The violent bump of a wagon wheel on misplaced stone jostled Kono awake. She scanned the back of the covered wagon she rested in to see if anyone had noticed her sleeping. Her three companions seemed none the wiser, and so she breathed a sigh of relief.
Sleeping on the job, how embarrassing.
Kono disliked being hidden away under the covering. She preferred being able to see where they were going, and to habitually scan the surroundings for danger. Being stuck in here lacked stimulus, and so she grew bored.
The drow leaned her head back and turned to look at the driver. It was Aisha; as awake as ever no doubt thanks to their rendezvous the night before. She drove the wagon with a whimsical casualty that must have been partially responsible for the rock that woke Kono up earlier. This annoyed the drow, who opted to stave off boredom with a bit of whining.
"Why again must we be hidden under here?" She asked Aisha.
"This is a secret mission, remember? I'd rather not have every farmer and delivery boy going home with stories of the lizardman, dwarf, elf, and drow adventurers he saw that day." Aisha responded without looking back. "Besides, I figured you'd like being out of the sun."
"Luxury isn't my style." Kono mumbled.
"I'd hardly call this luxury." Seranara spoke as they hit another rock.
Kono let her tired eyes wander to her elven companion. She had her blue hair up in a familiar fashion and was reading a grimoire whose title was in a language Kono did not understand. She wore a loose dull-blue robe that clung tight at her waist with a neckline that displayed a tasteful amount of cleavage. Hardly the outfit Kono would take into battle, but they say mages of high caliber needed all of the dexterity they could afford. Kono wondered to herself where the cleavage fit into that equation.
"I find it hard to study with you ogling me Kono, do you like my hair or something?" The elf said mockingly.
Kono shrugged. "I've seen it worn better."
Seranara scoffed before returning to her book.
Great, more thoughts of Amelia. That's all I need.
She looked over to the lizardman Sarruk instead. He was armored in an intricately painted, and thoroughly scarred, breastplate. His armor also extended to his waist where he wore a protective skirt not too dissimilar to Kono's. His arms were exposed, and she wondered what kind of weapons could easily pierce his hard scales. Perhaps with natural defenses like that armor was redundant. Once again, better to focus on maximizing dexterity.
When she looked up from his armor, Kono was surprised to see Sarruk making eye contact with her directly.
"So? Where would you strike?" He spoke simply. Luckily his strange eyes showed more humor than animosity.
Kono touched her chin. "Given opportunity, the underside of your mouth. The lack of armoring there must mean your muscles for opening it are weak."
The lizardman made a distinct snort that Kono hoped was a laugh. "I would simply leap upon you. Your slender frame would fold easily under my strength."
"And yet that same small size would allow me to easily dodge out of the way, and then strike you."
"My jaws could crumple you in one bite."
"If my sword didn't find their soft underbelly first."
Sarruk made another snort and nodded. "Our greatest strengths are often our greatest weaknesses. To find such weaknesses takes a cunning eye. I do not think you will die tonight." With that he sat back and returned to his rest. Clearly the conversation was over.
How lovely, I'm making friends.
The wagon came to a sudden halt.
"Don't tell me you got us stuck." Seranara reacted with thinly veiled annoyance.
"Looks like someone important is waving us down." Aisha spoke back.
Kono peaked out from the covering to see a man in full plate and mail waving Aisha down. He wore a tabard with a golden griffon on a green shield.
One of Lord Bafford's men.
"Halt there! I'll need to see your cargo." He spoke with authority.
"I'm simply ferrying guild mercenaries."
"They will need to dismount until the Lord passes." He rode off, confident that Aisha would obey.
"You heard the man, get out."
The group begrudgingly stepped out of the wagon onto the muddy road. Borin seemed especially annoyed since he had been sleeping since they set off. He less so stepped out of the wagon so much as hopped out, landing in the mud with a splash that dirtied the skirts of Seranara's robes.
"Why must we stand out here like cattle?" Sarruk mused as they lined up along the side of the cart.
"Security reasons I presume." Kono said as her eyes adjusted to the light. "Or I suppose the nobility like to be looked upon in awe by their peasantry as they ride by
;
self-important shits."
Aisha flashed Kono a silencing look. "Well that "self-important shit" lets us operate in his city without paying taxes, and happens to be our biggest patron. So do be on your best behavior." She spoke as if they were whining children.
Kono grunted and leaned back against the wagon. She was hardly in the mood to be subjugated today. The sun hung at an obnoxiously low angle so as to blind her when she tried to look at the approaching party.
And this is why I never travel at sunset.
Kono pulled her hood up over her head, partially to block the sun, perhaps more so to cover herself from curious eyes. Serenara had a different plan altogether, and seemed to be tugging at some strings on her robes. Kono rolled her eyes when she saw the purpose of the finangling.
I suppose if I were in her political position I'd do the same. Luckily I don't have to show off my tits to appeal to the nobility, because I simply don't care. Although, perhaps if I put in some effort to be diplomatic I wouldn't be pocketing only fifty silver after three days of risking my life. Such a difficult balancing act: feeding myself vs feeding my endless self importance.
Kono heard a light snoring to her right. She looked down. The dwarf was sleeping standing up.
Now there's someone who has their priorities straight.
The Bafford party was close enough now to get a good look at them. They were led by a helmetless man dressed in expensive looking armor. No doubt he was Lord Bafford himself. He was flanked on either side by older men, with six more helmeted soldiers following behind carrying spears, bows, and the carcasses of freshly slain boars.
I wonder if they spotted any goblins during their sporting. Who am I kidding, even a goblin could see that parade from a mile away.
The lord cued his horse to move ahead of the group and alongside Kono's party. He was a young man, far younger than Kono expected, and he wore a beaming expression as he looked the adventurers over.
"Pray tell!" The man spoke. "Why do I find my road blessed with such well armed and diverse mercenaries? I've received no news of a disturbance in my lands that would warrant such a prestigious group!"
Aisha opened her mouth to speak, yet Serenara was quicker to the draw. "Fear not my lord, your lands are as safe as they are bountiful. We are simply traveling through to a country far less civilized."
Kono looked over to see the elf striking a pose that did its best to accentuate her now less than tasteful cleavage. They served their purpose, drawing the Lord's gaze like a fish to bait. Kono was worried the young lord Bafford might fall from his horse into them.
Even though my race naturally inclines me towards sycophancy, this display is just... grotesque.
Bafford's tone could barely contain his excitement. "I've been enamored with the adventurers guild ever since I was a young boy, but alas, my position prevents me from endangering myself with such heroic quests! Please, you must indulge me, what monster is your quarry?"
"Oh it's nothing of consequence to you really..." Serenara responded hastily. She paused for a moment to formulate a lie, but Kono was growing weary of this charade.
"We're hunting a griffon." The drow spoke plainly.
Lord Bafford looked toward the ranger and prodded his horse toward her. As soon as he was in front of her Kono ensnared him in the strong leer of her red eyes. Getting a better look at his face he was indeed young, boasting the flowing brown hair and dark eyes of his namesake, while lacking the fat that usually came with it.
"A griffon is a noble creature." He said. "Why would it need hunting?"
"Even the noblest of creatures must be put down, should they step out of line." Kono smiled.
This teased a smile out of Bafford as well, though his advisor was less amused. He pulled the lord back and whispered into his ear. Kono took the reprieve as a moment to study the six bodyguards. They all wore full mail with helmets whose visors covered the top halves of their faces. Their chins were all strong and pointed, but Kono noticed an interesting discrepancy that revealed exactly what she was looking for.
Kono returned to the scene of the quiet scolding. Her voice did little to hide her impatience. "Master advisor, I'm sure our Lord can speak for himself. Is his charisma not the essence of his position?"
The advisor rumpled his mustache in frustration, but Bafford ignored him, sending the old man away with a wave of his hand.
"My wise advisor cautions me against speaking with you. He says a drow's words are poison to the mind. Do you agree?"
"Words are simply words, my lord. To say otherwise is foolish rhetoric for tricking children or the uneducated."
"I can assure you I am neither."
"I would hope our rulers would not be."
