Shadows 9.2
Mar. 24th, 2007 07:45 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
measured_wordsedited, etc, waiting for approval on character use.
Minsheng had been giving him worried looks ever since he’d returned to the shack early that afternoon, but his mood wasn’t something he could convey in a few hand gestures and grunts. The youth probably just thought he was ill again, which at least allowed him some dignity. What he was actually doing was moping – useless self-indulgent behaviour. He knew he should have gone after Piove and tracked down her ship, or should be writing out some kind of explanation that he could try to pass along. Right now he just didn’t have the mental energy. He couldn’t think of how to start. At least the others were likely to be pleased with the extra coin he’d brought home.
Matteo heard someone hurrying up to the door flap of their shack – probably Qiu returning from some new adventure in the mura. Minsheng looked up from his work also – he was practicing the cobbling Genming was teaching him on a pair of worn sandals Chiyo had scavenged for him. His sister burst into the tiny room, looking around excitedly.
“You are here! Traveler-san, there are *Elves* looking for you!”
He sat up, looking curious. Her brother was surprised.
“Elves?”
“Yes,” she nodded to Minsheng and turned back to Matteo. “Two of them – a very handsome man, and a pregnant lady. I told them I might bring them to you…. If you wanted to go.”
He was already standing. Perhaps today’s earlier encounter hadn’t been so disastrous after all. He made his farewell to Minsheng carefully, in case he might not be back, and followed after Qiu.
----------
Hadyn looked in surprised past the servant to the man standing behind. Sterling grinned his knowing sharkish grin.
“I figured I’ve never seen the inside of the Imperial City before. And, of course, once I explained my pressing need for a conference with yourself, the fine dedicated gentlemen waiting at the gates up and offered me an escort.”
“I see.” Only Sterling could have talked his way past the guards at the gates of Shiroeki. Hadyn wondered what he’d told them. “Then I suppose you’d better come in.”
“Ahh, well. That’s the trick see. My exceedingly generous but perhaps somewhat less patient escort is attending on our joint return, specifically. Grab your things, and I’ll explain along the way.”
“My things?”
“You know – the things you never travel anywhere without.”
“Travel is it.”
Sterling held up his hands placatingly. “Nowhere exotic, I promise. Just a spot of official business.” He winked. The gall!
~We’re going.~ Teah slipped up behind him, leaning into him slightly. ~We need out of here.~
“Fine.” There was no sense arguing with both of them. The guards likely considered him, and by extension his hostess, responsible for Sterling, and it would be best to steer him away from any potential trouble. He turned back inside to retrieve his travel pack. It contained all the essential things he might need if forced to flee at a moment’s notice. ~But I haven’t agreed to anything.~
----------
Valentine looked up from his conversation with Triskin as the door of Suo Hu opened cautiously.
“That must be him,” he whispered. The dirty stranger did have an Elven look about him, just as Piove had described. He headed directly towards them. The eta girl they’d sent to fetch him poked her head in nervously and scurried after him in response to Triskin’s encouraging smile. “Do you recognize him?”
Triskin shrugged, turning to address the stranger. “Hi there… have a seat.”
He smiled guardedly in return, bowing politely before complying. His gaze flicked between the two of them, and he kept his head turned perpendicular to the small table to keep them both inside the peripheral vision of his one eye.
He was quite an off-putting sight – no wonder Piove had reacted so strongly. It was rare to see anyone, let alone an Elf, so disfigured. It remained to be seen if he was the rake she had described. That she hadn’t been able to read his thoughts was certainly curious. He didn’t know much about magic, but his lady was a formidable practitioner. If Sterling was successful in tracking down Hadyn perhaps he could shed some light on that situation – he was better at understanding how these things worked. For Piove it was just part of her nature that she rarely gave much thought.
Triskin continued, sticking with Southern for the girl’s benefit. “I’m sorry this is a little awkward, but a friend of ours ran into you earlier today and Yeoh-san told us you’ve tried to leave messages for another of our friends here. We thought we should try and figure out what this is about.”
“Yes,” Valentine interjected, though the cripple was already nodding. It wasn’t as though he could interrupt! “We went looking down at the markets and ran into your friend here.” He smiled at Qiu, hoping to put her at ease. She looked away, almost prostrating herself in front of the low table. Her companion reached over and patted her on the shoulder. She sat back up, eyes averted, remaining silent. Valentine disliked the Southern caste system, especially the tremendous sway it had over the eta. She did seem to respond a little better to Triskin – she was probably unused to the kindness of attractive men.
The stranger flashed the girl a closed-lipped smile, then turned back to his hosts. He pointed at himself, tapped his temple, and then indicated the two of them with a twirl of his index finger.
“I’m sorry,” Triskin apologized again, adjusting herself on the low cushions where she’d spread out to relieve the extra weight of her belly. “You do look a bit familiar, but should we know who you are?”
He smiled ruefully, waggling his hand back and forth.
“Un peu?”
He nodded, and Qiu made a quiet sound in the back of her throat.
“If you know any more, chérie, please tell us.”
She still avoided looking at him directly, but continued with a nod from Triskin. “When we found him months ago, in the west, he was very sick and Chiyo said his scars and wounds were very fresh.”
“Well, that might do it.”
He shrugged to Triskin, and made a scribbling gesture.
“Oh of course!” She turned to look through her pouch.
Valentine frowned sympathetically. “It seems you have suffered much, friend. I hope we will be able to help you.” It was a fairly banal thing to say – how could anyone not pity such a creature?
Triskin produced some scraps of parchment and continued looking for something to write with. The stranger nodded again, then turned as the doors swung open again, admitting Hadyn and Sterling. The wizard seemed especially peevish, frowning suspiciously at the assembly. Valentine smiled regardless – it did no good to indulge his sourness. “I see our other companions have arrived. Do you know them as well?”
He nodded, but Hadyn was already answering for him.
“I know who he is.”
“You do? Ah bien!” They’d hardly walked in the door. Sterling sidled around to sit by his lady, who scooched over to make room. Hadyn regarded the stranger critically, affirming his suspicions.
“Matteo Atremi. Missing since the attack in Shinkyo.”
Could it be? He’d thought the other Elf dead after so long with no word. Triskin looked as surprised as he felt, though Sterling was as cool as ever. Likely Hadyn had already filled him in.
“How?” he asked, unable to decide between the many questions in him mind beginning with that word. How did the wizard know? How had Matteo survived? They hadn’t known each other well, but they’d certainly spoken a few times. Rumours of his disappearance and death had flown widely among the Loyalists after the attack and during the relocation.
“I’ve been in touch with Volaris. He wants him brought in as soon as possible.”
Qiu was the only one at the table who looked disappointed. Matteo reached over, slapped her on the shoulder, and nodded.
“When will you leave?” She looked at him imploringly, then glanced nervously beyond into the shadows of Hadyn’s cowl.
“The sooner the better,” he quipped. Matteo was writing something, holding the ink pen Triskin had found very carefully. He pushed the note towards her, and she nodded as she read.
“We can take care of that.”
“Take care of what?”
“Debts.”
Valentine nodded. The prince would certainly reimburse them any necessary expenses.
“Maybe we ought to consider conducting our affairs somewhere more conducive to a private transaction, as accommodating as the Yeoh’s have been.”
“Sterling’s right. Let’s head back to the ship.” Triskin gathered her things, rising with Sterling’s help.
Hadyn nodded his assent curtly, but Matteo looked to Qiu. Valentine offered her his hand as he stood himself. Her eyes went as big as saucers and she flushed again.
“You as well, petite. We will make sure you are taken care of too.”
Matteo rolled his eye behind her, but nodded when she looked to him for assurance. She took the proffered hand, and the group filed out back towards the Swift-as-a-Fox.
Minsheng had been giving him worried looks ever since he’d returned to the shack early that afternoon, but his mood wasn’t something he could convey in a few hand gestures and grunts. The youth probably just thought he was ill again, which at least allowed him some dignity. What he was actually doing was moping – useless self-indulgent behaviour. He knew he should have gone after Piove and tracked down her ship, or should be writing out some kind of explanation that he could try to pass along. Right now he just didn’t have the mental energy. He couldn’t think of how to start. At least the others were likely to be pleased with the extra coin he’d brought home.
Matteo heard someone hurrying up to the door flap of their shack – probably Qiu returning from some new adventure in the mura. Minsheng looked up from his work also – he was practicing the cobbling Genming was teaching him on a pair of worn sandals Chiyo had scavenged for him. His sister burst into the tiny room, looking around excitedly.
“You are here! Traveler-san, there are *Elves* looking for you!”
He sat up, looking curious. Her brother was surprised.
“Elves?”
“Yes,” she nodded to Minsheng and turned back to Matteo. “Two of them – a very handsome man, and a pregnant lady. I told them I might bring them to you…. If you wanted to go.”
He was already standing. Perhaps today’s earlier encounter hadn’t been so disastrous after all. He made his farewell to Minsheng carefully, in case he might not be back, and followed after Qiu.
----------
Hadyn looked in surprised past the servant to the man standing behind. Sterling grinned his knowing sharkish grin.
“I figured I’ve never seen the inside of the Imperial City before. And, of course, once I explained my pressing need for a conference with yourself, the fine dedicated gentlemen waiting at the gates up and offered me an escort.”
“I see.” Only Sterling could have talked his way past the guards at the gates of Shiroeki. Hadyn wondered what he’d told them. “Then I suppose you’d better come in.”
“Ahh, well. That’s the trick see. My exceedingly generous but perhaps somewhat less patient escort is attending on our joint return, specifically. Grab your things, and I’ll explain along the way.”
“My things?”
“You know – the things you never travel anywhere without.”
“Travel is it.”
Sterling held up his hands placatingly. “Nowhere exotic, I promise. Just a spot of official business.” He winked. The gall!
~We’re going.~ Teah slipped up behind him, leaning into him slightly. ~We need out of here.~
“Fine.” There was no sense arguing with both of them. The guards likely considered him, and by extension his hostess, responsible for Sterling, and it would be best to steer him away from any potential trouble. He turned back inside to retrieve his travel pack. It contained all the essential things he might need if forced to flee at a moment’s notice. ~But I haven’t agreed to anything.~
----------
Valentine looked up from his conversation with Triskin as the door of Suo Hu opened cautiously.
“That must be him,” he whispered. The dirty stranger did have an Elven look about him, just as Piove had described. He headed directly towards them. The eta girl they’d sent to fetch him poked her head in nervously and scurried after him in response to Triskin’s encouraging smile. “Do you recognize him?”
Triskin shrugged, turning to address the stranger. “Hi there… have a seat.”
He smiled guardedly in return, bowing politely before complying. His gaze flicked between the two of them, and he kept his head turned perpendicular to the small table to keep them both inside the peripheral vision of his one eye.
He was quite an off-putting sight – no wonder Piove had reacted so strongly. It was rare to see anyone, let alone an Elf, so disfigured. It remained to be seen if he was the rake she had described. That she hadn’t been able to read his thoughts was certainly curious. He didn’t know much about magic, but his lady was a formidable practitioner. If Sterling was successful in tracking down Hadyn perhaps he could shed some light on that situation – he was better at understanding how these things worked. For Piove it was just part of her nature that she rarely gave much thought.
Triskin continued, sticking with Southern for the girl’s benefit. “I’m sorry this is a little awkward, but a friend of ours ran into you earlier today and Yeoh-san told us you’ve tried to leave messages for another of our friends here. We thought we should try and figure out what this is about.”
“Yes,” Valentine interjected, though the cripple was already nodding. It wasn’t as though he could interrupt! “We went looking down at the markets and ran into your friend here.” He smiled at Qiu, hoping to put her at ease. She looked away, almost prostrating herself in front of the low table. Her companion reached over and patted her on the shoulder. She sat back up, eyes averted, remaining silent. Valentine disliked the Southern caste system, especially the tremendous sway it had over the eta. She did seem to respond a little better to Triskin – she was probably unused to the kindness of attractive men.
The stranger flashed the girl a closed-lipped smile, then turned back to his hosts. He pointed at himself, tapped his temple, and then indicated the two of them with a twirl of his index finger.
“I’m sorry,” Triskin apologized again, adjusting herself on the low cushions where she’d spread out to relieve the extra weight of her belly. “You do look a bit familiar, but should we know who you are?”
He smiled ruefully, waggling his hand back and forth.
“Un peu?”
He nodded, and Qiu made a quiet sound in the back of her throat.
“If you know any more, chérie, please tell us.”
She still avoided looking at him directly, but continued with a nod from Triskin. “When we found him months ago, in the west, he was very sick and Chiyo said his scars and wounds were very fresh.”
“Well, that might do it.”
He shrugged to Triskin, and made a scribbling gesture.
“Oh of course!” She turned to look through her pouch.
Valentine frowned sympathetically. “It seems you have suffered much, friend. I hope we will be able to help you.” It was a fairly banal thing to say – how could anyone not pity such a creature?
Triskin produced some scraps of parchment and continued looking for something to write with. The stranger nodded again, then turned as the doors swung open again, admitting Hadyn and Sterling. The wizard seemed especially peevish, frowning suspiciously at the assembly. Valentine smiled regardless – it did no good to indulge his sourness. “I see our other companions have arrived. Do you know them as well?”
He nodded, but Hadyn was already answering for him.
“I know who he is.”
“You do? Ah bien!” They’d hardly walked in the door. Sterling sidled around to sit by his lady, who scooched over to make room. Hadyn regarded the stranger critically, affirming his suspicions.
“Matteo Atremi. Missing since the attack in Shinkyo.”
Could it be? He’d thought the other Elf dead after so long with no word. Triskin looked as surprised as he felt, though Sterling was as cool as ever. Likely Hadyn had already filled him in.
“How?” he asked, unable to decide between the many questions in him mind beginning with that word. How did the wizard know? How had Matteo survived? They hadn’t known each other well, but they’d certainly spoken a few times. Rumours of his disappearance and death had flown widely among the Loyalists after the attack and during the relocation.
“I’ve been in touch with Volaris. He wants him brought in as soon as possible.”
Qiu was the only one at the table who looked disappointed. Matteo reached over, slapped her on the shoulder, and nodded.
“When will you leave?” She looked at him imploringly, then glanced nervously beyond into the shadows of Hadyn’s cowl.
“The sooner the better,” he quipped. Matteo was writing something, holding the ink pen Triskin had found very carefully. He pushed the note towards her, and she nodded as she read.
“We can take care of that.”
“Take care of what?”
“Debts.”
Valentine nodded. The prince would certainly reimburse them any necessary expenses.
“Maybe we ought to consider conducting our affairs somewhere more conducive to a private transaction, as accommodating as the Yeoh’s have been.”
“Sterling’s right. Let’s head back to the ship.” Triskin gathered her things, rising with Sterling’s help.
Hadyn nodded his assent curtly, but Matteo looked to Qiu. Valentine offered her his hand as he stood himself. Her eyes went as big as saucers and she flushed again.
“You as well, petite. We will make sure you are taken care of too.”
Matteo rolled his eye behind her, but nodded when she looked to him for assurance. She took the proffered hand, and the group filed out back towards the Swift-as-a-Fox.
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no subject
Date: 2007-03-26 04:47 pm (UTC)