Svarik and the company I :)

[VisAnastasis]

" I know not world of your time, so I can not know for certain. But as I already asked - I, please, bid you to be careful, as to whom you speak of my father. " Emil said more quietly, despite usual gentle and polite tone, his hands holding the cup a little more tightly. " I'd, if you may, rather have an ill father than no father - and many Spirits and Yokai both wish him death. As lord of this castle and his high priest, it's my duty to keep him safe, and I can do only so little. "

[Mirach]

"Of course," Svarik nodded. "We discussed that with Erdel yestarday, and agreed on whom we can trust. We wish to help, not to endanger your father."

[VisAnastasis]

" I am obliged to your kind intentions. " Emil said softly, with gentle warm expression, as if he dared trust them a little more. " You should stay here for as long as you like - this room is a part of the prayer circle, as you can see. " he pointed at couple of priests that were sitting upon round table, seemingly praying, keeping their eyes closed, while some chalk drawings were on the wood. " Once you feel better, I can lead you wherever you like - expect in the west wing, of course, that is forbidden. But there's still lot of day left, and whatever you wish to do, I shall be your faithful servant in providing you with best leisure time I can. "

[Mirach]

"I would like to learn how to make that brew you told me about yesterday," Svarik said. "Tomorrow we will stay until lunch - we didn't have time for dinner with your father and he was unhappy about it, so we will make up for it tomorrow, and I would like to make some for him when we are there..."

[VisAnastasis]

" That would be most splendid. " boy grinned. " What do you say I bring all the herbs to this room, so we can prepare the brew here, and then only warm it up in the kitchen? It's a bit complex, it will take around an hour of herb preparing, and half an hour of it slowly brewing on fire, kind guest, but good news is it's easy recipe to memorize, and herbs used are numerous, but more or less common to this whole patch of land you called Lowlands. "

[Mirach]

"It would be quite comfortable to do it here," Svarik nodded. 

[VisAnastasis]

Emil agreed, and he left for a moment, and brought a heap of plants and necessary tools. Svarik recognized most, some easier some harder to get, from various parts of the land - most had more emerald leaves and had slight mutations, as they were grown specially here for such a long time, probably by Cernunnos himself, but it was quite obvious what flowers and plants they came from. Knowledgeable about everything green, Emil with delight talked about all the plants, and explained how they are properly prepared, cleaned and cut, in order to make everything properly.

[Mirach]

Svarik listened carefully, but wasn't sure if he will remember it in some time. "Would it be alright if I took some notes?" he asked.

[VisAnastasis]

" Oh.. Of course... " Emil paused for a moment, before he stood up slowly, putting heap of herbs aside. " I am going to need a moment to see if I can find you some spare piece of parchment and ink, if it hasn't dried up. We kind of have practice of memorizing things... Because, as we hunt little, we didn't really had proper skin to make parchment for a while and we run out of our last pieces few decades ago... But I'll see if I can find something that can work. "

[Mirach]

"Oh, right... I forgot you are short on ink and paper..." Svarik said apologetically. "I fear I didn't think of bringing any. Please, don't bother with trying to find some, I shall remember it now, and Erdel can help me, in case I get something wrong. I will get some writing supplies later so I can write it down, and then make sure I got it right on the way back. But did you know you can make paper from wood, too? I don't really know the exact process, but I can try to find out for you, if you want..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Paper? " boy whispered, as if word was not familiar to him. " I apologize, dear guest, I know not of such a thing... Writing supplies had been a necessity to us for a while, though it's not unbearable sacrifice for most of us. It would be fair to say, I think, that my father misses it most... Healways love reading and writing books... "
" Do *we* not have paper, though? " Erdel asked then suddenly, looking a bit thoughtful. " Ser Falcon wrote you so many recommendation letters. We can't possibly use them all up. Maybe we could see which from the hosts are not in our route, so that we can use the envelopes or backs of the letters for those notes you wish to write. As for ink... Hmm.. " he paused, thinking for a moment, before he said slowly, looking at king a bit more shyly, his face covered with layer of blush. " If we tried to grind up some pigment and make it now, it would take us needless time, and you are tired... Maybe  I could draw and give you, um, a pint of my blood? Ser Falcon often uses his blood to sign important deals, he said, and noting ill came to him for it - and what is a little cut to me, sire? Nothing. I really wouldn't want you to forget something you desire to learn so much, not only for Cernunnos, but for Xia as well, so I wouldn't mind... "

[Mirach]

"The letters, right!" Svarik smiled. "That's a great idea. Would you get them, and the map, please? We will see which ones we won't need... As to the ink, thank you for the offer, but there's no need for it. A bit of coal would suffice for now. I can rewrite it properly later."

[VisAnastasis]

" I'll go get the letters and map for you now, s... Svarik. " Erdel said shyly, having difficulty and being flustered and bit tense at using king's real name, but knowing king wouldn't be happy if he called him by titles and revealed his royalty here. While Erdel left to do so, Emil excused himself gently, and as graceful as ever, he stood and playfully went to bring king some suitable coal, glad the problem was solved.

[Mirach]

When he got both things, Svarik put aside a few letters that were too far from their route to use this time, and quickly made notes about the part of th eprocess they already got to, asking Emil for a few clarifications or reminders as he wrote.

[VisAnastasis]

" Don't worry, kind guest. If you mess up the notes, when you come by on the way back from your journey, if you bring some writing supplied with yourself, I could show you how it's made again, or father could. " boy reassured him, and then, he carefully and gently showed him how to prepare the beverage, while Erdel tried to help and memorize as much as he could too, and while Xia with curiosity observed them cutting things and writing with coal.

[Mirach]

Svarik used the occasion to repeat the letters with Xia, showing her some of the easier words he wrote and reading them aloud.

[VisAnastasis]

Fox demon was delighted that king made sure that whatever he did, she was included and payed attention to, and she followed his directions earnestly, from time to time making sure to on her own clumsy way sign *love* and *thankfulness*, with childish excitement, seeming, despite the ups and downs they had and still frail trust they had to build upon, rather happy that she can express herself to him when needed.

[Mirach]

Svarik smiled when she did that, but did not reveal yet that the brew they are making is meant for her. He just made the notes carefully, to make sure he can repeat the process at home.

[VisAnastasis]

After they got all ingredients ready, they left to the kitchen, where they were to make sure they are cooked and made into warm beverage properly.

[Mirach]

"Just out of curiosity," Svarik asked as the ingredients were boiling, "what would happen if a human or a spirit would drink this? Is it safe or should one be careful so someone doesn't drink it by accident?"

[VisAnastasis]

" I do not know what would happen to a Spirit, to be honest. We never had a Spirit guest over the years, and my father is the one who figured out and perfected this formula while our little kingdom was in its prime, when he discovered human custom of drinking tea in leisure times and tried to figure out how to make a tea that would suite his kin. " Boy said. " There are no peculiar otherworldly herbs used in it - so I imagine, nothing if Spirit would drink it, though what lingers nicely to Yokai, is often pleasant for Spirits too, so in theory it should feel nice to them as well, though I never tested to know how nice they would feel as I never.. met a Spirit I would desire to invite under my roof for a drink. As for humans, I can drink it, and it doesn't have as strong pleasing effect on me, but it does help relax my nerves... I am immune by birth to most poisons, but I know two herbs used here are poisonous, though, for humans. It's not strong enough poison to kill if someone accidentally takes a cup or two, but I imagine stomachache and faintness from it wouldn't be as pleasant to fainter of heart - but it's nothing that should kill unless taken in big amount, kind guest. "

[Mirach]

"So not that bad, but not recommended either," Svarik summed it up. "I'll need to explain that to Xia so that she's not confused why I'm not drinking something that's pleasant to her and doesn't want me to..."

[VisAnastasis]

" That shouldn't be that hard. " Erdel was one that smiled a little. " Something simple along lines of *Xia**good *, *me*bad* should cover it, I think. " he said, but fox demon did not quite get it, as Erdel and not Svarik was speaking and there was no gesturing to drink involved, so she must have thought vampire is speaking about himself being bad - because she pulled his sleeve, and adorably started to sign *Xia good, Erdel good* for couple of times, as if trying to tell him he's good to, on which vampire at last chuckled a little, seeming rather bemused and caressing her behind ear lightly to show her he appreciates her comment.

[Mirach]

Svarik chuckled with that as well. "Yes, good," he nodded. "Both of you. That's why you will get a nice drink... How long should it boil like this?" he asked Emil.

[VisAnastasis]

" Until there are no loose ends and everything becomes smooth, and room fills with its pleasant smell. I would say, five more minutes this time, since it's a small doze, but sometime it can take up to a half an hour if you make a really big one. " boy explained. " I love to add milk and honey too, but that's optional, it depends on one's preferences. We, alas, don't have any milk right now, as it's been a little while since we had cows or goats, but we can add the honey if you think Xia would like it, kind guest. "