[Laurelyn]
Though the mattress wasn't a feather-filled
one it had been ticked with fresh straw and so Laurelyn found it reasonably
comfortable for her sore body. She could see an inkling of morning light
trying to creep through a crack in the shutters, and cursed. Not only because
she had overslept - having not gotten back into a traveling schedule, but
because every muscle, particular her lower anatomy ached from far too many
hours on a horse. Again - something she hadn't done for several months.
With the utmost care and fine array of
curses Laurelyn eased herself from her bed and began to dress.
[Daron]
Daron awoke just as the dark sky reluctantly
yielded to sunlight. It seemed appropriate to her, somehow, symbolic
of her night of disjointed dreams and much tossing and turning. Fact
one: she knew she had to continue on her journey to learn her brother's
fate. Fact two: she knew also that she wanted to look after
Rudolpho.
She decided to wait on her decision until
she had some breakfast under her belt. Though, with her stomach feeling
as uneasy as it did, chiefly due to lack of proper sleep, Daron wondered
if anything would stay down for long.
She dressed quickly. Unplaiting her
braid, she found her comb and carefully worked it through her hair.
Then, with motions honed smooth due to sheer repetition, she rebraided
her hair into the thick single braid she preferred while working or traveling.
Gathering up her few possessions, Daron
left her room. She first checked on her horse, quartered in the adjoining
stable. Next, she went into the Sea Wench's main room. Part
of her hoped to see Keir, Pierre and Rudolpho waiting for her. Unnerved
by her dreams, she wanted some friendly company while she ate.
[Rudolpho]
Rudolpho had had to decide what to do about sleeping arrangements that
night. -This place is a lot better than that alley last night. Maybe
I could sneak in here. Looks like a great corner to curl up in over
there by the hearth.- Satisfied that he had found an appropriate place,
he left the Sea Wench. It was a simple thing to shift into the tabby
cat. He remembered the fun he had procuring the hair off that one.
Having changed, he waited for signs of activity to die down for the night
before he snuck back in. He settled himself curling his paws and
tail around him by the fire and slept soundly. It had been awhile
since he had gone to sleep with such a full belly.
Rudolpho awoke early the next morning when sounds and smells in the kitchen
woke him. He settled in again keeping a sleepy eye on any that might
approach him.
[Keir]
Keir rolled over in the loft of the stable just in time to see Daron leave.
Brushing bits of straw that clung seemingly everywhere he stood and stretched.
His rumbling stomach reminded him that it was well past time for breakfast
though it wasn't all that long ago that he had finished his second helping
of dinner. That second helping had meant spending the night in the stable
rather than a room but he did not begrudge the trade.
Gathering his belongings he carefully rolled up the two portraits Daron
had given him. He had gazed at them far into the night before drifting
off to sleep, particularly the one of Frazzle. The one she had done of
him drew an amused smile. -That is certainly not me,- he thought though
he had thanked her for it. It seemed odd to him since she had captured
Frazzle so perfectly and all her other drawings had been equally marvelous.
{No, definitely *not* me.} He felt the representation was far too childish
and missed his obviously stern and regal bearing.
Climbing down he made his way into the common room, the delicious aroma of fresh bread and fried pork drawing him on.
[Daron]
While waiting for her stomach to settle
down enough to contemplate ordering some breakfast, Daron looked around
the room for something to sketch. She saw the tabby cat curled up
on the hearth. Smiling to herself at the appealing sight, she picked
up her tools and began to draw the scene.
[Rudolpho]
Rudolpho noticed Daron enter the room and prepare to draw him again.
-She doesn't know it's me.- Others were filing into the room, but as yet
no one had come near him. He stretched his paws showing his claws
and opened his mouth wide in a lazy yawn. He then got up and began
to stretch each one of his legs individually. Having completed his
morning stretch, Rudolpho sauntered over to Daron and rubbed up against
her legs purring. He looked up at her and meowed pitifully.
[Jacques]
Jacques groaned, and rolled over. He could
almost _hear_ a yipping, yapping, snuffling in his head. And it ached.
Perhaps that was justice for drinking so much lager last night, though
it hadn't been _that_ much. Not with an early start expected.
He slid out of the bed and thumped uncermoniously to the floor, sending his loose hat rolling and rattling across the boards. The bells echoed through his head for a while, and then settled into a low, dull, ring that he could ignore. After all, he'd had more than enough practice doing so in the past.
Glancing back at the bed to make sure it
was empty - he couldn't remember enough of the previous night to be absolutely
sure - he crawled over to the bowl of water the maids had generously left
him.
Some long minutes, and much muttered cursing,
later, Jacques walked downstairs to face the day. Or at least as much of
it as he could possibly bear.
[Laurelyn]
Laurelyn finally had stretched enough to
loosen protesting muscles, before she dressed and packed.
Once out of her room she stopped to tap on Thomis's door, but that brought no response - so she headed down to the common room for hot tea and breakfast. She figured that Thomis had probably risen well before she had.
[Daron]
Daron looked down at the tabby cat rubbing
on her legs. She smiled and gently scratched him behind his ears.
"Well, hello there. You're a handsome
fellow, yes you are," she cooed. Still scratching behind the cat's ears,
she looked up at Olga. "Olga, could I get a plate of that delicious
smelling fried pork, some bread, cheese and cocoa, and a bit of fish and
a bowl of milk for my friend here please? Thank you kindly."
Having thus taken care of ordering breakfast for herself and the tabby,
Daron returned her full attention to scratching behind the cat's ears.
"Yes, you are definitely a handsome fellow. Who do you belong to,
fellow?"
Daron knew she sounded silly trying to
carry on a conversation with what some would consider a "dumb" animal.
But her father had instilled in her, from as long as she could remember,
the idea that she must respect that all living creatures have intelligence
and feelings. Another reason why it annoyed her that the woman had
called the puppy "Fiend".
She looked at the sketch she had done of
the other puppy the night before.
"I hope you're right, Rudolpho," she said
to herself. "If I can't give it to her before I leave, I'll leave
it with Olga..." Deep in thought, she gently scratched the cat under
his chin.
[Rudolpho]
-Of course I'm right.- He continued to purr and rub up agains her
legs. He had not expected to get a meal out of this but that would
do just fine. He could almost taste the tuna and his mouth watered.
Nimbly jumping onto the table, he made an effort to rub up against her
shoulders. -I could tell her so now but maybe I'd better keep the
fact that I can talk for another time-.
[Jacques]
Jacques watched the girl talking to the
cat. Perhaps, he decided, he wasn't quite as insane as he'd thought. After
all, it seemed to be perfectly normal to talk to animals around here.
A yip from behind startled him so much
he nearly fell off his stool.
"Don't sneak up on me like that boy!" he growled as he turned to face the pup. Somehow it had managed to escape again, though it was beyond him how.
The pup yapped again, and looked up with
mournful brown eyes.
Jacques sighed, and caught sight of Laurelyn
coming downstairs.
"Alright, we'll get you some breakfast."
The idea of food didn't appeal half as much to him as it doubtless did
to the pup. But then the animal hadn't downed a dozen or so mugs of lager
last night. He reached down and lifted the pup up onto the table, where
it sat looking up at him.
"Miss," he called to a waitress. "Once you've
done with that animal," he indicated the cat with a ringing nod, "would
you mind dealing with this one?"
Brown eyes swiveled in the direction Jacques
had glanced, and a low growl issued from the pup as it focused on the cat.
Then it sneezed, and yipped again, tongue
lolling out and tail wagging.
"Boy," muttered Jacques. "You're as dumb
as a fence post aren't you?"
The pup just grinned back at him.
[Daron]
Allowing the tabby to rub against her shoulders,
Daron turned to face Jacques. Righteous fire lit her green eyes.
"Phideaux is most certainly _not_ as dumb
as a post! Just because he has the sense not to start a fight when
there's no need to--" She stopped speaking when she realized what
she said. "I'm sorry, sir. But when I hear someone insult one
of the Maker's creatures just because they're not on two legs and can't
talk to defend themselves--well, I just can't help but speak up about it."
She looked at the puppy. "I'd let you come up here too--if you promise
not to fight with..." Her dark brow furrowed in an effort to come
up with a suitable name for the tabby. "Riley. Yes, that suits
you fine." She looked the tabby square in his yellow-green eyes.
"Just don't you start fighting with Phideaux either, Riley--or I'll ignore
you."
[Rudolpho]
Rudolpho had cast a glance over at the puppy when he had growled only to
see him forget just as quickly. He sat down on the table and watched
Daron with a feline imitation of his innocent "who me?" look. He blinked
at her one more time then began to groom himself nonchalantly. -Might as
well take a shower while I wait for breakfast.-
[Laurelyn]
Laurelyn overheard part of the conversation,
and shook her head with a smile over the "oh so abused Pup." Whom she scooped
up as she reached Jacques' table. "Morning," she said - in a subdued
tone since she saw how pained the jester looked.
While she played with the pup's ears and
let it snuffle at her sleeve she placed and order of oatmeal and hot tea
for herself, and a bowl of oatmeal, mixed with beef broth for the pup.
[Thomis]
Thomis pushed the door open, brown eyes sweeping across the room as he
stepped inside --Laurelyn had just reached the jester's table, the young
artist seemed to have confronted the jester about something (the pup, Thomis
speculated - she had seemed quite perturbed about the pup's name the previous
night). Not a busy morning in the common room, with only a few other
customers scattered about.
He had spent the first hour that morning doing some limited explorations of Helgastop, gathering provisions and automatically noting which alleyways in the immediate vicinity were dead ends. (That was a habit he had learned the hard way while journeying with Mesani I'Se.) He also had learned a bit about the road that lay before them, information Laurelyn would need in deciding how to proceed.
The Oath-bound nodded to Laurelyn as he converged on the jester's table, and stooped to scratch Fiend's ears as he took his seat. "Morning," he said softly to his three traveling companions, with a quick glance towards the artist, Daron. "I've arranged for supplies to be delivered to the stables," he added. "And found out a few things about the direction we are going next."
[Laurelyn]
"Greetings," Laurelyn said, "And thanks
- you're far more awake than I seem to be this morning."
[Jacques]
"Mornin'" replied Jacques, trying to seem
rather more cheerful than he felt. After all, he wasn't anything more than
suffering from his normal hangover, and even he considered it unseemly
to be unpleasant because of _that_.
Though the girl who'd leapt to the defence
of the pup was a little more than he'd bargained for.
"Miss," he called over to Daron. "Better
not to jump to conclusions about a man's comments. Least ways 'til you've
some right to."
He turned to the animal in question which
was diligently trying to work his way up Laurelyn's sleeve.
"You want to be called Fido, boy?" asked
Jacques.
The pup stopped its burrowing, and let
out a muffled whine.
"Didn't think so."
[Laurelyn]
Laurelyn got Pup untangled from the lacings
on her sleeve and turned the little one over to rub its belly.
[Daron]
"I'm truly sorry, sir," Daron said, truly
contrite. "But I've never known a 'dumb' animal...not unless you
count my cousin Peyton." She noticed that the auburn-haired woman
had returned. "Please excuse me a minute, Riley." She left
off petting the cat, gathered up the sketch of the dalmation puppy, and
walked over to Laurelyn's table. "Please forgive me for bothering
you, ma'am." Daron handed Laurelyn the sketch. "But I want you to
have this..."
Then Daron returned to her table, sat down,
and scratched Riley under his chin.
[Laurelyn]
"Than....," the storyteller started to
say, but her breath caught as she actually looked at the sketch the young
woman had handed her. She start to hand it to Thomis, but a fainter image
- which seemed to be almost background shading caught her attention.
Laurelyn's brow furrowed while she tried
to hold the sketch to the light with one hand, and keep the Pup from reaching
it with the other.
She was finally able to make out that the
sketch of Jem overlay the shadowing that formed the image of a young woman
in veils.
Silently she handed it to Thomis.
[Keir]
Keir stopped as he entered the common room and looked over the cluster
of Big Folk gathered together. With a resigned sigh he strolled over with
all the elan he could muster at this early hour. If nothing else
he thought, at least the service would be faster than if he sat alone and
he would be alone enough once back on the road.
As Daron was the only one he knew formally he addressed his request to
her. "Good morn' Daron, may I share your table?" Spying the tabby he wondered
if he'd made the right choice, hair in his food being one of the few things
that could suppress his appetite.
[Daron]
Daron looked up. A genuine smile,
touched with relief, crossed her features.
"Please, do," she said. "One moment."
She carefully picked up the tabby, mindful of his claws, and looked him
in his eyes. "Riley, you're going to have to sit on my lap for now.
When your breakfast comes, you can take it on the floor." She put
the cat in her lap.
[Thomis]
Thomis flattened the drawing on the table, lightly brushing one fingertip
over the lines of the dalmatian. "Jem?" he asked, for he had never
actually seen the dog personally; on the day he and Drywen first had met
Laurelyn -- the day that Francine Larson was "exorcised of demons" by Proctor
John -- Jem had gone missing from Laurelyn's room at the Dragon's Inn.
But the storyteller had told both him and Drywen enough about the animal
for him to recognize the drawing ... though he knew Hillrover had said
nothing to Daron about her missing pet.
He passed the drawing back over to Laurelyn wordlessly, and contemplated
the artist's abilities. Apparently others -- the small man, Keir,
the young musician Pierre, and the boy from the previous night Rudolpho
-- had been the subject of Daron's strange talents. The Oath-bound
touched the fine silver chain about his neck as lightly as he had touched
the drawing, and once again silently thanked Mesani I'Se for the shields
she had constructed around his thoughts years before.
[Rudolpho]
He looked calmly up into Daron's expressive eyes. The young feline
did not wriggle and squirm as some cats were wont to do. -One place
is as good as another.- He began to settle into her lap making "happy feet",
mindful not to use his claws. He glanced over to see what the puppy
was about, then looked up at Keir. He certainly seems much bigger
from this perspective.- Rudopho continued to wash a paw as he watched the
happenings in the room.
[Keir]
Upon taking his seat Keir smiled and nodded at the others. "Good Morn to
you all." He was delighted with the swift attention Olga gave his order
and sat back to await its arrival, trying not to let his legs swing. He
was surprised to hear a few roaches chittering near the bar, they'd been
noticibly absent last night and he knew the albino roaches with black liver-spots
peculiar to this land were especially fond of malted liquids. They didn't
have much to say to him, such nervous creatures never liked to be distracted
for long - have to stay alert and ready to scurry, and he already knew
the ale was tasty anyway. More amazing was the lack of fleas on the dog
and cat. He would have expected they'd pick up some, considering the class
of clientele the Wench attracted.
[Pierre]
Pierre brought up his horse--an appaloosa--to the stables, where he reigned it in. He ignored the stares he got. After all, he lived in town, why in the world would he opt to ride a horse? And why was he carrying a large knapsack? Something was definately amiss.
Pierre paid the stableboy a few coins tip, and walked into the inn, carrying his knapsack and lute.
"Morning, Pierre," Olga called cheerfully.
Pierre spoke somberly. "Morning."
"What's the matter, boy? You look even worse than you did yesterday."
"I'm fine," Pierre whispered. "Ought I to perform now?"
"Of course, dearie." Olga smiled. "Some music while people eat their lunches would be rather nice. So, what have you written for us today?"
"Oh, nothing." Pierre smiled. "I do believe I'll play Greensleeves today. Nothing like the old tried and true, eh?" He smiled, again, at her and went onstage.
There was no introduction today. He opted for Greensleeves--an old song, one he could play in his sleep. He sang, his slightly boyish voice surpisingly loud and resonating. After that was done, he did a few other songs--all common songs that most anybody could know.
"Thank you," he whispered. "I have enjoyed performing for you." A mixture of the truth and a lie. He *did* enjoy performing, yet know he really wasn't in the mood to enjoy much of anything.
[Laurelyn]
The storyteller sat staring at the sketch for several heartbeats - at last she answered Thomis' question. "Yes, it is Jem," she said. She shifted the drawing so she could see the outline of the girl, and added, "Maybe that's who she's with now."
A boy's singing caught part of her attention and she glanced up to see who was performing. It was the young lad who had been with the artist and the gnome - she wasn't sure about his race, not quite the characteristics of a gnome- and the lad who had retrieved the Pup. She noted he had a strong voice - though not quite the tempered confidence of an experienced performer. And today she would say his heart and focus wasn't quite with his music.
"Damn," she muttered softly - feeling her own ghosts closing about her as the memory of another young musician brushed her thoughts - Justinian. A gentle man that had not outrun a horrific death - too innocent for a world that tended to eat innocence alive. She shuddered and hugged the Pup.
If she had her way - she'd urge Beast into a gallop and wouldn't stop till they stood on a moonlit beach - with The Star Dreamer on the horizon.
Laurelyn tried to bring herself back to the world of daylight and life - where a Pup whined and licked her chin. And Thomis was near. In a place where war and bloodshed didn't stain its streets and the people had more normal concerns. She bent her head to rub noses with the pup and put him down on the floor so he could eat his meal - that Olga had just brought over.
To no one in particular Laurelyn said, "We'll need to get Fiend a lead...."
As if hearing the pronouncement the pup had stuck one paw in his oatmeal and scampered under the neighboring table.
[Jacques]
Giving up picking at the meagre portion he'd ordered, Jacques looked up and followed the pup's movements.
"I think he's doing fine without being led anywhere," he offered.
The pup let out a couple of quick barks, and nosed at a small beetle that was scurrying across the floor. Fiend watched it curiously, and trotted after it for a little way before sitting down with a satisfied expression and wagging tail.
"Yup, I think he's doing just fine." Jacques looked back at his breakfast and shrugged.
[Laurelyn]
"I think you may be right," Laurelyn answered, watching the pup, and feeling a bit more in the mood to eat her breakfast.
[Thomis]
"Inquisitive little thing," Thomis remarked, and picked up his own spoon. "Have you considered naming him Fidget?" Oatmeal, and that made him think of Toby, who had been inquisitive and fidgety and prone to dropping oatmeal down the front of his shirt. Now safely away to Jord, where he could cause Lanaera Koltke headaches by wandering off without warning. The puppy merely yapped good-naturedly, wagged its tail a bit more, and looked around for some other prey to stalk across the floor.
"Apparently we may run into some unsavory types on the road ahead," Thomis said to Laurelyn as he blew across a spoonful of oatmeal to cool it. "A couple of smaller parties have found themselves relieved of their worldly goods."
[Laurelyn]
Laurelyn sighed and put her spoon back down. "I take it that both parties made it back to tell the tales? Any reports of the numbers that are attacking?"
[Keir]
Keir had been wolfing down his order of sausages and scrambled duck eggs when the terrified scream from the beetle intruded on his thoughts. ::Danger! Danger! Flee!:: echoed in his mind long after the pup gave up the chase. He sent a calming ::Safe now:: but the beetle refused to believe him.
His sensitive ears couldn't help but pick up the conversation around him, even through the strains of the unfamiliar song Pierre was playing. He didn't like the news the biggest of the Big Folk was relaying. "Pardon good sir, I couldn't help but hear you mention some sort of trouble." He had heard quite clearly but found that tended to make people nervous around him. "Would you be so kind as to tell me in what direction it lies?"
[Thomis]
Thomis half-turned in his chair to respond to the small man who had addressed him. "Thomis Parch," he introduced himself with a slight nod, and set his spoon aside. "Reports have the bandits thickest on the roads heading towards the ocean." He supposed he oughtn't to have been surprised to have learned this, it seemed to be just another instance of the misfortune that had dogged both himself and Laurelyn ever since their separate arrivals in Montfort.
[Laurelyn]
"Laurelyn Hillrover," the storyteller offered the newcomer.
[Keir]
Keir's furry eyebrows knotted. "Most kind of you... Thomas Parch, for the warning. I am headed to the coast myself and will be sure to take care." He absently rolled a sausage around his plate as he considered the unwelcome news. Not that he was carrying much of value to anyone but himself but it was dear to him. There was no getting past his need to reach the sea for that was the most likely place to find his kin, if they were indeed here.
He abruptly remembered his manners and nodded to Laurelyn and Thomas. "I am Keir Ti'Kar, son of Ja and Karpel." he said, holding his hands out palms up in the traditional Hortus greeting. "May your journey be most fortunate." Returning his attention to the eggs he silently wished he could fly like the bird that laid them.
[Thomis]
With a quick glance towards Laurelyn, Thomis raised his own hands in imitation of Keir's gesture. "May the threads carry you to your destination in safety." That warped the traditional greetings of his own background, but with no one around to correct him, it didn't seem to matter. Perhaps the storyteller would choose to invite the little man along, but the decision was hers to make.
[Rudolpho]
He looked langorously around the room as he listened to what everyone was discussing. -I wonder if he is talking about Stan when he says that. Oh well, I guess I'll find out later if he looks at me suspciously.- Rudolpho's attention was grabbed by the puppy who had been nosing around a beetle but had lost interest. -Not much of an attention span on that one.- He looked at the pup and blinked both eyes at him almost as if he were sticking his tongue out at the pup.
[Daron]
Once Daron and Riley's breakfast arrived, Daron carefully dislodged the tabby from her lap and set him on the floor.
"Down you get, Riley. Breakfast." She placed the bowl of milk and plate of tuna in front of Riley. Then she attended to her own breakfast slowly, first nibbling on a piece of the fresh, warm bread, wary of upsetting her stomach.
Her fears were unfounded. Daron's appetite returned with a vengeance. She soon polished off her simple meal.
"Olga, you don't by any chance have any honey about, do you? If so, could I please have a bit and some more of this delicious bread?" she asked hopefully.
[Rudolpho]
Rudolpho did not protest when Daron put him down and placed food in front of him. He made short work of the tuna and began to quickly lap up the milk. The milk must have been freshly gotten and come from a healthy cow since it tasted so good. The milk was soon gone and Rudolpho licked the bowl. He regroomed his face and whiskers then stood up and stretched. -Time for Riley to say goodbye.- He meowed up at Daron and rubed up against her legs once more. -I see them do this all the time.- He got a look on his face and tensed then ran out the door.
A quick change later, Rudolpho re-entered the Sea Wench as himself. "Good morning everyone."
[Jacques]
The pup's head cocked to one side as the inn doors opened and Rudolpho entered. He then issued a low growl for a few seconds, before standing and wandering back over to Jacques, Laurelyn, and Thomis.
He whined quietly, and pawed again at the oatmeal.
Jacques glanced down, and then looked miserably at his own cold and congealed breakfast.
"Can't say as I blame you, boy," he muttered. All this talk about bandits, along with his habitual hangover, had pretty much removed any appetite. Not that he could remember the last time he'd actually eaten anything before noon anyway, but that wasn't the point.
[Thomis]
Thomis stopped the morning-shift waitress as she wandered by and asked her to bring something a bit more likely to hold the pup's attention. "As for numbers," he continued his conversation with Laurelyn and Keir, "stories vary, placing it at anywhere from half a dozen to a dozen or more. It can be difficult to separate fact from exaggeration, so I can't be any more precise than that."
The waitress shortly came back with a saucer to place before Fiend, one with chopped scrambled egg and small bits of bacon. Thomis took it from her with thanks, and leaned over to place it before the the pup -- who had somehow managed to lift himself up on his hind legs to sniff hopefully at the dish. Almost before Thomis could set the plate down, Fiend had half-scrambled into the saucer. "Don't grow too accustomed to such rich fare," Thomis murmured. Fiend just half-yapped around a mouthful of food.
[Laurelyn]
Laurelyn ate at her oatmeal and thought about Thomis's news; as she ate she discreetly studied Keir - and decided that he wasn't likely to stab them in the back. Finally she asked Thomis, "Which would you say our best bet is ....keep to the three of us and travel fast, or see about traveling with another group heading that direction?"
[Keir]
Hearing the possibility of safe, or at least safer, conduct made his ear tips twitch and he listened eagerly for Thomas' reply.
[Thomis]
"Greater safety in numbers," Thomis answered as he took a sip of his water. The pup, its snout buried in egg and bacon, snuffled in agreement.
[Rudolpho]
Rudolpho had been accidentally eavesdropping on the whole conversation. He was able to get away with that quite a bit it seemed. Seeing the chance for adventure and getting to see more lands outside Helgastop, he dove at it head first. "Hi there." He strode forward in his self important manner towards Laurelyn and extended his hand. "My name is Rudolpho and I think that you should travel with a slightly bigger group. There is safety in numbers you know. Take me for example. I could help with supplies and I can be a great scout. Where are you headed? Is it far away? Have you been there before? What's it like?" He would have gone on had it not been for the echo of a voice that said "Rudolpho, you must allow other people to get a word in edgewise."
The boy was abruptly silent and bowed his head a little, allowing Laurelyn
to respond to the multiple questions he had asked.