When Jenn woke up in the morning, she felt much more rested than she had for a while. Traveling certainly would wear a person out, especially if they had to stay awake at night for a watch. Yet, being able to rest in her own bed almost seemed like the height of luxury on this world at the moment. Especially when she was able to stay in bed as long as she wanted.
Which was almost a problem with how she could feel that she was done sleeping, even though the light of the morning was barely starting to shine into the room.
Jenn wished that she could sleep longer, especially with all she'd had to deal with on that trip, but she knew that if she tried to sleep any longer, that she'd merely make herself bored.
Besides, she wanted to find out what arrangements had been made for Shirley. As Jenn was confident her people wouldn't have left her out in the cold. Especially with how she was new to the settlement. Although, as she thought about Shirley, part of her couldn't help but feel guilty that she hadn't oversaw that part herself. After all, she was the only one among her people who had known Shirley from before she'd become the Blue Rose, which meant that the responsibility really should have been hers. Regardless of her faith that her people wouldn't have just left Shirley remain out in the cold, which Jenn had a feeling Shirley wouldn't complain about if that had actually happened.
As Jenn sat up, she stretched, surprised at how tight her muscles had gotten from just one night's sleep after walking so much.
When she got dressed, Jenn was a little surprised at how her stand-ins were able to sleep through the noise that she was making. Unless the noise was more in her head than in reality, Jenn had to admit to herself. As everything she did seemed louder than usual. Even as she pulled her clothing on, the fabric almost seemed to be loud enough to draw everyone's attention.
Which made Jenn wonder if she was more tired than her body was willing to admit. Either that or she was still partly asleep and just didn't realize it. Though regardless of which it was, she wasn't going back to bed, so once she was fully dressed, she left the room, closing the door carefully behind her, mostly to give her stand-ins the privacy they deserved.
She wasn't sure which of her stand-ins was supposed to be the Blue Rose today, but she wasn't that concerned about it. She knew they likely knew whose turn it was, which was good enough for her.
As Jenn descended the stairs, she wondered if breakfast had started yet or if she'd have to wait for a bit. A fact that she wasn't overly concerned about, though she could feel her stomach grumbling that it was empty and making sure Jenn knew that fact.
She'd nearly reached the front door, when it opened to admit Embris.
Jenn started to smile at the sight of her friend but stopped when she noticed the look of annoyance on her face. She wasn't sure what the problem was, just that it was clear there was a problem.
"What's wrong?" Jenn asked, hoping that it wasn't anything serious, but rather simple everyday problems.
"Nothing," Embris shook her head, clearly not wanting to talk about it. Which Jenn was fully prepared to do, after all, if Embris didn't want to talk about it, it wasn't any of her business to press the matter. Especially if it wasn't something serious.
"Okay."
Jenn started to head towards the door that Embris had just come through, more interested in food than anything else right then. Or at least finding out if anything had been made just yet.
"By the way, one of the slaves you bought on that trip is the older sister of Rick," Embris remarked, looking like she was struggling to hold something in, or let something out. Jenn wasn't sure which, but it was clear that it was bothering Embris, making Jenn wonder if maybe that's what had her so annoyed so early in the morning.
"Yeah, I know," Jenn said, but was nearly cut off by Embris as she clearly didn't hear what Jenn said.
"And then she went off and I couldn't understand a word she was saying. Then how Tchisa was able to understand her, I have no idea. Even though I'm sure I've heard that language more than Tchisa, she was able to understand it as if she was fluent in the language."
Jenn blinked. She couldn't say she knew what happened, but it was clear that she should probably look into that matter. If only because she could tell that Shirley had done something that had precipitated this situation before Jenn right now.
She felt like her mind hadn't fully caught up to what Embris had been talking about when the door opened and Tchisa entered, with Shirley in tow.
Tchisa looked at Jenn and nodded, her gaze making it clear to Jenn that she was looking for Jenn herself right then. However, she had a feeling she should say something to Embris first. If only to try and soothe whatever hurt or upset feelings she had right then.
"How Tchisa was able to understand her was just the way her magic works. I know because I have similar magic," Jenn said quietly, hoping no one else heard her admission.
While she didn't care if anyone else knew about her abilities, she wasn't sure that she should broadcast that part to her people. Especially when Tchisa was the closest who would be able to hear her statement. Which then would only bring other questions that she really didn't care to answer just then about what abilities her magic might have.
Assuming Tchisa hadn't already deduced anything that Jenn would have to say to her, which Jenn seriously doubted.
Embris looked at Jenn, a question behind her gaze that Jenn wondered if she'd made a mistake with speaking. Even though she was confident that she probably wouldn't have said anything else, regardless of if she knew what that questioning look was about.
However, she had other things to worry about right then. For one, Embris continued walking to where she the guards were stationed, making Jenn wonder just how long Embris' shift lasted and if she was given something to eat while she was on or at least how frequently her turn to stand guard over Jenn's stand-ins came up.
Another thing was the fact that she could tell that Tchisa had something she wanted to talk with Jenn about.
Jenn opened her mouth to say something to Tchisa when she was stopped by what Tchisa had to say.
"You really messed up, you know that?"
Jenn blinked. She was confident that she had made plenty of mistakes in her life, but wasn't aware of any that she'd made that would apply in this situation. Though, she wouldn't be surprised not dealing with Shirley herself was one of them. After all, she was, or had been, the only person that she'd known in this settlement. At least aside from her brother, which Jenn knew was possible he'd left somewhere, making it more of a pain when it would come time for her to head out to find what Duchess Versith wanted with both Rick and her.
"Um, maybe you could spell out what I messed up with?" she asked, hoping that she'd be given a little slack over whatever the problem was, since she wasn't sure what had happened, or even if it involved Shirley.
Besides, she had a feeling whatever mistake she'd made had to have been either in regards to Shirley or something about her latest trip, given how it was clear that this would have been brought up at the meeting the night before when Jenn had returned to through the gate.
"Your friend," Tchisa said, motioning towards Shirley as her agitation grew with every word she spoke. "You realize she caused quite a scare for your- the guards when she started talking in a language none of them knew after she saw Maelia."
Jenn wasn't sure what Maelia had to do with Shirley, but she wasn't going to argue that point. At least not yet. Not until she had more information. Including how Maelia fit into this picture. Although, she did catch the near slip Tchisa made about calling the guards 'hers' rather than keeping her identity as the Blue Rose a secret, meaning she hadn't spoken to Shirley about what she knew about the Blue Rose. Something Jenn had avoided as well.
Mostly because she wasn't sure how much Shirley would have been able to piece together herself.
"Would you then tell me what happened?" Jenn asked, doing her best to sound as if she was being dressed down rather than someone who was in a position of authority here.
Jenn listened as she heard about not only Shirley's remarks about Maelia, making Jenn groan inwardly at the terms 'cougar' and MILF'. She felt like she shouldn't be surprised at Shirley's reactions, especially since she'd been surprised herself that Maelia and Rick had hit it off to the point they were getting married without having known each other very long.
When the incident was fully explained, Jenn sighed, looking at Shirley as she tried to puzzle out exactly what the reason she'd lost her temper had been. She understood that Shirley was more invested in Rick's relationships than Jenn herself was, simply because she was family with Rick while Jenn wasn't. However, Jenn felt like there had to be more to it than that. Especially with how she'd lost her temper enough that Tchisa needed to be called in to help diffuse the situation.
"What's the problem with Maelia?" Jenn asked Shirley, hoping that she'd be able to get some answers that would help explain what really had been the problem.
The look Shirley gave Jenn clearly stated that the issue wasn't her business, but she answered anyway. "It's because Maelia is a predator."
Jenn blinked at the simple response. She wasn't sure how exactly to respond to that, but she also understood that it was Shirley's opinion on the matter. Something that she felt she should respect, even if she really didn't understand it or agree with her conclusion.
"Why do you say that?" Jenn felt like she was treading on dangerous ground, where Shirley might lash out at the slightest provocation, even though there wasn't a reason for Jenn to be seen as the enemy. At least in Jenn's mind.
"Because she married my brother," Shirley spat, as if the combination of the words left a bad taste in her mouth. "She's so much older than he is that she can't be anything else."
Jenn sighed. She could tell that there wasn't anything she could say or do change her opinion, especially considering the fact that she wasn't sure if it was possible to get Shirley to change her opinion without Rick being there to explain things. Which she suspected was the only person who she'd actually really listen to on this subject.
"Well, I guess that means you'll want to talk to Rick about it, right?" Jenn asked, doing her best to sound cheerful, as if the whole issue was a simple misunderstanding that could easily be brushed aside. Yet, the look Tchisa gave Jenn said otherwise. That Tchisa wasn't happy, which meant that Jenn needed to do something about that quickly.
"Yeah, I'd like to talk to Rick about it, but I have no idea where to find him," Shirley replied, clearly not aware of the silent exchange between Jenn and Tchisa.
"Well, if you'll join me, I'll be heading out to collect Rick before heading on somewhere else with him," Jenn said, wondering if there'd be a problem with her appearing before the Duchess with Shirley as well. After all, the message that had been relayed to Jenn didn't say that she couldn't bring anyone else with her. Just that she needed to bring Rick with her.
"Are you sure?" Tchisa interjected, her expression showing the uneasiness she felt right then. "What if the Duchess takes it the wrong way?"
Jenn wasn't sure that there was a 'wrong' way to take it but wasn't going to argue the point. After all, she wasn't asking to take Shirley to anywhere dangerous nor to some place that they were wanting to keep others from finding out about. "Well, I'm sure she'll understand, given I saw two others that were with Shirley's group when they left where I'm from," Jenn said instead of trying to explain it all away. "I have a feeling that the Duchess might be wanting to gather up everyone who was on that party. Meaning that that's why she wants me to bring Rick to her."
Jenn knew that she was stretching the situation to favor her supposition, but at the same time, she didn't care that much. Whatever got her out of this line of questioning that was starting to get rather uncomfortable for her was something that she'd see as a positive rather than a negative.
Tchisa looked at Jenn appraisingly. Jenn had a feeling that Tchisa wanted to use her magic to look into Jenn's mind, but she didn't feel Tchisa do that. She wasn't sure if it was out of respect or if Tchisa just didn't want to go to the effort. All she could say was that Tchisa merely shook her head, as if shaking all responsibility off from the situation after a minute of looking at Jenn.
"Fine, but remember, if it goes poorly, you're the one who'll need to answer for that."
Jenn nodded, fully willing to accept that. Though, part of her couldn't help but wonder if Shirley might take that to mean that if it does go poorly that she'd be in hot water with the Blue Rose, rather than her advisors. After all, if the whole situation with the duchess goes poorly, then they were likely to feel the repercussions of that fact quickly. Meaning that Jenn would be fully responsible and her advisors probably would use that as an excuse to appoint a regent to reign in Jenn's ideas and such. Though, she wasn't sure for how long she'd have a regent. As she didn't know when someone 'came of age' in the culture her people had.
Though, she wasn't too worried about things going poorly. With or without Shirley. She merely had a feeling that the only way she'd get into hot water with the duchess was if she didn't bring Rick with her. Outside of that, she had a feeling that she'd be able to smooth over any other issue.
As Tchisa walked away, leaving the building as soon as she reached the door, Shirley looked at Jenn quizzically. "Why do you need to bring my brother to the duchess?"
"Because the duchess asked me to," Jenn replied casually, as if this conversation happened all the time. "I'm not sure how she learned that your brother was with us, but I'm sure she has her methods. All I can say is that I say Emily and Nick there when I was meeting with her in the past and Emily seems to have the duchess' trust."
Shirley blinked at that information. It was clear that she hadn't expected to hear that. "Wait, Emily? All I can remember is getting captured and made into a slave. I don't know what happened to everyone else. So, how did Emily get to be trusted by the duchess? Was she like a trusted slave or something?"
Jenn shook her head. "I'm not sure how she got to be so trusted, I just saw her the last time I was meeting with the duchess. She seemed fine, though she did seem like she was trying to walk a fine line with the duchess. You'll have to ask her details of what happened, but I'm sure that she'll be willing to talk to you if you accompany us there."
Jenn didn't want to talk like Shirley joining them on the trip was a foregone conclusion, but she was confident that Shirley was going to join them. After all, Rick was going as the duchess had requested him specifically, making it so that she'd have to join if she wanted to have time to actually talk with him rather than a quick word before they parted again.
'Fine. I'll join you," Shirley said, looking like she probably was thinking along the same lines as Jenn right then. Though, Jenn wasn't going to push the matter. Especially when she had a feeling that Shirley didn't fully trust Jenn right then. At least not since she learned who Rick's wife was. Which Jenn supposed was only fair. After all, she hadn't quite disclosed what kind of situation Rick was living in. Though, she had a feeling that only Rick would have been able to explain things to Shirley without her losing her temper. As it involved him and, in the end, it was his decision, regardless of how Shirley felt about the matter or what she thought about it altogether.
"Well, I'd say get ready to leave because we'll be leaving this morning, but I doubt you have anything to really pack, huh?" Jenn said, trying to lighten the mood, but the look she got from Shirley made it clear that she wasn't in the mood for levity. Which Jenn could fully understand. After all, it wasn't like they had really been friends before all this began.
As at best, they were merely two people working towards different goals along the same line. Something that hardly would give them common cause. At least aside from the fact that they were both working for Heathcliff essentially. As he was the one who had helped set in motion both of their expeditions.