Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

Matylda hums a cheerful little tune as we make our way through the evening crowd heading either home from work or to one of the many small neighborhood eateries to have a bite to eat after a long hard day. She obviously is not heading to the inner city. We are not heading towards the outer edges of the district outside the wall either though.

I have to admit that this piques my curiosity. I have no reason not to ask either. Before I get to though, realization dawns upon me. I recognize the neighborhood. I have only been here once, but it has been very recently. Just earlier today in fact. As a result I don't ask any questions. I make a statement instead. One that is promptly followed by some questions though.

"Sylwia is with that cook. She knows we are coming, right? You mentioned that she is already on board with this after all. We are not going to barge in on the two at some inopportune time, are we?"

Matylda looks over at me with a raised eyebrow. Then she snorts.

"Do I look like a gal that wants her attitude adjusted by means of some hard knocks? Of course she knows we are coming. I swung by the two before I went to get you. She couldn't come along right away though."

I sigh relieved. That sounds reasonable enough. As we arrive at the little eatery already well known to me for it's fabulous crab pot, I get to experience a little surprise though. Sylwia has changed. I actually takes a moment to recognize her.

She has changed clothes and is wearing a nice dress now. One that is showing off her figure too. That isn't all either. She has gathered her hair in two little pigtails that actually make the tough young woman, who is not above roughing up someone for the guild, look innocent. She is flirting with the customers too, as she helps her cook friend out with his business.

I guess I really shouldn't be surprised. I have a side gig as an adventurer as well after all. Why wouldn't she have something similar? It's a pretty good job to fall back on too. And considering how close she seems to the cook she might be really committed. This certainly doesn't look like just another act. Well, good for her.

She is well aware of our approach too, but she doesn't exactly hurry to finish up with her work.

I just wait across the street, leaning against a wall and casually watching a few kids play tag amidst the evening crowd, while Matylda walks over to talk with her. This isn't my operation after all. I'm just along as support in a way, even if it's most likely not morale support as I suspect.

We still have to wait a little, but once the evening rush is over, Sylwia joins Matylda and me, after changing into the rough and tumble clothes, similar to my own, I'm familiar with. She hasn't pulled her hair out of the little braids yet though.

I raise my hand to stop her, before she can do it.

"Might want to keep the pigtails. Unless you have another idea to change your looks a bit. I suspect you might have a bit of a reputation among brawlers after all. Wouldn't want to give ourselves away too soon. Right?"

The guild thug chuckles, but Matylda nods enthusiastically. She seems to have plans already that go beyond a different hairstyle though. She starts to elaborate them too without delay.

"I have roped Barandon into getting us some accessories to adjust your looks Slywia. We'll actually slick your hair back, if you don't mind. I have ordered a colorful sash you can use instead of your usual belt too, as well as a matching blouse. Oh, and some big hoop earrings and an eye patch."

I look over at Sylwia as I follow behind the two and try to imagine it. In the end I nod.

"No scars, but I think she can look the part of the pirate anyway. Can we get her a different knife or dagger too? Something with a distinctive look? Maybe we could borrow something from Beldragor?"

Both snort, but they seem to like the idea anyway. It's Matylda who finally answers.

"Well, he seems to like you. Maybe you could sweet talk him into loaning something to us?"

Now I groan. I can't help it. Not because I don't like the dragon, but because I don't think that it'll be that simple.

"I'd give it a try, but it's probably not going to work out if we are in a hurry. He always wants something in return for his favors. He'd probably recruit me to do some cleaning in his shop or something similar. Unless we have all the time in the world that's probably not an option."

Matylda nods, conceding the point and after a moment Slywia joins in too, not without commenting on the idea though.

"I'll have to keep the idea in mind though. It might come in handy another day. I guess for now a change of clothes will have to do. Want to switch places with me, Viviona? I'm sure you could hold your own in a fighting ring just as well as I can and you aren't that well known yet."

Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

I actually give it some thought, but in the end I shake my head, declining the suggestion.

"I could, maybe. But I'd rather not. I have been to one of the underground fighting rings a little while ago. If someone still remembers my face it'll be as someone offering healing services. I'd rather play the role of the healer tagging along with you."

Neither of the two women walking just ahead of my seems bothered by my declaration. Sylwia simply accepts it with a shrug, while Matylda actually nods enthusiastically.

"Good. Then I don't have to pretend to know how to deal with bruises or scrapes. I'll just pretend to be the greedy, little manager hoping to make some shiny coin off you."

The dwarven woman slaps Sylwia's shoulder and pats the purse at her belt at the same time, as she makes this declaration.

Before anyone can say anything else a familiar face at the next corner catches my attention. My [Perception] skill improves a little as well, as I do. I can't claim to be happy to see that particular ugly mug, but right now he probably is a welcome sight, since Matylda apparently roped him into contributing too. I don't point, but I speak up.

"Seems Barandon is doing his part."

And he is, even if he looks somewhat uncomfortable with the basket of colorful clothes he is holding. It gets worse as he spots me behind the other two women. For the briefest of moments it actually looks like he might bolt, but in the end he manages to pull himself together. Maybe he is not a lost cause after all. Not completely anyway.

We head over to him and leave the busy street in favor of the quieter and somewhat cluttered alley.

Barandon in turn thrusts the basket with the clothes he brought at Matylda without delay. It seems he is rather eager to get away. As Sylwia grabs the things he brought instead he is quick to mutter a comment though.

"Try not to ruin these things. Especially not the blouse. Since this is such a rushed job I had to borrow it from my sister. And if you ruin her favorite things, I sure as hell won't be shouldering the blame alone."

That's as far as he gets before he whirls around, blushing a deep red, because Slywia, not shy at all, starts changing then and there.

Matylda for her part doesn't seem to care much and together we obscure Sylwia enough that hardly anyone else takes note. Once Sylwia is done with the colorful blouse and the equally colorful sash she now wears instead of a regular belt, Matylda helps her with her hair, slicking it back with some greasy looking tincture. The eye patch comes last. Then the transformation is done.

Sylwia really looks the part of the daredevil pirate now. There is one last little thing that is bothering me though. After a brief moment of contemplation it strikes me.

"Your gait. The way you walk. You should try to add a little swagger, Sylwia. Not too much. Just a little. Like you are more used to the sway of a ship's deck than steady and solid dry land."

Sylwia raises an eyebrow in response while Matylda only snorts. In the end our wannabe pirate gives it a try though. It's a bit too exaggerated at first, but she quickly gets the hang of it. And as we part ways with Barandon again and resume our way to our actual destination she has the swagger down to a fine art. As much as that is possible anyway. Has she acquired a new skill somewhere along the way? Well, diversifying her skills certainly won't hurt her.

I can only hope that her new getup and her act will fool everyone else. Well, that's not up to me. I shift my attention to Matylda instead. Her posture and attitude change too. She seems to exude confidence now. Like someone who knows exactly what they are doing. I really hope that isn't just an act. It seems pretty obvious that the two are used to working together too. I really hope I don't mess their teamwork up.

As we keep going it eventually becomes obvious that our destination is at the very edge of town. It's not exactly easy to miss either. Whoever is running this new fighting ring either doesn't want to be subtle about it or they really need a refresher on subtlety.

I can hear that the barn we are approaching isn't just a barn well before we reach it. There has to be quite a crowd inside and it's going wild already. To be honest, neither would surprise me. Pit fighting seems to be popular here in Riverrun after all. The bare chested, heavily muscled and tattooed henchmen loitering around the entrance aren't exactly subtle either.

They aren't just for show, too, as one of them quickly interposes himself in between the entrance and us. It seems at least one of them has enough common sense to tell that we could mean trouble.

"Oho, sweethearts, stop right there. It's not like we mind some pretty ladies, you know. But you don't look like you're here just to have some fun, you know. So, spill it, what are you up to?"

Pretty ladies? Is he serious? Well, whatever, I'm not going to protest, even if his comment makes me look down my own rather flat chest. Thankfully I don't have to speak up, as Matylda takes care of the talking for us.

"Aw, don't be like that. But you're right, we aren't just here to have fun."

She pats first the heavy purse at her belt and then Sylwia's back.

"I was thinking about placing some bets. Bets that my friend Sylph here could mop the floor with whatever sorry excuse you have for fighters in there."

One of the other henchmen blusters a little at the not so heavily veiled insult. But Matylda's words neither alarm nor distract the one who approached us. The explanation seems to at least partially satisfy his curiosity though. His attention shifts to me and the much more modest purse at my belt.

"What about you then?"

I point at myself in mock surprise at first, then I shrug.

"I'm just tagging along to fix bruises and broken bones or whatever. Sylph's good looks aren't an accident, you know?"

I mimic his own way of speaking there at the end, but not in a mocking way. A moment later I can feel the sensation of an identification skill being used on me. It's a little weird though. It's like the skill rolls off me like water from a lotus leaf. Even better, a moment later a notification brushes my mind.

[*Ding!* Your skill Shrouded Soul has leveled up to level 6!]

I focus my gaze on the man anyway and narrow my eyes slightly. I don't make any actually threatening moves though. I don't have a real reason to hold it against him either. Not only did I just get to enjoy a novel feeling, his attempt at identifying me earned me a rather substantial level up too.

Especially the latter, in fact, puts me in a good mood. Not only has the skill improved. My Spirit and as a result both my magic power and Mana reserves have improved as well. I don't keep my good mood from showing as I speak up either.

"I can heal anyone else who needs some healing too, you know. I'll take a penny for every prayer, you know."

The way I say it, it doesn't sound like questions but like statements of intent instead.

The tattooed man's face brightens up a little.

"A masked sister, well, be our guest. We don't mind if you offer your healing as a service, but don't expect us to pay. Everyone has to cover their own bill, you know."

I'm not quite sure who or what exactly he is mistaking me for, but I have a suspicion and I'm certainly not going to correct him. Even more so, as I can feel my [Bluff] skill benefit and grow a little.