* Sadurean pounds at Calanthar's door, praying that the man is home this evening. It's late enough that he's probably not at the barracks anymore, but still early enough that the soldier could be out having dinner or a drink on the town. 14"Please be home.. please be home.." 6He repeats softly.
<Calanthar> 6 Whoever Sadurean may be praying to... They must be listening, because after a few moments, a light appears in the front window, and shortly thereafter, the Captain will pull the door open. He's clad in only a thick black shirt and pants, but one hand is gripping a half-drawn sabre. Seeing Sadurean, he'll relax somewhat, but not enough to slide the weapon back in. 1 "Boy... You nearly gave me a heart attack, pounding on the door like that. Thought
<Calanthar> 211 pounding on the door like that. Thought maybe the Ourani were killing people in the street..." 6 There's a pause as he studies the bard, noting concern and heavy breathing, and slowly asks 1 "What happened?"
<Sadurean> When Sadurean faces the Captain, it's with a face that's drawn in fear, the color drained away despite the cold bite of the air outside. His breathing is -in fact- heavy, evidence of his rush to be away from the scene of his crime. If Devregon has any instinct at all for these things, he'll be able to sense immediately that there's a storm of trouble in Durean's wake. When the bard speaks, his words are rushed and begging, 1"Please! I need to talk to you! It's an emergency!"6 He looks around at the street nervously, the setting sun sucking away the light of day with it's passing. 1"I don't know what to do!" 6The last words Calanthar likely wants to hear from the mouth of Avinash.
<Sadurean> 21 and begging, 1"Please! I need to talk to you! It's an emergency!"6 He looks around at the street nervously, the setting sun sucking away the light of day with it's passing. 1"I don't know what to do!" 6The last words Calanthar likely wants to hear from the mouth of Avinash.
<Calanthar> "In. *Now*." 6 Calanthar will step outside, barefoot, motioning for the boy to head into the sitting room, and will remain, hand gripping his weapon's hilt, until Sadurean does so. There doesn't seem to be any movement, but still the Captain is cautious, backing slowly back inside before closing the door. Once the heavy wooden portal is securely locked, Calanthar will cross through the sitting room, disappearing into his office for a moment before re
<Calanthar> 216 disappearing into his office for a moment before returning with a bottle of brandy and two glasses. It's an uneasy silence as the old man carefully fills the two, setting one on the table in front of the bard and taking the other with him to a large chair, pausing only to lean the sword against the fireplace. At long last, he'll heave a great sigh and simply say 1 "Explain. *Slowly*."
* Sadurean does as the man orders, not wanting to stay outside a moment longer where the invisible woman may be lurking. He waits in the sitting room, but he's standing, anxiously waiting. He almost jumps into the story with a speed only a bard could manage, but Calanthar instructs him to go over it slowly and he visibly catches himself. 1"I had to work late, help some students with some singing. When I finally got home, -she- was there, waiting in my living room. She just.. helped herself inside and was burning my music!" 6That affront alone was unforgivable, let alone everything else the Ourani spy has done to him.
<Sadurean> 261 home, -she- was there, waiting in my living room. She just.. helped herself inside and was burning my music!" 6That affront alone was unforgivable, let alone everything else the Ourani spy has done to him.
<Calanthar> 6 To his credit, Calanthar is taking this remarkably well. 1 "I see... I had feared she might come looking for you, if she was the one who sent that man before... Did she demand more information out of you?" 6 There's always the unspoken second question - did you *give* it? The last thing this town needs is more people being arrested... 1 "I hope she doesn't suspect you..."
* Sadurean laughs at that, the kind of laugh that's almost classified as hysterical but hasn't quite reached that pitch. 1"No. She wanted to thank me for all the -help-. I told her I wasn't involved anymore and I didn't know anything else. She said she was going to cover my medical bills at the infirmary, not that I have any. I told her to leave." 6There's more, that much is obvious with the way he chews on his lip. Calanthar had said slowly, though.
<Sadurean> 266 lip. Calanthar had said slowly, though.
<Calanthar> "She didn't. That much I can tell." 6 Perceptive tonight, aren't we? 1 "So then what did she say to your... Desire that she leave? I'm willing to bet she didn't take that too well..." 6 Jayda always did like to use a mocking sort of indignation - if only because it seemed to grate on Sadurean's nerves so much. She was good at what she did, that much Calanthar would give her.
<Sadurean> "Well.. She wouldn't give me back my music at first. If my arm wasn't broken I would have punched her for it. She was trying to piss me off." 6He hesitates now. Devregon is going to be angry, but that's something he would rather face than the enigma that's transpired back at his own home. 1"I.. I shot her. I was standing as close to her as I am to you now. She never saw it coming."
<Calanthar> 6 At a glance, it might appear that the Captain is remaining perfectly calm about this. Of course, it's the small things that give away the true emotion - the knuckles whitening around the glass, as though trying to break it, the way his jaw suddenly clenches and the colour drains from his face a bit, even the flat, forcedly even tone might be a sign. 1 "*Shot* her. Now... What posessed you to *shoot* her?" 6 As if he didn't know - the same thing th
<Calanthar> 216 As if he didn't know - the same thing that makes men challenge fireball-lobbing mages to duels - emotion, anger, youth. 1 "You most certainly should expect she won't let *that* slide."
<Sadurean> 6He avoids answering the question, not interested in defending his reasoning right now. 1"I don't know! I shot her, the gun went off, and she disappeared! Vanished right in front of me! I know I hit her, there's blood on the floor, the door.. Did you know that she can do that?" 6He rubs a sweaty palm on the opposite shirt sleeve, 1"What should I do?"
<Calanthar> 6 It was possible that she had simply run away in the shock and aftermath... Sadurean certainly does have a bard's imagination. Still, the Captain would likely be going to check for himself soon enough... 1 "The first thing you do is make a listing for me of things that you need from your house - things you forgot in your panic. After that? You drink your drink and move into the guest room upstairs. You can *not* go back to your house - they'll lik
<Calanthar> 211 *not* go back to your house - they'll likely come back for you at some point. I'll contact Kynian at the earliest possible opportunity. *You* need to write to your guildmasters, telling them that you're taking a health-related leave of absence. We'll get a doctor if we need to."
<Sadurean> "She might be dead.. I couldn't have missed. There was blood, but the smoke.. It was loud, but I didn't hear anything after the bang, and the door never opened." 6He goes over the events in his head again, but his ability to hold onto details when he's panicked isn't extraordinary. He picks up the glass, taking a small sip, if only because Devregon told him to. 1"I can't tell them that. They'll never believe me. I'll lose my job!"
<Sadurean> 211 me. I'll lose my job!"
<Calanthar> "Boy, it's always best to assume that your enemy is still very much alive - that way they don't surprise you with it. If you couldn't find her, she got away - that simple." 6 Calanthar will help himself to a generous swig before digging around in his pockets for a cigarette, turning it over in his hand. 1 "Well, I doubt you'll be safe there - Jayda obviously knows you work there, and if you're not at home, she'll come looking at the guild. I'm no bar
<Calanthar> 211 she'll come looking at the guild. I'm no bard - I can't craft a wonderful cover story, but you may well need one at this point. It's either that or just... Get fired and accept it. But I'm betting you don't want that."
<Sadurean> 6If he gets fired any future he has with the guild is over. As much as he's complained about his job, he really doesn't mind it all that much and he's worked hard. He looks around the room, mind racing. 1"I think I know something that they probably won't question.. I might need Miesha to back up the story, though." 6He takes a longer drink of the liquor, finally moving to sit. 1"They're going to kill me.. I shouldn't have done it, but she broke into my house! She was burning my work!"
<Sadurean> 211 shouldn't have done it, but she broke into my house! She was burning my work!"
<Calanthar> "I see... Well, I'll contact Miesha immediately and let her know of the urgency of the situation." 6 In a matter of moments, it seems that the brandy has disappeared from the Captain's glass - he's rising, carrying it back to his study as he speaks, voice trailing through the rooms. 1 "What's done can't be undone, boy - with any luck, you *did* kill her. Did you at least remember to remove the gun? The Ourani finding *that* little wonder on your prop
<Calanthar> 211 finding *that* little wonder on your property would not bode well for you."
* Sadurean shifts in the chair, reaching to produce the weapon from under his cloak after he sets aside the still mostly-full glass. He spent a lot of money on the weapon, and it shows. It's very well crafted for such new technology. Durean had wanted to be sure it would work. His eyes keep straying towards the foyer, as if he fears the entire Ourani army busting in at any moment. 1"What if she followed me.. she might not have been that hurt. She disappeared." 6That's the part that's scaring him so much.
<Sadurean> 261 might not have been that hurt. She disappeared." 6That's the part that's scaring him so much.
<Calanthar> "She ran. You shot her, probably critically wounded her - if you've ever seen a gunshot wound, you'd know that at the range you pulled the trigger at, she wouldn't exactly be looking to follow you. If she's alive, odds are she'll be laid up for a while." 6 That doesn't meant the Ourani won't come looking before she would be capable, but it at least means she likely didn't follow. 1 "Disappearing tricks aren't that hard - especially for someone like J
<Calanthar> 211 that hard - especially for someone like Jayda. I'm willing to bet she was just as confused as you - didn't think to give chase, just wanted to stay alive."
* Sadurean nods, accepting that small bit of reassurance. At least the captain isn't chewing him out. He's fully aware of how stupid his actions were and doesn't need Calanthar to tell him. He tucks the pistol away, still wanting the weapon near should she come near him again. 1"You'll let me stay here?" 6He asks, a pleading expression on his face even though Devregon already said as much.
<Calanthar> "It would be the wisest choice, yes. I'll notify Kynian that you will be absent - won't tell him any details. All I need is a list of things that you'll be needing from your house - after that, you should probably get some rest. This kind of excitement can wear you down, even as young as you are." 6 He'll wave a hand dismissively, as though dismissing the question out of hand, but the colour is still taking its time to return to the man's features.
<Calanthar> 216 time to return to the man's features.
<Sadurean> 6As if he'll be able to sleep. 1"Right.. umm.. some clothes. My composition and papers. There's a folder on the desk, and some papers on the floor." 6He tries to think of other things, but his mind is too scattered with fears and 'what if's' to concentrate. 1"I guess that's all." 6The glass is taken up and he'll drink the rest of the brandy. When Durean's eyes find Calanthar again he'll speak in a quieter voice, 1"Thank you, sir."
<Sadurean> 216 voice, 1"Thank you, sir."
<Calanthar> "Right, right..." 6 Hah, like he'll be able to remember that. Probably have to have Sadurean write it down at some point in the morning. Sadurean's final comment earns another wave of the hand, accompanied by a shrug as he takes the glass. 1 "It's nothing - besides, I can't say that the woman didn't have it coming to her."
<Sadurean> 6His face grows harder at that, fully agreeing with Calanthar. He stands, figuring the captain might want to be free of his company with all this trouble to think over. Unfortunately, the only rooms he's actually seen in Devregon's home are the foyer, sitting room, and the man's office. He has no idea where anything else is. 1"Upstairs?"
<Calanthar> "Left at the top of the stairs, down the hall to the end. Bed should be made - haven't had any company over to mess things up." 6 Oh, it will take some time and a lot of smoking to work through this one - Sadurean, you always manage to find newer and better ways to tear through the good Captain's lung tissue. It's a miracle that the lectures haven't started coming down by this point. Maybe the gravity of the situation has shown him that it would be po
<Calanthar> 216 situation has shown him that it would be pointless. 1 "If you need me, I'll likely be in my office a while yet - a few more things to look over before I go to bed."
<Sadurean> 6The reason that Avinash is still alive, other than people constantly bailing him out of trouble, is that he knows when to make a hasty retreat. If it was his father, Kaden would already be screaming at him. He'll take advantage of the far calmer captain's temperment. 1"Okay.." 6He says, backing for the doorway. 1"I'm sure I can manage." 6His parting comment. When things calm down some, he'll have a grand time exploring Devregon's home. For now, he has a pistol to reload.
<Sadurean> 216 time exploring Devregon's home. For now, he has a pistol to reload.
<Calanthar> 6 There are times when Calanthar feels sorry for what Kaden must have gone through. Hell, he even feels sorry for his wife - if she had *half* the trouble, with *one* of the kids... Mumbling something to himself, Calanthar will withdraw to his office, burying himself in papers and books to keep himself calm. This town - this *bard* is probably going to be the end of him, but until then, there's always the occasional Hetian poetry and Frost Watch work
<Calanthar> 216 occasional Hetian poetry and Frost Watch work to keep him busy.
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