The relief is short-lived, however, for a woman's voice speaks in the gathering darkness.
"Dancer Scratch?" The group turns to spot three men and a woman, all wearing green cloaks, and light helmets decorated with high plumes. They do not appear armored, but all carry thin-bladed swords belted to their waists. One carries a torch.
"Dancer Scratch?" the woman repeats. "I am Summer Breeze Plume. In the name of the High King Horizon Emerald, I place you under arrest. You are requested and required to come with me."
The bird, still circling, begins to caw raucously.
"Two more coming in from the back boss!" Snowwing calls from above.
Serpentslayer shifts his spear from hand to hand eyes darting nervously around.
Gale unobtrusively tugs on the nearest of the three that helped her out of the Drownwd Fish, Serpentslayer. Quietly, she says, "Two more sneaking up behind."
Serpentslayer spins neatly on his spear. "Thank you, fair one, for your warning," he whispers in Gale's direction. He continues in a hushed tone, "I would be wiser for some throwing sticks."
Shaper seems oblivious to the shifting and whispering and encircling going on all around him. Instead, from his kneeling position near Gale, he looks back and forth between Dancer and the Plumes. Finally he asks, of no one in particular, "Is this more politics, or is this something else?"
Serpentslayer shoots Shaper one of his trademarked evil grins. "Raidmate, if you wish, I shall show you how your 'politics' is done with the Minwanabirdi." He resumes his defensive posture, crouched low and eyes constantly darting in an attempt to see any other dangers that might be taking form around him.
After a brief moment, two more Plumes exit the restaurant - apparently they came in through the back door. They aren't exactly sneaking, however. Their swords are drawn, unlike the four before the party. Seeing Serpentslayer with a weapon in his hands and in a defensive posture, they drop into one as well, eying him but staying out of range of the spear for the nonce.
Summer Breeze looks sternly at Serpentslayer. "Outsider, put up that spear - you will gain yourself nothing but trouble if you don't." She takes hold of the pommel of her sword, but refrains from drawing.
"Trouble finds you when it will." Serpentslayer raises an eyebrow and glance expectantly in Summer's direction. "I hope it will find none today." He raises the point of his spear slightly but maintains a defensive stance and shifts his weight, ready for a downward slash if it is needed.
"Dancer Scratch, if you have any influence with these... Outsiders, caution them against becoming involved with this." The way the guard uses the term "outsiders" makes it obvious to all that she does not consider it a compliment.
Dancer continues to look from one Plume to another, but makes no sign, one way or another. Summer Breeze frowns.
"Don't be a fool Librarian. Give yourself up now and come with us, willingly, and you will at least maintain some dignity. Perhaps the Library or your family will even intervene on your behalf."
Dancer continues to stare dumbly. After a few seconds, Summer Breeze sighs and nods to one of those behind her.
"Shackle her," she says simply
Serpentslayer, still looking fairly expectant, finally turns his gaze towards Dancer. "Are you happy to be stolen?" The question hangs in the air.
Gale's sense is that Dancer is completely paralyzed at the moment. The enormity and rapidity of events have simply overwhelmed her. She can no more respond to current events in a cogent and reasoned manner than she can fly. She is just as likely to bolt into the night (or try to) as she is to give herself up peacefully or attempt to get the party to fight on her behalf.
Medically speaking, there really isn't much wrong with Dancer physically. She is in a state of mental shock, however, having been, within the last thirty minutes or so, been attacked by assassins, witness to the death of an Obeyer, and now being arrested by no less than the High King's own guards. This all is so far outside her realm of experience that, coupled with the fact that she is at the moment acting as a conspirator against her own beloved Library, it has temporarily overwhelmed her.
Given a few minutes she will likely recover her wits (she soon starts coming around), but if Serpentslayer expects her to give him cogent advice the pros and cons of resisting the Plumes in the next fifteen seconds or so he is expecting too much.
The Plumes, for their part, appear confident. Summer Breeze seems to be getting a bit annoyed (perhaps with Serpentslayer) but certainly doesn't fear him. None seem to bear any particular animosity towards Dancer - they're just doing their jobs.
Shaper peers nervously at the scene. The clothing and equipment of the Plumes is well put together and of high quality - it is decorated, but still fully functional. Their weapons (from the two that Shaper can see) appear to be very finely crafted, but with emphasis on utility, not decoration; the decorations and embellishments are such that they do not interfere with the balance, strength, or temper of the blades.
Serpentslayer notes that the two with drawn blades continue to face him, and that two without drawn blades are moving behind him, still out of range of his spear. This puts him in something of a bad tactical situation, but he is confident that he can handle at least the four. Likely he can handle the entire group, although Summer Breeze seems a bit more of a challenge. The big question in his mind is whether he can handle them all without one of the noncombatants (Dancer, Gale) being injured or killed in the process. Dancer in particular would likely be a target if things got ugly.
Noting that Serpentslayer has yet to put away his spear, the Plume with the shackles pulls up short of Dancer, and outside of the reach of the spear. Summer Breeze treats Serpentslayer to a withering stare.
"Outsider, put away your spear. We are about the High King's business - interference will only brand you a criminal. This is your final warning." She glances at Gale and Shaper. "Your companion walks a dangerous path. Perhaps you might talk some sense into him before I am forced to take official notice of his actions."
Dancer continues to stand motionless, her eyes slightly glazed over. She begins to tremble slightly. Quite abruptly she sits down on the ground, as if her aged legs can no longer support the weight of the situation.
Gale, despite her exhaustion, at this point hauls herself to her feet. Angrily, she turns on the Plume: "For shame! An old lady! Would you treat your grandmother this way? Fetch wine, now!"
She rummages in her satchel for smelling salts, kneels beside Dancer and checks her condition. She holds the salts under Dancer's nose to stimulate her, and encourages her to stretch out. She speaks to the Plumes again: "Two cloaks or blankets, at once!"
At the order, Shaper starts to go back into the Drowned Fish, then catches himself as he realizes that it wasn't directed at him. Still, if the Plumes don't go, he'll go and get the requested items anyway.
Serpentslayer's ears prick up at the words of Summer Breeze and Gale. Sparing Summer a brief glance he replies, "My spear will lay at my feet once I am no more or once the honoured one you call Dancer tells me she wishes to be stolen."
He glances back quickly at the guards around him and, with his eyes on them, continues. "Otherwise I will move as my conscience demands in preventing that theft; she has shared her food and fire and I will share my spear." He pauses briefly, still circling away from the four guards. "You need only share your blood if that is your wish."
The four Plumes still watching Serpentslayer do not move (despite the compelling nature of Gale's argument they are smart enough not to turn away from an armed and potentially dangerous individual), but the one holding the shackles moves to comply with Gale's command, only to be stopped by a gesture from Summer Breeze, who arches one eyebrow in Gale's direction
"In what way have I been less than civil to the Librarian, Outsider? Clearly she is overcome. Would you have me wait on her pleasure until she decides to do something foolish? Better to detain her now than wait until she runs then have to stop her. Or would you have me ignore the commands of the High King in deference to the Librarian's age?" She glances once at Serpentslayer then back to Gale. "Convince your companion to put away his weapon, and we shall allow you to see to the Librarian before we go. Otherwise I must ask you to stand aside, for you are interfering with the High King's business. Also, should your companion resist, you may be injured." Her hand moves from resting on the pommel of her sword to gripping it.
The smelling salts seem to be having some effect, for Dancer shakes her head and says something like "Phew!" (which is a most common response to smelling salts).
As Summer Breeze speaks with Gale, Shaper thinks about going back into the Drowned Fish, but notes that two Plumes with drawn swords are more or less blocking the doorway; they aren't in the doorway, but in order to walk inside, Shaper would certainly have to get much closer to them than they would be happy with.
Serpentslayer's eyes remain on the Plumes as he responds. "I simply wait for the honoured one's answer, I will offer only the token resistance I am required to if the honoured one says she wishes you to steal her."
"I have been patient with you for long enough, Outsider," says Summer Breeze, drawing her sword. The other Plumes, those who have not yet drawn, do so as well. They do not, as yet, move forward however.
"You will put down your weapon immediately, and you will offer us no further resistance, or you will find yourself with little time to regret your folly."
Gale says, "Please! Don't give the lady any more shocks. She'll be all right in a few minutes if she is allowed to rest undisturbed."
She turns to Summer Breeze: "As you can see, the lady is not going anywhere for the moment. If you and your troopers can withdraw slightly, and refrain from giving the lady any more shocks, she'll be able to speak soon. I think I asked for some wine to be fetched? I also suggest that you see about organising some kind of transportation for the lady. I do not think it wise that she walks anywhere tonight; although I think she is no danger if she is able to rest, I do not answer for her condition if she is expected to exert herself."
Shaper shifts his weight uneasily from one foot to the other and back again. Addressing the Plumes in the doorway, he says, "Umm...if you're not going to go get some wine, could you, um, let me do it?"
The Plumes do not respond to Shaper, keeping their attention on Serpentslayer instead. However, since Serpentslayer is behind Shaper, if the Plumes charge him, they will, perforce, be out of Shaper's way and he can go get some wine if he so chooses. As this thought occurs to him, Shaper's face briefly lights up. Then he thinks through the consequences of that course of events and his face falls again.
He stands there for a moment, fretting. He stretches to look over the Plumes' shoulders and through the doorway they just came through a few moments ago. "Hello? Could someone in there bring out a cup of wine, perhaps?"
If, as seems eminently probable, no one inside chooses to try and squeeze past two armed guards for the sake of bringing a cup of wine outside, he turns around and looks helplessly at Gale. Turning back to the guards he shrugs again, for lack of any better gesture to make. Stretching to look past them again, he shouts, "Thanks anyway." To the guards, "Sorry to bother you, don't mean to be getting in your way, and may I say that those are some well-crafted arms you bear... not that I want to see them any closer!" he hurries to add, "I can see them just fine from here, well-made if a bit plain...not that that's a bad thing for something that's to be used a lot and..." His words all end up sliding into each other and he just sort of comes to a halt in confusion.
"Well, anyway, maybe I should just stop talking." He looks around again, this time looking at nearby buildings. "Does anyone know if there might be another tavern around here where I could get some wine?"
A few seconds pass while the Plumes regard Serpentslayer and he, in turn regards them. Shaper makes his request and receives no response more helpful than a growled "Get out of the way you idiot! Do you want to get killed?" from one of the Plumes near the inn door.
Without taking her eyes off Serpentslayer Summer Breeze says. "Ascending Note, take charge of the prisoner. Treat her with care, but move her away from the Outsider." In a louder voice. "If the Outsider attempts to interfere, kill him."
Neither Gale nor Shaper gets the impression that the Outsider spoken of is them.
The Plume with the shackles drops them, and sheathes his sword. He walks forward towards Gale and Dancer (who is shaking her head as though trying to clear it). He kneels down next to Dancer and mutters "Excuse me," to Gale, apparently intending to pick the Librarian up and bodily carry her in his arms.
Gale sighs, and says, "By The Lady's Names, this is madness." She allows the Plume to lift Dancer, and levers herself to her feet. "Take her into the inn, if you please. I can make a better assessment of her condition in the light." She follows, and it is apparent that Gale is tottering from exhaustion.
Serpentslayer shakes his head. "Do not force me to this, Summer."
"I have been patient with you for long enough Outsider," says Summer Breeze, drawing her sword. The other Plumes, those who have not yet drawn, do so as well. They do not, as yet, move forward however. "You will put down your weapon immediately, and you will offer us no further resistance, or you will find yourself with little time to regret your folly."
"I simply wait to hear the wise one's words, Summer. Much blood might be saved if you were also patient."
Ascending Note scoops the slowly reviving Dancer up into his arms and begins moving behind the other Plumes.
Gale gets the impression that Summer Breeze isn't particularly interested in killing Serpentslayer, though she finds him rather annoying. She remains confident of her ability to handle him, however.
Ascending Note is rather uncomfortable - having to carry Dancer off ties up his hands so he can't protect himself, and he is having to turn his back on Serpentslayer in order to jog off.
Serpentslayer shakes his head wearily. "Summer, must you force this? Can you not wait for the honoured one to speak?"
Gale scoops up her satchel, gets to her feet and follows, calling to Ascending Note to slow down so she can keep an eye on Dancer's condition.
Noting that Ascending note has now gotten himself and Dancer out of the line of fire, Summer Breeze makes no reply to Serpentslayer, save to continue watching him. "Take her to the watch post at Fool's Bridge," she says, apparently to Ascending Note, "Seek aid from the Keepers, but do not relinquish your charge. Wait at the watch post. We will follow behind you when we are able. If we do not arrive soon, send for help from the Palace." Ascending Note breaks into a trot, heading off through the night towards the Fools Bridge.
The other Plumes merely wait.
Shaper looks around, sees his employer and coworker moving away at high speed, and starts to follow. Then he stops. "My tools!" He looks back at the Plumes still blocking the doorway. "Um..." Then it dawns on him that there may be a back door to this place, and he goes dashing around back to try and find it so that he can get his tools.
Serpentslayer again shakes his head and lets out a disgusted sigh. "Do as you will, Summer, I will not risk the honoured one's life in fighting you." He turns neatly and dives off the pier, swimming underwater for quite some distance.
Shaper does, indeed, find a back door after a couple of minutes of searching; he has to go around a couple of other buildings to get there, as the alley is choked with trash. They Obeyer still sits in the room where the group first met, apparently resting. Shaper even remembers to grab some wine on his way out.
When he emerges, however, he finds the area in front of the restaurant completely deserted! Shaper stands motionless in the middle of the road. He looks slowly around, first one way, then another. "Maker preserve...now what do I do?"
He thinks, trying to remember any advice he'd gotten that would help. "If you're ever lost and alone, find a priest." No, his mother had said that when he was four, and he didn't think it applied here. "When you're trying to find something, retrace your steps in your memory." That had been from Master Strongwall, and didn't do much good either. "Ask yourself, 'If I was a hammer, where would I be?'" That had been a joke from Crafter Quickeye, but it was the best idea he'd had yet.
Standing in the middle of the street, he mutters, "If I was a.... city
guard, where would I be? In the city!" Trying to remember which
way the city proper is, he trots off down the street with his tools.
Having lived in Strangerside for a bit, he knows that the nearest path
into Everway is over the Fool's Bridge. He trots off into the darkness
in that direction.