Another Escape Attempt - Rhifaroth Day Five

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Late Night on Highday, 20:30:26 MDT on Mon Jul 07 2008.

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Real time is: 20:30:26 MDT on Mon Jul 07 2008.

Large Clearing

The clearing is on the large side, though does not immediately appear to be such because of its shape. Nestled into Bree-hill, it is long rather than wide. A small house stands at the far north end of the clearing, isolated save for the trees which offer shelter to its sides and back. Two wooden steps lead up to the house, constructed of stones much like the other human dwellings in Bree, and the front yard boasts a small garden patch. At the far south end of the clearing stands another building, which might possibly be a warehouse of sorts. The presence of an old, mostly torn down structure near the current building might indicate that an original warehouse had been destroyed, and this newer one had been built to take its place. Near the middle of the clearing, about halfway between the house and the warehouse, stands a well-established fire pit. Wood has been stacked neatly inside the pit, ready for the next person to \'+light fire\'.

Type: \'room help\' for information about the virtual rooms located here.

Contents:

Liuni

Cordelia

Keldean

Obvious exits:

Dirt Path

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�Yesterday morning the prisoner almost escaped. Cordelia had a close call, even a knife to her throat by the ranger before two of Aleswyn\'s men bowled the Dunadan down and disarmed him. Weakened as he was it wasn\'t too much trouble but Rhifaroth did manage to knife one of the men badly in the stomach. That man may well be dying of intestinal poisoning even now. A very slow, painful way to die. But how did the ranger find or retain a small knife? He had been searched thoroughly, more than once!

�Now it is afternoon. Inside the warehouse it is dim as usual and the passage of time is difficult to mark. The man has been bound only by his hands for now, his legs left both booted and free this time. His hands though are snagged on a metal wall hook above his head. Otherwise the man is sitting on the floor with his legs sprawled out. A more comfortable position than being trussed up from behind.

�Cordelia has been in and out checking on him, feeding him a little broth and water, but not speaking a word to the man. No one else has been in here. It\'s been very, very quiet.

[Cordelia(#1394)] The warehouse door being unbolted is not a noise that the ranger would miss--and soon enough the door swings open as Cordelia walks in, holding another bowl of broth and a fresh pitcher of water. She hasn\'t left the man alone too long today--lesson learned, perhaps. That lesson is a bruise on one side of her face, blue and swollen. She crosses the room to kneel besides the ranger. \"Brought you some more broth.\"

[Liuni(#22296)] Rat-a-tat-tat. Rat-a-tat-tat. A strong knock on the door.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�The sound of the door opening rouses the Dunadan, who was not quiet a sleep, but ... well, there isn\'t much else to do. He\'s been very patiently working his hands in the ropes and made a little more progress with slipping them lower. But overall, he hasn\'t moved since she saw him last. Not except to shift a leg.

�As before, pale grey eyes, adjusted for the dimness, look up and watch the young woman. Rhifaroth says nothing.

[Cordelia(#1394)] The bowl is set down on the floor as Cordelia first very carefully surveys the ranger\'s condition--the stained clothing, bruised face, his eyes. Last, she looks closely at his hands, and at the bindings there, given that the man worked his way out before. She frowns--something is amiss, and she stands to get a better look, but there\'s a knock on the door and she spins around.

For a moment she just stares at the door. Keldean and Asht or Ankh wouldn\'t knock, surely. Then she draws her dagger, and walks to the door--and opens it slowly.

[Addie(#22296)] Behind the door is a small unassuming woman in a much too big blue dress. In her arms, she carefully cradles a small bundle and around her hips hang a couple of pouches. She cooly looks from Cordelia to the dagger and back to Cordelia and shifts the bundle to her hips. \"Now, Cordelia, don\'t you have kind words for your Aunt Adelaide?\"

[Cordelia(#1394)] A woman in a blue dress? Again Cordelia stares, this time her mouth open. \"Aunt...\" she blinks, frowning at the woman. Then sheathing her dagger. \"Come in.\" She steps aside.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�Cordelia was taking ... too much interest in his condition, and particularly the state of his hands just now. They are dirty, caked a bit with dried blood from scraping them up so much to get them out of the ropes the first time. But the ropes are a bit tighter this time and it\'s been more difficult. And more painful, to try and force his hands out. But dirt and sweat help a little bit to slide them, teeny bits at a time, with great effort.

�Thankfully, there is a knock and the woman is distracted. The man\'s eyes follow her, but as the door is opened, the light from outside is far, far too bright to endure.

[Addie(#22296)] Thrusting the bundle out to Cordelia, the woman frowns at the man and taps her foot. \"I brought a present for Liuni. A little birdie told me she wanted a dollie. Precocious that one. Has potential.\"

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�Rhifaroth doesn\'t waste time. As soon as Cordelia has turned her back and gone for the door, he\'s working to try and edge his right hand down a bit more in the rope. But it\'s not easy and he\'s almost out of time, maybe.

�Another woman\'s voice. And once the door has closed, after a few moments, his eyes begin to readjust to the dimness. The other woman seems to have brought some things with her. The Dunadan doesn\'t move, except to work his hands with very small movements while they are not yet close. But he watches them, listening.

[Cordelia(#1394)] \"What?\" Cordelia takes the bundle as it is thrust upon her. It squirms and there is a small squeak from the blanket. Looking from woman to bundle, Cordelia slowly peels back the blanket. A babies\' small hand is thrust out of the blanket, and there\'s a gurgling cooing noise from it as the child puts a hand on Cordelia\'s face.

At that moment, Cordelia turns, child in her arms, toward Rhifaroth. The man could see, even in the warehouse light, that the baby has dark hair. Like Rhifaroth\'s son. And then Cordy\'s eyes land on the ranger as he tries to wriggle out of the ropes binding his hands. \"Stop that!\" she snaps at him.

[Addie(#22296)] Moving unhurriedly to bolt the door, the woman frowns at Rhifaroth and clicks her tongue against the roof of her mouth. \"Someone\'s been naughty, I hear. Very, very naughty. Someone ought to be very careful if he wants to see his precious babes again rather than have them meet a sticky end.\" The small woman\'s voice is gentle and scolding, the way one might talk to a small child.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�The slightest sound from the baby and the man\'s eyes are on it. And Rhifaroth\'s small movements he thought the two women couldn\'t see from across the warehouse freeze. Even before the new woman says a thing, the man\'s heart rate has jumped up involuntarily, his breathing suddenly faster and less even.

�He is very still, sitting there with his hands bound above his head. But the Dunadan begins to strain his muscles, trying hard of a sudden to force his hands out of the ropes even if he must break his own bones to get them free! He glances up, struggling with haste.

[Addie(#22296)] The bolt slides in the door and then the woman starts to move over to Rhifaroth, her movements careful. \"I would leave your hands where they are. It would be such a pity if I had to remove one of them. I am faster than I look.\"

[Cordelia(#1394)] Dark hair falls forward as Cordelia leans closer to look at the baby. It\'s not the ranger\'s child, but it has the right coloring, and certainly from the way Rhifaroth reacts, he thinks it\'s his child. Or seems to.

Cordelia looks from ranger to baby and then to her \'aunt.\' \"What should I do with the child?\" she blinks, bouncing the baby a few times to soothe it.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�The man isn\'t very interested in listening. His tattooed, bruised face is tilted back to see what he is doing, with a quick glance to the two women only to make their positions - how close they are to him. Rhifaroth strains and twists and then suddenly, his left thumb joint deep against the wrist dislocates. It is very painful, but the left hand suddenly slips free of the ropes!

�Alas, he jerks and tries to get to his feet but his right hand is still caught up. Whoever tied him to the iron hook in the wall tied his hands to it seperately! There is no sudden slack in the rope to free up his right hand.

�Still, the filthy man has managed to force himself to his feet, unsteadily, and had gone forward towards the women until his own arm, like a leash, constrained him. He turns back to the wall, looking a little pale and starts to try and free his right hand. He says nothing. Not a sound, but the man is tense and far more anxious than Cordelia has probably yet seen him.

[Cordelia(#1394)] Clutching the baby tightly to her, Cordelia jumps back involuntarily as Rhifaroth frees his left hand. \"Watch it!\" she shouts to Adelaide, sounding a bit panicked--likely that bruise on her face is the ranger\'s fault. \"He can get out of the ropes!\"

[Addie(#22296)] Another soft tsking sound. \"Cordelia, if he moves again,\" Adelaide\'s voice is soft and dangerous, \"Slit the child\'s throat.\"

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�Valar, but the knot in the rope is just too large to slip over the tip of the iron hook. It\'s too close to the wall! The man tries but he just can\'t get it free. And so far, he hasn\'t managed to get his right hand free either. And if he breaks or dislocates it too badly, he can\'t use either hand.

�So, reluctantly, as the woman called Adalaide gives the order to Cordelia to kill the child if he doesn\'t cease to struggle, Rhifaroth finally stops. The tattooed Dunadan pants a little from his efforts, thwarted so far.

�His gaze slips from one woman to the other, and for the moment, he waits.

[Addie(#22296)] The small woman moves closer to Rhifaroth, closer, a mere two steps away from him now and looks at the ropes more closely. Her hand reaches into a pouch at her waist, procuring a small dagger.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�A look of surprise crosses the man\'s face. What -did- he say while he was drugged?!? Vaguely alarmed, Rhifaroth swallows and tries to calm his breating. Slow ... easy, relax. He stands still and watches Cordelia for a moment. But it is the other woman coming closer and drawing her small blade that distracts the man. He now watches her most closely - his left hand free. Can he reach her? Perhaps not ... yet.

�He licks his lips, watching Adalaide. The ranger does not seem to be afraid of her. He\'s watching her warily but almost more like she\'s the prey and him the preditor. But he holds his place and finally gives answer in a baritone that is rough and low.

�\"My Lord Denethor... everyone knows he\'s Steward.\" And he already mentioned Gondor, apparently while he was drugged, they said so.

[Cordelia(#1394)] \"You told me that!\" Cordelia snaps angrily, stamping her foot hard on the ground. The baby gives a sudden piercing cry, then starts shrieking, sobs filling the warehouse. \"I want more than that, dammit! Answer me! Answer me now, Rhifaroth!\" She grips the dagger in her right hand, waving it toward the man to emphasize her point, fury in her eyes.

[Addie(#22296)] Moving within reach now, the small woman reaches for the still tied up hand. \"Gondor. Hmm.\" There is a pause.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�Whatever this woman Adalaide is doing, she seems to be reaching slowly for his still tied up hand. Very odd. Rhifaroth apparently resists his impulse to try and take the knife from her - for the moment. He stands very still, watching her, very ready to move if it looks like she will try to use the knife to do anything -except- cut him free. But why would she do that?

�Cordelia\'s shouting doesn\'t upset him. But the wailing of the child is ... distracting. Rhifaroth tries not to be distracted from Adalaide. He wants her knife, \"You asked whom I served... who held my Oath. I was an officer in the Minas Tirith Guard. A Lieutenant. I am released from my Oath and my service. Retired.\" There, a much more complete answer than he has previously given.

[Cordelia(#1394)] \"Better,\" Cordelia says. She glances at the squirming, screaming child, not trying to offer it any comfort. \"I think Mara might like this one. Very much,\" she muses.

[Addie(#22296)] \"It is a child with wonderful lungs,\" the slight woman agrees. There is a quick lunge and a flash of the dagger, aiming for the palm of the hand that\'s still tied up.

[Asht(#29272)] A scratching sound is heard at the door, which seems to echo through the room. Then there is silence. A moment later a soft tapping can be heard which rises in volume to a loud banging. It seems that Asht is no mood for locked doors.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�The man was watching her very carefully, not looking back at Cordelia or the wailing child that may or may not be his son. Rhifaroth suddenly moves, both trying to jerk his right hand away - not very effective - and lunging for the woman and reaching out with his own left hand. But not with his hand for the knife! No, his left arm shoots out to slug the woman has hard as he can! That he might knock her down or out and try to get the small knife from her.

�Almost he hardly notices that the woman\'s knife manages to cut not the palm of his hand, but the back of it, across his knuckles. His hand was close fisted in the last instant.

[Addie(#22296)] The hand doesn\'t quite reach its target, but the slight woman is hit in the belly and rolls back away towards the wall, grimacing in pain. She might be in reach of the tied up man still if he strains.

[Asht(#29272)] Asht stands at the door, a drawn knife in his hand, Keldean at his side. His yellowish face is exposed, hood thrown back, eyes fixed on Cordelia. Then he glances around the room, taking in the figure of Rhifaroth and the unknown woman. He swears softly and looks at the ground, offering Cordelia no greeting.

There is a long pause. \"Go inside, boy,\" he says to Keldean and the younger man enters the room, the direction indicated by the long, strangely thin knife that Asht holds. Another long pause then Asht says softly to Cordelia. \"You have made a habit of annoying me. Did I not tell you to keep that scum tied up?\" He smiles gently at the woman and then aims a blow at her face, fist closed. There is look of intense hatred on his face.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�The small cut on the back of his right hand burns, but likely just from salty sweat and grime upon his skin. When Asht had sliced the skin of his throat it had also burned with salty skin.

�Not having knocked the small woman in the blue dress down the way he had hoped, the Dunadan leaps for her, trying to reach her knife. He may risk being kicked in the face, but his left hand paws for the blade. His thumb is of no use, dislocated as it is, but his other fingers work and might be able to grasp it!

�Alas, for Rhifaroth, his right hand is STILL bound tight to the wall and his struggles are just not enough, so far, to slip his hand free or losen the rope.

[Cordelia(#1394)] Even as she opens the door, Cordelia is distracted by the sound of a struggle between the ranger and Adelaide. She turns back to Asht as he speaks--and is greeted with his fist, which connects hard with her face, the sound of bone crunching under the blow.

The blow sends Cordelia staggering backward, falling, the baby dropping from her arms and immediately starting to in with high-pitched screaming. Both of Cordelia\'s hands clutch at her face, blood seeping through her fingers, and she curls up in a ball on the floor, rocking in pain.

[<#22296>] Addie says in Logathig, \"\"In the name of all that\'s holy, assist me rather than beating up your girlfriend,\"\"

[<#22296>] Kicking with her legs, the slight woman leans back, holding the knife out of reach, though perhaps the man could grab her ankle if he so chose. \"\" the woman hisses in the harsh tongue.

Keldean is moving to sit on one of the boxes again, planning to stay well out of the way, but the sound of the fist hitting Cordelia has the boy turning sharply. His brown eyes widen with alarm and he opens his mouth, but says nothing and clamps it shut again just as quickly. Instead he moves back towards the entrance, reaching to scoop up the baby. If Asht doesn\'t stop him he\'ll retreat back away again towards the box, trying to hold the squirming, screaming, child.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�Something has happened to the child! Rhifaroth can hear it wailing with a new pitch of fright and pain! Not knowing if indeed it might be his own son, the man\'s efforts are suddenly interrupted. He looks up to see what is happening to the baby - and just then gets socked in the face with the woman\'s foot!

�Knocked to the side, the man stumbles, right hand still stuck to the wall. Likewise blood now starts to stream from his own nose. But whatever is happening over by the door, Cordelia seems to be down and he can\'t see the child at all. Who has it??

�Rhifaroth moves back, trying once more for Adalaide. He can\'t reach her knife but he tries to grab one of her ankles. It is very difficult to do when you can\'t use your thumb!

[Asht(#29272)] With a poisonous look at Cordelia, Asht turns on his heel and locks the door before turning back into the room. He passes a long studied glance around the room, eyes resting on Addie for a long moment. Although the situation seems almost out of control, his manner is entirely relaxed.

He slowly walks over to Addie and Rhifaroth, but keeps his distance. Turning back to Keldean he snaps \"You, boy, bring that mewling brat over here.\" Then, his attention focused entirely on the ranger he raises the knife towards him. \"Scum, it is not your time to die yet,\" he says slowly and carefully then adds \"And who might you be? A new friend perhaps? This hardly seems a suitable place for a child...\" The questions are directed at Addie, his tone is friendly, sarcastically so and there is a glint of anger still in his eyes.

[<#22296>] \"\" the woman\'s voice sounds angry, the harsh language becomes even harsher. \"\" She schools her features and then her voice becomes sugary sweet. \'Now, don\'t argue in front of the prisoner. You know that your future bride\'s uncle brought his own bride with.\' She twists, trying to move her ankle further, for Rhifaroth\'s hand has closed over it.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�Something is wrong. The Dunadan\'s right hand, still tied to the wall, was hurting... then went numb. But he was too busy with trying to get the knife from the woman, and with the distraction of the crying child, to pay it much attention. The darn thing is restricting his movement - if only he could have gotten both hands free!

�Ignoring his bashed nose and resplit lip, and the blood on his face, Rhifaroth tries to get ahold of that damned woman and he gets it! Only.. ... the room is swimming, turning about. No, that was him. He sort of overbalanced and seems to have staggered to his left. He seems to be laying on his thighs, sitting up, his right hand still pinned to the wall above his head. How did this happen?

�Dizzy, the ranger\'s efforts have shifted from agression to confusion. He can\'t even feel his right arm now.

Keldean has little experience with children and less with babies. He doesn\'t hold the infant very well and frowns as he tries to hush the child, repeatedly saying \'shhh\' to him. Asht\'s command drifts over and Keldean looks up with an all too knowing expression now. He hesitates for a moment, then moves over slowly, each step leaden. He glances once towards Cordelia, but it\'s only for an instant. He stops a few steps away from Asht and carefully avoids looking at the ranger.

[Asht(#29272)] Eyes narrow and the smile drops from Asht\'s face. He lowers his head slightly and says softly, his tone now one of submission \"Forgive me, there has been much confusion... \" It seems that Asht can as easily be contrite as arrogant. Looking over at Rhifaroth, the knife steady in his hand he barks at him \"Stop this nonsense, scum.\"

A slow movement, and Asht brings the knife towards Keldean and the baby. He looks at one and then the other, seemingly unsure who to threaten. \"Perhaps we will give you a choice, ranger. Yes,\" he muses. \"The child or the boy? Which one shall we cut up first? It is your decision.\"

[Addie(#22296)] The woman kicks again and tries to roll further out of the way. She makes her voice soothing again. \"Or perhaps you will tell us what we want to know and this dear man will not have to hurt anyone at all.\" Adelaide\'s voice seems a little doubtful.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�Something is not right with the prisoner. One moment he was agressively attacking Adalaide and trying to get the knife from her, the next moment he just sort of ... sat down unexpectedly. The man tries to look up and focus as the child is brought closer - Keldean of all people holding it! That -other- man is saying something. A choice.

�Rhifaroth gets refocused on Asht, Keldean, and the baby. Is it his son? Does it even matter who\'s child it is? His voice is a little thick, \"Keldean ... got into this on his own choice.\" A grimness to the man, meeting Keldean\'s eye if the boy will meet his, \"I\'m sorry lad. You ... should have run when... \" The man Keldean knows as \'Seeker\' pants a little. The man is looking a little pale and as if he might be ill.

Keldean stiffens, holding the baby more tightly as his muscles tighten with Asht\'s words. He can\'t help but look over at the door, but it\'s too far. Rhifaroth\'s words pull his attention back, \"Run where?!\" Keldean responds, his voice higher pitched with fear again.

[Asht(#29272)] Nodding slowly, Asht looks at Keldean and starts to laugh softly. \"There is nowhere to run, is there? That must be disappointing, boy.\" With that he turns to study the ranger, something akin to worry showing on his face. Lowering the knife, he moves closer to the restrained man.

\"Damn you ranger scum, will you not talk. A few words. A life. An even exchange.\" Asht\'s palid face moves closer to the ranger\'s, the knife dropping to his side as he studies the tortured face before. Then, a sharp intake of breath and he says to Adelaide \"We are losing him...\" The words trail off as he continues to study Rhifaroth.

[Addie(#22296)] Sitting up now against the wall, the slight woman smiles. \"It\'s a mild poison. Will just make him more..pliable..so that he can be better secured.\"

Keldean eases back away as Asht kneels in front of the ranger. The teen glances over towards Cordelia again, concern on his face for her as much as the fear for his own safety. The baby is finally calming down again, the boy\'s tightened grip giving the infant a stronger sense of security.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�There is the sound of retching. The man is vomiting, but he\'s had almost nothing but water today, some broth yesterday... still, a little liquid comes up. Smells of bile, mostly. Acidic.

�Rhifaroth looks miserable, mild poisoning or not. The man\'s right hand remains fastened to the wall hook. The Dunadan tries to keep himself supported by his left arm, leaning on it. His left hand is bloody from the skin freshly scraped off of it and something is odd about the shape of his hand ... or wrist. Swollen.

�There is no answer from the man. Rhifaroth chokes, spits out the nastiness in his mouth. Tries to breath, ease the riling of his innards.

[Asht(#29272)] A knowing glance is thrown at Adelaide and Asht\'s attention returns to the ranger. His lips curl in derision as the man vomits yet he moves even closer to him, his face only almost touching Rhifaroth\'s. Asht sniffs delicately then says \"I\'m sorry you\'re not feeling well, ranger.\" He breaks into a soft chuckle then stands up and moves towards Keldean and the child.

\"Sick you may be, but you have not answered my question. Your child or your friend? Which is it to be? Surely you can decide. Or perhaps I shall decide for you. I\'ve always hated children.\" Asht turns again and throws Adelaide a questioning look, although precisely what that question entails is unclear.

[Addie(#22296)] \"We could just kill the man, you know,\" the slight woman says, finally rising and dusting herself off. \"He\'s caused us more than enough trouble. Though the boy has as well. Hmm. I hear that baby\'s blood is good for the skin.\"

Keldean backs up another step, his face growing paler as he becomes the focus of conversation once more. \"He sick.. not thinking clearly. You should wait until he\'s not.. not so weak.\" The teen\'s voice is cracking, and he doesn\'t even notice as the baby fusses and flails in his arms.

[Rhifaroth(#27282)]

�

�Rhifaroth had said once to his wife that he had never been sick a day in his life. Had a few wounds go sour, he\'d been cut up more than a few times, even been poisoned once, but never a cold, never an illness. So this sensation is very, very strange and something different. Feels like his stomach is trying to turn itself inside out.

�There are voices. He can hear them clearly. This is nothing like the drug they were giving him before.

�The Dunadan has moved his left hand and shifted himself to try and lean against the wall. His left hand aches so. His voice is fainter, weak, \"No... do not ... hurt the child.\" A breath, another breath, \"I will .. try to answer.\" It\'s someting, but Rhifaroth looks like he\'s fast fading from being in shape to answer questions. It may have to wait until the morning.

[Asht(#29272)] With a sudden movement, Asht reaches forward and slaps Rhifaroth across the face. Getting no response he does it again. And again. Finally, he draws in breath and lets out a sound, something like a scream but much lower in tone. \"Damn you, you filthy scum of... \" The words trail off into almost insane rambling before Asht falls silent.

Rising to his feet again he gives Adelaide a hard look. \"Kill them all, I say.\" he says, his voice rising in pitch. \"I have had enough of this. A woman who will not kill. A boy who will not torture. And a stinking ranger who will not stay conscious long enough for us to torture him. What am I expected to do with this... this... mess?\" The exasperation on Asht\'s face is clear as is his exhaustion. Dark pits are forming under his eyes he\'s clearly more than a little addled.

[Addie(#22296)] \"Yes, well, killing them all is tempting, but leaving a pile of bodies isn\'t a terribly good way to get information in the future,\" the slight woman says, looking prim. \"Give him no food and keep him awake. We will try again tomorrow.\"

�