“I’ve not a care in the world what you give me to drink. I’ve been forced to drink the piss-water I sell enough times that I suspect I’ve killed any objections my tongue might have.” He gave a soft smile to the present company. Though cheap, Luca knew his ale was fairly good. Jacel hoped to imply his preference for fine drink without pressuring Luca into choosing anything in particular, but didn’t particularly mind when he realized it would be Conrad who lumbered off to fetch them drinks. No doubt the subtleties of the conversation had flown right over the man’s head. Jacel privately seethed, but outwardly maintained calm and shrugged it off.
Jacel looked at the stairs and sighed. He took some solace in the fact that Conrad was fetching the alchohol. Luca was going to have as much difficulty climbing the stairs as he was.
After surmounting the trial of elevation, Jacel finally saw Lorenna. After pretending not to eavesdrop on the doctor’s whisper to Luca, Jacel confidently walked over to the girl and asked her to tell him as much as she could. When Conrad returned, Jacel immediately sent him out again to fetch paper to scribble notes on.
Jacel wasn’t entirely comfortable with the number of people hearing this. About halfway through, Jacel looked pointedly at Luca. Using his prodigious bulk as a shield, he pointed to Conrad and the doctor before waving his hand dismissively. He continued to listen without confirming Luca’s response; if he didn’t want to send them away, Jacel wasn’t about to press the issue. Besides, he didn’t want to interrupt Lorenna’s train of thought.
When all was said and done, Jacel leaned back, his face to the ceiling. “That’s quite the theory.” He commented, whistling softly through his teeth. His fervent writing was uninterrupted for almost a minute. It was a difficult conclusion to make, but there were too many holes in the facts. “I hate to admit this is startin’ to smell of magic.” Jacel commented off-handedly. He wished it were possible to get Bitch to sniff Navarre, but he doubted the lady would be caught anywhere near such a mangy dog. “Just a thought,” he commented when he realized he had said it aloud. “With the changes these bitches seem to have undergone, I’m thinkin’ there might be something’ going on.” Jacel tapped his head twice “It would explain why the dwarves responsible for the massacre a while back were so bloody eager to throw themselves on the good guardsmen’s spears too. Neither of you knew Navarre back when she was Isyrion, yeah?”
“As for Ashleigh… it isn’t hard to tell he’s having doubts ‘bout this nonsense.” Jacel was reluctant to admit that he hadn’t had any particular focus devoted to the young man. “Might be good to talk to him. Might tip our hand early. I’m thinkin’ I use what sway I have in the guard to ask after him indirectly. If he wants to show, he’ll show. We don’t want to talk to him if he doesn’t want to talk to us.”
That's What She Said
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Jacel Varti
- Citizen
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:17 am
- Name: Jacel Varti
- Race: Elven
Re: That's What She Said
Lorenna rested her head against her pillow, struggling to keep her eyes open. She hadn’t managed to sleep since explaining her theory to Reynard, and going over the details again for Jacel and her cousin had only exhausted her further. But resting could wait – at least until they discussed Navarre and her schemes.
“Magic…” she repeated thoughtfully. The possibility had crossed her mind before, but she hadn’t dwelt on it. “Navarre’s built her entire platform on being one of the most loyal, conservative citizens of Marn. If she’s secretly been dabbling in magic this whole time… Could she be that hypocritical?”
Stupid question.
“I didn’t really know Isyrion before this Navarre stuff started. I saw her around at some events, maybe like once or twice a year, but we never said more than ten words to each other. All us noble girls would gather into groups, little social circles, but Isyrion just kept to herself. Really shy girl, looking back on it now.
“But back to the magic thing: I’ve been around Isyrion a lot for the past couple months, and she’s never shown a hint of having any power. She’s bought into my ditzy bimbo act, so I doubt she’s on guard around me. Lord Marquelis and my parents never brought it up in private, either. There was that weird speech she gave to Lady Sehkhara, though…”
She looked from Luca to Jacel. “There’s far too many questions surrounding this. If we’re going to make any progress, we need Ashleigh.”
“Magic…” she repeated thoughtfully. The possibility had crossed her mind before, but she hadn’t dwelt on it. “Navarre’s built her entire platform on being one of the most loyal, conservative citizens of Marn. If she’s secretly been dabbling in magic this whole time… Could she be that hypocritical?”
Stupid question.
“I didn’t really know Isyrion before this Navarre stuff started. I saw her around at some events, maybe like once or twice a year, but we never said more than ten words to each other. All us noble girls would gather into groups, little social circles, but Isyrion just kept to herself. Really shy girl, looking back on it now.
“But back to the magic thing: I’ve been around Isyrion a lot for the past couple months, and she’s never shown a hint of having any power. She’s bought into my ditzy bimbo act, so I doubt she’s on guard around me. Lord Marquelis and my parents never brought it up in private, either. There was that weird speech she gave to Lady Sehkhara, though…”
She looked from Luca to Jacel. “There’s far too many questions surrounding this. If we’re going to make any progress, we need Ashleigh.”
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Luca Abernathy
- Citizen
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Sun Jan 05, 2014 12:38 am
- Name: Luca Abernathy
- Race: Human
Re: That's What She Said
Luca had noted Jacel's request for privacy, and dismissed Reynard and Conrad while the three of them discussed the matters at hand. At the conclusion of it all the dandy grimaced.
Of course they needed Ashleigh. How else could his week become any more frustratingly inconvenient. It was enough to put the suspicion of magic on a lower rung of things to complain about, quite frankly.
If given the choice between sharing dinner with a Marquelis and a homeless wretch, Luca would have to edge in favour of the homeless. At least they wouldn't be sneering at him the whole meal. "Oh, dash it all, I suppose we have to invite the annoying son of a shegoat over. I'll fabricate some hint of family scandal, that'll have him over within a few hours if he's available. Someone's always sleeping with someone - or at least suspected of it."
Really, it was getting to be beyond a joke. At first he'd hoped that maybe this trite little escapade into social investigation might prove to be interesting in an amusing way, but his expectations were getting lowered by each passing moment.
Still, one had to make do with what the dice rolled, wot. He called out to Conrad in the hallway "Conrad, my writing kit, the one I use for people I don't like. With the smelly ink you once compared to congealed bear's piss. Thank you." He turned his attention back to Jacel and Lorenna "Well, if Isyrion has as much dirt on her as m'cuz suspects, I'm sure the information will garner an enterprising businessman some measure of leverage, and open up some avenues for a bit of the old revenge. Anything else I can assist with, apart from sending out a letter to lure that ass of a man Ashleigh here?"
Of course they needed Ashleigh. How else could his week become any more frustratingly inconvenient. It was enough to put the suspicion of magic on a lower rung of things to complain about, quite frankly.
If given the choice between sharing dinner with a Marquelis and a homeless wretch, Luca would have to edge in favour of the homeless. At least they wouldn't be sneering at him the whole meal. "Oh, dash it all, I suppose we have to invite the annoying son of a shegoat over. I'll fabricate some hint of family scandal, that'll have him over within a few hours if he's available. Someone's always sleeping with someone - or at least suspected of it."
Really, it was getting to be beyond a joke. At first he'd hoped that maybe this trite little escapade into social investigation might prove to be interesting in an amusing way, but his expectations were getting lowered by each passing moment.
Still, one had to make do with what the dice rolled, wot. He called out to Conrad in the hallway "Conrad, my writing kit, the one I use for people I don't like. With the smelly ink you once compared to congealed bear's piss. Thank you." He turned his attention back to Jacel and Lorenna "Well, if Isyrion has as much dirt on her as m'cuz suspects, I'm sure the information will garner an enterprising businessman some measure of leverage, and open up some avenues for a bit of the old revenge. Anything else I can assist with, apart from sending out a letter to lure that ass of a man Ashleigh here?"
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Jacel Varti
- Citizen
- Posts: 57
- Joined: Thu Jan 03, 2013 6:17 am
- Name: Jacel Varti
- Race: Elven
Re: That's What She Said
“Weird speech?” Jacel said. Mioco hadn’t mentioned anything about a speech. “Do you remember what she said?”
At Luca’s suggestion, Jacel perked up. “A letter?” He blinked. Then, after a ponderous moment, a deep frown extended gradually across his face. A whirlwind of thoughts raged behind his eyes. The tumultuous force of the infinite possibilities implied by magic overwhelmed him. He shook his head and snapped, “Bloody hell, I hate considering magic. In one instant, everything becomes possible except rational investigation.”
He sighed. “Alright. At this point, I am concerned a letter could be too slow. Either Navarre will do something to shut him up before he comes to us, or he concludes it might be some kind of trap on her part. If she does have magic, and he knows anything at all, I can’t imagine she’ll pull any punches to keep him quiet. And he knows you, Luca, are related to Lorenna, whom he probably considers easy to manipulate. Unless, that is, you’ve dropped the bimbo act around him as well?” Jacel’s eyebrow rose questioningly.
“Regardless. I have just enough favors to cash in among the guard that I’d rather use them than risk a letter. We can cut down variables if I send a man to just go collect the stick-up-the-ass bastard personally. I’ve got boys that already frequent the Headquarters to catch up with their old friends.”
Jacel was already considering Thomas or Anthony for the job. If one of them had happened to meet Ashleigh from their time in the guard, it would be the luckiest break he’d gotten in a while.
“I can’t help but suspect Navarre doesn’t know the first thing about the Bitch, though it wounds my pride to say so. If we drag him there under the guise of going out to drink away the tragedy, we might be able to question him without anyone being the wiser.” Jacel paused to take a breath. He felt frustrated, which wasn’t like him. He mulled his lips around, checking his plan for holes. “Unless the stick up his ass is in so deep it’s lodged in his throat, and he don’t stop to drink?”
At Luca’s suggestion, Jacel perked up. “A letter?” He blinked. Then, after a ponderous moment, a deep frown extended gradually across his face. A whirlwind of thoughts raged behind his eyes. The tumultuous force of the infinite possibilities implied by magic overwhelmed him. He shook his head and snapped, “Bloody hell, I hate considering magic. In one instant, everything becomes possible except rational investigation.”
He sighed. “Alright. At this point, I am concerned a letter could be too slow. Either Navarre will do something to shut him up before he comes to us, or he concludes it might be some kind of trap on her part. If she does have magic, and he knows anything at all, I can’t imagine she’ll pull any punches to keep him quiet. And he knows you, Luca, are related to Lorenna, whom he probably considers easy to manipulate. Unless, that is, you’ve dropped the bimbo act around him as well?” Jacel’s eyebrow rose questioningly.
“Regardless. I have just enough favors to cash in among the guard that I’d rather use them than risk a letter. We can cut down variables if I send a man to just go collect the stick-up-the-ass bastard personally. I’ve got boys that already frequent the Headquarters to catch up with their old friends.”
Jacel was already considering Thomas or Anthony for the job. If one of them had happened to meet Ashleigh from their time in the guard, it would be the luckiest break he’d gotten in a while.
“I can’t help but suspect Navarre doesn’t know the first thing about the Bitch, though it wounds my pride to say so. If we drag him there under the guise of going out to drink away the tragedy, we might be able to question him without anyone being the wiser.” Jacel paused to take a breath. He felt frustrated, which wasn’t like him. He mulled his lips around, checking his plan for holes. “Unless the stick up his ass is in so deep it’s lodged in his throat, and he don’t stop to drink?”