After tending my wounds, I redressed in a black, long-sleeved, tight-fitted shirt. With my favorite riding jacket lying in rags, I had to make do with the spare jacket I had brought along. The black dyed leather was faded in places, the leather rough and scratchy, However, the worn leather only added to the comfort as the inside of the jacket was lined with the white fur of the dire-wolves that roam the frozen wastes north of Valskaar. With its high fur collar and length that reached my knees, I had brought it along for when I had to be active during the cold nights around the Dark Woods. It had slit up the back to make it suitable for riding, but would be nowhere near as comfortable as my old jacket. I left my jacket open as to not overheat on the mild night, but belted my sword over it which would keep my jacket tight to my body as well as keeping easy access to my sword. I glanced at my shield debating whether it would be acceptable to bring it along with me, while I adjusted and re-tied the leather band around my hair. My hands froze as I realized my shield, that should have taken the brunt of the damage from Dirge's armor, remained the same slightly battered shape as before our duel. I picked it up while I thought. All the small dents and scratches it bore were there before I acquired it. All those years ago it had been gifted to the orphanage, a regular occurrence as many orphans desired to join a mercenary band, or enlist among Valskaars' armies as they came of age. All those years of training and small skirmishes, and it has not altered one bit. I set my shield back down with a sigh, as I forced myself to put aside those thoughts for now. Luke would already be waiting for me, and I was growing more and more weary of the inpatient kicking he seemed prone to of late.

I set out for Luke's tent, arriving quickly I reached forward to open the flap of his tent, just as Luke barged out, throwing the flap aside. His boot collided heavily with my shin before he could completely stop himself from crashing into me.

"Ahh, BLOODY-DAMN LUKE, that's the same spot from this morning" I exclaimed, as I bent over rubbing my shin, my hair flopped over my shoulder into the mud after I had just managed to get it clean.

"Oh come now, Saora, after watch'in that duel, I doubt that would even both'ar yah. Besides I was just on my way to come to yah, Let's get goin already." Luke casually brushed aside my anger, already walking away.

"Is Marian not coming?" I asked as I caught up to him.

"No, I've assigned'er as actin commander while we're gone." Luke recited as if rehearsed.

"And that has nothing to do with the rumors of the newest barmaid around camp?" I asked to tease him, as I already knew the answer no matter how he responded.

"Oh, no, course not, Someone has'ta stay behind and watch over the troop."

"I sincerely doubt that, Captain, also It's my job to inform you that any relationship between military officers, has to be reported and approved through the chain of command, WE wouldn't want to cause any unrest among the men, now would we Captain."

"I am completely oblivious, as to why you would choose to mention that now Lieutenant." All signs of Luke's accent gone as he attempted to appear professional.

"Ah well, no mind then, some of the men just reported strange sounds from your tent last night Sir. I received the reports as it seems Marion was not available." I continued to tease him, doing my best to hold in my mirth. It was not often I found some modem of payback for everything Luke has put me through.

Luke maintained his composure as he answered. "Purely coincidental Lieutenant, I was doing some late night exercises to maintain my form, Marion must have been similarly indisposed."

"More like she was 'maintaining' her form with you" I muttered under my breathe.

"What was that Lieutenant?"

"Oh, was merely stating we should hasten our pace, Sir. Wouldn't want to keep the honorable leader of 'Fluffy Tails' waiting Sir." I said with the straightest face possible.

Luke responded with a mere nod, likely tired of my teasing.

We continued walking towards Roderan in silence, as the last vestiges of sunlight faded and the night welcomed us.

We approached the gates of the town out of the darkness. The Night Watchmen calling out to us from atop of the high wooden walls as we entered the light of the torches upon the walls.

"State your name and purpose, as required." Called out the gravelly voice of the seasoned man.

"Captain Luke of Valskaar, of the 2nd Division of Long-Riders, accompanied by my assigned Shield Maiden. We are to meet with the leader of the mercenary band Fluffy Tail... or was it tails... either way, we are to meet in the tavern." Replied Luke, raising his voice to be heard clearly, despite his lapse of memory.

"Very well, be on your way then good Captain. " The Night Watchmen called back, signaling the men below to open the gate.

We stood in patiently, accompanied by the sounds of men behind the door removing the draw-bar sealing closed the gate. We didn't have to wait long as the gates swung open revealing a cobbled street and the tired Gate-Keepers, who obviously desired to be elsewhere... most likely the tavern visible from the gate. They begrudgingly closed and barred the gate behind us as we made for the Tavern. We opened the door, hearing an ambiance of chatter and occasional light laughter. The local patrons paid us no mind as I easily spotted Dirge, still dressed in the same armor from our duel. I paid special attention to the crimson haired Wolf-kin seated next to him at the bar. I pointed them out to Luke, who's attention was focused on the rumored barmaid as she made her rounds among the patrons, drawing their attentions as she refilled their mugs. I had to elbow Luke in the side to draw his attention.

"Oh, righto' let's sit down shall we?" Luke asserted, showing no embarrassment at being caught ogling the girl. He led the way to the two available seats alongside dirge and his companion, he had wavered hesitantly as he moved to pat Dirge on the shoulder to catch his attention, but finding no safe place on the man to do so. He instead slapped it down on the bar as he sat on the edge of the stool, slightly leaning away from the cascade of pain that was Dirge's figure. Dirge's whole figure turned as he moved to address us, Luke shifted further away as his movement caused the blades of his shoulder guards to pass alarmingly close to Luke's face.

"HAW-haw, what took you so long lad, me and the boss here's, already down four pints!"

Luke replied trying to cast aside his concern for the blades that dance before his face to Dirge's animated movements. "Saora, has a knack for being late, but you know how women are, always fixing their hair and such."

Dirge turned his attention to me, eyes following the hair down my back, as I was steaming from Luke's words. "You might want to work on that some more lass, there's still a fair amount of mud in your hair."

I could only let out a deep sigh in response.

"Well anyways, let me introduce you to the boss" Dirge continued leaning back to further reveal the Wolf-Kin alongside him. "Captain Luke, meet Elijah Ethewulf, leader of Fluffy Tails." Dirge declared cordially.

"Please, Just Eli, if you would." The Wolf-Kin added with his guttural voice. His stature was nearly as tall as mine own, making his features easily discernible over the heads of Luke and Dirge. His soft, heart-shaped face was a sharp contrast to Dirge's squared lived in looks.

"Ah, among the band, we lovingly call him Fluffles" With his right hand gesturing to the soft-looking plumes of white hair that flowed out from his inner ears. While his left reached behind Eli grasping his tail and brought it forth, for Luke's and my own, comical viewing pleasure. Eli quickly swatted his hands away but not before I caught a glance at Eli's crimson tail whose tapering seemed to reverse towards the end into a veritable ball of white fluffiness.

Restraining my laughter I asked, Fluf-Eli, what's your band's purpose outside Roderan?"

"We're taking short respite, from our long journey back from patrolling the southern reaches of Valskaar, I want to get the men back to help their families to help with the summer harvests." His eyes drifted, and followed the bar-maiden, as she walked past the bar into the kitchen, hips swaying, and arms filled with with empty pitchers. He wasn't the only one as Luke had returned his attention to her midway through the prior introduction. Their attentions shifted to each-other as she disappeared behind the doorway. The Wolf-Kin's cheeks flushed red, with a veiled smile, different than looks roguish smirk, as each mans face relayed their thoughts one the same topic.

"I'd hav-tah admire yah' tastes Eli, but I'm afraid with-an attitude like that, yah' might miss out to-a better man." Luke, not so subtlety challenged the Wolf-kin.

Eli hesitated, trying to catch up to Luke's fast paced low-borne accent. I spoke first interrupting whatever delayed response he had forth-coming.

"LUKE, we're on a schedule, We've no time to wait as you go gallivanting around after some village girls!" I"ll admit, I was slightly annoyed at how easily some girl had every male patron of the tavern vying for her attention.

"Oh yah' jus-bein jealous Saora, maybe if yah jus-put down yah' shield, and put the same kind of effort intah yah' own womanly charms, as yah' do with fightin, yah could find yah' own man to squish batween yah muscled thighs!" Luke's accent regressing more and more, as he had been delving into his drink that I wasn't sure when he acquired.

"Ignore him Saora, I think you'd make a fine lass, if you cleaned up your hair a little better, maybe wore less leather and more finery, possibly try frowning less and quit sighing like and begrudged kneaver, and quit...... uh, uh,.... ah never-mind lass, you'r just fine as it is. You just need the right kind of man to... look past all that.... stuff." Dirge tried and failed desperately to climb out of the hole he dug for himself through his charade.

I failed to hold back a sigh, as I did a poor job of pretending the whole last bit of conversation never happened. I smacked my own two pence upon the table, harder than I meant too, drawing the older Bar-Keeps attention as he brought me my own mug and collected my coins. Eli and Dirge exchanged shrugs and furtive glances as I all but inhaled the contents of my mug, emptying it in one go. My blood warmed as I placed two more pence on the bar with a light tap. The Bar-Maid strode out of the kitchen, arms laden with two fresh pitches in each hand. My eyes followed her a she passed the bar, vetting her to discern how she so enraptured the heart and lust of men. Her form was lithe and sensual. The low-cut front of her dress, coupled with one of the straps slide over her shoulder, letting one side droop even lower, revealing much of he womanly assets I could judge honestly inferior to mine own in size and shape. But while my figure was tall and rigid, her figure seemed small and fragile. Her height likely wouldn't put the top of her level with my chest. Her soft angular face help an innocent look, but looking into her eyes, I could see by the gleam she new full well the effect she had on these men. Her sensual looks would not save her from the harshness off the land, her slender shoulders would not support the work plowing fields, her innocent face would do her no favors against the hunger of a dire-wolf. Shapely hips would be of no use, if trolls tried to run her down.

I pitied her and the life she would have relying on others, before casting her from my thoughts, and gulped down another mug. I slapped down two more pence before I had finished draining it.