Cultural Differences OR I just want my merchant's license.

Chapter 10: Suspicion

After a little while, they found Amora making her way back towards them–ears low and her cheeks rosy red.

"I'm sorry," Amora said, "He just kept going, and I panicked."

"Well, you were an incredible distraction," Rari said, giving her a pat on the head.

"Weren't you used to that kind of attention?" Lucas asked.

"No!" Amora said, shaking her head, "I mean, I'm getting there. I just need to build up a bit more confidence."

"Oh," Lucas said. He looked at her blankly for a little while.

"Do you still have the ruby?" Reginald asked.

Amora patted her pockets and pulled out the ruby. "Right here," she said, then she turned it back and forth in her hand. "It looks so pretty."

"Wonderful," Lucas said, looking around carefully, "Now put it back, please? I don't think we should take it out again until we find Hugolina or Berton."

###

Out in front of the guardhouse guards were busy training in the yard. The clanging weapons were almost drowned out by the rugged hollering of a glowering guard dressed in more decorated armor. Through the windows Reginald could see other guards sitting around and relaxing or rubbing their sore muscles. A few of the guards waved to the group as they walked in.

As they all walked into the breakroom, Reginald saw Trey sitting in one of the more cushioned chairs, smoking a sweet-smelling pipe. He ditched the pipe quickly as they walked into the room.

"Oh hey," Trey said, relaxing some as he saw it was just them, "How have y'all been doin' eh?" He peaked nervously through the doorway past them. "Hugolina and Berton ain't with you, are they?"

"Nope," Rari said, "As it would happen, we have come here searching for them."

"Alright, alright," Try said, slowly taking his pipe back out, "Um. Would y'all mind if I went ahead and 'relaxed' some around you?"

Rari shrugged. "I don't judge," she said.

"I would hate to feel as if I was inconveniencing you," Lucas said, "Go right ahead."

Amora said something under her breath about getting hammered in public being kinky and laughed to herself while Trym pulled his pipe back out. With a quick flick of flame, Trym sucked on the pipe and blew a smoke ring. He smiled.

Zoe sniffed the air amongst the breakroom and said, "Hwm. It does not seem as if Hugolina and Berton have been here long today."

"They've been out on their rounds," Trym said, taking another puff of his pipe, "Which could be about anything for them. Captain lets 'em do what they want. "

"Isn't that a little odd for guards?" Reginald asked, his brow furrowing.

Trym shrugged. "If y'all had two people like that under your command, you'd do the same thing," he said, "That's all I'm gonna say about it."

"Do you perhaps know when they might come back?" Rari asked.

Trym squinted, looking outside, and he said, "Oughta be soonish. Maybe an hour or so if y'all are fine with that."

"Is there no way for us to try to find them sooner?" Lucas asked. He gave a nervous glance to Amora's pocket.

Trym shook his head. "You might find 'em if you scoured the whole town, but that'd take a bit longer. Best wait I think."