Unanticipated Protection

JP with Gonyaul and Hunter:

Hunter was dead asleep again as he was woken up by the twins. They were a bit concerned that he was so sluggish now. Hoping to get him moving again, the twins coaxed Hunter into helping at their stall since it was going to be very busy with the executions. Hunter could care less about the executions but agreed to aid the twins by prepping the meat skewers at the stall. Since his knife skills were top notch, he could easily cut the meat into uniform cubes and skewer them quickly and stack them. This made it easier for the twins to season, cook and sell them.

So they had breakfast and loaded up their cart and made their way to their booth in the marketplace. Then they prepared the booth and skewers for their customers.

Hunter stayed behind the twins as he began preparing the skewers for them. He tried to avoid dealing with the customers since he was lacking people skills.

Was that a booth with food? Gonyaul thought as he was trying to keep his head down moving swiftly along the edge of Suncross Square. Well, as fast as one could with so many people in the way trying to watch the execution proceedings.

It was.

He came to the front of the booth and was about to speak in haste, but suddenly froze like a deer in headlights. He was looking at two people that looked practically the same. He had never seen twins before. His mind was grappling with a plethora of curious questions versus the desired plan to get in and get out of the Square after acquiring some food.

His hood was drawn up over his head. His eyes were red and the edges of his nose too, from the dry heaving he experienced just moments ago. The urgency in his expression and body language signified that he was in a hurry.

“Food please.” He placed the 4 gold coins, he received from Sergeant Carver, down in front of the twins to see.

Gonyaul was so preoccupied with the transaction that he failed to notice the man from last night behind the twins.

One twin spoke up, "Uh sir? One skewer is only 5 coppers. Are you planning to buy our whole stock with four gold? I don't think we can give you enough change." This of course got Hunter's attention to see who was tossing gold coins to the twins. He was a bit concerned it was someone will ill intent so he turned to see who it was. As he did he saw the man Voah called rabbit the night before. Hunter recalled the man having a strange name like Gonja, no Gonbya no Gonyual. Yes he recalled it despite his long day yesterday. He was surprised to see him at the stall after he tested Voah's patients with his pacifist mindset.

Even though Gonyaul was trying to lay low Hunter could recognize him since it was his part of his skill set. Hunter even remembered the faces of the allies to the man he killed last night. It didn't bother him that the cultist used Hunter's blade to commit suicide, but he was not to happy that bastich injuring his foot on his way out. If Hunter knew he was gonna try that crap he would have carved him a few extra poop shoots for added measure and let him die of dysentery.

Seeing as Gonyaul put four gold coins on the counter for Hunter to see he turned and spoke up, "Hey rabbit. I think you used the wrong coins. We don't have enough meat for what you are offering."

Gonyaul looked to the twin that spoke to him. Then the other one. Did it matter which one you talked to? Did they think and feel the same things? Then back again and was about to reply when suddenly he heard the word from last night directed at him again. Rabbit.

He tensed as if about to spring away. Gonyaul’s eyes immediately found Hunter. If he had been a venomous snake Gonyaul could have already been bit; the man was hiding in plain sight. Gonyaul couldn’t believe he hadn’t recognized him. He must have been that rattled by what he saw earlier on his way here.

So the lethal man from last night sold meat skewers by day? He would not have guessed that. Gonyaul took a double take and a sigh of relief. Yes, it was the same person, yet less sinister in his presence and more domesticated.

“Just want one. You keep rest. Please yes.”

The twins were very concerned as they raised their eyebrows at Gonyaul. They had no idea how to deal with a customer like Gonyaul. There was a concern about the four gold coins now as they wondered if it was stolen money. The twins looked at Hunter who collected the gold coins and spoke up, "Come have a seat. We have a stool to the side." The twins looked at Hunter funny as he nodded at them and said feed him till he is full." The twins then shrugged as they went back to cooking and selling. Hunter had seen men give up dirty money like it was nothing as they feared some form of consequences. he had killed men on both sides of that situation many times. Hunter gestured to Gonyaul to sit on the stool and wait for his food as he spoke up, "You can eat your fill with this money. However if you require my services, be it hunting or protecting....... this will cover that as well. You seem concerned about last night so if you need protection I am available. Just so you know I honor all my contracts and never double cross anyone."

What was it about these bloody coins that always had people so mixed up. It was obvious Gonyaul didn’t value them at all. He knew others did though, so they were always useful to give away. He was glad to have them out of his possession. Not because they were dirty money, but because he was sure these new people would enjoy them.

Gonyaul hesitated to take a seat, because what he wanted to do was take it to go so that he would not be present for the sounds and potential sights of this mayhem. He did oblige though and seemed to calm down from the simple human decency of civil conversation being shown. It was like a diamond in the midst of the rough. And to think it was Hunter. He lowered his hood out of respect.

Gonyaul was very surprised by what the man offered. So he was in fact a bodyguard that the Arbiter had hired last night? His offer got him thinking about his plan to go back to his place. It would be nice to not have to return alone in case there was trouble.

Gonyaul looked Hunter deep in the eyes as if measuring if what he said was true. He took his time thinking. He nodded, satisfied with whatever he found.

“You with me go now to my place on farm? Eat while walk?”

Hunter nodded at Gonyaul and spoke softly, "I will escort you there if you request. If you have any odd requests please mention them in case we need to prepare. Then Hunter had the twins prepare several skewers for himself and Gonyaul, then he gave them a gold coin which made them nervous. Hunter then told them he was being hired as a bodyguard for the day and to not worry since the Knights and army were hanging the cultist. The twins were not to happy with Hunter working again, but since he was bringing some gold home they could not argue with his results. After a few words of concern they gave him and Gonyaul the meat skewers. Since Hunter already cut down the meat and skewered all the meat cubes the rest of the day would be easy for the twins to sell out again.

Once they were ready and Gonyaul had his food Hunter spoke up, "Ready when you are. Hunter took his staff in one hand and his meat skewers in the other hand as he escorted Gonyaul to his destination. As he ate his meat on a stick, he was a bit curious how much damage the soldiers did to the farm lands. One of the main reasons he preferred the job of scout was because he was better at his job than the army or nobles.

He knew the army served a purpose for large wars but when it came to espionage the army was like using a giant war hammer to deal with a roach problem. They lacked proper information, treated everyone as a criminal, they would kill innocents in public and to make it worse they rarely solved the main problem. He found it pathetic that he could lure out the pig man in one night while Sire Zane and his army barely caught a few cult members.

After walking away from the stall and the crowd Hunter spoke up to Gonyaul, "I understand your concerns. The Knights and army did a poor job of dealing with the cultists."

Gonyaul waited for the food to be ready, grateful that it was more than just one after all. He bowed to the twins in appreciation and farewell. His hands signing thank you.

“Ready.”

Gonyaul moved with a quick pace; however, the further that they got from the Square his pace proportionally slowed to a casual one. Hunter probably recognized, with his sense of direction, that Gonyaul was leading him not to the farm that was raided. He worked on a different farm which specialized in more research and development type of farming.

Gonyaul was silently enjoying his meat skewers. They tasted magnificent, his hunger probably making them even more savory.

Gonyaul did not really know how to respond to Hunter’s comment about the knights and the army. He thought on it though and responded.

“Flowers get more bugs than fists.” That got him thinking ahead. He stopped and looked at Hunter.

“If trouble come at us, no kill. No hurting. Unless must. Yes?”

Hunter simply at a cube of meat as he nodded. Then he swallowed before he spoke up, "Don't confuse me with a common soldier or noble. Though I am a trained killer, I only focus on my mission. As for any threat I deal with them as needed based on the level of threat." Hunter then popped his neck before speaking again, "I understand you want to save the world with kind words and hugs, but if it was truly that simple people like me would not exist."

Hunter continued to walk as he enjoyed his meat on a stick. He may look like a simple villager, but he was keeping his wits up as to see who around him at all times. Under his plain cloak was an armed professional killer.

Gonyaul realized based on what and how he said it, that Hunter would do whatever he deemed necessary. There was no point in trying to convince him otherwise and so he dropped trying as they continued walking.

To Hunter’s remark about kind words and hugs, Gonyaul arched an eyebrow. Hunter must have assumed he did not understand the value of fighting. It was probably based on what happened at the farm fire with the Arbiter and assassin.

A Vaux knew full well how to leverage a person’s body to subdue, induce pain, render unconscious, break bones, dislocate joints, rip muscles, tear ligaments, permanently disable, as well as kill using just their body. Just because he could didn’t necessarily mean that he should. Just because he valued forgiveness, love and grace didn’t mean he didn’t know there were times were good had to stand opposed to evil with force. Gonyaul did not reply on that matter. There was no harm in letting Hunter think he was as harmless as a rabbit.

What Gonyaul did want, was to gain a greater understanding. Perhaps by knowing more, hunter’s perspective and actions would make more sense.

He smiled after swallowing his last piece of meat.

“what is your story?”