Secrets revealed

[tkennedy@mail.utexas.edu (Tammi Kennedy)]

Who: Rahne, Dani, Sam, Gallio, Aquilla, and Selene
Logger: Rahne
Where: NovaRoma
When: The morning after Rahne and Dani did their hunts and after Rahne
discovered where Professor DaCosta is being held.
What: The NM's go to confront Aquilla once more, this time being taken down
to the cells where they find Professor DaCosta and Bobby and Aquilla turns
both over to the NM's care.  Sam takes the DaCostas and flies off with them
while Rahne and Dani stay to talk to Aquilla.  Gallio arrives and a
confrontation occurs.


[NovaRoma] BoHunk Gallio sets the scene: Since our intrepid young heros last
saw each other, young Rahne has managed to find Nina DaCosta...in the house
of the very man that is the enemy of the man that 'saved' them in the
colloseum, Senator Aquilla. Additionally, Dani has found out that not only
does Senator Aquilla make much the same claims against Senator Gallio as
Gallio does against him, but also that Aquilla's daughter, Amara, is
missing, presumably in the clutches of the dread Black Goddess. What does
this all mean? Tune in for this next exciting chapter...

Gallio is lounging in his couch, breaking his fast. It is the morning after
Dani and Rahne made their...discoveries.

Rahne hides under the covers of her bed, having fallen asleep after her late
night out finding Professor DaCosta.

Dani wakes, goes through the morning ritual (brush hair, morning bathroom
trip), and dresses. She tries her mindlink, seeing if Rahne's in human form,
or if she can hear her. *Rahne?*
Cannonball is fully clothed, such as Nova Romans are; he looks tired.

Rahne is indeed in human form, only the top of her head visible from under
the light blanket. She sleeps on, unaware that morning has arrived.

Gallio smiles as he sees Sam enter. "Ah, greetings, young one. From the look
of you, I would say that you took full advantage of the attention of my
slave girls, eh?" He winks, broadly, smiling.

Cannonball looks darkly at Gallio, but is clearly too tired to bother.

Dani heads out, and journeys down to get some breakfast herself.

Not long after Dani has left, the sounds of the household reach Rahne's
sleeping ears, and finally she drags herself from sleep. She pushes away the
covers and stretches, yawning big then rubbing her eyes. "Dani?" she asks
sleepilly. A glance around proves that her friend is nowhere to be seen, so
she flops back into the bed for a few minutes before dragging herself up and
out and getting dressed. At one point during the morning ritual, she shifts
to midform to try finding out where Dani is... <<Dani? Where are ye?>>

Dani says "Good morning..."

Gallio stands and bows, graciously to Dani. "Good morning, child. I trust
you slept well..."
Cannonball glances at Dani, and leans against a wall, uncomfortably.

Dani replies. <<Down getting breakfast, Rahne...>> "Mmm...not exactly. I was
speaking to some people here last night, and heard some disturbing stories."

Gallio arches an eyebrow. "Oh?"

<<A'right. I'll be doon in a minute. I foond somethin' ye and Sam might want
tae hear -- I foond Professor DaCosta.>> comes the reply as Rahne-in-midform
finishes up her ritual upstairs.

Dani nods, and says, innocently. "Something about a...Black Goddess?"

Gallio snorts. "Unsubstantiated rumors..."

Gallio doesn't sound /that/ sure of himself, though.

Dani nods. "Ahh. Still...enough to cause me troubling dreams."

Gallio nods. "Quite understandible. Still, some fruit juice will surely wash
the night terrors from your mind."

Dani thinks . o O (Give me half an excuse, and we'll see what terrors are in
_your_ mind...) and then <<Rahne? Where's the Professor, and is she okay?>>

Rahne finishes her morning ritual and perches on the edge of her bed.
<<She's a' Senator Aquilla's Villa, just as Senator Gallio said, an' in a
cell in th' basement. She didnae wake up when I talked tae her o' touched
her, bit I didnae hae much time tae try. We hae tae get her oot o' there,
Dani!>>

Gallio motions to trays of food. "Eat now...we shall talk more afterwards."

Dani begins to make a plate. <<You're sure? I talked to him, and he seemed
pretty sincere. Worried about his daughter, but not a kidnapper.>>

Cannonball gets some fruit juice, and makes small talk to cover for Dani.
"Sir, how'd y'all manage to keep undetected, even..." He trails off,
realizing how silly it is to ask about planes.

Gallio says "Undetected? From?"

Rahne stands up and starts pacing. <<Aye, I ken whit I saw, Dani. T'was
Aquilla's Villa, doonstairs. Aboot six o' eight guards, an' Professor
DaCosta was in a cell an' guarded.>>

Dani looks about. "Actually, Senator...I gave some thought to what you were
saying last night..."

Gallio smiles a bit more freely. "I see. And?"

Dani says "And if it's all the same to you...we'd just as soon skip
breakfast. We have...work to do."

Gallio says "I suppose it would not be that great an insult..."

Dani nods. "Then if you don't mind. Sam?"

Cannonball says "Yeah."

Cannonball sets his glass down.

Wolfsbane continues pacing in her midform, not wanting to leave the room
while in that form just to go down to get breakfast. That would be odd.
<<Dani? Whit's happenin'? I dinnae want tae leave th' room in muh midform...>>

Dani thinks up. <<It's showtime, Rahne. Meet us just outside.>>

Dani starts out. "We have someone to help."

Wolfsbane heads for the window. <<All right, Dani. Kin ye grab me a bagel o'
somethin'?>>

Gallio says "Of course...you are welcome to come back."

Dani nods. She gestures to Sam...and then she walks out.

Dani has left.
Cannonball has left.
Selene has left.
Gallio has left.

City Square - Nova Roma

	Glorious.

	No word better describes the central square of the new city of Rome, reborn
in South America as Nova Roma. Temples surround the area, beautiful
buildings with carved columns, relief sculptures, and elaborate friezes.
Statues dedicated to the gods are lifted on pillars around the area, and the
very center of the square is a lavish fountain, filled with carved stone
dolphins, naiads, and tritons, water flowing from their mouths, over their
arms, their curves. Even the ground is inlaid with polished stone--no part
of this place is not touched with splendor.

Contents:
Gallio
Selene
Cannonball
Dani
Obvious exits:
Aquilla Villa <AV>  Jungle <J>  Gallio Villa <V>  Colosseum <C>

Wolfsbane leaps from the window and heads for the door of the Villa, meeting
Sam and Dani just outside.

Dani looks about at her teammates. "Finally, a chance to talk..."

Wolfsbane looks at Dani hopefully. "Did ye grab me somethin' tae munch on,
Dani? An' did ye tell Sam I foond Professor DaCosta?"

Dani tosses Rahne a fruit she snagged on her way out. "Not yet. No chance
to. All right, guys...here's the situation. Rahne found Professor DeCosta in
Aquilla's place. I talked to Aquilla...his daughter's missing, and he claims
there's this "Black Goddess" that might be at fault. So we're going to head
over, and we _are_ getting the Professor out...peacefully if possible, by
force if we have to. Anyone know where Bobby got to?"

Cannonball says "Ah wish ah knew. Looked all night."

People mill about the city, shopping, gossiping, talking and laughing.

Dani nods. "Okay...to Aquilla's, then. Follow my lead....Sam, once we get to
the Professor, if it's a hostile situation, grab her, and blast clear. Rahne
and I will get out on our own."

Cannonball eyes Dani, but nods. "Sounds good t'me."

Dani nods, and starts off to Aquilla's.

Wolfsbane nods to Dani as she munches on her piece of fruit. "I couldnae
fin' Bobby, Dani. Tha's why I was lookin' aroond Aquilla's Villa. I thought
I caught his scent a time o' so, bit I couldnae tell f'r sure."

Dani speaks, grimly. "If he knows anything, I'll get it out of him. Be sure
of it."

Dani arrives at Aquilla's.

Wolfsbane follows behind Dani and arrives with her, having finished her fruit.

Cannonball brings up the back, looking nervously behind the group.

Dani looks about, waiting for one of the guards to acknowledge her.

No one /seems/ to be following the little group.

Wolfsbane glances at Dani. <<Should I shift back tae human, Dani, o' stay
like this...?>>

Dani thinks <<Stay as you are, Rahne...we may need fast action here. Be
ready for anything, guys.>>

Wolfsbane steps back slightly behind Dani. <<Aye, Dani.>>

Dani waits on that guard... (*hint hint, wizzies.*)

One the the guards at the Aquilla villa looks at Dani and growls something
in Latin.

Dani says "We're here to see Senator Aquilla."

The guard blinks a few times. He says, in halting English, "Outlanders...go
in...see Senator."

Dani nods, and mutters, under her breath. "Damn right, outlanders go in."

Dani starts forward.

Wolfsbane passes by the guard behind Dani, muttering, "Thank ye."

Cannonball goes in with the other outlanders.

Gallio has left.

Senator Aquilla's Villa - Nova Roma

	The Aquilla estate is large and well-appointed, as any dwelling of so
important a person in Nova Roma, but it still manages not to be lavish or
over-extravagant. Outside are august stone pillars beneath a frieze, framing
the entrance to the inner dwelling. Inside, the furnishings are sparse, and
bear no unnecessary decoration, but they are well-made: couches, chairs,
tables, and a few functional draperies to cover windows or separate rooms
from one another. The occasional potted plant provides most of the
decoration in this place.

Contents:
Cannonball
Dani
Gallio
Aquilla
Obvious exits:
City Square <CS>

Aquilla is, thus, in his dining area, taking a leisurely breakfast.

Selene has arrived.

Dani enters (and assume a guard escorts us to the Senator).

Two guards, in fact, escort the kids to the big kahuna.

Aquilla sets down his utensils and leans back in his chair, a curious
expression on his face. "It's rather early, isn't it? You must have pressing
business with me," he says.

Dani nods. "You could say that. Senator...last time I was here, you told me
you knew nothing of our friend's mother, Professor Decosta. I'll ask once
more. Have you heard anything of her?"

Wolfsbane nods to Aquilla, her eyes narrowed. "Aye, tha' we do..." She
barely refrains from demanding DaCosta's release from Aquilla right away...

Cannonball looks around, placing exits and guards in his mind.

Aquilla tents his fingers and shakes his head. "I do not believe that I have
encountered her. I will admit, though--I thought you were hear about another
matter."

Dani says "And that would be?"

Cannonball flexes his fingers impatiently, and looks speculatively at the
structure walls.

Aquilla says "My guards were--" He pauses, frowning. "They were
unfortunately lax in bringing their reports to me. They tell me that your
dark-skinned companion was caught attempting to break into my estate and
that they brought him into custody."

Dani says "I see..."

Wolfsbane looks suspiciously at Aquilla. <<I cannae tell if he's lyin' o'
no', Dani. He doesnae -smell- guilty, bit I -ken- I saw Professor DaCosta
doonstairs!>>

Wolfsbane frowns.

Aquilla leans forward again. "Unfortunately, given the incredible prowess he
displayed at the Colosseum, they had no choice but to keep him drugged to
preserve the integrity of my holding cells. And more unfortunately, they
chose not to tell me of this until last evening."

Dani nods. "I trust you won't mind if we go down to make certain he's all
right? Escorted, of course."

Aquilla says "Will you give me an oath upon your honor that you will not
attempt to break him free until we have had a chance to discuss this further?"

Cannonball starts to say something, but catches himself.

Dani says "I will give you my oath that if you have been completely honest
with me...I will not attempt to break him free until we talk further."

Wolfsbane narrows her eyes more to Aquilla.

Wolfsbane thinks to Dani, <<Ye gave yuir word -ye- willnae break him
free...bit whit aboot me an' Sam?>>

Dani thinks back <<Exactly. And it's dependant on his honesty. If what you
said is true, Rahne, he's already lied to me, and the oath's not binding.>>

Aquilla nods. "I can accept that, young lady." He nods to the guards
accompanying you and addresses them in Latin. They nod and come to attention.

Aquilla pushes his plate aside and stands up. "If you will follow me,
please?" He moves to a hallway; the guards fall in behind you.

Wolfsbane follows along behind Aquilla, anxious to get downstairs and get
her friends out.

Cannonball takes the rear again, looking over his shoulder frequently at the
guards.

Dani follows Rahne.

Dani thinks <<Check for scents, Rahne. Bobby or his mom.>>

Wolfsbane sniffs around as she walks. <<Aye, Dani.>>

Aquilla leads to a staircase, then down it into a dungeon area. The guards
snap to attention when he enters.

Wolfsbane looks immediately toward the cage in which she'd found Professor
DaCosta.

The first cell on the left as you enter holds a woman, lying prone, who
looks much like Professor DaCosta.

Wolfsbane breaks away from the group to start over to that cage. <<Dani! Ye
see...over here.>>
The guards move their spears to a more ready position as Rahne breaks from
the group and attempt to herd her back.

Dani moves a step or two closer. "Who is that woman, Senator?"

Cannonball braces himself.

Aquilla stops and looks back. He indicates Professor DaCosta's cell. "This
one? I do not know. She was found unconscious by the river some days ago,
and she has not awakened yet. We have been looking to her health until she
does."

Wolfsbane growls at the guards. "Let me pass, ye spaleens!"

Dani says "Uh-huh. That's the woman we were looking for."

Aquilla looks startled. "She is the one?" He shakes his head slightly. "But
she looks nothing like your friend, who you say is her son..."

The guards stand their ground, though they look uncomfortable at Rahne's threat.

Dani sighs. "Rahne, calm down. Senator...let us take our friend, and his
mother, and we'll leave. No trouble."

Cannonball says "Ah think you'd best let her go now, sir."

Wolfsbane glares at the guards, showing her teeth in this form. "I *said*,
let me pass!" At Dani's words, she backs down, though her hackles are still
raised and her teeth still show.

Aquilla nods and looks thoughtful. "Well, since my august friend Gallio has
given you your status, I do not think it would be right of me to deny it to
your family as well." He looks to the direction he had originally been
going, then back and nods. "Very well. However, do you have access to a
physician to look after the woman? She is not yet well."

The guards pale, but they still do not back down. They do bring their
weapons to a more offensive posture, however.

Dani looks frustrated. "No. No, we don't. But let's have them both brought
above."

Cannonball scratches his head, and says to Dani, "Ah can get her t'help."

Aquilla nods. "I can arrange for her care here, if you wish." He glances
about and adds hastily, "In more appropriate quarters, of course."

Wolfsbane turns to Aquilla. "Aye." she mutters and steps back over to Dani,
still glancing over to Professor DaCosta.

Aquilla motions one of the guards closer. They have a brief discussion, and
Aquilla nods at the end. "If I release your companion, can you have him
taken from here before he wakes, or at least ensure that he does not do
something..." A pause. "...destructive when he does wake?"

Dani nods. "Sam...can you carry two?"

Cannonball looks thoughtful. "Ah think so. Ah'm not sure about landin' with
two, but if ah can wake Bobby up on th'way, ah can, y'know, let him off early."

Dani nods. "Take Bobby and the Professor. Get them out of here, and to
medical treatment.

Aquilla speaks to a guard, who fetches a ring of keys and begins to open the
Professor's cell. "Then your sponsor gives you leave to depart, as well?"

Dani says "Yes, he did."

Wolfsbane follows the guard over to the Professor's cell, watching the guard
closly to make sure Prof DaCosta is handled properly.

Aquilla nods. "Then I am certainly not in a position to gainsay him."

Aquilla . o O (And if Gallio plans on using these youths against me, I am
better off if they do leave. I cannot imagine they trust me much, after the
time he has had to speak to them of me.)
Dani nods, and looks to the Senator. "And now, once my friends are
away...I'd like to talk to you in greater depth about another matter, with
my friend Rahne here."

Cannonball thoughtfully says, "Ah need'm outside, and help getting hold of'm."

Aquilla nods. "That can be arranged." As he speaks, the guard finishes
opening Professor DaCosta's cell and retreats toward an area in the dungeons
that can't be seen from here.
Dani nods. "If you can ask your guards to help?"

Wolfsbane glances over to Dani, then looks back to watch the guard and make
sure the Prof's handled right.

Aquilla nods. He calls some more guards over. Three of them move into the
Professor's cell and carefully lift her, taking her toward the exit of the
dungeon area. Another two disappear off in the halls of the dungeon,
returning eventually with the unconscious form of Roberto.
Cannonball heads upstairs with the guards.

Dani nods to Aquilla. "And now, you, my friend, and I, somewhere more quiet?"

Wolfsbane follows the guards until they head off with Sam, then she returns
to Dani's side.

Cannonball has disconnected.

Once the DaCosta family has been taken, Aquilla nods to the two of you left.
"So, shall we retire to more comfortable surroundings?"

Wolfsbane nods. "Aye."

Dani nods. "Yes."

Aquilla dismisses one of the guards who accompanied you. The other one
remains behind as the senator leads you upstairs and to a closed door. "This
room should do," he says, opening the door.

Dani nods. "All right."

Wolfsbane steps inside.

As you step inside, who should be seated inside but...Gallio.

Dani frowns a little. <<Careful, Rahne...I smell doublecross...>>

Aquilla stops still and his gaze narrows. "Gallio. What an... unexpected
delight." His voice indicates that it is anything but.

The guard lowers his spear and points it into the room. Aquilla waves his back.

Wolfsbane stops inside the door and blinks at Gallio. "Senator," she nods in
greeting.

Gallio smiles, warmly, with an undercurrent of ice. "I simply thought the
children might need some furthur protection and thought that, as their
patron in this city, I should be here to personally keep an eye on them."

Wolfsbane thinks to Dani, <<Keep an eye on us? Bit why...he's our host...>>

Aquilla nods. "Of course," he says in a too-even tone. "And I'm certain my
guards agreed with every word of that." He takes a seat with his back to a
wall. "But enough about us, Gallio. I believe these children had some
questions they wished to ask."

Gallio says "Then I shall be happy to hear how you answer them, Lucius
Antonius."

Aquilla nods. "Why, with complete honesty. I--" and he emphasizes that word
slightly "--have nothing to hide."

Gallio says "Except that you had their friend and his mother in your clutches."

Wolfsbane looks between the two senators, trying to judge which of them
speaks truth and which one has something to hide.

Dani snaps, a little angrily. "Look...you two are playing your political
games...you play them. We have our friends, they're out, and on their way to
safety. All I want to do now is find Senator Aquilla's daughter." And as she
says it, she focuses her power, with all her might. As she pulled a specific
image, one of Professor Xavier, out of Bobby and Sam's head...she tries to
pull up an image of Amara entering the room, out of the heads of the two
senators. And she _carefully_ watches the reactions of the two senators.

Aquilla looks startled, then gets up to greet his daughter with open arms.
"Amara! My daughter, I had thought you lost for good!"

Wolfsbane watches Aquilla as well, though she is also surprised by Amara's
arrival. A glance at Dani <<Tha' yuirs?>>

Gallio recognizes her, but doesn't react visibly other then confusion. "What
witchery is this?!" He doesn't seem to have anything to hide involving her,
though.

Dani lets the image fade. Neither one. Damn.

Dani replies to Rahne <<Yeah...was hoping to spook the guilty party.>>

Wolfsbane thinks to Dani <<Whit happened tae Aquilla's daughter?>>

Gallio . o O (So...it is witchcraft they want? Witchcraft is what they shall
get.)

Dani thinks <<Missing.>>

Aquilla stops as Amara disappears. He turns to face the room, eyes quite
narrow. "Which one of you has stolen my daughter, again?"

Dani says "Looks like it's this Black Goddess at work, Senator.
Teleportation isn't one of my tricks. Where can we find her, _please_?"

Gallio raises his voice, slightly. "Selene, my wife...would you please join us?"

Wolfsbane steps over closer to Dani, not liking the way things are turning.

Aquilla steps back against the wall, reaching to the sword at his side and
pulling it about.

In the doorway, the figure called for emerges, one hand on the frame of the
passage. "<Yes, my husband?>" Ebon hair drawn up into a proper bun, and
garbed in a gown of violet, Selene stands there.

"Children," Gallio continues, "you are free to leave. Know that you have
served Nova Roma's citizens well in helping to expose this traitor to his
people. Now, as you said, this is between him and me." He stands and turns
to Selene. "<Please join Aquilla and myself, wife. We have...business to
discuss.>"

Aquilla mutters something in Latin to himself.

Wolfsbane looks from Dani to Gallio to Aquilla back to Dani. <<Dani...?>>

Dani says "I don't think he _is_ a traitor. And we're not going anywhere
till we find out where his daughter's gone."

Dani thinks back <<Not sure, fuzzy...I'm winging it wildly here. Gallio
strikes me as a little _too_ ambitious, somehow. For some reason, this
smacks of a setup.>>

Selene steps fully into the room, her eyes lingering on the outsiders
present. She moves to step into a seat beside Gallio.

Wolfsbane nods faintly. <<Aye. Bit I dinnae trust Aquilla, either. He
*seemed* sincere in his surprise a' discoverin' th' Professor was th' one we
wanted, bit...>>

Gallio says "You need not leave, of course, and you are free to search for
Gallio's daughter. I will aid your search. However, you expressed a desire
to...not be caught in these political games."

Aquilla lets his sword lower, slowly. "What game are you playing this time,
Gallio? Politics is what it is, but to bring in these outsider children...
And. My. Daughter... is below what I thought even of you."

Dani looks at Gallio. "Senator...I don't trust you." And then she looks to
Aquilla. "I don't trust either of you." Back to Gallio. "And you've seemed
too ambitious in all this. Too eager to use us as your tools."

Wolfsbane peers at Gallio and mutters, "Aye."

Gallio's voice raises a bit. "I know nothing of the whereabouts of your
daughter you fat fool. And I do not need her as a bargaining chip. Your day
has ended, Aquilla."

Selene remains quiet for the moment, but the hint of a smile can be seen on
her lips.

Wolfsbane thinks to Dani <<He -seems- sincere, tae...>>

Aquilla says "Then do not presume to dictate who may and may not search for
her, my... exalted friend. And do not presume to foretell whose day ends,
and whose yet rises."

Dani thinks to Rahne. <<Yeah. Which means it's neither of them. Who else
have we seen in a position of power?...>>

Wolfsbane glances at Selene out of the corner of her eyes. <<Well, she seems
tae be aroond Gallio a lot, an' doin' more than jus' listenin'...>>

Gallio says "Your excesses have gone to your head, Lucius. You presume to be
in any position to come out ahead in this?"

Dani nods faintly. <<Well, can't hurt...the other two saw it already...>>
And she recreates that image of Amara.

Aquilla spits. "Sorcery, Gallio! You claim not to know where my daughter is,
and yet she appears again? Let the gods themselves see this lie!"

Gallio bahs. "These children have admitted to having unnatural powers.
Perhaps they cause these images."

Eyes turn towards the door as "Amara" enters once again, Selene seeming
almost about to react before Aquilla's reaction causes her to relax. . o O
(Sorcery? But not mine.) Naught but a frown is seen on her face.

The image fades, again.

Dani thinks to Rahne. <<No trace of Amara's scent, Rahne?>>

Aquilla looks from Dani to Rahne. "Well? Is this sorcery your doing?"

Dani spreads her hands. "I'm no sorceress."

Wolfsbane sniffs around subtly and shakes her head. "No' me." <<I cannae
smell...ahh...aye, there's a faint trace o' her on Selene.>>

Dani beams, finally, and looks to Selene. "Maybe _you_ can tell us where the
Lady Amara is..."

Gallio says "You will address my wife with the respect she deserves, child."

Selene's eyes linger on the wolfling, her lips still in a vague frown. As
her husband speaks for her, she remains silent.

Aquilla looks at Gallio and smiles, faintly. "<<She did not?>>"

Dani ignores Gallio. "I didn't ask you. I asked her."

"I know not what you speak of, girl," Selene says, finally deigning to speak.

Gallio says "And while you are in this city you will show the proper
respect, child. Or would you rather I had left you and your friends to be
killed in the arena?"

Dani says "And that's why Rahne here scents the Lady Amara on your clothes?"

Wolfsbane inches closer to Dani. And somewhat behind. <<T'is a faint trace,
Dani....>>

Aquilla frowns deeply, his sword raising imperceptibly as he looks over at
Selene.

"<I believe I am being insulted, husband,>" Selene murmurs aside to Gallio.

Gallio's eyes narrow. "<Perhaps you should teach the whelp gratitude for the
favors we have given her...>"

Selene looks at Gallio, then at the outlander pair. "Again, I know naught
what you speak of. I suggest that you end this farce, before your tongues
land you once more in the Colosseum. I forgive you this insult, but my
patience has bounds."

Dani's got a real temper....and Mt. St. Cheyenne is about to erupt.
"Look...I've had about enough of these games. My friends and I have been
drugged, manipulated, and used. You either took that girl, or you know where
she is..." And she takes a couple steps towards Selene, and says what's got
to be one of the most appropriate, yet comical lines in all of X-dom.
"Now...are 
you going to tell us nicely? Or do I _make_ you tell us?"

Gallio yawns. "My wife...a lesson is in order, I believe?"

Aquilla looks over at Dani, then casts Selene another suspicious glance.
"There is also the matter of your.. unorthodox entry to my estate, Gallio."

Wolfsbane steps behind Dani, outwardly supporting her teammate but inwardly
wanting to just get out of there.

Gallio smiles at Aquilla. "Your guards are horrendously underpaid. Or else
much to easily bribed for other reasons."

Aquilla raises his sword. "It is dangerous to admit such a thing, Senator.
Especially in the presence of witnesses, even outlanders."

Gallio says "Who would believe them? or even understand them?"

The woman stands, Aquilla ignored. "Your outlander tongue has gone beyond
the point at which I would forgive. Now you shall lose it." One hand
gestures towards the Cherokee maiden, a gesture one skilled in the arts
would recognize as the casting of a spell, along with the words spoken in a
language unknown to even Gallio.

Aquilla says "Even some of the guards claim their tongue, Gallio. You know
that as well as I. And what reason have they to support me over their own
sponsor, except... truth?"

Wolfsbane narrows her eyes at Gallio and Aquilla and Selene
and...well...everyone. <<I dinnae like this, Dani...>>

Aquilla breaks off as Selene begins her chant. "<Gods preserve
us--sorcery.>" He pales further as he realizes: "<The Black Priestess!>"

Dani tries to reply to Selene...and absolutely nothing comes from her mouth.
She looks shocked.

Gallio raises an eyebrow, but smiles, thinly, at Aquilla. "<As I said...your
time is up.>"

Dani thinks rapidly over her mindlink <<Rahne! I can't talk!! The woman,
take her down!>>

"Go!" Selene commands, pointing to the door. "Before I lose my temper
further, outlander."

Aquilla takes a defensive posture, looking between Gallio and his wife. "I
will not let it be said I died a coward's death, even so," he says, his face
locking.

Gallio says "You, young girls, have my promise of safe conduct out of Nova
ROma. But only if you leave now."

Dani concentrates, and attempts to draw out Selene's worst fear, and project
it at her.

Wolfsbane growls as Dani speaks and, against her better judgement, she leaps
for Selene, going directly for the throat as she shifts to wolven form as
she jumps.

Death itself comes for Selene, a ghostly image not easily seen by the others
present forming before the sorceress. But she, she sees it, and her eyes
widen. "<No!>" Arms raise to fend off the apparition coming for her, but
also serve to interrupt Wolfsbane's path. Selene, though, still falls
backwards under Wolfsbane's momentum.

Gallio's sword is out of its sheath and moving at Wolfsbane almost as she
leaps. But Gallio, true to his word in some things, is only trying to KO her
with the flat of the blade.

Aquilla lifts his own blade and leaps to the defense of Rahne. "Leave her
be!" He directs a quick look to Rahne and Dani. "Fly! I cannot hold the two
of them long!"

Dani has no intention of leaving Rahne tangled up with Selene. Her eyes whip
around the room, looking for _anything_ she might use as a weapon.

Gallio's blade is blocked by Aquilla's. As he distracts himself with the
safety of the girls, Gallio strikes at Aquilla, his left fist moving towards
the heavier man's face.

Wolfsbane lands on Selene and grabs her arm in her jaws. . o 0 (Let muh
friend speak, ye spaleen!) The last thought is barely out of her mind as the
swords clang together right behind her head. She ducks down, hunkering down
on Selene as her jaws close tighter around the woman's arm. <<Dani? Gae o'
fight?>> Her ears flick back toward Aquilla and Dani.

Dani thinks back, as she grabs anything large and heavy. <<We stay! If we
go, they'll kill Aquilla, and his daughter!>>

Aquilla doesn't manage to pull back, the blow leaving him dazed and
temporarily bereft his his senses. His sword lowers, but does not fall.

Gallio follows up with another attack, this time aiming to knock Aquilla
senseless with the butt of the hilt of his sword.

Wolfen teeth meet Selene's arm, but no blood is spilled, no flesh torn. The
impact of Dani's illusion, though, is broken. "Away from me, cur!" The words
are spat out, as Selene attempts to throw Wolfsbane up and away.

Dani sees that Selene seems to be recovering...these odds aren't good. She
retargets, and uses her power full strength on Gallio.

Aquilla tries to dodge, blearily moving his arm up to interpose with
Gallio's blow.

Wolfsbane holds on tight to Selene's arm as she gets shaken about like a rag
doll. Ever seen a pup hold on to a chewtoy to the point of being swung
around in a circle? That's what she's doing.

Gallio continues to press what advantage he has, while he has it. His fist
lashes out again, his sword hanging ready to parry.

Pain. Sheer, utter pain. That is the spell that Selene casts upon the wolf
that hangs from her arm. "I said *away!*"

Wolfsbane YELPS and lets go as she's being swung. She goes flying toward the
air, in the rough direction of Gallio and Aquilla.

Rather, that's what Gallio /would/ have done if Dani hadn't attacked him
with her power. Immediately, a vision of himself in chains, humbled and at
the feet of Aquilla appears before him. He starts in shock, falling
backwards, onto his rump.

Aquilla tries to use that chance to recover, picking himself up and shaking
his head to clear it.

Dani doesn't see that they have much of a chance here...she jumps at Selene,
swinging that tray with all her strength. But she's already used her
strongest weapon, and she shrugged it off.

As Dani stops concentrating on him, Gallio manages to recover, slowly. He
regains his feet, also shaking off the effects of the psionic attack and
seeming no better off then Aquilla is.

Aquilla moves in toward Gallio, striking swiftly as he can at the younger
man, if a bit erratically as he recovers.

The tray is caught, nails scraping at silver, and Selene uses the motion and
momentum of Dani's body to fling her further in the direction Dani was lunging.

Gallio's reflexes are a hair off. Aquilla's sword cuts open his toga and
leaves a long, shallow cut along Gallio's left arm.

Dani stumbles, but tries to catch herself. She would hurl a curse at the
sorceress, but she still can't speak. She moves in, cautiously, this time.
She _is_ the best fighter on the team. Time to at least _try_ it....she
looks for an opening, and snaps off a kick and punch combination at Selene.

Aquilla takes a moment to steady himself, then moves toward Gallio again.
"<Yield, and I will spare your life. Continue, and I make no such guarantees.>"

Gallio chuckles as he regains his balance. "<Yeild and if my wife holds your
daughter, perhaps I will convince her to spare /her/ life.>"

Selene is coming to her feet just as Dani's foot snaps out, and she stumbles
backwards against the wall of the room. . o O (Enough of this! Not when I am
so close!) The wall itself flows to her spoken command, and she is swallowed
up by stone. Gone.

Aquilla, enraged at that remark, strikes a stronger blow at Gallio. "<Your
wife has left you,>" he grunts as he swings.

Wolfsbane falls to the ground and rolls over a couple of times after the
attack of Selene's. She lays there whimpering for a minute or so until she's
able to concentrate and think through the pain again, when she lifts her
head and looks over toward Selene and Dani -- just in time to see Selene
disappear into the wall.

Gallio parries the blow. "<No matter. I will dispatch you handily.>"

Aquilla recovers the parry and turns it into a backswing. "<You
underestimate me. You always have.>"

Dani looks to Gallio. Selene's not here any more. Say hello to her power
again, backed with all her anger and frustration.

Gallio grunts as the swing comes too close to hitting. "<And you
overestimate the fools of...>" And with that he's hit with Dani's power
again, falling again, scared witless.

Aquilla moves to make another strike, and then holds his blow, looking at
Dani and Rahne. "One of you holds him, yes?" He attempts to wrest away
Gallio's sword as he calls, "<Guards! Come take this young, ambitious fool
to the dungeons, where I may hold him until he can be made to answer for his
crimes!>"

Dani nods.

Wolfsbane struggles to her feet and pads over to Gallio, then stands over
him growling.

Gallio is literally too frightened to resist.  Not by Wolfsbane. He doesn't
even /see/ her.

Dani waits until Gallio is restrained...then she relaxes her power, and lets
him wake to the reality of his fear instead. Captured and at Aquilla's mercy.

Several guards arrive. Most of them look surprised at Gallio's presence.
Some of them look cowed by Wolfsbane, but they approach, cautiously, to take
Gallio away.

Wolfsbane backs away from Gallio as the guards arrive, allowing them to come
in and take him. Then she pads over to Dani's side. <<Are ye' okay, Dani?>>

Gallio snarls as he slowly recovers. "<You will not get away with this,
Aquilla. The people will have your word versus mine. I shall be free and
will see you in chains!>"

Aquilla looks at Rahne and Dani as Gallio is removed. "Now... as for you
two..." He ignores Gallio's threats, for the moment. Perhaps as if he is
used to them.

Dani tries clearing her throat...and sends back to Rahne. <<I still can't
talk, Rahne.>>

Wolfsbane shifts back to her midform and stands between Dani and Aquilla.
"Muh friend still cannae speak."

Aquilla nods. "I fear I do not know how to treat that. Will you stay as my
guests at this estate, until we can clear matters up further? Perhaps a
doctor can treat her condition."

Wolfsbane looks to Dani. <<Whit dae ye think, Dani?>>

Dani sighs. <<We need to find that witch...ask him if he has any clue where
she is...>>

Wolfsbane turns back to Aquilla. "Do ye have any idea where th' witch might
hae gone, senator?"

Aquilla shakes his head. "No doubt wherever it is, there is also my
daughter. But I do not know where to find the temple of the Black Priestess."

Dani sighs. <<All right...tell him we'll stay here for now. I'm worn out.>>

Wolfsbane nods. "Then we'll take ye up on yuir offer, senator, an' rest here
before tryin' tae find her later. Thank ye."

Aquilla nods and calls for servants. "I will have you seen to guest rooms,
then. Thank you for your assistance."

<end>