Spirits of the Earth

Audric didn't really care much for drills and for training, but he understood the necessity of it.  In the two years he had been back in Allar, Audric had stepped up the training regiment for the palace guards, demanding the men become the best soldiers in the country -- at least, better than most palace guards.  The men, without exception, were accustomed to the drills now -- and they knew Audric would make it up to them later while off-duty.

Audric had a fairly good rapport with the men under his command.  They respected his experience and leadership, and, although the Connlaothian borders were, by and large, quiet these days, Audric had been in his fair share of scrapes -- both in and out of uniform.  On duty, he expected his men to disciplined and to behave as professionals, and off-duty, well -- they were off-duty, and soldiers would be soldiers...and Audric was usually among them.  Just as he was the first to leap into the fray should the Duke's personal guards be needed, he was also the first to jump into trouble outside the palace.  In other words, he was human -- and that was something the other guards appreciated.

Well, today was no exception.  Audric watched the drills with half an eye as the men were put through the paces.  Today, they were having a friendly match -- but, ultimately, it came down to seeing who had improved and who had not, who could deliver a killing blow and who could stop one.

Taking a bite of the red apple he had scrounged from the kitchen, Audric turned his head slightly at the sound of hooves entering the courtyard.  Guests of all sorts came and went frequently, but Audric had been a soldier too long not to study every man, woman, and child who passed through the gates.

The one thing he was not expecting to see was, of course, a Mordecai.  It was bound to mean trouble.

He strode away from the fence post he had been leaning against, moving out into the courtyard to meet the representative of the most elite branch of their nation's military.  "Can I help you?"  The question was delivered with all the wariness of an on-duty soldier.

Minala jumped off her large horse, landing gracefully as she pulled her hood back. She looked over the man who stood before her. "I'm assuming your Audric," She stated, the pitch of her voice being a rich nearly musical tone.

"I have orders to be here, to help protect Audric," She continued to speak, looking over at the palace guards training. "There has been a threat on Duke Calent's life, I magical threat, so I'm here as a safe guard for him," She continued to speak. Her dark crimson eyes continued to look over the area, doing her own evaluation of the area.

The large stallion that stood at her side scrapped its hoof against the ground impatiently. "You should get the appropriate servant to take my horse to the stables. I would like to do a run through of the area, see if there are any big obvious weaknesses in any defenses," She said, it was clear she was ready to  do her job. She didn't like talking to people, she wasn't use to being social of having to talk to people. She had never had to really be social, it was always get your orders and do your orders, nothing else.

She rubbed a scar on her left wrist, a nervous habit, something she had only developed when dealing with people. She never got nervous on the battle field, she was at home there.

Audric's frown only deepened as she spoke.  Trouble indeed...and the worst kind.  He ran a hand through his short hair, mussing the platinum blonde locks with the gesture.  He didn't seem concerned; he was a soldier, not a dandy, and his hair was often a lot worse, frankly.  Besides, the wind would only blow it about again anyway.

"Very well," he stated reluctantly.  He lifted two fingers to his mouth to whistle at his men.  Two fingers became one, and he jerked his hand to indicate someone should come over.  One of them -- a gangly youth that looked both curious and nervous -- jogged over.

"He'll take your horse to our barracks stable," Audric informed the woman before him.  "Have you given any consideration to where you'll lodge?  Our barracks is already full."  Well, there were a few extra bunks -- there always were -- but the barracks was no place for a woman, even if she were Mordecai.  "I'm certain a bed can be arranged in the palace, if you like."

"I'm not concerned with my bunking, I can sleep outside if it comes down to it. Of course I'm more comfortable bunking in the barracks, but if it comes down to it I guess lodging in the palace would be plausible," She said, her eyes returning to the training men.

For being palace guards the men training were rather impressive, they weren't completely useless. She then turned her gaze to Audric. She knew that he wasn't just a palace guard, she had heard the stories of his battles. Audric's ability to command a battle field with seemed ease. She knew that working with him should be good, though, she knew how men were, how they underestimated women.

"Good luck in your continued training of these men, there half decent, I must admit that I'm impressed," She spoke with a raised eyebrow and a slight smirk.

A smirk tugged at the corner of Audric's lips at her compliment.  "High praise from a Mordecai," he stated, and he meant it.  Mordecai were nothing to underestimate, after all; he had spent too many years on the battlefield to have never encountered the elite warriors, and he knew they were dangerous, men and women both.

He extended a hand towards the palace, an invitation to accompany him.  He fell into step beside her.  "I would like to have you introduce yourself to the Duke first," he stated.  His tone was pleasant, but it was hard; this was not a negotiation.  "And I will tell the staff to arrange a room."  If she didn't like the room they chose, she probably had the authority to choose one for herself; when it came to that, she could probably barge into the barracks and demand a bunk, for that matter.  But it wasn't proper, and he would stand by his decision unless ordered to do otherwise.

"Once he has been made aware of your presence and mission -- and I promise you, it will not be a long conversation -- we can begin wherever you would like."

They were inside by this time, moving into the palace through a wide hall.  He gestured to a servant, uttering a few quiet words, then moved on again towards the Duke's study.  He could hear the sounds of the piano even from the hall; Calent would not like the interruption, but there were few things he really liked at all these days.  He was just going to have to be a big boy and at least make an effort to be polite to their guest.

She was here to protect him, after all.

He rapped purposefully on the door, then opened it without awaiting an invitation.  "Duke Calent, there is a Mordecai here to address you."

With the announcement made, Audric stepped to the side with his hands clasped behind his back, awaiting for the exchange to end.

(OOC: Quick stop-off to see the Duke, and then Audric and Minala can be on their way!  However, protocol is protocol!  Just tag me when you two get done, and I'll jump back in!  Audric will just stand off to the side until then!)

His fingers pressed into the ivory keys, naturally moving, striking notes and recreating raw emotions tending a story through his song.  The music was tense, but beautiful, with rippling notes that bounced and hummed and echoed across the wide expanse of his music chamber.  With polished, marble floors and massive columns adoring the room, and great windows stretching all the way towards the sky, the room was truly fit for a king, a duke, for that matter.
Upon the great, tall windows hung rich, dark velvet curtains, a color that lit the room up with the simplicity of one.  The only other ornaments was a few paintings and tapestry adorning the walls and a few smaller pedestals with a vase or two, and an urn.


The song came from memory, from feeling and expression; it was a way that he could speak without words, playing his melancholy to the world, and also the ferocity that burned within.

The song had been titled 'The Jade and Whisper'- a piece he had written earlier that year. And he had been playing it ever since his father's death, perfecting the pitch, feel and tempo as he continued to express the song, fingers gracing across the keys.


It was as he was crescendoing- the notes called out, roaring through a hum and growing more and more intense, as if angrily blocking out the knock at his door, which he had heard, and yet he still played onward, fingers tensing striking the notes until...

a single note hung into the air... and as it faded away, a few more notes called out...
Then a chord.


Then there were none.

For a moment, Duke Calent stared across the piano and into the vast, emptiness of his room.
Then rose slowly turned from his bench towards the door, his eyes silent upon Minala.

Minala kneeled before the duke with respect, bowing her head slightly and placing her closed fist over her heart. She felt his eyes, they sent chills up her spine, a sensation she rarely ever experienced. She wondered what had happened to the Duke that he acted as such, had something so tragic struck him? Or was he simply weak, someone who couldn't handle any pain or hurt or suffering in there lives. She pushed the thoughts away, she would have time later to ponder on the things.

"Duke Calent I'm Minala, I am a Mordecai" She stated simply, she wondered how would he react, she knew some people of high stations took it as insults when people were sent to protect them. She hoped he wouldn't be one of then. She didn't want to be punished for doing her job.

"There has been a threat placed on your life, a plan to end your life has been set into a motion, one that will be played out by magic users. I'm here to ensure that the magic users plan will not be successful," She continued to speak, her voice strong and confident even if she wasn't.

For a long moment, the duke merely stared at her, his eyes briefly drifting towards Audric before he nodded.
It wasn't unheard of for assassination attempts towards men of power, but he knew the precarious position he was in. Unwed. Without heir, and time was ticking. The rumors were there, but he hadn't had time to think on it, nor the consequence. He simply nodded towards Minala.

"I see," his voice came out soft, almost dry as it echoed briefly in the open chamber.  "Is that all?"
He stared at her, face plain, without expression.  He could deal with informing his advisers and guards later.  And Audric..
He would have to confront him about this.. interruption at another time.

Rising, he bowed light to her and gestured for her to rise, and again, his eyes wen to Audric's, though this time there was a stir of emotion as he looked at his friend, but the emotion cooled when he turned his green eyes upon Minala.

"I'm sure Audric can show you to your room." and he said no more, simply walking away from her after giving another polite bow before he strolled across the room, his foot steps echoing behind him as he paused before a stand, bending over to pick up his violin as he rested his chin and cheek upon it, steadied his fingers, then sung the bow across the strings and began another song, his back toward Audric and the open door on the other side of the room.

Audric did not miss the briefest flicker of annoyance on the Duke's face.  He allowed himself a mental chuckle, although, typically, most considered it dangerous to annoy the Duke.  Audric was not the sort of man to be bullied, however, and so the Duke's temper did little more than make him shake his head and view the Duke even more as a wayward, spoiled child.  Although Calent was his senior, Audric often felt as though he were a nanny for a young boy, and this was no exception.

The soldier stepped forward so that he could speak quietly to Minala.  "Come," he said softly.  "I'll show you the outer wall."  The audience was at an end -- if it could be called a proper audience at all.

Minala let Audric lead her out of the room in silence. She was surprised at how the Duke had acted. She then turned her gaze to Audric. She had caught the gaze that the Duke had sent him and she could easily tell it wasn't a pleased one. She took a deep breath once they were out of the room and the door was closed behind them.

The room was tense, or at least she felt it was tense. She cleared her throat softly, raising an eyebrow. The more she knew about the Duke the better she would be able to protect him, or at least that is what she kept telling herself to excuse why she was about to start to meddle.

"So has the Duke always been this way, antisocial?" She stated to question, her voice soft, nearly a whisper. There foot steps clicking as they walked down the hall. "And that look he gave you, you're in trouble," She continued, looking around. She had always been very paranoid about spies listening into conversations she was having.

"Him being with out an heir puts a bigger target on his back," She continued to talk. Yeah she wasn't super social, but she did like going out with the guys to the tavern.

"The Duke is a very private man," Audric answered, as much in answer to her questions as in avoidance of them.  Audric himself wasn't privy to all of the details of what had happened to change Calent so dramatically from the cheerful boy he had been, but he had pieced together enough of the local rumors to have an idea.

His grin at her next statement was rather roguish.  "And don't worry about me.  I'm always in trouble with the Duke.  That's just how I let him know I'm here every day."

Reaching the door, he held it open for her and waited for her to pass through.  As they crossed the courtyard, he went on, "You'll find things are different here in Allar than elsewhere.  The Duke is a stubborn man who doesn't let anyone, least of all his personal guard, dictate what he should do or how he does it."  Audric gave his head a slight shake, although he was smiling fondly as he said it.  "But you shouldn't be fooled.  He is a very capable man -- and a very capable fighter.  And his people like him."

"I wasn't questioning his ability as a fighter or as a leader," She spoke, her eyes taking in the details of the courtyard, memorizing everything. "All I was saying is the more I know, the better I can protect, the same as you, yet I have more responsibility resting on my shoulders. I protect him against any magic that will surely be thrown this way," she spoke popping her neck and back.

She walked in silence for only a few moments, her mind filled with a check list of things she needed to do. She yet again started to run her finger over the scar on her wrist, the first scar she had ever received.

"I will also need to know when the shift changes happen, where palace guards are stationed and any other details that you think would be useful to me. You were a soldier once, I'm sure I don't have to go every detail."

"You did say you wanted to know about him," Audric pointed out mildly.

He glanced sideways at her, frowning at her choice of words.  Audric wasn't out on the battlefield these days, but he still thought of himself as a soldier.  He was sure she hadn't meant for it to sound the way it had, though, so he only said, "We'll start here."  Better to start in one corner of the palace and work his way outwards.  "We keep men posted around the clock.  Have you spent any time on the border?"

That was, after all, where Audric had gained most of his experience, and he employed it here.

"Its where I am posted until something like this pops up, then I'm set to where ever I'm needed. So yes, I spend most of my time there," She spoke with a nod. Where ever magic needed to be weeded out she was sent. Most of the time that was needed in the borders, that is where most of the magic problems came up.

"How do you do your shift changes? Is there an over lap?" She asked looking over at him. She wished she had time to train, she itched to fight. She was always fighting on the borders so it was hard to get out of the habit or it.

Good, Audric thought, then she would understand what he meant without having to explain every detail.  "We run on the same rotation schedule," he began.  Audric launched into a description of the protocols and procedures, explaining everything to her as he would another experienced soldier.  Woman or not, he trusted in her experience as a soldier and in their common cause.

Audric moved across the grounds and through the palace as a soldier's pace; he was thorough, but he did not dawdle.  He answered her questions as effectively as he could.  She was shown the barracks and stables, the training yard and courtyard, until, at last, they came to the room the servants had provided for her.

It was the last stop on the tour.

"This is where you'll be staying," he said, pausing outside the door with his hands clasped behind his back, at parade rest.  "I asked the servants not to bring up your bags."  He left it as a question; Audric himself was rather particular about his meager belongings.  Most soldiers were.  "Would you like to retrieve them now, or would you like me to send a servant?"

The walk was informative, and she was pleasantly surprised. Most palaces had a lot of gaps in security, this one didn't. The Duke was lucky to have such a good head guard. There was a few things she would change, but every soldier had there different techniques.

"Thank you, I will go get my things," She said turning to walking. She didn't need him to lead her around, she seemed to already know the place. If he decided to walk with her, well then that was his choice, she wouldn't stop him. She really didn't like sleeping where she was, but, if that is where he really wanted her to sleep, then she would work with that.

Her mind then returned to the Duke. She would have to go to a local tavern to figure anymore out though. She didn't think that Audric would tell her anymore. She could tell that they were friends of sorts though.

Audric glanced after her a moment, then jogged a few paces to catch up to her, his long legs doing so easily.  Well, they may as well head back downstairs together; it would be rather rude for Audric just to stalk after her, wouldn't it?

This was a bit of a sensitive question to ask.  Audric had worked with all sorts of people, and, most, he felt, he could read pretty well.  This woman, however, was nearly as stoic as the Duke and let just about as much information slip.  Why he was constantly surrounded by people like that was beyond him.  Just lucky, he supposed!

There was no helping it: he would just have to ask. "Do you work alone?"

"In most cases, yes," She answered not even turning to look at him. She was expecting him to answer it, and was revealed when he finally did. "You must realize that most places don't have palace guards with your- Background," She continued to speak.

"I'm not paired with other Mordecai because my powers and fighting abilities don't call for it, or I would have come with more Mordecai. When it comes to jobs like these, well, most palaces guards aren't much more then farmers with swords," She spoke with a shrug. She didn't mean it as an insult, but that had simply been her experience.

She walked out of the palace doors and quickly made her way to her things, quickly picking them up before she turned to Audric. "When do you train, with your soldiers, I might want to both join them and observe them."

"Fair enough," Audric answered with a light shrug.  Palace guards were the butts of a lot of jokes out on the borders, after all.  They were trained, of course, but most had little to no real experience in anything other than standing around and looking pretty.

"You're welcome to join, of course.  Most of my men have never met a Mordecai.  It would do them some good to have a woman kick their collective asses."  He could lecture all he liked about the dangers of underestimating opponents, even women, but until they experienced it first-hand, the lesson would never sink in.  He looked at her sideways and added, "No offense meant."  There was no telling what might offend the woman, after all!

Audric held out a hand towards her as they reached her gear.  "Want a hand with that?"

"No offence taken," She said offering a polite smile. It was hard to offend her, she had grown up in the barracks after all. After that there wasn't much on the list you haven't seen or heard about. Soldiers would be soldiers.

"I have it, but thank you for the offer. I have never had help before, and I wont once I get back to the border, no reason to spoil myself," She replied with a nod. She would love to kick some of the palace guards asses. She knew she would have to take it easy, she never underestimated an opponent, but she had gotten really good at sizing one up, it come with observation and experience.

Minala knew, even with Audric's casual, easy going attitude, she knew he would be fierce in battle.

She didn't have that much, really -- but Audric would have felt bad if he didn't ask at all.  He did, however, stride ahead of her to pull open the door.

Once she was inside, Audric closed it soundly behind them and followed in her wake for a few paces before speaking up.  "Have you been through town, yet?" he asked thoughtfully.  "I'd be happy to show you.  If there's a threat, it's bound to take root there first."  At least, temporarily; there wasn't many other hospitable places for a mage to hide.

Minala shrugged, as she tossed her things into the room quickly. "If I were a mage trying to kill the duke I would never make trouble in the town, I would pass through like a normal traveler," She spoke, talking more to herself then to anyone else.

"But no, not really, I passed through it very quickly, making my way here," She said with a shrug. She had been traveling for some time, rarely did a palace guard take so much interest in a Mordecai, most saw there arrival as an insult. In a way though she was glad to work with the guard instead of having to work against or around them.

Audric made himself comfortable outside the door to the room.  He settled backwards against the wall beside the door, his eyes on a portrait opposite the door.  It was of a pretty woman dressed in furs and finery -- a relative of Calent's, no doubt.

"That wasn't exactly what I meant," he said thoughtfully.  "I just meant they aren't likely to set up the assault from inside the castle."  Not that it was impossible -- it was just the less likely option...  "If you can tell me more of what you know, I can check with a few people in town and ask them to keep their eyes and ears open."

It paid to have contacts throughout both the castle and the city.  You never knew where trouble might spring up, and different stations heard different rumors.

Minala walked out of the room swiftly, "that is the thing though, I don't know that much, for one I wasn't the one that found the note that was left, so I don't even know what it says. All I know is that there are powerful mages coming for the Duke. I don't know how many, or what they look like, nothing, I don't even know how long this plan has been know about," She spoke, clearly frustrated at the lack of information.

Minala sighed with a slight smile, weapons still strapped to her back. She never went anywhere with out her weapons.

"Well," the soldier answered, falling, once again, into step beside her.  "Then it seems we have our work cut out for us."

He had some ideas about why mages would be after the Duke.  He was, after all, one of the loudest anti-magic voices in the country.  No doubt, he had angered somebody...and now they wanted to make an example of him.

He would still check with his contacts, of course -- in case they had heard anything, on this subject or any other.

"Drills are done for the day by now."  The tour had taken some time; the palace was, after all, fairly large.  "I'll show you around town.  Most of the locals are good people, but crime seems to find a foothold everywhere, doesn't it?"

"I train in at dusk most of the time, I plan on training tonight like I do every night, but I will be joining you in the morning I suppose," She spoke with a soft nod. She enjoyed training, she found it peaceful.

"Well I'm technically not on duty until tomorrow morning, I made better time then they thought I would," She started, with a smile. "So I plan on stopping by the tavern, have a few drinks before I have to start worrying about everything," She said with a smile.

She planned on having more then a few drinks, she actually planned on drinking quiet a bit. She took her job seriously, yes, but she also wasn't on duty until the next morning so she planned on making most of her time off. 

"You'll probably find more than a few of my men there," Audric answered with a slight nod.  Soldiers would be soldiers, after all!  "Unless you're planning on visiting some of the seedier taverns."  It was her choice, of course, though he would recommend against it.  Those were a little rowdier than most working men -- soldiers included -- liked.  Besides, they watered down their drinks!

"I'll also show you the rest of the town.  There's not much there that we don't have available here -- a smithy and the like -- but you'll want to see what you have to work with, I imagine."

Minala nodded, it would be nice to see the whole town. If she knew the lay out it would give her the home field advantage in any battle. She thought it would be nice to have other soldiers in the tavern, it would remind her of home and feel familiar.

Of course, she almost always ended up stabbing a guy in the foot. She was always mistaken for a wanna be fighter or a tavern girl or something of the likes. Then some brave soul would go for a grab and she would just have to make an example out of them. She really hoped that no one in the town would make the mistake, but they always did.

"The tavern will be the only place I'll need to know unless I end up staying here for an extended period of time, which is a possibility in this case."

Audric nodded thoughtfully.  "Most of us usually frequent the Blue Goose.  It's one of the nearest taverns, and the owners serve pretty good food to go with the ale."  He grinned and shrugged slightly.  "And they like having soldiers around.  They prefer their business to be on the up and up."

He didn't bother to tell her about the other tavern the younger, unmarried, and unfaithful soldiers frequented...  He'd let her find out about that one on her own.  There was no reason to go around soiling his good name!

"So you expect this to take a while, then?"  Well, that shouldn't surprise him, he thought.  They had nothing to go on and nowhere to start, it seemed.

Minala nodded. She looked up into the sky, checking the suns position. It was later then it felt to her, which she figured was a good thing. The more energy she had the more she could drink and have fun that night. She wondered if Audric was a drinker, or if he was all work and no play like some of the older soldiers were on the borders.

Minala's mind then returned to the fact that she was basically there with no information on the people who were trying to kill the Duke. Then her mind wondered if how long this plot had been in action, had people already infiltrated the Dukes staff?

Audric fell silent as well as they made their way back through the palace and towards the town.  It wasn't a great distance from the castle; in fact, the town had grown towards the palace rather than away from it.

Nearest the palace, of course, were the homes of the well-to-do townsfolk.  Mostly wealthier merchants, business owners, and property owners, the homes here were spacious and clean.  Audric's own sisters lived on this end of town with their husbands and families, as had his parents...  This part of the town gave way to the small shops that often doubled as homes for their owners -- shopkeepers and craftsmen, mainly.  Audric pointed out the Blue Goose Tavern with a grin.

On the other side of the shops stood the smaller homes of the more lower-class, as it were.  From the door of the tavern, Audric gestured towards the southeast quadrant of the city.  "The bad part of town's in that direction.  They're not all bad there, obviously, but you'll want to keep your purse and valuables close the further you go that way."

Minala chuckled, her coin purse was tucked away nicely. It would be easier to take her boots off her feet with out her noticing then to get at her coin purse. She ran her fingers through her long hair, then ran it over the nearly shaved part, hoping there wasn't any blood.

"I think I'll be fine, but thanks for the warning," She said with a slight bow, she was off duty and ready to party, just like she did when she was at the border. She hoped the palace guards would be able to keep up with her loud, rough, and raw soldier ways. She also hoped they had a half decent bard.

"Are you going to join me, or are you on duty?" She asked pausing a moment. She half wanted to see if Audric still had it, if he still lived up to the stories that her commanders had told her about when she was younger. She had already noted off the charm her commanders had swore he had. That he could smile and every women, even the most war hardened, would swoon.

"I'll be joining you in an hour or so," he answered with an immediate smile.  Audric was the typical soldier, after all: the tavern was his second home.  "I have some business to tend to first."  Mostly with some of his people in town, but he also wanted to head back to the palace briefly just to let the Duke get his personal feelings about the Mordecai's presence off his chest.

"Save me a seat, will you?" he asked cheekily.  He lifted a hand to wave, then half-turned and added with a smirk, "I almost forgot.  Unless you're a good gambler, you may want to avoid the card games until you're more familiar with the players."  His grin widened ever-so-slightly.  "A few of my men are suspiciously good at poker."

(OOC: I'll let you do an in-between post of what trouble (or lack thereof) she's going to get into while Audric is gone...  :D  I'm on my way home from work, so I had to rush this post!)

Minala flashed Audric a bright smile, "If your a girl you don't have to be a good gambler, you just have to know how to distract!" She she with a nod, adjusting the straps to her weapons, making her amble cleavage very distracting. "Well have fun, I suppose I'll be here when you get back, unless I get kicked out first."

With that Minala walked into the tavern, receiving a good share of stares as she walked in. She walked up to the bar laying a few bronze pieces down, receiving a large tankard of ale. She then made her way to play some poker. Her hips swaying seductively. The men at the table were all but drooling. She pulled up a chair and flashed a dazzling smile to the men, many of them she would guess were soldiers or guards.

"Deal me in fellas," She she said flashing another bright smile and batting her lashes. It didn't take long before Minala cleared out the table. She stood with a smile and a much larger coin purse, "It was nice playing with ya guys, but I need tah get some more ale," She said with a chuckle, the men not even seeming mad that they lost there money, still just taking in the view. Of course, later that night they would probably get mad.

By the time Audric made it back to the tavern, his purse was several coins lighter.  He hadn't learned much, but his eyes and ears promised to notify him should anything change.  He kept most of them well-paid -- tavern-keepers and bar-wenches aside, his money had to go towards something, after all -- and so he trusted them to notify him.  No one liked to lose business or an easy goldpiece.

The Duke was busy -- and, this time, Audric respected his privacy -- so he left his whereabouts with the staff before departing for the Blue Goose to check on the well-being of their guest.  He entered the establishment and paused inside the door to survey the scene.

It was dinner time, and the usual suspects were already present -- along with the heavenly scent of roasting meat and potatoes.  He simply breathed it in a moment, his stomach reminding him pointedly that his snack had been interrupted earlier.  The owner -- a rotund, bubbly woman old enough to be Audric's mother -- bustled by.  "Mutton stew tonight, Audric.  Will you be wanting a bowl?"

"How could I refuse?" Audric returned with a chuckle, following in her wake towards the bar.  He shot her a roguish grin, obviously slipping into the usual banter.  "You know how much I love your cooking.  If you weren't married..."

The woman threw her head back and laughed loudly.  "You shameless flirt!  I did tell you to marry my niece, didn't I?"

Audric accepted the tankard of ale she pushed over the counter at him smugly, playing up his banter for the men laughing beside him at the bar.  "But I've had her cooking, and it isn't half as good as your's, Rosie.  What's your secret?"

Rosie snorted indignantly and snapped a towel out, then over her shoulder as she stormed away.  "I don't let myself become distracted by good-for-nothing soldiers!"  Audric laughed alongside his men for a moment, then clapped one on a shoulder and left the soldiers to find Minala.  It didn't take him long.

"You look like you're having a good night," he said, pulling out a chair to sit across from her.  "Have you eaten?"

Minala laughed while shaking her head no. She hadn't eaten, she had been too busy. Now that she was thinking about it though, she was getting hungry and it did smell excellent in the tavern. She finished off the ale she had, finishing off her fifth tankard of ale.

"No, I've been too busy cleaning out your soldiers spare change. If this is how they act tomorrow in drills I'll will be able to beat them blind folded," She bragged with a full bellied laugh. Minala's eyes smiled, something completely different then earlier.

Minala leaned back in her chair, seeming completely relaxed. She stretched, her joints popping as she laughed, just thinking about all the coin she had just won. "I though you said your men were good at poker, you'd thank they had never seen a women they way they acted," Minala leaned forward slapping Audric's shoulder. "They need to get out and get them some, there are plenty of tavern girls here," She said leaning back again with a smile.

"Then they'll deserve it," Audric answered agreeably, sipping at his own drink, by comparison.  After all, he had to be able to walk if the Duke summoned him!  He didn't mind poking the Duke a little bit here and there...but he generally didn't make himself into an ass.

At least, he didn't think so.  Calent might have his own opinions.

Rosie appeared to set the bowl of stew in front of Audric, her grin becoming somewhat predatory when she noticed the company he was keeping.  "Audric Molneux, is that a girl you're sitting with?  I never thought I'd see the day!"

"But it isn't her stew I'm eating, is it, Rosie?" he asked with an ear-to-ear grin, continuing their conversation from the bar.  Rosie rolled her eyes, as if that meant nothing at all, although she was, obviously, pleased with his continued compliments.  "This is Minala.  Minala, this is Rosie.  She and her husband own the Blue Goose."

"It's a pleasure," Rosie said with a friendly greeting.  "Now," she went on pleasantly to Minala, heedless of Audric's over-dramatic groans and protests.  "You keep him honest, and don't you let him even think of kissing you until he's put a ring on your finger."  Her she looked meaningfully at Audric.  "And don't you tell me you can't afford it, Audric!"

"Rosie!" Audric groaned good-naturedly, obviously accustomed to this treatment.  "I apologize for Rosie.  She thinks the world wouldn't know happiness without her guidance!"

Rosie chortled merrily.  "You're damned right they wouldn't!  Now, eat your stew.  You look like you'd disappear behind a post you're so skinny!"

Minala nodded, she enjoyed taking down guys. Most men underestimated and figured she would be easy to take down, that she would be slow, timid and hit as they call it 'like a girl', but they were always surprised, she could fight with the best of them.

Minala looked at the women, smiling up at her. Then she looked at the bowl in front of Audric, her stomach growling at the sight of it. Plus it smelt like heaven. It had been a long time sense she had had half decent food.

"Nice to meet you Rosie," Minala said looking back up at the cook of the divinly smelling food. "I wouldn't even think about it," Minala played along with the women, laughing as she did.

"Rosie would you mind bringing me a bowl as well, I'm absolutely starving," She asked flashing Rosie a big smile, her eyes lit up. She was having fun, this was nice.

"I'll bring it right out!" the woman promised with a cheerful laugh.

Once she had gone, Audric glanced after her with an amused grin.  "Rosie's kind of taken it upon herself to look after us.  Her only child died in a battle, and so she's adopted the rest of us."  His expression had grown more somber as he spoke.  "She's like any other mother, I suppose."  Laughing, he added, "And not as bad as my sister at that."

If his sister invited him to one more dinner party to meet Miss So-And-So...

"But she'll take care of you while you're here.  If you need anything, just ask her, and she'll either find it for you or give you an idea of where to start looking."

Minala nodded a 'thank you' to the woman she she watched her turn and leave for the kitchen. She seemed like a pretty nice lady.

"She seems like a nice and caring woman," Minala replied to Audric, looking up at him. The mention of Rosie's son was mentioned she started to think of all the people she had seen die. Fellow soldiers she had held as they drew there last breath, people who had met there end at the end of her blades. The quantity was pretty numbing.

Minala quickly pulled her mind from that though, she was here to have fun, party and drink, not think of the men she had killed. "I'll keep that in mind if there is ever anything I need while I'm here, lets just hope I don't have to be here this long. Lets hope we figure out and end this plot," She spoke cheerfully with a nod.

"Indeed," Audric agreed, lifting up his tankard slightly.  "To completed quests and to the defense of a good man," he said with a smile.  "Long live Duke Calent."

So saying, he tipped his head back and took a great swig, swallowing at least half the tankard in one, mighty gulp.  He almost set down the mug, then laughed out loud and added, "And to new friends and the best mutton stew in Connlaoth."  His second swallow finished up the ale that was left in the tankard, just in time for Rosie to bring him a refill.

He dug heartily into his meal for the first three bites, then asked curiously, "I've never really been on friendly terms with the Mordencai.  Do your people retire?"  It seemed like a random question, but, hey, it was something to talk about while they ate!

Minala lifted her empty tankard to the toast with a smile. It was always good to see a soldier in a tavern, it gave you a look at there true colors. Lets you see beyond the stone wall that every soldier put up to deal with the things that they were forced to deal with.

Minala began to eat, the stew tasted better than it smelled, if that was even possible. She laughed at his question, it seemed a little silly to her. "No we work even past our graves on into the after life." She started with a joke, taking another bite of the stew. "No we can retire just like any other soldier, though, most of the time, we are killed before we decide we want to retire. We are always put on the front lines, gives us more chance of getting killed then the average soldier who doesn't. Plus, the pay is outstanding, makes you not want to quit. And for me, well, to most of the world I'm an old maid, there would be no place for me," She explained between bites.

Audric listened with a curious ear, though his attention, mainly, seemed to be on his stew.  At the end of her explanation, he nodded slightly, then shrugged.  "It came up once."  With an amused expression, he added, "Guess I lost the bet."

There weren't real stakes involved -- not really.  It was just a friendly competition born from too many drinks and too many hours of boredom and speculation!

"So I guess you start work tomorrow, huh?"  He wondered what, exactly, that would entail.  And if she planned to spend all of her nights in the tavern like this...  It would certainly be...an enjoyable way of doing business!

Lilly laughed, taking her time to answer his next question. She sat there and ate the majority of her stew, savoring the incredible flavor. She was going to have to take Rosie with her so she could teach the tavern keeper at the border how to cook.

"Yeah, tomorrow is when I am officially on duty. I'm only allowed a few hours every day to leave the palace sense my abilities are more efficient the closer I am. But yeah, I'll probably spend those precious hours here," She spoke laughing. She leaned back in her chair, resting her hands on her stomach, she was stuffed.

Audric frowned thoughtfully into the bottom of his soup bowl, his spoon scraping up the last few precious drops of the delicious meal.  Once he had devoured all that he could, he simply turned the spoon upside down in his mouth and let it linger there, sucking on it a bit as he thought.

If the plotters were smart, they would know a Mordecai had come to town and was staying in the palace.  Depending on their plans, that was a problem -- but, if magic-users were behind the plot but not actually involved (a disturbing but likely scenario), she was but one more guard to avoid.

It was frustrating, he thought, not having more information!

Well, he would have plenty of time to think on it later.  Preparations were already in place, and there was nothing more they could do but take further precautions and search for more clues.

Tomorrow.

"I'll be interested in seeing your fighting techniques," he said musingly.  "What's your chosen weapon?"

"The two on my back, I'm a master at both. I'm an offensive fighter, I was never any good with a shield it always slowed me down," She spoke with a shrug, adjusting her top slightly. She was starting to get tired and restless. She didn't practice like she did on most days.

"What is your weapon of choice?" She asked sitting up. She planned on only giving him the time to answer before she stood to say her good byes. With his answer she stood, her back popping as she did.

"Well my friend, I think I will pay my bill and head back," She informed his with a slight almost mocking bow. She then turned on her heel, placing more than enough to pay her bill on the bar and left.

As she walked a plan started to form in her head. A way to draw the culprits out of hiding. She made a few very discreet stops, spreading a rumor. She then returned to her room with a smile, she had a feeling in her gut that it would work. 

"Call me predictable, but I like a good, sturdy longsword at my side."  He grinned and patted the hilt of his weapon.  It was an old friend, and it had gotten him out of quite a bit of trouble over the years.

He looked surprised when she rose to go -- but, he supposed, she had a long day ahead of her tomorrow.  They both did!

After they parted ways, he nursed the ale he had remaining in his second tankard and headed to the bar to mingle with some of his men before heading back to the palace himself.


Audric awoke much as he did every morning.  He rolled off his bunk with a yawn and dragged himself over to the basin to splash some life back into his face.  It helped.  A little.  Blearily and still yawning, he poured himself some extra strong coffee (the only way the barracks cook made it) and helped himself to some corned beef hash as his men started their morning chatter around him.  With breakfast complete, he went back to the tiny desk in the corner of the barracks to review his orders and to check for any messages.  And then, at last, it was time to see to the men.

Morning muster passed without anything exceptional occurring in the least -- and it was only then that he remembered the Mordencai.  He scratched his jaw, realizing with some irritation he'd have to shave at some point, as he looked towards the palace, which stood bleak in the gray light of dawn.  He'd forgotten to tell her when drills began...

Well, she'd be down when she was ready, he supposed.  After all, their drills would take them well into the morning...and, if she was the soldier she seemed, she wouldn't sleep in until noon.

Minala hadn't slept for long that night. If someone had went to her room they would have discovered she was not there and there had clearly been a struggle there that night. She had been taken from her bed that night. She had set the rumor off into some of the staff that the duke was staying in the room she was actually staying in and that he would be moved off the next day.

Even after they had realized she wasn't the Duke she was dragged out, and beaten for several hours in interrogation. She had leaked the fake information she needed and let the messenger be sent before hacking her way out.

Minala stumbled her way back into the large palaces courtyard. It was clear she had been beaten, her cheek bruised and her lip busted. She had truly one hell of a night. She saw the men training, saw the back of Audric, or what at least looked like Audric. her vision was blurry and she was slightly dizzy, but she would never admit it.

She made her way to the men training, she was still planning on helping them train, just what she said she would do the day before.

Audric had just given the order to begin when one of his man -- his sergeant, who was known for his colorful language, anyway -- uttered a string of profanity that would have made a sailor blush.  Audric whirled around, his hand going to the hilt of his weapon from long habit, to see what was happening behind him...and a few colorful phrases left his mouth as well.

Needless to say, the men did not begin their exercises -- and Audric didn't enforce discipline either.

"What the hell happened to you?" he demanded, his light blue eyes darkening like a coming storm.

Minala didn't walk all the way to them, but stumbled to a near by tree to prop herself against. She motioned for Audric to come to her before leaving over and spitting out some of the lingering blood in her mouth. She had discovered that there was either a leak in the palace staff or the members of the plot had infiltrated that palace. Plus the night guards sucked and after she chatted with Audric she was going to kick there ass.

She might feel and look like crap, but she still had a bit left to dish out.

Audric didn't spare his men even a glance as he crossed the yard, covering it, seemingly, in only a few long strides as he stalked towards her.  His body was tense, his expression hard, and his jaw set; if she had been a villain, she wouldn't have lasted long under that unforgiving gaze.

Reaching her, he placed a hand against the tree and crouched down before her.  They were out of earshot of most of the men, and, certainly, no staff member was willing to come anywhere near Audric with the anger he bore on his face.

As much as it looked as though somebody soon would die, he bore her silence patiently.

"It isn't good," She started with a sigh, rubbing her temple. The anger on his face didn't seem to faze her in one bit.

"For one, I was kidnapped last night so as soon as this conversation is over, I'm going to deal with the guards on duty last night," She continued, shooting the guards a dirty look over Audric's shoulder.

"There is either a leak of some sort or the people involved in the plot have infiltrated the palace. You can't trust anyone. They didn't know I was a Mordencai, so I don't think it was any of your guards," She said with a sigh. She rubbed her wrist slightly, they had started to turn a dark purple.

If it was possible, Audric's face darkened a shade further.  His anger wasn't directed towards her; she just seemed to be caught in the radius.

"Curio," Audric called, lifting his voice.  He knew the men were watching, of course.  Eyes still on Minala, he waited until he could hear his sergeant's boots on the ground behind him before continuing quietly.  "I want the men who were on duty last night in the north barracks."

Curio's face registered first surprise, then suspicion.  "What should I tell them?"

"Nothing," Audric answered, simply, glancing over his shoulder once at the other man.  "Just tell them to assemble and wait with them for me.  Take Edward with you.  If anyone is missing -- anyone at all -- or if you overhear or see anything suspicious, send Edward to me.  I'll be with Minala in her chambers."

And that reminded him...

"And send up the palace surgeon."

Curio nodded and moved back towards the men, not asking for further clarification.  Audric waited for him to leave, then asked, "Do you need help standing?"

She watched in silence, letting him handle his men, closing her eyes and relaxing, meditating in a way, until he asked her a question.

"I walked all this way, I can make it to that damn room," Minala said with a frown, slowly opening her eyes. The pain was slowly starting to wear away her happy front. The longer she stood the worse her mood would get.

She stood up straight, her joints popping loudly at the sudden movement. "Well lets go on and walk there."

Audric trusted his men with his life -- and, more importantly, with Calent's -- but, perhaps that judgement had been too hasty, he thought.  Curio, he thought, he could trust absolutely; he was a good friend and an honorable man.  But how well did he really know the rest, he wondered?

The walk to the room she had been assigned was a relatively short one.  Once there, he held open the door for her, then followed her inside.  Pausing just inside the door, his frown deepened.  The room was, indeed, in disarray, and he wondered how it was that no one had heard anything...

He took a moment to thoroughly poke through the room, searching for clues and for anyone who may have been left behind to ensure Minala did not return.  Once done, he returned to stand, moodily, near the doorway.

"How do you know?" he asked, seemingly out of the blue after such a long silence.  "How do you know they didn't know you are Mordencai?"

Minala turned a chair upright, then sat down with a deep sigh. She wasn't in a hurry to answer him, his men clearly needed more training. She looked down and adjusted her top slightly, the chainmail and cotton undershirt were ruined. She turned, catching a reflection of herself in the window. She jumped slightly, she looked worse then she thought.

"I know because they think they tortured the truth out of me, they think a Mordencai is coming in a couple of weeks, that I was sent to prepare the palace for the Mordencai," She snapped. Minala interpreted his question as almost and insult to her knowledge and abilities, as if he doubted her.

She took a deep breath, exhaustion and pain making her extremely short. She knew she would head back into town before too long so she could buy a replacement for her top. Plus she could use some more of Rosie's cooking. You would think that she would get a little bit more sympathy after spending the night getting tortured.

Audric's expression barely changed -- and it certainly didn't lighten any.  His eyebrows lifted slightly -- but then they fell back down, giving him a softer, more sullen expression.

He'd let that go.  Torture and all that.  Also, no one was exactly a peach when they had little to no sleep.

So whoever had taken her didn't know she was a Mordecai...  Obviously, that meant they had missed her arrival the previous day.  It also meant they were either non-magic users, or they hadn't tried to use their magic on her.

However, that left a rather big, gaping question: if they didn't know she was Mordecai, why did they kidnap her?

There was no use in getting any more emotional about this than the cooling rage Audric already felt.  Emotional men made mistakes...and Audric felt he had a lot to be emotional about here.  So, taking a deep breath, he asked calmly, "What can you tell me about the abduction?"

Minala stood, she started to pace slowly, from one end of the room to the other. Pacing made some people more nervous or anxious but not Minala. It calmed her mind and helped ease the pain that was resonating through out her body.

"Last night, I had a plan, a plan to figure out how close the coup was..." She trailed off. She was torn, partially glad she had done it, and partially, she hated that she had done something that wasn't thought out at all.

"I started a small rumor among a few of the servants last night, that the Duke was going to be moved to my room and I would stay in his because he would soon be moved out of the palace, I acted like I was completely drunk, I didn't think someone would try to kidnap what they thought was him," Minala trailed off.

Audric's face flushed -- and this time there was no mistaking the anger in his eyes.  "You did...what?"  His tone was heavy, disbelieving and dangerous.  Did she realize what she had done?  Not only had she risked her own life, but she had risked that of the Duke as well!

If her attackers had been at all thorough...

He inhaled deeply, pushing those thoughts away.  That was for another time.  Right now, he had business to sort out...and chastising a Mordecai was not part of that business.  Yet.

"I see.  And what can you tell me of the abductors?"

"They aren't very smart to start out," She said rubbing her temples, "though they are very determined." She took a deep breath, the original dizziness was starting to turn into a throbbing head ache.

"They speak Sindarin," She chuckled darkly, "What they didn't know was I'm fluent in Sindarin," Minala looked up at Audric.

"So before you get all pissy and miss out on the best part calm yourself," She said with a sigh. "I know there plan," she said crossing her arms in satisfaction. She had learned you had to take risk to get results. She would have thought that him once being a soldier would know that.

"So," he said slowly, grinding the word out slowly.  "What's their plan?"

At least something positive had come from this fiasco!  He was still going to kick somebody's asses when he left this room...and they were going to feel the full wrath of his anger and frustration, unfortunately!

Still, they were men.  They could handle it.

And he would have to inform Calent...  And Calent would, undoubtedly, act like a 2-year-old.  It was all very frustrating!

"In a week they plan on raiding the palace, taking the Duke and what ever valuables they can get there hands on with in an hour. They plan on using magic to help sneak pass your guards but as we both know, that wont work. Or at least the magic part, if the rest of your guards act like the ones on duty last night, they will have no problem getting past them."

Minala ran her fingers through her tangled hair. "So, now that we're on the subject, what is your disciplinary plan for the men that were on duty?" 

"I'm going to kick their asses," Audric replied shortly, his mind on the villains and their plan.  So they intended to raid the palace in one week...and, what, ransack it?  Along with the Duke?

What were they looking for?

Or was this just an attempt to loot and collect a ransom?

The captain rubbed his chin thoughtfully as he mulled it over.  Knowing Calent, he wouldn't stand for being placed somewhere safe under guard...nor did Audric feel comfortable moving the Duke.  Moving him outside the protective walls of the palace would make him more vulnerable...

But, perhaps...  Well, it would ultimately be up to the Duke how he wished to proceed.  "When did you say they had planned this?  And did you hear any specifics?"

"Do I get to join in on the ass kicking, since it was my ass that got tortured because they didn't do there job?" Minala asked crossing her arms. She looked at the door, almost completely ignoring his next question.

"I thought the surgeon was suppose to be on his way, I'm pretty sure I need stitches," She continued to avoid the topic. She was tired of talking about this. She was kidnapped last night so wasn't Audric smart enough to piece together that they had planned that last night.

Audric's eyebrows lifted slightly.  "What kind of a Captain would I be if I let someone outside the ranks discipline my men for me?"  He needed to make sure his lesson stuck -- and he wanted to ask some questions of the men who were supposed to be watching.  It made him uneasy to think someone had walked in so easily and had managed to walk out with a captive...

When she -- pointedly -- ignored his line of questioning, Audric glanced at the clock that had, miraculously, remained undisturbed throughout the abduction.  "Perhaps they are having trouble locating him...  I'll go see what I can find out."

Minala stood quickly, and quickly regretted it, but she didn't let it show. "Well, maybe just maybe it would make them learn to be a little more accountable because clearly there not as great as you thought they were," She said, a distinct frown on her face.

"You know what, don't worry about it, I'll be fine" She replied, her voice very controlled. She grabbed her weapons, they were laying on the floor, and stormed out of the room. She was angry, it wasn't all because of him and his men. She was partially upset with herself. She should have been ready, of course if she hadn't been taken she wouldn't know there plans.

She walked until she found a pretty private little court yard before she started to train. Her movements slow and unimpressive at first, but quickly her movements sped up and became more complex.

OOC: Sorry for the delay! D:  I was waiting for VisualSpice to be free to so we could do a quick volley before Audric comes to find her!  (Or she comes to find Audric!)

Audric stared after her, only just remembering to close his mouth as the surgeon -- a portly man, who really should know better -- hurried up, panting.  "Sorry about that.  One of the maids is having trouble with her baby, and I thought -- why, where is the patient?"

The soldier shook his head slightly.  "I have no idea.  She went that way.  And if she can storm out like that, she must not be in too bad of shape."

"She!"  The man exclaimed, his expression shocked.  "They said she was a soldier!"

"She is."  Audric glanced at the man, shrugged once, and then left him to figure out whether he wanted to find the woman or go back to talking about babies with the staff.  He made his way outside first to talk to his men.

Audric's words were not kind.  He was usually a pretty-easy going guy -- but dereliction of duty was not something he took lightly.  It did not take him long to sort out the guilty from the innocent, and, although they did not have the details as to what, precisely, had alerted their Captain to their inattention (due, of all things, to a game of dice), they understood that it was not to happen again.

Nor would it.  Audric left orders for the eight men responsible to be confined until they could be properly punished.  Those particular eight men would not be working together again -- and, in the interest of safety and paranoia, he was going to have to design some sort of rotating shift...

With all of that weighing heavily on his mind, he made his way away back into the palace, this time in search of the Duke to convey what had happened over the course of the last 24 hours.  He rapped sharply on the man's door, hardly waiting for a reply before stepping inside.

(OOC: Okay, no problem )

Minala was hurting as she moved, she was sure that she would regret this after she was done. She could feel parts of her skin pulling apart sharply, she would definitely have to go get stitches. After about half an hour she stopped, panting slightly, holding her side. She knew that it was now time for her to either suck it up and do it herself or go seek out the surgeon.

She strapped her weapons to her back stiffly, before limping to go find the man who would stitch her up. It took her a while to hunt him down, having to ask several servants. Finally though she found him. He was with a woman and what appeared as a new born as well as several other servants all standing around with big eyes, all attention on the baby and mother.

Minala tapped the man that fit the description given to her, "Um, Sir," She started, taking a few steps out of the room and motioning for him to follow, "I'm in need of stitches," She spoke softly, not wanting to bother those that were inside the room.

The man looked at her and raised an eyebrow, "Your the woman soldier I assume, follow me," He spoke leading her to a room where he proceeded to stitch up the gashes that needed it.

Calent had himself so immersed in paperwork, that it would be hard to distinguish him behind his desk. The towers of paper were like a castle themselves, and were it not for the heavy scraping of the quill and light tingle of the dab of it inside the ink, one might not even know he was there.
Until, as it went, he turned a page and went onward, slipping across a few beads as he counted upon his ledger, then marked the numbers down and studied them before licking at his thumb again and proceeded, turning the paper over and making a brief note on the back before he decided to address the footsteps inside his room.

"What is it this time, Audric?" he asked plainly, not lifting his face up from his paper work.

There were no two ways to say this, unfortunately.  But Audric was a big boy; he could handle it.

Nevertheless, he straightened and squared his shoulders to stand at attention, as he would before a superior officer.  Calent technically was a superior officer, after all, and if he chose to discipline Audric, well, he would be in his right to do so.

"There was a breach last night.  The Mordencai was taken out of the castle and beaten for information.  She returned this morning -- alive, but severely wounded.  I have already determined who was on duty, and they will be lashed for their inattention last night."

That about summed it up!

Calent was listening to his friend, but as he did so, he furrowed his brow as the crease pressed into his skin, deeper and deeper until finally, after Audric had spoke, he sighed.
"There's two coppers missing."

Looking up from his papers, he stared at Audric, as if registering his presence for the first time and simply stared.
"So you're saying the Grand Duke sent someone incompetent to save my life?" he frowned.  "I would ask more questions, but the only responses would be inadquecies that are rendered unmendable as the time has come and pass.  Yes, the men ought to be punished and reassigned elsewhere. Maybe field work would yield better results." The duke looked back down to his papers and frowned again.

Not only did he calculate a missing copper, but now there were two.
And not to mention, his life was in danger, and the woman who came to bare the news and protect, well, she was probably too severely beaten to be of any use now.

Calent's fingers twitched nervously.
"What of her condition?" the duke inquired, meaning Minala, though his eyes remained upon his taxes.

"If she were under my command, I would restrict her to light duties for a week -- that is, assuming, the surgeon does not discover any internal injuries.  She was fortunate."

Audric frowned deeply.  He was well-accustomed to Calent's attention-span -- and his strange obsession with taxes.  Well, for Audric it was strange, but he supposed it was his job, after all!

"It's...more complicated than you might imagine," he said delicately.  "It seems she told some of the staff that you would be switching rooms with her last night...and she believes the trap was meant to catch you.  She also believes her captors did not know she was a Mordencai -- that was the information she gave them, at any rate, when they interrogated her."  It didn't make a helluva lot of sense to him!  Whoever they were up against were clearly well-connected...but, as to their intelligence...

"She also learned they plan to assault the castle in a week.  It sounds as though they wish to abduct you and loot the castle under the cover of magic."

Calent frowned.

"So there's a possible rumor of scandal?" he made a face. "A female mordecai found in the duke's stead? You know how rumors can fly. Quell them before they take flame. The last thing I want is more branding against my name."

Sighing, he then pressed on.
"Just here mere presence should silence any magic attack," Calent replied flatly. "Just see that she is tended to and bring in double reinforcements with the guards. Since we have some idle infantry, we could ask General Miles to delay another week and remain nearby the castle to scout the villages and wilds for suspects."
He also would omit the details he had his own personal brand of mordecai that worked for him...
but perhaps Audric wouldn't need to know this band was forming, after all, he'd rather not have any  chance of word leaking out to the Grand Duke of this.. considering his own ambitions and some gossip towards his strict laws over mages.

Calent sighed.
"You would think if these magic users did not like the strict laws we up hold, they would simply just move away..."

All the more reason to kill them.

You would think...

"Until this is sorted out, I recommend keeping your sword on hand," the soldier added.  "There are clearly traitors within your walls.  Until they are rooted out and the threat quelled, I will be changing my shift to be on hand should trouble arise.  A daytime attack isn't impossible, but the plan Minala described would be extremely difficult during the day.  If their intention is to get in and out with your riches and with you, a night assault would make more sense."

But, of course, they'd already observed once how these brigands thought...

"Just be sure to call for me if you notice anything suspicious or have any doubts."

Calent frowned at the thought.  His head, spinning a little over the ordeal.
"I'll keep that in mind." he nodded towards Audric at the mention of his sword. "A traitor.." he thought it over and frowned as he looked down at his taxes. Damn traitors. Damn thieves. Damn taxes.

"I suppose more guards and stricter codes within the servants and maids wouldn't be uncalled for." he paced before his desk, thinking. "THough we could have the castle on lock down."

However, even he wasn't too keen on the idea. He, despite appearing recluse, did not like the idea of being caged in.

"For a whole week?"  Audric asked, surprised.  "I'm not sure that's the best course of action...  It may make our unseen adversaries more bold -- or more desperate.  Either is dangerous."

Which reminded him...

"I'm not sure if they mean to kill you or simply take you captive.  I'm certain they've heard of your skill with a blade, and, as their plan relies on stealth, if I were them I would not want to risk you sabotaging their plans."  But, then, they had taken the Mordecai...though she had been unguarded.  Even when alone, there were guards always within earshot of the Duke.

"I'll be on hand at mealtimes to test your plate for you.  And if I am not, I will send my sergeant, Curio, to do it for me."

"That is unnecessary. A maid can do the testing. If food is poisoned, you shouldn't be the first to die at my spoon." Calent sighed. "And perhaps a lock down is too harsh." He paced a few times, hands clasped behind his back as he contemplated the whole situation.
"Perhaps it would be wise to keep both you and this mordecai near." Though as unpleasant as it was, and he hated to lose some privacy, but there seemed little choice.

Calent continued to mull over the situation.
"Find out more, if you can. Report back to me when you find some more leads." And with a nod, he gestured for his friend to be dismissed.

Audric could have argued the point -- after all, it would be no good killing off the maids either.  But, it was, after all, Calent's decision...

He nodded slightly and thoughtfully, adding, with a slight smirk, "Hope you find those two coppers."

So saying, he left.  After a moment of indecision in the hallway, he made his way towards the guest wing in search of Minala.  He had no way of knowing if she was there, of course -- or where to begin looking if she wasn't.  But he might as well invite her to the party, assuming she could be found, anyway...

Minala made her way back to her room. Her head was cloudy, making the room seem as if it was spinning around her. She had told the surgeon she didn't need those damned herbs, but he had insisted. She clenched her teeth, she would at least make it to that damned room. Minala had always had a will of steel.

Quickly though she found that she was finding it nearly impossible to keep her eyes open, they were feeling extremely heavy. So she made a quick decision, she sat down, leaning her body against the wall. Better this way than passing out in the floor right? Minala leaned her head, her eyes closed, her head so foggy she didn't hear Audric's footsteps approaching. 

"Minala?"  Audric began, shocked to find her hunched over in the hallway.  Worried -- and wondering how long she had been there -- he practically dashed the last few steps.  Crouching down at her side, he reached out to put a tentative hand on the crook of her arm.

"Minala?"  He nearly asked if she was okay, then bit his tongue.  No, of course she wasn't okay...  Instead, he asked, "Are you conscious?  Do you need help?"

He supposed that was the most important thing...

Minala jumped as Audric touched her. She was groggy and had to fight to open her eyes. She looked up at Audric with squinted eyes, her mind in a fog.

"The, the surgeon, he must of gave me something, I'm- I'm so tired," She spoke in a near mumble. It took an incrediable amount of effort just to finish a thought. It was only getting harder as she moved her hand the his.

Minala had a bad feeling and hated that she felt so weak. She was nearly completely helpless at this point, she would have to rely on Audric, and hope she hadn't been poisoned some how.

Well, at least she had been to see the surgeon, then...

"You should have stayed in your room," he told her disapprovingly, although not altogether gently.  "Let's get you back to bed, and I'll find out what the doctor gave you so we can have a good, hearty meal ready when you wake up."  She seemed so groggy that he felt she might miss meal time -- or possibly a whole day of meal times!  The surgeon did love his medicines...

"Come on."  It was all the warning he would give her before suddenly lifting her into his arms to take her to her room...personally.

Minala let her head lean against his chest. She found that she liked this, however odd it sounded. She wasn't one that was ever very affectionate, or one who even liked being touched at all. For some unknown reason though, being in his arms felt nice. She wrote the feelings off to being drugged up. It would have been nice if the surgeon would have warned her or something.

It didn't take long for Audric to reach her room.  He moved gracefully and evenly, careful not to jar her or knock her about -- and, yet, he moved swiftly.  The door would have been a problem had a maid not been stepping out as he approached.

"Hold the door open."

The woman obeyed, then hurried into the room after Audric to swiftly pull back the covers on the bed.  Audric waited patiently for her to finish, continuing to hold Minala as steadily as he had when he had first lifted her into his arms.

"Will you find her something..."  The word was lost on Audric a moment.  "Appropriate to wear?"

The maid nodded and scooted off in search of Minala's night clothes, leaving Audric to set her, gently, down on the mattress.  "I'll wait outside.  The maid will help you dress, and I'll ask her to summon me once you're decent."

Minala sighed as Audric set her down, her body instantly missing the warmth from his. She nodded as she watched him walk out. She was barely at the edge of consciousness and she honestly didn't care who helped her dress. She wouldn't even care if it was Audric, it wasn't like he hadn't seen a woman's body before. He was a soldier so of course Audric had seen a woman's body before.

The maid came in shortly with a simple long night shirt. Minala sat up and helped the maid get her armor off, it took a little bit but finally they managed to get it off her body. With that they quickly got the night shirt on before the maid helped Minala back into the bed.

The maid walked to the door, opening it up and walked out, letting Audric know that she was decent.

Audric waited patiently for the maid to return, standing at ease with his hands clasped behind his back and his eyes trained on the far wall.  He looked more like he was guarding her than waiting...

When he was re-admitted to the room, he murmured for the maid to wait, in case she should need anything.  He wasn't sure what that might be -- water or a fire or something -- but he was sure the maid could see to it better than he could.

"I'll find the doctor and ask what he gave you," he said as he stepped back into the room.  "And his treatment recommendation."

Minala was fighting to keep her eyes opened as she tried to speak with Audric. It was growing hard though, the struggle was getting more and more difficult. She was warm and comfortable which was making it that much more difficult to stay awake.

"I wish he would have just sewed me up without any medicine. I didn't want to be put to sleep. I can't do my job if I'm unconscious," Minala said crossing her arms, her eyes slowly closing.

"I'm going to have to give that doctor a piece of my mind," She started before she remembered why she had to visit him in the first place. "How did the discipline go and I don't think I should fall asleep. I'll be an easy target," she started, quickly sitting up.

"I was just on my way to supervise the lashings when I came across you."  Ah, that was right.  He had a duty to see to...

"Why would they target you?" Audric asked skeptically.  "They have everything they want from you.  Killing you now would be...pointless."  It had been some time, after all!  "I can leave some guards here -- and I'll be back up to check on you as soon as I've spoken to the doctor and dealt with my men."

Why was his to-do list getting so long, anyway?

Minala shook her head. "No, no, just, just forget about it, you're probably right.. Right. Though I do know their plans, and... Well, never mind I'll be fine. Just go to your duties, I'll be fine, I'm a soldier after all," Minala babbled, laying back down.

As she laid down she continued to babble, though her words now were completely incoherent. She turned onto her side with a sigh, mumbled for a few more minutes before finally seeming to fall asleep.

Audric frowned down at her, then turned to the maid who was still waiting nearby.  "Send for the doctor and for two of my men.  And Sergeant Curio."

The maid nodded and left, leaving Audric to hover beside the woman's bedside as she slept.  He trusted Curio -- they had been through a lot together out on the border, and Audric had sent for him personally once he had taken over as Captain.  And, in spite of his advancing years, Curio was still the toughest soldier Audric knew...  And he had a wife and daughters.  He would see to it that Minala was kept safe.

Surprisingly, it was the doctor who arrived first.  He had worked for the Duke's family ever since Audric could remember -- and he could remember a long way back.  It was a place of privilege and honor...and, even though Audric knew every man had his price, he thought the doctor's price would be quite high indeed to risk losing his healthy salary and the perks of his position.

"What did you give her?" Audric asked as the door opened, pausing in the pacing he had been engaged in a moment ago.

(OOC: Do you want to be the doctor guy or do you want me to continue?)

(OOC: I can be the doctor)

The doctor appeared nervous, he was was not used to being questioned like this. The tone of Audric's voice gave him a chill, it took him a moment for him to gather his words so he wouldn't trip over them when he began to speak.

"I just gave her something that would make her relax. She needed it, you haven't seen the wounds she has. She needs to rest and with out it I knew she wouldn't have," The doctor tried to explain, his words quick, he didn't want to get on the bad side of Audric.

"How long will she be like this?" Audric asked with a frown, his eyes going to the sleeping woman.  Yes, he had no doubt that she had required a draught to keep her in bed; like any soldier, she seemed reluctant to submit to an injury.  He studied her for a moment, thoughtful, then added for the benefit of the doctor, "And when she awakens, can she be put on duty?"

Injured though she may be -- and a woman -- she still had a job to do, and Audric did not imagine she would care to be kept from it for very long.  The Mordecai were proud -- and rightfully so -- and she was a soldier besides.  She had a duty to perform and a mission to complete; he wondered if, even sleeping under the effects of a potion like this, if her anti-magic capabilities would remain in effect...or if the Duke would, once again, be in danger from sorcerers...

And, for that matter, what danger it opened her up to...

"Two days at the most, shouldn't be any longer then that. When she wakes, I suppose she could be put back on duty though she still will not be completely healed. So though I would suggest against it she could if she wanted," The doctor spoke as he turned to the woman. She had started to toss and turn slightly. Even with a powerful tranquilizer she still knew in her heart she did not belong in that bed, that she had a job and a duty to do.

"Well that isn't good, if she is moving like that it will take longer for her to heal," the doctor said shaking his head, what could he say, that was how proud soldiers were. Would never stop even with horrific injuries.

Minala looked around herself, she could tell it was a dream by the haziness that was around her. Everything was dreamy. Almost like a picture but behind a flow of water. She was in a hall that she didn't reconize. Someone was speaking, she couldn't catch there words though, they were too distorted.

"Well, sitting on her to keep her still won't help much either, I imagine," Audric replied dourly.

A voice from the doorway, in spite of its familiarity, momentarily brought Audric's hand down onto the hilt of his sword.  "Cut her strings."  It was Curio's voice, grave, rough, and sounding with a hard-won confidence from his years in the field.  Audric's frown hardly wavered until Curio stepped further into the room.  "You'd make a lousy sergeant, Captain," the older man groused affectionately.  "I'm surprised you never heard the term.  The boys on the border call it the strings of duty.  A dying man can dance on those strings for a week -- hanging on for one reason or another -- until you release them.  Like a puppet."

Understanding flickered on Audric's face.  He had seen it -- albeit rarely.  Some men passed quickly, while others clung pathetically to life.  These so-called puppets were another breed.  Long beyond the point of saving, they would cling tenaciously -- some even accomplishing great deeds -- until they were assured their mission had come to an end...and then they would die peacefully, most smiling.  It was a moving sight to even the most hardened man.

He had seen his share of action, but Curio was a legend -- he always seemed to be in the thick of any battle...and had seen some of the bloodiest battles in living memory.  He had literally seen it all -- and survived.  It was the chief reason Audric had requested him specifically...  But Audric had never heard that colorful term for it...

Nor did he understand what Curio meant now.

"She isn't dying."

Curio gave him a mere glance -- but that one glance told Audric that he was little better than the lowest worm.  It was one more reason to keep Curio on hand; the man treated Audric like any other man rather than deferring to him with the respect a Captain of the Guard was normally due.  Such men were invaluable -- or so Audric liked to think.  After all, he treated Calent much the same way!

"Move aside," the sergeant replied gruffly.  Pulling up the stool beside the bed, he took off his gauntlets and settled down on it.  His fingers smoothed down the troubled wrinkles on her brow with the gentle strokes only a father could have mastered as he spoke to her softly.  His voice -- usually so gruff, so accustomed to making boys into men and snapping orders -- was quiet and steady, holding the soothing note of comfort.  "It's alright, Minala.  You can sleep a while.  The Duke is safe because of what you've told us.  We have time."

Minala felt like she was falling even though she could clearly see she was standing on solid ground. She took slow steps towards the voice that was so distorted. The voice was quickly growing louder, angry and fierce. The words seemed to infect the air, causing her skin to burn and tingle in an oddly familiar way. Where was she? Finally she happened upon the man who spoke with such power the the words were almost visible leaving his mouth. The man was tall with hair the hue of a fiery sun set. The rest of his features were covered my a cloak, one that seemed to emanate darkness. She looked around and slowly realized it was a funeral, this must be the person's last rights. She walked through the crowd, no one seeming to notice as she approached the body. All but the eyes were completely covered by the shadows of the man's cloak that was speaking. The eyes made her freeze, her skin prickled with icy fear. Everything seemed to fade and fall around her until she was in a pit of pitch black, ice cold water. She was in complete darkness and completely alone until she heard a voice, it was soft, gentle.She could see a hand, reaching, a light, finally she could breath. Finally she could rest.

Minala's body seemed to relax with his touch, her breathing deepening until she fell into a deep sleep.

Curio remained where he was, gently stroking the girl's hair until her breathing evened out...and even a bit after.  Finally, he judged his duty done, and he glanced curiously at Audric, who was staring with a bit of a dumbfounded expression.  "Now, that's better.  What did you need us up here for?"  He still spoke softly, using that natural, soothing rhythm that seemed to come so easily to him.  "Softly," he added, as soon as Audric opened his mouth.

Audric promptly shut his mouth again, frowned, and said quietly, "I need the three of you to act as her guards."

"For how long?" the sergeant asked, accepting the order without even blinking an eye.

"The doctor says she'll need to sleep for two days.  We'll have to set up a rotating shift later, and I need to speak to you about our options later."  Fortunately, there was a small table in the corner of the room for them to use, and enough space that, as long as they kept their voices low, the impact on the sleeping patient should be minimal.

Audric was back within two hours time.  It was typically Curio's duty to dispense punishment, but Audric had seen to it himself this time.  He hadn't had a choice.  Once he returned to the room, he and Curio outlined a plan for what was to come.  Between them, they outlined the guards they felt were the most trustworthy -- and those they felt were the least.  Minala's room always had three guards posted -- trios comprised of only those in the trusted category -- with Curio spending at least half of his time there as well as a fourth, unofficial guard during the day.

Audric himself spent a good amount of time there himself.  Sometimes, he and Curio would be there at the same time, but, more often, Audric came at night.  He had fallen back on old watch sleep patterns.  Four hours asleep, then four hours on patrol.  Four hours asleep, then four hours on patrol.  So on and so forth.  He remembered it being easier when he was younger, but his body remembered its conditioning, and, by the end of the second day, he felt as though he had been doing it all his life.

OOC: I'll just leave you to decide when and where and how to wake her up!

The process of Minala waking up was a long one. Her body didn't seem to want to move. At first she just laid there, taking in the sounds of the room. She wondered if there was anyone there. Slowly she opened her eyes and was glad to find that it was dark.

She wondered how long she had slept as she slowly sat up. Her head spinning slightly as she moved, the drugs still having a slight effect on her. She reached down, touching her side, though it was still sore it was much better than it had been.

Minala turned to look over her shoulder when she noticed a reflection of a candle on some glass. She was relieved to find Audric there. She wondered how long he had been there when she noticed how tired he appeared. She turned more, looking him over before clearing her throat slightly. "How long have I been out?"

Audric had grown impatient as the second day stretched towards nightfall.  He had already summoned the doctor, who had informed him that the longer Minala slept, the better, and Curio, who had only shrugged and told him that she had continued to sleep soundly for the mots part.

And so it was Audric had found himself in Minala's room with only a single candle to bring light to the shadows.  The chair he sat in was pushed against the wall, and Audric's long legs were propped up on a second chair a few feet away.  It was hardly the most comfortable position -- but that was the point.

He shifted when she began to sit up, drawing himself to his feet and full height.  "Two and a half days," he answered levelly.  He moved over to the door to open it, exchanging a few quiet words with the man outside before closing it again.  Audric had standing orders to summon both food, hot tea, and the doctor as soon as she awoke.

"How do you feel?"

Minala's joins complained loud in protest by popping when she stretched. Her head was still a bit groggy but slowly she was starting to figure things out.

"Well, like I haven't moved in a decade, and I'm pretty thirsty, kind a hungry," Minala started to list off. She swung her legs over the edge of the bed slowly, she needed to move. She moved her hand to her hair, finding a rather tangled mess. Very distinct frown lines sank into her face. She just had a feeling that that day wasn't going to be a good one.

"So, what is the plan?" She asked, her hand moving to her side, feeling the stiff pull from her injuries and not moving as much as she was used to.

"The plan," Audric said with a slight frown, "Is for you to take it easy until the doctor can take another look at you.  Stew and tea are on their way up too.  Assuming you pass the doctor's physical exam, you're on light duty.  If you were anyone else, you'd be on bedrest."  He shrugged lightly.  "Doctor's orders."

He'd probably try to convince her to stay in bed anyway.  Hah, good luck with that.

"As for Calent...  We've had a guard on him round the clock."  He glanced over to the piece across the room, barely able to make out the dark hands on the clockface in the gloom.  "Speaking of which, I really should be headed that way soon myself."

Minala looked at Audric with a shake of her head. "When in hell have you ever listened to doctor's orders?" she asked shaking her head. If he left before the doctor came she would be changed and in the middle of the action.

"So what do you mean by "light duty"," She asked moving her fingers in quotation marks. She definitely wasn't going to be on bed rest. Bed rest was for dying men and pregnant women and she wasn't either of those.

"I think a good guard duty would be good for me, would give you a chance to catch me up and get me out of this room," Minala suggested, hoping he would say yes.

"I listen.  I just usually don't do what they say," he answered with a smile.  Doctors...  A necessary evil.

"Light duty, for those of us fortunate enough to be enlisted in the private guard, is guard duty," Audric answered, confirming that, indeed, guard duty would be alright.  "Half-shift only, and then you rest."  Okay, so guard duty was pretty much all they did.  That was besides the point!  "You're obviously not scheduled in rotation.  And until you're back up to full strength, you'll have your own private guard -- no arguments.  My sergeant's in charge of that detail, so if you want anything changed, you'll need to talk to him."  He snorted softly, adding, "But don't hold your breath."  Curio was a tough cookie.  Then again, he was looking after her like a father would his daughter.  It sounded messy just thinking about it...

Fortunately, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.  A moment later, a maid had arrived with a bowl of stew and some hot tea for the patient.  Audric waved her out, then tore a corner off of the bread.  He dipped it into the stew and chased the bite down with a gulp of tea.  He nodded slightly to himself, satisfied, then gestured for her to sit.  "You should eat.  Your strength will return faster if you do."

"I'm not technically under your order, so if I feel like I'm okay to work a full shift I will," Minala stated. She didn't like to feel like someone was controlling her. He wasn't her officer. She had been working with them to make things easier but she didn't have too.

"If you work with me, I'll work with you, and that will be the best thing. I thank you for taking care of me like you have, and I don't want to sound ungrateful. I just can't afford to take so much time off. If something happens to the Duke its on my head," She said as she paced slightly, getting the blood pumping through her body.

Minala sat down to eat but gave Audric a look. She didn't appreciate being treated like a five year old who had just gotten over a cold. She was a soldier. A strong seasoned soldier who had been posted on the border for several years. She demanded respect.

OOC: Some language!  Apparently someone pushed a button!  ;_;  This is suddenly not going well.

Audric shrugged slightly.  "You're right.  You aren't in my chain of command.  You can do as you like."  And she probably would, even if he had tried to throw his weight around.  He kind of got that impression from her.

Ignoring her look pointedly, he folded his arms across his broad chest and frowned down at her, his expression suddenly chilly enough to freeze, no doubt, a subordinate in place.  "If you were, you'd have been interrogated, imprisoned, and executed for incompetency rather than enjoying a soft bed in the palace with maids to see to your every need and a staff of guards to protect you.  I'm not unsympathetic to your condition, and I am grateful for your warning.  And I will continue to work with you to ferret out this conspiracy, but if you ever pull a stunt like that again -- one that could result in Calent's death -- I will make it my goal to kill every single person I feel is responsible.  This is a job to you.  This is personal to me, and I will not tolerate any more fuck-ups from you, from my men, or from anyone else.  Enjoy your dinner, Princess.  I have work to do."

Minala didn't say anything in retaliation though she had plenty to say. She had learned there were times for words and time for silence. She tried hard not to take his words personally, but it was growing harder and harder not too. The more she thought about it the more she wish she would have said something.

Minala shrugged, finally dismissing the thoughts, at least for now. She got up and quickly got dressed. This wasn't just a job for her. If something happened to Calent it was her head. So he had been wrong, this was very personal. It's the only reason why she would pull a stunt like she had.

She quickly got her clothes on and walked to Calent's door. He was her top priority and she was done trusting other people to protect her neck. She quickly decided before she got there that if Audric was there she wouldn't speak to him. She didn't like people who assumed they knew the whole story and then pushed there weight around and used hurtful words to try to gain power over others. She wasn't soft, and it wasn't going to work.   

OOC: In enters more awkward moments XD~

IC:
It was a restless night for all of them- but everynight for him came the nightmares- claiming his dreams.
This night was no different, and he awoke with a start. Sweat chilled across his brow as he sighed, pressing a hand to his forehead then stared down at the bedding he had tossed off during his fitful dreams. Staring down at his hands, he could still see the images there-
of blood.. of black.. of magic..
of death.

Shivering, he began to unbutton his sleeping shirt, and it hung open, exposing his chest as he raked a hand through his unruly dark hair. He needed wine, or something, his head was pounding as he made for his door to call for his servant.  He was in the middle of rubbing at his eyes when he stepped out, and into Minala.
He jerked away with a start, and found himself staring at her with a merciless gaze. He had not expected her to be patrolling outside his door at this ungodly hour... and internally all he could do was curse Audric for not informing him.


"Are you to be here?" he demanded, no civility, only demands on his tongue. He brushed his hands away from his face, settling them at his sides as he gave her a once over. "I received no words as an update from me men." he added coldly.



OOC: Calent seems to be Mr Grumpy pants ins just about all of his threads but one lol

Minala took a step back and gave the Duke a quick but respectful bow. "My apologies Sir," she started. She offered him a small pleasant smile, trying to some how calm his ever so grumpy mood. Plus, she had to keep her cool with the duke. She couldn't risk angering him with quick words.

"I'm not under the authority of your guard, and before I let your chief guard know he stormed out. I am the one who will be punished if something were to happen to you my lord so I simply can not risk it," she started, she spoke quickly but calmly. Her voice held a lulling, soothing sense about it.

"Plus your doctor drugged me up to the point where I slept for two days, I couldn't sleep know if I wished," she offered as an extra excuse of why she was up at such an hour. She took a deep breath, by what she had seen from this man so far she almost expected a verbal lashing of some sort, so she prepared herself silently for it.

Calent only stared at her. Audric would do something like that to him.
Sighing, he rubbed irritably at his temple. "I do not care for excuses, I care for rules being kept. Without rules, no matter how small, there would be nothing but chaos."
And unfortunately for him, if the Grand Duke commanded her to be here, he would have to just deal with the situation.

He'd lalso deal with Audric later. His head was still pounding.

"So," he stared at her, keeping back a sigh as he drew in a long breath. "I suppose if you are still here, the threat has yet to be quelled. Very well. I expect more guards should be in order and I expect Audric has already taken care of it."

Or he had better.
And without so much as another word, the Duke stormed down the hall towards his study.
He had many studies, the grander of the two not being attached to his private room, and it was here he kept the extra drugs that helped him to sleep. If he was going to survive this knight with some woman prowling around outside his chambers, and a band of petty mages on the run, he should at least give the medicine another try....

Though the idea of slipping back into those dreams was painful.
He procured the vial and frowned. It was his last one. He had better make it count, and also inform the doctor he would need more. Tipping his head back, he downed it and made a bitter face before he swallowed. He carelessly set the empty vial aside- a servant could handle the waste, and stalked across the room in brooding silence as he began to finger his way through the tall shelves of books.

He might as well find a good book to read while he attempted to lull himself back to sleep on drugs.

Minala raised her eyebrows as he turned. She had expected worse, and she quickly just figured Audric was going to get the brunt of any anger that the Duke had. In a way the thought pleased her. In a round about way she was exacting a form of revenge. The sweet victory of it didn't last long as she sighed, moving to stand on the outside of the new door.

She wondered what had happened to the Duke. She had met bitter war torn soldiers who seemed happier then him. She shrugged at her thought, figuring the old saying the money couldn't buy you happiness was true.

Time seemed to drag on and the memories of the dream only made it pass that much slower. What was the meaning of it, was it some sort of vision of the future. She looked down and shook her head. She despritely hoped it wasn't. Her life was on stake with this mission in more the one way, and she could see a lot of sleepless nights in the future.

Calent hadn't realized the effects of the drugs would work.. well, as expected, perhaps even better. He normally didn't take the whole vial, and as he had made himself comfortable, procuring a book to read, and found himself drifting off into a quiet slumber against a leather chair.

Though at first, the dreams had become numb- almost not there...
it was well into the second hour his body began to twitch, his brain drifting towards the unknown memories, the recollections.. and the blood...

The death screams of his father came in a haunting scream from the dark..
then he saw his hands-
his own, bloodied hands as he cried out, but no voice would be heard.
Angered, the bloodied hand smacked against the wall, striking at it as it left a vicous trail of blood smeared across it....

He fell over his form, unable to cry nor to scream, as blackness welled within him, blackness consuming his eyes..
blackness maddening his heart...


Calent awoke with a start, his knee hitting the table near him and knocking over the tea he had procured, the cups clattered towards the floor. Calent clutched a hand to his heart, the pain there, gripping at him as he keeled over, panting as he tried to catch his breath and sweeping a hand through his the sweat of his forehead, than through his hair.

sighing, he began to calm himself, his breaths becoming more and more controlled as he let his hair fall through his fingers, lips sagging to a frown as he stared at the mess of tea and porcelain upon the ground.

Minala had gotten pretty comfortable against the wall of the study. It was basically silent and she liked that. Soon though She started to hear ever familiar noises. Her acute ears easily picking up the sounds of a sleeping man have a nightmare. She had heard it a million times, her stay in the barracks on the border had taught her the signs, the sounds. Many of the soldiers had them, herself included. Once you had seen the gore and horrifying sights of battle, you were changed, different. She was no exception. She had a much different view of the world now than she did when she was younger. When she was younger it was easier to find hope in humanity, hope in general. She had been war toughened though, her skin a lot thicker and her mind much darker.

The sound of the porcelain hitting the floor jarred her away from any thoughts that had been floating in her head. she jumped to her feet and was at the door in a matte of quickened heart beats.

"Duke, is everything well?" She asked. It was clear in the slight hoarseness of her voice that she was ready for battle if the situation would call for it. Her adrinaline had already started to course through her views.

She was tempted to open the door. She almost felt the need to, as if she must but she knew better. The Duke was a man who liked his privacy and her sitting outside was invading it enough. If she was to barge she felt she would get a verbal lashing if not a full out whip lashing.

Calent's temper flared the moment he heard a voice on the other side, a woman.  But slowly, his heart began to ease as he sat up, staring cooly at the door.

"I just knocked over my tea," he told her through the door. Slowly rising, he smoothed back his hair, smoothed down his clothing and made his way over towards the door. Opening it, he simply nodded towards her. "I'm going to bed for the night." And as he stepped out from the study, he caught a servant and ordered, "There's a mess of tea in the study. See that it's cleaned." The servant bowed and was off, and the duke, sighing, made long, heavy strides to his room, not caring to see if the mordecai woman had followed him or not before slipping away, silently, back into his room.

She didn't follow him right away, she was too busy biting her tongue hard. She was tempted down to a core level to ask him what his problem was. She also knew that that wasn't the thing to do. She knew he would take offense to it and she would suffer for it later. She considered staying there, to continue to watch at his door but figured there would be better ways to do things. First off she needed to learn the new shifts which meant she had to go talk to Audric's sergeant.

It took Minala a time to hunt him down but slowly she made her way to him. She hoped that he would be easier to work with than Audric. She didn't know what Audric's problem was, she didn't know why he went off earlier. She knew eventually she would have to talk to him again, but she didn't want to. She knew it was childish but she was known for holding grudges.

OOC: Moving this ahead to dawn, else she won't be able to find Curio!

Dawn crept into the sleeping palace, rousing servants to begin preparing the palace for the day and guards to begin their daily routines.  The palace was suddenly simply awake and bustling with all manner of chores that had to be done before the Duke awakened.

As always, Curio was in the courtyard with the first rays of the sun's lights.  Having supervised the shift change and heard the report from the night sergeant, he turned his attention to his usual duties -- supervising the unruly troops as they stumbled into the mess for breakfast.

He bawled out a few men -- but not many -- and although they grumbled, it was the good-natured grumbling of men expecting to be chided.  He turned, surprised, to find Minala, and he offered her a wry grin.  "Good to see you're up and about again."

Minala offered a small smile back as she cleared most of the distance between them. "I think it is sooner than Audric would like," She began with a slight shrug. "Yet he complains about how he decided to keep me guarded when I sleep," She said shaking her head with a sigh.

She looked back up at Curio "So I need to know as much as I can so I can protect Calent, for as much as Audric thinks that this is just a job, it's not," She added placing a hand on her hip.

It was drawing closer and closer to the night that the castle was supposed to be raided and it was starting to worry her.

Curio chuckled out loud.  "The Captain gets grouchy when he's worried.  And even grouchier when he's on the watchman's rotation.  I suppose he and the Duke will start bickering like an old married couple soon..."  He shook his head, obviously more amused than anything else.  He'd seen it happen before, and it always ended well enough.  Both men had thick hides, after all.

"As to why he had you under guard, that should be obvious, shouldn't it?  I spent a good deal of time at your bedside myself, young lady.  Angsar knows the Captain was out of his depth with you."  He was grumbling, albeit good-naturedly.  "That man has done the women of Connlaoth a favor by remaining a bachelor.   And the doctor was nearly as bad!"

"So, what do you need to know?"  He rubbed his chin with an idle hand, looking thoughtfully in her direction.  "Or you could ask the Captain.  He should be up in a few hours."

Minala laughed out loud, and it felt good, she had needed a good laugh. "And Audric spoke of you like you were a brooding old man," She added at the end, running her fingers through her hair to pull it out of her face.

She took a deep breath, "Actually he wants me to remain under continuous guard until he thinks I am fully recovered," She said shaking her head. "He told me I needed to talk to you to get put into the guard rotation, and honestly I much rather talk to someone who does act like a pregnant woman.

"Plus, I think I made it on his bad side last night after the little conversation we had once I woke up anyway," Minala said with a slight chuckle, remembering the conversation. "But I need to know any changes made to guard post, the schedule and how the guard rotation works.'

Both of Curio's shaggy eyebrows lifted high onto his forehead.  "Never heard the Captain called that before..."

He dismissed it with a slight shrug.  "I did tell you that he's grouchy.  The men accept it.  He leaves them alone unless they give him a reason not to -- and, knowing how he is, nobody dares step out of line.  Plus he gets this way every time anybody is in danger -- his men included.  He'll learn to settle down eventually and take the hits as they come."  Or, well, maybe he wouldn't.  Who knew?

"As to your guard, he wants to make sure no one tries to kill you.  We've been checking the food -- yours and the Duke's -- for poison each mealtime, though yours was mostly just water or broth, as you were sleeping.  Between the two of us, we made up a list.  Only the men we trust unquestioningly are on that detail, and there are never fewer than three.  I know they're a hindrance, but at least try to put up with them for a few days."

He made a broad, sweeping gesture to the rest of the yard.  "The rest of the guards are being held at battle-ready.  It means they're armed, and even while they're off-duty, they're expected to know where the nearest battle station is and who to report to.  And because the Captain wanted his best men assigned to guard you, he's been on watchman's rotation, partly to watch over you, partly to watch over the Duke, and partly to watch over the men."

Minala frowned half tempted to go give Audric a piece of her mind. He called her a little princess yet he wouldn't let her act like a soldier, and that is what she was. She took a deep breath, "Your captain is really starting to strike my nerve." She started.

"I would appreciate it if you called off the men, I'm a soldier, not a princess. If you feel I am too unsafe with no guard at all at least only assign me one, I don't need three," She continued to speak shaking her head.

"I can handle my own, I got kidnapped, withstood torture and got my way out. I'm resourceful and strong, I'm a bit tougher than a butterfly's wing," she said looking over the battle ready men. It was starting to sink in that in a few days there would be a battle.

"As I said, I think that he is mad at me, as I reminded him that I am not one of his men. If anything happens to the Duke it falls soully on my shoulders and I am the one that will have to face the punishment, which is a hefty one. It would be nice if he would have a bit of respect," she said shaking her head with a sigh.

"Have any off duty men that are half good at sparing?" she finally asked after a pause.

"I think you may have things turned around a bit," Curio said slowly with a deep frown.  "It's got less to do with you and more to do with that leak you found.  If one of your guards turned out to be a traitor, he could kill the second guard pretty easily if he had a mind to do it.  But if there are two guards, it makes his job more difficult.  And now with you on your feet, that traitor doesn't stand much of a chance at all.  Or, if a maid turned out to be the traitor, it leaves two men to guard and one to run to either myself or the Captain.  Or, if you like, yourself to guard, a man to watch your back, and two to run for help.  It's more efficient to have three any way you look at it."

"As for the Captain, the Duke is like a brother to him.  They were boys together.  Not really professional at all, but that's the reason he's here looking out for him.  He'd storm into Heaven and face Angsar Himself if it meant protecting Duke Calent's life."

Minala shook her head, "If it meant keeping the Duke alive, I would be right along side Audric, the Duke's life rest on my head literally. If he is killed I am as well. If he is injured, I am lashed," She explained to try to give Curio more of an idea of why the duke's well being was so important to her.

"Do you think Audric would be up for a some sparing? That's what I do when I'm stressed, it is usually a pretty good outlet," Minala questioned. She was itching to duel and fight. That was how she stayed in tip top shape.

"I only mean," Curio began gently, "That Calent's life is precious to the Captain in a way that is difficult for most to understand.  It's deeper than bonds forged on the battlefield between soldiers -- and, surely, you know something of such bonds?"  But he didn't linger to allow her the chance to answer.  Mordecai couldn't be so very different, after all.  "But there is a limit to how much I would do for one of my brothers in battle...and I do not think there is any limit to the loyalty Audric feels towards Calent."

Without knowing the Captain, it was difficult to describe.  Curio often feared the loyalty Audric held for Calent, wondering if it would someday be his downfall somehow.  There were rumors, after all...

"What I am trying to say, young lady, is that the Captain will never fully trust the Duke's safety to anyone else.  His safety is too precious to risk in hands that are not his own.  So if he offends you or acts in a manner you would not expect, it is likely his concern for Duke Calent that drives him to it.  You shouldn't take it personally.  Angsar Himself would not be good enough to protect the Duke in the Captain's eyes."

With all that said, he finally answered her question.  "Audric's not due for wake-up for another few hours," Curio answered thoughtfully.  "Though it would do him some good to vent some of his frustration and tension."

"Just like I will never fully trust my life in someone else's hands," She retorted with a soft sigh, taking a deep breath. "When is the next time Audric is suppose to guard me? I'll spare with him then. I'm sure the man needs his rest and I have no reason to try to dip my way deeper into his bad side." She spoke pausing a moment before turning to the men off duty with a smile.

Minala pulled out a gold coin holding it up between her thumb and index finger, showing it as she walked in the middle of the men.

"I bet this gold coin that you can pit a man against me that I can't beat. Remember though, before you make the bet, you have to be able to pay your end if you lose," She spoke with a laugh.

Several men gathered in a cirle, talking in low hushed whispers, disgussing who they would put up against the women and if they would be able to pay her. It seemed they decided they would be able to pay her or beat her or both.

The largest of the men, a tall broad man that had a broadsword strapped to him back. "Okay pretty lady, weapons or none?" He asked with a laugh, clearly thinking this was a joke. Minala shrugged, "I guess no weapons, I would hate to hurt you," She said as both Minala and the man started to unstrap their weapons. 

"Audric isn't on any of the official duty rosters," Curio answered with a slight shrug.  "He's kind of our free patrol."  He went where he was needed -- and usually, in Audric's mind, that was everywhere.  "But he should be waking up in an hour and a half or thereabouts.  You'll probably catch him coming out of the barracks."

Well, Curio thought as she turned to the crowd.  This would be interesting!  He folded his arms, ever the soldier, to watch and critique.  The first man, he knew would underestimate her.  If she chose to spar with another, he would lose because of anger.  It wouldn't be until the third or fourth man that they would begin to catch on and fall back on their training.  Well, they would learn soon enough!


Curio was still watching the sparring when Audric stumbled sleepily out from the barracks.  He yawned, rubbed one eye with an open hand, and watched the current match blearily.  "He's not doing so well," Audric observed after a minute.

"Nope."

"And she's taking it easy on him."

"Yup."

"Have they all been so bad?"

"Some worse."

Audric groaned quietly and rubbed his eyes again.  "I think I'm getting too old for this watch crap."

Curio gave his captain a sideways glance of amusement.  Audric quickly glowered back at him to forestall any comments -- but there was no need, because Minala was just disposing of her latest match.  "Looks like you're not going to have time to recover, Captain.  You're the one she wants to spar with."

Audric only groaned.

Once minala noticed Audric she quickly ended the match; throwing the guy over her shoulder roughly. Minala looked towards Audric with a playful smirk.

"Come on Captain," she said teasingly, " lets spar... Lets also hope that your better then your men. I would hate to have to embarrass you in front of your men," she continued laughing. She was having fun, though she could feel the sore spots, she didn't stop. The pain only reminded her that she was alive, and that she wasn't invinsible.

"I'll even let you choose if we go bare fist or staffs," she added at the end, which only added to the challenge. "Come on it will be good for ya!"

Well, he had no choice, did he?  A collective cheer had gone up through the ranks, their confidence swelling and rallying at the sight of their Captain.  Audric glanced at the assembled men and at Minala, then sighed heavily enough that it could be heard through most of the rabble.  "Oh, alright," he said, beginning to strap his sword belt.  Another cheer went up through the crowd, and Audric waited until it had died down before adding, "But I haven't had my breakfast yet, so don't expect me to take it easy on you.  I'm too hungry to play with you all morning."  He was obviously playing up the crowd, and, in spite of his bark, there was a twinkle in his eye.

He exchanged his weapon for a pair of staves.  He tossed one lightly to Minala as he entered the impromptu sparring ring and paused across from her, taking a moment to stretch his neck, back, and arm muscles before taking a defensive stance.  "Ready, Princess?"

A broad smile spread across her face. She didn't want him to take it easy on her, she wanted someone who would be a challenge. She leaned her head heavily to each side, causing her neck to pop loudly as she caught the stick.

Minala could tell that she was doing the right thing, she could see the twinkle in his eye. She herself could already feel some of the stress leave, even if it would be for a short while. Minala stood with the staff in hand, not seeming to take any stance at all, but of course, she was more of an offensive fighter. She didn't have the strength to withstand hard hitting blows. She had lightening quick speed and reflexes.

"If you're ready old man," she replied, her face smoothing into a calm placid look. She took a deep breath, letting all the unneed tension leave her body.

"Hmph," Audric grunted in response to her moniker, his eyes narrowing slightly and the corner of his lips twitching upwards.

Suddenly, he flew into motion.

He stepped forward as he lifted the staff, swinging it up in a broad arch towards her head.  He expected her to duck; he immediately shifted the grip on his weapon to swing it back down in front of him defensively to block any incoming attack.

Instead of ducking like most would of she did a back handspring, putting a little more distance between them. She would make him chase her. Minala landed with a smile, he was much more skilled then the men she had been facing before. She couldn't make the stupid careless mistakes she had with him.

He would be able to counter her moves and block them, something the others weren't able to do. She would have to wait for her chance, then let her instincts come in,

Interesting.  So that was the game she was playing...

"I thought we were sparring," he said, lifting his eyebrows slightly as he peered at her beyond his defensive posture.  "Not playing children's games..."  He twirled the staff around his hand and thrust the end of it forward at her stomach like he would a spear.  A good blow to the stomach with a blunt weapon could knock the wind out of an opponent -- and then it was over.

He was holding back, however, watching for her to make a move and preparing to defend himself against it.

Minala knew he was baiting her, she could see it in her eyes and hear it in his voice. "You one to talk," She said quickly side-stepping the attack before dropping low while sending the staff on an incredibly quick arch towards Audric's knees. Aiming for the weak joint was always the easiest way to tear down an opponent.

They always went for the knees at some point.  The trouble was, most people knew that and how to defend against it -- Audric included.  It was a valid theory -- but it never worked unless the enemy was otherwise occupied.  In one fluid motion, he stepped into the attack, swinging his own weapon down.  With the end planted in the dirt -- and closer to the attacker than intended -- it would disrupt the balance of the attack, as well as defend Audric against the attack itself.  Furthermore, it would act as an additional leg to steady his balance as he swung his left leg towards her face!

Minala let her body roll with the momentum of her attack letting her miss his attack, though it was closer than she would have liked. Her legs quickly found their way beneath her and quickly had on her feet. She quickly shoved the end of the stick towards his gut. 

Audric never stopped moving.  To stop moving in combat was to die...a fact he knew all too well.

When his kick missed, he pivoted towards her as he lifted his staff back into both hands so that it could be used defensively.

She was already on her feet, though, and thrusting her staff towards his midsection.  Calculating his options, he swung his staff downwards and to the right to knock the blow away, then shifted his weight to force the staff upwards high enough in the hopes it would give him an opening in which to attack.

Minala spun her stick, knocking his up higher and creating an opening that she planned to take full advantage of. She spun her stick again, this time thrusting the end quickly towards his chest.

Audric shifted at the last possible moment, letting the staff slide right past his body and beneath his arm that was still lifted high.  His arms snapped down -- one still held his own staff, but the other now firmly gripped hers.  He used the momentum of his quick change in direction, his firm grip on the wooden weapon, and his strength to tear it from her hands.

And still he kept moving, turning in a full circle to defend himself should she attempt to attack while he was disarming her.

Minala no longer had the option to run away, if she didn't strike now she wouldn't be able to get close enough to strike him. So instead of retrieving, she continued to advance towards him, making the staffs useless. She let on a full barrage of attacks one right after another, almost seeming to never end.

As Audric was already turning, he saw the first attack coming and moved his head gracefully to the right to avoid it even as he let the staff drop harmlessly to the ground behind him, well out of her reach unless she managed to skirt around him -- and he was not going to let that happen.  Just because she was in close quarters did not mean his staff was utterly useless, either!

He knocked aside an incoming blow, then, lowering his head to protect his face, spun his staff to catch her diagonally across the chest as he threw all of his weight into the blow.  He might take a few hits -- but her weight would be nothing when matched against his.  And that was the point.

Minala's hit were very targeted, hitting sensitive spots and pressure points. She blocked the stick, it hitting hard against her for arm before being guided away. In close courters it was clear by the way Minala's jaw clench that, even while blocking the hit hurt. So while Audric would be able to see it, no one else who was watching would be able to.

"So this is where you've disappeared to," the duke's voice interrupted, eyes dark and piercing towards the fight, but also staring at them, almost without interest.  But such was the ways of Calent Allarrick.


"Audric, I never thought I'd see the day you'd fight a woman without a weapon." He gestured towards them both, gesturing for them to cease what they've started before turning a gaze towards Audric. He didn't have to make another gesture to let him know he was being summoned.

"Is your business finished here? We have.. much to discuss." Calent's eyes only briefly went to the sweaty, hard breathing form of Minala before turning to look at Audric. Again, only his eyes beckoned.

Calent's voice cut through the sounds of their battle with a nearly supernatural ease.  It, too, quelled the shouts and cheers of the men surrounding the pair of fighters.  Silence fell on the courtyard, broken only by the sound of shuffling feet as the men shifted uneasily.

He withdrew from Minala before turning to face Calent with a slight frown at the interruption.  What in Angsar's name was Calent doing all the way down here when he could have sent a servant or a guard?

"Of course," he answered, giving Minala a slight bow before turning to exchange weapons with Curio.  He didn't strap the sword back on, however; he simply carried it as he crossed the yard towards Calent.  Once he had reached a comfortable distance, he turned to shout, "Curio!  If these men aren't back about their business in sixty seconds, remind them of what their business is!"

"Aye, Captain!" Curio answered, his coarse voice rising above the general clamor.  "I want this Angsar-forsaken yard empty in thirty seconds, or so help me, you will all be eating nothing but the pigs' leftovers for a month!  Dryden, pick up those feet and button up that uniform!"

As Audric stepped away from the general chaos, he added lowly, "You know, she began the fight armed.  And she's no woman either, Calent.  She's a soldier."  He sounded, of all things, absurdly hurt Calent might think less of him for "picking on" a woman!

Calent only frowned at his friend's pressing claims but gestured in silence for him to simply follow.
After they had found themselves in a much smaller, private room; an office his generals might use when formulating war plans, or, training scenarios for their men.  It was here he paced once, briefly away from his friend and while keeping his back to him, he informed him in a quiet tongue,

"I think there are more errors on the tax records," he began, then turned to his friend, any humor one might associate with such a topic would have been quelled, for his face was tight, eyes dark as he proceeded to inform Audric, "And the maid testing my food has died."

And he didn't need to tell Audric how.

Audric's eyebrows rose at the mention of taxes --  but he held his silence until the maid was mentioned.  He closed his eyes lightly and exhaled, knowing exactly what that meant.

He had hoped to be wrong about the poison...  And he had hoped the poison would not be fatal.

"We should inform Minala," he stated, thinking of the abrupt end to the sparring match and wondering why Calent had simply not summoned them both.  "And we'll have to compensate the girl's family."  They had told precious few people about the food tasting...  At least it appeared those people could be trusted, or they wouldn't have tried to poison the Duke through those means.

He let it all sink in a moment as he leaned out the door.  They hadn't gone far, thankfully, and Audric was able to collar a guard.  "Get Minala in here.  Now."

The guard nodded and vanished in search of the woman as Audric turned back to the Duke.  "We'll have to tighten the security around you.  How many people know she's dead?"

Minala frowned at Calent when he had left, his words stinging a bit, if his well being didn't fall on her head she would be half willing to let a few of the mages get to him for a few minutes. She had set her resolve on training with her weapons once the two had left. Her movements were quick and deadly and anyone who was watching could easily tell how much she was holding back with Audric.

Her blades made whistling sounds as she trained and it would be easy to imagine enemies around them, and enemies falling. She had almost struck the guard as he approached, getting a bit too close to her anger induced training session.

The guard, a bit shaken up at the blade barely missing him quickly told her she was being summoned by the Duke and Audric. She sighed a bit and took her time in placing her weapons on her back. She walked a bit more briskly then she would liked but she had to follow the guard and keep up.

Minala walked to the door, taking a deep breath to get herself under complete control. She would have to be stoic and not say what she would enviably want to. She walked through the door into the small room. She looked between the two men in silence for a few moments.

"Yes?"