"Vodka," Natasha ordered. She was a slender woman, but every movement she made had a confidence behind it that had men treating her like she was thrice her mass in pure muscle. Marius had never seen someone like her, particularly a noblewoman. All of the nobles he knew were posh and stuck up or damsels to be saved. 

"Vodka's expensive." The innkeeper Jurgen said, crossing his meaty arms. 

"Vodka, for the both of us." Marius insisted, holding out the krowns he had taken from the bandits. Jurgen had been standoffish at first, as it had taken them a good ten minutes to get her proud horse into the stable with the other mares, and not only just because of the accent. Luckily the glint of gold changed his stance. It was communication that passed all barriers of both nation and faith. The Last Stop wasn't extravagant, but it was warm and had drink. The oil lamps and torches blazed brightly and the two intrepid meeters by fate's hand had found a comfortable spot in the back to talk. 

"So, zis Golden Kettle. Tell me oof it." She said, crossing her arms over her chest. 

Now that Marius was out of harms way, he noticed how pretty she was. Her face was well formed, her hair was as black as midnight and her body had some curves to accompany that muscle. Even the birthmar-... no wait. 

"Uh, you have something..." Marius started, pointing at his cheek. She cocked her head to the side, and wiped her hand across her cheek. It was a bead of blood from the slaughter. To his utter surprise she licked her finger and then brushed away the rest of it. 

"Tank you." She said. 

"No problem. Uh, yes, the business. My father owns one of the biggest shipping companies in the empire. We load goods and had outposts all across the reik and the river talabec. In fact, Wolfenburg is one of the three major cities in the empire that doesn't have one. The others being Middenheim and and Salzenmund in Nordland." 

"Boot kettle...?" 

"We started as a shipping company for tea, but it quickly blew up. Now we're known across the land. My father has even shaken the hands of Karl Franz, if you could believe that." 

"Szo, you are heer to make new outpost?" 

That had Marius hesitating, and he sighed. "No. My father is a great businessman, but he's also an asshole. He banished me, and I came up here to start my own business to prove I can do what he does without any handouts." The suave man was usually less forthcoming, but he felt the woman would understand being blunt to a fault, and he liked to imagine he saw approval in the manner in her eyes. Marius smiled, and just then Jurgen placed down two mugs of vodka and a bottle with more. "So... why is a boyarina coming south to the lands of the empire? If you're looking for mercenary work, that was a good audition. I'd vouche for you." 

Marius took a long drink of Vodka, and it stung his senses something fierce. Still, he wanted to celebrate and what better way than to drink an entire bottle of vodka with a woman from troll country?