Arcaea/Dining Hall/The Locket
Thalathafn gently road along the country side. Fields of golden wheat flanked his path. It was high time in the harvest season and while the peasantry were busy, they were grateful for the bounty of the fields. This was evident by the festivities that night in the town square. Corn roasting on an open fire beside a bubbling communal stew. Fresh baked breads burdened baskets and simplistic but uplifting music sounded into the night. Thalathafn watched somewhat envious as the young couples danced in the moonlight. The commoners lived hard and mundane lives, but yet they enjoyed what he could not.
The harvest moon hung aloft in clear autumn sky but its overbearing presence seemed within arms reach. The scattered moonbeams casting soft shadows and waltzing silhouettes. As Thalathafn eyed the pirouetting partners, he caught a glimpse of her harvest gold hair. He had thought she was gone since the tournament. He remained, watching her from a far, but this was different she didn't vanish as she had before. Finally he dismounted and pushed his way through the dancers. He grabbed her on the shoulder pulling the startled young girl around to face him. Using his sword arm, he pushed away the lad that had tried to confront him. "I apologize, I had mistaken you for someone else." While the girls features were similar, she was clearly not who had been appearing to him. A piercing glance over his shoulder kept the other peasants back. "I am sorry to disturb everyone's night." He turned to the girl and bowed. As he did so, he noticed a glint hanging from her neck; a locket. "May I?" he asked the speechless girl, still in shock of everything going on around her. He lifted the locket with the hilt of its sword, the symbol engraved on the front matched that of his scabbard. Whatever the locket held was worn beyond recognition, but engraved within was a note of some sort. It read:
Miss me not, my faithful fairest. Let darkness creep and shadows caress. For nightly in our sweet slumber, Drifting endlessly together, Forget me not, my darling dearest.
"Where did you get this" Thalathafn questioned the now trembling girl.
"..M..my aunt, sir" the girl mumbled. The excitement in Thalathafn grew, this was what he had been searching for; The link, his dear mother.
"Where is she now?!" Thalathafn asked unaware of the growing number of pitchforks and torches accumulating behind him.
"Gone.."
"Gone?! gone where?"
"Missing.." the girl stuttered, now in tears "Since before my birth," she snifted. "I have worn this since a baby"
Thalathafn awoke to sudden realization, he had driven a young women to tears chasing something long lost in the sands of time. Not more than a fortnight earlier he had killed another over a few insults. He also noticed the gathering crowd armed with farm tools. Well this was certainly a predicament.
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel High Marshal of Arcaea
It didn't look like there was any help to be had. Thalathafn calmly clipped his scabbard back onto his belt. Looks like he would need to fight his own way out of the enclosing crowd. In one swift motion, Thalathafn had swung around to behind the girl his dagger drawn to her neck and the Legendary Hammer of Bloodletting brandish in his other hand. The mere sight of the weapon struck awe into some, but others held their resolve. Thalathafn spun around with the girl looking for the thinnest section of the commoner wall. He kicked up a cloud of dust and pebbles to all those behind him and With a whistle his horse had come galloping around. Seeing freedom in sight, he forged forward towards the thinnest part of the group. Even with a hostage in hand, the peasants didn't budge from blocking his path. As he had no intention of harming the girl, he pushed her forward causing a dent in the commoner wall. He sacrificed his cloak to obscure the view of the peasants on one side of his path. All was going well, as he met the wall at full charge. Giving another little push to the peasants already off balance from catching the girl, he tumbled a few backwards as if pins being knocked over by some type of ball. In the mad fury of activity he had enough sense to swing the shaft of his hammer at the shins of one poor fellow causing him to fall to his knees. Using the mans back as a raised step, he pushed off in one faithful leap, landing with an 'oomph' on the back of his mount. He clung on as the horse galloped to a safe distance before rightening himself in the saddle and slinging the hammer back over his back. Thalathafn continued down the country path under the watchful eye of the harvest moon, now cut, bruised, cloakless but much more on his mind.
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel High Marshal of Arcaea
The biting breeze of the cool autumn morning flirted the fickle flame of the oil lamp. It stood on the lonely table along with a few old letters from years past. Thalathafn paced about the barren room. It was unused saved for occasions such as these. Soon he found himself looking through the opened window, curtains fluttering in a beckoning wave. Rumours were this was the perfered entrance over the door, so he had left it open despite the cold.
Morning dew gathered on the grass of his manor house. The moisture from his breath hung for a few seconds before parting its ways. Thalathafn watched the city spring to life as the sun arched over the horizon. A knock came at the door, "Breakfast is ready, sire".
"Good, bring it in" Thalathafn called, "Leave it on the table boy. I will be eating here this morning. I am expecting a guest." The boy placed the tray on the table before exiting. Moments after the boy had shut the door, a delivery arrived on the window sill. Thalathafn pulled the note from the bird. After reading it, Thalathafn dipped the note into the open flame and let the breeze carry away the ashes. Satisfied, he sat down for a warm breakfast to bring him some comfort from the cold.
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel High Marshal of Arcaea
The page boy hurried to the door. He was the only one who knew that this must be the women his lord was expecting. "Good day, mi'lady. My lord is expecting you, right this way please." he politely said before running up the spiralling stone stairs. On the second floor, he lead Adine through a narrow corridor pass the guest rooms. The boy knocked on the wooden door.
"What is it?" came the response from within. The boy didn't bother to answer, he opened the door and lead Adine into the chilled room.
"Your guest is here m'lord."
Thalathafn glanced quizzically at the open window, curtains still beckoning in the autumn breeze. Turning his attention back to Adine he thought to himself: At least she was courteous enough to use the proper entrance and quite pleasing to the eyes too. Thalathafn gathered the worn letters back into their leather binder and blew out the flame of the oil lamp before rising from his bench. "It is nice to finally meet, lady Adine" offering his hand before bowing low to meet her hand with a kiss. " Thank you for coming. How about we go somewhere a little warmer before discussing the details of your task?"
"...and boy close that damned window."
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel High Marshal of Arcaea
Giving Thalathafn a smile as he greeted her so cordially, Adine shivered slightly at the drafty room. "Sir, the pleasure is all mine. I regret that this is our first meeting. Somewhere warmer would be agreeable." She took his arm as he led her to another room, a more private cozy study. The infiltrator found him a handsome man, reserved and dignified. If only she knew how to pronounce his bloody name...
Adine Evadne (Dame of Remton)
Thalathafn lead Adine to his private study, "Please, sit." he gestured to one of the two chairs on one side of the desk. The study was small cozy and decorated fittingly for a High Marshal. "Now if you will excuse me a moment." Thalathafn said as he ventured to the adjacent library. A servant enters to add a few longs to the embers emanating heat from the fireplace beside Adine. Thalathafn returns laying out a map on the desk.
"Here is the city of Remton," Thalathafn draws a circle over the dense network of streets with his finger, then extents to outline a path to the outlying townsland. "This it the path I was taking a few days ago, the village should lie about here," He said tapping on the map. "That was where I saw it, that locket is very important to me, it may be the only link to my birth mother. From the brief moments I had with it, I could sense there was something more to it. I need you to obtain it for me, for a few hours so I may study it, then return it to the girl." The boy scurries into the room carrying his masters sword, slight short of breath from all the running he had done that day.
"Now I realize you have never seen the locket, or the girl so I will travel with you to the village. Of course will we have to travel under cloak and cover. Once I have pointed out the girl to you, you will follow her to her residence. Under the cover of darkness you will enter and procure the locket. That will give me a few hours to examine it before you need to return it by daybreak."
Thalathafn takes the sword from his page and points out the ornate 'U' and eight point star. "This is my family crest, it is the same symbol on the front of the locket. Also I do not wish for anyone to be harmed." Thalathafn reaches into the desk and pulls out a coin purse, "This is the first half of your payment, if you choose to take it we should head out to the stables and prepare for the journey. So will you help me Adine?"
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel High Marshal of Arcaea
Adine studied the map and drawing Thalathafn presented, memorizing quickly and formulating a plan. She raised her head and nodded at him.
"Sir, I will be pleased to accept this offer. You have my word that no one will be harmed, unless of course it is in self-defense. Then, when you are ready to have the locket returned, I will see it safely back." She checked several pockets about her. "I seem to have everything I will need so there's no need to go to my estate first. To the stables, then?"
As she and Thalathafn went to the stables, she pondered the mission. Who was the girl that she should have such an heirloom? Why should it be of such dear importance to him? With a bit of luck, she'd get it out of him.
Adine Evadne (Dame of Remton)
The horses were ready and waiting for them when Thalathafn arrived at the stable with Adine. A rucksack of provisions and supplies were already prepared. Thalathafn smiled to the boy, "Take good care of the estate while I'm away". With that he and Adine road towards the western gate. The two followed the main road to Lantzas for sometime before taking a fork to a less traveled path.
The fields were not what they were only a few weeks ago. Barren fields stretched on either side, covered with a light snow. Only isolated patches of woodland and thickets marred the endless plains. Soon they were upon the village, what once seemed lively and festive now subdued by the coming of winter. Finding the girl may prove harder than he first expected with many electing to stay indoors. The pair nudged their horses forward between the farms and cottages. When their chances seemed as bleak as the landscape, there she was in the distance. Like the ghostly flower which blooms in winter she stood out against the backdrop of skeletal branches. "There in the distance, that girl in the pair carrying the firewood," Thalathafn pointed out to Adine.
"Remember the crest, find the locket and harm no one. Ideally no one will know we were even here. I will wait in woods nearest her abode. If you get into trouble signal, otherwise bring the locket to me there. Oh, I almost forgot the signal" Thalathafn pulls out a sack. At the top was a pigeon head protruding from a knotted hole. "If you get into trouble let the bird out of the bag and I will come for you."
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel High Marshal of Arcaea
Let the bird out of the bag?? Adine thought as she accepted the unique signal gingerly. "As long as it doesn't make a sound otherwise." Thalathafn nodded his assurance. The pair waited until nightfall and the village grew silent. Adine crept towards the girl's dwelling, "signal" in one hand, knife in the other, the hood of her cloak pulled up over her head. Once again she blessed whatever deity had made her able to walk silently.
The house was dark and silent; no dog announced her presence. As she moved closer to the door, she noted a rain barrel and a large stack of logs near the entrance. She examined the latch as best she could in the darkness. It was simple and she easily lifted it with the use of her knife. Adine crept in and closed the door behind her. So far, so good. Now came the hard part.
Thankfully there was only one daughter in this house. She quickly ruled out one bedroom when she heard the loud snoring emanating from within. That left the one on the other side of the communal room.
Moving to the side of the bed, she peered down at the sleeping girl. Now, where is the shiny, little one? she wondered, looking around the room as best she could in the dark. The moon was shining just enough through the window where metal would glint, as evidenced by her knife. She sheathed the knife, not wanting to by chance harm the girl.
Oh. Oh, hell. Where else would a peasant girl keep her one valuable possession? It was safely around her neck, one hand grasping it as she slept. She could cut the chain. No, don't want it damaged, and in this darkness I could easily nick the girl. She could drug the girl, she had a little rag that would do just the trick, then she could remove it. Only problem was, this was a new herb for her and pretty much untested. The girl rolled over, releasing her grip on the locket. She could see the crest almost clearly now in the moonlight. Now or never.
With a flick of the wrist, she removed the rag from a little pocket and placed it over the nose and mouth of the girl. As soon as she heard the girl's breathing deepen and start to slow, she tucked it back away. Unclasping the necklace, the infiltrator put it into a pocket and made for the door. She closed it behind her, grinning madly, and returned to Thalathafn, head held high.
Adine Evadne (Dame of Remton)
Adine looked up at the sky, estimating how much time was left. "I'd better set back out, then," she said, "though I do hate to leave this nice fire." Standing, she brushed herself off and took back the locket...and the pigeon. "If I'm not back before dawn, you may have to send in that army after all," she joked. With that smile still on her face, she sauntered off into the remaining night. She walked faster than before. She wasn't sure what the girl's father did for a living but she knew he could easily wake before dawn.
As she feared, she saw a candle alight in the small room the parents shared. The front door was no longer an option. She sneaked around to the back of the house, near the girl's window. Not big enough to crawl through but...she pulled out the locket and unclasped it. As she looked in the window, she saw the girl begin to stir a bit. The herbs she had inhaled earlier were wearing off. Adine took a chance and tossed in the necklace. It landed on the bed and, as fate would have it, the girl rolled over on top of it.
Not wanting to stick around any longer, Adine hurried back to Thalathafn. "Done and I barely even went near the house. No one is harmed, not even the pigeon, which you may kindly have back."
Adine Evadne (Dame of Remton)
Thalathafn kindly accepted the bird with a smile. "I am very impressed with your skill." His tone changed and his thoughts seem to turn inward. "I don't know if you will fully understand service you have done for me tonight. You see, I left Anacan and my foster parents in search of my true father and mother. When I had returned, they were gone the city was changed, the realm was different from that which I loved and I was no closer to the identity of my birth parents. To tell you the truth, I had given up my quest when I returned to Anacan. But when I found my home no longer there, I guess thats what I am looking searching for." Thalathafn looked up from the remaining embers he had smothered with his foot. "Prehaps I have said too much," He said light heartedly, "I don't mean to bore you with my lifes story."
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel High Marshal of Arcaea
Adine rolled her eyes and grinned. "You're not boring me, I've been dying to know more ever since I first got your letter! I love a good mystery." The sky began to get a bit lighter. "Tell you what, how about we go back to my estate for some breakfast and you can tell me the rest? It's nothing as grand as yours but it's cozy and, if I'm not mistaken, a bit closer to the gate than yours." She looked at Thalathafn expectantly, hoping she did not overstep some boundary.
Adine Evadne (Dame of Remton)
"Breakfast will be most welcomed. We haven't had a proper meal for near a day" Thalathafn tipped his head in a nod. The lean-to had be disassembled and the traces of the fire dispersed. Thalathafn untied the horses from the branch and lead them to Adine. A light tap behind the forelegs caused the horses to kneel for the riders to mount. Thalathafn reached into his cloak to pay Adine the rest of her fee before mounting his horse and following Adine's lead to her estate. As the pair started out to Remton, Thalathafn glanced at Adine and wondered what it was about her that made her so easy to talk to. Perhaps she was the only one who would listen. Nevertheless not even the boy, his closest attendant, had known this much about his childhood.
Sir Thalathafn Urominiel High Marshal of Arcaea
