Travelling Party

1203, Summer

Lilia, meantime, had been growing frustrated with the nearly complete isolation of the covenant. Over the winter they had not even been visited by Guillaume, the Redcap! She resolved to do something about the situation and proposed an expedition over the summer to try to improve the covenents contact with the outside world. After reassuring the older magi that her plans would not cause interference with their researches, she began to plan her trip.

As her plans became known, Leporideas told her that he would like to accompany her on the journey. That would bring their party to five: Lilia and her guard, Conrad; Leporideas and his guard, Tanya; and Etienne, who was always called upon to lead these sorts of expeditions.

Lilia's plan was to first visit Vensoc, and then move on to Bourg-d'Oisans. Depending on the results of those trips, they might visit other villages or towns or return home.

Both Leporideas and Lilia were blessed with a gentle gift, and so the party was able to take the ox-cart. Old Klaus had told Etienne of some supplies the covenant needed - he had told Conrad, too, but the handsome grog had almost immediately forgotten, and he was a little frightened of Tanya. Osprey had told Lucien and Lilia of a few more esoteric supplies that they needed - lab equipment and the like - and each of the magi had a few items of their own on the list. They were well supplied with silver as usual.

The party made their slow and painful way down the valley. As usual, they did not get out of the valley and to the Veneon river until well after noon. They turned right and followed the course of the river reaching the village in a few hours.

Venosc was a fairly populous village of over five hundred souls. Most of them lived on the outlying farms, of course, where they grew wheat, barley, hay, hemp and the mountain flowers for which the village was becoming famed. The covenant purchased mostly food from the village, and the travellers would buy it on the return trip, so they had no purchases to make on this leg.

They made their way to the sole inn, Le Marmot. The villagers, as usual, avoided looking at the magi and their followers, and did not speak unless addressed. They were not actively hostile, and were happyt to take the magi's silver, but they were insular and had heard stories of the magi and their unnatural activities.

There was no noble ruling the village directly. Instead, a local, Andre Meunier, the miller, had been appointed sherrif and reported to Sir Rene d'Oisans who lived in Bourg-d'Oisans. Lilia had heard of Sir Rene, but could only remember meeting him once or twice, she thought.

"I believe I've met Sir Rene," said Lilia to Leporideas, "and I suspect a brief visit to him would be a courtesy. I'd understand if you don't want to come -- not everyone grew up courting the local constabulary and they can be... touchy."

Her mildly pensive look turned bright and she smiled at her rabbity companion. "I'm also hoping to find pigeons on our trip -- homing pigeons. Do you know of anyone who uses them around here? Anyone who might be able to sell us a flock or direct us to someone who could?"

Leporideas bristled at the mention of the local constabulary. He did not want to meet anyone who might recognize him for his past transgressions. Fortunately, Lilia offered him an escape. "I do not know of anyone, but I will before the day is over," he said with a boyish grin.

Etienne looked on at the exchange and smiled. He always enjoyed his times out with Conrad who was so innocent and sheltered, and his contrast with Tanya was marked. It was times like this that Conrad and Tanya could grow a bit in very different ways. The two magi made the trip even more unpredictable, which helped sate his roguish spirit. "Then I shall check on the supplies, it appears that we all have a mission," he stated with authority.

Lilia and Conrad set off for the mill, while Leporideas and Tanya went off to walk the rest of the village, leaving Etienne to deal with the mercantile chores.

Etienne walked to the cordwainer the covenant favored and dropped off a bag of shoes that needed repairs, then he went to the butcher and made an order for some meat. Then he retired to the inn, which handled the covenants needs with respect to flour and grain. Over a beer he set to haggling with the owner.

Lilia and Conrad approached the mill, set onto the edge of the Veneon to drive the millstone. It appeared to be in good repair, and as they entered they saw signs that the miller was well-off by the standards of his village. This assumption was borne out when the plump miller himself appeared.

Lilia introduced herself, "I come from nearby Lakehome. You probably know it." She waited for his confirmation. "All my young life, I travelled with my parents from our estate to our summer home, visiting relatives and nobles we knew along the way. I feel rather isolated these days and was hoping to find contact with those who can keep me up on news and gossip -- both local and otherwise. You are the man of distinction in Venosc, so I come to you first."

He preened a little at that. "I am," he said. "You have remarked upon my home. There are knights that do not live so well." Though that was doubtless true, it spoke more of the poverty of the knights in question than of the miller's wealth, but by the standards of the peasantry he lived well, indeed.

"We do get some travellers and news at the inn, doubtless if you visit there you will hear enough to satisfy you. Although," he added, "you may have to wait a while for the travellers to come by."

"Actually, I was thinking of a pigeon roost. Do you know anyone around here who uses messenger pigeons? I imagine it would be fun -- and efficient -- to be able to communicate with dear ones and honoured friends," she smiled pointedly at the sherrif, "via pigeon."

The man positively simpered, "No one in the village uses them, dear lady. I think Sir Rene has used them on occassion. There might be someone at Boug-d'Oisans."

"Ah, yes, Sir Rene. I believe I may have met him when I was a child. Tell me, Monsieur Meunier, would you be interested in assisting me in my pigeon experiment? I'm excited to try it, but I will need an intelligent, well-connected accomplice to get the best possible results. If I can get pigeons in Boug-d'Oisans, would you care to bring a new world of communication to Venosc?"

"Well," he hedged, "there would be expenses ..."

"But of course!" exclaimed Lilia, putting a hand on his arm, "It is my experiment, and you should not have to pay for it. I will be sure proper accomodations are provided for a few pigeons as well as expenses for... paper, ink, things of that nature. I'm sure there are many small expenses involved and I'm sure they will add up. Once I find some birds, we shall be sure you have proper equipment and adequate compensation. Shall I stop and visit on my way back from Boug-d'Oisans and we can talk about it in greater detail?"

"Of course, my lady," he smarmed. "I am at your service."

Leporideas and Tanya walked down the street of the village and out to the fields within minutes. Drawing on old skills, the magus tried to draw out the peasants about various subjects, but their reticence resisted his efforts. One or two made signs against the evil eye as he passed, and he saw one child run for the small church at their approach. In sheer frustration, he bounced through a few acrobatic tricks. Surprisingly, that broke down the reserve of a few of the nearby peasants - apparently, they couldn't believe a wizard's dignity would permit handsprings. First a few children, then a few adults clustered around and soon Leporideas was drowning in chatter. No one in the village raised pigeons, he learned, the miller was a cheat although Sir Rene was a good enough lord, and what was life like living with the evil wizards?

Leporidaes chuckled at the assumption that the wizards were evil. He dropped to one knee and answered their questions while looking into the eyes of the gathered children. He began to juggle three small stones, adding another while he talked until he had six stones orbitting him.

"I would not say they are evil, not in the least. They are an interesting group," he understated, thinking of Terrus and Osprey. "The wizards took me in when I was not much older than you," he nodded to a young boy who was in awe watching the stones fly overhead. "They taught me much about life, and became my family; a family I never had."

Leporidaes tossed the stones overhead and backward rolled into a sitting position and caught most of the falling rocks before covering up and having them rain down on him causing a symphony of laughter to erupt. Kipping up to his feet he bowed at the applause and began to ask questions of his own regarding who made what, and encouraged them to share about their lives.

The peasants opened up and chatted a little about their lives. The pleasant audience had allowed Leporideas to overcome his natural rabbitlike shyness and he was able to glean more information from the crowd. He tried to learn if any of the craftsmen were unhappy with their lot or thinking about leaving, and found out only that they seemed content enough with their lot, but there was some speculation about what would happen to the cobblers eldest son when he came of age in a few years. The village had two cordwainers and two cobblers, and no room for another.

Leporideas listened with compassion, understanding the rigors of displacement. These people offered him a level of comfort that he had been lacking. His early years of travelling from town to town came back to him, and he asked about where he could find this eldest son of the cobbler. While the boy might be a few years from establishing his own trade, perhaps Leporideas could plant a seed for when that time came.

It was easy enough to find out the location of the cobbler in question. Thanking the people for their time, Leporideas played a bit with the children who stuck around. He attempted to teach a few of the more coordinated to juggle and turned the conversation to birds and eventually pigeons, asking if anyone raised them. Soon, he bade farewell and went to the cobbler.

No one in the village was a pigeon fancier, it seemed, so he and Tanya went off to visit the cobbler. The family lived in a small cottage near the edge of the village, Leporideas got the impression that this cobbler was the poorest and least successful of the shoeworkers in the village. From inside the small shop came the sound of work and he saw a man leaning over a boy and instructing him in the repair of a shoe. The boy was clearly the one about the villagers had been speaking, he was thirteen or so, and in a few years would be ready to begin work on his own.

The young mage coughed slightly to notify them of their presence, hoping to not cause too great of a disturbance in the lesson.

Contrary to most of the reception they had received thus far, this cobbler seemed delighted to see them. He left off the lesson and bowed over to Leporideas. "Greetings, sir, greetings!" He gestured them in, "What may I do for such esteemed visitors as yourself?" He gazed hopefully at them, their boots, then back up to their faces. "Do you require repairs? No one does finer work than I."

The warmth caught Leporideas momentarily off guard. "I am quite impressed by the care with which you show in teaching your son. His skill will reflect your passion. I am Leporideas and this is Tanya. We are from a small village near Lac de Lauvitel, perhaps you are familiar with the area?"

"The silver wizards? You are from them?" his smile remained plastered to his face, but looked a little sickly.

Leporideas hoped to allay the man's concerns with a smile. "We call that area home, yes. In fact many live in the village and it is expanding all the time," he lied, well it was a truth at least one that he hoped to fulfill.

"Then you do have shoes needing repair?" he asked.

The young man chuckled at the business sense, "Not with us, but we do have a need. And not only repair, but a growing village without a cobbler means shoes need to be made!" Leporideas was not aware of an existing arrangement with any cobblers to produce shoes for the covenant and felt that by providing this man with business might help convince him to send his son when it was an appropriate time.

"We of the village would like to find a man whose skill can be depended upon to keep the fishermen and villagers shod."

"I can repair any shoes you bring me," the man said with pride.

"Wonderful," said the young mage with enthusiasm. "I hope we can establish a profitable arrangement between our family and yours," he indicated the young boy with a nod.

That evening in the Inn, the quintet reassembled, having completed their tasks. Leporideas filled in Lilia and the others about the cobbler and his son. "I hope we can establish a partnership and convince his son to join us when his time comes. The elder appears to be quite skilled," he added.

Etienne mentioned that they usually took their work to a different craftsman, but that there was nothing to prevent them from shifting their custom.

"Plus, we learned to avoid the miller. He is corrupt and untrustworthy," stated Leporideas succintly.

"Well, a good cobbler is a good thing," said Lilia, taking a deep breath. "But I have already established a relationship of sorts with the miller. Nothing," she said quickly, seeing the look on Leporideas' face, "of great import. I stroked his ego and asked him to be an arm in our pigeon experiment. He was quick to talk of the great expense of messenger pigeons, so I know he is motivated by money. Anyone so motivated is never entirely trustworthy. We will be careful with him."

Satisfied with the care that Lilia professed, Leporideas nodded.

The next day, the party climbed aboard the cart and set off along the northern side of the river toward Bourg-d'Oisans. It was a journey of some seven miles, about a half day with the cart.

In a little over an hour they passed the turn off to Lauvitel, on the far side of the river. What a difference a road made! Soon after that, they saw two people and a horse picking their way along the southern shore. The way was awkward, and they rarely saw travellers using that route. In fact, the only time Lilia knew of it being used was when she and Guillaume had travelled to Lakehome. Now that she thought of it, that figure could be Guillaume.

Etienne, too, recognized one of the men on the far side. The rotund profile could only belong to Antoine!

The two groups hallooed at each other and waved across the river and then continued along their ways.

After another hour or two, they reached the Romanche river and the old bridge which crossed the Veneon just before it joined the Romanche. They crossed and continued along the southern bank of the Romanche.

Shortly after noon, they arrived at Bourg-d'Oisans. This town was quite a bit larger than Venosc, perhaps a full thousand people. Sir Rene d'Oisans had a small fortified chateau here on a rise looking over his town. There was a single inn in the town, where the grogs usually stayed while the arranged for the candles, wine, beer and clothes which they typically purchased here.

Etienne automatically made for the inn as they approached the small town. The bandit-turned-fisherman set off to set the wheels of business turning. Their stay would not be long and he wanted to get as much done as possible to allow time for some enjoyment. The young magi would take care of their duties, and Etienne looked forward to some carousing once his duties were completed.

Leporideas marvelled at the bustling town, for it had been a while since he heard the sounds and saw the sights of activity. He set his sights on the market and hoped to garner more leads to addressing the Covenant's needs whether they be in comforts or manpower. A glance over to Tanya had him make a mental note that advances in womanpower might not be so bad either. "Let's explore!" he said joyfully.

Tanya smiled and followed him cautiously.

Lilia asked directions to see Sir Rene and struck out on her mission of pigeons and good will.

Rene's dwelling was obvious, and Lilia could expect a friendly welcome and lodging as the daughter of a noble house. She walked the few hundred yards to the gate and hailed the guard.

After only a short wait, she was ushered in to see Helene, Sir Rene's daughter. Lilia knew Helene slightly better than Rene himself having met her at the home of a mutual friend. She hadn't made the connection til now. Helene greeted her warmly, "What brings you to Boug-d'Oisans alone and afoot?"

"Helene!" said Lilia, embracing her friend. "It is good to see a friendly face here! I am not alone in Boug-d'Oisan -- I travel with companions from my new home near Venosc. We are rather isolated in our little rural place, so I was hoping to make contact with someone who could provide me gossip and news now and then. I may not be wearing dancing slippers," she looked pointedly at the tips of her dusty boots, "but I still want to know the fashions and who is feuding with whom.

"Do you or your father use messenger pigeons? I think pigeons would be novel and convenient, but I have had a difficult time finding any thus far."

"Pigeons?" Helene wrinkled her brow in thought. "We have not used them in years, there seemed little need with Grenoble so conveniently near. But ... our falconer was responsible for them when we did use them, although he hired someone else, I think."

Lilia sighed theatrically. "I live with people who think pigeons are a new idea that will never catch on and you have already passed them by. I would like to speak with your falconer to ask if he could point me in the right direction for birds and a handler.

"Do say you'll correspond with me if we get pigeons! It would be lovely to have happy words from a childhood friend to brighten my day now and then!"

"Of course, my dear," said Helene. "Truthfully, I'm feeling a little trapped her myself and would like to have someone to correspond with. Where did you say you were? I heard the most amazing rumours about what had happened to you these last years."

"Dear Helene, I imagine the structure of what you have heard is all true, though I suspect the trappings have been embroidered lavishly."

"Do tell! You've been away from home for more than fifteen years, and rumour said you were living on some kind of manor in the mountains with," her voice dropped, "some kind of devil worshippers or something."

"Not at all, dear girl! I am living in a small village -- underground, I wil admit -- with some eccentric and learned companions -- wizards, in fact. They are more like hermits than I would like, but not evil in the least."

"Wizards! But they are all devil worshippers! Or at least, not good Christians," she said. "That's what the priest says." She looked at Lilia with a little concern, "Are you a witch, then?"

"Helene, I am surprised at you. When I think of you, I think of a young lady of good heart and modern mind. Wizards are not devil worshipers. It is true many are not good Christians, but I truly believe that most would stay true to their Christian upbringings if they were not so reviled for their choice to be educated. I am a wizard. Yes, it is true. But I am still a Christian and have many good friends among the priests where I have lived and travelled. It is only fear and misunderstanding that leads people to so look down upon wizards as devil worshipers and evil monsters. We are human -- and like any humans, there are good and bad of us. On the main, I have met good wizards and I will always be a good person myself."

Helene looked a bit askance but then shook her head, "I would not have believed it, but if you say it is so ..." She considered, "It only makes sense that there are good and bad, but is not the magic itself corrupting and from the Devil? You say it is not ..." Then she finished firmly and with determination, "I will pray for you, and you will stay with us. This village of yours, where is it?"

"I am glad you trust me -- and thank you for your prayers and your hospitality. I promise you I am not evil, nor are my companions." Lilia sighed in relief. "Do you know where Lac de Lauvitel is? Near Venosc? That is where my village is."

Before Helene would let Lilia go to the falconer, she insisted that Lilia meet her father again. Sir Rene was a man of perhaps forty years of age, a sturdy man, still strong and handsome. It was clear after just a few moments conversation, though, that his daughter was the one who managed the estate. Rene, while doubtless a formidable warrior, was clearly not an administrator. He welcomed Lilia and pressed her to stay at the castle, small though it was.

After a few moments, Helene begged their leave and they left the old knight. Helene called a servant. "Conduct lady Lilia to Jean-Eric," she instructed him. "And do have your servants bring your baggage over. I won't hear of you staying at the inn."

Jean-Eric was in the mews, of course, tending to his charges. Rene had only a few birds, but they seemed well cared for. The servant introduced Lilia and left.

"What a fine mews you keep!" said Lilia. "Helene tells me you are the best person in the region to ask about messenger pigeons. I would like to set up a system of messenger pigeons to help keep me in touch with the big world outside my little village. I would need birds, of course, and someone to manage and train them. Any advice you could give would be appreciated."

The man regarded her carefully, "Aye. P'rhaps." He looked her up and down, analyzing her clothes and bearing and obviously coming up with a confused picture. "My brother," he said, "raised the birds for the master, until they needed him no longer."

"If your brother would be interested in a position, I would be thankful for an introduction... or even if he would be willing to advise me on matters of pigeons. I am new to the world of birds and," she shrugged and smiled a little ruefully, "not at all versed on the subject."

The man looked around his mews, "I've another bit of work here, and Marcel will be out 'til nearly dark. Where shall I bring him, Mistress?"

"I am lodging here, with Sir Rene," she replied.

Jean-Eric nodded, and Lilia took her leave.

Leporideas and Tanya wandered the town for a while, and soon had seen much of what there was to see: farms on the outskirts, a market square with the inn, the baker, and the wine mercant on it and the castle a few hundred yards away up a hill, with more small craftsmen clustered around the foot of the hill.

The young man looked over to Tanya and commented, "It looks like the fun must begin after the sun goes down." With hands on hip, he looked out over the inviting town. "Let's investigate the craftsmen and see if there is the ring of a smithy!"

Tanya nodded, pulling her hood around her scarred face and touching the butt of the spear strapped to her back for comfort.

There was a smith, a balding man with the huge arms of his profession, working on repairing a farm implement of some kind it seemed to Leporideas untrained eye.

With each hammer, the 'PING' caused Leporideas to blink and jump. The man was quite imposing, although not as big Xavier, so Leporideas gulped before speaking out, "Good day, sir."

"Good day, young master," said the smith between hammer strokes. "What do ye be needing?"

"I," he began trying to time his words on the upswing, "I am from a growing fishing village near here and was hoping to persuade a man of your talents and profession to come claim his fortune in good service."

"Ah," was the reply, "I've got a good business here. Ah." He finished his work and plunged the item into a bucket of water. Leaving it there, he turned and came over, "a village could hardly provide me enough work," he said. "If it wasn't for the master and his family, I'd barely have enough work here."

Leporideas nodded in agreement, "I understand. Do you happen to know of an apprentice who might seek out his own place?" The young man realized how difficult the task might be to attract others to the village. He still wanted to find some farmers and acquire some other items before they left.

"Nay," said the man, "I have no apprentice now, nor son."

Leporideas thanked the man and wandered off toward the other merchants, hoping to look over the market for vegetables. If he could convince some farmers to move then he could help with the growth of the village and the covenant.

Vegetables there were, the early ripening kind, and peasants there were, too, who grew them. Some of the peasants were serfs, bound to the land and unable to move, those who weren't tended to be better off and not inclined to move. All looked up on the whole idea of travel as suspicous, something for nobles and such like, not for honest hardworking folk.

Dismayed, Leporideas found it hard to fully understand their suspicion. He had lived his early life constantly on the move and had seen much, then once Master Osprey rescued him he had rarely ventured outside the convenant. Both had their benefits, yet to experience life fully stroked his heartstrings. He sought to politely challenge their assumptions with words of encouragement in his finest storytelling voice.

"Ah, but what is a greater reward for honest labour than the satisfaction of taming the wild and conquering the unknown? Surely there is a heart among you that hungers for the feast of tomorrow?" He laid it on thick as the crowd fed into his entertainer's heart.

Perhaps his dismay leaked into his performace, but his audience did not seem particularly moved. Perhaps, too, his years of study had caused his skills to atrophy.

Sensing that his audience was lost, he quickly summed up his point and continued on his way. The myriad of vegetables gave him many ideas as to what he might pursue for the convenant. As he continued to walk and talk about nothing in particular to Tanya, he drifted into the area occupied by the merchants and hoped to look at their wares to bring greater comfort to the convenant.

The pair visited a variety of the craftsmen in the town, and Leporideas seemed particularly struck by the weaver. A few tapestries, he suggested to Tanya, would help keep the place warm in winter, and also make it look less like a hole in the ground and more like a dwelling for powerful magi. He spoke to weaver and comissioned a few tapestries, mentally planning where to put them, and made a note to send Etienne over to the weaver to arrange payment and transportation.

The wine-merchant had a set of metal goblets and on impulse Leporideas purchased them, thinking they would make a good replacement for the ones the magi currently used.

Pleased with his purchases, Leporideas chuckled softly to himself. Had he really likened the covenant to a hole in the ground when speaking with Tanya? The irony of his personal dwelling place and what he deemed needing correcting was rich indeed.

That evening, a knock on the door of Lilia's room at Rene's home announced the arrival of Marcel, a man who looked a few years younger than his brother, but more harshly used. He bowed in, "Good even, Mistress, Jean-Eric the falconer said you wished to see me."

"Good evening, Marcel. I am Lilia. Did your brother tell you what I am seeking?"

"No, my Lady, only that you wished to speak with me."

"I live in an isolated village and long for news from the world occasionally. I am interested in messenger pigeons, though they seem rarely used in these parts. I am looking for three things: advice on setting up a pigeon service at my home, the pigeons themselves and a keeper to train and care for the birds once I have them. Any help you could offer on any subject would be greatly appreciated."

The man's face became animated at the mention of pigeons. "My Lady, I would be happy to serve you. I can train pigeons, I can care for them." He fell to his knees, "Let me take service with you."

"Marcel, Marcel," said Lilia, dropping to guide the man to his feet, "I am delighted to find such an enthusiastic pigeon trainer. It seems you like your pigeons well -- have you been employed elsewise of late? Do you miss them?"

"When Sir Rene felt the pigeons were no longer needed, I lost employment. I have been gathering wood and sometimes netting birds," his voice shook a bit. "I miss my own little birds dearly."

"My companions and I are on a journey to make contact with people in the region who might be able to correspond with us via pigeon. While we are gone, you will have time to make your arrangements and perhaps begin collecting the birds and supplies you might need. We will meet you on our return journey and you can travel with us back to our home. Meanwhile, will you tell me what I will need to know to set up message stations in my travels?"

Marcel began to speak, piling detail on detail. Lilia was quickly overwhelmed, although it seemed the basics were quite simple; her correspondents would require a perch (here Marcel went in to rapturous detail about construction) and someone would have to travel with the young birds to the place several times for them to learn the way. Their home would require a coop (again, Marcel digressed into construction and design) and food supplies and so on. "Lady Lilia," he concluded, "when will you return and," he hung his head, "I have no money to purchase the needful things."

"I believe this all may be more complicated than I had thought," said Lilia. "It might be better yet if you travel with us to arrange for the proper perches. You can also look for pigeons to buy along the way and arrange for whatever you feel is needed. Besides," she said kindly, "you should not work without compensation. I am sorry not to have thought about that before presuming on your good nature. If you travel with us, we can arrange a salary and be sure you are well-fed and housed, along with your new charges."

"Yes, Lady, thank you, Lady," he said. "When shall I be prepared to depart?"

"Soon, but I will have to let you know exactly how soon later. You have made my job much easier than I had hoped, and it may be my companions have yet to finish their business here. I shall see them shortly and let you know when we are leaving."

The company departed the next day for Grenoble, the passed a night at a roadside inn about eight miles outside of the city. As they travelled, Lilia racked her brain about who to visit. Unfortunately, her cousin in Grenoble had gone on Crusade and died in the Holy Land, so she was without contacts in the city.

She knew that for years, the Bishops of Grenoble had been contesting with the Counts Viennois for control of the city. Or more accurately, with the Countess Beatrice de Viennois, since she had buried two husband/counts already and was on a third.

About noon the next day, the entered the city itself and made for the usual inn.

"How does one gain audience with the Countess de Viennois?" asked Lilia of the innkeeper. "Or does one gain audience with the Countess de Viennois?"

"First," he said, "One goes to Vienne." The room erupted in hilarity at this sally.

"Yes, yes," said Lilia, chuckling at the jape at her expense, "but if there are disputes, say, or needs of the city that require her assistance... How do you contact her? How do you get an appointment with her? Or does she have a manager here in the city who oversees such things?"

Such things are clearly beyond their ken. The idea that they would get an appointment with the Countess was alien. After thinking about it for a while, they all agreed though: you go to Vienne. One contigent, however, said there was no need to see the Countess at all, you'd be better served petitioning the Bishop.

"If I am to call on the Bishop, I should wash up and change to finer clothing," said Lilia. Then she did, and off to the cathedral she went.

Leporideas, meanwhile, was clearly nervous. He had not been in a city the size of Grenoble in many years and it brought back disturbing memories. Although now a magus, the trauma of childhood was not so easily banished. He remained in the inn, looking more rabbity than ever.

The Cathedral was not as grand as some, but was none the less the seat of the bishop's power in Grenoble - and the bishop was a power in Grenoble. Lilia's clothes and the Abdelnour name got her past most the penitents who waited for an audience, still it was nearly noon before she was able to see Bishop Alain.

Alain was an energetic looking man of middle years, with the look of the aristocracy about him - not unusual in those high in the church in these days. He was richly dressed and his office was richly furnished. He greeted her civily, "Lilia Abdelnour, your family's fame goes before you." When she was seated, he sat behind his table, steppled his fingers and watched her, waiting for her to state her business.

"I appreciate your seeing me, your grace, without an appointment. Thank you for your kind words. I am sure my father would be delighted to know you know of our family.

"My business is simple: I am living in a small, remote village near Venosc, where I rarely receive news from the world. I have hired a pigeon keeper and am in search of birds right now, and am hoping to find someone in Grenoble willing to send me news by pigeon now and again. I am sure you are the heart and center of this city and would be able to help me find the right person -- or persons -- to assist me. Or perhaps you have your own pigeons and could include me in your correspondents." She folded her hands in her lap and sat back, smiling gently at the bishop.

"A small village near Venosc? Venosc ... yes! Where the flowers come from. But, why are you living in a small village? Surely, it would be far easier to live somewhere where the news comes arlready," said the man smoothly.

"Of course it would," Lilia smiled, "but sometimes our lives take us to remote corners. I'm sure you know that well in your work.

"Besides, I like the challenge and pigeons seem almost exotic to me. I'm enjoying the travel and meeting the people to get system started."

"I find it hard to imagine why a lady such as yourself would find herself in 'a small village near Venosc.' Venosc is a backwater itself, and a village so small it has no name must be worse still. You can tell me, my child, what is the attraction?" He leaned forward steepling his fingers.

"Oh, it has a name... We call it Lakehome. It is where my friends and colleagues are, your grace. It has been said among my family that it might just be a youthful sally and I may yet grow out of it and take my place at the family home with a suitable husband. That may be, but some of us are destined to have such sallies when we are young enough for them to be forgiven."

"And what is the appeal of this place, if I may ask?" he continued.

"May I ask you a question, your grace? You seem to be fishing for something I have not told you. Is there something in particular you wish to know?"

"I find it interesting, that is all. You are a gently born lady who chooses to live not in a city, nor again on an estate, but instead in a small and obscure village, but at the same time who wishes to know more of what goes on. I ask myself, 'why? Why does she come to me, why now?'" he leaned back. "Does it not seem a little odd?"

"I did not think my situation so interesting, but I imagine a great man such as yourself, the center of a city and with his ear always to the whisperings of the world would think it odd."

Lilia sighed. "My parents think it odd as well and I am beginning to believe I should just accept that I am odd and continue with my life. I wish to know what happens in the bustling cities I knew as a child, but I do not particularly wish to be a part of that bustle. I like a quieter, more studious life. And I would like to try messenger pigeons. If you do not wish to aid my oddness, I will thank you for your time and patience and move on."

"No, I did not mean that at all," his manner became conciliatory. "I, too, am interested in the news, and even small villages like this ... Lakehome? ... often have something of interest to add. I will speak to my pigeon-keeper. Can you return tomorrow at this time to meet with him?"

"Oh, yes! Thank you, your grace. I shall bring my new pigeon keeper with me. Thank you!"

The next day, Lilia met with the Bishop's pigeon keeper and they traded information about birds and routes and so forth. The bishop himself was too busy to join them, they were told.

After the meeting, Marcel and Lilia paused in the street. "Marcel, I believe this might be a good place to buy the beginnings of your pigeon charges. Shall we shop for what we need then meet the others at the inn?" asked Lilia.

"Yes, mistress," said the pigeon-keeper. The pair spent some time shopping and the returned to the inn where the others waited. Etienne had made some purchases and placed some orders and seemed satisfied. All were ready to leave on the morrow anda return home.