Fresh Brew [crimson]

[Curunas L'haerthyl]

Continued from here


It took the elf a moment to give the man an answer, his gaze was cynical to say the least, prehaps wondering what such a man as him was doing in the Southern Quarter, the richest area of Jaedaxia.

"Oui," Curunas finally spoke, and took the wooden mug from him, with hands clad in snakeskin gloves.

All was well, he decided. After all, prey was prey.

[Crimson]

The Southern Quarter was the most renown portion of Jaedaxia indeed, and for good reason. Just a few streets behind Curunas was the headquarters for the Protectorat du Paix, the local guards; and not too far from there was the Legion Headquarters on the other side of the city. That made the Southern Quarter well patrolled and protected by its various neighbors. Not to mention that pair of blue-gold clad guards that happened to stroll past him just then.

The two young men nodded, greeted the brewer and his newest guest, then walked off conversing in short Jaedaxeinne as they did. "So what's your story?" the burly man said suddenly, his brows jerking upwards in amusement "you don't look like a local. Traveling? Adventurer maybe?"

[Curunas L'haerthyl]

The elf gave a curt nod to the guards as they passed. He was always careful.

Curunas chuckled as he took a sip of the Coffee, sometimes he had to act the gentlemen to get what he wanted, but it was true. He wasn't a local. Of course he couldn't exactly tell the truth either, could he? "Traveling. You could say." He said with another nod, "This is quite good."

[Crimson]

Monsieur was not the most careful of men, but he found this particular 'gentleman' curious at the very least; worrying at worst, though. Still, he entertained the man as he would any one who shared his brew and his famously delicious cookies. The hazel liquid set fire to Curunas' stomach, filling him with a sense of satisfaction unlike any other; but of course, his thirst was insatiable and only his desires could possibly quench that. Regardless, the brewer continued to speak -- small talk, from the sound of things, something about a vineyard, his father being a farmer, winermaker, what have you, until he pressed the subject again -- this time with a friendly but pointed question:

"So where you traveling from ... or to?" he asked while absentmindedly stirring his brew inside a large tin pot. The ingredients, secret ones mind you, swam there as vaporized bits wafted into the air, drawing passerbyers from all corners of the Southern Quarter. Within some minutes, Curunas noted several persons coming by, taking their free coffee, and exchanging some stories along the way. That seemed to be the theme of the brewer -- he liked to chat.

[Curunas L'haerthyl]

"Not traveling anywhere just yet," Curunas said a bit tersely, carefully choosing his words. The brewer didn't seem to be the easiest of 'prey', and the elf was beginning to doubt if there was anything worthwhile here. "I intend to stay put for the rest of the winter."

His eyes roamed around the corner, watching others and looking for somthing, anything of interest. Though his definition of interest was quite defined.

[Crimson]

Depending on the limitations of Curunas' interest and the scope of what he thought was worthwhile, he'd find plently along his current surroundings. There were plenty of schola-age children enjoying their walk to their respective schools and academies. Most donned the uniform of the famous Lourdes Academy while others wore casual clothes indicating their less-prestigious roots. Their mothers, sometimes fathers, escorted them, trudging through the snow covered cobblestones - again. Everyone seemed to speak in rapid Jaedaxienne, though there was the occasional garnish of Charismeean thrown in there for effect.

Jaedaxia was a city of life, an eternal crossroads of cultures. Despite the turmoils and the savagery it had suffered through, it was still the Gift of the Empire. A testament of art and culture and ceaseless glory. Its architecture, unique in all the Empire, was proof of its boundless history. Many would agree, therefore, that simply standing on any random street of the city was bound to end in some kind of adventure.

And at that moment, Curunas may have agreed.

Before the brewer could come up with more small talk, a pair of youngsters arrived and demanded some brew from the beared merchant. One of them, a long haired youth with almond colored hair and a sharp chin threw Curunas a glance before his partner suddenly produced a flimsy dagger from the folds of his own cloak.

"Just give us yer purses and we be off, oui?" Long Chin grinned and his counterpart chuckled "we don't want trouble."

[Curunas L'haerthyl]

Curunas' gaze followed passerby s, looking some up and down, watching them carefully. Others, he seemed to not notice at all. To him, mostly, it all depended on wealth. Class. The higher up they were, the more likely they were to have something of value. It was likely that he might have made his departure soon enough, until they were interrupted.

Now this was an interesting situation, he thought. Difficult. But interesting to say the least. Curunas was much like these youngsters himself, except he knew better. He went about things in a much smoother way. A way that gave him a much higher percentage of completion, he thought. After all, it was all about class. This was all why it was difficult, he was much like them, a thief himself, but it wouldn't bode well to just stand by. No, that would give the wrong impression, and make his own task that much more difficult.

"Now, boys." He began, carefully picking his words. Females were much his preferred prey, but when the situation called for drastic measures what needed to be done had to be done. "None of us like trouble, before any can be caused why don't you go on your way?" It was unlikely, yes, he supposed, but it wasn't as if he knew nothing...

[Crimson]

Well not many could be as smooth as Curunas. Especially not common thieves and cutthroats. And these two looked like a bad combination of desperation and tenacity. Long Chin threw the 'traveler' a glance and scoffed. "Shut your mouth" he spat "less Brady over here will do it for you." That was a sizable threat in Curunas' book. This difficult situation was about to turn dangerous altogether.

Long Chin pressed the old dagger closed toward the brewer who shrieked as he fumbled with his coin box which contained just a few banknotes and even less gold. The man wasn't charging for his coffee after all. He was as bad of a pick as any other the low lives could have chosen. "Hurry up old man! We ain't got all brightening!"

[Curunas L'haerthyl]

Curunas knew this. He knew this well. He was smooth and knew how to make things work for him, and he took pride in it. Usually, that was. At this point, these ruffians, weren't listening. But thats how the world worked, it seemed.

He glanced towards Brady as Long Chin mentioned him, sizing him up. Meanwhile, Long Chin was still trying to get the money from the brewer. He wasn elf, a noble, he looked down at people like the brewer who was now being threatened. He rarely got in situations like such, but as it was, he was in one.

Slowly, Curunas pulled his snake skin gloves off, finger by finger. Once they were off he shoved them into his pockets. He took a few quick steps forward and his fist shot forward, hopefully connecting with Brady's shoulder. Feth, he hated this. But one did what one had to do.

[Crimson]

The larger youngster, Brady, stumbled sideways as Curunas' punch connected with his shoulder. Curses flew and both boys' attention turned to the 'traveler' now. A shoulder may not have been the best target, but at this point it mattered little: Brady counterattack with a sizable fist aimed at Curunas' jaw while Long Chin decided that it was best if he joined the fray with a little knife-work of his own.

Unknown to them, however, was Curunas' basic training in Zinn'ka. The 'traveler' staggered back, easily evading Brady's heavy blow while he caught Long Chin zig-zagging toward him. "You're going to pay for this" he hissed. But by now, passerbyers were taking notice. A woman screamed 'thief!' and the pair of blue-and-gold clad Protectorats several dozen paces seemed to have taken notice.

Now all Curunas had to do was hold them off until help arrived.

If he wasn't pounded into a pulp by then.

[Curunas L'haerthyl]

Curunas' hit to Brady's shoulder sent him stumbling a little, at least. It seemed, he wasn't without fists of his own though, but all the while Curunas kept sure, steady footing. He caught the sight of Long Chin joining in the fray. He staggered, taking a few steps back quikly, evading Brady's blow that had been targeted towards his jaw. Then there was Long Chin again, with his fething knife.

Curunas took a stance of the Rhingorda, Zinn'ka style, and watched Long Chin carefully, eyes narrowing. He took one step forward, quickly, the first move of the "straight fist", dropped his arm low and aimed for Long Chin's stomach.

[Crimson]

As it turns out, Long Chin and the hefty Brady were not only bad thieves, but they were untrained combatants as well. Brady stumbled and wobbled like a drunk trying to catch his own trouser legs at Curunas' agile maneuvers while Long Chin stabbed like a little girl with a pencil.

By this time the silrosian elf was fed up with games. The Brewer regarded the scene with a vague dispassion but he was already sneaking up behind Brady with one of his large iron pot-stirrers handy. He raised it and the tool connected as if on cue; and in the same moment, Long Chin's eyes widened as the elf lord he took for a punk plowed a straight punch into his gut.

Long Chin pitched forward as the air left his lungs and he stagged back, dropping his knife.

Brady fumbled forward as all feeling left his legs thanks to the direct hit to the back of his hollow skull.

The Brewer swore.

Then Long Chin fainted.

Two boys in blue and gold arrived at the scene, panting from the dash across the Southern Quarter. "Monsieur! Are you all right?" They looked from the brewer to Curunas, unsure. "These men .. they were the muggers?" Both guards looked curious and confused at the same time now, though one of them ventured toward the fallen Long Chin and clicked his tongue against his cheek. "This is the one" he told his partner "the one we've been looking for."

[Curunas L'haerthyl]

His attacks were succesful, as Curunas had known they'd most likely be. The two ruffians that had attacked the brewer were nothing more than that. They had hardly been worth his time as it was.

Just as the two guards arrived was Curunas fishing his gloves back out of his pocket and pulling the snakeskin gloves back over his fingers. He nodded, continuing his gentlemans charade that was part of his everyday life. "I am unhurt."

[Crimson]

The two protectorat nodded and thanked Curunas for his efforts. "You will be commended for this" one of them said with a smile "a city needs more men like yourself. Merci beacoup, monsieur." After the two guards hand-ironed the two thieves, they were easily escorted to the Goal where most persons awaited their trial with the Prefect. This left Curunas and the Coffee Brewer.

"My, that was something!" the brewer chuckled heartily "you managed to save my life and my livelihood! Telath needs more heroes like you" he added with a hefty grin "now ... how to repay a hero ... ah, I know just the thing!" Taking out his tin money box (which the robbers attempted to raid) the brewer pulled out what looked like a flattened half of a golden crown. He passed it toward Curunas with a bright smile.

"This is half of the Amulet I created which guarantees success" he said "the other half was stolen from me. It takes quite a while for me to make one, you know" he leaned forward and whispered "Ikos is a very delicate art. One mistake is all it takes to make a blessing into a curse." He grinned. "So take this with you -- I have a few more where that came from" he winked "but its effects are much stronger when both halves are together. With that you cannot fail!"

[Curunas L'haerthyl]

Curunas nodded and smiled ever so politely as the guards complimented him and told him the city needed more men like him. It was ironic. If only they knew. "Not at all, it was the least I could do." He told them, the lie rolling off his tounge like water. The guards left with the sad excuse of theives and he was left with the old Coffee brewere.

Curunas glanced up at the sky briefly before turning to him while he held out some sort of trinket. Curunas took it from the Brewer, handling it carefully in his gloved hands. "It's quite nice." He said with a nod, he was also sure it could fetch a pretty penny but he had to consider its use to him as well. He always did. "I thank you."