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* Jewel and Angel reappear with a poof of outrushing air in... the middle of nowhere. Outside. In sharp contrast to the restrained panic left behind in their flat, these surroundings are downright bucolic. Sunlight, rolling, green fields, a light breeze in the trees, horses grazing in a distant field. There's no one around. * Angel squints and digs around in his vest pocket for his eyepatch. He turns a cautious circle in an attempt to get his bearings. * Jewel shudders off the effects of the teleport and looks around as well, with a sigh. "I haven't done this in a *very* long time..." * Jewel takes a few calming breaths, holding on to Angel's arm. She closes her eyes, and when she opens them again, her gaze is unfocused. "Angel... ask me where we are." <Angel> ::scanning the nearby fields:: Where are we? <Jewel> ::automatically:: A few leagues southeast of Arabel, north of the Sword River. ::she blinks, her eyes clearing:: Arabel? <Angel> ::shrugs:: Seems like. Smells like, too. Although I could be mistaken. I don't tend to wander the countryside often. Not enough profit. <Jewel> ::smiles a little:: Oh, you'll be *lovely* to take on picnics, I can tell. ::looks around again, and looks down at the handkerchief in her hand:: North is... That way. All right. ::closes her eyes again, biting her lip and holding the handkerchief to her lips:: * Angel attempts to not distract Jewel while she does whatever it is she's doing. He walks a quick circle around them, checking the field they're in for any traces of recent human activity, just to get a feel for how likely they are to be noticed. Given that his clothing is almost uniformly dark, he stands out from the green fields fairly well. * Jewel frowns in concentration, holding out one arm. Her arm starts to swing southward for a moment, and then she turns, and points northeast. She opens her eyes. "Sylvie is that way." <Narrator> ::the field they're in bears traces of recent equine activity, but the nearest sign of humanity is a split-rail fence running to their east, and, a little further to the north, a glimpse of ordered rows of darker green-- a vineyard.:: <Angel> ::nods:: Any idea how far, my lady? ::he looks vaguely grouchy:: I hate all this empty space. We're dreadfully exposed out here. <Jewel> ::shakes her head, biting her lip again:: This gives me no notion of distance. But... Dawn said he'd be able to put us within a mile of her, probably. I'm hoping he was right. * Angel looks in the indicated direction. "Well, the vineyard should give us some cover. Come on, my lady. I definitely don't fit in around here." He eyes her critically. "And you're not much better." * Jewel blushes faintly, hugging her arms over the somewhat ratty-looking gown she threw on in the midst of tending to Geremi. <Jewel> ::mutters:: At least I didn't try to put on *last* night's clothes.... <Angel> ::frowns, leading her towards the dubious shelter of the grapevines:: * Jewel follows, glancing around. She smiles a little as the green rows close around them, reaching out a hand as they pass to lift up a leaf and peer at the swelling pips of grapes. * Angel blinks, then drops to one knee, fingering the small fruit tag near the base of the vines. "You've *got* to be shitting me." <Jewel> ::blinks:: My lord? * Angel uproots the tag and drops it in her palm. On the tag is a slightly smudged replica of the Andello crest. <Jewel> ::stares at it, nonplussed:: This is... ::looks around, bewildered:: We're on Geremi's land? * Angel mutters several unsavory things and looks around for the barn, knowing where it should be. "I'd say yes." <Narrator> ::the barn is just visible past the end of the vineyard from here, exactly where it should be. * Jewel's eyes lose focus, and she points northeast again, in the general direction of the invisible manor house. "Sylvie is still that way." <Angel> ::grinds his jaw slightly, then nods:: Well, it solves at least one problem, my lady. Come on. You can ask the servants and I'll see to getting us better equipped. <Jewel> ::nods:: She's not-- ::pauses:: She can't have just... gone home. Could she? <Angel> ::shakes his head:: I seriously doubt it, my lady. Not by herself, without leaving Geremi any word. And yet, if she is, I'd hate to spend any more time on a search for her. <Jewel> ::nods:: Of course. Gods... poor Geremi. ::takes Angel's arm, clinging a little as they make their way up the vineyard rows to the house:: * Angel leaves Jewel with the butler, excusing himself to the rooms Geremi has always left reserved for their use. He lays out a set of neutral brown and tan clothing for himself. He checks around and, after a few raised eyebrows, finds a simple grey dress that might be a little short in the leg, but should fit Jewel. * Jewel inquires after the lady of the house as Angel heads towards their suite of rooms, learning that no, neither Lord nor Lady Andello have been by the estate since leaving for Dusk's funeral. * Jewel hesitates a moment more after dismissing the butler back to his duties. Her face pales a little as a thought occurs to her, and she closes her eyes again, opening them quickly at a "tug" from the handkerchief that points out the window. She sighs in relief. <Angel> ::strips out of his black and more black clothing and reassembles some of his given nasties - although not all, since the clothing he keeps at the manor is not usually laid out for 'work' - before dressing in the simpler, more blendable colors.:: * Jewel heads back to their rooms to find Angel changing, and starts changing out of her low-class city clothes as well. "She's not here. They've not seen either of them since they left for the funeral." <Jewel> And... ::a note of tension in her voice:: She's definitely not in the house. From the foyer, the pull went out the window. <Angel> ::looks grim:: Then someone's got a lot of damn gall. ::he looks at the assorted throwing knives spread over the bed:: * Jewel laces up the embroidered blackwork bodice, grimacing a little as she tugs tightly on the laces to get enough length to tie off before transferring her bodice knife. * Angel watches his wife for a moment, frowning. "I don't suppose, my lady, I could convince you to remain behind, while I scout?" <Jewel> ::looking at him levelly:: I can help you find her quickly. And if she's been taken, her captors are likely less than a mile from us as well, and may know about this house. I'd feel safer with you than without you, but I don't wish to hinder your arm, milord. <Angel> ::nods:: All right. But you must do exactly as I say, my lady. Come on, then. <Jewel> ::nods:: I will, I promise. ::taking his arm again:: <Angel> ::eyes the sun, squinting up and holding his hat:: I hate sneaking around during the day. Seems unnatural, somehow. ::he considers:: I'm trying to recall, the next estate over... <Jewel> ::smiles a little:: So, let us not sneak. ::tipping her head back to take in the sun, her pace lengthening to a casual stroll:: There's nothing suspicious about two people taking a quiet stroll through the lovely countryside, is there? <Angel> ::nods:: Perhaps not. We should probably come up from the south side, though. The front road is gated, and well situated for ambush. <Jewel> All right. ::curiously:: Is there someone there? Do you know the owner? <Angel> ::shakes his head:: No... It was for sale, many years back. I considered the purchase, but the house was in terrible repair. Whoever owns it now is rarely in residence. * Jewel nods and checks their direction again, her arm swinging to point straight at the high fieldstone wall dividing the two properties. * Angel leads them southward along the wall, looking around to see if there are any watchers perched near the wall. <Narrator> ::a set of narrow steps clings to the side of the wall, leading up to a little arched gate in the stone perhaps three hundred yards distant. As Angel looks, he catches a brief glance of a crossbow at rest, silhouetted against the sky through the arch. From where they walk in the shadow of the wall, the slumped shoulder of a bored guard is just visible.:: * Angel stops, flickering his fingers at Jewel. {One guard. Keep talking, but stay near the wall. Pick flowers. Something.} <Jewel> ::nods:: {Not a prickle... I don't think he's seen us yet.} ::staying in the shadow of the wall, she begins humming softly to herself, bending to pick flowers and lace them absently into a chain:: * Angel nods, then moves slightly down the wall. He looks upward, mashes his hat firmly onto his head, and leaps, catching the edge of the wall. Almost noiselessly, he swings himself up onto the top of the wall and lays flat against it a moment, waiting. * Jewel doesn't try to glance at Angel, but wanders closer to the stile, picking flowers and draping her chain fancifully over her shoulders as she adds to it, humming tunelessly. When she halves the distance to the stile, the point of the crossbow wavers in the air a little as the guard straightens up. * Angel pulls himself into a crouch, moving quickly to close the distance between himself and the guard. From one boot, he withdraws a small, heavy-wood club wrapped several times in leather. * Jewel continues her slow approach to the guard on the stile, changing from a hum to a tuneless song. He watches her without comment, and she tilts her head back to smile up at him. "Oh, hello. Lovely day, isn't it?" * Angel slides carefully up to one side of the archway, back pressed to the stone. He all but vanishes against the slender shadow, waiting to hear the man's response to Jewel's casual greeting. * The guard grunts noncommittally, watching her with a faint gleam in his eye that might have something to do with his current vantage point, and her slightly undersized bodice. "Nice enough. Gonna be a scorcher, though." His accent paints him as more of a Marsember native than an Arabellan. * Angel moves, almost too quick to be seen, swinging the short sap at the back of the guard's neck. * The guard has enough time to start to move his head towards the moving shadow before Angel's blow fells him and he crumples into a soft heap. His crossbow clatters down the steps but, luckily, doesn't go off. <Angel> ::sighs, and checks the man's pulse:: Well, he'll have a headache in a few hours. <Jewel> ::lets out a breath, and unwinds her flower chain, leaving it in the grass:: That was... most impressive, my lord. *I* almost didn't see you were there. * Angel drops down to the grass on the far side of the wall. "Well, my lady -" he looks around the estate quickly "- it is what I do." <Jewel> ::picking up the crossbow gingerly and mounting the steps:: Do you want this? <Angel> ::shakes his head quickly:: Not with this sunlight... can't hit a barn with one eye... did Dusk ever teach you distance weapons? <Jewel> ::smiling a little fondly:: I know it's what you do. But I think it's a rare occasion that someone actually gets to *watch* you do it. I've seen you... twice before, when I think about it. When you're not sneaking up on *me,* that is. ::eyes the crossbow a little dubiously:: Dusk showed me how to use a hand-crossbow, I imagine the principle is similar.... <Angel> ::shrugs:: Up to you. If the target's close enough, you can probably hit someone. And a crossbow has a hell of a punch to it. If you think it'll slow you down..? <Jewel> I think I will trust to my bodyguard's opinion as to what will make him feel safer with me. ::hefts it a little:: It's not so heavy. I can always fire and drop it if we have to run. <Angel> ::nods:: All right, my lady. Let's get away from the wall. If there are any patrols, they'll look along the edges first. ::he squints around, looking for concealment:: * Jewel looks around, reorienting herself on this side of the wall and pointing again. "Still that way. Do you know where the house is?" She starts moving, looking around as well, and points to a small copse of trees around a decorative, fallen-in pergola-- perhaps an old picnic spot-- with a questioning look. <Angel> ::nods:: Let's go. Move quickly, my lady, and if I tell you to run, head back to Geremi's. * Jewel takes her lip between her teeth and nods, picking up the pace. "I will, milord." <Angel> ::he looks around one last time before heading with due speed towards concealment, keeping just behind Jewel:: * Jewel slows a little as she reaches the copse, peering carefully around the side of the overgrown arbor walkway and moving through it when she sees no one, keeping to the shadowed side. * Angel joins her momentarily, then stills, listening hard and looking at each patch of shadow carefully. * Jewel waits with him, breathing as quietly as she can and keeping still. * Angel moves carefully to the edge of the shadows, trying to get a good look at the buildings. "My lady?" His voice is soft, not quite a whisper. * Jewel moves after him and freezes suddenly, putting one hand on his arm and using the other to rub the back of her neck, looking around warily. {There's... something. That way.} She points towards a broad and spreading chestnut tree at the edge of the copse. <Angel> ::nods, squinting in that direction:: And our friend? <Jewel> ::thinks a moment, then points ahead of them about thirty degrees off from the tree, in a line that would take them straight past it:: <Angel> Right. No help for it, then. ::he studies the path between them and the chestnut:: <Angel> ::shakes his head:: Not good. You wait. Keep in touch ::he points at his temple:: I'll tell you when to come. <Jewel> ::nods and hunkers down in the dappled shade of the pergola, touching Angel's mind gently and maintaining light contact, nestling quietly in a corner of his head:: * Angel pulls a small packet out of his pocket, balancing it easily in one hand. He then moves carefully, keeping the chestnut in sight, from shadow to shadow. At one point he's in pure sunlight and visible from all angles. At this moment, he chucks the thing in his hand to the left of the tree, then dives for the nearest patch of concealment. <Guard> ::There's a faint scuff of noise from behind the tree, and seconds later, a large guard comes around the side of it, crossbow at the ready and peering suspiciously into the bushes where Angel's noisemaker landed. He moves slowly away from the tree, scanning the area, leading with the point of his crossbow.:: * Angel moves quickly around to the right, garrote stretched in his hands. He slips behind the crossbowman and attempts to loop the wire around his neck. <Guard> ::The man is making enough noise with his own feet not to hear Angel's light tread in time to do anything about it. As the wire touches his neck, his finger jerks on the trigger of the crossbow, firing wildly, and he struggles against his unseen attacker.:: * Angel yanks back on his garrote, twisting the handles together, one booted foot planted in the middle of the man's back. <Angel> ::swears silently, tracing the arc of the crossbow bolt:: * Guard jerks backward, dropping the crossbow as his hands go uselessly to his throat. He makes a strangled noise, fighting for air and blood as his face darkens. * Angel skips backwards on one leg, trying not to be knocked over by the man's weight. He looks around quickly, to see if anyone's noticed, then jerks back hard again, crushing the man's windpipe. <Guard> ::The encounter happened quickly, and no one else appears to have seen. The man crumples to his knees, dead weight as he loses consciousness and slips towards death:: * Angel looks disgusted, then props the dead man against the tree, recovering the crossbow. He puts the man's hat back on and arranges the corpse to look as if the man has simply decided to take a nap under the shade of the tree. {My lady?} <Jewel> {Here.} ::her tone is a little faint:: <Angel> {You're all right? It's clear.} <Jewel> ::takes a deep breath and emerges:: {I'm all right. All things considered... I think I like the knife better, though.} <Angel> {I, as well. Can't be helped, though. Can't risk a scream. Didn't want to kill anyone 'til I was sure, but no one has this many guards out in the country if they're honest.} <Jewel> ::nods, coming up to him and giving him a quick hug:: {I understand. The other man back there, he sounded like he was from Marsember.} * Angel keeps himself between her and the corpse, leading her towards the house, slipping from shade to the cover of a flowering shrub. * Jewel takes a couple of deep breaths, recovering her calm, and consults the handkerchief again for directions, eyeing the distant buildings. "There. The main house... the east end, I think." <Angel> ::eyes his wife:: You're going to be all right, my lady? There may be a lot of killing. * Jewel considers, and nods slowly, her eyes cold. "They have Sylvie." <Angel> ::looking directly at her:: Carefully then, my lady. There is no need for you to become hardened. Let's go. <Jewel> ::putting her hand on his arm for a moment:: I've never seen you kill needlessly, love. And I'll do as you tell me... but until you make me go, I have your back. * Angel nods, then begins his circuit around the house towards the east wing, keeping crouched near the ground and using one hand for extra balance. He stops at each corner to look around. * Jewel shadows him, moving carefully and as quickly as possible. Every so often she pauses to check their direction and give him a nod. * Angel checks carefully, peering in one of the windows. He removes a small packet from the heel of his boot, then checks the window again. From the packet, he withdraws a small, diamond tipped stick and a pad of pine-glue. Carefully, he cuts a small chunk of glass, large enough for his hand, near the window's latch, using the pine-glue to secure the cut glass. * Jewel watches curiously, hanging back a little in the cover of a topiary to act as lookout. <Jewel> ::looking towards the left:: {Guard at the back of the house, headed this way. Moving slow, though.} <Angel> ::holding the pane of glass in one hand, he uses the other to flip the window's latch, swinging the glass outward. He checks inside again.:: Here, hold this a moment, my lady. ::he gives her the pane, then puts both hands on the ledge and lets himself into the room:: * Jewel moves forward and accepts the pane of glass, holding it carefully. * Angel leans out the window and takes the glass from her. "Give me your hands, my lady." With a heave, he pulls her into the room. * Angel quickly closes the window and, using the patch of pine-glue, seals the cut glass back into place. "That should hold, for a bit." * Jewel scrambles over the ledge with a little less grace than he showed (but hey, he's not wearing skirts), but manages to make it in without falling on herself. * Angel looks around the room quickly, cataloging the contents. <Narrator> ::they appear to have entered a ladies' sitting-room of sorts. The decorations are decidedly feminine, and there's a half-finished miniature landscape in oils set up to catch the morning light from the window. Brushes sit in a strong-smelling bottle of solvent on a nearby table.:: * Angel moves to the door, pressing one ear to the wood. * Jewel frowns a little puzzledly at the decor before moving out of view of the window and considering the somewhat crumpled handkerchief again. <Narrator> ::from outside the room comes the sound of desultory conversation-- listening a moment, it sounds like comments on a card game in progress somewhere down the hall. A low-class Marsembrian male accent calls loudly for more beer. There's a faint female murmur and a cry, and male laughter.:: <Angel> ::frowns:: Which way? * Jewel moves up behind Angel and whispers, "Down and to the right a little." * Angel nods, then slowly opens the door, moving easily down the hallway, away from the card game and voices. * Jewel follows him closely. From within the hallway, the voices are predominantly male, louder, relaxed, a little raucous-- the boys, having a good time. Near the end of the hall from behind a closed door comes sounds of a creaking bed and a young voice, sobbing. <Angel> ::he glances back at Jewel as he approaches a door, eyebrows raised:: * Jewel reaches her hand towards the knob of the door Angel hesitates beside, and shakes her head. She darts a troubled glances at the next door, where the sounds issue from. * Angel nods, then continues down the hall. He makes a face at the sobbing noises, putting one ear to the door. <Narrator> ::The hall turns a corner at the end, just past the last door. From around the corner and up a little comes the sound of footsteps descending a stair.:: * Angel shakes his head, then moves quickly to the edge of the hall just before the turn, knife at the ready. He gestures quickly to Jewel. {Get in the door frame. Quickly!} * Jewel nods and presses herself back into the frame of the door, holding the crossbow to her chest and making herself as small and quiet as possible. <Angel> ::his eyes widen with sudden alarm:: {Mindbender!} * Jewel widens her eyes in alarm, as well, her light contact to his mind strengthening quickly as she throws up a psionic defense around them both. * Angel tosses his knife from one hand to the other, and pulls out a packet from his vest. Rounding the corner hastily, he throws the packet into the face of whoever is coming down the stairs. <Dandelion> ::Just around the corner, standing not three feet away and staring at where Angel just *was*, is a thin girl of about 15 years. She is wearing an expensive gown that looks custom-made for her, and her straight, short, white-blond hair stands out all around her head like a dandelion puff. The packet explodes on contact, and she draws in a surprised gasp that ends in a choking cough. Her hands go to her tearing eyes.:: * Angel moves quickly, pushing her backwards out of the cloud, putting his hand over her mouth and twisting behind her. "Just shut up and relax, it'll hurt less. And don't so much as make a mental peep, or I'll break your neck." <Dandelion> ::The girl's dark blue eyes stream with tears and she looks *furiously* angry, but she nods as best she can, struggling for breath.:: * Angel grits his teeth. "My lady? Some help, here?" * Jewel comes around the corner, eyes widening at the sight of the girl. The girl tries to gasp and coughs again on seeing Jewel, struggling furiously in Angel's grip. Jewel looks at them helplessly for a moment before reaching around Angel's side and withdrawing the wrapped club he used on the guard, using it to sap the back of the girl's skull. * Angel supports the girl as she suddenly sags in his arms. "Friend of yours?" * Jewel pants a little as the sudden rush of adrenalin passes. "No, I've never s--" She breaks off, frowning a little at the girl's face, and looking sick. "No, wait... yes I have. She wore Tower's nasty little pendant last." * Jewel looks away with a shudder. "She was *strong.* Very strong. I thought she was going to pound my head open." <Angel> Great... well, it explains how they know so damn much. ::frowns:: Bluestar's not going to like it if I kill one of his own. You sure she's not from the school? <Jewel> ::shakes her head:: I don't know. She's younger than Andrial, and I barely knew *her* before. Too young, and not in my set. ::looks at her again:: I don't know. She could be. <Jewel> ::frowns a little:: If she is, I don't know what she's doing *here.* She's really strong, but... not subtle at all. And had she really known what she was doing, she might've had you. Half-trained, I'd say, if I had to guess. <Angel> ::grimaces:: Can't chance it, I guess. Can you get her down the hall and into that art room? * Jewel considers the girl's thin frame and nods. <Angel> ::makes a hurrying gesture at Jewel, cocking his head towards one of the rooms and raising one finger:: * Jewel picks the limp girl up by the arms, dragging her down the hall quickly. * Angel leans against the wall, near the door where noises have suddenly stopped. * Weasel emerges from the room with a satisfied smirk on his face, buttoning up his trousers. Muffled sobbing is audible behind him. * Angel barely pauses on recognizing the man. He steps behind Weasel, covering the man's mouth with one hand. With the other, he punches his knife into Weasel's lower back, looking for the sweet spot just to the left of the spine. * Weasel turns towards Angel just as the other man starts to step around him. His eyes widen in shock and his mouth starts to form a curse as Angel's hand muffles it. He arches away from the knife he cannot avoid before sagging back into Angel's arms, dead. <Angel> ::softly:: Goodbye, Weasel. ::he turns to look into the room Weasel just left:: <The boy> ::A young boy cowers on the bed, knees pulled up against his chest, arms wrapped tight around himself. His mouth is bleeding on one side, and his face is smeared with blood and tears, among other things.:: * Angel looks suddenly sick. "Goddamnit." He drags Weasel's corpse back into the room and props him against the wall. "Quietly, please. I'm trying to help. Can I borrow that blanket under you?" * The boy startles out of himself, looking up at Angel with a white face. His big eyes move to the bloody knife in Angel's hand, and then to the limp corpse in the other. Shivering, he eases off the bed, moving with obvious pain. He tears the blanket from the bed with trembling hands, offering it to Angel silently. <Angel> ::nods:: Thank you. ::Angel uses the blanket to wipe up the blood pooled in the hall, then covers Weasel with it, wiping his hands and knife on it:: I know you're hurt, and afraid. But we're going to get you out of here. ::turns:: Jewel? ::his voice doesn't carry far:: <Jewel> ::instantly:: {Yes?} <Angel> {This is about to get noisy. Get in here, I need you.} <Jewel> {Bring her? I've tied her up, for all the good it will do when she comes to herself again.} ::she sounds a little chagrined:: <Angel> {Leave her.} <Angel> ::to the boy:: What's your name, child? * Jewel appears in the doorway a few seconds later, gasping a little at the sight of the boy. * The boy swallows, grimacing a little at the pain of what seems to be a loose tooth. His voice is breathy and hesitant, scared. "M-minny, sir. For Minnow." <Angel> ::nods:: I'm called Angel. This is Jewel. She's going to take care of you for a while, then we'll go. ::he turns to Jewel:: I want you to stay in here with him. I don't know how many more are here, but we can't sneak them out. Not without Dawn's help. So... I didn't want to do it this way, but it's time to go to war. Stay in here. Don't make any noise. And don't come out until it's quiet. Understand me? <Jewel> ::nods:: Yes. ::hesitates:: Give me your club, and bring the girl in here. If she wakes up, she'll be a danger. <Angel> ::nods:: Right. ::he slips her the sap, then drags the psionic girl back to the room:: Try not to damage her too much. If we can, we'll take her with us, turn her over to Bluestar and let *him* deal with it. <Jewel> ::checking the girl and nodding, and then looking back up at Angel:: Sylvie should be downstairs, about even with where we are now. What's your plan? <Angel> ::grins at her, fierce and without amusement:: I plan to kill them all, my lady. * Jewel nods, her eyes lingering on the trembling boy who was returned to his fetal position on the bed. "I'm... glad. Stay safe, love." * Angel takes Jewel into his arms briefly, kissing her hard. "I love you." And with that, he is gone, slipping down the hall towards the card game. * Jewel watches him go and then closes and locks the door, one hand lingering on her lips. * Angel steals down the hallway, lingering in the shadow to peer into the room with the card game. Four men bet and swear while two look on and snipe. Angel mouths a swearword as he recognizes Shill, Tom Filch and Martin Ten-Thumbs. A scared-looking girl darts in and out of the room carrying beer and food. * Angel pauses, waiting until the girl has dodged out of the room again, then takes a small glass vial from his vest pocket. He eyes the angle, takes off his eyepatch, and shifts. Looking up from his cards in disgust, Shill spots Angel lurking, just as Angel wings the glass vial at the lantern overhead. * Shill shouts a warning, reaching for his knife to pull for a throw, just as the little vial breaks over the lamp. The Greek fire within goes up in an air-sucking rush and spills all over the table, setting fire to everything it touches. * Angel throws himself backwards into the hallway, away from the fire. * Martin Ten-Thumbs leaps back with a curse, but Tom Filch, tipping back in his chair, is not fast enough. His chair tips over backwards as he tries to stand, and Greek fire drips off the table edge and into his lap. He screams, high and hoarse. * Angel rolls gracefully to his feet, pulling a handful of throwing daggers from his boot. <Narrator> ::the rest of the broken vial slides down into the lamp. It sinks slowly for a moment, Greek fire mingling with lamp oil, and then the entire thing explodes like a bomb, sending glass and shards of hot lamp metal everywhere. The men fall, bleeding and burning. * Angel dodges back to peer into the room, one arm shading his face from the heat of the fire. * Tom Filch has vanished in flames. Martin Ten-Thumbs, who briefly tried to put his friend out, has his arms on fire. Two men are down and bleeding from the shattered glass. Shill presses back against the wall, cursing and holding a hand to a bleeding eye. The other man presses against the far wall, edging quickly towards the window. He seems unhurt. * Angel flickers three throwing knives like a cardshark dealing a round of poker towards each of the men still struggling with the sudden hell. <Narrator> ::One knife catches Martin Ten-Thumbs in the chest, the second nails Shill in the throat. The last hits the previously uninjured man in the arm, pinning his wrist to the wall.:: <Narrator> ::Two more men slam out of a room down the hall, dressed only in their trousers, knives in hand, blinking groggily at the commotion.:: * Angel whirls to the hall, flicking his last two knives at the roused guards. <Narrator> ::The two men go down in a tumble, one taking a blade to the chest and the other in the shoulder as he turns fractionally away. The shoulder-wounded man trips over his falling cohort and goes down himself, cursing and struggling to get to his feet again.:: * Angel races down the hall, his knife in hand, held in guard across his forearm. It does not take him long to reach the downed men, blade flashing. <Panzer> ::Another man runs out of a room, naked but for a sheet held one-handed around his waist, a sword in his other hand. He struggles in the doorway, cursing, as a naked and wild-eyed woman clings to him, pressing her body against him.:: * Angel glances up as the door opens, then blinks in astonishment, for just a moment completely losing track of the fight at hand. <Panzer> ::The man wrestles free of the woman by thrusting an elbow at her and backhanding her hard across the face with a curse. Sword in hand, he rushes at Angel.:: * Angel brings his knife up in defensive posture to ward off the first sword blow, skipping backwards out of the tangle of bodies on the floor. "Oh, dreadfully sorry. Did I interrupt?" <Panzer> ::The flinty-eyed man snarls at Angel, glancing quickly towards the flaming room as he passes it before pressing his attack.:: * Angel dances around the man, moving close to score blood, but forced away by the extended reach of the sword before he can actually do damage. <Panzer> ::despite his obvious ill-preparedness for battle, the man appears to know one end of a sword from the other. He presents Angel with his side, baring his teeth at him when Angel scores the first touch. Scars mar the forearm and wrist of his off-hand, but the rest of him appears unmarked. He flourishes his blade, keeping Angel at a respectful distance.:: * Angel blocks another flurry of attacks, using his knife to push the man's sword aside, sliding down to the hilt and smashing at the man's face with his elbow, then dancing quickly back out of reach. * Panzer snarls and gives ground a few steps to regroup, shaking his head and spitting out a mouthful of blood. He grins again, showing red teeth, and launches a furious flurry of attacks at Angel's head and chest. * Angel hisses at a cut to the shoulder that wells blood. "Ah, very good. I was wondering if you were actually capable of hitting anything." * Panzer aims another vicious swipe at Angel's exposed arm. "You talk too much." * Angel grins, dancing aside and pausing to make a ironic twirls with his free hand, as if in an elaborate bow. "Guilty as charged." He takes a few swipes, ducking under the man's sword and scoring a deep cut on one leg. "You're missing something, though." * Panzer hisses, trying to score on Angel's midsection as he flits away again. His voice is a rumbling snarl. "Your heart?" <Angel> ::laughs:: Close. I was thinking several inches of steel through your own. Allow me to correct that. * Angel flicks his knife along the man's sword, sliding to one side and drawing the sword outward. With a twist, almost too fast to follow, he wrenches his knife around, slicing the man's thumb along the guard. He twists his knife again, jerking the sword out of the man's hand. With a final turn, he embeds both blades up to the hilt through the man's chest. * Panzer coughs up blood and dies with a look of angered surprise on his face. * Angel wrenches his knife free. "Much, much better." * The naked woman lying half-in the room groans, her breath coming in fast pants. * Angel gives the woman a startled look. "Oh... shit." * The naked woman pulls herself up on one elbow, touching her cheek and looking at her fingers, seeing blood. She brings the fingers to her lips and licks them off, easing herself to her knees. She looks up at Angel, a fire lighting in her eyes. * The naked woman gets to her feet, baring her teeth as she throws herself at Angel with a cry, tugging desperately at his clothes. * Angel sighs, backing up. He glances from one side of the hall to the other. "Get off, woman. Dear gods... Jewel!" He backs towards the room where Jewel's looking after the other prisoners. "I... have a bit of a problem, here." * The naked woman scrabbles at Angel, alternately kissing and biting anything she can reach. There's a faint "thunk!" from within the room, the sound of an opening lock, and then Jewel pokes her head out. "Milord? ...My *lord*!" * Angel backs further away, stumbling over the pile of dead men. "Can you do something about this? I don't want to hurt her." <Jewel> Um...? ::bites her lip and strides towards them, grabbing the woman's chin and staring into her eyes:: <Angel> ::sighs, hearing people coming up the stairs:: The party just never ends around here, does it? ::cuts a glance at Jewel:: * Jewel raises a hand as if she's about to backhand the woman, and the woman releases Angel, scuttling backwards to press her back against the wall and cower away from Jewel in fear. <Angel> ::nods to Jewel:: Sorry to do this to you, my lady. Knock her out or tie her up or something. And start moving people outside, the damn building's going to go up. I'll take care of these and try and find Sylvie. * Jewel nods and bites her lip, hesitating before reaching down to tap the woman lightly on the cheek. The woman shrieks as if dealt a fatal blow and falls unconscious. Jewel swallows hard and hauls her back into the room. * Angel moves to the stairwell again, listening. The group from downstairs appears to be thinking ahead just the slightest bit, and have not rushed up yet. <Letty> ::There's a muffled yell from one of the closed doors behind Angel:: * Angel makes a face. "Remind me, next time... bring more reinforcements." * Jewel bumps the door open again and gives Angel a grimace. "I hate rooms without windows." She drags the unconscious psionic, now gagged and bound head and foot in bits of torn bedsheet, down the hall to the sitting room. <Angel> Sorry, my lady, I didn't design the house. ::he moves to one side of the hallway and kicks the door in where the yeller is:: * Jewel deposits the girl and goes back for the next. <Letty> ::As Angel kicks in the door, a woman clad in a shift looks up from the bed with a gasp, turning her borrowed sword to this new perceived attacker with shaking hand. A red-faced naked man lies on the bed, bound and poorly gagged with ripped bedsheets.:: <Angel> ::raises one eyebrow and bows:: Very nice. I see you've managed to rescue yourself? * Letty brandishes the sword at him. "Stay away from me! I'll-- I'll kill him!" She turns the swordpoint back to the man's throat. <Angel> ::shrugs:: Go right ahead. Most of the rest of them are already dead. But, if I may draw your attention to the fact that this lovely manor house is on fire, you might want to evacuate with the rest of the ladies and children? <Letty> ::widening her eyes and lowering her blade:: Which way? <Angel> ::indicates behind him:: My lady, Jewel, could use some help, if you're so inclined to assist. * Letty nods, her expression firming, and offers him a nod of thanks as she marches out the door. * The man on the bed strains against his bonds again, bellowing around his gag. * Angel looks down at the man. "Hmmm. Hope you're good with knots. The house is on fire." Angel backs out of the room, closing the broken door behind him. <Narrator> ::There's a sound of glass breaking and shouts of surprise as one of the guards from outside tries to do something about the flaming room:: * Angel nods to the two women working to evacuate the prisoners, then heads to the stairwell. "Jewel? Guard outside. Use that crossbow, can you?" <Jewel> Yes, milord. ::following the other woman's suggestion, she goes out through a kitchen entrance, approaching the guard-- guards, actually, as a compatriot joins him-- from the back. She moves up as close as she can, the roaring flames doing much to distract them, and shoots one in the back. She captures the gaze of another and decks him, and he goes down with a scream of agony as if her fist had torn his head off. She winces.:: * Angel glances down the stairwell, picking out shadows on the floor. "Goddamnit." * Letty finds the cowering maid and leads her outside with the little boy, getting them well away from the house and standing guard over the two unconscious captives. * Jewel starts around the corner of the house to rejoin the other former captives and pauses in the shadow of the house, rubbing the back of her neck again. The remaining outside guard comes around the other corner of the house, training a crossbow on the woman and boy and shouting a command to drop the sword. * Angel grits his teeth, bracing himself, then races down the stairs, knife at the ready. Near the bottom of the stairs, he dives, tucking his head to hit the floor with his shoulder and hoping to roll clear of the ambushers. <Narrator> ::A pair of swords clash against the stone floor as the two waiting thugs do their best to decapitate their attacker, and nearly skewer each other in the process. A third waits halfway across the open area of room, Sylvie held tightly in one arm to use as a living shield, his sword out and menacing the rising Angel, who has rolled to within a few feet of him.:: * Angel gets to his feet gingerly, knife held at the ready. "Sylvie. Sorry I'm late." * Angel glances behind him and turns a half-circle, menacing the two behind him. "Sylvie. I wonder if you'd do me a favor, love, and sing for me, while I dance?" <Sylvie> ::blinks, then nods:: Angel. Surely. ::she inhales deeply, then rams backwards at her captor, full force, with her elbow aimed at his solar plexus. As he doubles over from that blow, she pulls her foot up and stomps down on the man's instep:: * Angel whirls to attack the two behind him, taking a deep cut to the right forearm as he fends off one blow, but scoring a stomach slice on the other guard. * Jewel bites her lip as the woman drops her sword with a defeated sag of her shoulders. The man gestures with the quarrel point, making them get down their knees, hands behind their heads. Jewel draws her knife and flips it to a throwing position, but hesitates at the distance. * Angel hisses and dances clear, shaking his suddenly numbed arm. "Shit! Shit!" * Jewel glances down at her empty crossbow, takes a deep breath, and stares fixedly at the man, her eyes losing focus. * Sylvie's captor coughs and then keens in pain as her heel grinds into the sensitive part of his foot. He shoves her away from him, hard, doubling over to wheeze and get his breath back. * Sylvie presses forward again, kicking the side of his knee, full force. She steps up to him, almost as if to embrace the man, then raises her knee into his unprotected groin. "Mind if I borrow this?" She reaches down to pluck his sword from his fingers. <Jewel> ::mutters:: Come on, come on... got you! ::as she makes contact with the man's mind, he looks down at his own crossbow with sudden disgust and fear, throwing it from him and retreating rapidly in the other direction. * Sylvie's would-be attacker doubles over with a gasp, his sword easily plucked from nerveless fingers as he keels over and curls up into a fetal position. * Sylvie grasps the sword uncertainly. She wraps both hands around the hilt, raises up on her tiptoes, and stabs down, for all the world like a woman attempting to dig a hole for a fencepost to go into:: * Sylvie's target screams and dies. <Letty> ::The former captive stares at the cowering guard in amazement but does not let the opportunity pass, picking up the crossbow quickly from where it landed and training it on its former owner. Jewel sighs and relaxes.:: * Jewel fumbles in her skirts, pulling out a somewhat squashy meatroll, unwrapping it from its waxed-paper covering, and jamming it in her mouth, almost swallowing without chewing. With shaking hands, she goes back inside. <Narrator> ::The thug on the right grins as Angel transfers his knife to his offhand. The other presses a hand to his stomach and grits his teeth, raising his sword again and nodding to his companion. The two attack Angel together, the wounded man a little behind his cohort. * Angel begins a cautious retreat down the hall, keeping his wounded arm tucked close to his chest. He feints a few times, driving them back a bit, but not so much as he is forced to give ground. <Narrator> ::Angel passes two more locked (and occupied) cells, and then the hall leads around a corner.:: * Jewel checks the rest of the house, calling upstairs without response. She moves to the head of the down staircase warily, knife in hand. "Angel?" <Sylvie> Jewel? ::her voice catches in a sob:: Oh, gods, help us! * Angel grits his teeth, blood seeping down his arm into a colorful splash on the floor. He feints again, changes direction, and scores a hit across the back of the unwounded man's hand. * Jewel notices her knifehand shaking and fumbles in her other pocket, sheathing the knife for a moment to devour a second meatroll. She swallows hard at the sound of the other woman's voice. "Sylvie! Thank the gods..." She descends the stairs quickly, knife in hand. * Sylvie lifts the sword again, obviously completely unfamiliar with that weapon, and moves down the hall after the two menacing Angel. <Narrator> ::The thug draws back with an angry hiss, granting Angel a somewhat more respectful distance as the cut wells blood, making his knife-hand slippery. He falls back behind his companion a little, pulling a rag from his vest and using his teeth to tie it around his knifehand:: <Narrator> ::The other man tries a swing at Angel, his wound making him a little clumsy.:: * Angel is tired, wounded, and dizzy from blood-loss. He manages to dodge the blow, but stumbles, falling backwards. His knife clatters away, spinning along the floor. <Jewel> ::whispers:: Oh gods, two of them... ::she hurries after the moving fight, taking several deep breaths to clear her head. She focuses on the knife-wielder, taking one more stilling breath and stopping to hurl her knife at his back, pretending it's Dusk's wall target.:: * Jewel nails him in the back of the right shoulder, causing him to drop his knife. <Narrator> ::The remaining thug grins in triumph, holding his guts with one hand and raising his sword to cut down the half-fallen Angel.:: <Sylvie> ::with a cry more like despair then a war-scream, Sylvie stabs out with her stolen blade, catching the man clumsily along the kidney - a blow that might have done more damage had she used the edge, instead of the flat:: * Angel crabs backwards quickly, hitting the wall with his back and using it to brace, pushing himself upright with his feet. <Narrator> ::The man curses her and hesitates on the deathblow to fend off Sylvie's clumsy attack, disarming her with two passes of his sword.:: * Angel snaps his unwounded hand out, his blade appearing out of nowhere for him to grab. As the man turns to threaten Sylvie with his sword, Angel moves forward and stabs him in the back. <Narrator> ::The man drops his sword with a cough, falling forward heavily onto Sylvie.:: * Jewel closes her eyes a moment, sending up a prayer of thanks to whomever might be listening, opening her eyes again to look around. "No one left upstairs. Any more?" <Sylvie> ::staggers backwards:: Oh, oh, ick. ::she pushes the man off:: * Angel indicates the cells to either side of the hallway. "Can you... open them?" * Jewel moves forward, retrieving her knife and turning over the body with a grunt, fumbling keys from his belt and holding them up with a grin. "Of course. I have the *best* lockpicks." Her grin falls. "Will you be all right, milord?" <Angel> ::nods and swallows:: Yes, my lady. Just... give me a ... ::whatever else he was going to say is lost as his legs give way. Fortunately, Sylvie is still right there, and catches him:: <Sylvie> ::panting, she staggers under Angel's weight:: Gods above, woman, what have you been *feeding* him? He weighs at least forty pounds more than he did last time I had to carry him anywhere. * Jewel gasps and starts forward, tears stinging her eyes, but catches herself and starts to go through the ring of keys, trying each on the first door. "Eggs, mostly. We have to hurry, the upstairs is on fire." * Sylvie supports him in a standing position, watching as Jewel works the doors. "Rosin? Rosin!" * Jewel finds the right key and unlocks the first door, swinging it wide and gesturing urgently to the captive inside. As Sylvie calls, a voice on the far side of the cell block answers. "Sylvie? What's going on? Where are the guards?" * Jewel grips the ring by the successful key and hurries to the next door. <Sylvie> ::laughing a bit hysterically:: I told you, told you they'd come for us... <Rosin> ::faintly disbelieving:: Your husband? Here? Please, let me out! <Jewel> ::through gritted teeth:: Working on it... ::opens the door and moves on to the next, fumbling keys:: <Sylvie> ::grunts, slipping Angel's unwounded arm around her shoulders:: I could use a hand here, when you're out, dear. <Jewel> Go, go, get out, the place is going to burn down around our ears! Up the stairs, third door on the left, the window's open. <Angel> ::Angel's knife falls out of his hand again, but before it hits the floor this time, it shimmers and reappears in its sheath:: <Jewel> ::tensely:: Be right with you, Sylvie. Sounds like your friend's around the back. ::disappears around the corner:: * Rosin comes back around the corner a few moments later. She is small, a young woman just out of girlhood with brown eyes and hair. She is dressed in a filthy, ripped chemise. <Sylvie> ::nods:: Nice to see you, at last. Can you.. give me a hand with our brave rescuer, here? He's had a few more cuts than are strictly necessary. <Rosin> Oh gods... this is... Snowman? <Sylvie> ::laughs shortly:: No, no... this is Angel. A close friend. * Rosin nods and gingerly works herself under his other shoulder, trying not to hurt him worse. "How... which way is out?" <Sylvie> ::following Jewel's directions:: Up the stairs and third door... something. There's supposed to be a window. <Narrator> ::Another woman comes around the corner, hugging her ragged clothing to herself and limping slightly:: <Jewel> ::calling:: Last door! <Sylvie> ::the fire has spread to the hallway and is burning merrily down towards them as they reach the top of the stairs:: Oh, dear. <Jewel> ::soft mutter:: Sweet gods... ::Jewel comes around the corner herself a moment later, doing her best to carry a girl of about thirteen or fourteen, horribly beaten, without dropping her.:: * Sylvie turns them into the only room still accessible, the first on the left. "Hope to god there's a window in this one." <Jewel> ::calls from the bottom of the stairs:: I tried that one already-- go upstairs, quick! We'll find a window up there. * Sylvie nods and begins the arduous process of dragging Angel up the stairs. "Some rescue." She mutters under her breath. * Jewel hurries up the stairs, panting under her burden. * Sylvie and Rosin gain the top of the stairs and turn in to one of the rooms there. Leaving Rosin to support Angel as best she can, Sylvie crosses the room and grabs a pitcher of tepid water by a washbasin near a bed and dashes it in Angel's face. <Sylvie> Damnit, Angel, wake up! We need you. * Jewel turns in to the first doorway and sets the girl carefully on the wide bed. She goes to the French doors and finds them locked. With a curse, she fishes out a hairpin, taking a deep breath and working on the lock for a minute before opening the doors with a relieved smile. * Angel shakes his head, coughing, then opens his eyes. "Wha..?" <Jewel> ::mutters:: *Much* better than broken glass all over.... ::stepping out onto the balcony and looking down:: Hey! ::she waves her arms to the women outside:: The fire's spread, and we've got injured women up here! We'll need a hand, in a moment! <Angel> ::blinks a few times, then groans, wincing:: Fuck, that hurts. What's going on? ::he shifts his weight, taking about half of the burden off Rosin's shoulders:: <Sylvie> ::hands on her hips:: You blacked out. We're up on the top floor now, I think. ::she glances around the room:: * Jewel looks around the bedroom she's in, her eye lighting on the silken cords holding back the bed and window curtains. She starts yanking them down and knotting them together. <Angel> ::nods, then takes several deep breathes:: Right. ::turning to Rosin:: See if you can find something to make bandages with, I need my arm bound up to my chest. Quickly. <Angel> ::to Sylvie:: Look around, fast. Toss anything that might be valuable out the window. Damned if I'm not going to get something out of this. Tower's cost us big time. <Sylvie> ::laughs:: You can take the boy off the streets, but you can't take the streets out of the boy. You always were a thief at heart. * Jewel sets the last girl who followed her upstairs to knotting together the corners of the sheets to form a sort of hammock-seat around the injured girl. * Jewel bites her lip almost bloody as she works. "Gods above and below, Angel... please be all right..." * Sylvie turns to follow Angel's instructions, pitching several random expensive statuettes into the lawn, along with a gold and pearl hairbrush and comb set. She yells "incoming" before tipping an extremely heavy lockbox over the side, which leaves an ugly dent in the grass out on the lawn when it lands. * Jewel takes a moment to wave at Sylvie from the next balcony as she steps out with her makeshift rope. "Done? I need to start throwing people down next, and they're injured enough." <Sylvie> ::nods:: Do you need help? Rosin's binding Angel up some. <Jewel> ::swallows her worry again and nods:: I've got kind of a seat for this girl... if there are enough of us on the other end of the rope, I thought we could lower her down. ::swallows again:: Angel too, if he can't climb. ::unable to hold back her worry any longer:: How is he? <Sylvie> ::cheerfully:: Awake. He's looked better. But then again, he's looked worse. <Jewel> ::sighs:: Thank you. ::looking over her shoulder at a muted crackling boom from the other side of the house:: Come on, we've got to get out of here. * Angel nods to Rosin as she binds his arm. "Pull it tighter, if you can. I can climb one-handed if I have to, but I'd just as soon not bleed to death on the way down." * Rosin nods, pressing her lips together and pulling in the sling a bit more, binding his arm firmly. * Angel yells hoarsely as Rosin finally gets his arm bound. "Ah, shit, that hurts." He pants for breath, then gives Rosin a half-smile. "Thanks." * Jewel carries the young girl in the tied sheet out to the balcony, with the other girl's help, and ties the end of her rope around the knots, yanking on it hard. * Rosin winces at Angel's bellow of pain, opening one eye warily as he thanks her and looking at him dubiously. * Sylvie goes to help Jewel, offering whatever aid is needed. * Sylvie looks around outside, then calls down. "One of you go see if there's a barn, a wagon or something." She turns to Jewel, helping her lower the girl to the ground. "Where are we, anyway? That mage... teleported us here." * Jewel ties the other end of the rope to the balcony for an anchor and, with the help of the other two women, lowers the girl down hand over hand. The women waiting below reach up to receive her, lowering her carefully to the ground and freeing her from the sheet-hammock to send it back up. <Jewel> ::snorts:: As Dawn did to us. We're outside of Arabel. ::nods in the right direction:: The Andello Estate is just next door, that way. <Sylvie> ::blinks:: You're joking? <Jewel> Thankfully, no. We're going to need those horses to get back home. ::looks wry:: When we left, *Dawn's* house was on fire. I'm half-wondering if this wasn't Angel's sense of poetic justice kicking in. <Jewel> ::looking around:: Where's Angel? We'd best get him down next while the rest of us are up here. <Angel> ::from the door frame, still leaning on Rosin's shoulder:: I can climb. I think. <Jewel> ::eyeing him critically, eyes worried:: Are you certain? We can lower you. ::pats the knotted sheet:: The gods damn your pride, Angel, I need you in one piece, you hear me? <Angel> ::snorts:: You've become quite feisty, my lady. ::he crosses to her and touches her face lightly:: You've done very, very well today. I'm proud, and honored, to have been at your side, during this. But really, I can climb, as long as it's not too far. <Sylvie> ::laughs:: Ah, let him climb, Jewel... if he falls and breaks his head, you won't have lost the parts of him worth having. ::she directs a very knowing leer to Angel's backside:: <Jewel> ::almost crumbles at his gentle touch, fighting tears and firming her jaw again:: I don't take well to people putting holes in *my* bodyguard. Tower's people are beginning to make quite a habit of it, and it's started to annoy me. ::her lip threatens to tremble again, and she turns away, blinking:: It's not far, if you think you can. ::offering Sylvie a weak smile:: * Angel nods and looks over the balcony. "I'll make it." He gingerly climbs over the rail and using one hand on the knots, slithers down the make-shift rope in what looks more like a controlled fall than a climb. * Jewel doesn't watch, turning away and biting hard on her knuckle. * Jewel looks around at the three remaining. "The rest of you can climb?" <Sylvie> ::shakes her head:: Stubborn cuss, ain't he? I don't envy you, I really don't. Geremi's bad enough, and he's near twenty years older. ::nimbly she climbs over and makes her way down the rope:: * Jewel hides a smile as Sylvie slings her leg over the balcony. "Yes you do." She winks as Sylvie disappears down the rope. * Jewel hurries the other girl and Rosin down the rope before casting a last look around the room and sliding down, herself. <Jewel> All right, that's all of us that matter? ::looking around, casting a wary eye on the still-unconscious tow-headed psionic:: Right. ::tiredly:: Home is that way. ::points:: |
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