Common Room: Rose and Lion Inn, Caemlyn

The common room of The Rose and Lion is a merry place. The patrons here appear happy, and sit at stout wooden tables, or at the long bar, in groups of twos or threes. There is much drinking, talking and laughing.

The crowd is large tonight, and laughter and chatter fills the common room to the rafters. The customers enjoy the brisk warmth of the fire that is blazing upon the stout flagstone hearth. A stout wooden door leads back out to the busy Caemlyn Road, a smaller wooden door leads to the stables, and a well-worn staircase leads up to the private bedchambers and common sleeping areas.

Zaltrais

Zaltrais is standing by the fireside, wineglass in hand. Blood-red to match the shepherd's crook he wears is striking against his black gloves... certainly odd colouring for a Child of the Light. He raises his glass in Rennar's direction as she enters, expression mocking, his eyes mirroring that look.

Walking into the common room of the Inn is a figure who was once on the lips of most Andoran within the city this time last year. This figure would be Lady Rennar Hune, who's head still bears some scars of her encounter with her uncle Jeffrin, her hair still a few scant inches long. She shrugs her cloak from her shoulder, and makes her way over to the fireside table. It is there that she places herself down to warm her body against the cold wintry chill.

You sit down at Fireside Table.

"Walk in the Light, my lady," Zaltrais says, still with that mocking expression. He watches Rennar take the table which happens to be closest to where he stands, then takes a sip of wine. His glass is maybe half full.

Demonder enters The Rose and Lion, looking around the common room.

Zaltrais glances towards the door, mouth twisting slightly as another noble enters. It is perhaps unfortunate that he happens to be standing by the fireside so close to the fireside table... and the firelight makes him look far more demonic than angelic. He takes another sip of wine from his glass.

"Light guide you," Rennar states in turn to the obvious Inquisitor. She is just finishing getting settled at the fireside table. Afterwards she looks about the room, her eyes scanning the crowd as if she were expecting someone shortly after her own arrival.

Deverel comes down the creaking stairs, and enters the common room.

Deverel wanders down the stairs, book in hand. He appears to be deep in thought, and a slight frown crosses his face. "Very... very... odd," he mutters to himself, but the words are just audible for anyone with sharp enough hearing.

With his usual dramatics, Lord Demonder flares in through the doors of the common room. A charming smile seems nearly pasted on his features as he scans out the common room for the person he was to meet here. It does not take him long to spot Rennar at the Fireside table, which is where he heads.

"Good evening Demonder." Rennar's attitude and tone is much more cheerful toward her husband than it was for the Child of the Light, though that is to be expected, "I see you made it through all that snow." She teases him gently, then blinks as she hears the ther voice within the Inn.

Zaltrais almost appears to smirk as he half-turns back to the fire. He does not say anything this time, but his presence is could hardly be called anything but noticeable. His eyes move to the stairs as they note the newcomer from that direction, then they return to the fire in one again.

A sheet of paper falls from between the pages of his book, and Deverel immediately stops. He watches the path of the falling paper, then after a slight shake of his head, he bends down to retrieve it. "Can't say that I remember this," he murmurs to himself as he takes a seat at an empty table, not looking up at all to see who else is in the room.

Zaltrais takes another sip of wine, then his eyes flick back in Deverel's direction. Another contemptuous twist of the mouth, but then he turns his attention back to the couple not far from him.

Deverel flips through the pages of his book, still muttering to himself, then he frowns suddenly and looks up, blinking owlishly. "Did someone mention snow?" He sounds more than a little bemused.

Demonder greets his wife with that charming smile, leaning forward to kiss her upon the cheek before he takes a seat at the table. "Indeed, snow." Demonder is sarcastically thrilled at the prospect. "This is a good enough excuse to stay within the manor all day, if I've ever felt one. It is cold out there!" Yup, he's playfully complaining.

Kesmaine comes down the creaking stairs, and enters the common room.

Deverel looks surprised upon mention of snow, then his eyes move incredulously to the door. As if he hadn't noticed it before... if that is possible...

Kesmaine gives a start at seing Zaltrais

"I did..." Rennar comments, glancing over at Deverel. She raises her hand and gently covers her mouth at Demonder's words, "Well, almost good enough love." She comments, then looks back at Deverel. There's something... familiar about him.

Zaltrais pauses as he notes Kesmaine, and the mocking smile returns in full force. His eyes alight on the two nobles who are still not far from him, then they move back to Kesmaine. "I see you are back again," he says, voice full of sarcasm. "Have you decided yet whether you will brave the terrors of the snow to reach the encampment?" There almost seems to be an emphasis on the word 'snow'...

Kesmaine moves to stand befor Zaltrais table

Deverel shakes his head finally, then returns to looking through his notes and the pages of his book. At one stage, he stops to look at the leaf carefully pressed between two blank pages.

Demonder's eyes to eventually move to Deverel. "Is something the matter, Renni?" he finally asks. Settling into the seat, he calls for a glass of wine when a servant passes through, though otherwise he watches Rennar and then Deverel in light moments of curiousity.

Kesmaine says "I have thought on it sir"

Kesmaine says "and I do think I will be willing to brave the snow"

Zaltrais looks Kesmaine over. "Willing to brave it, perhaps, though not necessarily succeeding in such," he returns, tone, as usual, mocking.

Kesmaine's voice has a much stronger resolve than it had earlier

Deverel holds the leaf up to the light. "Heartsblush, more like, but what is it doing here?" he wonders aloud.

"I CAN succeed," the resolve is defintly stronger, Kesmaine ignores the mocking looks

"Truly? Then you had best make your start soon else you might never reach the encampment at all." Zaltrais takes another sip from his glass.

"yes, yes, I will do that, I think I'll start now"

"Oh, no, there's nothing wrong." Rennar states, though still eyes Deverel quizically. She glances to Demonder, "Can you order me a glass of white wine? And... maybe lets have a cheese and fruit platter, for a light meal? I love Genette's cooking, but I'm not up to being told I don't eat enough tonight." She teasingly comments on one of her serving staff within House Hune. She pauses once more, then glances back at Deverel. This time a frown comes to her forhead, as if she's trying to piece some puzzle together.

Kesmaine pushes through the wooden door and heads back out to the stableyard.

Zaltrais takes another sip of wine as Kesmaine leaves, then his eyes move first to Deverel, then back to Rennar and Demonder.

Rashan comes down the creaking stairs, and enters the common room.

Deverel shrugs again, finally, and returns the leaf to his book. "Most odd," he mutters to himself as he resumes his search through his papers.

Rashan walks down the steps to the common room, and with a nod to those in the room, walks behind the bar.

Rashan walks Behind the Counter.

Kesmaine enters The Rose and Lion, looking around the common room.

some of Kesmaine's resolve is gone "brrrr...perhaps...perhaps it can wait till tommorow...

Demonder's eyebrow arches at the request and reasoning why. "No Genette's cooking for tonight?" he ponders, rubbing his stomach lightly as though checking to see if it will survive. Demonder does place the order as requested, though apparently not ordering a meal for himself. "I'm certain Genette will have some left-overs available," he notes to Rennar with a brief grin. As he shifts in the chair, the heavy axe thuds against the wood of the furniture, though this time he shifts more to watch this Deverel person Rennar seems distracted with.

Zaltrais raises an eyebrow. "And so you have chosen to forsake the chance for redemption over braving the cold?" he asks. "Dear me." The venom in his voice is barely concealed.

Deverel appears to forget the presence of all the others as he is quickly absorbed in his notes and writings.

Ander comes down the creaking stairs, and enters the common room.

Kesmaine is at a loss for words, "um well, sir, umm...you see...I...

A light chuckle is heard at Demonder's words, "No, no Genette's cooking tonight. At least, not for me. You are welcome to go back and snatch leftovers, after the evening meal when she's less likely to notice scrawny bones." With that, she playfully pinches her husband's arm. "She means well, but with the weather lately, I've most most of my appetite." She gives a small shiver, even at remembering the wintry cold outside. Even as she speaks, Rennar does not take her eyes off of Deverel, then something finally clicks, "Lord Deverel...?" There is an obvious question to her voice.

It IS quite cold out there and I expect that none of the officers wish to be bothered at this time" Kesmaine smiles at his own clever answer

Deverel looks up and around in startlement as if he can't work out who just spoke. Finally he sees Rennar, and he blinks. "Yes, that is my name," he says after a moment, sounding somewhat bemused all the same.

"And why would they not be?" Zaltrais asks, still with that smirk. "The Children's officers are always willing to serve the Light."

Rashan cleans glasses behind the bar, keeping a watchful eye on the Questioner in the corner...

Ander walks up the stairs, to the upper levels of The Rose and Lion.

Demonder's features brighten up at the hope for left-overs, playfully so. At the pinch he pulls back his arm just a touch. "Fiesty this evening, are we?" he notes, and right there he realizes Rennar's attentions going to Deveral might save him from the retaliations of such a comment. Demonder attempts to straighten his features as he looks to Deverel.

"Yes but surely even they would rather be inside keeping warm, than bothering to sign up new recruits at this time," Kesmaine looks frustrated

Zaltrais nods as if to concede the point. "True. No doubt the Childrens' officers have far better things to do than sign up new recruits who are obviously ill-fitted for the task."

Zaltrais's eyes move to Rashan briefly before they return to his 'prey'.

Demonder sits down at Fireside Table.

Indignatly Kesmain pipes "I am not ill suited to the task! I simply don't wish to bother those who will be my superior officers in such miserable weather."

Oh, and Demonder might need to dream on that one! Rennar nods her head to Deverel, offering a fainly warm smile, "It is I, Rennar? Your cousin? Rennar?" Not to mention High Seat of House Hune? Though that's not spoken, it does show on her features through the expression inlaid within her eyes. She does pause briefly to give the Questioner a wary look, then glances back to her cousin.

"The weather is never of any account when serving the Light," Zaltrais points out with deceptive mildness.

Really frustrated now, Kesmaine has nothing to say to the comment.

Zaltrais goes back to his study of the fire, apparently ignoring Kesmaine for the time being.

Kesmaine comes to stand near the fire, trying to ignore Zaltrais' presence, his first couple of encounters with Children have not been encouraging

Deverel thinks for a moment, no doubt trying to remember. "Ahhhh. Rennar, is it?" He doesn't seem to be aware of any additional titles. He stands, book under arm. "Do you have any idea why there is a leaf in my book?" he asks suddenly, almost plaintively.

Rashan chuckles softly at the two children trying so hard to make sure the other knows they're being ignored and turns his attention to the apparent nobles in the room

Of course, it is just a bit hard to ignore an Inquisitor, especially one such as Zaltrais. He remains in contemplation of the fire... of course, one could always wonder what his thoughts were about, given his earlier statement of 'cleansing by blood and fire'. And one must consider the blood-red wine in his glass.

Rennar blinks in response to Deverel's question, "I... I wouldn't know." She glances to Demonder, then the others about the room, at the question, uncertainty touching her eyes, "Why?"

Kesmaine shivers, thinking just that

As though Demonder's hair was not tangled enough, he struggles to move his fingers through it scratching at his head with the sight of this Deverel noble. Needless to say, the questioning look he gives Rennar is a classic of expression of "Who is this?" Demonder doesn't say a word of course. Then he turns to Deverel. "Perhaps you used it to mark a page?"

Deverel looks down at the pages between which the leaf was stuck. Looking back through his book, he frowns slightly, then nods. "Yes, I think that was it. Thank you. Only, now I have to work out what it was I was trying to mark." He turns back to the blank pages, studying them for a moment, then quickly slips another paper between them.

Zaltrais glances towards Deverel for a moment, look still so obviously contemptuous, but then he seems to dismiss the seemingly odd noble from his mind.

Rashan comes out from behind the bar, with a tray full of cheese, wine glasses, and a decantour of wine. Walking over to the fireside table, mindful of not letting his limp upset the tray, he sets the tray on the table in front of the nobles. "Will M'lady, or M'lords be needing anything else?"

Kesmaine is plainly becoming uncomfortable standing next to Zaltrais, but his allready much damaged pride won't allow him to back off

Rennar gives Deverel another quizical look, seeming rather perplexed. "I am sorry I can't help you there." When Rashan comes to the table, a small smile graces her lips, "Good evening, Master Rashan." She's been to the inn enough to know who the Keeper's husband is. "I don't think we'll be needing anything else, at least not for now." She glances at Demonder briefly before glancing back to Rashan. "How is your wife?"

Trying to act casual, he raises his arms to the fire.

Rashan grins michieviously "As stuborn as ever. She lets me tend bar, but still wont let me redecorate. Other than that, she's doing very well, thanks"

Demonder greets Rashan with a nod in thanks for the requested tray, and then looks to Deverel. "I think we will be well for now, though perhaps Lord Deverel will want something?" he ponders.

Deverel doesn't hear Demonder, he's already absorbed in his book and notes again.

Zaltrais takes another sip of wine - by now, his glass is maybe only a quarter full - then suddenly sets his glass on the edge of the fireside table, not bothering to worry what those already seated there may think. He then strips off his black gloves to reveal white, fine-boned hands. An oddity is the scar that runs down the center of his left palm and across the wrist.

Kesmaine discreetly examinse Zaltrais' hand

Rennar seems to shiver mentally and physically at mention of Rashan redecorating. "Well, I suppose that is for the best." She manages to give Rashan something of a soft smile, but that smile sours at the rude actions of the Child of the Light.

curiosity ofercomes his resolve and Kesmaine asks, "With all due respect sir...Where did you get that?"

A knife wound, perhaps? Or maybe something else. Zaltrais tucks his gloves into his belt as he continues watching the fire. His hands almost seem to move in the direction of the flames of their own accord, and the flames reflect in his eyes. He does not seem to be about to answer Kesmaine, but then, very slowly, he turns his head. "In service of the Light," is his abrupt answer.

Rashan grins at Rennar's reaction, and shoots a look of annoyance at the Questioner. He glances at Rennar and oh-so-subtly rolls his eyes. "Well, if you'll not be needing anything else then, I'll just be going back about my duties."

Kesmaine obviously expected something a little more for an answer, but looks at the hand consideringly

Deverel is still standing, apparently trying to reorganise his notes. He doesn't appear to be having much success with it, but at least he hasn't dropped anything yet.

Demonder returns his attentions to Rennar. "So, Lord Deverel, he is not from the manor I gather?" Demonder chuckles at the question, fully realizing he'd notice such a lord bumping around the hallways.

Zaltrais brushes the tip of one flame with his fingertips without burning himself, then suddenly, he pulls his gloves back on and retrieves his glass.

A small from of realization touches Rennar's lips. Rather than eatting any of the food on her plate, she shakes her head, "No, he isn't. He travels alot, and visits occassionally. He's quite... eccentric." There is a brief pause, "At least, that's what father called him." She watches Demonder a moment, then sighs, "I forget a meeting was scheduled this night with the Duke Dravenor."

Zaltrais touch on the flame serves to remind Kesmaine of what was said earlier, he shivers again

Demonder arches his eyebrow at Rennar's sudden announcement of a meeting. Deciding he'll need it, he finishes the glass of wine in one long sip before standing up as well.

Deverel doesn't appear to notice that Rennar and Demonder are about to leave, he is still far too absorbed in his book. He continues muttering to himself, words too mumbled to make out.

Taking another sip from his glass, Zaltrais's eyes follow the nobles.

Rennar smiles warmly at Demonder as he rises, chuckling softly as he finishes his wine, or nearly does. She reaches out to gently take his arm, allowing him to escort her back home.

Demonder mutters something about the cold, winking at Rennar as he squeezes her in tight against him. There, all better. The two head out into the winter air.

Demonder pushes through the wooden door and heads back out to the stableyard.

Deverel suddenly wanders back to his table, then up the stairs from which he had originally came. He doesn't seem to realise there are people still in the common room.

Deverel walks up the stairs, to the upper levels of The Rose and Lion.

You push through the wooden door and head back out to the stable yard.