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 Posted: Thu May 08, 2014 8:55 pm
Sheraesh followed Adonar as he spoke. When Adonar spoke of the village, the blood drained from his face. "Oh, oh my. That.. that is quite horrible. Of course I will do anything within my power to help... Maybe we can even find survivors. Perhaps... they were taken prisoner." Shearaesh shivered. He wasn't sure if it was the impending doom, or the dampness of his clothing.
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 5:29 pm
Sarice sighed, shaking her head slightly as she slipped silently through the second floor window, sliding fluidly with the fluttering drapes to merge seamlessly with the shadows in the room.
Such a high-profile target should have better security. Windows wide open, empty rooms, no guards in sight…this is a waste of my talent. This job could be done by any street rat.
With a grim smile, the assassin slid through the empty room, pausing briefly at the door. Muffled movement and a flickering light came from down the hall and Sarice crouched behind the door as two Knor guards turned a corner, speaking softly to each other.
“I heard it was a great beast. Like the ones in the stories. Teeth and claws and death. Straight from a nightmare, they say.”
“And who’s sayin’ that, then? Weren’t no survivors, was there? No survivors means no witnesses, ya dumb…”
The first guard looked over as his partner crumpled to the floor, a look of shocked concern on his face as he bent to help.
“You ok, Garuth? What’s the ma-…”
Sarice slipped quickly past the leaning Knor, pulling her dagger out of the body slumped on the floor and sliding it cleanly across the worried guard’s throat before he could even register her movement, melting immediately into the shadows behind him.
Traveling quickly now, she moved toward the end of the hall the guards had come from and was pleased to find a staircase spiraling own to the main floor, the left side open to the room below like a magnificent descending balcony wrapping the entire room. Books lined the walls, a glorious library that one would not expect to find in such a modest home. Vaulting over the railing, Sarice angled her feet, landing in a precise backwards roll and coming up beneath the staircase as voices wafted in from another room. One was male, refined but with an accent, the other was female and clearly educated. Sarice moved toward the door between rooms, reaching for the handle.
A harsh click from behind her warned her of another guard and she dove to the side narrowly avoiding a crossbow quarrel as it buried itself in the jamb of the door.
“Intruder!” the guard cried, flinging a small dagger at Sarice as she sprinted across the room toward him, trying desperately to slow her down as he fumbled to pull his sword from its sheath.
Spinning to one side and flaring her cloak, Sarice snagged the dagger in its folds and resumed her forward sprint without breaking step. Diving into a forward roll to cover the last few steps, the assassin came up under the helpless guard’s raised arms as he finally managed to free his sword, using her upward momentum to thrust her own dagger up between his ribs. She ripped the dagger violently from his chest, letting him crumple to the ground.
Sarice crouched, spinning quickly as the door behind her burst open, launching her dagger into the face of the first emerging guard, following it with a rapid double flick of her wrist that buried a second and third in the throat and chest of the guard behind him.
As the bodies fell to the floor jerking and twitching, she listened carefully to the panicked voices in the next room, tallying her kills and attempting to hear if any further resistance existed. Cautiously, she moved to the door, stooping to yank her daggers out of the corpses and shove them back into the sheaths at her hips. Striding confidently through the doorway, she paused just inside the next room, her cloak billowing dramatically behind her.
It wasn’t often that Sarice was surprised. Startled, sure. Caught unaware, maybe. Surprise, however, was a very rare occurrence in her life. The sixth guard, for example, the one pressed up against the wall next to the door, waiting to ambush her as she came through, was unexpected though hardly surprising. Gathering her cloak in one hand, she spun violently, whipping the cloak, and the dagger still caught in its folds, up into the guard’s unsuspecting face, gouging at his eyes and causing him to drop his sword. Sarice reached out and caught the falling blade as she continued her spin, disemboweling the guard before coming to rest facing the room. Facing the surprise.
“Ah suppose you’d be here for the lady.” The Undralig stated rather than asked, his voice determined and unafraid. “But Ah must warn you that Ah’m not the type to let you harm a hair on her head. You’d do best to leave now, though Ah don’t imagine you’re likely to do so.”
Time slowed as Sarice examined this surprising situation. This was the Undralig from the square, the ones with the surprising talent for music. What other surprising talents might he be hiding? He was confident. Too confident. He would have to be dealt with first. She eyed him carefully, assessing him. His feet were set apart, a solid stance, positioning himself between Sarice and her target, a solid cane gripped in both hands in front of him, a look of concern etched into his features.
Sarice did a double take.
Concern? No, that’s something more than simple concern. That’s…what is that?
Her gaze shifted to the Duchess cowering behind the lumbering giant of a man, and she saw concern reflected there, as well. Not concern for herself. A concern for the hulking Undralig standing guard in front of her. As if she were afraid he would get hurt.
Why should she care about the well-being of one of her guards? Someone in her position must have many staff members and a large number of guards on a constantly shifting roster. To be so attached to one of them…
Sarice let her gaze drift back to the Undralig, casually noticing him lift his cane in a menacing way, even daring to take a step in her direction. Just as casually, she unclipped a small, handheld crossbow from a hook on her belt and leveled it at him.
“Interesting.” With that single word, she loosed the bolt, striking him in the hip. A look of confusion passed through his face and he managed to take another step toward her before crumpling to the ground.
“Jeb!” The Duchess cried, falling over the massive figure sprawled on the floor. “No! Jeb! What have you done to him? It was me you wanted! You didn’t have to…”
“Kill him?” Sarice interrupted.
Wait…cane?
Looking around, she noticed an opened trunk to one side of the empty room, a golem holding a variety of stones, and the cane that the Undralig, Jeb apparently, had been menacing her with. Suddenly, everything clicked into place and a wicked smile crept onto the assassin’s face.
“He isn’t dead, your lover. He sleeps, only.” Sarice emphasized the next part. “IF you cooperate, he will wake soon enough, with no more than a nasty taste in his mouth and a bruised pride.”
“What do you want from me?” The Duchess sobbed, her tears flowing freely down her face.
“You know why I am here.”
With a muted gasp, the Duchess looked up at her, scrambling backward, trying to regain her feet.
“Who sent you? I can pay you more! Whatever it is they’re giving you, I’ll top it. Just please, leave us in peace!”
Sarice scoffed at the typical pleading. “My dear, if I thought so little of my reputation, I would not be nearly as expensive as I am. As the man who hired me was very adamant about sending only the best for this, I can only assume the information he sent me for is well worth my outrageous fees. And that is information I would be very interested in knowing.”
Keeping one eye on the Duchess, Sarice nonchalantly loaded a new bolt into the crossbow, this one much larger than the one she had used to dose the Undralig. She slowly circled to the left, positioning herself to keep everyone in sight. She wasn’t sure how the golem was going to react to its master’s plight, but she wouldn’t be surprised again. Not this day. Holding the loading crossbow at her side she addressed the Duchess again.
“Don’t concern yourself with who sent me. They aren’t here. I am, and I would like to know about a certain special object.”
The Duchess froze, her eyes open wide in surprise, mouth hanging slightly open.
“I…I don’t…”
“Yes you do, m’lady.” Sarice pointed the crossbow at Jeb’s prone form. “And if you don’t start talking soon, the horned one is going to sleep for a long, long time.”
At this threat, the golem began to move toward her, little legs pumping as it rushed across the room, rocks in hand. Mentally crossing her fingers, she shifted her aim and fired the large bolt, a hollow pointed tube filled with a highly corrosive substance normally reserved for melting open obstinate locks, directly into the torso of the desperate creature. The golem barreled toward her without slowing, flailing wildly with its rocks, forcing Sarice to dive to the side. Rolling to her feet and drawing her daggers, fully prepared to have to dismantle the creature, she spun to see the golem on its back with a large hole burning through its chest. The poor animation writhed helplessly on the floor, trying to regain its feet even as the acid continued to eat through its body. Sarice frowned at it, wishing she could put the poor thing out of its misery, but she still needed answers. It would find peace soon enough.
Turning her attention back to her target, she saw that the Duchess had picked up Jeb’s cane and was brandishing it in front of her.
“You’ll never get the information you want.” She spat at Sarice. “Tell your masters that they’ll never get it. Nor any of the others! And if you kill me without getting the information your masters seek, they’ll have you head mounted next to mine.”
Sarice smiled condescendingly and knelt beside Jeb, caressing the lines of his face with her dagger.
“You misunderstand, Duchess. I have no master. Those who paid my fee require only your death to be satisfied. You should be bargaining for the safety of your love. Your fate is already decided.”
Standing straight, the noble lady lowered the cane to her side, assuming a stance of pride and dignity befitting one in her social standing.
“Then we are both doomed,” she responded, “for I shall not tell you what you wish to know. I will not let what happened in Onselyth happen here, even if it means our lives.”
Sarice paused at the mention of the destroyed farming village. This wasn’t the first time she had heard that name whispered in recent days. No one was quite sure what had happened there so, naturally, rumors were flying wildly. And yet apparently, the information she had been sent to retrieve was somehow connected to that tragedy. Tapping the point of her dagger against Jeb’s throat thoughtfully, she addressed the Duchess again.
“Tell me what you know of Onselyth, and I will spare the Undralig.”
The Duchess cringed, her shoulders slumping in defeat.
“I don’t know much. Only that the power your masters seek is far greater than anything we have seen. Why they want it, I can only guess, and I have nightmares of this world should they get their clutches on it. It is an ancient power and is best left to legends and stories long forgotten. But I suppose it isn’t likely that those who sent you would give up so easily. In the right hands there is the potential for catastrophe and death, utter destruction of entire populations. Imagine the horror of that power in the wrong hands. Onselyth is just an example of why they cannot be allowed to succeed! I can tell you no more! Spare him!”
Falling to her knees, the Duchess buried her face in her hands sobbing silently and begging the forgiveness of some deity or another. Sarice stood, placing her hand gently on the noble woman’s shoulder.
“Tell them I’m sorry.” The Duchess whispered.
“Who?” Sarice asked, moving her dagger to the soft skin of her neck.
“The children.” The Duchess replied, pressing her throat firmly against the dagger and opening a deep gash under her chin.
Frowning, Sarice allowed her to fall to the floor, blood pooling around her body, and walked over to stand above the Undralig’s prone form. Without the antidote, he would continue to sleep until predators tore him apart or his body wasted away. Glancing at the still struggling golem, she reached into a pouch at her hip that contained the powder that would wake him and fulfill her end of the bargain she had struck with the Duchess. And then stopped. She couldn’t have this witness, this vengeful beast, following her around causing problems.
Sighing softly, she fished a different vial out of the pouch, unstopping it with a slight pop. Tipping it slightly, she let a single drop pass the sleeping Undralig’s lips before placing it back in the pouch. Slowly, the golem stopped thrashing and when she turned to look there was simply a pile of ash where it had been.
Frustrated, Sarice stood and turned, stepping past the dead Undralig toward the front door. She needed answers, more for herself now than for the job she had been hired for. They would receive word soon enough of the Duchess’s death and would send payment in the usual manner. Meanwhile, there was only one way to find out what was happening, and that meant doing some investigating of her own.
In the stables, Sarice retrieved her pack from where she had stashed it in the rafters, grabbed the reigns of her getaway steed, and pointed herself in the direction of Onselyth. It was time to see what everyone was talking about.
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Posted: Fri Aug 22, 2014 1:07 am
Adonar's eyes fell. He couldn't help but wonder at Sheraesh's optimism. He had figured this must be the Henshea's first journey into the world, and now he was more certain than ever.
"Perhaps. I wish I could expect the same. As it is… that may be more than we can hope for. "
He cast his gaze to the vendors, in part to avoid Sheraesh's eyes, but mostly because he was still looking for somewhere to find him something to wear.
He sighed. It seemed as though everything around him was bent on bringing him even further down. Just last night, he hadn't thought that possible, but here he was planning to investigate a massacred Knor town on the edge of his own peoples' forest. With a look of mild disdain, he turned back to Sheraesh. His discomfort was obvious, both by his posture and his trembling. It seemed to pass, but it had been visible to Adonar's keen eye just the same.
"Come. We shouldn't take any longer than we need to."
He turned and headed down the street, walking with more of a purpose than before, no longer feeling the need to flee but a strong urgency to leave nonetheless.
Up ahead of where the two of them were, a sign bearing a spool and needle came into view. Adonar sighed his relief, that meant they could make their way out of the city at last.
"Ah! There."
He pointed to the tailor's shop and began to walk purposefully in that direction.
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 9:21 am
Sheraesh followed behind Adonar quietly, his mind whirring with every possible scenario he could imagine running into in the village. Most were vague, as he lacked the real world experience to know from such a vague description what to expect.
Sheraesh barely noticed when they walked into the tailor's shop.
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2015 12:11 am
As Adonar entered the shop, he was greeted immediately. It was clear that this was a long lasting business, much unlike the many vendors' shops that were obviously very hastily thrown up in anticipation of the festivities. Adonar smiled to himself as the young man behind the counter scrambled somewhat. In his current state, he must have looked quite out of the ordinary; still wearing his ceremonial armor- the only clothes he had been allowed to take with him. Even with as heavy a heart as he carried, he still held his head high. He would not allow his dignity to slip any further than it had, however false or hollow it seemed. As the tailor scrambled his way over, Adonar made a show of being inconvenienced so he could take in what he could of the displays. He had no idea what to buy for a Henshae, but he didn't want the tailor to know that. He had no interest in parting with more coin that was necessary, and this young man looked the type to wring every drop from an unsuspecting traveller.
"Yes, Nuriil, how can I be of service?"
Despite his surprise at being addressed in Ælesti, and in a manner meant to flatter no less, he intentionally ignored the greeting.
"Nuriil?"
My lord indeed. Shameless. If he feels the need to address me in such a way, I suppose I should humor him.
"Mm. There you are. If you'd size my companion-" He gestured to a contemplative Sheresh, never once loking at the tailor while speaking, then pointed to a set of robes with fewer layers of thicker fabric than his current sand colored robes, richly died an emerald green and edged with black satin at the hem of each sleeve and the neck "- for the robes upon the sill there, I'll browse to see if there's anything of interest for myself."
"Yes, very good, Nuriil, I'll see to it these are the best fitting robes our young Henshae friend has worn!"
"Mm."
With that, Adonar began to walk further into the store. He spoke over his shoulder as he glanced disdainfully at each display;
"Do not trouble him with prices or bargaining, I've already decided what it's worth and will pay as we leave."
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Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2015 9:14 pm
Sheraesh had not noticed as the tailor had moved him over to a space in the shop meant for fitting his customers. What Sheraesh did notice was when he was asked to remove his wet garments. Sheraesh blanked for a moment as his mind caught up with his surroundings, and he realized what was going on.
"Oh! Oh, my." He hadn't counted on that. "I suppose that would be necessary, wouldn't it? Give me a moment."
Sheraesh began to awkwardly remove his clothing, noting the slight look of impatience on the tailor's face, clearly the man was not used to a customer who wore as many layers as the Shea did.
"And.. that's the last one." He said as he stripped down to his undergarments.
He was glad for the curtain the tailor had pulled out in front of him, or this would be several degrees of magnitude more embarrassing.
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 12:47 am
Despite the many choices this shop had, Adonar couldn't help but feel that they didn't really have a very good grasp of Ælesti culture or customs. He found only a few suitable garments, hardly anything that was fitting for what he had in mind.
How is a traveler to prepare? Do they expect every visitor to stay? Or to be perfectly prepared for every situation?
He sighed. It was becoming clear that even with his unyielding attitude toward bargaining, this was simply going to cost more than he had anticipated. He resigned himself to the irritation of his situation and began pulling various items from their places. By the time he'd finished, he had found a Knor traveling cloak in Ælesti size, two tunics that would flatter one just below his former class, though now he supposed he should feel honored to have that much, and two pair of very tall but clearly Knor pants.
I can at least feel pleased with Sharaesh's robes. It would seem I'll gain no more satisfaction than that.
He huffed at no one in particular, and headed back toward the shopkeeper's counter. He knew he'd have to wait for Sheraesh's fitting to be done, and in truth he had no issue with that, but he decided to hold true to his initial show of arrogance. As a young man came rushing toward Adonar, he made his supposed displeasure at having to wait very evident by his face.
"Hmm. Well then. Lead the way, boy."
The poor tailor's stance stiffened for only an instant before he turned sharply and lead Adonar to another enclosed changing space. Adonar immediately held out his arms to await undressing.
"... Arrdin? I... Can't measure you while dressed... "
"I should certainly think not!"
The tailor was momentarily taken aback, but began unbuckling Adonar's ceremonial armor nonetheless. Adonar was undressed, measured and fitted quickly and pointedly, which was in truth his goal. If it took intentionally irritating to make that happen, so be it. He felt a sense of urgency, but no need to bring undue attention. He'd already had more than enough of that as it was.
"There you are, Arrdin. Is this to your liking?"
"Mm. This will do."
The tailor's face showed shock and anger for a split second before he said "Very good." coldly and walked away briskly. Adonar smiled to himself briefly and gathered his things. He made his way back to where Sheraesh was being fitted and waited for a moment before clearing his throat. Before awaiting a response, he announced himself.
"I am ready whenever you are, Sheraesh."
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Posted: Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:48 pm
"Yes! Yes, I am almost done!" Sheraesh called out as pulled the last of the new garments over his body and into place.
He adjusted the sleeve on his new outfit as he strode over to Adonar. "I have never owned clothing like this before. So few layers, but such thick fabric. Really quite interesting."
He stopped near the counter and adjusted the strap on his bag. "What kind of fabric is this? Is it wool, or is it something else? It is quite comfortable, if heavy."
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Posted: Tue May 12, 2015 12:17 am
“It is the FINEST cotton, imported from the north, edged only with the best satin available to us. The garments are hand died by our own--”
“Yes yes, it will do. Now then, if we could--?”
Adonar pulled his money pouch from his belt and raised an eyebrow.
“We must be going, there are others waiting on us. Also, we’ll be needing travelers’ packs for our old clothes.”
“Yes, of course, Nuriil!” The tailor turned and made a quick demand of his apprentice and smiled broadly at Adonar. “As we wait for him, perhaps we should hammer out--”
"The robes are worth five Amber.” Adonar held the coins between his long fingers as he pulled them out of the pouch.
“Well, that’s hardly--”
"This poor attempt at Ælesti clothing is nearly offensive in its ignorance, and I will pay no more than a Ebb.”
"Come now! Don’t--”
Adonar dipped his fingers into his pouch once more and they emerged with more coin between them. As he looked up, he could see the travelers’ packs being brought from the back. “AHEM. As for the bags, another Ebb for the both of them.” He held out his hand with the assorted coins held between his fingers and looked down his nose at the fuming shop owner.
“I’m afraid I cannot part with these for such ridi--”
“I do not have time for your quibbling. I have somewhere very pressing to be, and I find the necessity of this visit nearly as grating as the… honor of being addressed as a lord. Of all things! Your idea of ‘Ælesti’ garb is taller Knor garb? Truly? You there!”
Adonar beckoned the young man who had just handed Sharaesh the bags and was about to leave. He stifled a sigh and turned around. “Arrdin?”
Adonar took hold of his arm and placed the coins into his hand.
“I…”
“Thank you for your attentive care for detail. All else aside, you managed to make this fit me well.” He handed the young man two more coins; a Drop and a Cosp, and added “Do not let your skill rot you from the inside as it has your master. Money should be secondary to understanding those from which you wish to gain patronage.”
With that, he took one of the packs from Sharaesh and walked out of the shop, his arms full and his eyes set ahead. He didn’t wait for Sharaesh, assuming he would follow. Once outside, he halted long enough to make sure that assumption was correct, and walked toward the city gate. He was fairly certain it was the same gate where the commotion from earlier had been ultimately resolved.
How oddly… fitting.
He sighed as he left the city. He had known he wasn’t going to be there terribly long, but this departure was much more sudden than he would have expected. As he walked the road between the surrounding farms, he addressed his companion with a tinge of embarrassment.
“Sharaesh… I hope you’ll forgive my rudeness. Both to you for leaving so abruptly, and also toward the tailors. I simply felt a necessity to be on our way. Lives could hang in the balance, and we cannot spare a second of our time to bartering. Not to mention… I was in truth rather put off by his supposed Ælesti choices. My quills ache already.”
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Posted: Fri May 15, 2015 2:34 am
Sheraesh bobbed his head in a quick bow to the tailors before hustling out of the small shop. He remained a couple of strides behind Adonar until they reached the gates, when he decided it was probably best to close the distance. He was about to say something when Adonar spoke first. "I- ah. Well, I was not terribly offended myself. I was truly surprised that they had anything that could be tailored to fit me so quickly." Sheraesh paused for a moment to look over his shoulder before deciding to change the subject. "I find it unlikely they get many visitors from my homeland. We don't get out often. Really, a pity. The sun in the desert feels good on your back, but the sights and sounds of the outside world are... truly fascinating." Sheraesh scrached his chin thoughtfully. "Oh! I forgot to thank you! Pardon my manners. These last couple of days have been a whirlwind. So, thank you for these traveling clothes. I do not like the idea of catching cold so early into my journey."
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