Fantasy Farewell to Kings: Elide’s Tale

[Jodyguru]

Leona watched them take care of each other. They were definitely a loving couple.
“I didn’t even notice. You two are a close couple, that’s for sure. Maybe some day I could wed the two of you?” She smiled and thought of pink roses.
Bart sat with eyes wide open. He started laughing nervously and blushing.

 

[A Play On Words]

Elide choked for a few seconds, laughing awkwardly to herself. "M-Maybe" She stammered with a laugh, her face turning a deep shade of red.

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart laughed louder. “Maybe, yeah! I love spending time with her and stuff. My Liddie” he stood up and walked into the kitchen.
“Hm, well their babies will be cute.” Leona muttered, giggling devilishly. She returned the crystal orb to its velvet bag and packed up.
Bart picked up the Book of Light and examined it. He thought he could crush someone’s skull with it. He had no intention of reading it.
“Thank you for having me over.“ Leona said “If you need to talk to me, send a pigeon to box number three-three-one-zero-nine. I need a couple days to finish everything on my end. We should have tea next time!”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Come over whenever you'd like!" Elide waved, smiling brightly as the woman left.

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart took a drink of water and sighed. “It was embarrassing. Some smug blonde guy showed up and wanted to duel me. I was kicking his ass, so he called a sniper to kill me. What a wimp.”

 

[A Play On Words]

She laughed, "Well if I was there I would've whooped his ass. Better that I wasn't. He wouldn't have been able to take it."

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart laughed. “This city is a lot tougher than I remember. Things are shaking up out there. Fon runs a good organization though. He’s showing me where some of the shady business is done.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"He is an interesting character, I'll give you that" She laughed. "What's he been showing you?"

 

[Jodyguru]

“Basements mostly. Gambling, drugs, whores. I don’t have money for any of it, but Fon likes it. It’s just like the drunkard job but it bought a hut. He said something about new boys from the Deep South moving in. Undercover mages.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Not that you should have money for gambling, drugs, and whores... And let me tell you if I find out you're playin' around with another bitch, by god you'll be sorry." Elide laughed with a smirk, still ensuring her warning got across. "But mages, that's cool,"

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart wasn’t sure if he should laugh as well. “Of course I wouldn’t do that baby. You’re the only one I want. Fon is looking for more people. Maybe you want to come to work with me?”

 

[A Play On Words]

"I'd be happy to- I don't have much to do around here, it'd be nice to get out of the house every once in a while." She smiled

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart shrugged. “He doesn’t know anything about us. Let him keep thinking he has a chance with you, then get him to spill some secrets that’ll help us. I wanna find that blonde bastard and finish him off!”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Sounds good." She smirked, "I love a good plan,"

 

[Jodyguru]

Later that night, Bart and Elide went into an underground bar where a lot of thieves and mercenaries hung out. Fon was there, but sitting in a corner with some of his boys, dealing cards. Before they went in, Bart told Elide to stay on her guard, and wear her scary face.

The air was thick with hookah smoke. The people were darkly lit and probably for good reason. All of them probably had a bounty or two on their heads, but working kept them alive.

A decorative pipe sat upright on a table with a piece of charcoal sitting on top. An old merc with a gray beard smoked it and smiled in Eli’s direction.

 

[A Play On Words]

She offered him a sly smile, before giving him a polite nod of the head. A few of the men did approach her, but she simply acted uninterested, and they left to go find an easier girl. Elide crossed her arms over her chest and walked with her head high, trying to fit in with the odd crew.

 

[Jodyguru]

A skinny rogue approached Bart and laughingly started saying something about a rumor he got his ass kicked.
“Who told you that?”
“Who else? Fon was laughing about it when he told everyone.”
“That dick!”
The rogue laughed. “Hey, it happens to everyone. Whose your friend?”
Bart turned his head and replied. “New girl in town looking for work. Tess Holiday, this is Garret. We did a job together last week.”
“Made off with good loot too! If you need anything you can ask old Garret.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Nice of you to offer, but hey I think I fit in pretty well down 'ere" She chuckled, offering a few passersby smug smiles

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart nudged Eli in the shoulder. “Hey, don’t you want to find a surgeon or something?” He looked to Garret.
“Does anyone here know about surgery?”
“Why? You short on potions?”
“Sure. It would be easier to sew up my own wounds if I knew how. Cheaper too!”
“Well, I know Havi over there was a doctor back in his home country. You could ask him.”
“Nice, thanks.”
Bart looked to Eli. “He’s looking at you, the old guy smoking. I’m gonna ask Fon a question, go and mingle.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Alright, but if he touches me, I'm gonna break his arm. Whether you sleep on the couch tonight depends on when I get home." Elide joked before walking over towards the man.

 

[Jodyguru]

Bart chuckled. “Whatever, Tess.” He stressed. She was working undercover, so she couldn’t treat Bart like her lover.
Garret nudged Bart with a sly grin on his face. Bart smiled back.
“You and her?”
“A couple times. Told her I’m just looking for a good time. Girls from The Vale love a good time.”
Garret laughed.

The man known as Havi slid aside on the bench so she could sit next to him.
“Ah, lovely young girl. Please, enjoy shisha with Havi.” His common was rough, but he was an older guy set in his ways. He offered her the mouthpiece to the elaborate smoking device. “Inhale slow. Very strong shisha.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"If you say so," She chuckled and obeyed the man's directions.
Her lungs filled with smoke, she pulled away and broke into a coughing fit. This was nothing like she had before. "Shit you were right *cough* this stuff is strong," She coughed.

 

[Jodyguru]

Havi laughed and patted her on the back. “Easy breaths. Hookah take patience. I miss my family. They back in Dedunda, long way from Baladine.” He butchered the name for Paladina. “My father a doctor, he teach me everything. Then war comes, and Havi works hard, save many soldiers. War ends, and Dedunda not the same. Havi seeks new home, cross desert, through jungles, find Baladine. New life good, but lonely.”

 

[A Play On Words]

"Ahh I understand. I lost my brother in the war, and now I live here. Does get rather lonely" She replied with a shrug, while trying to compose a backstory for herself/Tess.

 

[Jodyguru]

Havi understood and shook his head sullenly. “War never fixes, only breaks. Can Havi buy the lovely girl a drink?” He waved over someone who could hear him over the dull roar of the bar. He ordered a couple elven spirits, a strong but tasty beverage that had tiny colorful fizz. The drinks were placed in front of them.
Meanwhile, she could see Bart talking to the table full of gamblers. One of them stood up and slapped Bart across the face. Bart took the hit and didn’t retaliate.