Laeva didn't know where she was going to go now that all regional tournaments were canceled for the foreseeable future. That meant unemployment to the wandering [i]showsword[/i] as Laeva had one time been called. It was an unflattering title, really, as the man who called her that did think of her fondly. Despite the negative connotation, the title kind of stuck so Laeva kept it. 

Title aside, Laeva really did have an issue with money at the moment. She was down to the last coin from her previous prize winnings, exchanging the nearly everything that was left for food and a place to stay in some unnamed village, well someone told her the name but she forgot it by now. Whatever this village's name was, it clearly wasn't the best place for Laeva to find work because as it turns out, common folk usually don't need someone skilled with a sword. While this was a major setback, it was all made up for in the deliciousness the host's Shepard pie. It was so filling, Laeva tended to be put to sleep shortly thereafter and with having recently stuffed herself, she found herself sleeping by an old oak tree near the village. 

The oak was probably one of the better places she had ever managed to fall asleep at with her internal ranking probably rating it a seven out of ten. The shade from the leaves provided protection from a stifling sun on warmer days but those days were usually the best to find a shaded tree for a little R&R. Today was one of those warmer days as Laeva quickly nodded off with the sensation of a warm blanket being around her. Perfect all things considered, but today just didn't seem to be her day. 

A stubby greasy hand annoyingly poked her cheek until she stirred awake. "What? What?" Laeva spat as she swatted the hand away. Turning her head to see the disturber, it was a plump boy on the verge of his pubescence. "Oh. It's you, Rodrick." Laeva sighed, clasping her hand to her face. Rodrick was his host's son, a boy who was initially very excited to be hosting the Great Apollo in his house, only to be disappointed that it was a girl. Still, the boy was sweet in some ways and quickly got over his initial disappointment by hearing Laeva's stories about the tournaments. Given his enthusiasm, Laeva had half a mind to train him a bit while she was here but his parents had none of that idea. Laeva could relate and wanted to teach him anyway but seeing as she would directly go against her host, it was in bad taste to do so.

"Please you have to help everyone. My mom tells me some men are going to attack us."

Laeva lifted her head to take a questioning glance at the boy. He seemed sincere enough but he didn't sound like he fully understood what was happening. Laeva pegged that his mother came out here to have Laeva help, which she probably would have done anyway. Somehow Laeva thought this was her host getting out of paying her for the assistance. Sending the kid to play the innocent card because if the mother had asked herself, you bet Laeva would ask for her money back. "Ugh. Fine, Rodrick. I'll take care of the [i]bad men[/i] but you better pressure your mother into giving me some of my money back."

Satisfied, Rodrick nodded and ran back to his home leaving Laeva to dust herself off and find the ruffians who were supposedly threatening the area.

Turns out, it wasn't too difficult. After asking around, she figured out the visible red smoke meant they were to the East. The same guy who told her on the road also mentioned that it was entirely possible the bandits might first target a farm that was due East, down the road a ways. [i]Great... They're going to send me all the way over there.[/i] The village might have been next, but Laeva would disagree solely on the idea that she had been disturbed from her sleep too soon. However, might as well see what is going on since she was up.

It was going to take a few minutes on foot but the farm shouldn't be [i]that[/i] hard to find. Laeva was prepared to react accordingly.