Chapter Text
Ruckus and laughter could be heard all throughout the lower quarter. Men drunkenly singing with their arms around their friends’ shoulders. Working women in alleyways, trying to catch a wandering eye. Lanterns and torches lit up the night sky.
And then two cloaked figures streaked past a couple of street rats and alley cats.
One was of a moderate build. Strong-looking, but not barrel-chested. The other was slightly shorter, slightly more meek. Both carried packs filled with various objects. Provisions, equipment, and their livelihoods.
They approached a well boasted tavern. If one were to look up, the hanging sign would have read The Golden Duckling. But these two had not looked up and simply entered the large room.
As they entered, they saw a fire merrily crackling in the hearth, patrons in various states of drunkenness, yelling heartily for more drink. The barmaids all too happy to serve them their requests. Only when the patrons started to get a little excited did they ask them to take it easy.
The two cloaked figures sat themselves down at a table in one of the lesser lit tables; the candles in the chandelier growing smaller.
“We need to move quickly. There's no telling where Alexios’ agents are.”
“Calm down Jac. We can relax for a bit here. His reach doesn’t extend this far east. And even if they did, they wouldn’t think to find you in a tavern of all places. He probably thinks you still don’t know what one is.”
“I know, I know. And I’m sorry for being anxious, alright? It's just that-”
“And I know what you were going to say.” The slightly smaller figure reached out to reveal a pale, slender hand and laid it on the other’s clenched fist. “You don’t need to keep apologizing Jac. I know that what you went through wasn’t pretty, and that you’re scared of going back there. But you don’t need to worry. I’m here with you. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
“I just can’t let him find out about you. You know that. And I can’t let him hurt you either.” He reached out to cup her face as he spoke “I’m grateful for what you did for me, Rose. I really am. But I can’t let you get hurt for my sake. If something happened to you-”
“I know. You don’t need to say anything.” Rose leaned forward and pressed her lips to his maroon cheek in a chaste kiss. “And what did I say about calling me by my name?” She raised her thin eyebrow at this.
“Right. Can’t ever be too careful. Sorry I slipped.” He flashed her a smile that said that he wasn’t very sorry.
She returned with a similar smile “Why don’t you tell me our aliases one more time. Just so I don’t forget like you”
“And why would I go and do that? We are in the middle of a tavern. There's dozens of people around us. They could hear us” Jac looked around warily at the other patrons.
“Relax, don’t you see any of them? Most of them couldn’t be more drunk. And it’s late. Those that aren’t drunken idiots already are dead asleep” She pointed to a pair of bearded men, drool spilling out onto their table as their snores rocked their mugs.
“Fine. If you want a memory test, you got one” Jac hunched over a little as he began to whisper conspirituality. “You’re Cassidy, not Rose. I’m Jac, not Jaculum. We hail from a struggling adventuring group, the rest of us killed in a job gone wrong. Orphans for as long as we’ve known each other. Happy?”
“Very much so. Now, I’m going to secure us a room for the night. Why don’t you-”
As Cassidy got up from her chair to speak to the bartender, a very hairy creature shoved into her.
“Oh, sorry about that lass” The hairy thing said with a slight huskiness to his voice “Let me make it up to you. I’ll buy you a drink”
Jac got up and grabbed the taller male by the collar, bringing him down to his level.
“Listen here dog” he said with disgust and contempt in his voice “You apologize to her right now, or we are going to have problems.”
“It’s fine Jac. He just bumped into me. It was an accident.” Cassidy pleaded with Jac.
“It wasn’t an accident. Did you see the look in his eye? There wasn’t no accident.” Turning back to the man still in his clutches. “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?”
“Look here” the other hairy male said “I did no such thing. I happen to respect strangers, unlike you.”
“Don’t talk to me about respect you useless cur. You wouldn’t know respect if it bit you in the ass.”
“Jac, please. Just leave it. I’m fine. Look” She gestured to herself “There isn’t any reason to get fired up for a brawl.”
“I think he needs to learn respect. And I’ll be the one to teach him.” Jac shoved the other man backwards into a few tables as he readied himself, drawing up his sleeves and took up guard.
“There is one person here who needs to learn respect, and it’s not me, lad” The man ground out as he took a spear and shield from his back.
At this point, the once small argument had attracted the attention of the entire tavern, even drawing inn goers from upstairs. Various patrons started taking bets on their favored fighter. A man who looked to be good with his fists or a man who had a metal tipped spear and a wooden shield. One who looked to be lighter on his feet or heavily armored brawler. A small kenku hopped from shoulder to shoulder, trying to get a good seat for the upcoming fight. A man in a long cloak began to watch closely from his table along with a man in vestments.
As the spearman was about to attack-
“ALRIGHT. Break it up! No brawling in my inn! All ‘a ya! Back to your drinks!” The bartender reached behind the counter to brandish a very large crossbow with a very large bolt nocked, aimed at the head of the two almost-brawlers. “That means you two as well. Either buy something or get out.”
Jac and the man sat down at their respective tables in silence.
“That was really stupid of you Jac. That could have drawn unnecessary attention to us. I thought you wanted to keep a low profile?” Cassidy questioned Jac as he pulled back his hood a little.
“I couldn’t let him disrespect you like that, Cassidy. He did you harm, and I promised that none would come to you for as long as you decide to keep me around.”
“You know that I can’t get rid of you, but you gotta be more careful. Like you said, we can’t afford to draw attention to us, especially when we are so low on funds. Speaking of” She checked the pouch tied to her hip “At this rate, we’ll be out by the end of the week. If we can find a job, we need to find it soon, or we’ll be on the streets.”
Cassidy looked behind her as a shadow overcame her.
“Hello lads, might I talk to ya?”