“Well, he’s kind of bigger than I am, like muscle-wise. You could understand my hesitance in stopping him.” Faux explained.
Kara sighed and shook her head. She patted Faux on the shoulder and walked over to the bar. “It is alright. What’s done is done. Now let’s help these people clean up. I’ll get the unconscious out of here while you clean up the blood. As for these two,” She pointed down at the rising owner and waitress, “Let them tell us what else to do.”
“On no, it is our job…” Samien began to say.
“I already told you I’d help.” Faux interjected with a grin. “Besides…you saw what she did to Ezekiel. Do you want the same for yourself?” He grinned all the wider with that statement. Kara only rolled her eyes again.
**********
Later that evening, Kara and Faux sat on a bench outside, looking up at the stars. Ezekiel had been placed in a bed in the tavern, for he had quickly fallen asleep after being knocked down by Kara. The two friends sat their quietly for quite some time, simply enjoying the beauty of the nighttime Tolley.
“Kara, I…I’m sorry for what happened, and I’m sure Ezekiel will be too as soon as he gains his wits about him.” Faux said sheepishly.
“In more than one way.” Kara said quietly, throwing a wink to the rogue.
“Indeed. A mighty headache he’ll have when he wakes. If not from the alcohol, then definitely from those moves you put on him.” Faux replied with a laugh.
“I wouldn’t have stood a chance if he was thinking straight.” Kara admitted, and Faux had to agree. “I managed to find some information about the Adept’s Stone.” She said, quickly changing the subject.
“Really? Well spit it out!” Faux said.
“Nothing we didn’t already know, unfortunately…but I did manage to get a good direction to head.” Kara answered.
“West…” Faux replied, surprising the paladin.
“How did you…never mind.” Kara said with a smirk. How could he not know, after all? He is a rogue, no?
Faux slumped on the bench and drew a long sigh. “To the west we go, then.”
“That isn’t all.” Kara quickly added, catching Faux’s attention.
“What else is there?”
“It seems a nobleman by the name of Thalys Ol’Calien from Maeltryst is also seeking the stone.” Kara revealed.
“So? The people of Maeltryst are goodly folk, so I’ve heard. I’m sure he’s after it for the same reason we are.” Faux said, trying to give some assurance to the obviously unsure paladin.
“With the Adept’s Stone, no one could be certain.” She said calmly.
“Indeed. So, if he is also heading west, then we must make haste to make sure we get to the stone first.” Faux figured.
“No…we’ll stay behind him and see what he’s about. I trust that your assumption is correct about him, but like I said, you can never be sure. If it turns out he’s up to no good, he’ll find an arrow shaft sticking out of his back.” Kara corrected, drawing a not-so-surprised look from Faux.
“Of course. First light we’ll set out. Surely he wouldn’t travel during the night, so he isn’t that far ahead of us.” Faux said with a smile.
“That is, if our drunk companion is able to get up by then.” Kara said with a chuckle as she stood up and walked inside of the tavern, heading to her own room for the night.
Faux stayed on the bench for quite some time, thinking of what could happen in the near future. “I must thank myself for not missing out on such an intriguing quest!” He congratulated himself finally as he, too, went in for the night.