The world was noisy around the tavern where Miklian paced in his room, occasionally staring at the trunk of belongings where Wynessa's things sat beside his own. She had placed them there in the same trunk right next to his belongings, but he dare not touch them. They were hers. It would be incredibly rude.
It was midday, she had been gone maybe two or three hours, but the entire time he had found no solace. After what the tavernkeep had insinuated, the thoughts of his human walking around the city, unguarded, especially given where they had come from...
What if she was already dead somewhere and he had no idea? Or kidnapped? Or someone had recognised her and they were taking her back to the mountain?
He stood, pacing as he thought until a knock on his door roused him from his torturous thoughts.
"Who is it?" Excitement tinted his voice as he hoped beyond hope that it was Wynessa, but the voice that answered was definitely not hers.
"I have a message for a giant by the name of Miklian." The courier spoke quickly, waiting for the door to open and confirm it was the giant he sought. "The message is from a miss Lyrdottir."
Hearing Wynessa's name, he flung open the door and pulled the courier into the room, quickly shutting the door behind them as he tried his best to look intimidating. The human he had pulled into his room was at least up to Miklian's ribcage in height, which stunned him for a moment before the undertone of grey in his skin gave away his lineage.
"Speak. I am Miklian. What is your message?"
"Miss Lyrdottir wants you to know that she is well and being well cared for. She has found a few days lodging in the abode of Madame Lufoncia and requests you not send for her unless it is an absolute emergency. She is learning a new skillset and wishes for her belongings to be delivered to the abode of Madame Lufoncia before the end of the day." The message was clear and well dictated as the young man stood before his client. "Would you like for me to repeat this message, sir?"
"No. That will be all. Let me give you a tip." Miklian pulled a few coins from the dresser beside his bed and handed the silver to the boy before ushering him out the door. After he shut the door behind the retreating figure, he sighed and breathed fully for the first time all day.
He dressed himself casually and gathered Wynessa's belongings into his own pack, emptying his things from it so all of hers would fit in the one. The stairs seemed louder than they were earlier in the morning, but the noise and clamour from the bar assured him there were people he would want to avoid. He pulled his hood up before rounding the corner to try to grab the attention of the woman from earlier, but the giant behind the bar was a surly looking man with scars and marks of war all across his body.
Miklian respectfully nodded his head to the man as he sidled up to the counter. After a moment of waiting while the barman served his patrons in the order they had arrived, a female voice from just behind him made Miklian startle.
"Looking for someone?" The woman who had been serving food and drinks earlier in the day was dressed more conservatively and looked ready to leave with her cloak already fastened.
"Yes, actually. I was hoping to find you, since you seem to know a lot more about this city than many of the other locals. I was hoping to could tell me where I can find Madam Lufoncia's?" Miklian was unaware of what kind of place he was asking about until a drunkard beside him clapped his shoulder with a large unsteady grip.
"Ho boy! You're wantin' the Madame! She's the best in the business, I tell you what! Hah!" The giant was completely sloshed, but the intention behind his loud words made Miklian's face pale as he turned back to face the tavernkeeper woman incredulously.
She expertly separated the hand from Miklian's shoulder and pulled him out the door with her, not saying anything until they were nearly to the river. When she finally spoke, it was hushed and her arm was looped around his elbow.
"Yes, Madame Lufoncia run a house of professional pleasure companions, but that was not why I suggested your friend visit her. The Madame also knows every resistance member in the city. She knows about you and your human, and knows what you're up against. That's why I sent her there. It's a safe house for her far more than that tavern." They moved through the city streets as she explained, very few people seemed interested in the giant couple out for a stroll on such a day and kept to themselves. "Lufoncia can protect her far better than we could. As an added bonus, because of the reputation humans get, especially human women, it makes sense for your act that your human be there."
"What act?"
"That she's your slave. If you want to protect her you have to go along with this. It was her choice to go to the Madame, I just suggested it." They finally crossed the river before either of them spoke again, acting casually as they moved through the crowds. His incredible rudeness was suddenly very apparent to him as they passed a flower cart that tried to get their attention.
"What is your name? I don't think I've asked."
"Charlotta, but people at the tavern call me Cherry. Keep that in mind. Now, go down this street until you find the Madame's establishment. It'll be on the right side. If you find Dodger's smith, you've gone too far." She smiled, motioning down the road she had lead him to before stooping slightly. For the sake on the onlooking gossips, she pecked his cheek with what could pass as a kiss and began walking away before turning around and waving. "See you later tonight!"
He awkwardly waved and smiled before turning to follow her instructions to find the oddly-structured building.
Miklian knocked politely on the giant-side door which was quickly greeted by a feminine voice singing that he could come in. The door opened easily to him, and being a shorter giant he did not have to duck to step through into the airy space. Much of the building seemed recently built for persons of his likeness and larger, but the older section of the building was hidden behind curtains, but appeared to be more human-sized.
"Take a seat, I'll be right with you, darling!" the same voice called out to him from the other side of the curtains. As he was instructed, Miklian sat on one of the benches near the partition wall and called out in reply.
"A messenger was sent for me asking to deliver the belongings of a young lady who I believe is here." A soft giggle from the other side was all the response he got as he set the pack beside him and waited. He did not have to wait long before a scantily clad woman with a brilliantly cared for beard parted the fabrics and stepped out to look him over.
"So you're the one who's causing all the fuss." The statement was disappointed as she flicked her wrist instructing him to stand and turn. He did as she wanted though the actions made him quite aware of his lackings. He was not the tallest or the broadest giant, he was not the most well endowed, nor was he honestly the most handsome. At least, in his own eyes.
Vanity was certainly not his sin of choice.
"Tea?" She offered after motioning for him to sit back on the bench. He nodded but before he could speak, she shushed him. "Ah-bup-bup-bup. You just sit back and relax for a moment. No need to be so tense. I'm not going to eat you, darling."
She stepped behind the curtains once again and returned a moment later with a large mug of tea sized appropriately for him and a purple drink in her own cup. She set his tea on a table beside him before stepping up to sit on the table as well so they were nearly matched for height.
"Tell me, Captain Miklian, what are your intentions for our dear Wynessa?" This had to be the Madame he had been told about. There was no way anyone with such presence and command of a room was anything less than the owner of the business and a brilliant strategist. Intimidation dripped from her well manicured fingers and easily made him feel like he was being chastised with every word.
"Madame, I only want her safety and happiness. If I can help her achieve that, then I am blessed by all the gods, but I also realise that it is more likely that I cannot. My intention is to deliver her safely to her father and then let her decide if I remain by her side or not." He had not yet lifted the tea to his lips as he spoke, but after speaking his peace he took a sip of the hot liquid and made a pleasantly surprised sound. "This is quite lovely. Thank you."
Madame Lufoncia eyed him carefully, one perfectly arched eyebrow raised as she sipped at her own drink for a moment. She seemed to be thinking over what he had said before setting her drink down and leveling him with a sharp gaze.
"Drop your drawers." Her glare was piercing and unrelenting as Miklian nearly choked on the tea.
"Pardon?!"
"Drop trou. Show me your weapon. Unsheath your spear. Draw your sword. Expose yourself to me. Need I continue?" Her voice was cutting with not a single trace of a joke or insult as she waited for his response.
The dark blue hue of his blushing face was a beautiful colour as he set the tea on the table and stood to do as she demanded.