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Linota jumped at the sound of a voice behind her ear and whipped her head around to find Assallya peeking over her shoulder.
“When did you–?” Linota began to ask, but Assallya continued, making her look at the paladin with studious, amber eyes. Her tone turned to whispers. “She doesn’t seem to need a bribe. Do you think she’s tricking us?”

At Assallya’s assumption that the knight ‘had a thing’ for Liothryth, Linota’s bodily reaction was to feel jealous, though she had no idea why. She just didn’t trust her, that was it. This woman was a danger to all of them, Assallya believed it too. Unbeknownst to Linota, she was scowling directly at the knight as she spoke, until Robin’s apparent confusion caught her attention. She looked at the fox girl and a small, amused smile toyed at the corner of her lips. It shouldn’t have been funny, what they did to that man, but– it was. She was certain, however, that anyone who found Radigan in the state he was in would not think so. They should have kept the blame on Caldwell, but alas, it was too late now.

When Linota saw that Robin was following Radigan’s roasted chicken smell, which would lead her to the house, she bristled. “I wouldn’t,” Linota would quickly whisper to Robin, if the girl started following the scent trail into the house.

Cairo seeing linotas frown whispers a question to her "hey Lin, you good? Your making that face again" having a hint of concern in his voice

As Ren returned to the recently refurbished room he stayed at. He sat down for a moment to eat some sushi. But then he was worried about someone, a group of people, actually.

The kids..., he thought to himself. He knew he was starving, but seeing those children being tortured by Radigan and surviving that terrible fate, it seemed to him that they needed the food more than he did. He took only 3 pieces of sushi from the tray and planned to give the rest to the children, so he put them in a bag of cloth, it was all he could do right now as he had nothing else to put it in.

He silently walked to where his friends were, making sure he was not seen by anyone else and gave the bag of sushi to Linota. He told her to give it to the children and then pulled back his hood, completely showing his jet black eyes and brown hair. He started to cool his head a bit with some sort of cooling spell and then proceeded to approach Lio.

"I guess I forgot to ask what the red-haired lady wants from us", Ren said to Lio, "Are we in trouble or something?"

Hearing Linota warning her, Robin nodded and strayed away from that direction. Hearing a bird chirping in the distance, she paused and thought for a second. 'Maybe I should look for blood', she thought to herself as she rubbed her chin like there was a beard there. Robin went back to searching but instead looked and sniffed for blood.

"Do as you will," Lio answered Aislin. "I trust you that justice will be found." She rubbed a hand over her face and tucked a strand of hand that had escaped her bun behind her ear. "Do you happen to know of any monasteries or such in the are who might be willing to take the children? They can't just be left without care or else someone similar may come and mistreat them again."

Lio turned to Ren and gave him a reassuring smile. "Quite a few people are going to be in trouble in the near future, but I don't think we'll be among them, at least not of this." Her smile turned amused, there was always a chance after all. "I'm hoping we can find some way to help the children. Once that's figured out, we'll gather our group together again and once again set off on our adventure."

She watched the Huntress for a moment, a thoughtful look on her face, then raised her voice to speak to her. "Lady Huntress, might I have a moment of your time?"

Hearing Liothryth, she went over to her. "Whatcha need?", she asked as her tail swayed a bit. Her quiver was a bit disheveled and she had a couple leafs in her hair. She placed one of her hands on her hips.

"Oh no," Assallya said to Linota, "I don't think she's capable of tricking someone. She never lies. She's relentless. There's trust and there's trust. You can trust her to follow her duty, to be a decent person. Just don't ask her to help you hide a body."

The blonde sorceress sighed and shook her head slightly and chuckled.

"She's been looking to lock me up for a while," Assallya explained, "but she hasn't been able to find proof of any misdeeds.

"So... yes. You can trust the redhead."

“What?” Linota asked Cairo in a breath, startled by his question. She recovered with a few blinks at him then looked away. “Yeah. Fine.”

Linota had raised her eyebrows at Robin’s quick obedience to her warning. Had she no curiosity? Or had she been so strictly trained that she heeded warnings upon reflex? Either way, this order-following girl might prove to be a rather useful asset. Linota smiled slyly at Robin as the fox girl thought hard about what she was smelling.

“Looking to lock you up with no viable proof doesn't make her sound very trustworthy,” Linota said to Assallya, then briefly looked the blonde over. “But I suppose I could see her point.”
She wanted to believe that what Assallya said about Aislin was true, for what the knight had said so far proved her to be an ally. At least, she was an ally to Liothryth. The more Linota stayed out of it, the better. The high esteemed never wanted to hear anything out of a teenage girl.

When Ren emerged from the alley and walked towards her, holding a cloth bag, Linota watched him cautiously. He handed her the bag, weighed down by all the sushi in it, and explained it was food for the kids. That made all of the childrens’ heads turn to him. Linota hesitated before she took the sack, looking evenly at Ren’s hooded face until he pulled the hood back. It was alarming to see him, given that she hadn't fully seen him before, but it only showed as a flash in her eyes. The amber coloring in them opposed his black ones, which seemed too empty for her liking.

“Thanks,” Linota told him, a bit confused as to why he decided to show his face to her.
The man seemed to think she had done some great deed that aided in the defeat of Radigan, though she knew that wasn’t true. She may have been the cause of the whole ordeal, but she did nothing to contribute to the outcome. Linota turned her attention to the kids and started handing out the sushi, while also passively studying its contents and trying to decipher how it was made.

At Liothryth’s question about monasteries, a panicky little pang shot through Linota’s chest. She didn't like the feeling. It was as if each child had a string and all of the ends were attached to her. It wasn't as though she had spent all her time caring for them. She was a loner, her and Cairo both. He was her family, not them. But then why did her heart ache at the thought of losing them now?

As Lio spoke to Ren and Robin and the kids' mouths were full, Linota crouched to a knee to be level with the smaller of the children.
“How would you like a new home?” She asked them with a light tone. “A better home. With people who care about you.”
“With sushi?” One of them said through their mouthful of fish and rice.
“Maybe not with sushi,” Linota admitted. That food was foreign to her, as it would be to most that lived in the area. “But you'll have loads of other food that's just as good. You’ll never go hungry and you don't have to steal. That's important, okay? Don't steal. Adults don't like it when you steal.”
She paused to gauge their responses, which were mostly confused or just plain fractious. Stealing had been their only means of staying alive. Stealing food to eat, stealing gold for Radigan so he wouldn't kill you, stealing clothes so the winter wouldn't kill you, and on the list went. Telling them not to steal was like telling them to roll over and die.

“Just be kids!” Linota blurted, rashly impatient with their confused faces. “Play! Run around, climb a tree, swim in the lake, make up monsters and run from them.”
Her eyes had begun to well as she imagined them, this group of misfit rogues, never finding a loving home. They would be lucky to find anyplace they belonged. She knew they had to go, they couldn't go with them, but knowing didn't make it any easier. Her emotions further confused the children and she sniffed once before aggressively wiping at her nose with the back of the hand that held the sushi cloth.

“Just be good, okay?” Linota told them with forced strength. “Do whatever the grown ups tell you to do.”
They were well practiced in that, at least. The idea of more obeying seemed to make the kids wary, but perhaps they still needed that fear if they were going to be children that people wanted to have.
Some of them asked why she and Cairo weren't going with them, to which Linota explained that they were too old for the monastery to accept them, but too young to be considered ‘real’ grown ups. That was also the excuse she used to explain why she and Cairo couldn't adopt them. ‘Only real grown ups can adopt children’. She supposed that much was actually true. It seemed all their questions had been answered for they fell silent to digest these new circumstances.

If Linota looked up from this emotional onset of a farewell to see anyone staring at her, she would glare at them, reddened eyes and all. Unless that someone was Cairo, to which she would give him a sad smile and accept his help to stand.

Azumi was watching Robin out of curiosity, that is until she was tapped on the shoulder by her bond.

"Yes, dear?", She asked Ren tilting her head.

"See those kids, they're defenseless. I don't like the sound of them being adopted by another tyrant madman. We're going to teach them at least some basic martial arts, I don't know just something!". Ren was determined to help the kids. He felt some sort of memory pop up in his mind. Something about being bullied.

"I see that we are of the same mind then, let us tell Linota and Cairo first obviously"

And so they did. Ren especially wanted to ask Linota and told her he wouldn't take no for an answer, another habit that he picked up, not from being a treasoner, but from his years as a somewhat regular kid who was being bullied constantly. He remembered all those times he couldn't stand up for himself as a kid and mostly relied on his friends and family, now he is the one trying to protect the people that mattered to him. The one who had to stand up for others and himself when they could not. Azumi approached the children with a soft smile on her face and excitedly told them that they were going to teach them how to defend themselves.

"Oh and do not be afraid of Ren", She said, "My bond is one of the nicest people out there when you get to know him!"

Cairo helps Linota stand up and turns his attention to the kids "so basically what Lin means is the new home you guys are going to its gonna be different from here, you wont have to worry about stealing gold and you'll get nice warm beds..." Cairo grows quiet at his last few words "but...we cant live there with you we'll be going with liothryth and assallya..." After saying that he sees the childrens faces well up with sadness at the idea of the two not joining them it pains Cairo deeply to see them so sad "aw come on now guys don't go cryin' on me, i know it sounds unfair but just because we cant live with you doesn't mean we cant visit you and trust me when we do me and Lin are gonna tell you guys ALL of the stories about our adventures just like those books we used to read to you guys that would be fun right guys?" This brings the childrens mood up only a bit then one child comes forward and put his pinky up and asks "promise" Cairo without hesitating gives a genuine smile and locks pinkies with him and says "promise. Its like i told you strong people make strong promises" the child smiles as Cairo stands up and ruffles the kids hair

Linota couldn't help but smile at Cairo’s explanation to the kids. He always knew how to talk to them. By the end of his pep talk, they were all smiling, ready to be strong in the face of the unknown. It didn't hurt that their bellies were full of sushi.

When Ren approached again, accompanied by Azumi this time, Linota found that she was a little less wary of them. They asked to train the children, to which Linota looked at them in thought. It could be a good idea to teach them how to defend themselves or it could be a disaster, giving these traumatized kids the tools to easily harm others. Though after having fourteen pairs of big eyes on her, begging to beat each other up, Linota conceded. What did she care if they hurt others? At least they were having fun.

The children cheered and ran to an open spot in the yard to be taught martial arts. They hardly needed Azumi’s reassurance, though Linota looked from her to Ren with a piercing gaze. The attack on Radigan was fresh in her mind as she observed the man, now instructing the children. He had barely been able to control his own strength, even Azumi had scolded him for it. Her gaze went to Liothryth briefly, thinking similarly of the mage. Two loose cannons- what could go wrong?

“You’ve said that before- ‘Bond’,” Linota said, standing next to Azumi. “What does it mean?” She secretly hoped that the answer would clear up why exactly Ren had called the kitsune ‘mom’.
As she conversed with Azumi, Linota watched the kids try to copy Ren, then watched as a few ‘class clowns’ were just trying to be funny, ignoring Ren’s instructions. Linota exhaled an inaudible laugh and waited to see how Ren would react to them.

While speaking to Aislin, Liothryth also though of the monastery she had just left. It wasn't too far away and likely the brothers and sisters there would be willing to take in the children if there was nothing closer. It would mean a bit of a diversion in the travel plans, but there had already been one, so why not another?

"Perhaps this isn't the best time," Liothryth said, addressing Robin when she came over, "but I have a business proposition for you. I had hired a few people in town to travel with me and retrieve and item in a place to the north, and I was wondering if you would be interested in joining us. I can promise substantial compensation should you wish to do so."

Cairo being himself hears the word "compensation" and immediately asks liothryth with stars in his eyes "wait we're getting payed for this? How much is it?"

"The children wouldst well be looked after," Aislinn assured Liothryth. "T'would not be an idyllic life. They would be expected to work, as scribes or tilling the earth as each is best suited but they wouldst learn their letters, be well fed and cared for."

It was the best she could promise. Life wasn't easy, not for anyone. One would think in a world of magic and wonder all would be provided for but the reality was far from it. Humans didn't need devils and demons to explore the depths of their depravities. Even demons were often surprised by the lengths humans would go to rise above their brethren and put them down.

"Why do you fight us?" the ancient demon whispered in her mind, "You know it to be true. We are but reflections of your darkest desires. With your power you could be a queen amongst us. Imagine the good you could accomplish with an army of devils at your beck, the monuments, every mouth fed, every wrong avenged. At the very least we devils follow the rules."

Aislinn shuddered at the memory. It has been so tempting.

"If not their wants," she concluded, trying to quash thoughts of failing to make a better world, "their needs wouldst be provided for. I was raised thusly. It is a hard life but it can be fulfilling."

Assallya too was interested in Ren and Azumi's bond. Enchantment was her specialty after all. Wizards and sorcerers had such bonds, made more often with small animals. They blended soul and spirit with the animal. It was both boon and a powerful weakness wrapped into a neat bundle.

Besides, anything to get away from the, ugh, children. Quite a few of the older boys were looking at her with unabashed longing that was most distracting. She was beginning to regret the seeming she'd placed over her ragged urchin identity.

"More than enough coin to get you some decent clothes," Assallya said to Cairo, "and not enough to sate you."

The sorceress chuckled.

"Your share of what is discovered will likely far exceed any matter of payment. Discovering a single magical tome could provide food and lodging for a year or more.

If you live to spend it."

“I would love to join”, she said as she grinned. ‘A adventure, how exciting?’, she thought to herself. Her ears twitched, hearing rustling in bushes. A squirrel climbed those said bushes.

Azumi was nervous when Linota asked her about Ren. It was clear to her at least there wasn't much for her to hide, except for why Ren had been so erratic this entire time. She made noises a fox would make when it feels uncomfortable and paused briefly to compose herself.

"I'm guessing you request an explanation for his behavior and my relationship with him?", She said at last, looking at Ren who simply did a facepalm at the kids and told them that this is a matter of their safety, "As you know, I am his familiar, but unlike most familiars, I am not subservient to him. I am more of a guardian spirit who makes it her life's goal to protect him. As for Ren's erratic mindset, he was never really like this. Ever since we were forced into joining the Treasoners, ever since he killed someone for the first time, his mental state has been in a downward spiral ever since. His magic, related to his mental state, appears to be even more unstable because of it. Despite this, I don't want you thinking he cannot be trusted, even if he were to lose his mind here, he couldn't bring himself to hurt innocent people. He's even tried to spare people like radigan before. He's making progress, I know it".

Ren, on the other hand, was already getting slightly annoyed by the antics of his "Class Clowns" and left the kids to their own devices for now, asking Azumi to help teach them in his stead. He approached Linota with an annoyed expression on his face, telling her that he did not realize that kids could be that much of a handful. He finally relaxed a bit, looking at Azumi, who was scolding the unruly kids as if they were her children.

"If you're scared of me, go ahead and say it", He said quietly and frowned "I'm aware that I didn't think properly during the fight with Radigan and well, I guess I'm trying to redeem myself by helping the kids learn some martial art techniques."

Suddenly, he pointed a pistol at Linota, except the grip was pointed at her instead, a Treasoner gesture showing he wasn't trying to threaten her, which Azumi had explained when they first met Liothryth's party. He dropped it and told her to take it.

"I can teach you how to fight a Treasoner. How to subdue me if things do go wrong", he said, "My old squadmate says I'm making progress, but I don't see it. Ask Cairo if he's interested, by the way. You both have to be prepared."

Linota would be too preoccupied with her conversation with Azumi and watching the children to hear the conversation between Liothryth and Aislin. Anything they were talking over now was semantics, as far as she was concerned. She looked at Azumi strangely when she grunted and whined, then she blinked. She hadn't heard the kitsune make any noises other than human speech and fox noises were just plain weird sounding to her.
At her question, Linota shrugged and said, “That would be nice.”

She watched the children as Azumi explained it to her, smiling involuntarily when Ren’s reactions to them amused her. That smile disappeared, however, when killing was mentioned. Linota had killed once too, though she couldn't remember the actual deed, and it had affected her just the same. She supposed she had led to Radigan’s death as well, but she didn't care a lick about that. She watched Ren with a different kind of stare and though she still didn't fully trust him, it was good to know that murdering had hurt him.

“Nobody should spare someone like Radigan,” Linota told Azumi with a bit of a growl. “And I don't think he would hurt anyone on purpose.”
She gave the kitsune a look, insinuating further that she didn't trust Ren to not have an accident at some point down the line. No sooner than Linota ended her statement did Ren walk toward them, looking flustered and miffed. Linota bit back a laugh as he told Azumi to take his place and then was left there to stand next to the man she had judged unsafe. She stood in silence, her eyes on the children, until Ren spoke and she glanced sideways at him.

“I’m not scared of you,” Linota was quick to say. “I’m wary of you.”
She let him finish then and looked at him directly when he did. “You threw green lights at me,” she said. “What are you going to do to make up for that?”

When he quickly drew a gun, or that's what it looked like he had done, Linota jumped back like a frightened cat and thought her heart was going to freeze over. Upon inspection she realized it was the gun’s handle and then realized shortly after that he was doing that thing he had done with Cairo, when they had first met. Linota’s wide look of surprise wrinkled into a sneer.
“Why do you have to point it at me like that??”

Then he dropped it, which made one of her feet jump up to avoid an accidental shot. She didn't know much about guns, but she knew they went ‘boom’.
“******* Hell!!” Linota yelled and waited for what he would do next with much anticipation. “Your customs leave much to be desired.”
When Ren told her to pick the gun up, she did so, after some hesitation. She had always wanted to hold a gun, but now that the time had come, she was a little afraid of it. No– she was wary of it. It held so much power and it was so instant.

Linota looked at the gun in her hand as she listened to Ren, her eyes having gone quickly studious and fascinated.
“How to bring you down without killing you?” she asked, looking up to meet his eyes.
“Cairo’s already a pretty good fighter,” she would continue, peering over at Cairo, who was talking to Liothryth with what appeared to be amazement in his eyes. “I’m sure he would love to learn more though. Hey, Cairo!”

Linota waited for Cairo to look over at her before she said with a knowing smile, “Wanna fight?”

Lio sat meditating under a tree in the soft morning light as she waited for her companions to wake up. It was hard to be here where there were so many memories and she knew it would likely only get harder when they reached the Tor. The journey had given everyone time to heal and rest after their time in Pendel. It had also given them a bit of a chance to get to know each other a little better, but since it wasn't a long journey there was still much more to learn.

The group that she had managed to assemble to help her find the Orb certainly had a variety of skills and talents, hopefully it would be enough to get them safely through whatever Elsen had left behind her.