Talon's Temporary Room

[Catriona]

Catriona asked if there was a spare room and the servant nodded, telling her where. They had dinner ordered and then she walkd him to the room. THe place was simple but they liked it that way. His room had a straw bed with clothe over it and over that was a down quilt with a down pillow. There was a table and two chairs, for meals, a fireplace for warmth, and a trunk for personal items. It was not the grandest room but it was a room nonetheless.

"Here ya go,," she told him, "An the bath house is down the hall and to the right should you need it," she told him. Shortly after their food was brought to them. There were two plates and some water and ale was brought for them. Catriona thanked the servants for bringing it and then she took a seat at the table. "Come, eat," she smiled, lifting the cover on her plate revealing steamed vegetables, pork, bread and cheese. She poured herself some ale and then ate happily.

[Talon]

Following the young girl through the halls, I gazed around. My all-black attire stood out somewhat, but I was okay with that. My falcons were still outside, no doubt waiting for me to come and signal them to do something. I knew they would be okay; they could fend for themselves. The room she led me to was not the one of a king, but it was certainly much more than I was accustomed to. I even might pay a visit to the bath house. When the food came I waited for the girl to sit, then sat myself across from her. Our meals were the same, and it smelled quite good. Normally my fare was meat, perhaps a few plants if edible ones were to be found, and water. I followed suit and began to eat, starting with the vegetables. I then moved to the bread and cheese interspersed with the pork. It was a good meal.

[Catriona]

Catriona ate happily, sipping the ale here and there. It was a special brew the Germanians made it was always good. "So do you like the food?" She asked him curiously after the pair had sat in silence for some time. When she finished her meal, she pushed the plate back. She finished her drink and then refilled it with water. She knew better than to drink too much. If you had too much ale, anything could happen, both good and bad.

[Talon]

Taking a sip of water every now and again, I continued to eat. "It is excellent," I allowed with an appreciative nod. I rarely drank ale or wine; my job required the utmost concentration and drinking anything with alcohol would greatly reduce that. Besides, I had too many times experienced the drunkenness of my comrades in my life in the army. I did everything I could to avoid being like them. "So tell me," I said as I finished my meal, "do you normally take in wandering travelers?" I was curious as to the dynamics of this land. So far they did not seem an overly hospitable bunch. But I knew that first assumptions were often wrong.

[Catriona]

"Depends. If you help my brother than yes," she said to him. "Many men just go to the inn but on occasion, they get to stay with us," she smiled. "I guess it all sort of depends on the situation," she told him.

[Talon]

Interesting. As with most groups, if you were a friend of the leader, or at least helped them out, you were given somewhat priveledged treatment. Situational priveledges were a good thing, sometimes, such as now. "Well, I would not dare to intrude, so upon daybreak I will leave," I said, finishing my meal and sitting back in the chair a bit. I drummed my right hand upon the table. thud thud thud clink went the rhythm. My index finger was not my own, which was why it made that noise. It was, in fact, a metal of some kind, and honed to a fine point. It was a useful weapon if no other implement was at hand.

[Catriona]

Catriona noticed this and then she asked him curiously, "I don't mean to intrude but, um, what happened to the finger?" She asked him curiously. She had always been curious and plus, she liked conversations, she had always been that way.

[Talon]

The drumming stopped. I lifted my right hand, displaying the pointed tip. "Falcons," I replied, not minding her questions, "I trained them while in the army. One took my finger off, and I had a business aquaintance replace it with a metal tip. It was then that I took on the name Talon. A tribute, of sorts, to my partners." I did not say it, but my hand was a weapon in and of itself. It was my preferred weapon, did I have the chance to use it, and it came very much in handy in my job. I never had to worry about losing it.

[Catriona]

"I see," she nodded and then took their plates. "Well you are more than welcome to stay as long as you please. Is there anything you need?" She asked him curiously before leaving, taking their empty platters back to the kitchen.

[Talon]

I shook my head. "No, all that you have provided is more than adequate. Thank you," I said graciously, dipping my head in a slight inclining bow. Once she was gone, I shed my cloak on the end of the bed. Sighing, I ran my left hand back through my short black hair. It had been an interesting day. I looked out the window. It was now dark outside. I knew my falcons were out there somewhere. Opening it, I stuck my head out. My dark eyes scanned the dark skies. My falcons were no doubt watching me back, their golden eyes intent on my figure. Raising my index finger and thumb, I stuck them in my mouth and let out a keen high pitched whistle. It soared at the pitch of the wind. Pulling my head back in, I waited. Within ten seconds the rustle of wings indicated the arrival of my beauties. As always, the female was first. She lighted on the edge of the window, hopping on my arm when I offered it to her. The male was seconds after, looking a bit disheveled. I let the two rest on the back of the chairs. There they began to preen, letting out small clicks of contentment at their surroundings. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I watched them, folding my hands with my index fingers up. Tapping my chin with my fingers, I pursed my lips and thought. There was much to think about.

[Eadfearth]

Eadfearth quickly traveled through the small tunnels of his 'castle'. It was wide enough for the broad man, but rather short. Not many men grew to be his height, even the Celts. He was one of the few, it was maybe something to be proud off. In some cases. These small tunnels and pathways stretched throughout the whole castle. There were little peepholes in which you can look through, multiple per room to get the best view. They were nearly impossible to find from within a room, and only the most cunning could. Eadfearth eventually made his way to Talon's room. Or at least the room he had heard he was sleeping in. His sources better be correct, or else they would need to be replaced. Which is mostly why Eadfearth was interested in hiring Talon. The chief king looked through, the small peep hole. It was impossible to tell, if Talon was sleeping or not. He had to dress in black. He did not wish to surprise the assassin, because that would not be in his favor. Eadfearth reached to-wards his side. He let out a sigh, he still had his small buckler. The king's hand began to feel around the wall, searching for something. He grinned in satisfaction, as he pulled a lever. A small click could be heard, and the fake wall swung open lightly. Eadfearth appeared from the opposite side of the window slipping out of the small opening the fake wall created. He pushed his leg back to close it, which was followed by another small click. "Talon... Wake up." The king held his buckler(shield) To his chest. He dared not take a step closer.

[Talon]

As a matter of fact, I was not sleeping at the moment. I was lying on the bed, my hands folded on my chest, meditating. I regulated my breathing as I tried to not think about anything in particular. Meditating, for me at least, was about reaching a point of equilibrium. It was about being in complete control, being aware of your surroundings, and not thinking about any certain thing specifically, just allowing your thoughts to ramble where they might. Many times, though this sounded like a practice for the weak, this had made me stronger. Uninhibited by presuppositions and free to go where it may, my mind had taken me many places I would not have gone before. So as I lay there, my breathing slow and regular, trying to settle into a state of torpor, I heard something. I did not open my eyes, nor did I change my breathing, but I listened harder, instantly breaking out of my meditation and going on full alert. A click, then another click. A slight rustle, as if someone were moving. I should have guessed that a place such as this would have secret passages. I prepared myself to act. Within a second I was up, on my feet silent and deadly fast, too fast for anyone to really act. My fist flew towards the person who entered the room as my mind comprehended the words. It was the king. Good thing I had trained for complete muscle control. My fist stopped an inch from his face, and I pulled it back to my side. My bare arms were still tensed, the lean muscle ready for action. "King," I allowed, inclining my head to the side, keeping my black eyes on him, "what is it that you come to me for?"

[Eadfearth]

Eadfearth muscles tensed. He could of reacted or at least tried to, as Talon moved. But he didn't, he would test him. Would he be able to stop himself before hitting him? Most likely. If not he was not very coordinated, and he could not have an uncoordinated assassin. Luckily for both Talon and Eadfearth's face, he stopped. The king let out a sigh, and allowed his muscles to relax. " I've come to talk, Negotiate. Money can buy only so much loyalty, and you seem to attract attention. Even for an assassin. Do you have a clothes, that doesn't stand out during the day." Ironic, how Talon's clothes was suppose to hide him during the night. By during the day, it separated him from the rest of the crowd. " Something more uhhh." He paused to think, of the Latin word for it. "Casual?" Eadfearth stopped, he need to test Talon. A real test, if Eadfearth could easily buy him with money who was there to say that one of his enemies could not. Yes Eadfearth did enter Talon's room through the secret corridors, but Talon did not know the entrance to it. There was no doubt that he would look for a switch of some sort, or a hidden door to enter it. He seemed like the curious sort, or at least somebody who would want to know his surroundings fully.

[Talon]

I allowed a slightly sardonic smile flit across my face. "Were I aware that I would be indoors, I would have dressed appropriately," I said, "but I do have another outfit in my pack." I gestured to the small pack by the edge of the bed. It mostly had weapons in it, but I did carry a more 'civilian' outfit for situations like these. "Money does not buy loyalty," I maintained, "loyalty is bought with trust. Loyalty is not something that is bargainable, nor can you put a price upon it. However, if I enter into a contract with someone, I keep that. Out of honor, not out loyalty." I was loyal to none; all my trust in people had long ago fled. People lied, cheated, and were generally vicious and unforgiving. I did my part by ridding the world of the particularly bad ones if I felt so. Generally I avoided being hired by those kind of people. But this king did not seem the overly bad type. Rough around the edges, perhaps, but not evil. I would not mind working for him, depending on what kind of job he wished for me to do. I would, however, want to find out the passages of this castle. Perhaps they would come in handy.

[Eadfearth]

Eadfearth let out a slight sight. " You will keep your word, out of honor?" It was a rhetorical question. How could this man has no trust in anyone. The whole world was nearly based around trust. A king could not rule if the majority of the population did not trust him. An army would not preform as well, if his soldiers did not trust him. Eadfearth grinned, " Many men have swore they would serve me with undying loyalty. They swore they would Honor their word." He enthisized the word honor. "But as you saw not a day ago, they betrayed me. Despite giving me their word. Despite the fact they said they would honor it. Apparently I can not trust some one, despite their claims of honoring their word. Who is to say, that you as well will become a turncoat and betray your word." He said obviously irrated and angry that he had been betrayed.