Fayane saw the woman's face change as soon as she laid eye on her and the battlemage behind her.
"I don't want trouble" The woman blurted, her eyes showing signs of panic. Part of Fayane wanted to soothe the poor older woman, but that wasn't in the job description. Swallowing her pity Fayane kept her exterior appearance cool.
"Then don't give us trouble. We're here to summon one Derin and one Saruna on the charges of harboring a criminal and the illegal use of magic. We are not here to arrest, but merely to escort you to his Honor, the Judges company where he will decide your innocence." Fayane said simply.
Fayane looked to the battlemage for confirmation of her safety, she watched as he closed his eyes and nodded. Fayane turned back to the terrified woman calmly before giving her a small, if not slightly comforting smile.
"May we come in?"
Happily Ever After
Re: Happily Ever After
She was defeated before she could truly do anything. She looked at the battlemage, and at the guard, and her face clamped down in repressed anger. Saruna opened the door wider, but did not bid them to come in. The intrusion was against her will; they'd know that. She wasn't going to make it any easier on them, not that they had the heart to care. She watched them move inward silently, and shut the door behind them. She didn't bother to bar it since anything scary or dangerous was trumped by their presence.
"Derin is not here." She said, stubbornly not mentioning where she was. "She does not tend to come home until late. Tea?"
She didn't wait for a response, since she wanted the soothing liquid for herself to shore herself up for what was to come. Her palms were clammy, her mind a frozen block. What to do, what to do. "You caught me as I was in the midst of baking. I hope you don't mind if I finish. I can scarce afford to waste good dough."
She went right to it, blending a weird mix of lax hospitality and a cold shoulder. She didn't want them here -- but they knew that. Only a few poor souls ever did want their intervention, and probably after the fact they regretted it. Saruna would not let it go easily, Changers no: she would fight them tooth and claw up until the end. She just wouldn't do it physically.
"Derin is not here." She said, stubbornly not mentioning where she was. "She does not tend to come home until late. Tea?"
She didn't wait for a response, since she wanted the soothing liquid for herself to shore herself up for what was to come. Her palms were clammy, her mind a frozen block. What to do, what to do. "You caught me as I was in the midst of baking. I hope you don't mind if I finish. I can scarce afford to waste good dough."
She went right to it, blending a weird mix of lax hospitality and a cold shoulder. She didn't want them here -- but they knew that. Only a few poor souls ever did want their intervention, and probably after the fact they regretted it. Saruna would not let it go easily, Changers no: she would fight them tooth and claw up until the end. She just wouldn't do it physically.
Last edited by Saruna on Wed Sep 15, 2010 5:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-
Derin Edala
- Citizen
- Posts: 340
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:12 am
- Name: Derin
- Race: Human
Re: Happily Ever After
Derin nodded. "Coming right up." At the door, she remembered that she was supposed to be friendly, and turned to shoot him a smile.
The stew was just cooked, in Derin's opinion -- many of her regulars would claim that it was raw, but that was just because they wouldn't eat anything that wasn't caramelised. Well, if this man wanted overcooked food then he shouldn't come in so damn early. She ladled him a bowl and poured him a large glass of mead, the price being higher than for beer.
There was little to do in the kitchen until business picked up, so she busied herself wiping down the tables and tidying the bar, a chore that the serving girls should have completed the previous night, and watched the man out of the corner of her eye. She was rarely in the front, so she wasn't sure how normal it was to have odd stranged pass through. Was this unusual? Should she be wary? He'd separated himself from his weapon -- was he a threat regardless? He certainly looked strong enough to overwhelm her even without fighting skill, and nobody without fighting skill carried weapons like that.
But then, she'd passed right through here on her first day as well, hadn't she?
"Where are you from, traveller?"
The stew was just cooked, in Derin's opinion -- many of her regulars would claim that it was raw, but that was just because they wouldn't eat anything that wasn't caramelised. Well, if this man wanted overcooked food then he shouldn't come in so damn early. She ladled him a bowl and poured him a large glass of mead, the price being higher than for beer.
There was little to do in the kitchen until business picked up, so she busied herself wiping down the tables and tidying the bar, a chore that the serving girls should have completed the previous night, and watched the man out of the corner of her eye. She was rarely in the front, so she wasn't sure how normal it was to have odd stranged pass through. Was this unusual? Should she be wary? He'd separated himself from his weapon -- was he a threat regardless? He certainly looked strong enough to overwhelm her even without fighting skill, and nobody without fighting skill carried weapons like that.
But then, she'd passed right through here on her first day as well, hadn't she?
"Where are you from, traveller?"
-
KoriStronghammer
- Citizen
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:27 am
- Name: Kori Stronghammer
- Race: HumanNorthernman
Re: Happily Ever After
Kori sat down next to the food and drink, and inhaled the smells deeply. Looking at the meat, he almost smiled. It was meat. Not hardened lumps of it, juicy looking meat. The people of this land always cooked their meat until it was hard and tough, and while Kori believed that was a fine culinary description for jerky, stew was not something he wanted that kind of meat in. Looking in tankard, he smelt the fine scent of mead. Real mead at that.
He began digging in with gusto, he was very hungry. Kori was still aware of his surroundings though. The woman watched him, he could feel it. he knew what she was most likely thinking, something along the lines of, "Is he dangerous?". If only she truly knew, then she would have stayed behind the bar.
Pretty soon, he was scraping the bottom of the bowl. Pulling a rag from his pocket, he wiped down his fingers and beard. He loved stew and soups, but they always got in the beard somehow. Sitting back, he spotted the woman eying his weapons. Was she thinking of taking his hammer? Or wondering how fast he could to it, and if he would be fast enough.
Looking up at the woman, he kept his reply simple. "A cage in Norroenirlund." He didn't care if she knew how he had lived, past was past, he would never be able to change it. If she asked what he meant, he would tell her. If she did not, then he would not bring it up.
He began digging in with gusto, he was very hungry. Kori was still aware of his surroundings though. The woman watched him, he could feel it. he knew what she was most likely thinking, something along the lines of, "Is he dangerous?". If only she truly knew, then she would have stayed behind the bar.
Pretty soon, he was scraping the bottom of the bowl. Pulling a rag from his pocket, he wiped down his fingers and beard. He loved stew and soups, but they always got in the beard somehow. Sitting back, he spotted the woman eying his weapons. Was she thinking of taking his hammer? Or wondering how fast he could to it, and if he would be fast enough.
Looking up at the woman, he kept his reply simple. "A cage in Norroenirlund." He didn't care if she knew how he had lived, past was past, he would never be able to change it. If she asked what he meant, he would tell her. If she did not, then he would not bring it up.
Re: Happily Ever After
Fayane entered, knowing she wasn't welcome and feeling terrible because of it. When she had entered the guard she had assumed that the people felt a mixture of respect and fear... what she didn't expect was the outright hate for them.
"Derin is not here. She does not tend to come home until late. Tea?" Fayane nodded at the woman, it had been awhile since she had tea. It was entertaining to see the woman bustle about, even if she was giving Fayane the cold shoulder. Fayane turned to Melagone who seemed to be eying the place in slight disgust. Fayane gave the man a dirty look, who was he to judge how others lived?
"You caught me as I was in the midst of baking. I hope you don't mind if I finish. I can scarce afford to waste good dough." The woman said, her voice cold and nervous. Fayane raised her eyebrows.
"We don't mind at all Ms. Saruna." Fayane said easily, even as the mage snorted. Shooting Melagone another glare she kicked him lightly, not caring if the older man could kill her with a thought, she'd just have to kill him faster... though she'd get fired and thrown into jail for that... Fayane turned back to the older woman, watching her as she bustled around the quaint cottage.
"When you have finished baking you will take us to where Derin is. I'm afraid we don't have much time to waste." Fayane said easily. "I'd apologize for the inconvenience, however, I am assuming you've known that we would come some day." The last part was said quietly. Fayane felt a small twinge of regret to have to take such a woman to the judge... he'll probably sentence her and Derin without too much thought, as it was a spy's word against Saruna's own. No... Fayane thought sadly there is no competition...
"Derin is not here. She does not tend to come home until late. Tea?" Fayane nodded at the woman, it had been awhile since she had tea. It was entertaining to see the woman bustle about, even if she was giving Fayane the cold shoulder. Fayane turned to Melagone who seemed to be eying the place in slight disgust. Fayane gave the man a dirty look, who was he to judge how others lived?
"You caught me as I was in the midst of baking. I hope you don't mind if I finish. I can scarce afford to waste good dough." The woman said, her voice cold and nervous. Fayane raised her eyebrows.
"We don't mind at all Ms. Saruna." Fayane said easily, even as the mage snorted. Shooting Melagone another glare she kicked him lightly, not caring if the older man could kill her with a thought, she'd just have to kill him faster... though she'd get fired and thrown into jail for that... Fayane turned back to the older woman, watching her as she bustled around the quaint cottage.
"When you have finished baking you will take us to where Derin is. I'm afraid we don't have much time to waste." Fayane said easily. "I'd apologize for the inconvenience, however, I am assuming you've known that we would come some day." The last part was said quietly. Fayane felt a small twinge of regret to have to take such a woman to the judge... he'll probably sentence her and Derin without too much thought, as it was a spy's word against Saruna's own. No... Fayane thought sadly there is no competition...
Re: Happily Ever After
Saruna was feeling high in her oats. This was her last chance before they took her away, took Derin, took everything. Maybe she would discover what happened to her father. She was lightheaded, and her stomach felt fluttery, too empty, as though a single flake of bread might make her nauseous.
"I would appreciate your best manners while in my home." She said to Melagone, frost icing her words.
She had not been raised in Eyropa for nothing. As old as those lessons were, and dusty, she knew well how to act haughty. If only she didn't feel as though she would collapse from the effort! She had to maintain that posture, or waste it, and so she skipped right over Fayane's words and went for the throat.
"I may be old, and I may have lived in Shim for some time, but I did not always live here. I am not some backwards peasant to overlook such a lapse. Whatever may have brought you here, you are guests in my home. I will thank you to act as such."
Her back was straight. Sweat dripped down it, too wet and new to even make her blouse stick to her skin.
Derin, Derin, Derin, go away from here! Leave!
She turned back to her dough, and kneaded it. All of the nervous energy that swirled in her she put into the dough, using it as a means to mask the trembling in her hands.
"I would appreciate your best manners while in my home." She said to Melagone, frost icing her words.
She had not been raised in Eyropa for nothing. As old as those lessons were, and dusty, she knew well how to act haughty. If only she didn't feel as though she would collapse from the effort! She had to maintain that posture, or waste it, and so she skipped right over Fayane's words and went for the throat.
"I may be old, and I may have lived in Shim for some time, but I did not always live here. I am not some backwards peasant to overlook such a lapse. Whatever may have brought you here, you are guests in my home. I will thank you to act as such."
Her back was straight. Sweat dripped down it, too wet and new to even make her blouse stick to her skin.
Derin, Derin, Derin, go away from here! Leave!
She turned back to her dough, and kneaded it. All of the nervous energy that swirled in her she put into the dough, using it as a means to mask the trembling in her hands.
-
Derin Edala
- Citizen
- Posts: 340
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:12 am
- Name: Derin
- Race: Human
Re: Happily Ever After
Derin had always thought that small talk was a pointless waste of time, but it was considered polite, so she kept talking. And she was very experienced at small talk. "Really? I've never been there myself. What brings you to our little village?"
-
KoriStronghammer
- Citizen
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:27 am
- Name: Kori Stronghammer
- Race: HumanNorthernman
Re: Happily Ever After
Kori sat back in the chair and shrugged. "Needed to get out of the main city area. I am not cut out for those places." He reached forward and picked up his glass and drained the rest of it. Standing, he reached in his pocket. "How much do I owe you for the food and drink?"
Re: Happily Ever After
"Such insolence..." the mage growled, his eyes flashing dangerously. "This may be your house for now you ignorant cunt, but if you don't fucking show us where this Derin whore is I'll strip you of all your goods and burn this place to the ground do you hear me wench?" Melagone snarled, bearing down on the woman and grabbing her arm when she spun to defend herself.
Fayane clentched her jaw, wanting so bad to help the older woman, but knowing she wasn't able to as this was most likely the easiest way to gain access to Derin. Why did the woman have to give them trouble?
"He is not bluffing Ms. Saruna... co-operate with us and we will spare your property, continue to attempt to dissuade us from finding Derin and your possessions and home are forfeit... if this is not persuasion enough then your and Derins freedom are also forfeit... I will ask you one more time and no more avoiding the question Ms. Saruna... where is Derin."
Fayane clentched her jaw, wanting so bad to help the older woman, but knowing she wasn't able to as this was most likely the easiest way to gain access to Derin. Why did the woman have to give them trouble?
"He is not bluffing Ms. Saruna... co-operate with us and we will spare your property, continue to attempt to dissuade us from finding Derin and your possessions and home are forfeit... if this is not persuasion enough then your and Derins freedom are also forfeit... I will ask you one more time and no more avoiding the question Ms. Saruna... where is Derin."
Re: Happily Ever After
Adrenaline pushed her system harder, so her heart beat fiercely. No time to think, only of the verbal battles she'd fought in her youth, when she was fiery and hale. When her parents sparked rebellion, and she had run away with her illicit husband. Back before motherhood had stolen her heart, and wrung her out to dry. Now, then. Now, before she lost her nerve.
"It is strange. Your face shows your age, but you speak as might a child -- lashing out in anger." If she was to lose it all, then she would make him work for it. So long as Derin might remain unharmed, anything that happened to Saruna was fine.
"I have done nothing to you and yours but request you to be polite in my home. Are the representatives of Marn's government so uncouth and wild? I had no idea, this whole time, that the guardians of Marn's government were as small minded as the brats who catcall each other on the streets."
Changers protect, by Theogios shield let them be mindful only of me.
"I have asked you to let me bake my bread, and you acquiesced -- do you now renege on that word you gave me? Peace, children, I respect the time you spend with me, but unless your orders were to bring me immediately this small allowance will not be detrimental to you. I fail to see the harm I have committed."
Her teeth wanted to chatter, so she clenched them tight. Her knees wanted to tremble, so she leaned her weight into the dough she kneaded, using her free hand. She was so alive. She would not let the debt she owed to Derin go to waste. Especially not at a time like that.
"You are hurting me, sir."
"It is strange. Your face shows your age, but you speak as might a child -- lashing out in anger." If she was to lose it all, then she would make him work for it. So long as Derin might remain unharmed, anything that happened to Saruna was fine.
"I have done nothing to you and yours but request you to be polite in my home. Are the representatives of Marn's government so uncouth and wild? I had no idea, this whole time, that the guardians of Marn's government were as small minded as the brats who catcall each other on the streets."
Changers protect, by Theogios shield let them be mindful only of me.
"I have asked you to let me bake my bread, and you acquiesced -- do you now renege on that word you gave me? Peace, children, I respect the time you spend with me, but unless your orders were to bring me immediately this small allowance will not be detrimental to you. I fail to see the harm I have committed."
Her teeth wanted to chatter, so she clenched them tight. Her knees wanted to tremble, so she leaned her weight into the dough she kneaded, using her free hand. She was so alive. She would not let the debt she owed to Derin go to waste. Especially not at a time like that.
"You are hurting me, sir."
-
Derin Edala
- Citizen
- Posts: 340
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:12 am
- Name: Derin
- Race: Human
Re: Happily Ever After
"Two bishani," Derin replied. Once their transaction was complete, she stared at the man for several seconds, not entirely sure what she was meant to do next. Finally she added, uncertainly, "Would you like some more food or drink?"
-
KoriStronghammer
- Citizen
- Posts: 332
- Joined: Wed Jul 28, 2010 7:27 am
- Name: Kori Stronghammer
- Race: HumanNorthernman
Re: Happily Ever After
Kori smiled. She was nervous, and it was obvious she had a hard time with people, much like when he had first come to these lands. It hadn't got much better, but it was an ongoing process. Thinking, he spoke slowly as he thought out his response. "I'll take another glass of mead, if at all possible, and would like to drink it outside if that is also possible, to enjoy the early sunlight."
Re: Happily Ever After
"It is strange. Your face shows your age, but you speak as might a child -- lashing out in anger. I have done nothing to you and yours but request you to be polite in my home. Are the representatives of Marn's government so uncouth and wild? I had no idea, this whole time, that the guardians of Marn's government were as small minded as the brats who catcall each other on the streets."
Melagone snarled and his grip tightened on the older woman's wrist, his eyes darkening with blood lust. The snarl, apparently, was lost on Saruna as she continued to speak.
"I have asked you to let me bake my bread, and you acquiesced -- do you now renege on that word you gave me? Peace, children, I respect the time you spend with me, but unless your orders were to bring me immediately this small allowance will not be detrimental to you. I fail to see the harm I have committed." Again Melagone snarled and was about to raise his hand to this insolent woman when she looked at him cooly and said
"Sir you are hurting me." Melagone had had enough just as he raised his hand to strike Fayane's own hand stopped him, her normally cool blue eyes now a dangerous stormy grey.
"That is enough, Melagone. She has made valid points. Miss Saruna I apologize on behalf of myself and Melagone. He was raised in older times and does not fare well with women speaking their mind. We shall allow you peace to finish your bread." Fayane finished, giving Melagone a look that had him glaring at Fayane.
"You are below me you sniveling swine, you do not order me about!" Melagone roared, his own rage now directed at Fayane.
"Peace, you stupid idiot, you are here only to protect me, that is your superior's orders. Or do you wish to disobey her?" The mage halted and ground his teeth, his eyes flashing. Finally he released Saruna and stalked to a bare wall where upon he simply leaned against it, growling curses beneath his breath. Fayane turned to the older woman, still enraged at Melagone.
"Again I apologize for his rash behavior. It would be appreciated if you finish your chore quickly, Ms. Saruna, we have only so much patience." Fayane said, her voice unintentionally cool. With that she turned and too leaned against a wall, her eyes sharp on Melagone and Saruna. How did she get stuck with such a job? Important as it may be, she was dealing with two stone-headed bulls determined to win... win what though? Fayane wondered. It was becoming very clear, very fast that Saruna was determined to protect Derin. Well perhaps she could use this...
"Melagone, why don't you go to the inn, get yourself some mead and food." Melagone glared at Fayane.
"And if this woman has magics?" "I'm sure I can hold my own Melagone." "You lack skill enough - " "I have more than enough skill Melagone. Now go." Melagone growled and turned to leave.
Melagone snarled and his grip tightened on the older woman's wrist, his eyes darkening with blood lust. The snarl, apparently, was lost on Saruna as she continued to speak.
"I have asked you to let me bake my bread, and you acquiesced -- do you now renege on that word you gave me? Peace, children, I respect the time you spend with me, but unless your orders were to bring me immediately this small allowance will not be detrimental to you. I fail to see the harm I have committed." Again Melagone snarled and was about to raise his hand to this insolent woman when she looked at him cooly and said
"Sir you are hurting me." Melagone had had enough just as he raised his hand to strike Fayane's own hand stopped him, her normally cool blue eyes now a dangerous stormy grey.
"That is enough, Melagone. She has made valid points. Miss Saruna I apologize on behalf of myself and Melagone. He was raised in older times and does not fare well with women speaking their mind. We shall allow you peace to finish your bread." Fayane finished, giving Melagone a look that had him glaring at Fayane.
"You are below me you sniveling swine, you do not order me about!" Melagone roared, his own rage now directed at Fayane.
"Peace, you stupid idiot, you are here only to protect me, that is your superior's orders. Or do you wish to disobey her?" The mage halted and ground his teeth, his eyes flashing. Finally he released Saruna and stalked to a bare wall where upon he simply leaned against it, growling curses beneath his breath. Fayane turned to the older woman, still enraged at Melagone.
"Again I apologize for his rash behavior. It would be appreciated if you finish your chore quickly, Ms. Saruna, we have only so much patience." Fayane said, her voice unintentionally cool. With that she turned and too leaned against a wall, her eyes sharp on Melagone and Saruna. How did she get stuck with such a job? Important as it may be, she was dealing with two stone-headed bulls determined to win... win what though? Fayane wondered. It was becoming very clear, very fast that Saruna was determined to protect Derin. Well perhaps she could use this...
"Melagone, why don't you go to the inn, get yourself some mead and food." Melagone glared at Fayane.
"And if this woman has magics?" "I'm sure I can hold my own Melagone." "You lack skill enough - " "I have more than enough skill Melagone. Now go." Melagone growled and turned to leave.
Re: Happily Ever After
"No!" Saruna said as Melagone reached the door. Her brain was working on overtime. She barely had the presence of mind to fully digest the conflict between the two of them. "My wrist is aching too much to continue baking. I might as well take you to the inn. It is where Derin works, you see."
Melagone was intent upon causing her third degree frostbite, but she lifted her chin and reached the door first. "Come along, then." She said. If only she could just incite Melagone into doing something regrettable, maybe, maybe. . .
She walked at a stately gait, not looking at the guard or the battlemage. How could she get them out of it? What help could she enlist to aid them? The question was so absorbing that the walk to the inn seemed to barely take any time at all. As she reached for the door, determined to be the first one inside, she was surprised and startled to see it opening outward, from the other side. She stepped back quickly to get out of its way, and out of the way of whomever was coming out.
Melagone was intent upon causing her third degree frostbite, but she lifted her chin and reached the door first. "Come along, then." She said. If only she could just incite Melagone into doing something regrettable, maybe, maybe. . .
She walked at a stately gait, not looking at the guard or the battlemage. How could she get them out of it? What help could she enlist to aid them? The question was so absorbing that the walk to the inn seemed to barely take any time at all. As she reached for the door, determined to be the first one inside, she was surprised and startled to see it opening outward, from the other side. She stepped back quickly to get out of its way, and out of the way of whomever was coming out.
-
Derin Edala
- Citizen
- Posts: 340
- Joined: Thu Feb 26, 2009 6:12 am
- Name: Derin
- Race: Human
Re: Happily Ever After
Derin was just exiting the kitchen with a full tankard of mead when she saw the three people enter the inn. She carefully put the tankard on the nearest table, dread curdling in her stomach as she glanced from Saruna to the two city officials. She had picked up just enough to read their uniforms as a guard and a battlemage, although she would have picked it the other way round; the mage was all bluster and outward aggression, a primitive tactic seen mostly in children who hadn't learned to bluff yet and those very strong but oo impatient to bother with normal social conventions. The guard was the most normal-looking person that Derin had seen in ages; obvious danger lay concealed under a layer of confident civility. She reminded Derin of herself, before she'd started to go soft.
All of this reasoning was drowned out in Derin's mind by various instincts fighting for control. She'd lived too many lives; already it was getting confusing. She wanted to throw fire at them and run. She wanted to draw herself up haughtily, the lady of the manor, and demand to know what they thought they were doing here. She wanted to look to Saruna to control the situation, but one glance told her that she was getting no help from that quarter; Saruna wasn't giving her any recognisable signal, she expected Derin to handle it. Most of all, she wanted to break down and cry in terror (stupid inefficient emotional responses), but that was the worst thing that she could do; surely an innocent person wouldn't have cause to be afraid of the Guard. Showing fear would show that she was guilty.
In the end, the one instinct that was a common reaction in every environment she'd acclimatised to won out; with a smile (and wishing fervently that she'd practised smiling more), Derin invited them in.
"Saruna! You brought friends. Welcome to the Red Chalice Inn; I'm Derin, and I suppose I'm the barmaid today. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?" Hoping that the tremble in her voice wasn't as obvious to the others as it was to her, Derin clamped down hard on her emotions and started formulating plans.
All of this reasoning was drowned out in Derin's mind by various instincts fighting for control. She'd lived too many lives; already it was getting confusing. She wanted to throw fire at them and run. She wanted to draw herself up haughtily, the lady of the manor, and demand to know what they thought they were doing here. She wanted to look to Saruna to control the situation, but one glance told her that she was getting no help from that quarter; Saruna wasn't giving her any recognisable signal, she expected Derin to handle it. Most of all, she wanted to break down and cry in terror (stupid inefficient emotional responses), but that was the worst thing that she could do; surely an innocent person wouldn't have cause to be afraid of the Guard. Showing fear would show that she was guilty.
In the end, the one instinct that was a common reaction in every environment she'd acclimatised to won out; with a smile (and wishing fervently that she'd practised smiling more), Derin invited them in.
"Saruna! You brought friends. Welcome to the Red Chalice Inn; I'm Derin, and I suppose I'm the barmaid today. Can I get you anything to eat or drink?" Hoping that the tremble in her voice wasn't as obvious to the others as it was to her, Derin clamped down hard on her emotions and started formulating plans.