[h3][center]The Hunter and The Bard[/center][/h3]
[center]A Dax ([@POOHEAD189]) & Raelyn ([@Chrononaut]) Collab[/center] 
[hr]
Having left the Inn, and as fate would have it, missing Ashav by a mere minute as he left, Daixanos continued to look around for the recruiter as vigilantly as he would stalk an Elk on the tundra. The Argonian bounty hunter soon was lost in the large crowd however, the hunter now stuck in the middle of jovial merry making and uproarious laughter. More than once he saw a few Nord children looking at him and pointing. He wouldn't have minded as much if it weren't for the fear and disdain on their scrunched up human faces. While most would have shown visible affront to such actions, his visage was as stoic as always. It bothered him not at all, truth be told, if the insults were only at his expense. But he knew his entire race was in danger from such prejudices. 

Raelyn was, reluctantly, playing "Ragnar the Red". To amuse herself she had changed some of the lyrics to see if anyone noticed. She changed the line "When he met the shield-maiden Matilda" to "When he met the Held-maiden, Fatilda," but no one seemed to notice. She wasn't sure why this song was so popular, she knew at least twenty other songs where a woman stabbed or beheaded a man. This theme had always unnerved her. They never asked for a nice song about how a woman fell in love and no one killed themselves.

When she'd finished, she gave a flourish of a bow, padding her coin purse appreciately. She'd been charging a few septims more to play during the festivities and it had worked out well. When she lifted herself, she noted a Argonian of all things. Knowing that it was unlikely that one lived in a Nordic village of all places, she figured it was a safe bet that he was a part of Rashavs little mercenary band. She politely but sternly denied some further requests to play, somewhat less politely at another request to play Ragnar the Red.

She burst from a crowd sideways, ending up in stride next to Dax, strumming in tune with their step. "An Argonian in Dawnstar?  Doesn't your blood freeze in this climate?"

Dax's purposeful walk slowed not at all when the strange woman suddenly trailed beside him. He gazed forward for the most part, only giving her a slight glance in acknowledgement as she strummed her instrument. He couldn't tell if she was making fun of him or asking an honest question. He decided to answer honestly. "No." he said simply. "I've lived in Skyrim for years now. We Argonians are used to harsh climates, hot and cold. Though this took getting used to, I suppose." 

Raelyn glanced over, saying cheerfully, "Can't say I'm quite comfortable with it myself. When your climate creates wraiths the Nine Divine purposed to freeze men, then perhaps its a might too cold. Or, perhaps, the climate isn't too ill fit to live in but we're too ill fit to live in it. The Nords seem to do fine, but I also saw one try to saw a log into a horse saddle once, so perhaps their opinion doesn't hold much water. Or ice as it were."

She considered the Argonian. He was being rather frank. Was he freezing up to being questioned by a stranger? Rashav might have asked him not to speak to anyone outside of the group, but then what of Jorwen? Or perhaps she was having trouble reading an Argonian. Their facial expressions were always alien to her. Did Argonians [i]have[/i] facial expressions?

Dax decided to turn back to the Inn, knowing that Ashav would eventually need to go back there eventually. He was eager to know when the next assignment would be underway. The pay was good, but what he truly wanted was more action and more purpose. He was an Argonian that preferred adventure over idle discussion. He suspected the woman would continue to follow him, so he decided to at least humor her. "What brings you to this city?" he asked idly, deciding to be polite if nothing else. Usually he did not care for even that, but Argonians were being treated far harsher these days. He thought he might appreciate someone who was more curious than prejudice. 

"Good food, good drink, men willing to give both freely in exchange for music. The finer things in life." she looked to the crowd around them, a whistful gleam in her eye, 'I also heard some mercenary company left here for one reason or another. After hearing stories from Windfell refugees, I thought that their story would make as good a song as any. Unfortunately, the only mercenary I managed to find...who stayed behind, for some reason or another, had a story about how they turned into a Red Werebear on the full moon. I can't say as to whether or not the stories true, but it was substantiated by at least two drunks and a priest."

It was at that point they had arrived at the foot of the Inn. "Mercenary Company?" he said, though the question was just as much of a statement as a a query. "It seems odd fate then." He kept walking, pausing before he continued. "I've just joined a company that has just arrived back to the city. Perhaps they are one and the same."

Raelyn grinned, "What a coincidence, that. Think any of them would be talkative under a bit of drink?" There were two things that Raelyn could always be sure of. Alcohols ability to loosen tongues and that at least one Khajiit in town was always selling Skooma, even if that town hadn't seen a Khajiit in weeks.

She rose a brow at the Inn, "An Inn? Very forward of you."

Dax gave her a near unreadable look, and kept walking. "My employer might be in the Inn. Ashav." he explained simply. 

Raelyn grinned, adding a spring to her step, "Doing well enough to take residence in an Inn? That's near decadence as far as soldiers are concerned. So you're bringing me along to meet Rashav? Hope you're not bringing anyone else along. You know the old saying. Two's company, three's a crowd, and four's just indecent." 

Finally, Daixanos the Argonian halted just before the front door of the Inn. He turned to Raelyn, and looked her straight in the eyes. "I am a lizard man," he deadpanned, then continued forward into the Inn.