Gyllan stands as the young bravo heads out the side door, curious about the fellow. He nearly bumps his elbow on Corso's raised glass, but he keeps moving after the man. Stepping through the door, he moves as unobtrusively as possible, scanning his surroundings as if looking for the privy.
Ulgrim waits a few seconds after the man leaves, and then gets up quietly to follow him.
Finding himself grinning a little foolishly at Trinia's smile, Iozif begins to reply, "It is noth-" He find himself cut off and his eyes grow to the size of tea saucers as the beautiful young woman he and his companions were escorting kisses him. His mind skips a few beats and as Trinia leans back, Iozif only manage to look like a deer caught in lamplight. Painfully aware that he's looking a fool in front of two beautiful woman, Iozif forces himself to finally react, "As I was saying, it is nothing, Ms. Sab- er... Trinia? The uh.. the pleasure was all ours. I know that I would never forgive myself if I allowed an innocent, and breathtakingly beautiful, woman to be killed by the tyrant on the Korvosan throne." Feeling a little more confident, he begins to smile, "I can only hope that your foray into the countryside can be a short one. If you don't mind, I'm curious if you have you spent significant time away from the city?"
Gyllan and Ulgrim see the flowing tip of the bravo's cloak disappear into the stables behind the tavern as they both press quietly outside. Corso's raised glass gets a cheer from the rest of the room, as they believe he may be buying drinks for the whole crowd.
Upstairs, Trinia grins at the reaction of Iozif to her affection. "No good doctor, it is my first time away from the city. So far, I am liking it quite well...Can we go downstairs for a beverage now?" she asks to Arianna, her chaperone.
Finding the woman's grin infectious, Iozif smiles warmly and replies, "It seems that we have that in common. I'm quite certain I shan't be forgetting it before the day Desna takes me. Now, if you're feeling sufficiently rested from the day's ride, then a drink would be welcome. If not, it may help to wash the dust of the road away anyway. Shall we?" Iozif offers an arm to the golden haired woman with a slight flourish.
"Absolutely, though we should still take care to not draw too much attention to ourselves."
As the group descends to the common room, they see Corso surrounded by many of the local patrons, who are uproariously slapping the man on the back, or heartily toasting drinks with him. It is obvious the dandy swordsman has made himself the center of attention in a short amount of time.
Gyllan and Ulgrim are nowhere to be seen.
In the stable, as you peer into the darkened stable, only a smoky lantern providing dim light, you see the hooded man preparing a fine black stallion for the road. This late at night, in the edge of the wild, a lone rider at night would be taking serious chances.
The man obviously knows his horsemanship and the mount is blanketed, saddled and ready for departure in short order. The hooded fellow is busy with such matters and doesn't seem to notice you watching him from behind. He does have to pass by your standing position to lead the horse out the barn doors which are down from the entry door and lead out onto the main road.
Gyllan intentionally scuffs his feet on the ground to make a bit of noise, then enters the stable as if to check on his horse. "Hello," he says when he sees the hooded fellow, "just arrived? Or are you leaving? Seems a dangerous time to be setting out, there's not much nearby."
Finding a table in a less rambunctious part of the common room, Iozif assists both women with their chairs before seating himself. He waves over a server saying, "If you would be so kind as to fetch whatever these ladies would care for, I would be much obliged. For myself, an ale or stout would be fine. Thank you." He pays for any drinks ordered before asking, "So it seems that our foppish friend has provided us something of a cover while also drawing the attention of the entire inn. Par for the course I suppose. I am led to understand that you are an exquisite painter, m'lady. Is that right?" Iozif slightly emphasizes the title as he asks Trinia his question.
The man looks back with a start, but still in the dark, the hood obscures his features and expression. "Leavin'" mutters the man to Gyllan, going back about his business of readying the mount. "I can take care o' myself friend. Dontcha worry, about that."
At last he is ready to ride, and slips one foot in the stirrup to make way.
Trinia shrugs at the compliment. "Fair to be sure, master physician, and no more than that. I can assure it wasn't my skill with a brush that attracted the king's eye and brought me to his private chambers." She pauses there, thinking perhaps she's said too much already.
Gyllan steps further into the stable, moving to the barn door to keep the man from riding out and saying, "I'm curious what errand is so urgent that you must ride out right now. Satisfy me on that point, and I'll step out of your way."
The crowd gathers round Corso slapping him on the back and shaking his hand until he thinks it will fall off. They yell back his toast and commence imbibing. Once done, it seems they all break out in conversation together at once. The antics of the noble bard involuntarily provide cover for the others to enter the common room mostly unnoticed. Corso sees them find a far-corner table, but has trouble extricating himself from his new best buds to get over to the table where Trinia and the others are deep in discussion.
"My apologies if I dredged up unpleasant memories. It wasn't my intent. I'm sure that you are more then simply fair, but I'd be remiss to press the point." Iozif pauses, thinking over what he'd said, then flushes faintly. He smiles at her, saying. "I had meant that you are more then simply a fair painter, but surely all the meanings are true as well."
In the stable
The man, assuming you have nothing else to say, sticks a foot in the stirrup and mounts the stallion. He brushes past you on the way out the stable door. He pauses momentarily in the dooryard, looking back at you and the inn, then digs his spurs into the flank of the mount, sending him off into the night in the direction of Korvosa.
In the Inn
Trina giggles at Iozif's discomfiture. "Loosen up, doctor! Have a cocktail and live a little.". She downs her drink and in rapid succession orders another, toasting the laughing along with the crowd around Corso. "We need some music in this place, something to dance to."
Arianna smirks, seeing the behavior of Trinia, and mutters under her breath to no one in particular. "So much for keeping a low profile..."
Ulgrim turns to Gyllan. "What if he was a spy, laddie? Off to report us to the Queen's men or to the Hellknights, ye ken? Mayhaps we should sleep but a short time and continue to travel on. Call me paranoid, but Ah'd feel better safe than sorry."
Iozif eyes the group's charge, caught off guard by her sudden change in spirits. He orders a drink for himself, looking over the room. "I'd very much enjoy a dance, if we can get these louts to join in. A beautiful woman like you spinning and laughing will catch many an eye and it would help if there were others joining in."
In the tavern, the band pipes up a jaunty tune, and soon the fair Trinia, who slams another drink, is up and dancing around the place. Iozif tries to keep up with her frenetic pace and soon wearies himself. Even the normally jubilant Corso has a hard time following the lead of the beautiful, but wanted, painter.
Many eyes in the place watch her, some fondly, some attracted, and some perhaps more sinister.
So far, so good...although I do wish she would settle down a bit... Arianna thinks to herself, silently enjoying a drink and watching around the room.
Gyllan steps out of the man's path, so as to avoid getting run down, but he grabs at the reins as the horse gets close, pulling them sharply to stop the creature's movement.
"I asked you a question ," he says fiercely.
Huffing and puffing, Iozif takes a seat as his legs give out from the frenetic pace of the dancing. Taking a long slug of his ale, he looks over the crowd, occasionally looking at their charge. A few of the innfolk catch his eye in particular and his eyes narrow suspiciously. I mislike the woman's smile. And that bartender's nervous glances are a giveaway. Looking to Arianna and then Corso, Iozif is surprised to find the bard having caught his eye already. He nods slightly, then motions the bard over. "It would seems we've been noticed. Perhaps we have overstayed our welcome. I'm not sure that we can stay nor leave safely. Any thoughts?" Iozif asks his companions in a whisper.
Ulgrim grunts seeing Gyllan try to stop the man. This could get messy... he thinks, reaching for his bow.
In the Stables
"My business is my own and none of yours. Hate to see a fine lad like you get on the wrong end of my blade, so I suggest you let go the reins on your own. And call off your dwarven guard dog...Grabbing that bow means someone wants to get hurt. An' I don't think that's what Orsini or Blackjack'd sent you for."
His hand slips to the hilt of his finely crafted weapon but he waits for one of you to make the first move.
Inside the Common Room
Trinia is oblivious to the scene she is creating and, at least momentarily, forgetful of her danger. She quickly downs another drink and continues her dancing around the room, perhaps making more of a scene than any of you expected.
The bartender, who seems to understand who might be gracing their presence, acts quickly, pointing at Corso. "Another round on you, lad? Seems the house has a taste for it tonight, and I don't want no trouble." He winks, basically saying,'Do you want to distract the house with liquor before they figure out the Kingslayer is here dancing?'
Gyllan studies the man a moment before relinquishing his hold on the reins, saying, "Checking up on us, are they? You tell 'em everything's under control."
He steps away from the man's horse, catching the roar of Corso's voice from inside the inn. Ye gods, what are they up to in there? He gives the rider a quick nod, then hustles past Ulgrim, saying quietly, "Let's see what madness they're up to inside! How could we have left Corso in there with the job of keeping a low profile?!"
A loud "HUZZAH" that can be heard all the way out into the stables arises as Corso makes his announcement about free drinks. The guests crowd round the bard and the bartender pressing for their favorite potable. Cutting their eyes to where the rotund busy-body seems to be watching the most wanted woman in Korvosa, Corso and Iozif are frustrated to see she still seems to watch with more than idle curiosity.
Inside the stable, the rider says "Just the message I was going to pass -- as soon as you let go the reins, lad. Master Orsini posted me here to make sure you got this far, and carry word how things were faring. Seems tolerably well, at least up until this point. Now let me be off, godspeed boys."
Assuming you free the reins, he spurs the horse and is off like a shot in the night back towards Korvosa.
Iozif watches with concern as Corso continues to escalate the frenzied clamor of the common room. Iozif stands, cutting in to dance with Trinia when he has a chance, "We should be going upstairs. We've an early start and this has become something of a scene. We need to be a spot more discreet, I think."
Arianna breathes a sigh of relief, seeing Iozif step in. "Hopefully not too much damage has already been done and we can get out of here with minimal difficulty in the morning."
Given that the man seems to know a great deal about their plans, Gyllan takes him at his word. "Very well, you pass word to Orsini that things are fine. And that we spotted his spy, which should encourage him. Safe travels."
He steps out of the man's way and watches him ride off, then gives Ulgrim a tip of the head toward the inn, saying quietly, "We'd better see what they've gotten up to inside." He then goes back inside the inn, taking in the scene of riotous revelry with his eyes wide. is how we travel incognito?
Ulgrim shakes his head at the noise and follows Gyllan back inside.
Iozif watches with concern as Corso continues to escalate the frenzied clamor of the common room. Iozif stands, cutting in to dance with Trinia when he has a chance, "We should be going upstairs. We've an early start and this has become something of a scene. We need to be a spot more discreet, I think."
Trinia laughs at Iozif's suggestion. "You go ahead, doc. Go on up and study your books and potions and things. I will be down here having a good time."
She jerks her arm free of yoru grasp and staggers a bit against the bar, grabbing and downing another drink in the process. "Set 'em up again, my good man!" she shouts. "The cute nobleman is paying!"
Iozif rolls his eyes, stepping away to avoid causing more of a scene. He notices, from the corner of his eye, the same woman he noticed before standing to leave. The sly smile on her face chills him and he makes his way quickly back to Arianna. "We should see about getting her out of sight as quickly as possible. It might even be best to leave immediately. I'm fairly sure she is recognized and one of the two is preparing to leave. Can you speak to her while I try to gather Corso's attention. Perhaps the 'cute' nobleman can get her to listen to sense."
"I will try, but make no guarantees." Arianna says to Iozif before heading off to confront Trinia.
"Trinia, I can understand your need to blow off a bit frustration from your experiences of the past few days, but unless you are intent on reliving those experiences, you must calm yourself and prepare to leave. It is already very likely we will have to depart sooner that anticipated due to the attention you have drawn to yourself."
Arianna's confrontation with Trinia does not fare much better than Iozif's warning, the girl basically ignoring the Varisian witch's common sense. Finally, Corso makes it over and grabs the girl hard, whispering a threat in her ear.
The rowdy painter finally gets some sense of the trouble she's caused, and with a hurt look, and a cry of rage and embarrassment she flees back up the stairs to the private rooms at the end of the hall.
"What in the Nine Hells and Asmodeus' curly b#+++&$s fur are you lot doin' in here?" Ulgrim hisses to Arianna and Iozif. "Might a' well put up a bloody sign, 'we've got the girl!'" he grumbles. "It were meant tae be a secret mission...ye ken the meanin' o' secret, nae?"
With a couple frustrated tugs on his beard to calm himself, he says, "We should leave. We can't stay here after that ruckus. It's too risky."