Faerveren smirks. "I definitely didn't bite off Mike's head. I don't know where that will go, but it didn't go anywhere last evening." She looks back into the house, but then steps out and locks the door.
"You got an idea where to get something good? Or shall we go to the market, buy some cheese, bread and grapes and sit at the fountain?"
"Oh, the market sounds wonderful."
About a dozen stalls are set up on the market. They are selling all kinds of milk products, meat, sausages, fish, venison. There are no farmers here on Toilday. But still there are grapes available and also new wine is sold at that stall.
Faerveren buys bread, cheese, grapes, some sausages, a wine skin with that new wine and a checkered cloth. At the fountain she lays out the cloth and places the food there. "Help youself."
She cuts the bread and cheese with her dagger and starts eating. "As we're talking love life. Are you a couple, or relatives?"
"Observant on your part, Faerveren. Most assume we are husband and wife due to the same last name. But it remains that. An assumption."
"What a wonderful breakfast, Faerveren. I look forward to trying the wine later in the day." Menan helps himself to all but the sausage. "Mmmm. This is tasty. Pointing at the sausage he says "Have you ever seen that being made?" He heads to the seller to identify the source of this new wine.
When Menan is clear of the area, Arawyn says "Why would you buy the cow when its milk is free?" She looks at Faerveren and smiles saying"Know that to be true and be wise no matter how difficult it may be."
Anticipating Faerveren's next move, Arawyn says "If you wish to ply my lips, some lubrication is in order." She turns up the skin.
The wine is from a local winery. It is probably about two weeks old. It still tastes sweet and fizzles.
It'll be the typical wine you stretch with water as everyday drink.
"You're putting strange images into my mind. Please lubricate those lips and explain what you mean. And stop talking in fables."
She places the skin back where she found it. "Yes, I had best hush."
Menan returns and joins the ladies.
As the ladies talk comes to an abrupt halt with Menan back Faerveren changes the topic. "So, asking what the watch did about the ghost has to wait too?"
"Yes, it makes more sense to raise that when I speak with the captain. My understanding is that they just roped it off or something like that. I will try to get those details."
"So there is nothing to do today?"
"Let's play a trick on Persephone. We can try out the magical disguises as a test for tomorrow. You and Arawyn can be big brutes when she gets off work. So, tell me what these guys looked like and what they wore.The more detail, the better."
In the meantime, I need to meet with father Grimburrow. Please excuse me. When he finds the cleric Menan says "Father Grimburrow, you mentioned possibly taking care of this ghost on your own. I would recommend against that. The Temple of Abadar employed its highest priest to remove the curse that ghost gave me without guarantee. The highest priest could not guarantee removal. Are you more powerful than their highest priest? I ask with the proper humility, sir."
"I appreciate you being worried about my well being. But you walked away from it and got the curse removed. I could do that too. But my focus would lie on protecting against being cursed as a preparation."
"What exactly were you cursed with?"
"The next time I get cursed, I will come to see you. No idea what kind of curse. The thing would speak to me in my head. It was emphatic that I do its bidding and become its minion but I was able to resist that. I felt like I was very ill but did not feel ill. Draining my life force or something like that. Decided to nip it in the bud. I plan on asking for the details of the city's resolution when I speak with guard."
Menan locates Faerveren and Arawyn. "So, are we gonna play the trick on Persephone?"
"Just look at some dockworkers from Marinelli. We haven't seen them that often. I don't even know if they always send the same."
"What exactly will be the prank?" Faerveren asks anxiously.
"I will use magic to make you and Arawyn look and sound like some rough, tough bullies. What you do then is up to you."
"I'm feeling kind of like a bully after that wine...I mean before that wine."
There is a shortage of good wine in this town. We do not need to go all the way to Kyonin for that. Hmmmmm."
"Ok, so just some teasing her. Just don't corner her in a dark alley where no one else is watching." Faerveren warns Arawyn.
The docks are bustling with people. Sailors from the two ships, dockworkers some shop owners from town fetching their delivered goods. The little stalls offer their food - mostly fish with some sides.
The first ladies of the trade appear and say hello here and there.
"It is too busy here. This way. Look for place where no one will see this." Menan finally locates a place where they can move out of sight for a moment. He quickly casts disguise other on each of the women. He then casts vocal alteration on them. He steps back to admire his work. They are each a foot taller a broad built. They wear the clothing of dockworkers and it looks like they just finished a days work. Their hair is scruffy and unkempt as is their beards. Menan chuckles and says "Well, say something in your deep scruffy voices. Go ahead and have your way with her. I will observe from a distance." Menan heads to the stalls in search of ale.
"Well..." Faerveren stops as her own voice startles her. "that's crazy." Her giggling sounds ridiculous in that deep voice.
"Okay, I'm Filip, and you are?" she inquires from Arawyn.
As Persephone checks off the last item from the list, she tells the first mate good bye and walks back inside the office. She decides that it is late enough and that the booking of the wares into the warehouse book can wait for tomorrow.
She tells that also Gorm, grabs her pay and leaves for the day. As tomorrow is the big day, she decides for the shortest way to The Pig's
Whistle to see if anyone applied for the guards shop.
"There she is. You get the lead."
The brute growls "My name is Josh. I see her. Okay, here goes. Stay close." The brute walks directly toward Persephone blocking her path.
"Little girl, I hear you are looking for trouble. Name's Persephone I hear."
"I like my trouble well mannered and handsome. But if you mean if I'm looking for some training in ass whopping, then I'm game."
Menan sets his ale down and begins walking toward Persephone and this stranger.
The brute appears taken back by Persephone's intimidation. "Hey Filip, get over here. We got us a live one."
"Oh, you mean a little pushing won't do? We need to get serious?"
"You're wasting my time." Persephone tells, takes a step back and casts cause fear on Filip.
Faerveren can run very fast. And she gives a demonstration thereof. In a straight line away from Persphone.
As luck has it Finn comes walking from the direction Filip is running to.
"What's going on here?" he demands to know as he spots the standoff.
Good thing I didn't go all out murder on those.
"Well, that guy here wants trouble and I'm providing."
Finn pats the guy on the shoulder. "Dude. I'm not going to tell you what to do, but if our book keeper here doesn't come to work tomorrow, Gorm will be pissed."
Luckily for Arawyn Finn doesn't notice, that her shoulder isn't where it looks like it is. Finn moves on to the Blue Marlin.
"Persephone, it is me, Arawyn. And that guy running away is Faerveran."
Menan arrives. "Is there a problem, Persephone?"
Persephone snickers while taking another look past Arawyn. "She's fast. See you at The Pig's Whistle then."
"Impressive work." she comments towards Menan. She points the two finger V at her eyes and then at the 'guy', before she walks past him extra close to bump into him.
Then she's on her way to the tavern.
"So who are you? Arawyn? Faerveran? I cannot tell who is who at this point."
"A kiss should give you your answer" The brute moves toward Menan with open arms and mouth.
"NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
Menan is totally grossed out but he manages to dodge the brute's incoming hug as he runs toward The Pig's Whisle.
Faerveren finds herself almost at the other end of town, before she stops running. She pants heavily. Wow, is that girl scary.
Her next thought is about her appearance. F%!$, how long does that last? I need to hide before it runs out.
Around a corner into a narrow dark alley and scaling a wall later, Faerveren lies on a roof waiting for the spell to wear off. Her voice comes back quickly, but the hairy arms last quite some time.
The Pig's Whistle is bustling already. Isabella is busy handing out ale. The bards entertain the whole tavern. And surprisingly there is also food served. Tarte flambée, to go with the new wine, as announced on the chalkboard menu.
Out of the kitchen comes Mike, balancing four plates over to the tables.
Arawyn does her best to keep up with the speedy Faerveren. She loses sight of her a couple times before she completely disappears. "Where am I?" She looks down at her muscular hand and then gets her bearing back to the pig. She takes her time and uses less traveled streets and alleys.