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 Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 3:58 pm
The waitstaff of the inn was becoming very familiar with her, seeing as she had hardly left the place since escaping her captors only a few days ago. First, she had played on stage with a gypsy, then she had flirted answers out of a pair of brothers about what was going on in Sunderland. Now, she was back, waiting for Rajani to begin her set. Though Soibhan had been in her corner table for over an hour, the gypsy had still not arrived, but than again, she didn't really know when the woman usually started her evening shows.
Ollie and Rob--well, mostly Ollie-- had been a small trickle of information where Rajani had been a fount, but he had given her answers non-the-less, and some ale to boot. She had been pondering all the information she had so far compiled for the last two days and came to the conclusion that she needed to go to Oldcastle. She wasn't afraid of traveling the road, but for some reason, she felt compelled to ask Rajani if the woman would be willing to accompany her, or if she knew anyone else in Northport that would.
The crowd began to murmur and Soibhan looked up, catching sight of Rajani slipping in from the kitchens. Pushing back from her chair, Soibhan made her way to the stage, violin case in hand.
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 5:40 pm
The gypsy took the stage and noted with some amusement that the Gaelic woman was there, at last. She nodded slightly and sent Hawthorn from her shoulder to a perch elsewhere in the room so he could help keep an eye on things. Oberon, of course, remained outside with a large helping of greens and other treats to keep him content.
When they were done with their performance, they would have their little chat. For now, they would make music to put the classicists to shame. Deciding that there was no point in wasting any time, the gypsy started things off with something lively and cheerful. Something that was a little wild and a lot of fun. Music to dance to.
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 8:54 pm
This time, they transitioned through the songs much more smoothly and soon had the entire place on its feet. Though she was exhausted, Soibhan felt her energy returning as they played, buoyed up by the love of the crowd. Rajani would be making quite a bit of coin tonight, it would seem.
They played a dozen songs and Soibhan's fingers tingled pleasantly by the time they'd finished the last piece. Bowing to the roaring crowd, she flourished her bow before grabbing a cleaning cloth from her case to wipe down her precious instrument.
"We make a good duo," she said with a laugh, turning to smile at the singer as the bar patrons started to settle down or leave.
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 11:27 pm
Having quickly gathered and sorted the coin - and her commission - the gypsy returned to the Gaelic woman and tossed a heavy bag in her violin case. "Your half of the earnings," she clarified. Rajani may have spent part of her life as a thief, but she was no swindler. Siobhan had earned her coin and she needed it more than the gypsy did, anyway.
The truth of it might never pass her lips, but she could at least admit to herself that they did, indeed, make a good pair. At least as far as music was concerned. As far as anything else was concerned, well, if fate willed it, then they would find out. Elsewise, it would not matter.
"Come on, then," she said. "Let's have that little chat I promised you."
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Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:09 pm
Soibhan grinned as she hefted the bag, inclining her head in thanks to the singer. They left the same way they had last time, out of the kitchens. This time, a cook handed her a mug of ale and gave her a cheerful wink as she took a loaf of hearty, warm nut bread from a waiting basket.
"Have ya sang in many towns?" she asked the gypsy as they slipped out the door. Though she didn't see him at first, Soibhan knew Oberon was close, though she wasn't quite sure how. The Guardian did have a very commanding presence, so maybe that was it. She'd gotten the same feeling from the little totem Ollie had showed her, though on a far lesser degree.
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Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 2:48 pm
The Guardian in question met them at the end of the alley and led the way back to the house. Rajani snorted softly. "You could say that." The list of villages in Sunderland that she had not visited was likely considerably shorter than the list of villages and towns that she had. Especially of late. Bloody wolves.
"You finding your feet?" It was more of a polite inquiry than a question posed out of any real concern. The gypsy very much doubted that Soibhan had experienced any trouble making her way in Northport. She felt like a survivor.
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Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 4:01 pm
"Trying to. Don't want to plant roots though, so I've been keeping on my toes." She did, however, plant herself back into the sinfully comfortable wing chair she'd occupied last time, kicking off her boots before tucking her feet under her. The clothing she wore had become decidedly ratty since being captured, she finally noticed. Getting something new would be on her list of things to do now that she had some coin.
"I've got a mind to visit this Oldcastle, though I guess that means I'll have to go through Palisade to get there. Would you care to come with me?" she asked, getting right to the point. Rajani seemed like a true loner, which Soibhan could empathize with, but at the same time, the gypsy was also her largest fount of information.
And, she kinda liked the singer.
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 11:47 am
It certainly came as a surprise to the gypsy to be invited along on Soibhan's little winter trek across the country. She could not remember the last time anyone had wanted to travel with her...in fact, she was not entirely certain that it had ever happened before.
After recovering from the shock of the novel event, she took a moment to consider her options. Remaining in the north would do little good, as there was little else she could learn. It would be to her advantage to return to Palisade and report her findings to her employer. Some things were better said in person than left to rook-carried mail. All things considered, the only real question was whether she was interested in having a companion on her trip.
"May as well," she agreed at last. As far as traveling partners went, she supposed that she could do worse than the Gaelic woman.
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 2:26 pm
Soibhan beamed. "Good!" she said with a nod. "Now, what have you learned? Is there someone we can go to that is willing to help train the Guardians and their Chosen for battle against the wolves?"
She thought about Ollie and wondered if he would be interested in such a thing if she were to ask. Granted, he merely had a totem, but totems had to turn into Guardians eventually, didn't they?
Going to Palisade and Oldcastle would have the added benefit of no doubt seeing many more Guardians. Oldcastle especially, since she had finally seen a map of where the Wardwood was in relevance to it.
Which reminded her of something else she would need before leaving Northport.
"I also need to purchase some things," she added, more as a verbal reminder to herself.
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Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2013 6:12 pm
Rajani cocked an eyebrow at the other woman's demanding question. Awfully pushy, she was. As though the gypsy had nothing better to do than dig into piles of information for her sake. Still, she was not going to make an issue of it. Not just then, at any rate. As far as she could tell, the Gaelic woman was not being deliberately bossy, just overly eager.
"I know who we can talk to," she said. "A man named Macaire. Lives in Palisade. He trained my boy and me. Doubtless, he'll be of some help to us."
As whatever purchases that Soibhan had to make had little bearing on Rajani, she did not bother to comment upon them.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 4:28 pm
"Well, that's a start than. And the sooner we start, the better, I think. I've heard some of the stories about those villages." Though warrior born, she shuddered at the thought of the unnecessary, brutal deaths. Too many people had died. Part of it seemed to be their own faults, however. That might have been an unfair way of thinking on her part, but if this land had experienced this before, why hadn't the people of Sunderland made sure the stories and legends got adequately passed down? From what Rajani had told her, the Guardians were all but forgotten, and were still only rumors in many places that hadn't seen them yet.
Soibhan's people had plenty of legends, ones passed down almost fanatically from generation to generation. If some of them ever came true, her people would be prepared.
At least, she hoped they would.
"Does this Palisade have a library? I can't imagine there aren't any written legends about the wolves and Guardians. Do you know any scholars that might be able to dig something up that might help us?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 5:57 pm
The gypsy had to laugh at that. "It's the capitol," she said. "Of course it has libraries." Not that Rajani had high hopes of learning anything previously undiscovered. In the past months, she had been anything but idle. In fact, she had been so immersed in the legends and histories and tales of Guardians and wolves that she honestly believed herself to be an authority on the subject, if anyone could be. Still, it never hurt to look again.
"I've a man in mind for that, as well," she said. Although she had transferred the favor owed to her by the noble in question to Macaire, she had little doubt that he would still see her. As far as nobles went - nay, as far as men went - young Alexei was a soft sort. Besides, being Chosen himself, he had a vested interest. "What do you hope to find?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:25 pm
"Anything. Anything that might have been missed, or can be interpreted differently. I realize you've no doubt done all the book searching you could, but having another set of eyes can sometimes make a world of difference."
Holding up her fingers, she began to tick things off on them.
"Venture to Palisade. Meet this Macaire. Visit the libraries. Round up some troops. Travel to Oldcastle. Visit the Wardwood," the last was added a little off-handedly. "Not what I imagined myself doing after getting free. But for some reason, I'm excited." She laughed. "Does that make me adventurous or insane?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:33 pm
"Insane," she replied instantly. As soon as the Gaelic woman had shown an interest in joining this hopeless cause, Rajani had known her to be mad, but she could hardly throw stones. After all, was she not still in Sunderland?
"There's not much point in bringing your noble troops to Oldcastle," she pointed out, even though Oldcastle was, indeed, the seat of power for the Wardens of old. "Most of the wolves are in the north. Or are you planning on leaving them in Palisade while you make your little trip to the Wood?" Oh, no. She had not missed that casual little mention of a romp in the Wood. "Any particular reason you want to go there? The casual seer of sights is unlikely to return unscathed." Or at all.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:40 pm
To be honest, she itched to see the tree both Rajani and Ollie had mentioned. She hadn't realized until seeing Oberon that she'd had that itch, albeit much smaller and easier to ignore, ever since crossing the border into Sunderland. As if something was calling to her.
But Rajani was right; she had to work out her battle plans a little more. And it wasn't yet time to visit the tree. "I'll wait to see what this Macaire says about the whole thing. If you trust his judgement, so will I. Doesn't mean I'll follow it, mind you. I'm insane after all."
Smiling serenely, she took a bit of jerky from the pouch on her belt and gnawed on it absently to quell her rumbling stomach. "If he says we have no chance, I'm deigned to believe him. But that doesn't mean I won't try a different tactic."
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