The Bearer of Bad News

Aislin nodded. "I understand."

----------

Ariel frowned deeply. "...Depends on what side of it I'm on. What'd he tell you?"

Trem took a deep breath and turned, but didn't look at anything directly. "Quote: 'He was saying something about how vile a Nielson character was.' Unquote. Apparantly, someone's forcing him into this..."

Ariel nodded grimly. "That makes sense. He wouldn't do this of his own free will, I'd thought."

Trem ran a hand through his hair. This was getting him much more emotionally involved that he cared to be...

"He can't do anything about it, either. He can't tell Door. Or anyone. And if he doesn't go through with the ceremony..." His fist clenched in his hair. "Fff...."

Ariel stared at him, eyes hard. "...Then what, Tremor?"

"Whoever's behind this said that if Alex doesn't go through with this..." He shook his head, hands trembling. "Door dies."

Ariel's jaw dropped, and she covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh, no..."

Pursing his lips, Trem nodded. "Yeah. Which explains a lot."

"Well, then we have to tell her!" Ariel said, "We have to explain to her what's going on!"

[[methinks that's a bad idea, unless they have an ally...]]

{{Such as...?}}

"We can't," Trem said, shaking his head. "They'll find out. It's not safe for Door."

[[What's tall, blue, and silent?]]

Ariel grit her teeth.

"Trapped like rats..." she mumbled

{{Alex's doormaid. *nodnod*}}

Tremor lapsed into silence again, reverting to his regular outgoing disposition. "What are we going to do...?"

"What is there to do?" she mumbled. "It's almost better if we hadn't found out. We're going to have live knowing this." she sighed.

"Yeah...." He glanced up at Alex's house, then turned his back. "Come on. Let's get home."

She nodded somberly and followed behind Tremor.

{{*draws a blank*}}

Tremor sighed. "But we can't just... not do anything..."

"We weren't even supposed to know, and we probably dont' know the half of what's going on. If we do anything...we risk Door."

"Right." He nodded, then found a curb to sit on. "Arrgh!"

-------------

Thatch yawned. "Where do you think the sibs got to?"

Aislin frowned. "That...is a good question."

---

Ariel bit her lip. "I...I don't know what to do."

"Which is why I asked you, since you have all the answers." Thatch grinned, stepping back to avoid any blow that may have followed.

"Don't you ever forget that." Aislin grinned. "Let's check the house."

"After you," he said gallantly, bowing.

Aislin grinned at him and hop-skipped past him.

{{*draws a blank as to what to do next*}}

Thatch shook his head and followed after.

Aislin threw open the door to the house.
"We're baaaack." Aislin called.

...To an empty house.