675-07-24 - Boy Chasing
Boy Chasing | |||||||
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Summary: After receiving a strange message Adara contacts a boy for answers. | |||||||
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The same common boy, who braught a message to lady Adara is now sitting at the end of one of the bridges. He is not older than 11 or 12 years. Maybe even younger. He has a branch with a rope in his hands. The rope is drowned into the water as if boy would be expecting to catch a fish.
He sways his legs though, splashing the same water everywhere and the smell of old fish is spreading from his dirty clothes.
After reading the message Adara moved to pursue the boy, up until she encountered one of her Whispers reporting in. Sending them ahead to pursue the boy, remain out of sight, and report back once he had settled in one place the Mistress of Whispers headed to her office and the room beyond to change. So it was that a woman in her late thirties casually down one of the bridges in the general direction of the boy. Dressed in very poor attire, her dress even having a few holes here and there. The woman is about as dirty as her clothes, her hair matted and caked with mud as she makes her way along.
The boy is not aware about the approach of another woman. He just hums some kind of common melody and continues trying to catch a fish.
Looking to the singing lad, the woman makes her way over, hunched over slightly as though from a lifetime of hard work and asks, "Wha' kind o' bait ye usin'?" in a casual tone.
The boy does not raise his gaze to the woman, just shrugs, "Warms and stuff..." he answers and splashes the water with his legs again. Likely a few drops of water flops on Adara's dress.
Adara shows no concern for her dress, but then its in such bad shape already the water would likely benefit more then harm. "I think alls tha' splashin' scare the fish off." as she moves to stand near the boy, taking on a casual stance, her body language still that of a common woman from the poorer parts of town.
"I am just playin, ma'am," the boy answers, adding, "Your voice may scare them off, ya know!" He chcukles and rubs his nose.
Adara smiles softly, and says, "'Ave ye 'eard anythin' 'bout ye friends gettin' work up at tha castle? I 'eard someone was payin' up there."
"Nope, I heard nothin," the boy answers, "I barely go inside the city. Here," the boy points at the tiny boat in yhe horizon, "My father is fisherman. I am usually here."
Adara nods and says, "Likely someone pullin' me leg, if ye 'ear anythin' let me know. I could use the work."
"Ya. If I will have time lookin for you around whole island. My mom needs job too..."
"I'm not tha' old." is Adara's indignant response, though she clearly is. "Wha' does ye momma do? Maybe I do things she can't."
My mom does all the things all women usually do..." the boy shrugs and splashes the water again, starting to laugh lively. He does wnjoy water especiallh when the day is so hot. "But why are you askin? I don't know you. Leave me alone..."
Adara shifts tactics, she's tired of delaying things and finally asks, "Who sent you with that note?" her tone remains casual ad polite, though she shifts to a more common manner of speaking. Not nobility or poor, but more between. She does poise herself to start running however, in case the boy bolts.
"Ah!" the boy calmly stays in his place, "I was told that you will come lookin for me. I was waitin for you, actually. I don't know, who gave me the letter. It was dark and she or he was wearing a cloak. I didn't see anythin. But... she or he said to tell you somethin, if you will find me..." The boy raises his gaze to lady Adara, "She or he asked to say: "I am a servant of the Kingdom and the Queen. You are after a wrong person. If anyone will learn, who am I, I may lose the head, because I know too much." Also, that person added, that you should investigate why the mentioned woman pays too many visits as a commoner to the royal passage. Why she enters the room of the prince, while her trusted servant distracts the guards. That is all I guess, but I could forget something, I believe... I am not sure...."
Adara nods and asks, "There is nothing more they told you, or anything else you noticed?"
"Nah... But she looked good. Gave me coins. My family will have food for a week. She is good. Or he. I dunno. But good. I would listen for her or he. Looked good... ya..."
Adara nods and says, "If they contact you again let me know, if you learn anything more about them inform me as well." as she reaches into a pouch and pulls out another weeks worth of coin and holds it out to the boy.
"Sure," the boy nods taking the pouch greedly, "May I ask? Will you listen for her or he?"
ADara says, "As best I can, there is only so much I can do with so little information, but if there are further messages I'll listen as long as the information is reliable. All I do is for the good of the Isles as well."
"Yeah," the boy shrugs, "Interesting. All these stuff goin on around you, rich people..."
Adara smiles softly and asks, "Sounds like they are worth putting up with for money?" and giggles softly in a goodnatured way.
"Sure, you all pay me to do atuff and all i need to do to be silent and stuff..." the boy grins.
Adara nods and says, "It can be good, long as the 'interesting' stuff doesn't get too interesting."
"Yeah..." the boy weaves a bit, standing up. He takes his useless stuff for fishing, "My lady..." he bows as father taught him and then leaves.
Adara smiles and says, "No need for that when we are talking like this, anywhere else though it'd be good to remember." winking playfully then allows the boy to leave and starts back towards the castle.