The Bazaar was crowded and noisy, people pushing others and yelling to speak over the din. Neriah held tightly onto Ken's hand to ensure they weren't separated in the crowd, the glowing hand now covered by a glove he had procured somehow. He squeezed her hand reassuringly as he scanned the crowd, finally noticing a few people wearing the colors of his Order near the bank. He pulled Neri with him towards his friends, smiling broadly.
"Oi! You meatheads, did you forget about me?" He shouted, slapping one of them on the back. Neri moved forward and recognized him as Rinnard, one of the men from earlier. However, there were others she had not met before, and she lowered her head and gave them a small curtsey as their eyes drifted to her and her blood stained robes. Ken smiled, putting his arm around her. "Alarius and Osa'drarim, this is Neriah. She's the priestess who saved me, and she was hoping to join the Order."
The man identified as Alarius smiled at her, walking closer and offering his hand. "You saved one of ours, we are indebted to you. Being as such, because of what you did we would be honored to have you join the Ardents. I can go and pick you up a tabard, we have a few extras lying around. That way you can proudly wear our colors, and cover up those stains on your robes."
Neriah blushed and nodded as she shook his hand gently. She smoothed down her robes, embarrassed. "I did not have a chance to change out of these after I healed him, I apologize for my appearance. A tabard would be lovely, perhaps it will take people's eyes off of me."
Ken grinned and leaned down to whisper lightly in her ear, "It is not the robes that they are staring at, it is your beauty." Neriah's blush deepened as she giggled slightly, nudging him.
"I'll go get that tabard right now, I shall be back momentarily," Alarius said, smiling at them before marching off to the tabard supplier, and Rinnard went back to purchasing at the nearest vendor. After he left, a scantily clad woman with white hair approached the group, slinking along in what would have been a seductive walk. A felhound followed closely at her heels, its long feelers turning this way and that in response to magic energies. Ken scowled at her, narrowing his eye.
"What do you want, Rihanni?" he growled lowly, pulling Neri closer to him. The other man identified as Osa'drarim smiled, bowing his head towards the warlock. The woman smirked, running her fingers across the back of Osa's neck as she reached them.
"Oh, I just noticed that Osa here looked tense, and I thought I might offer my services," Rihanni said with a sultry smile.
Neriah eyed the woman warily, taking a step closer to Kend as the woman's felhound approached her. The warlock chuckled as she peered at Neri, her gaze raking over her form before settling on the blood stains on the white robes.
"Don't worry, doll, I've got him under very good control," the warlock purred, her fel tinged eyes twinkling with mirth. "He just smells that blood on you, as well as your magical energies."
Neri shrank back against Ken more, extremely distrusting of Rihanni. Ken pulled her into his arms protectively. "Get out of here, whore," he hissed between his teeth. Rihanni just grinned at him, but Osa glared crossly at Ken.
"Whore? You dare call her that?" Osa spat, looking over at Ken and Neri with a sneer. "Where's your loving girlfriend, Ken? Where's Liranna?"
Neriah blinked, pulling out of Ken's arms so she could look at him. Ken narrowed his eye at Osa as Rihanni cackled merrily. "She's not my girlfriend," he growled, taking a menacing step towards Osa. They stood there glaring at each other as Alarius chose that moment to return with a tabard. Rinnard has sensed something amiss and ventured over from the vendor he had gone to. Both Ken and Osa stood down at the sight of their leader, giving him a respectful salute.
Alarius presented Neri with a fresh, folded tabard, the blue and gold bright and crisp. "We will have a formal ceremony tomorrow to initiate you, but as of this moment you are a member of the Ardent Light," he said, handing the tabard to her. She looked at the people around her, her eyes landing on Ken as she took the tabard from Alarius.
"Thank you, sir," she said, running her fingers across the golden embroidery. "Would it be alright if I changed into something else? I would hate to dirty this beautiful tabard with old blood."
Alarius nodded with a small smile. "Of course. Kendarious, escort her to the guild hall at once."
Kend stepped forward, but Neri held out a hand, stopping him. "I would rather return to my own home, if that is alright. I can make it there by myself."
Ken protested, but Alarius cut him off. "That's perfectly fine, Priestess. If you should need to get in touch with us…" He looked around before very discreetly placing something small into her hand. She nodded, pocketing the stone.
"Thank you sir. Be sure to contact me if they find his hand?" The four men nodded simultaneously. She smiled and turned to leave, trying to map out a path through the crowded streets.
"Neri…" Ken called out, raising the covered hand of Light out towards her, but she shook her head and took a few steps forward, allowing the crowd to quickly swallow her. He sighed, his hand dropping to his side. Alarius raised his eyebrows, giving Kend a judging look.
"Kendarious, please tell me you haven't already made a move on our newest member?" he asked, rubbing his forehead in annoyance.
Rihanni laughed as Osa grinned smugly at the look on Kend's face. Rinnard just shook his head with a chuckle. Kend simply shrugged, still staring at where Neriah had vanished into the crowd. Alarius sighed. "By the Light, Ken, if we lose another Priestess because of your inability to keep your parts to yourself…" he tossed his hands up in annoyance. "Just try to keep it in your pants this time, yeah? She seems like a good person, I would hate to see you ruin her."
Ken nodded slowly. "Yes, sir. I won't touch or think of her like that again, you have my word. Be sure not to send for her when they bring my hand back to the city." He saluted the men, glaring at Osa again for a second before leaving for the guild hall, his head hanging in defeat.