Chapter 216: Befriending Small Animals (1/2)

”I;m Mike.” He replied, feeling a small smile forming on his face. He was having a hard time not getting caught up in her pace. Out of curiosity, he used Appraise.

---------------------------

Lara

Age: 16

Race: Beastman (Rabbit)

Class: Trickster

Title: Silvertongue

----------------------------

[...How the hell is she 16?] He found himself asking. [I suppose it could be a trait of rabbit beastmen, although that's a depressing thought. I had hoped...]

”So, where were you headed? Looking for a place to eat lunch? I happen to know a great tavern, and I can even get you a discount.” Lara's smile took on a rapacious quality, which all but admitted her financial involvement in the establishment she recommended.

Mike sighed, dismissing his thoughts of women in bunny costumes. It was still a little early, but he wasn't exactly in a hurry. He figured that he might as well enjoy some of the local flavor. ”Alright, I suppose I could use a good meal.”

”Excellent choice! Right this way!” She answered excitedly while pulling on his sleeve. ”Most of the crew are still out for and Arbitration match, but the cook shouldn't have left. He isn't much of a fighter.”

”Arbitration?” Mike asked, not following the flow of conversation at all. He wondered if the word had a different meaning in this world, since he didn't understand the relationship between it and fighting. Although, something about the situation struck a chord in his memories. Hadn't he heard that term recently?

”I know, right? Its crazy to be doing this kind of thing in the middle of the siege. Hopefully, the King will unify the gangs soon, so we can focus on more important things.”

[Ah, she must be talking about that contest that the underworld uses to settle their disputes. Luckily, it sounds like she's on Brenden's side.]

”Are you talking about the King of Thieves? I had heard another pretender to the throne popped up recently. Do think he has what it takes to inherit the legacy?”

The beastman whirled suddenly, hands on her hips.

”Hey! He's not a pretender! He's the real deal!” She responded grumpily while staring him down, but looked away after a few seconds. ”Although, I suppose he's not very kingly, and he hasn't really done anything to earn the title, and he's been a bit moody since yesterday...”

[Definitely sounds like him.]

She shook her head. ”Anyway, he's brave and kind, and a great person. He's done more good for the people of the slums in the last few days than generations of Almiran monarchs, so he's a real King in my book.”

Mike made a placating gesture. ”Fair enough, I was just curious on your perspective. Sounds like you really like the guy.”

She blushed slightly, but waved it off.

”I don't know about that, but he's really fun to tease, and he always gets the right kind of upset when I get him into trouble. My life has been a lot more interesting since he showed up.” She replied as they resumed walking.

[Hmm...]

Before he had a chance to ask the question weighing on his mind, she stopped in front of a run-down tavern. Above its door hung a sign reading The Cat's Paw. ”Here we are, the finest establishment in the district.”

Mike took a moment to inspect the old and obviously poor building before looking back at Lara blankly.

”What? Its not like there is much competition.” She answered his unasked question defensively. ”The interior is better. Besides, the food is why you are here, right? I can promise you, there aren't any better cooks inside this district.”

Shrugging, he followed her in. The interior was a little better. Despite the coarseness of the furniture, the place was kept clean and orderly. At least until a small swarm of beastman children mobbed Lara as she entered the tavern. She was able to squeeze out directions to the common room, before drowning in a sea of small bodies that demanded her participation in playtime.

Chuckling, he walked through the door and found himself a seat at an unoccupied table. While the room was fairly crowded with several young beastmen, he seemed to be the only actual patron, so his entrance earned him a few curious stares. When he sat down, one of the young observers ran out of the room, only to return with an older female beastman, who appeared to be the innkeeper.

He ordered himself a simple vegetable stew with a tankard of ale to drink, and settled in for a relaxing lunch while watching the children playing. They were in the middle of some kind of game that involved three active participants. One would carry a rock in their pocket, while two more tried to get it from him or her through a variety of complicated and intricate means.

The most successful strategy involved having one of the two attackers, for lack of a better term, create a distraction, giving his or her partner a chance to swipe the rock. They accomplished this with an almost professional finesse, so much so, that even Mike had trouble following the act.

It took him a few repetitions to recognize the game for what it was. A training exercise for pick-pocketing.

He was a little saddened by the realization, but figured that he probably shouldn't judge without knowing more. While he wasn't really fond of thieves, despite having one as a familiar, he supposed there were worse ways to make a living. At least it seemed like they were focusing on petty theft, rather than anything too serious or dangerous.

Lara eventually entered the room and sat down across from him. By this point he'd finished the vegetable stew, and was polishing off the remnants with a chunk of black bread.

”Pretty good, right? They don't have much in the way of ingredients, but they know how to make them work.” The rabbit beastman smugly commented as she watched Mike eat.