Lord Zee
BBeast
DracoLunaris
Frettzo
Cyclone
Vec
Torack
Aulus Granus, 9th Duke Eskandar
Lord of Castle Cramz
Nyhem, 503 A.R
'So who's your lady friend?' Aulus asked, shifting his position slightly as he spoke. It could get rather uncomfortable sitting on cold, hard stone for extended periods of time - and he had found that the life of a tramp involved much of that. The giant man had frozen in place at Aulus' words, but now turned around ever so slowly, his hand on the hilt of his sword. The giant's steel blue eyes met Aulus' dark green ones. For a few moments, both were silent as strangers passed by - some brushing past the giant to get into the inn.
'What's it to you?' The man finally responded, his steel blue eyes still eating at Aulus' features as though attempting to carve them into his memory. Aulus raised the coin that the woman had thrown to him earlier to his eyes and looked at it again.
'A bronze coin. Two of them,' he revealed another in his other hand, 'she's either very generous or she's so rich that money is of no...uh, that money ain't nothing to her.' The giant's eyes narrowed, and Aulus knew immediately that he had noticed the quick change in his dialect. Even for a rampant tavern-goer like himself, it was not always easy to maintain low-born speech.
'Too generous, I'd say. Can't be giving away what little mo-' he stopped himself from saying any more. 'You're not from around here are you?' The giant said. Aulus eyed him suspiciously.
'In days like these, there are plenty here or ain't from here, mate.' Aulus threw one of the coins to the giant, 'give it back to your lady, I don't want her coin.' The big man caught it and threw it back.
'It was a gift. Bad manners to give a gift back,' Aulus caught it and held it up to his eyes again as the man spoke, 'what's your name boy? You're not fooling me, I can see you're no tramp.' Aulus scoffed and got up.
'See better then, innit?' He looked around before glancing at the big man, 'you in a hurry?' Aulus asked. The man shook his head.
'Not really, no.'
'Come, lets 'ave a drink you an' I. Your lady's paying,' and he shook one of the coins in his hand before walking into the inn.
'I don't think they'll like your types in there,' the big man warned as he followed. Aulus scoffed.
'The kind what can pay? I think they'll like me quite a lot!' Bad as a tavern could smell, Aulus' presence made it only worse and he did not get any kind looks for that. When both men were seated at a table, each nursing a flagon between his hands, the big man saw it fit to ask his question again.
'So, you never told me your name.' Aulus gave him another suspicious look.
'Big man like you, walking around with important people with coins to give away, swingin' that sword about. You lot are plottin' something ain'tcha? I think I should be asking who you are, not the other way round. I'm nobody, after all, just a tramp on the side o' the road. But you...you're somebody, ain't that right?' The big man's blue eyes narrowed once again.
'So you admit you're a spy. Who sent you?' Aulus chuckled and shook his head.
'Me? A spy? I mean, I could. I'd be a good spy I think. I'd be a great spy actually,' he took a sip of ale, 'but nah, I'm no spy. You have my word on that.'
'A word is worth nothing here.' The big man said coldly. Aulus cocked his head and a thoughtful look entered his eyes.
'It...it's worth a lot where am from.' The two looked at each other for a while, as though trying to read what was going on behind the other's eyes. 'The name's Aulus. Aulus Hu-' he looked at the big man again, 'Aulus Eskandar'. He extended his grubby and calloused hand to the other man. After a few moment's thought, the man did the same.
'The name's Ramfrey Hansard,' he said as he shook smiling Aulus' hand.
'And I take it you are a knight.' Aulus said knowingly. Ramfrey smiled.
'Aye, and I take it you're more than just a tramp. What gave me away eh?'
'Aye, I am far more than a tramp. I am a king of tramps, feasting on ale in the finest tavern in Nyhem with a knight.' Ramfrey raised an eyebrow but noted that the younger man had once more avoided giving much about himself away.
'Eskandar huh? Not a name I've heard before.' Ramfrey took a small drink.
'I'm not surprised, there's nothing much to tell about us.' Aulus responded with a shrug, 'dad was once a little lord with a little keep. Lorded it over a few miserable peasants, and then he died. The story's always the same - no matter how high or low a lord you are,' there was the hint of bitterness in his voice.
'Aye, can't argue with that,' Ramfrey said with a sigh. After a few moments he leaned in and whispered, 'I'm guessing you took the wrong side in this war, eh?' Aulus looked at him carefully before taking another drink.
'Aye, I did. I took no side, and there is no worse place to be.' Ramfrey smiled and shook his head. This one was a slippery weasel when he wanted to be it seemed. But he did not seem like a liar.
'It's rare that one has the luxury of a choice in these things.' Ramfrey noted. Aulus shook his head slightly.
'No, Sir Ramfrey. There's always a choice. But some people are too honourable, too loyal, too proud, too stubborn...too brave to even consider it.' He drank again, 'I wasn't tied down by such things.'
'Well, you don't seem like the bad so-'
'I think...' Aulus suddenly said, 'I think I might have betrayed him. A little.'
'Betrayed who?' Ramfrey asked. Aulus looked at the big man before shaking his head.
'Nah, it's nothin', big guy.' The two sat and drank in silence for some time, Aulus lost in thought and Ramfrey watching him.
'You know, I know people here. I'm sure you have skills that some would pay a pretty penny for.' Aulus looked up at Ramfrey, his eyes slightly unfocused.
'What? You mean work?' Ramfrey nodded. Aulus scoffed. 'I've not worked a day in me life. Not gonna start now, good sir knight!' Ramfrey shrugged and got up.
'Well, if ya change your mind you can find me at-'
'Woah woah, keep your breeches on. Sit down and tell me what this work is. Plus, you still haven't told me about that beautiful lady of yours,' Ramfrey chuckled and shook his before sitting back down and leaning in. His face very suddenly became serious.
'Don't you mock my lady, do you understand me?' there was a rather dangerous glint in his steel blue eyes that took Aulus off guard.
'I'm not moc-'
'Don't do it,' Ramfrey repeated. Aulus raised his hands in surrender.
'I won't. I didn't. I mean, I didn't see much with that cloak o' hers up, but what I saw was beautiful - I am not mocking.' Ramfrey nodded slowly in understanding.
'Ah, I apologise if I came across as terse. I forgot that she had her hood up.' Aulus frowned slightly.
'Is...is she alright under there?' Ramfrey looked at Aulus with slight suspicion.
'You will understand if I refuse to speak anymore about my lady. You will do well to ask no questions.' Aulus nodded quickly and took another drink from his flagon.
'Tha's alright. We all have our secrets. What kind of work is it you're talking about?'
'One of my...colleagues is looking for a quick lad. Needs to know how to hide some. Needs to know how to run away.' Aulus smirked and looked around the tavern before looking back at Ramfrey.
'If you want a man who knows how to run away, then you've got your man.' Ramfrey leaned in close.
'Needs to to know how to keep his mouth shut too.' Aulus fumbled for words at this, a slightly guilty look in his eyes.
'Uh, well. Maybe not so great at that. But always a first time.' Ramfrey gave him a cold look, 'alright alright, I'll keep me mouth shut. Won't talk a word about anything to anyone.'
'Good. Tomorrow I'll pass by the docks just after midday. When you see me, follow me real. Make sure no one sees you following me. Make sure no one follows you, got it?' Aulus nodded. 'Well you're a bloody oaf if I ever saw one!' Ramfrey suddenly said, rather loudly, 'you promished me three drinks dammit!' Aulus hesitated but quickly got the gist of what was happening.
'Shaddup ya big oaf, ah beatcha fair an' square is yous should be gettin me drinks!'
Seeing a clear tavern fight in the making, one of the inn's guards grabbed Aulus by the scruff of the neck and roughly escorted Aulus - shouting about his promised ale - out of the inn. Throwing him into a nearby alley, the guard gave the tramp a kick for good luck before getting back indoors.
'Didn' have ta kick me dammit,' Aulus groaned as he rubbed his sore butt.