Mather caught the distasteful glance Erryl adopted at the talk of the beer, and he grinned. "Hey now, kid, don't go bad-mouthing the beer. It's fortifying." In reply to Erryl's questions, he shrugged. "In the Drunken Rat? Once or twice. Not as bad as it seems on the first go. You get used to it."
He was quiet for a couple of heartbeats, studying the scrawny boy who sat across from him. "If I had to hazard a guess, I'd say this is your first time running away, really running. Let me tell you, it's not fun, but if you do it long enough you start to get good. I've been doing it ever since I was born." The scruffy man leaned back with another grin. "I can fight well enough to keep myself and a couple other bodies from serious damage, if that's what you mean -- as long as those bodies don't do anything stupid that gets 'em killed regardless. And no, Iarei's not yet seen fit to tell me what it is we're all hidin' from, but I gather it ain't good. Just as long as I get my wage, you see. Another thing I'll have to discuss with your pretty Iarei."
Then Mather saw what Erryl had been staring at, and his gaze turned dark. "Speaking of our pretty Iarei...." he murmured, shifting his eyes elsewhere and relaxing in his chair. "Don't draw their attention. Be as inconspicuous as you possibly can. I don't know how she drew his attention in the forst place, but she's chatting with a guard."
In for a Pounding
Re: In for a Pounding
Erryl tried to fix his gaze on Mather, but it was quite hard not to sneak glances to see what was going on. The man wasn't wearing the armor Erryl was used to seeing on the city's law-enforcers -- he just looked suspicious. "How do you know he's a guard?"
The kitchen door swung open and the serving girl from earlier brought out their breakfast, giving Iarei and the guardsman a strange look as she passed them.
The kitchen door swung open and the serving girl from earlier brought out their breakfast, giving Iarei and the guardsman a strange look as she passed them.
Re: In for a Pounding
Iarei's eyes widened slightly, the fingers or her free hand fluttering up to alight on her right cheek. Her lips parted slightly in a manner that she knew made them appear plumper, just as they made her look young and playful. It was the look of a young woman who had just been thoughtlessly flattered -- or thoughtlessly insulted. It was a casual sort of expression, the type that anyone might use to illustrate physical humor. It was entirely normal. That was the point.
"Surely you're not some lady killer looking to disarm me away from my modesty," she said, an edge of false horror on her tone before she dropped the act with a silly little smile, pushing a strand of her wet hair back from her face. The gesture was wholly self-conscious, rather as if she'd just embarassed herself by the small attempt at teasing -- if not flirting.
She dropped it and half-held in a quiet giggle, though that spread into a sheepish smile. It faltered when he told her about the infection. The depth of her fear was held inside within a safe place where it wouldn't get out, but she let enough of it leak out so that her expression went a little sickly.
"Are you sure? I -- I just cleaned it shortly after it happened. Surely the infection couldn't have spread so soon."
She bit her lip, and dropped her eyes away from Drayel, and away from the hand that he held. "My mother always said I wasn't ladylike enough. She said girls who didn't settle down with a proper duty and a proper mate would get themselves killed or worse wandering the world." Her eyes wandered back to her hand. Her voice softened, went almost inaudible. "I hate it when she's right."
Whatever effervescence had remained in her leaked right out, and she let some of her exhaustion peak through. Not a lot -- the part she was playing had no reason to be so tired -- but enough to show that the bravado had been an act. "I just wanted to have fun. It's not like I'm some depraved hedonist."
"Surely you're not some lady killer looking to disarm me away from my modesty," she said, an edge of false horror on her tone before she dropped the act with a silly little smile, pushing a strand of her wet hair back from her face. The gesture was wholly self-conscious, rather as if she'd just embarassed herself by the small attempt at teasing -- if not flirting.
She dropped it and half-held in a quiet giggle, though that spread into a sheepish smile. It faltered when he told her about the infection. The depth of her fear was held inside within a safe place where it wouldn't get out, but she let enough of it leak out so that her expression went a little sickly.
"Are you sure? I -- I just cleaned it shortly after it happened. Surely the infection couldn't have spread so soon."
She bit her lip, and dropped her eyes away from Drayel, and away from the hand that he held. "My mother always said I wasn't ladylike enough. She said girls who didn't settle down with a proper duty and a proper mate would get themselves killed or worse wandering the world." Her eyes wandered back to her hand. Her voice softened, went almost inaudible. "I hate it when she's right."
Whatever effervescence had remained in her leaked right out, and she let some of her exhaustion peak through. Not a lot -- the part she was playing had no reason to be so tired -- but enough to show that the bravado had been an act. "I just wanted to have fun. It's not like I'm some depraved hedonist."
Re: In for a Pounding
"You'll be fine." Drayel chided as he gently pulled a small knife free from his boot and gave her a grim smile. "T'is just a poke and I doubt it'll hurt much. Saves taking any chances later on when such a hero isn't around, yes?"
He gave her a jib back, trying to distract her while he brought the dagger a little closer to her skin. She didn't know him and if she spooked and pulled back at the wrong time, it could make things a lot messier. No, she'd be fine if he tried to be friendly.
"You know, mother's often have an almost endless amount of wisdom it seems." Drayel said with a hum giving the hot skin a sharp prod. The hand he held twitched but didn't pull back. Good. Another prod a bit farther from the cut then two more on the other side, all the while talking. "My mother often told me that wisdom of a woman is actually the wisdom of all humans, just men tend to ignore it."
Gently he massaged the skin, coaxing out pus that he wiped away with a rag. Not a lot of it there but each bit that came out made him settle just a bit more. Only when the ooze stopped did he reach for the herbs.
"She's the one who taught me about herbs." he continued as he put a bit in his mouth and chewed. He made a face when the bitter taste hit his tongue but continued to chew until it turned pulpy and he spat it out with a grimace. Moving to put it on her hand he grumbled. "Disgusting stuff. Apologies for the spitting Madam Iarei but I'm afraid it's the only way to prepare it without a morter and mash."
He gave her a jib back, trying to distract her while he brought the dagger a little closer to her skin. She didn't know him and if she spooked and pulled back at the wrong time, it could make things a lot messier. No, she'd be fine if he tried to be friendly.
"You know, mother's often have an almost endless amount of wisdom it seems." Drayel said with a hum giving the hot skin a sharp prod. The hand he held twitched but didn't pull back. Good. Another prod a bit farther from the cut then two more on the other side, all the while talking. "My mother often told me that wisdom of a woman is actually the wisdom of all humans, just men tend to ignore it."
Gently he massaged the skin, coaxing out pus that he wiped away with a rag. Not a lot of it there but each bit that came out made him settle just a bit more. Only when the ooze stopped did he reach for the herbs.
"She's the one who taught me about herbs." he continued as he put a bit in his mouth and chewed. He made a face when the bitter taste hit his tongue but continued to chew until it turned pulpy and he spat it out with a grimace. Moving to put it on her hand he grumbled. "Disgusting stuff. Apologies for the spitting Madam Iarei but I'm afraid it's the only way to prepare it without a morter and mash."
Re: In for a Pounding
Mather continued to watch Iarei and the guard with growing distrust. Iarei was doing a good job pretending to be harmless and largely innocent, and Mather knew from watching her earlier behavior that she was in the kind of situation that avoiding law enforcement would be her best option. For Mather's part, a lifetime of being in that same situation lent its wisdom to him now as he began took a long draught of the beer the waitress had brought, watching Iarei and the guard without really appearing to see them.
"Lots of practice, kid," Mather said in reply to Erryl's question. "You do this for long enough, you learn to tell guards and their types with a glance, even without armor and whatever else. You learn to tell the look." He took another drink of his beer and bit off a chunk of cheese, watching the guard from the edge of his vision. "Eat your breakfast, boy. Don't draw attention."
"Lots of practice, kid," Mather said in reply to Erryl's question. "You do this for long enough, you learn to tell guards and their types with a glance, even without armor and whatever else. You learn to tell the look." He took another drink of his beer and bit off a chunk of cheese, watching the guard from the edge of his vision. "Eat your breakfast, boy. Don't draw attention."
Re: In for a Pounding
Of course, Erryl would normally be far more interested in what was going on between Iarei and the "guardsman", but he was starving. Rarely had he gone without food, his brother making sure he was always well cared for. Things only seemed to go wrong when his brother wasn't around to prevent them.
Keeping one eye on the strange pair across the room, Erryl gave up on conversation to fill his hungry belly and wait for the next disaster.
Keeping one eye on the strange pair across the room, Erryl gave up on conversation to fill his hungry belly and wait for the next disaster.
Re: In for a Pounding
Flinching was not something Iarei was used to doing. Then again, there was not much in her life that would call for it. A blade sliding into her skin? That was cause. Her reaction was involuntary, but Drayel's grip prevented her from completely ruining what he was doing. Which was good, of course, because if he did anything to harm that hand she would have seen the damage repaid. . . somehow. She didn't stop to think how she'd repay it, considering he was a guard and she stood to lose too much during the interim she was sure to be stuck in Marn.
Iarei could not control the blanched look of her skin as he rubbed at her hand. It hurt. Iarei could do callouses and bleeding fingers, but this was something different altogether, and she found herself getting queasy enough that she had to look away. Scenes from the alley kept coming back into her mind, overlaid on the work Drayel was doing. How utterly stupid. Caught up in those thoughts, she only managed a half-shrug at his words. Her jaw clenched shut, the thought of speaking was enough to paralyze her from the neck up.
Her wandering eyes caught hold of Mather, and they stayed there for several seconds, looking at him. She had things to do with him and Erryl. Deals to settle out. People to chase.
"If that is all," she finally managed, forcing herself to speak past the block in her neck, "I'll let you get on with your day now. I think -- I think I would like to have a bit of a quiet sit, now."
She didn't have to conjure up the tremble in her voice. Changers, when had she become such a limp noodle?
Iarei could not control the blanched look of her skin as he rubbed at her hand. It hurt. Iarei could do callouses and bleeding fingers, but this was something different altogether, and she found herself getting queasy enough that she had to look away. Scenes from the alley kept coming back into her mind, overlaid on the work Drayel was doing. How utterly stupid. Caught up in those thoughts, she only managed a half-shrug at his words. Her jaw clenched shut, the thought of speaking was enough to paralyze her from the neck up.
Her wandering eyes caught hold of Mather, and they stayed there for several seconds, looking at him. She had things to do with him and Erryl. Deals to settle out. People to chase.
"If that is all," she finally managed, forcing herself to speak past the block in her neck, "I'll let you get on with your day now. I think -- I think I would like to have a bit of a quiet sit, now."
She didn't have to conjure up the tremble in her voice. Changers, when had she become such a limp noodle?
Re: In for a Pounding
Hearing her trembled voice Drayel looked up and nodded grimly. He understood. Finishing up her hand he got to his feet and bowed his head slightly. He was about to say his farewells when a firm hand whacking his shoulder and a rather wheezy voice met his ear.
"Sir Drayel!" Startled Drayel looked over at the puffing man. "The Captain wants to speak with you!"
"The captain?" Drayel frowned as he stared down at the man. "Why?"
"I'm not sure." came the honest and slightly sour response.
"I see... Pardon me Madam, I must take my leave. I give hopes that your hand heals well." Drayel said turning his attention briefly to Iarei before returning his conversation to the other male as he headed out the door. "So, the Captain eh?"
"Sir Drayel!" Startled Drayel looked over at the puffing man. "The Captain wants to speak with you!"
"The captain?" Drayel frowned as he stared down at the man. "Why?"
"I'm not sure." came the honest and slightly sour response.
"I see... Pardon me Madam, I must take my leave. I give hopes that your hand heals well." Drayel said turning his attention briefly to Iarei before returning his conversation to the other male as he headed out the door. "So, the Captain eh?"
Re: In for a Pounding
Iarei watched Drayel get up, careful not to stare until he'd left. She waited a minute. Five. Ten. She was restless, nervous: her injury and the brush with the guard had rattled her more than she cared to admit. She waited for Mather and Erryl to finish eating, then she walked past their table, subtly indicating they should follow her back to her room. Their room. Hah. Strange, when she had done a similar thing with two others now gone.
Three, her mind insisted.
Boy.
Her eyes were closed when they came in. She hurriedly opened them, sitting forward and motioning Erryl closer even as she watched Mather. "You know how to braid hair?" The question was directed to Erryl.
"Ten bishani a week," she told Mather without waiting for Erryl's reply.
Three, her mind insisted.
Boy.
Her eyes were closed when they came in. She hurriedly opened them, sitting forward and motioning Erryl closer even as she watched Mather. "You know how to braid hair?" The question was directed to Erryl.
"Ten bishani a week," she told Mather without waiting for Erryl's reply.
Re: In for a Pounding
The guard finally left and Erryl finished his breakfast. It was a good meal, or so it seemed -- perhaps it was just his hunger that made it taste so good, but it was comforting nonetheless. Iarei didn't join them the whole time, which was strange. Instead, she sat across the room until they were almost finished eating, then went back towards the room they'd rented.
When Mather stood, he gestured for Erryl to do the same, and they both walked back to the room. It's time to talk about Mather's payment, Erryl thought. I wonder what we're going to do next. As they entered the room, Iarei beckoned him closer, and he obeyed.
"You know how to braid hair?"
The question took him by surprise, but he didn't have time to reply. "Ten bishani a week."
"Ten?" Mather seemed amused by the offer. "I could be risking my life here."
When Mather stood, he gestured for Erryl to do the same, and they both walked back to the room. It's time to talk about Mather's payment, Erryl thought. I wonder what we're going to do next. As they entered the room, Iarei beckoned him closer, and he obeyed.
"You know how to braid hair?"
The question took him by surprise, but he didn't have time to reply. "Ten bishani a week."
"Ten?" Mather seemed amused by the offer. "I could be risking my life here."
Re: In for a Pounding
Iarei glared at Erryl, gesturing him closer. "Hair? Can you braid it? Prove to me you're worth more. Where's your references?" There wasn't a pause between the words she'd spoken to Erryl and the ones to Mather, though she did shift who she was looking at.
She put in effort to make herself look relaxed. She was irritated again. Her bones told her that they needed to move somewhere else, to another inn, but without eyes on the ground she couldn't know if they were still in for it or if, maybe. . .
Boy.
She swallowed it down. She couldn't do anything for him if she got taken in, and now with two sides out looking for her, things had gotten that much more dangerous.
She put in effort to make herself look relaxed. She was irritated again. Her bones told her that they needed to move somewhere else, to another inn, but without eyes on the ground she couldn't know if they were still in for it or if, maybe. . .
Boy.
She swallowed it down. She couldn't do anything for him if she got taken in, and now with two sides out looking for her, things had gotten that much more dangerous.
Re: In for a Pounding
Contrary to Erryl's expectations, Iarei seemed to become more intimidating as time went on. She seemed more fierce now than she had earlier that morning, perhaps because her attention had shifted onto the young half-elf and it was making him uncomfortable. "Hair? Can you braid it?"
"I guess so," he mumbled, with all the uncertainty that Mather lacked. His eyes fell to Iarei's injured hand, which was freshly wrapped, and he wondered how much it hurt. Was that the reason she seemed uncomfortable?
The bodyguard seemed to pause for a second before agreeing with Iarei's request. "Ten works for now."
"I guess so," he mumbled, with all the uncertainty that Mather lacked. His eyes fell to Iarei's injured hand, which was freshly wrapped, and he wondered how much it hurt. Was that the reason she seemed uncomfortable?
The bodyguard seemed to pause for a second before agreeing with Iarei's request. "Ten works for now."
Re: In for a Pounding
At last, someone made things easy for Iarei. The smile she showed Mather was designed to light up her face, to make her seem pleasing to the other party. It was a trick of an expression, and she was a little off in her execution, but even so: he had given in to her, and that was what she wanted from an underling.
She turned partway so her long hair would be easier for Erryl to reach. "Braid it, please. I would care for it myself, but my hand -- " she waved it towards Erryl, and then looked back at Mather. "If you do well, I will be inclined to raise your wages to 15 bishani per week. In that vein, I have a job for you. I need you to gather information for me -- "
Iarei spent several minutes outlining what had happened over the course of the last two days. She gave the stark picture of Jester and Boy, the figurines, the people who had chased her. She left out Tais. She wasn't even sure why she did it when there was so much else to share, but once she'd bypassed what had happened in the alley she wasn't inclined to talk about it at all. Maybe it was wrong to withhold such information, but she could not so easily trust Mather. No, at that moment the only person she trusted with any measure of certainty was Erryl, and him a useless kid. Though, perhaps that was unfair; she didn't know much about him.
"So, unless you have any questions, I expect you should leave now. The sooner we have an understanding of our enemy, the sooner we can build a plan around it."
She gazed at Mather expectantly, and then at the door. She was still smiling, and while the expression was pleasant, it was also wholly uncompromising.
She turned partway so her long hair would be easier for Erryl to reach. "Braid it, please. I would care for it myself, but my hand -- " she waved it towards Erryl, and then looked back at Mather. "If you do well, I will be inclined to raise your wages to 15 bishani per week. In that vein, I have a job for you. I need you to gather information for me -- "
Iarei spent several minutes outlining what had happened over the course of the last two days. She gave the stark picture of Jester and Boy, the figurines, the people who had chased her. She left out Tais. She wasn't even sure why she did it when there was so much else to share, but once she'd bypassed what had happened in the alley she wasn't inclined to talk about it at all. Maybe it was wrong to withhold such information, but she could not so easily trust Mather. No, at that moment the only person she trusted with any measure of certainty was Erryl, and him a useless kid. Though, perhaps that was unfair; she didn't know much about him.
"So, unless you have any questions, I expect you should leave now. The sooner we have an understanding of our enemy, the sooner we can build a plan around it."
She gazed at Mather expectantly, and then at the door. She was still smiling, and while the expression was pleasant, it was also wholly uncompromising.
Re: In for a Pounding
Erryl obeyed the command and shifted so he could reach Iarei's hair more easily. He hadn't exactly braided much hair in his time, but he knew how it worked. Even so, he was slow and the end result would be less than perfect. He tried not to listen as Iarei went over all they'd been through in the past few days -- it wasn't a pleasant reminder, and Erryl wanted to forget about it entirely, as soon as possible. Of course there wasn't a chance of that happening, but he could try.
"... I expect you should leave now."
Erryl took his eyes off his task for a moment to look over at Mather. The calm obedience of the bodyguard's expression and posture stood in contrast to how tense and irritated he seemed underneath. Iarei was much the same, yet Erryl still felt he could trust Iarei far more easily, for reasons he couldn't quite determine. Perhaps it was simply familiarity that made him feel that way.
Without another word, Mather nodded and left, while Erryl waited for Iarei to explain their next move. Would they be safe without Mather to protect them?
"... I expect you should leave now."
Erryl took his eyes off his task for a moment to look over at Mather. The calm obedience of the bodyguard's expression and posture stood in contrast to how tense and irritated he seemed underneath. Iarei was much the same, yet Erryl still felt he could trust Iarei far more easily, for reasons he couldn't quite determine. Perhaps it was simply familiarity that made him feel that way.
Without another word, Mather nodded and left, while Erryl waited for Iarei to explain their next move. Would they be safe without Mather to protect them?
Re: In for a Pounding
Iarei kept still and silent until Erryl had finished braiding her hair. She wanted to point out what a terrible job he'd done, but held it in as she pulled her braid over her shoulder and looked at it. If she tried to braid her own hair with her hand all bound up and painful she had no doubts that her own efforts would not be half so good. Besides, she could tell she'd already driven the kid into the proverbial corner with her mood and temper. She could not afford to lose him, and as long as she kept reminding herself that she could keep things in check while they waited for Mather. So, she thanked Erryl, and even smiled at him before tossing the braid back over her shoulder. It wasn't like he'd be doing her hair forever.
"You know how to play cards?" The question was abrupt and awkward, their unfamiliarity with each other suddenly obvious. "Because we're going to be laying low in here for the next day or so, until Mather comes back with the news. After that we'll decide what to do, but for now. . ." she got off the bed and started digging through her pack one-handed.
"You know how to play cards?" The question was abrupt and awkward, their unfamiliarity with each other suddenly obvious. "Because we're going to be laying low in here for the next day or so, until Mather comes back with the news. After that we'll decide what to do, but for now. . ." she got off the bed and started digging through her pack one-handed.