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Recorded from an excerpt of Jhe h'Akribastes's Travel Log
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There is, on the floor in front of me, a bound Emperor. My long-lost son is recovering from enduring servitude to that Emperor, and the complete list of acts he has had to endure or participate in has yet to be made apparent to me. I worry more about Lyric's mental well-being than his guilt. Gerald seems fine, but has his share of stories to tell me. Cade has been bound similarly to the Peacock King, by Jhe Camden. Who, incidentally, has a lot of talking to do. There are freed slaves all around and I've no idea what to do with them. There is a wronged, angry animism stalking about as if he were a housecat whose tail had just met the wrong end of a rocking chair.

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Recorded from an excerpt of Jhe h'Akribastes's Travel Log
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I only see one thing during this moment. ...That's an error. I can see many things at a time, as that is a function of being the Law. There is only one thing that I am focused solely upon at this moment. It is the Jhe o'Sul's face rushing towards me, eyes widening but still full of mad rage, still utterly convinced he'll have his way and take his vengeance. I correct that assertion by driving my knee up into his nose.

He claws his way away from me, lurching to the side. For some reason he doesn't let go of his whip. I only grin. He snaps the whip away from Diyn's teeth, dissipating the snared length and then rematerializing it after it's unsnared. Oh, what a cute trick. He looks down at me with disdain, which is impressive considering the blood trickling from his nose and the strange crooked angle the feature's been bent to.

* * *
Recorded from an excerpt of Gerald Akribastes's Mission Log
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Cade eases his way down the dark hall, angling Gerude's body so that his knees don't bump too much against the stone walls. Can't have him getting too serious of an injury, after all. He might need the boy to walk, later. Or to do menial labor. Who's to know what's ahead? The Castle is falling and it's time to move on, as Cade always does, after collecting his souvenirs. It's only a little ways farther, and then he can be out of here, on to the next Court, or gang of bandits, or future disaster site. Who's to tell, with his life? The Jherent Nul always makes it an interesting ride for him, and could he ask for more?

Of course not, not when he can always just take it for himself.

I've checked over the windows. They're warded, and I even started poking at those wards. There's guards outside the windows too, though. And I think I could sneak out of here if I tried, but fighting isn't something I'm very confident about. I don't know why I want to get out, really. I mean, look at what I have to face. Daddy's here. For some reason, the shivers aren't running down my spine at that thought anymore.

You know? I think I'll just deal with that once I get out. And I am getting out. I'm tired of this place. Of course, I have no clue how I'm breaking out--

Of course, once I go and think that, I hear a slam against my door, and a sound that I'd definitely equate with a guard expiring. There's some scrabbling against the door, then. "Lyric! Get this door open! Find a way!"

I blink. "...Faun?"

"Yes, yes! Now open the door, it's annoying having to kill all these people just because you're too slow about things!"

Oh gods Daddy's here.

I can feel it in the very air of this place, feel his presence hanging over my head like an axe...wherever in the Palace he is.

No matter if the nymphs tell you any different, I did not pee in the bathtub just now. I do haul out of it immediately and dry off. I dress in record time. I take about five minutes to do my hair, cutting the regular preparation time drastically short. I need to look ready. Sharp. I need to be alert.

I need to run away.

One problem. The door out of my room is locked. I peer down under it.

...Okay, two problems. The Peacock King has a guard posted in front of my door. Why would he do that?

What's going on?

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Recorded from an excerpt of Gerude Akribastes's Travel Log
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* * *
Recorded from an excerpt of Apprentice Armed Rachella Hawksgard's Travel Log
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I know something is wrong at dawn, and I don't even have to ask Jenny if she feels the same. I can feel it coming off of her, and even if that isn't enough, the tension in her poise and the fire in her eyes are dead giveaways. Something is afoot this morning. We're going to see action soon.

The blood thunders in my ears for a few moments from the rush of it. I'm just a trainee, after all. Jenny's earned her Arms, though she's not allowed to carry them publicly yet. If it comes down to us drawing...

No, I'll find some way of fighting. I've been trained. I can handle this.

She leads us out to the yard outside the Mews. We've been watched for awhile here. It puts Jenny on edge. Me...well, I think I know why we're being watched.

* * *
Recorded from an excerpt of Peacekeeper Camden Briarseal's Travel Log
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I've been very honored today - the Peacock King graced us with his presence this morning. Words cannot describe my gratitude for this wonderful and unparalleled occasion.

Instead of addressing us in his Court, he took the matter to me directly, meeting me outside in a field we've been allowed to use as a sparring practice 'arena'. As he'd hate to show off our strength too openly to his citizens, the field is isolated and walled in, located near an older, less-used section of the palace. Of course, he insists it's for our privacy and for the safety of others, implying that we might actually miss what we were aiming for and cause collateral damage...

...Well, I'll give him that, Jhe Jenny is a part of our group. But he doesn't know what that means, so it's no excuse.

Do you know, I manage some real sleep for what might even be several hours? The sensation is so unfamiliar that I almost wake up from the shock of it. I even have a dream, though I don't remember it, like happens with most of my dreams.

At some point, though, I rouse from true rest and into traveling. At least I have some idea of where I mean to go, or was going to go - well, okay, I'm trying to explain away the fact that I just end up in here. Outside the bars, true, but still, I'm crouched on the floor outside Faun's cell. I look up and into the prison. He's asleep, now, but not very deeply. He looks troubled, and he keeps twitching.

I wake up with the full knowledge of where I am, who I'm with, and what I've done the night before. That means that from this point on, everything will get better for me.

The Peacock King's arm tightens around my chest. He moans his yawn into my hair, then presses his lips into the back of my neck. He stretches and the whole bed groans with it. I also feel extremely tiny in comparison with him, but that's no real difference from any other time.

He strokes a hand through my hair. "How are you this morning, my dear?"

The groan I make in reply lacks grace and beauty, but it accurately conveys my state. I must admit that my performance in bed the morning after always leaves much to be desired when it comes to etiquette. I just forget. Mornings are crap. Everyone just pays for the night anyway.

...Please oh please don't show that last part to my Dad.

He still holds my arm. His other hand falls on my shoulder like a lead weight. Like a dead weight, in fact. I get an eerie mental image of a corpse's hand grabbing me. His grip is anything but dead, though. Not only is it strong, but his fingers twitch. I can feel the tips of his long fingernails poking into my shoulder, twitching a bit. He's angry. He can't keep his hands still, he's so angry. He's angry and he's holding me and he could just shake me like a doll right now and I could do nothing but snap in his arms. Father wouldn't even get a letter about it. I don't make a sound. I don't breathe. The only movement there is to me is the gentle thumping of my heart and the strands of unknotted hair that blow in the light breeze.