The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - The Lonely Star -- Chapter 4

piosenniel · 12-12-2002, 02:41 PM

‘Sweet Stars! Those damnable imps are down in the dicey quarter, Bird!’ Pio rubbed the back of her neck, and looked down at her dress. ‘I cannot go in looking like this.’ she muttered, looking at Bird. ‘Stay here with Cami, for a few moments, while I rectify the situation.’

She swept her eyes about the market place, picking out a questionable looking sailor who looked well into his cups. Making her way toward him, she pinched her cheeks and bit her lips, and slipped her arm through his as he walked down the street. ‘Come, luv.’ she said low in his ear. ‘I have need of you.’ He went happily into the darkened space behind an empty market booth, thinking that this was indeed his lucky day. ‘Sorry to disappoint you, luv,’ she crooned to him, ‘but it is your clothes that I have the most need of.

Pio pulled him close and cracked him hard on the back of the head with the pommel of her knife. She laid him gently on the ground and stripped him to his small clothes and put his outer wear on herself. She threw her clothes over the man, and placed a silver coin in his fist.

Moments later, she stepped from the alley - a pair of dirty canvas breeches with a length of rope to hold them up; bare feet; loose homespun tunic with the remains of every meal for the last week wiped along its hem; and a cap greasy with sweat, her hair stuffed under it. Cami stepped back from her as she approached, and even Bird looked as if she were wrinkling up her beak from the stench.

‘Mithadan is coming Cami. Wait for him here. You really are not the type to be found down there. Tell him we have gone into the harborside, southwestern quarter, to the Broken Pikestaff. That’s where the ‘scoundrel’ and the other two are probably heading. It’s an old, falling down Inn, the sort that the guards usually give wide berth to – letting them sort out problems and disputes on their own. Those who wish to be “lost” go there.’ Cami looked at her friend, wondering at the untold history behind her acquaintance with this Inn. She reached beneath her cape and handed Pio the two long knives she had brought. The Elf's eyes gleamed in delight as she strappend them to her forearms, and placed the silvered knife she had worn, in her waistband.

‘Come on, Bird. We should go.’ Pio waved the jackdaw flying high above her on, and ran swiftly in the direction the guard and boys had taken, using the hidden and shadowed backways. She wished to reach the Pikestaff before the guard could make his inquiries . . .

[ December 12, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

12-12-2002, 02:41 PM	#466
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	‘Sweet Stars! Those damnable imps are down in the dicey quarter, Bird!’ Pio rubbed the back of her neck, and looked down at her dress. ‘I cannot go in looking like this.’ she muttered, looking at Bird. ‘Stay here with Cami, for a few moments, while I rectify the situation.’ She swept her eyes about the market place, picking out a questionable looking sailor who looked well into his cups. Making her way toward him, she pinched her cheeks and bit her lips, and slipped her arm through his as he walked down the street. ‘Come, luv.’ she said low in his ear. ‘I have need of you.’ He went happily into the darkened space behind an empty market booth, thinking that this was indeed his lucky day. ‘Sorry to disappoint you, luv,’ she crooned to him, ‘but it is your clothes that I have the most need of. Pio pulled him close and cracked him hard on the back of the head with the pommel of her knife. She laid him gently on the ground and stripped him to his small clothes and put his outer wear on herself. She threw her clothes over the man, and placed a silver coin in his fist. Moments later, she stepped from the alley - a pair of dirty canvas breeches with a length of rope to hold them up; bare feet; loose homespun tunic with the remains of every meal for the last week wiped along its hem; and a cap greasy with sweat, her hair stuffed under it. Cami stepped back from her as she approached, and even Bird looked as if she were wrinkling up her beak from the stench. ‘Mithadan is coming Cami. Wait for him here. You really are not the type to be found down there. Tell him we have gone into the harborside, southwestern quarter, to the Broken Pikestaff. That’s where the ‘scoundrel’ and the other two are probably heading. It’s an old, falling down Inn, the sort that the guards usually give wide berth to – letting them sort out problems and disputes on their own. Those who wish to be “lost” go there.’ Cami looked at her friend, wondering at the untold history behind her acquaintance with this Inn. She reached beneath her cape and handed Pio the two long knives she had brought. The Elf's eyes gleamed in delight as she strappend them to her forearms, and placed the silvered knife she had worn, in her waistband. ‘Come on, Bird. We should go.’ Pio waved the jackdaw flying high above her on, and ran swiftly in the direction the guard and boys had taken, using the hidden and shadowed backways. She wished to reach the Pikestaff before the guard could make his inquiries . . . [ December 12, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.