Bardsong (Open after PM)

[TheScarletBlade]

((For those of you who don't know or care,I changed characters as it is pretty obvious.My other character wouldn't work for this sort of story and he doesn't exist anymore.

Thanks for Understanding,
TSB))

 

[Sky Jade]

ooc: That's ok with me.

 

[roleplaylifer]

"Now my throat's real dry. That's my story. Is it worth your name?"

Throughout the entire recanting of the strange newcomer's life story, Alexis had remained enrapt in the telling. Truly there was nothing like a tale or a song to brighten her face, the bard closing her eyes slightly as if to imagine herself in Byron's shoes. She had the chance to follow the path of the blade long ago.....alas, in her fickle nature, she lacked the patience to follow.

"Knowledge of all, master of nothing," she whispered.

Knowing full well that he had heard and was probably confused, she ventured no explanation. It wasn't often that her own cynicism was directed at herself, and Alexis felt no need to deepen the cut with more such words.

Instead, her eyes slid slowly open, meeting his patient gaze. A small quirk of a smile teased the corner of her lips as he obviously waited for answer. A raising of one slim wrist brought the serving maid bustling to their table.

"It's Alexis. I hope ye aren't askin fer more than that, cause it's all I got. Call myself Alexis o' the Vale, and answer ta it though I'd think ye'd not be needing more than the first name."

She could see the question already forming in his stormy eyes. Inquisitive this one was. Before he could even ask, the answer was at the edge of her lips, being given freely.

"The Vale o' the Unseen. Surely ye've heard of it?"

Several heads turned at that. The Vale of the Unseen was hardly a widely travelled region, home to both elves and gypsies as it were, neither really welcoming to visitors. A soft muttering passed throughout the barroom, this new news passing from ear to ear faster than perhaps even she could have spread it.
The bard dismissed the gossip with an intensity born of distaste. While Byron's story was not entirely what she had expected, she still felt a pang of longing when comparing it to her own.

Turning to the stunned barmaid, the uncommonly silent half-elf removed a pair of pewter tankards from her heavy tray. Her mouth opening silently to voice a protest, the wench never noticed the simple slight of hand that displaced the brace of mugs, leaving a pair of silvers in their place. A wink and a half smile set the poor girl to checking again.

Blushing thin shade of scarlet and bowing slightly despite her monstrous load, the barmaid scurried off, eager to appease the other patrons of the room in her never ending quest for the occasional coin.

As she cradled her mug in one hand, Alexis handed the other to Byron. Her own hand pulling away as he reached for it, almost reflexively it lifted to tug nervously at her eyepatch.

"About a month ago, I was travellin' with a friend o' mine. Dinnae get along well with one o' the other travellers I was supposed ta be mates with. It ended rather violently, though neither of us got hurt."

Alexis paused to take a slow pull from her mug before continuing. Anger clouded her one emerald eye, her eyebrows knitting as her normally jovial face scowled darkly.

"Disgraced him then, and every day thereafter fer how he treated me. Not sorry fer it either. Though it seems some o' his family been takin a dislike ta me. Not that I care, I'm a big girl."

Almost as if proving her point, her scowl brightened suddenly. Tilting her chin and baring her throat to him, Alexis pounded down the remainder of her mug's contents, slamming the heavy metal down hard on the table as the last of the warm liquid slid easily down her throat.

The door burst open then, the bard spinning around in her chair, every muscle in her body tensed. It wouldn't be the first time trouble had come looking for her in her own place of belonging.....

The man who entered paused for just a moment, scanning the tavern hall as if looking for someone. The room fell eerily silent as each of its occupants returned the man's scrutiny, trying to find out just what sort of a visitor had come upon them.

To his credit, the bard found him ruggedly handsome, though in a different way from Byron. While the mercenary's charm had definately been in his frankness and honest concern, Alexis had played in noblemen's villa's to recognize the man's regal aura. To an untrained eye, he may have been just another road worn traveller, but to Alexis.....he could have been wearing rags and she'd have seen through it all.

Not like this man was really trying to hide anything. A broadsword encrusted with rubies and probably worth more than the bard could make in a month hung at his side.

I need to know where a female bard is and her companion,anything you know can help.Also get me some of your best wine,I defiantly need a drink and...please dont ask about how I look,its been a long day"

The keen hearing of the elven born is often overlooked, a lesson Alexis learned early in life. Yet even as she turned to mutter something to Byron, her own whispers were drowned out by a sudden torrent of murmuring from the crowd....

Too curious to finish what she was saying, she glanced back at the bar. What she saw there caused her one emerald orb to widen in surprise and alarm. Was he actually foolish enough to pay in gold here?

Glancing nervously around, she scanned the faces of those surrounding her now. Mostly farmers and a few guardsmen, the bard quickly took note of the few avarice filled visages she saw. Many of these men wouldn't think twice to resort to violence for a quick profit, though few would do so if they thought they couldn't finish the deed by the time the city guard showed up.

It wasn't until she actually looked for him that she noticed that Byron had moved to stand beside her. Startled, she mused for just a second on how such a large man could move so quietly in all that armor. Her abstract thoughts ended abruptly as she noticed a similar look of concern on his face, the warrior's eyes actively searching for trouble.

A deft flick of fingers removed the room key from the cuff of her dress, her tiny hand sliding easily into Byron's. Not daring to look at the warrior bodyguard, she only hoped he understood her meaning as she gently pushed his hand away from her. The room numbers had been etched into the bronze surface of the smallish key, Alexis could only hope that he could convince Salina to help out in this before she clobbered him for entering her room. The bard frowned as she dearly hoped that it didn't come to that, both of her long knives still lay in their sheaths in her room.

Forcing herself to remain calm, she reached for the leather strap on her shoulder. After all, the one thing she knew well was how to influence emotion.....perhaps a distraction was in order......

Peeling the protective leather from her instrument, Alexis slowly closed her eyes, the words of a special song coming immediately to mind. As the first low note sprang into being, heads turned to stare in her direction.

It seemed the man would find his bard, as the patrons found their evening encore....

 

[Butch]

The man that had entered had a possessed though tired look in his eyes. Byron instantly sensed that the man could mean trouble. He had the look of a man who knew what he wanted and stopped at nothing to get it. Fancy sword too. He'd probably stolen it.
When Byron heard what the man wanted from Alexis' whisper, his alertness went through the roof. He'd never thought that he'd be protecting his new friend, Alexis, so soon. He rose from his chair in the manner he'd picked up during the years, without attracting any attention, and suddenly stood beside Alexis; Alexis of the Vale, his new and unarmed companion. He only stood there, waiting, appearently doing nothing, but if a fight would ensue he'd have taken his axe from off his back in less than a second.

Alexis, startled though she was, seemed to have a different plan all together. She did not turn to face him, clever girl, and handed him a small key just like the one he himself had gotten for his room at the inn.
Byron did not want to leave her like this; she looked as though she could hold her own in a small battle but now she was unarmed and there was no knowing which side the bystanders were going to take in a seedy place like this. But she was his new mistress and they rarely hired him for his opinions.

Still sneaking through the establishment Byron made his way to the stairs. No one would suspect that he and Alexis had been sharing a table less than a minute ago. That was when he heard it. Was she crazy or just suicidal? She begun playing her lyre again. She was going to attract the stares of everyone in the room. Byron decided to hurry to the room. He read the number on the key, found the room and turned the key in the lock. As he opened the door he also gave it a little knock:

"Excuse me, miss." Byron said with a quiet yet deciseful voice "You're friend Alexis of the Vale kinda told me to go get you ASAP. I dunno why she didden let me protect her, but I ain't one to argue. And ain't too comftable leaving her down there by herself for too long either."

 

[Sky Jade]

Salina had decided to sharpened her dagger some while she waited on Alexis and was in the middle of it when she heard the door open, and unfamiliar voice. She shifted and and leaped up, holding the dagger as she prepared to defend herself as the black stranger revealed hmself and started talking.

She lowered her guard and slipped her dagger into her sheath as he finished speaking. She gave a little smile and shook her head gently for a moment.

"Alexis is a very capable lady who can take take care of herself."

She paused for a moment as the sounds of Alexi's playing came up from downstairs.

"Her playing is like magic, being able to capitvate and hold people in rapture. Well, let's go see what's so important. "

She checked herself for a moment, having her dagger sheathed, as well as her magical sword. She stepped past the stranger and out into the hall, moving down the hall with a slight sway to her body. She wasn't doing it to show off, but it helped her stay move agile in her opinion. She stopped for a moment at the bottom of the stairs, smiling as she listened to Alexis's music before making her way towards her.

 

[roleplaylifer]

A very busy bard.

As the first of the magical notes spilled out amongst the crowd, the subtle weaving of melody and chorus gradually began easing the tensions of the barroom. Greed and avarice, indeed any hostile intent that had been roused a second ago, now faded into nothingness as one by one heads turned back to her.....

Alexis sat calmly on the edge of one bar table, easily within the grasp of several of the ragged crowd, though no one moved towards her yet. Her voice rose and fell like a cresting wave upon the ocean as she coaxed each precious note both from her lyre and her own voice. Only the hardened glare she gave the newcomer indicated that she did not do this performance for pleasure. An almost imperceptable nudging of her head could be interpreted that he should exit for the moment while the time was still convenient.

As the last turn of the refrain swept its way through the crowded room, the spell began wearing off. Almost immediately, the bard was caught up in a shower of small coin as even the poorest amongst them shared the desire to donate for the brief moment of bliss she had given them.

And then they were there. It seems that her pet mercenary had returned, Salina following all too curiously. Frowning softly, the only indication of displeasure as she regarded her old companion, she turned to scan the crowd once more.

The nobleman, if indeed that is what he was, had wisely taken her cue. Exiting the tavern swiftly, the half-elf could only hope that he hadn't gone too far. He had been looking for her after all, and Alexis was of the opinion that by now she deserved an explanation.

Grinning back at the princess as she finished her explanation of the evening's events in Salina's absence, the bard even remembered to include an introduction of Byron.....confused about him as she still was.

"So what do ye think? I fer one don't think Orion'd be lookin so openly fer me, or his kin fer that matter. A knife in the back struck me as his style. Perhaps we should go lookin fer him.....and perhaps we should discourage some o' these get rich quick folks who got the same thoughts?"

The twinkle of mischief was back in her eyes as her full lips split into a wide grin.

Her bath would have to wait.

 

[TheScarletBlade]

Valens had listened to the music with only a mild bit of intrest,having been raised in the palace he had heard more music like the woman's than most of the people in the room.He had to compliment her though,she seemed to get the attention of other people yet Valens was not affected by the music as somewhere.

His hawk like green eyes picked up her cue,a slight nod towards the door.He figured she had played to keep the poor audience from mobbing him for his money.Valens had felt like he should have stayed,unafriad to take on a couple of poor soldiers and a couple of filthy mercs.Finally,turning swiftly,his blue cape flourishing behind him as he strode through the door.He had finally realized that he had nothing to prove to anyone by staying and he might lose his chance at meeting the beautiful bard after the song.

After he had come through the door,he realized it was dark.It must have had been somewhere around 11.It was darker than usual and the stars above did not shine.Bleak gray clouds rolled over head and made a layer over the moon,its silver rays consumed.Entering the main street of the town,he walked over to his dark black charger and started to fiddle with the straps on his saddle when he saw movement by a window on the side of the tavern,in a dark alley.It seemed only like a shadow yet he knew shadows don't move without something making them move.

Pulling his shield off the straps on his saddle,Valens strapped it on to his arm.Shaking his arm to make sure it was secure,he stood stright up,with perfect posture,he made his way around the corner,his hand on the golden hilt of his sword.With a stone-like facial expression and a scary look in his eyes.Like he had expected,four figures dressed in all black stood around the corner,one man halfway through the side window.

"Whats going on" Valens demanded as he stood facing the three men that turned to look at him.He couldn't see their faces because of their large black hoods.One man stepped foreward,he looked important because of the one silver patch on his dark black cloak.

In a hushed voice,like that the really hard core bad guys use,the Assassian stepped right infront of Valens,his eyes filled with dark intent as he looked over the young prince and finally spoke "You need to stay on the road sir and walk off.These are dark times and I would not want for you to get injured because you strayed off the main road."

Each of the three men facing Valens drew out a silver shortsword,holding them in killing posture in their deft hands.Smirking,Valens only shook his head "We don't want to do this,I really don't want to kill you all" yet deep down he wanted to bath in the mens blood.He didn't know why and he wasn't really into killing people yet he knew what these people were here for.They were like the assassians that attacked him and would be comming for the queen or whoever important that bard knew.

Raising his shield,he swung his arm,blocking the initial attacks of the men.Kicking the man hanging halfway through window,sending him crashing into the tavern.Taking steps back,retreating ground in the alleyway,he made for the street.Following him were only two men.The other man had went in threw the window after the fourth man.They were probably running into the tavern to continue their mission.

Knowing he didn't have long,he had to dispatch these two.They looked to be the runts of the group,the leader having slipped into the window.Drawing his blade straight out of his sheath,the blade hummed as it went to work.Deflecting a strike with his shield,he smoothly spun around and slashed his sword out.The steel blade slashed right across the back of the mans leg,bringing him to his knees.Spinning the other way,he knocked the other mans sword out of the way and brought the blade around as he came around,bringing the sword into the kneeling mans chest.The blade went clean through the mans ribs,into his heart and out the back.Convulsing,the man slid backwards,following the momentum of the blade.

Ducking his head,Valens took a deep breath as a blade whipped right infront of his face.The other man had recovered and was comming in hard,blade leading.Yanking his sword out of the man's body,he angled it up to deflect the man's blade.Halting his backwards advance,he lifted his shield and went head long against his enemy.His lightweight sword dancing in a circle of high and low strikes.Wearing his opponent out and sending the man into a corner.With no where to go,the man tried to fight off Valen's blade but Valens found a hole in the man's defense and took it,sending his blade through the man's throat into the wall behind him.

Discarding his shield,Valens drew the blade from the still warm corpse.He turned towards the door of the tavern and rushed madly towards it.He had taken long enough on the two men that the others could have killed whoever he needed to protect by then.Running up the short flight of steps,he barrelled through the door into the tavern,sword drawn,blood dripping off the masterwork blade,sweat beating down his brow...hoping he was in time.

 

[roleplaylifer]

The throng of humanity inside the tavern parted easily for her as Alexis headed for the door. Curiousity had always been her greatest fault. Unfortunately it was the driving force behind her actions now. Glancing behind her to check that her companions were still with her, the bard gave the tavern door a good pull.

She almost didn't see him in time.

With a triumphant cry, a man swaddled all in black lunged forward towards her, the glint of steel sparking brightly against his dark clothes as the polished metal caught the firelight of the room's inner torches.

With a startled cry, Alexis managed to sidestep her unknown assailant's rush at the last second, the man's short sword slashing a wide swath through her expensive gown and narrowly missed striking her flesh.

Backing hastily away in her unarmed state, the bard breathed a sigh of relief as Byron intervened. Not one to sit and watch the show while remaining unarmed, Alexis beat a hasty retreat back to her room. Perhaps she could help out more if she could retrieve her weapons and what few tricks she had available. Somehow, she had lost sight of Salina in the clamor and uproar that ensued from steel being drawn in a public place, the tavernhall now a tumult of screams as everyone sought sanctuary from the impending violence.

As the door to her room swung open, so preoccupied was she that Alexis never noticed the lengthy shadow that moved slowly across the far wall of the room. Moving with purpose, she made for the saddlebags and discarded leathers she had piled in a corner of the room. Only as she bent to retrieve the first of her long knives, still cursing at the ruin of her dress, did the bard stiffen slightly at a sharp prick at her backside.

Straightening instantly, a low lewd chuckled drifted to her ears.

"So this is what all the fuss is about. I'm almost sorry to have to kill you."

Despite being in dire straits, Alexis somehow found her situation funny, but not nearly as amusing as the plan already formulating in her mind to get out of this predicament. Smiling sweetly, even though he was behind her, her melodious voice was unmistakable in its mockery as she teased her opponent.

"You're gonna stab me in the back? A woman no less?"

She could almost envision his sneer as the knife point pressed harder against her skin.

"Wouldn't be the first time I've done someone in the back. But if it really matters to you, turn around. I can finish you off looking you in the eyes too, does seem like a waste though. Just make sure when you stand, you're not holding that blade anymore, bitch. I'd hate to end this prematurely."

Nodding, Alexis let the knife's hilt slide openly from her hand, knowing that any good assassin would see that as the immediate threat. Daring to think that his attention would be on her disposal of her weapon, tanned fingers reached slowly for the knot of her sash, the fabric falling away easily.....

She stood slowly, so as not to alarm him. Turning softly, she donned her best seductive smile as their gazes met briefly. Instinctively the man's eyes fluttered downward to her blouse, its top cut deeply to accentuate the cleavage of her full breasts. Extending her hands to either side, she took care not to draw attention to the sash......

Whistling in appreciation the knife's edge crept in closer.....parting the fabric of her blouse slightly.....

Rocking back on one heel suddenly, she could almost anticipate the man's response. Sure enough, his face twisted in hatred as he lunged hard, hoping to skewer her in one blow.

While hardly her usual choice of weapon, Alexis weilded the sash with a practice ease. She would have preferred the coil of cable that she had packed away in her bags, but in leiu of her garrote, she would have to make due.

Wrapping the expensive fabric around the wrist of the man as he lunged, the bard used the momentum of his lunge to spin inward, keeping the knife in front of her at all times. For just a moment, the small of her back was against his chest, before a hard elbow smashed backward into the assassin's face.

The silent room burst suddenly into a string of colorful profanity as the rogue's nose burst under the attack, blood streaming down his face even as he struggled to free himself. Fortunately.....he carried two blades......

 

[Butch]

Alexis seemed dead set on following the strange man outside. But she wasn't going to do it by herself. He looked way to shady for Byron's taste.
Just as she opened the door Byron felt a hostile presence just outside. The assasin burst through the door with his blade in front of him, Alexis just barely sidestepping him, and proved an easy target for Byron. Using the assasin's speed and force to his advantage, Byron grabbed him by his throat and sent his skull straight into the vault of the door, knocking him out cold.

"Quick!" Byron yelled towards Salina "Alexis is unarmed. Help her. I've got the door covered."

Meanwhile another assasin came flying through a side window. But this one didn't move. Was someone else on his their side? Byron's thoughts were interrupted as another, conscius, assasin came through that same window. He leapt toward the stairs in a brave, but stupid, jump. Byron's massive double axe made sure he never made it all the way.

"Everybody! Get outta here! We don't wanna kill no innocents!"

He figured that, since no one else had done it, it was his duty to clear the vicinity. Just then a short, but well aimed throwing knife hit him in the back. It barely pierced his thick leather armor and only left the tiniest scratch but Byron didn't much like having knives in his back. It was just the thing to tick him off.

"You sonnova..." he said as he turned and sent his heavy axe into the fore head of his assailant. "Hitting in the back's low even for an assasin."

Byron ran over to the stairs just in time to stop yet another assasin from reaching Alexis. He grabbed the man by the ankles and sent him flying over the counter of the inn. There was just enough time for him to run over to the man he had just finished of and pull his axe from out of his skull.

"Haven't you gotten it yet? To get to her, you gots to get thru me." This caused two of the assasins equipped with twin daggers to come flying straight at him. He sidestepped the one to his left hitting him in the back of his head with the hard steel shaft of his axe. This, however, allowed the other man free access to his unprotected right flank. The assasin managed to slash his right thigh. Apparantely he didn't suspect Byron to still be standing after that as he let guard down just long enough for Byron to swing his axe in the direction of his scrotom. What followed was one the most painful screams he had ever heard. Byron suddenly remembered why he was fighting and ran like the wind up the stairs.

"ALEXIS!!!" he screamed on the top his lungs. She just had to be ok or he'd never be able to forgive himself.

 

[roleplaylifer]

He may have had a second weapon, but the control of their combined momentum still belonged to the bard.

The almost imperceptable sound of a well oiled blade sliding from a hidden sheath had been missed by many a dead mark. But none of them had elvish blood running through their veins.

While not quite as keen as her sire's, Alexis was more than able to detect the slight warning. Twisting away from her attacker just in time to avoid his second lunge, the newly revealed stilletto carving a small trail across one shapely forearm as she continued her spin.

The assassin's other hand still tightly bound within the sash, the stocky human grunted in pain as the half-elf's dance brought her behind him, his arm twisted awkwardly behind his back.

In desperation, he struck blindly. Reversing his grip on the hilt of the stilletto, the assassin stabbed backward, hoping to at least free himself of the hold she had on him. Where the hell had a half-elven whore learned to fight like this? Already his hand had begun to turn purple, tightened silk thoroughly cutting off any blood circulation to the appendage. Slowly, the wicked point of his knife drooped lower.....before sliding finally from between his deadened fingers. She didn't have long to wait......the man's body tensing suddenly as she twisted hard on his imprisoned wrist.

Even as he turned, she lashed out as hard as she could in this position. Alexis winced in pain as her foot connected solidly with the back of one knee, the impact clearly felt through the thin soles of her dress shoes. Grunting heavily, the bard hauled back hard even as her opponent's knee buckled....

She couldn't help but be impressed by the larger man's control. Already she heard heavy footsteps outside the door. Despite the pain of the floor rushing up to meet him as his leg collapsed, the assassin didn't let any more than a soft grunt show for the obvious agony she must have caused him.

Noises from outside the door, faint a moment ago, increased in volume by the second. For just a moment the bard frowned. If there were more enemies coming to help there friend here, she'd be in real trouble.....

A second later, and she could hear her name being screamed, its long duration slightly tremorous yet in regular intervals. The bard's frown rapidly turned into a thin smile of relief. Someone's reinforcements indeed......Byron was on his way, and with him, hopefully Salina.

"Just kill me, bitch."

Alexis cocked a curious eye at her captive. The man's leg was twisted awkwardly beneath him, ligaments no doubt torn upon his landing. Again she couldn't help but respect his tolerance to pain, not a tremor in the man's steely voice.

Even as she opened her mouth to respond, to let him know that she had no intention of killing him until she had found out just what he had been doing there, the bard's eyes caught the flash of steel at just the last second as he struck again.

Knowing there was no real leverage in the blow this time, the bard grimaced as she shifted her weight to her other side. The tip of the blade bit deep into her left side, coaxing a soft hiss of pain from otherwise tight lips.

Sliding her hand easily down the length of fabric she held, with a deft twist he was free. Seconds later, the assassin realized her true purpose as the blackened silk looped unexpectedly around his throat.......

Blood leaking from her wound, her dress torn in several inconvenient and revealing places, she called upon every iota of strength she had left to summon from her legs......

Slowly he began to rise from his crumpled position, the stilletto forgotten in his sudden desire to breath. Spasming fingers clutched tightly at the slippery fabric even as his tongue protruded from his mouth. Hauling upward with everything she had, Alexis clung to him, keeping her viselike grip on the one thing he needed to remain living.

And denying it.

All else was ignored, the pain in his knee and hand mere insignificances as the assassin struggled. Clawed fingers tore at his own throat as he sought escape, each attempt draining him just a little more.......

The door burst open then, Byron and Salina entering obviously expecting the worst.

Flailing limbs thrashed the air for a second more, before falling limply to the man's side. Spent beyond even her belief, the bard held on for just long enough to ensure her tormentor a more permanent death, before releasing the body to crumple to the bedroom floor boards.

Turning she gave Salina and Byron a grim smile. Almost as an afterthought, she reached up to replace her eyepatch, its normally protective surface knocked askew in the struggle. The sickly pale green eye beneath covered once more, her next instinctive move was to her hip. Frowning softly at the puncture, thin fingers did little to staunch the thin but steady flow of blood.

Each step towards them was agony, a muscle obviously damaged. Alexis gritted her teeth even as her friends moved towards her.......

 

[Sky Jade]

Salina tilted her head for a moment as the man Byron was talking about had suddenly left out the door in a hurry. She shrugged for a moment and wondered why she had even bothered if their 'seeker' had decided to leave them so quickly. Since her immediate attentaion wasn't needed, she ordered another mug of ale from the barkeeper. She leaned her shapely body back against the bar as she enjoyed the ale for a short time.

Once Alexis had finished her song, she finished her ale as well. She was about to move to follow after Bryon and her frined when everything seem to go crazy. She leapt onto a table and then climbed up onto one of the rafters so that she could take a better view of the situation. She watched Bryon take care of the assasins eaily with a few swings of his axe and then smiled. She had developed a sixth sense of her surroundings from an early age, so it was difficult for an enemy to approach her from behind, as now was no exception.

"It's not nice to sneak up on a lady."

She slowly pulled her sword out of it's sheath before she jabbed it backwards. The blade of themagical sword was engulfed in flames in the same instant and she was rewarded with the smell of burning flesh. With a quick flick of her wrist, the assasin gurgled his last breath as he was burn-severed from his stomach, and up through his heart out his shoulder. The body hit the floor the same time as Byron yelled and ran up the stairs after Alexis.

Salina shook her head as the wooden door burst open and the stranger man burst in, his masterwork sword dripping with blood. Her sword died down as she resheathed it and dropped down to the floor a few feet from the man.

"It seems you missed all the fun in here. Anways, if you want to see the bard, follow me."

She gave a grin to the bewildered man and turned, following after Byron. She stepped up behind Byron and peeked around into the room. She tsked softly at the waste of food from the fight and grinned for a moment at the sight of the dead body. She squeezed around Byron and moved to Alexis.

"Let's get you on the bed so I can heal your wounds. And we have a visitor as well."

 

[Gabe619]

New character

Hey Guys RPL asked me to post my character detail here first so you could all have a look before posting anything, so please see below

Name: Rathe
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 90lb
HC: Black (cut real short)
EC: Grey
Race: Human
Occupation: Thief

Hope you like and if it gets a thumbs up I'll start posting. Meantime I'll start reading backposts

 

[TheScarletBlade]

Valens had finally burst through the door to find the scene diffused and the tavern mostly empty accept for the hardass looking mercs.They seemed unaffected by the fighting and watched and waited.Finally making his way to the stairs,stepping regally with his head held high,his masterly crafted blade sliding into the night black sheath at his left hip.

Making his way across the room smoothly,he was almost a foot or two away from the stairs when four mercs formed a barrier infront of the stairs.The were all tough looking men with dirt on their faces and stern looking faces.They had looked him over and decided he had a lot of money and with his appearant faitigue,they thought they could jump him.Stepping foreward,the leader of the four spoke up as he got into Valens' face.

"I need you to fork over everything you have and do it quickly or you will not enjoy this very much.We know your a brilliant fighter but you cannot fight in your state.So surrender your sword,you money and we can let you live" The man said as he got closer and closer,until he was right infront of Valen's face,his hot and smelly breath splashing into the noble prince's face.Standing unwavering or unmoving,the prince just looked the men in the face and finally he spoke in a commanding voice:

"You filth,remove yourself from my sight before you met the wrong of the sword you want so bad" The prince said intensly as he drew the beautiful blade that seemed to hum as it was drawn.Valen's was told his blade was magical yet he never knew what it did.His father said it had something to do with becomming quicker and stronger,granting the wielder powers unknown but only when the wielder was in trouble.Fresh blood from the assassians rolled down the blade as the prince held it pointed down,blood slowly dropping to the wooden floor.

The men took a step back and drew their own blades.They were shoddy and were no where close to the brilliance of Rising Sun yet they would take a limb off if they needed to.Setting his other hand into his side pouch, Valens lifted his blade and got it ready to strike.Comming on quickly,the first of the mercs came foreward with his sword held high,yelling."Amatuer" Valens remarked as his blade shot out like a coiled snake striking its prey,the blade shooting into the mans chest,through the ribs and out the back,just past the spinal cord by a milimeter on the left side.Yanking fiercly,he drew the blade out as another one came on.He raised the blade just in time to intercept the blade.Solidly connecting with the incomming sword,Valen's held it in a lock as another came for his exposed side.

"If you want it,HAVE IT" Valen's said as he threw a handful of gold peices at the mans face,stunning him and causing him to stumble.As the peices of gold clanked to the floor,the fourth merc looked down at the pieces.Giving him a much needed second,Valen fell to his knees,cutting out at the mans legs,causing him to fall as he suddenly lost a leg.Whipping the blade back around,he fell to the side and jabbed it up through the stumbling mercs groin and into his small intestine.Screeching in a high pitched voice,the man fell to the ground.

Bringing his blade over to intercept the last mercs sword,he put a hand on the horizontal blade as he tried to push the man off of him.Finally jerking to the side,he rolled to the side and was on his feet.Smirking,he picked up a stool and began to fight off the last ones blade.Fluiently working his way around tables,fighting the mans blade off,he found an opening.Slamming the stool into the side of the mans head,breaking it into peices,another body thudded to the floor.

Taking a deep breath,Valens leaned on his sword for support as he looked around the room,dead assassians and injured mercs laying all around.He thought he looked bad from riding all the way here but not,covering in blood and with torn clothes,he looked even worse.

 

[Butch]

OOC: Gabe's char gets an ok from me. We need a thief.

IC:Bursting through the door Byron's face instantly got covered in fear. Alexis had been cut. And pretty deep too.

"Alexis? Are you alright?"

He could see that she was in deep pain and remembered his own wound. But that could wait. Alexis was his top priority now. Byron's knowledge of tending wounds was elementary at best. Just then Salina spoke:

"Let's get you on the bed so I can heal your wounds. And we have a visitor as well."

"Yeah. Don't move. I'll handle it."

Byron made sure Alexis wouldn't have to take another step. He lifted her up into his arms, with great consideration of the wound (even though his knowledge was limited he knew not to poke into it or get infected), and carried her over to the bed.

"So, Salina?" he asked, adressing the girl for the first time "Are you well versed in the arts of healing herbology? No offense, but we seem to be low on those kinds of supplies."

Byron came from a part of the world where the strength of man had always ruled. He hadn't ever actually seen magic first hand and had been brought up to believe that it was kind of dirty. Thus, he seemed shocked when he found out that Salina meant healing by magic. But for now he acted as the true gentleman he was.

"I'll wait outside when you tend to her." he said to Salina "Call me if ya need anathing. I couldn't tell a dandelion from a mandrake but I'm real good at carrying stuff. You take good care of her now y'hear!"

He did what he had promised and waited outside the door. No one was gonna get in on his watch. Well, they would if Salina or Alexis wanted them to. But what were the odds of that ever happening?

 

[roleplaylifer]

sweet healing.

Embarrassment was yet another emotion that didn't come easily to Alexis.....

Yet as Byron scooped her up in his thick arms, obvious concern clouding his face, the normally brazen and immodest half-elf felt the curious tingle of a blush slowly beginning its spread across her ruddy cheeks.

Salina's more flippant attitude was a little closer to home, snapping the bard out of the awkward pause even as she was deposited gently on the bed. Though the dark-skinned warrior had gone to great lengths to be careful, a soft hiss of pain still escaped the bard's lips as her weight settled, aggravating the wound further.

Without missing a beat, he was gone. Alexis barely had time to thank him, her whispered words gone unheard as Byron hastily moved to protect the doorway from whatever new "guest" approached.

Her back arched, her one good eye going hazy for just a second as agonizing pain ripped through her left side. Biting down on her lower lip to keep from crying out, the salty tang of blood flavored her mouth as her mind snapped back to the present.

The princess had really little trouble with the bard's now ruined dress, the fabric torn and slashed in several places. Strangely enough, Alexis showed no sign of modesty at all, caring little for the amount of skin that showed through the damaged garment. Lithe fingers prodded her wound, seeking sign of any poison the thug she had battled may have coated his blade with.

Finding none, the healing began, albeit slowly. Gently, the priestess massaged the surrounding muscles, coaxing them to relax. A soft sigh of relief turning into an almost imperceptable moan as gradually the pain deadened......

 

[Gabe619]

OOC: mistake

My apologies, it seems I errored in posting to this thread after getting the ok to do so. Please let me know if you do or do not want my character on board?

Cheers

Gabe

 

[Gabe619]

Second time lucky

Rathe had been having a relaxing evening, admittedly it was financed with the merchants purse he had liberated earlier that day, but then the man had been charging extortionate prices from his clients. It might do him good to go without for a short time, and it made Rathe's life a little easier. Anyway he had sat in a shadowy corner, wrapped in his black cloak, enjoying the Bards music as much as he'd enjoyed watching her body. She was stunning, but then he'd always had a failing for elves and even though she was obviously only half elven, she had all the right curves for the young man to fantasise about later.

The peace wasn't to last though as a large man in ornate armour and with obvioulsy far to much money for his own good had arrived and made his wealth known to every patron by flashing gold at the bar. Rathe had sat up a little straighter at this. he didn't normally rob warriors, they tended to take that kind of thing very personal to the degree of parting the thiefs hands from his arms. This particular warrior though was just asking for trouble. The Bard had begun singing a song so amazing and beautiful that Rathe's thoughts of stealing had seeped away and he had relaxed back in his chair as the tall warrior had stumped out of the inn. The song ending, the Bard and her new black companion had made to follow the fool with the gold only to have a nasty shock as they opened the door.

Chaos ensued for a time as black garbed assassins, and not very good ones either to attack their prey up front, poured into the room. The black man took care of most of them although Rathe did notice one depart through the window he had arrived by and disappear back outside. This move saved his life as his collegues fell quickly to the black warriors axe. Rathe still sat silently, watching everything, but doing nothing, although he did lossen his crossbow at his belt just in case. Finally the black man disappeared up the stairs to the next floor as the warrior with the flashy sword and the money reappeared through the inns entrance. He was wounded and made to follow the black man up the stairs only to be stopped by some mercs. Rathe knew these guys, they were not that smart, but they tended to make up for that by their brutality. Time to go, he thought, and slid unseen out of the door into the night beyond.

It was very dark as low, thick clouds scudded across the sky. It would rain soon, you could smell it in the air. Rathe moved into some shadows as he let his eyes become accustomed to the blackness, and it was then that he saw the unconscious stable boy liying on some hay next to one of the inns horses. Moving silently over he chekced the lad and saw a nasty bump forming on the back of his head, but apart from that he seemed ok, his breathing was deep and even. Flicking his eyes around for the assailant, a low scraping of tiles made Rathe look up at the lit windows of the Inns first floor.

Moving stealthily along the windows, pausing at each one to look in, was a dark form. Quickly, Rathe climed up the stables wall and onto the roof before loping quietly across it. This figure, silohetted against the firelight within the rooms was obviously up to no good, and although he may be a theif, Rathe was a thief with a conscience ... well sometimes. He had just got level with the dark shadowy form when it produced a crossbow similar to Rathes from within the shrouds of its cloak. Another assassin then, but smarter than his fellows. He had obviously found his target as he pulled the window open slightly and raised his crossbow. He fired, but never hit his quarry, the bolt from Rathes crossbow in the back of his neck kind of put his aim off slightly. The dead assassin fell through window and into the room beyond with a thud as Rathe ran forward and stpped onto the windowsill to see who had been the mans target. he found himself looking upon the Bard who lay on a bed, her dress slashed and torn and revealing far to much of her body as the redness blossoming on Rathes young face attested to. Beside her, seemingly treating the half elfs wound was another beautiful woman of such grace and majesty that it actually took Rathes breath away for a second. Then his eyes focused and he gave them his best smile.

"Sorry for the interuption ladies." He said hopping down inside the room and bowing low as he quickly put his crossbow away to show he had no bad intentions. "I think that gentleman meant you no good though."

 

[Sky Jade]

After Byron placed Alexis on the bed and then left, she went about attending to her friend. Making sure Alexis was somewhat comfortable, despite the pain, she used one of her daggers to cut the tattered fabric carefully away from the wound. She shook her head softly at the sight of it and then ran her gfingers gently over the elf's soft skin. She whispered softly, casting a spell to make sure and neutralize any posion that escaped her immediate scan and then began healing her. A soft warming sensation spread around the wound, slowly stopping the bleeding and slowly closing the wound.

However her concetration was interrupted by the feeling of an arrow missing her left cheek by mere centimeters. Her hands pulled from Alexis's side, one going for the dagger she left on the bed, the other hand for a second dagger at her left hip. She jerked around at the sound of a loud thump on the floor, one of the daggers flying and hitting the wall next to the window as a warning. Due to Selina's hieghten state at the moment, Rathe's little enternce hadn't exactly been the best move for him to do. In addition to protecting her hurt friend, she wasn't too keen on attacks from behind. She heard his words and his freindness, but she wasn't going to let her guard down for that.

"It doesn't really matter that the assasin here was up to no good, what matters is that you came in uninvitied, and through the window. Now, I'm only going to say this once, leave or you'll get a little hurt yourself. Understand?"

She held her dagger up towards his throat, her other hand on her sword as she waited on his response.

 

[Gabe619]

"Um, so this is the thanks I get for saving your life?" Rathe asked nervously as the blade touched the skin of his throat. His eyes flicked between the steel and the womans cold eyes. Obviously it was.

"Very well then, if you will allow me to depart, mi'lady, I'll be sure not to make the same mistake again. However I would advise you to find someone to watch your backs, someone whos used to ... shadow play, should we say. That is if you think you may have this problem for a while. It would be a sin to allow a woman of your beauty to be taken from the world." With this he nodded carefully to the dead assassin on the floor as he raised an eyebrow.

"My names Rathe by the way, just in case you ever feel yourselves in need of my services. Honest thief by proffesion ... and no that isn't a contradiction in terms." He said with a bright smile as he backed toward the door of the room his hands out by his side to show he meant no harm.

 

[TheScarletBlade]

Rage burned through his viens as he made his way slowly up the stairs,his black hair drenched with the blood of wicked,small droplets of blood dripping down his dirty cheeks like tears of blood.He stood tall as he climbed the spiral stairs,his wet cloak flopping against the back of his leg and his armor's silver brilliance marred by dirt and blood,the golden sun emblem no longer sparkling.

Flame flickered in his eyes,his rage like a wild fire reflected in the pit of his eyes.Today had been a horrible day for the young prince.His hand gripped the golden hilt of his blade,rubies and diamonds still sparkling in the dim torch light as the he finally reached the top of the stairs.Stepping into the hall,the blade held with the point held pointing down,blood dripping off the blade,splatting on the nice carpet of the tavern,leaving a trail behind him.

It had been a long time since he had seen a man of color.He stopped dead in his tracks,his facial expression turning into one of mild hatred and suprise to see standing infront of the door,a man of color.A wicked smirk finally spreading across the princes' face,he rolled his neck to one side,popping it.Striding towards the door,he walked tall with his head held high and a noble air around him.Despite the blood,the worn clothes and rugged out look,he seemed every bit of a prince and anyone could tell.

Comming to stand infront of the door,he spun his blade and set the point of the blade to the ground.Standing up,he looked up at the man,he was a little bit taller yet when it came to force of will,the prince looked down upon the man.Valens' had a fierce look,his intensity mirrored in his cold eyes as they locked with the man's infront of the door.

"What are you doing here? Your an Abomination..You don't belong here infront of this door,unless your there servant boy nor do you deserve the right to a blade.You deserve to be serving for my father in his palace.Now step aside" The prince said as he spit in the taller man's eye,a sign of great disrespect.Caught off gaurd by the display,it wasn't hard for the prince to push through the man and into the room,his blade following him,remaining point down yet still unsheathed.

What happened when he came in was not like he expected.He came in finding another beautiful woman in the room,though she was nothing like the bard in character,the prince could easily tell though she was dressed similarly to the bard,
they both were obviously wandering around togather and there clothes and equipment strewn around the room proved it.Also,he found the woman with a short sword pointed towards a man garbed a lot like an assassian.Jumping to the call of a possible threat,his blade hummed to life as he took a rushed step towards the man,taking a step behind him so he had no where to go.

Setting the blood stained steel to the back of the man's neck,the prince took a look at the man's shoulder and found no silver arch on it.Taking a step back,he pointed the blade back towards the floor.Side stepping he came around to look at the dark garbed man.

"You are no Silver Arch assassian yet you are dressed like a thief,might I ask you what the hell you are doing here" The prince said forcefully,as if he were commanding someone in his court,his peircing glare meeting the assassian's eyes as he stood there in silence waiting for the answer.He knew the other woman in the room would know who he was,she had seen him before and a lot of people in a villiage close to this one could reconigze the Rising Sun emblem on his breastplate as the person insignia of the Valens,Prince of Ashagaldan.

 

[Gabe619]

"Actually your are correct on all points oh great one." Rathe said sarcastically never taking his eyes from the young woman and the blade she still held at his throat.

"I am a thief, a good one at that, and proud of it I might say. You, on the other hand, are far to free with your gold in a place like this. Here!" Rathe threw the bag of coins he'd just lifted from the warriors belt back to him as he winked and smiled. "Yours I believe."

"Now my point is made, and I am obviously no threat to any of you, might I ask that the blade be removed from my throat so I can breath again." He asked nicely with his best winning smile, the one that had fialed miserably when he'd come through the window earlier. "Beside, Oh great and gleaming armoured warrior of renown, you might want to cast your eyes to the floor over there? That DEAD assassin I'm refering to, the one with the bolt in the back of his neck? Yeah, thats the one, Thats my handy work, and if I hadn't been here these lovely ladies would probably be dead right now. Probably!" He hastily repeated for the benefit of the beautiful woman with the knife.

"Now I've introduced myself, can't you find the politeness to do the same my friends?" Rather asked pleasantly.

 

[roleplaylifer]

Her head hurt.

Since recieving the soothing ministrations of Salina's ever welcomed healing, the room only seemed to burst into more chaos with each passing minute. Just as Alexis had finally felt her breath slowing, the agonizing pain in her side slipping away to nothingness, her head snapped to the window as yet another body fell lifelessly to the floor.....this time through the window no less.

Salina gave her a worried glance momentarily before spinning angrily back to the window as another dark cloaked man slid gracefully into the room. A blade clutched tightly in one hand, the cleric moved to confront the intruder.....or savior?

Glancing back to the arrow that had nearly skewered the princess, its thin shaft still quivering slightly in its imbedded state in the suite's wall, the bard sighed softly.

"So its gonna be one o' those days, eh?"

Mindful not to interrupt Salina's interrogation of the roguish newcomer, her one fancy gown hung in tatters from her body. Never one to be modest, she met the rogue's gaze with a playful wink as she noticed his eyes widen slightly at the show of skin. Practised fingers prodded the location of the all too recently healed wound as Alexis gave a curt nod of approval. Salina's work was as good as always.

Moving once more to her saddlebags, almost as an afterthought, the auburn haired bard stooped for just a second to retreive the twin long knives she had originally returned for. No sense in being unprepared for more guests.

Even as she turned around, she tensed once more....harsh voices being heard easily through the door just seconds before the door blew open. The same stranger that had nearly started a bar fight earlier now strode with purpose to the center of the room, sizing its occupants up at a glance before also bringing his blade to bear on the unfortunate rogue. Alexis could feel her eyes narrow as her own feelings came in conflict with her better judgement, having easily picked up the conversation both from in the hallway, and now in her own bedchambers.

And so it came to be that the point of her own knife, the very tip of the ten inch long blade came to rest to the left of Valens' spine, just above his sternum. Almond shaped eyes narrowed dangerously......

"Ye've a noticable lack o' manners enterin a lady's room uninvited, friend. Seems ta me that the last couple who showed such a lackin be dead on yon floor, if'n ye catch my meanin. Or perhaps ye pay nae ne'ermind ta enterin the room o' an abomination? I don't seem ta recall such injustices runnin rampant that last time I crossed Ashgaldan soil."

The memories of Orion's abuse still rang fresh in her mind. The bard hadn't missed just how quickly she had been deemed unimportant by this new intruder. While she had no intention of helping the strange rogue who had lent a hand earlier....at least not yet.....she couldn't help but respect his flippancy in the face of the obviously better trained swordsman. It just struck her as something she would have done. She made sure to put an emphasis on her last sentance, leaving the unmistakable impression of just how much she had heard in his conversation to Byron. She was not impressed. Being of mixed blood herself, she had long endured such taunts, especially where nobles were concerned.

In fact, the half-elf expected her new warrior bodyguard to be recovering from the shock and responding most violently right about now......

Even as Byron burst angrily through the door, she could feel the weight of the man in front of her shift. Though few could deem it possible, her lone eye narrowed even further in annoyance. This could get messy if not stopped soon.

"Byron! That won't be necessary, as ye can see. Seems I get the chance ta entertain a few too many guests tonight. Some are more welcome than others. Why don't we all just put the blades aside fer a second and sort this out? Rogues through the windows, and princes through the doorways....what a night this has been! Goddess, I think I'm gonna need a drink ta get myself through this one and ye all might as well have one with me!"

Shaking her head and mindful of a retaliatory strike from Valens, the bard gave up the part of the offensive, pulling the knife from its threatening position. Trusting her hearing as well as Salina's swift reaction speed, the bard turned her back on both men to face Byron even as he scowled at the new intruder. She had noticed and recognized the royal crest the man wore, knew that it would have been a death sentance to draw steel on him if her were on his own soil, and for some reason.....just didn't care.

Smiling wanly in his general direction, the only hint she had given that evening of just how fatigued she was, Alexis lazily brushed a few locks of fiery hair from her face as she moved towards the serving trencher still settled next to the doorway. The food having long since gone cold, she instead reached for a long necked bottle of green glass, the ice that once was around it reduced to mere pebbles of existance.....

The soft sound of a cork popping shattered the silence in the room as the tired Alexis slowly made her way back to the edge of the bed where this had all began.......

Looking up suddenly, she fixed the nobleman with her one good eye, no nonsense showing on her face.

"Well....ye found me. What do ye want?"

 

[Butch]

While Alexis constantly referred to the troublemaker as a prince Byron couldn't believe how someone with such an apparent lack of grace and nobility could ever be viewed as one. While he was stark raving mad at the man for his insults and for entering Alexis' room uninvited he was all the more mad at himself for allowing it to happen. He was used to being insulted and looked down upon by people he had only just met, but the "prince" somehow struck a weak spot in Byron. Maybe it was his regal way of demanding everything whilst giving nothing in return or maybe it was just the nerve of spitting him straight in the face.

Through the deep mist of hate Byron had gathered around the "prince" he sensed that he meant his mistress no harm. He hadn't even tried to muscle his way through the door. That meant one of two things; either he was some kind of assasin who didn't care if he had his head chopped off the moment he'd achieved his goal or, which Byron slowly started to accept as the truth, he actually was a prince with some odd, convoluted quest for Alexis or Salina. In eithger way he was as rude as they come.

Byron came flying through the door burning with rage more as a safety precaution and noticed that yet another man had entered the room on his guard. This one, even shadier than the "prince", had however already been disarmed by Salina. He heeded his mistress' words and waited. But he was mighty impatient.

"Yeah, spit it out, bastard-child" he said, succeeding Alexis' calmer request for information "Convince me not to kick your ass!"

 

[Gabe619]

The animosity in the room seemed to have swung from Rathe to this stuck up warrior who walked around the place like he owned it. Well that was fine by the thief. He hated being the center of attention anyway. The warrior with the death wish was put down verbally with some skill by the Bard despite her weakened condition, obviously her wits her just as sharp as ever. The other woman had lowered her short sword and knife from Rathe's throat as the Bard spoke and stepped back. Rathe gave her a smile and slight nod of thanks as he pulled aside his hood to let them see his face. His youth was apparant compared to the others present, well maybe not the half-elf, it was tough to discern her exact age.

At 19, Rathe was, he supposed, actually quite middle aged for a thief. They didn't usually live that long in a proffesion where you marks tended to want a part of your anatomy in payment for their missing gold. His short black hair was a result of to many close calls when he was very young. To many people managing to grab his, at the time, long hair and hold him. And so he had cut it short and now he was older the habit had stuck. Rathe had never liked the rich or royalty, never liked the way they put down anyone below them including his mother who had worked the streets until she became an age where no man would pay her no matter how cheap her prices. After that it had been Rathe who had kept them alive by stealing food at first, then items to be sold, and finally money from peoples belts and houses. He had been told to join the Thiefs Guild, but they just seemed like another set of rich, over indulgent men and women ready to put him in his place, so he had politely refused. When told he would be punished for stealing if he didn't join he and his mother had left their home town and traveled until one winter she had sucumbed to a fever. She died two weeks later despite Rathe's paying for a herbalist and his remedies. Collecting what few possessions he had left, he had stepped out of the boarding house they had stayed in and walked off into the snow to start a new life.

Now here he was, five years later, a renowned thief with a conscience. Well renowned in his own mind anyway. He knew in thievies circles his name was spoken occasionally and he had a few remarkable thefts to his name, but he ever only stole from the rich people who could afford it, or people who angered him and deserved it. Saving these two women had been an act of instinct, a need to clean the slate occasionally and do good, and now he stood in a room with two beautiful women and two hulking brutes of warriors. One of which he was very fasinated by. The prince? He had seen his type far to often to be interested in, but the black man with the axe was different. Rathe had never traveled south into the hot lands and had never seen a person with this skin colour. Not that it really mattered to the boy what colour a person was. Living in the streets tended to make such things irrelevant. It was what a person did or said that mattered more than anything else, and so far this man seemed to be quite honorable. Rathe decided he would watch him carefully, assuming he wasn't bundled out of the room and sent on his way. Smiling at the Bard's offer of a drink, he walked quickly over to her and found a glass on the tray which he offered up for filling.

"Its a little chilly out on these rooftops, beauty, I would be most appriecative of a glass of ... well whatever that is." He said with a nod to the green bottle.

 

[Sky Jade]

Salina pulled her blade away once Alexis was up and glanced towards hjer for a moment with a slight smile. Tonight just wouldn't be one of her better nights it seemed. She sheathed her dagger and dropped bakc on the bed, shaking her head a little at the mention of a drink.

"No, I've had enough tonight."

Her gaze had turned cold as she looked between the prince and the thief, still keeping on her guard. She crossed her legs at the ankles as she laid her hands on her thighs, close enough to get to her daggers quickly if she needed. She decided not to speak for the time since she wasn't quite sure about either of the newcomers at this point.

"So much for an early night."

Salina muttered softly mostly to herself.