The kitty under the chair let out a pitiful cry and butted lilbug in the knee, ignoring the pregnant Queenie seeming not the least bit interested in the strange female other than a brief sniff and mild hiss. He placed one paw on lilbug's knee.

"Mreeour?"

She watched lilbug come back with a chubby little queen cat who appeared heavily pregnant. The cat under the chair started talking to lilbug butting him and patted him with his paw. He was evidently trying to tell him something. And didn't seem to know the little female.

"I don't think he knows the momma cat."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Mon 01 Aug 2016.

Little Kitty licked the two leggers hand.  She did his a touch as the other cat head butted him. She craned her neck a bit to get the other cats scent.  She wanted to know if this other cat was a danger or not.

The bigger cat smells strange and spicy in a weird way. He is definitely not someone she has met before.

"Hmm, you are right, my beloved Mistress, as usual.  I believe this tom does want something of us," lilbug replied, then carefully placed the little kitty on a pillow. "You will be safe here, little mother never fear."  The slave boy then ducked his head down to look at the ragged kitty and gently spoke to him.

"What is it, merry wanderer?  Have you something to show us?"

"Huh... That's interesting," Motoko remarked upon hearing how Petal knew the palace cooks and of some highly respected stewards.  She wondered if she should even bother with getting a steward.  There may already be one assigned to the tavern.  Was that how it worked?  The swordswoman clearly didn't even know what a steward even was.  "What's a steward, exactly?"

Motoko thought about the scroll she had been given.  She wondered if she could request for a method of dealing with foes who can fly.  She remembered how little use her arrows were in the fight against that creature made up of a swarm of dark fairies.  She gave it some thought before deciding on what she wished to ask from the Imperial Astrologer.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.  Maybe it was better to ask a few questions first...

The young aspiring Kensai approached Hieronymous.  She glanced down at the scroll she had been given.  She turned her eyes back on the court mage.  She hesitated for a moment, before speaking, "Lord Astrologer... I would like to challenge the strongest swordsman in all of Arn.  In your opinion, who would that be?"

 The tom turned and scratched with his left back foot, digging along his neck as cats will often do. He stopped and blinked at lilbug then used his other back foot to dig along his right shoulder and neck. Then he heaved a big sigh and lay down, blinking up at lilbug and Fairaday.

It had been a while that Stardancer kept caressing and kissing Rinaldo.  To her it was a moment of magic she wanted to stay forever, still she knew it would not.  They had much to work on.  a bit sadly she broke the kiss "Perhaps...we should go back and join the others?  See if they would prefer to go back to the tavern or the island." she suggested.

 Before too long, an Official came out to announce that it was time for them to go see their new home.

 "Pardon me everyone. It is time for you to see the last gift from the Empress Sidi. There are carriages or wagons for all of you to take you there. If you would all be so kind as to finish your business and your pleasures, the carriages and wagons will be leaving within 30 minutes. I will take you there to show you your new home. Thank you."

 He proceeded to head out to the carriage area where he stood talking to a groom holding a nice horse, tacked out with a saddle and bridle. Once everyone appeared and got into their carriages or wagons, he mounted up and led them off.

Rinaldo seemed reluctant to leave the garden and a private moment with Stardancer. The with a jaunty smile he glanced to where the carriages had pulled up. " Ah, something new to see no doubt. They brought out the nice carriages."

So much more comfortable than the ones with bars in the windows, and a dour gaoler at the riegns

She smiled "I am afraid mine will have.  I will be in the decorated wagon, My larg frame is too large for a human carriage.   Though it is rather ...fun to ride in one than to pull one."  holding his hand heading back into the ballroom gala to gather the others.

" Well then we shall have our wagon to ourselves then."  Rinaldo smiled as he walked with her toward the wagons.  "The one good thing about being a land owner now is that our quarters can be altered to fit our needs, which may require a nice perch and a nesting box occasionally."
He smiled and gave a raucous caw, and mimed flapping his wings.

"To be honest, being able to wear a new form for a bit can be rather enjoyable once you learn the fine points of making that form do what you wish. Seeing the world through new eyes is worth the work. If you could ever see the world from on high, or feel the wind under your wings, you would be in love with the sky.

"As much as I love to ride, I would be curious to feel what it's like to gallop, to kick up dust and run faster than I have ever run before."
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:42, Fri 05 Aug 2016.

Moving into the great hall to prepare to leave she listened to Rinaldo.  His voice sounded like honey in her ears.  "I know Stargazer could change to a human.  I'd often wondered what that would be like, that and being able to fly.  Perhaps the great powers shall teach us both." She smiled knowing her wish for Rinaldo.  A part of her mind wandered to wonder if Stargazer was happy travelling with the centaurs in the plains, learning of his heritage. "As for a 'nesting box'...Is that not for a female bird?  Or do all birds make nests?" In her mind a fair question.  She let her mind go to thinking that since they had eggs a female would have use of a nest, it never dawned on her that perhaps a male bird would have need of one.
 Of course upon entering the hall and seeing several of her friends dealing with a furry little feline problem caught her attention "I..What ..what is the excitement here?" she calmly asked, then glanced at Rinaldo with a quizzical look.

"Nesting boxes draw in more than just the female." Rinaldo Pointed out. and motioned to the birds around the Palace."Different birds look for different types of boxes, trees, what not. I know what My friends looks for. so I can get them to move in.. and have nice tiding of friends to keep the place lively.

"Let's find out." Rinaldo shrugged his curiosity piqued.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:50, Sat 06 Aug 2016.

 "Come lilbug, it is time for us to leave. See if your stray kitty will let you carry him with us out to the carriages. Little Momma cat must go with her Mistress. First go tell her that her cat is with us, then come back to get our stray Kitty. While you are gone, I will speak with the Master Astrologer."

 She reached down to pet the ragged cat talking softly to it in another language to see if it responded. "Would you like to come with us for now? We would offer you a good home if that is what you wish. But first I must speak to the Astrologer. Will you wait for us?" The cat head butted her hand so she smiled and stood. She walked over to the Astrologer when she caught him free of other people.

 "Greetings Hieronymous. Greetings Sadina. I believe we will depart now for the manor. If you wish to discuss anything about this bequest we can speak of it later, if that is alright with you?"
 "We have found a stray cat who seems to like lilbug and me, so we shall take him there for now. Rather, he found us as it were. I think he is lost or strayed from his previous owner. Have you heard of any lost cats or any event that might cause one to stray from home? I feel he is more than just some stray, you see? Of course, you are always welcome to visit us at any time you wish, either at the Manor or at the Inn if we should be there for some reason."

 "Thank you both for the gifts, and tell Sidi we are deeply honored as well. Of course I shall send a letter thanking her as well. We will be off now."

 She bowed deeply to Hieronymous and gave Sadina a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. Then she went to pick up the poor cat until lilbug returned from talking to the Momma cat's mistress. She walked slowly, murmuring to the cat, heading toward their carriage.

"Come lilbug! It is time we were going." She called out sharply as she saw him coming back.

 He headbutted Fairaday when she petted him and spoke to him. He was grateful she spoke to him, for many treated him like just a feral or stray cat. He purred and mewed softly as she picked him up and carried him outside after she had spoken to the star man.

Nodding obediently and smiling for his Mistress, he bundled Star dancer's kitty in his arms gently and took her over to where she was conversing with Rinaldo.  He knelt and waited patiently for them to acknowledge him, not wanting to be rude and interrupt their conversation.  He knelt, not because he felt he needed to defer to them anymore, they had become friends, but he was most comfortable kneeling as he'd been doing it for so very long.  Of course, once he'd spoken to Hieronymous, it all made so much more sense to lilbug why he was so comfortable there...

When they did notice him he carefully offered the little kitty to Star dancer: "She has been enjoying the pet's table, and the human one I suspect, quite a bit Lady Star dancer.  And it is no wonder, considering she is eating for many now.  She will soon be a proud mother of many, so...um congratulations I should think."

Handing her over, he scratched her once more behind her ears where she seemed to like and with a smile he added, "Mistress and I are off to the Estate now, I'm sure she'll want to settle in and such.  And we found another stray cat as well that I believe Lady Fairaday wants to take home with us, so I have much to do.   W/we will see you there soon I am sure.  Farewell for now, friends."

As quickly as he could, he came to his Mistress side.  Seeing Lord Hieronymous and Lady Sadina nearby, he realized that it would be proper to thank their hosts and so he knelt formally and kissed the floor before them both, offering a slave's gratitude (as it was said in Arn).  It was difficult for lilbug, seeing Lady Sadina once more, the pangs of regret that ached in his heart.  How often had he longed for the chance to kneel before Her just once more, and here he was doing just that.  And yet so much time had passed since they'd been Mistress and slave, a lifetime it seemed, and lilbug knew they had both changed.  He still loved Her, and he knew he always would, but he had found his Mistress, the one and only Owner he ever wanted now.

He looked up to the Astrologer and Lady Sadina, catching Her eyes he smiled wistfully and said a simple, "thank you...for everything."  He was grateful for so much more than simply the night's festivities and he hoped his words would express that much.  He longed to say more, but instead he bit his lip and remained quiet until he heard his Mistress call for him.  Lady Sadina was finally happy, he could see it in Her face, and that was enough for lilbug; it was all he'd ever wanted for Her.  Quickly he rose and took his leave, turning his back on what had been and running to his waiting Lady.  His one and only Mistress; the Lady Fairaday!

"Yes my Lady, coming dear Mistress," he cheerfully replied.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:00, Sun 07 Aug 2016.

Listening and watching she learned what was going on.  Looking at Rinaldo a moment she smiled "Looks like we will have a new companion to our friends" lifting the not so little kitty "You are getting heavynow little one.  We will make sure you get more food the so your kittens will be healthy"
She walked over to see the other kitty.  Again her heartstrings were pulled "Poor thing looks half starved" She gave it a gentle rub "You are among friends dark one....you will be safe now" bowing to their hosts and with a smile she reached for Rinaldos hand to go to the carriage and wagons.

 She smiled down upon lilbug with fondness, proud that he had found a Mistress who appreciated his talents and his devotion. She loved him still, as one would be fond of a pet, but not as Fairaday must. Besides, she had Hieronymous now, and was as happy as she could be.

 She bent down and gave lilbug a soft stroke upon his head, as if blessing him and thanking him for many things she could not say.

 "Be well lilbug. I wish you happiness and fulfillment."

 She stood back up and smiled at Fairaday then wrapped her hand around Hieronymous' arm, leaning against him slightly smiling up at him as well.

 He looked up at Stardancer and mewed softly, then shook his head as if he had a flea in his ear. There was a soft jingle and a small stud fell out of his fur landing in Stardancers hand. he scratched gently at his ear then turned to lick Stardancers hand a couple times.

Stardancer had not noticed if the cat had been wearing jewelry before.  She knew some owners did so to beloved animals.  She looked at the object in her hand for a moment then pocketed it for the moment.  She followed the others in the procession to leave.

(hopefully with Rinaldo) heading to wagons and carriages to the island.

==> to island and Manor

Hieronymous smiled to Motoko, interested in what she would finally ask.  Hearing her request surprised him not in the least.  He gave it some deep thought, he'd been to many places and known many warriors in the centuries he'd been alive.  At last he leaned down and whispered to Motoko in her native tongue:

Sparrow blinked at the question, and realized that the curse upon her was gone. She was still Sparrow but the geas was gone. No longer could she find her only happiness as a slave of Arn.

Or could she?

The curse may have been gone, but her life as Baran seemed so far away now. She could remember her old self, her old battles, but she had trouble remembering how it felt. It was a little as if it had all happened to a different person, and the story had been told to her. He was so unlike her. And had he been happy, a soldier of fortune, carting from one conquest to another and one battle to another, with no stability and no certainty, death and fear his constant companions?

Baran might have been willing to live that life then, but now? The thought frightened her. To be Baran again meant returning to that life and leaving Sparrow behind. The prospect made her feel uneasy.

Her time as a woman had changed her very nature, she now realized. It had actually happened sometime along the way on the caravan to Arn. She wasn't Baran anymore. She was Sparrow. And so knowing, what was her place in the world? Would she simply go free, a slip of a girl with no real skills, in the rough world outside? What would happen to her there? She didn't like dwelling on the notion.

She remembered the old gypsy woman's words, who told her her place, at her Master's side. She remembered how right that had felt. How she had felt happy at serving Judos, certain that she had her place. Happier than any time she'd remember feeling as Baran, at least. Had that been the geas? It seemed real.

It was that or any number of unknowns after being thrown into the world. And though rationally she might think she should not be a slave, having her grounding removed from under her left her emotionally queasy.

"I..." She hesitated, then made her decision. She bowed her head. "Please sell me to Azael, milord", she said in a trembling voice. She was sure, as much as she could be given the bewildering decision.

Once Hieronymous had counted the one hundred coins from the chest and dismissed her, Sparrow picked up the heavy case of money again, and struggled to bring it back to Azael. She set it down in front of him. The handle slipped from her hand at the last moment and she winced when the case landed with a sharp thud.

She adjusted her silk dress, a little nervously.

"I'm yours, Master", she said finally.

Proceed to Manor and cottages Thread.