Snamish

[Graybeard]

Sister Rose didn't need her Empathy magic to sense Desiree's uneasiness at leaving Snamish. However, she also didn't need it to figure out that the woman's traveling bag was, well, heavy. "We can handle that once we get through the maze," she said, "but until then, I'm sure one of these big, strong soldiers can help." She smiled at Eli, who had joined the party, and at Bryce ...

... But something just wasn't quite right there, and she didn't need the Empathy for that, either.

"Bryce, is something wrong?" she said, concern in her voice.

[Porcelain Fish]

"Not much - just that Sister Cheese is an incompetent, ladder-climbing hack." Bryce shrugged, but his expression was grim, the smile he'd been showing Maduin a moment ago vanished. "No disrespect, Sister. It's just the truth."

[Sareth]

It may have been the wrong moment, but Lillith couldn't help herself. "Cheese? Did you just say 'Sister Cheese'?" She giggled, her eyes twinkling.

[Drusia]

"We can handle that once we get through the maze," she said, "but until then, I'm sure one of these big, strong soldiers can help." She smiled at Eli,

I turn to Eli, blinking in surprise.

"You're coming with us?" I ask. Then, realizing how unlikely that is, I add "Or.. just escorting us out to the farm?"

-- Desiree

[Graybeard]

The interpersonal dynamics on the next leg of this trip are going to be ... interesting, thought Sister Rose. Of course, they'd been interesting on the previous legs, too. Well, at least Bryce's quip had managed to get a rise out of Lillith. That was good; Rose worried about the girl. I really think she'd be better off staying here. But it's her life ...

"We'd better get ready to go," she told her father-in-law. "We're due in Umbertiel two days from now -- church business." Was that evasive enough?

Benedict raised a distinguished eyebrow. "Umbertiel? I haven't been there in years, but my memories of the place are not fond. The towns between here and there aren't friendly, either."

Rose remembered that part from her previous visits to Snamish. "We'll generally avoid them," she said. A smile crossed her face. "We're prepared for nights on the road; we've been doing it often enough, after all. And you would be amazed at the magic gadgets Maduin has to make the campsite more habitable. That tent ..." She let her voice trail off as she shook her head, still smiling.

Benedict looked like he'd been trying to decide about something, and the mention of Maduin's tent made the decision for him. "Excuse me for a moment," he said, and left the room, returning shortly with a small parcel redolent of magic. "Here, take this," he said, handing it to Rose. "The man who brought it says it'll only work once, but if you get into something you can't get out of, don't be shy about using it."

Rose inspected the object, sensing its magic. It feels like ... "Thank you, papa," she said softly. "I'll try to bring it back unused. I ... I'll try not to be gone so long next time."

"Please don't," Benedict answered. "Hurry back ... love you, babe."

Are those tears in his eyes? Rose thought, only slightly aware that there were tears in her own as well. "Love you too, papa," she replied, and enveloped the man in a hug that might have lasted a second or an hour.

"Well, we'd better hit the road," she declared to the rest of the group when she finally could see again through the tears.

[OOC: And on that note, are we okay with hitting the road? If so, I'll open a new thread, this one is about at our usual maximum thread length. If there's something to be done before departure, though, by all means do it.]

[Porcelain Fish]

[OOC] Ready to move out![/OOC]

[Drusia]

OOC: I'm good to go. No pun intended. ^^

[Graybeard]

OOC: OK, new thread open for business. The usual way of doing it, this one will remain open for a short while, then get locked, then move to Rear View Mirror after a few days. Anybody?