"I do not believe we have fully discussed the terms if I win."
"There's no need, you know what I want and that's enough." Florian's reply filled with confidence had everyone contemplating whether she had a reason to be confident or if she was just clueless.
Axtor conceded "Very well, we will discuss the terms after then. I hope you realize that I will not take pity on you just because you are a woman. I will end this quickly."
Axtor leans in to whisper something to Florian "Although, I am curious as to who you are and why you are with those two." Florian looked irked at his words.
"I hope you remember your words sir."
Florian sets her elbow to the table and waits for the captain to reciprocate. Rhetta and Khio observed that Florian seemed quite familiar with arm wrestling. Florian swallowed her doubts trying to dismiss them and maintain her poker face. 'If they're that nervous this guy must be really strong...I said I could do it, but can I actually win? If he's like me it's going to be hard, it's rare so that's probably not the case.'
The back and forth exchange made the rage settle, Florian realized her impulsive behaviour thanks to her temper would be her downfall one day but right now she wanted to rely on the confidence her temper gave her. She concentrated glancing over at the knights who previously riled her up. The captain set his arm down and her hand was met with a crushing grip and even heavier pressure from the captain.
"Start!"
The knight announced the start of their contest, everyone eagerly awaited the swift defeat of Florian. She stared at the captain, confused as she glanced between his face and his hand. There was such a delicate push it barely felt like her arm would drop. The captain showed more bewilderment at this, his face strained as he pushed harder. A vein protruded from his forehead as he applied more force but no matter how hard he pushed; Florian's arm would not budge, it didn't even struggle.
"I thought you weren't going to go easy on me." Florian goads, watching Axtor trying to push himself even further.
"Come on captain, stop messing around."
Florian looked over at the knight that seemed so distressed that Axtor was 'faking' his reaction to her. "Aren't you tired of doubting me?" Florian sighed, tired of the farce and decided she would be the one to end this quickly since the captain was incapable of doing so. 'Should be alright if I only use a little strength.'
She applies a bit of her strength to her arm and aims to pin Axtor's arm down, the moment she pressed- it ended. It was a sudden and utter defeat. The captain's arm went flying down to the table with tremendous speed, breaking the table and sending him toppling to the floor and even out of his chair.
The bards miss a beat, the laughing and chattering stops. The entire tavern falls silent looking at the aftermath, most had been watching with eager eyes. Axtor sprawled and dazed on the floor surrounded by the broken and fractured pieces of the table. The shock came mostly from the one who had put him into that state. Florian sits on her chair, her position hadn't moved from her arm wrestling.
Florian looked at the dismal state of the captain and dreaded the idea of being punished by the knights, she didn't intend for it to be so drastic. Her finer control of her strength still needed work. Florian hooks her hands under his arms much like a parent would pick up their child, she easily lifted the fully grown man and set him on his feet. Dusting off his clothes "I'm sorry, I did try to hold back. I didn't realize it would have been that overpowering. I can treat you if you're injured."
Axtor's face shifts looking absolutely incredulous "You held back?" He shakes his head "I'm fine I don't need treatment."
Somehow the man seemed honourable enough not to retaliate, thankfully for Florian this meant she could ask for her prize. "Not the best time to say it but I did win. That will be all your money, three pairs of clothing, two swords and two horses."
One of the knights throws his chair aside, stomping over to Florian and grabs her by the collar of her dress. "What dirty trick did you use wretch!?" Fueled by drink and insult, the knight unsheathed his sword and held it above Florian's head. Her eyes turn emotionless and she clenches her fist, Rhetta and Khio move in to stop the sword but find their interference pointless when the captain seizes the knight's arm. Florian looks behind the knight, watching the waitress fixing her skirt and catching sight of the dagger strapped to her thigh.
"Since when are you so quick to raise your sword?" His fierce tone incapacitates the knight, the knight releases her collar and she is dropped to the floor. Florian's face softens and she unclenches her fist. Axtor bows towards her "I apologise on the behalf of my subordinate."
Khio clicks her tongue "Since when are such uncontrolled soldiers allowed in the First Order..."
Axtor glances over at her "They are soldiers from the third order, under my temporary command."
Khio didn't expect a response. The knights of the third order were under the elite first order captain was an unexpected bit of news.
"It's fine." Florian reassures him to remain amicable.
"I lost in a fair match do not cause any issues." Axtor instructs the rowdy men, "You took the responsibility of the bet, it is time for you all to honour your agreement."
The three knights with the closest stature to Rhetta, Khio and Florian reluctantly hand over their clothes. Thankfully beneath the imperial mantles they had something less conspicuous and more civilian like. Rhetta and Khio are able to make the clothes work with a little tightening and tying here and there. Florian is not so fortunate as the clothes were too long and big even after her attempts to tie it. The captain seemed to have predicted this and handed a different change of clothing one closer to her size, those belonging to the squire. He did believe it was important for the knights to learn their lesson however so he did not return the free set of clothes.
Standing outside of the tavern, three naked souls with nothing but their undergarments, one clothed knight and the captain stood alongside the group while handing over two of their horses and swords. Rhetta and Khio acted as if the captain didn't exist, refusing to interact with him. They mount the horses and grab the reins with practised precision. Florian holds her hand out looking towards one of the naked knights "Don't lie to me, I heard the jingling. Hand it over."
He pulls a coin pouch he had hidden in his undergarments and pours the contents of it into Florian's hand.
"Why did you only ask for two horses? There are three of you." Axtor questioned, "I don't know how to ride so I'm riding with one of them."
Florian looks up at Khio, her eyes asking for instruction on how to mount the horse. She lifts her leg, unable to reach the stirrup and Khio sighs. She stretches out her hand and pulls Florian onto the horse. Florian swings her leg over and nearly topples off the opposite side. Khio makes sure she is secure, so much for the cool exit.
Rhetta leads, beginning to trod down the road followed by Khio and Florian, the trio leaves.
Axtor watches them, an inquisitive look in his eyes. 'Rhetta Edevane, Khio Ditka and that unusual temple girl...I hope they'll be okay.'
The group rides away from the tavern making their way to the Pran entrance. Florian shoves her hand into her satchel, and pulls out the necklace she picked up from the knight back in Hayle. She dangles it in front of Khio, initially Khio gets irritated with the distraction while trying to ride until she notices what Florian dangled in front of her. Her necklace, the precious keepsake from her family. "That's my necklace! Where did you get this?"
"I picked it up from one of the knights at the execution grounds. You mentioned they stole your necklace so I figured this may have been the one."
Khio puts the necklace on and holds it close to her chest. "Thank you Florian..."
'I hope they're alright, please be alright.'
No one ever looked calm in the heart of the Gyomok village slums and yet a woman sits relaxed, without a hint of worry. Her face is hidden by the dark purple cloak. She moves one leg over the other, her heel tapping to the tune she blissfully hums and looking down at the three men prostrating themselves before her.
"Please! We are begging you to take this request!"
"Please! We implore Miss Belladonna!"
Laila Belladonna, an elite assassin belonging to the house of Dahlia. Although on the surface she is just a sweet baroness who lost her husband. Laila smirks and pulls down her hood. Alluring and apathetic dark olive green eyes, bouncy coils of black hair with a streak of pale violet that is pulled into a high ponytail. She boasts a striking beauty and shows an expression of faux sympathy towards the men.
"Now now, baron Tibbley, I thought we agreed my identity was a trade secret but you had to go and carelessly say my name." Laila smirks, "Well, what's in it for me?"
All of the prostrating nobles seemed enamoured by Laila's voice alone, of course it's a sweet voice intended to sound as if laced with venom disguised as honey. The men quickly scramble at her request and pull out bags, some filled with coins and others with jewels and more valuable items.
"Such a high reward, so who is the target?" She smiles and counts the value by eyeing what she can see.
Baron Tibbley stutters a nervous reply "T-The...emperor..."
Laila laughs at the moronic words that left his mouth "Oh?" She stands and her eyes darken. Pulling out a thin, delicate looking dagger out of its concealment and precisely strikes. One single slash, and all three nobles lay dead at her feet. Laila collects the heavy bags of 'payment' the men had brought. "It's a little inconvenient to carry but a nice bonus to spoil myself."
She pulls out three small notes with the noblemen's names written on it, she discards them and leaves them atop the nobles bodies. "Still, I never expected that all three of my targets would come to me. Work is work and it's a job well done."
She picks up the earlier tune, happily humming the same song and walking away from the alley. Laila discards her bloodied cloak, revealing a large dragon tattoo on her back peeking through her clothing. She lived up to her reputation as a lethal beauty that attracts regardless of the danger, even more so to her namesake of 'Belladonna.' The gloves are pulled off next, a trail of bloodied clothing originating from the alley and leading to a gruesome scene. Familiarly navigating through the slums and alleys onto the main street.
Slums were still slums and the residents were pitiful and downtrodden. Yet, Laila spared not even an ounce of sympathy for them. 'If they want to change their situation they need to claw and fight their way out first. Just like I did.'
Walking down the road the sound of something falling to the street catches Laila's attention. Her Dahlia pin, quickly she picks it up. A sharp pain shoots through her head at the invasive memory. She kneels before someone, remembering a smile and lips brightly coloured with crimson rouge. She proceeds to kiss a ring on the delicate hand of a woman with nails painted in the same crimson shade and the ring bearing the same mark as her pin.
Stumbling with the headache, Laila rests against the wall and holds her head. Her breath ragged from her head being flooded by images of her forcefully forgotten past. She regains her balance "Calixta...I'll find you..." Laila feels only more motivated with every time she is forced into this violent recollection, the same fragmented memory playing on repeat. 'I need to find information, maybe I should go see him again...'
Continuing a leisurely stroll the glimpse of an imperial uniform puts her on high alert. Laila deftly makes her way to the rooftops to observe the situation below. The knights scattered and searching, others patrolling and forcing their ways into every place they can.
"Did you find them?!"
"They're not here either."
"Damn it! The commander will have our heads, where the hell did those traitors go?"
"Keep searching!" The knights split up and head off in different directions, Laila takes the opportunity to drop back to the street where they were standing to see what they left behind. To her surprise it's a wanted poster, but not hers. Neither of the depictions bear her name, bounty nor crimes. It is sketches of 'Highly dangerous criminals Khio Ditka and Rhetta Edevane on counts of treason and conspiracy against the imperial family.'
"Brave to go against the imperial family, maybe I should have a little chat with them. They might know something about Calixta, something I couldn't get my hands on."