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Marcus was looking to the ale in his hand, wondering if he had exceptionally bad luck, or, remarkable good luck. Night like this one he wasn’t quite sure which it was. He had work later that night, a good thing. However work meant he couldn’t get drunk, somewhat a bad thing given being drunk he didn’t have to think very hard about anything. He had rather attractive company, another good thing. Bad? She was hardly that type of company and was his partner for work later. Good, he met another chosen. Bad, it was the woman sitting near him and not exactly the most open. Not that he was either but there you go. Good and bad, in equal parts.

“Mmm, men like them think with no brain round that many flasks. The brain is too busy trying not to drown in booze round that point to even begin to think.” A sip of his own drink, the chosen looked up from the table he was sharing to glance over at the group in question. “Raiders would be a comforting thought, but not seen any raider that had claws or fangs. Seen trackers cover their prints by carving animal prints on the soles of their boots, but it’s not a common thing. Some men use dogs to attack others. Also uncommon. To many uncommon qualities make for an uncommon explanation, or in these cases…” Leaning back Marcus brushed his hair back, mindful of those in the tavern.

“never went to go look at the villages after. I follow the money, not the bloody foot prints in the snow. Besides, most people leave town after things like that happen. If I go I go just to escort them out. Have to say for those who work as hire hands… well it’s not the worst for business.” A light smirk he brought the flask of ale up. “If those wolves are back and they do have some chosen, I expect it’ll be up to us to get rid of him. Heard that we’re the only ones that can do it. That the guardians will have come back just to ready us for some war. A war on wolves, just like in the old legends.”

A roll of his eye Marcus pointed to one rather fat gentleman, “Are they hitting the bottle or at this point are they more fumbling for it?” It was true, the man he motioned to grasping to keep his drink from spilling down his shirt, missing his own mouth. “Sober they probable cower in their homes, using what little coin they have to hire us. So let’s be thankful that they’re sober when they make money decisions.” A glance to a few drunks trying to play cards. “Some money decisions anyway. But you saw the prints then?” A sip from his drink he minded the woman, curious yet cautious.

“Supposedly there are trackers trying to follow those prints, but any man or woman wanting to find who made those marks.. nasty business. Not to mention the queen’s own army got swallowed up.” A snort. “Bet none of them had a guardian. Blood Runner’s been hesitant to let me take a few jobs, puffing and strutting when we’re out on the roads. Don’t think he lets himself sleep when I bunk down actually.” In his mind he could feel the buck, standing outside, ever near, keeping an eye for danger. “Business might be booming but so are the old tales. I’m not native to this country, but oddly, I can’t leave it. The buck who’s gone and stuck himself to me.. make me want to stay. Fight maybe, but stay none the less.”

Nearby men were laughing, something about how with chosen on their side, it was the wolves that would be turning tail, that they would get the nice wolf pelts. Marcus mentally huffed. If anyone was getting a wolf pelt, it would be him. “Figure that those wolves are going to do what any predator does. Pick off the unsuspecting, weak, helpless. Take opportunities where they can. Herd their prey to where they want them. If the people think wolves are back? Lots of folks get paranoid. What you think happens once this place is filled with fear?” Marcus could guess, but he hoped that the wolves weren’t that big of a threat.

Marcus didn’t want to think of the men he’d been hired to guard. They were farmer, rural merchants, average men and women who really should have been spending their time staying home. If there was one things the wolves had done was keep people safely indoors. More people inside meant less falling prey to bandits and to the cold. He’d seen a few frozen corpses on the roadside before. A sad way to go out in his opinion. Good pay or not, keeping a paranoid man and his friends safe was hardly enjoyable work. Marcus would just keep thoughts of what came after. Warm bed, hot meal, wine and women. Maybe a few card games thrown in.

He just wanted to enjoy himself once work was over.

“Chaos indeed. Those that claim they’ve gone off hunting wolves are no more than fools and lairs. When all hell breaks loose they’ll be called out and turn to be the cowards they are. When it falls to us how will we fare any better. The Queen’s sent and army of trained soldiers. Most chosen are average men and women. What do they do? Just sit and let their guardians protect them? They’re not trained to fight. Unless we chosen can stand like a true fighting force if and when the time comes, we’ll just be like any other sheep.” A long drink from his flask he set it down, half empty.

“Don’t put much stock into child’s tales, but then not native. If worst comes to worse… I think I’ll head south like no doubt many others are already trying to do. That or take back east.” A finger to the rim of his glass, he shrugged, looking out the window. Blood Runner looked back at him, not enjoying the thoughts they were sharing. “If your Nightlark didn’t like those marks and is trying to pull from work… Blood Runner doesn’t shy from anything, or he didn’t until the rumors began. Now he’s skittish like a fawn.” Outside there was a thunk of hoof hitting wood. Blood Runner didn’t enjoy the conversation in the slightest.

There was a thoughtful hum from Marcus as he agreed with the fact that being a chosen was ‘a b***h’. A chore to keep Blood Runner out of trouble, a pain to teach him things more or less, (such that attempting to trample a person wasn’t exactly fair punishment for petty theft), and hell to make sure Blood Runner was ‘happy’. The buck had been a child really. Was a child. Then it his deer-guardian puberty and well… it hadn’t been easy for Marcus. Hormonal was a good word for the buck. Hormonal and angry. The discounted drink however, just for being chosen, were nice thought.
It was the small things really.

“Now that hunter, is likely to stay alive.” He finished off his drink, waving over a serving girl for a refill. Might as well. “If the queen gathered the chosen and had us trained? Granted, I’d not be pleased about it, but I’d understand the reasoning behind it. Besides, formal training can only help, even if it is difficult.” His youth, spent learning how to spar and duel, both as a gentleman and as a commoner. He’d been trained to fight, but that was years past. Now all he had was his time on the road. He was rusty at best. “Either the Queen calls to the chosen or chosen will have to call for one another. Wolves or not, we’re supposed to be something special. Couldn’t hurt to have us trained in any event.”

Outside, Blood Runner was scoffing. He never had to be trained, taught, and her certainly was not happy. Not in that moment at least. A snort drew the guardian from these thoughts, looking to the source of the sound. Blue eyes blinked as the other buck came into view quickly enough. A small movement, Blood Runner motioned at a window. On the other side the chosen sat and talked.
“Tonight I just want to make the rounds and get to go back to the inn and enjoy myself. No wolves, no bandits, no half dead men on the side of the road. Just a simple, easy night.” Outside, Blood Runner snorted. “But then when is life ever easy?”

"They would agree if they knew the wolves were coming. That or their Guardians would agree for them. Can't see any reason to turn it down unless, well, you hated the queen for whatever reason. In the end it's training. The nobles are going to notice us more as the rumors spread of wolves... and of us." It was no secret guardians had been returning. That mush was pretty well known. The wolves however... that was still in the air. But nobility did so like to run on half truths. His own fate had been testament enough to that.

He passed her a look over the green beans. They were disgusting to him, but mostly, that was because it had been all he had to eat on a regular basis growing up. He'd just stick too booze and a small loaf of bread. Something to keep him full and something to keep his insides warm. That was the idea anyway. "It makes sense to take training. Rather die fighting a wolf then just being some body on the field. Nobles or no." His flask full, he nursed it slowly, savoring how it went down, bitter and clearing the senses while fogging part of them as well.

Lips pulled up into a grin he motioned to the upper floors. "Could always enjoy yourself with a bit of company." Outside, Blood Runner was just keeping his eyes, or rather his ears, on his chosen. At the suggestion that Nori take some company He mimicked the actions of the other buck making Marcus's grin fall slightly. "....They are certainly opinionated aren't they?"

Marcus shrugged. "I'm not native. I came from the east, and I know only what I know as when I got the totem, I went tooking for answers." He shook his head. "Running into the woods to go get a rock. I was curious what it was all about, told a few sparse stories, then went to town and read up on the stories. Don't expect everyone will have done it. Then, I don't recall much of what I read, just the important bits." Like wolves and guardians and how there were chased out and how it hadn't been a very nice time until after the wolves were gone.

"I'll also judge your greens. healthy or not, they're disgusting. If you were eating brusslesprouts or carrots I don't think I'd judge to harshly. Those are actually palatable." He could practically feel Blood Runner in his mind wanting carrots now. "Greens and training might help me live longer, but, I doubt I'll live overly long. I like the road too much. That and wine." He looked to her cup then his.

"Or just alcohol in general." Smirking he lifted his cup. "To after our patrol then. And to the fact deer are not the most nimble and windows are thankfully small enough antlers are an issue." He laughed as he heard move hooves hitting the wall, followed by a few snorts from the buck in his brain. Blood Runner would like to get onto patrol, the lady, as nice as she was, could wait.

Marcus smirked. "The good bits of literary action aren't going to be about guardians. More about a few... adventures from certain men and their companions. My-" he paused, catching the word before it came out, "-former employer wasn't that fond of adventure. More fond of things her really had no time for especially given his wife." Who had cheated on him and had been the source of Marcus's suffering back then.

The fried green was caught and then dumped out the window. Blood Runner ignoring it. He wasn't about to take that which Marcus was just fostering off on him. No, he'd make Marcus buy him his own greens later. Expensive greens that were utterly out of season at that.

"If you like wine you should go east to the vintners. The reds out there are the best by far. If all goes well maybe I'll hunt you down a bottle." Grinning he stood, dropping a few spare coins on the table. "Lets get the night over with shall we? Then we can enjoy ourselves."