When the door was closed and barred again, Coatleque sank back against a wall holding her forehead. The two women looked at each other with shared relief. "That could have gone better," she said pointedly then sighed and added, "Or much worse." She never could quite tell which way Jameson would lean as pressure mounted. In her heart she told herself he would never hurt her - at least not in any way she could not handle. So long as she did not push him in the wrong way. She could see it in his expression as he moved wildly from anger to irritation and back. A familiar dance they were both now accustomed to.
Tamsin looked back to the door. "Thank you, m'lady. I think you helped a great deal."
"Who can say for certain? I have dealt with his ire in the past." Coatleque crossed the hallway to her now to press the original issue for her being here. "Tamsin... where is Dheres Algincourt?"
The girl had almost forgotten the very news she was supposed to be delivering. Jameson's unexpected arrival was probably to blame for that. Regardless, the boy's life was once again in danger. From the elements alone if not a blade, and she was now one day behind.
From Lord Faltheren, Tamsin heard he had been seen riding west of the city on a coal-colored chocobo to Falcon's Nest. By that admission Coatleque realized she had been searching on the wrong side of Coerthas from the start. Her eyes nearly went cross. "Miss Laine..." she groaned and rubbed her forehead again. "Alright, alright," she relented. There was nothing she could do about the mistake anyway, besides hope she could make up for lost time. "I will leave for Falcon's Nest. Was there anything else?"
"No, m'lady, don't let me hold you up!" Tamsin replied even as Coatlque began fishing around the purse that constantly hung by her side. She withdrew five large gil and handed them over. Probably a third of the money she carried. Tamsin's eyes went wide. "What is this for?"
"Sufficient to purchase a new tea set," she noted. "Try to have at least a small break before your lady returns from Vylbrand."
Tamsin smiled wearily yet gratefully. "I'll try, m'lady, but it's hard to rest knowing poor Lord Dheres is in trouble. Oh!" She started then and dug around in her own pockets. She pulled forth a small hand-woven sachet of dried herbs. It was tied with a yellow ribbon. This she promptly handed over to the paladin who hesitantly took it with a smile. "It's for luck, m'lady."
Coatleque fiddled idly with it momentarily before pocketing it herself. "Thank you, Tamsin. I may yet need it." She pulled her cloak from the peg by the door and spared one last glance back before making her way to the stables.
Tamsin looked back to the door. "Thank you, m'lady. I think you helped a great deal."
"Who can say for certain? I have dealt with his ire in the past." Coatleque crossed the hallway to her now to press the original issue for her being here. "Tamsin... where is Dheres Algincourt?"
The girl had almost forgotten the very news she was supposed to be delivering. Jameson's unexpected arrival was probably to blame for that. Regardless, the boy's life was once again in danger. From the elements alone if not a blade, and she was now one day behind.
From Lord Faltheren, Tamsin heard he had been seen riding west of the city on a coal-colored chocobo to Falcon's Nest. By that admission Coatleque realized she had been searching on the wrong side of Coerthas from the start. Her eyes nearly went cross. "Miss Laine..." she groaned and rubbed her forehead again. "Alright, alright," she relented. There was nothing she could do about the mistake anyway, besides hope she could make up for lost time. "I will leave for Falcon's Nest. Was there anything else?"
"No, m'lady, don't let me hold you up!" Tamsin replied even as Coatlque began fishing around the purse that constantly hung by her side. She withdrew five large gil and handed them over. Probably a third of the money she carried. Tamsin's eyes went wide. "What is this for?"
"Sufficient to purchase a new tea set," she noted. "Try to have at least a small break before your lady returns from Vylbrand."
Tamsin smiled wearily yet gratefully. "I'll try, m'lady, but it's hard to rest knowing poor Lord Dheres is in trouble. Oh!" She started then and dug around in her own pockets. She pulled forth a small hand-woven sachet of dried herbs. It was tied with a yellow ribbon. This she promptly handed over to the paladin who hesitantly took it with a smile. "It's for luck, m'lady."
Coatleque fiddled idly with it momentarily before pocketing it herself. "Thank you, Tamsin. I may yet need it." She pulled her cloak from the peg by the door and spared one last glance back before making her way to the stables.
