table to see what had her sister and her sister's bonded human so interrested, peering at the letter as Bas read it.

Bas read the letter with widening eyes, then sprang to her feet and raced upstairs to shake Aries awake, since his room was closest to her. "Aries, Aries! Someone's left me fifty gold coins! Aries, wake up!"

[Kender Bard]

Aries jerked awake, one of his wings sweeping out and smacking into the nightstand. He'd stopped putting things on it for just that reason. "What?!" he gasped, sitting up quickly, startled. But then Bas's words began to sink in through his sleep-fogged brain. "What? Gold?"

[Northen Light36]

Bas nodded, her eyes bright with excitement as she tugged her brother's hand. "Come on, I left the letter on the table. Come see!" She darted out of the room and back down the stairs, pausing halfway down with a frown. She sniffed the air then looked at her brother. "Do you smell smoke?"

[Kender Bard]

Aries stumbled out of bed, rubbing sleepily at his eyes. At her question, he breathed in. "Yeah," he said fuzzily. "Kind of strong. Did someone leave one of the fireplaces going?"

[Northen Light36]

"It doesn't smell right for that," Bas replied after another careful sniff. "And I didn't see any of the fires still going." A thought occurred to her and she gave Aries a nervous look. "But... I did light a candle in the kitchen... And I don't remember blowing it out."

She swallowed hard at the thought. Acqua and Mat had told all the children over and over again to always put out the candles if they were the last one in the room. Given the age of much of the wooden furniture as well as some of the decorations in the house, it would not be difficult for a serious fire to start.

[Kender Bard]

Aries woke up a bit more at that. "Come on," he said and took the stairs two at a time to reach the kitchen quickly.

[Northen Light36]

Bas ran after her brother, feeling sick with fear. Thick smoke was just beginning to fill the hallway at the base of the stairs, where Smudge could be seen licking Pixie's burnt hind leg and tail.

The kitchen was well and truly on fire. The candle had been knocked over, probably by one of the cats, and had set fire to Bas' letter and the table runner before rolling onto the chair, where it had set Bas' discarded cloak alight, then finished it's journey by bouncing onto the floor rung which was also now burning away happily.

Sparks had jumped onto the curtains and the old tapestry on the wall, which were also just starting to flare up in flame. Bas stood in the doorway, frozen in shock and panic. "Dad's going to kill me."

[Kender Bard]

"No time!" Aries snapped, wide awake now. He turned Bas around and gave her a little push. "We have to get the others out of here!" There was too much fire for him to try to help. He could snuff out candles and small fires with a bit of concentration, but wind would only make things worse at this point. They needed their father, but for now all they could do was keep each other safe.

[Northen Light36]

Bas snapped out of her panic as quickly as she'd fallen into it. Aries was right, she had to focus on getting her siblings out safely. "Smudge, get Pixie outside and tell Hunter and Nick to get out," she ordered her companion. "Aries, you get the little twins. I'll get Pas and Lilly."

She bolted up the stairs, suddenly wishing she and Pas hadn't chosen a bedroom on the third floor.