[IRP] A Fall From Grace: The Escape from Laus

[Lavi]

The guard looked at the towering figure, a flash of anxiety sweeping across his face before he let his training sink back in.

"Sir, this is an internal matter concerning House Laus. By attacking a member of the Laus City Guard, you are marking yourself a criminal and will be treated accordingly," he said.

Then, one of the men in the crowd bumped into another guard who arrived at the scene, and the guard instinctively gripped his lance in both hands, thinking that the crowd was going to swarm over him. However, only one broke through like a juggernaut, swinging his sword at the guard who handed Cecily. The man complied to the man's order of unhanding her, brandishing his lance at the other.

"Stand down, Sir Knight! This is a matter of internal affairs!" the guard shouted at Sir Roland.

However, with numerous witnesses and armed guards about, Cecily knew better than to fight or flee. The civilians could get hurt and any blood shed would be upon her name. It was in her best interest to avoid fighting whenever possible. However, she already noted that fighting entirely may be out of the question, as the guards at the city wall would be on particularly high alert.

"I appreciate everyone's concern for me, though drawing weapons are placing everyone here at risk," she said, particularly to Kethen and Roland.

Thankfully, it seemed one of the clergymen of the Church intervened. At first, Cecily believed that was the case: she had no reason to not believe the words that the crowd spoke. The slight tremor in the cleric's voice, however, suggested that she was either a novice or not a clergyman at all. The cleric carried herself in a way befitting of a follower of the Church of Sanctity, so she presumed the former for the time being.

"Thank you for intervening, Sister," she said. "May you accompany me back to the castle? I'm sure your presence will help ease the tension within the House."

"Oh, and the tall one can come along if he wishes, at whatever guard you see fit," she told the one who once held her at the wrist.

Cecily gestured for Sir Roland to accompany her as more of the city guardsmen arrived to take her back to the castle, forming a perimeter around her in the name of security.

As her entourage made their way towards the castle, Cecily opened her dirtied parasol and started singing in a low voice [link]. Unknown to those around her, her singing carried itself through the entirety of Laus. In Etruria, Cecily focused particularly on the study of acoustic magics, such as galdrar, that the dragons of old were known to use to reinvigorate their allies. She used it now, because among the crowd that noticed her in the square, there had to have been someone who was her ally. With her magic, her allies can keep track of her progress.

The streets were cleared ahead of the procession for Cecily's protection, but she knew it would be done hastily due to the short notice. For a coordinated group like the Eight Republics, it would be no problem overcoming the precautions given.

As she finished singing, she heard a muffled explosion and smoke poured in around them. A smoke bomb trap, sprung as Cecily predicted.

"Protect the mistress!" she heard someone say.

But the smoke was thick and suffocating for everyone, including Cecily. She tried to filter the smoke out with her shawl, coughing out what repulsive fumes she could, as she fumbled to get out of the street. Her eyes watered as she held out a hand, trying to find the stone wall of a nearby house to regain her sense of direction.