Crows Murder

[04:14:26] Crow (melchior.wardell) was doing his round. Just to check up on things as he did once in a while. Perhaps in idle hope to find his tharlarion. It was quiet and he enjoyed that moment of not running into those that needed him for some reason. As he passed the back of the Inn after getting a black wine inside he noted the Innkeeper. “Ah … over thinking your sins?” his voice dark and with that natural authority.

[04:17:53] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) dozes off, still holding the book in her hand. Apparently, it was so boring that her eyes had closed. The sound of the waves, however, wasn’t exactly helping her stay awake either. When a deep voice rings out, she jumps, causing the book to slip to the floor. “By the gods,” she mutters, and her first instinct is to reach for her skirt before she’s awake enough to look around. She blinks briefly and checks the fit of her veil with her right hand as she looks at the assassin. “Do you always have to sneak up like that?” she mutters before sitting up properly.

[04:21:23] Crow (melchior.wardell) watches her as she is trying to process him sneaking up on her. It pulled his lips into that smile of amusement. Surely at her expense. “I don’t have to. But I hardly enjoy wearing bells and stuff.” he replied dryly. “And for some reason I think I might be out of business if everyone would hear me coming.” he added. It was of course very true. “Those that are startled often have something to hide. So what is it ? ” as he tipped his head towards the book she was ‘reading’.

[04:26:13] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) snorts softly and wraps the scarf a little tighter around her hair and shoulders. “I actually find the idea of bells on your shoes quite appealing,” she says, tucking in the end of the scarf and bending down to pick up the book. It was still that boring biography of the even more boring writer from Ko-ro-ba. “Or maybe he just fell asleep without meaning to,” she replies to his suggestion that she has something to hide. She places the book next to her on the swing seat. “What brings you to the inn?”

[04:29:24] Crow (melchior.wardell) studied the way she was trying to keep herself covered. As if the mere view on something that she tried to hide would turn him in stone or have him overrun by desire. While he was quite certain neither would be the case. But he wouldn’t speak of such matters. That was hers and only hers. If she did not trust him, he did not feel the need to win it. Perhaps there had been a moment where he had tried, but not now. “Nothing in particular. Does there need to be a reason?” he counters.

[04:35:10] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) shrugs her shoulders for a moment. “In my experience, men like you rarely do anything without a reason.” He won’t be able to guess that her meticulous care to cover as much of herself as possible has nothing to do with him, and it didn’t matter anyway. It was her way of navigating this society, and there will hardly be a situation in which she deviates from it. Many men may think of her as prudish, snobby, high-maintenance, or something similar. She accepts this without setting the record straight, because setting the record straight would be far worse than the reputation she’s earned through her behavior.

[04:38:48] Crow (melchior.wardell) nodded thoughtful “Rarely.” he replied. “So not never.” he stated as to use her own words. “I like to think we are hard to predict.” he would look over the water and turned more. “So what are you reading?” he asks again tipping his head to the book. Perhaps she might be surprised by his interest in books. He had a disguise for a long time in which scribe work was part of it. He had truly enjoyed learning the trade and reading. It gave him a lot of insights in the Gorean Society.

[04:43:03] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) can’t help but roll her eyes, a rare occurrence, as he nitpicks her words, and smiles for a moment: “Rare enough that no one would expect you to do it.” She turns her gaze to the book and takes a deep breath: “I promised a friend I’d read this book. It’s a biography of a Scribe who thinks he’s very important. She’s fascinated by the man, while I find him deadly boring.” Her pen pal gushes about this man, and she’s let herself be talked into reading the book so she can discuss it with her. And she regretted it after just the first four pages.
[04:47:10] Crow (melchior.wardell) didn’t see the eye roll and yet could still hear it in her voice. But he wouldn’t dive into it. He wasn’t here to woo her, win her heart or have her move to his natural charm. “Hmm… ” he replied. “Strange … there are some new merchants in Valaris. Book merchants. One is now imprisoned due to a theft.” he shared. “They had books that were quite hilarious. About this writer that feels himself an expert on so many levels. I am trying to remember the name of the writer. But I am quite sure it is of Ar.” he mused. “So who is this writer and man that thinks himself so important?” it was his ‘odd’ way to keep the conversation going.

[05:07:37] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) raises her eyebrows when he mentions the booksellers in Valaris. “For theft? What did he steal, anyway? Words?” A bad joke, admittedly. She picks up the book and holds it out to him. Perhaps in the hope that he’ll take it and thus spare her the task of having to read it. That way, at least she’d have an excuse for her pen pal—after all, who would dare contradict an assassin if he simply claimed a book as his own? Well, Namika, perhaps—if it weren’t for the fact that it’s THIS book. The fact that he doesn’t want to win her heart is probably the best thing that could happen to both of them. “I didn’t know him before. He calls himself Writeous Wright.” She can barely hide a broad grin.

[05:14:39] Crow (melchior.wardell) shrugged “I am unsure as to what happened with these book salesmen.” he replied. “I guess there will be a trail.” he reasons. “I haven’t truly invested much in the events as other business kept me from it. But I am sure Vesper might be able to tell more.” as she offered the book he would approach and take it. His hand over the cover as if to feel the words before he would open it and started to read. A faint lift of one brow betraying his amusement at her joke. “Words are often more dangerous than steel,” he replied. His finger would move along one of the sentences in the book. “Oh boy … ‘I do not write for those who merely read; I write for the rare minds capable of understanding why I was destined to be remembered.’ … The man is truly full of himself.” as he moved further in the book and read ‘Others put words upon parchment. I put immortality between its lines.’ He shook his head “I understand why you fell asleep while reading. If that is what I just saw a moment ago?”

[05:18:51] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) leans back slightly as he actually takes the book from her and smiles faintly as he begins to read individual sentences from the masterpiece: “I’d say, we’re all doomed if this man gains even a shred of power in any city.” She struggles to suppress a giggle. “He’ll throw feathers at us if we fall asleep every time he gives a speech.” At his last sentence, she raises her gloved hands as if surrendering. “I refuse to testify. In the end, the scribe finds out about it and uses it against me.”

[06:33:03] Crow (melchior.wardell) would stare at the page for a moment longer, his expression becoming increasingly blank as each sentence was read. Eventually he would slowly lower the book, looking at Namika with the solemnity of a man considering an exceptionally serious matter. “Feathers.” His gaze would return to the book. “Apparently, we are dealing with a man who has discovered the most terrifying weapon known to civilization.” He would turn another page, his mouth twitching faintly. “The written word.” At her declaration of refusing to testify, he would give a quiet snort. “Wise. I have no intention of becoming involved in a conspiracy against a man armed with feathers and a scribe.” He would close the book and offer it back to her. “Keep it. Clearly, it is dangerous contraband.” A brief pause, his eyes narrowing with amusement. “And should Writeous Wright ever acquire power in a city I must hunt, I shall deny ever having met you.”

[06:38:44] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) moves her upper body so she can watch him as he examines the pages of the book. As he speaks, she struggles to maintain a serious expression. Every now and then, an amused chuckle can be heard, which only dies down when he hands the book back to her. Reluctantly, her hand reaches out, while the veil moves slightly as she exhales. “Damn, and I thought I was rid of it.” She had seriously considered burning it, but she probably would have had a hard time explaining that. The excuse with the assassin would have been much more believable. “Can we hire those booksellers to steal it?” She probably isn’t really serious about that question, but she fears she’ll come down with sleeping sickness if she’s forced to keep reading this trash.

[06:43:14] Crow (melchior.wardell) would watch the reluctant hand reclaim the book, the faintest smirk touching his mouth at her apparent disappointment. “Hire the booksellers to steal a book?” he would ask, as though genuinely considering the proposal. He would fold his arms and give the matter a thoughtful look. “An elegant plan. Though I suspect they would charge you twice. Once for stealing it…” His eyes would settle on the book. “…and again for the trauma of having to look at it.” He would lean slightly closer, lowering his voice as if offering a serious piece of professional advice. “Alternatively, leave it somewhere unattended. Surely there is at least one illiterate man in Gor or the Inn with sufficiently poor judgment to take it.” A brief pause. “Then you can honestly tell your pen pal that it was stolen.” His expression would remain perfectly straight, though the amusement in his eyes would betray him. “And if anyone asks, I know nothing about feathers, although my name might tell you otherwise.”

[06:50:33] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) furrows her brow as he speaks. In fact, she’s seriously considering his suggestion. Her eyes drop to the book, which she finally sets down beside her and lets go of, as if she’d burned her fingers on it. “Hopefully, that illiterate guy will never find anyone to read it to him.” When he brings up the feathers and his name, the look in her eyes changes for a few heartbeats. She had never thought about it before. Feather. Crow. Why had this never occurred to her? She lets out a short, desperate laugh from her throat and then shakes her head. To clear her thoughts, she turns her upper body back so she can look out over the water. She can only hope that he doesn’t even begin to suspect the double meaning behind his words. “I think I need to have a serious talk with my pen pal. And strongly advise her to develop a better taste in books.”

[06:56:02] Crow (melchior.wardell) would notice the brief change in her eyes, though he would not immediately give it meaning. His gaze would linger on her for a heartbeat before returning to the water, allowing the moment to pass without pressing her. “A wise course of action,” he would say, settling back. “Though I suspect your pen pal’s taste may already be beyond saving.” A faint smirk would appear. “As for the book, I would recommend you keep it far away from any open flame. Not because of the book itself, but because if it catches fire, someone might assume the writing is flammable.” He would let the silence linger for a moment before adding, almost casually, “And if she refuses your advice, you can always send her a better book.” His eyes would shift briefly toward Namika. “Preferably one without feathers.”

[07:06:02] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) Despite her thoughts about feathers and crows, she can’t help but laugh, and her shoulders relax for a moment. “I’ll do my best to convince her that other works are more readable than this garbage.” She desperately needs to get away from this topic. Her past has suddenly become far too present—more than she’d like. “If you find out what the bookseller stole or his name, I’d appreciate it if you’d pass that information along to me. Maybe I know him.” In fact, that possibility isn’t entirely far-fetched; after all, she, too, buys her books from various dealers, and so far she’s considered them all reasonably trustworthy.

[07:12:27] Crow (melchior.wardell) would give a small nod, accepting the request without much ceremony. “If I learn his name, you will be the first to know.” He would glance once toward the discarded book, then back toward the water. “Though if you recognize him, I would advise against asking whether he still has the book. We have already established that its contents may be hazardous.” A faint smirk would return. “As for what the thief stole…” He would shrug slightly. “That is something I would like to know myself. A bookseller who steals ought to have a particularly interesting reason for doing so.” His gaze would settle briefly on her, observant but not pressing. “And if you happen to discover something about him through your own dealers, you can always tell me. Consider it an exchange of information.” He would pause, then add dryly, “A much more useful exchange than feathers.” now a far more sharper glance was given. Crow was to old to not pick up small signals. But it mattered little to which past she held. He himself had one too, which could very much be held against him.

[07:18:30] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) was able to handle the exchange of information. That was something she’d probably done many times before. Just as much as keeping quiet about the clients here in the Inn. She gathers information and passes it on when necessary; otherwise, she keeps quiet about it. When he uses the term “feathers” again, her fingers tense briefly before she turns her gaze to him on her right. “I’m expecting another merchant for parchment and books soon. I’ll see if anything is known in his circles.” Rumors would likely start circulating as soon as word got out that one of her merchants had been arrested for theft. And she was grateful for the distraction from her thoughts. The forest was close by, her past even closer, and none of it should really make her nervous. Yet it did. Her only luck was that her darkest past remained where she had buried it emotionally—far, far away

[07:25:30] Crow (melchior.wardell) would notice the brief tension in her fingers this time, though his expression would remain unchanged. He would not comment on it. Instead, he would simply nod, accepting the information as readily as he would any other piece of intelligence. “Then listen carefully when your merchant arrives,” he would say. “Merchants hear more than they realize. Especially when something unusual happens in their trade.” His gaze would drift toward the forest for a moment before returning to the water. “If there is a name attached to the theft, or a reason for it, pass it along. Rumors are rarely useless. They simply need to be separated from the truth.” A faint, almost knowing smile would touch his lips. “And I promise not to mention feathers again.” He would pause. “For at least a few minutes.” The quiet amusement in his voice would make it clear he had noticed her reaction, but he would leave it there, giving her the courtesy of not asking questions she clearly did not wish to answer.

[07:37:56] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) leans her back against the backrest of the swing while he speaks. Every now and then she nods slightly. “Of course,” she replies to his remark that she should pass on the information. When he promises not to mention feathers for a few moments, a slightly annoyed and exasperated groan escapes her: “Are you always so… unpleasant?,” she mutters quietly. Of course, she had noticed the amusement in his tone, and she wasn’t exactly thrilled to be adding to it. Her arms cross over her chest, as if she were using them as a shield to protect herself. An unconscious movement. And if she were watching herself from the outside, she’d probably shake her head at it.

[07:42:49] Crow (melchior.wardell) would glance at her crossed arms, then back to her face. For once, the amusement in his expression would soften rather than sharpen. “Only when people make it so easy,” he would answer, entirely without apology. He would settle back, leaving a comfortable amount of distance between them. His eyes would briefly move toward the water before returning to her. “But no. Not always.” A beat of silence. “Sometimes I am considerably worse.” The corner of his mouth would lift, just enough to make it clear he was deliberately provoking her. Yet he would not pursue the matter further. He had noticed the defensive gesture, and unlike some, he had no need to expose every weakness simply because he had seen it. “Besides,” he would add more quietly, “if I intended to be unpleasant, you would not have to wonder whether I was being so. Some suggests it comes with the trade.”

[07:49:54] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) takes a deep breath. “That’s what I was afraid of,” she replies dryly to his remark that he’s sometimes even worse. Her arms relax and her hands rest loosely in her lap. “Your profession makes you uncomfortably inscrutable.” Her gaze fixes on his face. “But I’m glad I’m amusing you.” Her voice now takes on a noticeably more relaxed tone, as if she isn’t taking herself too seriously right now. “I’m slowly realizing why you aren’t allowed to have companions. You’d drive them all crazy.” Laugh lines now form around her eyes—the ones that always appear when she grins behind her veil. Of course, she knows the real reason for the restriction, but even she sometimes feels the need to tease someone. In this case, him and his caste.

[07:59:00] Crow (melchior.wardell) would give a quiet, almost amused exhale at that, his gaze remaining steadily on her. “Inscrutable is useful,” he would say. “Especially when people insist on trying to discover what lies underneath.” At her remark about companions, one eyebrow would rise. “Drive them all crazy?” He would consider that for a moment, apparently giving the accusation far more thought than it deserved. “Perhaps. But that would suggest they stayed long enough to find out.” The faint smile would return. “And you seem remarkably comfortable teasing an assassin about his lack of companions.” His eyes would narrow slightly with playful warning. “Either you are very brave, Innkeeper… or you have finally developed poor judgment.” He would let the silence sit for a heartbeat before adding dryly, “I once had a companion. Before all this black. Now I am sure she was at times pushed to that fine line of insanity. But I doubt it was my undoing.”he jested.

[08:06:39] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) Now she really has to laugh. For real. Spontaneously: “People have said both of those things about me. Depending on who you ask, some would say I’m braver than is good for me, while others would surely swear I have the worst judgment of character on this planet.” Her laughter slowly dies down before she shakes her head. “Even if most men deny it, without us women, you’d all be lost,” she grins broadly from behind her veil. In fact, she probably doesn’t mean just the companions, or free women in general. Her past has also taught her that most men would wander through the world hopelessly confused without their slaves. “So I’d guess she didn’t push you into the darkness. She was probably more like one of those who held the light.”

[08:12:21] Crow (melchior.wardell) ‘s expression would grow quieter at that last observation, the teasing ease fading just slightly. He would study her for a moment before looking back toward the water. “Perhaps,” he would say simply. “Some people do not push you into darkness. They simply stand close enough to it that you remember there is still a choice.” He would pause, then glance toward her again. “And perhaps that is why they are harder to forget.” A faint smirk would return, rescuing the moment from becoming too serious. “As for women keeping men from becoming hopelessly lost…” His brow would rise. “I have met enough men to know you may have a point.” He would incline his head toward her. “But I would be careful saying that too loudly. Some men have fragile reputations to maintain.”

[08:23:13] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) studies his face intently as his expression changes for a moment, before a smile returns to his lips. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ve certainly encountered fragile male egos before,” she says, also turning her gaze briefly to the water. “And men who think they have to give something up because it gets too close to them.” Her eyes flicker slightly as her brain plays a trick on her, and smoke seems to form on the water before her eyes. Her hand rises, wiping across her eyelids, before she looks back at the water, which is washing up onto the shore in calm waves WITHOUT any smoke. “Maybe that’s why I find the dark shadows so much more pleasant than life in a city.”

[08:26:58] Crow (melchior.wardell) would notice the movement of her hand and the momentary shift in her expression, but he would not immediately ask what she had seen. His gaze would remain on the water for several heartbeats, giving her the space to collect herself. “Cities are loud,” he would say eventually. “Too many eyes. Too many voices. Everyone wanting something from everyone else.” His arms would rest loosely against his sides. “The shadows ask for considerably less.” He would turn his head toward her, studying her calmly. “But they have their own price.” A faint, knowing smile would touch his lips. “People often think darkness means hiding. It doesn’t. Sometimes it simply means you can finally stop pretending to be something you’re not.” He would let that linger before looking back toward the water. “Much depends with whom you are in a city. Perhaps in time you might find someone that even brings calmness in your home when the city is a blaze.”

[08:34:20] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) nods as he describes life in the city. When he mentions the price of the shadows, she turns her head back toward him and looks at him silently for a moment before her voice breaks the silence: “Until now, the price has been affordable.” She would probably feel differently if she thought her life were in serious danger. But that hadn’t been the case here yet. “I don’t get the impression that there will ever be anyone again who could make life in a city bearable for me.” Her shoulders rise slightly. She’s probably too young to even consider wanting to stay alone for the rest of her life. But that’s actually her plan. At least for now.

[08:39:33] Crow (melchior.wardell) would study her quietly, his expression giving away little as he considers her words. There would be no immediate joke this time. “Affordable,” he would repeat softly. “That is usually how the price begins.” His gaze would return to the water. “Until one day you discover that you have been paying with things you never realized you possessed.” He would pause, then look back toward her. “As for there being no one capable of making a city bearable…” A faint shrug. “You cannot know that. You simply haven’t met that one yet.” There would be no attempt to convince her, only a simple statement. “People are remarkably good at appearing when you have stopped looking for them.” His mouth would curve into the slightest smile. “And if nobody does, then you have at least chosen your solitude rather than allowing someone else to choose it for you.” He would lean back, his attention settling once more on the calm water. “That is not the worst way to live.”

[08:46:27] пαмıκα тσʟαп (dinara.braveheart) ‘s eyes flicker for a moment when he mentions that the price usually starts that way. For a split second, her thoughts race—is there anything she should have kept in mind? But she still couldn’t quite put her finger on it. As he continues speaking, she waves her hand dismissively. “Well, then I have nothing to fear. I’ve stopped looking for it for far too long for anyone to show up now.” That was her way of dealing with the solitude she’d chosen for herself—with the disappointments of the past and the secrets that had grown out of them. She follows him and turns her gaze back to the water as well. “And if it gets too lonely, I’ll just talk to the Vulos,” she says with a slight smile. “They argue back, too, but I have the advantage of not understanding them.”

[08:49:49] Crow (melchior.wardell) would glance toward her at the mention of the Vulos, and for a moment his expression would remain perfectly serious. “An excellent arrangement,” he would say. “They argue. You don’t understand them. Therefore, you are always right.” The faintest smirk would appear. “I can see why you prefer them to people.” His gaze would drift back toward the water, though his voice would become slightly quieter. “And perhaps that is the advantage of speaking to creatures that cannot understand you. They cannot ask questions about the things you would rather leave buried.” He would let the thought settle before adding, dryly, “Although if one of them starts answering you in perfect Gorean, I recommend leaving immediately.” A pause. “Either you have finally lost your mind…” His eyes would flick toward her. “…or the Vulo has learned something you should be worried about.” with that he would dip his head “And on that note. I have to leave. Have a good day, Innkeeper. And be watcheful about those vulo’s.” he grinned there and headed off

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