" To no man will we sell, or deny, or delay, right or justice."
The night smelled of death and rum. The morning smelled no different, at least not to the fiery bard as she walked along paved paths through the Southern Guild Ward. Ceres inhaled sharply, taking in all the swirling scents around her and immediately scrunching her nose in distaste. "Revolting.."she murmured under her breath. Hunger and disgust coiled inside of her stomach, her craving for food slowly ebbing away by the tide of smells that passed around her." OI! Fire head!" . Hunger left her thoughts as the booming voice reached her ears. she spun around so fast her cloak nearly caught onto a passing wagon traveling down the paths. A plump stocky man stood at least ten feet away from Ceres, sweat dribbling down from his brow onto his chest. He wore a blacksmiths apron, something that seemed a little odd on this side of towns.
When the man began waving at her, she took it upon herself to walk towards him even though she knew the exercise would do the fellow some good. "I'm guessing you have a good reason to be shouting at me at this time of day." She answered in the darkness, stepping closer to him until he was in stabbing range.
" I do. Ye have no need to be worrying none about me now lass. I'm working for the same lot you are."
She raised a brow. "Obviously. If you weren't , you wouldn't be in this part of town. You'd be up some Achaz's ass in the Western Guild." She paused for a moment when she saw the flicker of fear pass over the mans face, as evident as a child face when they've been caught doing something wrong.
"If....you were part the Achaz and were spending time around here, I can imagine many of my companions would be happy to show you around. Maybe even demonstrate what it looks like for a man to be flayed and flogged." It was cruel of her to frighten the man, knowing very well he wasn't any enemy of hers. She couldn't help it though! Especially when she hadn't been doing much of late, other than singing and playing in taverns to earn any extra coins she could.
The man began sweating profusely, causing a small smile to slowly slide onto her face. " Calm yourself, I'm only kidding . You humans are horrible with taking jokes." The portly blacksmith blinked and shook his head, a nervous chuckle emitting from him. "O-of course miss. Anyways, I only wanted to say the weapons one of your mates ordered was ready. I've got the shipment at my shop whenever you want to send some men over to grab em." He gave her a small nod and moved his head as if asking if he had leave to remove himself from her presence. A swift nod in his direction and the fat man was off as fast as his legs could carry him. She would probably be scolded for frightening him, not that she cared too much about it. She was always getting scolded , be it by those who were above her or the remnants of family she till had.
The thought of family made her shudder, a violent one that passed all throughout her body. Elves were known for their long memory, and their even longer grudges. Most of her family had disowned her the minute they realized her involvement with Seithur's Hand. " Disgraceful child" they called her, even though she was no child by the time she had joined the Guild. Another jab at her by her elder kin. She had been thrown out of the house she had called home for sixteen years the minute the news reached them. Thankfully, the Guild gave her shelter and the food and clothing she would now require. After she had made a name for herself a few years later, her family came back out of the wood work and slowly requests from them became a common occurrence. It was like that with most families though. Once one person becomes successfully, the hounds descend and began begging for a bone.
She hated dogs, so no bones were ever given and now family rarely contacted her unless one of them died or went missing.
"Avo acheno." A soft whisper escaped her chapped lips and brought comfort to her . The elven tongue always soothed her whenever her thoughts turned to troubling matters. Now..if only an elven curse could bring some peace to the Guilds.
If only.