In the Dark of the Night

[Guest]

Thea let out a shaky laugh, the shock from few moments ago gradually fading away. "Coram seems to think scaring the daylights out of people is a great pastime," she said to Khei.

"No," Coram said, with a smile and rolling his eyes at her.

Thea turned to Coram. "Not that I'm glad to see you, but what would posess you to come out here, at this time of night, in this type of weather?"

Coram slammed the door behind him, stopping the gust of wind from churning through the door. He rubbed his hands together, gathering some warmth into them. "I have a problem. That little beauty of horse Khei has...its original owner is dead."

She crossed her arms, sensing a bigger revelation was to reveal its self. "Why does that concern us? You said the horse had been abandoned. He didn't want it," she said. "We had nothing to do with him."

"No, no, no, listen to me," he said. "He had abandoned his horse for weeks at my stable so I hadn't seen him in a while. Some people came around to question to me today and that's what I told 'em. They questioned me about everything I knew about the man. They seemed to be trying to gather as much information as they could. They heard he left his horse with me so naturally they came to talk to me. And then they asked why his horse was seen at the docks today, and I lied to them and told them I had no idea because they gave me a very accurate description of two women whose description fitted you two ladies, "--he raised an eyebrow-- "who were seen at the docks today, with the dead man's former horse, along with a man who they seemed in dire need to see. The man they seemed to want information about him in particular. The deceased man seemed to be important to them but I'm not sure why. But they did tell me what he was...What was he now? ...Oh, a merchant! You see, they weren’t just questioning because he didn't just die naturally--he was murdered at the docks."

Thea was left shocked and speechless, recollecting the story she had heard previously today: about the merchant who had been killed.

[Khei]

Khei swallowed. She didn't much like how things sounded. She quietly cursed herself for being unfortunate in her choice of horse.. Then again, if it hadn't been for that arrogant fool, they wouldn't be caught up in this any further than having borrowed a dead man's horse.

She folded her arms and shook her head. Her face a mixture of annoyance and worry.

"Well we were at the docks but it was only in an attempt to help.. well I wouldn't call him a friend. But we were unable to help him and parted ways there."

She looked to Thea while she waved it off as if to ask if that were enough of an explanation. It was the truth.. or at least part of it. She didn't think it would be prudent.. or smart to tell too much. Less anyone knew of the events of the day the better off she thought they all were.

[Guest]

Thea nodded. She liked how Khei was going with this.

"That man they're after," Coram said, "he sounds like the shady sort. And I don't want anything to happen to you two. The men who wish to go after him don't seem like the friendliest sort of people. Don't be seen with him for the sake of your safety."

Coram was about to walk out the door when Thea stopped him.

"Do you have anymore information about those men who are after the man?" Someone was after Ashven but Ashven must be far away from here by now.

"None," he said. "Goodnight, ladies. I apologise for my disruption of your night."

"Anytime," Thea said.

[Khei]

Once Coram departed, Khei walked over to Thea and shook her head. She didn't have much to say about this new development but she didn't refrain from voicing her opinion.

"Can't say that I'm not happy to be rid of that man. Particularly after what your friend has been kind enough to inform us about him."

[Guest]

"I agree," Thea said. She ran her hand through her hair. "Trouble seems to follow Ashven and now right onto our doorstep. He seems to be in danger because of those men, but by now he is probably out on a ship somewhere, searching for that gemstone. He's safe." Thea locked the door the front door that Coram had exited. "The last thing you would probably would want to talk about is that man." She laughed.

[Khei]

Khei laughed. "Talking ABOUT him doesn't bother me. Talking TO him is another matter."

She chuckled and started toward the kitchen again.

".. but yeah seems that man is just a bundle of headaches for anyone unfortunate enough to stand too close to him."

[Guest]

Thea let out a giggle. "Very, very true," she said, grinning. "Just be glad we don't have to deal with him anymore." She smiled again.

[Khei]

Khei smiled and nodded, sharing in Thea's giggles.

"If I could smile any wider about that, My head would fall off!"

[Ashven]

Once Coram had left, the cat had lost interest though the laughter of the women didn't fail to reach it's ears.

The tabby fluidly made it's way to the kitchen while the two were otherwise distracted and hopped down to the table where it made itself comfortable and began nibbling on the bread and lapping at the wine as it pleased.

[Guest]

Thea felt like she was drunk without the wine. She couldn't seem to stop smiling. Thea's fit of giggles eventually managed to slow but a constant smile appeared on her face.

"Now," she said, that playful smile still playing on her lips, "I'm mighty hungry and just want to forget about today and that man."

[Khei]

Khei Nodded

"Agreed. I believe we have some bread and wine awaiting our return in the kitchen."

She smiled heading back toward the kitchen.

[Guest]

Thea followed Khei to the tempting kitchen where the food lay. When they entered the kitchen she nearly screamed.

"WHERE did that CAT come from?!" she said, pointing an accusing finger at the cat that was on the table.

[Khei]

Khei froze when she saw the cat. A low growl was building in her throat.

"I didn't see it come in! Maybe it belongs to Coram?"

She then noticed the half eaten food and yelped.

"HEY! It's eating our food!"

[Ashven]

The tabby stopped mid-lap at the wine, it's one good eye looking up at the two women. It gave a contented Meow before stretching and sitting next to the wine glass.

[Guest]

"Well, there goes our dinner," Thea said solemnly.

Thea realised her hysterical reaction was an over reaction...but none the less...A cat was still sitting on the table. So maybe that justified it. It did, she thought confidently.

"So what do we do with it? I'm a stranger to stray animals, never had one in fact, but I don't think it would be wise to send it out into the cold. "