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.

Jhafir walks towards the balcony with the tea in hand, stepping out of the departing noblewoman(?)'s way and dropping his head in a nod that's slight enough to be morethan respectful.. if he were a High Seat or something. With her hurrying away, he continues his way towards the balcony door, eyes searching the ground for any broken glass that the servants might have missed.

Hearing Jhafir's footfalls coming nearer to herself, Rennar stands more erect than before, her pale features turning to regard the man once more. She nods to him in a gracefully polite manner. "Good evening." She murmurs, her voice a soft whisper, though as equally polite as her nod. She seems much more refined than the woman who had just gone bustling out of this particular area.

The woman leaning her forehead against the glass seems so vulnerable and distraught to Jhafir, that he very pointedly does not look or walk towards her. Moving towards the balcony and attempting to give her her privacy, he's mildly startled when she speaks up, which is betrayed by a sudden jerk of bells. He nods down at her politely, his eyes having difficulty making contact due to some sort of embarasment. His voice is very quiet, almost feminine, and thick with a Borderland accent, "To you as well. Peace favor you."

Seeing his reluctance to interact, Rennar worries her lower lip with her teeth. Her expression is not quite readable, though her eyes expose profound emotion, pain, fear, anger, and curiosity - though the first three are foremost, and not directed at anyone currently. "You may wish to watch your step. Durnik, the Captain-General, decided to redecorate a bit after an arguement."

Jhafir nods his head gently, a touch of pain showing in his eyes, "I heard the yelling from the hell." he swallows slightly, the reminder of the outburst not doing much for his mood, which doesn't seem on the verge of doing jumping jacks as it is. He lifts the teacup and points to the balcony, "I was heading outside for some cool air; the Queen keeps a very warm palace." Despite his words, his brow belies no hint of being warm. Another point, this one to the window she was leaning against, his voice still soft, "You as well?"

"Outside is far better than being inside. I've seen enough of indoors to last me quite awhile." Rennar murmurs quietly, glancing at the window only casually before returning her attention back to Jhafir, "I am sorry that the arguement was bothersome. Had Durnik followed the request of the Queen, rather than refused me information, it would not have occured." Gently, she folds her hands before her, smoothing over her skirts as she does so.

Jhafir looks awkwardly out the window when she gives the explanation, shaking his head lightly when she finishes, "It was not bothersome: it did not interfere with my duty." an awkward, but brief pause is accompanied by yet another half-frown, "You have my sympathies for your kin. I helped in what mild way I could."

Rennar's eyes widen a bit, surprise touching them, "Could you perhaps tell me what you learned?" There is a faint glimmer of hope in her voice, and yet a sense that she expects she'll get the same door in her face as before, time and again.

In contrast to Rennar's reaction, Jhafir's eyes narrow with confusion as he shifts his stance and moves the teacup from one hand to the other, "Surely they've informed you wha-." he pauses, realization dawning on a likely cause of her eagerness. He bows his head, slightly, again, far too slightly for one of her station. His introduction is more softspoken than normal, his expression awkward, "Peace favor you. I am Jhafir Sumaeria." he straightens, the formality in his tone gone in an instant, "Have you been told what was found beneath the wagon?"

"A pleasure to meet you..." A brief moment of confusion ensues, not knowing Jhafir's exact title or bearing upon the palace. Afterall, she did not come greet the Queen when she arrived within Andor all that long ago. Rennar nods her head to him ever gracefully, then continues, "I am Lady Rennar Elliya Hune, though I believe you've already gathered that." Her emerald gaze continues to watch the other man, eyes thoughtful yet wary. "As for what I have been told, all that I know is that she was taken, possibly by Children of the Light, and that her last known location was Ferrets Run."

Emos glances around curiously as he enters from the Guest Quarters.

Emos steps out of the room.

Jhafir nods his head, not alieving her confusion directly, "I found tracks beneath a wagon which had protected them from trafic and the elements. The men wore the boots of horsemen. The tracks went as far as.. Ferret Run? before being obscured. My duty allowed me no further: I couldn't put myself in a position where I could not reach Rio Sedai if she required my presence."

Standing by one of the windows is Rennar, body turned just enough so that she can regard Jhafir rather than what's outside in the darkened night. Jhafir is standing by the balcony door, with a cup of tea in his hands. Her eyes widen slightly at Jhafir's words, "You are a Gaidin as well then?" And with that she seems to look beyond him, then a touch of relief comes to her eyes. Nothing. Good. No reactions will she have which would embarrass her. "The Advisor's Gaidin?" She had at least heard of Rio, if not met her.

Emos is drawn into the conversation at the mention of Rio Sedai

Jhafir finally raises the cup of tea to his lips while Rennar speaks, his eyes looking away from her and outside. When she finishes, so does he. Swallowing and licking his lips, he replies solemnly if with a bit of pride, "Yes, I am Rio Sedai's Warder." his words are heavily thickened with a Borderland accent, his voice very calm and soft. He turns his head nonchalantly to see what had drawn her attention.

The lady nods her head once more, a mere formality, in a graceful manner, "Then equally well to have met you, Gaidin." Her words are a soft murmuring. Rennar reaches a hand up absently, to scratch at her head - new hair coming in beneath the illusion of her hair. As she does so, her hand goes right through what /should/ be solid hair, though is not. A sheepish expression comes across her features, and she mumbles some nonsensical apology. Her eyes turn away from the Gaidin to look about the room, and when she does, she spies the young child, Emos. A light, warm smile touches her lips, "Good evening Emos." She murmurs quietly.

Emos realizes suddenly he is being talked to, and flourishes a bow to her, which he seems to have practiced, because it takes him a second longer before he falls onto his face.

Completely understanding of people having their secrets, Jhafir gives no reaction at her hand passing through her hair and turns to look outside. As she greets someone, Jhafir turns a bit to give the child some of his attention, though he strays no further from the balcony. With all his younger brothers and sisters, he doesn't seem worried of the child's fall, though a hint of a smidgeon of a prospect of amusement flitters across his features.

Rennar blinks slightly, then gently raises her hand to her lips, to cover a smile. Once her composure is regained, she murmurs quietly, "I must really get Demonder to work with you a bit." Her voice is gentle to the child, "I know if I leave you with Kelric, he'll certainly have you doing it a bit worse off." Her eyes hold a small measure of amusement.

The child stands, somewhat frustrated by the look on his face, but smiles at hearing Lady Rennar speak, then his attention reverts to the mysterious man standing by the balcony, curiosity strong in his features.

"This is Jhafir Sumaeria, Gaidin to Rio Sedai, the Queen's advisor." Rennar speaks in a soft voice to the young child, hoping to satiate his curiosity.

Lady Rennar's words only fuel Emos's curiosity, and he walks up to him looking at everything about him.

Jhafir looks way down at the child and dips his head to him, moreso than he has to anyone else he's greeted today. Just a friendly nod. It accompanies Rennar's introduction and he offers in a calm voice, thickly accented, "Peace favor you.. Emos?" testing the name he recalls hearing. He stands patiently at the boy's curiosity, looking once over at Rennar, the same curiosity extended questioningly toward her.

Emos steps back, pulling out a piece of paper and writing onto it, 'Rio Sedai's Warder? Rio Sedai is very nice.'

Jhafir nods once, showing his agreement with Emos. Well, maybe. He could be affirming either of the questions, or both.

Spying Jhafir's equal amount of curiosity, Rennar continues the introductions, as is polite to do, "Gaidin, this is young Emos of Baerlon, my ward and page until his mother can be contacted, and perhaps afterwards as well." She does not go into the whole story of that particular matter. She lifts a brow a she spies Emos writing, the smiles lightly at the young boy. "Aye, her warder." She answers his note.

Emos smiles, and moves to bow again for the warder.

Jhafir attempts a smile at the boy, but it doesn't quite manage to crease his face entirely, "Light help you in finding your mother."

Emos stops in mid-bow, looking up at Jhafir with a look that says he doesn't feel the same.

Rennar glances between the Gaidin and the boy, pressing her lips together in thought, then her own gaze goes to the doors. There's a longing there, almost. "Well..." She murmurs quietly, "I think I will be taking a walk, since Demonder is late again for dinner."

Emos straightens as he turns to wave to Lady Rennar.

Jhafir turns away from the boy when Rennar speaks, and nods to her, "Peace favor you, Lady. I believe I'll get that cool air I stepped out for."

Emos writes a note and hands it to Jhafir quickly before he leaves.

Sadi makes her way back into the sitting room this time those guards that usually follow her about are conspicuously lacking.

Turning for the doors to the balcony, Jhafir reaches down and takes the note. After reading it, he shakes his head sadly, "No. My duty doesn't let me go where I may be unable to go to Rio should she need me. I helped in what small way I could, but could search no further." he looks apologetically at the boy.

VIEWING: Jhafir is standing on the railing to a balcony, looking down into a bottomless pit with a very intense melancholy. The sides of the pit are coated in a sickly, grimey, oily substance. He jumps off the railing, into the pit.

As soon as Lady Rennar announced that she was going to go out side, a servant that had been unseen, as most are oft are, comes forward and provides her with a cloak. Rennar smiles warmly at the young woman, slipping the extra garment upon her shoulders. She just spies Sadi entering the room out of the corner of her eye, but something else seems to catch and hold her attention, and a gasp escapes her. She closes her eyes a moment, then shakes her head, looking almost as if she's had some sort of quick brain spasm that leaves her just as quickly. However, when she looks to Jhafir, a saddness fills her eyes, and her lips press together thinly.

Emos writes another note handing it to Jhafir.

Jhafir accepts this note as well, distracted enough that he doesn't notice Rennar's look at him. After reading the note, he looks down at the boy again and attempts another smile, "And Peace favor you, young page." (repose)

Emos appears frustrated that the warder didn't really read his note.

That sadness still lingers within Rennar's eyes, though she pulls her gaze away from the Gaidin, in an attempt to shield him from that look before he spies her too closely. In fact, her attention goes to the balcony once more, looking at it in a vaguely new light.

Jhafir's expression turns to one of curiosity at the boy's look. He hands the note back to him, eyebrows raised expectantly, "Was there anything more?" He looks up as the newest notable arrival, uhm, arrives, his gaze following her for a small while before returning back to the boy.

Emos writes a note for Jhafir, all seriousness is on the boy's face, which looks odd on him.

Sadi comes in and does not seem like she knows what to do with herself. She just seems delighted to be here. She looks around and decides to go over and lounge on one of the more comfy looking seat type sofa thingys...

Jhafir reads this note and again returns it to the boy. With yet another look out the doors to the balcony, he looks down at Emos and explains, "You're welcome to join me, if the Lady doesn't have need of you, but I really must step outside." his words contradict the brisk winter, "I'm still unused to these Southland winters."

Emos nods, taking a step toward the door to indicate he will join him, but stops, watching Jhafir.

Jhafir turns to step onto the balcony, his gaze once more falling across Sadi and his brow furrowing in confusion as he tries to figure out what it is about her that seems strange. Dismissing it for now, he steps out onto the balcony.

Emos lets Jhafir step out and is right behind him.

Jhafir jingles leaves the sitting room and jingles out onto the balcony.

Emos glances around curiously as he leaves the sitting room and glances around curiously as he out onto the balcony.