"Rain!"
Irena calls out the moment I walk in.
I lock my gaze at her figure, as she walks towards me.
"There are some people I wish you to meet...Come."
She proceeds to drag me by the arm towards the crowded hall.
Crowded is an understatement, the tavern was packed to the brim, with some patrons even standing beside the counter- not that they paid mind to it- they were lost in making merry.
With excited cheers erupting every couple of seconds.
Most of the tables occupied had either cards or die.
With occupants clutching intricately carved cards, hiding it from view.
The cards were carvings of heroes and epics of the old
I knew the game.
Gwent- quite a popular card game.
As for the die? I don't know the game ....a game of luck maybe?
We walk past the merry makers, to the furthest corner.
To the outliers, the occupied tables on this side was oddly quiet.
Their occupants chugging mugs of ale in silence, or an occasional muted conversation.
I scan the view, a duo of shifty individuals, mumbling under their tones, occasionally sweeping their gaze across the room.
My fingers instinctively wrap around the hilts of my dagger- hidden from view by my cloak.
More tables packed with individuals of the same ilk,
Why would Irena drag me here?
"Meet the guys!"
A group seated looks up, relaxing once they recognized Irena, As for me?
I was dissected, I felt their eyes roaming all over my body, analyzing my threat levels.
The shrug me off, minimal to no threat
I take a step back and dish out the same treatment.
Scanning them, my eyes widen- for a split second.
Does Irena want to get me killed?!
My heart was now racing- making my practised calm harder to sustain.
[Calm down!]
"Tomorrow is the scheduled day right?"
All the attention shift back onto Irena, saving me from their eyes.
What got me panicking was the clothes the men adorned.
Similar to the dead adventurer I stumbled on!
The same garments I had on!
Just out of view, covered by my long cloak.
I listen through their conversation with Irena, from what I can glean from it;- it was supposed to be a routine delivery.
And the seated guys were hunters- makes sense.
"It is settled, at dawn we meet here."
One of them grunts
Irena gives me a look
"Rain, you don't mind do you?"
I shake my head,finding no fault with her actions
She proceeds to explain,
"I normally hire the garrison to tag along, thought I could save some coin. Now that you are around."
"All is well," I respond, adjusting the hood of my cloak.
"I guess that's it then," Irena drawls, eyes bright, "Why don't you get to know each other?"
The hunters grunt
"A round of ale for your guys, on the house!" She continues
Lightened the spirits at the mention of free ale,the hunters grunts changed into excited cheers.
They scoot over, giving me a seat.
"Uhh, there's something I need to take care of, I'll be back in a few!"
The hunters shrug, as I walked off.
Getting into my room, door bolted behind me, I collapse on the straw bed before me.
A sigh of relief washing over me.
I had come so close to being discovered!
Once they laid eyes onto the garments I had on- once their colleague's- It would have been game over for me.
They would ask me questions I had no answers for!
Heck! Who could say the adventurer's death was not by their hands?
A moment of peace has made me complacent. Again!
[Fuck]
Calming down, after a while, I take off everything 'borrowed' from the dead adventurer and tuck it in between the straws of the bed.
Hiding it from view- this will do for now.
Until I find a better way to erase them, maybe burn them to ash.
I want nothing to tie me to the dead adventurer.
Once discovered, I would be a goner!
Heck! My fresh start would be over before I knew it!
I adorn my legitimate garments, throwing good 'ol 'reliable' cloak over my figure.
One deep breath, then another – calm
The door creaks open- my feet carry me down the flight of stairs, back to the hall.
I walk back to the corner table, seat at an empty spot.
I have to keep an eye on them- find out about their missing colleague.
And most important- keep suspicion off me.
"Thought you'd run off boy." A burly hunter smirks.
"I'm back aint I?" I say, radiating calm confidence.
~Laughter~
I give an incredulous look, what was so funny,
"Ahh," wiping off a tear from the laughter "Son, ye' got balls!"
"Balls of brass! " One quips
~Laughter~
These people are crazy, what's so funny, I don't get it!
Seated awkwardly lost on what to do- It had already gone past being an awkward encounter.
My eyes meet with one of them, seated opposite me.
He gives a knowing nod.
"Calm down boys!" "You'll scare the kid away."
The table quiets down, after a while of laughter and grumbles.
"Well?, Introductions are in order, don't ye' agree?"
Everyone gives a tacit nod.
"I'm Oliver," the guy seated opposite me says, gestures
"That brute is Carlo, "
"Eii, You break my heart Oliver!" Carlo cuts in, feigning hurt
Oliver rolls his eyes,
"Pay him no mind," he remarks, "And that is Duke."
He gestures at the man next to me.
My eyes widen, I extend my arm.
~Laughter~
"Genius, He's not a real duke!"
I face palm, of course I knew that!
The mood had lighten up considerably,
[Oh shiet]
It hit me. I almost fell for that tactic
Classic tactic- be warm and friendly and the target would soon open up.
But why apply the tactic here?
Or am I looking into things too much?
[Way to go Rain]
I shift my focus back to the trio, drowning out my thoughts...I have to be more careful.
My fingers clasp around a mug of ale, swirling as I watched the banter amongst the trio.
Quite refreshing, the cheery ambience within the tavern, the maroon- red light cast by the setting sun, its beautiful glow shining into the setting su-
The SETTING SUN!
Abruptly, I get to my feet.
"We meet tomorrow." I say, my voice receding as a quickly rush for the door.
I'll be late for training,
The Captain will kill me!