After Annie and Emme's most unceremonious dumping onto the docks of Old Rose, much time was spent standing and staring about. Neither girl had been there before, and therefore neither knew what to do, where to go, or how to pay once they got there.

Annie picked up her bag which had, luckly, not been touched the entire trip (mostly because it was hidden away in the kitchens where none could rifle through), and tied it tighter than usual. "It was nice o' that guy with the pet caterpillar not to let 'em dump us out into the water like they wanted. If'n ye ask me, I think he had a thing fer ye, Emme." She winked at the other girl and shouldered her pack.

They started walking down the docks towards town, passing boats and ships that were either docking for the day or just leaving. It was interesting, seeing all the people coming and going, especially for those so used to staying in one place for so long. Well, she might be used to stayin in one place, Annie thought, but I'm startin to feel like I've been travelin more'n I've been sleepin.

Annie and Emme reached the end of the dock. "Think any o' the dockhand would know a good place t'sleep fer the night?"

Emme felt miserable as soon as she set foot in Old Rose.

The smell was the first thing she noticed. Everything stunk here - compared to the harbor, Vienda was a rose bouquet. The smell of fish and sea salt, of grime and filth, of diseased animals and putrid waste, rose to her nostrils and made her eyes water.

It wasn't her home. She'd barely every traveled beyond the city walls before, and if it weren't for Annie she would have been utterly lost.

She nodded in response to the reporter's question.

"Ask one of the cleaner ones," she whispered. "I don't want to stay where that man slept." She pointed at a particularly slimy-looking bosun, who was picking his teeth with the wing-bone of what appeared to be a seagull.

Annie looked at the sailor with a grimace, her mouth turned down in a soured frown. "Me neither."

She turned her head and spotted a younger man, coiling ropes on the deck of another ship. He looked considerably cleaner, although not spotless by far. "Let's ask him!"

Annie walked over to the ship, giving a rap to the hull. "'Scuse me, erm, kov. We're lookin' fer a place what to lay our heads fer the night. Know any good spots that ain't, erm, full up with mites 'n' mates?"

Brendan Harrows gave the two women a winning smile.

"You can stay in my room." He said with a wink.

He had perfect teeth and the kind of pectoral muscles you normally saw on marble statues. A boot came flying out of nowhere and hit him on the back of the head.

A grizzeled old man appeared. "I knew your mother was too pretty." He said with a look of distaste.

"Hey, what? Get yer paw off me ship girl, what d'you want?"

Annie would have blushed if she weren't used to that sort of response. She was most certain, however, that Emme had just turned four shades of magenta.

Annie stiffled a laugh at the young sailor's misfortune. Serves him right, hitting on us pore innocents when he shoulda been coilin' rope.

When the older man came on deck, Annie gave as nice a curtsey as she could in her somewhat still bedraggled skirt. This was one of my favorites, too. "My friend and I are new in town, sir, an' we're lookin' fer a place what to bunk down for the night, mayhaps even two. Somewhere less, erm, unclean. We figured a smart man such as ye'self would know of at least one."

Pa Harrows gave Annie a wry look. "No need to be commentin' on me intelligence, gel. There's plenty of places to stay."

Pa made a look of disgust.

"The cleanest probably is his room." He smacked Brendan just because. "Otherwise, the Black Dove Tavern has mats you can sleep on. There might be a boarding house up the street. Not sure, might be a tumblehut..."

Brendan winked at Emme, flexing his left bicep.

And isn't it just like you, a dark skinned woman thought to herself in a way that seemed half amused and half annoyed, To show up in a new place without a clear plan. Her dark blue eyes scanned harbor, looking for something to catch her eyes. Something to do...

Her view was snagged by the two characters that seemed the most out of place, two girls who were also looking around. Amani Zolai moved towards them quickly, repositioning her pack so that she wouldn't seem too threatening.



"I'm sorry to interrupt," Amani spoke up from behind the two in a voice that carried a hint of a musical sort of accent, "But I'm looking for a place to stay as well. Since we're going in the same direction, perhaps I could ah-- join you? For a little while, at least."

This way I won't have to get three different sets of directions...they seem like they'd be able to find their way around easily. Unlike me... The woman almost scowled at the memory-- having to find her way around Vienda and getting lost for hours until she'd finally stumbled her way to a bakery where she'd gotten accurate directions-- until she remembered she was trying to look innocent.

Or, less threatening, anyway. It was a hard thing to do-- the galdor had a curved sword hanging at each hip, and what looked like two long-swords strapped to her pack.

She saw that the pair-- no, all four of them, were staring at her oddly and she shrugged, "It's not for protection...I just get lost easily. I would do better following someone who looks harmless-- ah, no offense-- than a native, and in the end it'd be better if we all got lost together than if I got lost alone...again." Her lips quirked a little, but it was less in a smile and more in a grimace.

And that, Amani thought idly, is why I never lead my troops until we got to the villages.

Emme froze as the galdor approached. She did not know many Mugrobi, and was not entirely aware of their political system; the strange familiarity, almost respect, that Amani showed her was shocking. She froze, assuming the hunched and subservient posture she normally showed around galdori.

Not knowing how to answer, she babbled. "Oh, you...sure, sure, we're just going to be walking, just finding a place to stay, won't be anything special, probably pretty cheap, Annie, right? Uh..."

Unlike Emme, Annie had never developed that 'hunch over so they don't see you' mentality that other wicks and humans had honed to perfection over the years as a means to live with the galdori. This one, though...this one's different. Annie's eyes did a quick flick over the newcomer's face and wardrobe. Swords, four of them. Good in a fight, I'm guessing. Would come in handy. Mugrobi? I hear they don't treat wicks and humans like they do here. "Cheap as free, were it my decision, but inexpensive t'say the least. Name's Annie, and this here's Emme. Pleased t'make yer aquaintance." She extended her hand to the sworded lady and nodded over to the two men on the boat. "We were just askin' these two fine gentlemen t'name the best place fer a coupla ladies like ourselves t'bunk down fer the night. Aside from the Young'ns cabin, we've been told the Black Dove Tavern."

Annie turned back to the older man, ignoring Flexing Bicep Boy. "Where might this 'Black Dove' be, fine sir?"

Pa gave Annie a raised eyebrow.

"Up that road." He said, grumbling slightly under his breath and pointing. "You'd be better off with the tumblehut though."

Brendan waved some more at Emme.

"Look me up some time, gorgeous!" He called down at her.

Pa the proceeded to hit him again, numerous times. "I knew your Ma was too damn pretty, she made you a halfwit!"

It didn't even occur to the other woman that Emme was having trouble speaking because she was a galdor. I wish people would stop cowering at the sight of my swords. They're just weapons! Amani fixed the small woman with a beady eye, "Cheap's good. I don't got money to throw around."



"Annie. Emme." She said, committing both names to memory and taking Annie's hand, pressing it firmly but not bone crushingly. She liked Annie. No nonsense. Obviously not a coward. Good in a fight? Maybe... although she didn't exactly seem like a confrontational type. And with Emme as her companion, well...definitely not.

"My name is Amani. It is good to meet you both as well." She continued to stare at Emme with a mixture of disapproval and possibly even with dislike until Annie started talking again.



Amani's lips quirked and she drew her eyes away from Emme to the boy, who was flexing his bicep and winking at the short woman. She snorted, and muttered something that sounded like 'probably can't handle himself, much less an actual girl' more loudly than was necessary.



And is there a tavern near? Amani bit the inside of her cheek to keep herself from asking the question. There's bound to be. Don't ask stupid things.



Amani was grinning broadly, not even bothering to mask her amusement as the father beat his boy. "I like him!" she remarked, and glanced back down at Annie, "Ah. Lead the way. I wasn't even looking which way he pointed..." She told the girl sheepishly.

Annie caught Amani's leer towards Emme, and wasn't quite sure what to make of it. Granted, Emme's a bit of a scardy at times, but she ain't gross 'er nothin...Annie shrugged and gave Emme a light elbow jab in the side, indicating she should probably shake their new friend's hand and play nice with the other kids.

*snort!* Annie covered her mouth and faked a sneeze, attempting to mask her laughter. Wit and weapons! We're keepin' this'un!

"Mayhaps, but I ain't too keen on bein' mistaken fer merchandise." She tipped her head, then remembered she'd left her hat at home. "Much obliged to ye, sir!"

Annie led the group off the dock and onto the road into town. "Sure, he's fine if'n ye don' mind bunkin with a girlieboy an' gettin whacked in the face by a stray fish every now'n agin."

They walked in silence for a while, Annie leading the way to a place she'd neither been to or seen before on very shaky directions, Emme hunched over by natural reflex, and Amani...clinking.

"So, Amani...what brings ye to this humble harbor town?"

Instinctively, she touched the place next to her heart where her hair-knot had once fallen; she moved her hand up to the nape of her neck, feeling her short hair. She didn't feel gorgeous. She felt smelly and she looked like a boy. The first thing I'll have to do, she thought, is find some clothes that don't smell like a sewer and a gally combined...



Emme giggled nervously.

Annie had acted with such confidence, and they were still alive.. she marveled at the reporter's courage, and found herself feeling very lucky that she had accompanied her to Old Rose. She flashed her a quick smile. She tried to smile at Amani, too, but couldn't bring herself to do it; not yet, anyway.

Amani's grin widened even more, "You and I may be thinking of different types of 'fish'." She laughed, "Either way, it doesn't sound like something I'd want to get involved with."



"Hardly humble. I've heard tales." the woman said with a snort, keeping her eyes ahead of them for any sign of danger. Probably unnecessary. But best not to get out of habit.

"What brings me here...?" She mused aloud, "Adventure, maybe? Boredom, probably. I've come looking for a job. Ran out of money in Vienda and got myself into trouble over my tab in a few bars...It's not as bad as it sounds, though."

It's worse. But let's not go into details.

"And on the side," Amani said, stretching luxuriously as she walked, "I've come to find Silas Hawke. I've heard he pays his guards well. But he's a hard man to find so I'll do as I may till then. And you?"

She glanced down at Emme, "And both of you? I don't suppose you'd be lookin' to hire a guard... It'd be cheap. Just 'till I get a better offer, anyway." The galdor caught herself in time to stop things from getting awkward, "Ah. I apologize, business later. What I would really like to know--"

And Amani paused to fix the two with a disbelieving stare, "Is what two women are doing in Old Rose without a weapon, or a man to protect them. How did you come to be here?"

Annie felt her face begin to pale, so she deftly covered it with a horrible sounding hacking cough that forced blood back to her cheeks.

"Funny thing about that, erm, heh heh...Y'see, I, erm..." The reporter scratched the back of her neck; she was usually good on the fly, but for some strange reason hadn't thought of a reason for the two wicks to be in Old Rose that didn't involve 'we're running away from the Resistance! Ack!'

"We don't much like to talk about it, it's kinda private, y'see." Annie leaned in closer, lowering her voice and looking about in a secretive manner. "But I 'spose we can trust ye well enough. I'm here to complete my Bucket List. Emme here's moral support."

Emme hadn't the faintest clue in the world what a Bucket List was, and felt slightly ashamed that she hadn't even come up with a cover story. She nodded. "Aye, sure enough," she said, eyeing Annie sideways. "Plenty of buckets in these parts."

Amani waited patiently for the girl to get her story straight. Not my business. And, she added to herself with an inner smile, I don't really care one way or the other.



Whatever Amani was expecting, it wasn't that. "Oh, aye," She managed to say through her rather unseemly guffaws, which were only escalated by Emme's comment. Once her giggles had subsided and she'd wiped a stray tear or two from her eyes she straightened and shook her head.

"I've heard it's good to start those early." She said, clapping a hand on Annie's shoulder, "I hope you'll let me know how it goes."

Whatever the real story was, it would obviously have to wait to be told-- if it would be told at all. She caught a sign out of the corner of her eye and grabbed both of her companions with strong fingers, dragging them back and the slinging her arms around their shoulders. She pointed at the bottom word. "Tavern. The man sent us to a tavern, swords be praised! Old Rose is looking well!" She jostled the two girls, planting a hearty kiss on each of their cheeks and headed towards the inside of the Black Dove Tavern looking like a hunting dog that had just caught the right scent.

Hellooooo world! She thought as she opened the door and sat looked around trying to find a waiter. Instead, she grabbed a man and pulled him towards her forcefully, "You. Find me a maid, or a bartender, or the manager, or somebody that works here." She smiled with all her teeth which somehow didn't offer any comfort, "Please." Amani said sweetly. Somehow the way she said it made it feel as if it wasn't a request.

Annie stood dumbfounded, watching the mugrobi galdor beeline for the tavern door. When she was sure all attentions were on what lay inside the building ahead, Annie turned and shot Emme a look. " 'Plenty o' buckets?' Ain't ye never heard of a bucket list? List o' things t'do before ye kick? I figured the hacking cough woulda spurred it on." Annie shook her head. "Here on out, I'm down with the whooping croupe, or cough, or whatever it is. Docs giv'n me six months. Sound plausible? Er, maybe we need somethin' more deadly, somethin' t'keep pryin' eyes away." Eventually, they'd think of something less drastic. Maybe.

The reporter started towards the door to the Black Dove. "C'mon, we may as well see what's so excitin' about a tavern. Maybe they've got a bit o' food, too. My stomach's started talkin'."

"Annie, if we're looking to not get killed, the story that you're not long for this world ent exactly inspiring," said Emme nervously, still reeling from Amani's kiss. She'd never been so much as patted on the back by a galdor; it felt slightly dirty, like she was breaking some sort of pledge.

As she entered the tavern, she saw Amani approach a man and grab him by the lapels.

"Er, th' bartender's there, lassie," the man said, grinning haplessly and showing off several missing teeth. He pointed with a stubby finger to the bar, where Mr. Spitz was busying himself wringing the blood from a hingle into a jar.

Emme gasped unhappily as she watched him do it.

"Oh, gods, I'm going to be sick," she whispered to Annie, steadying herself against the rickety wall of the tavern.

Amani grinned and patted the man on the cheek condescendingly, "Good man," She teased, sauntering over to the bar and sitting down, glancing at the counter suspiciously. Dirty, but not sticky. It was early so no one had thrown up or spilled their drinks too spectacularly yet. "Vulker's Sap, please. And if you've got anything to eat back there, I'll take sommat as well." she said dreamily, turning back to Annie and Emme. She waved them over cheerily, "And when you've got my drink I'd like to speak to you about a room, or a cot if you've one of those. I need a place to stay."

The mugrobi happened to glance at her nails and stopped. Dirt. Without half a thought she took out her pocket knife and started cleaning her nails out deftly.

"Roight away, miss," said Spitz loudly, his voice cracking with fear. He hated galdori, but in a cowardly way; apparently the sentiment was echoed, because the bar had become suspiciously empty since Amani's arrival. Even the man who had directed her to the bar had slipped out unnoticed.

As the old man put aside his bloodied hingle corpse and reached for a bottle of liquor, he spoke up again. "Looks as though a bit of attic's opened up," he said shakily. "Ye can kip under some nice soft hay. I'll even bring up me best blankets for the ladies. NAULANDA!!" His yell startled Emme, who looked up to see a voluptuous woman saunter in, freeze, and stare slack-jawed at the galdor at the bar.

"Show the ladies to the loft, will ye, dearie?" Spitz suggested quietly. She nodded, still staring, and began to back towards the ladder that led to the attic.

Annie smudged her face on her shoulder, attempting to wipe off the feeling of someone else's lips on her face. A female someone else. A GALDORI female someone else. The devils must be having a snowball fight. "Eh, just don't say nothin lest somebody's askin. And even if they do...don't say more'n what needs t'be." The reporter blushed a little. "It...it was all I could come up with on the spot. I'm...I'm a bit outta stories if'n I ain't sittin' in front of my typewriter."

Annie's jaw fell just a bit. We've associated ourselves with that?! Cripes...

Annie felt her stomach heave. Well, I was hungry once... "Just pretend it's a tomato. A brown...fuzzy...tomato...with a face. Oh gods..." The reporter covered her strangely green face with a hand, doing everything in her power not to unload a stomach partially full of peelled potatos and diced onions on the floor.

Amani had ordered a drink, some food and gotten a place to sleep before Annie had a chance to swallow her dinner from the night before. A few seconds ticked by before she realized...hay? Blankets and hay? A slight whimper escaped her lips. "Once upon a time, I knew what a mattress felt like..." she said quietly to Emme. Annie stepped up to the bar next to Amani. "Speakin' o' beds, ye wouldn't know o' anyone what's lookin' fer help in the job front, would ye? Me an' m'friend here have two hands apiece, able fer cookin', cleanin', foldin' er carryin'. Any trade'll do; heck, we'd even take up black smithin', come the need." Annie flashed a smile at the man, ignoring the furry corpse staring her down from the counter behind him. She'd never really known anything about blacksmithery, but any port in a storm would do. S'long as it don't involve hingle guts.

"Th' Brothers are hirin'," said Spitz absently, more concerned with Amani at the present moment, "but ye don't look much like thugs, an' 'less yer any fair hand at tofferin' Hawke won't have much use for ye. Why don't ye check over by the docks? The Mad Queen might have a spot o' work for ye."

Emme stared at Mr. Spitz in horror. "The Mad Queen?" she repeated, in a whisper. "Who's she?"

Spitz guffawed and then spat, tossing his bloodied hingle aside. Emme fought the urge to retch.

"Ye aren't from around 'ere," he said finally. "Bloody stupid place to find yerself if ye ain't got a reason to be in the vicinity. Best get yer erses on home, lassies, afore they belong to someone who ain't got a mind to treat 'em right." He made it clear, with gesturing, that he was talking to Emme and Annie - NOT Amani, whom he seemed to regard with a mixture of reverence and abject fear.

"Hay is fine." Amani said absently, keeping her eyes on the man's hands as he prepared her drink.



Concentrating on drink too much. You should have been the one to ask that question.



The Brothers? Her interest was piqued but she waited for him to stop talking to the other two girls.



"Obviously," Amani said delicately, "If they are here, they have no mind of going back soon, Sah. They are to be rooming with me...hopefully you won't have further cause to speak to my companions that way."

The dark woman tapped her pocket knife on the table pensively, barely noticing the discomfort that other people had with her, "And you mentioned 'The brothers'? Pray tell, sir, where may I find them?"

"Look around, love," said Spitz, in an arguably more respectful tone. "Yer swimmin' with the sharks. Half this tavern are Brothers. I meself have done a spot of work. Ye can't spit in Old Rose without hittin' one in the eye - so keep yer spit locked up tight, is my advice. If ye want headquarters, check up the road past the Oasis."

Emme looked much more nervous in response to this.

"Are they...criminals?" she whispered to Annie.