Elendor
Words in the Pony
In which Cordelia proves the futility of trying to get any information at all out of a Ranger
Sort Date: no date set
Location: Bree Prancing Pony
Game Date: Mersday of Autumn - November 11,1444
IC Time: Afternoon
Weather: Cloudy
Description: It is late afternoon in the Pony, and as such, the place is relatively empty, populated by only a few locals talking quietly here and there over a pint of ale or two. No sun streams in the windows, as the mid-November day is cloudy and gloomy, and the lamps here have already been lit. The door to the Common Room swings open a goodly number of times as the wait staff and customers come in and out, and now the door swings open once more to admit the form of a young woman wrapped in a gray cloak. Her black hair is braded and caught up in a kerchief, and there is a bandage on her right forearm. Cordelia pauses and looks around for a seat, perhaps.
[Henleg(#20696)] Many of the patrons of the Pony do not even give a look to the newcomer, but among the few that do is one that seats near a corner, his long legs stretched and crossed before him. His usual grey cloak is open, revealing a travel-stained shirt, and his mucky boots reveal that this one has come recently in. Grey looks straight at Cordelia, yet says nothing as the young woman seems to be looking for a chair... and there are a couple next to Grey, for no honest Breefolk would sit that near to one of the Rangers.
Her eyes finding the empty chair near Grey, Cordelia hesitates for a moment or two--giving the room another glance and then looking back, right at Grey this time. Then she nods her head toward him once and walks across the room until she reaches him--drawing a few stares now from the locals at that. "Mind if I sit here?" she asks Henleg.
[Keldean(#23332)] One of the other girls, Daisy, gasps when she sees that trouble-maker go and sit with the -ranger-. She hurries over to the bar and begins whispering to another girl animatedly with many a glance towards the two in the corner.
A small snort, then Cordelia pulls out the chair and sits down. She glances toward Daisy and the other serving girl briefly, then turns her attention back to the ranger once more. "Yes, but it's right next to you and I wasn't sure you would care to have me sit here....Grey, isn't it?"
[Henleg(#20696)] "Indeed", the Ranger replies, his voice soft and low. "Yet, I wonder why you thought you wouldn't be welcome to sit here, Cordelia. No one else seems to mind using that particular chair", he adds, a grim smile forming on his lips.
"Noone else around here will sit with a Ranger, Grey," Cordelia answers, sarcasm touching her tone. She jerks her head toward the two whispering women. "See how they are talking about us even now? I'm the woman who was thrown into jail, and you..you're a Ranger, as I said. So perhaps we make good company?" She grins at that thought, but then her voice lowers. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something."
[Henleg(#20696)] Henleg remains impassive, a mere shrug is his response to Cordelia's words regarding the barmaids... clearly, the Ranger is used to have this kind of treatment at the Pony. However, his eyes again go to Cordelia, and his brow arches. "Really? Well, it seems you have found me, so... ask"
[Keldean(#23332)] Daisy begins giggling more loudly, then the other girl shushes her and they both look over at Grey and Cordelia again and there's a pregnant pause to their whispering. Then both girls quickly hustle back to work.
"Yes, so I have," Cordelia answers the ranger, though her eyes do shift sideways again to look at the girls and she frowns briefly. "I...well, the thing is this: You must know that I am working at the healers' here in Bree...instead of jail. The Mayor thought it would be more effective, and I haven't been involved in any trouble at all for two months now. I've only one more month to go and then the Mayor says that it is likely he will...uh...release me from my obligations there. So my question for you is, when that happens--providing that happens--will you let me leave Bree? Because it seems to me...given what happened with Rhifaroth and then the elf...that you or perhaps the Rangers in general seem to have some sort of interest in my whereabouts."
[Henleg(#20696)] Grey's smile broadens as Cordelia speaks. "Well, if you get in no mischief and the Mayor releases you from your obligations at the healers'", he replies, as he takes a small cup of water that lies in front of him, and drinks a sip, "then I don't see a reason to keep you here against your will. Certainly, I am not part of the Breeguard", he adds, as his smile diminishes again, "and so I cannot tell you to go or stay. You will be free". He lowers again the small cup to the table, and then leans forward towards Cordelia. "Yet, I find it strange that someone would leave Bree, specially now that you would have served your time performing the Mayor's orders. You'd leave your house and life here, for what?"
Although the first part of Grey's answer draws a pleased smile from Cordelia, as the ranger continues to speak, her smile fades and she shifts uncomfortably. "I..." she coughs, twisting in the chair briefly as if to look for a serving maid. None comes, and she looks back to the ranger, brows furrowed. "My sister cries for our mother every night, after all these months. I have broken my promise to her to return her home, and it eats away at me."
[Henleg(#20696)] Henleg remains impassive as Cordelia shift on her seat, his grey eyes looking at her. "Well... wasn't that your reason for leaving before? To take your small sister home? Yet... why did you brought such a small child on such a long journey in the first place?", he asks.
"My family brought her here without my knowledge, as a hostage of sorts to ensure that I did what they wanted," Cordelia replies. She looks steadily at the ranger as she speaks, as if there is some measure of truth to her words. "They used harm of my sister as a threat to govern my behavior."
[Henleg(#20696)] "And yet, you will return your small sister to that same family", Grey replies, a knowing smile on his face. "Yet, who am I to judge? If you want to take your sister back to your home, wherever it is, I don't see why you cannot... provided you finish your service at the healers'", he adds.
"What am I supposed to do, then?" Cordelia answers, not looking at the ranger as she starts to get upset. "She cries constantly. I broke my promise to her!" She does look up a the man now.
[Henleg(#20696)] The Ranger sits back now, and takes again the small cup of water, yet does not drink. "Well, it's up to you to decide, of course", he says, shrugging a bit again. "After all, she is your sister... and you say you promised her to get her back home", he adds.
"I did," Cordelia says with a small sigh that is followed by a frown. "Our mother wasn't the one threatening violence on us. I...well.." She looks at her bandaged right wrist, fussing with the wrappings there for a moment as she gathers her thoughts. "I had this foolish hope that I could get her to our mother and then get our mother away from the rest of the family. I wanted to try that. But...it _is_ foolish. It's a long, dangerous trip...."
[Henleg(#20696)] "The road is full of perils, specially as autumn leads us to winter", the Ranger replies. "Yet, it may be done, depending on where you want to go", he adds. "If you're taking a small child with you, these are things to consider".
Cordelia stops picking at the wrappings long enough to look up. "East of the mountains and the great woods. Buhr Mahrling," she replies slowly, blinking in a bit of confusion at the ranger. "As I told Galharth," she then adds. "And I wouldn't undertake such a journey until the spring. But still...I think it's a dream, not something I can actually do."
[Henleg(#20696)] "Of that, only you can be certain", the Ranger replies, shrugging. "You have made the trip once... and you know the perils that you can find on the road, be it winter, or spring".
"I have," Cordelia answers without elaborating further. "I suppose I will see how things are after my service at the healers' is up. But thank you--I just wanted to ask...where I might stand with the rangers after ..well, you know."
[Henleg(#20696)] Henleg looks at Cordelia, yet no answer seems to be forthcoming from his lips. He merely smiles at her enigmatically, and then proceeds to take a long, slow draught from his cup of water.
A quick range of emotions flashes across the girl's face--confusion, frustration and anger all at once. Then Cordelia blinks and her expression clears, though she continues to look at Henleg. "Well...." she says, sliding back her chair and standing up slowly, "I suppose that if I leave Bree again, I'll likely run into you." She smiles now, too, and shrugs quickly.
Then, abruptly she blurts out a question, as if frustration has suddenly bubbled over. "Why didn't you help me and Rhifaroth when you followed us? When I was trying to help him and there was still a chance, before he got too weak?"
[Henleg(#20696)] "Help was given when we caught up with you, and we had seen who it was that held you", Grey replies. "It would have been foolish to charge as soon as we caught up with you... only to end up prisioners like you, or dead", he adds. "And about meeting up... I am a hunter, and usually I roam the lands about Bree in search of game... perhaps we will see each other if you decide to leave... and perhaps we won't".
"I understand that, yes...it would have been foolish," Cordelia answers. "But still...your help came too late for Rhifaroth. It was...I was forced into it, you understand?" she glances to the ranger. Is there a fleeting glimpse of actual remorse in her expression? "I tried to help in the small way I could, given the circumstances."
[Henleg(#20696)] "I understand", the Ranger replies, getting up. "Well, I must away now, Cordelia. I wish you fare well". And with that the Ranger leaves the table, his long cloak billowing as he opens the door of the common room, letting some fresh air in.
Whether or not Cordelia is satisfied with this statement of Henleg's she doesn't really show--though she stares after the ranger for a moment as he leaves, biting her lower lip in thought. Then she heads to the giggling staff here to order lunch.
[Henleg(#20696)] Many of the patrons of the Pony do not even give a look to the newcomer, but among the few that do is one that seats near a corner, his long legs stretched and crossed before him. His usual grey cloak is open, revealing a travel-stained shirt, and his mucky boots reveal that this one has come recently in. Grey looks straight at Cordelia, yet says nothing as the young woman seems to be looking for a chair... and there are a couple next to Grey, for no honest Breefolk would sit that near to one of the Rangers.
Her eyes finding the empty chair near Grey, Cordelia hesitates for a moment or two--giving the room another glance and then looking back, right at Grey this time. Then she nods her head toward him once and walks across the room until she reaches him--drawing a few stares now from the locals at that. "Mind if I sit here?" she asks Henleg.
[Keldean(#23332)] One of the other girls, Daisy, gasps when she sees that trouble-maker go and sit with the -ranger-. She hurries over to the bar and begins whispering to another girl animatedly with many a glance towards the two in the corner.
A small snort, then Cordelia pulls out the chair and sits down. She glances toward Daisy and the other serving girl briefly, then turns her attention back to the ranger once more. "Yes, but it's right next to you and I wasn't sure you would care to have me sit here....Grey, isn't it?"
[Henleg(#20696)] "Indeed", the Ranger replies, his voice soft and low. "Yet, I wonder why you thought you wouldn't be welcome to sit here, Cordelia. No one else seems to mind using that particular chair", he adds, a grim smile forming on his lips.
"Noone else around here will sit with a Ranger, Grey," Cordelia answers, sarcasm touching her tone. She jerks her head toward the two whispering women. "See how they are talking about us even now? I'm the woman who was thrown into jail, and you..you're a Ranger, as I said. So perhaps we make good company?" She grins at that thought, but then her voice lowers. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something."
[Henleg(#20696)] Henleg remains impassive, a mere shrug is his response to Cordelia's words regarding the barmaids... clearly, the Ranger is used to have this kind of treatment at the Pony. However, his eyes again go to Cordelia, and his brow arches. "Really? Well, it seems you have found me, so... ask"
[Keldean(#23332)] Daisy begins giggling more loudly, then the other girl shushes her and they both look over at Grey and Cordelia again and there's a pregnant pause to their whispering. Then both girls quickly hustle back to work.
"Yes, so I have," Cordelia answers the ranger, though her eyes do shift sideways again to look at the girls and she frowns briefly. "I...well, the thing is this: You must know that I am working at the healers' here in Bree...instead of jail. The Mayor thought it would be more effective, and I haven't been involved in any trouble at all for two months now. I've only one more month to go and then the Mayor says that it is likely he will...uh...release me from my obligations there. So my question for you is, when that happens--providing that happens--will you let me leave Bree? Because it seems to me...given what happened with Rhifaroth and then the elf...that you or perhaps the Rangers in general seem to have some sort of interest in my whereabouts."
[Henleg(#20696)] Grey's smile broadens as Cordelia speaks. "Well, if you get in no mischief and the Mayor releases you from your obligations at the healers'", he replies, as he takes a small cup of water that lies in front of him, and drinks a sip, "then I don't see a reason to keep you here against your will. Certainly, I am not part of the Breeguard", he adds, as his smile diminishes again, "and so I cannot tell you to go or stay. You will be free". He lowers again the small cup to the table, and then leans forward towards Cordelia. "Yet, I find it strange that someone would leave Bree, specially now that you would have served your time performing the Mayor's orders. You'd leave your house and life here, for what?"
Although the first part of Grey's answer draws a pleased smile from Cordelia, as the ranger continues to speak, her smile fades and she shifts uncomfortably. "I..." she coughs, twisting in the chair briefly as if to look for a serving maid. None comes, and she looks back to the ranger, brows furrowed. "My sister cries for our mother every night, after all these months. I have broken my promise to her to return her home, and it eats away at me."
[Henleg(#20696)] Henleg remains impassive as Cordelia shift on her seat, his grey eyes looking at her. "Well... wasn't that your reason for leaving before? To take your small sister home? Yet... why did you brought such a small child on such a long journey in the first place?", he asks.
"My family brought her here without my knowledge, as a hostage of sorts to ensure that I did what they wanted," Cordelia replies. She looks steadily at the ranger as she speaks, as if there is some measure of truth to her words. "They used harm of my sister as a threat to govern my behavior."
[Henleg(#20696)] "And yet, you will return your small sister to that same family", Grey replies, a knowing smile on his face. "Yet, who am I to judge? If you want to take your sister back to your home, wherever it is, I don't see why you cannot... provided you finish your service at the healers'", he adds.
"What am I supposed to do, then?" Cordelia answers, not looking at the ranger as she starts to get upset. "She cries constantly. I broke my promise to her!" She does look up a the man now.
[Henleg(#20696)] The Ranger sits back now, and takes again the small cup of water, yet does not drink. "Well, it's up to you to decide, of course", he says, shrugging a bit again. "After all, she is your sister... and you say you promised her to get her back home", he adds.
"I did," Cordelia says with a small sigh that is followed by a frown. "Our mother wasn't the one threatening violence on us. I...well.." She looks at her bandaged right wrist, fussing with the wrappings there for a moment as she gathers her thoughts. "I had this foolish hope that I could get her to our mother and then get our mother away from the rest of the family. I wanted to try that. But...it _is_ foolish. It's a long, dangerous trip...."
[Henleg(#20696)] "The road is full of perils, specially as autumn leads us to winter", the Ranger replies. "Yet, it may be done, depending on where you want to go", he adds. "If you're taking a small child with you, these are things to consider".
Cordelia stops picking at the wrappings long enough to look up. "East of the mountains and the great woods. Buhr Mahrling," she replies slowly, blinking in a bit of confusion at the ranger. "As I told Galharth," she then adds. "And I wouldn't undertake such a journey until the spring. But still...I think it's a dream, not something I can actually do."
[Henleg(#20696)] "Of that, only you can be certain", the Ranger replies, shrugging. "You have made the trip once... and you know the perils that you can find on the road, be it winter, or spring".
"I have," Cordelia answers without elaborating further. "I suppose I will see how things are after my service at the healers' is up. But thank you--I just wanted to ask...where I might stand with the rangers after ..well, you know."
[Henleg(#20696)] Henleg looks at Cordelia, yet no answer seems to be forthcoming from his lips. He merely smiles at her enigmatically, and then proceeds to take a long, slow draught from his cup of water.
A quick range of emotions flashes across the girl's face--confusion, frustration and anger all at once. Then Cordelia blinks and her expression clears, though she continues to look at Henleg. "Well...." she says, sliding back her chair and standing up slowly, "I suppose that if I leave Bree again, I'll likely run into you." She smiles now, too, and shrugs quickly.
Then, abruptly she blurts out a question, as if frustration has suddenly bubbled over. "Why didn't you help me and Rhifaroth when you followed us? When I was trying to help him and there was still a chance, before he got too weak?"
[Henleg(#20696)] "Help was given when we caught up with you, and we had seen who it was that held you", Grey replies. "It would have been foolish to charge as soon as we caught up with you... only to end up prisioners like you, or dead", he adds. "And about meeting up... I am a hunter, and usually I roam the lands about Bree in search of game... perhaps we will see each other if you decide to leave... and perhaps we won't".
"I understand that, yes...it would have been foolish," Cordelia answers. "But still...your help came too late for Rhifaroth. It was...I was forced into it, you understand?" she glances to the ranger. Is there a fleeting glimpse of actual remorse in her expression? "I tried to help in the small way I could, given the circumstances."
[Henleg(#20696)] "I understand", the Ranger replies, getting up. "Well, I must away now, Cordelia. I wish you fare well". And with that the Ranger leaves the table, his long cloak billowing as he opens the door of the common room, letting some fresh air in.
Whether or not Cordelia is satisfied with this statement of Henleg's she doesn't really show--though she stares after the ranger for a moment as he leaves, biting her lower lip in thought. Then she heads to the giggling staff here to order lunch.
Players: Henleg,Cordelia
