Adjusting plans

Jp with Lucian, Winteroak and Bandorchu

It was pretty easy to find something to occupy oneself with a parcel of land to be worked. Very helpful if one didn’t want to hear oneself think for a while.

Alexis did just that the next day, keeping herself busy and leaving Tar to his own devices until it was time to return to the Hare.

There was a noticeable sense of unrest in the streets of Ostiarium as she made her way to the Hare with Tar in tow which had her tense up unconsciously.

The Hare was no different, and even Tarmen seemed clearly on edge as they found him in the back of the tavern.

As they took seats at his table, the first thing she asked was a worried
“Are you alright?”

Seeing Alexis arrive well brought some peace to Tarmen, but his gut feeling still remained.
“No. Somethin’s happenin.”
He pulled out his journal and showed what he had drew.
“He showed the bone, then got some message and frankly…. he looked mad. Like he had been waitin’ for it all this time.”

Alexis let Tar examine the drawings, while nodding to her friend and casting her gaze around the room that carried the same feeling of unrest as the rest of the city.

“Yeah. Something’s definitely wrong…”

She subtly gestured to Tarmen’s journal.

“But still, thank you so much. How did it go?”

Tar grabbed at Tarmen's journal and looked for a few empty pages. He started to draw some in charcoal. Using the map taken from the Friar and the one the man from Kru'll had just supplied.

Alexis saw that fairway look descend on the man. The same look she imagined she got last night.

At her question Tarmen rubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed at his lack of skill in his meeting.
“Well, he knows about the map and the hammer, but thinks I am on his side and has personally tasked me with findin’ it. Not my best work, I truly wish I had more luck yesterday.”

Alexis glanced at Tar, not sure what he would make out of such news. But, honestly…

“Not ideal, but my best shot would have been traipsing through the dark on a wild goose chase, sooo…”
She gave a crooked smile.

“What are you going to do now, though?”

He returned the look.
“Didn’t you hear? I’m in charge of gettin’ this ‘oh so important’ hammer. Seems only fair I make good of my current deal with his lordship.”
He did have a few concerns on the matter, mainly loose ends caused by his story.
“I will be seein’ this Friar you talked to. Need to cover my tracks from the tale I spun, which does not include either of you. Figured you should know if Dukey happens to bring it up.”

She frowned.

“So you are planning to look for the hammer in earnest?“

Now that would probably not sit well with Tar. It … didn’t really sit well with her either. Even before… well, things happened, she wouldn’t have wanted such an artefact in the hands of the Duke. If anything, it should be with the Odonine, personal antipathy aside.

“Why not? Better I find it than someone who will actually follow the Duke’s command. If it happens to slip into the ‘wrong’ hands along the way, well,” He gestured to his arm sling, “I am clearly just a man.”
He had hoped Alexis would be on board with that path, seeing as how they wanted the map so badly. He couldn’t account for personal reasons however, so kept his tone light hearted.
“Plus the man is givin’ me supplies to do it. So I figured to use this small sign of goodwill and spite the man with it as well.”

Alexis smiled thinly at her friend, glad that he would be willing to ‚loose‘ the hammer along the way, if he found it.

It put her in a rather difficult position however. Could she really pull herself away anymore from this mission in good conscience, now that Tarmen had gotten himself signed up in order to help her?
Well played, ‘fate’.

Granted, her resolve to leave Tar and his quest behind had already suffered significantly after last night. But still… Islana…

The silence that followed his plan answered his next question, though he still wanted to hear her say it. He lowered his head slightly at a tilt, fully sympathetic to having all the plans in the world, but no time.
“Have somewhere you need to be? No worries if so Greyriver, two birds with one stone, eh?”

She closed her eyes for a moment.

“Ain’t that easy.”
Nothing ever was, for them.

She turned to look at Tar.
“How about we start with where one of those ‘birds’ is?”