From alt.pub.dragons-inn Tue Aug 22 23:51:05 1995 Xref: netcom.com alt.pub.dragons-inn:8651 Path: netcom.com!noc.netcom.net!news.sprintlink.net!newsfeed.internetmci.com!newsxfer.itd.umich.edu!news.itd.umich.edu!maniac.deathstar.org!gemini From: Phaedra Whitlock Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn Subject: [Dark][DB] Niki - The Arrest Date: Tue, 22 Aug 1995 20:36:32 -0400 Organization: University of Michigan Lines: 57 Message-ID: NNTP-Posting-Host: maniac.deathstar.org Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII In-Reply-To: <41b00g$d45@uuneo.neosoft.com> Niki finished her pheasant with a sigh and wiped her lips daintily on a cloth napkin. Time to business. She'd been thinking about this while sitting unnoticed, day after day watching and waiting. If Valentine couldn't come to her, then she would simply have to go back for him, and for that she needed a crew, or at least people to go with her. If anyone answered her ad, she would be more than happy to give them the ship for free, but only after Valentine and she were back safe. She stood and pulled a folded piece of paper from her tunic. The words were as she had written them, late the night before. For Sale Or Rent: One sky-galleon, good condition, capable of rift travel, flight. Price negotiable. Will consider all offers. Leave messages at the bar. The ship was currently in the harbor, looking no different than any other sailing vessel, but water was the least of what it traversed. Niki still felt queasy remembering her first look over the rail as it sailed higher and higher into the pale morning sky. She pushed back her chair and made her way to the bar. Hugh was busy wiping down glasses in preparation for the next wave but smiled and came over when she crooked her finger. "Something else for you miss?" "Yes please. If you could post this and let me know of anyone interested..." > >... the door slammed open (again?). Zeph looked up > >expecting to see her cousin Eldarion. It wasn't him. It was a man with > >the ruddy, sun-brown face of a farmer, but wearing black and white official > >looking robes. The man had many soldiers behind him, and raised up two > >folded sheets of paper in his hand. He then called out to the now quiet > >common room "By order of the Witchfinder General and Magistrate of Montfort, > >I am here to take one Elana Elessidel into custody, under the charge of > >witchcraft. Elana Elessidel, stand and be recognized for what you are!" > Niki turned slowly from the barkeep and looked at the little man. He raised every hackle she possessed. A quick glance at the small table containing the elf woman, Niki hadn't sat watching the inn patrons for nothing, showed the woman's terror. The elf's companion squeezed her hand and Niki made her decision. Valentine had always defended her when she needed him, she would do no less for his memory. Without looking back she shoved the paper across the bar with a handful of coins. "Take care of this please. I'll be back." A lie would do no harm, and might give the woman time to do whatever she felt she needed. She formed the words in her mind, working out the lie. 'Sir?' she would say. 'Elana Elessidel? She left, right after the Proctor did. Something about leaving town... I could show you...' Niki opened her mouth to speak... [Not sure where this fits into Niki's timeline yet, but she can always duck outside and lose them in the streets if need be... Good luck 'Elana'. The Proctor's eeeevil.]