[center][b]Ardent's Fall Mercantile District, Outside the Temple of Cristos[/b] [/center]
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Barris approached the small beggar tent he had spotted built against the outside of the Temple as he left the main drag of the city marketplace. He dug his hand into his coin purse and withdrew a single piece of silver, one of High-Mist variety he thought at a glance and flipped it more casually than his mind would betray as he stopped in front of them. He addressed the old man sitting in the tent as he approached.

“Ser, you and your kids looking for a meal? I got an easy way to earn it.”

The older man is covered in dirt with rags where clothes should be. His hair was long, but completely missing on the crown of his head. His tanned skin from the summer sun was covered in wrinkles and aged scars. The two boys wore clothes that looked to be some abominable patch work from an assortment of worn clothes.  

The younger of the two boys eyed Barris, one eye closed tightly to protect his gaze from the sun as he looked to the dwarf in front of him. He was young enough to still be shorter than Barris. “We aren’t his kids,” the younger boy protested as his meager little common folk accent shown through. The older boy, who looked to be his sibling, hushed him before pulling him back down to the pillows and ragged blankets they called home. 

“Hush up, boy, ‘course you’s are!” As the elder spoke his decaying teeth creeped out from inside his mouth. He seemed far to tired either from age or the rising heat to stand for the dwarf. “The older one’ll be 5 gold pieces, and the little one 10.”

The older boy looked to the old man, an uncertain look etched onto his face. He looked to be no older than 12 years, and his hair was a sandy brown. His brown eyes studied the dwarf before him. 

For the second time today Barris cocked his eyebrow. So THAT kind of business was alive and well in Ardent’s Fall, he made a mental note to think about that the next time one of his companions tried to argue why this Viceroy’s killer was so important to track down. But he shook his head as he closed his fist around the silver coin in his hand.

“No, no, ser. I’m not interested in that. I’m interested in them for another purpose.”

He looked down at the two boys who’d reacted to him with different responses.

“You two saw that big lady in shining armour just outside here? The She-elf talking up a storm to the Priest just a minute ago? Reckon you could find her for me? You don’t even need to approach her, just find her, find out where shes goes, and tell me. Think you two or anyone you know could do that?”

He glanced up at the old man.

“There’d be a fair reward in it for you all, and for nothing other than simple information.”

“The price stands,” the elder’s voice was hoarse and gruff as he interjected. These were his kids whether by blood or circumstance. After eyeing the dwarf he looked to the eldest boy. “Thomas, don’t just lay there like a whore in heat. Arse up, and do as the wee man says.” 

With that the Thomas stood cautiously. “I, think I can do that mi’lord,” the boy let out a modest and meek reply to his newest client. “I heard that was Lady Evangeline! She’s a royal protector, I saw her heading towards the south of the city,” the boy’s eyes widened as he explained the woman’s status and location. 

His younger brother stood up pushing his arms lazily into his brother’s gut. “I serve thee realm, with this breath, until mi last,” the younger boy belted out playfully. He extended his hand as if ready to do battle. 

“Sit your arse down, Kevan, can’t ye see yer brother has work he’s needin’ to do.” The elder looked scornfully at the fantastical would-be-knight. 

Barris smiled.

“A lord no longer, lads, sadly. Master Barris will do just fine.” 

“Oh, a master ye say? That’ll be 20 gold pieces,” the man’s coy expression couldn’t hide the lustful greed that lay beneath it. He looked quite proud of himself. 

Barris’s smile dropped as he looked back up at the old man with a more dour look. 

“Raise that price one more time and I’ll see to it someone else will be paid more handsomely to make these poor boys orphans . . . or at least now having a father with broken legs . . . I’m a generous Dwarf, ser, but by the God who watches over this temple, do not think you can take advantage of it.”

He counted out 10 coins out his purse, unconcerned as to any expressions his captive audience may have just gotten, his palm was full of silver.

“That’s a start. Find me where she exactly is, and any other information you can, and you’ll get something even better.”

“I can do that Master Barris,” Thomas exclaimed before reaching down into a pile of dirty pillows and pulling out a small leather cap that was about the same quality of much of his belongings. 

“Fine, ye damn, dwarf. Greedy little bastards.” You hear the elder man mutter racial pejoratives and curses to Faust under his breath. Patting the boy roughly on the backside the elder let out a cough before yelling the boy. “Be quick, boy. Ye haven’t eaten yet, and it looks like fish is on the table. Along with my damn ale. Now ‘git!” With the man’s shooing the boy was off. His small frame easily squeezed past the market which seemed to be picking up some speed. 

As the boy faded from distance the homeless man looked towards the dwarf. “Viceroy dead, and all these little flies still cling ta’ their shitty little lives. Goes to show ya that there ain’t no one better than the next. A dead noble be just the same prick with nicer clothes. Astoria moves on.” The old man coughed again a wheeze following close behind it. “Ye got anybody digging your graves, little man?”

Barris watched Thomas run off and gently tossed the coins next to the old man.

“Nay, ser. I’d say I’d make my own, but then I’d have to be one of the undead, and I despise them as much as some of the living. In any case, you can settle for more than fish and shitty ale, young Thomas comes back, you lot stop by The Wrangled Drunkard, ask Mira if I’m not there, tell er Barris sent yea, and he’s paying for your meals. You’ll get the rest of your pay when he gives me what I want.” 

“What a benevolent patron.” The old man’s spit hitting the ground like venom, and his bitter words serving an even harsher poison. “I suppose ye be wantin’ a thank ye, dwarf.” The man looked forward at the market, he shook the thought quickly. “Or perhaps just what ye paid for; whaddya want with that big bitch, anyway? Surely not to bed ‘er; gal like that would leave you deader than ‘ol Cadby,” the vagabond said as he let out a wicked hoot. 

Barris smirked and shook his head with a chuckle.

“To answer both parts of your question, no I honestly don’t care what you think of me, or your thanks, or even your curses, you can despise me for all I care, so long as you do the job I ask and do it well, that’s all I want, and I’ll pay well for it. No different from many of the nobles around here who you’re familiar with, I suppose, though I’d like to think I’m asking for far less. As for the other part, heh, she’d hardly be the biggest woman I’ve ever bedded, laugh all you like at the thought. But I have business with her employer, actually, a Lord who’s made himself remarkably tricky to find lately. I wager she knows where he is.”

Before the elder can continue Barris feels a large weight attempting to push him against a wall. The sound of clanking metal armor, and the feeling of it’s oppressive sharpness push down on Barris. The force had come from a direction that seemed random, not exactly from the direction that Thomas had run off too.

“Where is he,” a femininely rugged voice demanded; its harsh baritone was enough to strike fear into the heart of the largest of armies. The weight was coming from a rather brutish elven woman. She was quite larger than most women, let alone elves, for her size. Shimmering short auburn hair glistened in the sun and betrayed her foreboding demeanor.  “By Cristo, and the nine below him, speak dwarf.” The woman’s voice challenged Barris. 

A few glances from the nearby townsfolk left the tension ever-rising. The scene would’ve been entirely silent if not for the laughter of the elder man looking on at the scene from his fortress of dirt and rags. “Looks like ye found her, little man.”

Evangeline’s gaze was one of piercing annoyance as she let her focus train onto the beggar for mere seconds before once again locking eyes with Barris. Given the disparity in their sizes the scene was quite uncomfortable. 

A sheepish Thomas poked out from behind Evangeline with the eyes of a boy who had gotten himself in the marmalade jar again. 

Barris, now with his back against the wall of the temple and looking around at the unexpected turn of events, swore under his breath this time, glaring over at the beggar at roughly the same time as Evangeline. How much bad luck could he get in one afternoon? He didn’t try to reach for any of guns, still tucked under his cloak, but decided to try and play this out.

“Evangeline, I presume? I intended to ask you the same question, but unfortunately you’ve not made me aware as to [i]Who[/i] you are referring to. So, pray tell, by the same God whose temple we stand in the shadow of, illuminate me.”

The woman’s right hand tugged at the sword in its holster at her waist while the left hand attempted to hold the dwarf in place. “By the ten true do not test my patience.” The irony of her statement would’ve been lost on her if not for the wide-eyed glares of the crowd gathering around the two. Recognizing her callousness in dealing with the situation she adjusted herself before pushing off of the dwarf, though her sword was still at the ready. 

“I think we both know to whom I refer,” staring at the dwarf she sighed to herself. “By the ten true gods I, Evangeline Swiftrend, am honorbound to Lord Caldwin von Gudeiur in both virtue and arms.” Despite her best efforts to remain stoic her voice cracked with a particularly biting sorrow. “If,” Her voice strained with an uneasy shaking. “If you’ve summoned me then you must know where he is.” Her anger had melted into what seemed almost a desperate plea as her green eyes studied the dwarf. 

Barris, on his own part, furrowed his brow in confusion. After the elf-knight had let him go, he had readied to draw his pistols, but this threw him for a total loop. He glanced over at the crowd of onlookers, somewhat stunned before looking back at Evangeline.

“Wait . . . You mean, you don’t even know where he is? I was looking for you because I thought you would know. What kind of Lord leaves his sworn knight and protector and goes on his own, you know? That’s what I thought.” 

Evangeline’s hand left the hilt of her blade in defeat. “In my foolish piety I spent the festival in prayer, here at the temple.” It was clear from her strained voice that Evangeline was holding back tears. “But, where are the bloody Gods now?” Regaining her composure she continued.  Lord Caldwin assured me the city guards would suffice in escorting him to the estate. Cristo,” The woman’s body looked as if it was ready to crumble. Her youthful face looked tired and worn with grief. “I knew I’d erred by leaving him alone.” Her expression shifted slightly as if enlightened by a thought. 

“But you seek out my Lord, as well? I must find him lest I fear he share the same fate as Viceroy Cadby. Is there anything in your search you’ve come across that might aid me in my search, please,” the woman’s demands had softened but still carried a fierce weight to them. 

Barris’s heart melted a bit to see the knight in such despair. He hated seeing women upset, even if the moment previous he was prepared to shoot her. He shook his head sadly.

“You were my first lead, ser-knight, and I’m no closer to finding him than you seem to be. Though I will tell you my employers have a bunch of others looking for him besides me.”

The Dwarf reached into his cloak and showed the Knight his badge.

“Talon Company, we seek your Lord for similar reasons. Perhaps we might be able to mutually assist each other? I can suggest either returning with me to where we’re meeting and await the return of the others, or I can assist you in searching now until dusk, though I am honestly doubtful he’ll be so easy to find now with what limited information we have.”

The knight eyed him wearily, but her body and face gave indication that she could accept the dwarf’s proposal. “I suspected much the same,” there was a slight shift in her voice. It was more careful than before, and her eyes carried in them a sense of uneasiness. “I will accept your proposal, ser.” She paused for a moment. “ I’m afraid you have me at a disadvantage.” Barris could see the tears begging to part from the corners of the women’s lower lids. She fought them back as brave as any knight was expected to. She met his gaze with a half-hearted smile. 

Very briefly, Barris checked in his coin purse again and pulled out the emerald he had placed within it, and tossed it over to the old beggar and Kevan before putting his purse away and walking over to Evangeline, carefully taking her right hand in the two of his in an attempt at a comforting gesture as he would start leading her away, the whole thing looking somewhat comical, but also sweet in its own way to onlookers. 

“Come along them, Evangeline, we’ll go and try and sort this out. I hope a tavern doesn’t offend your sense of piety, nor the company of one such as I.”

“So long as Lord Caldwin is returned to my care such company would be my comfort.” Before the two can walk away Thomas tugs on the brown cape of Evangeline’s armor. 

“Ye sure do love yer promises, don’t ye dwarf,” the old man slowly rose to his feet with the sounds of groaning and cracking bones following every movement. “Ain’t got no fancy titles, but ye can call me  Thaddeus Greene...well just Greene be fine. ” The man’s wide-eyed look of excitement at the thought of a warm meal shifted quickly between Evangeline and Barris. 

“C’mon boys, Master Barris and ‘is fancy friends promised us some juicy lamb bits!” At Greene’s command both Thomas and Kevan followed behind him whilst they chanted rowdily among themselves. The beggar and ‘his’ children followed closely behind the knight and the rogue.