LoD Chapter 2 - The Legend of the Forsaken Brother

Zephie · 07-01-2005, 09:26 PM

"...Up on the palace wall, I don't want anything to get past."

"You say that every night, sir."

"Shut up and follow orders, gaurdesman."

Jen huddled back behind the wall as the three palace gaurds passed, listening until their footsteps passed the other side of the hallway. Stepping out then, he looked after and saw them muttering between themselves, and grinned again. Easy money.

As quickly as padded feet would carry him he snuck off down the hall, and made excellent progress when he heard more footsteps coming the other way. Holding his breath, he slid backwards against the wall and then sideways behind a large tapestry. The centurion never saw him.

Once he'd gone by, Jen peeked his head out and sighed in relief, then continued down the way.

***

After taking a quick detour through a dumbwaiter-type service shaft, he found himself two stories higher, on the level he wanted to be on. Opening the hatch, he looked out and saw nobody else in the room... of course. Who would be using a maintenance closet at this time of night, anyway? Stepping out, he hurried off outside and snuck down the hall, to the second door on his left.

The Chancellor's private suite.

Now this was the tricky part: even with the Chancellor out for the evening, he still had to find the item and then find his way out again, before the palace erupted with activity from Trevor's doings, no doubt occuring at that very moment. But then... for a trickster, no trick is too tricky.

He picked the lock easily and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. With his hearing he picked up a gaurd wandering by outside... but his step was regular, undisturbed. He had no idea someone was breaking and entering. Jen smiled to himself at that thought and went through the suite, searching for the item. Now where would he keep it... bedroom... den...

He made a cursory sweep of the foyer and den and didn't find what he was looking for, but just a couple seconds into the bedroom he saw it, sitting on a trophy mantle.

Ahhh, there you are, sweetie.

He scooped up the little figurine -- a golden sunburst with elaborate pedals to stand on -- and placed it carefully into his traveling pouch. With little time left, he made immediately towards the family room window and cracked it open, just as he heard distant noises coming from outside. Guess that's him.

He then tossed the rope over the side and tied it about one of the window frames, took one last look inside, and then swung himself over the edge.

Downward he plummeted, over three stories to the snowy ground outside... and all the way down he repressed the urge to shout out in glee. But it was over too fast, and he stumbled as he hit the ground, trying to regain his footing.

"There! You!"

Jen glanced over to his right and saw that one of the wall gaurds had seen him.

Right on time.

He bolted in the other direction as the gaurd shouted, "Stop! There, after him!"

An alert gaurd saw him running and prepared to cut him off, drawing a spear and assuming a squat stance. "You shall not pass, intruder!"

Oh, but I think I shall...! Jen thought, grinning.

The distance closed fast, and the gaurd lunged out with his spear. Jen sidestepped it easily and baseball slid past him, wrapped up his legs with his three tails, and yanked his feet out from underneath. The gaurd fell facefirst into the snow.

"Oof!"

As spare wall gaurds hurried down below, the defeated spearman got up on his feet and readied his weapon, preparing to face down the... the... ...

"...The devil? Where did he go?!"

He spun this way and that, oblivious to the fact that Jen had dove into a snow-hill and covered himself up. In fact, he stepped over that spot and ran past, looking for him still. "I've lost him!"

Jen lifted his head and looked at the man's back, and grinned. All too easy.

He got up quietly and let the mirage of snow fade from his back, while real snow also slid off. Then he snuck over to the side and joined the shadows again, hiding along the vines and bushes lining the walls until he found the water grate again, and opened it with the slightest of grace. He then took one last look as the peace broke down in the courtyard, and left through the grate, closing it once again behind him.

***

(( This all happens while just about everything else afterward occurs. ))

07-01-2005, 09:26 PM	#11
Zephie The Playwright Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 1,191	All too easy "...Up on the palace wall, I don't want anything to get past." "You say that every night, sir." "Shut up and follow orders, gaurdesman." Jen huddled back behind the wall as the three palace gaurds passed, listening until their footsteps passed the other side of the hallway. Stepping out then, he looked after and saw them muttering between themselves, and grinned again. Easy money. As quickly as padded feet would carry him he snuck off down the hall, and made excellent progress when he heard more footsteps coming the other way. Holding his breath, he slid backwards against the wall and then sideways behind a large tapestry. The centurion never saw him. Once he'd gone by, Jen peeked his head out and sighed in relief, then continued down the way. *** After taking a quick detour through a dumbwaiter-type service shaft, he found himself two stories higher, on the level he wanted to be on. Opening the hatch, he looked out and saw nobody else in the room... of course. Who would be using a maintenance closet at this time of night, anyway? Stepping out, he hurried off outside and snuck down the hall, to the second door on his left. The Chancellor's private suite. Now this was the tricky part: even with the Chancellor out for the evening, he still had to find the item and then find his way out again, before the palace erupted with activity from Trevor's doings, no doubt occuring at that very moment. But then... for a trickster, no trick is too tricky. He picked the lock easily and stepped inside, shutting the door behind him. With his hearing he picked up a gaurd wandering by outside... but his step was regular, undisturbed. He had no idea someone was breaking and entering. Jen smiled to himself at that thought and went through the suite, searching for the item. Now where would he keep it... bedroom... den... He made a cursory sweep of the foyer and den and didn't find what he was looking for, but just a couple seconds into the bedroom he saw it, sitting on a trophy mantle. Ahhh, there you are, sweetie. He scooped up the little figurine -- a golden sunburst with elaborate pedals to stand on -- and placed it carefully into his traveling pouch. With little time left, he made immediately towards the family room window and cracked it open, just as he heard distant noises coming from outside. Guess that's him. He then tossed the rope over the side and tied it about one of the window frames, took one last look inside, and then swung himself over the edge. Downward he plummeted, over three stories to the snowy ground outside... and all the way down he repressed the urge to shout out in glee. But it was over too fast, and he stumbled as he hit the ground, trying to regain his footing. "There! You!" Jen glanced over to his right and saw that one of the wall gaurds had seen him. Right on time. He bolted in the other direction as the gaurd shouted, "Stop! There, after him!" An alert gaurd saw him running and prepared to cut him off, drawing a spear and assuming a squat stance. "You shall not pass, intruder!" Oh, but I think I shall...! Jen thought, grinning. The distance closed fast, and the gaurd lunged out with his spear. Jen sidestepped it easily and baseball slid past him, wrapped up his legs with his three tails, and yanked his feet out from underneath. The gaurd fell facefirst into the snow. "Oof!" As spare wall gaurds hurried down below, the defeated spearman got up on his feet and readied his weapon, preparing to face down the... the... ... "...The devil? Where did he go?!" He spun this way and that, oblivious to the fact that Jen had dove into a snow-hill and covered himself up. In fact, he stepped over that spot and ran past, looking for him still. "I've lost him!" Jen lifted his head and looked at the man's back, and grinned. All too easy. He got up quietly and let the mirage of snow fade from his back, while real snow also slid off. Then he snuck over to the side and joined the shadows again, hiding along the vines and bushes lining the walls until he found the water grate again, and opened it with the slightest of grace. He then took one last look as the peace broke down in the courtyard, and left through the grate, closing it once again behind him. *** (( This all happens while just about everything else afterward occurs. )) Last edited by Zephie; 07-01-2005 at 09:32 PM.