After I went back to open the door and explained the situation to the others, we all got together and made sure to seal off all the exits while Tai tells their story. "It all started about a month and a half ago…"
Allegedly, Tai was on his way back from a family function when he ran into someone dressed in black robes wearing an old looking white mask covered in cracks. The person was aware that Tai would be leaving the area soon and claimed that Tai's father had sworn to see their package delivered to their old friend, The demon of the northern gate and claimed that the responsibility now fell on Tai's shoulders.
"Why didn't your father deliver it?" The question comes from Charles, who after bandaging the wound on his hand now stands behind Tai, glaring curiously at the intruder. "He was… indisposed at the moment, so unfortunately the stranger was correct in that the package was now my responsibility." I can't shake the feeling that Tai became more formal once the others showed up and I'm not sure whether or not to be offended by that.
"Outside of the mask, was there anything else Identifying about them?" Tai seems to consider my question for a moment, crossing their arms as they review the month and a half old memory. They snap their fingers as something comes to mind. "Oh! When they handed me the package, I saw they had on mismatching gloves." I pause for a moment, mentally reviewing Morgana's list of enemies. Mismatched gloves… I freeze. "Silver and gold?" Tai gives a sharp nod in answer to my question. Ice cold terror rips through my body, tempered only by the heat of my raw fury.
"The children of the split." The words feel slimy as they slip from my mouth. How could I ever forget. The children of the split are a deranged cult of anti-magic 'revolutionaries' who believe that the possession or use of any and all forms of magic is a sin worthy of death. They've been trying to kill Morgana likely for longer than I've been alive and despite having never even gotten close to succeeding, they haven't given up. The fire 8 months ago had been the work of one of their offshoot branches, barely 10 people, but if they were wearing those gloves… they were from the main branch.
Carina and Fierre flinch at the sound of the name and a frown pulls at Charles's face. "The cult?" At Charles's question, A look of raw fury flashes across Tai's face. "Fuck." They frown and let out a long suffering sigh before lifting their head to look at the package floating (hopefully harmlessly) inside the security bubble. "I didn't know." Tai says in a soft tone, a far off look of disappointment in his eyes. "What are you, dense?" The insulting inquiry comes from Fierre, who posted up next to me as soon as they caught sight of Tai.
"Possibly." Is his only response as he continues to stare at the box. "So…what's in the box?" Carina asks from her seat blocking the front entrance. "Haven't the foggiest." Tai reaches out a curious hand towards the bubble, only to immediately retract it when Fierre tries to bite his fingers. "I don't trust him!" Frierre says, gripping my arm as they glare daggers at Tai. The fire 8 months ago had infuriated me, but it was far from the worst or most frightening thing to happen in my life. Fierre on the other hand had been traumatized by the event, growing a deep personal hatred for anyone even loosely associated with the cult that caused it.
"Yeah, that's probably a good instinct." There's a twinge of self loathing that rings through his words as Tai turns on his heel and heads for the front of the store. "And where in the 7 hells do you think you're going?" Charles asks, grabbing Tai's shoulder before they can make for the blocked front exit. Tai looks over their shoulder at Charles with a look of such insulted disgust that Charles flinches but doesn't remove his hand. "I delivered the package, my work here is done. Whatever the fuck is in that-" They point an accusatory finger at the floating package. "-Is not my problem anymore. Have fun." Tai attempts to shrug off Charles's hand, only to frown when he doesn't budge.
"You're not going anywhere until Morgana comes back and we can confirm you're not a threat." Tai's frown deepens at Charles's words. "Listen here pretty boy. If you don't remove your hand in the next 5 ticks, you're gonna get a firsthand lesson in just how threatening I can be." Tai's eyes begin to take on the subtle glow of a magic user. This needs to stop. Now. "Alright, that's enough." My voice cuts through the growing tension as I sling my arm around Tai's shoulders, casually removing Charles's hand in the process.
The intru- guest stiffens under the sudden contact. "Listen Tai- can I call you Tai?" Tai glances at me, curiosity filling their gaze. "Yeah, Tai's fine." a yes you are threatens to escape me as I rake my eyes over his lean yet subtly muscular form. A smirk comes over Tai's face as they catch me checking them out. "Tai, why don't you just hang out here with us for a bit. You've clearly come a long way, aren't you tired?" I watch Tai's shoulders give a tired sag at my question and I walk them over to one of the shop's leather chairs, lightly patting their shoulders as I sit them down.
"Why don't you just sit down right here and Charles will get us some tea." I quickly shoot a glare at Charles, watching as the inevitable protest dies in throat. "...Fine." "Any preference?" I ask Tai, honey dripping off of my voice. "Dindros, if you have it." Tai's request is met with a roll of the eyes from Charles. "Why the hells do you think we'd have-" I cut him off. "Third drawer from the top, next to the Harrian berries." I give Tai a gentle smile, tastefully ignoring Charles's heated glare. "Please, tell me of your travels."
And tell he did. Tai regaled us with tales of his journey from the east to Veilsedge for the next 3 hours. Luckily enough they proved quite the storyteller, everyone in the shop who wasn't named Charles completely engrossed in the adventurous recounting. "-And so I jumped off the cart right before we hit the turn and the silks did the rest of the work for me." Just as Tai finally reaches their conclusion, as if on cue Morgana enters the shop, entering through the now unblocked front door, much to Charles's elation.
"Finally!" Charles exclaims, relief heavy in his voice. Morgana takes in the scene, her eyes briefly glancing at the box in the bubble before settling on Tai. "I see we have a guest." Her voice is suspiciously calm for someone who's been cursing at shadows all week. I'd assumed she would try to kill Tai as soon as she saw them. Morgana walks over to the table where Tai and I sit, the long forgotten empty teapot on the table between us. She lifts the lid off of the teapot carefully examining the leaves inside.
"Dindros?" I give a nod of confirmation. Tai, likely feeling a little ignored, attempts to introduce themself. "You must be Lady Morgana. A pleasure to meet you. I'm Tai, He/They." Morgana turns to him, her analytical gaze seeming to look straight through him. She whispers something about Tai's silver eyes before addressing them, her words so cold I'm amazed they don't generate actual frost. "I am no more a Lady than you are a Lord, Tairan Ferros." Tai (Tairan?) Flinches at her words. "...Just Tai." Morgana examines their face carefully. I couldn't guess what she's looking for, but she must not find it because she eases up, her expression shifting from cold and hostile to a calm neutral. "Then it's just Morgana, She/Her." The lingering tension has Tai shifting their weight in discomfort before Morgana abruptly turns away, seeming to finish whatever assessment just went down.
Morgana walks over to the security bubble and pops it, allowing the box to fall into her hands. "Don't open it!" Charles exclaims scampering closer out of concern but not daring to snatch the box from Morgana's hands. "It's from the freaky cult that tried to burn the shop down." Carina states, now standing to face Morgana. Charles's eyes widen in shock, but before he can ask any questions Morgana says "I know." The room goes quiet. Package still in hand, Mograna heads over to the wall and rotates one of the geode sconces that decorate the shop. In an instant a ripple of magic envelops the shop, a protection spell settling on the shop's interior and merchandise.
"I suggest everyone take cover. I don't know what will happen once I open this box." We all immediately take action at her words. Carina grabs Fierre and pulls them under the front desk with her, Charles ducks behind the stairwell and I all but tackle Tai to kneel behind a nearby couch with me.
I hear Morgana take a deep breath to steel herself before opening the package, the sound of ripping paper fills the air as she tears through the wrapping. I resist the urge to glance over the edge of the couch as I hear the creak of metal hinges. I instead focus on Tai who has taken to gripping his golden locket, his eyes squeezed shut. But I have no time to question his actions as I hear what sounds like a crack of lightning and I'm forced to shut my eyes against the bright blue light that fills the room.
I hear the sound of the package hitting the floor and as the light fades I hazard a look over the edge of the couch.
Morgana is gone.