95 Chapter 9 (1/2)
”Ah, so you did show up…” A voice called out as Min and I approached.
We had packed up all the supplies we could carry and had them in side saddles on the two horses. Although I still had yet to gain any kind of horse riding skills, I wasn't too worried. However, none of the men before us had a horse, so that was a bit disconcerting.
”Who are these?” Another man pushed forward and gave the pair of us a glare that seemed less than welcoming.
The party consisted of three men total, including the man I spoke to the night before, Tark, there was a greasy looking guy with long straggly hair that was wearing a robe-like outfit that denoted him as a mage and a bald guy with some pretty impressive muscles that he didn't seem to mind showing off, as he wore nothing covering his upper torso at all. The sight wasn't entirely unpleasant, but for a body as nice as this, his face had seen better days. He looked like his nose had been broken a few too many times and there was a wicked scar over his eyes. None of the men in this formation would be called pretty.
It was the greasy mage that was giving the glare, while the bald guy appraised my body in an obvious and dirty minded way. However, I was long past being bothered by men appreciating my body as eye candy. I had gotten used to these stares, and even came to appreciate them when the situation called for it. In this case, if my sex appeal softened his willingness to allow us to come along, then I would happily use it.
”The girl knows some magic. The guy can take a shift at night. Eight gold.”
”Greedy…” The mage wrinkled his nose.
The bald guy laughed and slapped the mage on the back. ”Hey, at the very least, things go south and we can eat their horses.”
I gave a sniff. ”We'll handle our own supplies. You don't need to worry about us.”
”They'll be a pain to protect…” the mage gave Tark a look.
”We can look after ourselves.” I gave them a frown, a little angry that Tark hadn't already settled things with the rest of his party.
”Giff's talking about the horses,” Tark explained, lifting up his hands as if to broker a peace. ”Up north the paths get narrow, a horse might not be able to make it. Add to that their skittishness around monsters, and, well, most Adventurers go by foot in these parts, right, Giff?”
Giff's eyes flashed for a second and then he settled down letting out a sigh. ”You're always greedy, Tark.”
Some unspoken words seemed to be shared between the two, as Giff's hostile demeanor loosened a bit. The bald one only gave a shrug to the pair of them, and then gave Min and me a smile.
”Ah, should we sell the horses then?” I tried to redirect the conversation.
”Won't be necessary. We'll manage.” It was Giff that spoke up first. ”I'm sorry for earlier. My friend doesn't always inform his party members of everything, especially when he's drunk. My name is Giff. I'm a mage.”
He spoke the words simply, as if being a second-class mage lacked any grandness. His eyes still looked distrustful, but at the very least he seemed to have settled down a bit.
”They call be Dirk.” The bald man spoke up next, looking considerably friendlier as he stepped forward with a hand outstretched.
Min kept his distance, but I took his hand. He shook it with a laugh. His grip only hurt a little bit.
”He's a skill-less…” Giff spoke up as my hand was being squeezed of blood by the muscular man.
”You know, Giff, if I wanted her to know that, I'd have told her.” Dirk's mouth tightened for a second as he shot Giff a glare. ”No matter. It's my strength, after all.”
I cocked my head to the side, unclear about the terminology used. ”Skill-less?”
”Each level gains skill point. But need not use on skills.” Min interjected.
”Ah, what he said.” Dirk went to shake Min's hand, but he rejected it. ”I've never used a skill point on a skill. I instead put them all into Strength and Endurance. I'm a berserker by class. My fighting might not look pretty, but I can hit harder and last longer than any other Adventurer in these parts.”
I grimaced at Min's rude behavior and gave the man an apologetic look, but he didn't seem to mind it and only shrugged with a smile as he pulled his hand back.
”And you've met me. I'd call myself the leader of this party…” The two other men shot Tark a look and he lifted up his hands. ”But that would be a lie. We work together because we're strong that way. Knifefall is a B class party.”
”Third class.” Min muttered.
Tark made a noise of surprise. ”Ah, you noticed? Yes. I'm close to maxing third class, Dirk recently made third, and even Giff is a maxed second. He'll reach the requirements for third by summer for sure.”
Before Min could respond, Gif spoke up. ”As much as I love small talk, we have a few weeks of travel, and I'd prefer to get started.”
Although the situation was just starting to lighten up, Gif seemed to douse it with cold water. At the very least, the tension seemed to be broken. I handed four gold coins to Tark.”
”Half now?”
He nodded as if the money wasn't of any concern, but still made sure to stuff it in his pocket. Giff watched this and snorted before turning away and muttering to himself. Meanwhile, Dirk was making sure all of their stuff was packed properly.
Min had gotten up extra early and everything was already squared away and packed. I simply bid the innkeeper farewell, offering sympathy as she complained that this night had not been as eventful as the previous, handed in my keys, and then joined Min who was holding the horses out in front.
Knifefall wasn't as prepared to leave as we were, and thus they took an additional fifteen minutes. Since they used no horses, everything had to be partitioned between them to carry. Dirk seemed to carry twice what the other men did. As I admired his strength, he gave me a smile and a wink. I returned it, only to find Min watching me with dark expression. I gave him a questioning look, but he responded with a light shake of his head. He wanted to talk about something, but not in the presence of the adventurers. Well, if it was something dangerous, he would have already said something, so I assumed it was minor.
The group started heading out of the city. The sunlight was only just starting to crest the horizon and I yawned unflatteringly as I guided one of the two horses while Min took the other. Min's frown seemed to deepen as we continued walking down the road. The village was only just out of sight when he spoke up.
”Going West?”
”Good eye.” Tark laughed, ”Since this is the most northern village, there are no roads heading north. However, if we head west a bit, there is an old hunter's trail. It's quicker than pushing through the forest.”