Andlátkyn; Vandr Sanses unin Alagaësia

Science Obsession

Error had his upper half splayed across the table, groaning as he listened to Nasuada hold court in the next room.
Red was snoring away in a chair not far from them. Fresh was just sitting in his, a strained smile on his face as he stared blankly.
He was worried about Fresh. The parasite was genuinely unsettled about the possibility of dying. Error was damned if he could let that happen. He'd give his own Soul if need be- he really would, no questions asked.

Nasuada's raised voice drew Error's attention. "Yes! You'd get more. But I happen to know that Master Gamble cannot afford to give you the chickens' full price, as I'm the one who provides his salary! As I do yours. You forget that if I decided to acquire your poultry for the good of the Varden, you'd get no more than a copper a chicken and be lucky at that. Am I understood?"
"He can't-" "Am I understood?"

There was a tense pause before the reply came. "Yes, Ma'am."
"Very well. You're both dismissed." Some shuffling as the pair of humans left, then Nasuada addressed her guards. "You too."
Error waited a moment, then drew himself upright, flipping his hood over his face and jamming his hands in his pockets as he teleported while the bell ringed. He appeared at her left as the door behind the banner on the right opened.

The human glanced at him curiously before facing the handmaid, Farica. "Are there any more?"
"No, Ma'am."
She sighed a little, rubbing her forehead with one hand as she thought.
"I want that Gamble reassigned. Give him a job where his talent with words will be of some use. Quartermaster, perhaps, just so long as it's a job where he'll get full rations. I don't want to see him before me for stealing again."
The woman nodded as she wrote it down on a scroll nearby. "Where can I find him?"
"One of the work gangs in the quarry."
"Yes, Ma'am. Oh, while you were occupied, King Orrin asked that you and Lord Error join him in his laboratory."

Error smirked softly as Nasuada groaned. "What has he done in there now, blind himself?" She stood, approaching the lavender-scented washbasin before glancing at Error. "What brings you here at the sweltering time?" He shrugged, letting his multicolored hands show. "Honestly, I wanted something to do. Surda is as boring as ever. I've been teleporting between here and Du Weldenvarden just for some form of entertainment. Though the elves don't appear to like that I can bypass their wards." He rubbed a hand over his skull, the hood falling back as he did so. "But Orrin's requested the two of us, so now I have something to do."

She smiled half-heartedly, washing her arms and neck, adjusting her clothes in the mirror before facing him again. "How goes Eragon's training?"
Error deadpanned. "They've been in Ellesméra for only three days." Her smile dropped.
"But they seemed willing to train Blue and GB as Riders for some reason. As long as he's okay with it, I don't mind.." He stared over her shoulder, head tilted thoughtfully. Nasuada's grin returned, though more uncertain. "That's good! More Riders is what we need."
He nodded distractedly before they set out through the dusky hot castle. Borromeo Castle.

Error kept his hood up, hands in pockets of his cloak as they trudged in the blazing heat. It was a matter of safety; only nobility were aware of skeletons here, that and most of the Varden. They didn't want to unduly frighten the commoners, so they needed to hide their faces.
Error didn't care. He's hidden his face before, he's quite good at it.

They waited at the entrance as the guards announced their arrival. Then Orrin himself called out to them. "Lady Nasuada! Lord Error! I'm glad you both came. I have something to show you."

The two entered, Farica behind them. All manner of glass beakers, test tubes, and other scientific objects greeted them, Error making sure they were out of sight of the guards before tossing his hood off.
Weaving through the glass forest they found Orrin, stirring a tube of quicksilver.
"Sire." Nasuada spoke.
"Orrin." Error added, watching as Farica curtsied.
"You seem to have recovered from the explosion last week." Nasuada added.