"Aye," Harry replied, giving his friend a queer look.

~oOo~

By the time he had reached the gates of House Ermineshield, Harry's face was quite one of timid obsequiousness. Nervously taking the final steps, he plucked up the courage to ask, "Tymin. I was told I could find him here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Wed 15 July 2009.

House Ermineshield seemed to have seen better days. The six-foot high walls of the compound were in need of whitewashing and repairs, and the guard at the archway wore chainmail that had obvious rusty patches. The polearm upon which he leant looked older than the fellow himself, which was quite a feat.

The guard narrowed his eyes at the rough-looking man before him and his attempt at timidity.

"You one of 'is drinkin' buddies? Bit early for that mate - he's inside on duty. I'll send a boy for 'im though, see if he'll come down."

Good as his word, the man sent a runner. Though Harry had to wait a good ten minutes, eventually a tall man in Ermineshield livery came marching down the path from the main house. Scar upon his cheek twisting as he scowled, he asked Harry what he wanted, but not before chastising the gate guard for sending for him without taking a name.

Tymin evidently had more coin than the gate guard - he wore a longsword at his hip, and his clothes were well spun and dyed.

"Oh right. Pleased to meet you Master Tymin," Harry said, wringing his hands ever so slightly. "Name's Harry. I was..."

Harry hesitated and moved a little away from the guard so as not to be overheard. "I was told you was looking for some men for some work. Men who can be trusted."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:12, Wed 15 July 2009.

Diarmuid is around the corner from the gate. Having little skill at dissembling he thought it wiser not to stand next to Harry looking like an assassin.

Tymin allowed himself to be led a little away from the gate, though he made sure Harry did not  step inside the walls.

"Work? Man, can't you see the House can't afford to hire?"

He looked sharply at Harry as if trying to fathom him.

"What gave you this notion?"

"It was some of the lads down at the market. Said you was recruiting the other day." Harry's face was wearing that look of innocence which only the hardened and mischievous criminal is ever able to create.

"For a special job."

"Who told you that then? They were mistaken, whoever it were."

"I know a lot of folk in this town are bent, but not me, right?"

He sniffed and looked away, mouth twisted in a grimace, then looked askance at Harry as if considering something.

"Still, if you're asking you must have some talents. What's your name? I'll keep you in mind should our fortunes ever improve and we can take on new hands."

Tymin peered at Harry's battered visage.

"You look like you've seen a scrap or two and you're still here, so that counts for something."

"Aye it does, and me name's still Harry," he replied with a smile, "But I'm in need of some coin right now. I've a lady friend in need of some expensive...attention, if you know what I mean."

Getting a little frustrated, Harry paused for moment, "Or maybe you know someone else who might be hiring?"

"Harry, yes" Tymin muttered distractedly as he watched a passing maiden.

"Others? Well, I heard Lady Chersoot was hiring. And there's always the Rethayn's, though if you ask me they don't treat their staff right."

It might have been Harry's imagination, but Tymin seemed to be watching him closely despite his apparantly disinterested air.

"Oh right," Harry said with a smile. "I'll go a-huntin' then. And I'll find you here, will I?" He made to move off, but waited for an answer first.

Tymin nodded humourlessly.

"This is where I work, yes."

He watched Harry go, then shook his head and marched back through the gate.

Harry found Diarmuid and Jos waiting for him just around the corner.

Diarmuid was standing just around the corner, holding his shield like he was carrying it somewhere, not intending to use it. The razor sharp longsword in his right hand, concealed under the cloak where you had to be really close to notice it, told a different story.

Judging by the expression on his face Diarmuid was either tired or bored. This didn't fool the people who knew him, or those trained to looked for the truth behind the mask, though.

The truth was that Diarmuid was scarey precisely because he followed a code that held in check his murderous desires. But if you pulled a weapon on a friend the code let Diarmuid do what he really enjoyed doing, which was killing people.

If Tymin had pulled a knife, Diarmuid would have pulled a sword, and then he would have used it until Tymin's blood had stained the ground red. That was just the way Diarmuid was. When the divine was putting Diarmuid together they left out some important things.

When Harry came around the corner Diarmuid murmured.. "Keep walking..  you're bait. Green Dargon, go."

The Green Dargon was an inn, pretty close by. It was supposed to have been called the Green Dragon but the guy who wrote the sign, well his spelling was not what it might have been, and the name stuck.

More loudly then, and at Harry..

"What you looking at?" he said, dead level, putting the threat into his voice without raising it. It was one part petulance, one part machismo and one part naked threat. He pushed past Harry leading his horse. Walking towards an alley. That alley would come around and lead onto the street that the Green Dargon was on. "Come on, I'm hungry." he snarled, back at Jos.

Diarmuid has something in mind, apparently.

Jos had no idea what Diarmuid was getting after, but since that was usually the case, he gave Tymin one last look over his shoulder and followed his friends to the Dargon.

The only time he knew what was coming from Diarmuid was when someone messed with him, or any of the gang.  Then he knew that Diarmuid would bust some heads.

Diarmuid led Joss into a position from where they could watch to see if anyone was trailing after Harry. Diarmuid liked ambushes.

OOC:Just to be clear Diarmuid was disassociating himself and Joss from Harry, walking in the other direction and coming around to get into a good vantage point to see whether Harry was being followed. Basically Diarmuid wants to ambush someone.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:15, Sun 02 Aug 2009.

The Dargon was only a few minute's walk away. Harry made his way there at an easy pace, allowing his friends time to set their trap.

Diarmuid and Jos circled around a house, before leaning casually up against a wall. No-one had yet emerged from the Ermineshield estate to follow Harry; Tymin had gone straight back inside, though he had watched Harry carefully as he walked away.

Nor did anyone else seem to be following their comrade, and Harry had passed far enough along by now that even a tail signalled out from a side-street seemed unlikely.

Realising from the sharp glances the old guard at the gate of the estate was giving them that this was not the best neighbourhood for their sort to be hanging around in, the two made their way to catch up with Harry.

Harry didn't bother to spend long in the inn: it was never much fun being thrown out. "No joy, eh?" he said to the pair. "Either of you fancy keeping an eye on the man? He is suspicious, so he might be heading somewhere soon."

"I'll do it.  I reckon I was far enough away that he'd be unlikely as to connect me to you.  I've already been wandering around the neighborhood, might as well keep doing it.  Just have to watch out that the ol' guard don't make me," he said with a knowing grin and wink.  He slipped back outside and returned to the area around the estate, first circling it to see if there was another gate, constantly keeping his eyes peeled for Tymin.

Once Jos had left, Harry asked Diarmuid, "You want to keep an eye on him? I could go dig around for maps like you suggested earlier."

Diarmuid smiled anaemically at Harry. It was a relaxed, easy smile with very little in the way of human warmth reaching his eyes.

Yes, maps would be useful. Jos can be the eyes I'll be the protection, lagging far enough behind not to be seen. Protecting people from sharp pointed objects is the only thing I do, other than introducing people to sharp pointed objects.

"In that case..." said Harry, "See you later. Usual time and place."

Taking a few precautions to make sure he wasn't being followed, Harry took himself to the market to see if he could find any useful documents about the map.

Diarmuid nods and moves to follow Joss when he turns.

Ah when and where would that be? asks Diarmuid, deadpan as ever.

Circling back the way they'd come with eyes carefully peeled went Jos, followed at a distance by Diarmuid, not so discreet with Tuatha accompanying him. They were in luck - there certainly wasn't another gate. The estate was bordered on each side by other similar walled houses. Security was clearly a priority round here.

Jos found himself a nice corner to peer from, out of line of sight of the old guard, but from which he could see if anyone entered or left the estate. For a good quarter of an hour nothing much happened. He found himself getting odd looks from passers-by, especiay nobles and their bodyguards, but none questioned him. A couple of maids entered the estate as he watched, carrying baskets that were likely full of groceries.

Soon after, Tymin marched rapidly out of the gate. Jos quickly fell into pursuit.

---

Harry made his way through the city streets, heading for the more upmarket shopping areas. He knew maps would be costly, for cartographers were found in shops that stood check-by-jowl with booksellers, jewellers, silk merchants, and the like.

Having found a few possible sellers, he entered the first shop, to be greeted by a perfunctory "Yes?" from the scowling, hairy proprietor.

Diarmuid stayed as far back as he could without losing sight of Jos, well aware of the fact that an armed man with a warhorse does tend to stick out rather.

Seeing as it wasn't that crowded, Jos didn't bother to try and hide himself.  Tymin had never seen him, as far as the man knew, he was just another working stiff walking along the same road to get home.  He did try and make it look as if wasn't purposefully following.  He'd lag a bit, then walk faster than the guard.  He looked in store windows when he walked by one, just to burn a few seconds and let Tymin get a few yards of space between them again.

He was fairly certain that Diarmuid would be following him.  Or maybe both Diarmuid and Harry.  But almost definitely Diarmuid.  His one worry about that was that their would be some kind of ambush, because sometimes Diarmuid just couldn't help himself.

"Oh hello!" Harry said brightly, "I wonder if you can help me? I have been commissioned to dig out information regarding a building out of town."
He went on to explain which tower and what little he knew of it, hoping the fellow might have some useful information.