A Promise Made

[Garnet]

Seeing the nod, Garnet took off the baldric holding his iron blade in place, slipped his shield off his back, and leaned them in a spot out of the general path of the patrons. Next, he hooked a corner of the nearest chair with his foot, jerked it out to a comfortable position at the table, and smoothly eased into the chair.He ignored the curious, sometimes angry glances that were directed at him as he joined the sacaen. What was he even doing here? Why, oh why was he socializing with a man that had just picked a fight because he'd been accused of cheating? Perhaps that was why they were called savages.

"Well, you did draw a weapon on them, and start a fight." Why Garnet suddenly felt a need to reason with a bar rumbler, he had no idea. He just spit his observation out, and left it at that.

"Cold..., cold, cold." Garnet muttered in agreement as he nursed his drink. Though it was possible this bar was a little hot under the collar.

"You're a long way from the plains, Sacaen. And I don't normally see your type wielding straight blades, like that one." Garnet mentioned, indicating the green-haired man's weapon with a jerk of his chin.

"Is there an interesting story there?"

[Marle Daviau]

Marle kept level eyes, but she can only imagine what that seige would have been like...and then the undead rising up. She faced it on the scale of a town, but imagine a city like that? That would have been hell. Marle shivered, but not visually. That would have scared her. She hoped inwardly, she wouldn't have to deal with defending an Ilian city from falling.

Her armor felt lighter than she ever remembered it being. It had become a part of her, and it was nice that it was hardly impeding her movements, walking with the Mercenary woman whom she had just hired on. She started to head back towards the Inn she had indicated towards earlier.

"I don't understand that, honestly. Why not money as well as food?"

[Aleth]

Why not money indeed? Sometimes she didn’t understand herself. With all the training she was given as a child, the important aspect of money always eluded her. Perhaps it was the fact that her parents wanted her to be the best mercenary possible constantly doing what others would call tough love, did she reject their teachings so much. To her she only found abuse from her side, it was surprising that she didn’t lose her arm thanks to them.

“Money would be more useful than just food and lodging I suppose, but I was never good with it,” she started to say. She mumbled a few rules her parents said about making money as a mercenary to her.

“Heh, I’ve always sustained myself by working this way, travelling from village to village, it works out, except when times are tough,” she continued, zooming in and out from her recollections.

“Sometimes, people aren’t just able to pay you with money…” Aleth seemed to be jumping in and out of her past. She gave herself a slap to the side of the face to get her out of her mess.

“Hey, you got a cheap mercenary that is capable,” she said in an attempt to change the subject. She will need time to find her own answers.

[Marle Daviau]

That much was quite true. She did indeed find a cheap mercenary. It didn't so much bother her, than make her curious was all. This was just something new to add to the book about weird people and their quirks, not that she was keeping track. Overall, the rest of the walk was brisk, with very little said from her. It was only a minute or so in silence before she got to the door of the Inn.

Opening it up, Marle gave a look around the room, and didn't have so much to say about the place. She had never really been in here before, so she didn't know anyone by face. With a quick look around, Marle spotted a familiar face that was Garnet's and stepped in.

Before she went over to the red haired man talking with a plainsman. She could tell he was from the way her dressed to the way he looked. Ilians seemed more pale, normally, because the cold didn't allow many to sunbathe, so that was obvious.

Walking to the counter, a man walked out from the room he was in, and came up.

"What can I do for you ladies?"

"Two rooms please, and, I don't know if you do this, but if you could, charge this woman's meals directly to me."

Marle made a note to say "Meals" she didn't actually include drink in that. Water would be fine, but she didn't want a mercenary getting drunk off their ass on her gold. She wasn't that stupid.

With a grunt, the man handed out two keys for two rooms.

"Be Guessing you want single bed rooms. Here. THe room sare on the second floor at the end of the hall, one left, one right, you'll see 'em."

Bowing her head, Marle scraped the keys off the counter, and handed one to Aleth. She didn't bother to even ask if the woman had proper lodging, that may have been a good thing to know, but either way, the mercenary girl was staying in this inn now.

"Work for you?"

She asked Aleth, with a somewhat raised eyebrow from behind her bangs.

[Kessel]

Kessel sighed. Ever since he'd been injured and left for dead a year ago, leaving him with a bad leg, he'd been living out his time quietly in the mountains of Ilia with Rhiannon, his wyvern. Sure, it was colder than he liked, but it was preferable to being dead and/or chased for being a deserter. He'd been making a living by doing odd jobs for towns here and there. All he'd ask for in repayment was some food, and maybe a night at an inn.

Rhiannon was enjoying it though. The cold, clean air of Ilia and seemingly endless sky seemed to invigorate her. Left to her own devices, she would've just kept flying all the time.

It had been a little over a week now since they had visited a town, and Kessel's supplies were running low. He had angled Rhiannon to the southwest, where the map showed a town: Emmeline's Crossing.

Quickly spying the town, Kessel had Rhiannon land on the outskirts. It wouldn't do to spook the people with a wyvern flying down out of nowhere. He made his way into the town, using his lance like a walking stick, noticing for the first time the soldiers that seemed to be about. They made him wary, but he needed the supplies; he'd just have to deal with it.

He slowly made his way into a building with a sign too faded to read. Glancing about inside, it looked like he had entered a fairly prosperous inn. Kessel made his way to the bar, deciding to enjoy this little stop, despite the soldiers.

[Selibas]

Selibas wondered for a moment. "Your kind" wasn't something he liked to hear. Then the man asked if there was an interesting story about his sword. Selibas wasn't very sure if his story was interesting. He guessed it was interesting enough to tell.

"When I was thirteen, a man in my tribe had been recruited to the Etrurian army. He came by during a patrol and saw me getting beaten by my cousins with curved wooden swords. He scared them away and gave me his straight dagger, which I think you can tell would work, I'm quite small." Selibas grinned as he took a breath."I left to find him killed by a man I can't name, then set out rather then face my tribe much longer. I got this very sword on my lower hip," he indicated to his old slim sword. "from an Ostian cavalry unit, after they hired me to help them free a man from a Santuruzian prison. Let me pause here, the man was placed there for nothing but some feud between families with an official. Then I left the company to head for Nabata, where I was invited to a... 'tournament', didn't stay there long. I met a man who taught me how to be a Mercenary however, then did some jobs in Bern, then went to Sacae, where I took a chance and won my birthright of leading the tribe. There's a lot more to my story, but the style I learned is probably more Illian than anything else, so I use straight blades." Selibas' head was starting to spin, but he said, "So you're clearly a warrior of sorts, any particular reason?"

[Aleth]

It seemed like quite the party they were having in the tavern. In all respects she didn’t want to go crazy on booze ever again. At the very least she needed food after the lack of for the past few days.

“Thanks it, having a bed at all really boosts my morale,” she said, graciously accepting the keys. With a few gentle strides through the tavern she situated herself away in a corner.

“It seems you get yourself a free meal, miss, although a drink will cost extra,” the man indicted, giving her a tray of food. Of course she didn’t want any more alcohol; she really could use some cider right now.

“I’ll pay a little extra for a hot cup of cider but no alcohol,” she said, getting a nod as a reply.

“You got it miss, it is always warms a cold body more so than alcohol at times,” he replied giving her a small mug of hot cider. With just one sip she felt at ease in just a few moments. Before long she began too much on her food, keeping a close eye on what was going on around her. She wasn’t about to ease up too much, as her blade was still strapped to her side and her “injury” hidden.

[Garnet]

Garnet listened to the story as it went on and on. Either the kid had been through as much as he said, or he was an expert at telling yarns. There was just enough detail to possibly lend some credence to the tale. With travels that extensive, the young swordsman would have had to constantly be on the move doing things. He doubted there would be enough time otherwise.

"Why am I a warrior? That's easy enough to answer." The red-headed man took a long drink of from his mug. The taste only partly registered in his mind though. He was being returned to his past again. Somehow, the loss of his home, though still saddening, didn't affect him as it used to. It didn't define him anymore.

"It's my trade. I've been a swordsman for... oh... eight years or so now. Had a number of experiences too.... Been playing at mercenary work for the last year or so though."

The swordfighter didn't really feel like sharing his whole sad tale with anyone. Not anymore. Perhaps he would with some of the people in the troop he was traveling with.... Eventually.

[Marle Daviau]

Marle gave an almost sweet nod of her head as she lead the girl over to a seat in the common room, the main room really, which were adorned with many tables and chairs. They were, for the most part, vacant right now, but later at night, they would be filled probably, depending if the place was good for drink and fun. She tried to lighten up, as she unclasped what she could of her armor, and set it down at her side next to the chair she took Being armorless from the neck down as a bit of a relief, that armor was starting to get a bit annoying and it was flashy for those who would look around. Marle noted a man who came in with a unique colour of hair...orange, and bright at that.

Around her at other tables, though vacant the place was, it was not dead. Her soldiers dotted areas of the large room, drinking, and eating together in close proximity, Marle sat away from them, as she wished to talk to Aleth.

"So."

Marle started to take her gauntlets off, and flexed her fingers once free of the gloves that followed.

"You're quite a bit more north than I would have thought to look for mercenaries. Most keep towards Arphen or inland that far. How'd you wind up out here?"

[Aleth]

After one bite of a nice warm meal her body seemed to be rejuvenated. To Aleth, it was the best meal she ever had. It was strange how having a bit of food taste just magnificent after a few days living off of air. She was careful though, not to take in too much at a time and eating relatively slowly. Marle appeared strangely smaller without parts of her armor on.

"Well," she began, taking a small bite of food.

"I prefer not to go anywhere near those areas, especially whenever I'm in Illia," she said, taking a sip of cider.

"The risk isn't worth the reward, especially if it means meeting up with my parent's group, besides money isn't a big thing for me."

[Marle Daviau]

Marle gave a knowing nod, she could understand those feelings well. The young knight kept her palms on the table as she rested back into her chair, allowing the mercenary to continue eating while she herself sat there and though about what she talked about. Still, the fact she didn't accept money was strange, what happened if she was suddenly cut off from being employed, how would she survive to the next job? It made no sense to her, but she allowed the girl to keep doing as she would,, no way right now would she talk down to the girl.

"I know what you mean, this being my home town, I hope I don't run into my own family, but this is a necessary stop. The people I'm looking for are either north of here, or west. My orders were to continue west, but sadly, they didn't tell me more than that, very vague, and irregular."

Sighing, Marle rested her head in her hands, trying to think of what to do now, while her troops that accompanied her, rested up and got food in their bellies. She didn't want to go back into battle, not so soon, but knowing her bad luck, they would. Hopefully the odds will be different, coming in with a smaller group, she wouldn't draw as many eyes on her...sadly her armor would give her away easily enough.

"Though if you really wanted to get away from your parents, you should look for work outside of Ilia. You have more chance of running into them inside the country than out, no?"

[Selibas]

Selibas nodded, he understood the man might have things in his past that he didn't want to speak of. If Selibas weren't drunk he might respect that. Either way he didn't want to sit in an akward silence so he said, "Sorry, I stoopped too early. I meant was there any particular reason why you were here in this town? A good job? I've noticed a lot of soldiers." Selibas hadn't stopped to early, he was just desperate for both work, and a bit more far fetched due to the alcohol in his system, but a good conversation.

[Garnet]

Garnet leaned back in his chair, hearing the worn material creaking as he did so. He set aside his half finished mug of watered beer. He wasn't even sure why he was drinking the stuff. It wasn't for the taste, that was for sure. And if he'd wanted to get drunk, he wouldn't have had it watered down. Probably would have gotten something stronger, even.

"Ah, well, you're right about the soldiers. I'm not exactly working for them though. Just traveling with them.... So I shouldn't speak for them." Garnet wasn't even really sure of what his arrangements with the group were. Did he even have any? That reminded him about his coat. He ought to take it to a tailor, or a.... tanner more like. See if they had anything worthy of patching it up with.

This young Selibas though. He'd scrapped pretty well earlier. He could probably find a job with the group, if he put on a good showing.

[Aleth]

Aleth left half her meal unfinished, feeling she had stuffed herself enough. A nice hot meal and hot cider could really warm one's soul. She let out a satisfied sigh. She thought about her whole situation with coming back to Illia. Situations and connections lead to her being back here. Now how should she explain how she was fired or recommended to look for job else where.

"You know...people always have specific criteria to what they hire, so I am always moving around to fit employer's specifications," she answered, sipping her cider a bit.

"Ah...hot cider always warm the body more than any alcohol would..." she said, sipping again.

"Believe you me, I've had plenty of training but I really was desperate," she said.

[Marle Daviau]

Marle studied the girl and how she held herself. Aleth was very careful with that arm of hers, but the way she hid it, drew attention in of itself. As time went on, she would reveal it accidently, or purposely. Either way, Marle would watch with her right eye while her left hid behind her hair in her certain style of hair. Interlinking her fingers, Marle gave a solemn nod, and watching the girl drink the cider started to get her thirsty herself.

"I'm more partial to warm milk on a cold day, thankfully we haven't had one of those in awhile"

Marle meant what she said, the current cold really was no bother to her at the moment. This was her playground as a child, where she would play with her siblings.

"I could tell, you could look like you would need a bath, should I organize one for you?"

Marle asked quietly, not wishing it to be spread throughout and grab the men's attention. Who knew what kind of reaction that would garner. Licking her lips, she gave a small sigh and rose a hand at the innkeeper.

"One Ale over here, good man!"

"You got it!"

The man started talking to one of his service girls to start getting the order ready. it would take a bit of time, since they were already busy. There was a commotion in the corner of one room where men had started playing cards for money. That looked like so much fun...