A badly-wrapped package.

[eternally_aggrieved]

A brown paper package sits on Ahrotahn's desk in Relto. It shakes and wobbles, giving the general impression that it is grievously annoyed.

Comments

[calledtoventure]

The cat is talking to her.

She's only credibly heard of talking animals through the forum. Not much to go on, but.

To her credit, she only hesitates for a second or two before answering. "...uh. This is the Watcher's Pub, in D'ni. Or, not D'ni proper, but D'ni greater. Uh. I'm Ahrotahn, how did you get here? I wasn't expecting a visitor."

[eternally_aggrieved]

"I wasn't expecting to visit. Apparently I've been mailed very far away indeed. Do you have a mirror?"

[calledtoventure]

"Yes, in my Relto." She takes the book off her belt and holds it open near the floor, showing a moving illustration of an island in a sea of mist.

"...Are people mailing you places against your will? Do you want help with that?"

[eternally_aggrieved]

"It's traditional."

The cat pokes the book hesitantly with a claw, and vanishes.

[calledtoventure]

Ahrotahn follows.

The island is small. Grass, shrubs, a pointy hill pretending to be a mountain, and a tiny one-room hut. Ahrotahn leads the way inside.

"It's not traditional around here. If you want somewhere to live without getting mailed places, you're welcome in D'ni." She opens the wardrobe, revealing a meager selection of outfits and – mounted on the inside of the door – a full-length mirror.

[eternally_aggrieved]

The cat stares at the mirror as if it had offered a personal insult.

"... Precisely where is D'ni?"

[calledtoventure]

"...Probably not in the same universe you're from. Are you aware that there are different worlds?"

[eternally_aggrieved]

"Yes. I was expecting one of them to be over there." The cat inclines its head in the direction of the mirror.

[calledtoventure]

"Is it supposed to work with just any mirror, or is there a special sort of mirror that you were expecting?"

[eternally_aggrieved]

"Well, if we're on the Surface it might not work. That would explain the sunlight."

[calledtoventure]

"We're in Relto, not on the Surface. Do you want to try again in D'ni proper?"

[eternally_aggrieved]

The cat blinks.

"That would be a sensible thing to do, yes."

[calledtoventure]

"All right."

She takes down a book from the shelf, brown with a spiral-hand-tree symbol, and lays it open on the shelf opposite, underneath a collection of sinister-looking black iron flowers. The page shows a rough conical spire of rock with a passageway cut through it.

She starts unmounting the mirror from the wardrobe door.

[eternally_aggrieved]

The cat looks over the collection of dark flowers with an air of appraisal.

"Interesting blossoms."

[calledtoventure]

Ahrotahn continues unmounting the mirror.

"Thank you. They're Takkarash; they'll hurt if you touch them."

[eternally_aggrieved]

The cat gives Ahrotahn a Look. The look says "Do you think that I am stupid?"

"Yes."

[calledtoventure]

"Sorry. I didn't realize it was obvious."

She finishes unmounting the mirror, but finds that she needs both hands to carry it. She leans it against the wall, sets the book on the floor, and takes off her shoes and socks. Finally, she hefts the mirror again and stands over the book.

"Ready?"

[eternally_aggrieved]

"The big spiky thorns were rather a hint."

The cat licks a paw.

"Yes."

[calledtoventure]

"The thorns aren't the only part that's dangerous. Even the petals will cut. Anyway..." She taps her bare foot to the linking panel, and disappears.

[eternally_aggrieved]

The cat follows a moment later.

[calledtoventure]

And they are standing in a short square tunnel cut out of the stone, overlooking a vast cavern and a dimly glowing orange lake.

Ahrotahn leans the mirror against the tunnel wall.

[eternally_aggrieved]

The cat pokes the mirror.

"No. Not here."

It looks up at Sonata.

"... But perhaps elsewhere. Do you have a London?"

[calledtoventure]

"Yes, though getting there would be a bit of a hassle. We're currently under New Mexico."

[eternally_aggrieved]

"Ah. The New World. That explains a few things."

The cat runs a claw along the mirror's surface.

"Well then. I suppose I owe you something."

It turns and looks up at Ahrotahn.

"Listen closely, now. You wouldn't want to forget this."

The cat's eyes fix on Ahrotahn's.

"In matters of the Bazaar, look to love, always. But make the stories or they will be made for you. Be careful who you are. Do you recall how It came to that place? And they sang of their lightnings and shapeful disgrace? And It tilted Its vanes and ennobled Its spires. They welcomed it then and commingled all choirs. And not enough, not enough. Still It mourns."

The cat clears its throat, touches the mirror, and disappears.

[calledtoventure]

Ahrotahn examines the mirror's surface, then touches it.