Turn 1 -- Kre's New Friend Turn 1 -- Kre's New Friend 7th day of Alturiak. Late Evening. Silver Crown
Kre smiles at the womans offer of a drink, "Of course, m'lady, I would be a fool not to." Motioning her to the bar, he seats her and orders a mug of ale for each of them. "Well, it seems you have quite the advantage on me. You know who I am, and I would like to know who you are."
A slight grin plays at the edges of the mouth of the lady as she looks at Kre before replying, "You can call me Laera."
"Laera it is then," smiles Kre.
Kre looks away from the beautiful smile of Laera, trying to maintain his focus and keep his edge up. Scanning the room, he sees the man he had just recently done business with moving to a nearby dice table.
"M'lady, you have to excuse me for one second, I see someone that owes me some money from the last time we diced. I won't be but a moment."
"Hurry back," responds Laera as she takes a small sip of her ale.
Kre glides off toward the man who frowns as he sees him approach, "I don' have it yet you fool, and if'n I wan' ta spend me earnin's now that's me own business!"
"Shut up, you fool," replies Kre. "I know you don't have the goods and I don't care how you spend the money. There's an extra ten gold to the price if you tell me who she is," as he motions toward Laera at the bar.
The man steals a look toward the bar and Laera as he leans over to pick up the dice from the table, shuffling them in his hands and then tossing them to the table. "Damn! Lose again."
"Fine little dish that one be!" he says to Kre as he turns back to him. "You'll do well to bag her," with a nudge to Kre's ribs.
"Just the information. You know anything?"
"Yeah, she came to town a few days ago, matter o'fact. Askin' fer ye, come ta mention it. Seemed real in'erested in a thief named o'Kre Novablade."
"Fine, fine. That'll do," replies Kre. "I'll add the ten when you get the goods."
"But wait," starts the man but Kre has already moved off back toward the bar.
"The little rat asks for more time, saying something about losing his winnings to some cheaters and now he's trying to win it back," apologizes Kre as he takes his seat once again.
Laera simply smile and nods at Kre's explanation, taking another sip of her ale. Kre takes a small sip of his ale, rolling it around in his mouth to see if it tastes any different before swallowing. "So, m'lady, how is it you know my name?"
Laera laughs at the question from Kre. A laugh that brings a strange tightening sensation to Kre's chest. Not frightening or threatening, more like a longing to hear that laugh again. "It's not hard to know your name, Kre. The Red Feather Company is acquiring quite a reputation in these parts. Picking you out from the descriptions travelers give is quite easy, especially considering you are not trying to remain anonymous."
Kre frowns at the last, not much liking the thought of every traveler leaving Milbourne spreading his name and whereabouts across the realms. Wishing to change the subject, he quickly asks, "Are you interested in the Red Feather Company then?"
Laera shakes her head, "Not in the slightest. My interest is all in you."
The tightening in Kre's chest returns as Laera's dark eyes hold Kre's attention. Feeling a need to break that hold, Kre takes a deep drink of his ale and scans the room. Seeing no one paying the pair too much attention, Kre's natural tendency to be on guard eases somewhat.
The hours seem to pass quickly as Kre and Laera talk and drink. Both seem to nurse their drinks quite well, neither drinking too much this evening. Although Kre's guard eases somewhat, he still from time to time looks about the room to ensure that no one is watching them too closely. The conversation tends to focus, to Kre's relief, on the deeds of the Company over the past few months. Laera doesn't ask many questions about Kre's background, only questions that are easy for Kre to sidestep. Much to Kre's disappointment, he finds that Laera easily sidesteps his questions about her background and business here. Angrily, Kre notices how easily Laera puts him off with a touch to his arm, a soft laugh, or perfectly timed toss of her hair, the sweet smell of her perfume flowing toward him. Kre's anger is fully at himself of course, he could never imagine himself being angry with Laera.
Finally, an hour or so after midnight, Laera finishes what Kre believes to be her second mug of ale. "Goodness me, I must not be as used to the strong ale of these parts as I thought. Would you mind walking with me to clear my head?" she asks of Kre.