Common Room: Silver Star Inn, Cairhien

Lyren is, as luck would have it, at a table, a tankard set before him as he rests with his feet propped up on the table, his eyes closed. Perhaps not the smartest thing for a high ranking lord to do in a public place, but sometimes.. sometimes it's worth throwing caution to the wind.

Elyse gives Valdan a rather startled and innocent look after he whispers something softly to her, "My Lord, I have no idea what you are talking about" She grins mischievously as she enters the common room following her cousin.

Thad motions to Lyren's table and says to his companions, "Ah, the Prince has a table ready for us already." The yellow-eyed lord heads over to Lyren quietly and then slaps his boots, intending on knocking them to the floor. "Good evening, Lyren. I'm happy to see you manage to keep all that decorum when you're out in public," he says with a smile..

Elyse remembers the Prince from the Duke's hunting party, a rather rude young man in her book. She smiles down at the man who insists on keeping his feet upon the table.

Valdan chuckles softly as he follows Elyse in, making no retort to her proclaimed innocence. Oh yes she does. He comes to a halt at Elyse's elbow, with a glance around.

Lyren pokes an eye open just as Thad knocks his feet off the table.. with a whump his feet hit the floor, followed by the thump of the chair's two front legs touching down as well. "Now.." Whoops, hold it, Lyren.. there's a more people here than he'd thought were coming. So.. one supposes one must.. how did Thad put it? Keep up decorum? So he gets to his feet, looking perhaps a touch abashed at his earlier posture, and bows slightly. "Ah.. Good evening, Lords, Lady."

Thad laughs and says, "Easy Lyren, we're all friends here. You know my cousin Elyse Filderryn, I think, and of course, Valdan." Thad takes a seat, motioning for a sever to come over and see them.

Valdan holds Elyse's chair for her, and slides it in once she sits, before taking up a seat himself with a pleasant nod, "Your Highness." comes his easy greeting.

Lyren relaxes a tad.. one can notice it in the slight shift in his stance. From tense to slightly tense. He waits still everyone is seated, then he himself retakes his chair.. minus the boots on the table, this time of course. "Yes.. I know of your cousin.. though I donıt believe we've spoken.. and of course.. " Lyren turns his head to Valdan, offering a bit of a smile. " I know Valdan."

A server comes over to the table and waits for the order.

Thad asks for a steak and some water to drink before saying to Valdan and Lyren, "Are you two free after dinner? I don't know if you remember about our appointment with that gentleman about his bar...."

Valdan licks his lip briefly, and orders some wine, as well as some lamb and grilled vegetables, before turning his head back to Thad. "I remember." He glances sideways at Elyse. How much does she know of the three men's activities. And would she be shocked if she knew how some of his healing knowledge had been used?

Does Lyren remember? Are all Aes Sedai two-faced? Are Whitecloaks zealots? Heck yes! Of course.. Lyren merely answers with a short nod and a few words. "I remember. Truthfully, there is little else I think about."

Thad says, "And the same for my cousin as the Lord Valdan please," to the server who nods and leaves. Thad says, "So shall we meet and greet this individual when we're done here? To be honest, I would like to do so soon...."

Valdan nods, perhaps glad for the fact that Elyse seems distracted, "Yes, I think we should see him soon as well. We'll not find any better clues if we do not."

It's probably obvious that Lyren would like to see the man right away as well.. in fact, it should come as a surprise that the Duke doesn't insist on the three of them leaving right at that instant. Is he learning self control? "The sooner the better."

A few minutes later, the food arrives, each person getting what they want. The woman leaves without even a smile.

Thad eyes his food and says, "I hope we can at least wait until I've eaten. I've not had time all day and I cannot be my charming self with my stomach is growling louder than I am."

Valdan chuckles softly, "Perhaps we -should- go now, then Thad." he glances at Lyren, and around the room, his eyes pausing on one fellow over by the bar for a moment and then turning away with some sympathy in his expression. That one will be dead before the cock crows. Its sealed. He wonders briefly if Lyren saw the same thing he did. Or is that the reason the fellow drinks so much?

Perhaps Lyren did.. perhaps he is making an effort not to look in that fellow's direction.. or perhaps he's simply unaware. It wouldn't be the first time. "I.." Hm. Lyren /does/ want to go. "Well.. these things are not done well on an empty stomach.. ah.. perhaps, Thad, you could eat on the way?

Thad laughs and says, "Yes, I'm sure I can. Are we going to take my cousin with us or shall I send for someone to stay with her?" He reaches into his purse and produces a few coins, setting them on the table.

Valdan seems loath to just leave Elyse in the Inn with some stranger, for some reason, and so he frowns a bit. "Perhaps.. we should send her home until we have finished our business?" He offers quietly, more towards Lyren and Thad than Elyse. Men's business. She'll need to understand.

"It's settled then!" Lyren quickly rises once again.. "Yes, Yes, I am sure she would rather be at home than waiting for us here, anyways, yes?" Oh, yes, it all sounds peachy to Lyren.

Thad laughs and nods. As it happens, one of the guards from his House is here is just leaving. Thad jumps up and catches the man, saying, "Walther... there's a gold coin in it if you escort the Lady home after her meal, regardless of what she says and how." The guard nods and heads back to the table with Thad, taking his seat. Thad says, "There we are... shall we?"

Valdan leans, murmurs something soft to Elyse, kisses her cheek, and then moves to join Thad. "I think we are ready."

At last! Anticipation of what's to come gives Lyren a near inhuman amount of energy.. he has to fight to keep himself from leaping out of the door right then and there. "Then lets us be off. The sooner this is done, the sooner we find Nessa."

Thad nods and heads after Lyren, asking his friend to at least wait for Valdan and him.

River Road: Cairhien, Cairhien

The streets are paved with bits of cobblestone, lined in a perfect manner. Buildings all around appear to be the same, dull gray colour. Some are finely made, and some are in dire need of repair, but not so much as those kept within the Foregate. Several shops and inns line the area as well, with signs indicating their place of business. Several lamps can be seen down the street, used at night to keep the area lit.

A soft breeze blows past, bringing with it the fragrant smell of blooming flowers, reminding everyone spring is here. The streets appear vaguely quiet, at this time of night, generally a disturbing thing to those who jump at shadows. At times, the quiet is broken by the stomping of boots, the guard passing on a patrol. The streets are lit, though the lamps only appear to aid the shadows already lingering.

Streets appear to span out in all directions from this small square. Running north and south, both directions take you to various warehousing areas. To the west, you head for the Royal Docks, while to the east lies the Palace Square.

Thad motions down one of the streets and says, "It's down there, I've been told. About halfway down, on the right." He sets off, ignoring the looks his eyes earn him, much less the presence of a noble in this area.

Lyren, who'd had his cloak folded over his arm till now, takes a moment to unfold it and draw out his still sheathed sword. Many may turn there noses up at such a weapon, especially in the hands of a nobleman, but.. this just isn't one of those neighbourhoods were a person wants to be without one. And perhaps it will avert some of those eyes.

Valdan follows along, seemingly of no particular preparation, except maybe the dagger in his boot, and his staff, which he uses as a walking stick.

Thad continues along River Road, passing by all sorts of dives and houses of ill repute, the occasional drunk singing on the corner or whatever happens to be down there. He points to the bar in question - the One-Eyed Queen and heads into the place.

Lyren keeps his sword sheathed.. no need to give off the sense that he's hostile, right? Just armed. Just sort of a warning sign to keep away. Of sorts. When the One Eyed Queen his pointed out, though, Lyren can't help but wrinkle his nose and sneer a tad. "Ought to have the blasted thing torn down."

Valdan brings up the rear, occasionally turning and walking backwards on silent feet to make sure the rear holds no perils as they approach the tavern. Otherwise, he keeps quiet.

The One-Eyed Queen is a dive, pure and simple. The floors are unswept, the lighting is bad and the patrons are drunk most of the time. One of them is even lying in a puddle of... something in the corner. Thad winces slightly when he walks in, no doubt his sensitive nose is being assailed by the place. The bar is off in one corner, behind which is a surly looking man who appears to have been in his share of fights, judging by the scars.

Cassandra is sitting at the table in the centre of the room. She sits alone surprisingly, considering her attire, dress straps sliding off her shoulders, lowering the neckline even more. Her eyes occasionally circle the room, glancing to the other patrons before dismissively returning to her drinks. The foul odour of dried blood which wafts from the unkempt floors doesn't seem to have turned her stomach as a bottle of wine sits half empty on her table, from which she's refilling her glass at the moment.

Thad motions to the bartender and heads over there. He steps around the brawling drunks and avoids the spills of liquid on the floor. He stops and blinks in surprise when he sees Cassandra, but he isn't here for company. He leads his merry band to the bar and waits.

Cassandra's eyes dart to the door as she hears the sound of it opening. She shakes her head slightly upon seeing the trio, perhaps trying to clear it, before staring at them once again, clearly astonished to see the noblemen. Filling her glass to the brim, she stands from her table and carefully makes her way closer to the bar, intending to find out as much as she can about the purpose of their excursion.

To the bar! So the merry band marches, manly meandering in macho ways... *ahem!* That is, the trio of nobles make their way to the bar. Lyren's face is a near mask of grimness.. a near mask, for at the edges one can see he is obviously tense as a bowstring, ready to be unleashed.

Valdan follows behind Lyren, and to the right, making a sort of wedge formation between the three of them, the Saldaean looking young man's face neutral, and cold as winter in Shienar. He keeps that staff where any needing a good bashing to the skull can get it easily.

Thad says to the bartender, "I have a few questions for you, sir. Questions that can be profitable to answer if you're interested. Failure to answer would be..." he glances at his two companions, "unfortunate on a lot of levels." Always be polite first, that's Thad's motto.

The bartender stops his cleaning of the glass only long enough to look at the three men. "Ugh," he grunts. "I do no have the time to be dealing with you nobles who do no have better things to do. Do go away." He gives Cassandra a very approving smile at the sight of her, even winking, as though Thad et al had simply disappeared.

Unfortunate? Perhaps.. Lyren does, after all, look about ready to unsheathe that sword and use it in as messy a manner as possible. Of course.. the bartender's answer doesn't help matters much. His first thought is to threaten the man.. actually, that's nearly been his first though in every case recently.. but here specifically. But no threats ensue.. yet. "You will make time. And we will make it worth your while." There is no request. It is a statement, a demand perhaps.

Cassandra sidles up to the bar, hopping up onto the first empty stool and leaning across the counter towards the nobles. Favouring the bartender with a wink in returns, she then turns a charming smile to the others clustered around him, "Good evening, gentlemen. Looking for some entertainment for the night? Because I can provide for all three of you, and only for the cost of one. So care to let me stay with you gentlemen? If so, you can be assured of my discretion." She smiles sweetly after finishing her speech, eyes moving to Thad.

The bartender smiles broadly at Cassandra and then looks at Lyren. "Ehhh... and what if I do no be wanting to answer your questions, boy?" He chuckles and says, "Do you be thinking perhaps to be wrecking the bar? I do no think you did take a look around if you do."

Valdan simply stands at Thad's shoulder, green eyes lit with a hardness that bespeaks an almost evil intent. He looks like a thug with his expression set like that. That is, till Cassandra makes her offer. He glances at her with a wrinkle of his brows, recognition flashing briefly through his gaze. Thad might detect a weird set of feelings, and a knowing something about Cassie from him, amidst all these scents.

Thad ignores Cassandra for now and says simply, "We've had the chance to see your bar and we don't want any trouble at all. All we're looking for is answers to my questions. It's a simple enough proposition, you tell us what we want to know and we leave you well enough alone. Surely.. your life is not worth staying quiet?" Did /THAD/ just threaten someone?

Cassandra's gaze returns to the bartender. Lowering her voice, she leans towards the man to allow him to hear her better, and to allow him an unobstructed view down the front of her dress, "Really, darling, don't you think it'd be easier and faster just to answer these gentlemen? You know if I can finish with them quickly enough, I might just have time to get to you..." she continues smiling at the bartender, her meaning plain.

"I.." The words die on Lyren's lips as he half turns his head to look at Cassandra.. and there is immediate recognition. And a few blinks. Sure.. there would been rumours about the woman.. to some, perhaps, they were more than rumours.. But Lyren had ignored them. But now... she has to be joking, right? Yes! And see? Look at the help she's offering them. So.. the Duke of Tiigril tries his best to maintain that grim mask, hoping it hasn't slipped too much, as he looks to the bartender again. "You are lucky I don't have this place torn down simply on the grounds of your poor choice of a name."

Oh, he sees alright. He leers at the woman, too. The Bartender listens to what Thad says and then raises an eyebrow at Cassandra's words. "I do know all about you, I do think, and my wife will no be so happy if I did take you up on that offer." When Lyren speaks, the bald man says, "Light burn me if tearing this place down would be no a boon to me! What do you be offering for this information?" he asks.

Cassandra's smile slips just a bit, her gaze on the man darkening, annoyed he's even able to remember he has a wife while she's smiling at him. "The offer won't take very long, and you won't even have to leave the bar unattended..." Sitting up straight, she deprives the bartender of her assets for a moment, hoping to convince him to quickly make up his mind.

Valdan gives Cassie another unreadable glance, though very discrete.

Thad says simply, "We don't have time for this. Tell us now and you'll get a gold coin and maybe a few minutes with Cassandra. Otherwise I'm going for a walk and letting you deal with my associates." The yellow-eyed lord glares at the bartender and holds out a coin to match his eyes.

Lyren nearly grins... GRINS!.. at the thought of Thad leaving him alone for a moment with the Bartender. Despite the thugs present who'd perhaps be persuaded to help defend their host. "I don't like being delayed, Barkeep.. not by the likes of you."

Cassandra frowns at Thad as he mentions her name, since she'd been trying to imply to the bartender that she wasn't involved with the three nobles' questions. At the production of the coin, she quickly glances around the room, hoping the other patrons are too drunk the notice the glint of gold coming from Thad's hand.

The Illianer blinks and says, "Well, it do depend on what you do be wanting to know, do it no? Maybe if you did ask, I maybe could remember something." He doesn't look nervous, just uncomfortable.

Valdan tilts his head, he himself smiling courteously, if a bit too gently silent to be anything other than a threat.

Thad says, "A few weeks ago, there was a man in here. Drunk and talking about how he was going to kidnap a girl. Do you remember? Everyone laughed him off as just drunk and ranting. Talked about how he had a rich employer who wanted it done. Do you remember that?"

Lyren tenses up a bit.. it shouldn't be too much of a mystery as to who the girl is supposed to be. No mystery at all.

Cassandra turns her full attention to Thad as he speaks, eyes widening a touch when she realizes what it is the noblemen are doing in this tavern. Certainly there could be violence after all, she notes to herself while turning to take a closer look at Valdan and Lyren, looking for the telltale bulges of concealed weapons. Her eyes linger on Valdan longer, though that's more likely because his shirt's undone than because she actually found what she was seeking.

The Bartender nods a few times. "Yes... came in here and did be bragging about all this money he would be getting. We all did think he was just being stupid. Well, I did think no after he did ask me about buying equipment and what a little girl did be needing to be comfortable...."

Valdan has only his staff visible, yet he always seems swathed in loose fitting clothes. He could be carrying anything. He coolly ignores Cassie's examination of him in light of the fact that there are a few eyes on them now.

Thad raises an eyebrow. "Equipment?? What sort of equipment?" Thad's yellow eyes would make most people take a step back and the fact that he is glowering certainly doesn't help that at all.

The Bartender nods a few times. "Yes... came in here and did be bragging about all this money he would be getting. We all did think he was just being stupid. Well, I did think no after he did ask me about buying equipment and what a little girl did be needing to be comfortable...." (repose)

Thad raises an eyebrow. "Equipment?? What sort of equipment?" Thad's yellow eyes would make most people take a step back and the fact that he is glowering certainly doesn't help that at all. (repose)

Valdan has only his staff visible, yet he always seems swathed in loose fitting clothes. He could be carrying anything. He coolly ignores Cassie's examination of him in light of the fact that there are a few eyes on them now. (repose)

"Well, first, he did track mud all into my bar, he did. I do hate mud on the floors." That's easy to believe, isn't it... "He did want to know about food for girls and about tents and that sort of thing. It did be like he did plan to go camping somewhere." The bartender nods, trying to convince the three men and the 'lady'.

The attention can't be helped.. it's not like Lyren bothered to dress down tonight, either. But.. perhaps the attention is good. He digests the information.. "Did you happen to give him any suggestions on where he could obtain this equipment?"

Cassandra grins, amused by Valdan's lack of response to her stares. After another moment of trying to provoke a reaction by scrutinizing his anatomy, she returns her focus to the bartender's responses.

The bartender thinks a moment and says, "Do I look like I do camp often, sir? I did no know where he could be finding some and did tell him so. Three drinks later and he did fall over drunk until a few other men did come and get him. They did say nothing and did just leave with him like he did be a sack of grain."

Note to self, get the bloody tailor to quit making him shirts that are more comfortable open. Light. Valdan may hide it, but he's conscious of the woman's stares.

Lyren frowns a little more.. then looks to Thad and Valdan, and even Cassandra.. as though to ask if they feel the man is holding back information.

Thad nods and says, "And you're sure that they didn't tell you where they were going? Can you remember anything else about them? Perhaps a smell or... the colour of the mud?"

Cassandra wonders herself if the man's holding back anything, especially about the other men that came in after the guy.

The man thinks a moment and then eyes Valdan and Lyren. "One of them... did have reddish mud on his boots. Like the mud that I did have to mop up off the drunk one. That do be all I know, Light burn me if to do be no."

Red Mud! Another clue! "I would hate to discover that you were hiding anything from us, my 'friend.' But otherwise, thank you for your cooperation." The semi-promised gold coin appears in the Duke's hand, and he places it on the edge of the bar's surface, just out of the tender's reach. "There is another of these if you 'remember' anything else. And do see about changing the name of this fil... establishment... the name does not become the place."

The bartender takes the coin and pockets them quickly. "I do no own the place, just work here. If you do want to talk to the owner, good luck to you." He says nothing more, moving away to clean up some poor drunk fool who may just drown in his own vomit if he's not careful.

Cassandra slides off the barstool, not expecting the bartender to know anything else of importance. She takes a step towards Valdan, looking up at him with a charming smile. Lowering her voice, she asks him a question, although it isn't low enough to prevent Lyren and Thad from overhearing, "Is this really all you came for tonight?"

Valdan smiles, glancing over at Cassandra, and watching the bartender leave. He pauses, about to shake his head, and then nods. "It was.. But I.. cannot carry out your request. There are.. other commitments in my life which must come first." He keeps his voice as low as possible and still be audible to Cass. "I may be able to set something else in motion that will meet your needs, however. But I will accept no pay."

Thad quirks an eyebrow to the conversation taking place, clear to his wolfish ears. He looks at Lyren and says, "I think I know where I can start looking.... the colour of the mud is important."

Cassandra uses the pretense of Valdan's soft tone to move closer to him, "Care to join me in a drink to discuss the other option you've arrived at? I must say that it's rather urgent...but I'm sure you realize that?" Her eyes on Valdan's turn the last part of her statement into a question expectant of an answer.

Does Lyren hear any of the conversation? Perhaps he does, at some, but then, he's just got his biggest clue yet in this search. Thus, he's far too excited to be paying the other.. conversation.. much heed. "Yes.. very important. I should know, too, where this red mud would come from.. I should.. why can't I remember?" Oh.. the two hours of sleep a night probably has something to do with it. "I will be riding out tomorrow to look for it."

Valdan shakes his head, stepping back, and saying just as softly, "I cannot discuss it. But you will see its effects if successful." With that he turns to the other two and makes as if to follow them out.

Thad says to Lyren, "My lord," using the title?? must be serious. "I would suggest you stay here for now. Best to let me deal with finding her. They may be watching you. Best to not alarm them." He casts Valdan and Cassandra a glance, having a good idea what they're talking about. He decides then to leave this place as quickly as he can.

Cassandra arches an eyebrow at Valdan's back, wondering at his refusal to elaborate. Frowning, she takes a step after him, not prepared yet to accept his suggestion that she remain ignorant, "Why not? You don't trust me, Valdan?" she calls to his back as she follows.

Lyren's frown mirrors Cassandra's in a way, though for a completely different reason. "You.. would exclude me from this, now, Filderryn? I am no stranger to slipping out from under the eyes of watchers.. I have done so with my guards often enough." Yes, it doesn't appear as this issue is over, yet, though follow Thad he does.

Valdan squares his shoulders and simply says over his shoulder. "I cannot discuss it Cassandra. I will not. Take it, or leave it." He apparently has no desire to discuss this now, here, either.

Cassandra's frown deepens, though she does stop her pursuit. Shrugging her shoulders, she tosses another comment after Valdan, "I'll take it for now...although should I decide otherwise, I do know where to find you. Remember that."