“Careful,” Orrian almost whispers the words but they ooze venom, he raises his voice to address his people at large, “You will know where I’ve been, and how I returned to you. But this is no talk for such late hours, we’ll continue this at dawn.”
“I- of course,” Faelyn whilst clearly wishing to continue this discussion now, seems to think better of it and attempts to regain his composure, “We’ve got a space in the corner for your friend and I’m sure we can sort out somewhere above for you for the night.”
“Thank you, I will join you shortly but first I wish to check on my people,” Faelyn’s eyes flare again at that last part, Orrian ignores him and continues “Jaq please find a space for Dale.” He nods to me reassuringly before stepping down from the steps. He confidently strides past Faelyn without another word and heads towards the nearest of the families.
Jaq gently taps me on the shoulder before guiding me past Faelyn’s dirty looks towards a quieter area. Orrian has already begun chatting to a mother with a couple of children across the cavern floor. A small group has started gathering around him and it’s slowly increasing. Regardless, he holds his conversation with the mother before moving onto the next of his people, but not before I spot him take off his shirt and wrap it around the shoulders of the shivering children.
Seeing him topless for the first time since my mother had forced clothes on her back, I have no option but to admire her and Ida’s work. His back is covered in long white scars, with only a few still scabbed over. They’ve healed as well as anyone could care for them, only time can make them disappear now. I note also the effect of seeing the scars that his appearance will have on his people, I hope they never find out that I am at least partially responsible for some of the bruising on his face. Curiously, apart from the green around his ear, the rest of his skin has been left untouched by the ink, much unlike some of his companions.
We head away from the stairs and towards a lone alcove in the rock, far from the rest of the people for which I am grateful. I turn down the offer of a rag for a cushion when Jaq asks, Faelyn had said they were stretched enough on resources as it is, and it will only harm my relationship with these people for them to see me taking vital comforts away from them. Despite my protests however, Jaq refuses to let me go unfed, reappearing after a couple of moments with most of a lightly cooked fish which I devour in seconds. Once convinced of my comfort, it would appear that he is more loyal to Orrian’s wishes than certain others who do not need to be named, he sets off to re-join his king.
Now that I’m properly alone I take the opportunity to inspect my surroundings. Families litter the floor and now that the commotion with Orrian has concluded some have returned to their spots in the alcoves spotted from the top of the stairs. Although, many still swarm him and try to demand his attention. The whole area is dimly lit by the makeshift torches, which are tended to very occasionally, and now that I’m in the shadows away from the heat of the people I’m really starting to notice the chill.
I slump with my back against the far wall, just to make sure that everything is in front of me. I don’t know these people and I would be particularly foolish to trust Faelyn or one of his men behind me in the night, he’s already made it abundantly clear that he would rather I wasn’t here. It takes a little adjusting, but eventually I find a position without too many sharp edges digging into me.
In my little spot I’m not too far from what I assume is the medical section either, it’s hidden from view but every so often I catch Edwyn’s groans or the sounds of the medic’s workings. Faelyn has returned to one of the highest ledges in the tavern with a small group, clearly a location in the camp demanding respect and power for its inhabitants.
A few armed guards can also be seen dotted around, a few are on the stairs, with one particularly close to the walkway to Faelyn, another couple are silhouetted against the torchlight next to the weapons pile seen earlier. A very lightly armoured man also lounges against the separate set of steps leading specifically to the food area, presumably to keep order and protect the rations. These guards are all obviously armoured and only take a quick glance to recognise.
Worryingly I notice some more discrete watchers lurking in the shadows. They are dressed normally, that is to say without armour and with either light clothing or topless, yet they fidget constantly and some idly fondle what may be unseen hilts. I also notice several of the closer ones furtively looking over at me, though they are quick to look away whenever I catch them at it. I am suddenly increasingly conscious of Edwyn’s knife in my waistband, it would not do for them to find me armed. I am a little surprised that Orrian didn’t have it taken off me, I suppose that by trusting me he’s hoping that I can find it in myself to return the favour.
A torch is off to my right by a few meters, drawing the attention of the watchers I reposition so that I’m directly under it, I’m still far away from anyone else and whilst being in a large open space helps, being
