"Sorval its getting late, want to go back to the inn together?"
He will escort Sorval regardless of the answer, after all they are going to the same place.
When they arrive he will go to his own room leaving Sorval to her privacy.
Zaius himself is the only human awake at the family's home when the hero(es) arrive. With the ability to see in the dark, the shepherd is hard to miss, sitting in a rocking chair in the moonlight by what Zeltor recognizes as the kitchen window. He starts when people get close.
Before being sent out for the night, Lorranith makes good on her offer of a free drink for every one of her contracted exterminators.
Horfil and Sorval make it back to their more reputable establishment without trouble.
"Well met Zaius" - Zeltor offers - "I bring news of Worren. We have found him. He is hurt and in need of care, but he is alive" - the monk communicates the news as calmly as he can.
Indeed. Zeltor's tone almost appears apathetic to Zaius, but the intent behind it is clear enough. The man shakes himself further awake to make sure Zeltor is really there. Seeing it as such, he lets out a strangled exclamation and gets uncomfortably close to Zeltor, grasping at his sleeves.
"Where is he?! Where is my son, right now? Can you take me to him..?!"
The shepherd's eyes are almost manic in their level of sleep-deprivation.
Manny tucks his gold into his shirt and also heads off to his hovel. We'll need to deal with those kids in the morning, then we can to that fighting ring thing we talked to that rich guy about.
Manny flops down into his blankets and starts snoring almost right away.
Indeed. Zeltor's tone almost appears apathetic to Zaius, but the intent behind it is clear enough. The man shakes himself further awake to make sure Zeltor is really there. Seeing it as such, he lets out a strangled exclamation and gets uncomfortably close to Zeltor, grasping at his sleeves.
"Where is he?! Where is my son, right now? Can you take me to him..?!"
The shepherd's eyes are almost manic in their level of sleep-deprivation.
"I can - follow me. Will your wife and son be ok on their own?"
If the man acquiesces, Zeltor will take him to see his wounded son.
"I have two hired hands helping me at night... I will go fetch one from the fields-I will not be long."
His promise holds, and a serene woman with a staff takes his place, her muscles quite visible, though she walks with a slight limp.
Zaius follows as a man possessed and cries a bit as he sees Worren's state, but he is grateful.
Zeltor smiles as the man eases his worries - "With your authorization, I will also be coming to check on him whenever I can" - then he bows, and leaves to rest.
The next morning is thankfully clear, though mist does seep down from the mountain.
Zeltor passes by the brewery bright and early to check on the boy, then heads back to school for his normal teaching routines.
Manny wakes up grumpily. He figures he might as well break the bad news to the kids. Best tell the father though, don't want them blubbering all over me. He stumps down to their hovel.
Sorval takes the early morning (5-ish) to do her exercises and flips through her spellbook; Memorizing a nex list of spells as she does so.
With that done, she heads to the Errant-Wolf for break-fast; waiting for the others to wake up so they can all go and tell the kids. While she chats with the innkeep(I am assuming Lorraith) about her brother.
Hey- have you ever seen a male Catfolk that looks like me... answered to the Name of Kaltro?
Manny will suddenly remember that he should include the others on delivering the bad news that Susie has gone to the goat farm where she can run around and play with the other goats all day!
So he heads over to the Errant Wolf.
Horfil wakes up and stretches after a night of excitement. I'll head down to get some breakfast. Maybe being apart of the group who took down the goat stealer will help me gain some reputation around here, I think I'll stick with them. That is until Sorval leaves and I promised her that I would help her search for her brother.
Horfil walks downstairs to get some breakfast.
Eventually arriving at the Errant Wolf, Manny looks around for Sorval and Horfil, wondering if Rull stays here as well.
Gutwald's cooking today isn't halk bad. Breakfast contains bacon if you've the coin, and crisped potatoes if not.
Goat milk is passed around in a canter to add to the main dish.
Gutwald eyes Sorval and shakes his head after regarding her like a lunatic.
"We dunnae get many like you, and the last catman l did see was a fellow who called himself "Torque"... He ha' a nice hat n' did some footwork for tha sheriff..."
Ruul can tell a lot of his compatriots were in the Three Ears the night prior by the scrapes and bruises rhe sported. Some are chafing under hangovers, but most are jolly as usual. This includes Ingrit, who strikes the bull as even bubbly.
She stays in his portion of the shaft a but longer than she should...
A brief glance is all that is needed to ascertain that the boy is still alright. Someone had set up a bedroll for Zaius to sleep nearby, and they are both out for the count... as is Marduzi. Judging by the state of his vestments, he'd helped with primary care after all.
Class runs smoothly, though several of the guardsmen's children grin at their teacher knowingly when they believe him to be looking elsewhere.
Manny and Horfil have an easy time finding Sorval as she speaks with the barkeep.
Hey there. Ready to go deal with those kids and their dead goat?
Ruul can detect the meaning or those rosy cheeks and the joy in her eyes. Enamoration.
"Yeah, its not going to be easy."
Zeltor faces his student's interest with an open attitude - "Ok boys and girls, is there anything you want to ask me?" - he smiles.
--NOW--
Alright- Let's get this done with. Sorval slides out of her seat and moves to follow Manny.
Manny nods and tromps off.
"Two weeks, mayhaps," the innkeeper grunts. "'E seemed rushed... only stayed 3 days, helpin' while someone shoed and treated 'is beast's leg infection...,"
"Na' ta' me, 'e di'in... Perhaps tha' sheriff knaes more than I do."
"Actually, color me impressed tha' I was righ' about yer character, Ruul. Yer strong, bu' I'm referring more to tha' strength inside, ya? Ye aren't afraid, and yer loyalty shows. Dependability, I suppose, can be considered jus' as attractive an attribute in a man as a handsome face... and, beggin' your pardon, yours took a little getting used to."
She draws nearer. "It's not a bad face, is' jes'... different. Li' lookin' at a wil' bull, bu' I doubt that's new information."
She places a hand on Ruul's chest if he allows.
"This part is pretty damned impressive, insi' an' out."
The reunion of the family with the empty collar starts out more or less as can be expected, with the little girl playing close to the road in case Zusy toddles back on her own, fencing against her brother with twigs. Though the adventurers might have wanted to meet their father, he isn't watching his children in any way, shape, or form... though there is a scent of tobacco coming from inside the house (if you call it that).
"Oh! Oh! You're back!" The little girl (whose name I have forgotten, lo siento) calls out upon seeing them, and her little brother shot up beside her.
"Did you find Zusy?!"
Manny looks at the catgirl next to him .Umm..We need to speak with your pa first, okaies?
Her face falls, but she acquiesces, running into their crude dwelling and coming back with an enforcer that Manny knows. He walks at a casual pace, his loose clothes practically falling off his incredibly muscled body.
He has a stinking cigar jammed between rotted teeth. Jorge is his name.
"Manny," he acknowledges, tipping an imaginary hat. "Somethin' gone wrong, or is this about that goat nonsense my girl's been yammering about?"
Manny looks over to Sorval, Yep. Gotta speak to you. Manny pauses and attempts to draw upon his new-found skills at diplomacy in order to break the news to the girl gently.
Well lass, I hate to break your heart but a big bad bat-man took your Zuzie away. We found the bat man and beat him right up but Zuzie is gone. I know it is real tough to lose a friend, but Zuzie is now playing in the best meadows anywhere with all the other goats.
Manny looks at Jorge. Was Zizy providing milk for ya family?
Sorval doesn't actively help out; believing Manny is better suited to handle this situation...
"Yup," Jorge responds apathetically, relieved that this goat business was all that had merited attention. Even moreso that Manny's explanation kept the children's bawling to a minimum. There were to be tears, granted, but they were the quiet time, and the idea of goat heaven sits well with the little ones.
"I can probably buy a new one before the month is ou', Manny."
He rolls his cigar and puffs. "Now I think I owe my little girl an apology, and you my thanks. I ain't got much, though..."
The little girl looked up to her dad with relief.
Manny shrugs. Eh..I know what it means to have an empty purse, just doin ya a service. If you like ring fights though, we will be arranging some soon so bring yer friends when we give you the word.
Manny will give his farewells then and head off with Sorval to the Errant Wolf. So we got that done. We should start getting ready for the ring boughts.
Ingrit chuckles, rapping a free hand on Ruul's.
"I hope ya dunnae mean right now, Ruul. We've still go' work ta do, after all. But, later, iffen you feel up to it, yes... 'Owever, you dinnae need ta feel obligated. These things come in their own time."
"Is it true you killed a monster last night!?" pipes a young voice.
"And that it breathed fire and flew through the sky?"
Noticeably, Ermes isn't there to set the story straight.
"And you saved somebody, right?" came another voice, older, more masculine.
"I'd already intended to, Manny." Jorge responds, looking down at his children with an eyebrow raised as they took up arms again and start to whack at each other, though with less gusto. He grunts his approval and then settles back into his hovel.
Heading back to the inn, Manny, Sorval, and (I assume) Horfil can't help but notice they have some free time on their hands before they have to prepare for their bouts.
"So what do you want to do before the fights start?"
Hmm.. A meal. No drinken though, we need to keep our heads about us. We could check out the fight ring and see who we will be facing.
The rest of Ruul's workday goes by as can be expected, nothing more than a negligible collapse of a tertiary tunnel with nobody in it to be harmed occurs.
Afterwards, he, too, has a bit of free time on his hands.