Lord of the Rings Fanatics Plaza

Captain Pele Alarion
Command Office, HQ
The third morning after Erulaitalë
@Ercassie , @Arnyn

Pele maintained her comfortable position by the window, while her keen gaze was not so leisurely in assessing Ilisys quickly, and then offering a slow smile as a result.

"Isys," Pele's greeting was short, and she had opted to use the Belfalasian's shortened name instead of her rank. "And so you are here too, now."

When Arnyn asked if she could leave, Pele thought of it for a while and then shook her head. "Do stay, unless you have something urgent to attend to," she said. After all she had not managed to share the little bit she had found out, and Isys might as well have information to add to it.

"Do you have anything to report, Ilisys?" she then asked simply to start things off. "At any rate I hope that the man... what's his name..." She was not sure which of the many aliases that she was aware of to use for marking Arkadhur. "That he has not attempted anything at the Houses of Healing at least. Have you had any chance to look into the task you were given before?"

Looking at the Lieutenant, she explained: "The guy apparently had bled all over the dungeons where he was placed, so they brought him over to the Houses."

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Command Office, HQ
The Third Morning After Erulaitalë
(@Ercassie @Pele Alarion)

The Lieutenant bowed her head in deference to the Captain's command. So she would stay.

At the Captain's question to Isys, Arnyn's gaze followed to end up at the Ehtyar's expression. Yet when Pele said she hoped that Isys' contact hopefully hadn't attempted anything at the Houses of Healing, Arnyn's dark brown eyes snapped back to Pele. What?

Her friend then seemed to realize Arnyn would require some more information to place things, but what Pele then shared with her as a means of an explanation only made more questions pop up. One, two, three, four, five questions - soon became five, six, seven, eight questions. Then a ninth, tenth and eleven forced their way to the front of her mind.

Outwardly, Arnyn blinked once at Pele. She looked back to Isys, blinking again. Pele had already served the Ehtyar two questions. Three, really. Three questions, the first of which especially could receive a lengthy answer. And if it did, it would cover most of the much more specific questions that were burning behind the Lieutenant's eyes. Therefore, Arnyn deemed her own questions could wait. At least until Isys had delivered either the report she sought to deliver, or until she had answered Pele's three questions.

Shamara, the prisoner, with Kaylin @Arnyn
~ a week after imprisonment

"Yeah, isn't she?" Shamara commented quietly, and then tried to interrupt Kaylin: "You mean, you know where exactly she is?..."

The redhead's words unsettled the Umbarian, and her dark eyes met the steady gaze with certain doubt, and then she gave way and looked down. It could not be, could it? And even if not, the uncomfortable questions would have to be answered sooner or later, and Shamara did not want to think of it, not yet.

"I have said nothing much, really don't know much..." she spoke as if defending herself. "And what do you even think I could accomplish while locked up in that prison? Endless boring days... guards who don't talk just toss some food as if I were a dog." While she had been locked away for a good long while, there was the time between that fancy cruise and the Midsummer. The time when she had started on the way back to Umbar, and yet had turned back at some point. She had not really done anything that her employer would consider useful, a waste of time and opportunities. Shamara licked her lips nervously and then glanced back up at Kaylin.

"I really have been harmless all the time, the last time, I have been here, no? And have already sat in the dungeons for a long enough time to pay for anything I might have done before, no?" she asked tentatively.

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Headquarters, little-known holding cell
About a week after Shamara's imprisonment
(with @Pele Alarion)

Was she getting to her? Kaylin's gaze remained steady as she wondered, noting what looked like doubt in the Umbarian's eyes. The downcast gaze told her much. The question... the fear, perhaps. Yes, she had struck a nerve.

It was difficult, however, trying to take on a persona when you did not know them at all and had never even seen them. Based on the things Kaylin knew, Relic was ruthless, to the point where she enjoyed the suffering of others. Then, the redheaded ranger thought, Relic would enjoy seeing Shamara squirming in a cell. Whether she was angry with her or not. And so Kaylin let some amusement play around her face, as she regarded Shamara behind those bars, thrown into the defensive.

And so, when Shamara asked whether she hadn't spent enough time in the dungeons to pay for what she had done before, Kaylin tilted her chin up and laughed. When she was done, her eyes grew hard. "I would expect more from you," she said, almost snapping. "You were not in the dungeons the entire time. Before. After. Even during - do you not present yourself as a sweet talker? Someone who can draw others to you, manipulate them to your own ends?"

She slanted her head, thinking of the movements of a snake as she did so. "It seems that you are at the very least in need of instruction. Or, which is more likely, you have outlived your usefulness. And if the latter is true, you have outlived your life."

"The Houses of Healing are very close to the Headquarters," Isys mentioned in response to Arnyn's greeting, with a mirrored duck of her chin to match. What might have sounded like a random fact was of course her explanation for arriving so promptly. Made more so relevant by the Captain's concise briefing of the night before.

The Lieutenant's reaction though suggested that the two women had not been speaking of .. that, .. before the Ehtyar had entered. Isys searched for a way or even the will to start, as she processed that realisation.


"Yes," was all that she initially, though determinedly, ventured, in reply to the first question which had been directed her way. And as though she would leave it there, the Belfalasian turned without pause to close the door behind her, before returning to face the pair of officers.

"I was told that you consulted on his condition when the Guards brought him to the House of Healing," Isys ploughed straight into the sentence before much protest could be made about her closing the door. She had not been raised to ask permission. Not when it mattered far more to focus on the matter which had been already broached; marking Pele with a steady gaze, and filling in the missing pieces of the puzzle for Arnyn.

"I was also informed that the nature of his injury will mean he is incapable of any further questionning for the time being. I am not yet certain whether he did it to himself, or whether he was targeted by someone else, whilst in custody," she did muse however. "He is being held in custody for suspicion of involvement in several unsolved cases. Most particularly because he is in possession of rather pertinent information about certain evidence that he is unwilling, for some reason, to disclose."

The Ehtyar paused there, although with her lips poised, so that there was less so indication that she had stalled to allow for a chance of interruptions. Rather that there was a lot of information for the audience to take in. Perhaps because of this, the Ranger's Grey eyes found the Blue gaze of Pele's attention rather pointedly as she resumed.

"I have been liaising with a member of the Guard to investigate how Shamara managed her unauthorised liberation last Autumn," the Ehtyar enunciated slowly. As though she were waiting for the officers to make a connection. "I am going to tell you what I know. But I understand if you do not want me involved in her current incarceration ," Isys assumed their distrust in her, after she had decided not to concern the Captain with related news, the year before.

"I would volunteer to take a turn instead at standing sentry while my 'Contact' is being treated in the Houses of Healing," Grey eyes were come by this point to meet Arnyn's Brown eyed patience. "You entrusted me to manage the man," she recanted to the Lieutenant. "And a Guard can not be left to watch him all alone." Her composed scrutiny of the other womens' expressions then relaxed after another deliberate pause.

"I have worked extensively with Ranger Unalmis the last two weeks, in establishing a training routine which he should be able to continue on, unsupervised, once his assigned month is complete." The change of subject was not entirely so random that it would be obvious, still the Ehtyar's intrigue seemed less taut now than it had moments before. "So I do not believe his progress will be compromised for the short time that my attention would be diverted."

She refrained to mention that the younger Ranger clearly needed some time to deal with his own difficult couple of days. They would both benefit from a few days to breathe, she expected, before they would properly know how to take to each other again. Given the circumstances. Which she had not yet alluded to.

Captain Pele Alarion with Ilisys (@Ercassie ) and @Arnyn
Command Office, HQ
The third morning after Erulaitalë

"I am glad you attended to the summons this quickly, being nearby or not," Pele said and was glad that Isys closed the door before she did it herself since not all information was not for all ears to hear, or at least not for certain ears.

"And yes, I was called for when he was brought in," the Captain sighed and looked at Arnyn, providing a little bit more on information which she thought would be necessary. "Apparently he had swallowed some glass according to information, and I spotted a couple tiny bits in the blood he so plentifully shed. I don't think his life is in danger, but the damage is quite serious nonetheless. No speaking, certainly, for a while."

Pele paused for a few moments, as she processed additional knowledge that Isys had shared and tried to fit it into the big picture. Her blue eyes studied the Ehtyar intently while she thought. "So. He might be linked to more crimes than one. How many has he managed then? The alleged kidnapping, possible links with Shamara?" The latter one was not completely clear to Pele beyond the fact that he had been involved in following the sneaky Umbarian and had facilitated her capture. "If there are several cases, and he withholds information... I would lean towards him wanting to purposefully escape questioning. However... how could he even come by glass in dungeons? Had someone brought something to him, or perhaps he had it hidden on him somewhere?"

The apparent issues with Arkadhur seemed to add yet another layer to the complicated matter surrounding Relic and Shamara, and Pele could not help wonder how many more shady or downright evil people were involved or had infiltrated the White City. She could only hope that Keket would be less inclined to make appearance than Relic was. Pele felt the whole situation pressing down on her shoulders as a heavy burden and had a strong wish to sit down, yet she remained where she was and only rubbed the bridge of her nose with her index finger and thumb for a while.

"Your contact does need proper guarding, since his role in all this and those unsolved cases must be established, so yes. And your involvement in sorting out Shamara depends on what else you have found out, and if you won't be more needed elsewhere," she added without making comment on Nal's training as she could not yet see any direct link, her mind busy with fitting together the new information on Arkadhur. She looked sideways at Arnyn to see if Lieutenant perhaps saw things she did not.

Shamara, the prisoner, with Kaylin
~ a week after imprisonment

Shamara's eyes narrowed when Kaylin simply laughed at her, and she felt very foolish for letting some vulnerability to be seen, especially when she had been sincere with it, for the most part. Lifting her chin up she looked at the other woman for a while, thinking, and then squared off with her, wrapping her fingers around the bars just below Kaylin's hands.

"And what is it that you expected? That I'd forget my own needs and just run around collecting intelligence on people, or leading a whole crowd of them away to Umbar?" she asked and snickered a little. "All work and no play is just not cutting it for me. I am young enough to desire entertainment and not just plain work." Her brown eyes stared Kaylin down, as if she had any say in her present conditions. And, if this was truly Relic, it would seal her fate for good; however, she thought this was as good a way to practice not talking sweetly for once.

She cleared her throat and took a step away from the bars again. "And why is it that someone else should always determine my usefulness or even whether I should live? I'll do what want!" Her words were quiet, yet filled with all the spitefulness she could manage, while she observed the other's reactions carefully. Of course, she knew that she was in no way able to do what she wanted while locked up, but in no way it kept her from expressing rebellion.

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Command Office, HQ
The Third Morning After Erulaitalë
(@Ercassie @Pele Alarion)

One of the eleven questions, which had sprouted in Arnyn's mind after Pele's words of explanation to her, had been: Isys' contact had been at the dungeons? A silly question, since Pele's words already confirmed it, but Isys' input confirmed it once more.

Three more of her 'instant' questions had been: He bled all over the dungeons and was taken to the houses of healing? He is still there right? Or is he back at the dungeons?
From what Isys told them now, the man was still there and had not returned to a dungeon cell. So a good deal of the questions raised simply by the unexpected statement from Pele, had been answered.

However... As the Ehtyar gave more information on why he had been transported, sharing her thoughts on the possible cause and effect, a frown settled on Arnyn's brow. The idea that the man might have hurt himself intentionally combined with the fact he could not be questioned any further for the time being... Well. It was too convenient. Especially because Isys had mentioned he had been unwilling to disclose certain information. Pele's mention of glass gave her a jolt. Glass? There had been glass. A glass she herself had dropped on the field during Erulaitale. Or was that... too crazy? Had he kept some of it? Could he even have done so? Thinking he might need it? For himself? Or for someone else? Did they not use wooden cups at the dungeons? Her frown deepened.

"If he was unwilling to answer questions earlier, I find it too convenient that ingesting this glass has now made it impossible for him to be questioned further," she agreed with Pele. "It seems likely he does not wish to speak for reasons entirely his own and thus ingested it to avoid the bother of further questioning until he has healed at least... My first thought would be that he did this to himself... And yet..." Arnyn slanted her head. "It seems like a very dangerous play. He might have died. You cannot predict what glass inside of your body will do. And even if only half the claims I have heard about this man are true, I dare say he is dedicated to doing whatever it takes to survive. He could have quite simply - not - talked."

But then she focused her brown eyes on Isys. "And yet. You picked up most of the glass at the field, yes?" she asked the Ehtyar, recalling the events. "Shattered as it was beneath his boot. Is there any chance that the man... acquired any small bits of it?" Arnyn shook her head. "I do not remember him taking or even touching any of it, but I will admit I was more preoccupied with Shamara. Still, it is all too much of a coincidence for it to be an actual coincidence. Besides, the fact that swallowing small pieces of glass might risk his death would be an interesting alibi for supposedly not having done it to himself - for 'why would he risk such a thing'?"

"One reason might be for a change of locale," the Lieutenant replied her own question after taking no more than the necessary time to draw a breath. Which brought her to some of the next questions which had popped up into her mind earlier.

Arnyn's next questions had been: Why? And: What came to light to put him in the dungeons in the first place?

The Lieutenant had heard Cali's accusations, of course - and they were not slight. Was it true, what Cali had told her? - another question. Had the guards taken her seriously now, after Erulaitale? Had Isys any knowledge that could confirm it, or did she know of any criminal past behaviour that leant additional credibility to the smith's accusations? Unresolved cases, she had said. That could mean anything. What other things had this man done that they maybe knew of? That had been question eight.

Shamara had accused him as well, of course. Of liberating her from the dungeons. And in that regard, part of Isys' report carried relevance indeed. The Ehtyar was investigating how the Umbarian had escaped. And apparently she had been working with a Guard to that end - an unnamed Guard, Arnyn noted, somewhat sensitive to the matter since the meeting where Isys had pointedly left out her contact's name at first. More still, apparently the Belfalasian had learned at least one thing about Shamara's escape - since she promised to share what she knew of the matter thus far.

"Shamara accused your contact," the Lieutenant stated, looking again at Isys. "Of helping her escape. If this is true, he has gotten a good look at the inner workings of the dungeons, one might assume. And perhaps he realized he would not be able to get out by himself - not without help. And a change of venue is his goal, in order to find his own freedom and escape interrogation more indefinitely."

Pele inquired after what Ilisys had learned about Shamara's escape, and so Arnyn had no more need to. But there was another matter she wished to touch on, herself, now rather than later.

"You say a guard cannot be left to watch him all alone." The Lieutenant ever so slightly raised an eyebrow over minutely narrowed eyes. She remembered all too well the weary tone of Cali's voice all too well. Yesterday, Cali had told her with that voice that she had reported on the man last autumn, after what had happened to her and her friend. The accusations were serious, so serious one would think they would resonate. A report of assault and abduction, and an accusation of murder. Lost. And Cali had needed to tell the Guard all over again. Gondorians were only humans, yes, and humans made mistakes. And. Yet.

"Why do you believe one guard alone will not suffice? Do you have any suspicions, perhaps?" Arnyn asked Isys pointedly. "And if so, did these suspicions come to you through Ranger Unalmis? Or through liaising with this thus far unnamed Guard you speak of?"

"And, regardless of your answer, since I quite agree with your assessment - who have you guarding the man now, instead of a guard alone?"

@Rillewen

It was always a treat to be in the City of the Men of Numenor, but as with all things, even his time in the White City must come to an end.

His home was elsewhere, in the far south, and there were duties and obligations there that Abrazimir Dimaethor, Swan-Knight of Dol Amroth, could not shriek or avoid. Though, he tried to remain on loan to the Rangers, where before the War of the Ring he had first trained and been inducted as a warrior for the defence and glory of Gondor. He always tried to conduct business and services through their vendors out of a sense of familiarity and loyalty. And the shop and smithy of Master Dringolben had been where he had his Swan-Knight armor first commissioned and crafted. In need of repairs before the great joust that was to be held in his familial lands, he thought it wise to bring his gear back to the man who had crafted it, many years prior. However, he found their old shop leased to another man, who informed the Swan-Knight that a Dringolben might instead be found at the Ranger's Armoury. So, his path brought him here.

He walked now with his mount, Peguiroc, the various bits of armor, the chest plate, pauldrons, greaves and long surcoat of chain mail, tucked into various baggage on either side of the sturdy war-horse, heading towards the Smithy through the Commons. Despite the destruction of…that land, just across the Anduin, there was still a great many things required to do to ensure the safety of Gondor’s borders. Or the expansion of them. All would play their part in that, with Abrazimir no doubt about to have his hands full with new ventures and duties in the south, across the sea-frontier.

The pair went past the Headquarters, seeing the great signage that indicated the Armoury. There was a bustle of crates, barrels, and trunks, no doubt full of all the panoply of equipment that war required, from iron for weapons to leather for armor and everything in-between. There! A strange gleam, poking out the mud, between various crates, caught the corner of Abrazimir’s eye and he nearly walked past it without a second thought, before pausing and quirking an eyebrow. It was probably just a coin. And while he was in no great need of coinage or wealth, it was always a lucky encounter to chance upon a coin on the ground, no matter the denomination. With a great joust planned for the end of summer, of which he would be a participant, a little extra luck wouldn’t be too bad, right?

He paused, and placed Peguiroc’s reins on a nearby peg to keep the mount steady, before moving back towards the crate. Nothing. There was no gleam this time, but he was sure he had seen what he seemed, and not some trick of the light. Abrazimir glanced around but there was no hiding it. Look at this son of nobility about to kneel in the mud and search it’s contents. At least he took off his black leather gloves, not wanting to ruin it’s quality. He could always wash his hand. But crouching next to the stacked crates, reaching into the narrow space between them, he reached as deep as his arm’s span would let him, his hand grazing into the mud, sweeping and searching for something solid and hard.

He did find something. It felt circular, like a disc, or coin. He grabbed a fistful of mud around this strange token, drawing it out into the light of day and standing, opening his palm. It was no coin that he found, bronze or silver or gold or otherwise. It was…a ring. How very strange. He scrapped more of the mud away from the center of his palm with a thumb, exposing more and more of the ornamental design. It was a very lucrative item, a band of gold, with a sigil embedded. Who could have lost such a thing? And yet for all his studies of the great families of Gondor in his youth, it was no family crest that he could recognize right away. At least.

Still, a curiosity. He took the reins of Peguiroc and continued on to the front of the Armoury, where there were proper stalls for the parking of mounts. He unslung the various bags and looped them over a shoulder. The ring he put into a breast pocket for now, shaking off bits of mud from his hand before readorning his glove and entering the shop of Dringolben. At least, it had been, when he last came here before the War. He knocked twice on the threshold of the door to announce himself. There was…only a young woman within, who looked quite familiar. Must be an apprentice or helper of some kind.

”Hail, and well met.” Abrazimir said courteously, a closed fist snapping over his heart in a Gondorian salute. ”I seek the Smith, Master Dringolben. Is he present here? I went down to the Smithy owned by him on the Second level, but he was no longer servicing customers from there, or at least I've been told, and could find him here. Or if not at present, when will he return? I have need of servicing for some gear and armor he crafted for me, some years ago.” He explained himself, moving his hands behind the small of his back in a loose military pose, one of patience and attentiveness. His parents, if anything, taught him to be polite.

The familiarity finally struck and he raised a hand out before him to wag a finger at her. ”You’re his daughter, if I recall, are you not? You were here when I first came years ago. Abrazimir of House of Dimaethor, of Dol Amroth. To whom might I be speaking to...?” He introduced himself formerly, in case the young woman forgot, or hadn’t cared back then, which he wouldn’t blame her. She seemed young, and being young himself once upon a time, Abrazimir knew how the mind could wander. He returned his hand behind his back, sea-grey eyes wandering the shop as if the Master Smith might appear out of the wood and metal works.

@Lantaelen

After that day when Mourgan had made a rather alarming comment to her, Cali had since then made sure that she was properly rested before doing any work in the forge. She did prefer to keep busy when she was upset, but she was determined that she would not end up making the same kinds of mistakes that her father had made. At least she felt more at ease now that the kidnapper was arrested. She felt drastically safer, yet hadn't forgotten the concerns over that issue Mourgan had mentioned. Still, though she did as he had asked and kept those beans with her, Cali felt she had less to worry about now, with that man locked away at last. So she had found it easier to sleep, which meant she felt comfortable returning to her job. She still had a medium-sized pile of things she wanted to fix before allowing any ranger to take it from the armory, and was hoping to get through that before the end of summer.

Earlier, the young smith had finished replacing the rivets on a chest piece from a plate armor set, and had spent the last half hour polishing the surface of it. The metal gleamed and reflected like a mirror by the time she finished. She heard the door open as someone entered, and tried to guess by the sound of the tread whether it was someone familiar or not. It wasn't Nal, nor did it sound like Mourgan(who she was becoming more familiar with) and nor did it sound like a woman. She was out of guesses as to who it could be, and utilized the shiny, reflective surface of the armor piece, to take a look at the stranger. She could see him, sort of, in the reflection on the armor, though the angles and curves made him look a bit distorted. She glanced up, feeling slightly wary of the stranger, though she offered a smile so not to appear unfriendly.

"Hello," She replied, smiling politely as the stranger greeted her. She rose, setting the chest armor aside. It was technically finished.. but she wasn't sure she was satisfied with the polishing. She'd look at it again later, but for now she would see what this man needed. Smiling in slight amusement as he asked for the Master Smith, she was about to correct him on that, since 'master' was a title she couldn't officially claim yet, but then he caught her off guard with the rest of his inquiry. He. Cali was at a loss for words, realizing he was seeking not her, but her father. That he had been to her family's old shop, and been sent here, was a small shock to hear. No one had told him? It had been a few years now since the war.. since her father's death, and while she hadn't forgotten, the reminder was unexpected. But even more puzzling was why whomever he had spoken to had not bothered to mention that it was not Damion who was working at the ranger's armory, but his daughter. Perhaps they thought it would be an amusing joke, not to explain matters to the man?

The younger Dringolben was still getting over that unexpected shock when the man before her suddenly recalled that she was the daughter of the man he sought. And introduced himself, with a mention that he was from Dol Amroth. That explained why he had not heard of her father's death, anyway. Cali was torn between feeling amusement at the situation, or the sorrow at the reminder of her loss. A part of her wanted to speak teasingly, as she would have long ago, but another part was tempted to relapse into grief. Instead of either, she remained silent for a few seconds trying to find the right response, taking a slow, deep breath. "Yes," She smiled faintly at last. "Yes, that was my father." She agreed. "I'm Cali Dringolben." Dimaethor.. that name rang a bell. She paused to think back. "I remember you, Sir Dimaethor." She added, recalling that she had been minding the shop that day, several years prior, when he came in to place the order for his armor. She remembered making a sketch of what he wanted, so that she could better relate to her father what the customer desired. "Although, I feel I should point out that it wasn't here," She pointed out with a hint of a teasing smile. Still, she knew what he meant.

Cali quietly put the polishing cloth away, deciding she ought to set him straight from his error, although it was difficult to know how to begin. "As for my father.. I.. regret to inform you that he has passed on." She hesitated. "He perished during the events of the war." She explained quietly. She swallowed down the lump of emotion in her throat, then took another deep breath. It still felt difficult at times, explaining to some people that she was a smith, and that she could do the work just as well as any man. Especially those who came from places such as Dol Amroth. There was always the thought in the back of her mind, wondering whether they would reject the idea, or refuse to give her a chance to show that she could do the job. Once, when she was still hiding her skills, she would have pretended to be merely a mediator between customer and smith, and let them believe that someone else did the work while she simply ran the shop. But she was done doing that sort of thing, and would not hide her capabilities any longer. "Never fear, however," She added with a small smile. "For there is a skilled smith, of the Dringolben line, here who can surely take care of your needs, whatever they are. How may I help you, sir?"

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Headquarters, little-known holding cell
About a week after Shamara's imprisonment
(with @Pele Alarion)

Oh. How close she now came. Would she be this daring with Relic? No. No, then, Shamara did not believe it. Well, it had been a silly play to begin with and surely one she would not be able to pull off for more than a few minutes. Yet the amusement at her own childish satisfaction from at least getting under Shamara's skin just a tad, was what kept Kaylin from grabbing Shamara through the bars and slamming her face into them.

She figured the 'Relic answer' to Shamara's first question would have been an angry 'yes'. Though that could be off the mark. Kaylin did not falter under the captured Umbarian's gaze as the latter stared her down with that fire in those brown eyes. Surely Relic would think there was play to be had in doing just that. And that this play should be enough for one bound in servitude to her.

Stepping back from the bars herself, Kaylin flipped her red hair over her shoulder, in an almost casual gesture and with a satisfied smile playing about her lips, even though her blue-grey eyes did not share the sentiment. "Others always determine someone's usefulness," she shrugged. "It takes a special kind of person and circumstance to be able to escape these things." She raised an eyebrow. "What is it that you want from this life of yours, anyway?"

@Rillewen
Cali Dringolben the young woman introduced herself, daughter of the Master Smith. But where was he? Looking around, it seemed only Cali was in the shop, the only one…working and maintaining all this gear? Just her? She had a wash cloth, so she could just be a cleaner. But with all the business that went in and out of this place, surely they wouldn’t leave just a cleaner or even an apprentice behind in case of some urgent need for smith work. The prospect was quite curious to say the least. A woman smith, who would have thought? Well then again, Abrazimir was someone once put on his back by a lady knight, so why should this be surprising, or out of the ordinary? Well, Cali was free to pursue her ambitions. He still wanted to talk to her father, the one responsible for crafting his armor. He would know best, right?

I remember you, Sir Dimaethor. To this, he waved a hand and gave a little shake of his head. No need for such formalities. It wasn’t necessary. And of course it wasn’t here here that he had first seen her. But the smile on her lips showed she was only speaking in jest, so he returned a little smile of his own. Not for long, as Cali told him right where the old Master Smith might be. Passed on. In the halls of Mandos, or the circles beyond the world. Abrazimir’s face dropped and he frowned, feeling foolish for entering with such a presumption. He hadn’t been around to see the smith in years, a lot could have happened. He shifted his hand over his chest and heart, bowing his head a little. ”My sincere apologies, Lady Dringolben. And my condolences. He was a master at his craft and his loss is sorely lamentable. I did not know.” Abrazimir stated, keeping his eyes downcast a moment in a quick, solemn moment of silence for the fallen. So many lost during the War…

Yet Cali then informed him that there was still a Smith of that line who could help him, skilled and knowledgeable. Surely what she meant by How may I help you, sir? was an invitation to share his needs for her to take onwards to this other Smith. Unless it was indeed…her. He might as well ask. ”You are the only Dringolben here. I take it you are they, who can help me with my need.” He pointed out, before slinging the heavy satchel off his shoulder onto the countertop before him. It sat heavily with clinking and clanks. ”Your father had forged this armor for me, upon my ascension to the ranks of the Swan Knights of Dol Amroth. It has served me well, and kept me alive, and generally free from…most harms. It has been through a lot, it and me. I was hoping for some touch ups and fixing.” He began by explaining.

”My family is hosting a function and jousting tournament, come summer’s end, for Cormarë, Ring Day. I just like to look my best for it.” Abrazimir smiled a little sheepishly. He was never one for vanity but in this armor her father had crafted, he had to confess he certainly looked his best that he ever attained. He gestured to the satchel to allow her to begin inspecting the various elements; his Swan-Helm, with the silver wings jutting from the sides, his shoulder pauldrons, his breast plate, his greaves, sabatons, tassets, vambraces, and various other bits. All had some sort of dent, nick, or scarring, from various orc and corsair weaponry. There was a very visible piercing on the rerebrace that covered his arms. And other flaws besides that only a skilled mind would see.

”How long, you reckon, in terms of time and price?” He asked after letting her examine and inspect it.

Shamara, the prisoner, with Kaylin
~ a week after imprisonment
@Arnyn

Shamara kept observing Kaylin, though her stare was no longer intense. She stood, arms relaxed at her sides, and did not say a word for a while. She was being made to think, and she was not she liked it. Difficult questions, difficult answers as she had never really thought of those in depth.

She had formed an impression that Gondorians did not measure human worth and usefulness the same way it was done in Umbar, and this was one of the reasons she was quite attracted to hanging out around here. She wanted to gain an understanding and yet had failed because she had not really applied herself to proper investigation and thinking. She had been like a butterfly flying from one flower to another easily, and not staying anywhere long enough to go deep.

The Umbarian held back a sigh and shrugged lightly. "Well, I just want to live. You know... enjoy life," she said, and realised it must sound very childish taking into consideration that she had quite often tried to position herself as a professional in obtaining humans. "Like... don't you have life outside duties?" she probed in a tone as light-hearted as the shrug.

Hyandaner Kaylin Maethyr
Headquarters, little-known holding cell
About a week after Shamara's imprisonment
(with @Pele Alarion)

Enjoy life?

Did Shamara really just say she wanted to enjoy life?

This was just... Kaylin stared at the woman with a blend of disbelief and immense irritation. She couldn't believe her ears, and felt anger bubbling up - threatening to boil over if she wasn't careful. The prisoner's question made her shake her head. The redhead did not speak straight away, trying to get a grip on her thoughts and not seem like a faulty trebuchet.

"Of course I have things outside of my duties. Otherwise, life would hardly be worth living." Not an opinion everyone shared, she knew - there were those who devoted themselves completely to the duty of king and country, and steward and country before that, and who needed little else. But Kaylin had always thought of that as a very one-sided life. Herself, she did not want to miss out on other fun and challenging experiences.

Kaylin took one of the cups from the ledge on the wall and held it through the bars for the prisoner to take. Once Shamara had her fingers around the wooden cup and tried to take it from her hands, Kaylin held onto the cup just a moment longer, causing some drops of milk to sway over the edge. The Hyandaner gave the Umbarian a dark look.

"I wonder how much all those people you've shipped off to be slaves in Umbar are enjoying life." She didn't even want to think about Pele. Kaylin let go of the wooden cup, and put the water down on her side of the bars, close enough for Shamara to grab later. The redhead had lost her will to stay. She would keep watch above. Away from this selfish, infuriating woman.

Before she disappeared from sight, Kaylin turned her head over her shoulder, although she did not look at Shamara as she spoke. "Hypocrite."

Then she left.

@Lantaelen

"Thank you," Cali answered softly, after the moment of silence in honor of her father. "Yes... he was." She agreed. He was indeed, at one time. She couldn't argue that, although in the last years of his life, his work had been...well, she would not bring that up to anyone, much less someone she barely knew. It was good though, to hear that his armor had served him so well, for so long. She smiled faintly, genuinely pleased to hear that. And even more pleasantly surprised to hear him ask whether she was the smith here, rather than the reaction she had feared he would give, considering the place he said he was from. From all she knew of nobles(which wasn't really much), they tended to be stuffy and snooty, and clung to old ways of thinking. "You guess correctly," She answered him, her smile growing slightly.

"Let's see what you have then." She opened the satchel after he had indicated for her to go ahead, and pulled out the pieces one by one, giving each a quick, assessing inspection. She would give a deeper examination later, when she began to work on them, but for now she wanted to see what obvious damage there might be. As she turned over the helmet, thoughtfully examining it, she began trying to place the time that it would have been made. If she wasn't mistaken, this set had been made not very long after...the tragedy. Dawion's and Berthion's deaths. Or was it before? She had to pause, thinking back carefully, and remembered. Yes, Cali had been the one working in the shop that day because her mother had begun working in the houses of healing by then. Which she didn't begin until after that day... Cali bit her lip, suddenly concerned about the state of this armor which this knight had been using for so long. It was, at least, reassuring that he had apparently taken no serious injuries, and therefore the armor must have done its job well enough. But still.

She proceeded with her examination of each piece, more carefully than she might have before that recollection. "A jousting tournament?" She commented with curiosity, without breaking her attention from what she was doing. "That sounds like a big event, and very exciting. I certainly can't blame you for wanting to look your best," She gave a small smile, picking up the next piece. "Where is it to be held?" She wondered, thinking of her nephew. If it wasn't too far, and if he could manage it, perhaps he could get a chance to go and watch. She knew Iuldir would enjoy that tremendously.

As she listened to his answer, Cali began looking at the largest piece, the one which protected the most vulnerable parts. Then she stopped, blinking at the small maker's mark stamped into an inconspicuous area on the breastplate. The small stamped symbol representing her family's work wasn't surprising to find there, since her father had made it. But the way it appeared was what caught her attention. To an untrained eye, it would look like it merely got the stamp pressed in twice, perhaps by mistake. The second one was stamped at a different angle. To some, that meant nothing. To Cali, it meant... a lot. A faint smile stole across her face as emotions tugged her heart. Ryn. He'd had a part in crafting this piece of armor. And that was a great comfort to her, easing many of her concerns. She remembered, of course, he had been working alongside their father during that time, staying close, helping him with his work. She felt sure that he would have caught most, if not all, of the mistakes their father might have let slip past him in his state of grief. That offered the biggest explanation to Cali's mind for why this armor had held up so well, though she had no proof behind it.

She blinked the mist out of her eyes and turned to the next piece, hoping to find the same sort of marks upon it, but it appeared that Ryn had only helped with a few pieces. Of course, he'd still taken time to hang out with Nal and Trev, and hadn't spent every moment in the forge. There had been other things to do to take up the teenagers' spare time in those days. She cleared her throat softly once she had checked each piece, and had them laid out on the counter, arranged anatomically.. head to shoulders and arms, then torso, down to the legs, and so on, like some sort of skeleton laid out for burial. She had no explanation for why she laid the armor out like that. Perhaps due to her close friendship with a mortician's daughter.

"Some are worse off than others," She informed the knight, looking up once she had set down the foot protectors just below the shin parts. "I'm pleased it's held up so well for you, after all this time, however." She paused, looking down to consider how to answer the latter question. "I can surely have it all finished by Cormarë, but it would be hard to give an exact time.." She explained. There was a lot here, and there were likely damages she had not noticed in her first assessment. "As for cost, I..uh, well, this isn't quite the same as with the shop we had in the market," She frowned thoughtfully. "I am paid to upkeep the ranger's equipment. But as this is your personal equipment, I'm a little unsure of how that works, to be honest." She explained, contemplating that. "Perhaps I'll make inquiries about that with the Captain or Lieutenant, and get back to you?" She hoped that would be good enough. "Regardless, I should be able to begin working on it today. Would you like me to hold it all here until every piece is restored to its original state, or would you rather claim each item as it is finished?"

@Rillewen
To Abrazimir, the old master-smith had been just that, a smith. To this woman, he had been far more. Smith, teacher…father. Abrazimir would not dare to try and confess that he might know what she was going through. He felt a pang of guilt at being the reason for possibly invoking or reminding her of some bitter, unhappy memories of her father’s passing. If only he knew the truth of how much she really lost. For all the facades of celebration and hope that the return of the King might have brought, there was still a deep underlying current of loss, regret, and sorrow.

But still, it was a marvel, that this young woman could be the inheritor of the old smith’s skills and talents. A power passed on in the bloodline? Or just the result of a dedicated, observant mind eager to learn? Regardless of the roles that might be foist upon her, or forbidden to her, by the larger society. Abrazimir knew never to stand in the way of such ambitious people.

Cali seemed to regard the mention of jousting tournament with an inquisitive look. ”You ever attended such an affair before?” He asked her casually. ”In my home, in Belfalas. Lond Côl, vassal fiefdom of the Prince of Dol Amroth.” Abrazimir said with a measure of pride, though it should be obvious by the décor and styling of the armour he had brought Cali. Who else wore a suit of armour such as this into battle? The Swan Knights of the Prince had been foremost upon the defense of this city during the great War. They had held the gate, against ram and ladder, until he…until the Witch-King had… Well, some memories are best left in the dark recesses of the mind.

The various bits of his armour were removed from the baggage, which Abrazimir would hold as they emptied so as to not clutter her worktable. Cali laid out his armour in the invisible image of a man, each piece positioned in accordance of where it would have fit on a full grown man. All the more proof of her skills that she could do so, when Abrazimir had spent enough time around actual warriors who had to wear such things who still fumbled over the where and how’s of even basic armour. He watched her face intently and saw the recognition in her eyes as she mentally ran through her father’s work. And indeed, there was something…more.

He coughed nervously and was about to broach a new line of question, though Cali spoke up first. He just nodded at her observation. Orcs and wicked men weren’t known for their consistency, save in their willingness to commit deeds of evil. He waved off her worry about giving an exact time. ”The likelihood of it being before Cormarë is enough for my purposes.” He assured her. ”You may.” He consented both about the costs and holding on to it until it was all completed. ”While I was a Ranger myself in my earlier days, and may still train and perform tasks for them, my allegiances are more…in the South these days, and thus would not consider myself active enough on the roster to warrant their rates. I am happy to pay the full cost. I just merely wanted it touched up…by someone who understood it’s creator’s mind and work. Your father…” He explained, trailing off for a moment.

”If you can, you should come for Cormarë, to Lond Côl. I would appreciate the chance to honor the family of the Smith who crafted this work that kept me alive during the course of my duties here in the city.” Abrazimir then pitched to Cali, her and whatever other kin she might have here in the city. ”I cannot express how deeply indebted I am to your father’s work. There were many blows that might have felled me, if not for it’s durability. I cannot stress that enough.” He gestured with a sweeping hand to all the armor laid out between them, offering up a smile, and praising words for her father’s deeds. It would be a small comfort perhaps to hear how her father’s work and deeds may have positively impacted the life of someone, even a stranger.

@Lantaelen

"You ever attended such an affair before?” The knight inquired.

Cali shook her head in reply. "No, I have never been to anything of that sort, although I lived near Dol Amroth for a couple of years, following the war. My sister in law lives there, still," She answered thoughtfully with a faint smile. Iuldir would certainly be very eager to attend something of that sort. It wouldn't be all that far for him to go, but... she wasn't sure he would have a way to get there. Cali would think about that a little more later, for now she ought to concentrate on the customer. "I know where Lond Col is, though I have never been there myself." She considered that for a moment, fairly sure she had heard Unalmis, or someone, mention that was where Ilisys lived, or where she was from, or something like that. "You must know Ranger Isys, then?" She guessed. "I have only recently made her acquaintance." She mentioned, mostly as a point of interest, and a vague sort of common ground.

She nodded as the knight agreed that the time frame she had given was acceptable, and that he was willing to pay the full price he would have paid if he had come to the shop in the market. That he had intended to return to the same smith who made the armor was admirable. Surely there must be an armor smith employed at Lond Col for just such a purpose, who was perfectly capable of making all of these repairs, and yet he came looking for the original maker of this armor. Her father. She smiled faintly. "I learned a great deal from my father," She mentioned softly. More than he had ever realized, in fact. Damion had never known that his daughter was paying such close attention that she had learned how to do the things she had learned. But it was more than smithwork that she had learned from him. "And my brothers," She added with a tiny smile. They could not go without credit either, for all three had had some part in contributing to Cali's knowledge and expertise.

Contemplating the part he had said about 'someone who understood it’s creator’s mind and work', Cali couldn't help feeling as if some credit ought to be given to the other who had worked on at least some pieces. Especially as he mentioned wanting to honor the family of the smith who had crafted it. She picked up one of the smaller, simpler pieces of the armor, which in fact had only one stamp. Probably, her father had let him make it because it was small and he knew Ryn could do it without any difficulty. "My father was not the only one who crafted this set of armor." She informed Abrazimir quietly, glancing down at the item in her hands. This piece in particular had taken less damage than others. Coincidence? Perhaps, but she couldn't say for sure. "My brother was working alongside our father when he made your armor. Ryndir was his apprentice, and he was.." She paused, taking a deep breath, choosing her words carefully. "very skilled, even then." Cali smiled slightly. "He made this piece all on his own, and assisted in making a few others." She pointed to the breastplate and a couple of other parts, indicating which ones she had noticed the double stamp on.

Hearing his gratitude for the armor having served well in keeping him alive, Cali was assailed by a mix of emotions. There was, of course, relief that it had done its job.. that it hadn't failed him. That his life had, many times, been preserved due to her father's work. If only she could say the same for her brother. That thought brought an ache to her heart once more, but she managed to keep her pain from showing in her expression, or from being heard in her voice. "I am glad to know that the armor has served you well." She smiled, but the smile was forced. Knowing the time frame of when these pieces had been crafted, she was probably the only one who knew just how fortunate this knight was, in that regard.

The smile faded as she looked down at the gear again, thoughtful at the suggestion that she ought to come to this event. "Perhaps. I don't know," She hesitated, glancing toward the pile of other gear still awaiting repairs. "I have much work to complete, though yours will take priority since you need it by a certain time." She frowned thoughtfully, glancing back up at the knight. "My nephew would greatly wish to attend something like that, I'm sure." She mentioned, hesitating. For herself though... it would be a large, likely crowded event. But surely, she would be safe from him? But then, she'd thought the same about the Midsummer...

Glancing up at Abrazimir, Cali's breath caught in her throat as something clicked suddenly in her memory. She had seen this man before, recently. Much more recently than when he came along some years ago to her father's shop. "You were at the Erulaitalë." She realized, suddenly making that connection. This was the man that she had seen standing with him! "You were.." she paused, briefly confused, until she realized. "You were guarding that man..weren't you? The one Ranger Isys had in her custody..." She hoped this was the case, rather than what she had thought at the time. It seemed the obvious answer now. If he was a swan knight, then surely, that was the situation, right?

@Rillewen
”You should attend, if your duties permit you. All the great families of the region have been invited.” Abrazimir offered the young woman and smith, after she explained she had some knowledge of the region, even having lived there for a time. Though there wasn’t any haste or urgency, as there was guaranteed to be other jousts and tournaments held in future years, especially in these renewed days of peace. His eyebrows did quirk a little when Cali mentioned Ranger Isys, a knowing smile spreading upon his lips. Another adoring fan of Lady Azrubêl’s? Ilisys had made tremendous waves when she broke tradition and became a famous knight and warrior. ”More than just know, she is my neighbour, and fellow Swan-Knight, and her and her own are distant kin to my family.” He explained to Cali. The roots and bonds of nobility went deep sometimes, all the way back to old Númenor that is lost.

Even though Cali had only examined the armour so far, he didn’t doubt her knowledge and talent and what she had learned. In the handling of each piece, she seemed to quickly identify the scars and nicks, the dents and other places lacking in durability. She explained that other hands had assisted, such as her brother Ryndir, though judging by the lack of absence of said-individual Abrazimir could guess there was another terrible tragedy there. Especially given Cali’s use of…past-tense words. Was skilled. ”My compliments then to Master Ryndir.” He praised the talents of her brother, bowing his head in deference, before lifting it up again. ”Again, do not feel the haste or urgency to complete my work over others. The Rangers still have many duties that take them into very real dangers, whereas my request is mostly…aesthetic. I will survive with the dents and scars if you are unable to complete it by the deadline.” He assured her, though jousts did bring a very real, sometimes fatalistic danger, but he was confident that wouldn’t happen to him, or anyone else. Valar willing…

He was going to ask just who her sister-in-law and nephew were, wondering if he knew the family, if even by repute, as his father had made it apart of his studies growing up to know the great families and clans and sigils of the noble houses of the South. But there was a strange look in Cali’s eyes now and he held his tongue a moment. She seemed to recognize him now from Erulaitalë, though he could not quite place her in return at that same event. Though, he had been drinking…a little. More than a little. But the mutual presence at that event was not her intentions here. No, in fact she made reference to…that man. The one Ilisys had in her custody. Arkadhur.

It was a bit more complicated than mere guarding, where Abrazimir was involved. For his kinswoman, Lady Azrubêl’s, the man was indeed a prisoner. For Abrazimir, he was something else. Opportunity. A potential…political puppet. Once a foe to Gondor, now an asylum seeker, or so it appeared at least. Someone now who understood Umbar, and the Haradic coastlands, and the people and factions that dwelt there. And what their weaknesses and vulnerabilities might be, when the power of Gondor naturally returned to it’s old domains in this coming Age. Not that he would tell Cali that. Some wouldn’t understand. There was wealth and power to be gained there. Strength that could belong to House Dimaethor.

That man was a serpent no doubt. But he was their serpent now, defanged and thrown into shorn grass where he could be watched and observed. And kept from trouble. At least, that was how it should be, right? His kinswoman had a powerful asset in her pocket, yet she did not have the vision that Abrazimir had, for the future. Something might have to be done about that. Eventually. ”Yes.” He said vaguely to start, resting his hands upon the countertop and peering down at them. He was definitely withholding some truths, but the matter was a sensitive one, and it was not his place to go deep into the details about Lady Azrubêl’s doings and affairs with strangers, even a fellow Ranger smith. ”I was approached by Lady Azrubêl to aid her in that task, as well as others. What know you, of that man?” He asked quietly, looking back up at Cali. A victim of his schemes and ploys, perhaps? Something more benign? Or something far more terrible?

Information was power. They had comprehended as much, at the very least, when last the Ehtyar had stood in this office with these two; the Captain and the Lieutenant. And information could be perilous, if given the slightest opportunity to seize you up, against your expectation, and set you down thereafter where you little expected to be. Ilisys was silent as first Pele and then Arnyn processed their reactions to her opening of information. Alike to the Second in Command, the Ehtyar too raised her face in intrigue, when the Masterhealer mentioned it was glass which had injured the Belfalasian’s contact. She offered though no opinion further than sincere consideration which even a vacant stare to one side could not entirely dispel.

There was no need to voice the link out loud, for Arnyn was already there. There had been broken glass at the Erulaitalë fayre. As the Hyandaner mused, Isys followed through the line of passage that the dangerous shards had taken that day. From the grass beneath the man’s boot, to her pocket .. and then Cali, she recalled. The Smith she had asked to take them to a bin, so that the young woman would find her breath and be apart from the man who so upset her.


“I searched my Contact before we left the Pelennor,” she spoke up then. “He had only cookie crumbs in one pocket, and this .. in the other.” Retrieving a small nondescript spy glass from about her person, the Ehtyar held it out in front of the two women. “The Gate Guards also searched him for anything of note, to no avail. And I put him in fresh clothes after he was bathed at my city house. So that the clothes he had been wearing could be discreetly searched further. The washroom was meticulously investigated after. My staff are the most attentive where it comes to .. cleaning. They yielded no more that he might have discarded since coming to our attention that day.”


Without giving the small object up for further scrutiny, the Ehtyar pocketed it once again. A thousand possibilities which she could neither prove, nor disprove, whether she might have a hundred years to try, flung themselves about inside the Belfalasian’s mind. But to obtain the answers that you need, requires first asking the right questions. Else answers beget questions rather than the other way around. So.


“You ask a lot of questions,” she decided aloud. “I fear the answers such as I can offer will bring you no peace. Still I did swear to tell what I had uncovered.” Isys let her grey eyes focus out of the window, rather than directly at the two women who she must now bring to despair. “The question I have sought to make sense of since I last stood here with you both in this office, is how did Shamara escape the dungeons.” Isys rallied the wagon back into it’s track before they all fell off course into a place where they might wander aimlessly for time that would be wasted. Tempting as that diversion would doubtless prove, in lieu of the actual issue she must address.


“It was last Autumn. The day before Cali Dringolben alleges she and her friends were wronged.” Isys saw no need to clarify or explain the account of the Ranger Smith’s allegations. By the Captain’s reference to the ‘kidnapping’ crime, and how close their leader was with her Second, the Ehtyar easily assumed that they had between them gathered already reports other than her own. She might be the very last in fact to check in. And she did not envy them the audience of so many accounts of ire.

“It was the day before the harvest festival,” she began again, perhaps over emphasising when the escape had been managed. “Guards were busy all the next day. It was the perfect time for an Umbarian who knows nothing of this city’s annual celebrations, to disappear. The Guard did not announce any alarm after the escape had been managed. They searched without making the matter public knowledge, as under the policies set out by the Steward Denethor II, which have not ever yet been improved upon. The matter of the Red Arrow for example, you know,” Isys dragged her gaze away from a small bird alighting on the window sill to find the Captain’s face. And memory. For she knew from Warder's account that Denethor had entrusted the case of the theft of their city's heirloom, their ancient means of summoning aide, stolen in the very build up before the War of the Ring, to the then Lieutenant Pele Alarion. And that younger Pele had asked only Warder, then still undergoing training in the White City at that time, for his assistance, when it became clear that a man of Belfalas was their suspect. The now late Lord Heledir Estennin no less. This information Isys was certain that her Captain would recall. And the traditions of secrecy and discreet conduct, the legacy perhaps of a past age. Then again, maybe not. There was a certain degree of 'need to know' still loitering about much of the foundations of society in the White City, in fact, Gondor as a whole ...


“Not a word was raised of the escape beyond the City Guard themselves, not on a day when the Pelennor was hosting it’s harvest festival. Not when the Guard were already short handed and people were flocking in and out from all over.” If there were some other way to better highlight how significant the date chosen had been, Isys did not conceive of it. “There was no official Commander of the Rangers for the Guard to report to, regardless, at that time,” she shrugged. For Pele had not yet been named as Captain last autumn. And Arnyn, as well as most of the more established, well-known and veteran Rangers, had been outside of the city, each righting their personal understanding of the Poros Mission’s uneasy conclusion.


“All thoughts were likely of course that Shamara would have fled from Gondor without pause" the Ehtyar resumed, pausing for enough time to not completely overwhelm so that specifics might be lost. "Guards were on watch and high alert at all the Gates in and out of the city. But nothing came of any of their efforts to identify the escaped Umbarian. Then, two days before the winter cruise, two whole months after the escape had been managed, that was when my Contact told me that the Trafficker had been liberated. He may have felt that giving this information would prove him an asset or aided in his own ambitions. I can not explain his reasons for sharing the knowledge with me at that time, or at all. But he did.

The Guard had told nobody. Yet somehow he knew.


I have since our last ‘meeting’, come to know a fairly new recruit at the City Guard" the sudden shift of pace and, to some degree subject, was designed to have a person's attention aroused at the oddity of the decision. Isys carried on with her rendition regardless, with every indication that she would not mark a point, save as she had done. "The child of a former Ranger no less, and of a longstanding Gondorian family. A Recruit who was not yet even associated with the City Guard at the time of Shamara’s escape. One still fresh and hopeful to assist in justice, and not yet corrupted by the tests of time. Together we spoke to the City Guard member who was on duty at the time Shamara left the dungeon. Our Trafficker friend was apparently walked out by two men; who were her lawyer and an armed escort, to take her to the courthouse for her trial.

We checked with the courthouse but on that day, no such trial ever took place.


The man who posed as Shamara’s lawyer was found in the Pelennor, two days after the escape. He was identified as Lowendir, an actor from the White Tree Theatre. He was dead at the time of his discovery. The other man involved in the escape, we might assume then must have been my contact. Shamara named him as having seen to her liberation. He was recognised by Cali Dringolben as a man she knew as Lowendir. So it would seem we have our answer. Except that we do not in fact.”

The Belfalasian flicked her eyes from the Captain to the Lieutenant, perhaps to try and gauge their reactions. Perhaps to consider whether she had already spoke enough. It was perhaps evident by now, at least, why the City Guard, even those who might have been properly looking into Cali’s case, had dismissed it as no longer a priority. Their main suspect, the man named Lowendir, had been found dead. There was no cause in their minds then, to fear he would harm anyone else ..


“Answers in this case beget more questions,” Isys sighed, reciting her tale as though it were a lay of verse, rather than a conspiracy unravelling before their eyes. But like a wind up doll in a musical box, she was beginning to wind down toward silence. What was yet to come should be the lasting line upon their minds. They had perhaps begun to pick up the pieces of what she had been putting down. If not already, this next should make all clear. In at least as clear as the Ehtyar was ever.

“The man who escorted Shamara and the actor out of the Dungeons on that fateful day was wearing the armour of a City Guard. He signed himself out at the reception to that duty, not only using the name of another City guard who has since been proven to be out of the country at that time. But the signature too, was flawless, a perfect replica of the writing of the Guard who had been abroad for some months before the deed. The actor too, had all of the correct paperwork for the trial that the Guards would expect, that would have, and always had been, asked for at reception. Such as he could not have guessed at without some investigation else. No City Guard armour has yet been reported as missing, damaged, or stolen since Shamara left custody that day. The dead actor himself had been investigated by the City Guard for petty theft from the Theatre a mere week before he abetted in the escape of Shamara. It is fair to say that a City Guard would be in the position of authority to coerce such a thief into standing as the second man to ensure the ruse, secure the escape, and then to have dispatched with him afterwards.”


Isys shifted where she stood, perhaps to break the spell of shock that she at least felt this report was owed.

“It is evident that my Contact knows more about this matter than he is prepared to tell. But he has refused to do so, even when it would have given him a greater chance of having the charges against him dismissed. He refused to speak during an interrogation conducted by the Guard. The only Guard I know and trust is currently on watch, and I would stand the replacement before any other might take up that opportunity.

Unalmis no doubt would give you the name of the Guard he would claim is responsible,” Isys mentioned her young comrade, almost belatedly, in as much as Arnyn had put curiosity to his name and part in all of this. “His opinion though bears the bias of a childhood grudge against one of their number,” she warned the officer, softly. “Which is not to say it definitely could not be the Guard who he would no doubt name responsible. But we ought not to believe that it is so, just because one of our number does not like that particular Guard.


I would not ask to be made privy to where Shamara now finds herself. But only I might suggest she is this time held securely outside of the City Guard's jurisdiction. Unless I am wrong. I want to be wrong. I welcome you to explain to me how I have imagined this all wrong. Else I believe we have a problem .. beyond even that which we anticipated. Just for a change.”

With a shrug, the Belfalasian indicated that she was done speaking. Quite what a reaction she could expect after all that she had said, after all of this time, was another thing entirely.

@Lantaelen

Cali remained quiet for a moment as the knight replied to her inquiry. It was a slight relief to hear that he had, indeed, been asked to guard the man. But the follow up question from him.. what does she know of him? made her hesitate. She could say a lot about him, much of which Abrazimir probably already knew, if he was involved in the man's arrest. She had told Lieutenant Arnyn a great deal, in the hearing of Mourgan. But there was little need to go into all of that again. Cali let out a slow exhale, reluctant to speak more about it. Still, she supposed he deserved some answer. "Much that doesn't bear speaking of. But this much I will say; he is a dangerous man," She answered after a moment, frowning, "who attempted to send my friend and I toward some terrible fate in Umbar, some months ago. I feared, when I saw him not with Ranger Isys, that he had escaped from her." She set down the piece of armor she'd had in her hand. "Therefore.. it is a relief now to learn that was not the case." She managed a faint smile, looking up again.

"He is, in fact, the main reason why I am so hesitant to attend another function with great numbers of people." The smith admitted quietly, with a small sigh. If Nal would be going, and Trev, then maybe. But then, only if Iole consented to come as well, for Cali would not leave one of their members behind, alone. If they were all together, perhaps... But she suspected Nal would not want to go. And she wasn't sure about Trev, and highly doubted Iole would want to leave the safety and familiarity of their home here. "However," Cali added, smiling a bit more genuinely, "I shall certainly send word to my nephew, and see that he has a chance to attend." She thought for a moment. "I don't believe Iuldir has ever been to a joust, he ought to enjoy that." If Ivornith would allow him to come, he ought to be able to get there easily enough on his own, since she knew their home was close enough to Lond Col that, during Tobedir's summertime visits to his grandparent's home in the village there, Tobedir and Iuldir had managed to find ways to spend some time together, being close friends.

Returning to the topic of the armor, Cali motioned to the set laid out on the table. "I'll begin working on this as soon as possible." She assured the swan knight. "The rest," She glanced toward the pile, "can wait, don't worry about that. It's not a pressing matter, I merely set aside a few items that needed a few touch ups and..minor repairs.. before they can be used again." She shrugged. There was plenty more armor on the racks, available for use, so the only possible issue would be if anyone needed a particular size that wasn't available on the racks. "How can I send word to you, when it is complete? Or do you intend to check back again to see whether it is finished?" She wondered. The latter option might be tricky, for he might come to check on the armor sooner than she could be done.. or he might come after she had been finished for many days.

Shamara, the prisoner, with Kaylin
~ a week after imprisonment
@Arnyn

She looked at Kaylin with some amount of satisfaction as if to say: see! After all Shamara too was just doing her job, though clearly it was seen differently here in Gondor than it was in Umbar. She reached out to take the cup, and then tried to steady it, returning Kaylin's glare with an innocent smile.

"It's not that I have managed to take that many... yet..." she spoke to the retreating Hyandaner's back, though mostly to herself. Any further exploits would depend on what happened to her now. They might kill her. Or keep her locked away forever. Neither option was appealing, and Shamara began to regret the way she had allowed herself to be taken prisoner. Then again, if Rangers did not finish her, Relic might. Which was also not the way she had hoped her life to be.

Taking a good long sip of the milk, Shamara sat down to ponder over her fate.

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Command Office, HQ
The Third Morning After Erulaitalë
(@Ercassie @Pele Alarion)

Isys had searched him herself and had found nothing... other than a spy glass, still intact... and he wore different clothes, provided by Isys, when it had happened. "Different clothes," Arnyn mused. "Down to his boots?" Granted, it was a long shot to think he would have managed such a play. Perhaps he had found the glass elsewhere. Or someone had given it to him. Which brought them back to the subject of the guards.

The matter of the red arrow was not familiar to Arnyn, so therefore she assumed it was to Pele. A look the Captain's way confirmed it, and since Arnyn did not immediately see a reason to ask more of it now - it seemed to serve merely as anecdotal evidence to support Isys' claim that the old policies were still in place, and the claim itself was known as a fact to the Lieutenant. This rendered the details of the anecdotal evidence as trivial. Thus, she did not persue it.

The day before the harvest festival, which was the day before the smith claimed she and her friend Iole had been abduced by Isys' contact. This had been the day of Shamara's escape. And the Guard had told no one of her escape - and yet Isys' contact had known, for he had been the one to tell Isys two months later. And a man had been found dead the day after the abduction. Arnyn narrowed her eyes as she thought, looking at a random spot on the wall as the wheels in her mind turned and turned - and turned.

"Mmh," she agreed when Isys said that the answer was in fact no answer. Indeed it was not.

"So the man who was instrumental in breaking out Shamara, since he was the one with the papers which justified taking her from her cell - and the correct papers, mind you... was the true Lowendir. An actor," she repeated whilst her thoughts tumbled and twisted about. "And your contact supposedly used Lowendir's name one day later to abduct two young women. And the next day Lowendir, the actor, was found dead."

"There was a second man involved in Shamara's break-out, you say," Arnyn mused out loud. "The armed escort that was to take her to this fake trial. I do not agree we should assume this second man was your contact. A man who could fake the signature of another guard who he would have had to know was not around - a man who must have had access to city guard armour and either returned it before it was known as missing... or... used his very own. I think we should consider that this guard was - and is - an inside man. And that your contact, if he was indeed involved as Shamara says, could have been a bystander. A coordinator, perhaps. Rather than one of the two active players. Even though that still begs the question: why would he work to procure her release to then aid in her capture?"

A frown clouded her face and she bit her lip in thought. "Unless he wanted Shamara to eat some glass..." she mused. Not meaning that he wanted her to actually do such a thing, but rather that he might wish for the result it could bring. "If they are both involved in unsavoury dealings... perhaps Shamara was a loose end... Then again, why not kill her in the two months leading up to the cruise, then..." No. She couldn't quite put her finger on the answer. And so they were left with many questions regarding Shamara's escape, and few answers.

"So...in short." Her dark eyes alternated between Isys and Pele. "Was it Isys' contact who was responsible for Shamara's break-out? Possibly. If so, I personally don't get the feeling he was one of the two men who physically escorted her out. One of the two men who had broken out Shamara, was a now dead actor of the City." Arnyn's voice grew softer. "Sad news. For a man to be used and discarded as such. A victim in a game. And the second man remains a mystery. But it seems highly likely he is either a city guard, or that he has access to everything one of the actual city guards owns and knows... This second man - a crooked guard or a well-placed imposter - could have informed your contact. If so, your contact has knowledge of which guard has been compromised, one way or the other."

Cali's matter still did not sit right with Arnyn, however. Based on Isys' intelligence, it would make sense for the city guard not to have investigated anything further, based on the name Lowendir and then finding a man known as Lowendir dead - the very next day after the abduction, no less. But Cali had said the guards had lost her intial report, rather than having closed the case.

"You suspect that there is at least one bad element in the city guard because of what you discovered surrounding Shamara's escape," Arnyn stated to the Belfalasian. "I suspected the same, but for a different reason. According to your information, it would make sense fot the city guard not to further investigate Smith Dringolben's report about the autumn festival. For the culprit had been found dead the next day. However, Smith Dringolben did not refer to it as a closed case. She referred to it as a lost report." Arnyn paused. "After Midsummer, she and others made new reports to the city guard. The initial report, from autumn, was lost. Things are misplaced all the time, yes, but..." She shook her head. "It feels off. And with what you are telling us now..."

"I cannot tell you you are imagining this all wrong. I, too, believe that we have a problem beyond what was already known to us." Arnyn slowly turned from Isys, to Pele. "We have a problem within the guard."

Then her eyes flicked back to Isys, wanting to touch on a matter that was giving her concern of a different kind. A slight frown pressed down upon the Lieutenant's brow. The Ehtyar had now said two things that Arnyn could not quite understand. First, Ilisys had said she would understand if they did not want her involved in Shamara's current incarceration. Second, the Belfalasian had said she would not ask to be made prive to Shamara's current whereabouts. Yet Arnyn saw no reason not to involve Isys. Out of the people involved in Pele's initial meeting, only Isys was as of yet unaware of Shamara's location. Something to be remedied - but for which there had been no opportunity, until the present.

"Shamara is being held below headquarters," Arnyn said simply, the hint of a question in her eyes since she did not understand the Ehtyar's obvious assumptions that she would be kept in the dark. "In an unknown holding cell, made exactly for situations such as this one. We do not want Relic to know where she is being held. This also means what you have surely surmised: that you must not speak of this cell, nor Shamara's location, to anyone else other than Mourgan, Kaylin, Karis, the Captain and myself."

@Rillewen
Abrazimir could not agree with Cali more regarding…that man. Dangerous indeed, both of what he was capable of and indirectly what he could cause and disrupt with his contacts and friends back in his home. It was disheartening that he knew of others affected in a similar way in what Cali described and hinted at. Kidnapping, hostage taking, ransoming…or worse. While she might have avoided that fate herself, smiling at her own relief, Abrazimir did not share any such expression. He knew what he himself was about, with that individual. He was a snake, yes. But they had him well under hand. And would squeeze him tightly until every drip of poison has been spilled from his corpse. If Abrazimir were to have his way, that is…

”I would be honored to host any relative of yours. But please, if you do find the desire to come, do so. It may be a large crowd, but we look after our own in Dol Amroth.” He let his voice fall in volume a little for his next words. ”There are many there who have experienced such…fears, as yourself. Some had them realized. Nobody would understand it better than them, and I know they would do all in their power to ensure it happens to no one again.” Abrazimir tried to assure her. He also made note of this Iuldir, to ensure Cali’s would be esteemed and honored, out of respect for her family’s services to his. It was only right.

As for Arkadhur, Abrazimir would be having words with him about this situation, next time he met the Umbarin… How many others might still remain in captivity, who might know? But it should not be suffered in this new Age.

He nodded in assent and confirmation as talk turned back to the service at hand, the repair and upkeep of his armour. She was the expert, so she claimed, and he was inclined to believe, so he would adhere to her judgement on this. ”I still have other business in the City, I will return in four days time, and again in eight days time, prior to my departure for my home. Whatever you have done by then will be enough. It will be no great loss if it’s not completed by then. A few dents and scars shall be as badges of my conduct in battle, I reckon.” He smiled up confidently, before nodding again at his armour. It felt…strange to leave it behind. He had lived and endured so much within it’s confine, it really was like a second skin. It felt vulnerable without it. But he had gone most of his life without it.

”You will let me know your fee, yes? Or perhaps in lieu of coin, you might prefer a favor or return service.” Abrazimir suggested, knowing some did business via coin, others by bartering. Without much else to discuss, he would soon depart, other messages to be delivered and collections to be made.

@Lantaelen

Cali focused her gaze upon the armor at first while the knight was speaking. He seemed so sure of his and his people's abilities to protect not just her, but anyone in the same sort of situation. She was less sure. Far less sure. In fact, she nearly let out a bitter laugh at the idea. Still, she held that in. She briefly considered pointing out to him how easily that man had been able to smuggle two young women out from a very crowded, busy festival without anyone even noticing. But instead, she bit her lip and kept silent. It was troubling to hear that there were others. Just as she'd feared.

She was rather eager to leave that topic behind, so it was best to move on. The topic of the armor was a good one to return to, and she nodded as he mentioned the time period. "I shall do as much as I can in that time, then." The smith declared. "It would certainly not do to have you jousting in imperfect armor," She added with a small smile. "And, the better your armor serves you, the better it reflects on myself." She hoped she could have it all finished in eight days' time. She would work on it steadily, but she wasn't about to take any short cuts and risk it having flaws... that could be disastrous. "As for the fee, yes, I will let you know." She assured him. "It isn't really something that's come up yet, to be honest. I've only worked at the armory since this spring, and you're the first non-active ranger to come here asking for armor repairs."

Isys observed the two officers as they mentally ploughed through the report which they had asked for. The news was dire, as most had been of late. Unexpectedly it was Arnyn who was not shy in voicing some of what she must have been musing on, and the Ehtyar was relieved to conclude they were falling onto the same page at least of conclusions.

She was wary not to lower her guard however, having been taken by surprise in their previous meeting. The matter of her contact's boots was an insightful observation though, which saw the Belfalasian tilt her head at the Lieutenant's probe. "We had no fresh boots that fit his feet," she admitted. Nor was it custom to change a guest's footwear if it remained fitting for the new occasion as well as the old. So long as they were clean .. . "My staff were able to tailor the fresh clothes we had to fit. They would have checked inside his boots," was as much as she could be certain of.

How precisely had they checked the underside of the boots though ? Perhaps not especially, she was forced to concede to her own nagging concern. And the Man had stepped on the glass in the field .. Arnyn had already reminded them. That was how the glass had been broken in the first place after all. Had it been that pre-meditated ? For the Umbarian to obtain some overlooked means of weapon in case of need ? They were fortunate if so, that he had not used it to injure anybody except only perhaps himself. Isys beat the thought away while the officers sought for a use in what she had brought them.



There was little doubt by now that the escape of Shamara last Autumn could have been managed without some involvement from someone in the City Guard. Regardless of how deeply her own Contact was embroiled in the deed. What, if anything, the Captain and Lieutenant decided to do with that information was in their hands now. It sounded, from the mention of  'missing reports', as though the corruption within the Guards went beyond merely the Trafficker's escape. Hopefully there was only the one perpetrator behind both problems .. although the fact of evidence against her Contact - specifically - going missing ... it did not utterly fall beyond the realms of possibility. That the two things were linked.

Maybe the corrupt Guard had removed evidence against her Contact for their mutual advantage. A matter of trust between them ? Maybe the opposite, a case of withholding leverage .. more blackmail. It was hard to think of the Umbarian as a victim of Blackmail, with all that Isys suspected, of poor Lord Heledir's hapless fate. But she had sworn to Warder not to move on that matter, until they could be sure. It was half the reason she still humoured any association with her Contact at all. At least that's what she told herself in the quiet of the night.


"I have made no move in regard to my suspicions of the City Guard, save to limit opportunities for any of them whom I don't know to be alone with my contact, and to inform yourselves. I have not approached Captain Bealthor with this." Isys made this clear. It would have been presumptuous and potentially problematic in the future of Guard/Ranger co-operation to wade in much further into that mire. Bringing it to the attention of her own superiors had seemed her best port of call. She had no want either to bring a world of trouble down upon the Guard who had helped her to investigate the matter, for that. A useful contact was .. well .. sometimes useful. Other times the opposite, unfortunately.


As the Lieutenant returned to the Smith's case, the Ehtyar was not surprised. Cali was the only person in the City perhaps not holding back on sharing everything she knew. A valued then, and rare, resource.

"A man may be found dead on any day after the day on which he died," Isys interjected however for her part. "Lowendir was found, already dead, the day after his identity was used to upset the Smith. Two days after the escape of Shamara"

For all that she might have been running over the notion aloud, the Ehtyar did not give much of an impression that she was sharing the thought consciously. "He might have been dead ever since the escape was managed. That was after all the last time he was seen alive." Grey eyes returned from the non-descript portion of wall that she'd been focused on apparently. And found first the Lieutenant, then the Captain. "The undertaker may have some record that can be trusted," she decided. Which was as good as her promise to look into that next.


The timing was bothering her in fact, more than she could say. For the Umbarian had as good as admitted to her that he'd 'seen to' the escape of his countrywoman himself. If this was the case, it explained why he had waited a whole two months, enough time for Shamara to have a fair head start on leaving Gondor, before he had revealed the news of her liberation to Isys. But if he had meant for the Trafficker to properly get away, then why, if he'd then been agreeably following the woman for six months, why had he finally stepped in to recapture Shamara when she'd returned to Minas Tirith again ? Why not before ? Had he required their audience to his apparent cooperation ? For a reward ? For faith to be placed in his direction ? For all that Isys believed she understood of the Man's motives, the resounding answer to why he'd done a lot of what he had .. was likely to simply prove that he could. He did so like for people to know that they were beholden to him.


"I spoke with my Contact in private, while the Smith was giving her new statement to the Guard. I did not wish that particular line of questionning to occur within the Guard's Headquarters where it would have been exposed to certain ears and presence. He did not though give up any information of what he had seen or learnt about Shamara in all of the six months he claims to have been following her. I do not doubt that he was pursuing her for the duration. If I am honest, I believe that he may be hoping for some manner of deal to be extended by Gondor, to give up information on Shamara, in order to be exonerated from his own .. misdeeds.

Besides what Cali Dringolben has alleged of his abducting her, the Man is also currently accused of murdering her brother, a Ranger, in Ithilien five years ago. He was observed last year in Harlond in possession of the murder weapon. But I know for a fact he could not have commited the cited murder. Since my 'Contact' was, at that time five years ago, in Umbar, accomplishing safe passage home for myself and Lord Abrazimir. He betrayed his own associates in order to achieve this .. 'kindness'. And without his intervention, our vain rescue attempt on foreign shores would have led to our own need to be rescued. Which is not to say that the Man rightly put himself out, for our sakes .. but rather that he was as ever, concerned with his own self interest. For now I find myself his alibi. And yet he still refuses to explain to the Guards where or how he had else since obtained the Dringolben murder weapon. Another piece of information which is tying him to trouble."



Isys relayed this information with a shrug. Her personal opinion on the matter was moot. And the supposing of the Man wishing to reveal all he knew about the Trafficker, went against his apparent decision to not speak out in even his own defence. But maybe the common factor there was that he would only speak out if it was to his own advantage. And clearly it was not, as things stood, in either case.

But the Captain had asked after her Contact's other 'crimes'. Which seemed by and large to be a lot of knowing too much or being in the wrong time and place. The Man though was wily, she knew from her own experience. He did not do anything for anyone that did not serve himself in some capacity. And it was difficult to believe his claims that he was being made a scapegoat of circumstance here, merely because of his being born in Umbar.


"The important thing is that Shamara is currently beyond the reach of anyone whose integrity might be compromised. Whether that be City Guards, blackmailed actors or unpredictable Contacts .. " Isys supposed aloud after her time spent in repose. For clearly there was no cause now in the Ehtyar's initial hope, that they could have followed the Trafficker to locate her nefarious Mistress. The Slaver had herself come to Minas Tirith, if her threatening notes and her victim's hunch were both true. So now they must instead keep Relic and her minion apart. Isys glanced over the Captain, contemplative, until Arnyn's decision to reveal the Trafficker's location ... startled the Ehtyar to a wide eyed response in her direction instead.


That she was being trusted with the whereabouts of Shamara ... was a surprise. As much as the last meeting had concluded that there were too many secrets being kept amidst their company, it had also been made clear that certain information was to be kept as secure as possible. A contradiction in terms. But one which Isys had held to.

The thought crossed her mind that this was a gesture now, being offered unto her. The acceptance and trust which her being so informed, implied that despite all she had not told, or what she had told them belatedly, the officers in charge were stating their belief .. that she would not betray them. She could not see any other purpose in her being made aware of this information. Not when Pele had previously made clear that the secretive Cuner would be the one assigned to any interrogations which might occur. They had all been given their parts to play.

Three of them though, Pele, Arnyn and Karis, had remained cloistered in the Command Office after all others had departed. The Ehtyar recalled with perfect clarity. They had all been officially dismissed, the meeting declared at an end. And so the matter that kept the final trio in conference had, Isys had deduced, been with regard to specifics of that assignment. Unless .. now that she thought some ..  that after-meeting might just as easily have been of a more Macardil shaped subject.


Since she did not expect to get an answer on either of those points, Isys merely met the Lieutenant's allowance with a brief nod. Information was a two way street. This knowledge they had entrusted to her thus far was probably the return, for her having shared with them. It might just as easily have been a test, if she chose to be cynical. To see if they could set the Belfalasian on a hunt to even try to uncover this unknown dungeon on the grounds. Or to see if her Contact now would learn of it .. as he likely only could now do so from her. As if her own integrity might ever be so compromised or else blackmailed. No. And yet the Captain had mentioned the Ehtyar's involvement with the prisoner going forward was dependent on several things. That must be their call. If they had disclosed mention of this secret cell, with mind merely for Isys to take a turn as guard there .. they might by now be regretting even the fleeting thought.


"Forgive me then, but you must of course have much to do," The Ehtyar assumed that, having given up what answers that she could to them, she would receive little more than further questions in return. They were the Officers. They had the decisions to make. She had only her report to make and that now had been managed. "I will of course make you aware of any updates i encounter that might be relevant to your prisoner," she lowered Grey eyes respectfully, not seeing what else she could offer them. Honestly, they had received far more than she had expected to disclose. And the want to escape rather than risk any more was quite overwhelming. There was only so much that a reputation for being 'vague' and 'selective' with her focus would allow even a noblewoman to carry off.

"Captain, Lieutenant," The Ehtyar prepared to leave them with, frankly, more than enough of a report than either one would likely have wished for. More than she had ever wished to deliver. And not the half of it by far.

Captain Pele Alarion
Command Office, HQ
On the 3rd day after Erulaitalë
@Arnyn , @Ercassie

Pele was silent for a good long while, though her fingers occasionally tapped against the window sill while her eyes travelled back and forth between Ilisys and Arnyn depending on who was speaking and where her thoughts turned. Perhaps she would have taken more time to think in silence, but when it seemed that the Ehtyar was about to leave, she said automatically: "Wait just a moment, Isys." She did not mean to keep her too long from attending to her duties of guarding her contact, so she quickly tried to finish sorting the information in more or less reasonable links and packages.

"So... the Guard are investigating that kidnapping matter this time, are they not, after receiving repeated accounts?" Pele wanted to make sure she understood this bit correctly. "Hopefully not by the "wrong" guard. Seeing that whoever that is - a guard or someone with an access and the right ways to use that power - seems to be the only party out and about from the whole involved lot." Technically, the matter would not really be under her jurisdiction, but she found it quite clear that Shamara's escape and the kidnapping event were rather closely tied though she could not fully identify the reasons except for the obvious. Perhaps she was set free to divert the attention of the guards?

Pele paused again for a while and then ventured with a different strain of thought: "He might be unwilling to speak and currently unable to do so, that very mysterious contact of yours, Isys. But it does not mean that he is incapable of writing. Though I'd rather he would not cut off his arms in addition to harming his own voice." She left it at the level of thoughtful wonderings without making it clear that she wanted Isys to make the man write answers, or that she would attempt doing it herself.

She held back a sigh. It would probably be useful to find out what Unalmis had to say on the whole matter, even if his opinions were molded by past experiences and assumptions. And then there was the whole issue with the fact that there was a problem within the City Guard and their procedures were not good enough to handle issues properly. It could threaten the cooperation between the Guard and the Rangers, undermine their ability to tackle issues requiring involvement of both, perhaps even pose a threat to the city if the rot in the guard kept spreading.

Pele looked to Arnyn, as she worked through the options of handling this issue. Would it do to discuss it with the leadership of the City Guard? Bring it to the attention of the King? At any rate, it would not do to leave it as it was. Yet - there was a matter of correct timing in bringing it up, in the correct way, to the correct people.

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Command Office, HQ
The Third Morning After Erulaitalë
(@Ercassie @Pele Alarion)

She smiled with approval when Pele stopped Isys from leaving. She still had questions. It appeared the Captain still wanted to verify a few things as well.

Pele's suggestion of having Isys' contact write things down instead of speaking them was a possibility which had indeed crossed the Lieutenant's mind earlier as well, but the thought had disappeared behind other - at the time more pressing - ones. Arnyn was glad that Pele brought it up now, for she wasn't sure her own thought would have resurfaced again after the report Isys had brought to them, and the multitude of thoughts and questions that were filling up her head.

"Indeed, Lowendir might have lost his life the moment his task had been completed," Arnyn agreed first of all, when she spotted the Captain looking to her for another response, and possibly some ideas. "This way, there would have been no need to fear him speaking of things they did not want to become known. Regardless of whether he died the very day of the escape, the next, or the one after that - one would assume either this corrupt or supposed guard or your contact is to blame for his passing."

"It is good you have not approached anyone in the City Guard with these suspicions - including Captain Bealthor." She momentarily considered Isys' background. "I dare say you probably understand such intricacies better than most within our ranks would."

The Lieutenant's eyes focused on the Belfalasian's. "You have worked with a guard you trust, you say. Who is this guard, Ilisys?" Arnyn asked quietly. "I assume this child of a former ranger, this relatively new recruit, does not go by a score names or more, this time." It would make sense for both Pele and Arnyn to know that at least this one guard was one they could exclude from the long list of possible problematic members of the institution.

The Lieutenant looked at the Captain. "Once we know the name of the guard who could surely not have been corrupted, then the time comes to entertain the name of a guard who might be. If Unalmis has someone he thinks is likely to have strayed from the right path, we should at least know who this is, to possibly keep an eye on them. What Isys says is true; we cannot be sure that this is the guard in question. But, as Isys also indicated, we cannot be sure that this is not the guard in question."
Arnyn tilted her chin. "If Unalmis has reason to doubt one of them, we should ask him who it is and why he doubts this guard the way he does. And if the suspicions and instincts of one of our own is not enough to convince youto at least follow up on this lead, Captain, I would emphasize that it is, at present, our only lead to follow."

Arnyn frowned slightly as her gaze shifted back to Isys. "There is more than one thing that is bothering me about all of this - to varying dagrees. But..." She paused to draw a breath and let it out in a half-sigh. "I can see no reason for your contact to agree to help you shadow and report on a woman, to help recapture her, after being the one to break her out in the first place. This makes absolutely no sense to me." And she liked sense. She liked logic. The Lieutenant's dark eyes carefully observed the Ehtyar's expression, before venturing her second question of this particular round. "Unless it was not the assignment that compelled him, but rather the person who presented the assignment to him?"

In the motion of making for the door, the Belfalasian was called to halt by her Captain. She closed grey eyes on the protest that she would have made, if she were able to without revoking her entire career. When she turned back around to face Pele, the same grey eyes were returned, to apparent obedience. It had been too much to expect they would let her abscond from their scrutiny that easily. These women were gatherers of intel. They sought it out relentlessly. Under other circumstances, she would have been impressed at their tenacity.


“Yes,” the Ehtyar gave as vague but true an answer as she could then, to the first question that her Commander asked. “Maybe. Likely,” she added, in response to the second and the third, respectively. The fact of her now altered diction, the shift toward it’s less willing delivery .. told the room enough that she considered now .. that she had told enough already. The concept proposed though, of their having the Man write his words while he could not converse, went little to convince her he would be compliant. Perhaps it would work ? There seemed no harm in trying, save that ..

“His wrists are shackled each to a chain that links together beneath the bed,” Isys could not help but to remind the Masterhealer. The Guards were taking no chances, despite the man’s apparent malady, .. given the charges heaped against the prisoner’s name after all ... for involvement in unlawful escapes .. She did not follow through with further concern that some release of his hands might in fact be what he was counting on .. but it did not hurt to put light to the fact of that risk, for all those who would be forced now to recognise it.


Isys was soonafter drawn from her thoughts to revisit a related sore subject, which had never been entirely resolved on it’s first outing. The case of the Ehtyar holding back on naming her informants. It made sense that the Lieutenant was keen, now as then, to gauge the source of the information they were being fed. But still, Isys felt uneasy about thrusting into the spotlight those who might then never trust her in such a confidence again. Much as she had witnessed poor Pele made so exposed, the last time they had stood in this very room. It was that delicate balancing act, of knowing what ought to be known and what not. There were few Guard recruits of late in the White City though. It would not be so difficult for either of the Officers to obtain the identity of Isys’s aide. She would only be sparing them time, this time. And, unlike the last time, this time her 'secret' informant was rather more above board.

“Sorrela Korsey is a recent recruit of the City Guard,” the Noblewoman exposited. Apparently random, save for the context of the recent query. “There is a history there,” Isys remarked almost dreamily, her gaze carrying about the room, perhaps caught in an afterthought which she hoped to locate in some overlooked corner. “which. Can. Not. Be. Forgot.”. She pressed a finger unseen against the spy glass still stowed in her pocket, as she surrendered each word. A warning perhaps which she had previously touched upon. That there was unlikely to come any unbiased opinion from any of the young people in question. Or perhaps the Belfalasian was already reacting to the Lieutenant’s final probe. Into herself. And of her other, rather-less-above-board, associate.


She had been expecting some complaint, some explanation demanded, for her somewhat aloof response to the news of Shamara's secret cell. She had hoped though that it would be self-evident That she did not wish to present the opportunity which might have existed, if she, if any same Ranger in fact now were to stand Guard to both Shamara under the HQ and, alternately, to the Man in custody at the Houses of Healing. Establishing any sort of a line of contact, an associated link which the two Umbarians in custody ought not be offered, it was unwise to say the least. So she had not even said it aloud. Perhaps it ought not to have surprised her then, when Arnyn went veering off, down another avenue entirely.


The Belfalasian did not look to satisfy Arnyn’s curiosity straight away. She did not speak for some time in fact, almost as though she might hope the officers would come to doubt that the question had been really asked aloud at all. Grey eyes fell as practiced, upon the silver plated bracelet which festooned the woman’s own arm. It caught the light of the sun, divertingly, as Isys angled the limb even slightly in relation to the window … causing a small disc of illumination to flutter about the wall. But in the end it was another sort of light which required to be thrown.

“Reason and sense have no place in the minds of those raised up in lawless lands,” so Isys supposed, meeting first the blue eyes, then the brown .. “Indeed there is enough abounding here in Gondor that we struggle to apply sound comprehension to at times. Who can say then whom a man, who turns against his very own actions, might count himself answerable to ?”

It was possible that she was attempting to answer the question which had been put to her. It was just as possible that her words were more dubious of another complexing situation which had never yet been raised between them.

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Command Office, HQ
The Third Morning After Erulaitalë
(@Ercassie @Pele Alarion)

Although Ilisys might not have realized it, the Ehtyar's unwillingness to speak of her contact during the last meeting still bothered Arnyn. It bothered her to some extent she chose not to dwell on for long, but it was still a nagging feeling beneath the surface. The surrender of Sorrela Korsey's name did much to alleviate this feeling.

"I do not propose to know how other people think, not in Gondor, let alone beyond," Arnyn responded pointedly to Isys' supposition. "But reason seems like a universal truth. Everyone has their reasons, sound to their own mind."

The Ehtyar's question in response to the Lieutenant's, made Arnyn cross her arms as she made direct eye contact with Isys. "I am assuming you are not dancing around the answer because you know it very well and refuse entirely to speak of it. So - does your vaguery mean you do have no clue of the answer? Or rather that you have an idea what the answer is but are not certain it is correct? Or that you are entirely unwilling to share either?"

The Lieutenant sighed and uncrossed her arms, to gesture briefly into the air and then drop her hands at her sides. "If my questions are striking too close to home and carry no relevance to the situation the Captain and I must analyse, tell me now and I will leave this particular matter be without making further inquiries."

@Rillewen
It would certainly not do to have you jousting in imperfect armor…

Abrazimir gave a little, amused smile. ”My opponents might prefer that.” He jested lightly. ”Though I can assure you this armor’s performance in real battle has already proven both the merits and talent of your family’s craft. There is no doubt about that in my mind.” He reached out and tapped one particular dent on the chestplate, where if it had not been as durable, it would have driven clean through his lung, where he would have choked on his own blood and died, most likely.

Calithildis seemed less sure about the fee though, to which Abrazimir shook his head. He would not take no for an answer. ”I felt it was best acquiring repairs from the source, that is, the original Smith and crafter. Or someone that understands the original work. No, this isn’t anything official or on the duty roster, which is why I’m eager to pay. For labour and part.” He reiterated once more. He shrugged then. ”It seems fair to me to do so. When you got a number, let me know.”

The meeting seemed to be all but concluded, with the important details hammered out, so to speak. An ironic pun, one which he would mentally chide himself later for not using. That is, because another matter came into his mind then and he tapped at his breast pocket, before reaching into his vest to draw out the small trinket. A signet ring. ”Also, I found this not far from the threshold of your shop, between some crates. Perhaps you might recognize this seal and know to whom it belongs?” Abrazimir held out his open palm, in which the ring rested, a little mud stained but still glimmering and gleaming under the Smithy lights. ”I know it’s type, it is a ring that belongs to the head of a great family. Ancient too. I would love to see it returned, though I cannot place the symbol with any family I am aware of.” And yet the answer was closer than he imagined it could be. He held out the ring for her to take and examine.

Captain Pele Alarion
Command Office, HQ
On the 3rd day after Erulaitalë
@Arnyn , @Ercassie

A light smile touched on Pele's lips when she saw the reluctance Ilisys displayed at being held back with more questions, and Arnyn's more direct and relentless questions caused her to think that it was more likely than not that there was a certain personal history between the Ehtyar and her contact. She did not assume to know the nature of it, yet it did not make her trust the woman less; she had come to accept that some people had more subtle ways to go about things even when it made no apparent sense to her. Yet she did not intervene in any way, leaving Isys to answer Arnyn's last question as she would.

Also, while she had entertained a thought of trying to pry some information from the man at the Houses of Healing, she decided it might not be worth it. Even if he did not manage to do any harm in the brief moments of being questioned, he was likely not to share anything and would only frustrate her.

"I find the why in relation to Umbarians is very difficult to answer," she mentioned to Arnyn. "The ways they approach getting what they want..." She shrugged her shoulders. "Suppose it makes perfect sense to them."

@Lantaelen

Cali smiled slightly as he spoke of how well the armor had protected him thus far. She hoped it was indeed sound, and felt sure that any piece which Ryn had worked on would be of proper quality. But he had been but an apprentice at the time, and had not made the entire thing. He had only assisted, and she wasn't sure that was enough. Apparently, it had not been enough for Ryn's own armor. She held back from further comment, but merely gave a small nod. "I thank you then, on behalf of those who cannot." She said softly.

"Indeed, I will let you know when you return in four days' time." She replied with a smile and a nod. She had already decided that she would begin with the largest, and main piece of the armor; the breastplate. But then, instead of leaving, the knight paused and asked her an unexpected question. Blinking, Cali stepped closer in curiosity. "Outside here?" She reached out a hand but paused. "May I?" After receiving permission, she took the ring from his palm and held it up. "I'm not very familiar with the noble families, but I have no doubt it is what you say." She mentioned, trying to pick out some of the mud from the emblem with a fingernail. "Hmm.. I can't tell much with all that mud embedded into it."

Her curiosity growing, Cali stepped closer to the forge, and dipped the ring into one of the buckets of water standing nearby, swishing it around to wash the mud off. The mud washed off easily enough once she had it submerged, and her skirt served to dry any excess water. Using the polishing cloth on it for a moment after, she soon had it gleaming again. The smith thoughtfully studied it for a moment in the light from the forge. "Looks like a tree, with crossed axes.. ?" She shrugged, offering the ring back. "I'm afraid I have never seen that symbol before. Does that seem familiar to you?"

@Rillewen
”You may.” He offered Cali, letting her pluck the mud stained gold ring from his hand. ”I’ve been made to study the sigils and symbols of various great Houses of Gondor, even those that have gone extinct. I did think to clean the mud, it’s quite ingrained in there, but I feared a…determined effort might damage the metalwork, as I know gold can be quite malleable and bent out of shape easily. I do wish to see it returned to it’s owner intact and not…damaged, by my clumsiness.” Abrazimir explained as Cali gazed and inspected the object, turning towards the fire. He trusted her talent, able to handle such sensitive work through experience or just general awareness.

Of course all it took was a simple rinsing in water to clean most of the excessive mud off. Better safe than sorry. He stood by patiently as the Smith managed to restore some of the grandeur to the object, explaining what she saw. ”A tree, well that is pretty commonplace as far as sigils go amongst the Realms in Exile.” Abrazimir rolled his eyes. Many great Houses used such a symbol, given its importance in Gondorrian history and folklore. And the White Tree did bloom again not far from where they stood. ”Crossed axes though, that is quite familiar...” He did note as he was handed the ring back, letting it rest in his gloved palm, peering down at it. It was right there on the tip of his tongue, a name and House he had not seen or heard from in a long time, but indeed very near and dear to his family…

He scrunched up his nose at the failure of his mind to jump to the immediate answer. He knew it. He just hadn’t seen it in a long, long time. It belonged to… no wait, there was no living scion left of that House, apparently. The elder son, slain by some accident. The younger son, missing. There was a young woman though. By old Numenorean law, it should rightfully go to her. A bear. It was missing a bear. If it belonged to that House at all, that is.

”I believe I know to whom it might belong. I must confirm my suspicions. There is a detail missing but I do not know to who else it may belong. Not an extinct dynasty, or this ring has lain in that spot for centuries untouched and unseen.” He smiled, shaking his head at that implication. No, this must be recent. But how could it come here? Neither brothers had been here during the War. Something was not right here. Had the younger thus come here then? Did he lose it, by chance or some ill fate? He clenched his fist around the ring and stuffed it back into his pockets. A mystery to solve for another time. He would need to visit the libraries in Dol Amroth and confirm a certain family history first.

”Well, thank you anyways. I will endeavor to get this back to it’s rightful owners. But if any come seeking for it here, tell them that Abrazimir of House Dimaethor has it in keeping.” He said to Cali. ”I believe that concludes our business for today. I shall take up no more of your time, Lady Dringolben. It has been an honor to meet you and see your family’s work continued.” He saluted in the Gondorrian fashion, arm across his breast and a slight bow of his head and shoulders towards her. A courteous gesture. With final parting words from her, he would depart.

@Lantaelen

Cali smiled a bit as the knight spoke of how common tree emblems were. "Yes, but this one looks to me like an oak. That isn't as common, is it?" She wondered. Her interest was piqued as he mentioned the crossed axes sounding familiar. "Well, good. I hope that helps you to find its owner." She smiled. It sounded as if he had figured out who it might belong to. "I doubt it has lain there all that long," She shrugged. "But then, who can say? It is a small thing. And.." She gave a tiny smile, "as I hear it, that which turned the tide of the war was an equally small thing which lay hidden for long ages, somewhere far less likely than the outside of a smith's forge."

The smith nodded to his request. "Abrazimir, of house DImaethor." She nodded. "I shall be sure and keep that in mind, in case anyone does come asking after it." She had no idea what a ring like that would be doing here, of all places. Armor and weapons for the ranger's use were just about all that was made at this forge, not rings. Especially not signet rings of noble houses. "Farewell, sir Abrazimir. And thank you." She returned the salute, smiling slightly at the words about her family's work. After he had gone, she picked up the piece of armor she would begin with, and began to inspect it more closely to see where she would begin.

She had been forearmed, from their previous ‘meeting’, on quite how tenacious the Lieutenant could prove with her enquiries. So Arnyn’s apparent shift now from steady doggedness towards a hint of impatience called for Isys to properly contemplate the officer for a short time anew. As though she had perhaps missed something before. Somehow she had assumed the steadfast Lieutenant would retain her assiduity for longer than this. There again, the blonde officer had managed to shock the brunette at least once before, since this whole thing had begun ...

At some point, of course, they would stop asking. People always did, in the end. And they were nearly at a point now where the other woman would write her off as not worth the trouble this was doubtlessly causing her. Isys was not honestly sure whether she felt relief or disappointment at facing such an outcome.


The perplexing thing to the Ehtyar was why Arnyn was so fixated upon this one particular detail. Why had the man done … what he had done .. ? The irony was palpable. Other people were living out their lives, after all, without such questions keeping them awake at night.

Meanwhile it was not as though they were left here with a loss, in regard to the Trafficker’s temporary escape. Both Shamara and ’Lord Hollin’ were currently in custody, faced with their independently poor decisions. And whichever Guard had garnered access to the Trafficker the last time, would not be able to this time around. If anything, the brief loss of the young fiend ought to motivate her interrogators to make the best use of their seized resource. Although hopefully they had been more thorough when searching Shamara on her arrival in custody.

“The matter of a thief who would hand back the thing he stole, might suggest some belated remorse in the deed itself.” Isys glanced toward Pele, and then Arnyn, before freezing her face into a china doll mask of vacant expression. “But conjecture is a dance that our limited time and resources can clearly ill afford to oblige.” They were clearly expecting for her to say something .. after all. “And to demand a begrudging truth may only invite an unwanted lie,” she added, with a thoughtful furrow of her alabaster brow.


Might be that Arnyn had imagined the mere threat of Isys having disappointed an Officer would dismay the Ehtyar now unto an urgent wish for compliance. She would still likely be disappointed. It was not that their failure to come to some assurance was the Belfalasian’s intent. But sometimes doing the right thing in the long run was the hardest thing to do under the circumstances.

The Captain seemed all this time to be gingerly treading water in the mutual chasm which lay between her two subordinates. Able to observe each woman make efforts at building a bridge from their respective side of the ravine. Unable to hand them some means of conquering that breach. They were none of them enjoying this. If naught else, Isys was sure of that fact.


“I can not, I fear, give you any answer in that regard, that shall see you rightly satisfied. But it goes against my grain to offer you an untruth. If that is any consolation.”

In the silence that followed, the noblewoman placed her hand across her heart before slowly extending it outwards before her and towards her comrades. A departure from the customary curtsey she had ever performed as a matter of respect, standing out in that and unashamedly so. The altered gesture was not fluid, for all that it was unpracticed. As a child mirroring back what it has seen, without the proper comprehension of significance. But they would have to take from that as they would. She was not one to wait and be told when she was allowed to adapt and to what extent. Sometimes it took trying a thing on before you could ascertain whether it was a good fit.


“Was there any other matter, you would have me make report upon ?” She would welcome either a change of subject or elseways .. escape. For certain they were all about busy with things to do. And all rivers married in their own time to feed into the same sea.

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Command Office, HQ
The Third Morning After Erulaitalë
(@Ercassie @Pele Alarion)

"And to demand a begrudging truth may only invite an unwanted lie."

That seemed to apply to much more than only the supposed interrogation of Isys' contact, didn't it? Was it a veiled attempt to warn Arnyn not to be so persistent in her questions toward the Ehtyar? The Lieutenant frowned slightly. It was becoming increasingly apparent to her that she had no clue of the way Ilisys thought or what kind of woman she really was.

Arnyn looked thoughtful as she regarded the Belfalasian. If the Lieutenant could not be reassured of the blind trust she was placing in Ilisys by learning more of the Belfalasian's relation to this contact of hers (who had committed or at least had been involved in - so it seemed - multiple crimes, yet had still been trusted by Isys for some reason Arnyn could not conceive), perhaps... she should try and look for a different means of encouragement. Or let it go altogether.

As far as Isys went, there was one thing that Arnyn did not doubt about the woman. One fact that stood as obvious in the landscape as Mount Mindolluin. She stood for Gondor. For her kin. Perhaps... that should be enough. It was clear that, for the foreseeable future, Arnyn was not going to have any of the trust she'd been placing in the Ehtyar returned. A difficult realization. And she hid her sadness about it well. What had she done to Isys to have her respond to her this way?

"One more for my part," Arnyn said quietly. "I gather you have been keeping watch over your contact yourself since midsummer, given your suspicions about the guard and all else you have told us. Then this means you did not meet with Unalmis for training yesterday?" By this point, it was more a formality to ask than anything else. But if Isys offered a clear reply here, at least Arnyn would be able to tell Cali that she had verified it - beyond any possible doubt.

The last time she had concluded that they were done, she had been called upon to linger yet some time longer. The time before that, even after the Captain had officially declared the meeting over .. still some of the other attendees had extended their stay, as though they knew to without being asked, and shared who knew what further confidences after the bulk of their peers had departed.

This time there was some moment of silence and, after, only one question voiced. Isys tilted her head slightly, and tried not to presume that one would lead to countless more. Though she had witnessed the Lieutenant press beyond the point where (so the Ehtyar, believed, anyway)* it was prudent, much less polite, before now. But on this occasion, the Belfalasian had technically challenged just such a risk. If only that they might depart from each other’s company in less of a strained temperament, after more relevant conversation on a subject they would all find less taxing.


“You are correct on both counts,” the Ehtyar thus conceded, composed in equal measure to Arnyn on the outside. Though she then thought to clarify somewhat before one question turned into several more. “By which I mean that no, I did not meet with Unalmis for training yesterday.”

She was of course aware that the Barracks Master had ordered the young Ranger to a whole month without fail, of daily training. No doubt in an effort to steer his wayward energy toward a more productive outcome. But given the circumstances .. The Ehtyar did not shrug, but neither did she apologise for this perhaps lapse in supervision on her part. For she had never actually been ordered to train with Unalmis, save by her own personal want to help him to stay out of trouble. He was Warder’s kin, which made him as good as hers. And given .. things .. she felt an odd sense of responsibility for the youth. As one might show for a small puppy which took to following them around. He had actually invited her along, as though he should need a witness beyond the Guards at the gate reporting back to confirm his co-operation.


“I knew that he and his friends had given their witness testimony just the day before yesterday,” she mentioned, as though there were any need to defend either of them at this point. There was doubtless to have been an impact from going over that unpleasant experience again. In detail. “I was unwilling to risk leaving my Contact with the City Guard to interrogate him alone, at a point they might still have released him .. without my knowledge. And I did not imagine that Unalmis would much focus upon his training in my company, if I had attended yesterday regardless.”

He would have probably fixated only on questions about the criminal case, she expected. Questions not related to the errand they ought to have been about. Which of course she could not bring herself to remark upon aloud right now. She had not made it official by any means, but in failing to turn up at the training grounds herself, she had not forced him either to request of her such leniency. Presuming he had even showed up himself. Was the Lieutenant implying that she ought to have insisted on such a thing ? Isys supposed that she would be advised so now, if it were the case. Having never trained another Ranger before, Isys glanced toward Pele with an apparent naivety about the whole thing.


(EDIT : added tiny edit in parentheses/brackets indicated above with *)

Lieutenant Arnyn Dealedwen
Command Office, HQ
The Third Morning After Erulaitalë
(@Ercassie @Pele Alarion)

She nodded when Isys answered favorably. Arnyn was about to reply already when the Ehtyar said more than the Lieutenant would have expected. Was this... a defense of Ranger Unalmis? And then also of herself? This caused Arnyn to process the longer answer for a moment. Yet her own response remained the same.

"Good," she said simply. "You made the right call."

Arnyn saluted both the Captain and the Ehtyar then. She needed a moment, alone with herself. "Permission to leave, Captain?" the Lieutenant requested quietly.

Pele gave Arnyn a searching look, followed by a nod. (checked with Pele)

The Lieutenant smiled faintly. "Thank you." She nodded to each of the women in turn, before leaving. "Pele. Isys." The doorknob was soon in her hand, and the main hallway of headquarters greeted her as she left the command office behind, closing the door in her wake.

The Ehtyar dropped her tapered chin to a precisely random angle, in respect of the Lieutenant’s approval. Having readied for an analytical onslaught, her grey eyes raised up, unconsciously, washed in some surprise at the lack of such. But she did not remark upon it. And neither would she do aught to protest it.

Isys offered but a quiet “Lieutenant,” to respectfully mark her superior’s departure from the office. She wished the blonde Officer nothing but peace and relief, away from the very few matters abounding which were not her job to untangle. The notion that the Belfalasian might have just cost herself a potential friend did not factor into her thinking. For she was quite unfamiliar with such inter-relations beyond her family and, particularly of late, the notion of trust was an especially hard one to embrace. Certain persons had made sure of that.


In the meantime, the opportunity of having a private audience with Pele was equally unexpected, and ought not to be wasted. What matters she had raised words of so far were not the all, but rather only the most pressing. This might now be the only chance for something other she had been repeatedly putting off. And it was not insignificant either. Nor any less delicate.


“Captain,” the Ehtyar contemplated Pele thoughtfully. “There is .. still one person whom I ought speak with, if I am to accomplish what you asked of me, some months now ago. To that end, as with any advice or instruction on the matter of the City Guard, I must also look for your endorsement .. before I would proceed.”

Ilisys could be patient. She allowed Pele due time to consider all that had been said, and not said. If this was not to be the time that she was able to proceed, on the other matter .., then it would not be so. But the Captain would at least be aware that the one aspect of her assignment which Isys had not yet completed .. was hanging on a word from the one who had entrusted it to her.

Captain Pele Alarion
Command Office, HQ
On the 3rd day after Erulaitalë
@Arnyn , @Ercassie

Pele commented nothing on the discussed subject, though she considered both the words that were said, and what she could perceive in terms of relations between Isys and Arnyn. She might have things to say on both matters, but she decided to hold back for the time being, seeing that the Lieutenant was about to leave. She returned the salute and for a few moments looked at the closed door thoughtfully.

Then she looked back at Ilisys with interest.

"One more person?" she queried. "Tell me a little more so that I could tell you a yes or a no." A small smile played on Pele's face, as she realised that she was just continuing along the same line of asking questions; however, she needed more information on this to figure out what exactly Isys was working on.

@Arnyn



Ever since Abrazimir had come to request that she fix up his armor, Cali had been working steadily on that project, determined to be finished with as much as possible before he returned. She had completed the chest piece on the first day, and it now hung on an armor stand nearby, gleaming and looking like new. the shoulder pieces she had finished the following day. There had been little needing done on the bracers, so those she had set aside to polish and shine later, if there was time after the more important pieces were repaired of dents and scratches. So she was working on fixing a dent on one of the leg pieces, now. With the metal heated, she focused on tapping the dent out, careful not to strike too hard, but mindful as well to use enough force to not have to keep tapping forever and heat up the metal over and over.

Despite the tedious work, Cali was glad for something to do. After learning about a certain person managing to worm his way into a transfer to Dol Amroth for some other crimes committed there, she had become anxious again, but decided to try her best to put the whole thing out of her mind as well as she could. This was, of course, easier said than done, but having plenty to do to keep herself busy had always helped to take her mind off of her troubles, and so that was what she was doing now. She did not forget what Mourgan had said, however, and had done her best to make sure she was getting enough sleep. Also easier said than done, but she kept telling herself that he shouldn't be able to escape.. and even if he did he wouldn't dare coming back to Minas Tirith.. and even if he did, he shouldn't be able to find where they had been living since the Midsummer. It took a bit of effort not to remind herself that he did know where she worked...

Cali was softly humming a simple, repetitive tune (one that her friend Trev had made up years ago) in order to keep her thoughts from straying toward anything but fixing this dent. The hammering mostly drowned out the sound of her humming, but she knew the tune well enough without having to hear it. But then, suddenly, she felt a sense that someone else was standing nearby, and glanced up sharply to check... and saw that there was, indeed, an unfamiliar man standing quite close by. Startled, she gasped softly and jumped, eyes widening in alarm. Her grip tightened on the hammer, even raising it ever so slightly before she recovered from the fright, a bit embarrassed as she remembered that there were plenty of rangers around here that she did not know, and whose skills would certainly have them used to walking silently. Though the moment of alarm had been brief, she held no delusions that the man wouldn't have noticed it. Trying to force herself to relax, she let out the breath she'd gasped in. "Sorry.. I didn't hear you come in." She explained, slightly sheepish as she took a couple of slow breaths in and out. Her heart was still racing as well, but she managed a small smile as she attempted to not appear as flustered and tense as she actually felt. "What can I help you with?" She asked, assuming this was most likely a ranger who needed some gear or repairs done.

@Arnyn



She gave a faint nod in reply to the comment about old habits. She certainly knew how that was. "I understand. It isn't entirely your fault, I just.. I was too focused on this, I suppose." She replied quietly. She should have been more wary. She tilted her head in curiosity when the stranger mentioned being sent by Lieutenant Dealedwen. Arnyn sent him? With a message? What message? Cali blinked as she tried to think of why the lieutenant could possibly have needed to send someone that Cali didn't know, to tell her something... it must be urgent, or she would have just waited until she could come herself. Right?

"Yes, that would be me," She confirmed quietly, slowly setting down her hammer as she gave the man her full attention. A faint smile fought its way onto her face, despite her concerns, as she heard him ask about the former smith. At least, the fact that he knew both the Lieutenant's name and the former smith's name, told her that he had some familiarity with the rangers. "Brastor retired this past Spring." She explained quietly. "I'm Cali Dringolben, his replacement. What news have you brought from the lieutenant, Ranger..?" She couldn't help asking, anxious to hear what it could be... hoping it might not be what she feared, but she could think of nothing else it could possibly be about.

A slow dread began to worm its way into her mind, about the thing she was most worried about. That must be it. 'Lowendir' had managed to break free of his guards while in transit to his new prison, and was once again roaming about in freedom. Perhaps seeking ways to get back at her and her friends for ensuring his imprisonment. Perhaps there was some news that they had reason to believe he was heading this way... were she and Iole in danger from him? Or Nal... what if something had happened to Nal?! Or, if there was any way this awful, dreaded news could get worse... it occurred to her that if the man was already near Dol Amroth when he got away, what if Ivornith or the kids were in danger? Cali's stomach was twisting up into all sorts of complicated knots as she waited with held breath for whatever awful news the lieutenant had sent him to deliver.

@Arnyn



"Oh, I'm sorry," She replied apologetically. "I should not have assumed." No longer a ranger? Macardil... she was fairly sure she'd never heard the name before, but then that wasn't too surprising if he was not a ranger, as she first thought. Some mild curiosity arose as to why, but she didn't inquire. Just as Brastor had had his reasons for retiring, Macardil likely had his reasons for leaving the rangers. There were other things she was much more interested in hearing about.

As he hastened to assure her that it was good news, Cali relaxed marginally, though she couldn't imagine what sort of news the lieutenant might have sent, that was good, that needed to be sent by someone Cali had never seen before. A slight wariness flared up inside her, wondering if it could be some sort of trick, but she tried to keep that feeling in check. The man went on without pause, explaining.. a friend of hers? Back in the city? She could think of only one friend that could apply to, and if that was who he meant... yes, before she could even finish the thought, he gave the name. Trev! Letting out a breath of relief, a smile grew on Cali's face as she heard this news. The best news she'd heard in a while. "He's come home?" She asked, with wonder and delight now replacing the former expression of worry and dread.

She nodded slightly as he spoke of Iole, and the fact that Trev didn't want her to go looking for him in Harlond. She remembered that Iole had said that was where he'd been...all this time. Cali couldn't imagine why he would have been living so close to home, yet held off from actually coming home, for months. "Yes.. I'll tell her." She replied with a smile. "She'll be at her job now, I think, but I'll tell her the moment I see her this evening." There had been a time when she might have run straight away to go and locate her friend to pass along this excellent news, or at least suggested where the messenger might find her to deliver this news himself, but..she was more cautious about such things now. Ever since the autumn incident.

And then something else he'd said struck her. "He is speaking with.. Lieutenant Dealedwen?" She asked, to confirm what she had heard. "Not..any other lieutenants?" She had to ask... to be sure that he wasn't in any sort of danger from a certain lieutenant of the city guard. Then she wondered, "Why? He isn't in any trouble, is he?" And before she could rein in her eagerness to hear some news of her friend, she added, "Is he alright? Is he in some danger?" She frowned, concerned now as the other thing he said registered. That Trev had worried Iole might be in danger if she went looking for him. If that were the case, it seemed logical that might mean Trev could be in such danger himself. Or at the least, she was trying to find some explanation for why he would be talking with the ranger lieutenant, before coming to see her or Nal or his family, upon returning home at last.

@Arnyn



Cali relaxed slightly, relieved to hear that a certain other Lieutenant was not involved. And, hopefully, unaware of Trevadir's return. She wasn't sure what to expect if that happened. She nodded slowly, listening as Macardil went on to assure her that Trev did not seem to be in danger of being arrested for anything of that sort. What a relief. She let out a slow breath. "Good..." That still didn't answer her question of why he was talking to the ranger lieutenant, but she supposed maybe that was between the lieutenant and Trevadir. She left the matter alone, although the mention about the trouble he'd been in, in Harlond, had her concerned. She tilted her head, wanting to ask more, but he was right. She should ask Trevadir, not a stranger.

After a moment, she gave a small nod. "Thank you, sir." Cali smiled, genuinely meaning that. "I'm very grateful to you for delivering this message. We have sorely missed him.. for so long." She sighed softly, then wondered.. if he'd met Trev in Harlond, found him in some sort of trouble, and Trev was now in Minas Tirith.. was that his doing? "And," She added thoughtfully, with a curious glance at the stranger, "if you've had anything to do with convincing my friend to come home, then.. words cannot express our gratitude. All three of us," She felt justified in speaking for Iole and Nal on that, given the closeness of them all, and their shared disappointment when Trev did not join them in returning after the midsummer.

While she was maintaining a calm outward appearance, Cali's eyes were shining happily, and inside she was leaping for joy and cheering. If this was really true, then Trev was home at last! She could hardly wait to go and see him, and tell Iole. It was too bad the man hadn't told her where to find him, beyond just 'the second circle'. But then, she also remembered to be cautious, and not rush off to seek out Iole immediately. "I will be sure to pass the message to Iole as soon as I can." She assured him with a small smile. "I'm not sure where Unalmis is at the moment, but I'm sure I'll see him by the end of the day. I can pass the news on to him as well, when I see him." She added, assuming the young ranger would be coming by at some point, if not to see her home safely at the end of the day, then to pester her for a while... as usual.

@Arnyn



"Indeed, it has." Cali assured him. It was definitely good tidings, and she needed more of those right now. With everything going on, it was a relief to hear that Trevadir was not only alright, but that he was here at last. She was curious what he meant about 'information' that Trev had needed, to make the decision to come.. but she would ask him. There would be plenty of time for that, right? She hoped so. "Thank you for the message." She added. With nothing else left to say between them, she watched as the messenger departed. A grin finally broke out on her face, and she wanted to run straight down to the second level and see if she could locate him right now. But she refrained.

After the man had gone, Cali turned back to look at her work, nearly brimming over with excitement to go and see for herself whether it was true. There was no way she was going to be able to focus on the armor now, after what she just heard. If it was true. She hesitated, trying not to let the joyous feeling fade. It must be true. And if it was some sort of trick from that Umbarian guy, he wouldn't know Arnyn's name, would he? He wouldn't have involved her, surely. Although she was a little confused why the lieutenant was involved with this at all, she hoped that was a good sign.

Still smiling, Cali took a few moments to put away her work for the evening. It didn't take all that long, and soon she had the coals put out, the bellows closed, and her tools put away. Cali hung up her apron and stepped out of the armory, taking a careful look around before locking up. She figured it wouldn't hurt to take the rest of the evening off, since she usually worked later than she really should. Hopefully, the new locks would be more secure than the last one. Once she felt satisfied that everything was locked up properly, Cali hung a sign on the door stating that the armory was closed til the following day, and set off toward the second level. She didn't know where Trev was at the moment, but she knew where Iole would be, and could hardly wait to share this news with her.

(exit)