-
“You know very little of me,” Rolan smirked, watching her face with amusement. The way she held herself was truly an art, the skills of manipulation and subtle hints perfected to survive the backstabbing blood house known as the royal court. Had she been born to be someone of lower blood, the rogue would have thought her to be using magic in order to charm her way through tough situations but the young royal didn’t need it. Even as she hid behind her hood, disappearing into its shadows, the air of cool composure and etiquette still lingered in every word and motion.
“Monetary compensation is….appreciated, but I don’t take on a job just because the first fat-pursed noble throws me his coins and thinks that his problems have disappeared. I learned the hard way to trust my instincts and right now, they are telling me that you aren’t being fully honest with me.”
He sat back, watching the young woman and carefully observing her, waiting for any sign that would lead him to the truth. His teachers – con artists, thieves and hired hands – all taught him that no matter how composed someone was, there was always a way to tell what they were thinking. Subtle movements, the barely catchable breathe, a twitch of a muscle or a particular attitude. People gave away so much without even realizing it and Rolan had in the past been able to avoid quite a few death attempts by seeing those signs, the most memorable time in Luskan with the huge Barbarian and his Druid companion. If not for his gut feeling them and the quick glance that he caught his way, the rogue might have been 6 feet down in the frozen northern ground, far from lands he called….home? That in itself required thought – who was this girl to him? An employer, a sovereign, a pretty thing to conquer? Was she a liability, a threat, an opportunity? What would she bring?
The laughter, pushing and a thud as two figures made it down the stairs made him look up. Neri and Colm, oblivious to anything, seemed to be in some discussion of their own, the girl growling and seeming to threaten her companion, the young man chuckling and saying something that made the redhead roll her eyes and mutter something under her nose. Waving in his direction, the duo continued to the bar stand much to Hogarth’s pleasure. Scowling at the rogue, the tavern owner snapped at one of the barmaids to fetch food for the pair, adding a few curses in the local dialect when the girl didn’t seem to be bothered to move faster than a snail.
Regardless of how Rolan viewed Colm, the bard having been a little more than a burden for the past six months, he felt responsible for the pair. Neri was his protégée, something of a sister and a daughter. Colm was a pet that he, whether he liked it or not, became attached to. They were becoming restless on the isles and they needed money before going back to the mainland. Money was still a pressing issue and the longer they stayed in the Dancing Seabear, the more dire their situation would become. Unless the city was a shithole full of his brethren by trade, a safe haven for the shady folk in Faerun, people would eventually start asking questions and sticking their noses into the wrong sort of business. If Rolan were to solve the issues in his regular manner, fear would drive people to extremes. Knowing his companions, they were bound to find their own issues soon if not already. No, he had to get them out, for their sake and the sake of the people around them.
*****
Neri watched the exchange, first chocking on her anger at the man then at Colm for stepping into her battle. Following after the blonde, she shot daggers into his back before deciding it wasn’t worth it – her friend was simply returning the favor from earlier that evening. Besides, if push came to shove, she doubted the naked foreigner stood much of a chance to escape her without a few broken ribs and a bleeding nose. After that though, she would get quite an ear flogging from Hogarth and, once he stopped laughing, a very unpleasant conversation with Rolan about the idea of keeping a low profile. While the Moonshae Isles were not small, there were enough people to have some old scores to settle with a certain rogue. And while her mentor never really put any boundaries on what she could and couldn’t do, Neri doubted that getting him a beating was the proper way to say thank you. Allowing the bard to deal with the foreigner with his sharp words and easy threat, she followed him down to the main floor.
“You really think Hogarth will go for your offer?” she asked as they made their way down the stairs. When she didn’t get an immediate response, she huffed and grabbed the man’s sleeve. “Colm, you do know Rolan said to lie low. Besides, how do you know your friends,” she smirked, “aren’t back to drown their sorrows in some liquor or to check if a certain troublemaking bard isn’t here?”
Not waiting for an answer, she slipped into an empty chair by the bar, elbowing left and right to make some room for her and the man. Giving the youth beside her a glare when he dared protest, Neri waited until the sleepy looking maid set up two plates of steaming ham and potatoes before her and the bard, hungrily ripping into the food and letting a sign of pleasure as her stomach stopped grumbling.
-
Whilst not a princess directly in line for the throne, there was no denying that Ardina had spent a good deal of her time amongst the nobles' court. She had been born into it, raised into it. Trained by both her parents and the myriad of tutors they had hired to not only survive, but excel in the cutthroat games that some of them liked to play. To move through noble circles with the effortless grace of someone who was always composed, always in control, in a place where dishonesty was a given. Where treachery sprouts like weeds, and was just as impossible to kill off completely. She had her own weaknesses, of course. Her own tells. She was only human, after all, and such things could never be suppressed entirely.
Still, whilst a backyard tavern was hardly the setting she was used to, Ardina couldn't help but feel like they were still playing her game. The accusation of dishonesty was a little more direct than she was used to, there was no doubting that. It caught her off guard for a brief moment, and the princess raised a quizzical eyebrow as she watched the rogue. After a moment of what seemed like tense silence, however, she let out a very unladylike sound that seemed to be somewhere between a laugh and a snort. Hardly a subtle tell, and one that spoke to her amusement at the idea more than any sort of lie in her words.
"Oh my. I'm afraid you've caught me red handed, my dear assassin. You're much too clever for one such as I" she answered, her tone greatly exaggerated, almost mocking. She made a show of looking upwards at the ceiling above, her expression stricken, but forcefully so. In fact, she looked rather like an actor who was about to 'faint' in a stage show. After a few moments, however, she dropped the act. She turned those burning eyes back towards Rolan yet again, her amusement having melted away into a much more serious, almost flat visage.
"We've been discussing this job of mine for just a handful of moments. It isn't exactly difficult to guess that I'm yet to tell you everything when I haven't even finishing outlining the specifics of the job, is it?" she asked rhetorically, raising a questioning eyebrow and tilting her head slightly. "Don't play the simpleton, Rolan. It doesn't suit you, and its hardly believable after some of the...courtesies you've already shown me tonight. I simply don't see any point in wasting our time with details before I know you're even willing to consider this type of job."
---
Colm was fully prepared to try and convince the innkeeper to let him play, despite Neri's hesitations. There were plenty of benefits to having a musician in on a night such as that, and the crowd would certainly be on his side. That said, he quickly pulled himself up short when she mentioned not only Rolan's displeasure, but also the possibility of the sailors he had tried to scam chancing upon him here. For once common sense seemed to prevail over his natural inclination to have trouble and cause fun, and he quickly decided to let the topic go, instead just following Neri down the stairs.
He quickly settled in alongside Neri at the bar when she made room for him, and nodded his thanks to the serving girl. He also went so far as to give her a grin and a wink, but she simply gave him a wry, knowing smile and turned away without any further acknowledgement. Apparently the bard's reputation had preceded him, much to his chagrin. Or had he flirted with her earlier during their stay and forgotten? Regardless, feeling a little disappointed, Colm turned his attention to the food. It was simple fare, but certainly smelled good enough. This was one front where the Dancing Seabear usually managed to do well - a fact he was infinitely thankful for. Content to suspend conversation for the moment in favour of eating, he was quick to begin his meal.
Colm allowed his gaze to wander about the room between mouthfuls, searching out the exact location Rolan had decided to hide himself away. He wasn't particularly fond of their impromptu leader, but the man was most likely the reason that they had been delivered food free of charge, and that deserved some sort of recognition. When she spotted the rogue in his little corner, however, he was greeted by more than just the sight of the sombre assassin sitting alone. Curious, he gave Neri a gentle nudge, before gesturing in the man's direction.
"Who do you think Rolan's new friends are?" he asked idly, once he was certain she had spotted them. An unusually straightforward question from the bard, but at that particular moment food and curiosity seemed a bigger priority than talking shit.
-
Rolan smirked darkly, amused by the royal’s spirit. Certainly this girl had a good grasp on people and even though he wasn’t exactly trying to be something he was not, she saw past his lazy attempts to disorient her. Stretching, he looked around and nodded to his companions before looking once more at his current companions. She wanted to talk and he was tired of sitting in this stuffy room with the variety of men and women drinking, bawling and gaming. “Perhaps,” he looked around the tavern before meeting the girl’s eyes. “Perhaps it is better if we spoke in a more, ah, intimate setting. They you can tell me all about your problem and what exactly you are seeking for.”
It was a test, a subtle offer to trust him if she was truly seeking his help. It was a hard lesson he learned years ago through a series of rather unfortunate events that had forced him onto his current path. He used to assume trust was implicit between him and whoever desired to draft a contract, at least trust that both sides would complete their obligations prior to starting to hunt the rogue down. Life knocked him down early and disillusioned him and now, Rolan rarely allowed anyone to call the shots not on his terms. The girl either needed him enough to trust him – especially if she claimed that she wanted him to escort her anywhere. The shared room upstairs was a good start. Especially if he could judge Neri’s disapproving glances. Eventually, the redhead would just storm up and who knew how easily this princess spooked.
Offering her his hand, Rolan gave a disarming smile but his eyes remained focused and alert. “Do you trust me? Your friend can wait for us downstairs.”
*****
“Who cares? He certainly seems taken by the girl,” Neri grumbled, glaring at the rogue before turning back to her food. It wasn’t that she was jealous of the strange woman – she had seen her mentor infatuated with women before – but this seemed different. It wasn’t a simple desire to spend the night with another, it was some sort of charge that appeared in the air for all that the talk was civil and from his subtle mannerisms, Neri could tell that Rolan was trying to be courteous and reserved. Whoever that woman was, she seemed to be trouble for her mentor.
“Aye, ya two,” Hogarth called at them, hobbling out of the kitchen and leaning across the worn bar counter. “When d’ya recon yar friend will pay yer bills and get me the money? I am not a fairy godmother for murderous charity cases.”
“He’ll pay you when he pays you,” Neri shrugged, licking her spoon clean. “Seems he has company tonight though.”
“Pays when he pays? Is it supposed to make me feel better?” Hogarth howled, wringing his cloth towel in his hands. “You can let him know that if he doesn’t give me my money by tomorrow, I will collect the bounty on all thieve guild members.”
“Do what you will,” Neri shrugged, ignoring the fuming changeling. For all that the owner of the Dancing Seabear was upset – for a good reason, she had to admit, she was not getting involved in a conversation regarding debt and wine and her older companion. Especially not with Colm there, ready to witness her failure at delicate negotiation and sucking up. Already, he rescued her from a half-brain maniac, becoming her temporary knight in armour….or twig with a musical thing, she guessed.
-
The vague answer was undoubtedly not what the princess had wanted to hear, and she made no effort to hide her displeasure at that fact. A straight answer would have been preferable, though the fact that they were still discussing things was enough to infer some level of interest. More pressing, however, was the question that he decided to follow up with. A private meeting wasn't a bad thing in and of itself. Under normal circumstances, Ardina would have preferred it. The request that she leave her bodyguard behind was far from normal, however, and more than a little concerning.
What sort of motive could Rolan possibly have for suggesting such a thing? The princess' eyes narrowed and her mouth turned down into a slight frown, betraying Ardina's suspicion as she tried to think over her position. Realistically speaking, the chances that the rogue intended to kill her were relatively low, considering that she had approached him. That was hardly the only misfortune that he could potentially plan to inflict on her, however. At the end of the day, however, she was left with little other option. If she couldn't get an escort out of the city, her life was likely forfeit. With that knowledge hanging over her like a guillotine, the princess felt like she had little choice but to agree. That way, at least, she had a chance. Ardina didn't plan on telling him that until after their negotiations, but the fact remained.
"Very well. Did you have a place in min-" the princess started, only to be cut off by a loud bang as her bodyguard practically slammed his now-empty mug onto the table.
"Absolutely not" the man said, his tone neutral. Ardina threw a pointed glare in his direction, clearly none too pleased by the interruption.
"That isn't your decision to make" she answered, her voice taking on the same authoritative tone she had used to cow him before. This time, however, the man held her gaze.
"Do you recall why you brought me here?" he asked. Apparently the bodyguard was unwilling to disregard the princess' safety, even when she herself tried to order him to do so. Ardina threw a glance in the rogue’s direction, a wry smile on her lips, whilst the big man maintained his look of open defiance. The two would likely be stuck in their argument for a good while, both of them willing to back down, unless Rolan said or did something to intervene.
~~~~
Neri’s own observations about Rolan and the strange people he was speaking with were amusing in their own right. A soft chuckle slipped past Colm’s lips, but that was all the thought he gave the idea before turning back to his soup. Once upon a time he might have joked about Neri sounding jealous, but he had learned a long time ago that jokes along that particular line of thought weren’t really worth the trouble. He contented himself with simply finishing up what was left of his meal, and continued to eat even when the bartender came over to pester the two of them. Rolan had made the money his own problem, and the bard was more than content to leave it that way. Still, his thoughts invariably drifted back to the money he had left behind earlier that night.
“I wonder where Hogarth gets off in trying to threaten a trained and experienced killer-for-hire. Seems like an easy way to get yourself stabbed. Surely there are easier ways to get your kicks” the bard muttered, speaking quietly enough that Neri was the only one likely to hear. The innkeeper deserved his money, of course – he was hardly running a charity – but discretion seemed better than valour under these circumstances. Perhaps that was why he decided to approach the two of them instead of speaking to Rolan directly in the first place. After a few moments, he moved on.
Colm spun around on his stool so that he was facing the rest of the room, his eyes scanning the crowd for potential sources of mischief. Just what sort of trouble could he find tonight? He’d already had his fill of cards, and Neri had pointedly ruled out the suggestion of some music. The serving girls, too, had seemingly wised up to him. Taunting Neri was always fun, but that was more of a hobby than anything else.
“Don’t suppose you’d be interested in a few drinking games, Neri? First round is on me” he finally offered. The bard threw a glance her way while he spoke, a mischievous grin flickering across his features. “I’m sure Hogarth won’t mind, so long as we pay for our drinks up front”
-
"Your highness," Rolan smiled, all charm and grace though his lips barely moved at a whisper. Glaring at the guard, the rogue sighed. "My dear, lowlanded friend, look around. So many people are great to talk business but not delicate business. And, I do say so myself, this lady is in quite a delicate position since she has come here to seek me. Then, such a busy place becomes a liability and one that you aren't prepared to face. No one will take notice of a young woman accompanying her friend and there will be quiet to discuss the job. Two men and a women raises eyebrows, no?"
Rolan once more offered the young woman his hand, his eyes looking at the guard with force. If there was to be a scene, this would be bad. Even now, he made notes of furniture, weaponry and those he would consider the most dangerous. If something was to happen, he would protect the princess but the guard…well, the man was on his own. Regardless of what others thought, it didn't bother him at all that someone might die or kept him awake at night. People always had these ridiculous notions that killers lived in torment or were outright nutcases - the way he saw it, people lived and people died. It was the way of the world and there was no shame in helping those destined to push up daisies to get there sooner.
"I promise you no harm," he whispered to the girl, smiling like a predator and leading her upstairs to the room he was commandeering to serve as a meeting hall for a new job.
~~~~~
Neri turned away from her mentor and grunted in agreement to Colm's suggestion. Perhaps drinking is what she needed at the moment. It seemed as though the rogue was not about to get the younger members of the group up to speed with his guest and now, it seemed as though he wanted privacy to the max. His gallantry and courteous movements made it clear the woman was in fact attractive and probably there for at least the rest of the evening. Sighing, she waited with puppy eyes until Hogarth took pity on them and shuffled over, muttering something about annoying young travelers and money owned. Seeing the coins Colm produced - and Neri couldn't figure out from where - the innkeeper poured them a pint of ale each, though it did not stop his complaining.
Three rounds in, Neri was feeling tipsy. She was acting a little funny but the warmth of the alcohol around her just made it funnier. It helped her forget all her problems and even Colm beside her seemed handsomely bare….urm, barely handsome. The redhead giggled at her silliness, tilting back the mug and pounding it down in disappointment when it ended up empty. Reaching into her inner pocket, she placed a few more coppers. "Couple, hick, more pints!" she called before giggling at her own lack of balance. She honestly hadn't been this uncoordinated since she climbed out of her mother's womb and that was….she tried to count but somehow, it got away from her and instead she took another sip of the foaming creamy ale.
"Colm," she turned to face her companion, her lips suddenly quivering. "Am I ugly?"
-
The bodyguard's expression darkened into a scowl at the rogue's words, but he offered no further complaints against either of them. Instead, the man opted to hide his expression behind another sip from his tankard in silent assent to what his two table companions were planning. There was no doubting that he was thoroughly unhappy with the arrangement, given the inherent risk to his charge, but it seemed that he had been left with little choice. Whilst he wanted to argue further, the rogue was right - the more of a fuss he made, the more conspicuous the princess would suddenly become. Instead, the man simply contented himself to wait, and perhaps listen for any sounds of distress coming from above. Just in case.
For her part, the princess only hesitated briefly when the rogue offered his hand. She didn't particularly enjoy the idea of being forced into closer proximity with him than was totally necessary, especially given what she had just agreed to. Still, it would maintain the illusion that they were trying to convey. She reached out and accepted his hand, before allowing him to help her out of her chair. Ardina rose with as much grace as she could muster, before accompanying him towards the stairs and up to the second floor.
His words and sly grin were enough to unnerve Ardina, but she tried to maintain her outward composure, with limited success. She allowed the rogue to lead her along towards the room he had chosen, whilst reminding herself internally that she was hardly defenceless. So long as she kept her guard up and didn't let him surprise her with a knife at close range, she would be fine...probably.
When he opened the door for the two of them, she slipped into the room ahead of Rolan, immediately taking a few measured steps away from the doorway. She glanced about the room idly, which was both relatively small and sparsely furnished, but contained all the relative necessities. Once she was satisfied, Ardina began to speak.
"Its not much, but I suppose its a damn sight more private than the taproom below. Not as soundproof as I'd normally like for this sort of discussion, but I suppose we'll have to make do" she offered almost casually, turning back to face the assassin good and proper. Her smile was gone now, along with any sort of measured politeness, leaving only a neutral gaze and a steely tone in their places. "So, shall we begin?"
~~~~
Prompted by the sound of Neri calling for another round, and the accompanying sound of coins hitting the tabletop, Colm drained the ale left in his flagon in a single go. He set the thing down on the counter harder than was strictly necessary in preparation for the next round, an eager and lopsided grin on his face. After the three rounds they had consumed so far he was definitely feeling a little bit off-kilter himself. He seemed to be holding up a bit better than Neri, but only slightly - doubtless due to the absurd amount of time that he had spent practising during previous evenings.
The tipsy bard rapped his knuckles on the counter top impatiently while waiting for the innkeeper to come respond to Neri's request and fill up both of their drinks once more. When the man had done so, he immediately helped himself to yet another hearty sip of ale from his mug. This time, when Colm set it down, he seemed to sway dangerously in his seat for a moment, as if he were about to fall. Either by skill or luck, he managed to regain his balance and right himself beforehand, all without losing that signature, almost telltale grin.
The only time his expression wavered was when Neri spoke up again, and with a rather unexpected question at that. His eyes widened in something akin to surprise as his mind slowly processed what she was saying and caught up with itself, and for an instant he looked strikingly similar to a deer that had just been startled. Where had that question come from? Was Neri trying to mess with him again, or was this a genuine concern? That quivering lip seemed to suggest one thing, but Colm's mind wasn't working quite so well as to be trustworthy at the moment.
"You, ugly? Where did that idea come from?" he asked, only half-expecting an answer. The bard helped himself to another quick sip then, smaller than the last - as much to buy himself time to try and think of a response as anything else.
"Do you really think I would be wasting my time with a girl I thought hideous? I had thought my attempts to woo you straightforward enough, considering how often you end up hitting me. I guess I'll have to be more direct in future. A new song, perhaps"
It was a mediocre answer at best, well below Colm's usual standards for bullshitting, provoking, prodding, flirting, and general nonsense all at once. He blamed the alcohol, of course, but some small corner of his mind whispered that it was only partially to blame.
-
Rolan leaned back against the door, his back pressing it shut and his arms crossed over his chest. Here, in the privacy of the room, the charade was gone. As much as he enjoyed useless banter and casual conversation, he needed a job and the girl needed to provide him with details. Her own mask seemed to drop, the niceness gone from her countenance. She was tense, her cold look and set chin making it easy for him to see - if need be, she was going to fight him. That was cute, really.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Princess, but I don’t control what I can afford,” Rolan shrugged, not bothering to argue. Would he have loved the room to be sound-proof? Oh sure. Could he actively afford it with two young people to watch who (sad as he was to admit it) ate more than he thought was humanly possible? No, unfortunately not. If he could, he’d be made of money and not about to take on another job, risking his life and limb for the golden coins. If she had wanted such privacy, she would have sought him out in a different place or asked her bodyguards to attempt to bring him to her. Since neither happened, he assumed that this was more than enough.
“Please, make yourself comfortable,” he gestured vaguely at the room. There wasn’t much in terms of furniture but enough to place one’s touche on comfortably enough. “I understand you have a job for me. What is it exactly you want?” His eyes met her with the same sober expression, his face expressionless. The sooner he knew the details, the sooner he could decline...royalty never promised anything good. This girl was no exception.
~~~~~~
Neri had just taken a sip when she heard Colm’s words. The ale came back up making her cough and choke, before her swimming gaze fixed on him and she attempted a glare. The attempt didn’t seem to be effective as the bard was starting to be a bit wavey himself. Whatever the innkeeper put in this ale, it was good. With a hiccup, Neri growled something that she hoped sounded like a curse. “I beat you because you are annoying and an arse,” she resorted, shoving the bard to prove her point.
That was a mistake - in her current state, the motion sent her flying to the floor, tumbling down with a loud thud into a heap of girl, her red hair covering her face. There was a moment as Neri tried to figure out what happened before starting to giggle uncontrollably. A few patrons around her shot the pair confused gazes but she didn’t care. The situation was hilarious - here they were, the bard that always got into trouble and the mighty warrior who now was lying on her back, laughing hysterically and making no attempt to get back up. “Your attempts to woo me, dear bard, have been trully magical,” she managed before the giggles started again with more force.
Seeing Colm’s expression, Neri covered her face, desperately trying to stop herself from laughing. The ale within her veins burned and bubbled, making her feel light and weak. Right now, the only thing supporting her head was the floor with its cracks and worn out wood. Behold the very non-hideous dangerous warrior, hiccup! She couldn’t remember the last time she had this much fun which said a lot. This was the reason she had persuaded Rolan to take the bard with them on the day they rescued him - much like that evening. He had gotten into some sort of trouble but the rogue simply lifted an eyebrow and the farmers left him be, muttering to themselves. That day, he also made Neri laugh and she dragged him with them, much to Rolan’s dissatisfaction.
“A song? Now?” she laughed, her eyes focusing on Colm’s figure still on the stool. “Maybe you should serenade me bard.”
-
The princess quickly helped her to one of the small wooden chairs that the innkeeper had so generously provided, alongside the small table. The piece was made entirely of hardwood, with no cushions or other ornamentation to soften the blow. Even so, Ardina lowered herself into it. With her legs crossed and her hands folded together in her lap, the princess looked every bit as regal as her heritage suggested. It appeared that Ardina was unable or unwilling to shake her formal airs, even now.
“What I want and what I need from you are two entirely different things. This journey wouldn’t be necessary at all if I had any say in things. Yet here we are” the princess answered, gesturing at the room around them idly with one hand. When she was done, she turned her gaze to the rogue good and proper once more, meeting his gaze. After a moment of internal debate, she decided that the direct approach was probably the best. Rolan needed to know what he was getting into, and she didn’t want to waste any time if she could help it.
“I need you and your companions to escort me to Impiltur’s capital and the queen’s court as quickly and quietly as possible”
It was a short explanation, and hardly conveyed the entire picture. Still, it was direct, and would give Rolan the most accurate impression of what the princess needed. She almost went so far as to mention the depth of the royal coffers when it came to his inevitable reward, but bit back the comment after reminding herself what Rolan had said about money before. Instead, she simply tried to prepare herself for the questions that would inevitably follow. There were plenty of details to flesh out, and she’d happily answer his questions if that meant getting him to agree. The less time she had to waste chasing down another mercenary, the better.
~~~~
Caught unprepared despite the obvious provocation, Neri’s shove had the bard flailing. Her aim was off, however, and he somehow managed to retain his balance despite his current level of intoxication. Neri herself seemed to suffer more for the attempt, spilling out of her chair and onto the floor. Colm got a good chuckle out of the sight, which he accompanied with a shake of the head, but his own amusement was apparently nothing compared to that of the barbarian herself. Still, something about her mirth was proving infectious.
“I didn’t mean right now, you fool. I try and make a point of avoiding playing while drunk. It tends to mess with my fingering” he answered. The bard’s tone was casual, but he couldn’t help but grin a little at the not-so-subtle little innuendo in there. In the meantime, he helped himself to yet another hearty sip of ale, all whilst ignoring the filthy looks that the bartender was shooting their way. Putting up with drunkards was part of his job description, after all.
“Still. If its magic you want, then I’ll be sure to make the next song I write for you something special. Truly magical, indeed” he answered, a bit of a mischievous grin spreading across his features. After a moment, though, he finally slipped down from his stool, and sauntered over towards the fallen barbarian. Colm leaned over her slightly, looking down at her prone form for a moment, before he finally spoke up again.
“As much fun as it is finally seeing you on your back, you should probably get up. There’s plenty more drinking for us to do yet, and I won’t have you embarrassing me by passing out too early. The night is still young, after all” he answered, offering the barbarian a hand so that he might help her to her feet.
-
Rolan eyed the princess with a cool gaze, his mind analyzing the situation as she spoke. It seemed as though there was something happening in the royal court, something typical of the nobles, that sent their own princess packing. Whatever it was, he would become a target if it was discovered who exactly helped the young woman escape. And as much as he disliked the bard with his shameless flirting and constant bad influence on the redhead girl, he wasn’t at all prepared to risk the lives of his two companions. He was just about to open his mouth, ready to deny when he closed it.
Money. They needed money to get off of this forsaken island that had once been his home. Perhaps, once they reached the mainland, they could all disappear from view and the scandal. For a hefty sum, with some bribes at the right time and for the right people, Rolan was pretty confident that it wasn’t as suicidal. If Colm could finally focus his magic just a bit, they could travel at night or in disguise, slowly making their way north where Neri would be able to ensure they survived and then...Slowly, Rolan nodded to his own thoughts. Dangerous but a la guerre comme a la guerre.
“Very well, your highness,” the rogue smirked. “Keep your secrets. I hope you understand that if I were to take you, you would not be travelling in the comfort that you are used to. Frankly, there would be little comfort at all. The journey would be long and treacherous, the weather harsh and unforgiving, the land dangerous. And try as I might, I may not always be there to ensure your safety. Are you confident that this is what you desire?”
“You won’t be able to reveal your origins and will have to do everything on your own. I do not accompany slackers and my companions shouldn’t know who you truly are, which means that you will have to pull your weight. Your guard stays here - I do not want to deal with such a stubbornly-loyal servant. One day, his overprotective loyalty may very well get one of us killed. These are my terms - you agree to follow my command to get you where you want or you find a different way.”
******
Neri giggled at Colm’s words, chuckling about his rather not-so-subtle hints and jokes. Was he always this amusing? Usually, she simply wanted to kill him and yet, here he was, making her night an adventure of drinking, laughing and…apparently, no song. Pouting, she looked up at his eyes, a light fluster covering her features. “Don’t get too used to this view Colm,” she warned, her eyes alight with mirth. “It’s a one time thing when you get to see me like this and you hovering over me.”
Taking his hand, she let him clumsily pull her up to her feet, both of them swaying just a bit so that she ended up half falling forward and wrapping her arms around his neck to stabilize herself. Snorting at her own lack of coordination, Neri hid her face in the man’s shoulder, her bout of giggles starting up again and making her giddy. It didn’t really help that the bard had a rather nice smell about him, something musky and….well, clean. Usually, if Neri did get a whiff of manly smells, it was when she was fighting said men with their overpowering sweat scents or she hadn’t really cared enough about them, using them for simple pleasures.
“Aye, ya lovebirds,” Neri turned her head to look at the innkeeper...s. For some reason, there were two twins where only one Hogarth was supposed to be. Neither looked pleased. “Go and air your heads out before I pour ya any more. I don’t need no singing - business is shallow as it is.”
“Come on,” Neri grabbed the bard’s arm and pulled him towards the exit. “Let’s go before they have a heart attack. I don’t think we can save them both.”
-
Ardina raised an eyebrow when the rogue just went ahead and accepted her offer outright. Whilst the expression might have seemed subtle to an outsider, it was as good as an exclamation of surprise from somebody who had spent their entire lives at court. She had been expecting follow-up questions about why she didn't just take a contingent of her father's guardsmen, or what sort of threat she had received to rely on another assassin for protection. The princess did have her secrets, naturally. What sort of royalty didn't? Even so, she had been more than prepared to answer questions along those particular lines of enquiry openly and honestly. For him to gloss over said details totally was more than a little unexpected, though it made for a pleasant surprise.
Her satisfaction quickly evaporated when the man decided to elaborate with several warnings about what life whilst travelling might be like, and the princess had to bite back several comments about how she had been certain life on the road would be just as luxurious as an extended stay in the royal palace. Even so, she restrained herself. Ardina instead decided to take it as a sign that the man was taking his duties seriously, trying to warn her against every possibility. Like most nobles, Ardina thought that she knew what she was getting herself into. Oh, how wrong she was.
"You would keep my identity secret from even your companions?" she questioned, a hint of her surprise creeping into her tone this time. That was certainly a little but unexpected. A sign that he was taking her security seriously, or that he didn't quite trust those under his command? Either way, Rolan undoubtedly knew his team than she did. It seemed that Ardina was going to have to rely on the rogue's judgement - something she was likely going to have to get used to, considering the road ahead. Still, after a moment of silent consideration, Ardina was ready to accept his offer. Not that she really had much of a choice.
"...Very well. How soon can you and your team be prepared to leave? The sooner we can be off, the better, considering. If there are any supplies you need, simply say the word, and I can do my best to acquire them by morning" she offered. Being a noble did have its benefits, despite the obligations that often came with the lifestyle.
~~~~
Colm chuckled softly to himself at his companion’s response, before making good on his offer to help Neri stand. He stumbled a little as the barbarian heaved herself to her feet, more because of the weight than the alcohol…or that was what he told himself, at the very least. Regardless, he found himself clinging to Neri just as she clung to him, his arms slung around her waist in a grip that was probably slightly tighter than necessary. He only turned away when the innkeeper interrupted the two of them with his poorly timed arrival.
Unlike the barbarian, Colm could only see one. Even so, the words he spoke were enough to make the bard scowl. He quickly opened his mouth to argue, only for his retribution to be forestalled when Neri stepped in. When she grabbed his arm and urged him to leave, Colm hesitated for a brief moment. Finally, he let out a soft sigh, before turning to follow her outside. Still, as soon as they had stepped out of the inn and back into the cold, he was quick to let loose.
“Damned stupid innkeeper. What sort of business does he think he’s running? Discouraging people from drinking, throwing his customers out on their ear…and all without any sort of music” he huffed. The bard was clearly less than pleased with the unexpected change in scenery. “That idiot wouldn’t know good music if it boxed in his tone-deaf ears. I could keep that pathetic excuse for a crowd there from dawn until dusk, and do it all while chugging drinks faster than he could pour them” he finished. After a brief moment, he finally turned his attention back to Neri once more.
“So, what now? Hunt for another watering hole?” he asked, tilting his head to the side slightly. After a brief pause, however, another idea sprung to mind, and a small grin spread across the bard’s face. “Oh, I know! I met these two sailors a little earlier today. Sailors usually have rum, right? We could go say hello. They’re a bit dull, and terrible at cards, but they seemed like nice enough people”
