410 P.D.
Two years after Eya disappeared and many miles south-southeast of Northvale, a group of four mismatched adventurers made their way down one of the smaller dirt roads that meandered eastward to the port city of Marisfall. The foursome walked in comfortable silence, occasionally interrupted by an observation or joke. It was a familiar pattern, one in which they all knew their role. They stopped in front of a rundown homestead and observed its overgrown yard and simple fence which sat in disrepair.
"This looks like the place." The lead traveler commented with disappointment. Tall and broad shouldered, his starkly white hair shimmered in the high springtime sun and contrasted with his tanned skin. Broad cheekbones and almond shaped eyes gave his face an angularity that was both rugged and refined. His clean cut face and well-kept equipment projected the image of professional armed experience, although his white hair was getting long on top, suggesting that that experience was not very recent. For a fighter, he wore oddly little armor. A shined chest plate that covered down to the bottom of his ribs and armor that protected him from left shoulder to wrist were all that covered the dark red shirt he wore. His legs bore greaves and reinforced boots that were light enough to allow him to still move quickly. He removed the travel back on his shoulders to lean it against a fence post and stretched a kink out of his back while taking in the overgrown homestead. "Looks abandoned."
He turned toward the tall half-elf beside him and shrugged. She wore her dark, wavy hair tossed to the right while the left side was shaved in a low undercut. Her light blue eyes and strong features blended well with the paleness that life in the shadows had painted on her and contrasted with the dark leather armor and ecru linen scarf she wore. A faint scar that ran between her eyebrows and across the bridge of her nose contorted when she sneered in disappointment. She tossed her own pack next to his and cursed under her breath.
"Hope not, my guy said she's one of the best. Knows how to keep her mouth shut too." She explained before darkly adding "Bastard better not have given me a bad lead or I'll pull his teeth out the hard way." She began walking up the path toward the homestead.
"There's an easy way to pull out teeth?" The large warrior asked.
"Yeah." She tossed back at him without turning around. "The easy way would be through his mouth."
He cocked his head. "I honestly can't picture how you would get them out through his nose."
"I don't think she was talking about his nose." The third member of their group walked past him and patted his shoulder. Her high cheeks supported a constellation of freckles, complementing the tan that her outdoor life and ancestry had given her. The handle of a machete poked out of the top of her dark green cloak, and an angular billhook rested in an oddly shaped sheath at her hip. She had a finely-made, but obviously worn longbow slung over her back as well. She picked her way along the side of the overgrown path and looked in some of the windows. Unable to see much inside, she searched the brush for any clues. She bent over when she spotted something, flipped her brown braid out of her face, and retrieved it from the ground.
The warrior retched lightly at the mental image she had given him, shook his head, and followed her up through the untamed grass and weeds. The half-elf, a rogue by the look of her subdued attire, cut around to the side of the house as he walked toward the front door.
When his human companion approached him, her patrician, sun-kissed face turned up a wry smirk. Her cloak and utilitarian gear marked her as someone comfortable with the wilderness.
"Looks like we're too late." The ranger commented, turning her discovery for him to see. It was a simple wooden sign that had apparently fallen off the door.
Closed, Sorry.
The half-elf walked up behind her, read the sparsely apologetic sign, and rolled her eyes. She popped a few berries into her mouth and sighed.
"Well, shit." She shook her head and swallowed. "Not a total loss though, check out the blueberry bushes." She gestured toward the side of the home. A deep belly laugh from the direction of the road interrupted their investigation and caused them to turn in unison. Their fourth companion, a dwarf wearing green-accented deep plum robes that marked him as an arcane practitioner, was the source of the mirthful outburst. He was conversing with an elderly man who had been pulling a cart up the road. The wizard's dark hair and beard were somehow both groomed and yet wildly bushy, showing him to be relatively youthful in dwarven terms. Similarly, the bandolier full of magical ingredients about his chest looked both fitting and out of place. The farmer he was conversing with was obviously accustomed to a life of toil, having pulled the cart laden with a variety of red and green apples and pears by himself. When the investigating trio approached them, their friend introduced the newcomer.
"Ladies and gent, meet Ferin. Orchard cultivator, beekeeper, and our herbalist's closest neighbor." He said with a knowing grin. His dark skin and beard made his constant toothy grin all the more noticeable. He then gestured to the warrior, ranger, and rogue in turn. "Ferin, my associates Kael, Elara, and Liriel."
"A pleasure." The elderly man greeted each of them in turn. "Former neighbor though, I'm afraid Lenora left us to return to the Wildmother winter before last." He pulled back his straw hat, still new enough to be green and pliable, and wiped his balding brow. Squinting up into the unbroken blue sky, he shook his head sadly. "Her apprentice...or was it her niece? Anyway she kept the place up for a few weeks, but she was with child when Lenora passed. Poor thing, all alone like that, wish I could've helped more. She left when the babe came early, from the stress I suspect, but I'm no expert on such matters. I should think she-"
Liriel scoffed, rapidly growing impatient with the old man's meandering story, but the dwarf used his affable nature to attempt to keep the farmer on task. "Tha's terrible, friend, and I dinnae want to sound indelicate but we were looking for Lenora's professional assistance. Does her apprentice still live around here?"
The old man thought for a second. "Oh....naw, I don't think so. Most young folk around here either work the docks or end up hopping the first ship to anywhere that they can get passage. It's too bad too, our town hall used to be something else. I remember one time after harvest-"
"That's young folk for ya! Always in a rush aye?" The wizard tried to tactfully rein the story back in. "Say, I dinnae suppose there's any other herbalists or healers in the area we should seek out?" Ferin pulled his straw hat back down, shading his eyes again.
"Naw, not out this way. Not since Lenora passed anyway. Next one is at least a day out there, that old feller that lives out past the glen...he's an odd one. Always has bird shit somewhere on him. Smart, good healer...just think his juice has turned to cider if you catch my meaning. Past him there's no one till Hearthdell." He waved dismissively down the road. Theron turned around and looked back the way they came, then slowly turned back to the farmer.
"Oh...kay. How about any in the city? The city tha's right down the way...behind ya. Tha' I can see. From here." He trailed off slowly and gestured for understanding.
Ferin turned and looked. "Oh sure, just keep heading toward Marisfall. Before you get to the city walls, in the Copper Bowl District. Try the Golden Lantern, it's a tavern on the way in. You adventuring types are always passing through there. Just look for the gaudy, gold lantern on the outside, can't miss it."
Behind Theron, Liriel leaned over and banged her head on the fence rail in front of the abandoned apothecary and muttered to herself. "Fuck's sake, I lost a future incarnation waiting for him to get to the point." Only Elara caught the comment.
She then mumbled to her male companion as the rogue banged her head on the fence again, "A little on-the-nose, don't you think?" He just shrugged and chuckled.
The group departed and made their way toward the city. Once again, the perceptive ranger was the only one to catch a mumbled oath. Up the road, Ferin muttered to himself.
"Good luck yah smarmy shits."
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Fortunately for the weary quartet, the road sloped downward soon after leaving Ferin and turned from dirt ruts to stone. Plodding over the shoulder of the descent, they were treated to a panoramic view of the city.
Marisfall was a trade hub that sat along the same coast as Shorecomb, its sister city. Situated about two hundred miles further south on the Ozmit Sea, the port was tucked into a pocket near the Spectrum Gorge, where the coastline took a sharp turn eastward. Although the nearby gorge made travel slightly inconvenient, the bowl formed by the surrounding hills and the cove created in the crook of the coast more than made up for it. Sheltered from continental weather and sea storms alike, Marisfall became the more attractive sister of the pair. This lured in less reputable elements of course, but such was the price of success.
It was on the western approach that the these four companions descended into the lush, green bowl which cradled Marisfall. From their vantage point above the forests, they could see the city walls and the winding and cluttered streets. A sprawling wharf lined the coast and was practically humming with activity that was visible even this far out; several merchant ships were anchored in the cove awaiting a berth. The smell of the sea reached them as they walked, followed swiftly by the sounds and smells of civilization.
Nearing the population center, their view became blocked by the thick trees that lined the road. What Kael assumed to be the "Copper Bowl District" began to peek through the forest and they were soon back in civilization.
Liriel, the rogue, relaxed as they sauntered into the midst of the bustling city quarter. This was her element.
Elara on the other hand pulled her green cloak tighter. She preferred their time on the road to any quote-civilization-unquote.
The wizard stretched his arms up high to work out a kink in his back and patted his belly. "Let's find this place and get fed, I'm famished and far too sober!"
Kael chuckled to himself and the rogue scoffed. She grumbled as she walked past him. "Focus, Theron."
"I am focused, Daggers. I focus better on a full stomach is all." He moved to catch up with others as they took stock of the area.
"Be less of a stereotype." She commented dismissively before the ranger grabbed her arm and stopped them all.
"Wait!" Her eyes were wide and she turned her head this way and that, searching for the source of a noise that pricked her ears. She dropped her travel pack and by the time the others copied her she had already readied her bow and nocked an arrow. Kael knew better than to question her perception and drew his sword from his back. Their skittishness attracted the attention of an armed man nearby. Advancing on them with his hand on his own weapon, the presumed city guard in dyed, maroon leather armor began to speak with stern authority.
"Stand down, strangers! Stow your weapons by order of the Marisf-" He was cut off when a small rock whistled through the air, struck him between the eyes and dropped him to the ground. A high pitched shriek pierced the afternoon haze a moment later.
Goblins came pouring out of the bush from where the foursome had just entered, screaming bloody war cries and oaths to their own foul gods. The townsfolk responded immediately. Panicking, some made for their homes, others shuttered their businesses or made a break for the city gate.
As if by instinct, Kael turned his armored left side to the threat. Liriel drew a dagger in each hand and chuckled darkly. Theron reached into his pocket, and fished around hurriedly.
"Tick tock, dipshit!" Liriel growled and flipped her right-hand dagger into a reverse grip.
Critical seconds ticked by while the little monsters made their mad dash from cover, spurred by the guttural shouts from what might have been their concealed leader. The stench of the motley raiders arrived before they got close. Finally, Theron pulled out a small, clear gemstone with a triumphant "Ah HA!" He then smashed it on the ground under his boot and smeared the powder in a semicircle with his heel; the open end of the arc pointed at the incoming threat.
Staring down one of the sprinting goblins, Kael watched with amusement as the little, green creature ran straight at him with its crude axe raised. When it hit Theron's Wall of Force face first, he laughed at its failure and raised his sword above his head threateningly.
"Great timing as always, Theron!" He shouted while taunting the goblin and attracting more of its friends to run at him.
"Let's go ya little green shits..." Theron chuckled to himself, rubbing his hands together in anticipation. "Let's see tha' firebug I know yer hidin'." Three more goblin warriors ran ineffectually into the invisible, semicircular barrier eager to get at Kael. Liriel rolled her eyes and stepped toward the barrier.
"Bored now!" She shouted into the woods. "Hey, big boss, your little ass-grabbers too busy grabbing ass to raid this place properly or what?" Directing her remarks at the hidden goblin leader, she then added a crude gesture for good measure. Jamming a finger into her nose she added "Looka me boss, I'm a goblin geen-yus!"
Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Another smaller goblin dashed from cover in response. This one looked somehow worse than the others. Parts of its scalp were bald from burns, plus it had only one bushy eyebrow and a total of 6 fingers between two hands.
"Ope...you did it now." Elara commented with a smirk. She then raised her bow and half-drew the readied arrow.
"Bout fuckin' time." The rogue answered, calmly stepping back into position.
The newest raider ran toward Liriel followed by a larger member of their troupe. By his size and ugly but ornate armor, it was obvious that this one was the boss. The 6-fingered goblin stopped, planted one foot, and threw an object into the air in a graceful arc. He was tackled a moment later by his boss, too late to prevent what was about to happen. All four members of the ragtag adventuring team watched the alchemical flask soar toward them, but Elara just shook her head and fully drew her bowstring.
"Idiots." She mumbled, then loosed her arrow.
The two projectiles intersected directly above the bewildered assembly of four goblin fighters who were still bunched up together, enclosed by the magical barrier. Alchemical fire burst forth, igniting in mid air and raining destruction upon the hapless goblins while the edges splashed harmlessly against Theron's barrier and rebounded back into the creatures' faces.
The goblin boss screamed in frustration and caved in his alchemist's head with a rock. Between him and the group that had just thoroughly embarrassed them, four flaming goblins ran chaotically about, ricocheting off of their invisible prison and trying to put themselves out. Kael juked left to circle around the magical wall and bring the fight to the intruders with his sword raised.
"My turn!" He shouted with a fury energized by their success. Theron broke out into red-faced, full-throated laughter at the pandemonium.
"Serious the fuck up, Theron. Fangs out!" Without another word, Liriel broke to the right, trying to flank the goblins and flush out more fighters from the brush.
"Un-wad your panties Liriel!" Elara shouted after her before turning to the wizard. "I thought it was funny." She then slung her bow once more, exchanged a quick fist bump with him, and followed Liriel with machete in hand.
Further down the road that marked the perimeter of the city, the commotion and explosion attracted more attention. Eya looked over from the doorstep of a small, ramshackle temple of Sarenrae followed by one of its own clerics. As soon as she spotted the goblins she rolled her eyes in exasperation.
Eya turned to the other cleric, a blonde woman in her early forties, and handed her the stack of green and blue blankets she'd come to donate to their orphanage. "The Everlight's way of telling me I've been dawdling here too long. Lock up and stay safe Althea!" Her peer accepted the gift and nodded. She clutched the blankets to herself, gathered her deep blue robes about her, and shouted after Eya when she ran toward the fray.
"Good luck Sister! Give 'em hell!" Then, wincing and quietly looking upward, she mumbled a quick repentance. "Sorry, she just really needs it."
Sprinting toward the commotion, Eya clutched a clinking satchel to her side with one hand and a quarterstaff in the other. She noted two women running perpendicular to her into the brush and was about to follow them when she spotted a goblin ten feet off the ground in a tree. It was leveling a shortbow in the direction of another pair of combatants.
Eya planted her left foot mid-stride, spun, and dodged around a flaming goblin. Reorienting herself, she aimed for the impressively built, white-haired warrior. Skidding to a halt in front of the man, she clapped her hands together and rapidly spread them again. Immediately after the gesture a shield of radiant energy sprang to life behind her back and the goblin's arrow ricocheted off of it with a muffled bong.
Kael looked up in shock and watched the missile fly off harmlessly. It had been meant for him but he'd been spared at the last moment by...someone.
The tall fighter and the small cleric locked eyes while she held her arms out and maintained the shield. Through deep breaths, she cocked a smile and nodded.
"Hi." She said.
"Hi." He replied. Normally well-suited for the chaos of battle, Kael was momentarily perplexed by the sudden intervention of this woman. Her bright green eyes searched him for a response until she shrugged.
"Can't really hold this much longer, what's the plan?" A shrieking, smoldering goblin interrupted whatever he was about to say so he swiftly scooped her up in one arm and spun around. Their positions reversed, he set her back down and parried the incoming axe strike with his silvered sword.
The goblin's crude weapon embedded itself between the cobblestones of the road and Kael took the opportunity to relieve the creature of its head.
"Kill goblins. Get drinks. Good plan?" He said while swiveling his head in search of targets.
"Good plan." The cleric answered. She then clutched her holy symbol and sent a bolt of radiant energy back along the flightpath of the arrow and into the trees. A gibbering shriek echoed from the foliage along with a bright glow, signaling that she had struck true. She turned to the wizard who was still behind the invisible barrier.
"Hey! There!" She pointed at the glow that marked her target. The dwarf followed her gesture and grinned wickedly. Nodding in understanding, he sent a barrage of magic missiles into the canopy. A moment later a small, misshapen body fell to the ground with a dull thud. It sprang back up but vanished into the undergrowth, abandoning the fight.
As Theron claimed his target, Eya moved to join him and Kael advanced on the angrily gibbering leader. The pair squared off and began to slowly circle each other, making aggressive displays to establish their ferocity. The slow, circling standoff was interrupted by another whistling stone missile from the brush.
Kael reeled back in pain as the slinger's rock struck his sword-arm at the top of his shoulder. The large goblin saw his opening and lunged, swinging his own viciously jagged sword toward the warrior. Time slowed for Kael and he watched the rusty implement coming for his midsection, clenching in anticipation.
A blur of green flashed behind his opponent and the goblin fell on its face, cursing and scrabbling to recover. Behind him, Elara yanked her billhook from the goblin's ankle. She flashed a smile at Kael and dashed off again. The ranger charged at another raider who appeared to be guiding some oversized rats toward the fray.
Their impending fight now reset, Kael adjusted his stance to favor his injured arm and lowered his head toward the enraged goblin chief.
"Let's try this again, monster. No cheating this time." His opponent let out an aggravated war cry and raised its weapon defiantly. Kael dashed forward with a smirk.
Back to back with the dwarf, Eya placed a hand on his shoulder and murmured a quiet blessing. Theron felt purpose and vitality surge through him at her touch, his brilliant mind quickening with holy fervor. Looking back at her in gratitude, their eyes met and she gave him a wink before dashing off again.
"Now tha's the good stuff!" He shivered and wound up as if preparing to throw something. Stepping into the pitch, he hurled a fire bolt directly toward one of the still-smoldering goblins that had just managed to put out the alchemical fire on it's body. Its renewed gibbering and screaming faded into the forest as it retreated, entirely fed up with being on fire. "Go tell yer maw all about it ya git!" Theron chuckled to himself and searched for another target.
Kael's pitched duel with their leader took up most of the open square. For all his savagery, the large goblin was an able combatant. He didn't rise to a leadership position based on his looks, although offhandedly Kael suspected he was fairly attractive to goblin females.
Throughout the fight, Kael had repeatedly parried and dodged the powerful strikes directed at him. The silvery blade of his sword clashing literally and symbolically with the goblin's rusted implement just as his jesting taunts clashed with its harsh and unintelligible goblinoid curses.
Finally seeing an opening, he grinned widely into the crooked, rank teeth of his foe. "Hey!" He parried again and pushed back, creating separation. "Ugly bastard says 'huh'?" The goblin did not comprehend, but paused, confused. He was then hit from behind by a thrown object with a dull, wet thud. Looking down at the ground, the creature became enraged at the sight of the severed head of one of his troupe and spun around to look for the source. He was immediately struck in the face by another improvised cranial projectile.
Liriel emerged from the brush, bloody and angry like a dark, avenging angel. "Hey! Found your boys, fucker." She stalked directly up to the stunned goblin and buried her dagger in his gut. Howling in pain, he shoved her away and stumbled backward with the weapon still embedded in him. He turned around and was met by the flash of Kael's sword, which buried itself deep in his thick skull. Yanking it out with a wet squelch, Kael kicked the standing corpse to the ground. Liriel then marched up and retrieved her dagger from its belly.
"Something, something splitting headache." She quipped, wiping down the weapon on the dead goblin's rags. Kael's shoulders slumped.
"Come on, I was about to say that." He complained. She just turned in search of a new target.
"You're welcome." She said, stalking off again. Watching her go, Kael noticed a small arrow protruding from her rear.
"Hey Liriel! You've got a...thing..." He gestured toward her and she turned to look.
"Yeah. Little bastard shot me in the ass."
With their leader dead, the tide quickly turned against the raiders but Eya spotted a singed goblin as it dashed from cover toward Theron with a vicious looking axe held high. With a gesture of her hand, an ephemeral shield of glowing energy sprang to life between them and the small, green assailant bounced off of it and onto the ground. A malicious twinkle in his eye, the dwarf returned her wink and turned toward the goblin. A menacing smile spread across his face and he raised one hand. "Well tha' was a mistake, ya wee shite."
Eya turned to look for the other new faces, but a blinding pain bloomed between her shoulder blades. Another rock, loosed from a goblin sling struck her with the force of a small club and forced the breath from her lungs. The cleric fell to her knees, gasping for air that spasms of pain prevented her from drawing in.
"AND STAY OUT!" The dwarf shouted, sending three Magic Missiles arcing from his fingertip. They found their mark, stinging his would-be assailant right in the pants as it yelped and darted into the cover of foliage. "He'll remember that one." He commented to himself with a satisfied chuckle.
As the last goblin raider ran off into the forest Elara emerged again, dragging the body of the goblin slinger that had been harassing the group. "Wiley little pipsqueak." Her comment was punctuated by the wet slap of its corpse hitting the cobblestones.
The adventurers gathered together with a keen interest in their new acquaintance. She was still kneeling, but was finally able to draw shallow breaths that caught at stuttering intervals if she tried to inhale too deeply. Looking up and tenderly turning her head, Eya saw the four new arrivals gathering in a semicircle behind her. She studied them as they assessed her in return.
The tall warrior and the ranger leaned in toward each other, whispering in brief conference as they silently assessed Eya.
The grinning dwarf walked up next to them, concern marring his celebratory expression. "Thanks for the save, Red. I paid him back for ya."
Last, the dour half-elf sheathed her dagger at her hip and crossed her arms over her chest. Her attention did not waiver from the kneeling cleric who had turned to look up at her. Eya locked her friendly gaze with the rogue's icy blue stare. A moment passed as each assessed the other.
Two years away from the horrors of war had rejuvenated Eya. She was healthier now, the life and energy of the precocious little girl from days past had begun to show through again. The cleric's bright red hair now fell lightly about her face, bobbed with a minute asymmetry that brought the right side marginally longer below her jawline than the left. Her cheeks were full and flush again, already showing faint smile lines.
Leaning heavily on her quarterstaff, Eya stood up and faced them. She tried to hide the throbbing pain between her shoulders and managed a tight smile and a nod.
"So, what? Your god tell you to knock some heads together or do you just like jumping into random scraps?" The half-elf pointedly asked.
"They've been a nuisance for a while now." Eya walked over to the tall warrior and laid a hand over the mottled gash that was beginning to swell on his unarmored right shoulder. The minor wound stitched itself together under her touch and the swelling began to go down as radiant, healing energy flowed from her. He sighed with relief and looked down at her. Kael found himself momentarily disarmed by the bright eyes and pained but eager smile looking back at him and mumbled a distracted thanks. Elara elbowed him with a smirk.
"You two need a moment?" She sarcastically jibed Kael.
"It feels like they've been getting bolder lately." Eya continued explaining to the group. "I'm glad you were here to help this time."
"Us help?" The dwarf asked. "No offense lass, I mean ya certainly showed some grit an' all, but...I think yer the one tha' helped us."
Eya rested her head against her staff and cocked an eyebrow at him, her breathing slowly returning to normal. "Okay, you buy the first round then."
Kael leaned over toward his ranger companion. "The old man certainly hit it right on the nose. This feel a little familiar to you?"
Elara shrugged and quietly responded to him. "Well, we did just clean out that goblin den near Greenhome." Kael shook his head.
"No, I mean does it feel a little- I don't know- easy?"
The ranger rolled her eyes and elbowed him. "We've been walking for days, our last contact fell through, and we had to fight off more goblins before we could even put our packs down. Your definition of 'easy' is warped."
"Hey, Red." Liriel spoke up and Eya turned toward her. "While you're handing out the feel-good, how about taking care of this?" She twisted and gestured toward the arrow sticking out of her right buttock.
"Oh! Of course, umm..." Eya delicately reached out and took hold of the small missile. "This part will hurt." Without warning, she yanked it out before Liriel could clench up. The rogue sucked in air through her teeth and groaned out a creatively colorful selection of curses.
"Sorry, sorry. I find it works best if you don't have time to dwell on it."
Although unfazed by the blood and pain, Eya awkwardly held her hand above the wound and concentrated. Liriel scoffed, reached back, and pressed her hand to the injury.
"Fuck's sake, really? Buy me a drink later if you're that shy about it." Eya's ears reddened but she concentrated and closed the wound. When she was done, she clasped her staff with both hands again and cleared her throat.
"Anyone else?" She looked around, eager to move on. Elara rotated her arm tenderly but shook her head.
"Nothing I can't work out on my own, thanks." She jerked her head in the direction of the road that continued on to city gate. Her keen eyes had spotted a gleam of gold about two blocks down. "We were told that that's the place to look for 'new friends'. Why don't we continue this discussion over some food." Without waiting for an answer, she began striding her way down the road.
The half-elf scoffed as they walked past her. "Wait, we're not even going to shop around?"
"Hold on!" Eya shouted after them. She knelt over the unconscious town guard who had taken a rock to the skull at the start of the battle. Concentrating again, her face contorted with effort while trying to heal the grotesquely bleeding wound on his forehead. A moment later, his eyes shot open with a gasp. The cleric stumbled back, landing on her butt with a relieved chuckle. "Welcome back."
The guard groaned and tenderly touched his face. He looked over at her and sighed. "How am I not surprised to see you here?" He mumbled and tried to stand up on shaking legs. From the ground, Eya shrugged and smiled.
"You know me, can't resist some excitement." Her comment was met with a sardonic grunt and an offered hand. Pulling her up, he nodded in appreciation.
"I'll get some people to clean this up. You might want to be scarce when the Captain gets here, he's still bitching about that whole thing with the aubergine." Eya rolled her eyes and groaned.
"Ugh, it was one time." She then stopped him as he started to turn away with a gentle tug. She rifled through the satchel that she wore slung across her body and pulled out a small bottle.
"Here, take this tonight before bed, but tell Alain to make sure you don't fall asleep before midnight. That was a nasty bump." He took the bottle in hand, nodded again, and walked off. With a skip in her step, Eya caught up to her new friends. "So, where to?"
Liriel looked at her with an expression that wavered between confusion and exasperation. She leaned over and shouted after the guard. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NATIVE TONGUE IS HERE, BUT IN COMMON THE PHRASE IS 'THANK YOU'! ...Wichser."