Cullen could have kicked himself, but was all polished smiles, handsome and carefree. He had too many years of training for it- and perhaps remaining well groomed and confident was just something he'd never be able to shake. Good breeding was good breeding.
He accepted the coat with a nod.
"I suppose this is where we unfortunately part ways..."
As he pulled his jacket closer, his eyes drifted towards the approaching boat.
The figure loomed closer, a soft mist drifting up from the waters, causing the murky reflection of the evening sky to become shrouded. The boat moved forward, and with a purpose, and by the time Cullen had his jacket settling over his form- he was able to more clearly see whom approached...
And it wasn't Crampas. Not by a long shot. In fact, it just so happened to be one of the city guards he knew...
And one whom wouldn't hesitate to drop his dead body into the cold lake without remorse.
Tonell was a grim looking man, face hardened and stubble and scruff hair tamed as best as it could be and was peppered with silver. His brows hung low, and his lips as well, making him appear brooding and almost scowling as his dark eyes shined by the faint light of the moon.
The noises of their boats was the only thing that stirred on the water, outside of the occasional insects that dipped across the surface of the water, and the croaking of bullfrogs hidden in deep reeds of the lake shore.
Tonell was the last person he'd hoped to find out here, and he was careful to lower the hat over his face, hoping the shroud of the nightly mist would be enough to keep Tonell from figuring out his identity. He even went so far as to be sure his pony tale was tucked into his jacket and now he was grateful the young woman had returned it.
As the boat approached Maddison's, he made no motion in moving forward, rather letting her go to greet the boat without his aid. But his eyes never once left the approaching one, and his hands smoothed over a hidden knife in his boot, thankful he opted to bring his much larger knife rather than the slimmer one he typically kept (which made travel easier..) but being on a boat.. and being he had limited means to 'hide' weapons incase things went wrong...
Perhaps sometimes his intuition was on point. Let's just hope that Tonell's wasn't that night.
"Halt your boat," came Tonell's cool and commanding tone. Tonell was standing now, making the boat appear dwarfed beneath him. A large sack sat oppose of him, in the back of the boat with oars resting beside it and over the lip of the boat. Another, smaller man sat in the shadows behind him, one of whom Cullen couldn't see at the compromising angle that he was, and remained idle, watching what the woman might do-
and to see what Tonell might be up to.
"Identify yourself." His eyes were fixated upon Maddison, but Cullen's second boat was not lost to him. "And you there," his voice grew louder, directing it at Cullen. "Halt your boat and identify yourself as well. This is the City Guards commands. As ordered by the Grand Duke himself, identify yourselves at once and state your purposes here."
Well.. so much for trying to remain as an ignorant fly on the wall. Cullen stiffened, but said nothing- allowing the woman to speak, first.
