RP:Getting Worse for the Jailbound Lovebirds

Part of the Rise of Larket Arc

Summary: Josleen visits Kelovath in jail. Things are getting worse for each of them as the city and guards turn on them one by one. They make plans and try to guess at Macon’s motives. They toy with the idea of fleeing Larket.

Jail, Larket

From the inside of a jail, every day looks equally dull, equally empty, gray, and lonely. Outside the jail, life continues. But these two existences don’t exist in impermeable bubbles. Sometimes, what happens and who it happens to outside the jail affects those within it, and vice versa. In Larket, the jailing of a prominent and respected councilmember had stoked a hatred that prior to Kelovath’s arrest had not been witnessed in the city for years. The incarceration of a holy man had given the people an excuse to debate the merits of religious dogma, magic, and faith. Every aspect of Kelovath’s life was picked apart, including romantic life with Josleen. Her introduction to the city coincided with Kelovath’s corruption. Was he always evil and she served as his accessory to that end? Or had she corrupted him with her witchy woman ways? Either way, among those inclined to hate, there was no doubt Josleen could not be trusted. Sure, this contingent of conspiracy theorists was small, but vocal and strategically placed to bring down maximum harassment on the bard. Since Kelovath was arrested two weeks ago, Josleen visited him daily, though sometimes daily as tensions with the sheriff flared. Yesterday, however, Josleen did not--could not--come. Kelovath may have heard a crowd shouting outside the jail. Today Josleen waited for the sheriff to leave to attend a petty crime across the city then visited Kelovath with Marcel at her side. She held her head high and the stiffness in her jaw suggested she was hard at work trying not to cry. In her hand she gripped a dog leash, although she as far as Kelovath knew, she had been waiting for him to be released so they could buy the dog together. “Hi, love,” she said weakly as she reached through the bars to hold his hand. The guard on duty was one of the few sympathetic to their cause. “Did they give you the socks and soap I sent yesterday?” Her lips quivered a little. Marcel signalled to Kelovath from behind Josleen’s back with a flat hand tipping from side to side that things weren’t great.

The past two weeks had been long for the paladin. The sheriff made his stay here unpleasant. There were a few guards that were in fact on Kelovath’s side, but not enough. The situation was looking bleak. All the noise yesterday made it certain that since being locked up, things were going further downhill. And each day, the sheriff would visit, just as Josleen would, but it was always after Josleen left. The high that the bard brought with her would be quickly stomped down by the sheriff. Moral kept low and optimism crushed. But the paladin did his best to remain cheerful, for Josleen. Anytime she asked how he was being treated, he replied with a few words that gave little away. It didn’t matter how he was being treated. Nothing could change it. The sheriff was obviously corrupt and wanted Kelovath to down. When Josleen entered, he lifted himself from the bed and moved to the bars. Her hand was grasped tightly and a small smile appeared. His gaze shifted to Marcel, who was given a nod after his hand gesture. “No. It wasn’t mentioned.” The man’s free hand lifted and also grabbed onto Josleen’s. A deep sigh passing by his lips. “Any news? At all?” He was becoming desperate now. The man had patience, but he was getting worried. The sheriff had grown more verbally abusive, so surely it was only a matter of time before it shifted to physical. The one or two guards within this building that were actually on Kelovath’s side would not be able to stop the abuse, should it happen. His gaze locked onto Josleen, caring eyes examining her face. Without needing to say anything, it was obvious the man was worried about her. Whatever he was going through here was easy compared to the venom that’s been spit at her.

Josleen, like Kelovath, tried to maintain a happy, optimistic facade for his sake, but today that smiling veneer lost its shine. She shook her head at his question and took a breath as if to speak, but words failed her. She buried her face in her palm and shook with a sob. Marcel explained for her, “The crowd outside the jail took it too far yesterday.” He was angry, much too angry about politics for a boy his age. These events would soon age him. “A woman who lost her child during the last attack blamed you and Josleen for it. Says her child got sick and died and it’s Josleen’s fault. She threw her child’s blanket and Josleen and when Josleen stooped to pick it up and hand it back, this enraged the woman. Like, she went absolutely insane, Sir. Her eyes were wide, hair standing on end on its own. She, uh,” he stumbled here, knowing Kelovath won’t like what comes next. “She slapped Josleen. I was too far ahead to stop it. I’m sorry, Sir. I was trying to make a way through the crowd for Miss Josleen. She was stunned, gave the woman a piece of her mind, then the crowd started shouting together and blocked the entrance to the jail. That’s why we couldn’t come yesterday. They threw some things after us. Didn’t hit us or anything, I don’t think they wanted to, just wanted to scare us.” By the look of Josleen, it worked. She was scared. “And Sir, a group of men have been passing by your house a lot lately. They haven’t done anything yet, but they’re planning something, I think.”

Kelovath wanted nothing more than to escape from this cell and wrap his arms around Josleen. The story of what happened yesterday was much worse than the noise he was able to hear. It was clear this was all getting to the bard and already the physical side of it was happening to her. His head shook, but his eyes moved from her. “Can you get some guards to the house, Marcel? There are a few paladin’s that would help us, I’m sure.” His voice was shaky, unsure, but what else could he do? Kelovath was trapped here just as it seemed Josleen was. Based on the story, the paladin had it easier, although it’s hard telling what the sheriff will have planned for his next visit. Lowering his voice, he spoke to Josleen. “Maybe you should stay at the house? Just for a couple days? Marcel can update me on what’s going on…” It didn’t seem like there was much of anything going on, but surely there will be some news soon. The council will eventually have to step in and make a decision. Hopefully. They know the truth, right? They were on his side with all this…? But, it’s been two weeks and…Nothing. “I think it’s time you go to the council directly, Marcel. Elmut, to be more specific. He’s been around long enough and was basically Jacklin’s right hand. He’s on our side.” Honestly, the paladin couldn’t be 100% confident with that statement, but it’s worth a shot.

Josleen sniffled against her sleeve and looked up red-eyed and puffy-faced. “I don’t want to stay away…” Her voice trailed off suggesting she wanted to say more. Marcel got the hint and excused himself by nodding and bowing slightly to Kelovath. “I’ll go arrange a meeting now and return in a little while to escort miss Josleen home.” Once he has gone, Josleen took Kelovath’s hand through the bar and kissed it. “I miss you so much. The bed feels so empty. Though…” Finally a slight smile surfaced. “After what happened yesterday I went to buy a guard dog. I think I’ll be safer if I walk around with one. Trained to protect its owner fiercely, but a bit of a cuddlebug too. He tried to take your spot on the bed already. Don’t worry, I didn’t let him in. I don’t like the idea of dog hair,” she stressed the word ‘hair’ carefully as if training herself not the say ‘fur’ because, well, technically the breed of dog she bought has hair and not fur, “in the sheets. Just want you.” She rattled the cage bars a bit. “Maybe I’ll slap that woman back and get thrown in here with you.”

Kelovath glanced to Marcel and gave a slight nod. That boy sure has grown since Frostmaw. Body and mind. He’ll make a great leader someday. The paladin saw the leash earlier and now it made sense. “Didn’t take very long to find one, huh?” Another small smile. The man moved as close as he could to the bars of the cell and very awkwardly and probably uncomfortably for Josleen, moved his arms around her as best he could. It was a poor attempt, but better than nothing. The guard seemed to of disappeared as well, more than likely escorting Marcel out. “We both know slapping her will land you somewhere else.” And the thought of not being able to see the bard would surely drive him insane. The sheriff would have a field day with that, no doubt. The paladin’s thoughts spiraled down and a wave of emotion overcame him. “Jos…I’m so sorry for all this…” A fragile state, the man was in. Weakened body from the lack of training and movement. His city slowly turning against him. And now Josleen was being mistreated. “I don’t know what to do…That man is impossible.” Speaking about the sheriff. “I can’t go outside. He’s here all the time and is constantly switching out the guards. He may know that there are some that support us.” His forehead pressed against the cold bar. “I need to get out of here…It’s just…Too much.” Old memories flaring up that he fought so hard to erase.

Josleen chuckled (albeit low energy and a bit sad) at his observation. “I may have been shopping around for the past couple of weeks... “ She already knew what she wanted, good catch, Kelo. As Kelovath cracked at the seams, she smoothed his hair and stroked the back of his neck and shoulders. “We’ll find a way to get you out… One way or another…” The cadence in her voice suggested that if legal means don’t work, she would be willing to break the law for him. She couldn’t say as much in the jail, but she had already thought it through. “I’ve been wondering what kind of life we’ll have here once you do get out anyway. Is it worth staying in this place? Where so many as so full of hate for us? Maybe we should go…”

Kelovath was initially shocked at her suggestion. His eyes grew wide instantly and his head started to shake. But, after a second or two, he sighed. “I’ve thought about that…” It was clear the man had been thinking a lot about what the future holds after getting out of jail. “If things go smoothly, then I should either get a trial or something. So, after getting out of here, I’d need to stick around…” He paused a moment, but continued in a more hushed tone. “If the situation escalates and becomes dangerous, then the trial won’t matter. We won’t be safe here. I don’t want to leave Larket, but my own safety is no longer my sole responsibility.” Quick smile as he looked to Josleen, making sure she understood. His thoughts were always on her and how to keep her safe. “But, at the same time, if we run from Larket…Macon wins. He’ll have pushed me…Us from Larket. I can’t let that happen, Jos.” No matter how he looked at it, staying or leaving was dangerous for everyone.

Josleen understood and smiled a little, as much as the somber topic would permit. “But what exactly does Macon win, babe? That’s what I don’t understand. What is his goal? Why is he doing this? I feel like we can’t win when we don’t even know the game. He’s come after you, but why? He had already gotten away with Andurla’s murder. No one knew where he was. So why come back?”

Kelovath shrugged. “I don’t know. There is obviously a reason for it, as it’s a large risk for him. And he’s done a lot of planning to get me where I am now. As for his goal…I just don’t know. Maybe he wants Larket? Maybe I interrupted some plan of his? The seat for ruling Larket is wide open. Macon wants to be King?” Too many questions and basically no answer. “We need to figure it out though.”