* Ada finishes the Trumps, then withdraws a specific card from her deck: Xivilai. She concentrates on it. You achieve contact after a while, and you clearly see Xivilai in her room; outside it is raining, and she seems to be composing music, presumably for the stringed instrument she's holding. Her thought comes clearly to your mind -- contact with her always seems a bit more vivid -- "Yes?" * Ada sighs to herself. This isn't going to be easy. "My Lady? Something has come up that I believe should be brought to your immediate attention." Xivilai strums the instrument once, idly. She smiles almost warmly. "Do not tell me you have completed your quest so soon?" Oh, I wish I could say that. There's some news on that, too, though I'm not finished yet. This is something more important. Xivilai raises an eyebrow. "Oh?" * Ada takes a deep breath. Here we go. "You wouldn't have had a child named Faydra, by any chance, would you?" Xivilai begins to pick at a cord on the instrument when you say that, and she stops. "Yes. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but I did not think you would- -" she looks into your eyes and stops again. "...you have met her?" * Ada nods, closing her eyes for a moment. When she opens them, she continues, "She's free." The cord Xivilai had her finger on snaps. Lightning crashes outside, a curiously large amount of it lashing against the window of the room. Xivilai, for her part, manages a relatively collected "...I see." "Do you know how this came to pass?" * Ada winces, but continues. "Yes, well, we found the staff. I didn't even know she was trapped in that staff for a good portion of the time we had it. When I did, I communicated with her, but... as you might have guessed, we didn't get along well. I didn't know *who* she was, though, just her name." She smiles bitterly. "I see." She frowns. "You did not set her free. I do not think Faydra could goad you into such a thing. Who was it?" Nebrinel Amydien. I'm sorry I didn't stop her. I could have, I just... * Ada sighs in frustration. "It is al right, Ada. You had no way of knowing what would come of this." None of us did, it seems. * Ada runs a hand through her hair. "I left immediately after. I'm sorry, my Lady, but I can't stand Faydra. Ethan and Sei came with me, Nebrinel... stayed behind, presumably to wait for Fyril, who was missing." Xivilai smirks bitterly. "I don't imagine you would get along with Faydra at all. I'd be surprised if she tollerated your presence without saying anything rude." "But that is of relatively little moment, now. I assume Faydra is already mustering forces to march against me." * Ada smiles thinly. "Within five minutes of being freed." Xivilai smirks again. "Of course. I taught her to never waste time." For some reason, I'm not surprised. Xivilai frowns at that, then sighs. "Of course you're not." * Ada tilts her head. "Is something wrong, my Lady? Aside from the obvious." Xivilai shakes her head and waves dismissively. "No, nothing." She thinks for a second. "It would be wise for me to come and retrieve you, and whoever you are traveling with. There's a chance Faydra may be able to catch up to you before you arrive within the Dominion." * Ada opens her mouth, then closes it and just nods. "Of course." She laughs suddenly. "You do know that if there is a war, I will fight for you. And Ethan and Sei as well." Xivilai smiles. "It makes me glad to hear you say that. Shall I come now?" Now is as good a time as any. * Ada 's eyes twinkle. "They don't *need* a warning, do they?" Xivilai smirks. "Of course not." she puts down the instrument, and appears in the room beside you. The room looks funny while you're looking at it with both your eyes and hers, but she breaks contact before you get too dizzy. * Ada blinks a couple times, then just grins and gathers her scattered items. "Don't waste time, she says." Xivilai chuckles, and looks around the room as you pack. * Ada finishes the messy business of packing and straightens her clothes. "Well. Shall we?" "Let's." * Ada heads for... the common room!