Log:Princess Stephanie's Wedding, Scene 1

Princess Stephanie's Wedding 2014/06/09 	 Ghost Liandere Librarian Lyost

1

Prelude to a Wedding
The news about the forthcoming wedding of Princess Stephanie to Duke Vanatherion leaks.

Ghost's messengers have brought her much news. But limited in viewpoint to those whom the messengers have been assigned to. She was on Earth when the leak broke open, the time rate difference scrambling the link she has to her messengers. By the time she got back to Undermoon it was too late to change events. The leak was known to all, twisted by conservative controlled newspapers to seem as if the wedding was going to be conducted secretly behind the public's back (which was actually true to some degree), the Gaethdals had taken advantage of the public outrage thus stirred up to raise an open challenge to the legitimacy of a half-blood fae being a Princess of Undermoon. The legal challenge was finally resolved by a trial by combat. During the trial Duke Vanatherion was wounded by a poisoned blade.

Some evidence, specifically the content of the leak, pointed to the source of the leak being on Earth and quite possibly Ghost herself. The King, ill advised and not knowing Ghost well, decreed that Ghost be excluded from all discussions, information, and denied access to any of the Royal family. Oath bound not to spy on the Royal family or the royal court, Ghost grew increasingly frustrated and angry as she continued to be frozen out of events, and unable to spy on the court to discover why. A task that would have been child's play for her if not for her oath.

Nevertheless, even though excluded from events, Ghost worked diligently in the best interests of Princess Stephanie. One such self imposed task being the uncovering of the source of the leak. She once again spied on the Goblins of Wyrmwood, in particular the goblin Spymaster, watching from the Astral Plane and also using her recently researched spell of invisibility. A spell that also confers invisibility to Second Sight. She's kept it a secret. Ghost does not reveal her abilities unless she has to. What an enemy does not know they cannot prepare for.

She was watching when the latest report from 'our man on Earth' was delivered to the goblin spymaster. Her headware recorded the images from her eyes as the report was seen. It was a report on Earth's Governance, sourced from an American published book. Ghost remembered the book being translated into fae, the language used in the report. The handwriting was that of Librarian Lyost. Someone Ghost knew and liked. Librarian Lyost, the fae who had been so helpful when she was researching the ancient traditions of fae marriage ceremonies. Saddened by the discovery, rather then elated by her success, and thus even more angry, Ghost returned to Earth and printed hard-copies of the images recorded by her headware. Then it was time for direct action at last.

An unannounced visit
It's a Pyrrhic victory. Ghost has discovered the identity of the goblin spy. It's someone she liked and respected. So it's with something of a saddened heart that she decides enough is enough. No more denying her requests for information or access to the royal family. She returns to the Embassy and half-shifts to the Astral plane. Ignoring the guards she walks through the wall to Princess Liandere's offical rooms and seeks her out. Dropping to one knee she touches her hip where there is no sword, and lifts her right hand to show the back is bare. No Spetsdod. "Highness, I expect your guards will be here in a moment. Will you command them not to attack so I can talk to you?"

Liandere looks at Ghost with searching eyes, then casually waves a hand. "It is done," she says. "Now speak. What brings you here unannounced?" Her voice, though soft and musical, has an otherworldliness to it that gives it a strange authority.

Ghost comes fully back to the material world. "There was no other way, Highness. I have been denied all sources of information regarding the wedding situation and all access to your daughter, Princess Stephanie, yourself, and other members of the royal family. Why?" She is scrupulously following fae etiquette but also obviously angry.

Liandere keeps calm eyes on Ghost, as she says, "You have spoken plainly: so shall I. Suspicion has fallen upon you. The spies of Wyrmwood learned things known only to a few. Myself, the king, Vanatherion - and you. Not even my daughter knew all the details in question."

Ghost says, "I know, Highness. If you had trusted me the matter would not have developed as it did. I'm good at what I do, Highness. In fact I'm probably the best at what I do. I could have found out the identity of the spy long before I did if you had used my skills, oath bound to the service of Princess Stephanie and through her to you and your house, rather than rejecting them. Did I not earn your trust when I gave Duke Tuveril of Portpyre the data he needed to win the War against Wyrmwood? If not for my services that war would still be a stalemate. These..." Ghost gets the printouts she made from her headware's recording of the goblin spy's reports and lays them on the floor, "are images of the latest report the spy in the Embassy sent to the Wyrmwood Goblin Spymaster."

Liandere says softly, "The decision was not mine. And for my part, I did not doubt your loyalty. But the evidence suggested at least that someone in whom you had confided could not be trusted. Under the circumstances, it was felt safest not only to restrict your access but to scrutinise all information passing between Earth and Undermoon." She frown slightly as she looks at these reports. "Surely these are copies of reports sent to the royal court!"

Ghost shrugs, "I wouldn't know, Highness. I've been kept out of everthing, remember. What I do know is the Wyrmwood spymaster described these as being the latest report from his man on Earth." She sighs, "I know who translated this from an Earth book. I would never have suspected him. In fact I used his assistance when I was researching the traditions regarding the intended wedding ceremony. Librarian Lyost."

Liandere looks perhaps as closed to surprised as you have seen her. "A goblin? Here, before my eyes? You are certain?"

Ghost says, "I do not know if he is a goblin. Of that I cannot be certain. I am certain he was the person who translated this into the fae tongue. And I'm sure this is his handwriting. He may not be a goblin. He may have been one of Palanir's spies who has been blackmailed into spying for the goblins as well. Maybe he thought he was sending it to Palanir via the goblins, as Palanir used the goblins to do his bidding during the raids on Westmarch with the world-walking boots."

Liandere moves to the door with sudden determination. "I shall enquire into this. Come!" she says - it's hard to say if to the guards or to you - as she steps from the room.

Ghost follows but does tell the Princess. "I am unarmed, Highness. I did not intrude on you bearing weapons. If Librarian Lyost resists I cannot assist your guards."

"You will need no weapons," Liandere replies confidently. "Though you may fetch them if you will. It is fitting that you should be there, though, as accuser."

Ghost follows the Princess, not going for her Spetsdod. She at least has an inkling of just what the Princess is really capable of.

The princess sings softly to herself as she goes. There is something of an accompanying lightshow about her head to second sight.

Reaching the library, she says, "Ableman Lyost, I would have words...." But she peers at him, rather than talk. Then she swears in language most unfitting to one of her station.

Ghost tries to figure out what Princess Liandere is doing but her Second Sight simply isn't capable of determining it. She lacks the refined Second Sight of those such as Princess Stephanie.

Liandere raises a hand, but Lyost suddenly is there no more - but there is a mouse, hurrying to cover in the corner.

Liandere sighs and waves her hand as the mouse disapears down a hole. "And it is done. Wait at the hole and wait for his return."

Ghost simply asks, "Goblin?"

"A goblin. And one of such skill - I wouldn't have thought it possible." Liandere sighs. "And now it will probably be death for him. But such talent - in one so young! - to destroy him is.... a sad thing."

Liandere watches the hole, wondering if she made the maze too complicated. :)

Ghost says, "Then do not. You kill a spy. They kill one of yours. And the emnity continues. How long have you been fighting the Goblins of Wyrmwood? He was a good librarian. You now know not to trust him with confidential material. Catch him. Put him back to work in the library. There may be one goblin of Wyrmwood that will learn to respect you of Undermoon. Such a small start. But that seems to be the only way this conflict can ever be eventually settled."

Liandere nods, smiles. "Wise words. I will put them to my father, and hope my mother whispers the same in his ear."

Ghost waits by the hole with the Princess and the Embassy guards.

Liandere makes a cage from nothing, into which the surprised mouse stumbles before long. "They seldom think that the two ends of a hole will be the same," remarks Liandere.

The mouse knows the game is up. Doesn't even try to escape with Liandere there.

"Take him to the most secure cell. We will have questions." Liandere commands.

Ghost adds, maybe out of place and being presumptous, "Treat him with respect, as if he were a guest."

Liandere nods to the guards to confirm that.

Ghost kneels in front of the cage. "Do not despair. It may not be as bad as you think." she tells the Librarian Lyost mouse.

Liandere says to Ghost gravely, "If your honour has been offended by these affairs, I apologise on behalf of all my house." She smiles faintly. "It was a matter of what here would be called national security, but that is ever a poor excuse."

Ghost drops to one knee, "Highness, I request that you release me from my oath."

The mouse is carried off to a cell that even the best shapeshifter should not be able to escape.

Liandere looks truly saddened. "Have we given you offence so great? Your service has been true and poorly rewarded, it is true. But my daughter pleaded ever for your cause."

Ghost says, "Highness, I shall continue to serve your daughter and the realm of Undermoon. But my oath put restrictions on me that caused this situation to become worse than it should have. The Gaethdals knew there was to be a duel. They instigated it on the advice of Duke Silidhor. But they did not know where and when it was to take place. Finding out would have been child's play for me were it not that my oath restrained me from seeking that information by other means after I was frozen out of your confidences. Had I had been at the duel I would have made very sure the blades were checked thoroughly for poison, cleaned as if poisoned whether or not poison was detected, and then protected. Duke Vanatherion would not now be recovering from poison. My oath prevented me from serving your daughter to the best of my ability."

"That decision is not mine to make, but my father's. But I will put your case before him, and I am confident he will release you, should your loyalty be to my daughter and the realm." Liandere is sharp enough to realise Ghost said nothing about serving either the royal family as a whole or their House.

Ghost bows in her one knee kneeling position, "Thank you, Highness."

"I hope you will still be pleased to serve in the Guard. Even though, after the wedding, you will be answering more to me and less to Stephanie."

Ghost nods, "I will not abandon my friends in the Princess Guard, Highness.