“What in the nine hells are they doing?” Anusha of the Skull Squadron stable asked.
“Going fishing,” My-re of the Health Alteration Squad responded. The two women sat on a wooden log on Willow Beach. She stretched out her long legs and pulled her skirt up past her knees, so they could get more of the sun’s warmth. They watched heavily armed lord protectors head to the docks to hunt for a new monster fish inhabiting the Lake of Mists. However, their attention was on the muscular form of Captain Darien, wearing little more than a loincloth. His perfectly carved muscles boasted power as he pointed and shouted orders to the other protectors boarding the craft.
They heard another approach and saw their stablemate Rao strutting down the beach, which was rather rocky for a beach, towards them and the docks. His youthful face had a wide grin plastered across it. He checked the reach of his scimitar and then pulled the straps on his platemail armor tight.
“It seems nothing brings out the boys like a good old fashion monster hunt,” My-re commented.
Anusha nodded as she let her garment slip off one shoulder and let her ankle bracelet jingle as she crossed her legs.
As Rao came up to them, My-re couldn’t help but notice Rao stare at Anusha’s chain on her bare legs.
Anusha asked, “Don’t tell me you’re going with these Alastarians to search for this Lake of Mists monster?”
“Yup.”
“Sounds like a fool’s errand.”
“Nope.”
“How are you going to hunt for a monster that inhabits the deepest part of the lake?” My-re asked.
“Live bait.”
“You’re going to be the only Rirorni on a boat-full of Alastarians. Who do you think they’ll use as ‘live bait’?” Anusha asked.
“Humph, they’re going to use some sawfish caught earlier. They really thrash up the water. It’ll surely attract the beast,” Rao said with confidence.
Anusha looked Rao up and down and said, “Why all the armor?”
“In case I get bit,” Rao scoffed.
“What if you fall off the boat?” My-re countered.
Rao looked out towards the ship and then the water. He grimaced as the logic seemed to sink in and cursed, “The nine hells.” He began to unbuckle the platemail.
“You’d better hurry. It looks like they’ll be leaving soon,” Anusha said.
“Take my armor back to the stable?” Rao asked Anusha as he took of the breastplate.
“I’m not lugging that heavy mess back up the road,” Anusha said.
“I’ve got to get back to the Broken Swords,” My-re said as he looked towards her.
Rao dropped the ensemble of armor next to the log. He stripped down to little more than a light shirt and loincloth. His body’s muscles showed he had been training his strength in the arena. “Watch my armor until I get back.”
“When is that going to be?”
“I don’t know.”
Anusha’s eyes glared at the armor and then back to Rao. She scowled.
“As favor.”
“I don’t know,” Anusha used his word back at him.
The group heard someone else approach down the rocky beach and they saw another of their stablemates, Hungry Peasant of the Famine stable, nicknamed HP for short, head their way.
“Great day for a hunt!” Hungry Peasant exclaimed.
“Have HP take your armor back,” Anusha said in the Rirorni native tongue of Rathiri.
“Why would he do that?” Rao asked back in the Khan’s tongue.
My-re looked around Rao to HP and the scalemail armor he wore.
Rao smiled. “Hey, initiate! Take my armor back to the stable along with yours.”
Hungry Peasant’s brow crinkled in confusion. “Why? I need my armor in case I get bit.”
“What if you fall off the boat?” Rao countered with My-re’s words to him.
HP looked at his scalemail and then back to the water and cursed, “The nine hells.”