10-28-2017, 10:08 PM
And walk they did. Passed two Watch Patrols on the way to be exact. Though as Jai and his companion were mere innocent blokes going about their business; they had no reason to stop them. He could have done without the hike back up to the New City, or at least preferred to stop off for a bite to eat. But it'd have wait. At least the downpour washed away whatever filth he'd rolled around in. And at some point one of Winther's henchmen landed a good shot on his shoulder. It bloody throbbed again. An ache a few squeezes didn't seem to ease. At least he remembered to grab that hat before they took off.
Winther's manor was located easily enough. Lamps illuminated an outer gate. Stone pillars gave a loyal house guardsman dominion over the crest scrolling across the bars. And everyone who came and went. His companion rang in while Jai hung a few steps back, rim of the hat covering his face and hands in his pockets to keep an eye on the fellow. The Power still coursed a nice lasso around the fellow's neck, but he'd tamed him down enough on the walk to ensure he'd raise no alarm. It only took a few good yanks for the lesson to sink in.
An unhappy, drenched night guard approached. Muttering about being disturbed in Light-forsaken weather like this. "Ah. It's you." He grimaced when he recognized Jai's guide, but out-right frowned at Jai. "Well hang on then." He produced a gate key and a few minutes later they were letting themselves onto Lord Winther's grounds. Easy as that; Jai wondered who exactly his companion was to be so trusted to come and go whenever he pleased. Maybe he was head-henchmen. What a compliment that Winther sent his best to follow little old Jai all night long.
Jai tossed the soaking wet hat on a credenza, scrubbed the water from his hair and stomped his boots free of mud. The layout of the interior was to be expected. Decor, too. All marble floors and gilded candelabras. Bloody gaudy nobles. The Lord's Great Hall was some steps before them, trafficked only by a couple of House dressed servants completing nightly chores. They barely looked up long eough from their work to notice the apparent intruders. But nobody seemed ot care. The corridors were otherwise free and clear for the guy to show Jai through to the Lord's office.
He closed the door behind them, opened the wick on an oil lamp and turned to his quiet friend. "Thanks."
The Power saved his fist the trouble of bludgeoning the guy unconscious; he dropped like a sack of sand. Jai smirked. Then efficiently set about rummaging through everything. First, record books. He wanted a look at Lord Winther's accounts. Then through drawers. It was pretty typical stuff anyone might have. He sat in the Lord's padded leather seat and ran fingertips along the edges and creases of the desk. Feeling for indentions. Or false bottoms. Anything of value. Empty handed, Jai leaned tiredly back in the chair and drummed fingers across his waist. The room was typically masculine. All gleaming rich woods and velvet curtains. Gilded candelabras and plush fabrics. Soft rug underfoot. An open faced cupboard housed a crystal brandy set.
"Might as well."
He sighed and poured himself a glass. If nothing else, it'd give him a good jolt. He swirled it around in the glass, stepped over the body and roamed around the room, peeking out once in awhile to make sure body was going to interrupt. Leaning in once in awhile to look at the wall hangings. He checked behind everything he passed on the way. By the time he circled back around to the cupboard, he poured himself another brandy and noticed mud prints decorating the rug. Those poor servants were going to have their work cut out for them come tomorrow.
He caught his breath. Thrust the glass on the desk and lifted the corner of the rug. Then the opposite corner. The strong box he was looking for? Under the third corner. Grin splitting his face, there was no point to bother looking for the key. He took hold of Saidin and reached out to the metal hinges with a cauldron of power. They glowed a faint yellow and he kicked them out of the wood with his heel.
This was no thief's treasure chest. Nothing glittered gold. No jewels gleamed tempting fortunes. Just the lure of paperwork waited within. Jai grabbed them up victoriously. He found account information for various guises. Written out deals for illegal tradings outside taxation by the Crown. As he shuffled the papers, one page in particular deepened the lines of thought in his face to outright frowns. A very interesting list of names and dollar amounts peered back up at him. The page even listed their security authentications. Every bit of knowledge necessary to scam accounts from members of the White Tower pay-roll, including a couple of Aes Sedai. And the incriminating page was written on Kojima embossed letterhead.
Blood and bloody ashes. It was almost comical. Someone was selling information about White Tower clients. Zakar thought it was Jai. And Zak went on and on about the great blessing it was to have the brilliant Aharon Ellis around to pick up the slack when Jai was shipped south. And Aharon turned around and sold it all to Winther. No wonder the lad was nervous when Jai crashed his lunch. That handy little scrap of incriminating paper went into a spare script tube and ended up nestled safe and sound in Jai’s pocket.
As the henchman that led him here began to stir, Jai swiped the glass of brandy and stepped through a gateway. He sipped it on the skimming disc back to his room, admiring the crystal as he traveled. Once there, he was bloody ready for a snack. And a nap. What a hell of a night.
Winther's manor was located easily enough. Lamps illuminated an outer gate. Stone pillars gave a loyal house guardsman dominion over the crest scrolling across the bars. And everyone who came and went. His companion rang in while Jai hung a few steps back, rim of the hat covering his face and hands in his pockets to keep an eye on the fellow. The Power still coursed a nice lasso around the fellow's neck, but he'd tamed him down enough on the walk to ensure he'd raise no alarm. It only took a few good yanks for the lesson to sink in.
An unhappy, drenched night guard approached. Muttering about being disturbed in Light-forsaken weather like this. "Ah. It's you." He grimaced when he recognized Jai's guide, but out-right frowned at Jai. "Well hang on then." He produced a gate key and a few minutes later they were letting themselves onto Lord Winther's grounds. Easy as that; Jai wondered who exactly his companion was to be so trusted to come and go whenever he pleased. Maybe he was head-henchmen. What a compliment that Winther sent his best to follow little old Jai all night long.
Jai tossed the soaking wet hat on a credenza, scrubbed the water from his hair and stomped his boots free of mud. The layout of the interior was to be expected. Decor, too. All marble floors and gilded candelabras. Bloody gaudy nobles. The Lord's Great Hall was some steps before them, trafficked only by a couple of House dressed servants completing nightly chores. They barely looked up long eough from their work to notice the apparent intruders. But nobody seemed ot care. The corridors were otherwise free and clear for the guy to show Jai through to the Lord's office.
He closed the door behind them, opened the wick on an oil lamp and turned to his quiet friend. "Thanks."
The Power saved his fist the trouble of bludgeoning the guy unconscious; he dropped like a sack of sand. Jai smirked. Then efficiently set about rummaging through everything. First, record books. He wanted a look at Lord Winther's accounts. Then through drawers. It was pretty typical stuff anyone might have. He sat in the Lord's padded leather seat and ran fingertips along the edges and creases of the desk. Feeling for indentions. Or false bottoms. Anything of value. Empty handed, Jai leaned tiredly back in the chair and drummed fingers across his waist. The room was typically masculine. All gleaming rich woods and velvet curtains. Gilded candelabras and plush fabrics. Soft rug underfoot. An open faced cupboard housed a crystal brandy set.
"Might as well."
He sighed and poured himself a glass. If nothing else, it'd give him a good jolt. He swirled it around in the glass, stepped over the body and roamed around the room, peeking out once in awhile to make sure body was going to interrupt. Leaning in once in awhile to look at the wall hangings. He checked behind everything he passed on the way. By the time he circled back around to the cupboard, he poured himself another brandy and noticed mud prints decorating the rug. Those poor servants were going to have their work cut out for them come tomorrow.
He caught his breath. Thrust the glass on the desk and lifted the corner of the rug. Then the opposite corner. The strong box he was looking for? Under the third corner. Grin splitting his face, there was no point to bother looking for the key. He took hold of Saidin and reached out to the metal hinges with a cauldron of power. They glowed a faint yellow and he kicked them out of the wood with his heel.
This was no thief's treasure chest. Nothing glittered gold. No jewels gleamed tempting fortunes. Just the lure of paperwork waited within. Jai grabbed them up victoriously. He found account information for various guises. Written out deals for illegal tradings outside taxation by the Crown. As he shuffled the papers, one page in particular deepened the lines of thought in his face to outright frowns. A very interesting list of names and dollar amounts peered back up at him. The page even listed their security authentications. Every bit of knowledge necessary to scam accounts from members of the White Tower pay-roll, including a couple of Aes Sedai. And the incriminating page was written on Kojima embossed letterhead.
Blood and bloody ashes. It was almost comical. Someone was selling information about White Tower clients. Zakar thought it was Jai. And Zak went on and on about the great blessing it was to have the brilliant Aharon Ellis around to pick up the slack when Jai was shipped south. And Aharon turned around and sold it all to Winther. No wonder the lad was nervous when Jai crashed his lunch. That handy little scrap of incriminating paper went into a spare script tube and ended up nestled safe and sound in Jai’s pocket.
As the henchman that led him here began to stir, Jai swiped the glass of brandy and stepped through a gateway. He sipped it on the skimming disc back to his room, admiring the crystal as he traveled. Once there, he was bloody ready for a snack. And a nap. What a hell of a night.
Only darkness shows you the light.