Interlude: Children of Wachovia

[Ancelas]

"Book magic!" Jenks declared. "One day I'll have all the books, and I'll know all the magic." The young boy began to start flinging his hands around and making noises like he was throwing fireballs.

Squiddy continued to look embarrassed, but Mouse spoke up for her. "Squiddy says you don't need books to do magic. That some people can just make magic happen."

"Hasn't happened to her yet," Ren pitched in.

"Shut up," Squiddy hissed at Ren. "Just because it hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't."

"Tieflings have magic in their blood," Mouse agreed.

Ren just shrugged, unconvinced.

[CautionCat]

Vincent nodded, listening to the kids. "I didn't learn any magic until I went to the Seminary... And I grew up with a tiefling family next door, and none of them used magic. It's... not terribly common. But some folks can learn through books or schools. Or... finding someone to teach them."

[redcoat]

Cerys chuckled. "I didn't learn my magic from books." She said, hoping to bolster poor Squiddy. "I learned my magic by meditating in nature. And I wasn't young either- I was in my eighties, at least. So you've got time- just because it hasn't happened doesn't mean it won't."

[Ancelas]

"In your..." Ren began, but Mouse elbowed him and the boy grunted and was silent.

Squiddy's eyes widened a little. "Do you... need to like nature to do magic...?"

Nat suddenly made large, quick gestures with her hands. Jenks chuckled and began to sign back to her. "Nat is getting annoyed because it's getting dark and she doesn't know what anyone is saying," he dutifully reported.

[CautionCat]

"There's all kinds of ways to learn magic. Either through nature, or through books, or... through mentors and luck. If you have the spark, you're bound to find it." He shrugged some, and nodded.

"Might be good to let you kids rest. Nat shouldn't be left out..."

[redcoat]

Cerys nodded to Vincent. "He and Nat are right- We'll talk tomorrow. I'll make sure that you don't have to go to bed hungry tomorrow night either- with berries or dinner." She gave Squiddy a wink.

"And I'll tell you more about being a druid then."

[Ancelas]

Squiddy brightened as Mouse and Ren began to push at each other as they retreated toward the far end of the alley, where the abandoned home they made their nest in. Squiddy and Jenks started after them, then paused to wait for Nat as the older girl followed after them, shaking her head with a faint smile. She paused a few feet away and looked back at Vincent and Cerys. She made a quick hand sign toward them, then turned to hurry off with the tall tiefling girl and the short human boy.

[CautionCat]

Vincent waved to the kids as they ran off to wherever they would go to sleep for the night. He sighed some, relieved they wouldn't go hungry thanks to Cerys.

"Wonder how well the interrogation is going..." He jutted his jaw some, and looked to Cerys.

[redcoat]

Cerys was... curious as to where the children were going still, but one problem at a time- wherever they were going, they were fed at least. Housed and better clothed could wait until...

Well. Until. The kids had captured her heart, and in many ways she felt for them as much as she felt for her adventuring party of older kids.

"Well, I hope, but they haven't been very talkative in the past. I think getting any information out of him would be a win."

She turned them back towards the Elfsong- not in any rush, but aware they had places to be. 

[Ancelas]

"...You're very good with them," spoke a voice from the alley besides the manor. A familiar voice, as Victor emerged from the direction of the street beyond, a traveling cloak hanging about his shoulders. In the gloom of the night and the lanterns illuminating Trollskull alley from those residents who cared enough to leave lights out, he was a slender, dark figure.

But not a menacing one. He approached Vincent and Cerys, flashing them a tired smile. "They're normally very slow to trust, but I think you've won their hearts."

[CautionCat]

Vincent paused, hearing the familiar voice as Victor made himself known. He glanced to Cerys, then back to him. "I think they might admire us because we're... well, adventurers. But also, good food can win anyone over. Cerys here is a marvelous cook, and I'm sure having a warm, home made meal for once really helped."

[redcoat]

"The quickest way to anyone's good graces is a warm meal. Well, that and a nice place to sleep, but one thing at a time." Cerys smiled and shrugged her shoulders.

"My village was big on the sharing of meals, and I'm only half as good a cook as my mother was."

[Ancelas]

Victor nodded in agreement and glanced after the children. "They're so very impressionable at this age... it's good that they have some more positive role models. I think they want them, too... They're usually so skeptical of people, but you've done well in winning them over, so far."

He chuckled and turned to look at Trollskull Manor. "A band of adventurers, living in a haunted house, cooking delicious food...I daresay you're everything they aspire to be."

He looked back at Cerys. "I'll have to make sure to keep myself free the next time you make a meal. I'm sure I can find something to contribute."

[redcoat]

"Contribute or don't- I have an open table." Cerys said with a warm smile. "I'm hoping... maybe when things calm down a bit and the place isn't so aggressively haunted, maybe we can give them something a bit more stable than meals every day. If they want it. If not, well." She shrugged.

"Literally the very least I can do is make sure they don't go to bed hungry."

[Ancelas]

Victor nodded slightly and turned to regard the manor house. "So it's true, then? Rumors are rumors, but... have you been able to confirm if the place truly is haunted?"