[IC] Chapter 1 - Concerning Orcs

As Veronica commands the conversation and steps up next the men sitting with Layla, Dennan, to support Veronica’s action, steps close to the seated men as well. He watches their reaction to Veronica’s words closely and mentally prepares for if it becomes aggressive.

Veronica walks next to Layla after the men leaves her and asks "Are you alright? They didn't hurt you or anything? Dreadful dogs! Let's go eat and head on to bed."

She smiles after that and follows Layla and Dennan to get some food and then go get some rest.

As the men walk out, Dennan turns to Veronica, smirks and says, "Nice work. They had nothing to say to that. Or more likely, you convinced them that they better not have anything to say to that."

As Veronica asks Layla how she is, Dennan sits down with them and enjoys some food.

Before the night is over he seeks out Mr. Alefast or Rodger the bartender to ask if they know of any other rangers who may be in town.

Also before the night is over he asks Veronica, "Hey, I was thinking about when we were outside. What do you think was all the to do at that manor down the way?"

Veronica nods and gives a dark smile. "I must've frightened them. I am a dhampir after all. And I dunno. I was too busy people watching to see what was going on at the manor. " She replied a moment later.

Veronica chuckles at that before turning to look at Dennan with a smile . " Looks like we have a small child spying on us. Its amusing. " She tells him a moment later.

Dennan stretches out a bit as he gets out of his bunk. He is amazed that his sleep was restful in this open common space, perhaps it is because they fortunately did not have to share the room with others outside the party they brought. In any case, Dennan is thankful that Jon Alehouse sent them here.

As he comes to his senses Dennan catches Veronica';s comment. "We do, do we?" Dennan chuckles, "An amusing little spy, ey? Did the child know you saw? Hmm...Maybe you should be on the lookout for that face if you notice it again."

As he speaks to Veronica he notices that the office of Sebastian is open and notes that he intends to go ask him about doings in town, like what was going on at the manor last night, if he knows of any rangers, and has he heard about the orc activity outside of town.

Veronica nods. "I will. They are hiding below the window. I don't want to scare the wee tot but...It's not nice to spy on others!" She calls out and if her voice goes out the window to the child, she hopes it is enough to bring him/her out of hiding.

"Top of the morning to you, lad. What's your name? I'm Veronica. " Veronica says with a sweet friendly smile to the boy.

(In the office) Dennan thanks Sebastian for hosting the party and assures him his rest was pleasant. Dennan closes the office door as Sebastian solemnly answers his questions. The man must've noticed Dennan's sour expression when he brings up Sir Antonic.

"I had a distaste for that Antonic. He cowardly cornered our companion, Layla, with a crony of his when she was alone. Our other companion Veronica made him shake in his boots and run out of Mr. Alefast's establishment with his tail between his legs. But now this information you say about the spineless wretch reveals him as a greater danger to this town. We were prisoners of the orcs! Some were sacrificed in their vile rituals. Now this man is selling out his own people!?" Dennan is trying hard not to raise his voice and to suppress his growing anger.

After a moment, in a calmer tone..."The orcs that were our captors are not normally found south of the mountains. If Antonic's ambitions are connected to these orcs' abductions, well, that is something that can't be left alone to continue."

Veronica gives the young boy a piece of deer jerky out of her pack as a breakfast treat before asking "So tell me boyo, why were you spying on me and Sir Dennan? It's not polite to spy on others. If you are curious about me, I am not human. I am dhampir : half human half vampire. A vampire bit me when I was 16 and though I get older, I still have my youthful appearance. Don't worry, I won't bite you. I only suck the life out of bad people and monsters that prey on the weak and innocent like yourself. Like that bad man that harassed my friend Layla. "

"Evidence you say? Hmm...maybe there's a way. Tell me, do you know what may have been going on in the manor last evening? It seemed some riders approached it with purpose."

He forces himself to come to terms with the possibility of having to stay in town for longer than he had hoped.

After Sebastian is done with him, Dennan intends to run what he learned by Veronica. As it stands, he can imagine a couple of ways to collect 'evidence'. One way (which he despises, but will do if needed, and knows it is up Veronica's alley) may be a stealthy 'following' of Antonic in town, see who he talks to, where he goes, what dealings he has. If he deals in the manor ofter, there may be a way to hide out and spy there. The other way (which Dennan feels mildly more comfortable about) would be to follow him out of town, perhaps into the wilderness, to catch him dealing with the orcs directly. In any case, he wants to talk to Veronica.

"We're not bad people. We are survivors. Have you ever thought that he might be a bad man? Because dealing with the Orcs is a thing a bad man does. Tell you what. I'll give you a gold coin only if you promise to tell him that we are just here to get food/supplies and will go on our way and if he promises to leave us be and if he doesnt do anything stupid, then we won't have to track down and kill him. Can you do that for us, Sonny?" Veronica asks after holding a shiny gold coin out for the boy.

Veronica then looks up and waves to Dennan with a smile after talking to the boy.

"Dennan, come here. I found our young spy. Said he was going to be given a copper to spy on us by that slimy git who tried to harass Layla named Antonic. Isn't that right, lad? That Antonic fella thinks we're bad just because we escaped from the Orcs. " Veronica said a moment later.