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Post by Ekaterina on Jul 12, 2006 13:32:12 GMT -5
"I didn't give him a chance to protest or try and talk me out of it. I knew I had to enact and quickly before ...." Just like every joke had a punch line, so did every tale to be told. Though instead of the common drum roll that impacted what was spoken, this would be more like a right hook followed by an upper cut. The common move in the boxing ring that would have the opponent out past the ten counts. It had sent the stead reserve of the knight staggering with the impact of her words, now she had to prepare for yet another reaction. "...before another ghost was chosen. It'll only be a matter of time that it's learned that I am closer to Aloysius than they can know." Quite admittance in that comment spoken, would he catch on to the innuendo that was so plainly offered without her having to be more direct?
As sharp as his reactions had been with the mention of Indigo and Cricket, slightly sharper was his reaction to the couched admittance she spoke at that moment. Turning his head swiftly, he was again glancing down at her, but with a more intent and somewhat hardened gaze accented by the deep creases of wrinkled brow and etched lines of his features. At first, he said not a word, the gamut of the more pronounced emotions flickering through his expression until at last; he curtly spun on a boot heel and pointedly stepped away from her. A dozen steps were taken before with another spin on the same boot heel had him in effect stalking back towards her, his hands drawing from trouser pockets to clasp behind his back. Flushed anger made it difficult for him to find the words at first, and when at last he did speak, his voice was low and rough like a roughened whisper. "The consequences of failure catch up with everyone eventually." Dark hues narrowed on her before instead of turning, he stepped around her to walk passed and away. But the distance covered was minimal yet upon pausing, he paid her no mind in favor of staring out over the dark lake with its shimmering lunar reflection. The brief flash of anger quickly dissolved as his head lowering, pitched hues closed. She had taken at least one risk in confiding to him the seriousness of Aloysius' situation, and certainly recognized the truth the possibilities of her actions in bringing about her own plausible demise as well. A hand breaking free from behind his back was raised, the fingers and thumb pinching the bridge of his nose, still with his head held forward. Shoulders barely lifted and lowered with the subdued inhale and subsequent exhale, followed with nearly a whisper under his breath. "'Oh, what tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to deceive...'"
Head snapped, as did those pale eyes in his direction. What ever her thoughts at this point, what ever she was feeling, was being masterfully masked by the emotionless state she had encompassed herself with, a cool calm. "My only failure Mein Herr Nicodemis has been to myself in going against all the rules I had laid down for myself. I come to care for others, a weakness I have avoided for as long as I can remember. One that could very well be a fatal mistake I have made...." Not to mention the development of a conscience and compassion. "...The one who's favored in this is Aloysius; at least he is now aware of what he's up against, to a degree. It was either fate or luck that I was the one chosen, for if any other he would be dead by now, of that I can assure you. If I hadn't befriended you, then in turn he, my hand would never been stayed. I had not this contract when we first met, but it was given to me after and upon acceptance I learned the name of whom I was to target." A frown now formed upon her features, suddenly she felt as if double the weight of the world rested upon her shoulders. "I intend to see what I can do to stop this, even if it means hunting this Cricket down and killing her myself. One thing for certain, one way or another I'll be out of both of your lives so you'll never have to relive this moment due to my presence. Either I'll fail and no longer be of this world, or if I succeed I'll simply disappear...." A glance over at him, then away. "..It's what I'm specialized in." The last but a hushed utterance of words, she'd then slowly turns and begin to pace the edge of the lake in a direction away from him. At least she got to live a few moments of happiness, which will have to carry her thought what life she had left.
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Post by Ekaterina on Jul 12, 2006 13:32:43 GMT -5
Hand drawn away from his nose allowed him to raise his head, turning the same as he listened to her. Even with the emotionless values of both her voice and her words, he kept his silence as if being tongue-lashed in rightful admonishing. Lifting his voice so she would hear, he called after her. "Trotz, ob Sie folgen oder ausfallen, Fräulein, werde ich noch ohne einen Kursteilnehmer und einen Bediener...um gelassen einen Freund nicht zu erwähnen." A weak but honestly sincere smile surfaced as hands were once again slipped into trouser pockets, but it was for a moment longer, as he watched for her reaction, that he remained where he stood before hesitantly taking a first step in retreat back to her.
Forward motion would cease and she stood there for a long moment without moving. Slowly she'd turn to look back at him with a mixed look of confusion and surprise to have distorted youthful features. His first reaction she was quite prepared for, in fact, it made her wanting to simply disappear all the more easier. When he began heading towards her, she'd fully turn to face him. "I've never been in a situation like this before. It's clouded my thoughts and my judgment, as well as my reactions." She had never been dishonest with either of them; she's just never fully offered the truth about who she honestly was or what she did. Of course for good reason, this should be abundantly clear given the present situation in which they were dealing with. "I don't think Aloysius told you, because he may have been protecting me. I can't say for sure, nor will I stand firm on this. I know he's not dealing with it well, and given the circumstances, I can honestly understand."
His approach towards her ended with only a mere meter or two separately him, and as boots were placed shoulder-width apart for better stability, he was nodding to what she said last. "I think you're right on that score, that he was protecting you. Not that I would have sought you out to save him if he had told me..." The shake of his head was truthful emphasis on his statement. "He knows, as do I now, the danger you've put yourself by telling us what you have. I imagine he's spent a considerable amount of time thinking about how he can return the favor. Something I know I will be doing myself while we have the time." Pitched hues fell to an ambiguous area between them, pondering a thought or two before meeting her gaze with his. "In the meanwhile, rest assured that neither Aloysius nor I will say anything to anyone about what you've told either one of us."
She was simply amazed at the reaction she had gotten from either of them. Having readied herself for any battle they could throw at her, it was more of a feeling of getting caught with her knickers about her knees in a precarious position. It would be the look upon her face as she just stared at him, for a moment unable to say anything then slowly she'd shake her head. "I don't expect repayment for anything I do Nicodemis. I'm in a position where I can help a dear friend. For once I do something good in a lifetime of wrongs." Having never viewed her actions as such, it was just a job. Always she kept her marks faceless, it made it easier that way, having learned the hard way in the beginning of her career. A deep breath taken as she turned to look out over the lake. "I really do thank you for keeping my secret, and I owe Aloysius a greater one, because he did so from one that's more than a friend." Her voice has softened. "I want to protect Aloysius; he's endured enough pain over this. Even prisoners are forgiven after they've served their time."
Shuffled boots repositioned him to stand sideways to her, his own attention drawn in a similar direction, that over the dark waters. Again, his head was nodding in agreement to her last and his response was made in a soft, heartfelt if reflective tone. "I feel the same way, Ekaterina, Aloysius should have peace for whatever remains of his natural life. You're right; he's paid his penance and suffered his regrets far too long."
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Post by Ekaterina on Jul 12, 2006 13:33:11 GMT -5
"I will do what I can Nicodemis, of that you have my word, or I'll die trying. I have devised a plan that I'm going to attempt. I won't share the details, it's best if you don't know and most of all that Aloysius never find out. I have contacted some associates of mine to enlist their assistance. He's going to need to lay low, find any excuse you can to see he does. If he's seen walking around alive, then I'll surely fail." Soft were her words and as they were spoken she continued to gaze out over the lake. It would be upon their conclusion that she'd finally look over at him.
He simply nodded his acknowledgement when she concluded; there was no need or reason to verbalize his understanding as she had been clear with her explanation. Even without knowing the details she withheld from him, he certainly could understand the need to do so and wouldn't protest or press for further information. What he knew was enough for the moment, and that contented him. Dark gaze narrowed somewhat as he considered a few notions. "I'll have him come and stay with me at the pub and I'll have him kept out of sight by doing something like repairs in the old stable..." A smile began to form and raise higher the corners of his mouth as more and more thoughts presented themselves for consideration. "I'm certain I can find ways to keep him out of general sight."
"That's good." The smile that presented itself upon unpainted lips surfaces could only be described as weary at best. Her attention would turn back upon the lake once more. "Thanks for not hating me Nicodemis. It would have killed me within if you had." She valued his friendship that much, and now with him having full knowledge, it was a heavy trust she had placed within him. He brightened a world that was once lackluster in it's colors of only black and white, by opening her eyes to the very things she had been missing for so long.
"Hate you... Don't be silly..." There was a humor in his chuckle as well as a show of amusement in the brief sparkle of moonlight in one dark hue. "No, having done things far worse, it would be...almost hypocritical of me to hate you. And besides--" a glance was made in her direction "—you redeemed yourself in my eyes by confessing."
Attention would turn from the lake to redirect upon him. A bit more of a smile, though it was still weak in nature. "Now you can go to him and let him know I shared my secret with you also. Perhaps it will help him to open up to you in a manner he never could we me. You have history with him, I am but a stranger that appeared in his life, a shadow of his existence. He'll need your support for old wounds are being ripped open."
"And the scarring of such runs deep." It was almost sagely that he nodded his head less than a half dozen times, memory easily reminded him of how seemingly fathomless the original wounds had been made. His gaze was lowered in its forward focus, to cast upon the watery line defining the graduating depths of the lake to roughened surface of the banks at his feet. "I'm not a praying man myself, Aloysius is, but..." A pause was taken for a breath to be drawn and released before his finished his thought. "...I will be adamantly hoping that whatever it is you have planned, you'll be successful."
"I hope so too, for all our sakes." They were all equally in danger, since there is one who had knowledge of this fact, and she was the source to this entire situation. "I need to head to the docks before the sun rises to make more arrangements. I'll report what I can and when I can to keep you updated on what's going on, to a degree. I'll tell you the same thing I did Aloysius, if suddenly I disappear with not word given that all is fine, then you'll know I had failed and it'll be up to the two of you from that point on." Her hand reached out as if to touch his arm, but retracted midway to return to her side. "Guten abend Mein Fruend." Quietly uttered before she'd turn and begin to walk in that southwardly direction.
"Guten abend, Meine Fräulein..." Much in the match of her soft tone, his voice held the same volume and equivalent pitch as she began moving away. "Und können Sie, was Unterhaelte Sie, es bewilligen können Ihnen Anmut..." A hand was pulled free of a trouser pocket and partially lifted to offer an almost unnoticeable wave. For a moment longer, he watched her, the smile in his expression taking on the sadness he felt invading before with a turn on a boot heel, he began to make his way in the opposite direction.
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Post by Ekaterina on Jul 13, 2006 14:03:34 GMT -5
Through what he assumed was bleak silence came the subtle creak of door's hinges, propelled by the curled clasp of beastly hands. A feral paw put forth across that threshold, bearing obvious as to who it was for any who were familiar with him. A further push revealed him entirely; Iksin Moonblade poised what seemed rather shyly in the overhang of the door; stooped slightly of course so as not to strike his own head. He seemed restless this eve; unsettled, as though some profound distress hung over his head. The lupine fidgeted constantly as those acid colored eyes panned across the empty room, though his countenance appeared to visibly brighten having lain eyes upon Ekaterina. Beyond the demanding stoop of immediate entrance, he erected himself to his proud height and started toward her. That nose of his was constantly active, sometimes held at a noticeably inclined angle, tasting for some subtle scent. Upon near approach, the fidgeting immediately ceased. Tail flushed upward as he circled one of the numerous stools in order to accommodate his desire for a comfortable sit. Those beastly hands were rested upon the sturdy woodwork counter, clasped; as always; one on top the other. "Good 'eve to you, Ekaterina. All is well I trust?" Those deep cogent tones flowed from his throat, half a smile gracing his lip. It was something he was getting used to, this smiling, but it was not without reason.
Upon hearing the opening of the door, she finished setting the bottles on the shelf that she was restocking, then slowly turned to face who entered. Adorn in a gown of dove gray coloration, quite plain in all aspects was the cotton garment. Even though the weather was balmy still in the evenings, the gown's neckline was but a slight swoop to offer viewing of nothing more than collar bones above. Sleeves reached elbows in their tight hold, till just above the elbow they belled out and into a triangular tip that ended with the loose material. Draped over her head was a silken translucent like veil, one that offered a screening of clear visual of features, but impeded not the wearers line of sight. To keep it in place, so that it wouldn't be easily pulled free by snagging it on anything in passing, was a silver ring that was worn like a crown upon her head. The veil flowed over shoulders, it's length to end just past shoulders while those near spun gold locks continued to drift past to reach hips in it's length. "Guten abend Mien Herr Iksin." Came the softly spoken greeting from the veiled figure that now stood before him. "All is as well as it can be, and yourself?"
Her turn to face him greeted him both she, and surprise. The lupine was taken lightly aback by this new raiment, which brought him to question the integrity of her employer's mentality, and even more; hers. Interesting. Ah, but then, it was her job after all; everyone needed to bring income by some means; this means of course differed for them drastically, or maybe not so if they were to with hold "normal" jobs. Nevertheless, a brow was quirked in seeming question and interest in the reason as to why she was demanded to wear this, if that was the case. If it wasn't demanded, the next question would likely be why she desired to. Or at least the veil, the gown was comfortable he imagined for lounging and whatnot. "Eil kyr aeli sai o sai, tia jhadia." the elven words accompanied by a slight and respectful bow of the head. "Yes, all has been well. Hard at work, I see?"
Which gained him a light, albeit short lived laugh and slow shake of her head. "Actually, I'm just busy bodying myself. Hasn't been a patron in here for hours, so I had to find something to do." Hand rose to motion to the rest of the room. "It's kept clean on a daily basis, so even cleaning isn't much of a chore, although I know it will change as business picks up; if it picks up. I'm in hopes word will filter through the highways and bi ways of this place being open."
The sweeping motion of her hand captured his attention to follow it's indication. Her comment however, caused the same manner of laugh "Which is indeed a good thing. I think I would like to see this establishment blossom into the potential it has. It would be a shame to see Nicodemis' money goes to waste." Yes, he remembered the man's name. After all, who could forget such a unique being as he? "Have I missed anything interesting since I last saw you?" Focusing that piercing gaze upon her face. It wasn't intentional, perhaps just force of habit that he always had a bit of a scowl darkening his countenance, but even that seemed to be lightening these days."
A slow nod of her head. "In fact, yes. I was hoping to run into you, for I have a matter I'd like you to tend to for me." Head tilted slightly to one side. "I need someone followed, information on where they go, who they speak to. I can't do it myself because she knows my face. I need someone who can be discreet fully and that I can trust to do the job right." Hands rose to settle upon the bar's surface as she gazed upon him. The light material of the more silvery in coloration than gray veil would flow with her motion. When her head tipped just the right way, the material would capture the soft glow of the candle light, obscuring features fully, rather than offering that showed hint of what exactly laid beneath.
An intrigued quirk of the brow. "Gladly. And who might she be?" The motion of her hands captured his attention once more, albeit momentary. The lupine shifted slightly in the support of the simple furniture upon which he sat in order to make himself as comfortable as was feasible in the thing. He was obviously interested; of course he was interested. 'Employment' as it could be dubbed was something he had not been fortunate enough to be blessed with these days. In retrospect, it left him plenty of time to act as delighted him. Having work again would be a welcome change
Standing across from him, on the tender's side of the bar, she'd lean forward slightly as her voice dropped an octave. Wasn't anyone here to hear them, but she'd take no chances with the information she was about to share. "Her name is Cricket, a rogue of some sort. I'm not sure if she's a slaver or not, but she had owned someone in the past, which makes me believe she very well could have." She'd then offer him a description of the woman as best as she could remember from that night at the lake. "She walks with a slight limp, utilizing a cane to get around. Now this could be a ruse, of that I can't say for sure. Dark hair streaked with silver, and eyes the color of the night. Her height to be close to my own. I wish I could tell you where she may hang out, I've yet to be able to track her down. Last time I had seen her was around the south end of Rhy'Din, so that could very well be where she'll be found."
The lessened distance between them caused him to turn his head, left ear alerting and swiveling toward her in order for her to speak into it, as it made any difference. He could hear her quite easily, even at that volume, but then, misconstruing any sort of information could easily prove fatal, especially in this line of work. Description devoted to memory, he righted himself again, reviewing the details in his head. The limp could easily be a ruse so as to provide the illusion of being debilitated. "Shall I merely track her, or are you asking me to eventually strike her down?"
"For now I wish only information. Where she goes, who she see's and if she is affiliated with any ship, or has booked passage upon one to take her to some islands in the South Atlantic." Head tilted slightly to the other side as she thought. "Most importantly, I need to know if she's book passage upon a ship, what it's name is, when it's supposed to leave, and it's destination." She knew he was an assassin as she, but who better to put on the trail of this woman that she could trust. Stealth was part of their life, not being caught or seen. No spy could do what they did by one tenth of a percent.
An agreeable nod of the head. Clearing his throat, he delved into thought a moment, lifting his left to scratch the tuft of fur on the chin of his muzzle. Odd about that hand; the deadly talons which once adorned the slender digits were missing; cleanly severed it seemed as close to the fingertip as possible. After this brief moment of contemplation, it came to rest atop the other upon the counter once more. Redirecting his attention to her, those oculi studied her. "Now why in the world would you wear that?" Referring to the veil. Rather random, but it was something he had to get off his chest.
Random it was, and quite unexpected considering what they were talking about. There was but a pause before she'd speak again. "To hide my face, what a veils purpose is Iksin." Said with a bit of a chuckle, as if it was evident as to why she wore it. Not a lie in any sense, far from it, for it was the sole purpose it was adorned this evening. Purposely she didn't chose black, she didn't want to be accused of mourning when she wasn't, and white was out of the question too. That being why she chose the neutral coloration of grays.
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Post by Ekaterina on Jul 14, 2006 13:25:35 GMT -5
As he suspected she would undoubtedly expect, hands broke apart for the purpose of offering her one bend arm. "Mien Fräulein..." He would wait the moment or so it would take for her to accept his arm before speaking again, he would be leading them away from the tavern. As they walked, he kept his voice low with a confidential tone. "Sie wissen, daß ich helfen möchte, wissen Sie, welche compells ich zum zu helfen..." Silence would then follow with the slight apprehensiveness surfacing through his actions until at last, as the road taken out of the city was followed into the wood beyond the gates. Once the relative safety of the wood surrounded them, he again spoke, slipping into back into the common tongue. "I must assume you are searching for Cricket, as I have been myself, but I'm uncertain if the information I can impart will be of any real value." The smile having vanished left his expression somber, as turning his head to glance down at her, a seriousness defined the lines in his features.
Stepping closer, her hand to slip under his arm to curl up over the upper portion of forearm in a light hold. Free hand to grasp skirt's material in it's lifted hold, as she moved at his side, focus was straight ahead. Silence to cloak them until they reached the outer lands of neutrality and desolation. When he spoke again her head would turn with a slight upwards tilt, evidence she was gazing upon him in full. "Any information I can get will be of value, Mien Herr, to assist me in locating this woman. I have come to the realization that what I had intended to do may possibly not work. Now I am going to find her before she can cause any more trouble." A pause of motion as she glanced down in thought, shortly after her head rose to gaze up at him. "I have no idea how she found out, and trust me, I will find the source and recon with them, but...." Turning to face him more before carrying on."...She knows what I am and intentionally had that contract sent to me. Something kept nagging at the back of my mind, then it all rushed to the forefront. It was but a statement in the last missive, that I would know who my intended target was, because I had been seen in his company." A moment given to let that all sink in. "We had only been seen in public once, our first meeting. Our second meeting is when he happened upon the lake I was at and saved me." Not going into full details on that, it was a bit embarrassing to be honest. "It was while we warmed by a fire, both being sodden, that this Cricket presented herself to get her verbal digs into Aloysius." Silence now to follow as she let him take this all in full.
Nodding, he listened patiently as she spoke, halting when she did to face him directly. The information she shared, some of which Aloysius had chosen not to mention, was taken in earnest and once briefly mulled over, was added to his previous appraisal of his friend's situation. "It doesn't honestly surprise me that she just 'happened' upon you and Aloysius. Loathing, despising, and outright hating him the way she had and obviously still does, I certainly wouldn't put it past the woman to vindictively follow his every movement. Either her own means or means of another." Though the mention of Aloysius as a savior raised questions, such were put aside as he continued. "Indigo once had a small bakery, appropriately called The Stone oven Bakery. I know for a fact that the bakery has been abandoned but it might be somewhere Cricket might go if she needed. Cricket herself had a tavern, The Travelers Roost, and it might still be in operation. Occasionally, she would have Indigo work in The Roost but most times, it was Cricket..." A pause was taken as much to take a breath as it was to sort through his thoughts. "There is only one other place I know where Cricket could be found and that would be the Smugglers Den. I've never been there myself, but it has the reputation for hosting the sort of rag-tag riff-raffia Cricket has been know to associate with."
Mental notes taken of the places he mentioned, information she would use not only herself but to pass along to those who were now assisting her in this situation. If she was exposed, so were many of her affiliates, and thus the problem would be dealt with in this level. "These places will then be watched and frequented." Leaving it to assume she spoke of doing it all herself, no need to share the larger scale in which this was beginning to take. "There's a possibility that Aloysius isn't the only intended target, if the actual target at all." All options were being gone over, leaving no stone unturned in her search for the truth as well as a means to an end. Head tipped forward slightly as she befell into thought before speaking again. "It seems the more I learn, the less answers I find and more questions continue to arise."
"Even if we knew all the answers and the situation were resolved, there would still be questions." For a moment, he studied her, seeing how the veil kept her identity hidden by the mere draping of a cloth in front of her face. The obvious comment that could be made on the double-edged wisdom of adopting the practice, when hiding away could be the very thing to focus attention, was held back. Knowing her profession, he assumed she had fully weighed the values of keeping her identity secret as opposed to not. One particular comment, and in its very utterance having proved his initial response, prompted him to ask a question with more than just idle personal interest, whether it could be answered. "Are you suggesting Aloysius is nothing but...bait? Part of a trap set for...?" With that, his voice trailed away in anticipation of her answer.
Sometimes the illusion cast is not for that which so many could or would assume. At times that being kept secret is something other than what would be considered the most obvious, it could be he one time when just the opposite was more correct. "Yes, that's quite true Mien Herr, a double edged blade more oft than not." A glance out towards the darkness, yet attention would turn back upon him with his last inquire. A slow nod of her head. "Yes, something I have thought over. I had suspected perhaps myself, though I know not what purpose I would serve in her revenge against Aloysius. She wishes to cause him great pain, of that there's no doubt. So, I pondered more on this and came to this conclusion. In choosing me, she would perhaps suspect I would set up a ruse, not going through with the contract and try to dupe her. When all the while, her plan would have worked quite nicely. Perhaps hoping to lure not only myself, but that I would talk Aloysius in following along, which would be leaving you behind." Leaving that to hang as he in took her suspicions and the full implication of what they meant.
"How unfair, leaving me in the cold like that...!" Though what he said could have been taken in jest, it was spoken more out of ironic disgruntlement, as if he had been insulted. Brows would gather at that to be accompanied by a frown, all the while his mind attempted to see the possible reasoning behind Cricket's questionable motives. "Unless you've crossed Cricket somehow, which by everything you've told me so far doesn't make it sound as if you have, then I'm still at a loss as to why Cricket would use Aloysius to bait you..." His last few words faded slightly in volume as another thought came to mind. "Then again, it wouldn't necessarily be Cricket who wanted to trap you, it could be someone else who does and has persuaded Cricket to work in leagues with them." Brows wrinkled more harshly as he concluded. "Cricket provides a means in offering Aloysius as bait, and in reward, she sees him dead. Your death, on the other hand, would be brought about by your trying to save him. It could be something as simple as your involving someone else, enlisting their help, thus enabling them the ability to kill you when least expected and under the guise of false trust."
Slowly her head turned from side to side, causing the veil to dance about shoulders with the motion. "No. No. You've completely missed my point Nicodemis. You see.... When this first happened, I looked beyond not the contract served and under other circumstances it would have been executed unerringly without a second thought. I then stepped back and looked at it from another view, something that I have done in the past, due to the instructions the contract included..." A moments pause as she gazed up at him through the thin material. "...there were many times that my intended wasn't the individual themselves in which the revenge was being extracted upon, but those that were the dearest and closest to them. What better pain to inflict than to take something precious away from another and leave them to mourn the loss?" Another pause before she'd continue in the conclusion of her point. "You are like a brother to Aloysius, he cares about you as much as you care about him. What greater loss could there be to him, than you because of something that happened in his past. He's already eaten alive by his guilt over Indigo, add you to the equation and imagine what would happen to him then." Falling silent after to stand and watch him.
At first he said nothing as her explanation began to clarify his thoughts and when a moment later he did respond, his volume was hushed to just above a whisper. "In other words, Cricket's revenge on Aloysius will be to...have me killed...?" The sublime question was issued as a stark statement and it would be the quiet hint in his tone to betray the question itself. Never had the thought occurred to him that he could be a pawn in the deadly game of revenge, but as he thought more on the possibility, the more he realized how true it could be. Nodding was slow and nearly intermittent at first, and ceased as he spoke again. "I can see the logic in that... Cricket holds Aloysius accountable for whatever it was that happened to Indigo, so what better way to extract revenge to have me killed, thus depriving Aloysius like she was deprived." At that, a small but grimacing grin appeared. "An eye for an eye, so to speak."
Hand reached out to lightly touch his arm. "It's a possibility Nicodemis, and it's something that has to be openly considered due to the consequences that could transpire if ignored." Hand to slowly withdraw. "Revenge is blinding, I've seen it too many times. It's sole purpose is to destroy the entity that evoked it's existence. It's why I seek her out as I do, to call her out on this matter and deal with it in any way that I must, to see it come to an end. Now with the information you gave me, I can condense my search a bit more, but it's not just Cricket that I search for, but any information on where this Indigo is and what happened to her. I fully intend to bring closure to Aloysius if I can. From what I've gathered from him, he's unsure of exactly her fate, since in Cricket's accusation against him, he was elsewhere when something happened to her. She's spoken of in pass tense, I intend to find out if that's so, or if she's simply somewhere else, perhaps even hiding from this Cricket."
Fade of the grin encouraged the previous somberness that had initially taken his features as they had left the city. Since Aloysius' return, the first since his involvement with Indigo, he had pondered over what had and could have happened back then. "It might be easier for him to have someone else bring him the necessary closure he needs. I believe the reason he's reluctant to seek it himself is because he's afraid. I think he's afraid of what he will discover and paralyzes himself with that thought." Dark glance was lowered from his focus on the veil and fell to the visible ground just aside of a boot. "But it's what he needs, to go on. Whether or not he can ever forgive himself is another matter, but he definitely needs closure." Slowly then, his head lifted to also lift his gaze, dark hues again settling on that particular patch of veil with hardly a smile and less of a voice. "Come to that, so do I."
"As I said, there are now more questions that I need to find answers to, for both of your sakes and safety, as well as to at least give Aloysius a chance to find peace of mind." A slow intake of breath to be released in a like manner. "At least I now have something to go by, some direction in which to take to hopefully find at least some of the answers, if not all. Meanwhile, you and Aloysius need to consider your own way of protection for selves and each other. Together or separated, you could both be open targets to any that may be searching." Slowly she'd turn to look out into the darkness. "Too many shadows to simply search them all, so preparation is of the utmost importance." A glance back at him. "There's also the matter of your wife and what she'll be blindly returning to. If she appeared at the most inopportune time, she could very well be smited."
Under perhaps different circumstances, he would have smiled and even chuckled at the warning that Aria could be included but despite the humor he could see, knowing his wife as well as he did, there was no disguising the seriousness of something happening to his wife. "Perhaps I should say something in my next letter, forewarning as well as preparing her for what she can expect." A nod followed that, and in turn, a silence fell between them as he considered her other words. "If need be, Aloysius and I can leave the city, there is a land of some familiarity where I can take him, and people I know there who could give us sanctuary. In the meanwhile, if I learn of anything that could be of any value, I will pass it along. But--" an extended finger was held up for simple emphasis "--I will tell only you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Right now my choices of those who I can trust are very limited to say the least. I will continue to run the Pub in both your absence, that way you have a place in which you know I can be reached, and I can maintain a habitual regiment of normalcy for anyone who might be watching. The times in between I can seek more information and will keep you informed." A pause as she looked up at him. "In fact, what ever information I find, I'll pass on to you. No matter the nature of the news I share, Aloysius deserves more than being informed via the cold nature of the written word. It might be easier coming from one that's close to him."
"I agree and I will talk with him when next we meet...which should be when I return to the pub." Even with the thin barrier of the veil separating their gazes, he could still feel hers focused on his. Captured moonlight reflected as mere slivers along the upper ridges of black irises, giving off a dulled sparkle, and with the very same moonlight that filtered down through the trees, the shadows of creases in the veil created with the occasional gentle waft of a breeze accented the muted shimmer of the veil's material cast by the moonlight. "And should I assume the worst if I can't contact you or I don't hear from you...?" It was a question he found he dreaded asking, and it was only the compulsion to ask it that demanded an answer.
Slowly she'd nod in response. "Same as previously planned Nicodemis." To be quietly stated. "No matter what happens, I want you and Aloysius to both remember, I entered into this with open eyes knowing fully well what the ultimate consequence may be. I do this of my own free will, without expectance of repayment and with no debt owed." Softly spoken. "The hour grows late and I need to visit the Apothecary located in the swamps before the rise of the sun." A personal visit in a sense, since it was something she needed for herself that forced her in having to go. Slowly she'd turn to face him fully. "I thank you for everything, Nicodemis. You've opened my eyes to many things to which I was once blinded and refused to see." Forward bow of her head. "Guten abend Mien Fruend." Once this was offered, she'd await his own response before she'd turn to head in a south westerly direction.
"Gute Nacht, Meine Fräulein..." With the farewell, a rather formal bow was offered but with the slight variance of his hand reaching out to take a light hold of one of her own and simply held it as he spoke again. "Mit aller Aufrichtigkeit hoffe ich, daß unsere Freundschaft lang in die Zukunft mit Ihrem Erfolg fortfährt." With the release of her hand, he then straightened to his full stature, offering her a small smile with the effort. As she would turn to depart in her chosen direction, he would remain a moment longer, watching as she would walk away before turning himself, he would take the more north westerly direction.
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