Rise, and Come

Chapter Eleven

Alden groaned and rolled out of the bed. The knocking continued. "I'm COMING, keep your pants on." he grumbled. Behind him Talia giggled and then ducked when he threw her small clothes at her. He jerked his back up, and stomped to the door, yanking it open. "WHAT?"

Another male Au Ra stood there, and gave Alden a slow look up and down. "Speaking of pants ..." and gestured at Alden's lack of them. Alden let out a colorful curse and muttered, "Shut up, Daylen. What was so urgent?"

The taller male grinned and leaned against the door way. "You gonna let me in or you want the whole inn to know our business?"

Alden frowned and was about to answer when he felt a small warm hand on his back. He turned to see Talia, wrapped in a sarong she had made out of one of the sheets, holding his trousers. "Put these on and let him in."

Daylen let out a laugh, "Oh, he can stay as is, I don't care, but if it makes you feel better ... " Alden scowled and pulled them on. He brushed Talia's cheek, "You don't mind?" She shook her head, and reached up to caress his face, "Of course, I'd prefer to have you alone, but he must have had a reason." She turned to Daylen and smiled, "Well, you are impressive. My name is Talia. Who are you?"

The other male laughed again and bowed slightly, "Daylen, at your service, m'lady. I do need to speak with Alden, and it concerns you. Might I enter?"

She nodded and backed up to let him enter the room. Taller than Alden, he ducked slightly to come in, and waited. She studied him a moment, and then looked at her lover. Daylen's scaling was gold rather than black, and his horns curved out more widely than Alden's.

He stepped in and took in the still tousled bed with a smirk. Talia squeaked and quickly straightened it, and sat on the edge. Alden chuckled and sat beside her and gestured for Daylen to take the one chair. "Go on, then, what have you to tell us?"

Daylen frowned, "Saria told me what happened, how you came here, Talia." She scooted closer to Alden, "Yes?"

"And, I - I heard some rumors."

Alden leaned forward, "What kind?"

"They won't let her stay."

"WHAT!" he roared, "Over my dead body!"

He stood and paced. "We'll have to go - no she - ah, but I can't leave her here alone, damnit!!"

Daylen shrugged and chewed on an ever present toothpick. "We could go down, I can stay with her outside in the healers' guild. She should blend in."

Alden finally stopped and considered this. "Would you be willing to come along?" he asked Talia. "I worry about leaving you anywhere, if the Leaders really are cracking down, I don't want them to find you."

She nodded, "Just give me a  moment to dress. I came down in only my sleep shirt, left the new things in my room." Daylen looked over her head at Alden. "You want me to go get them, instead? Tell me where they are." Alden quirked an eyebrow at Talia, and she shrugged. "They're on the chair, and my personal things are still in the satchel. If you don't mind, you could get them."  He left, and Talia went into the small attached bathroom to clean up. Alden made do with the basin. 

After a moment Daylen returned, and knocked at the bathroom door. "Um, just leave them on the floor, I'll get them, I'm not decent." 

"Doesn't matter" 

An indignant squeak, "Does too!"

Chuckles, "Not if I've seen it all already. In action, too."

"WHAT!" she stuck her head out, still toweling her short hair and ears dry, "When did that happen?  Oh, oh, gawd, ALDEN!"