~*~*~
The innkeeper, an oversized but still respectable looking woman, adopted an excessively cheerful tone upon noticing Kilyannamaia's presence. The mage couldn't figure out just what about this woman intimidated Yoshimo so.
"'Ello!" she greeted the two women pleasantly, "Welcome to the Den of Seven Vales. You all are free to call me Patricia; I can tend to whatever you be needin'. Oh, I
cannot begin to tell you what a joy it is to finally see some of the finer half around here."
Kilyannamaia looked down upon her robes which were… not particularly clean. "Well, miss, not sure if I'd classify us as part of the 'finer half', though I do take the compliment."
"Dear, I mean that in your bein' some strong looking young women. Seems like all I've had coming through here lately 'ave been the same lazy, drunken males. Would do away with all of their kind if I could."
Jaheira raised a curious eyebrow but did show the ghost of a smirk. Kilyannamaia wasn't sure how to respond so she weakly murmured, "Well, I suppose we need them to survive, right?"
"Not all of them," Patricia's voice suddenly turned heavy. Kilyannamaia looked at her with question, and the innkeeper nodded over to a table where a dark skinned mage was trying to reassure a sobbing, young serving girl. "Coupl'a louts that 'ave taken to the upper level been harassing my workers. Told the waitresses to just put up with the payin' brutes, but one crossed the line today an' made a grab at Adayla there."
Both mage and druid gasped indignantly. Jaheira's brow furrowed and she asked the obvious question, "Why have you not just thrown them out on the street?"
"Tried. Told 'em to get out, but they out an' refused. Sent Alatelo-" she once again nodded towards the table, though this time likely towards the mage- "to maybe show off some magic t' make 'em go, but so far nothing."
"Say no more, Patricia. We'll give those curs a firm lesson in proper behavior for you."
"Oh, darlings, I couldn't ask such. I'm sure you can handle yourselves well enough, but there are four of them louts up there and I ain't no person to put people in danger needlessly. They'll leave when they get bored, I'm sure."
"It's alright, Patricia. Really, we're more formidable than we seem," Kilyannamaia said with a wink, then called over her shoulder, "Come out, boys."
Minsc instantly appeared at her side, looking happy that he no longer had to carefully watch his every movement and surroundings. Yoshimo did not follow suit.
Jaheira stood still a moment, listening to her environment intently. How she could hear his breath in the bustling inn was a curiosity, but once she pinned Yoshimo's location the druid swung her fist back and hit him squarely in his armored stomach. He huffed in surprise, breaking his cover.
"You!" Patricia bellowed at the sight of Yoshimo, whom looked as though he really wouldn't have minded sticking to the shadows. "I thought I told you that I didn't need your kind coming through here, cutting holes in my patrons' purses!"
"I've done no such thing," he said pitifully in his defense. She seemed not to hear him, but from the telling of how they had interacted in the past it was clear she probably never did.
"Is that brigand with you?" asked Patricia, looking to Kilyannamaia with hope that he wasn't. The mage shrugged haplessly.
"Alas, he is. ...But I assure you, miss, I'll keep a leash on these two while here in your establishment."
"You'd better. Especially him! I say, I catch you thieving one more time and it's to the guards with you!" she warned Yoshimo as the party turned and collectively wandered towards the staircase. Yoshimo grumbled something in his native tongue that would have gotten his knuckles slapped back home.
They ascended, everyone ready for battle. They really had hoped to avoid fighting after just fleeing Irenicus' prison, but it was speculated that maybe looking quick to draw blood would help encourage the rowdy bastards to leave. Almost immediately hopes of a simple resolution were dashed.
"Well, if you aren't a puny… eh…" the dwarf Mencar Pebblecrusher started, but decided to change his tone as the rather massive Minsc loomed fully into view, revealing that the only 'puny' thing about him was Boo. Suddenly a good deal of hot air had been deflated from the ornery adventurer and he stammered on his words.
The no-nonsense Jaheira had trailed in after the ranger, and just like the trouble causing dwarf before her she got straight to business. "Which of you blights on the land is responsible for harassing that child downstairs?" she demanded, furious.
"Har, har!" a human warrior across the room barked, almost drowning from his last gulp of ale, "Yon lass still talking about me, aye? Knew I 'ad left an impression on 'er!"
"Filth of civilization!" The half-elf drew the unintended scimitar from it's holder at her side and pointed it at the dreg with conviction. "If you and your vile fellow slugs have any sense in your heads you
will apologize for your disgusting conduct and you
will quickly leave this place. Am I understood?"
Yoshimo mulled over Jaheira's threat, knowing full well that she was not talking from the heart about the poor serving girl but that she was, in fact, referring to Imoen. Though no one had directly told him of what had happened to the abducted mage at Irenicus' hands he was able to reach his own conclusions. Once more, the turmoil at the pit of his stomach violently churned.
The formerly joyous band suddenly turned very hostile. The fighter's cheerful laugh dissipated in light of the orders, and quickly his hand traded the tankard for a blade. Standing up and wiping the corner of his mouth he growled at Jaheira, "Listen, missy. Don't know or care who yer are, but nobody in this world tells Smealuv Orcslicer where he does and don't go!"
"I'll change that," Jaheira replied nonchalantly, "Go to hell."