Unusual company (open) (continuation of 'the usual hunt')

As she spoke, horror slowly crept onto his face. He had...he had not thought... Looking down at the stein in from of him, his mouth pulled into a grim line. He had not thought that an elf could be capable of something like THAT. It was something that you might hear tales of drow doing....perhaps that one was just showing her true colors. Still though, it make him sick. He was an assassin and a ruthless killer but just that. Hurting someone just because he could....despicable. "I'm sorry..." He spoke quietly, still frowning.

He had new reasons to hate elves as each day passed. Glancing up when she finished he knew that he could not back out now. He had made her speak of painful memories, why should he do any less? But still the thought of telling someone about his past caused his heart to jump into his throat. Figiting with his stein nervously, he finally spoke. "You must understand that I have never spoken any of this before." Was he really going to tell her? Was he really doing this? "I was..." He was doing this. "I was born a slave. I don't remember my mother, or even if I had any family. I must have been six, maybe seven when they finally sold me."
It didn't feel right putting past events into words and it made him very uneasy, but still he continued. "Drow are notorious for being lethal assassins, deadly warriors... so when I was sold it was actually to a town. They had gathered their best assassins, specialist in every field of death, and trained me as their own personal attack dog.

"I was only a child, but I learned quickly and soon they had me going out on missions. Even though I was a trained killer I was terrified of what they would do to me if I ran so I always returned, returned only to be shoved back into a cell at the end of the day." He didn't look up to meet Ashen's gaze. He didn't know if he'd like what he would see. "At sixteen I finally gathered the courage to escape. My masters had sent me out on a job, but that was not where I went. I awaited them in the shadows and struck down every one of them before they knew what hit them. But I was still afraid. What if the rest of the town tracked me down...so I set it alight and escaped in the distraction the chaos of their town burning created."

"But after I escaped I didn't know where else to go, where to turn. I was still a child." He paused, furrowing his brow. "So naturally I turned to my own people. My kin. But as soon as they saw me, realized what I was, they cast me away with hate and spite. They said I had fallen. Fallen from their grace and was not good enough to stand among them." Still he did not raise his eyes. He supposed he shouldn't care what she thought of him, yet for some reason he did.

"Even as recently as last year, I still encounter assassins that that town has sent. They've never forgotten the people I killed in that fire. And their children have never forgiven me. So I run, and I hide. I never speak to anyone and I never leave a trail that anyone can follow. It was why I stopped using my real name and instead started calling myself the name my own kin called me."

"Hmm, Rintalia. I've never known such a name before now." He managed a tight smile. "You say you don't fear assassins, but did you notice his subtle movements? He could have slit both our throats in an instant. So unless you are swift on your dancing feet, or equally skilled in combat..." His frown appeared once more. "I'm almost positive that you would have been as good as dead." He tried to make sure she understood his concern, though he really wasn't sure if the assassin would dare cause such a scene in a crowded room unless he planned on fleeing.

He nodded a polite thank you as the ale was placed in front of him, feeling slightly sick to his stomach at the thought of more alcoholic beverages. Surely he would drink this, though. He's stomached worse in worse situations. "Enough about the table in the dark, though." Her smile warmed him in combination with the ale as he took a reluctant sip, and his cheeks may have blushed slightly at the thought of sharing a table and drink with a beautiful individual. Inwardly, he hoped she would just think his sudden color was merely the alcohol kicking in fast.

"Well, if you're thinking of settling here, I suppose you already realize that this place is a melting pot of people from all over... and thankfully, you benefit from all seasons of weather. I unfortunately cannot tell you much, as I've only been here for a short time in summer and only recently returned." He put his hand to his chin in thought, trying to remember any information that could be relevant to the girl. "I've conversed with and observed a number of demons in the summer. One with white hair, one with deep, wine red hair and curved horns that resembled those of a ram... though I'm not sure of what became of her. There were at least two others, one insistent on asking me if I was food..." he grimaced a little and shook his head at the memory. "Other than that, there is Thoror, the owner of this tavern. Recently I saw a woman with flaming red and yellow hair, and another woman with her. They looked weary... mind you, many look weary or shifty in this place. I need to talk to more people, for I'm thinking I may settle here too... I don't exactly have a home to go back to. That's a long and unfortunate story that I won't lay upon your ears."

His eyes shifted to her face, flowing from her gentle eyes, to her hair, and to her pointed ears. He had never really talked to elves before, and had no idea what information they would benefit from the most. "Unfortunately I am not sure how easy it is to make a living here, or how to house yourself... in fact, I'm still looking for a place to reside." He pursed his lips and examined the crack in the table that he made, feeling a twinge of guilt. "Maybe Thoror would let me stay here and earn my keep. That could be an option for you, perhaps. I'm sorry, I'm talking so much... is there anything specific you want to know about?" He laughed quietly and stomached another sip of his ale.

"Perhaps there's even something you could tell me about yourself. You say you travel, but where are you originally from? And what about this place draws you here?" He had made the assumption that she was an inquisitive person, and that there were many people and stories in this place to feed her curiosity, but there was always the chance that he would be proven wrong.

He nodded as he listened to her speak. It was true that he himself didn't believe in the existence of demons till he arrived in this land. When she ordered him a glass of water, his eyes widened and an embarrassed smile showed through on his face. Averting his eyes, he mumbled a quiet word of thanks. She was observant, and he was glad she took the initiative on that one. When she mentioned the kinto woman at the other table, he nodded. He, too, was curious about her, and therefore knew nothing except her seemingly friendly relationship with the assassin. When she giggled, he flashed her a warm smile. It had been a long time since he had such cheerful company. He listened intently as she spoke of her homeland, and her hint of dark inflection in her reason for being in Wildgard intrigued him... but he decided it would be rude to pry. As her wine glass emptied, he noticed her eyeing it up and ordered her another. He had a feeling they might be here for a while. Nodding to her, he began to speak again.

"To be frank, I don't know anything about the kinto over there, though I am as curious about her as you are. As for elves, I believe I've only seen one other. Earlier today, there was a wood elf in town square talking to a mysterious woman. I'm sure there are more around here, it'll just take some time and exploring, and talking with many people." He gave a half smile and laughed sadly. "I...well..." looking down at the table, the dread in his heart manifested with the thoughts of his kin back home. "It would be great if I found some way to live here. For the mountain I grew up on was seized by humans who formed an alliance with the mountain lions. My family and friends, and fellow people are either dead or enslaved, forced to live a life where their only purpose is convenience. They use us for food, labor, sacrifice..." The look of horror in his eyes grew and his posture tensed. He clenched his hands into fists on the table. "I did nothing to help them. I escaped before anything happened, thanks to my mentor, Charlotte..." She was the one that saw the blood spill, and fought with ferocity against the enemy. She was the one that endured the screams, the pain, the death of our comrades. He thought to himself through his twinges of guilt and unsettled demeanor.

He cleared his throat then, and smiled wearily at Rintalia. "I'm sorry. That's all I can bring myself to say. That enough was difficult..." He noticed her flushed complexion and chuckled a little, realizing they both must have had their share of alcohol tonight. If anything, it made it easier to talk. "But onto less depressing topics... where exactly were you thinking of settling here? And have you been a performer all your life? The fact that you're somehow drawn to Wildgard is interesting enough, but... I love learning new things and talking to others." 

Not shocked at all at his reaction, she withdrew but still was kind " death knows me well as well. He has taken my scale mate, and me almost 2 times. And is currently trying to take my friend synaria. I am no stranger to danger. I understand your reasons but please know even if you don't see it, you will forever be my friend after this , you can come to me for anything so please don't feel the need to hide from me." She continued to smile even though she was pained to hear him withdrew away from her agian. She wasn't a bad person, she wanted to help fallen more then anything now best she could do now was wait for him to be comfortable enough to come to her. She picked up her mug and took a sip placing it gently on the table "so how long do you plan on staying?"

Rin sighed in relief when she realized that her companion wasn't offended in any way. her social skills needed some work. she was saddened by his story, her past wasn't quite so tragic, and it reminded her once again of how sheltered she had been as a child.

"sadly the woman i am looking for is not a Wood Elf, but maybe someone else will know." she smiled feeling more and more comfortable with her companion. when another glass of wine was brought by the barmaid she nearly jumped over the table to hug him. "thank you very much!" she took a large sip from her glass sighing with contentment.

"it's been a while since i've had good wine, most other taverns water it down." reassuringly she placed her hand on her companions arm, "that would have been horrible. but you're alive, and you're free. maybe one day you can free your people."

she stopped talking for a moment and removed her hand. she sat in silence for a moment, temporarily lost in thought.

"oh!" she exclaimed, "that's right you asked if i was performer my whole life." she giggled slightly, "no i became a performer after i left my home. my parents were minor elven nobility, i was the younger child though so i had the freedom to study my interests involving music and dance. when i was younger though, around the human equivalent to fourteen years of age, my elder sister left our family. instead of taking over her duties i ran away, hopefully to bring her back. i have been performing in taverns around the land ever since." she took a breath and drank some more wine, her smile never leaving her face. "as for where i plan to settle, i am unsure. i do not know anyone here so i will probably be staying at the Inn until i can afford to buy a home, though, with wine like this i doubt i will ever have money to save!"

Gaulwin let out a small scream when Rintalia reached out and hugged him as thanks for the wine. Blushing furiously, he trembled a little, and patted her on the back with shaky hands, hoping she'd let go soon if only to stop his heart from palpitating. When she returned to her seat and continued to sip her wine, he breathed a sigh of relief, and drank his water, splashing some onto his cheeks. "S-sorry! I'm not used to...that. Affection and the like." He looked down at his hands, timidly. Free his people? Yeah, right. There was no way he could fight off the humans... he had no army, and no way of getting one. Not to mention he was still young, under twenty, and had no place commanding soldiers. He had trained to be one, but Charlotte didn't see him fit and made sure his life was spared from the war. She said I was bright, and that my brains could be useful to someone someday. I doubt it... look at me. He reflected. I'm a babbling, foolish puddle at the touch of a stranger. 

He finally worked up the courage to look at her again. "Well, I could have sworn you'd practiced all your life, with your skilled movements. Like I said, I really enjoyed your performance. After thinking about it... I might end up asking to stay here too." He spoke quietly, realizing that was probably his only choice at this point aside from staying homeless in the cold.

"Someone to actually see me off? That's certainly a first." He gave her a small smile. Normally he would just slip quietly away into the darkness without much fan fair at all. It was better that way, considering at that point he was usually wanted. "I'll make a point to do so."

He raised his stein, tapping hers gently before taking a swig. Setting it town again, he leaned back. "If I may ask...where do you reside?" It was something he could easily find out but following her. But he didn't think that was something friends did. He was new to this but he wasn't an idiot. "In case there comes a time where that knowledge is needed."