Returning to the city so soon and empty handed was not something she had planned. As such, she gave the Fortemps apartment a wide berth and made straight to the nearest tavern to ask about Swiftblade. Dark, filthy, and no place for a paladin of her statue. She hated more and more the need to come to these places the longer she spent in Jameson's household.
Thaelys Swiftblade was a known quantity, but nobody had seen him for over a week now. It was soon clear that he they never stopped here, most likely passing through quickly on their way back south. Only the chocobo porter had seen anything, but the stable keeps would not talk to her without a bribe of sufficient warmth to last many cold nights. The paladin's nose scrunched.
"Gloves?" she asked flatly. "You want ... gloves?"
"Aye, the blue ones. Lambskin! They go with my eyes!"
He batted his eyes at her mockingly till her head rolled away with disgust. "Fine! I will get you gloves." Though she had no idea how. Her own purse had long been empty now and she still had to stable her own bird and find somewhere to lay for the night. As the sun began to dip her desperation finally overcame her fear as she approached the apartment by the Crozier.
Her hand slowly raised and was just about to reach the knocker when the door was violently thrown open. Out rushed the House Servant who nearly ran her over had she not jumped to the side in time.
"Mister Petrias?!"
"Ser Crofte?!"
Their mutual alarm and relief was voiced in unison. They regarded one another with mixtures of confusion and disgust at the disheveled appearance of the other. While still well dressed, it was clear the past few nights bore no sleep for Perci by the circles under his eyes. Her hair hung in thick strands aside other marks of limited bathing opportunities.
"Are you quite alright?" she asked.
"No!" he nearly howled straight into her face. "What is going on!?"
"Besides Lord Algincourt missing?"
Jameson's new ward was bad enough, but now it seemed his betrothed and her handmaiden had also gone missing. Lady Eglantine did not return to the apartment from La Noscea, which means she went straight to Falcon's Nest. It was nearly three days past when Coatleque had seen her. Tamsin, however, had been sent the opposite way to investigate rumors of Swiftblade's passing. Lord Taeros had not yet returned, so poor Mister Petrias was the only one left with no word from anyone! She could feel the bile rising in her throat as he continued to vent, arms waving frantically.
She rubbed her forehead forcefully enough to leave a red mark before sighing. "The porters may know where Swiftblade was heading, but they will not tell me anything without a bribe. A significant one."
Perci fretted about at that thought then raised a finger to the air. "I'll borrow from the discretionary funds! Surly the drape cleaning can, ah... wait."
"I swear I will make it up to you somehow," she reassured him. "If the missing sum is noticed, lay the blame on me. I am sure Lord Taeros will understand when young Dheres is safe again. And if Tamsin returns... have her find that Mister Kitty or whatever his name was. He is supposed to be Lady Eglantine's bodyguard is he not?"
There was an additional promise to only spend what she needed before He nodded in agreement and a sizeable purse was exchanged. The next hour was spent wandering the Jeweled Crozier purusing three different clothiers until she found the items she needed. By then it was just past dusk and most of the 'discretionary fund' was gone. She trudged back to the stables.
"Hmm, these might do." The porter seemed rather unconcerned now. "Are you sure these are the right shade to flatter my eyes?"
"Yes, yes. Quite flattering. I might have even considered having a drink with you now." Her sarcasm evident to all present.
As luck would have it they did see her quarry. He needed a cart and a bird as he was taking someone south. Someone not fit to ride seeing how he was too drunk to stand. Retrieving her own mount now, since they would not exchange it with one more rested, she quickly checked her remaining supplies and headed once more into the snows of Coerthas. This time she was headed for Dragonhead, and the road south.
Night had fallen now. Another two days without sleep. Not even ten minutes from the city and she felt herself nodding off atop her mount. As her head rolled to one side she caught sight of something dark through her fading vision, enough to cause her to jerk suddenly and pull the reigns. She dismounted and waded a few steps away through a foot of unpacked snow to find a torn cloak half-burried. A cloak, and blood.
Thaelys Swiftblade was a known quantity, but nobody had seen him for over a week now. It was soon clear that he they never stopped here, most likely passing through quickly on their way back south. Only the chocobo porter had seen anything, but the stable keeps would not talk to her without a bribe of sufficient warmth to last many cold nights. The paladin's nose scrunched.
"Gloves?" she asked flatly. "You want ... gloves?"
"Aye, the blue ones. Lambskin! They go with my eyes!"
He batted his eyes at her mockingly till her head rolled away with disgust. "Fine! I will get you gloves." Though she had no idea how. Her own purse had long been empty now and she still had to stable her own bird and find somewhere to lay for the night. As the sun began to dip her desperation finally overcame her fear as she approached the apartment by the Crozier.
Her hand slowly raised and was just about to reach the knocker when the door was violently thrown open. Out rushed the House Servant who nearly ran her over had she not jumped to the side in time.
"Mister Petrias?!"
"Ser Crofte?!"
Their mutual alarm and relief was voiced in unison. They regarded one another with mixtures of confusion and disgust at the disheveled appearance of the other. While still well dressed, it was clear the past few nights bore no sleep for Perci by the circles under his eyes. Her hair hung in thick strands aside other marks of limited bathing opportunities.
"Are you quite alright?" she asked.
"No!" he nearly howled straight into her face. "What is going on!?"
"Besides Lord Algincourt missing?"
Jameson's new ward was bad enough, but now it seemed his betrothed and her handmaiden had also gone missing. Lady Eglantine did not return to the apartment from La Noscea, which means she went straight to Falcon's Nest. It was nearly three days past when Coatleque had seen her. Tamsin, however, had been sent the opposite way to investigate rumors of Swiftblade's passing. Lord Taeros had not yet returned, so poor Mister Petrias was the only one left with no word from anyone! She could feel the bile rising in her throat as he continued to vent, arms waving frantically.
She rubbed her forehead forcefully enough to leave a red mark before sighing. "The porters may know where Swiftblade was heading, but they will not tell me anything without a bribe. A significant one."
Perci fretted about at that thought then raised a finger to the air. "I'll borrow from the discretionary funds! Surly the drape cleaning can, ah... wait."
"I swear I will make it up to you somehow," she reassured him. "If the missing sum is noticed, lay the blame on me. I am sure Lord Taeros will understand when young Dheres is safe again. And if Tamsin returns... have her find that Mister Kitty or whatever his name was. He is supposed to be Lady Eglantine's bodyguard is he not?"
There was an additional promise to only spend what she needed before He nodded in agreement and a sizeable purse was exchanged. The next hour was spent wandering the Jeweled Crozier purusing three different clothiers until she found the items she needed. By then it was just past dusk and most of the 'discretionary fund' was gone. She trudged back to the stables.
"Hmm, these might do." The porter seemed rather unconcerned now. "Are you sure these are the right shade to flatter my eyes?"
"Yes, yes. Quite flattering. I might have even considered having a drink with you now." Her sarcasm evident to all present.
As luck would have it they did see her quarry. He needed a cart and a bird as he was taking someone south. Someone not fit to ride seeing how he was too drunk to stand. Retrieving her own mount now, since they would not exchange it with one more rested, she quickly checked her remaining supplies and headed once more into the snows of Coerthas. This time she was headed for Dragonhead, and the road south.
Night had fallen now. Another two days without sleep. Not even ten minutes from the city and she felt herself nodding off atop her mount. As her head rolled to one side she caught sight of something dark through her fading vision, enough to cause her to jerk suddenly and pull the reigns. She dismounted and waded a few steps away through a foot of unpacked snow to find a torn cloak half-burried. A cloak, and blood.
