"And I wouldn't expect you to. So what now?"
Looking at Arista, then back to Drago, "I do not know." His drink arrived, and he downed it in one go. Then ordered another.
As the hour wears on, more people file into the tavern, including the commander of the Icathian Royal Army, Battlemaster Verrin. The gruff man regards Skaar with a smile and a nod before taking a seat near the fire and quietly enjoying a smoke and a tankard of ale. Soon, after a heavily scarred man with salt and pepper hair walks in. He wears heavy armor, battered and stained. He looks to Godrick.
"I knew they kicked you out, old man, but I didn't think you'd wind up hitting the bottle," the stranger says.
"Barclay..." Godrick starts, standing up.
"Easy, Goddy, I'm not here for a fight. Heard you whipped Sessaly good. I'm here on other business and a chat with an old friend, savvy?" Barclay explains, his tone jovial.
Godrick nods and sits back down. "What's this business?"
"A friend of mine and her family are looking for one of yours," Barclay says with a nod at Drago. Three cloaked figures enter the tavern, the one in the lead a woman with two vicious blades.
"Drago Skorzeny? We have business...family business."
Arista sighs and gives Alethrio's hand a squeeze. She doesn't even know what to say to Drago. She feels for what he had apparently been through, but she was also able to understand Alethrio's position. Would I have been able to forgive it was my brother?
She gives him an understanding smile and orders another mug of ale.
"Well...I'm just glad we are able to talk for now."
She lowers her head again and gets quiet while the others decide if they are ready to hear what she has to say now, or are going to wait until the morning.
For the first time in a long time, Arista feels fueled by fury. She hadn't worked so hard to work things out with Alethiro and Drago to have some upstart come in and start more s!!!.
Without thinking or giving anyone a chance to do anything Arista jumps up out of her seat.
"Buisness? When you come in here with armed escorts it's more than buisness, it's a threat. Anything you have to say, you can say it here."
"Ah, sister has arrived. Excellent." Alexandros said. What? Sister? How many siblings do I have? Standing and turning to the Aasamir, "Arista, let me handle this."
The woman regards Arista with a cold stare. "This has nothing to do with you, aasimar. I never go anywhere unarmed because the servants of Asmodeus show no mercy. Drago is my kin."
"If by "kin" you mean the people that took him and tortured him...then YES, it is our business. I'll not let anything like that happen to anyone in my company again."
She locks eyes with the woman, the fury on her face evident.
Harakhty gave the others his ear. Much interwoven with each other, their fates are now. Mine too, I suppose.
He felt pain at the news of Rando's demise; the man had been the purest of all of them in his opinion. The fire in Godrick sometimes got the best of his temper, but Rando seemed to have a serene gentleness about him. Had, rather. He was gone now.
The new woman interrupting their exchange had a haughty confidence in her stride. She has something to gain from this. "Be warned, kin of Drago, though you serve the infernal lord, this place does not." Harakhty could care less of her persuasion, though he was surely in the minority here.
"You are hot-blooded, aasimar. A trait I prefer to see in battle, not in town. This is my first time meeting Drago, if that would placate you," the woman says, slightly annoyed.
"I serve no devil, vanara. I kill them."
"That's for me to know, and you to find out. Whelp." Drago shoots a Alethiro a look that says, Get a hold of her. Stepping between Arista and the cloaked woman, "Don't get involved. If she's anything like my other kin, she is extremely dangerous." Turning to newcomer, "And whom do I have the pleasure of addressing?"
"My name is Esmerelda Ursari, devil hunter," the woman says. "These two are rather shy, but I'll let them introduce themselves when they are ready. Mother sent for us. I wish to know why."
She tosses an envelope on the table, bearing the Skorzeny family seal.
Arista tries to take a few calming breaths and allows her body to relax a bit. Feeling a little abashed at drawing the wrong conclusion so quickly she blushes deeply. Though it's hard to tell at first, the change in the shade of her metal toned skin is apparent to the others.
"Sorry for my rash display. I jumped to the wrong conclusion....I...apologize to you. I'm okay Drago, but I'll have you know I can handle myself. I'm not exactly a pussy cat."
Esmerelda nods at Arista. "Your caution is understandable, Arista, is it? I accept your apology."
Still seated Sādhanā squeezes Clara's hand, her other one hovering near her blade. "That doesn't mean you just walk in here and walk out as you please, especially not armed and tossing out thinly veiled threats."
Arista nods and sits back down at the table.
"Seeing as how we have the same enemy, would you care to join us in a drink? I'm sorry I interrupted before, but things have not been exactly....pleasant as of late. You might find that we have more in common than you think."
She takes Alethiro's hand and looks at him apologetically.
Alethiro stood up and next to Arista, hand in position to grab his mace, if it came to that.
Drago picked up the envelope and opened it.
Arista takes Alethiro by the hand and has him sit next to her.
"Everyone, just calm down a minute. We don't even know what they came here for. Let's just give her a chance to explain, okay?"
My dearest daughter,
I know it has been a while since our last acquaintance and I thought it would be a good time to get reacquainted. Please come to Zahvroma and have words with your brother, Drago. In these troubling times, nothing is more important than family. Our family is going through turmoil and your presence would help alleviate the chaos our house is in. We will meet soon.
Yours,
Chalandra Skorzeny
"The others were the same," Esmerelda tells Drago before turning to the magus. "I don't make threats. I am only vigilant. I can't kill Drago with words. My journey from Hannal has been long and I spent the last thirteen months fighting devils in my homeland. Forgive me, but my terseness is what I've relied on in that time. Given my nature, I prefer to conduct my business at night and I am loathe to waste time."
"Fair enough, I definitly couldn't fault anyone for being tense after something like that,though you might want to work on your approach a bit." she says, softening her words with a wry grin.
Drago couldn't help himself, a partial grin appeared on his face. Taking on a neutral expression once more, he look to his sister, "Well, Esmerelda, I believe the turmoil mother is referring to, is me. We haven't been on the best of terms lately."
Esmerelda lets out a short laugh. "I am not one for drinks. I like to stay sharp. Perhaps I don't know how to...relax. Anyhow, we can leave this matter for tomorrow night. Barclay, I'll take my leave. Please look after Niccolo and Divitia."
The scarred paladin nods. "Careful, Esme."
Esmerelda makes a polite nod and leaves the tavern. The other two toss back their hoods and take a couple chairs. The male looks skittish, a pair of finely wrought glasses on his face. The other female has a childlike face and watches the group with bright eyes and pursed lips.
Skaar growls and stands. The huge orc clenches his ham-sized fists and gives Drago a nod. "Say the word and we'll take care of her."
At Sadhana's words and with all the tension suddenly broken, Arista laughs a little. It's not the carefree sound it once was though.
"Okay, so now that all that's been aired out....why don't you take a seat and relax after your long journey? If this "mother" that you speak of is the same one that held Drago captive....had him beaten and tortured ....then we have quite a bit to discuss."
Though she smiles and tries to keep her voice an even tone, much of the humor has gone out of her eyes. She has to pause a few times while speaking to keep a hold of her composure.
The male speaks up. "G-greetings, D-Drago, I am Niccolo. I...do not know why this woman has called us to deal with y-you. I am no fighter nor a spellcaster...Do you think she has something else in mind?"
Arista just shakes her head at the turn of events, apparently at a loss for words. Realizing she had left her second ale untended for far too long, she pick it up and drinks the whole thing down, without taking much of a rest for breath. She sets the empty mug down on the table and lets out a respectable belch.
"Excuse me. Well, this is in no way awkward or disarming. What's she talkin about "staying sharp" for? There's nuthin wrong with some relaxation time. I think I'm perfectly capable regardless. As long as we're talking bout uncomfortable things, does anyone want to hear what I know about Malfeliax being called the God Slayer?"
The Dhampir shook his head at Skaar. Drago turned back to Niccolo, his tone changed to cold and even. Raising one hand, electrical sparks ignited, "Then back away and speak your mind."
The childlike woman looks at Drago coldly. The air chills around her. "Don't threaten him, Drago. I am a spellcaster. Niccolo is a librarian, nothing more."
Sighing Arista puts her hand to her head.
"I don't think he knows why he's really here Drago. He seems nervous and confused, why don't we just let him tell us why he thinks he's here?"
Divitia nods at Arista. "I detest bullies."
She locks eyes with the little ice queen.
"Nobody here is doing anything to anyone. Is that clear? We are just as confused as you are by all this. It would seem the sadistic b*%#* is playing games. Sorry for the course language, but it seemed fitting."
"I need another drink for this conversation."
She looks up at Alethiro and leans her head on his shoulder.
"Would you be a love and get me another one? It'll be my last for tonight, I promise."
She gives his cheek a light kiss.
Skaar's attention is piqued by the mention of Godslayers but he quickly focuses on the threat at hand. "So what's your business with Drago? You just here to drop off the note?"
As tensions diffuse a bit, Sādhanā slips an arm around Clara, pulling closer as she rests her head on her lover's shoulder.
"It seems dhampirs are as welcome here as any other 'civilized' place," Divitia scoffs. This is a waste of time, Niccolo. Evidently, we should seek our own answers."
She stands and puts her hood back up. "Come on, fratello."
Niccolo stands and follows Divitia out, giving Drago one last glance. Barclay stands and grunts. "Well, Goddy, that coulda been worse, no? I'll see you in the morn."
Barclay follows the two dhampir out of the tavern.
"Wow! Your sister's retinue is...well...kinda prissy no?" the Anizari chuckles, trying to keep things from getting too tense.
"How do they expect to get answers when we don't even know what the question is? Bah, just give it some time. Everything will work out one way or another. So, since we are all here...still...does anyone want to hear about the Godslayer they call Malfeliax?"
Godrick motions for Arista to continue, clearly perplexed by what just happened. Clara also nods quietly.
She looks at Alethiro with that same look she had back when they were at the fortress in the swamp.
"It's a long messed up story, so it may take me a little bit to get it all straight like in my head. As most of you know, I'm not from this time. I am from about five hundred years ago, a time very much different from this one."
Arista decides to let that first bit of news have a chance to sink in with those that did not yet know her before continuing.