The Red Beginning

[Fyrra Na'Limndra]

Afternoon light came through the window slapping Fyrra in the face. She rolled over in bed stirring. The door slammed open, it was Merrake.

-"Wake up, it's mid-afternoon. People are starting to come in for the afternoon and night. Kalimbra Na'Limndra, are you ok?"-

-"No. I'm tired. I didn't sleep well last night."-

-"Well we should get up. The others have gone already. It'll take us a few days to get to Morith, unless you have money for horses?"-

-"No, I give my money to the initiative. Fine, I'll get up. Let's get a bath and something to eat, then we'll hit the road."-

-"You don't plan on being Daelar in front of the Hanneth do you? Those men are still down there."-

-"They're what? Where's my Sarong... here it is."-

Fyrra got dressed then went downstairs into the common room with Merrake. They both sat at a table and waited for the barmade. Merrake kept her eyes on the men that were still there from the prior day. Her hand was resting on her weapon. The men were menacing. There was thick and burly. Thin and lanky, short and crusty, swarthy and muscly. Merrake knew she couldn't take four men on her own. Not all at once. Fyrra wasn't much of a fighter either. She wouldn't be much help.

The barmaid came over, Marie.

"What can I get for you ladies?"

"I would like bath, and uhm, let us have a bottle of the Zenora Blush and two glasses. Bath for two that is."

"Of course. We'll bring the bottle to you. The bath is down this hall and around the corner. For the two of you and the bottle, that'll be One Ritz, Two Cor."

Fyrra pulled two Ritz from her coin purse and put them in Marie's hand.

"Keep the rest."

"Oh, thank you..."

-"Merrake, let's go."-

-"But these men."-

-"Won't follow us into the bath."-

Merrake and Fyrra went down the hall and around the corner towards where the bath was. The room was large, the pool was nice and warm. Steam rose from it which flowed out a window. Fyrra began to think, if the men were going to follow her out the front, then perhaps she could leave through an alternate means. The kitchen? There was always a door through the kitchen.

Fyrra undressed and got into the water, rubbing her skin as she settle in and soaked.

-"Oh that feels good. Merrake, you should join me."-

-"I'm not convinced they won't follow us in."-

-"Fine. Fine."-

Marie returned to them, apologized for barging in, and gave Merrake the bottle of wine. She sat on the edge of the bath and opened the bottle, pouring some into a glass for Fyrra, and sipping some from the bottle for herself.

-"You didn't leave with the others."-

It was a statement. Fyrra was just making an observation. If Merrake wanted to respond to that she could. The INitiative Guard smile, took a sip from the bottle, but didn't take her eyes off the door.

-"Can't let someone crush the standing flower."-

-"It's appreciated."-

-"So what now?"-

-"I have my soak. We wait, and maybe slip out the kitchen."-

---

-2R

[Fyrra Na'Limndra]

Fyrra's bath was undisturbed, she dried and dressed without incident. She felt better afterwards and went back to common room to both let her long hair dry out. It would be hours of course, but the heat of the common room would help. When they arrived they found their previous table had been occupied by some local color. Instead they found a table closer to a fire and ordered dinner. Fyrra sat with her back to the fire. Merrake sat next to her, weapon still drawn, resting idly in her hands with the blade on the table.

"How was your bath?" The barmaid asked, same barmaid, approaching to take any additional orders.

"It was luxurious, thank you. Just the thing I needed. We'll have two Chowder Chow Downs. The red loaf, dragonfruit juice for the both of us."

"Of course."

-"Chow downs? Really?"-

-"What? I didn't name the dish. Sounds funny in Cruic."-

-"Mmm. Well they're still here. What do you propose we do?"-

-"Leave through the kitchen like I suggested. Perhaps someone will start singing soon, provide a distraction, and we can escape."-

-"Let's not waste any more time than we need to. We need to catch up with the others."-

-"And let us not give into haste, either. That is how we wind up dead or raped. Or whatever foul intention they have."-

Merrake growled. It was a long wait until the chowder came out. Fyrra had started to hit the wine a little harder but their food order came out before that started to take full effects. The Rhotbrot fortified her, the Serpent Chowder was delicious and creamy. The Dragonfruit juice was sweet and the perfect counter balance to the wine. They had finished quickly, having not eaten at all during the day.

Fyrra was right of course, some drunk started butchering a song in no time. The whole tavern joined in. Between the Drokagr and the men that had been following Fyrra, was a crowd of rambunctious people. With line of sight blocked, their moment was now. Both of the half-breeds got up from their position at the table and proceeded into the back. Fyrra ran into Marie there, who was coming out with a tray full of fresh drinks. Various beers.

"Why hello there!"

"Where are you going? You can't go back here."

-Indistinct Singing.-

"Oh we were just leaving out the back. There have been some men following me all day. Men I'd rather avoid. Here, for your trouble. Should cover the food and your discretion? Yes? Ok, bye now! Take care!"


"But I?..."

Fyrra had slipped a Ritz into the girl's bodice and neatly danced around her. Merrake squeezed past them both and led the way out through the kitchen. In no time they were in the back alley behind the Serpent's Head Inn. Dusk had started.

-"Not a bad escape huh?"-

-"Eh.. it'll do. They'll notice we're gone soon. Let us find some place to hide. Perhaps there's a place sympathetic to our kind here in the city. Too dangerous to leave at night. We'll get caught by bandits or worse."-

-"You can't let me have a single victory can you? Merrake? Merrake!"-

Merrake ignored Fyrra and continued walking. The Kalimbra followed behind her huffing, close on the other's heels as they made their way towards the ring market to look for someplace else to stay the night. Someplace sympathetic to their kind.

---

Total Inn Cost for thread: -3R