Adom hides in the House of Healing

Healer\'s House

The House of Healing is strikingly tidy. Its walls are white without a smudge of dirt on them. There is a sign next to a window, adjacent to the entrance, while cupboards line the opposite

wall. It is a very large room partitioned off with curtains to provide some privacy for the

patients. There are several beds which can be seen, many of which lie empty, though a couple with losed curtains indicate that they are occupied. This room is well-designed for people who need to heal it is clean, quiet, and a hint of herbs linger on the air. On a table, towards the back of

the room, stands a large book.

Contents:

Refson

Ailith

Obvious exits:

Out leads to Center of Firespark Lane.

=-=-=-= Dale-Lands Time and Weather Service =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Real Time: Wed Sep 07 02:59:21 2011 MST

Dale-Lands Time:

Sunday, nighttime on a clear autumn\'s night, November 14 of 3053

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Dale-Lands Time and Weather Service =-=-=-=

[Ailith(#15181)]

The quiet of the night brings relief to those resting, recovering or struggling for their lives

in the neatly clean beds of the Healer\'s House, tended to by quiet and sometimes scarily strict-looking healers. Journeymen, apprentices, mere novices all doing their very best to look after their charges and soothe the suffering of those sickly.

Emerging from one of the private chambers - reserved to rich and powerful while the lesser men

slept in the common room -, is the young apprentice from the house of Girion, Ailith. Life has been ever so colourful since the young woman has come to learn from these wise men and women but often times thought herself far smarter than them. Or more righteous. Or generally much more muchier.

\"Apprentice.\" The Journeywoman directly in charge of her tutoring stands next to the doorframe and

reaches out her hand for the bowl with a soothing warm tonic Ailith had been using on the Lady from her own House. \"She is weaker today,\" The young woman frowns and gives up the bowl. \"I do not

understand why nothing we do works.\"

[Adom]

Wrapped in black folds of thick cloth - a newly acquired garment, no stains, no trace of wear - one of the lesser folk sits upon corner of pristinely white dressed cots. The crisp sheets, the inviting folds of bedding strike contrast to wet folds of new cloak. Even in the safety of the healer\'s house, Adom\'s hood is kept over his head - and thusly he is unattended.

The glaring gazes, the hushed talk in corners, even the passing looks askance speak volumes. He is silent, brown leather gloved hands clasped in his lap, the only feature showing beneath dark camouflage.

[Refson(#23955)]

For a single moment, a wide and starry sky can be discerned, holding guard over the lush lands of King Bard, and when the heavy doors fall shut a heavy figure has made his entrance. His broad

frame is wrapped in an indistinct cloak and a pale sheen is upon his bald skull, as it reflects the erratic lighting inside the Houses of Healing. Surely, most present know this man to be Refson, one of the more regular -- and notorious -- visitors.

His nose is raised slightly in disgust, as he glances around the room and takes in the scent of illness and bitter medicine. His stern features then grow solemn, and he starts for the private

chamber from whence Ailith appeared, paying little heed to any.

[Brev(#30997)]

Those heavy doors do not stay shut for long. Thee quiet of the Healer\'s House is disturbed by a sudden gust of wind that riffles the pages of the massive book in the corner and sends a bundle of herbs skittering off the table before said door is yanked closed again. Unlike Master Refson, the

new arrival does not move on but takes a couple of sideways steps to lean against the wall, bundling the blue cloak over his arm as he surveys his surroundings.

Brev smothers a yawn, then folds his arms and simply waits. Whether he\'s here as Bluecloak or in quite a different capacity is unclear.

[Ailith(#15181)]

\"Sometimes people just wither,\" Adair shrugs and rolls some bandages into neat rolls, making herself busy while the moment is quiet. The apprentice shakes her head stubbornly and before she even could say anything, the Journeywoman cut in:\"Do not make things worse, girl. Just because she is your relative does not mean you know what\'s best.\"

Although the apprentice seems properly hushed, there is a stiffness to her nod of agreement and it is entirely possible she wasn\'t going to drop it this easily. Glancing at the entering figure of a

man, the Journeywoman coughs her voice clear and straightens up, stepping up and speaking to the husband of the ailing Lady from Girion(kept man?):\"Good evening, sir. I\'m afraid there is no

change in your wife\'s condition.\" A rolemodel of a merciful and compassionate healer she was!

In the meanwhile Ailith wanders over to the hooded and wet-cloaked person and asks without being ceremonious:\"What\'s wrong with you? Did you hit your head? Broke your arm? Drank too much?\" Obviously when one was in the House of Healing, there was something amiss with their health?

From he corner of her eye, Ailith notices the blue of the guard\'s cloak that entered but doesn\'t make much of it. Maybe Girion\'s kept man got himself a personal Watcher?

[Adom]

The walls of cloth about Adom\'s face shift only the slightest as he looks up to Ailith and her questions. From beneath, only the foremost bit of chin shows in glint of candlelight - eyes blocked, lips unseen that now speak, \"None of these. I am safe. And grateful.\" Past her curious  greeting and lowered shoulder, the shade of a watchman\'s blue keeps the Vintner\'s eye.

\"I shouldn\'t keep this bed when I need it not,\" he confides, and rises with nod of head.  Slow steps blend with equally measured regard of the room as he approaches Brev, choosing a spot of wall for his shoulders to lean back upon as comfort. \"The Esgaroth watch returns from shadow, if my eyes yet see beyond this fumbling cloth,\" he quips.

[Refson(#23955)]

As he is approached and spoken to, the Master Farmer halts in his tracks. His thoughtful gaze drifts over Adair\'s female figure, before it halts upon the healer\'s face. \"I did not expect otherwise, woman. The incompetence of those that run this place has long become apparent. Healers, you call yourselves, yet heal you do not.\" With a shake of his head and a wave of his hand does he dismiss Adair patronizingly.

An eyebrow is raised at Adom\'s words however, and a quick glance is shot at Ailith and the mysteriously hooded man who seems entirely out of place - I mean, what\'s a perfectly fit and healthy man doing here? Making little of it, he again resumes his path, the frown upon his forehead clearly indicating his roused annoyance. The blue of the Watch has gone unnoticed, it

seems.

[Brev(#30997)]

Brev\'s gaze follows Ailith\'s passage, pausing on that dark-cloaked figure. It is still her he\'s watching when the mystery fellow moves his way.

\"Your eyes must be mistaken,\" he tells his unwelcome company drily, edging a step away - which, coincidentally, puts him in front of the door, blocking the exit. \"Maybe you should take that

thing off, let the lass have a look. They\'ve seen the pox before, you know.\" His lip curls.

The singsong words are suddenly pitched a little louder, enough so to carry to Refson\'s and Adair\'s

ears also, as he adds, \"Else we\'ll all think you\'ve got something to hide.\"

[Ailith(#15181)]

Perfectly fine with not having to deal with someone who aims to be stealthy or maybe is just spying... on healers - they do have all these awesome drinks, yes! -, the apprentice healer on

duty makes a dismissive gesture toward the hooded man. \"You don\'t have to unoccupy the bed, there are plenty of empty ones...,\" she begins but then gives up. She isn\'t about to force the issue.

Following the odd stranger to the wall, Ailith\'s lips curl into a small smile as she finally notices Bruni and gives a wave in greeting to him. \"Come to learn or on business?\" she asks, though far more quietly than how he speaks to the hooded figure. \"Pox, eh?\" Ailith asks, her dark blue eyes on the squirmy sneaker again. \"Hold on, I will fetch the medicine.\" And off she goes to the back of the room to get the things required for this contagious disease.

Though Adair winces at the harsh words Refson lays upon her and her fellow healers, the Journeywoman lets him pass without further interruptions. However, when Brev\'s voice carries to her, the elder healer crosses her arms, watching the scene unfold. Perhaps the night shift is not as boring as she had expected, after all.

[Adom]

Sharp and quick the blades of tongue and response as Vintner says, \"A pox upon us all. You speak well.\" His own step backwards, left foot followed in swift meter by right, arms locking before his hest with fists in finger-less leathers. \"I must be blinded with contagion, but that is no shame  seeing a watchman in a fever seems as likely as seeing one about the wharf or the \'decks,\" matches Adom in volume, pace of words and pitch of voice.

\"The door\'s not moving, friend,\" he adds, scanning the room as right hand soothes rain

from lengthy left sleeve. The splatter is solid upon the floor. \"I\'ll hide what I must,\" Adom drops to whisper, noting the shift of eyes towards their exchange.

[Refson(#23955)]

As the verbal exchange between Brev and Adom reaches the bald guildmaster, his interest seems piqued. He turns sharply upon his heels to regard the scene, obviously puzzled as to why the healthy stranger seems adamant on hiding his identity. The frown upon his brow vanishes, and a wry grin emerges upon his features.

\"Seems the Watch has not only lost authority \'neath the decks, but also above it\", he calls out, in challenge of dark-skinned guardsman, whom seems omni-present at times.

[Brev(#30997)]

\"Both?\" Brev suggests past Adom and towards Ailith. \"In this place watching others is an education in itself.\" The corners of his mouth twitch slightly as he sees the girl\'s departure, but he doesn\'t move to stop her. Rather, he continues to keep his gaze locked on Adom. The man\'s words about the Watch elicit no response - not even a single chuckle - but at the mention of the door he nods. \"It\'s not,\" he agrees amiably. \"Me neither. Got plenty of time.\" A shrug. \"So show us your face. Not as though you were being asked to give up weapons, eh?\"

At Refson\'s call one brow flicks up, though he does not take his attention away from Adom. \"Were you needing the Watch\'s authority, Guildmaster? Been some crime committed?\"

[Adom]

\"Give up? Not so such as... Ahh,\" and the Vinter reaches between the gap of cloak across his

torso, a sudden consciousness stopping his moves, a pause in all features except his hidden eyes. With rhythm of slowed watchers matched to pendulous fingers, he removes his only blade from belt - a pair of pruning shears. The rustless blades hang upon the air before clattering to ground.

\"My face i should surrender as well? Then you fear not the pox you point my way,\" Adom declares, his intentions lost in black waves, \"as I can no longer fear the path I have chosen.\"

You drop Pruning Shears.

[Refson(#23955)]

\"Undoubtedly, somewhere, some crime is going on, but alas...\" The guildmaster chuckles softly,

before finishing his sentence, \"... I have none to report. But I see your time is well spent unhooding hooded strangers.\"

Amusement is clear within his gaze, as he simply watches the showdown between the watchman and

Adom, arms crossed about his chest.

[Ailith(#15181)]

The guardsman\'s words still ringing in her ears, Ailith doesn\'t pay attention to the words exchanged between the Girion retainer and Brev, not to mention the hooded stranger suddenly wanting to flee. Instead, the girl simply scours the cupboards for pox treatment kit. She\'s never had it, miraculously so she best be extra careful!

However, as she returns, even so innocently to the crowd gathered, it strikes her that perhaps this is not about a sickness after all!\"Ahem,\" she coughs, far from the delicate cough for attention her noble mother has taught her, \"What the Flames is going on?\" The unpleasant kept man is still outside the chamber of his poor wife and questioning Bruni! Although she knows little of the man, there is a sense of familiarity to the dark-skinned brute and therefore a scowl is sent in Refson\'s direction. She sees the shears dropped and snorts though fates be praised, says nothing of it.

Carefully, the elder healer, Journeywoman Adair moves from her place to stand next to the young lady of Girion House, unusually ready to defend her young pupil. \"Please. This is the House of Healing. If you have an ailment, we will help you. If not, bring your wicked intentions elsewhere,\" Adair says, emphasizing all the wrong words like \"wicked\" and \"ailment\".

[Brev(#30997)]

Brev stares blankly at the relinquished \'blade\'. \"What\'d I want that for?\" he asks contemptuously. \"Place is hardly a safe-house, there\'s enough weapons in here to kill all of us a dozen times over if someone fancied it.\" He shrugs. \"Your face, on the other hand, might be more useful. Man doesn\'t hide his looks unless he thinks they\'ll get him into trouble. So - take the damn cloth off. Whatever\'s underneath, I\'ve seen worse.\" He waits, a bored expression on his swarthy features.

To Refson he mutters sourly, \"I was /trying/ to be off-duty,\" and heaves a long-suffering sigh. And there, right on cue, is the young apprentice healer he\'d met before. \"Ailith, can you help the oor fellow get his face clear? Lack of air must be affecting him - that, or I\'m still not up on the local lingo.\" Authoritatively he gestures from girl to man-in-mask - then it\'s his turn to be placed under inquisition as Adair steps in. \"I was after some more of that stinking stuff Elodie uses on raw skin,\" he tells the healer briskly. \"It had,\" his nose wrinkles, \"flowers in it.\" His lip curls in an expression of male disgust.

[Adom]

\"No ailment do I carry,\" concedes the shrouded Vintner, \"at least none that may be cured in these

walls.\" The black cloak wearer\'s head falls forward, conceding the lost words and intent, and even the trusted clippers of so many vines upon the hills of Whiteside terraces in sunlit summer

mornings. This winter shall bite deep.

\"You bear the watches colors, and are spoken to as such a man. To all but me. I have sacrificed my most dangerous affects, allow me to find the coming morn without showing my disease. Especially if there be so many other weapons tucked here. I only wished peace of mind in Gwende\'s halls,\" come Adom\'s pleading tones, \"for my face I hope to carry safely into tomorrow. Flowers, spice and herbs anon.\"

[Ailith(#15181)]

\"The skin cream with balsamon blossom?\" the apprentice inquires, ignoring the sudden tension and turning to look into the cupboards. \"We should have another jar of that... We prepared some fresh one not seven days ago.\" Retrieving the small jar of nicely scented cream, Ailith holds onto it for now for there is another task is given to her.

No problems did the girl have with unhooding strange men - as one would remember, she had done so recently with results most curious - and so when the guard requests she help the vintner remove the hood, Ailith steps around Adair under the elder healer\'s stern glare and walks to the man who has just dropped his... clippers. \"Come on, what\'s the worse that could happen? There is nothing to fear, you\'ll see,\" she encourages the man, reaching out to unceremoniously once again, pull back the hood.

[Brev(#30997)]

\"You\'ve already shown your disease,\" Brev tells the black cloak wearer, the amiable manner of earlier starting to slip a little. \"Addled wits. And I wasn\'t wearing the Watch\'s colours. But since you insist ...\" Words pause whilst he shrugs the blue cloak that had been on his arm back  onto his shoulders. \"Show me your face, Master, that\'s an order. Watch is looking for a couple of men right now, I need to know if you\'re one. If not, I\'ll leave you and the healers to negotiate that peace you\'re after.\" He shifts position, balanced now on his foremost foot as though he were eager to be off.

To Ailith he murmurs a single disgusted word. \"Balsamon?\" Clearly he does not appreciate the finer parts of the healing art. His hand twitches by his side as though eager to snatch at something, though he\'s letting the poor healer\'s apprentice do all the work here.

[Adom]

\"So it shall be, friend,\" answers Adom, \"as I hope to name you if I do as you command.\" Left hand

finds cloth above top of head, rending backwards, and eyes of mirrored lake burst beneath light brown curls. The unsullied youthful cheeks of Finney\'s most reputable face plead over full cherry lips.

\"I have challenged too much, so if mine enemy is hidden here better than I tonight,\" the Vinter retorts, as eyes narrow beneath a single wrinkle of brow, \"may it be upon your conscience. Allow me beyond the door, sir - I know i be not sought in King\'s duties.\"

[Ailith(#15181)]

It\'s almost too much of a temptation to poke fun at Bruni concerning the flower-scented cream and

Ailith\'s lips twitch treacherously before settling down with just an amused side-glance at the man. Looking from Bruni to the surrendering mysterious figure, the apprentice regards the unveiling of the face that was denied a few times by now, with a surprised expression. \"But... there\'s nothing wrong with you!\" she exclaims almost disappointed at not having seen some sort of terrible deformity or such. Young healers have odd interests these days...

Turning and looking at Brev, she gives a shrug.

\"As far as I care, he can take his shears and bugger off,\" is her reaction though Ailith leaves the final judgement to the blue-cloak.

[Brev(#30997)]

Brev stares at the face thus revealed, amber eyes skimming it carefully, then shrugs. \"Never seen you before,\" he announces and then concedes, \"Fine, you\'re clean. Go, stay, whatever.\" He waves a hand in dismissal. After a moment he adds, \"Course, if you\'re really worried about enemies, sensible thing would be to to to someone who can provide protection. Watch, King\'s Men, one of the Noble Houses, take your pick.\" He shrugs. \"Wandering round with a bag over your head\'s as sure a way as I can think of to get noticed. But it\'s your choice.\" At last he gives ground - one single large step to the side, enough that the unfortunate \'unmasked\' man could step past him.

Ailith\'s final words bring on a sudden choked snort. \"Don\'t tell me you learned /that/ phrase back home.\" A glint in his eye, he adds, \"Nothing? I\'m not so sure about that. But maybe you could offer to give him a few scars to aid in disguise.\" The stalwart disapproval of any and all healers listening to such ill-minded talk doesn\'t seem to bother him.

[Adom]

\"And so I\'ll burn this bag like a butcher\'s wrappings in the week\'s refuse,\" Adom manages

response, \"that much is already decided. A single attempt at fox amongst the fishermen\'s wharf was plenty. To the Elves then? Seems I can\'t trust your badge. On duty or off, you cared not until I

am exposed. How may I trust any in this city.\" He stoops with sweep of hand to regain his prized tool, and a mock of bow is quickly flourished to Brev.

As one hand thrusts open the now exposed door, the Vintner of Finney bursts into the laughter of indignant irony, \"Your color is not of these lands. Perhaps you\'ll enjoy this script. I care not anymore - Houses and Watch be damned. The King\'s men? Question for yourself, as I.\" Adom reaches deep within his disguise to hidden satchel with the free hand. It returns to throw a single rolled parchment at the man\'s feet. No further words pass his lips, as the creek of door closes behind him.

You pick up Pruning Shears.

Dropped: Parchment.

[Ailith(#15181)]

As the tension relieves, Ailith steps aside for the formerly hooded man she doesn\'t know, watching

him go to the door to have his final words and to drop a scroll of parchment. Blinking, the girl doesn\'t move - the \'gift\' was not for her. \"Goodbye then,\" she says unenthusiastically. Now there was only that tedious Refson and Bruni who only wanted the scented cream. And so the night was going to get boring again.

For a moment, the girl tries to remind herself what it was that prompted the question from the

guard, then enlightenment shines through her eyes and she gives a shrug, \"The Drunken Wench has worse flung about. But...,\" looking around at how far her watchdog(Adair) was, she leaned closer and whispered:\"... that\'s not for spying ears.\" Bloody hound would squeal all of what she hears to her \'esteemed\' father or worse, her scandalous mother.

[Refson(#23955)]

Refson remains oddly silent through the entire exchange between the foreign Watchman and the hooded man. Yet, as at last the latter concedes, an eyebrow is quirked, soon followed by the second as the man drops a mysterious parchment at the guardman\'s feet. Now, if anything raises the guildmaster\'s curiosity, it is mysterious parchments!

Regaining his solemn composure, he straightens and moves toward Brev, even as the unveiled man elopes. \"Strange fellow.\" He then directs the guardsman toward the parchment. \"Well, brave guardsman, are you going to pick that up, or not?\" A single sideways glance is all that is offered to Ailith and her mentor.

[Brev(#30997)]

Brev is, quite frankly, puzzled. Warily he bends to pick up the parchment as though it were an adder (indeed, he gives it a slight shake to make sure that no unwanted residents are lurking within) and gives it a cursory glance, nothing more, before tucking it into his leather jerkin still rolled up. It would appear he is incurious as to its contents. To Refson, he suggests cynically, \"He\'s got some beef with the King\'s Men - perhaps he\'s written some witty ditty to put that fellow Delling to shame.\" His lips tighten briefly at mention of the minstrel.

Glancing to Ailith, he asks hesitantly, \"Are there herbs that maze a man\'s mind? I didn\'t smell over much spirits on his breath.\" Quite clearly, he doubts the mystery man\'s sanity. Equally clearly, though, he isn\'t going to waste more time on it. \"And not sure I wish to know what a lass like yourself has been doing in this Drunken Wench place,\" he retorts. \"If it\'s anything like the Fishtale-\" His lips are twitching. After a moment he adds, \"Got that cream? I should escape before you decide to inflict some of those herbs and potions on me in that madman\'s stead.

[Ailith(#15181)]

As if knowing the guard to ask for that which he actually had come for, Ailith hands him the cream without a comment, nodding gently as her mind wanders off to other matters. \"I\'m a rebel,\" she states carelessly at Bruni disbelief over the whole Drunken Wench thing. \"I run away at times and spend my time there. They know me, I take of their ailments.\" Well, until she was seen by some noble or their henchman and hauled off to Esgaroth to \'study under the tutelage of Adair\'.

\"I don\'t think he was drunk off brew or herbs,\" she says thoughtfully, eyeing the door the crazy man had left through and then just setting the matter aside, tossing but a side-glance as Brev takes the parchment. \"Have a good night, Bruni,\" she says, turning to look at the Guildmaster and still a kept man! \"Guildmaster Refson,\" Ailith moodily greets the man, obviously not too fond of him. \"Your wife was asleep but an hour ago. Perhaps you should come back in the morning?\" Not that the poor woman was up regularly in the mornings.

[Refson(#23955)]

A soft snort comes from Refson, as he approaches the guardsman further. \"I\'d wager. No one in their right mind would drop anything remotely important, like that.\" He pauzes momentarily, before continuing, \"I could have a look nonetheless, if you wish.\"

Addressed by Rhea, the man turns his face briefly to regard the lass. \"I am quite content to sit at her side, without disturbing her sleep. Hoping her dreams bring solace to the aches she suffers in our world.\" His jaw tightens slightly, but his face reveals little otherwise.

[***For Reference***]

Parchment

A long scroll of parchment decorated with the banners of Dale and the Easterlings at the upper corners, it bears the following text:

In the interest of the preservation of peace between the nations of the Dale-lands and the

Easterlings, we hereby declare that:

All lands east of Mirkwood and the River Running are recognized to be the sovereign territory of the Easterling people and the dominion of King Zhamik\'s line in perpetuity.The town of Buhr Mahrling is hereby placed under the jurisdiction of the Easterling nation and shall be ruled by King Zhamik\'s line in perpetuity.

In recognition of the contribution of Dale-landers to the well being of the town of Buhr Mahrling, the Easterling people shall protect and guarantee the safety of all citizens of the Dale. Should any person of the Dale be harmed through the explicit order of King Zhamik\'s line or his plenipotentiaries, this treaty shall be declared null and void.

In the matter of the criminals who attacked and mercilessly murdered the innocents of the town of Buhr Mahrling, the Easterling people and King Zhamik recognizes the wisdom of his majesty King Brand in the matter and will entrust to him the sentencing and execution of the criminals with the proviso that Easterling observers be present to witness these events.

Therefore, we, as plenipotentiaries of the Kingdom of the Dale and the Easterlings do hereby place our names upon this document and affirm our oath to this treaty that shall guarantee everlasting peace between our great kingdoms.

Signed,

Raewin et Karden

Diplomat of The Kingdom of Dale

Speaker Udishar of the Sixth Circle.

Zhamik, King of the Easterlings