“When I said ‘show ‘em yer hospitality, Oak, becomin’ the woman’s manservant was not what I had in mind!â€
Roen ignored the chatter behind her, as Bellows continued to chide Oak. They had found the Roegadyn in the stables, tending to Edda’s chocobo. The Hellsguard apparently did not know how to refuse the noblewoman’s commanding instructions and assisted her in obtaining a room and stabling her bird. While Bellows threw his hands into the air in exasperation, Roen could not help but be slightly amused.
But the diversion was a fleeting one as they ascended the stairs leading to both Edda and Khadai’s rooms. The innkeeper had been cooperative in pointing out which ones they had paid for.
“What else was I ta do? She was very… insistent,†the Hellsguard said glumly.
“Let me take the lead on this, Bellows.†Roen gave the Midlander next to her a stern look. He had insisted on accompanying her on this task, and Ser Tournes had allowed it. The Hyur’s mistrustful nature was clear to her from the first day she had met him; even though he recognized the Au Ra for what he was, it was obvious he still regarded the Xaela with apprehension. The paladin half wondered if there was anyone Bellow did not consider suspicious other than Oak.
“By all means, be my guest.†Bellows gestured with a sweep of his hand. “But I’m not here to watch ya have him cheat the test.â€
Roen paused at the top of the stairs. “Cheat?â€
“Yeah. Warn him ahead of time that this is a test. He’s s’posed to give himself up right?â€
“I understood the orders,†Roen said sharply. “But I will not see you provoke anyone needlessly either.â€
Bellows only smirked. “After you.â€
Roen paused at the door at the end of the hallway, looking to the spare keys she was given. She could just barge in, but likely approaching the Xaela with civility and reason was more likely to have a favorable outcome. There was a twinge of dread at the possibility that he would not react well, and blades would be drawn on all sides. The paladin pushed that thought aside, telling herself that Edda did not believe him to be a cold-hearted killer, and so Roen rejected the idea as well. But there was a small part of her that steeled herself for a possible violent outcome. She rapped on the door.
There was first silence that followed, then oddly, she was answered with the knock from within. Roen looked quizzically at the door, for nothing else emerged.
“Knocking?†Bellows snorted. “Let us warn the Au Ra, eh? Best to get him before her reaches for his weapons.â€
The paladin shot the Hyur a sharp glare. “But is that not the point?†She turned back to the door, and when still no voice answered, she cleared her throat. “Khadai? Are you within?â€
A moment later the door swung open without warning, and it was to Roen’s dismay that she found Khadai standing across the threshold from her, completely unclothed. She barely heard him say, “What is it?†in a rough tone as the paladin quickly averted her eyes.
“Ah.†She was staring at anything else except for the naked man in front of her and spied a wooden tub within the room. “Apologies for the intrusion…†she blurted out. She ignored a low whistle from the Roegadyn behind her.
“Well! I can’t say I’ve seen that!†Bellows snickered.
Khadai just stood at the doorway and repeated his earlier question, this time annoyance lending an edge to his voice. “What is it?â€
It was then that the adjacent door also swung open and Edda emerged; the noblewoman was also mostly unclothed and wet, with a towel wrapped around her torso just below her clavicles. “Just what is going onnNN!†What had begun in a commanding tone quickly became a high pitched squeak, as she too averted her eyes from the Xaela, affixing her gaze pointedly at Bellows.
The Midlander bursted out into a fit of laughter, as he found comedy in all this that still escaped the paladin. “We have perfect timing or what?†He laughed even harder when Oak let out a longer whistle.
Roen rubbed her forehead and let calm return to her countenance. This was not the time to be flustered by some unexpected nudity of all things. She forced her eyes up at the towering Xaela and cleared her throat. “I have made my report to the knight captain. You are to be arrested and held for questioning for the death of the two mercenaries that you encountered.â€
Khadai regarded her for a moment, scratching his head. There were questions that passed before his eyes and his face curled in confusion. "Ask your questions," he said tersely, swinging the door open even wider before turning his back to them and returning to the wooden tub within. Roen watched dumbfounded as he took up a jug of steaming water and proceeded to pour it into the giant basin.
It was at least a breath before Roen composed her next thought. “Can you at least put some clothes on?†she asked, a bit irked.
“I am unable to bathe effectively while wearing clothes,†the Xaela said matter-of-factly as he continue to remove two steel ornaments that capped the ends of his horizontal horns, setting them aside. “You have questions. Ask.â€
“Wh-what do you mean, arrested?†Edda interrupted, and when Roen turned her attention (thankfully) to the noblewoman, she could see that the woman’s cheeks were ten shades deeper than Dalamud. “C-c-can this not wait?â€
It was Bellows that answered her first with a shake of his head. “I’m afraid not, m’lady.†He spoke the title without any deference. “Orders are orders. We don’t let potential murderers soak and sleep before we question them.â€
Roen could see Edda composing herself quickly enough, giving Bellows an utterly withering look. “I was not speaking to you.†When she met the paladin’s gaze, it was with a frown. “S-surely there must be some sort of… error. He has done nothing.â€
Roen exhaled with a look of an apology. Certainly Edda could not have expected for the paladin to lead them to Dragonhead only to then arrange for her companion’s arrest. That had never been her intent, but it certainly could be seen that way. But even still, the Xaela was not completely innocent. “This is just for questioning,†she answered the noblewoman calmly. “The knight captain needs to be sure that it was all in self defense.â€
The paladin was growing tired of this test. This deception. Khadai seemed willing enough to answer her questions and so far had not shown any signs that he would resort to any combat. “So you are yielding yourself? You will answer the questions posed? You will not resist being detained?†She repeated, this time for Bellows’ sake. If she could clearly illustrate the Xaela’s willingness to cooperate, this farce would be over.
Khadai let out an exasperated sigh and turned from the tub to face them again, folding his arms across his chest. "I have not, nor do I, intend to reach for my weapon. I am currently confined to one location, that location being this room. You have questions. I will answer. Do not waste either of our time. Ask." His impatience was growing, this much Roen could already tell. Were all the Au Ra so easily irritable?
“You heard the man,†Bellows pushed past her into the room, coming to lean against the wall next to the Xaela’s massive greatsword. The Midlander was not yet willing to let this charade end. Oak shifted in his stance behind her, staying silent. The Hyur had brought him along as well for backup in case reinforcement was necessary to subdue the massive Au Ra.
Roen was determined not to let it escalate to that point. She strode into the room and came to stand a few yalms away from the Xaela who had resumed the task of filling his tub. Ser Tournes likely would have questions for this Au Ra, as would any other that would come across a stranger who had killed two men. Even while she believed in the story that was given, Roen had the advantage of knowing Edda to lend some point of perspective. But no one else here knew either of them. The paladin now had to convince her knight captain and the mercenaries that this Xaela was not dangerous.
It was then that she realized there was still a small part of her conscience that also needed the same reassurance.
Roen narrowed her eyes and resolve settled about her frame as she regarded the Au Ra.
“You suffered no wounds from your encounter with Blacke and Fenco, the two mercenaries you killed. How did you know all other discourse had failed?â€
Roen ignored the chatter behind her, as Bellows continued to chide Oak. They had found the Roegadyn in the stables, tending to Edda’s chocobo. The Hellsguard apparently did not know how to refuse the noblewoman’s commanding instructions and assisted her in obtaining a room and stabling her bird. While Bellows threw his hands into the air in exasperation, Roen could not help but be slightly amused.
But the diversion was a fleeting one as they ascended the stairs leading to both Edda and Khadai’s rooms. The innkeeper had been cooperative in pointing out which ones they had paid for.
“What else was I ta do? She was very… insistent,†the Hellsguard said glumly.
“Let me take the lead on this, Bellows.†Roen gave the Midlander next to her a stern look. He had insisted on accompanying her on this task, and Ser Tournes had allowed it. The Hyur’s mistrustful nature was clear to her from the first day she had met him; even though he recognized the Au Ra for what he was, it was obvious he still regarded the Xaela with apprehension. The paladin half wondered if there was anyone Bellow did not consider suspicious other than Oak.
“By all means, be my guest.†Bellows gestured with a sweep of his hand. “But I’m not here to watch ya have him cheat the test.â€
Roen paused at the top of the stairs. “Cheat?â€
“Yeah. Warn him ahead of time that this is a test. He’s s’posed to give himself up right?â€
“I understood the orders,†Roen said sharply. “But I will not see you provoke anyone needlessly either.â€
Bellows only smirked. “After you.â€
Roen paused at the door at the end of the hallway, looking to the spare keys she was given. She could just barge in, but likely approaching the Xaela with civility and reason was more likely to have a favorable outcome. There was a twinge of dread at the possibility that he would not react well, and blades would be drawn on all sides. The paladin pushed that thought aside, telling herself that Edda did not believe him to be a cold-hearted killer, and so Roen rejected the idea as well. But there was a small part of her that steeled herself for a possible violent outcome. She rapped on the door.
There was first silence that followed, then oddly, she was answered with the knock from within. Roen looked quizzically at the door, for nothing else emerged.
“Knocking?†Bellows snorted. “Let us warn the Au Ra, eh? Best to get him before her reaches for his weapons.â€
The paladin shot the Hyur a sharp glare. “But is that not the point?†She turned back to the door, and when still no voice answered, she cleared her throat. “Khadai? Are you within?â€
A moment later the door swung open without warning, and it was to Roen’s dismay that she found Khadai standing across the threshold from her, completely unclothed. She barely heard him say, “What is it?†in a rough tone as the paladin quickly averted her eyes.
“Ah.†She was staring at anything else except for the naked man in front of her and spied a wooden tub within the room. “Apologies for the intrusion…†she blurted out. She ignored a low whistle from the Roegadyn behind her.
“Well! I can’t say I’ve seen that!†Bellows snickered.
Khadai just stood at the doorway and repeated his earlier question, this time annoyance lending an edge to his voice. “What is it?â€
It was then that the adjacent door also swung open and Edda emerged; the noblewoman was also mostly unclothed and wet, with a towel wrapped around her torso just below her clavicles. “Just what is going onnNN!†What had begun in a commanding tone quickly became a high pitched squeak, as she too averted her eyes from the Xaela, affixing her gaze pointedly at Bellows.
The Midlander bursted out into a fit of laughter, as he found comedy in all this that still escaped the paladin. “We have perfect timing or what?†He laughed even harder when Oak let out a longer whistle.
Roen rubbed her forehead and let calm return to her countenance. This was not the time to be flustered by some unexpected nudity of all things. She forced her eyes up at the towering Xaela and cleared her throat. “I have made my report to the knight captain. You are to be arrested and held for questioning for the death of the two mercenaries that you encountered.â€
Khadai regarded her for a moment, scratching his head. There were questions that passed before his eyes and his face curled in confusion. "Ask your questions," he said tersely, swinging the door open even wider before turning his back to them and returning to the wooden tub within. Roen watched dumbfounded as he took up a jug of steaming water and proceeded to pour it into the giant basin.
It was at least a breath before Roen composed her next thought. “Can you at least put some clothes on?†she asked, a bit irked.
“I am unable to bathe effectively while wearing clothes,†the Xaela said matter-of-factly as he continue to remove two steel ornaments that capped the ends of his horizontal horns, setting them aside. “You have questions. Ask.â€
“Wh-what do you mean, arrested?†Edda interrupted, and when Roen turned her attention (thankfully) to the noblewoman, she could see that the woman’s cheeks were ten shades deeper than Dalamud. “C-c-can this not wait?â€
It was Bellows that answered her first with a shake of his head. “I’m afraid not, m’lady.†He spoke the title without any deference. “Orders are orders. We don’t let potential murderers soak and sleep before we question them.â€
Roen could see Edda composing herself quickly enough, giving Bellows an utterly withering look. “I was not speaking to you.†When she met the paladin’s gaze, it was with a frown. “S-surely there must be some sort of… error. He has done nothing.â€
Roen exhaled with a look of an apology. Certainly Edda could not have expected for the paladin to lead them to Dragonhead only to then arrange for her companion’s arrest. That had never been her intent, but it certainly could be seen that way. But even still, the Xaela was not completely innocent. “This is just for questioning,†she answered the noblewoman calmly. “The knight captain needs to be sure that it was all in self defense.â€
The paladin was growing tired of this test. This deception. Khadai seemed willing enough to answer her questions and so far had not shown any signs that he would resort to any combat. “So you are yielding yourself? You will answer the questions posed? You will not resist being detained?†She repeated, this time for Bellows’ sake. If she could clearly illustrate the Xaela’s willingness to cooperate, this farce would be over.
Khadai let out an exasperated sigh and turned from the tub to face them again, folding his arms across his chest. "I have not, nor do I, intend to reach for my weapon. I am currently confined to one location, that location being this room. You have questions. I will answer. Do not waste either of our time. Ask." His impatience was growing, this much Roen could already tell. Were all the Au Ra so easily irritable?
“You heard the man,†Bellows pushed past her into the room, coming to lean against the wall next to the Xaela’s massive greatsword. The Midlander was not yet willing to let this charade end. Oak shifted in his stance behind her, staying silent. The Hyur had brought him along as well for backup in case reinforcement was necessary to subdue the massive Au Ra.
Roen was determined not to let it escalate to that point. She strode into the room and came to stand a few yalms away from the Xaela who had resumed the task of filling his tub. Ser Tournes likely would have questions for this Au Ra, as would any other that would come across a stranger who had killed two men. Even while she believed in the story that was given, Roen had the advantage of knowing Edda to lend some point of perspective. But no one else here knew either of them. The paladin now had to convince her knight captain and the mercenaries that this Xaela was not dangerous.
It was then that she realized there was still a small part of her conscience that also needed the same reassurance.
Roen narrowed her eyes and resolve settled about her frame as she regarded the Au Ra.
“You suffered no wounds from your encounter with Blacke and Fenco, the two mercenaries you killed. How did you know all other discourse had failed?â€
