At some point in the meeting with Omast and the other council members, Alicia remembers that Lessie Crumkin is something of a historian. Sneaking off from the assemblage, she heads for the woman's house and knocks on her door, bluntly asking, "Who used to own the Flophouse?" as soon as the door is opened.
Having followed Alicia into a side office, Lessie registers a moment of disappointment that more antiquities aren't on offer. "The flophouse? Oh, you mean the Howling Dog, or whatever that strange man calls it! Used to belong to the Sawyer family, but no one lived there since Baseil's great-uncle passed away, must be nearly twenty years ago, until that Meriman turned up and offered to buy it. I was a bit surprised Baseil agreed to sell; the Sawyers tend to hold on to what's theirs. Still, he's an only child and has the only daughter himself. I suppose he decided the family's not as large as it once was and didn't need the extra space."
Figures that man would have something to do with it. "How'd his great-uncle die? Just old age?" Alicia asks.
Lessie gives Alicia a quick, hard glance. "Far as I've heard. He was old enough to, and there wasn't any great inheritance involved. The main Sawyer wealth followed Baseil's father's line."
Alicia grunts and nods her head, her line of questioning done.
The party leaves Ivory Hall and walks out into a steady rain. As they head for the Inner Gates and lower ground, they pass by the schoolhouse and see Brinya Kelver holding a sheaf of papers over her head in a futile attempt to keep dry while she struggles to lock the door with her free hand.
Carbonel growls displeasure at the rain and forces Vhailor to find a means of shielding the worst of the rain by burrowing into his jacket. Therefore having his hands full with cat and staff he smiles and implores one of his companions "Looks like she could use a hand?... mine are somewhat encumbered."
As they walk, Alicia glances at Marikel. "The flophouse used to be owned by the Sawyers, by the way. I wouldn't be surprised if there were a secret tunnel out of town in the basement there...one that could also be used to get into town."
Dorn raises a hand, "I'll help the lass!" He quickly moves over to help. "Looks like ya need a bit of help, lass. What can I do ta make things a bit easier on ya?"
"Oh! Would you...?" She starts to hand over the papers in her hand, realizes they're the only things between her and the rain, and gives the dwarf the key instead. "Could you just lock that for me?" As he complies, she gives Vhailor a smile. "What are you all doing in the Upper Quarter? Business with the Council of Defenders? Don't tell me if it's secret."
Vhailor returns the smile though ungainly as he wrestles with a half-soggy Carbonel.
"Allow me, Miss Kelver." Marikel steps around Dorn and raises his shield above Brinya's head.
"It's no secret. It certainly won't be in an hour or so. Some rabble were making trouble at the flophouse. We advised them to disperse and thought it best to update the Chief Defender. I mean Mister Frum."
Marikel glances at the sheaf of papers.
"Been working, Ma'am? Um, I mean... sorry, I don't mean to pry. Sorry, I just... Are you all...?"
Marikel sighs.
"I mean, how have you been?"
"Assignments to mark," Brinya explains of her stack of papers. "Not that I expect any of them to be well done. No one's mind is really on spelling or arithmetic these days, is it? Including my own," she confesses.
Retrieving the key from Dorn after he has locked the door and dropping it in her pocket, she goes on. "I'm not surprised to hear of people making trouble. The children are doing it as well: fights and insults and fits of nerves. Some of them are terrified, while others are bragging about planning to run down to the palisade instead of up to the Longhouse with the rest of us when the Twisted Nail arrive so they can fight alongside the Patrol." She hesitates. "When the alarm is sounded, would any of you be willing to help me get the children into the Longhouse? The town is trusting me to keep them safe, and I hate to think of what might happen to any of them that get away from me and go running for the front lines, looking to be a hero."
Dorn shoots his hand up like a rocket. "I'll help ya, Ma'am! I'll even get me bird ta help." As he looks up into the sky, a raindrop catches him right in the eye. "Blasted bird! If he would just keep up I wouldn't have ta be lookin' for him in the sky, and I wouldn't be gettin' blasted with water in me eye! Blasted bird!" he complains as he wipes his eye. "Anyway, I'll help ya I'll will, ma'am. Maybe not so much me bird though," he states as a matter of fact, shrugging.
Without any sarcasm or awareness of what might be untoward Vhailor suggests "Any reason why you can't just lock them in the school room even before the alarm's sounded? That way you wouldn't need to be tracking them down."
Brinya looks a bit bewildered by Vhailor's suggestion. "It's getting them from the school to the Longhouse that I'm afraid will pose the problem. It would be fairly easy for a few of them to slip away in the confusion, with part of the town running to shelter and the other part running to the walls, and I can't leave the rest of the children to chase after the strays." She turns to Dorn. "Thank you very much. It would only be right after the alarm bell rings, until they're all in the Longhouse; then you'd be free to join the fighting yourself."
Alicia scowls and mutters something about herding cats.
Marikel nudges Alicia.
"Of course I'll help, Miss Kelver." He forces a smile. "We all will."
His hard eyes fall on Vhailor, give up almost immediately, and settle on Alicia.
"Won't we!"
Vhailor shrugs affirmation.
Alicia scowls deeper and shuffles her feet as she mutters something that sounds vaguely like 'yeah.'
She turns to Dorn. "Thank you very much. It would only be right after the alarm bell rings, until they're all in the Longhouse; then you'd be free to join the fighting yourself."
Grinning, "Sounds like a plan then! You can count on us, lass." He gives a firm nod of affirmation.
"Thank you," she replies with a nod and a twisted half-smile. "All this waiting ... it's hard to take, isn't it? As I said, I'm not surprised there's people making trouble. Everyone's living on a dagger's edge waiting for the alarm to ring. It almost feels like it will be a relief when it does. I suppose we ought to be making the most of the time before the siege, but knowing it's coming, and soon, but not knowing exactly when...." She sighs. "Thank you," she repeats.
"It is hard," Marikel acquiesces. "I try to keep busy. Idle hands are trouble's tools." Marikel drags his gaze away from Alicia.
"If there's anything else you need, don't hesitate to ask. Take care, Miss Kelver."
The rain continues all evening and into the night, a steady drumming on the rooftops as the inhabitants of Trunau do their best to sleep, not knowing if they will be awakened by the alarm bell. If this is the beginning of the spring rain, there will be an early Flood Truce this year. The townspeople could be heartened by the thought that the muddy plain will make it harder on the orcs advancing toward Bloodmarch Hill, if their next thought wasn't for the Chief Defender and contingent of the Patrol trying to skirmish in the same weather on the same terrain.
By morning, the rain has diminished into a steady drizzle. The sunrise is a mere ruddy glow behind obsuring clouds in the east, as the day brings only a sullen attempt at light between the heavy overcast and the low fog that dampens the clothing of the soldiers in the watchtowers in the Upper Quarter and leaves them squinting through the haze for signs of the approaching army. The mood in town is tense; everyone is aware that, given the poor visibility, the orcs are likely to be uncomfortably close to the palisade before they can be seen.
It is mid-morning when a sharp crack like thunder rolls over the plain to the ears of the Patrolmen at the town gate. They hesitate a moment, unsure if it's only the storm or something more; then the bell in the Upper Quarter begins insistently to peal. Like an anthill that's been stirred up, the streets of Trunau begin to boil with movement: defenders rushing to the palisade and the gatehouses and noncombatants moving in the opposite direction, uphill toward the Longhouse.
True to his word Marikel has been busy, though much of his efforts seem to consist of conscripting whoever gets too close. As the alarm goes off, he thanks his latest helper, casts a quick glance round for Alicia and Ruby, and strides off towards the schoolhouse.
Out and about, Dorn aimlessly wanders the town until he hears the sound of the alarm. Eyes narrowed as he turns toward the sound, "I'm guessin' we got company. And the kind no one's invited." The dwarf rushes toward the schoolhouse immediately. he yells as he heads that way.
Not a moment later a loud screech from the sky is heard as the Roc heads in his direction.
Marikel encounters Tyari as they both depart Sanctuary. Most of the mission's healing supplies have already been moved up to the Longhouse, so she is carrying only a bag over one shoulder much like Marikel's own. She grasps Marikel's wrist briefly. "Inheritor guide you," she blesses him. "Keep a vigilant eye on Alicia. You're more likely to be in the fray than I am, unless it comes to the steps of the Longhouse. If you meet up with Brantos, tell him to fight alongside you; look out for each other."
Dorn and Marikel join the flow of Trunauans headed toward the Upper Quarter. Skyreaver circles above their heads impatiently, as the earthbound party members have to climb the switchbacks back and forth to reach the top of the hill.
Cham Larringfass and her halfling employees are hard at work, closing and barring shutters and doors, preparing to defend the Ramblehouse if necessary. A steady stream of smiths are carrying the last bolts and weapons out of Clamor, either to the palisades or up toward the higher gatehouses. Bumpus is barking wildly at the end of his lead as Jess Meeson tests the string of her bow.
Alicia does indeed follow along after Marikel, her countenance grim.
Marikel looks down at Tyari's hand on his wrist and back to her dark eyes.
"Tyari? I lo... I'll look out for Alicia."
Marikel swallows.
"And Brantos."
He takes her hand from his wrist and holds it ever so briefly.
"Inheritor keep you safe."
He turns towards the schoolhouse with the others and murmurs quietly, "And those you love."
Vhailor indeed follows upon Dorn's coattails... somewhat invigorated for the repose. Carbonel is present once more upon his shoulder, given there is no rain to cow him, and narrows his feline eyes in attentive curiosity.
At the Hopespring, people can been seen filling waterskins and empty bottles; the Council has had barrels of water carted up to the Longhouse over the past few days, but everyone seems to want their own small resources before having to queue up for the town supplies.
As the four pass through the lower Inner Gates, they spy barricades, logs, and sharpened stakes stacked in readiness, the Patrol's preparation for holding a second front line if the palisade is breached. The Howling Hound appears to be in the process of evacuation, its boarders trooping up the hill toward the Upper Quarter -- and many stopping at The Killin' Ground; it appears Rabus Clarenston is making a little more coin before the Twisted Nail arrives.
Alicia gives the flophouse a baleful glare as they pass by. "There's something wrong with that house; I'm sure of it," she mutters darkly.
With a sideways eye towards Marikel "Do you want me to get them away from drinking? I wouldn't hurt anyone... just scare 'em a bit."
Dorn chuckles at the idea. "I would love ta see that, lad. I'm thinkin' they need a bit o' scarin' ta keep 'em on their toes," he says with a wink, nodding firmly.
"No!"
Frowning and a bit miffed at the rebuff, Vhailor uncharacteristically puts on a sarcastic tone for a few moments "Oh yes... it'll be much better if they're all drunk when the orcs come." before pfftbbing briefly and moving on. Carbonel offers a hiss and industrially licks at a paw.
They continue through the upper Inner Gates into the Upper Quarter. By now, the crowd has thinned to a trickle and is heading almost exclusively in one direction: toward the Longhouse. Most of those around them are the elderly and the infirm -- those unable or unwilling to defend their property -- though there are a handful of Patrol members who, like themselves, have assigned duties far from the front lines. Inside these gates are more barricades and spiked stakes, standing ready for one last line of defense before the Longhouse itself.
The tea room whence Vhailor fetched a sandwich for a Patrolman what seems like months ago is locked up, its curtains pulled. Next to the placard Russell and Pence in the window is another in the same handwriting: Closed until orc attack is successfully repulsed. A less refined hand has added below: To any orcs who arrive before our return: Shop is trapped. Tea is poisoned. Too bad you bastards can't read.
As they approach the schoolhouse, they see Brinya standing in the doorway, looking down the road anxiously. As she sees their approach, her expression changes to one of relief. "Our escort is here," she addresses the children, who are presumably clustered inside the door. "Now, each of you has a partner; show me your partner.... That's right. Each of you is responsible for getting your partner safely to the Longhouse, you understand? We're going to march quickly and keep calm." She gives the approaching foursome a grateful nod. "Thank you for coming. I'll take the lead, and you all stay around the column of children ... and could one of you bring up the rear?"
Alicia nods curtly in response to Brinya's question.
Vhailor skips to one side and strikes up a conversation with the nearest fearful munchkin "Hallo... nice day for a walk isn't it. What's your name?... no don't pet the cat" whispered "He's in a bad mood"
"Miss Alicia? Your sharp eyes will serve us well." Marikel gestures to the back.
"Mister... I mean Vhailor. Take the left, but stay back a bit nearer Miss Alicia. Mr Dorn, the right, but a bit forward. I'll lead with Miss Kelver."
Marikel points to each position precisely, then turns to Brinya for further instructions.
Nodding cheerfully, "Aye aye, Captain!"
The children spill out of the door as Brinya opens it, each gripping the hand of another. "Miz Kelver, can I change partners? Herbert smells." "I'll trade. Here, you can have Nelly." "Miz Kelver, Bessie peed her pants!" "Did not!"
"Everyone," Brinya responds fiercely, "will keep the partner they have. We only have to get into the Longhouse; it won't take long."
Some of the smaller children are used to halflings from Cham Larringfass and her staff at the Ramblehouse, but they don't quite know where Vhailor fits in. He might almost be an emaciated halfling, but the wispy beard and the cat still demand an explanation. The children, some inches taller than he, stare curiously, as intriged with the gnome as with his pet.
Alicia takes up a position at the back of the line with ill grace. Ruby, holding the hand of a boy who is trying hard to look bored by prospect of a siege, spots her and smiles, pulling her partner with her toward the back of the line.
One of the children spots Skyreaver circling and points. "Miz Kelver, is that an orc bird? Shouldn't someone shoot it?"
Carbonel rears up onto his back legs and threatens to hiss and spit. His feline form also takes on an otherworldly bent... as though it's features begin to become both sharper and less distinct combined. The mismatched green and blue eyes ebb and glow like a fire's ember.
Vhailor initially takes no notice of the change, but when seeing it writ large in the reaction of the children he turns and frowns at his companion. "Not nice... stop it or I'll make you walk" turning back to the nearest cherub and offering a wink.
As though to cement further distraction he prattles away in his native language...
"mchwa kwenda kuandamana wawili wawili, heko, heko
mchwa kwenda kuandamana wawili wawili, heko, heko
mchwa kwenda kuandamana wawili wawili,
kidogo moja ataacha kufunga kiatu chake
Na wao wote kwenda kuandamana chini ya ardhi
Ili kupata nje ya mvua"
Alicia returns Ruby's smile as the younger girl falls back to walk with the blonde delinquent. "Exciting, isn't it?" she says drily, her tone indicating bravado more than any actual positive interest in the impending siege.
"Y-yes, exciting," Ruby replies in what's meant to be a casual tone. "Better than sitting in school all day, that's for sure." She tosses her hair showily over her shoulder.
The blonde rogue gives Ruby a knowing smirk and glances over her shoulder, taking care to watch the herd of school-children's backs.