Board Thread:Roleplaying/@comment-12599067-20140222014010/@comment-11457306-20140301070840

"Something terrible must have happened.  Peri would not bring her here without good cause."

At great length and with Makoru supporting Torene (for he could not carry her down the stairs while wearing the borrowed robes) they reached the bottom of the stairs. Then Mak did pick her up, for she was barely able to stand. He strode through the company of elves as they parted before him. Setting her once more on her feet, he stared in amazement at Peri, who had never looked more exhausted and beaten.

Torene hobbled forward, straight for the baby and took her from the simple farm girl who served as the child's nurse. Peri was not insulted and waited for Torene to speak first, which she did as soon as she cradled Koru in her arms once more.

"Tell me," said Torene simply.

"Darklight attacked as we were preparing to move the Coven.  It was a horrific battle.  We lost nearly half our numbers."

"I told you to move quickly," said Torene.

"Hear me out," said Peri, irritated. Torene subsided.

"We began right after you left.  The attack came that night.  We were victorious, even though we took heavy losses.  But that was not the worst.  After the battle, Tamara led a rebellion.  Apparently it had been brewing for some time.  She and the younger witches felt you had betrayed the Coven by leaving to help Mak--that you had become too involved with him and no longer had the Coven's best interest at heart--that if you had been there the attack would never have happened, or that it would not have been so bad.

Inelda," here Peri indicated the Seer with a nod of her head, "heard them arguing with those who were loyal to you still. She came and told me. I grabbed what supplies I could and gathered up Inelda and Salla and the baby and we fled. We were very nearly caught--the ones still loyal to you--Risa, Mila--a half a dozen others--they covered our retreat. They gave their lives to do so, Torene. Tamara was after our blood. She did not intend on letting Koru live."

Torene was speechless, swaying as if she would pass out. Makoru stepped forward to support her so that she would not fall with the baby in her arms. Salla stepped forward to rescue the infant before Torene dropped her.

Peri went on. "Inelda has been trying to find you for a month, Torene.  She said something was blocking her.  We haven't been on the run that long--only a few days--but we've been unable to watch you as you ordered.  So when we fled, I had her look for Mak instead.  We followed him here.  I was able to provide the imprint for the scroll.

What was it you said just now, Inelda? The child prevents?" asked Peri.

Inelda nodded. "You bear a son, Torene."

"Tell me something I don't know, Inelda," said Torene with some heat.

The old Seer was unfazed by her Matriarch's anger. "The child is who blocks your detection.  He hides you from what others might see.  He protects you."

Again, Torene was speechless.

(Sorry for the wall of text.  It was a long story.  Now I'm going to collapse, too.)