An Offer for the High Constable

[Glenn]

Recent patrons of the Broken Dagger would have good reason to play amateur physician when it came to the matter of Glenn Burnie. The young mapmaker seemed to suffer from a number of peculiar symptoms whenever he was near one Rhaena Olwak. For starters, his hand seemed to always be either on top of hers or interlinked with it. He would seem distracted, giving anyone else quick and curt answers, often not looking at them when speaking, even about important matters. This was not like him at all. Moreover, he'd seem to have the strangest expressions on his face, ones that did not seem to sync up well with the conversations he was having. The usual diagnosis for such symptoms was love.

In this case, it did not necessarily hold true. The truth was a bit more interesting. Rhaena was skilled, quite literally, with certain preternatural mental talents. With physical contact, she was able to actually converse with someone mind to mind, a fact that Glenn had somehow discovered in the past two weeks. It was a very unique way of communicating, involving a great deal of trust, open emotions, and a certain level of intimacy. Throughout much of this period, Glenn's own best friend, Alastir Savoy, had been bedridden or otherwise incommunicado. A combination of loneliness, curiosity, and the sheer good nature of the girl had prompted him to begin these telepathic talks. Honest and ever-growing affection towards Rhaena and the strong sense of privacy and intimacy, really rather addicting sensations, prompted him to continue them. It was, if nothing else, a quickly developing friendly relationship.

Therefore, when Glenn, having just finished his morning training with Ariane, approached an awaiting Rhaena, near the lake outside the Dagger, one of the first things he did was to reach out for her hand. It was, to him, fast becoming one of the most natural things in the world. His mind reached out to hers a moment later. "Last chance to change your mind, Rhaena. If you're just doing this to spite me, we can find something else that would be just as good." She could sense with ease that this was at least partially a joke. She had badgered him into telling her what he knew about Vraal and the Fiend. He knew she wanted to help anyway she could, especially after the recent tragedy. "If not, we best get my horse and start riding for Foggy Bottom. That's almost certainly where Cinnabar will be."

[Jirai]

Rhaena

Addicting sensations in truth, and probably far more so than the mapmaker was truly aware. In truth, such contact was quite reassuring to the young Trader - doubtless, it played a part in her recovery from the pains of the last year. And it had been almost a year, now. Strange.

As the mapmaker reached out for her hand, he would feel the veiled girl's carefully repressed excitement. Of course, it was laced with a healthy dose of caution (one that would doubtless fly out the window just when it was most needed). Her head lifted stubbornly. I'm not changing my mind, Glenn. Not even for her brother's sake. Let us go, then. It won't be a shorter ride for waiting. Suspecting that she'd need to ride again today, the girl had once more dressed in the sensible trousers - much as she hated to.

[Glenn]

There was the hint of a smile on his face as he squeezed her hand just a bit tighter. Caution was good. Excitement, well, not so much. "Come on, then. Bernard's at the stables." It seemed like there was no going back now.

The ride itself was mostly uneventful. There was time, and with that time he would go back over the details of Ashfiend and Vraal in his mind with her. Hopefully, hearing it twice would help her understand. Really, the explanation of the day before had been spotty and disorganized at best. And oh yes, he did have enough information to review with her to last the whole ride.

Upon arrival, Glenn would try to slip away. There was a quick errand to complete with one of the knights. If Rhaena insisted upon coming with him, then he wouldn't argue. There wasn't time for that.

Either way, it wasn't long before the two of them were before Cinnabar. By now, especially after yesterday and the discovery of the mine, Glenn perhaps didn't need a badge at all. It was not all that difficult for him to get to the man anymore. The High Constable would warrant a polite, yet not unfriendly, nod and a serious stare. Yes, his hand was still interlinked with Rhaena's.

"Thank you for your time, ser. I'll keep it brief on my end. There's an encounter with Vraal to report and then Miss Olwak has... something to say... something to offer." He both looked and felt more than a little uncomfortable at that last part. Now there really was no going back.

[Cinnabar]

Calomel is, as on the previous days, in the thick of organising matters; Constabulary, Janeiro, Shepherd Knights and now these volunteers from the Violet Dawn, all need to be organised, directed, allocated and deployed to where they will do the most good.

Foggy Bottom still bears the scars of the Ashfiend's passage, of course: there's a street in which the houses all down one side were reduced to smoking ruins as fires raged unchecked, and many other gutted buildings scattered through the town besides; many of the townsfolk bear the marks of their own nails upon their faces and arms, testimony to the madness of torment that was inflicted upon them, and those that do not still have a certain hollowness to their gaze, a hesitance to their words and movements as if still waking from some horrific dream.

And yet, for all this, even in two days a change has been wrought. The majority of the citizenry have had their wounds tended to for the most part, stitches and bandages and splints and soothing unguents applied to cuts, bruises, broken bones and burns. Those whose homes still stand have returned to them, the rest being housed in public buildings or the homes of neighbours who have shared in their suffering, and now seek ease from it. Most of those who venture into the streets have cleaned themselves, donned fresh clothes and now move to aid in the relief effort. A makeshift canteen distributes simple but nourishing bread and stew to those rendered homeless, or who remain too distraught to cook for themselves.

From chaos and fear, there has been brought forth order and comfort.

At the heart of things the Constabulary works alongside the Brotherhood and the Knights, a collection of pavilion tents clustered alongside the town's church; a steady flow of relief workers moves among them, and it may take the mapmaker and the trader some minutes to find opportunity to speak someone who might be able to arrange a meeting with the High Constable. Yet once the message is passed to him, he emerges soon after and hurries the two of them to a quiet corner of the church grounds, listening to their words carefully, glancing between the two of them. Little sign of the flippancy which led him to declare them a "sweet couple" a few nights ago, but he certainly notes that shared touch. No comment made, however.

"Ah. Vraal. Please, speak on." A nod to Rhaena to thank her for her forebearance, before his attention returns to Glenn. Listening. Intent.

[Jirai]

Rhaena

It was time well spent, allowing her to put the information about both the Ashfiend and Vraal into better context. She was largely silent for the ride, simply absorbing the information, perhaps only a question or two simply to clarify one point or another.

After arriving in Foggy Bottom, the girl would accompany the mapmaker on his errand. But that was brief enough, and it wasn't long before the veiled girl was standing silently beside Glenn, before the High Constable. In truth, the mapmaker's uncomfortableness was somewhat amusing - hadn't this been his idea in the first place, bluffing or no?

[Glenn]

If she wasn't shielding, he would very much pick up on her amusement and shoot her quite a look for her trouble.

Before long, though, his eyes would be back on Calomel. "As best I can tell, ser," Back to distanced professionalism. It was jarring how quickly he would move back and forth with this man. "He called upon Patience Mayfield, Ser Malaroth's young squire, to meet him in the Dagger and began to give her the same offer he's given Jinni and others before. I intervened before he could get to the bracelets, feigning mild intoxication and doing my best to discredit him. My apologies for the directness, but I thought it was quite important not to allow her to be compromised at the time."

Somewhere in there, about the time he had spoken of his feigned mild intoxication, he pushed a thought in Rhaena's direction, "Not a word, not even a grin at that." So what if he had a few glasses of wine first. He probably would have had more sense NOT to encounter Vraal otherwise.

A pause, just long enough for Cinnabar to digest these words, not long enough for him to speak. It was amazing, sometimes, how much Glenn could manage to say on one breath. Now he was coming off of his second. "I'm not convinced she believed me in the face of Vraal's counter-arguments, but I did put enough doubt in her head that she withdrew, for now. It was then that Quiller came downstairs and began arguing with Vraal."

Again, a thought in Rhaena's direction. "Not a word about that punch either!"

Glenn continued. "Not much of use there, I'm afraid, ser. He claims the Violet Dawn to be not centered upon any single god, but instead about freeing one's self. By then Rhaena and I had retreated upstairs. Vraal left soon after without any further incident." Finally, an exhale. That was the easy part. He would allow Cinnabar to reply, to voice any questions, and then Rhaena could speak and he would do his very best to keep his mouth shut during that, no matter how little he was looking forward to it.

[Jirai]

Rhaena

As if he could -see- if I grinned. The girl pointed out silently. And she was grinning - but of course it was hidden by the veil, even as she had said. Still, she held silent throughout the rush of Glenn's words. And would remain so, waiting to see if the Constable had any questions before speaking her piece.

[Cinnabar]

The High Constable listens quietly as is his way, frowning in understandable concern at this news of the attempted temptation of the squire; offers, but shakes his head at Glenn's apology as if to dismiss it.

"You did what was necessary at the time. Better tactlessness than to allow one of Malaroth's squires to fall under Vraal's sway." So, approval; he doesn't exactly say thank you, but it's clear enough that he's pleased with the mapmaker's actions. Then there's this further information, and a wry grimace at mention of the gypsy, That Infernal Woman as Calomel is coming to think of her.

"I've had word of Quiller's presence at the Dagger, so that comes as no great surprise; such recklessness seems to be one of her defining traits, in any case. No matter." Then there's this information on the Violet Dawn, which has the man nodding again, dropping his voice somewhat as if concerned about eavesdroppers.

"That seems to be their general ethos, though it's more detail than I'd had previously, so thank you for that. The mask of philanthropy and charity makes opposing them outright a... delicate matter, unfortunately. We have a number of their membership here in Foggy Bottom, in fact." A sly glance for the street where relief workers and townsfolk move to and fro. Ah. Eavesdroppers indeed. "The ones with the purple tattoos. Mind what you say around them."

He nods at that, gaze intent upon Glenn's features and Rhaena's veil to be sure they understand him. When next he speaks it is with a brighter voice, and a genial grin to Rhaena.

"But enough of that! You mention that you had an offer of some sort, Miss Olwak?"

[Jirai]

Rhaena

"I do, sir." Her hand would relax, fingers slipping free of Glenn's - if he allowed them to. If he did not, she'd not force them free. Surprising herself, she was actually fairly nervous. She took a deep breath before continuing. "Mister Burnie informed me... that this Fiend is, well, driven by emotion. By hate." She began. "I am able to feel such things. And at a distance, if it were strong enough emotion." The girl could do more than that, in truth, but she held to her promise and said nothing of such things. "I might be able to aid you, sir, in.. locating him." There was a slight shift of her veiled face towards Glenn for a moment, then back to Calomel.

[Glenn]

Glenn let her remove her hand, though there was certainly a frown associated with that decision. He actually seemed at a loss for a moment without the link. Talking to her without Cinnabar hearing was now rather impossible. The man had powerful ears. Glenn had learned that the hard way. Fine, then. He'd just do it at full volume, for the High Constable. It was what he and Rhaena had agreed to, after all. "This is in exchange for whatever protection can be provided for her, Cinnabar." It wasn't that he didn't have faith in her skills, but oh had he ever made her tone down her initial offer! Even so, he was still worried about Teron somehow being able to track her down, no matter how well she could shield herself.

[Cinnabar]

Hm. An interesting offer, and it's clear enough that the veiled girl's words have piqued Calomel's curiosity. Intriging.

"I'd certainly be willing to consider such an offer, and if indeed you can locate him that would be of considerable use. There's still the issue of what we do with him once we have him, but that's a work in progress." He shrugs at that, the matter clearly not being relevant to the discussion at hand.

"I would obviously be willing to provide whatever protection I can, should you so assist us. It should be noted, though, that such protection can only go so far." This is... something of a sore point, unfortunately. "I can provide men to defend you from physical attack, at least long enough to escort you from immediate danger; however, against the creature's other talents we can do less. It is quite simply beyond our means at this time." A regretful glance between the two before his gaze settles on Rhaena once more.

"What risk would this pose to yourself, Miss Olwak? In all honesty I am wary of encouraging any form of contact with the ghoul, physical or arcane; following the results of Alastir Savoy's ill-advised encounter, I would not see a similar thing befall you." His gaze his level as he regards the girl, grey eyes meeting her own. "If there is not such a risk then I would be glad of your assistance. If there is... well. I would not wish to hold you to such an offer."

[Glenn]

Glenn's hand opened and closed repeatedly. It wasn't shaking, but there was definitely something of a new nervous tick to it. Why had she taken her hand away, anyway? Still, his expression remained cool. The thought of Rhaena ending up just like Alastir was one of the most horrific Glenn could imagine right now. Why had he even agreed to this in the first place? He realized that even without the link, she was almost certainly picking up on his emotions, and he duly made an effort to tone them down. Well, Rhaena, can you truly tell the High Constable that your risk in this would be minimal?

[Jirai]

Rhaena

There was a nod for the Constable, and another small glance for Glenn. Oh yes, she was picking up on his worry. But back to Cinnabar she looked. "Of course there are limitations to your aid, Constable." She responded quietly. "I would not expect any differently." In truth, she'd not have requested even that, save for the mapmaker's demands. There was a small moment of hesitation for his next words, though. "Sir, I know what happened to Mister Savoy." Intimately. As did Glenn, of course. "I do not know all of this Fiend's abilities." She answered honestly. "But for my own, I can say that I am better able to shield my own mind than Alastir his. I do not make this offer ignorant of the risks."

[Cinnabar]

The High Constable considers for a time, a handful of heartbeats before finally he nods.

"Then it will be so. Make whatever efforts are necessary; I will have Constable Toller draw up a duty roster for your protection, beginning as soon as is required." Not without qualms, not without grave reservations on the wisdom of this business; and yet, what else can be done? How else might they track and locate the Ashfiend? To bring him to bay? We do what we can, and what we must. A quiet sigh, then.

"Thank you for your assistance. Miss Olwak. Mister Burnie. Will that be all?"

[Glenn]

Well, that's what you agreed to Rhaena. Usefulness came at a cost and unless that cost was going to be safety, you'll have to get very used to the presence of some nice Constables for the near future. Still, how could he help but admire her for her bravery in this. THAT he would let radiate without any shielding at all.

"One last thing, ser. About Karolinger," And perhaps Glenn should show a bit more discretion. This was the best friend of the man's lover with them now, was it not? Perhaps it was moot, at this point, when it came to her anyway. "He came to me last night asking about the Fiend, honestly frustrated, I believe. I am going to keep him in the loop as best as I can from now on. I think that would be for the best. Thought you had a right to know." How else was he going to learn anything? Just just with a few maps and some minor training with the recruits? "That's all."