Barlok Visits the Pony
A tale freshly told of the Breefolk
Barlok drops in on the common room of the Prancing Pony.
It is quiet and slow in the Pony at this afternoon hour. There is hardly anyone in the tavern section of the inn. And why not? It is a lovely day outside and there are things folk need to do instead of lounging around in the Pony. Except for one man.
Seated off in the furthest corner from the entry is a man alone. Sipping an ale, with a light weight greenish-grey faded cloak with the hood up. A long bow leans against the wall next to him and there are no signs of food upon the table. Just a pipe and a pouch.
[Jacquelyn(#26425)] Would head down the steps with heavy footfalls, not much of a lady for a girl her age, but perhaps that could be blamed on her heritage. She\'d step out into the common room, smoothing her apron over her skirt carefully before looking around the room, blinking a bit in suprise at seeing only one patron there.
[Liuni(#22296)] The little girl skips over to the patron, smiling at Jacquelyn. She plops herself down on the bench next to him and peers up at his hood, trying to see his face.
Keldean isn\'t far behind his sister, escaping the scene upstairs before he ends up roped into more work by Annaiel or Cordelia. \"Jacquelyn, wait-..\" He starts to say, then cuts off when he spots Seeker. Oh, just wonderful. Why can\'t the man stay in Archet?
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
The lone man watches Liuni, pale eyes following her movement across the Common Room... and unsurprisingly the child comes and plops down right next to himself. What is he, a child magnet? Or a trouble magnet?
Seeker turns his head slightly and looks at the girl. His face is visible at that angle but he doen\'t say anything. He just picks up his mug of brown ale and sips of it again, quiet. Others come down the stairs in a small herd and the archer watches them without any comment. His cowled hood shadows most of his face and he\'s making no small talk.
Cordelia waits to pose in may not
[Liuni(#22296)] In her high pitched voice, the little girl looks up at Seeker and kicks her legs a little, fidgeting on the bench. \"Tell me a story.\"
[Jacquelyn(#26425)] \"What do you need?\" Jacquelyn would ask as she turns to her brother behind her, appearing a little suprised that he had come down the stairs so quickly after her. She would catch the look on her brother\'s face and would arch a brow slightly at his reaction.
\"We were going to go for a walk, remember?\" Keldean says, reaching for his sister\'s arm, intending to pull her in the opposite direction as Seeker. He lowers his voice to a soft whisper, \"He\'s the one that was angry with me.. and.. well, he still is a bit.\"
Cordelia comes in now, but much more quietly than Keldean. She has gotten rid of the \'dirty\' towels that she cleaned up from Ana\'s room. She scans the room quickly, seeing Keldean, Jacquelyn, some regulars--then stops short as she sees Liuni sitting by Rhifaroth. A moment\'s pause only, though--she walks over to the bar and starts wiping down mugs, not saying anything to anyone, but quietly watching her sister and Rhifaroth.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
Liuni\'s innocent seeming question interrupts Seeker in sipping his ale. He sets it down and turns his hooded head once more to look at the little girl who\'s taken a seat right next to himself. A dark brow arches at the child, \"Do I look like your mother, Liuni?\" The man doesn\'t sound like he\'s in a very good mood. \"Go ask your sister.\"
His attention shifting from the girl to his pipe and pouch laying on the table, Seeker picks up the pouch and opens it, then the pipe, to load it.
[Jacquelyn(#26425)] \"He\'s angry at you?\" She says with a hushed voice as well, looking at her brother curiously. \"But his wife was so nice to me.. maybe we should forget our walk and just go over and patch things up..\" She would nod a little, curling his arm as well and beginning to pull in the opposite direction.. though not with much force behind it.. more of a suggesting tug.
[Liuni(#22296)] The little girl shakes her head emphatically. \"I\'ve heard all of Cordy\'s stories already. They\'re boring. I want you to tell me a story.\" She pauses. \"Cordy says you\'ve done a lot of travelling and met,\" she pauses and says the next word with distaste, \"elves\" and she goes on \"and all sorts of people and I want to hear your stories.\" The words tumble over each other out of her mouth.
Keldean isn\'t going to drag Jacquelyn away, figuring that would likely start a fight. Instead he lets go of her, frowning. \"I don\'t know, he doesn\'t look too happy right now, and I don\'t think there\'s anything that can be patched up right now. Besides, Liuni is talking to him.\" He shoves his hands into his pockets.
Cordelia hums quietly, smile playing on her lips. She turns her back on Rhifaroth and Liuni and starts putting away the mugs.
[Nob(#16122)] The door swings open again, well, crashes open, really, though not hard enough to actually splinter anything. And a man walks in, his bright eyes flickering around the room and landing on Rhifaroth talking to a child. They fill with an unholy glee, and Barlok leans against the wall of the Common Room, crossing his arms and watching to see what will happen.
[Jacquelyn(#26425)] \"Oh yeah..\" Jacquelyn would say as she looks over at Seeker and the little girl \"Alright, well I guess we could go for that walk then. I still think you should patch things up though, but I\'m going to try to be less like mother from now on...\" She would pause, turning to look at the sound of the crashing door, her brow furrowing a little, recognizing the face of the man in the doorway.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
So much for slipping in for a quiet, rare drink at the Pony. Seeker reaches a hand up and pushes his hood back just a little bit from his face and frowns at the child, \"A few elves in the area just now. One can\'t help but run into them, it seems. Maybe -you- should go look for one and pest them for a story, Liuni.\" The mere thought tugs a faint smile at the man\'s lips. It is difficult to be in a sour mood with children about.
Continuing with adding pipeweed to his small pipe and packing it in firmly, the Dunadan adds quietly, \"Even your sister has seen at least one.\"
The sound of a door slamming open makes the man look up from his task. For an instant, Seeker is incredulous to see -Barlok- come barging in here of all places! The tattooed man\'s hands upon his pipe have frozen.
[Liuni(#22296)] The little girl looks at the man curiously. \"Would an elf tell me a story? My mommy told me that elves would eat me if I was naughty.\" At this, Liuni\'s kicking slows and she tilts her head to the side and her mouth drops open a bit at the slamming door.\"
[Annaiel(#28909)]
Having taken the time to change and untangle what she can of her raven curls, Ana makes her way down the stairs. Most of what has gone on she is entering in upon anew, but it is the slamming of the door that makes her pause near the bottom of the stairs.
The deep grey blue dress fits to her perfectly, a bit wrinkled from being in the bag. The sash at her waist is in a deeper color still to match the fine embroidery around the hem and neckline of the dress and flowing sleeves afford some relief from the heat.
But those grey eyes are locked on the door and she slowly moves towards Rhifaroth, closing the distance withs mall slow strides, but pauses, looking to his reaction as well. Suddenly she looks back up towards her room and frowns.
Keldean turns sharply at the crashing door, almost in unison with his sister. When he recognizes the man that waltzes in with that -smile-.. the teen\'s face goes white. He draws in a sharp breath, then reaches for Jacquelyn\'s arm again to try and drag her back away from the doorway, towards the bar. His brown eyes are wide and he looks back towards Seeker quickly, to see if the ranger has noticed Barlok\'s entrance.
[<#1394>] Cordelia can\'t exactly ignore the sound of the door crashign open, so she turns that way. She, too, pales, as she recognizes Barlok, and she curses under her breath, then looks toward Liuni. \"
[Nob(#16122)] Barlok notices Jacquelyn\'s eyes on his face and he grins at her, letting his eyes travel the length of her figure and back again. His grin turns slightly feral as Keldean tries to pull the girl farther away from his noble self - and then he turns lazily to watch the doorway at the sound of footsteps from without. The small man is entirely, even blatantly relaxed, but his hands never are far from his waist, where his shirt billows out from his belt.
Jacquelyn wouldn\'t argue, that look Barlok gave her cemented exactly where she remembered him from and she would clutch onto her brother\'s arm, tripping over her own feet a little as he pulls her towards the bar, her brown eyes fixed on the frightening figure in the doorway. Her grip on her brother would be almost painful, clearly unsettled by the way Barlok was looking at her.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
Very calmly, the pipe goes into the pipeweed pouch, and that goes into his belt. This is no time for a smoke, obviously. Rhifaroth ignores Liuni at this point, his eyes only for Barlok - except for a quick glance when he hears Cordelia\'s voice. And then Annaiel of all folk just comes walking in... and in a very nice looking dress. Not obviously armed, alas.
Standing up from the table slowly, his own attention on Barlok, the man some folk locally call \'Seeker\' steps over the bench but does not at once make a move to head towards the other man, \"So, you haven\'t left town. Did you miss your room at the Bree jail, Barlok?\"
[Annaiel(#28909)]
Looking at everyone just within her view, the man unnoticed as he is beyond her view around the wall. But it is everyone else that makes her pause and remain where she is, still and silent. Grey eyes lock on Rhifaroth, as if expecting an answer before she walks into something she wish she hadn\'t. She takes another step forward and stops, her slippered feet shifting to widen her stance as she inches forward, eyes darting between those she can make out from the foyer, her breath slowing, forcefully so. Rhifaroth\'s words have her hands ready, fists being balled slowly as she starts to break the doorway and into the common room. She nods to Rhifaroth once, ready she stands.
[<#22296>] The little girl frowns and swings her legs back over the bench to look at Cordelia. \"
[<#1394>] \'Liuni,\' Cordelia speaks very calmly, walking toward her sister, hand out toward her. She switches languages to match the one Liuni has just babbled at her. \"
Keldean winces when Jacquelyn\'s fingers dig into his arm. The teen reaches to pry her grip from his arm. \"Go behind the bar..\" He says in a demanding tone of voice, but his gaze is constantly shifting between Seeker and Barlok as he clearly remembers the threat the ranger gave him when they last spoke. The teen has grown a bit since he last encountered the escaped criminal, but only by a couple of inches. The man is still unnerving.
[Jacquelyn(#26425)] \"Come with me...\" She urges, worry held in her voice as she releases his arm only to try to catch his hand to bring him with her.. though she was already moving to get behind the bar. The girl had absolutely no desire to be anywhere near the people standing in the doorway. She bites her lip softly, her eyes fixed on the scene before her.
[<#22296>] The little girl obediently slips off the bench and runs over to Cordelia, hiding behind her. Her thumb knuckle goes back into her mouth. \"
[Nob(#16122)] Barlok, it seems, draws great pleasure from watching the reactions of those around him. His grin widens still further, though he shifts his weight away from the door - he is still leaning against the wall, but is now just a step beyond easy reach from whoever comes through it. And there is a soft chuckle in his voice as he responds to Rhifaroth, though his eyes are intent, and his attention is divided between the man and the doorway.
\"Wanted a drink,\" he says casually, and nods towards the table. \"Looks like you did, too.\" The laughter grows more evident. \"It /was/ quite comfortable, now that you mention it.... I think, however, I am not greatly missed there. Somehow, I wasn\'t feeling terribly welcome, if you know what I mean.\" He winks at Jacquelyn. \"Y\'don\'t need t\'run away so fast, sweetie,\" he says to her, his soft voice purring. Dark eyes flick to Keldean and linger there a moment.
[<#1394>] Cordelia doesn\'t answer Liuni\'s question until they are safely behind the bar, and then she does so in a very low voice, half in the common tongue, half in some babbled language. \'No, not like the elves. Momma was wrong,\' she says, pushing a strand of hair out of the child\'s eyes--she crouches next to her behind the bar. \"
[Liuni(#22296)] Putting her thumb further into her mouth, Liuni nods at Cordelia\'s words. She reaches a hand out to touch Cordelia\'s hair and looks back out at the people around the bar.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
More chatter in that distracting, almost familiar language ... but his own gaze does not slip from Barlok as Rhifaroth watches that man. He\'s not afraid of the thug, no. But neither does he wish to get folk here hurt.
Seeing Barlok\'s interest in Keldean\'s sister, and Kel himself, the archer uses the other\'s distraction to start slow and easy across the room. If nothing else, Rhifaroth can both get closer, and refocus Barlok on himself at the same time, \"Oh, I think you\'ll find warm enough welcome back there, Barlok. Warmer, probably than folk will give you here.\"
His own ale left behind on the table, Rhifaroth keeps his voice smooth and pleasant as he draws closer. He has also left his long bow leaning against the wall where he had set it earlier.
Cordelia puts a hand around her sister\'s waist. And with her right hand she quietly draws a dagger, though they remain hidden behind the bar for now.
And of course, Barlok had made threats as well, right after Keldean tried to rob him that fateful night. In truth, the teen has made more than a few bad decisions and both the ranger and assassin have said unpleasant things to him. He backs up slowly as his sister pulls at his hand, his face still heavy with worry over how the situation will resolve. He swallows nervously as those dark eyes travel first to his sister, and then to him. \"Stop talking to her like that!\" He demands, trying to conquer his own fear with anger. Logically, the man won\'t try to hurt anyone here, right now.. Though, Barlok isn\'t known for being logical.
[Annaiel(#28909)]
The man has moved and Ana not takes the time to move closer and outward a bit. She is trying to hug the wall Barlok is nearest too and her fists are ready. The sparrow does not like the other\'s reactions and slowly she edges outward, foot over foot and looks to Rhifaroth. Waiting, silently as she can, to see if she should attempt. It is Keldean that gains her attention and she grows tenser. Shaking her head to him from the doorway, the rangeress finds a moment, draws a breath, looking once more to Rhifaroth.
[Jacquelyn(#26425)] \"Yeah.. don\'t talk to me like that..\" But her voice comes out only as a little squeak and she\'s already stepping behind her brother, peeking over his shoulder to watch what\'s going on so she doesn\'t have to stand the sight of Barlock\'s eyes roaming all over her figure. She wasn\'t even sure what the whole situation was, but her brown eyes would glance from one person to the next, trying to piece it all together.
[Nob(#16122)] Barlok smiles lazily at Keldean. \"Relax,\" he advises. \"I said already, I just wanted a drink. So you tried to rob me, no hard feelings, right?\" He spreads both his hands out, empty. His smile widens, showing white teeth, and his eyes flick back to Rhifaroth. \"Oh no,\" he replies, shaking his head. \"I\'m quite certain they don\'t want to see me again,\" and strangely enough, he laughs. \"Drove them quite nuts, I did.\" It is a tone of good humor, a man laughing at a joke he has played and wishes to share with others. A sideways glance at the door, where he can now see a bit of Annaiel. \"Here now, Miss,\" he says, his tone turning gallant. \"Come in and have a bit of a drink with me? I promise I\'ve no intentions of anything other than that - I\'ll even do the buying!\" His glittering eyes move around the room. \"How about it? Drinks for everyone on me!\" One hand moves carefully, slowly, towards a pouch at his waist, fingering it open and dipping in to come out with a handful of copper coins. Part of his gaze remains entirely on Rhifaroth - the other man may not be doing anything threatening as of yet, but he won\'t be doing any of it without Barlok noticing.
[Liuni(#22296)] Resting a hand on Cordelia\'s shoulder, the other firmly ensconced in her mouth, the little girl listens carefully to what\'s being said.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
Still watching Barlok carefully, and not seeing anything obvious upon the man that looks to be a weapon, neither blade nor club, Rhifaroth slowly nods, \"All right. Sit down, have yourself a drink. It -is- the Breeguard\'s concern whether you are still around or not.\" As though mentioning the Breeguard might be a hint that someone listening could go fetch them, perhaps. Are there folk in the kitchen listening in even now?
A hand gestures not towards the bar where most of the women are, but towards the empty tables. Specifically back towards the table he himself had just vacated, \"Come join me. Perhaps we\'ll have a little chat?\"
Keldean does anything but relax. Barlok hasn\'t been exactly truthful in the past. He gazes at the man with a wary scowl now as he does feel some relief at the non-offensive stance that Barlok takes. The teen doesn\'t even notice Annaiel\'s shaking head, so focused is he on the outlaw. His hands clench into fists, ready to react if the convict comes near him.
Jacquelyn watches the people, their actions from behind her brother. She still wasn\'t entirely convinced that this was a safe situation and from where things stood this was probably the safest place for her to be. She simply listens and watches, not getting involved and doing her very best to be as invisible as possible.
[Annaiel(#28909)]
She doesn\'t have the element of surprise anymore and Ana steps back, putting some distance between. Looking from Barlok to Rhifaroth, she waits for the latter to move sos he might get to Jacquelyn and Keldean. Frowning some, she looks warily after the copper sporting man. \"I will pass on the drink, thank you sir.\" Her mezzo voice assures, a very faint smile upon her lips.
[Liuni(#22296)] The little girl inches forward just a bit from her sister, peering around the bar at what people are doing.
[Nob(#16122)] Barlok moves easily into the room, but sits down much nearer the door than where Rhifaroth had been. \"Thanks,\" he says, \"But why don\'t you join me? I prefer being a bit nearer the door, if you know what I mean?\" He grins at the other man. Perhaps it isn\'t so obvious, but he has also sat right beneath one of the windows. He lifts a hand, beckoning to Keldean and Jacquelyn. \"Come, join us,\" he invites them. \"See?\" A large smile, full of teeth. \"This good gentleman here will surely undertake to guard your virtue...\" He turns his smile to Annaiel. \"A pity,\" he says politely. \"Here I\'ve both the money and the desire, and no one wishes to take advantage of my good nature.\" His eyes glint in the light.
[Liuni(#22296)] Squirming out of her sister\'s grip, the little girl comes closer to Barlok, within grabbing distance and looks at him more closely. \"Will you tell me a story?\" she says, her voice plaintive as she looks up at the man sitting down.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
For a moment, Rhifaroth keeps his place. A flicker of his eyes though towards Jacquelyn and Keldean might suggest that they don\'t get too near. \"Very well. I shall join you.\" And the Dunadan moves quietly as though to do precisesly that. \"Perhaps one of you would be so kind as to bring us something to drink?\" The latter question though is, oddly enough, directed to Annaiel.
Keldean chews on his lip, trying to decide on the best course of action. He turns his head to whisper to his sister, \"Just stay here.. don\'t get near him.\" Then the boy is looking back, planning to approach the convict. Suddenly Liuni is darting over there and Keldean\'s eyes grow wide. He hurries after her to try and grab her, \'Leave him alone!\'
[Cordelia(#1394)] \"Liuni!\" Cordelia hisses, scrambling out from behind the bar and hurrying over to stand near her sister. There\'s a dagger in her right hand--it\'s hidden in the folds of her skirts as best she can as she hurries over, perhaps too late?
[Annaiel(#28909)]
\"Of course.\" Ana pauses in moving to Keldean and his sister and gives a slight nod of her head. The rangeress\' eyes widen a moment at the bold little girl and she steps forward, a forgiving smile on her face. \"Keldean its okay, I can tell her a story.\" she tries to smooth the scene over quickly. \"Come I can tell you about a great flying eagle..while we get the drinks. Okay?\" She looks to Liuni, reaching for her hand and then looking up at Cordelia, a knowing glance saying \'do not worry\'.
[Jacquelyn(#26425)] \"Okay..\" Jacquelyn says nervously, staying where she was at the bar. She certainly didn\'t want to argue, and she wasn\'t about to go try to catch the little girl. She would see the glint of metal as Cordelia passes by, a gasp escaping her lips momentarily as she watches the growing group with wide eyes.
[Nob(#16122)] The child approaches him, demanding a story, and Barlok\'s gaze drops to her face consideringly. Then he reaches out to pick her up and put her on his lap. \"Certainly,\" he says. \"Shall I tell you...\" His eyes lift to rest on Rhifaroth\'s face, and he smirks. \"...Of the man who nearly got killed protecting..\" Lazy eyes move to Cordelia. \"... a sick woman? Or..\" His gaze moves about the room, lighting on Keldean and Jacquelyn, \"What about the tale of two children who valiantly rescued a poor fellow from an evil fate?\"
[Liuni(#22296)] The little girl looks back at Annaiel and Cordelia and Keldean from her perch on Barlok\'s lap and smiles happily. \"I wanna hear the story about the children who val..val...rescued a poor fellow.\"
[<#1394>] Cordelia stares at her sister, fear widening her eyes. \"
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
Having already taken a seat across from Barlok, Rhifaroth is not at all pleased to see little Liuni walk right up to the man and all but climb up into his lap. Does the child have no instinct? Several folk have come up to try and snatch the girl back but ... apparently to no avail. May as well relax and see what happens, stay alert and ready.
A glance over towards Keldean, then back to Barlok. -This- story ought to be interesting, at least.
The Dunadan draws his pipe back out, his gaze switching very briefly to Cordelia who seems a bit brittle, \"Cordy, go and fetch me a taper to light my pipe, won\'t you please?\"
Keldean isn\'t certain what to do now, his brown eyes flicking between Barlok holding the child, and Rhifaroth. He\'s not close enough for the escapee to reach him, having been too slow, much as the rest, to catch Liuni. Seeker\'s words keep coming back to him, the threat about people getting hurt on his behalf.. Funny how these potentials keep coming up. \"This isn\'t part of the deal.\" He hisses quietly to Barlok, growing more worried as the topic of the story comes up, the teen glancing towards Seeker again nervously.
[Annaiel(#28909)]
This wasn\'t going very well, judging by peoples reactions. Drawing a logn breath, she turns then, moving to grab whatever she can find to drink. MOving behind the bar, she looks at the others within the Pony, her grey gaze slipping to Rhifaroth again.
She grabs at a few bottles of ale and one of wine and brings them out, setting them on a platter. Glasses are added next and she watches silently, worry upon her brow.
[Nob(#16122)] \"Deal?\" Barlok asks Keldean, innocently. \"For there to be a deal, we would have to have some sort of ... history. Connection.\" Light reflects from his eyes, silent laughter at the boy\'s discomfort brightening them. He looks down at the little girl on his lap and his arm curves about her protectively. \"I will tell you that story,\" he promises, \"Just as soon as I get my drink.\" And he looks towards Annaiel expectantly. He reaches out to open his closed fist over the tabletop - coins bounce and clatter across the wood, some dropping to the floor. All are copper pennies, some are very worn.
[Cordelia(#1394)] Only reluctantly does Cordelia take her eyes off of Barlok and her sister--and when she does so it is to stare angrily at Rhifaroth. Pipeweed? Now? When what she needs to be doing is slitting this man\'s throat? She doesn\'t say it, but her look speaks volumes to the ranger.
Sending WHO request.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
A little calmness is probably the best action here, since Liuni so kindly presented herself and Cordelia failed to keep the child back. Trying to slit throats now would only get the child hurt. So, Seeker ignores Cordelia\'s anger and returns his attention to Barlok, \"Do tell. I\'m curious to know myself what arrangement you had with this young man, Barlok. Seems you must have struck up some sort of friendship in order for him to risk so much on your behalf?\"
Finishing with his pipe and setting it aside, Rhifaroth also spares a quick glance to see where Annaiel is at this point.
Keldean shakes his head faintly at Rhifaroth. \"No.. no.. not like that. I told you what he said about not coming back.\" The teen looks back at Barlok then, his anger renewing. If Annaiel wasn\'t here the boy would be saying a lot more about the situation.
[Annaiel(#28909)]
he money dropping is her signal to hurry and thus she does, nearly dropping one of the five glasses she put on the tray. Nodding her head, she intones, \"I am coming..\" Lifting the tray, she steps out from the side of the bar and moves quickly and smoothly to the table. Setting the tray down, she begins to lean over and remove each item to the table. \"Sorry to have taken so long...\" She comments a warm smile on her face as she looks to Barlok. She is tense, but her warm welcome act is convincing enough. \"Is there anything else I can get for you?\"
[Cordelia(#1394)] For a moment longer than she needs to, Cordelia stares angrily at Rhifaroth. Maybe some of the man\'s strategy in this situation gets through to her, though, because she gives another look to her sister and Barlok again, and then to the fire, where she could get a taper. Again, she\'s reluctant to move so much as her eyes away from the pair, but she does so, heading to the fire to fetch a taper. She carefully holds her skirt as she moves--likely she\'s using that motion to hide the dagger in one hand, too.
[Nob(#16122)] Barlok\'s face turns toward Rhifaroth. \"Friendship?\" he asks, musingly. \"No. No, I wouldn\'t say that.\" A flicker of his eyes towards Keldean. \"Ah, there it comes now.\" He smiles charmingly down at Liuni, jogging the child on his knee, and then watching with frank appreciation as Annaiel bends over the table. \"No, I thank you, this will do nicely.\" With his free hand, he picks up the mug of ale and takes a long swallow, eyes always watchful over the brim. Setting it back down again, he clears his throat. \"Well... once upon a time, a long time ago, there was a poor man who had been captured by an evil prince and thrown into the dungeon.\" His gaze, brimful of gleeful humor, lifts to meet Rhifaroth\'s as he continues smoothly. A dart of a glance after Cordelia. \"For years and years, the fellow moped away in there, down deep in the dark, with never enough to eat or drink. Why, he didn\'t even have anyone to talk to, for the guards all were dull, unimaginative fellows, who only cared to sleep and play dice.\"
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
While Cordelia has turned aside to fetch him the lit taper he asked for, and Annaiel so kindly brings them something to drink in her aluring fashion, the Southerner watches Barlok and bides his time. Rhifaroth himself does not make a move to pour a drink for himself, just now. A brow arches though as Barlok mentions an \'Evil Prince\'. Has Barlok been chatting up Arabella?
\"Oh yes, poor fellow suffered so for years and years.\" Amusement is in the Dunadan\'s tone but he\'s watching the man with the child.
Keldean grows more nervous as Barlok begins telling his tale. It\'s not as if Seeker knows everything, because the teen never told it all, to anyone. The teen looks on edge, fearful eyes constantly darting between Seeker and the dangerous criminal.
[Annaiel(#28909)]
Slowly does the rangeress move, much akin to a cat. Turning the tray about and freeing her right hand she extends the object to Keldean for him to take it. Her dress brushes the floor, but it is the only sound as she draws closer to the man telling the story and the girl in his arms. Grey eyes look over at Rhifaroth.
[Cordelia(#1394)] Cordelia kneels by the fire as if to fetch a taper, but to do so she has to re-sheath her dagger, which she does, again hiding the motion as best she can, at least from Barlok. She stands up and walks back across the room to Rhifaroth, offering the lit taper to him--but her eyes are on Barlok and her sister. \"There\'s some stew if you want,\" she offers to Barlok.
[Nob(#16122)] Barlok\'s eyes are shining with a strange amber light. \"Yes,\" he agrees, to Rhifaroth\'s comment. \"It was a most terrible imprisonment. Then one day, two shining strangers appeared and offered to let the poor man out of his vile prison. They asked a price, of course, who wouldn\'t? But our prisoner was so desperate to escape that he would have done anything, paid any price. He agreed instantly. One of the figures waved its glowing arm, and the cell door swung open!\" Barlok pauses to take a drink. \"Sure,\" he says to Cordelia. \"Bowl of stew wouldn\'t go amiss.\" His gaze moves across the room, marking each one there, then swings back to Rhifaroth. \"You\'re not drinking,\" he points out mildly. \"Don\'t care for the flavor?\"
[Aaron(#24624)] Aaron has been standing outside of the Common Room for some time now. He has been examining his texts, but now, he opens the door, very quietly. He eases his way into the room and stands near the edge of the room and lets his eyes wander to each face. The only ones unfamiliar to him are that of Barlok and Anniel. Somehow he knows to stay silent.
Keldean takes the tray from Annaiel as she hands it to him, his fingers wrapping around the edges tightly. The teen is very tense, taking quiet shallow breaths as the criminal goes on with his story. His brown eyes flick over to Rhifaroth and he quickly shakes his head in denial, that fear always on his face that the ranger is going to believe what Barlok is saying.
[Annaiel(#28909)]
\"Sir..\" Annaiel interrupts as he questions Rhifaroth about his drinking. \"I could relieve your hands for you of the child and take a seat with her? SHe could still hear your story?\" THe rangeress attempts to offer kindly, looking at one of the chairs between him and Rhifaroth. Her head tilts, raven locks shifting as she looks at those gathered around, offering Keldean a warm reassuring smile.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
Seeker\'s own mug of half drunk ale and his long bow still reside on the other side of the room where he left them. The man accepts the lit taper from Cordelia but he doesn\'t really look at her, listening to Barlok. Softly though he murmurs, \"Thank you.\" to the young woman.
\"I had a bit of ale earlier. I thought I would smoke instead.\" The tattooed and scarred man sits leaning back in his chair, seemingly quite relaxed, \"Please -do- enjoy it, Barlok. Your story is entertaining, at least. Do you have more?\"
Pale grey eyes watching the man with the child Liuni, Seeker lites his pipe and draws on it, dousing the taper and setting it on the edge of the table far from Barlok. The Dunadan doesn\'t pay Keldean the slightest attention but for a glance to see where that tray has gone.
[Cordelia(#1394)] \"Right, stew,\" Cordelia nods, looking around the group once Rhifaroth takes the taper from her. \"I\'ll get some bread for Liuni, too. She must be hungry. Seeker, you want any? Ana?\" She stands with her hands on her hips, awaiting answers.
[Aaron(#24624)] Aaron now speaks up. \"Begging your pardon Miss Cordelia. Could I get an ale if it\'s not too much trouble?\" he smiles as sweetly as he can at the woman, then turns to Barlok. He furrows a brow at the prisoner but can\'t help smiling at the child Liuni.
[Nob(#16122)] Barlok\'s eyes snap to the door the instant Aaron comes through it. They dwell on the man for a few moments, then flick back to check on the positions of everyone else, dropping at last to rest on Luini\'s head with blatant tenderness. \"I don\'t mind holding her,\" he tells Annaiel. As he meets the ranger\'s gaze, a little smile grows. Then he looks back at Rhifaroth, his good humor returning expansively. \"Oh, I do,\" he assures the man. A slow lazy glance at Keldean from beneath hooded eyelids. \"For then, of course, our hero had yet to find his way from the depths of the earth where he had been chained. It was a long and tortuous trek, through maze-like halls, but at last he stumbled into the light of day.\"
Barlok looks at Liuni again and explains kindly, \"You see, he\'d been in the darkness so long that the sunlight hurt his eyes! He couldn\'t see anything at all! But then,\" His tone grows sad. \"Can you believe it? The shining figures tried to steal what few poor coins the man had left after he had paid their exorbitant price.\"
[Annaiel(#28909)]
Straightening, Ana nods to Barlok and turns to eye the tray that is now in Keldean\'s hand. Pressing her lips together. With a drawn breath she takes the tray again from Keldean. \"Thank you.\" she says and then moves a bit closer to Barlok, her smile sweet. \"I can\'t get you anything else can I?\" She questions softly, the tray held before her this time.
Annaiel takes the tray from Keldean just as the boy\'s patience snaps. His face grows angry again as he looks back at Barlok, his breathing growing heavier. \"Nobody believes your filthy lies!\" The teen clenches his hands into fists again and looks like he may try something stupid as he glares at Barlok.
[Cordelia(#1394)] \"Get stew from the kitchen.\" It\'s said quietly, but still, it\'s more of an order that Cordelia barks at Keldean. \"Four bowls. And spoons. Do it -now-,\" she hisses at the teen. She, for one, is not reacting at all to Barlok\'s story--her focus is on Liuni and not at all on the escaped prisoner\'s wor.s
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
An absent nod to Cordelia about the stew though Seeker\'s attention is really still on Barlok. The man seems to be enjoying his pipe though and the sweet secent of pipeweed - Old Toby - fills the near space around the table. No smoke rings, nothing fancy. Rhifaroth is simply waiting, passing the time, watching.
[Aaron(#24624)] Aaron looks towards Cordelia, glaring because his ale wasn\'t mentioned, for he is close enough to hear. He listens with interest to Barlok. He knows the man, but refuses to look at him. Instead he moves towards the bar area quietly.
[Nob(#16122)] Barlok pauses in his story to look at Keldean with surprised innocence. \"Lies?\" he asks. \"I was telling the little girl a story. Why should such a thing upset you so?\" He peers at the boy more closely, then shakes his head sadly. \"You need to relax a little, lad. Get out, have some fun.\" Dismissing Keldean, Barlok\'s eyes turn to Annaiel. \"Wellllll,\" he says, drawing out the word, \"It has been a while since I\'ve had a woman...\" He gives her a lazy shark-toothed smile. \"And that delightful girl hiding yonder is too frightened to even come and make friends with me.\" Abruptly switching gears, Barlok picks up his drink, tossing the remainder down his throat and stands up. The chair is shoved backwards by the pressure of his legs. Carrying Liuni in the crook of his arm, the man edges along the wall until he gets to the door, and steps backwards out of it, bowing ironically towards those within. \"A lovely afternoon,\" he says, smirking. \"We must be sure to do it again sometime...\" And he is gone, the door closing after him.
Keldean hears Cordelia\'s words, and he almost doesn\'t listen as he seems about to attack the man. Instead though, he backs off, slipping out to the hallway and into the kitchen. At the very least he can grab himself a knife while he\'s in there. And it\'s while Keldean is gone that the criminal makes his escape.
[Cordelia(#1394)] If Aaron\'s polite request has registered at all with Cordelia, she gives no indication, nor does she notice him glaring at her. Her attention was briefly turned to Keldean to get the teenager out of the way and to the kitchen to fetch stew, but even as those words were said, she turns back toward Barlok and Liuni. Smiling.
\"Stew will be right out, sir.\" Well, that\'s what she intended to say, but the man is edging out the door with her sister, and Cordelia stands shocked for a moment--then tears after Barlok at full speed, following him out the door.
[Annaiel(#28909)]
There is a strange color to the dark haired woman\'s cheeks and she clears her throat, but the man is already changing topic or his motives. Ana\'s eyes widen as he picks up the girl with him. She moves then, fast she can. \"Put her down..\" She says, tray in hand as she reacts. The tray moves outward as she follows him, attempting to slam into his face should she catch it right. The rangeress is in full gear now and she is already to take another swing should her first miss.
[Nob(#16122)] Barlok is laughing as he ducks away from Ana\'s tray, and the door swings shut in her face. But when Cordelia races through, opening it again, Liuni is standing there, and Barlok is nowhere to be seen.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
As Barlok stands, the pipe is set down upon the table. Calmly, eyes following the man\'s every move, Rhifaroth stands as well as soon as it becomes apparent that the thug isn\'t putting Liuni down - at least not yet. But folk are rushing forward, first Keldean for the kitchen, then Annaiel and Cordelia shooting past.
The Southerner does not rush on the heels of the others. He frowns, turns, and jogs lightly across the room and picks up his bow. Then he heads for the door to see what is going on - in the foyer, out in the street?
[Aaron(#24624)] Aaron runs over to see if everything is all right. \"What was that man doing with this girl?\" he asks in a hush voice, not knowing Liuni\'s relation to Cordelia.
Cordelia scoops up her sister in her arms, checking first that the girl is unharmed--and then babbling away in their language, she hustles her up the steps to the rooms in the Pony.
[Annaiel(#28909)]
Breathing deeply, Ana hits the wall instead of the man and grits her teeth. Her grey eyes narrow and she is off after him, hot on Cordelia\'s heels. Seeing the man gone, she pushes past the reuniting sisters to look out and down the street. Gripping the tray in one hand, the rangeress steps out further and looks about.
\"I don\'t see him..\"
[Aaron(#24624)] Aaron turns to Rhifaroth. He frowns and furrows his brow. He runs behind the bar and fixes himself an ale, then returns to the main room and sits down. \"What was that scum doing with that innocent girl?\" he asks again, turning to the Seeker.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
\'Seeker\' was already heading for the door when Aaron was heading for the bar... so when the merchant goes to sit down and ask his question, the tall man is already gone - following the others out.
In a moment, Rhifaroth comes out into the street just behind Annaiel. He pauses and leans lightly on the long bow as his own eyes scan the town for signs of the man, \"Won\'t be able to track him in town. But now we know he\'s lingering about.\" A sigh, and a glance to the northern woman, \"I need to be getting back to Archet. Muir will worry. But you come by and I\'ll tell you about this Barlok fellow, Keldean, and a few other things you might find of interest.\" Rhifaroth\'s voice is pitched quite low so that only the woman near him might hear. Then, with a sideways glance the man adds, \"Don\'t bring your friend.\"
[Annaiel(#28909)]
Turning to regard him, Annaiel nods to his words of tracking though her eyes cloud a bit upon his soft words for her alone. The woman presses her lips together and holds the tray all the tighter. \"I was on my way west, through the shirelands and to the sea, but if this needs to be addressed, I shall come..without help.\" She say softly, a sigh escaping her. \"I know you two will get along, its a matter of when.\" There is a sadness in her gaze and then she smooths her dress. \"I think I need to go fetch my things anyhow. I will be along.\"
[Aaron(#24624)] Aaron follow Seeker, and waits behind them. He hears the last part of the conversation and folds his arms. \"What was he doing with that girl?\" it\'s not question this time, but a demand to know.
[Rhifaroth(#27282)]
A glance back for Aaron, but \'Seeker\' is not in the mood to be making lengthy explanations. He\'s not the town crier after all, nor the local gossip. The man picks up his bow in his left hand and turns, picking up a light jog trot to the north to circle around the inn and go up Bree Hill. He has a faint limp in his gait but moves easily enough. It may be that he\'ll be able to catch a glimpse of Barlok, who knows?
[Annaiel(#28909)]
Looking from Rhifaroth to Aaron and she sighs. Rubbing at her face, the dark haired woman lifts a hand to fend him off. \"I have no clue either, I need to learn about it as much as you do.\" The woman tilts her head, rolling her shoulders. \"Seems I won\'t be staying long here if the road holds men like him to be spoken to.\" She smiles slightly for Aaron and starts back into the Inn.
[Aaron(#24624)] Aaron shakes his head. \"I hate this whole business. Little girls on criminals\' laps and Cordelia all a\'troubled by this mess? What\'s the world coming to? Back when I was a lad ya didn\'t have to worry about criminals wandering around! A man could come to the Pony for an ale and not have to worry about such things! What is Bree coming to?\" Shrugging, Aaron, the Busybody, leaves the Inn, heading towards home.