Private Tales Brothels and Broken Things

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi woke him with a soft kiss.

"Time to go," she whispered as she rose to her feet. The women of their group had been awake for some time it seemed as they were the ones with horses saddled and things packed away. Kain and Alec were being roused by the others and sat up with groans. Lexi, at the very least, handed Cassian some coffee before stepping away to saddle up his horse for him.

When everyone had woken themselves enough to get on their horses Lexi set them off again in a similar pace to the day before. There were a few winces from Louise and Aelenora but no outright complaints. When they camped for the night they walked stiffly and Kain smirked at every grunt when they sat down.

By the end of the third day a large hill came into view and at its base a dark entrance. Lexi raised a hand to slow the horses down to a walk. She looked grim.

"The Goblin Market is dangerous. Don't speak to anyone, don't look at anyone the wrong way. Just keep your heads down and fan out when we get inside. That fucker will run when he sees us coming so it'll be easier to approach him in smaller numbers."

 

[Cassian]

“Aye lass.” Cassian nodded obediently and gave her a subtle wink before he went on ahead. He had no uniform, nothing to suggest that he was more than a sword for hire, perhaps it’d play out to his advantage if he kept his distance from the others.

He kept his head down as much as he could, but it was difficult in a place like this not to let his gaze wander. He’d never been in a place like it, and having grown up in Vel’Anir, it was still something that he was getting used to. Here and there, goblins and their likes sneered at him. Some looked like they’d enjoy tearing the flesh from his bones and devouring he and his horse both.

He watched, however, waiting for some reaction to the Ravens, and it wasn’t long before he heard a garbled curse and saw one hurriedly weaving its way through the market whilst casting frantic looks behind him.

“Look like you need a ride..” Cass snorted in amusement as he caught up to him, glancing back over his shoulder too. He spit on the ground. “Fucken do-gooders. I’ll get you outta here for a few silvers.” he offered with a shrug.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"THERE!" Lexi shouted for dramatic effect a short second after Cassian made his bargain. The White Ravens horses suddenly plunged forward towards their quarry.

The Goblin's throat bulged like a toads and his eyes rolled madly in his head. Sweat shone on his greasy looking green wart-ridden skin and he dabbed at it with a soiled kerchief that he had produced from a pocket. He licked a too long tongue over his lips and glanced from Cassian to the Ravens before nodding frantically and all but scaling the horse himself.

"Yes, yes!" he hissed and threw coins in a haphazard way at the mans chest. "Just go!"

 

[Cassian]

Cassian turned to look over his shoulder at Lexi and the others as he heard her shout, his lips quirking. He chuckled and caught the coin purse with one hand as he leaned to grab the creature by the scruff to haul him up onto the horse in front of him.

"Thought as much." he said with a snigger and kicked at his horse's sides. The crowds parted in the path of the galloping hooves, and Cass would continue to play his part until they were far enough away from anyone who would help the little cretin. He urged the horse on, knocking over baskets and barrels as they made turn after turn until the path widened and they were on their way back out.

"What'd you do to have those bastards after you anyway?" Cassian asked above the thunderous sound of beating hooves as they raced toward the tree line.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The goblin twisted as much as possible to peer around Cassian's sides and gulped every time he caught a sight of one of the Raven's on their horses.

"I didn't pay you to talk!" he hissed and clutched at the horses mane as he bounced up and down in the saddle, his legs too short to wrap around its belly and secure himself properly. "Can't this thing go any faster?" he gave it a distasteful look as though expecting it to turn around and bite him any minute.

The trees rose up to greet the pair and eventually the Goblin Market was long out of sight. As were the Ravens who had been pursuing them. As per the plan they would circle wider round and meet them at the rendezvous point.

 

[Cassian]

"Grouchy little bastard ent you." Cassian snorted, glancing down at the creature with a scowl of disdain as his attention was otherwise occupied by the Ravens accosting them.

"Aye, it can." the soldier answered, a dimple in his cheek as he laughed under his breath. He glanced over his shoulder before clicking his tongue and kicking gently at the horse's sides, sending it charging on toward their destination.

The horse slowed as the forest grew thicker, and they came upon a clearing encircled by crumbling ruins of and old watch tower.

"Looks like we lost them."

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The goblin was just letting out a sigh of relief when Lexi's voice cut across the clearing.

"Nobody followed us."

The goblin squealed and rounded on her, his buggish eyes quickly jerking from one Raven to the next. He attempted to kick at his horse with his short legs but to no avail. Lexi slid off of her own mount and tied him off to the side. The others followed suit.

"We just wanted to talk," Lexi said casually then Kain threw the remainder of the demon trap on the floor between them. "Why don't you start by telling us who you sold this to?"

 

[Cassian]

The goblin was backing up toward Cassian as he spat on the ground. "I don't have to tell you lot noth---AAH"
The creature snarled as Cassian's foot hooked his and he shoved him forward, sprawling onto his belly only to have Cassian's boot pressed down into his back.

"I don't know! I don't rememb--AAAAH!" He squealed as Cassian's heel twisted. "Call off this fucking mutt and I'll tell you!"

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Aeleanora sniggered but Lexi gave a nod to Cassian to back off - though not a lot. Whilst Lexi might have loved Cassian's physic to others she knew it could be an intimidating presence. Especially for a creature only 4ft in size. Lexi crouched down so she was eye-level with the disgusting goblin and pressed her lips together.

"I'm going to ask you again, who did you sell this too? Notice how I'm not bringing up the fact we told you to stop making them in the first place," the goblin seemed to be oozing sweat and glancing from her to Cassian he began to babble about a woman. Pressing got quite a lot of details about her clothes in particular and the gold she wore on her fingers for goblins were simple creatures attracted to shiny things.

"A-and one of them had an insignia on it, some sorta... flower."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian obeyed the mute command, though not before he'd given another sharp dig with his heel for the insult. He watched the creature closely as Lexi crouched to speak to him, ready to flatten him if he made any sudden movements - something the goblin was wise not to have done as he stuttered and stammered.

His brow quirked at the description of the woman and his gaze drifted from Lexi, to Kain and settled on Peter who seemed to be struggling to contain the urge to attack the goblin; something which Kain too had apparently noticed and now stood with a firm grip on the lad's shoulder.

Cass returned a look to Lexi, a question written in his expression.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi stood slowly. Her face had suddenly gone entirely blank, something which only really happened when her anger was close to its boiling point. It seemed even the goblin was able to pick that up because he begun to moan and rock back and forth, muttering to some god of his people or other. Kain gently turned Alec away to talk to him quietly whilst Lexi stepped round the prisoner to Cassian.

"It's another Templar group," she explained in a low voice. "The Black Rose, who focus on the undead and magics of that ilk. This would be entirely plausible by them but..." she wrinkled her nose. She hadn't liked their leader but attacking the Ravens seemed... out of character. "I don't know, Cassian. I think something deeper might be going on. I think someone is trying to start up the Templar Wars again."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's jaw tightened, a muscle feathering as he listened to her concerns. He didn't know too much about the other Templar groups, but he knew much about war. His hand rose enough to drag the backs of his knuckles down her arm. "Lets not think too far ahead." he frowned.

"Where are they? The Black Rose?.." he asked, and glanced down at the goblin.

"And what do you want done with him?"

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Far from here, far from us - closer to Alliria," which was why it made no sense that they were coming after the White Ravens. There were more than ten other Templar units between them and all of them far more aggressive than they. Lexi just wanted to be left alone, wanted her people to be left alone to do their job. They had never chosen a side.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breathe.

"Kill him," she said loud enough for the goblin to hear who squawked at her sentencing. "We need to send a message to the Black Rose, or make whoever is behind this think we are falling for their deception," and to give Alec something physical to blame, to take his anger out on. As she suspected it was the young lad who drew his blade in the blink of an eye and swung it half enough to lop the things head clean off.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian's brow rose in brief surprise at the goblin's fate, but he turned to the others. He'd expected Alec to do it and he understood the need, and so he watched with a clenched jaw as the lad swung and the pleading creature was silenced.

"So what now?" he asked quietly. Did they head home and secure the city, prepare for more attacks - or go on, and follow the lead they'd found. "If it was them, I doubt they're as far away as you think.." he huffed

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

So tired.

Maybe she was getting old, or maybe it was grief, but Lexi felt exhausted to her very bone. Would there ever be a day where she wasn't trying to just keep her head above the water? She rubbed the bridge of her nose at Cassian's comment and tried to think with a straight and clear head.

"I know... someone who used to be in the Black Rose. A friend," they had fought hard beside one another many moons ago and Lexi would have trusted her to watch her back. "If there is something going on then she might be able to shed some light on it," or maybe she would pick loyalties that didn't deserve her. Either way she owed it to her friend to explain.

"We go home, for n--" She cut herself off and took two quick steps to the trees behind Cassian. The sudden waft of the stinking goblins blood making her stomach suddenly twist enough to force her to throw up her breakfast.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian nodded as she spoke, though his brow dipped as he looked over her and a hand settled on her shoulder. He'd been about to ask if she were alright before she was heading for the trees and he spun on his heels to go after her.

"Fuck."

Seeing her sick sent a shock of panic through him. She was never sick, and already his mind was racing through the very worst of thoughts. He shoved them violently aside and gripped her shoulder again, his other hand on her back.

"Lex. You alrigh?" he asked, glancing back toward Kain with a look of concern.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Kain threw a bewildered look back. In fact the whole squad looked a little stunned and had paused in their removal of the body to stare after their leader. Kain shook himself out of it first and quickly got them moving again to burn what had offended Lexi's apparently delicate stomach in the first place.

"I think I've just been burning the candle at both ends," she admitted after spitting out the lingering vile taste in her mouth but even she didn't sound convinced. She'd been burning the candle at both ends as long as she could remember and she'd never been sick before. "I'll... go see a healer when we're back," the last thing the White Raven's needed was a battle coming and a leader who was suddenly ill.

 

[Cassian]

With the others preoccupied, Cassian's hands settled on her cheeks as he studied her face. The frown he wore made it quite clear that he wasn't convinced by her reasoning, and his lips pressed into a tight smile. He was relieved that she was the one to mention a healer, and he nodded with a quiet sigh. "Aye, lass. Just to be on the safe side." he answered, his thumbs brushing gently at her skin as he settled a kiss on her forehead.

"Maybe you should ride with me, take a rest?" he suggested quietly, fingers combing her hair back from her face.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Dark circles hung beneath her eyes and there were lines there that sleep usually cured. Riding hard, the grief, this new worry... all of it were making it worse. Yet despite the tell-tale signs of tiredness there was a glow to her skin beneath it all. Someone might even mistake it as a fever as Lexi certainly was. She blinked up at Cassian as he held her face, still unused to someone holding her in such a way on a mission but... loving it, needing it, all the same. She offered a smile and leant into his palm.

"That sounds nice," she admitted. A small gesture to most but for Lexi it was a mountain to have climbed down, to except help in this way and simply to spend time with him. She pressed a kiss to the inside of his wrist. "I'll try not to throw up on your horse."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian tried not to look too happy about her accepting his help. Every chance he had to be attentive and look after her was one he appreciated, even if she did do so simply to oblige him. He gave a quiet laugh under his breath and dipped his head to press his forehead to hers. "I love you." he whispered, and made sure she was okay to leave before returning to the horses.

He attached the reins of Lexi's horse to his own, and climbed into his saddle before offering his hand to her. "We'll take it easy." he nodded, happy to have any excuse to wrap his arms around her.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The white stallion's nostrils flared as he was relegated to pack mule and Lexi gently patted his flank as an apology.

"When I feel better we'll go for a good gallop, I promise," she kissed his nose then turned away to take Cassian's hand to help her on to the mantel of his saddle. Studiously, she ignored the worried glances from the rest of the group as she got herself comfortable in his lap and automatically took up the reins of his horse.

"I'm fine," she said, quite loud enough for the others to hear too though her cheeks tinged red. "Let's just get going," she grumbled and nodded for Kain to get the group moving.

On the journey back there was only one more account of sudden vomiting when Kain served up a mushroom soup on the second night. There were plenty of jokes about his cooking but laced with concern. Lexi just didn't get sick. It was a good thing that by the evening of the third day the towers of their home came into view for she thought she might punch one of them if they gave her another sideways look of concern.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian held her against him and tried to offer her as much comfort as he could without appearing to be as concerned as he felt. He'd barely slept, he'd been too busy watching her, making sure she was warm and comfortable, that she wasn't getting worse. He was so anxious to get her back home that he muttered a quiet 'thank fuck' under his breath and kicked the horses into a canter.

He ignored calls of greeting from those who waved to Lexi, and he gave people little choice in having to get out of their way as he rode single-mindedly toward the physician's home. Cass swung from his horse and hopped up onto the porch to pound a fist into the door a little harder than necessary.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

The Commander galloping through the city at speed drew attention normally, but on the back of someone else's horse? People stared open mouthed and slack jawed as they shot past and Lexi tried to disappear. She had hoped he was taking them home but when they finally stopped, dread begun to turn her blood cold.

"Cassian! What are you doin--?!" She gasped as she slid from the horses back, reaching out to stop him. But it was too late. The door opened suddenly and an owlish man with large round glasses blinked at the pair on the doorstep. To his credit the surprise only lasted for a second as he looked between the pair before his gaze turned into a frown... levelled at Cassian.

"Ah. You again Mr Hart," disapproval dripped from every word. "What is it this time? Concussion? Broken ribs?" he eyed the other man up slowly.

 

[Cassian]

He wasn't suffering another sleepless night worrying about her, and she'd likely put it off. He wanted her checked out now and it wasn't up for debate and so he ignored the protests.

Cassian had been about to speak first when the physician jumped to the wrong - albeit justified - assumptions and his jaw tightened.

"Sadly not." he grumbled. "Sorry to bother you at this time Doc." he turned to Lexi and looked back at the man with concern. "Commander's been ill and it ain't like her. Been some trouble lately an' I need to know she's alrigh'." he frowned. Poison had been the overwhelming fear given what Lexi had said. If their enemies could get inside their walls and plant traps, it was a possibility that they'd gotten to her too.

"Could you?" he asked.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi's mind, worryingly, hadn't even wandered to any of the conclusions Cassian's mind had. The concern on her mind was that her powers were dwindling and what that might mean. She barely said a word as Cassian explained to the doctor until he blinked and turned to look at her with surprise.

"O-of course Commander, apologies, apologies, do come in," he shuffled aside to let them both in and, taking a deep breath, Lexi stepped inside.

She hadn't been to see the doctor since she had first received her powers and they had thought she might die. Since then her wounds had been surface things and she had never, ever been sick. Not like how normal humans got sick anyway. They followed the man into his examination room where Lexi stopped to stare at the table. The whole thing felt... alien. From another time.

"If you would, Commander," he motioned to the table. Giving Cassian a grimace she did as requested, removing her cloak and sitting on the tables edge with clear discomfort.

"Lie back, please," he smiled and Lexi wondered if he felt as awkward as she did. Taking another breath she nodded and then lay as stiff as a board on the bench. "Relax, this is just a routine scan," he murmured as his hands begun to glow.