Chapter Text
It was the best he could think of in the heat of the moment. The best move they could make to live another day. The Queen spoke, but all Caleb could hear was a ringing in his ears. He barely registered her words. Then, the room was silent once more, and that silence was stifling. It was clinging to Caleb, suffocating him. He looked around, looked to the ones he called his friends, looked to the Bright Queen.
Heroes of the Dynasty. It hadn't quite sunk in yet. It still felt like such an odd thought. He hoped this didn't disappoint his parents; when he had first touched that beacon, he'd said he hoped he would make them proud. How far he had fallen from that…
The Queen looked towards her guards and spoke. They bowed low in response and collected their fallen weapons, backing away reverently. The robed bugbear Caleb had noted when they'd first entered the chamber hurriedly stepped through the crowd, dropping to one knee in front of Jester and carefully lifting the dodecahedron from the stone floor.
Caleb took a step back, leaving as much space as possible between the bugbear and himself. "I am sorry to ask, but... What will happen to us? You call us heroes of the Dynasty, but what does that entail? I understand that you bestowed this title on us, your Highness, and.... I'm thankful for your grace. But- I need to make sure my friends will stay safe and that we can get this one her husband back," he said as he pointed to Nott. Anxiety was roiling in his chest; he wasn't cut out for this.
Nott stiffened at the attention and made a small sound, but the Queen's gaze remained fixed on the dodecahedron as the bugbear rose up and brought it towards her. "The service you have granted this day has saved many lives. Any who dare cause your team harm will bring the wrath of the Dynasty upon themselves." She passed her staff to one of the others at her side and lifted both arms slowly, almost ritualistically. The bugbear placed the dodecahedron in her hands and backed away. She stared deeply into the dodecahedron for a moment, before taking in a tense breath, her expression hardening some. She finally lifted her eyes, meeting Nott's with a cold stare before turning to one of the knights. "Take this to its vault in the Darkshire," she instructed them. "And double the watch."
The Bright Queen reclaimed her staff and turned back towards the group, her face stoic once more. "You came here seeking favor, and a favor you shall have. Please. Speak your request."
Caleb exchanged a glance with Nott at the Queen's cold stare. He didn't know what to make of this, anxiety making him lightheaded. He didn't want to break the solemn atmosphere of the moment, even if the many thoughts racing in his mind were making him feel queasy. He wished he had his cat with him. He settled with playing with the end of his scarf for a moment, before looking up again. He took a deep breath. "We request the release of a prisoner into our custody. His name is Yezza Brenatto." He took a deep breath once, looking down again. " I... I request access to your library, to the knowledge of this magic you use. I wish to learn it--not to spread its knowledge, but to achieve a goal of my own. There are people dear to me I wish to bring back. I lost my family at the hand of the Empire. I think your knowledge will help me achieve this." By the end of his speech, he was visibly shaking.
There was a silent pause for several moments, the Queen's ice blue eyes boring into his. And then she nodded. "These are things we can try to arrange." She looked towards the drow who had held her staff. "Anwar. Please see to the accommodations for our guests."
He bowed his head respectfully, "Yes, Your Radiance."
The Bright Queen looked over all of the Mighty Nein again. "The amenities of the Aurorahold are at your disposal. May they serve you well."
Anwar led the Nein out of the throne room and through the palace, guiding them down dazzlingly lit crystal halls with high, sweeping ceilings. The drow pointed out various features of interest along the way, and Caleb wondered for a moment if he hadn't landed them all in some gilded cage they could never escape from. Anwar led them on a circuitous path, past a number of guard posts and to a quiet hallway. There, he presented each member of the Nein with their own suite along the northern side of the corridor.
The pressure Caleb felt in his chest barely abated until he entered his suite and shut the door, alone in a room so far from home. He couldn't help the small hysterical laugh at the enormity of it all.
<Caleb! This place is amazing! But it's weird to be alone, here. Are you doing okay? Youcanreplytothismessage!>
He grabbed his wire from his pouch, glad that he still had it, together with his books. <I'm fine, I think... Do you want to come over?> He wasn't sure he wanted to face the others yet. He wasn't sure he wanted to know exactly how they felt about what he had done just now.
<I can, if you want me to. Do you think those guards in the hallway are cool with that, or should I sneak past when they're not looking?>
<I think you'll be fi-> Caleb's thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock on his door. He knew that Nott was sneaky but... "Come in?" He wasn't sure who to expect. But as much as he wanted peace right now, saying no to someone knocking at your door was probably a bad idea. He hoped Nott was just that fast.
The door opened, and a lovely young drow stepped in, wearing what Caleb assumed to be palace livery. She clasped her hands demurely and bowed her head. "Pardon the interruption, sir. Your bath has been prepared. If you would care to follow me?"
Oh. Of course. Caleb rubbed at his face. Of course he couldn't go around like some dirty hobo in a place like this. He sure wished he could, and the idea got a dry chuckle out of him. "Ah, just a moment please." <Nott, we will have to talk later. They want to clean me up. You take care of yourself and call me if you run into trouble, okay?>
The servant dipped her head a bit lower in a nod, seemingly unmoved by his side conversation. "Of course, sir. I will be in the hall, when you are ready." She backed out of the door again, closing it with a soft click.
He took a moment to remove the ridiculous harness, discarding it on the bed for now, and transferred some of his components from his coat pockets to the pouch tied at his belt. He felt strangely vulnerable doing so, but he just needed more time to consider what had just happened. He knew the ways of a court such as this; he knew he had to tread carefully, hero or not. At least he could fall back on his training under Trent. He didn't relish that, but... You have to do what you have to do. He carefully removed and folded his coat and scarf, setting them on the foot of the bed as well, and looked at the pile a moment before stepping out of the suite. The servant was waiting there, as she'd promised. He cleared his throat, trying to pull himself together. "Alright. Lead the way."
She dipped her head again and began leading Caleb away from the guest hall, passing guards at their posts and the occasional well-dressed individual on their way to the baths. "Do you have a preference in your personal attendants?" she asked. "We have staff in a variety of races and genders, including some who have 'specialized' in areas of their training."
"I-" He shook his head. Specialized training, ah? Mollymauk would have enjoyed all this attention. He would have milked it for all it was worth. Caleb almost wanted to ask if, per any chance, they happened to have a purple tiefling in their staff. He knew full well that was just setting himself up for disappointment, though. "I do not. Do as you deem best suited."
"As you wish, sir," she acquiesced, leading him past yet another hall. And Caleb caught, with the corner of his eye, the briefest glimpse of a familiar shade of lavender. "Would you wish some attendants to aid with your bathing, as well?"
Caleb stopped dead in his tracks, looking at where he saw that glimpse of lavender. It must be the tiredness getting to him; that idea was completely ridiculous, after all. He looked back at the servant, finally registering her question "Yes, yes sure. Why not. 'In for a copper in for a platinum,' I guess." He sighed, looking back at where he saw that glimpse of lavender.
"We aim to please." She nodded again, professionally unfazed, and waited for Caleb to move before leading him once more along the corridors.
The halls grew faintly warmer as they approached the silver-lined doors of the palace baths. She opened them for Caleb, ushering him politely through, and the steam-heavy air wrapped around the wizard like a warm, soothing embrace. "Ah, welcome," said a reedy voice, and Caleb looked over to see an elderly female goblin sitting behind a desk.
"This sir requests attendance but is otherwise not particular. I trust you can see to his comforts, Mazrie?" the female drow asked.
"Of course, of course," the goblin assured her, hopping down to floor level and stepping around the desk. "This way, dearie! I'll see you well looked after."
Caleb hugged himself anxiously. He was so used to fending for himself, that this just felt foreign to him. He could barely even remember the last time he had a proper bath! They hadn't really stopped since... He pulled at his hair with a hand, just willing this train of thought to stop.
Mazrie reached for one of several cords along the wall and tugged it twice, then led Caleb to an archway curtained with strands of crystal beads. "This way, sir, if you don't mind." Immediately past the curtain was another small hallway, brightly decorated in silvers and pale blues. She led him past a few doors before opening another, guiding him into what appeared to be a small antechamber. A wood-paneled screen stood to the side, decorated with a fanciful seascape. "Would you like some help with your clothes, dearie?" the goblin asked.
Caleb just looked around, taking in every detail. He hadn't seen a place this opulent since, well, since perhaps some fancy ballroom event when he was still at the academy. When he was still one of the most brilliant children, under the tutelage of the most influential people of the Empire. "I will be fine, thank you."
"Suit yourself!" she replied cheerily. "Just place the things you want washed in the basket and go through that door when you're ready." She pointed to a door across the way, made from what appeared to be frosted crystal or glass. "There's a robe and some towels behind the screen, if you're shy. Enjoy~!" She stepped back into the hall and closed the door behind her, leaving Caleb alone once again.