The Medallion of Asgar

9.

Reise

As Reise looked upon the woman awaiting her response, he began to worry. She did not look to be that frail, and she definitely shouldn't be in a place such as this if she was, but she had a unique, attractive appearance accented by those crimson locks. Looking like that, she would be a constant target for the vicious lechers of the night. Why was someone like her out here at this time? For a female to be outside at night arose the possibility of her having been a strumpet, but her refusal to go with the drunkard eliminated that thought. Reise furrowed his brow at this, thinking curiously on the matter. But he didn't ask her business, not wishing to impose upon her further. He simply nodded in response to her thanks and glanced absently around the tavern. She was certainly here alone, or else someone would have stepped in to stop the drunkard's advances.

That was quite the cause for alarm, for he worried whether she would be fine traveling the streets alone. However, he heeded her next words spoken with a confidence that assured him she would be fine, and so he decided against offering to accompany her to the inn, where he only assumed she would be sleeping for the night. Her garments were slightly worn from obvious travel and he could see the bags beginning to form under her eyes from her fatigue. This meant she was not from the town, and the thought of this woman traveling alone caused Reise to shake his head a bit. If there was traveling to be done, no woman should do it alone. They were more susceptible to wear and tear with their petite figures, and a lone woman could do nothing against a band of bandits should one decide to block her path. Sadly, he could not spare the time to escort her wherever it was she desired to go. Reise returned the bow and allowed himself to give her a polite smile. "Godspeed. Take care, Mi'lady," He called after her as she made her way to the door.

Once she was gone, Reise returned his attention to the tavern keeper. "My apologies once more-" "Nah, it's fine. That guy was antagonizin' mah customers, served 'im right." The knight nodded slowly at this and took the time to set the table back to its original position as well as scoop up some of the cracked mugs despite the protests of the servant who was told to do so himself. "It's fine, sir, I have it-" "I caused this, so the responsibility is mine to bear," He said quietly. Amused and shocked murmurs rang through the tavern as here was a noble doing a lowly peasant's job. One man began what was to be a mocking comment, but a sharp look from Reise and he was silent. The knight sighed and reluctantly stood after a few moments when the servant insisted on taking the shards from him.

He dusted his hands and looked to the tavern keeper who came toward him. "You aren't like other knights," He commented in a complimentary tone, though the statement to Reise might have been slightly offensive. He took it for what the man was meaning to say, and raised a brow, allowing an amused smirk through his formal composure. "Oh? How so?" "Others woul' turn up a nose to doing peasant work, y'know." Reise gave a small chuckle at this. "I was unaware that picking up one's messes was a job restricted to peasants." Though he was chivalrous indeed, the rumors that would spread through the public would make him to be a fiend. What had been a simple tug would become a merciless beatdown, and once more the people would have reason to avoid him.

The tavern keeper smiled and leaned in. Speaking in a low voice, he said, "Ah'll make sure to keep an eye an' ear out fer that medallion fer yah, alright?" Reise glanced at him and sent him a grateful smile. "Thank you. Knowing I have others aiding me in the search puts my mind at ease." It was certainly a relief to have gotten the tavern keeper to respect him enough to want to help him out, though he'd earned his respect inadvertently. The knight had simply been following his moral code. He did what he could to ensure he treated everyone with respect. He recalled a verse from the Exalted Scriptures: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' That was exactly how Reise tried to approach most situations.