wire cutters of the world
you know what to use it for
spread the word to all the tightrope walker boys and girls
brace yourself for miracles
you're in for a nasty shock
when the war is over
you can read the paper
- The Dresden Dolls

She continued. ?He attaches women to wires and feeds them lies to break their minds and bend their wills and mold them into plastic things..? She leaned in, barely a breath away. ?He came here last night.?

?A slaver.? Ayreg's voice did not lower. ?Takes perfectly good women of fire and zeal, and turns them into simpering harlots that aren't worth the air they breathe. What of it, hm??

?He does his business now, with my cousin.? She twirled a finger about a stray lock of hair. The next thing was said almost absently. ?Are you in love with her??

?In love with whom??

He has no idea who you are.

?Tara!? Viki nearly threw her hands into the air, but they were tangled into her hair at the moment.

?Oh. In love with her? Hardly. I wouldn't mind cracking her husband's head on a rock, though.?

?There was this thing that happened when I wanted to do something like that or per'aps paint his toenails blue and shave off'a his eyebrows but then we fixed it.? Her nose twitched. ?Well.... Tara's husband and that guy I told you about, the one with the wires, they're into business.?

?What sort of business?? His hard eyes were a brilliant gleaming green. ?Are they actually going to attempt to reopen the slave markets in Rhy'Din??

?I dun know. It could be a probably-olitical thing. Or maybe she is just ordering relics.? Viki gave a glance to heaven. Fairy heaven? Where were those answers she seemed to pluck from the stars?

?Ordering.. relics?? He blinked, shaking his head. ?Speak plainly, girl.?

And now for something completely different!

The voice which poured out of her was something entirely strange and not Viki-like at all. ?Will you go to war with me, Jodiah Ayreg?? It was noble and clear and solemn. She turned her head to him now, her eyes blazing with plans. ?Relics as in collars, of course.?

He did not seem interested in war, but: ?What is this man's name, and where can I find him? The one who wastes good women.?

?Lord Travanix. The Chainned Inn.? One and Two answers were offered up to him, and those who could hear. It was what she wanted. Then, her speech pattern shifted again. It was high and wild and childlike. ?So we're gunna haveta chop him into pieces because I hear he's one of those sith things that wield glowing sticks.?

?Glowing sticks.? His eyes glowed with knowledge of such things.

Viki?s legs were criss-crossed and undone and crossed again. The fabric of her dress was sewn in such odd angles that it always seemed to cover one knee and not the other in any position she chose. ?I used to be not quite so everywhere and all over.? Her eyes flickered up to meet his gaze.

?Really? You weren't obnoxious at one point, then? Whatever happened to you, little dumpling?? He canted his head to the side.

?Oh no. I do believe I was always obnoxious.? She gave him a pretty smile, beaming with pride, but any joy fled her face when she finished with what she had to say. ?I wanted to build this thing, and he tricked me, and he caught me, and he stuck me with wires and I dwelled in shadow for a seeming forever.?

He blinked. Her words were wild, confusing, and complicated. ?So what do you want me to do about it, hm??

?I used to be like you, except not so gray and grumpy and male.? Her teeth sunk into her lower lip. ?I mean, I could fight things, and people, but mostly things, and I had this thing, though it was more of a group of people, and they were my people, and we fought them together, and I was the leader.?

He leaned forward and dropped his head into his hands. She was giving him a headache. She had that affect on people. ?A guild, yes? You led a guild, then??

?Yes. A guild!? The lightbulb flashed above her head. That was the word! ?We stole their slaves and freed them and then they'd come after me but Tara always protected me. If Travanix is going to bring slavery back, then I will bring back what I used to have - my thing, I mean, my guild.? The part where he fits in? Oh yes! ?An' I was wonderin' if you wanted to be, like, in it. Or help.?

?I've always discovered there to be a problem with freeing slaves, Cousin-of-Tara.? He leaned back again, slouching as he spoke. ?They have the tendency to simply run back to the person you freed them from, and hold their own hair up to accept their collar again.?

She blinked. ?Yes. That used to happen alot. We always blamed the brainwashing. A
three step program was started, but Hawke made it eight steps when I decided that nine was just to much.? Like an on-off switch, the insanity died down, and her expression tightened, drawing in on itself. These things in the past seemed to draw out an old personality ? one less damaged. ?Come to war with me, Jodiah Ayreg. If we cannot free them all, we will kill everything else.?

The mosquitoes are not vampires.
The moon is not your mother,
even if she is preparing for a total eclipse.
Get behind the wheel. Stay in front of the storm.
The clouds dream disorder. They make faces.
They make mud on some ancient order that is no longer enforced.
- Bright Eyes

Then his eyes cut over her, suddenly. ?Vel'bol zhah dosst kaas??

?Ussta kaas zhah Ultrinnan.? Didn?t you say that already? ?Lu' nin ol zhah Victoria.? She blinked, mildly insulted that he did not know her name. ?Xor Viki.?

?Al tha, Victoria.? He gave her a nod and went back to the matter at hand. ?Belbau uns'aa l' k'lar d' nindol el'inssrigg, lu' Usstan orn plynn kyon d'lil rothe mortath whol dos. Travanix.?

?Usstan orn doer a l' drathir's ssussun, vel'drav l' tresk'ri zhah suust.? There. They had a plan. She blinked and threw him a smile.

?I know your name because I heard Tara say it a billion gazillion million times.?

?Tara has said my name a ... billion gazillion million times?? He blinked, mildly surprised. ?What does she say??

?Things. She says things.?

?What sort of... things??

?Like. You're making a sword. She won't tell me why. But you're very good at making such a sword.?

?That is true, I am a sword-maker. What else??

?Something about kissing!? She laughed and leaned in, though she was still ball-like and it looked pretty funny.

?Kissing.? His features darkened, and he frowned. ?Yes, there was some of that. Briefly.?

?Oh. And your horse said something to my unicorn about almost being named Tara but I did nuh think he was telling me the truth.?

He coughed.

?And there was also her begging me to feast upon her body. I'll bet she didn't tell you that the great Tara and all of her wiles, getting anything she wanted.. was rejected??

?Feast?? A touch of toes as she considered this. ?My cousin wanted you to eat her??

?In a sense, child.? He said dryly. ?So, uh'm.. what does you unicorn call my horse? Does he give her a name, perhaps??

Her brows furrowed in thought. ?My unicorn, Sullivan is his name, because it means hawk-eyed, or one-eyed, and though we are not sure...? She was blinking. ?I mean, his name is Sullivan, and sometimes he calls her Shelley. I asked her if she went to the beach recently. She didn't answer me. Sullivan said she didn't talk to people.?

?Shelley.? He blinked. ?Are you sure about that??

?Most definitely. Unicorns aren't supposed to lie.? She squinted at him. ?So was she almost a Tara??

?Bad-tempered, moody, beautiful and unique. I suppose she did, at that.?

She snickered. ?Careful. I dunno if muh cousin would like to hear of herself as being "bad-tempered" but beautiful and unique is okay.?

?Your cousin needs to grow up.? He grumbled. ?Not everyone is going to fawn at her feet at all hours of the day and night, and the sooner she learns this, the happier she is apt to be. Though I do understand anyone who doesn't fawn at her feet usually end up on her meal plate.?

?My cousin is a powerful woman.? It was said so absently, perhaps she wasn't even aware of it. ?Usstan z'klaen alu. Usstan ssrig'luin ulu ragar vel'bol dos ssrig'luin ulu kyorl.?

He nodded to her. ?Very well.?

Translations

Vel'bol zhah dosst kaas?
What is your name?

Ussta kaas zhah Ultrinnan. Lu' nin ol zhah Victoria. Xor Viki.
My name is Victory. And now it is Victoria. Or Viki.

Al tha, Victoria. Belbau uns'aa l' k'lar d' nindol el'inssrigg, lu' Usstan orn plynn kyon d'lil rothe mortath whol dos. Travanix.
Well met, Victoria. Give me the location of this inn, and I will take care of the slave maker for you. Travanix.

Usstan orn doer a l' drathir's ssussun, vel'drav l' tresk'ri zhah suust.
I will come at the moon's bright, when the world is quiet.

Usstan z'klaen alu. Usstan ssrig'luin ulu ragar vel'bol dos ssrig'luin ulu kyorl.
I must go. I need to find what you need to see.

Tonight will be a long night
I fight my sinking eyelids
so I can watch
her dreaming of the last safe place
Feather floors for bare feet

- 7 Angels 7 Plagues

Red Dragon Inn: Room Three

Squeak. The door cracked opened, and Ayreg's face appeared. It was late in the evening, and though he had been expecting her, he seemed prepared for an altercation. He held a dagger in one hand. Viki could clearly see it through the narrow opening between the door and the hall. But, as soon as he recognized her, he set the weapon aside and allowed her to enter.

"Come along, and make it quick before we're seen, girl. I won't have the public thinking I have Tara's cousin for a lap-dandy."

Her little face turned upward and a look of sheer bewilderment danced across her delicate features.

"What..." She shook her head lightly, sending curls just about everywhere, and gave the door a light push, softly smacking it into his chest.

"Nau time for games." She stepped in and glanced about, her eyes falling upon everything that looked, well, suspicious.

Mirror-mirror in the room..

A full-length mirror stood at the opposite end of the room. It was a dressing mirror, clearly. The rest of the room seemed empty and unadorned. There was a writing table with quills and papers, Ayreg's armor and weaponry, and a dresser by the bed. A red coat lay upon said dresser, half spilling over the side. Ayreg was a bachelor, truly. The man himself seemed half dressed and ready for bed. He wore black trousers and a half undone white lace-up shirt. But it was the mirror that held her interest.

"Maybe you should throw something over that so people dun step out of it and tear us to pieces?" She gestured to the terrible thing, then turned her head to the side, focusing on something else. Wow. What lovely quills.

"What?" Ayreg blinked, following her original gaze. He sniffed, then eyed her sideways, as if to say, what's wrong with you? Everything. Clearly grumbling, he stalked across the room and threw the blankets from his bed over the mirror, straightening the fabric so that no part of it was visible.

"Satisfied?" He said, annoyed.

"Xas." The girl would only look back at him when she was sure the task was complete, and, rather than explain herself, she moved forward and meandered to the bed. Plopping onto the mattress with bare feet curling about one another, she began to untie the ribbon from 'round the paperwork and delicately started to spread them out on all sides of her. They looked old, wrinkled, and some were stained with ink and.. Egad, was that blood? She seemed totally focused on the task at hand, her fingers trailing along the surface of each parchment, tracing the lettering, or, the outline of a drawing.

"I can feel the age of them and the secret things I used tae know." She placed her finger upon one in particular, gently though, so as not to poke a hole right through it. "That is the Chainned Inn. I had a boy who could draw and he drew it for me when I asked him to. And then he died. Or he married. I am not so sure."

"There is often little difference in the two." He said. A slight smirk pulled at his lips as he walked over to her. He remained standing, though, as if fearful of what she would do to him if he sat beside her. He then leaned against the foot of the bed, peering down as she scrawled through the documents.

But Viki was all business this night, and she was having a hard time of collecting her thoughts, fitting them into a timeline for him, especially with such subject nature. Her lashes fluttered unnecessarily, as if she were having some difficulty focusing on these things. Her eyes drifted up to him, and they were clearly haunted.

"This is a map of the area." She pointed next to the picture of the Inn, sketched by human hands so long ago. It was less crude than the drawing, but the landmarks looked unreliable. Thank god for the street signs. "I thought maybe if you looked at this we'd just go right into the picture and be coloured black and blue but then I realized that this is not one of those types of things."

You speak of your brothers' books. He does not know what those are. Beware.

He shook his head with a faint sigh and nodded his acknowledgment. "I happen to know my way around maps rather properly, so that should serve well."

Then, he leaned over her, examining the sketch of the map. His brilliant green eyes traveled over the lines quickly, as if he were taking notes. Everything he did seemed carefully calculated. "What else do you have?"

"Oh. These. They're more important and they begged for my attention the whole way here." Her head turned to the left side, and three very distinct and very detailed blueprints were revealed. One. Two. Three. Those blue-green saucers became fixated on the images, as if she were in fact wandering through them, reliving places in the past.

Ayreg only nodded. Blueprints were useful, but he needed more. As Viki's mind began to wander away again, he gave her a gentle nudge, hoping to bring her back.

"Focus, girl. Tell me about Travanix himself. What sort of man is he?"

Viki blinked at the nudge. He touched you voluntarily. Ha! She lifted her head and peered up at him, taking a moment to decipher what it was he really wanted. Oh. The Man.

"He's a beast of blood and darkness. He'll fight. He'll fight dirty. He's got trickses and things that he'll do to a mind and if he hooks you to his wires and tubes, forget it." She shivered. "And then... there's this.." Her mind wept. The words were lost, and then, found, in a different tongue. "Pes'cis."

Everything about him seemed uninterested, save for his eyes. He was not an emotional man, but his eyes revealed the truth. "Pes'cis? Bihurr."

"Natha xindarl uk orn morfeth alu wund dosst vlos. Ol orn valm ulu dos. Ol orn morfeth dos ji loff'ta lu' t'yin ji ushdui. Dos orn neitar inbau z'lonzic d' ol. Lu' ka uk orn naut belbau dos mzild, dos el." Memory swirled and surged within her. She licked her lips, like an addict with the taste still on her tongue. Her gaze did not break from him, though. "Alchemy," she added.

Translations

Xas.
Yes.

Pes'cis.
Spice.

Pes'cis? Bihurr.
Spice? Explain.

Natha xindarl uk orn morfeth alu wund dosst vlos. Ol orn valm ulu dos. Ol orn morfeth dos ji loff'ta lu' t'yin ji ushdui. Dos orn neitar inbau z'lonzic d' ol. Lu' ka uk orn naut belbau dos mzild, dos el.
A drug he will make go among your blood. It will bond to you. It will make you so happy and then so crazy. You will never get enough of it. And if he will not give you more, you die.

I saw a star beneath the stairs glowing through the melting walls.
Who will be the first to begin their fall?
Or will we become one?
Am I the star beneath the stairs?
Am I a ghost upon the stage?
- A.F.I.

The word he uttered was most strange indeed.

?Farjali..? He pulled his hand away turned from her. Then, he took several steps back, in order to add some distance between them. He sniffed, and there was a slight shake to his shoulders, but he was silent. He turned to face her, supporting his weight with the neighboring wall. Viki thought had a strange look to his face, though still, he did not speak. He simply stared.

?I?m sorry,? said the girl, quietly. Worry had transformed her expressive face. Had she said something else? Had her mind wandered and did she reveal something terrible? She didn?t remember that. She only remembered the fireflies.

She took a step forward, the frock she wore half slipping down her shoulder. She was upset. Her clothes were upset. The air hung heavy about her. She whimpered. ?Sometimes I say things people dun like.? He hands flew to her face. She?d ruined everything! She needed this man, and now? Tears were threatening.

Tears seemed to have a strange affect on Lord Ayreg. His lips twitched, and he rolled his shoulders into a faint shrug. He reached out for her and offered her the only comfort he could muster ? a stiff pat on the shoulder.

?It is nothing, girl. You stumbled upon something I wouldn't rather mind keeping.. well, to myself, not to put too fine of a point on it. Burn all the rest of my secrets and drag them in the open, but not that one." He smiled then. Was it genuine? It looked almost warm. ?There are none who would understand. Me least of all.?

?You mean,? she sniffed, ?yer nuh mad?? She stepped forward. Ayreg had come too close to her now. She would take advantage of this. The girl?s slender arms had encircled his neck, and before he knew it, she had pressed herself to him in an awkward embrace.

?Oh good ?cause you can?t be mad and nau one ever understands me either!? She lifted a foot in the air and squeezed him against it, but the squeeze was gentle, as she was only a girl.

His eyes were the widest Viki had ever seen them, and they locked onto the side of her head. The rest of him did not move. One hand remained anchored to his side, and the other, the one used in that comforting pat of shoulder, hung in midair. After a moment, he squirmed, as if trying to snake away from her.

"No, no.. I'm.. I'm not mad, Viki. Just.. please. If you see green fireflies about me again, do keep it under your hat."

?Okay.? It seemed simple enough. She placed her chin on his chest and peered up at him with growing intrigue. Her arms slowly loosened about him, and then, they fell. She brought them behind her back, clasping her hands together, but her chin stayed put.

He thinks you are touched in the head.

He lifted his hands and set them upon her small shoulders, pushing her away, gently, but firmly. "Do you have anything else for me, on Travanix?"

Distractions. She was a new girl again. Her curiosity shifted to a cold rage. She didn?t even contemplate the new space between them. ?Do you want to know about room with the frozen girls that won't move forever and ever or the lab where he does his 'perimenting? With the wires and such." Something about her tone said, no, please don't let me tell that story. Her eyes fell. Old habits die hard.

He moved his hands from her shoulders, as if satisfied as she returned to less familiar behavior. "I don't need to know what he does to turn perfectly decent women into slag, Victoria. I need to know about him. Does he sleep? Does he eat? Does he read? What brand of drink does he prefer? Has he ever painted?"

?Black ale.? She glanced up. ?He drinks black ale and he sleeps an' eats like any other, but I cannot remember exactly what. Alma says 'he is a man, and a poor thing, that.' And he really is a man.? Her hands, unclasped, went for her hair, and her fingers began their routine twirling. ?But he fights like a god. He can paint you a world with his mind, and send you to live there forever, only yer nuh really there, and yer body is wasting away.. here.? She gestured to the floor.

Only half her words seemed to make sense to him, but that was pretty impressive. "Fights like a God, does he? Explain this, if you can.?

?With the glowing sticks. I have not seen it but its what I hear. He plays trickses like a god would - makes you see things that aren't there.? Her teeth sunk into her lower lip, smearing the paint that hadn't already worn off at his knuckle. ?Sometimes I see things that aren't there but that's different.?

"I've been hearing things that aren't there, so I know how that goes." He snaked around her, moving back across the room. Perhaps, Viki thought, she made him uncomfortable. "I'm not worried about his 'glowing sticks,' as you call them." His hand came to rest idly on the skull-shaped hilt of his runesword. "I've taken a measure to protect against it. I figured it would come in handy, one day."

Then, he turned about to face her, his chin lowering a bit. "It grows late, Victoria, and I am old.. and would rest. Perhaps you should leave, before I am forced to share my bed with you." He is clearly joking. Or is he?

?Dos ph' du'ased xuil mzilt equidai, olath uss. Folt klezn ph' farjali.? She spoke then as she regarded his sword of course, though her tone deepened on that very last word. She was the warrior of old again, her eyes ablaze with rage and plans. On-off. A blink. Yes. She'd have her plans and she'd create a rather organized chaos, slipping from one reality to the next. Wouldn't her guild members be surprised when she tried to take them with her into these other realms of thought? But that was for later. Her smile grew into a smirk, and it lingered there for quite a while. He speaks levity now. She canted her head to one side, as if posing, and looking awful cute.

?Nau. I will leave. I have too many lovers already and the unicorn will wonder where I went.? She hadn't meant the unicorn was among that list of lovers, mind you.

Lord Ayreg seemed distracted, and almost smiling in the dark, but he appeared to push any diversions away when he spoke.

"Alu ulu dosst skragharigg t'yin. V'dri al lu' guuan, Ultrinnan." He gave her a slight nod.

Victoria moved toward the door, her bare feet leaving little imprints on the floor which faded fast. She turned when she reached it, sending a smile over her shoulder. This was a good night, and someone else's nights were growing short.

?Dosst ehmtu ultrinnan zhah veir. V'dri al, Senger Ayreg.? And then, rather harpy-like, threw him a wink, before spilling into the hallway and down the stairs.

Translations

Farjali..
Precious..

Dos ph' du'ased xuil mzilt equidai, olath uss. Folt klezn ph' farjali.
You are blessed with much skill, dark one. Such things are precious.

Alu ulu dosst skragharigg t'yin. V'dri al lu' guuan, Ultrinnan.
Go to your unicorn then. Sleep well and wake, Victory.

Dosst ehmtu ultrinnan zhah veir. V'dri al, Senger Ayreg.
Your own victory is close. Sleep well, Lord Ayreg.