[Amanaduial the archer]

"Devon. Devon, wake up." Callath tried to wake his friend gently, speaking softly. But Devon, it appeared, was an even deeper sleeper than he'd thought - he hadn't thought his friend would be, bearing in mind the way he had been tossing and turning that night. But now Devon seemed to be sleeping far more peacefully, and hadn't moved in a few hours, save to turn over a few times, his face wearing only the mild traces of a frown. Callath should have woken him far earlier, he knew, but after an experience of such obvious trauma last night, he figured he would let the younger boy sleep, even though he'd been woken at dawn by the light through the top stable window, where the bucket hook was, and where he had kept a watch for a least most of the night, waking guiltily to find he had dosed off somewhere in the small hours, head slumped on chest.

Still, the sun was at its peak now, and if for no other reason, Devon's teacher Pearlle would have a fit if Devon was late. The lessons should start in about an hour and a half... Kneeling down on one knee, he leant forward, reaching one hand towards the younger boy's shoulder. "Devon, come on, wake u-"

But as soon as the stable boy's hand touched Devon's shoulder, the Ambassador's son's hand shot out with the speed of a reflex, his fingers closing around Callath's wrist and his eyes snapping open, gasping sharply, his and reaching to his belt where he kept a knife, having taken off his sword last night.

Callath kept his hand very still and after a second, Devon's hand stopped it's passage to his belt and his eyes cleared. He let go of Callath's hand quickly, blushing and apologising. "Oh! Callath, geez, I didn't...I didn't realise, you know...I wasnt...well, it was-"

Callath simply smiled, not mockingly, but genuinely, rising and turning to the space above the bucket hook and miming opening some curtains quickly, and putting on a querulous, feminine voice. "Wakey wakey, rise and shine, the new day has begun!" He grinned, arms crossed, at Devon, whose mouth was hanging open at the height of the sun as he scrambled quickly to his feet, reaching for his sword belt. "Callath, its midday!"

"Mmm hmm. I know. I've been working with the horses and that...creature..." he said, implying Duran's stallion, now munching haughtily on some hay below and the the left of where they stood. "...all morning, while some of us just laze around..." He was still grinning.

Devon raised an eyebrow, starting down the slanted ladder. "Yeah, very funny - why in perdition didn't you wake me?!"

Callath's voice wasn't mocking when he spoke, but kind. "I figured you needed to sleep, after..." he trailed off, his eyes wandering to Hathil, who was walking towards the stable door, whistling cheerily. "You know."

Devon paused, then nodded and, after a second, smiled. "Thanks. I can't believe-" now it was Devon's turn to stop as he looked outside at one of the other stable boys, who had just run across the yard and was talking excitedly to Hathil, his face flushed, both excited and panicked at the same time. Callath came out into the sunlight, greeting both of them.

"G'morning youse - whats the panic?" He was smiling at them inquiringly, but inside, his heart was beginning to beat faster with some sense of foreboding.

The second stable boy, Connor, turned to him, his cheeks red from running, speaking hastily between breaths. "At the Low Tide Inn...there was a brawl...the corsairs were-"

"Corsairs?" Devon's eyebrows shot up as he too came out. Connor stopped in his flow, confused as to why the Ambassador's son should be here, before nodding and continuing.

"Aye, Corsairs! And they...there was a murder!"

"What?!" Callath saw Devon's eyes widen and knew he had to ask.

"A Gondorian! They killed a Gondorian!"

[ November 06, 2003: Message edited by: piosenniel ]