Driftwood Inn

[Guest]

Sir Mordred sat by the fire, anger bubbling inside of him. Lust fed his anger; partly he was disgusted at his need for women. How many bastards did he have littered across the country? Absently he tossed his seaxa in his hand; it was his mothers, a dane; danes were good at making pretty things. He knew the blade was sharp and could kill a man in seconds; he sharpened it so himself.
"Are you the Knight?" Asked a voice behind him. He grabbed the seaxa mid-air, as if poised to use it.
"Who wants to know?"
"A simple girl."
He relaxed, then tossed the sword up and over again.
"Well then; why don't you join me?"
The girl looked no more then fifteen, a pretty redhead dressed simply in peasant traveling clothes. She wore no jewels or gold. Coyly she looked at him, then sat down by the hearth. Oddly he felt no lust with her; she was too young for him. He wanted the blonde, the lovely blond that seemed so familiar...
"My father's a Knight." She looked up apologetically.
"Who is he?" Mordred ran a hand through his atheling- long hair, long as any kings. By Woden, he was tired!
"I don't know. Mother never said. I'm a bastard."
Mordred eye's popped open in surprize, his back straight. The girl's audacity was unnerving.
"Are you?"
She crossed her legs in a nost un-ladylike manner. "I'm called Sarasri. Sara's daughter."
Sara. A common name. He remembered a Sara, but she was of noble birth, not a peasant. He relaxed then. Perhaps the fates were testing him? Telling him to face his responsibilities?
"Yes. I want to be a Knight. A women warrior, like a valkerie. Like Woden's women."
"Do you sweetheart?"
"Keliana! Kel, where are you?" A voice that had the hint of royalty cut through the noise of the gloomy inn.

 

[O]

Quietly she nursed the cool glass of water, the small of her back nestled so nicely against the bar's edge. Ah how she loved the peace of being retired. She was still getting used to it, but she knew without doubt that her days were hers again. No more skulking about in the shadows, no more blood spilled by her hand on someone else's command. She was her own being to command once more. At least until she reached her destination. Then her world would change again.

Occassionally deep blue eyes would shift between the two men. In all her time in the services she'd been in, it had been her experience that while men usually appeared to be the source of trouble, there was usually a woman ultimately beind it. She wondered which of these two men would be played by which woman tonight as she looked over the women. It didn't really matter, mind you. She would take whatever measures necessary to avoid trouble tonight. Though she craved a distraction deep in her bones, all she really wanted was a nice quiet evening with maybe some good food, good company and a decent night's rest.

 

[ShyGoddess]

Jasmine:

The room started to spin around her. So many thoughts. So much magic, and then he had walked in. She remembered him even though she had been just a child at the time. Her mother had served the queen, and so Jasmine had been around the castle many times. God she missed her mother. She misseed the queen too. She had been so kind to Jasmine. But damn that man! Why had he come to this inn? He had been five and ten to her eight. Jasmine had avoided him at all costs. He'd been a cocky young page to the king. How often had she wished him to the bottom of the bog in the forest near the castle. And now here he was. She could read his thoughts, and almost laughed. He was still cocky, and mad as hell. His prey had escaped him. The blond assassin at the bar. He had not witnessed her slip out after the redheaded woman. Her song was at an end. The people would soon be under. Jasmine left the small stage, and resumed her other duties serving mead and ale and doing her best to avoid grabbing hands.

"What will you do to him, Prophet?"

 

[Guest]

The girl by the brooding Knight rose from the hearth and dusted dirt from her breeches.
"Coming, mother."
She smiled apologetically and ran from him. Mordred held his breath. The Gods loved moments like these; if he stayed where he was, nothing would happen. But if he were to get up and...
"Wait! Girl, wait."
Keliana stopped and looked around.
"I am in need of a squire."
The girl's mouth dropped opened. A smile tainted her lips, then she ran to hug him. Embaressed, the Knight pushed her down.
"Learn to curb emotions; they're no use to a Knight."
Suddenly shy, Kel kicked up the dried reeds on the floor, the scent of lavender rising.
"Keliana we have to-" A plainly dressed woman strode to them, her wild red hair barely contained in the wimple she had on her head.
"Sara," he said in a whisper. He looked at Keliana, then at her mother.
"Ye Gods." He leaned against the back of the chair, hand on his sword hilt. The telepath at the bar looked on, her face serene. Inside she smiled. Oh, how the Fates play!
But Sara said nothing. Her mouth opened and closed, like a fish. A well calloused hand -once silky smooth, he knew- closed upon her mouth.
Excited at the prospect of being a squire, Kel tugged on her mother's dress sleeve and hopped from one foot to the other. "Oh mother, I am to be a Knight! I'm going to have adventures-" Keliana stopped then, puzzled.
"Hush, Kel." Sara pulled her daughter to her, then stood as defiantly as she could. Still she was prideful!
"Hello Sara." Mordred crossed his arms and tried to mask his face with emotions. Was this girl his?
"My liege." She bobbed politely.
"What brings you here?"
"I work here. As housekeeper." She pointed to a mess of keys that hung on her belt. To Kel, she said: "Go start cleaning the red-room."
"But-"
"Now." She did not dare argue with her mother when she spoke it that tone.
"Yes mother." Keliana walked away from the situation, a frown creasing her face.
"Please, sit by the hearth. I fear you need an explanation." Sara gesture to the two two over-stuffed chairs by the fire. Mordred sat, and awaited an explanation.

 

[The Sandman]

The prophet glanced towards the knight a moment, then looked to Jasmine, and smiled a bit, shrugging. "I will figure something out, M'lady...I am not the brash young page you remember, I've...grown up...for lack of a better term." He briefly thought back to the days at the castle, and grinned, but quickly shook his head, trying to keep his mind on the task at hand. Azraith kept a keen eye on the Innkeeper, and rolled his neck from side to side.

 

[Herc]

Herc walked by the bustling Inn, and heard the sounds from inside, he stepped through the door, standing 7' tall, short black hair and black eyes, a barbarian from every angle, a large double bladed battle axe that is almost as wide as his back can be seen across his back, he steps in eyeing the crowd, his muscles ripping as he moves, showing not only years of fighting but also of wroking in a forge, as his skin has a bronze coloring, the Inn keeper comes up to him and asks him to remove his axe, which Herc looks down at him and says.."the axe stays where it is, if I wanted to hurt someone I would have already" at which point he sits down and turns to watch the people, grabing an ale for himself, his chest is bare, as he is only in a loincloth and fur lined boots

 

[Guest]

Mab, stood hands on hips, glaring at her half sister. "What sort of mischief are you about now?" she snarled as Merlin eyed the two siblings warily.

"Mischief! Harsh words coming from one whose only claim to fame is the ability to kill, perform illusions, and reduce to servitude he who comes from an ancient and noble race."
sneered Garnet.

Pushed to the edge of her patience a fiery bolt of amber shot from Mabs hands. Useless, of course, since before the thought was fully formed Garnet was elsewhere.

"Lucky for you that I don't invoke the threefold law", laughed Garnet at her enraged
sibling "But fortunately the Sidhe honor family connections..even ones as unappealing as ours."

"You haven't answered my question" pointed out Mab.

"probably because it isn't your business, but rather Merlin's and Mine."

"Lucky for you that I don't have Merlin here
flambe' you" Mab's eyes glittered in the moonlight.

"flambe' of the Queen of the Western Sidhe's daughter, by me, at the behest of the daughter of the Queen's 2nd consort, would result in serious repercussions for all of us" snorted Merlin.

Silence greeted this reminder of the Queen, their mother, whose wrath was legendary among the Sidhe.

"You could, go inside, the two of you, and see to a room for the evening, maybe some male companionship? Afterall, the bed of a Sidhe is most sought after!" Merlin made sure he was well back from the two feuding sisters as he delivered this message.

Fortunately the two sisters saw the wisdom in this and, as Garnet pointed out, a good evening with willing companions in a Sidhe pleasure circle might do them both a world of good. Turning they entered the inn again, now on a quest for suitable male companionship.

Left to himself Merlin wondered , not for the first time, What would happen if Mab and Garnet ever figured out that he was here with them, merely as a favor to Queen Mavine
herself.

Because in truth, Mab had no more tamed him than a wolverine is tamed by a human...he was in fact Fyredraco--King of the Northern Dragon folk

 

[Herc]

Herc turns and looks at the door as the two women walk in, he is on his second ale, and glowers at the Innkeeper as he starts to ask for the very large axe across his back again, and then turns his attation back to the ladies, watching them, muttering to himslef.."blasted ale in these parts is as weak as rain water"

He then puts the ale down, not finishing it and begins look around the rest of the room

 

[Guest]

Sir Mordred listened. He sat by the fire, the soothing monotone of his female companion washing over him like rain.
"You left me pregnant. Me, a Lady. My father went mad. Hit me, told me I was a whore, that I was wanton."
Sara, I..."
The redhead looked at him, her eyes sparking fire. "Don't even think of apologising. What good will it do now? Where was this apology when I discovered I was pregnant?"
Mordred looked into the fire, brooding. He could not think what to say in the situation.
"Keliana is a good girl; she will be a fine daughter."
"That she is. You missed so many things in her life. Her first steps, her first word..."
He looked up sharply then. "Don't you think I would of liked to know those things? You ran away without telling me anything; what was I to do? You know I would have done the noble thing."
Sara looked at him, puzzled. "But didn't Papa tell you?"
"No. He said you ran away, that you were married to some baron. What was I to think, Sara?"
Bitter she looked now, her hands wringing into her skirts. "Aye, Papa tried to marry me. But I still had my pride; why should I be carted off to some greasy, fat baron who will no more that use me then- then a married whore!"
"But why didn't he ask me to marry you? We would of survived on my squire's wage-"
Sara touched his arm, endeared. The blond warrior by the bar looked on at them, intriged; he recognised the man...
"Papa wanted a rich man-"
"Mordred! By Thor, I knew it was you!"
Herc strode to the sitted pair and pulled Mordred by the hand -or should that be dragged?- to a standing position, then hugged him viciously.
"Last time I saw you was at the battle of Standing Stones! Lots of blood shed then, eh?" Mordred tried not to stumble forward as Herc slapped him on the back.
"Long time no see, Herc." Sara hid a smile behind her hand.
"Now who's this pretty lady?" Sara raised her eyebrow and looked every bit the stern housekeeper.
"Herc, may I present to you my... my old friend, Sara. Sara, this man is Herc the Warrior; many tales are sung about him, so I will not say much more about him, other then the fact he's a big, unmannerly oaf."
Herc laughed so loudly that many looked round at them.
"Ha! And you're a pouncy Knight with his arse never working and his nose in books!" Herc slapped him on the back harder. The telepath sipped her water and looked on. My, this inn was one for coincidences!

 

[Guest]

Entering the inn from the stableyard the sisters, Mab and Garnet, eyed the room.

"I think that table by the fire would be most suitable" said Garnet.

And no sooner were the words spoken than the three travelers sitting at the aforementioned table suddenly arose, and bidding adieu to to the assembled company,departed.

Once seated, Mab perused the room.

The glint of a battleaxe near the bar caught her eye.

"Look, over there, someone that our illustrious host seems unable to influence!"

"You still desire the barbarian type don't you sister dear " sighed Garnet.

"They are so much more, shall we say, 'adventurous'" Mab smiled, as memories of other "barbarians " filled her thoughts.

"Okay, him it is" and with those words Garnet
slid from her seat and headed for the bar where the lone traveler stood muttering about the quality of the ale.

Leaning across the roughhewn bar she said "give me three tankards of 'Baeleer', please"

"BAELEER!" sputterd the barkeep "The drink of the SIDHE?!?!?"

"Yes, precisely that. You do carry it don't you????" Garnet noticed the immediate interest of the axe-wielding stranger.

"Heard tell that that's right proper ale, better than this colored water" said the axe wielder slamming his tankard on the bar.

While this exchange had been going on the barkeep found himself drawing three large tankards of Baeleer from the keg of his finest stock. Returning to the bar he set the three tankards down.

"You'll need help getting these to the table"
offered the host.

"Oh, I'm sure this gentle men will be more than happy to assist me" said Garnet as her emerald eyes slid from the host to the dissatisfied customer.

Grabbing two of the three tankards the axe-wielder followed Garnet through the crowd.

Mab, still seated, eyed the tankard carring male with frank and open appreciation. "You might as well join us stranger, the person we were expecting is obviously not coming"

"Ah, that's ale!!!!" smacked the man

Smiling, the two sisters waited for the Baeleer and the heat to do their work, They felt no guilt because the "pleasure circle" of the Sidhe left no one short changed.

 

[Herc]

Herc smilied at the two lovely women that gave him a taste of the best ale this inn has, and looks them over, his battle axe still firmly in place across his broad back, and he leans wondering if they know that it takes alot to get him drunk, as he has drunk dwarves under the table and still had enough sense to beat the crap out of a pick pocket that tried to mark him.

"And what are your names, lovely ladies" he smiled as he asked them, taking another drink of the strong ale.

 

[ShyGoddess]

Jasmine:

A hand on her arm stopped her. "Why is your spell not working?" her uncle's voice was low, speaking for only their ears.

"I do not know Uncle." She did know, but would never tell him. Her uncle, unlike Jasmine, was not a telepath and could not detect the magic in the room. There was simply to much of it in the room for her weak spell to work.

"You did not try hard enough. I am very disappointed tonight. Do not let it happen again. You know what happens when I get upset."

"Yes, Uncle." Jasmine lowered her eyes to hide the burning hatered in them.

"Get back to work."

She continued along in her duties, until she came to Azraith's table.

Her voice was just a whisper. "He cannot sense the magic present tonight. It is not one of his powers. He does not know that I can, but I'm afraid that it will not be long before he discovers the truth."

Her words brought his piercing blue eyes to her. It seemed as though he could see into her soul.

"I need your help. Before my mother died, she gave me a scroll, and instructions. When I turned eighteen, I was to return to the castle of Queen Mavine. The scroll was to be given to her. For she knows what to do with it. I would go by myself, but my powers are not yet strong enough to protect myself. Will you take me there, Prophet?"

 

[Guest]

"I'm Garnet", said the redhead "and this is my Half-sister Mab."

"We arrived in town not knowing the other one was going to be here." said Mab, "and your name is"

"Herc" said the dark haired giant glupping some more ale.

~~Herc, of the esatern sea tribes, renowned for his axe, quick to anger and even quicker to wield that axe, if you try to get the upper hand~~broke Merlin into Mab's thoughts.

"Herc", mused Mab, "Heard about a Herc, who had a great Axe in the eastern sea tribes"

"Aye, That be me" said Herc as he eyed the lowcut blouson Mad revealed as she loosed her cloak and untied her strawberry blond hair.

"Came here looking for an outfit to join, heard there was some trouble up Nozama way."
Said Herc as he beckoned the innkeeper for more Baeleer. "Had a job in Lizab, for some cattle dealer, found out half his herd was stolen and the other half questionable, things were heating up and, since I really didn't care to wield my beauty for a thief, I left"

"Lizab? isn't that about 10 leaugues to the east?" asked Garnet leaning forward as her cloak fell open revealing smooth honey colored skin.

"No, you're thinking of Lizar, Lizab is five miles due NE up in the hills, hills I might add that are covered with cattle since the gates mysteriously got broken" Herc's conversation was interupted by new tankards of ale.


~~I heard i'll be back by morning~~ rumbled Merlin as he headed to the NE for beef dinner.

Both women settled back and gave their full attention to Herc, assured that there would be no untoward incidents as the result of a hungry rampaging dragon.

"tell us of your battles" whispered Garnet, as Mabs' hand ran up and down Herc's arm...

 

[Herc]

Herc smiles as Meb's hand traces down his arm, knowing she feels the tightly corded muscles from his years of battle and working in a forge, and his free arm slides around Meb's waist as he picks up the new tankard and takes a big swig before starting his tail.."Well, a few years back, I was working as a bodyguard for a Barons daughter, seems that if she ran off to marry this other baron then war would have torn apart the land..Well normally I don't get involved in politics, to messy, but the man paid a good coin, so I guarded her, she tried to slip away from me and ran into a pack of bandits that had been seen in the area, there was about 10 of them, all of them ruffians in the truest sense..." grins as he tells the tale, saying ten when in truth there was only 5.."I came on them just as they was about to have thier way with my young ward, so they soon found out about how strong a barbarians axe is...The first one lunged at me, I cleaved him in half with a swing, and on my back swing I sliced the heads of 2 more, soon it was me and thier leader..he seen me standing there my axe dripping with his men's blood, and I hadn't even broken a sweat, he turn and ran..and found an axe in his back..the girl was so gratefull she.."rewarded" me then and there, but I decided it was time to leave, onc she told her father that she wanted to marry me..and daddy didn't look to happy." laughs as he finishes the tankard, his hadn on Med's leg since he is holding her aroudn the waist

 

[Gateleader]

MAB:
Mab fumed. SHE was here. She knew her sister thought she was only a petty killer. BUt she had the power cosmos, she just didn'y use it. She laughed as she read Merlins mind. Didn't he know she knew. She knew he traveled with her because her mother asked him to. The time would come when she would break away from the years of pain and hurt. soon so soon.
But first she would help free the girl. Devils right hand or not. She didn't fear the devil. She walked back into the inn. She saw the killer at the bar. She looked over the knight.
~Merlin, the lover boy is here.~
~Don't do anything stupid~
~Why would I do that,...my king.~
Mab smiled at the panic that welled in Merlin's mind.
~Do you think I'm stupid Merlin?~
Mab grabbed an ale from the barkee and slumped in a chair near the profet.
"To seek the rose, one must first brave the thorns."

 

[The Sandman]

Azraith sat calmly a moment, his brow furrowing in thought. Well..what else was there to do? A small grin curved his lips as he looked up to Jasmine, nodding slowly. "Alright, I'll take you.." A man of a few words? Nah, he was just quiet when he needed to be..those intense blue orbs glanced into hers, and locked for a long moment, delving into her very soul, reading her just a brief moment before looking down suddenly, a gentleman no less? "I'm sorry, pardon me for staring."

 

[The Sandman]

OOC: ::Slaps his forehead:: I really should read posts better.

IC: Azraith eyed the woman who sat down by him carefully, and after a moment, simply paid her no mind. He looked foward at his table, into his hands. For a brief moment they flickered with a dim blue energy, but the power quickly died down and he sighed softly.

 

[ShyGoddess]

OOC:I'm a little confused. What exactly is going on?

 

[Moneytalks]

Trinity was freaking out. All the newcomers seemed so intent and intense and focused. Luckily none had noticed her in the dark corner she had fled to. Unfortunately she was now stuck there and furthest from any visable exit to the Inn. Her companions, though she didn't trust them, at least she knew them, but they where entranced somehow by that woman's singing.

The place hummed with latent magick, and she was really scared now. She tried to focus but there where scarey looking warriors and altogether the people here looked much much more sophisticated than she could ever claim to be. Even the haunted singer looked like she knew more of the world than she. What in the Goddess's name could 2 weeks of freedom possibly have taught her to deal with this?

Maybe she could slip out. It seemed most people where occupied. Maybe they wouldn't notice her.

Tentatively she edged around the room. She noticed her luggage still near the bar and that Inn Keeper rumaging through her things. Even her cloak was still on the chair she had left near her two companions. Shit, she didn't even know how to harness the horses to the carriage. She felt the glow of her amulet beneath her bodice. It warmed and comforted her as she edged further around the room... just a few more lengths until the doorway.

Suddenly three darkly cloaked new-comers enter the room. Scanning it carefully. She froze. Goddess, Priests of the Dark Woods... but here?... Why on earth?... Instinctively she sucked all her energy into herself. Leaving only a shell that emanated no magickal energy.. in fact left an absence of all energy around her. Please the Goddess they would not reckognise her.

 

[Guest]

Hercs' attention was drawn from Mab as Garnet leaned over him.

"Excuse me sir," said Garnet as her hair fell like a cloud across his bare chest, " I need to speak to my sister away from other ears."

Herc felt like a millions whisper light tongues of fires were streaking acoss his chest sending signals to the very center of his being.

"If you plan to do anything about that girl, you best do it soon" said Garnet to a startled Mab . " Don't look so surprised, I saw you eyeing her when I first arrived, she definitely needs help. And I can't think of anyone more suitable for the job than you"

Shocked at her sisters perceptiveness and unexpected praise , tears sprang to the warrior womans eyes. "Damn Smoke, excuse me while i flush my eyes with water.

"You'll be back?" enquired the flustered Herc.

"Of course", smiled Mab planting a moist kiss on Hercs earlobe.

Watching her walk away, he felt a definite stirring a stirring further intensified my the feel of Garnets hand on his thigh.

 

[Guest]

The young man walked into the inn shivering from the storm that had gathered outside. As he walked in he felt a large meaty hand grab him and turn him around. The large man grunted and pointed at the sign saying all weapons must be checked in.
Curtis sighed and removed his sword, his staff, his bow and arrows, but kept his dagger hidden in his boot and went to warm himself at the fire.
The room was thick with magic-users he could almost smell the magic around him. He was initially intrigued when he saw a dragon in the stable and hoped he could meet whoever could tame such a beast.

 

[Herc]

Herc watched Meb as she walked away and then looks to Garnet smiling, feeling her hand on his tigh, he moves over closer to her, and slides his arm around her waist, and un-expectedly slides Garnet onto his lap, leaving enough room for Meb when she comes back, after all a 7' barbarian always has room for the ladies, and with Garent in his lap, he puts his hand down on her thigh and begins rubbing softly, as he looks at her

"You two are Sidhe, I use to travel with a Sidhe woman..but for some reason her name escapes me for the moment, we was an awesome fighting pair, I don't much care for magic, never did, I like to rely on steel, butalso, I know others use it liek I use my axe, and the Sidhe are the greatest I've seen."

As he speaks he pulls her a little closer on his lap and looks into her face

 

[ShyGoddess]

Jasmine:

God, she hoped he couldn't tell how much he scared her. All magic did, even her own. She had watched as magic had distroyed her family. And now here she was, stuck in this inn, until Azraith had come. She had a feeling her mother had known how great his powers would become.

She looked to the warrior woman who now sat at his table. She looked familar.

"Do I know you? You seem familar to me."

 

[Moneytalks]

Trinity:

Scans the room furtively. Looking around she see's the big barbarian man... Herc?... sitting with one of the firey red-heads, Garnet? that was heatedly discussing something with the first red-headed warrior woman Mab earlier. Mabe now sat with the relaxed man with the intense blue eyes... now that she examined him more closely... he looked like a Prophet. She wondered why those two sat together now.

The Inn Keeper radiated evil as did his bartender but to a less powerful extent. The Knight spoke earnestly to a pretty woman who had just sent her daughter scurrying off. He seemed much less cocky now as he spoke to the woman.

Travesty and Trident still listened happily to the young woman singer who looked absolutely scared silly yet talent enabled her to continue her song. She was continually staring at the Prophet as if conversing somehow maybe telephathically, she was completely useless at telephathy.

The three cloaked men where speaking rapidly to the Inn Keeper and Trinity knew any moment they would find her. Then a young man entered and gave up his weapons with a visible sigh. She recognised him, but from where? Carefully she removed her silver jewellery and hid it in a pouch beneath her skirt. Finding an apron on the table where she was hiding she quickly put it on hoping the crowd would mistake her for a mere serving woman. She mussed up her silky hair as best she could and rearranged it into an unattractive bun. She still looked too clean so she smugded her face with a little soot. This would have to do. She re-adjusted her bodice to reveal a little more cleavage and approached the young man who had just entered.

To Curtis:

'evening Sir... [sighing as she realises her courtly pronunciation was probably still evident]... umm... would You be needing a drink?... [her eyes scanned his for some sort of recognition as she kept her back to the Inn Keeper and the three cloaked men as best she could]

 

[Guest]

~smiles~ Hello Trinity, it is good to see you again," He said as he gave her a sweet kiss on the hand. "I would like a weak ale please."