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 Posted: Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:52 pm
Sadye After making sure Aria was tucked away where she could rest, Sadye once again found herself mulling through the town. She still found it odd not to hear the sounds of boots against the cobblestones or the shouts of all the vendors in the Bazaar, but hopefully with her newfound partner helping, it wouldn't be long until they figured out how to get off this backring prime.
She had stopped into the general store to try and buy a few things, but negotiating with that shopowner had been a real pain. She'd almost gone off on him when he tried to take the one piece of glitterglass she had for a mere five silvers, although calling him a gleaming pip probably hadn't helped.
Nevertheless she finally managed to get a nice satchel from the berk, even if she did have to pay a little more than she would've liked. She dearly wanted to go to the inn and get a room, but the bloody mess outside and the milling crowd all around detered her from it. She didn't think she wanted to get involved in all of that. Instead she had settled down at the fountain, swirling her tail through the cool waters and taking some time to just relax. It had been a long day. Kimaya Suddenly, far above the peaceful village, there is a loud thunderclap and the air shimmers as though its very existence is in question... the edges of reality shift and move with the colors of the clouds. A small glow in the center of this appears and begins to expand, slowly at first, and then faster, growing brighter with every moment. With a loud thundering peal, and a strange clangor not unlike a thousand bells being run at once, the sky parts as though ripped asunder, a portal to another place swirling like a mad vortex at its center. The shadows of a large host of people can be seen forming, taking shape and becoming more solid and real.
As though there is a large ramp leading from the sky the large host begins their descent to the ground, their horses hooves ringing with each step, and their banners flapping in the wind: violet on black, trimmed in silver, the banner of the Magi.
All of the villagers, although they have heard tell of such a thing have never seen it, nor expected to, in their entire lives. Greenoak is far removed from the heart of Dal'kania, and even farther from Athkaine, the seat of the Magi Council. As one they stare up into the skies as though they are seeing a miracle performed, their faces shining with awe and wonder, their fears about the woman they harbored all but forgotten.
As the great host moved through the sky, one rider moved ahead of them, his garments whirling in the wind, the colors declaring all who beheld him to be one of the Magi himself. Sadye After a short while of uneventfulness, Sadye had finally relaxed enough to rest at the fountain. She'd not managed to doze off too long though when the loud thunderclap split the skies and she yelped in surprise, coming fully to her feet with her hand on her dagger ready to draw. When she saw just what was going on, though, her hand dropped and her ears flattened."Soddin' bloody hells...I hate dazzlers..." She watched them descend from the sky. She didn't have a clue about what the banner was or what the colors meant, but hells, if some basher descends out of the sky with dazzle like that he must be important by Sadye's guess. She wanted to sneak away and hide, after all her odd appearance in the crowd was pretty likely to draw some unwanted attention, but all she could do was stare as the Magi drew ever closer. Kimaya Murmurs around the village began to spring up finally, the silence that had settled finally evaporating. The word "magi" could be heard on the lips of many people, and some whispered. One man bumped into Sadye and took a long look at her horns and wings and wondered if it wasn't for these newcomers that the Magi was here. Why would they be here after all in this small and far off holding? Even though the village had grown somewhat accustomed to the strange appearance of the visitors, their fear of them had not completely disappeared. Especially for the one who looked nothing so much as a demon.
Gulping the man walked away from Sadye and vanished into the crowd of gathering people.
-----------------
Above in the sky the procession continued. Lord Sethys, Lord Magi to the High Seat of Athkaine, fourth removed from the Blood, and advisor to the Council Exalted, walked his animal slowly down the rampway, the saer magic swirling about it visible only to the eyes of those who could see such things. This was the first stop of many he would make before returning to the holy city, but it was also the most important. Lord Daelon of Greenoak, uncle to the girl. He felt no trace of her lifeforce anywhere for miles around, but he did not expect to. Coming here would hardly have been wise. Of course, he couldn't just storm the keep and demand her back should she have been hiding here, but she would never have left safely either, giving them all the time they needed to come up with a new strategy. He sighed inwardly his features a mask of expressionlessness. None of this would have been necessary had the boy not let her escape, obviously. He had been too young. More than one of the Lords to the High Seat had whispered it had been a mistake to give such an enormous task to one so young. The favor the High Seat showed his son was normal, however Sethys doubted that this time he would win reprieve with this latest blunder. Some small measure of compensation at least.
Lord Sethys continued to weave his horse down the ramp, closing in upon the treelands where the keep rested. He wondered idly how this visit would go, and what news he would return with to Athkaine. Would they need to crush these small cities as well? It was to be hoped not... there war was not here and there was only so much the blessed churches could excuse. Well, they would have to see...
--
Finally the host vanishes into the trees, and the village begins to clamor with excitement again. Things just cant get any more eventful in this little place! Strangers from another world, lords and ladies everywhere, and now the a Lord Magi come to visit with the Lord of greenoak!
Immediately everything is a riot of preparation... there is no precedent for a visit from one of the Magi, it has never happened in living memory. And however unlikely it is that they will come to the village everything must be right.
"Well get a load of that! That there is some magic indeed!" A man in the center of town exclaimed. He looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to him or wanted to talk about the exciting thing everyone had witnessed. Another man next to him stood close and whispered, "Its definitely a sign of trouble to come if you ask me.. magic. And the lord gone from the keep today too! I bet that there Wizard aint likely to be too happy about it," He nodded conspiratorially to the other man. Sadye Sadye blinked out of her reverance as the man bumped into her and turned on the poor man. "Oi, watch it berk!" she said with a hint of irritation and a peery eye on the man as he gulped and slip back into the crowd. Maybe it wasn't the nicest thing of her to do, but where she came from when someone bumped into you, they were likely trying to steal your jink! She checked the pouch carefully with a snort and looked back to where these Magi, as the whisper kept drifting up from the crowd, were headed.
Not towards her, good. The pit of fear that had dropped into her stomach evaporated like crumbling ash blown away on a fair wind, but in its place grew a spark of curiosity. Who were these Magi? Why were they here if not to deal with the poor sods, like herself, who had ended up stranded on this strange world?"Time to get the dark on things," Sadye said to herself. She preferred to get her information from various sources who did the legwork as it was much safer, but she was no stranger on doing the legwork herself when it came to it and she had no sources here to pass along the juiciest bits of chant to her ears. If she wanted to figure this thing out she would have to do it herself, and so as the host of people moved along into the woods, she made her way through the milling crowd and took off to trail after them and see where they were headed. Kimaya As Sadye made her way through the trees, she seemed to have the uncanny perfect timing of making it to the keep by the time the visitors had arrived.
The man who wore the swirling dark robes was stepping off of his mount, who snorted and stamped its feet at anyone else who approached it, and only quieted when its master spoke a calm word and held his hand over the horse's nose. He was tall and older, seeming to be about fifty or so, raven hair streaked with grey on the sides and a with face tanned and only slightly lined as with good health. His eyes were also dark and hooded underneath black brows and a stormy gaze, his mouth somewhat pouty and sulky seeming.
The guardsmen were still on the dirty earthen floor inside the keep walls, kneeling as low to the ground as they could get. Some of them were trembling in fear and awe. The robed lord did not acknowledge them or even seem to see them and he made his way to the doors. The two standing in front of it with pikes made way for him and fell to the ground also kneeling low, their chins touching the stones as he swept past them and into the keep.
"You may rise" Another voice said from where the rest of the host remained. It was a younger man dressed in dark black leathers and bearing the standard of the Magi, which at this distance could be seen more clearly: violent purple slashes of forked thunder surrounded by a strange set of runes in silver on black.
Jalil Sadye stayed back cautiously as they approached the keep. It had been a while since she'd had to trail someone like this, but so far she didn't seem to be too rusty on it. She watched as the keep guards bowed so low their noses scraped the floor, as another man spoke for the Magi. It reminded her of nothing more than watching the Lady proceed through the streets of Sigil with the dabus at her side and she suddenly wondered what would happen if she stepped into this quietly powerful man's shadow, a thought which sent goosebumps creeping down her spine.
She was going to have a hard time getting in as it was, but she had a thought. As quietly as she could, she searched the host of people for one (hopefully hooded) person, just one, who perhaps straggled just enough behind she could snag them without being noticed.
There, she saw one, and quick as a sprung trap, she grabbed for him to pull him back into the safety of the tree cover where she took her dagger hilt and aimed a blow to the back of his head in hopes to knock him unconscious. Should she succeed, she quickly takes his robe and anything else that seems like it might be important to disguising herself with a whispered, "Sorry, cutter..." She then dons the items over her own, taking care to make sure that she has something up over those damndable horns like a hooded cowl and, if the poor sod doesn't have gloves, something to wrap around her four-fingered hands. Finally she kisses the pendant around her neck, as if for good luck, then moves out of the trees to try and blend in with the host as she slides in at the rear of the group. Kimaya (( Oho! shes a bold one )) Sadye quickly pulls the robes over her head as the man at her feet moans softly. It seems there are so many men about that it was easy to find one of the robed ones alone.
Most of the more disciplined men were riding horses and were dressed in dark leathers. They scanned about the area with huntsmen like wariness, and it was only due to Sadye's skills that she was able to get in as she did.
Not long after the gates opened and a signal was given for them to move forward. The first set of men in was the order of robed ones. They were greeted by a pretty young woman, with brown soft curly hair and a pleasant smile, also dressed in silver robes. At the approach she knelt upon the flagstones and received what seemed to be a blessing from a man dressed almost all in white, different robes, although still fringed in silver.
"Rise my child," the man in the white robes spoke gently and the girl came to her feet. Then she spoke her welcome and gestured for them to follow her inside the keep.
"Your arrival is a blessing, father." The pretty brown haired girl murmered. "I have been treating a man who is facing death as we speak, but I am afraid he is beyond my powers although I have sustained his life. I fear he will not last much longer... but with your assistance he may yet live." She looked hopeful at the man in the white robes.
"Then we best not tarry. Lead the way, child," the man gestured and she turned them down out of the main hall towards the stairwell. Sadye Sadye was in luck, it seemed. She quickly donned the gray and silver robes, folding her tiny wings as flat against her back as they would go and making two minute cuts in the top of the robe for her horns - they were just too large to hide beneath it - so she could hide her face deep in the cowl. As she kissed the pendant, the horns seemed to slowly vanish from sight. She folded her hands into the sleeves of the robe and turned her face downward, quickly slipping into the rear of the procession.
She suddenly wondered just what in the Abyss she was doing, but it was too late to turn back now. She could only play the part and hope for the best.
She followed them in, doing her best to appear somber and regal. All the while under her hood she was glancing about looking for the one they had called Magi. It was him she wanted to follow, but she wasn't sure if he was with these others. Where -were- they going?
And then she heard talk of a someone dying and her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.
Of all things she had managed to grab a healer's robes!?
'This won't end well,' she thought to herself, but resigned herself to the fact that if she was going to have even a chance of getting out of this with her hide in one piece, she couldn't break the facade now. Still, if they could've seen her face, abject terror would've been the first thing that came to mind. Kimaya Unfortunately the magi is not in sight, however as the party of healers and priests turn away from the main hall, there is a lot of hustle and bustle about as people run to bring food and wine and other items of comfort to the end of the hallway where it looks to lead around the corner they turn.
The priests are not heading in that direction at all though.
From behind the sound of the dark leathered rangers can be heard coming in at their turn. JSadye It was a quick and panicked rate at which Sadye processed the trouble she'd gotten herself into.
One, she was already in a foreign land. Two, now she was inside a foreign building with soldiers all around her. Three, not only that but she was wearing stolen robes, four, of a healer (a profession which her knowledge was zip in) which, five, she had assaulted and knocked unconscious nonetheless. Then there was, six, the fact that she had lost track of the entire reason she came up with this barmy idea in the first place.
'Ok Sadye, just keep your cool...you can still get out of this.'
Except for the fact that she could hear the faint creaking of the rangers' leathers as they made their way in...she had to fight not to gulp loudly.
She did take notice of where all those servants were hustling and bustling off too, and for the moment as well it seemed that those rangers were a bit behind them. Maybe if she was lucky they wouldn't come her way. Either way, she had to ditch these people and fast. She stayed near the back of the gathering of holy men and women and searched for a room in the hallway in which she could easily duck into unnoticed, one that didn't seem at first glance to be occupied. Maybe, just maybe if she could find such a place, she could wait until those rangers passed and make her way back the other direction...she had to find a room to duck into first, though. Kimaya The rangers did indeed keep on walking in the other direction, letting the group of holy men continue on by themselves.
The priestess at the head of the procession turned and began leading the group up a set of stairs, There were a few side corridors leading off to other places filled with many closed oaken doors, and possibly what smells like a kitchen down one way - the aroma of freshly baked bread and richly spiced breakfast sausages permeates the hall - but there were also many servants in all areas, going about their business, dressed in the friendly green livery of Greenoak keep.
--
So... Lord Daelon was away? How wonderfully perfect Sethys fumed silently in the grand hall, a glass of wine in his hands that he had not tasted. This was not a good start to his task, He pondered going to find him, but discarded it immediately. He was not the man's lap dog to run where he went. Glancing about the room, his eyes settled on the page who had explained his lord's absence with talk of the dragon and rioting.
"You there," he pointed at the boy. "Bring me parchment and ink." The boy ran to do his bidding and Sethys turned away from the audience chamber peering out at the hall, where his first rank had just lined up to await orders. Pursing his lips as he tried to decide what to do, he allowed his hand to relax its hold letting the wineglass slip from his fingers. He watched it fall to the cold stone floor shattering crystalline shards everywhere, wine staining the rich tapestries with their swirls of color and lovely patterns. None of it touched him, it was as though every single shard and drop of wine had no inclination to go near him.
When he seated himself to write the short message, the boy went about picking the shards of glass up. The stem of the glass was sitting upright, its jagged edge twinkling in the candlelight. The boy reached for it, and suddenly he slipped on his knees, as though pushed, his hand gliding out from under him through the red stain. As his body came down upon the glass stem, it did not shatter beneath him or get knocked aside either. It stayed upright as his soft body was driven down onto it by some unseen force.
As the boy laid there staring into space, his eyes glassy and motionless, a shade grayer than they had been, Magister Sethys breathed in deeply and signed the letter he had written with a flourish. He was feeling much better now. Gathering his robe about him he started from the room. A servant with a tray of what looked to be spiced meat and flaky bread stopped abruptly in the entrance and let out a slight gasp before stilling her tongue. She was staring at the boy.
"Clumsy thing managed to get himself killed picking up glass. Best see that its taken care of before your Lord comes back to his well kept keep, hadn't you?" The magi swept from the entrance and gathered his men to him.
"We are leaving for Ghosttower, Gather the men, leave the healers. I believe the Lord Daelon will have need of them." Sadye Carefully Sadye ducked into one of the corridors. She could smell the scent of cooking nearby and guessed she must be somewhere in the servant's corridors. She waited until the rest of the healers had moved on and then turned back out of the hall and started in the opposite direction where she had seen all those servants carrying food towards. She hoped that if she kept her hood up perhaps no one who passed her would ask questions of a holy woman. Kimaya The halls were still full of people while Sadye made her way through them. Many of the servants curtsied or bowed lowly at her in her silver gray robes. None of them seemed to think it amiss that she should be walking amongst them and almost all of them quickly scurried out of her way, with a look of awe on their faces.
As Sadye followed the food, sausage and flakey pastry smelling delicious, she was led back to the hall she had come in. The rangers garbed in dark leather were not in the immediate vicinity thankfully, however the servant turned the corner and headed in the direction Sadye recalled the rangers and their master going in. Sadye Good, Sadye thought to herself. So far so good. She wasn't quite sure how to react to the bowing servants around her, and she was afraid if she tried to make eye contact with them or nod that she might lose her disguise or reveal her face. Instead she settled on a thoughtful appearance, as if distracted, as she walked along. At least the servants seemed to be content to give her leeway to walk.
Finally she began to start recognizing the hallways they were coming into. So this was the direction those rangers had gone, hmm? She would have to be extremely careful, then. She slowed the pace at which she was winding through the hallways and took more careful observation of her surroundings. Yes, caution would definitely be the best idea. She certainly didn't wish to run across those rangers if she could avoid it. In fact, she wasn't quite sure what to do now. If she found their master, then what? She somehow doubted he would just up and decide to have a chat with some strange tanar'ling.
That pit of fear started rising again in her stomach, but she was in now, and ditching the robes or trying to make an escape now would just serve to draw more attention to herself. All she could do now was try. Kimaya As Sadye made her way down the hall, she could see at the end of it a group of the rangers, dressed in dark leathers. They were obviously well disciplined men, alert, ready; but did not pay much mind to the servants who were passing by. Some of them seemed bored and restless, fingering their sword hilts or stepping from one foot to the other.
The servant looked about to head straight past them and into an opened doorway leading into what looked to be, at this angle, a large hall to the side of the rangers. Sadye It was just as she had feared. There stood the rangers blocking her path. Whatever was going on, it was happening in that hall. Somewhere, somehow she thought that maybe, just maybe if she could get inside she would be able to find someone who had the answers to how she could get home, or why she was here, or something. She was becoming desperate. I mean by the Lady's shadow, here she was skulking around in a keep in a foreign land mere feet away from a group of men who had to be this world's equivelant of either the Hardheads or the Mercykillers.
Then again, they seemed to be ignoring the servants and the servants had let her pass easily. Maybe she could slip by them too in these robes. All Sadye knew was that she needed to find out as much as she could and her best guess told her that hall where all those people were would be her best bet for picking up the local chant or something that she might could use somehow.
The palms of her hands were clammy as she tried her best to keep her hands from shaking where she had folded them into the sleeves of the robe. She almost wished she'd learned more about the illusory magic her old caretaker was so fond of before he'd left her, but if wishes were jink...well, she'd have been rich long ago.
With a measured and deep breath to help calm her nerves, she continued forward, hoping to walk past the rangers, but fearing the worst. Kimaya One of the rangers, with dark eyes and a serious look in them, turned towards the servant as she came near. There was an odd look in his eyes as though he was about to halt the servant, but then all he did was step back, his boots clicking against the flag stones and allowed her to pass. However he stepped in behind Sadye, deciding to guard the entrance from further intrusion, and thusly also blocked unobtrusive retreat.
Suddenly the woman stopped, and let out a short shriek before clamping her teeth together in apparent fear. Iver her shoulder, inside the large audience chamber, Sadye could see that there was a puddle of wine... or blood, perhaps both, forming under the body of a young human boy. He was dressed in the livery of Greenoak. He could have been a page or courier.
As the boy laid there staring into space, his eyes glassy and motionless, the master from earlier appeared in the entrance hardly noticing the servant with the food. To her credit she had not dropped the plate of food, but she was staring at the boy like a rabbit frozen in fear.
"Clumsy thing managed to get himself killed picking up glass. Best see that its taken care of before your Lord comes back to his well kept keep, hadn't you?" The magi swept from the entrance and gathered his men to him.
"We are leaving for Ghosttower, Gather the men, leave the healers. I believe the Lord Daelon will have need of them."
His gaze flicked to the robed figure behind the serving girl and he paused there, staring at Sadye. Sadye ((OMG! I so wasn't expecting -THAT- to be the room she walked into xd )) Sadye froze, her eyes going wide beneath the hood. 'Fell on a glass'!? Sadye had seen alot of strange things over the years, but that certainly topped them. She was fairly good at reading the situations and people around her, a talent she had picked up in her years as a tour guide of sorts in Sigil, and something smelled off. Whoever this magi was, he sure didn't seem too concerned that this boy had just died and was bleeding all over his room.
A sinking feeling dropped over Sadye and she flickered a glance back discreetly...just as she feared, her quick exit was blocked, and as she looked back she saw the magi's eyes on her. Every cant insult and way to call a berk a liar died on her tongue and instead she lowered her head in what she hoped was the proper signs of respect and prayed to about thirty different dieties that her illusion was holding up. She knew suddenly that dealing with this bad blood wasn't in her best interests, and consequently all she wanted was either for him to leave or her to get out. It was like sitting in front of a fiend and hoping you were still invisible, but not knowing if you were or not. In those tense moments as she waited, she hoped she could be fast enough to free her sword from its sheathe if it came to that and quickly racked her mind for any other possibilities. She felt nothing more than like what one sod from some odd world had described as a deer in the headlights, whatever that meant.
What she did know though was that whatever happened now, she had some valuable knowledge, and she planned to do whatever it took to stay alive long enough to use it.Kimaya The dark haired man eyed Sadye calculatingly, and then pursed his lips as he watched her lower her head to him.
"Well, just the priestess I was looking for..." passing the serving girl, he smiled with a slightly amused look in his eyes, walked past the rangers who moved out of his way with bows of their heads. "Walk with me," He commanded her without looking, but there was no question who he was speaking to. About his boots his robes swirled in an unnatural manner, black and shimmering with faint colors woven into the dark fabric, which shimmered different hues when the light caught it. There was no breeze in the hall, but a cold chill had settled in the air. Sadye If Sadye actually relaxed any, it was by a mere hair. She tried not to let the growing lump of fear in her throat show as she turned and followed the magi from his room. She wasn't sure if this was good or bad yet, but it -seemed- at least that her necklace charm was still functioning.
She remained quiet as she followed him, her mind going through the imaginative process of pointing out the ten thousand ways in which this could still or had already all gone wrong. A shiver ran down her spine at the palpable cold that had settled on the air and silently she hoped that curiosity wouldn't end up killing a tanar'ling too. Kimaya As Sadye stepped behind the magi, he did not glance back at her but spoke quietly and calmly. "We are well met, dark one. But I was not expecting your visit so soon. Is it urgent?" The man's words were nearly whispered even though the rangers followed precisely ten paces behind. They were not in hearing distance, but the feeling of eyes upon Sadye's back was an uncomfortable sensation. Sadye ((Oh man, what has she gotten into! xd )) Sadye nearly stopped dead in her tracks. That was NOT what she had expected by a long shot, but...maybe, just maybe she could use this to her advantage. Obviously her illusion hadn't fooled the magi, but on the same token by the way he named her a 'dark one' and the conspiratory way he spoke, he obviously had some dealings with fiends. Sadye wondered what she could learn from him if she played this just right. She'd never had much of a chance to use her fiendish nature to her advantage being that where she was from her kind weren't all that rare and most people knew that she was merely a planetouched instead of a full-blooded fiend, but she had to try. She knew that her accent would possibly give her away, after all once people got over her physical appearance, that seemed to be the next biggest thing they remarked about. Still, she had picked up a smattering of what might be called High Cant from her rare trips into the Lady's Ward and the better parts of the bazaar. Maybe that would help here. As such, she kept her voice lowered and tried to speak more clearly, hoping that she could keep her voice steady at least. It was an effort to be sure.."Lady's Grace. If it weren't urgent, would I be here? The Powers want the dark on your progress." She felt like she had managed to get that out without stuttering, if not with the beguiling finesse of a balor or the like. Still, she avoided looking at him, as if to maintain the appearance of submission, but mainly to hide the tinge of fear in her eyes. She was taking a huge risk and she knew it.Kimaya The magi slowed his speed slightly, and the rangers behind followed suit, not gaining an inch upon him or Sadye. He seemed to be considering something. "The.. dark? On my progress?... Yes, I see." he paused and was silent for a time. The air grew even colder and his robes seemed to increase their motion at his feet, he walked to the end of the hall and stopped before the doors to the outside.
"I have not had the time I was promised, nor the support. I am not ready to give a report..." he hesitated, but then the flickering of anxiety showed on his face as it turned slightly to her, behind him.
It was clear he wanted to look, but decided not to. "But, of course as the Dark God commands. She is within our grasp and safely out of reach from those who she would be wasted upon. We need only... more time to learn what we can and entice her to our cause. That is all I can say at this time." He finished, his head held at an odd angle as though he looked about for more signs of the dark powers he served.((ohoho fun for me is what she has gotten into)) Sadye She didn't try to move away from his gaze, that would seem too awkward, instead hoping that with the hood pulled up as far as she had pulled it it would be difficult for him to get a good look at her face. She held her hands under the folds of her sleeves to avoid the desire to wring them nervously, although part of the fear had lifted now that she seemed to be regarded as some servant from whatever dark power he served. As she listened, Sadye saw an opening and decided to run with it."She is here then? In the keep?" Kimaya Lord Sethys wanted to look back again though he knew he would see nothing more than he had already seen. It was a feminine voice... how odd. The moment he had seen the robed figure standing there he had known there was something off with it.. and the feeling of the other-worldly presence had been distinguishable. He had not been able to penetrate the illusion which seemed to hide the demon though he could sense it well enough.
The question took him off guard, while he knew the answer was no, it would unfortunately lead to other questions. There had to be a way to forestall it without revealing that he did not actually have the girl at all. Shifting uncomfortably and trying to work out a way to avoid it, he suddenly realized they were at the keep's doorway standing still. He had better get this over with and now.
"She is not in my care at this time, however rest assured that she is well within our power already." There that was true enough. She would be within his power as soon as he found out where she was. It was strange, finding her should have been easy... it was almost as though someone were shielding her from prying eyes. But that would be impossible.. surely. He was the chosen one performing the tasks of the Dark God, and there were no others who would keep her for any other reasons. Or were there...? Perhaps he should consider that.
With a step down he exited the keep and then stopped, raising his hand and curling his fingers slightly around the edges of the iridescent robe of black. "Of course you will be staying with your brethren. I believe they are above tending to a matter of life and death?" He waited, his breath shallow, accustomed to the game of politics, but unsure of how to proceed with one of the Dark God's minions. He had a part to play here still, and he hoped that would be understood.
The rangers in their oiled leather, smelling of horse and woods stepped past Sadye without so much as a glance. None of them seemed to be aware that anything was strange about her at all. Sadye Sadye frowned a bit beneath the hood. She had been hoping for more, a name, a location, something. With that perhaps she could've found this apparently important girl and learned more. It seemed, however, that this round was over. If she pushed too much now, he might still get suspicious, and she couldn't very well let on that she didn't have a single bloody clue as to who the man was talking about.
Still, the conversation couldn't be considered a failure. She had a feeling she had some dark on this berk that might come in handy later, especially now that he was shifting a bit nervously. Either way, it was obvious that the magi was going to leave, and perhaps for the better. She decided to play on that aire of discomfort coming from the man. "I hope for your sake that she is." she replied concerning the girl. It seemed vague and cryptic enough of a reply.
As he stepped down to the exit and turned back, she remained where she was standing, careful of how she looked at him as she still wanted to avoid looking him directly in the eye lest she give herself away. She could feel the muscles in her legs wanting to collapse on her, but she couldn't lie down yet. She was almost out of the woods! She watched the rangers walk past before she replied."Of course. My place is here, but don't think that means we won't be watching." She wanted so desperately to add more and make him really sweat, but she wasn't sure what else to say, so instead she just bowed her head as she had when she first entered his room. "Believe well," she said as if in some manner bidding him farewell. She was so close to being out of this mess...well, at least -this- part of the mess. Kimaya Stiffening slightly at her words, Sethys immediately composed himself enough to relax. He was afraid to say more, and this angered him like nothing else that had occurred in this already abysmal day. Him, afraid? HIs jaw worked angrily a the thought, the bitter taste of bile in his throat. He feared nothing... he was the Dark God's emissary in this world! But... he had yet to succeed. That fool had let her get away, and while that put her safely out of their grasp it unfortunately kept her from him as well.
Someone must be helping her! But how? And why... and more importantly, who. His mind worked furiously thinking upon any unexplained absences at the High Court of the Magi. But that led him nowhere; there were many and easily explained.
Reigning in his anger Lord Sethys kept himself from waving contemptously at the priest, which is what his men would have expected but he dare not do it as much as he wanted to. Let his men wonder what they would, he was walking a thin line here and he did not want to misstep or cause for more questions, which were already far too close to the truth for his peace of mind. He needed the girl, and now. He was running out of time. Sadye Sadye turned down the hall as Sethys walked out, as if headed back the way the healers had been going. Once she rounded the first corner, she quickly leaned against the wall. Her legs felt like jello beneath her and her heart was pounding out of her chest. She had been able to put up a good facade out there, but she could still feel the fear and adreneline coursing through her veins. She sank against the wall for a moment to catch her breath. What in the infinite abyss had she been thinking!? There had been a moment right there at the end when she could sense his discomfort when she had actually found herself almost enjoying the dangerous game she'd decided to play were it not for the absolute terror welling up in her chest."That was bleedin' lucky..." she mumbled to herself, and resolved to herself, at least for the time being, to never do that again. Still, she could see why fiends were always on such a power trip.
She took a few moments to gather herself and figure out what needed to be done. For one, something would have to be done about that boy in the magi's room. Unfortunately she wasn't about to try and find someone to tell them. Being part fiend might have saved her hide once, but she wasn't about to take a chance that it would save her again. She doubted she could possibly be so lucky as to stumble upon another barmy in this place that worshiped this Dark God or believed she was some divine messenger, and she wasn't about to get pegged for someone's death when she had nothing to do with it. Of course, she remembered the other servant girl as being there when the Magi declared it was an accident. The girl might not do it right away with the shock she was in, but she would eventually tell someone who would come to investigate. Besides, the boy was dead, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. There was certainly nothing -she- could do for him, healer's robes or not.
On the other hand, there was the matter of this lovely information she had acquired. It wasn't much, yet, but it was something and it might be useful still. The problem was who to tell? How would she know? Maybe everyone was working for this Dark God the magi had mentioned, and how -would- she know that? She needed to find out more.
After gathering herself, she stood and made sure her hood was adjusted before she started back towards the way the healers had originally gone. It was the only lead she had so far.
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 12:15 am
Kimaya As Sadye made her way back to the stairs she saw a woman with curly brown hair and a grey silver robe on headed her way. It looked like the woman was about to turn a corner, but then her eyes fell on Sadye. Instantly she hesitated, looked surprised, frowned, and then started towards her, quickening her step. Sadye ((Damn, out of the fire and into the frying pan! xd ))
'Oh bugger,' Sadye thought to herself. She hadn't quite expected to run into another one of the healers so quickly. Although, those curls, that plesant face...this one she had seen before. Yes, she was the one the white-robed priest blessed when they first entered. She wracked her brain for something proper to say - trying to avoid her would only increase her suspicions - and glanced around from under the hood to see how many others were around nearby. So far the woman hadn't screamed, nor had she recoiled in terror. She was still approaching, so Sadye could assume that, at least for the moment, her guise was holding.
As she took in her surroundings, she weighed her options. Was there a door she could duck into if she needed to? Did she have any escape routes? How many people would be there to witness if something went wrong?
As quickly as it was gone, that bloody pit of fear was back and gnawing at her stomach as the girl drew ever closer.Kimaya ((you didnt think I was letting you off the hook so easily! )) The healer was headed straight for Sadye, and she appeared to have the single option of either heading straight into the healer or turning around and running back the way she had come to the main hall. Leading off of the main hall of course were several corridors, other halls and of course, the audience chamber complete with dead page boy. There were also the corridors leading down to the kitchens, but to get to them she would need to go past the healer.
There were still many people bustling about, mostly servants, and what looked to be a few soldiers now, behind where she had come from. A quick glance over the shoulder revealed that they were garbed in the livery of Greenoak.Sadye ((Of course not, but Sadye did xd ))
She could've cursed. She once again found herself with little to know way out. Sure, she could run, but she could hear the measured footsteps of the soldiers behind her, and servants had eyes just as much as the rest of them. Chances were she either wouldn't get far, or she would end up with a chiv through her gut. Neither appealed to her.
That left only one option. She hoped this girl could be bluffed as easily as the magi had. She paused as the girl approached the final steps and bowed her hooded head. Maybe if she let the priestess speak first she could get an idea of just how to go about this. At this point, she needed all the help she could get!Kimaya
The pleasant face of the obviously curious healer finally loomed before Sadye. "Um.. why are you down here... sister?" Quirking an eyebrow, she then frowned in puzzlement at how Sadye's hood was drawn up. She ducked low making no pretense at trying to peer beneath the hood to see who she was talking to.Sadye
Think fast, think fast think fast!
And then it came to her, the boy! The shriek...yes, this might work.
She turned and pointed down the corridor, hopefully keeping her face obscured."There was some body yellin' down the hall there. An accident the Magi said. I was comin' t' find someone. There wasn't anything I could do" Sadye couldn't have sounded more panicked if she wanted to. Once she opened her mouth, the words just all seemed to fumble over one another trying to come out of her mouth, as if all that calm she had forced herself to when talking to the Magi was trying to break. She fought not to say more than she already had, but she wasn't sure how much longer she could keep this up!Kimaya In those first few seconds as Sadye began to speak the startled look on the priestess' face made it seem as though all was lost. However at the words 'accident' and 'magi' her eyes grew wide and she instead spluttered, confused:
"An accident? Magister Sethys!? What do you mean?? Oh my goodness, well don't just stand there! Hurry!" The priestess waited for Sadye to lead the way with a look of urgency in her eyes, and maybe a little fear as well... Sadye ((As Sadye inwardly sighs in relief for having bought herself a little more time! rofl )
Sadye didn't have to be told twice. She quickly turned around and led the way back towards the chambers where the Magi had been and the boy laid dead walking as fast as she could without just flat out running.
Hadn't she just told herself earlier that she -didn't- want to go back to that room? That if she did and these people found out what she was, they would likely pin it on her? But it was too late now. This was the only way to buy herself some time and wrack her brain for a solution. She needed someone she could trust, and people like that didn't just drop into your lap so far as she was concerned.
She finally found her way to the door to the audience chamber."There, in there." Kimaya (( I have you now! - darth vader voice hahah )) As Sadye led the priestess along the corridors she became increasingly aware of the soldiers which were beginning to grow in numbers. Many of them were dirty and blood spattered, some covered in soot. They seemed to be coming in from the entrance to the keep - from outside, possibly returning from duty.
The priestess beside her muttered under her breath about this day being cursed, "first they kick me out of the healer's ward and now Magister Sethys wants more healers... oh my, oh my... this day!" She wrung her hands and looked like she wanted to evaporate on the spot herself, but soon enough they were in front of the audience chamber doors, which were still flung wide open.
The immense hall had several curtains lining the edges, probably leading to other places, although it was hard to tell if there were actual corridors behind them. There was a desk in the corner, a large dais at the head of the room, with a large ornate chair, and a few tables that looked to have held the beginnings of dinner. There was one door, closed to the east, and then the large audience chamber doors which Sadye now stood in. The hall she stood in was the one which led all the way to the entrance and to the central area, where many halls met. The room was still a mess... the page boy still laid on the floor and the servant lady was sobbing in the corner softly, while one of the soldiers looked to be trying to decide what to do.
The priestess gasped and laid a hand on Sadye's arm as if for support. Her nails fairly sank into Sadye's skin in alarm. With her other hand she quickly covered her mouth, stifling a cry of dismay. She kept it there, and began to shake her head as though she wanted to deny what she was seeing.
"How did this happen?..." she finally spoke. Her brows were creased with new grief, and she seemed to have forgotten all about Sadye's original explanation in her shock.
From behind there was the sound of approaching footsteps. More soldiers - their battle stench unmistakable, and one single set of footsteps which seemed apart from the others soldier's gait. A heavy tread, a tired tread, the tread of a man who walked taller than most men, and carried a burden too heavy for him, but also a man who would not pass that burden off to someone else. More soldiers stepped in from behind Sadye, one of them carried what looked like a bunch of maps. All of them stopped when they took in the scene before them. Sadye ((Uh oh *dread*))
Sadye's hackles prickled under the hood at the prescence of so many. How she wished just at this moment that she could dissapear from sight. She wrung her hands fitfully. It was too much, the facade was cracking. All those soldiers around her...all those eyes on her...all those thoughts of swords and axes and pain and death...sweat started to form on her normally cool brow.
They would blame her for this, in her own mind she was certain of it. She could feel teh cold, damp of a cage closing in on her already, but it wasn't her fault! But she was part-fiend, and once they found out, the suspicions would eat her alive, swallow her whole into an endless abyss.
No...she had to try and calm herself. 'You're not an addle-cove, Sadye. Now think!' she told herself. Yes the situation was grim, but she had yet to recieve the reaction from these people she'd been expecting and fearing, which almost made it worse in a way. It was like looking up at the axe over your head and waiting for the awful moment when it came crashing down.
She drew in a shaky breath and spoke, trying to keep the undertone of fear in her voice under control. However, in all the turmoil of the situation, her attempt at covering her accent slowly began to slip... "I came to...to attend the Magi. He was just there, soddin' well bleedin' everywhere! The...that...Magi said he slipped and fell...bleedin' well slipped a fell!" she half-yelled, a bit of cynical anger creeping into her voice. "When he left I was on my way to find the lot of ya when I ran into you." she said, motioning disheartedly to the priestess.
She had this growing urge to plead her innocence. She wasn't sure how they could -not- know she wasn't one of the holy men now, unless they just thought she was so distressed over the situation somehow, but that would be a miracle. Already in her mind she could feel the heat of a dozen accusing glares and she vaguely wondered again just what had bloody well gotten into her as a shudder ran through her from head to toe.Kimaya The priestess was in a squat on the floor next to the boy now, but she was staring towards Sadye with that same look of curious puzzlement on her face. The soldiers did not seem to realize anything was amiss besides the boy and someone was finally giving orders. Maybe her explanation would be accepted.. they were moving past her now and carrying out their duties.
But then the sound of the heavier tread fell silent behind her. With hardly a warning a hand fell on Sadye's shoulder from behind and paused for a moment there. Then as if in slow motion whoever it was firmly, but gently, began to try turn Sadye around to them. Sadye
Sadye nearly jumped out of her skin with a gasp as the hand fell heavily (or so it seemed to her) on her shoulder. She didn't have to try to look sufficiently cowed, the fear was readily apparent on her face, which she kept down as if -that- would save her now.
The game was up, there was nowhere to run with her own worst fears rooting her to the spot. She squeezed her eyes shut as he turned her. Maybe this was all a bad dream that she was about to wake up from. But no, as she opened her eyes, there he stood before her with the scents of death and blood and war hanging upon the air like a grim shroud.
She waited for her sentence.Kimaya The man who turned Sadye around was an older gentleman, his face was grave, serious, but not cruel seeming. His eyes held a compassion in them that did not quite touch his hardened face. Raising his eyebrows he looked down at Sadye, apparently accepting her fear of looking up at him, he did not force the cowl back.
"Be calm child, and tell me what you saw." he said not unkindly, but also with a hint that he would not have any hysterical nonsense in his audience hall.
"My lord," the priestess with the brown curly hair rose to her feet. "She --" but she stopped as Lord Daelon raised a hand asking for silence, and returned his gaze to the strange healer before him. Judging by the single pattern of runes on her silvered belt she was an acolyte, newly inducted into the faith. She was probably scared to death, he could feel her trembling. But there was something odd about her. Frowning, he placed his hand under her chin, and slowly began to lift her face to his... Sadye
She wanted so badly to pull away and run, and nearly did twitching as the man lifted her chin. She waited for the shock as the hood draped back enough to reveal her face to him. Nervously she licked her lips and wrung her hands, looking for all the world like all she wanted to do was bolt."Please," she said quietly, all attempts to hide her accent long forgotten. "You have to believe me, cutter. I swear what I said was square or may I walk the Lady's shadow. I'd come in to see the Magi and the kid was just layin' there. He was already countin' worms when I got here. And the Magi, he just said it was an accident, that he'd slipped and fell. It all seemed off, but that's all I know about it." Kimaya The Lord Daelon's eyes widened slightly as he saw the face of the girl before him, her gray skin, strangely colored eyes and ears... he was shocked to his core, but his discipline allowed him to keep his expression impassive. He looked about to see if anyone else was behind him, and then let go of her face, and gently pulled her cowl forward, straightening it about her shoulders.
He raised his eyebrows again at the finish of her tale, seeming confused by what she said, but not questioning it. He stood there considering for some time.
"I see..." was all he said when he finally spoke.
As the lord spoke a name, the sobbing servant sniffled one last time and gathered her skirts about her. She got up and made a deep curtsy.
"Milord, 'tis awful. But she speaks truly.. 'twas the Magister Sethys. I never seen such a face as cold as his were lookin down at me. I've never been so afraid, I'm likely to have nightmares for the rest of me days... please, let me go home to my sons and be comforted by me family?"
Lord Daelon breathed in deeply, and exhaled noisily, seeming to be shifting under his invisible burden. He paused to look again at Sadye briefly before nodding, "Before you leave, please see to this... acolyte? A guest room on the second floor. She is upset and I believe she will be wanting to.. rest. Isn't that right, child?" he looked down at Sadye again, his face looking weary but determined. Sadye
Sadye's own eyes widened as, instead of revealing her to the rest of them, he instead settled the cowl back over her face. A thousand questions swam through her head, and then a thousand more as the servant girl vouched for her. It was unbelievable...absolutely unbelievable.
She was too stunned to speak for a moment until she realised that the man had been speaking of her."I...yes, thank you...Milord," she said, albeit slightly unsure of herself as she copied the name the servant had addressed him by. Since it seemed she was to continue to play this ruse for a while longer, and obviously this man was someone of great importance, she bowed her head to him before letting the servant lead the way. Her head was a mess of jumbled thoughts. Why didn't he expose her? Why did he wish her to remain concealed? Was he going to demand she repay this favor? Was it a ruse to lull her into a sense of ease? She couldn't wrap her mind about any good reason why he would just let her go like that, and as such she considered bolting once she got out of the room. Except that now all those soldiers were back in the keep, so she doubted she would get far, and then things would be worse if she were still alive once they caught her.
No, her best course of action now was to play along and just be very cautious until she figured out just what was going on and why he was being this kind.Kimaya "Good, see to it that you rest well, I shall need to speak with you later. I am sure you have things you will wish to talk about then." Lord Daelon smiled, but looked directly into her eyes with a firm expression as though guessing her thoughts about running off. "You will be alright." he said.
The servant curtsied again to the lord and began to lead the way to the rooms, with the 'acolyte' in tow. She was nattering on about the event, and Sadye was able to determine that she had not even realized that anyone had been there at all besides herself. "Poor Lilasa, she'll be beside herself with grief. Oh my I don't want to be there when the news is brought, but I suppose Ill be there in the end. Such a good boy he was too... what a shame. And that Magister Sethys gave me the shivers. I never knew they were so cold.. you'd think he was happy the poor thing had fell and hurt himself... although it was a bit.. strange, now that I look on it." She was talking herself out of it, apparently not wanting to face the truth of things.
Finally upstairs and tucked into a room, the serving lady said she would see that food was brought and she ducked out, but not before Sadye could see the two guards that were outside the door. Sadye
Sadye remained quiet all the way up to the room, stoically listening. If it was one thing she'd learned it was that even when something seemed like just boring blabbering, it was better to listen just in case. Babblers were often the first bashers who let a secret slip, and no one paid attention to servants so they often knew more secrets than the best mimirs in the Cage.
Unfortunately this one seemed to only want to talk herself out of what had happened, and Sadye couldn't blame the poor gal. Of course, that servant had never seen someone flayed by the Lady before either. The thought alone sent shivers down her spine.
Finally, blessedly, they reached the room and as the servant offered to bring her food, Sadye finally decided to speak up a bit."Uh, no need to do that cu...no need for that. I dun' think I could eat if I wanted to right now, but thanks anyways." She hoped maybe that would give her a little peace and respite for now. She needed to think. As the servant left (and she caught a glimpse of the guards with a grimace - so much for wandering) and the door was closed, she carefully pushed back the cowl of the hood and removed the robe, setting it aside. She had a feeling she'd need it later. She then went around the room and did everything she could to make it as dark as possible figuring that should someone walk in without warning, it would at least give her a moment to get the robe back on and the illusion in place to hide her horns if neccessary. She then went ahead and unbuckled her sword belt, laying it carefully by the bed to where it would be in close reach should she need it, and finally she removed the pendant and set it on the stand beside her so it could hopefully recharge its energy. Then she settled back onto the bed. It was nice, much nicer than her kip back home. She felt like she could just sink into it...
All it took was lying back and all the fatigue and stress rushed out like a bottle full of wind rushing out to freedom. Part of her mind cautioned to stay awake, but exhaustion won out and soon Sadye was really sleeping soundly for the first time since she'd landed in this world.
((Figured that would give you an easy way to time warp it up to whatever you have in store for her next. Plus, Sadye really -hasn't- slept since she arrived on Dal'kania days ago, and while tanar'lings don't need sleep as often as humans do, it was about time she conked out a bit xd ))
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 12:40 am
Kimaya A slight knock on the door, the room was even darker than Sadye had made it. It was now late... probably evening by now. The smell of food was coming from under the door's edge. Despite Sadye's protests against food it looks like someone was bringing something anyway... although it was definitely several hours much later. Sadye
Sadye woke with a start, her cautious nature had always led to her being a light sleeper. It took her a moment to realise once again where she was, but once she did she practically leaped from the bed, grabbing for the robes to pull them back on and pull the cowl over her face. She moved over to the door. The scent of food was intoxicating enough it made her mouth water. Careful not to open the door too far, she creaked it open to see who was waiting outside.Kimaya Standing a polite distance away from the door, and holding what looked to be a basket of food was the man from earlier: Lord Daelon.
His eyes turned to peer at the crack in the door, although from the few steps away he could not see much. He had to smile inwardly.. even though this was really becoming rather ridiculous. These outsiders... this one was the most peculiar of all. He had never seen a faerie before, but he imagined that must be what she was with those long ears and strangely colored skin.
She could not be seen of course, just as some of the others he had met, the villagers would probably panic at the first sight of her. Faeries were after all, known to be very wicked creatures. He had to wonder momentarily if she was from the forest or another strange visitor from far off. Well, he would find out soon enough and also decide how to deal with her.
He was exhausted from the day's events, and filled with worry over Danique's situation, but he had this duty to do, something that he could not entrust to anyone else. It made him feel older than his 65 years already did. Sadye
Sadye relaxed a hair and stepped back to open the door for him to come in. Her pendant laid forgotten on the stand by the bed, but the darkness obscured her for the moment. She motioned politely for him to come in, and then paused. She often forgot that most if not all humans couldn't see in the dark like she could, so she moved over the lantern she had extinguished earlier and re-lit it. She knew how fond humans were of their light. As the lantern was lit it cast lurid shadows along the strange features he had seen earlier, but without her pendant it also highlighted the horns on her head. She waited for him to step in before offering a spoken greeting."Lady's Grace, cutter. Here, sit. Ya look like you've been through the Abyss and back." She motioned for him to take whatever chair was available. She wasn't sure how the higher-ups of this world were treated, though she'd heard many tales of nobles and protocol from the various visitors to Sigil. "I, uh...hope you won't take that as rude, I only mean that ya seem to be having a sod of a day, cutter," she said, hoping that if she hadn't been polite enough to him it would diffuse any possible tension. If there was one thing she knew it was that she wanted this man on her side.Kimaya Lord Daelon's face went waxy with shock as he saw the rest of this strange creature's features in the light of the room. Now, a faery he had been prepared for, he had no idea what this was... growing more alarmed by the second as the creature walked around and talked, if not in a completely normal way, at least understandable.
The only thing which came to his mind was to ask:
Cutter? But then he shook his head trying to gather his wits. He had no idea what at all to do about this... he peered warily at the creature again, and then he remembered the fear in her face, her eyes squeezed shut telling her story with the quavering voice, and the trembling he had felt under his hands and he relaxed. Some things were not always what they seemed.
"Thank you," He said instead and then pulled a chair over and sat down, setting the basket of food that the kitchens had prepared to the side.
"Well, I trust your accommodations are acceptable. This is my keep, I am the Lord Daelon," he said this matter of fact and without any emphasis on the ceremony of his title,"and it is my sworn duty to protect the people of my lands, and especially in Greenoak. I take it very seriously. I'm going to need to know a bit about you and your intentions, and Im going to ask you to be honest with me as you can be."
"First, tell me who you are, and what you are doing here, for a start." He pointed to a seat commanding her to sit as well, he wanted to be able to look into her eyes. Sadye
Sadye was confused at his initial reaction. He'd seen her strange features already, hadn't he? But then she realised, the illusion had been hiding some of it before. Not to mention the robes. If he was going to react badly, she needed to know now. She didn't sit just yet."If you wanna know who I am, then best ta get this over with now." She sighed a bit. "Just...look...I know what yer probably thinkin' I am, and no ya ain't far wrong from it, but like I've told every other basher who looked at me funny, I ain't in the business of bitin'." Slowly and carefully she pulled back the hood and removed the robes, tossing them aside, and looked back to him warily. Sometimes her fiendish appearance did come in handy to her advantage, but at times like this, well...this was a man of some power, obviously, and surrounded as she was in his keep, if he turned against her she was in the dead-book for sure. It was definitely in her best interests to cooperate."Th' name's Sadye, Sadye Ayende. I'm a tanar'ling and a tout - a guide if ya will - from Sigil, City of Doors. As for why I'm here? Still tryin' ta figure that one out, but the only reason I'm here in yer kip is 'cause I was hopin' that Magi o' yers might have a way for me ta get home. Instead, well...I got more'n I bargained for, surely," she said, then held up her hands in a placating gesture as if she feared he might take that wrong, "but I swear...I didn't mean any harm, and I didn't mean for anyone ta get hurt or nothin'." She settled into the seat across from him finally with a heavy sigh. "Nothin' went like I hoped, though." Kimaya As the grey skinned creature removed the acolyte's robe, Lord Daelon sat wide eyed and unable to move, his hands gripping the chair so tightly that his knuckles were white and stretched thin. What in the name of God? His eyes were drawn like magnets to the wings, whisper and leather like, the claw tipped fingers, and by God, it had.. a tail he realized faintly.
Lord Daelon had never been a pious man. He prayed to god on the right days and said the words at dinner, of course. But he had lived through two wars now, and he had seen too much horror, taken part in it, to feel right in the temple. He usually left them early and let the others have their peace without him.
He had killed his first man at the age of fourteen, not entirely unusual for a boy becoming a man during the endless battles that had plagued these beautiful lands. Later in life he had stood as the axeman to beheadings, killed traitors, and seen friends die next to him, had fought against men who he had once called brother. None of it had prepared him for this.
Devils... the ancient word came to his mind. The Magi had once often talked of devils during the war of the renegades. The prince of hell was their god, and they lured men with promise of powers ill gotten. But no one had ever heard tell of a living devil in this lifetime.
Truly no one even talked about such things... except...
Was this coincidence, or fate? Was there something more to what his brother had talked to him before leaving for the holy city? His mind was a blur of thoughts jumbling together as he tried to recall the last words he had spoken with Danique's father.
Holding with extreme force onto his calm, it took all of Lord Daelon's willpower not to draw his sword against this being. He did not trust himself to say anything for some time and simply sat there, gripping the chair and staring. The lamplight flickered, turning ordinary shadows into sinister patterns on the walls, the red and orange flame coloring everything not hidden in darkness a smoky yellow.
Finally, when he realized she was done, and that they had sat there for some time he knew he should speak. What are you? he wanted to ask... but he knew, not what a tanar'ling or a tout was, or what the city of Doors was either, but he knew what it was. Devilkin. He did not know how it could be possible, but it was. What in God's name was he to do now?
The longer he sat the more aware of the silence he became though.... and finally he realized she had come here on accident. Frowning, he thought, she was like the others... perhaps.. things couldn't be so bad. The Magi had been right next to her and he would have known, surely... their powers...
"So..." His voice was thick with emotion, fear which he was not accustomed to. Not for himself but for the things his brother had said before they last parted. The things he said were coming... "What is it you intend to do now?" Sadye
She could feel her heart beating...no pounding in her chest as the moments stretched on. This was the sort of reaction she had been expecting, but not this...controlled. Almost as if sensing the overwhelming desire he had to attack her, she shrank back a bit into the seat. She could feel panic welling up in her, knowing that if he turned on her, if she couldn't convince him, show him, that she wasn't the fiends she was descended from, she might as well give up and hope for a quick death.
Sadye wouldn't have considered herself good at heart. There were plenty of times that she did what she had to so she could survive, even at the expense of others. On the other hand she struggled not to become the ravaging fiend that so many of her kind did. She'd seen too many people who'd been burned by her ancestors. It was a reputation she didn't need, so she tried to remain carefully neutral in the scheme of things, and it seemed to be working for her. The problem came in convincing other bashers that she wasn't going to eat them alive or steal their soul, not to mention knowing when a body was going to believe you and when they were just playing you to stick a sword in your gut.
She muddled over her options as the long silence drew on, her eyes downcast as if she feared looking him in the eye. In truth, she couldn't bear to see that fear staring back at her. It was like draining away all her hope of a good end to this situation. She just wanted to make it back home in one piece. Usually she could talk her way out of just about anything, but then usually she had the full dark on things too. Being in this strange place surrounded by all these strange people left her at a sore disadvantage.
But wait, she had gained some insight on things while she was in the keep, hoping to use them later when they might help her out. Well, now was as good a time as any..."I...I just really wanna go home when it's all said and done, honest and square, or may I hug a razorvine." She almost sighed, and did pause a moment before continuing. She had a gut feeling she was fixing to get in the middle of something she didn't want in, but the fact of the matter was she was already in it. Still, she was hesitant to say it as badly as she wanted to. She feared giving him enough reason to tip him towards drawing that sword - especially since her own blade was still propped up with her belt beside the bed."I..." But try as she might she couldn't find the words to continue. Everywhere this Magi had gone, the people had waited on his every whim. Everyone was afraid of him, even. If she spoke against him, what would make them believe her? She needed some kind of assurance."There's somethin', somethin' deep that I think...I think you should know. But...here" she stood up, waving a finger as if a thought had come to mind, and moved over towards the sword belt. She feared he might draw his own blade, but she had to take this risk. It might be the only chance she had.
Quickly she gathered up the belt, both longsword and dagger still sheathed, and brought them back over to him, one hand held up to show him she wasn't pulling the blades. Then she squatted down and set them at his feet before backing up a few steps to where they'd be out of reach and settling back on her knees. "I need you to trust me, cutter, because my gut tells me you ain't gonna like what I'm about to tell ya..." Kimaya Lord Daelon did not move or speak as Sadye brought her weapons and laid them on the floor at his feet. He also did not move to pick them up. Breathing deeply, his brow was creased with puzzlement. At each passing second he had been shocked by the turn of events.
He knew, in his heart of heart that this creature was here because of Danique. But he couldnt say for what reason, good or bad, and this troubled him, and it also stayed his hand. Daelon would not strike down an unarmed opponent, although he doubted it was defenseless, and he recognized the act of asking for peace to speak. But those were not the reason for his inaction either... and deep down he knew that this was not what it seemed. The trembling.. the obvious fear in its eyes... her eyes. His brows drew down together while his mind worked to make sense of it.
Forcing himself to relax, Daelon removed his hands from the chair and placed them folded over each other in his lap. He wanted to tell her he would not strike her, but no words would come. He swallowed instead.
God forgive me if I am making a grave mistake here... but he just couldn't explain it, the feeling he got that this ... girl... was not here to hurt Danique. And so when she began speaking, he closed his eyes, nodded, and prayed. Sadye
Sadye took in a deep breath, and started from the beginning of it all, and the more she talked, the more her nerves began to calm a bit. She told him of the Magi's glorious arrival from the skies. She told him how she had snuck through the woods out of curiosity, and how she had, in trying to find a way into the keep, knocked one of the healers unconscious and taken their robes, disguising herself - adding in that someone might want to go and check on him with an grimace of guilt.
Then she moved on to getting inside the keep and how she had followed the priests hoping they would lead her to the magi, and when she realised they wouldn't how she had slipped away on her own to go after him herself. Then came the hard part, telling of how she had found the magi and his rangers and walked into the hall where the boy was dead and the maid was sobbing. She made sure to mention what the magi had said about leaving for Ghosttower.
Then, if that was hard, came the nearly impossible part as she told him about the Magi walking down the halls with her, how he thought she was a minion of this Dark God and what he had told her about his search for a girl."I couldn't get him ta tell me who he was lookin' for, but him and these Dark Powers must want her real bad, and I don't think it's ta go an' have a picnic or somethin'. Finally, once him and his men gated, I was gonna go find the other priests again when I ran into that brown-headed gal, an'...well...you know the rest." She finally finished, looking up tentatively at this man, the Lord who seemed to fear her just about as much as she feared him.Kimaya The tale spinning before him nearly had Lord Daelon out of his seat by the end. His eyebrows drew down further as each event unfolded. The gentle creases on his face became heavy lines of concern which deepened into alarm at the telling of Sadye's final confrontation. He did not realize it then but he was again gripping his chair and sitting straight up in it as she spoke of the dark powers which Magister Sethys was obviously connected to.
In the silence that grew between them the hairs had fairly rose on the back of his neck at the implications; his eyes were wide, his lips pressed tight. He was not a man who feared much, he was old and ready to die. But the dark things which the creature before him suggested had vanquished any thoughts of trying to negotiate with the Magi. This was out of his realm, out of his power. He felt truly old then with all of his years weighing down upon him like a heavy boulder crushes the grasses flat. Demons and evil magic, dark tidings. Right now he only wanted to sleep for an age, to join his Elise for all time. But he had his duty before him, and now he had this fear as well. Fear for his niece, fear for his people, fear for failure.
Lord Daelon sighed and finally realized he was sitting ramrod straight in the chair, tried to relax and managed a little. He pressed his lips even tighter together for a brief moment, opened them and then drew a deep breath, exhaling slowly.
His thoughts were all on Danique at that moment. All on everything his brother had told him. Pieces of the puzzle that they had never guessed at were slowly falling into place forming a gruesome and terrible unclear image; a sliver of dread forced itself into Lord Daelon's heart, freezing there, reaching with its grasping chill. Time seemed slow and liquid, as he waited for the rest to make sense, his thoughts drifting into despair. He needed more answers, there was something that was bothering him, nagging him. Some detail he had missed, some word spoken which had carried more weight than he had guessed. But whatever answers he sought slipped away. He would need time to think, it would come to him when he was less focused on it. For now, he needed to worry about Danique, and how to get her away to safely. He knew now the absolutely folly of thinking she would have been safe here. Relying on the idea that the Magi would honor ancient traditions when war was on the verge of erupting now seemed a stark madness. How could he not have seen... He wondered now. Were her father's wishes for the best. Did he see this end? Then why the letter? Skyler... why did you die and leave this to me. You were always best at seeing the whole picture. Did you see this? Did you? His brother had not told him all. That was clear. Either he did not know enough or he feared to speak aloud his guesses.
The letter...
'I place this in your care, if something should happen to me... when the realm is safe from war, then pass this on to my niece. Then and only then will the time be right...' He had known he was to die. Lord Daelon had realized that some time ago. But what else had he known and entrusted to parchment and ink?
Remembering the creature before him, his thoughts dispersed and he rose, gesturing to the weapons before her.
"You cannot be seen. I will not keep you here, but I would ask you remain, under my protection. I believe there is more to this... and while I have little to offer you in return, besides your safe conduct for the moment, I do believe your part in this is not done. For now, accept my hospitality? Until I can see to your... situation." It was a request, although he did not seem to be asking, merely confirming. Sadye
Sadye felt the tightness in her chest ease and dissipate as he made no move against her. She was beginning to feel like maybe she could trust this man, at least as much as any cager dared to trust. However, as he spoke to her, Sadye frowned unhappily. "With all due respect, cutter, I'm not one ta like bein' caged up. Don't get me wrong, I don't wanna cause trouble or get some berk so narky he takes a shiv at me, but you can't really expect me ta just stay in here! There's gotta be some way you'll let me not be couped up in here, cutter." She paused for a moment thoughtfully, her brow furrowed a little as she replayed his words...and then she saw the bargaining chip. "Not ta mention...ya seem ta be thinkin' that there's somethin' still that I can do for ya. What?" Kimaya The sound of the men returning caught Lord Daelon's attention for a moment. He turned back to the creature... girl. He sucked in a breath as he considered. He could not keep her here, and yet...
"I cannot vouch for your safety if you should appear ...that way..." He gestured to her strange features, the horns in particular, but the wings and tail as well. "I do not want to be pressed into having to bring you to trial for being.. well, what you are. If you are caught though, or seen, I cannot say it would not go that way for you. The priests would press me to protect and uphold the laws. Do you understand? I am the lord here, but these people trust me with their lives. What sort of lord would they see me as if I allowed you to move among them freely even if I said I trusted you? No, while I do - trust your intentions that is - I will not be much protection should something go terribly wrong. I will do my best to see you out of it. I believe you that you mean no wrong... But... please be careful. For your sake and mine. I have seen enough senseless death to last a life time, and much of it on mine own hands."
He paused, wanting to add more... to ask, but he didn't feel right yet. He had nothing to offer her. Perhaps... Frowning, he shook the thoughts away before they could form, and looked at the door.
"I must go... How will I find you again?" Sadye
Sadye had caught the faint noise of hooves clicking against the cobblestones as well and frowned slightly. She was really beginning to get a feeling of being penned in, and she didn't like it one bit. She understood what Lord Daelon was saying, though. This wasn't Sigil where seeing anything and everything wasn't the least bit unusual. She'd already seen the fear of what she was in this man, and even then it was greatly restrained. It seemed like so far she only had one friend among a house full of a enemies.
Not good at all.
She hurriedly ran through her options. It sounded like it might be too risky to try and make her way out just now, but there was no reason she couldn't do what she was good at, and that was gather information. She'd need some supplies..."I tumble to what ye're sayin', and I have an idea." She reached over and retrieved her pendant, the silver shape of a rosevine curled around a dagger glinting in the lamplight. An observant eye might easily notice that the symbol matched the dark ink of the tattoo on her shoulder. "Ya know how ya couldn't see my horns a bit ago? This is why. It helps me blend in as it were. Now, obviously it don't do everything, but when I combine that with a good disguise? Let's just say I've managed to avoid the bleedin' Hardheads a time or two by bein' right under their soddin' noses. If I were back in my kip I'd have everything I need, but maybe I can find what I need here. I just need an identity I can work with." She paused and frowned again. "But we don't have time now. As much as I don't really like it...I'll stay. At least until somethin' can be figured out. I owe ya that much at least, cutter. After everything else what seems ta be goin' on 'round here, 'last thing you need is an uproar over me," she said sympathetically. Part of her did mean it too as she gathered he was putting alot on the line for her by letting her hide here, although a part of her secretly hoped that her sympathy might ease him towards telling her just what was going on, if not now then eventually. She got the vague impression that he wanted to say more than he was saying, but she couldn't quite guage just what angle to push from to get him to spill the dark of things and fill her in. She'd just have to be patient for now it seemed.
"...an' besides, last thing I need is my neck on the choppin' block, so we'll just have ta do things yer way for now. I still got these robes for now, so stayin' outta sight shouldn't be too hard 'till one of us can figure somethin' better, eh?" Kimaya
Lord Daelon moved to the window and glanced down for a moment, his lips tightening in concern. Was that?... He needed to move and quickly, this could not mean anything good. Fingering his sword hilt, exhaustion washed over him. The realm will be torn asunder again... I am moving too slowly. Skyler forgive me. He closed his eyes for a moment, but then came to himself quickly.
Breathing in an awkward sigh, with a slight twist of his old man's body Lord Daelon shifted his gaze back to the girl again, considering her words. A sad smile appeared on his face at the mention of her horns, and the disguise. No it wouldn't do for her to wander around as a priestess, and yet... "I'll do better by you... give me a quarter of an hour. But I'll keep you to your word that we shall speak again." Holding the girl's strange amber eyed gaze his face was grave, eyebrows raised in a look which said he would brook no argument.
He would make use of whatever tools God gave him. This was not some mere coincidence, he did not know what it was yet, but he would find out.
Lifting a hand before she could speak he said, "One quarter, that's all I ask. Wait." He turned to the oaken door and slipped out of the room not waiting for a reply. Sadye "But I..." Sadye started as Lord Daelon made his quick exit, the door shutting on her words. She dropped back onto the edge of the bed with a disparate sigh. "Soddin' hells..." It looked like she would have to keep her word this time. She moved over to the window and cautiously peered out into the darkness below to see what Lord Daelon had been looking at that had him in such a flurry. The scene played itself out in black white to her vision, and hopefully the darkness would keep anyone from seeing her as well. As she was looking out, though, her stomach rumbled in a low growl. She glanced back to that basket Lord Daelon had brought in with him and left behind. A quarter of an hour? She supposed she could manage that long, she thought to herself as she sto see what delicacies awaited her.
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:25 am
Kimaya In the quiet room where Sadye waited, the quarter of an hour came and went in silence. Outside of the room the sounds of men moving about could be heard muffled though. Something was heppening... there were more people going about their business at the odd hour of the evening.
Finally, as the great clock below chimed the hour, there was a sound at the door... but it was not a knock.
The rasp of metal upon wood was clear as the wooden bar was settled into place, locking Sadye within. Sadye
Sadye had finished her meal and waited in patience, a task that wasn't easy for her by a long shot. She could almost feel the tick-tock of time passing. It had been too long. Why wasn't he coming back? What was taking so long?
She stepped up the door and paused. If she slid out, then what? Where would she go? Could she be so lucky as to hide in the cleric's robes again without being noticed?
She was just about to turn away from the door when she heard the rasping metal being slid into place.
...No... her mind thought in terror, but she knew. They had locked her in! She had been double-crossed, it was the only explanation! Quickly and quietly she slid her ear up against the door, hoping maybe she might make out something from the other side to indicate who was locking her in or why or what they intended. She willed herself to stay calm, fought for that stillness with all her being as she listened, but her heart hammered in her throat and her mind flickered with murderous screams of betrayal. She wasn't sure whether she was more terrified or angry, but she fought anyways to push down the lump in her throat and bloody well listen! She tried, instead of dwelling on that mix of outrage and terror, to subconsciously start shuffling through her head for an idea of how to escape. After all, this couldn't be a friendly move, not by a long shot.Kimaya As Sadye pressed an ear to the door she could hear the rustle of cloth, and the creak of leather, the steps of someone heavy walking away... there were probably guards posted at the door, or someone had been left to see to the security of the room at least, for after a moment she heard a dry cough and then a voice, "Ay, you still got tha' cold then?"
"Got me another one actually. Seems Oim collectin em this winter." Another voice answered.
"Better watch it or you'll catch something worse..."
The two older sounding voices continued to discuss their relative health, but as to who barred the door they gave no sign or mention.
The sounds and movement of the people were still about, now and then a shout could be heard, commands perhaps... laughter, but mostly terse words. The ring of horse's hooves on cobblestone from outside came every now and then as someone went galloping off into the early morning on some errand. Morning was not far off....
The room was as bare as it had been before, save for the food left. It was comfortable, but small. There was a bed, a small bath, and an oil lamp which now looked in danger of guttering out, since it was low on fuel. The window was small and unbarred, and it gave a view of the courtyard below, which was filled with soldiers, messengers, and other men carrying out orders.
Sadye
Sadye growled quietly as she backed away from the door. No clues, no answers...nothing. Just locked away like a common criminal! She had trusted him! She had taken him on his word, and what had it gotten her?
The terror she had been feeling was slowly giving way, replaced by growing anger at Daelon for convincing her to stay, at herself for trusting him, and at whoever had locked her up. She knew now that she couldn't stay. She was angry with Daelon, but at the same time her common sense told her that it might not be him. What if the Magi had returned? Or maybe someone else had seen through her guise? Had they found the priest she had knocked unconscious in the woods? Perhaps he had given her away somehow? She could berate herself for leaving loose ends later. Right now she had to escape.
She took stock of her surroundings. Not much to work with, but it would have to do. The lamp was getting low on oil, but Sadye didn't need the light anyways.
And then it hit her. It was a crazy, crazy idea, but what else could Sadye do? Wait it out and sit here, waiting until they decided to either toss her in a prison cell to rot? Or worse, until they came back to kill her? She might not have much chance if she did this, but she had even less chance if she sat here. At least if she could escape she would prove a harder target, and if she were free to roam the castle again, perhaps she could find Daelon and demand some answers. That thought appealed to her rather well at the moment.
She had to be quick and quiet. She grabbed her few belongings and stowed them back in their pockets. Her sword she re-sheathed, but her dagger she took out and laid on the bed long enough to shimmy back into the acolyte's robes. She hated donning that guise again, but she might need it. Once she had the robes on, she picked up the dagger and used it, first to cut an inconspicuous slit up each side of the robes, then to tear several strips from the bedding which she folded into her belt. One strip she took into the bath area wetting the cloth in the water basin left there and wringing it out. She then carefully tied the damp cloth over her nose and mouth, tucking the ends away under her hood. That done, she tucked the dagger into her sash within easy reach and swung open the small window.
She backed up and took one good long look over the room, as if memorizing where everything was. She had heard two guards outside at least, and they were likely to be much better armed and armored than the priest she had knocked unconscious earlier. Her heart hammered as adrenaline pulsed through her veins, but as far as she could see this was her best bet to get out.
The lamp flickered as she grabbed a pillowcase from the bed to shield her hands from the heat as she carefully picked it up. Still, she drew in a hiss of a breath anyways as the heat seeped through. She had to act quick or it would become unbearable, so she quickly got a grasp on the bottom of the lamp and flung it to smash against the wooden door. Then quickly she tossed the pillowcase nearby to help feed the flames and sank back to the other side of the room to wait just beside the curtains by the window where she would have fresh air. She hoped the damp cloth over her face would help with that as well. She waited for a few moments as the flames (hopefully) fed and slowly grew, licking along the frame of the wooden door before finally she gave her best shriek of terror through the haze, hoping to attract the guards' attention. "Help me, please!" And then she watched and waited as she crouched by the window sill, hoping to give the appearance of being overcome by the smoke.Kimaya
The door had been treated with a form of fire repellent, it was not a very effective one - even though the flames were not blazing as quickly as they might have on another piece of furniture, the wood smoked and charred, sparks popping here and there as the fire worked its way through the repellent. Tendrils of greasy black smoke snaked up from wood that had just begun to blister.
At once the two guard spoke, their words overlapping one another "D'you smell that?" and, "Did you 'ear that?"
"Oi think it might be a fire..."
"Lord Daelon said open the door for no one but --"
"The Lord didn't mean to say that about a fire though!"
"Well, I'm not opening it! Its more than my job for --"
"Ah you useless old bag o' bones, Oi'll do it then!"
There was a noise at the door, which had begun to smolder more quickly now, the fire beginning to eat at the wood. Someone was trying - unsuccessfully it seemed - to move the bar. "Help me, bloody hells its hot! And this thing is heavy!" One voice said, then the other cursed, but grunted with what sounded like effort. Joined together in their task the two guards managed to get the door unbarred and it swung out, revealing the pair of them standing there.
They were armed to the teeth, which since neither of them had any - old as they were, was to say that they were both lightly armed. The two old guardsmen stared at the flickering flames along the door, mouths open, seeming surprised to see them even though they had both just been discussing the likelihood of fire moments before. Despite only carrying a pair of ancient short swords they did however each wear a full set of boiled leather armor - but it was not in the fashion of the normal Greenoak gear. Notched in several places, and charred as well, it was clear the leather had seen battles in times past, however it was well cared for as though someone had taken the trouble to ensure its continued service. A symbol of a dragon clutching a lightning bolt could be seen ever so faintly etched into the breast of the leather tunics.
Neither of them noticed Sadye, however they were both in the doorway now... the hall appeared to be empty around them.
"Now what!?" The guard on the right yelped, while the reached for the man's cloak trying to rip it off of his shoulders.
"We gotta put it out is nows what!" The other yelled as he also struggled futilely to pull the cloak off of his companion's shoulders, although it was held in place by a single brooch.
Sadye
Sadye listened carefully to the guards as they scurried about in frantics. So it was Daelon? A coldness swept over her soul and she suppressed the urge to snarl. She would look forward to hearing his reasons for betraying her trust so. The thought of sent stabs of white-hot anger flashing into her heart and she felt tears trying to form at the corners of her eyes, but she shoved the feeling away passing it off as a side effect of the growing smoke.
They were trying to get the cloaks off now, planning to smother the flames she presumed. She touched her pendant and allowed the illusory magic to conceal her horns from view as she stood and quickly pondered her options. Should she make a break for it? She thought that, distracted as they were, she could sneak out with relative ease if they would just clear the doorway, but so far they seemed intent on blocking it. She vaguely noted the symbol on their breastplate...not the one she'd seen before. Were these old men personal soldiers of Daelon's perhaps?
It didn't matter now, they were in the way.
She stumbled across the room, making a big display of teetering from the smoke and coughing fitfully. As she came around the bed she dropped into a crouch placing her hands on the floor. Hopefully with the robes it would deceptively appear that she had stumbled and fell on her knees. She wanted to appear weakened when the guards hopefully turned their attention to her.Kimaya The guard further in the room noticed Sadye stagger to the bed and he gasped aloud completely forgetting the door and the impending fire.
"Oi don't believe it! There was someone in 'ere. Oh god, its one o' the priestesses! She's hurt! We gotta get her out o' there!" He shoved his companion forward who looked startled at seeing Sadye there as well. The man began to cough more violently as the smoke plumed out of the room and into the hall. The fire wasn't serious yet but it had filled the air with a hot oily grittiness.
"But the lord Daelon said not to let nobody in 'sides the --"
"He said not to let no one in, he didn't say not to let no one out, you blockhead!"
"But what about --?"
"Bah!" The first guard said with a disgusted look on his face. "Nevermind, you old bag, Oi'll help her m'self," The skinnier man shoved his companion aside and moved into the smoking room.
Yanking his cloak up to his face, gasping the older guard moved with a surprising spryness, but a wariness in his eyes, perhaps about laying hands upon a holy person. He did not come too far into the room, it was filled with smoke now, but he began to edge his way along slowly towards Sadye, bent forward and reaching out to her. "My lady, oh my goodness," He began coughing again. "Come on, it'll be alright, old Jaerod will get you out safe... come on now...Oi may not look like much but A've saved a few lives in my time." the man held out a hand now, trembling with either fear or age, it was difficult to tell. He was almost within range.
The other old man had managed to get his cloak off and was using it to beat at the flames on the door, which were now snapping and crackling with purpose. Sadye She'd had a plan, but the guard's reaction made her hesitate. He was going to get her out? Then I suppose there's no need to get narky...yet, she thought to herself. Making sure that the illusion of her pendant was properly in place over her hands as well, she reached forward and groped on the air for his hand. If he was going to lead her out, she would let him, and if he decided not to, she still had a trick or two up her sleeve that she could use if things went awry she hoped. Kimaya Jaerod clasped his hand firmly over Sadye's with a reassuring smile barely visible above the edges of the cloak. This close Sadye could see he was a human of about sixty or so. He helped her to his feet (or so he believed) and pulled her quickly from the room, letting go of her almost as if she were on fire herself, once they were safely out.
There were a few torches still in sconces along the walls of the hallway - the long hall leading away from the room ended in what looked to be a T section quite a distance away. The room was on the western side of this long hall which ended in an alcove that boasted a rather overlarge and scenic oak-framed window. It was not quite morning by the look of the light coming in from outside. There were several other doors along the hall, but no other way to go besides straight.
"C'mon help me!" The other guard cried, beating at the flames still, the edges of his cloak smoldering slightly.
Jaerod took in the scene and apparently decided it was time to go for help; he looked down the hall before turning to Sadye. "You alright miss, ah m'lady, ah priestess? Oi'm going for help before this gets outta hand... I know Captain Blakely had men posted down the hall just a ways." His brow creased with puzzlement as he said this, as though he were recalling an odd detail, or perhaps two... Jaerod waited for some answer from her, but his anxiousness to be off for help clear on his face. Sadye
Sadye was glad that he held on no longer than he did. The illusion was good and held up well, but it only covered the sight of her, not the feel. Naturally she was as careful as she could be when she grasped his hand, but the longer he held on, the more chance he would've had to distinguish the differences between what he saw and what he felt. She huddled in on herself as if shaking off the effects of the smoke still and took a glance down the hall, carefully pushing down the damp strip of cloth she had tied around her face.
She quickly took in her surroundings and what the guard had to say before looking down at him, careful to keep her hood down. "Yes, go...help him, but please...I must speak...with Lord Daelon. Where might I find him?" Kimaya The man looked at Sadye for a moment, and then he said, "Well, my lady, he's with a guest - the Lord of Felfalas, to be precise, at the moment. But Oi'm sure he'll be glad t'serve the divinity in any way he can. He's a right godly man, our lord of greenoak. Oi had the pleasure to serve with him in tha'" As a yelp from the old guard's companion brought him back to the present, Jaerod stopped, and then exclaimed "Oh!" in surprise.
"Oi think we'd better hurray." He beckoned for Sadye to follow him. "Captain Blakely came ta check on us just a few moments ago, seems tha' room back there had something mighty important in it..." Jaerod paused again, frowning and then glanced at Sadye out of the corner of his eye, his mind working slowly again. But he continued speaking after a moment, "An' he left some men up at the end of the hall for extra precautions should anyone try ta break in. They are on the way way to where you can find the Lord Daelon. Going right from the end will take ya ta the stairwell that leads up to his chambers, where I believe he's with his guest."
He began making his way swiftly off in the only direction available. Straight towards the end of the hall, where off in the distance it looked as though it dead-ended and led either left or right. It was still some ways away though, and not much more could be seen at this distance. Jaerod glanced back to see if the priestess was following. Sadye
Sadye does indeed follow him. She had direction to Lord Daelon's chambers now. If she had to endure the company of this grizzled old soldier for a few moments, then she supposed she would manage."Thank you. You're a...good man." She grimaced inwardly at that. She had almost called him a 'square basher', and that would've blown her cover quicker than she could've blinked. "Your friend...I'm sure he needs you more than me, but thank you...for saving me." She hoped the man would take his leave from her. The sideways looks he kept passing over her were starting to unnerve her, and if there truly were men down the hall like he'd said, she needed to get past them -without- raising an alarm if at all possible.Kimaya "Ye, afraid to leave him, but Oi think its better we get more help than a couple of ol' ..well.. I just think we need more help before it gets worse than it already is." He finished with a resolute look, as though he were shoving his pride into a well worn box. "The other men are just up ahead, mi'lady, one of them can run on an' get someone and Oi'll go right back to that ol' blockhead. Beggin' ya pardon, but it might come best from me - the askin' that is - but I appreciate t'offer an' all. We've heard how generous and kind the priesthood is, and me being a right god fearing man myself ain't surprised in the least, but its good to hear it first hand."
Jaerod continued talking a little about other similar trivialities as he moved at a swift trot, the walls going past broken only with the oaken doors, hardly any tapestry or decoration to be seen. Perhaps an older part of the keep, or one less used. He seemed nervous, perhaps even excited. Judging by his armor and sword - and his age - it had probably been a while since he had had any sort of real duty... perhaps that was why the gear he had did not match with the other soldiers.
As the bisecting hall came into closer view, Sadye could make out the edges of emerald green cloaks - soldiers of Greenoak to either side. Jaerod began calling out as soon as they were within shouting range:
"Ay there! We got some trouble! Calbert, Hayson! You two blockheads wake up!" He called, his voice feeble but growing stronger with purpose and his forgotten worries over the unusual events occurring around a single old guest room off in an old part of the keep.
One of the green cloaks vanished with a swish as the man on the right turned around and came into the hall... tall, with brown curly hair, he looked annoyed to hear the voice of the old man yelling at him in such a demanding way. He wore a mixture of leather armor and metal plates, and a heavy looking short knotted club at his side instead of a sword. His movements were slow and almost lazy as though he expected the sort of trouble Jaerod might be going on about would be some old man's trivial concern. But when his eyes noticed Sadye he did not bother to hide his surprise... with a flick of his hand he motioned to the guard who was on the left side, saying something. Whatever it was could not be heard since they were still some twenty feet down the hall. The other guard had now turned as well, flanking the only way out.
Jaerod, not sensing anything amiss continued with his jog towards the two guards. "Ay! Did ye 'ear me or not? I said there was trouble!" He let out an exasperated sigh, and then carried on muttering about the young. His breath was coming a little more ragged now, the short jaunt and excitement had tired him it seemed. Sadye
Sadye tried her hardest to appear relaxed and as if she should totally be walking down that hall, though considering what she had supposedly just come from, she hoped any tension might be perceived as worry or the like instead. Seeing the guards were not reacting to the man, though, she decided to intervene. Trying to think on her feet, Sadye thought about who she was pretending to be and came up with the best plausible explanation she could think of and did what she did best - bluffed like hell."He speaks the truth. The high priest...he sent me to ensure there were enough rooms for our group... I must have gotten lost. I was moving one of the oil lamps to see better and dropped it. The door back there caught up and is burning! They need someone to put it out quick!" She watched the guards carefully for their reaction, especially the one carrying the club. Her gut told her this might turn ugly if they didn't believe her, so cautious and nature as she was she shifted just barely enough to remind herself where she'd stashed the dagger under her sash and prepared herself to draw it if necessary.Kimaya The two guards who stood at the end of the hall had watched them approach unmoving and stony faced. The one on the left who wore a full suit of leather armor and carried a short sword, had a thick scarecrow's head of blond hair, unkempt and none too clean. He kept glancing over at the guard to his side as though waiting for orders. The one on the right, with the club - the guard of higher rank perhaps- regarded Sadye and Jaered silently; he was chewing on the inside of his cheek, his eyes blankly calculating.
"That so? Well, its a good thing we were here then, isn't it? Hood down, healer." He motioned with his hand slowly with a cold smile, but determined look in his eyes.
Jaerod's eyebrows drew down instantly at the tone in the man's voice, a look of incredulity on his face. "Hayson!? How dare ye speak to one o' the divine like that!"
Taking a step towards Jaerod and fingering the club at his side, the bigger man said through clenched teeth,"Shut up old man, I don't need any of your input. Now run along and let us handle this. There's a fire to take care of, remember?" Hayson sneered contemptuously at Jaerod who looked to be unconvinced, but his face was now revealing an old man's fear...
"Hood down." Hayson repeated, calmly. Sadye
Sadye would have liked to leave Jaered out of this confrontation - the old man had been kind enough and, though she was loathe to admit it, reminded her slightly of an old friend. There was no time, though. She vaguely wished she had learned better the art of altering her form, but she was better at mundane disguises than magical as her foes usually had the means to pierce the magic but not the well crafted physical disguise. Once again, though, it was too late to turn back now.
Once again, as well, she hoped deception would prove to be her friend. As calmly as she could, she stopped about seven to ten feet away from the guards and folded her hands, carefully positioning them to where one rested inconspicuously close to her hidden dagger. Without looking back at Jaered, she spoke as softly as she could to him, but with an urgency to her voice. "Go, your friend needs you. They have a right to ask as much, rude as it is. The fire is more important now." She waited until hopefully he would leave, but only as long as she dared to not seem too alarming. If he would not go, then she would have to hope beyond hope that he wouldn't get involved. Two guards she might have a chance against. Three on the other hand would be pushing her luck. Luckily she had one advantage on her side. She wasn't human.
With a concealed and careful sleight of hand that she hoped would go unnoticed, she slipped the dagger from its resting place and into her sleeve. Then she raised her hands as if to lower her hood.
What happened next occurred so quickly it was likely done before any surprise could register. Just before she would have grabbed her hood to pull it back, Sadye hissed a harsh and dark word under her breath and flung her hand against the near wall. Summoning her willpower and the strength of her fiendish blood, she quickly willed a supernatural darkness to settle over the hallway around herself and the guards. It was as if within the blink of an eye, all light had been extinguished in the immediate area. Sadye knew that humans loved their light and hoped that by plunging them suddenly into total darkness they would panic. Not waiting to find out, she slipped the dagger into her hand and navigated the hallway by memory. Her sight in the dark would be better than the humans by far, but the magical nature of the darkness still managed to cloud her vision some. She was careful to tune her other senses in acutely, though, to listen for the sounds of stumbling or of a weapon being swung wildly, using her own dagger only if she couldn't slip by the guards in the confusion.Kimaya Jaerod had opened his mouth to begin demanding respect for his charge again summoning his courage back up, and was just about to get started when full darkness fell upon the hall from the fiendspell.
Before everything went pitch black Sadye just caught a clear glimpse of a very startled Hayson, arms crossed over his chest unwinding quickly, but likely reacting slower than his normal soldier's training due to being completely surprised. He had definitely not been expecting a trick of this nature or any trouble at all really with the old man and the 'priestess'. His face registered fury at being caught with his pants down by a woman - again - and perhaps confused wariness at wondering how such a thing had been accomplished.
"Dammit all!" He cursed loudly and began reaching for his club again, not thinking to swipe at the immediate surrounding area first. When he had it in his grasp he held it before him, hesitating for a moment. In the pitch blackness the blond guard stood like a block of wood wondering what to do, and possibly waiting for a command. As though sensing this, Hayson yelled, his voice thick with frustration, "Get her!!" And another growl of, "Dammit!"
"What in the --! We don't have time for all o' this, d'you hear me? The room's on foire back there!" Jaerod's voice could be heard yelling as Sadye slipped through the large forms of the two guardsmen, the hall was wide enough for her to do it without coming extremely close to either of them. She was past them and running away as she heard the sounds of stomping, and falling maybe... someone hitting a wall, a hiss as someone yelped in pain.
"I can't see! What's going on Hayson? Ah, lieutenant?.. Hey, girl...halt! Wherever you are! Thats an order!"
"Don't think you're going to get away little lady, best you stop running now and I'll make it easy on you..." the sounds of slow and steady footsteps and the sliding of a palm against a wall could be heard now, underneath the echo of Sadye's own running footsteps.
"Hayson!? Wha's gotten into you? How can you say such things? Oi'll be informing Lord Daelon o' this! You boys don't know what you just did. You insulted a guest o' the ..." his voice grew quieter as she got farther way. It did indeed sound as if Hayson was behind her, but moving slowly, having either guessed or heard her heading in the direction she was going.
Finally, farther down the hall, and almost too faint to be heard, a voice yelled out "Fiiiiiiiire!! Heeeeeelp!!" And then then it was gone, the distance silencing it. Sadye
Once she was free, Sadye was like a gazelle sprinting across the wild plains. She wasn't about to slow down. She bore right at the end of the hall just as old Jaered had said and just about the time the yell of "Fiiiire!! Heeeeelp!!" reached her ears.
She cringed inwardly. She'd hoped to create a distraction - and brilliantly succeeded it seemed - but also managed to create a full wave of chaos in her wake. She'd heard one of the guards coming after her as she sprinted away, though. As much as she felt for the old man....wait. Why did she feel for him? He was one of the ones trying to block her in! she tried to tell herself, but she still felt a pang of something in her stomach.This ain't the time ta be beatin' yer brain-box, Sadye! she told herself furiously. If she saw anyone along the way, she could perhaps send them that way with a quick and frantic yell about there being trouble down the hall, but she wasn't planning on stopping until she found those stairs and got to Daelon's apartments. She tucked the dagger back up her sleeve for the moment as she ran - no need to draw undue attention to herself more than she probably already was. Right now, though, it was time to find Daelon and get some answers. She just hoped old Jaered's directions were right...Kimaya As Sadye headed down the corridor, she could hear the sound of pursuit behind her - just the one man though. Far off in the distance she could see the stairwell which lead up... and down. It seemed this was a floor somewhere in the middle.
Behind her, in the pitch darkness, Hayson kept his hand steady on the wall to guide him, his ears strained to listen for the steady, but rapid, tread of his fleeing quarry. He was sick of these woman being such a pain for him. What had happened to the days of meek and frightened little birds, easily pinned and smothered by fear? Use to using his size and stoney face to intimidate those he encountered, Hayson was not someone used to chasing around his targets. He was beginning to feel like this Greenoak was bad luck for him. Hayson enjoyed his position with Blakely - after all it was quite a deal more comfortable than where he had been headed for. Having killed a man in a robbery gone awry, Hayson learned too late that the man was the son of the minor lord of the surrounding area - visiting his mistress; He had been captured asleep in the woman's bed chambers. He'd spent the better part of that year in the dungeons for that adventure, believing he would never get out. When Blakely had come along singing his song and making his promises, Hayson hadn't really had to think much on it before climbing on board. And things had gone pretty well for a couple of years. He had it easy, work he was made for, and no risk to himself really so long as he kept his hands clean. Whoever their employer was, they were pretty good. Until now...
The thing was, this wasn't at all how things were suppose to have gone... and he was having to improvise now. And Hayson did not like to improvise. It was too risky; too many things could go wrong, and there was too much room for disapproval from the higher ups. Still, he had no choice. It was either run her down and drag her to the dungeons for later or risk letting her make a mess of things -- and he was pretty sure that, at least, was a bad idea. Who knew why they wanted her, but whatever the reason no one had seen fit to tell him. So now he had to go on his gut instinct and the little bit of information he did have.
Which was precious little. Pretty much the only thing he knew about her is that she was not a priestess, and that she had been dressing like one to move about the keep unnoticed.
The unfortunate bit was that old Daelon had taken this girl under his protection, and he would be wondering where she had gotten to. Making a few quick calculations, Hayson decided that so long as he got the girl quickly enough he could take care of the rest. It would mean the two old guys would have to die, but well, thats the way things went.
You'd think she'd have the sense to just give up instead of making it hard on herself... he thought just a little childishly, his lips grimly tight in concentration. He did not relish the sound of crunching bone and the meaty thud of hard wood on soft skin the way Blakely did - it was a waste of a perfectly good woman - but he knew how to do his job. And he also knew that once a little bird got it into their head they could get away with something, they would try again. He'd have to deal with this one when he caught her just for that reason alone.
The thought of his past life and going back to it was enough to keep him keep running, it was enough to make him reckless even - not catching the girl was pretty much unthinkable, and if he had to, well he supposed he'd kill her rather than let her get him in trouble. Even as he ran with one hand on the wall, Hayson was shifting his club in the other hand.
He sped his pace up, risking falling, but holding to the hope that the wall would keep him from running into anything. It was clumsy going, but he kept after her, knowing she would run out of places to go eventually; most of the area was sealed off up here, and the places that weren't were guarded. As he charged after the girl, doubling his pace, an idea was forming in the back of his head. There really was only one place this hall lead... Sadye
Sadye didn't even hesitate a moment before turning to head up the staircase. She had been careful to remember old Jaered's directions on how to find Lord Daelon. A grim determination settled over her face as she took the stairs as quickly as she could manage. She didn't know for sure if that guard was still on her tail, but she didn't really want to find out.
A thousand questions swam through her head as she climbed. Who were those older guards posted there? Why hadn't Daelon come back as he promised? How had that guard known that she wasn't a priestess? Had Daelon raised an alarm as to what she was? And if so, why? He'd told her that the people of the keep -shouldn't- find out what she was, so what reason would he have to inform the guards? Not to mention, the older guards that had been at her door were completely clueless it seemed. The whole ordeal stunk worse than an unwashed quipper in the Hive.
At least she would hopefully have some answers soon. Once she reached Daelon's apartments, assuming the old codger's directions were right, she would simply inform the guards that she had a pressing matter to discuss with Daelon and it couldn't wait. Of course, if the guards knew what she was, then they wouldn't likely buy it. Still, it was the best plan she had and besides, nothing -ever- went as planned, but it at least gave her some direction. She wondered if she'd managed to lose the guard that had been trying to tail her. If not, she might be at a sore disadvantage being in a staircase with nowhere to go and likely with other guards above her if she really -was- going to Daelon's apartments. Important bashers always had a few minders hanging around for their safety.
Well Sadye , she though to herself. You'll just have to make the best of it. And with that wry thought, she continued upward to whatever awaited her.Kimaya As Sadye dashed up the stairs, Hayson had to bite down on his tongue to keep from shouting out. She was much farther ahead than he would have guessed. Swearing under his breath he quickly tried to remember the time and guess who might have duty. His mind was still working hard and fast, trying to come up with something, anything at all that would work when he placed a foot on the first step of the stairs. He could hear her up there... she could be in view of the guards any moment...
As Sadye reached the top of the stairs she found herself on a large landing, very comfortably appointed, there were two halls which led off to the left and right but dead ended in what appeared to be open galleries, displaying art on one end and what looked to be a large table and chairs on the other, there were also crates and other large covered over pieces of furniture or art. Straight in front of her was a long hall, much wider than the ones below. Unlike the previous halls this one was richly decorated, alcoves dotted its sides, each of them filled with their own miniature decorations. In the dead center of the hallway there appeared to be two guards standing in front of one set of overlarge doors centered in the western wall. Neither of them seemed to be aware of her at the moment as she was still some ways off and they were facing the opposite wall, not the stairwell. Beyond them the hall continued in the same direction, looking much the same as this side of things. The guards were dressed in the green livery of Greenoak, their emerald cloaks hanging about their shoulders. Sadye
Her decision, as usual, was not to be made easy for her. A quick scan showed here that they hadn't seen her. She could try to hide, see if her pursuer would give up the hunt and then try and get to Daelon to get her answers. Or she could take the direct approach. She could continue on up and run to the guards, potentially putting herself right in her enemy's grasp. However if she took that risk, it was possible her disguise might still prove useful, and the news of a fire brewing in the wing down the hall might be enough to forestall any questions. One thing worried her, though. These men seemed to be wearing the same armor as the one who had demanded she lower her hood. Could she trust them? That answer seemed obvious - she couldn't trust anyone - but she had to trust someone in this power-forsaken land when it seemed enemies were on all sides.
Of course, there was one thing she was fairly sure of. What she wanted was past those guards. She doubted that even in her robes she would be able to just run right past them, but maybe, just maybe if she called an alarm, announced her presence and shouted about the fire she would throw them off their guard enough that either she could slip by or they would go to see what the problem was. She had to try.
She had paused only briefly to think it through and so quickly she started into a run again towards the guards and raised her voice, choosing her words carefully and feigning being winded from the climb, though in truth it wasn't perhaps as much of a bluff as she would've liked after hustling up those stairs."Help...we need help! Fire...in the lower ward...need to tell...Lord Daelon...hurry please!" As she closed in, she slowed so as to not put them on their guard by seeming that she would go right past them, and doubled over with her hands on her knees as if to catch her breath. It was a struggle to keep her wings and tail still, but she managed to do it as she watched the guards' reactions out of the corner of her eye.
If unhindered, she pauses only a moment before straightening as if to regain her priestly composure like she imagined an acolyte might before continuing in a hurried voice of urgency. "Please, I must see Lord Daelon, they need help quickly!" Kimaya
Hayson reached the landing just as Sadye set herself in front of the guards and began telling her tale - the guards were standing to either side of the doors leading into Lord Daelon's chambers. The man on the closer side of the entryway noticed Sadye as she approached. He frowned looking worried, but other than that showed no alarm. When she stopped in front of them the two guards glanced at each other, the one on the left shrugging, and the one who had seen Sadye approach looked back to her with a furrowed brow, slightly raised in question.
Gaining the landing, Hayson immediately slowed his pace when in case the wrong guards should be on duty. Glancing down the hall, hoping, he noted the guards on duty - On the far side, Felborne, good... His eyes shifted to the other guard on duty and he grimaced with bitten off curse. Dammit. He should have expected it with the new orders Blakely had given to ensure that each pair of guards comprised of at least one of their number. Hayson continued his slightly slower approach hoping it looked less a desperate charge and more like a purposeful gait. He knew he would have to play the part now, but that didn't mean he couldn't turn things around if he was careful. Now though, he needed to act before anything more could happen, and so he did the only thing he could do: he raised a hand and gave a shout: "Hey! Felborne, Derringsdale! Hold there, we have a problem." He quickened his pace to a jog, hoping that the vagueness would make Derringdale hesitate and at the same time alert Felborne to the true nature of their visitor.
Sadye had just finished her story when Hayson gave his shout. Both of the guards turned from their visitor to his voice. The man on the right, Derringsdale, a broad shouldered, tall and burly fellow, thick bearded, large nosed, and very serious looking, gave a disapproving frown at the sight of Hayson. Dismissively, he returned his gaze to the acolyte before him.
"You need to see the Lord Daelon, holy one?" He hesitated seeming nervous to be speaking to one of the divine in such an informal way.
Felborne, the guard on the far left, cut his eyes to Hayson and then back to Sadye. She would have noticed the look of understanding that came into his eyes a few moments after Hayson gave his warning. His eyes narrowed as he regarded her, and he gave a quick glance to the other guard on duty, as though sizing him up. Looking away again, it took only a second to make his decision, and he spoke up, "Lord Daelon said he was not to be disturbed by anyone save the Lady Erinia - who should be back any moment I might point out to ya." He gave a challenging look to other guard, some bone of contention between them, a hint of a past argument or disagreement perhaps was there.
"Well, I'm sure he didn't know that one of the priesthood would be --"
"She's just an acolyte, mate. Maybe we should see what Hayson has to say, he is a lieutenant after all. Maybe its not so important that Lord Daelon need be disturbed, yea? I mean, we can take care of the fire ourselves. You could go ask him I suppose..." he suggested with a dark smile at Sadye before flicking his gaze back to Hayson who was closing, his weapons put away and the feral look on his face replaced by one more reasonable appearing.
At those words, Derringsdale frowned again, and muttered, "Not of my squad he isn't." And then more loudly, "I don't think its our place to say where the divine can and can't go, and I'm not sure what this is about, anyway, but whether or not the Lord Daelon needs to know about some bloo -- er, fire - well its not my place to question either, is it?" He turned to the doors, reaching for the one he was in front of.
While his back was turned Sadye caught a clear glimpse of Hayson making a gesture with a furious look on his face to the other guard, Felborne. But Felborne gave him a look in return that seemed to say, Are you crazy, mate? and then he shrugged, shaking his head slowly with put on amazement - a small smile played upon his lips. "Hey, maybe one of us should actually go and do something about the fire at least, yea? Hey, I think that'll be me..." Felborne shoved himself off of the wall and moved past Sadye with a chuckle, and a leering grin should she move away from him as he went past.
Hayson, realizing things were quickly sliding out of control, gave another muttered curse, and shouted, "Derringsdale, I gave you an order. Hold" He was almost on top of them now, but it was going to be too late, he could see that much. He cursed Felborne, that coward. But then what should he have expected from a man who had once been little more than a well connected, but vicious, pimp in the streets of Haleshore. The man saw opportunity and took it. He would probably be more than happy to take Hayson's place should things go that way. Well, he'd be sure to thank him -- later.
"Hold... bah! Why should I take orders from that... from him?" Derringsdale growled under his breath, but he hesitated, his hand upon the door's large ornate handle.
Sadye
It was an effort not to cringe as Hayson called out from behind her, but Sadye held herself in check with the effort...and still almost lost it anyways from sheer surprise. Why was he not sounding the alarm to these guards? She was right within their reach. All he had to do was tell them and he would have her outnumbered three to one, bad odds for any basher. Her mind worked furiously. The more she saw, the more the evidence pointed towards one obvious conclusion. There must be a schism in the ranks of the guards.
Now how do I use this to my advantage, she thought to herself.
Once she knew which guards were with Hayson and which weren't, it would be much easier, but right now...wait. She caught the dark grin from the one he'd called Felbourne, but the other one - Derringsdale was it? - seemed to have some beef with these other guards. Her decision was easily made. She wanted Derringsdale on her side. As he asked about her seeing Lord Daelon, she opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by the second guard. She grimaced inwardly. He was going to try and stop her...but it did seem that he was trying to do so subtly. If that was the case then hopefully she had a much better grasp on subtlety than a keep guard, but for now she waited patiently as the men discussed, though with an edge of anxiety as she periodically glanced back towards where the fire had been as if to stress the importance of time.
Finally the other guard left with his leering grin. Sadye wanted to shove her dagger through his bloody heart at that, but she held the feeling in check. Finally once he was gone, she looked back to Derringsdale and spoke placing careful emphasis on her words and telling her tale slowly in order to keep from reverting to Cant - she remembered now why she hated Common so. She hoped that if she mixed just a touch of truth into her tale, it would make it that much harder for Hayson to refute. "Please, it's very important that he know. There was a fire in one of the rooms his men were guarding. One of the guards was going to lead me up here to inform him at once, but we were stopped by this guard here," she said with a quick motion to indicate Hayson. "I had stopped to request permission to pass, but the room went suddenly dark," she continued, carefully trying to allow just a touch of fear to enter her voice as if it had surprised her as well. "I wasn't sure what was going on, but I heard one of the guards that'd been guarding that room give a panicked yell behind me, so I took off at a run. I managed to escape the darkness and made my way up here. This young man must've thought I was trying to escape him, but I simply knew that I had t' find someone else to help put out tha' fire before it got out of control, and the only thing I could think t' do was t' find Lord Daelon." She had sped up urgently at the end and felt her accent creeping back in, so she paused to take a breath before continuing. "Please, there's no time!" she finished with a quiet urgency.
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2007 1:29 am
Kimaya Derringsdale frowned at the mention of Hayson stopping an acolyte of the divine, and continued to look even more alarmed as the tale unfolded. He was still facing the door, but he looked over his shoulder at Sadye as she spoke, "He chased you?..." He interjected but then grew silent as she finished what she had to say, he peered at her intently for a moment, especially at the lapse of her accent, but said nothing and then turned back to the door, hand hovering for a moment.
During that moment, the smirking Felborne and Hayson were passing each other, and as they did so Hayson snaked a hand out and clamped it upon the other man's arm, drawing him close and locking him shoulder to shoulder. Hayson moved closer so that they were eye to eye, noses nearly touching and he held the man's gaze for a second Hayson before releasing him with a shove. Felborne tried to grin it off, but a flicker of fear showed in his eyes and he fingered the hilt of his sword as if to assure himself it was there, backing away slowly before turning around and heading quickly for the stairwell.
The entire exchange took no more than a moment, but at the end of it Derringsdale had made his decision. Muttering under his breath again, "Not taking orders from the likes of him, this is my post and its my say... and I'm not questioning God's province no matter who's telling me to. Specially not that flith." He glowered, but then yanked open the door, with a smile in Hayson's direction.
"Right you are, lieutenant, about the order. But, see here - she gave me an order as well, and I think I'll let you be the one to explain to Lord Daelon why one of the Divine was refused entry to his meeting hall." Turning to Sadye, he motioned inside, "There you are, holy one. My apologies for however you were treated. Its not the... usual.. way we do things around here." He gave a disapproving look at Hayson who had stopped about three feet away.
Hayson tried to keep his expression impassive as he stood right next to his quarry and utterly powerless. The best thing he could do now would be to try to put a good face on this with Derringsdale and most likely Lord Daelon, but either way he knew he was in for a rough night when Blakely heard he had not kept the girl there. It was absolutely incredible how in such a short amount of time that he had ******** up this royally. He let his eyes slide to the 'healer' with a promise filled glare, his jaw locked and his face stony. Sadye
Sadye could've giggled with fiendish glee, and if it was an effort not to cringe before, it was a trial in patience to keep her expression schooled and solemn and not grin from ear to ear now. She allowed herself to silently gloat a bit inwardly, though, as she gave a slight dip of her head to the guard Derringsdale and murmured a hasty thank you. She thought to open her mouth and add something 'priestly' about not being too hard on the other guard, but she was afraid if she did she would have a hard time not speaking in Cant so she left it at that and moved to step inside. She was supposedly in a hurry anyways. Not to mention, she told herself, the berk deserved no such pleasantries. As best she could figure from the glare she had caught from the corner of her vision, he would be trouble again when he got the chance, so until he proved otherwise he would be an enemy and she would give him no quarter as such in this battle of words and protocol. Sadye had no doubt that battle would become full-fledged blood and swords if the basher were given half a chance, especially from the way he bullied the other guard around with a silent look and a rough shove.
Sadye, ye're playin' a dangerous game that little subconscious voice in the back of her head whispered, but she stoically ignored it. She was basking in the glow of her victory, however minor it might be, and thinking about how she would go about getting answers from Daelon. The fiend in her wanted to corner him and frighten him, bully him into telling her what she wanted to know. Her own wisdom cautioned her to be careful how she handled it, though. Things could still go badly , her conscience whispered, and true to her cautious nature she had to reluctantly agree. Daelon was on the seat of his power right now, an entire keep at his command, and she still couldn't be sure he hadn't given the order to lock her in. Still, it galled her that once again she was forced to jump through someone else's hoops and she nearly growled to herself.
Finally realizing she had let her own internal thoughts consume her, she did her best to push her emotions aside and stomp them down as she continued forward into the room. "Lord Daelon?" she called as tentatively as she could manage, though she felt a lump in the back of her throat that reeked of anger and irritation just waiting for the chance to boil over.Kimaya As Sadye stepped into the room she could hear the hard swallow from Hayson's direction, and caught a glimpse of his eyes narrowing and upper lip curling slightly with thinly disguised hatred despite his obvious attempt to control his outward emotions.
Inside Lord Daelon's chambers, Sadye could see she was in what appeared to be a guest or meeting room of some type - perhaps even a council chamber. A large table sat in the middle, oak - of course, and several chairs surrounded it, some of them pulled out as though recently used. A few drinks were placed upon the table surface almost seeming at random as though their owners had carried them about. Along the walls were tapestries and paintings as one might expect in a council room such as this, depicting war in its various forms and stages: a castle seige, the charge of a hundred cavalry from on top of a hill, the battlegrounds - the day after, prisoners being led into camp, single combat between generals; on and on they went, covering the walls.
There was a large entryway leading into an open room of some type, its interior not well lit, shadows containing its shape and decor. But at she called out, there was the sound of something crashing to the floor, perhaps a book, and a hurried step. It was only seconds before Lord Daelon stood in the large open entryway leading into the council room, his hand on his sword and a look of confused surprise on his face.
He did not speak, he merely cocked his head as an animal would at seeing something that did not quite make sense, peering at her - but only for a moment. Then he began slowly shaking his head and asked softly, but not without obvious alarm, "What are you doing here?" Sadye
Sadye stepped further in once Daelon appeared. There might not be anyone else in the room, or so it seemed, but she didn't want her voice to carry outside. At his question, though, her anger boiled over, and it was an effort to keep her voice to an irritated hiss instead of outright biting his bloody head off at the top of her lungs."What am I soddin' doing here?! I oughta be askin' you that!" she started, her steps unconsciously carrying her ever closer to Lord Daelon and her hand tightening around the dagger hidden in her sleeve as her frustration boiled over. "'Give me a quarter of an hour', ya said...and then bloody well tried t' lock me inside th' soddin' room! D'ya think I'm addle-coved? Did'ya think I wouldn't smell a peel when it was right under my bleedin' nose? "Well no other poor sod'll have to worry about that now 'cause the bloody door's on fire! Yeah, that's part o' what I'm doin' here, berk, tellin' ya that 'cause yer minders down there are flailing to put out the fire. But for the rest of it? I want some soddin' answers...what the bloody hells is goin' on? An' don't try ta bob me with some bloody slaad-story either, berk. I want the real dark this time!" Kimaya Lord Daelon blinked a few times, and then his brow furrowed once more, deep - concerned and worried, but also puzzled a bit. He wasn't quite sure what all the words the ... girl... was using were, but he could tell they sounded upset.
Well, yes... he had not expected to be unable to get away for as long as he was, but she should have been... seen to...locked in?
He raised a hand to forestall her, he could see she was extremely upset, and possibly violent, and he did not want anyone to be hurt on account of his error in judgment, although that person would most likely be himself he surmised, he had no clear idea of the creature's strengths and weaknesses. "Wait... please, be calm. I understand I have failed in my promise to you, but are you saying you were... 'barred' in?" He peered at her intently hoping that he had heard wrong or perhaps there had been some misunderstanding with his guards.
But before she could answer his general's mind was already well down the path of making sense to what she had said. What had happened to them he wondered? If there was anyone else he trusted with his life it would have been those two... Something was wrong here. He had little time if what he was beginning to suspect was true. There was only one person he had asked to help him in this matter... someone he had known had a more broad mind when it came to this sort of thing, someone who had assured him that she would see that no harm came of his decision to help this creature. She was the one person he had been sure he could trust, the one person he had very nearly trusted with everything and although he still couldn't quite believe it, it seemed that trust might have been poorly placed. It seemed impossible! His mind went over a thousand actions of hers which declared her intent as true, but.... if he had been wrong, god help him, this would be the least of his problems.
"Please hurry, I am sorry to be so abrupt, but if you still want to live, we have little time..." He glanced at the door. She was already late and could be back at any minute. If what he suspected was true... he glanced back to Sadye, waiting. Jalil "Yer damn bloody well right I was barred in!" Sadye said, though the words were tinged more with confusion now. Why did he seem just as confused as she was, and moreso even...worried? Her ears drooped back in her hood. It was all so confusing! His guards at the door, but he didn't know she'd been barred in? There was that schism and tension between the guards she had seen out in the hall, but still she wasn't sure. Sadye considered herself a fairly good judge of people - you had to be to not get cheated at every turn in Sigil - and from the best she could tell he seemed sincere about not realising she'd been barred in. But if so, who had done it?
'If she still wanted to live!?' she thought to herself. What did THAT mean? She sensed there was something else he wasn't saying - that much was obvious - but what? And why? "What in the infinite Abyss is going on?" she finally asked in frustration. She was angry, she was confused, and there was a hint of that old cautious fear creeping back in too. What -had- she landed herself in the middle of?Kimaya Daelon paused at that answer, looking at Sadye regretfully, wondering if there was any hope in saving this mess. Unwittingly, she had probably helped him uncover a dangerous viper in his own bed, but at the same time she may have made a movement which would cause it to attack. If there was one thing he was sure of Lady Erinia, it was that she was not easy to fool. If her hand was behind this, then it would be a matter of time before she knew of Sadye's escape and where Sadye had run to, thus realizing that it was entirely probably that he, Lord Daelon, was aware of her treachery. What would she do then? But he knew the answer to that. He was a war general first, a lord second, but both parts of his personality came to the same conclusion. He would shortly be useless to her... whoever she was in truth.
He wondered a moment if it could be a mistake, some other explanation... it was possible. Although he found it hard to imagine that his old friends would have gone to the trouble to bar the door... it required actually finding something to bar it with since the bars were not left at the doors, especially the chambers in that northern wing, not often used. That meant someone else had done it, someone they felt had the authority too. Likely the captain himself, or one of his lieutenants. Meaning that the guard was compromised as well, which wasn't really surprising was it, considering Blakely himself had come with the Lady Erinia? As a gesture of their new friendship and mutual trust Daelon had taken the man on as his new captain, after the previous captain had deserted... or... failed to return for some other reason.
Among several other guards and other members of his household who had vanished one way or another. Daelon grimly recalled a few who had been friends, and how it had hurt him to find they had left without an explanation. He had thought some of them cowards, deserters, but in truth.... had there been some other reason after all? Erinia, who had so reminded him of his late wife, even having some of her peculiar ideas and habits.... had it been contrived? How? And for what? Who was she? And what did she find so interesting about this outsider... that she had gone to the trouble of trying to make sure she stayed?
Daelon returned his gaze to Sadye, knowing he was taking far too long to make a decision. Time was not on his side at the moment.
Outsider... demon. Was that it? Or was there something else... no, what else could it be?
Sykler, was this what you were warning me about? Why didn't I listen more to what you had to say? Why did you have to always speak in riddles as if everyone read all those old books you found so interesting? Pressing his lips together, thinking of the secrets his brother had kept, Lord Daelon realized he would likely never know what they were. But maybe he didn't have to know. Perhaps that wasn't his part to play in this. Danique is the one who needs the knowledge, and maybe the only one who will understand it... Making his decision finally, Lord Daelon strode purposefully away from Sadye, although he beckoned to her with a commanding signal of his hand, hoping to convey the urgency he felt.
"As I said, we do not have much time. I wish we did, but if you remain here much longer your presence and identity will be compromised, it may already be too late, and I am afraid I do not have the answers you seek - not yet, anyway. I can tell you that you are in grave danger inside these walls now and I am going to help you leave or hide as best as I can. First, there is one other matter we need to speak of though," he did not pause to see if she was following him into the adjacent room, "However you may see it, I consider your debt to me still unpaid, and I will be needing that service you hinted at earlier. There is indeed something you can do for me. I believe you are the only one who can do this, and perhaps, it may even be why you are here." Daelon walked to a corner of the room, which appeared to be a study. A desk was there, dark gleaming red oak, covered in documents and other desk objects - not untidy, but not quite organized either - and also a small red and gold box, the type which looked to store letters. It was for this object that Daelon reached. Sadye
Sadye studied him carefully as he stood there for a few long moments, as if trying to hear what he was thinking. It was a talent that some of her more powerful tanar'ri ancestors possessed and used rather frighteningly, but not one that she had picked up in her bloodline. Her ability to read people was sometimes just as good, though it only gave her vague impressions instead of solid answers to what someone was thinking. She could tell Lord Daelon was working over something furiously in his mind, but what? She thought about the situation for a moment. It reeked of betrayal somehow, somewhere. Any canny basher would be fingering his brain-box to try and figure out who it was before they put a chiv in his back. Those looks of concern...maybe disbelief? And there a hint of sadness crept into his eyes, well hidden behind his implacable ruler's mask, but it was there, just barely. All betrayal hurt, but this one, it was worse...closer to home somehow.
"You know who turned stag, don'tya..." Sadye said as he turned and beckoned her urgently. It was a statement, not a question. She knew in her gut he knew, even if he wouldn't admit it, and if there was one thing Sadye would trust, it was her gut. Still, she hoped that if he knew she'd reached the same conclusion he might not be so tight-lipped. If she wanted to survive then she needed to have -some- idea of where her enemies were. Fight blind and you might win if you were lucky, but you'd be a lot worse for the wear when your next enemy found you. If she knew her enemy though, she might have a chance of striking first and not being caught off her guard.
She followed him into the little room and listened, a touch curious now. She cringed a little when he said he still considered her in debt to him, and if one could've seen under the hood they would've seen her lips draw into a brief semblance of a pout as she briefly regretted having indebted herself to him by relying on him to keep her secret. He was right, though, even though it galled her a bit, so with an inward sigh and a lesson tucked away for next time, she let it go and focused on the task at hand. It might be why she was here?
Now she was definitely interested...Kimaya Daelon reached...and hesitated. "I know nothing for certain," he said wanting it to end there, but knowing it could not if he expected her to succeed. He owed her answers if she was to survive, and he recognized the request for as such, but.... her laughter, her charm, so much like... How? How had she done it? He wanted to know.. for he felt for sure now that she had tricked him somehow guessing at the things which would make him trust her. Had she read his mind? Used some other power upon him? Was she more than human? His mind returned to memories of her explanations and a million more questions came tumbling from that direction before he could slam the mental door shut on them. He had no time for this. He might die here this very evening, and this last bit of knowledge Skyler had entrusted to him would die with him.
Sighing, Daelon looked upward for a moment to the ceiling and then gravely back to Sadye. "Yes, I know who." He said simply, and picked up the box, feeling the irony of the situation he was in - now forced to trust another unknown because he had already badly misplaced his trust in someone else. "Trust no one who is of Greenoak; the knights, the guards, the servants, the stable hands - even the cooks, any of them could be compromised. And above all, do not trust the words or promises of the Lady Erinia of Baelrien, if there even is such a place, or indeed if that even is her true name."
He handed Sadye the letter box, which was what it was. It was also special... it could not be opened by normal means or ordinary magic. Skyler had not told him how it could be opened, only that it was for Danique... If something should happen to me, brother... when the time is right... when there is no other way... and only then....
Was that time now? Daelon realized he had no idea. Damn that idiot kid brother of his. Somehow he had found a way to make everything his fault as usual, all the way from the realm of death. A small sad smile appeared on Daelon's face again, and then he looked into Sadye's yellow gold eyes, the box between them.
"My niece - she needs this. I do not know when she will wake. You must make sure she gets it and that she knows who her enemies are. Tell her that it is a gift from her father, along with the message that he loves her... and that she will find the way that will open this box and earn her birthright." He paused and then took another breath. "That is all I can ask of you as a part of your debt... however, I must put my pride aside and ask you as a stranger at your mercy, for your help."
"If something should happen to me... (if something should happen to me, brother...) before this traitor is taken care of, please see my niece, Danique, safely out of here if you can. Find a way." He felt like what he was just then, an old man, and very tired.
"Please."
He let go of the box... Sadye
There was almost a visible look of relief on Sadye's face as he gave her a name. She could tell it was hard for him, but she was glad he realised the importance of knowing your enemies. Still, the guards -and- this Lady Erinia? And not just the guards for that matter, but all of Greenoak? Who did that leave to trust? Maybe some of the outsiders like herself if any others were in the keep. But even then she would have to be extra cautious. There was no telling who would be on her side, who would be against her, and who would just try and box her just because she was what she was.
Sadye took the box tentatively as he began to explain. She was curious, so curious as to what was inside, but she couldn't see a way to open it right away. She would have to check it out later. For now, she gave a nod as he explained that she was to deliver it to his niece. It -seemed- like a simple task, but things were yet to be what they seemed here she noted to herself.
And then came the second request. It was like being knocked between the eyes for a brief moment as she tried to understand. He was asking her for mercy?! She flashed back to not barely an hour or two past when she had been the one asking him for mercy and to not strike her down. Now here he was, the tables turned, and yet what stunned Sadye wasn't so much the twist of fate that had put the blade back in her hands, but the fact that Sadye Ayende, a tanar'ling infamously known in the City of Doors for not giving anything away for free, was on the verge of assenting to his plea for help
'Have I gone barmy?!' she thought silently, her mind trying to process this sudden sense of selflessness that had come over her. She had everything to lose and only the possibility of escape with her very life to gain - something that she had a much better chance of accomplishing by just taking the box, making her escape, and not looking back, and you can believe the thought had crossed mind when she realised that the entirety of the keep might be against her.
But there was something about Daelon. She had gone from fearing him to hating him to...was she really sympathizing with him? That was what had crossed her mind, but sympathy was such a foreign concept in her world of underhanded dealings and even well timed backstabbing when it was called for. Sure she put on a good front as a guide and in general, but that was necessary. No prime, no matter how clueless they were, would trust a guide that was looking to lead them into the next peel around the corner, and besides there was some measure of protection in being seen as an honest tout in the bazaar. It made it that much easier to stay under the radar when she did have to peel some berk because no one expected or believed it of her, or at least the less canny bodies in the bazaar wouldn't. It was a razor thin edge she'd always walked between the multiverse's morals of what was good and what wasn't, and most certainly why she was so careful and cautious as she was. Walking that razor thin edge made it easier to be pushed off to one side. Get too soft and you would trust the wrong basher and end up fiend-food or worse, but hardening your heart too much and trusting no one was just as bad because you would either become paranoid of every berk that looked at you cross-eyed or else become too confident and have some wiser cutter take your legs out from under you.
A razor thin edge indeed, and she had walked it for so long. So why now was she teetering and unsure of her next step? What was it about this man that made her trust him so? Made her want to help him? Maybe she just felt like she owed him more for sparing her life, but for all she knew this could be another trick!
And then it hit her...she had to force away and viciously stomp down the first and most dominant line of thought that flooded through her mind and threatened to overwhelm her with emotions she didn't need right now. She needed to stay focused, she was letting her mind lean towards that dangerous paranoia of wondering what games and tricks the shadows were about to play when they were simply shadows. If she felt sympathy for this man and his plight, she resolved to herself, it was because he had earned it from her; and it was true that Daelon had earned a measure of her respect for how he had handled this situation. He knew little about her and had shown no reason that Sadye shouldn't trust him, plus he had taken the first and most important step - trusting her. If he could trust a demonkin when he obviously feared fiends (and Sadye couldn't fault him there), then why shouldn't Sadye respect him and be willing to help? Had he not earned at least that?
The heaviness of the box being in her hands alone jolted her back from her internal monologue. She still didn't quite understand it all, but she had made her own decision."I can't say I'll promise you, cutter. Were I a zu'ling it might be enough, but tanar'lings...we don't get taken at our word for good reason. However," she started with emphasis to forestall any disappointments, and hoped he would understand what she was trying to say by that once she finished. She slid the box away into a pocket under her robe where it likely should not have normally fit, but it did, and drew out her dagger. Most humans found this sort of thing distasteful, but it was the only way she knew to go about this. Normally the cut would've been made across her palm, but instead she drew the tip of the blade across her finger until the ichor of her ancestry welled to the top of the small wound. The blood of fiends was renowned for being magical, and even though Sadye was part mortal, her blood retained a touch of that magic in it. "By my blood I'll do everything I can to see her safe, cutter, or may I never step foot on Sigil again." Even as she spoke the words, there was a very faint almost unnoticeable ambiance around the wound and the drop of ichor vanished from her fingertip, the flesh wound closed. It was a minor binding, Sadye knew it and intended it to be that way, but it would hold her to her word even if Daelon wouldn't understand that. Again she wondered what in the world possessed her to do it, but she knew that for her it was the right thing to do. He had given her a chance and armed her with the knowledge that would likely prove crucial to her survival in this world. This wasn't too much for her to do in return, and besides. She would have to find the girl to deliver the box anyways, she reasoned. How much harder could it be to see her to safety?
She quickly tucked the dagger back into its hiding spot and looked back at him. "There's just one more problem in this rig, cutter. Where should I go from here? I can try t' stay low, hang around here and use these robes for cover, but I think it's obvious that this 'guise ain't gonna fool everyone now. Any ideas?" she asked hoping he might have an idea on how to stay unnoticed for the moment. She wanted to ask what he would do as well, but from the grim way he talked well...maybe there were some questions that didn't need answers and some darks that should stay just that.Kimaya Lord Daelon solemnly watched the ritual Sadye performed understanding that it was a serious oath she meant to keep, but not realizing the magical nature of it. When it was done he gave a short bow at the neck to her respectfully, confident that he was doing the right thing this time. There was no one else that could do this but her, he felt sure of it.
At the question of what to do next, he beckoned her to follow again. "You will not be able to leave through the keep. Erinia is on her way back here right now, indeed she should have been here already, and I am sure there will be others who might be interested in... detaining you should they come upon you within these walls." He spoke grimly and then stopped next to a large alcohol cabinet. "You will have to crawl a ways, I am afraid. But if you remain on the right side always, you will make it outside of the keep." He pulled open the lower half of the cabinet and crouched, leaning back on his heels as his hands reached inside quickly moving aside a whole section of bottles, pulling it out and placing it to the side. "I will detain Erinia... for as long as I can, but if she is not already aware that you are gone, I am sure she will be as soon as she leaves my chambers. I will try to keep her until morning. It should be enough time for you to get out, and find your way south to the ranger's camp. They are quiet, keep to themselves - not really men of the village, nor truly worldly, and have seen things within the wood that others would say are fables."
Daelon looked up at her hoping he wasn't leading her to more trouble and that he was right about the rest of it. He couldn't let her get too far away if she was going to be able to get back into the keep and help his niece. Tomorrow might bring battle, and if not tomorrow then certainly the next day. Felfalas would raise its banners against allies for the second time within a span of a mere twenty years. The son carried the traits of the father, unfortunately. Fortunately though, he was also young and arrogant - and green. He reached into his tabard and pulled out a small velvet money pouch, handing it to her before continuing, "More importantly they are not in the employ of Greenoak, and their rank has remained the same as ever. Wearing those robes, it should be safer to trust them with more than you could the townsfolk. Their leader is a man named Reald. Ask to speak to him first - and alone. When you are alone you should say that it is time for him to repay his debt for Ghosttree. He will understand."
Daelon held Sadye's eyes, looking for her agreement, hoping at least to look as confident as he sounded about the entire affair. One thing he was confident in though, was Sadye's ability to get out of trouble should things not go well. "Is there anything you need of me before you go? Ask, and if it is within my power I will see that you get it." He waited, wondering how long it would be before the knock came at the door. Not much longer... Jalil
Sadye listened and nodded even as she prepared. She was suddenly glad she had taken the extra steps of preparation back in her room, though she hadn't known she would use it this way. She took the strips of cloth she had tucked into the healer's sash earlier and shimmied the robe up to her waist where she used the strips to bind the front up out of the way of her knees. It would give her the maneuverability she would desperately need, and it would leave her sword hilt free of the garment so she could draw the blade from its sheathe should she need it. Plus, it would keep the garment from getting too dirty she hoped. The dagger was secured back in its sheathe as well, and then the sword hilt was carefully positioned and lightly bound to where it rested against the small of her back, her tail snaking up beneath the back of the robe to help hold it in place out of the way to where it wouldn't drag against the stone, but to where the handle could be easily thrust into her grasp with a flick of the prehensile appendage.
It was a such a different use than she had originally thought, the strips of cloth having been intended to bind and gag any guards she had to subdue and the slits in the robe meant to allow her freedom of movement in the otherwise restrictive garment, but each would certainly work for its new purpose as well.
The pouch he offered was carefully slid inside her own money pouch which had been designed from a heavier cloth to cut down on the jingling noise of the coins inside. She wanted as much stealth as she could possible muster as she stole away from the keep. On the other hand, too, knowing of this secret way inside should make it easier for her to get back in unnoticed should it come to that. At least she hoped as much.
Once she felt prepared, she looked back up into his eyes. "Stay right until I'm out, find these rangers of yours wasteward from here an' speak to their leader Reald alone, then tell him it's time t' repay his debt for Ghosttree...that sound about right cutter? Sounds like a walk in the sixes after the last half a turn!" she said lightheartedly and gave a joking smirk. "As fer the other, there ain't no time for anythin' I might need right now, she said, sensing the need for speed at the moment, "but when this is all over? I'll definitely be takin' ya up on that. "'Til then, you jus' worry 'bout not lettin' this knight-o'-th'-post jinkskirt Erinia stick a chiv in yer back," she said, her voice conveying all the hatred and disgust she felt about this turncoat of a Lady, and then briefly held her hand out to him in that age old prime form of greetings and farewells, a handshake. Whether he takes it or not, she bids him a quick and serious, "Spire's ward, cutter," after a moment, an old Sigilian farewell and wish of good luck all wrapped into one, then made all haste into the tunnel before her, crouching to crawl through the tiny space and making sure to stay right as she stole away from the keep as silently as she could manage.
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