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"Into Muse" (Muse!) Alberto frowned as the entrance guards checked Pico's entrance pass. This wasn't a regular procedure, so something was definitely wrong. Once satisfied, the guards let them pass. "Wait for me by that bench," he said, pointing to one not far from the entrance, "I want to ask the guards a few questions." Pico nodded, having caught the hint of trouble in the guard's behavior. Annallee didn't understand, but then she'd never been to Muse before. The walked over to the bench to wait. Alberto turned back to the entrance guards. No one was wanting to get in at the moment so they weren't busy. "Pardon, but my group has been travelling for the past week. Is there trouble in Muse?" The guard peered at him for a second. "Aye, a fair share. Rumors have come in from the eastern province that Highland troops might be gathering." "An attack?" Last Alberto heard there had been - "The peace treaty? I thought there was a peace treaty in place." "Yeah, 'was' is right," the guard scowled, "The Highlanders acused us of breaking the treaty and slaughtering one of their border camps. Nobody here knows what really happened except that none of out troops made a move." Alberto nodded, a troubled expression crossing his face. "I see." The guard nodded in the direction of Pico and Annallee. "There's bound to be trouble. Watch out for them. I don't want to see any more kids killed by this war than have already been taken. Get them out of the City-State, even." The guard looked like he had some private grief on that subject, a relative or friend maybe. "I'll do that," Alberto headed back to his companions. "What's up?" Pico asked quickly and Annallee looked up with curiosity. "War, maybe," Alberto said, "Or maybe nothing. No one seems to know for sure." Annallee's eyes widened. "War? But -" she trailed off. She'd never dealt with the near-constant war between Jowston and Highland, and Jowston and the Scarlet Moon. She'd lived out of country, and then in the relatively well-defended Matilda. "We should get going. I guess there's little use in putting off the family reunion," Pico sighed. * * * The thick oaken door, free from flaws of any kind, opened shortly after they knocked. A stiff backed man wearing a black and white uniform, of sorts, looked down his long nose at them. "Follow me and be sure not to touch anything. The Mistress of the house will be with you shortly." Annallee looked around with amazement at the fancy, though tacky, decorations adorning the halls. Meanwhile Pico glared at the back of the servant's head. Alberto just followed. They were brought to a sitting room just as tacky but expensive as the rest of the house. They waited there for the Mistress of the house to arrive. Eventually she did, not 'shortly'. The resemblance was obvious between her and Pico. Long black hair that must have taken an hour to style in such a way trailed down her back and she wore a dress that made Annallee feel very, very underdressed. "Pico, I was wondering how long it would take you to give up that foolish fantasy of becoming a musician," she said, ignoring the other two. "I have not, mother," Pico stood up, "given up that 'foolish fantasy', as you put it. Nor do I have any intention of doing so." Pico's mother wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Then don't expect me to give you any money. Or your father." "I don't need your money," Pico glared at her. An uncomfortable silence passed. Finally Pico's mother noticed Annallee and Alberto. "And who are you? Street trash my son picked up?" Alberto ignored the insult. "My name is Alberto, Lady, and the young lady is Annallee. We are both musicians as well and have been travelling with Pico for quite some time." Pico's mother's gaze passed from Alberto to Annallee. The woman's eyes narrowed darkly. She hates me already, Annallee realized. An artificial smile crossed her lips. "It's only proper to allow you to stay here while you are staying in Muse. I'll order rooms prepared for you and three more places will be set for dinner. You will accept, of course?" It might have been phrased as a question but it was more like a command. But they hadn't made other arrangements, and in fact they'd hoped for free board. It would be uncomfortable, but they accepted.
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