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Paying "Respects" [Open] « Thread Started on Apr 5, 2010, 8:35am »
((OOC: This takes place in the Palace District, not within the Palace itself. It is also set just after "Market Shuffle") Yin and Yang stepped into the capital's palace district arm in arm, or rather that is how the odd partners' entrance might have looked to any in observance. A man and a woman of seemingly opposite origins were walking past all the well-dressed upperclassmen and their snooty wives, willfully ignorant of the stares which they were sure to attract. One of them was dark-skinned with scruffy hair and beard; walking catlike, slightly on the balls of his feet. His companion was a woman of shorter stature and a slightly unnerving pale complexion; she seemed to glide over the ground, so light was her step.
Both were clearly armed and clearly not native to Ferelden, but that only served to ensure that no one got in their way as they headed for the center of the district - to the Birth Stone.
"I believe, Nyanla, that that is it." Kolya, the man, announced to his blind companion as they stepped up to Andraste's monument. "Would you... like me to describe it?" He smirked wryly, glancing over the woman's head of midnight-black hair at her guide-dog Sang, if only to ensure he was still there.
Looking around, the Rivaini noticed a gaggle of spoiled-looking punks snickering at him and his friend, pointing fingers and laughing with as little subtlety as they could manage. His eyes narrowed, and his grip tightened somewhat on her arm.
"Tossers..." He muttered, "Nothing better to do than pick on elves and anyone else not lucky enough to be born into money."
Glided along beside the larger and darker male, head turning as she took in the almost hush about the palace area. Other than the whispers and dark mutterings of the wives that had nothing better to do. Head never jerked about though as she listened, just a slow and steady turn with blind eyes lingering upon those that whispered. The guards that clanked along with their armor were given a dip of her head, a shy smile offered up. A way of showing that she meant no harm even though the weapons on her hips seemed to say otherwise.
“I believe, Nyanla, that that is it.” Blinked a few times and staff was handed over to Kolya as she moved forward. Here is hoping no one minded a person ‘touching’ the rock. If they did, they might see just why the woman now drew pale finger tips over the stone. Nyanla herself was not a religious person, but when one has lived in a Chantry for a few months, one tends to learn a thing or three.
“I shall not be left to wander the drifting roads of the Fade; For there is no darkness, nor death either, in the Maker's Light. And nothing that He has wrought shall be lost.” Her voice sang out almost, clear in the afternoon. Head slowly moved to rest her forehead to the stone, letting out a soft sigh. And then she heard the snickering from behind her.
“Tossers…” She heard her friend mutter, “Nothing better to do than pick on elves and anyone else not lucky enough to be born into money.”
“Tch.” Nyanla turned about and bent down. Sure enough, she found a rock in a moment and stood up. Head turned one way, then the next which only made the boys laugh out loud. Smug grin appeared upon her lips as she parted her stance a little. A few moments taken and then the rock went flying. It was no bigger than her thumb tip, but with how hard and fast she threw it, it would sting when it made contact. Right upon the bottom of one of the boys!
“We should get going, yes?” Voice seemed quite hurried as hand reached out for her staff though she had one hell of a grin on her lips.
Kolya watched patiently as Nyanla finished her prayer of sorts, weighing her walking stick in one hand and staring up at the Stone with little interest. He was no Andrastian, nor did he believe in any other religious doctrine, but he could see the appeal such things had. A set of rules to follow meant security, or the illusion of it, and the thinking that there was some divine being to please gave people's lives meaning. Back in Rivain followers of real religion were been scarce however, so most found their own purposes in life, and if they so desired it, they'd create their own false sense of security.
The young man's gaze traveled down however when he saw the blind woman bend over, and wondered for a moment whether she was picking something up or just giving the boys a show. It turned out to be the former.
Kolya saw the rock - or perhaps pebble would be more accurate, and felt his brow crease. Surely Nyanla wasn't serious, she'd just end up embarrassing herself -- oh, wow.
The pebble flew truly and smacked one of the boys on the arse, causing him to howl with pain, hands on his buttocks and rubbing furiously. The boys around him all burst into fits of laughter, but the duelist found himself instead staring wide-eyed at his companion, who was ginning devilishly and reaching out for her staff.
“We should get going, yes?” She breathed, a hint of urgency in her tone.
"In-indeed..." The Rivaini responded stiltedly, handing her back the stick and grasping her wrist as gently as he could, beginning to quickly lead her around a nearby corner.
"Guards! Guards!" The 'wounded' young layabout had begun shouting, and the sound of heavy boots approaching only gave Kolya cause to quicken his steps.
"Mercy, you've rattled the monkey cage now." He breathed, stopping abruptly and pinning his friend against a parked cart, lest they be spotted by a duo of guardsmen who came plodding down the alley after them. When the men passed Kolya stepped back from the woman, not immediately remembering to put on his bashful guise. "That was bloody close."
“In-indeed…” Felt the wood of her staff in her grasp again before feeling a hand about her wrist. Already she was getting lead away, trying hard not to laugh at the sounds of the ego bruised noble brat. Till she heard “Guards! Guards!” and quickened her pace. The clatter of metal was a sure sign that the guards were there now, getting all the information they needed from the brat. ‘Really…these nobles are so stupid. Last time I did that back home, the child ran away screaming.’
“Mercy, you've rattled the monkey cage now.” Urped when she was swung about and pressed up to something. Free hand drifted to feel wood behind her, head turned slightly to smell just what would be in it. Lucky for them, it was nothing but hay. “That was bloody close.”
“I have been in closer. In both ways there dearie.” Hand reaches out to ensure that he was far enough back, sniffling a little. Then hand drifts down to smooth over her clothing, letting out a slow sigh. “So then. Getting into trouble. Check.” Lucky for both of them, Sang was on the other side of the cart, keeping out an eye and looking nonchalant.
“Really, you should have just left me there. Who would have believed him? I mean, a blind woman throwing a stone that far and fast to hit him in the ass?” Smug little grin appeared as she leaned back on the cart. “So then. Shall we head over to the palace proper to see what trouble I can almost get us into?” Part of her hoped that court was being held in session. ‘Would give me a lot to learn from them all.’
“I have been in closer. In both ways there dearie.”
The Rivaini grunted softly, realizing his own roughness. He scratched the back of his head a little but refrained from apologizing. Damn his size.
“Really, you should have just left me there. Who would have believed him? I mean, a blind woman throwing a stone that far and fast to hit him in the ass?”
"I... suppose you're right." Kolya rubbed his chin in thought. "Perhaps I simply missed being on the run, it has been a while since I was chased." He chuckled, turning to his friend. "Are we to throw stones at politicians now? Or perhaps the King himself? Jolly good." He held out his arm for her to take, if she still wanted it, and started in the direction of the palace itself. He led the three of them back through the Birth Stone square of sorts, walking right by the same punks from before. The one who'd been stung appeared absent, and now the rest of them seemed to watch the copper-skinned rogue and his fierce companion with a kind of amused respect.
"Boo." The Rivaini suddenly growled at one of them who failed to step of his way, causing the young man to flinch and stumble backward.
"Do we intend to enter through the front gates, Nyanla?" He asked the blind woman alongside him, turning to look at her. "Because, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure if they let 'our kind' in." He stared up at some rooftops, mind going rapidly. "There are other entrances, I'm sure. But I doubt you want to spend the rest of the afternoon riding on my back, getting tossed around as I scale a tower or some other really tall thing."
He nearly shuddered at the thought, climbing buildings was hard enough without a woman's extra weight on your back.
“Perhaps I simply missed being on the run, it has been a while since I was chased.” Quirked a brow at his comment, but kept her face otherwise schooled into not showing what she thought. ‘He is use to such? Then I would suppose he is on that works outside of the law of the kings and queens.’
“Are we to throw stones at politicians now? Or perhaps the King himself? Jolly good.” Soft laugh bubbled up from her, arm reaching out to find his own already waiting. As they walked on, Sang followed behind as always. Still alert to anything that might jump out of nowhere. As they passed the group of boys, she allowed her face to turn to look at them, those blind eyes seeming to stare right through them. The boo made her chuckle softly, head giving a little dip when they moved past them. ‘Pampered lot. Smell the perfumes on them from their mid morning baths.’
“Do we intend to enter through the front gates, Nyanla? Because, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure if they let 'our kind' in.” Laughed at his words, head giving a little shake. “Our kind? And just what kind are we? To be honest, they might not let you in. Me, I might get by into the kitchen to beg for some scraps. After all, a blind woman and her mutt are no threat.” Smug grin appeared, knowing that she already showed she was very much a threat if the time was right.
“There are other entrances, I'm sure. But I doubt you want to spend the rest of the afternoon riding on my back, getting tossed around as I scale a tower or some other really tall thing.”
Tutted as they neared the gates. “Follow my lead.” Was whispered under her breath before she lifted an arm up. “Ho’! Guards!” When one shambled over to where the duo was, the smell of sweat and leather overwhelmed the singer. Sleeve was lifted up to cover her nose, tutting again though louder. “I am ze singer and blind fortune teller, Madame Tushla. I am here to offer my services unto zose lords and nobles of ze court zis fine day.”
A flourish of a bow was given. Arm was let go as the hand to her nose moved away and she bent at her hips, the arm raised out and doing a little twirl in the air before her. Back up she came, hand nearest her friend seeming to wave out and about. Hamming up her blindness, to be sure.
“Zis is my personal guard vhile I am here in zis fine city of yours. I was vondering, good man, if zere vould be a vay into ze court yard so I may show off my vays of foretelling ze future. Perhaps…” Free hand slipped to the inside of her coat and pulled out what looked to be a deck of cards. A quick flick of her wrist and they fanned out in her hand. “I could tell you your own future. For free since I know you are a hard vorker among ze guards, no?”
“Follow my lead.” Oh dear, when one is asked to follow the lead of one who cannot see, one should be ready for anything. This Kolya knew.
“Ho’! Guards!” The duelist nearly jumped out of his skin when Nyanla called out to the armoured men standing near the entrance to the courtyard. He found himself looking from the woman at his arm to the sentry approaching and back again. Just what did she plan to do now?
“I am ze singer and blind fortune teller, Madame Tushla. It took all Kolya's nerve not to burst to into laughter right then, he felt his brow crease with the effort. "I am here to offer my services unto zose lords and nobles of ze court zis fine day.” The Rivaini's cheeks reddened, and he disguised the upturning of his lips with a quiet cough, his fist covering his mouth theatrically.
He perked an eyebrow at his companion as she continued her act, bowing flamboyantly and explaining the weapons which Kolya wore, before asking the essential favor. There would be no getting into the palace without getting past these guards.
The sentry who had come to greet them seemed unimpressed by Nyanla's theatrics, though his obscuring helm made it hard to gage his expression. A couple of others did seem interested however, and left their posts nearby to see what the fuss was about, attracted by the Orlesian's grand gestures, clearly. Upon seeing the deck of cards, one of them stepped up eagerly, leaning forward on his spear to get as close as possible without seeming rude.
"Ooh!" The young guard exclaimed, removing his helmet and revealing his head of cutesy blond curls, despite the glares he received from the first man. "Do me instead! Edward here's a stick-in-the-mud, he'd rather stand around here, all diligent anyway." A hand was waved at the other guard, "Run along Edward, someone might slip into the palace while you dawdle here." This last statement caused the third guard to snicker, shaking his head.
The sentry known as Edward grumbled quietly, and adjusted his grip on the spear he held, but otherwise didn't move, not convinced that the foreigners before him were entirely innocent.
"There's no entry to the palace except to those on royal business." Edward affirmed, glancing at his co-workers but speaking to everyone.
"Oh please Edward, do take the stick out of your arse; these two seem legit." The lighthearted young guard chuckled. "My lady, if you would be so kind as to reveal my future, my friend and I would be pleased to allow your entry." He and the third guard nodded with confidence at Kolya, "Your manservant here would have to leave his weapons with us though, if it's not too much trouble."
Fiddlesticks, this complicated things. If things were to go bad, he might not get his things back, would he? Kolya grimaced, but ultimately turned to Nyanla, hoping she could please this young man enough to get them inside. He wouldn't object if asked to hand over his swords as he trusted Nyanla enough, but he didn't relish the thought of having to kill these men later just to get his weapons back.
Could already feel that she was up against a hard one. Not many people liked knowing the future. They only wished to think they could plot their own lives and nothing had already planned before them. Staff was held out to her ‘manservant’ as another guard started to move forward. Blind eyes flicked to him when she heard the sounds of creaking leather and metal.
"Ooh! Do me instead! Edward here's a stick-in-the-mud, he'd rather stand around here, all diligent anyway." Dipped her head a tad to Edward in a sign of respect, "Run along Edward, someone might slip into the palace while you dawdle here." Clicked her tongue when she heard the snicker while hands now weaved the overly large cards back and forth between her fingers.
"There's no entry to the palace except to those on royal business."
"Oh please Edward, do take the stick out of your arse; these two seem legit." The lighthearted young guard chuckled. "My lady, if you would be so kind as to reveal my future, my friend and I would be pleased to allow your entry. Your manservant here would have to leave his weapons with us though, if it's not too much trouble."
“Ah-ha. My dearest guard Edward.” Hands stopped, the back of cards faced to the guards now. They looked pretty plain, nothing but black diamonds upon yellow harden parchment. “I did not say ve vere seeking into enter ze palace proper. I know zat such a voman as myself could never be allowed into such a hallowed place as ze palace. My request, if you remember, vas to only to into ze inner courtyard. Just beyond zose doors and vell vithin your view ze whole time. And ve vouldn’t stay long. I am sure ze nobles are doing noble zings. But I vould be glad to tell any of zose zat service ze palace zeir futures. For free.”
She was sure that her ‘manservant’ was looking at her strange with her last comment. Doing something for free? But the blind woman knew how to play off the humble vagabond type. Head turned to the other guard, the one that dogging the guard Edward a bit. Now she flipped the cards about, making quite the show of it. Fanning them out in one hand before closing them up with the other and then turning to shuffle the overly large cards about. It would take a few moments before she finally fanned them out, holding them to the second guard.
“Pick one, but do not flip it over.” The younger male did so, seeming to be nothing but smiles as he waited for her next command. The rest of the cards vanished into her inner coat, hand taking the card that was picked and flipped it upwards. Bare fingertips that held the card rubbed at the corner. None but the keen eye would see the tiny little bumps there. She knew what certain bumps meant, letting her know just what card she held. For those with eyes, they would see what looked to be woman sitting in a little clearing. One hand was held up and a butterfly was upon a finger. Her eyes were upon that and not the snake that was moving towards her other hand that rested upon the grass. Though the card was upside down.
“My dear. You have picked ze Innocent. And it is in reverse.” She would let it sink in, let them study the card as she closed her eyes and seemed to be hearing a voice from far away. “Ahhhh. I see zat vhile you are young, you have not realized your hidden strengths just yet. And I feel zat soon, ze Maker vill deem you are ready to show zem to zose zat matter to you.” Card flicked between her hands a few times before seeming to vanish within thin air. The blind woman always loved slight of hand tricks. “So zen, my fine gentlemen of ze palace guard. Vill you allow zis blind lady into ze inner area? I can go alone for I am sure non vould attack me since you ensure non enter with veapons.”
And to help with her act, she even blushed a tad, the pink seeming to stand out upon her pale skin. Eyes batted a few times, letting the long lashes help with the whole ‘innocent’ look.
The young men oohed and ahhed like children as they watched the Orlesian demonstrate her prowess with a deck though the whole spectacle made Kolya frown. It was no wonder Fereldans were so easily devastated and tricked into civil war. If their palace guards acted like this, it made the Rivaini shudder to think what their generals were like.
"Hear that?" The cocky guard turned to his mate, puffing out his chest a little. "I bet I'll make captain, marry that girl in the market."
"The one selling hides?" His co-worker smirked.
"Yes --- NO! She's burlier than I am!" The apparently appeased young man gasped, punching his friend on the arm.
The bantered back and forth a few more times before they began to wear on Kolya's patience, so he finally cleared his throat noisily. "May we enter?" He asked, restating his "fortune telling" friend's question. The guards' looked up, eyes turning back to the woman they knew as 'Madame Tushla'.
"Oh, of course my lady!" The guards saluted, turning to lead them up to the entrance. The Rivaini handed Nyanla back her staff and began to unstrap his weapons, starting with the sword, then saber, knife, and finally, he pulled out his beloved stiletto half-heartedly, passing it to one of the guards. He knew that it was unlikely they'd have noticed him trying to sneak it in, but this was the royal palace, it wouldn't do to be caught hiding weapons. As the way was opened for the two rogues, he gave the man with his weapons a mean glare, ensuring that he understood what the consequences would be should any of them disappear.
"The courtyard, no further!" Edward the suspicious suddenly piped up as Kolya and Nyanla stepped though the gates. The Rivaini grunted and took the Orlesian's arm, leading her at least until they reached the courtyard proper, whereupon he would release her, staring idly about at the neatly trimmed bushes and cobblestone paths. He could hear the sound of running water, as well as the vague sounds of conversation, so he guessed that there must be a fountain somewhere nearby, and people too.
"Well," The duelist began, crossing his arms. "We're here." He looked to his friend for leadership, "What's the plan?"
Chuckled softly as she heard the banter between the guards. It was no surprise to the blind woman. Men always seemed to enjoy good fortune. She had to thank the Maker that the card she drew was a good omen and not a bad one. Inwardly she cringed to think what would have happened then.
"May we enter?" She didn’t want to rush anything just yet, her hand reaching out to place it on her ‘manservant’s arm as if to relax him. Smile never left her lips as she waited, hearing the men start to lead them to the great double doors that went into the small courtyard. And then came the request to hand over all their weapons.
Coat was tossed back with a little flick, dagger and sword handed over as well as her back pack. But staff was kept tight in her grip, lips curving into a little pout. “You vould deny a lady her seeing stick? Tis ze only vay I can see if my manservant happens to wander off and leave me be.”
They allowed the staff and soon the three would enter into the yard area. Arm was released but already she was listening to anything that drifted her way. ‘A ball happened? Huh. Perhaps these savages learned something.’ Smug little grin spread over her lips as she turned about and gave a bow to Edward.
“Of course, Ser Edward. I vouldn’t even dream of disobeying your orders.” Then she turned about, chuckling under her breath as she spoke in hushed tones. “Now, we look around my loyal servant.” Blind eyes turned to him, flutter a few times. Trying to play innocent it seems as she started to tap her staff along the yard area.
The sounds bounced back to her quickly, letting her know that it was slightly enclosed. The faint smell of flowers told her that some were still in bloom while the scents of wood burning spoke of fireplaces in use. Or even that she strayed a bit close to the kitchen. Staff tapped and thumped along as she walked, soft enough that she could hear it but not loud enough to drown out the conversations she heard drifting here and there. Sang kept pace behind her, sniffing at the ground before taking a piss on a bush. ‘Other dogs. Perhaps some of those Mabari types…’ Finally she had enough and allowed her voice drift up as she sang out to anyone that was within ear shot.
“Dearest lord and ladies. I come to zee zis fine day.” Hand fished into her coat, pulling out her cards and letting them dance between her hands. “All I ask of you, is to allow me to, tell you vhat ze future may, hold in store for you. I ask for no money. For I wish to see, vhat ze future holds, in store for zee.”
She gave a little bow to whomever might have appeared and kept bowed till someone spoke up.
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