Child of Ember - Chapter 4

The noise of the crowds has lessened though voices still echo from all corners. The Inn, One of the few in Mortigny's Old Market Dist. is called The Three Rats.
Like most of Mortigny, the old grey stones seem to sag sadly upward. Two stories high it spreads out to fill the entire block and is the largest building in sight. Between the windows trellises full of climbing roses and ivy, now dead with the coming of the harsh winter, act as decoration for the walls. A lone doorman stands before the iron bound wooden door, blowing into his fists to in a desperate attempt to stay warm. Seeing you he reaches out and opens the door, eyeing each of you suspiciously as you enter.

Celestia looks at the Inn as they approach. It appears to be a quaint and quiet place. Her companions can see/sense that she is more relaxed now that she is away from the crowds and noise. She even pushes back the hood of her cloak and lets some of her long, wavy black hair fall onto her chest.

The foyer is what you might expect, a single regestration desk (complete with a rather bored looking attendant slouched over the desk), A few bell hops, and a set of stairs to the left and right of the desk.
"Please sign the regestry," says the attendant in a bored monotone.
As you lean foreward to sign it, from directly behind you (about an handspan away), you hear shouted: "She'll have her revenge!!!!"

The sudden noise startles Dea. Momentarily distracted, she forgoes writing in the painstakingly learned local script, producing a strange, erratic lettering as she jots down her name.
Then she turns to address the shouter.

You turn to see the wizened face of an old woman. White hair hangs limp to her shoulders. Nearly nose to nose with you, her eyes are pale blue and seem to bulge foreward. Wide and staring they have the look of madness to them.
From behind you you hear, "Not AGAIN!"

Celestia quickly sheaths her knife. She looks past the old woman to look at the new speaker and then back to the old woman. Celestia studies what the old woman looks like, her gestures and clothing.

The old woman is wearing a faded black dress whose hem sweeps the flood, a tattered shawl, and is clutching a small porceline doll to her chest. She is currently looking at you with an intensity unlike you have ever felt.
The "new speaker" is the desk attendant

While her heart is racing, Dea's demeanor is that of a serene calm. This is what she was trained for - to deal with people that have lost touch with reality or who have witnessed too much that they can bear. Unless, something in the confinement of her head warns, this woman is genuinely angry about something.
"What is the matter, lady?" Dea asks carefully. Her voice has a certain resonance in it, carefully trained to calm the restless. "You can tell me your troubles. I am a priestess, and under commitment to help you."

"The Child of Embers," she says frantically. "She will have her revenge, she will!" Her eyes have gotten wider now, and clutches the doll tightly to her breast as though it is the most valuable of treasures.

"Vengeance always carries a price. But it is not for me to judge which one.
Who is this Embers? And why would her child seek Revenge?"
Dea eyes the doll, but there is no use asking questions about that now. Let the woman bring it up herself.

Natacha has moved a few meters away from the others. One hand is on her knife at the belt while the other is in one of her pockets searching for something. Her attention is not so much on the old woman with the doll as the rest of the people in the vicinity.

In response to your question she steps back and starts to dance, whirling with an imaginary partner and singing:

"Embers, embers flicker bright,
Vengence comes festival night,
Violators, emolaters,
hurry, hurry, hide your face,
All shall be burned in her smoldering embrace.

Stone of the oceans, blade of the earth, masque of eyes, child of gl..."

The woman has drawn stares from everyone in the room, though none more than any other. A few of the bell hops are laughing at her, while the poor desk attendant looks at his wits end.

Dea lowers herself to the weeping woman, carefull placing a hand on her shoulder.
"All will be well, lady." she speaks softly. "Let me bring you to my room, where you can rest and have a hot drink so you can calm your heart. Maybe then you can tell us how we can help you."
She extends her hand to the woman.
"Come. Follow me and you will find some peace."

"Just leave me!"
The woman crawls away, and bolts for the door and out into the cold night air.

Celestia starts to follow Dea and the old woman, then she pauses. "Dea wait a minute, please."
Celestia walks over to the desk clerk "What do you mean not again? Has this happened to other visitors to your Inn? Does this woman have a room here?" Celestia stares deeply into the desk clerk's eyes, awaiting a reply.

The clerk nods. "Her grandson has put her up. He takes care of her, but he must have left. A nice boy, about your age, I suppose. This is the third time she has done this. Her grandson locked her in the room the last time, but some how she must have gotten loose. If he hadn't given us so much in advance I would toss both of them out into the snow!" He sighs.
"There is something about her, it unnerves me..."

"She seems confused, but there is truth in the words of people who see the world through undreaming eyes.
But maybe you can direct us to this grandson of hers." Dea nods to Celestia.
"There is no use following someone who does not wish to be disturbed. If she needs us, she will come for us again.
But she sounds troubled and it is my duty to see her madness lifted. If her grandson stays here, we can wait for him.
In the meantime, we can see to your sorrows."

"My sorrows?" he says. "Only one i have is that it is so cold in this lobby!"

"Well, good man." Dea says, putting on her understanding face.
"Can you at least tell us where we can find the old lady's grandson?"

"He left some time ago. Said that he had an errand to run in town. Most likely he went out and got him a piece of fluff. He's a real dandy that one."

"Fluff? What is that, some kind of spice?
Oh - whatever. I will be in my room. I would appreciate it if you would let me know when he comes back."
Dea slides a sliver to the man, then turns towards her companions.
"Let's go upstairs."

The man takes the silver, and nods. "I will summon you the moment he arrives.
Your friends must still sign the registry."

Assuming that each of you sign the registery, you ascend the stairs and approach Dea's room only to discover the hall filling with smoke. With most of the tenants out at the revels (and the rest sleeping soundly) you are the first to notice it. The smoke seems to come from the door down the way. It seeps slowly through the cracks. From inside you hear a piteous moan and the sound of shattering glass...