(Adventure) A Merry Chase *Judge: Uriel

[Manzanita]

Persephone

Persephone glances around, somewhat coyly, before replying. "I don't feel much like a princess anymore, mind you, tromping around, constantly dirty and in danger, poor, and without my best servants. But in the day, people used to take care of me. A princess need do nothing for herself. She can if she wants to, but in general, who would want to? If you have any needs, ask us, or tell us, rather, how to help. Keep clean, and try not to worry. It always works out OK for the princess. Your knight in shining armor will arrive. Actually, yours has already arrived, "she motions at Zoe, "but you have to pretend you dont' know that."

 

[Velmont]

Rinaldo wait for the innkeeper's wife. I don't really care about the crowd, only some times looking around as anyone waiting would do, quickly looking at everyone.

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Persephone glances around, somewhat coyly, before replying. "I don't feel much like a princess anymore, mind you, tromping around, constantly dirty and in danger, poor, and without my best servants. But in the day, people used to take care of me. A princess need do nothing for herself. She can if she wants to, but in general, who would want to? If you have any needs, ask us, or tell us, rather, how to help. Keep clean, and try not to worry. It always works out OK for the princess. Your knight in shining armor will arrive. Actually, yours has already arrived, "she motions at Zoe, "but you have to pretend you dont' know that."

The princess grins. "I always knew it would end up being a human, but the story runs slightly smoother with a man in the armor... Ah well, who needs tradition? Though I suppose for a child princess a mother figure would work better than a romance anyway."

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Rinaldo wait for the innkeeper's wife. I don't really care about the crowd, only some times looking around as anyone waiting would do, quickly looking at everyone.

The presumed wife comes out of the kitchen, her arms heartily floured and an air of slight distraction as though she doesn't fully trust whoever she has left tending things. She seems skeptical of some of the more exotic spices, but Rinaldo's silver tongue wins her over and she purchases a few simple ingredients. The gentleman who Rinaldo noticed earlier edges forward, still paying a bit more attention than strictly warrented, and as the deal is being completed he interjects with an air of exagerated casualness, "Say, are you heading north or south? Because the Baying Mare on the other side of the pass gets some river traffic as well - brings a bit more exotic clientell, so they might have more of an interest in your wares..."

 

[Velmont]

"Thank you miss for the information, and if it wasn't I have one last stop to do before the night, I would have gladly taste which plate you are presently cooking that smell that good."

Rinaldo pack his spices and great the innkeeper's wife and leave the place. When he is out, he packs his horse and start to travel *North looking at the Inn by moment to see if the man will come out of the Inn.

OOC: I travelled North because I think it was the opposite way from where the three girls are waiting now. If they are north of the Inn, I would travel South.

 

[Manzanita]

Persephone

"Yes, no romance for you young lady. Some day you will be wed according to your father's wishes for the good of your kingdom. I only hope you get a better match than I did. That's why I'm here, and not living in pampered luxury." Persephone sighs.

"Harken! Rinaldo has left the inn. Yet he is walking away from us, and gives no signal. At least I saw none. I guess that means no hot bath for us un-pampered princesses. Or our knight in shining armor either." She winks at Zoe.

 

[Thels]

Zoe giggles at the mention of the knight in shining armor, while other thoughts run through her mind. If Persephone is a princess, then why is she messing around here like an adventurer? And if the girl knows that we know she's not the princess, why does she insist on being one? Acting, or is she really one. She's certainly no little farmer's daughter. If she really would be a princess, things would be very odd. Either she's related to the real princess, in which case it seems pointless to have someone else of the royal statue taking the hit instead, or she's from another kingdom, which seems even more ridiculous. Unless she is the princess in question of course, but then, who's fooling who?

Zoe stops giggling when she sees Rinaldo come out. "No baths, ehh? Well, I am not sure, but if Rinaldo really was in troubles, he would have come for us straight away or fled as fast as possible. It seems more like he's testing something. I do not like this. If he runs into problems, then we are too far away to help him, but going over to him would mean leaving you behind here. Let us hope and pray he made the right decision."

 

[Kahuna Burger]

Zoe stops giggling when she sees Rinaldo come out. "No baths, ehh? Well, I am not sure, but if Rinaldo really was in troubles, he would have come for us straight away or fled as fast as possible. It seems more like he's testing something. I do not like this. If he runs into problems, then we are too far away to help him, but going over to him would mean leaving you behind here. Let us hope and pray he made the right decision."

Zoe :

Spoiler

The more that you interact with the supposed princess, the more you notice little glimpses of maturity well beyond her years. While royalty might be forced to 'grow up fast' this seems a little too sporadic. Whether or not she is a princess, you are having your doubts as to her childhood...

Rinaldo: There was an explicit question from the observant stranger about which direction you were going/coming from. Assuming you just dodged it entirely, you leave the inn with his eyes upon you, though he stays at the bar at least until you are out the door... The hills make it difficult to keep the inn in sight more than sporadicly, so its hard to be sure if anyone followed you.

Back on the hill, you do see someone leave the inn a minute or two after Rinaldo head in the same general direction by horse, but the failing light makes it difficult to tell more. While waiting and watching, however, you hear the jingle of horse tack, and the muffled sound of voices. Persephone recognizes the direction as being behind you not from the path to the inn, and catches a muttered phase "Yes, I can still track, you fool..."

 

[Manzanita]

Persephone

"Oh, fuzzle. " she whispers. "I've only got one good spell left today. We need to get out of here. But if we do, then how will Rinaldo find us? And they might track us anyway. Let's get started anyway. Now Fridley, "she admonishes her owl, "be a good owl and don't get hurt, but do try to see how many uglies are coming." Persephone loads her crossbow and leads her horse away towards some sort of cover, making sure the princess comes along.

 

[Thels]

Oh great. It seems like we have some problems on our own as well. Leading her horse, Zoe follows after the princess as silent as possible, looking back over her shoulders a lot.