eachdraidh | video ; both courts, open

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video ; both courts, open

I don't want a locket.

[ katsa's dangling hers in front of her face, close to and giving a clear (as much as the locket's image quality is capable, anyway) image of her mismatched eyes, one an unnaturally vibrant green and the other a bright blue. she's Not Happy, if the pull of her eyebrows is any indication, and her voice is impatient. though the scene behind her isn't easy to make out, since she's holding the locket close, an astute observer might notice the twisted branches and dark green flora of la llorona. ]

I don't want any gifts. I'm not here for any kings and queens, so you can have this back—I'm not going to be yours more than I am anyone else's to do your bidding. There are enough kings to deal with already in Lienid and the Middluns. Do you imagine I won't find my own way?

[ well, all she heard was "from high king and queen" and "send a message" as she was busy trying to kick an imp in the face when she got her locket, so she thinks this is how this works. ]

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[Po nearly chokes on the wine he's drinking, wolf-Liam snuffling his nose against Po's knee to make sure he's alright. The voice on it's on is recognizable enough, Po would never forget Katsa's voice but the mention of Lienid and the Middluns is enough to confirm it.

He sets his wine down and turns to watch, making sure it's facing him correctly and he reaches, letting his fingers brush against the face of the locket. And he wishes he could see her face but wishing doesn't do much for him.]

There is no way, Wildcat. We're here to stay for as long as the war goes on.

[His rooms, where ever he is, are nice. Very nice, a princely accommodation, and he wears a cloak of the Unseelie kings Necroveil's. And, though she can't see it, he's wearing his wolf-head ring in place of his signet ring.]

Where are you?

[ Katsa's heart leaps, and she nearly drops her locket—an impressive feat to cause. It's been months since she's heard his voice, and to hear it coming from something dangled on the end of a chain, his face barely the size of the palm of her hand, is nowhere near how she imagined it. Katsa curls the locket in her hand and brings it even closer to her own face. He might not be able to see her, but she wants desperately to see him better. ]

Po.

[ There are too many questions she wants to ask, on top of everything, and she can't decide where to start first. ]

I don't care about wars that aren't my concern. [ —Perhaps she would, if she knew more, but she doesn't in that moment and the words tumble from her mouth before she can think about it. There's one thing she can ask that's easiest and more important, and she hopes the answer is what she wants to hear: ] Where are you?

Edited 2014-10-06 01:45 (UTC)

[He still wishes he could see her, be able to hold her, but he takes what he can for now. Never did Po exactly want her drawn into this (but what a choice the rulers made, bringing Katsa of all people) yet he'd been longing to 'see' her again.

A playful grin pulls at his lips at her question and the wolf practically huffs at how she turned the question on him.]

I asked you first. [He let's that sit a moment before he gives him. It's easier for him to tell her than the other way around, right now.] I'm in my rooms in Caer Scima. The castle belonging to those claimed by the Unseelie monarchs.

[ She drops and squats close to the ground, still holding the locket close even though she looks away to unroll the map left with her—one of the few good pieces of information she received from the imps, since at least they could shove it on her one way or another, despite her attempts at redirecting her anger at actually being caught in her sleep for the first time in her life by wrestling out of their hold. (One reason she didn't make it all the way to the castle before being dropped off. Oops.) ]

I think I'm nearby. I know I'm somewhere in the north, and the edge of these woods isn't far. [ just an hour or so walk, it had to be, though it could only be her Grace telling her that. a hot flash of discomfort runs down her spine at his phrasing. so that was it—people viewed as commodities, like whatever stones supposedly (and surely absurdly) were inside them, and did not belong to their own? ] I won't stand for either of us to be claimed by anyone.

[He knows enough of the layout of the land from transporting Isengrim to Maupertius to know about where she is. And Liam knows the woods even better than he, for the simple fact of being able to see.]

Ah, you should be able to make it within a day then. I can send Liam out to meet you.

[His heart almost twists at her words and makes it harder for him to think about the fact that he's given his loyalty to the monarchs. That Morla has been good enough to him to deserve at least some part of his trust.]

Liam? [ Katsa tries to roll her map back up with one hand, fails, and shoves it crumpled back into her belt under her cloak as she looks back at the locket. She hesitates and thinks Why not you? before remembering that she's not speaking to him in person—she doesn't think his Grace could work through such a method. Instead, then, Katsa just presses forward. ] I'll find my way. I'll be there sooner than a day, whoever or whatever comes to meet me.

[ and she's on her feet again, adjusting the strap of her empty quiver across her shoulders—she's getting ready to speed her pace. a lot. ] ...If only I'd a horse.

A wolf, my companion. [He reaches and brushes his fingers through the wolfs fur again.] Queen Morla gave him to me when I first arrived. He's been a good friend to me since.

[And had saved his life but that can wait. There's no need to worry Katsa with the tales of what he'd been doing these months since he had arrived. That could wait until she made it to the castle and they could sit down and eat.

He barely resist snorting and a teasing grin crosses his features.] So you could leave it lame in your rush to get here?

[ Katsa's left to gape at that response until she recovers and simply shakes her head at it, her lips twitching as she suppresses the urge to laugh. She hasn't been around someone who's always managed to say something so unexpected since she left him for Monsea. ] Is it a Lienid preference for wolf companions? Or your ability to share in your delight in what the cook is making for dinner?

[ She smiles back at him despite knowing he can't see it before dropping the chain around her neck and snorting at his question where he does not. It's strange talking to him like this, since she adjusted to their way of communicating through thought and touches without his sight. She can't do either of those at the moment. ] I rode long before traveling with you, you know, and Randa's stables hardly had so many lame horses. Only one day of hard riding would be fine. Especially if it took me to you quicker.

[ ...She feels acutely, suddenly, that she's missed him. Easy to get caught up in her enjoyment of her lessons to Bitterblue and other Monsean girls, but now, so close—

Being here could be far worse, she supposes. ]

[He can't help but laugh himself and the wolf makes a noise that could pass for a laugh as well. Po won't admit as to why the wolf was given to him, not yet, so he shrugs.] He isn't always a wolf and you really should wait and see what the castle has to offer for food and drink. It really is a spectacle.

[He grins, it's hard to resist.] I consider that a miracle. If I could send you a horse though, I would. Unfortunately, the only other method of travel is by fairy ring and you're already close to the castle that it wouldn't help.

[ Half of that sounds like nonsense to Katsa, merely adding to the myriad of questions she has for him, so she doesn't even bother trying to understand. Instead she focuses on what little that does make sense: that she is somewhere near a castle, and that Po is there, and if she runs north she will find it. Even if all of this is a trick, she has a goal to discovering it. ]

It's good to know the forest is so close, in any case. [ She'll be able to make a new bow—though she's not sure about the wood from some of these trees... Katsa glances up at some of them, blinking away the half-formed images of faces sunk into the trees, and looks at Po's image one more time before tucking the locket under her cloak so it doesn't bounce as she runs. ] And at least I can set my own pace. I'm on my way.

[Nonsense at first but he'll be glad, when she arrives, to clear up whatever he can. After all, he's a bit ahead of her now and he owes her an explanation. Especially as to why he's even at the castle instead of off on his own.]

I will see you soon then. Travel safely. [He can probably get her a good bow once she arrives. There's enough in the armory that no one will miss one and they are there to be used after all.]

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