A Painted Search

[Serenity]

Serenity was taken back by the lovely language, not truly knowing what it was herself, but her first assumption was elven. She could sing in various human languages and speak them fairly well enough, but Elven wasn't available for study.

Interested now, especially in how Quick got this woman's attention for more than 10 seconds, Serenity turned her whole body to face her now.

"Would it be alright to assume that you're an Elf? Forgive me if that's rude to state, but you seem to be in better standing compared to the few others I've met while exploring Wistvale."

"You could tell her how I did offer to help you too OH GODS MY BACK."

"Sorry about that, minor distraction. Although it is important that I know how he offered to help you, I was not speaking falsely when I suggested that he is a dangerous man, despite his current predicament."

[Ránëwén Lossëhelin]

She nodded. An elf she was, or of the fair-folk as Roland was known to say. His name perhaps wasn't as fancy, but she found it to her liking. Most humans weren't so kind. She remembered how they called her long-ears and for a moment she raised a hand to tuck some hair neatly away. They had called her many things, all of which weren't her name and all were meant to cause pain. Senseless she knew, but still pain was pain and there's no changing what is.

“He didn't have the chance. The door to the tavern opened and fear took him,” she replied. “He was right to fear. Not many left there are who can embrace ancient power.” She sipped at her ale letting her eyes get lost within its golden liquid. She watched as it disappeared; she winced as it dripped down her throat and before long it was gone.

[Serenity]

She raised an eyebrow at the phrase 'ancient power.' Magic she must of meant, but to her statement as to not many left who can wield it, well Serenity knew different. Highever was full of magic wielders, so much so that the university was raised because of it. The lady mage hadn't visited the rest of the world though, perhaps her former city state was a special case.

"I see..."

The councilwoman walked over to Quick who was still laying on the floor, "What did you offer to help her with exactly?"

Quick didn't speak for a moment, as if carefully choosing his response in order to not be completely crushed, "She...she wanted to learn the artist behind that picture she has. I was just going to walk her around town and ask about it."

Serenity turned her head from where she stood towards Rane, "Is this true madame?"

[Ránëwén Lossëhelin]

She hadn't much to offer Serenity, save for a nod in her direction. Quick, the almost crushed man, spoke true enough. If further proof was necessary, she now held the rolled parchment out towards the councilwoman. Though, she did wonder if perhaps she had said something wrong. Brushed to the side her worries were, and yet they were found odd. Did the mage not understand the gravity of responsibility that came with such powers? Surely, she could not ignore corruption forever. Power only begets power.

Cast aside confusion was, and drowned in what remained of drink. She stared; she waited and set glass upon counter once more. An eternity already had seemed to pass and still she had no viable leads. Given the condition in which the art was found, maybe no one truly remembered whence it came? To make matters worse that fog was sweeping her mind, clouding her judgment. She brushed it aside, raising a hand even though it did not exist. Thump, thump, an ache in the head.

[Serenity]

Serenity analyzed the picture from a distance, not recognizing it of course. She knew little of Wistvale's history, but its area seems to brink with interesting new discoveries. She shrugged as if to say she couldn't really help Rane herself and wasn't sure if she had the time too. The councilwoman had only stopped by for a quick drink before continuing to survey the town more to become better acquainted with it.

Slowly she released the stone cage off of Quick, and returned it to the earth from whence it came. The bounty hunter weakly rose up, the pressure on his back he could still feel.

"You're going to let me go?"

"You've done no wrong since you came here, I acted rashly, but I still don't trust you. If I weren't certain this lovely woman could handle herself, I'd have thrown you into a hand made jail, of tall thick stone."

Quick chuckled, the act hurting his jaw a little, "I see...I hope I don't disappoint you councilwoman." he tipped his hat to her, smiling weakly.

"Hope I don't hear any complaints."

Serenity turned to Rane, and gave a slight bow, "I do hope you won't have any problems with him milady, and if you do please come see me at the new town hall." she turned to Quick, "I don't know of any artists in Wistvale, but I imagine the Elven folk would seeing as they might have been here the longest. You can find a concentration of their huts down this street and through an alleyway or so I'm told. I'll visit there myself eventually."

The lady mage was just about to leave before she smacked her head lightly realizing she forgot to pay and turned back to do so.

"Oh, I'll take care of that too milady, as an apology." Quick said.

She faced him again, with a straight face, a tad of glare in her eyes still as she reluctantly agreed to the offer, "Tell your employer Tywin I said hello and he should come visit me sometime."

"I'm not working for him, Serenity, but if I happen to see him I'll make sure to point him in your direction."

She quickly nodded and headed for the door. Quick shook his head in disbelief of his supposed luck and rubbed his brow. Sighing he turned back to Rane with a smile and hoped she was still interested in his help, beautiful company would make him feel better.

"Well, darling, if you're willing I can still walk you around town."

[Ránëwén Lossëhelin]

She stood and turned pushing her stool in behind her. There wasn't much to say, so nothing did she say and instead she nodded as she approached Quick. In hand she rolled the painting up and held it close. She supposed that now was as good of a time as any to explore the town. Having spent most of her time in the Hall provided for her, she hadn't the time or the urge to seek out her own people. In fact, until such was mentioned, she wasn't even aware that an elven clan had residence in Wistvale. They were never spoken of, perhaps they weren't related to her own kin. If that was the case, they would be little help in finding what she desperately sought. Thoughts for another time. She gestured towards the door.

“If you would have me,” She replied politely. “Though, I hope you aren't expecting anything in return, for I have nothing left to give.” An added statement, perhaps she had heard more of the resounding argument than she originally let on. If she had, her facial expression hardly indicated it, she was just as pleasant; just as calm as she had been before. Although, now Quick might notice she rested a hand upon iron at her side. A habit. A good habit.

[Serenity]

"No payment needed sweet thing," he smiled brightly, "The pleasure of your company is all the payment I need."

Besides that blasted grudge keeper will just hound me if she hears I asked for payment.

Quick noticed where she placed her hand, but didn't seem to be too wary of it. Yet after what just happened he expected her to be cautious, which is smart on her part.

"Well then, milady, shall we get moving then before we burn all of our daylight? I was going to stay for a night, but I rather not be around if Serenity is running this show. Best I leave as soon as I can."

The man turned to walk out the door, but quickly turned back to see Rane as if he forgot something, "Well since we got my profession out in the open, I don't suppose you have any questions about me? Not that I dislike my reputation much, I sort of need it to get work in the first place."

[Ránëwén Lossëhelin]

He hunted for money. That was that and it was just fine with her. She shook her head and once more gestured for the door. He also happened to be right, daylight was ebbing away quickly and a search a night would only prove foolhardy. She knew not of the folk that roamed the night streets and alleyways, but she would not risk it, not after only a day. She had time, or rather time had her. Time had her trapped in this course of action. She couldn't live until all was said and nothing more had to be done.

[Serenity]

Quiet little thing isn't she...I kinda like that


Taking the hint, Quick dusted his coat real quick and headed out the door with Rane behind. He followed Serenity's instructions and soon the pair found themselves within a little culdesac with small huts aligned in an arc.

It looked as poor as the rest of Wistvale, with most of the housing not unlike tool sheds or storage shacks; all breaking apart and looking as if it would only take a sharp wind to bring it all down. Serenity should probably avoid this section.

A few of the Elves were out and about, dusting the front of their homes or managing plants. They wore rags and other tattered clothing with torn shoes. They looked like any other lot in the town, with any resemblance of noble heritage being lost. There was no hint of anything in the air about them, sadness nor misery.

"Lively folk, aren't they? Its up to you darling, where you want to start?"

One of the Elves, a male of uncertain age due to the longevity of their lives, looked up to see Quick and Rane. As if he were expecting her, he rushed up to her with life sparked in his eyes. The strange Elf bowed slightly to her,

"I..I never dreamed to see someone from the old world, please, let me welcome you on behalf of all of us, Elder."

The other Elves paid attention now, looking on to the other with more of the people coming out of their homes to see what was going on. They began to follow suit and bowed slightly from where they stood.

[Ránëwén Lossëhelin]

Street corners passed in silence. Silence begot only by pats of footfalls, a gentle breeze and figures that danced with their own shadows across from them, tilling about at vendors and working the day away. The sun high, and crescent by now shrunk away in clouds and sent fractured rays down upon them. Its warmth kept company; it kept her from straying. Behind him she stepped, not alongside and not in front with iron clenched she watched as he walked. She followed in lull.

They came upon the huts strewn in hay and built up with planked wood; about them were fair-folk of a certain kind. They dressed in rags, a sign of poverty perhaps, but her eyes met not sadness nor anger. If they were oppressed here, she saw no hint of it. Poor was poor and Wistvale kept all kinds of it. Exception was not found, nor was lingering hope.

She stopped short of Quick and kept a few pace distance from him. It was then a person of kin approached. He was struck in awe; he called her elder. At this she looked upon him with soft eyes and she shook her head. More came and they bowed, as if she was a person they had been waiting for. She spoke to them.

“You have mistook me. I still am but a child seeking my parents.”

[Serenity]

"F-forgive me milady, we know little of our culture, having grown up in human society. Most of us here are former slaves, runaways if you will. We never seen a true Elf before."

The man was shaken up a bit, amazed to be in her presence apparently. The others weren't as stirred but they kept their eyes locked on the three as if expecting something. A few children in poked their heads out of windows and doorways, quietly, to see what was going on.

"My name is Toby, that is, my slave name, our masters gave us names. None of us have Elven names to carry much less a history to look at."

Quick shifted his hat a bit, using the friction to scratch his head. They, at least he didn't have time to look all day and wanted to get some questions answered so they could move on if they could.

"Not to get in the way mister, but we're here on business. This lovely lady here wonders if you all know of any artists that lived here." he turned to Rane, "Why don't you show him the picture there darlin'?"

[Ránëwén Lossëhelin]

Forgivable indeed it was and had she known, she would have let the matter rest. It was senseless to bring up that pain; to be estranged from kin. She had a hard time imagining what it would have been like not to know her past not to know of a true home. Even still Candle Grove was not the land the boy spoke of, she was almost sure of that. Lands of old there were; her parents knew them, lived upon them. At a time so did she, but memory was lost to obscurity. She found it was easy not to miss what could not be remembered.

How she longed to speak at length, to just remain for awhile. However, Quick was right for now they had a matter of great concern. Although she wouldn't have been nearly as direct, his words were accepted as her own and she retrieved the painting. The parchment she held out was worn and perhaps slightly damp from its time spent upon the tavern's counter, yet otherwise it was in legible condition. She held it towards Toby.

“I know you must have questions, but I need to find the artist that painted this.” She said. “Please, time is no longer on my side.”

[Serenity]

Toby nodded weakly, and went through a series of facial changes as his mind raced, perhaps disappointed that Rane had to go so suddenly. As far as he knew no one in the Elf division met someone of the people, a true born Elf who lied free of human oppression. Though other races made use of Elven slaves as well, humans were the most guilty.

The former slave looked at the picture, squinting his eyes until he moved closer. The image appeared beautiful to him, and though he was admiring as if remembering something, he knew that he couldn't answer Rane's question. The Elves in this section rarely went out to socialize with the people of Wistvale due to mistrust and just kept to themselves.

"I'm sorry, I do not know who painted this picture."

"...I might, milady."

A young Elven woman stepped up, she wore a white skirt and shirt with a head bandana covering her light brown hair. She appeared timid with a pretty face, her hands were clasped together.

"There lives a man, a human, he's very old...and...has the nicest home in Wistvale. I heard rumor that he has lots of paintings in his house. He lives near the new council building..."


Quick scratched his head again, "That can't be right, about the nice house I mean. Every place here looks like a dump, there ain't a single shack worth being a dog's home."

"Forgive me mast....I mean sir. Its only what I heard."
"Don't listen to the human, Jaine, I know you wouldn't tell a lie," Toby quickly defended with a slight malice in his voice.

[Ránëwén Lossëhelin]

“You'd be wise to stay your clever tongue,” she addressed Quick. “'Lest you want all of Wistvale upon your heels. Serenity is enough I am sure?” A question that need not an answer, but one was given by her loose expression. She hadn't even bothered to turn towards him, for she was far more concerned with her kin. Suffering she could see, but twas not a thing to be done. The past could not be altered and not all the well-wishes in the world could change that. They had been slaves; the humans had been master(s). Regime was hard to change. A quaint sort of personality that bled through not out of respect, but from repetition. In a way, she wished to take them away, but what good now would that do?

Shaking her head, she knew not of what more could be done. Instead, she chose to see to the matter at hand. There would be time after to consider the alienage of her kin. For now, she needed to find that artist. Only he or she for that matter, would be able to explain how the picture upon velvet came to be. Perhaps that would lead to what she sought so desperately. However, such a blessing had yet to come upon her.

“Do you know of his name, Jaine was it?” A passing smile she offered for another question. An interrogation this was not, but any information would help.

[Serenity]

Quick sighed and shrugged, not meaning to sound insulting to the young Elven woman, but he guessed anything from a human's mouth was accountable.

Jaine smiled slightly, "I don't know his name, but if you like milady I can take you to him."

The young maid led them away from the culdesac and back out to the streets. They eventually reached the council building once again, where Rane started her little journey. In front of it, Jaine pointed to a home just across the street from the council's offices.

Like Quick had suggested, the place didn't look remarkable.

"My father always said its the inside that counts." Jaine said not looking away from the house, "I never been inside myself of course, I only came here to see if it was really as nice as those people said.

"We'll see then little lady, I'm sure the man of the house won't mind us knockin." he turned to Rane, "You ready to go? Sorry but I have to leave you after this little visit, need to get my pack ready to head out."