Logs > Gamma Logs > The Dark of Night

The Dark of Night

[Silver Plum, Smoking Room]
Large soft leather easy chairs placed randomly around small coffee tables invite visitors to kick off their shoes and relax awhile. Against the far wall, a large portrait has been placed over the mantle of a stone fireplace. Soft light from a crystal chandelier filters through the smoke to make the room seem ethereal and highlights the kirchewood bar. Looking through the glass windows of the french doors is a view of the dining room. You see Yrael the bartender.

Billowing clouds of sweet-smelling tobacco fill the air.

Papers rustling and glasses clinking makes a comfy atmosphere.
A pair of glass doors open, and Xelian steps into the room.

> read book
[page 25]

"We?" Ralin said, blinking incredulously at Ahia. "You don't mean that
I . ." Ralin stopped at the expression on Ahia's face, confirming his fears. He
shook his head slowly at her.
"No." Ralin stepped back from Ahia. "You've got the wrong person. He
drove me to my knees with a blink, I can do nothing to help you. There is
nothing I can do."
"Do you wish to help her?"
Ralin blinked. She seemed to know a great deal, more than he expected.

Xelian says, "Ah, good."
Xelian smiles at you.
You raise your head and look at Xelian.
You ask, "You again? Does these books attract you?"
You grin at Xelian.
Xelian nods.
You say, "I'm thinking of setting up a reading circle."
You sigh.
Xelian says, "My unquenchable thirst for knowledge."
Xelian gazes upwards to the heavens.
You say, "That way I can just ask everyone else how it came out."
Xelian sits down on a large easy chair.
Xelian peers at your flimsy hide-bound book.
You show your flimsy hide-bound book to Xelian.
Xelian says, "Ohhh...I've read that! Tis very good."
You lean forward while sitting on the large easy chair.
You ask, "How does it come out?"
Xelian glances at you.
You laugh quietly.
You say, "All right. I submit."
You shake your flimsy hide-bound book.
Xelian chuckles.
You say, "It is very good, I'm just having trouble finding my place whenever I leave off."
Xelian gestures to Yrael.
Xelian asks, "Especially when I come in just at the good parts, eh?"
Xelian opens an embroidered satin reticule.
You say, "The lovely nymph has just awakened Ralin, so yes."
Xelian smiles faintly.
Xelian nods.
Xelian gets a couple royals from an embroidered satin reticule.
Xelian stands up.
Xelian slips her arms into her woven ivory messaline pelisse.
Xelian says, "Wearier than I thought."
You give Xelian a worried look.
Xelian sits down on a large easy chair.
Xelian says, "Jurion....been thinkin' about somethin'"
Xelian says, "Cannot get it off my mind, these past couple of days."
You act: Jurion tucks his finger into his book.
Xelian hands Yrael the bartender some money.
Yrael the bartender turns to the shelves behind him and pours a shot of brandy into a snifter. He hands it over to Xelian and says, "Enjoy!"
Yrael the bartender gives Xelian her change.
You ask, "What's the trouble?"
Xelian puts a handful of sovereigns in her embroidered satin reticule.
Xelian closes an embroidered satin reticule.
Xelian says, "I keep thinkin' about our letter to the prince, that was stolen from Caritas."
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
You act: Jurion props his chin on his fist.
Xelian asks, "At first I thought perhaps they were after our writ, and made a mistake, remember?"
You nod to Xelian.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
Xelian says, "But then I started thinkin', perhaps the letter was the exact thing they wanted. Perhaps to prevent Caritas from going to the palace, and tryin' to deliver it."
Xelian leans forward while sitting on the large easy chair.
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
You say, "What good would it do them? I could just as easily pay her a visit myself and deliver it again."
Xelian whispers, "because maybe...the recepient is not even there."
Xelian says, "True enough."
You begin to say something, then hesitate.
Crackling loudly, a log pops suddenly in the fireplace.
Xelian bites her lip.
You say, "Nothing in her demeanor suggested that."
You say, "Although she did say that she fears he doesn't hear from the common folk as often as he should."
Xelian asks, "Had she mentioned if she saw him lately?"
You shake your head slowly.
You say, "Only that she'd be happy to carry kind words to him."
Xelian says, "Where is the prince, Jurion? Think of this..."
Xelian says, "This conflict goes on, and there has been not a word from the palace. Not a parchment posted."
You say, "I did think..."
You say, "It was odd that Sutton's name was on all the orders thus far."
Xelian exclaims, "Merow is executed, hurriedly, before dawn. Neither the prince nor a high official in attendance. An execution for treason!"
You wince slightly.
You ask, "No one was there?"
Xelian says, "Aye, the announcement followin' Merow's death...also posted by Sutton."
Xelian takes a quick sip of her brandy.
You say, "What... how long did they wait before they captured him and then..."
Xelian says, "There was no wait."
You say, "I'd only spoken to him the day before."
You ask, "They took him straight to the scaffold?"
Xelian nods at her brandy snifter.
You open your mouth as if to say something.
You ask, "Wasn't this what you've all been working for? Exposure of the traitor and his execution?"
Xelian says, "Because..."that is what he wanted," they say. To be executed quickly, without a trail."
You say, "Then that explains it."
Xelian says, "Exposure of a traitor, to be sure."
You say, "I don't know."
You say, "Perhaps he's merely delegating."
Xelian says, "But for a first sergeant and a couple of guardsman and their mates, to take him to the place of highest punishment, in the dark of night..."
Xelian shivers slightly.
You say, "This is what happens when we have justice in this city."
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You say, "Whether Yurt or Vek, it goes the same way."
You say, "The same people who were baying for his blood were crying when the axe fell, Xelian."
Xelian flinches.
Xelian says, "Not I."
You say, "No. And for that I'm grateful."
You say, "But you know there were others."
You say, "The matter of the Prince..."
Xelian nods.
You say, "I don't know. We could try to arrange an audience."
Xelian nods to you.
You say, "I could beat on the Lady Ambassador's door for a few hours and see if I can speak to her."
Xelian says, "I was hopin' ye would say that."
Xelian says, "I tried to find her home the other night, but wasn't even sure where she lives. Here or up in Kem."
You say, "No, it's here. It's right around the corner, in fact."
Xelian rolls her brandy snifter between her hands.
You say, "I had tried to see her last week, but she wasn't in."
You say, "I worry about the Duchess, as well."
Xelian peers at you.
You ask, "Did she ever go to the Festival?"
You ask, "I only saw that what's her name... Tania? Tansia?"
You say, "No lady I ever heard of before. Very catty with the Lady Ambassador."
Xelian asks, "I never made it to the festival. Sarafina did not appear?"
Xelian says, "Tansy, I think. I have heard of her, and heard she is horrid."
You say, "Not that I saw."
You ask, "Has anyone talked to Sydreal about what actually happened when the letter was stolen?"
Xelian says, "I have tried to find Sydreal since that day, to no avail."
You say, "Perhaps we should make a point of asking him personally about it."
You say, "I... Well, I spoke of it to Merow."
Xelian furrows her brow.
You say, "He told me not to worry over it."
Xelian says, "Hm."
You say, "In any case, we cannot ask him now."
Xelian rubs her neck.
Xelian says, "Not unless I go find him in the Ul Mydar."
You rub your arm.
You say, "That I don't want to speak of."
Xelian says, "And I've a feelin' he would say...cannot help ye now, lass."
Xelian takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly.
Xelian asks, "Do ye recall who was there when ye gave Caritas the letter?"
You act: Jurion laces his fingers together.
Crackling loudly, a log pops suddenly in the fireplace.
You nod to Xelian.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You say, "Let me think a moment."
You close your eyes.
You say, "Reckless, Twyie, Deloria, Denita..."
You say, "Tarshin and Aira, but she was going in and out."
You say, "And Jael, of course."
You open your eyes.
Xelian asks, "And all heard ye mention it was a letter for Vek, eh?"
A pair of glass doors open, and Severin steps into the room.
You nod to Xelian.
Severin waves.
You wave to Severin.
Xelian smiles at Severin.
Severin says, "Evening."
Xelian pats a large easy chair.
Severin asks, "For me?"
Xelian nods.
Severin smiles.
Xelian asks, "Like the fabric?"
Severin says, "I'll treasure it, always."
Severin chuckles.
Xelian says, "Tis your color."
Severin opens an embroidered deep purple cotton sack.
Severin gets a single imperial from an embroidered deep purple cotton sack.
You say, "It's your color, DuMont."
Severin asks, "Plum?"
Severin chuckles.
You ask, "What have you got against plum, o lavender dandy?"
Severin puts a great number of sovereigns in his embroidered deep purple cotton sack.
Severin closes an embroidered deep purple cotton sack.
Severin says, "Nothing at all."
Severin walks over to a large easy chair.
Severin kisses Xelian on the cheek.
Xelian says, "Aye, looks deeply purple to me."
Xelian smiles at Severin.
Severin says, "But it is, it is."
Severin smiles at Xelian.
Severin asks, "Did you get the copy of the script I had sent to you?" of Xelian.
You exclaim, "The script! The script!"
You say, "All fall before the script."
Severin glances at you and winces.
Xelian laughs.
You say, "That reminds me, Sev, you need to give me your master copy so I can scribe it for you."
Severin says, "I've got a lot tied up in this, Tamerlaine. It's not polite to poke fun."
Xelian says, "Aye, I have, but have not had a moment to give it a good read."
You say, "It's either that or hang myself."
Xelian pats her embroidered pale lavender leather pouch.
Severin nods to Xelian.
Severin says, "Good. Take your time and savor the words as Jurion savors sausages."
You say, "I've given up eating. It only prolongs the agony."
Severin asks, "The agony of..?"
Severin glances at you.
You say, "Whatever you like."
Xelian says, "I'll look over it when I go up. I've a feelin' will be another sleepless night."
Severin asks, "Do I sense a tone of morbidity in your voice?" of you.
Xelian says, "I almost set the whole place afire the other night."
Severin chuckles.
Severin says, "This town needs a good fire."
You say, "I assure you, Severin, if I do fall on my dagger it shall be because the peasants threw tomatoes at me during my death scene in your play."
Xelian says, "Kot was tryin' to sleep, and I tried to shade the lamp with a cloth, and..."
Xelian winces.
Severin says, "With luck, I'll be able to join them in their accolades to your talent."
You wince.
Severin smiles sweetly at you.
Xelian says, "I advise not to try it."
You ask, "You know I'm sleeping just next door?" of Xelian.
Xelian nods to you.
Severin laughs.
Severin says, "I'm off to bed myself, children. Do take care."
You say, "Sinjinn's already threatening to send banes after the maids."
Xelian says, "I would have stopped to knock if the place was burnin' down. Truly."
You nod to Severin.
Xelian rubs Severin gently.
You say, "I'm retiring in a moment, myself."
Severin chuckles to himself.
You close your flimsy hide-bound book.
Xelian says, "Good night, Sev."
You put a flimsy hide-bound book in your embroidered black leather pouch.
You close an embroidered black leather pouch.
Severin says, "Good night, Xelian."
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
Severin bows.
Severin waves to you.
You wave.
Severin heads through some glass doors.
Xelian says, "I ought to get myself up, as well."
Xelian stands up.
Xelian stretches.
You nod to Xelian.
You say, "I'll see about arranging an audience with someone."
Xelian says, "And I will work on finding Sydreal."
You say, "Remind me to show you where the Lady Ambassador lives, and I'll write another copy of the letter for you."
You say, "Then we can swap shifts camping before her door."
Xelian nods to you.
Xelian chuckles softly.
You say, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."
Xelian nods grimly.
You say, "Good night, Xelian. Tell your man he's missing out on a wonderful acting opportunity."
You say, "I know he loathes us, but he could have fame and fortune."
You grin wryly.
Xelian rolls her eyes.
Xelian says, "I will remind him of the fortune part of it."
You say, "If he doesn't act, I'm going to make him hand out flyers."
Xelian exclaims, "But he will only end up tryin' to sell 'em!"
You say, "Or play usher... he could make money that way."
You say, "That would be all right."
You grin at Xelian.
You say, "At least he'd be involved."
Xelian laughs softly.
Xelian nods.
Xelian walks over to a large easy chair.
Xelian kisses you on the forehead.
Your face feels hot as the color rises to your cheeks.
You hug Xelian.
Xelian says, "Good night, Jurion."
Xelian smiles.
You say, "Good night."
You smile warmly at Xelian.
Xelian draws her pelisse tightly around her body.
Xelian heads through some glass doors.