Kayleigh takes in Nebbin's words and smile, suddenly becoming flustered.
"Oh dear, I hate to do this, but...maybe just this one time!" With those vague words, she darts into the heart of the temple, returning later adjusting the slightly bulging coin pouch tied to her belt.
"Do any of you know if the city has coaches for hire that could take us to the Heights and bring us back here, presumably with Emi and Tassira in tow?" she asks the men. "I hate to waste good coin on such an extravagance, but...well, this is an emergency, right?"
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Vantyev Estate
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After a long while in the parlor with her brother, Tassira's mother comes into the room. She's a tall, thin woman with long dark hair, and the black dress of mourning she's wearing accentuates her thinness.
"Tassira!" she calls as she comes over to embrace her daughter. "I thought this city might have taken you too! Your brother's been killed!" she sobs. She feels like a wraith in Tassira's arms, thin and cold.
"The man I sent said he thought no one had been to your apartment for days. Where have you been?" As she questions Tassira at close range, the mage picks up a sharp sour on her mother's breath, a hint of odd dilation to her mother's raw and tired eyes.
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Temple of Aroden - Bridgeport
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Nature echoes Regeris's brooding - dark clouds and dark moods. As he passes into Bridgeport in search of his address he can feel that same descent into lawlessness and neglect that he felt during yesterday's trip into the district. Every building here leans too close to its neighbors, creating a web of rooftop paths, rope line bridges and penthouse lean-tos. The address in question turns out to be a flat in an apartment building with four stories. There's a steady stream of traffic on the road outside the entrance. The door number is 31, so the third floor is a good assumption.
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Temple of Aroden - Heights
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There's no coach service out of Old Dock still, and no hope of such anywhere in Bridgeport. Coaches run through the Heights to South Shore and back, and depending on the state of the crowd in Endrin's square, service can often be found running from the Heights down into Midland.
Out on the streets the city feels dangerous. Gray clouds hang low over the walls and rooftops - a late cold front of some kind that threatens more rain but never actually drops. Nebbin and Kayleigh move through the press of people before City Hall and the Longacre building, then shape a course up the hill to the Heights.
There's a great din in the plazas of University as the two pass by. It's a student protest over the Queen's accusation. The students have rallied around the opinion that the painter is a scapegoat. As Nebbin and Kayleigh pass they hear the rally organizers yelling about marching their protest to the Castle.
Beyond University the houses get progressively less modest as one climbs toward the Acadamae. Asking a local for directions brings the troupe to the gate of a noble townhome perched up on the west side of the hill.
Nebbin looks troubled as they pass the protest.
"Do you think they're right, that the artist was really just a goat? I mean, sometimes people have to do bad things -- like when you steal food so you have something to eat. Though I hope the artist didn't eat the king... But maybe she's better off hiding, then if they say she killed the king when she really didn't," he says quietly to Kayleigh.
Regeris keeps himself hooded and quiet. Although no stranger to any part of the city, the sprawling mania of the area puts him out of his comfort zone. Still quietly cursing to himself and the inner conflict between empathy for Tassira and dedication to his self-appointed mission to save Korvosa, Regeris does his best to stake out the building for alternate exits. If he doesn't find anything, he heads into the apartment complex to find a safe spot to stake out obvious exits.
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"I'm not sure what to think," Kayleigh admits to Nebbin. "When we first met Queen Ileosa, I thought that maybe she was getting a bad rap from Korvosans who consider her an 'outsider', since she wasn't born in the city. But she's either making poor decisions or taking bad advice from her advisors. Field Commander Kroft I trust implicitly, though, and if she has doubts about this Trinia girl's guilt then I believe her."
She gets a few more feet along the street before turning to Nebbin and adding, "Wait--did you just say you hope she didn't eat the king??!!"
For the longest time, Tassira just sits in the parlour, staring at the casket that contained her beloved brother's corpse. Her posture is stiff, and slightly shaking with repressed tears. Her eyes don't leave the coffin, and as she stares, her thoughts are a blur of painful 'what-ifs' and 'if onlys'.
Is there anything I could have done? Could I have saved him? Warned him? Anything? I should have come home sooner... I should have--
"I thought this city might have taken you too! Your brother's been killed!"
Her mother's sorrow-wracked voice shakes her from her reverie, and she stands to return her embrace. She can't stop her tears from falling from her eyes and upon her mother's shoulder. Her own shoulders convulse for a moment before steadying somewhat.
"I-I'm so sorry, Mom--I meant to come home sooner, to tell you what I've been doing--and now..." She takes a breath...
"The man I sent said he thought no one had been to your apartment for days. Where have you been?"
"I've--I've been doing some work for the Guard." She tugs at the guardsman's cloak hanging from her neck. "And a few other odd jobs, here and there. I should've left notice with the landlord, that was stupid of me not to--"
Then she stops. She notices... something... on her mother's breath. It's at this moment she notices her mother's eyes.
"...Mom?"
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Vantyev Estate
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Tassira's mother pulls away and turns her shoulder.
"The guard? In South Shore? I'd heard order was restored from here to the Citadel. What are you doing for the guards and where?"
"It doesn't matter," she continues right over whatever Tassira may have answered, "you're coming home, immediately. Before the mob deprives me entirely of my family."
"Your father and I discussed it already and decided it when the riots started. Your rooms are opened. You and Olaf..." she stops herself, realizes what she said and begins again. "You're to stay here with us until the Queen has re-established order in the city and it's safe for you to live on your own again."
"Oh, um, I guess that doesn't really make sense, does it?" Nebbin says embarrassed. "Unless she's maybe a devil or something. Either way, I hope you're right, and I guess we should find her..."
He continues on toward their destination, trying to keep his long strides to Kayleigh's pace.
"I've been helping them keep order in Korvosa, mainly." Tassira starts before her mother cuts her off.
"Your father and I discussed it already and decided it when the riots started. Your rooms are opened. You and Olaf... you're to stay here with us until the Queen has re-established order in the city and it's safe for you to live on your own again."
The mageling looks down at her feet for a moment, nodding in understanding. "...as you wish, Mom."
"Now..." She swallows and moves to sit her mother down on a nearby couch, taking a seat next to her. She glances over at Emi and nods for her to sit down at the other end. "...Mom, I... I know this is going to be... difficult to talk about, but..."
She looks at the coffin in the room and feels another knot forming in her throat. "...how did... he..."
Emi sits, trying to remain as invisible as possible.
Tassira's mother takes her elbow and pulls her over to a couch opposite Emi. She stares vacantly, directly at Emi as she replies.
"He was murdered." She says it calmly enough, but bursts into tears immediately after and has to take a moment before continuing.
"One of the University gardeners found his body two mornings ago outside the library. He'd been stabbed to death."
"No one's come forward with any information. No leads. No weapon. The guards are over-pressed. Chaos in the streets. It all means my son is dead and no one's going to pay for it."
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As Emileva sits and listens to Tassira and her mother, she thinks she sees a way out of confinement at home for Tassira, if that's what she wants...
As much as she would like to stay out of it, Emi stands up and bows slightly to Tassira's mother.
"Please excuse me ma'am, Madame Vantyev, I don't want to intrude right now. But, I think you should know a little more about what we've been doing. You're right. The city's in a mess right now, and the guards are overtaxed. That's why we have been deputized. We're handling things like... this, when there's nobody else to do it."
"Tassira's skills with magic, they're very precious to the guard. Someone like her can't be found just anywhere. She's needed very badly right now. That's why I'm here, to protect her. I'm good at what I do, but I'm not so hard to replace. My job is to die before I let harm come to Tassira. She'll be safe, and we can take up solving who murdered your son. The best chance you have of seeing your son's killer brought to justice is to let your daughter find him with us."
Tassira purses her lips when her mother leads her away from Emi, but when she speaks up she sees an opportunity...
"What she says is true, Mom. If the Guard isn't able to investigate, then my friends and I can. And I can't let this go unanswered--this was an attack on our name. On our safety." She takes a breath. "I have to find whoever murdered Olaf. And I have to bring them to justice."
Tassira's mother swells up at Emi's interruption - moreso than Tassira ever remembers her doing the last time she lived under this roof.
"Who are you to wager with me over the size of the debt my family should pay to see justice? She'll be safe behind these walls - much more safe than hunting the creature who did this, with no more protection for herself than another teenage girl!?"
All the color drains out of Lorne's face as the older woman's voice rises precipitously.
"Do you work for the guard, then? Is that who you are? Standing in the parlor of my home with me an my dead son?"
"No!" she rages, turning back to Tassira with an outstretched index finger, "You're home now. You're going to learn your father's business in place of your brother. He would tell you this himself but he's up at the castle. He had no notion you'd be appear here this morning..." She begins to sob again, an angry sob this time. The combination of grief and irrationality makes her suddenly seem very old.
"Go to your room!" she yells at Tassira as if she were twelve. "Your father will discuss things with you when he comes home later!"
Lorne looks over at Tassira blankly as her mother storms out of the room, plainly looking for a cue from her.
And there's a knock on the door.
Tassira blinks as her mother rants at her, then watches her go.
"Emi, get the door, would you please?" She asks the young lady before turning to Lorne. "Lorne, what did my mother take recently? Her pupils were dilated and there's something sour on her breath."
Emileva remains standing, unmoving and impassive, as Tassira's mother berates her. Although she understands Madame Vantyev's grief, Emi finds some of her words hard to take. She can think of things to say in response, but she remains silent.
This was a mistake. But remember the objective. Being drawn into an argument with the woman will make things worse. The only reason to speak is to better Tassira's options. So don't speak.
When Madame Vantyev is gone and Tassira asks her to answer the door, Emi finally moves. She nods affirmatively without meeting Tassira's eyes, and goes to answer the front door.
She takes a couple of seconds for a deep breath to recenter herself, then pulls open the door.
Lorne is embarrassed for Cassandra. It's written plain on his wrinkled face.
"Great gods girl, I've no idea what your mother may or may not take. To calm her nerves is what she'd say. She wants for nothing. Who am I to question the habits of a sorceress!"
He licks his lips, searches for the right words.
"But... this house has changed since you and Master Olaf moved on. Your mother's struggled to figure out what to do with herself since you went to college. Your fall... was her fall as well."
"Master Maric is away at his business - very often at court. He talks now about hiring a house guard and making the estate ever more a fortress. And now your brother's been killed!"
He looks destitute.
"You need to go." he says softly. "Find your brother's killer. It's the best thing you can do for her."
When Emi sees Nebbin and Kayleigh standing there she steps outside and pulls the door nearly closed behind herself.
"Hi." Glancing back toward the door, she tells them "Sorry, it's not a good time for us to be here. Tassira's brother is dead, murdered. Things are tense right now."
Looking at the two of them, Emi asks "You came a long way. What's going on?"
"Oh no," Nebbin exclaims at the news. "Is Tassira OK?"
After an answer, he gives Emileva the answer to her own question: "They think they know who killed the king, but can't find her. Commander Kroft wants us to find her and bring her in safely, because she's worried about what might happen to her if we don't. Regeris already went to start looking for her."
"I don't know. She just found out last night, and only learned the details a few minutes ago. Her mother isn't doing well, as you can imagine."
When Nebbin explains the reason for his and Kayleigh's visit Emileva gives a low whistle. "We heard something about that last night on the way home. It's supposed to be some artist right? That's really hard to believe."
She shrugs. "I guess weirder things happen, but I can't make sense of that. I'd say Kroft has reason to be worried. The crowds are in an ugly mood regardless of what they believe. The poor woman is f%#@ed either way. Mob justice or frogmarched straight to an execution. Now that the Queen's investigator has made this public, it would be too embarrassing if she's innocent. So she's guilty already."
"Yeah. I think Kayleigh said she might have tried to eat the king or something," Nebbin says, looking a bit shocked (somehow, despite his own rough upbringing) at Emileva's swearing.
"But she's supposed to have a trial. The commander just wants to make sure she gets to the trial. I'm sure if they realize there that she didn't do it, she'll be fine."
"I said no such thing!" Kayleigh huffs at Nebbin. To Emileva she adds, "Do you think Tassira can join us briefly to bring the artist to Field Commander Kroft? Then we can escort her back here to bury her brother."
Tassira bites her lip, looks down for a moment in thought, then nods her head.
"...I will. Thank you, Lorne." She moves to give the old retainer a hug. "Look after her, please. Please, make sure she doesn't do anything too rash."
With that, she turns away and goes to the door, quietly wondering why Emi hadn't led the new guests inside. Ravnos follows at her heel.
------------------
She's certainly surprised to see who else is at her door. "Kayleigh? Nebbin? I-"
Tassira clears her throat and swallows, fighting back tears. "-I didn't expect you to come by. What's going on?"
Meanwhile, in the Shingles, Regeris shifts his weight to his other foot.
Kayleigh gives a Tassira a long hug while relaying her condolences on the loss of her brother; only once they've parted does she tell the mage the reason for the visit.
"We'll all understand if you need to stay here to help your mother or deal with your own grief," she adds before awaiting the wizard's answer.
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Temple of Aroden - Bridgeport
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Regeris finds a deep shadow to recede into with a good view of the entrance off the street. In the huge tangle of buildings built upon buildings it's hard to say where this one ends and the next begins. There aren't any obvious back entrances. In the whole time that Regeris stands there the only activity at the door is an old man who comes out, turns left, and shuffles his way into the stream of passers-by.
"Yeah," Nebbin says as he and Kayleigh greet Tassira, and he tears up slightly. "We're really sorry about your brother. I don't really know what it's like to have a brother, but it stinks to not have one. If you need, I can try to act like a brother. Though you'll need to tell me what to do."
He nods as Kayleigh explains the situation.
Kayleigh finds herself smiling briefly at Nebbin's sweetness but quickly wipes the smile from her face, realizing this is a time of grief for Tassira and her family.
Tassira lets Kayleigh hug her while she explains why they're gathered. She feels her tears falling from her eyes, and she wipes them away.
"...there's more."
"Kayleigh, Lorne's--my family's butler--told me my mother lapsed into addiction when I did." She swallows and shakes her head. "She's been taking something that smells sour--and made her eyes dilated. I've no idea what she's been taking, but she's... well, she's not doing too well right now."
"We're really sorry about your brother. I don't really know what it's like to have a brother, but it stinks to not have one. If you need, I can try to act like a brother. Though you'll need to tell me what to do."
The mageling squeezes her eyes shut. "...that's kind of you to offer, Nebbin."
"But I don't think that's possible now." She takes a shuddering breath or two. "Right now, we need to find that artist. And I need to find out who was behind Olaf's murder."
"OK," Nebbin replies, nodding decisively. "Do you have everything you need? Should you say goodbye to your mother? I can do it for you, if you want."
Tassira looks back at the house and shakes her head. "She's... not in a mood to receive visitors now. We should get going."
Emi quietly waits while Tassira, Kayleigh, and Nebbin catch each other up on recent events. When they're ready to go, she is too.
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Bridgeport District
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After a very long time waiting there in the corner, Regeris spots the rest of the group making their way across an intersection towards the address. He's had quite a long time to stare at the short front step and the shadowy entrance to the building. Windows here and there along the front of the place are open and voices may be heard within - the building is definitely occupied. The third floor windows all have blinds drawn.
The arched doors in front are unlocked and lead to a foyer. The front doors to first floor apartments are accessed from here along with the stairs.
Kayleigh takes a deep breath and lightly claps her hands. "So...should I try a girl-to-girl talk, should Regeris try to intimidate her into cooperating, or should we go straight to Tassira trying to charm our suspect?"
Regeris lets out a long, slow breath as he shifts and uncramps his legs. Slowly, he moves from his hiding spot to meet the others.
"Good to see you. My condolences, Tassira." He gets right to business as he points to the tenements. "Her room is currently occupied. I think some of your charm will be the best bet Kayleigh, we're here to help her - provided she's innocent. I can ascertain her guilt or innocence as we go. If she is hostile, Tassira's charm is a good immediate response. If we get into a fight, we should attempt to disable her. An innocent person who is scared for their life can be just as dangerous as a guilty person."
He looks to everyone. "We can't all sneak up. So perhaps an open approach, knock on the door, and go from there? No weapons drawn."
Kayleigh nods at Regeris's assessment and adds, "I'm not very good at stealth anyways...."
Nebbin nods too, glad there's someone there to take charge and decide what they should do.
He makes sure his big sword is safely sheathed on his back and then follows, hunching his shoulders to try to make himself as small and unthreatening as he possibly can.
The air inside the building is suffused with the taint of mold. Even though its not very bright outside, it takes your eyes some time to adjust to the gloom of the foyer and hallway beyond the arch. A single low-burning lamp provides enough light to make out the numbers on the doors. The floorboards of the stairs and the upper-levels creak ominously under your passing weight. The corridors are narrow and seem haphazardly planned.
The third level is as quiet as the two below it. As you come up the steps and turn left, you find the door marked 31 on your right-hand side, just before an alternate set of stairs leading both up and down. A soft knock on the door goes unanswered. After a more persistent knock, you find yourselves looking around at one another. You hear no sounds of life on the other side of the door.
Emi ascends the stairs making the same assumptions about the likely coming encounter as Nebbin. Figuring that a show of plentiful weapons will not help, she stays at the back with her hands empty.
With nobody answering the door, Emi waits without a word for the others to decide on the next move. She has no enthusiasm for this chore. She remains skeptical that some painter from the slums murdered the King, and certain there will be no fair trial for her when she is prosecuted for it.
With Emileva not doing her job of telling him what to do, Nebbin glances over at Regeris, wondering if he'll tell him whether they should go in. He lifts one leg and swings it at the knee -- inadvertently looking ridiculous -- as he tries to silently ask if he should kick it in.
Nebbin stops and hops on one leg for a second, realizing he's hurting his leg more than the door...
Regeris frowns. "We may have spooked her. Let me try a less invasive method first, this is her home."
Regeris makes short work of the lock.
Regeris quickly opens the door before stepping aside to let Kayleigh speak - depending on what they find.
Tassira's fingers are twitching and itching with magical power.
The door opens on a gloomy, dilapidated flat. There's a door to the immediate left that's shut. Behind the table is a window with its curtains drawn. To the right there's a cold fireplace along the wall. A tub and stool against the far wall can just be made out in the darkness. There's a partly drawn curtain in front of the tub, further obscuring the far corner.
Nothing moves in the room.
"It doesn't look like there's anyone here," Nebbin states the obvious.
"Hello?" he calls out, wondering if maybe the person is hiding.
He looks around and, if no one stops him, goes in to get a better look.
Wary of a trap, Regeris moves in, looking around. "Hello? Ma'am, if you're innocent we're here to help you."
Regeris starts to poke around and moves to the curtain. He slowly begins to draw it back, giving any potentially naked person on the other side time to respond.
Emi enters the flat behind the others. Still with no weapon drawn, she keeps her eyes peeled as Regeris searches about the place.
Kayleigh casts light on her morningstar before trying the door on the left. If it's open, she calls out a meek, "Hello? Trinia? We need to talk." into the room beyond.