“Because as far as I know, this family wasn’t ever targeted by hired killers until you showed up, with your selfish scheme to be a kingmaker!” 

Petal is red with fury at the priest, somehow more so now that he is trying to sound altruistic. It’s easier to hate a flawed person than a symbol of evil.

"I think he means I'll assume my father's role if the worst should happen," Onyx replies frowning. "We all have gifts. It's up to each of us to use them from good or ill. I follow the Lightbringer that's magic spared my race...our races," he adds gesturing to Petal and Ronegan before himself, "but if say you'd support a witch hunt than I'm not sure you have a place amongst us," he adds arms crossed over his chest the handsome usually jovial expression on his face gone by a hard stare.

Opal motions for Varen to back her up and approaches Kiran overhearing all that was said.

"This....this isn't tbe place to discuss any of this," Opal says glaring at everyone but especially her twin brother. "Father foresaw the attacks! He foresaw unrest and if you think you're free to choose the protection outside our house now...." she sighs, "you would find no one else as understanding as my house...our house," she gestures at everyone including Kiran. "Stay judgments let us get to the city find out who's the real enemy here," the princess adds fist clenched and slamming into her palm. "We are united or all who died on the road died for nothing," she finishes.

Meanwhile...

Ran approaches Talos who gives him a soft smile.

"Haven't had any trouble on our passages of late. Sure there's the odd water rats who try their luck but soon the high king's guard will be on the tow paths these goods and peoples are moving north for the grand tournament," she explains temporarily distracted calling out for a pole driver to push harder at the stern.

Ran nods his thanks to the captain and looks back at the heated voices of the party in the middle of the barge. As much as he was keeping an eye to the future and his own desires, if this was politics, maybe heading back to the soldier's life would be safer. A smart ambusher would just let this group destroy itself.

He moves to join them, and catches the end of what Opal is saying.

"The captain said the high king's guard will be on the tow paths soon. If this Dark Wanderer is going to take another attempt at the royal family, it will have to be soon. I would say Princess Opal here has the right idea. Keep sharp until we get to the city then get drunk and beat the crap out of each other in the alley and move on."

Petal shakes her head at Kiran, knowing(or at least thinking she’s knowing) full well that Onyx’s interpretation was not what Kiran meant. 

“Princess Opal, I’m sorry.” Petal stands up, glancing at Ronegans pictures - oh how much better this trip would be if Kiran had left us in peace. “I shouldn’t have got so heated but I care about you and your family. I can’t stand to see someone put you in danger.”

As Kiran explains his purpose, Ronegan's demeanor slowly begins to soften, and he actively begins to laugh, a rich, throaty laugh, slapping his belly, and his voice regains its good-natured bluster. "Kiran old boy, you're as mad as..."

The prince and princess's interjections shuts the stout halfling up, and he watches Kiran carefully, until the group begins to break up at Ran's instigation.

Ronegan approaches Kiran at this point and says softly "Your point is well taken, monk. Neither of us have gotten to the ages we have by being reckless. We should follow Ran's suggestion and table this for now. The royals have enough on their plate. Once we arrive in Ospel there will be time enough to consider all this, and indeed, by then we may  know more about the forces that oppose us."

As the group breaks up, Ronegan will smile slowly. The people in this household never cease to surprise him. Humming to himself, he will go back to his parchments and work further creating his Ronegan's Illuminated Reader (as he's already titled it.)

Ran perches himself on a box or barrel or high bench near Ronegan and returns to scanning the shoreline for any threats, but also steals occasional glimpses down at whatever the halfling is working on with the parchment, more taken with Ronegan's ability to craft the words on the page than he is with any magic he has witnessed so far.

Elavor makes it to where everyone is standing, looking as if a large conversation had just happened. There are stern looks all around... 

Looking around, he chews another chunk off the apple, drifts over to Ronegan who is working on his book and says (with a mouth full of apple) "So, off to the city! Glad to see all of our horses fit on the other barge, good thinking there Ronegan!" and looking over his shoulder at his book he'll let out a low whistle "oooh boy, that's some fine work there." 

If Ronegan engages him with conversation, he'll stay around him during the voyage. Otherwise, he'll find a comfortable spot to check any maps of the area, seeing if there is anything he knows about the canals or has marked on his previous journeys back and forth on the canal. 

(At some point during the early voyage, Elavor will approach Petal, maybe sitting with her and saying: "Tell me, what do you think of being on a boat so far?" )

"Dark Wanderer? What...what ....who are you talking about," Opal asks her face full of alarm as Onyx comes to stand besides his twin sister with a curious expression.

"Opal, Onyx. We need to talk."

Varen looks at her friend, then makes sure no one not associated with the party is within earshot before speaking quietly.

"You remember that ciphered letter I found on the bandits? Ronegan and Elavor cracked it. The ambush on the carriage was planned... and you" she says, pointing at Opal, "were the primary target. They wanted to capture you, though for what reason we don't know. The rest of us were to die."

She pauses.

"The person who orchestrated this called himself the Dark Wanderer. We don't know much else yet."

She looks resolutely at the twins. "I do promise that I will give everything I have to make sure no harm comes to you two. It's the least I owe you after years of friendship."

Elavor's eyes flick to the others at this exchange... instantly recognizing that the royalty hadn't been informed of the findings of the previous evening. And recognizing that it wasn't his place to inform them. He, instead, nudges Ronegan. "Erm, no one told them?!" he whispers...

As Elavor sits with Petal, she is shaking, a tense expression on her face, like you’ve never seen on the gnome. She tried to force a smile, “The.. the boat is lovely, I... I guess I haven’t noticed the view so much. I’m starting to see how easy it is.... to miss the beauty, I haven’t once looked out. I’ve just thought of Kiran and Onyx... and who will sit on the throne in Ospel. Is that how dull it is for everyone normally, thinking of these things? Can we... watch the water together? Maybe it’ll help me forget about all of this”

"Why would they want me," Opal says looking at Varen then at Kiran before glancing at Onyx who shrugs.

"You're a true believer," Onyx says his eyes flashing to Kiran before focusing on his sister again. "I...that's all that's different between us," he explains with a firm hand on his sister's shoulders...." you are the champion of this family," he adds touching the side of her face softly and for the first time looking like an older brother. He then looks to Petal and Ronegan giving them a soft nod the prince straightens his robes turning and squaring his shoulders. "Respectfully," he looks to Opal before leveling his eyes at Kiran his expression hard again. "Regardless of what happens in Ospel if you report them you are not welcome back in my house," he adds firmly putting his hand up to Opal who tried to be diplomatic again. "Understand this to be my decision should the worst come to be," he adds before walking not waiting for a response or praise disappearing into the covered area where his father and mother are taking shelter. 

Opal remains with the party slightly speechless at the change in her twin brother. She then seemingly putting herself consciously or unconsciously between Petal, Ronegan, and Kiran. 

OOC: If everyone's ready to move on...preview

Kiran would spend the rest of the trip trying to make a carved wooden flower for Petal as an apology for upsetting her. (Woodworking: 25)

(Good to move on)

"That sounds absolutely perfect... " Elavor says as he sits with Petal, watching the day, water and scenery go by. He points out different water insects, birds, and types of trees he knows... and asks her about the ones he doesn't know. Hoping she shares with him as well... Any time they spot a fish they try to identify it together. 

(ready to move on when everyone's ready)

Ran, even with it being only a day on the barge, already feels cooped up. Watching Ronegan work was amusing for awhile, then he spent more time refining his sword play, dragging anyone who came to close into a sparing session but the rest of the day, spent just sitting and waiting, dragged on. He is more than ready to get off and get into the heart of Ospel.

Ronegan spends the entire journey engrossed in creating his reader, occasionally consulting with Petal to make sure the animals he drew were at least legible. While he works, he thinks about Onyx. He knew the young man wanted to live up to his father, and prove that he could lead. So many, including Ronegan himself, if the halfling was being honest, had doubted the boy -- that he was too sweet, too naive, to rule. Ronegan wasn't sure that dismissing Kiran was wise, especially with what the monk had revealed, but, as he admitted to himself, it was a bold move of the sort the boy would have to make if he was to be a good ruler.

He thinks of when he first met the twins as teenagers, and smiles warmly, wiping a tear from his eye. They grew up so fast!

As the barges approach Ospel, Ronegan finds himself becoming more and more anxious. He resolves to talk more to Kiran about the monk's plans, and what this tournament was going to look like as soon as possible.

(Good to go!)

Varen will enjoy the moment of peace she has, warm in the sun at the bow of the barge.

It very well may be her last such moment for a long while.

She wonders about her family,  about how her brother's campaign in the Deephallow has gone. She will have to arrange a message to be sent when they reach Ospel, so that they know that her position with the family is still... secure.

(Onward!)

The barges move along, it's late afternoon as the barges begin to pass more and more settlements. They grow larger as the canal narrows as more and more of the other boast peel off into marines or dock to unload with captain Talos navigating around them. Once in the outskirts of Ospel passengers disembark before reaching the main docks. The carriage and horses are unloaded but Wynora and Elinor are dispatched to find chancellor Green. Queen Citrine emerges from the covered area looking distraught having to be supported by Onyx and Opal while the crew again support the king on a stretcher. 

The party looks on as the king is put into another wagon prone on a stretcher to be moved to the grand cathedral of Light. As the party is told to move Firstforges' city apartments in the Amber Isles, the island fortress of the high king and site of the grand cathedral of Light, where all the nobility live in Ospel. The royal family is transported by High King's guard leaving the party to sort themselves out.

Kiran wordlessly presents his recognizable, but roughly carved, to his eyes, flower to Petal wordlessly after they’ve disembarked. He then waits patiently for the group to decide its course of action, suggesting only, “We may want to give the royal family some space before we join them, yes?” 

(Would he be familiar with the city?)

Ran looks over at Kiran, now assuming everything the man says is misdirection and covered with fabrications.

"Perhaps we should get the carriage, horses, and the royal family's gear stowed away at their apartments in Amber Isle first."

Ran then turns to see how they will manage all of the horses, the carriage and luggage without losing anything to pilfering hands that he has always found to be readily at work in any dockyard.