The doors of the inn slammed open as a large bare chested man walked in, adorned with brown leather pants, and a grey wolf pelt adorning his shoulders He had an unruly head of hair, and a deep gash marred his face. He was one of the most menacing men Priscilla had seen. The man also scanned the inn before he set his sights on Priscilla sitting alone. He walked up to her without pause and sat down across from her arrogantly. The man slammed his hand against the table, causing her food to shake and spill.
''C'mere slave boy.'' he snorted as he pointed towards the servant boy.
The boy ran up to the table frightened like a rabbit; he glanced at Priscilla, before turning to the man. ''Yes, Sir! What can I get for you?'' he asked nervously, almost biting his tongue in the process.
''Fetch a large platter of meat, boy. And the largest tankard of booze you have.'' he spat.
''You better not cause trouble, you hear me?'' the barman chided at the bare chested man.
''Trouble? Bah, don't make me come over there geezer.'' the man replied condescendingly.
''T-that'll b-be eight solv, Sir.'' the boy managed to stutter out to the scary man in front of him.
The man eyed him with a venomous glare, his aura seething with violence. ''What'd you say, boy?'' he asked with bared teeth.
Priscilla watched the man's actions with contempt, but also familiarity. There was something about his presence that struck her, whispered into her ears that there was more to him than what showed on the surface. She took out eight solv from her coinbag and gave it to the boy. ''Run along now.'' she said with softness in her voice and a smile on her face. The boy brightened up, thanking the star for her generosity as he sprinted away happily, eager to escape the man's gaze.
''Why are you interfering.'' the man said flatly as he looked at her.
''Why not?'' she replied with a smile. ''Can't I help the boy, when he's being bullied by a boorish man like yourself?'' she asked with a contemptuous tone.
The man stared cock-eyed at the confident display from the woman, she lacked the intimidated feel that most scrawny women would feel in his presence, but he figured as much. He laughed loudly as he placed his arms on the table. ''You're one cleverly wicked woman.'' he said with a smile. ''How'd such a small delicate thing become so brave?''
''I don't know what you're talking about.'' Priscilla replied innocently, taking a sip of her water.
''Don't act coy, lady. You know why I'm here.'' the man said through grit teeth.
''I really don't know, are you that much of a blockhead to not understand?'' she asked sweetly.
''Damn you, woman. Are you mocking me?'' the man spat angrily as he slammed his fist against the table, sending Priscilla's cup spilling onto the floor.
''I'm afraid I can't speak animal...'' she replied with an innocent grin, she was about to say more when the barman slammed his fist against his counter.
''You bastards, why are you always so unruly!'' he spat. ''If you don't start behaving I'll get the guards to kick you into the the churkey shit pit.''
The man glared at the threat, he wasn't scared of it, but truthfully he didn't want to make that much of a scene. It was just he had to test this woman, he had to find out the truth, which pushed him over the edge. The other tables ceased their chatter and eyed the situation, unsure of what to make of it. Was someone being foolish enough to make a move on a woman while still in the town? If that wasn't a fool, they didn't know what was. Some of them smirked, others shook their heads. It wasn't uncommon that a fool would show up every now and then to cause a scene, for them it was just a form of entertainment that they'd enjoy.
''Screw this.'' the man muttered, as he lunged towards Priscilla, reaching for her wrist. ''Come with me, lady.'' he said flatly.
Priscilla scoffed inside; her body reacting as she bounced back, pushing the chair out from under her and avoiding the man's reach. As the chair hit the floor the already quiet room became deadly silent. Even the man himself was stunned for a moment, he suspected it wouldn't be easy, but it was still too damn fast. He roared as he jumped the table in an attempt to grab her. Priscilla twirled her body kicking him in the shoulder as he crashed through the nearby window. The woman tossed a coinbag at the barman's counter and quickly ran out of the inn through the front door.
The man grunted as he lifted himself up to the window and stared at the now empty table. ''Dammit!'' he uttered. He saw the door slam shut as he quickly ran around the building.
He stared left and right with agitation, unsure of where the woman went. Would she have gone towards the gates? Or further into the city, he wasn't sure, but he could only take a guess and go deeper into the city. He ran shoving people as he moved through them. It didn't take long before he saw the corner of a brown skirt turning into a street. The man ran after it, turning into the same street where he saw her. The woman stood confidently— arms crossed on her chest, and waiting for him.
''Finally you stopped running.'' the man said as he walked towards her.
''Well, I have to find out why you've been following me, don't I?'' she asked casually, unconcerned about the man's approach.
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''Phew. So you've noticed, huh?'' he said through a conflicted chuckle. ''How long have you known?'' he asked.
''If I'm not mistaken, since the camp?'' she replied with a shrug.
''Hooo, damn. Alright, I'm impressed, lady.'' he breathed out, retracting the outward hostility he displayed. ''Sorry about that. I just had to make sure that my eyes weren't deceiving me. You won't take it personal, right?''
''I don't know what you mean. What do your eyes have to do with anything? I'm not upset anyways, I still think you're a boorish man though.'' she said with another shrug. There was something about the man that she couldn't take seriously, despite what he said.
''That's fair.'' he chuckled. ''I was just really impressed with what you did in the woods back there, I thought I was being sneaky, but as you'd have it— you noticed.'' he sat atop a crate that was laid in the alley. ''I want to work with you.''
''Work with me? I'm not interested.'' Priscilla replied succinctly, eyeing the path behind the man.
''Relax would you. It's a big job— I need someone like you. You heard about the Imperials, right? They're recruiting mercs to join them in the offense, offering carriages full of gild for contributions. It's the best job to get these days.'' he said reassuringly, as he saw the woman's intent to run again.
''Mhm.'' Priscilla pondered for a second. ''Why are you so confident in the job and in me joining it?'' she asked. The woman walked up to another crate next to the man and sat down beside him. Her senses relaxing as they realized he's not out to harm her.
''You're agile and clever. Stamina like a damn bear as well, took a damn effort to follow you. I'm already confident in my group, but if you join us as well then I'd be doubly certain that we'd make a boat load of gild.'' he said with a laugh.
The man reached out his hand toward Priscilla, it was calloused and rough like bark. It was clear the man trained heavily, and fared through dangerous situations more than once. Scars riddled his body, it reminded her of her time in the abyss when the nightmares marred her flesh ceaselessly. The man noticed her gaze and was about to retract it, thinking that she was disgusted by his scarred flesh, but Priscilla reached hers out as well and shook his hand. ''I'm Priscilla, and you are?''
He relaxed in that moment, smiling. ''I'm Jensen. Most of the time a hunter by trade.''
''Alright, Jensen. So tell me— why were you at the camp? And what's your plan?'' Priscilla asked casually.
''Hooo, you're still thinking about that? Truth is I was planning on robbing them as well, but then I saw you shuffling about, and then I had another idea in mind.'' the man said honestly.
''As far as the plan goes—'' he was about to continue when Priscilla stopped him. ''Hold on— how'd you even notice me? I was very careful that nobody was there.'' she asked suspiciously.
''You're awfully distrusting, are you not?'' Jensen asked with helplessness. ''I've always had keen senses; especially when I'm in the woods. Folks used to say it was a gift, before they passed on.'' he shrugged.
It was uncertain whether Priscilla was content with that response or not, but she didn't bother to ask more. Seeing her silent agreement the man continued. ''As I was saying— in town the men are mostly bastards, they're lazy, gluttonous, and unwilling to put effort in. That'll be the primary audience that'll shop up for the Imperials. So if our trained merc group shows up instead, well odds are they'll give us a chance whether they want to or not.''
''Also, even if they're looking for fodder and plan on betraying or abandoning us in the sand pits somewhere. If we prove to be far more useful than they expected, there's a good chance we can get in and out before they find us an eyesore.'' the man added with confidence.
Priscilla took his words in with contemplation; in truth she was very tempted, she could use more money. If she wanted to travel the Empire, coin would be a must. And she did want to see the sand lands, and just explore in general. It seemed exciting, she could perhaps get more information from the guards as well while they trekked to the sand lands. It seemed like a great offer. She didn't trust the man wholeheartedly, not even half really, but her senses were numb to his presence. She didn't feel the hostility of someone she had to truly be wary of, she didn't feel the danger encroaching upon her soul, or anything similar. After all her experiences her instincts were strong and honed— she trusted them more than she trusted her eyes.
As she was pondering the offer, the sound of yelling and slamming echoed through the town, a patrol of guards ran into the street they were in with blades drawn. ''You've caused a disturbance at Jeffers Inn'' the leading man yelled out. ''Come with us now!''
''Shit.'' Jensen muttered as he looked at them and then the woman beside him. ''Should we run?'' he asked in a whisper. Priscilla looked at him with amazement, 'he really is a boorish man.' she thought.
''There's no point in running.'' she whispered back. Priscilla got up from the crate and walked slowly towards the guards. ''I was the one attacked by this boar, and I gave the barman coins to make up for the damage.''
''We'll check it when we go back.'' the guard replied coldly, as two other guards flanked Priscilla.
The guards were momentarily distracted by her submission, that when they turned back to the crate— Jensen had disappeared. The men cursed angrily as they grabbed her by the shoulders and led her off, several others split off and returned to searching the area for the easily noticeable man.
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On a dusty road a convoy of carriages rode, their horses trotting quickly on the beaten path. In one of the carriages a woman sat leisurely, her body oozing innate sensuality as she crossed her legs, her split-gown showing off the pristine skin on her thighs. She was cold, distant, and distinctly mean-spirited. Her gaze was chilling and wanted nothing to do with anyone, yet despite that she attracted the attention of all with every motion she took. She flicked a strand of her raven hair behind her ear as she hummed a tune. It was akin to a baptism for the caravan as it soothed them and lulled them with confidence.
An hour later the caravan found itself at a clearing not too far off from the town, the men set up tents silently, once they finished they stood to the side in line. The woman sat by herself by a warm bonfire, gazing at the crackling embers with her dull violet eyes. Arguably the least flashy part of her body. She poked and prodded at the bonfire with a stick, smiling sweetly as she did it.
''There's always so much to do.'' she muttered to herself. ''They're such vicious men— do they not know such long trips are tough on a woman's skin.'' she sighed.
The area around her was deathly silent, as not a rustle could be heard. The woods and the surroundings uttered not a single rustle in the woman's presence as she indulged in her peace. The woman took to her tent leisurely, walking slowly into it as her waist strutted side to side; she closed the flap behind her as the embers of the bonfire died down.
Within the flame; a pair of emerald green eyes stared silently into the starry night's sky.