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

Chapter 11: Fiery Fury

Far later in the night, some may even say the next day, distant yells worked their way into Reginald's dreams. Urgent hands rocked Reginald's body back and forth and adrenaline of the night pumped through his veins. He sat himself up to see the faint outline of Kalin standing over him, her armor shining in the small bits of light from the window.

"Bandits are outside," Kalin said.

"Geoffrey?" Reginald asked, pulling himself shakily to his feet and peering towards the window.

"Possibly," Lucas said. Reginald could barely make him out in the darkroom. "I think the guard probably has it though."

"These warriors?" Zoe said. She stood tall, her glowing eyes peered out of the window. "Hwm. I do not trust them with such things. Not now."

"I'll go too," Kalin said.

"I'd like to take some preventative measures on other people's injuries," Rari added, shifting her medicine bag over her shoulder.

"Me- me too!" Amora said.

Lucas sighed then got to his feet. "Very well," he said, "Might as well check on the evidence and such while we're out, I suppose."

One by one, the party vanished through the door, heading towards the screams and clanging from below.

One by one until Reginald sat alone.

Reginald looked out of the window, seeing torchlight catch on steel and the masked faces of laughing bandits. He could hear their laughs and hollers. Reginald looked about the empty room, through the window at the chaos below, then to the door where his companions had gone. Then, heart pounding in his chest, Reginald hurried out of the door.

On the stairs, he ran into Amora–almost literally–as she came running back towards him.

"Oh, hi," she said, "I didn't see you come out, so I thought I'd come back and check on you." As she spoke, she fiddled with her fingers nervously.

"Thanks," Reginald said, "Are the others out there?"

"Yup," Amora said, "Kinda messy out there." Amora reached over and grabbed Reginald's hand, then the two of them ran into the streets.

Together they pushed into the streets and the chilled night air. The stars shone down on the ground, and the crickets stayed quiet for the sound of clanging and yelling. Silhouetted in the night was a figure in a skirt, holding a heavy crossbow at the ready.

"Oh hey y'all," The figure said. It was Rosalind, the tavern keeper. "You got Reginald there, Ms. Amora?"

"Yes ma'am," Amora said.

"That's great. The rest of y'all's friends headed down that way towards the bridge. Try to stay safe, alright?"

"Will do, Mrs. Rosalind," Reginald said. Amora took Reginald's hand and started running off towards the rest of the group. As they went, Reginald looked back to see Rosalind's figure backed by the light of her Tavern.

Reginald could hear Rosalind yell, "If any of Y'all bandits want to come by I've got a real nice bolt here with your name on it!"

The two of them passed by shadowy buildings and torches, their feet padding against the dirt path. Soon enough, they saw figures fighting down on the street, glints of Zoe's claws, Kalin's armor, and a dagger Lucas had produced from somewhere. Rari, in the meantime, examined the villagers sprawled on the ground with a torch held above her head.

As they came closer, Amora yelled out in her high-pitched voice, "Oi! You look like you'd last thirty seconds on a good day!" One of the bandits winced and looked back towards Amora with confusion in his eyes before they went lifeless.