The Golden Gorse

[Kai]

"Yup happens all the time. Rogan how many was it today? Two in the street and then Rose...but then again I haven't been with you all the time so is that five?Who knows probably too many to count" it suddenly came to him that he might have hurt Rogan's feelings "Sorry Rogan next time I won't say a word." He smiled at the girls and then at Rogan. "So are you girls travelling together?" he asked pointing at them all.

[Rose]

Coughing, Rose took another swig of water after swallowing a small potato whole. She cleared her throat.
"Oh, we only met today. We met on the road to Calamere and then came here for something to eat. It's my first time here, what about you two?" she asked, before taking another mouthful of food. It was nice that she had met so many friendly people in Calamere already, she had thought she'd probably be eating alone tonight, but when she looked at everone seated around the table- she couldn't help but smile.

[cien]

Cien felt her mind wandering. She ate absently, pushing food to Puru-puru every once in a while. If she took too long in feeding it, it would whimper in protest. Finally, she handed it a large piece of meat and left it chewing happily.

Cien felt certain that somewhere in this city there was probably a library, or at least an archive that she could dig into... but that could wait. Rose's question pulled her out of her reverie. Cien smiled. "Yes, it's my first time here as well." It suddenly occured to her that Rose did not know of Lady Brynna's status. 'Oh dear. I just realised that she only introduced herself as Brynna when they first met. Perhaps she doesn't want us to feel too uncomfortable. I'll have to be more careful with what I say then,' she thought, putting her eyeglass back on.

[Rogan]

"Oh Kai!" Rogan protested. Turning a soulful gaze to Rose and the other beautiful young ladies, he said, "Please take no notice of this cold-hearted fool; he lies!" He gestured at Kai. "He has no feeling! He does not understand the complicated matters of the heart... If he did, he would have bought me dinner..." He added meaningfully.

floucing about in his chair, he frowned at his friend, pursing up his lips and tutting reproachfully. "And you're supposed to be my oldest dearest friend..." As if to back him up, his stomach let out a loud grumble. "I take it you're not really going to let me starve..?"

[Rose]

Rose pushed her plate towards puru-puru, so that it could eat the leftover meat that otherwise would have been wasted. She smiled at the banter between Rogan and Kai. It looked as Kai had two fulltime jobs! She switched her ring back to its normal finger under the table, it felt odd wearing it on another finger.
Aware that Rogan was looking her way, she began to look out of the window where the castle formed a beautiful silohutte against a pink and orange sky. Rose surpressed a yawn,
"Where is everyone staying tonight?" she asked, wondering if there was an inn close by...

[cien]

Puru-puru bounced happily and Cien amiled appreciatively at Rose. She gently rubbed a bit of food of Puru-puru. "You'll have to learn to be more polite in the future." As if in answer, Puru-puru made a 'bowing' gesture towards Rose (if this was even possible, since Puru-puru was completely round...)

Cien tapped her cheek with her finger. "Where to stay? Maybe there is a library nearby?" Realising that she could have confused the others, Cien laughed. "I'm not used to sleeping at certain hours, I only rest when I'm tired, so usually I would head to someplace quiet where I can think or search for information."

[Kai]

Kai turned to Rose first
"Rogan and I have been travelling together for who knows how long but thsi is our first time here. I kinda hoped you guys would be able to tell us where everything is but don't worry. And where were gonna sleep well I was gonna camp out, I don't have enough money to stay at an inn or anything." He sighed as he heard Rogan rambling on about how he was hungry, he really didn't give up easily .
"Rogan for the last time I'm not going to buy you lunch! And the only thing your heart feels is to get a woman to have your kid. If you want something in life work for it."
Kai thought to himself "This is so weird. I've never talked to anyone like this before, except Rogan." He looked down at his hands. He clenched them and then unclenched them. "I haven't practised it for a while maybe I should.......but not here no way! I'd be called a freak. I'll practise later it can't have gotten that bad after all..."

[cien]

Cien just happened to be looking at Kai at that moment, and she saw something streak across her eyeglass. Startled, she focused on him. An uneasy aura seemed to have settled around him... as well as something else. Cien was sorely tempted to use more of her power but a small nudge from Puru-puru kept her in check.

[Lady Brynna Halider]

Brynna smiled at Cien, still curious about her eyeglass. When there weren't hundreds of people around, she made a mental note to ask her what exactly it was for... She shook her hair out of its style, and raked her fingers through the long black tangles. She whipped a pearl comb from a pocket and quickly got to work sorting the tangles out.

"Do you want to take a look around more of the town?" She asked Rose and Cien. "And you too, if you want to come along," She added to Kai and Rogan as she finished the last of her meal. "There are so many places I can show you!"

[Kai]

"Thanks but maybe another day if thats ok? I've got something to do right now, I'll catch up with you later." Kai stood up and walked toward the doors. "I'll see you guys around....bye." He closed the door behind him and sighed. He hoped at least Rogan would understand. After all he had known him for a while and should know what it was about. He stared at his hands again. He began to wish he didn't have it.
"damn I forgot to ask where there was a quiet place. I'm such an idiot." He stood for a while but realised standing at the door was not going to help. He was just have to find a place on his own.

[Rose]

"I ought to go as well" Rose said reluctantly, "I've got quite a bit to do... It's been nice meeting you all...I'm sure I'll see you soon" she added to Brynna and Cien. She stood up and wrapped her cloak around her shoulders.
It was warm inside but she knew that outside it would be bitter. Grabbing her bag she made her way past the locals at the bar to reach the doorway. She pushed the door open with one had, and at the same time waved to Cien, Rogan and Brynna with the other. The door swung closed behind her with a bang.

The street was almost deserted with the exception of a few warmly dressed individuals hurrying out of sight and round the corner. Rose pulled her hood over her head and set off in the direction she hoped the inn would be.

[cien]

Cien waved at Rose's retreating figure. Turning back to Lady Brynna, she smiled. "We should head off too. You should probably go home, your parents might be worried."

She stood up and held out her hand to Puru-puru who immediately jumped on. "I think I'll go and look in on Kai. He seemed a bit disturbed. You should come too-" she said, turning to Rogan. "He is a good friend of yours, isn't he?"

[Lady Brynna Halider]

Brynna nodded tiredly. "Maybe I'll see you around the town" She said.

Lifting up her skirts, she staggered tiredly to the door. She's have to go home sooner or later... Facing her parents was going to be interesting. She supposed she'd just say she was further away when her horse had bolted. She waved a feeble goodbye to the rest of the people in the tavern, caryying her shoes, and quickly left for he parents' house.

[Kai]

Kai wandered tiredly back in. Rosie came over talking briskly and telling him off for being so late but he barely heard a word. After serving a few drinks he wandered why he even took the job. He shook himself and took on more of a positive note. He served lots of drinks and talked to a few of the costumers and slowly the time passed by till he was off duty again. He smiled and gave Rosie back his uniform. She gave him a drink and he gratefully took it. He walked over to the other side of the tavern and sat down beginning to drink.

[Kai]

Barely after he had finished drinking Rosie asked him to come back to work soon, and in the end Kai gave in because he could tell she was under strain. Since the tavern was busy again. After half an hour of working the surge of people stopped. He took to talking to some of the costumers who told him about the city. He listened carefully and took every piece of information in. He had to know his way around this city before he moved on. Smiling at what he had learnt he looked forward to exploring the city and perhaps meeting some new friends. It sounded liek this place was alot more at peace then his home town.

[Rogan]

"KAI!" Rogan boomed, slouching into the pub with a tankard in one hand and a goofy grin on his face. He was missing a shoe, and he reeked of ale. "SO whha's goin' on around here? Thish place lookshamiliar..." Slurring his words, Rogan collapsed against his friend. "Ergh, me head..." He slipped, and fell to the ground. "oof...."

Putting a han to his head, he felt a searing pain shoot down his temples. "Wha's happening?" He asked groggily... and then passed out in the middle of the tavern. The tankard feel to the ground with a loud clatter, and then the drunken Rogan knew no more.

[Kai]

Kai looked at Rogan on the floor. He looked at the ceilnig and said "Why me? Why did you chose me?" Then looked back down at Rogan. Apologising to the men he was talking to he walked over to Rogan and slung him over his shoulders. He asked Rosie if it was ok to take him out back and she nodded. When he got outside he lay him down so he could rest on the wall. Picking up a bucket he filled it with cold water from the outside tap. And threw it over Rogan. Hopefully the shock of the cold would wake him up.

[Rogan]

"Whare you doin???!!!" Rogan demanded of the empty bucket, before promptly throwing up into it. "Urgh.. .whash happenin?" He asked as the cold water drenched him. "Kai? Ish tha you? I loveyoukai! you are like... an angel! in darkesh timesh..." He returned to the bucket, bringing up most of what he had spent on drink earlier in the day.... some of Kai's wages he had spent... still, he was probably asfe not talking about it until the enxt morning... Kai would take pity on his poor drunken friend, surely?! Feeling a little better now that most of the alcohol was out of him, Rogan filled up the bucket again and washed himself down.

"Bl-bleugh!" He coughed, blearily blinking his eyes. "Where am I..? Kai, can I stay with youuuuuu? I promise I'll just sit in a corner of the tavern.... I won'tsay a word..."

Without waiting for a reply, Rogan staggered, hiccupping, back into the tavern. Seating himself by a window near the door, he buried his head in his hands and tried to sleep. Starting tommorrow, he was going to swear off drink....

[Lady Brynna Halider]

Brynna walked quickly into the pub, slipping in through the door and holding it open for her cousin to follow her. She stared... the man who had earlier asked her and her friends to bear him his children was back! And he reeked of alcohol...

"Er, shall we take a table over ehr?" She whispered to Arikain, leading him over to a table as far away from the drunken Rogan as possible. "Um, excuse me!" She called over to the waiter... Kai, was it? "My friend and I would like to order some drinks!" Waiting for him to come over, she turned back to Arikain. "So.... how have you been?" She asked.

[Kai]

Kai just stared at where Rogan had been sitting. He was completly out of it. Come to think of it last time he'd checked Rogan had no money and to get that drunk must've cost alot. Something slowly dawned on him. Walking back into the pub he saw rogan sitting in the corner. He walked over quickly almost on the verge of running.
"Rogan if you don't mind me asking where on earth did you get that miney?! Was it mine?!"
He couldn't put it past Rogan to have done that. He started to shake Rogan desperately.
"Please tell me that wasn't my money. Please tell me you didn't spend all my wages on drink. Rogan.....Rogan answer me!"
He was going to continue when he heard someone call him. Giving Rogan a withering look he walked off, Rogan probably hadn't seen him but it made him feel better. Walking over to the two people he said
"Err what would you like?" All the while watching Rogan out of the corner of his eye. Rogan would try pretty much anything while he was like this.