"What do you mean, no sign of her?" the irritated Duke of Avery asked.
"Exactly that, milord. There is neither hide nor tale of the lass." Cairn replied voice laced with disappointment. "You know, I'm beginning to think that she's dead." He added.
"Would be best if she was. She knows, Cairn. She knows about the assassins and I wouldn't put it past the brat to link them to us." Duke Gaile of Avery muttered, all kingliness forgotten. "I'm sure you've heard about musical instruments sharpening the mind. Gods, I've seen what playing one has done to you."
"Ah, yes. About that sir, I have a gig tonight and will not be here to attend you after the eighth hour of the afternoon. You do not mind, I may be able to retrieve some more information on the girl's character from her friends."
"You mean those 'Roses' boys, who play at court sometimes with you? Very well, you may go." The monarch dismissed. The young man bowed and headed towards the door. "One more thing Cairn." The young man stopped. "There's a music competition at the Royal Palace in Corus of Tortall, in a fortnight's time. You may enter yourself or the quartet there."
Bowing once more to the puppet-king, Cairn turned once more and stepped into the hall. Heading to his room, he stopped by the kitchens to snag himself some rolls for an early dinner. After being chased out by some rather miffed cooks, he ambled into his room, unlikely thoughts swirling in his head.
'I promised her that the ones responsible would be brought to justice before I pass from this world. Is that possible really? One does not accuse well respected gentlemen of assassination, that's unthinkable even if it's true.' Rubbing his temples he sighed and bit into a roll. 'As long as this whole thing finishes sometime soon.' Finishing off the rolls, he wiped off his hands and found his instrument and music.
~~~~~~
Don'cha worry, my lad," the elderly farmer said beckoning, "you don't need to go hiding yesself in my crops." Slowly, Raven stepped out from behind the corn plants into the path between rows. The old man held up his hands in front of him. "See, I won't hurt ye," he continued, "now why don'cha tell me here why you was in my field."
Unsure, Raven shifted uneasily, not quite sure how to begin. Stone nudged her, making her speak.
"I...my...uh…" she blushed a bit, an idea came to her, "I'm...lost." she finally said.
"Lost?" The farmer grinned, "well, then I suggest you come back wiv me, lad, so that we can find your way on one of my old maps." The old man picked up the basket by his feet. "Come along now, I think we can find a spot for your grey brute as well." Turning the old man (who thought Raven was a boy, to her amusement) walked down the path towards an old looking house.
Gently tugging on Stone's reins, Raven followed the friendly old man.
~~~~~~
"Here, have some more tea," the elderly woman—correction Rosanna, Raven thought—pouring more of the brew into Raven's mug.
"Thank you," she replied, turning back to the map that the elderly farmer—correction Jeremy—had spread out on the table. She took a sip of the hot tea and set the mug down. Rosanna went back to the hearth and stirred the pot of stew.
"Now, lad, where did ye say you was going?" Jeremy asked.
"I didn't...I was heading to Corus but," Raven thought of the knights looking for her, "I think I'll try to find work else where."
"Work, eh?" the man asked, "what kind?"
"Oh, didn't I say? No, I guess not. I'm a musician but I am capable of more than just that." It wasn't a lie really, but Raven did not really think that music would help her too much in the capital.
"A musician...hmm...too bad, I need some help tugging in the harvest now that I'm getting old." Jeremy stated, obviously trying to get her to sign up for work with him, despite only having an hour's acquaintance with her. Raven decided to play along; assisting this man would give her time to think and the possibility of coin.
"Jeremy, if you wish, I could stick around for a bit to help, I don't need to reach Corus by a certain date and I need some time to figure out what I'll do once I'm there."
"Would ye?" the farmer lifted his head to look at the girl, who nodded in reply. "Well, then it's settled. Rosanna," he called his wife over, "this lad-."
"Lass." Raven clapped her hands over her mouth, oops. The old couple looked at her short hair, grinned and continued as though she hadn't spoken.
"This lass, will be staying wiv us for a bit, while we bring in the harvest. Can ye unlock the guest room, please?" The man continued. Rosanna nodded, motioned for Raven to follow and proceeded up the steps. As Raven followed the woman, Jeremy cleared the table and began to put bowls, spoons and cups.
~~~~~
"Here's your room."
Raven looked around the guestroom in awe. Everything in the room suggested something other than 'farmhouse', but then again everything Raven had noticed about the couple said money.
"It's lovely," she said quietly depositing Julian (in his case of course) by the foot of the bed. She looked about the room again and grinned. "I've never had a room so nice."
Rosanna raised a brow while her eyes twinkled with amusement. "Well, that definitely makes me feel special. I designed it." The woman said. Raven looked at her surprised. "I'm more than just a farmer's wife, as you may have picked up on from my speech."
Indeed the woman spoke rather clear and cultured sounding more like an upper class merchant then her current status. Raven nodded with a small grin and then walked back over to the woman by the door. The two descended the stairs as Rosanna talked about her family, a predominant cloth merchant clan in Tortall, while Raven listened intently.
"Dinner is served." Jeremy announced as the two entered the dining area. On the table was three steaming bowls of beef stew and a cut up loaf of bread with some butter next to it. He seated Rosanna and then sat himself, while Raven looked at the food. She hadn't had anything that smelled this good in weeks!
Jeremy said a quick prayer to the Great Gods for prosperity and then they began to eat as the Sun set.
~~~~~~~~
Cairn entered the inn where 'The Roses' would be performing. The quartet no longer played anything quite as excited as when Raven was about, but they still quite popular. Even more so, he liked to think, as some of the more conservative music-goers gave the young quartet a chance. He trotted over to the small stage where the other three were setting up.
"Sorry, I'm late." He apologized.
"It's no matter," Korosh replied blandly. He had acted this way since they last saw Raven at the jail...as though part of him died after that day. Draguen and Thetar also seemed less alive, despite the fact that they knew that she was alive. Thanks to a parting gift from the late Demetrus, that is.
Is this what people are like when a friend goes missing? Do they give up part of their life? Cairn pondered that for a moment, before setting up his own things.
Once that was done, they played late into the night for the inn's patrons. After they packed up, Cairn told them about the competition that Gaile had informed him of (he left out that it had been Gaile who had told him).
At first, they other three were unsure about it, but after the mention of the competition's locale, Korosh seemed to warm up to the idea, enough that the other two were convinced into come. Apparently, the famous quartet had never been to the Tortallan palace and decided that the journey was worth the end destination. So they packed, sent message to Gaile and then drew up their route on one of Thetar's many maps. They would set out in the morning.
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