Part 8: New Company

"Pleased to meet you Luban, call me Mal. We need a day to handle business in town but then I expect we shall head out right after."

Mal fishes ten gold coins out of her pouch and hands them over to the narrow fellow,

"I can see that you haven't eaten in a while, take this and have your fill. No good to us if you faint from hunger on the ride over."

Eltrezar wipes the foam that was building on his as-of-late unmaintained mustaches. The ale did little to calm his nerves, though he had always had a soft spot for other spirits. He watches as Gilly accepts her ale, takes a sip, and sets off in the direction of the warrior. Looking around the room, he spies Mal speaking with that some half-orc who had approached him earlier, likely looking for spare coin. She seemed as disinterested as he had. He also notices the man who seemed to be watching him. Eltrezar was in no mood for subtleties today. He moves in.

Holding his mug of ale and "accidentally" letting a view of his daggers slip through, he approaches the man with the book. Hrmph! "I couldn't help but notice your interest in me and mine. What is it a humble old man can do for you, master..." The last part of his question was clearly fishing for a name.

Ten gold richer and with a plate of food on the way, Luban nearly jumps for joy at the change in his luck. He manages, only just, to keep himself under control. Instead, he thanks the dwarf for the money, food, and opportunity. "You shant regret this, Mistress Stoneforge. I'll earn my share, and then some!"

"I trust you will. Where are you staying while in town?"

Pulling out a single coin, he says, "I guess here, now. Would have been the stables." He gives a little wink to play it off as a joke.

"No shame in humble provisions. Takes grit to make it through the darkness and you'll need plenty of it in the days to come."

Mal upends her tankard and orders another.

Thurig stays quiet but tamps his mug twice in salute to the sentiment and downs his ale as well. The scarred dwarf holds up two fingers in addition to Mal's order.

Gilly washes up when she enters, to ensure Bors continued survival. Her mind turned to the townspeople again, and how they must think the group was in league with whomever was out in the keep causing trouble.

And then her mind turned specifically to the folk in town who she suspected were, in fact, in leave with said forces. She instinctively reached for her sword, and made sure it was on-hand. She wondered if she might spend the night beside Bors, asleep in the chair beside the bed.

He made an easy target by himself.

While unconscious, Bors mutters in his sleep. Most of it is unintelligible, but Gilly can make out a few phrases such as, "...Wizard useless...master of escape spells...my sword...aaaarrrgghhg."

Mal can't help but overhear Eltrezar's confrontational conversation with the stranger in the taproom and keeps an eye on the pair from her table. She subtly taps the table twice with her finger to get Thurig's attention on the matter.

Thurig immediately picks up on Maloria's signal and leans forward towards the table to put himself in a more actionable position should things get ugly...

"Master of escape, that’s for certain. Not so sure about the spells, Bors." she says to the now silent room.

Still, his spoken words put her mind at ease for now. She pats the long-legs on the back of his hand, and stands up.

"Rest." she says, before heading for the door. Maloria would want to know that he had spoken, at least.

Eltrezar sputters for a moment. He wasn't quite sure what he had expected, but a fellow student of the arcane arts? This was unbelievable! And he looked so young... Hrmph! "Yes, you have heard correctly about my knowledge of the arcane and topics thereof. Spugnoir, you seem nervous. Let us speak elsewhere, somewhere the walls are not littered with ears." The wizard rises and hustles to Maloria and her rough looking friend for a moment, asking in a whisper where Bors and Gilly were waiting? Ahem. "I do not suspect any troubles, but perhaps he can give us some answers or direction."

Assuming Mal tells Eltrezar which room, he heads off in that direction. After all, his short friend (he refused to give her another title) would be adequate protection should things turn more... nefarious.

Luban happily moves to find Ostler in order to rent a room. He places a few coins on the table, asking for the largest and nicest suite in the place. It is no wonder he has spent many-a-night sleeping in stables or on barroom floors.

Mal looks at Eltrezar and then at the stranger and points towards the stairs.

"He's in the private room. I'll come with you."

Mal holds a hand, palm down, close to the table and Thurig nods that he understands. She then rises to lead Eltrezar and the newcomer to Bors's room.

Eltrezar nods at Mal, then waves for Spugnoir to follow the two of them.

Gilly meets them on the landing, just as she exits the room. Seeing so many come together, she steps back and re-enters the man’s room and resumes her seat.

Hrmph! "Ah, I see. Perhaps I misunderstood what was occuring. Yes, of course we can retire to your chambers for the time. Next time you should be more clear. After you, then."