[M] The Wanderer & The Rogue {IC - Ziekwalt & Kitty}

[ZiekwaltZier]

Cedric getting to Vylonia showed his credentials letting the guards know he was a knight hero and that he planned to stick around to find some work so that if any of them needed help he was willing to assist the kingdom. He also let them know he would find an inn to stay at for time time being until he got himself a permanent place to stay in the kingdom. Cedric after being let through was told of an inn he could stay for a while and then headed straight for it after reporting in that his escort mission was a success.

[kittydivine]

Narissa spent the rest of the day helping the group set up a show in a plaza where other performers were assembled. They had acquired a set of small rooms to rent in a boarding house near the plaza. It was turning into the afternoon and the group began their show. Narissa stood off to the side and helped with costumes or switching instruments. There were taverns and inns surrounding some of the area, allowing an easy audience.

Once it got to late evening, they began to break down the set. Eduard gave everyone some money that they earned during the show. "Here you are, Tilly," he said, handing small handful of gold. "Sorry it ain't much, but beginnings aren't the best. Come back tomorrow after lunch to help with the show." He left her to her own devices. She went back to her room and flopped on her dusty straw bed. Her body was sore and her head hurt. The exhaustion caused her to fall asleep quickly.

[ZiekwaltZier]

Cedric getting to his room slept for the night before heading out early in the morning after having breakfast at the inn and went looking around the capital to familiarize himself with it. "This kingdom seems nice enough though there feels to be some kind of tension in the air." Cedric said to himself as he headed to the mercenary's guild to see if there was any work for him to take on so that he could build a repute with the citizens.

Getting work from the guild he was asked to take care of some wild beasts that were causing trouble in the nearby farmlands on the outskirts of the city walls. As such he agreed before taking up the job and made his way out of the capital to the nearby farmland and waited until noon before a pack of wolves rushed the farm to go after the livestock. When they did Cedric used only a single sword rather than splittng his enchanted sword into two halves to use his dual wielding since it wasn't necessary for the pack which he quickly dispatched and then skinned them for their pelts and meat making sure to drain their bones somewhere else so as to not attract more beasts.

When the job was finished and he had the materials from the wolves he went back to the city to sell the pelts to a tailor and the meat to the butcher before turning in the proof of subjugation to the mercenary's guild by handing in a tooth from each wolf.

[kittydivine]

The next morning, Narissa ran her errands. She went to a couple different shops to pawn the costly items she still had. Eventually, she had a good amount of gold. Heading back to her room, she hid the majority of it. She still needed a few more days to prepare. When she finished she met up with the group. They were slowly setting out their area. Eduard waved to her.

"Good afternoon, Tilly," he greeted. Narissa gave a nod in response. Their seemed to be a higher number of guards among the crowds. Her awareness kept her keen on their movements. The day continued as usual. Towards the early evening, the crowds grew as people drank and gathered. Narissa sat off to the side and waited until she was needed. A small group of drunk men heckle the some of the performers. They were mostly ignored or waved off.

"Well, hey there," a voice said off to Narissa's right. She turned to see one of the drunk men had walked up to her. She didn't reply as she looked back to the performers. He stepped closer. "Fancy a drink?" Her nose slightly wrinkled as she smelled him.

"No." Narissa hoped her curt reply was enough to put his sights on another. Though, she wouldn't be so lucky. The man reached out for her but before he could touched her, she swiftly moved in close and put a blade close to his gut. "I'd leave if I were you, unless you want to see what your insides look like." The man looked down at her, eyes wide. She let her gaze go cold as she glared at him. The man wobbled away, as quick as his legs could. She went back to her original post.

[ZiekwaltZier]

Getting paid Cedric headed to where the performers were and saw Tilly as he walked up next to her. "How's the show going?" Cedric asked as he smiled at Narissa and looked down into her eyes. He knew that she was the one at the village he saved from the bandits but he had no beef with her so he was trying to make small talk with her and get to know her. "You've been traveling pretty far as well huh? I mean you came from that village I saved from the bandits, then we were in port town as well before we got here. Where are you headed? Are you just traveling as well or looking for a place to settle down? I'm also traveling but thinking of a place to settle down. Of course you might already have a home in the kingdom somewhere." Cedric said as he smiled at Narissa letting her know that he was aware of who she was but didn't have any desire to pursue her in the name of the law.

[kittydivine]

Narissa narrowed her eyes at Cedric. So he did know. She said nothing and went back to watching the performers. All he knew was that she was at the farming village. He knew nothing of her bounty and probably thought that village was her home. Thankfully, she wasn't sticking around for too long.

Eduard approached, smiling. "Ah, the knight from the caravan, hello. You'll have to forgive Tilly, she's awfully shy." Narissa did her best not to snicker. As long as she didn't acknowledge the knight, he'd get bored and leave her alone. And if he didn't...well she dealt with men like before.

[ZiekwaltZier]

"I do not mind, she'll warm up to me if given enough time. If she needs help with anything I'll be around to assist. I'm thinking of making her a companion if she'll have me, she'll have my back and I'll have hers and in the process we'll both make a good lump of gold." Cedric said as he looked at Eduard calmly wanting to become Narissa's companion for taking on jobs so that they could earn a living and he could eventually buy a home in the kingdom.

[kittydivine]

Narissa rolled her eyes and turned away. "Not bloody likely," she mumbled. Eduard went back to the performers. After the night rolled on, she avoided Cedric as best she could. She kept to herself for a reason. Not only could she not trust a goody-goody knight, she couldn't trust anyone. Doesn't matter how close you are, a person can sell your skin in a second for enough money.

"Tilly," a young man said, coming up to her, "can you restring my harp? I have to be out there and can't do it." The young man, Martyn, held out a crescent-shaped harp. Narissa took it and began winding the string into their taught positions. Martyn nodded to Cedric before stepping back onto the stage. Narissa plucked a few strings to make sure it was in tune.

Only another couple days and then she'd disappear. The knight would never know. Just a couple days. She'd already given notice earlier to Eduard. The group wanted to throw her a farewell party but she insisted against it. All she wanted to do was leave quietly.

[ZiekwaltZier]

Cedric watched the show as he smiled and stood beside Narissa as he wanted to get to know her better. Sure she was defensive but he figured if she got to know him then they would bond. "How about after the performance is over we get some dinner? I'll pay for us." Cedric said as he looked at Narissa and smiled at her putting his hand on her back.

[kittydivine]

Narissa pulled herself away from Cedric's hand. "No thank you," she said. "I prefer to dine alone." This was going to be a rough couple of days. She wasn't going to let him push his way into her plans. Narissa kept a bit of distance between them. She couldn't run him off as he wasn't a disturbance. She gave the harp back to Martyn who stepped up to play a ballad. Another performer stepped off and stood next to Narissa. This one, a young woman named Odette, was a dancer. She fanned herself after having done an intensive show.

"Oh, Tilly," she said, jabbing the other with her elbow, "I see you have another suitor. This one's a looker, and a knight." She winked a Narissa, who rolled her eyes.

"Yes, very handsome," she replied, her tone dripping with sarcasm. It was an apt observation. However, Narissa didn't trust good-looking men. They were often selfish liars and used their looks to trick women. Then again, she shouldn't judge, being a thief and cutthroat herself.

"You keep collecting them, Tilly, how nice. Some of them merchants on the journey here were 'bout ready to give you their riches just for a look from you." Odette giggled and playfully smacked Narissa's arm. "Then of course the drunkards keep asking you to dance. You'd think she was the star of the show." Narissa gave a dry laugh. It wasn't like she was asking for this attention. She'd rather blend into the background.

"You'd better get back up there. Martyn's playing a ditty you can dance to," she said to Odette. The performer stepped up quickly and went right back to dancing. Which left Narissa alone with Cedric, again.