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Warren Castille · **07-02-2014, 02:46 PM**

Warren wasn't even aware he had dozed off again. In his mind, he was still laying in bed and trying to drive the events of his dream from his head while turning his thoughts towards the next day's toil. That in turn led to him picturing it, which in turn led to him dozing off...

He jerked awake when the knock sounded gently. In the brief moment between rapping and Coatleque speaking his mind leaped picture Ishgardian assassins at his doorstep, his mind jumping between cursing for leaving his sword in Thanalan and wondering why assassins would knock first. Those thoughts were dashed when she lightly asked about him.

"Ser Castille? Are you proper? It is nearly half past the eighth bell."

He threw the covers from his bed, quickly splashing frigid water to his face and changing into a warmer set of clothes.

"I'm awake. Sorry to have kept you. I'll be out in a moment, I just... Needed a minute." He cursed to himself silently at the time. He'd wasted so much light, and it was so precious...

Is it? Is it really?

He brushed the voice aside and stepped into the commons sooner than he'd anticipated, his expression as stern and serious as ever.

Coatleque · **07-02-2014, 02:54 PM**

"Well, that was fast.", she remarked quietly to herself.

"Ser Castille. You look no worse for wear after our exertions yesterday. I trust you slept well then? I've already seen to our provisions for the day again."

She gestured to the food on the table and seat adjacent to her.

"I assume we shall be searching an other direction this day?"

Warren Castille · **07-02-2014, 03:01 PM**

Warren wiped a tired hand across his face and eye, unsure whether she was being complimentary, earnest or making fun. He took the seat she indicated and straightened up, trying to force his mind to follow his body's lead.

"I slept, I suppose." He stifled a yawn and hungrily began to pile breads and meats in front of him, eyes downcast. "Thank you for the meal, again. I'm more than able to supply them, you know. This has all sort of been my idea..."

Between mouthfuls of food he nodded and explained his outline for the day.

"I don't know where to go. They were in Whitebrim, I know that, and they were in Dragonhead, but where from there? Howl mentioned they were too far from any road or camp. I think I've been searching too nearby. If they got into the mountains, high in the hills or along one of the ravines..." He considered that path as he took a drink.

"I fear I've been playing too safe. It was late when he hailed me on linkpearl. I think turning back to make it back here before the night falls means I'm not going far enough." He realized how suicidal the implication made him sound.

Coatleque · **07-02-2014, 03:21 PM**

They sat in silence for a few moments as she considered the options.
"We are ill equipped for the expedition you suggest. To survive the mountains would require more equipment than either of us have, and a beast more stout than a Chocobo to carry it."

She crossed her legs and leaned forward onto her knee.
"I am not saying we should bow out, but caution is required here. Do not overextend yo... our reach."

She sighed and shook her head.
"I fear I am hindering you though. I wish I could offer more than words or sight alone. Would that there was another way to help."

Warren Castille · **07-02-2014, 03:29 PM**

Warren folded his hands and pressed them to his mouth, his eyes moving back and forth in consideration. He had listened silently to her words and found truth in them despite how pained it made him to admit them.

"Conditions deteriorate quickly. There's no guarantee sturdier equipment would even matter, or that the risk would pay off. I won't let more lives be buried in the snow for no reason."

He released his grip on himself and frowned in her direction. "You said it yourself not a day ago that more eyes will see more. I understand I'm asking so much of you, and I can't express how grateful I am to you for that, so..." His shoulders rose and fell in a small shrug. "I'm not sure what else either of us can do. I refuse to accept this reality but I have nothing to replace it with."

Coatleque · **07-02-2014, 04:29 PM**

Coatleque watched his expression as his shoulders rose and fell.
"You have done what you could with the information you had. Perhaps it is time we sought out more information then, before a new course can be set. I do not like to suggest it, but there is an Ishgardian Inspector here now. Perhaps we could find a way to bend his ear to our plight. Barring additional help, this trail is going cold, Warren."

She looked at him with a small amount of worry behind her eyes as she spoke his name.

Warren Castille · **07-02-2014, 05:21 PM**

Warren met her gaze and his own softened. His expression was a mix of guilt and weariness, and he nodded along as she softly supplied her support.

"...you're likely right. I should try and find this Inspector and at least explain myself. He was pretty straight about not wanting me to bug him, but..." He frowns again, turning his head to side slightly. "He'd understand, right? At least man to man?"

Warren set his jaw, looking away and nodding to himself again, agreeing with thoughts he kept internalized. "I appreciate your guidance on this, you know. I just need to find them. Sei, she probably won't give a damn, but Howl? He's my best friend. I need to get him home safely. You know?"

Coatleque · **07-02-2014, 05:36 PM**

She could feel the anguish behind his words even if he did not want to show it.

"You must needs not explain yourself to me. You will see them both home safely, I have no doubt. As for this Inspector, if he is worthy of such title then he must understand."

She straightened herself and spoke with a more commanding voice.
"Steel yourself, Ser Castille. Find this Inspector and bidst him help you. I shall remain here and entreat Nymeia for her clarity in this course. Call when you are ready for me. Though if you tarry over long I shall be forced to come looking."

Warren Castille · **07-02-2014, 05:53 PM**

"Not will. Need."

Warren quietly objected as she spoke, eyes averting as she assumed the proper stature of command. He responded, his shoulders slipping back as he straightened in his chair and met her gaze head-on.

"Steel yourself, Ser Castille. Find this Inspector and bidst him help you. I shall remain here and entreat Nymeia for her clarity in this course. Call when you are ready for me. Though if you tarry over long I shall be forced to come looking."

Warren responded with the undertone of Ser Castille, the armored Free Paladin she was beseeching. "If he can help in any way, I will pry it from him. Keep yourself safe, and away if you can; I do not trust our arrival here has gone unnoticed, but I confess that might just be my nerves. The Inspector was quite clear when he and I spoke."

He collected himself and rose, wondering where to begin his line of questioning. A degree of diplomacy was required and he again regretted his choice to leave his armor and thereby station away. Before departing, he regarded Crofte with another look of concern.

"We are in the land of the Lover and the Fury. One or the other will hear my thoughts, though if the Weaver can plea to them for us I won't deny Her either." He offered a small smile before his face became a mask better suited for his plate armor.

"I won't have you worrying about me. I'll be in touch as I go." He returned to her a small nod and a bow and then was off, stepping into blinding daylight and bundling himself in his cloak as he went.

Warren Castille · **07-03-2014, 01:26 PM**

The Inspector had been a harder man to track down than Warren intended. At least a bell and perhaps two had passed by before he was able to get a firm lead and even that was due to his persistence and not any sort of lucky break. He wasn't surprised by this; He had only yesterday been caught sneaking into a secured building belonging to another nation and he had no doubts his name and description had been circulated. Still, he spared no detail of what his quest actually was and eventually a bleeding heart let slip where the Inspector could be found when he took his late-morning tea.

The wind whipped around him as he scaled the final set of steps to the bell's housing. Warren possessed no fear of heights but even he was leery of the dizzying altitude he was standing, and he didn't trust the ground to not slip away from him if he stepped away from the wall. He was sheltered from only from being seen; the open nature of the structure meant no heat from below survived to reach the "room" he was hiding in.

What kind of fool comes HERE for respite?

Warren kept his arms folded tightly across his chest and huddled for warmth. In the distance and visible through a haze of snow stood Ishgard. He wondered if the scenery was the reason. He didn't have to wait long before he heard footsteps coming up the heavy staircase beneath him.

Prauvaulient was alone and in his hands was a steaming cup of tea. He stared daggers at the highlander and a scowl stole across his face. Warren raised a hand in what he hoped was a peaceable expression, his expression soft and pleading.

"I need to speak with you, Inspector. It's not about the girl, but if you'll hear me out I think you'll understand why I did what I did. Please."

The inspector sighed, looking tiredly to his drink and then towards his nation.

"You are persistent, I will give you that. I will listen to you, and if I am not suitably moved I will either have you incarcerated for meddling in my business or I will have you executed for meddling in my business." He turned back to Warren and smiled politely, taking a sip from his drink with gloved pinky extended. "Choose your words wisely."

Warren didn't let the threat shake him. He'd had plenty of time to pick his argument and hoped he had made the best he could. He quickly ran down the series of events that had brought him to Coerthas, his searches in those initial, frenzied days, his exhaustion, his hopes and fears. He poured every bit of anguish he could feel into trying to change the Inspector's mind, to prove to the Ishgardian that he wasn't meddling in anyone's affairs but was looking for closure to his own.

It seemed to have some effect, as the elezen's demeanor went from icy indifference to captive audience. He reserved any thoughts or commentary for after Warren had finished, then looked towards the man with a measured grace.

"These two adventurers mean that much to you? If you are telling me the truth, you're nearly killing yourself to find them, hope against hope, after they've surely surrendered to the cold? You will not be deterred?"

Warren shook his head. "I will not. I will either find them, and get them back home, or I will spend my days looking until I've found them."

The wind picked up around them, Pravaulient's eyes staring fixedly on the hyur.

"If you will not be stopped, then I have no choice. In one sevenday's time I will be traveling in the direction you spoke of; Too far to go on your own but your likeliest bet if you are sure you would have found something by now. I will not wait for you, I will not look for you, I will not let you slow us down, but... If you truly intend on getting yourself killed in the wilds, I will take you there to die."

Warren glared back but nodded his head. "I can work with that. And I'll be here. If you're just trying to shake me loose, give me a false hope to get me out of your way, I will know it. I'll find you, and I will burn your country to the ground to get to you."

"Ser Castille," the elezen smiled at him cruelly. "If you had the ability to spread that much fire, you would not be freezing in the snow looking for corpses."

**

Coatleque · **07-03-2014, 02:08 PM**

**
She returned promptly to her room once Warren had gone out. Draping her cloak over a post, she knelt by the side of the bed and closed her eyes. Taking a deep breath she began offering supplication to Nymeia, asking for clarity and direction in the coming days. The frigid north of Coerthas may be Halone's sphere, but the Spinner is the one who saw all Men's fates, past, present, and future.

She knew not how long she spent knelt there, but her dedication eventually had her drift off with her head in her arms.
----------

Coatleque walked... or was it glided? Moving slowly forward along the road. She was in the frozen wilds of Coerthas, but flanked by the tall trees of the Shroud. In the distance she saw the Jewel of the Desert rising above the horizon. She would soon be home.

But a shadowy figure was dogging her steps the entire way. It did not matter which way she turned, the figure was always there. She could not make out its details, but the more she stared at it the greater her sense of dread. It was hunting her.

She turned back towards Thanalan but was forced to halt when she found it standing right before her, blocking her path. The creature seemed to broaden and grow darker as if growing into some great obstacle to keep her from her goal.

And then a light from behind. Another Paladin, a Knight in shimmering white scales seemed to take her attention from what was in front of her. She strained herself to look around the obstacle, to fixate on this light. When it was clear she would not be able to see from the distance she finally resolved to push her way past the creature. The shimmering Knight spoke her name.

"Ser Crofte?..."

"Y-yes, W..."
----------

She awoke.

"Ser Crofte?"

The voice was real this time, she heard it plain as day in her ear. Warren was calling her over the linkpearl. She blinked and looked around, just now realizing she had drifted to sleep.

"Y-yes, Ser Castille! I am here! Apologies."
"I am returning to the Inn now. I believe I have found a new lead."
"Good... good. I shall meet you downstairs shortly."

Warren Castille · **07-03-2014, 10:44 PM**

He recognized that tone of voice; He had been using it merely a week prior. A pang of guilt crossed his face as he made his way back towards their meeting place. The was lounging lazily overhead, a clear yet freezing day. Warren was thankful there wasn't more snow for the time being.

He also felt relieved now that he had a plan in place. There was still the dilemma of what to do with himself for the next several days until things fell into place with Pravaulient, and he didn't trust the man any further than he could throw the elezen but he didn't have any other leads. He made a mental note to be sure he was equipped with a weapon before setting out.

Warren thoughts returned to his surroundings as he slipped back inside of their meeting grounds. He scanned the crowd, unsure if perhaps his colleague had fallen back asleep.

Coatleque · **07-03-2014, 10:58 PM**

Coatleque stood up after speaking over the linkpearl and stretched. She had no idea what bell it was, nor how long she had drifted off for. Taking her cloak from the post once more she wrapped it around her neck and left to go meet Warren.

He as already there as she came down the stairs, so she hailed him from afar and quickly went to meet him. "Did you find our Inspector? Pray tell you have good news?"

Warren Castille · **07-03-2014, 11:03 PM**

Warren nodded as they took their now-usual seats in the secluded corner.

"I spoke with him. He's hardly a kind man, but he did agree to let me attend him next week when he and his travel in that direction. It isn't much to go on, but it's something, and I imagine Ishgard isn't going to spare expenses to make sure one of their own is seen safely to wherever his path takes him. Still..."

Warren rubbed a hand across his face. Even through his gloves he was aware that he was getting long in the beard. "Too easy? I know I'm acting paranoid, but something's off. Maybe? I can't tell." He looks momentarily distressed as the break seems to let the gates holding back all of his internalized stress spring free.

"Are you well? I'm sorry if yesterday took more out of you than I realized." He frowns at her, searching her face for weariness.

Coatleque · **07-03-2014, 11:16 PM**

Other than the signs of recent sleep, her expression looked more at ease than it had for the past month. "I slept well, if that is what you are asking. Despite our exertions, I believe just being away from the city has done much for my nerves."

"I apologize again, I did not mean to drift off. But I swear I saw... no, no - it's nothing." She gives him a small smile.

"So then the Inspector has agreed to let you go with him? After the cold first impression you described to me, I do agree this change of heart is suspicious. It is more of a lead than you have had thus far. I would take him up on that offer. I know you will take care in this matter."

She seemed to think for a moment.
"And he does not leave for a full week. I would not be able to tarry here for that long. My desk is probably piled high with inquiries by now."

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Frost and Shadow [Completed]

RPC has moved! These pages have been kept for historical purposes