#bergen_county

Siv says "The ..the COunt, is he... I mean, the boy was autisitic.. please tell me he's not..trapped in that body like a..."

Nadeen strokes the young boy's hair "Say something, please."

The boy blinks confused then says in a bewildered voice "The pattern was very complex."

Sylvi takes a deep, relieved breath. "Okay...okay. He's here."

"That's him?" Uncertain.

"Sounds Varich."

"Dame Dagmar? " the boy says then a smile at Nadeen "Daughter? What a mess you've both made."

"Mess we've made?"

Nadeen says "Father" Archly "You have no idea what we've gone through to save you... how could you end up the pawn of a BALOR thug?"

The six year old hangs his head "I didn't mean to." Pout

Sylvi just barely stifles a laugh, clamping a hand over her mouth.

"Okay, look, you've gotta get out of here before the Thomases get back. I'll fix anything you screwed up." A wink at Nadeen and Dagmar.

Vali groans. and says "Wait, it's not.. not yet"

"Not over?" She readies the halberd.

A blink. "What d'you mean?"

"Hand over the Eye," Vali says approaching the boy.

"Eye of Exuviation?" the boy says "it's mine."

And he holds something close.

"Oh..." Sylvi breathes.

"No, it's not... the tether is now broken," Vali bends down, "And you abused the power in a bid to remake everyone where you arrived into a changeling loyal to you. Every mortal turned into a kithain that was bound to do your will."

"It almost worked!" The young count says clutching his prize. "Coulda been a golden age."

Nadeen spocks a brow of her own

Sylvi stares first at the boy, and then at Nadeen.

"Nadeen...tell him he's got to."

The way Vali talks, it doesn't sound like it would have just been the house here...

"Please."

Nadeen says "I...how many would have been... how far?"

"only the whole county... maybe the Duchy?" The boy says with a kind of wince.

Blink.

"That's... a lot..."

"The whole Duchy is a STATE" Siv blurts

"And a populated one at that, highly" Jonas says stunned

"Would've been us. All of us. And a lot more." Sylvi's watching Nadeen carefully.

Cassimer looks smug for a second "I know. And all of em loyal to me, I could have been VOTED to rule and won with that"

Nadeen holds out her hand "Give me the Eye."

A pained look.

"But.." the boy protests

"Now" Nadeen uses a tone that is a blend of Brekke, Kerri, and Tove at their most 'mom voice'. It might actually cause some here to look behind their backs

"It's gotta be destroyed," Sylvi murmurs, possibly not loud enough to be heard, but then Nadeen gives that order and makes her shudder a moment.

"It's not FAIR!" The boy says, but he thrusts the object of power into Nadeen's hand. "I'd rule the new kithain well and stuff!"

Grunt.

(Life ain't fair)

"We've been doing fine," Sylvi points out resentfully. She's still watching Nadeen.

"Wouldn't we all?" Nadeen says with utterly no mercy. She eyes the Eye, sighs, and then hands it to Vali "You said it wasnt' done? Can you destroy it?"

A relieved breath as the Eye gets into Vali's hands, but not entirely relieved.

"No.. but don't worry" He takes it "Neither am I becoming 'Vali of many colors'" He closes his breath, walks over to a closet, "Three..." Hand on knob "two..." and he opens it "one."

And there she is, a woman in garbed outfit, hooded, she is not kithain, but she's not human either.

"I...who...?" Sylvi stares at the newcomer.

"What?"

"Young folk, this is a Moirae, one of the 'dark kin' but they did not side with the Fomorians... they are servants of Fate and Da'an itself, or so they claim. " He bows as if he were in court, "Oracle. I know why you're here."