From Dawn To Dusk

[Rillere]

It was fast approaching midday, and Ashira was late as ever.  She had hoped to arrive at the Riverwood guard tower in the morning.  But she had been stalled by a wagon driver carrying fresh produce from the fields outside of Arca, seeking Finch's Storehouse on Keln street.  The rider had entered the city on the opposite end of the storehouse and Ashira had to personally escort the farmer lest he lose his way once again.  Although at first it had been a nuisance, she had learned some valuable information from him.

The fields had yielded very little this season.  The farmer attributing it to bad weather as winter's grasp had clung longer into the sowing season than usual.  But he had to make due with what they had grown or risk losing his hold on the little cottage he owned.  Ashira made sure to make note of it and bring it forth to the Captain.

Ashira had to sprint through the crowded streets of Arca to make her way back towards the tower.

"Malik's not gonna be too happy with you, sunshine."  Remarked the guard posted at the gate of the outpost when she arrived.  He was a portly man wearing leather armor, sitting on a stool beside the double gated door.  His spear resting just out of his reach against the cobble stone wall of the tower.

"Where's Hildebrand?"  Ashira asked.  Usually there was a second guard stationed at the front.

"Looking for you, actually."

"Shit..." She cursed under her breadth.

"That's no way for a lady to speak."  Retorted the guard as he took a bite into an apple that he had been holding.  "Besides, Malik's got a soft spot for you deary," He said between mouthfuls. "I'm sure you'll be fine."

"Thanks, Thom."  Ashira said with a huff as she marched into the guard tower.  Basil was at the desk sifting through a mountain of papers.  Not even bothering to look up from his work as she passed.  She hurriedly moved up the spiral staircase towards Malik's office.  At the door, she stopped and straightened out her leather tunic and skirt.  Brushing back her hair, she mentally tried to cool herself down as she opened the door.

There was a single window in Malik's office where the midday sun shone through.  His office was small and dusty.  Along the back was a mini library that contained tomes that look older than time itself.  Along the west side were cages filled with carrier pigeons and a small barrel full of feed.  The sound of cooing and fluttering, eased her senses a little as she stepped through the door.

At his desk, was the young Captain of the Watch.  Behind him a gloriously illustrated map of Arca divided by its districts hung over the wall covering nearly half of it.  Malik had long, dark blue hair that fell at either side of his face.  He was clean shaven and wore a simple green tunic and brown leather leggings.  His cloak rested on the window sill to the east, basking in the sun.

"Look I can explain..."  Started Ashira as Malik rose from his seat.  But before she could start, the Captain simply raised a hand and tilted his head down at her disappointingly.

"This is probably the fifth time in how ever many days that you've arrived late.  And I'm frankly too tired of hearing your excuses.  Just go find Corian at the Old Oak Road, he's covering the Woolridge Market today.  You'll be reporting to him.  And please try not to tarry along the way."

Ashira desperately wanted to explain herself, but she could tell Captain Canlaith wasn't in the mood to hear her sob story about a misled wagon and food shortages.  So instead she nodded and turned to leave.  Malik already paying no heed to her as he began to read a letter at his desk.

That turned out better than she expected, she thought as she closed the door behind her.  He'd been sermonizing her throughout the week about etiquette and the importance of their assignments.  He had to deal with dozens of guards a day and each had to be stationed somewhere.  A missing guard caused a domino effect across his lines.

She only hoped Hildebrand was on his way back as she made her way to the Woolridge Market.

[Corian]

Walking through the throng was tough in his armor. He kept one hand on his coin purse just in
case there were any thieves close by. More than likely they were hiding amongst the crowd. There
had been a lot of cases of pickpockets in the Woolridge Market but no one had been caught yet.

Corian furrowed his brow, recalling back at the guard tower when Malik spoke to him this
morning...

"I'm going to have to reassign you from your usual post at Bensdale Street."

"Where would that be Captain?" Corian said as he sat down at Malik's desk. He just arrived and
was still tired. Little Cora was having nightmares and she had slept with him and his wife that
night.

"I want you to go to Woolridge Market today."

"Ah come on, Malik..." Corian argued at first.

"Just until we get some more recruits." Malik cut him off before Corian could finish. "I've got
everyone spread really thin today."

"Just... You know how the market can be. It's chaos, at least send someone to help me with the
load." Putting his face in his hands he rubbed his beard as he could foresee how his day was
going to turn out.

"Fine. Fine. I'll send someone as soon as I can. I need you there, no one is stationed there at the
moment."

"Because no one is daft enough to accept such a folly..." Standing up Corian left the office. He
could hear Malik suppressing a chuckle as he made his way down the spiral staircase.

Something caught his eye then in one back alley steets. He gave a running start and pushed
past some civilians.

"City Watch! Make way!" He yelled and he made his way to the alley and disappeared between
the shadows of the small opening...

[Rillere]

The Old Oak Road was adjacent to the market.  The street paved in cobblestone that clattered with the sound of wagons and horse hooves.  Ashira had only been here once or twice.  The familiarity of it was in the scent of savory foods and spices that were being sold.  Much of the market was catered towards providing delectables to passerbys though there were still goods on sale.

The young guard was having difficulty spotting Corian as she stood shorter than the average civilian.  She looked around and spotted a fountain at the center of the market.  She shuffled her way through the crowd of people making her way there.  There were a few women carrying water jugs filling them by the lip of the fountain.  Children were also heard playing alongside.  One child with auburn hair and a chubby face was trying to splatter water on his sister who was sitting on edge of the fountain.

It brought a smile to Ashira's face as she climbed onto the outside of the fountain where there was enough space to sit and stood looking over the crowd and across the market.  A sea of heads and hats bobbed and weaved with the movement of the crowd around her.  No sign of an armored fellow anywhere that she could see.  Sighing she settled on just patrolling.

Resting her hand on the hilt of her rapier, Ashira began to cast a cautious gaze across the crowd trying to eye any suspicious activity.  Everything seemed in place.  Merchants were haggling with customers.  Children were running around aimlessly ducking and weaving through the crowds playing some sort of game.  Others were standing around conversing.  But by one stall was a woman kneeling over a haggard man.  His face pale in color as the women dabbed a wet towel to his forehead.  The stall behind him had wooden figurines on display.  Curious, Ashira approached the pair.

"Is everything alright?"  She asked inquisitively.

The woman looked up at her.  She was comely in features, her hair woven together into a braid at her back.  She wore a simple blue dress with a white apron on the front.

"It's nothing,"  She replied weakly.  "My husband has just fallen ill, I think."

Ashira cast her gaze to the young man.  He attempted a smile at her as he made to rise.

"'Tis been with me for a couple of days now."  He replied as he brushed off his backside.  He had risen slowly and his legs seemed like they were about to give as he did so.

"Have you seen a healer?"  Ashira asked.  The pair of them shook their heads.

"We were planning on doing so..."  He replied.  "But I had my wares to sell and a bright day like this spells good fortune for a trader like myself.  We come from the woodlands in Kia's Court.  My name is Farrel and this is my wife Elle."

"Nice to meet the both of you, my names Ashira.  I'm part of the Watch here in Arca."

"A guard, really?  I never knew they hired so young."  Elle exclaimed surprised.

"Hardly, I'm 22 actually."

"Oh my, my apologies dear.  I just would have never assumed."

"It's quite alright, I get it often enough."  Ashira made to hide a bit of her irritation with the women and bit back a retort.  "You should really see a healer.  I know of one just down the road.  Odisius is his name and his home is at the corner Old Oak and Broadford."

"I think I know of him," replied Farrel.  "I'll certainly pass by his shop in the afternoon when the crowds have died down a bit.  I come out here once a week and what we earn feeds my son and my wife and I.  A carpenter these days will find it hard to earn their keep with the likes of the guild houses running things nowadays."

Ashira nodded.  It wasn't her place, but she had a suspicion that he'd avoided to see a healer because he was not willing to pay for something that could be nothing more than a common cold that a day or two of rest would cure.

"Well I hope you feel better soon Farrel."  Ashira said as she looked over to his figurines.  They were marvelously crafted.  All sorts of wooden men and beasts.  From a simple Ranger ducking with a bow in his hands to a marvelous dragon standing proud and strong.  One stood out to her and she picked it up.  It was a simple piece.  Look something like a golem or a rock giant.

"How much for this one?"

"Two glints."  He said as he made his way around to the back of the stall.  "It's name is Cobble by the way.  I made it by a stream one morning and imagined it to be a guardian that watched over a waterfall."

Ashira smiled as she looked over the piece.  It's face was round with no mouth just two calmly drooping eyes.  All she could think of was her brother Sojo.  She might as well get it for him, she thought.  And two glints would be enough to see a healer if he cared to do so.  Reaching into her coin purse she drew out two glints and handed it to Farrel.

"My thanks."  Farrel said as he pocketed the coins into a small wooden box filled with all manner of pennies, glints, and silver moons.

"Take care.  The both of you."  Ashira said as she waved them goodbye.  Now if she could only find Corian.  Ashira placed the wooden figurine gently into a satchel that hung at her back.  And scanned the crowd once again.

[Corian]

From distance he could see two men grasping each other desperately, both grabbing for the
sword between the other. As Corian pushed through the narrow corrider, the scene slowly
started to seem much worse than he first anticipated. Men were much smaller, and the sword
made of wood...

"Hey! Hey! Get off each other, right now!" Corian commanded his voice echoing through the
alleyway.

"Sorry sir!..."

"Yes sir!..." The two boys stop wrestling on the ground and stood up. One kid wiped his mouth
as he stared down at his feet.

"What do we have here?" Circling them both, Corian pretended the scene he witnessed was
much worse than it really was. "You know its against the law to lay a hand on a child?" Both kids
looked confused at each other than looked up at Corian.

"But we are both kids..."

"And we were arguing..." They said at the same time.

"Do I look like a City Watch who doesn't know the law? Of course I know your kids but the law
applies to all citizens high and low." Corian said as he knelt and patted them both on the head.
"About I tell you about a game. If you listen I won't throw the lot of you in jail."

"NoooO!"

"Ok! Ok!"

"Im too young!..."

Several of the kids yelled out at Corian, and he simply waved his hands in front of himself to tell
them all to quiet down.

"This game solves all disputes. From merchants to nobles, and even little kids..." He got off from
his knees. "So listen closely you lot.. This is a slug." Taking his pinky finger he raised it in the air.
"Now the slug you see gets eaten by frogs." Raising his thumb he showed it to the group of kids
littered around him. "But you see the toad can get eaten by the snake!"

He quickly pointed his index finger in front of the face of the nearest child and he shrieked in fear.
Corian suppressed a smile as he continued. "The snake although formidable when he tries to eat
the slug..." Quickly he switched from his index finger to his pinky, "will find untimely death from
poison." Standing up straight he grabbed two kids and faced them in front of each other.

"Now that you know the story of the slug, frog, and snake; Choose one wisely in your mind. On
the count of 3 show with your hands which creature you are. Both kids stared menacingly at the
other and stood at the ready.

"Three.......Two......" All the kids roared, ".........One!"

Wind swept around the troupe as the two kids flashed their hands at the other. The one small
kid had already been picking his nose with his index finger so he had no time to react. The other
kid had his pinky raised high in the air in triumph.

"Ah the slug beats snake!" Corian yelled out above the clamour. Kneeling down he saw the small
one wiping a tear in defeat. "Hey, there is always another game of slug, frog, and snake." He
patted the kid on the shoulder and started to walk out of the alley.

Unwrapping the linen holding his helm he slowly donned it. Behind him the noise of kids yelling
out as they played their newfound favorite game...

He walked out back onto the busy market street.

[Rillere]

Ashira made her way to her lookout and once again prowled for the lone guard patrolling the market.  She only knew of Corian passingly.  He'd been there when she was training, but as a senior officer.  She'd only seen him at a distance and heard of him through the chatter at the common room.  He was married had two children.  Not much was said of any vices he may have so she assumed he really didn't have any.  And that was all about she knew of the man.

As she was thinking upon this, she spotted him exiting an alleyway.

"Sir Corian!"  She yelled out to him waving one hand in the air to get his attention.

[Corian]

In the distance he saw a bronze figure in armor waving at him. He recognized her as a fellow
watchmen. Making his way to the fountain he removed his helm so he could better talk with her.

"Malik sent you my way huh?" He smirked. Of course he would send a fresh one into deep water.
Guess it's only way to learn how to swim... "Names Corian, but I think he told you that already
didn't he? Showing his hand he held it out to her in comradery.

[Rillere]

Ashira reached out and grasped his wrist.

"That's correct, Sir.  Was there any particular reason you were in the alleyway and not watching the market?"  She asked. 

Up close his scar was much more noticeable and she couldn't help but wonder how he got it.  There was a rumor that he'd been in a bout with a mage and he'd gotten it while combating him.  Others whispered he'd been wanted by the Soot Wolves but killed the assassin that was sent after him, leaving him with the mark as a reminder.  They were all tall tales, she wonder if there were any truth to them.

"The name's Ashira by the way..."

[Corian]

"Well, pleasure to meet you." It was the first time he actually met her. He had only really seen
her in passing at the guard tower. "Oh, the alleyway?" He smiled and scratched the back of his
head while looking in the direction he came from. "Few little rascals brawling it out. Broke it up
and sent them on their merry way." He put back his helm on, as he felt naked in public without it.

He waved for her to follow as he made his way back into the crowd. "I'll be amazed if we don't
run into a few demons..." Sarcasm, heavily in his voice. "But in all seriousness if we run into a
scrap remember we are paid to uphold and protect the law and it's citizens. Not become heroes
of legend. He laughed heartily, the sound reverberating in his helm.

"Oh the mighty City Watch comes to grace us with their presence..."

"Come now Getha, we are really only here for show. We don't actually do anything and we get
paid to do it." The merchant was unimpressed and he just scowled at the two as they passed by.
"We've been getting pretty low in manpower so we haven't been able to deal with a lot of cases,
especially here in Woolridge Market." He nodded toward the merchant again who was now
showing an obscene gesture in their direction.

[Rillere]

Ashira followed after Corian and gave the rude merchant a dirty look.  She knew that their presence wasn't always welcomed.  There were a few bad apple city watch who take advantage of their position over the commoners making it difficult for the rest of them.

"I heard,"  Ashira began as she walked alongside him.  "Malik has been really strict with the recruits recently and very few have passed their initial training.  Before him I heard things were more lax.  What was it like before Malik?"

[Corian]

"Before Malik?..." Corian pushed his way through the crowd as he briefly got separated from
Ashira. "Well the whole watch was pretty much in shambles. Everyone did whatever they
wanted." A shop stall caught Corian's eye and he veered toward that direction.

"Get your arms here! Finest in Arca!" A burly man in a brown apron waved his hands and called
to the crowd. Nearing the man Corian stopped and rubbed the bottom part of his helm with his
index finger and thumb.

"The worst part is there was a lot of corruption then, but Malik put a stop to it pretty quick once
he turned Captain."

"See something you like, sir?" The shop owner hefted a large voulge in one hand and pointed to
the sky. "A fine guard like you should be carrying a polearm I'd say..." Corian ignored him as he
looked among the stores wares.

"There also wasn't any real training before. Pretty much anyone could join. Now the drills would
make anyone keel-over. I'm just glad I joined before Malik!" He laughed loudly again, his armor
bouncing between breaths. "He's a good man that Malik. A fine Captain to boot..." He trailed off,
his thoughts drifting to his family. Only a few hours passed since he last saw them but he missed
them greatly.

"Come." He waved his hand, half grabbing Ashira by the elbow. "The first order of business with
every patrol is a visit to the nearest tavern."

[Rillere]

"Uh, but didn't Malik order us to watch the market."  Ashira protested as she was led into the tavern.  The sign outside was broken on one side and it swung weakly against the wind.  Inside the conditions were far worse.  The ceiling was covered in a bellow of pipe smoke from several of the patrons inside.  The tables were ancient and much of the people within looked haggard and disheveled.  The floors creaked beneath their feet and several men eyed them menacingly as they approached the bar.

The change in atmosphere was palpable from the market into the tavern.   Were outside people were haggling, chatting and laughing, inside there was a din that settled over them from all sides.  It gave Ashira an ill feeling, but she hid her discontent and shadowed Corian.

"What can a get for ya?"  Asked the barkeep.  A bearded fellow with a bald head and a round belly.

[Corian]

"What do you have on special good man?" Corian sat himself down. He removed his helm and
smiled at the barkeep. The room was deadly quiet, but Corian didn't seem to notice. Reaching
down underneath the bar he slammed a mug in front of Corian. The contents splashing onto
parts of Corian's beard and breastplate.

"Beer." Said the barkeep with a grin, his double-chin vibrating as he suppressed a chuckle.

"Well, two of those please. One for me, another for my comrade here." With his free hand he
gestured Ashira to sit down as he wiped away the spilt beer. The noise returned in the
establishment and the barkeep got another ale and placed it in front of Ashira. Corian dropped a
copper penny into the chubby man's waiting hand.

"Well do you like Bottoms Up? The signs broken i know, but you'll warm up to her..." Grabbing the
mug beside him Corian drank. Lowering it back down slowly, he spit out the ale back into it.

[Rillere]

Ashira nodded and took the mug.  She was parched and hadn't had anything to drink the whole day.  So she took a swig eagerly.  The taste was disgusting beyond belief, as if a rat had died and fermented at the bottom of her stein.  Suppressing the urge to hurl, she fought down the garrish liquid and swallowed.  The effort left her visually sick leaving her face slightly paler than usual.

"Gods, Corian were you trying to kill me."  She whispered as she pushed her mug away from her, in disgust. She didn't want to offend the barkeep.  She looked around and noticed that life returned to the tavern and was slightly less distressed.

At the corner of her eye, she noticed two patrons talking in hush tones.  They glanced once or twice in their direction before going to a door at the rear of the common area.  Beside the door was a  scrawny man who had a high collar leather jacket.  He was seated at a barrel supposedly snoozing.  The bigger man kicked his boots awakening the slumbering fellow who got up with a smirk.  Something was passed between them out of Ashira's sight, and the skinny man opened the door for the two men. She was too far to see where it lead, but she had a hunch they were up to no good.

Ashira tried to catch Corian's eye and nodded towards the back door and raised an eyebrow inquisitively.  She wasn't sure if she caught her message, but she suspected Corian had an idea of what they were getting into here.