The Silver Drake Inn

[King Thedriol]

This beautiful inn caters for almost every needs. There are cheaper rooms for the newcomers with little money, equiped simply with the essentials but clean and tidy all the same. At the other end of the scale are the larger more expensive rooms decorated lavishly with everything that you could possibly need and want of a room.

The Silver Drake Inn Staff:
Innkeeper: None/Position available
Maids: None/Positions available

[Rose]

Rose pushed open the door, glad for the warmth that rushed out to greet her. She let the door swing closed behind her and walked over to the desk, pulling a handful of coins from her bag at the same time. She booked one of the middle value rooms and and after sliding the coins across the desk, she hurriedly scribbled her name in the check-in book. She swung her key round on her finger as she climbed the three flights of stairs to her room.

The room was quite spacious and decorated tastefully although simply, and being on one of the top floors she had a beautiful view of the castle grounds. She threw her bag and then herself onto the bed and lay there for a few seconds. She sighed and rolled over tipping the contents of her bag over the sheets. She only had a few essentials. It looked like she'd have to go home to pick up the rest of her things, but that could wait for tomorrow. She went into the bathroom and washed then came out wrapped in a clean white towel and looked for the clean dress from in bag. It was white with two shades of green, the darker around the waistband. It was one of the nicer dresses she owned, although not one of her favourites as it wasn't very practical for riding or just general walking through the countryside.

After running a brush through her hair she opened her window and leant out, watching all the people walking down the streets, going about their own business. Guessing it had been a few hours since she had spoken to Arikain, she slipped on her light leather shoes and decided against wearing her cloak, her dress was long sleeved and quite thick. She scanned the room, then grabbed her keys and a few coins off of the bed, before closing the door behind her and heading down to the lobby where she would wait for Arikain.

[Arikain Galarond]

Arikain shuffled his feet outside of the lobby. The night was drawing in, and thei air was considerably cooler now - he was begining to wish he'd worn something warmer. Still, to see the city by night certainly would be something. He looked about for Rose, hoping that she wouldn't be too long. He was looking forward to looking around the city with her - and hopefully to erase any previous bad impressions he had left having met her looking such a state.

He unrolled his cloak from his bag and wrapped it around his shoulders. That should keep him from getting too cold at least. He thought about what he had to do in the city; he wanted to continue his training in the army, obviously. And he had to find his cousin. But other than that, he suppsoed he was free to do as he pleased.

He looked up at a shadowy figure appeared behind the door of the inn, wondering who it was..?

[Rose]

Rose was coming down the last flight of stairs, when she caught sight of Arikain waiting in the lobby. He appeared to be getting something out of his bag. She continued down the stairs at a slower pace watching him wrap a cloak around himself. He was dressed differently from when she had last seen him, his clothes were clean and smart and as she approached him she could realised he smelt much nicer too.

"Hello," she said smiling, "I hope you weren't waiting too long..."

It was cool in the lobby and even colder outside and Rose hoped she wouldn't regret leaving her cloak behind...

"Where should we go first?" she asked Kain

[Arikain Galarond]

"Where would you like to go?" The warrior smiled in reply. "WE could go anywhere... this is a pretty big city!" He frowned thoguthfully. "Tommorrow I have to find my cousin Brynna, but for this evening, anything goes!"

He shivered. "Maybe somewhere inside..?" He suggested, smiling as a group hurried past bindled up in thick, wolen cloaks.

[Rose]

"Oh, perhaps we could go to the library- it's bound to be warm there, or the cathedral or somewhere in the castle or..." she paused, what Kain had just said had only just sunk in...
"Did you say Brynna? It's only, I met with up with a lady called Brynna yesterday, on the way here...and I don't suppose there could be too many Brynna's around here!"

She pushed the door open, still talking to Arikain, the cold evening air rushed in to greet her and she grimaced. Somewhere warm was most certainly a good idea. They set off leaving the warmth of the inn behind them, not really knowing where they were going. Rose just let Arikain lead, she wasn't particularly good with directions and wouldn't have any idea where she was, she only hoped that Arikain would. After all, he was a man, and they claimed to be good at things like that...()

[OOC: You can continue to post here, or wherever you want to go next, i don't mind ]

[Arikain Galarond]

((I'll post here, adn then make a post somewhere else... wherever I decide to go!))

"Yes, Brynna is my cousin... We used to know one another when we were younger, btu I haven't seen her in years. As I'm in the city, I thougth Idd try to find her again... I'm not sure if she'll even remember me, but it might be worth a try." Kain paused, thoughtful for a moment. He hoped his cousin would be happy to see him... He seemed to remember not parting on the best of terms... Shakin his head , he said, "And yes, the library sounds like an interesting place to start. Wo knows, we might even find out about some otehr palces to visit?!"

He noticed that Rose looked cold, and so bashfully offered, "Would you like my cloak? It's pretty cold out... I wouldn't want you to catch a chill." Arikain shurgged the cloak off and held it out to his companion. He then began to lead, as men are particularly good at that sort of thing... ()

[Rose]

* * *
After leaving from her house that morning Rose returned to the inn carrying a bag full of her belongings. She hung all her dresses in the wardrobe and after emptying everything from her bag- pushed it underneath the bed.

She wondered if she had done the right thing by telling Amaryliss she could stay for a week. As much as she loved her sister, she could imagine what she would be like if she came...
Well, mother will probably not let her thought Rose, trying to reassure herself. She leant on the windowledge and without really thinking stared out in the direction of her house.

She was bored, and there was a whole city to explore. After pocketing a few coins and her key, she left.

[Rose]

Sometime in the morning, one of the inn's staff knocked on Rose's door and handed her a letter. Rose thanked him and began to close the door. He didn't move. She sighed, and deposited a few coins into his hand, this appeared to be what he was waiting for, and he left.

Rose retired to her window seat, her favourite spot in the room, opening the letter as she walked. She sat down and unfolded it and could tell from the large swirly handwriting that it was from her sister.

It read:
Dear Rose

Mother has agreed to let me come and stay with you for a week. I've already packed all of my dresses into a case, she says I'm to come down to the city gates to meet you. It took ages to persuade her to let me go, but to be honest, I don't think I'll be missed. Anyway, it's so dull at home i really need a break. Infact, this can be like a holiday! All you need to do now is write back telling me when and where to meet you!

Well, I'll see you soon

Lots of love

Amaryliss

[/center]

Rose lowered the letter and sighed, then glanced across to the table where a bottle of ink and some paper lay. She sat down at the table and began to write a reply.

[Rose]

Rose had just returned from the market where she had read, with great interest, the Kings notice about the ball he was holding. She felt excited. Not only was this the first social event she had been invited too in Calamere, but it would also be her first visit to the castle. She washed, and then changed into her best dress. It was green, creme and gold with a ridiculously tight bodice, long sleeves and the skirt was heavy, but Rose liked it despite the fact it was uncomfortable. She spent quite some time getting ready, which was unusual for her, but she was feeling nervous about the impression she would make on people in a higher class than she was. She was also very aware that how she acted tonight might affect her family, which only added more pressure.
She fastened two emerald earrings she had been given for her 16th birthday then stood back from the mirror to see how the looked.

She closed the curtains to her window then slipped on the only pair of shoes she owned. They weren't particularly nice, Rose had only really bought them because they were light and comfortable, but they would be covered by the long skirts of her dress. She picked up the letter to Amaryliss. She could find a messenger to take it on her way to the castle.

[thefrozenhearted]

Darhin lifted up the pitchfork and then laid down the hay in the horse's trough. Sighing, he wiped the sweat off his brow, and looked in frustration to realized there were still five more horses that needed to be feed and pampered. Thirst tinkled the back of his throat. He went to his hip where the one canteen the stable boys were allowed to have, lay. He took off the top and tipped it back into his mouth.

There was nothing in it.

His thirst inflicting his judgment Darhin quickly looked around to make sure no one was looking and then concentrated on the air around him. Searching for the small bit of moisture almost gone on this hot day. He found it, and pulling on a source of power within him called the water to be formed and ooze into his canteen.

Smiling, a rare thing indeed, he tipped back the canteen and drank the refreshing beverage. Once it was empty he stopped, eyes wide, realizing what he had done. His back stiffened and he glared at the two stable boys who were currently in the stables with him. He relaxed when he realized that they didn't see him.

Getting back to work he started cursing his stupidity. How could he have been so reckless? He did his magic, here in plain sight. That's almost as bad as thinking about it near a thought-mage! But worse, since he has protection against their powers.

Darhin, being the son of a rich baron, once had an personal sorcerer at their home. It was he who taught him that though there was nothing one could do to stop thought-mages from using telekinesis. You could put up barriers, walls of a sort, around your mind. But the more powerful the mage, the harder it is to maintain the shield. Even if someone was to work on their mind shields for decades, a powerful enough Thought-Mage can obliterate the shield. But no one had attempted his shield, because no one cared enough. He was nothing, just a stable boy.

He wanted it to stay that way.

[cien]

If anyone asked, Cien just HAPPENED to be walking by. And in the same situation, she just HAPPENED to see Darhin. And unfortunately, she HAPPENED to be wearing no eyeglass at that moment. Leaning against the doorpost with Puru-puru on her shoulder, she watched as the stable boy went on with his dreary work as if nothing had happened. (sorry, I'm spamming the word 'happened' today )

She noticed that his bearing was not that of a normal stable-hand, yet he lifted the load with a strong grip. It was enough to pique Cien's curiosity. Lifting an eyeglass to her right eye, she glanced through it, but to her surprise, it showed nothing. Puru-puru whimpered softly in her ear. 'I know,' she thought, 'Its been awhile since I've seen something like this. Rare few are aware of a mind-shield. Its not exceedingly strong, but it isn't normal. Interesting.'

She cleared her throat. "Excuse me, may I have a word with you?"

[thefrozenhearted]

(Sorry for the wait, had to go to school. )

Darhin's back stiffened, and his pitchfork froze in his hands. (Literally, a few specks of ice started to form, but not enough to be noticable.) His mind shield, which he always imagined to be a huge icy glacier that covered every section of his mind, sprung forward. He made his face stony, not letting his mind or his face betray his emotions, which where wildly spinning. But one thought kept on pounding in his head. Who would want to talk to me?

Darhin turned around and was shocked to see a young lady, dressed richly in clothes that suggested that she was from the middle class if not higer, smiled at him. Her face was friendly, but he had learned long ago not to trust strangers. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw that their was something moving about in her pocket as though fighting to get out. How strange...

Straightening his back, and trying to remember all the manners that he use to know being the son of a baron, he greeted the stranger, "Hello my lady, is their anything I can do for you?"

[cien]

(no problem, you don't have to reply immediately

Cien nodded and walked up to him. Puru-puru jumped into her hood and buried itself there as she walked past the horses. With one hand in her cloak over an eyeglass of higher 'resolution' she casually looked him over again. Definitely no ordinary person. She smiled again.

"I was just hoping I could get to know you better. For the sake of courtesy, my name is Cien, and this here," she pointed towards her back, "is Puru-puru."

Her hand slid out of her cloak slowly as she waited for him to answer, knowing full well that if she put him on his gurad, she would have no chance of satisfying her weakness of curiosity.

[thefrozenhearted]

(Thanks )
Darhin stared at her wondering if he should reply. This Cien was a lady of much higher standard then he was, if he refused he might offend her, which could bring him much harm. But was it worth it to keep one more person away from his secret?

Besides, who knew they might even become friends...

He shook off that thought, he didn't need to have friends, he thought Yaridon, the sorcerer who taught him, was a friend, he even told him his secret, and he did not rebuke him, instead he tried to teach him the ways of the elemental. But when everyone found out he didn't do one thing to help him.

He started realizing how far he let his mind wander, making sure his mind shield was still in place he smiled, a bit forced but he hoped she didn't notice that, and said, "Thank you, my name is Darhin, do you need any help? I'm afraid I only take care of horses, Puru-puru must stay with you." He was amazed, was that a joke? He must be warming up to her already.

[cien]

Cien laughed. "No, I won't part with it, Puru-puru is like an extension of me. Actually, I was wondering why you happened to be working here." Her face grew serious. "You are not a person of ordinary origin, since your bearing is not that of a commoner and you have...how should I put it? Blocked out your mind to the world. If you have something important you wish to hide, I will not probe further, but let me at least say that I will not run away, nor harm you in any way, if you could oblige me by explaining your demeanor."

[thefrozenhearted]

Darhin looked at her, surprised and shocked in more was then one. At the same time his mind was reeling. More than it has ever before, what should he do? What should he say? All his life, for 5 years, no it was 6, he has spent hiding from others and now this girl wished him to tell her everything.

Yet looking at her face he could tell that she did not want the knowledge for her own self benefit, but because she actually cared. Which was odd in its self, couting they just met. But should he tell her? Too many years of hiding had crept into his heart, he could not.

"I'm sorry my lady, let me just think for a while..." He turned around and left the stables, uncaring if his boss would be mad at him.

He just needed to think.

[cien]

Cien watched him leave and sighed. Had she been too forward? Yet somehow, in her heart she suspected him to be an elemetal, like Kai and Brynna. All three of them had exuded the same type of fear which had driven them to hide themsleves. Though all dealed with it differently, it hung around them like a lasting scent which Cien was able to catch even without any kind of eyeglass.

[Amaryliss]

The guard led Amrayliss right to the front of the inn and she dismounted, landing lightly on the ground.
"This is the main inn in town miss, the Silver Drake inn. I expect your sister will be staying here miss." he said, and handed her Flecks reins.

"Thank you" she replied "Where do I keep my horse, does the inn have stables?"
"The stables are right round there, did you want me to take your horse for you?" he asked, handing out his hands for the reins.
"Would you?" replied Amaryliss gratefully, she wasn't particularly fond of the stables, and only went there when she had too.

She unstrapped her bags from Fleck and patted her on the nose before handing him to the guard. She watched him take her around the corner. Then sighing, dragged her bags into the inn. She went up to the counter.

"Hello, I wonder if you could tell me which room Rose Delore is staying in please?" she asked politely.
"Who are you?" came the reply
"Oh, sorry, I'm her sister...I'm coming to stay with her" said Amaryliss, watching the inn keeper eyeing her bags on the floor.
"Well, she only has a one person room."
"Is she not here then?" asked Amaryliss, slightly worried. The woman paused, watching Amaryliss.
"No, but you can leave your things in her room and wait for her to come back"
"Thank-you!" replied Amaryliss "I'll leave my things there then go out to find her"
"I'll have a porter take your belongings up"

A smartly dressed porter picked up her two bags and Amaryliss, hitched up her dress and followed him up the stairs, still daunted by her new found independence.

[thefrozenhearted]

Darhin led her through the streets, he wondered if she has ever been to Calamere before because she was oddly silent the entire ride there. Like how a tourist takes in the sights with awe. He didn't ask though. He was so use to the streets, it felt so much like home he forgot what it was like when he first got here six years ago. And how amazed he was with the pure beauty of the City.

"Here we are," He said as they stepped in front of the Silver Drake Inn, he walked forward and instead of heading toward the front entrance like most people would have done, he walked toward a side door. He stopped for a moment, unsure of how he was to open the door with his hands full like this, Karei went ahead and did it for him anyways.

Saying thanks he walked in, "Hey boss, I'm back with the wood," There was no answer a second later another man appeared, dressed in loose clothing he walked up to the two.

"Darhin! There you are! The boss is out right now, here give me that," He took the wood out of his hands and put it gently next to the fire place. He looked at Karei curiously, "Whose's she?"

"Her name is Karei, her horse is tied up in the front, we going to lodge it for a day, and in return she's going to take care of the new horse."

"The new one?" He asked, his eyes wide, "You mean the black steed?" He started laughing, deep and long, "Good luck lady, your going to need it." He said as he walked out.