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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EVENING
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Piper slept for the whole ride back on the last day of the trip, the arrow wounds more or less superficial, despite bleeding pretty well. The shallow injuries still have a sting to them, but after an extended nap she's back to moving as normal, letting advice to visit Respite's clinic slide. There were others worse of than her anyways. Instead the croc spent the afternoon lightly prodding around for leads, and now just wants a drink or several to numb herself a bit. She walks through the doorway with a careful gait, doing her best to not knock any chairs or tables as she makes her way to the bar, sliding two stools up against eachother before taking a ginger seat on them. She grunts a bit of appreciation when they prove to be well made, barely whispering a creak under her frame.
Fiora enters into the bar shortly thereafter, stretching a bit after of various physical labors, some working alongside Brun, the rest having her (considerable) talents leveraged to shift from beating the crap out of the Respite guards for fun, to actually training them on survival and hand-to-hand skills. It's almost like some folks were anticipating a fight soon, what with the missing wagons and farmers and all that. She heads to the bar and takes a seat next to the croc, smirking, "Heh. Hey there tall water."
Piper is a smidge more relaxed, having received her ales. She'd insisted on three to keep her and the bartender from having to bother eachother too often. One is sitting empty, suspiciously. She turns to look at the giraffe, tilting her head slightly. "Mh? Only want water at tavern? Ay, I wont judge."
Fiora laughs, "PFfft, what? Hell no. Barkeep, gimme a beer!" She smirks back down at the Croc. "I meant you. Eh? Cause you're tall, and... nevermind. You new in town?"
Piper chuckles her three notes before blinking at Fiora's question. "No. Here four years. In bar every night. Did you not notice?" She notices Fiora's looking downward, slowly sitting straighter. Not that it makes a whole lot of difference, since her neck is near nonexistant.
Fiora grins, "Guess I didn't! I guess I owe you an apology, then!" She takes her beer and shrugs. "I mean, I'm still pretty new after all. Names Fiora."
Piper nods, not bothing ro change her story for now. "Forgive you." She raises her second tankard in a cheers motion. "Piper Hatnay. Pleasure." She tilts the mug back into her open mouth, draining it without a thought.
Fiora 's smile slowly fades, "Hatnay...? Probably guessing you're related to James then."
Piper hesitates with the tankard just above the bar top, setting it down with a nod. She nods to Fiora, "Ay, the little sister. You... Knew him?"
Fiora nods, "Professionally, you know? Never met him, but heard of him. Was hoping to pick a fight with him someday, you know, friendly competition? I'm a Bounty Hunter. Sorta... part-time at the moment? It's complicated."
Piper lets out a slightly disapproving grunt, shaking her head slightly. Then the pieces fall together. "Oh. Fury? Mh, fancy meeting you." She chuckles. "Shipped with Wrath from Sarn to here."
Fiora relaxes a bit with a sigh, "Guess my reputation preceeds me. That's uh, good? You were on the caravan that got attacked eh? Glad you and Wrath both made it out of that unharmed, at least."
Piper shrugs, feeling the sting of the patched wounds. "Mostly. Few arrows. Nearly broke a knuckle." She looks down at her hands, sighing. "Poor timing. Here for James, nothing more. How do you mean part-time? No bounties this far?"
Fiora shrugs a bit, sipping at her beer. "Not so much. Kinda learned right away it's stupid to hunt in your own backyard, you know? So I was part-timing at one of the blacksmiths, but that got weird? Long story. Now a couple city captains agreed to slip me some coin in exchange for giving some... unorthodox training. Survival stuff. Tracking. Bounty Hunting stuff I guess the local guards don't really have."
Piper listens along, nodding to Fiora's summary. "Ah, helping the guard? Admirable. Caravan needed more protection. Was lucky Gareth was there. That private group, too." A certain large shadow flits thorugh her memory, but she moves on quickly from it. "You fighting them, too? Attackers?"
Fiora shrugs. "Haven't had a chance to yet, but word at the barracks is they're gonna be asking for volunteers. I usually don't do work for the Guards without a contract, but... Got a few reaons to go out with them, now. Since I figure Gareth's gonna want revenge now or something. He burns slow, but I do recommend not pissing him off."
Piper hums, reaching for the third ale. "Ay, saw him. Effective. Much so. Seems a good heart, too. Good partner for you." She grins, downing the drink as the others, though she doesn't wave for any refills. "If not for bounties, why are you here?"
Fiora laughs again, "Good heart, eh? Don't tell me you've got a crush on him too? I hear he came back from Sarn with five ladies in his caravan? Probably sounds saucier than it is, but you can be sure I'm gonna tease him about it." She pauses, own expression becoming uncertain. "I came here for family... I lost some, gained some... trying to figure it all out."
Piper tilts her head a little, smiling slightly. "Mm. Similar, then, in that way. Found them, I hope. And well."
Fiora nods. "My sister, yeah... half-sister. She's all I've got for family now. We're still... we're trying to figure it out. Thank you."
Piper sighs, adjusting on her seats slightly. "Ay, important that. Sorry to say, much family at home. But all important... Not knowing why one is dead. That is not good." A growl underlines her words as she looks to the mugs. "Guards failed to find out. Maybe just not the skill. Won't judge, but will find out."
Fiora frowns, putting her beer down. "I don't got much to help you, but Gareth's an idiot if he didn't tell you what we'd done that night. You know about the spear, yeah?"
Piper blinks, looking to Fiora with a curious expression. "Yeah. Proud of that prize." She chuckles despite her mood. "Never shut up for it. Why?"
Fiora sighs, "He got hired to get one of those Snake spears. For one of the guard Captains, I think? Don't know the whole story of why, but he grabbed me to watch the door while he busted open the locker, then I walked out with the spear that night... I know Gareth got investigated for the whole thing, but he had a pretty solid alibi... and I trust him. He didn't point anything back at me, but it still felt gross." She lowers her head in apology. "I uh, totally get it if you wanna take out some rage on me though."
Piper slowly turns from curiosity to disbelief, trying to level off her expression as she considers this. "Gareth. He met James same night the runt died. So... You both. Mmh." Her words are delivered on a light growl. "Convincing. Told James was killled dirty. After he left." The tough skin on her fingers creaks as she works the bubbling anger out through the grip. She pauses, letting out a sigh. "Good cover. Other crime, let the blame fall elsewhere. But why..."
Fiora nods slowly, "He spent the evening with James at the Hot Springs. Made a big deal to say g'night to the folks running it when he left, cause he wanted an alibi for the spear. We figured James would come out, make a big deal about his missing spear from the locker, which he also... booby-trapped? But yeah... I'm not exactly proud of that one..."
Piper grunts, shaking her head as she looks down at her empty ales for a few moments. "Forgive you. A contract, after all. Was the world he lived in. In fact... You're honest enough. Will give you something." She looks to Fiora again with a glint in her eye. "Where do you fight guards? Can meet there."
Fiora blinks. "Err, give me something? Well, regardless of whether it's a well-deserved kick to the ass or whatever else you've got in mind, they've got some training grounds and a few sparring pits near the main barracks..." She spends a moment giving Piper directions.
Piper chuckles, shrugging. "Sounds easy to find. You wanted a fight with James. Will give you one better." She tilts her head down a bit. "No going easy because you feel bad. Not revenge. Not safe, either."
Fiora blinks again, but a wicked grin crosses her face. "You wanna spar, eh? No going easy? So you wanna fight Fury in her Sunday best?"
Piper mirrors the grin, perhaps a little more toothily. "Might not like killing. Certainly like fighting. You have rumors, so yeah. It's crossed my mind." She laughs three gruff notes, turning to the barkeep. "Refills! Much to discuss. Dry throats are not welcome!"
Fiora laughs, accepting the beer with gusto, "Well, I'll drink to that!" The two continue to talk through the night, leaving the darker topics of war and family matters behind before too long.
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TRAINING GROUNDS - MID-MORNING
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Victoria is sitting on the fence at the edge of the training grounds, staring at the currently-empty field as she leans her chin on her hands. Her time with Annika was fun, very fun actually, and she was well commended on her saving as many farmers as she did during the raid. Something about it all has Victoria deep in thought, though.
Gareth strides along, having seen the town's doctor for a little extra treatment of the wound he'd taken during the fight against Usid and his raiders. His bandages (and the stitch meant to hold the wound temporarily shut) are all concealed by his usual clothing, and his easy stride belies the lingering aches from that battle as he makes his way towards the training grounds.
Victoria does not notice Gareth, the leopard thinking about something not relevant to the current moment - a rarity for her, for sure - her tail swishing lazily behind.
Gareth does notice Victoria's tail, however, as he walks along the fencing separating the training grounds at large with the street adjoining the plot of land. He tilts his head curiously as his eyes track up along the tail to Victoria's pensive face, then smirks to himself as he walks up behind her and raises his voice a little. "Mornin', lass! Didn't think I'd actually sneak up on ye fer once!"
Victoria: "Gnyerk!" The leopard nearly stumbles off of the fence, only barely stopping herself from getting reacquainted with the sand beneath her face-first. She holds onto the fence awkwardly, turning to look at her would-be assailant with a snarl... which dies on her lips upon seeing who it is: "Gah! Gareth? You're back?"
Gareth laughs heartily as he watches Victoria flailing about on the fence, though he's also poised to catch her if she happens to flop over. Once she steadies herself again, though, he grins and nods. "Aye, that I am, lass. Had an eventful trip out to Sarn and back, and a... bit o' a warm greetin' from some idiot reptiles on the road out here from Bairnell's Folly."
Victoria rolls her eyes as she climbs back to a sitting position, looking at Gareth with a smirk: "I did wonder where the heck you vanished for so long. Eventful trip hmm?"
Gareth nods and rolls his injured shoulder, more out of reflex than to draw attention to it. "Aye, eventful enough to be somethin' worth mentionin', at least." His grin shifts to a smirk, "So no, yer ambushes didn't chase me off, if that's what ye were thinkin'."
Victoria scratches her chest with her paw, grinning: "I'm good, but probably not that good. You're made of hardy stuff. Good bounties out there, then?"
Gareth shakes his head, shrugging. "Nah, didn't really go out fer any huntin', just errands and the like. Some things are better done in person than not, ye know?"
Victoria chuckles, shaking her head: "Most things are better done in person. Can't really trust anyone else to do what's good for you." There is just the tiniest tinge of doubt in her voice, but she doesn't say it.
Gareth chuckles, nodding along. "Fair enough take on that, lass. Anyway... how've ye and the rest o' the town been since we've been away? Been hearin' some grim news comin' from some o' the other guards, not to mention that attack on the caravan I was on."
Victoria shrugs, looking towards the training grounds where the first few combatants for the morning are coming: "It's been a grim mess. Killed my fair share of the lizards, or saurs, or whatever they call themselves already. They attacked the outer farms, we saved as many as we could." She scoffs: "Dumb things are as subtle as bricks to the face though."
Gareth notes the guards entering the grounds, as well as the fact that many are carrying far more than simple sparring gear. He hums and nods at Victoria. "Not the sharpest ones to tangle with, from what I saw out on the road, but they're fierce, especially on those mounts o' theirs." He sighs a little, "So... how long's the town been dealin' with all this, then?"
Victoria looks back to Gareth then shrugs again: "The first attack was like a week ago."
Gareth nods again. "So not too long, hm? Well, good to know the guards are on the ball, at least. I've been hearin' rumors that ye're all plannin' to go out to find all the ones that got kidnapped from the first attack."
Victoria chuckles wryly: "I'm not planning anything. But if I'm needed, you bet your ass I will be there. Those lizards aren't going to kick their own asses." She pauses: "...wherever their asses are. Whatever."
Gareth laughs. "I'm sure ye could always ask that lizard fellow. The one always carryin' around that crossbow slung on his back? He's got a big tail just like them, after all."
Victoria raises an eyebrow, then chuckles: "Nesseth? Heh. Guess I could. He could tell me." She shakes her head: "But nah. He's been plenty stress-busy with this all. With Louma gone, he's sorta leadered himself since most of the Guards tend to listen to him." She shrugs, giving a toothy grin: "Works for me. I wouldn't want to boss anyone around sides myself."
Gareth 's smile slowly vanishes as he listens to Victoria. "...Wait a moment, go back just a moment, lass. Ye said Louma's gone? What happened?"
Victoria frowns, growling slightly: "The damn bastards got her while she was flying back from our initial scouting of the damage. Shouldn't have let her go ahead of the rest of us."
Gareth 's brow furrows a bit, since now part of his reason for heading out on errands just got a lot more complicated. After a moment, another detail clicks in his head. "Damn... Lianne was supposed to warn her o' somethin' that we'd encountered while out at Sarn. Did she get to deliver her message to Louma?"
Victoria tilts her head, leaning with one hand on the fence she's still sitting on: "Who's Lianne? And what message?"
Gareth tilts his head. "Stingray lady, pretty sure most o' the guards know o' her since she arrived in town wounded some time back." He shrugs, "She was supposed to deliver a message to Louma that a Sarnian Inquisitor was potentially comin' to town to investigate on Strix."
Victoria frowns... then shakes her head: "Unless this inquisitor or whatever has these idiot raiders as their hired help, I'm not sure it's connected. Though I don't really know, nor do I really care. We're getting Louma back." She's suddenly flexing one of her knives: "...one way or another. Others might want to be diplomatical, but after what they did at the farms, I'm not much in the mood."
Gareth shakes his head. "Nah, the inquisitor isn't connected, I can say that much. She works fer the Sarn Research Institute, I think, or at least is on their payroll fer some jobs." He thinks for a few moments, then crosses his arms, "...Actually, Victoria, was our caravan the first one to make it through to town since these attacks started?"
Victoria shrugs: "Probably. I don't usually pay that much attention to that." She notices a bit of a leftover blood caked on the edge of her blade, so she buffs it off.
Gareth hums and nods. "Then Lianne's probably caught, too. Damn it, this is a mess..." He shakes his head as he thinks, then looks back up at Victoria, "Volunteer call or not, I think I'm goin' to sign up fer whatever mission the guards are puttin' together."
Victoria nods, musing: "Reckon I am too. The Guard left me an' Garwin out there, but Louma was the one who got me back." She growls, looking aside: "Not to mention all the terror to innocents..."
Gareth nods. "Then I guess we'll be backin' each other up out there, if blades are drawn, eh? Heh... aside from Fiora, I don't think I could ask fer a better battle partner, from what I remember o' ye in our sparrin' matches."
Victoria glances at her blade, then at Gareth with a grin: "I can think of worse arrangements and battle plans, yeah. You got yourself a deal."
Gareth grins in turn, though it falls away and gets replaced by a bit of a curious look. "I've got a bit o' payback to give one o' those reptiles, anyway, so it works out. By the way, ye looked thoughtful fer some reason before I got the jump on ye. Somethin' to do with the attacks or somethin'?"
Victoria looks slightly startled for the briefest of seconds before recovering: "Nah, just the situation overall. It's nothing." Definitely not a three-tailed fox that got her thinking, not at all whatsoever. She glances at the training grounds: "Want to go for a round? I haven't beaten your ass in what feels like forever."
Gareth nods, accepting the reason since he isn't aware of anything that might otherwise occupy Victoria's attention. He chuckles and smiles. "Fair enough, lass. Sure, if ye've got the time, I'll give ye a round in the arena. It'll give me a bit o' time to stretch out me shoulder, too."
Victoria jumps down from the fence and gives Gareth a feral grin: "Got your shoulder hurt out there? Well, still not going to go easy on you."
Gareth snorts in amusement. "Wouldn't ask ye to go easy, anyway. And aye, the pack leader o' that raiding party got a shot in with their bow. It's nothin' serious."
Victoria chuckles: "They've got nothing on me anyway, I'm sure. Let's roll." With that, she starts jogging towards one of the free spots of the 'grounds, giving Gareth a grin over her shoulder.