I hadn't been asleep for very long when the commotion woke me. I could hear shouting and the distant sound of banging but couldn't see what was happening - I had deliberately taken a room overlooking the courtyard so as to be as far from the road as possible. After a few minutes it subsided and I thought little of it. I was about to return to sleep when there was a knock at my door and the inn keeper inquiring if I was awake and apologizing for disturbing me. It seems my friends had arrived and wished to talk to me. Puzzled I pulled on a dress and picked up my sword - if this was a trap then I wasn't going quietly.
It wasn't a trap, but a rather bedraggled Charity, Allagahn, Alfred, a monster of a dog, and another person I didn't recognize, clad in some sort of protective armour. I noted it also carried a sword. As the figure removed its helmet I could tell she was female, resembling the people that predominated in Nancheng. I noted she had green eyes which is most unusual. Charity introduced me to her and then introduced her to me. It seems this is the mysterious Cordelia whom my mother sent Charity and the others to originally. From the manner of the introduction it seems that Charity is in the habit of deferring to this person. I took my cue from this and chose to act accordingly at least until I have a better understanding of any predating hierarchy.
Her armour is most interesting as it seems to hold together without fastenings. She first unclipped her vambraces, and the her breast plate, and then reached under the skirt of the armour . She then bent double and slid the armour over her head, much in the manner of a chainmail suit. The clothing she wore underneath had short sleeves and some strange logo on it. It didn't cover up much of her figure. She then removed her boots, which seemed to interlock with the leg chausses, and then removed the chausses and upper leg plates. I could now see she wore a pair of trousers that looked similar to the upper section. She released some sort of catch on the belt, slipped the trousers to her knees, sat on a chair and removed them. She seemed oblivious to the fact that her scant underwear was clearly visible or that the inn keeper was staring at her, and Allagahn was furtively watching her. Charity just ignored her and stripped of her own wet clothes, wrapping herself in the blanket provided by the inn keeper. She also didn't seem that bothered that she put her body on display. The exact opposite is true of Alfred and he disappeared to his room to change before returning to eat with the others.
By this time the bath tub, which had been brought out and placed by the re-invigorated fire, had been filled with steaming water. Rather than waiting for the screen which the inn keeper was bringing from the back she stripped off the strange shirt she was wearing, revealing she wore nothing underneath, her underwear, and got into the bath. I've never seen such a display of lewdness in all my life. But to compound things she then got out of the bath, and whilst still naked rummaged in her pack for a cloth to dry herself and clean clothes. At least Charity had the decency to change behind the screen.
The hour was now getting very late, although by consent we decided to stay at the inn for the 13th Hour incursion, and therefore all rose late. We then mounted our horses, Cordelia had purchased and additional horse for Alfred at an exorbitant rate, and set off down the road. I have yet to work out how she accomplished it but it took us barely an hour to do 40 miles and less than 5 hours to make the return trip to Nancheng. Cordelia then took us shopping to acquire wet weather gear, clean clothes, provisions, and pick up my armour.
Suitably outfitted we they headed for the docks. Cordelia had a ship waiting for us but events didn't go according to her plans. We had scarcely boarded than she was approached by the Captain. He looked agitated. I noticed her loosen her sword in its scabbard but she told us and her dog, to remain where we were whilst she dealt with a small matter. She had barely gone below decks than I felt my muscles freeze. Not only were they frozen I couldn't shape shift either. She emerged back on deck accompanied by a tall and dour thin man, who carried her sword. She told us not to resist and come below decks. I found I could move again. I looked to the others. Alfred would do anything for an easy life so there was not hint of defiance there. Charity seemed to recognize the man and had a resigned look on her face. Allagahn definitely recognized him. He seemed poised between rushing to greet him and stunned disbelief.
Cordelia turned and disappeared the way she had come, leading the way in to a large cabin at the rear of the vessel. Reclining on a couch, her arm heavily strapped was a stunningly attractive woman, immaculately dressed in a green gown, her hair braided into a pony tail. She told us to make ourselves comfortable, and then asked Cordelia to introduce us all. She then instructed her to take us to a place called Carnelian, for it seems that neither she, her name is Llewella by the way, nor Benedict, the tall dour man, know how to get there, and can't trump there because their sister, Fiona, is blocking trump access.
Cordelia was obviously not going to play ball. I could see that in her eyes but her self control was considerable. She simple said she wasn't going to do it, a look of do something about it if you dare written on her face. I think Benedict may have done , but Llewella's hand twitched and he remained where was. Allagahn then insisted he could do it. Llewella seemed to ignore him. She was waiting for something. Cordelia just stood there defiantly. What ever game she was playing she must have calculated correctly for Charity then announced she could take us to Carnelian, which seemed to satisfy Llewella. She told Cordelia she could go if she wanted. As if dismissed she walked across the room retrieved her sword from where Benedict had dropped it, although I noted her eyes never left him, retrieved her pack and left the room. As she left her look of angry defiance hand been replaced by one of disgust. She said if any of us wanted to go with her we should come to the hold at midnight.
Her departure did noting to ease the atmosphere in the cabin. If anything it became more intense. Allagahn was becoming more agitated obviously wanting to talk to Benedict alone. Charity on the other hand just sat down and seemed to go into a trance. Since there wasn't room for us all to sleep in here, it looked as if Llewella and Benedict had commandeered this cabin for their use, I picked up what few things I possessed and went in search of somewhere to sleep.
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| Hero of the Hour - Sorcha | The Keep of the Thirteenth Hour |