Redros examines the blood in particular, noting the smell of it... "... Redros... Do not blame yourself for this. This situation started because of human greed, if you wish to blame something, blame that. You are a guardsman, correct? If you had your armor and weapons, I am sure this would have been simple for you."
He stands as he thinks, walking over to the basement. He places a hand on the door and listens for anything inside.
"Redros," Cassia repeats with a nod. "Yes, a Watchman. If we could get to one of the Watchmen barracks around here, I'd be able to suit up. Hell, we all could, honestly."
Athena stays quiet, letting the others talk and discuss and argue over the fight. She quietly wipes the blood off her knife on the rags of one of the creatures, before tucking it into her dress. The corpse of the creature gives her an idea and she begins searching the bodies as the others haul them outside. They were people once, people with things they have no more use of.
Multiple Arms: Once per turn, you can draw or sheathe a weapon (or retrieve or stow an item stored on your person) as a free action instead of a minor action.
Natural Jumper: You are always considered to have a running start when jumping.
Torpor: Rather than sleep, you enter a torpid state. In this state, you remain aware of your surroundings, and you require only 4 hours of torpor to gain the benefit of an extended rest.
Light Blade Expertise: You gain a +1 feat bonus to weapon attack rolls that you make with a light blade. In addition you gain a +1 bonus to the damage rolls of weapon attacks that you make with a light blade against a creature granting combat advantage to you.
First Strike: At the start of an encounter, you have combat advantage against any creatures that have not yet acted in that encounter.
Sneak Attack: When hitting an enemy granting combat advantage to you, that enemy takes extra damage of 2d6+3.
Son of Alagondar: While flanking an enemy, your allies gain a +1 power bonus to attack rolls against that enemy.
Liviana gets down from the bar and breathes a sigh of relief, glad that the traumatic experience is over. She takes a breather while the two men begin to lug the corpses out of the tavern, pinching her nose at the putrid smell of the creatures. As Redros calls for help assessing Cassia's wounds, the princess struts over to take a look at it. "Let me see. Maybe I can help." Unfortunately, she is unable to fully focus, her mind still flustered from the attack.
Battle Cleric's Lore: You gain a +2 shield bonus to AC, and you have proficiency with scale armor. In addition, whenever you use a cleric healing power to allow a target to spend a healing surge, that target gains a +2 bonus to attack rolls until the end of your next turn.
Holy Symbol Expertise: You gain a +1 feat bonus to implement attack rolls that you make with a holy symbol. This bonus increases to +2 at 11th level and +3 at 21st level. When you attack an enemy with an implement attack using a holy symbol, your enemies cannot gain combat advantage against you until the start of your next turn, unless you use a power or ability that states that you grant combat advantage.
Power of the Sun: You gain a +2 feat bonus to Insight checks. When you use a power associated with this feat and hit an enemy with it, that enemy gains vulnerable 3 radiant until the end of your next turn, after the power's effects are resolved. The vulnerability increases to 5 at 11th level and 8 at 21st level. (Lance of Faith)
Her wound has the clear indentations from a bite-wound, but the skin around it is a greenish shade and the blood looks unnaturally dark, like a blackish-red. You notice it has a strange smell to it.
You keep a close eye out as you slowly work your way through the creatures, checking for anything of interest on them. Their tattered rags of clothing look useless, but you check the pockets on the drawers for good measure, trying not to get gore on yourself.
In one of the larger creatures' pockets you find a small stone that is polished and a pretty tint of dark green and gray. In one of the more reasonably-sized creatures' pockets you find what looks to be a note, and on another you find a chunky iron locket around its neck.
Athena slips the stone into a pocket before looking at the iron locket. Not really my sort of thing, she decides, placing it too into her pocket. She then turns her attention to the note, taking a seat by the bar to read it.
"Well, this is a grisly wound," Liviana says bluntly, looking at the grotesque bite. Turning to Redros, she says, "Did you and the others manage to find some medicine? Since I'm sure it would be beneficial to our friend here." As she awaits response, she scans the tavern, looking for any clean cloth as well as any alcohol.
Marcus nods in response to the thug, still not sure what he thinks of him and his comrade. They better not make any more of a fuss, we could use their - well, his - combat skills if we are to hold this position for long. He continues to lug the bodies outside, accepting the man's aid for the heavier ones, and once done he shuts the doors and begins moving the barricade back into place.
The rest of the bodies are lugged out between the two strong men and put into a pile across the plaza from the Gilded Mare. Once inside, the doors are shut. The sound of the rain permeates through the foot-wide hole in the left double-door, and the plaza is clearly visible at a low angle. "That hole's probably going to need a patch," Guthrik notes as he helps push the barricade of benches and chairs closer to the doors to block anything from entering.
Athena crumples up the note and tosses it away, seeing no more use for it. "Well they're definitely people. One of the big ones had a note from his wife on him," she says, announcing her discovery to the group.
Shuddering from the adrenaline, Elene crouches down and wipes the dark blood from her dagger with the rags on one of the corpses. After getting it suitably clean, she moves to the corpse she had skewered with the blade fragment and recovers that as well. Carefully strapping the sharp implements back onto her arms, she looks curiously over at the others as they gather around the guardswoman.
Sidling closer, she peeks at the wound everyone else seems to be examining, wondering what the big deal is. Wow, a bite. So interestin'.
Perception check to see what's up with this wound: 28
That's a nat 20.
Heal check to see what's up with this wound: 2
And that's a nat 1.
I've got both ends of the spectrum represented here.
Human Defense Bonus: +1 bonus to Ref, Will, and Fort. Bonus Feat: Extra feat at lvl 1 Bonus Skill: Extra trained skill at lvl 1
Sneak Attack: When you make an attack with a light blade, hand crossbow, shortbow or sling and hit an enemy granting you CA, that enemy takes extra damage based on your level. You can only deal this damage once per turn.
Weapon Finesse: When you make an MBA, you can use Dex instead of Str for the attack and damage rolls. In addition, you gain a +2 bonus to damage rolls of weapon attacks made using light blades, hand crossbows, shortbows or slings. First Strike: At the start of an encounter, you have CA against any creatures that have not yet acted in that encounter.
Surprising Charge: When you make a charge attack against a target granting CA to you, the attack deals an extra 1[W] damage if you hit with a light blade or spear. Improved Initiative: You gain a +4 bonus to initiative. Light Blade Expertise: +1 bonus per tier to attack rolls made with a light blade and +1 bonus per tier to damage rolls on attacks made with a light blade against targets granting CA.
Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a day.
Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life.
"Not much we can do about it for now," Marcus says to the orc. "Let's just hope those creatures continue to have poor hearing and don't find us. As Cassia mentioned, we should try to find some equipment. If we are going to be fending those things off, we'll want some more protection then cloth, and better weapons too."
His face turns more serious at Athena's words. "So it is true, people are being made into these things." He turns his gaze towards the two newly-injured, not liking the idea that they may soon be foe rather than friend. If they go, the number of skilled fighters only falls. We need to find a way to keep them from turning into those things."Princess, do you think you can aid them? We will need every able body if we are to venture out there again."
Redros keeps quiet, knowing about the salve he holds on him. It can cure both of them, more likely than not. But, if Smock and Weasel find out, they will likely try to fight back, and there may be casualties. He knocks on the door to the basement, gently. "We're done up here. You can come out. The fighting is over."
Turning to Marcus, Liviana says, "I'll do what I can, but somebody isn't answer my question." She glares angrily at Redros. With an annoyed sigh, she grabs the cloth and liquor and returns to Cassia. Fiddling with her ring, she silently prays to Aurelia, hoping for her healing powers to help her wounded new friend. She looks at the watchman and, smiling, says, "Now let's see if we can't get this taken care of."
Her wound has the clear indentations from a bite-wound, the surrounding skin a green hue. You notice it has a strange smell to it.
"I had a grim notion that they were," the orc says to Athena, his eyes to the floor as he shakes his head. "Some of them look freshly dug from graves, too. That's probably why there's a difference between the rotting ones and the more vivid ones," he reasons.
Smock sees Marcus' gaze and averts his eyes, focusing on the bite wound on his leg. Weasel hovers over him by the hearth, inspecting it.
As Liviana works her prayer into her work, Cassia's wound slowly oozes out a disgusting green paste, and scrubbing at the cut turns it a raw and chafed red. "It's alright -- I'l rather have it burn like hell for a bit than to fall off from infection," she says through gritted teeth. "Good work, Princess. It think you got out most of whatever filth got into it. Thank you."
From within the basement, a voice calls back to Rorin. "Who is that? You're not those thieves are you?" The door stays locked shut.
"No, I was here before, I am not sure you remember me though. Tell me, how is the man down there doing? Is he feeling alright?"
While waiting for an answer, Redros sets his bag down on the floor and reaches into it, pulling out the salve. He holds it before him, thinking on who to treat... And decides that Cassia is the best choice. He walks over to her and bends down next to her, holding her arm.
"Hold still, this will sting."
He pours some of the salve onto the wound and starts to rub it in, hoping it will treat her wounds.
"He's passed out. Resting, I think. His bleeding seems stabilized a bit but it's hard to tell in this dim light," the drunk says before unlocking the door and opening it to see the lobby. He squints through his eyes at the scene before him, as Redros treats the Watchmen's wound with the healing salve. The bottle looks about half-way full at this point. The two ruffians eye the bottle from the corner of there room, but don't make anything more than smalltalk.
Cassia's wound looks noticeably better, and she flexes her hand, feeling the tendons and ligaments pulling against each other in her forearm. "Feels alright, really. Obviously hurts like hell, but I think it should be fine," she says. "Thank you. What was your name again?"
Redros examines her arm for a moment before standing. "Redros. Now..."
He looks to the drunk man standing at the top of the stairs. "I would advise you to move away from the basement for now. We have one more thing to deal with, and then I shall tend to the man downstairs with Marcus' help. It would appear as if the monsters outside are infectious. It does not seem as if the venom is instantly lethal, but the man downstairs is injured, and will likely die soon so I would like to tend to him quickly."
He turns to Smock and holds the bottle up. "I have something you need. You have something we need as well. I am sure you have seen now how foolish it is to try and force your way with us. Blade or no, we outnumber you and as such, we have the advantage, no matter your thoughts otherwise. And you are wounded badly. So I propose this. You will join us. But you will not have arms save for extreme emergencies such as tonight. In return I shall treat your wounds, and we shall feed you. You will be safe."
The drunk steps off to the side without protest, his eyes like dinner plates at the mention of the man downstairs being the victim of a venomous attack. "Uh... yeah, go and sort him out. I'll be here in the tavern," he says before stepping over and taking a seat at the bar. The owner gives the drunk a grim shake of his head.
Smock and Weasel turn their heads at Redros' raising of his voice to them. They listen to his words but seem unsurprised at the proffering of a deal. "I figured you would cut us one, like this n' all," he says. "Truth is, we've got no choice, y'know. Refuse n' we're dead meat, really. By you lot or those creepy bastards out yonder, same ending to this story." His partner nods his head. "Deal's good. And... Sorry for the... eh, hard front n' all. Had a piss-poor idea of ending our last night in this wretched world with a bang, heh," Weasel says with a grin and a disapproving head shake. Cassia scoffs and narrows her eyes. "Looks like whatever happened didn't weed out the stupid ones," she mutters under her breath to those immediately close to her.
Redros looks to Cassia and nods, agreeing with her there. "It never will. That is nature. Luck or otherwise, people live. Now... If you would both please place your weapons on the bar table for us, I will treat your friend. Forgive me, but no matter what animal, man or wolf, it will fight with cunning and desperation when cornered. And you both are cornered."
As he waits for them to unarm he looks to Marcus. "Marcus, I must ask you to look on the injured man in the basement please. Tell me how his arm looks in particular."
Cassia's brow furrows at Redros' audible response to her off-hand remark when the pair of ruffians looking over suspectingly. After the hunter suggests they disarm, Weasel takes Smock's dagger and his own blade, placing them on the bartop where Drozga takes them himself. "You talk as if we're planning some vicious mutiny over here," he says at Redros' comment. "I might be dumb, but I'm not blind to the fact that I ain't got the numbers in this," he says with a chuckle. "Don't have to patronize."
Athena stays silent as the discussion goes on. While not involved she pays attention to every word, trying to gauge who is going to emerge as the leader of their rag tag band of survivors. She notices a bit of blood has dried on her dress. She tries to pick at it with her knife but to little avail. I liked this dress...
Marcus remains mostly silent while Redros talks. An interesting man, seems like he will be of more use than I thought. He maintains a strong stance while the attention is turned to the new refugees, making sure the woodsman's threats have a visual to go along.
"Is this a joke?" Marcus asks, a slight hint of humor in his voice. "You will ask the one-eyed man for his expert skills in perception, eh?" He gives a small chuckle, his first light-hearted moment since the outbreak began.
"I can check if you like, but it would be best if the princess works her magic on the man once more. She may have better luck this time, and if not it is still the best we have. I was a soldier, not a medic - I don't know how to treat wounds, just inflict them."
As the two thugs disarm themselves, Elene looks on with mild contempt. That'll make things easier, I think. When the bartender grabs the weapons, she slides over to him. "Can I use the dagger, mister? Mine's a little broken, and it's hard to fight with something like this." She says, slipping the fractured blade out of it's bindings to show the man.
As she does this, she listens to the other banter around her, carefully gauging each person. That Marcus fella might be useful, and prissy princess seems to have a good head for cleanin' up scratches. An'... Redros did he say? Talks a lot. He's pretty smart though. Damn, I hate havin' that favor he has on me hangin'. She stares at the injured guardswoman for a bit, barely managing to keep the ingrained dislike for her kind in check. No place for that in here. Not now. She's useful anyway.
"If I'm going to be trying to help this man, then I'd like the salve. He was the one who specifically asked for it, remember?" Liviana says somewhat harshly, annoyed that Redros is wasting time using the salve to strike a deal with the ruffians. "Hurry up and treat this Smock fellow so I can use the salve on the man downstairs. Just holding it and blabbering on and on does nothing," she snaps. "By the way, his arm was fine. It's his chest that got injured," she adds.
"Yes, hand it over quickly," Marcus adds to the princess' orders. "They know their situation, we need no more leverage over them. Withholding a possible antidote at this point is cruel and a potential threat to everyone here, yourself included - you've seen what those things can do."
Marcus steps over towards Redros and holds his free hand out, awaiting the vial. He leans in close and whispers to the woodsman, "You need not worry about them causing trouble: the second they show signs of going back to how they were, I can assure you they will be dealt with swiftly. Let us put this aside and take what help we can get, and not sow any more hostility. There is already enough of that to go around, hm?"
Redros looks at Marcus and shakes his head a bit, keeping his voice low. "Never expect to know what a man will do. We will see what they try."
He hands Marcus the salve, letting him take care of their wounds while he takes a look at the entrance to see if there is any other way to try and secure the entrance.
"I don't," Marcus replies, accepting the vial and eyeing to the dagger still held in his other hand. "But I know what I can do if they make a move."
After their little chat is over, Marcus walks over to the princess and hands her the vial. "Work your magic," he says, before walking towards the staircase. "I'll inform the others that the tavern is safe once more." Not caring whether a response is to come or not, he heads up to the inn rooms.
"Thank you," Liviana says to Marcus. Taking the salve, the princess walks over to Smock. "Well, Smock, even though you may have seemed liked a brutish pig, that's still better than one of those monsters. But work on being nicer!" she chastises. "Now don't move. This may sting a bit," she says, applying the salve to the thug-like man.
PureZaros wrote:"Can I use the dagger, mister? Mine's a little broken, and it's hard to fight with something like this." She says, slipping the fractured blade out of it's bindings to show the man.
Drozga squints through dark eyes at you but before he can speak, Smock calls out from over by the hearth. "Don't even, little girl. Just cos we're one big, bloody family now doesn't mean ye can just yank our stuff. Leave it there," he calls over, keeping his tone only vaguely aggressive as he glances at Redros and Marcus.
You inspect the double-doors. They are two inches thick and together form a semi-circle at the top, about 6 feet at the apex. They lack windows or peepholes. For the most part, their thick frames took a great deal of punishment from the creatures beating on it but look quite sturdy and unharmed. However, on the left-hand door there is a foot-wide hole about two feet up from the ground, enough for a few arms to stick through but not an adult torso. It looks as if the larger of the creatures burst through there, you assume. You figure if given enough lumber, a rough patch job could cover over the gaping hole.
As Marcus heads up the stairs, he meets Isdren and Bastia at the top, the first to emerge from the rooms. "All clear?" she asks, twiddling her blade in her hand while Isdren looks on. "Did we... lose anybody?" he asks.
As the princess applies the salve to Smock's leg, he groans in pain but bites his tongue to appear tough. "Say, these lot were callin' you princess an' all," he notes with interest. "You're not really, right? Just a pet name?" Weasel asks, trying to focus on his friend's leg as Liviana tends to the wound, but curious as well.
Liviana grins slightly as the demeanor of the men changes from that of a tough thug to a curious schoolchild. Finishing up with the man's leg, Liviana ties a makeshift bandage around the wound, lest it get dirty again. With freed up hands, she reveals her necklace, bearing the symbol of the royal family. "Look familiar? Princess Liviana Arvina, heir to the throne, and stuck in a tavern far from the castle. I bet you weren't expecting that, were you?"
"Not yet," Marcus responds. "Cassia and one of the thugs were injured, but the princess is tending to them. Only time will tell if their wounds turn out as bad as the man in the basement. Tell the others that the ground floor is safe again, I'm headed back down."
Unless stopped, Marcus heads back down in the tavern, pausing at the top of the stairs to survey the room better and see if he can spot anything that needs immediate addressing.
Smock wrote:"Don't even, little girl. Just cos we're one big, bloody family now doesn't mean ye can just yank our stuff. Leave it there,"
"A fat lotta good work you did with it, lubby." Elene retorts, glaring daggers at the man. "I remember you doing a lot a runnin' away and hidin' in the corner here. Not much of the sticking the pointy end in whatever those things are."
Turning back to the innkeeper, she continues. "I just want to use it 'cause mine isn't in the best shape. Never said I'd outright take it."Not yet, at least. Bastards.
Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a day.
Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life.
At Elene's insults, Smock scoffs. "Aye, 'n' I woulda done more if I didn't get chomped on by that dead bastard over there, y'hear? Next time will be different." The innkeeper shakes his head at her, his eyes narrowed. "I won't condone any 'reappropriating' of possessions under my roof, girl. Hands off."
With a nod, Isdren and Bastia turn back to knock on the doors and let the others know the coast is clear. Marcus steps down the stairs slowly, taking in the surroundings of the tavern carefully. The door looks to be a problem, with a hole in the left one, but aside from that there isn't anything problematic that you notice.
Smock and Weasel burst into a fit of laughter, one after the other, at the mention of Liviana being the Princess of Brennis. "Oh, that's ripe!" Smock cries out, tears in his eyes. "What's this luck, mate?" Weasel asks him, coughing now from belly-laughing too hard. "So we threaten the Princess of the city and she saves your leg from a biter. Queerest night I've 'ad in years, eh?
Redros shakes his head at the hole in the door. He worked on this just a moment ago practically. He wonders for a moment if it may be possible to take one of the other doors in the area and use it to reinforce these ones to make them thicker, harder to push open... Might be an option. "We should make a list of weak places here in the tavern to improve on while we are here. I do not know of any larger places we could be moving to in the foreseeable future. I think we can improve these doors if we can remove some of the other doors in the area, make them heavier perhaps, harder to punch through."
Glad that there is nothing else in dire need of attention, Marcus steps over to Cassia. "How are you feeling? Can you walk?" He waits for a response, before continuing, now more addressing the entire room than just the guardswoman.
"These things are overly aggressive, and also quite dangerous, as you've all seen. Now some of us can fight, that much has been shown, but what good is a skilled fighter without proper tools of combat? We need arms and armor if we are going to be able to survive more encounters like that last one. We were lucky enough to only have two noticeably injured, but what if they come in even greater number? Or there are more of those bulky ones?"
He turns his attention back to Cassia. "As soon as you are able, I'd like you to lead the able-bodied of us to the nearest guard barracks. We can scavenge whatever we can carry and bring it back here. They won't be needing it any time soon, and once this threat his dispersed we can simply return the items. What say you?"
"The front door needs work," Guthrik says in response to Redros. "Aye. The windows could be safer and I'm not sure about the hatch upstairs to the roof -- they don't seem to be very mobile," the old tavern-keeper adds. "I know there'd be lumber down by the docks, but it's quite a few streets away. Dangerous. No, let's try to use some of the wood from the street stalls in the plaza outside. They're wrecked as it is."
"Yes, yes, I'm fine, Marcus." The Watchman stands up, flexing and loosening her grip in her shield-hand, her eye on her wounded forearm while the man speaks. "We can check it out. Perhaps we'll find some of my men there. Perhaps not," she concludes. "There's one a few streets away."
Smock cocks his head at Athena's wisecrack. "Oh 'eah? I don't doubt ye. Ye look the type," he says. "Like what?" Weasel asks, curiously.
"Good, then I'll need you to take point, though if you aren't up to fight you can stick to the back if we come across more of those things." Turning to Weasel, Marcus points and continues, "You there, you seem pretty good in a fight so you're coming too. Anyone else who doesn't want to face these things unarmed again should join up as well. We should move out as soon as we can."
"I don't need a sword or anything, but I'll come along. If anyone gets hurt on the way, someone will need to be there to help," Liviana adds. "And even if we don't find one of your men, we might find other survivors."
Walking to the basement door, the princess says, "But first, that man downstairs needs tending to." Kneeling beside the injured man, she applies the salve, hoping it treats his wound.
"I'll go, but only 'cause I need a new knife." Elene mutters, idly scratching her head. 'course, if someone wasn't bein' so grip-locked I wouldn't need to. Thinking for a moment, she almost smirks. Might find some other cool stuff, too. Haven't had the chance t' get into a guard post before.
Build a man a fire and he will be warm for a day.
Set a man on fire and he will be warm for the rest of his life.
Redros raises a hand at Marcus' offer. "A crossbow. I'm used to hunting animals, but I suppose in this case the theory is the same. While we are there we should check for any stores of food to bolster our own reserves. I will be waiting outside for the rest of you, watching the streets."
He heads upstairs to the vines they crawled up, looking down across the street, checking for any more of the monsters.
Weasel makes a surprised sort of cough that turns into a laugh at Athena's comment, but his face turns serious when Marcus gestures toward him. "Aye, aye, skipper," he says cheerfully, before turning to his partner. "Don't let 'em knife ye while I'm gone, mate," he jests, nudging Smock in the ribs to the man's annoyance. "Bugger off, ye squid. I'll be fine."
"I'll stay here for now," Guthrik says. "I think I've earned my keep for at least tonight. My damn head's quite groggy, too," he admits, his eyes narrowing at the two brigands.
"I'm ready whenever," Cassia tells Marcus with a curt nod, leaning against a pillar.
Downstairs, the injured man is passed out, and the Princess of Brennis applies the healing salve to his grave slash on his torso. She notices that the wound hasn't festered and looks quite clean, implying it was probably not inflicted by the creatures but maybe another person. He wakes up, confused, but is comforted by his new bandaging and cleaned wound. "Thank you, miss... I dozed off for a bit. Sorry if I worried you lot," he says, weakly. "I'm feeling good now -- well, better than before. Is it safe up there? It's cold and lonely down here," he admits, his face a mixture of sadness and pain.
As Redros makes his way to the roof, he notices that the latch on the hatch doesn't lock. A closer look shows that it's been tampered with. Up atop the roof, he looks over the plaza and doesn't see any of the creatures immediately but eyes a few down the various streets. It should be safe in the vicinity, but the streets will be dangerous.
"Alright, let's head out then," Marcus says. "The faster we get this over with the better."Might be nice to actually get some sleep before day breaks. What an evening.
Marcus follows Redros up the stairs and onto the roof, looking out over the town as best he can as well. Once the others have joined, he turns to Cassia. "So which way are we going? We can plan out a course before-hand based on where we can see those things from up here. Better than going in blind like last time."
Liviana smiles as the man appears to be feeling much better than before. "There's no need to thank me. I was just doing what's right." Taking notice of his wound's difference from the others, she thinks, Maybe one of those creatures wasn't to blame here. At the man's question, the princess answers, "Yes, it's safe, and I'm sure you would be much more comfortable." With this, she helps the man stand and leads him upstairs. "Get some more rest," she says as she heads upstairs to meet the others.
With the man taken care of, Liviana joins Marcus and the others and says, "The man in the basement is feeling much better now, but I don't think one of those monstrous creatures did that to him, so he should be fine after some rest."
"Hm, well we can ask him about that once we've returned, I suppose," Marcus responds, somewhat surprised the princess is joining on this outing. "Are you coming along?"
"Well, last time I stayed behind, we had some unexpected visitors, no offense to you, Weasel. Besides, if one of you gets hurt out there, it'd be better to not wait until your return for treatment." Grinning, Liviana adds, "I'll be fine out there. What, with two big, strong men and a goddess watching over me, I feel safe enough."Although having the entire royal guard protecting me would be a whole lot better.
Leaning in towards Marcus, the princess whispers, "Besides, if things get rough, just use that little bratty urchin as a distraction."
"And a Watchman, Princess," Cassia says as she finishes her climb up to the roof behind them. "Now let's make a plan here: the nearest barracks is several streets north-west of here. We'll leave this market district and go past a garden or two before we get there. It's close to the docks, in a fortified stone building."
"Yeah, yeah, I know the place. Cased it a few times me'self," Weasel says with a shrug. "Diff'rent times, I guess." Cassia makes a face of disgust at him before turning back to the others.
