MIDNIGHT 008

[allthekeys]

As midnight arrives, the Lord and his entourage leave the Metalworker’s Shop. They appear empty handed as they make their way through the drizzle, and the Lord himself appears angry as they return to the castle.

Tanny seems to be smiling, though she is making every attempt to hide the expression as she climbs the stairs behind her father.

The woman who travels with them is slightly slumped, her head bowed and her hands tucked against her body as she follows at the end of the small party. All seems as though it might fall quiet until the Lord arrives in his room.

Lady Night ends her song, the harp resting on her lap and her eyes gazing distantly over the town. The townsfolk begin to wake again, stirring from their enforced sleep with obvious confusion and concern. Most quickly return to their own dwellings and shops to begin picking up the mess that has been left by the search. A few pause to help the Crows that are waking from their slumber, stroking the occasionally frightened birds before seeing them on their way.

The Guards are slow to rise, and seem confused to have slept at all. It is clear that they are still groggy, and that whatever captured them has not settled with them easily. Many can be found in the barracks, sitting in silence with their heads resting in their hands. The Captain paces between his men, checking on them and making certain that they are well.

The only one missing from the room is Tanner, who can be found intently searching the halls for someone. He checks on a number of locked doors, seeming more tense the longer it takes him to find what he seeks.

The Gargoyles also begin to stir. While they seem to be mostly returning to their nightly habits of patrolling, the creatures seem similarly groggy, sometimes not noticing the "servants" until someone is right on top of them - and usually reacting to the sudden notice with a growl and a claw-swipe.

Kaito will find that the serpent charm he carries feels faintly warm; the momentary impression of a voice comes like a memory from it - "Come to the tunnels, do not wear the cloak once you are out of the castle."

As the Lord returns to the castle, those who are watching closely will see the dark cloaked figure slipping back over the garden walls, responding clearly to some signal that no one else can hear or see. She cannot be found in the town or anywhere else after that.

The Lads who had been left to guard have procured some entertainment for their task, and the Lord is clearly displeased with this.

He rages at them, shouts abuses until both are crouched like beaten dogs at his feet, absorbing his abuses with no objections. His face is red, the dark veins swollen and spider webbing out from his face. The woman presses herself against the wall near the door, her eyes down and her body shaking as her lord paces and rages.

He grabs Luke by the arm, dragging him to his feet and roughly shaking him in emphasis to one of his points. “I did not give you leave to feed! I feed you! You do not feed yourselves!" Point made, he allows Luke to drop to the huddle on the floor, and Tanny moves to them, crouching down next to them, clearly concerned.

After some long minutes of shouting, the Lord stops, utterly still and silent for several moment, before he spins and orders Sync and Luke from his rooms. When they seem unable to stand, he orders Zeph to escort them. The boy obeys the order quietly, helping both gain their feet and motioning for the small unicorn to follow. As the leave, both will hear the Lord ordering “Ilanna” to pour the wine, and for the useless, disloyal wretches who fed without his permission to leave his sight.