Just FYI: In my country, someone who stays there when there are two people trying to date each other is called a 'candle holder' :P
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Probably mistaking Axel's 'something to burn all this off', Kejak quickly presents an excuse. "Yeah, well, I've got a shift in a small while, so..." He tries to think about something that gives Ellen an excuse and an honorable way out of the middle, but he's so stuffed with all the food they had that he can only think about whether he will do his round walking or in a trolley.
"Between today's lunch and yesterday's dinner, I'm going to need a trolly to move myself around town..."
Noticing that Axel didn't get it, Kejak insists. He was never good with words, but Axel was, so he's trying to call his attention to the fact that the maiden knows something she's not telling. Looking at Axel with a forced gesture, he adds "Isn't it strange, dear Axel, that our dear Lord Foxglove invited us and now he suddenly has better things to do?"
"Oh, that's... unfortunate. Did he gave a reason?"
Kejak nods and salutes as he leaves. After his noon date for lunch, he'll be on duty. Then he heads home to dress properly and get ready for the occasion.
Kejak wakes up with this sensation of having done what needed to be done, the thing that starts to make you a man over a teenager. Despite having eaten till nearly exploding the yesterday night, he asks for a full breakfast at the Rusty Dragon. "It might be a busy day" he thinks. Once fully operational, he heads out to the Sheriff's place and presents himself to be deployed in any kind of task needed for today. "Anything new about yesterday's events?" he dares to ask.
Kejak is surprised by the exclamation, and quickly turns to see the man. He notes down mentally who he is. "Might pay in the puture to know who's an idiot". After paying the bill, Kejak offers Ellen a relaxed walk back to the Academy. "Shall we call you tomorrow if we find something interesting to do about the goblins? I promise we won't call if the job is about cleaning blood" he winks.
Kejak misinterprets the sound coming from Ellen as a yawn, and smiles. "Don't worry, it's been a long and heavy day. We all should get some sleep, tomorrow I foresee also a very busy schedule, at least if you work for Sheriff Hemlock" and he accompany his last words with a mocking military salute. On the subject of the bill, Kejak lifts his hand as if denying. "No, no, don't worry. It is not going to go to waste anyway. What can be kept, we can take it home and have it tomorrow. Anything that will be spoiled by tomorrow we can give to someone who needs it more than we do". When a maiden passes by, he asks her for the bill. "Right, so... about what we were talking before... just think about it, will you? That's all I'll say on the matter for now".
"Oh, that... yes, I always forget about it" says Kejak with a neutral face. He doesn't want to appear too worried, though looking smiley would seem like taking it too lightly. "I mean the fact that it was you who... you know..." While putting his thoughts in order, Kejak tries some more fish. It's definitely superior to any other fish he's tried before. "Well, you certainly showed a lot of people today what you're capable of... for good. I mean, people won't really begin to trust you or appreciate you while you stay secluded in the shadows. You'll always be 'the dangerous girl who did this and now just hides'. But... did you see their faces today? You were 'the girl who fought the goblins to protect us'. Do you follow me? This stigma isn't going to wash away itself".
"Well, you also did a good job there facing the gob... them" corrects Kejak in the last second, trying (and failing) not to mention the word 'goblin' again for today. When the food arrives, he can't help but comment "Wow, I didn't think it was going to be that much". He smiles, anyway, at the possibility of Ellen beating some goblin ass today but then get owned by a bowl of soup. "Don't worry, Ellen, a day is a day. Eat only as much as you want, the rest we'll ask if we can take it home. Or we'll give it to someone who needs it". Seeing the evening as an opportunity to know a bit more about her, Kejak 'casually' asks "So, tell me... is there any weird reason why you're still living with Ilsoari? Or do you just feel better there?" "There. I finally did it".
Kejak thinks a bit before answering. "No, never. I've been hunting and practicing, and one time I had to point at someone as an intimidatory act, but I'd never been in such a situation." He seems to realise the importance of the fact just now, and stops chewing for the first time since their food arrived. "I... supose that in the heat of the moment you don't have time to think about what you're doing, you just do it. Now, though... I realise we were in real danger." He goes on devouring, and shrugs. "And tell you what? I'd do it again. After seeing all the chaos and fear that spread through the city, I would do everything again to spare the people these bad times. I just hope my hand won't tremble next t... er... if there's ever a next time."
Kejak highly suspects Ellen will not be able to finish her special, but he orders two anyway. "Actually, I'm so hungry that I kind of wish she won't finish it." There are a ton of things Kejak wants to ask Ellen. How does she feel about today? How does she feel any other day? Why is she avoiding leaving the Academy? But these things would make her retreat into herself, as she seems to do quite too often. One day she'll have to confront all this stuff, but Kejak thinks that, for today, confronting all these goblins should be enough and she just deserves a nice relaxing meal. "I'm not really a big seafood fan, but they do it really good here." Not being the best of the talkers, this is the kind of comment expected to be heard from him during the evening, something that Ellen might or might not appreciate, but anyway all that he's capable.
Kejak sits with Ellen at a table and starts chatting about nonsense. "See, Ellen? I already thought they must have entered the town through somewhere else, our guards are..." He interrupts himself for a moment. "Would you like to share a special, or are you hungry enough to have a whole one yourself?" Going on with the chatting, Kejak notices some stares. "Ummm... I think there will be some talking about us, but... well, who cares. Don't you think? Can't two people who've shared the battlefield just have dinner together without any need of... mating intentions?" he adds at the end, trying to make Ellen feel a bit more comfy by removing any sense of dating there could be.
While Axel is asking, Kejak mentally does the math and whispers to Ellen. "We must remember to give Josie her part, that'll be fifteen coins."
"I guess he will be there or, at least, we can leave word for him there. Don't really need to talk to him personally, only let him know."
Kejak has to recognise they're telling the truth. Probably nothing else important is happening today. But still, he doesn't feel like goig out for fun. "Sorry, guys, but I don't feel like partying. I guess I'll just rest in case we have something to do tomorrow." He thinks deeply about what to do next and adds "Tell you what? Why don't we go see Hemlock, tell him we're off till tomorrow, then we have dinner? Let me invite you all. What do you say? Then you can go to the theatre or do whatever you like."
"Okay, guys, we've done this, which was necessary. But now I really want to do something big, what do you think? We should talk to Hemlock and ask him about being assigned somewhere important."
Kejak looks a bit dissapointed, but has to admit that the sooner they clean everything, the sooner the people will recover their confidence. "Okayy..." he says, head down.
"Afternoon, Sir. We're in for reporting." Hemlock seems to inspire quite some respect on Kejak. "Been patrolling some part of the town and eliminated some goblins running errand. Checked in South Gate, all fine. Academy students, all fine. Axel and Ellen, here" he adds, pointing to them, "wanted to add their apportation. We thought to check in with you to be assigned a task." Everyone can notice his attitude change - he seems more martial, as if trying to be up to the situation. Inside, he thinks this is the opportunity he's being waiting for all these years, and now he's not sure how to handle it...
"Josie, while you talk to the Father, ask him if he or anyone has noticed anything unusual near the Cathedral, will you?" says Kejak, as a matter of farewell. "See you later at the Rusty Dragon. I'm really intrigued by how they managed to dodge our watch."
"Invisible? Mmmmh... a possibility to consider... Anyway, thank you, Anatoli." After reassuring himself, he follows Axel and the others.
Aw, sorry to see you go. I've foreseen tons of fun ahead.
"Good. We're going to see Hemlock then." Just before going, Kejak turns around one more last time. "Anatoli" he asks, "any sign of them having entered through here? They appeared in the middle of the square and no one seemed to had noticed."
When Axel leaves to head for the gate, Kejak nods. "That conversation was going nowhere." He follows him and keeps an arrow in hand just in case.
Lol, Nate, I was just going to ask you to link the map somewhere visible :P Stop reading my mind!
Kejak let's Axel do the talking, only adding "You should be careful being here outside. We're not sure every goblin in town has been dealt with - and that's why we're looking for the Sheriff."
-Let's go to the South gate then. It's closer, so we don't have to spend our time coming back here in case the North one has nothing. Plus, the South one's smaller, so maybe they tried sneaking in through there.
"Okay, then... I'm torn between heading up to the barracks or trying at one of the gates. Probably in the barracks they have a way of finding out, or they might know something."
-Mmmh... what do you guys think? Shall we go on patrolling ourselves? My first impulse is to go looking for Hemlock, but on the other hand doing the job ourselves would serve just right. The priority, after all, is to get the people saved.
-Okay, Axel, we know you always have to look good- Kejak jokes. -We'll wait for you if it only takes you a couple of minutes.
"Would you three like to shelter here for a little while or do you plan to head out in search of the Sheriff right away?" Kejak looks at Ellen, but does not want to say anything in case she thinks he's asking. But she's been doing great out there, fighting goblins, and Kejak thinks she might actually want to come with them and spread her wings. In fact, he believes, it would be good for her. While Axel speaks about something he's not really paying attention to, Kejak thinks about it, and in the end can't help but answer what he thinks. "Four. We are... we are four, Ilsoari. Aren't we, Ellen? Oh, and I technically belong to the guard, so no, I can't rest here while there's a possibility of goblins being anywhere around. You lot should really stay here, though, and come out when you think you're ready. I shall go and look for Hemlock."
Only then Kejak notices, and adds, a bit clumsily -Erm, yeah, actually... You could say she rescued us. If we had to rely on my accuracy, we'd be all goblin lunch by now. Oh, and she's a bit hurt, can something be done about it?
-We really don't know- says Kejak, nervously. HE really likes Ilsoari, who's been like a father to him, but he doesn't want to waste much time. -When the goblins first appeared, everyone started to run like headless chicken. We don't know where the sheriff is, nor anyone important. But most of the streets seem empty. After catching his breath for a bit, Kejak goes on. -Ilsoari, do you have any idea where a bunch of goblins might have entered the city unnoticed? Secret passage, breach on the wall or anything? We must go and find out, but if you have any idea...- And then he remembers -oh! And... are you missing any other student?
No problem, typing regularity is usually so... irregular :P It happens, we understand.
-Yes, we definitely should, and that was my intention.
-Josie!- he greets, relieved to see she's okay. -I'm glad you're fine. And... Inc too.- He's about to start an attempt at caressing the big otherworldly cat, but thinks better and looks a bit silly when he raises his hand and puts it back down again. -Okay, Axel has gone to check Shayliss' family is ok. Shall we wait for him or should we bring Joanna to the Academy and Axel joins us later? The field seems pretty clear, but you never know... On the other hand, he might want a bit of privacy to meet his future in-laws- he adds, winking.
-Yes, the guard!- thinksKejak suddenly. He turns to check how the guards are doing with their goblins. -Axel, do you feel we should separate? Some of us could bring Joanna and the rest check on Shayliss' state.- He asks Axel over the others because he thinks Axel's feelings might be divided between the young Joanna and Shayliss.
-It's ok, Joanna, you're safe now- says Kejak, trying to calm her down. -Who's in the Academy? Do you know where is Ilsoari?
-Alright, you're a tough one, uh? Moving a step forward, Kejak tries to finish the goblin off. Again.
-What? The bastard cures himself! Not wanting to give the goblin another chance, Kejak fires again, this time with hopes of ending him.
Knowing that the watchmen can take care of the goblins by themselves, Kejak Quickly tries to help the girl in danger. Chanting usually means trouble, so he walks a bit further and shoots at the goblin.
Kejak agrees with Axel in that the General Store is a more vulnerable target than the Academy, specially if Ilsoary is there to defend it. He follows Axel carefully, trying not to miss a possible threat.
-Alright... I say we go south, since that is a more heavily populated area and there could be more children in danger. From there we go clockwise checking the town. Let's go!
Sorry,m I totally forgot to count the number of arrows I wasted, lol. For now, let's say I used 10 (I think they're less than that, but just to make it a round number). I'll try to not forget from now on, sorry again.
-Damn, the town is plagued, then. Trying to think of what to do, Kejak squeezes his brains as tight as he can. -I propose two things. We could either try to make a route through all the town, helping anyone we find in peril and hoping to eliminate all the goblin groups we find. Or we could try to find from where are they coming and see if there are more and if we can keep them out. He stops for some seconds to let his friends assess the situation as well. -What do you guys think?
Reaching this point, Kejak's thoughts stop flowing. He no longer thinks about the pressure of having goblins in his town, or the danger they're facing, or how he is completely failing. He thinks about absolutely anything, unable to move, unable to react. He can see the goblin biting Josie's cat, he can see the other one being stabbed by Ellen... Suddenly, he wakes up. A spout of blood just hit his face. Goblin blood. -What the... He quickly grabs another arrow and shoots. He just shoots...
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