Re: Dark Eyes, Cold Hearts - The Intro.
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What was that? Eyes open.
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"MIRYAM!!"
'Miryam'?
Corvus turned quickly about. He was lying in bed - well, in a strange bed, in a strange room, with a...stranger...girl beside him.
The more things change, he thought to himself.
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"MIRYAM! IF YOU'VE GOT SOMEONE IN THERE I'LL GUT THE BASTARD AND FEED HIS BALLS TO THE GULLS!!"
And that's my cue to leave.
Corvus leapt from the bed in a flash, getting into his pants and boots with the remarkable dexterity that was borne of seasoned experience and practice. The girl on the bed sat up, looking nervously at the door but then turning and smiling at the rogue dressing himself in a hurry - he had a shirt on now, and was grasping for his arms and armor.
"My, uh...thanks for your hospitality, ah...Miryam? Perhaps we will meet again, in more favourable circumstances?"
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"MIRYAM! I CAN HEAR SOMEONE IN THERE! OPEN THIS RUDDY DOOR, OR BY ARIOCH I'LL GUT YOU TOO!!"
"Bit of a temper, your father, eh?"
"Father? Oh no, that's my husband. He's on nights for his guard shift," said the girl, unhelpfully.
Corvus visibly blanched. "Well, I'm sure he does a sterling job. Now, if you'll excuse me, I, Bron of the Purple Towns, must be off."
"I thought you said your name was Ingmar of Ilmar?"
"Well, whatever..." replied Corvus with a shrug, and he turned and leapt out of the open window. As he fell he could hear the bedroom door crash open, but he had little time to contemplate that...as he fell onto a fruit cart, sending it and its wares all over the street, to the great annoyance and fury of it's owner. That wasn't there last night, dammit. With subtle gestures and honeyed words Corvus backed away from the remonstrating owner of the cart before quickly turning on his heel and legging it - the shouting continued behind him, and he had a feeling that Miryam's husband had come downstairs to give chase, and take up arms with the stallholder.
But Corvus was a seasoned...ah...adventurer, and negotiator of tricky positions, and he had soon put many alleys and streets and side-passages between himself and his pursuers. As good fortune would have it he was also in possession of a fine orange, which would do for breakfast. But, as bad fortune - which was more the usual for him - would have it, the orange was overripe and sour, and he threw it away in disgust. And so it went. The rest of his day was spent moving from inn to tavern to market, looking for someone who might have need of a merchant captain without a ship of his own - and few did, unsurprisingly. Tired, bored, hungry, and more to the point at a very loose end, he looked up and spotted yet another tavern across the way - 'The Blunted Blade'.
Down the street a guard patrol had gathered, looking around as if searching for someone. From the shadows in which he stood Corvus could recognise the face of Miryam's husband. Uh-oh. Perhaps a dark corner of a seedy tavern would provide a decent hiding place? He waited a moment and then sprinted across the street, ducking inside the Blunted Blade and slamming the door behind him, his back firmly against it.
It took a few moments for Corvus to gather himself, by which time most of the patrons of the bar were looking at him. He smiled as best he could, smoothed his moustache and made his way over to the bar.
"Wine, my good man," he asked of the bartender, reaching for one of the few coins he still possessed. Time to take a look around, see if anyone caught his eye...
This message was last edited by the player at 14:13, Wed 05 Nov 2014.