Private Tales The Legend's Heir

[Solgrin]

"We are." He said with a nod.

A part of him could still remember a time when he had been the one to complain about how reality wasn't like the stories. He had been young, before he'd started to work at the tavern. It seemed like an age ago, but even then it had seemed like an injustice.

Those memories were almost gold in the dirt now. "There's a tavern."

He explained.

"We'll pay for a few rooms." Serafina likely didn't even think bout the fact that he stated they would pay, but...well, he'd have to make it clear to the others. "Have some of the men watch the roads."

Solgrin knew that not everyone in the town would be as...eager as the mayor, and it was better to be safe than sorry.

 

[Serafina]

As predicted the uniqueness of paying went completely over the young girls head and she nodded along in agreement to his words. She could recall passing the tavern earlier that day and knowing such an establishment it was probably the only one with people still awake in. It shouldn't be too hard to find again. She took up her wargs reins and reached for those of Solgrin's mount too. Surprisingly the large beast didn't go for her hand as it might have done before and instead merely sniffed at her hair.

"I can go ahead if you want to go spread the word," she offered with a small smile. She supposed they would get as many rooms as they could this suddenly and people would have to bunk with one another.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin nodded his head. "Alright."

It wasn't like he needed her to tag along in order to make sure the others watched the roads. This town was small, which would make it easier to see who came and went. Once the mayor gave the word there would no doubt be a few who would want to leave, others who would want to warn the necromancers.

The latter group was what Solgrin was worried about.

The Bandit Chief departed from Serafina's side, pulling a bag of gold from his belt and throwing it to Sera so she'd be able to get the rooms they required. After that he quickly walked towards where he had left the others, issuing scant orders.

At another time he might have outright barred the roads, set up a block so that no one could leave. Yet with the mayor on his side he knew it would be smarter to just watch instead. Anyone that tried to leave would be stopped, but no one would be intimidated. This wasn't supposed to be an occupation...just a small wait until someone came asking.

That was what Solgrin told the others. Though he wasn't sure if they even believed it.

"How many rooms did you manage to get?" Solgrin asked as he finally turned up at the tavern.

 

[Serafina]

Solgrin would find Serafina at the bar of the tavern with a large plate of steaming vegetables, meat and gravy and quite a large glass of wine. She was busy chatting and laughing with the young woman behind the bar, presumably the tavern keeper or his wife. A few of the other Bandits more friendly with Sera had also found their way to the tavern and had taken up spots around the room at tables and were either eating or playing dice. It felt quite... peaceful. Maria and Einar were nowhere to be seen.

"Solgrin!" she beamed when he appeared next to her, her cheeks flushed with the heat of the tavern and the wine. "I managed to get all the rooms they have which is ten," she looked rather proud with herself. "Maisey threw in food as well with the board," Maisey being the woman behind the bar it seemed. She smiled through half lidded eyes up at Solgrin.

"Can I get you anything, handsome?"

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin blinked as he stepped into the Tavern a chipper greeting causing him to hesitate for a brief moment. He frowned for just a brief moment, raised an eyebrow, and then simply shook his head as what he assumed to be the tavern keeper spoke.

"No, that's alright." He said with a shake of his head.

Ten rooms wasn't enough for everyone, but it was a good chunk. If they rotated they would at least get everyone a bed at some point. "I'm not very hungry just yet."

Perhaps later though.

As he stepped up to Serafina a smile touched his face.

"Good job." Solgrin said as he leaned against the bar. "I didn't think we'd find so much space."

As he spoke he noticed the tinge of red on her cheeks.

 

[Serafina]

Sera looked fit to burst with pride at the compliment.

"Apparently not many people like to stay," she added a lot of emphasis to the word so that even the blind wouldn't miss the point she was trying to make. She took another sip of her wine and then another bite of her food with a groan. "You really should eat, it's so good," she announced after she swallowed and was busy taking another bite. "Or a drink!"

Marion helpfully topped up Sera's glass and raised the jug in Solgrin's direction with a raised brow of question.

"If you're worried about space for your men, there's also the hay lofts above your... mounts."

 

[Solgrin]

Ah. Well that certainly made sense. He wondered briefly how an Inn even kept itself going under such conditions, but looking around the room the answer was more than clear.

People in a town like this needed to drink. "I'll take an ale, then."

No food, at least not yet, but he wasn't going to go completely mad and reject everything. A hand came up to scratch at his beard, looking at Serafina. She looked as though she was about ready to fall off her stool if she wasn't careful.

"Lofts, eh?" He mused. "Nicer than the dirt."

Plus, some of his men wouldn't mind too much. "Yes, I think we'll do that as well."

At least he could get a roof over everyone's heads. That would stop some of the complaints.

 

[Serafina]

"Very good, Sir," the innkeep smiled and winked before turning away to fetch the ale.

Sera hiccupped before taking another bite.

"Did you manage to do what you wanted to?" She was pretty bad at the best of times with the art of subtlety but drunk she was even worse. She teetered slightly on the stool before finishing off the rest of her food and downing the rest of her wine just as the inn-keep returned with Sol's ale. She grinned at Sera and refilled her glass.

"And what is it you be doing in town?"

 

[Solgrin]

"I did. Everything's all set." He said with a smile

Solgrin watched Sera wearily, preparing to reach out and grab her if she decided to take a tumble off the perch of her stool.

A frown touched his lips for a brief moment. He wondered briefly how watered down that wine was, though decided not to ask. She was still talking coherently, so at the very least that was something. Perhaps after another cup or two he'd had to see that she actually made it to bed. Otherwise she was liable to pass out on the floor.

"Business." He answered the innkeep quickly.

No doubt the woman would dig more.

Any innkeeper worth their salt tried to get as much information as they possibly could. It was a mark of the trade, something that came almost second nature to most of them. A good innkeeper knew everything that was happening in a hundred mile radius. A good innkeeper also knew when to stay silent.

"Private interests." Solgrin said as he slid a few coins over the bar. "You understand."

 

[Serafina]

The coins vanished as she wiped a towel over the bar to clean it, her smile deepening and her eyes lighting up with curiosity. She'd keep her mouth shut, but now he had even more of her interest. Sera supposed most of them would begin to guess what was going on when the shipments stopped coming to and from the town. She sipped at her newly filled glass once she had finished the rest of the food and mistakenly went to shove herself back like she would in a chair. On reflex she caught herself before she did go toppling and threw Solgrin an innocent grin that was ruined with another hiccup.

"Some of the guys started picking rooms, I wasn't sure if you had a set schedule in mind," she shrugged.

Hiccup.

 

[Solgrin]

As Serafina nearly went toppling back Solgrin reached out as if to snap her up. When she caught herself he drew back just slightly, a shake of his head quickly following.

He was pretty sure Sera was one step away from falling onto the floor. "They'll sort it out."

Most of the gang was pretty self sufficient when it came to that sort of thing, and they also all knew to at least leave one room for him. That was the way things had always been, though perhaps even that would change in time.

"Maybe you should have some water." He suggested. "Cures hiccupts from what I hear."

Plus, helped with the headache the following day.

 

[Serafina]

"I'm fiiiinneee"

"She's fine!"

Both women glanced at each other in surprise. Well, Sera looked at the innkeeper in surprise and the innkeeper looked at her in amusement of a sense. Another hiccup broke the odd moment and sent Sera into a fit of giggles which only increased the other woman's merriment it seemed. Sera patted Sol on the arm just as music begun to play and her grip tightened with a gasp.

"Why don't we dance?!"

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin blinked.

He wasn't entirely sure what to make of...this. It seemed as though in his absence Serafina had managed to make a new friend. Solgrin wasn't entirely sure what to think about that. A frown touched his face for a brief moment as he glanced at the Innkeeper.

Then finally he sighed. "Tell you what."

The Bandit Chief, and Former General decided that at this point it was probably best to try and bargain with Serafina.

"One dance." He raised a finger. "One glass of water."

That seemed a fair trade.

 

[Serafina]

Sera's eyes narrowed at him in great suspicion. Something... was wrong here. He wanted her to drink water for some nefarious reason, she was sure of it, she just couldn't quite place her finger on what exactly. It couldn't be, afterall, that he just wanted her to drink water. Water was too boring and was only for people who were really worn out or sick and she was neither of those. In fact, she'd never felt so good as she did right then.

"Fine!" she exclaimed suddenly. For the past minute as she squinted at him she'd been leaning inch by inch further forward but now sat up straight and slammed her hand on the table. "One glass of water, one dance," the innkeeper sighed but she went to get the young girl a glass. When she returned with it Sera basically downed it in one go then jumped to her feet, grabbing Sol's hand and dragging him towards the dance floor.

"One drink one dance," she chided.

 

[Solgrin]

Well, no one would ever say that Solgrin wasn't a man of his words. "Alright alright."

He said as Serafina was practically dragging him out onto the dance floor.

If he'd really wanted to he probably could have said no still, just grabbed up Serafina and thrown her over his shoulder. But he figured it was easier just to keep to the deal, particularly because at her rate one Glass of water wasn't going to do the trick.

Not by a long shot.

As they stepped out onto the dance floor the band almost immediately switched it's tune. The song became jovial, upbeat, and louder. He could hear a few jeers from his own men who had made it back to the tavern, but Solgrin just ignored them.

His arms wrapped around Serafina, and quickly they fell into the dance.

 

[Serafina]

Sera looped her arms around the Chiefs neck without a care for the noises and slid into the steps of the dance. This was a far cry from the regimental noble dances she had done only a few weeks earlier but she enjoyed it far more. For one, it was the first time she had done something... normal with the man who had turned her whole world upside down. Up until a few days ago he had been on a mission where she was just a pawn. But now...

She threw him a wide grin as he twirled her even though she almost tripped. A soft sigh escaped her when he caught and pulled her close again. This was the type of dancing she'd wanted, the kind that made your heart race.

 

[Solgrin]

This wasn't the type of dance one would find at a ball.

It wasn't the type of dance one would see at a Gala.

There was a natural flow to this. Not regimented. Not orderly or strict. One couldn't teach this step. One couldn't lord it over others or try to say that they were the best at it. There was a natural sort of rhythm to the way they moved.

Every beat of the song. Every note. It fell perfectly in unison with their steps, with the way that he swung and moved her.

Not because it was ordained to be so, not because it was supposed to be that way, but because it was natural. There wasn't anything else to it. There wasn't a plan or anything of the sort. The two of them swung and moved, until eventually the floor itself seemed to thunder with approval.

 

[Serafina]

Despite starting off jeering, as the music went on others soon got up to join them. Tables were pushed back to clear more space and those that didn't dance turned to watch and stamped their feet or clapped along to the beat. It only added to the whole feeling. On and on the song seemed to go and yet it also felt like no time at all. When the band finally came to the end of the jaunty tune Sera was panting, cheeks flushed with the excursion, but she was disappointed that it had ended.

She leant her head against his chest as she tried to get her breathing under control.

"I don't know why but I never thought of you as someone who could dance."

 

[Solgrin]

"I told you." Solgrin said quietly. "I practically grew up in a tavern."

It was an odd thing.

Those memories had instantly flooded back to him. That rhythm, how you were supposed to step and move. It had come as simply and as quickly to him as breathing. Some long remnant of the past that still remained in his muscles.

Funny, that. "Helps to have a good partner."

Solgrin complemented.

 

[Serafina]

Her cheeks burned and not just with the alcohol now. Slowly, Sera looked up at him and offered a tiny, heart-breaking smile.

"Two compliments in one day, be careful not to stroke my ego too much," she said in a soft voice. The band was beginning to strike up another song but she could barely hear it in that moment. It seemed impossibly unfair that this man was just beginning to open up to her after the past year and now every day she wondered if it would be his last. Drunk as she was she didn't feel sad just bittersweet and it made her want to enjoy the night more.

"Again?" she pleaded.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin considered for a moment, then quickly retorted. "After another glass of water."

In truth, after that dance he probably needed a glass of water himself.

The Tavern wasn't particularly warm or hot, but moving that quickly and so swiftly throughout most of the room certainly worked up a sweat. It was as though he had just fought in two battles and run ragged afterward.

"That was the deal." He told her with a smirk. "And I am a man of my word."

Even as he spoke the band began to play another song, slightly slower, but no less upbeat than the one before.

 

[Serafina]

Sera did a perfect impression of a puppy begging with her large, round blue eyes that shimmered in the tavern light. When that didn't seem to work however, she sighed and rolled her eyes instead.

"Fine!" Pulling away reluctantly she stomped back to the bar and as she did she took of her fur trimmed jacket too, throwing it over the back of the stool before collecting her second glass of water. But after she had finished the relatively small glass of water she chased it down with another few big gulps of wine and gave him an innocent look. He hadn't said she couldn't keep drinking the wine too.

 

[Solgrin]

Solgrin stared disapprovingly.

Briefly he considered once again the option of picking Serafina up and simply carrying her up the stairs to whatever bedroom had been left over and empty. The option somehow seemed to be a little bit more fair now, particularly given the smug look.

When Serafina wandered back over towards him he simply shook his head. "I see Arlowe has been teaching you the finer points of negotiation."

He stated simply.

Arlowe was a gambler. A good man, but a rogue if anyone could ever be called as such. He enjoyed playing cards, bandying words, and always coming out on top of any argument. The man had joined the band mostly to flee his debts, though he claimed it was because he enjoyed the adventure.

 

[Serafina]

"I actually managed to beat him in a card game the other night," Sera chirped, rather pleased with herself. It had been down to the wire and even the gambler had seemed surprised she had managed to pull it off. She wasn't sure if she would ever be able to do it again and she wasn't sure she'd want to try in case it sullied this victory. Best to go out on a high.

"You said yourself there's nothing we can do but wait," she murmured, sliding her hands down his arms to his hands and tugging gently. "Let's do something fun while we wait. Liv--hic."

 

[Solgrin]

"Very impressive." Solgrin commented, and truly did mean it. Arlowe really was a good gambler, he really only lost because he didn't know when to stop.

It was the way with most addicts.

Serafina wasn't wrong. This town was about as dead as a doornail in an old rusty cabin. There was nothing to do...because the Necromancers didn't want there to be anything to do. Fun attracted attention, tourists. Eyes. They didn't want that. "Isn't dancing fun?'

He mused to her.

"Or are you thinking something else?" Solgrin couldn't imagine what. Not from from the state she was in.