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Squire Conrad

He excused himself from the lunch as Cameila went to see about the washing and such. Conrad slipped the innkeepers wife a crown to help Cameila with her work at getting prepared and then went into the street a few doors away to a clothier to see about a velvet ladies cloak to replace the worn and tattered one that Cameila had arrived with. It would do much to hide any defects that she was unable to wash or mend away.

Daxia

Daxia returned to the common room looking none the worse for wear. She did, however, have a rather determined look on her face. She spotted Kadri, and whispered a few words as she paused for a bare moment, then continued to the kitchen.

Cesare

"Let's take Longtooth for a walk. I'd be interested to watch his behaviour here. Might be some sights to see.."

He gestures in the opposite direction from the alley, thinking that once the diversion starts they could circle around back that way. By then anyone watching might be bored of them walking the dog. Besides, if they all left the inn at the same time that would look very suspicious to him.. so others would think that too.

As they start to walk, he focuses his attention on the hound, commenting here and there, enjoying the fresh air.

Darian

"Have you been to Cragside afore?" she asked.

Then more softly she added, "Say when we be near."

"It be very different here than home."

Daxia
with Kadri in common room

Exiting the kitchen, Daxia swept her cloak up from the chair where she left it and made her way back to Kadri. "Business with sisters finished. We go?"

Then she stood perfectly still, closed her eyes and said, "No." She took a deep breath, and let it out slowly as she settled her cloak around her shoulders. After a few more heartbeats, she opened her eyes and gave Kadri a wry grin. "If I am to play the Allaine, I should sound the Allaine, da? As pleasing as my parents' dialect is to my ears, the Allaines do not sound like farmers, shopkeepers... or even swordsmiths. However, I don't have any experience with servants, Kadri. You need to instruct me in the correct way to speak with you and behave towards you."

Kadri:

She snorts slightly.

"Not that much experience on the servant side of things myself."

She pauses.

"You can be polite, whatever. Just. . . the main thing about such a image is to remember that you assume that what you say will be done. You are in charge. You are important, whereas the servant? Not so much."

Daxia
with Kadri in common room

Daxia grinned. "We didn't have servants in the Temple; even fetching water with a leaky bucket was a lesson for thick-headed initiates," she said with a self-deprecating chuckle. "Polite, and in charge." She thought about that for a moment, then nodded. "And have you found a way to narrow the search? Wandering through all the warehouses in the city seems unproductive... and suspicious."

Kadri
With Daxia in the common room:

"Well, first, I know many warehouses it isn't. Or is vanishingly unlikely to be. And to be honest. . many people are used to me being in the area. One place I want to at least walk near is the warehouse they told me to drop the key off at. It should not look too suspicious to them to have me looking at the place where I would theoretically be leaving the key. . ."

Daxia
with Kadri in common room

"I was very clearly visible to the men who spoke to me this dawn. Let's hope they're not working with the one who threatened you," Daxia said. "It would not look suspicious if you were in the company of... your employer, would it?" She stifled a laugh.

Kadri, with Daxia in the study. . erm. . common room. No candlestick:

"Why would it? You are. . looking for something. . to invest in?"

Daxia
with Kadri in common room

She grinned broadly. "And you are clearly knowlegable about these things. Yes, let's find something interesting in which I can invest." She gestured toward the door. "Please lead the way. I would like to see the best investment opportunities first, of course."

The Heartwood
Just after noon, the Town of Cragside
Restday The Last Day of the Month of Raven, 2623

Mikal and Celi

Mikal stepped towards Celi, closing quickly; she noted that he was maintaining control and balance, with his mass centered between the balls of his feet. The greatest danger was that the tall mercenary was faster than she; his strike came first, fast and sure. He feinted with his sword, taking a high line; she bobbed and weaved, and perhaps it was her size and movement that thew off his aim upon the first blow, the shortsword coming down only to where Celi was. Her right hand shot out toward his throat in a clenched fist, managing to land a glancing blow across his chest - not even felt through his light armor.

A step and a turn, however, found the young woman again on the defensive, except this time whatever threw the mercenary off was not just accounted for, it was countered with a vengeance. The point of his dangerous blade drove towards Celi as if to gut her, like a fish, like a bucher a freshly caught deer and in a panicked tumble she barely, just barely, managed to ger her knife between her and Mikal's steel. It seemed to take forever but it was done in less than a heartbeat; the power of his attack slamming even through the sparse protection her blade offered, turning it, twisting it, dashing it away to skitter across the cobbles; that metallic jingling not as loud, however, as the gut wrenching crackle of Celi's wrist shattering. The pain was sudden, surprising, and white hot.

Mikal watched as she swayed, fighting the pain, the hand that once held her dagger twisted in an impossible manner.

Mikal

He'd been pulling his blows, attempting just to try her skill at blocking and parrying, to get a feel for how she might defend herself should they be assaulted in an alley by ruffians, or mercenaries.

A split second before his final blow, when he realized her parry would not succeed, he tries to pull it back, but not in time. He heard the cracking and knew it was her wrist before he saw it was turned unnaturally.

Stopping instantly, he sheathes his weapons and quickly drops to her side. He looks at the wrist critically, frowning. "I am sorry, Celi. I never meant to hurt you. You have the heart of a softpad, but I think you need to think more before trying the moves you did against a stronger armoured foe. Best to keep your distance. Those attacks would work against a footpad or ruffian but if we have to fight any of The Mark who wear armour, just keep them at bay until I can help you. Dance away from them, or throw or shoot something at them."

All the while he is examining the wrist. Concentrating he runs his fingers over it, attempting to imbue it with the little bit of healing he is able to do, hoping it will be enough to take away the worst of the damage.

Celi

Celi sat numbly through the handling of her injured arm, thoroughly embarrassed by her poor showing. She had desperately wanted to do well enough for Mikal to be able to count on her, and all she had succeeded in doing was to get injured when he wasn't even trying.

And now he was even trying to make her feel better about her performance! "You are most gracious," she mumbled. "I fully understand if you want someone else. The arm is not so bad now, it looked worse than it was."

It had also felt a lot worse than it did now, but maybe that was just the shock. Her grandmother had taught her well, and Stormrunner had added his advice, but Mikal was her very first real opponent (save a couple of drunken youths who had tried to take advantage of her on her first night in her first town; she had sent them packing easily enough, which no doubt contributed mightily to her aggrandized impression of her own skills).

SHe flexed her hand, and then her arm. It seemed to work, though it still tingled from his blow. She had been certain she'd broken something at the time, but perhaps she was just being a sissy.

"I am better in the forest or open country," she said. "I know you have no reason to believe me, but I have ... umm, other skills that will serve you well. Still, I want to learn how to help you *now*, in some wise. What can I do? What can you teach me? I won't quit, this I swear. I will fight until I cannot. What can I do against an armored foe that would help you? I can ride ... swim ...climb ... I throw a mean rock ..."

She managed a pale ghost of a grin. "Forgive me, Mikal. I have let you down, an' I never meant to do so."

"Lets wait for the curtain to draw before we start the play."

Cesare to Darian & Longtooth

"No I haven't though I've passed through many places like it."

He drops his voice.

"Roundabout route, not yet."

Then with a smile, barely a break in conversation he continues.

"So tell me about your home.. if you will.. I don't have one so it is not easy for me to understand? Do you have family?"

Darian with Longtooth, Cesare

There is just the hint of a nod as she looks about.

At his question about home she glances over, gauging, wondering if he, like Mikal, had guessed at who her people were...had been.

"Home. It was small village by forest and stream. Good hunting, good water, good people. Be gone now. Family, just me and Longtooth."

"You say you have no home. You always on road?"

Cesare with Darian & Longtooth

"Pretty much. We would settle for a time where there was work but it is our way. We ride the waves of the world rather than being swamped by them."

He glances sideways at her, no judgement in his gaze, only interest.

"So how long have the two of you been on your own?"

Mikal - with Celi

"There. That's the best I can do. Sorry. You should have Lady Comfrey take a look at it soon." He says gently releasing her hand.

He looks at her, and helps her to her feet. "Don't be silly. It is mostly my fault. I should have insisted we not use steel. I am just glad no permanent damage was done."

"And don't be silly. I don't want someone else. First, it is not a matter of choice. Were we riding to battle, then I'd have to honestly agree with you. I'd want a big, armoured, brute next to me. But for this we are thrown together and the point of this was so we knew how to use our talents as best we can and not presume things that are not only not true, but could be dangerous to presume."

"As I said, what you tried with me should work on someone not wearing armour and perhaps a bit smaller than I. The thugs we saw last night, for example."

"If you run into a big lug like me, wearing protection, then throwing rocks is actually not a bad idea. Or any other projectile you've got. I carry a crossbow on Talia, but we don't have time for me to give you lessons in it. If you can throw a knife, or a rock, and distract an armoured foe, that's good. You should be faster than them, so if you can keep away from them but get them to chase you, it will give me time to handle the others and come to help you."

He glances at her as she flexes her hand. "Worst of the break seems healed. Don't stress that hand until you get it looked at though."

"Now, come on. You're coming with me. I need your eyes to look where I am not, at least. When we get to the guild you should be fine, long as you're not wearing a sword. We can talk about lessons later on, when we have time. But be warned. If I teach you something, I expect you to teach me something in return."

He smiles and gestures to head back to the inn to find out if Camelia is ready yet.

Darian with Longtooth and Cesare

"A full handfull and half again since we set out together."

"You say 'we settle'. Who be we?"

Camelia returning to the common room, after however long it took to get ready-



Camelia dressed, and with the help of Mr Jake's daughters, she was able to make herself as presentable as she could on such short notice. The conversation with Dandelion, as poorly as it started, ended... okay. A place to work from and that was more than she had before. But now her focus was on making sure she lived up to her obligation to ready a good diversion so that the others had a better chance of moving through the city unhindered.

She wore a light red under-tunic, and the purple over-tunic trimmed with the black and gold checkerboard of House Deynekko. Her hair was pulled up and braided and woven with a few trailing tendrils at some stragically chosen and proper places. The make-up was simple, but effective enough. It was a show, to be seen from a distance. Not a Court appearance or a processional before the Prince. The clothes would have to do the talking, and her job was to effect the proper demeanor and countenance while she walked on the arm of squire Conrad. She might not even have to say a word, and just let people's imaginations cause them to envision whatever they dreamed might be happening. Confusion there was even helpful.

Camelia still had to dissaude Conrad from escorting the girl and herself to the Rock, his father's fortress. There her story would not withstand proper scrutiny.

At last she would make her entrance back into the Common room for the others to inspect and determine if her idea was suitable for what needed to be done.

A few deep breaths and a last straightening of her clothes, she felt she was ready. two pennnies a piece to the Inkeeper's daughters for all their help. What wonders they might be able to buy with coin of their own, a little sweetbread, or chewy bread in fact... with dates in it. Camelia laughed as they ran off to get their own place to view her enter the common room. In fact, they would be the group's first indication that Camelia was on her way into the room.



**((the pics are not a literal description of her appearance- but it does capture a mood))**

Kadri

"Have to admit. You clean up quite nicer than me. Of course, you couldn't force me into a getup like that with a knife at my back. Looks good on you, but I'm done with it myself. Yes, I think we can safely say that you will attract attention."

Celi

"You are most courteous," Celi said, and for a fact, she was not feeling nearly as glum as she had been a moment before. "I will do my best, Mikal, and attempt whatever you ask of me without shirking. And ... thank you for your even temper."

She rose to her feet, gave her arm a shake and a wince, then rubbed it a little before setting off to follow where he led. "IF we e'er fare to the countryside," she said, "I promise to be of more use to you. 'T'were where I were raised, and trained. I am more at home among the beasts than among people, sadly."

SHe had stretched out her stride to keep up, but was managing with no difficulty.

Conrad

The squire came back into the inn with a bundle under his arm and looked around for the young woman from Trundle. He nodded to any he recognized and then saw her and smiled broadly, coming over to her and giving her a bow.

"You look lovely. I hope that you do not mind my presumption but I bought you a new cloak to help aid in the deception." he said, extending the bundle to her.

Daxia
with Kadri, Camelia and Conrad in common room

"You look lovely, Camelia," Daxia said, keeping to her act as a visiting Allaine. "Kadri and I are ready to... investigate investment opportunities in the warehouse district," she said with a slight smile. "We simply await the stir you and Squire Conrad are sure to cause on your walk."