So sorry for delay. My muse decided it need to have severe writer's block. And then it decided that it needed to suddenly bombard me until I got to writing again.


The Hearts of Men

With a grunt, Darcy heaved a charred block of stone away from the rubble of a building, part of a group tasked to clear out the rubble from destroyed barracks and find anything salvageable. Beside him, Alis dug through the loose debris, sniffing and snuffling through clouds of dust and ash. She had been focused on a scent for some time so the Hound master let her be as he hauled away stone and beams, the framework of this barrack thankfully remaining mostly standing. As Darcy moved a large timber that was in his partner's way, he heard a faint meow as Alis's digging picked up in intensity. With a hole opened, his canine friend dove into the opening and wiggled for a bit before coming out with the thinnest and rattiest kitten Darcy had ever seen.

Taking the kitten from Alis's mouth and giving her a pat as her tail wagged happily at her successful rescue, Darcy gave the kitten a bit of food from his lunch as it tiredly swallowed. "Good job girl," he praised, "you found yourself a friend. A friend in need of a bath, but still a friend."

"Wroof!"

"Oh yes it does. You could use one too now that I think of it, that was a filthy hole you just went into." Darcy couldn't help smirking at Alis's whine at the thought of the evil that is bath time. Looking up at the sound of stones clattering away, he smiled faintly as he saw Cailot approaching, Alis running to the Occultist for protection and pets.

"Creature?" Cailot asked surprised, looking at the kitten which mewed at the name "Vesli's been worried sick since he couldn't find you." The kitten purred loudly, far louder than its bedraggled little body should be able to, as the robed figure scratched its ears.

"You'll make Alis jealous," Darcy chuckled.

"Are you sure it's not you I'm making jealous?" Caillot flicked his gaze to meet the Hound master's even as he continued scratching the kitten's chin.

Darcy gave a wicked grin. "Oh, believe me, if I was jealous…" his hand came up trailing a single finger along Caillot's jaw line as he leaned close, ensuring Caillot would feel the warmth of the Hound master's breath across the Occultist's skin, "You would know."

Caillot managed to flare a bright red and sputter incomprehensible protests that only made Darcy's grin grow wider. The Occultist huffed drawing away with pretended disinterest. "You are incorrigible," came the scold.

"I'll have you know, I'm the perfect gentleman," said through a wolfish grin.

"Mew!" looking down at the now wriggling kitten Darcy set it down, so it wouldn't hurt itself as it rushed from him and Cailot over to the now approaching Vesli. The Occultist managed to cool the blush from his cheeks in record time. Darcy was rather impressed and made a mental note to find a way to keep the Occultist blushing for longer.

"Creature?" Vesli gaped as it climbed up his legs, the bestial warrior picking up the kitten before its claws could dig in too far "Where have you been?"

"Alis found him in a hole," Darcy supplied helpfully as Vesli reached them, said canine barking proudly at her achievement.

"Good girl." Vesli gave a rare grin and ruffled the dog's ears before looking up, sniffing the air with a faintly puzzled expression.

"Something wrong?" Darcy asked, wondering what this was all about as all he could smell was the lingering stench of soot and ale. Alis sniffed the air at the Hound master's signal and gave no signs of anything amiss.

Taking one last deep breath, Vesli's eyes widened a fraction before he gave a wry grin "Just a few things coming into place for me," that said his face turned serious "I came to talk to you about Face."

"What happened?" Darci asked, a jolt of fear coursing through him at the thought "I thought he was released from the Sanitorium with no problems?"

"He's lost feeling in his leg." Vesli said somberly "And he's drowning his grief in that piss ale you seem to like so much. Face has decided that without his leg he's useless so you're going to help me beat some sense into his thick skull. Your club might be necessary."

"He's what?!" Darcy gaped. Of all the things to happen to Face, this was not what he'd expected. He frowned, meeting Vesli's gaze. "You have a plan?"

"Not entirely. I have a thought. However, I wanted to get your help for when the thought becomes action," Vesli answered.

"Of course," Darcy's reply was firm. "Just let me know what to do."

*/*/*

Watching Caillot and Darcy walk off, Alis trotting happily between them, Vesli turned and walked back towards the repaired part of the Hamlet. Creature curled around his neck like a vibrating scarf. The Hamlet's residents were dotted about here and there amongst the repaired buildings, wanting to pretend for at least a moment that the Hamlet hadn't been set ablaze. Passing by some of the gathered civilians, Vesli picked up their conversation with Rir's enhanced hearing. "Did you hear? The Heir is already sending teams back out."

"But the Hamlet hasn't been fixed yet!" the civilian's friend exclaimed in a mixture of shock and outrage. "We need the mercenaries here to protect us in case the bandits come back!"

"And do what? Lose again?" The first snorts in derision Vesli resists the urge to send the civilian a glare. "They lost when they had a place to work from. Might be best to just leave this hellhole for good now, we barely even have a Hamlet anymore!"

"Where did the team get sent?" The second asked, awkwardly trying to move past the idea of leaving the Hamlet behind.

"Some place called the Courtyard." The first shrugged, his friend's confusion being mirrored by Vesli. What in the name of the Light was the Courtyard? And why did it give him chills down his spine? "And after that the Heir is sending a team to fight something called the Formless Flesh."

"You're kidding!" The second civilian gaped in excitement. This was not surprising in the least. Vesli had learned was that their expeditions were a source of entertainment for the bored civilians. "So, who's getting sent on these jobs? I bet it's the first team. Oh! Maybe the team with that big barbarian lady?"

"I don't know about the Flesh, but a group of greenhorns got sent to the Courtyard."

"…Whelp, they're dead." Vesli rather hoped not for the newbies' sakes.

Getting to the mission yard, the man looked around before seeing Bird scribbling notes into her journal, Pest chattering away beside her. Pushing down the urge to hit the irritant, and honestly not sure if that urge came from him or Rir, Vesli approached. "Bird, could I borrow you for a moment?" he asked, timing his arrival to coincide with Pest taking a pause. Bird's lenses turned to him and her head tilted clockwise.

"Could spare you a moment. Serious look on your face, must be important." Vesli granted her a smile as he pulled her aside, using all his self-control not to smirk smugly at Pest as they left him behind. Vesli's attention was pulled "What is it you wanted to talk about?"

"It's about Face, I need your medical expertise here." Vesli could swear Bird's lenses flashed in interest. With that, he began to explain the situation to her, both Face's leg and the loss of his spark. "What would you suggest? I need to get him off his ass and back to kicking mine to get that fire burning again."

"Hmmm, a dilemma. Perhaps a new variable? A new person?" Vesli raised his eyebrow at her. Bird raise her hand for his patience. "You try to teach them when Face is around, make it not work so he has to correct you until he's the one teaching?"

"I would hate to ruin some poor newcomer's chances with improper training," Vesli frowned slightly.

"Get consent beforehand. Set a time limit. If Face has not interfered by that point you teach as best you can," Bird offered.

"That could work. Now, what would it take to steal you away for longer?" Vesli really didn't want to let her go back to Pest.

"Could use food" she mused before giving a playful head tilt. "Maybe make buying me dinner your fee for medical advice."

"Oh, so I'm getting charged now, am I?" Vesli grinned as he laughed.

"Possibly should have charged you sooner," Bird chirped.

"My dear lady, I'm afraid you'll strip me of what little coin I have to my name," Vesli gave a dramatic sigh. "But of course I cannot deny my debt. I shall see you fed." He gallantly offered his arm. Bird's head tilted the other way before she accepted it. Vesli paused, not having expected that. He recovered quickly enough, leading them to the mess hall. "I present to you my lady the most expensive establishment that I can afford."

Bird slowly fanned herself with her free hand. "Vesli, you know how to flatter a girl."

"Anything for you my dear." They lasted a few more moments before laughing together and heading inside. There was a low buzz of conversation over the mess hall. More so than usual. Vesli scanned the crowd as he went up to get his and Bird's free meals. The source of the commotion was a figure sitting alone. The new male was… unnerving. Largely due to the fact his hands, and black clothes were obviously bloodstained. And was that a collar around his neck? The metal tips of it had either dried blood or rust on them as well. Possibly both. Vesli considered approaching, unable to help comparing this man's isolation to the one he experienced. Before he could decide the stranger was gone, taking the commotion of the mess hall with him. Rir grumbled in his mind about Bird waiting, and Vesli got himself in gear, bringing the Doctor her dinner.

*/*/*

The party of four stepped through the marshy landscape. The unnerving and unceasing red light to this place was both blessing and curse. They'd had little need for their torches, outside of burning the hives of these horrible insects, but it was like the pulsing red light of the Courtyard was crawling into their minds and scratching away at their collective sanity. But this horror show was almost over. They had only one hive to go and it was not far now. The marsh was growing more and more cattail reeds. A sure sign they were getting close. There was a splash of water. The party froze. Silence reigned over the courtyard. Must've been nothing. Perhaps a frog or fish. They ventured onwards. The reeds rustled ominously. "We should head back. I don't like this," one of them spoke up, voice barely above a ragged whisper.

"We're so close. And do you want our new employer firing us on our first expedition?" another shook their head.

"I guess not…"

"Then we head onwards." The group continued into the marsh. "Besides, when we all get back, I'll buy us a victory round, huh?"

"I'll take that offer." Another rustle of reeds. Closer now. "What was that?"

"It was nothing. Just the wind."

"On a completely still day?"

"I'm telling you it's fi-" then the water exploded into a rush of scales, teeth, blood and screams. It only took a few moments. Roach legs skittered as a mouth full of too many teeth dragged the meal into the red stained water. No one would be returning from this place. The Crocodilian had eaten well.