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.

Martel, Kellian, Meg

Today is Oneday, 13 Jumara, 999 NE. It is a Winter evening.

Martel sits down at Fireside Table.

A cold winter breeze enters the room as a claoked form comes through the door. Snow is kicked delicate off chilled feet and the door firmly closed in place. Rennar removes the hood from her head, allowing her short locks of new growth to be seen within the room, her hair now reaching nearly five inches long. She shivers off some of the cold and snow, then heads toward the fireplace first to warm herself.

Meg looks at her food, a bit uncertainly. Is it rude to go on eating? Then she smiles at them, equally uncertainly, and quite fails to find a topic of conversation. Er.

Martel says to Kellian, "A captain, did you say? I bet you have had great adventures.

Martel says to Kellian, "What is it like, working for the Queen?"

Martel entranced now by the status of Kellian's station, doesn't notice Meg's uncomfortableness with the situation.

Rennar glances over Martel at the mention of the Queen, and her lips seem to corner down into a small frown. She sniffs slightly at something, then turns her attention back to the fire, She mutters to herself, "... Queen,... be... about..."

You sense "Rennar glances over Martel at the mention of the Queen, and her lips seem to corner down into a small frown. She sniffs slightly at something, then turns her attention back to the fire, "If she were Queen, she'd be doing something about /that/ man.""

Kellian watches Martel as he sits at their table,"You are recently arrived in Caemlyn then?". Then he watches Rennar as she repeats a process he had performed only moments ago. His silver flecked blue eyes study the woman carefully, then his gaze sweeps the room itself, as if preparing to defend or attack the place. Then back to Meg he says,"What can you tell me of the trouble here in the Capital?"

Martel says "Well, yes, very recently in fact. I have been here for less than a day."

Kellian looks at Martel,"A life in the service is the Crown is difficult at times, but always it is an honor to serve her and the people of Andor." He speaks not with just the rote repition of one who is taught such an ideal. He sounds like he truly feels that in his heart.

Meg's eyes widen. Er. "Very... I'm sorry, sir, very little. I've seen the guards, of course, and heard the stories, but I really know very little."

Indeed, Rennar's muttered words indicated she was not very happy with the Queen at all. Then again, there are some many nobles who are not. She keeps her attention on the fires before her, rather than disturbing the conversation with her own conjectures on recent events.

Martel catches on to the hints of uneasiness within the conversation. "Is there something wrong?"

Kellian nods slowly to the man,"Trouble is brewing my friend. More then that I can not tell you. You would be well served though if you could find employ with the lady's husband at your earliest convience. Else you might find yourself taking orders from me within the week."

Meg glances at Rennar, startled, but she doesn't dare hold the glance more than a moment. She misunderstands Martel's question: "There was some trouble, some...deaths in the city, and the city guards have been very wary and careful.'

Meg blinks at Kellian, startled. "Sir?"

Martel says "Deaths?"

Martel eyes widen in fearful surprise.

Kellian sits back then, still stiff and his movements careful and exact, but he waits for the confusion of the conversation to be resolved or to quiet before he continues. He looks at Rennar again, wondering at that muttering, his eyes narrowing. Then he looks back to his tablemates,"I am not saying this will happen, but certainly even you Master Martel, have noticed the number of guards on the byways of the city? Andor may have need soon of every able bodied man to stand against this trouble."

Rennar's eyes widen a bit, She mutters to herself, "... Careful?... Calling... /martial law/... rediculous... was... the Palace... not rioting..." She sniffs more to herself, pulling her cloak about her. Yep, there's dissent there from what used to be one of Aislynn's staunchiest supporters.

You sense "Rennar's eyes widen a bit, "Wary? Careful? Downright unpleasant and disrespectful! Calling for /martial law/ is rediculous when the death was contained in the Palace. People were not rioting." She sniffs more to herself, pulling her cloak about her. Yep, there's dissent there from what used to be one of Aislynn's staunchiest supporters."

Meg says "But..." Confused. "I thought that only landowners..."

Kellian looks at Meg,"Yes?"

Martelhaving never been called Master before replies, "No need to use such titles with me, Captain Kellian. I'm simple and use simple names." Then realizes the weight that the rest of the conversation carried. "I noticed that there were many men dressed in the colors of Andor, but I thought that this was ordinary for such a large city."

Meg says "I thought that only landowners could be required to serve."

Kellian raises a brow,"I can not speak for that Mistress, though I would think that should this trouble arise every man with a conscience and a will to defend there homes and the lives of those they care for would gladly step forward."

Martel, with a hint of worry in his voice, asks "Could this spread from the city?"

Meg nods, uncomfortably, with an air of having been scolded. She looks at her food, instead of those at the table.

Martel glances from Meg to Kellian trying to discern what is happening.

Kellian looks at Martel,"I can not speculate beyond what I've already told you, friend." He looks at Rennar again and raises his voice to speak to her,"Lady, do you know of the trouble that plagues Caemlyn at this time?" Curious and cautious at the same time as he watches her reaction.

Meg looks up, to hear that answer.

Rennar glances up from the fire and turns her head to Kellian as he addresses her. There is a small turning of her lips downward, which is not pointed in anyone's particular direction. "An honest opinion, sir?" She does not recognize Kellian. "It is my opinion that Captain-General Durnik is what plagues Andor. It was a sad, occassion, yes, when Queen Sydelle was killed here in Andor, however instituting /martial law/ against Andors own citizens, here in Caemlyn, as if we were all mere criminals and responisible for the crime was outrageous and incredulous!"

Meg glances uncomfortably at Martel. Softly, "A poor introduction to the city for you..."

Kellian nods slowly,"On the risk of walking the tightrope of insubordination, I would have to agree with you, Lady..." he gives her a questioning look, then adds,"I am Captain Kellian Devail of her Majesty's Cavalry." He stands reflexively as he introduces him self. Looking much taller then his mere 5'3". "You have been here then, witness to the events of the past few weeks?"

Martel replies to Meg, "I'm beginning to wonder if my father wasn't right about leaving home." Smiles to add a bit of warmth to that comment.

"I have not witnessed them personally." Rennar admits, "But I have more than heard enough and experienced some of the aftermath about them to be outraged over his actions. Not that I have any love for the man anyway after refusing the Queen's /direct/ order to to give me information to help me find my sister"

Meg smiles. "No, it is a very nice city. This is only...temporary."

Martel says to Meg, "Do things like this happen often here?"

Kellian raises a brow at this,"I have been an officer in the field for many years, and have only recently come to Caemlyn for the first time. I would think that the Captain-General would have a good reason for disobeying the Queen." He doesn't sound convinced though. "Was your trouble with your sister part of the rash of dissapearances and assassinations."

Meg blinks at Rennar - disobeyed a Queen's order? Still blinking, she tells Martel, "Not _exactly_ like this."

Martel raises an eyebrow at what Kellian said.

"Disobeying the Queen is considered treason, is it not?" Rennar's brow lifts in a touch of challenge, "And displaying a temper tantrum after I challenged him on the matter did not help matters either. He only ended up destroying palace property." Rennar pauses a moment as she hears Kellian's next question, "No, it had come after my own disappearance. I am Lady Rennar Elliya Hune, Duchess of House Hune."

Martel wonders to himself at so many noble people here in this place.

Kellian bows his head to her,"It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady Rennar Elliya Hune, Duchess of House Hune. Do you know Master Magnus by chance, Lady?"

Kellian 's mouth twitches breifly into a frown, then schools himself back into a light hearted look of simple curiosity.

"I am aware of Lord Magnus Trigaran, but I do not know him. There is word that he has died, of old age or something of the like." Rennar, being one of the younger House Heads, did not grow up around Magnus's advisorial reign in the palace - or, was too young to be around it.

Meg shakes her head to Martel. "I know very little..."

Kellian nods slowly,"I see.." he says even more slowly. Measuring something in his mind. "Thank you, Lady. You have been most helpful. And in the future, if you need aid with anything, please speak to me and I will do what I can to see that you receive the help you need." He moves back toward that table now.

"Thank you, Captain, but I have long since learned to rely only on the resources of my House." With that, Rennar's expression grows unreadable and she turns her attention back to the fire, warming herself.

Martel sits quietly, not knowing what to make yet of such exchanges.

Meg absently nods to a server, who takes her cold food away.

Kellian reaches that chair and turns back to her,"As you wish, Lady Rennar. But you can not forever remain within the walls of your House and the comfort of your family's embrace. If House Hune is to be strong and survive, with you as head of the House, then first you must rely upon the resources at hand..but failing that, you must be willing to seek out allys in your efforts." He sits back down then. "I do apologize to you both."

Martel smiles towards Kellian, attempting to break the somber mood. "That is alright. No harm done."

Martel fumbles out a few loose coins, counts them absently in his palm.

Meg nods, though rather nervously as the man gives such advice to the Lady. "Quite all right. What sort of trouble, exactly, do you expect, sir? War?"

Rennar does not seem to take any offense. "House Hune has survived a great many endeavors, and will continue to do so, without outside aid." Her mind seems firm on that, however. "Besides, we'll all have our hands full once Lord Renford gains control of Murandy and sets his sights back on Andor once more." She sighs deeply at that.

Martel orders a small loaf of bread from a server and hands over a few of the coins.

Kellian looks at Meg then, keeping his features schooled. She doesn't doesn't seem the type to gossip. But certainly Martial Law has already sent the populace into a spin over what might be coming. "War is always a possibility, Lady. It is why the Queen has an army after all." He actually smiles gently, an unusual gestur for him, perhaps trying to lighten his words. His head snaps back to Rennar,"What did you say?"

Meg nods. "I..." But his attention is gone.

Delicately, Rennar turns her head to where Kellian and the others sit, "I said that we'll all have our hands full after Lord Renford finishes taking over Murandy and sets his sights back on Andor again. No doubt he was behind the assassination of Queen Sydelle, even if he is not in this country. He sent his own assassins after me, so why would he not go after another public figure in this country."

The server returns and hands the ordered bread to Martel. Martel, feeling uncomfortable about eating when others aren't, pockets the loaf for later.

Kellian takes a deep slow breath then releases it,"Just as he said.." so soft that even Meg likely didn't hear him. Then he looks at Rennar,"I have no doubt that you right Lady Rennar." Then he looks at Meg again,"It seems I have succeeded in ruining your meal, perhaps I could purchase you a replacement?"

Meg smiles. "No, I had enough. Thank you. But have your own; don't hesitate for me." To Martel and his loaf, as well as Kellian.

Martel feeling somewhat out of place attempts to excuse himself from the table, "I think that I will see about temporary emplyment her."

"There was evidence pinpointing him after my own ordeal." Rennar shrugs her shoulders a bit, "And he tried on numerous occassions to gain information against Queen Aislynn. Most of them that we know about have failed."

Martel says to Kellian, "It was nice to meet you sir."

Meg nods to Martel, apologetically.

Kellian nods at Martel,"I hope you enjoy life here in Caemlyn friend. It seems you have come at a difficult time." As has Kellian for that matter.

Martel turns to Meg. "Thank you for helping me in any way you can. If you do manage to find a job for me, I should be around here."

Martel smiles to both at the table.

Finally warm enough to move on back to her home, Rennar moves away from the fire and starts for the door once more, her thoughts turning inward even now as she prepares to exit the building.