Christian Parker: Part 2

Alan and Christian walked around the hotel, watching the repair in progress. The weird "dogs", which resembled otters, were raising beams of brick. Slime was climbing the older beams, as were vines. Channels of water were dug to cultivate the slime.

"You know, this is more science fiction than fantasy." Alan gestured at the work, "I could see our world using this kind of construction someday. It looks like biotech."

"Yeah." Christian was thoughtful. "It's not exclusive, since something like a druid from a fantasy game could work like that, but it's interesting."

"Laurel said the budget for the season was low, somehow." Alan frowned and consulted the map. "Maybe these are older or cheaper techniques? I would have expected teleportation, at least."

"We don't know if we were teleported, do we?" Christian frowned. "You kind of woke up, right? I know I did. There might be a lot of misdirection or just stagecraft involved in what we see. Obviously, there is something unknown about Ariadne's abilities. Natalia's transformation is blatantly magical, though I guess Joan could be a pair of hired actors instead of a shape-shifter."

"Okay, so we're at point one, whatever that means." Alan decided as he looked at the large tower of brick in front of them. "The map says there's a clue."

"Alright." Christian circled the pillar. "The plaque is the first place to check."

Alan read the plaque out loud. "Grandma Sonia's Kiln."

"Huh." Christian gestured at the brick pillars being raised.

"Yeah." Alan touched the plaque and tugged gently. Sky teleported to them.

"Hi." Christian waved uncertainly.

Alan considered the woman. Her face was impassive but alert. "Are we at the right place?"

"Ariadne's little adventure did want you here. This is a piece of Ariadne's family history. Part of her grandmother's ship."

"Oh, the pirate necromancer?" Christian remembered the speech from yesterday.

"Among other things, yes. Her own father had many wives and concubines and many daughters. He married Sonia off to a capable **** soldier, and they are two of Ariadne's grandparents."

"A kiln would be difficult on a boat." Alan frowned. "Was it a metal boat, or did they control the heat and weight with like, magic?"

"It was magic, yes." Sky shrugged. "Signal magic allowed for construction methods to diverge from your history."

"What is the Signal?" Christian asked.

It's a translation convention to make people more comfortable with the religion of the Stargazers." Sky smiled. "I have my own disagreements with the religion, but the efficacy is undeniable."

"Um, let's rain check the theology." Alan felt this could go in several catastrophic directions. "What was Sonia like?"

"Sonia was a seafaring Hermit Matriarch. The cultural norm was an evolution of patriarchy to account for magical empowerment. Women became shipbound, with the ship becoming a mobile household that they sustained and controlled. Her husband, Howard, was something like a Mamluk in your history. He was a ****, but a high-status one. The two are currently on an extended vacation." Sky smiled.

"Oh, immortal necromancers." Christian nodded. "But like, what was her personality, or is it?"

"She is modest. It is annoying to talk to her or Howard, as they only speak in unison with each other. She has visited her grandchildren a few times since Sora's Elimination, at intervals decided by a calendar I do not understand." Sky shrugged.

"If this is a clue, what kind of clue is it?" Christian asked Alan. "I don't see anything obvious."

Alan pulled on the plaque a second time and pulled harder. The plaque gave way, and another map was revealed. This one was identical, except for a new location marked with an "X."

"Not too creative," Alan muttered, checking the back of the map and the gap for anything else.

"It's meant to keep us busy, not decide if we're worthy for Excalibur." Christian laughed. "Let's get going."

"Thank you, Sky." Alan looked at the girl. He had questions, but Christian's mandated date felt like a bad time to ask them. "Can we speak privately, later today?"

"Of course, master," Sky smirked. "You will see me around." She vanished, invisible or no longer present, and Alan handed the map to Christian.