The Vixen's story

"I know there is not much time now, so I will be brief," she begins. "Before I became who am I today, I was a child of noble birth. Lord Velimir had long coveted my father's wealth, but he dared not attack until he felt he had an advantage - and my father would give him none. Our lands were not vast, but part of my father's holdings included one of the few productive copper mines in the region, and Lord Velimir wished in particular to control that. This is all I remember clearly of Velimir's motivations; I was only six years of age when the day came that my life was taken from me."

You can see the light drain from her eyes as she speaks, and the tone of her voice becomes dull and heavy, as if to recall these events from her past is a burden she does not wish to bear. Even Duncan seems to soften towards her, and the compassion on his face is clear as he can guess what is coming.

"Velimir is a man without honor or decency," the Vixen continues. "He chose his moment carefully, but it while it was a masterful strategy, it is one which few if any others would have used. His armies came down upon us at dawn, as the church bells rang out for Easter Sunday. I do not know all of what happened, truly; my nurse secreted me away from the castle through a hidden gate when it became clear that Velimir's forces were overwhelming. She was a resourceful woman, and one of practical mind; she knew that this could mean the end of my family's house if she did not secure the only child and heir... me. She took a few valuables, including a ring which might someday serve to identify me if it should become necessary.

"She was clever and resourceful... but not strong. Her heart gave out after three days of running through the woods. From the top of a hill, I could see the smoke rising from what was once my home, and I knew I could not go back. I knew something of archery already; I was able to teach myself more. I found ways to survive. And like so many others, I heard the rumors of the castle in the mountains, where I thought I might be safe from Velimir. I had not intended to become a thief in the woods, but my coin ran out quickly, and I had no means to get more except to take it from travellers. By the time I came here, I could not bring myself to trust anyone; it is a difficult thing to emerge from the shadows when one has hidden for so long. I still carried my family's ring, in case I needed it... but that same ring would identify me to one of Lord Velimir's men if I were found by one of them."

You are about to ask about the ring, but then Duncan "accidentally" clinks his teacup against the arm of his chair - a pre-arranged signal for meetings such as these that says he wants your attention. The look in his eyes speaks volumes, as does his slow and deliberate nod; he has clearly deduced something from what the Vixen has told you, and so you keep silent for the moment.

"Fear kept me in the woods, and in the end, it is fear which has driven me back out. I became careless when I realized I faced one of Velimir's men, and he saw my face clearly. He could recognize me again. I tried... I tried to kill him as he rode away, but I could not bring myself to loose the arrow."

"Though it may not seem so, it is good that you did not," you assure her. "If one of Velimir's men was killed in our woods, he might have sent others to find out why. You are skilled at woodcraft, but he has hunters who are still more cunning. They would have found you, eventually."

"Yes, Sire," she says, nodding, "but it is not only for my own life that I fear. Lord Velimir attacked and murdered my entire family, and those under my father's rule, upon the holiest day of the year. He will not hesitate to attack Elyssia as the city celebrates its anniversary. He may be watching even now, waiting until we are ****." She looks into your eyes. "I have lived alone for nearly all my life, Your Grace. I have had to learn to protect myself, to deal with potential enemies, and to fight my own battles. But this is one which I cannot fight on my own. I have never begged of anyone. I beg of you now, King Xavier... believe my words, and heed these warnings from one who has seen what the Warlord is capable of."

There is silence for a moment. When the confidence borne from her years of taking care of herself dips, as it has now, she suddenly seems so young and ****, as she did for a moment the previous night at the Druid's Circle. You are suddenly struck with the profoundly unimportant thought that she is still wearing the rough tunic from the night before, and it occurs to you that you should have arranged for her to receive some appropriate clothes.

"Lady Vixen, the King and I must confer on what you have told us," Duncan says. "We must also, however, attend to the festival before the King is missed. If you wish to remain in the castle, Sir Magnus will continue to act as your guardian. I trust you will not attempt to evade him again."

"I mean no disrespect, Your Grace," she says, "but I would prefer not to remain here. Almost all of the castle guard is deployed in the city. Sir Magnus is clearly a powerful fighter, but I know better than anyone that an arrow fired in stealth may be deadly even to one such as him. If your protection fails, I would be trapped here. I would prefer to be outside the castle, where at least I might have a chance at escaping to the woods if the need arose. Unless, of course, I am indeed a prisoner here."

"You are no prisoner," you tell her. "The pardon I offered to the thieves of the woods applies to you, so long as you commit no new crimes."

"I would strongly advise you to remain in the castle, My Lady," Duncan says, "but you are a free woman and may do as you will. If you must walk the streets, however, it is only prudent that we hide your face somehow; at least until we can ascertain Lord Velimir's intentions. A veil, perhaps?"

"Yvette could dye your hair, as she has done for Valerie on occasion," you suggest. "That might be sufficient, and would attract less attention."

"I have an idea of my own," the Vixen says, and you notice that her eyes flash briefly over to the suit of armor which stands next to the fireplace.