"I guess you Imperial dogs can fight after all." A man remarked.
Her eyes narrowed towards him. Her head tilted a bit as she leaned to the side in her stance as she rather calmly glared at him. The man seemed to have the epitome of facetious humor. The timing for it, acutely taken. It was the same man from the tavern that wanted to brawl. The people gathered in a crowd before her, some even wishing to praise her. Others and most… Not so much.
"Imperial dog." She said, with a hoarseness to her voice as she slowly stepped forward.
"Is that what you think of me?" She asked, raising her brows as she nonchalantly approached him.
He didn't seem to be too afflicted by her question.
"We're all glad this beast is dead. Doesn't fix what you imps have done to us." He retorted, blatantly and bluntly.
Another peasant, a woman clung to his arm, a small and frail woman who clearly farmed all day and had stress in her messy hair and clothes as well.
"Husband, please keep your manners!" She whispered.
She tried to urge him not to speak his foolish mind. But, that didn't stop him. He jerked his arm away.
"Why would I? One little fucking treat for surviving in this damn town doesn't change how damned we are because of a bunch of sun-bearer's!" He exclaimed loudly, drunk with his own rage already.
However, Davina approached him, walking right up to him and earning a glare from him.
"What? Got something to sa—"
Before he could even finish, he was grabbed by his tunic as the dark-haired Valerian thrust her head forward, slamming her forehead right into his nose with a sickening crack being heard. An "Oh!" Emerging from some of the crowd as the wife gasped in horror as the peasant man stumbled back, yelping in pain from the bloodied nose as he fell onto his back.
"Is that what you fucking think of me?" Davina yelled at the injured man.
The pain, the awful headache was felt. She held her head for a moment as she stepped up to him, using the anger to take it out on him. Rightfully so. She swung her leg back, slamming it into his side as he grunted and clung to his side as he only got a kick again right into his gut. His wife held her hands over her mouth, truly scared for her husband.
"I won't take words from a man who never wielded a blade into battle. Nor ever lived as a warrior!" She nearly screamed as she had only mercilessly kicked him into the gut again.
Davina felt the wife of the Nord cling to her arm, only attempting to defend him as her morals as his lover demanded.
"Please, mercy! Mercy on my husband!" She pleaded.
"He's a fool, that is all I can reason! Please, I beg you, ma'am, spare him any more penance." She nearly cried.
Davina looked down at the smaller woman, her furrowed brows easing up as she was panting a bit. She felt no sympathy for them any longer. She pulled her arm away.
"The lot of you can fuck off." Davina said, glancing amongst all of them.
She looked down at the truly hurt Nord. She shook her head a little as she stepped forward, only swinging another kick directly into his face. With that, she released him from punishment and began to walk off. The people moved out of her way as she did. As she walked, she was moved in a negative way from the ungrateful man she had the unfortunate curse of running into. If only his wife spoke her mind, that encounter would've gone far differently. She dealt with enough of those types of people as it is. The Valerian walked towards the tavern. She rubbed her forehead and winced from the intense ache from hitting the fool of the town. She very much needed a drink now. She walked through the doors of the tavern, entering to not even notice her allies in the corner. She just saw the new barkeeper beginning to light some candles.
"You the Imperial who killed that big mutt?" The boy, who looked to barely be on his second decade in this world, had asked her.
"Yes." She replied, agitated, leaning against the bar surface, truly exhausted as she held her head.
"Mighty happy you killed that beast, m'lord. He took my mother, you know?" He said, pouring her a tankard filled to the brim with beer.
He pushed the glass to her. She raised her head, eyeing him with halfway open eyes with slightly furrowed brows. A kind one, she thought. How surprising. She simply nodded in thanks as she took the cup and took a decent chug of it. Until she required breath and slammed the cup down, coughing a little.
"My father, the one your friend beat today, he's just an old cruel man. Means nothing by it. Just miserable and the cold made him as much, you understand? I know he'd thank you for doing what he did. Just as I thank you now." He spoke, refilling her tankard with beer.
She scoffed.
"Sure." She said, picking the cup up to take a mere sip this time. She didn't feel much like conversation. But, even as talkative as the boy was to an already annoying point, she knew he was far better of a man than most here. For a young one. He was thin, lanky, dressed in a simple shirt and pants and boots with shaggy brown hair and wide eyes.
"Your thanks is greatly appreciated." She said, forcing a little smile onto her face.
He smiled in return.
"See? I knew Father was wrong. Says all you Imperials are bad politicians. I say that's not the case. I wish to join the Empire, you know? Become a soldier. A brave knight. A Captain. Captain Hadrian of Brytwood." He explained.
She took a deep breath, mustering up the tolerance for the poor thing. So far, he was the only soul out of all the townspeople she could maintain a conversation with.
"Captain? My, that is quite a reach." She said.
"I know it sounds impossible, but I can hope." He replied.
"If it was impossible, then I and hundreds of others before me wouldn't have done it. Don't hope, boy. Just act." Davina said, eyeing him.
He seemed to be stunned to hear this. He simply nodded. The conversation ended there. A presence then joined her. She didn't even have to look to tell who it was.
"Basking in glory?" Wrafe asked.
She almost laughed.
"Clearly." She muttered, taking another drink.
Wrafe's brow raised upwards in curiosity of her rather down mood.
"Oh, Captain. What is it that drowned your enthusiasm?"
Davina's eyes lowered to the counter, setting her drink aside as she crossed her arms that were propped on the surface. She didn't let very much emotion show. Plus, this damn headache nagging at her forehead now.
"How is our friend Aloysius? He was somewhat knocked out of battle before he could even… Well, prove to be useful." She said, ignoring the question.
He didn't push at all at that moment. She didn't want to talk of it, that worked perfectly fine for them both.
"The town's cook and witch has healed his injuries. They were nearly fatal, actually." He said.
"A town cook and witch. Interesting." She shook her head.
It was well noted that the witch would have been useful to know of beforehand. Davina took her tankard and turned, eyeing the corner of the room where Aloysius and a woman were. A woman with an youthful olive complexion. Dark hair, braided in the back with two smaller braids at the sides, flowers decorated along her impressively styled hair, and these colors colored of green and beige fitting on her body that didn't hide nor show very much. She was a beautiful woman who had no age to her face, yet was most definitely one who has lived a life well above two or three decades. Definitely a witch. Her appearance in style was similar to Wrafe's, just with different stands on sides.
"You. Witch." Davina pointed out, beginning to step towards her.
Wrafe followed at her side. The Witch of Brytwood had moved her vibrant hazel eyes to the Captain.
"Do you hate the Empire as well?" She asked, rather mockingly.
The Witch seemed amused, smiling a bit as she leaned back in her seat, propping an arm up. Her head tilted a little as she shook her head, eyeing the Valerian down and up.
"My, my. Never an easy days work, is it?" She asked, having an accent of one far away from these lands. Salynthrian. Elf. As apparent by her pointed ears.
"No." Davina replied, going to sit down at the table, slapping her tankard down. She watched the Elf with great interest. Truthfully, you never saw elves in these parts. They were greatly unwelcomed.
"Do you hate elves? Witch's? Or, perhaps just my clothing?" The Witch asked, with a coy grin.
Davina didn't seem as amused.
"No. The color scheme could be better." She dryly jested.
It made the town Witch chuckle.
"Then we are on mutual terms." She answered.
"Sure." Davina said.
"Tell me, you feed these fools? You are their witch? Why didn't you bother assisting us?" The Valerian asked.
"Well… Why would I? I require equal exchange from these people. I keep them fed, never to be ill from my meals, in exchange, they serve me and all that I require. Killing a wolf of that stature? Please, they couldn't pay me back in their own lifetime." She explained.
Now Davina understood. She was a harsh woman. Not judgmental, but harsh in what was just. She believed in deals. Which is how the Valerian knew that this woman was the one who conjured the deal with Aloysius to deliver to them.
"She's been an aid to us all." Aloysius explained.
Wrafe sat next to Davina.
"Your name." She ignored The Bold, only wanting to speak to individuals who were either in battle with her or of some use to make her journey progressive.
"I am Ksenia Boletaan." She introduced, bowing her head a little and reeling it back with a pleased smile.
"That accent. You're from Loraant. You're awfully close to the Empire for being homed to an opposing kingdom." Davina stated.
Wrafe scoffed a little, hiding a small smile as he now knew what the Captain was doing. Rooting out who was trustworthy. Considering the mission. Ksenia merely shrugged a little.
"I don't bother in petty wars anymore. Honestly, the only reason you found this town is because I allowed it." She had her own fire in her.
Her own idea of war, considering it pointless. It didn't bother Davina. Nor did she possess anymore care for her ideals.
"Because you allowed it?" The Valerian asked, soon to lean back in her seat and take a quick drink while staring at the witch. She didn't answer. Nor did the Captain really want to dwell in conversation any longer.
"Alright. I saved your petty town. Now, what about your end of the bargain?" She got straight to the most important point. Ksenia nodded.
"I haven't forgotten. Yes, your passage to Cira Khan Mountain is more than my pleasure to grant you. Captain." She said, bowing her head again as she held a hand over her chest for a moment. Loraant had a small difference in mannerisms.
"Don't bow your head to me, Boletaan." Davina stated.
"Someone of royalty rarely should." She added, standing up.
As a sign of respect for her, Davina bowed her head with a fist over her heart. This was her small gesture of thanks. Ksenia smiled, not commenting on the knowledge of what was said.
"I ensured that the barkeeper's boy has some lodgings set for you and your allies. I suggest you rest now and wake before midday. It'll be warmest by then." Ksenia advised, standing up as she began to head for the doors.
"May your journey be swift and bountiful." She waved a hand back, parting her ways before her departure from them all.
Davina merely turned her attention to Wrafe, exchanging looks with him before planting a hand onto the table and leaning in.
"Are there any more complications you care to mention to me to get us to that damn mountain?" She asked, irritatedly.
Her eyes stared into his, having a certain flare of irritation with him.
"Someone certainly needs a nap." He remarked, clearly less than intimidated by her.
He stood up, adjusting the collar to his long coat that draped over the back of his person and sides. Not the front whatsoever.
"But, no. Things should be nothing but smooth now that Ksenia has our pathway forged. Aloysius will lead us." He gestured to the fair haired man. To whom, stood up as well.
"Aye, I will. I'll see you both at noon." He said, leaning off the table and going off to his lodgings. A private room for him.
"Good. I'm going to behead all of you if I have anything else I need to gray my hair for." Davina said.
Of course, she was just joking. Mostly. The journey had been somewhat stressful. Killing a Jokul-Dog. Her men abandoned her. Wrafe failed to mention certain aspects of the deal. He was frustratingly useful and useless at the same time.
"Yet, your hair is darker than your coal-colored heart." He childishly remarked, patting her on the shoulder a couple of times as he parted to go off to his own room.
"Wrafe." Davina called, remaining with her side facing him as she held her tankard of beer.
"Yes, Captain?" He replied, facing her.
She was silent for a moment, thinking of what to properly say before her emerald eyes scrolled to him.
"When we continue our path on the morrow, our strength will be greatly diminished. Most of my men won't be accompanying me any further. In saying that…" She paused.
"I will require your full attention. I had no idea you were a sorcerer. I…- Will need that for whatever we face."
It was remarkably hard to say for someone who has only relied on herself for so long.
"I will be there. Full potential and all." Wrafe returned, assuredly.
With this glimmer of kindness from the Nobleman, she nodded and simply let him go off to his room. She would sit back down and simply drink herself into the night. Until she was ready to sleep. It wouldn't be for a little while but, she would eventually finish her drink. Perhaps have another, maybe eat. Then, she'd force herself to sleep til the next day comes forth.