Nora
Nora stepped into the meeting with the faintest hint of a frown as she saw the mountain of food arrayed across the table. Vargas was drowning with water. Only a man so heavy with excess would think to waste so much on food. The softness of the city dwellers, the endless water they possessed without thought, filled her with a familiar current of irritation. What a great mystery it was that such a weak people could rule over such a broad range of land.
The Zherpanian bandit offered a brief nod to Skarsat and Solange as she sat down at the table. Dressed to the nines despite the early hour, she was wrapped in cloth and armor with freshly sharpened weapons on her hips. Her mind already on the lengthy voyage ahead of them. There was much to plan. There was much to prepare for. And there were as many problems to anticipate as there were stars in the sky. She filled her plate thoughtfully, deliberately choosing from the freshest fruits and meats laid atop the table. Nora knew well how quickly fresh food became rare on an expedition. She would relish what she could.
Biting down on an apple, it struck her then that only two members of their newly minted party were there. The painted woman, the harlot, had returned with all her charms and tricks. The woman was a dangerous mystery and Nora watched her with caution. She was uninterested in her chosen profession, how a woman earned her coin was her own concern. However, something about Solange spoke of unconstrainted ambition. She was like Vargas, drunk on her own dreams. And she was too clever. She spoke much, perhaps too much, and Nora couldn't help but suspect she would be trouble. Attacking the grapes on her plate as she continued to think, Nora nodded respectfully at Skarsat. She was pleased to see the large Tork at the table. Reliability was rare among thugs. She did not yet know the full measure of the giant man, but she suspected she would soon enough.
"Percival," she said loudly, making no move until she heard the familiar shuffle of his feet across the floorboards.
"Yes, Nora."
"We seem to be a smaller party this morning than we were last night. Would you tell me please where our lost
friends are?"
"Here," Percival began. "S- Still here in the Faded Lantern that is...I mean."
"I do not see, Neh’miah at this table," Nora said. "Do you see him here, Percival?"
"Ah...I am afraid he is asleep," Percival said.
"Wake him up," Nora growled, turning towards Percival with bared teeth.
"I tried. I knocked on his door, but he didn't answer," Percival stammered. "I have returned three times to his door since then, to no avail I must regretfully report. He is beyond my reach."
Nora's lips shifted into a deep frown as Percival detailed his failures. Drink in plenty was as ever the greatest danger to any criminal endeavor. Vargas had given her a task though. She wouldn't fail so soon. She would drag the midnight revelers of the party onto the ship in chains if she had to. They could die at sea, but not a moment sooner. she would not allow it.
"Dare I ask where Y'vanna is?" Nora said, waving a hand hopelessly in the air.
"Last I saw she was headed to one of the unoccupied rooms on the second floor."
"Alone?" Nora said, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"I am afraid not, but I made sure that they
paid for the room before I gave them the key."
"Maréngo?"
"And some others..."
"Others!?" Nora hissed, cursing beneath her breath. She toke some small solace in the familiar feel of Zherpanian words rolling in anger off of her tongue. An unhappy expression played across her features as she contemplated the task Vargas had assigned her. Perhaps it would have been easier if he had asked her to herd a group of cats. Nora let out a low breath, before she she stuffed the remainder of food on her plate into her mouth with the well-practiced grace of a bandit used to eating in whatever limited span of time was allotted. Satisfied that she had at least wasted nothing, she pushed back from the table in a quick motion and rose to her feet. Standing, she grabbed hold of the Percival's shoulder and shoved him towards Skarsat.
"Skarsat, I must apologize for interrupting your breakfast, but would you be so kind as to accompany Percival to the room of our wayward thief, Neh'miah?" Nora began, offering a slight smile. "I am afraid it is far past the appropriate hour for sleeping. You may wake him in whatever manner you wish, but please bring him here
undamaged."
"I will attend to our two other lost colleagues. The hour is too late for lazy depravity, we have much to do before we set sail, and precious little time for foolishness such as this. I know where Y'Vanna hides, I know her many vices, and I know how to handle her when she has had her fun."
Naril
Abstract Proxy
