| Heartwood Logs |
2000-09-08
| Heartwood |
| Realms |
Retired
| Reality Fault |
General Info
 |
A Game of Cat & Mouse
Brisa will search quietly around the tower once, just to be sure, and ask Lady Kay to look in on her brother... but when no trace of Mordyn is found she shrugs and stops worrying about it. It's not like she'll be able to track Mordyn down, after all. Instead she plants several of the flowers that she and Romana had worn in their hair the previous day, settling them in small clumps across the hill top. Doubtless it is a coincidence that most of them face the stern tower that is its lonely lady's home...
Brisa will do a slow and wary walk-through on the temple, making sure it's all right. She'll also try once again with the temple, asking Dayalla what She wants or needs to fully restore it. There is nothing but silence to answer Brisa's questions. No words, no whispers, no magics to come bounding down from the clear storm season skies. Nothing, save that even in the deepest reaches of the ancient temple there is always a shaft of light or sparkle of yellow light at the end of the hallway to keep her company. Eventually she sighs and gives up. She's just not a priestess... apparently it takes a priestess to properly consecrate a temple, no matter how fervent the non-priestess' exhortations are otherwise.
When the small group rides back into town Brisa will stop by the Lady Kara's house, and politely wish her a Merry Midwinter's Day. Then she'll inquire as to whether the lady has any way of asking questions of a deceased person's soul. She'll explain, if asked, about the poisoning of both members of the Wild Horde and the inn's cook. If it were possible to ask the cook who she bought the garlic from, Brisa will explain, that could potentially help discover who'd done this foul thing.
Lady Kara smiles at Brisa's entrance, but lets out a sigh at her request. Yes, of course it can be done. And reluctantly she draws a shadow out into the middle of the room, as one might a small ruff. Kneeling down, she whispers to it, and in a heartbeat it is gone. Lemonade is served by the hot fire, and after a bit the little shadow is back, curling about her legs. And when Lady Kara looks back up, there is a dark look upon her eyes. "Well, someone doesn't want your question answered, Brisa. A warding has been placed over that question of that shade. And Jagnar's pawns are one of the only ones who can do that."
Brisa frowns thoughtfully, then asks slowly, "Are all aspects of that question denied, lady? Could the shade be asked instead, say, what the false garlic seller looked like?"
Also, while the whole group is slowly riding back through town together, Brisa will ask Anuje to tell Roxanna the story about Daria at Brandreth's, and if Roxy would be willing to give Daria a little healing?
Late that night as the stars come out Brisa will sit out somewhere that she can watch them wink into view... and then she'll quietly ask them -- what do they talk to each other about? The wind then quietly whispers, a soft jingling in the night, the memory of Tashka's worn and tired voice. Her words are as light as the dancing of the stars. "We talk of you, of course, dear Sister."
Brisa says wryly, "Wonderful. Anything helpful you can tell me, as far as making things better here?"
- The morning starts late, or at least for the rest of the tavern
it does. This early the only ones who stir are those who work here --
even earlier than Brisa for her morning visit to the ever-demanding
Khari. Usually it is but soft footsteps in the hall, a pitter patter
barely noticed... barely noticed until this morning.
Outside the doors the footsteps halt. There is a moment's silence. Then a loud crash, accompanied by a splash of water. And then the footsteps panicking away very, very fast...
Brisa rises swiftly and warily draws her sword, shoulders her shield... then cautiously opens the door.
There it rests, hanging from the latch in a tied-off loop. A scarf of brilliant red, the same red worn by a Knight of Rames. Pinned to the scarf is a small bit of parchment -- parchment covered in black ink and crudely cut in the shape of a unicorn's head. Beyond, Brisa can see Reveka running up towards the stairs, away, fleeing. In front of the door a large crockery vase lies shattered, its water splashed across the hall.
Roxanna responds to the crash without thinking, her days in the Alley rousing and arming her before she even knows what she's doing. She joins Brisa at the door in her shift, holding a dagger. "Oh. Tob'vyu maht."
Brisa lifts the edge of the scarf with the tip of her sword, muttering softly under her breath, "What the...?" A moment later, as the significance of the scarf registers, her face darkens in anger. She slams her sword back into its scabbard, snatches the scarf off the door latch, and as she's tossing her shield across her back she strides swiftly down the hall in the same direction Reveka took off for.
Moments later she bursts into the main commons room, her eyes bright with fury. She strides over to the bar and thrusts her fist out directly at Hurricane Keegan. The scarlet scarf flutters gently as she yells angrily, "Schto eta?! Shto vo dumatst? Am sinkink foolishness enough you hirink Jagnar's daughter for bar, haf bitch runnink around handlink food -- but now you allow Mordyn to sreaten patrons?!"
At the bar Reveka is already talking fast and panicked to her employer. Hurricane just listens to the Dayallan's outburst before thundering back on his own, eyeing the accusingly held scarf and leaning instinctively away from it, "How the hells was I supposed to know?!" One breath and he continues, "Do you even think I'm going to let her walk into this place ever again?" Brisa stares exasperatedly at Keegan for a moment... then snarls something guttural at him and whirls away, heading back for the stairs and her room.
Roxanna watches as Brisa storms off to rouse the Inn and probably denounce Mordyn. She hopes it won't turn into a witch-hunt... "She'll calm down soon enough. I doubt Mordyn is anywhere nearby at the moment." The healer frowns, pacing in the small room. "The question, then, is how to protect our Dayallan friend. I suspect that either Mordyn or Brisa is doomed now..."
Benedict hears the crash in the hallway, and is already up and pulling his robes on when he hears the singing of the Dayallan's sword slapping home. He's out of his room in time to see Brisa go 'round the corner, something red in her hand. In confusion, he knocks quietly at the door to the other room. "I would say 'good morning,'" he says, "-but it seems like anything but..."
As he learns what was discovered, his features go from concerned to ashen. "Oh, Hastur," he murmurs. "I should have thought... blast it all to cinders! Mordyn's issued challenge to Brisa, it seems. She knows we know about her, or thinks we know about her, at least." He visibly racks his mind for several moments, trying to get his muddled thoughts under control. "All right... all right... what now... uhm... we need to stick together. Mordyn's vengeance will come harsh and quick and without any care at all for who gets in the way, but with numbers we may be able to at least see it coming and react."
Brisa returns a few moments later, still striding swiftly and in a thundering fury. She storms into the room and starts throwing on clothing and armor, barking out questions, "Anyvon khere know anyssink of Jagnarians? Is 24 'our vindow true? if so what are parameters -- Kher risink to Kher risink, or osser? Vill osser Jagnarians pick up mission if Mordyn fail? Vill Mordyn khurt ossers to get to me?"