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Virginia nodded at Mary's question - though truthfully, Virginia did not know Belladonna. No, she knew of her. She had heard the stories and legends ever since she was a small child, barely old enough to grasp a knife in her hand or to lift a small hatchet. She hardly registered Ludwig's explanation - though she understood his meaning behind it. He didn't kill then. For a moment, he seemed a little too normal to her. She didn't understand this restraint. Why not slay one's enemies? Whatever does not kill them will surely live to regret it.

"Farewell," Virginia said, as Belladonna vanished into mist. It reminded her of the message sent through the flames earlier that day - so many strange and wonderful things had happened. She did not doubt for a second that Belladonna had truly vanished. The legend said that she had sold her soul to the dark forces - such an exchange is typically accompanied with powers - the same powers that Virginia imagined the Russians trained in. But she knew that she couldn't dwell on this too long - as soon as this business was settled, they would need to ride to rescue Millicent. James would be safe in the protection of the Circus - his extended family.

Virginia didn't necessarily care for the evocation of Christian religion, despite the fact that it would likely convince a majority of those present. Her family practiced what was technically an offshoot of the ancient Slavic religion. Different sects of the family held different goddesses in high regard, with each Crypt child selecting a patron deity once they were seven years old. Virginia's patron was Veliona, known as the Goddess of Death and the Warden of Ancestors. That did not mean she did not respect Mary's beliefs - merely that Mary's argument was not as compelling to her as it was to others. Yet of course, Virginia wholeheartedly agreed with the admission of the Russians and the Germans to the Council - hopefully Ludwig would manage to convince Mary of the latter.

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So, Thalken sat there, cross-legged on the damp, filthy ground. As time ticked on, he had blocked out the ramblings of the guards nearby. Mental, and possibly physical, exhaustion coupled with a sense of resignation was slowly setting in, and it etched away at his once stern façade, to reveal a rare glimpse of the raw, broken man that he was underneath. That was if one was even willing to take the time to notice. Doubtful. Left to his own devices, his mind began to wonder. To what you ask? To why the hell he had decided to come here in the first place. Nothing was going as he had expected. He couldn't even get through the damn gate. He wanted to be a better man, but thus far being better sucked. He let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes for a moment. He honestly didn't care anymore that he was leaving himself in a vulnerable position. He had little left to live for anyways. And yet, if he was to die tonight, he wanted to do it after saying his piece to the Lady Crypt. At least let him leave this world with a clearer conscience. That's all he asked.

Thalken looked up when he heard movement nearby and a new voice came to his ears. His dark eyed gaze landed on this newcomer, a man he recognized as the stranger that had been talking to his sister last night at Almack's. His lips thinned slightly as he eyed the barrage of weapons openly displayed on The Great Bazhooli's person, yet this time he made no move to go for his own weapons. He didn't see the point of it anymore. Besides, he wasn't here to fight. The sound of someone clearing their throat pulled him out of his momentary haze. From where he still remained seated, he looked up at the imposing man that was The Great Bazhooli. He didn't really see the point in getting up either when he would probably just be told to wait again. Besides, he seemed less threatening this way, right? Maybe. Or, maybe, he just looked more like a fool. Take your pick.

Thalken arched a brow questioningly before The Great Bazhooli finally began to speak. And? he thought when the man stated that he recognized Thalken. Yet his eyes darkened slightly at his next statement. He then let out a small sigh and looked away. You and me both, he thought. But people change. He wasn't naïve enough to think that his father would ever change, but he had to believe that he could, that he had changed. If he couldn't even believe that he himself could do that, then what would be the point of all this? He looked back over at The Great Bazhooli as the man announced the same words he kept hearing out of the mouths of the guards time and time again. He wasn't welcome inside. He would have to just wait. His jaw clenched.

"Fine," he finally stated simply in reply. But even as the words left his lips, he felt that there was still more that he needed to say. His brows furrowed slightly, and his jaw clenched and unclenched as he struggled to find the right words, let alone the courage to say them. "J-just--" he struggled to begin before growing in his resolve. "Just let the Lady Crypt know that I am here. I wish to say my piece, and then she can decide my fate from there."

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The beans were not enough? Why were they never enough? They were magic beans and could do things no other beans on the planet could do. Did she not see the importance of such beans? Perhaps she had not been able to see the beans as well as he would have liked. Blind? No, not blind but perhaps blinders. Damn horses, odd creatures rushing about and being lead. Nothing could beat a good and trusty ferret. Like Dieter. His ferret, not his brother.

"Talk? Yes, of course. Talk. Talk talk talk talk. I can talk," he said as he started to slip Adam out of his lap but the boy didn't give him the chance. The boy blinked and was gone. His face squished up and his glasses came down to the end of his nose. He turned, his knees buckling slightly as his head went back. "Oye, down you little monkey," he said as he spun with his arms out and pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose once again. Adam was sitting on the platform near the top of the tent where the acrobats would take off from for the trapeze act.

Shaking his head he whipped out his journal as his brows rose dramatically, eyes widening. Something clicked in his mind. "More than what you give from Rome? Or she gives from the West Indies? Or Bjorn gives from Scandinavia? Because obviously we outside of the council must give more to be considered as equal as the rest of you. No, I can talk but I won't. You have seen our skills. Many before you have. And no strong with skills cannot be found in all cultures. If that were true there would be a much larger council. Or perhaps there isn't a much larger council because of the elitist attitude of those who are currently within it and those that believe that only their skills can protect people from the Soulless. Yet we have been protecting our own without you for centuries. You needed each other. Is that not enough?" he said as he flipped his journal over to a blank page.

Bjorn laughed and had to cover his mouth. Ludwig was off his rocker most of the time but there were moments when the man had complete clarity and spoke true. The look that was left on several of the councils faces was what brought the laugh from the Joyous one. Mouths gaping, eyes narrowing. To him it was rather funny. Yet the look on the Grand Duchess face was not one to be laughed at and as Lee Ko elbows Bjorn and motioned over to Elizaveta, Bjorn choked down the laughter and cleared his throat.

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Oh yes, Lord Rutherford was an interesting man to say the least. There was plenty she could tell Colette about her fiance. About how he forced her into an engagement she didn't want to be in. About how he was the lowest of men she had ever met in her life. About how her mother even after being attacked at Almacks was insisting that she marry this man. About how she had no choice to marry him if she wanted to keep her sister safe. About how the bruises and marks that she was trying to hide right now were not from Almacks but from another attack entirely. About how he made her skin crawl both inside and out. Oh there was plenty she could tell Colette about Lord Rutherford...

"He is a very handsome man, with a bright smile, and a way about him," she said as she walked down the corridor. She swallowed slightly as she looked about. She wasn't seeing Rutherford yet, which in her mind was both a good and a bad thing. People were swirling about in the corridor and in the various rooms as Millicent looked here and there. The only room that wasn't crawling with people gossiping about this and that was the library. Which was just fine with Millicent, it was really the only room she wanted to be in right then.

Stepping inside she glanced around. There was still no sign of her fiance but that was alright just then. This was the type of room he should expect to find her in and if she was alone or only accompanied by a single woman, things couldn't get too bad could they? It was about the best case scenario she could hope for right then. "What brings you to England? If you do not mind me asking that is," she said as she took a seat on a couch in the library and rested her hands in her lap. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep from yelping out in pain as she sat but once settled the pain subsided somewhat.

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Elizaveta stood there, perfectly still, but there was a light in her eyes that she had not had before. She was proud, of her people, of the show they had put on, of the fact they were finally being recognized. Mary had accepted them into the fold, invited them to the table. They would finally have representation within the council. Her people would finally have a voice. It was everything she had tried, trained, and hoped for ever since she was a small child. Ever since she learned that there was a council, since the day she was told that one day she would be able to try to get her people a seat at the table.

Yes, finally. She had everything she had ever wanted for her people. And yet as Mary turned to Ludwig and spoke her light started to dwindle. She had not seen his presentation tonight but from what was being said she was sure there had been one before the Circus had done their act. Then Ludwig spoke and it felt as if a knife had been thrust through her heart. What he said rang in her mind and in her soul. It was true. She alone had to bend over backward, put on a show like no other, show how much greater they were to be given a chance to be equal. The Circus had to go above and beyond what was required and it seemed that Germany would have to as well. This would not do. Not at all.

"Seek life elsewhere..." she said under her breath as she laced her fingers together before her. She contemplated to herself for a moment and then stepped forward slightly. "I vould like to thank the council and the Arch Graveolase for their time and for the invitation but I vill have to decline."

Bjorn couldn't contain it anymore and let out a rather loud "HA!" when Veta spoke. "Decline?" Guang followed in an offended voice. "Of course she would decline. Make us all show up for their spectacle and then turn it down. This is why I never wanted them in the council. They believe they are better than us when they are hardly anything of the sort," Christine pipped in as she sat down and crossed her arms over her chest, giving Mary an I told you so look.

"Yes, ve decline. Though different vhat he says is true. And if it vere not for Mary being appointed currently, ve could very vell have been turned dovn again. I believe I have a far better consideration for my people at this time. Do forgive me for vasting your time vith our shov, yet it vas truly an eye opening experience." Veta said in a calm voice as she stood there. This would be hard to explain to her people but she hoped that when she did they would understand.

Turning she looked over at Ludwig who was currently at one of the tent poles as Adam climbed down, taking the little boy in his arm carefully as a father would. Stepping over to him slowly she held her hand out to him. "Ludvig vas it?" she asked softly. "I have proposition for you. Vould you consider Germany joining forces with Russia to form our own council? Us tvo alone may be small but ve could be of use to each other."

Ludwig held Adam in one arm as the boy wrapped his legs around his waist and his arms over his shoulders. A large cheesy grin came to his face as he stuck out his hand and shook the grand duchesses with much vigor, enough to make her have to brace herself slightly to keep from tipping over. "Us? Yes! Alone? No! There are many more who the council refuses. Most gave up centuries ago."

Veta lifted a brow. There were others? This was most interesting.

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Colette listened as the woman talked, however briefly, about her companion. He had a nice smile? And a way about him? Was this how the English spoke? Perhaps it was a common phrase she was not accustomed to. What of his intellect? His charm? His kindness? Surely those were all things Millicent would mention of Lord Rutherford? Especially when a stranger asked. Now Colette was even more ready to meet this man.

Which was why she was confused Millicent led them into the library. She enjoyed a good book herself. And was strongly for women being educated. However, surely Lord Rutherford would be somewhere else entirely? Entertaining other Lords and Ladies. Still, Colette bit her tongue. "I am here on my own, though I am not truly alone if I have my ever watchful maid with me. Courtesy of my father, of course. He would not let me go alone. I am here to....escape? I believe this is the correct term. I am engaged to a man that I..." Colette stopped. She wondered if she should continue. Was it right of her to complain of her fiance? Surely it was so. Other women around here were surely in her predicament. Plus, he was far away from her. "I do not love him. He is rude and puts me down far too often. It was an arrangement politique. I am happy to be away from him."

Colette watched around her. Just in case. One could never be too careful about who was listening to one's conversation. Millicent was easy to talk to, even if the girl seemed guarded.

Walking barefoot at this time of year and weather conditions wasn't the most pleasant even for someone who had trained his soles to walk on embers and fire. He sighed once he was finally inside the tent and stretched his hands. With a tired yawn he walked over to wooden stove and threw in a few small pieces of firewood into the embers after poking a little at them to make them flare up.

With the heating secured he walked over to his bed, took off the now rather dirty shirt and sat down. Yeah it was a long day indeed. He reached over and pulled the bucket of water. They always had water in their tent to wash up from the charcoal. Using a wet cloth he wiped himself from the sweat and then with a metal can he poured water to wash his feet, before drying up with a cloth and hopping into the bed once more, pulling a blanket.

“I vant to sleep for days...” He mumbled, just relaxing down and enjoying a well deserved rest after the extravaganza they pulled off earlier tonight. It was truly a grand performance and no one should be able to say otherwise with straight face in his opinion. Maybe they could have pulled a better firewalking act at the end, but he thought it turned out quite well in the end anyways. Well maybe if they had one more person who can walk the embers, it would open the setting possibilities. Yeah he was probably going to get a when he is getting a wife speech soon by his mother. This random thought brought a soft laughter from him as he realized what he was thinking of. As improbable as that scenario was, they were probably going to need a person to learn the art of fire walking soon anyhow.

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Vladimir raised an eyebrow at the younger man upon the ground just outside of the fortified encampment. There seemed a little presumption in his voice, as a sense of pride that hadn't quite been stamped out by unfortunate current events. There was the barest hint of sympathy in the corner of Vlad's mind, not that it would affect his demeanor in the slightest. The man was a Talink, and due to circumstances, was considered an enemy of his people. The fact that he was not hostile and out in the open, not having unduly entered the sanctity of Circus grounds allowed for his continued survival, though a matter did have to be addressed. There was no reason they could not be civilized, after all.

"Lady Crypt is in meeting vith Sister-Knight Mary and others. I vill not interrupt. May speak vhen done. Understanding two things: For start, you are not velcome on grounds, yes? Any talk you have vith her is happening outside this place. For second, the Lady Crypt does not make rules here. Is not deciding fate ov anyvone. Ve are like ambassadors and this..." he held his arms wide, as to signify the grounds around him, "...is like tiny piece of Russia." He wasn't 100% on the legality of that assertion in this country, generally other places respected their boundaries in this regard, and they were run by Russian nobility, albeit lesser in rank. Plus there was the matter of the Grand Duchess's presence. "Vill talk after important peoples are done. For now, vill be a vait. I hope you are bringing snack."

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What seemed to be a smoothly running conversation concerning the admittance of two additional parties to the Graveolase was unraveling like a cheap sweater. The initial reaction of Ludwig, though repetitive in nature, gave off an impression that he was willing to have a short discussion about himself and his people, hopefully to allow Mary to get to know more about the German delegation and the application of their Trained skills in combat and non-combat situations. Unfortunately, there seemed to be no room for Mary to respond to the assertions of the man before the conversation shifted far away from the reason they were all present in the first place. The whole experience was highly unexpected, breaking the serenity of Mary's visage if only for a second before it could be repaired.

But when Elizaveta spoke, it was close to heartbreaking. It was a masterful show, and while Mary knew next to nothing about the actual history or practices of the Graveolase outside of their reputation for fighting against the Soulless and the immense political power they had at their disposal, she had to admit that the words of the Grand Duchess fit the situation. Were Mary not in the position she was now, Russia may very well have been declined, again. Still, to hear those words leave her mouth while she sat in the position of authority to make the unjust situation right, not to mention the reactions of the Graveolase after the fact, gave her a profound sense of sorrow.

Maintaining what neutrality she could in her face, her voice told a different story altogether. "I cannot express how disappointed I am to hear this. Ludwig, I obviously do not speak for the whole of the Graveolase when I say this, but please accept my apology for your treatment this evening. For myself, I only wished to hear of the logistics of your organization before giving an official nod. But you do not know me. You and your people have dealt with this council for a very long time and I fear that politics have overly colored the proceedings. Today is my first day in an official capacity. Yesterday, sir, I was merely a woman representing the Church and their Knights here in London. Tomorrow, my position will be highly uncertain. So it would befit me to make the most use of my time tonight before attending to other business."

Mary was not accustomed to giving speeches. Her discourse so far had been rather raw and off-the-cuff. Nor was she accustomed to speaking from emotion. She was a creature of discipline and formality when in public, but this required more than a simple logical observation. Turning to the Graveolase and guests assembled (and she would get back to the issue of The Amazing Teleporting Orphan later, just you wait), she gave her voice an admonishing tone and continued, "The level of disrespect shown here is disgraceful. The organization of the Graveolase was founded to protect humanity from the threat of Soulless worldwide. We each have areas of our Training that lack, which others of differing origin have traditionally filled these gaps with their own abilities. The teachings of Rome, for instance, present difficulties when dealing with disembodied Soulless. Yet we have a vast network and the ability to communicate over great distances. The Vatican is organized and powerful. But we will ever require assistance with Cargast, which may be provided by Jerusalem or the New World's teachings."

Indeed, speaking with tact was not her forte. "Yet the Graveolase would deny this man's people because he is ...what, peculiar?" Mary motioned to Ludwig, eyes still on their other guests for the evening. "The Graveolase would deny Russia, and the God given miracles they can achieve for purposes I cannot fathom, shy of pride and politics." Mary shook her head. "No. This will not stand. The sword of Damocles hangs above us all, suspended by a single horsehair. The threat is real, and the Graveolase cannot afford to be exclude anyone who might stand with us. Mankind needs capable and positioned warriors to fight for them."

"To that end, two details: One, the offer of membership remains open to both Russia and Germany. They have but to accept. Two, we have many nations that consider themselves civilized, my native British Empire included, that yet deny half of the population the means to fight for themselves or make decisions for the good of their people. I would have it that women, at least of Training, have access to the rights of Inheritance and Succession, to be supported by every country within the influence of the Graveolase. Too many people who would be our allies have been denied or subjugated for long enough. I despise politics. Greatly so, I fear, yet here we all are. This is about the continued survival of humanity, period. Everything else is secondary. When the Graveolase does these things, we will increase our effectiveness and draw from a whole new avenue of dedicated, grateful, and potentially influential soldiers. If we remain exclusive, we will, and I repeat will be overrun. As a whole or piecemeal."

"We are warriors, all of us, and we owe it to ourselves and the world to remember that. We stand together or we die. This will be done."

The words of the Mad German resounded in her ears. Particularly the last bit he spoke to Veta, stating outright that there were many more groups of similarly Trained people that he had encountered, people that the Graveolase had rejected time and time again. With those words lingering in the air, Mary gave an accusatory look toward the rest of them in attendance (except for the Scandinavian as he seemed to be the lone dissenting opinion among the group, to whom she merely nodded), then looked back to Elizaveta and Ludwig. "Master Zimmer, I see now that you and your people have knowledge that our people have tragically forgotten. I wish to be your friend, if you would have me."

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Meanwhile, the two guards from the Main Gate followed the instruction of the Master of the Bazhooli Sem'ya, weaving a path to the main tent. They spread word of the occurrences at the front to those who had not heard it using the colorful verbal shorthand of Circus Rusyn, who in turn spread it outward like ink hitting still water. One drop of color hit and spread, followed by another and another until the message hit the outer boundaries, where the guards had already gotten the information and confirmed it.

The pair found their way to the canvas surrounding the surprisingly eventful meeting of the Graveolase, unwilling to interrupt the event and so standing at the ready for the instant that the woman described as: "A woman of pale, moonlit beauty with piercing eyes and noble bearing, the eccentrically exquisite friend of the Scary Catholic Lady with a melodic voice and upper class London accent. You cannot miss her." As well as they probably could not miss her, it was likely far easier to pick her out as the one who was not of the Circus nor the Graveolase who spoke native English and was not Mary. Luckily, they had the name Crypt to work with.

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Thalken let Vladimir's words cascade over him and through him, all the while leaving his facial expression purposefully blank. Perhaps a part of him was still not quite ready for the world to see the man underneath. Nevertheless, his walls were slowly chipping away whether he liked it or not. He contemplated the terms that were laid out for him. He had to admit that they were straightforward, reasonable even. The fact that he would even be granted an audience with the Lady Crypt was--incredible. On the other hand, the bit about having his fate decided by others, though not surprising, was nonetheless nerve-wrecking.

His breath came in sharply through his nose before coming out as an unsteady exhale from his mouth. "Fine," he replied, his voice more agreeable this time around. He was truly trying to be cooperative rather than antagonistic, knowing full well the latter would only dig himself a deeper grave than he already was in. He just hoped that his efforts were even the least bit noticeable. If one could only look inside him, they would see the turmoil that laid within his being. They would see the good man that was now breaking down walls to free himself. It was time to make that man known. It was time for him to atone for all his sins. He had waited for years anticipating a moment like this, and yet finally facing it was still no less daunting.

The mention of food brought him out of his brooding ruminations. When was the last time he had eaten? It dawn on him that it had been hours since he had eaten any food, and in his hurry to put as much distance from his father as possible, he had failed to bring any provisions with him. He was still dead set on not returning to the Talink Manor ever again, and yet all his stuff was basically now being held hostage there. He had the bare minimums on him. That was it. He closed his eyes, and his facial expression hardened. "God dammit," he cursed lowly. You're an idiot.

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Virginia did a bit of a double take as Adam vanished and then reappeared. There were so many marvelous and strange things in motion that had she not known better, she would have said it was All Hallow's Eve. Or perhaps the Winter Solstice, the day of the longest night, in which the shadows reigned supreme over the light. Yet given that she was a Crypt and she had just seen her ancestor vanish, Virginia did not find Adam's presentation to be troubling. James however looked on at his friend with awe and perhaps even a little bit of envy.

"Woaaah! That was wicked brilliant! So mad!" James cried out, his vocabulary showing a hint of those who had raised him. While at times he resembled Virginia's upper London diction, there were moments when the looser slang of the household staff came spewing forth from his lips. While it may have bothered others, it didn't give Virginia any cause for concern. As long as James spoke his mind and did not allow others to speak for him, she didn't care what words he used. James could have insisted to only speak in French except for every third Saturday of the year and as long as his opinions he offered were his own, Virginia wouldn't put up a fuss.

"Adam, can you teach me how to do that?!" James called out, entirely oblivious to the politics and delicate conversation the others were having. Virginia, however, looked on with interest at the proceedings. She was more focused on what Elizaveta and Ludwig had to say than anyone else. As she had told Mary before, these were normals - except for the Scandinavian fellow. He seemed delightful. She imagined he'd be great fun in a rousing game of Wake the Dead!

Yet just as Elizaveta had found this to be an eye opening experience, something then occurred to Virginia. Her father had sent word through the flames to Seek Life Elsewhere. As much as she adored England and had fond memories of her time spent there, perhaps it was time they moved on as well. James seemed to be quite happy here amongst the Circus. And she herself had a journey to undertake to speak with Belladonna and reunite with her seemingly not dead parents, after Millicent had been rescued from the jaws of arranged marriage. All of the wealth and material possessions of the Crypt family - what did it truly mean to her? It was all worthless - just things.

Why should she keep her brother in a land that would force him to acquire an earldom at a young age? A country where despite all evidence to the contrary, women were not held to be equal to men? She couldn't fathom a decent answer to that question.

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Millicent could feel a connection to Colette, at least on some level. The woman was in an engagement she obviously didn't want with a man that she didn't love. It was an all too common occurrence for women, one that was hitting home hard for Millicent right then as she was left with little to no choice in the matter of whether or not she would marry Rutherford. Even if she hadn't been forced to, because of what had occurred over the last twenty-four hours she would be left with either being an out cast for the rest of her life, or a bride. She began to wonder if either was actually better than the other or if there was perhaps a third choice. Right then, death or life as a Soulless was a step up from her current situation if it had not been for her trying to protect her sister.

"You have my most heart felt condolences. Tis a great pain to be forced to wed without affection, I pray your time here in England is a pleasant respite from the days behind and ahead of you," she said in a tender and introspective voice. Trying to straighten her back as she sat there on the reading sofa she cringed slightly. Pain was ever present but there were moments when it seemed to creep up and make sure it was known. This was one of those times, and it appropriately coincided with the arrival of a man at the door.

Stopping for a moment he glanced around until his eyes landed on Millicent. "I was beginning to wonder where you were my darling, I should have thought to seek you out here above and beyond all places. Only you my dear would be among the stacks during an event," he said. There was a hint of something in his eyes before he pushed it away and smiled as he stepped into the room fully and over towards Millicent. Her eyes darting over to him and she found herself swallowing hard. Bracing herself somewhat. Yet even though she feared what could happen when he was around being public put her slightly at ease. There was another in the room, she knew that would hold him in his place, at least for now.

"Oh yes, do forgive me. I was a bit overcome by the day, travels and all and needed a place of quiet for reflection." Her voice was timid and quiet as she spoke, her body tensing as Rutherford sat down next to her and brushed a tendril of hair out of her face.

"Yes, most understandable. It has been a long journey from England. Very hard on the both of us. We shant be much longer here," he added before looking over towards Colette and rising from his place. "And where are my manners. Who would this wonder be before me?" he asked.

Millicents eyes shot over to Colette and she swallowed hard once again before rising. "Oh please forgive me. Please let me introduce Lady Colette de la Fontaine. Lady Fontaine, this is Lord Richard Rutherford, my fiance," she said quietly as she introduced the two. Rutherford reaching out to take Colettes hand and kiss the back of it, if she allowed.

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Elizaveta took in what Mary had to say, which was a lot. She had to wonder if perhaps Mary had a bit of Circus in her. Though she was not flamboyant on any level she did have a presence about her. Yet that thought could wait as Mary went on. It was an interesting speech and presentation in and of itself. It did help that she seemed to take a stance for both Germany and Russia right then. It was validation, more than the council had ever given her people from what she knew. Yet something tickled in the back of her mind and before she could respond to Mary her eyes glazed over and Elizaveta went into a trance of sorts. One that Mary had seen before, as well as Virginia.

"And this is one reason why they were never invited. How can they help when at any moment they are rendered as this. In the middle of a battle where they are to have anothers back, to suddenly fall defenseless. It is a great draw back," the representative from China said. He hadn't said anything since before the presentation began but it was obvious now where he stood in the matter. The Vodoo queen agreed it seemed by the smug expression on her face.

"And yet with some others we are willing to stand over them and protect them? I see little difference," Lee Ko piped in. Bjorn was just grinning from ear to ear as he watched. He was snickering as well but it was for completely different reasons of course.

Blinking Elizaveta looked around and found herself back among those speaking. Stepping forward she rose her hand slightly and finally gave answer. "Arch Graveolase, you do your position proud and are going to make strides for the council and the position the likes the volrd has yet to knov I believe. I thank you for the acknowledgement of my people and their skills, given to us by the grace of our lord. Yet my heart tells me this is not the place for us. Not nov. The council has centuries of prejudice against mine, and it seems many others. I shall still have to decline. I feel that perhaps it is my path to seek life elsevhere. Among the other outcasts."

It seemed she was still intent on forming her own council with the German and apparently others, others she would have to seek out. "I ask nothing of this council save perhaps one, the chance of an alliance one day. For now, I dare not bring my people into the fold, for while I have all the faith in God that the Arch Graveolase is pure, there are tainted hearts that would need weeding out and removed from the chance of corruption before I feel it would be prudent for my people to be a member. Having said that, Russia vill alvays come to the aide of Dame Mary Hale," she said with the slightest nod of her head.

"Oh I like her," Bjorn chuckled as he rubbed his blonde beard and glanced about. This could turn out to be very interesting. Very interesting indeed.

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Outcasts, in the shadows they dwell. Forced from the light, away from the sun. In the darkness and dank, yet how they blossom. Oh yes. A flower in the darkness. A lily among the thorns. Paths less traveled. Less worn, less torn apart. Never direct, beating around the bush. Flaming bush. Talking bush. Bushy hair, with rats. Voodoo, who do, you do. Can't do that voodoo she does because the flower just shut her the hell up. A twitch in his eye and a tug at the corner of his mouth Ludwig smiled as he batted away the firelillies that could sweep into his ears when he wasn't paying attention. It would be easy for them then. They were everywhere after the embers burned where they not? Well perhaps not. It could all be in his imagination but then again, if he drew it, it were true. Oh phooey.

Wait, she still turned the council down? He was going to stay by him? Wait, he had been given an invitation to the table? To two tables? "I was starving and not it seems no more. So much on the plate. A child, a seat, another seat. Oh my this is splendid. Yes, very much so. What do to do, what do to?" he said, muttering to himself as he drummed his fingers on the base of his chin.

Adam looked over to James and blushed. "I don't know how I did it... Could I teach him?" he asked as he pulled on Ludwigs sleeves. Spinning he shook his head.

"We only collect, we cannot teach. He has no mentor, you have me. No. He is Crypt. He should learn," Ludwig said as he leaned down and opened a journal. Pointing to the teamed Mamushka and Tatushka. Sisters and brothers, blood. Yet, he can learn so much, he added before standing up and spinning as he looked up at the hole in the top of the tent where the smoke from the show fluttered out of.

Adam sighed but shrugged a bit and nodded. "Maybe I can learn to take you with me?" Adam suggested to James. "We could go anywhere couldn't we?"

"You could seek life wherever you wished," Ludwig said in half a daze before snapping his fingers and grinning. "Yes, we go. With her but friends. I can use friends. You need friends. Friends are good," Ludwig said to Mary before looking over at Virginia and grinning as his shoulders pushed together shyly. "And friends of friends are good too."

As he was enjoying the comfort of his bed, Constantin let his mind wander to the whole purpose of this event that had transpired, the countless hours of training to master the entire performance to perfection down to every little detail and the timing of it all. All for a single goal that may or may not be reached.

'Joining others and strength in number with variety.' He thought, yes in a way fighting the soulless would take a Circus on a scale of the entire world! If all the people acted like the circus, like a family, soulless could very well be over with, but that was not the case from his rather limited knowledge. If numbers and variety were important, then why were so few the recognized groups of this what was it again...Graveolase! Ahh yes, he remembered it. Then why weren't they a member of it already? He let his memories of books wander into his mind. Yes people were untrusty lot to begin with. Few people acted like a family as the circus. He of course had to remember all the stories of betrayal, such as brother killing brothers for the sake of profit. Many of the stories his mother told him when he was little were filled with the older brothers betraying the younger one for gold or for the fair maiden the brother fell in love with.

“It's not really anything I can affect...” He mumbled to himself, he had to wait to hear the news of the decision when he wakes up tomorrow. Who knew how long the official meeting and decisions will take, but whatever was the situation he was going to find himself tomorrow, Constantin was going to accept it for his family... for the Circus and everyone within it. Then he would put all his effort to help them as he always did.

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Colette graciously accepted the woman's words. She, too, hoped her time in England would be pleasant. She was not aware of what she expected to happen here, but she hoped she would find things to occupy her time. "I thank you, mademoiselle." Before she could finish her words, a brief flash on Millicent's face told her all she needed to know. She looked to the door to see a man enter.

It appeared Lord Rutherford had arrived. He was handsome, Colette gave him that. As the two spoke without acknowledging her, it gave Colette a strong sense of....what was the word? Unease? Unrest? Perhaps both worked in this case. It might have been Colette's hopefulness of finding love herself, but the interactions between the two of them did not showcase love as she expected it. Millicent's words about the man may have sounded like it, but her face denied such things.

Colette let her hand be kissed, if for no other reason than proper protocol. She returned with a curtsy, "A pleasure to meet you, Monsieur Rutherford. I have heard very little about you. Are you enjoying yourself at this party?" Colette made sure to pay special attention to the man's face, especially with regards to Millicent. He had charm. He had that air about him. She would give him the benefit of the doubt. For now.

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The Great Bazhooli cocked his head to the side slightly, eyes narrowing to view the would-be guest of the Circus. Something in the way the man responded to the assertions of himself and the guards, if only a brief syllable or two in nature, gave Vladimir the impression that something was misunderstood or lost in translation. English was a second language for him. Technically a fourth language; English was as commonly spoken in Europe and all the many places worldwide they colonized and/or had beneficial trade agreements as Russian was spoken in Eastern Europe and Asia. It made sense to master the language. Maybe next he would have to attempt to learn Mandarin... but that was a thought for a later day.

Mastered English he had not; though he had become more of less fluent in recent years. It was necessary to do so, considering that it seemed to be the common language of the Graveolase, the powerful organization of which they desperately desired admittance. And the meeting in London? However could he win the crowds, or communicate just enough to seem darkly mysterious, or purchase local delicacies from London street vendors to get a feel of the flavor of the country (where everything was boiled or battered within an inch of its life and fried in lard)?

Nonethless, he continued his course of action undaunted. "Guards have gone to give message of vant to meeting Lady Crypt. Maybe ve can send messenger to your home vhen she has response, da?" He raised his eyebrows in a manner that inferred an unspoken suggestion, paused for a second, then continued. "So much as it vas unspeakable pleasure speaking vith you again Mr. Talink, I am having to handle many things this night. And is celebration. For safety, please do not intrude upon sanctity of Circus grounds or Tent City. Is home for people. Do not like uninvited in home, da?" He removed his very tall hat and gave a sweeping bow, intoning a pleasant, even chipper sounding, "If vill excuse me, I must return to business! Have pleasant evening, Mr. Talink." The last sentence rolled off of his tongue in low, gravelly voice with just a hint of humor.

Turning, The Great Bazhooli began to step lively back toward the festivities. As he passed the guards, he issued a quick command of, "Следи за ним. Ты знаешь что делать."₁

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Finally hearing from the Chinese representative on the matter of the immense drama that just got set upon the laps of all those present, Mary could not help but turn his attention to him, if ever so briefly, just to marvel at the excuse that he had made for his obviously prejudicial opinion of the Russians. Yes, there was a flaw in the armor of the Russians' skills, or at least for those who trained to receive visions. So far, she hadn't seen one of those visions affect someone in the middle of massive concentration, practicing their crafts, or during the act itself. She might be wrong, though. It would be very inconvenient for a tightrope walker or knife thrower to be suddenly stricken with a vision while someone's life were on the line. But it was still an excuse. One at which Mary shook her head and promptly gave zero continued attention.

She did take to note that there was no discussion about the other social explosion she had detonated within the conversation. Noe at all. Did this mean that they were all amenable to the concept of allowing women of Training to have rights of Succession and Inheritance, or that she was being ignored like a quietly petulant child? As it stood, she could not immediately take the benefits of this; Mary was an Apostolic as well as a Knight of the Papacy. It meant that she would have to ask permission to attain title or secular property not offered by the Church, in addition to many other things. But it would make life better for so many other people while increasing the ranks of the Graveolase significantly.

More important matters were forthcoming that night, however, and she did have an appointment to keep. "I have spoken my peace on these matters, Honored Lords and Ladies. So long as I am the Arch Graveolase, our efforts will be to humanity and not jockeying for better position. We will entertain and support new ideas from new sources that will help in this mission. We will return to the fundamental reasons for the existence of the Graveolase. And if I may risk accusation for appropriating favor, the show that the Russian delegation was gracious enough to prepare for us was well worth the journey."

Mary stepped down from the stands and away from the other members of the Graveolase, her polearm tap tap tapping her steps until she made it to the ground. "I agree," she said, addressing Elizaveta, Virginia, Ludwig, and everyone else who wasn't part of the Graveolase, "we need to remain friends, no matter what else happens within our spheres of politic. I will likewise come to the aid of the Grand Duchess Elizaveta Romanova. And I am open to alliance."

"These are the decisions of the Arch Graveolase. For good or ill, that is what I am now. Grand Duchess, Lady Crypt, shall we speak now, privately?"

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Virginia raised an eyebrow at the representative from China. Three of her own trained skills rendered her body prone to physical attack. And yet, the Colonies held representation amongst the Graveolase. It was hypocrisy at its finest and only seemed to cement the idea in Virginia's mind that there was no need for James to be brought up in England. She noted that Lee Ko appeared with her own thoughts, and out of respect for Elizaveta and Mary, Virginia didn't offer any verbal remarks on the matter. She was not a member of the council and nor was she acting on behalf of a nation that had once applied for admittance.

James' eyes seemed to go impossibly wide - where in the world would he want to go? Instantly, half a dozen locations went into his mind - half of them real and half of them completely imaginary. "Bermuda Triangle! Let's go there!" James suggested eagerly. The conversation the rest of the adults were having couldn't have interested him less if he tried. All he knew was this his best friend - his spiritual brother (both titles James had decided on just three seconds prior) - was amazing. Well, Adam was amazing before he could teleport - but that was beside the point.

Virginia smiled at Ludwig, noting the awkwardness with which he pushed his shoulders together. "I would be delighted to consider you a friend, Ludwig," Virginia said. "Should either council require the expertise of the Crypts, we can always be found if one merely lets ones eyes adjust to the darkness." She then nodded at Mary. It was time that they attended to business and rescued Millicent from a fate worse than death - arranged marriage to one of the most despicable normals Virginia had ever met.

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Thalken let out a small frustrated sigh as his eyes slowly opened again. He glanced upwards at The Great Bazhooli as the man began to speak once more. Perhaps in the moment he wasn't giving Vladimir his full attention, as his mind was still preoccupied by thoughts of home, or what he had once considered home. If he was honest with himself, he would have said that the Talink Manor had stopped being his home ages ago. His father Beowulf tainted anything he touched, and perhaps in some ways, the same could be said of Thalken. Here's to hoping that would change.

Anyways, Thalken's attention suddenly snapped back into reality at Vladimir's suggestion of sending a messenger to the Talink Manor. "NO!" he retorted sharply, his gaze snapping upwards. He grimaced soon after as he realized the tone of his voice came out harsher than he had intended. He took a deep. hopefully calming breath as he reined in the sudden surge of emotions that threatened to spill out in full. After taking a few moments to regain what little compsure he had to begin with, he finally attempted to speak again. "No," he stated, his voice sounding a bit gruff as he struggled to keep it level. "No, I want to speak to the Lady Crypt in person."

He bit his tongue from thereon, fearing any further attempts to speak would be unsuccessful. Yet, all the while a fire seemed to dance within his dark eyes. Whether an unkempt fire was better than the icy coldness he usually exuded was to be determined. He removed his gaze from The Great Bazhooli, ignoring the man's no doubt fake pleasantries. Thalken's pride was at stake here, and yet he couldn't seem to care any less in the moment. The truth was that he just wanted to get through the night before he became so broken that he was beyond repair.

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Millicent stood in the presence of her newly introduced, for lack of a better term, friend and her, for lack of a better term, fiance. She did her best to keep her chin held in place and a stiff upper lip she was British after all. She watched the two of them. How unaware it seemed that Colette was of how Rutherford could be or even the rumors about him, then again she was French and new to town and this was not London. If Millicent were a lesser woman she would hope that the beauty of the French woman would catch the attention of Rutherford, taking it away from her and her family. Yes, she would still end up a spinster and most likely in ruin but it would spare her what seemed to be a life time of pain. That was if she was a lesser woman.

Yet Millicent was nothing of the sort and she would not save herself pain in hopes of passing that pain on to another. She would even wish a Rutherford on Rutherford himself. It was just as she was. "It is difficult to describe one such as my fiance to anyone that is unfamiliar with him. He is such a unique gentleman," she said, hoping it would detract her fiances attention from Colette.

Rutherford kissed the back of the blonde womans hand before releasing it and eying Millicent for a moment. He seemed to contemplate something and there was a flash in his eyes before it he actually spoke again, a slight smile coming to his lips as he gave a dashing glance. "Only as difficult as it is to describe your wonder my dear. Yet mystery does always lead to wondrous intrigue so it is better to leave some things left unsaid an it is a rare woman who knows when to hold her tongue. I am blessed to have such in you," he said as he turned his attention to his fiance and ran his finger along the line of her jaw. Millicent suddenly felt very sick to her stomach but she held it back and simply smiled at him.

Turning his attention back to Colette he continued. "What brings an angel such as yourself to our dreary shores?"

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Elizaveta stood there, perfectly still and listened. This night had taken a much more dramatic turn than she had originally expected or ever desired. So much time and planning had gone into showcasing her countries abilities, their skills, what set them apart from others, and how they could be of use to the council. And yet, now, here she stood, looking at the council she had planned to impress and was denying them the privilege of having the Russians at their side. More than that she had met the most interesting German fellow who stated there were more of them, loners, outside of the council that had given up years ago. This would make for the most interesting of conversations. Just who all was out there and what abilities did they possess?

Yet that was a conversation that would have to wait for there was more business to attend to and the most important of that now was being able to get herself, Virginia, and Mary out of the Circus and on the road without anyone else knowing just what was going on. Adam looked to be tended to, James would be under the protection of the Circus, the show was done, a new council was formed. Oh the Baron would not be happy about this but hopefully she wouldn't be around to face his wrath.

And from the look of things. if she stood around much longer, there were several members of the council that were going to unleash their own personal type of wrath on her. She was not about to waste time listening to then vent on her. If they didn't enjoy having their time wasted, then perhaps they shouldn't have wasted the Russians time for centuries. Looking towards Virginia and Mary she gave the slightest of nods.

"I believe this vould be as good a time as any to depart the scene. I must inform my people of the outcome of this evenings display. I shant be but a moment, please take respit in my tent until I can return and we can proceed to more entertaining and fruitful endeavors for the evening." Turning she placed her attention on Ludwig for a moment. "I will ensure that you are welcome among the Circus as long as you desire."

With that she turned and made her way towards the back of the tent to where the majority of her people were still waiting to see what the outcome would be. Glancing around as she pushed the tent flap aside she spotted that there were several that were not there. Vlad and Constantin among those that were not. This would be interesting. "My good people. Tonight you were everything I could have ever prayed for, you were perfection, you were circus. It is only fitting that the Graveolase extended an invitation to us to join the council, at last."

She let the cheers break out for a moment before raising her hand to silence them. "Yet, I have refused it and declined the invitation." The room went so quiet one could hear a pin drop as many stood there looking as if their future Czarina had lost her ruble.

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Such excitement. It crawls through the viens and lights them on fire. Not a burning fire that causes one to scream and run and bat and throw themselves in the water. Water, cool, soothing water. Like eyes, glass eyes, deep eyes dark eyes. The abyss. Such wonderment in the abyss. Never ending or is it? To see into the darkness, perhaps it does end we just cannot see if. The end is just out of reach and if we were to reach for it we could touch it.

Touching, smooth, soft, sticky. What is so sticky? Honey is sticky, so are situations. That was it, this situation was sticky. Not for Ludwig though, he stayed clean so he was NOT sticky. Nor was he mad. Seemed at least some were smart enough here to see he wasn't mad. That was good. And they would be friends. He grinned, shyly and nodded before picking up Adam and placing him on his hip. "No darkness when you glow," he said as he kicked the ground and spun with Adam in his arms before turning his attention back to the little one and his friend. Seemed that he could stay. Stay, here, yes right here. For now. Later he would find a tent. Yes a tent, not the big tent, a smaller tend, this one was too busy to sleep in.

Adam had no idea if he could take him and James to this Bermuda triangle, he didn't even know where it was. Or what it was. Maybe others didn't know as well as half the council huffed and made their way out of the side entrance to the tent and towards their carriages.

"How dare she."

"She will pay."

"They all will."

Voices were speaking but one could not see where they were coming from, perhaps lips, perhaps ones own head. Rumble in the tummy. OH yeah he hadn't eaten. Time for food. Everyone was leaving and Bjorn made a quick beeline to Ludwig, hugging him and speaking in his ear before smiling and skipping off with the rest of the council.

"Let's get food!" he exclaimed to Adam and then James before following the smell towards the front left of the tent where there was still plenty laid out for anyone that wanted to partake.

As the domain was dreams was drawing ever closer to him, his mind slowly drifting off, he let himself think back to the morning. That creature would haunt his dreams for a good while, he suspected. His vision was a little blurry as he's eyelids were starting to close, but he could see the lights of the flames from the wooden stove, dancing on the roof of the tent. It was swirling, shifting and sending shades in countless shapes. In those he could see soulless, warriors, deaths and live. In the end the flame was both death and life.

In those vague visions of dancing shades he saw the new enemy they had faced and a feeling of hopelessness took him. They couldn't even touch it as it flew like that. It may have controlled the ice and the mist, he couldn't be sure, it could have helped, but non the less it remained an incredible potent foe that he had not even heard of before.

“I vill be prepared next time...” He mumbled, relaxing down as he was about to fall asleep.” Next time I vill not...be...” Constantin words were cut midway as he finally fell asleep, leaving the tent quiet with only his quiet breathing and the crackling of wood to break the silence.

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It is a difficult thing to describe. The interaction between the two made Colette feel...awkward. Not for the good reasons, either. Instead, she felt as if, if she were not here, things in this room would be going down very differently. Their words never matched their eyes and that troubled Colette, because she had so often gone down the same road before. She had millions of questions for both Millicent and Lord Rutherford, but felt it would not be the right time to ask them.

At Lord Rutherford's question, Colette scanned Millicent for a second before she returned the man's gaze, intently, "I am here to satisfy my curiosity. I had only ever been to England when I was younger. I seek adventure, you see." Colette wouldn't tell him the full reason. She saw no need. Even his compliments directed at her did not sway her tongue.

Yet, it was the subtle way he told Millicent about women holding their tongue that sparked something. It was a subtle jab. It wasn't so evident, but Colette could put the pieces of this puzzle together, one at a time. However, as much as she wished to voice her concern, she remembered the wounds and tears she saw on Millicent and held her tongue because she did not believe for one second that they were all purely from the Soulless attack.

"And when should a woman hold her tongue, if you do not mind me asking Monsieur Rutherford? I am unfamiliar with your customs and perhaps things are different here in England than they are in France?"

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Vladimir came strolling up to the back of the main tent. It was not a walk, nor a saunter. It was a the stroll of a man full of smug satisfaction, positive that he had just performed one of the greatest exhibitions of his career. Between that and his performance at Astley's the previous evening, he was fairly certain that The Great Bazhooli and the Russian Imperial Circus would be the topic of many a conversation in London for a long time to come, regardless of the recent unpleasantness with the Soulless. His own experience with the inky black, tentacled, flying thing that had Veta had him quite disturbed, yet as ample evidence of his own belief in the unbridled awesomeness of his Circus, the performance had made him feel a lot better since the attack.

He was not a stupid man, though. It hadn't left his thoughts entirely. In fact, the whole incident left a sense of profound confusion in him. Most Soulless by their very nature, were once living, Soulled people. That creature didn't look like it had ever been human. And the powers it exhibited? If it was Soulless and not some kind of demon, it was truly a horrifying fate for any living, mortal man. He shuddered at the very thought of it, and was doubly glad that Elizaveta was safe. Not just safe! Oh no, his little Veta was assertive and strong, leading the Circus's presentation as if she was born to it. It was a short matter of time until she took her rightful place as Tzarina of the Russian Empire, ushering in a whole new era and new opportunities for the Circus, and Alexandrov line. He would deal with the monster from this morning at a later time. There was celebration to be had. If the Graveolase did not accept them now, then to hell with them all.

The feeling of utter satisfaction in himself and his people remained flowing and undaunted as he strolled (yes, still strolling) to the gathering of his people at the back of the Main Tent. He did not see the two guards that he ordered to the tent. Perhaps they were waiting around at the front entrance; after all, the Lady Crypt was not Circus nor was she part of the Grand Mamushka. Yet. It made sense to wait for her there.

As it was, Vladimir happened upon his fellow performers just as Elizaveta was finishing up what he assumed was a congratulatory speech to everyone assembled. He smiled a broad, charming smile, ready to take part in giving warm, cheerful regards alongside the Grand Duchess. Then she dropped the news of what actually happened during his absence. The part where the Graveolase offered them a seat at their table, and immediately following, the part where Veta declined. Powerful emotion welled up in The Great Bazhooli, spilling out a scant moment after the area went deadly silent.

"HA!" he roared, a single syllable of laughter escaping into the otherwise quiet scene. That barrier broken, he allowed himself another bout of utter amusement. "HA HAAA! That is our little Veta! HA! Who needs Graveolase?" Vladimir had a little difficulty enunciating that last word, owing to his preference toward speaking the Slavic tongues. But he got the point across. In truth, the news didn't bother him so much. If the Graveolase denied them again, then very likely he would find himself in a place of dejection and rage, but this? It just didn't matter so much to him. And Veta's decision (for reasons totally unknown to him) struck him as something done from a position of strength. Being part of the Graveolase was secondary at best when compared to putting on a performance of epic magnitude. And tonight they put on such a performance.

"Yes! Yes my friends! I am having pride, like never having pride before in every one of you! Our goal - goal of Circus vas as it always has been: Put on show! Ve put on the grandest of shows this night! And ve have succeeded. Ve have done everything asked ov us, and ve remain strong! Bazhooli Sem'ya is strong! Circus, strong!" He whipped his hat off of his head and snapped the fingers of his other hand loudly, prompting a blade to appear in his hand seemingly out of nowhere. With both, he made grand, sweeping gestures to those assembled. His powerful gravelly voice rang out in support of Veta's "You know vhat this means, brothers and sisters of Circus? Da, you know what this means! Ve make own table! Build own Council! Ve raise our people vith strength of own arms!"

"Tonight, ve celebrate!" He waved the performers along to the food areas, eager to start the festivities himself. Before he joined them himself, he looked to Veta with seriousness in his eyes. The unspoken message seemed to be, "I hope you know what you're doing." but the actual words were, "Vhere is Lady Crypt and little Earl James? Talink is outside gates. Man ve met at Almack's. She needs to be varned. Guards know, are doing as ve planned."

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Mary stood with her usual, practiced serenity, watching as the members of the Graveolase left the Main Tent in varying degrees of disbelief or irritation. Mary gave them the attention that they deserved upon their departure. Technically, she was their host even if the meeting took place in the Circus, a place where she held no influence other than the friendship she had forged with some of the people who lived there. Certain formalities needed to be observed nonetheless. As they left, she extended various well-wishes upon their departure, with tidings of "God bless and keep you on your journey" and "I hope our next meeting bears more positive fruit." She disliked politics, but it was no reason to burn bridges or make more enemies right then. There was even one or two "Thank you for your support," and "Please be in contact. Allies are important in the fight to come." It was mostly just being polite, but she did wish to extend honest thanks to the representatives from Scandinavia and Japan. She had no idea what the problem was with the lady from the West Indies, but she was not curious enough to attempt to find out right then. There were more important personal matters at hand.

The invitation to return to Veta's tent was a welcome one, though she felt that she might need to remain a little longer in case of some issue or another involving her new station. The indecisiveness was quickly dismissed, owing to the fact that she had already given her word on the events which would follow the meeting. She had much to get together before their departure. Everything else that has happened over the course of the day were areas that she had little experience navigating. But this little expedition involving overland travel, a mission for the greater good, hunting down evil and (hopefully) protecting the innocent? This was most assuredly within her sphere of competence. Above all, she was a Knight. Even if no one else in this country recognized it, this was her duty and her pleasure, especially as it meant going on a mission with two good friends, equally suited to danger as herself.

Resolute in manner, Mary returned to her friend Virginia. "Lady Crypt? If you would please give me the honor of your company, I would like to discuss other business." and then in a quieter voice, "Are you ready, Virginia? Please let me know if I can help you with anything before we depart." Mary was beginning to get eager to depart. It had been quite some time since she had set foot upon her native Scotland, and she wasn't sure how she felt about it. As long as she could help someone, especially a friend of her friend, it was very much worth the journey. She knew her horse was well fed and well rested; they had taken great care of Cassius at the Circus. Maybe he was as anxious to get back into the action as she was.

"With your leave, Lady Crypt, let us return to Her Grace's private quarters."

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A delicate blush appeared on Virginia's cheeks at Ludwig's remarks. Although she had been well complimented by the Great Bazhooli and there had been others before that described her looks, no one had ever told her that she glowed. Well, she supposed that Ludwig could have been referring to her family. She hesitated for a moment before smiling slightly at him. "Thank you," she said. James, however, looked at his sister with curiosity. "Ginny - does that mean we glow in the dark?" James asked. He instantly wanted to find the darkest place he could and see if he could see himself still - did he glow green? purple? red? violet?

Virginia chuckled slightly and nodded at her brother. "Perhaps - I suppose the only way to find out would be to experiment, little devil," she said. She was a huge fan of the scientific process and discovery. It was something that she wished to impart upon James. With her parents still at sea, she had to act as both his sister and his legal guardian, his confidant and his parent. James nodded eagerly, before waving goodbye to his sister as he ran after Ludwig and Adam. He started giving Adam a slightly incoherent explanation as to what the Bermuda Triangle was, and whenever James couldn't remember a detail, he simply made one up.

Virginia then moved to stand by Mary once the majority of the Graveolase had left the tent. She knew that they would need to leave promptly to rescue Millicent from Lord Rutherford's clutches. And despite some of the grumblings she overheard from members of the Graveolase, she felt confident that James would be safe here amongst the Circus. The same blood ran through the Crypt family that did this one - they would not be so easily slaughtered. "Of course, Dame Commander," Virginia replied. She then lowered her tone as well. "I may have a question to pose to you at a later time, Mary, but for now I believe it would be best that we attend to the next task at hand."

She then exited the tent, waiting for Mary to follow her so that way they could move to Veta's tent.

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Thalken sat there staring at the ground as The Great Bazhooli walked off. The fire that was dancing in his eyes began to dim with every passing moment, and a coldness seeped back into his veins. Every second felt like an eternity, that is if time was even ticking by at all. It felt like time had stopped altogether, leaving him alone, utterly alone. And to be left alone to his own brooding thoughts, well, it may just be his undoing. His eyes closed, and his face contorted as raw emotion bubbled up to the surface again and with it a sense of sheer desperation. He couldn't wait much longer, and he wasn't talking about waiting to speak with the Lady Crypt. He was talking about waiting to redeem himself. He felt like he was standing at the edge of an abyss, and he was terrified of falling in and being lost to the darkness forevermore.

As time went by, him being here became less and less about offering his protection and more about seeking his redemption. It was clear that the Lady Crypt and the young Earl James did not need his protection. She did not need him at all. No, but he needed her. He hoped that she would be a vector for his redemption. If he couldn't gain the forgiveness of and prove his change of heart to the person who he felt his family had wronged the most, then there was no hope for him at all surely.

Yet as Thalken sat there, doubt began to creep into his mind. He began to doubt that he would even be given the chance to make things right with the Lady Crypt at all. The thought occurred to him just then that maybe they were playing him. The Great Bazhooli had said that Thalken would be given an audience with the Lady Crypt, but maybe that was just a lie. Maybe the man had something else up his sleeve for Thalken. It was befitting really. Thalken deserved whatever was coming to him. Nonetheless, he desperately wanted to speak with her.

Thalken finally lifted his head, and his dark eyes opened once more. He let out a small growl and jumped to his feet. He glanced sharply over at the guards. He wanted to march over there and demand entrance, but he instead opted with pacing back and forth. He would wear a path away in the grass with the way he was moving. All the while, tension reverberated off of him in palatable waves.