Chapter 2 - Fiona
Lukas gave the two sisters--that's what he assumed--time for their emotional reunion even though he desperately wanted to discuss what just happened. To his dismay, after making sure her younger sister was fine, Fiona immediately began looting. Lukas mainly let her take charge, they shared another health potion, bringing them both back to a palatable health. Fiona pocketed most of the other stuff, including a considerable amount of coins. She did let Lukas have first dibs on the fallen adventurer's weapon though.
Lukas picked up the scimitar and examined it.
<<<
Scimitar
Uncommon
Flashing Speed: +10 boost to agility when used against dual weapons
>>>
Lukas snorted, able to appreciate the irony only after he had narrowly escaped an early demise. The sword was a direct counter to his fighting style. Even with the forced shift in fighting style, there was no doubt the scimitar was better than his training blades, so he mounted it on his back. He glanced at Fiona as she finished rummaging through the packs, his eyes lingering a little too long on her curvy ass. Realizing he needed to take the initiative, he called out to the younger redhead, who still looked a little shocked. "Are you ok?"
She stole a peek at Fiona before responding. "My heart is still beating like crazy, but I'm alright. I'm Alanna, by the way. This is my sister Fiona."
"I can introduce myself," Fiona said, joining the conversation as she strode over. "I'm sorry you got caught up in this mess of ours."
"I was grateful to be nearby and jump in when I could," interrupted Lukas, "Please don't feel guilty about my involvement. It looks like I will live to see another day, plus it's not like you asked to be mauled by a group of thugs."
Fiona blushed slightly and looked down.
"Well... It was kind of planned," Alanna blurted out.
Fiona shot her a death stare, "It was NOT!"
Lukas pursed his lips, feeling anger starting to simmer in his blood. He hadn't even fathomed that meeting the bandits was intentional, but as he thought deeper, it did seem feasible. They were out in the middle of nowhere, the chase must have started nearby, and Fiona did come to the rescue quickly after Alanna had been caught.
Lukas tried to control his tone. "Did I just kill those men so that you could make some coin?"
Fiona looked at him guiltily. "Let me explain, please."
Lukas glared at her.
Fiona took a deep breath recognizing she could not avoid the conversation. "The group roamed into town a couple of days ago, extorting supplies from other travelers and just being all around douchebags. They ended up in the bar swindling money from poor lads who were too drunk to make a fuss. The breaking point came when they killed the barkeeper as he tried to boot them out. They left town in a hurry with some of the town's hard-earned wealth. The local enforcement felt that they didn't have the strength to pursue them--we are pretty far out here." Fiona paused, trying to gauge Lukas' reaction.
Lukas remained stoic, with a slight frown across his inscrutable face.
Fiona's lips twitched under the pressure. "So I hatched a plan with my sister. We followed them out to their camp. Alanna is really fast, especially in the forest. I thought she could dart in, take something on the edge of the camp and then run off into the trees. They would chase her, creating a diversion allowing me to clean up anybody who was left behind and loot the rest of the camp."
"You used your younger sister as bait?!" Lukas exclaimed almost immediately.
"I promise she is fast! Sometimes even I can't keep up. I didn't expect them to get close. I would never be able to live with myself if..." The fierce assassin that Lukas had just witnessed slay several men was on the verge of tears.
"I'm not as stealthy as her. I think they saw me coming." Alanna added, trying to support her sister.
"There's no excuse," Fiona admitted. "It was an obvious misjudgment on my part."
Lukas' scowl softened. He appreciated the humble side of the fiery warrior.
"I could have taken them though, I appreciate you stepping in, but I could have gotten Alanna out."
So much for the humble side.
"Fiona, they had an Adventurer with them!" Alanna exclaimed.
Fiona faltered. "That was very unexpected. That should have never happened. What a stink on the reputation of Adventuring. Why would he even choose to be involved... How was I supposed to know..." Fiona paused, then looked straight at Lukas and then quietly, but firmly said: "Thank you."
Lukas finally smiled, then jested at Fiona in an attempt to break the tense aura, "So you plan on returning the proceeds of our little adventure back to their rightful owners?"
Fiona's mouth opened and then closed, her freckled cheeks reddening with a blush. "Maybe some of it, but if you get so drunk that you get swindled out of your money, returning that money might negate a valuable life lesson."
Lukas laughed, having no intention of playing the role of an over-righteous saint.
And just like that they began the journey back to town, chattering away as if they were out on a picnic in a flowery meadow rather than leaving behind a mass of slain bandits.
***