It was not often that she fought in such close quarters, but thanks to her mother she had made sure to be able to do so in case she was ever caught in such a predicament. She was planning to go into the studies of a warrior after she had finished her training as a mage, wanting to go into her mother’s career even if it would be as a secondary profession, especially seeing how helpful it had been to know what little did that night.
But thanks to her earlier conversation with Divintra about choices, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to study into being a warrior anymore. It was more her mother’s profession than her own and she didn’t think it suited her as much as lacking in enthusiasm she was about it. She wasn’t lacking in desire to study that course, but she knew it wasn’t the career she should choose to make herself her own happiness. Those were her last somewhat coherent thoughts as she hugged the pillow closer to her and drifted into a dreamless void of slumber.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Valin awoke the next day it was late in the afternoon and her mists were tugging on the ends of her dress, trying to tell her there was someone at the door who would not approach, but would not go away, either. Stifling a yawn, she sat up and sleepily stood with the pillow still clutched unknowingly under her arms, crossing over to the door, the damage now clear as her mind awakened. She tapped on it and her mists calmly drew the damp wood open enough for her to catch a glimpse of the bartender leaning against the wall on the other side of the hall. He seemed a lot less afraid of her than last night, which she didn’t really mind, but she didn’t like the accusations that she knew were going to be forthcoming.
“You broke my door,” he said, standing up straight with only a small surprised glance at the pillow held in her arms, “You will have to pay for the damages.”
“I did not break your door, the man you hauled down the stairs last night did,” she replied with a bored tone, “Have him pay for it.”
“He claims he was just passing by and you dragged him through the door, and that when he tried to get away you beat him up,” the barkeep sneered.
Valin’s eyes began to retake their dangerous glare as they more clearly focused on the barkeep, “He claims what?”
The barkeep blanched and tried to clarify his story. “That is, he says the other Drow with you shoved him through the door and that you intervened,” he said quickly, “Which means that my business is with your companion and not you, as it were.”
Anger flared in Valin’s gaze and she inwardly cursed; the warrior was probably more well known in these parts than she and Divintra were, meaning the barkeep would probably choose his story over theirs simply to keep his business intact. She could also see why he had targeted Divintra and not her, as unbelievable as his story was.
“My companion is not the one who beat that scum up, so you still have to deal with me,” she said, her eyes narrowed and challenging, “What do you wish for repayment?”
“F-five silvers,” he replied, trying to stand tall and demanding through his hesitant stutter, which seemed ridiculous as he was already a full head taller than Valin’s short stature of 5’3”. She sighed, pulling out her money pouch and emptying the contents into her palm. Three silvers and four more coppers, at least with what she had with her. She doubted he would let her go back to her small hiding place along the shore to find more, though she also doubted how much more she would have at her small home in the rocks, as she usually only kept a few coppers there in case of emergency.
“I have this and I can help you around your tavern for tonight and tomorrow,” she said, “That will be enough to make up for what was broken.” Her tone of voice offered no room for the barkeep to protest and his face fell as he accepted her silvers and the rest of her offer, the coppers staying in Valin’s hands to pay for what food she would eat before she left.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She spent the rest of the day and all of the next until late in the evening learning how to prepare food and wash dishes and serve patrons, she and her mists working their best at what they could do until the barkeep finally claimed he was repaid. The brute returned to the corner the second night, but upon seeing Valin carrying his drink to him with bloodlust in her eyes decided it was wise to wait until she left to frequent the tavern again. To her surprise the barkeep seemed reluctant to let go of her help.
She wondered if maybe she should apply as a helper in a tavern near her ever moving home, figuring she could try for a steadier job than simply finding lost coppers along the shore. It would mean she had to work more with people, which she was not looking forward to, but it might be worth it for her to try. There was much gossip to be heard in a tavern, and her open ears might be able to catch something about her sword or the murderer she now had a description of. The murderer himself was probably bound to stop at a tavern every once in a while, so she might get lucky in that respect, as well.
It might give her a greater chance to meet with Divintra again, she mused, finally ascending the stairs on the third night to retire to her room. She smiled a little upon opening the shoddily repaired door to find him still asleep with the mouse fairy slumbering on top of him. Letting out a light sigh, she crawled into her bed and set up the mist ward again, falling asleep quickly and with more satisfaction in the feeling than she had the night before.
She awoke late in the morning as well, the stirrings of Divintra causing her to bury her ears deeper into her pillow for want of more sleep before her fuzzy mind told her it was morning and that she should get up so she could return home and maybe look for a job. Her hair covered her face as she sat up, causing her to shake her head and drag her fingers over her face to get it out of her eyes and mouth, looking around with sleep still in her eyes as she debated what she should do first in preparation to leave.
