This is a collaborative post by Byte (Bellemere) and Gamer_Templar (Hilda)
“I, ah, I suppose I should introduce myself,” said the swordswoman after a minute or so of amicable silence. “The name's Hilda. Yours?”
The Silent Sister leaned nearer, deftly using the remaining area on the note to scribble down a single name. “Bellemere.” Hilda nodded in acknowledgement. Quite a nice name.
Bellemere paused for a moment, contemplating the thought of grabbing another piece of paper (which she had been running out of as well), but opted instead to mime a quick question. A finger pointed from Hilda to herself, then to her lips. As if asking the swordswoman whether she knew any less tedious ways to talk.
Hilda took a moment to work out what Bellemere was asking of her, before giving a hesitant nod. “I did learn a few hand signals back when I served with the local garrison back home. But I doubt that would help us much here, unless we’re planning to storm some battlements any time soon.” She gave a half-hearted chuckle at her own joke, a tinge of disappointment in herself. But then she brightened up a little as an idea came to mind.
“Ah, but… well, this may be asking too much of you, but if you’ve the time and the patience, perhaps you could teach me a few signs? I’m a good learner, and perhaps it may come in useful in the future. Who can say?”
A bemused smile faded into a frown, and Bellemere had given a moment's pause to find a couple gestures that were a bit more obvious in practice. She had half a heart to shake her head, but after some digging the woman nodded to herself and took the previously written note. Being careful to make sure Hilda paid attention.
A finger pointed at ‘forgive’, while the other hand made the gestures as slowly as Bellemere could manage; hand squeezed to a fist and moving in a clockwise motion over her chest.
Next she flipped the note and, with a half-closed fist, waved thrice in quick succession before pointing at ‘urgent’.
Years of being taught the language hadn’t given way to explaining it to other people, but Bellemere figured giving a couple examples might at least sate the stranger’s curiosity if nothing else. And by mouthing the words while making the necessary motions, the sister was able to make another person wise in her own language.
While Hilda stumbled a little at first in picking up the basics, like the proper positioning of her hands, she was able to get the gestures consistently right after a couple of tries. It was not unlike the art of a spellcaster waving their hands as part of an incantation. For the warrior, there was a small thrill to be had in trying and learning new things. It was something interesting to jot down in her journal, for one thing.
Bellemere was just about to point out another word to teach Hilda when a red-bearded dwarf in a deeper-hued cloak passed by their table and briefly stopped…
“Hmm? Can we help- Oh…”
…before carrying on after a simple glance in their direction. Hilda watched him go, towards a table where a hooded elf was seated at, before turning back to Bellemere.
“That was… odd. Not someone here for you with ‘urgent business’, I take it?”
Bellemere feigned ignorance by offering a shrug, she certainly wasn't expecting to meet anyone here. However, that symbol beaming from the dwarven forehead struck her like a blow to the head. It was unmistakably the symbol of the inquisitors.
Surprise turned to intrigue, and the sister felt the urge to eavesdrop. She'd noted the empty mugs of Hilda and herself, and by quick admission to the swordswoman that this chat was going to last a bit longer than the typical five minute pitch, Bellemere grabbed the mugs. And in a pretend-detour that took her deliberately within hearing range of the whispering elf and dwarf, ears pricked up to catch fragments of what their secrets entailed.
Bellemere did so again, taking the same deliberate route back from the bar to Hilda (This time happy to pay the expenses for two ales) and trying to decipher what it is that brought this elf and inquisitor together. Unfortunately, the growing crowd did little to help in this endeavour. But to inch closer was a risk the sister wasn't willing to take.
She slid a mug over towards her companion, urging her to resume their little lesson while keeping a tentative eye towards the dwarf. Hilda agreed to play along, while straining her ears to try and make out anything those two were saying, likely to little effect.