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* Tarri and Temire practically raced for the bathing room when the girl came up to say it was ready, but Tarri is back in her room in short order, while Temire stays in the bath to soak. * Tarri dresses quickly and begins pacing the room, her neglected hair drying in something of a haystack. * Ennis has granted Tarri and Temire use of Orlann's old room, under the excuse that it's somewhat larger than the other. He lies on the well-used bed of the other room (after having strewn the mattress with a handful of herbs and sent its previous residents packing), writing in a small, leather-bound journal. * Tarri paces for a short while and then, unsatisfied, leaves the room. She hesitates at Ennis' door for a moment, and then knocks. * Ennis looks up warily and rises to open the door, bracing his boot inside of it so that it can't be forced in on him. "Aye? Oh, Tarri-lass. M'apologies." He smiles and opens the door wide for her. "'Tis no' suppertime already?" <Tarri> ::smiles, quick and nervous:: No, not yet. I'm just... restless. What are we going to *do*, Master Ennis? * Ennis retreats to the bed again, closing the door behind her and offering her the nicer-looking of the chairs. "Shh, we'll find 'im, lass, don't fash yersel'. Best we see these fights, see what we're up against first afore we make plans, aye?" <Tarri> ::sits in the offered chair, then immediately gets up and starts pacing:: But if they've got him- I can't buy him free, I don't have a lot of money. And... ::she chews on her lip a bit:: I *hate* feeling so helpless! <Ennis> ::looks wry:: As does yer man as well, I'd wager. ::keeping his voice soothing, much as he'd talk to a distressed horse:: Try to calm yersel', and think on summat else. Don't let yer mind worry ye about in circles. Best thing for 't 'tis t' keep eyes an' ears an' brains open t' what we mind find, aye? <Tarri> ::sighs and slumps into the chair:: I followed him because I wanted to make a point about how he shouldn't keep packing me in wool like a glass statue, trying to keep me safe. I wanted to be *useful*. <Ennis> ::looking surprised:: An' so ye are, lass. What recourse d'ye think he'd have had, if'n ye hadn't come tearin' after 'im so fast? We may not know how t' help 'im yet, but at least help's t' hand! <Tarri> ::moodily:: That's the only use I've been, on this trip, though. You've done most of it. Mira helped, with the griphon, but all I could do was stand there. She didn't even really *need* me to stitch her up after that fight. You know who to talk to and what to say and what to do... Now that we're here, I don't have anything to contribute. ::she picks at a thread on her dress:: No wonder he left me behind. <Tarri> ::grimaces:: And I whine like a child, too. ::she gets up and starts pacing again:: <Ennis> ::sharply:: Enough o' that, now! That's bollocks an' ye know it, lass. 'Twas a damn *fool* thing, what I did wi' th' griphon, an' I would ne'er ha' done it were I not frighted out o' me skull with worry o'er the horses an' *both* o' ye lasses. An' if I know who t' speak with an' what to say, 'tis for that I've made my living fer a good dozen years now travellin' place t' place. <Ennis> ::he laughs suddenly:: Believe you me, lass, I were gulled right well an' often enow when that I first reached th' continent! I'd fain blush t' think on 't, now. <Tarri> ::gives him a faint smile:: How old were you, then, Master Ennis? <Ennis> ::wry smile:: I wanted twenty, yet, an' full of oats, I was. <Tarri> ::grinning briefly:: You seem plenty oat-full, still, Master Ennis. ::quietly:: I'm twenty-two, already. <Ennis> ::grins wider:: Ahh, I'm a staid old gent, t' what I was. ::waggles his eyebrows:: That should give ye a turn, aye? ::he shrugs:: 'Twere happenstance, that I went wanderin'. Most o' th' lads I grew up with looked t' stay right there, the rest o' their lives, most like. ::he looks wistful for a moment:: But... I didn't suit. I were always full o' piss an' fire. Wanderin' suits me. <Ennis> ::softly:: M' point, lass, is that everyone learns, sometime. An' yer not t' take yerself t' task fer not knowin' aught ye've not had a proper chance t' learn, yet. ::he smiles again, a little:: Yer not a lass t' be wrapped up in lambswool an' cozies, and that's a lesson yer *man* has yet t' learn, I think. <Tarri> ::sighs:: It doesn't stop me from wanting to help him, *now*. No - I want to *be* the one to help him, to do something that even *he* can't ignore... ::she sighs again and offers a sheepish smile:: Childish of me, isn't it? Not enough for me to bring the cavalry, I want to be in the van, waving the standard. <Ennis> ::smiles:: Yer a strong, smart woman, Tarri-lass, and ye love him. ::grins:: An' yer prob'ly right ticked enow t' want t' rub 'is nose in 't. Only natural, I'd say. <Tarri> ::ruefully:: There is that... ::she grins:: I have to have *some* way to make him feel bad. I'm not going to be able to yell at him too much, after all this. <Ennis> Ha! Jes' th' sight o' yer face'll likely make 'im blench, lass, beggin' yer pardon. <Ennis> Hmn... ::frowns at a sudden thought:: <Tarri> ::looks up:: What? <Ennis> Well... ye ken right well enow why he left ye behind, aye? ::looking at her steadily:: <Tarri> So I'd be safe. <Ennis> Aye. He cares fer ye, lass, an' likely worried o'er how he'd deal wi' th' thought o' ye in danger. <Ennis> Now as I see it... that means th' very sight o' you at that fight could do one o' two things.... <Tarri> ::her head cocks:: He'll go berserk, or he'll freeze up. * Ennis nods. "An' I don't know th' man well enow t' know which. Do ye?" <Tarri> ::shakes her head:: Not... really. But we don't want him to do either one, do we? Tonight's only his third fight, which means he's just facing some other poor soul they've kidnapped. We'd be fools to think they don't keep the floor well-guarded. <Ennis> Aye. ::his expression grim:: Fer their safety, belike. Wouldn't do t' let someone throw th' bets by offerin' harm to a contestant, aye? <Tarri> ::looks startled, then a little pale:: I hadn't even thought of that... Oh, this is *hopeless*! <Ennis> ::shakes his head:: Nay, lass. We're *here*, which means there's hope, where before there was none. ::frowning:: D'ye think yer man has a chance at winnin' these fights? The first four, leastways? He looked braw enow t' me, but I've ne'er had occasion t' see 'im do violence. <Tarri> ::nods easily:: Oh, yes. He's very good. ::bites her lip:: But I hate thinking of him having to. <Ennis> We'll see what turns out, lass. Chance is, summonin' th' guard'll do little good. Such a long-standin' setup smacks o' bribery, t' me... but 'tis not an option t' be rulin' out, neither. <Tarri> ::nods:: That fellow who came to see us, he said the law wouldn't be able to help. <Ennis> Aye, true, I'd forgotten. ::looks sad:: Th' puir sod.... <Tarri> ::chews her lip, thinking:: But... if we could find out who's *behind* it all - we could threaten to call in Marsember's guard. Orlann's one of their own, so they'd come in mad. <Ennis> ::looking somber:: Folk such as these... best t' be ready to follow through. A threat like that could make us very dead, very quick, afore his friends could get here. 'M minded t' do this peaceful-like, if'n we may, but to do that, we'll have to learn what they want, and what would make 'em give 'im up. <Tarri> ::nods:: I don't want to make them violent - Blessed Mother knows I can barely defend myself against *one* - but I'll do what I have to, to get him out of there in one piece. <Tarri> But if it comes to that... ::she smiles, very faintly:: ...I know a little something, about how to threaten someone bigger than you are. <Ennis> ::sighs heavily:: Aye. I'll... lass, I'll be honest wi' ye, I'm not much f'r violence. I promised mesel' long ago... ::absently, he smooths his hand over the coverlet, brushing away imaginary dust:: Well, we'll see what comes. But if we can manage it peacefully, lass... I'd be prop'rly grateful to ye. <Tarri> If we have to threaten their top man with the Guard, Master Ennis, I'll do it. For several reasons, not the least of which is that you're a far better rider than me. <Ennis> ::raises an eyebrow:: <Tarri> The threat goes something like this: If Orlann and I don't walk out of the city gates in one hour, free and unharmed, my friend who is waiting for us outside of town is going to ride like no man has ever ridden before, for Marsember, and turn over my letter to the guard there explaining exactly what you've done to one of their own, and where they can find you. <Ennis> ::brow clearing:: Ah! I understand ye, lass. ::faint smile:: Our man said summat before, about knowin' yer man was missed... p'raps they've counted on that, and that's summat we can turn t' our advantage as well. <Tarri> ::nod:: We'll see what we can see, and what we can hear, tonight. ::sighs:: I suppose I'd better go masked, or at least hooded. It wouldn't do any good at all for 'Lann to spot me. ::she grimaces:: I don't want to see it, at all. <Ennis> ::puts a hand on her arm:: If 't eases ye, lass, neither do I. Ah... p'raps t'would be best were ye t' have a word in Temire's ear, if we're not t' be attracting yer man's notice just yet? The lass strikes me as, er, a trifle hotspurred, were ye t' ask me. <Tarri> ::laughs:: Only a *trifle*? You must have been a fearsome beast, in your youth, Master Ennis. <Ennis> ::embarrassed grin:: Well... I *am* a Moonshae man, lass. ::small, sneaking grin:: An' th' lads there be mild as milk, compared t' th' lasses. <Tarri> ::giggles:: I've met one other Moonshaen man, but I don't think I've ever met a woman. ::grins:: Maybe I should look one up. She'd tell me how to keep Orlann in line. <Ennis> ::snorts:: Ha! Not after she got a look at 'im. <Tarri> ::blinks, and raises her eyebrows:: Meaning? <Ennis> Meanin', all's fair, when th' man's a prime catch. ::musingly:: Tho' none so bad as th' Queen o' Cantrev Westenland... she's a right siren, she is. Seven husbands, they say-- tho' she married none of 'em-- that she's bedded an' buried, and still men flock t' her arms, such is her beauty... ::he laughs:: Ahh, don't listen t' me, lass. I listen t' too many bard's songs. <Tarri> ::looks startled, then shrugs:: I don't think Orlann's one to be swayed by just a pretty face and a come-hither smile. <Ennis> ::sighs in relief:: Then ye'll no' believe what this dancer means t' tell us? <Tarri> ::lifts her chin:: That all depends on exactly what she tells us, doesn't it? <Ennis> ::looking rueful:: I suspect she'll clep ye some jealous shrew, an' say she sent yer man happily on his way. <Tarri> Well, we *know* that's not the truth. <Ennis> True. ::eyeing her keenly:: Long as *ye* know it, lass. <Tarri> ::sniffs:: Whatever other lies he's told me, I don't think he could keep *that* from me. If he'd even be minded to... We're not married, you know. ::her mouth twists slightly, and she shrugs:: No, I'll trust his word, when I ask it from him. <Ennis> ::chuckles:: I've yet to hear o' that argument workin', when a lass is in her anger. <Tarri> ::half-smiles at him:: Then why do men keep *trying* it? <Ennis> ::lifting his eyebrows and grinning:: Desperation? <Tarri> ::laughs:: That's probably it... ::she sighs and smooths the front of her dress:: Well, Mira's probably dried and dressed again by now. I should go and get ready for supper. <Ennis> ::nods:: Feeling a bit less restless, lass? <Tarri> Perhaps a bit. ::smiles:: Thank you, Master Ennis. <Ennis> My pleasure, lass. Don't ye worry, we'll get yer man back somehow. ::standing again to open the door for her:: |
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