Riley's Pov:
I have acquired many skills over the years. Being able to run fast is oblivious to my favorite but my absolute favorite would have to be the ability to appear drunk even after drinking ten or more cups of alcohol. I watch in amusement as little Timmy here is getting more and more drunk by the second. Thank the heavens for tonight's win. Everyone here is preoccupied with their group and drinking to not pay attention to us. But I keep my body warmth high, allowing my face to appear flushed from drinking, just in case.
"...then I drew back my arrow and.. *hiccup*..release that arrow hitting the deer in mid jum- *hic* ..jump." Tim swallowed down another cup releasing a loud, deep burp.
"Wow, you're a good hunter." I praised him, trying to keep a drunken tone in my voice.
"I suppose so." He leans back into his chair filled with pride. He leans back forward with his face close to mine with a suddenly serious face. I'm trying so hard not to break character but my sensitive nose and his horrible breath are making it nearly impossible. Hang in there Riley. "Where's your sword?"
"Excuse me?"
"You're a knight aren't you?"
"Yes?"
"Then where your sword. Don't knights always carry some sort of sword?" He turns away as I did. I never thought about getting a sword. I always relied on my speed and quick wits. The only weapon I own is a seax sword which is like a jumbo-sized knife, a gift from my trainer. But a sword? It's true that most knights use swords but do I need one. I look back to Tim only to see him land face-first onto the counter. And he is out.
"Let's get out of here." I swing his arm around my neck as I shifted his weight onto me. I safely escorted us both out of the tavern and out into the festive streets. His brown hair tickles my nose as I drag him down the streets. I manage to reach the last turnoff till we reach our inn as someone calls out to us."
"Hey cutie!!" A couple of guys stumbled out of an alley, reeking of alcohol. Great, This is the last thing I need right now. I continue forward, ignoring them both. A hand grabbed hold of my arm as the other one positioned himself in front of us, blocking our path.
"Come on sweetheart. Don't be cold. We just want some fun."
"Yeah, why don't you lose the stiffness and come with us." I shake his handoff.
"I think you boys had a little too much to drink tonight so why don't you leave us alone and go home before someone gets hurt." I need to get out of here now. I try to maneuver around the frontman, the one behind me snatching Tim out of my arm as the other one puts me in a chokehold.
"Let me go!" I struggle to get loose, careful not to use my full strength. The drunk holding the pass-out Tim puts a knife up to his throat.
"Come with us nicely and we won't hurt your friend here." He threatens. I stop struggling as I notice something large moving around behind him.
"Good girl now let's go." They begin to drag us away when something large appears behind the man holding Tim.
"Excuse me gentlemen but do you mind telling me what you are doing to this nice couple here?" Fear began to emit from them as they began to shake uncontrollably. I took this opportunity to get out of the chokehold, elbowing him into the stomach making him kneel over in pain. I knee him in the face knocking him over to the ground. I turn around to find a tall muscle man simply knocking the man holding Tim on the head with just enough force to knock him out. The stranger catches Tim as the drunk falls to the ground.
"Thank you." I manage to spit out.
"It's nothing young lady, just helping out when I can."
"I'm not actually a lady." I corrected him even though it's a lie. He seems taken back by this.
"My apologies young lad, but those men-"
"Those men were drunk beyond reasoning. I really need to get him back to the inn. It's getting late." I reach to him only to have the man lift him like it's nothing over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Nonsense, a right-minded person would escort you both home safe and sound." He begins to protest.
"No really, It's no trouble at all. Our inn is just around the corner-" I pointed to the direction of our inn as he interrupts me.
"Then let us make haste. Any more time out here and you both could catch a cold." He makes his way towards our inn.
"But it's summer." I sighed in defeat following him back to the inn.
Once back at the inn, I help him take Tim into his room then escort the man back outside. The light from the inn allowed me a clear view of details I couldn't see before in the dark. He was a rather big man, standing at a good 6 to 7 feet tall, possibly weighing in at around 300 pounds, maybe. His head is shaved bald except for his chest-length peppered-colored beard dec out with braids and silver and gold cuffs. His skin is heavily tan but not sunburn in the slightest. His body is decorated with familiar tattoos along with scars up and down his arms. His hands showed clear signs of either heavy labor or extreme training. Which would explain his extreme muscle mass. He was dressed like it was summer only wearing a vest, baggy knee-length trousers, and leather sandals. The vest he wears is dark green in color but the symbol on the back was painted with white. The symbol was a design of some tentacle creature. I know what it is but I can't seem to remember. The same goes for the tattoos.
"Thanks again for the help. " I called out while I try to remember.
"It's no problem, I help when I can." He began to walk off when the realization hits me like a ton of bricks.
"Those tattoos, are you by any chance one of the seafolk?" I ask him quickly. He appears surprised for a minute then goes back to smiling.
"Born and raised. I'm surprised that an inlander took notice."
"I spend some time on an island some time ago. I met a few seafolk, nothing like you of course, but enough to recognize those tattoos." I couldn't help but return the smile.
"Don't mind me asking but which of islands did you visit?" He eagerly asked in which I happily answered.
"Broken Sheild."
"I've been there once or twice. Makes good training grounds since not a whole lot of folks live there."
"Indeed" I agreed with him. It's true. It is not heavily populated due to where it is located at which makes it a good "no distractions" training zone.
"How rude of me! Here we are talking about good old times and I have yet to introduce myself. Call me Ishmael." He raised his hand to shake mine.
"I'm Riley, Riley O'Hara." I return the handshake trying not to appear surprised at the extreme hand-sized difference.
"Nice to meet you, I hope we meet again soon."
"As do I." I waved him goodbye as I watch him disappear into the night.
I get back to my room to find Nenet waking up, still sluggish from sleep.
"Sorry did I wake you?" She nods before getting up, walk in circles, then laying back down. Her ball-tipped tail softly pounding the bed as if she were telling me to get in. I giggled at the cute gesture. I slip into some nightwear as I release the tight-binding around my chest revealing light bruises along with some redded skin. I usually do this every night but with Tim around it was hard to get any privacy on the four-day trip from his town to here. This is a blessing to be able to take this off. I'm going to have to buy a tent tomorrow or something to prevent me from getting more bruises. I plop down on the bed not bothering to get under the covers.
I feel Nenet snuggle close as she purrs with delight. I can't help but run my hand through her midnight black fur. The memory of her family's death flashes through my mind filling my heart with grief. Nenet is aware of what happened but thank the heavens she doesn't have any memories of it. I can't say the same for Tim however. He was in pretty rough shape that night; I guess I would be too if my childhood friend died from a mistake that I made. We were lucky that he doesn't remember anything at all but his memories will eventually resurface. When that will be, I won't know. I wouldn't be want to be around him when he does.
The only reason he came along with us was because his father wanted to punish him for his recklessness and what better way to do that than to make him travel with the last survivor of the family he murdered. It's not like his father could've come up with something else as a punishment. This is going to make hiding my secret much harder to hide than normal. I'm must be getting a case of bad luck or something. This freaking sucks!