Chapter 93

Oonagh’s workshop felt rather different to the last time I had been there with Morgana. It didn’t look that much different, except that there were a few more outfits hanging from the walls, clearly ready for delivery. But the place definitely felt more ... content, in a manner of speaking. I waited patiently whilst Oonagh spoke to a tall Drow lady, whose looks bore some resemblance to Saress, before the woman took the hanging garments carefully through the door and hence off the premises.

“Back so soon?” Oonagh asked in normal tones, though she still had issues hiding her feelings.

“Yes. You will be required on Draenor, the Yr’ch home-world, very soon. I’m here to let you know not to plan anything for the next week or two,” I replied politely.

“I have one order, a doublet. I need two days to complete it. Can I have them?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t just drag me off,” she added snarkily.

“You’re a subject of Queen Verenestra, hence you have rights,” I shrugged. “Plus you volunteered for this, willingly.”

“I assume you intend to lock off my powers?” she asked, ignoring for the moment my explanation.

“Oh yes. You may have basic rights, but knowing where the Yr’ch are and how we get there is not one of them,” I replied.

“Interesting,” she murmured, eyes narrowed.

“How goes your business?”

“It goes well, now I am the invisible partner. Saress’ mother is the front for it and sales go well and look likely to improve, though there is a lot of competition,” she replied.

“I’m glad.”

“Why?” she asked in suspicious tones.

“Because the more successful you are the better you’ll feel about yourself. Have you made any progress on retrieving the personal items you were forced to sell?”

“Saress managed to buy a few back from my profits, though others will take a while. For all I’m doing much better, the items are quite valuable and need to be saved for,” she replied.

“You could ask for silver as your pay for doing this task. That might help,” I replied, giving her an option.

“In advance?”

“Some of it. Half now, half on completion, plus expenses, should it drag out longer than we expect,” I shrugged.

“How ... how much?”

“Fifty small bars now, fifty on completion, plus any expenses, plus some sort of bonus if it goes well. As we said before, we don’t expect you to do this for nothing.”

“How soon? Only, one of the items I sold is now available, should I, via Saress, pay thirty-seven bars before it is sold on,” she asked eagerly.

“Is now soon enough?” I chuckled, drawing a casket containing a number of the roughly one ounce oblong bars from a pocket universe.

Oonagh’s eyes grew wide as she reached out and examined the bars which the Fae used when bartering could not get them the item they wanted. “Saress?” she finally called out.

There was a flicker as a Drow uncloaked, though I knew this was not Saress from a few minor visual clues.

“Yes, Oonagh?”

“Could you please go to the merchant Cullent and buy back the ebony bound comb set he purchased from me?”

“Of course. It will be a pleasure,” the young Drow replied and took the box from Oonagh’s hands.

“Do not pay more than the agreed price,” Oonagh said sharply.

The Drow bowed and left.

“How much did he buy it off you for?” I asked out of curiosity.

“Two bars,” she replied in sullen tones.

“Best price you could get?”

“Yes. All the others I approached either refused to deal with me, or offered just one or less,” she sighed.

“Hopefully there will be other things you can get back after this is done,” I sympathised.

“I will, eventually. This has been a big help as I know the set is ... or was, to be sold on with a commensurate rise in price, even if I could find the buyer and persuade them to sell,” she admitted. “The combs themselves belonged to my mother and were given to me at my Cirsan.”

“If we can help with this, let us know,” I offered.

“I do not wish to be indebted to you ... or anyone!” she snapped.

“I realise this, but do not let your pride get in the way of retrieving an item of value to you,” I replied gently.

“You make it so hard to hate you, Nemesis,” she stated with a glare, a single tear falling from her left eye.

“Told you before; I’m not your Nemesis, not now,” I shrugged. “You’ve done well since your release; just don’t let stubborn pride get in the way of asking for help.”

“Pah! I’ll see you in two days.” She curtly dismissed me, clearly wishing to be alone.

“Is she still being stubborn, John?” Taqual asked when I went to brief him.

“Oh yes. Though I do admire her resolve in attempting to rebuild her life on her own terms,” I replied with a wry smile.

“Yes, although it does not make it easy for her. Plus I suspect some of those who bought her heirlooms will not part with them easily or cheaply without someone putting leverage on them, leverage Oonagh simply does not have.”

“I know, but that’s her problem to resolve, not ours,” I replied, seeing him nod in agreement. “How is Ghurran doing?” I asked, changing the subject.

“He lives comfortably in seclusion, rarely ventures out of his dwelling on the far side of Jingol. He’s writing his family history, including how they got the ‘First Sword of the Morning’ title,” Taqual replied.

“What, again?” I chuckled, knowing from Serice that Ghurran had written a few family histories, some of them differing by quite a degree in the facts portrayed.

“Yes, again. I’m not sure why. No one but Ghurran reads them these days. His sons and daughters live new lives free of his dominance,” Taqual replied with a grin.

“Is he aware Oonagh is on the Island?”

“As far as I’m aware, no, why?”

“Just she knows the early history he’s trying to guess at,” I shrugged.

“Ah,” Taqual nodded. “Doubt she’d want much to do with him though.”

“Yes, agreed.”

“Saress has informed me that Oonagh has begun writing a new biography though.”

“Really? An honest one?”

“Apparently so. She’s avoiding rhetoric and self-justification to come up with something that is as fascinating as it is sometimes horrifying,” Taqual replied.

“I hope it doesn’t cause her too many issues, I did suggest it after all,” I muttered thoughtfully as I rubbed my chin.

“I don’t think it will, certainly the events she describes prove her to be a bit of a monster, but we knew that anyway. However the descriptions of events that had become legends as well as those that our group consensus had forgotten are going to make waves as we shall have to rewrite much of what was simply guesswork from old and often suspect documentation. She is also unflinching in what her motivations were, along with her long term aims. She does note in the foreword that she no longer holds to many of her views, but only wants to give an accurate account of her life and invites the Fae to make up their own minds about why they did as they did.”

“Yes, she’s not the only one who behaved monstrously, I’m sure,” I nodded.

“Oh yes, and Oonagh appears determined to name names,” Taqual chuckled.

“Won’t make her popular in certain circles ... if she ever was,” I replied with a wry smile.

“No, it won’t. But, it will uncover the whitewashing of certain activities of certain clans in the past that were only rumours and have been strenuously denied.”

“Can you protect her?”

“Oh yes. She’ll be in more danger on Vultoq than she is here in Jingol. Only a minority of rogue Dökkálfar are a threat to her here and we know who they are. Ordinary Fae will not get a chance to get close.”

“I take it Queen Verenestra is in favour of these histories?”

“Very much so, even if they do not show House Skarlett in a good light,” he nodded.

“House Skarlett is very different these days,” I shrugged.

“Yes, and the Fae know this. Hence my Queen’s interest in this history and what it is unearthing.”

“Yes, I can see her taking advantage of it ... or perhaps Arwen.”

“Oh yes. How are Ilzik, Esira and Lenna doing?” he asked, changing the subject.

“They are well, though constrained as the Vultoqi are currently able to deal with ordinary scouting. Esira will wish to speak to you of a young Dökkálfar male called Birintuphaloq though,” I replied.

“The leader of the Battalions?”

“The same. She wishes to pursue a relationship with him, but only with your consent.”

“I will begin enquiries as to his family and his past. Hopefully I will be able to give her a swift answer when she does ask.”

“He is a very honourable Dökkálfar, as well as my friend.”

“That does count in his favour, but anyone coming into a relationship with the leadership clan needs to be checked for security reasons. I had to do it with Lenna too. His humble roots will be no bar, just any security concerns from his clan ... of which I know little,” Taqual explained.

“I’m pretty sure you’ll find nothing amiss,” I shrugged.

“As do I, but this is a statute I’m not able to get around.”

“At least you’re forewarned,” I chuckled.

“True. My daughter is often remiss in informing me of her ... adventures,” he replied with a wry smile. “Ilzik, not so much.”

“She is still a credit to you.”

“Yes, her mother gets exasperated, but she gladdens my heart with her spirit and disregard for some of our more idiotic customs.”

“She brings honour to your house.”

“Indeed she does.”

After that, our meeting wound down and I transferred over to Keldravan to bring William up to date as Verenestra was busy dealing with the paperwork for the trial of the remaining Akmonii members, most of whose death sentences for treason she had a mind to commute to exile ... though most definitely not on Jingol.

“Two days is not an issue,” he agreed after my update. “Both Hermes and Dhunvael will also be travelling with you; both have been cleared for Loegria, much to Hermes’ surprise.”

“I’m not surprised. There was a time when no one in their right mind would have told him,” I chuckled.

“True,” he replied with a grin. “The other thing is this,” he added, taking a sword and sheath from a drawer.