Lowlife, Scoundrel, Bandit Queen

I follow Matylda through the back alleys and it soon becomes obvious where we are heading. It's the same small eatery as last time. The place where I got to enjoy the most delicious crab pot ever. The cook, Sylwia's friend, is there and so is a girl that looks like she could be his younger sister. She doesn't look too enthusiastic that she has to fill in for her brother's girlfriend, pouting all the time as she serves food.

Sylwia is just coming down a narrow flight of stairs to the side behind the counter. She is already all dressed up in her colorful outfit and styled, ready to play the role of Sylph, the pit fighter from the coastal cities again.

I greet her with a wave before either she or Matylda can say anything. I hand her my pack and my sword, while keeping only my large enough utility knife on my belt.

"Could you stow that somewhere here for me? Wouldn't want it to get in the way, you know?"

She blinks at me in surprise, as I slip into the way of speaking I have adapted for this role last time without hesitation. Finally she nods and disappears back upstairs with my pack. When she returns again a moment later she too is resuming the mannerisms she adapted for her role.

The cocky grins she flashes me. The way she slouches slightly as she slinks over to us again. She is doing pretty well. I'm a little impressed to be honest. She certainly is showing that she isn't just a boneheaded bruiser.

The cook's younger sister eyes us and she clearly is not exactly happy about what she sees. She probably thinks that a woman like Sylwia is no good for her brother. Or maybe that Matylda and I are a bad influence on her? If anything there is even more suspicion in her gaze as it settles on me than with Matylda. Maybe because the girl doesn't know me yet?

A moment later I can feel an identification skill being used on me. I know it's her despite not even turning to look. I can feel my [Shrouded Soul] skill improving some, as her skill doesn't get a proper hold of me, rolling off me like water instead. I don't even get mad this time around. I simple raise one hand and wag a finger in her general direction. That's enough of a reprimand for now.

Sylwia, no Sylph, raises an eyebrow as she notes the gesture.

"What? Did Ewa use a skill on you? That brat!"

I just roll my eyes and motion for Sylph to calm back down.

"She did. Doesn't really matter though, you know. She didn't see nothing. So, it's no use getting worked up, you know."

It's true she didn't get to see any juicy details about me. In fact I might even owe her. I need to improve that particular skill some more anyway. I want to have an edge on other nosy people, possibly ones that are more competent too.

Sylwia, in her role as Sylph, calms back down. Matylda in turn chuckles.

"You still might want to have some words with her. She could get in trouble, peeking at a masked sister like that."

Both Sylwia and I snort in amusement, but I leave it to her to reply.

"Good luck with that. She has a head full of dreams, ideals and fantasies. Not a whole lot of room left there for common sense, but you'd be welcome to try."

Oh well, it's not unexpected. Not everyone can be born to be an adventurous scoundrel or low life like us. And besides, it's in general not a bad thing for her to look out for her brother. I cross my arms behind my head as I answer, the tone of my voice light and casual.

"Eh, I'll talk with her. But the way I see it, it's not all bad. It would be more troublesome to me if she weren't worried for her brother. She just needs to learn to be a little more subtle about it, you know."

In the end Sylwia just shrugs.

"Whatever. She may be a brat, but she isn't a bad egg. So, don't be too hard on her."

Says the woman walking about her prospective future sister in law. At least that is my first thought. I don't speak my mind this time though. Instead I just grin, just like Matylda does too.

For now though we have other things we need to focus on though. Like tonight's fight or possibly even fights. The sky above is only beginning to darken, as we approach the barn that has been repurposed into a fighting ring after all. I wouldn't be too surprised if Sylph has to enter the ring more than once as a result.

Once again we are stopped by the tattooed thugs hanging out by the entrance. They should know us by now, but this is about more than just keeping out the wrong kind of people. Never mind that I have a hard time imagining what these people might be like. Knights of the night watch maybe? Adventurers? Nah, probably not. Well, never mind, for the thugs this is more about asserting dominance than anything else.

As a result I'm not really surprise, as I once again feel an identification skill being used on me. It's the same goon as the other time who is using the skill on me. He doesn't have any more luck than the other day. I arch an eyebrow and smirk, going for a mischievous overall look and a conversational tone as I speak up. I'm not really annoyed after all. He is doing his job and the result is, that my treasured [Shrouded Soul] skill keeps improving little by little.

"Trying to find out if you can out level my skill?"

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He shrugs apologetically, while at the same time obviously not being sorry at all.

"Seems I still need to do better, masked sister."

I wink at him, as I slip inside behind Sylwia and Matylda.

"Got to keep trying. Maybe you'll get lucky one of these days, you know."

With these words I leave him and the other bouncers behind, smiling on the inside as my [Bluff] skill improves some. Oh! It's getting so close to the next level up!

Inside the place is already busy. Not quite as busy as the last time I visited though. There are no fighters within the ropes of the ring yet. The first fight already seems to be scheduled though, judging by the activity by the back wall where the odds for the bets are being noted down with chalk right on the boards of the wall.

Curiously enough Sylph seems to be right up, if I read the notes right. Curious. The name of her opponent doesn't ring a bell though. Well, to be honest, I can't know all fighters in town even if it isn't a very big town. It doesn't really matter anyway, as long as Sylph rings the guy's bells good.

I lightly jab my elbow in Sylwia's side, while Matylda leaves us to place a fat bet, and nod in the direction of the noted down odds.

"Want a quick massage again? To limber up a little, you know?"

She rolls her shoulders and leads the way to the ropes of the ring.

"Sure. Might as well. Still have some time. Might as well use it."

She doesn't slip inside the ring yet. Instead she leans against the taut ropes and looks around a little, as I set to work on her back. She is a little tense today. More so than during our last visit for sure. Seems I have my work cut out for me today. At least that means that it's well earned as I feel my [Massage] skill improve a little a while later. It's not yet enough for a level up, but that might still change later. It's another skill that is getting close after all.

In the meantime I look around a little as I massage some of the tension out of Sylwia's back. The seats at the tables on the upper floor are still empty. I guess the really important people will only show up a later, for the fights that really matter. To be honest, that isn't a big surprise, since the captain of the guard probably only is into this racket for the money for all I know. And the big shots in Raccoon's service probably only show up to have an eye on the fixed fights as well. At least for the better part anyway. For them too this isn't entertainment but a business.

After looking around for a bit I shift my attention back to Sylwia. I lean in close so most of the other people around should have trouble listening in.

"Your opponent. Any ideas? Know the name?"

She shakes her head in a barely perceptible way.

"No clue about the name, but I think that over there is him."

She nods in the direction of the opposing corner of the ring, where a small gaggle of people is hanging out, not entirely unlike us.

"The burly guy in the middle. That's my best guess anyway."

Burly, that is one way to put it. He certainly is big. Broad shoulders, narrow hips but a wide stance. He has strong arms too, going to great lengths to display them on top, with his sleeveless shirt. Then, all of a sudden his gaze focuses on us.

I whisper in Sylwia's ear once more in a low voice, trying to keep our conversation private.

"Did you just identify him? I don't think he likes that, you know."

"Gee, you think? Well, he returned the favor right away anyway, so not like I care if he likes it or not. If it really bothers him he can tell me to my face before long."

"Uh, yeah, the way he is glaring at us he might just do that. So anyway, was it worth it? Leaned anything good, or useful, you know?"

This time Sylwia takes a moment before she answers. It's only when Matylda slides up besides us that I realize why. She waited, so she wouldn't have to share what she gleaned twice. Finally she speaks up.

"I think he is a baker. Probably not entirely new to this kind of entertainment though."

Matylda chimes in before I can say anything.

"Oh yes, he looks like he is kneading plenty of dough most days. Those are some big and strong hands he has."

Sylwia groans and I snort before I regain my composure.

"Bakers, are they organized in a guild in Riverrun? Do they have guild enforcers of their own?"

Matylda nods in answer to my questions and finally Sylwia does too. It's the latter who speaks up in the end, while we flank her, mimicking our opponents in the other corner.

"Yes, you might be on to something there. He is using a wide stance now, but I wouldn't be surprised if he'll turn out to be a lot more flexible once we are in the ring."

I decide to ask what's on my mind after pondering her words for a moment.

"So, what do you think? Will he try to make a point, hard and fast? Or is he, you know, more of a showman?"

Slywia half turns to me.

"A showman?"

"Yes. A showman. Someone who installs fear in others through shock and awe, you know. Make a bloody example of one opponent. One everyone will remember for years to come, so you won't have to hand out beat downs every other day to the whole rest."

Matylda chimes in at that point again.

"Oh, he'll probably go for a quick and decisive victory in that case. I don't think the guild of bakers has a history of making bloody examples of people violating guild regulations. Not as far as I can remember anyway."

After a moment Sylwia agrees, relaxing slightly as she adds her own opinion on the matter.

"Yes, the bakers are more into a different kind of spectacle in regards to repeat offenders violating guild regulations. They tend to repeatedly dunk them in the river. Time and again until they beg for mercy and promise to never do it again. Usually with a big audience too."

After falling silent for a moment she speaks up once more though.

"One way or the other, I think they are planning to tire me out. This isn't the kind of fight I can make light off. That's not the kind of fight you'd usually schedule this early in the evening. The other fights on the wall are all bloody beginners making their first appearance."

I pat her back to reassure her.

"Just let me know if you need a second wind. Just don't expect any miracles. I'm not doing those. Only prayers."

Sylwia snorts.

"Oh, how generous of you."

"Yes, very much so. Only one penny each."

Before either of us can say anything else a murmur goes through the thickening crowd, as a woman with the telltale tattoos of the gang running the show enters the ring. It seems it's about time to get things started.