[center][h2]Adair & Elena[/h2][/center]

After he’d been unceremoniously dismissed from the mage tower, Adair decided to practice his technique a bit more. He found out quickly, however, that he was much too riled up to concentrate, so he quit the impossible task and settled for poring over a hefty book on ancient runes instead.

Halfway through the night, Adair found his concentration interrupted this time by footsteps—light but rapidly making their way up the mage tower. He tensed, mouth on the edge of whispering some defensive spells, but he refrained and settled for a simple trapping spell set up in the middle of the room that would paralyze everyone in the vicinity—except Adair himself—should someone other than himself step into its area of effect.

A knock sounded, and Adair took a breath before opening his door a crack. Seeing the familiar face of a magi apprentice, Adair opened the door enough to allow her in, quickly dispelling the trapping spell with his other hand. The apprentice—female—looked panicked and scared, eyes wide and hair wild after her run up the stairs. Adair tensed up again—someone being chased never boded well.

[color=dimgray]“Elena?”[/color] Adair asked, eyebrows scrunching as if he only now recognized the apprentice mage. He glanced past her into the dimly lit hall, relaxing a little when he saw it was empty and silent. [color=dimgray]“Come in,” [/color]Adair said, opening the door for Elena. [color=dimgray]“What brings you here so late at night?”[/color]

[color=cornflowerblue] "I'm sorry - I know it's late." [/color] Elena muttered as she stepped in, running a hand through her hair to tidy it up best as she could. Her gaze carefully ran across the room as she briefly observed it. The woman turned on her heels and looked towards Adair, rubbing her hands with a nod. Perhaps it wasn't a good idea after all? Surely she could pass it off as simply being late for a request by Court Mage Talder Cobswin, and simply needed help? Nonesense, she quickly concluded. She wet her lips before settling with a decision.

[color=cornflowerblue] "You know of Kate? The King's guard? She got into some trouble, it seems. Accused of traitorous acts."[/color] Elena paused, rubbing her arm. [color=cornflowerblue] "Nonetheless. See, I was considering something. During a court session, I believe one of the magi spoke of a ritual to scry the mind? Surely if they scryed Kate's mind, and - and they could -..." [/color] The woman sighed, waving her hand dismissively as she took the liberty to dump herself upon a nearby chair. She rubbed her forehead, before looking up. 

[color=cornflowerblue] "I beg your pardon, Mister Adair. It is not my usual display to be in such dismay. I simply have stumbled upon Miss Kate before, and it would pain me if she was deemed a traitor, even if she was not. Perhaps a ritual of scrying could prove her innocence, no?"[/color] She looked up at Adair, hiding away a brief hint of hope.

[color=dimgray]”"I have heard of the King's guard, Kate," ”[/color]Adair said, frowning. [color=dimgray]”"It is very unfortunate that such a high-ranking guard was found of traitorous acts. She won't get off lightly--or easily, for that matter."”[/color]

Adair listened as Elena spoke, the frown remaining on his face. The manner of questioning was strange enough to tell Adair that Elena was hiding something--possibly the fact that she herself was a traitor or knew of one. As Elena continued speaking, it became clear to Adair that she cared about guardswoman Kate and wished to prove the woman's innocence. Elena never struck Adair as the sort to be involved in the resistance, so he relaxed As to whether or not Kate was actually innocent, Adair had doubts, but he didn't care to express them.

[color=dimgray]”A ritual of scrying would indeed prove an innocent's innocence,”[/color] Adair said, walking over to his desk and shutting his book, memorizing the page number so he could continue later if he wished so. [color=dimgray]”However, if guardswoman Kate were not actually innocent, the trial would do her a lot more harm than good,”[/color] Adair continued, looking up at Elena. [color=dimgray]”What would you do if your friend turned out to be a member of the rebellion, or worse--a Soturi?”[/color]

Elena frowned herself, wrinkling her nose. [color=cornflowerblue] "A traitor is a traitor." [/color] She looked to her lap, having clasped her hands together. It seemed a least the attention had been taken off her, which was something. Perhaps the ritual was the answer then. Not for Kate, no, but for herself. It could be done discreetly as well, no need for a big commotion. A thin and secrective smile made its way on her lips as she nodded, looking more and more like some noblewoman. 

[color=cornflowerblue] "Perhaps it would be best for me to simply avoid it. Surely the guardsmen will take care of it." [/color] Elena nodded as she raised herself from the chair. Her eyes went to Adair, possibly looking straight into them for the first time during the evening. She nodded, and offered a courtly curtsey. [color=cornflowerblue] "I apologize for disturbing you. I'm sure you have plenty of work to attend to." [/color] The magi dusted her attire, before her eyes carefully wandered towards the exit.

[color=dimgray]”I'll see you out then,”[/color] Adair said, walking over to the door and opening it for Elena. [color=dimgray]”Feel free to come by if you ever need anything.”[/color]

With a few steps she made her way towards the door, nodding towards Adair in the process. [color=cornflowerblue] "I will, Mister Adair."[/color] She stopped, eyeing him up and down for a second with a wary gaze. [color=cornflowerblue] "Do take care." [/color] Elena nodded, before strolling down the tower.