You push open the wooden doors and step into a sitting room.

Amber Townhouse: Sitting Room(#13254RALh)

This formal sitting room is done in an elegant fashion. The floor is covered by dark wooden parquet, polished to a shine. Clever use of light from a bank of windows and various oil lamps lends a cozy feel to the room. Potted green plants add the scent of life and some of them boast red blossoms. Set into a corner, a sturdy hearth crafted of stone serves as the room's focal point; the various pieces of furniture and floor rugs are set facing it.

A long hallway leads deeper into the townhouse, towards bedchambers and the study. A set of heavy double doors lead outside to the courtyard.

Contents:

Eric

Obvious exits:

Study Courtyard

Strat comes in through the heavy wooden door, joining you in the sitting room.

Talbaine comes in through the heavy wooden door, joining you in the sitting room.

Strat enters with Lisle, hand in hers.

Lisle(#9069POc)

Rich flaxen blonde hair, awash with pale spring colors of life, falls to the small of her back. She is about 5'8'' tall with Aryan eyes, bright blue, set into a pale complexion of peaches and cream. An oval shaped face is serene, shoulders often slouched with a casual graciousness. Intelligent, serious eyes look out from beneath the dark-rooted lashes over a delicate nose, a more generous mouth beneath, and high cheekbones.

She wears a pair of camel colored riding breaches that fit closely, cream colored suede patches are sewn on the insides of her knees. Rich brown riding boots come to her knees. The column of her throat exposed into nothing less than a simple white shirt, cuffed and buttoned with pearls.

-->Lisle just looked at Lisle.

Talbaine follows the pair in, shutting the door behind him. He takes a step to the side of the door, as if guarding it.

Eric is seated before the hearth, drinking what appears to be tea, by the aroma pervading the room, and by the tendrils of steam rising from the cup.

Lisle walks in, sapphires flashing at her wrists, in a generally good mood. She slows when she sees Eric, though. Squares her shoulders, as if she's about to ascend Kolvir. "Good evening, father."

Talbaine pages to Lisle, Morgan, Panzer, and Strat: Hehe sorry had to run so quick

Strat drops his hand from Lisle's to fold both his hands back behind him in a position of parade rest.

Eric leaves his attention from the parchment in his hand, glancing to Lisle and company.

Lisle moves to sit near her father. "The boy has a tale to tell. I told him you were always fair. Will you listen?" She looks at Eric through the veil of dark-rooted blonde lashes.

Eric reaches for his tea, his attention drifting from Lisle to Strat. As he sips, he eyes the lad over the rim of his cup, regarding him with certain scrutiny.

Talbaine moves awar from the door to stand besides Eric for a moment. He leans over, saying something softly that doesn't carry very well. He mutters to Eric, "The... much can... for... in the..."

awar=away

Lisle motions with hand, echoed by warm smile, for Strat to step nearer.

Eric licks his lips, then, after Talbaine speaks. A moment passes without sound and finally he states, "I will listen."

Lisle's chin tilts up to regard Talbaine, after he speaks to Eric.

Strat seems relaxed, if not interested in everyone. He doesn't seem afraid, which is quite strange for any child that would be in his position. Strat does as Lisle's commands and takes a few steps forward. He looks up at Lisle and then to Eric. He looks back at Lisle and asks, "Whats shoulds I say?"

Lisle says, "I want you to tell my father the story you told me last night. How you came to Amber. Why you came to Amber. And what happened to you while you were here. How you know Joshua."

Lisle smiles encouragingly.

Strat tilts his head to the side a bit and he nods. He bites at his bottom lip as he decides on where to begin. He then turns and says to Eric, "I meets Lady El at tha Web. I was all amuck in my alleyclothes and ableedin. She makes me come to her place an stiches me ups and makes me eats and gets well. Its there I meets Joshua an Dwight." He shrugs. "Well a bit of time passes and El finds me. She asks me ta find outs news on Joshua as he was captured and throwns in jail and asks me ta sees ifin there was anythings I could does. So I owes her one and says I'll does this for her."

Talbaine clears his throat, "Speak correctly lad, no games now."

Eric's finger tips twist at the curls of his beard as he listens.

Lisle is watching her father from the corner of her eyes, just occaisionlly. Her attention is mostly on the boy. One knee is drawn up, fingers twined to clasp around it. Fine blue eyes smile at the boy, the shadow of a dimple at her mouth.

Strat purses his lips and then says, "So I knows things and gets faked papers and jumps two ships ta makes my way ta Amber." He looks at Talbaine. He blinks. He speaks clearly now, accent gone, too perfect textbook speech, "Once in Amber I stared to gather information on Joshua, but Chaos events happened and threw my plans into a waiting status. I wasn't sent to get killed, but to try to discover if Joshua was alive and well."

Eric says "And..."

Eric says "... you land yourself in my household."

Lisle says, "This was before you met me and Jayme." Her voice is smooth and fair.

Strat says, "And then Sir, your Daughter happened on me." He pauses. "She treated me real nice on a few different encounters, and then says that she has a job for me. Well, I thought there was something up with that, a game to be played. So, I went along with her and I was suprised when she held true to her word and gave me a job." His speech falls back into the other pattern, seeming natural for him, "No ones ever not wanted anything from me. See. Even El wanted something from me. So I keeps awaitin for Lisle ta want somethins from me but she never does."

Eric says "Young boy."

Eric says "Are you acquainted at all with Sir Alaric?"

Strat looks at Eric and then nods, "Yes Sir. I hears of hims."

Lisle says, "Father, please let the boy finish. He's near to telling you the end of this tale. I think you should hear it."

Eric says "What do you hear of him?"

Eric holds up a finger to Lisle.

Strat pages to everyone in the room: Hears as in knows more than just having met him acouple of times.

Strat says, "I hears that he's your tortureer and info man. That he's a shifter. Wolfborn. That he takes pleasure in his work."

Eric nods approvingly, then says, "Finish your tale."

Lisle's blonde brows come together. She looks down at boots. But oh, at Strat's words she looks right back up at him. Surprised? Indeed. Not for the first time, and no doubt, not for the last.

Talbaine just listens, betraying no expression one way or the other.

Strat says, "So I keeps doin what I was a doin. Suprised that Amber Spies aints arrested me yets as I was a startin up a ring of spies, well urchins sir, ta feed me info. But it was jus common info on the port an all, how many ships, whos tha captain, what they are carryin, stuffs likes that. I learns it in tha Port from One Eyed Jack, he teaches me that its best ta smell out a rat before you bring out tha pie, than ta bring out tha pie and finds out its gots rat droppins all overs its. So I waits for someone ta comes ta me, but they never does, but Lady Lisle..she keeps bein nice ta me an alls. I caint figures it out. Ta be honest Sir, I still can't figures it out. And she gets me a job aworkin for you, and I does my best an all, aworkin for you. I never thinks that me aknowin Joshua would matters...well thats a lie...I knows it would matters. I jus was athinkin that I could gets my job done and maybe it wouldnt matters...maybe. But then I goes ta tha Web with Lady Lisle and finds him a sittin there and well, I suppose ya knows all bouts that."

Lisle says, "Strat lost his temper, in the Web. Kicked Joshua in the shines, to say the least. And he came back, father. He came back. He could have run."

Fauneva pushes open the wooden door, stepping outside.

Fauneva comes in through the heavy wooden door, joining you in the sitting room.

Eric says "I can only assume your 'Lady El' is Eloise, Baroness of Terabithia.""

Strat nods a single time to Eric.

Eric sits near the hearth, Lise beside him, Jayme standing nearby. Strat stands before them all, small boy that he is.

Eric sits near the hearth, Lise beside him, Jayme standing nearby. Strat stands before them all, small boy that he is. (repose for Alaric)

Alaric enters, bowing to those present. "Milord. Milady."

Fauneva enters from the direction of the bedroom, humming softly and looking thoughtful. She carries a elegant sword in her hands.

Fauneva stops short, looking suprised to see thre crowd. She hesitates, then takes a step back as if to retreat back in the direction she came from. "Oh, Vestera..."

Lisle had been looking at Strat. She bows her head a little to Alaric, then to Eva. Her expression is very serious.

Eric steeples his fingers then, the steam from his tea rising to lick at his face.

Eric says "Strat you've been less than forthcoming."

Strat doesn't turn to greet the Alaric or Fauneva. He stands before Eric, all his attention there.

Eric's tone relates his obvious displeasure.

Alaric minche/swaggers his way to a position at Eric's right side.

Strat gives a single nod in agreement.

Talbaine nods slightly towards Fauneva and then Alaric as they arrive, his attention mostly upon Eric and Strat, now bracketing Eric with Alaric on the other side.

Lisle doesn't say anything, but her eyes close a moment, fine line between her brows.

Eric says "Tell me, boy. What would you have me do with you, were you in my place?"

Fauneva frowns gently, remaining silent.

Lisle's eyes open. She regards the boy.

Strat seems suprised at the question. He blinks and then says, "Well Sir, ifin ya was one like Dwight, I suspect that my body would be a swingin already infront of your house as an xample to everyone else. Even children pay the price. Ifin ya was Prince Caine," Strat actually shudders with a bit of fear, something that he has never shown, "then tha pirates in Reaversport would be a tellin ghost stories bouts me. But your not Sir. Your a King. And its why I comes back." He looks at Lisle, "See. Lady Lisle was a happy, a real happy, for tha first time since I seens her, and that was cause something happens tweens you an hers. Well, see, I think she makes me happy for tha first time since I beens a kid an all, so..so I just couldnt does nothin ta comes tween you an her." He sighs, "I don't pretend to know what a King would do Sir. Its why I comes back. Ta finds out."

Eric says "A king must always find the good in any situation."

Eric asks, "Should I give you to Sir Alaric?"

Eric shrugs.

Eric says "What would that serve?"

Fauneva looks anxious, frown deepening.

Eric eyes Fauneva briefly before turning back to Strat.

Eric says "Jayme spoke words I believe that were meant to ease my judgment of you, Strat, when you first arrived."

Alaric purses his lips at Strat, pinching up his nose slightly.

Lisle's body is very very still.

Talbaine says simply, "The boy shows promise in certain things. His future and potential, are uncertain."

Strat stands silent now, listening to Eric.

Eric considers all these things.

Eric asks Strat, "Do you intend to return to the service of the Baroness?"

Strat senses "Lisle's eyes are glistening with unshed tears. She is trying very hard not to say anything."

Strat shakes his head at that, "Oh no sir. Just tha one mission. I..I don't beleive I care for tha way Joshua an Dwight treats thier soldiers. Sees, theys just things to them. To be used. I don't beleive you are that way. Its why I hasta comes backs toos. Ifin I doesnt..then surly as Im astandin, Jase, Tommy, Curl, Stones, and Rick, would gets picks up and umm questioned. I couldnt lets that happens."

Lisle lets out a breath as if she was holding it. Her shoulders relax into a more casual position.

Eric says "You are yet in your youth, I believe. I understand the intemperance of those times..."

Eric says "Though let me make on thing clear..."

Alaric thoughtfully scratches at his own neck.

Strat looks up slightly to meet Eric's eyes.

Lisle glances at her father from three-quarter lowered lashes, betraying nothing.

Eric says "You were right in something you said before, to smell out the rat beforehand."

Eric says "Know this, boy."

Fauneva watches, hands clasped behind her back around her sword. She notes Lisle's posture, and in turn relaxes as well.

Eric says "If there were ever a man who knew how to unleash the terriers... it is I."

Eric says "I'll not abide any rats in my home."

Talbaine stands casually relaxed, betraying nothing with expression or stance. Even his oft expressive eyes are unreadable.

Strat gives a single nod to that, "I has never tells no ones nothin of anythin that transpires neath this roof Sir. Unicorns Truth." He looks down then, more toward Eric's feet.

Lisle adds, "And he came back." Her voice is terribly soft.

Alaric gives another, significant sniff.

Alaric leans in to murmur to his master.

Lisle shoots a glance at Alaric.

Lisle is sitting close enough to her father to hear. Blue eyes dark as Eric's own, and as capable of thunder and brimstone (now revealed for the first time), rest on Alaric.

Fauneva glances briefly at Alaric, the swiftly looks elsewhere. Her own look is dissaproving but she does not direct her displeasure towards anyone.

Talbaine chuckles softly, then murmurs to no one in particular, "Are not we all."

Alaric's voice lowers as he rumbles something to Eric.

Eric rubs his chin thoughtfully.

Strat waits calmly, not looking around, not figiting, just waiting calmly, eyes upon the floor at Eric's feet.

Fauneva seems about to speak, then hesitates and obviously thinks better of it as she remains silent.

Lisle adds, "Father, I believe he will turn out well. I believe he's never betrayed us."

Eric says "I am loathe to go so far, Lisle."

Eric says "But if you want him..."

Eric says "he is yours."

Eric says "See that he behaves, and make Cook and Jospeh aware."

Eric says "Perhaps he'll turn out and perhaps he won't."

Lisle says, "I do. I will speak for his character. If he lets you down, well then, that is another matter."

Eric says "Indeed."

Strat looks up and says, 'Sir? May I speak?"

Eric eyes his daughter.

Lisle looks at Eric, heart in her eyes.

Eric says "Another matter entirely. For it is on your word, Lisle."

Talbaine turns a hard look on Lisle, but says nothing, turning his attention back to Strat and Eric.

Alaric has noticed a fold of lace out of place and goes about fixing his sleaves.

Lisle adds, "If he lets you down, then he lets me down too. And I won't speak for him again." She turns to the boy.

Eric purses his lips, brow wrinkled a bit. He makes no move to say anythinf further, however.

Lisle says, "Speak, Strat."

Strat waits patiently for Eric to consent. He doesn turn and nod to Lisle, but turns back to Eric and waits, for this is his house his actions seem to say.

Eric nods slightly.

Alaric takes out his dagger and starts to clean his nails with it.

Alaric glances up a moment later, perhaps startled to see everyone still stadning about.

Alaric asks, "Are we not done, Milord?"

Fauneva paces forward towards the front door, sword held at her side.

Talbaine folds his arms over his chest, waiting silently for this to come to an end.

Alaric's narrowed eyes now track Fauneva with his gaze.

Alaric twitches a bit.

Strat says, "I know its tha wrong time an all, and maybe is tha best time an all...but I knows there has beens real bad bloods tween your House and that of Joshua's. I knows that Joshua makes some peace with tha crown or else he wouldnt bes outs of jails causin he didnt scapes. Ifin ya wants, and ifin I can be so bolds ta asks, and I'll never brings it ups again, I swears, I can see ifin a peace can be reached. Lady El would owe me that much ta makes Joshua sits an listens." He falls silent immediatly, eyes on the floor, not daring to look up. There is a bit of nervousness in him now, as he knows this has to be a tender subject.

Fauneva glances at Alaric from the cornor of an eye, pausing to put her sunglasses on before she steps outside.

Fauneva pushes open the wooden door, stepping outside.

Talbaine snorts softly, he says to Eric, "That brings up another matter which may require your attention at a later time m'lord."

Eric clasps his hands together, leaning forward in his chair towards Strat.

Eric says "Let me be clear, boy."

Eric speaks loud enough for all.

Eric says "There will be no peace between those two and I."

Alaric swollows, once, when the door shuts after Fauneva, but he soon snaps to attention.

Eric says "Not until I lay their bones to rest."

Strat doesn't look up, but stands there, eyes focused on a paticular atom on the floor.

Eric says "Is this a problem?"

Lisle looks at her father, interested.

Strat shakes his head no, "No Sir. I...I..was jus hopin ta help...for Lady Lisle an all...but I swears its a silent thing now."

Talbaine says softly, "It is not a thing at all lad. Erase it from your mind."

Alaric rumbles, for Eric's hearing, but not bothering to lower his voice. "He marked me, Milord, when I went to escort your lady daughter home."

Eric quirks a brow at that, frowning.

Eric rises from his chair.

Eric says "Let me say this once."

Eric says "To all of you."

Lisle glances from Strat to Eric.

Eric says "And for CMr. McDugal as well, were he here now to hear it."

Eric says "The World's End is not safe by any means."

Alaric growls his second of this opinion.

Eric says "And I'll not have those of my household, or those sworn to my name, turnign up hurt or worse there."

Talbaine half-smiles, "M'lord, I have word from that place actually. If it interests you it concerns your brother Caine and the one known as Dwight."

Eric nods at Jayme.

Eric says "It does, though perhaps we will speak of it later."

Lisle's face is a little pale.

Talbaine nods simply to that, "Of course."

Lisle stands up as well. She gives her usual shallow curtsey, head bowed graciously, to her father, "All right, father." Sober.

Eric sets his hands to his hips, his expression imperious.

Eric says "We are finished here."

Eric says "Boy... you've stables to muck out."