RP:But Why Steal an Amulet?
Frostmaw Tavern
Satoshi is here. As if summoned by magic (or a letter).
Hildegarde was hunched over her bowl of stew, but she wasn’t eating it. No, the knight was merely moving her spoon around and around pointlessly, staring into the frothy depths of the bowl as if she were pondering the great questions in life. With a sigh, she dropped her spoon and pushed the bowl away. She had no appetite for eating.
Satoshi drops into the chair across from Hildegarde with all the uninivited ease of the overly familiar. Perched upon her shoulder is an ermine, perfectly at ease with Satoshi's movements. The briefest of moments is spared for the bowl of stew and its lack of being devoured before the magus glances to the ermine, remarking in a false whisper, "If the Silver Knight is not eating, Drargon either poisoned the food or she's bothered by something."
Hildegarde offered a small nod, “My amulet was taken,” she informed Satoshi glumly. Obviously, the knight was very saddened by the loss of her amulet. “I…” she frowned, shaking her head, “I have half a mind to go out and find this culprit.” The dragon leaned back in her chair, lolling her head and letting out that noise all large creatures do when seemingly pained or upset by a situation. “I already feel that noise in my head now that it’s gone,” she said in a grumble. “This Jelko will have my amulet by now. Whoever they are.”
Satoshi's eyes narrow and her entire demeanor shifts from lackadaisy to alert and on edge. Her little companion likewise becomes prickly in response to the magus' own sudden shift in mood, so that twin sets of azure eyes are staring at Hildegarde. "Did you say 'Jelko'? As in the assassin that tried to off my husband?" Admittedly, she and Kasyr had staged the entire event in the middle of Vailkrin to lure out legitimate assassins, but that's a close-kept secret. Nonetheless, Satoshi certainly plays a convincing role in being an outraged victim in this matter. The foxkin's claws flex, embedding themselves into the heavy wood of the table with alarming ease. "He... she... -it- attacked you? In -Frostmaw-?"
Hildegarde shook her head in response to the question, “No. Whatever or whoever it is sent two of its useless lackeys to go fetch my amulet,” she informed Satoshi with a sense of absolute indignation. “Ohan… useless bugger,” she grumbled, “I have told him to leave Frostmaw. If I see him here again, I will kill him, Satoshi, I swear it. I will not have some… some thief and vagabond in this city!” The dragon huffed, so angry about the entire situation that the huff was a heavy puff of frost which quickly and delicately covered the table and the bowl of stew. “There was a woman with him. An accomplice. Had the look of a murderer,” she admitted. “She told me who sent her in exchange for the amulet. The fool was ready to duel me. Duel me, she said! Pah. I doubt she would fight with any honour, the little knave.”
Satoshi mirrors Hildegarde's shake of her head as fingers rap sharply upon the frosted table. "If you see hide or hair of either, don't you hesitate, Mithril. Not for a second. I'll not tolerate such fiends in my city, assaulting my people." After all, if Jelko's employees slipped up enough to be caught, eliminating the problem works in her favor. It's a win-win situation from where Satoshi's sitting. "I sincerely doubt whoever she was would have met you in fair combat, yes. She would have had some unsavory trick, surely. Those sorts are best dealt with swiftly and fiercely, lest they try to weasel out of a situation." Ermine and foxkin exchange a flicker of a glance, mentally taking note that whomever delivers the amulet is also the one who sold out her alias' name. Someone would be paying for that.
Hildegarde sighed softly, “But I didn’t wish to kill them,” she confessed. “They were idiots, yes, but there’s a bigger idiot out there who sent them after me in the first place. If I killed them, they would not have revealed the name and then you would not have confirmed that this Jelko figure is a troublesome one indeed,” she explained carefully. The Silver frowned, “The bigger question is why take the amulet. Why not attempt to take my life instead? The girl implied that my life was not be taken or that I was not to be harmed,” she said, “which is why I found her suggestion of a duel very unusual.” The dragon sighed, “Ohan was the worst. I’ll gladly kill him if I see him here again. I, er, I think I might have banished him?” she said with uncertainty. “It was all in the heat of the moment.”
Satoshi releases her clawed grip upon the table so as to entwine her fingers and rest her chin thoughtfully upon them. "Hmm. They targeted only your amulet? Perhaps there is more to that object than you initially thought? I did forewarn you that magical crutches can be dangerous, did I not? It is something to think about, surely." Satoshi leans back in her chair then, expression still one of contemplation. "I can't imagine it is as innocuous as you believed, if Vailkrin's fiercest assassin," cue internal over-the-top preening and self-promoting here, "has their eyes on it. I will keep my ears open, Mithril. I've business in Vailkrin in the coming weeks, if I catch wind of whispers about our troublesome shadow, you'll know."
Hildegarde shrugged her shoulder, “Leone assured me that it would do as described and it has only done that. I have not noticed any… well, side-effects?” she frowned, waving her hand in a dismissive manner. “What does it matter? It’s gone now and the culprits away with it. Two idiots who I sincerely hope never cross my path again,” she said softly. “Perhaps, though, I will accompany you to Vailkrin for a short time. I am uncertain if I wish to seek out this Jelko figure myself. Perhaps if I can catch them, I can ask them what they wanted the amulet for,” she said, “or who set them to the task.” Oh, Hilde. Always with questions, rather than killing and hunting.
Satoshi said to Hildegarde, "You may not find Vailkrin to your liking, dear Mithril. It is a dark place, home to the very people you were just attacked by. Although not a corrupt cesspool like Cenril, it is heavy with shadows. Asking nicely and showing compassion will get you nothing but a blade in your gut. Steel yourself, be prepared to bare your fangs, and... for Aramoth's sake, do not let them know you're a dragon! This is a city where your kind are walking death sentences, the people there have a natural dislike for Saurian kind that will make them stubborn at best, and murderous in most cases. I'd..." Satoshi sighs, offering the ghost of an unhappy smile, "I'd rather not see your spirit tainted by that dark place. It is prone to drowning the gentle or kindly. Bring your predator's side."
Hildegarde said to Satoshi, "...I have been to Vailkrin before! It is where I first met Kirien. Mind you, at that point, there were many oddities occurring. Beasts running rampant and attacking everything in sight. I have also fought there and been there to visit Sir Serrure. It's not a place I enjoy or particularly like, but it's one I have visited before. I will find this Jelko." Hilde pauses for a moment, "Unless... Well. What is your opinion on the matter, Satoshi? You know I listen to you and your wisdom more than most people's."
Satoshi lifts her hands in a disarming gesture. "I'm merely looking out for your well-being. I have no doubt you can handle yourself, but one can never be without too much preparation. Especially in pursuing a name as notorious as that one's. I've been sniffing their trail for some time, even before Kasyr was attacked, and their reach stretches farther than you'd expect." Satoshi glances over her shoulder to ensure no one is listening before she leans closer to Hildegarde. When she speaks, her voice is lowered to a whisper, "This shadow is hard to pin down, and the consequences could be dire. Even I am hesitant to strike at the heart of the matter, for they sit in the center of a spiderweb that may be too dangerous to break. Sometimes it is best to leave certain spiders alone for they manage the fouler pests and only make an occasional nuisance of themselves."
Hildegarde remains still and quiet for a few long moments, finally giving a small nod of her head. “I apologise,” she murmured, “I do not mean to snap at you or imply that you are not keeping an eye out for me,” she said apologetically. With a sigh, the knight nodded her head, “Perhaps it is best to leave this Jelko alone for a time,” she murmured, “wait for the spider to make a mistake or… or I don’t know. It’s only an amulet. If I really need another, I can have another crafted,” she said gently. “I doubt this Jelko figure would trouble themselves in consistently snatching up all my amulets now, would they?”
Satoshi shakes her head, expression one of uncertainty. "And here we are, back at the initially question: what is it about your amulet drew such attention? I will look into the matter further, whether you choose to continue your pursuit or not. I still believe your should have your weapon ready if either of those two thieves show their face again. They aren't worth questioning, for lackeys rarely carry any valuable information on them."
Hildegarde nodded her head, “Save for that name, which is something. I’m surprised they gave up the name,” she said with clear surprise. “I thought they’d have better sense than that,” she murmured. “But I think they anticipated that I would torture whoever I captured,” she said somewhat uneasily. Hilde had, after all, experienced torture: both physical and psychological. Not a pleasant experience. Probably something she’d struggle to inflict upon another person. “I banished one from Frostmaw, though. Meaning if I do see him here again, I’ll kill him and make him a warning to all who trespass against us Frostmawians.”
Satoshi nods, the gesture sharp and approving. "You did well all given, Mithril. I knew my faith in you was properly placed. Now it is my turn to prove your faith in me. I'm leaving for Vailkrin at once, I shall follow this trail, see where it leads, and perhaps find answers or amulet at the end. Our spider isn't the only one with eyes and ears throughout the land~!"
Hildegarde said to Satoshi, "Let me know when you return from Vailkrin. I was thinking, perhaps, we can go fishing again soon?"
Satoshi's ears and whiskers perk up at the suggestion and she nods again, this time eagerly. "Consider it a date!"
Hildegarde grinned in return, "Maybe we can try that spear-fishing!"