Iarei accepted Tal's hand, well versed in any number of culturally acceptable greetings. The hand shake wasn't too terribly widespread in Eyropa, but she knew it to be gaining popularity among certain border areas -- Eyropa's southeast in particular. It didn't match Tal's obvious ethnicity, but she knew better than most how ethnicity didn't mark a person with culture. She wondered where he'd been born for his habits of speech and behavior, but supposed it was for the best considering she'd not had the most thorough education when it had come to Tian Xia regional specifications.
"Is it?" She, like Erryl, looked around -- then shrugged and backed up a few steps so they stood directly against the wall of a store. They were still in the street, there was no way she'd go somewhere isolated with a stranger at this point in time, but at least they wouldn't interrupt the sluggish flow of traffic. She looked back at Erryl. "You asked me what I'd tell your brother, and truth be told I'm sure he wouldn't like the truth. I'm afraid Erryl has gotten involved in an unfortunate situation -- quite by happenstance -- as was I." The last was addressed to Tal. "I'm sure none of us would want to cause panic or strain on Erryl's family, so maybe it's best if we take a moment here to discuss what's happened and try to figure out a way to soften the delivery." She had a rueful sort of half-smile as she glanced between Tal and Erryl. By doing so, by talking to the two of them as if they were all partners, she had tacitly invited Tal's opinions as if they held equal weight.
In for a Pounding
Re: In for a Pounding
Tal let out a slight smile as she accepted the handshake, taking his hand. People greeted in various ways from all over the world, but the handshake has always had a fond taste. It wasn't too close to violate personal space, but close enough to show some trust between the two. He watched as Iarei stepped back against the wall out of the come and go traffic. For Tal, it seemed like a rather busy street, but I guess to them, it was seen in a different light.
Tal stepped off to the side as well, leaning against the wall of the store on facing towards both of them. "Well, seeing as how I don't know much of the situation at hand, why don't you guys fill me in on what's happened so far." Tal wasn't aware of most of the events that have happened, just that Erryl has been missing for some time now, and people were beginning to wonder. Looking at the two of them, he continued to observe the streets for an opportune moment to toss up a magical flame for only an instant, the rolled tobacco resting in his right hand.
Tal stepped off to the side as well, leaning against the wall of the store on facing towards both of them. "Well, seeing as how I don't know much of the situation at hand, why don't you guys fill me in on what's happened so far." Tal wasn't aware of most of the events that have happened, just that Erryl has been missing for some time now, and people were beginning to wonder. Looking at the two of them, he continued to observe the streets for an opportune moment to toss up a magical flame for only an instant, the rolled tobacco resting in his right hand.
Re: In for a Pounding
Erryl nodded along with Iarei's words, finding some relief in the way she described their situation to Tal. He couldn't bring himself to call the whole event an unfortunate accident -- the phrase did not accurately convey the severity of their situation -- although technically it was just that. Besides, it was the boy's fault -- though he was probably dead and Erryl wasn't going to spit of a dead child's grave, even if that child was to lead them all to their own graves sooner or later.
His eyes soon settled on the cigarette the Tian Xian man was holding, unlit. Some of the professors at the university were fond of smoking pipes, but Erryl had not seen a lot of the other variations on the hobby, nor had he ever joined in. He stood with his back to the street, content that Iarei would keep an eye out for danger, and wondered what Tal was waiting for. Erryl's eyes flicked back to Iarei for a moment, before returning again to the stranger. Is there a reason she doesn't want to leave the street? Should I be worried?
His eyes soon settled on the cigarette the Tian Xian man was holding, unlit. Some of the professors at the university were fond of smoking pipes, but Erryl had not seen a lot of the other variations on the hobby, nor had he ever joined in. He stood with his back to the street, content that Iarei would keep an eye out for danger, and wondered what Tal was waiting for. Erryl's eyes flicked back to Iarei for a moment, before returning again to the stranger. Is there a reason she doesn't want to leave the street? Should I be worried?
Re: In for a Pounding
Iarei started to explain. She skirted the worst of it, highlighting that boy had gotten himself mixed up with some street brigands who had mistaken him in one of the criminal enterprises, and how the resulting accident had wound up getting herself, Erryl, Jester and Dirken implicated as some sort of enemy faction. "If they could be reasoned with," Iarei said, trailing off as her face collapsed into a pained grimace. She shrugged. She went on, skimming over the massacre at Tais' hands, calling it instead, "a dreadful ambush, and I'm afraid I lost track of Tais and Dirken -- the two who had protected us." That she was now a wanted woman -- even if by mistake -- she kept to herself. It wasn't difficult. Lying to people was second nature, and she was trained to play such a part. She did not hesitate.
She concluded with Mather's disappearance, and how with her injured hand she simply couldn't relocate to a new inn without a steady income. Their only option had been to seek out Erryl's family. "It isn't his fault, it isn't anyone's fault really; I should have had a firmer hand with my boy, but he just. . .well, no use throwing stones. Without a protector I don't know what we will do, but I don't want to cause undue strain with Erryl's brother." Her shoulders slumped, and her mouth had tightened. Her eyebrows bunched in over the bridge of her nose, and she looked down at the ground as if in defeat.
She concluded with Mather's disappearance, and how with her injured hand she simply couldn't relocate to a new inn without a steady income. Their only option had been to seek out Erryl's family. "It isn't his fault, it isn't anyone's fault really; I should have had a firmer hand with my boy, but he just. . .well, no use throwing stones. Without a protector I don't know what we will do, but I don't want to cause undue strain with Erryl's brother." Her shoulders slumped, and her mouth had tightened. Her eyebrows bunched in over the bridge of her nose, and she looked down at the ground as if in defeat.
Re: In for a Pounding
Tal listened intently as Iarei spoke a summed up version of the story and highlighted particular events of interest. As she did, he kept an eye on her and Erryl, and bounced back and fourth, his eyes always wandering around, looking through the crowds and back at them. It wasn't that he wasn't interested, he just didn't like getting 'tunnel vision' when someone was speaking to him. As she summed up her story, he watched as her shoulders slumped, and she looked towards the ground. They've really seemed to have gotten themselves in a pickle here, he thought to himself as he slipped the rolled tobacco on top of his ear, the top of it holding it in place against his head.
"I don't think we should worry about burdening his brother at the moment, maybe it'd be best if we just get him there, and then see what his brother suggests. As for boy, I don't know what we can do for him right now, unless you know of a place that he might be heading," Tal suggested. Even with the summed up story, he was far from knowing all the details, and would have to leave the ideas mostly up to them, at least, until he could have a better picture of what the boy was like, and what this 'criminal enterprise' was all about.
"I don't think we should worry about burdening his brother at the moment, maybe it'd be best if we just get him there, and then see what his brother suggests. As for boy, I don't know what we can do for him right now, unless you know of a place that he might be heading," Tal suggested. Even with the summed up story, he was far from knowing all the details, and would have to leave the ideas mostly up to them, at least, until he could have a better picture of what the boy was like, and what this 'criminal enterprise' was all about.
Re: In for a Pounding
The way the stranger seemed overly aware of his surroundings made Erryl nervous, so the half-elf averted his gaze. He tried not to keep glancing at the people who passed, looking for danger, but it was difficult. He was tired, eager to go home despite his fears, but he tried to keep his attention on Iarei as much as possible. She knew what she was doing. She would keep them safe, even if she hadn't managed to do the same for the rest of their group.
The others were disobedient and careless, that could be the problem, Erryl told himself, as he spied another suspicious shadow from the corner of his eye. Again, it was nothing -- just people going passing by, going about their day. He almost jumped when a nearby bird squawked and flew off over the rooftops. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. When he noticed a gnome pass them, carrying a box of tools, he thought he saw the man look their way. Gnomes weren't common in this neighbourhood, were they? Erryl couldn't remember anymore. He pressed his back up against the wall as they talked, and kept his eyes on Iarei.
The others were disobedient and careless, that could be the problem, Erryl told himself, as he spied another suspicious shadow from the corner of his eye. Again, it was nothing -- just people going passing by, going about their day. He almost jumped when a nearby bird squawked and flew off over the rooftops. His heart felt like it was going to beat out of his chest. When he noticed a gnome pass them, carrying a box of tools, he thought he saw the man look their way. Gnomes weren't common in this neighbourhood, were they? Erryl couldn't remember anymore. He pressed his back up against the wall as they talked, and kept his eyes on Iarei.
Re: In for a Pounding
"Oh, you're a lifesaver," Iarei said to Tal, some of the exhaustion shadowing her breaking free. But she was still gloomy as she continued, "I -- we -- can't do anything for my boy right now. I know that. I do. It's . . .hard, but," she grimaced and whispered, "I can't be any use to him if he's dead. Please, let us get out of the streets for now. We can discuss how to introduce ourselves on the way there."
She gestured for Tal -- or Erryl -- to lead the way.
She gestured for Tal -- or Erryl -- to lead the way.
Re: In for a Pounding
Tal smiled at Erryl, gesturing that the boy should lead the way. So he did. Erryl had been gone for days, and he was exhausted. All he wanted to do was to crawl up, safe in his own bed, while his sister-in-law doted on him as she usually did. A warm home, warm meal and familiar faces...
He tried to hold on to his earlier fears of putting his family in danger, but his resolve had gradually been slipping and it was all he could do to keep from running all the way back home. As the three of them walked, Iarei and Tal discussed themselves and the chaos of the past few days. They didn't seem too certain of how they might get the thugs off their backs, but they agreed it might come down to informing the city guard of their situation.
Of course, Erryl's brother had already reported him missing, but apparently there wasn't much the guards could do themselves. Either the boy showed up, or he didn't. So the inevitable reunion was a flood of relief, tears, and mixed emotions, and once he was done checking his little brother for injuries, Koran thanked the bard profusely for bringing Erryl home. He embraced her, with the thick arms of a laborer, and led her into the house along with the rest of them. As soon as Iarei's lost boy was mentioned, Koran was insistent that she stay with them and rest as long as she needed.
Erryl simply collapsed on his bed and slept for a day.
He tried to hold on to his earlier fears of putting his family in danger, but his resolve had gradually been slipping and it was all he could do to keep from running all the way back home. As the three of them walked, Iarei and Tal discussed themselves and the chaos of the past few days. They didn't seem too certain of how they might get the thugs off their backs, but they agreed it might come down to informing the city guard of their situation.
Of course, Erryl's brother had already reported him missing, but apparently there wasn't much the guards could do themselves. Either the boy showed up, or he didn't. So the inevitable reunion was a flood of relief, tears, and mixed emotions, and once he was done checking his little brother for injuries, Koran thanked the bard profusely for bringing Erryl home. He embraced her, with the thick arms of a laborer, and led her into the house along with the rest of them. As soon as Iarei's lost boy was mentioned, Koran was insistent that she stay with them and rest as long as she needed.
Erryl simply collapsed on his bed and slept for a day.