by ChristianC » Tue Oct 19, 2010 5:57 am
For a few moments, there was just... silence, pregnant and overwhelming, as one of their attackers revealed who... what they were. Then, as time began to flow again, everyone reacted in their own way, ranging from distrust to relief or anger.
And as Harry moved closer to where Sorter was hiding, he could hear the man whimper quietly, but he couldn't see him, the shadows falling almost peculiarily thick in this part of the shed.
Max, however, could see that at least Art and Bianca showed some relief as he made his exclamation, but the steely-eyed woman didn't reveal any emotions, her expression still the same. Patient, calculating and suspicious.
Arthur was the first to speak again.
"Look," he said, scratching the back of his head, "we're sorry that things... kind of spiralled out of control... we're the Nightwatch, we make sure the borders are safe and that the Hedge isn't creeping through into the... the real world." he glanced at Bianca, "we're also supposed to spot any... new arrivals, and report about them to O'Lantern before we approach. We... didn't really follow protocol on this one."
"Not that we had much of a choice..." Bianca muttered through clenched teeth, and almost as one the two of them glanced back at the third, "we're supposed to bring you to the commons... it's where we meet most of the time, and where O'Lantern makes home..." she chewed her lip slightly before continuing, "but I don't blame you if you don't trust us. How about we give you the adress, and you show up in... within a week? Come sundown, there's always something going on there, so you don't have to worry about that."
"Yeah, and... well, once the whole thing with the tribunal blows over,"
"IF it blows over." Bianca corrected Art.
"Right, that, well, once it's over, and you're going to settle down, there's a guy that can help you guys get situated and working... if you want. Name's of Jack Dandy, that one, he can get you a home, a job, just about anything you want."
"We're leaving." The woman said suddenly, and both Art and Bianca gave a little jump. "You have three days until we hunt you down."
The two gave her another glance and then nodded, frowning. Bianca added, "Ah... three days then... You can invoke the Law of Safe Haven if you want, but it's revoked if you're found... guilty."
For those who had spent their time in Fae reading or, in one case, being a book, the Law of Safe Haven was a familiar thing. It worked, in a way, like Parley, in that the invoker was allowed a full day's stay without any harm being done upon himself or persons with him, lest he would give permission for such. And indeed, should there be a reason to suspect them of a crime, the law would be revoked, but they would still be given an hour or so before any official hunt of their persons would be conducted.