Bard obviously knew his way around the area, taking the lead after they were sure none of the gang members were following them.
“How bad is it?” He asked, glancing at Kage’s side, where she was holding her hand.
“It’s not too bad.” She said. “Just tore some of the skin, my shirt took the brunt of it.” She looked up. Bard frowned, skeptical. She pulled her hand away, showing him.
“There’s a bit of blood, but it’s not serious. I just need something to bandage it up.”
He nodded, convinced. “There’s an inn not far, closer than any healer. They should have something to patch you up.”
Kage stopped. “That wouldn’t be the Marker’s Inn would it?”
“It is, yeah. You know it?”
“Well actually,” she explained, then stopped to think about it. There was no way to make this not awkward.
“Well, that’s where I was headed-“
“Oh, good. So then let’s-“
“Well, it’s a little more complicated than that!” Kage interjected.
Bard raised his eyebrows. “And how’s that?”
She sighed. “Well, first of all, thank you. For getting more out of a really tight spot.”
He nodded.
“And well, the reason I was walking around in a city I know nothing about and apparently wandering into gang-controlled areas is because I’m helping out a couple of people, well, they’re paying me, so not really helping I guess. But! What I’m getting at is that they’re looking for someone with your exact description named Bard. That’s you right?“
He scowled at this revelation. “Yeah, that’s me.”
“Okay, well, they were wanting to talk to you about hiring you. They came here just to find you, and we all split up to cover more ground.” She looked up at the rapidly darkening sky. “We we’re all supposed to meet at the Marker’s Inn at sundown.”
She hadn’t know what to expect if by some chance she were to actually run into Bard, but his expression showing pure annoyance definitely wasn’t a good sign.
He glared at her, searching her expression, and then sighed.
“As a hired blade I’m guessing?”
She nodded. “That’s what they said.”
“And do they know I’ve been avoiding that kind of work for a while now?”
Kage swallowed. “I don’t know. They didn’t mention anything about it.”
“Did they say anything else about it?”
“No. I mean, they haven’t said much of anything about what they’re doing.” Kage realized, thinking back on their conversations. There was obviously more to it than just getting Calligriphics from Mainspring for knowledge’s sake, she had just been so focused on surviving day-to-day in this crazy world she hadn’t spent much time thinking about it.
“I’m just here to help them find some calligriphics.”
Bard nodded. “You know, I’ll give you some advice since you’re young, you always want to know who and what you’re working for.”
Kage forced a small smile. It was good advice, she could say that for sure as someone who had been alive for over a century. “Yeah.”
Bard sighed again, and ran his fingers through his hair. “Listen, I’ll meet them, but only because I was taking you to the inn anyway. And while we’re there, you’d better use this chance to figure out exactly what you’re involved in.”
Kage nodded solemnly. “Thank you. Um, is it Bard? Or Mr. Bard?“
He gave a slight smile. “Bard is fine. And you are?” He held out his hand, which Kage accepted.
“Kage. Nice to meet you.”
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