Covert Pursuit

[Horu]

A day or two had passed since the dragon attack and Horu was as of yet no where near closer to finding and slaying the beast. Barely anyone in town new anything about such animals and it seemed from what he'd learned the most recent attack had been the first in centuries. He was at a loss for information so far so he decided he's try a new tactic.

Up in his room at the tavern, one he was still renting out until he found a more suitable temporary home, he was taking off the shining platinum scale mail that he wore almost every where. The reflective scales of blessed metal set glimmering light across the walls. He lay the sacred armor on his bed, along with the long curved sword that he normally wore at his waist. He admired it for a moment before donning some more, casual clothes. He wore a gray tunic and some brown leather pants. as well as a pair of sturdy boots that covered his shins. At his hip, in place of his sword was a purse of platinum in the pocket of his pants just in case he needed to bribe someone. And hidden in his boot was a long curved knife, just in case he needed to threaten someone or defend himself.

With a sigh he left his room, closed the door and made sure the door was locked securely before leaving his beloved armor alone. He walked down stairs into the hustle and bustle of the mid day crowd and found himself an empty seat. He ordered some cider, not wanting to get drunk when he was actually trying to get something accomplished, and waited.

Horu was basically acting on his own intuition. He had fought a dragon like this before and he had some knowledge of how such reptiles think. This dragon would probably try stirring up trouble at a more covert level, especially now that it knew a Paladin of Bahamat was in town. So Horu decided he would just try sitting down and listening to the people around him and hope that he heard or saw something of value to him.

[Raphael London]

Ridiculous wasn't a word that compared how he truely felt at a time like this. Ridiculous was how a clown would be perceived at a circus. Ridiculous was only bordering on the humility Raphael felt within him; burning on his cheeks as he slumped moodily in his seat alone at a window table.

To think, that fool of knight actually intended on capturing a creature - slaying it and coming out on top? That wasn't ridiculous, it was simply barbaric; a silly childs dream of being a hero, wishing away his life on a scam perfected by a master. Even if a deity had deplicted the fowl stench of that master in the first place.

No, London highly doubted anyone's pride in taking down the raverent lizard.

Wrinkling his in disgust as he pushed a cloudy glass asides, the elven sighed, pulling his embroided hood of snow-white colourings tight over his head - thick strands of his coal-like hair stranding out from beneath it's captive material.

It was typical. Just typical for the stranger to drag him into a mix such as this. The dragon was of his own interests, simply for the treasures and knowledge he wished to gain from seeking it - from confiding in it's motives and to will it to let him in onto the secrets of it's destructive paths.

Under no circumstances had he signed up to squire beneath a louzy human with an ego too large for it's suffocated mind.

"That scarlet royalty... That Victor, there was something about him...." he sighed, gently resting his chin against the upturned palm of his hand as he leant against the cedar table - staring absentmindedly out of the window. "Too many forbidden secrets in his mind... too much of the blood colors."

[Horu]

The day had dragged on for some time with no real activity he had already finished his drink and was about to start looking strange just sitting there doing nothing when he head something that could be in his interest. a boy wearing a white hooded cloak and found a seat near by him it seemed this area of the tavern had the most available seats.

what he thought he heard was a long shot but it was as close as he had gotten all day to anything that could lead him toward the crimson-scaled behemoth. He turned in his seat, as if to get a better look at the person that decided to sit next to him. He wanted to seem like some one that was just bored and talkative. So under the guise that he just wanted to start up a conversation he said. "What, something wrong with the color red?"when he thought about it now it seemed like a really strange question really. Oh well he had to start somewhere.

[Raphael London]

"What, something wrong with the color red?"

Scarcely glancing up as he was addressed, Raphael's icy-coloured eyes flickered back towards the window he had stared out of. "Nothing with the colour red. With the blood that is shed in that shade, and with the anger that typical is associated with scarlet. A blush is not red, but crimson - therefore not a sentiment of anger or of blood-lust, but of a lighter, more delicate emotion," he explained quietly, almost certain that a human was too fickle and self-centered with their thoughts to understand what he was trying to say.

"A friend... he disturbs me with the colours he wears," London's gaze locked onto the man who had sat at his table. Dark strands of hair were visible from beneath his snowy-hood as he watched closely - almost intrigued.

"Why do you sit here?" he muttered, feeling it was quite possibly more sensible to try and bluff his way into information by posing as the young boy he felt like, "With a stranger..."

[Horu]

Was this boy testing him or was he just rambling. To the boys first responce he added, "Tis sad but true that some people can not see such a difference in hue, and there for are in danger of manipulation." Something about how the boy had pharsed his responce made Horu decided to ad his own explaination. He wanted that bot to know that in a way he agreed and understood what he was saying. Growing up around dragons, he had grown acustumed to such riddled speech and was now curious as to why this boy would have such a grasp of riddles. How human was he exactly... it didn't matter it seemed like his patience was paying off.

"I sit here for I seek answers. With what you have said it would seem I have found a worthy path to follow. Tell me, what is this friend of yours like; is it purly the colors that disturb you or is there something more.?" He said calmly and quietly.

[Raphael London]

Clicking his tongue a little at the response given by the man, the young elf rested his chin upon the palm of his chalk-white hand - staring at him in curiousity. "One should learn to decieve his friends with his appearance," he smirked a little, knowing fully well that he was not one to at innocently or richly as his clothing suggested.

But this man was interesting. He came here for answers, and yet, he expected a young boy (London scoffed inwardly with distaste) to provide him with them? Maybe he wasn't as slow as he had first assumed.

Reaching for his half-drained glass, London placed it carefully infront of him; besides two previously used, now empty. Slowly, carefully, he tipped the drink equally between the three. Then, with little care, he drew a small blade across his index finger - wincing a little before he held it familarly above the center glass. The liquid, frosty and mud-coloured, darkened with the sparkled blood which mixed drop by drop into it.

"If someone handed you the glass, with no comparison... would you drink it?" he questioned, pushing it towards the man - his finger already healed from the magic that coursed through his veins, "I will say no more on the matter... unless, you can see my words." Yes, see his words. It made little sense, infact, non at all - but it was amusing to play with a mortal's mind.

Besides, information required payment in his books.

[Horu]

Horu considered the boy for a moment. This boy was definitely odd. He grinned and pulled the the half-drained glass, that now had blood in its mix, closer. He cupped a hand around it to conceal what he was doing. he blew into the liquid as if cooling it off the liquid glowed and then tuned to what appeared to be liquid gold. "I say nay. But would this color make it any more appealing?" He slid the cup back to the stranger.

The liquid wasn't really gold it was still the same liquid it was before. But he had made it only appear gold with a little Draconic Illusion. He couldn't make an illusion as great as a true dragon could but he could make something appear to be the color of a precious metal for a short time. His order forbade him from using such trickery to buy things. For example he wasn't allowed to make a wooden disk look like a gold coin and then pass it off as money. Doing so would cost him this ability.

he pulled a coin of pure platinum from his pouch, and placed it on the table. It looked silver but it was much more reflective and almost seemed to glow it was worth ten times as much as a single gold coin. "Speak strait with me. Tell me more about this... Friend."

[Raphael London]

Eyes flickering towards the golden liquid, Raphael cradled the glass between his hands - lifting one to dip his finger cautiously into the lukewarm liquid. It felt the same... He raised the glass a little to his sensitive nose. It smelt the same... Meekly licking the excess of of his finger, a dark eyebrow raised curiously. He could taste his own bodily fluid in the mixture, but the overpowering scent of the fruit-ambrosia in his drink remained the same as they had before.

Humming a little in contentment as he set the goblet back down, a thin smile played dangerously with his lips as the man removed a single coin from his money pouch. "That really is beautiful trickery for a human," he whispered, admiring the precious colouring before his gaze centered on the coin offered.

Immediately his hand twitched towards it; his fingers flexing hungrily for the prize. His previously wounded index finger strayed over the smooth metal, causing the elven's breath to catch in almost loving manner. So much for one piece of tell-tale informaton?

Pulling his hand away with a suspiscious look, the would-be teen reached up to brush a stray strand of his hair back behind his ear. Really the hood wasn't too perfect at concealing them when he was intrigued with someone so close nearby. "His name was Victor," he sighed, leaning back in his seat as he stared longingly at the platinum disk, "Strange from the first moment I saw him. He was smiling, maybe smirking, at the destruction and ruins. But blood-red was no doubt his favourite colour, not hidden in anyway as it should have been.... Scarlet hair and eyes... not to mention the richest robes I have seen.... all of the same shade."

Pausing hesitantly, the elf, leant forwards to speak in a monotone beneath his breath, "Right now... he volunteered both himself and I to accompany a knight in search for the Dragon. He'd be one to watch..."

[Horu]

"Hmmmm..." Was all Horu could say at first. He was mulling over the information carefully. It seemed he had picked well and that his intuition was indeed still intact. During the conversation he had noticed the sharply pointed ears under the boy's hood. This explained a few things, like why he seemed to speak more intelligently than one would expect of someone so young. This 'boy' could easily be nearing his hundredth birthday But horu wouldn't be able to tell. Though it didn't matter much to him information was information and he didn't really judge people by their birth rights.

He leaned closer to the boy, or man his eyes said oy his mind said other wise. "I am no mere peasant sir and one would do well not to underestimate me, as I'm sure some may under estimate you. Keep your wits keen, and you mind sharp for your friend victor may be far more dangerous than he seems and may be leading you and this knight to your dooms. Keep your eye on him for me will you?" He asked as he slid the money over to the elf. Another question came to mind, "Who is this knight you spoke of?" He asked curiously just so he could get his facts strait and maybe get more information else were.