Stableyard: Silver Star Inn, Cairhien

A tall building made out of fine lumber lingers before you, with another not too far off in the background. It appears to be several stories tall, with various windows looking down into the yard. A single path moves from the walkway toward the inn, paved with various stones. Trees and other bushes appear to line each side of the walkway, as well as various posts used for lanterns.

Cold seems most prevalent in the minds of those passing by the inn, breath turning to mere frost, should anyone try to speak. Snow litters the ground in small mounds reaching several feet high. A path seems to be cleared from the inn to the streets. The moon rises high over the yard, filtering in soft rays of glimmering light. The inn appears to be quiet, as most people have laid to bed by now.

A study pair of stairs leads into the common room of the inn, while the walkway continues to lead toward the stable doors, then circles around back toward the street, making it easier for carriages to move through the area.

Demailes, Talia, Lyren

Lyren wanders into the stables, in none too straight a line.. his shirt and slacks, undoubtedly of superior quality and make, somehow don't manage to give off the same air of nobility that they used to. For one, they look like he's been sleeping in them. For another, the shirt's soaking wet.. the lack of cloak has given the snow the freedom to cover his shoulders and melt from his body heat.. which has left his shirt clinging to his skin. Not keeping in line with his noble attire is the beaten swordbelt at his hip, carrying an empty scabbard. Where's the sword? In his hand, of course, the tip dragging through the dirt and paving stones of the path leading towards the inn doors.

Briana soon appears with several guards and courtiers who trail after the Duke. The guards appears stoic and calm with a clearly distract man holds the Duke's winter coat and chases after him hoping to get him to wear it. Briana for her part frown disapprovingly but remains distanced from the Duke waiting instead for a better moment.

Talia steps out of the Inn, just in time to see the large group coming to retrieve the... drunken? man and frowns a moment, knowing that these people are likely the types she just said she'd not want to meet... She pulls her cloak around her to keep warm, and just watches, quite curiously for the moment.

Lyren just keeps stumbling forward.. is he aware of those following behind? Perhaps.. he does seem to.. er.. stumble on along a little faster. On a path taking him straight towards Talia. For the moment she stepped outside, his grey eyes locked on to her.. "You!" Her? What could the Duke possibly want with Talia? Does he even know her? The ringing sound of steel on stone sounds as he pulls it forward and begins to raise it.

Briana gasps now and skips forward hoping to stop the Duke from doing anything rash.

Talia blinks, and curtsies immediately, bent down, and almost bracing herself, shaking in almost fear, not knowing what will happen. Shaking her head quickly, "I'm sorry m'Lord, I didn't meant to..." To do what? She doesn't even know, though she still looks down, better not to see whatever is coming.

Demailes runs out of the shadows, rushing for Talia in an attempt to get her out of harms way.

Lyren's alcoholically suppressed senses prevent him from having noticed Demailes at all. His sword isn't quite raised, really, though it certainly seems a threat. "You!" he repeats, staring at Talia as though he might try to see right into her soul. "I am looking for a young girl. Seven years old. Her name is Nessa. If you know anything about where she is.. you had better start talking now." Funny, he doesn't /sound/ drunk... "If... what the?!?" He finally notices

Demailes, dashing straight towards Talia.. *blink, blink*

Briana comes closer trying to grasp the arm holding the bared blade. She seems quite concerned and moves with speed.

Talia blinks and looks up, "What? Nessa? I don't know anything, m'Lor.." She gets cut off, as Demailes makes it towards her, letting herself be pushed away, preferable towards the door....

Demailes hopes the door is open as he falls through

The door is certainly open.. for Talia had just stepped outside, and had not yet closed it behind her..

Lyren's first reaction as his arm is grabbed is not to pull it away, but rather to push it towards the unlucky person trying to restrain him. "Who DARES?" he demands, furty contorting his features as he whirls upon Briana, even Demailes and Talia tumble by.. When he sees that it is an Aes Sedai, his features relax... slightly, though he is certainly far from the schooled, calm persona he managed to play well.. until his sister's death.

Briana jerks back as the Duke's swinging arm hits her in the face. A small splash of blood is seen from the Sedai's nose as she falls towards the ground. She manages to hold her balance enough to fall only to her knees though. SHe looks up at the drunken Lord a trickle of blood coming out of her nose. The look on her face is shocked with wide eyes as she looks upon the man who accidentally assaulted her. She takes a moment now to try to calm herself before doing anything more. The blood on her pale skin is a stark contrast.

Demailes sits up, the sound of an arm hitting flesh grasping his attention. "What happened?" he whispers to himself.

Lyren's chest heaves.. he'd /so/ been ready to.. well, in his state, get his butt kicked, but that's another matter. Seeing who it is.. and what he's done.. even Lyren, as high born as he is, and as drunk as he seems.. lets his sword drop. Aye, she might seem calm now, but he did see that moment of shock.. "I.. forgive me, Aes Sedai."

Briana just remains as she is for what seems a long while then finally she rises once more. A hand streaked with her own blood makes a poor attempt at cleaning her face. The bleeding did at least stop. She swallows and clears her throat before speaking, "Your Grace, would you mind if the manservant takes your sword for..cleaning and places your winter coat upon your shoulders?"

Demailes watches with dire excitement. He actually hit her? he thinks, chuckling softly.

Sword.. oh, right. For a moment Lyren looks down at his blade kind of blankly... there it lies, in the snow beside the walk. And there's the hand that struck out blindly.. oh, light. The act of hitting Briana has a somewhat sobering effect on Lyren and he nods slowly, stepping away from the fallen blade and gesturing for the manservant to approach. This may just be enough to make Lyren swear off the bottle for good.

The manservant who is likely about to have a heart attack after all this is trembling but does help the Duke put his coat on. Then one of the guards claims the sword and holds it carefully. All the servants are quite shocked and you can imagine this incident with be known to everyone by sunup the next day.

Talia blinks a bit, and stays on the ground for some time, shaking her head, still more than a bit frightened at what all has just happened, and she just watches.

Briana stands proudly ignoring her appearance. The blood from her nostril and on her face and upper chest dries quickly in the chill air. She nods to Lyren now, "Now are you ready to return to the palace Your Grace?"

Demailes decides he doesn't want to watch the procession, and slides himself further through the door.

Lyren almost nods.. almost.. but even considering his actions, Lyren can't bring himself to be led away like a child. A noble child, maybe, but a child. Or so it seems to him. Even if he deserves it. Lyren hesitates, then turns about again, his back on the procession and his eyes on Talia.. and Demailes if he hasn't made complete his escape quite yet. The rage is gone from his eyes, though the tightness of his mouth remains.. yet he has amends to make. So he approaches Talia, then kneels and offers his hand. "My apologies, miss. I am afraid that I have not.. been in my right mind tonight."

Talia blinks and scurries herself into another curtsie, even if she is sitting, "I... of course there is no need, your Grace..." she heard what the woman said... far more important than any lord... No need to make him feel any more the fool, "But thank you... your Grace..." She speaks carefully, quite so.

Briana looks quite stern and watches all this with growing impatience. She doesn't interfere however. She sniffles a bit wiggling her nose and folds her hands firmly together.

Lyren leaves his hand extended for a moment longer, but opts not to press the issue, nodding and rising instead. "I understand.." he says.. yes, everything's obviously not alright, but then it's a rare person who'll speak out against a noble to his or her face, right? Especially with an armed guard not far away? "I shall leave you in peace, then, miss." He bows his head slightly.. by no means a full bow. Oh the scandal /that/ would cause! As if he isn't in a big enough scandal as it is. Then he turns and joins ... his people. He mutters nother apology to Briana, then, in quiet tones which he hopes Talia cannot hear, he speaks to the trembling manservant. "See that her lodgings are payed for up to the end of next month. If she isn't staying here, then find out where she is do as I instructed." Not bad for a drunk man, eh? The clearheadedness that was brought to him by his actions, however, fades suddenly, and he sways, but rights himself and puts an arm out as though to ward away any would be offers of support. "Yes, Yes, Aes Sedai, we can be on our way."

Briana flinches away from his waving arm quickly before calming herself and relaxing. She seems to look at Lyren now in a new way one that is not positive. Shes steps away from the drunken Duke walking near him but not close.

Talia stays where she is, quietly and doesn't dear look up, not paying any attention, or so it would seem... so that if she hears anything, she doesn't make it obvious. She just seems to wait, until they have all left, much safer that way.

The Duke and his servants now make thier way back to the palace.