copper (eragos)
Simanel had a huge marketplace, one that she'd found herself fighting in more than once. Before and after she'd joined the Riders. The reason they used the marketplace for the fourth circle was because while public, it was also had a great number of exits and was nearly always crowded. Even at night. Down one street you could find any spirit you wanted to drink, down another there were girls of every size, shape, color, and age for your liking. There really was something for everyone. She'd been down these back alleys more times than she could count. She'd rolled dice there, spat blood onto that wall, and well.. other things less.. disorderly.
Eragos had been fairly quiet since they'd arrived. Martine, Cols, and Geoff hardly stopped talking. They were all in plain clothes again. She wasn't much for dresses, but it wasn't someone who knew her here in Simanel would have expected her to wear. Tailored and fine, she could and did hide a dagger under the dress. She didn't bring her gloves, and partially regretted it. But they were far more obvious. None of them wanted to run into anyone they knew. None of them wanted to fall into line with the white riders who did patrol around here.
It happened far less than any would have expected.
"Do you think some of them were paid off?" Geoff said as softly as he could. Looking around the corner along with Cols. Martine just shook his head quickly. None of them wanted to think that some of the Riders could be crooked.
Everyone was crooked in some way, Eithne knew the truth of that. She would have turned a blind eye on a fight if they had put the right coin into her palm. Of course, that was if no one had died. It wasn't as if the riders didn't pay her, but fighting was a way of life for people, and if none of them ever understood that.. well they'd never been poor and lived on a street before had they? She wouldn't tell any of them that. They'd all scowl at her and Eragos might..
No. He wouldn't be sour with her so quickly. Not after that wagon ride. She'd never shared her soul with anyone, nor the burden she carried along with it. None save Eragos. Not even Reg had known a great deal of it. But then she was young. Nothing really bothered her then. Reg had known enough about her, enough to love her. It was silly not to have told him everything, but it wasn't as if she told Eragos everything either. Just.. enough. Enough for now. They were similar and Eithne was grateful enough to have him there ready for the next fight. And now that he'd shared... She couldn't even begin to explain how.. that made her feel. It wasn't better, but it wasn't worse either. This time she'd wrapped his hands in tape inside the inn. The innkeeper owed her a favor, and signed them in under different names. Just in case any riders ended up in there to check the books.
Just in case. Because Agrippa must have noticed they were all missing.
She hoped not. Not yet. They'd be out of here in a day. Just a day.
Finally they slid into the crowd of people there was assembled at nearly the center of the marketplace. Familiar colors assembled all around. Gold, Blue, and of course Green. The main teams. She couldn't remember who it was she'd fought here. Without Slaaven there she didn't know who anyone would be fighting, or who would be going around to announce it. Suddenly she found some one's chest against her back and turned her head hesitantly. It was only Eragos, peering over the crowd. She turned her head to see who it was he was looking at.
Rotgut. Of course.
And Greenwist not far off either.
Brilliant.
"I doubt it's.. him. There's no way he'd face you in the circle after what you did to him in that alley. And we can't grab him here.." She said softly. Uneasy. The ledgers were safely back in the inn. Hidden, of course. She wanted to ask Montague as well. But... right now? Still raw.
Still raw. Especially about the statement.. about the honey trap. Eithne didn't want to hear him yell that about Eragos again. She wanted none of that.