"You've got a nice view of the sundown from here." I compliment Stein. He's joined us for dinner once the humbuk of the Prancin' Horse's guests died down. The man doesn't seem to acknowledge my well meaning words and instead inspects the pile of various supplies on the table. "Will this be enough for you two? This would barely be enough to feed two for a week, much less the month it will take to get to Eldorath."
"Would pack more if I could, but we can't carry more than that. And that's with Malinka helping." I reply simply as the attention shifts to the freshly purchased small backpack laying to next to several pieces of wrapped cheese. "Besides, it's not like we can't stop and resupply anywhere else." I quite literally wave his concern away with a gesture to his clear annoyance. At least Malinka seems amused by the interaction.
He shakes his head before pushing the pile aside and focusing on the two of us. "So, you're leaving tommorow I take it?" My response comes with a nod. "Already cleared it up with the guards and made note of it in the Veda. Oh - and - here, this is for you." I say as I toss Stein a gold coin. He scowls as he catches it. "You know I said the housing's free right?" Before I could get my reply out, Malinka offers her thoughts. "You were nice to us, so it'd be rude to not pay. Especially when Morana wants to pay."
My lips curl up into a smirk and I ruffle her hair just a little bit. "Hey!" She complaints, but it's clear she's happy - mainly due to the giggle that accompanied it. "So eager to spend money that's not yours!" I chide her teasingly and ruffle her a bit more and that's when I hear the tavern's doors opening. Stein gets up with a sigh and heads towards the counter. Someone's coming in late perhaps? Most likely nothing to worry about I'm sur- Oh. Drunken slurring and stumbling. My eyes narrow and I reach for Malinka's hand and pull her a bit closer. "Let's be a quiet pair of travellers packing for a bit." My voice is filled with tension and I'm glad when she nods.
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> PoV: Drunk Mercenary David
"Maaan, why do we always go back to the friggin' Rumbler anyway! Mayer never stocks enough booze." Jason, my sworn brother in arms complains. I've heard this spiel good three times today and like always I think he has a point. "We're paying and he knows we're in town, so why not get some more than usual. Sucks at his job I tell you." He stumbles and I quickly catch him to make sure he doesn't faceplant into the dirt. "Thanks for the save Dave." He says before scowling. "Hey, wait a minute." I follow his eyes as he focuses on the building across the road. "Isn't... Doesn't the Horse stock some booze too? Yeah. Yeah! Go check it out, and I'll go get the boys!"
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We both burst into laughter before separating. Jason goes back to the Rumbler to get the rest of our squad and I press on ahead. The Horse is - as usual - a demure shithole. The innkeep stands behind a counter near back of the room with an expression of sheer annoyance at people coming to his place and the only other guests is some mom with her dumb kid packing travel supplies. I decide to ignore them for now in favor of my grand mission. "Hey, you got anything to drink left?" I ask Stein with a grin. Stein's a reasonable guy - live and let live type - even if he's a bit of an asshat. Heh, good nickname for tonight.
"Yeah, and I'll only give it to you if you drink it outside. Don't want you disturbing my guests." Asshat says and I scowl a bit. "Why, you got something to hide?" I'm about to burst out laughing when I notice that his eyes shifted somewhere behind me at my words which gives me a pause. Does he actually have something to hide? I turn around follow where he looked. The mom and the kid. Now, at first I was okay with just ignoring them, but now that I really focus on them... the mom's a bit of a looker ain't she? Pretty face, black hair, well developed. Even the weird uniform makes her look good. Shame I'm not into married women. I shake my head, deciding to not let my paranoia ruin the boys nights out and turn back to Stein. "Fine. Fuck it, whatever. Don't care 'bout you or your latest tryst. Just prep the drinks, count the coins you want, and we'll pick it up in a bit." I stand up and head towards the doors to meet my buddies.
I can't help but notice out of the corner of my eye that the kid seems afraid of lil' old me and leans away as I pass by. Now why would that be? I'm a proper man, been keeping this stupid middle of bumfuck nowhere town safe for months now. Coming to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen those two here before. Preeetty sure I'd remember someone as pretty as that gal. I stop midway through the doorway out of the inn. Could it be that those two are evil and are scheming to leave the town just before their plans go public? I better check with the guards if they've got a Veda entry about a mom and a kid coming in. 'Cause if they don't, the townsfolk's lives could be in danger.
I feel a chill on my spine as I rush out of the building in the direction of the barracks.