Antonio's Journal Entry #4, part 1: In which plans are made and go badly wrong.

 Guile never ceases to amaze me. This morning, while taking a short break from fencing lessons, Guile gave me the history of her markings. It was an intricate one full of many things, and I probably would have paid better attention had I not been distracted by, well, her. As she pointed to each marking on her face, shoulders, and arms, I was struck by how beautiful she was. 

A few things did stand out to me, like the fact that at the age of ten she was sent to what I understood to be some type of hell as part of her initiation into the Bloodbound. I was shocked. At the age of ten, the most dangerous thing I did was sneak into my father's throne room and sit in his chair, so I could pretend to be king. 

After asking a few questions about her birth and lineage, all while sounding rather fluster (I have noticed in the last week I seem to become flustered whenever I am around Guile, and I babble on like an idiot, or I trip over my words, never knowing what to say. I must sound rather foolish), she asked me how I was doing with Jasper and my parents slave trade. I told her honestly that I feared for my sister, and she reassured me that she thought no harm would come to her. She also offered her assistance should I need it when it came time to overthrowing the slave trade in Elversult. 

I had been summoned to by Capt. Jarlaxle, and offering my arm to Guile, we both went to speak to him. He told us of a meeting between the pirate lords that afternoon. He wanted us to be there to interfere and/or run reconnaissance. I was to be in charge of the operation since Pellenistra was away on other business. 

Finding the others, we set about making a plan. We decided on swapping Guile for one of Taerl's officers. Then she would take me with her to the meeting to reveal the letter from Jasper as evidence of his undercutting Suljack. This would cause more disharmony among the lords and help set the stage for the party tomorrow night.

On our way out of the ruins, we once again crossed blades with a demon cult. I quickly dispatched two of them, one with my sword and the other with my whip. Then I was immediately set upon by the leader, a shadow demon, who practically ripped me to shreds. My supply of good shirts has dwindled in the last three days between Jasper, Maw demons, and shadow demons. I only have a couple nice ones left. At this rate, though, perhaps I should stop wearing them if I keep getting them bloodied and torn. 

I picked up my sword, which had been tossed from my hand, saying as I did so that it would be nice to have a health potion that was not poisoned to use. Salin pulled one out that he handed to me. I was hesitant to take it since they are hard to come by, but he insisted, stating that I was his friend. I was touched by this gesture of friendship and took the potion.

We made it to the Cutless where Roe'ellina thought Taerl could be found, and all went in. Taerl and two of her officers were seated at a table with drinks. Our group sat at the bar, and it was decided that we would let Guile lure one of them out while the rest of us waited outside to make the swap. I opted to stay inside, though, just in case something were to go wrong and Guile needed my help. It took some convincing, but Guile managed to get the younger of the two officers to agree to go out with her alone. 

Well, unfortunately, this is where things started to go wrong. Guile had a bit of trouble getting the officer to go down the alleyway so the rest of us could jump her. As soon as she did, though, I moved into action. I attempted to hit her in the head with the pommel of my sword, but she saw me coming and ducked out of the way several times before I landed a hit that knocked her unconscious. I caught her in my arms, and we would have made the swap with Guile, but Taerl came out with her other officer and found us in the alleyway with her unconscious officer.

Though it pained me to do it, I threw Guile under the carriage. I told Taerl that I was walking through the alleyway when I found Guile beating up this poor woman I now held in my arms. When Taerl questioned me with suspension, I replied with utter disgust and shock that she, a woman, would be so heartless and not make her first concern the injured woman. My speech must have moved Taerl, for she told me to come inside with her. Meanwhile, her other officer was to get Guile, who had now turned invisible. 

I took the woman up to a room, which the tavern owner begrudgingly let us have for a small price. The man has no heart. If an injured woman were to show up on my doorstep, I would go to any length to see that she was adequately taken care of and pay for the expenses myself. The man is a buffoon. 

Tarel and I then sat down together with drinks, and I did everything to charm her and gain her good graces. Not surprisingly, I was successful, which I might add made me feel better about myself. Lately, mainly around Guile, I seem to lose the ability to put two words together, let alone think clearly. Perhaps I will write a sonnet about how she turns me into a fool.

Oh, Guile, so fair, she makes my heart beat strong!

Then foolish words fall from my babbling lips. 

When in her presence, I say something wrong,

I chide myself and think I should use scripts!

Something like that. I really should work on writing a proper sonnet dedicated to her.

But back to the events of the day. I told Taerl about the letter from Jasper, and she was quite interested. It was about this time that Pellenistra and Roe'ellina came into the tavern. I brought it up in conversation that once the officer woke up, we could question her more closely about her assailant. Pellenistra took the hint and made her way up the stairs, Roe'ellina following.

Unfortunately, Roe'ellina was caught and grabbed by the tail. This sent her into a frenzy, and she attacked the barkeep. They managed to get her outside, but there were several guns discharged. Knowing that it was dangerous to keep Taerl here any longer, and to prevent blowing my cover, I encouraged her to leave with me out the back door, so we could head to the pirate meeting.