|
|
Post by Eidlin Isilramel on Sept 25, 2005 15:22:53 GMT -5
Eidlin walked into the empty town square for the second time since she arrived in Rhyfaugh. The first time there was a happy feel to the emptiness, now there was naught but silence. Night had fallen over the city who's residents slept in peace. None walked down the streets that were not baggers or drunks who could not find their own door home and who's wifes cared not if they did.
The half-elf, a practical stranger to them all, fought to find the same peace as the townsfolk, but hers dwelt in silence, in the solitude of night.
Coming to a stop in her night stroll, the girl looked at the well that was situated in the middle of the market place for the use of all. Placing her hand on the bucket she dropped it deep into the depths. Then moving to the side, she turned the crank to pull up the rope and now heavy bucket that held in it the cool water that would happily quench anyone's thirst.
Pulling the bucket to the edge of the well, Eidlin sat on one of it's sides and drank the water from a cup that rested by the bucket stand. She had done so often in the nights that she had traveled on her own beyond the kingdom of Adunasir. The thought of travel sent a melancholy laugh out of her chest and into the night.
"Is there anything here for you?" she asked herself out loud. "Is it not better to leave once and for all?"
The coldness that was in her voice made a shiver go up her spine. The thought of leaving was hard for her to control, for she wanted to leave, but could not. Closing her eyes, she fought the tears that threatened to spill from her brown eyes.
|
|
|
|
Post by dodger on Sept 25, 2005 17:43:21 GMT -5
Li casually strolled quietly through the streets as a night guard would. Checking to make sure citizens were safe inside their homes, checking doors to see that they are locked tightly, and keeping an eye out for hoodlums.
As he entered the square he spotted a young woman seated at the well. Immediately she didn't seem like she was doing anything wrong or harmful so he decided he'd approach her respectfully.
"Excuse me, miss? Is there a reason you're out here so late at night?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Eidlin Isilramel on Sept 25, 2005 17:56:24 GMT -5
The woman's brown eyes turned in the direction from where the voice came. The man was not someone she had met before, for his voice was unknown, but his manner did not place him as a threat in her eyes. Deciding that a response was required, she answered as honestly as she could. "The reason I'm out so late, good sir, is that the noise of the city in the day time is not as inviting as it is at night."
|
|
|
|
Post by dodger on Sept 26, 2005 9:08:36 GMT -5
At hearing her answer brought relief to know that she's wasn't up to any mischief.
"Ah, I should know this truth. Indeed the night is more peaceful."
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyconus on Sept 26, 2005 13:30:21 GMT -5
Above the buildings upon the roof, a man ran from rooftop to rooftop, enjoying the cool air and the night. He felt free again now that he was no longer just human again.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eidlin Isilramel on Sept 26, 2005 15:28:09 GMT -5
"Ah, I should know this truth. Indeed the night is more peaceful."
Eidlin nodded, allowing a small smile to creep into her face despite the turmoil in her mind. However both actions were probably hidden from this stranger by the night.
"Than is it correct for me to assume that you have traveled far, sir? For I have come to learn that townsfolk usually do not appreciate the night, never truly seeing it. It is only after a person finds him or herself out alone in an isolated place at night, do they really come to love the peace and quiet that it holds."
Eidlin had, at this point, slid off from the edge of the well and stood facing the man. Before she had any time to respond further, a loud noise reached her ears from the buildings that lined their side of the street, just a little way beyond the well.
Turning in the direction of this thumping sound, Eidlin tried to see whether it was one of the town dwellers that had made the noise, or whether it was something else. Seeing nothing on the street, Eidlin never thought of looking up. Disregarding the sound for that made by a dog in an adjacent street, she turned her attention back to the man before her.
|
|
|
|
Post by dodger on Sept 26, 2005 20:11:26 GMT -5
...who had his ears and eyes trained in the direction of said noise. Li heard it. And from his experiences he guessed that it came from a foot striking a rooftop.
'Amatuer.'
Li was still uncertain, however, if this person who bounding the skyline was a threat or not. But he wasn't without thought of the young lady at the well.
"Perhaps you should go indoors...for your safety, miss." He said looking towards the rooftops.
He noticed his own hand was itchy to draw his two-and-a-half foot long sword that was sheathed on his back.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eidlin Isilramel on Sept 26, 2005 22:35:31 GMT -5
Eidlin's piercing gaze fell on the man's face, now that she had picked it out of the darkness. He was looking up, toward the rooftops of the small houses lining the street.
The woman looked up as well, although her eyes did not pick out any movement from above.
"My good sir," she told him with a wry smile, "I'm grateful for your concern for a mere stranger, however I must say that it is unnecessary." Out of habit, the girl placed her hand on the hilt of her own blade, a gift from a high elf which hung safely from her belt on her dress.
"What do you think that was?" she finally asked him, quietly, as she looked along the rooftops. She could tell that the noise had alerted the man more than it did her.
|
|
|
|
Post by dodger on Sept 27, 2005 7:41:05 GMT -5
Li took in an air and dissected the smells. He detected something knew: a person: a human: a human man. That's as far as his training could tell him.
"It's a man."
Li glanced down at her means of defense, then was back looking upward.
"That's a pretty trinket. And lovely to look at. But does it cut?"
Li knew it was high elven. For some reason he had always had a problem with high elven weaponry. His opinion was, Sure it's all elegant looking and nice to wear for ceremonies. But can it be used to get a job done? Can it kill something?
He didn't wait for her answer, "Madam, please. Seek shelter."
And in a second his ran toward the buildings, lept, and crawled up to the apex of a home. His eyes were trained into the darkness, searching for any movement.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyconus on Sept 27, 2005 13:29:03 GMT -5
Lyconus slid into the shadows as another man appeared and apparently was looking for him. "If you have come looking for a fight, I say turn back now, for I am not interested." He called from the shadows.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eidlin Isilramel on Sept 27, 2005 14:09:56 GMT -5
"That's a pretty trinket. And lovely to look at. But does it cut?" the man asked her in a voice that carried a hint of sarcasm if not dislike in Eidlin's eyes.
"Trust me, good sir," she told him cooly, "I do not wear such trinkets for show. If it did not cut, it would not have replaced the sword with many years of experience with this."
She knew that he probably did not care for her answer as he cut her off rather curtly and scaled the side of the closest home, probably in search of whoever made the noise. Eidlin had half a mind to leave the stranger to his little game while continuing her walk, when a familiar voice reached her ears from above. It only took a few second for the voice to register in her mind.
Eidlin turned around so rapidly, her wavy brown hair whipped her mercilessly in the face. She ran in the same direction as the stranger had only moments before. Passing the house he had scaled so easily, she hoped to apprehend him before he reached his prey by climbing up the side of a building a little before his. Seeing a merchant's stall on a corner of one of the houses, Eidlin used a large stack of crates as stairs to climb to a good five foot hight and than stepping on one of the corner poles of the stall, she pulled herself up to the roof of the building.
Just as she swung her right leg over to the roof, the bottom of her green dress caught on one of the nails that stuck out from the stall. Yanking it up, she let the material rip through before climbing to her feet, mumbling to herself about the uselessness of dresses. Looking to both sides, she tried to detect any movement that could berhaps let her detect either man.
She was positive that the man who's movement along the rooftops caught the stranger's attention was her friend, and she did not want to see him get hurt. Surely, if she stopped the stranger from jumping to conclusions, she could stop the both of them from engaging in any form of a fight. Yet, to her resentment, she could not pick either of them out in the darkness.
|
|
|
|
Post by dodger on Sept 27, 2005 17:01:12 GMT -5
"Nor am I, sir," Li responded immediately. For he wasn't, "Only in those who wish to do harm, or commit crime. So please show yourself if you have nothing to hide."
Li's eyes were straining to see into the darkness. He prevented himself from drawing his weapon.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lyconus on Sept 27, 2005 17:35:21 GMT -5
"As you wish." Lyconus replied and stepped out of the shadows. "I am Lyconus, and who are you?"
|
|
|
|
Post by dodger on Sept 27, 2005 22:22:32 GMT -5
Li stood up to greet the man, "My name is Xai Yung Li. It's a pleasure to make your aquaintance......as awkward as the situation might be."
Li noticed a small inviting grin coming out.
|
|
|
|
Post by Eidlin Isilramel on Sept 27, 2005 22:50:44 GMT -5
Eidlin's fear of the men's meeting melted as she smiled at their exchange of greetings. As soon as Lyconus stepped into the light, she learned of their position on the roof and half walked, half crawled over to them. Not interrupting their exchange, she waited patiently to greet her friend.
"It's been a while hasn't it Lyconus?" she asked with a smile.
Suddenly, her foot slipped a little on the roof of the house and she gasped as she fought to regain her balance. Not being a fan of heights, the girl decided that her presence was not needed further, considering the fact that neither man was angry at the other.
She bowed her head to both before saying, "I fear my presence has been a nuisance to you. I'd much rather stay on the ground. Thus, if our ways part here, it was nice to see you, Lyconus. And as for you, my good sir," she said turning to the stranger, "I fear I forget my manners easily. My name is Eidlin Isilramel. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
With that, she lowered herself over the edge of the roof and using the same crates reached the ground. Feeling better, she wondered if the two men would come down as well, or not. In any case, she looked down both sides of the street, wondering where she was to go now, for the night was not entirely gone.
|
|
