Hunter or Hunted? (Atroxa & Effigy)

[Atroxa]

Weldrich was a large enough kingdom than it's four corners were markedly different from one another, and even though in the north it was just starting to feel like spring, here near the souther border, it was in full bloom. Birds were singing loudly, a chorus of creatures seeking mates and claiming territory, and does traveled cautiously with young fawns. The world was alive and happy, a peaceful scene for anyone, but not for the huntress that was stalking slowly through the underbrush in search of her prey. Varena had had to shed a lot of her layers to not feel like she was roasting her armor this far south, but she was still well-protected, and well-armed. She hated coming down here this time of year, or anytime after it, having grown up in the northeast, near the border with Oberfell, but also only a stone's throw from the edge of the badlands. It was cooler there, that was what she was used to, not this oppressive heat and humidity.

So close to Ruavia though, this area was a hot spot for Hunters, beasts from the jungle often came north looking for easy prey, humans and their livestock were kittens compared to the creatures that roamed that hell-kissed place. Usually she avoided taking jobs down here unless the pay was good, but well, for this job the pay was good. She only wished she knew more about what she was after. The townsfolk hadn't been able to get a very good look at the beast, they knew it was reptilian, and that it had been killing livestock in the area for weeks. It wasn't until it ate two people that they finally sent word to the Hunter's Guild.

Typical. These fools had hoped that the beast would move on, or maybe that the problem just wouldn't get worse, and that they might just save some money not having to hire a Hunter, and now two people were dead. People never ceased to make Varena wonder why she bothered at all. Then she remembered it was because they paid her to. Anything not to end up a farmer like the rest of her family, and to be able to live in comfort when finally did get the time to relax in Aramoor, Weldrich's capital and currently where she officially resided.

So now here she was to clean up the mess, following a rather large set of foot prints. They were definitely reptilian, but that begged the question of what it was, not a dragon, they flew more than they walked, and if it was a dragon then it was young, as these prints were large but not that large. Then what was it? There was no telling with it having come from Ruathia. New beasts emerged from there all the time. The Huntress mulled this over as she walked carefully, one hand holding her sword back and out of the way of her legs as she had to high step through the brush, the other pushing low hanging branches out of her way. The sun was starting descend, but there was still plenty of light coming down through the canopy over head, illuminating a woman in her mid-twenties, her dark brown hair pulled back in a pony tail and pale blue eyes searching her surroundings alertly. She moved much like a predator, slow and precise, but with confidence and purpose.

 

[Effigy]

​

The Hunter's Guild, an organization of elite men and women that found either pleasure or great pride in eradicating monsters. Sure there were times of great peril or invasion where the Hunter's Guild would fight with the Aramoor's army, but outside of such rare times their focus was on beasts. Large and small, dangerous and merciless. Each and every member trained in how to track, how to hunt, and how to dispose of monsters. From the common over grown wild life to the horrors of anthrophic feral beast men, rest assured the Hunter's Guild could solve the problem.. For a price of course.

The price of a job varied depending upon the beast and travel, but even a cheap job was no light coin purse. A small village would have to go hungry for a week to afford such services, which some gladly paid in lue of a monster leveling their livelihoods. The particular job that Varena had been sent off to do was a single Hunter mission, from what descriptions there was the beast couldn't be anything larger then a baby dragon. Though formidable baby dragons were quite easy to kill. But what a dragon could be doing so far away from the mountains put the bet on some sort of swamp creature from Ruavia. However even though the job had been tasked already, it wouldn't stop Rordan from going.

Rordan had been a part of the Hunter's guild for all of his adult life. Being brought in as a child by the Guild Master himself, he was quick to learn to track, to hunt, and to fight. Sure there were older members, even ones more skilled then himself, but the man was definitely considered one of the top hunters. Who was the best among the four? Varena was the newest hunter to join the top ranks, and then there was Falkrin and Sven. Both Seniors to Rordan. Whatever the case they hadn't seen combat in months, so Varena would probably be the next in line. Maybe that was why Rordan was going as well, to prove something to himself or the guild about his “rival”.

For the most part Rordan kept his presence a secret. Letting Varena engage the villagers and assess the situation accordingly. Where she went for the foot prints, Rordan would go to the latest carcasses of live stock. The two humans that had died were buried already. Even baby dragons would have seared or marked their prey with whatever elemental property it held, yet the rotten flesh of the live stock had nothing but gaping wounds. Giant teeth marks. Rordan had seen quite a number of monsters over the years, it would be interesting which would fit the bill. So like Varena, Rordan would follow the tracks. His bow out and in his hands with an arrow at the ready. His footsteps were light, making sure not to break twigs or branches beneath his feet.

Much like Varena, Rordan had fore gone some of his armor. The usual chain mail and shoulder guards had been replaced with a lighter set of leather armor. However the man never seemed to change whatever cloth he was using to cover up his left eye. An eye patch probably was more practical but heaven forbid anyone call the man a pirate. It didn't take much longer before Rordan could see Varena. And so he quicken his pace till he was a little way behind her.

“Do you even know what you are dealing with?” Rordan would break the silence suddenly with his voice, his eyes elsewhere on look out. “The report said reptilian but i'm guessing amphibious as well. Look how the tracks run on either side of the impression on the ground. Our beast drags it's stomach. You do better to search lakes or caves.” The man stated calmly.

 

[Atroxa]

Varena could only think of a couple other creatures that fit the bill so far, this large and reptilian, and honestly none of them were ones she particularly wanted to fight, but she would. She'd been a member of the Hunter's Guild for nearly seven years, a veteran by their standards. Making it past the three year mark made you no longer fresh meat, the five year mark and you were a veteran. Most people who joined the Guild either died or were forced to retire before that three year mark, or they got scared and quit. It was a tough job, with a high fatality rate, and even if you made it out alive, you were more than likely to be missing at least one limb.

That was why they were able to charge so much though, you had to pay good to have people come out and risk their lives for you. Some griped that the knights of the realm should take care of this problem, and sometimes they did, but by this point, the laws of Weldrich were entirely in the favor of the guilds, not just the Hunters' Guild but all guilds, the crown couldn't impede on their business by very much before the guilds began to be entitled to payments to make up for the money they lost for their members. This system might have been easily corrupted by the Guild Masters, but thankfully there was also checks and balances in place to keep that from happening. So the people just had to deal with paying to get rid of some bothersome beast.

Varena jumped at a voice behind her suddenly, drawing her sword and whirling on the spot, ready to attack, but when she saw who it was, the Huntress sneered and put her sword away, “You.” She turned and kept walking, listening to him as he gave his own opinion on what this creature was, she had learned a long time ago not to listen to anything Rordan said though. “Then go search lakes and caves and leave me alone Rordan,” she growled at him over her shoulder, “Or better yet, go back to Aramoor, this is my contract.”

She kept her own opinion to herself, it wasn't an amphibian, or at least that wasn't a belly being dragged along the ground between it's feet, if it were, it would be a more sinuous pattern, but it was straight. So Varena guessed it was dragging it's tail, not that she planned on telling him any of that. He probably already knew and was just trying to throw her off.

 

[Effigy]

Rordan enjoyed Varena's reaction, of course that didn't stop him from pointing his bow at her as she had so quickly drawn her sword to him. He didn't pull the arrow of course but Rordan was pretty sure he could beat her to the strike if it was needed. The sneer he got from her was priceless, the same that any other hunter gave him once he made his presence known. This wasn't the first time the man would take it upon himself to supersede a Hunter. Most of the time it resulted in a cleaner hunt or saving a some more lives. Of course heaven forbid Rordan to take all of the reward afterwards. Why send someone else to try and complete the job when the guild could just send Rordan for a guaranteed success? Sure, over the years he let the new members deal with small jobs. But things like this? It was beyond him. And no matter how often he was told the Hunter's Guild wasn't a one man show, it wouldn't stop him from going.

If anything Varena was stubborn.. But a quick learner. It had been a good five or six years since the last time the two were on the field together. Which was funny in that Rordan appeared, gave her some false information and stole the kill from her before. It didn't seem like she was going to make the same mistake twice. His little pitch about the creature being amphibian thrown out the second it was tossed to her. She wasn't the only one Rordan tried to trick. Anyone and everyone that got in his way he found someway to step over them or mislead them. Even off the battlefield you would have better luck finding a pig with wings then anyone who could call themselves Rordan's friend. But that was how he liked things to be.

“Believe or not I am here to keep you from making a mistake.” The man said, by instinct or years of training and practice the man subconsciously stepped in Varena's tracks. If you could call them tracks, the woman knew how to soft step, almost like an elf. It would take more then a trained eye to see her tracks. “This isn't your field. I know you prefer the north, how long do you think you can track? Hunt? It only gets hotter the longer you stay out here.” Rordan explained, doing his best to discourage Varena from continuing on. "No one's going to think less of you, i'm sure everyone has lost contracts to me back at the guild."

 

[Atroxa]

Varena and Rordan were two of the best Hunters in the guild, but for the last few years, their rivalry had been from a distance, the two managing to avoid one another. It looked like her lucky streak was over though since he was tailing her now, bothering her. She ignored him though, she hadn't gotten where she was because she needed the help or opinions of others. It was rare for women to join the Guild, she'd faced more than her fair share of disapproval and prejudice, as while women were allowed to be soldiers and knights, it was uncommon, and the Hunters' Guild was practically a fraternity. It was so dangerous, most women just avoided it if they were going to go into any sort of combat-related career. Varena though was fast and strong, more so than some men, and she had good instincts. Very good instincts, it had always seemed that the woman knew how to anticipate her opponents, to get in their heads and know how they thought. She didn't know how she did it, it just happened.

People were another matter, and she didn't entirely trust them, and she especially didn't trust Rordan, not after how he'd screwed her over in the early years when she'd become a full fledged member qualified to accept contracts on her own. There was no way she was going to fall for that again, she wasn't nearly stupid or trusting enough for that. Varena wasn't the most helpful person either, she wasn't the most popular person among the members of the Guild, things could get competitive among the Hunters and she wasn't above doing what she had to to secure the contracts she wanted. She didn't employ underhanded tactics to the level of Rordan though. Another reason why she was slightly unpopular wasn't just because she was successful, which inspired a bit of jealousy, it was why she was successful. Most of the guild members had at least heard stories of Varena in action, a woman of her skill was regarded with a level of suspicion. People suspected either something unnatural about her, or that she paid people to help her on the side without writing it in the Guild logs.

The Huntress rolled her eyes as he kept insisting that she should listen to him, following her as he kept going on and on about how she wasn't used to this kind of terrain, and that no one would think less of her for giving up the contract. Every word he spoke made her temper flare hotter and hotter, until when he finished she felt like her blood was on fire, gritting her teeth in angry. Varena finally whirled around to glare at him hatefully, “Will you shut up?!” She snarled at him as quietly as she could, yet still managed to sound like she was yelling at him, before she turned and looked around them, having realized just before she snapped at him that things had gone quiet. She unsheathed her sword slowly, the rasping of steel against leather the only sound before there was a deafening roar to her left and the cacophony of something crashing through the trees coming right at them.

Varena rolled out of the path of the charging beast, coming out of it crouched on her feet with her sword and shield up, trying to get a good look at the creature as it crashed to a stop and turned give another snarl. The Huntress cursed loudly when she saw it, a long tail, short, bowed back legs, powerful front legs, and five lizard-like heads. A Hydra. She glanced at Rordan, moving slowly, trying to get around to it's flank, “Well I wasn't expecting that!”

 

[Effigy]

Oh there was the fire of a Hunter. The way Varena turned and practically ordered him to shut up. It truly was rare to find a woman that spoke like a man, let alone fought like one. Yet here Varena was, ready to take on whatever was lurking in these woods. There was so merit in that, but then again this line of work wasn't about merit. It was about hunting, exterminating, collecting a pay check. Rordan had more to say but didn't, turning to see the on coming beast he would jump back as Varena rolled to the side. The Hydra forcing it's way between the two.

“You can say that again!” Rordan shouted back. Any jokes, threats, or words of caution were quickly thrown out the window now that the prey had shown itself. In the midst of a fight Rordan knew how to focus. The man letting loose his arrow to keep the Hyrda's attention on himself. Even if he talked like Varena wasn't suited for this contract, the woman definitely had gotten a name for herself. Not to rag on her for being a woman but when a woman could go toe to toe with an ogre... You tended to put them a little higher on the totem pole in terms of skill.

“So what is the first thing you do to take down a Hydra!?” The man would ask her, like this was some sort of training exercise for a new recruit. Of course he was sure to dodge and jump back as the Hydra charged for him, several of it's mighty heads coming down to try and bite at the man. They would be met with an arrow to the eye, causing the heads to roar out in pain but continue their assault.

 

[Atroxa]

There were many Hunters in the Guild who lived it up as honored heroes, depending on the beast and the town, sometimes you could practically be a living god if the circumstances came together right. There were a few places where Varena was considered a hero, though she wasn't charismatic enough to be worshiped like some of the Hunters managed to be in some towns. But those sort never lasted long, they let the glory get to their head, started to act like they really were living gods, rather than mortals who worked in a very dangerous profession. The woman kept her eye on the prize and her head down though, it seemed to work out pretty well so far.

Of course, right now the prize was staying alive, not the gold necessarily. Hydras were no joke, she'd never fought one herself, they rarely left the mountains or the jungle, and were difficult to kill. She was relatively confident in her abilities though, she thought on her feet, learned quickly, and trusted her instincts. Really though, she was lucky that Rordan had decided to tag along, killing a Hydra alone was nearly impossible, it took two people to perform the strategy necessary to keep a Hydra from becoming something of a walking force of nature.

However, she still felt annoyed when he asked her what she knew about killing a Hydra like she was some sort of rookie in a training exercise. Now wasn't the time for bickering though, so she kept her irritation in check. “Cut of the heads, cauterize the stumps before they can regrow with an extra to boot!” She told him, rushing forward as the beast attack Rordan and slashing at one of it's stumpy back legs to distract it before dancing back and away from it, out of it's reach and moving in an arch, trying to make it difficult for the beast to rush her properly. “Only thing is, I don't have any fire handy! How about you?” They needed something that would char the Hydra's flesh to keep it from just doubling it's heads, once they got it down to one head, then they could kill it.

 

[Effigy]

“Very good!” Rordan shouted back to her, a smirk on his face to see that she was ever true to her ranking. However saying such things and actually doing them would be a different matter entirely. As Varena attacked then moved back to move in an arch, Rordan would move in the opposite direction so that the best would always have to make a choice between the two instead of having the opportunity to attack them at the same time. This time it went for Varena.

“Start lobbing it's heads off I will deal with cauterizing!” The man shouted out, instead of reaching for an arrow his hand would go to a pouch on the back of his belt, pulling out a glass bottle the size of a large apple. The contents looked almost brown, like oil or some murky water. He would break the pattern of circling on the opposite side of Varena, sprinting and jumping over bushes or logs so that he could circle around behind Varena to get a better shot.

He watched as Varena dodged and struck back at the advancing Hydra, but it was obvious that the woman was searching for her opportunity. And when one of the heads advanced to strike she would move swiftly, side stepping and forwards for the perfect opportunity. The woman bringing her sword down fast and hard to sever one of the five heads. The beast roared out in pain, quick to attack her with another but just like before she moved out of the way. Rordan take the glass bottle and throwing it right at the now open wound. It would shatter, it's contents splattering over the slowly reforming flesh. Quickly he would draw an arrow and as he did the metal rim of his quiver would glow. Runes etched along the end glowing for but a second before the arrow he pulled out was lit a flame at the end. Rordan quickly lined his arrow and pulled, shooting right at the wound. It instantly catching on fire, and anywhere that was covered in the potion he had thrown would ignite as well.

And so the two worked in perfect harmony surprisingly. Both knew what needed to be done and had almost identical training. Five to four, four to three, three to two, and two heads to one. Each lobbed off, the resulting stump covered in potion, and then set a blaze to cauterize the wound shut. “Finish it!” Rordan shouted, pulling two arrows out from his quiver, setting them and letting them fly. One piercing the last head's eye, the other falling short of the other by a few inches. Still looked painful sticking out from the beast's cheek.

 

[Atroxa]

Varena nodded when the man shouted at her to start cutting off the beast's head, “Right!” She shouted back, squaring off against the Hydra, trying to goad it into really attacking her. She stayed just in range, darting in and slashed at it's scaled hide before dancing out of the way of it's retaliation. When it would finally attack her hard enough to extend one of it's necks, the Huntress would side step the attack and dart in, slashing down onto the outstretched neck with a battle cry, severing it. Viscous black blood would spray everywhere, usually getting on Varena as she retreated to let Rordan finish the job. The Hydra grew more and more desperate, attacking more frequently, which sped up the process, but it's attacks were also more vicious and the Huntress had to be on her game to avoid it's snapping jaws.

One by one, they worked together to take off the beast's heads, the woman dashing in and severing the neck before Rordan doused it in oil and lit on fire with one of his imbued arrows. The two veterans worked well together, both knowing what they were doing and possessing the confidence and knowledge to execute it. The fight for survival put their rivalry aside for the moment and allowed them to just work as a team until finally, there was only one head left.

Varena didn't have to be told to strike when it was just that one head glaring at her angrily, two arrows sticking out of the side of it's face. That one yellow-green eye blaze with hate and pain before it let out a loud, rasping roar and attacked her, mouth open wide and full of razor-sharp teeth. The Huntress raised her blade and slashed down and forward, into the head coming at her, cleaving it in half before she wrenched her sword free and spun, cutting it off completely with a grunt, teeth bared in effort. The Hydra's body thrashed and writhed, Varena backing up quickly as it went through it's death throes, the woman panting and covered in black blood, wiping at her face with the back of her sleeve.

 

[Effigy]

Sure, Rordan was confident in his abilities with a blade. But against Varena, who knew? There was surprising speed and strength in the woman that many had spread rumors about, and even those that said she hired help off the record, the woman just didn't seem like that kind of person. She had pride to herself, pride not just for herself but for the guild she served. And seeing how she had gone in fearless and struck down the hydra like she did, Rordan was beginning to consider some of the other rumors of magic. But alas it didn't matter much. Magic or just good old practice the fact was that the two had won the day.

Arrows weren't cheap, so Varena would see Rordan going around to the various heads, pulling out arrows to see which were salvageable. Cleaning what ones were passable on his pant leg before placing them back into his quiver. “Thanks for the help Varena.” Rordan stated after placing his bow on his back. Picking up one of the heads that was on the ground, having to really bend down and put his back into it before balancing the bloody thing on his shoulder. The thing was heavy. Sure he could carry it back to town, but to the capital? Oh no he would probably get a wagon. Rordan loved bringing back trophies. It also helped in justifying any stories of who did what when one of the two had flesh as proof. Now that the fight was over Rordan really didn't have any use of Varena. “See you back in Aramoor!” Rordan shouted out, a smirk on his face as he was sure Varena would have something to say about this.

 

[Atroxa]

Varena didn't say much in response to the rumors that circulated about her whenever they came back around to her. They were baseless, no one had ever been able to find any evidence to support foul play, so until they did she just kept on doing what had been working for her so far. The only opinions that really mattered were those of the Guild Master and a few other officials within the Guild. She didn't know why she could do the things she did, but she didn't question it, it felt like a dangerous thing to do, looking a gift horse in the mouth.

She at least had the chance to show Rordan that she wasn't a fluke or a fake, not that she cared about his opinion or anything. And she doubted he would do something like defend her if anyone ever spoke against the validity of her abilities, if anything he would encourage the doubt, but still. He would know.

The Huntress watched him begin to gather up his arrows, but frowned at him when he thanked her, “No, thank you for the help,” She growled, disliking how his thanks implied that his claim here was more valid. Varena wasn't surprised at all that with the beast dead, her fellow Hunter was right back to his usual self, which meant that he was going to try and claim the kill out from under her. Well she wasn't going to give that up without a fight. She cleaned her sword off on her pant leg and sheathed it, grabbing one of the heads as well and hoisting it up over her shoulder. “Damn straight you will!” She shouted at Rordan's retreating back.

 

[Effigy]

“Stubborn aren't you?” Rordan would call back, carrying the excess wait of a hydra head did little to help one step softly. Predators could easily hear the two, but would they be willing to attack seeing what prey the two had upon their shoulders? In any case the two would make it back to the village. Their pay was of course back at the guild hall waiting for their confirmation, so the trip into the village was simply to show proof of their success and the acquiring of a wagon. However unfortunately for the two there was only one wagon to spare. So with a wagon filled with two hydra heads both Rordan and Varena traveled back to Aramoor together. Keeping a close eye on the other to make sure one didn't make off with both heads.

And as much as Rordan would of liked to take full credit for this kill, even just his head alone would demand work of two. Besides he never lied about kills, sure he would lie to fellow hunters, or out right threaten them. But he would never disgrace a confirmed kill. That was sacred among the guild hunters. So the contract got bumped up a pay grade due tot he beast in question, both Varena and Rordan being paid their share. Of course this was where the two parted ways and happily in fact. Neither taking much liking to the other.

“Hey you two!” Came a rather loud and over powering voice. The quartermaster of the guild was in charge of updating jobs and requests. Now that his two better hunters were back there was a certain job that had been unresolved three times in a row now. “One of you needs to take care of this Adden's job. Three of our rookies have failed, two having kicked the bucket. If we don't close this up then what kind of impression will that show on our guild?” The man asked, a burly bald headed man with large powerful arms and a fat beer belly to boot. He was good at intimidating people, but also just persuading.. Though give him an axe and that is a whole different story.

“I'm busy.” Rordan replied, not even breaking his walk to listen to the quartermaster before leaving the guild hall. That just left Varena. “You got to help me out doll.” The man stated, almost pleaded. He was soft with Varena, but only because there weren't many women that actually joined the Hunter's Guild. More a gentlemen that creep, that really were the only two options here. Sad truth for being a woman in a man's world. The man already had the paperwork in hand, even going so far as to give Varena a pouty lip and a set of big old puppy dog eyes. Most out of character for the brute, but then again if you knew the man then it was very much in his character to implore theatrics.

 

[Atroxa]

Varena scoffed softly as the other Hunter called her stubborn, muttering under her breath, “Yeah you're one to talk...” glaring at his back as she followed him back to town. The townsfolk had been pretty surprised to find that the creature that had been stalking the area was a Hydra, realizing that things could have been a lot worse. It hadn't been as large as they could get, so Varena guessed that it had still been pretty young, that or small for it's species, which might explain why it had come so far north, pushed out of the jungle by larger and more aggressive creatures. They procured a wagon, since there was only one they had to share, and headed back to Aramoor together, Varena riding her black gelding, Lonan and keeping a close eye on Rordan.

She was at least relieved when he didn't try to dispute her claim to the kill when they got back to Aramoor, it seemed that if you could at least get in on the action he respected your efforts. And while Varena wouldn't admit it, she was lucky he had turned up, she wouldn't have been able to kill that Hydra by herself, but then again neither would he. So she got paid, planning on going and buying some wine and retiring to the small flat she rented here in the city, relax a bit. She rarely got the chance to just sit in a familiar place and relax, and a hot bath sounded wonderful. She never got over how amazing a heated bath was, having grown up on a farm, their idea of a bath was having cold water dumped on you a couple times while you scrubbed your hair, hands, feet, and face.

So when some one started shouting at her before she could even get away from Rordan, she let out a soft groan, turning to frown at the Quartermaster, her hands on her hips. She watched the burly man hurry over, saying that one of them needed to take a job that had already done in three rookies. Varena frowned, thinking that didn't sound appealing at all and opened her mouth to decline the contract when Rordan beat her to it. She cut him a glare, thinking how it was annoying that he muscled in on her contract because she was there and now wasn't interested in this one. The woman sighed and looked back to the Quartermaster, glaring at him too when he pleaded for her help. “How many times do I have to tell you not to call me 'doll'?” She growled at him, “Not a very good way to try and get my help.”

“You really want to get my interest, tell me how much it's paying and what I'm going after, better be a good amount of gold if it's killed two rookies,” She told him, crossing her arms and waiting for him to give some detail.

 

[Effigy]

It wasn't about friendship! It was about the guild! If the quartermaster didn't fill requests then Hunters would be left to their own devices till they ran out of gold! That was the worst thing in the world, all active Hunters taking a “break” with their reward money. Not showing up for months at a time till they were broke. It used to happen quite often, but not now that Haymin was the Quartermaster. “You're the best doll. The pay isn't as glorious as you may be used too but for this particular job the guild won't claim it's usually processing fee. We need this one taken care of. Thank you for volunteering!” Haymin stated loudly and proudly. Trying to force the matter he would write Varena's name into the guild ledger buy stamping and signing his approval to the request form. “It's an open contract for extermination of two to four creatures. Humanoid type, most likely Trolls by the information give by the client and our surviving rookie.”

“Our client is taking residence at the inn of Bleakwood. Fun name huh?” Haymin asked Varena, but before she had time to respond the man had turned his attention to two guild members that were starting to fight one another over some argument. “Hey you no good wet behind the ears nancies! Save it for the monsters!” Haymin's tone went right back to that husky intimidating brute once more, soon leaving his area to go pull the two apart. Varena had her contract, albeit almost forced in her hands... all she did was ask how much it paid, Haymin could be pushy at just the slightest interest shown.

So with contract in hand Varena was expected to head out to Bleakwood. The town was greatly bigger and vastly richer then the previous village that she had fought the hydra for. Multiple inns strung out through out the buildings. Varena's contract said to meet the client at the Iron Boot inn. And just when she came into town she would see an inn with a caste iron boot hanging above it's doors. It was just turning to sunset so people were beginning to visit the inns and their taverns as they got off of work or finished up dinner with the family. Varena's contract said her client would be seated at the back table of the inn, with the emblem of a lion centered on a brown shield would be worn on a tabard. That meant her client represented house Adden, one of the five upper houses that ruled the kingdom. Under the King's will of course.

 

[Atroxa]

Varena scowled at the Quartermaster when he called her 'doll' again, fighting the urge to just punch him in his fat face, but she didn't and instead just stood frowning as he wrote her name down without the Huntress actually agreeing to go. Before she knew it, she had the contract being shoved into her hands and Haymin was rushing off to break up some fight between a couple of rookies, leaving the woman glaring after him. “Jack ass,” she muttered before sighing and walking off. She'd stay in Aramoor for the night to rest and let Lornan rest too, but head out in the morning to Bleakwood, which sounded like a rather fun place. She was going to have to learn to just avoid Haymin from now on.

She left in the morning, and was somewhat surprised when she reached Bleakwood, finding it didn't look as bland or depressing as the name implied. She went to the inn she was supposed to meet the client at, put Lornan in the stables and got a room before walking towards the back of the inn and spotting the representative of House Adden sitting at a table. He was a handsome creature if nothing else, but Varena was in too ill a mood to care. All she'd wanted was to hole herself up in her flat for a few nights, drink wine, sleep in her own bed, and be absolutely lazy. Instead she got bullied into another contract.

“Ulrich Brahms?” She asked as she sat down, her dark brown hair down and loose about her face and shoulders. This town was a little further north, so she was wearing all of her leather armor now, a cloak about her shoulders with the emblem of the Hunter's Guild on the back, a snarling wolf's head with an axe and a sword crossed over it. “Varena Duncan from the Hunter's Guild,” She extended her hand to shake his in greeting, “I've been sent to take care of this contract.”

 

[Effigy]

“Dum deh, dah deh-deh-deh. Dum deh, dah deh-deh-deh.” Ulrich was humming to himself at his table. The only light was that of candles that were centered on his table. The man was smiling as he hummed, reading over a few papers that he held in his hands. He seemed perfectly content sitting by himself, his goblet of wine sitting on the table. When he heard his name called however the man stopped humming, an eyebrow raised as he looked up to find a woman.

“I could be if you would join me at my table.” The man said with a smile, Varena already doing so which only turned that smile into a smirk. The papers in his hands he placed down besides his wine, looking to the woman now who seemed like she was decked out for combat. Ulrich was taken back though when she said she was from the Hunter's Guild. Women didn't exactly join or make it through the Hunter's Guild. Now this was definitely something new.

“Well it is my pleasure then to meet you Varena Duncan of the Hunter's Guild.” Ulrich bowed his head , showing a more refined behavior that usually only stayed within the capital. “I am Ulrich Brahms. Do you like Bleakwood?” Ulrich would suddenly ask, taking the time to gaze into Varena's eyes as he sat there. “House Addens governs these lands and a most unfortunate trouble has befallen it's people. Multiple accounts of trolls have been brought to our attention. Such matters could be dealt with by knights, but why petition and go through the flax of dragging hot headed noble's sons here when such awe inspiring and breath taking Hunters such as yourself would come for top coin?” Ulrish asked, obviously fishing a compliment out from the situation at hand.

“My spies have found a cave in the woods. Bones of live stalk and even human has been seen outside the cave. A good hours journey in the woods but you can't get lost, there is a river that runs through town that will take you right to the cave.” Ulrich finished, raising his goblet to Varena before taking a slow sip. “But might I be able to convince you to share a few drinks with me? It isn't everyday such a marvel as yourself comes walking in asking for me.” The man added with a smirk, Varena was definitely unique to say the least.

 

[Atroxa]

Varena could tell he didn't know who she was at first, which told her a lot that he would accept the company of a strange woman at his table so eagerly. It wasn't surprising though either, nor was his surprise when he learned that she was from the Hunters' Guild. These were two of the most common reactions she had from men, they were either making a pass at her or surprised to find out that she was a Hunter. She was used to both by now, hardly fazed by either one anymore. Sitting across from Ulrich though she found that he at least managed to muster some sort of class and charm while hitting on her. It wasn't ideal, but it was better than most encounters she'd had to suffer through.

Her shoulders shrugged when he asked how she found Bleakwood, “It's nicer than I expected with a name like 'Bleakwood',” she admitted, arching a brow slightly as he just stared at her while she answered. Then it was onto business and she was glad of it, listening as he told her about the problem, the woman nodding as he explained. Then he dipped back into the land of flattery at the end, Varena forcing a small smile in response. “Yes, well, there's a certain level of professionalism that comes with paying some one for a job I think, knights seem more interested in making themselves look good,” she agreed, though bypassing his compliment in the process without outright ignoring it. She tried to be somewhat friendly with clients, though that didn't mean she had to respond to their flirtations.

Thankfully, he got back to business soon enough, telling her where to find the trouble makers, most likely trolls, and how to get there. “Thank you,” she said, nodding again, thinking that that was that, but then he was wanting her to have a few drinks with him, flirting with her some more. “I'm afraid I'll have to decline,” she told him, her tone only mildly apologetic, “In all honesty, I received this contract when I had just returned from another. I would like to get this over with and return home.” With that, Varena stood, bowing at the waist just a touch, despite how he'd flirted with her, he'd been polite and charming none the less, so she wasn't as cold towards him as she might have been otherwise. There was just something... appealing about him, but Varena was too professional to get distracted by a pretty face so easily.

In her youth, she'd struggled with what her mother had liked to claim was her father's legacy, a general lack of inhibitions and a fondness for wild behavior, but since joining the Guild, she'd learned to control herself. “Thank you, Mr. Brahms, I'll report back to you when I return,” She grabbed her bags and went upstairs, putting them away before returning back downstairs and leaving the inn all together. She set off on foot, following the river as Ulrich had said, keeping her eyes peeled for the cave.

When she spotted it, Varena drew her sword and pulled her shield off her back, approaching cautiously. There were indeed bones scattered about the outside of the cave, and foul smelling air leaked from the cave entrance, putting her on edge as she entered. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness inside the cave, but when it finally did, she didn't spot any trolls. The cave looked empty, though it was obviously being used by something. The Huntress frowned, starting to straighten out of her stance a little when a very large boulder next to her moved, suddenly growing larger. She realized too late that it wasn't a boulder but an ogre, before it swung one of it's massive arms, crashing right into her torso and sending her flying right back out of the cave.

The Huntress landed hard outside on small pile of bones, grunting and feeling dazed as she rolled off her back onto her hands and knees, struggling to stand with how her head was spinning. She was just glad she'd managed to hold onto her sword, her shield still securely on her arm. A good thing too as she saw something coming at her out of the corner of her eye, turning and raising her shield just in time to catch a blow from a troll's sword, instinctively countering the attack, hacking the thing's arm off. The troll yowled and stumbled back, but the others continued to circling in around her. Varena blinked, trying to make sure her vision wasn't doubled, but no, there were five trolls around her, and the ogre advancing out of the cave towards her. The Huntress gritted her teeth, buckling down for a long fight as the sun started to set.

 

[Effigy]

“Ah, what a pity.” Ulrich stated when she declined his invitation for drinks at his table. Of course when she bowed ever so slightly Ulrich would lower his head as well. A mutual sign of trust be it a courteous bow or a look down from eye level. It showed you had no intentions of harm or that you trusted the other person by exposing an opening for attack. This had greater value back in more savage days, but now it was more customs and etiquette then life or death. “May the gods grant you strength so that I might see your lovely face return to me.” Ulrich added as Varena went to deposit her bags, a smirk on his face as he went back to humming his tune.

Like the other Hunters, Varena had be quick to carry out her duties. Hearing her speak of wanting to return home as quickly as she could it made Ulrich wonder what a woman such as herself would do? Was she a wild one, going off to live among the beasts? Was she more refined, going for parties or social events? Surely Ulrich would of see her around if that was the case. Maybe she wanted to just be by herself, take a nice warm bath with some wine. The thought made Ulrich smile, thinking of Varena in a bathtub. His gaze going to one of the windows of the inn, watching as the last rays of sunshine started to fade and night would take it's place. Hopefully he would be able to reach the fun before it was over. Ulrich getting up from his table and leaving the inn, heading towards the woods.

What the man came upon under the cover of night was quite the sight indeed. Varena was still fighitng, several trolls laying on the ground dead... Limbs and heads sprinkled here and there. All that was left was one troll and the ogre, Ulrich finding this rather fascinating. He kept beside the trees though, not exactly wanting to show himself. Seeing how this was the fourth hunter he had sent he was rather surprised to find results. The troll was in a state of rage and confusion, how one human could best his four mates, and stand toe to toe with an Ogre. She had been smacked around a number of times through out the fight, even cut across her back by one of the trolls. And yet here she was still, standing at the ready with her sword and shield in hand. The Ogre letting out a loud roar as it charged at her again, only to miss as she rolled to the side, cutting at the monster's leg once more. The troll had up and had enough of this, and would soon turn tail and run, right towards the trees where Ulrich was.

Ulrich would reach out, grabbing the troll by his throat before forcing him down to the ground. Varena a little preoccupied with the Ogre to see what was going on else where. “Ulrich! Let me go, I quit!” The troll spat out in sort of forced common tongue. Ulrich smiling as he held him there still, like a child holding down a bug. “I paid you in advance for your services. Are you to reimburse me for this failure?” Ulrich asked, the troll gripping and clawing at Ulrich's hand that held the troll in place. “Na.. Ah... Ul..” The troll was trying to speak but the man's grip only grew tighter. Ulrich's eyes suddenly changing to a disturbing full black before he let go of the troll's neck, his teeth growing long and sharp before he sunk down into the troll's neck. Holding him down Ulrich would drink, draining the troll of his blood, his life.

A cry of pain would pull Ulrich from his meal, standing back up he quickly pulled a handkerchief out, wiping his face clean of any blood. Varena had been picked up by the Ogre, the monstrous brute now squeezing the woman against his chest in an attempt to break Varena's back. Ulrich would quickly charge in, drawing his sword to slash at the ogre's back. The beast would roar out in pain, dropping Varena. Ulrich moving amazingly fast as he practically ran up the ogre's back, cutting at the back of the Ogre's neck. The man didn't lob the beast's head off, but he had cut right into the bone of his spine, practically severing the monster into nothing more then a motionless heap of flesh.

“An Ogre... my word.” Ulrich said once the beast was left to pant on the ground, paralized. “I got worried after sending such a lovely woman as yourself into what had bested three hunters. Thank goodness I came after you.” The man stated, coming over to help Varena up. “We have to get you back to the inn, I can properly take care of these wounds for you there. Come now..” Ulrich stated, almost pleading to Varena as he tried to get her arm over his shoulders so she could limp along and use him as support. They had a good hour worth of travel back to town, and the night was only getting colder.

 

[Atroxa]

This was definitely one of the more interesting fights that Varena had ever been in. Six foes (seven if you counted the one she'd disabled at the beginning), one of which was an ogre. She had fought trolls before, many times, and she'd fought ogres before a few times. Hell, she had gotten herself noticed by defeating an ogre when she was just a teenager, though on the cusp of adulthood. And she'd done that by herself. Truth be told though, that had mostly been luck, she should have been killed by that monsters, but she had killed it instead when it had attacked her grandfather's farm and when the Hunter from the guild had finally shown up, he'd been impressed by Varena's raw talent. Offering her an apprenticeship, she had left home to go with Alistair and train to become a Hunter, and had been in the Guild ever since, becoming one of the most successful Hunters alive.

By the time she was down to one troll and the ogre though, she was fatigued. She hadn't had the chance to fully recover from her last contract and now she was out here, fighting hard to beat odds, and she hadn't been prepared for it at all. The Huntress pushed herself though, there was no way she was going to be beaten, not by a gang of trolls and an ogre. What an inglorious ending that would be! Thankfully the last Troll seemed to decide that he didn't want to end at her sword either and turned tail to run, she let him. One Troll wasn't a threat to much of anyone, he'd beat it for the mountains, the Ogre though, he was trouble.

Varena tried to keep a good distance from the brute, close enough to strike, but far enough away that she would be able to avoid attacks of his as well. So she side stepped easily as the Ogre bought a huge tree trunk it was using as a club down on the ground where she had been standing and dashed in, slashing at it's stomach. Her fatigue dragged her down though, and she wasn't quick enough about getting back out. That gave the Ogre the opportunity to grab her in one of it's large hands and lift her, dropping it's make shift weapon to wrap both arms around Varena, crushing her against his chest. The woman struggled, trying to push herself up and out of his grasp, but he was too strong, and she felt a shooting pain up her back, making her scream.

Then it was letting her go, the Huntress falling to the ground and simply laying there, dazed and in pain. She didn't start to snap out of it until there was a voice speaking to her, and not really comprehending what was being said so much as she realized that whoever it was was not a Troll. Hands grabbed her, helping her up, Varena struggled to stand and groaned as she did so, her head spinning. She didn't realize that it was Ulrich until he got her arm over his shoulder and his own arm around her waist, helping her stand and walk. She didn't say anything to him though, she was concentrating on not throwing up or passing out, or both.

They limped back to town slowly, Varena so exhausted that she passed out as soon as she was set back down, the Huntress a bloody and dirty mess.

 

[Effigy]

“You definitely got some fight in you don't you Varena?” Ulrich asked as he continued to help her along the way. He was very impressed, she would never know now but Ulrich had indeed orchestrated the events of the day. Reasons of his own the man had paid those trolls to come to Bleakwood and prey upon it's people. He even got an ogre into the mix that made things much more entertaining when the Hunters finally showed up. Yet here the man was, getting his hands dirty. Was it because Varena was a woman?

No there was more, there had to be. Ulrich had killed and let die plenty of women before, much like anyone else they were like peons to him. Useful for only a handful of things the man found quite the enjoyment in manipulating humans. Killing one another, running off to their doom. But Varena... Ulrich couldn't quite place it but there was more to her. Which definitely shined in the fight against the trolls and ogre. There really wasn't that many humans that could fight an Ogre like that. If ever it was through magic. Not sword and shield. Ulrich wasn't going to let such a gem die now was he?

However the woman didn't seem much like conversation, especially when they got back to the inn and she practically fainted when the man sat her down in a chair. So right up the stairs they went, Ulrich requesting medical supplies from the bar keep to be sent to Varena's room. Once there he got her to her bed, quick to undo her armor and remove the equipment she carried. She was beat up pretty bad... And that wound on her back wasn't very pretty either.

Ulrich pretty much had stripped the woman, with rag and bandages at the ready the man would clean her fresh wounds. She was definitely stubborn, anyone else probably would of died from blood lose after an hours trek, yet here Varena was still breathing. Ulrich would have to go in with thread and needle. Just for the large cuts like the one on Varena's back. Slowly he worked, not wanting to rush anything in case he might cause unneeded pain. Once her wounds were treated there was a very naked, but grimy mess of a woman laying on the bed. Good taste and proper manners had Ulrich ready to leave... But there was something he couldn't quite place.

The man had no more then an hour ago had his fill of blood, so the fact that he was wiping wounds clean wasn't to much of an issue for him. In fact the normal pull of thirst was all but gone as Ulrich cleaned up Varena's blood. There was something else. Her blood smelled surprisingly sweet. Appealing and alluring her blood wasn't like other humans. It wasn't like blood was sweet for vampires, it was quite metalic. But he had grown to love such taste. No this sweet aroma was almost intoxicating. Any thoughts of leaving were replaced with watching, with how wonderful the caress of her skin was.

Ulrich would step back to look at her for a few moments before shaking his head. This wouldn't do at all. So he would disappear for a few minutes, getting a hot bath drawn for her. Underneath all that armor there was definitely the blessings of a woman to Varena's form. Ulrich was definitely enjoying himself, carrying Varena to her bathroom where the hot bath had been made ready. He didn't place her in the water just yet though, getting her to sit in a nearby chair Ulrich would fill a bucket with the hot water. Getting a towel to dampen before taking to scrubbing Varena clean. Nothing rough, but working the dirt and blood off from her skin. His hands were very soft to the touch, working her skin and muscles as he cleaned her. Taking his sweet time with every inch of her flesh. The bath was meant to relax in, Ulrich remembering how Varena had spoken of wanting to relax after being rushed on this mission.

If she had come too during all of this it would have been quite the scene to see, a man she had only met today pretty much caressing every part of her body. Once she was actually clean Ulrich would pick her up again, slowly and softly lowering her into her hot bath. Making sure she was set in the tube just right so she wouldn't slip under into the water. The man stood back, his armor had already been removed, his sleeves having been rolled up before he had started tending to the woman's wounds.

“Something's missing....” Ulrich stated, trying to figure it out. And as if lightning had struck him then he would smile and quickly leave, returning with a small vial in his hand. He dumped the dirty bucket of water out the rooms window before coming back to the bathroom. Filling the contents of the bucket once more with water he would pour the vial into the water, a sudden smell of roses filling the bathroom. Ulrich bringing his hands down into the bucket before cupping water out, bringing it up to Varena's hair. Slowly working his hands through her brown hair. It didn't take long before her hair smelled of roses. Ulrich unable to resist, bending down to breath in the beautiful scent.

 

[Atroxa]

Varena sank into unconscious happily, she didn't think she'd ever been so exhausted in her life, with the combination of fighting and blood loss on top of a day's travel. Needless to say, when she did pass out, she fell into a deep sleep, and stayed that way throughout most of Ulrich tending to her wounds. Of course if she knew she was laying there naked with a man she had only just met, she would have woken up, but she was dead to the world and slept on, naked and vulnerable. She had the body most would expect when looking at her, beautiful and curving, everything about her seemed perfectly proportioned with fair skin soft over hard muscle.

It was obvious to look at her though that Varena led the life of a warrior, scars of all shapes and sizes decorated her skin, one or two looked to have been just as bad as the gash on her back. Lesser men would have died a long time ago, but the Huntress was very much alive.

It was only towards the end of Ulrich's care that she began to drift in and out of consciousness, grimacing as he stitched wound shut, though still very much unaware. She fell back asleep when he picked her up and carried her into the bathroom, shifting and stirring occasionally as he cleaned her body, once or twice giving a soft sigh, seeming to enjoy it. Varena would be supremely embarrassed to wake up to a stranger cleaning and practically caressing every inch of her, but she just slept on, chest rising and falling gently as his fingers worked out some of the soreness in her muscles. Then she was being enveloped in the warm embrace of the tub and she let out a more audible sigh of contentment, head leaning back against the side of the tub.

Varena probably could have slept in the warm water until it went cold, but she started to stir as he washed her hair, making soft, pleased noises at the sensation. She became aware of the feeling of being surrounded by warmth, the soft slosh and splash of water against the sides of the tub, and the smell of roses. Was she dead? She was surprised to find that that thought didn't entirely bother her, but how could it if she was obviously in heaven? The last thing she remembered was that Ogre after all, trying to crush her, it had obviously succeeded.

Then she felt something press gently into her hair and the sound of some one inhaling, but it wasn't her. Her pale blue eyes shot open, and Varena sat up suddenly, wincing at the pain in her back but she ignored it. Instead she whirled around, striking out with an open hand to slap at whatever was near her, and slapped Ulrich right across the face, hard. The woman realized a few things in the span of about five seconds, the first was that she was naked and sitting in a tub, the second was that she had just slapped her client, Ulrich, and the third was that she smelled like roses.

“Wh-what?!” Varena shrieked, covering her full breasts with her arms quickly, “What are you doing?!” She couldn't decide whether she should get out of the tub or not, she felt like she should, but it at least provided somewhere for her to hide most of her nudity. Instinct won out and she climbed out of the tub quickly, ducking down behind it a little, still covering her chest, her face bright red. “Bring me a towel! Now!” She demanded, not caring who or what he was or why he was here, she just wanted something to cover herself.

 

[Effigy]

Ahhh... Roses. Truly a magnificent scent. It brought Ulrich back to an older time, one surprisingly forgotten by people these days. A town completely surrounded by roses in full bloom. The people there were so happy, living their own lives, helping one another. No one expected anything to happen, there had been little to no gold among the villagers. So why would raiders come? For wooden farming tools? Every year at the blossom of roses a festival would occur and Ulrich found himself walking the streets again. At least until a hand decided to make it's way up and across his face.

His eyes had opened just as widely as Varena's had as he sat there. The force of her slap so powerful that the man's head had actually turned to the side... Which was saying a lot since no human could normally possess such strength. However what Ulrich was more interested in was the fact that Varena had resorted to violence at all due to the situation. How dare she after he mended her body, after he so painstakingly cleaned her. He didn't have to use the rose fragrance but he did out of the generosity of his heart! Nothing of what he did was selfish at all! It couldn't have been. The thought of course made Ulrich smirk before he turned his head to look at the startled woman.

“I was bathing you if you must know.” Ulrich stated plainly, though it seemed to not matter to Varena who had demanded a towel. The man getting up, nodding his head slightly before leaving the bathroom. Coming back with the towel over his arm. “I do not understand why you hide yourself in shame. Believe me Varena you have a very sensual and appealing body.” Ulrich stated with a smirk, even winking at her as he came near. Just close enough for her to grab the towel without trying to make a second pass at his face. Even for him those slaps really stung! She could probably dislodge a human's jaw with that move.

 

[Atroxa]

Usually Varena restrained herself when she was dealing with another human, unless she felt threatened enough to really let loose on them full strength. Ulrich had startled her so badly though, and her last memory was fighting for her life, well it hadn't been the best combination for rational thought. But she thought little of it since he wasn't sporting a dislocated jaw, she must have restrained herself and just no realized it. Because Varena was very aware of her own strength, she had been for most of her life, her grandfather had taken the time to teach her how to fight when she was a teenager for that very reason, so that she could learn some discipline and self control. She'd been on a dangerous path without those sort of abilities, as it wasn't just her strength that Varena had had trouble controlling when she'd been younger.

Thoughts of home and family were very far from her mind as Ulrich answered her, his simple, obvious explanation making her bristle a little, “And are you in the habit of bathing unconscious women that have only just met you?” Varena asked him, her tone irritated. She had always been told that nobles were a little eccentric but this was just weird. She took the towel from him eagerly, wrapping it around her torso, though it was of course to small to cover all of her properly, her long legs still bare almost up to the apex of her thighs. Thankfully though it covered what mattered. It didn't, however, cover her face as it turned bright red when Ulrich commented on her body and winked at her. “I-I...” She stuttered, not sure what to say to him.

Varena regained her senses a little and glared at him, “Well, thank you very much for your help but I'd like to be left alone now,” she told him, not actually sounding very appreciative at all, more irritated than anything else. The woman tucked a bit of wet hair behind her ear, really just wanting to dry off a bit and go to bed, she felt exhausted. “I have a long way to go tomorrow and I need to rest,” the Huntress stepped from around the tub, walking back into the room and moving with her back to the wall to watch him very carefully, making it very clear that she didn't trust him.

 

[Effigy]

“Only the most beautiful ones.” Ulrich responded quickly when she asked if he was in the habit of bathing unconscious women. If anything this was quite fun to make the woman blush. She obviously hadn't exactly been made accustom to the advances of a man, or at least not these sort. Ulrich could only imagine men in her circle asking her if she wanted to bare strong children or go out back and wrestle in the dirt. Just the thought made Ulrich smile, which only served to make the situation that much more embarrassing for Varena.

He watched as Varena took the towel from him, taking just one step back. He didn't want to give her any wrong ideas. But what could she be thinking after she had awoken to him bathing her, smelling her hair? Oh how Ulrich would of liked to know. How he fantasized what shew as truly thinking about him, what she wanted to do to him and have done to her instead of these brash awkward responses. She never left his eye sight though, even as she made her way to the wall in a show of trust issues between the two now.

“You are correct of course my dear.” Ulrich stated, the towel did little to hide the woman's features. Though the image of her exposed flesh was already ingrained in Ulrich's head. With or without cover it wouldn't matter now to the man. “But surely you do not mean to travel with such wounds? Not after I had so carefully mended you.” The man said, smiling as his eyes locked with her own.

“And just the thought that it was my doing that sent you into such harm. I couldn't forgive myself for seeing you rush off only to get ambushed or hurt again.” Ulrich would frown, showing his concern openly to the woman that still had her back to the wall. “Please, stay with me. I have a home in this town that over looks the horizon so perfectly at sunset. You would be doing me a favor by not making me worry.” Ulrich smiled, bringing his hands together in front of him as if he was begging the woman. But as he did this his eyes would sparkle for but a second. Not even a second more like half a second. A quick flash of tiny lights before everything was as it was. Blinking and you would of missed it. But Varena would feel a compulsion. Not to trust Ulrich, but to accept what he was saying. Logically in her condition it would be unwise to travel, and since Ulrich was offering such a fine deal how could she refuse? “I promise not to bathe you while you sleep.” Ulrich added, smirking as he waited for her response.

 

[Atroxa]

Varena was definitely used to a certain crowd, and those did not tend to include nobles or other people of any sort of status or culture. She had been raised on a farm near a small town in the foothills of the Svalbek mountains. The people there had been tough and honest, but definitely a little on the rough side. And since joining the Guild, she'd been surrounded by men of varying backgrounds, but all of that possessing that same sort of rough, devil-may-care attitude to them, 'charming' wasn't a word she would use to describe any of them. And they certainly never seemed very smooth to her. Then again, most men looked at a woman like Varena and just didn't approach her like they would if she were soft and delicate and wearing a dress. She didn't know how to react to Ulrich at all, his comments were just as lewd really, but wrapped in silk. She disliked being so out of her comfort zone.

What she thought of him though she had no idea, he was certainly handsome, and on a level she refused to acknowledge she was flattered by his attention and his compliments, and he was obviously attracted to her. No woman could deny that there was nothing quite so flattering as being told they were beautiful with genuine earnest. Still though, Ulrich unnerved her. She didn't know why, maybe it was how smooth he was, she didn't know how to react to that, or maybe it had something to do with waking up naked with him smelling her hair. Varena knew that there were women out there that would have given anything to wake up with a man like Ulrich treating them how he had been treating her, but Varena was not like most women. She was stubborn, independent, and strong, and she was wary of handsome men.

The woman stood with her arms wrapped around herself a little, trying to provide a little extra coverage, especially over her chest as her ample breasts kept trying to spill back out. She knew that it really didn't matter, he'd seen her naked for gods knew how long, touch her... a shiver ran up her spine and she pushed the thoughts away. It didn't matter, being covered made her feel better. Varena frowned though when he pointed out that she was in no condition to travel, and that he'd put work into mending her back up. Ulrich kept going, not allowing her to get a word in edgewise as he expressed concern and asked that she stay with him, at his home. The Huntress frowned, obviously not thinking much of this request, but she sighed, feeling her attitude towards the offer shift.

Varena wasn't in the condition to travel, she could feel it in her back, a day in the saddle right now would just do more harm than good. A few days rest and she'd be right as rain, but trying to travel now might put her out of her work for a week or two. In the long run, it would be best to just stay with Ulrich while she recovered. And from the feel of things, she wouldn't able to tend to the wound on her back without help anyway, and she wouldn't have to spend money on board there. The woman sighed, a soft of exasperation resignation, but made a face when he promised not to bathe her while she was sleeping again, her look turning more exasperated than resigned. In the back of her mind, Varena knew exactly what he was playing at, what he was trying to do, why he wanted her to stay with him, but she felt compelled to accept anyway. “Fine,” she agreed finally, “but just until I'm better.”

“Now if you'll give me some privacy, I would like to change,” she told him, waving one of her hands a bit in a dismissive manner towards the door, wanting him to leave.