“That’s one fat kitten.â€
Stray Oak poked one thick finger at the white round ball of fur, and the feline rolled onto its side. It was so fat its small stubby feet were dangling from its full belly. The kitten mewled quietly as it pawed at his finger, and the mercenary could swear it smiled.
“What’s he eatin’ anyways?†Heibert asked. The Midlander sellsword was leaning against the bar of the Forgotten Knight, one crooked elbow propped up next to the ledger that was open on the counter. He had a few hunting bills laid out and was waiting on the old man Ardolain to appear. The small common room was pretty vacant for the early afternoon, of both patrons and chairs.
“There be plenty of table scraps, even in a dump like this.†The Hellsguard remained squatting over the small calico kitten, rolling the little creature back and forth like a miniature log. He was rewarded with happy purrs. The Roegadyn grinned for an instant, then coughed and furrowed his brow instead.
“You mean to tell me that the little fat runt can beat a hungry rodent to a piece of breadcrumb?†The Midlander cocked a skeptical brow.
Oak eyed the kitten that was still rolling around on its back. “Maybe the little thing is quick. Uh… despite its uh... “
“Girth?†Heibert snorted. “The fact that its belly almost prevents its feet from touching the ground? Or that it shouldn’t be possible for them four little paws to carry it anywhere considerin’ the mass-to-limb ratio? That thing arrived mere fortnight ago and already it’s grown twice in size. All in width.â€
Oak gave the Hyur a wry look, letting the kitten gnaw at the end of his callused finger. “How else ya goin’ ta explain it? It’s not like The Brume has food to spare. And the captain don’t allow for pets on the road.â€
Heibert crossed one foot over the other in a lounging pose, his eyes going to the stairs leading up to the entrance. The old Elezen had yet to make an appearance. “I bet the ol’ man Ardolain sneaks it table scraps while we’re gone. Or Deneith is actually feeding the thing. Who knows with that strange woman?â€
“What’s so strange about feeding yer pet?â€
“She keeps to herself, don’t talk much, and never gave me more than two words in response to anything.†The Midlander shrugged. “The woman’s like stone. Not a smile or even barely a glance. But she gets gifts like it’s Starlight. First that shield outta nowhere, then this kitten. Something’s off about her.â€
It was Oak’s turn to snort. “There’s not a conspiracy behind everything, Bellows.†The broad shoulders of the Hellsguard rose and fell in an idle shrug. “Sides, captain seems ta think she’s worth somethin’, lettin’ her keep the cat here and all. Even asked for the innkeeper ta keep an eye on ‘im while we’re on the road.â€
“Yeah, notice that? Outta all of us, the captain took her to the near riot.†The Hyur sucked at his teeth, his lips curling downward in annoyance.
“As if you’d rather gone ta face an angry mob rather than hunt down some marks eh?†The Roegadyn jutted his chin towards the bar. “You’re here just like me, ta make some gil from fancy nobles who don’t want ta get their delicate petticoats bloody. I ain’t lookin’ ta figure out the whys and the hows as long as I get paid. ‘Sides, what you care about Ishgard politics anyroad?â€
“I don’t.†Heibert rolled his eyes. “But I need to know who I’m fightin’ with. I need to be able to trust that someone’s watching my back.â€
The Roegadyn let out a loud wheezy exhale and plucked his fingers from the kitten’s grasp to wag it at the Midlander. “I’ve seen Deneith heal wounded soldiers. She’s one of them paladins, and they be good ta have at yer side in a clutch.â€
“Did you not notice the Ul’dah banner on her bird? You heard the rumors coming from the Jewel. What if she’s mixed up in alla that?â€
Stray Oak cocked his head and plopped unceremoniously onto his rump, taking a seat on the wooden floor next to a table. He crossed his arms and gave Heibert a long straight faced stare. “You’ve been thinkin’ on this I reckon.â€
“I just notice things that you don’t, Oak.†The Midlander shrugged. “Did you ever see Deneith use that shield that got delivered? It sits by her pack but she never carries it out onto the field. I wager if I were to steal it away, she’d notice though. It’s got sentimental value. Just like that cat she’s allergic to.â€
The Roegadyn scratched his head. “How you know that?â€
“Because she sneezes and rubs at her nose whenever she’s around it, but she keeps ‘im anyway, even letting it onto her bed while she sleeps.†Heibert tapped his temple with a finger. “I notice these things, you big oaf. So whoever sent it must mean somebody. There’s a mystery there and I mean ta solve it.â€
“You don’t watch me while I sleep do ya?†Stray Oak gave him the crazy eye.
That gave a pause to the Hyur’s speculations for a moment as his cheeks grew a ruddy complexion. He gave a long narrow-eyed stare back at the Roegadyn, and did not deign to even formulate a response. He shook his head as if to dismiss his annoyance before starting again. “I am tellin’ ya, Oak. She’s hiding something or--†He stopped abruptly, both brows raised.
It was the perplexed look on the Midlander’s face that also made Oak pause. “What?â€
“Well, I’ll be.†Heibert chuckled. “I guess you’re right. First time for everything.â€
Stray Oak followed the sellsword’s gaze and turned back toward where he had left the kitten on the tavern floor. There he saw the feline ball of fur now with a small mouse in its grasp and a piece of cheese in his mouth. The kitten looked to be playing with the creature more than anything else, despite the rodent’s desperate squirming to try and get out of the clawed grasp. The Roegadyn stared at it a bit longer in disbelief, watching the cat play with the mouse as it was playing with his finger earlier.
“Huh.†He grunted, then a slow grin spread across his face. “See, I told you--â€
The doors to the Forgotten Knight swung open with some urgency, enough to draw the gaze of both the mercenaries towards the stairs. Idristan Tournes stood at the entrance, his long face etched with grim intent. His eyes scanned the room quickly before they narrowed in on the two sellswords.
“Where is Blacke, Deneith, and Fenco?†Tournes barked.
“Still north of Falcon’s Nest, ser.†Stray Oak lumbered back to his feet, straightening in attention. “They were looking to the last of the caravans from The Convictory.â€
“There was a heavy blizzard coming in so they might be delayed,†Heibert chimed in, gathering his hunt bills on the counter and stuffing it back into his pocket.
The knight-captain regarded the cat on the floor for a moment before turning sharply on his heel. “They’ve not checked in for bells. Let us go make certain they have not found unwanted trouble.†The Elezen exited the inn without looking back.
Stray Oak began to follow Heibert towards the stairs but paused halfway and turned back to the table he was squatting next to. He reached into his belt pouch and withdrew a small piece of dried meat and set it on the ground next to the calico kitten, who immediately tossed the mouse aside and pounced on the morsel. The Roegadyn grinned and scratched the happy feline behind the ear until a bellowing call from the Midlander made him bolt up and hurry out of the tavern.
Stray Oak poked one thick finger at the white round ball of fur, and the feline rolled onto its side. It was so fat its small stubby feet were dangling from its full belly. The kitten mewled quietly as it pawed at his finger, and the mercenary could swear it smiled.
“What’s he eatin’ anyways?†Heibert asked. The Midlander sellsword was leaning against the bar of the Forgotten Knight, one crooked elbow propped up next to the ledger that was open on the counter. He had a few hunting bills laid out and was waiting on the old man Ardolain to appear. The small common room was pretty vacant for the early afternoon, of both patrons and chairs.
“There be plenty of table scraps, even in a dump like this.†The Hellsguard remained squatting over the small calico kitten, rolling the little creature back and forth like a miniature log. He was rewarded with happy purrs. The Roegadyn grinned for an instant, then coughed and furrowed his brow instead.
“You mean to tell me that the little fat runt can beat a hungry rodent to a piece of breadcrumb?†The Midlander cocked a skeptical brow.
Oak eyed the kitten that was still rolling around on its back. “Maybe the little thing is quick. Uh… despite its uh... “
“Girth?†Heibert snorted. “The fact that its belly almost prevents its feet from touching the ground? Or that it shouldn’t be possible for them four little paws to carry it anywhere considerin’ the mass-to-limb ratio? That thing arrived mere fortnight ago and already it’s grown twice in size. All in width.â€
Oak gave the Hyur a wry look, letting the kitten gnaw at the end of his callused finger. “How else ya goin’ ta explain it? It’s not like The Brume has food to spare. And the captain don’t allow for pets on the road.â€
Heibert crossed one foot over the other in a lounging pose, his eyes going to the stairs leading up to the entrance. The old Elezen had yet to make an appearance. “I bet the ol’ man Ardolain sneaks it table scraps while we’re gone. Or Deneith is actually feeding the thing. Who knows with that strange woman?â€
“What’s so strange about feeding yer pet?â€
“She keeps to herself, don’t talk much, and never gave me more than two words in response to anything.†The Midlander shrugged. “The woman’s like stone. Not a smile or even barely a glance. But she gets gifts like it’s Starlight. First that shield outta nowhere, then this kitten. Something’s off about her.â€
It was Oak’s turn to snort. “There’s not a conspiracy behind everything, Bellows.†The broad shoulders of the Hellsguard rose and fell in an idle shrug. “Sides, captain seems ta think she’s worth somethin’, lettin’ her keep the cat here and all. Even asked for the innkeeper ta keep an eye on ‘im while we’re on the road.â€
“Yeah, notice that? Outta all of us, the captain took her to the near riot.†The Hyur sucked at his teeth, his lips curling downward in annoyance.
“As if you’d rather gone ta face an angry mob rather than hunt down some marks eh?†The Roegadyn jutted his chin towards the bar. “You’re here just like me, ta make some gil from fancy nobles who don’t want ta get their delicate petticoats bloody. I ain’t lookin’ ta figure out the whys and the hows as long as I get paid. ‘Sides, what you care about Ishgard politics anyroad?â€
“I don’t.†Heibert rolled his eyes. “But I need to know who I’m fightin’ with. I need to be able to trust that someone’s watching my back.â€
The Roegadyn let out a loud wheezy exhale and plucked his fingers from the kitten’s grasp to wag it at the Midlander. “I’ve seen Deneith heal wounded soldiers. She’s one of them paladins, and they be good ta have at yer side in a clutch.â€
“Did you not notice the Ul’dah banner on her bird? You heard the rumors coming from the Jewel. What if she’s mixed up in alla that?â€
Stray Oak cocked his head and plopped unceremoniously onto his rump, taking a seat on the wooden floor next to a table. He crossed his arms and gave Heibert a long straight faced stare. “You’ve been thinkin’ on this I reckon.â€
“I just notice things that you don’t, Oak.†The Midlander shrugged. “Did you ever see Deneith use that shield that got delivered? It sits by her pack but she never carries it out onto the field. I wager if I were to steal it away, she’d notice though. It’s got sentimental value. Just like that cat she’s allergic to.â€
The Roegadyn scratched his head. “How you know that?â€
“Because she sneezes and rubs at her nose whenever she’s around it, but she keeps ‘im anyway, even letting it onto her bed while she sleeps.†Heibert tapped his temple with a finger. “I notice these things, you big oaf. So whoever sent it must mean somebody. There’s a mystery there and I mean ta solve it.â€
“You don’t watch me while I sleep do ya?†Stray Oak gave him the crazy eye.
That gave a pause to the Hyur’s speculations for a moment as his cheeks grew a ruddy complexion. He gave a long narrow-eyed stare back at the Roegadyn, and did not deign to even formulate a response. He shook his head as if to dismiss his annoyance before starting again. “I am tellin’ ya, Oak. She’s hiding something or--†He stopped abruptly, both brows raised.
It was the perplexed look on the Midlander’s face that also made Oak pause. “What?â€
“Well, I’ll be.†Heibert chuckled. “I guess you’re right. First time for everything.â€
Stray Oak followed the sellsword’s gaze and turned back toward where he had left the kitten on the tavern floor. There he saw the feline ball of fur now with a small mouse in its grasp and a piece of cheese in his mouth. The kitten looked to be playing with the creature more than anything else, despite the rodent’s desperate squirming to try and get out of the clawed grasp. The Roegadyn stared at it a bit longer in disbelief, watching the cat play with the mouse as it was playing with his finger earlier.
“Huh.†He grunted, then a slow grin spread across his face. “See, I told you--â€
The doors to the Forgotten Knight swung open with some urgency, enough to draw the gaze of both the mercenaries towards the stairs. Idristan Tournes stood at the entrance, his long face etched with grim intent. His eyes scanned the room quickly before they narrowed in on the two sellswords.
“Where is Blacke, Deneith, and Fenco?†Tournes barked.
“Still north of Falcon’s Nest, ser.†Stray Oak lumbered back to his feet, straightening in attention. “They were looking to the last of the caravans from The Convictory.â€
“There was a heavy blizzard coming in so they might be delayed,†Heibert chimed in, gathering his hunt bills on the counter and stuffing it back into his pocket.
The knight-captain regarded the cat on the floor for a moment before turning sharply on his heel. “They’ve not checked in for bells. Let us go make certain they have not found unwanted trouble.†The Elezen exited the inn without looking back.
Stray Oak began to follow Heibert towards the stairs but paused halfway and turned back to the table he was squatting next to. He reached into his belt pouch and withdrew a small piece of dried meat and set it on the ground next to the calico kitten, who immediately tossed the mouse aside and pounced on the morsel. The Roegadyn grinned and scratched the happy feline behind the ear until a bellowing call from the Midlander made him bolt up and hurry out of the tavern.
