"Nobody leaves for now - we need to figure out how this happened." He looks around the room, getting a bead on who is there and who isn't. "Is this everyone who was here before the brawl began?"
"I seriously doubt it. It was rather packed in here and in the chaos several people left in order to avoid getting mixed up in the brawl."
"I don't know the people of the town well enough to be able to say who was or wasn't here though."
As Rolth gets people to clear away from the table, Finoan runs through scenarios in his mind.
▸ What's in the Etran's Folly box.
▸ The poison that killed Bort.
While Rolth is busy trying to get the last of the crowd to move somewhere else in the room and prevent anyone from leaving, Finoan comes up to the table and inspects the two bowls of soup - Bort's and Inniska's - trying to determine if it is even the soup that was poisoned.
"I would need alchemy tools in order to better determine if the soup is where the poison is and what type of poison it was." He looks pointedly at Tamli "Anyone know where I could find something like that?"
There at the start: Amora, Delma, Kolnral, Phinick, Tiffani, Farmer Eallom, Flonk the Bard, the drunk Knight, and like 12 farmers. Caravan members - Bort, Olf, Ulf, Tamli, Gregor. The Princess Guard.
Leaves during the fight: Delma, drunk Knight, Phinick, Tiffani
Arrives after the fight Rolth Garley, Delma
"Nobody leaves for now - we need to figure out how this happened." He looks around the room, getting a bead on who is there and who isn't. "Is this everyone who was here before the brawl began?""I seriously doubt it. It was rather packed in here and in the chaos several people left in order to avoid getting mixed up in the brawl."
"I don't know the people of the town well enough to be able to say who was or wasn't here though."
As Rolth gets people to clear away from the table, Finoan runs through scenarios in his mind.
** spoiler omitted **
While Rolth is busy trying to get the last of the crowd to move somewhere else in the room and prevent anyone from leaving, Finoan comes up to the table and inspects the two bowls of soup - Bort's and Inniska's - trying to determine if it is even the soup that was poisoned.
"I would need alchemy tools in order to better determine if the soup is where the poison is and what type of poison it was." He looks pointedly at Tamli "Anyone know where I could find something like that?"
Tamli just stares at him blankly, unable to comprehend the question at the moment. Gregor looks at Finoan from over her shoulder and nods. ”I have some. I’ll let you borrow it for now…and lend you any aid that I can.”
-----
Rolth approaches Tamli cautiously and rests a hand on her shoulder gently, trying to get her to look at him. ”Tamli, we need you guys to stay for a bit. Until we figure out what happened to Bort. Okay?” Tamli stares at him for a moment, then nods numbly. She takes a deep breath, her face hardening, and finally speaks, ”Yes, that’s fine. We’ll stay until we know what happened.”
Delma approaches, crossing her arms. ”I spoke with Amora and Kolnrahl before I sent them home. Sir Lawren, Phinick, and Tiff ran off during the fight. Tiff got hit in the face by a mug, so her leaving is understandable. Sir Lawren would do anything to avoid a fight. He’s probably outside the tavern somewhere, still drinking. Phinick, though…not sure where he got off to.” She glances over at the caravaners and your group. ”I don’t know how this could have happened.” She sighs heavily, shaking her head.
Rolth looks worried and overwhelmed. ”It might be better to get some sleep and tackle this in the morning.”
Baradim had sat as he watched the others for a bit, relaxing just for a moment before the dwarf's face began to shift and change in color. It had happened quickly but the orc had rushed over to the dwarf's side to try and keep his head out of the porridge. He held the man's body until it went still and cold, his brow furrowing slowly.
Leaning over the bowls of porridge, Baradim sniffed them hard for a moment before nodding slightly at Bort's bowl. He waves Finoan in closer now.
"There is too much cinnamon here. You smell that? Smells...floral. A flower maybe?" The orc says softly. He turns and looks down at the body that he had laid as comfortably as he could upon the bench. Grabbing the cloth from a nearby table, he would drape it over the dwarf and turn towards the rest of the tavern.
"We must hunt down this killer then, it seems." Baradim mutters, looking over each person in the crowd keenly. "The food arrived before the fight and either was poisoned before the fight started or during it, when we were all distracted." Baradim turns towards the table of fellow caravanners who worked with Bort. "Did any of you leave the table or notice anyone coming over during the fight?"
”I have some. I’ll let you borrow it for now…and lend you any aid that I can.”
"Ah, excellent. Yes, if you can help me out here, that would be fantastic."
"Hmrrrr" Finoan growls softly. "I'm too rusty at this."
"I can't tell if it was the soup that was poisoned or something else. Unless someone wants to eat the other half of the bowl and find out the hard way."
Baradim had sat as he watched the others for a bit, relaxing just for a moment before the dwarf's face began to shift and change in color. It had happened quickly but the orc had rushed over to the dwarf's side to try and keep his head out of the porridge. He held the man's body until it went still and cold, his brow furrowing slowly.
Medicine: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Leaning over the bowls of porridge, Baradim sniffed them hard for a moment before nodding slightly at Bort's bowl. He waves Finoan in closer now.
"There is too much cinnamon here. You smell that? Smells...floral. A flower maybe?" The orc says softly. He turns and looks down at the body that he had laid as comfortably as he could upon the bench. Grabbing the cloth from a nearby table, he would drape it over the dwarf and turn towards the rest of the tavern.
"We must hunt down this killer then, it seems." Baradim mutters, looking over each person in the crowd keenly. "The food arrived before the fight and either was poisoned before the fight started or during it, when we were all distracted." Baradim turns towards the table of fellow caravanners who worked with Bort. "Did any of you leave the table or notice anyone coming over during the fight?"
”We were playing cards with Eallom most of the time. I wasn’t paying attention and didn’t see anything,” Olf says pensively, frowning at the covered body of his former boss.
Tamli shakes her head. ”I only left during the fight to get Kolnrahl out of the way.”
Delma is still standing there, and she shifts her weight from one foot to the other, arms crossed over her chest. ”Kitchen might be the best bet,” She offers, jerking her head towards the door behind the bar. ”Amora would never. But Phinick helps her with a lot of little things in there - and he did tonight. He might have seen something.” She huffs a sigh, running her fingers through her hair. ”You can look into the kitchen if you’d like. Or tomorrow morning, if you’re tired. Nobody will be in the bar tonight.” She frowns. ”Doors will be locked. Bort paid for rooms for everyone. You’re welcome to use them still.”
Niss was uncertain what to do for a moment, but once the others had checked the contents for poison, Niss took Bort's bowl and held it for a moment, concentrating. Perhaps the person who did this hated the man? If so, she might be able to sense the feeling. Had it been a hired killer, someone impassionate, it wouldn't help. But if it was personal?
Finoan looks over to Rolth. "I suppose you don't want to leave me working on this overnight while everyone else is asleep. It would not be prudent to not also consider me to be a suspect still."
"Do you have anyone else that you trust that could keep the evidence secure for the night? Or a secure location might work?"
Niss was uncertain what to do for a moment, but once the others had checked the contents for poison, Niss took Bort's bowl and held it for a moment, concentrating. Perhaps the person who did this hated the man? If so, she might be able to sense the feeling. Had it been a hired killer, someone impassionate, it wouldn't help. But if it was personal?
Finoan looks over to Rolth. "I suppose you don't want to leave me working on this overnight while everyone else is asleep. It would not be prudent to not also consider me to be a suspect still."
"Do you have anyone else that you trust that could keep the evidence secure for the night? Or a secure location might work?"
Rolth looks at the automaton searchingly - Finoan is proving a far more capable investigative lead than Rolth could ever hope to be. ”I’d prefer it if you weren’t rummaging around without supervision, yes.” He nods at Finoan. ”So far, you all aren’t top suspects. It’s hard to imagine you all poisoning him and then being so proactive in helping.” Rolth shrugs, looking thoughtful about the next questions.
”Delma is locking the doors and, I imagine, sleeping here tonight. I’ll have my boys come and guard the scene.”
Niss puts a hand to her chest as her heartrate slows back to normal, setting down the bowl and she glancing around. No sign of the goblin now. Would these people believe her, if she told them?
The goblin had been so nervous...she felt certain he had been made to do this, not chosen to. Gods knew she'd been in the same position often enough, made to do Palina's bidding when she wanted nothing to do with it. The real mastermind could be in this room. If she revealed they knew about the goblin, it might complicate things.
She crouches down near Fin, who seemed the best equipped to head this whole thing. "It was the goblin. I saw it, in my head. But he was terrified to do so. I think maybe someone else made him." She whispered very softly. She didn't want to speak to him telepathically when she'd not yet done so. Some saw it as invasive, and even if he did not, she didn't want to startle him. She stood back up, acting as though she'd merely been adjusting her boot.
Finoan perks his ears up as Niss explains. He whispers back, "Hmm... Not the most reliable or presentable evidence. But it does give me something useful to do during the night. Thank you."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Well, if no more can be done this evening...I think I might turn in. It was a very long day."
And I need to get away from Drake, before I do something stupid and he gets hurt.
"Yes, that is not a bad idea."
Finoan waits in the tavern room until Rolth's associates arrive. Then he also heads up to his room.
He was making it really hard to keep him at arm's length. "It's okay, Drake. I'm fine. I'd have swollen up and keeled over by now if I'd been poisoned, too."
Wait, were they implementing a lockdown? She'd been nervous enough about delaying to investigate the whole experimenting on animals thing. But if she couldn't leave this tavern, she'd be a sitting duck if they sent someone after her. She gravitated closer to Drake without meaning to, standing beside him.
Nodding, he turns and listens to the others. But he doesn't miss the fact that all of a sudden she's right next to him. Why do you keep yourself so far away? You said you felt 'comfortable' around me yet you look as if you're uncomfortable. I wished I knew what is going on with you. I'd ask but it really doesn't seem you wish to talk. I don't understand. Looking up to the ceiling, the ranger closes his eyes, and takes a deep breath as he drags his hands down his face, never having felt so confused.
Rolth looks at the automaton searchingly - Finoan is proving a far more capable investigative lead than Rolth could ever hope to be. ”I’d prefer it if you weren’t rummaging around without supervision, yes.” He nods at Finoan. ”So far, you all aren’t top suspects. It’s hard to imagine you all poisoning him and then being so proactive in helping.” Rolth shrugs, looking thoughtful about the next questions.
”Delma is locking the doors and, I imagine, sleeping here tonight. I’ll have my boys come and guard the scene.”
"Well this just keeps getting better. I don't suppose there's a place around here that we can use to get cleaned up, is there? I could use a wash."
"Well, if no more can be done this evening...I think I might turn in. It was a very long day."
Looking over at Inniska, "Goodnight, Niss. Try to get some sleep, okay?" he says, giving a tired grin and nodding.
Rolth looks at the automaton searchingly - Finoan is proving a far more capable investigative lead than Rolth could ever hope to be. ”I’d prefer it if you weren’t rummaging around without supervision, yes.” He nods at Finoan. ”So far, you all aren’t top suspects. It’s hard to imagine you all poisoning him and then being so proactive in helping.” Rolth shrugs, looking thoughtful about the next questions.
”Delma is locking the doors and, I imagine, sleeping here tonight. I’ll have my boys come and guard the scene.”
"Well this just keeps getting better. I don't suppose there's a place around here that we can use to get cleaned up, is there? I could use a wash."
Delma chimes in, nodding. "Yes, there's a washing bin in each room. It's not hot, but it'll get the job done."
She turns her attention to Rolth. "When your boys get here, get Bort's body to the cellar...so it doesn't go bad before we figure this out. Everyone else...try to get some sleep."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Niss enters her room for the night, closing the door behind her and then leaning back on it, head tilted back looking at the ceiling. She thumps it against the door softly. How could one day make everything so complicated? Yesterday, they’d all just been faces in the caravan. In one day she already cared about all three of them. And Drake? She’d be lying to herself if she said she wasn’t drawn to him. He was sweet, funny, gentle… All the more reason she shouldn’t let him get too close.
She latches the door and sits on the bed. The room isn’t anything special, but it was a thousand times nicer than where she’d spent most of her life sleeping. It had a mattress, for one thing. She’s not going to let me go. She’s probably already set someone on my trail. If they learn which caravan I left with, it will be a simple matter to trace it here. I tried to be careful, but what if I wasn’t careful enough?
She kicks off her boots and unwraps her bandaged arm. The salve Gregor used seemed to have kept it from becoming infected, and helped the healing process take hold more rapidly – only a crescent of puncture marks showed where the wolf’s teeth had sunk in. She takes off her dress and drapes it over the bedpost to keep it from wrinkling further, leaving on the simple linen shift she wears underneath it as she crawls into bed. And then her mind begins to ruminate.
If they found her trail, Palina would send someone to ‘retrieve’ her. She knew every ability Niss had, and would send men who were prepared. She certainly had the connections to do so. They would take her back, kill anyone who got in their way, and her mistress would make sure her life was a living hell for her attempt to flee.
Niss glances at the window. Someone could just climb up to it while she slept and attack her in the night, knocking her out before she could fight back. Her new friends would never know what happened – why would they? She told them she was upset because of her mother. They might even think she poisoned Bort, if she ran away during an investigation. Only her word implicated the goblin. She’d told them none of it. Niss was putting them all in danger, and they didn’t even know it.
These and similar thoughts plagued her for a solid half hour, and the cold pit in her stomach only grew.
Dammit, dammit, dammit. She got out of bed and wrapped a blanket around her shoulders like a shawl, overtop of her shift. He was in danger already. She was not just using that as justification. She exited her room into the hallway.
And she knocked on Drake’s door.
Finoan spends about an hour in his room. Between that and the hour of snoozing he did before Bort arrived, he was rested and ready to go.
He leaves his room and wanders around the upper floors. Keeping an eye on his sleeping (and less than sleeping) companions. Occasionally he heads down to the bottom of the stairs and waves at the guards stationed at the crime scene before heading back up the stairs.
Delma chimes in, nodding. "Yes, there's a washing bin in each room. It's not hot, but it'll get the job done."
Nodding, "Thanks, Delma. I think I'm gonna turn in as well. 'Night all." Drake then heads to his room. He passes by Inniska's room and pauses a moment, looking at her door before eventually continuing on. Man I wish I knew what was going on.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Walking in and closing the door behind him, he makes his way to the washing basin. Pulling out some extra clothing, he sets them down on the bed. He then removes his shirt and tosses it on the floor, exposing his bare-chested, finely cut physique. Looking to the bed, he decides to sit for a minute. Leaning over and supporting his elbows upon his legs and his chin with one hand, he runs the hand holding his chin through his hair before returning to its support role. Thinking about the day, Drake eventually shakes his head before letting out a sigh and rising again.
Just as he's about to remove his pants, he hears a knock. Turning an ear toward the door and pausing, he turns around sporting a curious look. "I wonder who that could be? Nobody mentioned they had anything to say to me. It's probably just Fin. Coming! One sec!" he calls out, making his way over to the door. Turning the handle, "What do you need, F...," is all he gets out before seeing Niss standing there.
Completely startled, "Niss!" he exclaims, not exactly sure how to cover up his bare chest with his arms as he fidgets a moment. Finally deciding to just give it up, "Wow, um, I didn't...," he starts, shaking his head and with furrowed eyebrows, "I didn't, uh, I didn't expect you. Are you okay?" he asks as she stands out in the middle of the hall. Rolling his eyes at his thoughtlessness, "I mean, come in! Sorry. Please, come in, Niss. I promise I won't bite," he jests, grinning. "Tell me what it is you want," he offers, realizing a bit late how that sounds before concluding with, "to talk about," and then clearing his throat.
The guards, having seen Finoan a few times throughout the night already, look to each other with concern. "Should we...do something about the cat guy?" One of them asks.
The other one shrugs, shaking his head. "He's not doing anything Rolth said we should look out for. Best not make more work for ourselves."
Fin watches from his seat at the table in the hallway as Niss knocks on Drake's door. But he doesn't say anything.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
”I’m sorry if I woke you..." He notices her eyes dipping downwards before she forced them back up again. "I do need to talk to you." She sounds troubled.
She enters his room, pacing back and forth for a moment. She is barefoot, and the thin shift only comes down to just above her knees.
”I lied to you all this morning,” she says after a moment, coming to a stop facing him. One hand was holding a blanket wrapped around her shoulders, but her other hand was fidgeting nervously. ”I’m worried that once I tell you the truth...none of you will want anything to do with me. And I wouldn’t even blame you, because I’m putting you in danger just by being near you.”
Hearing that, Finoan softly pads his way over to the doorway as well.
"Everyone has their secrets, princess. That you are worried about us says a lot about you."
Niss's face paled when Fin stood in the doorway. She'd been so distracted she hadn't noticed Drake hadn't closed it yet. She'd agonized all evening over whether she should tell Drake. She was not quite ready to tell Fin everything yet...but he'd heard her admit to lying. She had to say something, now. For the second time tonight she felt herself caught in an anxiety attack, only this time, it belonged to her and not the goblin.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Drake is just about to respond until he sees Fin standing right outside his door. Sighing heavily and looking somewhat irritated, You've got to be kidding me. "Hey, Fin, I like you but with all due respect...," he shuts the door on him. And then locks it.
Looking to Inniska, "Sorry. I should've been quicker on the trigger with that one." Stepping over to her, he looks into her eyes with kindness. "Niss, there is no way that I'd ever voluntarily choose to have nothing to do with you. No way. I promise you. Now, what is it you want to tell me? If you want, you can 'think' it to me," he offers.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Finoan watches calmly as Drake shuts the door in his face.
He chuckles softly for a moment. "Very well, keep your secrets for now."
He then goes and lounges on the floor across the hallway from the door and simply stares at it.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Her eyes go wide as the door shuts, and she looks from Drake to the door and back again a few times, feeling relief but also feeling bad for Fin. "I...that was...thank you. Maybe after I've said it once, it won't be as hard to share with the others."
If you want, you can 'think' it to me," he offers.
She shakes her head. "No, it's alright. It needs to be said aloud. I don't wish to keep it inside anymore."
”I told you my mother and I did not part on amicable terms. Well, that is like saying a man's head did not part with his body on amicable terms, once he's been executed."
"It was not my mother I left behind me. Though in a terrible sort of way she was the closest thing I had to one.” She looks Drake right in the eyes. ”I’m a slave. Property of the infernal nation of Cheliax. I have been since I was a small child. My mistress is Lady Palina of House Arionne. And...she is not a kind one.”
Hesitating for a moment, Niss lets the blanket drop to the floor in a puddle and turns her back to Drake. She tugs the shift down off one shoulder, exposing a sizable portion of her back and upper arm. Though the skin she shows to the world every day is unblemished, that which she shows him now is horribly scarred. She’s been whipped, burnt, and cut, repeatedly, newer marks overlapping older ones.
”I ran away a few days ago. Got onto the caravan. But I’m important to her. She uses my powers to further her own ends.” She couldn’t tell him that part. Not yet. She pulled the fabric back up, hiding the scars, but still did not turn to face him, hanging her head. ”I know her. She’s going to send dangerous men looking for me, wanting me back. I lied to Fin when he asked this morning, and I put you all in harm’s way, because I was afraid of how you’d all respond. That you'd send me away, or worse...that you might try to collect a reward for my return. I now know that to be foolish. But as I said...it's been an eventful day.”
She was quiet for a long moment and then, in a small voice, added, ”I’ve no right to ask it of you after lying…but I’m scared to be alone right now. Do you think…could I sleep in here tonight? I don’t mind the floor, even. I’m more used to that than a mattress anyway.”
Looking through narrowed eyes at her scars, the ranger turns his attention back to her when she covers them back up.
When she finishes, Drake moves over to her, places two fingers under her chin, and lifts her face to where she's looking into his eyes. As his eyes dance, there is a semblance of sorrow within them. "Niss, thank you for helping me understand. I am truly sorry for what you've been through and I want you to know there is nothing I wouldn't do to help you. And no matter who she sends after you, I promise you they will be dealt with. Upon my LIFE they will not harm you ever again," he vows, the anger within his tone very clear, his jaw clenching. Taking a moment to calm down, he gives a slight grin before brushing a strand of her hair back and leaving a comforting hand upon her cheek. "And yes, you can stay with me tonight. The bed is yours. Please." He nods in a way that practically tells her to accept before removing his hand.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Upon my LIFE they will not harm you ever again,"
She shook her head. "That's why I didn't want to tell you. I can't let you, any of you...but you especially...I can't let you risk yourselves for me. If something happened to you, and if was my fault? That would be worse than the punishment I'd face if I went back." She put her hand over top of his hand as it rested on her cheek.
"It's why I was trying to push you away...I'm just not very good at it." She glanced down at his chest again, and recalled her own attire. "Like, at all."
"And yes, you can stay with me tonight. The bed is yours. Please."
She opened her mouth to protest him giving up his bed, but then turned a shade pinker. "There's...probably room for both of us." She quickly added, "To sleep, I mean." Pinker still.
She shook her head. "That's why I didn't want to tell you. I can't let you, any of you...but you especially...I can't let you risk yourselves for me. If something happened to you, and if was my fault? That would be worse than the punishment I'd face if I went back." She put her hand over top of his hand as it rested on her cheek.
"It's why I was trying to push you away...I'm just not very good at it." She glanced down at his chest again, and recalled her own attire. "Like, at all."
With her explanation making everything so clear, "Well, Niss, it's about time you are bad at something. In that regard, I am glad." He smiles, a smile that appears to be one of immense relief.
She opened her mouth to protest him giving up his bed, but then turned a shade pinker. "There's...probably room for both of us." She quickly added, "To sleep, I mean." Pinker still.
Looking deep into her eyes, he reaches out and strokes her cheek. "Niss, I, uh..." the ranger pauses, his pulse quickening as he slowly leans in, his eyes locked with hers, and his lips nearing her own. But Drake hesitates, wondering if she is going to pull away, wondering if he's going too far. It's now or never, Drake McClain. There's only one way to find out. With no more hesitation, Drake cups her face within his hands, and leans in the rest of the way. Just as their lips meet, Drake lets himself go and he kisses her deeply. After several long moments, he finally separates himself from her, his breathing a bit more rapid. Smiling, "Yeah, okay." he finally responds to her statement.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Well, Niss, it's about time you are bad at something."
She'd held it together while sharing everything, but emotions were running high and this elicits a sort of laugh-sob as the tension goes out of her in a rush. Only a few tears escape, wetting her eyelashes while one or two roll down her cheeks.
When he leans in she feels herself stop breathing, and when he hesitates she thinks she might die. Her arms slip around him when he finally kisses her and he feels her melting against him, keenly aware of the wisp of fabric separating them.
When his lips pull away, she rests the side her head against his chest and holds him for a long moment, hearing the rumble of his voice when he says "Yeah, okay" and listening to his heart beat as fast as her own. "I don't know how you do it," she murmurs. "A man's just been murdered with poison. My arm was nearly chewed off today. And I've an angry noblewoman with access to bounty hunters after me. But just being near you makes me feel entirely safe."
She holds him for a few moments more before she pulls away and tugs him by his hand to the bed. She slips into the comforting softness of the blankets. It's not an especially wide bed but she doesn't want any space between them anyway.
Her thoughts are awash with the temptation to give in to her passions fully, but she's craving an intimacy beyond the physical right now. As he joins her in the bed, lying on his back, she wriggles into the crook of his arm, her front pressed to his side, using his shoulder as her pillow. She drapes an arm over his chest and feels more comfortable than she's ever been.
And then, she does 'think it' to him. Her voice emerging from his own mind, telling him everything about herself, as she tries very hard to convey the absolute truth to him while not harping on the worst parts. She doesn't want sympathy, she just needs him to know her -- really know her -- and judge from there how he really feels. She was used to her looks charming men...unfortunately. With Drake, she wanted, needed, him to be drawn by more than that.
So she tells him everything, the magic appearing around her as that warm glow he'd remarked on earlier today, only pulsing and intense now. She shares what few memories she has of her actual parents: kind, simple folk who loved her. Of the goblin attack, and hiding under the floorboards of the house, hearing her mother and father killed, only emerging a couple days later when her hunger forced it upon her. She shares her time at the orphanage, little more than a sweat shop. Being sold to Palina. She describes her 'happier years' while still young, cleaning and toiling at physical tasks, only occasionally facing punishment for clumsy mistakes. The way she looks back on a childhood spent enslaved, being whipped on the regular, as more pleasant times breaks his heart a bit. Finally, she shares coming into her powers as a teenager, trailing off in her tale as she's already made it clear how well the ensuing years went. Her back had written that history for him plainly, and he suspected many more scars were of a less visible sort.
The hour grew late, and it had been an exhausting day. Their mental conversation slows as drowsiness begins to take hold. They'd rolled over at some point and her back was spooned against his front, his face resting against her hair. He held her close and her hands were clasped with his.
"I've spent practically my whole life belonging to someone else..." her final sleepy words spoke weakly into his mind as her focus faded. She finished the thought aloud, murmuring it softly, before her consciousness drifted away into happy dreams.
"Now only my heart does. And it's yours."
Finoan waits by the door for an hour or two. At first he could hear the two talking, though he couldn't understand the quiet mumbling from the other side of the door. After a while he couldn't even hear that any more.
"Well, looks like they aren't leaving the room until morning."
Fin goes back to his rounds, prowling around the upstairs level of the building. Looking out all the windows. Trying to see the caravan wagons and their cargo. Stopping and listening at each of the doors to hear anything out of the ordinary. Going to the bottom of the stairs to check that the evidence is intact and that the guards are awake and alert.
As the sun starts coming up, Fin takes up his position in front of Drake's door again, and waits.
Finoan waits by the door for an hour or two. At first he could hear the two talking, though he couldn't understand the quiet mumbling from the other side of the door. After a while he couldn't even hear that any more.
"Well, looks like they aren't leaving the room until morning."
Fin goes back to his rounds, prowling around the upstairs level of the building. Looking out all the windows. Trying to see the caravan wagons and their cargo. Stopping and listening at each of the doors to hear anything out of the ordinary. Going to the bottom of the stairs to check that the evidence is intact and that the guards are awake and alert.
As the sun starts coming up, Fin takes up his position in front of Drake's door again, and waits.
Fin notices nothing out of the ordinary this night. The town is quiet; there is very little noise beyond the usual nighttime sounds. The cargo stays safe & the boxes labeled for Etran's Folly are still stacked up, presumably waiting to be delivered to their recipient. The guards become so used to your patrolling and presence that you do catch them both dozing at their posts during the night.
At one point during the night, a small cat approaches you, winding its way around your ankles as you patrol. It sniffs you at one point, and looks a little confused, as if thinking, "This one doesn't smell right. It looks like a cat..."
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
As they lie in bed, Drake listens intently to her story as she relates it within his mind, his arms wrapped around her, holding her tight, protecting and comforting her at the same time. Resting his face upon her head, he strokes her cheek lovingly as she 'thinks' to him, his heart breaking at the hell she's been through.
"I've spent practically my whole life belonging to someone else..." her final sleepy words spoke weakly into his mind as her focus faded. She finished the thought aloud, murmuring it softly, before her consciousness drifted away into happy dreams.
"Now only my heart does. And it's yours."
As she drifts off to sleep, Drake lies there awake, wanting to keep this moment alive for as long as he can. Softly kissing the back of her head, "And mine is yours. Always." Taking a deep breath, he nestles to her as close as he can, and holds her hands a little tighter. Finding so much comfort and peace with her in his arms, he never wants to let go. Giving her one more kiss on the back of her head, "Peaceful dreams, my love." Drake closes his eyes and finally finds sleep himself.
With the investigation on pause for the moment and his arm hurting still from the bite and the punch he had received, the orc retires to his room to sleep fitfully until the sun rises once more.
There at the start: Amora, Delma, Kolnral, Phinick, Tiffani, Farmer Eallom, Flonk the Bard, Sir Lawren, and like 12 farmers. Caravan members - Bort, Olf, Ulf, Tamli, Gregor. The Princess Guard.
The people who left during the fight: The drunk knight (who has been named at this point: Sir Lawren), Phinick the goblin, and Tiffani, one of the servers.
Delma left during the fight and came back with Rolth Garley, the sheriff/constable/lawman. He seemed overwhelmed.
Caravan members not in the bar: Grunda & Cooky. Presumably with the caravan.
→ Niss used her psychometric resonance and shared with Finoan what she found - she thinks it was the goblin, Phinick, who poisoned Bort & she thinks someone made him do it. So far, she’s only shared this with Finoan.
→ Bort was poisoned. It smells floral. In the midst of all of that chaos, I did forget to tell you all what the poison actually is. I’ll resolve that in the morning.
→ The caustic wolf looks like it had surgery done on it.
—-------------------------------------------------------
The Next Morning
As the morning arrives, sunlight starts to creep in through the Feedmill's windows. It’s an idyllic sort of morning: roosters are crowing in the sunrise; birds are chirping and twittering around the windows; the soft sounds of a town waking up start to filter in through the inn’s dingy windows. The pastoral feel contrasts sharply against the previous night's events and the feeling of tension that permeates the town.
Inniska and Drake wake up wrapped in each other’s arms; although, at some point during the night, Drake got a little bit of Niss’ hair in his mouth.
Baradim’s fitful rest is polluted with visions of Lastwall. The last thing he sees before he awakens is the silhouette of The Whispering Tyrant towering over a horizon littered with corpses…an uncomfortable way to wake up.
Finoan, having patrolled most of the night after a catnap, is posted in front of Drake’s door, waiting for the rest of The Princess Guard to wake up. The cat from before is hanging around, intrigued by the automaton.
There are sounds of people moving around below; presumably the caravan members, Delma (who awoke quite early, nodding a greeting to Finoan before heading below to figure out serving breakfast in a kitchen that was also a crime scene), and Rolth, the city lawman.
Finoan watches as the cat comes up sniffing at him. "Meow," he says to it in a flat tone - enunciating the onomatopoeia as two syllables. "Though I suppose I can't blame you for being curious."
Niss wakes before Drake and is careful not to move and wake him right away, still wrapped in his arms. Her hair is tangled and in her face, her mouth tastes awful after consuming and un-consuming alcohol the night before, her cheeks are sticky from the tears, one of her arms is all pins and needles from being trapped under her for too long, and her back is sore from the too-soft mattress. And she’d never felt better. She was not ready to leave the warm, safe cocoon of his embrace immediately.
Eventually, though, she stirs a bit, running a hand along his arm. ”We should probably get up,” she murmured softly, with a hint of shyness. ”That goblin who killed Bort might have jumped town already," she said, forgetting she hadn't told him yet. "And I owe Fin an apology. Baradim, too.” She reluctantly slips from his grasp and straightened out her disheveled shift, picking the blanket up off the floor to wrap around herself again.
Stirring as she wakes him, "Huh?" he responds, working to gather his senses. "Yeah. Yeah, you're right. We should," he responds in his not-quite-awake-yet voice. Rising and sitting on the edge of the bed, he runs a hand through his rumpled hair. Then drawing a hand down his face as he exercises his eyes to open, he rises and looks for his shirt. Finding it, he grabs it and puts it on before turning his attention to Inniska. "The goblin? Really? What makes you say that?" he asks, genuinely curious.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I felt it from Bort's bowl," she says, as if that explains everything, distracted as she attempts to make her hair look at least slightly presentable before emerging.
"Meow," Fin says to them.
"So, Niss, after a good night's sleep and realizing that at least one friend won't abandon you for it, are you ready to tell us what it is that you are so afraid of?"
"I felt it from Bort's bowl," she says, as if that explains everything, distracted as she attempts to make her hair look at least slightly presentable before emerging.
Raising his eyebrows, "Interesting. That's interesting." As he works to straighten himself up proper, "I just wanted to say, Niss, that that was the best sleep I've had in a long time. A long time. If ever, to be honest. When I told you I felt 'comfortable' around you I didn't realize there would be more ways than one. It was nice." He smiles, a sense of peace about him. Moving up behind her and looking into her eyes that reflect off the mirror, "Know that if you ever need anything, I'm here for you, Niss. Always." Smiling at her in the mirror for a moment, he eventually returns to getting himself cleaned up. Once he does, he waits for Niss and heads downstairs with her.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
When she's ready, he opens the door and sighs as he sees Fin sitting there. "Fin, have you really been there all night?"
"Fin, have you really been there all night?"
"Well, they did make it very clear that we were to stay shut up in here. What else am I supposed to do?"
"But don't go getting all embarrassed on me. Delma didn't skimp on the construction. I couldn't hear anything from either of you after you closed the door on me."
"Fin, have you really been there all night?""Well, they did make it very clear that we were to stay shut up in here. What else am I supposed to do?"
"But don't go getting all embarrassed on me. Delma didn't skimp on the construction. I couldn't hear anything from either of you after you closed the door on me."
With an incredulous look, "No, not embarrassed. And I'm not entirely sure how to take that, so, with that being said, I'm just gonna go with 'good'. For some crazy reason, I'm thinking that's my best bet." He nods matter-of-factly.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"I just wanted to say, Niss, that that was the best sleep I've had in a long time. A long time. If ever, to be honest. When I told you I felt 'comfortable' around you I didn't realize there would be more ways than one. It was nice."
Niss smiles at Drake in the mirror. "I could certainly say the same...though it wouldn't be saying much, since I slept on the floor most of my life. This is much, much nicer. I...wouldn't mind repeating it, if you want to..."
He smiles, a sense of peace about him. Moving up behind her and looking into her eyes that reflect off the mirror, "Know that if you ever need anything, I'm here for you, Niss. Always."
She turns around and slides her arms around him, reaching up on tiptoe to kiss him as the last word leaves his lips. It was just as wonderful as the kiss last night and it lingered for a long, long while, neither caring about the other's morning breath.
When they finally leave the room and see Fin sitting in the hall she sighs, but not in annoyance towards the automaton, more in acceptance that he and Baradim deserved to hear the truth. "Let me get dressed. Then if you want to find Baradim and meet me at one of the tables over there, I'll tell you whatever you wish to know." She left Drake and Fin in the hall together and was gone for a few minutes putting on her dress and washing up just a bit.
Finoan chuckles at that. "I suppose I can survive my burning curiosity for a minute or ten longer. Yes, go get washed up and dressed for the day."
He stands up and the cat scampers off immediately. Fin walks to the table in the hall and sits there.
Niss smiles at Drake in the mirror. "I could certainly say the same...though it wouldn't be saying much, since I slept on the floor most of my life. This is much, much nicer. I...wouldn't mind repeating it, if you want to..."
A wide grin forming, "I'd like that. I'd like that a lot."
She turns around and slides her arms around him, reaching up on tiptoe to kiss him as the last word leaves his lips. It was just as wonderful as the kiss last night and it lingered for a long, long while, neither caring about the other's morning breath.
Drake finds himself caught by surprise, but it was easily the best surprise he's ever had and he embraces it fully.
------------------------------------------------------------
Finoan chuckles at that. "I suppose I can survive my burning curiosity for a minute or ten longer. Yes, go get washed up and dressed for the day."
He stands up and the cat scampers off immediately. Fin walks to the table in the hall and sits there.
Shaking his head as the automaton takes off downstairs, "You know that curiosity is gonna cost you one of these days, Fin!" he calls out after him, knowing he's already too far gone to hear. "Crazy cat." Shutting his door, he leans against it with his arms crossed and waits for Inniska.
Niss emerges a few minutes later and smiles to see Drake waiting for her. The table Fin walked to was literally right down the hall on the landing, but he still waited for her. Little wonder she felt safe with him.
She walked with Drake over to the table where their two friends sat and she took a deep steadying breath as she sat across from them.
"First, I owe you an apology," she said to them both, but with her eyes on Fin. "You specifically asked if whatever I was nervous about could pose a danger, and I lied and told you it was safe. It most certainly is not."
She was careful to modulate the volume of her voice for their ears alone, not wanting to be overheard by guards, employees, or whoever else was here under the lockdown. "I am a runaway slave, with a very powerful mistress who is absolutely going to take steps to get me back. My hope was that we would reach Andoran before they caught up with me. From what I have heard, their stance on slavery is such that bounty hunters would find themselves rebuffed by most folks they questioned about me, and I would have an easy time disappearing. But now we are delayed."
She frowned and met Fin's gaze first, then Baradim's. "I should have told you, but I barely knew you this time yesterday. I was afraid you might turn me in yourselves. Then you helped protect me from the wolves," she smiled at Baradim, "and held my hair back while I was throwing up," she chuckled self-deprecatingly at Fin, "and I realized I was a fool. "
"Being my friend is dangerous. And I desperately want you all to be safe. No one else has ever shown me the kindness you all have. So I hope you remain my friends, in spite of my selfishness. But if you would rather distance yourselves, I will understand, and be glad, at least, that you'll not be hurt because of me."
Drake focuses stoically on both Fin and Baradim, curious as to how they're going to respond.
| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
At the word 'slave' Finoan bristles noticeably. His ears flatten and his claws start gouging grooves in the table. But he waits patiently and quietly until Niss finishes speaking.
Once she finishes, he replies, "Inniska, let me point out one thing you are likely aware of, and one that you apparently haven't thought of. I am a construct - at least, that is how I am classified. I'm sure you noticed that. What you may not realize is that as such, I have spent most of my life being treated as property. Usually given the same personal rights and privleges granted to the wagons that we rode here on. In more forward thinking cultures that will be upgraded to the equivalent of the horses instead."
"So, no. Your 'mistress' or the thugs she sends after you can have you back only after I get a hug and kiss from Pharasma."
He grins a bit as a thought comes to him. "You know... I have outlived all of my captors currently. I'm considering going back the way we came and extending that honor to our princess here as well."
Niss rises from the table and walks around it to stand beside Fin's chair. She gracefully sinks down to her knees and throws her arms around the little fuzzy automaton, hoping that constructs could appreciate hugs, because she doesn't have the words just now to convey her gratitude.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Drake breaks into a smile at Fin's words. He's a good kitty.