2. Beregost

Dieter makes his way to the flaming fist office with his bag in tow

"...and we'll need to get each of you there at the smithy for a few minutes for measurements. Unless Sheemish already knows them?" she turns questioningly to the artificer, pivoting around to start walk backwards.

As the group approached the town, Stella had spent several minutes outlining their group's finances, outlining major recommended expenditures, primarily for armor and mounts.

She purses her lips to the side and taps her cheek with the end of her pencil, looking down at her notes, still walking backwards. "How long will we be here?" she asks Ajantis and Aldous, pivoting so she's walking forward again. "I've realized my shopping list might actually take a while...I've heard they're one of the best smithies in the region! But I'll try to work out how much we can do with the time we have. We probably shouldn't stay for long. Our...reputation may precede my companions and I," she notes, referring to the assassin incident in Nashkel.

"Diet—" she turns towards Dieter. "Aaand, there he goes, Stella sighs, as Dieter heads towards the Flaming Fist office.

"Well, let's find a place for the carriage and horses, and a safe inn for the night...Aiwë, how is Feldepost's? Or Red Sheaf—?" She cuts off and blushes, realizing Ajantis and Aldous had probably already been through Beregost; they didn't need their bodyguards planning for them. She clears her throat. "Er...My apologies," she says to Ajantis. "I get a bit too caught up with planning sometimes. Where will you be staying? I imagine you'll want us there as well?"

Ajantis frowns at the town. Or maybe that's just his usual expression. "The sooner we move on from here, the better. Though I suspect that Lord Aldous will want to linger for a few days." His disapproval is apparent, but then in a surprising move he turns to Stella and speaks quietly. "He's more likely to listen to you, I think. If you would encourage him to... get a move on back to the Gate sooner rather than later, this job will finally be finished."

Dieter looks around and grabs a young boy "take me to bounty collections, be quick and there will be a coin in it for you." he remembers when he himself was in a similar office and smiles.

Stella points at herself in surprise. "Me?" She glances towards Aldous, thinks about it for a moment, then frowns and nods slowly. She was acquainted with the kinds of dangers their group was prone to drawing, especially when they lingered. More than that, it seemed reasonable Aldous respected her for possibly saving his life, more than someone hired directly by his father.

And he probably liked her.

She nods, then moves to walk alongside the carriage. "How long do you plan for us to stay in Beregost?" she asks Aldous over the sound of hooves, carriage, and busy streets. "Ajantis was telling me it's up to you. It would be good to get supplies and get a good night's rest, but after fighting giant spiders planted by some druidic artisan and with assassins and people who probably know who we are..." She lowers her voice and steps closer. "Not to mention an underling of the one who started the Iron Crisis..." She turns her head to look at Aldous, her eye-stars a worried blue. "What I mean is, we probably shouldn't spend any longer than we really need to. The longer we stay, the more dangerous it will get for all of us."

Ajantis gives a curt nod. "The boy's eyes are always on you. Play your cards right, and I wouldn't be surprised if he asks your hand in marriage within the tenday." The guard pauses, eyes searching the crowds. "It's not the first time a young woman has thrown herself at him in hopes of fame and fortune. He seems to actually be interested in you though."

He points out a sturdy building. "I've business there that I must see to. I'll find you all later at the Burning Wizard. Best get rooms there and keep Lord Aldous from leaving. See if you can find something for him to eat."

With that, Ajantis heads off into the crowd, heading for the building he pointed out.

"no scalps" Dieter says pulling a toe out of his bag grinning "Just two big toes, now move before I retract my offer."

The Silvershield noble is poking through his pack when Stella moves to the carriage. He has a concerned look on his face, but brightens immediately as Stella appears. "Ah! Lady Stella."

He nods thoughtfully at all her words, then puts a hand to his stomach. "Hmm... I'm far too hungry to worry about assassins! Why don't we... erm." He meets her eyes and gives a half-smile. "...discuss the matter over dinner? I mean, you must be hungry as well. 'Twas a long road, after all, fraught with giants and... and... trees...?" He clears his throat and straightens up. "Ah, what I mean to ask is, might I buy you dinner, Stella? A-and eat it with you, of course. I mean, eat my food. I'd buy you your own." He frowns sheepishly. "I suppose I already said that, didn't I?"

"Maybe if we don’t hurry!"

"Toes, what?" The high-ranking officer frowns down at the boy, then follows his finger to Dieter. Her professionally expressionless demeanor breaks into a triumphant grin; it's obvious she recognizes the young warrior. "Of course he has toes, Gor!" she chides to the errand boy, then waves Dieter forward.

Aiwë bristles. "Fame and fortune? Watch your tongue, Ajantis. Where we come from, Stella is as close to a princess as there is, and her family lives off of a dragon hoard. We're not here for fame or fortune."

Ajantis lets out a rare smile from over his shoulder. It doesn't look pleasant. "Everyone's after fame and fortune. The Gate's literally built on it. Best figure that out quick or they'll eat you alive. Especially if you go there claiming to be heroes."

His scowl returns and, obviously done with this conversation, he enters the building he'd pointed out earlier.

"And is your fortune in there, Ajantis?" Aiwë mutters to herself.

"Hey Lord Silvershield, how'd you come to hire Ajantis? I don't love how he's gone wandering off before you're home."

"Officer Vai" Dieter says giving a small bow with a fist over his heart "may I present you will Gnarl and Hairtooth. Though which one is which I have forgotten."

Stella's eyes widen and she raises her eyebrows. Then she lowers one. "If he does, I'll tell him no. That's far too short a time to get to know someone enough to make such a commitment. Marriage is no card game." Stella is surprised by her own fervor against the man.
"Aiwë, it's fine, and..." She opens her mouth to object about being a princess, then considers. Her mother was the archdruid of Kuladhar, one of the most influential people in the Ten Towns. They were a sliver of the size of an actual kingdom, but Aiwë wasn't wrong, she supposed.
Stella raises her eyebrow again. If his idea of a hero was someone who seeks fame and fortune above all else, he seriously needed to reconsider his definition. Unless...well, perhaps that was how everyone he saw act when they claimed to be 'heroes'. From his perspective, perhaps that was what the word 'hero' meant.

Or maybe...he was right? Was she here for fame and fortune? Not in the traditional sense, no. But perhaps she was still here because she wanted to be someone. To be acknowledged. To build her own reputation so she could finally stand apart from that of her parents.

The thought bothered her. And...if he were right, would that be bad thing? Her instinct was yes, but...well, her views had been challenged a lot lately.
Why was it that boys always seemed to procrastinate important discussions with food?

Stella sighs inwardly, but can't help but smile. "Dinner with you sounds lovely! To the Burning Wizard, then?"

Officer Vai takes one of the toes and tosses it in her hand, considering its weight. "I'd heard rumors of hill giants down south, but I thought some of the commonfolk might have just been surprised by a pair of ogres, or some such thing."

She leans down to a nearby desk to count out a large pile of gold coins. A couple of Flaming Fist mercenaries attempt to approach, but she waves them away.

"Here: 300 gold pieces per toe. Bringing down a giant is no easy feat, much less two. Do you still travel with the companions you had with you outside the Friendly Arm Inn? A pair of half-elves, one darker of skin and one fair. Also the quiet knight, and a tall blacksmith with heavy gauntlets?" Her blue-eyed gaze is intense, but not insincere.