For a moment, Ren wasn't sure how to react. The cold stillness of his cell had been broken in whirl of color and energy. She wasn't in the uniform of any of the houses, and instead of darker hair like most people in the capital city, the girl instead had a mop of gold hair that pulled up behind her head in a high ponytail, rose-red eyes that somehow seemed to know too much and be completely innocent all at once… She smirked, impish, and yet somehow polite.
Behind her, a young man entered, taller than Ren, lankier, but still lean. He bowed, slightly, a grin just as sardonic as the girl's. He was in a uniform, but not from any house. Instead… Ren's eyes widened, his voice still coarse from how tight it had grown, "The caravan?"
The girl's smirk turned into a wide grin, and she pulled at her skirt to curtsey. "At your service, Lord Elren Winter." She bowed her head at the bottom of her curtsey, introducing herself. "Evelyn of the Garden of Roses."
The boy, with his mess of dark hair, straightened, "Silas of the Garden of Roses." He glanced at Evelyn then shook his head softly, "Forgive her. She has… Odd whims."
Evelyn rolled her eyes, expression shifting in a single beat. Clearly annoyed, she then held out her hand. "Alright, brother, pull out the mask."
Ren frowned, but didn't bother standing. "I can't leave. Not now."
Looking back at him, Evelyn shook her head. "Too bad we didn't come to free you, then." She said breezily, though for some odd reason, he felt she was being serious. "Silas." She stubbornly shook her hand again, frustrated at her 'brother's' slow cooperation.
Puffing out an exhausted sigh, Silas opened his uniform robes to pull out a wooden mask of exquisite design. Feathers were carved directly into the wood, which pulled at points on the sides. It was meant to cover only the eyes and nose, with the bit over the nose almost looking like a beak. And where the eyes should've been, only tiny slits parted the wood. Enough to see, but not enough to see in. It was painted white and grey and purple. Regal, like something someone would wear at Masked Gala. "Yes, I have it." Then, he placed it in her hands. "Here."
Evelyn took it, spun it in her hands, gently brushed aside some nonexistent dirt, and nodded, handing it over to Ren. "There you go." She hummed, "A mask fit for a wandering hero, don't you think?"
Taking the mask in his hands, Ren's throat somehow tightened further as he brushed his fingers across the sight slits. "...What is this?"
Silas knelt beside him, gently pulling out the silk ribbon ties that would secure it to his head. "Your mask. You'll need it when you break away from the guards. We can't break you out. Not yet. But I'll meet you in the Ascendant Plaza to guide you to meet with the rest of us."
Looking back down at the mask, Ren frowned, that earlier rage building in his chest. "I won't wear it. I'm of House Winter. I don't hide."
Evelyn looked down at him, her gaze somehow both eerily calm and frustratingly emotional. "You will." She knelt in front of him, taking his hand firmly, attempting to steady it before he could throw or smash it. "Because if you don't, we don't get out of here alive."
She sighed, then opened his outermost robe, and tucked the mask between his arm and chest. "Keep it hidden. Once you break away from the Riverward guards, head for the Ascendant Plaza. Silas will meet you there, and he'll lead you to the rest of us." Sucking in a deep breath, she plastered on a smile once again. "Now, you better survive, got it? Or I'll kill you."
Ren grabbed her wrist before she could pull away. "How did you get in here?"
Meeting his gaze with the practice of a performer, Evelyn's smile never faltered. "We bribed the guards, of course. Surprising how easy it is when they really don't want you to die."
"They're Winter Arbiters out there?"
Evelyn tugged her hand away and danced back with a wink. For a brief moment, Ren could've swore the back of her hand flashed with the same color of her eyes. "House Winter isn't fallen yet, Ren." Then, she turned, tilted her head as an indirect command to Silas, and left the cell.
Brow furrowing, Ren shifted, meaning to follow her before he stopped, hands and knees to the floor.
Before Silas left, though, he offered his hand to Ren. "Sorry about her. She gets… Weird, sometimes." When Ren took his hand, Silas pulled him to his feet. "Now get ready. You Winter types have mantras, right? Use them. Keep yourself calm. I'll see you soon."
And just like that, Silas left, too.
It wasn't long before the guards came in after. House Winter's colors were cool blues, blacks, purples, greys and whites. The guards that arrived distinctly wore earthier colors, greens and browns…
Ren shied away, stepping back from the Riverward soldiers.
"By order of the Senate, and according to the Statutes of Order," One began, holding out a long wrap of cloth as he approached Ren, "You have been sentenced to death, Elren Winter. For the murder of Erin Winter of the First Mark."
Uneasy and fully disgusted, Ren held out his wrists, to which the officer bound with the cloth, wrapping him up to the forearm. Letting out a shuddering breath, Ren closed his eyes. "I didn't do anything."
The soldiers looked between each other, amused. "Right. And we're of House Winter. Now get a move on, boy."
Stumbling forward as he was shoved, Ren shuffled with the menagerie of men, even more awed to see the somber expressions of Gentry and Seth who stood on either side of the door, eyes downcast, unable to meet the eyes of the child of their Lord. A subtle ache twinged at Ren's chest at the sight– Humiliation at their unwillingness to help. Fury at his captors and the world. 'When they take you out of the building, use your training. Escape. Run.' He closed his eyes again, already picturing his plan out in his mind. 'Silas will meet me at the Ascendant Plaza.'
"Move, Winter." One of them commanded,shoving him again.
Cold air hit him like a wave of ice. Almost to match it, a spring snowfall seemed to descend gradually around them. Tilting his head to the sky, Ren let a few snowflakes fall and melt across his face, attempting to use the sensation to ground himself. 'With clear heart and mind.'
And suddenly, he was a blur of motion, years of combat training etched into his body taking shape as he twisted, raising his leg and slamming it across the neck of the first guard, knocking him out instantly. He spun back, using the slick stone to his advantage so that his momentum carried him further back than another guard anticipated.
The hiss of drawn swords rang across the steps of the Judiciary, and Ren looked down at them, his expression held taught, his brow furrowed.
"You really are a traitor."
Ren felt the mask pressed against his side. "I'm innocent. You can't just sentence me to die without trial."
"Not after resisting arrest."
Growling, Ren surged forward once again. Balance felt impossible with his arms bound in front of him, but he wasn't looking to kick his way out much longer. Instead, he darted in, teasing cuts and jabs from their swords, careful to stay close enough to each other that they couldn't pull revolvers, and far enough away that they couldn't land a clean cut.
Then he found it. His opening.
Darting into range of a falling sword, Ren raised his arms. He intentionally raised his bound arms, pulling them apart just enough to give space…
The sword caught in the cloth, cutting away a portion. Just enough for it to unwind like a pouncing snake. He pushed forward, using his newly freed hands to grab the wrist of his assailant, pull him in, pluck the sword from his grasp, and kick him away.
Elren Winter had just cemented himself as a fugitive and outlaw.
At this point, each shift in his identity hit with less enthusiasm. Ren simply felt… Numb. Exhausted. He adjusted his grip on the blade, staring down the remaining three men. Atop the landing, Ren at least only had to cover his feet. However, atop the landing, they were between his freedom and the justiciary. Eyes darting about, Ren grit his teeth, and took off running for the edge of the stairs– To the cliffside.
The Riverward guards followed after him but the explosion of noise had drawn out Seth and Gentry. Stealing one last glance behind him, Gentry gave a single, final salute. 'With clear heart and mind, Gentry. With clear heart and mind.' And Ren launched himself over the railing, into the houses below.