NEVER SPLIT THE PARTY: The Adventures of the Creeping Bam (BOOK 4: The Hunt)

CHAPTER TWELVE: KESLA

"My most sincere apologies, can we be of assistance?" The way the doorman says it sounds so much more like a threat than his words would ever suggest, but he delivers it with just the right kind of blank face I've come to know so well in professional security the world over. He's real large for a human, significantly taller than I am and very broad across his shoulders, built like a particularly heavy orc in fact, almost wide as he is tall, and with no neck at all. The fact that the other man stepping out to join him is almost as big is not lost on me either, his expression as practiced blank as his colleague's but form still radiating just as much threat.

They're certainly real impressive as well as intimidating, their clothes the richest I've ever seen hired muscle wear, in fact. A mixture of robes and well-made, highly stylised martial uniforms, giving them a certain rakish flow as they move, but clearly made for ease of movement and some protection while still making them appear smart and professional. Silk and linen mixed with wool, but with a significant amount of tough leather in the mix too. And neither make any effort to hide the longswords hanging at their hips.

Doing my best to keep from frowning, I give Sonagh a sidelong glance and he coughs into his fist to clear his throat as he steps forward. "Maybe you could, we'll have to see. We're here to see Master Refik Hontiresk."

The first doorman looks him over for a long beat, and while his expression don't get any more readable, I get the impression he's going over Sonagh's response as much as checking him over. I learned long ago not to take folk on first impressions, but neither o' these two look all that bright, 'least not outside the pretty narrow requirements of their profession.

Sonagh certainly looks a good deal more impressive than he has any right to given he was nearly dead less than a week ago. His bugbear barman Dow, who was apparently once a corporal and most his trusted right-hand when he was a sergeant in the Regulars back in the War, certainly set him up well when he promptly answered his call from the temple. Not only did he bring his sword, which he's wearing just as prominently on his own hip, but also a change of clothes. It's not quite as striking as his old armour might've been, but the battered but well-maintained leather tunic and jacket certainly serve well enough to make him look tough as any old soldier I used to know. Together with his tight ponytail, steely gaze and strong, steady back, he sure don't look like any kind of pushover right now.

I'm making the full effort myself, even though after last night I don't feel much better myself. That fall into Big Man's un-cushioned grasp sure didn't do my back any favours, even if I did land on top of Shay, who managed to take the brunt of that hit, and even after Krakka and one o' the temple's clerics gave me a once-over I still been a little sore since. There's a lingering stiffness in me, thankfully more in my back than my limbs, but it's enough I reckon I might be a touch slower'n I'd really like if I had to proper move right now. I'm still really hoping I can just get by on bluffing here.

So I brought my best game here with me instead. I put on my spare jerkin and so Hefdred could hang good and proud at my side, and while I washed the grease outta my hair again I still tied what there is back the best I could to keep it out my face. What's on top o' my scalp still ain't really long enough for a proper ponytail, instead just making for a messy topknot, but with the sides and the back o' my neck still shorn close I should look suitably fierce, even without the black strip painted across my eyes.

Ain't taking any chances with it, anyway. I got plenty o' knives on me 'well as da's sword, and I got Yes to dig my spare jack-of -plates outta her bag of holding since the one I been wearing since we left Hocknar got pretty comprehensibly ruined by Tavarrat's nasty little surprise in the Hardway. It's the first time I really worn this one so it still needs some breaking in, a little stiff and itchy over my shirt right now, but I'm trying not to let it get to me. Maybe if it does come to a fight I can turn the irritation into a little angry fuel. Certainly with this under the rest o' my gear I don't need to worry so much about taking a sly knife in the back, at least.