The door to the barracks flung open wide, startling some of the soldiers who had not yet passed to slumber. Silhouetted in the dim torchlight from beyond was Ser Crofte, still in full regalia, and back from the bar. Three nights this week the same pattern was repeated, though this was the first she actually had made it back to the Palace. The Knight stumbled forward, not even bothering to close the door, and staggered to the first available bed. Barely even able to climb inside, she was comatose with one armored leg still touching the floor.
Ser Travanchet rose from his own bunk and moved to close the door. Without a word he went to her and pulled the covers over so she would at least remain decent should day break. She did not stir. He merely stood and watched her while deep in his own thoughts. He understood her pain for what that was worth. She had taken a risk and lost much recently. Was there no one to stand in her defense?
Her slow deterioration was completely unexpected. So unlike her, it was becoming noticed now. If something was not done surely the Captain would have words with her. Ser Travanchet did not want to see that happen. None of them did. She was well respected among the Gallants, but this depression was starting to affect overall morale. His mind was made up.
Twenty minutes later the Elezen was fully dressed once more in his own regalia. As he left the palace he motioned for two of his shield brothers to accompany him. Not Gallants, but novices. Men who had still proved their own worth to serve and had taken their oaths. Their goal was to find the man. He liked to frequent the Quicksand - that is where the two had met - that is where they would begin their search. For their shield sister's sake, they would not relent this night until recompense had been made.
Coatleque sat the next morning in the mess hall. A cup of strong coffee was at the table before her, and a half-eaten breakfast of sausages and eggs to the side. Her head throbbed and she found herself holding her temples on more than one occasion.
It was odd, really. She had not even tasted alcohol till only a few months ago when Jancis's betrothed had given her a cup of wine. There was plenty of it in the brothel, for sure, but that was specifically for clients. For someone such as her to touch it would have met harsh punishment at the hand of the Master. But now... now she began to understand the appeal of it to some. It dulled the pain in her heart. For a few hours at least it made her think of other things besides Warren's face. It made her forget the sweet words spoken in private, the promises unfulfilled, the stupid mistake she made of daring to fall in love again.
She shook her head. It was not even mid-morning and once again she felt the urge to go back to the Quicksand.
Just make it stop...
She tried to focus on her work. There were papers in front of her, a report by Ser Mcbeef regarding the interrogation of some prisoner or another. It may have been the one taken from the raid on Taeros's Somnus shipment. Despite her best efforts she could not muster enough care to worry over it. Flipping through the report she barely skimmed over the informative parts. The last bit mentioned the prisoner's execution at the end of the session. She sighed. This was too much, and she just could not deal with it now.
Lowering the papers she happened to look up and noticed Ser Travanchet at the far wall speaking to two others and looking directly at her. She rolled her eyes and stood to walk over. She knew the signs of being spoken about behind one's back. The Elezen quickly looked to the others he was with as she made her way across the room.
"Ser Travanchet.", she said with a salute. "If you have words for me, I prefer you say them directly. There is no room here for rumors and hearsay among the ranks."
"Ser Crofte.", he replied while returning the salute. His head held high, she never realized just how long his neck was. "I just want you to know that your shield brothers are here for you. We know what transpired between yourself and Ser Castille. He shall not be bothering you again."
The Elezen and his comrades bowed and left together. She stood and watched them leave, unsure of what to make of all this. She did not have time to think on it more as Ser Sadowyn's voice broke through on the Sworn's linkpearl.
"Ser Crofte, are you busy?"
"No, Ser."
"Please meet me in the airship landing's lounge. We must needs discuss Natalie."
"... Aye, Ser."
Ser Travanchet rose from his own bunk and moved to close the door. Without a word he went to her and pulled the covers over so she would at least remain decent should day break. She did not stir. He merely stood and watched her while deep in his own thoughts. He understood her pain for what that was worth. She had taken a risk and lost much recently. Was there no one to stand in her defense?
Her slow deterioration was completely unexpected. So unlike her, it was becoming noticed now. If something was not done surely the Captain would have words with her. Ser Travanchet did not want to see that happen. None of them did. She was well respected among the Gallants, but this depression was starting to affect overall morale. His mind was made up.
Twenty minutes later the Elezen was fully dressed once more in his own regalia. As he left the palace he motioned for two of his shield brothers to accompany him. Not Gallants, but novices. Men who had still proved their own worth to serve and had taken their oaths. Their goal was to find the man. He liked to frequent the Quicksand - that is where the two had met - that is where they would begin their search. For their shield sister's sake, they would not relent this night until recompense had been made.
***
Coatleque sat the next morning in the mess hall. A cup of strong coffee was at the table before her, and a half-eaten breakfast of sausages and eggs to the side. Her head throbbed and she found herself holding her temples on more than one occasion.
It was odd, really. She had not even tasted alcohol till only a few months ago when Jancis's betrothed had given her a cup of wine. There was plenty of it in the brothel, for sure, but that was specifically for clients. For someone such as her to touch it would have met harsh punishment at the hand of the Master. But now... now she began to understand the appeal of it to some. It dulled the pain in her heart. For a few hours at least it made her think of other things besides Warren's face. It made her forget the sweet words spoken in private, the promises unfulfilled, the stupid mistake she made of daring to fall in love again.
She shook her head. It was not even mid-morning and once again she felt the urge to go back to the Quicksand.
Just make it stop...
She tried to focus on her work. There were papers in front of her, a report by Ser Mcbeef regarding the interrogation of some prisoner or another. It may have been the one taken from the raid on Taeros's Somnus shipment. Despite her best efforts she could not muster enough care to worry over it. Flipping through the report she barely skimmed over the informative parts. The last bit mentioned the prisoner's execution at the end of the session. She sighed. This was too much, and she just could not deal with it now.
Lowering the papers she happened to look up and noticed Ser Travanchet at the far wall speaking to two others and looking directly at her. She rolled her eyes and stood to walk over. She knew the signs of being spoken about behind one's back. The Elezen quickly looked to the others he was with as she made her way across the room.
"Ser Travanchet.", she said with a salute. "If you have words for me, I prefer you say them directly. There is no room here for rumors and hearsay among the ranks."
"Ser Crofte.", he replied while returning the salute. His head held high, she never realized just how long his neck was. "I just want you to know that your shield brothers are here for you. We know what transpired between yourself and Ser Castille. He shall not be bothering you again."
The Elezen and his comrades bowed and left together. She stood and watched them leave, unsure of what to make of all this. She did not have time to think on it more as Ser Sadowyn's voice broke through on the Sworn's linkpearl.
"Ser Crofte, are you busy?"
"No, Ser."
"Please meet me in the airship landing's lounge. We must needs discuss Natalie."
"... Aye, Ser."
