An Unlikely Acquaintance
(A collab between myself and @Conway)
Night was coming in Eshil, and after some time at the inn, Martha headed to the pub deeper in Abelsol. Heading inside the building she headed to the wooden counter where the bartender cleaned glasses, the blonde took in the rest of the room. Three men sat in one corner of the room, playing cards and joking among themselves, while one other person sat by themselves. Only one other person sat at the bar, paying her no mind and she herself didn't bother him.
"What can I get ya?" The bartender asked.
"Some of your strong ale." Sitting she pulled out a coin pouch and rummaged through it, before frowning at how much coin she actually had left. Sighing softly, her brows furrowed. She was running low on coin, meaning that this may as well be her last night at the bar and possibly in Abelsol. Really, she didn't intend to stay long, but she may have to have Gertrude prepare to leave sometime tomorrow at the earliest.
Perhaps, she thought, she could see if she can contact anyone her father may know deeper in Eshil? She doubted they would help the daughter of such a greedy man, but it was all she had for now.
The very last of Veran's coins lay on the bar in front of him. A silver for a room at the inn, 30 coppers for a meal, that would leave him with 2 silvers and 43 coppers to his name. He let out a curse under his breath; he needed to find a job, preferably one that paid well and took him far away from Stanislav and Thalia. At least he had enough for a few cheap drinks to wash away everything for a moment.
He glanced down the bar at the newcomer. A woman, looked like she was a higher class from the way she held herself, perhaps he could get a job as a guard for... wait. That blonde hair, those eyes, why did he recognize her? Was she, that's what it was, she was a Lord from Thalia. He looked down averting his gaze, knowing that this last week was probably no better for her than it was for him. Perhaps she was on the run? Veran took another sip of his drink. Perhaps he could get a job working with her as she ran away. He sighed, why would she have any reason to trust him? Veran looked over to her, the least he could do was buy her a drink so she could wash away what she was probably feeling.
He knocked on the bar, and the bartender slid his way over to Veran pouring him another mug of the piss like beer, while Veran slid forward another 4 copper pieces. He looked up to the bartender, "So how much for what she's drinking?"
The bartender glanced over at the Thalian lord, "Her's is 15." Veran sighed, damn that was a lot.
He slid forward another 15 coppers and looked back to the bartender, "Get her another one. Tell her, to people having a bad week." The bartender nodded and finished pouring Veran's drink, before heading off to the other end of the bar.
With the bartender returning shortly after pouring the man at the end of the bar a drink, Martha perked when the bartender gave her glass.
"I'm assuming he helped paid?" She questioned, earning a curt nod from the man behind the bar.
"To people having a bad week." The bartender replied, and Martha's lavender eyes glanced to the other bar patron as she took the first sip of ale, a soft hum escaping her in thought.
"Give him my thanks." She responded, before lavender eyes glanced back down where Veran sat. Her small bit of gratitude was genuine, though she was also curious and albeit, a bit skeptical. The man looked to be from Stanislav, and if so, then what exactly was he did he mean by bad week? With another nod, the bartender went to relay the message.
Veran did not meet her gaze, simply staring down at his drink in a solemn silence. He sighed as the bartender returned relaying her message of thanks. Veran wished to speak with her, but not through the bartender from other sides of the bar. He knew now that he was forced to make the first move, which he did not want to as it would make him seem more suspicious.
He nursed his drink for a while longer before standing up and moving closer to Martha. His gaze seemed to be tired, and a bit cold, but was not aggressive or piercing. It was a genuine look that told her that his week was likely also quite bad. He sat near her but left a vacant seat between them as to prevent her from getting the wrong idea.
He took another sip of his drink, and let the silence sit for a moment before speaking. His Stanislav accent is unmistakable.
"You are of Thalia, are you not?" His eyes never left the table, and his voice was gruff with a cold blunt undertone, "If it helps, I no longer have a place in my country, nor any love for it, not after what has been done."
Martha remained seated and, after bringing her attention back to her drink, didn't move even as Veran sat closer. Eyeing him for a moment, the look on his face enough for her to keep her hand from going to her blade at her hip. Once spoke to, she took a moment before responding. Hearing that he had no place, nor love, for his country caused her brows to raise a bit in surprise. Ah, so that must of been what he meant about a bad week. "Yes, I am." She answered, studying his face for a moment before going back to her drink.
"What state was Thalia in when you last saw it?" She asked after some silence fell between them, and depending on his answer, she may ask one more thing. The last she had seen it, her family was safe. She was only in Eshil on her father's request really. She was sure that the streets ran red by now, and Thalia was nothing more than a shadow of itself. The mere thought was upsetting, and if the man beside her hadn't expressed his current feelings on his home country, she may have said some very unlady like things-- and if she were any drunker, she may have tried to brawl with the man.
Veran let out a slight sigh of relief. She had not attacked him, nor had she forced him away. He did not want to get into a fight here. He was already a criminal in Stanislav, and hated by Thalians. there were few places he could still go without being told to leave, or worse.
He glanced over to her inspecting her face once more now that he was closer. He definitely recognized her; she was a noble that was wanted by Stanislav, but he could not pin down her name. He went back to staring into his drink.
He took a sip and continued staring into his drink, "Would you like the rosy and flowery version, that will be kind on the ears, the story told by Stanislav's propaganda, or the cold truth?" He expected he already knew the answer, but asked anyway to judge her character.
His words earned a chuckle, and resting her class on the counter top, she said, "the cold truth. What point would there be, beating around the bush?" She wanted to know, plain and simple, but the one thing she was most uncertain about ever finding out...well, she doubted Veran could give her answers-at least any that she wanted or needed, but she still needed to know.
"My only other question, for now anyway, is if you happen to know anything of a woman and young boy who go by the surname Fabre?" It was worth a shot, and, if he answered her at all, she may at least get to know anything about her mother and brother at the very least. She was grasping at straws mostly now. Her eyes lifted from her glass to stare holes into Veran. She wasn't sure if he'd be truthful to her, then again if he wasn't he may end up with a black eye at best.
Veran chuckled himself at her curt response. He took a sip of his drink. "The Thalia you once knew is no more. It is no more than a puppet for the elite of Stanislav, who are no doubt carving up your lands into their own areas of influence. It is the same in name only, to appear less threatening to the rest of the world. Most of the lords and nobles have been captured or killed, with what few who remain working with Stanislav out of fear, or under threats to captive family members." He stopped for a moment taking a sip of his drink. "One slight bit of good is that since the takeover was so quick, the devastation was kept to a minimal." He seemed to shrink a little and grow colder for a moment. "Even still, I know there has been more than one case of a company leaving for a village, which then ceases to exist."
He took a long drink, finishing his glass. It was not hard to understand what he was implying by that last line. He looked over and shot a glance to the Thalian lord. Fabre, Fabre, where had he, ah yes. The familiarity came to him now, she was Martha Fabre, a lord of Thalia.
"Fabre, huh?" He sat up, returning Martha's stare. His eyes were cold and serious. He rested his hand on his lap, only a few inches from his own sword, a precaution and a warning. "That would make you Martha Fabre, No?" He waited a moment to ensure a sword was not to fly towards his neck before continuing.
"I shall not leave you at a disadvantage, I am Veran Kolarov." He moved his hand back up onto the bar, showing that he did not want a conflict. He reached for his glass and went to take a sip, but cursed as he realized it was empty. He glanced to Martha, then back to his empty cup. He held it up, "Keep this full and you will know everything I can tell you about your family and Stanislav."
"Ah, I figured as much." She muttered, but was glad that at the very least, no more blood was spilled. Lavender eyes darted to his hand as it moved., her own fingers twitching momentarily, though she didn't move to draw her own blade.
"Yes, I am Martha Fabre." Her voice quieted some, but her words held weight to them. Gaze landing back on Veran's face as he offered to tell her more if she paid for another drink, she reached into her coin pouch and pulled out a couple copper pieces before setting them onto the bar.
"Get him another, good sir." She spoke to the bartender, who nodded his thanks and did as requested. "Continued thanks for earlier, on top of the information." She added once the bartender went to assist other patrons and the like.
He waited until the bartender poured his glass, then raised it to Martha with a nod, taking a sip before resting it back on the table and continuing.
"The last I remember your face and name was the only Fabre still on the wanted list, which means the rest of your family have already found." He let it sink in for a moment taking another sip of his drink. "Their ultimate fate, I do not know. I suppose if I were to guess, then it depends on who captured them. If it was someone with a great deal of cunning, they would keep them hostage, use them as bait to try to lure you back to Thalia. From there they could use you as a political pawn, threatening your family if your didn't comply. They'd probably use you in a sham marriage to someone in their camp so that they may claim the rights your name holds, from there they might dispose of you, or keep you to show off like some sort of trophy." He took another sip of his drink. "Then again it is more likely they were found by people who do not think like that; they would have had them executed on the spot. Either way it is not good."
He sighed, and relaxed a little. She had gotten the information that she wanted, and had not attacked him. The information was not good news, but it was what she needed to hear. He finished off his glass again and looked to Martha, "So, hearing that, what are your plans?" he patted his sword, "You may have a competent swordsman at your side. So long as the path takes us far from Stanislav, and it pays."
Martha remained quiet and let his words sink in, fingers drumming lightly on the bartop once he finished. Her expression had darkened at the mention of marriage. If she was going to marry, it would be with someone she at least felt something for damnit.
"I plan to stay in Abelsol for another day or so, then head deeper into Eshil for now." She spoke, before a humorless chuckle escaped her. "I do not have a hefty amount of coin on me due to the extended stay here, but name your price and I will let you accompany me as long as you wish." She responded. "Though, if you'd rather prefer waiting on setting any prices, I have no problem with that." She added thoughtfully.
With another knock the bartender was back, and refilled his glass once more. The least he could do was recoup the cost of the drink he bought her. " So long as it does pay, and takes me in any direction other than Thalia and Stanislav. When or how much does not matter to me, so long as you don't try to cheat me saying you get two coppers, or some говно like that."
Veran grabbed his drink and was about to take another sip, but he stopped, glancing over at Martha. He paused and thought about it for a moment, then raised his glass to her. "To Liquor, and its magical ability to wash it all away for but a moment."
Sipping on her drink, she awaited his response as the bartender came back. Hearing his opinion on the matter of payment, she nodded in approval, before saying; "If there is one thing I am not, it is a cheat. Be sure that you'll be paid more than what two simple copper pieces are worth." She assured, and when he raised his glass for a toast, she chuckled, raising her own. "To liquor, and to our little alliance." She replied. Finishing off her ale, she motioned to the bartender to refill her glass, putting four copper pieces down. "Give me what he's having." She spoke, already feeling nicie from her ale. Though, she figured that she'd save a bit more if she drank what Veran had.
Veran downed his own drink, pushing his glass forward. He raised an eyebrow and let out a low chuckle. "You sure? Its cheap yes, but it's still some stiff stuff. You drink it to get real drunk." He shook his head, "Suit yourself." The bartender filled his glass, and he looked over to Martha again, holding up his glass.
"What should we drink too now?"
"I'm sure, as long as it'll save me some coin." She responded before taking a sip and, after a moment grimaced. Regaining her composure, she thought over Veran's question. Taking another sip of her drink.
"How about to a relatively safe journey, hm?" She asked. There was no telling how long their journey would remain 'safe' but she silently prayed to Anhi for a safe journey from here on out. At least, as safe as it could be anyway.
"I'll drink to that," Veran said downing another glass. What was this now, his eighth drink? Damn, he had wanted to get something from these drinks, but they did not hold a candle to the hard liquor of Stanislav. He sighed sliding it back to the bartender again. He sat there, nursing his next drink. A long stretch of silence began to hang in the air.
Letting the silence sit between them for a moment, Martha finished off her own drink, and motioned for the bartender to pour her another. Once she got her glass back she turned her head to Veran.
"What do you plan to do once you're far enough from Stanislav and Thalia?" She asked then. He had asked her about her plans, but she was rather curious about his. Did he plan to try and leave Jedica altogether? Try to pick up a new identity elsewhere?
Veran sat there nursing his drink for a while, thinking. Finally he finished it off and slid it forward, to be refilled. "I don't know. Suppose I'll hire myself out as a mercenary or armed guard. Perhaps, if i ever end up up in Abaroa I'll catch a ship off this continent to somewhere where people will look at me as something other than a Stanislavian dog." He took a long sip from his newly filled cup.
"Suppose I haven't even given it much thought yet. It hasn't been that long, still focusing on the getting far away from Stanislav part right now." He took another sip, "so i'm amusing you have connections south of here that you are hoping to rely on, or are you just headed south to explore the fields of Eshil?"
Martha listened to Veran, and her suspicions were mostly correct it seemed. Nursing her own drink, she hummed thoughtfully.
"My father has a few connections here in Eshil, not many however. I do hope to rely on them for the most part, if things go smoothly. However, if they do not help then I'll simply have to rely on myself and my retainer." She sighed.
"I suppose I'll have to rely on you as well, for now." She added, more of an afterthought than anything.
"Your retainer you say. Eh, makes sense when sending the daughter of an important figure to another country." He finished his drink, and was about to slide it forward again but stopped himself. There was no point draining more coin into these, even if it wasn't his. It's not like he was going to get drunk off this stuff anyway. Besides, the more coin Martha had, the more she could pay him later. He put his cup off to the side and sat up.
"Do not worry. I do not claim my blade is the fastest, nor the strongest, but a blade needs more than strength or speed to win. I trained all my life to fight, I can hold my own in battle." He looked down at Martha's blade. "So, is that just for scaring off the common thief, or do you know how to actually use that blade?"
"Well, she's more so my former teacher, having taught me the sword." Martha replied, patting the blade at her side.
"You see, she was once part of the Pegasus Knights of Thalia, but retired and took up the role of a cavalier instead. I had begged my father to have me learn the sword and hoped to learn the lance, and my father reached out to any who would be willing to teach me for very little if any pay with enough persistence from me. I had wished very badly to become a Pegasus Knight myself, but as you can see, that dream will not come true." She explained, a solemn look crossing her features momentarily.
"However, Gertrude became like an older sister to me, and has been by my side ever since, which I'm grateful for." Martha added with a smile, then said, "if it wasn't for her, I'd likely have marched back to Thalia myself in all honesty-oh, forgive me I've started rambling." She blinked, having come to realize just how much she was talking and, be it the liquor or some form of embarrassment, she quickly returned her gaze to her glass, small smile still in place as she laughed softly to herself.
"That was more information than you asked for, I'm sure. Ignore my ramblings, the liquor seems to be getting to me." She admitted.
Veran raised an eyebrow at how much Martha was revealing. He sat up, surprised, but not judging what she was saying. He gave her a nod, "That is the magic of this liquid, and why we drink it." He relaxed himself, letting out a sigh. "At least you still have someone watching your back." he said in a low mumble. He pushed his cup forward for a refill, despite what his reasoning from a few moments ago. After a long sip, he began tracing his finger along the bar.
"When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming the commander of an army; leading my men to victory and ruling the world with intelligence, fairness, and, when called for, an Iron fist. Some dream that turned out to be." He took another sip, letting the silence sit for a moment before looking to Martha.
"You know, in my opinion, it is better if you do not join the Pegasus knights. You Thalians rely on them too much. Yes they are strong, powerful, and fast, but if you ever get into a proper fight they have no infantry support. In a proper battle between nations, the ground forces are the ones that decide the battle. Having a powerful air combat unit helps, but when they are the massive part of the military, you will always loose. Without troops on the ground, how can you transport supplies, food, arrows, tools? Do you have flying wagons, no. Control of the skies gives you a great advantage, but it has its limitations. Take Stanislav, the Infantry are the core of the army, supported by a strong air unit in the wyvern riders. The archers on the ground can shoot down your Pegasus Knights while the infantry take your supplies and loot your countryside. Your military is just not effective, you need more ground forces." Veran's voice was not charged with emotion, but rather, a blunt and straight forward logic, with the slightest hint of frustration.
"I get that you are a peaceful people, and that it is better for you to have a faster more mobile force to quell bandits and whatnot, but your leaders are oblivious when it comes to matters of military. If you want to be peaceful, then you must do everything you can to stay out of other conflicts, which means you must be neutral. To be Neutral however, you must maintain an effective military. Maintaining a military would discourage others from invading you. If Thalia had thought and realized that, Stanislav may have thought twice before invading." He stopped realizing he had also just gone out on a rant of his own. He shook his head and took another sip, staring down at the table. "Sorry, I do not mean any offence. Your country's politics confuse and frustrate me is all. It looks like this might be getting to me after all."
It was Martha's turn to be surprised, taking pause in taking another sip from her glass. Letting Veran's words sink in, she set her glass down.
"I believe that it would be natural for another country's politics to be confusing to many, and I take no offense." She spoke, relaxing. "Sometimes dreams do not work out anyway-I'm a Councillor heir, so in the end that is what I'll become." She pushed her glass forward for a refill.
"I do, however, wish to at least get close enough to pet a Pegasus at least once."" She mused. That would probably be the closest she'd ever get ro fulfilling her dream anyway. If she lived long enough that is.
"I've lost track of how much I've had to drink, but what other stories do you have to share? While we're both still coherent." She asked, chin resting against her fist as a curious look came to her features. She only knew so much about Stanislav, but they had already shared so much abour themselves at this hour it might not hurt to share a bit more-at least nothing either may consider sensitive or important information.
"A story, eh?" Veran considered it for a moment. Should he reveal more about himself? It was fine, he supposed, so long as he didn't clue her in to him being a former soldier. It Might sour their small relationship, and lose him this easy job. He thought for a moment about what he could tell her about.
"Well, there is my father. From when I was little, he would train me with the sword, day and night. Any time he was not at work, or training with my older brother, he was pushing me harder and harder." The slightest hint of a smirk traced itself across his face, as he took a sip. "He was great at that. Pushing me to my limits, and forcing me to break them. Made me the man I am now." He stopped for a moment and thought for another moment, before continuing. "Now, while my father pushed me harder and further, my brother helped widen my skills. As my father pushed me to knew heights, my brother expanded on my skills, forming a sturdy base from which I could continue pushing further with father." He stopped, he was telling much, and this was enough for now. He took a sip of his drink, glancing over to Martha. Perhaps it was time to pick her brain.
"What of you? Any stories of interest that you have?"
Martha thought for a moment, before speaking.
"My father liked to play favorites. Despite me being his heir, he favors my younger brother Gavin much more than I. Gavin would insist upon learning the sword alongside me and Gertrude would teach him as well. Because of Gavin and Gertrude I likely wouldn't be as proficient as I am now, with Gertrude's somewhat strict teaching and Gavin's encouragement and enthusiasm." She sipped at her drink for a moment.
"I could talk on and on of my brother really, he's a good kid, but I don't wish to bore you." She admitted as she went back to her drink. Before adding, "though, if you wish to hear any other stories of home life, then ask away. However, I can't guarantee they'll be exciting." She warned with a snort of amusement.
"Playing favorites huh? I have a similar experience with my elder brother, but I suppose it made sense since he was the heir to my family." Veran nursed his drink some more, and thought for a moment. He then turned back to Martha.
"Eh, I suppose speaking of your brother wouldn't hurt, and besides coming from where i came from, it takes a lot to bore me." Veran finished off another drink and slid his glass forward, and settled in for a story.
"I'm sure my father does it because I wasn't born male, but it matters little now." She spoke offhandedly, before looking to Veran as he brought up how he didn't bore quickly.
"Heh, if you say so. My brother once recklessly took Gertrude's horse and we had to chase him throughout the streets, said he wanted to try riding a horse once we finally stopped him. He had no prior training so really he had no control, and if Gertrude hadn't been quick to call her steed back someone could of gotten hurt. He started crying and apologising once he saw how upset we were, and we all got a scolding when we returned home." She recalled the memory vividly. Gavin was a sweet boy, though he easily could get into slight mischief. Something that, at times, gave her a headache.
Going for another refill on her drink, she was starting to feel a bit tipsy, well really she might of been getting drunk at this point, hiw many did she have now? By now Gertrude had come to make sure her charge was alright, walking straight for Martha and placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Lady Martha, it's about time to call it a night and rest." She spoke up, though eyed Veran for a moment. She didn't know this man, so of course she'd be a bit wary of new company around the lord.
Veran nodded listening to Martha as she spoke of her brother. He took a sip of his drink, and began to think of his family. No doubt they would know that Veran was a wanted criminal, and hate him for disgracing his family name. If he ever saw his father or brother again, they would certainly...
Veran's though was interrupted by the approaching footsteps. He took a sip; 10ft away, far enough that Veran was comfortable taking a look before pulling up his guard. He glanced over his shoulder, a Midorian woman, similar age to himself, heading straight for Martha. He caught her gaze as she spoke to Martha, then shrugged and took another sip giving the impression that he bore no ill will.
That must be the Gertrude she spoke of, Veran thought. He finished his drink and looked back to Martha, "I told you this was stiff stuff." He shifted his gaze back to Gertrude, he already knew who she was but figured he would be polite. "So, care to introduce us, Martha?"
Pouting slightly at Gertrude, Martha quickly downed the rest of her drink, before Veran brought up introductions. "My apologies, Veran this is Gertrude. Gertrude, Veran. He'll be accompanying us from now on, and he's good company." She introduced the two, Gertrude relaxing at hearing that Veran wasn't a possible threat. She did pick up on his accent, and would keep an eye on him as if testing him in that case.
"It'd be good to have another pair of eyes looking out for My Lady. Do you have a place to sleep? It's about time to call it a night, else she'll be here all night and complaining about the headache she'll have in the morning."
At this Martha was pouting fully now, and Gertrude sighed softly at her drunken friend's antics.
Veran finished his own drink, nodding politely to Gertrude after the introductions. He picked up on the fact that she was still wary of him, which she should be. Veran was similarly eyeing up Gertrude. He could see in her eyes and the way she moves that she was indeed a capable fighter. "It is good to meet you too. Though, I am more than a pair of eyes," he added placing a hand on his Scabbard.
He looked to Martha, "Agreed, I did warn her that what I was drinking was stiff, but she chose to continue anyway." He then glanced back to Gertrude, "And yes, I do have my own place to stay for the night. I imagine you will have your hands full though." He leaned over to Martha one last time, "You have a good retainer here, best not to make her mad."
He stepped back from the table, picking up his rucksack and throwing it over his shoulder. He looked to the both of them, "I am turning in for the night now. I have a room in the Inn across the street. Where shall we meet in the morning?"
"Good, despite her skill she's still learning, and having another swordsman around will do her good." Gertrude nodded as he wordlessly mentioned his skill. Mentioning Martha's drunken state, the Midorian chuckled softly, saying, "She has a tendency to be stubborn at times, though it's not too big of a concern." She spoke, tempted to tease Martha but holding back on that.
"Yeah, Gertrude's pretty great." Martha admitted, breaking out in a small, if admittedly drunken, smile.
Upon being asked where to meet, Gertrude looked thoughtful. "Well, how about the market? We have to stalk up on a few things before heading out." She suggested, before helping her charge to her feet. "Have a good night, or at least try to." She added.
A curt nod was all Veran gave to Martha's response. She was clearly very drunk. Gertrude was certainly right about how stubborn she was. Veran shrugged, "Sure, I shall meet you there tomorrow morning. Until then," He said with a wave, and walked out of the Bar to the inn.
It had been and interesting day, he had parted ways with the old trader who had cared for him. Spent a day drifting through the town, searching for work with no luck, only to find some in the most unlikeliest of places. He had met the daughter of a counselor of Thalia, and just been hired as her guard. Perhaps his life would not be as dull as he thought it would be.