A Princess, a Knight, and an Assassin Walk Into a Tavern...

Chapter 2 a Tavern Brawl Tollie

Apparently, Tollie was a good luck charm, as she and West were absolutely dominating the cup and dice game. Though, she seemed to be the only one thrilled about the fact.
Big nose had left after only two rounds. But she figured he must not have wanted to ruin the game, as he went to the far corner and talked to some other guys before slipping out the back door. The other two rough looking characters then coming to play in Big nose's stead.

Captain West welcomed them heartily, catching the barmaid's attention and ordering a round for the table. But Tollie felt that his smile was tense, his body tight where it pressed against hers.
Still, maybe it was always like that – I mean, look at him!
She didn't have much time to dwell on it though, as she was quickly diverted by West's sliding one of the handful of drinks the barmaid had plopped down in the middle of the table towards her.

The barmaid looked where sweet little Tollie sat snuggled right up to West, staring at the glass before her with wide eyes, and gave the Captain a very disapproving look. He responding with an amused raise of the eyebrows, before she simply sighed and turned back to her work.
West took a generous draught of his own drink before starting the game up again, the men before her doing the same. Though, she felt West's twinkling eyes on her enough to know that she had to take a drink, or...admit that she'd never drank anything stronger than hard cider before, and that her nursemaid had drilled into her that such drinks were not only improper for a lady of breeding but were, in her opinion, 'of the devil'.

Of course...gambling was also on that list.
Guess she was on the fast track to purgatory now.
Not wanting to look too timid, she took a healthy mouthful from her mug, trying on an almost bored expression as she did so.

Everything went really well until the drink hit the back of her throat, the fire taking over her whole mouth, and her body absolutely refused to swallow the stuff.
Wide, alarmed eyes watering up, she tried desperately to swallow, but to no avail.

She was going to die right here in a bar full of thugs...after just dooming herself to hell, no less!
No!

Slamming her hands on the table, she forced herself to swallow, her whole body shaking with revulsion.

Looking weakly over at Captain West afterwards, she found him laughing good naturedly at her.
"Nasty stuff, ain't it? You did better than I thought you would though – none but the seasoned can take this kind of poison." He winked.
"But...why?" She asked, flabbergasted.

If it was so awful, why was everyone downing it like it was about to run out?!
He shrugged. "Guess when your life gets rougher than the taste...you learn to look forward to it." It was clear he had been attempting to joke, but the truth of it brought a heaviness out in his tone.

He stared at her a moment before lifting his glass, "Here's to your never learning to like it dove."
She picked up the game fast, West soon relying on her to tell him when to bet and not; she'd always been good with numbers and odds like that in her head.

Still, she couldn't quite get lost in the thrill of it, as other things, beyond the dice, began adding up in her mind.
Such as, how West kept buying drinks for the other players, seeming like a gracious act from the winner, but Tollie couldn't help but notice that he never drank anymore himself, though he brought the cup to his mouth plenty...it never seemed to empty...Their opponents, on the other hand, becoming more and more lucid.
Or how his smile and manner stayed friendly and open, but his leg kept jiggling under the table beside hers, his eyes continuing to dart to the back door.

She knew he was nervous...she just didn't know why. And until she did, she decided to just play along. Captain West was her link to her brother, so...for good or bad...she was trusting him.
Tollie let out a pleased whoop, using both arms to pull the coins over to their side of the table. The other players cursing, slamming their cups, and in other ways expressing their unhappiness, and frankly...lack of good sportsmanship, in her opinion.

A gentleman should lose with grace. Like Captain West. Not that that he'd had to endure much losing tonight...
Suddenly, something towards the back caught West's eye, she following his gaze to where a bunch of large figures were entering through the back door.

He cursed under his breath. Then, before she even saw it coming, he pulled her to face him, dipped her back elegantly, and kissed her.
Breaking apart, but not letting her up from where they were partially concealed by the table, he whispered in her ear. "In about three seconds, I'm going to create a diversion. At which point, no matter what happens, you are to run straight to my ship...got it?"
No.

Of course not.

She hadn't even realized he was talking until "...got it?", distracted as she was by the tumult of sensations and thoughts bombarding her.

Captain West had just kissed her...not at all gently! Though she wouldn't have described it as rough...More like firmly. Firm and confident.
Her first kiss.

To a pirate in a tavern.
Epic.
"P-pardon?" She whispered back.
Looking down at her, he cocked his eyebrow and smiled, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking.

Then whispered simply, "Run."
With that, he abruptly shoved himself up, purposefully taking the table with him and knocking it over onto the other players.

Surprised, Tollie rolled down, then out of the way, looking back to see West standing and facing the men who had just entered.

Drawing a sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, he drawled. "Sorry to disappoint...but this girl's taken."

With that, he aimed then shot down the nearest man to them.
Yelping, the shot finally bringing her back to her senses, Tollie flipped over, getting ready to stand and run for the front, when a firm hand clamped down on her heel.

Looking back, she saw Ward, just having freed himself from the side of the table, but still on the ground, gripping her firmly, his face contorted. She kicked, but to no avail, as he managed to get to his feet, taking her kicks without so much as a flinch as he leaned back down and pulled her up and into himself.
Still, she managed an elbow to his face, loosening his grip enough to break free...but only made it a few good steps before he lunged at her, not managing to get a hold, but still tripping her.

She went down hard a few steps after that, sliding to a stop directly beside the table of the Commander.
For one instance, their eyes met...before Tollie, hearing Ward getting to his feet behind her, first rolled and then crawled, shoving herself under another table and out of his reach.

Noticing, only after she'd wedged her small frame under there, that one of the legs surrounding her...was actually a sword.