Aerianne's Intro
- Alane
-- Day 1
by Ryoko


The tavernkeeper shook his head slightly as he returned with his customer's ale. "Been rare for this time of the year for people to travel alone, especially this far out into the country." He said conversationally. "What brings you here, stranger?"

If he was expecting an answer, he didn't get one. The customer in question merely made a noise that sounded like a grunt, then paid close attention to the drink he had set on the table. He wore a long cloak that wasn't common in the area, and his features were partly concealed by a long hood.

The tavernkeeper gave up trying and quickly attended to his other customers. The stranger said nothing and instead concentrated on the conversation going on at the next table.

"Ya damn lyin', that's what y'are."

"No I ain't. I tell ya, there's this powerfullike stone in Alane that can grant ya anything ya want. Anything, even the world, man!" "Ha! Ya still believe them old wives' tale? Ain't nothing like that exists no more!"

"Oh yeah? There's dis old man up in Alane that says so. He's seen em with his own eyes, that's what he says! Anyhow, he don' have no reason t' lie, 'specially when he know I'm gonna be havin' my way with his daughter again if he lies one more time, y'see."

Loud, drunken laughter.

The hand holding the cup of beer tightened.

The story seemed to give one of the men a great idea."Heyy, good lookin'", he said to the serving girl, who had just set their cups on the table. "Let's you and me go have some fun."

"Oh n-n-no, sir......s-stop it..... "

"Aw...yer gonna like it, girl....."

A solid punch to the belly cut off the rest of the man's words and sent him careening into a wall. The rest gaped at the stranger responsible, partly because of the attack on their comrade, and partly because of the fact that the stranger was a woman.

"You're lucky.", the girl calmly told them, almost as if she was talking about the weather. "People who do what you scum do don't usually do it a second time. Maybe it's because I killed them the first time around." Her voice hardened."Anyone else?"

Nobody answered.

"I figured as much." Dropping a few coins by the table, Aerienne turned, walked past the frightened customers and out the door. It was by a stroke of luck, but she had a lead. With a little more, she might even find what she was looking for.

"I guess I'll be going to Alane now." A slight smile appeared on her lips, to be quickly replaced by a frown.

"Hm........which way is north?"

---

Ryoko
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