Child of Ember - Chapter 7

Dolph and the lady Renier are led to a taproom/dining room in the back of the Inn where the fire roars and there is a sudden urge for the people inside to be elsewhere...

Cornelia follows at a short distance, giving the hurriedly leaving patrons a curious glance, but not bothered herself by the woman's obvious authority.

Katherynne follows along, wondering at the people leaving so quickly, but not feeling the need to rush anywhere herself. Looking around the room, she admires any artwork or photographs displayed before seating herself in a chair near Dolph and Cornelia.

Dea would love to join in, as, after all, it was the political support of the Renier she was hoping to gain here.
However, she already has taken up the task to organize the chaos and assist in healing, so she will be busy with something else.
She gathers she will have enough opportunity to call upon them.
Even if all things are well, she will head upstairs (to Celestia).

"So, tell me what transpired," says Renier as ther group of you sit at a table. The inn keeper brings a steaming hot pot of tea that smells faintly of mint, as well as a wheel of cheese and bread. Bowing slightly he quickly leaves.
"We, That is Lady Katheryne, Lady Cornelia and myself were returning to my keep on the way back from the festival, when we spotted the fire," he says drinking the warm brew.
"And naturaly you rushed off to the rescue. Dont you tire of always playing the hero?"
"Not when there are lives at stake," he says with a smile.
"Such things are dangerous," she says scolding him. "You shouldn't take such risks."
"To make great profits one must take calculated risks."
"So you just ran up the stairs, rushing headlong into danger?"
"Actually I climbed the trellis, but yes. I tried to use a little magic to extinguish it, but the fire was hotter than I imagined and it turned the fog to steam. The fire did go out though, extinguished by the blast."
"I cant take all the credit though, Without lady Katheryne I could never have approached the room. She was instrumental in holding back the flames." he says with a look to Kat.

Kat looks a bit embarrassed by the compliment and nods her head in acceptance of it, and greeting to the noblewoman, before sitting back casually and continueing to just listen.

Having given up on finding the old woman, Natacha returns to the inn and offers her assistance to Dea in getting wounded inside. "Where did the lord go to?" she asks.

Lord?" Dea sneers. You mean our big hero? He and his women went with one of Renier woman to the back, probably to talk about his heroics. That's men, I guess.
Hmmmm... Couldn't hurt to know what they talk about, though. Maybe you can go and look? You can give our view of the case, so to speak. I wouldn't mention anything about the old woman, though, if you can prevent it."
She looks around at the people in the lobby. "I think we can mange on our own now. Most wounded are taking care of. I appreciate your offer though."

Natacha seem a bit taken aback by Dea's outburst. "If you are sure?," she enquires. She heads in the direction given and arrives just in time to see the lady Renier leave the room.
She enters the room hearing Dolph speak with Cornelia and Katheryne.

As you move people in, another moves unnoticed through the crowd to the stairs of the inn. He is dressed in the local fashion of breeches and shirt, except for a crimson-orange scarf that covers his entire throat. He walks up the stairs, over to the blackened and charred room where all the carnage has recently taken place...

You see a bronzed skinned woman standing in the hall way. She seems to be watching the door. Above the door, on the frame is the symbol for plague painted in blood. She has yet to see you.

The young man, his hair jet black and his eyes the color of flame and embers looks at the symbol, then at the bronze-skinned woman.
"This is no plague, both you and I know it. Not when such an expenditure of sorcery takes place as the one I saw."

Meanwhile, in the backrooom...
"So tell me, how did it start?" she asks settleing in.
"I am not sure, i know only that it was set deliberately."
"Deliberately? Who would do such a thing and why?" she says sounding a little shocked.
" I am not sure of the who, there is something of a mystery to that. The why is somewhat more clear. There were two of them lying in a bed, a man and woman. The woman, she had killed the man, burning him alive while she straddled him unharmed by the flames that rose from her own body. Apparently she had seduced him, as his clothes were folded neatly beside the bed." The Renier woman's eyes narrow. "Do you have her in custody? Surely she didnt escape!" There is a hint of briddled anger in her voice.
"It, is as I have said, a bit of a mystery. It would seem that the lady collapsed after saying that she must go."
"Collapsed?"
"Dead, burned from the insides out, a husk filled with smoke and ashes."
"I see," she says swallowing. "Lord Dolph, long has your family served the realm of Richmulot, and so too have you. And with distinction. You are known and respected even in the highest circles for your courage and sense of justice. Yet I must ask you again, to serve. I fear that we have not seen the last of this firebug, and i fear for our people. Find the source of this, seek who would have a grudge against the victim. Tap your resources, vast and small and come to me with results when you find them," she says as she stands to leave.
"It will be as you ask lady Louise," he says standing well.
"You have my faith and trust. Now I must bid you farewell. Already I am late, if you wish to send me a message, simply tell Chantal. she will know where I can be found," she says as she strides through the door.
The barkeep walks up and begins to clear the table. "She hasn't been the same since her sister has taken ill," he says as he watches her leave.
Dea sees her leave the room.
Dolph turns and reguards the 3 of you (Those in the room with him).

Cornelia turns from watching the woman leave and steps forward. "Though I am a stranger both to this land and to you, I offer you my support in facing this foe. Those who strike down innocents cannot be tolerated."

"Count me in then," Natacha says a-matter-of-fact standing in the doorway. I sense a deep and tragic mystery here."

Dolph clasps a hand on your shoulder, "I thank you, your aid will be most valuable i am sure. There will be little to learn from the scene of the crime itself i fear. But let us begin our investigation there."
"Lady Katheryne, please forgive the delay, but as a knight of the realm it is my duty to see this through. Should you still be desireful of rest, the courtesy of my keep is open to you. But if you would stay, I know that your skills will come of use. I have witnessed your skills before and deeply respect them."

Dea waits as the woman crosses the lobby. Something flickers in here eyes, as a idea enteres her mind. "Paths", she mutters. "There is no coincidence, as long as you can see the pattern.".
As the lady passes by, she turns towards her and, her face set in concern, asks "Excuse me lady? You seem... distressed. May I help you in your troubles? Were you... related to the victims of this crime?"

"I am simply late for the masque, it is a mandatory meeting I am afraid, so if you will excuse me..." with that she slips out the door and into the street outside.

"I can wait Dolph" Kat replies with a smile of resignation, though not unkindly. "Let's get started, shall we?" she concludes, offering her services to the investigation.

"Then let us go, before the crime scene is disturbed more so that it already is."
The group of you head upstairs, where you see a man standing near celestia (who is just completing the painting of a glyph above the door way.
The young man, his hair jet black and his eyes the color of flame and embers looks at the symbol, then at the bronze-skinned woman.
"This is no plague, both you and I know it. Not when such an expenditure of sorcery takes place as the one I saw."

Celestia looks at the man that has just come up the stairs.
She looks past him and sees the others also coming towards the room.
Since Dea is not with them, she sais that the room is off limits by order of the Healers and that no one is to enter until the Healer that ordered it off limits arrives.

"Please good lady, we have been charged with the investigation of this crime. If you wish you may supervise but please do not interfere." says dolph as the group approaches. "We are all tired, we merely wish to finish this so we can retire to our rooms."

"Is there something we can help you with?" Kat replies to the young man in the hallway. "Unauthorized persons are NOT allowed" she finishes, hands on her hips,and a glint in her eye that just begs to be argued with.
While Dolph speaks to Celestia, Kat doesnt bother to wait for a response, but pushes her way into the room with determination, intent on the investigation.

Dea stares as the woman walks outside.
"She didn't even bother to stop." she mutters, "Can you believe that?"
She looks down at the patient she is working with, but the ignorance in the man's eyes only flames her anger.
"I can't comprehend! What does a high political figure want with a simple fire? She must know more... oh be silent. I am not talking to you!"
With that, she ties of the bandage she was applying.
"Stop whimpering. This will heal. It's only a flesh wound."
She straigthens, survying the rest of the patients. Above her, the sound of an argument seems to be breaking out.
"Let's see what is going on here, then."
With that, she turns towards the clerk's desk, and pulls the lecture towards herself. Skimming through the pages, she scans for the names, looking for the names of the people in the room that burned down.

The room is registered to a local noble of some minor signifigance, his name is Caine DuMonjiete (DU mon YAY). He had registered the room for a single night. There is no name for the woman, she simply is down as "and guest".

Dea smiles inwardly. "Guest. That is an interesting way to put it.".
Then she turns and ascends the stairs.
She comes in just as Kat slips in the door.
"Excuse me, lady!"
She hurries forward. "Please don't disturb the bodies! If you do, I can't perform..." she stops in her tracks, seeing the sign above the door.
"Plague?"
She turns to Celestia, a smirk on her face.
"Subtle. And in blood too."
Then she sighs.
"I'm sorry for that. I'm on edge. This whole thing is gnawing on me. Things are getting better downstairs, but I feel like I am abandoning a post.
However, I have to ask the woman some questions, and if the bodies are disturbed there may be a chance that she will become violent or not answer. It can be a dangerous rite, and we generally do not perform it. I think we will need it here though."
She eyes the people around here, suspicion in her eyes as they waver over Lit.

"I'll not be touching them never fear" Kat replies as she examines the bodies without touching them. She will search the clothing pile, and under the bed etc. waiting for someone to examine the bodies themselves.

"I don't mind you searching, as long as the bodies are left alone... till I'm done with them. What are you expecting to find, anyway? If you want to know who the man is, I can tell you that. His name is Caine DuMonjiete."
Dea pauses for a second, judging Dolph's reacion.
"As for the woman, I think she is a courtesan. And she is not a murderess, but a victim."

"A victim, yes i believe you are correct. But if she was a victim we need to discover who she is the victim of." Dolph says as he steps into the room.
"I knew Caine, he was never a gentle lover. There were rumors, things he had done..." he shakes his head. "He had a reputation among the local courtesans. None had an interest in him. Not if they had any sense anyway," he sighs.
"I have seen a great many things in my travels," he looks at the body. "Cruelties beyond imagining. And still it chills me." his face is filled with a deep sadness as he says these words. He approaches the bedstand and starts shifting through the clothes there.

"I figured that." said Dea. "He was a... rapist, wasn't he?
It was what called his death upon him. You seem to realize that as well as I.

At these words Natacha spits angrily on the floor between her and the charred man.

"A rapist? Not that I know, simply that his tastes ran more brutal than most. Rumors say that he had a taste for violence and liked to humiliate his victims."
He sighs. "I had never heard of him raping a woman. But it is possible that he did and got a little too rough. The river is a favorite dumping place for those who want to dispose of victims. The ruins are another. Both hide their secrets well." He frowns as he pulls a ring from the bundle of clothes he is sorting through. "This is going to kill his mother," he says examining the seal on the ring. "Sometimes I wish I hadn't so much responsibility. How do you tell a woman that her only son was burned alive?" he looks at Dea, " How can i break her heart? He was the only thing that held her to this world when her husband died. I am not sure I can do it," he clutches the ring in his fist and closes his eyes. "And to tell her the truth? That her son was killed by... what? A demon? Burned alive while in the act of making love?"
"I have little pity for Caine, but I am sorry for those he left behind."

"A demon? A spirit, most likely. But maybe that amounts to the same thing. And I do not think love has any part in this. As to your question..." Dea's face softens as she approaches Dolph and places her hands on his shoulders.
"Listen. I come from a land where trees walk, the sky changes color every day, and the dead rise from there graves at a whim. How do you think we tell them things like this? We don't. We tell them what they can cope with and no more. That is our duty.
In Abdok, the task to bring sad or troubling news frequently comes to our shoulders. I am willing to take that task from your hands, if you want."

"My thanks for the offer. But this is a thing that is needful for me to do," he says as he slides the ring into a pocket. "I..." he looks at you. There is a sense of sorrow that goes further than just the duty before him. "Never have I been one to neglect my responsibilities. No matter how much pain is involved."

Cornelia, standing at the door, suddenly blanches slightly and closes her eyes.

"Then I may have misjudged you", Dea says. "and we may yet have more in common than I was aware of. Perform your duty then. If you need my help I will be there."