The Ward's Guard

"It's plenty true! It was your orders that got my back in that spot in the first place, and you still haven't apologized."

Kuno laughed. "Who isn't? He's been quite busy since last night, so I don't think that you're gonna get in any time soon. I guess that's what happens when the last guy in the office of mayor was killed the night of your "acceptance" into office."

Kuno snatched the paper out of the air, he then adopted a smile. "No harm done friend, I'd just like to know where you're off to in such a hurry."

Pior gave Val a smile. "We got along famously in case you couldn't tell. If I were you, I'd watch myself around this guy, has a tendency to not watch where he's leading very well."

Kuno neatly stepped back as the other man around the corner, although Catorphia was quicker to react. Catorphia moved swiftly to stand between Kuno and the newcomer, watching him with eyes full of suspicion. It was Kuno that spoke. "Oh, might want to watch where you're going better than that friend, wouldn't want to run over somebody."

"Oh I see, I was supposed to forget about the behemoth of a man that stood in front of me trying very hard to get me impaled and look to see what by the Mother our trusty Fire Eyes saw behind me!"

"They were Amal for the Mother's sake, they could sneak up on anyone!"

"Until they flanked us! That left my back in perfect spot to get it walloped!"

"If I recall, it was your idea to try and flank them. I just happened to be the unlucky idiot standing next to you when you had that epiphany."

Pior scuffed. "Like you need to remind me, I still can't lie down straight after that."

Pior sighed. "Let me guess, next you're gonna ask me whenever you've led me wrong." Pior raised his voice to yell at one of the other guys there. "Kluf! Go tell Yain that Aerith's back!"

Pior looked as if he was going to respond, then thought about it for a second, stroking his wispy beard. "There was that time in the western mountains, but if ya take into account fatigue, I'm not sure it counts."

Pior smiles deviously. "We counting lovestruck?"

The mercenary look longingly at the money. "I know where he is, but I'm sure that we could get along without him. Me and my guys got what it takes."

"I'm afraid that my memory ain't quite it used to be. Now if only there were some way that we could jog it."

The mercenary moves to start counting the coins. "Well well well, perhaps I could get the boys moving. I assume you want us as a group. Besides, I don't want to stick around this town, I'm rather fond of my head."

The man put down his cup and eyed the money hungrily.

The man licked his lips. "How much ya offerin'?"

The man took another swig. He then spoke with his words slightly slurred. "Depends on much I guess. Where's this kid then?"

Kuno made his way amongst the streets of the town. Things had begun to calm down, that is to say, the people weren't trying to kill anyone who might be an ally of the Amal. It was always unnerving when mobs gathered, they rarely acted wisely, and they had a tendency to be radical, especially when it comes to killing. Catorphia was close behind Kuno as usual, and her brother was looking for a new target. Kuno just wanted to be sure that the town wouldn't fall to another mod after he left. Although he had to admit that the Youth was doing a fine job at controlling the masses. Kuno turned left at the next cross roads.

Bandar regarded him suspiciously. "If you want my advise ma'am, which I am your employee now, so I'm not sure how our employee employer relationship will end up, but I'm willing to give it a shot, don't trust anyone who says that they don't serve anyone. Well, mercenaries are the exception of course, we are quite reliable if you keep our coin purses full."