"I smell elf," Just a few seconds into entering the town Roa's ears perked up and a smirk was plastered on his face.
"Seems the elves didn't have much luck crossing the mountains," Jazz surveyed the area with his eyes. Loads of adventurers were up and about, weapons in tow. No chance for them to cause a commotion without stirring up lots of trouble.
"Let's just find them. The quicker we're done the sooner I can part myself from your unwelcome company," Tessa didn't hold back her displeasure at being paired with the two.
"It's fine Tessa, I particularly didn't enjoy your depressing presence as well. Wouldn't kill your to cheer up a bit more," Roa couldn't help but laugh.
"Perhaps I should rip your throat out so I wouldn't have to listen to that incessant laugh, that would surely put a smile on my face" she eyes Roa with a stare that showed she meant every bit of it.
"I'd like to see you try witch!" Roa drew his blade, a low growl escaping his lips forcing Jazz to intervene.
"Calm down you two, we're already suspicious as it is. Anymore squabbling and we'll be run out of this town," and true to his words the passing masses had now been eyeing them for while.
The group itself was a weird mix. It wasn't often you saw an orc in these parts, much less accompanied by a human woman dressed in a weird all black out fit and wolfman hafling.
"Split up and find them. Whoever reaches them first signal the rest," with that they each went there way, though still garnering attention from those they passed by.
It just happened that one of the onlookers of their heated exchange happened to be Lina who was out and about running errands.
Roa found himself outside one particularly busy inn. Just standing outside he could hear how loud the clientele inside were, it was almost obnoxious.
Once he set foot inside it was like it the noise was amplified. The inn was packed to the brim, even more so than usual. You couldn't find space to set yourself up on any table even if you brought your own chair.
The mood was overly festive, owing to a good few days of hunting ever since the storms died down. Trade routes down the mountain have opened up, business is picking up and the profits have been rolling in. Best way to spend it all is at good ol' Gia's inn on the finest booze and meals the town could offer.
Roa couldn't have hated the scene more if he wanted to but alas duty calls. The first person he approached was a server inquiring whether an elf had been in the premises in recent days but was so utterly ignored.
The server wasn't up for a chat when every table was calling every single minute.
'Your head will definitely be freed from your neck if I have some time to spare' Roa thought to himself.
In the end he opted to go directly to the person who seemed to be in charge and that was Gia who was busy giving orders and directing traffic between the kitchen and the dining area.
"Good afternoon ma'am, sorry to be a bit of a nuisance but I was hoping if you could be of help to me," Roa gave his best smile which kind of unsettled Gia.
"What can I do for ya before my head explodes from all this work?"
"I was wondering if you happen to have seen a pointy eared friend of mine around these parts?" For a minute or two Gia just stared at Roa
"What?" That answer made Roa face palm in sigh in exhaustion.
"I'm asking if an elf has visited your establishment recently," These people were truly no fun for him.
"You should've just said so, instead of that winded word play. I'm too busy for that," Roa was baffled, what he said earlier wasn't particularly hard to understand.
"If it's an elf you're looking for, sorry, can't help you with that," again, another infuriating reply. Roa in that moment contemplated just cutting up the old fart in front of him but all of a sudden an even more annoying face appeared before him.
"Sorry lad, seems the wife is too busy to be if use to you. How can I help ya?" Boers quickly stepped in between his wife and Roa.
"An elf has frequented your establishment in the past few days. Where is the elf..." this time Roa went straight to the point. He was already tired of this place.
"An elf you say? Let me see..." Boers looked into the distance, stroking his beard as he pretended to think over the question.
"I think I know who you're talking about! You know my wife says I'm as about as graceful as an elf when it comes to drinki-" before he could finish that statement Roa grabbed him by the collar and slammed him against the wall, fury evident in his eyes.
All of a sudden the inn was quiet, all eyes on the two in eager anticipation. Roa could hear the faint sound of blades slowly being unsheathed even though no one made a move.
"Easy there, don't wanna cause trouble for our guests would you," even with Roa threatening him Boers didn't sound the least bit afraid. "I'd suggest you make yourself scarce for now..." Looking into his eyes, Roa could see the playful gleam Boers had was no longer present. And while he was confident in his ability, the number of people in the place presented quite the challenge. He was sure he wouldn't get out of this at the very least unscathed if a fight were to break out.
"Very well," Roa conceded, letting go of Boers shirt and straightening it out for him but before he could turn and leave he whispered so that only Boers could hear, "I'll certainly remember this and I'll gut you like fish, this I promise."
He left the inn, every eye on him as he went out the doors and back onto the chilly streets and let out a big sigh, this day was certainly shaping up to be something else.
On the other side of town, Lina had just returned to her shop with more ingredients to begin making new potions, salves and restock the place, which didn't need much restocking. But it wasn't about restocking, she just liked to keep busy.
A few minutes later the sound of the door bell chimed and in an unladylike manner Lina let out a groan of frustration. She had barely finished organizing the stuff she'd just bought. The groan earned a chuckle from the new arrival.
"That's not a very welcoming gesture for a business establishment," Jazz teased as he looked around the small yet demure shop.
As Lina popped up from behind the counter she was surprised to see the orc, the very same one she had observed on her way back.
"Forgive my sudden outburst, I just get into doing things I don't like getting interrupted," she straightened out her clothes and worked up a professional smile, "What can I do for you?"
"Pardon me young miss but I'm merely here to inquire on a certain matter..." His eyes darted about the store, taking every detail into account. "I was wondering if you happened to come across some friends of mine...two elves to be exact," Lina was surprised on hearing this but didn't let it show in her face.
"Elves you say, quite a rare sight they are," she decided to play it safe and move the conversation along.
"Indeed they are. However these two happened to run into a bit of trouble," he paused for a bit, his face suddenly looking downcast," We found the remains of their carriage while coming up the mountain along with bodies of several men. I believe it was a troll attack, a nasty one at that and I fear that they may have been hurt..." the tone of Jazz's voice grew more somber with every word.
"But they're a resilient bunch, even in such unfortunate circumstances they would survive and so I believe they must have made there way into this town to recuperate," as he said this words a small smile stretched across his face. Lina found it a bit too dramatic, certainly overdone.
"That may be the case but what makes you think I would have come into contact with your so called friends?" Jazz didn't answer, just waved his hands around to the various vials and collections of healing potions and salves as well as medical tools. Lina couldn't help but sigh, seems like this was going to take a while.
"You're obviously quite the talented healer, or so I've heard. If you have any information on them I'd highly appreciate it," No matter how much the orc insisted the whole thing looked odd to Lina. Fey had never mentioned having any other companion other than her brother. There was no reason for her to give away any sort of information on the elves.
"I would love to help but I haven't come across any elves," Jazz lips suddenly turned into a frown and looking resigned he gave a polite thank you and turned to leave. Lina let out a sigh of relief and was about to go back to arranging her inventory when the orc turned back towards her drawing his hammer and flinging it straight at her. Lina barely avoided it, throwing herself to the side as the hammer smashed through the counter and obliterating the shelf behind it. Wood splinters went flying everywhere along with bits of glass and clay with the hammer's head sticking through the other side of the wall.
Lina struggled a bit getting up only to see the orc approach her with a new emotion on his face she hadn't seen yet, rage. "I should warn you, I don't like liars," the tone of his voice was chilling," I can smell the elven stench in this shop. They're here aren't they..."