~To settle old debts... (open RP)

[Curulan]

Curulan storms through the door with a look of annoyance on his face. The door bangs against the wall, chipping the paint on the wall behind it. Murder in broad daylight was one thing, doing it in the middle of the Griffon -- supposedly the "tavern for the everyman" in Cartes -- was another... but having to drag his own ass out of the Palace to take care of the investigation himself, for the sole fact that the perpetrator his wife and the constables on duty in the city were too scared to handle it themselves, was something completely different.

When the bartender tries to give him the message Ebon-Ashe charged him with, the look of anger on Curulan's face shuts him up immediately. For a man who shows anger rarely, even when interrogating a prisoner, it is clear that Curulan is quite pissed. He ignores the patrons' pleas and cries, and walks straight to Ebon. He stands there, seeming to will Ebon to give him her full attention. He waits until she stops talking to Twist and faces him before speaking. When he does, it is short and direct.

"We need to talk. Now. For your best interests, I'd like to do it in private. There are parties present who would probably rather not hear what I have to say!" He emphasizes the words subtly, using both volume and tone, and he knows that Ebon will understand his meaning. To everyone else's ears, however, it would only like the head of the military and acting head of the police force speaking forcefully to someone about to be arrested.

"You can surrender to me willingly, or I can subdue you myself. I think we both know I would prefer the former."

[Courtesan Lemac]

:Lemac sat alone and watched. She couldn't have been more pleased with Ebon's 'Re-Awaking' Lemac knew now that Curulan would have to do something rather then sit about and let Ebon run free. As she thought this she look up in time to Curulan enter the Griffon. 'Ah there he is now, things are looking better then before.' she thought. Lemac looked about and didn't care if people where watching, there attention was not on the corpse. Lemac smiled as the rose on her wrist began to glow for a moment, just long enough for the corpse to fade vanish from where Ebon left it. She knew that there where those in the tavern that would notice the action, but Lemac wanted the body moved to safe place where she could remove any thing that would trace it back to her. She stood and walked to the bar. As she did she press a thought in to Curulan's mind.:

'Curulan, I have seen the tail end of Ebon's actions. Later tonight I will tend to the body and track down his family to inform them of the his death. The body has been moved some place safe for know. If you need to inspect the body let me know.'

:Lemac stopped at the bar and dropped a few marks for a new drink. She turn and leaned her back on the bar and looked to Ebon and Curulan to see what would happen next.:

[jadewik]

Ebon-Ashe's euphoria was a fleeting dream interrupted by Twist's silky voice, which pulled her back to reality with a shock akin to an icy cold shower. Her face soured and rage bubbled inside her as she faced her assailant.

"Twist," she mused as she recognized the speaker, "I should have known."

Fortunately, Ebon-Ashe had looked before she'd unhinged her tongue. While she and Twist shared a relationship that was comparable to friendship, she still tread carefully around him. He was, afterall, a mage and she retained a certain distrust for adept magic users. Twist also happened to be one of the most powerful mages around.

Looking from Twist to Fineas' lifeless and bloodied body and back again to Twist, Ebon-Ashe shrugged and nonchalantly answered his question. "He might be a bit gamey, but the body is of no further use to me."

The prospect of removing the corpse before Curulan showed up was all too convenient and she didn't balk at the opportunity. In fact, Ebon-Ashe was quite pleased with the situation... at least until Curulan stormed into the tavern. She sighed inwardly. Things were going to get a little tricky...

"Twist, you'll have to excuse me. It looks like my husband has something urgent he wishes to discuss with me."

Putting on her biggest smile Ebon-Ashe greeted her towering husband. "Why hello, darling. It's good to see you too."

Eyes sparkling with delight and anticipation, she lifted the glass of blood flaunting it in front of Curulan before taking a brazen sip. She'd never seen her husband this angry with her before. It was almost liberating for her.

She delicately licked her lips.

"I don't suppose you'd be willing to try a third option?" Sneering defiantly she continued, "Like turning around and walking back out the door you just came in?"

[Twist Rolarian]

Twist nodded to Ebon-Ashe. "Of course. I can discuss my business with you another time." A slight grin and a bow went to Curulan as well.

He turned back towards the should-still-be-warm corpse, only to find it gone.

"Ok. Who moved my dinner?"

[Serena]

~Serena mulled over the choices given and opted to continue 'brooding'. Joining the party wasn't nearly the maiden's style, especially one in which the buffet, as it were, was spread out in such a condition. She wondered if there were to be any takers to the barked invitation, and if there were, she'd thoroughly enjoy listening to the ill-fated party-goer's reactions to their hostess's bite. It was one thing to witness a kill; it was an entirely different game to interfere with the prize after the fact.~

~It came as no surprise when Twist moved to approach the seething female. Contempt breeds contempt, she thought and faintly chuckled as he excused himself.~

~The maiden remained seated, with her back to the area of the tavern housing the tables. She occasionally sipped from her second glass and seemed undaunted by the sequential events; however, the drinks were not the only things for which she was paying.~

[Curulan]

Curulan sighed inwardly. This was exactly the wrong time for Ebon to be acting foolish -- not that she had any way of knowing yet. He had planned on speaking with her soon, but her sense of timing made this worse. Outwardly, he kept his stern appearance and never took his eyes away from hers. There were witnesses present and he had the image of the Law to uphold.

"I don't have time for games today. I'll be happy to turn around and walk out, but either you'll be walking in front of me, or I'll be carrying you out like a spoiled child."

[jadewik]

A growl slowly rose in Ebon-Ashe's throat, but didn't quite express itself more than a gnashing of her teeth and a furrowed brow as she was idly brushed aside. The belittling comment infuriated her, but reason won out over her initial impulse to lash out at Curulan. As much as she'd like to throttle him, she knew she didn't stand a chance and if he wanted to, he WOULD carry her out of the tavern and she WOULD be mocked for it. He knew it too... and she thought he looked a trifle smug when he'd spoken.

Her hand flexed, crushing the glass she was holding. What was left of Fineas' blood dripped down her hand and mingled with the broken shards of glass that now littered the table.

"If I must accompany you, I should like to walk myself."

As she stood, Ebon-Ashe removed a red sash tied about her waist and wiped the blood off her hands. There were minor lacerations in her hand from her outburst, but nothing she couldn't handle with dignity.

Tossing the bloodied sash in Curulan's face she walked defiantly towards the exit of the tavern to wait for him outside.