Uneasy Alliance (A Roleslaying with Roman story)

The Reveal

<p>The group was back on the road after their short stay at the hotel, now accompanied by Djembe and Flow. The rest of the guards had gotten themselves cleaned up and started heading back to Neon, but only after Flow made them all swear to not say a word about the five of them to the Bard King.</p>

<p>Noise had noticed that Youngblood was more nervous than usual, spending much more time coming up with plans, and staying up some nights, forgetting his meditation. Noise watched his behavior worriedly, seeing him act like he had before he had run away from the college. He wasn't the only one acting strangely.</p>

<p>Roman seemed much more nervous than usual as well, but instead of a panic-like state similar to what Youngblood was in, he seemed more like some knowledge he had was eating at him. He seemed to calm a bit when Djembe was around him, but most of the time he seemed more jittery and paranoid.</p>

<p>After a few extremely stressful weeks, Noise was fed up. He cornered Roman one day when no one else was around.</p>

<p>"Alright farmboy, spill it."</p>

<p>Roman froze and looked into his eyes like a scared rabbit. "Wh-what?"</p>

<p>"I know something is being hidden from me, and you're way easier to break than Youngblood. Now spill it."</p>

<p>Roman trembled as he watched Noise. "I-I don't know what you're talking about.."</p>

<p>Noise's eye flashed and his gaze pierced Roman as he glared into the human's eyes. He backed off a bit when Roman didn't break, then smirked dangerously.</p>

<p>"Oh, what have we here? A butter roll? Ooh, with cinnamon?" he teased as he pulled one such roll from his bag. Roman's eyes widened and he leaned forward a bit. Noise pulled the roll back and backed up, holding his free hand to Roman's chest.</p>

<p>"Ah-ah-ah.. not until I get my answers."</p>

<p>Roman whined pitifully and leaned against his hand, reaching for the roll. "I can't-"</p>

<p>"Do you want the bread or not?"</p>

<p>Roman squeezed his eyes shut. "Alright, alright! My.. my parents used to be friends with the Bard King, okay?! Can I have the roll now?"</p>

<p>Noise faltered for a second and looked up at him in shock. "I... what..? N-no, I meant... y-you.."</p>

<p>Roman froze up a bit after he got the bread. "...that's not what you meant, was it..?"</p>

<p>Noise shook his head and looked over his shoulder hesitantly. "...look.. I won't tell Youngblood about this if you just tell me what's wrong with him."</p>

<p>Roman fumbled for a bit and sighed heavily, eating the roll quickly and looking away. "He.. he made a deal with the fae.. he said that.. if they let you and the guards go, then we would beat the bard king.. but... if we didn't.. he would meld with that thing that chased us out of Neon."</p>

<p>Noise's blood ran cold and he bolted out to find Youngblood.</p>

<p>Roman stood alone in the cave, settled in with the shame of his broken promise.</p>