Short Change Hero

[Mufi]

((Hope they went well!))

This certainly wasn't Alaric's first choice. Already he had second thoughts, and yet... where else could he turn? Those nearby and loyal to him would be having their own problems soon, and anyone out of reach of the usurper... was also out of Alaric's reach. His own gaze rested on the castle for a long moment, and a frown rested on his lips as it did.

Hallendar was indeed quite the journey. He'd made it before - but that was with a company of horse and a wagon train. Not exactly the same sort of circumstances. The frown deepened as Scarlett detailed what they'd need, though Alaric didn't interrupt her.

When she made mention of her contacts, he glanced in her direction. The frown eased slightly, in combination with a small lift of his brows. She brought more than he thought to the table. Good... but then he stiffened as she questioned her payment. James Alaric Christophos was a prince of Zatherin. His word was his bond, and he did not go back on his bargains.

He was also, a small voice in his head reminded him, on the run and hiding from those who wished him dead. Now was not the time for a royal tirade.

Alaric looked away from Scarlett, back to the castle. He was silent for a long moment. What could he offer her? His assurances were worthless, that much was obvious. He might trust his with his royal person, but he could not trust her with his name, and so how could she trust his words? These were the words of a refugee, not a royal proclamation signed and sealed.

Ah. There was something he could give her. Alaric frowned. He didn't like this option. It placed far too much trust on the mercenary. And yet... "I could provide an earnest."

He forced his frown under control, the impassive face of a prince hearing disputes at court as he looked back to her once again. "An item, of sufficient value to cover the costs you incur and your wages, held by you as your guarantee of my payment."

 

[Dumbledora]

((Thanks! I think I did alright!))

Scarlett studied the man in front of her as he seemed to be lot in thought. She knew that she was asking a lot to be guaranteed payment especially considering their urgent departure, but he was asking much of her as well. After all, the usurper wasn't going to be after a mercenary like her, at least not yet. She had no power over him nor did she matter. She could leave town right now, without Alaric, and lay low nearby before returning in time and no one would be the wiser. Why should she put her own life at risk to help a man she just met, a stranger, when she could be living as she was before the coup? This battle over the throne did not concern her.

No, her better mind corrected, it does involve you. She looked over at Alaric and then back at the castle. If even one person recognized her from the palace, then she would soon have a bounty over her own head. Scarlett had been witnessed to one of the bloodiest events that has occurred in this kingdom in years, and there was no denying that she had been there. The blood still shown on her armor, the images of dead nobles still in her head. No, she was definitely a part of this and there's no pretending that she can just lie low until this problem fixed itself. But still.. she refused to blindly agree to this arrangement unless she knew he wouldn't go back on his word later.

As Alaric spoke, she shook off the thoughts in her head and rubbed the back of her neck as she considered his proposal. "You could provide an earnest?" she repeated, making it sound like a question as if she didn't quite believe it. "And what would this item be, exactly?" She was curious to the nature of this item, but also thought that such an arrangement might work out for the both of them. "If you could provide such an item, then I will accompany you to Hallendar."

 

[Mufi]

Mercenaries. No sense of loyalty. They respected only money. A knight, sworn to him, would defend him to matter what. His champion to the death.

Death had found many of his knights, he supposed. That made him frown, as if he didn't have enough reason already. Well, he would see to it that their deaths were avenged.

"I can." Alaric didn't like this option, but it seemed remarkably close to his only one. He hadn't exactly had much chance to pack, but he had grabbed a few things. Useful things, some of them... and valuable things, some of them.

Some of them, in fact, had aspects of both. His signet ring hung on a chain around his neck, but that was not going to leave his royal person no matter the reason. There were, however, other items. Indications of legitimacy (or else of a very brash thief).

Not precisely the sort of things he wanted to give up, even temporarily... but having 'over his dead body' as an actual option made him realize how much better alternatives to that were.

Alaric reached into his bag, feeling his way around. He had no desire to expose more than he must to this mercenary. His fingers reached until they found... there. A roll of black velvet, lumpy with something.

Several somethings, in fact. There was a gold brooch set with emeralds, but he tried to tuck the velvet back over that and instead reveal a pair of golden wristcuffs set with ruby and obsidian. As raw minerals, they were assuredly valuable. As a part of the regalia of the Black Mountain, they were both greatly more so and far more difficult to sell.

 

[Dumbledora]

Scarlett had suspected that Alaric had to have had something of value on his person, so she wasn't too surprised when the man reached into his belongings and ruffled through his goods until he came across what he was looking for. Leave it to a noble to grab precious jewels and gold even in a life or death situation, she thought with a grimace and a scrunching on her nose.

Despite the condescending thoughts, Scarlett had to admit that she was curious as she watched Alaric pull out whatever it was he was to give her as promise for future payment.

Next thing she knew, there were a pair of wristcuffs that even she could tell were quite valuable, and were of no use to her personally. However, if one melted down the gold and used the gems, it could very easily be resold if it turns out in the end that Alaric intended to rip her off. She reached out and grabbed the pair of cuffs, unlatching her chestplate and tucking them in between bandages she had wrapped around her bosom. As hindering as her breasts were in battle, they made for convenient storage where she would notice if they moved even an inch, and Scarlett didn't trust to put such valuable items into the satchel strapped to her waist. They were going to be going on a long journey and there would be no guarantee that the bag wouldn't get damaged or that some street rat might try to steal her satchel. Yes, the cuffs would be just fine where she put them.

Fastening her chestplate back in place, she looked back at Alaric. "Looks like we have a deal then, I will help you," she said, giving a mock bow as if to seal the deal.

"Now," she began, "first thing's first. We go to Valleyridge Village to the East before we head on the pass. If we start now and don't stop, we can make it there around sundown and get an inn for a few nights while I get a hold of some of my contacts and gather supplies for our little journey. Unfortunately, we get no sleep, but the city isn't safe right now and there isn't any good place to camp where we won't be in danger anyways." Scarlett spoke from experience, this wasn't the first time she's had to flee from a city. However in the past, it was this city she was fleeing to not from.

"We'll have to wander through the forest instead of the merchant's routes for now, but it's easy enough to cross," she said. "Let's be off then," and without looking back, Scarlett started heading towards the line of trees on the horizon, leaving the bloody palace behind.

 

[Mufi]

Alaric's lips twisted slightly in displeasure as the mercenary took the cuffs from him, though he didn't try to stop her. This was the simplest and most expeditious way to seal the deal. It would buy, if not her loyalty, at least her services... and yet. His throne newly taken from him, to have his royal insignia likewise taken stung, just a little. He didn't have to like it, he just had to dislike it less than his other options.

Her choice of a place to put them took him by surprise, and he found himself staring at the bandages over her chest for a moment or three before he thought to look away. Undergarments, they must be - of some sort, Alaric was hardly an expert on such things. Why would he be? No lady of the court would even think to expose herself so! He averted his eyes, even if this mercenary seemed to care nothing for modesty, before returning them to her once again as she secured her chestplate.

"Very well." The bow might have soothed his feelings, save for the sense of being mocked. Alaric frowned in irritation, but he bit back his words. His true anger was not with her and her disrespect, but with the invaders. He turned his head, looking at the smoke. He could smell it, faintly, and he imagined he could smell the blood with it.

He returned his gaze to Scarlett as she outlined the plan. Valleyridge... seemed sensible. An easy day's ride, but far enough that his royal face would not be the best-known... so long as he didn't draw attention to himself.

"The sooner away from the city, the better." If the forest offered them some measure of safety, he would go through the forest. This near the city, it was hunted often enough that there were few dangerous animals. It might even be a pleasant walk... and besides. "They'll be sending riders out along the roads." That was half to himself, as his own thoughts caught up to things. Alaric frowned, adjusting his bag of meager (by royal standards) possessions as he hurried after Scarlett. At least he still had his head among those possessions. It was a start.

 

[Dumbledora]

Scarlett hummed in agreement. She couldn't wait to be out of this place. Even though they were outside, she felt suffocated by the whole situation. She was not sure why, though. Scarlett had seen much bloodier scenes in her time as a mercenary. Perhaps it was the fact that few in the palace were able to fight back against the usurper, or perhaps it was the image of many nobles trying to surrender without so much as putting up a fight. Even more likely was the fact that amongst the chaos, there was a promise of even worse to come. A promise that the bloody scene marked the beginning of even more bloodshed and horror. Scarlett tried to suppress the chills that involuntarily made their way up her spine.

"I don't doubt that," Scarlett said in agreement to Alaric's last comment as they began trekking through the forest. "Luckily, the forest has its own natural trails made by nomads and hunters looking to avoid being mobbed by highwaymen. They won't have enough time or men at the moment to do much but secure the most traveled trade routes and this is definitely not one of them," she went on trying to fill the silence. As they walked, she could feel the wristcuffs shift uncomfortably between the bandages and her breasts. It wasn't the most ideal solution but she'll get used to it as they traveled. She's kept her own coin hidden there plenty of times, and she took their shifting as a reassurance that items were still there.

Scarlett didn't say a word for who knows how long and simply followed the path that was illuminated by the moonlight. Eventually though, the silence became suffocating, and she felt the need to speak. After all, they would be traveling together for quite some time, it appeared, they might as well be able to make small talk or the nights they would set up camp would be unbearably awkward. "Alaric," she spoke his name softly, but in the silence of the forest, it sounded much louder, "who was behind the -- all of that back there?" She asked the first question on her mind. She had plenty of questions she wanted to ask, but that was the one foremost on her mind. Who would desire power that badly?