A/N This is a rewrite of the chapter I put out the last time, mostly because it was poorly written and I wanted to change some things as they felt too coincidental, it does follow the same plot, just with some characters in different places and with writing that I don't feel I need to rewrite. It's also a lot shorter as I've decided to write chapters to a length that seems write, not two thousand words, so they may be faster, they may be slower. I'd also like to thank all the follows and the new review by Benthino, as he motivated me to get this done. Unfortunately, I'm part way through exams so it may be a while to the next chapter.
"Good afternoon, gentlemen." A female voice whispered from inside Baristan and Jonahs' skulls. "Want some shiny new soldiers to go with your toys.
The knight and the noble reached for their weapons, drawing their swords as a group of men and women in iron masks surrounded them. "You remember how this song and dance went?" Baristan asked, to which Jonah gave a nod, the pair drawing their swords and going back to back.
"Calm down, gentlemen, can we not speak." The voice whispered again.
There was a slight gust as a figure emerged from the shadows, literally. It started with a hand attaching onto the cobbles, dragging itself out directly beside the pair, until a man's figure appeared and grabbed the swords from both of their hands and took them into the shadows with them.
"Well, this is awkward."Jonah joked, Baristan giving him a venomous look for a second.
"Not the best time to be joking." The knight batted.
"Surely friendly negotiations are the best time to joke, it makes everyone feel more at ease." One of the masked people said, most likely a man.
One of them stepped forward. His mask was modeled after an enraged man, a brow furrowed, and mouth half open, as if shouting. "Sergeant Davis Williams, third company of the Heaven's Peak army." The man gave a salute.
"What?" Baristan asked.
The man gave another salute. "Sergeant Davis Williams, third company of Heaven's Peak army, otherwise known as the Royal Marauders."
Jonah gave a quizzical look. "What?"
"He served in the army. He's making a point that we look just like you and can things for the good of others." One of them huffed, putting a gloved hand on their face out of embarrassment.
Parcid let out a sigh. "They're abominations, but they prefer the name Infused."
Baristan paused, when he'd came here to pick up Lo, the paladin has said something them. "You restarted your father's experiments. That's the only way their would be woman among them"
"What?" Parcid asked, before it clicked in his head. "No, no I didn't."
"It runs in families." A female voice said, pulling a mask off to reveal a young face, most likely in her late twenties.
"We want our lives back." Another commented.
"We just want lives." A younger voice corrected.
"A quarter of the Infused have aligned themselves with the overlord, and it's the particularly nasty ones from what I here, a third are in hiding, or dead. The rest are here." Parcid announced.
"How many?" The king asked.
"Thirteen of the originals, twenty five of their successors"
"You mean children." Baristan half barked.
"I assure you, we are not children."
"You people have no idea what you're getting into."
One of them took a step forward, its footfalls heavy and making a clear ringing sound. It took a hand cannon and put the barrel to its chin and pulled the hammer back.
"Don't."
There was loud bang, and then nothing. It moved the weapon out the way, digging its thumb into its chin and pulling out the metal sphere.
"We know exactly what we're getting into."
"Baristan, can you think of anything to argue against that?"
The knight was silent.
"Good." The same one said, "we have a couple of days to get ready."
"What for?"
"To save your fleet."
Lo started to brush the snow from the hem of her dress. It turned out sticking a land while having your legs restricted by a skirt was rather difficult. They'd come up in the Nordberg Sanctuary, her, Lilith, and her new friends, apart from Anders who wanted to stay behind. They'd then made their way to the western gate, joining a large crowd of revellers until they went inside and stopped.
"Okay children." Lilith began in a sing song voice, drawing a sneer from Kira. "Be back before sunrise, don't drink too much, and if a strange man offers you anything, say no. If a strange woman offers you something, chances are it's one of my girls so do exactly as she says."
"Is she joking?" Jennie asked.
"Yes I am, dear." The succubus replied, giving a slight smile. "Now, if you need help, do not come to me. If people work out what I am then they'll start searching for my girls, and I'm not willing to let that happen."
"What are we supposed to do then?" Seb asked.
"Suffer in silence." Lilith chuckled. "Now, I'll be off." And with that she went, her heels clicking on the paved stone.
"So anyone know a good inn?" Kira inquired.
"There's one called The Frozen Keg." Lo replied. " I've been there once, recommended it to an a friend of mine."
"Lead the way." Drake commanded.
The elf started walking towards the centre of the city, trying to remember her way around the city.
"So, how'd you know you're way around this place?" Drake asked.
"I went to the college. I didn't actually have much time to look around though."
"I kinda assumed you'd have grown up in the tower." The boy conversed.
"Not exactly, and I'd rather not talk about it."
"Fine." Drake replied, which confused Lo. People never stopped asking questions. Never.
"What did you do?" Lo asked.
"Pardon?" Drake replied, frowning slightly.
"No one is that, I'm not sure what the word is, non-inquisitive?" Was there a word that meant the opposite of nosey. There had to be somewhere.
"Do you mean dismissive?"
"Maybe. But that's not the point." Lo huffed. "No one drops questions that quickly, unless they don't want people to ask them about their past." She finished, pointing an accusing finger.
"Maybe you should meet more people."
"I know plenty of people."
"Not enough, obviously."
Lo let out a sigh. She'd been trying to stop, but ended up changing to a huff instead. She'd find a different method of venting frustration or sadness, like counting to ten, yes she'd try counting to ten.
"Anyway, we're almost there." She informed, pointing to the tavern at the the end of the street.
It was a large building, made from rough stone bricks that had been bound together with coarse cement. The wood was jutting from the walls, rafters from inside that extended beyond the walls due to the messy construction. The inside was much nicer, a large fire pit near the centre of the main room warm, and lit the room comfortably.
"Nice place." Kira mused when they entered.
"It does good food." Lo added as they headed towards a table that sat in the corner.
A plump women walked up to them. "So, how'd you like your seal and potatoes?"
There was a confused look between everyone apart from Lo. "Oh," She began, " Nordberg doesn't import many things, so it's pretty much what grows up here and what became popular."
"We can cook 'em any way you like. Roasted, steamed, battered."
"It's closest to beef." Lo added.
"Steak." Drake replied.
"How rare do you want it?"
"Cut its head off and wipe its ass."
Lo just had some potatoes with some leaks, Jennie had the same thing. Marian had some seal nuggets, and Kira had the same as Drake, only actually cooked properly. It was good food, and they would have had a good night, if not for what happened next.
There was a slight cough."Well, this is awkward." Drez spoke softly.