32nd Summer, 514 AV - Pig‘sFoot Tavern
She smiled at the little pieces of paper she had prepared for what she had in mind, a small game that she hoped would provide a little light amusement that was much needed for Fallon, something to take her mind off of the requirements of the harder portions of her life even if for a few Bells. She doubted that it would prove overly challenging, she was a smart woman after all but the success didn’t matter as much as the journey. It would be whether there was enjoyment that would determine whether Zandelia had found success in the endeavor she had set herself. She had not told the other woman as that would have been far less amusing and given time to prepare that she didn’t want to give her. She wanted to see her mind work at it as it unfolded. In some ways though it was a strange reversal, where she was the one leading the way and Fallon following the trail she set. She folded them once more after tracing a finger over the dry surfaces and flicking them like a hand of cards before slipping them back into her armor.
She had written them where she could, not the best or most legible of offerings but there had been little in the way of creature comforts of late and so she had made do. Years of hard living had taught her to work with whatever she could find. Some were in true ink, others scrawled in the charcoals of a dead fire.
I wonder if I should make a comment about a wolf when she arrives, following like a good canine. No…no we can save that for later she chuckled into her wine as she waited.
It was a usual eating-place, they had met many times before within the Pig’s Foot but then it was a central hub of the city and she wanted the other to think it was going to be a social occasion. Truthfully there had been little such moments of late and though she knew there would be some grumbling from the heat it was too perfect to let it slip away. Fallon in her heat addled state was more easily led along in some ways - if more irritable. She would change that slightly hopefully but for now she merely listened to the patrons talking and planned things out within the recesses of her own mind. People left her alone for the most part these days, unless they wanted something. Though the dagger placed neatly upon the table showed she was in no mood for negotiations this day.
She was alone, for now.
“Thank you Beth” she stated as the barmaid passed and refilled her cup slightly with a smile.
She had been accorded a slightly better service since she had saved Caela from the wolves of rape and though she hadn’t set out to achieve that she could not deny that she enjoyed it. Such was the game of life, pulling a string here and there - if even unwittingly - and building something worth keeping. She was doing it with Merv slowly, he was a powerful man in the city and much loved. Being on his good side was paramount for social survival and so she had decided not to resort to threat tactics or extortion with him. She would gain his graces through good works and accepted assistance. She had already helped him with some debtors and as such she thought she had made some encouraging first steps. She sipped her wine sparingly but enough that it would be easily finished for when the departure would come.
“First I need to set the rules though, definitely the rules” she noted seriously to herself.
She had few rules but when it came to learning, and this was what the exercise was partly based upon, she liked to know her pupils would do as they were told. Not that she had had many to teach in her line of work but still the principle was strong within her. It was strangely liberating also, to be in charge. She did so love to pull the strings where appropriate. Fallon had asked for Stumble Alley and Zandelia would give it to her. Just not quite in the traditional sense. She was never so overt as that, instead she would give Fallon the greatest gift that she could give. She would give her means and that was far more important that stone walls in her mind. Walls could be destroyed, buildings razed in a day. Other things, however, were far more lasting and as such more precious. It was a tight rope she walked though, she had never had extensive dealings with the denizens of the wretched street of Sunberth and that was why she was armored and armed instead of in free flowing and cooler clothing.
Not to mention the fact that we are still being hunted… she told herself grimly. She was still enraged over that, though the initial fires had now become the cinders of retributive justice.
She wanted to help Fallon thrive, not help her into an early grave. As such she would watch over her as best she could.
She waited and she waited with a broad grin.
She smiled at the little pieces of paper she had prepared for what she had in mind, a small game that she hoped would provide a little light amusement that was much needed for Fallon, something to take her mind off of the requirements of the harder portions of her life even if for a few Bells. She doubted that it would prove overly challenging, she was a smart woman after all but the success didn’t matter as much as the journey. It would be whether there was enjoyment that would determine whether Zandelia had found success in the endeavor she had set herself. She had not told the other woman as that would have been far less amusing and given time to prepare that she didn’t want to give her. She wanted to see her mind work at it as it unfolded. In some ways though it was a strange reversal, where she was the one leading the way and Fallon following the trail she set. She folded them once more after tracing a finger over the dry surfaces and flicking them like a hand of cards before slipping them back into her armor.
She had written them where she could, not the best or most legible of offerings but there had been little in the way of creature comforts of late and so she had made do. Years of hard living had taught her to work with whatever she could find. Some were in true ink, others scrawled in the charcoals of a dead fire.
I wonder if I should make a comment about a wolf when she arrives, following like a good canine. No…no we can save that for later she chuckled into her wine as she waited.
It was a usual eating-place, they had met many times before within the Pig’s Foot but then it was a central hub of the city and she wanted the other to think it was going to be a social occasion. Truthfully there had been little such moments of late and though she knew there would be some grumbling from the heat it was too perfect to let it slip away. Fallon in her heat addled state was more easily led along in some ways - if more irritable. She would change that slightly hopefully but for now she merely listened to the patrons talking and planned things out within the recesses of her own mind. People left her alone for the most part these days, unless they wanted something. Though the dagger placed neatly upon the table showed she was in no mood for negotiations this day.
She was alone, for now.
“Thank you Beth” she stated as the barmaid passed and refilled her cup slightly with a smile.
She had been accorded a slightly better service since she had saved Caela from the wolves of rape and though she hadn’t set out to achieve that she could not deny that she enjoyed it. Such was the game of life, pulling a string here and there - if even unwittingly - and building something worth keeping. She was doing it with Merv slowly, he was a powerful man in the city and much loved. Being on his good side was paramount for social survival and so she had decided not to resort to threat tactics or extortion with him. She would gain his graces through good works and accepted assistance. She had already helped him with some debtors and as such she thought she had made some encouraging first steps. She sipped her wine sparingly but enough that it would be easily finished for when the departure would come.
“First I need to set the rules though, definitely the rules” she noted seriously to herself.
She had few rules but when it came to learning, and this was what the exercise was partly based upon, she liked to know her pupils would do as they were told. Not that she had had many to teach in her line of work but still the principle was strong within her. It was strangely liberating also, to be in charge. She did so love to pull the strings where appropriate. Fallon had asked for Stumble Alley and Zandelia would give it to her. Just not quite in the traditional sense. She was never so overt as that, instead she would give Fallon the greatest gift that she could give. She would give her means and that was far more important that stone walls in her mind. Walls could be destroyed, buildings razed in a day. Other things, however, were far more lasting and as such more precious. It was a tight rope she walked though, she had never had extensive dealings with the denizens of the wretched street of Sunberth and that was why she was armored and armed instead of in free flowing and cooler clothing.
Not to mention the fact that we are still being hunted… she told herself grimly. She was still enraged over that, though the initial fires had now become the cinders of retributive justice.
She wanted to help Fallon thrive, not help her into an early grave. As such she would watch over her as best she could.
She waited and she waited with a broad grin.