Happily Ever After

[KoriStronghammer]

Kori bared his fangs. It was hard for him to be human, he had only been raised as one for so long. Like all Rising Bear Clan men, Kori's canines were slightly longer and sharper than normal. His eyes slitted like a cats, his beast rising as his temper boiled just a bit. Standing, shoulders loose arms hanging, hands slightly curled he growled for a moment. Remembering himself, and who he was dealing with, he lowered his head and breathed harshly for a moment. Calming down, well, as calm as he ever was, Kori bowed to the woman.

"I apologize for my behavior Miss Rischett. I let my suspicions get the best of me."

Walking forward, he reached down and pulled his knife from the Earth. "Sorry for the offense Mother Jord..." He mumbled. Standing, he hid the knife. Rolling his shoulders he looked at Rosemary. Something was off. She was not who, or what she said she was. It was like a burning smell in his nose, tickling his senses.

"Yes Miss Rosemary. I've tried to save them putting my life on the line twice now to get them away from a deranged battle-mage, because I think they should be put in jail. I'm just hiding it very, very well." Turning his back to her, he sat down again next to his pack and mumbled to himself. ".... Listen to your heart, and be brave. It will lead you to Glory or your grave...."

Pulling the bear cloak from its bundle, he put it on again, tying it down in all the appropriate spots. Pulling his hammer out, he began to use the sacred oils to clean and care for Bearpaw. Reaching with his long arm, he picked up the pieces of the elk antler spoon, broken on a rock when Saruna dropped it.

Another piece of home gone again.

[Fayane]

Fay was sympathetic of Kori, she had seen his eyes slit and his canines. She wondered if he had magic in him... blue eyes saddened and she moved to place her hand on his broad shoulder. Her tiny hand likely gave no comfort to the tall man but she shoved the thought away. She turned to Derin, her eyes calm.

"Tell me of Derin's story. This way all the stories are the same and we leave no room for doubt. That is the only way to convict Melagone of murder... I assume this is what you wish, Rosemary." Fay said coolly, her voice now neutral. She had switched to her assassin's mind set. It was much easier to concentrate on multiple stressful issues when she was like this, cold and distant. Her face now set smooth in what looked almost like a solemn look she listened to Derin's words and Melagone's footsteps even as her mind made plans in case this one fell through.

[Saruna]

Saruna turned and nodded to Kori with some uncertainty, the ice of her mood melting away at his sudden mellowness. She dropped her eyes at Fayane's words, clutching herself. She felt as if she might fall apart, even if she could feel the miracle of Kori's potion soothing her jarred bones and myriad other little hurts. Too bad it would not cure getting older, she thought wryly as she waited for . . . Rosemary to speak. Her interest in the story the girl had to tell was twofold: she might learn something new, and it would delay the long, queasy walk to the courthouse. What would happen to her there, she knew, would not be so easy as Derin would have her believe. Though it would be nice, and it was a nice thought, that maybe things were not as corrupt and dangerous there as her father's disappearance had made it seem.

[Derin Edala]

Derin cocked a brow. "Accuse Megalone of murder? Force him to defend himself in a court of law against a guard and a handful of civilians? Why would we want to invite Megalone's wrath? No, it's better that he finishes this case and moves on.

"The battlemage and the guard who were sent to apprehend Saruna and Rosemary perofrmed their duties admirably and there's no need to cause trouble for either. Derin died as a result of evil magic." Derin stood and brushed the dirt from her skirts. "I have a small errand to run. You should come with me; I need to show you where you laid Derin's body after she died." Without waiting for a response, she turned and began to walk, keeping to her accustomed pace for walking with Saruna. "Derin is a stranger to Shim. She arrived about a month ago. Saruna, after satisfying herself that she was a senible and lawful young lady, took her in. But it wasn't long before Derin, coming home from her job at the local inn, found a stranger sleeping in Saruna's kitchen.

"Saruna took her into another room and quietly explained what had happened. The man had introduced himself as Gustel. He was a criminal fugitive, a magical one. Saruna and Derin were terrified. Derin offered to run down to the courthouse right then, but Saruna reminded her that Gustel might just be feigning sleep, ready to kill Saruna and flee if Derin did something so suspicious. They agreed to bide their time, pretend to be friendly, until one of them had a chance to go for help.

"It wasn't easy. Gustel seemed to be with at least one of them all the time. Derin came here searching for her mother, who she thought might be buried here; she and Saruna went to the graveyard to look for her and to pay their respects to Saruna's father and husband, only one of whom actually has a grave.

"At this point telling the story, Derin became vague and agitated. She said that she and Gustel became separated from Saruna, and that she saw something. She said 'they' saw her and Gustel, and apprehended them. She refused to explain who 'they' were. They took some of her blood, and used it to curse her. They put an enchanted bracelet on her wrist, explaining that it contained an evil spirit that would kill her if she ever said anything about what she saw.

"She was released, and found Gustel again. They went to find Saruna, who had seen nothing, but they refused to explain what had happened. Derin had assumed that Gustel had been cursed as well, but she saw something highly suspicious -- unlike her, he wasn't sporting any new jewellery. She suspected that he might actually be in league with 'them', a suspicion that she couldn't share with anyone. He certainly wasn't nearly as distressed about the situation as she was. She resolved to take the risk anyway -- to go the Guard and tell them about Gustel, even if it might kill her. But the next day, Gustel was gone.

"She checked her body for any new wounds, anywhere he might have drawn blood for another curse. Her fingers were full of pricks, and who can say which were from sewing and what might be from something darker? Saruna, too, had wounds on her hands, but she too likes to sew in her spare time, and what housewife doesn't sport scrapes and blisters? It was too risky. Derin didn't want to get them both killed. She explained to Saruna that she was probably cursed and that mentioning Gustel might get them both killed. He was gone, he wasn't threatening them any more; they decided to let the Guard do their job and just stay out of the situation. They didn't have any valuable information, now that they didn't know where Gustel was."

Derin stopped walking at the road approaching the inn and headed for the shallow ditch next to it, half-coated in brambles. "At this point in the story, you pressed her for more details about what she saw in the graveyard. At first she was too afraid to say anything, but after awhile, she agreed. Before she could say anything, though, she started trembling and pulling at the bracelet on her wrist, and within moments, fell over dead." Derin pulled the brambles aside, revealing the corpse laid out with her arms across her chest. She unwrapped the charred, beaded bracelet and put it on the body's right wrist. "I panicked and took this off her, but it's better that they find it where it should be. I doubt that it has any magic left now; the demon would have fled after completing its task." She stood and brushed down her skirts. "Are there any holes in the story?"

[KoriStronghammer]

Kori stood and stretched, aiming his arms at the skies, feeling the satisfying pops and cracks that left him know he was going to feel much better. Lifting Bearpaw, he gave it a few cursory swings, and was satisfied with the way it felt, as he always was. Sliding it into his belt, he looked around. He shook his head, trying to shake off the bad thoughts in his mind. Chewing on his beard, he looked into the forest. It was getting a little to warm for his liking, and he was thinking of removing his cape and chainmail. Shrugging he done so. He idly scratched his back, and laid the chainmail out so it wouldn't get bunched up, rolling the bear cape up for a pillow. THe plates inside it made this slightly uncomfortable, but he could deal.

[Fayane]

Fay followed Rosemary, blue eyes intent on the small woman as she listened to the story, her mind processing the details and locking them firm in her memory. Fay stopped when Rosemary did, watching her add the beads. Derin looked terrified in death - almost as though she had been afraid of something before she had been caught. She saw no holes in this plan, now that she knew everything. Well not everything but enough to keep her satisfied. Mentally she locked the location of Derin's body for later recovery and turned to Rosemary, her eyes cold.

"I see no plans in your plan. I will follow these orders." Fay said simply and turned on her heel to Saruna and eyed the older woman.

"Are you well enough to travel or shall I carry you? I may rest you assured my method of transporting you would be much smoother and comfortable than Kori's method." Fay told the older woman, her voice void of any emotion. She simply wanted this done with. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy assisting the older woman who had been wrongly convicted, it was simply that she wanted to be done with Melagone. The man was more trouble than good.

"It is either that or I drag you behind me, Ms. Richett, as you would be playing the distressed woman who's lost her best friend or daughter or however you thought Derin as. I care not." Fay voice was cold.

"But we cannot allow Melagone to believe that this is a trick at any costs, we all may lose our lives should he believe so."

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Melagone stumbled again, and once more fell face first into a puddle of mud. Snarling his angry curses he moved to stand, stumbled over his own feet and fell once more. Today was not Melagone's day...

[Saruna]

Saruna had trailed after Rosemary and Fayane, reminded of her frequent walks with Derin. She listened in silence, and looked at Fayane numbly when the other addressed her. "I will not be carried." She mumbled, meaning the words more fiercely than she actually spoke them. Her head was spinning, but when Fayane said something about struggling she could not help but choke down her laughter. Though she hadn't the energy for much of that. She took a breath, and said only: "I am but a broken old woman, child. Who am I to resist an able-bodied guardsman? I will follow you as I followed you to the inn." She rubbed her arms, letting her fingers feel the folds of skin and spare flesh. She couldn't abide the thought of going home alone.

She allowed herself the luxury of looking as dejected as she felt. The momentary flash of resistance that had sparked at Kori had subsided back into ash. She was tired. She was lost. No one expected any sane old person to struggle against the law, especially if they had to concern themselves with staying healthy. Her expression said as much, in a glum sort of way.

"We should go." She said, and turned away from the hope of Rosemary to point herself in the direction of the path that would take them through the woods.

And if she needed to, she could always cry. Changers knew it would be easy enough to, after the day she'd had.

[Derin Edala]

Derin nodded. "Very well. Good luck, both of you. This should be simple but I'm not familiar with the legal system of Marn. If there's trouble, I work at the Red Chalice most days. Looks for me there. I'll get our friend somewhere that Megalone can't find him. Will you be taking the mage with you? He might get a bit angry if you leave him wandering about the forest. More angry, I mean." She put her hand on Saruna's shoulder and added quietly. "You'll be fine. We'll protect you."

And with that, she turned to leave. She ran back to where she'd last seen Kori, hoping that he hadn't gotten himself captured by Megalone. He knew too much for that.

Nope, he was lounging in the sun. "Come on, you idiot, we need to get out of here. Or do you want him to find you?" She thought for a minute. Saruna's house was out. The inn was out. Her house... she didn't want him to know her address, but he already knew her name. That would be enough for the Guard anyway, were he a traitor. "We can hide out at Ro -- at my place. My father lives there but he's probably passed out by now." She turned and started walking. "Come on! If you don't trust me, you should probably come and keep an eye on me."

[KoriStronghammer]

Kori stood fast, faster than many would have ever thought possible for his frame. Baring his teeth, he growled down at the annoyance. His anger mutilated his words, making them barely human.

"Let us get something straight, and we will get it straight this moment or I will crush that annoying little thing you call a head. I have not lived my life and escaped my cages to be talked down by you, I do not care who or what you believe yourself to be. I will make this clear, and you will understand. If you continue to push me, you will die. That is not a joke, that is not empty boasting. I will rip your throat out with my teeth if I must. Are we clear?"

Kori grabbed his gear, kicking debris over where he had lain to make it less obvious he had. He looked at Rosemary. Turning, he half-shouted into the general area, "Goodbye Miss Rischett, safe travels. Goodbye Fayane."

Walking, he overtook Rosemary and fell into step beside her.

"Well come on then if you are all fired to go."
I really hope she doesn't give me a reason to kill her.

[Fayane]

Fay watched Rosemary go before following but heading towards the forest. She scanned the area, finding small paths that would be easier on Saruna to travel, keeping at a pace that would not tire the older woman. Soon they came upon Melagone, cursing and swearing on the ground. Fay bent and picked the elf up, her eyes dark.

"Your foolish cursing scared anything in the area away - satisfied? I have found Ms. Rischett, Derin is dead. The demon in the bracelet you sensed was one that would kill her upon the knowledge of what it was." Fay's cold eyes drilled holes into Mela's own fiery ones. Fay smiled a cold smile.

"Bela will not be pleased with you. Come, we must go." Fayane all but snapped, her voice like steel. Quickly she lead Melagone and Saruna through the woods and soon through the city and into the courthouse. She lead them, when directed, to courtroom as they had been expected. Fay opened the door, ushered Saruna in and followed, glaring at Mela as she did.

"My Lord," Fay bowed before the Judge "I have brought you Saruna Rischett. The one known as Derin is dead, killed by a curse." The man nodded and the case proceeded.

[Saruna]

The trip back to Marn took a route through which Saruna had not traveled. It was hard to notice the scenery around the nausea that clogged her brain, and not even Melagone's frequent scowls could distract her from the buzzing nervousness in her head. Much of the morning had been burned by their evasive antics, and it was treading past noon when they reached the entrance to the city. They were admitted without fuss despite the clogged way, and Saruna lowered her face in shame when others looked her way as they passed by the line to go in. The guards were bored, but even they peered at her in suspicion.

It was not a feeling Saruna was used to or happy with.

Both of her guards, battlemage and Fayane alike, pressed close to her with the crowd, taking her away from usual routes to less crowded streets. The path to the justice hall was scattered with those in somber robes and other stately costumes, used to seeing escorts and of the mind to sneer absently when them such as Saruna crossed their paths. For her part, she kept her eyes to the ground or on Fayane, reminding herself that it would be over. Whatever happened, it would be over soon. Soon. Then she could go back to her home and --

They passed into the Justice Hall.

It was quiet but for the sound of paper being rustled and the scratching of pens. Occasionally someone coughed. Clerks attending the paperwork that followed justice like a nagging ghost did not so much as twitch when they passed through, not in the least curious about the drama that stuck like a burr to Saruna's back, riding her down. There was no one there to accuse her of anything, and she could only retain a sense of a dusty normalcy that had nothing to do with her. Shock rung through her, and she almost stopped moving but for a prod in the back from Melagone, and she had to take a few quick steps to keep herself from stumbling.

This was where her father had disappeared? It was so. . .mundane. Boring. Uneventful. How could this have swallowed him up without a trace, them with their paperwork, yet no decency to tell his family of what had occurred? And yet she had been scared of it, of coming to this place to do something so little as ask? She remembered the looming guards when they had taken her father away. She had followed them, but had been barred from entering behind them, and all the while she had envisioned it full of looming and dire personages, destined to take all who entered.

Her heart sped merrily in her chest, and she did not know what emotion drove it so.

As they strode into the courtroom it seemed as if something more important had been adjourned. There was a large curving desk, set high upon the floor as if it was a pedestal, with enough imposing chairs to imply multiple judges sat there normally. Yet, for the time, only one sat in his seat. He looked tired and Saruna thought him younger than herself. The only lights in the room, with its high ceiling and stark stone walls were up behind the desk, so the face of the Judge was cast into a dim shadow that made it hard to see his features.

Arrayed below him, like a kingdom for a monarch, were benches upon which a myriad of people and guards sat primly. In front, where Fayane and Melagone stopped, was a small podium. Saruna could not stop herself from gaping.

"You are late." The Judge said, each word spoken precisely and thunderously. The whole of the room catered to his voice, so that they echoed slightly and impressively. "You were to be the first of the petite cases. Tell me why I should overlook this and not order severe reprimands for the both of you?"

The room was still behind them, and Saruna felt her face go hot in embarassment and something more primal.

This was where her father had disappeared?

Fayane explained with occasional acrid comments from Melagone, and the Judge in his icy anger subsided, seemingly growing mild and bored with the whole thing. Melagone had grown passive as Fayane gave her testimony, though Saruna could yet feel the irritation coming off him in waves. She knew he would not so easily forgive the goose chase they had led him on, but at the time being he could not act upon his disdain.

Fayane had not finished her detailed explanation before the judge wearily held up a hand. "Enough. There is no reason to press this any further. The case is dismissed on account of poor investigation." He turned slightly in his seat to address the sole clerk who remained, furiously writing his words for the purpose of records. "Take note that the informant for case P two zero three five dash zero zero should not be paid for this waste of time." His head turned so it was facing towards them again, and his words were peevish. "You are free to go. Case P two zero three five dash zero one should prepare to be heard."

Saruna stood without moving, frozen as she stared at the judge, unsure of what it all meant.

[Derin Edala]

With a small smile and a short bow, Derin acknowledged his words and led the way. He was a blustering idiot, but at least he was opening up, throwing around child's words instead of actually threatening her -- practically a gesture of friendship in the circumstances. Or the temporary level of truce, trust and enjoyment that passed for friendship in Derin's head. In a gesture of good faith, she let his shout of farewell pass without comment; a gesture that was expected, she knew. Seeing if she'd object had to be the entire reason he'd called out, because nobody could possibly be so stupid as to think that that was a good idea after his words had already gotten his allies noticed by the man they were still trying to avoid.

It was lucky, really, that she'd been paranoid enough to check up on everybody she spent a lot of time with when she'd moved to Shim, and thus knew where Rosemary actually lived. She honestly hadn't expected him to agree to enter her territory so easily. Why did he trust her? Did he know that she owed him a debt for the inn? Did he know who she was?

A puzzle for later, perhaps, although it presented a very real danger. He could be planning to turn her in himself if he knew. He'd been there for Megalone's accusation, he'd been there to see Rosemary turn up and Derin knew that disguising her normal mannerisms was not her strong suit. Anybody halfway observant with those clues would catch on. Could he buy amnesty for himself with her? Was that his plan? She'd seen that work before; hell, she'd done that before.

Derin was going to have to neutralise Kori, along with Saruna and the guard.

Derin opened Rosemary's -- her own -- front door and kicked an old rag out of her way with one foot. "Welcome." She wrinkled her nose against the twin smells of beer and urine, slightly embarrassed at bringing somebody inside. For all Kori should know, this was her house.

Rosemary's father was passed out on the floor. She looked down at him, wondering what on earth Rosemary had been terrified of her whole life. She could step on his neck right now and remove him as a factor, but she didn't need further legal complications.

"I'd offer you a cup of mead but frankly I wouldn't recommend drinking anything in this place for your own health and I doubt this useless meatsack left anything worth drinking anyway," she said, giving the man a light kick. "I'll head back to the inn in about 20 minutes to wait for the women, since I don't know when they'll be done. You should probably stay here in case Megalone's still out there."

[KoriStronghammer]

Following Rosemary, Kori shook his head. Maybe around here talking about what you were going to do was considered normal. In his lands, stating the intent to kill someone was as good as doing it. Arriving at a home, Rosemary opened the door and entered, with Kori following.

Kori shook his head hard. The fucking smell! He'd smelled better things on battle fields. The thing that Rosemary had kicked was definitely the reason for that.

"Gah! I wouldn't drink a thing out of here, that's for sure."

Walking over to a coat rack, he managed to hang all his belongings from it with the help off a few pieces of leather. He didn't want his things touching the ground. He'd had them dirty before sure, but he usually didn't have a choice. Here, he did. Looking around, he resisted the urge to swipe at his nose.

Looking around as Rosemary spoke, he nodded. "You do what you will girlie. If I'm staying here for any amount of time, I'm cleaning. I've lived in cages cleaner than this."

Opening the window, he let the sweeter air rush in. Kori wasn't scared of Melagone. Death was death. Looking around, he asked a few questions.

"Where can I find water? A clean rag? And can I dump a bucket of water on the meatsack? Also, Melagone can come for all I care. We all have to die someday."

[Fayane]

Fay turned to leave before she noticed Saruna frozen to the spot, staring at the Judge with shock. Fay clicked off her assassin mode and very gently took her by the arm. She nodded at the now-dismissed Mela as he moved to report to his higher ups and gently pulled her along the guard barracks. Fay needed to report to her higher ups as well, but she didn't want to leave Saruna alone. She looked down to her supirior's room and quickly glanced about before spotting a bench. Gently she dragged the woman to it and sat her down. Saruna, Fay noted, looked pale, heartbroken. Fay's eyes softened. She'd seen this look a thousand times. Shifting she tugged a water skin off her belt and uncorked it. Handing it to Saruna she smiled sympathetically.

"I know... they make such a big deal of the Judge. But mostly it is to intimidate others into behaving. Not that this works it just makes my job harder. Drink up. I must report to the Captain, I will then take you home." Fay murmured and stood before turning and knocking. After being told to enter Fay quickly gave the details of the case and the verdict. The Captain rolled his eyes and dismissed Fay for the night, she also had tomorrow off due to 'the stresses of dealing with a battlemage'. Fay thanked her Captain and came back outside, once more eying up Saruna. She LOOKED better, she had more colour in her cheeks, which was good.

"Are you ready to return home, Ms. Rishcett?" Fay asked quietly, standing before the older woman. Fay wasn't sure what was going on behind those wizened eyes but Fay didn't think it would be something pleasant.

[Saruna]

Saruna had drifted into something like a trance, the holy light of the righteous entering her memory of the still too recent affair of the court. She was startled out of it at Fayane's quiet and gentle words, as though a bubble had popped around her hea d and left her in a daze. She was tired, limbs leaden with too much to-do, and the too-sad promise of an empty home. Again. Again. Always, it turned out that way, since arriving in Shim. One by one. . .

She gave a tired smile to Fayane, because that was all she could do and the only thing she had to give. Well, other than the money she'd looted from her own home that was still attached to her body in various forms of sacks and purses. It was unsafe to do so, but the weight of it, the certainty of it, the heaviness of it made her mind ooze into new shapes and thoughts of what uses there might be for it.

"Would you take me home, dear? I -- I am not feeling so well." Which was true, as much of an understatement as she would ever give. Even the warmth of Fayane's gentle presence was pale and threadbare against the promise of winter. But at least she knew it was there, now, and she could prepare for it.

She could now. She had the means. If Marn took away her family then she would build herself a new one out of it, bit by bit until it collapsed upon itself and no longer had the power to threaten her.

Yes, that was a good thought.

Saruna and Fayane left the city behind them, but Saruna knew she would be back, and rather soon at that.