Scourge Nine - Tournant
Scourge Nine - Tournant
Morning happens as it usually does, with fights over who gets to use the bathroom first, and Felix urging everyone to move faster so that she can get to breakfast a couple of minutes sooner. Bianca, whose whole ice-princess attitude doesnt hold up quite as well at this hour, watches us all with detached curiosity, as if were a bunch of animals that have snuck into her living room and are making a ss of things.
So! I say as I toss on my cloak. It wouldnt do to be seen as so sort of monster. Make sure youre not leaving anything behind, because were heading out today.
We dont even know if the citys still standing, Es says.
Were in the city, Felix says.
Es rolls her eyes. You know what I ant. We spent the evening hidden in here, we dont know how bad the city got hit. Its entirely possible that there wont be any caravans heading out at all.
If thats the case, then we can head out on foot, I say. This mission doesnt exactly have a strict tiline tied to it.
Your part might not, but mine does, Es says.
Bianca coughs lightly to clear her throat. Forgive for asking, but I dont think I was entirely inford about Lady Ess mission.
Im not a lady, Es says. And I was sent here to discover who broke into one of Sempers vaults.
This is sothing that the Dark Goddess wants to know about? Bianca asks. I have the impression that shes stepping very carefully, as if she might ask sothing thatll offend us, or more likely Mom.
Nah, Es wants to be an archivist, you know, those people that work with Semper, I say.
I was given the mission by Semper herself, I cant ss it up, Es says. Her absolute determination is sowhat undermined by the huge yawn she lets out a mont after speaking.
Eventually none of us need the washroom anymore, and as a group we grab our things and head downstairs. The innkeeper, an older gentlen, greets us with apologies. Im sorry, Lady Malicieau, but my chef hasnt appeared this morning, and neither has half of my staff. I dont have anything fresh to serve you, which I know is a terrible sin, but please accept my sincere apologies.
Bianca glances at us, then back to the innkeeper. Its fine. Could you perhaps provide us with non-perishables for the road then? We will be cutting our stay off early, and we might need so supplies for the road.
The innkeeper agrees and runs off to the kitchens. We dont have to wait long before he returns with a bunch of things. Bread wrapped up in cloth, so jars of preserves, and a few precious sausage links. Thats a big concession with how much of a luxury good at is.
Bianca thanks him, and we take a mont to spread the food out between us and our packs, just so that we all have a more or less even amount of weight between us.
The caravan place will probably be busy, I say as we start heading out.
Thats likely, Bianca says. Different cities have different responses to disasters like this. I dont know what Vizeda has planned, but I imagine that they have sothing in place to take care of things now, and the south gate is a wide open space with easy access to the rest of the city. Its likely a rallying point.
Oh, great, Felix says. So were heading right into the trouble ourselves then.
I wouldnt say that so soon, Bianca says.
The city hasnt changed too much overnight. Then again, I havent been here long enough to really get used to it. There are a lot of hos with planks over their windows, and there are definitely fewer people out now than yesterday morning.
The south gate and the area around it, unlike the rest of Vizeda, is filled with people. There are guards all over, so of them looking griy and tired. I guess so of them have been up all night. Theres an even larger number of adventuring sorts spread out across the courtyard. Its easy to tell which ones have been working to defend the city at a glance.
Bianca gestures to the building where we reserved our spot on todays convoy yesterday. I think we should start there, she says.
Sounds good to , I say.
What are they doing? Felix asks.
Shes looking to the centre of the courtyard where a ring of n are surrounding a sort of mini-arena. The walls are little more than fences, with overlapping shields inside them. In the arena itself are two boys, about our age and shirtless, both with long practice swords.
[Pol Zaragoza Son of Vizeda]
Initiate Swordfighter
[Markus The Gutter Rat]
Novice Dirty Fighter
Its a fight, Es says.
We watch as the two boys go at each other. Pol, who is older and has nicer clothes, obviously has better technique, but its also clear that he doesnt have any real experience.
The other boy, Markus, soon grapples and throws him to the ground before grabbing his own sword mid-shaft and pressing it down over Pols neck.
The fights called by this big burly fellow on the side, and the two teens are helped to their feet. Theyre both approached by n with extra feathery hats who guide them over to two groups waiting on the side.
Are they being recruited? I guess.
It seems like it, Es says. Ive read about this kind of thing before, when a rcenary group is recruiting, theyll have potential recruits fight one of theirs to determine which ones worth taking on.
I bet they've lost a bunch of mbers, Felix says.
That was unfortunately likely. I imagine that the defence of Vizeda cost the city sothing. There are piles of armour next to so of the groups. I guess that so of it belonged to the people that just died.
A bit morbid, but I guess theres no point in wasting it.
Lady Valeria, Bianca says as she exits the caravansary. She has a small bag of jingling coins which she hands to . Im afraid that the caravan has been cancelled. They were willing to repay us in full, with a little more on top.
I take the bag and weigh it. Thats not great, I say. Having the money back is nice, but were all packed up and ready to go.
Well, maybe we can join them? Felix says. Shes pointing back towards all the rcenaries and adventurers.
One is standing on a box, arms raised as he calls out for peoples attention. Co! The Swinging Sabers are looking for brave warriors to clear the roads from here to the capital! Good pay, a good reputation, and more glory than you can imagine!
Theyre heading to the capital, Felix says.
Thats a rcenary band, they might be willing to escort us for pay, Bianca says.
Or we could join them temporarily and get paid to travel, I say as I start walking over. There are a few takers who seem interested in joining, mostly locals, I guess, from the way theyre dressed, but there are at least half a dozen in the group who have armour and weapons already.
I nudge my way into the group, then to the front with a few sorries and a couple of strategically placed elbows.
Hey, what do you need to do to join? I ask.
The man pauses mid-speech and looks down at . He smiles. Im sorry, child, are you asking for your father?
What? No, I an and my friends. I gesture back to where my friends are gathered. Felix waves.
We dont accept girls, he says. Only strong and capable fighters can beco Swinging Sabers.
I shrug. A glance at the n behind him reveals that none of them have more than two classes. Theyre probably not allowed to, not being nobles and all. What if were stronger than your n? I ask.
He laughs, and so do a few of the others.
I... dont get it. Just because Im a girl? Moms the scariest person on the planet, and shes a girl. Heck, half the pantheon are girls. Well, co on, at least let prove that I can take on any of you, I say.
I probably cant. The stronger mbers are likely too strong. But the majority of them? I like my odds, especially if its a mostly fair fight.
Girl, go back to your friends, youre embarrassing yourself, soone says.
Whats embarrassing is this guy being too afraid to see his Swinging Swords or whatever get beaten by a girl.
The man on the box twitches. Very well then! Lets see if these girls are worth their salt! Co one, co all, and see the might of the Swinging Sabers!
I nod to myself. A trip to the capital with an escort, and well get paid for it? All for the cost of beating up a few nobodies? Easy!
***
Reviews
All reviews (0)