The sun was barely halfway through the sky before the Knight had taken to her duties once more. She had slept deeper this last night than most before it, to her relief. It may have been the pumpkin ale, or that stew she had for dinner, but either way her dreams were welcomed. She wore her standard uniform today, not caring for the attention of her Sergeant's tabbard again so soon. Standing at the corner of the Ruby Exchange in full white and silver at noon must have been a hard thing for others to look at. Nobody would meet her gaze today. It felt... unwelcoming.
Her stirred from this muse by a voice from above.
"Just...standing around? Really? Really!"
She turned and lookd to the ledge above to find a man clad in leather. He wore a well-kept black beard and half of his face was concealed by the familiar fly-eye mask of the Blades. That alone was reason not to trust him.
"Apparently, it's what I do best." she replied with a tilt of her head.
"Well...you do know that you're just a deterrent like that, right?", he continued. "The scum'll just shift down an avenue."
The Knight sighed and surveyed the road once more. "That's why I move. Like a farmer places his scare-crows. Eventually the birds get used to them."
The man shrugged. "Eh. If you're just lookin' to make the place shine in the right place and the right time, mayhap that's best."
"I'm not looking for anything, Ser. I am merely following orders. But since you have such interest, did you need something?"
The man looked up from his position and checked the street.
"Aye. A loan."
Coatleque stared at him in temporary disbelief. Was he drunk? Why was he even up there?
"Do I look like a money lender?", she replied curtly.
He looked back to her with a rather serious expression.
"No. You look like Ser Crofte, whom, if I've heard correctly, is Jenlyn's new favorite. And I... need loan of a 'sworn."
Something was not right here. He seemed to know much of her, but she knew nothing of him.
"Well then... it appears you have quite the advantage over me. I would know who you serve before loaning such service."
At this the man deftly dropped from the ledge in front of her. A good twelve feet from above, he landed with grace that any feline would envy. Dusting himself off, he gestured to his Flame jerkin with a flourish. "By the Twelve, I do believe I serve the Hall. That or I stole some man's leathers in his sleep!"
"Or that you've fashioned a suitable replica, no doubt. But this still leaves me at the same disadvantage, Ser..."
To this he promptly saluted her as was custom to any Immortal Flame. "Chief Flame Sergeant Osric Melkire, under First Lieutenant Peak, under Commander Swift. At y'service, m'lady. And as I live, I'll serve!"
She blinked. So this was the Chief Melkire. He seemed smaller than she'd thought he would. And perhaps not as well kept as she imagined.
"Ah, so you are this Chief Melkire I've heard of."
"...eh? Not bad things, I hope."
Shaking her head, the knight crossed her arms and looked him over again.
"Quite the opposite. I know that you've worked with, and not against, the Sworn in the past. And that is enough for me to give you the requested loan. I do believe we may have traded words once before. If that was you in the Quicksand, then I apologize for my abruptness."
The man snorted and crossed his arms as well. He seemed to be sizing her up just the same, judging whether she could be trusted.
"No offense taken. I was just shocked that there were more of you out and about outside the palace. Lannis had given me a... different impression."
"Leaving the palace is of a more recent order, if you must know."
He grunted.
"So... you don't even want to know what this loan is for first?"
"I had assumed your loan request was to serve the interests of the Flame General, or her Grace. But now you've raised my curiosities. Pray tell you have nothing... dubious in mind."
He walked past her a step, looking out to the exchange, making sure nobody was close enough to hear.
"...I need men and women enough to bring a Garlean scag to justice for poisoning innocents, to rout out a certain corrupt inspector, and to bring Roen Deneith home"
The Knight paused at hearing Roen's name. She was one of the three, and her orders were not to involve herself in that affair.
"Now that is quite the task. Though I've been ordered not to be involved with the name you mentioned. If you can... change those orders, I would lend you my aid, for Ul'dah."
The man did not flinch. He belied no reaction at all. She waited, almost hoping he really could affect her orders, though she couldn't imagine why she would want that. He did not turn to face her.
"The name you've been ordered to not be involved with has been turned on by [i]another[i] name you've likely been ordered not to be involved with; Which, despite your orders, you have already been." He paused, letting his words carry weight. "Quicksand? Roughly this time last sun?"
She knew it alright. But that was a simple bar fight and she chose to step in to the defense of a Brass Blade no less.
"That disturbance?"
"Unrelated. I bring it up to make a point."
"Point taken."
Finally he turned to face her once again. He almost appeared to show genuine concern.
"You want a shining lamp to cast the shadows in relief? You want reform in the Blades? This is how we get it done. By bringing Deneith home."
"I was not aware she was away. What would you have me do then?"
"Free paladins."
He paused.
"Some are bound by oath to answer the Hall's call. Others aren't. I need every one I can get to bring down the Crimson Mountain. As for the Garlean..." He looked away once more. "I'll be filing my report shortly with the Hall."
Coatleque looked out towards the Exchange in thought. Who could she find? Who did she even know? She was still green and she knew it. Remembering her conversation with Lady Hornet a few nights prior, she decided to put the tactic to use. Appearance... yes, it was all about the appearance.
"Several names come to mind, though it will take time for me to contact them. When do you plan to strike, so that we may be ready?"
Turning back to her again,
"For Deneith? We storm the 'Mountain' at a moment's notice - aye, the sooner the better. For the Garlean? Three sun's time. I'm to meet him in person. 'Alone,' was the arrangement."
She straightened herself back to attention, as if given a new mandate.
"Understood. I shall do what I can in such little time as I have, but I would ask one favor in return."
"Name it."
"Information on the name 'Ruru'. Possible Lalafell, may be involved in matters of Ul'dahn security."
"...I've heard the name, though I don't know'm. Let me check in with my contacts that do. Might take a sun."
"My thanks."
Osric nodded all the while digging his hand through a pouch on his belt. He brings out a little green linkpearl.
"One last thing. I don't trust the official channel anymore. Your predecessor was a little too... open... with it."
"Oh. Right. Her."
He held out the marble
"Aye. This one goes with m'personal shell."
"I shall be sure to make use of it over the former then.", she said as she affixed the pearl.
"Ser..." he said with a final salute, and before she could respond he was halfway up the Exchange.
Her stirred from this muse by a voice from above.
"Just...standing around? Really? Really!"
She turned and lookd to the ledge above to find a man clad in leather. He wore a well-kept black beard and half of his face was concealed by the familiar fly-eye mask of the Blades. That alone was reason not to trust him.
"Apparently, it's what I do best." she replied with a tilt of her head.
"Well...you do know that you're just a deterrent like that, right?", he continued. "The scum'll just shift down an avenue."
The Knight sighed and surveyed the road once more. "That's why I move. Like a farmer places his scare-crows. Eventually the birds get used to them."
The man shrugged. "Eh. If you're just lookin' to make the place shine in the right place and the right time, mayhap that's best."
"I'm not looking for anything, Ser. I am merely following orders. But since you have such interest, did you need something?"
The man looked up from his position and checked the street.
"Aye. A loan."
Coatleque stared at him in temporary disbelief. Was he drunk? Why was he even up there?
"Do I look like a money lender?", she replied curtly.
He looked back to her with a rather serious expression.
"No. You look like Ser Crofte, whom, if I've heard correctly, is Jenlyn's new favorite. And I... need loan of a 'sworn."
Something was not right here. He seemed to know much of her, but she knew nothing of him.
"Well then... it appears you have quite the advantage over me. I would know who you serve before loaning such service."
At this the man deftly dropped from the ledge in front of her. A good twelve feet from above, he landed with grace that any feline would envy. Dusting himself off, he gestured to his Flame jerkin with a flourish. "By the Twelve, I do believe I serve the Hall. That or I stole some man's leathers in his sleep!"
"Or that you've fashioned a suitable replica, no doubt. But this still leaves me at the same disadvantage, Ser..."
To this he promptly saluted her as was custom to any Immortal Flame. "Chief Flame Sergeant Osric Melkire, under First Lieutenant Peak, under Commander Swift. At y'service, m'lady. And as I live, I'll serve!"
She blinked. So this was the Chief Melkire. He seemed smaller than she'd thought he would. And perhaps not as well kept as she imagined.
"Ah, so you are this Chief Melkire I've heard of."
"...eh? Not bad things, I hope."
Shaking her head, the knight crossed her arms and looked him over again.
"Quite the opposite. I know that you've worked with, and not against, the Sworn in the past. And that is enough for me to give you the requested loan. I do believe we may have traded words once before. If that was you in the Quicksand, then I apologize for my abruptness."
The man snorted and crossed his arms as well. He seemed to be sizing her up just the same, judging whether she could be trusted.
"No offense taken. I was just shocked that there were more of you out and about outside the palace. Lannis had given me a... different impression."
"Leaving the palace is of a more recent order, if you must know."
He grunted.
"So... you don't even want to know what this loan is for first?"
"I had assumed your loan request was to serve the interests of the Flame General, or her Grace. But now you've raised my curiosities. Pray tell you have nothing... dubious in mind."
He walked past her a step, looking out to the exchange, making sure nobody was close enough to hear.
"...I need men and women enough to bring a Garlean scag to justice for poisoning innocents, to rout out a certain corrupt inspector, and to bring Roen Deneith home"
The Knight paused at hearing Roen's name. She was one of the three, and her orders were not to involve herself in that affair.
"Now that is quite the task. Though I've been ordered not to be involved with the name you mentioned. If you can... change those orders, I would lend you my aid, for Ul'dah."
The man did not flinch. He belied no reaction at all. She waited, almost hoping he really could affect her orders, though she couldn't imagine why she would want that. He did not turn to face her.
"The name you've been ordered to not be involved with has been turned on by [i]another[i] name you've likely been ordered not to be involved with; Which, despite your orders, you have already been." He paused, letting his words carry weight. "Quicksand? Roughly this time last sun?"
She knew it alright. But that was a simple bar fight and she chose to step in to the defense of a Brass Blade no less.
"That disturbance?"
"Unrelated. I bring it up to make a point."
"Point taken."
Finally he turned to face her once again. He almost appeared to show genuine concern.
"You want a shining lamp to cast the shadows in relief? You want reform in the Blades? This is how we get it done. By bringing Deneith home."
"I was not aware she was away. What would you have me do then?"
"Free paladins."
He paused.
"Some are bound by oath to answer the Hall's call. Others aren't. I need every one I can get to bring down the Crimson Mountain. As for the Garlean..." He looked away once more. "I'll be filing my report shortly with the Hall."
Coatleque looked out towards the Exchange in thought. Who could she find? Who did she even know? She was still green and she knew it. Remembering her conversation with Lady Hornet a few nights prior, she decided to put the tactic to use. Appearance... yes, it was all about the appearance.
"Several names come to mind, though it will take time for me to contact them. When do you plan to strike, so that we may be ready?"
Turning back to her again,
"For Deneith? We storm the 'Mountain' at a moment's notice - aye, the sooner the better. For the Garlean? Three sun's time. I'm to meet him in person. 'Alone,' was the arrangement."
She straightened herself back to attention, as if given a new mandate.
"Understood. I shall do what I can in such little time as I have, but I would ask one favor in return."
"Name it."
"Information on the name 'Ruru'. Possible Lalafell, may be involved in matters of Ul'dahn security."
"...I've heard the name, though I don't know'm. Let me check in with my contacts that do. Might take a sun."
"My thanks."
Osric nodded all the while digging his hand through a pouch on his belt. He brings out a little green linkpearl.
"One last thing. I don't trust the official channel anymore. Your predecessor was a little too... open... with it."
"Oh. Right. Her."
He held out the marble
"Aye. This one goes with m'personal shell."
"I shall be sure to make use of it over the former then.", she said as she affixed the pearl.
"Ser..." he said with a final salute, and before she could respond he was halfway up the Exchange.
