Aclidia Blues Part 4

Abel leads Sibyl back to the Baro Family Vista. Will taking refuge with Flavius Baro be a blessing...or curse?

Dispite the warm climate the air of Aclidia does have a certain chill to it at night. The streets of the upper district are lit by lamp posts. The various mannors and buildings look foreboading with only the night watchmen out and about for each house.

Abel shushes the lizard one more time as he slips her in through the gate. "Now, remember what I told you, yes?" He looks at her for her response.

The lizard slips in behind the squirrel, making sure her tail is free and clear before shutting the gate. "Not...really." Sibyl admits that she was a little stunned to take in every thing the squirrel told her to do. The Baro family court yard is empty save for the light from the lamp posts in the garden and statue area.

Abel sighs in exasperation. "Just don't speak till you're spoken to, now come on."

With a curt nod Sibyl signals that this will not be a problem. The lizard is so shaken she doesn't trust her self to speak anyway. "Wh-what do you plan to say to Flavius...?" Sibyl finds herself growing more nervous as she looks up into the statue of a marble weasel plunging a spear into the gut of a stone wolf. "He's...a nice beast, right?"

Abel nods. "On good days, yes. He trusts me implicitly, as well, which may work to our advantage." He pushes open the front door carefully. "Be very quiet. He may be asleep, and he hates to be disturbed from sleep."

Sibyl breaths a sigh of relief, "Oh good. It would be nice to deal with a sane noble for a change..." The lizard cuts herself off short at the state of the room beyond. The foyer of the manor is in complete dissiray. Spilled wine, parchments spread across the place. A single otter is here sweeping at the floor.

Abel frowns at the otter. "Oy, why isn't this room straight yet? Must I do everything myself?" His voice softens, "Ahh, RT, I know you're doing your best. I have something to discuss with Master for a bit, but afterward I'll help ya finish cleaning up, how's that sound?" Turning to the lizard, he gestures at the otter, "I have no idea what his real name is, he rarely ever speaks, so I nicknamed him RT, or Rudder Tail." He chuckles softly. To the otter, he says, "I'll have a word with the other servants for hopping off to bed or whatever and leaving this mess for you to tackle alone. It just ain't right. Anyway, Miss Sibyl, if you'll follow me to the Parlor, which should be a lot neater, since we rarely have guests, I'll go try and fetch Master gently." He herded the lizard off through a door to the right.

Sibyl squeeks as she is shoved into another room. RT in the mean time just nods to the steward and continues to sweep up the mess. The manor is altogether silent for tonight, perhaps a bit more silent than usual, and messy. It looks as if dozens of beasts trampled through here with wine, food, and more wine.

Abel glances about. "Hmm, even the parlor. Please, excuse the mess. Must have been another party I wasn't informed of. If you like, you can help clean a little while I fetch Master..."

Sibyl would give the squirrel a 'yeah...like a snow ball chance in heck of that happening' look but instead she points curiously to the couch on the far side of the parlor. "Um...correct me if I'm wrong but, isn't that your master?" She gestures to the weasel laying sprawled half on half off a wicker couch. A bottle of wine is in his paws. Flavius is completely bare chested save for the purple sash across his chest, leaving the bulge of his middle exposed. The bloated weasel appears to be snoring, rather loudly.

Abel frowns. "Yes Ma'am, that is. I may be the slave, and he may be the Master, but you mark my words, there isn't going to be another wild party in this house. Sibyl, I'd be grateful for your assistance in my endeavor. I'm going to make a respectable noble out of my owner, if I die trying." The squirrel is dead serious. "But, first things first, I think a bucket of cold water is water is what I need right now, please excuse me while I fetch one."

The lizard holds her paws up and takes a step away from the squirrel. He is actually a little intimidating when serious. She looks at the passed out form a 'noble' beast and crosses her arms in disgust. "Do what you want to. Maybe it will help with the smell of wine coming from him...sheesh...how much can one weasel drink?"

Abel frowns. "He'll be going on a diet soon, so not very much in the near future." He exits the room for several minutes, the returns with a bucket of freezing water. "You may want to stand back, Ma'am, I've never done this before, and I have *no* idea how he's going to react when he wakes." Then, without another word, Abel flings the bucketful of cold water in his Master's face.

The weasels eyes snap open. His mouth opens into a shocked, stunned gasp as he leaps into the airand over the back of the couch, toppling it over in the proccess. The lizard gasps and clutches at her snout. She doesn't know where to scream in horror or giggle.

Abel drops the bucket quickly and remains still. "Sir, you have a guest. Somebeast very important. Her name is Sibyl, from a good family from..." He fumbles for a location in his mind, "From the North, Sir. She came to Aclidia to manage her family's business affairs, sir, much like yourself, but sadly, she has fallen on hard times. Her family's manor burned down just yesterday, and she has nowhere else to stay, so she asks for assistance from the fine son of the Upstanding Baro family, sir." He does his best to make his lie sound *very* convincing.

The weasel lifts his head up over his belly to look at the two beasts...all four of them...his leg and tail are still wrapped over the couch. Flavius struggles to get up until he is finely on his knees, then stands to shaky feet. Rubbing his head the weasel staggers across the room, depositing his empty wine bottle with the lizard as he reaches to the fern plant behind her. He grips the small tree firmly, lifts it up, and pulls out another wine flask. "R-run that all by me again?" he says while taking a long swig from the flask.

Abel blinks. He had missed the one in the fern, and he'd be so certain he'd found all the hiding places. Frowning, he repeats, "Miss Sibyl here requests guest accommodations until her manor is rebuilt, Sir. She is quite wealthy, isn't that right, Ma'am?" He elbows her side when Flavius isn't looking.

Abel blinks. He had missed the one in the fern, and he'd be so certain he'd found all the hiding places. Frowning, he repeats, "Miss Sibyl here requests guest accommodations until her manor is rebuilt, Sir. She is quite wealthy, isn't that right, Ma'am?" He elbows her side when Flavius isn't looking.

Sibyl jumps a little, "Oh, right. Loaded with cash, heh heh. I'm practically swimming in it!" The reptile chuckles nervously. The weasel scratches at his head while he takes all this in. "Sibyl? Sibyl...have I seen you somewhere before? I get this f-feeling we met someplace..."

Abel says, "But of course, Master, everybeast in Aclidia knows Sibyl, daughter of that wealthy silk merchant from up North. They make a killing in silk every season. She's practically the toast of Aclidian society."

The weasel gives them both a tired, sleepy look. The gears are starting to turn in Flavius's mind though now that he has had some time to filter out some of the wine flowing through his viens. "I'm sorry but, which silk merchant did you say? I only remember the...oh...what was their name..." Thankfully for the pair the gears arn't turning too quickly yet.

Abel frowns. He knows his lie is close to being found out. "Sir, Sibyl's poor father died last year, he drowned in a vat of dye, she...doesn't like to talk about it..."

The lizard has little experience acting like a noble, but emotion she can work with. Tears well up in her eyes and Sibyl begins to wail, "Papa! Why papa! If you only put guard rails on the catwalk you would have lived!" Surely no beast would dare pry too hard at the cover story of a crying woman, right? Flavius raises an eyebrow at the display then turns to Abel, "Seriously? Wow that is...a pretty interesting way to go actually."

Abel nods gravely and whispers, "Oh, it was, Sir. When they pulled him out, he was dyed purple."

The weasel looks at the still crying figure of Sibyl trying to imagine her as a purple lizard. "Well, at least he died in something expensive, I myself hope to drown in a vat of whine one day." He looks the lizard over some more as he drinks from the flask, "Her house burned down you say?"

Abel nods emphatically. "She lost *everything*, even all her clothes, that stuff she's wearing she had to borrow."

The weasel peers at the lizard, "Well, then we can't very well leave a fellow merchant out on the streets." Flavius rubs his chin again, she looks so familiar. He peers even closer at her face, "And you are /sure/ ma'am we havn't met before? Maybe at a tavern?" Sibyl leans away from the weasel. Blast! What does she say! What does she say! She sweats for a long moment and is about to reply when the weasel says again, "Nah, that lizard was much skinnier..." The weasels eyes widen and a look of shock spreads across his face as the following blow to the side of the skull sends him flying over the couch.

Abel eyes go wide. "What in the heck did you do that for? You *ruined* my careful lying, and, to top it off, I'll likely get lashed! Are you *trying* to get me in trouble?"

The lizard clutches at her snout again, "Oh light I'm so sorry! I...I paniced!" she rushes to the fallen weasels side who now has a dazed look in his eyes, "Mr. Baro! Are you ok? I'm so sorry!" The weasel blinks at the two beasts, "Wha...what happened...did I...black out?" He rubs at his jaw, "Oh man! What happened to my jaw!"

Sibyl can hardly hide her nervousness as she replies, "Er, yes! It was quite the fall. Are you alright?" The weasel shakes the sleepyness from his eyes. "Yeah...I guess..." The hefty weasel picks himself up, still rubbing at his jaw. " He breaks into a smile finely at the lizard, "Alright then...I believe we were talking about letting Miss. Sibyl here stay with us? I would be honored if you did ma'am." He takes a bow and staggers a bit. Righting himself the weasel chuckles, "Do..please find her a room Abel."

Abel frowns, exiting out to the kitchen. "You better be glad he doesn't know you slugged him, ma'am..."

Sibyl collapses against the wall and breaths a sigh of relief. "I...don't know where that came from." The lizard guesses the stress is starting to catch up with her.No worries now, she is safe here...in this place that they just snuck her into with little to no resistance. Lovely. She begins to chuckle, "You got to admit though, that was kind of funny..."

Abel does not look amused. "To you, maybe." You wait right here while I fetch Master's wine, then I'll get you set up in a room."

The lizard snaps her jaws shut. Way to take advantage of someones kindness she thinks, "I'm sorry Abel I...really don't know what came over me. He just kind of reminded me of someone I don't like and..." her voice trails off.

Abel frowns. "Who? Wait, tell me after I get the wine." With that, he's off into the kitchen, then out again and into the parlor.

The reptile watches the squirrel leave to do his chores. While he is gone she wraps her tail around her legs and sighs. Now is NOT the time to panic. Now is NOT the time to panic.

Abel exits the parlor after several long minutes. "Now, to find you a room. Also, tell me who my Master reminded you of."

By now Sibyl has her head resting on her knees. With out looking at Abel she seethes, "Korudon Miron." She leans back, gesturing with her paw. "He's this arrogant, greedy little ferret that works for the Cartel." With a heavy sigh she explains, "The Guild is run by thieves, we frown upon assassins but...we arn't saints either. We don't hand out jobs that involve killing but we put beasts into contact with those who do. Kor is rumored to take assassination jobs on the side..." The lizard goes back to resting her head on her knee. "I've always wanted to deck him Like I just did Flavius."

Abel nods. "Well, I understand, just don't assault my Master again, please?

The lizard chuckles, "You won't have to worry about that again...that was...more random than anything." The lizard begins to frown, "Abel...I think I know what you mean about being afraid now..."

Abel nods. "Don't worry, I'll try to keep you safe."

Sibyl forces herself not to cry. Just as Maffeo said there will be time for emotions after you are done with the job. Until then, don't get rid of them just focus on survival. Heh, the lizard thinks, the wild cat is trying to kill her and she is still using his lessons to keep herself alive. Well, she isn't going to make it easy. "I believe you Abel. Something has been nagging me though...how did /you/ come to find out I have a hit on me?"

Abel frowns and sighs. "I...was told. I...don't want to tell you who told me, but if you press, I'll tell..."

narrows her golden eyes at Abel, her tail uncurles about her legs as she stands up to her full height which is not too much difference from Abel. "Abel. It IS important that you tell me. I need to know how you, the goody two shoe slave, found out that I have a hit on me. And then maybe I can use that info to work back to figuring out why Maffeo wants me dead...or better yet, find out who he has hired to do so. There are only so many assassins in the city."

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand then the server crashed. More to come soon.