The Knives Have Ears

Posted on 08 Dec 2021 @ 4:04am by Rogue Jaslyn & Mage Kithris Sabrae

1,958 words; about a 10 minute read

Mission: Summerday La Fête
Location: Jader Chantry Courtyard
Timeline: Cloudreach 25th – after Summerday opening ceremony

OOC: Continued from Post "Pole Dancing"

Jaslyn and Kithris' conversation in the shadow of the chantry building was interrupted by the Summerday festival opening ceremony. This was Jaslyn's fourth Summerday in Jader. The first had been eye-opening - as a city elf in Val Royeaux she had never experienced anything like it. Here in Jader, surrounded by her new Grey Warden brethren, she had reveled in the festival, even marred as it was then by the looming Blight across the border in Ferelden. Her second Summerday Festival in Jader was overshadowed by widespread famine and disease, the city overrun by Ferelden refugees. With the Blight ended, most of her fellow Orlesian Grey Wardens had relocated to Val Royeaux, but Jaslyn had stayed to do what she could for the elves of Jader, her new home.

Whilst the kindly old Revered Mother gave her speech, Jaslyn scanned the crowd for Cainan, but if he was there she didn't see him. When the speech ended, Jaslyn returned to her conversation with Kithris. "Your friend you mentioned, the one that needs help... I'd like to meet him if he's here."

Kithris listened as the Revered Mother had given her speech for the opening ceremony for Summerday. She had heard the Chantry speeches before though this one had sounded different. When it was done Kit watched the gold woman make her way through the crowds.

A few moments later she was brought back when Jaslyn asked her if Blaine needed help. She looked back to Jaslyn tilted her head slightly. "I am not sure if her would be willing to accept the help. It would be nice to have the help. Especially since I have no idea where to start." She took a quick glance to see if Blaine was around.

Jaslyn scanned the crowd. Another Dalish elf would stand out at a Chantry celebration. Two female elves, one Dalish and one a Warden, both armed… they attracted covert glances as it was. "We'll look for him, but we can enjoy what the festival offers together, if you'd care to accompany me. I've a human friend whom I anticipate meeting here at some point." Jaslyn surveyed the crowd looking for Cainan's handsome face.

Kithris finished looking for Blaine and turned her attention back to Jaslyn. She gave a quick glance around at the festival and gave a nod. "That sounds like fun. I am a bit hungry." She started to head towards the nearest food vendor. As she did she spoke. "Blaine did this often when we were kids. He would take off for days at a time. One day he didn't come back. (pause with a small sigh) I was surprised to see him here." She looked to Jaslyn, "So, a human friend. Interesting." Her eyes shown with humor as her lips turned to a grin.

"I will hope that Blaine appears so I can meet him," said Jaslyn, returning Kithris' grin for a moment before her features became more serious. She had already put Cainan through Hahren Liriel's disapproval, and she wasn't going to do that to him again. "The truth is, Cainan is more than a friend. He's frequently my lover. I don't usually share my personal business, and being a Gray Warden means I can't have children anyway. Just letting you know in case you or your friend have a problem with elves who fraternize with humans.

Kithris listened as Jaslyn explained her relationship with this Cainan. As she did, Kit gave her a big smile. "Myself, I have not problem with it. There are some humans that I have found very attractive. Blaine though, he is......well.....he has his preferences. He has delt with humans when it has been a necessity. (pause as she looks around again) I get the feeling that you might not have to worry about him though. If he has not come to me by now, he has probably left." Her smile turned to a small frown. She had found her love and he left her again. Her hand glowed slightly, briefly, then stopped. Kit didn't realize it had happened. She looked to Jaslyn, "Well let us find this Cainan. Maybe he has a friend."

"If Cainan is here, I've no doubt he'll find us," said Jaslyn. She pretended not to have seen Kithris' hand glow. Interesting. Well, a Dalish mage at a Chantry festival could have no better escort than a Grey Warden, if they ran into trouble with templars, Jaslyn would claim she was a recruit. "For now, let's see what this festival has to offer. I'd like to buy a drink, and then peruse what's on offer to trade in the craft guild tents."

Kithris grinned. "Drinks then shopping. This I can get behind."

Jaslyn led the way toward a section of booths near the edge of the festival area, with more elven and dwarven food and drink merchants. Kithris and Jaslyn were stopped by a group of three elven youths.

One of them, tall with short dark hair and probably the oldest, addressed Kithris. "Madam Dalish, you appear to have discerning tastes. I have two bottles left of an exclusive wine, imported from Val Royeaux. Sixty Crowns for one bottle, or both for one Royal."

Kithris seen the youths approaching and slowed. She looked to Jaslyn then back to the three. "Sixty crowns for one bottle." She looked the bottle over looked back to Jaslyn. "What do you think?"

What Jaslyn thought was that this group of teens was headed for trouble. She regarded the youths closely, all of them were wearing similar blue shirts. Two looked like brothers, both with long brown hair, one braided. The other two were girls, one could be the sister of the dark-haired leader, and the other had short red hair. She examined both of the other ceramic bottles – the seals were intact and on the label was a human woman with long red-purple hair that looked like flowing wine. She'd seen something like it – maybe - when she'd been a servant. "For a good vintage from a prestigious winery in Val Royeaux, that's a good price. But… you don't look like wine merchants."

The dark-haired leader shrugged. "Our last two bottles. Your loss. Someone else will buy them." He held out his hand for either the bottles or the coin.

Kithris tilted her head slightly at Jaslyn's knowledge of the wine. She wasn't a big wine person herself, her teacher was one and had a small collection of bottles. She had looked at them once but it wasnt something that had caught her interest.

Jaslyn sighed and held out a royal. The youth took it with a wide grin and the gang of elven youths scampered away, laughing. Turning to Kithris, she said, "Those youngsters probably stole these bottles, I bought them so they wouldn't get in trouble with the humans. I'll turn these over to Hahren Liriel in the morning, and she'll deal with them."

She put the two bottles in her rucksack. Jaslyn said, "Do you fancy a beer? Or do you prefer wine… from a reputable source?"

Kithris was about to agree to purchase the wine when Jaslyn did. She watched at the group, after taking the Royal, walked away seemingly happy. Jaslyn put the bottles away as she explained why she had bought them. "They probably did. I agree that it would not be good for them to get caught with them. Do not need to have any problems if it can be avoided." She nodded.

As they continued to walk, Jaslyn asked if she preferred beer or wine. This made Kit smile. "Well beer of course. (laugh and smile) Wine has never sat well within me. Haven't found one that I like." She looked to Jaslyn and smiled, "Point me in the right direction and the first round is on me."

"It would be my pleasure," said Jaslyn enthusiastically, pleased her new friend understood about the elven youths. She pointed to a banner hanging from an otherwise nondescript stall. "Jader has a new elven brewmaster who makes a good brew. She's only been at it a couple years, and truth is, her first few batches were not consistent – high quality supplies aren't always available to elves. But lately her results have been excellent, and I hear she's debuting a new recipe at the festival. I'd sure like to try it before she runs out."

Kithris listened as Jaslyn talked about the elf woman who started making her own brew. "It sounds like we have a place to start." She smiled as she headed towards the stall Jaslyn had pointed out. "A new recipe you say. I will need to try this new recipe. See how it compares to what we Dalish brew." She looked to Jaslyn. "Have you ever had mosswine?"

"Moss wine? As in, wine made from moss?" Jaslyn shook her head. "Never tasted it, but I'll try just about any fermented drink once. Do you like Mosswine?" They arrived at the beer stall, and Jaslyn leaned against the make-shift bar, and addressed one of the three elves behind it. "Two tankards of your Summerday brew."

One of the elves drew two tankards and set them on the bar. Jaslyn took a deep pull from the tankard, enjoying the delicious slightly bitter nut-brown brew. "It's good."

Kithris gave Jaslyn a smile when she ordered. Taking the tankard, Kit took a heafty swig. The bitter nut-brown was just enough to linger lightly, perfectly. "Very nice." as she took in the scent of the brew. "I am sure that there are some of the clan near here. They might have some, though it won't be from my clan. Darshee our potion maker, knows how to take the oakmoss and make a very smooth yet wicked wine. It is a dark green in color and a little thick. But does it taste good." She took another good swig from the tankard. Afterwards she looked around at those walking by and the other revelers. "So should we go looking for your Cainan?"

Jaslyn looked around for him again, - she was beginning to worry about Cainan. It really was unlike him to miss a party of this scale. Plus, she had indulged in the expectation that he'd want to continue their amorous activities. It was foolish of her, really. He was free to bed anyone he wished. "He's a grown man and a free agent. Cainan could be tied to some beautiful noblewoman's bedpost. We may not see him tonight." Jaslyn shrugged. "Is your clan far away from here? I'd like to try that oakmoss wine and meet your potion maker. To Darshee." She raised her tankard and drank a salute.

Kithris took her own tankard and drank a salute to Darshee. When she was done she shook her head to Jaslyn's question. "I was actually on my way back to my clan. Well looking for it anyway. Before I left we would camp near the Frostback and Sulcher's Pass at this time of year. I am not sure if they are there." She took the last swallow of her drink, set the tankard down and looked at Jaslyn. "I had originally planned to only stay for the one night and head out this morning. But running into Blaine, plans changed. He has run off. (her hand glows slightly again. she seems not to notice) I have made a new friend." She smiles at Jaslyn, "So, if you would like to meet my clans potion maker, we set out to find her. If you have a better idea, I am willing to stick around."

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OOC: Continued in post "The Rogue Less Traveled"

 

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