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Kiah realizes it'll be a while before she returns home.
Ranna stormed from the pavilion. However, Kione the Wise, his party, and Kalina the Fox stayed. Overseer Stone Mark did not seem distressed at all that he had lost the suit. Kalina had stepped aside with her people, and they were in a heated but hushed conversation.
Gruff patted Kiah on the shoulder. Owena chuckled and said, "You smote her with words."
Overseer Axe Brook raised a hand to quiet the murmuring. All eyes turned to him.
"Now that unpleasant business is finished, we must address one other matter pertaining to Kiah Song Hood."
The crowd grew silent. Kiah felt all eyes upon her.
"My wife Morgan has examined the bell lillies," he gestured to her.
"They are true," she responded bright-eyed. "The Owl Mother favors her."
The Althing murmured excitedly at that.
"I do not know why," Kiah stressed to the crowd. After a moment, she added, "I plan to find out."
The court muttered in agreement with her declaration.
"And we," Cadigan cut in, "will aid you."
"It would be prudent," Morgan the Night advised, "for you to go to Veild Mountains and to talk to the gods yourself."
The crowd went silent at that. Kiah's eyes went wide. Her wardens stepped in front of her.
"At ease," Fire Axe laughed, "we have no plan of sending her by way of the short path." Then, in a more serious tone, he regarded her evenly and said, "It will be a long, perilous journey. We are willing to send wardens to aid you on your travels. Furthermore, we shall forge strong ties with Great Mount." He smiled, "I am one who very much wants to stay on the Gods' good graces." Then, in a grand manner, he asked, "So what say you, Kiah Song Hood, Wyvern Sister and Troll Friend? Will heed our advice and speak to the Gods directly as no living Ironlander has done before?"
[Gather Information: Strong HIt ]
Kiah narrowed her eyes. He was threatened by her, after all; this was a ploy to send her away. She had a hunch that the wandens he'd send with her were his rivals. Still, she sensed no lie in his allyship with Great Mount and she trusted her father and Amarah Deep Laugh to ensure the alliance didn't turn to vassaldom.
Then there were her other iron vows.
Find the End of Jarn the Builder's Saga.
Retrieve Needa Frost Hide's Paw Bone.
Heal Her Burns. "I have other vows to keep. However, this journey might help me do so. As such," she grasped her black iron whale killer amulet and said, "On this iron, I vow to travel to the Vieled Mountains and discover why the gods grew bell lilies around me."
[Swear an Iron Vow: Weak Hit]
Fire Axe and the crowed cheered but Kiah could feel Gruff's eyes boring into the back of her skull.
-----
They were obliged to stay under the pavilion until court was finished.
(Oracle The Suites:
Explore Solution
Abandon Debt
Construct Hope)
(What Kind of Sickness is in Raven Moore? Depart Rival)
Sibila Ghost Kin of Raven Moore asked for aid in curing the strangle plauge, which afflicted her city. She calmed the crowd by stating she and her retainers were healthy, that was why so few accompanied her.
(Oracle: Does She Secure Aid? Likely: Yes)
Kione the Wise stepped forward and related the cure. He had distilled it form his studies. He gave this at no cost. The Overseer of Raven Moore, known for being emotionless, wept in thanks. The court took note and applauded. The stain Stone Mark's loss against Great Mount was wiped away.
Even Kiah saw him in a better light.
Nisus Rat Tooth demanded that Fire Bridge forgive the debt they owed. Aida Whitebridge laughed in his face.
(Oracle: Is the Debt Forgiven? Unlikely: Yes)
Nisus offered to settle the debt with his champion Dag.
Overseer Fire Bridge accepted and chose Razeena Lion Roar.
They clashed and Dag, though wounded from his fight with Gruff, vanquished Razeena, leaving her cold and dead.
Cadigan reluctantly ruled that the debt was forgiven.
Nisus was ecstatic.
Aida was stunned and stricken. Her people likewise.
Gruff seemed torn but Kiah held his arm.
"No," she whispered, "this is a Fire Bridge matter. Speak to her tonight."
After her comrades carried Razeena's Warden's away. The next matter was up.
It was Aida's.
(Oracle: Is she Able To Compose Herself? Likely: No )
She stepped forward, "W-we of Fire Bridge have present .. a gift to the Althing. Songs, that were..." she sighed, "I..." she stammered.
Despite what Kiah had previously told Gruff, she stepped forward and stretched out her hand, "Aida White Bridge, sing." (Compel: Strong Hit with Match)
The force of Kiah's magic struck the Overseer. She stood straighter and even glowed with a soft luminescence.
"Thank you. We of Fire Bridge have songs long thought lost. A gift for the Althing." She then sang three songs. The Sky of Gold, Jarn's Smithy, The Well of Ages. Her voice held an ancient accent. Her head was crowned in silver. She was as a Queen of the Homelands. Everyone there was enthralled.
Kiah saw through her own spells but was struck by the old music and Aida's talent.
When the songs were finished, the glamor faded. "Thank you," Overseer Fire Bridge said modestly and returned to her people. They were given rousing cheers.
"A fitting end for this Althing," Cadiga judged. With that, I call this court to an end. Let us enjoy a lively night together and part in the morning... " With a smile, he corrected himself, "in the afternoon, as friends."
The crowd cheered, and the Althing was closed.
----------
As the crowd dispersed, Gruff grabbed his sister's arm and dragged her away. Owena followed. Once they were hidden behind a hall he glared at her and gestured in exasperation.
"I know," Kiah stressed, "but what would you have had me do? Refuse? Cadigan would have been humiliated and we'd have been the ones who paid for it."
Gruff sighed with exasperation, waved his hands wildly, and then his shoulders slumped.
"I can't go with you," Owena warned. "Someone needs to make sure Fire Axe keeps his word to the trolls. It'll be good for my people."
"I understand," Kiah said, taking her hands. "You've already done so much for me. I promise, once this is finished, I'll come back to Long Whick to see how things are going."
"You should go," Wolf Warden stated to Gruff.
He seemed hesitant. He looked back west, towards home.
"No," for once, words were hard for Kiah to summon, "you should go back with Owena, then to Great Mount." She was thankful for her mask, which hid her tears, "I'll be fine brother. Shush is with me." It took everything she had to prevent her voice from cracking.
Foe Slayer lifted his gaze to the stars and let out a groan. He then clapped his hands on his sister's shoulders and gazed into her eyes. His reflected steel.
"It'll be a long journey," Kiah warned.
Gruff's grip tightened. "Very well," Kiah laughed. "together then."
Owena smiled but wiped tears from her eyes.
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