[hider=Stratya & Riona Part 2][center][h1][b][color=peru]Stratya[/color] & [color=DAF6C7]Riona[/color] Part 2[/b][/h1][/center]
[color=LightGray][hr]
Shite. That went over well. Stratya groaned softly, “[color=peru]hrmmgh.[/color]” she sighed, rubbing her neck awkwardly, “[color=peru]”that's no’ wha’ I mean’..[/color]” Her hand dropped and she shook her head, “[color=peru]anyway.. It was this mornin’. I found ‘is ‘ead behin’ the stables. Folk ‘ad been complainin’ about an awful stench from there, tae boot, so it wasn’t too ‘ard t’ find. He’d been bea’en, poor fella, presumably before it ‘appened. I ‘ad a dog follow ‘is scent, through town and into the woods. I found the rest of him there. That’s when I got the samples. There’s bits of bone and fabric intact. You’ll see that the vials have different compositions within them, as well. I did my best to gather a bit of everything there was.[/color]” She wouldn’t mention the sword. That would be her little secret. Her trap to spring on someone who shouldn’t know about it. It wasn’t a hard secret to predict, but the certainty with which someone might allude to its specifics would be the giveaway.

“[color=peru]Hm..[/color]” Stratya eyed Riona and took a slow breath. She didn’t like asking these questions of someone who seemed to have been close with the lad, and now she'd somehow managed to lose her good repoire. Great. Smooth. Luckily, Riona still seemed motivated to help. Hopefully, that would be enough. “[color=peru]When was the last time ye saw Darryn?[/color]”

The image of Darryn’s severed head tangled with the memory of her father’s death. Frustration toward the Knight-Captain flared into anger and redirected itself to the killer. [color=DAF6C7]“The morning following the annual ball,”[/color] she answered.

Riona turned, picking up the first sample with careful fingers. [color=DAF6C7]“Illustrious Dame Inquisitor Knight-Captain Durmand, I hope you will permit me to ask a few more pointed questions. Though it is not my place given my lowly station, if you could find it in your heart to indulge me, I would be forever grateful.”[/color] The words tasted like ashes, but Riona had spent years learning to stroke noble egos, and the speech rolled off her tongue with ease.

Stratya sighed again, remembering the previous night and where she'd been. She managed to get a rather humorous reaction from Wulfric, but now, “[color=peru]is [I]this[/I] how The Prince felt abou’ ‘is crow ti’les..?[/color]”

[color=DAF6C7]“This ‘awful stench’ the people spoke of, did you smell it yourself, ser?”[/color] The odor seemed unlikely to have originated from a naturally decaying corpse. Last night’s weather had been mild, lacking the oppressive heat and humidity that hastened decay. 

Key word being [i]naturally.[/i]

“[color=peru]The odor from behind the stables was tha’ of rot. Due to the location on castle grounds, it had to be cleared up. The odor in the forest, however, smelled more.. boiled.[/color]” Stratya rubbed her chin thoughtfully. She didn't know, herself, how long it would take to boil a body down, but surely the timeframe was too short? It all kept on pointing to impossibility, pointing to something supernatural.

The answer only sparked more questions. Even if last night had been a hot, sticky night, a body wouldn’t reek enough to draw complaints for at least a day.

Riona uncorked the vial and took a cautious sniff. Holding it out to the Knight-Captain, she asked, [color=DAF6C7]“Pardon me, ser, but does this resemble the boiling odor you described?”[/color]

“[color=peru]‘at’s it, alright.[/color]” Stratya nodded, coming away from the stench quickly.

Back at her workstation, Riona divvied up the samples into individual vials. [color=DAF6C7]“Did anyone manage to pinpoint the source of the rotting smell?”[/color]

“[color=peru]The hound followed the scent from the head, through town, and into the forest. Right past the enforcement centers. Very bold..[/color]”

And very weird. Wasn’t the complaint that there was a smell coming from behind the stables? How in the world was the source of that smell in the forest? Also, why the change in smell? Did the melting process cause the rotting stench and change to a “boiling” smell over time? Was the body melted behind the stables first before being moved to the forest then? What about the head?

[color=DAF6C7]“You mentioned you found Darryn’s head, most honorable and valiant Dame Inquisitor Knight-Captain Durmand. May I humbly inquire as to what condition it was in?”[/color] Riona figured it couldn’t have decomposed or melted too badly if the Knight-Captain could tell that Darryn had been beaten, but she had to be sure.

Stratya took a slow breath. This would not continue. However, handling this with authority would only make things worse. She did, however, know someone who could tame an irritated young lady. What would her mother do..? Mm. Too aggressive. It might work, but it might backfire. Hm. How about, “[color=peru]you're no’ using more adjectives for me than y’do if you ever address a member of the Royal Family or a count or such?[/color]” That might be bad, “[color=peru]if someone were looking for an excuse to do something, we shouldn't give them any opening, no matter how small. Then again, I s’ppose you know the dance be’er th’n I.[/color]” The knight shrugged and looked at the door, rubbing her face slowly once, “[color=peru]proba’ly jus’ paranoid.. it'd be a real pain if someone wanted to be petty, though. Could make you take a whole minute each time you address them. A cer’ain rooster I could think of migh’ do such a thing..[/color]”

Riona paused her work to face Stratya with a carefully neutral expression. [color=DAF6C7]“You wish for me to use fewer epithets than I would for royalty or other higher-ranking nobles? As you wish…”[/color] Riona inhaled deeply then in one breath said, [color=DAF6C7]“Most gracious, valiant, esteemed, chivalrous, honorable, illustrious, gallant, revered, intrepid, august, dauntless, magnificent, stalwart, exalted, steadfast, serene, resolute…”[/color] She turned back to her work, hands moving with practiced efficiency as she mixed ingredients and observed the reactions, all while keeping up a steady stream of words and phrases. [color=DAF6C7]“...noble-hearted, loyal, courageous, and indomitable Dame Inquisitor Knight-Captain Durmand.”[/color] There. [i]One[/i] fewer epithet than the longest byname ever bestowed upon any Caesonian noble on record.

Riona made a few notes before glancing back at Stratya, a hint of mischief in her eyes. 

“[color=peru]Al’ight, so I'm bein’ [I]silly and[/I] paranoid, [I]please[/I] sto’.[/color]” She was getting stressed and overthinking things. She needed to calm herself, but this badgering wasn't helping. Riona had been amicable until Stratya said one wrong little thing to her, and all that had once been ease was being turned into frustration.

The impish light faded from the maid’s eyes as she studied Stratya. She then gave a single, curt nod.

A sigh of relief. “[color=peru]Thank ye..[/color]” She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “[color=peru]As for the ‘ead, it was intact, but..[/color]” It was hard to tell her. Stratya’s hand paused. Nobody wants to hear that the people they care about suffered. The knight chewed her next words, “[color=peru]he was.. bea’en so bad I barely recognized ‘im.[/color]” Riona and Darryn had been close, Stratya could tell that much. It must hurt, to hear.

[color=DAF6C7]“... If I may clarify my question regarding the state of Darryn’s head—I was hoping you could provide some additional details. Were there signs of decay or liquefaction? Or did his head appear relatively… ‘intact,’ save for the bruising and trauma?”[/color] She paused, her fingers fidgeted with the writing utensil. [color=DAF6C7]“More specifically, I am interested in what caused the head to separate from the body.”[/color] Did it rot or melt off? Or was Darryn’s head taken clean off his shoulders by a weapon of some kind? There’s no way someone ripped it off... could it?

Riona was taking this all rather well. Perhaps she was just ready, mentally, for this kind of thing to happen? It seemed more like she was driven, than she'd particularly prepared herself. It was just her kind of personality to move forward, then? As she thought about the scene, she remembered the picture. It would have the blade on it, so maybe hiding the blade wasn't going to pan out like she thought. She took a breath, her mind settling. “[color=peru]The head was,[/color]” she thought briefly about which word to use, “[color=peru]er, in ‘normal’ condition?, apart from the missing body and the beating. Ehr.. I did.. not, find anything unusual about its state, apart from-[/color]” she cut herself off and cleared her throat. She'd already said that part. “[color=peru]It was severed by a blade. The rain had washed away any blood.[/color]” Strictly speaking, she could not confirm the executioner's blade she found nearby was used for this. It seemed like the obvious conclusion, but it could be a trick is. Maybe if she'd woken up earlier.

Riona bit her lip, disappointment plain on her face. [color=DAF6C7]“That is unfortunate… I was hoping we might find traces left of whatever was used to…”[/color] She grimaced. [color=DAF6C7]“Melt the body.”[/color]

Her brow furrowed deeper as the cogs of her mind whirred and clicked. [color=DAF6C7]“So they lopped off Darryn’s head first, then liquified the rest of him. But… why?”[/color] The question wasn’t directed at Stratya, Riona was mostly thinking out loud. [color=DAF6C7]“Leave the head, destroy the body... Someone wanted proof he was dead, but not the how or why of it. Like there was something about the body they didn’t want anyone to discover...”[/color]

“[color=peru]Aye, tha’s one thing botherin’ me. [I]Why?[/I] I can only assume some.. message is bein’ sent, and tha’ ‘oever it is intended for will understand what tha’ message is. Twisted gobber, to ‘ave such cursed handwritin’.[/color]” The knight leaned up against the wall nearby, her eyes watching Riona at work with a passive interest. Stratya seemed to be relaxing a bit. Looking at Riona work the way she was prompted her to stretch her neck, resulting in a nice “pop”, “[color=peru]ooh,[/color]” in either direction, “[color=peru]ooooh~, hoh hoh hoohhh.[/color]”

[color=DAF6C7][i]A message…[/i][/color]

Riona checked the time, jotted a few notes, then turned her attention to the vials. She added measured amounts of this powder and that liquid, a pinch of herbs, drops of different tinctures into the samples. [color=DAF6C7]“Knight-Captain, how much of Darryn was left when you found him in the forest? Was it still recognizable as a body or was it literally just bits of bone and fabric?”[/color]

The daughter of a guardsman pushed off the wall and moved toward the table, “[color=peru]Nae body, jus’.. what had once been a puddle.[/color]” Stratya removed the small pauldrons she had on, carefully laying them with the interior up, on the seat of a chair. She then stretched her shoulders across her chest, getting some nice, thick pops, after which she'd carefully move her arm in a full circle. “[color=peru]T’was nae well hidden, jus’ dumped deep enough in the forest you couldnae smell it from the train station.[/color]”

That narrowed down the list a lot: there were no flora or animal byproduct readily available in Caesonia that could liquefy a full-grown man within a span of a few hours.

[color=DAF6C7]“And yet, the odor was pungent enough for people to complain about the stables?”[/color] Riona shook her head. [color=DAF6C7]“Something does not add up.”[/color]

She'd start to put the couple of pieces she laid on the table back on. It took longer putting it back on, naturally, but she seemed able to manage, even with the awkward position of reattaching something to her own shoulder. “[color=peru]Gonna ‘ave to go down for a bevvy on the pub, I think. I'll ‘ave to repor’, first..[/color]”

Riona could use a stiff drink herself.

With a sigh, the maid carefully placed her notes on the table before her. [color=DAF6C7]“I am afraid this next part might take a little while, Knight-Captain. And based on what you have shared thus far, I would not hold out much hope regarding the results.”[/color]

Quiet settled over the room. Riona watched the Knight-Captain put pieces of her armor back on until she finally said, [color=DAF6C7]“I want to believe that my initial assessment of you is accurate, Knight-Captain. That you are an honorable and honest person who would protect both highborn and lowborn alike. The kind of person who would ensure that justice prevails regardless of societal standings or titles.”[/color]

Riona straightened her posture. [color=DAF6C7]“I apologize for causing you frustration. It troubled me that you seemed to prioritize the manner in which I posed my questions over helping me, help you, figure out Darryn’s murder.”[/color]

Stratya was just finishing with fastening on the first pauldrons, listening as her hands worked. She nodded thoughtfully, “[color=peru]’at’s fair.[/color]”

[color=DAF6C7]“Furthermore,”[/color] she placed her hands on her hips, [color=DAF6C7]“your remarks about the adjectives and ‘knowing the dance’ came across as patronizing. Why bring any of it up in such a roundabout way if you truly believed I knew better?”[/color] Her voice became increasingly impassioned. [color=DAF6C7]“But if it was not obvious, then yes, I do know the dance very well. There were times when it was literally beaten into me. I am also acutely aware of the pettiness that people are capable of, having been punished on their whims for things utterly outside my control.”[/color]

Riona stopped abruptly and took a moment to compose herself, exhaling slowly. [color=DAF6C7][i]Don’t start up sh*t again. Just apologize.[/i] “I recognize that my approach was counterproductive, and I would like to believe your warning was sincere,”[/color] she said. [color=DAF6C7]“For that, I am sorry. I will not, however, apologize for prioritizing uncovering the truth behind Darryn’s murder over adhering to the proper etiquette of questioning you, even if you are nobility. Nor will I apologize for taking offense to the manner in which you chose to admonish me.”[/color] Now to see how right or wrong she was about the Knight-Captain.

Stratya was fussing with the second pauldrons as her movements slowed while Riona formed a carefully worded complaint. She nodded slowly and resumed, “[color=peru]Nae, you're right. I'm sorry, too. Makin’ a right arse o’ m’self, like tha’.[/color]”

Beaten? Yes, Stratya heard that right. Somehow, the murder had not been a reminder of the cruelty of nobility. Yes, Riona was at the mercy of such whims. Such lowly behavior. Yes, the knight supposed it was better to tell Riona what secrets she was working with. At least, then, she knew what she was getting involved in.

“[color=peru]I’ feels like I've been dancin’ ‘round this.. great, big.. [i]thing[/I] in the middle o’ town. It's so ‘uge, every time I loo’ at it, I cannae help but wonder ‘ow I could even do anythin’ to it? So I stay away, dealing with the lit’ler things on the wayside. Lit’le rocks I can pick up and throw. But, now.. it feels like I've run smack into the damn boulder in the middle of i’ all. It's go’ me right spooked, lookin’ up at this massive thing that feels like it could crush me just by turnin’ over. So.. sorry, for bein’ an arse.[/color]”

She took a deep breath, looking at her hand as she flexed it, “[color=peru]S’ppose I better go report to the Queen, and get some other evidence processed.[/color]” The knight looked at Riona, thought carefully about their conversation, and smiled, “[color=peru]shall I come’n get ye, when I go for the pub?[/color]”

Riona felt the tension drain from her, glad that Stratya took the complaint in stride and even offered an apology of her own. She decided she did like this knight.

But the mention of the Queen sent a fresh jolt of tension through Riona’s body. She chewed her lip, uncertain whether to mention what she saw. If there was even the slimmest chance it could be connected to Darryn’s murder, shouldn’t she bring it up? [color=DAF6C7]“Knight-Captain, when you have audience with Her Majesty… could you inquire as to how the Royal Advisor is faring?”[/color]

“[color=peru]Oh? Ah, sure. Erm.. Any partic’lar reason?[/color]”

Judging by her reaction, the Knight-Captain didn’t know about the incident then. [color=DAF6C7]“Ser, can you trust me, as you have trusted me with this analysis?”[/color] Riona asked.

Stratya stepped slowly toward the door. A blind question wasn’t her favorite thing to ask the Queen, but, “[color=peru]well, a’right..[/color]” She stopped and turned, just before opening the door, “[color=peru]but you never answered [I]my[/I] question.[/color]”

[color=DAF6C7]“I withheld an answer, Knight-Captain, because I thought it best that you enter the situation with a clear and unbiased mind.”[/color] Riona’s gaze drifted to the vials, pale bits of stableboy suspended in different colored liquid. [color=DAF6C7]“Truth is, I cannot say if this bears any connection to Darryn’s death. If it does not, I see no reason to add to your burdens.”[/color] She wrapped her arms around herself as her eyes returned to Stratya. [color=DAF6C7]“However… I fear the boulder you speak of might be the tip of a mountain.”[/color]

Stratya bobbed her head, “[color=peru]Eh, aye.. it does kinda seem tha’ way, don'it. The other question, though.[/color]”

Riona blinked, genuinely confused. [color=DAF6C7]“The… other question, ser?”[/color]

“[color=peru]The pub?[/color]” Stratya's gauntlet gave a soft “clack” as she motioned with a thumb over her shoulder. “[color=peru]It'll ‘af ta be on the evenin’, I think.[/color]”

Riona blinked again. A drink sounded tempting. And she could raise a glass to Darryn’s memory too. [color=DAF6C7]“I will join you.”[/color] she answered. [color=DAF6C7]“I should be done with my duties and the analysis by then. Which establishment did you have in mind? I would like to dress appropriately.”[/color]

“[color=peru]Figure we can pop on down to Ol’ Toughy, yeah? No’ as stuffy.[/color]” Stratya’s other hand rested loosely on the door as her gesturing hand wiggled vaguely.

[color=DAF6C7]“Just two colleagues on a night out.”[/color] Riona proposed as their cover story, then bowed. [color=DAF6C7]“Until then.”[/color]

The door clicked shut. Riona just stood there, counting silently. One. Two. Three… Only when she thought Stratya walked out of earshot did she let the tears come, quiet sobs muffled against her sleeve.[/color][/hider]
[hider=TL;DR]Riona asks questions about Darryn’s murder and agrees to meet Stratya later to give the results of the analysis.[/hider]
[center][h1][b][color=DAF6C7]Ríoghnach "Riona"[/color][/b][/h1][color=DAF6C7]Time:[/color] Nighttime, Sola 24th
[color=DAF6C7]Location:[/color] The Tough Tavern
[color=DAF6C7]Interaction(s)/Mention(s):[/color] [@CitrusArms][/center]
It’s been a while since she’d been in a tavern. She’d forgotten how lively it can be. And dirty. She felt her fingers twitch, itching to grab a rag and start scrubbing every surface in sight. Pushing aside the urge, Riona settled into her seat and placed her report on the table, careful to avoid the suspicious stains.

When the drinks came, Riona slid one across to the empty seat, raising her own in a wordless toast to Darryn’s memory before taking a long swig.

As she lowered her mug, Riona’s gaze drifted to Stratya. The Knight-Captain was clearly in her element, belting out a tavern song with gusto. Riona allowed herself a small smile. Let Stratya work it out of her system. There would be time for serious discussion later. For now, Riona was content to nurse her ale, tap her foot to the rhythm, and soak in the lively atmosphere.