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Post by OG Loc on Jun 8, 2006 18:57:45 GMT -5
"Fit as many as you can in the cellar," the man replied, "then try to find somewhere else for the remaining people."
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Post by costaricangirl on Jun 8, 2006 19:19:55 GMT -5
Moira nodded, took a deep breath, and awkwardly stepped up onto the wooden, seemingly unstable counter.
"Okay, everyone!" she yelled, clapping her hands. Not that there was much noise anyway. "If you are an elf or a dwarf, please follow me to the cellar. As you have probably figured out, you are not safe here. The king's men are close, and if they see any of you we'll all be punished. So follow me quickly and quietly."
Moira hopped off the counter and, feeling like a fool, unlocked the door to the cellar and led many of the tavern's inhabitants--mainly dwarves, of course--into the dark, chilly cellar.
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Post by OG Loc on Jun 8, 2006 19:38:31 GMT -5
The man nodded his approval, then checked to make sure that there were none left behind. Seeing that there were none, he sighed and sat down at his table, sipping his drink once more, knowing that, otherwise, he would look conspicuous.
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Post by My email doesn't work anymore on Jun 8, 2006 20:37:36 GMT -5
Luster finally dried her eyes and quickly stuffed the parchment away into her sack. She was being ridiculous there wasn't much she could do in times like these. She heard some sort of comotion gatering downstairs but did her best to ignore it as she snuggled under her covers and puffed ou the taper candle.
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Post by costaricangirl on Jun 8, 2006 22:08:30 GMT -5
Once everyone was safely down in the cellar--safe, but not necessarily comfortable,--Moira closed and locked the door once more. The tavern was now extremely empty, due to its popularity among the dwarves and its lack of popularity among other races (with a fair number of men being exceptions, of course).
Moira leaned in toward the man who continued to sit at the counter.
"Do you think we should alert people who are in their rooms?" she inquired.
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Post by OG Loc on Jun 8, 2006 22:42:57 GMT -5
"That would be advisable," the man commented. "Just try not to make them panic."
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Post by My email doesn't work anymore on Jun 9, 2006 10:25:54 GMT -5
There was a loud prominent knock on the tavern door. "Open up! In the name of the King!" Without even waiting for someone to respond the door banged open against the wall causing several potted plants to fall from the sill and shatter. An oddly large group of soldiers began storming in and began to sift through the tavern and inn. The captain glared down at Moira. "Sorry to intrude ma'am but there have been a disturbing number of reports that this tavern serves the banned species."
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Post by OG Loc on Jun 9, 2006 10:48:44 GMT -5
The man looked over at the soldiers and put on an expression of astonishment.
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Post by costaricangirl on Jun 9, 2006 15:06:45 GMT -5
Moira tried to keep a straight face and not tremble as she spoke to the captain.
"What?" she gasped, trying to sound surprised. "We haven't served any species other than humans in years. Who made these accusations?!"
She stood up tall and pretended to be furious. She hoped there were not any elves or dwarves in their rooms, because from what she could see these men would check everywhere.
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Post by My email doesn't work anymore on Jun 9, 2006 21:30:57 GMT -5
The captain simply scoffed and turned towards his men. "Check every room and privy!" The lot quickly dissolved into various parts of the building. "Sorry ma'am but those names are get confidential. if you have indeed been following royal decree then my men certainly won't find anything to prosecute you by."
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Post by costaricangirl on Jun 10, 2006 11:56:11 GMT -5
Moira nodded at the captain, mentally panicking. "Right," she replied simply. Her eyes darted around the tavern where the men were opening doors and looking thoroughly through the closets and rooms, making a horrible mess. They were coming awfully close to the cellar door. Although it was locked, Moira knew they would demand that she open it for them.
Moira glanced at the old man sitting at the counter frantically, but from what she could tell he had no idea of what to do, either. So Moira sat down next to him and buried her head in her hands, moaning softly.
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Post by OG Loc on Jun 10, 2006 14:16:44 GMT -5
"It'll be fine," the man whispered to her, though his mouth barely moved when he said this, and he continued to simply look forward.
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Post by costaricangirl on Jun 10, 2006 18:54:25 GMT -5
Moira moaned quietly again in response to the man's words. She knew that he intended to be reassuring, but as far as Moira was concerned it was hopeless. The king's men would find the people buried in the celler, and everyone--her father, all the workers in the inn, and all its customers, human or not--would be prosecuted by the king himself, who was imfamous for his merciless punishments.
Moira grabbed the nearest drink--a glass of scotch--and took a swig unhappily.
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Post by My email doesn't work anymore on Jun 10, 2006 22:13:59 GMT -5
The men stormed through the hallways of the rooms knocking loudly forcing everyone up and awake whether they liked it or not. Luster at first ignored the banging on her door and threw the covers over her head. But when it came again with more force this time she groaned and shuffled over and unlocked the door and swung it open. Suddenly she jumped back and screamed into her hands as she realized who they were.
Meanwhile down below one the men approached their captain and saluted. "Sir! We wish to inspect past this door but it seems to be locked sir!" The captain scrunched his eyebrows and turned towards Moira. "Would you please provide us with a key ma'am?" But without wanring some men who had lost their patience started tearing the celar door down with their weapons. "Or on second thought that won't be necessary." The wooden planks crumpled to the floor and the king's soldiers stormed downwards without hesitation.
Upstairs the men felt around clumsily. "Who's in here!? Someone get a light on!" One grabbed in the dark and found Luster's shoulder and threw her out into the hall. "Oi!" He cried. "They have an elf in here!" They tried to grab at her again but she scurried horrified down the stairs only to meet more at the bottom.
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Post by OG Loc on Jun 10, 2006 22:39:20 GMT -5
The man looked over to see that the guards were restraining an elf. "Listen carefully," he told very, very quietly to Moira. "You don't know that the elves and dwarves were here. I'll take care of this."
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