Nobles' Sitting Room: Royal Palace of Andor, Caemlyn

You find yourself in a antechamber with a high, vaulted ceiling inset with colorful stained glass. Lush carpets of red and white lie upon the marble stone floor. Couchs and chairs are arranged in conversational groupings within the room.

The blue-gray of twilight can be seen through the long wall of glass. The evening's first stars are beginning to twinkle. Down below, in the Queen's Gardens, you can see snowdrifts against the white stone walls, and icicles hanging from tree branches. To the east is a wing set with doors that house the nobles who reside in the palace. To the northeast are a pair of double doors that lead to the balcony and gardens. A hallway with guests' rooms branches to the west, and the heavily guarded Queen's chambers are south. A great staircase of white stone curves down to the Entry Hall below.

Rudra

Cronus(#2102PJcq)

Durnik

Cronus sighs, "She is young and... and the fact that I saw the trouble brewing... but didn't follow up on it personally to make sure nothing happened... and something did...." Cronus is known for his want to make sure those that are still young and still have time to change their ways, or those that need protection get it no matter the cost to him... usually.

A slight slushing of what appears to be skirts against the stairs is the only warning received of Lady Rennar's arrival - however that is not much warning at all with servants, Ladies and other staff members who traverse these steps daily. Her cloak appears to be hanging over her hand, draped in a careful manner. The same servant that attended upon her the day before appears, and takes the cloak from her. Rennar gives no arguement this time and smiles gratefully to the woman. She pauses briefly, looking about the sitting room, and her eyes harden slightly when she sees Durnik, a fire and knowledge of something more hidden behind her eyes.

Durnik is sitting upon one of the velvety couches with a book in his lap, conversing with Cronus who stands in front of him.

Durnik does not notice Rennar's arrival, well used to people walking in and out.

Rennar continues to stand there, using Durnik's inattentiveness to her advantage. She regards the two guardsmen carefully, a slight tickling of a smile forming upon her lips. Her gaze is unreadable, yet there's a hint of amusement there?

Durnik says "Well, see to it that your other duties do not get neglected because of a kidnapping. Despire who, and what she is.""

"And what exactly is my sister, Durnik?" Noticably, Rennar leaves off the title that comes with the man. She folds her hands gracefully before her as she takes a few more steps into the room. A brow lifts in question as she regards the two men even further, her own features carefully composed and unreadable.

Durnik turns around on the couch to see who speaks to himn...though he already knows. "Lady Rennar. Such a pleasure, I can hardly speak."

Cronus sighs, "This one kidnapping has helped me find out more of the facts in this city of late, than I have since this promotion... sir." grimaces at the words and surprised Rudra has yet to respond to Lady Rennar in some form of yet, but the dog does now by moving in a roundabout way to the door, avoiding Rennar. As Cronus himself, steps back and to the side to allow the two a more direct line of sight without imposing...

Rennar's eyes go to Cronus instead, still speaking to Durnik, "Or should I ask the person who appears to be more helpful in giving information than you, yourself, appear to be." She smiles sweetly now, turning her attention back to Durnik, "Who will, in the future, I trust be more cooperative. Aislynn wills it that I learn all that is to be learned upon the pending investigation of Calisa."

Durnik says dryly almost as if by rote. "Well then Aislynn will have to tell me that herself. Until such time we are not free to divulge any information until our investigation is concluded, Lady."

Durnik looks darkly to Cronus with an imperative gaze. "Neither I, /nor/ my Guards.

"Oh, she will." Rennar continues to smile her little smile, "She will indeed. Oh, and by the way, the next time that you decide to badger someone within my employ Durnik, I would take better care than to do so of a small boy within my employ. Word does tend to get around about such things. Neither the Queen, nor I, were very happy about this discovery, and nor was she happy about your not aiding me in my time of need."

Durnik looks back to Rennar, a smile on his face. "I had nothing to do with the boy, Lady. I was merely a bystander."

Durnik lays his book down on the couch and stands up. He doesn't like being beneath Rennar's gaze. But he does not move from his place by the couch.

Cronus is looking *anywhere* but at the two now conversing... especially as the tension just seems to be growing... so much for the tact with the earlier conversation.

"Merely a bystander who /forced/ him into a Gaidin's room and equally forced him into swearing an Oath of service to yourselves and the Queen? I hardly believe that is bystanding." Rennar counters, making a slight clicking sound with her tongue as she does, sadly shaking her head, "Though, I will also be certain to report your further non-cooperation, and orders in this matter. More fuel to add to her fire. Now, I will know what you believe my sister to be, other than just my sister, of course." Her eyes narrow between the two, promising many things as she regards them.

Cronus is definately wanting to be out of here... after all he was trying to get more power to go after the investigation.. or at least work towards that goal... and in comes her, ruining all his tactful dialogue... great just great... now I'm to be shunned as well... yet nothing is spoken through words or looks to the other two. Only him moving out of casual sight farther...

Durnik laughs a deep laugh now. "I forced him to do nothing. In fact I didn't lay a hand on him." He crosses his arms. That's it, he's had enough of this. He /is/ the Captain-General after all. He could give a damn what a noble thinks they are entitled to. "With all due respect, Lady Rennar, you can report that I am doing...my...job. Unfortunately, due to the fact that there are those who will not divulge the information they know of, my investigation is being hampered and slowed." His presence in the room seems to grow. "And you can further tell her, that had I some complete information the Lady Calisa may have been found by now! Though apparently there are those close to her, that wish otherwise. Instead wanting only to argue with the ones who are trying to help!!" He cuts off with a sudden silence...the room simply bristling.....

Cronus although he was behaving as the shuned guard, he does look to Durnik now blinking... at the words considering them. No he is not cowering at the moment? not like he was before or those others that are about... but then as if remembering himself, he does start back into his previous posture as two people of high power is /too/ much for him to bear...

The Lady Rennar does not seem cowed, she does have the Queen's backing, afterall. She merely smirks at Durnik, "Were you doing your job, Durnik." She still does not recognize his title, just as the Queen did not earlier, "You would inform those that /need/ to know what is going on, and that /includes/ family. I don't know what personal vendetta that you have against me, or where things went wrong between us, however, as her sister /and/ Head of House Hune, I have a undeniable /right/ to know what is going on." She narrows her eyes even further at Durnik, "And neither have I interfered or hampered your so-called investigation any, except to ask, and I /did/ ask before I went to the /Queen/," She very much stresses the importance of that word, "for information on my family." She pauses briefly, to collect her thoughts, then continues, "If you mean to ask me questions of my sister's disappearance, I have nothing that could be of help or use. I was not present, nor do I know why the Children, or non-Children, who whoever the bloody hell they are would want with her. I've got more than enough problems of my own trying to /simply/ /stay/ /alive/."

Cronus does stop his act at this wording from her, "My /lady/." he says with a strong tone meaning to gain attention from both her and Durnik before this goes further or he speaks more.

Durnik turns his full wrath, that was headed for Rennar, on the insubordinate Lt. "Lt. Cronus! Mind your position!!" His tone is commanding in the utmost.

Rennar's attention only briefly goes to Cronus at his words to her. She does not respond to them other than to look at him, a brow raising in question.

Cronus only grows in strength not meekness to his voice, "I am sir and that is why I am speaking... am I not to keep the *PEACE* in Caemlyn and the Palace despite who it might be, did you not teach me that, /sir/?" he asks but seemingly not waiting for a response looks to Rennar, "My lady... if you have no reasons or knowledge that could be of help... then why do we have to prevent you at every turn to go off and handle this yourself as if we know nothing at all... and if my reports do not come of mistakes... You at the time knew even less than I about the matter... which was extremely little?"

That questioning look seems to grow on Rennar's features, "Your news comes as a shock to me, because thus far, aside from the small bits of detail that I had gleaned from yourself, young Emos and the Queen herself, I have not gained any information." From the looks upon her features, and the case of her eyes, whens he says she hasn't gained /any/ information, she hasn't, "And I'm not certain how you are finding me in your way at every turn, because the only people I have gone to about this matter is Durnik and the Queen. One who was of no aid at all, and the other who /ensures/ that I am to find out all that you know yourselves as soon as possible, but her own decree. There were witnesses to this decree. Master Chade, and the young boy himself." She pauses, asking Cronus,

Durnik narrows his eyes at Cronus, his fiery anger, turning as cold as ice. That insubordinate bastard! Though the questions do interest him, so for now he contents himself with an ice cold, "We will speak of your 'duties' later, Lt."

That questioning look seems to grow on Rennar's features, "Your news comes as a shock to me, because thus far, aside from the small bits of detail that I had gleaned from yourself, young Emos and the Queen herself, I have not gained any information." From the looks upon her features, and the case of her eyes, whens he says she hasn't gained /any/ information, she hasn't, "And I'm not certain how you are finding me in your way at every turn, because the only people I have gone to about this matter is Durnik and the Queen. One who was of no aid at all, and the other who /ensures/ that I am to find out all that you know yourselves as soon as possible, but her own decree. There were witnesses to this decree. Master Chade, and the young boy himself." She pauses, asking Cronus, "Now, would you care to explain to me /how/ that makes you prevent me to go off and handle things myself, when I've yet to even start doing that?"

Cronus shakes his head, "Not exactly my intent of the question my lady, but you, did somethings with lack of your position... for the Queen herself order guards to stay as your shadow and keep you within the Palace to what exactly was the reason I know not... but something happened and from whatever took place, I have a feeling you had a purpose to your actions and for that my lady... I would like an answer."

Durnik shakes his head and curses under his breath. He picks up his book and hurls it across the room, the binding breaking as it hits the wall and the pages scattering and fluttering to the ground.....(to be continued)

"I have heard no such order from the Queen. She /asked/ if I wanted round the clock protection, and I don't recall answering her. In fact, I told her I would get back to her, for I might have been staying within Demonder's residence, which is now burned to the ground." Rennar's eyes flicker at that, and she seems to shiver slightly. For a brief moment her eyes lower and her resolve seems to melt, but then returns with a fervor, "And until such a time that she tells me, I'll do what I bloody well please, seeing as how I've never committed any crimes, unless talking to my fiance, and the Queen herself is now considered such?"

Durnik turns around on the conversation and heads over to the glass doors to the balcony. He throws open the doors with such a force that several panes break as the slam into the walls. A cold wind whips into the room, Durnik's cloak whips about him, and he curses outloud now and takes it off, nearly ripping it, and throws it to the ground. He heads out into the rapidly darkening winter evening careless of the cold without so much as a backward glance or a polite excuse.

Cronus ducks as the movment is caught out the corner of his eyes and he moves more so that he can place to view them both without worry over getting hit broadside... and he is definately out of possible striking range... But when guards run through the door to investigate... he signals for them to leave and that all is in hand... well sort of. Quirks a brow at the reply from Rennar, as it is totally befact of what he has been hearing. Then studies Durnik, by the light what trouble has he gotten himself in now... what trouble indeed... so much for his current rank... where is the queen when one needs her?

Never once did I say I was to be kept in the palace, or under 24 hour watch.

Temper, temper. Destroying the Queen's property never got anyone anywhere. Now, there is particular evidence at Durnik's profound hostilities. In truth, Rennar had never stepped into matters to interfere until she was denied things, and then only went to the Queen herself. Calmly, quietly, she turns her eyes to where Durnik does damage to the glass doors, allowing the panes to break and the snow to enter into the room and marr the carpeting. A brow lifts in a quaint manner. "And that is why his actions were reported to the Queen in the first place." Rennar states rather blandly, turning her attention back to Cronus, keeping a very thin thread upon her own calm. However, she does seem to be growing a bit more pale, as if that thread is about to break at any particular moment, and with that pale palor comes a sicky look. Rennar is not doing well at all healthwise. "And this is not stress that she needs to be having either, not with a child being born." There seems to be more emphasis on her words than is needed to stress that point, and her eyes seem to contain a hidden knowledge about that particular fact - knowledge she has no intention of divulging.

Sorry, that player is not connected.

Durnik walks leaves the sitting room and walks out onto the balcony.

Cronus sighs, "So much for common noble tact..." he seems to grumble off... now how to save this situtation. "My lady... to be frank... the most knowledge I have gathered is that Lady Calisa has been taken into the Ferret's Run district... which is what you basically stated yourself to me last night... The guard is following up on that fact but the problem is... if this was done by someone that is actually smart as they have shown so far... then they'ld know the guard to search Ferret's Run out first... but I have a feeling they are residing elsewhere under some other squise... similar to what they did to you... I know it may be hard... but if you can talk with me on what all they did between taking you and getting you to the manner again..."

Rennar lifts a brow slightly at Cronus, "I do not recall saying any such thing last evening. In fact, you spoke with Master Kael and Lord Demonder about the situation, not myself." She murmurs in a quiet voice, quelling her own angered thoughts. "And how do you know that the two things are connected? My /uncle/ was the one that had me kidnapped, not the Children of the Light."

"Currently," Rennar adds, "Jeffrin is residing in your own prison cells."

Cronus hmphs, "Yes but your Uncle is not as smart as he let's own from what I can devise... He HIRED someone to do the work for them... but did not tell them how to do that work... so I can only think there is more.. As for how I did not speak to you directly was because there were things I wanted to bring up outside of his presence, in case things led down a path I should not want to start... but when you thought I knew nothing of where she was you did speak up to suggest the fact of Ferret's Run. Which I spoke that I did know of."

"If he hired them, Lieutenant." Rennar does grace Cronus with his proper title, unlike Durnik earlier, "Then why would he have been poisoned and nearly killed by the same men that he supposedly hired? And, how could he have done so, from his cell, with Queen's Guards watching over him?" She counters, curiosity deep within her eyes. She shakes her head, "I never spoke of Ferret Run, you were the one that divulged that information to me yourself."

Cronus shrugs, "Perhaps I did... but it would be unlike me to slip without meaning to... Anyway... I'm not saying he hired those after Lady Calisa... but those he Hired... if they are who I suspect then they would want him dead so that there leader and the one he spoke with is not also captured through some testimony he may give..." he pauses to consider but only waits to see what she may reply with...

A brow raises delicately, "Whether or not they want Jeffrin dead is another point entirely. I was quite right in saying that I am doing all that I can to stay alive, and the Queen, Aislynn, will surely back me up on that." Rennar shrugs her shoulders a bit, "But, it s a given, I would think, as to why."

A brow raises delicately, "Whether or not they want Jeffrin dead is another point entirely. I was quite right in saying that I am doing all that I can to stay alive, and the Queen, Aislynn, will surely back me up on that." Rennar shrugs her shoulders a bit, "But, it s a given, I would think, as to why."

Booting all but most recent connection...

Cronus sighs... "Since we might be talking a while... can we sit and talk? I've been on my feet enough as it is this day..." and he doesn't wait for permission but walks to the couch and does sit exasperated by all the events... possible demotion... if not severe injury in his near future... him tearing his own insides out because Lady Calisa disappeared so near his location... and then to top it all off he has a bloody noble talking in riddles and his largest asset... a a child being harrassed by the two people he can't get onto... man if only someone knew all the trouble he's been trying to smooth over... his face collapses into his hands, which then rub through his hair in frustration as he tries to think more, "Alright... which given reason, am I missing out on?"

"The one that continues to surprise me continuously, now, even to this day." Rennar speaks, disbelief in her eyes as she regards Cronus, "I was certain all within the Palace already knew. I only found out a few days after my release." Of course she speaks in riddles, she's a noble - though not one very good at the game. "Aislynn has made me heir-apparent to the Lion Throne. If something happens to her, I become Queen. Light wills, however, that that will not happen."

Cronus sighs, "Maybe I have been out of the loop of all the guard talk... so busy trying to make up for the time I lost being injured trying to track down a lead as to who kidnapped you... and then... and then I am berattled and halted at every turn because something changes the whole image of the puzzle... that was so neatly falling into place..." he mutters a few curses... "Will I ever get to rest..." he seems to start rambling off to no one in particular now... but remembering himself... "Forgive me if I have offended you my lady..."

"The only person who has thus far offended me, is Durnik." Again, Rennar's words lack title or respect when speaking of the Captain-General. "It is at these times that I wish Lord Kelveshaan's health were much more improved, that he could take the reigns back and put order into the chaos being sowed."

Cronus sighs, "Perhaps... but we are left to prosper in what we have... and make the best of it." he begins to study the floor in front of him, "So you know of what he did to Emos then... and by that I see you got him before the Queen... Thank you... I've been so busy that this is the first chance I've had inside the palace..."

Cronus says "well... well in some time... thank you."

"What do you mean by 'you've got him before the Queen'?" Rennar's brow knits in a bit fo confusion.

Cronus sighs, "Emos told me that whatever it was that was bothering him... could only be spoken to her majesty." did he just goof again in his plight to play this foolish game of nobles to gain some footing in the mess and whirlpool of torment that surrounds him.... "why can't I just be a normal guard again...." he seems to want to mutter under his breath yet doesn't exactly manage it...

"Because you are in a ranked position and would hate to lose your priveledges." Rennar answers for Cronus, pressing her lips together a moment, "And he went to Aislynn himself. In fact, he wwas there before either I or Chade entered her chambers, in the midsts of talking to her. The Queen told me what transpired. If either of those mean so much as harm a hair on that child's head, I'll demand they be arrested, bloody be damned who they are."

Cronus blinks... and looks to Rennar... as if to ask how the lad... then shakes his head, "That boy has more tricks than a gleeman..." he grumbles.. "I'm starting to wonder if the priviledges are worth all the headaches and paperwork... and threats... for it seems I'm starting to cause a bit of fear amoung the underworld of Caemlyn... I can't imagine why... I'm only out performing most of the guards in Caemlyn, right now and seeming to intertwine myself in a lot of snares meant for those that would be helpless...." he pauses in his rambling... by the light Cronus may just be fading out of energy... for those that have been attending him have already rotated twice and yet been dismissed now that they are on Palace grounds... but few would know that for sure... his mind seems to sharpen again with a new sense of energy although its source is definately hard to judge. "Can you tell me of what you learned of that conversation they and Emos had?"

"All I know is that they manhandled him, and made him swear some sort of Oath." Rennar responds, then tilts her head to the side a bit as she regards Cronus, "Can you tell me what Durnik meant by saying he did't care who or /what/ my sister was?" She emphasizes the what.

Cronus considers going down a trip in memory lane to which he seems to loose himself even after getting the answer meant....

Cronus considers going down a trip in memory lane to which he seems to loose himself even after getting the answer meant....

"Well?" Impatience seems to mark Rennar's features as she regards Cronus, she having not sat yet.

Cronus startles out of his reverie of thought and brings forth a reminition of the answer she sought after, and seems to berate himself for loosing focus... "I think he was referring to her status as a noble... as if I was basing the fact of my determination to find her because of that status."

The lady, for some odd reason, doesn't seem satisfied with those words, though she nods, "If that is what you say, then of course that must be it."

Cronus face, although alternating between stances of energy and drowsiness and forcing himself to hold more alert attention the battle is won ought by sheer will to stay alert... but by the increasing frequency of the battles energy will soon loose to sleep... "I'm sorry my lady, Despite what may happen to me... I will continue to search for your sister... even if loose my rank for disobeying orders... I do not take assaults against those that are young... especially when under my watch in an area I was patroling so lightly... I am doing all I can.... and any news I find will be brought before you and the Queen... since it looks as if..." his voice trails during his last sentence as if perhaps the war was one... then he snaps awake again... "As if he is already standing vigilent to take my rank."

"You need rest." Rennar speaks, her voice gentle, "You will do myself, the Queen, nor my sister any service if you fall asleep while investigating."

Cronus frowns... "But I will not rest till I fin..." but as he has to snap alert once more... "Perhaps... I do need some... excuse me" the motion to stand seems to drain what's left and he only collapses back into the couch exhaustion already precedeing his ever present need to find the answer before he sleeps... although a fight to come awake is evident it definately doesn't win... his will power depleted through his trials of the last few days...