From Disappearance to Return: Arrival and a Voice from the Past

-You are sure it's her?.." Voices filtered in through the haze, Shadoweave's eyes struggled to adjust to the darkness. The scent of musk, and the clammy chill of damp stone created her surroundings.. Chain's still weighed heavily against her limbs, and all she could do was listen..

"Of that I am certain,.." The second voice, held a familiarity that she had not had the misfortune of dwelling upon in what seemed like ages.. 'Galentine'.. They had found her, and she was confused; the expenditure must have been great to fund such a search,.. and yet here she was, what value could she possibly hold?,.. Certainly not the amount required to find her, and the effort, made her frown. How?.

"She seems little more than a petty thief, Master Galentine, unremarkable at best.. It is not my place to question your decisions, but-"

"Then don't..", The master's deep voice broke the other's words as heavy footfalls sounded somewhere above.. "I meet with the Council in an hour, to discuss my Land rights, concerning the fallen Barony. I want her cleaned and appropriately dressed, by the time I return.."

"As you wish Master" The hollow, sound of a door closing came to her ears,.. and she found the place left in silence.. Galantine had been a very.. influential.. merchant as Shadow recalled,.. and most of his power came from connections with several street dwelling factions within the city. She wondered how far he had come in the time she had spent away.. His ambitions, and heavy handed tactics when dealing with 'business' were always something to be mindful of.. Shadoweave had never been certain what the man truly wanted of her, and certainly did not want to find out..

The journey across the sea had left her weak, trembling hands feeling out their place in the darkness searching for something.. anything that she could use to manipulate the locks at her wrists.. The first time She'd met Galentine was at an inn.. The name escaped her, but after a harsh life on the streets; Fallashay had finally come into her own.. A fairly well known street dealer, by the name of VenrisA'lkain, had given her a rather simple job, stealing her into the ranks of the tavern's staff..

Information was the goal, but She found herself enjoying the honest work. There was no bloodshed, no need to watch her back every moment of her weary life. Shadow was still young, dogging the roving hordes of low-lives, was perhaps too much for a young girl. The warmth of the inn was a welcomed change. She waited tables, and scrubbed long hours into the night, and the others of the establishment looked out for one another.

Venris was concerned that a man by the name of Galentine was becoming too political, his fears were obviously for the profit he would lose.. and Galentine had too many of the thugs, and hired killers on his payroll..

She had met him serving a meal at a private booth, thick curtains cutting out most of the sound beyond the table. Galentine was younger than she had thought he would be, barely in his mid-twenties, and struck an imposing figure. Long wheat colored hair was bound back from his face.. Lean almost hungry features of a pale color brought a startling contrast to his emerald eyes. He seemed to have a pension for velvet and finery, yet did not carry the stout frame that came to most of his wealth. The man with the merchant had many names, but she knew his trade, and she had remembered feeling an almost stifling sensation..

Their conversation ended shortly after her arrival, but both of them turned their attention on her.. The air was strange, as if they had been waiting all that time, and the moment they had come for was finally at hand.. It was his empty eyed companion, the one who held the look of a hunter, who broke the awkward silence as she quickly began to place their meal before them.

"Windwhisper, That's the name they gave you from Telmon's block along Washrock, isn't it?.." His lifeless eyes held hers a long moment, and despite the lack of response he nodded.. Galentine's face lit up, it wasn't a joy that seemed to lurk behind his emerald depths, but something more.. an almost hungry emotion glimmered.. Not so much desire, as she had thought in the past.. Now it seemed to mark his ambition,.. but why?.. All this time she had been foolish enough, arrogant enough to think it lust.. No man, no matter how powerful would go to such lengths for such a pointless goal.

The resounding echo of a grating click snapped her from the reflections of the past.. The painful sensations of the present returned in a rush, as she shakily pushed herself upward from the floor.. Even the faint light of the approaching candle burned her eyes, and Shadow squinted against it, making out three figures approaching.

A frail looking youth in an off white homespun tunic approached. The flow of his garb swept down to his knees, belted simply at the waist with a bit of leather cord which bore a ring of brass key's.. His sandaled feet making muffled noises beneath the sound of his armored escort. Two seasoned looking guardsmen flanked him on either side, chainmail chiming softly with the heavy thud of their polished boots. They wore burgundy tabards, the color of Galentine's merchant holding,.. heavy broadswords swaying in time to their motion, as they filed in, coming to a stop within striking distance..

The light still hurt her eyes as the boy took the keys from his belt,.. and drew in close.. "You, will come with me.." He spoke softly, "Please do not resist.." The words were spoken as he indicated the guards with the slight tilting of his head, sandy locks somewhat matted as they clung to his brow..

At the moment Shadow wasn't sure if she could take the two men that came with the boy,.. and even if she could, where would she go?.. Too little of this place had been seen so far,.. and if she ran, there was no telling who might be waiting beyond the single door leading out.. Her ring had been taken long before she arrived at the ship in moorgate's harbor,.. most likely some time before she had awoken from the brutal beating.. She only wished she could get a message to the guild, everyone knew she had a habit of disappearing for long stretches at a time, so she had no hope of being summoned..

Maybe someone on the streets could have told them.. The silence following the boy's words caused the guardsmen to shift their weight testily, and she shook her head.. "I will go with you.." Her voice cracked from disuse.. had it been so long?.. And so she followed..

*(the council)*

The normal quiet of the vaulted room had burst into a bellowing contest, arguments resounding off the tiled walls as Members of the council paced the colorfully patterned mosaic that covered the floor.. High pillars lit the room with sputtering torches, marking the hour. What had come of this place?,.. The councilors met in the night like sneak thieves, and squabbled over every morsel they could vie for.

Galentine watched in silence, his expression smug while the leaders rallied their supporters amongst the thirteen seats of power within the city.. It was not always so,.. Once the council had been an advisory sect, in service to the Baron and Baroness.. Nothing seemed to get accomplished in the twenty years following the death of the Baronial house. Things would change though.. The time of the council's ruling had been good to him, their indecision allowing him to grow in influence amongst the populous. Some he ruled with favors, and the almighty coin,.. others he ruled through fear.. never knowing when one of their family members might meet with a nasty accident,.. or simply disappear..

He drank wine from a guilded chalice, amused as the best and brightest of the people's temporary leaders were reduced to the begging and wining of dogs..

"You have lost the focus of this meeting Chancellor Orlin, the house of Trielane, has no binding blood to the nobility.." A thin faced elder sputtered his words, as the color of outrage filled his cheeks, hands trembling

Orlin turned slowly, bristled brows lifting with a mild expression.. "Third Seat Evernae, It is clear to all of us that nothing has been done,.. for the past twenty years we have sat here mired in the arguments and intrigues of this court.. The house of Trielane, is as close to high birth as we can come since the purging that occurred back in the days when the streets ran red with the old blood lines.. What would you have me do then?.. Mmm? continue to allow our body of government to rule, while the city falls apart?.."

Galentine watched Evernae step toward the Chancellor, the promises he had made to the old man were paying off, and the merchant knew without a doubt, that the fourth and eight seat, would follow the elder's course in opposing the ascension of the Trielane household.

"Chancellor Orlin," He cleared his throat setting the chalice down lightly onto the heavily engraved black oak table.. "We are all concerned about the welfare of our great city, but you can not allow Trielane's blood to rule.. We have all seen the treacheries of that house in the past.. have we not?.." Galentine's words caused a stir of agreements amidst his supporters, and some of those who opposed him as well.. "I too, believe we need a central house, and return the advisory council back to what it was meant to be, but not if we place the bloodline of a murderer upon the Barony seat.."

Orlin's wrinkled face withered into a frown as he eyed Galentine.. one frail hand motioned Evernae to be seated.. "Master Galentine,.. " He paused as if considering the name a long while,.. and the Merchant could feel the ire associated with that name.. Orlin could never be swayed, even through subtlety. Many people supported the first seat, and that made him dangerous despite his age.. "I truly wish you spoke out of concern Galentine,.. but I know your ambitions.. And you know that you have no blood rights to the Baron's lands.. or his power.."

"He is dead Chancellor Orlin, ash and buried many years ago,.. so do not speak of him as a living entity.." Another voice spoke up from beyond the circle of the high seats... "Galentine has done much for the city since the fall,.. is that not why he is allowed to sit amongst us?.." "Yes,.." Orlin spoke almost coldly.. "The Baron and his wife were slain,.. along with their heirs.. Oh yes,.. I HAVE seen what Galantine has done with our city... I also find it odd, how safe the streets have become since his ascension into our fold.."

"Just what are you accusing me of Orlin?.." Galentine's gaze narrowed,.. hand coming to rest tightly about his chalice..

"Why nothing at all, Master Galentine,.. Is there something that I should be accusing you of?.." The smirk that touched the old man's lips was one that Galentine wished he could rip from the elder's face.. "Some might have taken that comment as a compliment.."

"It was the tone..." Galentine said quietly easing back into his seat.. "Chancellor Orlin,.. Could it be agreed, that if you could find someone who has an intact bloodline,.. be it through marriage,.. or child,... that they would they be accepted?.."

A troubled frown crossed Orlin's lips,.. and he eyed the merchant silently before breaking the peace.. "Fourth house or Higher,.. yes.. as it would seem that the fifth house will never be accepted,.. But as it is the only surviving noble house.. I think we should begin to make a ballot concerning our .. situation.."

"How would one prove that the blood is pure then Orlin?.." Evernae questioned,.. his pale hands coming to rest at the forefront of his blue robes..

"You should already know that answer Third seat Evernae.. but as I am sure some of you may not know,.. there is a mystic and apprentice that can test the blood by alchemical solution.." Galentine did indeed already know of the procedure,.. and rose from his chair, pacing slowly..

"Then I propose that we postpone the ballot for one month,.. and conduct a search and testing, for any found to be claimed of noble blood.."

"It has already been done Master Galentine.." Orlin replied wearily.. "What could you hope to accomplish save waste time by this action..?"

"It has been done Chancellor,.. but not amidst those who were growing up on the streets.." The words brought several gasps,.. most of them troubled as he turned to view the room..

"The filth of the gutter is unfit to run a household,.. it would take years to teach them the policies and refine any of those riffraff... In the meantim-"

"We afford them a reagent, until such time as they are fit to take control...", was Galentine's answer..

"Is a search acceptable?.. If blood means so much to you,.. then we should stop at no cost to find one worthy.. would you all not agree?.."

Orlin sighed wearily throwing up his hands as he turned away.. "Agreed.. but I will not take any treachery lightly Master Galentine.. and if any supposed heirs that YOU bring to us directly turns out to be false... You will suffer for it.."

"So be it.." He turned slowly, not untouched by the threat, but Galentine's victory out weighed his anger..