Ruarc listened to his friend as he sipped his own coffee, offering a confused and suspicious look as Percy explained his apparent penchant for breaking and entering. It was odd, but with how logical Percy tended to be, it made sense in a way. "Follow up question, any jam?"
"And also, why exactly did you feel the need to pilfer the pilfered book? Stealing from a thief is still stealing," Ruarc said as he leaned back in the seat. "Worried about the Inspector? She wouldn't have gotten very far into the safe with me standing right over it."
[Safeholme] The Boston Consortium
Re: [Safeholme] The Boston Consortium
"We're talking about Tabitha Grimley," said Percival, as if the name should be more familiar, before cupping a hand to his mouth, "Anna! Jam please."
One of the statues embedded in the wall of the mountain came to life, a hulking figure of large, simple features. It lumbered over to a small building to the edge of the yard.
"Investigator-Major of the Boston Consortium. Witch of the Portland Coven. The Hag of Kyoto. You might have noticed her staring pretty intensely at all of your things. That's because she has natural Truesight. There's a story that floats around about her having tracked down a guardian creature in the woods, and having eaten its heart and taken its eyes for her own. I'm not sure if it's true, but she can see through illusions, wards, and physical obstructions if she focuses."
The hulking figure was now over Ruarc's shoulder, with a plate supporting a spoon and a small bowl of jam. Silently, the stone construct placed the plate down with its forefinger and thumb, before stepping back quietly.
"She saw everything you were hiding," revealed Percival, before grinning, "probably pretty displeased when she found that all you were keeping in your strongbox was a stack of papers."
One of the statues embedded in the wall of the mountain came to life, a hulking figure of large, simple features. It lumbered over to a small building to the edge of the yard.
"Investigator-Major of the Boston Consortium. Witch of the Portland Coven. The Hag of Kyoto. You might have noticed her staring pretty intensely at all of your things. That's because she has natural Truesight. There's a story that floats around about her having tracked down a guardian creature in the woods, and having eaten its heart and taken its eyes for her own. I'm not sure if it's true, but she can see through illusions, wards, and physical obstructions if she focuses."
The hulking figure was now over Ruarc's shoulder, with a plate supporting a spoon and a small bowl of jam. Silently, the stone construct placed the plate down with its forefinger and thumb, before stepping back quietly.
"She saw everything you were hiding," revealed Percival, before grinning, "probably pretty displeased when she found that all you were keeping in your strongbox was a stack of papers."
Re: [Safeholme] The Boston Consortium
"I'm a humble academic," Ruarc shrugged as he started to spread some jam on a muffin. "To expect anything beyond stacks of paper from me is folly. To be frank, though, if she were to gain anything from seeing that book it would mean the Church has decided to not keep the investigation internal. I was expecting an Inquisitor rather than an Investigator. Which, for that matter, the whole thing is ridiculous. I was merely recovering a cultural artifact that they had no justification for having."
Taking a bite of the muffin, Ruarc considered the situation. He had expected more of a delay in needing to worry about the tome, given that he and Jane had hid their identities. Honestly he had expected something to have come from the Druid camp first, but he doubted they would employ outside help. He wiped a bit of jam off his lip and took another sip of coffee. He would need to up his security.
Taking a bite of the muffin, Ruarc considered the situation. He had expected more of a delay in needing to worry about the tome, given that he and Jane had hid their identities. Honestly he had expected something to have come from the Druid camp first, but he doubted they would employ outside help. He wiped a bit of jam off his lip and took another sip of coffee. He would need to up his security.
Re: [Safeholme] The Boston Consortium
"I think you're underestimating your situation, Rook," said Percival with an uncommon severity, coming over the table with a sober look in his eyes, "you've put yourself out there by helping me. People like Tabitha will come looking for reasons to poke around, and if they can find reasons to sanction a full-search, such as finding a strange book under heavy, hidden security, that's when there's trouble. She wasn't looking on behalf of the church, I can almost guarantee that, but I bet she's looked around into each of us."
The wind picked up again, and the statue behind Ruarc found its way back into the wall. "It's hard to say who called this investigation... Anyone who can afford the going-rate of an Investigator-Major, but apparently local enough to draw someone from the Kyoto office. An enemy? It may have just been from one of Japan's circles looking for some quick answers and a quick solution, but it was clear she was scouting a reason to come back in force."
Again Percival emphasized his point with a look.
"Next time, just mail her the fairy, eh?"
The wind picked up again, and the statue behind Ruarc found its way back into the wall. "It's hard to say who called this investigation... Anyone who can afford the going-rate of an Investigator-Major, but apparently local enough to draw someone from the Kyoto office. An enemy? It may have just been from one of Japan's circles looking for some quick answers and a quick solution, but it was clear she was scouting a reason to come back in force."
Again Percival emphasized his point with a look.
"Next time, just mail her the fairy, eh?"
Re: [Safeholme] The Boston Consortium
"How was I s'posed to know she would have truesight?" Ruarc said with another shrug. "But very well. I'll be on my best behavior, and I'll inform Aurus not to admit anyone unless they are staff, student, or have written invitation to be on the grounds for the time being."
Leaning forward, Ruarc crossed his arms on the table. The fresh air of the valley was refreshing, and the environment was disarming. Smell of the coffee also did wonders in helping him forget about his earlier outburst. "It'd just be nice if we could go a week without something happening. I think it's time I took a vacation."
Leaning forward, Ruarc crossed his arms on the table. The fresh air of the valley was refreshing, and the environment was disarming. Smell of the coffee also did wonders in helping him forget about his earlier outburst. "It'd just be nice if we could go a week without something happening. I think it's time I took a vacation."
Re: [Safeholme] The Boston Consortium
"You ought to go home," recommended Percival, his spirits in a bit of a better place now that they'd move on from their topic of business, "been an age since I've had one of Saoirse's breakfasts. Probably been just as long for you, knowing how much you like to coop yourself up through the year."
The clouds hanging overhead began to split, letting in a bit more sun, bathing the valley in a new splash of bright color. "You know... Now is probably as good a time as any. Most of the mages are in at Safeholme, Miyuki's not out on any missions, Riley is on the off-cycle for work, and Jane will be busy prepping for the growing season. We all should be home. I don't sleep, so there's always a set of eyes on the grounds."
Percival twirled his hand, "Safeholme's probably the most secure its ever been with all of its new guardians. With exam week coming up, there's not much for us to do as instructors... Yeah. This is pretty ideal actually."
The clouds hanging overhead began to split, letting in a bit more sun, bathing the valley in a new splash of bright color. "You know... Now is probably as good a time as any. Most of the mages are in at Safeholme, Miyuki's not out on any missions, Riley is on the off-cycle for work, and Jane will be busy prepping for the growing season. We all should be home. I don't sleep, so there's always a set of eyes on the grounds."
Percival twirled his hand, "Safeholme's probably the most secure its ever been with all of its new guardians. With exam week coming up, there's not much for us to do as instructors... Yeah. This is pretty ideal actually."
Re: [Safeholme] The Boston Consortium
Lean back once more, the Irishman lounged in the chair as he basked in the sunlight. Gone to Ireland in his mind, he pictured a week a relaxing out his mum's inn, the hearty meals, the friends he never gets to see. "Yeah, a week off is just what I need. Toph can handle the grounds, Modeka can tend the forest, Laoise and Caoranach can handle helping Willow and Drysi with studying it need be. Yeah, once I'm done here, I'll book the flights."