Chapter 16: Crumbling Walls

The next day...

"The therapy has been more successful than I anticipated." Hannah told Dismas in a pleased tone as they sat in the sanitarium's sick room, both of them dressed in casual attire. "I expected you to be here for a few weeks at best but here you are, ready and raring to go after only a week."

"I don' think rarin' t' go is the best way t' put it." Dismas remarked dryly. "I ain't exactly eager to go down in them pits again but I ain't fallin' t' the floor in a bloody heap at the thought o' it at least."

Hannah graced him with a rare dazzling smile. "Then I pronounce you to be cured." She said with a hint of pomp as she waved her hand imperiously. "Go forth and grace the world with your sarcastic wit and quick reflexes once again."

Dismas grinned, shaking his head at her antics. "If I didn' know better I'd think you were about to go prancin' about in the streets, crowin' and goin' on. Or would the lovely lady prefer a jig right 'ere?" He offered.

Hannah laughed quietly at this. "Go on, get out of here before I kick your arse out you freeloader." She insisted.

Dismas nodded before he made his way to the door. Pausing, he turned back to look at her with a grateful smile. "You said that I'd be callin' ya Saint Bellecoat by the time we was done and you did it. I don' know much about saints but I know you treat 'em with th' utmost respect." He said, walking back over to her. "So…"

Taking her hand in his, he brought his lips to her knuckles, kissing her hand as he bowed. "You 'ave my most profound thanks Saint Bellecoat. Until next time..." He said with a warm smile before departing, leaving Francine and Hannah alone in the apothecary.

Francine watched Hannah stare in silent bewilderment at the door he had just exited through before she spoke.

"Awfully sweet of him wasn't it?"

Blinking Hannah looked down at her hand as if she had just discovered a new species of creature upon it.

"You like him don't you?" Francine commented with a smile.

Hannah looked over at her with a slightly incredulous look. "Me? Attracted to him? What on Earth gave you that idea?"

Francine snickered. "Oh please! If you were anyone else he's right, you'd be dancing happily alongside him celebrating your success and his recovery. As it is you'll be insufferable for a week, at least."

Hannah chuckled at this. "Well I have a right to be, don't I? After all I just cured a possibly crippling anxiety disorder using psychedelics and other mind-altering drugs. That's a miracle worthy of sainthood if I ever saw one."

"He likes you, you know." Francine remarked.

Hannah snorted. "Please. He's just happy I cured him."

Francine shook her head fondly. "You really don't get it do you? Light, you can be so brilliant but when it comes to the heart you're utterly clueless. He just kissed your hand like a gentleman and called you a saint in the most cultured voice I've ever heard him use. If that isn't a call for your affection I don't know what is."

Hannah shook her head in amused exasperation. "He can pine all he wants but he'll be waiting till hell freezes over."

"Why?" Francine asked. "Why shut yourself away from that? I've seen you two go back and forth plenty of times in conversations. You two feed off each other perfectly, trading words back and forth. I've seen you smile more times with him than I've seen you smile at all in the last several years!"

"Francine…" Hannah sighed in annoyance.

"He makes you happy Hannah!" Francine insisted passionately. "Why on Earth would you cut yourself off from someone like that?"

"Because I have more important things to do with my time!" Hannah exclaimed.

"More important than being happy?" Francine rejoined incredulously. "Hannah how many lives have you saved? How many are you going to save before this is over? How much more validation do you need to prove your ability, your skill, that you're better than all of them? For Light's sake let it go! Let yourself…"

"What?" Hannah asked her in blunt challenge.

"It's alright you know?" She offered softly. "To love someone? To care about someone?"

Hannah sighed, folding in on herself against the stone wall. "If I didn't care I wouldn't go through all that I've gone through, you know that." She muttered grumpily.

"I know." Francine murmured, moving to stand next to her, resting a hand on her shoulder. "But sometimes, when the right moment comes, sometimes you need to let that wall down and take a chance. He's a good man Hannah. You've heard him in that room, he's probably spilled his guts to you more than once while he was in that bed, under those drugs. He trusted you with his life, his sanity, his secrets. Light, what more could you want from a man?" She asked earnestly. "What else could he possibly give to you to show you he wants a chance with you?"

"He didn't tell me all that stuff willingly and he didn't have a choice in the other two." Hannah rebuffed her sullenly.

"Of course he had a choice!" Francine objected. "He could have kept it to himself like any other man but he chose to come here, to confide in you, to place his future in your hands. Maybe he wasn't thinking about...about you like that when he arrived but I know he's enamored with you. And I know you like him...a lot. Let yourself like him Hannah...Let yourself love him. Take a chance for once in your life. I promise you won't regret it!" She implored.

Hannah closed her eyes, her long held barriers warring against her friend's words, her arms crossed firmly across her chest. "Do you know what you're asking of me?" She asked in a soft, harsh voice.

"Yes." Francine insisted softly. "I'm asking you to let down those strong walls you've built around yourself and let yourself be vulnerable to him. I know it's a lot to ask but I think you deserve to be happy, don't you? After all, we have no idea what's going to happen with all of this, do we?"

"All the more reason not to." Hannah replied darkly.

Francine shook her head. "All the more reason to try. Be free Hannah, just for a little while."

The stern woman shivered silently for several moments as Francine noticed tears beginning to trickle from her eyes.

"It's hard...letting go." Hannah whispered. "It's…"

"It's scary to let go after so long." Francine finished the thought. "I know. But you've faced the worst horrors this world has to offer. Love? That's the easiest monster of all to slay." She offered with a smile.

Hannah finally broke at the absurdity of it, covering her face with a hand as she leaned against the wall, crying and laughing at the same time. Francine smiled warmly, watching her normally closed off friend let out all of the fear and anxiety she had been feeling for some time, hidden from the rest of the world behind her stony face and beaked mask as tears of relief flowed down her face. Finally after several minutes she finally wound down, panting and sniffling as Francine fetched her a clean towel. Sighing deeply she scrubbed her face before sitting down in a nearby chair.

"Gods I must look a mess." She remarked, her eyes red and puffy and her hair in disarray.

"You look human Hannah." Francine told her. "And it's okay to be human, to look human, to love like a human…"

"Okay, okay, I get it." Hannah groused good-naturedly, waving at hand at her friend. "You don't have to keep going I know what you want."

"Make sure it's what you want." Francine said. "But be honest with yourself about how you really feel, okay?"

Hannah nodded. "If I can't be honest with myself, what kind of doctor would I be?" She asked rhetorically.

Francine nodded. "And if you decide you like him, make sure to show him. Men are thick, they need to be bashed over the head with a notion."

Hannah let out an amused huff at this. "Go on, get out of here." She insisted, waving a hand at the door.

Francine smiled before exiting the room, shutting the door and leaving Hannah alone with her thoughts. As she moved to the main door she opened it to find Charles raising his fist to knock. Both blinked in surprise at the unexpected moment with Francine taking a step back before she smiled. "How can I help you Lord Ezekiel?" She asked.

"I wanted to let you and Hannah know that some of the townspeople are willing to assist in preparing another sick room for your use as we are able to pay them for the labor and any supplies that might be needed." He explained, glancing behind her. "Is Hannah in?"

"She's...indisposed at the moment but I will be happy to let her know, that is certainly good news." She replied. "When can they start?"

"This afternoon if you wish." Charles replied.

Francine nodded. "The sooner the better I suspect." She suggested.

Charles nodded. "Very well, I shall go and inform them. They will be along shortly with the supplies. Make a list of what you might need and it will be ordered."

Francine nodded as Charles walked away. Shutting the door she went back to the sick room and opened it.

"Didn't you wear out your tongue already?" Hannah asked idly.

"On that subject yes but this is different." Francine smiled as she poked her head into the room. "Charles is going to have some of the townspeople come around with supplies this afternoon to open up another of the rooms."

"Are they now?" Hannah asked with a hint of surprise. "Well, delightful. I suppose I shall have to keep an eye on them while they work."

"You'll do no such thing!" Francine insisted. "You only got back from that trek yesterday evening!"

"And I had a good night's sleep shortly after that." Hannah remarked. "I'm fine, really."

"As your doctor I'm ordering you to take a couple of days off and relax." Francine insisted. "I can handle the work easily enough and don't you dare insinuate that I don't know what needs to be done. Go outside, put on something nice, get some fresh air, and have some fun. That's an order!"

Hannah shook her head in amusement. "Maybe I should marry you instead." She suggested jokingly. "You're already ordering me around like a shrew with a recalcitrant husband."

"Don't make me slap you." Francine remarked bluntly.

Hannah chuckled quietly before getting to her feet and stretching. "Alright, fine. I'll go and have some fun. I need to stop at the Blacksmith's anyway, my scalpels could use some sharpening."

Francine rolled her eyes as the woman picked up some of her blades and walked out of the room.

True to her word she first went to Gotfried to have her blades tended to before stopping by the guild hall to watch as Geri instructed Maryanne on how to increase the power of her healing both for a single person and for the group as a whole. Further down the room she watched in amusement as Dismas's flintlock barked, hitting the target dummy in the torso.

"She's go' a bit more kick to 'er now that Gotfried did 'is work." He muttered, lining up another shot. "Bit 'o practice and she'll be pluckin' ou' eyes in no time."

She watched a little while longer before making her way to the tavern, noting Jonas was already seated at the bar, drinking heavily.

"Draining the kegs dry already are we?" She asked dryly from the doorway, leaning against it with her arms crossed.

Jonas paused in his drink to look over at her. "Why are there two of you?" He asked in a confused and rather slurred voice.

"Bloody drunkard." She muttered with a shake of her head though there was no venom in her tone as she sat down to eat a light meal. As she ate her mind began to wander back to the conversation she had with Francine earlier. A short while later she heard the door open and glanced over to see Geri walking through the room. Suddenly making a decision she stood and walked over to the woman.

"Geri…" Hannah asked carefully.

The cleric looked over at her quizzically as she paused.

"Can you...help me with something?" Hannah asked hesitantly.

Geri nodded in concern. "And what might that be?"

"Let's talk upstairs." She suggested. "I need some privacy for this...request."

Later that evening...

Dismas tossed back his drink before finishing the last bite of his meal. Letting out a contented sigh he got up from the table and walked upstairs to his room. Unlocking the door he walked inside and began to place his flintlocks on the dresser near the bed before lighting the lantern that hung from the ceiling, casting the room in a soft glow. A moment later a creak of wood made him turn and he blinked in surprise.

In the doorway, half-shrouded in the evening darkness and wearing a long, flowing dress was Hannah.

"May I come in?" She asked carefully.

Unsure of what to make of her sudden appearance he nodded silently.

Hannah shut the door behind her before slowly stepping into the light and Cassius's eyes widened. In the time he had known her Hannah had never been one for dressing up, eschewing fine clothes, rouge, and other accessories women used to beautify themselves. Yet here she stood before him, dressed in a long white dress with flowing sleeves, cinched at the waist with a simple belt. Her raven hair had been cleaned and brushed, shining like a river of onyx down her shoulders, framing her sharp and aristocratic face. Her face was spotless with her cheeks showing a hint of tinged blush compared to their usual paleness.

"Light take me." He muttered softly in appreciation. "Tis Saint Bellecoat 'erself. T' wha' do I owe this honor?"

She smiled hesitantly. "I think I'd like to take you up on that jig." She told him quietly, her face more demure and uncertain than he had ever seen it before.

He stared at her in shock for a moment before recovering and giving her a bow. "I would be honored t' have this dance, my Lady." He said with a warm smile.

Stepping forward, he walked around the bed towards her before he rested his hands carefully on her shoulder and hip. He began to guide her through a slow circular waltz around the small room, occasionally twirling her about slowly before pulling her back carefully to him, every movement intended to avoid spooking her until she finally began to relax in his arms.

"I'm afraid I'm not much of a dancer." She admitted apologetically at one point after accidentally stepping on his boot. "Not much call for it in my line of work. And this is actually one of Geri's nicer outfits. I don't really have erm..." She trailed off in embarrassment.

"You dance divinely, m' dear." He assured her with a warm smile. "An' you could have arrived a' my door in your work clothes an' I would have been jus' as pleased to see you."

"You snake charmer you." She laughed lightly, her heart surprisingly light in her chest as a warm, fuzzy feeling began to encompass her.

The pair danced for a little while in silence before she spoke up again. "Francine made me come you know." She muttered in fond exasperation. "Wouldn't stop chattering on about how we made such a lovely couple."

"I'd say she's spot on." Cassius remarked in agreement.

Hannah looked up at him, her eyes suddenly caught up in his own as they shone in the soft light, the pair of them slowing.

He raised a hand to touch her cheek with a finger before smiling softly. "I won' be so crass as t' try an' kiss you on our first dance." He said softly. "Bu' just know I won' object t' the idea."

"I'm sure you wouldn't." She said slyly with a teasing look as they stopped, gazing at each other.

"You know what I'm like." She said pensively. "Are you sure you…"

Dismas gave her a warm smile. "I know...an' I'm sure. You gave me a chance, I won' let you down."

Hannah smiled softly at that. "Well then...I suppose such commitment deserves a reward…"

Leaning in close she quickly kissed his cheek before pulling back, her face flushed. "I...I should go." She stammered as she eased her way towards the door.

Realizing the amount of courage it had taken to offer him that kiss, Dismas let her go with a soft smile. "I look forward t' the next dance my brave lady." He murmured.

He saw her flash him a grateful smile before she left the room.

She quickly made her way out of the tavern and back to the safety of her rooms before she let out a deep sigh of relief. She could feel her heart beating swiftly in her chest from anxiousness but she knew there was also a fire burning inside it that she had not felt for countless years.

The next morning…

"I see last night went well." Francine remarked in a pleased tone as they prepared for the day.

"What makes you say that?" Hannah asked casually.

Francine snickered. "Because I've never seen your hair that well made up and you haven't washed the color out of your cheeks. So...did you sleep with him?"

Hannah turned to look at her in affront. "What kind of woman do you take me for?" She demanded incredulously.

Francine merely smirked at her. "Well did you?"

Hannah huffed as she glared at her friend. "I'll have you know that all we did was dance and he was a perfect gentleman, you filthy-minded plebeian."

"Ah, so he wasn't so overwhelmed by your beauty that he tried to get under your dress. Points for him." She laughed.

Hannah let out a noise of disgust as she began to wash her face. "You're incorrigible."

"You love me." She replied easily.

"That's debatable depending on your definition of 'love' and the fact that at the moment I'm barely tolerating you." She groused, examining her now paler face in the mirror as Francine laughed quietly.

"So I take it Geri had a lovely time helping you get cleaned up and ready for your date?"

"And what makes you think I needed such help?" Hannah remarked challengingly as she continued to examine her face.

"Because you don't know the first thing about beauty products apart from their chemical compositions and Geri is the only female who would put up with you long enough to help you, apart from me." Francine replied in amusement.

"If you've got nothing else to do but make silly remarks about my social life might I remind you that Andre still need attention for that cough of his and Ernest needs to be checked up on as well. So go on and make yourself useful." Hannah insisted dismissively.

"And where will you be while I do your bidding?" Francine asked haughtily.

"Apparently there are some new arrivals coming in today." Hannah replied as she shrugged on her work robes. "Someone has to be there to make sure they aren't riddled with disease when they arrive."

Francine sighed dramatically. "Well at least your attempts to find love haven't blinded you to your duty."

Hannah smirked at that. "If I ever do become so useless, feel free to donate my body to science since my brain will be utterly dead."

The carriage slowly made its way to the edge of town with Hannah and Williams waiting expectantly. Hannah was once again dressed in her work clothes and mask, standing stoically next to the excitable Caretaker who could barely keep still, shifting from one foot to the other and grinning excitedly as if Christmas had come.

"Ohh Williams can hardly wait to see who it will be!" He exclaimed happily. "Always such a pleasure to meet new people! To greet them when they arrive, oh yes! So different they are and so interesting! Don't you think so beaky lady?" He asked, turning to her with a manic smile.

"My only concern is the different and interesting germs they may carry with them." Hannah replied idly, feeling surprisingly tolerant of the man's antics. Perhaps Francine was on to something about loosening up a bit. She considered.

Williams let out loud guffaws of laughter at her remark, making the woman wince beneath her mask. So much for that delusion.

"Oh beaky lady is in fine form today, yes indeed! So witty, so amusing! Williams just loves to hear beaky lady's sharp tongue!"

"Keep it up and I'll use something else that's sharp on you." She remarked with a hint of warning. "And I'm not talking about my nails."

Williams merely belted out another long laugh at that, slapping his knee as if the woman had told him the funniest joke in the world, making the Plague Doctor let out a long-suffering sigh.

Finally the carriage arrived much to Hannah's relief, allowing Williams to step forward and open the door.

"Welcome! Welcome to our humble hamlet!" Williams exclaimed with a toothy smile.

A moment later a man dressed in reinforced leather and scale mail armor that covered his entire body exited the interior with a thump of his heavy boots. Attached to his heavy belt was a coil of rope attached to a thick hook as well as a wickedly sharp axe and several pouches.

"Welcome good sir welcome!" Williams said happily to the man who brushed past him without a word. Hannah stepped up to him as she could see he was able to ignore her as well.

"Move." The man said in a baritone voice that brooked no argument, his eyes narrowed at her.

"I happen to be the local physician here and before I let you into town I need to make sure you aren't carrying the Plague or some other frightful disease." She informed him.

With a quiet growl the man tried to walk around her only for Hannah to block his way again.

"Did you not hear me?" She asked him frostily.

"Yes." The man replied shortly, trying to walk around her again.

Hannah quickly faced off with him again. "Stand still or I'll make you stand still!" She ordered him. "I'm not letting you past before I do a quick check of your blood for infection."

"I don't have time for this." The man growled, trying to shove her away with his mailed arm.

Hannah quickly slipped behind him, grabbing him with an arm before holding her scalpel before his uncovered eyes with the other. As she felt him tense she hissed at him.

"Make a move and I'll stab this blade into your eye before you can turn or throw me or whatever you think you're going to do! You will not destroy all the effort and time I've put into this place, not to mention funding, just so you can act like an armored uncultured brute! Now do as your told!" She ordered him coldly. "All I need is a finger and a few moments of time. I trust you can wait that long."

Suddenly his arm flashed up, knocking her scalpel away as he twisted to face her, breaking her hold and shoving her back a step or two, glaring from under his helmet. He watched the Plague Doctor seeth for a moment before taking hold of a glove and yanking it off, stretching out his hand with a finger outstretched.

"Insolent cretin!" She hissed angrily though part of the anger was directed at herself for letting him escape from her clutches so easily. Taking a slim piece of glass and a vial from a pouch she filled it with powder and water from another before carefully lancing his fingertip and placing several drops of blood into the vial, swirling it. After watching it change color for a moment she nodded in satisfaction as the man replaced his glove on his hand.

"Clean enough. Go on ahead." She remarked in annoyance.

"Try a stunt like that again and you'll find that blade in your own eye." The man informed her bluntly before turning and walking away.

"Well he certainly isn't subtle." Hannah remarked sourly, making Williams giggle before the second occupant of the carriage stepped out.

Hannah blinked at the riot of colors that covered the man. If the first arrival was dour and humorless in his armor this man was the exact opposite. Dressed in cheerful jester's clothes of orange, yellow, and red with dangling bells in various places, the face was covered with a bone white mask that showed only their brilliant green eyes. Attached to the athletically-built figure's belt was a sickle and a dirk with a lute strapped to his back.

"Oh how splendid!" Williams said, clapping his hands together with glee. "We have a jester, we have a jester!" He called out in sing-song. "Oh the townspeople will be so happy! We are in dire need to merriment here, oh yes!"

The figure's eyes sparkled with amusement as they nonchalantly leaned on Williams's shoulder. "You seem like quite the merry fellow yourself my good man! Surely I will be sorely taxed to help the townspeople smile when they have one such as you to drive them to laughter!"

William's eyes widened before he burst into peals of laughter. "Oh hohohoho! The jester is hilarious! Williams is but the simple Caretaker of the manor! He cannot make the people laugh, merely make them comfortable and see to their needs." He exclaimed. "Ah but the beaky lady Hannah," he said with a grin, gesturing to her, "oh she is witty indeed! Such a brilliant mind and such a sharp tongue! Williams could listen to her all day! She would make the people laugh if she tried, oh yes! Speak with her, you should!" He said with a grin of encouragement.

"If I didn't know better I'd say you were deliberately foisting this fool onto me." She growled. "You can't be that insane as well as clever at the same time."

"Ah! Hahahaha! You see?!" Williams cried, grinning at the Jester who was still leaning against his shoulder. "The two of you will have a glorious time, yes! Oh, but Williams is standing here gabbling while there is work to be done! Foolish Williams, slacking off so! Come, let me get your bags in order at the tavern while you speak with the beaky lady! Good food and good beds await you good sir! And the company is to die for!" He grinned before moving to the carriage, dislodging the Jester at the same time, and grabbed several suitcases before walking swiftly to the tavern, leaving Hannah alone with the gaily-colored man.

"John Orlebar, at your service." He said, introducing himself with a flourish.

"Dr. Hannah Bellecoat." Hannah deadpanned as she leaned against a stout wooden post nearby. So...you're a Jester. How's that working for you?"

"Well enough so far." The man replied casually. "That took gumption, taking on that Bounty Hunter like you did. If I didn't know better I'd say you had balls of iron under that outfit." He chuckled.

Hannah rolled her eyes at that. "If that's the best joke you've got you'll have your work cut out for you here. This hamlet's just barely getting back on its feet and there is evil everywhere around us."

"Lovely!" The man replied happily. "I'll be making these folks rolling in the aisles in no time!"

"It's not all going to be fun and games." Hannah informed him. "You might be called upon to help defend these people against the horrors out there. Are you prepared to do that?"

The man reached down to tap the sharp sickle at his side. "I've spilled my share of blood." He assured her with a cool calm, his eyes becoming like ice chips. "You'd be surprised at the kind of...entertainment some people clamor for. Knife play, sword duels...even battles to the death. I've performed for common folk and tyrants alike, playing ballads, telling jokes and stories, and when a few refused to pay well...I had to take my pound of flesh as it were." He chuckled darkly.

"Interesting. So you don't just strum your lute and tell bad jokes." Hannah suggested.

The man's eyes narrowed in consideration behind his mask, making Hannah smirk to herself.

"Come now, don't tell me a few snarky comments from a stranger is going to rile you up." She drawled. "I thought a Jester would have thicker skin than that."

The man's hand blurred and a throwing knife flashed through the air, embedding itself with a thunk into the wood a hairsbreadth from the edge of her robe.

"Everyone's skin is the same thickness." The man replied levelly. "And underneath, we're all a pretty shade of red." He said before walking over to her, snagging the knife from the wood before carelessly slicing open his finger and holding out his finger to her.

She quickly took the sample and dropped it into a second prepared vial, nodding at the color a moment later. "You're clean."

"Excellent! See you in town!" He said happily as he walked away, flicking his wounded finger as he went.

"I don't know whether I find him creepy or impressive." Hannah muttered to herself as she shoved herself off the post and wandered back into town.

"So I'm to be on retainer for the foreseeable future, assisting in any raids that might be instigated by yourself." The armored man remarked quietly in a gruff voice as he studied the parchment in his hands, sitting in Charles' office.

"Correct. Of course you are under no obligation to remain for a set amount of time and may leave at your discretion." Charles added.

The Bounty Hunter looked up at him sharply.

Charles held up a hand to forstall his protest. "Do not mistake my remark as an insult, I merely speak the truth. What you will face here will be unlike anything you have faced in your life." He said seriously. "The creatures and evils here are enough to drive men to madness. We have been fortunate that no one has died so far but death is a very real possibility, hence the option to leave at any time if you feel you will be unable to discharge your duties successfully. We have already had one depart, a trained soldier in service to Major Hobert." He informed the man.

The Bounty Hunter tapped the arm of the chair thoughtfully as he read through the terms of the document once more before nodding and signing his name at the bottom. Setting the document on the desk he stood before offering his hand. "Marcus Benton at your service Lord Ezekiel."

Charles shook the man's gloved hand firmly. "A pleasure. Your effects should already be at the tavern and a semi-permanent room has been provided for your use."

Marcus nodded, making his way out of the townhouse and through the streets to the tavern, slipping in through the door. Reynauld, Andre, and Geri sat at one table while Jacques, Mortimer, and Ernest sat at another, eating and discussing various matters. Suddenly the sound of a lute filled the air as the Jester he had accompanied began to play a merry tune, making the various patrons clap in time with him, the song filled with rising and falling notes in quick succession. As he watched the man play his eyes flicked across the room, instinctively noting various exit routes and possible impromptu objects he could use as weapons due to years of hard experience. It had only taken a few botched captures to drive home the necessity of knowing what was on hand if one found oneself weaponless. He examined the various patrons critically, his eyes scanning them to determine who and what they were.

The two Crusaders he identified almost immediately, the inked symbols on the side of their necks identifying their Orders. The Arabic man was obviously a sorcerer of some sort given his paraphernalia and the older man had the bearing of a professional soldier, obviously the Major Hobert Lord Ezekiel had mentioned. He was unsure of the role the woman and the Scotsman played but he would find out soon enough. All of them were fit and all of them had bags under their eyes with a sense of world-weariness about them even as they smiled and clapped for the song. These people had obviously seen a great deal in their time here which sobered and hardened them and that more than anything else made Lord Ezekiel's words ring true for him. This was a group of hardened warriors enjoying some respite before their next raid.

He decided to stick to the corner of the room, unwilling to interrupt their time together just to make himself known. There would be plenty of time for introductions later and he would learn much more this way, being unobtrusive and listening to what was discussed. He knew it would take some time for them to trust him and he would need to prove his worth to them. It was what he would do, after all, if he were in their place. In this place, he was the green newcomer. They would not appreciate him mentioning his prior accomplishments or telling tales of his prowess for they would consider them empty words at best. Among warriors, actions spoke far louder than words but he would prove to them he was worthy of their time and trust.

It was only a matter of time.