Ferret Run: New City, Caemlyn

This portion of Caemlyn is one of the newer additions to New City. A number of alleys intersect through this entire neighborhood haphazardly, the most prominent being Ferret Run. It is the widest of the runs, meaning there's just enough room for four men to walk abreast. Worn down shops stand next to seedy looking inns, with the odd hovel crudely erected against the side of the more established buildings.

In the gathering twilight, shopkeepers begin to close up, and the street hawkers pack up their wares and shut up their stalls tightly. People passing by draw their cloaks and coats more tightly about their bodies, as the bitter wind tears through the street. Ferret Run leads further into Caemlyn the east and back through the tall gates to the west, toward Whitebridge.

Turail

Skulking along the shadows, bedecked in a darkned, yet warm cloak of fine fabric, is Rennar Hune. Her two shadows, the Queen's Guards, that are normally with her do not appear to presently reside behind her, at least not that any can tell. It seems this lady is intent on doing some of her own investigation in this particular part of the city.

Rennar has company though, wether she knows it or not. 'Ealam' is across the street, also skulking to a degree. He's spent the more part of the day in Ferret Run, walking, looking, prying.

Rennar pauses a moment within the streets, carefully looking about. Now, if she were one of those dreaded CoL, where would she nab someone? An idea comes to her and she moves to one of the alley way entrances, though perhaps one of many along this avenue. She peeks her head within the entrance, wrinkling her nose at the various smells, yet intent on narrowing her eyes to get it adjusted to the new darkness within.

Ealam has been watching one particular building on the street for some time. He has put off his nobleman's garb and attired himself in rougher clothes. In fact, he almost resembles like a ruffian, the sort of man who might find hire in these rough streets doing less than honest work. Nothing of interest has come of his watching though, and he scans the rest of the street within his view. A figure peering around a corner down a bit catches his eye. There's something almost familiar about that figure.

A silent sigh escapes Rennar. Quietly, she scans up and down the street. The lamplight flickers upon her features, causing them to grow visible momentarily within the shadows. There is an odd sort of determination on her features; almost as if she's gonna see this task done, or die trying - and likely the latter would come about before the former. She pulls her cloak about her in an attempt to keep warm, then starts her way down toward the next alleyway, keeping to the shadows as much as possible in the poor lighting along the street.

The woman's stealthy movements heighten Ealam's notice of her. Keeping his own cloak wrapped around him, he sets out after her quietly. Who is she? So familiar. Her hair color tugs at his memory, though there's something odd about it. It almost reminds him of.... Demonder would surely not allow Lady Rennar out in the streets without so much as a single guardsman... He hurries a bit faster after her.

The innocent laughter of children as they player around the old elm tree seems almost out of place.

If Demonder had a choice about matters, perhaps he would not. However, Rennar acts as her own person, and without Hune Guards, presently, it does make the matter of finding someone discreet... hard to manage. The woman disappears down the next alleyway, though she pauses at the laughter of the children, eyes scanning the streets.

Ealam frowns as the woman turns a corner out of his sight, and eases the sword he carries in its scabbard slightly, taking longer strides to the corner. He pauses to peer around it, just barely a half an eye visible past the wall.

Thinking the laughter just that of children, Rennar moves forward into the alleway one more, eyes scanning the darkness within. Again, she wrinkles her nose, the stench drifting out into the street smelling of garbage and decay. Again, nothing to be found there. However, determined not to be discouraged, Rennar starts to make her way out of this section too.

Raucous laughter spills from the Green Snake Inn as a haggard looking man is thrown out.

'Ealam' backs away from the corner just a bit, scowling. It IS Lady Hune. Fah. Liable to get herself killed, or worse. He wipes his mouth and ponders what to do about this.

Not knowing that 'Ealam' is there at all, Rennar takes to skulking along the wall once more. She stops short just as the man from the Inn gets thrown out, and right before her. She blinks, surprise touching her eyes briefly, then carefully steps around the haggard being. The laughter continues inside the Inn, of course. She appears to skip the next alley, thinking twice about going down that particularly... dirty and cluttered area. No telling what danger lurks there. Instead, she slips into the fourth along her side of the street, disappearing from view once more, were she not followed.

Something is forcing people to the sides of the road. Shortly, a cart is in view, carrying several casks of wine and beer.

Turail peers out once more, just in time to see the lady's back disappearing into the alley. He rounds the corner, and moves towards the alley Lady Hune just vanished into, muttering curses under his breath as he is forced to wait for the cart to pass. Someone else is bound to recognise her, but how long till it happens. He runs his eyes over the rest of the people in the street, looking for anyone who seems to be watching a little too closely, and then ducks into the alley after her.

The darkened figure appears to be within the midst of the alley. It seems she has found a small passage, and appears to be studying it. Unware that she is not alone, she disappears into the area, curiosity having overcome her. Light be damned if she's not going to explore every nook and crevice in this city!

Ealam's mouth twists, and several choice Shienaran curses come to mind. Light! He should have gotten a bit closer and hauled her off by the arm. That does NOT look like a place for a Lady, even if the situation were not so dire. He sees no choice but to continue following her. A glance over his shoulder shows an empty alley before he too, ducks into the small passage. Not a good place to meet the enemy, not much room to wield a sword.

Rill arrives along the Caemlyn Road from the east.

Luckily, for Ealam, it's just a passageway, or so it seems. There's no sign of Rennar within. In fact, she seems to have disappeared around another corner within, following the curves as it moves about. It's like a zigzag, doing that little 'z' or 's' thing. There are sounds, however, at the end, a sort of a scuffling of boots against the paved areas. It might seem as if a struggle were ensuing?

A man with a face reminiscent of a weasel pokes his head out of a nearby warehouse long enough to glance up and down the street, then withdraws.

'Ealam' (That's Turail for Rill ;) manages to be leaning against the wall in the depest of shadows as the weaselly man scans the street, and then hurries a little faster down the zig zagging narrow passage, nearly ending in a run. His knuckles grip the hilt of his sword. His mind, if it could be heard is filled with curses even more startling than the ones he was muttering earlier. The sounds of scuffling sound too loud in his ears.

Rill picks her way along the street, sniffing constantlyt at the air - her entire attitude is one of wariness. Hearing the struggle, she halts, turning to face the alley.

And what a sight greets Ealam's eyes! Rennar appears to be emerged into the fifth alley along the street that she was checking along. Within this alley, view apparent to any why cares to look down it, are two ruffians, and the Lady herself. One is holding her by the arms. "Looksie what we 'ave here. A pretty one she is. Hmm?" The other does not answer, simply content to hold her. Rennar was bound to run into trouble alone, and without disguise. Normally, she thinks better than to do this sort of stuff, but she's not been in her right mind of late. The one who spoke reaches out a dirty hand to touch the lady's cheek. A screeching sound can be heard coming from the one behind, as Rennar bites the hand that holds her mouth.

In the distance you hear the words "STOP THIEF!!!" being yelled.

Rill growls low in her throat, but does not move from where she watches. Not when her only protection is the knife hanging at her waist.

Stony silent rage embraces Ealam as he bursts from the narrow passage to the sight of two filthy men with their filthy hands on his cousin's intended. His face contorts itself into an expression of such pure death, from the flash of his hard blue eyes, to the twisting of that angry white line on his cheek. Even running the man is fairly stealthy. The sword flashes in his hand as he leaps at the two.

At the words 'STOP THIEF' the two men in the alleyway panic. The one holding Rennar lets go, and starts to run down the streets. There's an 'oddly' guilty look on his features. Someone's looking for him, /must/ be! He misses getting caught by Ealam's sword. Rennar stands there stunned at her newfound freedom. Clearly she was not expecting to be let off so easily. The other man, however, does not seem to do just that, at least not yet. He starts to grab at Rennar's arm, relucant to let his 'prize' go just yet. Fortunately for him, he sees the flash of steel just in time, glinting in the little bit of light provided within the small, darkened alleyway. He jumps out of the way, seemingly pushing Rennar where he used to be.

Only one now; Rill slips the knife from it's sheath, eyes fixing on the remaining man as she moves closer. Her clothes are dark, melding with the shadows, but her eyes catch the faint light, reflecting it.

A young woman herds along a gaggle of small children down a crooked alleyway.

Ealam twists in mid leap, his expression growing wrenching for a moment, folding the sword close to himself, away from a stunned Rennar, and falls with as much control as possible, hitting the ground with a grunt and rolling with it till he's on one knee and one foot. Then he's up again, and after the remaining man with a murderous growl.

The man uses his quary (sp) to keep distance between himself and 'Ealam', placing Rennar between himself and the other man. As of yet, he does not seem to notice Rill, his attention fully on the woman and man before him. Whenever Ealam moves, he moves, seeming quick and agile, despite his own haggard looks. Ferret Run, of course, is one of the more 'seedier' sections of the city. Rennar glances about her, confusion evident in her eyes. SHe seems to freeze, uncertain as to what to do, or if there is anything she can do. A flash of steel glints in the alley, and something metallic appears in the one remaining man's hand.

Rill weighs the knife in her hand, frustrated by the close quarters and her own lack of skill. She continues forwards ever more slowly, the faint rustle of her skirts the only sound she makes.

A wagon, loaded with barrels and chests, winds it's way down one of the many runs.

Ealam's voice is gravelly, scraped with anger as he dances, an awkward dance indeed, the three of them. "Release Micaela, now, and you may live. NOW!' His eyes burn with a fevered light, as if he were somewhere else, seeing someone else, another time. He keeps his sword well away from Rennar though, circling and feinting, looking for an opening that will leave her unharmed.

Rennar just seems to stand there frozen, unable to do anything helpful at all. The man continues to circle around her, a chuckle escaping from his throat, "So, you like the pretty too, hmm?" He reaches out and actually managse to touch her face again, then circles around her. He exposes his back to Rill, but only briefly, not stopping for fear that Ealam will get a hold of him, "Perhaps we can bargin, yes...?" Dark eyes regard his attacker, "You pay for her? Keep her?" His words seem to spark some sort of resentment from Rennar, emerald eyes flaring briefly.

In the distance you hear the words "STOP THIEF!!!" being yelled.

Rill stops almost within reach of the man, awaiting an opening. A soft growl comes again, quickly stifled.

Ealam's eye flicks nearly imperceptibly to a shadow within shadows maginally behind the man. Friend or Foe? He cannot know which it is, but no matter which it is, he intends not to set his back to it and feints the other way to keep the man's back to Rill, with a throatily menacing growl. "I could give you gold, worm. But you will pay with your blood. The light burn me now if it shall not be shed here as a price."

A young woman herds along a gaggle of small children down a crooked alleyway.

The man stumbles back, away from Ealam's feint. An unlucky move for him, for he nearly stumbles right into Rill. Seeing her chance to move, Rennar darts out of the way, pressing herself against the wall where she can no longer be used as 'protection' for the combatants.

A split second is all it takes for Ealam to launch forward once Rennar is out of the way. There is still barely controlled fury in his expression. If he can disarm the man, he may not kill him...

A particularly odious stench wafts from the nearby knackers.

The man does not recover himself fully, and this can be seen in the sloppy way that he attempts to parry an attack on his person. He stumbles backward again, and loses his weapon in the process. This time, Rill is not there, perhaps having been knocked over and thinking twice about the matter before getting too involved. Rennar tries to slip further into the shadows, as a small crowd seems to draw to the attention of those fighting in the alleyway.

The man in the Shienaran garb casts his eye about hastily for Rennar and the other shadow that had been behind the man and then Ealam turns his shoulder into the man as he comes, intent on knocking the already off balance man completely on his back.

A wagon, loaded with barrels and chests, winds it's way down one of the many runs.

Ealam achieves his goal. The man is knocked over, having lost his breath. Rill is no where in sight, the reasons for it a mystery really, then again the alley holds to the shadows of darkness. He does attempt to scramble to his feet, clutching his shoulder as he does. It made a funny cracking noise when he hit the ground, probably out of place. Rennar can still be seen, just blending into the wall as much as possible.

Ealam is also scrambling to his feet. He heard the noise as well. Where is Rennar? His black hair is ruffled up and there is a pain in his shin which he ignores. Having Rennar out of the way has finally cooled some of his fury and instead of remaining to beat the living daylights out of the man, he grabs the man's dagger from the ground where it had fallen and strides away from the man, tucking it into his belt. His direction is Rennar. Better to take her and go now, than risk another hand on her while he thrashes the man.

The wail of a child pierces the daytime rumble of market haggling.

As soon as Ealam walks away, the man scrambles to his feet more fully, and starts to run off into the crowd, who've disappointedly started to disperse. Rennar continues to cling to the wall, eyes watching carefully what transpire. She turns her attention on Ealam, starting to back away from even him, not quite recognizing him with his change of clothing.

Turail stops a few feet away, holding out his hand with an air of apparent careful genteelness, much different from the harsh cold fury of only a few moments before, a man of contrasts. He seems to have remebered Rennar is Rennar, and not Micaela, but does not say her name. No one need know who this is. They might get ideas. "I am Ealam.. come.. let me return you to your lodging." He lowers his voice and adds, "It grows dark. There is little more you could accomplish tonight.. after this scene.. Lady."

The genteelness seems to confuse Rennar briefly, a curious gaze moves from the hand to the man's face. She blinks slightly as he gives his name, a crimson blush rising to her cheeks. She had not wanted to have been discovered, and most especially not by a member of Roesone. Surely, this will get back to Demonder. Hesitantly, she takes Ealam's hand, moving only marginally out of the shadows. She nods her head to him, but says nothing, maintaining her silence during the entire scene.

The force of the crowd moves you out of the way of several white cloaked individuals as they pass by, golden starbursts obvious on the white cloaks.

Ealam steps into the shadows, turning his back to the whitecloaks that tramp down the alley, shielding Rennar from their view and quietly leading her away down around the bend before their attention is drawn to the two of them. He glances at Rennar. "You should be more careful, Lady." His voice is flat, and non accusatory, quiet. "A man's heart can be broken by the loss of his lady." There's something taut about that statement, and almost a promise not to say anything to Demonder... this time.

The young lady moves willingly with Ealam. She seems to wince, both inwardly and outwardly at his statements. She knows all too well what's occured. "I understand." She manages, while weaving through the windy section of the passage, and within her words, the emotion to fit the statement can be found. Perhaps she understands all too well, "But I could not sit back and simply /wait/ for matters to come to me. I have to find my sister." There is almost a sense of despair that can be witnessed from her as she speaks this.

An elderly manservant emerges from the butcher's premises, a trace of dark blood staining the wrapped parcel he bears as he walks off.

The calloused hand holding Rennar's squeezes slightly, and he nods while they walk, his eyes scanning ahead, his ears listening behind. "She will be found." Its a word of comfort, and an oath in one. He hesitates and then adds, "You have spirit. This is good. You will not be crushed under the weight of these events." He turns them down another alley, zig zagging through the streets that he has spent the day entire casing, taking them back towards the inner city and the palace.

"The weight of these events is already crushing me." Rennar replies, her voice a mere whisper, as she walks along. She does not squeeze back, merely holds the hand which guides her, "It is by sheer luck that I have not been so yet."

"You bend. And by bending, you do not break." They turn another corner and the Queen's plaza is ahead. "There is no shame in bending." The wary furrows on his brow have smoothed more or less, and his scar even seems to fade on his cheek. His eyes have been everywhere but on his cousin's intended as they walk, active and alert. The tone of voice in those few words seems to indicate a sort of resignation to the troubles of life, a refusal to give such things more than passing heed. This man has seen pain, death, loss, and more of the same again. Who knows what of his past he turns a blind eye to to preserve himself.

"But one can only bend so much." A quiet murmur can be heard from Rennar's person. She moves easily as Ealam guides her through the warren of streets and alleys, toward the inner city, giving no complaint. She does listen to the words presented to her, though there seems to be a forlorm aspect to her mannerisms, replacing her determination from before.

A young woman herds along a gaggle of small children down a crooked alleyway.

"Agreed." Ealam glances at her briefly. "But there are others who can add their strength to yours. Do not remove them from around you.. when a wild animal goes off by itself.. usually, it is to die. Do not go off to die lady." There's a certain bluntness to that comment. He halts with her and scans the darkening square before continuing across it towards the palace.

A gang of street toughs chases a lone boy down a shadowy run.

"I do not intend to die, though I would gladly lay down my life for my family." Her words are softly spoken, "And nearly have before, when stuck with my uncle." Alright, stuck is not the exact word for it, however, Rennar's been through a lot lately. More like, she was forced. "There are very few that I can trust, even if there is strength from others. And those few, I'd much rather not put into danger."

Ealam's voice is very quiet now, but firm like steel. "That is not your choice. It belongs to them that love you. Any man that would not die for a woman ten times is no man." The latter sentence has the sound of an old adage, something that people have been saying somewhere for years.. because it is true. And he believes it. Stopping about 20 feet from the palace gates, Ealam turns to face Rennar. "I will not be going in tonight. There are other things I need to attend. I will stand here and see that you reach the gate. I do not think you wish Demonder to ask me where we have been, Lady Hune." Blue eyes look down seriously.

The young woman shifts upon her feet, shaking her head a bit, "No... I would not." She comments quietly, looking to the palace. "Thank you... for your help." She makes no comment on the addage presented, her own features unreadable. Perhaps she still has other ideas?

Something is forcing people to the sides of the road. Shortly, a cart is in view, carrying several casks of wine and beer.

Turail releases her hand and bows slightly, his fingers lightly skimming from heart to brow. "I bid you a pleasant night lady... and I hope you will appraise me.. should you feel a need to continue.. your personal excursions.. "

A brow lifts gently at Turail and his comments. Rennar nods her head a bit, returning the respectful gesture, "I will considering, Master Ealam." She comments lightly, then without anything further to say, or add, she disappears into the palace gates.